Semi-Weekly
Subscnption
$1.50 Per Year
TWICE-A-WEEK-TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
THIRTY FIFTH YEAR
HENDERSON, N. C., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22. 1916
NUMBER 32
ARMY PLANS
ARE FORMING
Broadening- of Defense Facilities
Begin to Take Definite Form
In "
BE READY IIHWO WEEKS
Ghairman Hay of House Committee
Will Present Comiileted Draft
of Bill to His Colleagues
On Wednesday.
(By the Associated Press.)
Wasliington, Feb. 22. —The
army’s part in national defense leg
islation began to take definite form
in congression committees today.
With the House Military Commit
tee in practical agreement on the
outline of the army bill with the
federalization of the National Guard
as a compromise for the continental
army plan, unanimously favored,
chairman Hay was at work complet
ing the rough draft for detailed con
sideration by the committee tomor
row. He expected that the measure
would be ready for presentation to
the House within two weeks.
Meanwhile the Senate imilitary
committee was framing its measure
for a thorough reorganization of the
regular army, with a peace strength
of over 160,000 men. It is under
stood that the House committeo will
accept the large army plan of the
Senate provided its scheme for fed
eralizing the National Guard is ac
cepted.
The tentative House bill not only
grants the program mapped out by
former Secretary Garrison, but goes
farther and provides for reserve mil
itary supplies.
RAILROAD RATE UPHELD
BY THE SUPREME COURT
Commerce Comniissiou
As to ^he Haiiliij^ of Lumber
Passed iLTpon Favorably.
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, Feb. 22.—The In
terstate Commerce Commission or
der requiring trunk line railroads
and tap lines reaching the Southern
yellow pine lumber districts to
divide the through late on a basis
of the mileage hauled over the tap
lines was upheld yesterday by the
Supreme Court.
After the Supreme Court’s decis
ion in 1914 permitting tap lines to
share in the through rates the com
mission, in finding some of the al
lowances to tap lines to be in nature
of discriminations and rebates, or
dered that the allowances be placed
on a mileage basis. The practical
operation of the order was that the
tap lines hauled their product the
greatest distance possible, and thus
excluded from the traffic trunk lines
interesting the tap lines at inter
mediate points.
CHARLES A. WEBB BUYS
ASHEVILLE NEWSPAPER
FIFTEEN STATES ARGUE
FORPROHION LAWS
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, Feb. 22.—Fifteen
Southern and Western attorneys-
general joined today in filing
with the Sui>reme Coiirt of the
United States an argument in
support of the West Virginia
liquor law, proliibiting the r^eipt
and use of intoxicating liquors
for personal use, &nd the Webb-
Kenyon liquor law, prohibiting
the sliipping of intoxicating li
quors into states or use in viola
tion of State laws.
Among the attomeys-general
was T. W. Bickett, of North Caro-
WASHINGTON
BIRTHDAY
OBSERVED
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, Feb. ’22.—Every
agency of the American govern
ment paused today to paj^ hom
age to the memory of George
Washington in the capital 'vvhich
bears his name.
Both houses of Congress sus
pended business while Senator
Johnston, of Maine, and Rrepre-
sentative Baker, of California,
read Gerenal Washington’s Fare
well Address with its poignant
phrases warning against “insid
ious wiles of foreign Influence,”
“mischiefs of foreign intrigues,”
and the “impostures of pretend
ed patriotism.” i ^
The Farewell A^ldress tiak
been read every year in Congress
for generations, but probably
never before were Washington’s
words so closely applied to pres
ent dav conditions.
Pi'esident Takes Part.
Washington, Feb. 22.—George
Washington’s birthday was general
ly observed in the National Capital
today. President Wilson and
other high government officials paid
tribute to the/ continental leader.
The day was practically a holiday
here.
The chief celebration was that
held at Continental Memorial Hall
under the auspices of various pa
triotic societies in which the Presi
dent, Secretaries Lansing and Dan
iels, and French Ambassador Jus-
serand took part. The President
was one of the speakers.
