The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, December 21, 1918, Image 3
When Paris Rejoiced
?; -r <- -
Miss-.Katie MeKeiver Tells of
' \hi.'Celebration of Armis
tice Day.
Paris, Nov. 11, 19IS.
Dear Papa:
Imagine if you can what it means
to he in Paris today. "La guerrre est
fihi" is the cry everywhere. I am so
dead tired I can't write a real letter
tonight, but I wanted to write of to
day while the spell is on. This after
noon your daughter marcned around
"Le Place de la Concord" with
Americans and French and singing
i?| jthe Marseillaise (I am so glad I know
the French words) ar.d "The Suvr
Spangled Banner" and waving flags.
Tfee whole city is crazy with joy. The
French people are hysterical and hi
ra:larious, but in an orderly manner.
There was much kissing. One of om
girls was kissed on both cheeks by a
Frenchman and the French girls kiss
ed the American soldiers promis
cuously. There is no doubt whatso
ever about the Frenchman's love for
the American. I- have felt sorry for
the other allies today as the celebra
tion has been so markedly Franco
- American. At dinner our hotel keep
er served us champagne and we
drank to France and he to America.
Tonight I was out with some of the
girls iand American officers. We went
through the different boulevards ana
halted at the "Place de l'Opera." The
Grand Opera House was illuminated
and a prima donna dressed as Liberty
sang the French anthem and the
thousands of people took up the chor
us. Next a man sang the Belgian an
them, after which a woman and two
men sang our national anthem. There
* are so_ many things I have experienced
today, it is impossible to write them,
b*it. today alone was worth the trip,
ftiie French temperment is marvel
ous.
Friday night a party of us went to
an American hospital just a few miles
fTonx.JE*aris.. We were very crowded,
ami as the camion was covered it was
too dark to recognize anyone. Just
before arriving I learned that the
lady opposite me was Miss Gait who
taught history while I was at R-M.
college. When we entered the hut
where the dance was. held, the first
person 5 saw was Bernice Lyle who
sat at my table for three years. You
met her on both your trips there.
She has charge of that hut. Lucile
Ryttenberg lives with the Lyles in
New York and I had quite a talk wich
Mrs. Lyies over the phone. She
7 wrote Bernice that very night. Hep
letfaer arrived Friday a 10 A. M.^ and
I, tiuough no fault of mine, walked
in at S P. M. How is that for coinci
dence Z The mess sergeant invited me
to go over to- the kitchen for some
water. It is quite the proper thing, so
I. went . I heard a negro talking and
I asked him if he wasn't from South j
Carolina. He.-said "My regular native j
home is Florence, S. C. He knew
?Agnes Kuker and all the rest of thej
folks. While in the kitchen I got a I
piece "Of 'real.apple pie.
.Saturday I went out there on the
railroad and returned; this morning.
That -night there was a show on at the
hut and we all had dinner in the mess
hall (the American army has the
best food in Europe). I sat next to
the son of Rosa Bonheur. He is a fa
mous magician but speaks no English.
"We^had a limited conversation.
Sunday morning I played for the
Protestant service at 9.30 and mass
followed, celebrated by a French
chaplain. Two French boys and
their sister furnished the music.
Both services are held in the Red
Cross but. The priest blessed my ros
ary with a special blessing. In the
afternon Bernice, a major and I
walked to a new hospital site. It was
fossnetfy a race course and must have
been quite a place as the buildings are
very elaborate. In the kitcnen they
were cooking real American bacon.
They toasted bread for us and I won't
sayhow many slices I ate. At the hut
I was talking to a negro from Fort
Motte, S. C, Forham Cheesborough.
He heard my name and asked me if
you were my father. Said he had
bought material from you.
Wednesday afternoon?The mail
only goes out once a week so there is
no need of hurrying through a let
ter. The celebration was worse than
ever yesterday, but has died down
somewhat today. I've just learned
that Miss Sheetz, one of our girls.
weHt to school with Sallie Wright and
Mable Parrott and is a friend of a
girl .who was at R-M with me. Both
of the girls I went with in New York
are now in Paris. I met up with
them at headquarters.
