North Carolina Newspapers

1 HE THE ONLY EVENING ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWSPAPER IN CHARLOTTE. VOL. XXX VNO" 6"56 AMERICA. EMISSIONS'ARE' REPORTED General Rodgersat Shang- ;; Gen si hai Ca'olcd State Departme that American Missions' lo-cay at Nanchang and Kiensee. Hava Decn Destroyed. Te'esrams State that 14 American Missionaries Escaped. ' King ham Family, Two Adults and Two Children, Reported Killed. American Gunboat Dispatched ',1 Press, on. Feb. 2G -Consul Gen- at Shanghai today cabled anment tnat the Ameri- r.t Xanehang in province id Kiensee, have been de- L'i'.'P'-'CU. The i proba'de cause is local. Tele- S vi'C- ' ii vm iuuoc ffutuia luiu 1 ! American missionaries escaped !"! ti ;: : me :msnam lamiiy trmgnsn.) i s and two children, are re- .- arrive by Wednesday. Hcrne oi the trouble is about 409 nil i ho Yangtse river. lai.T iiisi'atch from Rodgers says British missions are report- Xl, YlnortTof riot-! !.! iiu American Mission Station i ...T-r.., r.i t rr i' . i - ''WnVan gunboat El-Cano, at nan-! "ern Pinf s here he was ,s "luvi ordered to proceed im-1 f."' ' honor at the VBlue and , t-.-..: v.i , , Gray, reception Saturday nisrht. at ;:v iiau '. iiiis,lLlllS niieic one will' S:;!iM.Se?SSi:jRET'"E 0MAU.ROAD BOARD. ;v.-; r. c i nere at me lueinouisi :; ' foreisn missions. '); .-aLio-gram was as follows: The ii p. Xanchang rioted. The Meth- ir,!.- navies escaped on boat Concerning Missionaries IVkiu, Fo!.. 2G. The American Meth o '.iist mission has a station at Nan !;;: vs. Xo news of the missionaries la'.'U received at Pekin. It is sup :l they escaped to Kiukiang. DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN. Campaign For Started in 6Cth Congress to Near Future. Call Be Is- sued. By Associated Press. 'Washington, Feb. 26. The Demo cratic campaign for the 60th Congress is to lie started in near future. Call v,;s issued today by Secretary Ed v.anis of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for meeting of (ViiuiiiUce March 6. Stated meeting is taiieil for purpose of organization. TRIAL OF BERTHA CLAICHE. Real Work On Famous Trial is Begun. Policemen Implicated. By Associated Press. Xe-,v York. Feb. 26. The real work in the trial cf Berthe Claiche, charged with the murder of Emil Gerdron July Nth. hist, was begun before Justice Ih'vis tiivl the jury today. The fact that s vera! policemen have become involv ed in the charges growing out of the case, has contributed to the interest. !;. J. D. Shetrcr, of Davidson Col 'u , v:a'- here tocay. BD STRIKE OF M1HE WORKERS III APRIL So Says Vice-President V L Lewis and President Mitchell Sap "i Guess he is Right." Era of Peace for Period of Years. W Associated Tress. ' New York, Feb. 26 John Mitchell, lesi(!eiH of the United Mine Workers (;t America, endorsed the opinion that there win p0 no general strike of the ('f,al minors on April 1st, next, w;hich was given out last night in Indianapo lis by vice President T. L. Lewis, of t!'(.' United Mine Workers. ; JV'sieent Mitchell was shown the vice prtsidenfs statement in which the kfter said, in addition to the assertion there will jQ no general strike in the fining industry on April 1, the opera tes will restore the reduction accepted hy the minors two years ago and per lu;i s lli0rc, and that an era of peace will he established for another period years. Alter hearing this statement, Presi- Mitchell said: 7 7r,1,;ss that is right." ' indnmanolis Feb'. 26. President acheli, 0i' the United Mine Workers ;,"4.n;:i! :!-- has called to New Ycrk t'rn' ":1,:r "f offlcers of the. organiza th"' p! c'0!l!":i!lor the preposition from f.fv Ji!l'in;nr:n3 -oal operators to re- inc-lhr ( a!p of vhich is an J'aso of 5 -5 por cent oyer tie pres. t'iit sea,!.'. Horse Dlod on Streets.' !(,'4,' .v N- M"on lost a, valuable .se this afternoon. He was driving Yi,'f'nnn;i1 ng North Tryon street . '! U v.a.'