Various patriotic societies journ
eyed to Mount Vernon to place
wreaths on Washington’s tomb.
Previous German Assurances
On Attacking Unarmed Liners
To Hold Good For the Future
W'
ASHINGTON, Feb. 22.—Con
fidential advices from Ber
lin today indicate that Germany
soon will inform the United States
that her previous assuran^^^.that
unresisting liners will at
tacked without warning hold good
for future submarine operations,
provided^ however, that submarine
liners do not carry armament.
The German government will
contend, the advices state, that
what now is considered as de
fensive armament, is really offen
sive armament.
As none of the British and
French liners now clearing from
American ports carry any arms
whatever, such assurances from
Germany will be in the nature of
reassurances from Germany, even
under the terms of the new sub
marine controversy.
Last night’s conference between
President Wilson, Senator Stone,
and Representative Flood chairmen
of the committees dealing with
the foreign affairs situation, and
Senator Kern, majority leader of
the Senate was said todty to have
been held in order that the Presi
dent might inform them as to the
status of the negotiations.
Senator Stone, it was said asked
to see the President to learn what
the facts in the negotiations really
were.
The President thought Senator
Kern and Representative Flood
should have the same information,
and asked them to be present.
United States to Stand Firm.
The President told the three
leaders that while the foreign situa
tion was grave it was not critical.
It is understood that he said the
United States would remain firm in
its position that merchantmen have
a right to arm for defensive pur
poses.
The President does not believe
there should be much discussion of
the foreign situation in Congress,
because of the danger of embarrass
ing negotiations being carried on by
the State Department.
WEAKEMIHG LEVEE
Heroic Efforts Made at Scuth-
wood, La., to Prevent River
Bank From Breaking.
COLE BLEASE WILL
F(
10 KILLED, 18 INJURED
III NEW HAVEN'S WRECK
New York, Feb. 22.—Ten per
sons were killed and sixteen in
jured in tlie wTeck of passenger
trains near Milford, Conn., today
according to reports received by
the local offices of the New York
New Haven and Hartford rail
road. Six of the dead w ere pas
sengers and four were trainmen.
The injured were taken to
Bridgeport, it was stated, a num
ber of them being in a critical
condition. The dead included,
according to information received
here, the engineer and fii‘eman
of the si>ecial train and the flag
man and Pullman portw and six
passengers of the express.
OUR WIRELESS
SHOWS IT IS
PREPARED
Former Chief Executive of South
Carolina Formally Announces
His Candidacy.
"Upit^ States Marshal and Assocaies
Purchase Gazette-News — Will
Make It Democratic Pai>er.
Asheville, Feb. 22.—The Gazette-
News Saturday carried the an
nouncement that the paper has been
sold to C. A. Webb and his asso
ciates. Mr. Webb has served in the
state Senate, as chairman of the
Democratic state committee and
now holds the position of United
States marshal of the western dis
trict.
The Gazette-News, heretofere
conducted as an independent paper,
will bo Democratic in politics, al
though Mr. Webb and those asso
ciated with him insist that buying
the paper is a business proposition.
It will not be published primarily
as a political paper they say.
The new owners taken charge
yesterday. The formal announce
ment states that in the future Mr.
Hildebrand will devote his attention
exclusively to the aifairs of the
Greensboro Daily News, which
has for some time desired to do.
NITRE CAKE IS USED TO
MAKE CALICO BLEACHING
Observed In Henderson.
Washington’s Birthday was ob
served in Henderson only by the
banks of the city and the force at
the post office. The banks were
closed the entire day, and the post
office was open only from 10 to 11
n. There was only one delivery
of mail in the city, and none on the
rural routes.
(By the Associated Press.)
London, Feb. 22.—Nitre cake, a
waste material produced in enor
mous quantities in the manufacture
of nitre acid, has been found to be
a useful product in the woole in
dustry and icalico bleaching. A
solution of the cake can be used as
a substitute for sulphuric acid or
any mineral acid in, chemical pro
cesses where acidity alone is requir
ed. But it is not suitable in solu
tions stronger than 15 per cent, and
thus can not be used in the dye-
stuffs or in the manufacture of ex-
LINEAL DESCENDANT OF
CONFUCIUS IS HONORED
(By the Associated Press.)
