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The Times-Recorder is the ONLY paper
in the Third Congressional District with
Associated Press Service.
tfHIRTY-MNTH YEAR.
CHAMP CLARK ELECTED SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE BY VOTE 217 AND
205; WILSON TO SPEAK ON WAR
President Wilson’s Address is Ready
To Be Delivered as Soon As
House is Organized
TELEGRAMS ARE POURING
INTO NATION’S CAPITAL
Ex-Pres. Taft Says That The South
Is Ready For War And Unity
Must Be The Moue
WASHINGTON, D. C„ April 2--|
Champ Clark, of Missouri, was 're
flected speaker of the house of repre
sentatives over Representative Mann,
of Illinois. The vote stood 217 to 205,
and the naming of Clark as speaker
gives control of the house organiza
t’on to the democrats.
President Wilson’s address, to be
delivered late this afternoon, it is un
cerstood, will refer to the traditional
friendship existing between Germany
and America, but will differentiate be
• tween the German government and
German people. Copies of the address
, will be furnished all foreign diplomats
here, and Paul Ritter, the Swiss min
ister, will be provided with additional
copies to be transmitted to Berlin.
At 3:30 o’clock this afternoon, it
appeared so certain that congress will
declare war between the United States
and German, that Representatve Flood,
chairman of the house foreign affairs
committee, had already prepared a
resolution formally declaring a state
of war now exists, and authorizing the
(president to make war on Germany.
Republican delayed the house organ
ization somewhat by demanding roll
.. , calls as each officer was selected, but
otherwise there appeared little friction
between the two dominating parties.
Both houses of congress assembled in
extraordinary session here today, to
decide the momentous question of war
oi peace with Germany, with every in
d'eation that war is inevitable.
As congress assembled at noon Pres
ident Wilson practically decided to
make his address today, soon after or
ganization of the house is completed,
even if this should be deferred until
late in the afternoon or early even
ing. This became known when demo
cratic house leaders received word to’
h<:rry the organization work a musch
as passible.
Senator Simmons, chairman of the
senate finance committee, conferred
with Secretary McAdoo this morning.
The two went over estimates to de
termine the amount of money the gov
ernment needs immediately to carry
on its plans, but no information re
garding conclusions reached was made
public. It was agreed .hoover, that
no action would be taken on the pend
ing appropriations bills until after
congress has defined the attitude of
the i'nited States toward the European
wai and Germany’s ruthless subma-'
rine activities.
President Wilson's message, which j
i; expected to be delivered as have
• all his previous addresses, personally
before a joint session of congress, was
completed Sunday', and went to the
public printer early this morning. Cop
ic's of the address, it is anticipated,
will be laid upon the desks of sena
tors and representatives when the
president delivers his message.
As soon as the struggle between
democrats and republicans over the
house organization is concluded, con
gress is expected to take up the task
ol solving the most serious national
crisis which has confronted the United
States since the civil war. The senate
has already completed its organiza
tion. this having been done at the be- i
ginning of the usual senate extra ses-|
TRY A WANT AD IN THE TIMES-RECORDER.'JT’S PULLING POWER WILL SHOW YOU THE BESTJIEDIUM VERY QUICK
sion immediately following the pres
ident’s organization, at which time tlie
body, for the first time in its history,
adopted a cloture rule, designed to
limit debate, thereby preventing a re
petition of such reprehensible filibus
ters as marked the closing days of the
last congress, resulting in the failure
of important appropriations measures
to pass, as well as killing President
W’ilson’s armed neutrality measure.
While the predominating sentiment
here today, undoubtedly favors either
an out-and-out declaration of war with
Germany, or a declaration that a state
of war already exists, which would
amount to the same thing, the pacifiist
element throughout the country is ex
pected to be heard in congress before
final action is taken. Both pacifists
and patriots came to Washington in
force last night and early today to
try and influence congressmen, while
letters and telegrams, for and against
war, continued to pour into the white
house from all directions, as well as
great numbers of similar communica
tions addressed to various senators
and representatives.
