North Carolina Newspapers

$1.00 a Year, In Advance. Single Copy, 5 Cents. VOL. XXIV. PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1914. NO. 37. "FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." GOVERNOR GRAIG Aicmin DECLARES HIS WISH THAT MEN WOULD SPEAK BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. DISPATCHES FROM RALEIGH Doings and Happenings That. Mark the Progress of North Carolina Peo ple Gathered Around the State Capitol. Raleigh. Governor Craig a few days ago went over the petitions in the Walter Shel ton case and in searching for opposi tion to his course in commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment, found but one letter and that an un signed one. "I have been criticised by some of the papers for commuting Shelton's sentence," Governor Craig said, "and I wanted to make certain that there was no real opposition to my, course, which think was just and merciful and one that I should unhesitatingly repeat in similar circumstances. Here you see these petitions, letters and by whom many of them are signed, n nmWa nf tViom holnp' affidavits t.O the effect .that Shelton Is of doubtful, if not of unsound mind. The notice of application for pardon was put in the Reidsville papers. It had to be put there according to law. Ample announcement that such a course was contemplated and every chance was given for opposition to Shelton's commutation. If I under stand the situation, the condition of Shelton prior to the murder was not brought out inrcourt. I considered the absence of opposition to the clemency shown him evidence at least of wil lingness to let me examine the case and decide it on its merits as they appeared to me. "There was just one letter in oppo sition. It came from a man who did not sign his nanre-and I have no idea who he was. Hundreds of names of good men, apparently, accompanied the petitions. Many letters were writ ten. I acted with these before me. "I have just this tossay of the crit icisms: They would appear to me to be far more just and certainly more generous, if those making them had spoken to me before I acted. My critics mean well I known and want to see me do right, but why one wishing the best thing for the community, should wait until I had done what he regards the wrong thing before he gave me the benefit of his knowledge or his advice when he knew I was about to act. "One of these criticisms I appre ciate. It said I made a mistake but censured the people for petitioning me to commute Shelton's sentence. That was at least dividing the blame. But even then, I think it would have looked better had the writer of this rebuke spoken ot the people and to me before either had acted finally." Confederate Veterans Meet June 10. The North Carolina Confederate Veterans Reunion this year will be held in Raleigh and the date is June 10 when the monument to the Women of the Confederacy will be unveiled on Capitol Square. President John C. Drewry in behalf of the chamber of Commerce and city of Raleigh ex tended the invitation for the reunion in this city "and the acceptance from Maj. Henry A. London was received a. few days ago. In accepting the invitation Maj. London states that on account of the occasion the largest crowd of Con federates who ever attended an an nual gathering will be present in Ral eigh on June 10. Preparations are now under way to make the reunion one of the best of the past several years. Issues Pardon,' For Two. Governor Craig recently pardoned Dixie Johnson, of Durham county, who was convicted four years ago of in fanticide' In Durham county and sen tenced to a term of five years, and Green Oliver, an old man, of Caldwell county, a retailer. Will Aid Any Good Caue. Mr. Poe says the Farmers' Union members may be depended on to sup port the measures it has officially en dorsed, such as tax- reform and the increase of the inheritance tax and Income tax, local option, land segre gation between the races, allowing white communities, an industrialized system of education, the initiative and referendum. While the State Social Service Conference is in earnest about its demand for better child labor law and other announceed policies of state government but are non-political. Doinyo of the Supreme court. Eight appeals were disposed by the supreme court recently in the delivery of opinions. In the case of State vs. Lewis Allen, Vance county, a new trial is granted in a remarkable case. Allen was driving through the coun try in a buggy when Will Royster, who is not an officer, and had no war rant for Allen's arrest, "took him in custody" as having whiskey for sale, and conveyed him to the eounty jail. He was convicted of assault and bat tery on Royster in that he