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91.00 Yaw l Advance "FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." " " 8lgJ OoplM, 6 Cerrta.
VOL. XXVII. PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1916. N0. 25.
G
SYSTEM IS FAILURE
DESCRIBE MOBILIZATION OF THE
STATE GUARD AS MILITARY
FAILURE.
MILITARY TRAINING BILL
Major General Scott, Chief of Staff of
Army and Major General Wood,
Commanding Eastern Department,
Both Favoring Universal Training.
Washington. The mobilization of
the National Guard for border service
was described as a military failure,
emphasizing tli urgent necessity of
abandoning t; olunteer system as
the nation's -Hance for defense, in
statements by Major General Scott,
chir i.: staff of the army, and Major
General Leonard Wood, commanding
the Eastern department, before the
Senate sub-committee considering the
Chamberlain universal military train
ing bill.
Both of the generals advocated uni
versal training. General Wood declar
ed that the country now wa3 utterly
defenseless against a well organized
foe; that the mobilization was a trag
edy, that if the guardsmen had met
good troops they "would never have
known what hit them." General Scott
told the committee that lessons drawn
from the present war proved tht in
case of war with a first-class power
the United States would need immedi
ately a trained force of 1,500,000 men,
with another 1,500,000 available with
in 90 days.
General Wood, from whose depart
ment went 85,000 of the guardsmen
sent to the border, said of the men
enrolled when the call came, an aver
age of 30 per cent of each company t
had to be dropped for physical defects
and the organizations went to the bor
der filled up with green men.
"It's been a tragedy," he said, "but
worth all it cost if we only profit by
it. It was not the fault of the officers
or men, but of a defective system.
If we had been compelled to meet
good troops down there it would have
been a scene of carnage. The guards
men would never have known what
hit them.":.
"What should we do with the Na
tional Guard, general?" Senator Brady
asked. ..
"It should be replaced as rapidly as
possible with men trained under a
universal service system,"" General
Wood replied. "When the system has
been well started. I would drop the
National Guard entirely from any
scheme of national defense, although
we want every officer and man of them
in the new plan. But It must be, a
straight-out Federal force."
NATION-WIDE PROBE INTO
HIGH COST OF PRINT PAPER.
Federal Trade Commission Co-Operates
With Publishers In Effort to
Formulate Plans to Decrease' Cost
of Commodity.
Washington. The, Federal Trade
Commission, in conference with com
mittees of newspaper publishers, pa
per manufacturers and jobbers in an
effort to work out a plan for relieving
the newsprint paper situation, ad
dressed inquiries' to all the interests
concerned throughout the country to
ascertain if an actual newsprint short
age exists.
Publishers of the larger papers were
asked if they will relinquish some
of the paper they have contracts for
during 1917; small publishers were
asked the exient of their 1917 needs,
they will handle.
The conference discussed a plan
proposed by manufacturers in which
large publishers would give up five
per cent of their 1917 contract sup
plies to fill the needs of small pub
lishers, to which there is a growing
objection on the part of the large
publishers. Plans of the publishers
for financing paper mills to help take
care of newspaper needs, it was said,
are taking rapid shape. Some publish
ers are of the opinion that the pub
lishers of the country must arrange
to take care for their own needs or
go out of business.
AGREEMENT WAS NOT
SIGNED BY CARRANZA
Philadelphia. General Carranza's
representative on the Mexican-American
joint commission made "to the
American members the admission that
the protocol signed three weeks ago
at Atlantic City had not been ratified.
They supplemented that admission,
however, with a declaration of the at
titude of the Carranza Government
and assured the Americans that the
Ielay in ratification did not signify
tliv ejection of the agreement.
CHARLES C. M'CHORD
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Interstate Commerce Commissioner
McChord, after Investigating the rail
road car shortage that is choking the
industries and rail movements of the
West, put in operation a plan of relief
by which all cars are to be returned
to their home lines as soon as possible.
RECOMMEND PROHIBITION
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
VOTE TO PROPOSE PROHIBI
TION AMENDMENT.
"Dry" Advocates Jubilant Over Vic
tory Scored In Congress. Con
gressman Webb Will Ask Passage
of Bill By Special Rule.
