North Carolina Newspapers

1 ? Members of Gen. Feng Yu-Hslang's Christian army of China singing tlieli^ morning hymns. 2 ? Ad miral Robert Coontz taking command of the Pacific fleet. 3? Dr. Gustave Stresemann, new German chancellor. NEWS REVIEW OF CURRENT EVENTS Crisis in Anglo-French Relations May Result in Clearing Up the Muddle. GBMMlin NEW GOVERNMENT Stresemann Likely to Negotiate With ' Franco? President Coolidge's Poli cies Made Clearer ? Anthracite Coal Strike Is Not Yet Averted ?Recognition of Mex ico l? Near. By EDWARD W. PICKARD OUT of the "foul welter of contro versies" in Europe It appears now that some practical method of ?settling the problems may arise soon. England ,has spoken to France with di recfness and harshness that 1? ranee Is F .tvely offended, and the correspond ents once more announce that the en tente is ruptured. German Socialists have overthrown the Cuno govern ment, and Gustave Stresemann has formed a new ministry. Communists have promoted bloody riots and strikes in a score of German cities. Belgium supports France more firmly than of late. Italy awaits further develop ments. America reiterates her Inten tion of not assuming an active role in the crisis. All that looks black enough, but this may be the darkest hour just preced ing the dawn. As the angry states men cool down, they begin to intimate that a basis of understanding may be found between England and t ranee. Failing this, it is likely France and Germany will undertake to reach an independent agreement, and in that case Great Britain doubtless would carry out her oft repeated threat of making a separate settlement with the Germans. Chancellor Stresemann's ministry, the first coalition majority govern ment in the history of Germany, Is the most promising yet formed and it has been given a strong vote of confidence by the reichstag. With the loyal sup port of the army It has succeeded in squelching the attempted revolution of Communists except in Brunswick. Adopting the financial program pre pared by the late Cuno government, it is about to put the country on a gold basis by means of a huge gold lefen and a plan of taxation that will compel industrial magnates to pay up. IN HIS first address to the reichstag Chancellor Stresemann said Ger many must still insist on complete restoration of her rights in the occu pied territory and the release of Ger mans imprisoned there by the French and Belgians, as a condition for cessa tion of passive resistance, but it ap peared his attitude was slightly more conciliatory than that which Cuno had assumed, and from which he was un able to recede. In Berlin it is under stood the government is considering a proposal to France for a debt agree ment similar to that between the United States and Great Britain, one of the main points being that Ger many shall assume France's debt to the United States. As a preliminary Germany would first send a joint note to France, Great Britain and America admitting that previous efforts to meet reparations payments, have not been sufficiently strong, and that the gov ernment is willing to go much further, both in the amount and in the guaran tees. Arbold Rechberg, an industrialist leader, offers a plan for French parti cipation in German industry which is being favorably discussed. He says Its acceptance depends largely on the question of percentage of French par ticipation. Germany offers 30 per cent In new stocks, and France de mands 51 per cent. "France cannot leave the Ruhr with out showing to its people that it got something," said Herr Rechberg, "and with stocks showing a large participa tion in German Industry, it would achieve Its purpose. Likewise Ger many and France can co-operate indus trially successfully to the advantage of both." T ACKING at this writing an official ?*? ' statement of France's intentions, one can make a close guess by reading the inspired articles in the semi official newspapers of Paris. These are thus summarized by a correspond ent : "First, the French openly llirt with Germany toward direct negotiations for a solution of the reparations ques tion, with the exclusion of Great Brit ain or any other troublesome power. Second, the French tell the British ? and the Americans, too ? in so many words, that the only time they will pay their war debts due is after Germany pays for the reconstruction of the war devastations and pays in addition the amounts due from France to London and Washington. Third, repulsing the Curzon sugges tion to refer the Ruhr occupation to the world court, the French intimate that they might ask The Hague to de cide whether the Versailles treaty pro vides that all reparations must be paid before the interallied debts are recov ered and whether