fm-rr
GMAfHAM
1 . ' 1 1 1
ESTABLISHED SEPT. 19, 1 878.
PITTSBORO, CHATHAM COUNTY, N.;C. DECEMBER 19, 1918
VOL. XL NO. 21 .
I
IMPORTANT NEWS
THE WORLD OVER
IMPORTANT HAPPENINGS OP THIS
AND OTHER NATIONS FOR
SEVEN DAYS GIVEN
THE NEWS THE SOUTH
What Is Taking Place In The South
land Will Be Found In
Brief Paragraphs
Domestic
Judge Emory Speer of the United
States district court for the southern
district of Georgia, died December 13
at Macon Ga. He was one of the
most spectacular figures in American
politics during the days of reconstruc
tion, and was one of the literary ge
niuses of the bench. He was over sev
enty years of age, but took an active
part in all the Liberty loans.
All government regulations affecting
raw cotton ended with the dissolution
of the cotton distribution committee of
the war industries board..
The Southern Commercial Congress,
closing its general sessions in Balti
more, approved the Bankhead meas
ure for $500,000,000 in five annual fed
eral appropriations for highway and
post road facilities and a gigantic in
crease of merchant marine, with equal
distribution, terminal betterment and
general economical trade conditions
with the South as a meritorious bene
ficiary. Five to five and a half billion dollars
more of bonds will have to be raised
to finance the government. This es
timate is based on- an estimate of
eighteen billion dollars in expendi
tures, and members of the ways and
means committee of the house say the
estimate is not too low.
It has not been decided what por
tion of the voluminous documents shed
ding light on the activities of the Ger
man propagandists in this country to
make public.
Henry Youtsey, convicted in 1900
of being a party to the murder of
Governor Goebel, has been paroled af
ter years in the pen.
. Director General of Railroads Mc
Adoo,'' in order to take the question
out of politics, has asked that rail con
trol be extended five years. .
Silver chevrons will be given the
soldiers kept at home by order of the
commander-in-chief of the army and
navy, Woodrow Wilson.
Nearly eight - thousand happy sol
diers, sailors, marines and aviators
landed in New York the other day.
Some Of them are maimed for life, but
are as., happy as though they were
boy scouts on a hike. '
Mrs. Wilbur J. Ham of Cartersville,
Ga., and Mrs.. O. H. P. Wright of Sel
ma, Ala., the aged mother of Mrs.
L.'G. Hames of Cartersville, and Cath
erine Hames, 10 years old, were in
stantly killed at a crossing two miles
north of Cartersville, Ga. Little Wil
bur Ham, a four-year-old child, whose
mother 1 was killed, was fatally injured
and died a few hours later.
Cotton ginned prior to December 1
was 9,563,124 running bales, including
134,150 round bales; 10,170 bales of
American Egyptian and 25,741 bales
of sea island.
"Vice President Marshall presided "In
formally and impersonally, not under
taking to exercise any official duty or
function," at the cabinet meeting on
December 10. ' President Wilson asked
the vice president to preside.
Legislation designed to carry into
effect the recommendations of the
federal trade commission to President
Wilson that the government regulate
the met packing industry, has been
proposed in the house at Washington
by the interstate commerce commit
tee. European
The' German finance minister says
that if the war had ended in the fall
the amount of money required from im
perial taxation would have reached
fourteen billion marks. These calcu
lations have .been upset by recent
events.. ;
David Lloyd-George says that Great
Britain's navy must remain supreme,
no matter what the action of the peace
conference.
A voice interrupted the British pre
mier "when he was speaking in Bristol
the other day anent the superiority of
the British navy: "Then watch Wil
son!" "Well, I hope to meet him In a
fortnight. I will tell him what you
say," instantly1 shouted the premier.
With': the arrival of the Americans
at the; Rhine,' a company of engineers
prepared to throw a temporary bridge
across the stream. There were, how
ever, alre.ady four bridges spanning the
stream, two here and one in the north
and another to the south, over which
the American army was ordered to
corss December 13 in a thirty-mile
arc. ;
When, the American forces reached
Coblenz, Germany, a local committee
was appointed to assist the Americans
in assuming control and officers of the
German army remained behind after
She last of their men had marched out
In order to deliver to the Americans
great stores of supplies.
