Hickory
"
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ably showers. ,
ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBF" 1915
HICKORY, W. C, THURSDAY EVENING, APR!L 7, 1921
PRICE FIVE CENTS
PRESS COMMEkc VARIES
WILLIAMS MURDER CASE
EVIDENCE BEFORE JURY
Both State and Defense Close Case, with Owner
of Big Plantation Only Witness for Defense
Claims Innocence State Corroborates
Mass Meeting of Workers at the Chicago Stockyards
f
4V
ON WATTS' Ar OINTMENT
Record's Raleigh Correspondent Furnishes Di
gest of Comment for and Against Naming of
Statcsville Man as Commissioner
of Revenue
(BY MAX AUKIINKTIIY)
Kalcigh, A pri 1 7 While the ap
pointment of IVl. Alston 1). Vv t
u commissioner of revenue ,tn i tax
ation M cons'ulciul by man.-' paper.;
of the .Htate a purely .1 political ap
pointment but few express the belief
that Watts was named fo.r the pur
pose of furthering GO'-ernir Cam-
r u Morrison's future political am
bition Th i'e h:i developed con.-i lorable.
t .pmitton to the appointment and the
lv ilcigh NV.wa and Observer, afti
declaring the appointment "shocks
the state," .iys: "There had been
gossip that his (Watts) nam.1 vu
uml r ccnsidcrati'.iu but it wri net
l"'licvcd that Governor Monism
would seriously consider appointing
to that imnottant position a mar.
whose only calling is that of a march
i:n' politician ami vhc?e only cquin
niciu h that of organizing and tli
wct intr political agencies."
"tiovernor Morrlsin has made an
apix'intmcnt which haj all the ear
marks of 'pit distribution' and o.ie
that wil hardly meet with ' approval
iut-i'le the political faction larjr.ly
c! nt rolled by the appointed'," is the
vav the Kinston Free I'rens vic.vs
thf situation. "('olonel Watts' only
daim to the office," says the Free
Press, "was preform. nt on the
srrcnjrth of factional political ser
vice" and thinks the colonels friends
have not male "any serious claims
to his peculiar fitness for this par
ticular office or his qualitications as
.. t-.v i.vm.rt. On the ntn:r hand the
ll ickory Record conclude j that "All j
papers concede mat iur. vvaii. n:is
tin. nhilitv" hut doubts the i,isdom
vt the appointment since "Mr. Watt.4 '
dics riot enjoy the confidence of th:
people." The governor, the Record
concludes, "has lost in public eoteem
by his action."
The Raleigh Times ates in the nam
ing of Watts a political appointment,
"made for politics! reasons, and not
primarily fcr the common gocd. It
may square the governor's debt to
Watts; it places belli cf them heavily
in arrears to the people of North
Carolina, If they meet this obliga
tion, well and good and none will be
mote highly appreciative than, those
who are now most dubious." Whether
Governor Morrison hr.fi "made an
end cf hia policy of appointing m;n
hv reason of their proven capacity
for the sort cf work assigned them
is a question raised by the Times :r
errinection with the appointment f-f
Walts.
"Viewed from the political anjle
it would have been almost impossible
.-ays the Salisbury Post, "for Gover
nor Mormon to turn devv,n the
CNit.u.iiitn mnn. Tf anv one man
" ... .i
ma i'e Morison governor it .would be
Watts- More than any olhcr m"'.
Watts conttihuted to the (lection ot
Morrison and to refuse that man
a place asked for. especially when
hundreds and perhaps thousands ot
mighty good citizens and P"tv
workers pleaded for him, would have
been an act beyond most nionllifi
Post thinks the friends of Mr Vatts
will justify the appointment but su--mits'that
"The unfortunate part of
the matter is that such an important
place must be filled for polit'"
purposes, that a political debt mus.
be paid with so responsible a place
and. bIho that a governor should
have been asked to pay such a price
f.r Prty service, which is not often
ut, tlfish service."
