North Carolina Newspapers

V WEATHER v Air Today and Tomorrow; Warmer Tomorrow "A. :P. SERVICE TOirnsw . Full Leased Wire Service of the Associated-Press Oats: FOUNDED A. D. 1867^~VQL. LVI^No. 296, WILMINGTON, N. C„ TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 25, 1923. OLDEST DAILY IN THE STATE. hughes domes back AT STEKLOV’S DEFIi PUBLISHES DOCUMENT ■ Gives Full Text of Artide Show ing Relation of Soviet to International APPEARED IN JZVESTIA IN NOVEMBER OF 1922 ’ ' 5: i Traces Rise and Purposes of Both Organizations in \ Soviet Russia (By Associated Press) WSHINOTON. Dec. 24—A translation , .ue full text of the article signed by a Mdov, editor of the soviet organ, 1 _.,tia, which appeared in that publi. 1 tioc of November 7, 1922, and ac- i triowledced the close bonds between .. f soviet regime and the 'communist Lternationale. was made public to *L]lt by the state department. ■ Excerpts from the article were I nnotecl recently by the state depart ment in substantiation of its charge tat tile soviets were active in con joins revolutionary propaganda in jS pmmtry and that there was no real; difference between the communist In ternationale and the , soviet govern ment Suhsenuently Steklov challenged Secretarv Hughes to produce the date on which the article appeared, and the department not only announced the d.itc hut made public the full text, as follows:-' , Text of rtlele "Republic of Soviets and Third Xn-J ternatiouale. , . '■ . ' •‘The coincident of the date of the celebration of the fifth anniversary of t! e October revolution and the opening of the fourth congress of the commun ist Internationale Is by no means an accidental or arbitrary occurrence, j This coincidence has a deep signifi cance, and flows out of'.the organic connection between two historical phenomena. - ( "The soviet republic celebrates tocfxv its fifth iufcilee; the communist Inter nationale convenes Its fourth congress. Thus the communist Internationale ap pears somewhat younger Jhan its, soviet brother, nd, in fact. It wag founded in the second year of tjSe soviet republic and, on the forman Jafii- j tiative and under the strong Influence i of the Russian communist party. fThe j majority of the communist partlMf en- j tering into its composition were fpund. j cd later than the Russian party, r This j has given cause to our enemies fee &t- j .firm th»t tEfe Whole nationale, as such, is a erea^srs of | Sfoscow. But in fact it is hot n ill *o. J "However, paradoxical It may apw-.sr at the first glance, the October revolu tion and the Russian communist »arly which realized it from a broad histor ical point of view are themselves the product and creation of the communist internalionale. To be, surtV as a ecmt* plete and form of organization til# communist internatlonale arose later. But as an idea, It existed earlier than they. Before its forijial proclamation, (he communist internatlonale existed in the construction of all revolution Marxists. Fundamental Development “Its fundamental elements were de veloped at the conferences in Zimmer wa!d and Kienthal and in the inter party deputes during the Imperialist tvar. As a categorical, Imperative and a dire ting spirit.- It was active long before the constituent congress of the III internatlonale. In particular, the Russian bolsheviks as far back as lSlf-15 looked upon themselves as part of the future III Internationale, acted in conformity with its principles, and in accordance with them carried out the October revolution. But, however, we look upon tne rtncmological succession of events and 'n their historical sequence, the close irzanic and spiritual bond between the soviet republic, product of the October revolution, and the communist Interna tionale cannot be doubted. And even if the connection had not been admit tert many times by both sides, it would, nevertheless, be clear to all', and as an established fact. It Is clear to us as to oar enemies. "Comrade Kalinin, in his speech at the opening of the last session of the al!