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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-