North Carolina Newspapers

nn f rm OLDEST DAILY IN-THE STATE. r?r rrnrnrr r nnnvr a -r n. n I MORE UNDERSEA BOATS ENDS PARLEY PROMPTL Y BRITISH AND FRENCH SWAP SHARP WORDS AS DESIRE IS ANNOUNCED Paris Delegates Want to Treble Present Size of Under water List OTHER DELEGATES ARE SURPRISED BY PROPOSAL Balfour Says France Must Not Prepare for War at Her Back Door WASHINGTON, Pec. 28. (By the A.soei:ited Press.) Efforts to limit the naval strength of the powers in submarines and auxiliary warships c.ime to an abrupt end today, after ;hoy had drawn the French and British arms conference delegates into a plain spoken exchange over the possibilities if a future war between Prance and British empire. The French, acting under renewed instructions from their government, told the conference naval committee v.-ith an ajr of finality that France must remain free to build a submarine flotil la nearly three times as great as that she now possesses, and to construct, in addition, cruisers, destroyers and other auxiliary craft up to a tonnage of 330, in'iO. - 1 To the proposal the Americans, Jap anese and Italians replied with expres- sions or surprise ana resvei, wmic British charged openly that Such a building program must be regarded as a menace to British shores. Arthur J. Balfour added that he had no doubt, if occasion arose. Great Britain would be equal to it, btrt only if. she reserved complete freedom of action as to the construction of all types of auxiliaries which might be useful against under water warfare. -;";' Agreeing that further argument would be useless, the committee turn ed its attention to collateral subjects, including regulations for future use of submarines, proposals for limitation for the size and armament of individ ual auxiliary vessels and details of the agreement already sealed in principle regard, .capital fPs -KC. s l&o Olfe Ttt. For the American delegation. Elihu Root, proposed a joint declaration re affirming the obligation of submarine commanders to warn merchant ships before attack to refrain from sinking vessels whose crews and passengers ould not first be placed in safety, and i conform in generalto all the estab lished Dractfces of international law. In addition, Mr. Root also suggested a ,'nange in existing usage to prohibit attacks on merchant vessels altogether and to make submarine commanders v ,-ho violate the regulation liable to trial as pirates. General sympathy for the purpose of these proposals was expressed by the representatives of all the Powers but definite action was uetencu. an agreement be reached, it is to -be submitted to all civilized nations with an invitation for world wide adher- ""'under a further proposal presented by the American delegation and -given -neral, but not nnai apjiruvoa "j auxiii'trj' vessel of more than 10,000 tons could be constructed by anjr of the powers, ami no airplane carrier could have a. -onnage of more than 27,000 tons. A maximum airplane carrier tojmaee of SV'OO for the United States, 80.000 for Great Britain, 48,000 for Japan 28,000 fo- Prance and 28,000 for Italy also was suggested by the Americans and will be further discussed tomorrow. The net result of the day's delibera tions so far as actual progress is con . f rned, was an agreement that in lu-. niro no gun of more than 16 inch cali bre shall be mountea on '" and none of more than 8 inch calibre shall be included in the armament, of anv auxiliary vessel or airplane carrier. Along with their demand; for .in submarine and auxiliary ton naKe. the French delegation presented to the committee in definite form, but with a reservation attached, their ac- H tance of the capital ship rano h," which France is to have a of 175.000 first- tons. Thr reservations provide that . the l-'rfnch be permitted to break in on th ten-year naval holiday so as to i.etrin construction of replacement ton najiH in 1927, four years before - the holiuay ends. Not Dangerow; in most quarters tftis exception was tot regarded as likely, to endanger way the capital ship agreement, ' ' u t it was criticised by Mr. Balfour in committee session as a serious in errVrf-nce with the holiday plan. The proposal is under consideration by tne navai , xperts of the other powers, and an effort to reach a decision regarding Pr .bably will be made in the near futiirf-. a; ,, rt Sarraut, head of the French 'ifjeation, presented the' submarine and auxiliary estimates of nis govern committee in a speech "lent to the hiiiitr that the figures suggested UT- a minimum roniil rod far national 'H.si .. He emphasized that highest -'-h naval authorities as well- as ' K,vn,. ''i.oii -bat funv i cabinet had made a definite ii the point and Indicates r attempts to secure reces- r''.'