North Carolina Newspapers

CONGRESS TO MEET Al'RIL 2ND. ?eclare That State of War Exists and Vote a Huge Sum. That Is What Congress Is Expected to Do After President Addresses It. Declaration of War in Technical Sense. We May, However, Be Drawn Into the Very Center of the Struggle on the Con tinent. War Will Be a Defensive War. Washington, March 21. ? President Wilson today met constantly increas ing probability of war with Germany Wy summoning Congress to assemble in extraordinary session Monday, April 2 ? two weeks earlier than the date he had chosen before the latest assaults upon American rights on the seas. When the President addresses Con gress he is expected to show how a state of war actually has existed for some time because of the unlawful ag gressions of German submarines. Congress is expected formally to declare a state of war existing, vote a large -sum, probably $500,000,000 for national defense and clothe the Presi dent with authority to use the armed forces of the United States, as it em powered President McKinley to deal with the menace of Spain in 1898. War in Technical Sense. Such action would not be a decla ration "Of war except in a technical sense, and whether the United States and Germany actually go to war in the fullest acceptance of the word will depend on what the imperial govern ment does before Congress is assem bled or after it acts. Dispatches from abroad tonight de claring that the German government expected a state of war within the next 48 hours, placed an ominous as pect on the situation. Much to change the President's present intentions or the course of the government in the crisis may de velop before April 2. The first Ameri can armed ships will by that time have reached the war zone. The ruth less destruction of one of them un doubtedly would be an act of war. On the other hand, sinking of a submarine by one of the armed mer chantmen probably would be met as an act of war by Germany. Even the arming of American ships with the avowed purpose of defending them against U-boats may be declared such an act. Ten Days of Anxiety. In any of these events, practically nothing would remain except for Con gress to acknowledge a state of war existing from a certain specified date ? probably last Sunday when three American ships were sunk with loss of life. / ? The 10 days until Congress meets Will be days of anxiety, eager wait ing and watching, fraught with possi bilities of tremendous consequences to the United States. President Wilson and his advisers in the cabinet and in Congress have no intention that war shall be declared by the United States. By the hostile acts of German submarines they be lieve the imperial government is act ually making war on the United States and that it shall be recognized as such a state. To meet such a condition the armed forces of the country and all the national resovfrces are to be put in a state of readiness. Then whether the nation shall enter the war in its full sense will depend upon how much further Germany carries her acts of aggression. In every sense, war, if it actually comes, will be a defensive war, free from ambitions of spoils or territory in which the United States, the Presi dent has publicly declared, shall want nothing for itself, and shall seek only to preserve the rights of civilization and humanity. May Fight On Continent. In such a situation the United States might even beccjme an actual participant in the hostilities on the European continent without becoming a political ally of any of the entente powers, simply casting its weight of men, money and moral influence into the battle against a common .enemy. Ports of the United States probably would be opened to warships of the entente navies; credits from the vast stocks of gold, food, munitions and other materials might be extended to all the entente powers. The Ameri can navy probably would co-operate with the British and French navies in clearing submarines from the seas, Hurry calls for all party leaders in Congress went out today as soon as the President announced the advance ment of the date of the extra session. With the menace of war looming close ahead political differences began to fade away. Some congressmen already here went so far as to suggest that the fight for organization of the house b? postponed until after the in ternational sitoation had been dealt with. ? Associated Press. SEES EM) OF HOHENZOLLERNS British Socialist Declares Peace With Them Unthinkable. Says Socialist Liebknecht May Become Leader In Germany. Henry M. Hyndman, leader of the British Socialists, in an' interview with the correspondent of the Asso ciated Press at London