Washington. Nation-wide prohibi
tion took a long stride toward con
gressional consideration when the
House Judiciary Committee unexpect
edly voted to recommend adoption of
the proposed constitutional amend
ment to forbid the manufacture and
sal eof liquor for beverage purposes in
the United States. Even the most
enthusiastic champions of the amend
ment had not expected favorable
action so soon.
How far the resolution will pro
gress is problematical, and Adminis
tration leaders doubt that it will reach
the senate in time for action at this
session. Prohibition advocates are
jubilant, however, and predict ulti
mate adoption of the resolution and
Its reference to the legislatures of
the various states at a much earlier
date than they heretofore had hoped
for. A two-thirds majority in both
houses 13 required.
Coincident with the committee's
action, the Sheppard bill to prohibit
the manufacture and sale of liquor
in the District of Columbia became
the unfinished business to be kept be
fore the senate until disposed of. As
an amendment, Senator Underwood
has proposed a referendum to the
male voters of the District. Senator
Kern of Indiana, has added a proposal
that women should participate in the
referendum.
During discussion of the Sheppard
bill, several Senators, among them,
Sheppard, Vardeman and Owen, pre
dicted triumph for the cause of na-tion-mide
prohibition in near future.
Hardly any one doubted that pro
hibition will be a dominant legislative
issue before the new Sixty-fifth Con
gress if the constitutional amendment
does not reach a vote this winter. In
the house, before the amendment can
be taken up for consideration, a
special rule must be adopted giving
It right of way. Representative
Webb, chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee, will ask for such a rule etfrly
in January, and endeavor to press
the resolution to an early vote.
ANOTHER IMMENSE CREDIT
VOTED BY HOUSE OF COMMONS
London. The House of Commons
uanimously passed a vote of credit of
400,000.000 pounds sterling, moved by
a Bonar Law, chancellor of the ex
chequer, who made a lengthy speech,
explaining the nation's financial situ
ation, and touching "on the German
peace proposals. He announced that the
daily average expenditure of Great
Britain for the war now amounts to
5,710,000 pounds sterling and that this
vote of credit would probably have to
be supplemented February 24 with an
other vote of 200,000,000 pounds ster
ling. This would make the total voted for
the year 1,950,000,000 pounds sterling,
or 350,000.000 pounds sterling more
than the estimates made some months
ago by Reginald McKenna, then chancellor.
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CONGRESS TO TAKE
CHRISTMAS RECESS
DESPITE EFFORT OF SPEAKER
CLARK AND. OTHERS TO CALL
OFF VACATION.
DEFER RAIL LEGISLATION
Leaders do Not Hope to Accomplish
Much Before Adjournment Except
to Pass Few VAppropriation Bills.
May Dispose of Prohibition Bill.
Washington. V".'. a holiday recess
planned to briv ".. :v.rday and extend
until Jar-avv L'. congressional leaders
do not hope to accomplish anything
before adjournment except the pas
sage of a few appropriation bills in
the House, and possibly the disposi
tion of the Sheppard prohibition bill
for the- District of Columbia in the
Senate.
Consideration of railroad legislation
and corrupt practice election meas
ures, having been deferred until next
month, members already are planning
their Christmas vacations, despite the
effort made by Speaker Clark and
others earjy in the session to do away
with the usual 10-day recesB.
Prohibition for the District of Co
lumbia will be before the Senate again
with amendments providing for a ref
erendum and Senator Smoot's sub
stitute, which would not only bar man
ufacture and sale of liquor for bever
age purposes, but also prohibit im
portation of liquor for personal use.
The judiciary committee's fovorable
report on the Webb nation-wide pro
hibition measure probably will be sub
mitted at the end of this week by Rep
resentative Carlin of Virginia, a mem
ber of the committee who recently be
came converted to the dry cause. A
rule for consideration of the resolu
tion will not be asked until after the
recess. The Federal suffrage amend
ment resolution has been received by
the House and a rule probably will
be asked on it early in January also.
ANTI-LIQUOR BILL GIVEN
FIRST PLACE ON CALENDAR.
Sheppard Bill Gets First Place on
Senate Calendar by Margin
of One Vote.
