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VOL. XXV. NO. 63
THE CLEVELAND STAR, SHELBY, N. C, TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1917
$1.50 A YEAR TN ADVANCE
4 a.V.A'.AA-.:.
EXEMPTIONS TO
BE REDUCED
MAIL CARRIERS NOT EXEMPTED
I5ECAUSE OF THEIR POSITION
-CAN YOUR FAMILY LIVE ON ,
VOI R ARMY PAY OF $30 PER
MONTH?
Washington, Aug. 3. A ruling to
day by the postoffice department
shows-that department officials will
make few requests for the exemption
,,f postal employes from military ser
vice. Postmasters are instructed not
to ask for exemption for carriers or
laborers or for clerks in second class
offices below the $1,000 grade, clerks
ir, first class offices below the $1,100
grade, or any above these grades un
less they are qualified distributors of
mail.
The ruling is the first formal action
l,v an executive department in com
pliance with President Wilson's order
directing that department officials in
dicate exemptions and that the re
quirement of indispensability be rig
idly enforced. As generally con
strued, the postal ruling shows the
purpose of the administration to make
the government departments leaders
i,n freeing valuable employes for war
service.
The entire mail carrier force, num
bering thousands of men, of whom a
considerable percentage are within
the draft age limits, is excluded from
exemption unless for physical reasons
or because they have dependent fam
ilies. Every portion of the country
is reached by the ruling, as even the
rural carriers are included.
The department's ruling in regard
to clerks leaves railway mail clerks
within the exemption class, as they
are highly specialized distributors.
Reduces Exemptions
Provost Marshal General Crowder
took steps today to reduce the num
ber of exemptions because of depend
ent families. Instructions were sent
to the governors of all states pointing
out that the minimum pay of soldiers
is row $30 a month and that local
boards must consider- whether a
man's dependents could not be sup
ported on that amount. The telegram
follows:
"Please call attention of local
boards to the fact that a soldier's pay
is not less than thirty dollars a month
and that all clothing subsistence,
medical treatment and housing are
furnished him. Under the law he
may allot any portion of his pay to a
dependent. Many soldiers receiving
thirty dollars a month are easily able
to allot twenty-five dollars monthly
to the support of dependents. In case
of death in line of duty, the govern
ment will pay to the beneficiary des
ignated by the soldier six months'
pay.
"Section 4 of the selective service
act provides that those in a status
with respect to persons dependent up
on them for support which renders
their exclusion or discharge advisable
may be discharged, but it does not re
quire that they shall be discharged in
all such cases. The discretion of lo
cal boards is invoked by this pro
vision and such boards may well take
the facts recited above into consid
eration in decidingclaims for dis
charge due to dependency with a view
to determining whether as a matter
of fact, the person claiming such dis
charge will not be in as good ox bet
ter position to support his dependents
after selection for military service
than he was before. If such is the
case, of course, the discharge should
not be granted."
Knotty Problems
Hovernment officials generally are
beginning to take up the individual
questions that arise where govern
inwit employes are called for service.
Secretary Daniels said today that
knotty problems were arising in the
'ivy department as to what indi
viduals in the clerical force, navy
"t'aughtsmen or skilled workers at
tin- uTivy yards nre absolutely indis-I-!
sable.
The number of exemptions asked
''.v the various departments will be
nduced to the absolute minimum, it
;; indicated, even if some temporary
1 ('"arigcnient of the clerical work re--uit.-.
General 'Crowder has sugges
'l to the governors that each as
semble the full membership of all
'l;-tr.it boards in his state for a gen
( nil conference to insure uniform
proceedings regarding appeals. The
'overnors were asked also to appoint
a'i official in ' each local district to
,!'' appeals. County attorneys were
'gestcd.
Children of Confederacy
Mi" Elizabeth Ebeltoft wishes to
meet the children of the Confederacy
it the Court Hou.se Thursday after
noon at 4:30. Each one is requested
to 1 "ing needle and thimble. This is
an important meeting in connection
with the Red Cross work. -
.Miss Mabel Rerry of Yorkville, is
visiting relatives at Shelby, N. C
lorkville Enquirer.