President Wilson's 14 points provide that the allies' pen sions are among the obligations which Germany must assume. If all conciliatory plans fail, Pre mier Poincare will continue the occu pation of the Ruhr with Increased vigor and if necessary will seize the valley of the Main with Frankfort and other cities in that rich region. This would practically cut Gfcrmany in two. Foreign minister curzon's note to France and Belgium, which possibly brought the Franco-British entente to an end, suid Great Britain was tired of diplomatic exchanges and wanted Immediate action ; that she be lieved the occupation of the Ruhr to be illegal and would submit that ques tion to the world court; and that France must repay to Great Britain enough of the money lent her to en able Britain, with what she may re ceive from Germany, to pay her debt to the United States. The note con cluded with a definite threat to take action for a separate settlement with Germany. France Is Insulted by Curzon's clauses on the interallied debts, assert ing that she never had the slightest Intention of repudiating her debts to England and America. She points out that the Ruhr occupation was first suggested by England less than two years ago, was Justified by Sir Robert Horne in the house of commons Oc tober 29, 1920, and was authorized by the reparations commission by a vote of three to one. Regarding the allies' debts, the Journal des Debats points out that Great Britain wants only 14,000,000, 000 gold marks ($3,500,000,000) to pay the United States, and as she is entitled to 22 per cent of the 50, 000, 000,000 gold marks ($12,500,000,000) A and B series bonds, this leaves a balance of only 3,000,000,000 gold marks ($750,000,000), "and there is certainly some means to arrange that, about which we can talk later." PRESIDENT COOLIDGE and his cabinet met TuesdAy and dis cussed many of the important ques tions confronting them. It was then announced from the White House again that the President's policies would be the same as those of Pres ident Harding, and his views on vari ous questions were given in more de tail. Summarizing some of these, it is stated that the administration stands ready to co-operate with Eu rope In working out a solution of the reparations question, if it can do so without involving the United States, blit it has no concrete proposal to make at tills time; that it will pro ceed with efforts to collect the debts owed America by foreign govern ments ; that the President and secre tary of agriculture are sympathetical ly studying many suggestions for leg islation to help the farmer; that the determination of the administration to enforce strictest economy cannot be stated too strongly and the budget system will be scrupulously followed; that the President favors the policy of admitting only 'the better class of Immigrants and will study plans sub mitted by Secretary of Labor Davis. Mr. Coolidge sees no need now for' an extra session of congress. /"CONFIDENCE and decision have taken the place of the former ap parent shyness of President Ooolidge and Washington officialdom is pleased with the vigorous way In which he is tackling his tasks. Politicians give him first place in the list of aspirants for the Republican presidential nom ination next year. Last week he held conferences with a number of Repub lican leaders from Southern states, and there were signs th'fct the South- j era delegate support was drifting his way. In line with this was Mr. Cool- 1 Idge's appointment of C. Bascom Slemp as secretary to the President Mr. Slemp was formerly a congress man from Virginia and has long been one of the most important Republic- , ans of the South. The Democratic na- | tional committee promptly character- j ized the appointment as "the first step to round up Southern delegates" for Coolidge, and then went on to at tack Slemp, asserting that he was ??exposed on the floor of the house De cember 15. 1922, in connection with the alleged trafficking in offices by Re publicans in Southern states." EFFORTS of the administration to prevent the suspension of anthra cite coal mining after September 1 have not yet met with success. With the approval of President Coolidge, the federal coal commission head ed by John Hays Hammond invited the representatives of the operators and miners to meet it in con ference in New York city. Accord ingly the sub-scale - committee, four men from each side, Joined the board members in discussing the questions at issue. The miners proposed to abandon their demand for the j '?check-off" of union dues if the op erators would wnse their practice of collecting explosive and fuel accounts by the same method. To this the op erators agreed, but with conditions