Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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gS^?shed Wednesday and Saturday POSXEEN PUBLISH IX G COMPANY ? SUMTE1L S. C. % Terms: Wr. 52.50 per nnnnm?in advance. k Advertisements. || '^>iie Square first insertion .. ..$1.00 ?K-tjvery subsequent insertion.50 W Contracts for three months, or m. tonger will be made at reduced rates. I Ail >,:communications which -f ?*er\tt private interests \vIii o<r ehaxueu V>r ol? advertisements. Obituaiies and tributes of respect rill be charged for. The Sumter Watchman was found bti in 1S50 and the Trur Southron in 186$. The Watchman ?.ud Southron now bas*X^e combined circulation and influence of both of the old papers, and is ma~*festly the.best advert.si..t medium in Sumter. _ DISCOURAGLNG NEW LAWS. Gov. Coolidge of Massachusetts, in his message to the legislature, says that, the State "is less in need of new laws than ever before," and advises the law-makers that they "can display no greater wisdom than by resisting proposals for needless legislation." This is advice of a sort seldom giv-: en. and still less seldom followed. I is said often enough that present-da: America suffers from "too much leg islation/ and yet the crop continues to multiply at an ever-increasing rate. Legislative bodies generally seem to think *that they are not doing their duty . unless they are enacting laws, and the output is judged by quantity . rather than quality. Some new laws, of course, are? needed nearly all the time, to meet new*" and more complex conditions Massachusetts is indeed to be envied j just now if, as the governor declares, j "the, problems of reconstruction have been solved" in that State. -But cer tain it is, that all legislatures would do well to act habitually on the prin ciple advocated by Gov. Coolidge, practicing ? masterly self-restrain and turning out as little legislation ai possible. This recommendation ap plies no less to city councils, and also to the national congress?though the latter has erred lately in sins of omis^ sion more than commossion. fXHE PROPOSED SEDITION LAW. The New York World, which, though not divinely inspired, has nev er had . its patriotism questioned, sounds a warning against the bill pending in the House of Representa tiyes dealing with sedition a: ?: ? son. Ly-~*With such a law ? in force," pro test The World, "political controversy as always carried on in this country, labor. ? strikes as usually conducted, challenging of laws believed to be un constitutional, and heated disputes be tween vociferous individuals may easi ly be brought under its drag-net clauses. We have here definitions of treason unknown to the Constitution. Riot, assault and battery and disor derly conduct are set down as se ditibh, and contempt of court is made a felony. Assemblage, speech and press, no longer guaranteed, are ha bitually subject to a raid. In every instance all that is necessary to es tablish these weird proceedings is ar. j allegation that somebody is attempt ing to overthrow the government" b? violence;?crime contemplated, not crime accomplished.' "It is probably the most amazing conaJfc??ation of proscription and tyranny ever presented to a free peo ple ih,the form of a statute." The attorney general has long com plained that there is not on the fed eral-statute books any law empower ing Tthe;government to deal adequate ly with cases of treason and sedition. The-public, like the attorney-general, would like to have a law "with tcetjr in it" to punish any citizen real ly undertaking the violent overthrow of his government. But if this bill is half .as bad as the World represents it, it will bear careful study. 3-his. country wants no "proscrip tion^' and would rather have laws too n.iild to punish all the guilty than laws that would result in the arbi trary limitation of freedom und might moan the wholesale arrest and pun ishment of innocent citizens at th< whim of over-zealons authorities. ?The nation has; fought and suffer ed" too much in the cause of libert> to subject itself to any form of au j tocratic tyranny. Efet the public Iov'k into this matter, and let congress, i> any action it takes to strengthen the hands-of the Department of Justice. i exactly what it is doing. THE SOCIALIST LEGISLATORS. The exclusion of five Socialist mom .hers from the New York legislature is \- very different matter from the ex clusion of Victor Berger from the United States Congress. Berger was barred from congress as a convicted criminal, t^hose offence was particu larly abhorrent because of the time and circumstances. He had been con demned for violating the espionage act in war time, and that verdict had been substantiated by congressional inquiry. The New York assemblymen' appear to have been rejected not for any overt offense, but for merely be longing to the Socialist party. It has yet to be proved that mem bership in any political party in thi country, even the Socialist