NEWS IN CONDENSED FORM
Incident Gathered From all Parts
Of the Country.
, Vegetables in the Colville district
of the State of Washinirton. 50 miles
from Spokane, suffered from frose
early Sunday morning.
Perley Raymond Hamilton of Clin
ton, Mass., and James Wilson Gailey
or Mew Park, Pa., members of the
American Field Service in France,
were killed Saturday. They had been
in active service less than a month.
British casualties in all theaters
of military operations, published in
the newspapers during the month of
July, total 71, 832 officers and men.
The officers killed, wounded or miss
ing total 2,503, while the men num
ber 09,329.
A delegation of negroes from New
York carried to Washington a peti
tion bearing 15,000 signatures to
present to President Wilson protest
ing against discrimination against
their race and lynchings, and asking
that the latter be made a Federal of
fense. To stimulate interest in the nation
wide canning campaiagn the Ntion
al Emergency Food Garden Commis
sion announces that it will give $5,-
000 in prizes for the best canned
vegetables shown at town Exhibits
and at county and State fairs in Sep
tember and October.
Negro men, women and children
estimated to number 10,000, marched
down Fifth avenue, New York city,
in a "silent protest" parade against
the race riots in East St. Louis and
other sections. Except for a fife
and muffled drum corps the march
ers had no music, but carried hun
dreds of banners inscribed with va
rious legends of protest.
Beginning August 15 the govern
ment war risk insurance bureau will
increase from 5 to 6 1-2 per cent.
The insurance rates for vessels and
cargoes sailing from American ports
for Europe and for African ports on
the Mediterranean, and from these
ports to America. The increase is
made necessary, it is stated, because
of the war.
Lieutenant James R. Dickinson of
the personal guard of Jefferson Da
vis, president of the Confederacy,
died Tuesday at Lee Camp Soldiers'
Home, Richmond, Va., aged 80
years. He was a native of Virginia.
Mr. Dickinson accompanied Presi
dent Davis when he left Richmond
at the time of the evacuation by the
troops of the Confederacy.
Seven years at hard labor in the
United States disciplinary barracks
at Fort Leavenworth is the sentence
of Private Otto Ludwig, Third Aero
Squadron, must serve for making dis
respectful remarks about President
Wilson and the American flag.and for
threatening to desert to the Germans
if snt to France. Ludwig was con
victed by a court-martial at Fort Sam
Houston, Texas.
D. G. Scofield, former president
of the Standard Oil Company of Cal
ifornia, and more recently chairman
of the board of directors, shot and
killed himself at his home at Oak
land, Cal., Despondency due to grief
for the death of his wife five years
ago is believed to have been respon
sible. He was 74 years old. Scofield
was one of the founders of the Stand
ard Oil corporation.
The main questions in dispute be
tween 40,00 Oemployes of Southeast
ern railways and the roads
have been settled by Secretary of
Labor Wilson, who gave a decision
accepted by both sides. The settle
ment acects hours of labor and wag
es of inspectors, repairers, train air
brake repairers, safety appliance
maintainers, oilers and packers and
other employes in the car depart
ments. Guilty of Murder of Deputy Sherix
Statcsville, N. C. Aug. 1. After
fifteen minutes deliberation the jury
returned a verdict of guilty in the
first degree against Charlie Williams,
colored, charged with the murder of
Deputy Sheriff John Miller.
The murder is alleged to have
been committed by Williams Satur
day evening, June 30th, when the offi
cer attempted to serve a petty war
rant on the negrff. Judge Cline will
pass sentence on Williams tomorrow
morning.
Feeling run:; high in the county. A
guard has been placed about the coun
ty jail.
Technical Education
The Korth Carolina State' College
of Agriculture and Engineering has
just issued a very neat little fouler
calling attention to tne importance oi
1 education at this crisis in
our national life. To this is added in
formation about the college; require
ments for admission, courses of study,
expenses, scholarsnips, anu many uui
er details. With this folder is in
cluded a six page folder contining
pictures of all the college buildings.
These publications have been issued
for general distribution. If you want
them write to the Registrar, West
Raleigh, N. C.