Peking, Feb. 22.—Presiient Yuan
Shi-kai has honored Duke Kung
Linyi, a fineal descendant of Con
fucius with a princedom, a honor
heretofore not bestowed by any
Chinese ruler upon a descendant of
the distinguished sage.
Duke Kung Lin-yi was recently
received in audience by President
Yuan Shi-kai who has shown great
zeal in upholding the Confusion doc
trine, following the example of
pervious dynasties in China. Duke
Kung Lin-yi lives at Chu-fou, near
the tomb of his distinguished an
cestor, and recently acted as host to
Dr. Paul S. Reinsch, the American
minister to China, and a party of
Americans who accompanied him on
a visit-to the Confucian tomb.
RESCUE WORK_CONTINyES
Relief Parties Make Desperate At
tempts to Readi Marooned In
habitants lu Two PurJ^.es
■—
(By ihe Associated Press.) ‘
New Orleans, La., Feb. 22.—
Weakening of the Mississippi levee
at Southwood, La., eighteen miles
below Baton Rouge, and appeals for
aid in behalf of marooned inhabi
tants in western Tensas and Con
cordia parishes furnishes a well fill
ed program for activities for flood i
workers today. j
Reports received here from
Southwood stated double action was
being taken to prevent a break in
the levee as the result of a cavc-in
last night of a section of capping.
Two barges, the report said, were
anchored in the river and dirt was
being placed in the cavity. On the
outside of the levee forces of rail-
oad workers from Baton Rouge
strengthened the embankment. That
the alarm was given in time to re
pair the levee satisfactorily was the
belief expressed by engineers in
charge of the work early today.
Reports from Natchez today were
to the effect that immediate efforts
would be made to rescue inhabitants
from the flooded areas of Western
Tensas and Concordia parishes,
where water from Buck Ridge crev
asse and from the Red River over
flow marooned a great number of
persons. Power boats were said to
be needed to reach the people in iso
lated sections, although scows, it
was believed, could effect the relief
work necessary.
OPPOSEGOVnRMANNlNG
Blease Sei'\'ed as Governor From
1J>11 to 1915 His Term Beii^
kVaturcrt By Many T'ardons ,
He Graijtert. ,
AMBASSADOR GKRARD
BREAKS COLLAR BONE
IN SKIING IN MUNICH
(ijy tlii Associated Pres.)
Columbi;*, :5. C., Feb. 22.—Cole
Blease today formally an
nounced that he would be an
aspirant for the Democratic
nomination for Governor of
Soutli Carolina in the approach
ing primaries.
He will oppose Richard I.
Manning-. present governor.
Blease served as Governor from
1911 until last ’Vear, making his
term spectacular chiefty be
cause of the many pardons he
issued.
SAM SMALL WILL SPEAK
ON PROHIBITION TONIGHT
Revi Sam W. Small, D. D., of
Atlanta, will deliver an address in
the Methodist church thi.i evening
at 8 o’clock on “Nation-Wide Pro
hibition by Constitutional Amend
ment.” The noted Southern lec
turer comes here under the point
auspices of the Anti-Saloon League
oi America and the temperance
forces of the State. His theme
will be for a dry America, and
friends of prohibition who have
heard the Southern platform speak
er are delighted that he is to appear
here.
Play at Epsom.
A play entitled “Hearts and Dia
monds,” will be given Friday even
ing of this week at Epsom school,
beginning at 7;30 o’clock. An ad
mission fee of 15, 25 and 85 cents
will be charged.
Of course a man gets credit for
executive ability when everybody he
depends on performs their duty so
effectively that the boss can get
credit for being a good manager.
(By the Associated Press.)
London, Feb. 23.—A dis-
j)atch to Exchange Telegraph
Company says that James W.