-Russian central executive commit ter. remarked that ‘in the general strength of the III communist Interna tionale, the strength of the soviet fed eration has an enormous significance,’ and that ‘the workers and peasants of the soviet republic are one of the great component forces of the communist in terna rionale.' “That is a deep truth. The counter revolutionary press makes sport over Jhe Russian peasant being interested in the Internationale. Regarding the Russian worker that press raises no ■I'jarrel. But in regard to the peasant 'he assertion of Kalinin is true. It is Possible that the average Russian Peasant has a vei^poor conception of '"st what the cofnmunist internation al® is, and even less understands its Program. Nevertheless he knows very "ell about the communist Internation al® and feels himself bound to it. Com pelled for four years to defend thero selvnc from the attacks of internation al® capital the Russian laboring mass es on their own ,skin keenly felt the significance of the international solJ iarity of the workers. The laborers aril peasant masses of the soviet re pu’nlic hitherto boycotted and- block aded by the capital of the imperialist powers, understand perfectly that their 'ia'ly material interests are closely bound nn with the success of the intor Pat nnalc revolutionary - movement. A ml in this sense Russia is now the country most internatlofialistically. in a'bied in. its broadest masses. "On this, side the very close bpnd. be fweep the soviet republic and the cbm munist Internationale is not subject to deulit. This connection is pot only of a spiritual but also of a material and Palpable character. On Its .side the omnmnist Internationale in the same pparure is spiritually and materially connected with soviet Russia. It Is not 3 question of material support, about "liich the bourgeois press makes so "itch noise, and.whlph, in the largest Pact, belongs to the realms of myths. ip any case the material support, "li'v'i. tor instance, the workers of all '■"ani.rics extended to ths soviet repub llc during the famine of last year. Is (Continued on Page Two) Immunity of Hooch Claimed By Diplomats 'Msd Seized By Police Becotjjjmls Big Issue Commissioners of Metroploitan {jljjjpffCalls for Ruling in This Phase of Bootleg Scandal #^ptional Capital—Polish Attache Claims BjpfpMl Taken in Raid <B Associated Pres*) I WASHINGTON. Dec. 24—The ques tion of Immunity extending- to liquors suspected by the police of "being the supplies of bootleggers but claimed as the propperty ot diplomat developed as an issue today in the scandal whch has resulted from a police raid conducted tiers last week. Although not naming any federal of ficers, Commissioner Oyster, of the District of Columbia police, 'declared he had asked “authorities* to explain why $50,000 worth of liquors loeated by the police in the basement of an apartment building during the raid .but claimed by a member of- the diplomatic corps could not be seized. As a result of the intervention of the official of the for eign legation the liquor actually taken into custody in the case amounts to only 15 quarts, which was seized In an automobile. At the same time there were Indications of a sweeping inquiry being undertaken into frequent charges of liquor drinking in high places, while the disappearance of an alleged list of many hundred- customtifm taken during the raid r suited in demands from sev eral quarters lor an .explanation. I*. A, is Interested The district attorney’s office is inter ested in the- with the view of pros -ecuting tlrt-ae, whoso names appeared on it and Stid, demands for an inquiry are expect.go b* reflected on the | floor cf emigres* immediately after I the holidAy *eo*M. , , ^ . C<wnmissiou,pr fjystsr declared todav that seizure of the liquor for which di port'ont to the police It was not re portant to the poclle. It was not re moved from the apartment basement pending- investigation by the state de partment after Dr. Vincegslas Sokolow ekl, first secretary of the Polish lega tion, who occupied a room in the house had said that the goods were his and produced permits showing that the li quor had been obtained by him through the regular channels provided under the law for assuring supplies to the representatives here of foreign govern ments. With the showing - of permits 1 there were Indications that both .the. state department and the legation re garded the Incident as closed. Interested in hist Interested in the missing list of cus tomers is the more intense because the names have been declared by some of the alleged bootleggers under arrest In connection with the case to include several prominent in governmental and society crclcs of the capital. Police working on the case, which has resulted in eleven arrests of per sons alleged to have been operating from the office of a bootleg ring, turn ed their attention tonight to outside points in an effort to disclose the channels through which the cyndicate worked. ' It is believed they,lead to Canada. 