Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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M'LAVHJN us -'ivrrm-i PltH Say* That Too Muc-li stress Hits iu < it I .11.1 I'pou Mow Money in tin* I'rottfiMiiion afl Mm Um?Mvl Bossj l'roM|M*rlt). ) litor The Item. Since a recent drop of about lie i? pound in the prftoOl SjtMted on the ? w York Cotton exchange 1 am re 91 ?ving d.ulv mere letters than 1 can u swer requesting opinion ami advice, I take tiiin mi tin* 1 of replying ^o mime M 1 think the matter is of Btlf? to lent 1 ntit'Mt to warrant publica? tion Cotti'ii cannot be considered in this Rreut crisis, except in tiie rela? tion it beats to war. Knglund, in the beginning, undertook to do 1 busin?NM as usual" and found that it was im possihle. We have found that war means iih.hk i.iI p osperity and not lf?>v.-rtv as predict -d in 1!H I. We must realize that til" war can oaly lie won by a constant advance in wag .mil prices of products. Consumption increases among wage earners instead Of diminishiiiK. l?i??or and Its pro? ducts are diverted each day from the tusinesa as usual" channels to meet war purposes. We have laid too much Mres on mere money In the procecutmu of the war. The govern? ment is not able to spend the SUflMllJ we ha\< d> paid in Horn sales of bonds, war stamps ami income taxes. What we need is tue production Of cottc n. wheat, cot n, iron, coal and ?teel Money by itself cannot win the war. it im on I) useful to stimulate the production of the material and supplies. Another 'bun-, the moral, of tie people imivt le kept up. Tin Is oaly possibb with prosperity. Cut the pfiSSJ of cotton to the cost of pro duction, and no < Io nian army could such .i blow in the morale o our people. I regard the present war situation as most serious since bat? tle of the M.iine. The debacle ir lasla gives QOfOSOOj] not only ac cess to food, but has enabled her to bilng at least a nulluni veteran troops fro i front. PfMS fixing lias driven the gamblers almost en? tirely out of wheat and stocks, they are now turning to cotton. The price of cotton depends largely upon the ability of the burner to borrow on it, pay his debts and market gradually. I believe that there is u concerted at t? inpt' being made through the New Yeik exchange to establish B low lev? el of prices for the 19IS crop. They I ire very little about the remnant CSf the present crop they are after bigger things It is , i \ for a coterie of speculators to sell millions of bales Of cotton on the ex. hange between themselves ami make outside settle meats. These fake prices, mark fu? tures down on the board. The banker who has cotton loans sees the marke' np.it ..nd calls the loans This forces spot cotton on the market at con stantly led.um* pi ices. The govern ment established minimum prices on stocks timl bonds in I 1.. It has done so on wtie it. and it tfiis speculation in < >tton is not do . Led, it will do SO on OSjMOi 1 think the government should make It Illegal to sell futures on an. SSJSBS10JSM it less than I OS. a pound. The iluctuallon should be from 3<?c up and not from 30c. down. We should not turn a bale loose at lees than .:????' Cotton was 1 il l-lic. in the summer of 191-4 and 30c now Is not as profit ibie as 1 it 1--V. was then aie too high in propor Hsjl to Mpot cotton It is the manu fa- IfM Sf not the p| inters, who is making excess profits. I*ook at the ? - ntt ist with pre-war comlltions: ? ntlon iNiiiM'slics .hil\ 15, IUI I. The pi lees are tust for July, 1911, and then for May i, Itttl ueaerel lf?fessfc eesos giiiKhuni, 7 i-4c , u:.c Standard 4-yard sheeting, le.j Its Ti n uuarter I'epperlll sheeting. Hs\i sj M* Wm \ndei on Ivanboe gingham, la I Jc ; 32 l-2c. Um Simpson standard prints, lie. 23 l-2c. A c. A bed ticking. In l-2c ; 3K l-2c. QOtton blanket*. special size and weight, 76c; $2.26. Child's ribbed stockings, per dozen. s5c; $2.25. The above prices are Just a few taken at random. The prices go through the whole ? atulOSjSJS of Items manufactured out of cotton. Now let . take tin pfloi <>t i iw cotton duly II, mil. and Mas IHV Middling cot toil waa selling at small Interior points Jusl hofoie the war was de ? tared at lit I Jc a pound \tuy cot? ton on M iv ft, 19 I X, was quoted on New York 004 h inge at 2.1 1-le |aett Wi ? oiiipuison between raw cot too and manufactured products. Cot? ton on May a. 191H, is hardly M POI cent higher than on July 1 f?, 191?. pie-war prices; the manufactured