North Carolina Newspapers

Cin'rol State Library ESTABLISHED 1876 LINCOLNTON. N. C, THURSDAY AFTERNOON. FEBRUARY lO. 192J. 5 Cents Per Copy, $2.00 Per Year. MONTHLY MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS Routine Payment of Bilk and Hear ing of Reports of Officers Author ize County Attorney Childs To Ask Changes Made in New CourtHouse Bill. The regular monthly meeting of the Lincoln County Commissioners was held last Monday, the same being the first Monday. Chairman J. B. John ston presided, with Corns. Howard, Goodsoh, Jetton.-and Beam present. The Board operated under their new order of busirtess a scheduled time for the various matters coming be fore the board each month, and the Board found that the business could be transacted with more dispatch, and those having business before the board were given a hearing in regular order, thus saving time of both the board and citizens Commissioner Howard and Road Su pervisor Putnam were named as a committee to act in the matter of opening up a road leading from Jim Lowe's place to Catawba line. Com. Jetton and Supervisor Putnam were made a committee to act in the mat ter of laying out a road from Crouse to Shoal road. And Com. Beam and Supervisor Putnam were names as a committee to make changes on the Newton and Shelby road. Supervisor Putnam was ordered to clear the right of way on Salem sandclay road im mediately. The Board passed an order recom mended that the county attorney pre pare a suitable bill giving the county commissioners authority to sell and convey an acre of land from the coun ty home land to the trustees of the M. E. Church, South, and to secure the passage of same through the gen eral assembly. The board found this bill necessary In order for them to legally sell coun ty reality. The board also passed an order dir ecting the county attorney to draft an amendment to the court house bill au thorizing the Board of Commissioners to borrow from time to time a suf ficient amount of money to erect and complete the new courthouse and to make such other minor changes as he may deem best and have same passed by the Legislature. It ia understood that this bill or change in the present bill, is being asked for to enable the board to com plete the new courthouse when it is started, it being the understanding that it will take considerable more than $100,000 authorized to comply the courthouse and the board desires to have additional funds authorized so that the new courthouse may be com pleted when begun. The new courthouse is giving the board much to ponder over. At the meeting Monday Attorney Childs gave the board the views of judpe Lane on the new courthouse proposition. At torney Childs said that the Judge re commended that the new courthouse be erected an another lot in town, not so near the busv business section, and noisy automobiles. That the judge stated that other counties were learn ing that this was the better plan. The bill authorizing the new courthouse provides for its erection on the pres ent site, and this section of the hill will possibly be changed leaving it op tional with the board as to location, at least this phase of the matter was discussed at the meeting Monday. However the main point tl.e board wished attended to while the legisla ture is in session was to authorize 'them to borrow necessary money te complete the -new courthouse when it is once under way. As to the other minor changes in the bill there was no definite action by the board. THE COMPAIGN IS ON Lincoln County Near East Cam paign workers are urged to push their work, to speed up. State Chairman, '. Geo. H. Bellamy praises our cam paign plans and circulars, however no plans are worth anything unless carri ed out. It costs nearly 17 cents a day, $1.17 a week, $5.00 a month to supply one Near East orphan with food. How long will you feed one? Learn the Christain standard, live the Golden Rule. Live to give, to serve, to save. Thousands, ves millions are cold and hungry. Shall thev starve? Will you help them? Send' vour gifts thru Churches, S. S. Schools or Day Schools to Mr. R. A. Ramsaur, County Near East Treasurer, Lincolnton, N. C. There still seems to be some con fusion concerning kinds of relief work. European Relief is for Central Europe Near East Relief is a separate work, mainly for counties of Western Asia or Alia minor. Geo W. Smyre, County Chairman . WF.STMORF.I, AND TO DIE IN CHAIR APRIL 6TH. Statesville, Feb. 5. Iredell super ior court adjourned this afternoon af ter disposing or an unusually neavy criminal docket during this week. Thi mnrninir Will Y. Westmore land, who was given verdict of first degree murder by a jury last mgnt for killintr James