They are beginning to take away
the sandbags. The statues in the
Tuilleries were covered with sand
bags and German helmets. I have
seen quantities of German aeroplanes
and guns and one Zeppelin. The guns
which protected Paris from air raids
are now used for celebrating. In the
Place de la Concorde are large statues
typifying the various provinces.
Those of Alsace and Lorraine have
been draped with mourning for fifty
years, but now wear golden crowns
and are draped with French flags.
I have been assigned to Home Com
munication Service as a searcher. My
duties are to keep the wounded man
in touch with his family; write detail
ed accounts of deaths to nearest rel
atives, location of grave, etc; and try
to get as much information as pos
sible regarding missing men. I had
my choice between that and recre
ation hut and I took it because I
thought I could give beter service
and^fewer people want to do that kind
of work. .
I have had no mail since I left New
York but I know there is some on
the way.
Love to all,
Katie.
Four Ohildren Die.
- Bennettsville, Dec. 1$.?The influen
za epidemic is assuming alarming pro
porions in Bennettsville and Marl
boro county. It is estimated thnt
there are 100 cases in BennettsvU!*;
at ^rpsent.
Robert Spears, who lives a few,
miles south of Bennettsville, lost on6j
child Saturday; two yesterday and one j
today, making four in two days \
from .influenza and pneumonia. Their'
ages ranged from 12 to 20 years. ?
Xmas Saving Funds j
Banks of Sumter Have Distrib- ?
uted More Than ?55,000.
Within the last few days the va-j
rious banks of the city have been busy j
I mailing" out checks to those persons j
! who have been so fortunate as to be j
! members of one of the Christmas j
! Saving Clubs operated by the local in- I
I stitutions. Ia all, over $55,000.00 j
I have been mailed out to the members, I
jwho express themselves as liighlyi
i pleased with this amount which comes1
i in just at Christmas time when it is I
j most needed. Next year practically !
j all the banking institutions of the city j
jwill operate Christmas Saving Clubs, j
I Following are the amounts distributed j
! by each of the local banks:
j National Bank of Sumter ..$12,000.00;
jCity National Bank . 11,500.00
j Commercial Bank &
j Trust Co._ 11,000.00
jThe Peoples' Bank . 10,000.00
j Sumter Trust Co. 7,300.00
j National Bank of S. C. 5,600.00
A PUBLIC UTILITY.
Postmaster-General Bnrleson's Argu
j joient for Government Ownership.
Postmaster General Johnson in
!lS47 opposed the transfer of the tele
graph line between Washington and
I Baltimore to private control. Con
1 gress by the act of 1866 made pro
vision for the reassumption of own
: ership by the government; and the
I postmasters general in 1867, 1S69,
j 1871. 1872, 1873, 1882, 1883, 1SS9,
1890, 1891 and 1892, and the pres
ent postmaster general in his several
annual reports, have recommended
government ownership of this service.
President Grant in 1871 made a sim
ilar recommendation to congress.
If no other reason existed for the
reassumption by the government of
permanent control and monopoly of
the wire systems, a very substantial
j and concluding reason would be found
I in the desirability that this necessar
jily public service should be extended
i as is the postal service, to every house
I hold in the land.
Such an extension can never be had
j and could not be expected under pri
jvate ownership. Private corporations
j provide a public utility for profit,
,necessarily as a business proposition,
limiting their operations to such fields
as are profitable or give promise of
profit in the immediate future. Un
der government ownership' the ques
tion of profit would not be taken into
i consideration; but, under government
j control and under the resolution au
i thorizing it, the owners of these
j properties must be paid a just com- I
pensation and for that reason it will
be necessary- for the government to
conduct these services during the pe
riod of government control at rates
j which will return to the owners a
! just compensation. The government, j
j as illustrated in the postal system, j
I does not aim to make profit out of
I the service of communication, but ex
tends the service to the entire public,
drawing its "dividends" from the in-j
creased wealth, enlightenment, pro- j
gress, and happiness of the nation. j
Not only is a privately owned ser
vice restricted to where it may be op- j
erated on a paying basis, but its pa-j
trons must pay all its operating ex
penses, overhead charges, and cost of
expansion, and besides provide divi
dends to stockholders on the original
capital invested, on increased valua
tion, and on capital expended for bet
terments which has been drawn out
of the profits of the business itself.?
