Newspaper Page Text
VOL. XVIII. MANNING, S. C., WEDNFSDAY. FEBRUARY 10.1.04. NO.21 SWEPT BY FIRE. Flock After Bkck Destroyed in the City of Baltimore. THE LOSS IS VERY HEAVY. The Conflagration Began in the Heart of the City at Eleven O'Clock Sunday Morning. The most destructive cornagration in the history of Baltimore occurred Sunday in the wholesale dry goods business district, raging practically unchecked for hours, destroying scores of the largest business houses in the wholesale district, involving losses which cannot be estimated, as the tire was still burning fiercely when night fell. Owing to the wide extent of the calamity it will be some time before even an approximate estimate can be made, though it is certain that it has already exceeded $25,000,000. The fire broke out shortly before 11 o'clock Sunday morning in the whole sale dry goods store of John E. Hurst & Co., on Hopkins Place, in the heart of the business district; with a series cif loud explosions which were heard in remote parts of the city, and spread with fearful rapidity. In half an hour there were a dozen big warehouses in the wholesale dry goods and notions district burning fiercely. The entire city fire depart ment was called out but was utterly powerless to check the spread of the flames, which were aided by high winds, and by noon there were savage fires in at least 3J big warehouses and the conflagratien was steadily eaing its way into successive blocks east, north, west and south. On Baltimore street the block be tween Liberty and Sharp was soon ablaze, then came the next block east to Hanover, and after that the block on the south side to Charles street broke out into flames. The Consolidated Gas company's building and Oehm's Acme hall burning fiercely. Meanwhile there were stores north! of Baltimore street being similarly consumed. Mullin's hotel caught and other buildings near it. West of Lib erty street on the south side of Balti more the block was doomed, and the big Baltimore Bargain House also caught. Down in Hopkin's Place, where the conflagration started, Hurst's building and the other whole sale houses on both sides of the street crumbled and fell. Though every bit of fire fighting apparatus in the city was called into requisition as the flames continued to spread at 10 o'clock six engines ar rived from Washington and four from Philadelphia. Engines from stations in Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel and Harford counties also joined in fighting the flames. It is roughly es timated that there were 350 hose all playing at one time upon different I parts of the conflagration. With loud roars wall after wall toppled into the streets and firemen ran for their lives. All kinds of wires had to be cut to clear the way for the fighters. The block bounded by Gorman, Liberty, Sharp and Baltimore streets was early found to be doomed and the firemen turned their attention to saving the buildings on Baltimore street, east of Sharp, but the fire was beyond their control. Red hot cinders ignited the roof of Front Street theatre at least half a mile from the main conflagra tion, which shows to what distance the frey rain fell. The blaze was ex tinguished by the firemen, assisted by citizens. At 3 o'clock a tremendous explosion of about 150 barrels of whiskey stored in the upper floors of 24 Hanover street hurled tons of burning matter across the street on the roofs of the buildings opposite, which the firemen were drenching with water in a vain hope to make Hanover street the eastern boundary line of the con flagration. Here an engine was buried by a falling wall, the firemen fleeing for their lives. The whole city was notified of the conflagration by a terrific explosion which occurred some minutes after 11 o'clock. A sharp, splitting roar went up with reverberating thunder. This was followed by a peculiar whistling noise, like that made by a shrill wind. At three o'clock Monday morning the fire was still raging. The post office building is burning, also the 84,000,000 court house. The Holli day street theatre has been blown up with dynamite and the United States Express offices and central offices of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad are burned. ________ Bicycles and Automobiles. After some discussion on Wednes day the House of Representatives pass ed the following bill to a third reading: Section 1. Any person riding a bicy cle, or automobile, or other like vehicle propelled by steam or electri city, upon any public highway or pub lic road in this State, out of or beyond the corporate limits of any city or town, and meeting any person or per sons riding in any of the following named vehicles, to wit: a carriage, sulky, wagon or cart, or anyone on horseback, shall stop and dismount from such bicycle or vehicle within not less than twenty-five yards of said vehicle and remain so dismounted un til said conveyance has passed. Section 2. Any person violating Sec tion 1 of this Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, be fined for the first offence not more than one hundred dollars nor less than ten dollars, or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days nor less than ten days on the chain gang or in the county jail. They Were Married. Miss Emma Edinger, of Lancaster, Pa., became the bride of J. Jay Mundy, of Brooklyn, N. Y. A year ago, while employed in a cigar factory, Miss Edinger, in a spirit of mischief, put her name and address in a box of cigars, together with a note asking the finder of the name to write to her. Last summer the box of cigars found its way to the business place of