1 TINGE M SADNESS IN/iULETIDE JOYS >'0F STATE CAPITAL Death of Major Graham Takes | Much of Joy From Cele * bntiion B?cL a4—miUtSfh ^ ifcrUftJpaft anaeriha ,w*4« of »uto U>4& ctoettrlher*’ ytsta a note of satfnees evident over the death of one of the members of the state’s official family. Major W. A Graham commissioner of the depart ment of agriculture. , ' Although only the eve of the festal day the joy of the crowds was not only that of anticipation of the morrow for some of the yule tide festivities took place tonight ■ Beneath the hows of a large cedar tree planted on Capital Square by the Raleigh Ro’ary club hundreds of per sons gathered to hear the members of the Rotarv club, together with scores Of school children sang familiar Christ mas carols. The Elks and other organisations al so sppread cheer amongst youngsters o fthe city. Governor Morrison and the members of his family, it became known today will spend Chria'mas in Raleigh. Very little activity was seen about the state buildings today and tomor row there will be none and in some of the departments there will be little’ doing for the rest of the week. DIXMl’DE STILL APLO.tT . TOULON, France, Dec. 24.—(By The Associated Press).—The dirigible Dlx mude, which has been sailing for many hours over Tunis, apparently in a fruitless search for a landing place, was sighted at 6 o’clock tonight in the Tatahoun region,’ and later further In land. The headlights of the airship were lit and the craft seemed to be in control The wireless stations con tinue to send messages, but the Dix mude does not reply. News Digest General Secretary Hughes publishes article from soviet organ showing dose rela tionship between communist interna t'onale and Russian government In substantiation of his charges of revo lutionary propaganda- ■■ Georgia man stabs wife to death with Ice pick while she holds baby in her arms at home of married daughter. District of Columbia police want to know why liquor seised in raid and claimed by Polish diplomat is im convicted slayer, files motion for new trial in Atlanta. President Coolidge taH©* part in community Christmas celebration in Washington, and delivers message to disabled veterans. . ■ . . New York having one of the great est Christmas observances In her his tory. - « State r Maj. W. A. Graham, commissioner of igrlculture of North Carolina, dies at ige of 84.w.--;’ 'c '• Salisbury youth kills self by acci tentally d'scharglng revolver. Christmas tide brings peace and pros jerlty to North Carolina. ' . Kinston ready for Christmas with insurances that there will be no empty itockings. . ’ Local . ■ The Rev. A J. Joyner, of WllUam iton, accepts call to pulpit of Temple Japtlst church here. Several thousand people attend com n'unlty Christmas tree celebration In 'ront of city ball. District Attorney Tnclter appears latlsfled that papers of British schooner Cwaslnd ar* in order. , . - , Wilmington charitable and civic or ganizations distribute usual Christmas sheer, Yr.r. MARGIN CLERK TELLS SECRETS OF BANKRUPT N. .BROKERAGE FIRM >d Quotations £nd ur broker lingi jana- Me Nowr-,if$iS' Cotton exchange, supplied quotations which formed the basis for fictitious transactions by Scott, Norris & Co., bankrupt cotton brokers, who failed for $1,600,000 on November 16. Benjamin Spicker, 20 years old. margin clerk, testified at a bankrupoty hear ing today. 