r,m-- -. "v
1
VOL. X.-.N0 25
LINCOLNTON. N. C. MONDAT AFTERNOON. MAY 1 1916
ONE DOLLAR PER TEA!
;4V JJ( A
'i I'll 1mT ho ! Tiil
CLOSING EXERCISES
FRIDAY NIGHT
Lincolnton Graded School Commence
ment Exercises Came to Close Fri
day Night With Splendid Entertain,
ment The Winners of1 Gold. 'Med
' als. ''"'.'.. '
The exercises of the Graded School
year came to a close last Friday night
with the presentation of the play
"The Night Riders," given by the pu
pils of the High School. The play was
very enjoyable and well attended.
Miss Nannetto Rudisill, Miss Mary
TVarliek, and Mr. K. B. Nixon were
the judges for the contests r.t the prev
ious exercises and the following pupils
were winners of gold modal, prizes:
Ruth Stimpson received a gold med
al for the best improvement in reci
tation. For tho best general improvement
in music, Corinne Crowell and Edna
Hovle were winners.
Helen Goode won. the gold medal
for practicing three hours each day.
v Marie Motz was the winner of the
prize given for the pupil who finished
the sophomore course in music. ;
Jennings Edwards won the Declar
ers' prize, and Koberta Love won in
the Reciters contest.
Following is the program rendered
Friday night by the Hieh School pu
pils, tho play being entitled "The Night
Kiders ':
Cast of Characters.
Colonel Shelby, Proprietor of a tobac
co plantation Walter Costner.
Jack Willis, A young lawyer Sher
wood Childs.
Edgar Harbeck. Cashier of a local
bank, and secretly in league with
the "Night Riders'' Fitzhugh Hoyle
Judge Harbeck, His father, a power-'
. ful man in politics and affairs of
the county Carr Leonard.
George Flimflam, A speculator and
promoter Sterne Camn. .
Tom Mosely Grady Rhodes; Evan
Holdcn Marshall Ramsey; Jared
Sparks Harold Stimpson "Night
Riders."
Clem Pascoe. A jockey and servant
to Willis Donald McLean.
Silas Stickney, A tailored politician
v-uivin regram.
Uncle Solomon, An old servant Claud
Hollv.
Ikey Bloomingall, A Hebrew traveler
Jennings Edwards.
Mabel Shelby, Colonel Shelby's daugh-
wjr miss uouise mcvjraw.
Bockey Shelby, Her maiden aunt
Lena Dellinger.
Susio Sparks, A mountain girl Wil
lie Costner. . ,,
Aunt Cissy, and old coUred "mammy"
Ruby Padgett. ' j
Louise Clairville, An adventuress ' -
Miss Mabel Farmer. -
Other -"Night Riders Zed -Crowoll,
Vernon Kiser, William Wetmore. -U.
S. Marshall Robert WycofT.
Synopsis.
Act I. Colonel Shelby's home.
Judge Harbeck demands that Mabel
Shelby marry his son. "She herself
shall decide." The Harbecks hold
Shelby's mortgage nnd notes. "Colo
nel Shelby, you are in a tight place."
Mabel's answer, "I vould not marry
-vou if you were the last man on earth"
Mabel and Jack Willis. Louise Clair
ville turns up. Jack advances money
to sneiDy. ine Night Kiders visit
Kholhir '
uiye mm tne . lash ; and
Act II. In the mountains. Susie
and Becky declare Flimflam has swin
dled them. Ikey defends them. The
duel. "What! Real loaded pistols?
I guess not!" Both heroes fall, but
come to life when the ladies go. Mab
el is captive of Edgar Harbeck. "You
are a scoundrel." Edgar tries to poi
son Louise. Mabol apparently agrees
to marry Edgar, but tho veiled bride
proves to be Louise. "Everybody un
mask. There are enemies among
- pb!" The fight" Harbeck and - the
Night Riders escape. :
Act III. An abondoncd "Moonshi
ners" hut. Flimflam "on the job,"
disguised as a woman. Jack saves
Louise,. but is seized by tho Night
Riders. - Colonel Shelby also a cap
tive. "Hang them both." Mabel just
in time. "Spare them r.nd I will be
your wife" Ikey envos Mabel. Louise
brings tho -United States officers. Ed
gar Harbeck is killed. "Forgive me.
Good-byo,"Tho Night Riders sur
render. ',:::-,;;. . :v x. '' .:..-., '
FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS
EIGHT GERMANS.
Now York. April 28. The Federal
grand jury returned an indictmontl
tUUtly agilljlob blio uiKHb 15-
eently arrested on the charge of en
gaging in a conspiracy to place in
cendiary bombs on ships carrying
munitions for the Entente Allies and
against Dr. Walter T. Scheele, presi-
dent of the New Jersey Agricultural
Chemical Company, the alleged leader
of the conspiracy, who has not yet
been arrested.
