Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Nebraska Senator States Alter native Now Before the ; i World. ADDREllSES THE SENATE * ON PEACE LEAGUE -Says League Will Render War as Nearly Impossible as Any Agency. Washimrton, Feb'. 27.?Peace with the league of nations, or, war and pre pa rations for war without it'r the internationalism of peace and justice or the internationalism of "the So cialist, the anarchist and the Bol Jm\ shevist': are the alternatives before K the wor!3, declared Senator Hitch cock, of Nebraska, chairman of ihe senate foreign relations committee, in an address late today to the senate. The proposed league, Senator ". Hitchcock asserted, "would render war between members as nearly im Hp possible as human agencies can de vise." He spoke of the growth of So cliasm and the popular demand fo" relief from war and its sacrifices and said peoples throughout the world, if denieti measures for peace, would vio lently protest and seize power.-. Senators who have opposed the league draft, the Nebraska member asserted, would be opposed to any league. He charged that in their at tacks those senators had magnified .its dangers and that they "quibble and split aairs." Replying to a reference that Amer icanism is opposed to international ism in a recent speech of Sen :tor Borah, of Idaho, who quoted Co] Roosevelt, Senator Hitchcock ::aid the former president had created league of nations to enforce peace, not only by moral force but by ?iiii tary strength, and expressed the be lief that if he were alive Col. Rods'* - velt w%uld be found sunportinp - league as ardently as President ?."';! J ? '.-son. '. Suggestions that Mexico might join in imposing conditions on this coua try were ridiculed by the senator who said Mexico was not eligib:e for membership because she could not jgjve the requisite guarantees of her intention and her ability to comply with international obligations Senator Hitchcock answered in de tail the recent criticisms of Senators Borah and Cummins, of Iowar Repub licans, and Reed, of Missouri. Demo crat. Some of their contentions he characterized as "ridiculous and ab surd." He said it was not true the league plan would destroy the Mon roe- doctrine -or depart from Wash ington's foreign policy, and. likf President Wilson, he took the po sition that the world powers would add to the Monroe doctrine's guar antee. Pointing out that the league chav 1 ter was tentative and still subject tr amendment, Mr. Hitchcock, praise-1 the plan for an executive council con ferring permanent powers upon the five principal nations. In the attacks on the league h< said opponents apparently had con sidered ?very suggestion of its con trol except that "it might be con trolled by the great self-governing democracies of the world that estab lishos it. "To my mind," he said, "the execu tive council is an rn?renious, -^st ar...: effective method of placing control in the five great. nations whi^h hav,<-' successfulT-- fought thi* war. th' permanent direction of the league." The diarmament prcvisfen. Se: ator Hitchcock said, did not arbi trarily fix *he Hmit of armamem was merely advisory. The argu ment that nntjer.s agreeing to tration. submit "their national 'ife'" to the league, he declared was absur??? when the league guaranteed politi cal independence and territorial in tegrity to every member. In discussing the Monroe doctrine. Senator Hitchcock said: "Instead of being compelled to de fend the Western Hemisphere alone, we would have the sympathy and help of the league of nations in car rying out the spirit of its organiza tion. "We have been told that this is one of those entangling alliances against which Washington warned us. I deny it." He pictured Washington writing his farewell address by candlelight and added: "If Washington were living today, he would press an electric button summon a stenographer, and in the blaze of electric lights, dictate a mes sage urging the American people to unite with other great nations . . . to end wars and establish a perpetual peace of justice and good wiH. He would adapt himself to new condi tions." To the suggestion that Japan might impose the immigration ques tion to America, the senator said Jap anese efforts for race equality, dec larations at Paris already had fail ed, and that confronted in the league by seven great Caucasian races. Ja pan could not even get a hearing if she attempted to bring up the immi gration question. "Our experiences in the war from which we are just emerging." said the senator in his argument upon the necessity for a league have convinc ed