..i be futile. - ; . ' 11 b thi-Se estimates. France would ,ve a vibmarine tonnage offSO.000, as an u s r j.ooo which she now possesses ' it was proposed that she re baneed under status .duo Qf j '.tnean compromise. Tne united iirlV' onl' 92,000 ndvQreat'Brit- "t At! l.. mpromise proposal to re. Or, . i,, All Disappointed t-h, o we i s expressed . their 41 t over the French-.' decision. irjintr,i(-n ' 1 'panese, who had themseivea '-'ont.inued on'Pagre 5Jts- ; ' BICKETT HOME FLOODED WITH MESSAGES OP CONDOLENCE AT NEWS OP GOVERNOR'S DEATH By4 BROCK BARK LEY RALEIGH, Dec. 28. From every section of North Carolina messages today poured into the home of for mer Governor Biekett, mourning his loss to the state and extending sym pathy to his family. ! In Raleigh the love of the people for him was evi denced by the hundreds of callers &t the home and the expressions from state officials, private citizens and public men. The state Democratic executive committee, meeting tonight, passed resolutions in memory of him and .the Rotary club of Raleigh adjourn ed its noon day meeting in his mem ory after passing appropriate reso lutions. Those sending telegrams of con dolence included the state's con gressmen and senators and North Carolinians In many parts of the country, in addition to citizens now residing within the state. Many messages were also received Urom ten prominent in national affairs. Two of the, state's officials. Gov ernor Morrison and State Treasurer B. R. Lacy, received the news of his death while in New York city on business and they promptly tele graphed their expressions of sym pathy to Mrs. Biekett. Both were fond friends of the former gover nor. J. D. Norwood is Named Chairman of Democratic Executive Committee By BROCK BARKLEY- RALEIGH, Dec. 28. J. D. Norwood, Salisbury banker and manufacturer, was elected chairman of the State Democratic executive committee to night, succeeding Thomas D. Warren, of New Bern; who has held the posi tion for the last eight years. The committee accepted the resigna tion of Mr. Warren after adopting resolutions extending the thanks of the committee for his services. Aside from the election of his successor and the election of W. A. Graham, Jr., of Lincoln county, as a member, of .-the committee to succeed the late Edear I. ix&wJT - , no- -business "fVattr s $tmij&'f- tance were handled by the commitfee men, the session lasting only about 30 minutes. .- In a brief address following the ten dering of his resignation, Mr. Warren expressed appreciation for the oppor tunity of serving his party as its leader for eight years. He declared it no crime to be aqjive in politics and appealed to the young men and women of the satte to devote a part of their "time and energy to the unselfish service of the Democratic party. Their reward will be the good that will come to others and the con sequences of having contributed some thing .to the publie good." Mr. Warren said in part: "Efficient, economical and progres sive government is worth all that it costs. If this is accomplished it must come through the instrumentality of some political party. The party that deserves to live and to administer the affairs of state and nation is the party that stands for principles and not for privileges, the party that stands for equality of burdens and benefits the party that stands for the common good arid not, for the privileged few. "The Democratic party in North Carolina has abundantly fulfilled this requirement and has met and will meet every test of splendid service and public usefulness." FARMERS OF COLUMBUS WILL MARKET TOGETHER (Special to The Star.) WHITEVTLLE, Dec. 28. After Mr Will Collins of Kentucky had explained the methods used in Kentucky for or eraniziner the co-operative association growers in Columbus county decided that it was better to be on the inside looking out than to be in the outside looking in, so they i signed the con tract for the marketing of their to bacco in 1922 ... to the tune of 671,000 pounds. About 700 farmers attended the meeting, and crowded in the icourt room overflowing into the halls until the S.-R. O. sign was put out. Never has such a gathering of representa tive farmers been seen in Whlteville at such a meeting. Trtdav's siern un makes a total of 671,000 pounds of tobacco and 5,965 bales of cotton signed in Columbus county , for co-operative marketing. They issue a -challenge to any county in North Carolina to equaKthis record. Officers for-, the permanent county as sociation were' elected consisting of A,Tscr A. K. waner, president; xv. x, Mil m a. vice-president; C. D. Harrebon, secretary and T. F. Collier as- treas urer. : ;; - TWO FLYERS KILLED WHEN AIRPLASTE FALLS ARCADIA, Fla., Dec. fLieuten ants Samuel H. - Davis and William C. Sinclair were instantly killed .and their bodies burned, when he. airplane in which they- were flying crashed five miles from here today. 