North Carolina Newspapers

A Gentleman from -Mississippi By THOMAS A. WISE Novelized From the Play by FrederickgR. Toombs Copyright, 1909, By Thomas A. Wise. (Continued from Wednesday.) CapitaL" The sensatlonai Deadlines flitted through her mind. Then she would grit her teeth and dig her finger nails into her palms. She had to have money to carry on the lifeshe loved so well. She must continue as she had begun. After all, she reasoned, noth ing definite could ever be proved re garding the past. Let the future care for itself. She might marry again and free herself from this mode of life. Who knows? Ro reasoned Cora SpangVer for the hundredth time during the last two years as 3he sat in her boudoir at her home. She had spent part of the day with Carolina and Hope Langdon and in the even ing had attend ed the musicale at their house. But she had been forced to leave early ow ing to a severe headache. Now, after an hour or two of rest, she felt better and was about to re tire. Suddenly the telephone bell rang at a writing table "Hello 1 IV ho is it r near a window. She had two tele phones, one in the lower hall and one in her boudoir to save walking down stairs unnecessarily, she explained to her woman friends. But the number of this upstairs telephone was not in the public book. It had a private number, known to but two people ex cept herself. Taking down the receiver, she asked 1a low voice, "Hello, who is it 7" "Mr. Wall." It was the name Senator Peabody used in telephone conversation with her. "Yes, congressman!" she responded She always said "Yes, congress man," in replying to "Mr. Wall," a prearranged manner of Indicating that he was talking to the desired person. "I will need your services tomor row," Senator Peabody said, "on a Tery important matter, I am afraid Decline any engagements and hold yourself in readiness." "Yes." "I may send my friend S. to explain things at 10:30 In the morning. If he does not arrive at that time, telephone me at 10:35 sharp. You know where Understand? I have put off going to Philadelphia tonight." "Yes." 'That Is all; goodby." ' - "Something very important," she murmured nervously as she turner" "from the desk. "I don't like his tone of voice; soimdi strained and worried something un usual for the cold, flinty gentleman from Pennsylvania. And his 'friend 8.,' of course, means Stevens! Grout heavens, then Stevens must now hav knowledge of my my business!" She calmed herself and straightened a dainty, slender finger against hei cheek. "It must be something about that naval base- bill. I'm sure. That's been worrying Peabody all session," she mused as she pressed a button to sum mon her maid. CHAPTER XXIII. BOSS OK THE SENATE" GAINS A "THE NEW ALLY. M ItS. SPANGLER would have flattered herself on guessing correctly as to Senator Pea body's uneasiness had she heard and seen all that had taken place in his apartment at the Louis Napoleon hotel, where he had hurried ly taken Senator Stevens on leaving the LangdoD house. Not only would the two senators lose their Immense profits on the Alta coola transaction If Langdon persisted in his opposition, but they would lose as well the thousands of dollars spent by their agents in purchasing option? on hundreds of acres and. where the. could not get options, the land itself This land would be on their nandsun salable, if the base went somewhere else. Moreover, they feared that Lang don's revolt would bring unpleasant newspaper publicity to their opera tions. 'There's only one course to pursue. Stevens," snapped Peabody as they took off their overcoats. "That is to be prepared as best we can for the very worst and meet it in some way yet to be determined. But first wt must try to figure out what Langdon is going to do what It . can be that he says he will tell us to morrow at 12:30 if we appear. He must have some: thing . very star tling up his sleeve If he makes good his assertions. -1 can't see how" "Nor I," frown ed Stevens, "and my political eye sight is far bet terthan that fool Langdon's. Un- -Pm going to send for der ordinary cir f JaJte Steinert." cumstances we eould let hlro go ahead wkh his minor ity report for Gulf City, but as things stand he'll have every newspaper - re porter in Washington buzzing-around and asking Impertinent questions". "Yes, and you and I would have to go to Paris to live with our life Insur ance friends from New York, wouldn't we?" -laughed Peabody sarcastically. "I'm going to send for Jake Steinert," he 'added. - v "Steinert?" Stevens ' ejaculated. "What" w . - 0 "Oh, that's all right. Maybe he can suggest something," said Peabody, go ing to the telephone. "We've too much at stake to make a mistake, and Jake may see a point t?nt we've overlooked. Luckily I saw L"V downstairs In the grill room as we came through to the elevator." "Steinert Is all right himself," con tinued Stevens, "but his methods" "Can't