Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

nHltURUN?. VOW BXRN8TORFF PLANNED CONSPIRACY TO INFLUENCE * CONGR19B8. ?uses rrpftr?Mnt Pvattshoa MraMft of <lirsaaii Amlniesaaoc Showing IB* Insentient to Spend $50,000 to Pronto ?a Conoplrncy by Pro-Ucrmnn Washington, Sept. SI.?The 8tate uepartment today made public a mes? sage that Count von Bernatorff sent the German foreign office while he Wae ambassador her??, requesting au? thority to upend fifty thousand dollars to Influence congress through a cer? tain organisation which he did not name in the message, but spoke of as **an organisation you know of." He said it was possible that war might bo prevented through this activity. The department made no comment when it gave out the information. The name of the organisation through which Germany sought to influence congress, the manner in which the money ussd for this pur? pose was expended, previous instances and the individuals employed to car? ry an the propaganda are subjects of well denned suspicion at ths Stats de? partment Aa the results of the federal agents investigation over a period of three years it Is be* Itevod other chapters will be added to the story of German intrigue. Heretofore Intimations that German plots in this country led to Ambassa? dor von Bernatorff met with official si lence. For months, however, it is in? dicated the government had enough evidence to warrant a demand for hie recall months before relations were severed with Germany. The message Indicates that Ambassador von Bern? atorff knew of Germany's intention to inaugurate ruthless submarine war rare, though he disclaimed prior knowledge at the time and Intimated that ho wae working for a modifica? tion of the terms. ENDORSE PRICE FIXING. Stessens Mew's Convention Adopts Resolution Reeonirnnendlng Regu? lation. 'Atii.ntlc City. Sept. 21.?Government price fixing on all essential producta In aalM to tl e public and, aa well aa to ty* government was recommended In resoltttons adopted today by the Business Men's War Convention. It eJao advocated a government purchas? ing department with wide powers. In-, eluding priority of manufacture. PRICE FOR SOUTHERN PINE. Shepptng Board Agrees on $40 Per Thousand. New Orleans. Sept SO.?The South? ern pine emergency bureau announc? ed tonight that the United States Ship? ping Heard has agreed as ths result of confot enoee with lumbermen to pay mills |40 per thousand for timbers which will go into the 160 wooden ships to he built In the South In ad? dition to the 144 achedulea already placed with mills. The price repre? sents an Increase over that which was paid for timbers for the original sched Alrulsenii Reach Washington. Washington. Sept. SS.?All the Ital? ian airplanes leaving Newport News this morning have arrived. The trl plaae. carrying ten men, alighted at 11.4$ o'clock. WL CENSOR MAIL LAW TO PREVENT MILITARY IN? FORMATION REACHING ENEMY. rrcstdVent Authorised to Establish Regulation* to Censor Mall, Cubic and Wireless Messs?es?JHea% y Pen aides Affelns* Those Who Evade Regulations, Washington, Sept. 20.?A provision for censorship, under regulations of the preeldent, of mall, cable, radio or other communication between the United States and foreign countries, was written Into the administration trading with the enemy bill late to? day by senate and house confereres at a special meeting. It Is designed to prevent military Information from reaching Germany by relay through South American and other neutral countries. The provision was Inserted at the request of federal departments having knowledge that many messages have reached Germany, in code, by steamer and otherwise. It waa made a part of the conferee's report, concluded yesterday, and will be presented to the senate Saturday. The section reads: "Whenever, during the present war, the preeldent shall deem that the pub he safety demands, he may cause to he censored under such rules and reg? ulations as he may from time to time establish, communication by mall, cable, radio or other means of trans? mission, passing between the United States and any vessel or other means of transportation touching at any port or place or territory and hound to or from any such foreign territory*" Another clause provides heavy pen? alties against "any person who wil? fully evades or attempts to evade the submission of any communication to such censorship or who wilfully uses or attempts to use any code or other device for the purpose of concealing from such censorship the Intended meaning of such communication." A general mails censorship provis? ion already Is in operation under a provision of the