party, i; a crime, or a disqualification for olfice. Many Socialists have held office as such, in congress and in various State legislatures and city councils, and their right to do s<> has never been questioned. The party itself has a legal status, as is attested by the very fact of its being permitted to submit platforms and candidates in regular elections, the same as any other party. This action of the New York >egi- - I larure smacks of hysteria. The So I eialist party, as at present conslitut ' ed. is objectionable enough, in all conscience; but it is not outlawed. How, then, can its rcpresenttatives be ejected from a legislative body to which they are duly elected, unless they personally have been outlawed? It is the man, not the party, that is at issue. In such cases as this, the men concerned must be dealt with or. their own personal records, regardless of party, unless representative govern ment is to be abolished and constitu tional rights denied. Public men and editors all over the country have hastened to denounce such action as not only wrong but, coming at this time, exceedingly dan gerous. It surely invites lawlessness and tends to foment the worst type of Socialism?that which j^oes beyond the'party declarations, and seeks tc gain its ends by violence. The men in question so far have been merely suspended, awaiting .final action. Unless a better reason for-.expulsion exists than any yet of fered, the New York legislature will lo well to reconsider its action. Oth erwise it is merely playing into the hands of the violent Reds. NEWBERRY TRIAL WILL BEGIN SOON Judge Dismisses Demurrer to Indictments Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 12.? Federal Judge G. W. Sessions today dismissed a general demurrer to in dictments against Truman H. New berry, United States senator from Michigan, and 134 others, charged with violation of the election laws. As a result of the decision the trial will commence as scheduled on Jan uary 27. Considering the federal election laws in conjunction with the State statutes Judge Sessions declared "it is clear if they are valid that the re spondent. Truman H. Newberry, could not lawfully g.vc or cause to .'?i given any sum in excess of $3,750. one-half of ihe annual baiary of member of congress in procuring his nomination and election ' and such sum could be expended for no other purpose than those enumerated in the statutes of Michigan." The indictment charged that be- \ tween $500,000 and $1,000,000 was| expended on behalf of Senator New berry during the ID IS campaign. If congress is impotent to prevent lavish expenditure of money in gain ing the nomination and election to a. v?at in that body. Judge Sessions as serted the "money rather than fit ness becomes the* controlling politi cal force and the very life of the na ion is endangered." A seat in con gress obtained by that method, the ourt held, is none the less purchased j than if the money had been paid di rectly to the voters." "If such conditions arc to be on lured," the opinion continued, "the hopes and aspirations of every man for political preferment must be measured by the size of his pocekt book." Dinner for Soldi?rs. The Sumter County Chamber of Commerce has been requested to co operate in securing the names and ad dresses of every veteran of the late ?world war from Sumter county in or der that invitations may be sent them to a welcome dinner to be served at an early date. The names of every man, regardless of whether he served in this country or overseas, of every branch of the military, naval, and oth er branches of the service should be sent to Mr. Geo. D. Levy, Sumter, S. C, who is the chairman of the com mittee representing the veterans. The ministers of every church in Sumter county are respectfully re quested to assist in securing the names of these neroes by announcing this request from their pulpits next Sunday. All other citizens who will assist will be doing the heroes of the great world war and theweommittee a great service. The first welcome celebration given in honor of the returned soldiers and also in honor of those soldiers, sail ors .aviators and men of every branch of the service did not get all of the veterans as hundreds had not returned to Sumter county at that riimc. So it was decided that later on there would be a second dinner and welcome service to include all those who were then at home and those who returned later. The contemplated second celebra tion was postponed after serious de liberation a few months ago because many thought that it was best to await the return of the las? hero from this county. Now there is nothing in way that the committee can see. and as there is some money in the bank left over, not a great deal, but enough for a {starter, the seven bank presidents of i Sumter who constituted the committee on securing funds for the two celebra tions will be called on to function {again and supplement the money in j hand to carry