UxproMsion.M from feast
With other papers the Wilsn
i tk, if Watts ap-
... ,u TKditical debt, well
paid since "Watts was largely in
rtrumcnUl in bringing about , at
nomination cf Governor Morrison
an.t he was the man who made the
wi.m.n suffrage issue cf such poteru
force against Max Gardner in tnc
second primary." 4i.;i,B
'I re Fayetteville Observer thinks
that "In view of the nral estimate
put upon the fitness of Mr. Watts for
the high office it mav be Mid I that
the governor was not seeking inc
light man for the right place as A.
J. Mxwe1l the ther rpnlicant frr the
position is considered.. much better
innml. both bv ability and exper-
ience." If the govemor souht to pay
a political debt The Observer bevej
(hat .vhil:- the payment ofa debt of
gratitude is commendable it mu
U, bo-ne in rnld tbat a ""bhc offi
cial, in apnointment to office first
f wes a duty, as well as a debt of
-ratiude to the people who placed
hi min a high position cf trust.
Simitar expression of 1'
m:nt over the appointment cf Mr.
Vatto are also hf-rd f ror- r.'imy '0' -
oth"r papers while some ""j" I that be is mcanaoie oi naminis .wins
ing dailies of the state commend the the office to whicb he has be?n ai
ro"Tncr'a notion- " . no-'nted." Thi paper declares "He
That Watts was "admittedly fully capable."
tird nwav tb? best eouipped man in Having advised r gainst namin?
the "tate for the rr;sitiori of commis-lf jtj,er Watts rr Mfv-w-ell the Greens
'ioner of revenue." is the way thoinoW) Record tells the governor tn
rinrlot" Observer views the ap-lwp Watts' advice from now on
ointment and cncludes with "There ,The Rccor(i thinks that the appoint
had been seme opposition voiced of either would have caused a
ro-ainst him (Watts) on merely po- st0rm of protest. "The govrtnor has
1 ! r-r. !r,V rt tVlO Tllflttpr
from1 the standpint of fitness for the
L IP LIES
UHD
3v the Associated Press.
Washington, April 7. The two
airplanes piloted by marinj aviators
now breaking a trail from this city
to the Virgin Islands arrived at
(luantanamo, (Atba at 2:41! yester
day afternoon, the navy department
was advised today. The planes uie to
leave for Port Au Psinee, Haiti, tomor
row. position, there is none who can deny
the wisdom of the governor."
In the appointment the Cha: lotto
Xiias docs net indicate whether, in
its opinion, the governs performed
the task most wi:-elv or not nnt.ins-
tif ies the appointment of Mr. Wjtt I By the Associated fress.
in this way: "Mr. Maxwell as a mem-' Seiners: t. Ky., April 7. An inves
ber of the Corporation Commission j titration cf the wreck of t he Roval
is regarded as almost indispensable ; Taim Limited, wrecked yesterday
to the state's interest on that body! near New River. Tenn.. witd the loss
His long experience there. couple j of four lives and GO persj; injured,.
with his marvelous insight into
the enigmas of taxation in Ncrth
Carolina, has placed him in the fore
front of those who speak with final
authority on ali issues of taxation
in this state. Governor M'ovvi.Mm v ti
probably, therefore, readied the con
elusion that it would be better from !
the standpint of the larger and besv I
interests of the state to leavj Mr
iht !-. 1 l i r
Maxwell wi'iere he is '. nd put
Mr.
Wits into the new !: -iticn."
The Wilmington Star finds no fault
with Colonel Watts and thinks
that the governor 'could nvt have
appoited Mr- Maxwell as commiss
ioner of revenue t.vithcut most ser
iously impairing a very useful de
partment cf the state government. '
Mr. Watts' "long experience in
Washington, intimately associited
with the finance committe cf. th:
senate and his record as collector of
internal revenue for the western dis
trict of North Carolina." The Star
believes ''is ample justification tn
his appointment and we beiieve tKit
the g.'vernor could not have filled
the offi"u with a more eff 'cient ' ap
pointc:." Other Cmment
"We expect an awful howl from th?
politicians, fdiowinir the announce
ment by Governor Morrison tlvu u?
