$1JOO a Year, in Advance.
"FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH."
Single Copy, 5 Cents.
VOL. XXIV.
PLYMOUTH, N. G., FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 19jf
NO. 36.
STORM SWEEPS
. OVER COUNTRY
ALL THE EASTERN PART OF U. S.
ASSAILED BY STORM OF RAIN,
SNOW AND WIND.,
3 PERSONS MEET DEATH
New York One of the Worst Sufferers.
Wires Are Down and All Train
Service Demoralized.
Savannah, 'Ga. Developing suddenly,
in southwestern Georgia, a storm
swept through south Georgia in a
northeasterly direction. It will, con
tinue its course up the Atlantic coast.
' The first news of the storm's approach
was received by the local, weather bu
reau in the following telegram from
the central bureau in Washington :
"Hoist northeast storm warnings, 8 p.
m., Fort Monroe to Savananh. Etorm
central in southwest Georgia moving
northeastward and increasing in inten
sity. Will give strong winds along
south Atlantic coast, shifting to north
west." . ' -
New York. A northeast storm,
swerving tov the . northwest , which
first brought rain, then snow, , raged
over New York and vicinity, cutting
the city almost completely off from
telegraph and telephone communica
tion. Reports showed its effects to
be widespread. -,
Three deaths due to the storm oc
curred here, two together when a roof
collapsed under the weight of wet
snow, crushing a man and a boy. An
other man, blinded by snow, was kill
ed by a train. Several persons were
overcome by exposure, and a number
were injured in street accidents.
Trains for the most part left the
railroad terminals on time, but, with
wires down, quickly, were lost track
of. Nothing could be learned con
cerning incoming trains except as
they arrived late on all lines.'
Wet snow snapped telegraph and
telephone , wires, and, with a gale
blowing 72 miles an hour at times,
many poles toppled over. ,
Ships due to reach this port were
held up outside. On advices from
Washington, the local bureau warned
shipping not to put out to sea.
The disturbance centered at ) Cape
Hatteras, and moved north, gaining in
intensity, and was expected to pass
directly above New York. Albany re
ported a 6-inch snowfall ; in New York
the weather bureau recorded a fall of
9 1-2 inches. More snow and cold
er, weather was forcasted. y
Philadelphia. One of the .worst
storms in years raged in this city and
vicinity, paralyzing wire communica
tion to eastern points and bringing
train service between this city and
New York to a standstill. The Penn
sylvania Railroad company estimated
that on its lines there are between
twenty-five and thirty trains stalled
between the two cities, while the
Reading was in equally as ba dshape.
LINES OPERATED BY POOLS
House Committee Finds Dissolution of
Combinations Would Cripple Trade.
Washington. Foreign and domestic
shiDDing of the "United States is so
. combined by agreements pools and
conference arrangements that an at
tempt to dissolve the combinations
would cripple trade. This is the con
clusion reached by the hotise mer
chant, marine and fisheries committee
in a final report of , the so-called ship
ping trust investigation, made public
here. The committee, after two years
of exhaustive inqquiry,-recommends
that both foreign and domestic ship
ping combinations be placed under the
strict control of the interstate com
merce commission, and that, if neces
sary, the commission be enlarged to
care for the additional work.
. The final recommendations of the
commmittea embodied in the four
teenth volume of its report, just com
piled, sets ' forth f that shipping lines
in virtually every trade"1 route from
or to United States ports are operat
ed by agreement or conference to re
strain competition. The report de
clares that the advantages accruing to
both shipper and ship lines through
these agreements are so great that
combinations should be allowed to con
tinue, under the supervision of the
interstate commerce commission
Debts of 48 States Total $342,251,000.
Washington Preliminary figures
made public by the director of the
census, W. J. Harris, show the total
indebtedness of the 48 states of the
Union, less ' sinking fund assets, on
June 30, 1913, was $342,251,000, an in
crease of $107,342,000, or nearly 50
per cent, over the total ten years ago.
Including sinking fund assets, the to
tal debt amounted to $419,157,000, of
which sum about $19,000,000 represent
ed the floating debt. The funded debt
was $400,000,000, of which about $359.
000,000 represented the floating debt.
PUZZLING UNCLE;
'
WEST IS NAMED SENATOR
v r ; ' - ,
APPOINTEE ONE OF BEST KNOWN
MEN OF SOUTHERN .
