North Carolina Newspapers

1 A - ;. . . .N.. , II Partly cloudy and warmer 1 TT i i n jP , yWMs ':r&fr yf luV-A f. 1 ,, r , - , , What would this city be like ' " ?f' Sunday; Monday, fair and cola- f 7l AMf PfSK lhT): MWWmf XC ' PTT A TPVS without its stores? What would "; ,f fcjS er; moderate southwest winds M'J- ' -J Awl Pi SRM- ffl dS nflW- '" " iV ' A -JJS ' this newspaper be like without ii becoming northwest . , , I NCV . Tl , i- V- 1 E li S ; flf 2V l TT k AA ""vf its. store-ads? One would bo M , - . -iJMLJ kwJ' AY L "ShS as eresUng as the yOL. LXXXV-NO. 87 wiLMtisrfiTQy, y. c, suxdax Mna,' juary 2, 1910; WHOLE NUMBER 13,181. FUNDS TO FIGHT TIE STEEL TRUST Offices of American Federa tion of Labor Issues Call to Members. GOMPERS' BITTER CHARGES Corporation is Termed "A Bold and Daring Violator of the Law" Attitude Toward Labor Cause of Action. Washington, Jan. 1. Officers of the American Federation of Labor tonight issued a call to the 1,540,000 members of the organization calling on them to subscribe to a fund with which a bit ter fight is to be begun against the United States Steel Corporation. The corporation, the call sets forth, is inimical alike to the interests of labor and to the country at large, and it is termed "a bold and daring vio lator of the laws." The sum of 154, 000 will be raised by this first appeal, but further calls will be issued as the fight progresses. This action was taken as the' result of the conference held in Pittsburg: on ' December 13th and 14th, between the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, the Tin Plate Workers' Protective Association, and the Long shore Men's and Seamen's Union. Samuel Campers', president of the American Federation of Labor, was present .at the meeting.. In his statement Mr. Gompers, In unsparing language, assails the so called "steel trust" for its aggressions on labor and charges it with conspir ing against production, against pre venting an unmanopulated market and striving for the elimination of a free , press. He also charges that the cor- ' poratioh pays dividends on many mil- lions of watered stock, and that its financial mat. hods am corrupt .and jm- But, President . Gomjiers continues, "the crowning, criminality" of the trust is its attitude toward labor. He especially arraigns the so-called profit sharing plan by which the company gives its employes, an opportunity to obtain an interest in the vast busi ness. . . . , This plan, Mr. Gompers contends, is a transparent deceit through which a small minority of its employes are sought to be bribed to help in daily sweating the vast majority. .- The labor leader furthermore inti mates that these profit sharing em ployes are carefully selected, and that they are - in nearly , every case men who are given to discouraging the agi tation of their fellows, for better liv ing and workings-conditions. The steel corporation at Christmas was' reported to having given away $1,000,000 in gifts to its employes and to have offered both the common and preferred steel shates to those who cared to invest in themat a little lower than the market quotations. -' EGAN BEST qOLF PLAYER. Foremost Among Amateurs in United States Sixteen Next in Rank. Chicago, Jan. 1. H. Chandler Egan, of Chicago, is the foremost amateur golf player of the United States for 1909, according , to the rating, now made public by the leading golf au thorities of Ahe East. A ranking of the 16 best Golfers of 1909 made by Hugh L. Fitapatrick, recognized as the dean of American golf reporters, who has prepared the ratings for sev eral years, was made public today. The rating follows: H. Chandler Egan, Chicago: W. J. Travis, New York; Charles Evans, Jr., Chicago; Robert Gardner, Chicago; Albert Se- chel. Chicago: J. D.Travers. New York; Mason Phelps,, Chicago; W. C Fownes, Jr. Pittsburg; Fred Heres- hoff, New : York ; H. G.,Legg, Minne apolis; Findlay S. Douglas, New York; Thomas M. Sherman, Utica; H. H. Wilder, Boston; P. W. .Whittemore, .Boston; H. B. MacFarland, Fhiiaaei phia, and Paul Hunter, Chicago. RIVER VESSELS IN DANGER. Fear That Gorges in Mississippi Will Fear That Gorges in Ohio Will Break. Cables Used. and every type and kind of craft on the Ohio river in the vicinity of Louis ville, representing a value of hnn dreds of thousands of dollars- are in danger today. Practically all of the boats have been fastened by means of cables or otherwise anchored, but it is the prediction of experienced river men that if the gorges break quickly the trees will be. uprooted or -the ca bles snapped. ' ' .. SWANSON'S LAST LEVEE. Governor of Virginia Greeted Officials - and Visitors. Richmond, Va., Jan, 1. Governor Swanson and, Mrs. SWansott tonight held their last levee in