espionage act. The conferees were advised that many messages, which have been in? tercepted, are In the government's possession In addition to those re? cently made public by the etate de? partment In connection with trans? mission of information through official Swedish channels. Since the attack on General Pwshlng's expedition, the government is said to have been ex? tremely active in waylaying treason? able messages. WAR CREDIT BILL PASSED. House Adopts Conference Report and BUI Goes to President. Washington, Sept. 21.?The con? ference report on the eleven billion war credits bill was adopted by tho houee today and sent to the president. GREEDY PROFITEERS. Agents of Bis; Business Busy Fixing Things In Washington. Washington, Sept. 21.?Members of the ways and means committee meet? ing with the house conferees on the war tax hill were told that the pres? ence of big business agents demanding the retention of the senate allowances for good will, patents and other In? tangible assets In determining capital for taxation purposes was responsible for the failure of the conferees to agree on the bill. Uli BN PROFITEERS. 1 HOUSE COMMITTEE DEMANDS INCREASE IN TAXES ON WAR PROFITS. Immediate Passage of War Tax BUI Blocked by Proposal to Again In? crease Levy on Excess War Profits. \ Washington, Sept. 20.?Unexpected demands of house conferees for a sub. stantial increase in war profits taxes so complicated the contest over the war tax bill late today that final en- j actment of the measure early next week apparently was doubtful. Coincident with adjournment of the conferees, a meeting of the house wayt* and means committee was called for tomorrow to discuss the \ltuation. Some Southern and Western members of the committee announced that they would demand an increase in the ex? cess war profit figures from $1,060, 000,000 to $1,500,000,000. It was explained that the ways and means committee would try to induce the conferees to accept the larger fig? ure but should this fail high tax ad? vocates declared they would carry the contest to the floor of the house. They said recent announcements that ap? proximately $2,500,000,000 more will be needed this year makes it certain that unless a start is made now to further increase taxes, the countrj will be swamped with bonds. In conference 1 today definition of j capital was one of the big stumbling blocks and basis for figur'ng values [of patents, copyrights, trade marks, good will and other intangible assets also caused much discussion. Proposed advertising and automo? bile taxes and second class mail rates also were under consideration. The postal rate dispute has virtually been settled. The bill as it finally passed the senate, contained no advertising tax but in view of the proposed re duced second class mall rate some members demand that it be reinsert? ed. The tentative agreement reached or postal rates proposes maintenance of the present one cent rate through the first zone of 250 miles and a graduat? ed zone increase above that point to something less than 6 cents a pound in the farther zone. MUST NOT SELL VESSELS. Dutch Refer America's Offer to Their Govcrninnet. Rotterdam, Sept. 20.?In shipping circles today it was said the owners of all Dutch vessels now in New York harbor had received offers to pur? chase the ships and that the owners had consulted the Netherlands govern? ment. The latter, it is asserted, re? plied that the owners should sell their vessels under no circumstances. Dutch ship owners express pessi? mism over the outlook, fearing the American government may confiscate the vessels on the old sea law, accord? ing to which the necessity of war may permit requisitioning of vessels against compensation. Infantile Paralysis in Chicago. Chicago, Sept. 20.?There are 139 cases of infantile paralysis under ob? servation in Chicago today, according to Health Commissioner John Dill Robertson, who said the disease show? ed "unmistakable signs of spreading." The commissioner said that 50 per cent of the children affected with the ailment have died. In the last four days twenty children have died from the disease. GERMANS OVERMATCHED ENGLISH MAKE EFFECTIVE CSE OF SUPERIORITY IN ARTILLERY, Battle of IfenJa Road Preceded by Week of Tremendous Bombardment ?(ionium I>efcn.?