GEORGIA.
Has Been Prominently Identified
With Politics in the State for
Many Years.
-- Atlanta. Governor Slaton appointed
William Stanley West of Valdosta, one
of the best known men in the' state,
to fill the unexpired term of the late
Senator A. O. Bacon, whose death oc
curred in Washington, February 14.
Governor Slaton did not write any
formal announcement. - He merely
walked put into the reception room,
saw that the newspapers were all rep
resented and spoke one word:
"West!" '
In an Instant the news traveled
throughout the capitol and was flashed
to all parts of the city and state.
Commenting on the appointment,
Governor Slaton said:
"It was only a moment ago that I
came to a definite decision. Any time
up to five minutes ago I was, free to
change my mind. I had told no one
of my intention." ;
When seen after the statement had
been made at the capitol that the gov
ernor had appointed him, Mr. West
said: , . , . 1 , . i ,'.
"I have been in Atlanta for several
days, but I have not obtruded myself
upon the governor. After the burial
of Senator Bacon my friends not only
from all parts of south Georgia, but
throughout the state, notified me that
they would present my claims to the
governor. Many of them asked me to
meet them in Atlanta for a conference
on the situation and I have been here
for a few days with that end in view.
William Stanley West, the oldest
surviving son of James and Mary A.
West, is a leading member of the
Lowndes county bar, with residence
and office in the city of Valdosta. f He
was born in Marion county, Georgia,
August 23 ,1849; was educated in Mer
cer university, where he graduated
with the degree of bachelor of arts,
subseqquently receiving the degree of
master of arts from the same institu
tion, completing his ' education when
he was 33 years of age. While a stu
dent there he was honored with the
presidency; of the Ciceronian Literary
society and was anniversarian of that
society in 1880.
From 1892 to 1897 he served as a
member of the lower house of the state
legislature, and in 1898-99 was a mem
ber -of the state senate. In 1900 he
declined a return to the lower house,
but! was elected to that body in ,1902
and served until 1904." In' 1905-06 he
,was again returned to the state sen
ate without opposition, and was tnen
elected president of that body. In 1908
he was sent as a delegate at large
from the state of Georgia to the na
tional Democratic convention, held at
Denver, Col.
Snow Throughout the Soth.
"Atlanta. Atlanta was- in he grip
of the most persistent snowstorm, she
has had in years. The snowj was by
no means confined to Atlanta, but on
the contrary Atlanta was one of the
last cities which the blizzani visited.
Snow fell in Charleston, Savannah and
the cities of the mountain sections be
fore it began to fall in Atlanta, The
snow stretched Its blanket over the
entire south all the way from Rich
mond to New Orleans, leaving out only
a small part of Florida and pbsaibly
a few Isolated spots here and yonder.
SAM'S'vSECRETARIES
-.c
BECKER MAY BE FREED
" p. L )
COURT S DECISION PROBABLY
MEANS BECKER JCASE WILL
BE DISMISSED.
Decision Alleges That Goff Was Un-
, fair, in His Treatment of
Becker.
New York. The ; conviction of For
mer Police Lieutenant Charles Becker
of the murder of the gambler, Her
man. Rosenthal, was : annulled by the
courts of appeals at Albany, the high
est court in the state.; He is entitled to
a new trial,' "but it seemed probable
that he might go free without facing
a second ordeal. It was made known
that District, Attorney Charles S
Whitman believes that. under the pre
vailing opinion handed down by the
court, conviction a second time will
be impossible. , ,
Appeals taken by the four gunmen,
"WThitey" Lewis, "Lefty Louie," "Gyp
the Blood" and "Dago .Frank," con
victed as actual murderers of Rosen
thal, and whom Becker was ' accused
of having instigated to . commit the
crime, were not sustained and they
will have to die in the electric chair,
probably in March, except in . the
event of executive clemency.
Ossining, N. Y. "It's a- long lane
that has 'no turning," Charles Becker
said in the "death house" of Sing Sing
prison, when he received news of the
court's decision.
WOM EN BRAV SNOW TO VOTE
Thousands of Them Took Part in Pri
maries at Chicago.
Chicago. Thousands of Chicago
women had their first real experience
in Chicago with the ballot r box .and
took part In the actual nomination
of candidates for the city council. In
wards in which women candidates
were running in opposition to men
for places 1 in the .city council, the
women candidates toured the wards
and hustled far votes in approved po
litical fashion.