products. ?uii from IM to 4i?0 pel oent blgbei There should be a ba n in connection with the St ite ware bouse to handle nothing but agticul tural papet The Ic.leial k< serve bank and the big New York banks would look to this institution to say wh?n loans should be t ailed and take advice from It. instead of speculative interest -Mr Hhrtthig Of the Federal Keseive hoard and Mr. MoAdOg are our reliance Mid some stops should l?e taken to enlist tiudr aid, as was done in Ifll If we stahilize credits based on cot on. the price of spots will take care of itself, it is not cot? ton prices hut cotton c redit that eon- , trols. Respectfully, John U McLaurln. Bminettsville, S. C. May |, 1 ?* 1 8. MKS. JXO. |?. THOMAS DEAD, Wife or Dean of University Law School. ''olumbin. May 10,?Mrs. .John P. I 'I'homas. Jr.. iged filty-oight. wife of | tile dOOfl of Ihe law school of the I 'diversity of South Carolina, died at her home here this afternoon at i o'clock after an illness of about a month. The funeral service will be hold at the late residence tomorrow after>Oil at I o'clock and the inter? ment will be held in Klniwood Cemc tory. The deceased was Miss Mary Sum ler Waites. da ighter of the late Capt John Waties and Frances Parker, of Columbia. She was born in this cit> on January 81, ||?#, and was married tu John P. Thomas, Jr., on Januai ::?.?. 1H79. Resides he ' husnand. she Is sur? vived by the following children, ol ? 'olumbia: J. Waties Thomas; Mary S. Lumpkin and Caroline Gildas ThoraaQ and by a brother, Thornus Waties, of Hoi;ston. Texas, and a sis ter. Miss Kate C. Waties, of Colun - hia. FIGHT ON SOMMF FRONT. I ml. of <German Reserves Still Then'. London, May 10.?"The bulk of the Cerman reserves is still in the re:u of the Summe iron; and it must be assumed the enemy's big main effort will be In that direction," said a rep? resentative of ceu. Dohna R?del life. Chief director of military operations at the war office, in summing up the uitk'h war development today. "It 1? equally certain that he will not ?Iis i ontinue his attacks in Flanders." Ill the period between March 21 when the German offensive was be KUii, and April || the losses of the Fl each were only one-fourth to one llfth of those of the British General Lath llffe's reports advise. Since April ?, he said, there has been no rOaaao to believe the losses of the Kreuch have heen any heavier than those of the British. (The losses of the British since March 21. were es? timated on May 4 by the British mili? tary mission at Washington nearly llo.oea), This Information was given out In refutation of German Propagandist ?sserttTms that the I'rench have been hearing the brunt of the battle. "In considering the course of these battlea it must always be remembered that tin* capture of any particular po? sition is not a material factor. Mere geographical gains are not the main consideration. It's rather a question Of staying power. We must look to the end of the battle. "Tin* Germans have put In a con ?idorable number of fresh divisions both in Fl anders and on the Somme front, dnrlni the (aal week and tin: la satisfactory to us, for it shows that we art retting through their fresh divisions very fast." TONNAGE LOSS (TT IN II ALF. sinkings for UaH Month Total Mit? ?:il Tons. Washington. May 10.?Official French HatlatlOl on the submarine warfare reoetved here in ? dispatch from Fram e to.l iv .show that the to lal losses of all Allied and neutral tups Including aocldenta at set, WOre approximate y one-half as great dining April. 11GH, as during April, 1117. In the former period ML?'.*.". ??loss tons were lost, while this ye.r. Ilgurs aie Ilxl.lLU. Submarine at Inehi now are more costly for the enemy, it was pointed out. owing io the met that the attacks are chietly II idc with tOTpedOOl instead Of gun fire, as WS* tin- case before merchant ships wer? adequately armed. Attention is also enlled to the fat I I ha I each llaae Hie Germans have i ade an eflenalvc on land they made a eon espomlilig nflcltslve With ttlOll mm lunar taee, Thus during the aaeond hilf ot March the number ami aotlvl h i of aubmurlnci increaaed, t>i hist half of April marked a very dlstlnoi leaaenlng attributed to the COUntei I ffoi ll Of the Allies. \\ l\Toit lit H\f |> TO MOAT II. Filial \c< hlent al Pt nsactda Training Station. Penaeoola, May n ?'biet Quarter 11 t- i Richard <' m. Alia, student aviator, waa burned t?