Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / March 18, 1908, edition 1 / Page 1
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sSS 7. - VT - 3t 3 - SUBSCRIPTION - MICE ; "$8.00 A YEAR. CHARLOTTE, N. C, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCII 18, 1908. PRICE FIVE CENTS. ' ft KLNG LOCATED IN LOMDOS ' 'BROKE," BUT MOT A CRIMINAL The Boston Financial Agent, a Hunted . Fugitive From Justice, Recognized hy m Former Business Associate, Who Cable the Xwi to the Hub K Both the Boston Police and King's r "B.-ner Associates Decline to Admit V!' They Have Received word of ri U'h. I . . i. nrr IWnloa That He la Criminally Responsible An Effort Will Be Made to (Ar rest Him and Secure Ills Extradi tion. Though, There la Some Doubt of the Success of This Maneuver. Speclalto The Observer.. Boston, March 17.--Cardenlo 'F. Xing, the financial agent, whd three months ago could write his checkfor: a million, and. who to-day la a hunted fugitive from justice. Is In London, 1 He was located there to-day by a ' well-known Boston business man who has been associated with him In sev eral of bis spectacular enterprises. While bis friends and agents 'were circulating reports of his being In New York to raise funds, of confinement In a Southern sanitarium the ''financier for whose arrest on a charge of em bezzlement warrants have been issued, and for whom the police of the world are now' looking, quietly gathered up bis things, took every available penny and every negotiable paper in his of fice, valued at about 150,000. and sailed for Liverpool, on the Cunard - Liner Etruria February 2 2d. ,' !. BAILED 6ECRETLY; King's name was not entered on the list i of passengers,-and his presence aboard the boat was not known until after the pilot had left. Then, he made hla appearance and seemed to make no effort to hide bis Identity. j He was recognized by a prominent Boston business man with whom he had been associated, and discussed his .A th nniionir fnr the future. ; .. .. . . . intimating that he was going abroad. on business. . . At' that time no warrant had been issued, and the friend did .'not. know that King was In financial difficul ties. ;, He and King left Liverpool together nu uto wuiiuuu " "of law upon the questions raisea. me there that the friend earned, a few days ago, of the fact that King bad disappeared and that the police were searching for him. He communicated with his Boston lawyer, who notified the police. - - 4 :- To-night a cablegram war received from London saying that King was stopping "at second-rate hotel and quoting him as saying that be would soon .rsaii -a-tat e man t explaining .Ala side of the difficulty. He denies that ,he fled as a criminal and says that he la ' Innocent of every charge. He claims that If anything, he Is only a debtor and nor an embezzler. He ad mits that he Is "broke," but saya that if certain plans turn out he win be able to make good, his losses and nettle with his creditors before any criminal action can e taken. He nays he has communicated with ' his Boston counsel and that they will at once act in his hebalf. HIS LAWYERS MUM. None of his lawyers In Boston tO' night would admit that they had heard from their client, and none of his former x agents or friends would admit that they even knew King was in London. The police will at once communicate with the London "police and it is probable that King will be arrested to-morrow and held for ex tradition. - . ' , !. Whether be can be extradited, or not is a question.- His business affairs are In such shape that It Is almost Impossible to learn anything from them, and the receiver now In charge aays he cannot make head from tall. If King persists in the claim that he is only, a debtor, the general lm nresslon is that the authorities will have a bard time proving embezzle ment, owing to the manner In which he conducted nis affairs. - SPERRY TO - 6UCCEED ETAXS, He Will Take Command of the Battle ship Fleet: When it Leaves Uriseo -to Encircle me bione. Washington, March 17.' Rear Ad mlral Charles 8. Sperry will be com mander-ln-chlef of the American bat tleship fleet when It leaves San Fran cisco in July to encircle me gioDe. This Important detail was decided on by President Roosevelt and bis Cab inet to-day. ... Rear Admiral Evans, on his person al reauest. will be relieved of . the com mand at the conclusion of the big naval review at San Francisco, May Sth. The admiral considers this the completion of the work he was assign ed to do take the Atlantic fleet to the Pacific coast Admiral Evans re tires In Aucust .-..'. To Rear Admiral Thomas comes the fconor ef commanding the fleet on its visit to Puget Sound and until the homeward Journey ibeglns. He has ibeen second In command during the vovage and retires In October. These retirements make possible two promotions to the grade of rear admiral, and these are to be filled by -the advancement of Captain Seaton Schroefler and Captain Richard Wain wright who will command respectively the third and fourth squadrons of the fleet and Bear Admiral Emory the second. Mistrial in Case of Georgia Physician , . Charged With Murder Eastman. Ga.,- March IT. A mis trial was this afternoon declared In s the case of the State against Dr. ft P. Smith, charged with murdering W. J. Nicholson In thW county on the 4th of July last. The Jury was empan eled last Friday and were In the eustody of the officers four days. It is understood that a majority pf the jury were for acquittal and a verdict of acquittal was ireeiy expectea. Tne State was represented by E. D. Gra ham, solicitor: Hon. John F. Delacy and .Hon. William Morrison. The defense was represented by Jade H. H. D. Twlgjrs, of Pavannah;, C. W. Griffin and D. M. Roberts & Son, of Eastman. 