-WEEKLY TOWN AND COUNTY OFFER BMLLP.OETUOTOES ALL HOME PEUNT
volume xxxn.
OXFORD; NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY,3,ARY, 7, &17
NUMBER 11
WAR'S BRINK
PUBLISHED SElffl
-. .
AMBASSADOR GERARD ORDERED TO QUIT GERMANY
COUNT VON BERNSTOFF SAYS BERLIN KNEW WHAT WAS COMING
WHEN W AR RENEWAL WAS ANNOUNCED.
PIFLOMATIC BREAK WITH GERMANY CAHE SATURDAY
j'KKSIDKVT WILSON CALLED CONGRESS TOGETHER AT TWO O'
CLOCK AND TOLD THEM OF HIS DECISION TO SEVER
DHLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT
Two Years of Diplomatic Negotiations r Marked JWith Fervent Crises, -and
Attended with the Loss of More Than. Two Hundred American Lives On
The High Seas, Have Culminated With An Act Which All the History of
The World Always Has Led to War Every Agency of the American Gov
ernment Has Been Set in Motion to Protect the Country Against Acts of
German Sympathizers These Moves are of Necessity Being Kept Secret.
The severance of Diplomatic relations with Germany, was formerly an
nounced to the country and the world by President Wilson at a joint session
of Congress Saturday at noon.
In his address to Congress the President announced that he had ordered
all diplomtic relations with Germany severed.
Ambassador Gerard ordered to withdraw from Berlin.
German Ambassador von Bernstoff is handed his pasport.
President Wilson, Secretary of War Baker and Secretary of the Navy
Daniels in conference discuss dispotition of the military forces of the limited
States. . -: - . " '''- '; . s- . v T " "
White House and State Department aroused over reported sinking of
American steamship Housatonis off the Sicily Hands, in view of the Presi
dent's statement that he would again address Congress if Germany "sacri
ficed American" lives or ships.
Government buildings in Washington and Government plants trough t the
country are closed to the public and placed under heavy guard.
Municipal and Federal authorities through tout the country are called
on to aid in protecting Government property.
Congress' clears the way for National appropriation bill with authoriza
tion for the President to take over all industral plants tneeded if emer
gency arises. ;
Secretary of the Treasury Mc Adoo and Senator Simmons, chiarman of
the Finance Committee, confer and determine that the finance of the country
are ready for any strain. -f . v , i
Austria delivers note to the Stae Department which may be an endorse
ment of Germany's Submarine policy.
With the notice of severence of reltions, athe United States sent to Ber
lin a demand for the immediate release of sixty-four Americans taken from
ships captured by German raiders in the South Atlantic.
Wave of support of Presidnt's decision comes from all over the coun
try. k V'- " "'
NAME POSTMASTER NEXT WEEK
Correspondent Believes Mr. Lassiter
Will Be Appointed.
The Washington correspondent of
the Greensboro Daily News on Feb
ruary 3rd says:
"One week from today Major Sted
man will name a postmaster for Ox
ford to succeed Mrs. Osborn, who
died a few days ago. There are three
candidates for the place, Ben. K. Las
siter, F. W. Hancock and J. J. Parish.
Ahile Major Stedman has declined to
says whom he will name, because he
probably does not know just now,
the chances are that Ben Lassiter,
who is one of the most popular Dem
ocrats in Oxford, will get the place.
Young Lassiter has been a lifelong
Democrat; has been chairman of his
county committee, a firm amd devoted
supporter of President Wilson and
has always stood ready to aid pro
gressive Democracy. His friends be
lieve that he will be appointed and if
so that he will make an ideal officer."
NOTE In the above report the
correspondent had . it "John Han
ccok." We take the liberty of cor
recting the mistake and stating that
Mr. Hancock is a highly esteemed ci
tizen and he also is a life-long Dem
ocrat and voted for Mr. Wilson.
.
THE BOY SCOUTS.
Rev. Lewis N. Taylor Will Address
the S to vail Camp.
(Correspondence Public Ledger)
Next Thursday is the natal day of
the Boy Scouts, and at half-past sev
en o'clock that evening Rev. Lewis
N. Taylor will preach to the local
camp at St. Peter's Church, Stovall.
This meeting was formerly announ
ced for Friday night, but . that was "a
mistake. The indications are that
the meeting next Thursday night, as
scheduled, will be largely attended.
Everybody, and especially parents are
invited to be present.