< death, ami George I Henderson, chief quarter i ter, a\ latoi student) was badly burned when their airplane fell at Bants i toaa eta nd i eatei da y, lien demon is exyected to recover. <;<>in<; rr hit slowly still. In Ihe Sale of Ttuifl Slumps ami War Savings stamps the Comity Moves Slowly AlCHIf?Buying is Not Wide? spread lOnoiigh. a?i?i to big buyers: C. 0. Rowland.$ 100 J. J. Williams. 100 Cloremon Lodge. ma Fidelity Insurance Co. .. 1,000 There are too many of them this trip for spaee to preach a little ser? mon on each. Just to mention, though, this is the second time Mr. Rowland as bought $100 worth of stamps. Mr. Williams is a steady buyer, ami has passed the century mark; after a while he will cross the line again. The Masons of Claremont Lodge, beside subscribing to the Red Cross and doing other good work, put a part of their surplus fund into your Uncle Sam's War Savings stamps, thus helping to steel the arms of brother Masons at the front. The Fidelity Insurance Company did it all At OOCe and joined the Limit Club, The Limit Club of this county now has a membership of six, four individuals and two corporations. Spnrtanhurg stands high in the ranks of the War Savings counties in this State, and Spartanburg has a great many members in its Limit Club, a membership of fifty in this county would be an easy matter, if the buyers would buy, or would sub? scribe for that amount during 1918. The whole purchase does not have to be made at one time; we have all the year in which to do it; but one be? ginning is worth a whole tistful of delays. Subscribe for the amount of Itantps you want and they will he de? livered to you at the times you state. Captain Hoar gives us as the sale for the week ending May 11th, $2. 7 I0.4S, cash basis, making a total to date of |I4,19I.48, Now, of this amount. Big Buyers, that is, those who have bought $100 or more, have taken about $1U,000 worth, maybe more, because a whole lot of big buyers never speak of their purchases. Outside of these, therefore, Bumter eounty at large has purchased only about 119,000 or about twenty-live cents per capita. Not enough people are buying. The government ha: asked that everybody, SOCh person, OG matter who, no matter where, bu> stamps to the extent of $20 during 1918. We have not done it. Sonn few hove, and these few frequently have SXeeedod their quota and have bought enough to make up for the unable or the slacker who lives around him, There should be more. War Savings Societies should be ev? erywhere. There are some in town, but not near enough. There are some in the county but not near enough. The central War Savings Committee while standing ready at all times to go anywhere ami help cannot be ev srywher at all times directing the work. The local directors must start the work and call in the committee; the committee will be glad to assist. Iii the city Mrs. J. A. McKnight has been delayed in her work of organizing by illness in the family, but expects soon to be actively at it. Those who are ii h eady buying should affiliate them selves with some War Savings So ciety. Those who are not buying Bh?Uld get In a BOClety and start, in. every city block a War Savings So? ciety should be operating. Is there a War Savings Society on your block? The War Savings Committee goes to lie good Tuesday afternoon, where there will be a joint meeting of the Hogod, Reinheit and Horatio Wai Savings Societies. The committee wil go anywhere It Is asked to ko. The -ladies' tables on the street has explained stamps to many a one who did not know anything about them and hOVS started them to buying. You have done a good wank when you hOVS started off a new buyer. The tables at the Chatltauqua tent ?old $1 f.ti.u<> worth during the week. Saving Sammy says: Sing a song of Thrift Stamps, six? teen in a low. take them to an agent ami 10 cents or so ( hange them for a War Stamp ami for your ener-gee J on II gel a ei hip f o 0t? bill in 192:!. linker School \v. s. s. The young people of Baker sehool neighborhood organised n war saving? club last Wednesda) evening. Twen? ty-one members were taken in and the following otiieers chosen: Presi? dent ?'handle! Real); Secretary. 