4 Fire Destroy av Wilson Home. Fpeclal to Ths Observer. Wilson, March 17. Fire this morn ing practically destroyed the dwelling owned by Charles,. Battle on Green street The damage Is $1,000 covered by Insurance. . BRYAN WILL MAKE XO SPEECHES After He Becomes tho Party Nominee He Will Send In His Accei.tance and S, S?JL. " . "i.'M- Senator From Wisconsin Speak. comes More Complex. Observer Bureau The Bevlll Building. Greensboro. March IT. A leading Democrat of North Car- WHO lamea ' Wltn - William T Bryan recently informed The Observer correspondent to-dav that vit- has decided to change hla plan of campaign If he should receive the Democratic nomination for the presi dency this year, so far as Swinging around the circuit" is concerned. In the conversation with the North Car- uiiiin. jucmocrat. Mr. Hrvin. M hi ndulmflnk0' .V-' VetL funtry' and l00. but would content himself! wun making a iDeech of arrntan; and receiving a few delegations at hlsi nome. in view or the lact that Mr. Bryan Is generally accepted as the nominee ef the Democracy thia year, his declaration to the North Carolina Democrat comes as an interesting con tribution to the. political news of the day. Mr. Christopher L. ' Williams, of Fredonlo, N. Y a national , bank ex aminer, arrived In Greensboro to-day and assumed control of. the affairs of the City National Bank in the capaci ty 01 permanent receiver. He was sent to Greensboro by the Comptroller of the Currency to relieve the tern porary . receiver. National Bank Ex aminer Hall, whose work calls him elsewhere. Mr. Hull will remain hero for a few days acquainting Receiver wiinams with the affairs of the ibank, It is presumed that the business of the Institution win be settled as quick ly as possible. - Upon the affidavit of attorneys for the Barber Buggy and Wagon Com pany, bankrupt, of Salisbury, that cer. tala assets of. the company to the value of about $6,000 have been trans f erred to R. B. Thompson, C. B. Jor dan and G. W. Garland with Intent to defraud the creditors. Judge Boyd to day, signed an order requiring the par ties named to appear Hi the United state Court in Greensboro on the ISd Inst and show cause why they should not be enjoined from disposing of the fnmul tn- Bev.rai other affi davits were filed in this case, some of the respondents Joining In an an wer asserting that the company Is not Insolvent and demanding trial by jury. The matter was referred to Referee W. C. Erwln. as special mas ter. to take the testimony and report . V, - flnAlnira sif lartn and inclusions attorneys Interested in the litigation. which promises to be long drawn out and of an interesting naiure, are Messrs. Burton Cralge. John L. Ran dleman, G. W. Garland and R. Lee Wrlxht. of Sillabury. and D. , Kirby Pone, of Charlotte. Mr. Hayne Davis, president of the North Carolina Peace Society, made an address In the room of the cham- her of commerce to-night. -Mr.'Pavld Dreyfuss, formerly se,Cr retary of the Cone Export and Com iDJaslanCpmpany. X)it now residing In i.vnchhurB-:" Va.. Is "sBefldTng-g-imoTt while in Greensboro visiting friends and attend nar to business matters. Mr. and Mrs. Dreyfuss will go to Europe In a short while ' to spend several months. Solicitor A. L. Brooks has accepted an invitation to deliver the address at the commencement exercises of the High Point graded schools. , TO FIGHT THE TRUST. Brirht . Tobacco Growers' Association RalHes Funds to Wage War Against the American Tobacco company. Danville, Va.. March '17. In ac cordance with Diana adopted here to. day by the Bright Tobacco Growers' Protective Asociatlon of Virginia and North Carolina the fight, which was begun several years ago against the American Tobacco Company, will be vigorously continued. .Money was raised and committees appointed to wage a campaign for better organisation among the farm- era. The plan of the association Is to pool tobacco and hold until prices fixed by the association can be secur ed, thus abolishing the present meth od of selling at auction on the ware house floors. Addresses were made by President H. O. Kerns, Inter-State Organiser S. G. Adams and others. . The speak ers touched on the deeds of the night riders in Kentucky, which was de scribed as deplorable, but brought about by conditions! which had be come almost unbearable. They were opposed to violence here, and urged permanent organization and co-operation as the means of securing bet ter prices. ' - Three -hundred delegates attended the meeting to-day. - - AN ESCAPED CONVICT. . Man Held at Danville For Raising Notes Wanted in Tills State For Other Crimes. ' Special to The Observer. . . . Danville, Va., March 17. A letter was received here to-day from Mayor Owens, of Liberty, N. C, stating that Grover Blalock, the young white man arrested here several days with Cora Buntln, a white woman, for handling raised notes, was an escaped convict from Randolph