It was at Scheele's factory that the
bombs were partly manufactured, it
is alleged.- -
, . i i. '
TWO TROUTMAN GIRLS BURIED
TOGETHER IN SAME GRAVE.
Troutmnn, April 27., " A
very unusual and pathetic funeral
soryice was conducted yesterday at
Pleasant Hill Churchyard. Two beau
tiful pirl8, daughters of Mr. and Mrs.
. Bert Morrow, were laid in the same
. ' jrrave. These young ladies, just bud
ding into womanhood,- died Wednes
day within a few hours of each other.
Both had pneumonia.
ASHEVILLE'S DEFENSE PLAN
BUY A FEW RIG GUNS
TRAIN MT5N TO HANDLE.
Asheville, April 27. Asheville r is
sending out to every city of any size
in the United States a new plan of
National defense, which is being call
ed the "Ashevillo Plan for National
Preparedness." ' -
The plan, in brief, is that each
city in the United States purchase one
or more of the huge guns which have
played such a prominent part in the
European war, trnin a company of
men to handle it, and h.-ive it readv
in case of emergency. It is believed
that, by this method, thousands of the
big agents of destruction would soon
be ready to place nt the disposal of
the Government in time of war, each
with highly trained company of
mei to man it. i
NO CHANGE IN
MEXICANjSITUATION
Mexican Want U. S. To Withdraw
s Still Reports That Villa Is Dead
Conference Waits on Washington.
El Paso, Tex., April 29. Two con
flicting propositions developed imme
diately after the beginning in the
Mexican customs house in Juarez late
today of the conference to decide the
future disposition of the American ex
peditionary forces in Mexico.
In addition, another factor is be
lieved to. have been injected into the
situation by the receipt of fresh re
ports that Francisco Villa is dead.
Mexican Consul Andres Garcia said
Col. Carlos Carranza had telegraphed
him from Cusihuirichic that ne had
been unable to find Villa's body, but
that he had established beyond dis
pute that the bandit leader was dead
and he hoped to recover the body in a
few days. The telegram said all the
evidence tended to confirm the death
of Villa.
This telegram is understood to have
been laid before the conferees but
none would confirm or deny it
Majof Uenerals Scott and Funston
represented the United States. The
Mexican conferees were General Al
varo Oberegon, Mexican Minister of
War, Ttnd General Jacinto Trevino,
military commander of the northeast
district of Mexico. The progress of
the negotiations was not divulged, but
from an authoritative source two
things were larned:
First, that the Mexican represent
ative reiterated the wish expressed in
General Carrama's recent note to the
Washington Government that the
American troops should be withdrawn"
from Mexican soil at an early date.
Second, that they were informed by
the American officials that the latter
were not empowered to discuss the
withdrawal of General Pershing's col
umns. ' .
The Mexicans, it is understood, were
further informed that the purpose of
the present conference so far as the
United States is concerned is the de
velopment of a specific plan for the
co-operation of the American and de
facto armies in wiping out the bandit
groups that have caused so much
Bloodshed along the border and have
repeatedly taken American life in the
interior of Mexico.
While the instructions sent by Sec
retary of War Baker to Generals
Scott and Funston have been zealous
ly kept secret it is known that the
following general conditions will be
insisted on by the American repre
sentatives: . , . .' . .
Open and effective co-operation of
tne uarranza lorces witn the Ameri
cans. Extension of the American
lines into Mexico at least as far south
as Casas Grandes and probably far
ther..' . ;; ' -' "" -----Relegation
to the American mili
tary the duty of policing "a nothern
zone," consisting of the territory di
rectly south of the international boun
dary. '
Policing the remainder of the terri
torya "Southern zone" - bv Car
ranza forces.
Co-operation in the handling of
supplies for the American troops.
Granting the use of the Mexican
railways to the expeditionary force.
El Paso. Tex.. Aoril 30. Mexican
and American conferees over the dis
position of the American forces in
Mexico marked time todav while Ma
jor . Generals Scott and Funston
awaited word from Washington as to
hid utsAir m ue uiKen in we ne
gotiations with General Obregon. .
General Obereon in vesterdav's con
ference, served no sort of notice on
Uenerals Sott and Funston that
could be contsrued as an ultimatum
demanding immediate withdrawal. '
1 here is a strone possibility there
will be only one more conference held,
that depending on the wishes of the
Washington officials.
U. S. Cavalry Crossed Into Mexico.
Cnlnmhun. M M Anril 9a .. A
column of cava)ry about four miles
long, moved from the base camp this
afternoon. It
tonight at Gibson's line ranch, 15
mnes west along the border and cross
tho frontier early tomorrow. The de
tachment was the Inrcostt tn Ipbv
Columbus since .the original expedi
tionary force crossed the border
March 15.
COL. DODD STILL POUNDING THE
" V1LLISTAS.