Some one circulated the report
in the northern part of the county to
the effect that the meeting next
Thursday night was for the purpose
of enlisting the boys in the army. Far
from it, the Boy Scouts stand for
Peace and happiness. They are not
Permitted to carry guns. : -
Immediately after the services a
reception will be given the Scouts at
Jhe home of the Scout master, Mr.
Luther C. Wilkerson. .
NO SCHOOL MONDAY.
Heat
nig
Appratus Was
Out of
Order.
On account of the water pipes or
the furnace being out of order, the
Oxford Graded schoold was closed on
last Monday. The snow covered
he ground to about the depth of one
lnch and the children were as happy
as larks.
The Woman's Club,
ihe Woman's Club will meet this
Wednesday afternoon in the Oxford
Library at -3 :30 o'clock. A., full at
tendance is desired: " 1 "v ""
SHERIFF CAPTURES STILL.
Blockaders Convert Gasolene Tank
Into a Kettle.
In responce :to a wireless "message
Sheriff Hobgood made a hasty trip
to the northern part of the county
Friday morning and returned with
one of the most oddly constructed
distilling kettles ever seen in this
section.
The blockaders procures from some
source not known to the public a
large gasolene tank with a capacity
of perhaps 120 gallons, through the
top of which they bored a hole for
the purpose of leading thesteam into
the cap and thence into the evapor
ating worm.
Sheriff Hobgood found the still on
a stream '-within a couple of miles of
Grassy Creek church. The rocks
were warm and the indications were
that the blockaders had recently fin
ished a "run"' and departed with the
liquor. There was sufficient sour
mash on hand to recharge the boiler.
This was destroyed and the plant dis
mantled by Sheriff Hobgood. The
oddly constructed rum mill created a
great deal of curiosity when the Sher
iff arrived in Oxford with his trophy.
A FINE PROPOSITION.
Encourage. The -Young
to be
Frugal
The Oxford banks made a strong
campaign to strengthen their Christ
mas Savings Clubs and they could en
gage in no better business. The Sav
ings Clubs has shown in this town
what it can do. It. has put hundreds
of "young mem and women on the Sav
ings Route and before they know it
they will have money enough to buy
a lot or build a home. Last Decem
ber several thousand dollars were
turned lose for Christmas shopping-
a great sum of money which would
! never have been in evidence but for
!the interest the banks took in the
matter.
While perhaps the banks get some
little profit from this savings idea
they certainly do the town and the
individual much good. Therefore, the
citizen who has tried the savings plan
should insist that his neighbor try it.
Let us not be selfish.' Let us help
the banks in their campaign. It is
perhaps not too late yet to join a
club. ) At any rate, the habit of sav
ing is most commendable.
COMING TO THE ORPHEUM.
"The Life Of Our Savior, "the World's
Greatest Drama. .
The managers of the Orpheum
Theatre have secured for Morch 5th
Pathe's "Life of Our Savior," a dram
matic masterpiece in seven reels. The
work represents a life time of , care
ful study and an immense financial
Miss Billie Burke in "Gloria's Ro
mance," is announced for February
9 th, afternoon and night. This pic
ture has its sitting at Palm Beacn.
MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF BEEF
AND OTHER FOODSTUFF IN
STORAGE WILL y BE
RELEASED.
Ambassador Bernstorff has been
nanded his pasports. American takes
a. giant stride, nearer the vortex of
war. . . f
Believing the situation created by
the Kiaser's effort to dictate the
erms on which America's shipping
might sail the seas, President Wil
son, with the advice of his cabinet
and the leaders in Congress, has for
mally notified the Imperial German
Governmen that friendly relations
with it are no longer possible.
This act may bring war. It does
not necessarily mean war. Whether
formal war shall follow will depend
entirely upon the actual injuries re
ceived by American shipping at the
hands of German Submarines, and'
the manner in which our own Govern
ment shall choose to treat such in
juries. Having been re-elected President
of the United States, by men and
women who believed him pre-eminently
qualified to defend the nation's
honor without entering into war un
til war should become inevitable,
President Wilson, is doubtless con
sious at this grave moment that his
fellow citizens rely upon him to move
with redoubled' caution through the
dark waters that have suddely risen.
What might be termed as the one
bright spot in the prospective situa
tion .;'is; an immediate and substantial
lowering in the price of living. The
reason is plian. Millions of pounds
of beef and immense quantities of all
other kinds of foodstuffs have
accumulated in storage for ship
ment to. the European markets
at war prices,. and these
stored products will have to be
released upon a lowered market. The
holders could better afford to sell
at cheaper rates than to continue
holding in storage for an indefihate
time. ; In the event of war, it would
be impossible'rship -these supplies
out of ;"the' - country:" The storage
people would be compelled to hold
them at a continued heavy cost, or
liberate them to the markets of this
country. This would mean a DreaK-
ing of the backbone of the high cost
of living.