Mr. Mundy and he was soon in correspon dence with the pretty little factory girl. Photographs were exchanged and last Hlanoween Mr. Mundy met his bride-to-be for the first time. Court ship and matrimony followed. BOGUS MONEY ORDERS. How An Augusta Merchant Was Worked by a Slick Rascal. The Augusta Herald says a negro operating under the names of George Moore and Paul Austin. and supplied with a number of postortice money or der blanks or checks. made payable at the Augusta postottice, worked a clev er tim-clam game on C. H. Schneider on Saturday night, Jan. 30, securing a $10 bill of goods and forty dollars in change, but later, in his attempt to work the same game upon I. Silver, lost his goods in his haste to get away from the place when he saw that Mr. Silver had grown suspicious. Under the name of George Moore the negro entered Mr. Schneiders store and ordered $10 worth of goods. which a clerk put up for him, and in payment for the same the negro pres ented the postottice money order is sued at the Savannah postoffice and signed by Postmaster Blount for $40. Together with the order he presented a letter, which, he said, was from his father, who lived at Savannah, and the letter stated that the father had sent therewith the money order for the sum named. Believing the order to be genuine, Mr. Schneider accepted it. and gave the negro the goods and $30 change. With the money and the goods the negro then went to Mr. Silvers store, and made a purchase. In payment for the same he presented a money order for $40, made out to Paul Austin, stating to Mr. Silver that Austin was his name. This order was also issued at the Savannah postoflice. but ex amining the order, Mr. Silver noticed that there were two different speci mens of handwriting on the order and that the words "Augusta, Ga.," were written in lead pencil, whereas the other was in ink. It was also evident that the amount of the order had been raised to forty dollars from some smaller amount. Telling the negro that he would not accept the order in payment for the goods, and also stating that he was of the opinion that the negro was try ing to work a flim-flam game, the ne gro, then operating under the name of Paul Austin, dropped the bundle of goods he had secured from Schneid ers place and bolted through the door, losing himself in the crowd that thronged the streets. Mr. Schneider was not aware that he had been "worked" until Monday morning when he presented the order at the postoffice for payment and was told by the postoffice authorities that he evi dently accepted a worthless piece of paper in exchange for his money and goods. Upon close examination it was then discovered that the amount speci fied on the order had been changed, as had also the words: "Augusta, Ga." Shortly after Mr. Schneider left the postoffice Mr. Silver appeared with the order that lie had secured from the negro, and the two checks were taken in charge by Postmaster Smythe. The - matter has been reported to Deputy United States Marshal Stal naker, who is working up the case and hopes to land the nearo. It is not known -how the negro came into possession of the money orders with Postmaster Blcunt's signature attach ed unless he hails from Savannah and secured them at the postottice there, making them payable to whatever names he cared to operate under, and afterwards altering them to his liking. Murderous Robb-rs. Burglars attempted to kill Samuel Waler and his wife and burn tbeir home in Phoenix City Ga., Friday night. While the family were in the dining-room some one entered the house and ransacked every room. Mr. Waller noticed a dim light in one of the rooms, and taking a small lamp, went in the main house to investi gate. As he passed a window some one shot at him from the outside. He hurried down to the business part of the city, about a mile distant, and called for help, and while he was gone his house was fired. Assistance ar rived in time to save the house from being totally destroyed, but the kitch en was lost. After Mr. Waller went for help one of the burglars shot at Mrs. Wailer three times, one of the shots breaking her spectacles. The burglars fled, taking with them a quantity of silverware, a gold watch and some clothing. The authorities in Columbus were requested to arn est a negro named John Rush, who, they thought, had something to do with the crime, who lived in Columbus. Negroes in Congress. The Washington Post says: 'A negro occupying a seat on the floor of the house has become an unusual sight, although in years gone by there have been negro members galore. One of the negro contestants from a Southern district ventured in last week, con testants being allowed the privilege. He was a plantation negro and not used to such things as the house of representatives. The employes quick ly detected his embarrassment, as he insisted for a time in standing near ;he cloak room doors, along with the iegro attendants. Fnalhy he was coaxcd into taking a seat. The boys nave been trying to persuade him that it was his duty to sit a part of the time by Mr. Payne, the floor leader, as a matter of respect to the eminent New Yorker, but tbe colored politician is backward about accepting that kind of advice." Accidentally Killed. R i. E. Thornton, a white man from one of the cotton mills at A nderson, was killed about nine miles from An. derson Wednesday morning by either falling or being thrown from a wagori and the wheels passing over his neck. le was moving to the country to farmx this year and was on a wagon by him self when the accident occurred, tc which there were no witnesses. He was said to have been drinking and was driving very fast, and was evident ly suddenly killed, as his body was found only a short time after he had passed a house by the roadside. lie was 51 years of age and leaves twelve children.