Monday said: "The whole aim of the Hohenzol lyrns from now on will be to save the dynasty in the crash which seems al most inevitable. While, as I say, there are no signs yet that a revolution in Germany is probable or even possi ble, every thinking man must admit to feeling that there are great chang es in the air. A year ago a man who , would predict that the Socialist Milu koff would within 12 months become the greatest man in Russia would have been called crazy. It is no more absurd to predict today that Lieb knecht will become the leader in Ger many before another year goes around. I do not predict it, but I am willing to say that it would not at all surprise me. "Remember this ? it is unthinkable that the Entente would conclude a lasting peace with the Hohenzollerns. The people of the allied countries would repel the thought of such a peace after the sacrifices we have en dured. Revolution in Germany and the fall of the dynasty seems the only way to the reconstruction of Europe on a stable basis." Kenly Sunday School Class. Kenly, March 22. ? The Annie Ben son Wesly Class of the Methodist church held their monthly business meeting at the home of the assistant secretary, Mrs. R. A. Turlington, on last Monday evening. The class was called ^to order with Bible reading by the President, after which Mrs. C. P. Jerome led in prayer. The chairmen of the different com mittees gave in their reports, and from some of the reports it is evident that the class s doing good work. Mrs. Jerome reported that a "Home De partment" had been organized, wilh twelve charter members. Under the head of new business a J'Baby Roll" for the Sunday school, was brought up and discussed. It was moved and seconded that one be or ganized, and Mrs. H. M. Grizzard was elected superintendent. The Librarian, Mrs. H. F. Edger ton, asked that a voluntary offering of ten cents per member be handed in next Sunday for the purpose of buy ing new books for the class library. Mrs. A. J. Broughton, President of the class, was elected a delegate to the Wesley Bible Class Federation, at Rocky Mount, April 3rd to 5th. There being no other business tcf discuss, the class adjourned, after which a delightful salad course was served by the hostess. Will Not Consider Mediation. News has come to the Administra tion at Washington that a neutral country of Europe might offer media tion between this country and Ger many with a hope of staving off the impending war. Such a proposal is re garded in Washington as another scheme of Germany to confuse the is sue. The Washington dispatch con veying this news say^that "no sug gestion of mediation or discussion would be considered unless it was ac companied by abandonment of illegal assaults upon American shipping, a course which there is no reason for believing the Imperial government is giving a thought." Cotton Futures Hurt Them. The great slump in the cotton mar ket some time ago hurt many a busi ness man of the South. We have just ; heard of three men whose business was badly hurt by dealing in cotton i futures. One of them who had several contracts bought carried them until 1 it seemed he had eight thousand dol ; lars profit in them, but instead of , closing out his contracts he kept i them until he had lost his profits and i eighteen hundred dollars besides. ? < OVERTON IS RILLED IN FIGHT. Last Chapter of Alabama Sensation Written in Blood. Slain After Es cape. Murderer of Lawler and One of His Comrades Die in Battle With I'osse. The final chapter in what is believ ed to be Alabama's most sensational murder case was written Tuesday night when David D. Overton, former official of Huntersville, under a sen tence of death for the murder of Judge W. T. Lawler, his political riv al, last summer, was shot and killed by a posse of deputy sheriffs, says a Birmingham dispatch. Overton met death in a fight in which he and six companions engaged after they had escaped from the Jefferson County jail early Tuesday. Tony Malina, an other fugitive, also was killed and J. L. Lathem, a member of the es caped band, was mortally wounded. Four of Overton's companions fled when the fight with the deputies be gan, and. were pursued by the posse. None of the deputies was injured. Malina was under a death sentence for the murder of a peddler here sev eral months ago, and Lathem had been indicted on a charge of forgery. The seven prisoners fled from Bir mingham about 8 o'clock Tuesday morning after overpowering two war dens and a turnkey. They were heav ily armed. David D. Overton was arrested September 25, 1916, on a charge of having murdered Probate Judge W. T. Lawler in Huntsville June 17, 1916. The