be too particular now about his methods or ours, Stevens, when a bull like Langdon breaks loose in the political china shop. Fortune and rep utation are both fragile." A ring of a bell announced the arriv al of Jake Steinert, whose reputation as a lobbyist of advanced ability had spread wide in the twenty years he had spitct in Washington. Of medium height, sallow complexion, dark hair and dark eyes, his broad shoulders fill ed the doorway as he entered. An illy kept mustache almost hid a thin lip ped, forceful mouth, almost as forceful as some of the language he used. . His eyes darted first to Peabody'and then to Stevens, waiting for either of them to open the conversation. The highest class lobbyists, those who "swing" the "biggest deals," con cern themselves only with men who can "handle" or who control lawmak ers. They get regular reports and out line the campaign. Like crafty spiders they hide in the center of a great web. a web of bribery, threat, cajolery and intrigue, intent on every victim that Is lured into the glistening meshes. Only the small fry mingle freely with the legislators in the -open, in the ho tels and cafes and in the capitol corri dors. .Take Steinert did not belong in either of these classes; he ranked somewhere .between the biggest and the smallest. He coupled colossal boldness with the most expert knowledge of all the intri cate workings, of the congressional mechanism. Given money to spend among members to secure the defeat of a bill, he would frequently put most ot the money in his own pocket and for a comparatively small sum defeat it by influencing the employees through whose hands It must pass. "Sit down, Jake. Something to drink?" asked Peab'ody, reaching for a decanter. "No," grunted - the lobbyist; "don't drink durin' business hours; only durln the day." "Well, Jake," said the Pennsylvanian "you probably know something oi what's going on in the naval affairs committee." "You mean the biggest job of the session?" "Yes." "Sure thing, senator. It's the work of an artist." "The boss of the senate" smiled grimly. "Now, suppose a committeeman named. Langdon absolutely refused to Dud Haines. be taken care of and insisted on hand ing In a minority report tomorrow with a speech that read like the Decla ration of Independence?" St.einert jerked his head forward quickly. "You mean what would I do if 1 was er if I was runnin the job?" "Yes." . . , . Steinert leaned toward Peabody "Where do I come in on this?" he asked suspiciously. "Come, come, man," was the irritabh retort. "I never let a few dollars stand between myself and my friends "All right, senator." The lobbyist thrust himself down in his chair, puffed slowly at a cigar and gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling, "Few years ago," -he began after a minute or two, "there was a feller who was goin' to squeal about a bond Issue. He had his speech all ready to warn the country that he thought a crowti of the pluto-cracy was goin' to get the bonds to resell to the public at advanced rates. Well, sir, I ar ranged to have a "He was at the insane carriage, a closed asylum. carriage, call that night to take him to see the president, for he was told the president sent the carriage for him When he got out he was at the insane asylum? an I ean tell you he "was bun died Into a 'padded cell in jig time where he stayed for three days. 'He thinks he's a member of congress.' 1 told the two huskies that handled him an' gave Jem each a twenty case note The doctor that signed the necessary! papers got considerable more.' Stevens' gasp of dmSzement caused the- narrator genuine enjoyment. "I know of a certain senator who was drunk an' laid away In a Turkish D - bath when the roll Was Called oil A Cer tain bill.- He was a friend of Pea body's," laughed the lobbyist to the Mississippian. ' r "But in his case," said Stevens, "we must be very careful. Possibly some of your methods in handling the men you go after" "Say," , interposed Steinert. ' "you know I don't do all pursuin', all the goiri' after, any more than others la my business. Why, senate, some "of these congressmen worry the life out of us folks that sprinkle the sugar They accuse us of not lettln 'em in on things when they haven't been fed in some time. They come down the trail like greyhounds coursin' a coy ote." ' The speaker paused and glanced across at Peabody, who, however, was too busily engaged in writing in a memoradum book to notice him. "Why, Senator Stevens," went on the lobbyist, "only today a down east member held me up to tell me that he was strong for that proposition to give the A. K. and L. railroad grants of government timber ftad in Oregon. He says to me, he says: 'What 'n h 1 do my constituents in New England eare about things way out on the Pa cific coast ?t I'd give 'em Yellowstone National park for a freight sidin' if 'twas any use to 'em,' he