1 >on aid K. McLeod. Treasurer. Rlllson Kvons. After the business of organ Ising, a very interesting talk was mad. b\ Mr .1 W. Odom, on thrift and wai Having stamps. The tiist regular meeting will bt held next Wednesday evening at 8.3<i o'clock, a good crowd Is expected and we hope to swat the Kaiser with quits H number of stamps. Donald R. McLeod. Sumter, Route 4. PATRIOTISM IN PLACE OF POLITICS . Loyal Americans Will Concentrate All F.ft'orts on \\ inning the War and I'ntU a Victorious Peace Has Been Obtained There Should he No Par? tisan Politics. Port Wayne, End., May 11.?Teure j work at the November elections to prekerve the present political har? mony between the president, the sen? ate, and the house, was urged upon the country by Speaker Champ Clark, in a speech delivered here tonight be? fore an assemblage of Indiana Demo? crats. j 'Why should the American voters 'inject discord into the various parts of the government machinery," He * asked, ' when the utmost harmony j should prevail in this awful crisis of our affaire?Indeed, the whose world s affairs?when representative govern? ment is at stake? I do not believe they will be so unwise and therefore I confidently expect that the House of Representatives elected In Novem? ber will be Democratic, to back up a Democratic president and Democratic administration in the most stupendous task ever undertaken by the children of men. The best possible team work is needed to secure victory in the ti? tanic struggle In which we are now engaged." speaker clark came here to deliver the only prepared speech he expects to make during the campaign. He talked of patriotism, of the record ol congress and how the executive and congress have cooperated to give the fullest possible measure of resources towanl victory over the German foes. "Certain gentlemen of high do gree," he said, "have suggested that ejections be omitted during war ami that those In olilce continue to nerve until peace returns. That, of course, is utterly impossible under our system for the constitutional mandate as to the election and terms of service of elective officers is imperative. Other eminent personages have auggeated that politics be eschewed in the selec? tion of senators and representatives this year. If it could be so arranged it would be well, but signs multiply indicating that the usual method will he peraued save In exceptional cases." The speaker declared that in the house there had been little evidence of partisan polities since the begin? ning of the war. Democrats, Repub? licans and Independents fraternize so thoroughly on war meaaurea, he said that strangers sitting in the gallery would find it difficult to distinguish between them. "Patriotism," he added, "has been in the ascendant since the commence ment and i fervently hope and pray that it will prevail to the end." Victory is the habit of the Ameri can people, who will not be aatlafied 'until victory perches upon our ban nera," said the speaker. "President Wilson and the con? gress," he continued, "have solemnly dedicated all our vast resources In men and money to the success!u prosecution of this war. The con ?,iess will vote every man and everj dollar necessary to redeem the sol? emn and sweeping promises we made The president and his administration have been given all the sinews of war lalted for - huge, unheard of, un Ireamed of sums, and they have -ment it for the good of the country tnd the cause. Reviewing the work of the present congress, Mr. Clark said ?enaeles? criticism Of the legislative branch ol the administration should cease. "Congress did its duty," be de claredi "the president did his duty ind, so far i<s I have been able to as certain, all cahimt othcers and all the vast roster of officers, clerks ana helpers of every species have done (heir duties." The Demo-uats, he declared, plant themselves llrmly ami triumphant!) not on promises, hut upon mono mental things accomplished. "On that magnificent record," he concluded, "we go to the people with inboupded confidence, appealing to heir good sense and to their love ot of country." Washington, May 10, Italy's con iribution to the reserve army Qenera Koch is building up behind the line in Prance for supreme emergency us numbers nearly 25(KOOO men, official dispatches today say, and the force is being strengthened steadily. Washington. May 13.