The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, November 08, 1919, Image 8
Reports Show Breaks in Ranks!
of Strikers in West Vir
ginia and Colorado
NON-UNION MINES RUN
AT FULL CAPACITY
7
Declare Miners and Some Lead
ers Realize Public Sentiment
is Against Them
Washington. Nov. 3.?Official Wash
ington was firm in the belief that the
end of the coal strike was near.
There was nothing definite or tan
gible in the way of actual develop
ments to justify this hopeful view of
the situation, but everywhere the feel
ing prevailed that influences were be
ing brought to bear to have the
strikers, numbering more than 400,
000, return to work.
Confidential reports to the depart
ment of justice from its agents in the
coal fields, were said to show many
defections from the ranks of the
strikers. Some of the' reports said
that large numbers of idle miners had
declared they wanted to return to
work but were afraid.
In this connection officials reiterated j
that adequate protection would bei
given. There was no specific state
ment as to how this would be pro
vided, but it was. explained that troops
would be available at the call of any
governor who believed it necessary to
preserve order to protect workers.
..Scattered reports from the, fields,
reaching into twenty-eight States,
showed the first break in the ranks
of organized labor in West Virginia
and Colorado. Advices to Washing-i
Itni. headquarters of the operators
said that all non-union ? mines were
working to full capacity and turning j
out considerably more coal than on
Saturday. Some of the operators'
reports said that union men had
gone to work in non-union mines,
and that there was growing senti
ment that the men themselves should
have had the right to vote on the strke
before it was ordered.
W.M.?. CONVENTION
Annual Meeting of Baptist Wo
man's Missionary Union in
Session at First Baptist ,
! ?hurck
From The Daily Item, Nov. 5.
"' ^-The State Bteptist Woman's Mission
ary Union, which is holding its. an
nual convention in'this city, began its
work in earnest this morning. About
four hundred delegates are in the
city with more still to come. The
convention began this morning with
devotional exercises, conducted by
3?rs. James Hearon. The greetings
were read by Mrs. Charles Cuttino,
after which several reports were read
?by the various secretaries and vicej
presidents.
Mrs. G. G. Byers, who possesses a j
heautifal voice sang a solo and this
?was followed by an address by Mrs.
W. C. James, which was thoroughly
enjoyed.
Several matters of routine busi
ness were disposed of by the conven
tion, after which recess was taken
for dinner which was served at the
old Magneto factory.
. The convention in attendance and
interest is exceeding the expectations
of former years, and bids fair to be
one of the largest and most success
ful ever held
The devotional exercises on Wednes
day afternoon were conducted by Mrs.
J. C. Bose, who is one of the officers
of the Southern Baptist Convention
and a honorary delegate to the State
convention. A very interesting re
port was read by Mrs. R. C. Hoyt
on the" subject of History.
. Dr. C. C. Brown made a very ex
cellent address, which was greatly en
Joyed oy all present. Last night thej
services began promptly at 8.30. A
bt-ge crowd was in attendance. So
large was the congregation until it
filled the Sdnday school room as well
as the church.
Dr. W. E. Thayer, pastor of the
First Baptist church, presided. After
. some specially selected music. Dr.
Jamison delivered an inspiring mes
sage.
-The meeting last night was the
largest of the convention, however, it
, is believed and hoped that today's at
tendance will surpass that of last
night
This morning the meeting is being
presided over by Mrs. David Coker.
Reports from the various organiza
tions of th Baptists are being receiv
ed and approved.
Bunch will be served by the San
tee Association at the Magneto fac
tory.
Will Denbtiess be Welcomed by Con
sumers.
s.
London. Oct. 7.?Export trade in
British leather goods is reviving and
*matn?facturers say they are hopeful
of capturing the higher grade Amer
ican markets.
An official of the International Shoe
^mT^Leather Fan. says that British
manufacturers are pooling resources,
markets aTuf^unds in an effort to in
crease export trade.