*\s flattered Down and Thoy Ix>st Heavily, With the British Armies in France and Belgium, Sept. 20 (By the As? sociated Press-.?The British at day? break today launched a heavy of? fensive against the German defenses about the Ypres salient along an ex? tended front, which has its center around Inverness Copse, and astride the Ypres-Menin road. tFrom the Brat moment of going over the top, the assault proceeded with marked success, especially in the cruical sector between the Ypres Roulers Railway and Hollebeke, where the British early in the day had forced their way forward over marshy ground and through woods* flilled with machine guns to a considerable depth and were continuing the bitter fight in the neighborhood of the famous In? verness Copse, Nuns wood and Glen corse wood. If the attacking forces maintain the positions which they have captured in this sector they will have accom? plished one of the most remarkable and most important achievements in recent months. This phase of the battle of Flanders began at 5.45 o'clock. The Infantry advance was preceded by a barrage of greater depth than ever before wit? nessed. Five distinct barrages, in fact, were dropped ahead of the men as they began their journey into this difficult terrain. The tremendous cur? tain of bursting steel did its work well and the troops pushed forward rapidly toward their objectives. Fair weather lately had improved the ground somewhat but the mud still lies deep over wide reaches of it and the whole territory is covered with water filled shell holes, tangled barbed wire and shattered trees. The German defenses consisted largely of concrete redoubts, scattered in pro? fusion over the entire country. The past week must have been one of misery for the German troops lying out in this section. A great number of big guns have been pouring a steady stream of high explosive shells Into the territory. COMPLETE BRITISH SUCCESS. Drive in Flanders Hailed as Answer to I^aoc Move. London, Sept. 21.?Later reports from Gen. Haig state that the detailed account of the great drive yesterday show the completeness of the British success. Answer to Germany. London, Sept. 21.?The morning papers herald the. Flanders offensive as the answer to Germany's latest peace maneuvers. The Chronicle de? clares that the allies have nothing more to say. REPUBLICANS NOMINATE NE? GROES. Two Named for Oflicc in Party Pri? mary. New York, Sept. IL?For the first time In this city negroes have been made nominees of a great party. The Republicans nominated in the pri? maries Edward Johnson for the State assembly and James Thomas for al? derman. COMPULSORY FOOD RULES. PLANS FOR PUTTING ENGLAND ON FOOD RATION. If Voluntary Food Economy Falls Compulsory Food Rationing Will be Adopted. London, Sept. 20.?Inauguration of a new food economy campaign in Great Britain was announced today by Raron Rhondda, the food controller. If voluntary measures fail, he said, "I shall have no compunction in putting the nation on compulsory rations." Baron Khondda made this statement to the American correspondents after telling them that the minimum food requirements from the United States and Canada during the forthcoming 12 months would be more than 10, 000,000 tons, representing an expen? diture of 250,00,000 pounds. The food controller announced measures also for stabilizing the sugar trade, with a committee1 in New York to supervise Cuban purchases. "The establishment of this commit? tee and of a meats and fats execu? tive," said Paron Rhondda, "is typical of the way in which we are all now working together to solve the allied food problem with the least possible dislocation of trade and in a united determination thivt the armies and civil populations shall be provided at a fair price with food enough to as? sure victory." Baron Rhondda spoke appreciative? ly in regard to Liord Northcliffe's ef? forts in the United State, adding: "A special mission representing th? ministry of food shortly will be leav? ing for New York. Owen x Hughes Smith, who has been minister of mu? nitions, will head the mission, which will be attached to Lord Northcliffe's organization. Mr. Smith will be ac? companied by various experts on food production and purchase. "I hope the exportable surplus of Canadian and American primary food? stuffs will be much larger than the present estimates, as the result of food economies by which the United States and Canadian homes are help? ing to win the war just as surely as is the production of munitions." Baron Rhondda said. "Every American woman is in a po? sition to bring the inevitable atone? ment for the brutal outrages In Bel? gium, An einia, Servia, the sinking of the Lusitania and other horrors by her day-by-day economies. They need have no fear that their sacrifices will be wasted here. "Unless tho entente allies are able to import the supplies necessary for the armies and the populations, vic j tory may slip from our united grasp. I In regard to prices, we are paying the Unitde States and Canada more than double the rate that existed before tho war. I have heard it asked 'What does that matter as long as the pur? chases are financed by the United States?" "My answer is that unless prices determined upon are fair, an un necessary burden is placed on the backs of the allied governments, Eu? ropean consumers, American and Ca? nadian taxpayer.