SEVEN BILLION FOR WAR. Without Dissenting Voice Rep resentatives Authorize Issu ance of Vast Quantity of War Securities. Rig Loan for Al lies Included in Programme of Finance. Washington, April 14. ? With out a dissenting voice the house, amid plaudits of members and the galleries, late today passed the seven billion dollar war rev enue authorization measure, ?ne member, Representative London of New York, the only Socialist in congress, voted "present." Owing to general pairs and absentees, only 389 votes were recorded for the bill but both ?emocratic Leader Kitchin and Republican Leader Mann an nounced that all their members would have voted affirmatively if they had been present. For mality of a roll call would have been dispensed with if several members who voted against the war resolution had not insisted upon having the opportunity of recording themselves in favor of providing money to carry on hostilities now that the nation is at war. The bill authorizes $5,000, 000,000 in bonds, of which $3, 000,000,000 will be loaned to entente countries, and the issu ance of treasury certificates for $2,000,000,000 ultimately to be met by increased taxation. Passage of the measure never was in doubt during the two days it was under consideration in the house and favorable ac tion by an overwhelming vote is assured in the senate, where it will be taken up Monday. It probably will be signed by the President by the middle of next week. Discussion in the house was continued chiefly to proposed amendments. Five of these were added, four were agreed to by the ways and means committee and none materially changed the intent of the bill's framers. The two most important amend ments, drafted by Representa tive Lenroot of Wisconsin and accepted by the committee, would confine the proposed $3, 000,000,000 allied loan to coun tries at war with Germany and permit loans only during the war. Others would prohibit sale of United States bonds at less than par, permit purchase of foreign bonds "at par" and limit the cost of disposing of the $5, 000,000,000 worth of bonds to one-tenth of one per cent of their total. Mr. Claude B. Sanders Dead. Mr. Claude B. Sanders died this morning at three o'clock at the home ?f his brother-in-law, Judge W. S. Stevens. Mr. Sanders was stricken with paralysis on the night of April 3, and has been in a precarious con dition since. He has been able to speak only the words yes and no since he was stricken. He has been conscious a part of the time, recog nizing friends and relatives. He was in his sixty-second year and was well known throughout the county, having served as deputy sheriff for a number of years. He was a brother of Mrs. W. S. Stevens and Mrs. Z. R. Martin of Smithfield and Mr. M. F. Sanders, of Rocky Mount. The funeral will be held from the home of Judge Stevens Wednesday morning at ten o'clock, the services to be conducted by Revs. J. G. John son and C. K. Proctor. He will then laid to rest in the City Cemetery. George Washington married a widow, and was soon after known as tie "Father of His Country." LIFE EXTENSION CAMPAIGN. Report of Work in Henderson and Vance Shows Interesting Figures. Large Number of Defective Found. Dr. A. J. Ellington who has recent ly completed the unit of Life Exten sion work inaugurated by the State Board of Health in Henderson and Vance County about six weeks ago goes next to Alamance County where he will conduct a similar campaign on practically the same order. His plans are to begin his lecture work in Alamance the latter part of April or the first of May. A report of the life extension work done by Dr. Ellington in Henderson and Vance County shows some in teresting and astonishing facts as concerns this feature of health work, says a Board of Health Bulletin. For instance, out of the 378 persons be tween 30 and 65 years old who were examined, only 4 or 1.05 percent were found to be normal or in per fect health, while 98.94 per cent were found to be physically imperfect. But Dr. Ellington explains this un usually high number of defectives as due to the fact that both people and physicians considered this examina tion somewhat as a clearing house for all ills and not as a means to de tecting the early signs of disease for the purpose of checking them or warding them off altogether. Many of those examined were then under the care of a physician. And yet only 33.59 per cent of those found defective had suspected any thing to be the matter with them. The others had considered themselves in fairly good health when they had taken the time to think at all about their health. As Dr. Ellington himself says, the most interesting and at the same time astonishing discovery of the work was the high percentage of in fected gums. Actual pus was oozing from many gums and no steps had been taken to relieve the condition. As a result, symptoms or signs of rheumatism, goiter, heart and kid ney diseases had in many instances already set in. In G1 persons were found signs of tuberculosis, says Dr. Ellington. Some of these had fortunately overcome the disease and were gaining in weight and strength, but the major ity were working overtime, sleeping without ventilation and were either using alcohol or patent medicines. Among the skin diseases were sever al cases of possible early cancer. Diseases, or conditions leading to diseases that ranked highest, accord ing to the report, were errors in diet which were mainly overeating, and too rapid eating, found in 86.77 per cent; errors in personal hygiene which are