us that we are a part of the world and that whenever the world be comes convulsed with war in the fu ture we are likely to become involved in it." Citing enormous losses and cost of the present war, he said: "The confidence of men in govern ment has been shaken and will never he restored until governments devise some way to end these wars . . . If we fail to adopt an internationalism of governments, that will unite to end j wars wo* shall t*t face io face with1 Vote of Republican Conference is Made Unanimous?Mann Ran Second. OLD GUARD IS IN THE CONTROL OF PARTY The Nomination^ Regarded by j Republicans ?s Equivalent to Election. Washington. Feb. 27.?Representa tive Frederick H. Gillett, of Massa chusetts, was nominated on the first ?allot tonight by the Republican con ference as the party candidate for speaker in the next house of repre sentatives. Representative James R Mann, of Illinois, ran second with Representa tive Phillip Campbell, of Kansas, who entered the race a few days ago after Representative Simon D. Fess. Ohio, had withdrawn, far behind. As the Republicans will have a majority in ?he next house, nomination was re garded by them a.; equivalent to elec tion. The official vote as announced by Representative Horace M.- Towner, of Towa. chairman of the conference, follows: Gillett, 138; Mann, 89-; Campbell. 13. Seatt^rinsr. r>: 4 for Representative John J. Esch, of Wisconsin, and 1 for Representative Frank W. Mon of Wyoming. Immediately after the ballot was announce*', the nomination of Mr ? Mllett was made unanimous on mo tion of Mr. Mann. After n brief address by - the suc candid; "? the conference pro foprTpr? wi*h th*1 nomination of othe^ candidates for of^oe in the Honse. W. Tyler Page. of Montgomery county, Md.. was nominated clerk b:> acclamation, and .To?.* Rogers, o' Philadelphia^ how a house employee, was nominated for sergeant -it arms over representative Wm. J. Cary, of Wisconsin, whose term expires March .4. The Legislature To-Day The Compulsory Education Bill Passes House?All Between 8 and 14 Years Must At tend School. Special to The Daily Item. Columbia. Feb. 28.?The house o* r< presenta%yes today agreed to the senate amendments to the compul . sory education bill and it will be . < ome law as soon as signed by the governor. The act provides that all children in the State between the ages of eirrht and 14 ye*rs must at tend school for not less than four , consecutive months each session. The ser.of' today sent to the house ihe bill providing for a one mill levy . nnd an auto tax for the construction of permanent highways. A big fight ;s expected in the house. The bill will come up this afternoon. The senate spent most of the morn ing discussing a bill to take th^ teachers' bureau from the control or Superintendent of Education Swear incen and place it with the Board o Education. Penator Clifton of Sum ?sncl^e ;n fji-vbr Af the bill. De bate was adjourned until tonight. Th house meets again at A o'clock this r. ft<"-rnoon. Merrimac Engineer Is Dead Was Confederate Veteran Who wTook Part in Famous Battle. Portsmouth', Va., Feb. 2S.?Captain Elsberry White, assistant engineer of the Confederate Ironclad Merrimac when she fought the Monitor, died j h?re today. I he internationalism of the individ I uai. - - j Referring to the trend to Socialis tic leaders and ideas. Senator Hitch-1 cock said Russia was communistic md that ITrance and Italy were "dom inated by the Socialist leaders, and So cialist principles were growing in England and Germany. "War and the preparations for war, the burdens of war and the hor- j rors of war are largely responsible i '"or this development in every nation ! [of Europe or the Socialist idea." he j said. "If war and the preparations for war are to continue the chief business of national governments we can expect a development of Social- j sm and Bolshevism in the United "tates. ... It will seize political r>ow?-r in th'S country as it h::s in j other countries." Analyzing the proposed league constitution. Senator Hitchcock said I ' Its agreements for postponement for] war whfle the executive council pro-j j ceeds with examination of disputes would insure ";: cooling off Jim?