Newspaper Page Text
Vol I. No. 51
GOVERNOR REQUESTS BUSINESS
MEN AND FARMERS ORGANIZE
Issues Proclamation Calling for Meetings to Dis
cuss Cutting Down Next Years Cotton Crop
And Plan Dixersified Farming
BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
CONVENES FRIDAY
Fifty-Second Annual Session of
Smyrna Association So Be Held
At Stokesville.
The Smyrna Baptist Association,
having a membership of about twenty
five churches in this territory, will con
vene with the Stokesville church,
about fiften imiles south of Douglas, on
next Friday. Messengers from all the
churches will be in attendance at the
business sessions on Friday and Sat
urday. Quite a delegation represent
ing the male membership of the Doug
las church will attend. Rev. H. Meeks
of Xicholls, tf ill preach the introduc
tory sermon, following the organi
2ation Friday morning, Rev. H. H.
Shell, who is the moderator of the As
sociation, will deliver an address on
'‘Baptist Principles, and Their Worth
to the World.” This is the Fifty-sec
ond session of the Smyrna Associa
tion.
Trains will be met at McDonald on
Friday morning, for the accommoda
tion of visitors, who will be conveyed
to the church, six miles away.
The Stokesville church which will
be the host of the meeting, is one of
the proseprous country churches of
the Association. The large and com
modious building has recently been
treated to a coat of paint, which adds
greatly to its attractive appearance.
The members of the church and the
citizens of that splendid community
have long been preparing for the oc
casion and the great number of visit
ors will be entertained with a hospital
ity that knows no limit.
THE STAR OF BETH
LAHEM RETURNING
By Prof. Sothnos Latillier
Tne Distinguished Astrologer.
Copyright 1914 by The Star Co.
This is the predestined year in
which the star of Bethlehem re-ap
pears in the heavens to herald the bat
tie of Armageddon. Already in the
evening skies the star, which is real
ly a comet, is dimly seen, and as the
i titanic conflict now raging reaches
its climax it will be visible to all eyes.
This celestial body has recently
been named by astronomers “Dela
van’s Comet.” but it has always been
known to astrologers as the “Star of
Bethlehem.” It inay be seen in North
America about 10 o'clock on clear
nights at. a point almost directly be
low the Pole star. As the night wanes
it rises higher in the heavens, and in
the early moaning between 2 and 4
o'clock it reaches its greatest altitude
above the horizon.
A great mass of interesting evidence
has keen collected to show tjiat the
present comet is really the Star of
Bethlehem. These facts should inter
est both sceptical scientists and those
who devoutly believe in astrology. A
noted astrologer, who. is also a com
petent scientific astronomer,has shown
that the present comet will on Decem
ber 25 occupy almost the same posi
tion in the heavens that was occupied
by the star whose appearance is de
scribed in the Gospels. He has calcu
lated closely the position of the star at
•that time from the accounts in the Bi
ble and from other records. Of course,
there has been a certain change of po
sition in the two thousand years that
have passed due to the fact that all
heavenly bodies are moving.
It may be recalled that some people
believed that Halley’s comet which re
appeared in 1910 was the Star of Beth
lehem but astronomers have shown
' that this comet could not have ap
peared in the flrst year of he Chris-
era, whereas the present com’
may have been seen at that time, and
judging from its persent appearance
(Continued on page 6)
(Boffte dtotmii) lit ogress.
Acting upon resolutions passed by
the recent Southeastern Foods Crop
conference, held in Atlanta, Governor
Slaton Thursday issued a proclama
mation calling upon the farmers and
business men of every Georgia coun
ty to assemble in mass meetings on
Saturday, October 24, and organize in
an effort to decrease the production
of cotton and increase the production
of foodstuffs.
Governor Slaton reiterates in this
proclamation his opposition to legis
lative action looking toward a reduc
tion of cotton acreage next year and
declares that cotton reduction should
brought about by a free co-operation
among the representative classes of
each community.
, Charles J. Haden, president of the
Georgia Chamber of Commerce, was
chairman of the Southeastern Foods
Crops Conference, and was directed to
request the governors of each cotton
growing state to call the people of
their states into mass meetings for
the purpose of organizing farmers and
business men into a movement to cut
down the production of cotton, in
crease production of food stuffs, pre
pare for marketing and financing food
crops and for all other welfare pur
poses.