__________ Carnival of Siaughter. Prezewalsky, the noted Balkan his, toian, who has just concluded a si: months tour of Macedonia, assert! that during the year 1903 Turkisl regulars razed 300 villages and massa cred 400,000 persons mostly aged men men and children. A FRANCHISE TAX. Will Add Greatly to the Revenue of the State. By a vote of 89 to 18 the house Thurs day passed the first of the revenue bills submitted by the tax commission appointed by the legislature last year to find some measure to relieve the State from its financial stringencies which have become annoying of late years. The bill referred to is the fran chise tax measure introduced by Mr. Moses. The result of the discussion was evident from the beginning, but regardless of the overwhelming ma jority in opposition to him, Mr. Bo mar made a strong fight against the bill. His argument on the constitu tional phase was very clear. The pre sentation of the case by Mr. Moses, and later by W. J. Johnson was very c nvincing that the pace has been set by other States, and that the revenue to be obtained by South Carolina will be in excess of the annual deficit of the last three or four years. The bill provides for a tax of three mills on the gross receipts of the fol lowing corporations, to be paid before the first of June of each year: Any railroad company, express company, street railway company, navigation company, water works company, pow er company, light company, telephone or telegraph comnpany, parlor; dining and sleeping car company. Upon companies which are not public utilities-such as cotton mills, banks, oil mills, and such institutions chartered by the State-the tax is to be one-half of one mill on the capital stock. With the other concerns the assessment is on the gross receipts. With the companies not public utili ties the payment of the franchise tax must be made before the first~day of April, and with the public utilities the tax of three mills on the gross reciepts of he preceding year is to be paid be fore the first of June, the time of year when the State is most in need of "ready cash." A COTTON PICKER. An Illinois Man Has Invented One Said to be a Success. A correspondent in Illinois writes the Charlotte Chronicle as follows: "I have seen editorial reference in your paper to the need of a cotton picking machine and the vast sums it would save the cotton planters. I send you herewith photographs and description of a cotton picking ma chine invented by Mr. N. Bowditch of Aurora, Ill. "How it picks the cotton is thus explained: The machine consists of two large hollow wheels, five feet in diameter and mace of Bessemer steel, or other metal; within the rim of these wheels are two cams inclined at an angle, and between these cams are, 24 picker bars, which the revolution of the two wheels causes to move from the outer edge of the rim of the wheel to the face or web of the wheel, about ten inches. Attached to these picker bars are a series of flexible, spiral pickers, composed of two twisted bands of steel with hair cloth inter posed between. the edges being frayed out, thus forming the picking points. These spiral pickers are projected through rows cf holes radially placed in the sides of the wheels, the spaceI betw-een the two wheels being about twenty inches. The machine is driven straddling the rows f cotton plants. The spiral pickers are pressed into the plants as they pass between -the wheels, and the pickers rotating en tangle the open,-fibrous cotton, and winding it up on the pickers, It is pul led out of the b .11, and as tehe wheel continues to turn it Is brought to the top of the wheels, where the pickers are entirely withdrawv into the wheel. There being nothing to sup port the cotton thus cleaned off the pickers, gravity makes it drop into a hopper, where it is conveyed by an endless belt into an elevator, at tbe top of which is a sack which receives the gathered cotton. "From six'to ten acres can be cov ered by this maci int in a day, the quantity of cotton picked depending entirely upon the amount of ripe cot ton on tbe plants, as it requires no more time or power to go over rows, the Individual plants of which con taining thirty or more ripe bolls of cotton, than other plants with only ten ripe bolls. The machine is a very great labor saving device, and is apt to work a rapid and complete revolu tion in a field which has heretofore successfully resisted the combined as saults of capital, energy, mechanical ingenuity and inventive skill." Memorial Services. In memory of the late JTohn McMas ter, repre entative from Richland county, the house of representatives engaged In memorial session Wednes day at noon. The members of the ser ate attended as; a further token of repect. Mr. Ravvlinson of Richland offe.red resolutior.s of respect and of re ret and made a beautiful speech in bealf of the resolutions, which were seconded by Mr. Ford of Fairfield, Mr. Gaston of Chester, Mr. McColl of Marl boro, Mr. Aycock, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Haskell of Richland. The re marks of each speaker were peculiarly appropriate. Three Burned to Death. At Montreal, Canada, three persons were burned to death in a fire in a small dwelling house in Cableux street Friday and four others probably were fatally injured. Three of the inmates, Mrs. Hogan, with her infant, and Thomas Hare, jumped from the second story of the