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PAGE TWO Public Opinion Throughout the Union TWO WARSHIPS OR FOUR. Because the country is threatened with a deficit of $35,000,000 in the present fiscal year is really no reason why we should not build ships for the protection of our two long •oast lines. A deficit of $35,000,000 means nothing to a country that has an available cash balance of $267,000,000. It is the best economy to be prepared against war, and to have all possible adversaries know the fact. The other four great naval powers have adopted that policy. Great Britain is com pleting five Dreadpaughts, and will soon be gin the construction of five more. No one knows just what Japan is doing, but she is probably building battleships as rapidly as her cash resources will permit. France has five ships and Germany nine in course of con struction. The United States has more to protect than any of them, and yet we are building but two battleships. The president desired congress to authorize the construction of four more, but by a vote of thirteen yeas and five nays the house committee on naval affairs rejected the president’s recommendation. The five who voted for building four more battleships were Lily, of Connecticut, Republican; Thomas, of Ohio, Republican; Talbott, of Maryland Democrat; Meyer, of Louisiana, Democrat, and Hobson, of Alabama, Demo crat. The committee did decide to report in fa vor of the building of two more battleships, but Congressman Hobson proposes to submit a minority report recommending the author ization for four battleships of the Delaware or Dreadnaught type. Such ships cost about $10,000,000 apiece, and at least three years are needed in which to build them. The appropriations for the four ships would be spread over at least three years, and there is no reason why congress should hesi tate. The other nations are not hesitating at all, and today our Atlantic coast with its great cities and greater trade is practically unprotected. Mr. Hobson will no doubt bring the issue squarely before congress, and the entire house will in that way pass upon a matter that makes for peace faster and bet ter than anything else. —Age-Herald. GOVERNOR NOEL’S STAND. Governor Noel, of Mississippi, is emphatic in denouncing the lynching at Brookhaven the other day, and declares that he will employ the entire National Guard of the state, if this be necessary, to prevent another such out rage. He declared that the guilty parties would be brought to justice so far as lies in his power. It is interesting to note what Governor Noel says as to who shall have command of the troops and give orders to fire in the event of a repetition of such outrages. He declared the commanding officer of the troops shall be in full charge henceforth, and shall decide when the order to fire shall be given. THE JEFFERSONIAN. This looks as if Governor Noel means busi ness. The firing on a mob is serious, to be sure, and should be carefully considered as to its • results and effects. It is not so serious, however, as the outburst of anarchy and the trampling of the law under foot, and the law must be sustained, as the Birmingham News has said before, even though this method be employed as a last resort. Distressing as it may be for the military to fire upon a mob, it would have a splendid moral effect by thus convincing the citizens that they must bow to the majesty of the law. Had the troops fired on the mob at Brookhaven and killed a dozen of those taking part in the lynching an excellent lesson would have beeen taught, and it would have been better for the community and the state at large than to permit a lynching. —Birmingham News. BRYAN IN OHIO. The doubting Democrats —even those in clined to be assistant Republicans —are in vited to the declaration of Charles H. Bryson, Republican, iterated and reiterated even when threatened with losing the postmastership of Athens, Ohio, that Taft can not carry Ohio, and that “Bryan will beat him at the polls.” Bryson may be mistaken, but he is on the ground, and is familiar with local conditions and local sentiment. In a matter of judgment on the strength of Bryan in Ohio, we incline to favor Mr. Bryson even against the esteem ed News and Courier, which is still uncon vinced that the Republican postmaster, Bry son, did not say that Johnson, or Gray, or Cleveland could beat Taft; he said “Bryaqj can beat him at the polls.” Good for Bryan!—Columbia State. A DESCRIPTION. During the recent financial flurry a German farmer went to the bank for some money. He was told that the bank was not paying out money, but was using cashier’s checks. He could not understand this, and insisted- on money. The officers took him in hand, one at a time, with little effect. At last the president tried his hand, and after a long and minute explanation some intelligence of the situation seemed to be dawning on the far mer’s mind. Finally the president said: “You understand now fully how it is, Hans, don’t you!” “Yes,” said Hans, “I think I do. It’s like dis, aindt it? Ven baby vakes up at night and vants some milk, I gif him a milk ticket. ’ ’ —Montreal Star. THE NEW ROOSEVELT CLAIMANT. To judge by his political plans, Mr. Bryan must have been reading the reports of the Druce case. Although Secretary Taft has been duly recognized as the heir to the Roosevelt fortune, Mr. Bryan proposes to file a claim to the estate as rightful owner. He has already begun drilling his witnesses and collecting evidence at Washington, and before congress adjourns he expects to prove that lawfully “my policies” should descend to him. Only Mr. Bryan does not want any graves opened or anything of that sort. It would ruin his case to have a free-silver coffin brought to the surface again. Mr. Bryan deserves much sympathy. Ev erybody knows that President Roosevelt stole the clothes that Mr. Bryan had stolen from the Populists. Some of them are worn out by this time. Besides, Mr. Bryan has had several new suits and makes frequent changes according to the weather. But somehow the Roosevelt uniform does not seem to fit him. Instead of looking “Democratic in spots,” like President Roosevelt, in spite of any dis guise he cannot help looking Populistic all over. —New York World. THE NEGROES AND THE SOUTH. Early last fall quite a large number of ne groes from South Georgia counties were in duced to emigrate to California. Os course such a movement could only be occasioned by someone who fired their imagination with the pictured glories of that far-away country and enthused them to the going point. Such agents were at work, and several carloads of negroes went. At the time of the exodus it was predicted that the movement was the be ginning of a even more extended “track” from Georgia, as it was expected that the glowing accounts to be sent back would lead to great efforts on the part of the negroes left behind to get together enough money for the trip. Sumter county furnished quite a number of these negro emigrants. They have been gone scarce six months, and yesterday the Americus Times-Recorder published a letter from one of them, written to his former em ployer in Sumter county, in which he begs that transportation back to Georgia be fur nished him, which he will gladly agree to work out after he gets back home. The let ter states that all the Georgia negroes are very much dissatisfied, and that all of them long to get back again in Georgia. It is safe to say that the emigration of the negroes to California has reached its flood, and that singly, or by families, many of those who were lured away will find their way back. The story of their disappointments will put an effectual quietus on such move ments for a generation. (Continued on Page Fourteen.) ANNOUNCEMENT. To the Voters of the Northern Judicial Cir cuit: I announce my candidacy for the office of Solicitor-General of the Northern Judicial Circuit, subject to the primary to be held for that purpose. I assure you that I will appre ciate your support L. D. M ’GREGOR.