A dispatch from Naminuinn. Gen.
he&rdnunrtern in Movin
says: "A report dated April 24,
from Colonel Oodd, states that he
overtook a band of Villistas near To
machie on 22d at 4:30 p. m., killing
six and wounding 19 others, many
probably fatally. Twenty-five horses
were captured. Our loss two killed
and three wounded. Fight lasted un
til after dark. Impossible to tell def
initely loss of Villistas." t-
Another report says: "Late re
ports from Colonel Erwin state .that
on the 20th scouting party from his
command encountered small, body of
Villistas near Cocomorachie and mor
tally wounded four. Wounded ' in
Dodd's command doing well and none
expected to die.' '
IRISH REBELLION HAS QUIETED
DOWN.
Dublin,April 29. The climax of the
Irish rebellion apparently has passed
Only intermittent firing was heard
throughout the city early today as
government troops under cover of
darkness, drew their lines closer
around the Sinn Feinnicrs who are
trrjjped in the heart of Dublin. ,
Smoke-blackened ruins and the
debris of shell-wrecked buildings in
Sackville Street todav nuirl.-nrt fK.-
trail of rebellion across tho Irish cap-
itnl t-. .1
uciimui uivbu ru.nif lies uie
bodies of many of the rebels who led
in the first dnys of desperate fighting.
Fires started hv th rehnla
dcy night in an effort to burn the
nearx ox tne city, rave been complete
ly extinguished. The Sir.n Feinniers
now hold a small area, completely
surrounded by government troops. ,
J. W. Williams, farmer in David
son county, yanked a 15-pound carp
out of the Yadkin river while fishing
with a hook and line Monday. . He
was as surprised as the fish.
GERMAN REPLY
EXPECTED THIS WEEK
Washington, April 30.- Secretary
Lansing tonight said Ambassador
Gerard had not reported on his con
ference with Emperor William. A re
port is expected hourly. Information
received tonight from German sources
is to the effect that the Berlin Gov
eminent has considered reply to the
American . demand for the immediate
abandonment of present methods of
submarine warfare with an offer, to
have its submarines operate, at least
temporarily only as cruisers against
enemy merchant ships. German offi
cials are said to have expressed them
selves as being favorable toward the
plan. The State Department so far
as is shown, has no information on
the subject.
There is no definite information
here regarding the time the reply
mav be expected. It is thought in
diplomatic and official quarters, how
ever, that it hardly will be received
before the middle of the week at the
earliest. -,
Doctor Dernburg, Secretary of Ger
man colonies, writing in a German pa
per is reported to have said:
"It is to be hoped that an under
standing will be reached which will
conserve our National dignity and
whereby we mayii-etain our relations
with the United States without hav
ing to lessen the force of our activi
t"." The writer calls attention to the
support of President Wilson by all
parties and declares that the Presi
dent bases his entire case on the
Lusitania, Arabic and Sussex passen
ger ships torpedoed without warning,
not on countless other cases in which
attempted flight or resistance justi
fied the submarine commander in
torpedoeing.
The writer says that the present is
no time to discuss America's earnest
ness or her disposition "to place Ger
many upon a tall moral horse," . he
adds:
"The point today is that America is
convinced of the justice of her de
mands. That Nation has been seized
with an ex-nlcsive sentiment nnlw
paralleled by her feeling prior to the
Spanish War." 1
British Soldiers Surrenders To Turks
London, April 29. Mr.jor General
PVl n fine TniimoAn1 nnwtnnnAn, 4VU
British forces besieged at Kutel Am
ara, Mesopotamia, by Turkish forces
since Inst December, has surrendered.
General , Townscnd hold out for
io uays, nls suppnes steuauy grow-
Z lZeZ 88 h Wa'ted the rehef of
tne army.
143 days, his supplies steadily grow
the army,
Submarine Activity Suspends Ship
mcnts of Millions In Silk.
Tokio, April 25. Enemy submarine
activity in the Mediten-anean has
practicnlly caused a Euspcnsion of wflr The first announcement was
silk shipments to Italy. About J25,- made public was the arrival one day
000,0000 worth of Japanese silk is sent last weok of a flotilla of transports
to Itily every year and the cessation w'tn 20,000 trained Russians, anoth
of shipment is causing loos to Jap- er 20,000 landed the first of this
ancso r.s well as inconvonier.ee to the wee't and admission that 10,000 were
United States. Af tor beinu subjected landed April 1st has now been made,
to finishing prososses in Italy a great 11 is a'80 given out that this move
deal of Japanese Bilk is foiwardod to ment 'H continue until 300,000 Rus
the United States from that country. sinns will be in France by June 1st.
Prices on Certain grades have risen Tnev are loaded in Archangel, Vlad
200 per cent avoskok and other ports, and are
m, .... taken to Franco because Russia has
THE WAR'S COST. ' enlisted and drilled many more men
The war is now costing Europe she has arms for, or can use in her
more tnan $90,000,000 daily accord- other fiolds. England and France
mg to estimates of the Mechanics have uniforms and arms awaiting the
and Metals National Bank of New i Russians on their arrival.
