Newspapers / Polk County News and … / Aug. 5, 1921, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of Polk County News and The Tryon Bee (Tryon, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
.--hv't n t . . rv w -: : .' : . . - , i mTm ' r nnriiinii - am 1 1 ni i iMinui FOR VALUABLE tt i :; ni phi JLTRY Island Republic; Reioices at the Death of its Richest lionaire. GRUEL POWER OF WEALTH Peasant Trod Down Millions as He - Piled up Riches on Misfortunes of Others Lived and Died a Prute. Havana. "El Pote" Is dead and all Cuba rejoices. The peasant who be came a millionaire many times over and used his wealth to wield a cruel power died as he had lived, haunted and hated, a victim of his own power. In 40 years he established a career lurid with tragedy, dark with sordid scheming, tremendous with both suc cess and failure. A year ago reputed the richest man-in Cuba, he came to a miserable end at his own hands, and almost his last words were that the wealth which cost him 40 years of nnremitting toll to accumulate did not yield him one hour of happiness. Jose Lopez Rodrigues was known to Tirtualiy every one in Cuba. He was a strange, sinister figure, and even in death he furnishes, a remarkable ex ample of what can be accomplished by the constant, ruthless application of power to a single task. Ferve el Pote (the pot boils) was his watch word, his motto, the rule of his sordid Hfe. and it was from this that he came to be called "EI Pote," the name with which millions became familiar. For years he thrived, at the expense of others. Then the fortunes of war turned against him, and, fearing the loss of all his Ill-gotten gains, he com mitted suicide by hanging himself with a twisted sheet. Filthy of Body. Not more than five feet in height, El Pote" had the powerful, thickset frame typical of the Gallego peasant. He wore the oldest clothes he could find and was foul of mind and speech and filthy of body. Jose Lopez Rodriguez was born in Spain and emigrated to Cuba in his fifteenth year, fleeing from the hard conditions of the Gallego peasant life. Jh Havana for a while he worked with pick and shovel, but as soon as he eould he abandoned such hard manual labor to work for an old second-hand Book dealer, peddling the books from Bouse to house. One morning his aged employer was found dead in his bed and young Lopez Rodrigues, who slept njthe premises, was arrested on sus picion of murder, but after spending some time In prison he was released for lack of sufficient evidence to in Ict. The widow of the murdered book seller continued the business and Lopez Rodriguez, after his release from prison returned to his old em ployment. One morning the widow was found hanging in her room, but, o evidence being found to confirm a suspicion that there had been foul play, a verdict of suicide was returned. By the time the young employee had saved up some money and he bought the business. Piles Dollar on Dollar. Living upon almost nothing and working tirelessly, he steadily In creased his trade and piled one dollar on another until with the passage of the years his fortune grew to re spectable dimensions. When, after the wealth of Cubans had been drained by three years of revolution and embcrgo, the American fleet blockaded Havana in 1898, "El Pote" for by that time he had come universally to be known by his sobri quet was able to acquire for. cash large properties for a tithe -of : their ralue. and when the Cuban republic was set up he was a rich man among sen who had been ruined. The latter were compelled to go to him for casn which he alone was able to lend. And o It came to pass that many of those Sylvia Pankhurst Miss Sylvia Pankhurst (center) , at Hollownv for nroftrhlncr opdltinn missed. Followlner her "pomlne out" by the Communist party. This photograph shows the "reds" ofiferlng a toast Vf loo DunVtilllraf . 