Hon. Albert S. Burleson in th6 Ameri
can Review of Reviews.*"
NEGRO SOLDIER LYNCHED.
Kentucky Mob Takes Man From
Hickman Jail.
Hickman, Ky., Dec. 16.?Charles
Lewis, a discharged negro soldier who
with several other negroes is alleged
to have atacked a deputy sheriff,
when an attempt was made to ar
rest them at Tyler Station, near here,
J yesterday, and later engaged in a pis
: tol fight with a posse of citizens, was
j taken from the county jail here early
j today by a mob of masked men and
hanged. The mob gained entrance to
I the jail by battering down the iron
J doors and beat to pieces the lock to
j the cell in which Lewis was held af
? ter the jailer refused to turn c er his
j keys. County officials pleaded inef
fectively with the mob.
j Lewis and a companion were charg
ted with having held up and robbed
(several other negroes Saturday, and
j when an officer attempted to arrest
j them he was attacked and badly
j beaten. Lewis refusing to submit to
I arrest, contending that his uniform
made him immune from arrest by a
civij officer. Lewis and three other
} negroes then took refuge in a corn
j field, where he was finally captured
after being wounded. He was res
cued by sheriffs deputies and brought
to jail here last night. Lewis' three;
j companions also have been arrested, j
Christmas Dinner in Germany.
Paris. Dec. 16.?President Wilson]
will leave Paris Christmas Eve and
go to American general headquar- j
ters. From headquarters he will j
proceed to the American front. He j
will have Christmas dinner with i
t the American troops and not with j
the American commander-in-chief or;
other officers.
From the above it would seem evi
dent that it is the purpose of Presi
dent Wilson to have Christmas dm- j
ner in Germany in the region of
I Coblenz with the American forces
of occupation.
More Wilt-Resistant Cotton Planted.]
. Demonstrations conducted by thei
United States Department of Agricul
ture on the control of cotton wilt,
which have been in progross for sev
feral years, resulted last year in the;
planting of a larger acreage of wilt- j
resistant cotton than ever before with j
an actual saving greatly in excess of
that of any previous year. The great!
possibilities of this work is shown by ,
reports from two cotton planters ii j
South Carolina who state that their;
savings last year through growing
wilt-resistant cotton was approximate-,
ly $11 5,000.
, ? ? (
December 16th to 23rd is P.e<l Cross j
week. A canvas is being made in ev-i
ery home in the United States. I
The Labor Problem
in The South
Commissioner Summers Re
views Situation Resulting
From War Conditions.
The*following discussion of labor
conditions in the South and its con
sequent effect upon industrial life par
ticularly during the war period is
taken from the annual report of A.
C. Summers, commissioner of agricul
ture, commerce and industries:
j The industrial life of the country
! was metamorphosed during the period
! of the war. It appears to have been
j the policy of the government not to
j establish new industries, but to con
; vert the "non-essentials" to war pur
i poses, and to enla rge existing plants.
I For that reason there was not a great
j amount of industrial expansion in the
? South.
; Certain sections of the country
j which railed at the administration at
[Washington because military camps
I were established in the South appear
' to have been unmindful of the fact
j that the government was very gener
! ous to the industries of other sections
! of the country, and that the South did
I not murmur because of any apparent
'sectional favoritism thereby shown,
j Kad the administration been partial
to the South, new industries of great
j magnitude would have been located
! here.
j As it is, the building of military
; camps has greatly upset labor condi
j tions in the South. The South's mam
i industry is agriculture, and removing
; from that industry thousands of
l workers and giving them undreamed
j of wages as artisans and mechanics
j not only interfered with crop making
i and crop gathering for the present,
' but also has given to a portion, of that
! class a distaste for farm work in the
j future. . ?
This was the fortune of war and
j we accept he result as gracefully as
I we may, yet it is a fact that is well
j known and a condition which must
I be faced, particularly here in South
j Carolina. This is indeed a crisis in
j the agricultural history of the State,
j While all branches of trade and in
| dustry are naturally apprehensive, all
j waiting for a strong hand, a strong
I head, a strong heart to give them di
i retcing, yet the conditions in the ag
! riculture of our State are peculiarly
(sensitive at this moment.