. Keized with a lit -and aiL'u m a few minutes. DESTROY CHARTER GRANTED CHARLOTTE FIRM Charter Issued To-day for the English McLarty Co, of this City at $10,000 Capital. Incor porators F. S. English and Howard McLarty. Special to The News. Raleigh, Feb. 26. A charter was is sued this morning for the English Mc Larty Co., of Charlotte, with tmnnn JSI', fr d1eallnf ln Physicians' and Lt ' " nuuieoaie aua The incorporators are F. S. English and Howard McLartr. Another charter was issued to the Southern Timber Company, of Ash lioro, with a capital of $100,000. C. C and T. G. McAllister and E. P. Whar ton are the incorporators. Governor Glenn returned this morn- Piney woods Inn and left on the next train for Dallas where he will deliver an address before the Farmers Asso ciation. tnfnn,dn7 ,T , , I" Z e?ter" tamment accorded him at Southern Fines and the good fellowship which the old Confederates and x-uiut ci,tiiuiB hi me reunion. Large Firm of Kuhn, Loeb and Com pany Retire From Railroad Boards. Cy Associated Press. New York Vnh 9CI ATomliovo i-.F V. flrm of Kuhnj Lbeb and have 1 termmed to retire from all railroad boards in which the firm is represent ed. The reason given is the steadily increasing difficulty which the" mem bers of the firm have been experienc ing in meeting the demands of their vown uusmess ana at tne same time giving the necessary time and atten tion to the performance of their duties as directors of corporations. Jacob H. Schiff is the head of the firm. It is understood that the members of the firm have not retired from the boards of the various banks, trust com panies and .'similar, corporations with which they are now identified. GERMAN'S CONCESSION. Government Decides To Make Further Concessions To France. By Associated Press. Berlin Feb 26. The German Gov ernment has decided to make further concessions to the French views on the Moroccan question provided France will also yield something. The extent c Germany's proposals will become known only at Algeciras where they will be communicated to the French delegates. General T. R. Robertson has return ed to the city after attending the re union of the "Blue and Gray" at South ern Pines at which he accompanied Governor Glenn. HOT-ON TRIAL KILLED TWO ACTORS Tragedy Occurred in Gaffney Last December. Defense Claims Grand jury was not Regularly Drawn. A 3attle Royal To be Fought uy.Lawyers. Special to The News. Gaffney, S. C, Feb. 26. The trial of George Hasty of this city, charged with killing two members of a theat rical company last December, was be gun in sessions court today. The grand jury has found true bills in the cases- against Hasty, for the killing of Miland C. Bennett and Ab bott Davidson, both of the "Nothing but Money" Company which showed in Gaffney early in December. Hasty was arraigned today as soon as the true bills were returned and as soon as the recess is over the defense will this afternoon try to set aside the bills of indictment on the ground that there was irregularity in draw ing the grand jury in that one of the jury commissioners had subscribed to the fund to aid in the prosecution pf Hasty. 1 This motion will be strongly fought by the State. The witnesses present are Miss Sheridan of New York; Miss Bishop of Chicago ,and Mr. Welch, manager of the company. . Solicitor Sease of Spartanburg and J. C. Otts and J. B. Bell, of the local bar, will conduct the prosecution, while the defense -will be conducted by Geo. Johnston of -Newberry, and Butler. Os borne of the local bar. , , , The contest promises to be a battle royal for the ' life of the defendant whose casp has attracted attention all oyer the country. The crime was com mitted during the first week: of last December and two men were killed as a result, Hasty being immediately ar rested and held.without bail. . ;. i !i CHARLOTTE, N C, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 26. 1906. TILLMAN MAKES REPORT. Reported on Hepburn R. R. Rate Bill Without Amendment. By Associated props Washington, Feb. 26. Tillman re- ! ported to the Senate on the Hepburn Kailroad Rate Bill without an amend ment ast instructed by the committee on Interstate Commerce. An order was made for the publication of 10,000 copies of the testimony taken by the committee. Tillman gave notice he would press the -bill to the earliest con sideration. Republicans Did Not Join.. Tillman announced as soon as pos sible that he purposed to digest the testimony and to submit a formal re port on the bill. Aldrich said "A ma jority of Republican members of the committee did not join in the favor able report which has just been made by the Senator from South Carolina, for the reason in their judgment that an attempt should have been made by the committee to remedy, by proper amendments, some of their obvious and admitted defects and omissions of the House bill, and that a clear and ; adequate provision should have been made for subjecting the orders of the commission affecting the rates to a 'judicate review." Culberson said the committee's action in a large degree was no more than a transfer of the controversy from the