TREASON NOT
TOLERABLE
GOVERNOR BICKETT SOUNDS
WARNING TO THOSE WHO
WOULD LEND COMFORT TO
THE ENEMY BY THEIR WORDS
AND CONDUCT.
Raleigh, Aug. 4. Raleiirh
looking daily for official cognizance
of the recent speech of Dr. H. Q. Al
exander in Salisbury have not been
rewarded, but Governor Bickett's let
ter today to Solicitor Walter D. Siler
and Sheriff Leon Lane, of Chatham
county relating to the resistance of
the draft in that county is quite
broad enough to embrace the doctor
if he courts a gubernatoral hug.
Governor Biekett had received from
Solicitor Siler and Sheriff Lane a
joint letter indicating a rebellion in
embryo. These officials had heard
that somebody was raising a fund to
defend the selected from enforced ser
vice in the army. The two officers
confessed a fear that a seriou9 situa-1
tion would grow out of this and Gov
ernor Biekett issues a letter which 1
would reflect more 'serious trouble
than any that may be started by any
body in Chatham or elsewhere.
Not the remotest reference to any
thing traceable to Dr. Alexander is
contained in Governor Bickett's letter,
but it is hot shot enough for anybody
who might wish some utterance that
would fit the doctor's alleged Salis
bury speech. "We are in a death
grapple with the enemy," the gover
nor says, "and the man who in this
perilous hour lifts voice or hand to
weaken the nation's will or shorten
its arm, is a traitor to his country
and a friend to its foe. He is more
than a traitor, he is a murderer."
The governor declares that the men
who promise for love of money to
show the registrants a way to escape
have "sounded depths of infamy here
tofore unknown. I do
not propose to tolerate treason in
North Carolina by word or deed, if
there be power in state or federal law
to prevent it." The full letter of the
governor reads:
Governor's Letter
"Your joint letter of August 2- re
ceived and carefully considered. In
it you say:
" 'Certain parties in this county are
quoted to be soliciting funds from
men drafted, using the argument that
the draft law is unconstitutional and
proposing employ counsel to test it,
etc., and are using language that is
calculated to arouse the ignorant a-
gainst the government. Each day
we hear of this going on in different
sections, and greatly fear that we are
going to have a serious situation in
certain sections unless something can
be done to stop it. In one township
we learn than an effort is being made
to prevent any maa whose name has
been drawn among the first to be ex
amined to appear and various other
things are being done that may give
us trouble.
"In reply I beg to advise that the
first article and the eighth section of
the constitution of the United States
clothes the Congress with power 'to
declare war, to raise and support ar
mies and to make all laws which shall
be necessary and proper for carrying
into execution the foregoing pow
ers.' "In strict conformity to the consti
tional powers so conferred, Congress
has, with practical unanimity, declar
ed that a state of war exists between
the United States and the Imperial
German government, and has enacted
the selective draft law for the pur
pose of raising an army to carry on
the war so. declared.
Will Not Tolerate Treason
"The nation is, therefore, lawfully
at war. Through its accredited rep
resentatives it has declared its will'
and fixed its course. There was a
time for difference and debate. That
time has now expired. We are. in a
death-grapple with the enemy and the
man who in this perilous hour lifts
uice cr hand to weaken the, nation's
will or shorten its arm is a traitor to
his country and a friend to its foes.
He is more than a traitor. He is a
murderer. Any word 'spoken, any
deed done to hinder the vigorous
prosecution of the war means a pro
longation of the war and this means
added loss of life.
"The men who for love of money
are promising to show registrants a
way of escape from this duty have
sounded depths of infamy heretofore
unknown. Send me their names and
I promise that they shall be forever
phloried in a people's contempt.
"The constitution defines treason
against the United States to be 'giv
ing aid and comfort to their enemies.'
Every discordant note is comfort to
the kaiser. Every attempt to pro
vent the nation from presenting a
solid front is strength to his arm.
"I do not propose to tolerate trea
son in North Carolina by word or
deed, if there be power in state or
federal law to prevent. You and all
sheriffs and solicitors in the state are
directed to report by wire tf the Uni-
ted States district attorney and to
this office any man who, by word or
deed, gives aid and comfort to the
enemy by seeking to palsy the nation's
arm as it is raised to strike. Immed
iate and drastic action will be taken
upon every ( report and men.who thus
desert their country in its hour of
peril will be made; to fel the strong
arm of the law."
