The News
Li Devoted to the
4 - unnniiamir oi.... ,
n " . v.-.. . . t
. Polk County, g J
i OFFICIAL JOURNAL OP POLK COUNTY.
VOL. IX.
COLUMBUS, N,-0;,- THURSDAY, jijflTARY, 21, 1904.
. no; 40
A Disastrous Fire Destroys-
EBusiness Block at Tryon
The Hearing of fjie Gtidger
St. Louis is Selected by the
! Corvtest Case isl Now On
Place.
-:':-
' ' ' INDEPENDENCE W ALL TWNOS. j "r ;- .1 SUBSCWPT PRICE $,.oo PER YEAR, IN ADVANCE. '
Leaves Destruction and
Devastation In Its
Path. "
O PRIIICIPAL 8TGE3 DESTROYED.
John Orr & Co., and The Bal
longer Co., Are Heavy Losers
One Residence Swept Away
Also Other
Trade Street
BuHdlhgs o n
N arrow lyEs-
cape Milk Boys Discover
FireHeayy Blow, to Tryori
-city.' "
. j Tryon, N. C., Jan. 17
Sunday morning the dread demon,
fire.. invaded our peaceful town and left
havoc in its trail. Fortunately nj lives
were lost. It looked for awhile as if all
of Trade street was doomed, as there
was a high wind blowing from the north,
but the brick walls of Orr's "store fall-;
ing inward, Instead of toward the drug
store.smothered and confined the flames
without further spread. :. '.; ,
The fire was discovered shortly after
8 o''elock a. m., Sunday, when the cloth- day by the former Democratic candl
ing room of Che Ballenger Co. was seen date for president in conversation with
to be all on fire and comunicating to Tar Eleels. Mr. Bryan does not know
the main store. People, began t come exactly, what points he will .visit, - but
from all directions, a$ the fire was visi he has decided to deliver, a series of
.ble for miles. Willing handswere soon; lectures, and,North Carolina is oh his
at work carrying out: goods as fast as visiting list. He promised to write Mr
possible, while some wsre hastily get- j
Wsre hastily get-
ting buckets to .fight the fire.. The high
.wind carried burning brands on to the
other roofs, and Jl B. Hester, the station
r , a gent, see ihg the danger of the rai 1 road
and other property telegraphed for the
engine at Melrose. By this time all
hopepf sa"tng any part of .Trade street
was-abandoned and everyone began to
carry out of the different buildings ev
erything movable. People on the dif
ferent roofs continued to fight the burn
ing embers that were flying: as thick as
snow, some them alighting fully half
a mle away. Manager T. I. Mills stuck
to his switch-board telephoning for help
as long as he could before the lines were
' dowq. . - . - . . ..
When the engine arrived a bucket
1 ine was soon formed from her tank to
the fire. 1. This and the south brick wall
of Orr's tore falling north drove the
flames away from the drug store. Had
the walls fallen toward the drug store
nothing could have saved the balance of
Trade street, south. It was, indeed, very
a narrow escape. In addition to the two
stores destroyed, the dwelling to the
rear of BallengerV store, belongings to
Mrs. Peck, was burned to the ground,
most of the effects : saved. The Tryon
Lodge K. of P., lost everything in their
neat council chamber. The Lanier Li
brary, also over Orr's store, was, per
haps, a total loss, some books probably
being in the hands of members. M ayor
Missildine suffered quite a good deal
from breakage and loss in trying to
save his stock. ' i
The sides of the railroad track from
t one crossing to another was linecL-with
all sorts of merchandise, including
show-cases, flour, drns, ribboos, cloth,
in fact any thing that could be moved
in time. Balue had carcasses of a num
ber of beeves, hogs and sheep., hung in
his shop and these were alL hustled out
with the refrigerator and piled up on
the ground. The post office was strip
ped of all its furniture, io factthere
seemed no chance to save a building,
and every one worked to save what they
could. After all danger was over the
stuff was moved back to the owners and I
vacant stores. ; x
This is a severe blow to Tryon, as the
. . .. - r
two stores were well stocked with the
finer grades of merchandise and- better
by far, than in towns ten times, its size.