burning house. The other occupant, Edward Craw ford, was carried out after he was badly burned. The fire evidently started from an ogerheated kitchen stove on the lower floor and spread to the sleeping apartments. Killed His Wife and Himself. J. W. Hodges, a farmer in the southern part of Culman county, Ala., was found dead in his barn Wednes day, hanging from a rafter, while in the house was discovered the dead body of his wife. The woman had been brained with a blunt instrument. Hodges was deeply in debt, it Is said, and was being pressed by his creditors. This is believed to have unbalanced him mentally and caused him to com mit murder and suicide. INSURANCE LAWS. Two Very Important Bills Passed by. the House Thursday. t ANTI-COMPACT LAW REPEALED And a Law Enacted to Create the Office of State Insurance s Commissioner With a Good Salary. The House of R"epresentatives pass ed two important bills on Thursday. I The Columbia State says: Three r years ago the general assembly passed a law prohibiting the Southeastern t t Tariff association from coming into c the State to make rates on property I. to be insured. This was known as "the anti-compact law" and Mr. Wm. t L. Mauldin of Greenville was the a author. Thursday the house of rep resentatives by a good majority pass ed a bill which repeals that act. Mr. 0 Maulding is also the author of the S repealing bill. The house passed the Kibler bill providing for the office of insurance commisioner. Each bill is I dependent upon the other, for it is a proposed that the insurance commis sioner keep the companies from 9 runnning up the rates, and in return S for removing the embargo against the 3 association the companies are to give lower rates. The insurance commission under a the bill is to be charged with the ex- %, ecution of all laws, is to be elected by p the legislature, is to receive a salary g of $1,800 a year and $100 for office l e:penses, the funds for this expense f to be aerived from a tax of one-fourth of one mill on gross premiums in addi- n tion to other taxes paid by insurance s companies. The Mauldin bill provides c that there shall be an examination by t proper officials into the cause of fires. p The companies which belong to an association are permitted to conduct t business in the State, provided that u the purpose of the association is not g to establish excessive or unreasonable ; charges for insurance. Upon the com plaint of citizens, the insurance com- a missioner is authorized to order the ji company to correct the rate and to q rder restitution of over charges. tj There was quite a discussion over the s, bills. p Mr. Kibler said that wherever such an act has been passed in other States m it has been productive of great good. 'q The people need protection, and the l comptroller general's department is e unable to keep up properly with this 0 vast business. The department of in- a surance would not cost a dollar of ap- e propriation, the insurance commission- v er's salary would be paid by the in- t surance companies and the amount on a each policy would be so small that c there would be no effect on the t rates. In reply to Mr. Gaston, Mr. Kibler said that lie is sure that the omptroller general, who has the whole tax business of the State to d look after, cannot give the proper at- a tention to the insurance department. e Mr. Thomas favored the bill. The . cmptroller general's department c needs to be relieved of some of its S uties, for that office is required to f give a great deal of time to personal p settlements with the treasurers and a auditors in the several counties. In t many of the counties thousands of a dollars might be savesd if the settle- e ments were made properly and the comptroller general, who is entirely I competent to attend to the duties of ( the insurance department, should be permitted to give his entire time to d the more important duties of the tax r department. Mr. Thomas then direc- e ted his remarks to the need of an in- e surance department. .The anti-com-v pact law is a failure according to an3 example which he cited. An agent from St. Paul came here recently anda raised the rate on a building from 1.15s to 1.85 and all the local agents had accepted the rate so made. Propertyt owners should have an insurance coin-f mission to whom they can appeal for advice. Mr. Gaston opposed the bill on the ground that the companies are called I upon to pay the expense and he sus pected that there would be a tendency for the commissioner to feel himself an employe of the companies as well sthe Sta. Mr. DeVore opposed the bill. There is no complaint from the comptroller general that he is overworked or that he wants to be relieved of the depart- 1 ment of insurance. It is wrong in principle for the man who is to over look and inspect the operations of in surance companies to be paid by those companies. The railroad commission is not worth three straws to the State today, and the office of insurance comissioner would not be worth three straws for the same reason that it should be kept up by the State and not by the insurance companies. Mr. Rainsford wants the office of] insurance commissioner merged with] that of bank examiner created several 1 years ago. Mr. Beamguard favored the bill but wanted to adjourn debate until other insurance bills could be taken up in connection with it. THE ANTI-COMPACT LAW. Mr. Mauldin spoke in favor of sepa rating the work of the insurance de partment from the other duties of the comptroller general's ottlee. lie de dared that the Southeastern Tariff association is a monopoly and lhe had introduced the bill