A snowstorm early in'the' day de
layed,, many ycriters, , and , a movement
fostered by many suffrage leaders,
who believed that women should not
formally ally themselves with any spe
cific party, kept hundreds rfom voting
at the primaries.
I f i
Forced to Remove Head Dress.: t
Washington Miss Maud ' McLufe
Kelly of Birmingham, v Ala., was ad
mitted to practice before- the Supreme
court on motion of Secretary Bryan,
but to do so she had to. take' off her
head dress. Miss Kelly ' was 'anxious
to wear her academic cap and gown
upon being admitted. The court mar
shal gently reminded 5 her, howevgr,
that members of the bar must remove
their hats in addressing the court and
that the rule applied alike to men and
women.
Jim Conley Is Convicted.
Atlanta. Jim Conley begins the ser
ving of a year's sentence on the chain
gang following the, verdict of a jury
in his case, which reported against
the former pencil ' factory 1 sweeper,
charged with being accessory after the
fact in the murder of Mary Phagan
by Leo Frank. Conley topk his sen
tence stocally. He smiled when he
was told by his attorney that he "had
got off light." "The second "dayV de
velopments in the sordid trial pro
ceedings In which Conley was princi
pal were not sensational.
LURED OVER RIVER
AND SHOT TO DEATH
VERGARA KILLED BY BAND OF
FEDERALS AFTER THEY HAD
CROSSED INTO TEXAS.
COLQUITT WIRES TO BRYAN
Texas Governor Denies Intention to
Invade Mexico, But Wants to Ap-
prhendJJie,lurderers.
Austin, Texas A-Ranger Captain J. J.
Sanders,: reporting to Gov." O.'BrCol
quitt, made , the - direct charge that
Clemente Vergara, an American ranch
man, was'hot -to ieath ' while in vthe
custody of Mexican federal troops, os
tesibly en route irqm the jail at Hi
dalgo tq federal headquarters at Pie
dras Negfas; Mexico. Governor Col
quitt telegraphed Secretary of State
Bryan asking Jwhat method should be
followed in an effort to apprehend
those responsible for the killing of
Vergara. ' " ' .
Captain Sanders, in his report, said:
"Will advise-that on the morning of
February .13, five federal soldiers un
der cdmiriand ' of Apolonio Rodriguez
crossed the Rio Grande to an island
belonging' to the United States,' taking
therefrom eleven horses belonging to
Clemente Vergara, carrying them to
the Mexican side of. the river. In pass
ing ., the house of Vergara, which
stands on the banks of the river on
the Texas side, one of the men went
to the rivet; land called to Vergara, re
questing him to come across the river,
as the captain wanted to arrange with
him about payings or the horses.
"Vergara and a nephew of his cross
ed in a skiff to the Mexican side,' where
two more .men came to the water's
edge, leaped into the skiff and struck
him three blows on the head with a
pistol, dragging him to the bank and
carrying him to Hidalgo. On Sunday
at 2 a. m. he was taken from the
Hidalgo jail and started with guards
ostensibly to Piedras Negras, but was
shot to death after proceeding only a
short distance. Vergara was born and
reared in Webb county, Texas, and I
am informed thafOhe had a pass to
cross the river, signed by Sheriff
Sanchez, of Webb county, and Garza
Galan."
The text of Governor Colquitt's tele
gram to Secretary Bryan was:
"Your telegram in answer to the one
sent by me to the president is re
ceived. I do not want to invade Mex
ico with a military force. I asked
your co-operation in maintaining the
rights and dignity of this state and
your consent to allow me to send state
rangers, who are peace officers, in
pursuit of those who are constantly
transgressing our laws. Again I ask
the president to advise me who is rec
ognized by him as the constituted au
thority in Mexico. I repeat the in
quiry and ask who you recognize as
constituted in the state of Nuevo Leon,
as I desire to present requisitions to
the proper authorities of that state
for the surrender of fugitives from
Texas justice, notably those responsi
ble for the theft of Clemente Vergara's
property and his subsequent murder."
FAVOR COTTON SALES BILL
Measure Would Require Specification
of Grades With Standard.