usually irregular habits, lick of fresh air and neglect of the teeth in 84.92 percent; defective teeth and guns, in 82.54 percent; noise and throat trouble, in 56.87 percent; high or low blood pressure, in 43.12 per cent; constipation in 41.27 percent; underweight in 21.90, and bad eyes in 21.42. Top Prices for Cattle and Hogs. If any one had taken time to think a little, he would have known that the great European war, and the program for preparedness in the United States, would necessarily bring high prices for all foodstuffs, and especially for bread and meat, the staple articles of food. However, we are compelled to admit, that in spite of all that has been written upon the subject, we did not look for the prices that now previal. Last week cattle sold for $12.25 per hundred, and hogs went as high as $15.00 per hundred. Now, there are three things that should impress themselves upon the mind of every farmer: 1. We do not know, even now, that the top is reached, and there is a great probability of even higher prices, with a certainty of good prices for years to come. 2. It behooves every farmer to produce just as many hogs and cat tle as he can possibly raise, for there is good money in them at these prices. 3. These high prices hurt everyone that has to buy, but help everyone that has cattle or hogs to sell, and does not affect one that raises his own supplies. Everyone on the farm should so plan as to secure the max imum profit from these exceptional prices, and will do so if he practices "Sane and Safe Farming." ? South em Cultivator. ENTENTE'S NOTABLES COMING. JofTre, Yiviani and lialfour Will Be Anions Commissioners to Attend a Notable War Council on This Side. Larger Purpose Is to Enable I'nitcd States to Avoid .Mistakes That Allies Made. Washington, April 13. ? The inter national war council to assemble here within the next week and to which Great Britain and France are send ing eminent statesmen, soldiers and sailors, was stated officially today to have very largely for its purpose the enabling the United States to avoid the mistakes and difficulties which beset the Allies when they entered the war. American officials will meet the foreign commissioners personally, discuss with them the immense les sons taught by the war, and consider the broad principles whereby the United States can marshal its forces for the great struggle with the min imum of waste and delay. It is realized that this country faces stupendous tasks in converting itself, almost overnight, from a peace basis to a Universal military, naval, industrial and agricultural mobiliza tion. Closely allied to this phase of the conference will be the information grained at first hand as to how Amer ica's resources can best be directed towards meeting the common enemy. The Entente statesmen are expected to disclose the fullest details of the present war situation, especially as to their own needs in continuing their operations against Germany. A close study will be made as to how this country's power can best be dovetailed into that of the Entente, so that the United States will be able to save duplication of effort. There will be some discussion in the conferences of the attitude of the United States toward ultimate peace terms. It is understood that the En tente Powers plan to agree to such terms a3 will warrant the United States in fighting unreservedly with them to a common end. The highest honors that the United States can offer are planned for the British and French commissioners. The chicfs of the commissioners, in cluding Foreign Secretary Balfour and others of the English group, and Minister of Justice Rene Viviani and Field Marshal Joffre of the French, will be welcomed by the highest of ficials of the Government and enter tained for the first three days as guests of the United States. The leaders of the British party, who are expected here several days before the French commissioners, will be given the use of the handsome home of former Secretary of the Treasury Franklin MacVeagh. Com modious hotel quarters have been en gaged for the other members of the commission. The French commissioners on their arrival will be received in a way equally as hospitable. ? Associated Press. Selma Stores to Close at 7 O'clock. Selma, April 16. ? At a meeting of the Merchants' Association held on April 12th, the following resolution was passed: Resolved, That we, the members of the Selma Merchants' Association, recommend the closing of the stores in the town of Selma at 7:00 o'clock P. M., beginning April 23rd, until September 1st, cxcept Friday and Saturday nights, and that the secre tary circulate a petition among the merchants of the town, asking their co-operation, and that a copy of this petition be sent to the Selma Chron icle and The Smithfield Herald for publication. We, the undersigned merchants of the town of Selma, are in favor of the above resolution, and beginning Monday, April 23rd, until Septem ber 1st, will close our stores at 7:00 o'clock P. M., each day except Friday and Saturday: Roberts Corbett & Woodard. Farmers Mercantile Company. Selma Clothing & Shoe Company. W. E. Smith Company. Selma Manufacturing Company. D. T. Worley & Company. Ideal Grocery Company. Selma Supply Company. Lee-Henry Company. A. V. Driver Company. Queen Elizabeth was never mar ried, which explains why she was so peevish. COUNTY SCHOOLS* FINALS. Ilt'ld in Smithtield Last Saturday With tiood Attendance. l'ercy Barnes Winner in Declamation Contest. Leonora Mcl.amb in Head ing and Alice Jones in