H. Nantz. a local iifnsv driver Inst October, was sen . fenced by Judge Bryson to die in ine electric cnmr m luc amic puaw on April 6. Westmoreland showed no emotion when the death sentence was passed. His attorneys gave no tice of appeal to the supreme court. lyey Simms, the only eye-witness to the homicide and the star witness for the stfto, who was accused by Westmoreland of killing Nanta, was released today. He had been kept in jail here since the homicide! being detained; by the prosecution as a ma terial witness, Washington, Feb. 8. Regret' that the American government saw fit to apologise for the attempt of Ameri cans to capture Grover C. Bergdqll, wealthy American draft evader, was expressed in a resolution adopted to day bv the executive committee of the 'American Legion in session here. 45 GALS., BUICK, PISTOL, ONE MAN Taken Into Custoday About Day Tues- day by Deputy Laurence Leonard And Assistants up About Henry Bond $800 Gun, Liquor, Car Held For Court. Sheriff Blair Abernethy's deputies started in on Fords and lesser lights, and are now taking in Buicks, late mo del, 1920 Buieks loaded with liquor of the realm. Tuesday morning of this week be tween 0 and 7 o'clock in the gray dawn Deputy Sheriff Leonard oi Henry re ceived a hunch that a car load of booze was headed his way. Mr. Leonard bounded out cot assistance in the per sons of Messrs J. L. Yount and W. M. Childers, and immediately blocked the road near Henry and awiated arrival of the liquor car. It came in short or der, a 1920 model Buick touring car, bounding along at a lively gate, load ed to the brim with liquor Seven 5 gallon cans and one 10-gal!on keg of pure liquor, regular mountain dew that would make a liquor head's mouth wa ter, a total of 45 gallons. The officers attempted to stop the car before it reached the block in the road of heavy timbers, but it con tinued its speed and ran up against the timbers and disabled the Buick, the driver stating to the officers after the arrest that he thought his car could knock the timber from the road and get away. Mr. Yount who was with Deputy Leonard thought the car was about to get away and he pumped lead into the tires and a stray bullet from his artillery killed or crip pled a ten dollar (?) chicken which had gotten up early to get the early worm. Two men occupied the front seat of the Buick, there being no room in the back scat for passengers. One of them got away. He is said to have start ed running before the car vas stop ped. He left no address. The man driving gave his name as D. H. Small, Charlotte; He claimed the liquor be longed to the other fellow when talk ing to the officers, but at the trial be fore Esq. D. H. Shields Tuesday he failed to testify. He vas held under two counts for July Superior Court $100 for carying concealed weapon, a handsome 32-eal. Smith and Wesson and second count, transporting, etc., bond $500, total $600 which he said he could give as soon as his brother ar rived. Car No. 2, alleged second section, following the liquor car vas a hand some roadster, was also stopped, but there was no liquor aboard and it was allowed to go on to Cheryville which the driver claimed was its destination. There was no evidence that it was transporting, however the officers say it came on to Lincolnton. Little room in jail for prisoners. A storage for captured liquor will some day become a problem if Sheriff Abernctiiy and deputies continue to probe into linuor transportating busi ness across Lincoln. INCOME TAX PRIMER The following statement has been issued by Collector of Internal Reve nue. J. R. Bailey. "Copies of the Income Tax Primer, recently issued by the Bureau of In ternal Revenue, which contains ques tions and answers relative to the fil ing of income tax returns, are now available at the office of the Collector of Internal Revenue, Raleigh, N. C. Copies may be obtained only through collectors' office, and are not being mailed from Washington." TEACHER AND SEVEN ARE KILLED PUPILS Lawrenceville, Ills., Feb. 7. Eight persons are dead and another nrohablv fnt.Allv Iniured ns the rasult. of the ex- nlnsinn nf a pnn nf nitrno.lvi'prln at. Cross Roads school, two miles west of here, shortly after noon today. The dend are: Rmmet.t Bunvan. 