Committee to the Senate. He offered a substitute for the bill. It was ordered printed and to lie on the table until the Rate bill is taken. MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL. It Was Formally Opened to the Public This Morning. The informal opening and dedication of Mercy General Hospital this morn ing was a very notable event. . Bishop Haid pronounced the formal prayer of benediction before the altar, after which he took the vessel of holy water and went through the building sprinkling each room and asking God's blessing. In his address which follow ed, he spoke most beautifully of the duties that the church and humanity, and what all Christians owe to hum anity, for the proper care of the sick and suffering. He felt that this was one of the foremost of Christian du ties. He was happy at the result and completion of the hospital which rep resented so much cf the time and ef fort of Father Joseph, whom he de sired to thank especially. He also re ferred to the aid, In a material way given and extended by others not of the Catholic denomination and espe cially thanked the corps of physicians who had joined with them in this effort He spoke of the help that God would give the sick, but said that God ex pected and required the medicines of nature to be used because He has given us that high class' of intelligence yhich makes v it possible for us to know the remedies for each ill. The Bishop spoke most pathetically and tenderly and the audience showed that it was in sympathy with him. It was an unusual collection of Charlotte people and it bespeaks a great deal for that high class Christian fellowship which exists here more so than any where else. Mayor S. S. McNinch, after being introduced to the Bishop, said: "It gives me great pleasure to be with you in the formal opening of Mercy Gen eral Hospital.' I come here as an offi cial and personally to join hands with you and to give you all the sympathy, countenance and encouragement possi ble. There are a number of other in stitutions in the city of public or pri vate nature which are under the in fluence to a greater or less degree of religious denominations, and I gladly welcome your institution to the com munity because it is a Catholic insti tution, and for the reason that I well know that all Catholic institutions are for the good of the communities in which they are located. "Some of my best friends are Catho lics. I have learned to esteem them as such, and while our creed differs I love to think that we all have the same beautiful vision of the Almighty God and the same common hope of our hereafter. Surely, such being the case, we can gladly join hands with you in works of charity, mercy, love and temperance." "In closing, good friends, I desire to again thank you for your efforts and to thank these splendid physicians and good Sisters who will have charge of the hospital and the care of the sick and suffering who will be placed in their care." : Dr. F. M. Winchester responded in behalf of the corps of physicians. He said that he and Dr. Wilder had prev iously discussed the needs of another institution in Charlotte and whea the Mercy Hospital was proposed they were glad to join hands. He compli mented the equipment and thanked the other representatives of hospitals for their presence and he hoped that there would never be' other than a friendly spirit of rivalry. Rev. Francis Osborne and Dr. F. O. Hawley made short and interesting talks. . : ' . r : 1 NATIONAL SOLDIERS' RALLY. Meeting in Washington Proposed of All Soldiers of Many Wars. A Grand Review. By Associated Press. Washington, Feb. 26. At a meeting in Atlanta March 28-29, of the National Society of Blue and Gray Veterans, 61-65, one of the plans of the reunion is to hold in Washington, D. C, at no distant day, a national rally not only of Blue and Gray but of all soldiers and sailors who participated in Mex ican War, war wiin.Spa-n, campaigns in China and the Philippines, together with all sons of veterans,, and to pass in grand reivew before the President. It is proposed that the rally shall con tinue for one week. - . .. Assembly to Meet. , St. Petersburg, - Feb. 26. The Im perial Ukase issued today announces that the National Assembly will meet May 10. "SCAB" IS FIGHTING WORD ACCORDING TO CITiRECORDER The Term Applied to Mr. P, H. Brown Caused a Fight in which Mr. Brown was Cut by Mr. Gaston Thompson, 1Icmber of the Iron Moulders Union. Recorder Shannonhouse Held Thompson in a $100 Bond and Continued