the execu tive mansion. Justices 'of the iState courts, Confederate veterans . arid State officials were in the line of vis itors. " ' . .. .,- " '- This, however, is not the Governor's last public social function, as in a few days he will give a reception to the members of his-'staffa1rdktheir wives. Business Locals, 7th page today. EARLY ACTION OTI HARBOR BILL Congressman Godwin Advised January 10th is Limit Stewart Case Again. Endowment For Buiie's Creek. Dunn News Notes. (Special Star '. Correspondence.) Dunn, N. C, Jan. 1. Representative Godwin, who is at home for. the holi days, has received a letter from a friend who is on the Rivers and Har bors Committee of the House stating that before the committee adjourned for the holidays it was decided that the committee would have no more public hearings after January 10th, 1910.and that it would begin on the 11th to hold daily meetings to make up the Rivers and Harbors Bill, and that the bill would be made up ready to be present ed and passed: by the House not later than February 1st. Mr. Godwin is much interested in the Rivers and Harbors work of his district and has on hand some very im portant projects which he confidently expects to put through the present ses sion of Congress. He informed your correspondent this morning that he is desirous to have the officials of the Waterways Associations, Industrial Clubs and Boards of Trade take active notice of this early hearing by the Riv ers and Harbors Cpmmittee and ar range to send delegates to Washington in the interest of the Cape Fear pro- jects, both below and above Wilming ton, prior to the 10th of January 1910. Mr. Godwin will leave for Washington within the- next day or two, and will be there to arrange for hearings that may be desired at any time after Con gress convenes on the 4th of January. - Mr. J. H. Ballance has purchased the C..B. Aycock residence on Cumberland street and has presented it to his niece, Mrs. .John C. Wilson, as a Christmas gift, making a present valued at about 14,000. In the case of Mrs. Rebecca Stewart, widow of W. A: Stewart, vs. H. C. Mc Neill, Ex'r., the Clerk of the Superior Court of Harnett county on last Mon day handed down an order refusing to remove Mr. McNeill but requiring him to give a bond in the sum of $50,000 which-is double the amount of the funds in the hands of the clerk. Both sides appealed from this ruling. There after. Mr. McNeill prepared a bond in the-eum-ef "$50,000 which wastjustified for $61,000, .executed" by himself and the following sureties: J. J. Wade, J. G. Lavton. R. G. Taylor, G. F. Pope, J. H. Ballance, G. K. Grantham, J. D. Barnes", W. Draughton, J. H. Pope, N. A. Townsend, R. L. Godwin, J. C. Clifford and H. L. Godwin. This bond is esti mated to be worth in the . aggregate over half a million dollars. The bond was tendered to the Clerk on last Wed nesday and was adjudged by the Clerk to be amply solvent and in all respects sufficient, but he declined to pay over the money to Mr. McNeill pending the appeal of both sides which will likely be heard next week. On the 18th of December Mr. M. C. Treat, of Washington, Pa., offered Rev. A. Campbell, superintendent of Buie's Creek Academy, $1,000 to be used for the" purpose of erecting a dor mitory conditioned that Mr. Campbell raise $3,000 from other sources for the same purpose by 10 P. M. on cnnst mas day, Mr. Campbell asked for more time in which to raise the required amount, but Mr. Treat informed him that five days were enough for a man :f his activity, and by 10 o'clock Christ mas night $3,220 more than the amount reauired was in Mr. Campbell's hands. and the $1,000 from the Northern phil anthropist was secured. Mr. W. T. Honeycutt died Friday morning at 11:30 A. M. after having suffered for a year or more with tuber culosis. Mr. Honeycutt was formerly cashier of the Bank of Cape Fear of this place,' and for a number of years pior to his death was identified wiia the business life of the town. He leaves a wife and two small children. His wife is the daughter of Sheriff Mc- Phail, of Sampson county. Mr. T. J. Jackson, the new poatmas ter at this place, having given his bond, took charge of the office today BROKAW DECLARES HE'S POOR Announcement of Defendant Cadsed Laugh in Court Room. New York, Jan. 1. "I am a poor man." was the announcement made by W. Gould Brokaw, on tne witness stana at Mineola today. Brokaw's assertion caused a general smile in the court room. A moment Drevioiisly he haa testified that he was worth $1,638,37, the amount given In the formal statement of his resources ubmltted to the court which has been trvine his wife's su-c for a separation The hearing today, was for the pur pose of receiving this statement wnicn the