Tk k.,i t .u V - Four field o-ujis said to be en-
J, (n i ?pto the Ti P?rl route for the Mexican frontier passed
hour to England, France and Russia Up the road Saturday. They were
ffif tnaT,attel 2'5P'00?- long slim fellows Tnd I wickelLIfng
the cost to tho Teutpoic empires is enough Newton Enternrise
in excess of $1,000,000. The totalT p V 'j- k an,f -
cost of the war, if still in progress
Augst 1, will have been forty-five
oiinon." ur this England's share is
eleven and a half billion; Germany's
a little less and France nine and a
quarter billion. .
' An onen hnckpt. nf mmU n,,k,
fire from an iron in which gas was lalm P;0Sre8 ,n the Vosges moun
used for heating and Linwood Bare- j lns rherS ' VrT '.h""l, wr tok-
foot colored threw the bucket nut
of a window in his home at Wilson.
Pkoin., Pkiiii.. iu.i j a -.
be passing at the time and the stuff
was poured all over him. Fortu-'
nately there was a puddle of water
near and he saved his life by rolling
in it. At that he burnt badly.
i , .
A small boy in Martin county swal-
lowed a ten penny nail this week,
and iv. was located bv the X-rav. hut
operation was postponed as the nail,,ney 8ay that these organizations
gave no pain at the time.
The senate has passed a bill mak-
mg Winston-Salem a port of entry
on account of the large shipments of
foreign stuff and tobacco received
tnere. :." , itimatum to Germany as the correct
. ' '" ' '.' -' way to bring about a clear undcr
E. P. Hvman cashier nf th hunk ' standing between the two countries.
of Hobgood, was killed by a box car
being shifted on a flying switch by
an engine at Hobgood. . He was
dragged 30 feet, both Jegs broken
and nornbly "angled,
Georre C. Ponle 9nH Will r b.k. I
. 3 ' r , j """f
STOkJw. iS'81 due-' & tt siree.
at Salisbury Monday night, without
fatal rosults. One hall W Rabe on
the forhead but glanced. Rabe'a
shots went wild. '
" ' i
The defeat of Mr. Bryan in his
home state for deloeate to the national
democratic convention, is generally
regretted, especially in Washington,
President Wilson has been conHultinir
with party managers and advising
mem to una some way to let Mr. 1,:D Kua "uu peon niuuen in tne noi
Bryan into the convontion. If Mr, lw tree many years ago and roots
Bryan has any criticisms to make had wrapped around -t
of his foreign or other policies, the
President wants him to have a chance
to lay them before the convention,
... -.v. biivit pinAies, una
the only way to provide for Mr. Bry-
an is for the committee to make
some special ruling in his case. The
cause of his defeat in understood to
be that the Nebrauka Democrats are
diSDlcasod with the manner and time
of his resitrmnsr from th rnViinof
Like the Democrnts in all the west-
ern States, they are very strong in
their endorsement of tho president's
foreign policy and his preparedness
programme. ,
SHORT; NEWS ITEMS
1 A dispatch from Washington cava
German U-boat operation!) may be
expected off New York and other
North Atlantic harbors in enso uer
many and tho United states come
to war. This is the opinion of our
Navy experts who are making plans
accordingly.
A dispatch from Geneva, Switzer
land, says an exodus of Americans
from Germany has begun. A number
of them have already arrived at Ba
sely Switzerland. They are (convinced
that a rupture between uermanj' and
the United States is inevitable. 1,
Unpledged delegates r.t largo ; to
il. r i.i: i . . J.i.r
tne ncuuuucun iuiliuuui cunvviiuun
were electod at the presidential pit
maries in Massachusetts over vfpur
candidates pledged to the nomination
of Roosevelt. Anti-Roosevelt candi
dates have also been elected in Ohio
and New Jersey. ,!..
The trial of Robert Fay. a liifaten
ant of the German army, his brother-
in-law, Wnltei) Schuitz and,, Paul
consmracy to destroy shipo carrying
munitions ot war to the Entente allies
is in progress, in tne Fedorr.l cov.rt
New. York. . .
The manufacture of the hieh eynlos-
ive known as tri-nitotoluol is serious
ly affecting the health of thousands of
munition workers in England, says a
London dispatch. It causes unusual
drowsiness, frontal headache, ecjema
and loss of appetite and sometimes
jaundice, according to a committee
which has been devoting much study
to the health of the munition work
ers,
Attornev Charlos C. Trabue shot
and instantly killed Attorney Harry
btoKes at JNasnviae. xenn.. Wednes
day morning. ' They had been orinos
ing .counsel in the "tax-payers' suit"
involving tne prooe into ciiy airmrs.
Mr. Stokes was- chief counsel for the
tax-payers m the litigation i and
Trabue was recently employed as
special counsel to represent the city.
The shooting occurred in Stokes
office. Trabue was released on $25,
000 bond. . .