'The officers were scanoiieu b- , - 7 . this place. ' "' ; X.ieut. Davis home address was Au gusta, .Arkansas and that ; of Lieut. Sinclair was AUanta, Georgia. . The machine Is said to have gone into a tall spin a few feet from the around when the officers were descend ing from . a practice fligrht. Farmers who 'saw, the accident said the -machine, burst Into flames and then fell to- the ground. a bodies were badly burned, ' ' . - - - ' - CHAIRMAN HULL HOLDS ACTS OF REPUBLICANS UP TO BRIGHT LIGHT Contrasts G. O. P. Progress With Achievements of Democrats NOW IS TIME TO TALK PLAINLY, HE ASSERTS NASHVILLE Dec. 28. Declaring that "the time has come when pa triotic citizens and Democrats should indulge in plain talking," Judge Cor dell Hull, chairman of the Democratic national committee, in his first pub lic address since election to that po sition, tonight reviewed the Republi can administration of national affairs since March, 1921, and contrasted this with the "unparalled achievement" of the Democrats in the previous eight years. The address was delivered at a 'din ner given by the state Democratic executive committee in honor of Chair man Hull and attended by party lead ers from every part of the state. It was accepted generally as the opening of the congressional pre-election cam paign by the new chairman who went into the public question wiilch he said now faced the government and ex plained the attitude which his party would take on them. Further relief for farmers, adequate aid for veterans, reduction of taxes to compensate for the "panic (condition" now obtaning, and a remedy for the situation resulting from the flood of tax exempted securities were among the issues outlined by the new chair man for the Democratic party. "Democrats are the loyal and con sistent friends of the ex-service man," he declared. Turning to the farmer's condition, ne added that ever solicit ous of his welfare x x x the Dem ocratic party when in power did more to advance the interest of the far mer than had been -done in all the previous history of the nation and had planned to do nfuch more, if it had re mained in power." Would Relieve Taxpayers "The burden of our ptfblic debt should be adjusted so as not to be op pressive to the American tax payer laboring under panic conditions. The states, rather than the federal govern ment, should-be urged to -deal by uni form policy with the growing; evil of local tax exempt securities " iii?e'KuIl asserted, were- secured tyf criminal malignity and reckiess false hood" on the part of the Republican leaders. It was not so much the Democratic party; it was the American people who suffered the .colossal and incal- cuable losses that resulted from Dem ocratic defeat," lie declared. "It is beyond the power of whole sale abuse, falsehood and detraction long to dim the glory of the eight year's unparalled achievement of the national Democracy. The work of con structive, patriotic statesmanship ac complished by that party will stand out in clearer perspective during the com ing years. The Democratic party emerged from that almost superhuman ordeal with flag- untarnished, with doctrines sound and pure, with a record of undying fame, and with cheerful hope for the future. Fundamental principles cannot be assassinated and a great historic rec ord cannot long be falsified." If wholesale breach of solemn and unqualified promises to the people con stituted a statutory crime," Judge Hull said, "every reactionary Repub lican .leader, state and national would, under a plea of. guilty, be in thercus tody of the law tonight. Blames Politics "The disappointed farmer now reads the account of his industria1 ruin by the light of his burning corn. Millions of laborers are frequenting the soap- houses, bread lines and the auction block as in the days of chattel slavery. Business has discovered that it was crucified on the cross of politics." Under Republican leadership, the chairman said, American foreign com merce "has slumped six billion dollars in the last twelve months" and an "al most vertical s'ump in prices n Amer ica of from thirty to fifty per cent and, in purchasing power of farm products, o'f sixty-six per cent, quickly fol lowed." For two years prior to March, 1921, he said, the only remedy offered by Kepubiican leaders ror post, war conditions was "an antiquated .hfgh tariff and the. archaic doctrine of com mercial isolation." Development . of- a "sound public opinion that will give intelligent and active support to legislatures and con gresses, in enactment of .wise, remedial legislation" was declared by