Before the lower house assemble, all
indications pointed to democratic con
trol of its organization. Champ Clark,
unanimous choice of the democrats
for speaker, will be opposed by Repre
sentative Mann, of Illinois, who was
minority leader in the last congress,
but a "split” which developed in the
republican congress when it was pro
posed to make the action of the as
sembly binding upon those participat
ing, is expected to result in the choos
ing of Clark. Representative Augus
tus Gardner, of Massachusetts, one of
the most ardent war advocates in the
house, and previously a warm oppon
ent of the democratic polities, an
nounced Saturday that he would vote
for an independent candidate for pre
siding officer of the house, while sev
eral other republicans left the caucus
upon passage of the resolution making
its action binding upon participants.
The membership is equally divided be
tween democrats and republicans, with
five so-called independents holding the
balance of .power, and two republican
epresentatives prevented by illness
from attending the opening session to
day.
Taft Says Enter “Whole Heartedly.’’
NEW YOR. April 2. —Former Presi-
Call For Red Cross
The temporary organization of the Americus and Sumter County Red
Cross chapter has received authority from the American Red Cross to
perfect a permanent organization, and a meeting is hereby called for
this purpose at the Carnegie Library auditorium. Wednesday afternoon,
April 4th, at 3:30 o’clock. At this meeting the Committee on Member
ship will report, officers will be elected and all other business necessary
to permanent organization will be transacted.
For some years the American Red Cross has carried on educational
work with the intention of improving the efficiency of the people in
time of war, civil disaster, or emergency, in their homes, and every
person in Americus and Sumter county is invited to be present at the
meeting, and aid in this important work. e. A. NISBET.
STEPHEN PACE. Temporary Chairman.
Temporary Secretary. 1 ' f
AMERICUS TIMES-RECORDER
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
dent William Howard Taft returned
here today after a tour of the South
r>i»d Southwestern states, which he
characterized as the most strenuous
be had made since he occupied the
white house. The former president is
a warm advocate of the United States
entering the European war, and says
the people of whole South and
Southwest favor immediate entrance
of America into the conflict in support
of the Entente. There must be no
procrastination, Prof. Taft stated, this
country must enter into the war with
Germany "whole-heartedly.”
H MOTOR POMP
TESTED OUT TODAY
*. I ■
The new motor pumping engiae
which has been purchased for the
Americus Fire department, was given
a preliminary test this morning, al
though the formal demonstration of
the apparatus is to be made on Thurs
day morning.
Mayor L. G. Council and Aiderman
R H. Horton were on hand to see the
result of the test, and both expressed
entire satisfaction with the work done
by the powerful pump.
The engine throws 1,000 gallons of
water per minute when in operation at
fi.ll capacity and this morning a tre
mendous volume of water was hurled
from the corner of Lee and College
streets almost to tthe viaduct over the
Seaboard Air Line tracks.
On Felder street and on Brooklyn
Heights the machine could not be
tested out satisfactorily, for the 4-
inch ( mains in those section could not
provide sufficient water to keep the
pump going) at full capacity. Where
the mains were large enough to supply
plenty of water, the motor pump
proved its efficiency beyond doubt,
however.
When only one stream was used,
three men had difficulty holding tho
nozzle, and with two streams going,
two men were required for each noz
zle. At one time 300 pounds pressure
per square inch was produced.
"Now that we have this splendid
pump, we should have a sub-station,
and then the city of Americus will
have a completely up-to-date fire de
partment,” said Mayor Council, as he
left the scene of the demonstration.
CHAMBERS WORK WILL
BE HANDLED TODAY
Judge W. M. Harper will hold a
session of the City court tomorrow
morning for the purpose of disposing
of several matters which are to be
heard in chambers. It is expected
that sundry orders will be passed in
various civil cases pending on the
docket, and it is not improbable that
a. the conclusion of the session today.
Judge Harper will adjourn his court
for the term.