30 years old, the tefcher, andthe follow - ing pupils: Raymond Groves, 9; How ard Lett, 7; Thomas Lett, his brother, 12; Charles Welton, 5; Robert Mc Causland, 12; Elmer Mellet, 10; and Richard Peters, 7. Lester Groves, 11, a brother of Raymond Groves, is ex pected to die. Several other children received minor injuries In the explo sion which occurred when one of the boys attempted to cut the top from the can with an axe, Buyan and five ' of the boys were killed instantly and the other two died several hours afterward. The in jured were taken to their homes and to hospital in Vincennes, Ind. The explosion occurred at the noon recess, when one of the boys found the can near the school. Not know ing it contained an explosive, he play fully tossed it to a companion and the blast followed One wall of the schoolhous was crumbled and Mr. Bunvan and eieht 1 ovs were hurled about 50 feet in the air. Several orirls. who were on the other side of the schoolhouse at the! time, were knocked down and stunned by the blast, but not seriously hurt. Officious of Ijiwrence ronntv pt- pressed the belief the explosive inad- vertently was left where found by workmen in the oil fields near here, as nitroglycerian is used in "shooting" wells. The hoys killed ranged in ages from 12 to 16 years. WAYNE COUNTY "MOB"' TO BE officers but unfortunately it is an ex TRIED ' I ception rather than a rule that the ! majority of the stockholders are so in- wuson, reo. I. ine alleged wayne county mob H. B. Futrell, C. H. "Bed" i tanirtton. C. H. Thompson, and Davis' Wiggins, 'charged with conspiracy to lynch, will be tried before Judge CaI - vert here next Tuesday or Wednesday The trial was moved from Golds boro U Wilson by Judge W A. Nevins, witnesses for the state who witnessed the storming of the Wayne court house are Judge Oliver H. Allen, Capt. L. .D Giddens, Ross R. Giddens, John D. Langston, H. L Biszell and Fred 1 Parker, CONDITIONS IN FINANCIAL WORLD COUNTRY IS IN THE BEST SHAPE IT HAS EXPERIENCED IN YEARS, SAYS WILLIAMS Washington, Feb. 7. The country is now in many respects on a sounder basis, economically, than it has been for years, Comptroller of the Curren cy John Skelton Williams informed congress today in what he described as his "seventh and last annual re port." Deflation , obviously inevitable a year ago, has come, he said, and prices of many basis commodities and raw materials have returned to pre-war levels or below. "It now remains for the middleman," the comptroller de clared, "to adjust his profits to the new prices before the ultimate con sumer will receive the benefit of the rduced coat of living.' ' Labor, however, Mr. Williamse said, must soon determine whether a shut down and idleness is preferred to a lower wage scale which take into con sideration the lower living charges. Mills and factoriea cannot afford to operate unless they can turn out com modities at prices the public can af ford to pay, he asserted, and it is bet ter for the manufacturers to operate and produce goods at cost or at a very narrow margin of profit than to close down entirely. Participation by labor with capital in the profit he suggest ted as the only principle for restore business. "When conditions abroad become more settled or stabilized," Comptrol ler Williams declared in a summary of the present outlook and when at when at honve much needed adjust ments are effected in the costs to the consumer of steel and iron products, which are still quoted about twice pre-war prices, and when coal for which the government itself has paid in recent months as much as four times the pre-war price, and certain other commodities which are now be ing kept up artificiality or as result of monopolistic control far above the pre-war figures, get back to normal level, our country resting on a solid foundation, will be prepared to enter upon a new and, let us hope, long en during era of prosperity and healthy progress." During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1920, the comptroller said, there were 8,157 national banks in opera tion, the highest number ever report ed, and despite the d'ffkulties encoun tered they made the best rcord of im munity from failure In about 40 years. The percentage of the capital of faiied banks to the total capital of all banks, he explained, vas about two one thou sandths of one per cent, or 16 times better than the average for the entire 57 years since the inauguration of the system. Combined resources of all banks in the country on June 30, 1920, includ ing national, state and federal re serve, the comptroller said, aggregat ed $59,153,704,000. Figures showing for the first time the business of the principal borrow ers from national banks were present ed by the comptroller. Loans and dis counts on November 15, 1920, he said, aggregated $13,764,000,000 of which loans to farmers and livestock raisers amounted to $1,998,000,000 or 14 per cent: loans to manufacturing concerns approximated $2,862,000,000 or 21 per cent; to merchants, mercantile con cerns, individuals In the jobbing bu siness, and trading wholesale and re tail $3,581,000,000 or 25 per cent. Loans