1 , Relayed by Exchange From Scott, Morris &' Co., he' said, quotations were relayed by the Na tional Cotton «and Grain exchange which, according to- previous testimony, never executed an order. The bank rupt firm, itself, Splcker testified' never actually purchased a bale of cotton, but matched buying and selling orders. Customers lost $40,000- November 2, he said, when their accounts were closed out by fixing a, false quotation of 20.25 cents a pound, 45 points be low the market. A few minutes later the market advanced 200 points. I The commission house from which [ Scott, Norris && Co., obtained its quo tation, according to Spicker, were Munds & Winslow, Ware & Trantor, W. E. Hutton & Co., and J. R. Willis ton & Co. Morris Rothschild &. Co., Scott, Norris & Co., obtained its quo tions, said Spicker, and'later the firm got the prices directly from a cotton, exchange ticker in an outside office of H. H. Spurgeon, an employe. Graft Was Good Disclosures that between $75,000 and $100,000 found its way from Scott, Nor ris & Co., through Peabody & Adams, a subsidiary, to members of the fam ily of Carlisle Rountree', alleged head of the bankrupt firm, were made by other employes. At the time of the failure, the firm was short 56,000 bales of cotton, worth almost- $10,000,000, it was revealed. Carried at the usual equity, this amount would have given the company about $1,000,000 in assets. Cruel Sheriff Gets Egg Nog Necessities (gpeelal U The Star) WIXiSO, Dec. 24.—Sheriff O. A. Glover’s deputies on Saturday after noon last blasted the hopes of pros pective Christmas “nog” drinkers. In Taylor's township they captured three copper stills, one of 50 and. two of 65 gallon capacity—running at full blast. Twenty gallons of high grade whiskey and 12 gallons of low wines were taken, and 150 gallqns of mash was destroyed. The operators made their escape through the dense swamp that seemingly was as thick as the Ever glades of Florida. i ---■. . ■ ■■-, r—\ No Issue of Star Wednesday Morning 1 In older that "all employe* of The [ Stay may Join with the public in the 1 general celebration of Chrlatmoa day, there will be no tame of The Mornlnar Star tomorrow. Thin la the one day In the year which the Tarl ona department*' of the paper may call their own. and be free from their nlnhtly. d*jtt*e»,'; \ \V’' ‘ The Star wlahea each of lta read era, anbacribera, advertlaera and frlenda. a a eyyf inery Christina* and a happy and proaperona New Tear. I,1' ’ w.1 <i» *—igsa LONG CAREER ENDS »} W. A. GRAHAM HEART OF AMERICA WITH DISABLED MEN OP ARMY-COOUDGE President Sends Christmas Mes sage to Those Who Sacri { flced Health ' WASHINGTON, Dec. 24—The heart of America is. “with those who made the great sacrifice in defence, of our Ideals,” President Coolldge declared In a Christmas- message today* to the na tios’n dlBah'edfveterans of the world war. The Message, addressed to the disabled American veterans and made public at the Washington office of the organisation, follows: “To the disabled American veterans: "My warat felicitations and cordial wishes go to tjui war’s disabled at this Christmas time: The heart of America is.wlth those who made the great sac rifice In defense of our ideals. Wbe thi ef you conti_R*:<f$K hospitals fight* ihr: *oi»t»r« battling to. ra ... ^if'iir<fi«l ptirauny/the nation would be mlndfuU'of Its obliga tions to those so hbnorahly stricken. Regardless of some irritations In the functioning of agencies charged with your relief, we are convinced of the duty towards the mained ,and encour aged by the continued improvement for their relief. “I am confident that the fortitude that commanded for you the admira tion of the world, will not falter during your struggle for physical and voca tional rehabilitation. That the coming year will mark the utmost possible fe storation of health, happiness and for tune, is the devout hope of the' repub lic for all of you.” ♦’CALVIN COOLIDGE". Merrie Old England Forgets All Worries LONDON, Dec. 24.—(By The Asso ciated Press).