Newspaper Page Text
The Times-Recorder is the ONLY paper
in the Third Congressional District with
Associated Press Service.
THIRTY-NINTH YEAR.
RIOTS AT EAST
ST. LOUIS RWE
SUBSIDED TODAY
EAST ST. LOUIS, 111., May 31—One
negro was shot and slightly wounded
and two were beaten last night by a
mob of fifty men who, officials say,
gathered in the outskirts of the city,
after the saloons closed at 6 o’clock.
/The mob was dispersed by militiamen
and local police.
The second night of anti-negro riots
here reached its climax after three
white men and two negroes had been
wounded by bullets, several negroes
baten, and half a dozen negro homes
burned, then subsided suddenly, and at
midnight the city was comparatively
<ll. let. Rioting started right after a
meeting of the city council at which
labor leaders protested against the
wholesale importation of negro labor
ers to East St. Louis. Small mobs
formed quickly last night. Disturb
ances began about 7 o’clock in the
outlying districts and were confined
to those sections. Six companies of
National Guardsmen formed a cordon
about the negro districts and dispersed
mobs of men wherever sighted, but as
the lights had been shot out, small
mobs formed despite their vigilance.
Two laborers were wounded slightly
when they entered a negro district
Thomas Ritchie, private detective for
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, was hit
by a charge of shot from a shotgun ia
the hands of a negro whom he had
challenged in the company yards. His
wound was not serious. One of the
wounded negroes probably will die,
but the other suffered only a flesh
wound. Whenever shooting started the
guards rushed to the scene and dis
persed the troublemakers, who offered
nc resistance. Several false fire alarms
were turned in and six negro homes
tvere burned. None of the negroes
beaten were badly hurt.
By midnight the situation was under
control. By that time the streets were
cleared.
Five camps for the six companies of
guardsmen have been established. Ne
groes continue to leave the city in con
siderable numbers.
ENGLAND MAT REMOVE GRILLS
FROM HOUSE OF ( OMMONS
LONDON, May 31— The grills in the
House of Commons which impede the
view of occupants of the women's gal
lery, probably will be removed in the
< near future. The uestion was eon
sidered by members recently, one de
scribing the grills as a descreditable
and medieval anarchronism. During
the discussion it was stated that for
many years women were allowed to
go into the House and at times there
was such throngs that they pressed
into the seats occupied by members
On one occasion they were so interest
ed in the debate that they took pos
session of several seats and it de
quired two hours to remove them. This
resulted in the exclusion of women for
fifty years. The present grille was
erected to prevent a repetition of
si ch scenes and to prevent women
from talking to members.
I (ST french department
SOON TO ISSUE PAPER MONEY
NICE, France, May 31.—The Depart
ment of the Alps Maritimes, which was
the only department in France, except
ing the Department of the Seine, that
bad not issued paper money during the
war, is now to have fractional paper
currency. The Chamber of Commerce
of Nice has decided to issue 3.000,006
" francs in paper.
BELGIANi'civAL OFFICERS
IMPRISONED BY GERMANS
HAVRE, France, May 31.—A num
ber of Belgian officials who remained
i t that country after the invasion have
refused to continue their service under
the administrative division of the coun
try decreed by the German govern
ment.
One of these patriots, M. Sauveur. ■
general secretary to the minister of
the interior, wrote a letter of protest ]
ation in which he resigned his office.]
The governor general then "fixed his
residence in Germany," the ‘ fixed resi
dence’’ being construed here as prison ■
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦|
4 TO STOP MEN OF MILITARY 4
4 AGE LEAVING THE COUNTRY *
4 4
4 WASHINGTON. D. C„ May 31. 4
4 —The department of justice is en- 4
4 gaged today in taking steps to ▼
4 prevent men of military age from 4
4 leaving the country before June 4
4- fifth. 4
♦ 44444444*4444
GIGINIIG 7IOT
DISCOVERED BY
FEDERAL AGENTS
COLUMBUS, 0., May 31—A gigan
tic plot fostered by German agents
and sympathizers, has been uncovered
by federal and state secret service
agents who for the past few weeks
have quietly investigating various
clues which have developed as the re
sult of the operations of the organi
zation.
The headquarters of the plotters ap
pears to have been in this city, ac
cording to the announcement made to
day by the federal authorities and by
Governor Cox, who has been active
i i ferreting out the plans of the in
triguers.
The object of the German agents op
erating here was to induce young men
to refrain from registering on June sth
in compliance with the conscription
act.