has appointed Col. A. D. Wa'ts torn
miseior:r of revenue. This howl will
not be caused so much by the fa
that Watts is not qualified for tec J
place, but because he b recogniaee' ,
as a master politician, and b-'cau.-e
certain politicians who oppose him.
have stated that Governor Mcrriso
warts to go to the senate of the
United States and that he mods
Watts to- jret there," observes The
Concord Tribune. While The Trib
une is satisfied with the appointment
this naner screes with others tr.ari
"it seems the bill creating the office'
of the commissioner of revenue was
passed by members who thought It
was practically decided to give the
place to A. J- Maxwell, of the coi
nnntion commission. Rut Governor
Morrison has made the decision and
we believe he is strong enough to
take any consequences.'"
Under the caption "Why Get
reeved?" The Durham Herald re
calls that most of th- government
offices in county, state and ration
are regarded as f r par I a distri
bution and asks: "Hw mny times
can you remember whei a man w.!?
named as an officer for partisan
nurpr-.-er? not nearly so wdl fitted
either by party service and ability to
discharge the duties ot nir; oince -
Watts?" The Herald concludes: "We
are willing to assert that Watts is
better for th? job than a great ma
jority who have been .opposing him."
Watts Home Paper
The Statcsville Dail. published in
Wsitts' home county thinks the gov
ernor "would have gained some repu
tation for candor and courage bv
bravely announcing from th:; cutset
that he would do what he knew he
was going to do and what he did do."
Admitting that Watts is a politician
and that "he doesn't pretend to be
anvfring else" The Statesville paner
submits that "he is not materially
different from the comnvvi run of
politicians cf all paities in North
Carlina and other states. He is- n.ore
astute than most of them and nn?
iiev
more reputation. Furthermore no
do him wrong who say or intimat
V.,t llO Will tipr nbnllt thl
rc,t 0f his life."
fei fucia. c' xvsS'-w
4m V
1 V
I
Sunday mass meeting of 25,000. employees of the Chicago packing lious'es
tor two bl? parados bad disbanded, in
Chicago 'Federation of Labor, one of
was being made toasy oy
officials of
the Southern Railway.
That the
nm iTn mm
mm rr,v up,
mi w icx a. m i n i tr u m a i km mm
! If
of he mam
greatest oamage was caused m tne j ment of justice will rountenance no
day coaches was the result cf the violation of the law was sounded In
vestigation. .,, ITIi.i"
The train bound frm Jacksonville, j Attoreny General Daugherty today,
in., t r'n r, - i whon The country, he said, 'should taKe
.'-prtling rails cr bucklinj: of the
track derailed three Pullman cars.
in: train ran a snort distanc.?, ins
dead and injured being hurt by fly
ing debris and rocks.
By the Associated Press.
AVashington. April 7. Forecast of
a winter crop of about G21OOC,000
bushels was made today 'by th" de
partment of agriculture, basing its
estimate on the conditio nof the crop
Apiil 1, which was 91.0 per cent
ncrmal-
There wras an increase of 3.1 per
cent in condition from December last
to Anril 1 this year, compared with
an sverage decline of 4.8 per e-rat
between thor-e dates in the last ten
yc :.rs.
Th" -.voriuctien forecast is based
upon tm average piaaiea i-t iu.
voCtv th? assumption of average
abrndenrntnt r.nd ' average influences
cn tiic C:on to harvest
fly the Associated Tress.
New York. April 7. New York's
nia-ht court busy as a result of the
nonce department s nrst arive in me
. i l- l AT
state's enforcement of the state rr
hibiticn law was temporarily inter
upted today when a bottle of confiscat
ed liquor exploded in a detective's
pocket.
The detective stood before th? mag
istrate supporting a man who with
bowed head was confessing that he
had partaken too freely of the beer
that intoxicates.
-
iiiixr.R umrAT
MMXHBK ia1 IIXIIWNIli
UHUi UllUliU
U UiliyL
BOOZE EXPLODES
SI1PFDE
........ - , . . . -. I j-j U'lUCI CHI. C tjiv. lu.y ti uiiti
trate asked. j Secretary Davis to accept whatever
The detective moved towards his wage reductions arp agreed up&n by
pocket and some one shouted , employes of trans-Atlantic ships up
"boom," and the rush for the exit Ion the expiration ' of the agreement
began. I he detective was hurled
to the floor as was his prisoner.
