TE Llli ADER “AND RIGHT THE OAY MUST WIN, TO DOUBT WOULO BE OISLOVALTY, TO PALTER WOULO BE S N.” Vol 3 M£BA]\£, N. C- THUflSOAY, M4Y 23 1912 NO 14 PERSONAL AND LOCAL BRIEFS PEOPLE WBO COME AND GO Items of interest Gathered by Our ReDO'‘ter Miss Magfgie Parks of Concord, a cousin of Mrs. S. G. Morgan, is visiting her. Mike Miles says it is not so, he never told any one he was going to climb a greasy pole backwards on the 4. Those in the Leader contest should report their collection just as fast as they get them in It is b«?st in every sense. Herbert Craig from Bingham school at Ashville attended tfie Bingham school commencemenn at Mebane. The TrolUnger Brick yard began making bricK Monday. They make an excelent quality that will find ready demand. Miss Lea Lentz who has been at tending the Bingham school exercises, is visiting Mrs H. A. Scott. Mr and Mrs. T. J. Carter of Ridge- ville, parents of Mr. S. G. Moiijan visited Mr. Morgan and family Sunday. The Editors illness for the past four months has prevented the mterest in the Leader contest he would have otherwise taken. It will be giatifying news to Mrs. S. G. Morgan’s friends to leam that she is much improved and is hoped on the road to permanent health. Miss Dickson of Durham a trained nurse is with Mrs. S. G. Morgan, who has had a nervous break down. It is hoped she will soon be nursed back to health. The majoiitv report of the commit tee on the Lorimer case establishes his right to his seat in the senate. This ought to settle the matter. Mr. J. N. Warren says he is going to pull off his midsummer dance, on the fourth. This will ad a good deal oi p,.ice to the occasion. Miss Bessie Foy has just closed her school at Salem, she arrived in Mebane on Monday evenings train to visit her father “and sister during the summer. Childrens day was observed at the M. E., church of Mebane Sunday. There was an interesting program, and quite a large attendance. Do you want to see the ablest, the best and most consciention nian in the Presidents chair that aspiress to that seat? then besure and give your vote and influence to Oscar Underwood, that’s all. You will fiind some interesting talks in this weeks advertisement of Mr. N. S. Cardwell. He carries a very large stock, and quite a varied stock A big line of hardware. Don’t fail to see him when in Burlington. Miss Margaret Clegg leading miliner of Graham changes her ad in this v/eeks issue, and in adition to a nice line of hats, she carries some of the best make of corsetts including the American Beauty. Have you bought that piano yet? If not it will pay you to get busy and have a little conferencc with the C. B. Ellis Machine and Piano Co., of Bur lington. He keeps a nice line of the best makes, and will always treat you right. Ellis is a straight fellow. Holmes-Warren Co. ads still em phasises the values of Buster Brown commendation. They are making a general cut—cutting every thing, all kinds of goods, cheese is not the only thing they are cutting. The cutting down of the embankment in front of the Mebane house, is adding a great deal to the appearance of the town. When both sides are cut down it will make Mebane louk starchy from the train, that is if they do not keep the track b’ocked with freight cars. The firm of J. D. and L* B. Whitted of Burlington, N. C., places a nice advertisement in this weeks Leader. They are carrying and unusual large r Lock of dry goods, notions, shoes etc They have a nice line of milinery their white goods are selected with great tare and discriminating tast. Don’t forget this popular firm when you visit iiurlington. There will be a regular communica lion of Bingham Lodge No. 272, A. F. and A. M. held on Saturday night May 2.">th, election of officers. W. W. Corbett, W M. Roosevelt carried Ohio in the primary, that almost makes his nomination absolute. Underwood will carry North Carolina in the primary Walking and Riding Cultivators and grain cradles at Tyson-Malone Hard ware Co. Armour indicted. Armour and company was indicted by the Federal grand jury for criminal violation of the United States meat i.'- spection laws for alleged interstate shipment of meats without inspection by government agents last week. The indictments were returned before Un ited State's District Judge Landis. “I’ve got tired being lied about and held up to the country as having vio lated every rule of conduct, when I am not conscious that I have violated any.” snouted President Taft in a speech to a crowd that filled every available seat and blocked the. aisles of the Toledo auditoriun Friday night last. Found Guilty After a night of deliberation which at one time threatened a disagreement, the jury filed into Friday morning last at Wythville Va , and delivered its ver dict of guilty. Sentence was deferred, as Allen may be called as a witness in the trials of his kinsmen who are also charged with the five murders in Carroll county court at Hillsville on March 14, when the Allen