For this reason, it was particularly
J cruel and unjust that at this moment
i the government should have beep
hoodwinked by designing persons who
sought to manipulate the cotton mar
j ket for personal speculation and pri
I vate aggrandizement. There was at
I stake more than the mere price of
i the crop of 191$. The farreachlng ef
fects of this dastardly attack upon
the Fouth may be observed at a glance
when it is understood that cotton is
the South's industry as well as the
South's crop. If the South should
be beaten down and disheartened in
?this attack, the South would suffer
continuously. The South's main in
dustrial lite would be discredited. The
light which leaders of Southern
thought have been waging would be
doomed to failure and the South in
stead of enjoying industrial freedom
I would revert to a condition of fcudal
j ism and great estates. The effort of
j the State department of agriculture
and of other progressive agencies for
j the last 15 years has been to arouse
j the people of the South, to cause
them to get out of the rut and to
show them that agriculture can be
made profitable and enjoyable^ The
j rural South has been the truest type
i of Americanism. To destroy the op
portunities for developing the South
by bringing failure as the reward of
service would be very cruel indeed,
and yet to those who try to look into
the future this is the sole conclusion
I that can be reached. The South in
! fighting to preserve the price of the
! product of her industry is striving
I to save that industry rather than to
j get rich hurriedly because of any for
: tuitous circumstances.
j
i SALES ARE A LITTLE BETTER.
j Last Three Bays .'Show An Improve
ment in Buying of War Saving
Stamps?County is Yet Way Be
hind.
! The sales of War Saving Stamps
J for the last three days have run over
1 $1,000 a day. They were for the 13th
I $1,215; for the 14th, $1,172, and for
the 16th $1,078.
The report for the week ending
Dec. 7th showed that Sumter county
was in 19th place with purchases of
j $200,348. That is par value. In ac
tual cash it means that about $165,
000 has been put into the stamps.
Fome of the counties ahead ot Sum
ter are York, Florence. Horry, Or
angeburg. Bamberg, Marion, Lau
rens. Dorchester, Jasper, Barn well
iand Abbeville. Sumter is yet $170,000
[short of her pledged amount.
! The director of the War Savings
j office in Charleston suggests that in
jterest from Liberty bonds that was
jdue on the 15th be put back into
stamps; that stamps will make excel
lent Christmas presents, and that
some of the money irom the Christ
mas Savings clubs should go into
stamps.
All Together Xow. Make it Unpn?-1
moos.
This is the great Roll Call week, in J
which all of us are to be given the
privilege and opportunity of becoming;I
a member of ihe gr?>at American Re.l
('ross.
Sumter county's membership should
be fifteen thousand All together no-.
let's put her "over the top." Givi
these volunte r workers who are so- !
Ilching so untiringly your name an ! j
dollar th^ satisfaction of knowinri
thai Sumter will reach her quota be -J
fore December 23rd. . j
Xotiec to Roll Call Workers.
All Red Cross roll call workers ar-j
urged to telephone their reports in t \
the secretary of the chapter before ^ j
o'clock each day in order that a com ? j
plete report for the day may he
made tu Division Headquarters, At-;
lanta.
Pa.v your dollar and join the Ued
Cross for the year 19 19 even if you!
have already paid until May 1919. j
The Cotton Situation
Clemson College Official Believes
There Will Be an Advance
in Price Soon.
Clemson College, Dec. 16.?The fol
lowing statement concerning the cot
ton holding movement has been issued
today by D. W. Watkins, Acting Di
rector of Extension, Clemson College.
S. C.
"J-n spite of daily fluctuations in the
cotton market the prospects favor a
very material rise in prices early in
the new year. Peace will undoubted
ly be declared early in the spring and
bring the removal of all embargoes on
cotton shipments. Europe is now de
void of civilian cotton goods as well
as stocks of raw cotton. Demands
from Western European countries as
well as from Japan are on the in
j crease. Restrictions on cotton ship
j ments are being removed, as an ex
i ample of which might be mentioned
the granting of through bills of lad
| ing on export shipments. Undoubted
j ly the estimate made by the Bureau
j of Markets, to the effect that two
I million bales of cotton would be ex
1 ported this season in excess of the
I amount exported last season, will be
fully realized.