Salonica, the Greek city taken over
liv the nlliea. ia rWlnrpH tnHnut in
be the best fortified city in the word.
There are 90 miles of defense built by
General Sarrail, the French command-
er wno built Verdun, and who is in
charge at Salonica. . is .
' OnA nf tha mnof VAmnrlrnVilA ent.
cal operations known was performed
in New York last week when a baby
was born 30 minutes after its mother
had been instantly killed bv a fall
She was leaning out a. .window -.to
call a neighbor, when she- lost'' her'
balance. Uer skull was crushed. A
surgeon performed a Caesarian oper-
I otion ni fter working two hours
.;i. n. t.. ".j n. ta
mi tuo iinuiib, fie suvcu it. n is
a normal boy weighing 7 1-2 pounds
mm urns iair to live.
" The bringing of Russian troons to
France is the new feature of the
woiiui uiojk(i,t;iica i-iuiiii cil'.uv auv
CeSS and no damage to German forces
in- the- two- recent air raids and the
cruiser attack on England. It is as
serted that considerable damage was
inflicted on Englar, !. The fighting
along the various .Vonts appears to
I bo . about the usual thing. , Germans
vii. xiia i- iciilii ciuiiu luv viciiimjiD
lost a thousand men in a single r.t-
iost Vjj
tack Wednesday,
Tne New York World l"- Inter
views with Henry Wcismnnn, head of
the German-American Alliance, and
Jeremiam O'Leary, president of the
American Truth Society,' both of
which associations fought the Dcm-
ocratic candidates for Congress in
1914 because they disliked the course
of President Wilson towards Germany.
win not oppose Wilson this year.
Mr. Weismann said the German scn-
timent has entirely changed in re-
St0 to the President, and many of
the landers, in his organization are
approving the President's recent ul-
Fifty men are guarding the water
supply of New York these days to
prevent reported plans for blowing
, up the dams
The steel corporation broke all
!"e:ord8 ' nZ Aurin? the
tmee montns oi tnis ysar, wnen n
took in over sixty million dollars,
a , i i
D Aeroplanes are now fo; sale In the
gadway automobile and gas shops,
Not just play things but real ma-
jcnines, reaay ior Dusiness. Ana tney
! aro sellin them top. '
' A farmer named Arthur Massey at
Woodland, Deleware, cuting down an
oppio uee known to be more tnan
78 years old. found a glass can of
peach brandy with a peach in it.
A farmer three miles from Raleigh
put out fire and let it get away from
nim, and before it stopped, nine erop-
ty oux cars on a siaing oi me rnor-
folk Southern were destroyed. Sixty
other cars wer hauled out of the
fire zone. r
O. C. Joner, wealthy merchant of
Goldsboro has been given six months
on the roads for messing with whis-
Vv. Riwnti una mrfi ...
ried from Virginia to Goldsboro were
captured at Pikeville and the man in
charge, after vainly tryintr to net
. Jones to help him, charged that he
1 was hauling the atuff for Jones,
TOE DEMOCRATIC
STATE CONVENTION
LARGELY ATTENDED
Senator . Simmons Made Keynote
Speech Pointing With Pride To Re
cord of Democratic Party in State
, And Nation State Convention En
thusiasticDelegates Named to Na-
. .. tional Convention Platform Adop
ted For State No Love For Butler.
The Democratic State . convention
which met Thursday in Raleigh
brought a large crowd of Democrats
together from all over this State the
county of Lincoln being well repre
sented. Thursday morning at 10
tho congressional districts met in var
ious places in Raleigh and selected
delegates to the National convention
and presidential electors, State execu
tive committeemen and transacted
other business. The Ninth district
meeting reported to the State conven
tion at 12: Ninth district delegates
to the national convention:, John A.
Parker, of Mecklenburg; Charles B.
Armstrong, of Gaston; Guy V. Rob
erts, of Buncombe; W. C. Erwin, of
Burke.
The presidential elector from this
district is Mark Squires of Lenoir.
W. C. Feimster is the vice-president
elector.
State executive committeemen from
the Ninth district are: Edgar B.
Love, of Lincolnton; J. A. Bell, of
Mecklenburg: R. R. Rnv. of McAdens-
ville; D. M. Buck, of Yancey; J. A.
Giles of Burke; W. C. Fcimster of
Catawba.
State convention was called to or
der at 12:15 by Chairman Warren.
Ur. J. K. Underwood, presiding elder
of the Raleigh district, led in prayer.
No time was lost in preliminaries.
Mayor Johnson made a brief address
of welcome, followed by a short
speech by Chairman Warren in
which he drew a picture of the
ideals of Democracy and compared
it with that of Republicanism, and
reviewed party history for the post
20 years, paying high tribute to Sen
ator Simmons, who he introduced
as temporary chairman. Senator
Simmons was received with much en
thusiasm.
Tho feature of the morning ses
sion was the kevnote sneech of Sena
tor Simmons, who acted as chairman.