-" and of itself be a tremendous safeguard; j against war.? 1 j i Distressing from his prepared text, j (Senator Hitchock declared that if the senate attempted to amend the pro-j posed constitution the league would; he wrecked. He accused senators ? who opposed the league plan before j the proposed constitution was an nounced with trumping up charges j a era in st it. "They sti1' continue conjuring up ! a scare crow." he declared. The Japanese question was charac terized as a bugaboo and one of thei "false fronts" brought as an argu ment against the league Senator Hitchcock spoke before j crowded galleries, but there was no j demonstrta n?osac-?jj rd . t mm? demonstration as spectators had been i wonted, acuiu-;!. applauding, ', Southern Senators Fail in Effort to Open Markets to Cotton*. TWO ATTEMPTS ARE MADE IN CONGRESS Moves at White House and in the Senate ? Smith Gets One ' - Amendment In. Washington. Feb. 27.?After Presi dent Wilson today refused requests of a congressional delegation from Southern cotton growing States to remove export embargo restriction on cotton, they endeavored in the sen ate late tonight to add a. rider to :he billion dollar wheat guarantee bill io repeal laws authorizing the em bargo. The amendment; however, was rejected, to The president took the position in which he was supported in the sen ate discussion tonight by Minority Leader Lodge and other?, that a '?hange in the embargo situation would violate the armistice terms and that the status quo of the enemy countries must be maintained until [the peace treat/' is signed. Senators from tha Southern States. 1 however, contended that the embargo seriously injures American trade in cotton and that the British embargo on cotton would, maintain the armis tice conditions. The senate adopted, -however, by a -iva voce vote an amendment pre sented by Senator Smith of South Carolina prohibiting the delivery or. contracts of unmerchantable grade? :f cotton. In explaining the amend ment, Senator Smith said that owing :o the practice of such grades being delivered on contracts cotton ex changes had become gambling places. Introduction of the Kirby amend ment resulted in protracted debate r> *be part of the Democratic sen ? tors '"'nni the eotton States. Tn urg ing adoption ^f the amendment Sen ator Gore declared he thought con gress should repeal the ^aw permit ting restrictions against the exporta tion, of cotton to permit internation al commerce. Senator Pollock of South Carolina leclared the amendment was a mat ter of common justice to Southern farmers who desire an open market for their cotton. The amendment was termed a "half baked" propo ?;.T1on by Senator Jones of Xew Mex ;co. a Democrat, who urged careful ??onsideration before such an amend . ent was adopted, adding the pres ident already has authority to remove he restrictions. Among the opponents to the >mendment was Senator Xorris of Nebraska, Republicm. who declared [\ not only endangered the whole : -nrar.tee bill, but th" president in *ormed senators today he did not in tend removing the embargo. "I dor.*t know h;s reasons," Sen for Norm's said, "but at least he is convinced that it should not be lone." The amendment was also opposed ' y Minority Leader Lodge, who said n the armistice the United States ? '--od to maintain a s'atus quo, but if this amendment was enacted it uld mean a violation of the armis !ie*. He said he did not think a "fitting preface for the league of .a :: ns to begin by breaking an agree ,'." .rvim*r be could not see how rne president could sign a bill con :Vning such a provision. F :ce^t:on to thfs view was taken ? ?? Senator Smith of Georgia, who ? id h did not believe it interfered ?. hh ;he status quo. asserting the . . sidrnt recently took barley off the ??mbargo list. Steamship Line Is Suspended i - j Baltimore & Carolina Co., With | draws After Present Trip to Georgetown and Charles Ieston. Baltimore, Feb. "27.? Mason L. W. Williams, president of the Baltimore A: Carolina Steamship Company, an nounced today that on the return of the steamer Matilda Weems from her present trip from this port to George., town and Charleston, S. C. the line -ill withdraw from business. Mr. Williams said the decision was forceJ upon the company .as it was on 'the Merchants & Miners' Com pany by the ruling of the railroad ad ministration prohibiting transfer of freight between the steamers and. the railroads now administered by the government Mr. Williams add d that the amounl of port to port freight would no! be enough to en able his line to meet expenses. I Secretary Tumulty ! Issues Denial! President Wilson Misquoted on Irish Question. Washington, Feb. 28.?Secretary' j Tumulty today issued a statement j denying forma!!;.' on behalf of Pres ident Wilson that the president had i told members of congress, foreign I affairs committee. Wednesday night I that the Irish question was matter between [reland and England and; that [reland would have no voice in the peace conference at present. Add Washington ahcnge,r elin .