Those who needed groceries Monday had
to seek elsewhere. It is not often that
the whole merchandise business of a
town is wiped away at once. The peo-
pie pf Tryon should now loyally stand
by the merchants who have suffered
and help them in every possible way.
Messrs. B. L. Ballenger and Claude L.
Ballenger are young men who ;- have
pinned their faith to Tryon and have
Inst HmviI v. t0TAt.hAi with Senator
Ballenirer.
Mr, Jno. Orr's store which was brick,
was also one of the best: appointed and
stocked storeB-in Western North Caro-
Una; Tryon being full of guests makes reer as a soldier, statesman and ci ti
lt all the greater loss, as it will take zen, declaring that "full of love for
some time to establish Jie business in all, pure in mind, heartland behavior,
good running order again Mr. ) Orr, a consistent follower of his Maker, he
owned both building and stock and. was was possibly the greatest representa-
not heavilv Insured. G. A. Smith owned
the building the Ballenger Ca, was '
and is probably well insureds
The K. of P. property was insured
for a small amount as also the Lanier
Library, $400.00, we are informed." Mrs.
Peck's building was also insured. Air.
G. A. Smith is insured for $1,015.00 tho'
his loss will be fully $4,000.00. The
Ballenger Co.." were insured for $7,000
on a stock of over $10000. .
tTIRE NOTES,,, "
ThejBre was first discovered -"by tn"6
Kelley'.boys, who "were" delivering milk
early in the morning. Their cries at
tracted Ed. Stredrick, who was at once
on the scene. Others soon flocked to
the fire.
...The Ballenger Co. will at once open
up a stock at the old Lucky building, a
stock of staple and ' fancy groceries op
posite tho freight depot. Tryon BeeV .
BRYAN IS COMING TO N. C.
Will Deliyer a Series M Lectures in tWs
State at an Early Date.' ' .
i (BY THOMAS J. PENCE) " ; -
Washington, Jan 12 Special Wil-
4am Jennings Bryan ' will visit North
Carolina in the course of the next few
weeks. This information was given to-
jpsephus Daniels,v acquainting him with
the details of his itinerary through the
state. '- .
The distinguished Nebrakan spent
the day in Washington, and of; course
mingled much with Democratic politi
cians. He is not niuch of a political
factor now, a fact recognised ; by ."his
friends, but he is accorded a cordial
greeting wherever he goes A number
of the members of the North Carolina
delegation chatted with him today. To
the correspondent'of The Post Mr. Bry
an said that he was pleased with the
selection and date of the convention.
Senator Simmons said todav'that be
would probably call the Democratic
state executive committee together'the
latter part of February. He does
not think there is. any necessity for
holding two conventions. Senator
Simmons will not issue the call for the
committee meeting for several weeks;
National. Committeeman Jephus
Daniels cast his vote in the meeting : of
the national committee for St. Louis.
tavlniK decided early this morning
the exposition city was the best- place
under the circumstances for the Demo
cratic convention. Mr. Daniels also
took part in the consideration of the
contest as to who should be national
committeeman from the District of C ol
umbia. It was on his motion, that the !
acrimonious fight was brought to an i
end and that it was referred to a sub
committee for action. -Z-
In speaking of the meeting of the
committee, Mr. Daniels said he was
greatly Impressed with the feeling pre
vailing everywhere that the Democra
cy will win in the coming contest.
GEN. GORDON'S SUCCESSOR-
6611. Steplell LeO ASSUIIleS COIIlIIlalld
of the U C Y
New Orleans, Jan. 10. -In a general
Ortier, issuea tonignt oy. Lneui. uenrtMK. sjuttl.k Abt.i!:uj!is uwuuiu infjlu
Stephen D. Lee, commander of the J "KNCE. T2.