gang swoop ed down out of the Blue Ridge and all but wiped out the human faoric of the institution. Clerk Goad was the only official who escaped. The Largest Class Ever. The largest graduating class that has ever gone forth from Wake Forest left the college walls last Friday when the 75 members of the senior class received their degrees and now out into the world, to see what it has to bestow upon them. The orations by the six members of the class in competition for the A. D. Ward medal were master pieces for undergraduate students. Each speaker delivered his speech in an excellent style and all gave promise of becoming excellent speakei*8 in after years. In the class six men received the roasters of arts degree; 46 the bachelor of arts; 12 the bachelor of sience and 11 the bachelor of law degree. Prof. Meritt uead After a serious illness of one week’s duration. Professor A. H- Meritt, of Trinity Cnjllege, died last Friday morning at 11:30 Professor Meritt’s death wasjthe result of a complication of diseases, which proved too much for his constitution, weakened as it was by the illness he suffered two years ago. At his bedside when he pasi.>ed away were his wife, two sons, Benjamin, aged 13, and Herbert, aged 8, Mrs. Nellie Judson, his sister-in-law, and her daughter. Miss Helen Judson, of Vernon, N. Y. A (ireat Fourth. The peopl3 of Mebane propose to do full honor to the fourth of July. They will celebrate it as becomes good citizens, and patriots, a few days ago Mr. W', W. Corbett issued notices asking the citizens to meet in the Young Mens Club Monday night to discuss the propriety of having a fourth of July celebration. A large crowd responded to his call, after Mr. Corbett had ex plained the object of the meeting Mk D. A. White was called to the chair, and Mr J.A. Holmes ask to act as sec’y Mr While made a lengthy talk discuss ing the advantages of celebrating the fourth, etc, then each of the citizens present was called upon for an ex pression of an opinion. It was the unanimous and enthusiastic verdict of all present that Mebane should have a fourth of July celebration, and that all present would do what they could to make it a grand success. After the matter had been agreed to unanimously a committee was appointed to agree to a general outline of arrangement for ways, means, and plans. The following gentleman was appointed upon this committee; W. W. Corbett, J. A. Holmes, W. Y. Malone, Sam White, and Lewis Puryear. It is a good committee and they will lay some exce- lent plans for the cele -ation. All are sure of a t^^mendeous crowd here that day, and of an all around good time. The meetirg adjourned to meet again Thursday night at 8 o’clock May, 23. Green and McClure Have you furnished your house, or do you wish to ad anything to it to help make home more comfortable? if 80, remember that Green and McClure of Graham carry a very compleot line of all kinds of furniture, chairs, car pets rugs etc. Just anything you may want. Don’t forget Green and Mc Clure of Graham. We Need The Dollar. We need the subscription on the Leader that you are due us, wont you please remit, we will much appreciate it I'ust now, make a self case of it, if some one owed you a dollar treat us as you would like to be treated. Baptist Meeting Rev. T F. King of Raleigh will aid the Pastor B. V Ferguson in a ser ies of meetings commencing Wednes day night before the first Sunday in June Elijah Long of Winston- Salem. Long were last Saturday The remains of Elijah brought to Burlington for burial. He died in Winston-Salem after a prolonged illness. Mr. Long was born near Roxboro 55 lyears ago and came to Alamance in early manhood He was a prominent man, representing Alamance in the Legislature of 1901-03 and seived many yeare as county com missioner, also as magistrate. He mar ried Miss Lorena Vincent 26 years ago. She died 10 years ago, leaving 8 child ren. all of whom survive. Two months ago he moved his family to Winston- Salem. The funeral and interment was at Cross Roads, near Burlington May 18th. At Morehead This Sum mer. Morehead City this summer v ill be the convention center of North Taro lina. The State Bankers’ Association, the State Bar Association, and the State Prsss Association, all will hold their annual conventions at the Atlan tic Hotel in June and July, The bankers will meet June 26 28 inclusive; the lawyers July 3, 4 and 5, and the editors July 23, 34 and 25. Many bankers of national prominence will attend the bankers’ convention, and the program will be announced in a few days. Efland ilems. Mr. Herman D. Smith and his charm^ ing young wife of Greensboro spent Sunday in Efland visiting relatives. Mr and Mrs. Jack Price of Burling are visiting Mrs. Price’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith near Efland. Mr. Thomas Tapp went down to Oaks Saturday to visit his daughter Mrs. Ira Lewis, who still continues critically ill, much to the regret of her many friends. Master