The magistrate and others in the
ccurt gathered outside, returning
only when apprised of the cause.
i ne next aeiennant on tnc uockcl,
ti father of ten. still trembling as a
result of the explosion, took a
pledge to abstain "forever and ever."
KAUFF RULED OUT
By the Associated Press.
Chicago, April 7. B:nny Kauff,
star outfielder of the New York
Nationals, tcday was declared in
eligible to pHy on the New York
team because of the indictment re-
the'tnrncd against him in New York on
th? charge of stealing an automobile.
ft
Z1
' 1 h f Str,
JLu.
protest against . a cut hi wages,
Tn.rf-
many speakers.
ioniiM
m
auon
HUH
mm mm
r b i f
1
a t ' S ! I f
K 3 S B m Kl 9 ''4
kj? r
ir
By the Associated Press,
Washington, April 7. A
general
warning to business that the depart-
notice cf a new" day and a new7 way,
and those who have been guilty cf
illegal practices sncuia not
doss
j their eyes.
I His statement, -he added, "was - a.
modest but emphatic warning to
those to whom intended and they
should govern themselves according
ly." ' Th? attorney general said the de
i nartment of justice did not intend to
! Trirn8 himinfSB in anv w.iv. Vint, it
did intend to enforce the Ww He
pointed out that while the profiteev-
ling- section of the fuel and food law
had been declared unconstitutional
the government could proceed under
the anti-trust law.
Mr. Daugherti was discussing
specifically the conditions in the
building material industry 'which he
declared reports to the department
show to be intolerable. He said the
departnrent of justice would ask for
more aid from ths outside1 than it had
received heretofore and that lawyers
representine firms should hold them
selves as agents of the department
ot" ju-stice in upholding the law.
The attorney general said it was
the purpose to investigate conditions
in the building trades wherever a
complaint was heard. Indictments
already have bene returned in Mew
York and comlaints have come from
Chicago, St. Louis and other cities.
He said conferene2s already" have
been held with Die-trict Attoeney
Ciyne cf Chicago.
By the Associated Press.
Chicago, April 7. Permission
make provisional reduction of
the
wages of unskilled labor on the New
York Central Railroad labor beard
was denied by the railroad labor
beard. The railroad recently applied
to put cuts of 17 p2r cent into effec-.
on April 1. The case was takon to
the labor board after the employes
and railroads had carried their ease
up.
TUG BOAT EMPLOYES AGREE
TO ACCEPT WAGE REDUCTION
Washington. April 7 Sea going
itnedioat cmnloves aeree last nisrht at
between seamen and sr.ip ccvTiers on
May 1.
SALISBURY CHILD KILLED
BY PASSENGER TRAIN NO.
11
Salisbury, Anril 7. The two-year-
I old baby girl of Mr. and Mrs. Adam
T. Jackson wandered from heme yes
Iterday morning and got as far as the
! Southern railway track just a shor
distance nway'm time to be struck
by southbound passenger train No
11 When the little one was mis,?ed
a search was made which ended in
a few minutes, the 'child being found
between the double tracks and so bad
ly injured that it died in a local hos
pital last night.
prop
I Ly LL
ffiFis mmm
SHLIEO LABOR
-A 1
4?
.2
5
in the district
Wi -.
lps!,1,.nt -Tnlm FlrznntrJ-.-k of tllQ
- -
By the Associated Press.
Chicago, April 7. The country
should give the prohibition' amend
ment a trial for "about 50 years to
see whether it is tho best thing for
us or not," is the opinion of Judae
K. M. Landis. The judge spoke
last night at an anniversary cele
bration of America's entry into the
war.
'T warn you that the ISth am
endment is in danger of nullifica
tion by bureau heads those deuces
and treys of officialdom who are
making a lot of rcom to permit soft
drink saloons to-sell alcohol for med-
cinal purpose
By the Associated Press.