-?More than two hundred women representing oi ganixntions throughout the country engaged In war work, are here for the opening sessions of ihe May confer? ence of the Women's Committee of the National Council <>f Defense. Another fellow told us a funny joke yesterday. At any rate he seem? ed to think il gras funny Judging from the way he laughed. Culumhu Enquirer-?un. Ifiigoori ?fM's Travel Ine/. On May 1st at S.4T? A. M., your cor respondent in company with w. h Freeman, his son Willie and Rev. T. B. Derrick, pulled out from Dinklna' Mill for Greenwood to attend the state Bundoy school convention, go? ing by way of Camden and Columbia j with a stop over in the latter ploce ' of two hours. Small grain from home to Cam | den promises well, and from home to j beyond Columbia all crops were planted. "A had beginning makes a good ending." But we had a good start for from the mill to Columbia, speaking nautieally, the sailing was splendid, and even twenty miles be? yond, to the line of that most excel but of counties, Newberry, it was not indifferent, but from there our trou bles bogen to multiply, with a very smart gentleman misdirecting us at Dyson. Going at a snail's pace we came upon a batch of negroes and inquired: "How are the roads?" '?Purty good, sab." Two hundred yards further on we came upon a party stock still, mired, and looking back saw our batch of negroes com? ing to pull us out. We did not get in and they got no fee from us or the others for we got them out. When we were well tip in QreonwoOd county the roads began to improve and so tired, worn sh k and hungry we arrived in Qreenwood about x.:to p. m, and found a tremendous crowd come together. < >n Friday moi ning your correspond? ent took the interurhan to William? ston from whence afoot he proceeded to Whitetield, a community half way between that place and Anderson Where live the Bow lands, Armstrongs KnlghtO, Kays?, Brea/.eals. etc. a great line people, a few of whom are blood red BleossttOS, We found the people here busily planting corn and cotton, having been delayed by the wet of April. All this country has been haul hit in its small grain by the se llun sympathiser anywhere in that land, but here in my own county, the old Came Coek county, are people who, in these times of stress, when one holds his breath in painful sus? pense, are deploring "If they put me at the front never a bullet of mine would do those innocent people harm. \"o matter if he's my brother, my eld? er brother, not religiously; (Jesus < 'brist was the world's greatest dem? ocrat) and a Hun sympathizer 1 have no use for him, because he's a Judas he's a traitor to mv country, he's a worse tory, he's my deadly enemy, a snake In the grass, waiting his op? portunity to do his devilish work. Draw the lines, draw the lines, with the sheep on the right and the goats on the left. Separate them, vere winter. In all our travel we saw only three or four lair lots of wheat and only one lot of good oats. "How's politics?" They say "We are not discussing politics. How's ihe war?" This is a great people, if some are Bleaseites. They are patriotic to the last drop of their blood, and no slack? ers, not a bit of it, leave off Hun sympathisers. We know of one little farmer, not more than three horse, two we think, who took eleven hundred dollars in bonds and thrift stamps, and he is not alone. Another, who would have been at he front had they let him, told the writer and he meant It, that he would supply his brother, gone to the front with all he needed if the govern? ment would only put it to him. We never saw or heard of a slacker, a and keep them separate. They are not of us though they went out from us. and as Christ had no concord with Belial, so have Americans no concord with these. That was a splendid cartoon in the State of the ith, and well illustrates the present attitude of many of these psOUdO cltisens. Bui enough of this. Mesdames .1. L. Jackson and ('has.1 Sanders, who are working for the Liberty bonds, and whose boys are at and going to the front, spent May 1st with Mrs. H. C. Bethen. A grounded captive Hun olltcer, under treatment of a gentle French nurse, in appreciation of her service promised to let her hear from him when he got back. She was surpris? ed some time after to receive a pack ige from him. on Opening which she found the two hands of a babe. Rul these are lies, and we are monu? mental liars. s;tys the Hun sympa? thiser. "Hagood." Rembert, May 9. Will Ferguson IMes in Electric chair. Columbia. May 11.?Will Ferguson. Barn well county negro, was electro? cuted at the Sate penitentiary yester? day morning at n .:<? o'clock. Ferguson was convicted of attempt? ed rape in Barnwell April 2'.? ami brought to Columbia that afternoon, The ?Mime was committed a few week . prior to that date and a special trial ordered. At the time the crime was committed a lynching was threatened, but