reported to bond and stock brokers and dealers investment securi ties aggregated $664,000,000; to rail roads, shipping companies, light and power companies $225,000,000, while the loans to professional men, Includ ing doctors, lawyers, teachers, chem ists, engineers and clergymen amount- ed to $375,000,000. Miscellaneous 1 or 30 per cent of the total. Cross earnings of the nationr.1 banks during the past fiscal year aggregat- . ed $1,109,000,000, while their total ex- 1 penses were $736,000,000, of which $175,000,000 was for salaries and wag es and $287,000,000 was for interest on deposits. National banks in the city of New York showed earnings on capital stock of 37 1-2 per cent, fhlla delphia national banks 33 1-2 per cent, Chicago 24 per cent, Boston 23 per cent, Cleveland 24 1-2 per cent, Min neapolis 21 1-2 per cent, St. Louis 17 1-2 per cent, Richmond 20 1-2 per cent, Dallas 30 per cent, Kansas City 17 per cent, and San Francisco 18 per cent. Pueblo, Colorado, with 55 per cent reported the largest earnings in any reserve city, Birmingham, Ala., was next with 39 3-4 per cent and At lanta, third with 38 3-4 per cent During the past fiscal year, the comptroller reported, three presi dents, eight cashiers of banks, and 30 assistant cashiers, tellers, bookeepers and others of national banks were con- victed of criminal violations of the , banking law and sentenced to terms of imprisonment running up to six years and varying fines. Mr. Williams made public a table showing the salaries paid the execu I tve offices by all national banks in the country whose resources were in excess of $20,000,000 and showed the largest salary paid any national bank i president to be $100,000 a year, I Discussing excessive salaries the Itroller declared "such inequalities would exist to much less extent if the I stockholders of banks were informed I of the salaries paid to their executive formed.'' . t " . .vp A1npl tNr INTft .1)lVES AIRPLANE INTO OCEAN TO SAVE A LIFE Daytona, Fla., Feb. 7. L. G. Mer rell crashed his airplane into the ocean today in trying to save J. Eigear, of Daytona, who had been caught in an undertow at the beach here. Life guards finally rescued both men who clung to the machine. i THE LEGISLATURE ROAD BILL READY Raleigh, Feb. 7. Committee action on the good roads bill this morning and this afternoon rather overshadow ed a dull session, of both house and senate tonight. The Doughton-Connor-Bbwies bill, which may get another soloji's named tacked on it before it conies to the floor for the saturnalia of amendments now threatening its passage, will be reported favorable practicilly as it went before the committee. Fifty mil lions for the bonds will be recommend ed and there will be no ad valorem tax. Efforts to raise and to reduce the fifty million issue were made irr a joint hearing before the committee this af ternoon. The same hearing brought from Highway Commissioner Frank Page the assertion that sooner or later the state will be forced to come to an ad valorem tax for interest and main tenance and his statement has stiffen ed the opposition to the bill as drawn and as approved in its major features by Governor Morrison. As it comes from the committee, the measure provides for State construc tion of approximately 5,500 miles of road, of hard surface and other de pendable types, connecting the county seats and principal cities and towns of the State. The roads are built and maintained exclusively by the State, with such Federal aid as may be re ceived. The counties will be left free to bu:Ul and maintain their own local roads. Construction and maintenance will be effected through the State Highway commission, which has been expanded to include nine members, with the chairman additional. Each member will represent a construction district. The measure provides specifically that Frank Page, and other members of the present commission shall retain their appointments until their term expires. Revenues for maintenance will be obtained through a tax on motor ve hicles, and a tax of one cent per gnllon on gasoline proposes. Gasoline for industrial purposes is left untaxed. Construction money will be raised through bond issues, with a total of $50,000,000 authorized. The floating of the bonds wil be made upon request of the chairman of the commission. It is estimated that not more than $20, 000,000 will be called during the next two years. The sentiment of the General As sembly is apparently reflected in tho attitude of the committee, and it is not expected that any general effort will be made to alter the measure when it comes to a vote on the floor of the House or the Senate., Differences of opinion have- been