at which the miners balked. Mr. Ham mond said "frankly, the outlook is dis couraging." Meanwhile other government depart ments ,are preparing for a possible strike. JOHN BARTON PAYNE and Charles B. Warren, representatives of the I United States in the prerecognition conference in Mexico City, have con cluded their task satisfactorily and by this time are back in Washington with the signed records of the ses sions. These comprise the two claims conventions and the Mexican govern ment's Interpretation of the bearing of the subsoil petroleum and agrarian laws on American property In Mexico. It is believed the agreements reached by Payne and Warren with the Mexi can representatives will be acceptable to the American administration and that the resumption of diplomatic re lations will soon follow. An agree ment was made to have the president of the permanent court of interna tional Justice at The Hague appoint j neutral umpires for the United States and. Mexican claims commissions, which are to be created through the revolutionary and mixed claims con ventions, if and after diplomatic rela tions are resumed. THE gasoline price war which Gov ernor McMaster started in South Dakota where the state placed the fuel on sale at 16 cents began to spread to other states in the Middle West and resulted in the Standard Oil company of Indiana meeting the j cut, though it protested that the | price was below the cost of produc tion. Other concerns followed suit and the consumers were comparative ly happy. In a few days Governor McMaster, after conferring with inde pendent oil Jobbers, raised the price in South Dakota to 20 cents, "so the prevailing price would have the same relative reduction as In other states." The war is still going on, and it may be the federal government will take a hand. i ____ ONE hundred and thirty-eight men were entombed in a coal mine at Kemmerer, Wyo., by an explosion about 1,700 feet below the surface, and despite the frantic efforts of res cue workers 98 of them perished. EAMON DE VALERA, the Irish Freg State's chief thorn-ln-the flesh, was becoming altogether too ac tive In the campaign for the election soon to be held, so government troops grabbed him while he was addressing a big meeting of republicans at Ennis, County Clare, and locked him up. He probably wLll be kept in Jail in Dublin until country is more peaceful. BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIA TIONS HELP 4UILD 5,000 HOMES DURING YEAR. REPORT OF STMT W. WADE New Bern, in Which Great Disaster Occurred, Leads State in Yearly Report Raleigh. Losses by fire in North Carolina dur ing the year ending April 1, 1923/ to 1 tailed 133,319,127; according to the annual report of Stacey W. Wade, state Insurance commissioner. Re porting on Building and Loan associa tion activities in the state during Nthe same peViod, the Insurance Commis sioner stated in his report that more than 5,000 homes, representing an in vestment of more than $15,000,000 were built through these agencies. | Compared with the total fire loss of $33,319,127, the statement Is made in Mr. Wade's report that this loss was covered by $19,257,000 Insurance. De fective flues and shingle roofs are accredited as the chief source of fire. I New Bern heads the list in the Insurance* Commissioner's report of the towns and cities suffering the greatest fire losses, withj Charlotte second. The loss caused by the New Bern conflagration December 1, 1923, is listed as $2,500,000. Charlotte's loss for the entire year is estimated at $485,877. The "appointment of an official whose sole duty shall be te supervis ion*' of the Building and Loan asso ciations of the state is recommended to the Governor In the Insurance Com mlisioner's report on account of the Increased activities of these organiza tions. The Department of Insurance col lected $861,063.31 In licenses and fees during the year, the report stated. Let More Road Work August 29. ' Sixty, nine miles of hard surface construction included in thirteen pro jects will be offered contractors in a letting announced by the State High way Commission for Wednesday, August 29. With the exception of four smaller projects, callteig for grading and bridges, every project In the list Is for hard surfaced construction. Greenville and Washington draw the largest mileage of any project with 14 miles ot paving to connect the two towns. The Wilmington Charlotte-Asheville highway will draw three paving projects, Monroe to Polkton, Laurinburg to Hamlet and Wilmington to Leland. The Central Highway has only one project in the list, a short link between Asheville and Waynesville. Continuation of the paving between Raleigh and the Virginia State lines provided for in the proposal