OUR NEW CHIEF OF POLCE
;
OFFICER HOBGOOD PROMOTE!)
TO HEAD OF DEPARTMENT.
Heavy Responsibility Rests on the
Shoulders of the New Chief Too
Much Territory for One Moi to
: Cover. "'
On the first of February Officer I.
H. Hobgood, for several years high
private in the ranks-of the police
squad, was elevated to the head of
the department and is now wearing
the insigna of the office. He has as
sumed a responsibility few men
Yrould care to shoulder. The town
isUarge and the back alleys are dark.
and should he blow his whistle for an
hour no blue coat would go to his res
cue, for he alone constitutes the en1
tire police force.
Chief Hobgood is a good and fear
less officer and he will do all in his
power to keep : down crime, but the
town is entirely too large for one man
to cover, especially at this period of,
the year when there are so many
thieves, burglars and highway rob
bers. Should they organize and in
vade Oxford at the bewitching hour
of midnight, the one lone policeman
would not amount to more than a bee
in a tar bucket.
The report that two plain clothes
men have been imported to assist
Chief Hobgood during the winter
months is neither denied or confirmed
at the police headquarters. The best
we can learn is to the effect that the
city fathers regard Oxford as being
rather too large for one policeman to
handle, but whether they will decide
to put on a night watchman, or a
"plain clothes" man or one with brass
buttons and a billy is problematic.
We commend the Town Com
missioners for elevating Officer Hob
good to the head of the department.
We know Chief Hobgood very well;
know that he has done his best to
see that law and oredr prevails. But
Chief Hobgood is like all the rest of
us. He is human and he is likely to
make mistakes. Every man who ev
er held a public office is always sub
ject to criticism. But we can honest
ly say that we believe Chief Hobgood
is doing his duty and trying out the
law as he sees it, , - .
,, , ?-- - : , -
Fire Alarm Turned In.
. The chimney of the home of Mrs.
H. O. Furman on College ; street
caught fire last Friday night. The
alarm was sounded at 9:15 and the
firemen responded in double quick
time, ; and stood quard until 4he-blaze
died down. v-.
The Breaking of Relations Came With a Crash, Despite the Fact That It
Had . Been Discussed and Practically Determined Upon- The Presidnet
Returning From His Friday Night Conference With Senators, Determined
That a Break in Relations Was the Only Act "Consistent with the Dignity
and the Honor of the United States."
Shortly after ten o'clock Saturday morning, Count Von Bernstoff re
ceived a correspondent of he Associated Press in his study, at the Embassy.
As the talk dif ted to the prospects of peace and the Ambassador expressed
the personal opinion that it was not improbable, even if relations were brok
en off, that the United States might continue efforts in tha direction a tele
phone bell twinkled. The Ambassador picked up1 the receiver, smiling. He
was quiet for a moment, then the expression on his face changed.
"You say relations have been broken and that the President is going to
Congress- Are you sure? Well, maybe that's so. No, I have no comment
to make and nothing to say. If that is true then I am a privte citizen
again." -
The Ambassador turned to the correspondent and asked that verifica
tion of the report be obtained. This was done,rtnd the Ambassador quick
ly walked into the next room to carry the news to Countess von Bernstorff.
When he came back into his study his eyes were moist and he said:
"So, it is really true. I'm so sorry. However, as you know, 'I ex
pected it. I never expected anything else. There was nothing left for the
United States to do. I wonder how I am going to get home?"
"I suppose I will get my pasports anytime now. But I certainly am not
suprised at the action that has been taken. My people in Berlin will not be
suprised either. They knew what was coming when they declared unrestrict
ed submarine warefare. J
At eleven o'clock Saturday morning it became known in - Washington
that Ambassador Gerard had been ordered home and that pasports had
been handed to Count von Bernstorff. While apparently deeply . moved,
Count von Bernstorff was not suprised. His first act was to ask Dr. Paul
Ritter, the Swiss Minister, to inform his wife, an Americari-born woman, of
the developments and likewise told the Ambassy staff. f
The question of convoying American ships -through the submarine
blockade has been taken up, and is being considered as one of the next
moves by thisGovernment.
. Neutral Governments have been notified of the action of the United
States, and have openly been invitd to follow its action if th new submarine
States, and have openly been invited to "follow its action if the new subma
rine campaign violates their reports.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Much Good Being Accomplished in
Oxford.