threshed vtt in committee, and it is believed that the Doughton-Connor-Bovie bill will be come a law early next week. Senator Mim DeLaney, of Mecklen burg tonight introduced a relief meas ure for the war brides. He would modify the divorce laws so that de sertion dating from the outbreak of the war and continuing for as much as four years instead of the statutory ten at present, would be grounds for absolute divorce. A similar bill with a limit was suc cessfully introduced in the house by Miss Li Exum Clement, the member from Asheville. The house tonight resolved to get down to work when it beat a motion to adjourn until 11 o'clock tomorrow with a substitute calling for the sess ion to start as ten. The sixth week starts with plenty of promise of quitting before sixty days are out. BIBLE KISSING TABOO? By R. E. Powell in Charlotte Ob serverThe senate Tuesday morning passed the bill defining bribery in con nection with baseball players and fix ed a heavy penalty for people offer ing bribes to players, officials or um pires connected with baseball games, and the same penalty for those who accept these bribes. Senator Lambert's anti-Bible-kissing bill also passed the senate on a roll-call vote, demanded by Sumner Burgwin, of 20 to 10. The Northhampton man was in the chair when the bill was called up, but he took the floor against the measure. He renewed his arguments that the measure would remove the solemnity from taking oaths, especially when the oaths were administered to cer tain classes of people. He thought the measure but an entering wedge of the new-fangled folks who wanted to see the old laws and old traditions changed. Pretty soon the doctors and advocates of the new-fangled cult wouia oe offering a bill to prevent a man kissing a girl. He was opposed to any bill which might serve as an entering wedge against kissing in general. He called on the doctor mem bers of the senate to know if they had records of any people ever contracting a disease from kissing the Bible. Dr. McGougan, of Fayetteville, said that he knew of no such record, but he did know of the transmission of disease from the common drinking cup, and he thought one about as bad as the other. THOMAS DIXON TO FIGHT CEN SORSHIP Raleigh, Feb. 8. Interest will be added to the fight of the organized women of North Carolina to establish a board of censorship for moving pic tures by the arrival tomorrow of Thomas Dixon, distinguished aihor and producer of motion pictures and of other theatrical productions. An nouncement of his coming was made unofficially la3t night by friends n Raleigh. Formal launching of the fight for a censorship board has not been made in either branch of the General Assem bly, but the measure has been fully prepared by the club women, and 1 s ready for introduction any day. The chief trouble thus far has' been the finding of a man who is willing to make the fight for them. Representa tive Doughton and Senator Varser, who had tentatively agreed, find the measure not altogether to their lik ing. Legislatively and personally the coming of Thomas Dixon with war paint on against the bill bids fair to be one of the most interesting develo mente of the session. At one time, be fore he became a minister, and many years before he achieved distinction in his first novel, "The Leopard Spots," Mr. Dixon was a member of the House of Representatives, and as such will be accorded the privileges of the floor. He will very probably be asked to ad dress a joint session ess a joint session. The bill which he is coming to fitrht provides for the ..at.iihlii.hinc. nf n board of censors, three in number, one member to be named by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, one by the State Superintendent of Public Welfare and a third by the president of the Fedration of Woman's Clubs. Plenary powers are given them over every film shown in North Carolina. Every film designed for exhibition in North Carolina must pass thru the hand of the board, and no film may be exhibited without carrying at least four feet of the Board's sanction at the beginning of the picture. The Board is authorized to purchase such equipment as may be necessary for the projection of the films. The ex penses of the board are to be paid from fees charged the exhibitor of the film. Section six of the act reads: "Tho Board shall examine or cause to b examined under the supervision of the board, all films, reels, or views to be exhihited or used in North Caro lina, and shall approve such films, reels or views, that are moral and pro per and the Board shall disprove only such films, reels or views as are sac rilegious, obscene or clearly immoral, or such as may reasonably tend