the Judgment as to Brown. An Interesting Case Heard this Morning. The word "scab" as applied to one not a member of any labor union is regarded by Recorder Shannonhouse as a "fighting word," and he so held in his court this morning. There are a few epithets that the law says are calculated to bring on a fight and the one who makes use of these is just as guilty as the man who strikes the first blow. And this all came about in the trial cf Gaston Thompson for an assault on Mr. P. H. Brown with a deadly weapon. The evidence was that Mr. Brown, who is mailing clerk for the Charlotte Observer, went to the Gem restaurant early Sunday morning for a plate of oysters. While he was sitting at the lunch counter three men, who after wards proved to be Gaston Thompson, J. B. Hasty and Ed Fullerton, were seated near the stove. V As Brown walked into the restaurant he "made a noise like a whistle," and this attracted the attention of the three. One spoke up and asked who the man was. Another said that he worked at the Observer office, but did not know his name. Then it was that Thompson said, "A V. , ' ' Mr. Brown, who stands six-foot-three in his stocking feet,: continued to eat his oysters, seemingly paying little at tention to the remarks made by those at his rear. When he had finished eating,he whirl ed around on the stool and asked who called him a scab, at the same time applying an epithet to the one who had dene so. ' - : Thompson replied that he had not been talking about Brown, but he would retract nothing he had said about a "scab." Brown repeated the epithet and the two men went to gether. With one move of Brown's hand Thompson went to the floor like a ton of brick. While he was down Brown kicked him and then as a climax threw a box of "coco-cola" bottles into Thompson's face. , During the melee' Brown was cut across the breast, the wound requiring six stitches to close. In court this morning Brown was the first witness examined. He did not deny that he had applied the epi thet to Thompson, nor did he deny that he kicked him when down. He also admitted throwing the box of "coco cola" at Thompson while down. Brown said he went into the restaurant, in his shirt-sleeves and called for some 6ys ters. While he was eating the oysters, he hear someone call him a "scab." He waited until he had finished eating and then turned on his stoll and faced the three men, one of whom had called him the name.: He remarked that any one who said he was a scab was a ; .that Thompson took che matter up and said that he had no retraction to make; that any one who call him a , was the same. Then was when the fireworks started. J. B. Hasty, a friend of Thompson and a member of the Iron Moulders' Union, was the next witness called. He said there was something said about "a scab," but he did not think it ap plied to Brown; that he, Thompson and Fullerton had been talking conj cerning the help at the Mecklenburg Iron Works and were discussing this when Brown walked in the restaurant. "What was said about a 'scab?'?' asked the Recorder. : ". v "Some one said he had no use for a "SCab." r ' : -v.: "Who said, it?" asked the Recorder "I don't recall . who said it," said Hasty. j "What do mean mean by a "scab?" "I suppose the term is applied to all who are not members of a union' , "Are you a scab?" . "No, I am not," replied Hasty. Ed Fullerton was the next witness. He corroborated Hasty at every ... ma terial point and went further. He said that the word "scab" was said before Brown entered the restaurant and that it had no. reference to Brown. The Recorder in passing sentence said that the evidence, to his mind j dis closed the fact that Thompson used the word "scab" and that it was used for no other purpose than to bring oh a . fight and to humiliate Mr. Brown ; that to the court's mind Mr. Brown did right in resenting the intended insult and that Thompson denied that he had said it in i order to evade the consa quences. Continuing, the Court said: "If Thompson had - kept his mouth shut, there would have been no trou ble. .1 hold that; the epithet 'scab as applied to a non-member of a labor union is humiliating and is calculated to bring on a fight. If I had jurisdic tion in this case, I would punish Thompson severely to the fullest ex tent of the law; A man has the, right to belong to the union. He has the I same rights not to belong . to. it, jz he so desires. I will require Thompson to give a bond of $100 fcr his appearance at the next term of the Superior