North Carolina Newspapers

m$Ax Comn , pj " j Stat Library Volume XLV If! K Co.olid.t.i April i. 1919 LENOIR, N. C, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1920 Price, Fits Cent th Copy No. 32 ALIEN MAY DAY NEWLAND SELLS TO IPRITCHETT BEATS SPRING SHOWS UP DEATH OF KIRBY SHOWS GREATEST PLOTS DISCOVERED EFIRD DEPT. STORES DULA FOR MAYOR AT BLOWING ROCK EXPECTED HOURLY GROWTH IN STATE i Part of Red Effort in Behalf of Rus sian Soviets Strikes and Other Disturbances Planned, With Assassinations, Assaults Charlotte Department Store Organi- zation Thirtieth Store Consid- cration Not Known, But Is Considerable Sum The Biggste Vote Polled in a Town Election in Years Mass Meet ! ing Ticket Was Elected by a Good Margin Talk of Electric Line to Blowing Rock Will Pass Through Le noir Big Preparations for the Summer Early Green, Prominent Farmer, Shoots Neighbor Who Threatened His Home Trouble Over a Boundary Line Granite Falls Increases Population 189 Per Cent Since Last Census; Town Election Held Cop Is Riled Other News Plots against the lives of more than a score of Federal and State of- ticials were discovered last week by the department of justice as part of radical May dav demonstrations. At- torney General Palmer announced last Thursday night. The assassinations and assaults, Mr. Palmer said, were included in the May day program organized by the communist labor party and other rad ical elements and other disturbances intended by the radicals as an effort m behalf of peace with soviet Russia. State officials marked as "victims" were notified by the department, the attorney general added, of the infor mation in the hands of the Federal government and their co-operation requested in repressing radical dem onstrations. The department has information. according to thi attorney general. that the instigators of the May day demonstrations in been working "in Washington have direct connection and unison" with the leaders of turbances set for Kurope. As in Eu- rope, attempts were being made to incite strikes in all basic American industries, Mr. Palmer said, although he did not belieev thev would be suc cessful. Mr. Palmer said that while he could not disclose the nature of the communist labor party's plans in con nection with further strikes, leaders of that organization had concentrat ed on several important industries and that the demonstrations planned threatened to cause trouble in the way of walkouts. All of the propaganda advocating May day disturbances referred to "inhuman treatment" of the soviet government of Russia by the United States and the allied powers, Mr. Palmer continued. In foreign sec tions of industrial centers appeals for "peace with Russia" have been em ployed as the main method in stirring up dissa' sfaction with this govern-I merit, Mr. Palmer said. Strikes and disorder, he added, simply are meant to emphasize to American officials the threats of the radicals that rela tions must be resumed with Russia. Tons of inflammatory literature have been circulated in the last month bv express and freight and se cretly distributed by local leaders, according to information obtained by department agents. The communist labor group also has sent numerous "personal emissaries" into cities where the field was deemed ripe, Mr. Palmer reported. These men have been under constant surveillance by Federal agents and it was through their activities that the government was first able to establish definitely the aims of the group of May day dis turbances. Men and women have been used particularly in the textile manufacturing districts. In these areas, reports showed rad ical leaders were appealing to the workers to strike in behalf of soviet Russia, and as a protest against the high cost of living. Assistant Attor ney General Garvan said that in most eases the strength gained by the ad vocates of "direct action" among the textile workers was due to claims that such a strike would aid in forcing down living costs. He believed that many of the foreigners were unaware of the "wolf in sheep's clothing whic hthey are following." Some of the literature showed that many radical leaders felt that raids conducted against the communist and communjst labor elements last winter had "broken our foundation." The agitators, however, continued to ( Continued on page seven) MR. R. C. B. MARTIN DIED AT HOME IN GRANITE FALLS Mr. R. C. Boyce Martin died at the home of his parents in Granite Falls Tuesday of last week, at the age of 31 years. Mr. Martin was in the em ploy of the Southern railway and was stationed at Charlotte when he be came ill. Two weeks before his death his father, Mr. A. M. Martin, went to Charlotte and brought him home. He was then very sick, but his illness was not thought to be critical. Tues day pfternoon he was taken worse and died within an hour. Funeral