says. So you see" "I must go," broke in Stevens, ris ing and glancing at his watch. "It will soon, be daylight." - If you must have sleep, go. but you must be here at 9 o'clock sharp' in the morning." said Peabody. "Steinert will sleep here with me. We'll all have breakfast' together here in my rooms and a final consulta tion." "You . won't plan anything really desperate. Peabody, will you? I think I'd .rather"- "Nonsense, Ste vens, of course not. Our game will be to try to weaken Lang don, to prove to him in the morn ing that he alone will suffer, be cause our names do not appear in "Suppose Langdon does not weaken V the land deals. The options were signed and the deeds signed by our agents. Don't you see? Whereas bis daughter and son and future son-in-law actually took land in their own names." 'How clumsy!" Yes. Such amateurism lowers the dignity of the United States senate," Peabody answered dryly. But suppose Langdon does not weaken?" asked Stevens anxiously as he picked up his hat and coat. Then we will go into action with our guns loaded." was the reply. " CHAPTER XXIV. THE HONEYBIRD. f N the African Jungle dwells a pretty little bird that lives on honey The saccharine dainty is there found in the hollows of trees and under the bark, where what is known as the carpenter bee bores and depos its his extract from the buds, and blossoms of the tropical forest. The bird Is called the' "honeybird" because It is a sure guide to the de posits of the delicacy. The bird dis likes the laborious task of pecking its way through the bark to reach the honey, and so, wise in the ways of men, it procures help. It locates a nest of honey, then flies about until it sees some natives or hunters, to whom it shows itself. They know the honey bird and know that it will lead them to the treasure- store. Following the bird, which flits Just in advance,-they reach the cache of dripping sweetness and readily lay it open with hatchets or knives. Taking what they want, there is always enough left clinging to the tree and easily accessible to sat isfy the appetite of the clever little bird. Senator Stevens of Mississippi bears a marked resem blance to the honeybird so much so that he has well won the bird's appella tion for himself. Abnormally keen at locating pos sibilities for ex tracting "honey" from the govern mental affcirs in Washington, he invariably led Peabody, repre senting the hunt er with the ax, to the repository. He would then rely on the Penn sylvania's supe- rior force tn break down the unuMrd" Stevens. barriers. Stevens would flutter about and gather up the leavings, Equally as mercenary as "the boss of the senate," he lacked Peabody's iron nerve, determination, resourcefulness and daring." He needed many hours of sleep. Peabody .could work twenty hours at a stretch. He had to have his meals regularly or else suffer from indigestion. Peabody sometimes did a day's work on two boiled eggs and a cup of coffee. The senior senator from Mississippi had been the first to point out to Pea body the possibilities for profit in the gulf naval base project, but the morn ing following the conference , ; with Steinert when he' rejoined them for breakfast at the ' Louis Napoleon he was far from comfortable. He did not mind fighting brain against brain. iTo bj Continued.) Dr. E. C. Vitoui DENTIST. 1-1 PRO, Advertise In the ARGUS. ALDRIGH OHjFHE TARIFF Chairman of The tinanee Committee Explains That Body's Measure to The Senate. Me Evidently Fears The Demand of The Democrats For An Income Tax Clause Will Be Suc cessful in The Final Wind up. Washington, D. C, April 19. In op ening the debate in the Senate on the pending tariff bill today, Senator Al drich, chairman of the committee on finance, assured the Senate In roost positive terms that the bill reported from the committee on finance would produce ample revenue for the govern ment. He suggested that .If, by any possibility these estimates should prove to be incorrect the duty of Con gress would be to "reduce expendi tures and make them conform to ac tual revenue conditions and not to im pose new and onerous taxes." While he did not refer specifically to any proposition to impose an in come tax his statement declaring that ample revenues may be derived from other sources was accepted as direct opposition to all such propositions. Nearly every Senator was present when Mr. Aldrich spoke and most areful attention was accorded him on both sides of the chamber. Several leading Senators who desired to reply to Mr. Aldrich deferred doing so un til they could carefully study his state ments. Mr. Aldrich said in part: "The practical question to which I ask your attention today, is: 'Will the bill as reported " from the committee on finance produce sufficient revenue when taken in connection with the in ternal revenue taxes and other exist ing sources of revenue to meet the ex penses