county, and was also wanted for house-breaking at Liberty. In case of an acquittal by the Federal authorities Blalock will be held for the North ' Carolina officers. Mayor Owens says that Blalock was reared at Liberty and the claims that be was from Durham are false. He will be tried this week at Lynchburg. Boney's Shortage All the Talk. Special to The Observer. Chester, 8. C, Marcn 17. me al leged shortage at the Springstein Mill, mention of which appeared In yesterday's issue of The Observer, continues to be the main topic of conversation here to-day. though the situation remains unchanged. , The mill officials refuse to give out any Information whatever, as do the au ditors who are work on the books. A great deal of sympathy Is felt for Mr. rt. W. Boney and family, the consen sus of opinion being that Mr. Boney Is thoroughly honest and that the abstraction of the milta. funds was made with honest intent, iris likely that the . affair wll be adjusted as soon as the -auditors finish their In vestigation of the books. Another Firm Got Contract on Correct Bids. 4 Special to The Observer. .Wilson. March 17. On a correction of bids for sidewalk paving amount ing tO' several miles of granolithic. It appeared that the Specialty Construc tion Company, of Norfolk, made th lowest M1 and was awarded the con tract. Work is to berin In ten days and be completed In sixty days underi fn the Morgan group, a $5,000 bond. 'of the leading organ KUAST FOR ALDEICII BILL ' . T T ovri n7vnrl1 MR- II'LETTE LOG-WINDED, Two Jloan and Half ou tlie Pending- Currencr Jleasure and Charge That There U an lutlmate IXm meet ton Between Morgan ana the Standard Oil Banks and the Currency BUI The Speaker Enters into a Denunciation or Men mgn in the Finamial.World, and Claims to Recognize a "Nigger In the , Woodpile" in the Withdrawal of the .Proportion to Incorporate Itau way Bonds In the Bill. SENATE SUMMARY. . After speaking toe ' two and a half hours in the Senate yesterday on the pending currency ' bill Senator La Follette asked permission to suspend his remarks and conclude to-day as he was unable to continue longer. " Senator Aldrlch " reported to the Senate from the committee on finance amendments to the currency bill ex empting railroad bonds from classes of bonds to be used to secure emerg ency , currency, limiting the retire ment of Such currency and providing that such Issues should be permitted up to the par value of bonds used to secure them., - . ' , The legislative, executive and -judicial appropriation bill was considered at length and at t:2) o'clock the Sen ate adjourned.' ; , Wash ington, March 1 7. "What have to say la made more pertinent If possible' by the action taken during the day with respect to the Aldrlch bill," said Mr.- LaFollette In begin ning his speech' in the Senate on the currency bill to-day. - His reference was to the amendments made to the bill by the committee on finance Speaking1 of the "Morgan and Standard Oil . banks,'" Mr. LaFolette declared: - .Twill show the connec tion of these great groups -with the bill pending here,' ' notwithstanding the dexterous withdrawal of the prop osition to Incorporate railway bonds In the bill." v . x . Mr. Aldrlch said ths most earnest objection to this bill was made by ths Natldnal City Bank, of New York, and that Mr. Yanderiip, vice . presl dent of that -bank, has' opposed the measure. "It is," he added. "not only oppos ed by that bank but by all the banks of New York. I know of no Dank or banking man in favor of this bill. The fact is the banks throughout the country are against it" 1 MR. MORGAN'S POSITION. ' "I will inqulne," retorted Mr. La. Follette, "what the position of Mr, Morgan is 7" : - ' "I do not know," replied Mr. Al drlch. "but I know Mr. Morgan Is a man of wide experience and wise Judgment and has patriotism, and I should 'feel gratified if he approved this bill." ' ''Perhaps,' replied Mr.' LaFollette, "In some way the chairman of . the finance committee , will . be- able to find out where Mr. Morgan stands. His countenance beaming from the failery. of this chamber while the enator from Rhode Island (tpoke on this measure rather indicated that Mr. Morgan, the head of one of these great groups, was not entirely adverse to the propositions . embraced , in the bill." ..'.,' - -.V. . ' . "I suppose," said -Mr. Aldrlch, "the Senator from Wisconsin will agree with me that r this proposition- should be discussed on Us merits as to what it will do and not In view of what men in the position of Mr.: Morgan think of it." - "NIGGER IN THE WOODPILE." "Let me say," Mr: LaFollette re plied, "you cannot always tell from the lines of the bill. I should say the proposition to withdraw the pro vision to Incorporate railway bonds in tnis Din tnrows a flood of light up on the .purpose of this legislation. Let me say to the Senator from- Rhode Island further that it is not beyond question that these great organisa tions might put out here or - there criticisms of this proposition to iglve color to the idea that there is no great and mighty power organized be hind -this legislation.' . Declaring that the recent financial stringency was brought but by. the In fluence of "Standard OH" . and J. Pler- pont Morgan, Senator LaFollette en tered Into a denunciation of men high In the financial world. "There were no