Court. The judgment is continued as to Mr. Brown." . Addressing Mr. Brown, the Recorder said: "Mr. Brown, you used an epithet that is regarded in law as calculated to bring on a fight. I suppose, of course, that you sought a difficulty, else you would not have used the lan guage you did. Because of this your are guilty." Mr.Plummer Stewart, who represent ed Thompson, said he did not think his client guilty because Brown used the language calculated tq cause trou ble. If his client did do the cutting, he did it in self-defense. He then de scribed Mr. Brown as giant among men and that his client was a mere strip pling when compared with him. The knife that it is said was used by Thompson was produced in court and Officer Squires testified that when he was disarming Thompson he nulled the weapon from the man's pocket. As he did, Thompson said: "I guess that is what you will need." MINISTERS HOLD BIG MEETING. Iteresting Discussions At The Second Presbyterian Church. More than 125 ministers and elders of the city and county churches were present at a big meeting of the Meck lenburg County Ministerial Associa tion at the Second Presbyterian church today. The meeting went in session at 11 o'clock this morning con tinuing until 4 o'clock this afternoon with an intermission for dinner which was served in the Sunday school room. The meeting was one of the largest and one of the most important held in Charlotte for years. It was one of interest and enthusiasm and one in which all present were privileged to give their views on the subjects dis cussed. The first subject discussed was "The Relation of the County and City Churches" by Revs. P. H. Gwynn and W: W. Orr. - "Needs of Revival," by Revs. Plato Durham and R. G. Miller. "What is a True Revival?" by Rev. II. K. Borer. "Conditions of Revival," by Revs. J. Q. Adams and J. R. Howerton. After dinner a further discussion fol lowed as to the plan of co-operation and prayer service by the ministers of the city and county which will begin next Sunday night with revival servi ces to be conducted by the ministers of the various churches throughout the city and county. These services will continue through the week with fur ther unions later on. WILL OF MR. J. M. DOVE. His Estate Is Said to Be Valued at About $75,000. The will of the late J. M. Dove, of Cornelius, was filed for probate in the cilice of the Clerk of the Court today at noon. Mrs. Mary Ann Dove, widow of the deceased, and Mr. J. A. Dove, son of the deceased, are named as ex ecutrix and executor respectively. The property conveyed by the will, it is said, is worth between $75,000 and $100,000. It consists of real estate, personal property, stocks, bonds and other securities. The beneficiaries are the widow, Mrs. M. A. Dove, the son, Mr. J. A. Dove, and two grand child dren. Misses Allie and Lucy Washham. The document, bears the date of Oc tober 23, 1905, and is witnessed by Messrs. F. C Sherrill and J. T. Beard. Mr. J. Lee Sloan, Jr., a friend of the deceased, drew the document. The Jail Thinned Out. At present there are nine prisoners in the county jail. Of this number two have been tried and sentenced by the court. These are Sis Carter and Hat tie Kirkpatrick. The Carter woman is in for 30 days fcr selling whiskey and the Kirkpatrick woman was sen tenced to six months for larceny. The court instructed the County Commis sioners to hire these women out and not allow them to go to the road. Two in jail are negroes from Hunt ersviile, who are, charged with false pretense and larceny. Seven Freight Cars Derailed. The derailment of seven freight cars at the Elizabeth mills late , yes terday afternoon delayed passenger train No. 12, scheduled to arrive here at 7. o'clock, more than three hours. The accident was caused by a loose wheel of a car of freight train No. 71. A wrecking crew was dispatched to the scene soon after the accident, clearing the track about 10 o'clock . Growing Steadily. The Tenth Avenue Presbyterian church of this city is having an en couraging growth in attendance and membership. There were six actcutions to the church yesterday morning. In announcing their reception the pastor stated that during the last three Sab baths . there had been thirteen acces sions to the church. Miss Hyndman-Better. . Miss Nora, Hyndman who was oper ated on for appendicitis several weeks ago at the Presbyterian hospital, Was able to be taken to her home on East 6th street Saturday. Her friends will be glad to know she continues to im prove., i ' - A Sweeping Bill. Byr Associated Press. WacHine-tnn. Feb. 26. Senator La- folette, of : Wisconsin, introduced . a sweeping bill requiring all committees of all political parties in the National and Congressional elections to account for all moneys expended m saia eiec-tim-ts and to nrohibit corporations from contributing money to any po litical committee or to any canaiaaie for political office. , Cotton Receipts. . The receipts at the cotton, platform" today amounted to 176 bales and the best price was 10,75. For the same day last rear the receipts amounted to 24 bales and the best price was 7.75'. SEABOARD AIR AKE MANY IMPROVEMENTS S FOUND DEAD IN BED AT E Sudden End of Spencer Merchant. Sarah Bernhardt Surely Com ing to Salisbury. Geiman Ex pert Investigates Soutnern Yards at Spencer. Special to The News. Salisbury, Feb. 26. Mr. Sidney Ris don, a hardware merchant of Spencer, was found dead in his room at his home late Saturday evening. He had suffered much with asthma and had been , kept at home several days and this is supposed to have caused his death. He was popular. The funeral was held yesterday afternoon. The funeral of Capt. J. A. Mahaley, of Salisbury, was held yesterday after noon. Capt. Mahaley . died Saturday morning. For years he was superinten dent of the county road force and at the time of his death was in charge of the city street force. He was consid ered authority on good roads. He was a faithful member of the First Metho dist church. ReV. William Sniirnpnn nf T,nn1rvn - Erigland, preached two powerful ser mons at the Spencer Methodist church to large audiences, a big crowd of Sal isbury people being present at each service. He is a cousin of that great London evangelist, the late Charles H. Spurgeon, and will lecture tonight on the life and work of his distinguished cousin. Salisbury is wild over the announce ment that Sarah Bernhardt has finally decided to give this city a date. She appears in Asheville on Friday night, March 9th and her next engagement was Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday the 12. She will play "Camille" in this city on Saturday night, March 10th and a rush is already on for tickets. The Asheville grand jury has been hot after distillers and saloon keepers in Rowan, a half dozen or more being indicted in the Federal court at that place Saturday. Dr. Erich Herr, of Leipsig, Germany, a special representative to the Emper or, spent several days in Salisbury and Spencer looking over the yards of the Southern and inspecting trains. He is in this country investigating Ameri can railroading. - The Post of Saturday evening an nounces authoritively that Mr. Chas. H. Armfield, of Statesville, will be a candidate for the Democratic nomina tion for congress in the Eighth district. This Morning's Fire. An alarm of fire this mqrning turned in from box 13 located at the corner of Eighth and College streets, called the departments out to the residence of Mr- J. O. Stewart at No 207 East Seventh street A blaze had started in the roof of the kitchen which or iginated from a defective flue. The damage did not amount to much. Mr. WTorthjLittle, of Gaffney,- S. C, was in the city Sunday. CASES TO BE IN GATE CITY Blackburn Arrives Smiling and Confident. Says he is Inno cent. Judge Bynum to Repre sent Him. Cases to be Tried in Greensboro in April, Special to The News. - Asheville, N. C, Feb. 26. Spencer Blackburn, Republican Congressman from the Eighth district, indicted for alleged practicing before the Depart ments, appeared this morning in the Federal Court, and through his coun sel, Judge Bynum, of Greensboro, an nounced his readiness for trial. When Congressman Blackburn ap peared in. the court room he immedi ately became the center of attraction, but he took tio part in the proceedings, his case being conducted, by his attor neys. -: Judge Bynum stated that the Dis trict Attorney had informed him : it would be impossible to go into a trial at the present, or before the middle of April and said that arrangements would be satisfactory to his client. The trial will be held at Greensboro at a special term of court some time in April, the exact date tobe annuohe ed later. - In reply to an inquiry of the Court, Judge Bynum said he d-d not desire to enter pleadings today as he desired more carefully to examine the bills oi indictment. The question of a .bond was next gone into, this being fixed at $1,000, C. J. Harris, of Dillsbord, going surety. There were no sensational de velopments, : the