which is now a law forbidding them to operate in the State. The Kibler bill and his own1 bill would put this State on the same footing as North Carolina and Georgia. At the last session he had voted to re peal the anti-compact law, because he believes that his bill in connection with Mr. Kibler's would be better for the State. Mr. Bomar testified to change of sentiment. He had opposed the bill last year, but since that time the Spartanburg chamber of commerce had reported to him that the rates in this State are one-third higher than in North Carolina. He had investi-] gated and had found this to be true. The.department of'insurance is a side issue now and should be given more importance for the insurance business in South Carolina is enormous, $1,400 00 premiums last year. This would ae thoannds of dollars annually. I 3r. Gaston insisted that it woulc )e better for the State to bear the ost of the department and made a trong argument along this line. Mr. Lide declared that it is a mat er of no small concern for the busi. iess man to know that he is getting ilt edge insurance. The value of an nsurance policy is a mere promise to ay without any security and it is vise to have an insurance commis ioner. SAW A TROJAN HORSE. Mr. DeBruhl spoke against Mr. Iauldin's bill on the ground that it ives one man the right to say hether or not a fire is incendiary. le does not believe in sacrificing too many rights to secure a reduction in ates. He declared that it is strange hat those who advocate this step get heir statistics from the insurance ompanies themselves. He wants the ,w let alone, and wants the comp roller general to remain in control of he department. It is better to pay little more in premiums and get the all amount of the policy. Mr. Bomar said that the reduction f a third in the rates would mean a aving of $300,000 or $400,000 a year rithout a cent of cost to the State. 'he manner of fixing the pay could be xed later if it proves unsatisfactory t first. Mr. DeBruhl wants to know what uarantee there is that the bill would ive money to the State. R. DEVORE SUSPECTED SOMETHING. Mr. DeVore asked if this bill is fa ored by the insurance companies, nd pressed the question in such a ray that it indicated that he sus ected that the bill would do more ood for the companies than for the sured or the companies would not aor it. Mr. Sinkler declared that there is o Trojan horse in the bill. The in urance companies favor the bill be ause it would give them greater pro ction-for which they are willing to ay. Dr. J. B. Black thinks that the du ies of the department should be put pon the comptroller general and he iven the clerical help to enforce the Lw. Dr. Mauldin admitted that this is n "insurance company bill," and he itroduced the bill last year at the re uest of the companies, because as au ior of the anti-compact law he had .en that the law had served its pur ose and had brought the insurance eople to a condition where they are illing to deal fairly with the people. 'here were practically no fires before isurance companies came into exist nee, but when a man is well insured, r over insured, he becomes careless nd filrs are of more frequent occur nce. If laws can be passed to pre ent such carelessness, it will be to he interest of the companies. and so of the people. That is why the ompanies are willing to have a reduc ion in premiums. BOTH BILLS PASSED. The previous question was then or ered. Mr. Rainsford's proposed mendment to have the office of bank xaminer included was voted down. Ir. Aycock's amendment to have the ommissioner's salary paid by the tate instead "4 out of the receipts rom the companies levied for this urpose was rejected. Mr. Johnson's medment to have the office elective y the general assembly instead of ppointive by the govbrnor was adopt d by a vote of 53 to 37. By a vote of 75 to 33 the house re used - to continue the bill on Mr. aston's motion. Mr. Beamguard wanted to reconsi er .the vote by which the office is aade elective. The legislature has nough of elections, and the governor ould not -afford to appoint an un rorthy man. The house voted down Ir. Beamguard's motion. The bill then passed second reading nd will come up Friday for final con ideration in the house. Mr. Mauldin's bill was then taken p and passed with but slight modi ications. Killed by a Trolley. At Savannah, Ga., Adaline N'eus ie, a white girl, 10 years old, was :illed late Friday afternoon by a teet car at the corner of West Broad Lnd Broughton streets. Her head, hest and arms were crushed and she was instantly killed. The motorman Lnd conductor or the car were arrest d. It is said that the cars run too apidly in rounding the curve. The ecident is not the first serious one ;hat has occurred there. The mother f the child Is an inmate of the Widows' home. When she reached ,he drug store to) which the little one lad been carriedi there was a pathetic The Scoundrel Caught. Goldstein Howard, a negro, is unde1 trrest at Bluetield, Va., suspecte1 o1 aving assaulted Mr. Shields, ol Roanoke, on Saturday week. The ~oanoke authorities were notified 01 :he arrest, and, after getting a de. ~cription of Howard, wired the Luthorities to hold him. On search ng the prisoner a silver handle, yroken-poited penknife, filling the escription of the knife used in at epting to cut Mrs. Shields' throat, .'as found, as was also a whisk broorr ~upposed to be the broom missing romn the Shields home. Howard dmits having been in Roanoke on the lay of the tragedy. Robber's Roost. The Columbia State says: "The springfield Republican commends Mr Bryan for telling a New; Jersey