The German army moved out of Co
blenz in' an orderly fashion with the
spirit of a holiday rather than that of
a defeated army. Almost' every man
had a rosette or a sprig of green in
hij cap. The spirt of Christmas was
in the atmosphere, and the broad smile
f the Germans was contagious.
It is stated that Germany is spend
ing too much money on irrelevant de
tails of. state administration.
The British government has decided
upon the attitude it will adopt at the
peace conference regarding the free
dom of the seas. It is stated that the
British government is ready to con
cede to the United States the freest
of all free hands 'in naval develop
ment, and it welcomes the idea ot the
extension of American sea power as
one of the best guarantees of the peace
of the world and of real freedom of the
seas.
Dr. W. S. Solf, German minister of
foreign affairs, because his relations
with the Independent Socialists had
reached the straining point, has quit
his job and gone home.
General Russki and Dimitrieff, of
the Russian army, have been shot by
order of the local soviet at Prapra
gorsk. M. Rukhloff, former minister
of commerce and communications in
the Russian cabinet, was shot at the
same time.
General Russki. who was recently
shot by order of the Russian govern
ment, commanded the Russian troops
ingloriously routed by the Germans
in the northern Polish campaign.
During the war twelve spies were
shot in the tower of London. Among
the condemned were two women, but
they were reprieved and sentenced to
long terms of imprisonment.
Copenhagen hears that the intente
governments intend to refuse to send
foodstuffs to Germany until a demand
they are said to have made for the
dissolution of the soldiers' and work
men's council is carried out. The allies
may reserve the right to march into
Germany.
Washington
Cablegrams announce that President
Wilson reached the harbor of Brest on
board the steamer George Washington
and stepped on shore the first time
an American executive had ever trod
den European soil. The arrival was
the culmination of an imposing naval
spectacle which began as the presi
dential fleet rounded the outer capes,
then passed the' entrance forts and
moved majestically into the harbor,
where the George Washington anchor
ed at the head of a long double column
of American dreadnaughts and de
stroyers and the units of a French crui
ser squadron.
The "United States stands ready to
tender alone, or in conjunction with
other countries of their hemisphere,
all possible assistance" to bring about
an equitable solution of the difficul
ties presented in the Chile-Peru sit
uation, says Acting Secretary of State
Polk.
Eighty or ninety thousand claims,
principally from relatives of soldiers
who were killed or who died in the
war, are expected to be filed in the
next few months.
All South American countries have
been asked by the United States to
join in the suggestion to Chile and
Peru that the interests of pan-American
unity demand an amicable settle
ment of their controversy over the
provinces of Tacna and Arica. Acting
Secretary Polk of the state depart
ment announced this, explaining that
it had been erroneously reported that
Argentine alone had been approached
on the subject.
While the main endeavor now is to
end the present strained relations be
tween Chile and Peru, it is said that
the occasion may arise for a final set
tlement of the dispute by the carrying
out of the treaty of Ancon, signed in
1883 by the two republics and calling
for a plebescite in the dispute in the
provinces to determine their disposi
tion. -
Congress was asked by Secretary
McAdoo in a letter made public here
to authorize the continuation of loans
to the allies for one year after the
termination of the war to finance the
purchase of foodstuffs and reconstruc
tion material in this country.
No additional appropriation for loans
to the allies is sought by the treasury
department, but it is suggested that
the proposed peace-time provisions ap
ply to the $1,500,000 of the $10,000,
000,000 appropriated for allied loans,
which Secretary McAdoo estimates
will remain unexpended when peace
is declared. Under existing law the
United States may lend to the allies
only for war purposes and during the
war.
President Wilson probably will not
sit at the peace table, but will, bo
represented there by delegates while
remaining in close contact with the
heads , of other nations and prepared
to decide questions referred to him.
Premier Clemenceau of France, it
is believed, will be president . of the
peace conference. This is considered
fitting because the conference will be
held in France.
The mayor of New York City an
nounces that Marshal Foch ma'y visit
the United States shortly after the
consummation of the peace confer
ence. The senate committee investigating
brewers and German propaganda in the
United States is in full swing and
many prominent characters are being
called daily.