out the expressed or i ders of the citizens of Sumter. in two i meetings held in the court room las; spring. No list of those who served from Sumter county can be found anywhere. STATE LAGS IN ROAD WORK I ?.m Legislature is Failing Its Duty and Neglecting an Op- i portunity Columbia, Jan. 16.?It is inconceiv able to me that South Carolina j through its general assembly now in session will not join her sister States j in the formulation of a wise policy of progressive road-building," said Geo. R. Wheeler, manager South Carolina Landowners' Association. ?Mr. Wheeler has just returned from Florida and while there he made a survey of the peninsular State's su perb system of hard-surfaced high ways. He gave his opinion that the good roads of Florida had as much to do with attracting tourists Ui the State as its climate," and are chiefly respon sible for the large numbers of sub stantial and ofttimes, wealthy people who have settled there. Mi\ Wheeler said that he believes i jthat should South Carolina emulate j Florida's example and construct a I i State system of hard-surfaced roads connecting with contiguous States there is no reason why the thousands of tourists traversing these highways would not be attracted to South Car olina and settle here, some of them j permanently. Mr. Wheeler said that 'the automobih-s of 90 per cent of the j tourists visiting Florida are shipped there cither oy boat or rail because of the inferior roads of this section. ; ? "You can see." he said, "what an : economic loss this entails on the State J of South Carolina. If it had a system of hard-surfaced roads connecting like highways from the East to the South, it would cause tourists to trav el by automobile through this section, and thousands of dollars would be spent in this State by these'tourists." i Mr. Wheler asks this question: "Can South Carolina, with ail her! j wealth in taxable property, banking; resources and government resources, afford to be contented with her pres ent road-building program, while her sister States are appropriating money by the millions for State highways? ' For instance, Maine is going to spend ($12,000,000 for State highways; Ala [bama, $25,000,000; Florida, $3,000, I GOO;''New York, $50,000,000; Illinois, $60,000,000; Idaho. $15,000,000; Vir ginia, $40,000,000; Georgia, $50,000, 000; Arkansas $50,000,000, and Ten jnessee $50,000,000. North Carolina is j likewise considering legislation for im proved highways.'* Clement S. Uskcr, of. Baltimore,! executive vice-president of the South ern Settlement and Development Or ganization, with which the South Car olina Landowners' Association is af filated, in a recent letter to various development associations of the Southeast has this to say relative to a great hard-surfaced highway from ?he North to the South: "We already have a continuous macadam highway from Baltimore to Washington. Now, since the Southern States n^douo^e.c?y would build gool roads with federal aid, 1 feel thai our combined influence ought to see to ii that a road was built from Washing ton to Richmond, Richmond to Rai i cigh. Raleigh to Columbia, and then; j on down the most expeditious route j I to Miami, and at a later date, branch es of this should be advocated, if pos sible, from Norfolk to Wilmington, j Wilmington to Charleston, Charleston. | to Sa.vannah and on down. It would Nran bridge-building, but bridges have ? ? be! built any how sooner or later ?nd I feel sure it wculd not be a far ? retch to get congres-imal aid," ?von .in. the hridge building. "Thpn. what I have furthermore in mind, is that each of these States should be induced i ? btiild ornamen tal trees along thesr roads, and that' here and there a tpyical North Caro- i bra. Set;1!'! ' arolma, Georgia or Flor ida hotel should be erected, and the j cooking in these hotels should be fa- j mous: that, at every one-half day'1-1 travel there should be a lunch station, distinctly Southern, which should also! become famous, and then gradually j the various States should extend that! effort north of the Mason and Dixon line, for instance, through New Eng land. Some of the Southern States cLjc;ht to maintain for advertising pur poses throughout the year a Florida, or a Georg'a, or a Carolina lunch sta tion, where on Sundays a Southern dinner could be had at a standard rate." "A continuous highway from Bos ton to Miami," continued Mr. Ucker, "is not a far cry. It is built already j from Boston to Washington. Virginia j is bound to build some good roads, so j is North Carolina. South Carolina and I Georgia, and Florida has her good j roads already built. Now. if Virginia and the Carolinas, Georgia and Flor ida, could try this: Get their govern- j ors, their representatives in con-j cross, their board of trades, chambers j of Commerce and the newspapers to gether, why. the thing would be done." 11ousebu llding Corpora tion. Charleston, W. Va.. Dec. 30?Hous i ing conditions in and around this city I have