Washington. By a margin of one
vote the Sheppard bill to prohibit the
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating
liquors in the District of Columbia,
was put into first place on the Senate
calendar to be taken up this week and
debase until it is disposed of. Senator
Townsend sought without success to
keep the. volunteer officers retirement
bill before the Senate as unfinished
business.
Senator Martine of New Jersey, op
posing the bill, said the saloon should
not be abolished until some other
form of club for the poor man could
be established.
The Senate Commerce Committee
deferred action on the $50,000,000
flood control bill for the Mississippi
and Sacramento rivers.
, Debate was then resumed in the
District of Columbia prohibition bill,
and Senator Sheppard finally succeed
ed, by a margin of one vote, in having
it given first place on the calendar for
this week.
In the House, Chairman Adamson.
of the Interstate Commerce Commit
tee, introduced a joint .resolution ex
tending the time for the railroad in
vestigation until January 14, 1918.
WILSON GIVES $2,500
TO MAKE UP DEFICIT,
Washington. President Wilson has
sent a check for $2,500 to Treasurer
Marsh of the Democratic National
Committee, as his contribution toward
meeting the deficit in the committee's
campaign fund.
SUFFRAGETTE PEACE
, MEETING BROKEN UP.
London. Sylvia Pankh'urst. the
militant suffragette, and a number of
sympathizers, endeavored to hold a
"demonstration" at the East India
dock gates to demand peace, but a big
crowd prevented.
U-BOATS RESPONSIBLE FOR
BIG SHORTAGE OF WHEAT.
Washington. German U-boats are
playing a large part in increasing the
wheat shortage. DriUsh vessels car
rying hundreds ot tons of wheat are
being sunk by submarines. How ex
tensive is the damage wrought to
British shipping by submarines was
learned from a Briton in the United
States on an important mission and
in receipt of constant advices regard
ing the real state of affairs.
HIP0LIT0 IRIG0YEN
Hipolito Irigoyen Is the new presi
dent of the Argentine Republic.
BRITIANS MAY CONSIDER
CRITICISM CAUSED BY FIRST AN:
NOUNCEMENT SUPPLANTED
BY CALMER JUDGMENT.
French Premier Warns Nation to
Guard Against Trap. League of
Nations to Enforce Peace May Be
Suggested By President Wilson.
Information, contained in news
uaper reports' in London leads to the
belief that the political leaders of
Britain will give the peace proposal
from the Central Powers to the En
tente Allies sober consideration,
which might possibly lead to a fur
ther note from Germany and her al
lies setting forth definite terms upon
which they would agree to end tha
war.
Criticism heard on the streets of
London as the news of the peace
move became public, seems to have
become less severe with a feeling
that some consideration should be
given the note when it arrives there.
Premier Lloyd-George and the mem
bers of Cabinet ar maintaining a
strict silence until they have an op
portunity to study the text of the
note.
An entirely different reception was
given the peace announcement in
Paris as Premier Braind in a speech
to the Chamber of Deputies, which
voted to sftstain the activities of the
new Cabinet. sunded a note of warn
ing against taking the German pro
posal for what it appeared to be on
its' face.
In a stirring address, he referred
to tha conditions as they exist at
present. However, in his words there
seemed to be a sentiment reflected
for consideration.
Announcement of the resignation of
the Austrian Government in a Reuter
dispatch' from Amsterdam may be the
forerunner of internal political dis
sension in Austria which would have
an important bearing on the progress
of a peace move.
Announcement comes from Wash
ington that the President is seriously
considering submission of -a proposi
tion to organize a league of nations to
enforce peace in the event there is
discussion of peace terms by the
European Nations. A waiting atti
tude has been adopted by the Admin
istration until the note arrives and
the heads of the Entente Allies give
some- expression of their attitude.
BERLIN PRESS CAUTIOUS
v AGAINST TOO MUCH HOPE
Tenor of Opinions Shows Belief Pre
vails Allies Are Not Prepared to
Act Hastily on Peace Plan.
Berlin, via London. The Kreuz Zei
tung expresses the fear that any peace
which to the Entente Allies does not
bear the aspect of defeat would prove
a great danger for Germany and be
only an armistire.