commercial rea sons for a panic," said "Mr. LaFollette. "There were speculative, legislative and political reasons why a panic might serve special Interests. There were business scores to settle. There was legislation to be blocked, 'and a currency measure suited to the sys tem to be secured. There was a third term to be disposed of, -and policies to be discredited. '. A PLANNED PANIC. "A Panic came. I believe that It needs only to be' followed step by step to show that It was planned and executed, in so far as such a pro ceeding: Is subject to control, after once in motion. . - - He recounted In Vivid language bis views of the events of October J 4 th when "Wall Street was In the throes of the currency stringency. The Morgan ana standard Oil banks, he said, pursued In that criti cal moment the course of the specu lating bankers. . , They ministered." he said, '"to the needs of Wall Street quite uleaf to the appeals of commerce. Their course was that of men who were playing with the credit of the country for a purpose." . He discussed the economic develop ments of the country and laid espec ial stress upon the growth of finan cial combinations. "The bare names of the directors of two g-reat banking groups (Stand ard Oil and Morgan) given In con nection with their business associa tions Is all the evidence that- need be offered of the absolute community of Interest between banks, railroads and all the great Industries," declar ed Mr. LaFollette. , ARTIFICIAL METHODS. , Speaking of the great stores of money in New xoric in connection 1th various industrial institutions. Mr. LaFollette said: With 'this enormous concentration of business It Is possible to Croats artificially periods of prosperity and periods of panic. - ' ' ' - "Subject to differences which may arise between powerful individuals of these different groups, resulting In occasional collision," he continued. "they are practically a monopoly and far as the public is concerned. practically one group. - The buii- ness partner of the head of the Mor enn rroun Is found on the directorate of the chief financial Institution which heads the Standard OH group. And one of the leading directors of the National City Hank (Standard Oil) Is a member of the board of directors f tne principal financial Institution The directors i izatloa comprli- THE JSWOBD ABOUT TO FALL DISPENSARY PEOPLE READY Judge Fritchard Given Notice That toe Windlng-Up Commission of the) bouti! Carolina DiKPeusary is Keaay For Any Contempt Pro -ceding , Judge Buchanan Dies of the Wound He Received While on Train One Child Drowned in Tub, and a Boy Drops Dead at the Sight Palniet to Democratic Convention to Be Held at Columbia Slay 20th In Socoud Primary William S. Reamer wins Mayoralty. , - . ' Observer Bureau, 1421 Main Street Columbia, S. C March 17. " The dispensary situation Is looking a bit warlike to-day. The State's attorneys have notified Judge Prltch ard that the commission is ready to stand for attachment proceedings and have asked hins to come to Co lumbia for a hearing on this and to also hear a motion to vacate-his or ders tn view of the State Supreme Court's decision- rendered last 8at urday. Judge Prltchard replied, making no reference to the State Su preme Court and saying that when attachment proceedings were applied for he would act."after giving ill parties timely notice." The three members of the commission who have been out of the Jurisdiction of the Federal Court for several days are now back at home ready for action Judge Prltchard la in Ashevllle. The line of battle is now clearly defined Both sides have expressed the hope of coming to a settlement without an "unseemly clash," but the State is as determined as ever. In the; second primary to-day to de cide between William 8. Reamer, and WUliam F. Stieglltz for the mayoralty the former William won by a major ity of nearly 600 votes. Mr. Reamer Is a successful business man of large experience. Mr. Stieglltz was voted for by the blue-law Sunday element. The election of Reamer la rather the evidence of a general desire for bet ter business administration. JUDGE BUCHANAN DIES. There was genuine sorrow and re gret expressed here to-day-over; the news that Judge O. W. Buchanan, of Wlnnsboro, had died in Augusta this morning as a result of being shot in tne left side while a passenger on a Pullman car attached to the South em's train on Its way to Augusta from Columbia yesterday afternoon Judge Buchanan was on his way to Augusta to meet his brothers-in-law. Col. James H. Tillman, of Edgefield, and Mr. R. A. Fuller, of Laurens, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. G. A. Bunch. Judge Buchanan . was born at Wlnnsboro September ldth. 185$, be ing the son of R. A. Buchanan and Rebecca Woodward, and was de scended from revolutionary stock on both sides.