"With the shortness of the present
crop and with the growing demand
which it now appears will reach its
most acute stage in March 1919, the
cotton holding movement being con
ducted by the producers stands every
chance to meet with success. It is to
be hoped that this experience may be
the beginning of a system of market
ing cotton which will supply the
staple gradualry to meet existing de
mands, and thereby insure a fair price
at all times to the producer.
Real Estate Transfers.
j The following real estate transfers
j in Concord township have been re
I corded in the office of the County
j Auditor:
j Aline Fullard and H. T. DuRant to
I Anne Reaves, et al., one tract of land
for $10 and other consideration.
Mrs. M. L. Davis to J. L. Davis, one
tract of land for SI,000.
L. D. Jennings to J. B. Butler and
J. L. Brogdon, one tract containing
15 acres.
The Master, et al., to L. J. Newman,
one tract containing 50 acres.
A. L. Moise. trustee to Jno. C. Mc
Coy, one tra.t containing 60 acres.
D. G. Rembert to W. G. Moses, one
tract of land for $5 and other consid
erations.
C. F. Brogdon to Robert Perry, Jr.,
one tract containing 84 acres.
! Anne Pringle to T. C. Hudnal, one
! tract of land for $400.
! Isabelle J. Gordon to J. B. Gordon.
: et al.; one tract for $10 and other con
i siderations.
j Isabelle J. Gordon to J. B. & B. R.
I Gordon, one tract of land for $10 and
other considerations.
LilHe and Sallie Gordon to J. B. &
B. R. Gordon, one tract of land, $400,
W.J F. White to Harvey Rhame, one
tract for $1,575.
! A. L. Groomcs to James W.
i Groomcs. one tract fo land containing
18 acres for $5 and{other considera
| tions.
j Mary A. Newman to W. T. "& F. A.
Xewman. one tract for $429.
J. D. & R. E. Newman to W. T. &
F. A. Newman, one tract for $400.
The Master to F. A. Newman, one
tract containing 103 acres.
Thomas C. and Elizabeth Connell
to J. J. Britton, one tract of land for
$5 and other considerations, said tract
containing 30 acres.
J. J. Britton to Thomas C. &
Elizabeth Connell, one tract contain
ing 52 acres for $5.
W. S. Reynolds to W. J. Lawrence,
Jr., one tract of land for $11,000.
The Master to Anne Lewis, one
tract of 30 acres for $50.
j Mary E. Morrisey to R. A. Bradham
! et al., 640 acres of land.
I H. C. Mayes ot R. A. Bradham, one
i tract for $5 and other considerations.
G. Washington James to W. F.
Groomes, one tract of 67 acres.
Mrs. Lula Horton to Louise Harris,
one tract containing 25 acres.
W. G. Moses to Bartow and Sam
?Montgomery and John McCoy, one
tract of land containing 225 acres.
Isaac Harby, et al., to John. J.
! J. Britton. one tract for $1,000.
E. J. Nelson to William Lewis, et
al.. trustees, one tract of land for
$65.
William Lewis, et al., trustees, to
Robert Flowers, one tract for $215.
No Details Are Fixed
Number of Peace Delegates
Still Uncertain.
; Paris. Dec. 16.?Not even the num
ber of the delegates to the peace con
ference has as yet been fixed, says
an official note issued today denying;
various reports as to the make up of
the French delegation. The note reads: j
"Various newspapers have given the
composition of the French delegation
to the peace conference. Their infor
mation is mistaken. Even the num
ber of delegates will not be fixed until
an understanding is reached between
the allied governments, the same as
for the procedure."
That dollar you gave to the Red
Cross has gone a long way. It's prob
ably in Russia now.
Washington. Dec. 1 7.?President
Wilson has approved the recent rec
ommendation of Secretary Redfield
that business advisors be attached to
American legations and embassies as
government's move toward aiding
Amoriean .manufacturers in the after
war campaign for foreign trade.