- and, respectively, on every food consumer in America for the sole benefit of a. small section of the community. "I now am able to limit the profits derived by those engaged in the food industries of the Untied Kingdom . . . "I expect to hear that Mr. Hoover and Mr. Hanna have taken similar steps so that we will be able to assure the people that the existing high BRITISH HOLD LINES. german counter ATTACKS FABCj to break grip OX PO sitions. Offensive In Flamlere Seems to Have Been a Complete and Important Victory und May Lead .to Greater Tilings. - The British in Flanders are holding all important points gained in the great offensive yesterday when they surged forward on an eight mile front on both sides of the Ypres* Menin Road, penetrating the German lines a distance of a mile in several places and taking two thousand pris? oners. They now hold numerous strategically important positions which the Germans had heavily fortified. I The Germans began counter-attacks late yesterday but they proved so Most? ly that they stopped. The British consolidated the ground last night I without disturbance. They are still delivering local attacks to improve ; their lines. There were no important activities elsewhere today. Berlin admits that the British ad? vanced two-thirds of a mile between Langemarck and Hollebeck, but says ' the British were thrown back in other e sections. A German attack in the I Champagne region was repulsed. Paris reports. , SEIZE SWEDE'S MAIL. Diplomatie Mall Pouches Belonging to Special Envoy Held. Washington, Sept. 20.?Four diplo? matic mail pouches sent by the Swe? dish foreign office to the legation in j Washington are being detained at Halifax by the British authorities. They were taken from the steamer on which were Dr. HJalmar Lundvohm, who is coming to the United States as a special envoy, and First Secretary Reuterswerd, of the Swedish foreign office. No reason for detention of the mail coul ' be obtained here. Baron Akerheilm, the Swedish charge, it was understood, took up the matter with the State department, in an effort to have the mail quickly forwarded to its destination. The pouches were said to have contained statistics on foodstuffs and other commodities in Sweden, which were requested by the United States government in seeking to reach an agreement on exports of goods to Sweden. The mission of First Secretary Reu? terswerd was not disclosed, but Dr. Lundvohm comes to replace Dr. Her? man De Lagerkrants, who was the head of the Swedish commercial mis? sion. _L_ WOMEN SOLDIERS RIOT. ______ Russian Girl Fighters Attack Their Leader. Petrograd, Sept. 21.?On Thursday there was a small riot among the wo? men troops drilling in Moscow be? cause the girls resented some act of their leader, Vera Butchkareff. Ac? cording to the Bourse Gazette, in? fantrymen rescued the woman leader after rough handling. As a result of the riot many of the girls will be sent home. prices of imported goods do not rep? resent profiteering." Baron Rhondda said that he ex? pected soon to register all food traders here and that if a few persist in dis? obeying orders they will be struck off * the list and thereby forced out of bus? iness. THE SUMTER DRY GOODS COMPANY Are believers in Dependable Merchandise as the following well-known lines handled by us will demonstrate VIZ: "Smart Style" Coat Suits and Top Coa ts (Every Garment Guaranteed) The Famous "Maisel Make" of Seal Plush Coats . (Every Garment Guaranteed) "Quaker Maid" for Ladies and "Cadet" Hosiery for Children The only Hose having a Knee, Heel and Toe Re-inforcement. (A GooJ Pair for every bad pair produced) "Queen Quality" and "Selby" Fine Shoes for Ladies Originators of Novelties in Fine Footwear "Botany" line of wide width Novelty Dress Goods and All-Wool Serges Manufacturers of the well-known Winthrop Serge William Skinner's Satins, Charmeuse Finish for Dresses Every Yard Guaranteed for Two Seasons. Handsome Assortment of Shades. The well-known Vincere and Rene Rid Gloves All Sizes in White, Black, Brown, Tan. Julius Kayser's Silk Hosiery and Gloves M The gloves with the Double Finger Tips-None Better. "American Lady" and "R & G" Corsets The two premier makes which have always heathen own against all new comers?Fifteen models in each make.