—The peace that man kind knew In the quiet, contented years before the war came back to Britain tonight to make a Merry Christmas for the subjects of King George. All. ever this land men tossed aside the evening papers with a -ges ture that was significant, for with the crumnled page# passed to one side for the time, all Interest the Britons takes In the worries and wrangles of,other men and other nations. What the far-away peoples are doing or not doing—these things matter hot to the average Englishman, from tea time In the evening until the country starts slowly back to work Thursday morning. From how until then, news Is nothing and happiness at home Is everything to those who Inhabit this mystic, chilly chip of the old block of Europe. ! For the next two dayq England will live by turkeys not by trade or trea ties; plum pudding and part will soothe the tongues that only a few days ago talked hotly about protection, and loving cup will be lifted and, many mug of ale drunk down, not to mention wee doch-an-dorris—the standby of Scotland, Ireland and England alike. NEGRO TO DIB INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 24.—John Thomas Shaw, negro, was found guilty of first degree murder and his sentence fixed at death by the electric' chair for the slaying of Helen Hager Whelchel, by a jury In commercial court here late today. The Jury was out one hour, 48 minutes. Date for carrying out the death penalty was not set. Fox Files Statutory Motion For A New Trial In Atlanta (By AimwUtti Ftcw> ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 24—While Mrs. Margaret Weaver, under an Indict ment charging accessory before the fact, In oonection tiflth the killing of Wftllam S.' Coburn, by Philip E. Fox was being held In a cell at police head quarters here today. Fox, the convicted slayer .through his attorneys, filed a statutory motion for a new trial. Hear ing on the motion was set for March 2. ... Fox, a former editor of the Imperial Night Hawk, official organ of the Ku Klux Klah ,is now under a sentence of life Imprisonment after having been convicted here last Friday of murder growing out of the death of Coburn, Ku Klux Klan attorney. >, The prisoner will be held in the Ful ton county jail pending the outcome of the hearing on the motion. 1-: Mrs. Weaver’s name -was linked 'with | that of Fox during the nine days trial of the Fox’ case. Solicitor General Boy kin's' office today stated that ehe will be Disced on trial 'some time in Jan uary.” The woman, according to the soli citor general's office, was with Fox the day he shot' Coburn. She accomp anied him In an automobile to the of fice building where Coburn’s office was located and waited for him, to return. Fox was arrested as he attempted to escape from' the buildings and hire. Weaver, is said to have fled, catching a train for Chattanooga within an hour after the shooting. ’ Stabs Wife to Death With Ice Pick As She Prepares Feast Far Christmas Day Georgia Man Held for Murder After Slaying Estranged Wife and Wounding la-Year-Old Daughter Who Sought to Stop | Fight—Bears Wounds Self Inflicted After Struggle ■ i DECATUR, Ga., Deo.’24.—While their 13-year-old daughter, Bonnie, strug gled to protect her mother, Rufus Bird. Stabbed hi* wife. to.death with an loe pick here late today. The tragedy oc curred at the home of. their married daughter, Mrs. O. J. Morris, where Mrs. Bird was preparing a Christmas feast, for tomorrow. Members of the family told the po lice that at the time of the stabbing Mrs. Bird was holding her two-year-old son, William. In her arms. The baby ' esoaped Injuries, but the girl received a bad wound In her hand as she fought I her father. Bird was taken to jail where doctors say he is suffering from wohnds which they believe were self inflicted after he had thrust the plok Into the heart of hts wife. The couple had been separated for about one week, members of the fam ily told the police. Bird followed his wife to the home of their daughter. Gaining entrance into the home. Bird is said to have approached his wife on the pretext of holding the baby. Instead of taking the baby, according to 'police reports, he seized an Ice pick and stabbed his wife repeatedly in the face, arms and breast. Mrs. Bird was seated, in a chair at the time. She fell out of the chair, the police said, dropping the baby to the floor. She staggered to a window, falling through to the ground below in an effort to escape from her ' husband's attack. Neighbors said she was dead when they reached her in the yard. ; Bonnie Bird tried to hold her father's arm during the attack, the polioe were told. ’ Bird thrust the ice pick through