United States marshals today raided
a printing office in this city, discov
ering quantities of anti-registrat.on
pio; aganda already printed and in
process of preparation. It is from
this printin; establishment that the
German propaganda has been distrub
uted throughout several states.
The plot appears to be well financ
ed and organized, extending through
several states and apparently engi
neered according to a carefully ar
ranged plan.
Several arrests were made and it is
anticipated that others will occur with
i i a few hours.
VETERANS READY TO
LEAVE_FOP REUNION
The members of Camp Sumter, U. C.
V„ have completed arrangements for
their trip to Washington, D. C„ to at
tend the annual reunion and will leave
cn Saturday night at 10:40/by special
Pullman over the Central *of Georgia
to Atlanta, thence over the Seaboard
Air Line to the national capital.
The Sons of Veterans. A. S. Cutts
camp have donated SIOO to be used to
purchase transportation for veterans
who desire to attend the reunion, but
who are financially unable to bear the
expense of the trip. In addition to
this sum, the business men of Ameri
cus have contributed liberally, and the
railroads have co-operated by furnish,
ing transportation to several veterans
unable to bear the expense of the
trip.
All told, there will be about 17 vet
erans making the trip, while several
Sons of Veterans are expected to go
as well. Miss Ruth Barnett, sponsor
tot A. S. Cutts Camp, Sons of Veter
ans, and Miss Sara Poole, maid of
honor for Camp Sumter, U. C. V., will
leave with the veterans on Saturday
night.
The special car will leave Washing
ton on the return trip on Friday, June
Sth, arriving in Americus on Sunday.
June 10th.
RUSSIA TO RAISE
UNOTMfi ™
PETROGRAD. May 31.—The provis
ional government has approved the
proposal of the temporary finance
minister to raise a loan of two billion
rubles immediately and to take steps
toward securing for the provisional
treasury a supply of paper money
which has already become indespensi
ble, owing to the hoarding of coins of
small denomination. Announcement of|
[the decision was made today through
.the Russian official news agency here.
RECRUITING OFFICE FOR AMERICUS LIGHT INFANTRY IS NOW OPEN IN THIS Cl IY--THEIN ATION CALLS
AMERICUSTIMES-REEOROER CffiY
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
GERAAAN EFFORT
TO DENT FRENCH
LINED JORTIIE
NEW YORK, May 31.—(Compiled by
the Associated Press from European
cables during the day.)—Notwithstand
ing the Germans have renewed spirited
attacks in their effort to push back
the French army from ground won by
Gen. Petain's forces in the Champaign
region, as a whole the French line re
mains intact. Under severe and suc
cessive blows dealt early today, the
Gerans lost heavily, the German effort
being extremely violent. Gas shells
were used and the French lipe dented
at only one point, the Germans gain
ing a footing in the advanced trenches
northeast of Monthau. The German
attacks at Tenton Casque, northeast of
Auderive and Montelond gained the
Teutons nothing.
There is increased artillery activity
reported from the British front in
France, this probably presaging an
other Entente blow about to be de
livered against the Germans there.
The Spanish situation is becoming
more grave hourly, economic condi
tions in that country being extremely
severe. In view of these conditions,
i. is considered probable that consti
tutional guarantees in that country
will be suspended within the next <-wo
or three days.
British Casualties Heavy.
LONDON, May 31.—The British of
fensive on the Arras front, involving
some of the most severe fighting of the
war, resulted naturally in a large in
crease in casualties incurred over
those of the winter season, it is an
nounced here today. During the last
few months casualties have not been
made public, but in February these
totalled only 18,400 officers and men.
The assertion that British losses dur
ir.g the Arras offensive were smaller
by fifty pei- cent than during the
Somme offensive, are not borne out by
figures.
W. B. MERRITT SELLS
WEBSTER COUNTY FARM
The Peter F. Brown plantation,
owned by W. B. Merritt just over the
Sumter county line, in Webster coun
ty was sold Wednesday to J. H. Hunt,
of Gainesville, Ga. The plantation
contained 1,200 acres of land, and
brought a handsome price. The deal
was made by W. S. Andrews.
SENATE AND HOUSE
CONSIDER FDOD BILLS
WASHINGTON, D. C.. May 31.
Food legislation occupied the attention
of both houses of congress eaday. In
the senate debate began on the house
bill providing for a survey of food re
sources and the stimulation of produc
tion. while in the house the agricul
ture committee began perfecting a bill
designed to control the administration
of food products and price fixing, to
prevent speculation in these commod
ities. Both measures under consider
ation are administration measures,
and President Wilson, it is under
stood, will insist upon their adoption
before congress adjourns for the sum
mer vacation.