A battalion of the Thirty-ninth Unit,
ed States infantry left Treves by train
for Coblenz, a four-hours' run. The
premature occupation of Coblenz is
due to the request of the German au
thorities, who are apprehensive of the
conditions that might prevail there af
ter the withdrawal of the German
forces.
It is announced that if President
Wilson's views are concurred in the
peace proceedings will be entire pub
lic, and nothing of a secret nature
will be permitted to enter into the deliberations.
PRESIDENT VISITS 1
LAFAYEHE'S GRAVE
HOLDS A BRIEF CONFERENCE
WITH PREMIER CLEMENCEAU
ND WITH COL. HOUSE.
HE ALSO ATTENDS CHURCH
Rests in Evening in Preparation, for
Strenuous Week After Brief Call
on President Poincare.
Paris. President Wilson spent his
first Sunday in Paris by going twice to
church, laying a wreath on the tomb
if LaFayette and having a brief con
ference with Premier Clemenceau and
another with Col. F. M. House. In the
avening he rested in preparation for
the coming strenuous week of prelim
inary conferences.
During the afternoon the President
made a short call on President and
Madame Poincare at the palace of the
Elysee.
In the morning, the President, ac
companied by Mrs. Wilson and Ad
miral Grayson and by secret service
men, went to the American Presbyte
rian church in the Rue De Berri. His
coming was known to only a few of
the American colony who had guessed
that the President, being a consistent
churchgoer, would choose a church of
his own denomination.
The President visited the tomb of
LaFayette in the Picpus cemetery, in
the southeastern section of Paris,
while returning home .after the morn
ing church service. No ceremony had
been arranged at the cemetery and
the President was accompanied only
by Brigadier General Harts, a secret
service operative, and a French officer
assigned to him as a personal aide.
The President, removing his hat, en
tered the tomb carrying a large floral
wreath.
As the President placed the wreath
on the tomb, he bowed his head and
stood silent before the resting place
of the famous Frenchman who helped
America in her fight for liberty. He
made no speech whatsoever. He then
returned to the Murat residence.
ARMISTICE TO GERMANY IS
EXTENDED TO JANUARY 17
Copenhagen. The German armis
tice has been extended until five
o'clock on the morning of January 17,
according to a dispatch from Treves.
The messages state that the follow
ing conditions have been added on the
armistice agreement of November 11:
"The supreme command of the al
lies reserve the right should it con
sider this advisable and in order to
obtain fresh guarantees, to occupy the
neutral zone on the right bank of the
Rhine north of the Cologne bridge
head and as far as the Dutch frontier.
Notice of this occupation will be given
six days previously."
DOCTOR PAES, PRESIDENT OF
PORTUGAL, SHOT AND KILLED
London. Dr. Sidorio . Paes, .presi
dent of Portugal, was shot and killed
by an assassin shortly before midnight
Saturday while he was in a railway
station at Lisbon waiting for a train
to Porjo Rico. Advices from Lisbon
reporting the assassination say that
he was struck by three bullets. Presi
dent Paes died within a few minutes
after he was shot.
The president's assailant, named
Jeetne, was killed by the crowd.
Dr. Sidorio Paes was formally pro
claimed president of Portugal on last
June 9. He headed a revolt in Portu
gal in 'December, 1917.
GERMAN PAPERS PLEADING
THAT THEY WERE DECEIVED
Berlin.- Oispatches reporting the
arrival of President Wilson in Paris
are displayed prominently by the Ber
lin newspapers. The President's ut
terances are being scanned carefully.
Newspapers which formerly were
foremost in attacking the President's
policies now plead that they were de
ceived.' SOLDIERS TO RETAIN THEIR
OVERCOATS AND UNIFORMS
Washington. Secretary Baker in
formed Chairman Dent, of the house
military commtitee, that the war de
partment had decided discharged sol
diers may permanently retain the uni
form and overcoat they wear when
mustered out. Mr. Dent prepared a
bill embodying the authority, pre
viously the department had planned
to have the clothing returned to gov
ernment three months after a soldiers'
discharge.