Proletana; Expensive t<> Hungary
Budapest, Oct. 5.?Tin- dictator
ship of the proletariat cost Hungary
13.C75,OOC,000 kronen according to a
rtatement published here. Tho Red
army alone cost 2.660,000,000 kronen,
????ne hundred and fifty million kronen
were spent.on foreign propaganda.]
and a similar sum is said to have bee
irough frauds.
Issues Statement Saying He!
' Thinks the Strike Can
Be Settled j
i
. }
-.- i
SAYS A BLUNDER
HAS BEEN MADE!
_ ' I
i
Injunction Proceedings By Gov-I
ernment Causes Union Lead-;
ers Grave Concern j
Washington, Nov. 4.?Withdrawal of!
the injunction obtained -by the gov- j
ernment will open the way for settle- j
ment of the coal strike, Samuel Gomp
ers, president of the American Feder- j
ation of Labor, declared in a state- |
ment tonight.
Charging that the injunction was aj
grave wrong and ? gross blunder, Mr. j
Gompers said if it were vacated and j
miners and operators invited to furth
er conference by the department of la
bor he had "an abiding faith" that a
mutually honorable adjustment could
be negotiated and effected "whereby j
the coal strike can be brought to an j
end."
Mr. Gompers' statement was issued j
after his return here from New York j
and in response to numerous requests I
for an expression as to chances of
bringing the strike to a speedy end.
The statement follows:
"Representtaives of 'newspapers!
have asked me for a statement re-1
garding the coal strike and the situa
tion. /
"In the first instance it should be J
known that the demands of the min- |
ers. which upon the surface seems so j
radical and far reaching are by no I
means so.' For several years the min-!
ers have not had more than a half!
years' work their working days aver- !
aging from 160 to ISO days per year, j
intermittent, by days and by weeks?j
employment and then unemployment, j
The miners simply ask for a regula- J
tion of the working time so that coal j
production and employment may be,
regulated rather than intermittent.
If the miners were permitted by the '
operators to work full time the supply
of coal thus mined would soon force
down the price of cos\ on the market}
and this the operators are determined j
not to permit. The miners' case might:
better be stated by their demanding at!
least five days of six nours per week,
which is really more than they are
permitted to work at the present time.
An understanding of these conditions
clearly show who are responsible for
the present situation and the cause.
"When in 1914 the miners received
an increase of 20 cents per ton. the
operators raised the selling price ?5
per ton. Surely the conditions and the
standards of life of the miner had de
teriorated by reason of there being no
practical advance, in their wages and
their earning power, while the cost of
living has soared higher and higher.
"The mandate of the officers of the
United Miner Workers of America
was directed from the representatives
cf the men who? at the recent conven
tion decided that unless a substantial
improvement in wages and regulation
of the working lime were granted the
strike order should be issued to take
effect November 1. President Lewis
and his associates therefore had no al
ternative particularly when the mine
operators left the conference, leaving
the representatives of the miners
alone.
"The injunction secured by the at
torney general could not prevent the
strike, for it was issued after the
strike notice had already gone forth.
The injunction was not only a grave
wrong but a gross blunder. It prac
tically takes awe y the constructive
influence of the officers of the organ
ization and indeed bars theni from
attempting to end the strike. Instead
of conservative leadership prevailing
it placed the whole movement in the
hands of local men who may vie with
each other and be at variance with
each other. If the injunction were
vacated and the department of labor
invite the operators and the represen
tatives cf the United Mine Workers to
a further conference. I have an abid
ing faith that a mutually honorable
adjustment can be negotiated and ef
fected whereby the coal strike can be
brought to an er.d."
Indianapolis. Nov. 4.?Acting Presi
dent John L. Lewis of the United Mine
Workers of America tonight stated
that th^ miners will be willing to re
sume negotiations with the operators
immediately if the restraining order
now in force against them is vacated.