- His uncle, John Buch anan, was one of the signers of the ordinance of secession. He was ad mttted to the bar in 1880, after study. lng law In the. office of James H. Rlon at Wlnnsboro. He was married at Clark's Hill in 1889 to Miss Sophia THman,-ghe.of - Congressman George Tillman and . niece of Senator B. R. Tillman. He was appointed As sistant Attorney General by Attorney General. D., A. Townsend, and on the elevation to the "-bench of thtf latter was elected Attorney General, going to the bench from that office. He served . twelve years as circuit Judge, ONE DROWNS: ANOTHER DROPS , DEAD. A message to the bureau from An derson to-night says that yesterday afternoon in the Toney Creek sec tion of- Dunklin township, Greenville county, tho year-old child of Joe Sayle colored, fell Into a tub of water and was drowned. A large crowd of white and negro children came In to see the body, among, them the ., 18- year-old son of J. B Jordan, named Joe. who dropped dead at the sight. The boy had himself had a narrow escape from drowning at' about the some age. The railroad commission overruled the protest of the Seaboard Blue Ridge and Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroads against the pas senger reduction orders signed to re duce rates not later than April 15th. STATE CONVENTION MAY 20TH. The State Democratic executive committee met.- to-night and called the State convention' for May 20th, when a delegation to the . national convention will be chosen. . A reso lution by Mr, James counseling the State convention to be careful to do only those things that will safeguard the business Interests of ' the State and nation was defeated as being not within the duties of the -committee. as was a resolution by Senator Blease to change the August primary from Tuesday to Saturday so a to give the mill people a better opportunity to vote.' Senator Tillman, who Is ex officio a member of the committee, was not present He left Washing ton last night It is presumed the death of his relative. Judge- Buchan an, prevented his attendance. Inr the two principal groups are bound together in mutual Interest as shareholders In the various Industrial concerns which have been financed by one or the. other of these groups n recent years. After talking for two and a half hours Mr. LaFollette found himself unable to continue further and sus pended his remarks until to-morrow. Mr. LaFollette was soon surround ed by Senators extending their con gratulations, most of them being from the Democratic side. RAILROAD BONDS BARRED. The Senate commutes on finance to-day voted unanimously to amend the Aldrlch financial, bill by eliminat ing railroad bonds as security for national bank note circulation. It also was decided to amend the bill ao as to retain the provision of the present law prohibiting the retire ment by national banks or more than $9,000,000 of circulation in any one month. The committee discussed the proposition of ' increasing the taxation on emergency circulation outstanding more than six, months. The rate under the bill as It now stands Is per cent. No action was taken on this feature. , An amendment also was agreed to affecting the amount of circulation which may be taken out on, bonds of the various kinds applicable for such purpose. . The bill provides that circulating notes may be Issued equal In amount to 0 per cent, of the market value of any' bonds de posited. The amendment adopted to-day adds the provision that, the is- suanceshall not be In excess, how ever, of the par value of the bonds. This Is Intended to meet the criticism that certain securities might be In flated above par value through the action of speculators and the com mittee iielleves the amendment will effectually eliminate such danger. TUB LIE PUT UP TO LILLE Y HOBSON FLATLY CONTRADICTED Lawrence Spear, the Former Naval Oaicer W1m the Alabama Repre sentative Declared Had Offered to Secure Him a Place on tho Naval Affairs Committee. For His Influ ence. Denies Point Blank Hobson's ' Charge Newspaper Writer Says IJUcy Told an Untruth When He 1 killed Authenticity of Interview Making Charges Against Slterman Griggs and Others The Committee 'Takes a Recess. Until , To-Morrow i Washington, March 17. The state ment of Representative Richmond P. Hobson, of Alabama, before the spec ial committee of.th House investi gating the charges made by Repre sentative George LI I ley, of Connect icut that he had been approached by a representative of the Electric Boat Company, who offered to use bis in fluence with the Speaker to have Mr Hobson placed on the naval affairs committee if he "stood right on sub marines" was contradicted before that committee to-day by Lawrence Spear, the former naval officer who Mr. Hobson said had spoken to him. Mr. Spear said he had not made any promises to secure- the influence of Speaker Cannon or any one else and that he never had tried to Influence them;- in fact, he said, he did not know the . Speaker.. Mr. Spear claimed that hla company had never endeavored to suppress competition; had never received any legislative or departmental favors and had never received an order from the Navy De partment except as the result of suc cessful competition. NEWSPAPER MEN TESTIFY. The other two Witnesses of ' the day-Were A. A. Eriy and Frank B Lord, two of the newspaper men whom Mr. Ltlley charged he had been warned against as In the pay of the Electric Boat Company. They both denied that they were ever in the pay of the - company although said they hdti done special work for Mr. McNelr, one of the attorneys for the company in the way of getting out some "feature Stories" on subma rines, for which they had been paid. Both witnesses testified that they had lost their positions as the result of Mr. Lilley's charges. Mr. Lord characterized the repudiation by Mr. Lllley, of an Interview he claimed to have had with him as "unqualifiedly, absolutely and deliberately untrue. The committee adjourned until Thursday. : 1 . SPEAR'S TESTIMONY. Lawrence Spear, who said he was one of the vice presidents, and naval constructor of the Electric Boat Com pany, was called as the first witness. He Is a graduate of the Naval Acad emy, having served In the construc tion corps and relieved Mr. Hobson in charge of the board of naval arch itecture. He resigned from the naval service July 1st, 1902, and entered the service of the Submarine lioat Company, Mr, Spear said that the last time he had -seen Mr.