CONSTRUCTION WORK AT ALL
TENT CAMPS IS ABANDONED
Washington. Abandonment of all
construction work in progress or pro
jected at so-called "tent camps," was
ordered by the war department.
The camps affected by the new
abandonment orders are Wheeler,
Ga.; Hancock, Ga.; Wadsworth, S. C;
Sevier, S .C; Greene, N. C; McClei
Jan, lAla.; Sheridan, Ala.; Logan, Tex.;
Bowie, Texas Beaure;gard, La.; Cody,
N. M.; Doniphan,' Okla.; .Fremont,
Cal.. and Kearney, Cal.
PRESIDENT WILSON
WARMLY GREETED
LANDING WAS A REMARKABLE
SPECTACLE WITH NOTABLE
NAVAL PAGEANT.
WAR SHIPS ROARED SALUTES
Mr. Wilson Was Last to. Come Ashore,
His Face Wreathed in the Now
World Famous Smile.
Brest. President Wilson landed . in
Grance amid a demonstration of popu
lar enthusiasm and national sympathy
such as rarely, if ever, has been ac
corded the head of a foreign govern
ment visiting France. The phesident
left Brest at 4 o'clock ior Paris where
the heart of France will acclaim him
as the nation's guest.
The guest landing ol the president
has not only a remarkable spectacle,
with a notable naval pageant for its
background, but it also marked the
first entry of an American president
into personal contact with Europe and
its affairs. '. ,
"Vast crowds watched the trip
ashore and the fleets of warships
roared a salute as the last stage of
the journey was accomplished.
On the harbor boat going ashore
the president was seen ' standing on
the upper deck with Jules J. Jusser
and, French ambassador to the United
States.
As the boat touched the pier the
French and American ; guards of
honor presented arms and the strains
of the Star Spangled Banner mingled
with the cheers of the great multi
tude. Mrs. Wilson came up the gang
plank with General Pershing. She car
ried a large bouquet and as she passed
the American army nurses they hand
ed her an American flag which she
bore proudly.
The president was the last to come
ashore, amid great applause. He held
his silk hat in his hand; his face was
wreathed with smiles and he bowed his
acknowledgments to those about and
to the masses of people on the ris
ing walls and terraces of the city. Ste
phen Pichon, the French foreign min
ister and George Leygues, minister of
marine, joined the president as he step
ped ashore and conducted him to a
beautifully decorated pavilion. Here
the first formal welcome were given
President Wilson as the guest of the
French nation.
RIXING OF COTTON PRICE BY
CONGRESS NO LONGER FEARED
Washington. All government regu
lations affecting raw cotton ended
with the dissolution of the cotton dis
tribution committee of the war indus
tries board.
While there was no announcement
"either by Chairman Charles J. Brand,
of the committee, or by Chairman Ba
ruch, of the war industries board, as
to the considerations which led to
the decision to abolish the committee,
1t was understood that officials no
longer regarded it as necessary " to
control distribution now that the
world markets have been reopened
INFLUENZA GERMS ARE EATEN
AND BREATHED WITHOUT HARM
Boston. Experiments undertaken
by the navy department at the navy
public health service hospital on Gal-lu-ps
island to ascertain the cause and
spread of influenza have had merely
negative results, according to a re
port given out. One hundred volun
teers who have been under observa
tion for several weeks have had in
influenza germs placed in their nos
trils and throats and have eaten them
with their food and some have been
inoculated with serums, but no cases
of the disease iave developed thus
far.
Increased appeite and more vigor
ous health have been the only no
ticeable results of the experiment, ac
cording to the physicians. The tests
will be continued.
TWO ENLISTED MEN KILLED;
TWO OTHERS ARE INJURED
. Norfolk. Two enlisted men were
instantly killed and two ensigns in
jured when a big . hydro-airplane,
known as 18-16, speeded head first
into the Willoughby club, near the
Seventh street station on Willoughby
spit, about 12 miles from the city.
The machine was completely wrecked
and the roof and veranda of the club
house torn 'away .The escape of the
other men in the machine is consid
ered little short of mircaulous.