Washington. The senate commit
tee on agriculture and forestry submit
ted a favorable report on the bill in
troduced last spring by Senator Smith
of South Carolina, to regulate the sell
ing of cotton. The bill, designed to re
form the rules and regulations of the
New York and New Orleans cotton ex
changes, would require any person or
corporation in the making of an offer
for future delivery of cotton, to speci
fy the grade or grades contracted for.
The secretary of agriculture would
be required to standardize the grades
of "upland" i and '"gulf ' cotton sepa
rately, ""gulf" cotton not to include
anything below the grade of "good or
dinary" or above "middling fair."
r The bill further would require that
in dealing with long-staple cotton the
length of the staple shall be designat
ed in all contracts and deliveries must
be made according to contract.
Any dealings in violation of this sys
tem would be punishable by a fine not
to exceed $5,000 or imprisonment for
not more than a year or both.
Jwo Guilty In 'Everglades Lottery.
'Kansas City, Mo. R. H. Martin and
Joseph Borders, Kansas City agents
of the Florida Fruit Lands company,
pleaded guilty in the federal court at
Kansas City to the charges of conspir
acy and the conducting of a lottery
in the sale of lands in the Everglades
of Florida.. Judge Van Valkenburgh
reserved sentence. Martin and Bor
ders were indicted with, six other of
ficers and agents of the lands company
last November on the general rharge
of misuse of the malls. It was charg
ed they misrepresented lands sold.
THE DRAINAGE COST
MECKLENBURG "LAND OWNERS
WHO ARE BENEFITED WILL
ARBITRATE COST.
THE BENEFITED WILL PAY
Drainage Commission Will Arrange so
That Those Most Benefited' Will
Pay Largest Bills. Commission Ar
ranges a Satisfactory Assessment.
Charlotte. The demur of property
owners to the Sugar Creek drainage
assessment recommended by assess
ment committee of the drainage com
mission resulted in a new tack in the
matter. The commission agreed to
appint three men and to let them
confer "wlththree men named by the
property owners in the selection of
another commission of five to arrive
at a satisfactory assessment to raise
the fund "required to complete the
work begun in the creek bottom. This
decision was reached following .. two
hours of argument in the meeting.
The recommendation of the special
commission on the valuation of bene
fits was that the lands along the creek
be divided into four classes. The first
class was to be taxed $30 an acre, the
second $15 an acre, the third $10 an
acre and the fourth 75 cents an acre.
The committee placed 492.58 acres un
der the first classification; 40.30 un
der the second,' 41.21 under the1 third,
and 2,718.87 under the fourth.
The discussion of the assessment
was opened by Chairman J. R. Alexan
der of the commission. He spoke of
the expense of the undertaking and
stated that the commission needed
the support of the property owners.
Already about $16,000 has been ex
pended in the drainage of the creek
bottom and the construction of the
canal and the assessments made
against property v owners cannot be
collected until the ' work lsv completed
and the final levies made. He gave
it as his opinion that the assessments
proposed , by the special committee in
the matter were too high.
This proposition was put to the
property owners present at the meet
ing and after a little private caucus
they accepted' the terms offered and
agreed to abide by the decision of the
board to be constituted as proposed.
An agreement was drawn up and the
commission signed it as did all the
property owners present. The agree
ment will be circulated for the signa
tures of the other property owners
and if all sign, the matter will be de
finitely settled.
The drainage commission is about
$16,000 in debt because of the work
already done along the creek. Cer
tain of the property owners, it was
stated, stand ready to advance part
of this money as loans to the commis
sion to provide for the work to go
forward without delay and to let the
loans go as part payment of their as
sessments when the assessments are
finally levied. .
Murdered Body Burned.
Barber's Junction. Evidence before
the coroner's jury and its findings
thereon here are practically a sub
stantiation o fthe first theory, the jury
returning a , verdict that Preston
Lyerly, whose body was found in the
smouldering ruins of H. T. Smith
deal's store recently came to death by
a gunshot wound inflicted by an un
known person.-
The. most probable explanation of
the charred body found in the smoul
dering ruins of H T. Smithdeal's store
seems to be that a robber of robbers,
surprised by Manager Preston Lyerly
in the act of rifling the safe killed the
merchant, upset a kerosene oil tank,
fired the store and fled with a small
amount of money taken from the cas,h
drawer.
Farmers Hear Parker.