to de base or corrupt the morals of persons viewing them." No definition of what may be term ed immoral, sacrilegious, obscene, etc., is contained in the measure. The house passed the following bills Tuesday. Authorizing the town of Lincolnton to issue bonds. Among new legislation offered in the House: H. B. 442 By Quickel: Fixing fees of officers in Lincoln county. H. B. 443 By Quickel: Incoporat ing First Baptist church in Lincolnton. MECKLENBURG VARMINT BELEIVED TO BE COYOTE ESCAPED FROM GASTON Notorious Providence Panther Is Es caped Coyote Wolf Sent to Gastonia From Texas Over Two Years Ago. Gastonia Gazette. That the "Providence panther," or whatever the varmint is that has been causing so much talk in Charlotte and Mecklenburg county for the past few weeks, is a partial product of Gaston county is the theory lately advanced in Gastonia, It is believed here that the strange animal which hc.s caused so much commotion across tie river is nothing else than the Texas coyote shipped to Gastonia some two years ago or more to Mr. Crown Wilson, formerly manager of the Armington Hotel herc The animal escaped from captivity here and was last seen orlaouthern Railway Company is about heard In Gaston county down in tne Bowling Green section more than a year ago. It will be recalled, too, tnai there were stories in The Yorkville Enquirer of a strange animal having been seen in the Bethany section some months ago. It is now believed that the Mecklenburg varmint and Mr. Crown Wilson's coyote arc one and the same. It is said by those familiar with the animal's habits that it has proo ably ranged up and down Crowders Creok in Gaston and York counties until it came to the point at Wright's Ferry where Crowders Creek empties into the Catawba river, and that it swam the Catawba river and took up its habitat in Fort Mill and Provi dence townships. The coyote was sent to Mr. Wilson by friends in Texas ami wr.s kept by him for some time in the rear of the Armington Hotel. It was the ob.iect of much curosity to natives of this sec tion. The description of the animal as given in the Charlotte papers tall ies exactlv with that of the beast sent to Gastonia. Mr. Wilson said that the coyote he had was about the size of a dog gray in color and had sh-.rp-point-ed ears' like a wolf. It fed on raw meet, beef and chickens. He estimates that is killed for him something like 25 or 30 chickens while confined in the hack yard of the hotel. He d; scribed it is possessing a cunning and sagacity almost human. It chained to a wire that stretched across the yard. A swivel in the chain and collr.r per mitted the animal a certain range of freedom, Mr. Wilson said that the an imal knew to a nicely the length of the chain and how far it would permit him to leap, and often it would be ly ing flat on the ground apparently asleep, but really watching the un wary chicken. As soon as the bird come within rans-e, the animal with a flving lecp would pounce upon the chicken and eat it. The animal escaped from its prison here and made its way into the South em part of the country where it was reported to have devoured chickens and pigs. Hunting parties were form ed and it was chased several times, but no does were ever found who would give it fight. Hunters knew it by the sound of the hounds when a fox was being chased and when the coyote was the quarrv. said Mr. Wilson. "When an old fox hound strikes the trail of a fox, he settles down for a long chase. He stretches himself out almost flat on the ground and pre pares for an all-night-run. His hav ing Is long drawn out and has a self satisfied tone In it. You have heard the characteristic baying of fox hounds. But when they struck the trail of this coyote their tone changed In stantly. The dogs sounded as if they were mad. Instead of the long drawn out musical baying there was a sharp staccato harking and yelping and they went at the iob as if they wanted to finish it in a hurry." "I believe that the coyote I had has made Its way down the creek past Rid- die's and Davis' mill through tne Point CUT OF 50 PER CENT Cotton Farmers Co-operate In Reduc tion Movement Great Enthusiasm Manifested. Columbia, Feb. 1, Former govern- or, K. 1. Manning, president of the American Products Export and I vt j t. m- NTT "u ,,ct.,"',cu. lvuK froni Lumberton and Red Sprints. N. C. where he spoke on Monday at "acre age reduction" meeting. At both meeting he presented the plans and purposes of the export corporation and reports that the peo ple were genuinely interested in the corporation and enthusiastic over its prospects. At Lumberton the meeting was held in the court house which Gov ernor Manning says was filled to overflowing, people