court had ordered in view of Mrs. Brokaw of Mrs. Brokaw's alimony de mands. It is generally believed that only the question of alimony remains a factor in the case, on which Justice Putnam is expected to give his final decision arter he has scanned the briefs Of the attor neys to .be submitted within the next two weeks. ARGUMENT OVER N. & S. To Delay Confirmation of Receiver's Sale Concluded Yesterday. Richmond. Va.. Jan. 1. Argumen of the injunction proceedings brought by the Zell-VanDyke "Syndicate to oe lay confirmation of the receiver's sak of the Norfolk & Southern Railway was concluded in the United States District Court here today. - : Judge Waddiir announced that he would give his decision sitting In Nor folk January 12th. , , Business Locals, 7th page today. YEAR'S PROGRESS - III NORTH STATE Fine Showing of Industrial Conditions in 1909 Reflect ed in Reports. RAILROADS AND COTTON MILLS Banking Interests Have Grown Large ly Manufacturing7 interests Have Not Suffered New Lines B Be ing Built and Projecteo (Special Star Correspondence.) Raleigh, N. C., Jan. 1. A showing of industrial conditions in North Caro Una highly gratifying is reflected in the Department of State, the Corpora tion Commission and the Department of Labor and Printing here, these be-i ing the State offices into which conic .during the year reports from corpo rations and industries, generally indi eating the commercial progress of th-! State. ' I The records in the office of the Sec retary of State show that during the past itwelve months there have been issued 97S charters to new industrial corporations, 542 of this number hav- ng been granted within the past six months. There were charters for 20 new cotton mill corporations .and the reports of the cotton mills generally throughout the State to the Depart ment of Labor and Printing show n reasonably good year in spite of un favorable conditions against which the cotton milling interests of tho whole country were pitted during the greater part of the year. Another inspiring showing for the commercial progress of the State is found in the office of the Corporation Commission in the development of the banking interests.' Ono year ago there were 30G State and savings banks with $47,915,070 resources and $50,944,0G2., Then the National bank ng interests show an increase from 69 to 75 banking institutions iu the State with resources increased ' from $44,645,064 "to $53,051,880. The quarterly, reports of the rail roads' of the State, the great arteries of commerce, to the Corporation Com mission have shown steady gains in net earnings each quarter, the steady increase In volume of freight traffic and passenger travel being an unfail ing barometer of 'business develop ment and prosperity. Reverting to the cotton milling in-. terests, which represent probably more than one third of the entire man ufacturing capital of the State, it Is significant that this year, 314 mill have reported to the State Depart ment of Labor and Printing, 6o .of the number being knitting mills, and the increase' in- working capital has been $51,000,000. The reports of 233 of these mills show a consumption of raw material aggregating 271,206.62 pounds of cotton and wool. There are 81 of uthe mills that did not in clude raw material used in their re ports. The past year has been ctiaracter- ized by important advances in rail roading in every section of the State, especially in the opening up of new lines by a number ot the larger sys tems. The year has seen the open ing of the Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio so that there is through train service in conjunction with the Seaboard Air Line, Wilmington to Johnson City, Tenn.- The Norfolk & Southern is just comDletimr its five mile trestle across Albemarle :3ound that assures through train service from Raleigh to Norfolk over the Norfolk & Southern; via Washington and Rdenton. The Elkin & Allegheny is buildin? rapidly from Elkin to Sparta, the progress the past several months hav in gbeen auite nanid. The Southbound. Winston -lalem to Monroe, backed now bv the Norfolk & Western and the Atlantic Coast Line, has been reorganized for the most rapid possible progress m con struction during the past few months. The Virginia. Carolina and South era has completed an extension from Lumberton to Hone Mills. The Raleigh & Southpoi t has under way an extension of its Raleigh Fav etteville line to Hope Mills looking to ultimate through train service Raleigh to Georgetown. ( At Zoeren, on the Mnrphy branch, the Southern- Railway has construct ed seven miles of road out Xq the Cherolvee. Indian school. Engineering corps have made ex tensive surveys for the projected road from Holly Springs to Raleigh