of the governmnt without the imposition of additional taxes?" I an swer unhesitatingly, after a thorough and . careful investigation of the acts and the conditions likely to surround the problem, that it 'will. - Mr. Aldrich submitted statements show irg the receipts, disbursements, surpluses and deficits, actual and esti mated, of the treasury, for the fiscal years 1900 to 1911, inclusive. He con tinued: ' "The changes which we propose to make in the administrative act in clude (1) "new definitions of dutiable alue and new methods in its proper ascertainments; (2) more efficient col lection machinery; and (3) a provi sion for the creation of a customs court to insure uniformity of decisions n customs cases. The provisions sug gested will in the opinion of the com mittee, result in the collection of a certain percentage " more revenue in the importation of the same articles than was collected under the act of 897. " - "The extent of undervaluations practiced under existing law, is vari ously estimated at from ten to twenty- five per cent, of the revenue collection. If any - considerable portion of this parctice is corrected by the provisions I have alluded to, whe can certainly safely add five millions to the estimate of revenue for 1910, based upon the mportation of 1907, $345,000,000." Mr. Aldrich then said: "Business activity and movement for increased importations has al ready commenced We ran feel the change in the air. The "customs re- eipts for the thirty-nine business iays from March 1 to April 15, inclu sive, increased as compared with the corresponding days in 1908, $12,031, 093.08, or an average daily increase of $261,545.50. This increase seems to b progressive as the report for the last day, which I have; April 16, shows re ceipts from all sources, $2,072,072.86 as compared with receipts of $1,233, 321.30 on the corresponding day oi last year. "The total receipts from custom1 for the first sixteen days of April wer $15,976,106.67, against $11,39,277.15 in April of last year, and the statement of the first to the sixteenth of Apr! shows an excess of receipts oyer ex penditures this year of $312,929.92 as-- against an excess of expenditures over receipts of the corresponding period of last year of $6,618,925.88. . 'Those who do - not believe in this continued march of improvement have little knowledge of the recuperative powers of the American people, and fail to measure correctly the force of the spirit of confidence which will ac company a guarantee of security and industrial peace. 'For the year 1911 1 have estimated an increase of revenue of $40,000,000 and a reduction of expenditures of ?ii.t uu.OOO, a consequent surplus of $3'J,(00,000. This surplus -would cer tainW continue: and a normal business condition. There can be no reasona ble question of the sufficiency of the Senate bill to provide adequate reve nue." . -- '. Mr. Aldrich said that the statement submitted to the Senate "shows that if the Senate bill had been in force ir. 1907 the customs revenue produced by it would have been $8,000,000 greater than those collected under the D'ne- ley act, the totals being $332,000,000 undef the act of 1897, and $840,000,000 under the Senate bifl. " This increase of revenue is due to advances in rates oh a few, articles of luxury, such as Wine, spirits, . etc. It is due to the substitution made in the bill, in all cases where it was possi ble, of specific for ad valorem duties. This will prevent undervaluation and consequently increase revenues. This increase will be more marked in the silk schedule than elsewhere." IX FINE SPIRIT. Capt. Peterson . Accepts Result and Pledges His Support, As. Becomes the Progressive Citizen He Is. Goldsboro, N. C, April 20, 1909. Dear Argus: I desire to briefly say in regard to yesterday's primary that I heartily thank my friends and sup porters for their loyalty and confi dence. I trust that all will do as I shall do, accept the result. I shall support Mr. Higgins for mayor, and hope that he will endeavor to faith fully act his part well as a public ser vant in this difficult and responsible position. As to those who have so industri ously hurled false and insinuating al legation against- me for the past few weeks like the merciless waves of the sea, treating character, the most val uable asset we possess, as a football, to be kicked about. I trust they will turn their efforts now to the elevation of their fellow man, rather than try ing to degrade and that these unfair unjust and false criticisms will find no lodgment in any mind, not even those who manufactured and circu lated them. And to every one who loves good or der and government, and wishes Goldsboro to progress along all right lines. I say kindly, let's turn our faces to the rising sun and make this city we love so well a delightful place in which to live. Very respectfully, J. E. PETERSON. COXGKESS MAT