to grade out the right of way and build needed bridges between the Wake county line and Franklinton. As soon as this ^jorfc 1? completed and the roadbed settled, bids will be asked on paving. The road is already under construc tion between Raleigh and the Frank lin county lfne. ? Material and labor conditions, while by do means back to normal, are somewhat improved over conditions that necessitated the supension of much work in the early summer. Bumper Crop of Hay. "Last year was a bumper crop .for hay, especially in the coastal belt counties, ** it was declared in a state ment issued by the state-federal de partment of agriculture crop reporting service. "Many crops were cut for hay that were intended for other pur poses, which in many cases was made necessary on account of excessive rains. . "The average condition of hay for August 1 was 80 per cent, with the best condition being found in the mountain and Central coastal coun ties. Wild or meadow hay is found almost exclusively in the mountain counties where livestock is develop ed to a considerable -degree. "It Is reported that the hay crop for the United States, averages 81 per cent, forecasting a production of 81,336,000 tons which averaged slight ly over four-fifths of a ton to the acre. Wild hay averages 84 per cent with a slightly higher yield, than the tame varieties. The average price at this season Is tame, $12.46, and wild, $9.17 per ton. These prices are about $1.00 higher than quoted a year ago. "Pastures averaged 83 per cent In condition, which corresponds identi cally with the condition of tame hay." Dry Agents Have Good July Record. One hundred and six distilleries: 1,115 gallons of spirits; 84,446 gallons of malt liquors and 21 automobiles were captured during July by federal prohibition agents operating In North Carolina. Arrests totalling 78 were made while 170 prosecutions were recommended. Value of the automobiles seized was estimated at $5,825, while the total appraised value of property seized and destroyed amounted to $35,975.50. The value of property seized and not de stroyed was placed aj $5,898. North Carolina Fruit prop Short "We have one of the shortest fruit crops in North Carolina that has been experienced in many years," according to announcement by the state-Federal department of agriculture. "Even the sandhill section is greatly behind in this respect. The low forecast of one fourth crop has been reduced to be tween 1 and 18 per cent, the present expectation being something over 300 cars of peachea. "The state average, as reported from hundreds of crop reporters all counties, in the state, show 23 per cent. The national crop is reported at 47,300,000 bushels, which is almost 20 per cent less than last year's crop, and approximately 10 per cent below the five year average. The price of $1.81 ie quoted for August average, which is 20 cents above the price of a year ago. The North Carolina crop is very spotted. "The state apple crop is estimated to average 33 per cent for the agricul tural crop and less than that for the commercial growers. There was a rather heavy drop in June, but condi tions have been somewhat more favor able during July. The American crop is forecast at 188,000,000 bushels agri cultural crop and 32,900,000 barrels for the commercial crop. The aver age price reported over the country is $1.31 per bu6hel for the general run. which is about the same as last year's price. "Grapes and pears show quite differ ent conditions. Eighty per cent good prospect, while 22 per cent for pears indicates a low production. Other fruit was generally poor over the state. Blackberries showed a condition of 82 per cent, based on Auust 1 conditions. "Watermelons and cantaloupes av erage 72 per cent of a full crop pros pect for Auust 1, in North Carolina. Tomatoes averaged 80 per cent; cab bage 79 per cent; onions 85 per cent respectively. Sweet potatoes aver aged 81 per cent; and late Irish pota toes 77 per cent condition. Most of the early truck crops suffered from either unfavorable spring seasons or the dry summer weather, especially in the piedmont or central counties. "The recent rainfall hae been fa vorable for most parts of the state, but is getting excessively wet in many of the eastern counties while reliev ing things considerably in the pied mont. Cotton has grown unusually well, but with the weevil in some of the wet weather areas, the fruiting is not as good now as it was. Most of the crops are doing well and the farm ers are generally optimistic about the outlook. Certainly North Carolina is one of the most favored states in the union so far as crop growing condi tions are concerned. This, however, does not assure returns on their pros pects, for later