his daughter’s hand and then renewed his'attack upon his wire. Bird of fered no resistance -when officers ar rived at the house. An examination proved .that he was suffering from a I dozen or more wounds in the left ; breast which police stated were s^f infllqted with the same weapon with which he killed his wife. He h» said to be in a serous condlton. . Bird made no statement, other than ! to intimate that that his daughter, Mrs. Morris, had persuaded ' Mrs. , Bird to leave him SANTA CLAUS GIVES NEW YORK A RECORD BREAKING YULETIDE Such a Tide of Festal Generosity Neva? Equalled jn city . Before . (Br AHOdftea Pnu NEW YORK, Deo. 24.—Santa Claus parked his reindeer sonte where up north tonight, and trod his weary way through the enowleBS streets of New York city with such a load of festal generosity as the metropolis seldom has seen. ' - __ The city celebrated mightily . The financial district; was extraordinarily generous wjtb holiday bqnusea Chari.-' table organisations reported spirit of Ghrijpias . wairf¥»«#«< *» enter cljeerl#s%omes where the name of San« had meant only a forlorn hope to thousands of destitute. Multitude* of Lights Multitudes of festal lights along Broadway burst. Into play over until precedented crowds of f!*«>li<lay ylalt?,T® from out of town. Throughout the city, especially to tenement districts where on Other nights only an oc casional gas light dispels the_ gloom, glowed strings of vari-colored elec trics. Every Important park and pub lic square had its'community Christ mas tree. _ „ . Block parties set, in progress every where. Bach of the nationalities, whose little villages comprise the vast lower estslde, had one. , The Ghetto had Its celebration; so did Ldttle Italy, and Chinatown, and Chelsea, and Greenwich village, and Old Madrid, and the Bowery. Shrine* tlfat seemed to have been lifted from cross road places of wor ship in the old countries appeared as though by magic on congested corners among the tenements, each with Us replica of the;Christ and the Cruel fixlon, each banked with flowers a"d diffusing a bright radiance from many candles. 1,000,000 Depart ■ The New York Central reported that fully 1,000,000 persons had Jett tne city on its lines during the h°“day£ It took 669 trains of 6,011 Oars, to handle Saturday’s outbound travel alone. Fully another million oassed through the Pennsylvania term nal to trains of that line and the Bong Islf-ud rLilroad to spend the holidays with the home folks. THE DAY IN WASHINGTON ‘resident Coolidge sranted Ctrist s pardons and commutations > to ptshington’s bootleg scandal devel d to the point where a sweeping m try into charges of llqour drinking high places Is threatened. 'he department of agriculture an ince that agricultural Imports «x ded exports for the first time in tory during the fiscal year. ;e.submission -et the nominations of, .derlck ,1. Thompson and Bert F. ley as members of the stUppi^fiT ,rd was indicated after wfcjch. house ference. , he state department raatde public text of the article In the soviet or t Isvestla, which acknowledged the te bonds between the soviet regime l the communist Internationale. j PRESIDENT COOLIDGE JOINS WITH CAPITAL IN BIG CELEBRATON Gives Tree Presented to Hint to City for Community Ob servance •t (Br AnodaM Fifn) "WASHINGTON, Dec. Si.—Christmas In' Washington finds governmental ac tivities almost entirely suspended, and President and Mrs. Coolldge partici pating actively in the capital’s observ ance- of the holday. The chief executive himself formally started the city’s.- observance at 6 O’clock this evening by turning a .switch, which lightest thousands of of the WhiSe house.- Later in the eve ning the president and Mrs. Coolldge threw o.pen the gates of the white house grounds for thousands to gather to sing Christmas carols. The Cool idge’s tomorrow will attend a union Christmas service of the city’s churches. Activities at Standstill Activities in the government depart ments ceased at noon when the thou sands of clerks were-dismissed for a half holiday and cabinet members left their offices not to return again until Wednesday morning. Mr. COoiidge, however, worked through the after noon at his desk in the executive of fices, leaving only when the time came to go*to the elipz to turn' on the Christmas tree lights. Only about half of' the' members of the oabinetpwill spend Christmas day in Washington. ' Those to remain at their homes. here include Secretaries Hughes, Hoover, Weeks and Denby, At torney General Daugherty and Post master General New. Secretary Mel lon has gone to his home in Pittsburgh; Secretary Davis to his father’s home in Sharon, Pa., and Secretary Work to Evanston, 111., to be with his daugh ter. Secretary Wallace will spend the day near Washington. 