\ statemehl to this effect was made by at least on" conimitteeman after! the White House conference, and! characterized as a. "deliberate falser hood.*' Secretary Tumulty refused to discuss what President Wilson did say about ih<; Irish question, Republicans Fighting Every thing That is Regarded as An Administration Measure EFFORT TO BLOCK THE VICTORY LOAN BILL Purpose is Evidently to Force the Calling of An Extra Ses sion of Congress. Washington, Fob. 28.?Differences between Democratic and Republican leaders over the legislative situation, eh'oes from which, have been heard daily since President Wiison made Known his determination not to call an extra session of the new congress until his return from France, may be farced to an issue tomorrow in the senate with the calling up of the '?Vic tory L?-an" bill. Democratic senators have told the president that in their efforts to force an extra session ? the Republicans would undertake to defeat* this me is ure. which provides the means of financing the government during the remainder of- this fiscal year. This information did not change the pre: dent's determination and tonight the ', Democratic leaders decided to call up j the bill tomorrow so that they might ; determine with reasonable certainty ' jus:, what were the prospects for rush j :ng necessary legislation through be ! fore adjournment next Tuesday . It was said tonight that the Repub lican leaders' course would await fur Lh< r conferences early tomorrow and for negotiati? ns with the Democrats and the sounding of Republican sen ators' sentiments. Democratic leaders said notice had been given that the loan bill would a* held continuously before the senate until disposed of by unbroken sessions, day and night, if necessary, until adjournment. On ac count of its importance to the nation's finances they should give it precedence ove r all appropriation .or other meas ures. Whether the desire for an imme diate early session should be sacri ficed to the questional expediency of defeating the loan measure was vigor ously debated among the Republican senators, several of whom were said to have disapproved opposition to the bill. Democratic leaders tonight ex pressed belief that the Republicans would not defeat the bill by a. filibus ter, but they admitted that several im portant appropriation bills undoubted ly would fail. Although much time was spent in th>- senate today in discussion of the ague of nations and other subjects considerable 'progress was made there. The house passed and sent to the sen ate the $20,000,000 general deficiency bill and senate appropriation commit i tee members planned tonight to report the bill tomorrow adding as a rider the house bill appropriating $750.000. 000 for the railroad administration. Other progress included: Formal presentation of the "Victory Loan" bill to the senate; adoption by the house of the conference report on the long delayed water power devel opment bill, conference agreement on hospital construction appropriations and negotiations expected to attain prompt enactment of the $1.000,0o0, 000 wh? at guarantee measure. At late night sessions tonight the house worked on itsdast appropriation bill, the sundry civil measure, while the senate considered the conference report on the bill authorizing the 1920 census, the oil and coal leasing bill and minor appropriation measures. Many minor bills were passed today by the senate, in what members ex ?ected was a final reading of the '' endar for unobjected measures. ? b.-action to consideration of manj measures was regarded as insuring i their failure for the present session. Chairman Jones of the senate wo man suffrage committee announced ate today that equal suffrage advo cates would make a final effort for ac tion on a compromise constitutional amendnn n'. de signed t<> mcel objec tions of Southern senators who op posed the- Susan B. -Anthony draft, re cently defeated. The committee wil meet tomorrow to report out the res oution. Discussion of the legislative situa tion and the Question of an ex< . ses sion cropped out in ton'"'-' senate debate. Senator France of Maryland, Republican, urging his resolution fat an extra session beginning March and characterizing as "vicious and un American" the practice of rushinj bills through at the session's close. Senator France spoke for m >re thar four hours and stopped only when he was promised adoption, of the confer ence report on the 1:920 census bill He charged Democrats with obstruct ing legislation and said chat by decree and decision of the majority leaders It was proposed to kill legislation v. hie-: the country needs with adjourn men? of congress, and delay of an ex tra session. He said he was "willing to stand un 11 -he dropped dead*' in an effort to secure an v session on March '<. Bio?ng in Madrid Martiai Law Declared and Order Finally Restored. Madrid. Friday. Feb. -'7.?Martial law w.