services were conducted from the home Thursday by Rev. J. W. Shaver, pastor of Concord Baptist church, Granite Falls, assisted by Rev. Mr. Conrad of the Lutheran church and Rev. Mr. Armhurst of the North Charlotte Methodist church. Mr. Armhurst was a special friend of the deceased. Interment followed at the cGmcttry. Roberson Christopher Boyce Mar tin was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. M Martin. Aside from his mother and father he is survived by his wife atiu a a Li iv i iic u s--.T . . . and two sisters, Mrs. M. A. Mackie of Granite Falls and Miss Avarie Martin of Boiling Springs, N. C. He was a young man of strong character and was universally liked. The friendships, both for himself and his family, are attested in the many let ters and messages of condolence re ceived from co-workers and friends. Numbered among the messages re ceived are those from W. R. Murray and G. L. Ward, committee of the Southern office force, with whom the deceased worked. Other messages came from Mr. L. T. Nichols, Mr. L. v t;a m- t t noUan nf LIIUIO, 1111. U. the Carolina & Northwestren, G. II. Yount of Rhodhiss, and others. Tuesday evening: Messrs. E. L. Etird and R. C. Teague closed a deal with Mr. H. T. N'ewland, owner of the N'ewland department store, for the purchase of the store building. complete stock of goods and the block of real estate fronting West Trade street. The transaction is said to involve something like $150,000. However, both Mr. N'ewland and Mr. Etird refuse to make a statement in this connection. The sale included everything, store, stock and real es tate, with the exception of the ac counts, which are still due and pay able to Mr. N'ewland. The transaction was completed Tuesday afternoon about 4 o'clock and immediately the doors were closed and the new owners began to go over the stock and arrange for opening again Saturday morning. Additional help was brought from the Etird main store in Charlotte and the work of re-aranging the stock is being rushed as fast as possible. Other lines of goods are being sent here to be added to the stock already on hand. It had been known for several weeks that the Etird organization was seeking an opening here, but it was expected they would buy some unimproved property and make im provements. The announcement of the purchase of the N'ewland store came as a complete surprise. It has i been learned, however, that the sale had been brewing for thirty days or more. Instrumental in the sale has been the work of Mr. H. M. Teague of this city, who is a brother of Mr. R. C. Teague of the Etird organiza tion. Mr. Teague has been working quietly for several weeks in an effort to get a location for the store. Lenoir makes the thirtieth store of the Etird chain, said Mr. E. L. Etird yesterday. The other stores are lo cated principally in North Carolina, with a few in South Carolina and one at Danville, Va. The stores located in North and South Carolina are as follows: North Carolina- Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Concord, Rocky Mount, Gastonia, Durham, Raleigh, Burling ton, High Point, Salisbury, Lexing ton, Lincolntoa, Shelby, Cherrvville, Monroe, Wilson, Goldsboro, Forest City, Lumberton, Laurinburg, States ville and Lenoir. South Carolina Rock Hill, Colum bia, Spartanburg, Greenville, Greers, Anderson, Greenwood. Both Mr. Etird and Mr. Teague will remain in Lenoir for several days to assist in getting the new business in good running shape. SO FAR REPORTED CENSUS IN- CREASE IS 24.8 PER CENT In a survey of census reports thus far received Samuel L. Rogers, di rector, says: "Up to May 1 the bureau of the census had announced the population of 71.'! cities and towns, the aggre gate population of these places being 11,201,750. The list includes 37 places which were not in existence as separate communities as far back as 1010, having been organized or set off since that time, so that their pres ent ppoulation cannot be compared with that of 20 years ago; but as re gards 676 places comparable figures are available ' for the censuses of 1000, 1010 and 1020. The popula tion of these places increased from 8,591,103 in 1900 to 11,123,249 in 1910 and to 13,8X0,702 in 1920. This shows an increase of 2,529,146, or 29.4 per cent from 1900 to 1910, and of 2,757,453, or 24.8 per cent from 1910 to 1920." Eight negro soldiers from Camp Grant. 