arrest occurred at Smithville, Tenn., after a search had been made for him in every State in the South and parts of Canada. In November last Overton was con victed by a Huntsville jury of having murdered Judge Lawler and the death sentence was imposed. An appeal was made to the supreme court and this appeal was pending when he made his escape. According to officials, the escjipc would have been the signal for the automatic dismissal of the appeal, and Overton would have suffered the death penalty without further legal action had he been captured alive. AMERICAN SHIP HEALDTON IS TORPEDOED AND SUNK Amsterdam, March 22. ? Via Lon don, March 23. ? The American steam er Healdton was torpedoed Wednes day evening:, according to a Terschel lin? dispatch to the Telegranf. Three boats were launched, one of which, containing eight men, one of them badly injured, was brought to Tersch ellins- by a torpedo boat. One of the men died on the way. Nothing is known of the other boats. It is believed that 14 men were killed by the explosion. Sinking Confirmed. London, March 22.? The sinking ol the American steamer Healdfon is confirmed by a Reuter dispatch from The Hague. A boat containing seven of the Healdton's crew has reached Terschel ling, (North Sea) the dispatch adds Shipped Big Lots of Egg*. During the short month of Febru ary, 1917, W. J. Newson & Brother of Lueama, shipped one thousand and twenty dozen eggs, besides the eggs they sold in and around the town From March 1st to March 20th, they shipped fourteen hundred dozen. In 1915 they sent off one shipment of one hundred and eleven crates of thirty dozen each, making thirty-three hun dred and thirty dozen sent at thai time. Be Careful When Buying Meal. Cotton-seed meal, as well as guano, should be bought by its analysis During the past two years there has been some very poor meal shipped into this part of the State. We are told of some Tennessee meal which was shipped to a merchant some time ago. He had it analyzed and found that it contained only a trifle ovei four per cent ammonia instead o] running seven to seven and one-hall per cent ammonia. Supt. L. T. Royall attended a con ference of the leaders of the repre sentatives of the Board having ir charge the aid to negro educatiori ir this State at Fayetteville Tuesday. AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER. Mr. John Ryals, One of Benson's First Citizens, and A Man Prominent in the Affairs of His Town and County, Is Summoned by Death at Age of 72. Many Personal Items of Interest. Benson, March 22. ? Mrs. Lena Ut ley, of Greenville, N. C., spent Sun day and Monday here on a visit to relatives. Mrs. Alonzo Parrish returned the first of the week from a several months' visit to St. Petersburg, Flar Mr. W. C. Lassiter, of Elevation township^ was in the city Saturday for a short while. Mr. R. E. Parker, of Raleigh, spent Sunday here with friends. Mr. Par ker was in school here several years ago and has a number of friends who always welcome him back. Rev. J. E. Underwood, of Raleigh, preached at the Methodist church here Sunday morning. His sermon was in teresting and instructive. Mr. Lynn Ryals, of Durham, and Mr. Joe Ryals, of Emporia, are here to attend the funeral and burial of their father, Mr. John Ryals. who died at the home of Mr. Jesse Britt yesterday afternoon. Mr. Archie Barbour, of near Clay ton, was here Saturday for several hours on business matters. Misses Julia Canaday, Minnie Som ers and Lena Harwood spent Sunday in Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Creech, of Dunn, were here for a few hours Sunday visiting relatives. Mr. W. II. Slocumb went up to Ral eigh Monday to attend an Insurance Association which met there the first of the week. Mr. Alonzo Parrish, who was quite sick the first of the week, is able to be out again. Mr. Ralph Canaday, of Smithfield, was here Sunday and Monday on a visit at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Canaday. Mr. Billie Coats, a prominent farm er, of Elevation township, was in town Monday for a while on business. Mr. C. T. Johnson went up to Nor folk Tuesday afternoon on business returning home yesterday afternoon Mr. W. H. Flowers, of Elevation, was a visitor to Benson Saturday and Monday on business. Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Stanford left Tuesday for Baltimore, Washington, and other points to be away for sev eral days. While away, Mr. Stanford, who is pastor of the Benson M. E. Church, will inspect Several city churches relative to buying pews for the new church which is in course of construction here. Messrs. Lausie Hodges, A. W. Hodges, and C. S. Henry were visi tors to the Recorder's Court Tuesday, at Smithfield. Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Cagle and little children arrived yesterday and will spend a few days here and near here at the homes of relatives. They live at Latta, S. C. Messrs. A. L. Barefoot, and H. A. Parker were visitors to the city of Lillington Tuesday. Messrs. S. F. Ivey and J. R. Barbour went up to Clayton Wednesday for a few hours on business. A baby girl was born yesterday morning to Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Barnes of this city. Mrs. E. A. Fisher went up to , Greensboro the first of the week to I attend the Woman's Missionary Soci ! ety of the Baptist church which met . there this week. Mr. John Ryals, who has been a i resident of the town of Benson ever s since the town was established, died r at the home of his son-in-law, Mr. J. M. Britt, here yesterday afternoon, ; of paralysis. He was seventy-two years old, had been Chief-of-police for the town, Deputy Sheriff of the County, and was a brave Confeder ate soldier during the Civil War. He i was a man who held no haired to ? wards his fellow-man, but always did i all he could for the uplift of those I about him. In every progressive move s ever made in Benson he was always ' to be found championing the side of ? progress and taking a stand that I would mean the betterment of those " about him. Although he accumulated f little property, yet, what is far bet ? ter, he reared to useful manhood and woman-hood three sons and two daughters, all of whom survive him, ? and arc? useful citizens in their re ? spettive communities. He was not a i member of any church, but was of the i Primitive Baptist faith, and his life was such that he did not fear to meet lis Pilot face to face. His remains vill be laid away in the Benson Cem etery this afternoon, the burial ser vice will be conducted by Rev. W. H. Rollins, pastor of the Baptist church lere. His children are Mrs. J. M. Britt, of Benson; Mrs. M. S. Harris, >f Goldsboro; Mr. Lynn Ryals, of Durham; Mr. Joe Ryals, of Emporia, ind Mr. Jeff Ryals, of South Carolina. ItECCKiNIZE THE NEW RUSSIA. I nited States to Welcome Another Free Nation. Early Action Likely. Ambassador Francis' Reports of Revolt Tell of Astonishing Results. Early recognition by the United States of the new government set up ;>y the revolution in Russia was fore cast Tuesday, says a Washington dis patch, in the belief that with good or ier now prevailing the plans being made for a permanent constitutional government, call for the moral sup port of this government. All reports to the State Department indicate that the army and navy are supporting the provisional government. Ambassador David R. Francis at Petrograd summarized the situation today in the following cablegrafn: "The last week has seen the most astonishing revolution. Two hundred million people who have lived under absolute monarchy for one thousand years and who are engaged in the greatest war in history, have forced their emperor to abdicate for himself and his son and induced the brother to whom was transferred imperial au thority to accept on condition that constitutional assembly of people be failed to exercise power under au thority of government framed by that assembly. "There is no opposition to the pro visional government, which is the council of ministers appointed by the committee of 12 named by the duma. Absolute quiet here and throughout all Russia. "Plan of provisional government is to call a constitutional assembly or convention whose members shall be elected by the whole people and who shall be empowered to organize good yrovernment. Whether republic or constitutional monarchy undecided but conclusions of assembly will be accepted by the people and enforced by the army and navy." To Speak at Wilmington. L. I. Guion, vice president of the Federal Farn/Loan bank, at Columbia, S. C., will be one of the prominent speakers at the North Carolina Live Stock exposition and conference to be held in Wilmington March 28-29. The subject of his address will be "The Relation of the Federal Land Bank to the Live Stock Industry." The ob jects of this State-wide meeting are to stimulate the development of the livestock industry and encourage the raising of more and better cattle, hogs and sheep. The discussions will be led by the representatives from the federal department of agriculture and the agricultural experiment station and extension service. Ready For Wrar. President Wilson calls extraordina ry session of Congress for April 2, to "receive a communication concerning grave matters of national policy which should be taken immediately under consideration." * Navy