-.s declared in Madrid and troops were patrolling the streets. This action was the result of rioting igaias: prof:!' ers. mobs attacking the provision end butcher shops. Order ( has been restored. Washington. March 1.?The demob- ' ilization of the army up io yesterday I ? '? reached more than one million three hundred thousand men. Gen. * March announced today. The de- ? nobili/a:ion orders total more '."nan ' i million and a-half. 1 BUILD RIGHT WHEN YOU BUILD The intending: home-builder is. for the most part, like a traveler in strange and foreign lands. He is not sure of his bearings; he is confused by conflicting claims; he is uncer tain of the best routes, and in doubt as to the real values. He eagerly avails himself of the services of a reliable guide, as to where to go, what to look at, and what to buy. If you are in this position and desire our services, it will be a pleasure to assist you. j BOOTH & McLEOD, Inc., THE HOME OF HOME-BUILDING 3L\TERIALS. PHONES 10 & 631 SUMTER, S. C [Assault on Constitution of Pro posed League is Partisan At tack on Wilson. SAFETY OF THE WORLD SUBORDINATE TO PARTY Massachusetts Senator Makes Argument in Support of Re publican Claims That Monroe Doctrine is in Danger. Washington, Feb. 28.?Republican senators today returned to their as sault on the constitution of the league of nations as proposed to the peace conference at Paris with Sen ator Lodge i. Massachusetts, who will he chairman of the powerful for eign relations committee in the new senate, making his first pronounce ment since the document became public. Criticism by the Republicans did not pass unchallenged. Chairman Hitchcock for the foreign relations committee, took sharp issue with the Massachusetts senator, denouncing as preposterous his suggestion that the league would take from America its right of self defense. Delivering before., crowded floor and galleries an address he had pre pared before attending the "White House dinner conference last Wed nesday night. Senator Lodge warned the American people to consider well before departing from policies from Washington. Lat.- in the day Senators Lenroot of Wisconsin and Freling huysen of New Jersey made addition al demands for amendment of the chartex*. Senator Lodge, speaking before an audience which included diplomatic representatives cf several foreign na j tions. deplored ? proposals to give I powers to the league which he said I would cause the Monroe doctrine to "disappear." would abridge Ameri can sovereignty and in the end pro mote misunderstandings and war in stead of the peace which the world so much desired. The Massachusetts senator assailed especially the provis :ons for territorial guarantee manda tories and disarmament. Besides de manding revisions of these clauses the senator declared that domestic ques tions such as immigration should be definitely placed beyond the author-; fty of the league. He said the entire constitution was too loosely drawn, admitting of too wide interpretation. TT^ told the senate that for Lin coln's government of ' * people, by "he people and for the people, the TTnrted State ? was new asked to sub stitute on many vital points, gov ernment, of, for and by other peo ples pnd declared the nation should pause and consider well before tak nrr "this fateful step." "We are asked." said the senator ' "to move away from George Wash I hagton toward the other end of the I "no at which stands the sinister ! frcure of Trotzky. the champioi. of [nternationalism. We must build no bridges across the chasm which now ?eparates American freedom and or 'er from Russian anrcliy and-destruc tion." Like Senator Lodge, Senator Len roo? and Sen:''.or Frelinghuysen warned against acceptance of the ?eatrue constitution without -ireful 'eHberation end without fui ?nta' r-cvii-.ion. While favorinc: a 1c gue 'bar ivnrdd >K<t eor.Hiet with American principles and sovereignty. Senator Lenroot urged Mint as" the project is ?in experiment its life be limited to on years with provision for renewal :f ?t proves successful. Senator Frelinsrhuvseri disputed iny assumption that President Wli reoresentcd public sentiment in proposing participation of America in ? y^r. leasrue and demanded that rhe country he fully informed on t*V. chases of the question before the senate is asked to consider it as a pari of the peace treaty. j Debate on the league will con-1' :nue tomorrow with addresses by '?