111., convicted of criminal as sault upon a young white woman at the camn in May. 1918. have been taken to the penitentiary at Atlanta, Ga., to serve life sentences. RUNSER IS COMING WITH A BIG PLANE Wires Friends Here That He Will Arrive About Monday He Is Flying Big British Three Passenger Cruiser Lieuts. H. J. Runser and R. Tur ner, who gave exhibition flights here during fair week, will return to Le noir early next week, according to messages received here yesterday by friends, which read: "Lincolnton, N. C, May 4. "Doctor Dooley, Lenoir, N. C. "Step lively, Doctor, and tell ev- erybody we will be there about May 12 with a high-powered British cruis - , - f - - - - - er three-passenger airplane and will carry anybody. So spread the news and write us at once at Asheville if the field is all right. Best wishes. "Lieust. H. J. Runser and R. Turner." "Mr. Wright, Supt. Whitnel Cotton Mill, Lenoir, N. C. We will flv to Lenoir about Mav 12 with three-passenger British cruis - er airplane on our way to Washing - ton. Advise papers we will carry passengers and write me at once at Asheville if the field is all right or if I , T..l 1- -11 Dioweu up. aesi nsnes to an. Lleuts- H- J- Rl,nser and R. Turner." In a hotly-contested mayoralty race Monday James T. Pntchett de feated Dr. A. W. Du'.a bv the vote of 231 to 1MI With Mr. Prtchett was elected the entire mass meeting tick et of commissioners. The race was not without thrills, and excitement trevailed with the hard work of the candidates and their friends through out the entire day. Pntchett's ma jority was ."il votes. Four men were in the race for the mayorship. Three J as. T. Pritch ett. T. C. Robbins and Lawrence Weketield went before the mass meeting, where Pr tchett won out over his two opponents with a lead of 74 votes out of a total of 196 cast. Dula did not enter the mass meeting, but announced his candidacy subject to the final election. ! In the mass meet ng two ballots were required in making the nomina tion. On the first ballot three names T. C. Robbins, Lawrence Wakefield and .las. T. Pntchett --were before the house. On this ballot Robbins received 05 votes, Wakefield 63 and Pntchett 'Jo. Two other votes were cast for men whose names were not before the mass meeting, Dula and Richard ,1. Griffin each receiving one vote. A motion was adopted by the meeting to eliminate the lower can didate, which left Robbins and Pritchett for a second ballot. On the secern ballot Robbins received 60 votes and lYitchett Ma. tin this bal i lot another vote was cast for Law I rence Wakefield. Pritchett was de ' dared the nominee. I Only one ballot was required for I the selection of the commissioners' ' ticket. The seven men receiving the I nominations were L. E. Rabb, 100; K. F. Allen, 91'.; S. S. Jennings, 102; W. E. Miller, til); B. L. Stone, 102; J. W. Self, HKi, and II. W. Courtney, 'J3. Other men receiving ballots were las follows: A. G. Jonas, :i ; W. S. Cov ! ington. 2; R. S. Crisp, 4; L. B. Hunt- I lev, 6; C. S. Triplett. Dr. C. L. James A. A. Wilson, :t; F. C. White, Marshall, 5; A. G. Foard, Blackwelder, 1 ; J. E. Shell 1 ; W. I T. C. and Heffner. Robbins, Rabb, :', 1 Matt Bernhardt, 1 W. J. Lenoir, 2; W. C. McCail, 1; H. Boall, 2. Following th veloped that a ticket was out The only chang .' mass meeting it de second coiiim .s doners' for the final election, es made in this ticket were m substituting the name ot i.. 1 B. Huntley for .1. W. Self and It S. Crisp for W. E. Miller. This fact e xplains the big lead held by Rabb, Allen, Courtney, Stone and Jennings over Miller and Self in the final olee- I lion Monday. The result of Monday's : commissioners' election was as fol lows: Rabb, 410; Stone, 411; Allen, 410; Courtney, 408; Jennings, 407 ; , Self, 252, and Miller, 249. Crisp re ceived UiO votes and Huntley 163 votes. In this election three votes were cast for C. S. Triplett and one for .1. D. Matheson. In this election there is one notice able thing. That is the greater num ber of citizens voting anil the greater degree of interest shown in town af fairs. One year ago only 10 7 votes were cast, as against 411 this year. The same condition prevailed at the i mass meeting. Usually there is not I over 1011 to 150 citizens on' take part in the mass meetings, but this year the court house was crowded land 225 took part in the nominations. Th mass meeting r rniay led to order by Mayor who is just ending h Mr. Lenoir assured tho his appreciation of the night W. J. third pros honor years. ed his was ca Lenoir term, ent of given him for Mr. Lenoir h; the past three I already assm friensd and made a tha the would not public be in statement me for a ! renomniation. I Mr. J. L. N Ison was e. iled as with II. Mav call for W. L. chairman of the mass meet W. C. Moore, Jr., and Fred as secretaries. On the tir-t nominations for mayor Mr Minish pi: .1 the name of T ' C. Rob This was ' bins before th' meeting. followed by tl noi..' lation rence Wakefield 1 y and James T. P. he ' I Squires. of Law Newland v Mark MORE THAN FIFTY KILLED IN TORNADO IN OKLAHOMA A dispatch from Muskoi'ee, Okla., says the number of person ki wn to have been killed at Peggs, Okla., had reached 51 early Monday night, with five persons not accounted for and about 100 injured. Peggs virtually was destroyed by the tornado