His statement was made after being
shown an Associated Press dispatch
quoting President Samuel Gompers of
the American Federation of Labor as
advocating withdrawal of the restrain
ing order as a step toward settlement 1
of the .strike.
Mr. Lewis' statement follows:
"If the injunction is vacated the
miners will be willing immediately to
meet the operators in joint conference
to negotiate a wage scale."
Asked if miners would return to
work prior to opening of negotiations.
Mr. Lewis said the miners* offer meant
only "negotiations without reserva
tions." and wo'.- ! add nothing to this!
declaration.
Tinier the restraining order, as eon- |
strued by miners' officials, any state-1
ment as to continuation of th<- strike
would be a violation of the restraining
order issued in federal court here
against them last wee!:. In view et'!
this Mr. F^ewis" statement was taken
that n<> move toward calling off the
strike would he taken before reopen
ing of negotiations.
Pans. Nov. 4.?The Simplon Ex- i
press, while at a standstill near Sens. ??
ibout sixty miles from Paris, was run j
into by the Geneva train last night. ;;
Severn! persons were killed and a \
kuniber injured. (
COUNTY BOARD
HOLDS MEETING
Commissioners Held Regular
Monthly Session Yesterday
I
The County Board of Commissioners j
held a regular monthly me ting on
November 4th with all members ores- j
ent.
The rural policemen were called
by the board and given insfrUc-1
tions in regard to enforcing the I
law as to speeding autos and trucks!
on the county roads. Numerous;
complaints'have b< < n received by j
the board from citizens complain? J
iii^ about Urn speed and disposition ?;f j
trucks to always remain in the mid
dle of the road when meeting an-1
other vehicle. Complaints have also i
been received concerning trucks from;
the bottling plants leaving bottles in I
the road.
The county attorney was at the
meeting and "read the law on the sub-J
ject. which states:
Section CO 1. ? "No person shall;
operaie a motor vehicle on a !
public highway at a rate of speed f
greater than is reasonable and prop-'
er at the time and place, having re- |
gard to traffic and use of highway.}
and its condition, or so as to endanger
the life, limb or property of any per- J
son or in any event at a greater rate |
than 15 miles per hour, subject'
however to the ether provisions in sec
tions t!02 to 60S inclusive:
Section CC2: ''Upon approaching a
crossing or intersecting public high
ways, or a bridge or a sharp curve or
a steep descent, and also in traVers-j
ihg such crossings, bridge, curve or j
descent, a person operating a motor!
vehicle shall have it under control |
and operate it at the rate of speed I
no greater than C miles per hour, and j
in no event than is reasonable and
proper, having regard to the traffic!
then on such highway and the safety!
of the Public."
The board instructed the rural po-j
lice to pay especial attention to speed;
of autos and trucks and to rigidly en-(
force the law. The public is also re- j
quested to report all violations of the!
law in this respect.
The County Engineer reported the |
contract for the bridge at Lynch'sj
river, had been placed and about 4,000 j
feet of lumber was on hand for this;
purpose Order* for about 8 cars for j
general bridge work in the county had
been placed.
County Engineer reported a negro
?convict. Albert Butler, who was on ?
the chairigang for 30 years made his j
escape on Saturday night.
The hoard authorized S60 be used
in placing slate roof on Camp Alice.
The city also donated an equal
amount. -1
The name of Mrs. Sarah E. "White j
was stricken from the monthly ap- j
propriatxon roll at her reo,uest.
Mr. E. JJ. Sauls was granted aj
Confederate pension by the board.
Application of Jailer Owens for an
increase in salary was approved and
increased to &T5 per month.
The chairman advise., that he wa?
in receipt of a letter from State High
way Commissioner offering to give
Sumter county a five ton locomotive
for use on the public roads. The of
fer was accepted.
The salary of the clerk of the board
was increased to $150 per month.
Mr. Hal W. Harby appeared be
fore the board in the interest of a new
road in Privateez--Tindal district. The
board refused to build the road at this
time but consented to build the
bridge.