the speaker . to be "the first need of the country" at this time. "The country is in sad and urgent need," he said, "of more education and more co-operation on the part of in dividu4b"s and-business with respect to our public affairs. An intelligent un derstanding and whole-hearted co operation on their part would soon im prove government one hundred per cent." The Democratic party is the only po litical organization, Judge Hull con tended, which, offers "a comprehensive up-to-date national program of poli cies and principles." The party, he said, still holds to its belief in a tariff for a revenue- only, for economy in governmental expenditures, for "equal rights to all and special privileges to none." v ; The , recent Democratic administra tion has not yet received eredit for its many great .achievements," he said. "With whatever Its detainers may say in the future, even the school children will soon learn that in 1912 our na tional wealth was $187,000,000,000 and in 1920, when the' Republican adminis tration was chosen, was '$330,000,000; in 1912 '. our foreign trade was $3,850, 000,000 and in 1920 It was $12,500,000,- 000.' A year after, the war tne value of manufactured goods exported in one month "equalled the "amount exported In an entire year under Taft'sadminis- tratlon," " , FORMER GOVERNOR BICKETT IS DEAD ATTACK ON NEWSPAPER BY NEWSPRINT MANUFACTURER BEFORE SENATE BODY IS RETURNED BY EDITOR Value of Farm Crops Is Estimated at Far BeloW Figure for 1920 WASHINGTON, Deo: 28, The coun try's important farm." ' crops -were val ued this year Vat $5,675,877,000 basea on prices paid to farmers. on-December 1, the department f?a"gricultea- nouncjed r today In At$ final :egmates. 90 per cent, of the value -xi, an iarm crops, were valued last year at $9,075, 388.000. - The area devoted' to Important crops this year was' 348,336,000 acres, com pared with 349,067,000, acres "last year Final estimates of production and val ue announced included: Corn: Production 3,081,251,000 bush els, value $1,305,624,000. Winter wheat: 587,U3Z,uoo ana 725,000. ; " . Spring wheat:; 207,861,000 "and 178, 343,000. - All wheat: 794,893,000 and 737,068,000 Oats: 1,060.737,000 and $31,540,000. Barley: 151,181,000 and 163,788,000 . Rye: 57,918,000 and. $40,680, oou. Buckwheat: "14,079,000' and $11,438, 000. " " " ' ' Flax seed 8,112,000 and $11,732,000. Rice: 39.653,000' and $38,189,000. Potatoes: . 346,23,000 and .$385,192,000. weet potatoest 98,66,000. and ' $86, 910,000. Hay: (tame) 81,567,000 and $989,693, 000. Hay: (wild) 15,235,000 and $101,083, 000. Tobacco: 1,117,682,000 and $207,570,- 000. ; -:f-t - - - Cotton: 8,340,060 and $674,877,000. Cotton seed: 3.704,000, and $107,972,- 000. - Beet sugar: 2,024,764,000. Cane sugar: 5340,000, Peanuts: 816.465.00Q and $32,288,000 Beans: 9,118,000 and $24,298,000. Apples: 96,881,000 and $163,215,000, Peaches: 32,733,000 and $52,176,000. Oranges: -30, 700,000 and $63,850,000 SUGAR PRICES SLUMP TO NEW LOW LEVELS Raw Product Drops Lowest In Fifteen Years NEW YORK, JJec. 2. Ja-w oUBo. today plunged to the lowest level in 15 years and within a quarter of a cent of the lowest ever reoorted. The price for Cubas, cost and freight, was 1 3-4 cents a pound. Refined sugar shared the break in raws and was quoted -at 4.90 cents! at pound for fine granulated. This- was the first time in many; years that It sold for less than five cents. y, .While nearly all yfarm products since the war have recovered, from their low levels, new low prices have been recorded almost daily in "the su gar, market. . During the war, with sugar under control, there was little variation, but when In 1920 this control' 'was with drawn, raws sold for more than. 23 cents in May and June' and granulated passed the 25 cent mark. . These prices naturally attracted sugar from all parts of the" world, eventually demor alizing the market and leaving: Cuba with huge unsold supplies. Efforts . "weret made to market "tHw sugar in' an orderly mariner .through the Cuban sugar finance commission, but with little success because -of big offerings at lower 'prices from other sources. Therefore ; the commission is to be dissolved and after January 1 Cuba becomes a free j and open market with private competition which the trade: believes may bring -still lower quotations. t SEVER HORSE'S LEG 1 Special to The Star.): GOLDS BORO, Dec. 28.- Bent 'on malice or "revenge, parties late - last night - entered the . stable at . the Far-; mers""" Warehouse on Mulberry street and-with an'axe cut-offone'-les of ft valuable horse:, ..The horse had bled; to death when ounT this morning. - - .-'-.', t ,-. - -..,. . v. ' o Present Arguments for -and Against Placing of Tariff on Print Paper WASHINGTON, Dec. 