Spelling. (By Elizabeth Holly.) Last Saturday was a big day for our country schools. Final contests by winners in all the group com mencements were staged during the day and these boys and girls from our country schools acquitted them selves in such a way as to make us glad because of the work they have done. As proud as we are of the showing made by these boys and jjirls in Smithfield at their tinal contests on Saturday, we are infinitely more proud of the work that was done in the schools which led up to those final*. Group commencements in the coun ty were better things than tinal commencement Saturday, and pre liminary trials in the individual school were better still than group com mencements. To us who have been in close touch with school work all over Johnston this year these splendid contests were only outcroppings of the wealth of earnest work done by pupils and teachers and patrons in every community of Johnston. But you say that all this costs time and effort and expense. Wu agree with you, but at the same time would have you realize that every thing worth while has its commen surate price. We thought of the wea ry days of seemingly useless labor on the part of teachers, and of the patience and trust of patrons who honestly could not see the whys of school work, and wondered if they all could not see a part of the mystery revealed in the faces of parents and pupils. We are speaking of the boys and girls who with proud step and hopeful, eager faces and a purpose to give the best that is in them march forward into the contests. And then of the parents and friends and school mates in the audience who are all catching a glimpse of possibilities in the everyday lives of those about them and in their own homes. Tho great big thing that stands out above all other things is that we are wak ing up to the fact that we ourselves have it in us to win in bigger con tests just as in these. We believe that once you convince a boy or girl that there is no such thing as failure for one who honestly does his best you have already educated him. Below we are printing the names of contestants and contests. We are also printing names of winners in each contest. As we do this we are thinking of that long list of teachers and pupils and patrons who made these finals possible, and are thinking of those who won whose names are not on this list. Declamation Contest. Peace Y ates Creech Christian Young Men of America, RufTin Ellis. The New South Percy Barnes When The Evening Shadows Length en I shall Be Home ? Virgin Batten. Christian Young Men of America, Victor Johnson. Education and Opportunity ? Jerry George. Black Horse and His Rider ? Turner Johnson. Sparticus to the Gladiators ? Enoch Godwin. Percy Barnes of Pomona, was win ner in this contest. Judges: Dr. Poteat, Hunter Creech, Rev. S. A. Cotton. Reading Contest. My Day and Now-a-day ? Clara Thornton. The Sweet Girl Graduate ? Ruth Up church. Miss Bray's Wedding ? Leona San ders. Hannah Tried in Court ? Sallie May Hudson. The Sweet Girl Graduate ? Callie Byrd. The Naughty Little Girl's View of Life Irene Stevenson. Rawley's Surrender ? Lenora Irene McLamb. The Volly of Telling Lies ? Asenath Wellons. Miss Leonora Irene McLamb, from Poplar Spring School, won this con test. Judges: Mrs. Lassiter, Mrs. Royall and Miss Doles. Story-Telling Contest. Little Red Hen ? Chrissie Upchurch Epaminondas Erma Narron Black Sambo Rosa Ennis Tar- Baby Carver Hardy Epaminondas and His Aunt ? Etta W ood. The Glad Little Rabbit ? Lida Bare foot. Little Blaek Sambo ? Miriam Parker Little Miss Parker from Fitzgerald school won in this contest. Judges: Mrs. Vermont, Miss Shaw and Miss Doles. Spelling Contest. Valeria Jones, Alice Jones, Richard Braswell, Newport Wood, Ruth Up church, llujrh Hardy, Clifton Rich ardson, Cassie Lee, India Lee, Ken nan Pittman, Eva Johnson, Lula Lee and Hattie Batten. Alice Jones from Hightower school won in this contest. Athletics at Fair Grounds. Basket Ball ? Pomona vs. New Hope. Score 14 to 5 in favor of Po mona. John White Ives, umpire; Ira Whitley, Referee. Oak. Grove vs. Thanksgiving ? Score 11 to 8 in favor of Oak Grove. John White Ives, Umpire; Harvey Gurley, Referee. Sandy Ridge vs. Hatchers ? Score 6 to 0 in favor of Sandy Ridge. Carter's Chapel team present, no team to play. Tennis ? Massey vs. Royall. Mas sey Won. B. R. Lacy, referee. 100-yard dash ? Won by Clawson Munden, Oak Grove echool. High Jump- ? Nathan Massengill, New Hope school, 4 feet 10 inches; Effiret Moore, Thanksgiving, 4 feet 8 inches; Porter Wallace, Sandy Ridge, 4 feet. Broad Jump Standing ? Nathan Massengill, New Hope, 9 feet 11 inch es; Herbert Ilines, Massey, 9 feet 1 inch. Running Broad Jump ? Nathan Massengill, New Hope, 18 feet 5 inches; Rufiin Hill, Pomona, 17 feet 4 inches; Clawson Munden, Oak Grove, 17 feet. We are all very much indebted to Mr. G. T. Whitley who arranged tho grounds and all games for the day. Mr. Whitley arks that Mr. K. L. Wal ton, Mr. John White Ives and Prince Albert Holland be mentioned especi ally as having given him aid. Others mentioned are John Hall, Ira Whit ley, Harvey Gurley and Rob Higgins. On next Saturday the town group of schools will have contests here in Smithfield similar to those by the country schools last Saturday. Win ners in each event from this group will be pitted against winners in last Saturday's contests. This will be very interesting and at the same time will be good because it will show that all of our schools have precisely the same material in them ? the