-Uioiiaon. was at the Capitol, a month or six Weeks ago. lie had gone to see him, he said, at the Instance of Vice President Frost to give . him a . friendly warning against another man who was trying to Influence submarine boat legisla tion. - . Mr. Spear said that In their con versation Mr. Hobson had expressed the opinion that . there should be twice as many submarine boats as the four recommended by the Secre tary qf the Navy. Mr. Spear was then asked about the conversation over the telephone as to which Mr. Hobson had testi fied. He flatly contradicted Mr. Hob son. saying that he had never prom ised to use his influence with the Speaker or any one else to get Mr. Hobson appointed on the naval af fairs committee. . . - . MR. HOBSON MIXED. "I think Mr. Hobson Is mixed over a conversation I had with his secre tary," continued Mr. Spear. "I had a talk with his secretary during Mr. Hobson's Illness In which I said I hoped Mr. Hobson would soon re cover. I asked how he was progrcss- ng In bis efforts' to become a mem ber nf the naval affairs enmmitten and said that I supposed all Mr. Hob son needed was the recommendation of Minority Leader Williams, that I understood the Speaker acted on his recommendation. I also said that I thought Mr. Hobson wuld not have much trouble getting this recommen dation, as both he and Mr. Williams were Southern men. I told the secretary to telt Mr. Hobson that if I could assist him In any way I would be glad to do so. I had gone to see Mr. Hobson to talk with him about submarine boats and the secretary said he would tell Mr. Hobson I 'had called and also give hlrn the substance of the conversa tion." Referring to the conversation with Mr, Hobson over the telephone Mr. Spear said It was his Impression that Mr. Hobson called him up at bis ho tel and said: "Spear. It is not nec essary for you to bother about talk- nt to me about submarlna boats. I have not changed my views 'and there s no - necessity for posting myself about them." . DETAILS CONVERSATION. . "I replied to him,", continued Mr. Spear, "that I was very glad he had not changed his views. I then asked mm now no was geuing atong wun his effort to be placed on the naval committee. Mr. Hobson said he was earnestly -striving to get the place, and I replied 'Well, If there is any thing I can do to help you, let me know.' He said There is nothing you can do. Moreover, I would not want you to do anything. ... Your con nection with a company that Is in terested In the legislation Vould prove embarrassing.' I told him I would be guided by what he said." The witness said he took pains to let Mr. Hobson know that ho was talking for himself and not for the company. "Did you say In' that conversation 'If you can get Williams I will do the rest?' " "No, sir. My recollection of that conversation Is that no reference was made to Mr. Williams, the Speaker or any one else." "Did you hold out to him that you had any Influence, with anybody, that would tend to secure hla appointment on tho naval committee?" "Not In the slightest. I have no influence with the Speaker or with Mr. Williams. I do not know either gentleman. Nelthar myself or the company did anything to help secure a place for Mr. Hobson on the naval committee." . THEIR RELATIONS FRIENDLY, Mr. Speak salJ he had met Mr. Hobson since this conversation" but no reference had been made to it and that their relations were still friend ly. . Referring to the agreement be tween the Electric Boat Company and the Vickers Company, of Eng land. Mr. Spear said that the' Elec tric Boat Company and the Vickers had entered into a contract . which contemplated the exchanging of im provements but that the English gov ernment objected and the contract was changed so that Improvements made by either company are not ex changed. - Mr. Spear denied that the Electric Boat Company had made, an excea sive profit out of Its contracts and said the Electric Boat -Company had never suppressed competition. , He declared that the company had never received any legislative or depart mental favors nor ever received any order from the Navy Department ex cept as the result of successful com petition. ERLY WROTE ARTICLES. A. Erly, one of the newspaper men whom Mr. Lllley said he had been warned against denied that he had ever been in the employ of the com pany, but stated that last summer he had distributed some articles on sub marine boats to newspaper men for Mr. McNelr, for which he had been' paid tl to cover expenses. He said he had never received any further money from any one? connected with the Electric Boat Company. He also said he had no knowledge of a news paper lobby here, as charged , by Mr. Lllley. He said that as a result of Mr. Lilley's