Ed»vin Murphy of Durham is spending some time with his grand parents Mr. and Mrs. Robt Sharp. Mrs. Jack Smith and Mrs John Baity returned from Burlington last week after a pleasant yisit to Mrs. Price. Mr and Mrs E. C. Thompson spent Saturday and Sunday at Saxapahaw visiting relatives. Mrs Bettie Conklin of Hillsboro left Monday for Charleston S C to join her sons there. She will make that city her future home, we all regret very much to loose Mrs. Conklin. Mr. W. E. Thompson spent Monday in Hillsboro on business. Mr. B. F. Riley and little son Master Frank of Hillsboro spent Sunday with his father Mr. W. P. Riley. Mr. Roy Allen was a visitor at Mr. Thomas Tapps Saturday. ^ Miss Bessie Baity was a visitor in Efland Sunday. ■ Messrs. Robert and Willie Sharp and Master Edwin Murphy spent Sunday in Efland. Mr. J. J. Brown spent several days in Gie3usboro last week on business Mr Mac Efland Jr. is at home after a long Western trip. Mr. Roy Forrest is all smiles now it is a boy. Mrs. John Miller and three children Sam, Dan, and Eula spent last Thurs day after/oon with her sister Mrs. Florence Fitzpatrick. Mrs. Wade Thompson was taken to Rex Hospital at Raleigh last week for treatment, we learn she is improving rapidly and will be able to mj»ke the trip home the last of next week. Well Mr. Editor and readers as we are not feeling so well we will ring off and give some other the line. Aurevoir, - Pau-Paw-Queese. eiNGHAM COMMENGMENT. II L Orange Grove Items. Mr. E. N, Cates has been on the sfck list, but was able to be out Sunday. Rev. B. V. Furgeson filled bro. Baughcom’s appointment Saturday and Sunday and preached two masterful sermons. Miss Maie Reynolds who has been teaching at Wake Forest during the past year came home Saturday to spend her vacation. Here’s the right hand ot j county, the History and Civil School at Mebane Has Closed Most Successful Year. The commencement exercises, of the Bingham school, located near here., Thursday night the Kalisthenic-Pole- m:c Literary society contest was held. President Paul V. Phillips presided and made a most appropriate opening ad dress. Secretary David T. Tayloe, of Beaufort county, hitroduced the follow ing speakers; namely, Messrs. Charles McCutchen, of Virginia; George Slover of Craven county, N C.; Fred Blakley, of Virginia; Knott Proctor, of Pitt county, N. C..; T. K. Cobb, of Robeson county, N. C., and John G. Paul of Virginia. The judges. Dr. L, Puryear, Rev, B. T. Hurley and Professor R. A. Cambell gave their decision and the beautiful gold medal to Mr. John G. Paul, of Roanoke, Va. The Bingham Military band rendered delightful music for the occasion, under the leader ship of Captain F. B. Spiker, who has been for several years in charge of the department ot music. Friday morning, at 10 o’clock, a de lightful band concert was given on the lawn which was followed by various in teresting military exercises. Cadet-Ad jutant Dayid T. Tayloe, jr., of Beaufort county, conducted the “Setting-up- Exercises” which were beautifully executed. Senior Captain 0. Glenn Henkel of Catawba county, conducted “Butt’s Manual” to the delight of tho spectators. The cadets went through the manual of arms so perfectly that the Commandment stated that he could not detect a flaw and had never seen it better done anywhere. This exercise was followed by the competitive mili tary drill which was exceedingly interesting, the contest being very close and protracted Friday afternoon, che “Field Day” was held and another band concert giyen. The athletic prizes were awarded as follows: namely. The Hundred Yard dash, to Mr. John G. Paul; the Hammer Throw to Mr. Seba Johnson; Putting the Shot, to Mr. Jas. D. McGill; the Pole Vault, Mr. Henry McFaden, the High Jump to Mr. Charleg McCutchen, and the Broad Jump to Mr. John G. Paul. Friday night the graduating exercises were held. A delightful musical pro gram was rendered by the Bingham orchestra. Honors were awarded as follows: namely, the Penmanship prize to Mr. George Friese of Virginia., the Com mercial prize to Mr. Luther Sykes of Orange county, N. C., the Neatest cadet to JMr. Willie Gray Lang of Pitt county, N. C., the Best drilled cadet to Mr. Wm. B. Compton of Virginia., the “Mary P. Gray” essay medal to Miss Isabella W Gray of Orange jonnty. The Mathematics medal to Mr. George Slover of Craven county, the Latin medal to Mr. George Slover of Craven Govern- Train Robbers Secure $200,000. The two masked bandits who early last Friday morning held up the last New York limited train of the New Orleans & Northeastern railroad in Mississippi, made perhaps the richest haul in the history of train robberies. It is positively known that from the safe which was blown open with nitro glycerine in the Southern Express car the robbers secured more than thirty packages of currency, one ot which contained more than $50,000, repre senting the monthly pay roll of the New Orleans & Northeastern and Ala bama and Vicksbutg railroads