Chairman Haden will immediately
communicate with the governors wo
communicate with the ordinaries of
each county in Georgia and request
them to appoint committees to arrange
for the mass meetings on Saturday,
October 24.
Governor Slaton’s proclamation is
as follows:
“Whereas the world-wide war has
to a great extent destroyed the mark
et for cotton, thereby inflicting upon
our section a blow such as it has not
experienced since the civil war, and
“Whereas, It is universally agreed
that it would be suicidal for our farm
ers to continue the planting of cotton
to the exclusion of food crops, and
“Whereas, Crop reduction may be
brought about only by free-coopera
tion among the representative classes
of our community, rather than by leg
islative action, which would imperil
our constitutional liberties, and
“Whereas, The Southeastern Foods
Crop Conference has suggested that
mass meetings be held in every cot
ton producing county on Saturday,
October 24, to organize the farmers
and business men in a joint effort to
decrease cotton production, increase
c'ood crops, prepare for financing and
marketing same and for general wel
fare.
Now, therefore, I, John M. Slaton,
governor of the State of Georgia, be
ing in strong sympathy with this
movement, and wishing to give it all
the official encouragement within my
power, do hereby designate Saturday,
October 24, for such mass meetings
to be held in the various counties of
this state. I suggest that the ordin
aries of the respective counties act as
chairmen of committees on prepara
tion, naming such associates as they
see fit. I urge that all classes lend a
hand in making these meetings a suc
cess, farmers, bankers, merchants and
lawyers.
“Cotton growers should be pledged
to reduce. the acreage planted to at
least one-half of the present planting,
and enlarge the food crops.
Merchants and bankers should coop
erate by pledging themselves to lgnd
credit and financial assistance only
to such farmers as will agree to said
acreage reductions. Lawyers can as
sist in the preparation of such con
tracts between the parties concerned
as will be legally binding. >
“The people of the great State of
Georgia have never yet been fo\ind
wanting in the hour of peril. It re
quires courage, patience, self-reliance,
and mutual helpfulness to meet the
present crisis. I know that our citi
zens possess these qualities to an em
inent degree. Let us all unite to pre
serve our dear Southland from the dis
aster which menaces it and insure to
our children a more abundant pros
perity than we have ever known.
“Given under my hand and the seal
of this office, this the 15th day of
October, 1914.
“JOHN M. SLATON, Governor.
“By the Governor:
A. H. ULM.
“Executive Secretary.”
F rsuant to advice from the State
Douglas, Georgia, Wednesday, October 21th 1914
JURY STILL OUT IN
THE GRAHAM CASE
Trial Began Monday in Ocilla, and
Went to Jury Tuesday Night-
No Verdict Yet Rendered.
The case of Charlie Graham, who,
in February, shot and killed Marshal
Lawrence Newbern at Broxton, and at
the same time wounded his own broth
er so that he died the next day, was
tried at Ocilla this week, the case go
ing to the jury Tuesday night at 8:30
o’clock.
Graham was granted a change of
venue by the Supreme Court, and
Judge Quincey transferred it to Ocilla
w here it was tried before ‘ Judge
George, beginning last Monday. A par
tial' report of the case is obtained as
follows:
According to testimony of State’s
witnesses, it is declared that Graham,
who had been drinking, was with his
brother, Lester; that he had been of
fensive in his remarks and actions in
Broxton on the afternoon of the day
he committed the act; that Marshal
Newbern stepped in between Graham
and his brother and took each of them
by the arm and started to take them
to the jail; when in front of a bar
ber shop belonging to Mr. Atkins, Mr.
Newbern summoned Mr. Atkins to as
sist him in taking the two men to the
jail; that Lester Graham had a shot
gun and that it was “down,” he having
the barrel in one hand and the stock
in the other; that he turned this gun
over to Mr. Atkins; that when an at
tempt w-as made to search the defend
ant, he turned and fired a pistol di
rectly into Marshal Newbern’s face,
the bullet taking effect and Mr. New
bern fell backward, dead; that Gra
ham enptied his pistol in rapid suc
cession, and one of the bullets hit his
brother and he died from its effects
afterward.
A number of States’ witnesses were
sworn and the above is about the gist
of the testimony for the plaintiff.
The defense set up a claim of self
defense, Graham alleging in his testi
mony that he did not know who Mr.