was averted by the promise of ;i , apeedy trial. -. ?minimi in iiit-KiiMt-r Proprietors. The following is the text of ihe act of the last legislature requiring the names of all member* of all firms to l>e tiled with the Clerk of Court: An Act To require all mercantile and in? dustrial establishments, other than corpoiations having a place of busi? ness in this State to disclose the names and their addresses of the pro? prietors thereof and to provide a penalty for failure to do so. Section 1. He it enacted by the general assembly of the State of South Carolina: That from and af? ter the passage of this act all mer? cantile and industrial establishments, other than lawfully chartered incor pomtlone, having a place or places of business in this State shall tile with the clerk of court of the county in which the principal place of business <>r each mercantile and industrial es? tablishment is located, the name or names of the owner or owners, pro? prietor or proprietors thereof, and in case of copartnerships the name of each and every partner having any interest therein and shall exhibit on a sign over or alongside the en? trance of each place of businetw of each mercantile or industrial estab? lishment the name or names of the owner or owners, proprietor or pro? prietors thereof, including the name of each partner of a copartnership, such name or names to be printed in Roman letters of such sizes as to be read easily. Sect on 2. In case there be any change in the owner or owners, pro? prietor or proprietors of any such mercantile or industrial establish? ment, any person retiring from such, ownership or proprietorship shad file in the office of the clerk of court of the county in which the principal place of business of such mercantile or industrial establishment is located a notice of such change and shall have the sign or signs herein provid? ed for changed, and until both such notices shall be filed and such change made on such signs, such person shall be liable for all debts and contracts of such mercantile or industrial estab? lishment according to the interest he or she formerly had therein. Section 3. The Clerk of Court shall keep all such statements of ownership or proprietorship on file and shall re? cord the same in a book to be provid? ed for that purpose and shall keep such book indexed. He shall receive as a fee for filing any such statement or notice of change the sum of one dollar. Section 4. Any person violating any of the provisions of this act ehall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined ten dollars or be imprisoned for five days for each day such mer? cantile establishment shall do busi? ness. In case of a fine being paid one-half of the amount paid shall be paid to the person serving out the warrant. In case of a copartnership each partner shall be severally liable. Section 5. That this act shall take effect on the first day of July, 1918. Approved the 9th day of March, A D. 1918. COMPTROLLER GENERAL ILL. In Delirious Condition Tries to Enter Office in State Building. Columbia, May 12?Carlton W. Sawyer, Comptroller General of South Carolina, is ill with pneumonia in a local hospital. Tonight Dr. T. M. Du Hose, Jr., physician, issued the follow? ing bulletin: "Mr. Sawyer is ill with pneumonia at the Columbia Hospital where he was taken soon after he was found in the State House in a de? lirious state. His condition Sunday afternoon is satisfactory." In the early hours of Saturday morning Mr. Sawyer was discovered scantily clad trying to get in his office in the State House by the night watchman. He was in a delirious con? dition. Mr. Sawyer evidently had a fall as shown by several bruises on his body. It is said that pneumonia renders the patient speedily delirious ami at times makes him subject to mental vagaries. This would account for Mr. Sawyer's condition. Mr. Saw ver had been complaining for several .i i\s, Put none of his friends resitted that he was seriously ill. NAVY GROWS DAILY. Enlisted Strength Now Two Hundred Thousand. Washington, May II.?The enlisted strength of the navy exclusive of the reserve forces Is more than 200,0<M according to official returns today to the navy department. Voluntary en? listments continue at the rate of i.ono per week. Th*' naval reserve force now numbers 11 n.ono. Switzerland reports that her neu trallty has been violated f?8fi tlme=? since the war began. Wender Just what Switzerland's quota is??In? dianapolis XtWS.