COUNT CZERNIN'S LETTER TO
HIS EMPEROR MADE PUBLIC
Vienna. Count Czernin, former
Austrc-Hungarian . foreign minister,
gave the correspondent an opportu
nity to read a copy of the letter which
he sent to Emperor Charles in 1917,
in which the minister declared that
the condition of Austria was growing
desperate. Count Cz-rnin told the em
peror that he did not think another
winter campaign was possible and it
was necessary that peace negotiations
should be begun.
AREGOMMEHDATION
MEANING MISCHIEF
RAILROAD REPRESENTATIVES OF
92 PER CENT OF MILEAGE OF
THE COUNTRY PROTEST.
DEMORALIZATION IS CERTAIN
Time Given Under Present Act Con
sidered Ample in Which to Work
Out Plan Just to All.
Philadelphia. Railroad executives
representing 125 roads and 92 per cent
of the mileage of the country gave out
a formal statement in which they de
clared that Director General McAdoo's
suggestion that the government retain
control of the railroads until January,
1924, "would .simply lead to delay and
confusion, demoralization of the or
ganization of the roads both on their
corporate and operating side, and de
fer indefinitely a satisfactory settle
ment" of the railroad problem.
The executives, the statement said,
have reached the conclusion that
"there is sufficient time under the
term of the present act to fully con
sider the railroad situation in all its
aspects and arrive at a plan that
would 'be just to the country."
The statement was given out by
Thomas DeWitt Cuyler, of the asso
ciation of railway executives. The
statement follows: $
"The standing committee of the as
sociation of railway executives have
considered the letter of the director
general to the chairman of the inter
state commerce committees of the
senate and house, and have reached
the conclusion that there is sufficient
time under the terms of the present
act to fully consider the railroad situ
ation in all its aspects and to arrive
at a plan that would be just to the
country as represented by its shippers
and the public at large and on the
other hand to the security holders and
shareholders and employes of the rail
roads.
DETERMINATION TO MAKE OUR
NAVY SECOND TO NO OTHER
Washington. Neither the end oC
hostilities nor proposals for a league
of nations has altered the policy of
the general board of the navy in re
gard to making the American navy
second to none in the world. Rear
Admiral Charles J. Badger, chairman
of the executive committee of the.
board, told the house naval affairs
committee that the navy should be
equal to that of any other nation by
1925 and urged that sufficient appro
priations to make this possible be
made by Congress.
"The general board believes that
under the present world conditions
and the conditions likely to obtain
in the future," Admiral Badger said,
"the United States navy should stead
ily continue to increase.
"Navies must be the principal sup
port of a league of nations, and the
United States, from its wealth, influ
ence and power, will be called upon
to contribute a large share of the in
ternational police force to render such
a league effective."
UNABLE TO FORMULATE PLAN
FOR FIGHTING, INFLUENZA
Chicago.. -Unable to formulate a
definite plan for fighting influenza be
cause of divergent views, the Ameri
can Public Health Association, before
it adjourned, gave out copies of all
the medical and scientific data pre
sented during. the four-day discussion
with an explanation that different epi
demics required parate treatments.
"The various communities for
which we are working will know that
we have at hand the best available
information science has yet discover
ed concerning the disease," said Dr.
Charles J. Hastings, retiring presi
dent. "We cannot expect to draw up
a different program for combatting in
fluenza epidemics when we see so
wide a divergence of opinion among
medical authorities as has been
shown here."
SWEAR ALLFGIANCE TO
THE GERMAN REPUBLIC
Stockholm. A Stockholm report
says the presence of cavalry lifeguard
regiments under General Lequist sta
tioned at Potsdam had caused anxiety
in Berlin until these troops entered
the city and took oath to support the
present government until the national
assembly convened, General Lequist
also swearing allegiance to the re
public. The situation is thereby much
Improved, and apprehension allayed.
BRITISH ARMY HAS MANY -
HORSES TO DISPOSE OF
London. The British army is about
to begin wtih the dispersal of three
quarters of a million horses. The loss
of horses in 1915 wa 1.4 per cent;
in 916, 14 per cent; in 1918, 27 per
cent, an increase due to heavy fight
ing and night bombing. As many
horses as . possible are to be sold in
England. ,
The -army has 10,000 mules in Eng
land, which the people do not want,
buying mules being unpopular.