At its afternoon session the senate
committee agreed to place a consump-j
ticn tax of two cents a pound on cof-|
fee, five cents a pound on tea. half
a cent a pound on sugar and three
cents a pound on cocoa. The tax of
twelve and a half per cent, on muni
tions of war was eliminated by the
committee.
♦ 444 + + + 44444
♦ BRITISH MAY CASUALTIES 4
4 TOTAL 1113 M OF ALL RANKS 4
4 4.
4 LONDON, May 31.—British cas- ♦
♦. ualties on all fronts for May, as 4
4 published here today show the ♦
♦ loss of 5.900 officers and 106,000 4
♦ enlisted men. The casualty list 4
♦ is for the period of the greatest ♦
♦ offensive in the west yet under- 4
4 taken by the British. ♦
AMERICUS, GEORGIA, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 31, 1917
MO JURY WILL
BECOME FRIDAY
The grand jury, which has not been
in session since Monday, will convene
aagin tomorrow morning to take up
the consideration of various matters
w hich are to be brought to its attention
by Solicitor General'John A. Fort. Sev
eral true bills have already been re
turned, almost all of them having been
on cases in which the defendants are
now in jail.
Tlie consideration of the civil calen
dar was continued today in the Su
perior court, Judge E. J). Graham pre
siding. The case of Mrs. T. A. Bass
vs. J. L. Jones, a suit over a land
line, was begun yesterday afternoon
and wil still in progress today.
(Late yesterday afternoon the jury
brought in a verdict in the case of
the Travelers’ Insurance Company vs.
Mrs. T. A. Fletcher and D. R. An
drews. This> action grew out of a dis
pute over the possession of $2,000 paid
by the plaintiff as insurance on the
life of the husband of Mrs. Fletcher.
Mr. Andrews claimed the money under
an agreement with the deceased, and
the verdict of the jury sustained his
contention.
The court will probably finish the
civil calendar tomorrow and will ad
journ until Monday, when Judge Lit
tlejohn will return to preside during
the consideration of the criminal cal •
endar.
OLDEST - ■IML
OF u. s. urn DUD
WASHIGTON, D. C-. May 31.—Rear
Admiral John Henry Upshur, who died
at his home here last night, was the
oldest of the living flag officers of the
United States navy. His life spanned
94 years of naval development. Fifty
four were passed in active service and
33 as a retired naval commander of
the old school.
He was a veteran of two wars. He
accompanied Commodore Perry on the
mission to Japan to induce that coun
try to open its ports to the world’s
commerce. He spent adventurous days
in pursuing and fighting the African
slave traders of a half a century ago.
Admiral Upshur’s birth name was
John Henry Nottingham. Born in
Northampton county, Va., in 1823,
where his mother’s family, the Up-]
shurs, were distinguished, he adopted |
her name when 16 years old. He was a I
nephew of Abel Parker Upshur ,who |
v.as secretary of the navy in Presi ■
dent Tyler's cabinet, later succeeding i
Daniel Webster as secretary of state, I
and was killed when a cannon ex ]
ploded aboard the Princeton.
Becoming a midshipman in 1841.1
young Upshur received his baptism oi I
fire at the age of 23 while serving ]
under Commodore Perry at the siege
of Vera Cruz in the Mexican war. In
the fourteen years before the outbreak
of the civil war, he spent a year in
study at Annapolis, accompanied Perry I
to Japan, acted as flag lieutenant on '
the African squadron during the sup-1
pression of slave trading, and instruct-]
e<t a class at Annapolis.
Serving in the South and the North I
Atlantic squadrons under Admirals'
Porter. DuPont and Lee during the]
civil war, he won commendation from■
DuPont for his skill in commanding]
a gun deck division of the Wabash in
the attack on Port Royal, and shortly ■
after was given command of the Flam
beau. He commanded the Minnesota
during operations along the James
river in the siege of Petersburg. At
I the battle of Fort Fisher, under Por-1
ter, he was placed in command of the
reserve division of vessels and won
recommendation for promotion.
At the age of 61 Upshur had reached i
the rank and title of rear admiral,!
having in the meantime commanded the]
fl islships of the Pacific and the South
Atlantic squadrons and the New York
navy yard. He was under orders to
take command of the United States na
val forces in the Pacific wt»e n he retir •
e.l in 1885.