Chicago, April 7. An abandoned
mail sack found bv the police early
today and believed to be . the regis
tered pouch stolen by bandits from a
mail truck late yesterday contained
voucher? for money iwihich the police
said shows that from $500,000 to
$550,000 was obtained by the robbers.
it was reporteu today.
The abandoned pouch contained
wrappers that indicated a shipment
cf $40,000 in $1 bills; a package
bolding $-50,000 in currency; another
ontaimne- 100 $1,000 bills and live
large 'sacks consigned to branches of
the federal reserve bank,, each sack
containing- five jpiallcr bags, which
m turn held currency oi iar.ee ue
nomination. 6r tho Associated Press.
'Buffalo. N. Y., April 7. .1 though
Roy Harris, alias G. E." B. Leonard
had not deviated from the original
story of his alleged part in the mur
der last June of Jos. E. Elwell,
wealthy New York club man, the
Buffalo. N- Y. April 7. Although
furl analysis of his signed confes
sion pointed to certain discrepancies
in it and know facts of th2 murder
er.
Harris fixes the shooting at
s
if
il 0 i lumL wuiiLnuy
(32 j UUUIILU Of LH1SUW
?WO XtiT v
s only."
-OFFICERS
o'clock in the morning.. He also saysmakim? has been added to the faculty.
that Ins pal i;unean usee, a mmi
revolver. Elwell s ciath (Wouna
was inflicted by a bullet -of large
caliber, and the wound inflicted
would not. have allowed him to lin
ger for several hours.
Harris also hxed the date oi tne
murder as June 12, whereas, it oc
curred on the morning ot June i.
On the other hand, Harris goes
into a wealth of detail as to the cir
cumstances of the killing,' which
showed knowledge of it.
B
IDEALISM PLAYED OUT!
Lowell Courier-Citizen. .
"Let us be an example of disinter
estedness, altruism and brotherly
love; let us assume the. moral leader
ship of the world,' pleaded Henry
Morgentha'u. former embassador to
Turkey, at the Harvard union. Old
stuff, old hat! Us for ourselves, nix
on idealism is the wratchword of today.
Manning
ITEII SERVICE
BBf IS URGED
By the Asociated Press.
Washington, April 7. Organiza
, tion of a veteran service admmish-a-
uon. eonsouaatinc existing tro-ve.rn-
ont K,, j " .
.treatment cf disabled serves Jinn.
j is recommended today in tlie report
ot cnas Lr- Dawes cf Chicago, chair-
man i me .special commutie appoi'ii
ed by President Harding.
3y the Associated Press.
Raleigh, Aprfil 7. An intensive
campaign contemplated by the state
department of insurance against the
activities of unlicensed stock sales
men was launched today when Insur
ance Commissioner Wade sent tele
grams to 34 chiefs of police of
North Carolina cities asking them to
give publicity to the warning.
The telegram authorizes the arrest
of any one offering questionable
stock for ile, Commissioner Wade
emphasizing the fact that there Is
not a licenses "blue sky stock sales
man in the state" at the present
time-
RECEIVED HERE
iCbief Lentz received a telegram
from the izurane commissioner to
day and will give the matter his
attention.
.
the Associated Press. '
By
London. April 7. A complete-
brcakun of tha conferences between
representatives of the miners, the
owners and the government with a
view to settling the coal strike was
announced in the house of com
mons today.
Leaders of the miners' union who
conferred with Prime Minister Lloyd
George this morning refused to or
der pumpmen and engineers affect
ed by the coal strike to resume their
posts. .
As a result of this refusal
the
miners and their employers will not
hold a conference today.
The national union of railway men
today unanimously decided to sup-,
port the miners in their strike.-
HERE ARE NEW DEGREES
FOR UNIVERSITY MEN
Bv the Associated Piess.
Edmonton, Alta., April 7. Such
degrees as "Doctor of Cheese-making"
and "Bachelor of Butter -churning"
may be conferred upon gradu
ates of the university of Albert. A
3 ; nrof essorshin in butter and cheese
The post has been tendered to C. P.