lining the aisles and sitting in the windows. At Red Spring the theater was filled. The people of both places, Governor Manning said, evidenced great earn estness in their desire to arrive at a proper solution of the problems con fronting them. They appreciate the necessity of a reduction, of their acreage and appreciate the value of the export cor poration and market ing organization for their cotton. The meetings were held under the auspics of the Robeson county branch of the American Cotton Association. A statement given out by the American Cotton association tonight say that a careful investigation throughout the cotton belt, just completed by the association, indi cates quite clearly that the 1921 re duction in cotton acreage will aprox inate fifty per cent of the acreage planted in 1920. The cause of the reduction is chargeable of two prin cipal reasons. uFiuSiTT1le , farmerS are holding the bulk of the 1920 crop because present prices represent hardly more than one-third of the cost of produce tion. Second. Banks and supply mer chants are unable to finance the planting of a normal acreage in cot ton in 1921 while carrying unpaid obligations of 1920. "The campaign so virrtorously con ducted by the American Cotton asso ciation and the Memphis cotton acreage reduction committe is meet ing with great success. When it is demonstrated by actual facts a little later that not more than one-half of a normal cotton crop will be pro duced in 1921, prices for the staple will advance to higher levels and business will be re-established on a more satisfactory basis. Thiu is one time when the growers can be de pended upon to heavily reduce the cotton acreage all along the line" says the statement. THE $84,000,000 SUIT BY SOUTHERN RY. Washington, D. C, Feb. 9. In view of the widespread disemination of a statement, attributed to Mr. Thomas DeWitt Cuyler, Chairman of the As sociation of Railway Executives, that ine government tor $84,000,- "i ie snowing extract trom the printed record of the hearing before the Committee on Interstate and For eign Commerce of the House of Rep resentatives on January 14, 1921, is of interest, viz: "Mr. Sims: 'And vet all the pla.o 1 railroads did not ask for anything, yet they are in better condition finan cially than the railroads that did ask for the guaranty: "Mr. Cuyler: 'Do you think that was done lor any philanthropic purpose? U was done because they thought they iuuiu earn more witnout the guaran ty. The Southern Railroad expected to earn more without the guaranty, and they are now getting ready to bring a suit ofr $84,000,000 against ine uovernment.' Note bee letter following Mr. Cuyler's testimony as to this state ment. "Letter submitted by Mr. Cuyle "Association of Railway Execu tives, New York, N. Y. January 18, 1921. "Hon. John J. Esch, Chairman Commitee of Interstate Commerce, House of Representatives, Washing ton, D. C. "Dear Mr. Esch: "In my testimony before your committee on Friday last I made the statement that I understood that the Southern Railway was contemplating a suit for $84,00,000 against the Gov ernment growing out of claims to that amount accuring under Government control . "I am advised, by Mr. Harrison President of the Southern Railway Co., that such is not the fact and that the statement was not justified. "I should be very glad if ycu would correct the record in this respect and strike out this statement made by me. "You understood, of course, that when I made the statement I was acting entirely on my own responsi bility and not in any way sneaking for the Southern Railway in the preceed ings; also that mv statement was not volunteered but made as a response to a statement by Renresentativc Sims to the effect that the Southern Railway had not accepted the guranty and was not seeking any Government bounty or benefaction. 'Very truly yours, "Thomas De Witt Cuylc, Chairman." Under revaluation, Mecklenburg county property is valued at $140, 697,636, according to Auditor Gresh am, as compared with $46,522,583, the total taxable valuation for 1919. section of Gaston and York counties and ahs gotten over in Mecklenburg county. From what I have read about their "panther,' I believe that they are ine same animal. Mr. Wilson said also that the move ments oi tne "panther" m rrossine fields in long graceful jumps were also characteristic of the coyote as he had seen them on the prairies of Texas. SHORT ITEMS Governor Cam Morrison is doing a bit folaughing today because he got stuck in the mud on the pet sandclay highway of Governor Bickett and Road Commissioner Page. The governor went down to Rock ingham for the week end riding in his big Marmon. Half way down this