Sunday night and the iistshrdulpcmfwypjcm night. No estimate of the property loss was available. In many cases seevral bodies were found among the ruins of a single 1 " ,u' ,7','" ., " V t m, o-h freak of the storm a small frame building, uninhabited, was left stand ing in the heart fo the town, while brick structures surrounding, which had housed manv nersons. were razed. Clothing was found on trees several . miles from the nath of the storm. A I large gasoline garrel was found flat tened and wrapped tightly around ' the trunk of a tree. The area swept 1 by the tornado was said to be about two miles long and a mile wide, I Peggs was a village of about 2o0 inhabitants. As a rule, workers in copper mines are immune from typhoid feevr. (By H. C. Martin) We have some evidences of the approach of spring. Up this way the grass is beginning to show in the meadows and the earlier Mowers are bloom. ng. Th efruit trees have not bloomed yet in most of the orchards and we have promise of a full apple crop and plenty of peaches, I am told, are yet alive in this vicinity. Few persons have made gardens, as the ground is very cold and we have had quite a lot of ram for a few Weeks past. Work is progressing fairly well on the various new construction works going on here. A force of 50 or 60 carpenters is busy on the work at May view Park ami new houses are spring up like magic. Poe & Triplett have contracted som tof the work and have a force of men from Lenoir and vicinity here moving the work along well. Among the Lenoir men here are Sam Clay. Charley Taylor, Will Secrest and Finley Hartley and others. Mr. and Mrs. Ross Cannon of York, S. C, were here Saturday and Sun day looking after the work of their new suVnmer home near Green Park,, which is being built under contract by J. Lee Hayes of this place. Mr. W. I Greeden of Bennetts ville, S. C, was here laso looking after some improvements to his sum mer cottage. Mrs. E. D. Mackey of Atlanta, with her brother, Dr. Alfred Mordecai, are here stopping at the Watauga Inn un til some improvements are made on Mrs. Mackey's cottage. Mrs. Mackey is here fo rthe summer, while Dr. Mordecai will probably go back into the medical service of the army, where he served during the war. Messrs. B. B. Hayes, Clayton Throneburg of Hudson and L. II. Tu-tle of Lenoir were Sunday visitors here. Mrs. Holshouser, widow of the late James Holshouser, died Thursday of last week at the home of her son-in-law, N. L. Edmisten, near here, and the body was buried at the Reformed church Friday afternoon. Mrs. Hols houser was held in high esteem by all who knew her. She was nearing her 91st birthday at the time of her death, which was due to infirmities of old age. 'I tie readers of the News-Topic at thi.- po.slu'lice were disappointed last week that the papers for this place did not come. There must have been a mistake made in your mailing of fice, and we trust it may not occur again, as the weekly visits of the NVw-Toni,' are eagerly waited for and appreciated. Rev. Edgar Tufts, the Presbyte rian minister in charge of the Pres byterian church here, tilled his reg- i.hi'- i.ppointment last Sunday. Rev. F. M. Muggins, the Baptist minister, will ,reach at his regular appoint ment here next, Sunday. During the high winds of last Fri day forest tires raged in several parts of the county, doing considerable damage. Mr. Horace Cook, who lives five or six miles southeast of Boone, near Mt. eYrnon church, last his home and its contents, including abuu t$40O m money, by the tire. The barn of lle.ekiah Day, who lives live or six miles west of this place, was also burned. very little insur ance, if any, was carried in either case. It is not known how the tires originated, but possibly from spring clearings. It is learned upon good authority that a movement is on foot to b'l 'd an electric railway from Mt. Holly, on the Piedmont iv Northern and Seaboard Air Line railroads, to this place. The line will pass by Denver, Terrell and oilier ponits in east Ca tawba and Lincoln counties that now have no rail facilities, thence by Newton, Hickory ami Lenoir and on to this place. The project is being promoted by citizens of Charlotte, Newton. Hickory, Lenoir and other places along the line and at this place, and the indications are there will be "something doing" soon to wards this very important enterprise. Dr. A. R. Kuldell, field secretary of a far-reaching missionary society of Philadelphia, wdl speak at a union service in Lenoir next Sunday even ing at 8 o'clock. He is described as a "clear man of God" who leaves a "fin esiritual impress wherever he goes." He will have a message. Hear him. He solicits not, but a free will offering will be made. The Supreme Court recessed Mon day to May 17 without handing down a decision on the constitutionaltiy of the prohibition amendment or en forcement act. The court also re fused to grant the government's re quest for a rehearing of the anti trust suit against the United States Steel Corporation. ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS FRIDAY NIGHT Prof. Robert N. Wilson of Trin itv College will deliver the annual address at the closing exercises of the Lenoir graded school at the Presbyterian church Friday night. The class exercises will be held tonight m the school auditorium. a prom: be:i.! an c su! sta'itiiii farmer, is tody awaiting the shot wounds ir.rl c liam Kirby Fr day ing took place at held in cus- ujtcome of pistol ed by him on W.l- night. The shoot Green's home, two in th ies nortneast ot Le.'io.r. r o.. owing shooting Green telephoned Sher- :tf Triplett and what had happ come out and ta The shooting miorme cned, a ke him is said hru of just siing him to to custody, to have fol- lowed an attack with a knife. A kn.i'e cut throug clothes, the po::.t r; Green by Kirhv -wipe from Kirby's i the other man's of tile kn fe touch- ing the skin j u -t through and making etiougti to go scratch about one inch long. Following this attack on him, Green says that he ran into the house, entering the front door, where he secured h: ; pistol. Green says that K.rby's attack on h.m with the knife was unexpected. "Mr. K:rby came up while 1 was sit t ng on the porch." Green says, "and the first thing 1 knew he made the pass at me with the knife, saying 'I am going to kill every d Green on the place.' 1 ran into the house." Green continued, "where I secured my pistol. Coming back out the back door I saw that Kirby was going in. 1 told him not to go in the house and showed him the pistol. He started at me and 1 shot two times. 1 don't know where the balls hit him. He did not stop and I shot two more times. He staggered and then went out and sat down. I had only four balls in the pistol, so 1 could not have shot him but four times." hollowing the shooting, .Mr. Green said that he went immediVelv into the house and telephoned Sheriff Triplett, telling him of the trouble, and to Dr. C. L. Wilson, asking him to come out and do what he could for the injured man. "I then went down across the lot to my brother-in-law's and asked them to come up to my house and be with my wife and children. "1 did not want to shoot Mr. Kirby, and I hope and pray for him to get well. 1 believe and still believe that he would have carried out his threat and I shot in order to orotect my home.". Yesterday Mr.' Kirby was still alive, but it is not believed that h ' will be able to recover. Two of the bullets struck him in the head, one , entering ju.-t over the r.ght eye and , the other just a little hieiier on the forehead. The other two bullets struck lower down, one entering the neck and the other just over the heart. One of the bullets also hit I him in the little finger. ! No preliminary hearing lias been held yet, this awaiting the outcome i of the injuries of the wounded man. CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT BILL PASSED BY HOUSE The House last Friday passed the bill for the retirement of superannu ated civil service employes. The bill had already been passed by the Sen ate. The House retirement age is 65 years, after 15 years' service, while the Senate proposed 70, after similar service. Annuities under the bill will run as high as $720 annually, accord in:' to length of service and the sal ary being paid the employe at the time of retirement. Th oestimated annual cost of the measure ranges from $9,000,000 to $15,000,000, but advocates of the measure claim the government will save ;n the long run by getting a more ellirient c!a-s of employes. The bill carries a contributors feature whcrcuridor the employe contributes annually 2'-j per cent of his salary toward the retirement fund, the gov ernment supplying the remainder re quired. GO OUT GUNNING FOR EACH OTHER White Man and Negro Openly Carry Guns Following an Affray . Their Trial Scheduled to Come Up Saturday Original western life was personi fied here Saturday when Blair Bry ant, a white man, paraded the streets with a big pistol strapped about him, and Joe Duck Patterson, a negro, with a Winchester high-powered rifle thrown across his shoulder, marched up the street in double-quick time. According to evidence that came out at the mayor's court following an ex citing meeting of these two armed belligerents they were looking for each other and expecting trouble. . They were up in the mayor's court for an affray that took place in New land's store Saturday a week ago. The fight started in Newland's store, but it seems that it failed to end there. Joe Duck accuses Bryant of shooting at him and putting one shot in his ear on the Monday evening fol- uwing while he was on his way home. This happened near Harpertown. Fol - lowing the shot, Joe