'Sv-Senate tariff hearings; were enlivened today by. an attack on American newspaper publishers by Col. William E. Haskell, of New--York city, vice-president of the International Paper company, and a counter attack on the newsprint pa per manufacturers by William J. Pape, t .v c v. 1 ' : - I MllWiiV. i. J M. LUC II aLCi U Vi. L V . t ljfi 1 1 IT4' I cut Republican, sueakinsr for a numt ber". of small publishers, who, he said, organized a joint buying corporation because many of them were "unable single handed to assist themselves in an endeavor to obtain fair,; priced newsprint." J Urging a , tariff protection for his industry against European competi tion Col. Haskell told the committee that ".congress had gradually yielded to the clamors of the paid, agents of the publishers" until finally all tariff Nir newsprint had been removed and 'the industry abandoned - to drift in the " eb6 and flow of the international comptitvextide. -- , Asserting that newsprint was the only, product of the paper making in dustry "which has been deprived of all protection and bedeviled by in spired federal regulation and interfer ence," the witness said the reason for tna insidious treatment thJs branch of the industry, has suffered' is obvious. He-added-that,"the fact that the press can control legislation and invoke un warranted regulations, restrictions and interference fbr its own serflsh inter ests, constitutes a grave charge of un due influence and special privilege." The .charge that any "undue influ ence" hadi been used by the publishers in arguing j0r the placing of news print paper on the free list was denied oy JSmory- Thomaaon of - ChTcas-o. speaking for the American Newspaper Publishers' association. He declared the publishes had based thir argu ment -on the economic ground of the inability of American newsprint man- uta-qturers to supply domestic consump tion. This inability was stated by-Col Haskell. , - Mr. Pape told the committee that the question before congre3 in ,determin ing as to the retention of newsorint paper On the. free list was whether-the' publishers should again have Imposed" -on tnem sucn a condition as was found by a s.enate .committee, which .reported last year that certain manufacturers had. taken advantage of a. newsprint shortage "to exploit the- purchasers" a'ndj "hold thm up for exoessive, : un reasonable and wholly unfair prices." Publishers, who, as a class, largely dominate public opinion affecting busi ness policies through direct appeal to readers, Mr. Pape added, "have been potently weak when fighting for a fair price for newsprint." He declared that on no less than three occasions in the past, ten years prices had "soared to undreamed of, heights" and that noth jng, :, fncluding- federal trade .commis sion congressionaP and court action had "stayed the demands Imposed by certain of those who control the" sup ply Of newsprint." L Colonel Haskell, in, presenting, the ease ror me manuiacturers, suggested nOrdefiriite rate of duty for newsprint, saying he would leave that to the. com mit tee. He contended that the indus try was in- bad - sh,ape .as a result of competition from- .Germany, Sweden," Norway and Finland, asserting that paner made in - those s countries could be sold here for from $10 to $20 below the actual: -cost of production-here. On ther other hand, Mr.' Pape argued that the -prices of -the foreign-made paper sought about the level Un this country that it was the .price, here-that attracted manufacturers in' the "foreign countVies and that imorts from Europe had proved the salvation of . the small r.inlahd publishers ' during -the days af ter "tne war wnen, ne - said, - both cpn tractand spot prices "for paper rose to "unbearable- limits. . - s " y EMUO VERNOR BICKETT Km L&lS OF GREAT LEADER V " I THOWDS CALL AT HOME OP PRESIDENT WILSON TO PAY RESPECT ON BIRTHDAY (Special to The Star) WASHINGTON, Dec. 28. Wood row Wilson had another good day today. Thousands of people paid tribute to him on his 65th birthday. Streams of men and women called at the S. street home and left cards without hope or thought of seeing their hero. They went up to do their bit. Many signs here indicate that the stricken war president is coming back in the minds of honest, fair Americans. The drift is toward him and those who helped to create sentiment against him for political purposes realize it, and see great danger to their groups and parties. There is no apprehension that Mr. Wilson " will ever loom large as a presidential possibility or anything akin to that, but a storm, of public sentiment may sweep the republi cans out of office if business does not improve and the foreign situa tion clears up. Premier Lloyd George Says England Has Gone Far Enough With