audi mce that their State vras worse thar L robber's roost, but Mr. Bryan car say, and probably has said, some qually appropriate things about Wall ;treet and perhaps Massachusetts thai rhe Republican will not endorse New Jersey has been stepping on hea ;ister's corns and The Republican 1h not a New Jersey creation." Swift Jnstice. At Detroit, Mich., Jos. Meunler alias Miller, who surrendered to the police Wednesday and confessed the murder of his paramour, Mrs. Jos Beville, on Saturday afternoon, wal Lrraigned before Justice Whelai hursday morning, pleaded guilty ;entenced to Jackson Prison for lif4 nd taken there by train Thursda3 afternoon. A GREAT CONVENTION. Thinking men Will Meet in Spartan burg for a Conference. The city of Spartanburg, S. C. will entertain the first inter-State Conven tion of the Young Men's Christian Associations of North and South Carolina. The meeting will take place February 20-23. Heretofore each State met in sepa rate convention, but the recent federa tion of all the Associations in the Carolinas with one Executive Com mittee makes it possible to meet in joint convention. "Service," is the central theme o1 this significant gathering of young mien. The convention is to be materi ally strengthened by the presence of some prominent Association workers from other sections of the country. Among those who have already con sented to be present is Mr. Chas. R. Towsen, of Philadelphia. Mr. Towson is Secretary of the Pennsylvania Rail road Department, Young Men's Chris tian Association which is by the way, the largest -Association of its kind in the world. C. C. Michener, of New York City, is another prominent speaker. Mr. Michener is one of the International Secretaries and is giv ing practically all of hi? time to Association work in great industrial plants. Prior to the convention, Mr. Michener and Secretary Knebel will visit some of the large cotton mills and confer with the presidents and superintendents with reference to the feasibility of erecting special build ings with all the modern equipments for the male operatives. W. D. Weatherford, of Nashville, who is the International Committee's special Student Secretary for the South, will also be a prominent figure in the convention. H. 0. Williams, one of the Interna tional Railroad Secretaries is another prominent speaker. Mr. Williams and Mr. Michener will be the special speakers on Monday night of the con vention; this entire evening will be devoted to a discussion of "Work Among Indistrial Classes." Rev. J. A. B. Scherer, Ph. D., president e ect of Newberry College, will deliver four addresses on "Funda mentals." Dr. Scherer is today the leading man in his denomination a broad scholar and a most attractive speaker. Rev. M.. D. Hardin, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, Char lotte, will deliver the Convention Ser mon. There will be a number of business and professional men who will fill places on the program. Altogether it is going to be a most significant gathering-some of the choicest men in the Carolinas will thus be brought together in a three day's conference; they are coming from villages, from cities, from railroad shops, from col leges and universities, to plan to gether how they may individually be of great service to their fellows. This paper is authorized to extend a general invitation to any of its readers who may be interested to at tend this convention. There will be reduced railroad rates, but all who contemplate attending must first com municate with the State Committee's once and be supplied with the proper credentials. For further information address State Secretary, Young Men's Christian Association, Charlotte, N. Strangles Her Daughter. IA special dispatch from Walterboro to The State says about 4 o'clock Snday morning Pasty Eligan, a negro woman living on Mr. Josiah Hiatt's place about eight miles from town, went to the bed of her own daughter, Anita Eligan, and clutching her by the throat, choked her until she wat (ead. There were two other negrC girls In the room but they seemed tC know very little - Jut the horrible deed except that rhey helped carry the dead body of .heir sister into the adjoining room at the command 0: their mother. Anita Eligan was about 17 years of age. Magistrate J. A. Ackerman of Cottageville held the inquest, the jury finding that the de ceased came to her death at the hand! of her mother by choking. Patsy was committed to jail Wednesday charges with the murder of her own child. Passed Bad Checks. At Hot Springs, Ark., a young man giving the name of J. H. Miller, i~ alleged to have cashed worthless draft! to the amount of nearly $10,000 ii that city in the last two days. Mille: stopped at one of the most fashionablh hotels, and it is claimed he helt several drafts to merchants and clul houses puporting to hav-e been issuec by the bank of Rural Hill, Ills., anc signed by D. C. Craig, cashier. In vestigation shows that there is nC such bank at Rural Hill. One con cern here is reported to have $4,000 0: the paper. Miller left the city Fri day and his whereabouts are unknown, Papers found in baggage left behinc indicate that the man has operated in Texas, Indian Territory and Cuba. Deadly Fumes. At New Orleans in attempting t< save the life of a sailor named Pete: Hansen, George Stadie, engineer o: the oil steamer Northtown, from Por1 Arthur, lost his life Wednesday. Several other men were prostrated bI the fumes, but were resuscitated Hansen werit into the hold to repair valve anid was overcome, and Stadi volunteered to go to the assistance o Hansen. He succeeded in tying rope about