Gerard, American Ambassador
to (Jermany, broke his collar
bone while skiing "^’esterday
near Munich, and also injured
his left side. It is said his
injuries are not serious.
FIRST TRIE PROVES
FIRE TRUCK’S WORTH
Extinguished Fire Last Night
That Might Have Proved to
Be Most Disastrous.
TURKS'ARMY
LOST 40,000
Petrograd Guesses Enemy Casu
alties at Erzerum in Killed,
Wounded and Prisoners.
RUSSIANS«BLACK SEA
other Fronts Are Mostly Quiet—
Austrians Continue Air Raids
Over Italy—Russian Duma
Meets Today,
(By the Associated Press.)
Davenport, la., E’eb. 22. —
Twenty minutes from Davenport
to Hoquim, Wash., was the rec
ord established by the radio
message on preparedness through
out the country last night. The
message left the station of W. H.
Kirwin at 11 o’clock, central
time, and reached Hoaguim
9:20 Pacific time.
Mr. Kirwin is satisfied as a
result of the test that there are
a large number of wireless opera
tors in the United States capable
of handling government mes
sages in a manner highly satis-
factor^i'l
Keiich Remotest Sections.
Ciiieago, Feb. 22.—The messagje
senr by wireless to governors of tlje
States and mayors of the largest
citie.s ai M o’clock last night from
Davenport, la., as a demonstration
the radio preparedness of the
country’s 25,000 licensed amateur
operators reached the remotest
parts of the country through var
ious realys, according to advices re
ceived here today.
On account of the number of re
lays, it required about an hour and
a half to send the message to the
Pacific Cosat, more than 2,000 miles
from its 'Starting point.
The message, which was author
ized by the United States govern
ment and signed by Colonel W. J.
Nicholson, commander at the Rock
Island arsenal, is as follows:
“A democracy requires that a
people who govern and educate
themselves should be so armed and
disciplined that they can protect
themselves.”
Boy Scouts were on hand today
to deliver the message to the var
ious executives throughout the
country.
(By the Associated Press.)
The Turks lost heavily in the
fighting resulting in the capture of
Erezerum, according to a Petro
grad dispatch today which estimates
their losses as 40,000 killed, wound
ed and prisoners.
Following up their victory ener-.
getically, the Russians are pursuing
the Turks westward from Erezrum,
as well as north and South as the
Turkish forces have spilt and fled
in all directions. The different
Turkish forces have spilt and fled
from communication with each,
other, while the Russians are de
clared to have solidified their own
lines so that their advance is rapid- .
ly becoming a forward drive along
an unbroken front from the Black
Sea to Mush, west of Lake Van.
Trebiziond Is Tlireatened.
On the north, Trebizond is threat
ened, the Russians having rushed
close to the Black Sea port in their
operations along the coast, while
the Russian forces from Erzerum
are reported nearing the coast.
Mostly Quiet on Other Fronts.
Military operations in European
territory are continuing relatively
Important, no extensive movements
being underway on the eastern or
western fronts, while conditions in
the Balkans are comparatively
quiet.
Differences between Greece and
ihe Entente .Allies over diplomatic
^ questions’aj>t*ear to be in a way \.o
M be smooth^ -out.
^ I Austrj«ns Raid Italy.
The Austrians are continuing
their air raids over Ita’ian territory.
The latest flights were across the
province of Brescia and toward
Milan. Some reports said four
prisoners were killed and five
wounded with only slight material
BRITISH STEAMER SUNK
WITH SINGLE SURVIVOR
Big Vessel Was 593 Tons and Was
170 Feet Long—Details of Loss
of Vessel Are Lacking.
London, Feb. 22.—Sinking of
the British steamship Dingle is re
ported by Lloyds. There probably
is only one survivor. No details
have been received.
‘Vhe Dingle, 5S3 tons gross, and
170 feet long, was built of in 1914
and owned by the West Lancashire
Steamship Company, of Liverpool.