fought and cut Royster while the latter was tak ing him to jail. The court holds that tlye jury must say whether the resist ance was in his own justifiable de fense or not. The other opinions de deliyered follow: Trust Company vs. Whitehead, Hal ifax, no error; Kennedy vs. S. A. L. Railway, Bertie, partial new trial as to damages and contributory negli gence; State vs. Allen, Vance, error; Newsome vs. Bank of Ahoskie, Hert ford, reversed ; Bowden vs. English, Wayne, no error; Eley vs. Atlantic Coast Line, Hertford, affirmed; State vs. Harris, Vance, new trial; Ipock vs. Gaskins, docketed and dismissed un der Rule 17. Last of Bonds Are Sold. The state has finally sold the last of the $1,142,800 improvement bond issue authorized at the last regular session of the general assembly to be issued as of date July 1, 1913, to run to 193 and bear2 four per cent inter est. When the bids . were first open ed there were offers for less than half of the bonds, owing to the depressed condition of the bond market at that time. . Since then the state treasurer has been gradually selling the re mainder in smal( blocks. There was a remainder of $300,000 on hand yet to be sold, and C. C. McDonald, the well known Raleigh stock and bond broker bought the remaining bonds at a sub stantial premium and accumulated in terest. ' This means that the state treasury now has in hand all the bal ance of this $1,142,500 fund that was provided by the legislature. Some State Charters Granted. The Merchants' and Farmers' Bank of Mocksville, Davie county, capital $50,000 authorized, and $10,000 sub scribed by$J. L. Armfield of Thomas ville and others for general and sav ings banking business. The Biltmore Livery Company, Bilt more, capital $10,000 authorized, and 5,400 subscribed by J. G. Stike leather and others. The Graham Land Company, Gra ham, capital $25,000, subscribed by A. L. Hlomes and others. The Caraleigh Phosphate and Fer tilizer Works of Raleigh amends its charter so that the capital is increas ed to $400,000 of which $200,000 shall be six per cent preferred stock. There is an amendment for the charter of the Siler City Light & Telephone Co., Siler City, providing for an increase of capital to $25,000. C. M. Bray is president of the corpor ation. The City Metal Roofing and Supply Co., Winston-Salem, capital $10,0000 authorized, and $1,000 subscribed by T. A. Butner, T. F. Holcomb and others. W. H. Winstead, Inc., Goldsboro, capital $50,000 authorized, and $1,000 subscribed by W. H. Winstead and others for a leaf tobacco business. Tho Universal Film & Supply Co., Charlotte, capital $125,000 authoriz ed, and $5,000 subscribed by A. F, Moses and others. The Crowell Woodenware Company Fayetteville, capital $10,000, subscrib ed by J. C. Crowell and others. Letters Going Out to Editors. Literature is going out from the headquarters of the State'. Press Asso ciation calling upon the editors to ask their congressmen to vote for a change in the law that will give edi tors the right to change their con tracts with the railroads to make pos sible ' interstate mileage arrange ments. While there is plenty of sen timent for it, there is a lot against it Reward For Lyerly's Slayer. Governor Craig recently offered a reward for the capture of the man or men who killed Preston Lyerly at Barber's Junction and set fire to the store in . which he worked. Rowan county lias offered a reward of $100 and citizens are expected to contrib ute. ' SoUcitor Hayden Clement is in vestigating the case now. 1 Cobb pHy Death Penalty. Aft'($writing a lengthy confession, R.,W"T;obb paid the death penalty at 10:30 a. m. - recently In the electric chair for the murder of Thomas Shaw in Halifax county last May. The con fession, addressed to Governor Craig was In effect that he did not intend to murder when he hid on the porch of Shaw's house to awit his coming from the store on the Saturday night. Shaw was taking home about $400. He also claimed when he ordered Shaw to hold up his hands he thought he saw the gleam of ii revolver. TEXAS RANGERS NVADE MEXICO MOUNTED TEXANS DISINTERRED CORPSE. OF AMERICAN RANCH MAN AND TOOK IT AWAY. HAD ORDER FOR THE BODY Rangers Rode Swiftly and Met With No Opposition During Their In vasion of Mexico. Laredo, Texas. Texas rangers, who secretly crossed into Mexico at night, brought sto the American side the mu tilated body of Clemente Vergara, Tex as ranchman, and established the fact of his execution after he was seized by Mexican federals. The rangers were not opposed, ac complishing their search without the slightest ' violence, taking the body from a grave in Hidalgo cemetery al most within sight of the Texan bor der. The seizure was divested of possi bly grave aspects