HELD URGES
TRADE
MUST TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE
OF AFTER-THE-WAR TRADE
OPPORTUNITIES.
FOR PUfiLISOWNED WATERWAYS
Our Merchandise Export Trade in Last
Fiscal Year Was $5,928,285,641;
Imports of $2,946,059,403.
-Washington. Expansion of the bu
reau ofs foreign and domestic com
merce to enable it to give effective
aid to American manufacturers and
merchants, in taking full advantage
of af ter-the-war . world trade opportu
nities is the chief recommendation of
Secretary Redfield in his annual re
port. The secretary also reiterates his ap
proval of the proposed development of
a government-owned intracoastal wa
terway to link up the lakes to the
coast and down the Atlantic seaboard.
Dealing with post-war trade and the
part the bureau of foreign and domes
tic commerce can play, the report em
phasizes especially the need for ad
ditional commercial attaches and
trade commissioners. The balance of
trade in favor of the United States for
the fiscal year 1918 was $2,982,222,238;;
the total of the merchandise export
trade was $5,928,285,641 and of the
import trade $2,946,059,403.
"Measured by the economic needs
of the country and by the grave re
sponsibilities of post-war competi
tion," the report says, "the bureau
should be expanded 'Substantially in
every branch of service."
SURRENDERED SHIPS NEVER
AGAIN TO FLY GERMAN FLAG
London. Archibald S. Hurd, the na
val writer, in The Daily Telegraph
says with reference to the idea said
to be held by some Germans that the
surrendered German warships would
be returned to Germany after peace
was signed," that it points, of course,
to a complete misapprehension of the
intentions of the allies, "for it is cer
tain that these; . ships will never again
fly the German ensign."
' Mr. Hurd says that the only course
to adopt is to distribute the German
warships among the allies in accord
ance with the losses which they have
suffered. Mr. Hurd suggests that Ger
man submarines be broken up and
the parts used for other purposes.
AMERICAN SHIPS CARRIED 46
1 PER CENT OF TROOPS ACROSS
New York With the navy depart
ment's consent, the office of Admiral
Gleaves, commander of the cruiser and
transport force, made public figures
showing exactly the proportionate
share of troops conveeyd to France
in American vessels. Of the entire
army of 2,079,880 men taken over, the
statistics show, 464 per cent were
carried in American ships, 48 P&r
cent in British, and the balance in
French and Italian vessels.
In actual numbers of men trans
ported, 912,082 were carried in Amer
ican naval transports and 40,499 in
other American ships ; 1,006,987 were
carried in British bottoms, and 68,246
in British leased Italian ships; and
52,000 by French and Italian ships.
SAYS GREAT BRITAIN AND
AMERICA CAN NOWN AGREE
New York. That the United
States and Great Britain could agree
to a universal arbitration treaty
which would make war between the
two nations impossible for all time is
the opinion expressed by Theodore
Roosevelt in a letter made public here
to George Haven Putnam, president
of the American Rights legaue.
"I am now prepared to say what
five years ago I would not have said,"
the former president wrote. "I think
The time has come when the United
States and the Brtiish empire can
agree to - a universal arbitration
treaty.
GERMAN OFFICIALS WANT
TO PREPARE FOR NEXT WAR
Washington. Decision of airplane
manufacturers in Germcny to turn
their plants to making furniture has
led to a protest from officilas o the
German government, according to ad
vices reaching Washington through
official channels. The point was said
to have been made that in order to
be ready for the next war Germany
must replace the airplanes which it is
required to turn over to the associat
ed nations- under the armistice terms.
GREAT FIRE DESTROYS BIG
POWER PLANT AT NEWPORT
Newport News. Va. Fire which
originated from an unknown cause
destroyed the big power plant at the
naval operating base on Hampton
Roads, entailing a loss estimated at
half million dolilars.
The -' burning ' plant illuminated
Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay and
the surrounding territory for many
miles around and there were wild re
ports that the entire base had been
razed by flames. "'
DR.H.Q. ALEXANDER '!