Tennessee department, unitea LOn-
federate Veterans, uen. le assumes
the office of commander in chief of the
I . - .- - -v.... " 7 ,
tion, made vacant by the death of Gen-
eral John B. Gordon. 5 ,
In his order General Lee states that
the staff of the late, commander in chief
is continued as the staff of .the present
commanding general.
Major Gen. Clement A. Evans,, com-
mandinsr the Georsria division, is di
rected to assume command of the d i
vision of Tennessee; General , Evans
will instruct ; the ranking brigadier
general of the Georgia , division to
I sume command of that division Or
as-re-
commend a suitable officer - lor tnat
office.
In his order General Lee ' eulogize!
Gordon, referring to his wonderful ca
tive of the old courtly Southern gen-
In 1 tlemen and his place cannot be filled.
All Personalities Are Rui:
ed Out. - c
MR. SUOGeFTs COIIFIDEIJT
The Democrats and One Rer
publican Member of theElecf-J
tion Committee Said to Favor
fMr. Gudger Mr. Cudger and
His Attorneys Are Confident
of Favorable Results. - :
Washington, Jan. 13.
Election Committee No. 2, Mr.'Mann,
of Illinois, chairman, spent the entire
day in hearing argument in the contest
iolving the seat of Mr. iGudger, and
then, after closfng the open hearing
about 5 .o'clock, remained in excutive
session until almost dark. The hearing
was for the most part uneventful j coun
sel having agreed to confine their re
marks to'tbe briefs, to the -exclusion of
alL personal references, and without ad
verting too much to the great mass of
t
t . - t-
' J -
-CONGRESSMAN JAME3 M GUpGER.
evidence and depositions. Both sides'
had reason-to look with favor upon such
an arrangement, an it is said that Mr.
Settle purposely refrained from elabor
ating the evidence of Mr. J. M. Camp-,
bell, which alluded to contestee a.teed
tocomment very iightly on the conspic
uous absence of Col. Lusk, of counsel
for contestants. The last source of pos
sible embarrassment to Mr. Settle was
removed! by the appearance of Col
Lusk, at the eleventh hour, after tell
ing several persons that it was, not his
intention 'to come. Messrs. Lusk and
Settle have not been working together
in harmony of late, and his non-appear-
Unce might have been thought singular
j y memDere"rtae comnaitee fls ib was
VUi. UU9& , uiu. uuu ta&c yakjt - tii nia
speech-making. ; -
Mr. Settle spoke first, devotinsr more
Uk nn na nn wif t,nR.mrnmhfl
I .mfv. wWp hp dftniarod; tho nffippW
I Y J ' -) iw -
f election had bee n impro perl y in fl u -
enced through the pressure brought to
bear upon them by the Democratic ex
ecutive, committee, by "poll tax ; -exemptions,
and the large number of persons
who voted, but whose names did not ap
pear on the certified list of tax payers
The returns from this county-, said Mr.
Settle, were tainted with fraud and
should be rejected. Mr. Carter follow--ed
with i. defen e of the registrars of
Buncombe, , denying : that they had
shown any partiality' in the administra
tion of their offices. In Teply to a ques
tion from Chairman Mami, Mr. Carter
said it was perhaps in badtaste for the
chairman of the Democratic county
committee to pay some of. the election
oncers for : extra workT but that the aet
by no means afforded any . j ust ification
for declaring- th e ' election void ; i p the
two precincts where this had been done.