AMERICUS, GEORGIA. MONDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 2, 1917
♦ PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION. 4
♦ 4-
♦ Whereas, Public interests re- ♦
♦ quire that the Congress of the 4
4 United States should be conven- 4
♦ ed in extra session at 12 o’clock, 4
4 noon on the 2d of April, 1917, to 4
+ receive a communication concern- 4
♦ ing grave matters of national pol- *
♦ icy which should be taken im- 4
♦ mediately under consideration; 4
♦ Now, Therefore, I, Woodrow ♦
4 Wilson, president of the United 4
♦ States of America, d. 6 hereby pro- 4
♦ claim and declare that an extra- 4
♦ ordinary occasion requires the 4
♦ Congress of the United States to ♦
♦ convene in extra session at the +
capitol in the City of Washing- 4
4 ton on the 2d of April. 1917, at 4
♦l2 o’clock, noon, of which all 4
♦ persons who shall at that time be 4
♦ entitled to act as members there- +
4 of are hereby required to take 4
♦ notice. 4
4 Given under my hand and the ♦
♦ seal of the United States of ♦
♦America the twenty-first day of 4
♦ March, in the year of our Lord 4
♦ one thousand, nine hundred and 4
♦ seventeen, and of the independ- 4
♦ ence of the United States the one 4
4 hundred and forty-first. 4
♦ (Seal.) WOODROW WILSON. 4
4 By The President: 4
4 ROBERT LANSING. 4
4 Secretary of State. 4
♦444444444444444
Senator Lodge
Hurls Quick
Jab
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 2.
Alexander Bannwart. a prominent
citizen of Dorchester, Mass., and
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, en
gaged in a fisticuff here today, the for
mer being arrested at the conclusion
of the encounter. The fight occurred
in the capitol corridor shortly before
congress assembled, and was precip
itated by Bannwart’s action in calling
Senator Lodge a coward, after the
Massachusetts statesman had said he
would vote to declare war if President
Wilson asked congress to do so.
Bannwart, who heretofore has sup
ported Senator Lodge’s pacifist views,
thereupon called the senator a "cow
aid.” Immediately Lodge retorted
Bannwart was a "liar.” Bannwart
then struck the aged senator, who
I promptly knocked him down.
Senator Lodge, who is more than
sixty years of age, was persuaded to
desist by friends, and the police at
once took Bannwart in charge. He
was carried out of the capitol under
guard, but later was released, after
giving bond for his appearance to an
swer to a minor charge in police court.
FIRST RECRUITS TD
DE SENT TOMORROW
Henry D. Stevens, son of D. J.
Stevens and Robert W. Greene, son of
E. L. Greene. will leave tomorrow
morning for Atlanta to stand their
final examination for enlistment in
the United States navy.
Both young men have passed their
preliminary’ examinations at the re
cruiting station now located in this
city and if accepted by the Atlanta sta
tion, will be immediately transferred
to a receiving ship.
A. M. Ferrillo. who is in charge of
the Americus recruiting station, is
much encouraged over the results se
cured during the past few days.
R. S. Hall, a young man living near
Friedship in this county, walked 11
miles on Saturday to apply for enlist
ment and this morning walked the en
tire distance again to interview the
recruiting officer.
4 DAILY WEATHER FORECAST ♦
♦ The weather forecast for Amer- ♦
♦ icus and vicinity follows: 4
♦ FOR AMERICUS Showers and ♦
♦ thiindeslonns tonight; cooler. ♦
♦ Tuesday: FAIR and cooler. ♦
► 444444444 ♦ -4 ♦ 4
PENFIELD COMES
FROM VIENNA ID
SEE PRES. WILSON
VIENNA, March 31. —(Delayed by
. censor.) —The news that United States
. Ambassador Frederick J. Penfield
. tad been ordered to return to Wash
, ington, which became known here to
. day created somewhat of a stir in offi
. cial circles. He will leave either Wed
. nesday or Thursday for America.
. Tlie unfavorable impression created
. by announcement of his intended de
. parture was somewhat offset today by
. the ambassador’s statement that he is
. returning to Washington because Pres
. ident Wilson wishes to consult him
. personally regarding the general Eu
. ropean situation, and that he expects
. ti return to his post in this country
► as soon as possible.
DATE FIXED FOB
COUNTY JIEETINS
The annual Sunday school conven
tion of tlie Friendship Baptist associa
tion will be held at Rehoboth church,
three miles west of Americus, on Tues
day and Wednesday, June 5-6, accord
in gto a decision reached yesterday at
a conference of the officials in charge
of this department of the work.