SUCCEEDS HIMSELF
1 ;
STATE FARMERS' UNION MEETS
IN ANNUAL SESSION WITH
200 DELEGATES PRESENT.
STATE MEMBERSHIP 17.QQ3
A Cash. Balance of $14,000 to
Treasury of the Order Sh
by the Secretary-Treasurer.
Wilson. Dr. H. Q. Alexander. 'C
Mecklenburg county, was re-elected
president of the North Carolina, faro
ers union over Ray King, of Mask
county, by a vote announced as C
to 30, at the annual convention of the
union here. The convention began Its
session this morning.
Dr. J. M. Templeton, of Wake caasv
ty, was elected state organiser to seer
ceed J. Z: Green, who resigned tnm.
the place several months ago. '
Mr. King, who opposed Dr. Alex
ander, did not announce his candidacx
(for the presidency until very recently.
He has represented Nash county at
annual meetings on two previa' oe
casions.
Several of the local unions of tkn
state came out against Dr. Alexander's
re-election and 'instructed, their dale
gates to vote against him. It was re
ported that prior to the battle started
against his regime, Dr. Alexander had
considered dropping out of the race,
but when opposition was openly
avowed against him he made the fight
which ended in his re-election.
There were about 200 delegates from
the various counties of the state pres
ent when President Alexander official
ly called the convention to order. The
meeting was opened with prayer by
Dr. J. M. Kester, pastor of the Wilson
Baptist church.
The address of welcome was made
by F. L. Carr, for the city of Wilson
and the union of Wilson county. B
G. Maxwell, of Duplin county, respond-,
ed for the union.
The reports of President H. Q.
Alexander and Secretary B. C Faires
showed a total of 17,000 members tn
the state, an increase in membership
over last year. There is approximate
ly $14,000 in the treasury at present. ,
Six Inches of Snow.
Charlotte. Cotton Weigher J. SL.
Withers recalled the fact that one
year ago on December 11th CharIotte
was hidden beneath six inches of snow,
which began to fall the previous night
and continued until well up into the
day. The report of Meteorologist CL
Q. Atto shows that on December It.
1917, the mean temperature was 29
degrees. The mean for yesterday was
61, an excess in temperature T04 the
day of 17 degrees.
Editor In New Role.
Kinston. The versatility of "Square
Deal" Jones has again manifested It
self. Snow Hill's one-armed editor
for the present is running a' train, en
the railroad between this city and
Snow Hill. ,.He was pressed into ser
vice when the regular conductor was
taken ill with influenza a day or twe.
ago.
New Basis for Highway.
Charlotte. An entire change oT pro
gram of the Charlote delegation whe
have been waging an intensive wax to
procure an appropiatkm from Uncle
Sam to bull d amilitary highway con
necting Charlotte and Wilmington has
taken place as result of the ending;
of the war. The Charlotte del
egation, and hundreds of citizens in
Wilmftngton and the towns that lie
along the proposed route of the new
road, will now direct their attack at
the civil heads and to officials in
Washington in legislative halls.
The seventh annual meeting of the
North Carolina Livestock, Poultry and
Dairy Associations, closed with a nes
sion given over to those interested in
the sheep industry. The feautre'of
the "Sheep Day" program was an ad
dress by A. C. Bigelow, of Philadelphia.
Hydroplane Wrecked.
Wilmington. A wrecked hydroplane
five miles off shore caused reports here
that a vessel was in distress.' Three
hydroplanes flying south landed fa
a choppy sea, and the bottom of one
was stove in. The crew was taken' ol!
'by the accompanying hydroplanes.
The flying boat was later brought
ashore and will be repaired. None
of the crew was injured. The ma
chines were making practice flights,
along the coast when caughi in a
wind and rain storm.
Christmas Vacation Off.
Boone. The Appalachian Training
school has decided not to allow its
students to spend the Christmas hol
idays at their homes, but to keep then
in strict quarantine at the school. The
teachers also will remain with the
students during the holidays. The in
fluenza situation in the various parts
of the territory from which the stu
dents come makes this action' advisa
ble. There is no influenza fa the,
school, and the authorities .feel
the students would be almost sure tot
Wing it in after Clulatmasv
J
4