Irish LONDON,' Dec. 28. (By the Asso ciated Press.) The government has gone to the utmost limit, in the Irish treaty and therefore it is impossible to reopen the discussions, Premier Lloyd George declsred in a statement issued here today. Following is the text of his state mentV "No British statesman could go fur ther than we liave gone; no British statesman could consider any proposal involving Ireland bfeing out of the empire. "The treaty places Ireland on ar equality with the other stajtes of th( empire and gives Ireland? the same claim to membership in the league o nations and every right that Canada has in law, fact and constitutional practice; and not merely rejection, but alteration even, of the treaty woul render it -null and void. This would indeed be deplorable Iii the Jnterests o both countries. , : "The British - government have gone to their utmost limit in the treaty and to reopen the discussion, whvc V "VVr' -J - T f -'nsiflftratinn of fiVferv ooiittf haustive -consideration 'of - every point wou'd be a fruitless proceeding and if impossible".; "r r, T' . "A committee consisting of British ministers presided over by the colonial secretary has been set up to deal with the evacuation of the British forces the settling of amnesty, and the mak ing of all necessary arrangements on the British side and -- transferring full executive responsibility .: to an Irish Provisional government.!- The work of' this committee, ' which had been ir continuous session up to Christmas and had proposed to sit through the Christmas holidays, is now unavoid ably held up pending approval of the treaty ; but on approval it would be carried through with the utmost disr patch. "It is the intention of the Britisr government to hand over without de lay their responsibilities tp a provis ional government which will function during the period of transition requir ed for setting up the Irish Free States administration." MISSING MARSHALL'S BODY IS FOUND IN 'GLADES MIAMI, Fla., Dec. 2"8. The body of Adam W. Oberlin, deputy United States marshal for southeastern Florida, Wiho disappeared on December 15, was found in the Everglades 18 mileg from here this afternoon by searchers led by two Seminole Indians. A revolver beside the corpse told the story of his death. Oberlin, in his efforts to cover all trace of his movements, had made his way through swamp and dense Under brush to a thickly covered little Island three miles from the spot where his automobile was found several days af ter he left home. The Indians, who helped in the first search for htm, and who made their home beside ,a canal in that section of the Everglades, yes terday in their wanderings chanced upon tracks through the bushes. They made known their finding to Argyle Henry, a hunter and tracker, who in formed the sheriff's office. Today with a depity sheriff they set out to follow the trail, which finally ' brought them to the, corpse. Members of the family tonight re iterated their belief that worry over financial matters caused Oberlin to take his life. WILSON PLANTERS TOLD OF MARKETING SYSTEM (Special to Tie Star.) , ""WILSON, Dec. 28. To a mixed as sembly of s between about 400 planters, tobacco warehousemen and .buyers, Dr. Kilgore, head of farm demonstratio'n work in North Carolina, and LarrylL Moore, of New Bernv and Dr. CroOker of jfr.tnTiahv r spoke in the inter est of the tj-o:)erative plan of mar keting, telling the planters that the plan was not a new one that it has been tried out and is working suc cessfully toa their interests elsewhere as will, soon be worked in North Caro lina, South Carolina and "Virginia, that in the. three states-90 per cent of the farmers had signed up' and that in Kentucky all but six of the warehouse mehwould turnover their property to be used as receiving stations for the association. Details were gone into as to the manner of conducting the ware houses and now the crop will be fi nanced. ; ' ' .KITCHIN -IMPROVING WASHINGTON, Dec. 28. Represen tative Stedman received- a letter from Representative Kiichin.. - today saying that he s was ""greatly improved and is on 4be way-to complete recovery. There Is a- feeling here that Mr. .Kitchin may be all right agai , - 'WAR GOVERNOR' DIES IN MANNER HE HOPED rnn. rimrnii TfinAV run ruiiuiAL iuuau I Had Confided to Friends He Wanted Short Illness and ! Peaceful Death REMAINS UNCONSCIOUS AFTER SEVERE STROKE Body Will Lie in State Two Hours Today in Draped Capitol BY BROCK BARKLEY. RALEIGH, Dec. 28. Death claimed Thomas Walter. Biekett at 9:15 o'clock this morning. Official North .Carolina and all - the people of the state are mourning the loss of the war governor, statesman, peacemaker, progressive leader and Christian citizen, as the draped