1 The ‘‘national Christmas tree” lighted by the. president was sent to the executive by Middlebury college, of Vermont, but Mr. Coolldge decided to share it with the whole city and bought a small tree for the white house. This small tree was put up this afternoon in the Blue room and trimmed by Mrs. Coolldge and the boys, John and Calvin, Jr. On it were placed the family gifts. , / The ‘‘national tree,” a fine 60-foot spruce, will be the center of celebra tions to be held nightly during the. 'holiday week, and immediately upon its illumination tonight the choir of Epiphany Episcopal church, accompa nied by a bass quartet of the marine band began a program of Christmas carols, ' Christmas Concert At its conclusion the yharine band gave a Christmas concern The singing of Chriatna^s carols at the white house took place at the north entrance, where several thou sand persons joined with the choir of the. president's church, the First Con gregational, in the music. The plan was conceived by Mrs. Coolidge, who has expressed the; hope that it will become an annual custom. Mrs Coolidge during the day at tended the Christmas exercises and dis tribution of toys and dinners to the poor by the Salvation army. It was. the second suph affair she has at tended, having assisted several days ago in the distribution of toys by one of the downtown missions. Fifty shop girls from the store where Mrs. Coolidge buys many pf her clothes received large bouquets of roses today from the white house potM servatories, the gifts of Mrs. Coolidge. be accomp.anied to church tomorrow The president and bis family will by Mr- and Mrs. Frank W. Stearnes, of. Boston, the only guests at the white house for Christmas. The Christmas dinner will be served in the evening after g day quietly spent ■ ■ ■ ,■;" HEARING FRIDAY ELIZABETH CITY, pic. 34.—A pre liminary'hearing in tbs case of Alex Jones Newland, farmer of this section, charged with murder in connection With the death several days ago of Al fred Ferebeef negro, was scheduled to day for next Friday befofe Magistrate T. B. Wilson. Jones Was beingheld under 125,000•bail, ' MAJOR W. A. GRAHAM DIES AFTER 60 YEARS IN STATE’S SERVICE I i - | Commissioner of Agriculture ;.■* Passed Away Early Yester day Morning PNEUMONIA TOO MUCH FOR WEAKENED SYSTEMS ; ' " ?' r.jf ' —■ ■ ■ ' .. Will be Buried in Lincoln Couqty^»^ Tomorrow on 84th Birth By BROCK HARJKXEY RALEIGH, Dec. 24—A carAr of 6aV years of public life, which began with, a brilliant military record In the watf • between ‘the states, Was brought to a*li. ' end with this death at 4:45 o’clock this S morning of Maj. W. A. Graham, etata commissioner of agriculture. • Pneumonia . was the cause >of death, developing from an attack .of X in fluenza. Major Graham's condition be-:, came Berious Friday night and grew ■ . more critical through Saturday. Sun day he was reported as slightly im- > proved hut late last night his condi tion took another turn for the worse. He had been at .Rex hospital slued Friday.. Oldest Official Major Graham, was tie oldest high* . official of the state and his passing loaves only Chief Justloe Walter Clark In office from the diminishing rahks of the Confederate veterans. On .Thursday, his 84th birthday, he will be hurled, in the .old Maohpelas burying ground* In Lincoln county, where lies the body of his distinguish ed grandfather, the revolutionary hero * . General. Joseph Graham. Major Gra ham was a member of one of the old-* est. and most honored families of the state and he contributed greatly, to its good name and high standing through tlhe more than a half century of service to North Carolina. Funeral services will be