6E1 Pote to whom the government of the young republic was entrusted were his debtors which he never allowed them to forget ; , v ; ' ' :; :' He secured a monopoly on all Cuban printing, for which scahdal scores went to Jail. Then he got control of one of the biggest banks anoUwrecked that, "borrowing" no less than $11, 000,000 without security of any kind. He loaned millions, but always de manded from 50f to 100 per cent in terest. ' ' It is believed that after the pay ment of all debts the estate of Jose Lopez Rodriguez will be worth some where around $10,000,000, proving that it was not the fear of penury that drove him to end his life In the fashion by which his employer 40 years ago had died and which had marked the beginning of his own pros perity. . Hogs' Snouts Do Plowing. Woodstock. Ont. Hogs take the place of plows and harrows In the cul tivation of one of the best producing small apple orchards In Ontario. Most orchardists plow and replow and har row and ditch the land vbet ween the rows of trees. J. W, Txrftle of Cur rie merely turns In a drove of , hogs. $66,000 Thief Given 3 Years Memphis Teller for 12 Years Missed Vacations to Shield His Shortage. COURT GETS HIS CONFESSION Began With $100 Holdout and Lived in Hope of Making All Good Nev er Missed a Day or Was Late Strain Was Terrible. Memphis, Tenn. Alex V. Smith, for merly note teller for the First Nation al bank, stood convicted, but elated with a three-year term, given to him after he had confessed to a $06,001.37 peculation and pleaded guilty. During the 12 years Smith was con nected with the bank he never took a vacation, never was absent or late in reporting for duty. He told reporters In order to cover up the shortage he had to be continually on the job. John' D. Martin, Smith's counsel, read a copy of Smith's confession to the court In his plea for leniency. The confession says : "I, Alex V. Smith of Raleigh, Tenn., do hereby make confession. "I was born in Liverpool, England, on June 8, 1883. I left England and came to the United States when I was about twenty-two years old. After a short stay In New York city 1 came to Memphis, Tenn"., and became a bank clerk In the employ of the Bank of Commerce of Memphis, where I worked for about nine months. I then en tered the employ of the First National bank of Memphis, Tenn., and was con tinuously employed there until Janu ary 13, .1921. I was note teller at the First National bank for about 12 consecutive years. During thU tune I gave diligent attention to the du ties of the position. Began With $100. "About 11 years ago, one day after the vaults were closed, to accommo date a customer I took a deposit of about $100. That night I used this money to pay a debt, hoping to re place it immediately. It was never replaced, and the shortage grew, until January 12, 1021, It amounted to $66. 501.37. "My method of concealment was throughout the entire period of short Toasted by Reds who served live months' Imprisonment In the Rntich now van ripinH His. she was tflnHprPil o Kronlrfnst !n T.rnir.T 3 Jiiii'ii)! 4 , niii"1 s iiiiiiiu;...-, j 1- : m f -vi mm Li..i.i'i x i: Hill -. - tr .-,v. , ,, S. jiBtiiMWiffif-vnWiwftwiWfWr The National Woman's party is com ing into its own again and has bought a new home which will be a regular "political watch tower" to the capital, which is within a stone's throw. The home Is one of the most historic In Washington, having been the meeting place of congress from 1815 to 181 U while the capltol was being rebuilt, and was the scene of President Monroe's Inauguration. age to hold for a day or two, then re mit, being In the manner always short In my remittances. "I married about eight years ago, and at 'the time of my marriage my shortage was comparatively small. My family consists of my wifie. aged thirty-one years, and three children, Alex V. Jr., aged seven; Jim Mangrum. aged sir, and Jay Shaw, aged two years, nine months. "The mou'eys which I embezzled from the bank were absorbed In my personal expense and extravagances. I have not dissipated money in gam bling or. speculation. I have, of course, entertained the vague hope that I could make restitution of these peculations, but have been crushed with the realiza tion that this was Impossible. Strain Has Been Terrible. "The strain of my situation has, of course, been terrible, and I have suf fered Immense mental torture for years. "I have been unable to obtain suffi cient sleep or rest except through the use of Intoxicants, and have been com pelled to resort to the same means ns a stimulant to enable me to discharge the regular duties of my office. "It is my intention and deslrthat in the event there should be an in dictment returned against me on ac count of my wrongdoing to Immedi ately enter a plea of guilty to the same tind' throw myself without reservation upon the mercy of the court. "It Is my desire to receive such Den sity as may be inflicted on me as speedily as possible, it being my deep desire, after I