that is designed to give Raleigh direct con nection with the Atlantic Coast "Ljne at Rocky Mount. v The Carolina, Tennessee SoHthern has constructed 14 miles of road from Bushville to Eagle Creek lacking only a very short distance now of connect ing with the iSouthern beyond tho mountain to provide, a through line to Knoxville, Tenn. , The .North & South Carolina Co. has built, during the year from Gibson to-McCall connecting for DillonS. C. The Laurinburg & Southern has constructed ten miles of road to Rae ford that promises to be an import ant link in that section pt the State. Business Locals, 7th page today. WAR GONT HUES IH: lIpAFtAGUA Last Vestige jf Zelayanism Will be Blotled Out of Government. . NEED TWO MORE RATTLES if- Feeling of Gratitude States For .Aid. tl Toward United Suffering In- surgent Forces. Are Disap- . pointdd Bluefields. Xic, Jan. 1. Hope that the war would be brought to an end through the recogriitn of the provis ional government by he United States has been abandoned! Many believe that two more battled must be fought, cne in the State of Chontales and the o'her near Manague. There is a popularj, feeling of grati tude toward the United States be cause of the attention given the wounded by physicians from the American cruisers ahd the supplies sent for the relief of the half starved prisoners of war. There is, however, some disappointment: that the Unite.i States has -not formally reorganized the government of Estrada. The impression was strong that Sec retary Knox awaitedi only a decisive victory by General Estrada before giv ing him the ; mor,al J support of the Washington government. Such a vic tory was won more than a. week ago and still no encouraging word is re ceived from Washington. A defeat in battle could not j depress the in surgents more than has the fact that Washington has lost- interest seem ingly, in the cause of, the revolution. If another battle Is fought, it is likely that no less than 12.000 men will be engaged. Preparations for the campaign in the-"Jwest continue. The. next ten days :vill"be Ldevoted Thls will bring; the provisional strength up to 6,000 men. A schoon- er has been sent to Cape Gracias and will bring here horses and mules to be- used on the long march;, toward Managua. j The insurgent generals have sign ed a solemn pact to the effect that they, will stand as a! unit with Estra da until the last vestige of Zelayaism is blotted out of the government of Nicaragua. , The peace commissioners which President Madriz announced that he was sending to negotiate with Estra da have not arrived. The American gunboat Eagle has gone to Bocas del Toro to make ob servations. The British cruiser Scyl la, which brought a duplicate of the letter sent by Madriz "to Estrada on December 22nd, also has departed from this port. j CHALLENGED THOMAS WATSON. Extended by Protestant Churches of Georgia for Public Debate. Atlanta, Ga., Jan.. 1. Thomas E. Watson, one time Candidate for the presidency and recently a critic in the public print of foreign .missions, today was challenged to a public de bate by representatives of the various Protestant churches of Georgia,, The challengers want the debate to be held in Atlanta, January 14th, and have named as Watson's opponent William T Ellis, a Philadelphia news paper man identified with the Lay men's Missionary Movement. JOSEPH A. PARKER PASSES. Prominent and Wealthy Citizen of Portsmouth, Va-Served in War. Norfblk. Va;. Jan. 1. Joseph A. wealthy, died today at his home In that city, aged 68 years. He served with distinction in the Confederate army and engaged actively 'in busi ness in Tidewater Va., for manj years, both as a .merchant and manu facturer. OUTLINES. . Further information of the horrible conditions which' existed ' in the . At lanta stockade were told by a former overseer, who produced a diary of the rstartling events In I the prison, before the investigating committee yester day. W. Gould Brokaw caused, a general laugh in the court room at Mineola yesterday j when he testified that he' was a pooivman President and Mrs. Taf t gave their . first New Year's levee at the White House yes terday and over S.000 visitors were greeted by the President and his Cabinet-1 Hope for the end. of the war in Nicaragua has j been abandoned. Preparations are being made for two more battles. The insurgent forces are disappointed in the fact that the United States recognized the provi sional government A thrilling sea disaster in which 12 members of the crew of ftie British schooner Johanna lost their lives on Thanksgiving Day, is told by survivors who were rescued by a steamer The first Norfolk & Southern train passed over. 