prize highway the car bogged down and it stayed in the mud for half an hour. It was a nine hour trip that ought to have been made in two. Secretary Baker orders complete cessation of army recruiting. Judge Harding makes Chase Bren izer permanent receiver for the Wiz ard Automobile company. President Wilson plans to go into virtual seclusion for a time after March 4. Washington, Feb. 7 Two big relief measures were put through the house in a hurry today and a third was beaten by a slight margin. Called up under suspension of rules, a pro ceeding which required a two-thirds vote on passage, the $13,000,000 sol dier hospital bill was passed by a ris ing vote and the $100,000,000 road fund apropriation won with votes to spare. Raleigh. Feb. 7. Class three-B pu pils in the Murphy school today elect ed Angelia Morrison, daughter of the governor, as president of the class for the rest of the term. The selection was unanimous. The "first lady of the land" entered the Raleigh schools several days ago and is in the class taught by Miss Katie Lee Lewis, of Gastonia. Washington, Feb. 7. Simmons versus Daniels is a real prospect for the next senatorial race in North Car olona. Mr. Daniels goes out March 4 feeling his oats, for he has done well, and the traders of the Wilson admin istration have not been able to punc ture his official skin. The report from Kaieign to the effect that Mr. Daniels would oppose Mr. Simmons kicked up a lot of interest here today. The intim ation that Senator Simmons will re tire on laurels already won is far from the mark. In the recent campaign in the state he said he was good for an other race and another term. That means he is going to run. The house passes, over the Presi dent's veto the resolution to reduce the regular armv to 175,000 men, by a vote of 271 to 16 . William H. Taft says the present crime wave is due in part to the failure of the law and its administra tration to punish criminals. N. C. republicans are formulating definite plans to take over all federal jobs in the state, now held by demo crats. C. V. Hardin, local freight aent for the Southern Railway at Rock' Hill, S. C, was struck and killed by a truck Saturday. The truck was driven by Sam Pursley. Hardin was riding a bi cycle. The accident, it is stated, was" unavoidable. Greenville, S. C, Feb. 7 R. Q. Merrick, chief prohibition enforce ment officer for South Carolina, in a report made public here today declar ed that a total of $1,368,977 in fines, taxes and assessments were collect ed and paid into the treasury of the United States as preeeeds from the work of his force of 16 men. Greensboro, N. C. Feb.7 Guilford county today hail the nucleus of a con science fund. An anonymous writer sent the sheriff $1.65 back taxes and advised him to read Romans 13:8. Claude A. Cochrane, prominent young Charlotte lawyer, was elected president of the Southern Manufac turers' club at the annual meeting of the directors, held at the club Tues day night. Savannah, Ga., Feb. 8. One man was killed and 11 persons injured when Central of Georgia box cars ran into the rear coach of a Seaboard Air Line passenger train at the crossing of the two roads two miles west of Savannah tonight. M'ADOO TO DIRECT RAILWAYS MEXICAN El Paso, Texas. Feb. 8. Former Secretary of the Treasury William G. McAdoo is in Mexico for the pur pose of taking charge of the reorga nization ano reconstruction of the National Railways of Mexico, accord ing to an announcement today by Lio Antinio Campanzuno, win represened the Mexican minister of communica tions at the convention of the con federated Mexican chambers of com merce, which yesterday closed its ses sions here. PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN OF RAL EIGH START REFORM Charlotte Observer. "I do not think that this is the worst age ever" said a woman prom inent in one of the Charlotte churches, "but I think there is much we could improve on, much that church mem bers could set an example in nay, de mand. This was suggested by seeing in the News and Observer this: 'At a meeting of the Woman's Aux iliary of the Presbyterian church, forty-five women present adopted by rising vote the following resolutions: '1. That we will not allow our young people to go out at night without a conscientious chaperone. '2. That we will not permit our girls to be with young men who aro drinking or have been drinking. ' 3. That we will refuse to play cards for prizes ourselves or to allow playing for them in our homes. '4. We will insist upon modesty in dress. '5 We will do all in our power to prevent indecent dancing. '6 We will do all in our power to prevent our young people attending objectionable moving pictures.' "