have met my punish ment, to rise again and be a man. It will be my earnest effort to make good, in the fullest measure possible, the loss which has been occasioned as the result of my wrongdoing." After the shortage was discovered Smith says regarding his conversation with bank officials: "1 gave them the exact figures, to wit, $66,001.37, together with all data and documents pertaining thereto. thereby enabling the officials of the bank to make a speedy adjustment of their records. I gave the exact amount of my shortage as stated above, so that the bank would not be put to the necessity of a long, laborfous and ex pensive audit of my accounts. PAJAMAS "NOBBY" ON STREET Russ Officer's Garb Leads to Dlstrl button of Garments to Refugees. Constantinople, Turkey. American Red Cross and army pajamas, are be ing converted intb jaunty street clothes here by ingenious Russian refugee soldiers and civilians. Hugh S. Bird, treasurer of the Red Cross, when here on a visit of Inspec tion, saw a spick-and-span monocled Russian officer flourishing a cane and fanning himself with a straw hat at the local Red Cross offices. He no ticed that the man had taken a suit of pajamas, sewed shoulder strap braid on them, strapped Lis officer's belt about them and rolled uo the bot toms to give a trouser effect. Mr. Bird thought so well of the In genuity of the man, who had defeated the hot weather, that he gave orders for several thousand more pajamas to be, distributed, so no , Russian need wear-his heavy, shabby winter clothes. Partridges Alight In Street i Coatesville, Pa. A. covey of nart ridges came Into this city and alight ed on the naved streets In thA hnai. ness section. Volunteer firemen caught a few and placed them In a box. eratlng them later In the country. They had become frightened when . a cooper s nawa attacked them on bill. tlx- I s; Kill ARRANGEMENT OF DUCK FARM Should Be Located, on Light, Sandy Soil, With Convenient Facilities for Watering. fprcDared by ' the UnlteT States Depart irwv&Te. mint of Agriculture.) Duck 'farms fare usually- located on light, sandy soil, preferably on sloping land, where the droppings will leach freely Into the' soil; st that the land keeps sweet and clean. The farm should have good shipping facilities to aid both In shipping products and in buying supplies. The arrangement of the buildings should be planned to economize labor and allow for future Increase of the equipment. The Incubator cellar should be "con venient to the brooder house, the brooder house to the growing house Young Green Ducks, Ready for Mar ket. and ''pens, and these buildings to the killing house. The pens in the houses, the outside yards, and the arrange ment of the buildings should be planned so that the ducks may be eas ily driven from house to house as de sired. The feed room or house should be centrally located. 'Convenient watering arrangements are' essential where large numbers of ducks are kept, as they require a large amount of drinking water, say poultry specialists of the United States De partment of Agriculture. While ducks may be kept successfully under very Intensive conditions. It is advisable to allow considerable yard space. Double yards, which may be rotated and planted to quick-growing crops, such aa oats, wheat and rye, are good for intensive duck farms. It is advisable to have a pond or stream for the breeding ducks, as they usually give better fertility under these conditions, although on some successful duck farms the ducks are always kept oh dry land. The young' green ducks on some farms which have a pond are not allowed to go Into the water except to bathe and clean their feathers just before marketing. Other growers, however, allow the green ducks free access to ponds or streama Until they are marketed. CHEAP COOP FOR BACK YARD Inexpensive House Will Prove En tirely Satisfactory Where Small Flock Is Kept. It is not necessary to spend much money for housing If you are going to keep a small flock of hens In your back yard. Indeed, It is unwise, say poultry specialists of the United States Department of Agriculture. One or two piano cases or a large packing box may often be made Into an acceptable home. But whatever you build should be made dry and free from drafts, and have good venti lation. The United States Department of Agriculture has numerous bulletins giving directions for this kind of in struction, and any of these are avail