at Meridian and Hattiesburg. According to passengers on the train, who returned to New Orleans Saturday ; Express Messenger Grav stated that one package in the car contained $140,- 000. This the officials of the South ern Express Company deny, but the general belief is that the total booty secured exceeded $200,000. hear the mention- it gives The Friend ot Plain People Oscar W. Underwood is the friend of the man who eats, and who wears clothes. He is the friend of the man who toils for his daily bread in the the sweat of his brow. He is the champion of the consumer who has to battle with the elements that cause the present high cost of living. His almost twenty years of record in the Congress of the United States stands out prominently in this respect. He could not control legislation he fought with all the might within him and with all the effectiveness that was possible for the relief of the consumer. When he was placed in a position of power and could lead his party in the work of legislation he redoubled his energies in the interest of the poor man-not of any one section but of all sections of the countrj’. In the Electric Chair Tues day Morning. Clarence V. T. Richeson was ele ctrocuted at 12:17 a. m. Tuesday morning in Boston. The current was turned on at 12:10:02 and the prisoner was declared totally dead at 12:17. The former Baptist clergyman, con- fessed'poisoner of Avis Linnell of Hyannis, was outwardly calm when he entered the death chamber and he maintained his composure while the straps and electrodes were being ad justed as he sat in the electric chair. When Richeson reflected that he probably had less than twelve hours to live, he expressed a desire to see his brother, Douglas Richeson of Chicago, who was in the city. The former clergyman told his spiritual adviser, Rev. Dr. H. S. Johnson, that he could meet his brother without fear of collapsing. He had reconciled himself to his fate, he added, and felt that he was at peace with God and the world. Douglas Richeson decided that he would not go to his brother. welcome. Among the visitors at Cane Creek Sunday we noticed the following; Mi. Hendricks Johnso.; of Durham, Mr. U. S. Ray and Robert Smith and wife of Mebane, Miss Ella Lloyd, Mr. and Mrs. ililton Pickard and family, Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Bynum and family and Miss Lottie Booker. Elm Grove and White Cross played ball on the Orange Grove diamond Saturday evening. Elm Grove winning bji a score of 9 to 5. The Baraca and Philatha class rooms were well filled Sjjnday, we hope all visitors will become members of the Sunday School. Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Crawford and Master Frank of Mebane visited Mrs. Crawfords father Mr. William near Chapel Hill, and Mrs. D. F. Craw ford Saturday night and Sunday. We are still pleading for the boys and girls of this and all other communi- ties If you wish to aid them in securing an education you have an opportimity that is fast passing, give them a chance With strawberries blushing in the grass; cherries looking red and rosy, harvest coming on, chickens waiting to be fried, fish plentiful and hungry, watermellons and peaches coming on- well the outlook is promising. Bigger Than the Titanic The Imperator measures 900 feet in length and is 96 feet in width. It has a tomiage of 50,000 and a displacement of 72,000 tons and will have a speed of 22 1- 2 knots an hour. The vessel has nine decks above the water line, and will carry 4,250 passengers and a ship's crew of 1,000, a total of 5,220 persons. Coarse and Cruil. A Wall Street^ man offers to bet $5,000 to $15,000 that neither President Taft nor Roosevelt will get the Re publican nomination. The other was $5,000 to $20,000 that William J. Bryan will be the next President. It is related that these bets were of fered in all seriousness, but that neither was taken. List of Letters Remaining unclaimed at this office or the w«ek ending May. 81. 1912 1 Letter for John Barringer 1 P C for Miss Fannie Hightower 1 P C for Miss Bearittis Hayes 1P C for Miss Mebane 1 Letter for Miss Bessie Rogers 1 Letter for Mr D M Thompson 1 P C for Miss Modie Warn 1 Letter for Mr George Wilson These letters will be sent to the Dead Letter Office June 1 1912, if In calling for the above please say ‘Advertiaed” giving date of ad. list. Respectfully, S. Arthur White, P. M. The Durham Herald says: “For the benefit of the Greensboro News we will say that the story we got off of the Laughinghouse letter was that it wag written sometime before Mr. Ay cock’s death, but was not used as a campaign document. Sometime after his death friends of Mr. Simmons got hold of it and issued it in circular form, but saw their mistake before it had been given general circulation. The News perhaps saw Mr. Simmons’ denial of having anything to do with the matter.” Frankly, we know nothing about whose friends put the letter in circular form; ! but we do know whose friends wrote the letter in the first place, and for what purpose it waa written. It was a coarse^ cruel, and a despicable cam paign trick; and we have not seen Mr.