As to the 500. voters whose names did
not appear on the certified" tax -lists,
'J Mr. Carter said that it been conclusive -
ly shown that tfjeseliad been accounted
for by voters who had just come of age,
bad removed fcbm,: one precinct to an
other and mistlakes on the part of those
performing th clerical work Mr. Car
ter : refered . to J. M. Campbell's bitter
enmity to Mr. Gudgerf and to Camp
bell's' creature". lay." In reply 'lo a
question' askej by a member of the
tJommittee as t&. jthemajority secured
by. Mr. Gudgerlin the nominating con
vention over M. Campbell, Mr. Carter
fell into errof.?He said that Mr. Camp
bell only receilred a very small vote;
whereas, as a matter of fact, a number
Lof gentlemen, all expert "mathemati
cians, have notfeuit figuring yet in the
effort to deternjine the exact fractional
vote by which lr. Gudger was declared
the nominee. lr Busbee followed Mr.
Carter "and devfted his time principally
to the legal aspects of the case, to the
question of abatement and the jurisdic
tion of the conimitteeV and to the vote
at Tryon and SMelds precincts, defend-
ing registrar. Fisher, and. saying that I
he only erred ia one instance, in deny-
s
T. :y::::r -i.:-
... w si&:?5.:::::S:-s
.4.,.;,vv.Vc
ing the right registration to an edu
cated negro, Blackwood.
FRAUDS PECLARED GLARING."
In his reply. Mr.-. Settle's remarks
took a wider! scope, saying- that the i
B
fre uds in this flection had been glaring
and it remained for Congress to say
whether the correction rod should be
----- 'A M
applied to these guilty of such methods.
Southern Repjublians had been unfortu
nate in th eir ind ertaking to get their
grievances properly before the supreme
court, and th y had no redress save in
an appeal to Congress. The position of
the Republicans in North Carolina
was, aaomaiups. 11 iuey buugnt reuei
through the iower courts, they fonnd
themselves cemfronted by a State law,
which authorized "the attorney general
or the State fto defend indicted regis -
trars. Representative James asked- if
Tift. M f . : Rpt.tlp. nnnflemhfid t.h "cnnct.i.
uuo vuuiuiiuticn n aa iu uuuciowiuu iuau
tutional amendment -To this Mr. Set-
tie replied, nd, that he voted i for the
amendment, ?hich was all right in the-
ory uuu vuo qviucuv; 111 wuis caoe snow-
ed that in practice the law had not only
lessened, outpaaa complicated tbe poiit -
icai ins. viup aajeuunieQd, neaeiareu-
wasjest iors lepuoiican's u ejections
1 , , 1 !
were coauuu uouyr. ,v . - :
am. uuuuKUUJNi.iiJT. - , .. -
iviemoersos me committee irequeni-
ly commented on what the atSrneys
r Li;J.a it- - ix
urcra tavino- B Mr Mann coomcwi tt firiri
vast amusenfent in the situation at
ooum vvayuosviue, wnere.jae tnougnt,
all the people, were remarkably close
ctnriAnf.a nf h mnihitiAn ...m.
that in man! instances, when witnesses
had been qutioned with reference to
bribery charges they had - stood on!
ineir constii-puouai rigui-s. aaa aecunea
to answer on?the ground that it might
tend to incrkninate them. ' 1 While Mr.
Settle woula not ..concede anvthiner of
the kind,- air. uudger and nis attorneys
appear couneen tnat ine.oecision wiui
bority memlers of the committee made
light of the! ? case, and expressed the
upiuxuu luaieiuo uwiaiuu iur vr. uuv-
ger wou d b unanimous, it is also true
A
N';''
that such aoi intimation came from oneW " , IT vt
Dnnuhit. i momha. pv,.i.1ai rv I K?nty n vT w h ft I mi o c deieat to niuuseii
1 server 14t,
Wednesday,1 July. 6, at
,12 o'clock; is the Date.