in international complications by reason of the fact that the rangers were practically mak ing use of permission granted official ly by Mexican federalxauthorities sev eral days ago for recovery of the body. This permission had been given to United States Consul Garrett at Nue vo Laredo, but he did not get the body because of what he reported as dan gers attending search for It in the immediate vicinity of Hidalgo. Vergara was shot twice through the head and Once through the neck his skull was crushed as by a blow from a rifle butt, and the charred fingers of the left hand indicated that he had been tortured before being put to death. Identification was made the dead man's son and by numerous friends, many of whom were in the party of ninety, led by the state border patrol, which made the grim journey to the Hidalgo cemetery during the early mornig hours. The body was notsq badly decomposed, despite its three week's burial, and in addition to rec ognizing the features, young Vergara took a bit of cloth from the trousers which enclosed the body and matched it to the coat which his father had on the day he crossed the Rio Grande. The body was brought into the Unit ed States at a point 45 miles north west of Laredo, opposite Hidalgo and near the Vergara ranch. American Consul Garrett of Nuevo Laredo, dep uty sheriffs and other authorities were waiting to receive it, and, pending the arrival of an undertaker from Laredo, an armed force stood guard over the body. NATIONAL HONOR INVOLVED President Wishes to Develop Foreign Policy of United States. Washington. Development of the American foreign policy as an influ ence for commercial expansion and the cause of universal peace is a vital concern of the Washington adminis tration in its efforts to have repealed the Panama tolls exemption clause. Aside from President Wilson's asser tion that national honor is involved in upholding a treaty obligation, there are circumstances surrounding a set tlement of the controversy which are expected by administration officials to have a broad effect on the United States' diplomatic relations with the entire world. Behind the protest of Great Britain, it has become known authoritatively, stands the united support of European nations whose formal objections have been held in abeyance to await the outcome of England's negotiations with the United States. Underlying the settlement of the tolls dispute is an ambitious program of American diplomacy, which contemplates an early adjustment of relations with the nations of the globe so that the Pan ama canal may be opened in an era of diplomatic good feeling. Austrian Women Demand Ballot. Vienna, Austria. Hundreds of wom an's mass meeting in favor of woman suffrage were held throughout Austria. At all resolutions were adopted declar ing it was the general demand of Aus trian woman for the vote in parliamen tary and local elections. Militant Women Fight Police. London. Militant suffragettes here fought the police on their favorite bat tlefield, Trafalgar Square, and in a pouring rain. The arrest of Sylvia Pankhurst for the sixth time under the "cat-and-mouse" law precipitated the conflict. Seven other women and three men were arrested. One of those taken into custody was Miss Zelie Em erson of Jackson, Mich. Miss Emer son has been arrested several time3 for participation in suffragette demon strations, and may be expelled by the government. "YOUR BL00MIN' '0ME RUNS DID IT?" iff k -4r'1yifk HIGH H0N0RJT0 GOETilS WILSON PRESENTS SPECIAL GOLD MEDAL TO COLONEL GOETHALS. The President Says Goethals Is the World's Greatest Living Engineer. Washington. Washington paid trib ute to Col. George Washington Goe thals, builder of the Panama canal. The occasion was the annual banquet of the National Geographic Society, witfi Colonel Goethals present as the guest of honor, and to receive from the hand of President Wilson a special gold medal awarded him by the soci ety In recognition of his wonderful achievement. Secretary Bryan was toastmaster and gathered about the banquet table with' distinguished scientists of the society were President Wilson and his cabinet, justices of the Supreme court, members of the diplomatic corar hie officers of the army and navy .leaders m both nouses or con gress and other notable figures in the life of the national capital. During the evening Jules J. Jusse rand, the French ambassador, and dean of the diplomatic corp3, was formally notified of his election to honorary membership in the society. The banquet hall presented a strik ing scene. At one end, raised high above the table, the words: "Atlantic-Goethals-Pacific," blazed in brilliant electric letters as all other lights were extinguished. Ice