charges he had lost his place with the press association, by which he waa employed. Frank E. Lord, another of the newspaper men, against whom ,Mr. Lllley said he had been warned, also denied that he had ever been in the employ of the Electric Boat Com pany, although ha said fie had pre pared some "feature" stories about submarine boats for Mr. McNelr. which . had been furnished , to news paper correspondents and published, but In none of the papers represented by him. These articles, he said, wers not written with the .view of influ encing legislation, but were prepared to meet the requests of newspaper men for Stories on submarines. He denied that he belonged to a news paper lobby. f LIE UP TO LILLET. ; Regarding an Interview which he said he had had with Mr. Lllley, In which charges w"ere made against Representatives Sherman, Griggs and others and which Mr. Lllley had re pudiated, Mr. Lord said the Interview was absolutely correct. "In that de nial," continued Mr. Lord. "Mr. Lllley-said what was unqualifiedly, ab solutely, deliberately untrue, for he uttered . every word that was print ed." , " . , Mr. Lord stated that as the result of Mr. Lilley's charges he had lost his position. In . anjwer to a ques tion propounded by Mr. Littleton, Mr. ' Lord said that a complaint by Mr. Lake had been made to his pa per about something he had written concerning the Lake Eoat which, also may nave Deen instrumental in hav ing him discharged. , : Mr. Lord said he could not remem- oer the exact amount he had recelv ed from Mr. McNelr for writing the special stories, but he thought It was between $500 and $800. He said ne aia not consider that he was work lng for the Electric : Boat Comnanv when he wrote these stories; thathe qiq tne work ror Mr. McNelr. Mr. Lllley hs filed with the com mittee an unsigned communication received from ' Philadelphia stating mat "William Du es. Of New-YnrV City, and Robert McA. Floyd, of Cold tpnnrs Jiarbor, N. Y.. both formerlv nireciors or tne Electric Boat Com panv, resigned because of the n mount used for corruption or for which they wuum mip in accounting. A STRIKE D1M1NENT. Unless the Company Racks Down and Accepts Union's Proposals, a Gen- - era i ferine win Follow. Special to The Observer.' ' . Salisbury, March 17. An impor tant communication received here to- day from a representative of the men In the Southern Railway case says In pan: -ai meeting before the Inter State commerce commission Saturday the proposition of arbitration was presented and was flatly turned down by all organizations." This Drartlc. ally means that unless the company backs down and accepts the union's proposals tnere will fee a general strike all over the system. The men nere are not excited over the nro pect, still hoping that some way may be found out of the difficulty. Thev consider their demands Just and the oner maas to the company absolute ly fair. On the authority of Mr. A. Stewart. superintendent of motive power, all men laid off are emDlovea and are an. titled to the same pass privilege as wiien in active service. Strike Talk Merely Talk, It is Said at spencer. Special to The Observer. , Spencer, March 17. The employes of the Southern Railway Company here who were thrown out of work a week ago by the closing of several departments in the Spencer shons re crowing extremely anxious to hear a report from the inter-State commerce commission now in session in wasntngton, which It is believed Will aot t ! tha I fr.rnnn.a K-.- the company and employes.' There has been considerable talk to-day of a general amice nem ordered on tne entire system. Including road men and all departments. This, however. Is considered mere talk, as It is be lieved that an adjustment will be reached In a few days. Meanwhile the train records show a marked in crease in business on all lines from day to day. The employes were ad vised to-day that they are still con sidered in the service of the com pany and passes will be issued as usual. Many of the 800 men now on the pny roll at Ppencer are work ins regular time and over time. The officials have promised to arrange for those off duty to work a part of the time. . . . - Negro Teachers Flrfit Dnrl; One Fa tally woonaert. Roanoke. Vs.. Marrh 17. Prof. A. B. White, colored, principal of Grerg avenue colored public echool. was phot and fatally woun.-letl ty Thomas C. Cooper, also colored. In a pistol duel fousrht on the school grounds to day. Cooper alleges that White had Insultingly criticised a sister of Cooper's, who la a teacher in the school. Cooper Is In jail. White stood high with both races. MYAN BOOSTED IN HOUSE JAMES SCORES THE OPPOSITION". Kentucky Member Attacks the Rec ord of the Party in Power For Its Shortcomings, Declaring That But For Uie Corruption In the Last Na tional Election .the) "Nebraskan Would Have Bceo President Touches tp the Republicans on the Tariff Revision Ghost and Charges That Tliey Have Offered the Ameri can People the Shadow and Not the Substance Administration Legis lating in Behalf of the Corpora tion. HOUSE SUMMARY. Praise of President Roosevelt. Sec retary Taft and William J. Bryaa was heard In the House of Represen tatives yesterday during general de bate on- the pension appropriation but The first speaker was Mr. Kennedy, of Ohio, who lauded the President and his politics, as well as