Die Post doubts the expediency ot
the neace often, but says it is glad no
neutral ha.s been asked to mediate.
The Taeglicho Rundschau fears that
the Entente Allies will draw out the
negotiations by making impossible
counter proposals, hoping to enlist
pressure from "neutral America."
The Tages Zeitung says it wishes
Doctor von Bethmann-Hollweg had
emphasized more strongly the fact
that Germany offered peace as a vic
tor and that the peace terms must
adequately reward Germany for the
sacrifices she has made.
The Tageblatt surmises that Ger
many'. peace terms will be reason
able, for "an offer of peace can mean
nothing unless wise moderation ac
companies the conciliatory act." Th
newspaper warns the people against
having too optimistic expectations.
WILSON WILL SEND
NO OFFER WITH NOTE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ACTING
AS INTERMEDIARY OFFERS
NO MEDIATION.
IS ALWAYS READY TO SERVE
President is Holding Himself in Read
iness to Serve in Any Way Possible
to Bring Warring Nations To
gether. Washington. President Wilson has
decided that the notes of the Central
Powers proposing a discussion of
peace to the Entente Allies will be
sent forward by the American Gov
ernment, acting as intermediary,
without any accompanying mediation
offer of its own. He has not deter
mined whether any Action in behalf
of peace will be taken later by the
United 'States on its own account, but
is holding himself in readiness to
serve in any way possible toward
bringing the warring nations to
gether. The course to be pursued was made
known after the President had con
ferred with Secretary Lansing, and
after a prolong! d Cabinet meeting.
It was stated that the delay in for
warding the notes to the Entente
capitals was due to the fact that t
massages received from Germany.
Austria-Hungaiy and Turkey, identi
cal In substance, differed slightly In
phraseology as a result of different
translations.
Since the first note arrived, the
one from Germany, the President and
his closest advisers have been absorb
ed in study of the stiuatlon. The
Austrian note followed, and the one
from Turkey came later. Those from
Germany and Austria have been gone
over carefully by the President and
Secretary Lansing to make certain of
their meaning, and so that they may
be sure to represent properly the in
tent of the Central Powers.
ANTI-LIQUOR BILLS FLOOD
TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS
Webb Sure Nation-Wide Prohibition
Will Win at Next Session.
Washington Legislative measures
aimed at destruction of the liquor traf
fic continue to accumulate in Congress
as both houses are deluged with pe
tions from all parts of the country
urging adoption of the national prohi
bition constitutional amendment and
passage of other anti-liquor meas
including the Sheppard bill to r
it the manufacture and sale off
in the nistrtcf of Columbia. 1
The House Postofflce Cc
opened the door to another p
the problem in reporting fav
bill designed to close the mail
lutely to advertising of any
eating liquors and to deny ma
houses the right to go into eifc
or drv" territory to silicit
through the medium of the mails.
No move was made by prohibition
leaders in the House regarding the con
stitutional amendment reported from
the judiciary committee, but Repre
sentative Webb, chairman of the com
mittee, plans to ask the rules com
mittee for a special rule to get the
rsolution before the House soon after
the holidays.
CONFIDENT OF VICTORY,
PEACE OFFER IS MADE.
London. "Confident that we are
completely the victors, I yesterday
made a proposal to the enmey to dis
cuss the question of further war or
pea,ce," said the Germany Emperor
in addressing the troops in Alsace re
cently, according to a despatch pub
lished in The Cologne Gazette, says a
Reuter's dispatch from Amsterdam.
"What will come of it. I do not yet
know," the Empeor is reported to
have continued. . "It is a matter for
the enemy now to decide if the fight
in,; is still to go on. If the enemy
still thinks he has not ha.l enough,
then I know you will" here the Em
peror, says the correspondent, made a
"warlike" gesture, which "produced a
fierce smile on the faces of all his
men."
VILLA IS MAKING
OVERTURES TO U. S
El Paso. Texas Francisco Villa
through representatives here, has
made overtures to the United States
and has promise dto cease his depre
dtaions upon American property and
discontinue killing Americans in Mex
ico. The report that representatives
oi Villa are working to have Villa
spare Americans lives and property in
return for assurances that his mo"e
ments In Mexico would not be inter
fered with by the United States army
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sales
COLLEGE DEBATES
TO BE IN Wl
WAKE FOREST WILL CONTEST
WITH RANDOLPH-MACON EAS
TER MONDAY.