He was creeted with annlnuse as he
sketched the fine record in the ad
ministration of the State affairs and
the magnificent nnd marvelous record
made in the Nation under tho Wilson
administration.
He drew this word picture of Pres
ident Wilson. The President, he said,
is not a "War Lord" noither is he a
'molly-coddle. He is neither moved
by militancy of the one or rhapsodies
of the other. Ho is a plain, direct, re
solute man with a clear vision, steady
and stout-hearted, living always in
the fear of God. tient unon servinir
his country, humanity and civilization
regardless of criticism or aggrand
isement, personal or political, or oth
erwise. So far as clear vision, ma
ture judgment, unfaltering loyalty
and patriotism can protect us, we are
safe in his hands.
Senator Simmons, temporary chair
man of the convention in the keynote
address declared the Democratic par
ty m seeking tne re-election of the
Administration was making the cam
paign solely on the record of the par
ty. Since the election of President
Wilson, he said, the party had done
nothing it was ashamed of and it had
no apologies to offer. His address
dealt entirely with the history of
Democracy in North Carolina and the
achievement of the Wilson Adminis
tration. . '
The work of the Administration
was discussed in an impromptu ad
dress by Secretary Daniels. He
stressed the fact that the United
Stateu was at peace and told of some
of the plans for preparedness against
war. As Tegards preparedness, he
said the War and Navy Departments
hnd, profited by the experiences of
European uovernmcnts since tne war
bee-an and alreadv had taken steps
to put into practice plans which the
belligerents did not consider until af
ter the conflict was a year old.
In a brief auress, Governor Craig
declared that after due consideration
he had concluded Col. Theodore
Roosevelt would secure the Republi
can nomination for the presidency
and that tho election in November
would be a declaration for or against
war.
That the United States now was at
peace, was due to Woodrow Wilson,
he said, and his re-election was neces
sary. The election of any candidate
other than Mr. Wilson would mean
the participation of the countrv in the
general conflict he asserted.
endorsement of the Administration
of President Wilson, the preparedness
propr&m, proposed National rural
credits legislation and the declaration
that more important National legis
lation naa utxen piace in tne last
three years than in any decade of
American history were tne outstand
ing features of the platform adopted
here today by the State Democratic
convention.
Because tho new nrimarv law took
from the convention the privilege of
nominating' candidates for state offi
ces the delegates had before , them
only the adoption of a platform, the
election of delegates-at-large to the
National Convention, nomination, of
presidential electors and considera
tion of a successor to Secretary Dan
iels as National committeeman, state
officers will be nominated in a pri
mary to be held on June 3 and in the
primary the electorate also will ex
press its preference for a presidential
candidate. .
Senators Simmons and Overman,
Governor vjrnig ana uen. Julian S
Carr, of Durham, were elected dele-
gates-at-Iarge to the National Con
vention by acclamation and Cameron
Morrison of Charlotte and J. O. Carr
of Wilmington were nominated as
presidential electors-at-laree. . .
Mr. Brock put in nomination -the
iouowmg ior alternates to the na.
tional convention: E. L. Travis. J. C.
Biggs, Thomai D. Warren and j. Dj
Murphy. '
Mr. Cameron Morrison of Charlotte
arose at this point and said that he
wanted to see Wade Harris, one of the
distinguished editors of the . State in
cluded among the alternates. If for no
other purpose he desired it as a re
buke to Marion Butler who had
brought suit against this editor bo
cause he hud shown up Butler in his
true light in his paper. He denounced
Butler as an arch traitor . to the
white race. "I know of no better way
of honoring this heroic editor than
by sending him to the national con
vention at St. Louis. It is also due
him for his service to Woodrow Wil
son.
Both Chairman Murphy and Mr. E.
L Travis said it would give them
great pleasure to withdraw in order
to allow Mr. Harris to become one
of the delegates.
the Convention rose to its feet as
one man and cheered for fullv
a minute the nme of W:.c!e H. Harris,
editor ot Charlotte Observer, and
without a dissenting voice it elected
him alternate-at-large to t'ae Demo
cratic National Convention. The
episode was the most thrilling of the
day.
The following being nominated sin
gly were elected: Wado Harris of
Charlotte, J. Crawford Biggs, of Ral
eigh, J. D. Murphy of Ashevillo, T.
D. Warren of New Bern.
A. W. McLean of Lumberton, was
elected National Committeeman, the
first time in the history of the party
in his State, that a convention had so
acted. Secretary Daniels after serv
ing 20 years as committeeman, de
clined to seek re-election.
As regards State affairs.the plat
form declared that so long as the
Democratic party remained in control
the suffrage amendment to the Con
stitution would be maintained, assur
ing a State Government "conducted by
white men." A continued policy ' of
economy in handling the financial af
fairs of the State was pledged and the
widest publicity as regards State and
county financial transactions and fre
quent audits were urged. The plat
form also pledged the party to con
servation of the public health, en
couragement of highway construction,
development of rural communities
nnd recommended the construction of
State warehouses for the storage of
farm products. I
senator Simmon s Keynote Speech.