SURPMSED DY COLiniTTEE
It Seemed Sure Chicago Would
- Be Chosen, But Political Ex
Igencies Caused St. Louis to
. be Selected Wm. J. ' Bryan
Calls, but no Significance is
Attached to Visit '
; Washington SpeciaL The Democrat
ic "national committee to-d ay furnished
a surprise, selecting St. Louis as the
place for holding the national conven
tion of 1904, v The date fixed for the
convention was Wednesday, July at
12 o'clock. . Previous to the meeting of
the committee it seemed a foregone
conclusion that Chicago would be e-
lected as the place of meeting, but po-
litical , exmgencies entered into the
situation and a maiority of the com
mittee voted for St. Louis.x For ome
hours previous to the meeting there
was'tal k in: the corridors and among
Democratic leadersthat the cOnven-
tion in Chicago might be subject to the
influence of a' strong movement and
a strong newspaper .influence in favqr
of some particular candidate." Mr.
Knapp of the St. Louis Republic, hint
ed at this in his speech by, saying that
the convention, if held at St. Louis,
would be ; welcomed by an . -absol utely
fair press. ' v" .":;-.': '";'; -:
The committee meeting caused con.
siderable discussion of politics and the
claims of 'various candidates were ad
vocated by their partisans, but nothing
favoring any candidate appeared in the
committee "proceedings. Willia n J.
Bryan, whe.nthe committee had con-
clud ed i ts 1 abors- a ppeared , bu t his
Visit was without any apparent political
significance. He did not come to the
hotel until aftr the committee had
about concludcu its business.- tie was
warmly greeted by the members of the I
committee "and r- invited a . numbfer of
times by members to call on ; them at
their, hotels. . 4 . f r "
The committee . was called to order
by Chairman James K. Jones, of Ark
ansas, promptly at 2 o'clock. -As the
members took their seats' they faced a
1. - - J " 1 1" "... i ! l - . . J.
rajaeu piauurm unuts. 01 wuicu was au
elaborate festoon of flags, surrounding
a large portrait of Andrew .Jackson.
The. sessions vver.e executive. Rolla
Wells, presented the claims of St. Louis.
A written proposal was offered to the
committee with a guarantee of $40,000
and the use of the Coliseum; a fire-proof
building with a seating capacity of 12,
000. The Business Men's League-guar
anteed hotel accommodations.
There were two roll calls to select the
city. On the first St. Louis received
23 vote Chicago 200 and New York 6
On the second ballot St. Louis received
23 and Chicago 21. The "date wa3 fixed
as July 6th, on motion of Col. J. M.
Guff ey, of Pittsburg. " V - "-
Says Roosevelt Can't Win.
T Writing to the . New York Evening
Poet Edward C. Wade, of Los Angeles,
Cal.. who states that he has voted the
r . . ' - -- .
Republican ticket in evffry Presidential
election for many years, says: r
William Henrv Harrison died, and I
saw John Tyler become - Prosident of
the United States, and I also saw him
1 turn the erovernment over
into the
keeping of the Democrats, because he
senary x ay lor aiea, anu j.
lard Filtiaore become the - President of
the United States, and I also saw him
1 . M . u A rtwonnTT,onf. int t.h lrftfinintr
l " j?" &v -"V, 1
1 o1 tne iemociaus, wcauso uo iu
I to receive tne nominabiuu. .
I . ' . . ..
fAKfahum T, nmln died, and I saw
r. Taf.L-son become the President
. rj Of-tps. and ' I also
vuv vj . 7
. , ,;w ..rt offn-nj, turn tWa trnxrvrn.
him make an effort to turn the, govern-
I Itlfint OVer 1DWJ LUC tv.ccuiui vi
Democrats
- lame A. Garfield died, and 1 saw
. , -r
rAnarew-jacusou WWU" a"u
of the United states, ana j. aio bw
him turn the government over.into the
i,tV nf'f.h nsm nnrata. "because ' all
. . v.nA .n0il nrncura the
his efforts had ,f.ailed 10 - ,rofure
nomination for himself, and he - could
nt endure defeat from the immortal
james q, Blaine
wni.a rml Hied, and I have
seen Theodore itooseven oecoiuo yuo
the President of the United States. 1
gaw Beniaman Harrison in An enprt w
1 rtminBinn for President
13
inn
He Insists qna Senatorial
Inquiry.