Mr. Alec Thompson appeared be- j
fore the board in reference to the
cotton weighing , conditions, under
which the weighers were working.!
Ke stated that they were having;
to weigh at four places and hav- i
ing to keep cotton lined up so as to i
be shipped. Mr. Thompson stated
that the new platform would be com
pleted Saturday.
The board asked Mr. Thompson to
write a letter for publication with
reference to the weighing situation. |
setting forth al! the facts.
Mr. K. B. Belser of the legislative !
delegation appeared before the board
and had an informal conference with !
reference as to road building. liej
was invited to meet the board at a I
special meeting November 11th.
_
?
CABINET MEET
ING POSTPONED!
_ j
Will Discuss Strike SituationJ
Later in Week
j
Washington. Nov. 4.?With several
members of the cabinet at home to
day to vote, the cabinet did not hold
its regular Tuesday session. It is ex
pected 'hat it will be assembled later '
in the week to discuss the coal strike !
and appointment of a commission on
industrial unrest.
ISSUE NEW POST
AGE STAMP;
To Bear Likeness of Prince oil
Wales I
- I
St. Johns. Newfoundland. Oct. 6.?
Officials intend issuing a special pos
tage stamp bearing the likeness of
the Prince of Wales to commemorate I
his recent visit t<> Newfoundland. The j
prince's likeness has appeared on two
postage stamps of the colony?as]
Prince Edward 01 York on the one-J
half-cent stamp of is:i7 and ?s a na- j
i'al cadet on the three-cent stamp of:
the Royal Portrait series of 1911, i
How Rats Multiply.
London. Oct. 2.? In ten years the;
lesctm:b:nts of ;i single pair of rats if
Llfmvcd in multiply undisturbed would
lumber IS.:jR).6!?x.S 12.030.1! J (.720.'
tccording to figures prepared for tb<-j
!3oard of Agriculture by a well-1 ,
vnovvn scientist. This calculation is;
m incident of tbe country-wide cam
laign being waged against rats which! .
ire said to do a yearly damage in thr j '
"nited Kingdom amounting to $200,-1 '
H)(> 0'Ji) I ^
Lumber
. Brick,
r Siime,
Cement,
Plaster,
Fire Brick,
Fire Clay,
Sewer Pipe,
Scovo JFTuo,
Material
Flooring
Ceiling,
Siding,
Casing.
Mouldings,
Framing Lumber,
Red Cedar Shingles,
Pine arul Cyri?*t"ss* Siilnjcloa.
MMal and CoriipasitioH Shindies, Terra Cotta Thimbles
Doors, sash and Blinds, Mortar Colors and Stains
Porch Columns and Batlasteis. Water Proofing Mineral,
Beaver Board, Corrugated Metal Roofing,
Valk\\ Tin and Ridge Roll, Asbetos and Composition Roofing.
Locks,
iiiiLLCt'S,
Nails,
Crates,
Saws,
Hatchets,
Hammers,
Door Hangers,
Carpenter's Tools,
Paint Brushes,
Paints and Oils,
Inside Decorations,
Calsomines and Cold Water Paints,
Hardware,
Paints, Oils
ivntE i i:\dXC, iron and wood posts
EVERYTHING FOR THE HOUSE
Booth & McLeod, Inc.
SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
DRUNKENNESS DECREAS
ES 84.6 PCT; IN ENGLAND
i ? ? 4
London. Oct. 6.?In the last year
of the war there was a remarkable]
falling off in this country of convic-j
tions for' drunkenness from pre-war!
totals. 'Official figures, which show!
a decrease or" 84.C percent, follows: j
1913,. lSS.STT: 191$, ^9.075. The sta-j
tistics given are confined to England ?
and Wales. The greatest falling off,'
of drunkenness, amounting to almost!
9<> per cent, was-in the great mining!
arid manufacturing districts of the:
English Midlands, and in the thick!v '.
settled coal-mining areas of Wales. !