Duck caid thi't he hurried home and got his gun and came back to the point in the road wher ehe was shot, but his assailant had gone. Both of them are up on State war rants and the trial is set for Saturday before Squire J. A. Bush. Earlv Greer ran .t' Fall has shown the great- est ir.cre town or se in population of any ty in North Carolina. The 720 ever the 1910 census. increase is or 1 9 : er nt. T years ago Granite Falls show ed a population of :!M. On the first of January, this year, the census fig ures showed a population of -1.101. The major ty of this increase was brought about through the building of the big cotton mill by the Falls Manufacturing Company. In all "'.her lines, however, Granite Falls has shown a healthy growth. Every year since the 1910 census new build ings have gone up. There is not a vacant building in the town today, it is sai Since 1. 1910 another town almost as Granite Falls has been built Falls Manufacturing Com This mill village adjoins the rite by the pany. corporate limits ot Granite rails ana is less than a mile from the depot. The Falls Manufacturing Company is building a concrete road from the depot to their mill. This road when completed will be a mile in length and will add considerably in bringing the two communities together. The town election passed off quiet ly Monday, not much interest being shown. C. G. Moore was elected mavor; A. D. Abernethv, C. R. Rus sell, I.. T. Sharp, D. A. Russell and W. L. Deal, commissioners. New individual water systems are being installed bv Dr. Aber nethv, I). C. Hickman, Dr. C. R. Rus sell, I). M. Cline, H. V. Bolick and 1 others. What this town needs is a .water system that will supply the ent're town. Th eGranite Falls Drug Company is installing a large refrigerator in the rear of the store. The Granite Cordage Company will begin work soon on a new cord age plant, much larger than the pres ent one. Mrs. A. D. Abernethv has returned 1 from visiting her sister in South Car olina. Photographer Hardy of Lenoir missed a lot of work by not getting down here Saturday morning when , the folks expected him The family of Mr. D. H. Warlick went over to Rutherf ordton Friday to visit Mr. Warlick's brother, and returned Sunday. Mr. John Crouther of Baltimore i3 the guest of Mrs. C. C. Babb. The building and loan association of this place now has an office of its own over the postoftice. .Mrs. Boyd Kimball, who had been visiting her sister since Mrs. Martin's husband died, has returned to Char lotte. Rev. Mr. Allen of the Methodist church, being absent assisting in a meeting at Albemarle, Rev. Mr. Reav is of the Dudley Shoals circuit occu pied his pulpit Sunday night. The graded school here closes Fri day with the graduating exercises at 10 o'clock, after which will come the Itierarv address bv Gov. Will New land of Lenoir. At 'night a play, "The Hoodoo," will be presented by the older pupils. It is going to be good. Some one might tell us that it is none of our business, but there are sevenrl places in town that might possibly be improved by being clean ed up. And it has been suggested that for the sake of health and sani tation a clean-up day be talked up. Miss Avarie Martin has returned to Boiling Springs to resume her ehooI Mis school Our work. Lizzie Keever ha? finished her and Has returned home, little item in last week's News- (Continued on page four) PRICES SHOWED UPWARD TEN- DENCY DURING APRIL Federal Reserve agents through out the country report that during April there was a marked tendency oi prices to resume their upward movement. But the Federal Reserve Board noted the hopeful sign, from the consumer's viewpoint, of "anx , iety concerning the overstrained sit- nation resulting from excessively high prices and wages," which it be i licved forecast a slowing down in the skyrocketing of prices. While high prices of necessaries were obviously chargeable to ineffi ciency and under-production to a large degree, the board advanced the belief that the already high cost of production was aggravated by the added expense of obtaining capital. The result has been that during April conditions were not as favorable to a drop in prices as they were in Feb ruary and March, according to the summary. "While the agricultural outlook is distinctly less satisfactory than it was a month ago," the summary said, "and while the month of April has been a period of serious labor dis turbances, especially in the transpor tation field, the activity of business has continued high, demand for prod ucts strong and with prices tending upward rather than downward. In- ' uustries are not, as a whole, booked as far ahead, relatively speaking, as in the past, although in some lines the volume of unfilled orders is very large." There are in the world about 3, 000,000 lepers, two-thirds of them J being Chinees. (, L . I ' V