the sailor and the latte: was dragged to the deck, but Stadi in the meantime fell unconscious an<( died in a short time. One by ont seven men went into the hold in the effort to aid Stadie, but all were over come by the fumes. Showers 01 Hot Coals. A dispatch from Amsterdam, Hol land, says the colonial office received dispatch from the governor of th( East Indies, reporting the eruption o: the volcano of Merapi, in the islan( of Java, arid saying twelve personf were burned to death and that twent' were severely injured. The eruptior 'Iwas accompanied by showers of rec ht coals. HOPE OF THE PARTY. Figure; Showing the Chance of the Democracy in Next Election. THE DEMOCRATS ARE HOPEFUL. Forecast Made by an Expert on the States to be Carried, Disposition of the Doubt ful Coinmn. Charles W. Dayton has sent out in "Democracy" the following forecast of general interest: The Democrats are hopeful-more than hopeful -con tident of carrying the presidential election in the coming year is appar ent to every observer of political events. That they have reason on which to base their confidence is as plain to every one who has taken the trouble to examine the figures in the returns in recent presidential elections. Examination of those figures will show that of the 476 electoral votes.,, . to be cast, the Democrats can safely rely upon 215, while the Republicans can at the utmost claim to be sure of 160. This is conceding that there are thirteen doubtful states, with 101 votes. Now, of these 101 votes it would be necessary for the Republi cans to obtain 79 to possess the 239, votes to elect their candidate, while 25 votes would ' be all that were necessary to give the Democrats vi tory. Here is a table of the states the Democrats claim, the states concded to the Republicans,-and the doubtful states. Dem. Rep. Alabama.. ............ 11 . Arkansas .... .......... ' Colorado...... ......... 5 Delaware........ ...... 3 Florida... ........5...... . Georgia.................. 13 y . Idaho................ 3 Illinois................... . ; Iowa..................... Kentucky............ .... 13 Louisiana................ .9 Maine... ........... Maryland.. ....... 8 Massachusetts....:........ Michigan.. . ............ 14 Minnesota................ Mississippi.. ..:.....'..... 10 M issouri................ 18 M ntana................ . 3 Nevada................ 3 .. New Hampshire.......... 4 New York .............. 39 ... North Carolina........... 12 . North Dakota......... 4- - Ohio.....................23 Oregon ...... ..... .. Pennsylvania............. South Carolina........... 9 . Tennessee .............. 12 r A Texas.................... 18. Vermont.................4 Virginia.................. 12 -, 215 160 DOUBTFUL. California......................10 Connecticut..... ......-7 Indiana.................-.- - Kansas....... ........... 10 Nebraska.................... 8 New Jersey................. 12 Rhode Island................. 4 South Dakota.. .. .... ......... 4 Utah........... .......-.... 3 Washington................... 5 West Virginia..........-----'7 Wisconsin............-..- 13 Wyoming...........-.......3 - 101 Now, to consider the donbtful states in their order: In California In 1896 McKinley had a plurality of only 2,797; Cleveland carried the state ' in 1892. Connecticut was carried by Cleveland in 1884, 1888 and 1892. In diana was carried by Cleveland in 1892. Kansas was carried by Bryan in -1896 and so was Nebraska. New Jersey was carried by Cleveland in 1884, 1888 and 1892. Rhode Island is debatable ground and has a Democra tic governor. South Dakota was car ried by Bryan in 1896. Utah was carried by Bryan in 1896, and al though it turned to McKinley in 1900, it was only by a plurality of 2,123. Washington went Democratic In 1896. West Virginia was car red by Cleveland- in 1884, 1888- and 1892. Wisconsin gave the electoral vote to Cleveland in 1892. Wyoming gave its vote to Bryan In 1896. The people are ready, yes, anxious, to repudiate the trust building, trust - -protecting Republican party. Thous ands of Republicans are alarmed by - the vagaries of our "unsafe," spectac ular president. Influential Demo cratic leaders will guide the party into ways pointed out by the lessons of the past. In looking over those facts and fig ures, does it seem 'more probable that the Republicans can gain the 79 votes needed by them than the Democrats shall obtain 25? Is there any cause for wonder that the Democrats are hopeful; any cause for wonder that they are confident? it may be objected that New York, with its thirty-nine electoral votes, should be placed in the column- of doubtful states. Granting for the moment that this should be so, the table would give to the Democrats 175 votes, to the Republicans 160, and the number of doubtful votes would be 139. The Republicans would still have to obtain 78 of the doubtful votes, while the Democrats w uld need but 63. But New York this year is not a doubtful state, as D& mocrats and Republicans alike kr ow. With a candidate such as the Dmocrats should nominate and a pltform such as they should presea., it is sure to take its place in the emocratic column. The Story of Leap Year. One story says that St. Patrick de creed that women should have the right to propose in leap year; another professes to refer the right to an act of the Scottish parliament of 1228, which gave it to "ilka maiden" during the rein of her maist blessed maies tie Margaret." There was no Queen Margaret in Scotland in 1228, how ever. A book entitled "Courtship, Love and Marriage," published in 1606 is said to refer the right to the com mon