^ Kitchin’s denial of having anything to do with it.—Greensboro News. ment medal to Mr. Wm. Bingham Gray of Orange county. The English medal to Mr. Luther Sykes of Orange county, the Science medal to Mr. George Slover of Craven county, the Schollarship medal to Mr. George Slover of Craven county, the medal in the department of Bible to Mr. Wilbur McFarland of Alamance county. Diplomas of graduation were awarded to Mr. David Thomas Tayloe, Jr., of Beaufort county; Mr. Wm Bingham Gray of Oranga county, Mr. Jas. D. McGill of Cleveland county, Mr. Paul Vernon Phillips of Wayne county and Mr. Orange Glenn Henkel of Catawba county. The University Schollarsh’pa were awarded as follows; namely. The University of North Carolina scolar- Lloyd ship to Mr. David Thomas Tayloe, Jr. of Beaufort county whose average on all studies was 94. The Washington and Lee University schollarship to Mr. Wm. Bingham Gray of Orange county whose average was 93-55 The University of Tennessee scholiar- ship to Mr. Jas. D. McGill of Cleveland county whose average was 91.05. TheJTulane University schollarship to Mr. Paul Vernon Philips of Wayne county. The Herbert Bingham schollarship to Mr. Luther Sykes of Orange county, Mr. Sykes average on all studies for three years past was 93. President Gray stated that the session just closed has been thoroughly satisfactory and one of the best for many years ift point of the matter of discipline, health conditions, scholar ship, deportment, able and high grade faculty and moral and excellent boys in attendance. Affecting scenes were wicnessed at the school and at the station in the parting of the boys and teachers, evidencing the warm attach ment which has been formed during the year. The prosi ects for the session of 1912- 13 are fine for a large enrollment, nearly every one of this years boys signifying his intention of returning to Bingham. . A Visit to Mebane the Town ot Promise. BY J. B. VERNOR. The following taken from the Bur lington News: Alamance county is a leader of coun ties in having within het borders so many towns of promise. No one would dare call Burlington the only town after visiting that prosperous and con genial place called Mebane. A visitor to that place is struck by its recent improvements in the matters of side walks. The people there have already awakened to the necessity of this part of a town's growth by having an im mense length of granolithic pavement which leads to almost every house. Other towns of large proportion than Mebane do well to appoint a commis sioner to visit this place to people say how it pays, not ing the high sense of beauty to itsmake~up. City pride is a healthy form of pride What takes more to beautify any city than to see its houses neatly trimmed with a fresh coat of paint. There seems to be an opidemic of this in Mebane, many houses now undergoing this change. What adds more to the business por tion of a town than so see the stores with their fronts, particularly their backs, neatly kept which is the surest inducement to invite business. The merchants here are the most agreeble and congenial of men making it pleasure for any visitor who may stop by to rest. What makes Mebane a distinct place of notoriety is her manufacturing in terest. There are establishments there that have world-wide notoriery. The White Furniture Compeny, The Mebane Bedding Company. Continental Chair Factory and the Mebane Iron Bed Co., are all ably superinteded and well kaown by a wide patronage. The surest index to any community's growth is its system of schools. Mr, Cooper a recent graduate of the Un iversity of North^Carolina, directs this work and nothing but words of praise come from his first years efforts. One distinct satisfaction is had in seeing no children loitering on the streets except on business which implies wise care on the part of home and schooL There are four churches that greet large audiences: the M. P M. E., Presbyterian and Baptist. Much could be said of the noble work of the Y. M. C. A. as an outlet to all the young men in Christian service- There is a marked interest in this work that is peculiarly gratifying on seeing the young men train themselves for ser vice. Much more could be said of Mebane. Teere is a large capitalized bank, a clean and well edited paper by Mr. J. O. Foy, many well kept hostelries by good women. There is the Bingham School an institution of dignity that is a valuable asset to that comniunity. The people of Mebane have ample cause to be proud of their town and let us indulge in the hope that they wiil continue to pull together in this j' town of promise. Open Invitation For Buy ing and Selling. The New York World says: The primary laws as they now stand are an open invitation to the buying and selling cf the Presidency. The Republican Presidential