conducted from the First Baptist _ church, . of Raleigh, tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o’clock by -the pastor, Rev. Dr. Ok«I ly. Representing the state of NOtth Carolina will be all state officials act- | ing as honorary pallbearers. Besides, distinguished citizens of Raleigh and the state will also act in that capacity, the -complete list being as follows: Governor Morrison, Secretary • of - >' State W. .N. Everett, Auditor Baxter . Durham, Treasurer psmrLaay. Attorney • General Commissionsw.JT, xreitit. and George FeU, Commiislonef of. Insurance Stacey Wade, Commis sioner of Labor M. L. Shipman, Sup erintendent of Public Instruction A, T. Allen, Dr. W. S. Rankin. Dr. E. C. Brooks, Slipreme Court Justice W. A. Hoke, Armistead Jones, T, W. Davis, Gapt. T. W.- Fenner, Julian S. 'Carr, J. A, Higgs, W, N. Jones, T. H, Briggs. feting pallbearhrs will be: T. W. ’ Barnes, Dr. B. W. Kilgore, Dr. W.; M. Moors, G. L. Burgess,- W. N. Allen, W. W. Vass, ■ Andrew Simms, Dr. Hubert . Haywood,. Dr. Hubert Haywood, Jr., J. J. Towler and H. H. Brimley. The body will be sent on the Sea board train leaving here at 4 o’clock , to Lincolnton, and from there taken c to the Macphelah burying ground. ;, • Confederate Captain Major Graham began his long career of public service when the war be tween the states broke out. Then, a young man. Just out of' college, he en tered the confederate army as captain of Company K, 2nd North Carolina cavalry, serving throughout the war,. ; and receiving wounds while leading the Second regiment in a charge at Gettysburg. He gained- the rank of major in the Confederate' service, and also' served as assistant adjutant gen eral of North Carolina state troops. His regiment had hard service and frequent combats in eastern North Carolina where the Second calvary had to cover a wide field. Later hh* regiment was sent to Join Stuart In Virginia. His wounds were received on the third day at Gettysburg. Returning from the service at the close of the war. Major Graham took ’ a leading part In public affairs of his community ■ arid In 1874 came to the state senate serving through 1876. ■ In 1878 and 1879 he served - again as a .. '3 senator and In 190$ he was representa-t ... tive- from ms county. From 1899 wr 1908 he was a 'member of the state. a board of agriculture, and' in 1908; h*/V;,,:| was elected to the office of commis sioner of agriculture, his death mark- 'ViS Ing the culmination of 15 years Of ■> service in that capaoity. Until • hi* . . election to the commisslonewfliip dOr ■ >' mande'd all of his time Major'Graham v farmed extensively and was ode of the » most'prosperous and progressive farm ers of the state. He took a leading K part in the activities of farmers and was three times president of the old North. Carolina Farmers alliance. ; } , ; Major Graham had gone to Zdtiool* county following his graduation from • Princeton) university. Where he began ' farming operation on a large scale, al- ’ though a very young man.' • He had * been there only six months when the war broke* out and'tie returned, to his birthplace add boyhood hoip'p of Hillsboro to organize a military com ! pany of which:he became eaptaln. That company entered the Confederate ser^ vices in the first stages of the con flict. -IitS met his first wife, Miss. Julia : j Lane, during the' war sind he married . : her.before the surrender. , ., • ’ .A • When he had returned from military service, they settled in Lincoln county . where -Major Graham resumed'the i>p- i ':i eration of his' farm. He lived there J A " until he. came to Raleigh In T##8 bo , > become commissioner, of agriculture. In farming. Major Graham was. high ly successful and he probably was • one of th& first men in North Carolina to apply improved methods, and m*- ^ chinery in tilling the soiL .■ Major Graham, was a man of great intellent and be was highly educated.; . Like his father and other gentlemen | of the; period, he received his early S •' training, in private schools and aoads-.* '• miss, including Caldwell Institute at. Hillsboro, and Union Academy *at': As Washington, X>. C., from 185S through \. 1859 he was a Student at the Unlyer- , ’ ^Cbntihued pn"Page Two). • . A-;:.