'the newly completed ' bridge! over Albemarle Sound last ' night r-The National Farmers' Union will wage an organiz ed and determined fight against the methods in dealing in. cotton In vogue on the New York;Cott6n Exchange. " NOrrplk, va;, Jan. l. josepn a. yMtorse the former banner, passea Parker, of Portsmouth, prominent andTNew year's quietly in his cell in the PRISONERS Lie 'LIFE OF HORROR Former Overseer of Atlanta Stockade Tells of Con ditions. WAS OVERRUN WITH VERMIN Food Was Unfit for Lowest Animal Witness Produced Diary Cover- ing Events Corroborates Sto- -ries of Brutality. Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 1. John W. Dodd, former overseer at the city prison or stockade, was the principal witness heard by the council committee inves tigating conditions at the stockade. when that body resumed its sessions today. . In addition to corroborating the stories of cruelty to prisoners and filthy and unsanitary condition as told by other prisoners, he produced a diary covering events which transpir ed while he was employed at the stockade. Dodd testified that the food served the prisoners was unfit even for the lowest kind of animals. Prisoners frequently brought him bread contain-. ing flies, he said, and one man broueh: him a piece of bread containing a spi der. He declared the place was over run with vermin of all kinds. He pro duced a bottle of . lice which he said a prisoner had captured and brought to him. The bread with the spider in it also was offered as evidence. Asked what proportion of the pris oners were whipped, Dodd replied: "I heard them whipped nearly every morning. Some times there were two or three whipped and again there would be as many as half a dozen beaten." The witness stated that he kept a diary because he thought the people of Atlanta were ignorant of conditions at the city prison and he Pearl Bryan, one of the three white women", who was hung up by the rings while at the stockade, also was a wit ness. She said she' was strung up nearly 45 minutes and was taken down when they saw blood running down her arms. Dr. W. W. McAfee, who was sen tenced to the stockade for violation of the prohibition laws, also testified before the committee at today's ses sion. Among other things' he testl field to seeing a 13 year old negro girl whipped in the bucking chair. After the first they look her out in an hysterical condition and when she made some remark to the guard, Su perintendent Vining ordered her back again for another whipping. 1 He said the child was so small thaf she slipped her arms down through the machine and tried to take some of the blows on her hands. When fin ally she was taken out her hands were raw and blood was oozing through her clothes. The doctor stated that she was sent to the field to work in this condition. The witness said he could not eat the food served at the stockade and went two days without a mouthful of food. He declared the punishment inflicted by suspending prisoners from the rings in the walls "the most cruel, brutal and inhuman punishment" he could conceive of. After adjourning shortly after 1 o'clock to meet again next Tuesday morning the committee paid a visit of inspection to the stockade. MORSE STILL HAS HOPE. Counsel for Convicted Banker Will Continue the Fight. New York, Jan. 1. Charles W. Tombs today. Mr. Morse s visitors declared that the prisoner was racing calmly the prospect of nis eariy..-removal to the Federal prison at Atlan ta to begin serving his 15-year sen - tence on conviction or violation oi me National banking laws. The Federal authorities announced that it was proposed to start the con victed banker on his journey soum some time on Sunday. All hope of freeing Charles W. Morse, the convicted banker, has not vet been given up, according to Mar tin W. Littleton, his counsel. "There are two or three tmngs tnai ran vet be done." said Mr. Littleton today, "but they have not quite shap ed themselves yet." Mr. Littleton when pressed, admit ted, however, that, he will not .inter fere with Morse's removal to Atlanta. Mrs. Morse and her two Sons visit ed the banker in his cell today, ana brought with them a New Year's din- ner, wnicn me iamujr aie lugciuci. Morse has surprised his keepers by his nerve. Today he appeared buoy ant and much 'less concerned about his future than his lawyer and nis friends FIVE INJURED IN WRECK. Head-on Collision Between Two Inter - urban Cars at Terre Haute. r Greenfield, Ind., Jan. 1. Five per sons were seriously injured, two pro bably fatally, in a head-on collision between two limited Interurban carB on the Terre Haute, Indianapolis , & Eastern Line at Philadelphia, four miles west of here late today. TWELVE MEN OF GREW LOST Grim Sea Tragedy Told by Rescued Captain of British Schooner Oc- curred in November Details of the - Disaster. New York, Jan. . 