primaries m Pennsylvania cost $2,000,000. In Allegheny County alone the Taft mana gers spent $67,283 and the Roosevelt people $31,344, a total of $98,627. This sum represents nearly a dollar and a half apiece for every Republican vote in the country. In New York County the Roosevelt people spent nearly $5 for every vote they polled. Nobody knows what they spent in Maryland, but the Taft managers have charged that the negro vote in Baltimore was purchased for Roosevelt- What will be spent by the Taft and Roosevelt forces in Ohio there is no means of estimating, and the total corruption fund will nevei Be known. We know what money can do in the way of debauching an electorate. Adams County, O., with 2,000 voters disfranchised for taking bribes, is an eloquent testirronial, and the preferen tial primary threatens to turn every debatable State into an Adams County. In the name of progressive government we are re-establishing Hannaism in its most venal and dangerous form.—New York Worid. If it is true as the World alleges that there is so much corruption in the presidential primary, can we hope for any less in the senatoral primary it\ fact in any other primary, the '•hances for buying votes in a primary is decid- ely superior to those in a general election. There is much less legal safeguards thrown around the prin?ary, and yet it is known and recognized in North Carolina that the verdict of a Democratic primary was e’qual to an election. of for The Way to Put It. Speaking with warm approvial Oscar Underwood’s candidacy President, our esteemed contemporary. The Evening Chronicle, said very trUly the other day that Underwood’s can didacy does not rest in any degree upon the mere fact that he is a Southern man, but it does rest in some degree upon the fact that, being absolutely first class Presidential timber, he should have the more support from Southern people who take the broad&st national view.” That is remarkably well put. ‘ It is to the entire country’s interest, added The Evening Chronicle, “that the South should have its proper place in National affairs again; that the White House is a goal that should be opened to the fond imagining of every Southern parent of a Southern boy.” It is a remarkable thing, as we have already noted, that the objection to Underwood on the ground that he is a Southern man has boen made only by Southern newspapers and politicians.— Charlotte Obseryer. EGGS — Pure strain Black Mimorca’s 15 for $1.50, F. W. GRAVES Mebane .N .C “Gee WhIzI I Like Them Kind.” “Certified sweethearts” is the policy of the Bethany Club for Girls of Chicago, III., Moral, social and financial condi tions are to be certified by Mrs. William A. Patei*son, Chairman of the Executive Committee. Af^er she “certifies” the young man the girls can go as far as they like. The beau, to pass, must be devoid of the tendencies that keep girls gussing. He must be like an open book, easy to read and understand. There are 1,000 girls in the club. “Gee whiz! I like them kind that you never can tell,” said Miss Beulah Stinson. “The others are liable to be dull.” Pensions and Public Men It is estimated that Germany’s great military machine, the most powerful fighting force in the world, with 650,- 000 men in constant readiness for war and an elaborate system of reserves, fortifications and supplief, costs only one-ninth more than we pay to Union veterans or alleged Union veterans or to persons who can make any sort of claim in right of any Union veteran, real or the reverse. We pay this sum in addition to our outlay upon an army for present defence, and it will soon be nerrly twice that oiitlay. Americans used to congratulate themselves that the citizen here did not carry a soldier upon his back, as the European did. As a matter of fact, he does carry upon hia back a soldier or pretended soldier—with the difference that this soldier’s services or pretended services ended fifty years ago. And the fewer of these soldiers or pretended soldiers who remain as the years go by, the heavier tribute does he pay. The few are greedier than the many were; they are more cohesive; they are more concious of their political power; they make up for dwindling numbers by increased assertiveness and cowardice grown habitual on the part of public men. We shall soon be paying our pension element a greater sunr. than Germany’s immense military preparation costs. We shall pay this sum in secret, no one except the pension-owned Pension Office officials knowing to what persons it goes.—Charlotte Observer. REPUES TO RALEIGH PAPER The sufficiency of my merit is to know that my merit is not sufficient.— Augustine. H. B. Varner Gives out Open Letter to the News and Observer. H. B. Vamer, in charge of the Under wood campaign in the state has given out the following open letter addressed to the Raleigh News and Observer: “To the Editor of the News and Ot - server: “On the first page of your issue of Continued on fourth page.