whole . proceeding passing off quickly: Blackburn had nothing to say beyond stating to his friends that he wa3 innocent and had no fear of the outcome. v ' He appeared ' in, the court with a cigar between his teeth, smiling and self-possessed and confident. He and his- attorneys left this afternoon. OM NOTED no PRICE: 3 CENTS LINE IWiLL It is More than Probable that the Passenger Station will ba Moved to the Corner of Sixth ; and the Railroad on Vance Property. Judge Watts, the General Counsel of the Road Gives Out the .Statement that There Has Been no Change in the Management of the Road. The published statement to the ef fect that the Seaboard Air Line is about to pass out of the hands of the present management is denied. Judge Watts, , general counsel for. the corporation, in an interview with a prominent citizen of Charlotte; says there is absolutely no truth in the statement and that the road will con tinue under the present management. Judge Watts' statement should set the matter at rest. The News is informed by ' a leading Charlotte citizen i that this great system has plans laid that will mean much to North Carolina and Charlotte. For some weeks past, it has .been common rumor on the streets tnat the seaboard Air Liine had either purchased or had options on a number of pieces of property lying be tween East Trade and Seventh street. It was said that the old Vance home, , on Sixth street, had been purchased by Mr. F. D. Alexander and that he was acting for the Seaboard Air iLine. However this may be, The News is in a position to state that the Sea board is to make some wonderful im provements to its property in Char lotte and that other properties will be purchased in a few weeks. Then, and not untii then, will the real facts be given out. ' The News man learned this after noon that the' Seaboard will, an all probability, give up the present pas senger yards at the foot of North Try on street and the passenger station will ie moved to East Sixth street. It is also said that the .: present freight station is to be abandoned and that a large and commodious freight depot will be erected farther down the tracks, probably between Fifth . and Sixth' streets. .' . . .. , ' . . In an interview with a well-known citizen this afternoon it was learned) that General Manager Barr is devoted to Charlotte and the only reason these contemplated improvements "have not been started earlier was because of . certain litigations j that are hanging fire. There seems to be a desire on the part of the Seaboard to put at an on A oil A i ffrrrT Vvr TtmdY i on4 city, in order that the road may put on foot such improvements as is deem ed necessary for the proper handling of both the freight and passenger busi ness of Charlotte. Dr. Wylie Here. Dr. W. Gil Wvlie arrived in Char lotte this morning from New, York. He comes down to look after his interests in the Southern Power Co. A90UT SOUTHERN REPRESENT Representative Keifer of Ohio Introduces Bill to Reduce South ern Representation in the House. The Reduction by States Provided for in Bill. By Associated Pres. Washington Feb. 26. Representa-. tive Keifer of Ohio introduced a bill to reduce the number of repre sentative In the House of the South ern states, because of the disfranchise ment of negro voters. The bill makes a reduction as fol lows; Alabama from 9 to 5; Arkansas from 7 to 5 ; Florida from .3 to 2r Geor gia yrom 11 to 6; Louisana from' 7 to 3; Mississippi from 8 to 3; North Caro lina from 10 to 6; South Carolina from. 7 to 3; Tennessee from 10 to 8; Texas from 16 to 12; Virginia frctn 10 to 8;. BELK BROS. THE PURCHASERS. Entire Stock of Carolina Clothing Co. Purchased by this Firm. The entire stock of the Carolina Clothing Company, one of Charlotte's leading clothing concerns, was today sold to Belk Brothers, the well known East Trade street firm. The doors of the company were closed this morning in order that an inventory of the stock might be taken and as soon as this is completed the stock will be increased and sold in the present location, the corner store' room in the Central Hotel building. . Mr. J. A. Solomons, president of the company, expects to leave Charlotte about the last of the week for New. York and he states that he does not know positively in what line of busi ness he will engage until he returns. He, however, stated positively, that he will not move from Charlotte. . - Mr. Solomons will retain the lease on the store room as well as the store fix tures. . . - ' ATI