FARMERS INSTITUTES
Three are Held in the County, but the
Attendance Was Not What it
Should Have Been Helpful In
struction. Three farm institutes were held in
Cleveland conuty last week, at Boil
ing Springs, Aug 2nd; Grover, Aug
ust 3rd and Shelby, August 4th. Then
instruction by the experts sent out by
the federal state departments of ag
riculture had valuable information to
impart; but the attendance was not
what was expected or up to the high
standard set in years past by Cleve
land county farmers and housewives.
The Boiling Springs institute was
held in the High School building and
attendance there was 162.
The Grover institute was held in
the High School building and the at
tendance there was 39.
The Shelby institute was held in
the court house and graded school
building, attendance being 229. A
joint meeting of farmers and their
wives was held in the court house in
the morning, while the men held forth
in the court house in the afternoon
and the ladies in the graded school
auditorium in the afternoon. Dr. R.
M. Gidney, farm, demonstrator, and
Miss Susan Elliott, home economics
demonstrator, both of whom are em
ployed by the county, assisted in the
institute work.
M. J. Hendricks, conductor, is a
practical farmer of Davie county and
devoted his time to points on general
farming.
J. E. Ivey. from the division of ani
mal husbandry of the N. C. Experi
ment Station, West Raleigh, talked
on poultry.
Mrs. Hollowell, working under tne
auspices of the insurance commission,
talked on fire prevention, care of
babies and iiome economics.
Mrs. Pickens, home demonstration
agent of Johnson trounty, working un
der Mrs. Jane McKimmon .talked on
domestic science and held the demon
stration in canning, assisted by Miss
Elliott of Cleveland county.
J. O. Ware, a native of Cleveland
county, working in the division of
agronomy of the State experiment
Station, talked on grasses, seed se
lection and breeding.
The institute instructors are all
practical in their line and gave very
helpful instruction.
LINCOLN COUNTY ITEMS
Fine Crop Prospects Mr. Parker of
The Tin Mine Dies Weather is
Hot Farm Institutes.
The News, Aug: 4th:
The mercury climbed to 101 in Lin
coln Tuesday, the hottest this year,
according to government thermometer
kept by J. Thos. McLean. The same
day two .years ago the mercury reg
istered 103, 1 year ago 95.
The Farmers' Institute for Lincoln
county were held at Bess Chapel on
Monday and at Daniels on Tuesday.
MA Frariklin Sherman conducted
these institutes. Major W. A. Gra
ham, Commissioner of Agriculture,
also attended the institute at Dan
iel's. Attendance was good at both
places.
There are some large crops of rye
in Catawba county, especially in the
Pineywood section east of Newton.
The farmers are getting $1.50 to $2
per bushel for the grain and $1 a
hundred pounds for the straw.
Mr. Andrew McClean Parker, Vice
President and general manager of the
United States Tin Co. died at the Lin
coln hospital Monday afternoon in his
fifty-seventh year. Services were
held at St. Lukes Episcopal church
Tuesday morning with Kev. C. E.
Bentley officiating and the body, ac
companied by Mr. Parker's son left
for Washington Tuesday afternoon
for cremation Wednesday.
Reports from over the county indi
cate that there will be harvested in
Lincoln this year the largest crop of
corn in the history of the county. Fine
corn patches are general, and the
farmers are expecting a large yield
weather conditions continuing favor
able. Corn is selling at present at
$2.50 per bushel, and oats at $1.2.",
with wheat around $2.G5 per bushel.
Board of Trade Work
Secretary I. C. Griffin of the Shelby
Board of Trade has just completed
and mailed a reviev of the work of
the Board since its organization, this
review of the achievements of the or
ganization to be published in the
State Bulletin issued by the various,
secretaries over the State. The work
has been very gratifying and the re
port will show up well in comparison
with other similar organizations.
AFTER DR. ALEXANDER
President State Farmers' Union AI--'
leged to Have Counseled Resistance
To Draft.