<?-,;:,(,)(? Knox and Senator Hardwick of Georgia. Quits Railroads For Sfovies Assist ?nt Director General Price Resigns Position. Washington. Mar eh l.?Oscar Price, assist.-.nr. director general of railroads, tee? resigned to become president <>f a new" film distributing corporation. d t c Franklin". Mass.. March 1.?The j f todies of three unidentified men were k "ound today at 3 short distance from I ?!<? scene of the mysterious explosion I ha< damaged the mill of the Ameri-j-v Woolen Company and fifty d Ivvellings yesterday. The bodies were v >adly mutilated, r, FARMERS UNITE FOR BATTLE The Cotton Acreage Reduction Movement Has Solid Support of Producers. CAMPAIGN IS ON FROM MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA Largely Attended Meetings Held in All Counties of State?The Pledges Signed by Thousands. Columbia, March 1.?Reports of the county meetings held yesterday in every section of the State indicate that the farmers of South Carolina ! have gotten squarely behind the cot jton acreage reduction plan, will hold the remainder of the 19 IS crop of cot ! ton for higher prices and make some I reduction in the amount of fertiliz [ er-used. * At the meetings yesterday, ! speakers explained the acreage re I duction plan and correlated under takings to audiences composed of ? farmers and business men. The pre pared pledge was freely signed and i in practically all counties district I committees were appointed at the I county meetings to secure in their ! respective territories signatures of , farmers to the pledge. At a number of the meetings, ne ; gro farmers present manifested in ' tcrest in the plan. In at least two counties, Geoi-getown and Jasper, the meeting raised a sum of money by [subscription for financing the acreage ! reduction plan through the State central committee. As far as available reports show, there was no opposition to the plans put forward by the New Orlean con vention. Resolutions adopted by many of the meetings provide specifically for the payment of one-third of crop pers' rent in other farm products be sides cotton. In Anderson, the farm ers at the meeting decided to let re duction in the use of fertilizers take care of itself. J. Skottowe Wannamaker, chair man of the State central comij^J^p, spoke at the meeting of farmers in Calhoun his home county, with Thos. G. McLeod of Bishopville, former lieutenant governor. Both of them a,lso addressed the meeting at Ot angeburg. "The fanners in the counties har*e indorsed the proposition to cut the acreage 33 1-3 per cent, and have signed the pledge in large numbers. The persons present have taken pledges home to be signed by their neighbors. The campaign did not end with today's meetings, but has just begun." says J. Skottowe Wan namaker. State chairman. "The meetings today were successful not under the spur of oratory or excite nv nt. but by force of the logic of the situation and the farmer's belief that he has not had a square deal. "In seme of the counties there was discussion of the relation of tenants and landlords to this question. The State central committee at its meet ing nest Tuesday noon in this city will be asked to determine a fair ba sis of exchange upon which other commodities can be given to land lords in place of rental cotton. It is stated that the landlords in many counties will be patriotic enough to change their contracts and get out of the all cotton rental plan. "Kiehiand county passed ? resolu tions declaring that if cotton farm ers .are to be represented .abroad by r.ne of their number, E. D. Smith s the man who should go." Search for Weapons Berlin Government Take Steps to Forestall Threatened Out break of Spartacans. Berlin. Friday, Feb. 27.?The min ster ef the interior has ordered a jouse to house search in Berlin for lifklen weapons and munitions. Spar acans are reported to be planning inc:'} or outbreak for March 5th, irh< n the newly elected Prussian diet neets. 5-Iore Than Seven Million Killed Statistics of Death in Battles During War Made PubHc. V. ashington. March 1.?The battle oaths <iaring the war as far as sta stics were available, were announc d by Gen. March today as seven lillion, three hundred and fifty >ur thousand, representing only men illed in action or died of wounds. !' ris. March 1?The soldiers and ?orkmer's congress at Munich has eclared martial law throughout Ea aria, according to a Zurich dispatch > The Matin,