Fellow Democrats and Gentlemen of
the Convention:
I thank mv eood friend .the Chair
man of your State committee, for the
gracious manner in which it has
pleased him to present me to you.
and for giving me this opportunity of
addressing this great gathering of the
unterrified Democracy of North Caro
lina. I am always happy and at home
in a Democratic convention. I am
doubly so today. The things I have
seen and heard since my arrival in
Raleigh, the glad tidings coming from
all parts of the State of Democratic
harmony, unity and resolve, arid the
auspicious environments of this occa
sion are to me a joy and inspiration.
Both the occasion and the general
situation of the party in the State call
for mutual felicitations and congratu
lations. I have attended manv Democratic
State conventions, some larger than
the one now assembled before me,
but I have never attended any more
representative of the great interests
of the State than the one which I
now have the pleasure and the honor
of addressing.
I congratulate you, my fellow dele
gates, and I congratulate myself upon
being thought worthy to represent in
its supreme council the great party
which by good government and wise
administration has made North Car
olina what she is today. I congratu
late the Democratic party upon this
great convention, equal in personnel
to any ever assembled in this or any
State in this Union, and finally I con
gratulate the whole people of this
great Commonwealth upon the flood
tide of prosperity which they as well
as the balance of, the country are en
joying under the egis of Democracy.
I want first to address myself
briefly, to State affairs, after which
I will talk to you more at large upon
matters of National import -
The political history of North Caro
lina since the Civil War devides it
self into four distinct eras.
rirst. in chronological order, comes
the era of reconstruction in which
an alien horde undertook to rebuild
our civilization, with what result is
known to fame and infamy.
They burdened the State with debt,
disgraced it with scandal and degrad
ed with negro rule.
The history of this era is a story
of unbridled lawlessness of reckless
extravagance of oppressive taxation,
of fraudulent indebtedness, of educa
tional depression, of industrial stag
nation, of arsen, murder, rape, bank
ruptcy and black chaos.
It is a period in our history of such
dreadful memories that the very
thought of it. even at this distant
time, makes the heart sick.
The night of reconstruction was
long and dark, and for a while.it
looked like the dav of redemption
would never come. But it did come. -
In 1876 the miehtv . Vance. with
the foresight of prophet, the courace
of crusador and the eloquence of in
spiration, aroused the drowsy spirit
of Anglo-Saxon dominance and bear
ing aloft the banner of, Democracy,
drove the money changers from the
temple our fathers had erected and
consecrated to the principle of gov
ernment of the people, by the people,
and for the people."
l nen, m tne providence of God, for
long stretch of years, under the fos
tering wings of Democracy, there was
peace, and law and order protection
of life, liberty, property and the pur
suit oi nappiness. nope wok tne
nlace nf despair; opportunity unleash
ed energy, ambition and thrift and
there was growth, development and
achievement along all lines.
But in the melting pot of political
ambition and selfishness, there was
Brewing another dark day for the
dear old State we love so well.
In 1894, lulled to- repose by a false
senpe of security, in the clash of am.
bition and self-seeking, we forgot
our ever-present menace; for got what '
we had Buffered under Republicanism
during the reconstruction: forgot the
blessings we had enjoyed under De
mocracy during the years that fol
lowed our political redemption, and
in an evil hour dissension ratod ita
awful head in our midst and the men
who had saved the State in 1876 were
divided into opposing camps, and the
Republic ""ty, with the aid of the
PopulistPat , -ired to power in
ionn aruiiiic. . ne orgye
of ''corruption and exAi.. -d
lawlessness ana crime again...
State, society and civilization,, whicn
dency of the party in the State, with
f vu mn Onf f i r era nvA A 5 af nl lAnonnnnn
ces, was re-enacted.
ed to teach a lesson which God grant
we may never iorget. Let us only
recall it now "lest we forgot," that
in truth "oornal trirvilnniA ia 4-Via
uvw4.iiu iiguwiv-v ia viae
price of saf tey" as well as of liberty.
xiua waa uie huiu; ui. uuairs in
Nnnth r?nrn1inn vrhon in i-lnnwa
came a erv nf rlistrpao HWn F.ovTt'a
midnight wail, from 10,000 lonely
country homes and again as in 1876
whpn fha Gumo prxt nf lictvaca waa
honrH thmiicrhmif tlia lnnt fVin imM
white host of the State, forgetting
their difference, rushed to the de
fense of home and fireside as the
father e-oes to the rpKrna nf hia im
periled offspring.
the legislative victory of that year
arrested the orgy of Republican cor
ruption and misrule, but it did not
dnslodge that party from administra
tive control in the State. It was not
until the firnt. vonv nf iha naur. mm.
tury that the victory thus begun was
finally completed the Argean stables
purged and the people, the State, and
everv interest in it. ViicrK anA- Inw
material and spiritual, were emanci
pated from the thraldom of an in
competent and irresponsible electo
rate riveted upon it and them by the
Republican party.