The convention is expected to be
one of the most successful ever held
by the association and elaborate ar
rangements are being made for the oc
-1 casion.
Rev. R. L. Bivins, of Americus, is
pastor of Rehoboth church, and is also
1 moderator of the Friendship Baptist
I association, having held this post for
many years past.
HEALTH OFFICER
TAKES UP OWES
Dr. W. B. McWhorter, formerly of
i
/Athens, Ga., and of the United States
public health service, who has been
' elected county health commissioner
for Sumter county under the provis
ions of tlie Ellis public health bill,
has arrived in Americus to take up the
line of activities provided under the I
| new statute.
i This morning he appered before the:
i board of county commissioners and
I discussed the various phases of his
i department, as it will operate to af
fect the citizens of Sumter county.
The regular inspection of all public
buildings, particularly of schools and
similar institutions, the regulation and
abatement of all conditions which
would have an adverse effect on the
public health, and the annual inspec
| tion and examination of every school
j pupil in the entire county are some
■ of the more important duties confided
to Dr. McWhorter.
His activities will be confined entire
ly to public work and his duties will
be in line with the most approved and i
generally accepted principles of pre-’
ventive medicine.
The county commissioners and coun-.
ty health board will co-operate thor- !
oughly with Dr. McWhorter, who will I
have an office in the courthouse with-!
in the next few days.
REPRESENTS ORPHAN S HOME
IN THIS SECTION OF STATE
Rev. J. A. Smith, representative of
the Methodist Orphans’ Home, at Ma
con, is in Americus for a day or two
on his annual trip through this sec
tion of the state in the interest of the;
i
institution.
He is well known throughout this
territory and reports that his work for
the orphanage is meeting with gratify
ing resuits thus far, the institution
having increased its facilities consid
crably within the past year.
BRITISH WIDEN
WEDGE WITH ST.
OUENTINJi LINE
NEW YORK, April 2. — (Compiled by
tlie Associated Press from European
cables during the day.—British forces
in France today widened the wedge
driven into the German line, near St.
Quentin, and captured the villages ot
Atilly and Ville Choles. The British,
after overcoming desperate resistance,
also captured Croisselles, Longatteand
Doignies, according to Reuter’s cor
respondent.
The French war office announces
French patrols advanced to the main
German positions before St. Quentin,
which were found by these to be held
in force.
French troops operating south of
the Aillette river today drove the Ger
mans to a point beyond Vauzaillon, af
ter much spirited fighting.
The British official correspondent
announced today that Turkish losses
during the battle of Gaza totalled 8,-
000. the British casualties at the same
time numbering less than 400.
The German statement announced
that yesterday’s battle with the British
south of Arras have developed furtehr
this morning. The British suffered
heavily, asserts the statement, and ad
vanced only where German troops
were ordered to retire.
The statement says the French con
tinued their advance, sustaining heavy
lotses and that a Russian offensive on
the Rumanian front was repulsed as
ter the Slavs sustained heavy losses.
COUNTY AGENT HAS
BEEN VERY ACTIVE
The report of Agricultuial Agent W. 1
J. Boyett for the month of March
shows that his activities among the
farmers of Sumter county during that
period covered a wide range of agri
cultural departments. The boll wee
vil work was, of course, emphasized,
while other important features of mod
em farm life were given due prom
inence.
The detailed report of Mr. Boyett is
as follows:
During this month I have made:
eigthy-five personal visits to farmers I
of this county and advised with them ’
relative to various phases of the work. I
Have bought three syringes for far I
mers and showed them how to inocu-,
late their own hogs. The more sy-,
ringes we get in the county the ;
quicker we will get cholera checked.
Have inoculated 205 hogs myself.
Have made 19 trips to different
schools and gave the boys instructions
relative to preparing and cultivating
corn and how to feed pigs.
Have visited 20 pig club members
ar.d find that they are taking excellent
care of their pigs.
Have sent out 350 bulletins and put
up 75 posters.