Inyears 'n6ringg15nby the Sun
day school was considered an institu
tion for children only, with just en
ough grown people on the roll to act
as officers and teachers, all ' of the
scholars being youngsters from say
five to fifteen years of age.
In the last few years there has
come a change, and now the Bible stu
dents in the adult classes in a man
ioritv of the Sunday schools of the
country equal the number of scholars
in the children's classes, and in some
schools outnumber the little ones.
Probably no city in the South the
size of Oxford is doing a finer work
than the Baptist Baraca Class. The
personal touch of Gen B. S. Uoyster
has much to do with the success of
the class. An invitation to come up
to the Sunday school and hear Gen
eral Royster expound the lesson nev
er fails to land the man.
This class is composed of mer
chants, bankers, lawyers, mechanics,
manufacturers, clerks, bookkeepers,
stenographers and all kinds of busi
ness men, varying in years from
twenty-five to seventy-five years. The
total membership' is about 160, and
notwithstanding the fact that quite
a number are elderly men who can
not go out in all kinds of weather,,
the average attendance on Sunday
morning is in the neighborhood of
95 or ICO.
The annual report of this class was
read last Sunday morning, and it is
indeed a pleasure to note that the
class donated $500. for various
causes during the year, only $12 of
the amount being spent for class pur
poses. ":'
CAUTION.
The Oxford Water Company
asks us to announce that its
pumps and pipe lines are frozen
up and several important parts
bursted and broken. It will be
impossible to pump any water at
all for some hours until they are
thawed out and such temporary
repairs made, as are nossible. You
arei warned! to 'take "every precau
tion aaginst fires and also with re
gard to your steam heating plants
and ranges with hot water backs.
Consumption of water must be re
duced to only such as is absolutely
necessary unitl the broken parts
can be replaced. All broken and
leakin service pipe's must be cut off
absolutely. Failure to get water
though the pipes may not mean
that they are frozen but may only
indicate that the standpipe is cut
off, as it will be most of the time
for several days to come.
W. Z. MITCHELL, Mayor
R. C. M. CALVERT, Water Co.
Kings Daughters Meet.
The Kings Daughters will meet at
the home: of Mrs. C. G. Elliot Thurs
day morning at 1 1 o'clock.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEET
The National Highway . Holds Their.
Attention.
The "County Commissioners did. a
fine day's work here Monday and ad
journed late in the evening and went
home.
They allotted $75.00 per mile to
the National Highway and enjoined
the Government tb put on two addi
tional patrolmen four in all and
purchased a road machine for the
work.
Heretofore the county allotted
$60.00 per mile to the National
Higway and two patrolmen did all of
the work. - It appears that there was
too much ground for them to cover
successfully. The additional$16.00,
two additional road men and a ma
chine will keep the road in better
condition.
ZERO WEATHER.
The Blizzard Here the Worst Since
1899.
The temperature of two degrees a
bove zero was registered here at 8
o'clock Monday morning. x This was
the coldest record here since the
memorable cold spell which reached
its worst stage on February 14, 1899,
when the mercury fell to two degrees
above zero, the same , as Monday.
Four year before that time on Feb
ruary 8, 1895, the thermometer drop
ped to one degree above. r
The rapid drop in the temperature
began shortly after 9 o'clock Sunday
night, when snow of the small, misty,
kind, began to fall. In a few minu
tes after it started, the flakes al
most the size of tiny balls of sleet,
turned into a fall so dense that ob-.
jects twety-five or fifty yeards away
could hardly be seen. Wind, which
at times reached a velocity roughly
?stimated at between thirty-five and
fifty miles' an hour, accompanied by
the snow, and completed the require
ments of a genuine northwest biz
zard. In less than two hours there
was approximately two inches of
snow on the ground. The fall began
to decerase about 10 : 30' o'clock, and
soon after 11 stopped entirely. The
snow was scateretd about in drifts,
great piles being driven up in some
places by the wind, while in others
the ground was perfectly clean.
The lines'' of the Carolina Power &
Light Company were broken several
miles north of Raleigh, and the cur
rent went off about -10:30 o'clock
Sunday night. The city was in dark
ness for the rest of the night. The
current, reached Oxford at 11 o'clock
Monday morning.
Fido's Kiss
No, little doggie must not kiss
The fairy cheek of pretty miss,.
Though great be his affection;
For 'ittle ootsie dog must know
.That at one swipe would' surely go
Girlie's drugstore complexion.
It is easy to adopt one's self, to
new, conditions. Uncle William can
talk automobile just as volubly as he
use to talk "hoss."