The Red Cross rainbow follows
showers of relief.
1 Washington. Dec. 17.?The assign
ment by Gen. Pershing of the Ninety
Second division of the nntional army,
nogro"s. for early convoy home has
been cancelled. The assumption here
is that this division has boon select
ed as a reserve unit held to reinforce
the army of occupation in Germany.
Red . Cross investments pay the
inest dividends. -~- >*- ?
Beasts or Men?
German and American View
points on Wholesale
Starvation.
Columbia, Doc. 1.5?Two view
points, the Germans which failed,
and the Americans, which won, are
contrasted by the following state
ments, the one mach; in 1?15 by Gen
eral Von Kries of the German army,
and the other made in 1918 by Her
bert Hoover of the United States
Food Administration.
This is the German viewpoint,
quoting General Von Kries:
"Starvation must serve our pur
pose. So we set it to work for Ger
many. By starvation we can accom
plish in two or three years in East
Poland more than we have in West
Poland, which is East Prussia, in the
last hundred years. With that in
view, we propose to turn this force
to our advantage."
This is the American viewpoint,
quoting Herbert Hoover:
"In addition to supplying of those
to whom we are already pledged, we
now have the splendid opportunity of
meeting the needs of those millions
of people in the hitherto occupied ter
ritories who are facing actual star
vation. , The people of Belgium.
Northern France, Serbia. Montenegro,
Poland. Russia, Roumania and Ar
menia rely upon America for im
mediate aid. The American people,
in this most critical p< riod of their
history, have the opportunity to de
monstrate not only their ability to as
sist in establishing peace on earth*.,
but also their consecration, by self
denial, to the cause of suffering hu
manity."
Mr. Hoover is now in Europe to
ascertain what are th?? actual needs
of these millions of people who rely'
upon America for the food to relieve
starvation conditions existing in sev
eral countries. The Food Adminis
tration is waiting for word from
Mr. Hoover before announcing a de
finite program of food conservation
in order that what is needed may be
saved and sent across the seas. When
Mr. Hoover is heard from this pro
gram will be quickly formulated,
based upon information direct from
territories where famine threatens,
and the American people will comply,
voluntarily and cheerfully, with
whatever is ahead of them. This is
the confident belief of the Food Ad
ministration. -
Report of Carnegie Library for Oc
tober and November.
New members in October-Novem
ber, 31.
Previously reported, 627.
Total membership, 6r-S.
Number of books lent in, 532%
Previously lent, 8,488. v
Total number of books lent, 9,020.
Financial Report.
Rural Membership:
Fines.. .$6.74
Pay books. 1-83
Total. 53.57
Edith M. DeLorme, Librarian.
*
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Building Material and Feed Stuffs I
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O
Kough and Dressed Lumber, Lime, Cement, Plaster,
Brick, Shingles, Mouldings, Etc.
All kinds of Feed for Horses, Cows, Hogs and Poultry.
We solicit your patronage.
I Booth & McLeOO, Inc. Phones 10 & 631
BUY WAR SAVINGS STAMPS
Our Total Resources in 1917
Were $900,000.
OUR RESOURCES NOW ARE
$1,500,000
AN INCREASE OF $600,000.
Our business is growing rapid]y, as our one
desire is to give our customers prompt and cour
teous treatment at all times. We would be glad
to have you give us your banking business, we
feel sure we can please you in every way.
The Natiohal Bank of
Sumter,
The "Old Reliable" Since 1889
J. P. BOOTH,
President
W. J. CROWSON, Jr.,
Cashier
ft flfcsjS&g*
BANK ?SITH
and yourcan
BANK 0N
US
Tie First National Bank
SUMTER, S. C.
\ The Goddess of Liberty
At Our Door
Welcomes you to the Bank that
has purchased for itself and its cus
tomers over a half million dollars of
Liberty Bonds and Certificates,
?AND?
Has given six of her young men to
the service of her country.
The National Bank ol South Carolina
C. G. ROWLAND.
President
F E. KINNANT.
Cashier.
.??? ? ?????? ? ? M ???????? ???????? ? ? H ? ? f ? H M f ? M ? ? ??fr?