department speeds plans for fleet of "submarine chasers." Defense council organizes board to take shipping of entire ammunition output of 'nation to provide immediate and continuous supply. Army board reccommends combi nation of army and navy air service at once. Civil service commission takes steps to recruit skilled labor for army and navy plants. War risk insurance bureau puts rates on war basis qnd plans to han dle all real war risks. Congressional leaders plan nonpar tisan compromise organization of house to handle defense measures on "American" basis. Secretary Daniels hastens bids for construction of destroyers. General board of the navy and gen eral staff of the army take up plans for impending hostilities. Pacifist organization rebuked by Secretary of Commerce Redfield. War and navy department heads call conference tomorrow of aeroplane manufacturers to speed up building of aerial fleet. ? Greensboro News. WHY WOKLI) FIGHTS PRUSSIANS Sterling Answer by Socialist Leader in Reichstag. Despots' Last Hold. Scheidemann Demands That Ger man Empire Also Yield to Liberal Influences. Berlin, Monday, March 19 (via London, March 20). ? Philipp Scheide mann, Socialist leader of the reich stag, says in the Socialist newspaper, Vorwaerts: "It does not require many words to 'explain why almost the whole world is arrayed against us. The answer is given quickly. The whole world sees among our enemies more or less developed forms of dem ocracy and in us it sees only Prus sians. "We have always answered by re ferring to the absolutism of Russia, but now czarism has gone and the emperor's successor is to accept the throne only if the representatives of the people agree. These representa tives are to be elected on the basis of universal, equal, direct and secret suffrage. "In Asia the empire of the manda rins opposed every reform. They de sired an emperor with absolute pow er as long as he did their will and thereby undermined the monarchy and laid the foundation of a republic. In the European central empire similar spirits seek to build similar Chinese walls and hinder every reform. The clock shows five minutes to 12. They imagine they hold up the time when they move back the hands to 11. "Why does the chancellor shrink Lack now from unconditional neces sity? Always the hesitator, the pro crastinator. Bethmann-IIollweg wants to begin to cure Prussia after the war. Russia also promised all reforms after the war, but the war lasted too long for the Russians. Why postpone till tomorrow what is absolutely nec 'essary today, what even the king himself declared years ago was one of the urgent matters of the busi ness of the state? Now is the time for decisive action. The difficulties which might arise if the government adopts the reichstag system of elec tion for Prussian elections are as a featherweight as compared with the difficulties which will come if it does not do this. The chancellor should not delay one day. The Prussian people as well as the other German states will stand as one man at his side if he acts decisively." PREFERRED STOCK REDUCED. American Tobacco Company Cuts off $25,989,100. The American Tobacco Company has filed with the Secretary of State of New Jersey notice of a decrease in prefeired stock of $25,989,400. This leaves the total preferred at $54,010, 600. The common stock totals $100, 000,000. Citizens Called on To Enroll. Mayor T. L. Kirkpatrick, of Char lotte, has issued a proclamation call ing upon every able-bodied man of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County who will bear arms if the nation goes to war, to enroll at the Mayor's of fice. He also calls on the women to volunteer for Red Cross service. The public buildings are asked to display the American Flag and all citizens are asked to wear the insignia of the country. Collected A Very Old Note. Mr. W. R. Davis, of Lucama, says he never gives up a note or account, but keeps on trying to collect. Dur ing last fall and winter he collected several accounts five, six and seven years old. On March 10th he collected a note for $35.00 which was between thirty-tw.) and thirty-three years old. It had the interest rate at eight per cent. The interest without any com pounding was more than eighty-nine dollars. Mr. Davis compromised this and got one hundred dollars for note and interest. Our Boys on the Way Home. At last the news comes from the i border that the Second North Caroli na Regiment, of which the Selma ' Company is a part, has entrained and are on the way home. They will be i carried to Goldsboro where they will i be in camp for a few days awaiting : future orders of the War Depart ment.