New r bern was; that he (Mr. Newbern)
stepped up to him and his brother and
grabbed hold of them; Graham claims
he asked “what do you want with me?”
and that he was told it did not make
any. difference, to come along. Graham
also said at the trial that when they
got in front of the barber shop some
one started to search him and that he
saw that Mr. Newbern had a revol
ver in his hand; that he then drew his
own revolver and fired to protect him
self.
Graham also stated in his testimo
ny that while he had been drinking
he was not drunk, and it is said that
some of the States’ witnesses say he
was not “drunk” but that he had been
drinking to quite an extent.
Attorneys T. A. Wallace, of this city,
A. J. Me Donald, of Fitzgerald, and W.
W. Benett, of Baxley, represented the
defense: Solicitor M. D. Dickerson, of
Douglas, Solicitor Wall, of Fitzger
gerald. and Attorney H. J. Quincey,
of Ocilla, represented the State.
The jury trying the case is as fol
lows: C. A. Walker, C. G. Oliver,
Thomas Daniels, E. C. Pope, Robert
Purvis, A. O. Gibbs, R. V. Stone, E.
J. Tucker, Jr., C. B. Jeffers, E. E.
Dorminey, M. L. McNeese, and L. A.
McAllister.
The case is stil in the hands of the
jury as we go to press.
THE COLORED FAIR.
Preparations for holding the Tri-
County Colored Fair at this place are
under full swing, and everything will
be complete before the opening day,
November 3rd. A number of distin
guished speakers have been engaged
to deliver addresses during the week.
A carnival company has ben secured
to furnish midway attractions and
amusements. A balloon ascension
will be a daily feature.
Chamber of Commerce, and from Hon.
W. P. Ward, ordinary, we publish the
above, embraces the Governor’s
proclamation, making a call to the
farmers and business men in all of
the counties of Georgia to meet on
Saturday, October 24, to organize with
a view to insuring acreage reduction
and for financing and protecting to
the best possible advantage the pres
ent crop. The ordinary advises The
Progress that he has referred the mat
ter to the County Commissioners in
their respective districts for action
in the capacity of a county committee.
ASA G, CANDLER GETS
GEORGIA COTTON
Proposition to Finance a Million
Bales on Bases of Six Cents
Gets an Acceptance from
Cordele
SpOcia! to The Progress
Atlanta. Oct. 21. —The first consign
ment of cotton for Asa G. Candler,
under his proposition to finance up to
1,000,000 bales on a basis of 0 cents
per pound, has been accepted from
teritory south of Cordele in Crisp
county.
The news sent out from Atlanta on
Monday that the Central Bank & Trust
Company, of which Asa G. Candler is
president, would loan money on cot
ton on a basis of 6 cents per pound,
the loan to bear the legal rate of inter
est, and run until July 1, 1915, or
longer, if necessary, caused the great
est stir in Georgia of any of the many
plans offered to aid the farmers at
this time. Mr, Candler has received
hundreds of congratulatory letters and
telegrams in the past two days and it
seems as if his offer is going to work
the salvation of the cotton planter.
Mr. Candler owns twenty-five acres
of land near the railroad tracks here,
which will be used for corrugated iron
warehouses in which to store cotton
thus relieved. ' It was stated Monday
that the first unit would be ready to
accommodate 5,000 bales by Saturday
next,and that other units would be ad
ded with great rapidity.
The warehouses will be provided
with automatic sprinkler arrange
ments, and all cotton stored will be in
sured. Loans on a 6 per cent basis
will be made by the Central Bank &
Trust Company, such loans to run
until next July or longer if the neces
sity arises.
“Remedy in Our Own Hands.”
“We have ail been sitting back wait
ing for somebody to do something
when the remedy is in our own
hands,” said Mr. Candler, when inter
viewed on the subject. “I hope and ex
pect that the aid that the Central
Bank & Trust Company is able to
give w ill prove of immediate and sub
stantial relief. I also anticipate it
will pave the way for similar action
by other institutions.
“I think the condition of depression
now is as much psychological as ac
tual. Give the farmer the tangible aid
right now and I look for immediate
improvement.”
Will Loan $30,000,000.