cream was served the diners from miniature dredges, carried by waiters dressed in the uniform of the United States engineer corps, and fol lowed by sailors bearing a tiny battle ship. Individual dishes of cream ap peared molded in the shape of the Pan ama caijtl dump car. The mSdal awarded Colonel Goethals was given as an expression of the appreciation of the society and the nation of the army engineer's distin guished service. Its presentation was the final act of President Wilson's first year as chief executive of the United States. Inscribed on the medal were the words : "This medal of th National Geo graphic society is awarded to George Washington Goethals, to whose ability and patriotism the world owes the con struction of the Panama canal. March 3, 1914." "Unemployed" Moves on Washington. San Francisco, Cal. An "army of the unemployed" broke camp on. a va cant lot here and started on a march to Washington, D. C. There are 24 companies of 90 men each and the men have all of the officers of a mil itary regiment, except a paymaster. They were led by buglers and drum mers. "General" C. T. Kelly is the commanding officer. Huerta Seeks to Free 5,000 Refugees El Paso, Texas. Asserting that there i3 no warrant of International law of treaty under which the 5,000 Mexicans who fled to the United States after the battle of Ojinaga, and who are Interned at Fort Bliss, can be held, representatives of the Huerta government here are preparing to In stitute habeas corpus proceedings to obtain their liberation. T No C. O. D. Shipments. Jefferson City, Mo. The right of express companies to refuse to deliver C. O. D. shipments of liquor into Texas was upheld by the Missouri supreme court. The decision of the court was based on the Texas law prohibiting such shipments. Abraham Rosenberger claimed he had delivered shipments of liquor to the Pacific Express com pany and to the Wells, Fargo & Co's express for Texas points. Before the shipments were delivered, the Texas law prohibiting such shipments be came effective. BLEASE IN FIGHTING HOOD GOVERNOR DIDN'T LIKE SPEECH MADE ONE OF THE LEGISLATORS. He Even Pulled Off His Coat Per sonal Violence Prevented by Cool-Headed Members. Columbia, S. C. An exciting scene marked the session of the house of representatives when Governor Blease went into the hall to reply to certain statements made by W. F. Stevenson, in a speech on the asylum probe and to deliver a message in person. Per sonal encounters, which at one time seemed likely, were prevented by the intervention of members. . Wlien the governor charged that N. B. Barnwell, member of the house from Charleston, was acting in a cow ardly manner by raising a technical point that the chief executive was not acting within the constitutional limits in making his remarks, Mr. Barnwell advanced to the speaker's stand, but was restrained by members. Governor Blease told the members that he came prepared for a fight be cause he could not stand the alleged misrepresentations. Following the tilt with Mr. Barnwell the governor left the hall and was fol lowed by a large number of hi3 sup porters. Mr. Stevenson followed him for the purpose, it is said, of stating that he did not wish Governor Blease to understand that he had apologized for any statement made in his speech. The governor apparently thought that Mr. Stephenson wanted to fight and pulled off his coat. "I have been in some fights, but I never take off my coat," said Mr. Ste venson, returning to the hall. General disorder reigned in the house for several minutes while the governor was making his charges. Friends of Mr. Barnwell and the gov ernor crowded around and for a time It seemed as if a general fight was im minent. The governor, in his message or ad dress, charged that the report of the legislative committee on the asylum probe was unfair, in that it failed to discuss the charges by Senator Till man that Governor Blease and his "underlings and satellites" were try ing to manipulate the sale of the asylum property in Columbia. M00RE RESIGNS POSITION Agreed to S rve State Department Only One Year. Washington. John Bassett Moore, counselor of the state department and the' recognized authority on interna tional questions, concluded his serv ice with the government when Pres ident Wilson accepted the resignation Coming when, international affairs occupy the forefront , of official and public attention, the departure of Mr. Moore from a position second only to that of Mr. Bryan, attracted wide spread attention and comment. Although the resignation had been in the president's hands since Feb ruary 2, to take effect now, this fact had not been generally known. There had been reports some months ago that the