The Department of Justice, says a
Washington dispatch to the Greens
boro News, "has taken official no
tice" vof a speech delivered in Row
an county last week by Dr. H. Q.
Alexander of Mecklenburg county,
president of the State Farmers' Un
ion. Agents of the department, the
news dispatch continues, will be sent
to the State to find out what Dr.
Alexander actually said. The dis
patch continues:
"According to reports reaching the
department, Dr. Alexander's remarks
border closely to the Emma Goldman
class and the department wants to
know just what he did say.
"Dr. Alexander s friends in Wash
ington say there must be some mis
take and do not believe he made the
statements which are attributed to
him. Some of those who come to
Washington say the Mecklenburg
county man urged the young men to
resist the draft hecause it is uncon
stitutional and told them to refuse
to leave this country for service on
a foreign soil.
"The department expressed great
surprise, and concern over the re
ports because of the prominence of
Dr. Alexander, and the reported in
fluence which he has among the peo
ple of the State, especially those
living in rural districts. Should the
investigation Btarted prove true, the
government is certain to take most
drastic action."
The only report The Star
has seen of the speech made by Dr.
Alexander in Rowan was the follow
ing, sent from Salisbury to the Char
lotte Observer under date of July 28:
"Dr. H. Q. Alexander of Mecklen
burg, president of the State Far
mers' Union, in a speech which featur
ed the second day's programme of
the meeting of the Rowan county Un
ion at Liberty today, made some
startling statements.
"According to Dr. Alexander, the
government and about all it does, is
bad, very bad. Its financial system is
all wrong. The farmer up to the
time of the present war got no help
from the government, which was and
is busy helping big corporations. The
Federal reserve banking system is
iniquitous. The speaker took a fall
out of the State Board of Agricul
ture, adversely criticised Congress
and severely arraigned the selective
draft, which he declared to be un
wise, unjust and unconstitutional
when it drafts men to take them out
of the country. The war had been
brought on by a bought press, work
ing in the interest of big moneyed
interests, and the gist of Dr. Alexan
der's advice, although not quoting his
exact words, was that the common
people should have nothing to do
with it."
MR. STOCKTON DEAD
Mr. Bob Stockton, Age 74 Buried Yes
terday at Double Shoals.
Mr. Bob Stockton, 74 years old,
died at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Ves Cline at Fallston, Sunday
afternoon and was buried at Double
Shoals yesterday, the funeral being
conducted at 11 o'clock by Rev. John
W. Suttle. Mr. Stockton spent a
good portion of his time with his
daughter, Mrs. Cline and had been at
her home abqut a week. He was
twice married, the first time to a Miss
Hendriek and the second time to a,
Miss Williams. He was reared an
adopted child, made the best of his
opportunities and proved a useful and
highly esteemed citizen with a host
of friends who learn of his death with
the deepest sorrow. Surviving are
two daughters, Mrs. Cline and Mrs.
Green, widow of W. D. F. Green who
died a few weeks ago at Lattimore.
A. large crowd attended the funeral.
Teachers Institute August 27th
The State Hoard of Examiners "and
Institute conductors has arranged to
hold Cleveland county's institute at
Shelby beginning August 27th and
continuing two Weeks.
All teachers that expect to teach
this winter must attend every day
for the two weeks. This is not my
order but is a state law and I have no
power to excuse you. So if you ex
pect to draw the county's money you
must be at the Institute for ten days.
Institute will be conducted by Frof.
Highsmith and Miss Fulghum.
Since we get the Institute Mr.
Griffin will not have his Teacher's
Training Class begin .August 27 but
it will begin at some later date.
5t. J. Y. IRVIN.
At Old Capernaum
The' people around Waco are asked
to meet at the old Capernaum church
Saturday morning Aug. 11th to help
clean off the grave yard. Dinner on
the ground and preaching in the af
ternoon by Rev. John W. Suttle.
COUNCIL OF
DEFENSEFORMED
IN CLEVELAND COUNTY VA
RIOUS COMMITTEES APPOINT
ED OF SOLDIER'S AID, MANU
FACTURING, HEALTH, FOOD,
EDUCATION, ETC.