ALSO SCORES I.1ADY POIUTS
The . North Carolina Senator
Charges Republicans With
Purpose to Suppress Further
Investigation. f
Washington, (Spcial) Alleged postof
fice frauds were under discussion in the
Senate today, the subject being opened
in a, set speech by Mr. Simmons, of
North Carolina, who insisted that there
should be an investigation by the Sen- -ate
of the charges." Mr. Piatt, of Con-
necticut, declared that the Republicans
were not trying to cover up any wrong
doing in the Postofi&ce Department, and
said that they were simply contending
that the postoffice com m ittee should as
certain what was to .be investigated
The discussion was participated in ( by
Messrs. Burrows, Doliver and Quarles,
on the Republican side and Messrs.
Carmack1, Tillman and .Teller, on the
Democratic side. .
Mr. Simmons said it was clearly the
purpose of the Republicans not to per
mit any further inquiry into the frauds
and scandals of the Department. He
predicted that when the ""resolutions .
came, back from the Senate committee
they would be defeated by practically,
the unanimous vote of the Republicans.
It is apparent J he said, that no farther
Investigation would be ' inaugurated on
the eye f a presidential election.
Speaking of the; Bristow inquiry, Mr.
Simmons said the reports of that in-
quiry bhowed it to be directed solely
into crimes committed within the' De
partment, and that the various bureaus
were .not subjected to the general .
search-for the disclosure of irregular-,
ities not punishable as crimes. "I do
not charge that every branch of the
Department is reeking. with fraud,' te '
said "but it will be difficult to convince '
the people that such "is not the case.
The investigation that has been 'had is - -
merely of a legal character.
Mr. Simmons made the point that
the frauds exposed by Mr. Bristow in
nearly every instahce'from a civil, lia
bility, and the government frauds which
had been wasted should be recovered
in a court of law.
Mr. Tillman said that a number of
years ago he had asked that rural free
delivery boxes be supplied to farmers
at cost, and that he had submitted a
sample box which "sold for 50 cents.
This box, Mr. 'Tillman'said; was fur- '
nished later"" at $1-25 and $1,60 each.
He wanted to know whether any In
vestigation of this case had been made.
M.r. Simmons answered that the -Bristow
report exposed of many such
cases, 'r: ;;.'Z ' i "-'C'- ' :: - ;V r. J::J-"'
Mr. Simmons referred to former As-j ,
sistant Postmaster General Heath and
said that there was every reason why
an inquiry should be directed to finding
out what his connections were with the
postoffice scandals. He did not say
that Perry Heath was guilty, but if he
was not connected withthe frauds -he ,
was surrounded by the most curious set
of circumstances that had ever been
known. Mr. ' Simmons also criticised
former Postmaster General Smith be
cause he did not investigate the Tul-
loch charges. " Speaking .. of- Mr. Tul
loch's experience in" the Postoffice De-:
partment Mr. Simmons said: ' . .
"Who knows but what his dismissal
was for the purpose of intlmidiating
other imployes who might- have had
information for' the exposure of the
frauds?". - ,
. Hanna Re-elected.
Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 13. In the pres
enceDf the joint assembly of ,the mem- -bers
of the Ohio ; senate and : house,'.
Lieutenant Governor G-. W. Harding
today, declared Marcus A, v Hanna re
elected United States ; senator from .
Ohio for the term of six years, begin- .
ning. March 4, 1905:1 The two branches
in separate' session had . given Senator
Hanna the largest majority ever given
a senator from this state. ' .
t The senator and Governor - Herrlck
were escorted to the hall of the' house.
The arrival of the "twowas the signal .
for an ovation: - It . was saveral minutes .
before Senator Hanna could: speak and
return bis thanks. - Governor Herrick :
was then introduced -and make a : short .
address.! His reference to the contrast
of Senator Hanna's Ire-election r with "
the hard-fought battle of ix years ago;
brought a. broaJ smile to the senator's'
face. A reception followed.
nth earns
- -