law of England, but the law books say nothing of it. The real ori gin s nnnownl. LABOR BILL KILLED In the House of Representatives by a Decisive Vote AFTER A VERY LONG DEBATE. The Bill Limited :the Hours of La bor in the Cotton Mills in South Carolina to Ten Hours a Day. Mr. Toole bad on the calendar a bill numbered "23," showing that it had been one of the very first introduced last year. It was the first bill on the calendar this year, and when Mr. Toole called it up last night for the purpose of adjourning the debate, the house refused to adjourn the debate, and forced action on the measure upon Mr. Strong's motion to strike out the enacting words. Mr. Toole told of the hardships en countered by the cotton mill employes. He was taken somewhat unawares by the action of the house in forcing the fight, but made an earnest appeal for the bill, basing his fight on sentiment. Mr. Bunch of Marlboro, who speaks rarely, but generally to the point, made a strong speech against the bill. There is a disposition to inject into the legislation of this State a spirit against the pet industry of South Carolina. He declared that the mills are passing through their darkest days. Why does any one want to throw obstacles in the way of the kindly feeling between factory and employe? He predicted that before the year is out operatives will be beg ging to work 12 hours a day, with cotton as scarce as it is now. He told how people of this county who had not gone decently clad on the farms are now working in the mills and are the happiest people in the world. Mr. Holman of Aiken, who styles himself the old "warhorse," exhorted in favor of the bill. He seemed to feel sore because he had not been noticed by mill presidents in the cam paign, but he had received a telegram from one of them declaring that his bill would ruin the mills, and he in veighed against the corporations. Mr. Carey, editor of a labor organi zation paper in Charhston, spoke earnestly in' favor of the bill. He ap pealed to the house to think of the long hours. It was too long to work from before the dawn until after dark. He urged that this bill would reduce the time one hour a day. It would give employment for 11 men for 10 hours instead of 10 men for 11 hours. Mr. Williams-Who is back of this demand for this so-called relief? Mr. Carey-The people, particularly the organized labor. Mr. Williams-Where is there any organized labor in this State outside of a few cities? Is there any in the great Piedmont country where there are nine-tenths of the mills? Mr. Carey-There may be none now, but there will be. Mr. Carey continued that if the Democratic party does not grant such mcderate demands as this, they will see the time when there will be con sequences which they will regret. His remarks implied a threat of so cialismn with the white man and the negro combined. The negroes are be coming Socialists. Mr. Bennett asked if the 10-hour day would not decrease the pay pro portionately. Mr. CJarey replied that the laboring people would rather have shorter days of labor even if it entailed less pay. Mr. Kirby of Cherokee opposed the bill. He Is in favor of helping the laboring class of people. He declared that the bill would work a hardship on the people in the wills in this sec tion. They had begged him to fight the bill. Mr. Mahaffey of Spartanburg added his opposition to the bill. The mill people there do not want It. The Mills in Spartanburg have good schools, they have good superinten dents. He gave a picture of mill life in Spartanburg which did not show the need of any legislation. There were some who had been kicked out of the miil communities for worthless ness who now blackguarded the wills. Mr. Webb of Aiken declared it to be a funny thing that operatives coming from the Piedmont country to Aiken county always declared themselves in favor of the bill. All of the opera tives in Aiken favor it. Some of the mill presidents themselves favor it. In reply to some questions from the foor, he said that these presidents could not afford to advocate the meas ure more openly because the pressure from other mills would be too heavy. No other trades are worked over 10 hours a day. not even convicts, and yet in some of the mills the operativcs work 13 hours a. day, a violation of the law. As to organized labor, he declared that the operatives have the same right to organize as have doc tors and lawyers and merchants. In the Piedmont section, in Spartanburg county, numbers of operatives were discharged for attempting to organ ize. This was done in Spartanburg and in Laurens, and yet the employers have a right to organize. He de. clared that an operative can work as~ m.uch in 10 hours when he is rested as he can in 11 hours when he is jaded. He declared that as perhaps the only member of the house who had had ac tual experience in a will he favored it very heartily. Mr. Dorroh declared that there is a member of the Greenville delegatior who has worked in a mill, one in the Darlington delegation and one from: Spartanburg, and all of them are op posed to the bill. Mr. Wingo declared that he hac charged last year that the child labol bill was the entering wedge to labo1 legislation and was no good to any wan. Where will this end? In his characteristic manner Mr. Wingo de scribed his visits to these people and he declared with vehemence that thel want no interference. Mr. Pearman stated that the mil: people of Anderson want no legisla tion. Mr. Pollock moved to continuE the bill. This motion prevailed by vote of 69 to 26, and the bill is dead. The house then adjourned until 1( or.1rocr Thursay orning.