become so acute that a corpo ration, with a capital of $500,000 has; ; been formed by the Chambers of | j Commerce cf Charleston, South i Charleston and St. Albans to provide ; homes for 1.500 additional federal j employes. j These men will be employed in the i government ordnance factory, now | ?under course of construction here.!' land will be in need of shelter in the ! early spring. Every house in the j three communities is now occupied ; The St. Albans Chamber of Com- ! merce has arranged to take $100.000' of the stock. The announced pur-I j pose of the Company to bay materials! :n large quantities and to let contracts; for houses in snch manner as to bring \ ?he cost to the minimum in order j j that they may be sold at reasonable^ prices. Sumter county farms must be ??' ? c if the fight against 'he boll weevil is to be won. There will be more profit in buying fencing than j;: \ the acquisition of additional acreage. Mantels, Tile, and Grates We have moved to larger quarters and have the largest stock of mantels in the State. Our stock consists of plain and quar tered oak, mahogany, missions and white. Also a nice stock of tile* and grates. Don't buy until you see our line. J. P. Commander, Prop. Store room 328 S. Main OSce 107 Manning Aye. SHORT SKIRTS DENOUNCED Two Noted London Divines Condemn Fol ies ana In decencies o::; Fashion ; London, Dec. 2G.?Cardinal Ametto a few days ago, in a pastoral letter, denounced the abbreviated garments for women popularised * by Parisian fashions. Father Bernard Vaughn, of London, who in the past has said many hard-things of the follies and extravagances of the rich has how, in an interview, followed the Cardinal's example. He said: "When I ask myself what is in spiring this tendency to nudity in wo men's modern costume my answer is it cannot be a rightful desire to pro mote the health of our debutantes he cause today's want of clothes is sav agely exposing them to consumption and its kindred ailments, not by hun dreds but thousand-". Sr> I am assur ed by competent authority. Our girls who ought to live to a ripe old age droop, drop and die like Rowers unfed by warmth and sunshine. Improp erly fed and immodestly dressed they defy all ir>? laws of hygicme and down they go. "Nor can the object in prevailing fashions be a love of the true and the beautiful for never did fashions as they do today so grievously m'.litate against the canons of good taste and the laws of symmetry. FORl>~New. for sale, with slarter. demountable rims, large steering wheel, extra radius rods and other extras. See Tom Teague, Mechan ic, Anchor Motor Co. MONEY TO LEND?On improved real estate, reasonable terms. Ap ply A. S. Merrimon, Attorney at Law, Law Range. "I cannot but arrive at the conch:- ed it is impossible for me as a Christ sion that today's fashions are1 de- tian man to conjecture. Personally I signed and cut not t;> drape the hu- feel quite sure that studied immod man figure and keep it warm, brau- esty on the purt of girls defeats its' tiful and comfortable, but on the own ends. A decent man who intends contrary, it would seem that today's t;> marry a girl and make her the socalled costuvAca are created with queen of his heart and the mistress the set purpose of awakening in man of his home is not going to choos? unholy desires .and perhaps of fan- for his partner 'till death* do them ning into fever fianu those already part' a girl who has so little self re kindled. ? speet she does not even know how to "How such conduct can be defend- clothe herself in decency."_ UROC GILTS ?????? t I ? t ? ? ? I will sell at my summer place'about three miles west of Sumter, on Friday, Jan uary 23,1920, at eleven o'clock A. M., about fifty head of pure bred Duroc Jersey gilts, at public auction, and they will be sold by the pound. These gilts are all pure bred, but I did not keep up the registration and they will not be sold as registered gilts, but as individuals they are just as good as those registered. We will have a barbecue, and every one interested in this sale is invited to at tend. L. D..JENNINGS. ? ? ? % ? ? ? ?? o ? ? Because? I maintain three very extensive chemical laboratories in which all materials are thoroughly tested. No harm ful materials can ever enter into Royster goods. Our home and foreign markets are picked over for the choicest raw materials; then I formulate them in just the proportion which my life-time experience has found to be best for each crop for which the fertilizer is in tended. The results of all this care is, naturally, a complete mixture which is really the "last word" in fertilizer. So, you see, I am justified in feeling proud of the Royster Products, which come from our fifteen up < to-date plants. F. S. ROYSTER GUANO COMPANY Norfolk, Va, Richmond, Va. Lynchburg, Va. Tarboro,N.C. Charlotte, N. C. Columbia, S. C Washington, II. C. Spartanburg, S. C. Atlanta, Ga. Macon,Ga. Columbus,Ga. Montgomery, Ala. Baliimcre, Md. Toledo, Ohio (5)