counselor of the state de partment did not find his labors en tirely congenial and was about to re sign, but these reports were promptly denied. " respondence made public. Suffragettes Engage in Riot. London. Militant suffragettes gave further proof that their bitter est animosity is reserved for the La bor party, the only political party that has espoused their cause. As soon as J. Ramsey MacDonald, chairman of the Labor party, began speaking at a labor party rally in Memorial hall, suffragettes, aided by male support ers, started to howj him down. For nearly an hour a fierce struggle raged in the hall. There were frequent free flght3 between men, white women crabbed one another by the hair. WILSON'S MESSAGE ON GAIL TOLLS PRESIDENT TELLS LEGISLATORS EXEMPTION CLAUSE VIO LATES TREATY. CONGRESS TO HEED REQUEST Wilson Indicates That Failure to Re peal May Cause Trouble About Other Mattel 8. . Majority In Both Houses Ready for Flat Repeal. Washington. Members of the house and senate who will 4 aid in the repeal fight announc- ed they had adopted a poll of congress and that a large ma- jority in both houses was ready 4 to vote for a flat repeal meas- ure immediately. In the house there was quick response to the president's ad- 4 dres?. the committee voting 13 to 3 to favorably report the Sims repeal bill. Absent mem-. bers who were recorded made the vote 17 to 4, 1 Washington. President Wilson went to congress and pleaded for repeal of the provision of the Panama canal act which exempts American coastwise shipping from tolls. He tersely as serted that his reason for asking the repeal was because everywhere ex cept in the United States the tolls exemption was regarded as violation ot the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, President Wilson's address, in part, follows: "Gentlemen of the congress: I have come to you upon an errand which can be very briefly performed, but I beg that you will not measure its import ance by the number of sentences In which I state it. No communication I have addressed to the congress carried with it graver or more far-reaching im plications to the interest of the coun try, and I come now to speak upon a matter with regard to which I am charged in a peculiar degree by the Constitution itself with personal re sponsibility. "I have come to ask for the repeal of that provision of the Panama canal act of August 24, 1912, which exempts vessels engaged in the coastwise trade of the United States from payment of tolls and to urge upon you the jus tice, the wisdom and the large pol icy of such a repeal iwth the utmost earnestness of which I am capable. "In my own judgment, very fully considered and maturely formed, that exemption constituted a mistaken eco nomic policy from every point of view, and is, moreover, in plain contraven tion of the treaty with Great Britain concerning the canal, concluded on November 18, 1901. "But I have not come to you to urge my personal views. I have come to state to you a fact and a situation. Whatever may be our own difference of opinion concerning this much de bated measure, its meaning is not de bated outside the United States. Every where elsj the language of the treaty is given but one interpretation, and that interpretation precludes the ex emption I am asking you to repeal. We consented to the treaty; its lan guage we accepted, if we did not orig inate it; and we are too big, too pow erful, too self-respecting a nartion to Interpret with too strained or refined a reading the words of our own prom ises just because we have power enough to give us leave to read them as we please. The large thing to do is the only thing we can afford to do. a voluntarily withdrawal from a posi tion everywhere questioned and mis understood. We ought to reverse our action without raising the question whether we were right or wrong, and so once more deserve our reputation for generosity and the redemption of every obligation without quibble or hesitation. "I ask this of you In support of the foreign policy of the administration. I shall not know how to deal with, other matters of even greater delicacy and nearer consequence if you do not grant it to me in ungrudging meas ure." World's Tourists Welcomed. New York. The world-girdling American baseball players came home In a snowstorm. While harbor craft tooted and envoys from the Federal League figuratively waved enticing contracts, the Giant-White Sox com bination drew into quarantine. The Federal League representatives were unable to obtain passes to board the Lusitania to greet the travelers down the bay. Organized baseball was more fortunate in having obtained revenue cutter passes in advance and a dele gation was able to board the ship.