boys and girls of Johnston County. Soon we will find time to write an article on Group Commencements in Johnston County. In this article we hope to write something of the work, people and events of each commence ment in the groups this spring. This should have been written sooner, but we have not had time for the writ ing. And now as the schools are clos ing and teachers and pupils leaving class work for a while, we would have them remember that school has only been removed into the fields and gar dens and homes and various other places of business. If school has been worth while it will be carried on into the lives of those with whom it has come in contact. We might write pages of apprecia tion of the work done by our teach ers in the country schools. The faces and names of some of these are al ways before the mind's eye when we think of efficient workers. We have kept in closer touch than ever before with the personal work and influence of our teachers. Most of them are real workers, a few of them are shirkers, and a few others are merely goodnatured drifters. We believe there are some good workers in the latter^Jass and are still hoping they will wake up. Roosevelt Wants to Go to France. Col. Roosevelt wants to raise a di vision of volunteers and proceed to the firing line in France at the ear liest possible moment. He thinks he could be r.ble to have his men ready to go to France in four months, He also thinks that our flag should be raised on the firing line as early as possible. The strenuous Colone i wants to command the troops in th< \ field. BRITISH ADVANCE IS TELLING. Bring Them Within Short Distance of Both Lens and St. Quentin. Vio lent Fighting Marks Their Gains. Britons, However, Claim Upper Hand in All of It. Aerial Activities Continue on Large Scale. Turks in Mesopotamia Suffer Another De feat. (Sunday's War News.) Lens and St. Quentin, at either end of the front on which th-3 Brit ish have been pressed back the Germans, now are almost within the grasp of advancing forces. Smashing British blows against the German positions north and south of Lens have had their effect and the British now hold the suburban towns of Lieviii and Cite St. Pierre and are reported to be firing heavy explosive shells into the mining cen tre of northern France. With the French holding fast south of St. Quentin and less than a mile from its border. Field Marshal Haig's men followed up their capture of Fayet, a mile northwest of the town, by driving the German de fenders back to within a few hundred yards of St. Quentin on the north. There has been violent fighting along all the important sectors on the front between Lens and St. Quentin and everywhere the British have either made gains in the Ger man defenses or have held back Ger man attacks. Press Beyond Vimy. South of Lens and north of the River Scarpe the troops of Field Marshal Haig have continued to plunge forward and have reached points two to three miles east of the Vimy ridge, which, is one of the strongest points in the German de fenses northeast of Arras, less than a week ago was in German hands. South of the Scarpe the Germans have fought stubbodnly and have rushed reserve forces into the fray in an effort to hold back the oncom ing British. Attacks and counterat tacks came at short intervals but the British maintained the captured positions everywhere, London says. Serious losses were inflicted on the Germans. North of St. Quentin the British also have captured the village of Gricourt, a mile north of Fayat. The Germans lost heavily in killed and wounded, London reports, in the fighting around Fayet. The British here captured 400 prisoners from the Germans. Not only Lens but its important coal fields are at stake in this move ment. Correspondents at the front hint at executions of possibly greater things. The unrelenting British pres sure is causing the Germans to aban don guns and other equipment that they have no time to take away and apparently there is hope on the part of the British of keeping up the pur suit at such a pace that their foe may be caught unprepared at some point and a real break in the line effected. At St. Quentin not so much is at F.take for the Germans, but the loss of the town would create another se rious breach in the southerly sector" of their present defensive line. By capturing the town of F'ayet, the Brit ish have worked to within a mile of St. Quentin on the northwest while to the south the French close by are hammering it with their artillery. The Berlin report mentions serious damage within the town caused by the French guns. Aerial fighting continues on a large scale on the Western front and London reports that 12 British ma chines failed to return after engag ing the Germans behind the German lines. Four German machines were brought down by British aviators and ?,ix others were driven down. Berlin records that the entente lost 24 air planes on Friday. In Mesopotamia the Turks sus tained another defeat at the hands of the British. Gen. Maude, the British commander, prepared a surprise for them and by the employment of su perior strategy spoiled their hopes of inflicting a blow that would check his further advance of the Tigris and i Diala, north and northwest of Bag dad. i A night march across country by - the British on the Tigris after Gen. . Maude had made a strategical re I tirement on the Dinja resulted in the r Turks northward with heavy losses. I They were still in retreat with the ? British following when Gen. Maude sent his report April 13th.