1. Such . are the fortunes of those who go down to the sea, that twelve men who were lost on Thanksgiving Day, when the Brit ish schooner Johanna went down not 150 miles from the Delaware Break water, were not even known to be missing until the survivors were brought to port here today from St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, by the steamer Korono. "The Johanna was bound for the Breakwater from the Philippines for orders," said Capt. C. A. Nickerson today. "Wnen she became unsea worthy in howiing weather, two life boats were put out one with thir teen men aboard, of which I took com mand, and the other with twelve men. There was a howling wind, a blanket of driving scud over the face of the sky and a gray, mountainous sea. My boat was put out last. From' moment to moment we saw the other boat heave up against the sky. line on the crest of a wave, and then, presently, we saw her no more. "We were picked up by the Nova Scotian schooner E. A. Sabean ami carried to the West Indies. I hoped the others might be equally fortunate but, since you tell me nothing has been heard of them in all this time, they must undoubtedly have been lost." It was 5 o'clock in the morning of Thanksgiving day that the ship's car penter reported that the ship's port seams were opening up fast. All hands were ordered to the pumps. The men heaved like i rowers at the pump arms, but no water came. For a mo ment the captain was puzzled, and then he remembered "his cargo Hhe Johanna was laden with sugar. It was clear enough what was hap pening. Down in the ship's hold, the sugar bags were swelling to the burst ing, point with sea water and as they, burst, they filled the hold with a thick treacle that clogged the pumps. With the pumps disabled, the fate of the schooner was foregone. Colored Training School New Year. Condition of Mr. Dortch. (Special Star Correspondence.) Goldsboro, N. C, Jan. 1. Prof. W. C. Chance, principal of Higgs Indus trial Institute, at Parmele, N. C, is in the city looking after therinterest of that institution, which opened October 12th last, and has for its purpose the industrial and domestic training of the colored race in this and adjoining States. Although established only a short time ago, the school has met with wonderful success and has large enrollment, with many applications now on file. The usual demonstrations of scream ing whistles and tolling bells marked the dying of the old year last night. And the beauties of the world the stars looking withery in their daz zling and varying colors, together with the beautiful blaze of the rising moon, gave a most picturesque effect to the last scenes of the old year as it lay dying. Reports from St. Luke s hospital in Richmond, Va., are to the "effect that Mr. William Dortch, of this city, who was operated upon in that hospital for appendicitis, has successfully rounded the danger point. His condi tion at one period was reported as cri tical. The young man is a student at Chapel Hill and is very popular in this city, where he has many friends, who are Ereatly rejoiced to learn mat ne passed through the ordeal safely. AFTER WOULD-BE ASSASSIN. John Armstrong Chaloner otters He- ward Attempt Upon His Life. Denver. Colo.. Jan. 1. John Arm strong Chaloner, former husband of the novelist Amelie Rivers, now Prin cess Troubetskoy. has written Uhier of Police Armstrong, of this city, ask ing that he give aid in capturing the man who attempted to assassinate Chaloner at his country home, near Cobham, Va., on last Thanksgiving may. Chaloner writes that he has Infor mation that the would-be murderer is a foreigner and that he is at pres ent employed as a coal miner in tnis State. Chaloner offers the man a re ward of $1,000 if he will divulge the name of the person who according to Chaloner's letter hired him to take Chaloner's life. Chaloner is a mem- ber of the Astor family and is a mil lionaire. CLYDE LINER IS DISABLED. Apache is Towing the Algonquin Re darted by Wireless. New York, Jan. 1. The Clyde Line steamer Apache bound from Jackson ville and Charleston for New York, was reported by wireless telegraph at 8 P. M., 200 miles south of Scot land lightship with the teanfer Ateon rmin f the same line., in tow. the Algonquin having become disabled. THe latter steamer left Boston De cember 9th for Charleston and Jack sonville, and Galveston. Roanoke, Va., Jan. 1. Dr. W. L. Nolin. a prominent surgeon of Salem, Va., died suddenly there at12 o'clock tonieht of heart failure. He was 44 years old and was well known In Ten Twssee. havine lived 27 years at Chat tanooga before coming to Salem thfee years ago. Business Locals, 7th page today. HEW TEAR