TAKE ACTION. Representative Keliher Points the Way to Stop Gambling in Foodstuffs. Washington, April 20. Representa tive Keliher said today that if Con gress wishes to legislate on the sub- eet of dealing In futures, it can. be done by petitioning the Speaker to ap point members of a committee on ag riculture to take up the Scott bill or any bill that has been introduced to prevent corners in foodstuffs, such as the Patten wheat deal. The Speaker will probably be re quested to give heed to the public out cry against the great current wheat deal and take some step to prevent ambling in foodstuffs. The Speaker usually responds to any petition signed by a majority of the House. HA INS TRIAL BEGINS. No Appeal Will Be Made to Unwritten Law Defense Will Be Insanity. Flushing, L. I., April 19. That the unwritten law" will not figure in the trial of Captain Peter C. Hains, Jr., U. S. A., for the murder of William E. Annis, at the Bayside Yacht Club ast August, was the positive state ment made today by John F. Mcln- tyre, chief counsel for the defense, at the opening of the trial before Jus tice Garrelson in the Supreme Court. The first day's session closed after some fifty talesmen had been exam ined, with only two jurors in the jury box. Justice Garrelson ordered that the jurymen be kept under close surveil lance in the court offices. The prisoner appeared nervous and veary after his first day's experience n court. His father, General Peter !. Hains, and his brother, Major dains, sat beside him in court, but he seldom spoke to them. SUPERIOR COURTS TO BE HELD HERE IN MAY AND OCTOBER Last Legislature Gave Wayne County Two Additional Terms This Year. By an act of the last Legislature .Vayne county was "given two addi ional trems of Superior Court this ear, the first to be held here for two .veeks beginning May 10. The second idditional term will be held in Octo er. The jurors for the May term are' as follows: . . First week M. E. Cox, R. E. Chase, J. F. Hill, Jr., J. E. Lassiter, J. A, Daughtry, D. H. Parker, Henry Hol land, G. L. Edgerton, . O. L. - Aycock, J. D. Daniels, Z. B. Smith, H. B. Black man, Geo. W. Thompson, Julius Ivey, J. W. Edwards, Jr., Garry Weeks, Jos E. Parks, J. W. Hosea, M. E. Brogden, M. LiT Lee, T. J. Fussel, J. W. Isler, J. M. Swaringen, A. U. Kornegay. Second week J. J. Roberts, David Smith, W.; J. Gibson, Amos Stroud, K. E. Bizzell, I. I. Thornton, R. D. Pate, B. F. Barwick, A. H. Edgerton, W. H Chessnut, J. W. Winslow, R. W. Hines F. Li Castex, W. A. Sasser, John C Bardin, John II.' Pate, L. G. Waddell flenry Porter. New Bern. N. C, April 19. J. J Baxter, one of the largest merchants h town, made an assignment this moi ning for the benefit of his cred tors, naming J. J. Wolfenden as his assignee. The store is closed and Mr. w'ulffnden has charge. The liabili ties are not given, but are understood to be large. - ' 4 1 - - - - tit . 'XV LV " - K SB V 4 H in m& remedies that I ever ..I flSS llB tried cough., 4.1 '-SLV J SV" them to be true? Remember, he says not only that orating spring tonic, but also as one of the mm coughs, colds and catarrhal complaints. What are you going to do with such evidence? Are you going, to turn away from it and listen only to the talk of people who probably never saw a bottle of Peruna, certainly never tried a bottle of it, who have nothing else to do but to talk about other people's affairs? Are you goingto listen to such people as that, instead of accepting the testimony of those who know? There may be a few people so constituted as to be able to perform such a mental feat. But the sensible people, the reliable people, the brawn and brain of the world, who are governed by principles of justice and common sense, are going to accept the clear, pointed and undoubted testimony of a man of national repu tation who knows what he is talking about. Peruna is everything he says it is. It is an invigorating spring tonic. Itl. aho a good remedy for coughs. We have many testimonials attesting to this fact Peruna is manufactured by the Peruna Drug Mfg. Co., Columbus, Ohio. T onfic or There is an immense difference between a tonic and a stimulant. Up one day, way back the next; that's a stimulant. Steady progress day by day toward perfect health; that's a tonic. Ayer's Sarsaparilla is a tonic, a strong tonic. The only Sarsaparilla entirely free from alcohol. Do not stimulate unless your doctor says so. He knows. Ask rum. Do as he Constipation is the one great cause of sick-headache, biliousness, indigestion, bad breath, debility, nervousness. Has your doctor ever recommended Ayer's Pills to you? 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"Put ton nnnlrf Vw n. . ; V i : a x i . . . " -""""J fm-o-w he recommends Peruna as an invig best remedies that he has ever tried for Simulant says. . c. A yer Co., LowelI,Mass. Fertilizers tsland, Seed Meal, to see us before St Mm