To Settle a Million Acre Ranch in
Mexico
London, Oct. 9.?Brigadier-Gen
eral A. C. Critchley is going to take j
a.chosen party of fifty fellow British!
officers to settle on a million-acre!
ranch about 400 fniles north of Mex-j
ico City. He says Mexico is 'the!
coming country of the world."
^Discussing the reported opposition j
to his colonization scheme of the!
British and American governments, he j
said:
"We are not going out to stir up
trouble. I have no urgent need of;
taking the officers with me, but I i
want to give the lads a chance if j
they've got enough grit in them to j
make good, and I want 5 -company. !
Both my father and my mother are j
coming out with me. but with fifty]
Englishmen in the party we can be j
very happy."
M^m.^crrru mit ?unwwiwwiiwi liwji ? aMMTiiwrrng
COTTON ASSOCIA
TION MEETING:
i
?7-~
Important Meeting of Cotton j
Farmers !
i
-
A mooting of the Sumter Township j
branch of the Sumter county division ;
of the South Carolina Cotton Asso-j
exati??, including Cswego soctioji and
the oity of Sumter is hereby called to i
meet at Sumter County Chamber of,
Commerce rooms at 12 o'clock noon.,
Tuesday, November 11th, 1919 for!
the purpose of forming a permanent:
township branch, election of a perma-j
nent chairman, vice chairman, secrc- j
tary. and to elect three directors to!
represent Sumter township at the j
county convention to be held Friday,
November 14th, 3 919.
It should be remembered that the|
success of the American Cotton As- i
sociaticn depends primarily on the in- |
terest manifested by the township or-;
gam'zations and the individual inter- i
est of the member-.? and the enthus-!
iasm displayed in the township I
branches.
Don't forget th?t cotton was selling!
for i'<j cents when the New Orleans!
convention was held to launch the)
American Cotton Association on Sop-j
tember Sth, 3 919. Cotton is now i
selling for 39 to 40 cents, basis mid
dling, and good middling.
"tt'e all know that without this or
ganization we would be receiving
much less for our cotton because we
would not have so systematically'
held enough cotton from the mar
ket to cause the universal law of sup
ply and demand to function in our in
terest.
We urge every member, farmer,
merchant, banker, lawyer, doctor, and
every one else interested to attencV
next Tuesday's meeting.
E. I. Ii ear don,
Acting Secretary:
T. J. Kirvin,
Acting Chairman.^
Sumter Township Branch of S. Cv
C.oiton Association.
STATUE ERECT
ED IN THE ALPS
Feme, Oct. 4.?An unusual relig
ious ceremony was performed yester
day in the shadow of Mont Blanc?"
The Abbe Coutin, accompanied by
five Chamonix guides, carried to the
lop of Charlet Peak, an altitude of
12.240 feet, an aluminum statue four
feet high and weighing thirty pounds:
The summit of the peak was reached
after a seven hour climb; the Cham
onix aiguille is one of the most diffi- >
cult peaks of the Mont Blanc range
to ascend.
The Abbe blessed the statue after
it was erected and pronounced a
short oration. The statue is of Guide
Charlet. after whom the peak is nam
ed.'and who was the first to conquer
it in 1S79. Charlet is now 82,years
of age. ' .? -
Buy Now?
Never in the history of the \:'yJ**mA
clothing business has good mer
chandise been so scarce. It is not 1
only a q aestion of price, but to get ^ y
a good selection it, is absolutely
nee?, .oary that you buy at the ear
liest possible moment. Come and
look over our stock while there
are still some good numbers to se
lect from. I '
Suits.$18 to $65
Overcoats.$18 to $70
Boys' Suits . .. $7.50 to $27.50
Boys' O'Coats .. . $6.50 to $18
The largest stock in East
ern Carolina to select from.
Cop3 n;;Lt Hurt S?vIijJfaex & Marx
The D. j. Chandler Clothing Co.
The Home of Hart, Schaffner and Marx Clothes.