conditione may be quite adverse and production in other states may so affect the markets that tfceJ farmers will get very poor prices. The tobacco outlook is very food in production and prices. This ia a gen eral way, is true of cotton. Big Crop of Wheat in N. C. Indications are that North Carolina will produce 6,633,000 bushels of wheat this year, according te a statement is sued by Frank Parker, statistician of the State-Federal Department of Ag riculture. The quality is unusually good, said Mr. Parker, averaging 92 per cent of what might be expected under extra good conditions. "It has been seven years since North Carolina had a good wheat crop," stated Mr. Parker, "but she has come to the front this year. From the beginning of a very poor prospect, especially after the Spring freezes, the development has progressively im proved. Even at harvest time the ex pectation was not as good as was real ized when threshed. "This condition is evident from the report of more than eleven bushels per acre and a crop of 94 per cent. It would appear from a yield map of the State that the best yield of more than eleven bushels per acre was made in the main wheat belt and central moun tain counties, and high yields were also made in the coast belt. "The poorest conditione were found from Stanley northeastward to Frank lin and westward to Rockingham, this being the eastern part of the Pied mont area, where the yields were less than eleven bushels. Franklin, Per son, Caswell, Chatham, Moore, Stan ley, Surry and Cherokee Counties re ported eight bushels or less. "The American wheat crop shows an average yield of 15.6 bushels per acre forecasting a production of 793, 000,000 bushels. The Winter wheat was better than the Spring sown crop. The average price for August 1 is 84 cents as compared with 97 cents a year ago. The North Carolina crop is forecast at 11 bushels per acre, fore casting a production of 6,633,000 bush els, with the price averaging about 1.20. The quality is unusually good, averaging 92 per cent of what might be expected under extra good condi tione. I Cotton Damaged By Red Spider. Numerous complaints of damage to cotton by the red spider have been received from Wilson, Bertie, Halifax and Warren counties, according to Franklin Sherman, chief in entomolo gy for the state. "There were a few complaints in late June and early July but many reports of damage have been received since mid-July," Mr. Sherman stated. "The area affected extends from Fay etteyille to the northeastward with the greatest damage In the counties mentioned." - .. Began Taking ham'- lr Vegetabl( andifl? any not believe that any worse than I did. f8t> but nothing helnednf ^ take Lydia g^SrWl Compound. I fe't a ? * d k after the tirst bottle, andl^. ing it for 1 arn sure itiauW me on my feet." If you are suffering from ; ment, irregularities, backack neas, sideache or any other W male weakncs you BhouU*^ i Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine O 1 Massachusetts, for Lydia E. I Private Text-Book upon "Ai I culiar to Women." It will be* i free upon request. Thisboit 5 valuable information. Something Wrong So* Maybe tlh ^ throw ^jjrr this high cost ,,f jiving ^ A high K"verniiiHflt collection (.f briMims jn jy. ufaeturers were <?? award on brooms ' ? "UNlM 1 I J* 'UlIlKjfljr Tlip ?wm\ #n?lg of >1 der will sell timus: Uncle Sam. "See that broom?* said ^ "Do you know Imw murh tVj,. in the stores';" His auditor did not. "Well, it costs you $211 the stores," continued the , "Now do you know the price tii quoted to us?" Apain his auditor wa< i- ^| "Well, they have quoted us h of $12 a dozen, or iht'tvalmrAj it out for yourself."? Wasbinnii Just the Opposite, In China the first name coil and the last firsr. That is. w to the American way of look^J Sure Relid FOR INDIGESTIOI 6 Bell J Hot wain SureRea 25<t AND 754 PACKAGES EW* R*l ?ll.l . partly CkiUrta's RteiUur, farad* a ?? GuruiiW m-urtilK, ???tlaWt Awiwwsuwyw Tkt lafaat*' ??d CkUm i lom Children stow healthy tnd ft" . from colic, diarrhoea, flitulea constipation and other trocbit a rlren it at teething time. Safe. plea?ant? alwayibrlnp'*' markablc and gntlijlAf rm-'i At Alt MlJ Drusri't* ( \ l(i I Reduces Bnrtil fljj I meats, Thickened, m J Tissues, Carbt,Flj Tendons Sorenettl] Bruises or Stnbfi I Spavin L*meness,ityH LDoes not blister, resell 1 hair or lay up the htf* 1 m mj ? few drops required applicator.. druggists or delivered. Book I W. P. TQUWG, lac, 51$ Lrmu ?HlUS&fl A GOOD TONIC AND >D TONIC CONTAINS NO Special Olleri Mai theB?2jj when 82 page do* well - bo ?!ck. ^?u5tk?^>r T Mailed 1 ""iBS&sas HS? FE*! Buffer,? (rom '"1" |^, M <?$W M wcur. ""'gooNTAlN ?' POUND-1", 10u5 and rM?" o! 'fl i" "A ^:sy$ ?StfS&W ggrfflrf.