The new motor truck fire engine
iast night made its first response to
a genuine fire alarm^. since it was
accepted by the city' and formally
placed in service. The company
was called shortly before 11 o’clock
to the big tobacco prizery of Har
ris & Gooch just to the rear of
the tobacco warehouse owned by
this firm. The blaze was found
beneath the fioor, and just begin
ning to make some headway when
discovered.
Quick application of the contents
of the chfemical tank on the bij
truck put the fire out in a very few
minutes. The large search light
was used to illuminate the interior
of the building in order to enable
the firemen to get to the prizery.
The blaze was in a congested dis
trict, and the building is a large
four slory frame structure, and it
is believed that had the fire gained
enough headway the city would
About a year after marriage many 1 have had a real demonstration of
a man*^ begins to realize why he was the fire engine, as well as the des
not designated as the best man at Jtruction of many thousands of dol-
the wedding. ' lars worth of propertyo
Chinese Banker Was Mysteriously
Assassinatel.
(By the Assocrated Pres.s.)
Shanghai, Feb. 22.—Chang Sze-
shen, manager of the Shanghai
branch of the Bank of Communica
tions, was mysteriously assassinat
ed on January 8th.
The bank with which he was con
nected, is largely under the direc
tion of Liang Shih-yi, President
Yuan Shi-kai’s right hand man, and
it has been sugested that the crime
was committed by revolutionists as
a protest against the monarchical
movement. This theory has not
been supported, however, so far.
The murdered manager wis not
actively engaged in politics, and has
never held any office. It has been
charged by some of the revolution
ists, however, that he constantly
supplied information to Liang Shih-
yi concering the movements of the
enemies of the Yuan Shi-kai gov
ernment, and was the financial
agent who directed efforts against
the protesting progressives in
Shanghai. Chang Sze-shen’s family
denies these allegations emphatical
ly, and are at a loss to find a motive
for the crime.
Russian Duma Meets.
In Petrograd the Russian Duma
meets today. It has not been in
session since last September.
The British delegation tp the
Anglo-French parliamentary com
mittee begins today its conferences
In Paris with an equal number of
French and English deputies, the
object being the full discussion of
the conduct of the war.
EARTHQUAKE FELT
IN HENDERSON AT 6:35
Late Yesterday Afternoon Hender
son People Felt Houses Shaking
—Reports From Places in Three
States Wliere T\vo Shocks Were
Felt—Lights Put Out at South
South Boston^ Va,
It has been reported to the Daily
Dispatch that the earthquake was
felt in Henderson yesterday after-
non about 6:35 . o’clock. A lady
living on Charles street says that
her house shook slightly for some
thing like two seconds or more, and
that she spoke of the shaking to
others and they decided it was an
earthquake.
Reports come today from Atlanta,
Ga., Greensboro, Wilm’ngton, Ashe
ville, Greenville, S. C., Bristol,
Teen. Richmond, Va., and other
places in the three States that two
severe shocks were felt. No damage
was reported more than dishes and
glass-ware being shaken from tables
and broken and window glass
shaken out at different places.
Much excitement was caused on
Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge, where the shocks were re
ported to have been of pronounced
intensity.
Amsterdam, Feb. 22 via London.
—A dispatch from Munich says
that a great availanche fell in the
Hochkoenig region carrying away s
mountain shelter with its occu
pants. Thus far 35 bodies have
been recovered.
Inundations and storms are re
ported from the Thursingian woods.
Franconia and other parts of south
ern Germany.
NEW YORK BLAZE FATAL
TO 4 MEN AND 1 WOMAN
Boai*ding House For Actors and
Actres^s Burns In Theatre Dis
trict In Morning Pire.
(By the Associated Press.)
New York, Feb. 22.—Four men
and a women lost their lives today
in a fire which destroyed a theatri
cal boarding house above a restau
rant in the theatre section of this
ciity. Early reports said that a
number of the actors and actreses
who were stopping in the house had
perished, but dead were identified
later as employes of the boarding
house and Thomas Keratsas, one of
the proprietors.