That was only 15 years ago,; but
during these short 15 years under
thA factprincr rniA nf ricYio. ...,.
w w . a'w.iy,-. n. j
; North Carolina has been raised from
tne depths oi despair into which she
was plunged by the Republican party
to the nrnuH pminnnnA nf tha nuuf
progressive industrial community not
only in the South, but in America.
snail i stop to recount those
achievements? No, it is not neces-.
Sarv. You know them, anil thov
are known Abroad known abroad
almost as well as at home.
HnrHlv a Hnv nnaaoa' nt the f!nitnl
that my heart is not gladdened as
some stranger irom distant parts of
the country anxiously asks me about
the wonderful stnripa tnpv h
hearing of the marvelous things we
1 1 J; i . i
tiava ueen uomjf ana nave aone in
North flnrnlinn in vacant vaoia T
is a story that sounds more like fic-
. ai t i ....
tion man iacis rana yei it is a true
story. It is a story of schoolhouses.
libraries. Chuxches. hospitals -and
asylums sprung up like magic; of
new lands drained and clearer; of
old fields reclaimed and made pro?
ductive of homes built, of mines
opened ; of hydro-electric power de
veloned of ennd rnnHn rvmtat.iif.tAn1.
of railroads traversing nearly every
country nf mills nnri f iwtni.io -
ting plaimfeand valley and hill; of
villages transformed into towns;
towns into citiies and cities into me
tropolises: of evervhnHw hnow anA at
work; of everybody content and
irusperous; oi wise laws and nonest
economical riHminisatrntinn All ac
complished with but relatively slight
increase in indebtedness and with the
lowest per capita taxes of any State
in the Union.
I conf?ratnl.Tte vnn mv fallnu.
Democrats. I congratulate the peo
ple of the whole State, without re
gard to party, upon the wonderful
record of achievement our grand old
Commonwealth has made during
these 15 years under the reign of
the Democratic party.
I congratulate you upon the splen
did accomplishments of the present
Democratic State administration. I
especially congratulate you upon two
specially notable things accomplished
under the leadership of the patriotic
gentleman who, with such signal
ability now nreaiilen Avar tho Mu
tinies of this State...... ,
Under the leadership of this bril
liant man who will go down in pos
terity aa Nnrth Pni-nlina'a rmnt
roads Governor, more files of good
roaus nave oeen constructed in this
State in three years than in all the
balance nf .miv hiatAi.v- ant tha nA
and long-drawn out fight of the peo-
rio n n. . . . V. ....11. 1 1 l
r ceujiioi, me iiuiri:nu& nus oeen
hrOUPnt. tn a Rlirnnuufitl iccua anA -A
lusted ubon a rensnnu'ulv 9iitiKftnri
basis.
Willingly I pay to him and to his
predecessors in that great office
Glenn. Kitchin. nnH tha lamana4
Aycock the tribute of my apprecia-
tim-l (IVI1 lltVIVnnnln . a.1
w.uii ouu twiiinicuu,-.UUl vi Lilt! Wtty
Uiev have pmuHaH nrrtmAfoH an A of a
guarded the high interests of the
ouue in its evolution during the last
15 Years from WPnWnaea tn ati.Awk
, .....j t'v.vugv;,
from novertv to wealth.
and prosperity.
But, my friends, in our rejoicing
over the present, we must not forget
two dangers which confront the State
tnday-the one political and the other
ununciui. une growing out of the
SO-CalleH "Dklnh ntTHi fiaanicirm'l- - ie-W
resepect to the franchise, and the oth
er .out of the persistent efforts now
ueinif maae u vitalize tne fraudulent
and rennrt'.ltpH hnnda icdna.l .
-- -r nKAUIDb
the State by the carpet bag Legist
latures of the Reconstruction period.
witn the Democratic party in pow
er these dangers would be slight, if
not nltno-At.hpr nprrlifrihia Tint
would it be with the Republican party
ui punor in iNorcn Carolina T
Where does that party stand upon
those great questions, pregnant with
so much danger to the State? That
is the nuestion which cnlls, and calls
imnerntivalv fnr an anau,
, ' " "J . """"v. aiiu nuiiv
has been forthcoming., :
wnen our constitutional amend
ment was before the people for ratifi
cation, the Renuhl Iran nntv Ar
nounced it as unconstitutional and
asserted its fixed purpose to leave
nothing undone to defeat it and, if
adopted, overthrow if through the
courts, or by any means available to .
it. ... . . ...
That, party is today dominated and
controlled by the same men who con
trolled it when these uncomprising
pronouncement were made in 1900.
There has been no change in ita lead
ership except that they kicked over
board the two best men In the party
in order ot give Butler a free hani '
The late State convention of that
party, held, in thia city, proves the
.truth of this statement
1 Ha i there been any change In the
Continued on butt ptg