able for the asking, or for a very few cents where a charge Is necessary. A card to the division of publications. United States Department of Agricul ture, Washington, D. C will get you what you need. EGGS PRESERVED WITH LIME Will Be Found Quite Satisfactory Where Water Glass Is Dif - flcult to Obtain. If water glass Is not obtainable, lime may be used for preserving eggs, say specialists of the United States Department of Agriculture. It Is not considered so good as water glass, as In some Instances ega? preserved by this method have tasted slightly of lime, although at other times lime water has proved entirely sastlfac tory. 1 T To preserve with lime, dissolve two pounds of unslaked lime In a small quantity of water, and dilute with five gallons of water that has previa ously been boiled and cooled. Allow the mixture to stand until the lime settles, then pour off and use the clear liquid. Place clean, fresh eggs In a clean earthenware crock or Jar. and pour the clear Uraewater into the ves sel until the eggs are covered. At least two Inches of the solution should covef the top layer of eggs. If Left Undisturbed Bugs of Va rious Kinds Will Destroy Best Part of Garden. PESTS HAVE BIG APPETITES Tobacco Extract Is Recommended tor Plant Lice and Other Sucking Par asitesMain Point Is to Start Fight Early. Prepared by the United States Depart ment of Agriculture.) Gardeners are warned by specialists of the United States Department of Agriculture to prepare to combat the "little enemies of the garden." In sects of various kinds are making their appearance in vast numbers in gar dens in all parts of' the country, and if left undisturbed will defeat the gar dener's best efforts - and lay waste the vegetable crops. This Is the open sea son for Insects and there are no laws which limit the number which may be killed. The department specialists urge the use of the spray pump and dusting bag for the frequent applica tion of poisons in order to destroy 'the pests before they destroy the gar den. Early efforts in fighting insects are most effective. Little Bugs With Big Appetites. V In most localities the Colorado or "hard-shell" potato beetles are Indus triously depositing clusters of small yellowish eggs on the underside of the potato leaves. In a few days these hatch Into little red, soft-shelled slugs or "soft-shells," - as they are often called, that have most wonderful ap petltles. and unless poisons .are ap plied they will soon strip the potato plants of their leaves. Perhaps there is no class of garden Insects the method of attack of which is so insidious as that of the plant lice or aphlds. At first a very few lice may be found hidden on the under side of the leaves of melons, peas, cabbage, and other vegetables. A little later the leaves be gin to curl up and to lose their color, and an examination will show that the "lice" which the ants carried out have became grandmothers, and the under side of the leaves will be lit erally alive with, them, feasting on the juices of the plants. At this stage something must be done quickly, for within a few days there will be another generation or brood at work. Arsenate of lead and purls green have no effect upon this army of plant blood suckers, and It is necessary to use contact poisons. A preparation must be used that will not Injure the InsscU Do Not Thrive In This Garden, but the Crops Do. plants but which will kill the "lice. The most common of these contact poisons Is nicotine sulphate a tobac co extractmade of tobacco refuse from factories. This Is a poison and, to be effective In killing the "lice" without Injuring the plants, must be used exactly according to the direc tions given on the. container. United States Department of Agriculture Farmers' Bulletin 856, on the control of garden diseases and Insects, has the following to say regarding the use of nicotine sulphate: "For small garden plats one tea spoonful of nicotine sulphate should be used, to one gallon of .water, to which a one-Inch cube of hard soap should be added and thoroughly mixed. If a larger quantity is desired, use one fluid ounce to eight gallons of water, with the addition of one-half pound of soap. Full directions are given on the covers of packages, and Instructions accompany them. Effective Application of Spray. "In the use of nicotine sulphate the effective application of the spray is of the utmost Importance, since It is pri marily upon