Mr. Candler's proposition seems to
be meeting with very general com
mendation. The fact that he is will
ton is an indication of his tremendous
ing to finance $30,000,000 worth of cot
resources. Congratulatory messages
continued to come to him from all
of Georgia and the South.,
*
RUNAWAY MONDAY
CAUSED EXCITEMENT
Col. McDonald’s Spirited Animal Be
came Frightened When Shafts Fell
—Three Occupants of Buggy Were
Thrown Out But Not Injured.
On Monday aftefnoon, the horse of
Col. J. N. McDonald became frighten
ed from the shafts falling about its
heels, and ran away on Gaskin ave
nue.
The nurse, baby and Miss Vivian
McLean were thrown from the buggy
and narrowly escaped serious injury.
The horse, after breaking entirely
away from the buggy, ran at high
speed, until he plunged into an exca
vation of considerable depth at the
Baptist church, and for a time it seem
ed impossible to get the animal out.
. After some digging, however, the
horse emerged unimpared, but appar-’
ently thoroughly conquered.
COFFEE COUNTY WILL EXHIBIT
AT GEORGIA-FLO KID A FAIR.
An interesting exhibit of Coffee
County farm products will be made at
the Georgia-Florida Fair to be held
at Valdosta next w r eek. County Dem
onstrator Eunice is very busy this
week collecting the products which
will be shipped to Valdosta early Sat
urday morning.
Mr. Eunice is working earnestly to
put on a good display and he should
have the full co-operation of our cit
izens in the laudable efforts he is male
ing to put on a winning exhibit.
Thursday, October 29, will be Boys’
Co>n Club Day at the fair and Coffee
County should be represented by her
entire club and capture the special
prize offered for largest attendance.
SOOTH WILL COME OUT ALL
RIGHT, SAYS ASA G. CANDLER
Thinks Special Session of Legislature Would Be
A Calamaty—“We Have Too Many Doctors;
Must Help Ourselves/'
Special to The Progress.
Atlanta. Oct. 21. Asa G. Candler,
who through the Central Bank and
Trust Company, is able to loan the
farmers of Georgia as much as $30,000
000 on cotton on a basis of 6 cents pet
pound, declared at a luncheon given at
the Chamber of Commerce yesterday,
Tuesday, that a special session of the
State Legislature would be a calamity.
There were many prominent men at
the luncheon and Mr. Candler was the
first one called on to speak by Chas.
J. Haden, president of the State Cham
ber of Conierce. Mr. Haden explained
that something must be done to aid
the • farmers, and said that something
should be done in all the counties in
the State at the. mass meetings called
for in Governor Slaton’s proclama
tion.
“Too Many Doctors."
“A special meeting of the legisla
ture to take up the matter would be
a calamity,” declared Mr. Candler,
“God forbid that they should meet.
About w hat they would do would be to
meet, talk a lot and adjourn without
doing anything but spending about
$75,000 of the people’s money.
“We’ve got too many doctor*,” said
Mr. Candler. “They go to the patient
and come away with cigars in their
mounths without doing anything, and
the patient has about despaired.”
Mr. Candler said that he was in
thorough sympathy with the motives
of these various meetings. “But they
can't do a great deal of good unless
some leader proposes a feasible plan.”
he added.
Mr. Candler said “we must help our
selves, not sit back and wait for help,
for there are no Pharaohs or Josephs
as in olden days.”
“Legislation Won’t Help Is."
“Legislation won't help us,” contin
ued the speaker. “It would interfere
too much with personal liberties. We
must quit advertising that we are in
need, because we are not. Everything
will come out all right if we allow
things to take their natural course."
AGGIES ENABLE TO SCORE
IN GAME WITH PIEDMONT
AND NEITHER DID THEY.
The E. D. A. S. boys were held to
a scoreless game by the hunky bunch
from Piedmont Institute Monday on
the local field. But while the visit
ors were holding the Aggies down to
a scoreles result they in turn were
also unable to carry the pig skin
across the Aggies’ goal, although the
Aggies w r ere outweighed ten pounds to
the man, they fought from start to
finish. Several times it looked as if
the Piedmont aggregation would score
but were held for downs. The Aggies
bucked the ball down within ten yards
of their opponents’ goal, beut were,
also, unable to cross.
Both teams turned loose some for
ward passes and trick plays in the
last half, but it seemed as though this
was not the day for scoring.