Louisburg. In spite of the fact that
it was the coldest day in the year,
quite aarge and enthusiastic body of
men met In the court house recently
to hear Mr. T. B. Parker, of Raleigh,
tate director of farmers' Institutes,
ho was ably assisted by Mr. C. M.
Garren, of Raleigh, who Is also con
nected with the Department of Agri
alture, as assistant agronomist
No Veal in Asheville.
. Asheville. Veal will be eliminated
from the bills of fare of several of
the local hotels, Asheville stewards
who are members of the Internation
al Stewards Association having re
ceived letters from the office of the
organization at Chicago requesting
that they cease to serve veal for an
indefinite length of time. In the let
ter it la stated that the present Wgh
price of beef is attributable to the
scarcity of beef cattle which, in turn.
Is due to the slaugher of calves. It
is hoped to decrease the veal demand.
WILSON TALKS OF
MEXICAN EVEIITS
PRESIDENT LOOKS ON CAR RAN--ZA'S
COURSE WITH SERIOUS
CONSIDERATION
WANT PEACE WITHOUT WAR
Officials Are Watching England
Steps in Regard to The Benton Af
fairAnd Will Be Prepared to Act
as Results Demand.
Washington. President Wilson re
realed to those who discussed Mexican,
affairs with him that he fully realized
the gravity of the situation resulting
from the killing of William S. Benton,
a British subject, the reported mur
der of Gustav Bauch and Clemente
Vergara, American citizens, and Gen
eral uarranzas aemai or tne ngm oc
the United States to look after the In
terests of foreigners generally ; in
Morion
The president spoke deploringly of
armed intervention but at the same
time pointedly referred to the size
and power of a country like th
United States as being sufficient war
rant fr a calm and patient courses
while compliance with the Americas,
demands was being slight. Callers
got the impression from the president
that he was determined to try every
peaceful means at his disposal to
solve the Mexican problem, but that
he realized eventualities might mean,
a drastic course. He spoke with a
firmness that showed his determina
tion not to be stamped in action by
a hint that when the necessity arose,
the American government could be ex
pected to move decisively and effect
ively - Upon Great Britain's attitude to
ward the Benton case depends largely
the extent to which the United States
will become involved. Should Eng
land show an inclination to let the
Benton case await ; final , ad judication
at a time when a firm government ia
established in Mexico, the United
Slates will not feel called upon to
challenge General Carranza's specific
refusal to supply the Washington ad
ministration with information about
Benton's death.
Representations have been made ts
General Carranza, it is understood.
through American Consul Slmpich at
Nogales and on their outcome de
pends whether or not the expedition
which had planned to go to Chihuahua
from Juarez to examine Benton'a
body, will carry out its mission.
The Washington Administration.,
however,, is taking it for granted that
arrangements authorized by General
Villa for the departure of the commas- ?
sion to Chihuahua soon will be ap
proved by Carranza.
"We are waiting for the details to
be completed," said Secretary Bryan.
It was his only comment.
' Support Toils Exemption.
Washington. Announcing his supv
port of President Wilson's policy to
repeal the provision of the Panama
ianal act exempting American coast
wise shipping from tolls, Senator
Thornton, Democrat, of Louisiana, a
a statement, said the President had
informed him,' "that in his judgment
the repeal of the exemption clause la
necessary for continuance of our pres
ent friendly relations with foreign
Powers and the success of our for
eign policies."
Medical Officers Urged Amendment!
Washington. Stress and strain of
American life quickly develop latent
insanity among immigrants, who be
come burdens to the states in which
they have gone to live, according to
statements before the Senate Immi
gration Committee, by medical officers
from . New York, Pennsylvania and
Maryland, who urged radical amend
ment, of the pending immigration bIH,
, Major Cannot be Colonel.
Washington. Maj. Beecher B. Ray,
an Army paymaster, lost his appeal
in the courts here to compel President
Wilson to nominate him for promo
tion to Colonel because of his sen-,
iority.
Discuss the Situation.
El Paso, Texas The Benton' Invea
tigation commission rested on the dip
lomatic side track here while Wash
ington and Venustiano Carranza wera
reported to be rounding out the new
phase of negotiations direct through,
an American Consul. George C. Car
others, special agent of the State De
partment, left here to visit Carranza.
His mission is said to be a discussion
of theeneral situation with regard to
foreigners rather than to hold a spe
cific conference over the Benton problem!