Secretary. Taft who,, he said, would bring glory and prestige to the country as Presi dent The commendation of Mr. Bryan came from Mr. Ollie James, of Kentucky, who predicted that the Ne braskan would be elected President . next November. An exhaustive speech In advocacy of the Fowler financial bin was made by Mr. Prince, of Illinois. The other speakers were Messrs. Brundldge, of Arkansas, who criticised the Inaction of -the present Congress, snd Mr. Floyd, his col league, who urged legislation to fur ther regulate" the trusts. The pension appropriation bill was still the order of business when the House at 4:49 p. m. adjourned. , Washington, March 17. The fail ure to provide a penitentiary penalty In the railroad rate law was among the criticisms made In ths House to day by Mr. OUIe James, of Kentucky, of Republican legislation 'in the last few years. The Republicans, he charged, had dons more than legis-" late In favor of the railroads; had al lowed national banks, to hold two hundred million dohars a year of the peoples' money without paying Inter-, est on It although the Democrats had tried to so Influence legislation as to cause such Interest to be paid. "You are being gradually educated by the ', Democratic parly," he said, addres sing the Republicans, "but God only, knows what debt It Is you owe the American people for all the wrongs, you have Inflicted upon them." , SHADOW, NOT SUBSTANCE. It was a surprising thing, he said, to hear that the Republicans at last' proposed to revise the tariff. "You have come to the Democratic position on everything in the World," he said,' "and almost tried to imitate It You have offered to the American people the shadow and not the substance." Mr. James provoked laughter by referring to the free list of the Ding-' ley tariff. He quoted nux vomica, old Junk, dragons blood, cuttlefish bona and leeches. As to the latter he said he was In favor of taxing them, as high as heaven Itself "because we have enough leeches and blood-suckers here now. The record of tha Republican party, however, he ' de clared, had been written and It could not be changed. - ' . APPLAUSE FOR BRYAN. V Loud Democratic applause greeted Mr. James when he asserted his be lief that in the last two campaigns against Mr: Bryan "but for the cor ruption brought by the Republicans upon the monopolies and trusts of the country Bryan would have been elect ed President of ths United States." Mr. Bryan; he said, stood for - some thing and had convictions and the courage to express them. "He has never prostituted bis garments for money," he said. "He has never sold the love of the American peo. pie for corporation gold." The people of the country, he said, would "In Just time do proper meed and credit to the man who draws the naked sword In their defense and In their' rights." and he believed that these people "are going to elect for Presi dent hat grand, that splendid, that matchless Democrat William J. Bryan. i ARSON AND RAPE CHARGED. A Father and His Son Now In Jail on Tltene Two Capital Charges Negro ;irl Was Ravished. . ? Special to The Observer. Greenville, s. C March 17. Wil liam and Earla Payne, father and son, respectively, are lodged in the county jail to-night, both charged with capital offenses of a different nature. The elder Payne, who Is 85 years of age. is charged with arson, and the younger one Is charged with, having ravished a young- negro girl. Earle Payne, the young man. waa arrested yesterday morning on a war rant sworn out by the girls parents, and while tha latter were In this city it Is claimed - that the elder Payne burned their house. The evi dence against "both of them Is said to be strong. The Paynes are white people and heretofore have borne good reputa tions. Both crimes were committed about four miles from the city. TILLMAN GOES TO CLEMSON. He Bays That Roosevelt Would like to Have Him In Fort Leavenworth .Prison, He Guessed. Special to The Observer. Oaffney, S. C March 17. Senator Tillman was at Gaffney for a short while to-day. 1 He said ha was on his way to Clemson, where he would be for two days and then go to Colum bia, from where he would return to Washington. When asked If the President hsd put him tn Jail yet he answered. "No." but he guessed Mr. Roosevelt would like to send him to Fort Leavenworth military prison. The Senator evidently left his pitch fork In Washington, as he was in fine humor. Forsyth Prohibitionists to Launch a Campaign. Special to The Observer. . . Winston-salem. March 17. The prohibitionists of Forsyth county are making arrangements for launching a campaign In the interest of the May election. A meeting of tha temperance forces was held here this afternoon and was addressed by Mr. Herlot Clarkson. of Charlotte. A per manent organization was eftecte-J by the election of Dr. R. '11. Jones, chair man, and T. J. vMlson. secretary. An executive committee composed of ten men of the city and two from eaci of the other township In the oour.ry was named to make nrrtincmon for the campaign. The names r- the committee will not be ani-n:- ! until the officers ascertain ".he;- r -not i thev will serve. The r s t have ex-GovT'--of Ayv.v k, J, Prltchard and others to ;-ck h-. re.
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 18, 1908, edition 1
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