THE QUEflY AND SPEAKERS
Debate Council Announces Queries
and Respective Sides For the Two
Inter-Collegiate Debates.
Wake Forest. The debate council
of Wake Forest College has announc
ed the queries and the respective
sides for the two inter-collegiate de
bates which have been arranged for
next year with Randolph-Macon Col
lege of Ashland, Va., and Baylor Uni
versity of Waco, Texas.
The debate with Randolph-Macon
College will be held in Raliegh Easter
Monday night at the Academy of
Music. Wake Forest, will defend the
negative side of the question, "Re
solved, That our Federal Constitution
should be so amended as to prohibit
the manufacture and sale of intoxi
cating liquors," while the Virginians
will uphold the affirmative side of the
question.
Baylor Univefsity $111 be debated
in'Waco, Texas, on April 2, 1917. The
query selected is, "Resolved, That the
United States Government should
own and control all railroads In the
United States, constitutionality waiv
ed." Baylcr has chosen to speak on
the negative side of "the question,
and Wake Forest will uphold the af
firmative. Of last year's six inter-collegiate
debaters, E. B. Cox, I. L. Bennett, J.
G. Boone, R. H. Taylor, B. M. Boyd
and J. B. Rucker, only three are back
in college, Messrs. Boyd, Rucker and
Booe. In addition to these three de
baters there are a number of other
experienced speakers that will enter
the preliminaries, among them being
A. C. Reid, D. C. Hughes, H. E. Olive,
I. E. Carlyle, J. B. Edwards, C. P.
Herring, E. D. Banks.
$220,992 Balance In Treasury.
Raleigh. Affixing their signatures
to their endorsements on the books
of the state treasurey as found in or
der and correct the legislative t com
mittee for the examination of the.
books nd vouchers of the treasury
and the state auditor made the follow
ing entry showing status of state fin
ancial affairs at the close of this fis
cal year.
uaiance general mim
$130,008; receipts to December 1 thw
Balance general fund last year
year, 4,5mu,ss. ipiai reoeipis
100,887; disbursements $4,879,96o;
balance December 1, $220,922.
Board of "education fund total re
ceipts $126,343; disbursements $122,
662; balance $3,701. Grand total all
funds In treasury $224,628.
The committee report is signed by
Chairman Laughinghouse of Pitt, Rep
resentative Greer of Iredell, Senator
Thompson of Iredell. Representa
tive Harry Stubbs and Senator Fair
cloth are absent.
Enclose Pisgah Forest Animals.
Asheville. Officers of the Ameri
can Steel Wire Company have noti
fied Secretary George S. Powell of
the Appachaian Park Association, that
the wire donated for the fence to en
close the elk and bison park in Pisgah
"orest has been shipped and may be
xpected any day now. Forester
Verne Rhodes states that the locust
posts for stringing the wire are al
ready in pla.ee, and experts will be
sent with the shipment of wire to
build the fence as soon as possible.
This Is another step in the movement
to stock the Southern Appalachians
with elk and buffalo. The Park Asso
ciation, of which Gov. Locke Craig is
president, has already . secured the
promise of a herd of elk and another
buffalo will probably be placed in the
park by Febraury 1, at the latest.
The presence of a herd of elk and
another buffalo In PJsgah forest, both
of which will be located in sight ot
the road, is expected to enhance the
value of the forest as an attraction
for tourists, who will be able to watch
both heard in practically their natur
al haunts.
Teachers Broke Attendance Record.
Raleigh. Attendance records were
broken by the recent session of the
North Carolina Teachers' Assembly.
A total of 1,023 reeistered or 53 more
than that of the 1915 session, the
biggest registration up io that time.
The executive committee of the as
sembly is to be called by President A.
T. Allen of Salisbury, to meet here
early In January to takeaction as to
the time and the place for the 1917
session. Indications are that the con
test as to place will be between Char
lotte and Raleigh.