LEVEE AT E President Taft and Cabinet Greeted Thousands of Visitors. GAY AND IMPRESSIVE SCENE Government Officials, Ambassadors, Congressmen and Poor and Hum ble Passed in Review Received Taft Smile. Washington, Jan. 1. President and Mrs. Taft held their first New Year's levee at the White House today. Al though Mrs. Taft has not yet regained her full strength and seemed rather pale in a gown of white silk, she car ried out her original intention of re maining in the receiving line until all of the members of the Cabinet circle, the foreign Ambassadors, Ministers and members of their households and the justices of the Supreme Court had paid their respects. At the end of 20 minutes, Mrs. Taft retired. The Vice President and all of the members of the Cabinet with the exception of Secretary of State Knox and Secretary of War Dickin son, remained in the receiving party until the last of the general public had passed. The reception began promptly at 11 A. M. and ended at 1:55 P. M., when the White House doors were closed. In the two hours and 55 minutes that he held his position at the portal of the far famed Blue Room, President Taft shook hands with exactly 5,575 persons. This number fell considera bly short of the figures during the last years of the Roosevelt administration. The day overhead was well nigh ideal, but melting snow made conditions un-, derfoot anything but desirable. The ine of citizens began to form, how-- ever, at 10:30 A. M., although they were not scheduled to enter the White House grounds 'until 1 o'clock. esjdeTafiL began; and ended the. reception with a smile. For his . per-' sonal friends among the diplomats, the government officials and members of the army and navy contingents, M. Taft had hearty words of greeting. Occasionally a citizen had a word to say to the- President and the latter istened attentively until his aide hur ried the visitor along to make qom for the crowds in the rear. The Presl- - dent stood the ordeal splendidly. The average time (of passing was 40 peo ple to the minute. Although he gave each a strong clasp, the President de-- clared he felt no fatigue. The stand ing' in one position so long, however, made him declare that he felt almost - as though he would have to learn to -walk all over again. Although the usual precautions were ' taken the reception passed off without ; ncident The diplomatic display this year ri valled any in the past. Practically every member of the corps was in the city and each ambassador and minis ter was attended by a brilliantly .unl- . formed staff of aides and secretaries. The new Chinese minister and his , staff, in - heavily embroidered robes and hats, attracted the usual amount of attention. The marine band rendered music during the reception. The band was divided into two sections and. when one air was finished by one section a new tune was begun by the other sec tion. The President's reception at the White House today took on a new in terest, as it was the first public recep tion planned for the administration of " Mr. Taft. The White House doors swung (5pen to all the world and during the ap pointed hours for the reception of citi zens, the poor and humble passed in review and received the clasp of the chief executive on equal footing with the richest of the community. Some idea of the magnitude to which the New Year's reception at the White House has grown can be had from the fact that President Roosevelt, during the last two or three years of ,his term, attained a high water mark of shaking hands with more than 8,000 men and women." The early period of the reception was made gay and impressive as usual today by the appearance of the diplo mats in the full dress uniforms' of their rank and distinction in the coun tries from1 which they are accredited. This year; there were many new fac es in the diplomatic line which was headed by Baron des Planches, the Italian ambassador, dean Of the corps in Washington. President Taft's military and naval aides did much of the planning for the reception and took their places along the receiving line to help facili tate the handling of the guests. The introductions were :made by Colonel Cosby, of the army, Major Domo, of the White House, assisted by Captain Butt, and Lieutenant Commander Palmer. - The White House today was elabo rately decorated with cut and growing flowers and during the - reception the marine band played patriotic airs. During the diplomatic portion of the' reception the greatest interest was , attracted to the ' four young daughters of the new Chinese minis ter, who, in Oriental robes of white,,, and pink ribbons on their dark hair, added a most picturesque tinge ."to the sene. , Speaker Cannon " was naif an 'hour WHITE