capltol, the drawn shades in the. public, build ings and the flod of telegrams which have poured into Raleigh today attest He did not regain consciousness af ter suffering a stroke of paralysis shortly before 9 o'clock last night He had frequently confided toriends "that he would like to go that way; a short illness and a peaceful passing. He was in his law office yesterday, worked1 in his garden in the afternoon and pre pared supper for himself and Mrs. (Biekett last evening. His body has been at the home in Hayes Barton today. It will be taken to the capitol in the morning to lie in state from 9 until 11 o'clock. The fun eral will be held in Christ Episcopalian church at 11:30 and the .body will 'toe, taken to Louisburs in Franklin county" for burial. His pastor. Rev. Milton A. Barr, will officiate and Bishop Joseph Blount, Cheshire probably will assist. Mr. Biekett had been a member .of Christ church during his residence in. Raleigh. The trip to Louisb,urg will be made in motor cars.. That town was his-home from 1895 until he canje to; Raleigh in 1916 to-become Governor, and it is the home place of Mrs. Biekett. i -m ..... n .a , tlKn tI1B wmer :Suvernur , nea. They were immediately closed and will remain closed through tomorrow. The !STorth Carolina flag on the capitol was draped. The shades in the offices, were drawn and the governor's private Office, which Mr.- Biekett left two weeks less than a -year ago, was not entered during the day Associated Press bulletins and spec ial dispatches announced ihis death and from every general section of the state , early came telegrams from citizens In all walks, of life, mouring the loss of the man and offering their sympathies to his widow. Governor Morrison, wjic is in New York on pressing business of state, was notified immediately by his secretary. It was not known here if he could return for the funeral owing to the importance of the business he ia transacting. State officers In "the city, called at the residence. Joining hun-, dreds who gathered there during the day. Several relatives of the former gov ernor, notified of his illness last night were with him when he ' died. Mrs. Biekett, herself ill, watched at his bed side throughout the night. William Biekett, the only son, reached Raleigh this morning from Winston-Salem. He had returned to his work yesterday af ter spending the Christmas- holidays with his parents. Had Humble Start. Governor Biekett was another of the state's great ; men who worked their way to the top from an humble begin ning. He was born in Monroe, Union county, February 28, 1869, the son of T. W., and Mary Covington Biekett. His father was a physician. He died when young Biekett was 13, paralysis having also caused his death. He attended the ' Union county schools and then wdrked his way through Wake Forest college. In col lege he distinguished himself by his gift for oratory, a gift for which he was widely noted in the-later years of his life. In, fact, Mr. Biekett was con sidered by many as the best speaker of recent years in North Carolina, He studled(f?vw at the University of North Carolina, but for two years af ter leaving college he taught school in Winston-Salem. Taking up the law, he went to Stokes county and there open ed his first office. When Judge Tlm berlake, then -of Louisburg, went on the bench in 1895, Mr. Biekett moved to that town and took over his prac tice. There he resided until 19 18 when he came to Raleigh to enter the , gov ernor's office. 4 . Governor Biekett first - gained f state wide prominence as a speaker and a public man at the famous . Democratic convention in Charlotte In ,1907 when he nominated for governor Col. Ashley -Horn. His eloquence and his sincerity attracted wide attention and at that early date predictions were made that some day he himsf If would be gov ernor. , r . f He was elected to the . legislature from Franklin county in 1907 and a year later he, was elected attorney general. After two terms in that, office he offered for the governorship, and. In the 1916 primary defeated ieut. Gov ernor Daughtridge . by 26,0'00 votes, winning in the regular elect nbver his republican opponent by a ' 40, 000 majority! V - '-n-, . Wqn Fame partner War' e, , As the state's war governor, ,Mr . " Biekett won for ..himself a national reputation as a patriotic citizen and war . worker . and as a public speaker. He was constantly n the go during the world war and he was ever re mindful of patriotic affairs, taking, a leading part in liberty loan drives and ' war relief campaigns. " - His . administration--' as governor ' achieved much In "a-progressive way ' He advocated ana wa -rlargely instrul I (Continued on Page Two - ,r""! Lr,l LIL1 a. 1 t . J 1 - . . . 7