The game was exceedingly interest
ing from the standpoint of clean foot
ball. The E. D. A. S. boys showed
that they were in the game to win,
but oniy by clean sportsmanship. The
features of the game were the line
plunges of Campbell, and the defen
sive work of Vickers, C., Overman,
Woodward, 0., Upton and Day, A.
The backfield for Piedmont were
the outstanding stars for the visitors.
Dorsey making several good gains
around the end. The E. D. A. S. boys
were not up to form in tackling, but
taking into consideration their experi
ence in tbe game, the work was cred
itable. The Aggies are trying to ar
range for a game on the local field
every other week. They are asking
the people of Douglas to go out and
give them their support, stating that
if the team is encouraged sufficiently
it can be made a winning one.
CITY ('EMETER BEING CLEANED.
The city cemetery is being cleaned
up from its summer’s growth of weeds
and underbrush. Mrs. C. A. Ward,
Mrs. E. L.‘Vickers, and Mrs. B. Peter
son are attending this work.
The hands who are doing the work
wil have to be paid, so any donation,
however small, will be appreciated.
The maintenance of the cemetery is
absolutely necessary, so don't forget
to do your part.
$1 Per Annum
CHAIRMAN REAGAN
URGES FULL VOTE
Calls Attention to “Bull Moose”
Opposition—Those who Bolt Not
Entitled to Again Vote in Dem
ocratic Primaries.
Chairman E. J. Reagan of the State
Democratic Executive Committee, has
had issued to the voters of the State
a letter calling attention to the “Bull
Moose” opposition which lias develop
ed in thi3 State and urges that the
Democrats see to it that a heavy vote
is polled at the general election on
November3rd. Chairman Reagan's let
ter follows:
“I desire to call your attention to
the fact that some of the Democratic
nominees are to have opposition in the
November election. Several persona
calling themseives members of the
‘Progressive’ or ‘Bull Moose’ party are
now opposing the Democratic nomi
nees. While there may be no real
danger in this movement, it will be
well for every member of the Demo
cratic party to turn out and vote ou
the 3rd of November. Most, if not all
of those who are now- fighting the nom
inees, voted in the Democratic prima
ry in August last, and some of them
were candidates in that primary, run
ning as Democrats. How- any man can
vote in a primary and then vote
against the nominees in that primary
is hard to understand, but such is the
case. I. therefore, ask that you urge
upon the Democrats of your county to
turn out and vote on the 3rd of Nov
ember, so that the full strength of
the party may be shown.
I also ask that you call the atten
tion of the voters of your county to
the resolution of the State Democrat
ic Executive Committee, passed on
the 28th day of September, 1914, which
provides that all persons who voted
in the primary on August 19th, 1914,
and votes against any person nominat
cd in that primary in the November
election will not be permitted to vote
in the Democratic primaries hereaf
ter held. This resolution was passed
by the committee unanimously, and
shows the temper of the committee on
this question and show s that the com
mittee is determined to protect the
loyal Democrats by seeing to it that
these men shall no longer be permit
ted to come into the Democratic pri
maries and help to name the party’s
candidates, and then try to defeat
them in the regular election.
The Democratic party is in great
danger of being destroyed if we con
tinue to allow these men to attempt
to control our party nominations by
voting in the Democratic primaries,
and failing in this, turn “Progressive”
or “Bull Moose,” and attempt to
wreck it in the general election. If
they are Democrats in August and by
November have discovered that their
consciences will not permit them to
remain with that party, they should,
at least, not turn VOTING “Progress
ives” or “Bull Moosers” until alter
those they voted against in the Aug
ust primary, and who were nominat
ed therein, are elected. >
I trust that your committee will do
everything possible to induce every
Democrat in your county to come to
the polls on the 3rd of November And
vote for the nominees.
We owe them this much, for after
the nomination; they are the stand
ard bearers of the party, and have a
right to expect the support of every
man who voted in the primary.
Yours very truly,
E. J. REAGAN,
Chairman State Democratic Execu
tive Committee.
BERRIEN COUNTY CORN SHOW.
Announcement of the Berrien Coun
ty Corn Show held at Nashville yester
day and today reached us too late for
last week’s issue. The newly organ
ized chamber of commerce has the mat
ter in hand and has prepared a highly
interesting program covering the two
days.
Never let the machinery cry for oil
for oil is the cheapest aid to the sav-