this that the success or failure of the treatment depends. . If the liquid has stood for any length of time it should be agitated, thoroughly before , use. 4 The Insects , themselves must receive a thorough; coat of the spray or they will not be killed, and Immediate Inspection after, spraying should f show- the foliage occupied by the Insects -to be completely wet. "Spraying should be done as early as possible, always on the first, appear ance of the Insect, not only because It is good practice to keep the plants free from pests but because more thor ough work can be done oh small plants," The main point Is to start the fight in time and kill the advance ; scouts and head off the main army of Insect pests. , A-tfvantaqes of n ,. Knon for Year t "a Net as P0pular States as Common Var J 0P Hardier and H, I Established p0r (Prepared by the Unit.,! f mem. of AQU Due largely to tlu m ' forts of the " United st-tes n of Agriculture, 2.400 aorH . n vetch Is reported j.t,; of Pumi; . grown IV streu in north uM(irr, nla for use In the ,,rrvlr7 alifr southern irt nf tK . ' "s ff ft. in state 1. 1 has proven a sunri.. ' hprMt crop. The superiority ofV"''11 in California for gree In " P'e vh the fact that it nZ during the winter month, nn, turned under earlier than orhlaQ fc crops. ""-"esunu Purple vetch win fir this country from Tt..iv t" .,"1?ht to advantages have been nonr A Field of Purple Vetch. a number of years, but it was not po. sible to Introduce it extensively be cause of scarcity of seed. In the glon where it was most valuable it ha not been feasible to raise purple vetch In large quantities because of climatic conditions. In the North, on tht other hand, the seed can be grown suc cessfully, but there the purple vetch Is not In . as great favor for foraje as common vetch, which is hardier and has become established in popularity. To make a bridge between- the two geographically distant localities has been' the work of a number of yean on the part of the department eiperti It tiros first np(KS!irv tn domnnstmti the value of purple vetch in the South,' and afterwards to induce north- em. farmers to substitute it to some extent for their customary crops. This latter was difficult, because purple vetch was not quoted in the market, and also because, where a sale was ef fected, farmers were tempted to sell their entire stock, reserving no seed to maintain or extend the acreage. The assistance of a large California fruit growers' association was enlisted, and last year 500 acres were grown under guarantee, a large portion of the yield being kept for seed. This year northwestern California and Ore gott farmers will receive 14 cents a Dound for Durole vetch seed, which should give them from $150 to $200 per acre in addition to the straw, rrom now on it Is expected sufficient seed will be available for all needs. VALUE OF UNDRAWN POULTRY Experiments Conducted by Department of Agriculture Show Birds &P" Less Quickly. Poultrymen still discuss the rela tive merits of drawn and undraw poultry. Practice varies in differeat communities. Opening the body "J" UUUUICUIJT CApuaca , n. v, oi which niwnvs contains cro-organisms, and thus may hsl decomposition ; but it snouia membered also that the viscera aW ui Athor oarts 1,1 pose more raptuiy man . . . j m i fha may ti"1' ine ooay, ana n ten or infect the rest of the bird. ui ciouwoic '-I'" ArnVi drawn, partly drawn, and unars poultry, conducted by .me w- , States Department of Agriculture, was found that undrawn birds w least quickly, and partly drawn less quickly than the fully drawn from which, not only the 'V also the heads and feet, bave t) moved. BUILDS WEEVIL-PROOF CBIB Southern Farmer Demonstrate : tQ Building Can Be Made sec Against Insects. The county agent of lajw bi3 Fla.. reports that one fa"nerway by community has worked out a which a log corn crib can practically air-tight to "J pot against weevils. This farm three or four Inches of air f floor and covered it with anotw The walls were covered vvi lumber, and the cracks outsi filled 'with clay. The door were padded with cloth ana made of two layers of cypr with a piece of paper $l0i id This arrangement cost aDou addition to the farmer s or'brJldttl In. this neighborhood are cribs In the same way- 4
Polk County News and The Tryon Bee (Tryon, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 5, 1921, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75