The Cleveland County Council of.
Defense has appointed a man and a
woman in each township to organize
a Township Counsel. As soon as
these township councils have been or
ganized a full list of the councils will
be published in The Star.
The following special committees
have been announced by the county
chairman, R. L. Rybum:, Soldier's
business aid, Paul Webb, chairman;
O. Max Gardner, C. S. Young, J. D,
Lineberger, Rev. C. A. Wood, J. T.
Bowman; agriculture and food pro
ducts, Dr. R. M. Gidney, chairman;
manufacturing, C. E. Neisler, Kings
Mountain, chairman; home guard,
Capt. J. F. Roberts, chairman; public
health, Dr. E. B. Lattimore, chair
man; Dr. J. S. Hord, Kings Mt., Dr.
G. M. Gold, Lawndale, Dr. J. W.
Wood, Boiling Springs, Dr. E. A.
Houser, Fallston, Miss Bonnie Mau
ney, Kings Mt., Miss Daisy Price,
Lattimore, Mrs. Dr. R. C. Ellis, Shel
by; education, I. C. Griffin, chairman.
Mrs. L. M. Hull of the Woman's
Council has announced the following
as chairmen of special committees:
Miss Agnes McBrayer, registration;
Miss Susan Elliott, food conserva
tion and home economics; women in
dustry, Mrs. C. R. Hoey.
The following letter has been Eent
to a man and a woman in each of the
townships.
"The National Council of Defense,
created and directed by Congress has
organized in each State a State Coun
cil of Defense. The North Carolina
State Council of Defense has organiz
ed in each of the hundred counties a
County Council of Defense. The
Cleveland County Council of Defense
is composed as follows: For the men:
R. L. Ryburn, chairman; J. F. Rob
erts, vice-chairman; R. M. Gidney, O.
M. Mull, C. C. Blanton, Rev L. McB.
White, Rev. J. F. Kirk. For the la
dies: Mrs. L. M. Hull, chairman:
Mrs. George Blanton, vice-chairman;
Mrs. I. C. Griffin, secretary; Mrs. J.
M. Black, Mrs. O. M. Mull, Mrs. W.
B. Nix, Mrs. W. J. Roberts. The
Cleveland County Council, acting un
der authority of the State Council,
hereby appoints you and Mr. J. A.
McCraw as chairman to organize a
Council in No. 1 township. Please
see Mr. McCraw at once and jointly
appoint seven men and seven women
in your township who are prominent,
aggressive, and country-loving to
serve with you. Please send in nam
es of commitee as soon as appointed
to the undersigned.
The duties of this Council are thus
defined by President Wilson:
"The Council of National Defense
has been created because Congress
has realized that the country is best
prepared for war when thoroughly
difference between the machinery re
quired for and that required for mili
tary purposes. The Council is or
ganized for the creation of relations
which will render possible in time of
need the immediate concentration
and utilization of the resources of the
nation."
The Cleveland County Council has
delegated this work to you because
it has confidence in your ability and
patriotism. Our country i3 calling
us all to service and "expects every
man to do his duty." Every Ameri
can citizen should give freely of his
time, of his money, of his energy to
whatever movement that has for its
aim the safeguarding of the welfare
of his country.
In case you accept, and we believe
you will, the County Council will
send you from time to time notices
of what your Township Council is ex
pected to do in the present crisis. The
committee will appreciate any sug
gestions from you at any time.
Please let us hear from you at
anv time.
Please let us frear from you
at
.your earliest convenience.
Yours very truly,
I. C. GRIFFIN,
Charlotte Camp to Be Ready Aug. 13
i
It was announced by the War De
partment that the Charlotte camp
should be completed by the loth.
The statement says "steam snovei
and other machinery are on the
around and workinz at constructing
railroad siding. Three mess halls
have been finished and eight more
are under war. About 50 per cent of
needed material has been shipped or
received. The contractor for the wir
ing has the worn under way. .
Gen. Michael Yassukovich, chief of
a Russian military commission, said
in Ran Francisco a few days ago that
if America will send 100,000 soldiers
to Russia it would be the nucleus lor
n Russian armv of a million men
that would prove fatal to Germany.