Have had 38 conversations with far
mers in tlie office or over phone, and j
have written 98 letters.to them rela-|
five to work.
Made solution and charged one dip-'
pine vat.
Have surveyed terraces on 100 acres
o. land and built two terrace drags.
Have held four boll weevil meetings
in county, and with an attendance ot
about 250 people.
Have travelled 804 miles in the per
formance of my work.
Respectfully submitted,
W. J. BOYETT, Countv Agent.
VIRGINIA INFANTRY
CALLED TD COLORS
WASHINGTON. D. C., April 2.
The Fourth regiment of Virginia Infan
try, Battery D, Virginia Field Artillery,
and the Second regiment of West Vir
ginia Infantry, were additional regi
ments of guardsmen called into the
federal service today. The organza
tion will be assigned to police duty.
CHY
FINE SPEAKERS
FDR STATE MEET
OF THEJGHOOLa
The committee in charge of the pro
gram for the State Sunday School con.-
vention, to be held in Savannah, Maiw
Bth, 9th and 10th, is being congratulat
ed upon its success in securing for
the program three of the best Sunday
school workers in America, viz., John.
L. Alexander, of Chicago, secondary
division superintendent of the Interna
tional Sunday School association, the
world’s greatest teen-age specialist;
Miss Nannie Lee Frayser, of Louis
ville. elementary superintendena of th®
Kentucky Sunday School association,
who is well known as an author of
books on junior Sunday school work
and also as a lesson writer; Fros. E.
C. Excell, of Chicago, famous compo
ser and world’s greatest convention
chorus leader, will have charge of the
music, assisted by his pianist, W. P.
Erwin, a talented musician.
Many of the leading Sunday schoof
workers of Georgia are to speak at the
convention, and among these are: J.
J. Eagan, Atlanta, president of Geor
gia Sunday School association; Dr. E.
C Dargan, of Macon, pastor of First
Baptist church; Rt. Rev. F. F. Reese,
of Savannah, bishop of the Episcopal
diocese of Georgia; Dr. Plato T. Dur
ham, of Atlanta, dean of the Candler
School of Theology, Emory univer
city; Dr. Joseph Broughton, of At
lanta, vice president of the Georgia.
Sunday School association; T. M. Fur
low, of Americus, chairman of the ex
ecutive committee of the
School association; Dr. Marion McH..
■ Hull, of Atlanta, superintendent of the
I North Avenue Presbyterian Sunday
1 school, and in all more than sixty ot"
■ the best Sunday school workers in the
state.
To Hine Three Delegates.
Every Sunday school in the state Is
i asked to send three delegates, besides
pastor and superintendent, who are
delegates by virtue of their office. The
Sunday schools are also requested to
elect three alternate delegates who>
can take the place of any delegate who
finds it impossible to attend. Trains
will be met by the entertainment com
mittee at Savannah. After register
ing, the delegates will be assigned en
tertainment for lodging and breakfast.
This arrangement, same as last year,
was made because experience has
shown that the delegates prefer get
ting their own suppers and lunches at
down-town restaurants near the con
vention church. The various railroads
of the state have granted a low round
trip rate to Savannah on account of
the convention.
Items of Special Interest.
Two afternoons there will be special
conferences for pastors and superin
tendents and for elementary, second
ary and adult division workers, and
also a lunch and conference for all
officers of county Sunday school asso
ciations.
A Bible class parade has been plan
ned for Wednesday afternoon. May S',
it is expected that a thousand men
will be in line.
The program committee has arrang
ed for a special train to take all dele
gates who care to go to Tybee Beach,
and spend a little while in social in
tercourse and recreation on the ocean
beach. This is planned for Thursday
afternoon, the 10th, so all will be re
freshed and ready for the great climax
session the last night
SUPERIOR COURT IN
WEBSTER JDLINTY OPEN
Judge Z. A. Littlejohn this morning
left for Rreston to convene the April
term of the Webster County Superior
court. Several attorneys from this city
accompanied him, having eases which
■will come up for disposition at this=
time.
It is expected that the consideration,
of civil business will consume a boa r
three days, the remainder of the week
being devoted to the criminal calen
dar.
NUMBER 79.