Marker, principal dairy commission
er, whose achievements have giver
him an international reputation in
scientific dairying.
For years Mr. Marker has been
preaching the gc-spel of scientific
lairyingj
PRESIDENT HARDING'S BED
By the Associated' Press.
Grand Rapids, Mich., April 7.
President Harding a ill sleep in a bed
five feet wide and eight feet iong,
six inches wider and one foot longer
than a standard size bed. The bed,
rshel through by a furniture company
here on a special order, has been
s:nt to Washington, where it will be
set up in the president's bedroom in
the white house.
Snecial designer? were employed in
making the bed.
FAKERS
BRITISH STRIKE
SITUATION IS
nniTinn 1
UniMbHL
1
3y the Associated Press.
Covington, Ga., April 7 Evidence
in the trial of John S. Williams,
charged with the murder of one of
11 negroes after special agents of the
department of justice had investigat
ed peonage charges, closed today.
The only witness for the defense wa3
Willams himself, who said, "I am as
innocent as a man can be."
Williams told the jury he had told
federal agents he mig'ht be "techni
n,r
"" 8uul oi jueunage
if their
slatements s to peonage were cot-
rect and said that Clyde Manning,
negro farm boss, said the agents told
him that he was as guilty as Mann
ing in the murder f the negroes.
Williams confined his remarks to
the cases of Lindsey Peterson Harry
Price and Willie Preston, three ne
groes drowned in Newton county. He
is specifically on trial for the dath
of Peterson.
Court recessed for lunch wfcea
Williams left the stand and th ar
guments (were to start at the aftes
noon session, each side to have three
s peakers.
Williams took the stand to make a
statement in his own behalf.
"I have never had any kind of crim
inal charges against me or my boys
before this," were the first words of
Williams to the jury.
Williams said his four grown sons
were among the first in the county to
answer the country's call to war.
"Like most farmers, I have bonded
out negroes and worked them," he
continued.
Williams said he paid these men
wages. He then told of the federal
investigation started in February. He
asked the department of justice agents
to tell him exactly what peonage was
and said on being told that working
bonded negroes was, then he told the
federal agents he might have been
technically guilty that "most Georgia
farmers were if their definition was
correct."
STATE RESTS CASE
By the Associated Press.
Covington. Ga., April 7. The state
rested its case agrainst John S. Wil-
jliams on trial charged with the mur
der cf Lindsey Peterson, one of the
"'negro farm hands who met death
after federal investigation of alleged
peonage began in February.
Court suspended for 15 minutes to
ie u,
to confer.
The last two state's witnesses who
testified today corroborated state
ments of Clyde Manning, negro farm
boss. Manning told the jury yester
day Williams directed the killing of
the men. three of (whom were drown
ed in Newton county.
Rena Manning, wife of Clyde Man
ning, testified in corroboration of
her husband's statement that on the
night Peterson. Willie Preston and
Harry Price were last seen alive.
Williams carried them and Manning
an Cnarlie Chisholm, boss, in hi.-
car.
Sheriff B- L Johnson of Newton
county testified that -Manning iden
tified the bodies of Peterson, Preston
riverjj and toU where the . other
bodies could be found.
m
WHERE BURLESON HELPED
Ohio State Journal.
We often think that, if Mr. Bur
leson had to be postmaster-general
at all. he held that position of trust
and responsibility at just the right
period in our commercial development
as probably the unavoidable delays
saved not a few thoughtful small in
vestors from getting in their applica
tions for oil and rubber stocks until
it was too late-
REGISTER NOW
Registrars for the good roads
election may be found at their
respective registration places each
afternoon . during the week and all
day Saturday for the purpose of
enrolling voters for the coming el
ection. The registrars and the place of
registering follow:
Southeast Hickory, J. Porter
Burns at Burns' Store.
Southwest Hickory, Mrs. Ver
non Lackey at W. A. Self's office,
Ninth avenue.
'Northeast Hickory, B. A. Miller
at the Chamber of Commerce.
Northwest Hickory, James W,
Espey at the citymanager's of
fice.