The remaining years of Admiral Up-,
shur's life were spent in Washington .
excepting for occasional trip abroad I
He was celebrated as a story-teller
cf the days when he sailed the seas
under Commodore Perry in the wood
en warships which have since disap- i
peared. |<
LIBER FY LOAN
GO M M ITT EE GETS
IN ACTIVE WORK
The "Liberty Loan Committee for
Sumter County,” composed of Frank
Lanier, Frank Sheffield, L. G. Coun
cil, R. S. Oliver of Plains, and W. T.
Anderson, of Leslie, at a metting held
tl.is morning, decided to at once
launch an active campaign in this
section to promote the sale of the
“Liberty Bonds,” the proceeds of
which are to be used in prosecuting
the war against Germany.
As an evidence of their faith in the
bonds, the members of the committee
have personally subscribed $50,000
worth of the "Liberty Bonds” and are
enthusiastic in their activities in the
new campaign.
Every' bank in Sumter county will
handle the bonds, disposing of them
to individual purchasers without mak
ing any charge for their services. It
is desired that the bonds be subscrib
ed as far as possible by the small in
vestor, for this plan is being advo
cated by the federal authorities in
charge of the bond sale campaign. The
average citizen in moderate circum
stances is the man whom the gov
ernment wants to purchase the bonds,
rather than the large investors and
the financial institutions.
The bonds may be purchased on the
installment plan, the subscriber pay
ing as little as $2 down on a SIOO
bond and $1 on a SSO bond. This
amount is then paid each week until
the full amount of the bond has been
paid in.
The banks of Sumter county wil!
handle the bonds on the installmen.
plan if desired by the purchaser and
the county committee is urging the
residents of this section to take ad
vantage of this opportunity to use the
bonds as a means of saving money
which might otherwise be expended
less wisely.
On June sth, registration day, it is
planned to have representatives of the
‘ Liberty I-can Committee” at the
registration booths throughout the
crunty to acquaint all citizens with
the details of the bond purchase plan
and to urge the sale of the war secur
ities.
The ladies are to be requested to
assist in the work of promoting the
■ sale of the bonds and the Woman’s
Club of Americus will probably take
: ar. active part in this phase of the
campaign. Further announcement
I along this line will be made later.
HEALTH COMMISSIONER
COMBATS TYPHOID FEVER
Dr. W. B. McWhorter, county health ’
commissioner under the Ellis public]
health bill, is taking active measures]
to combat the spread of typhoid fever,
cf which there are a few cases in
I Americus at the present time. Only
, one white case has been reported thus
| far, although several cases are scat
' tered through the negro quarter of the
kdy.
Largo placards bearing the words I
] ' Typhoid Fever” and also carrying in
jstructions for proper sanitary methods,
are being placed oa all houses where
'cases of the disease are found, and
stringent measures taken to prevent
the spread so the malady.
Dr. McWhorter states that there is
nothing unusual in the appearance of (
a few typhoid cases at this time, and ]
that the situation is wall in hand.
SOCIETY WOMEN IN WHIRLWIND
RELIEF CAMPAIGN AT ATLANTA i
I
ATLANTA, Ga.. May 31.—Ons thous
and Atlanta society women and debu
tantes today are engaged in a whirl
w ind canvass of the city to raise a bal
ance of $35,000 needed to complete the
fund for fire relief.
Each one is wearing a fireman’s hel
met and slicker and carrying a fire
bucket, like the buckets used by fire
brigades, in which the cash donations
are collected. The automobile par
ties touring the residence sections are
each accompanied by a member of the]
offiers’ reserve corps from the training
camp at Fort McPherson.
♦ TORN ADO DEATH LIST 4
4 REACHES TOTAL OF 12. 4
4 4
4 ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 31.—The 4
4 death list from tornadoes in 4
4 southeastern Missouri and south- 4
4 ern Illinois yesterday reached 4
4 12 early today. The town of Min- 4
4 eral Point was utterly wiped out. 4
444444444444
socwllsFplan
FOR PEACE WILL
NOT BE FAVORED
COPENHAGEN. May 31. —Influenced
by lavish promises of some outside
intermediaries in peace movement, the
report that German socialists and the
German government, in order to ar
range peace, are ready to negotiate a
settlement of the Alsace-Lorraine ques
tion under the guise of frontier regu
lation, have basis in fact, according to
a statement to the Associated Press
by Dr. Edouard Divid, a prominent
German socialist delegate to the Stock
holm congerence. He is emphatic in
declaring no present or future German
government would be found willing to
agree to the alienation of what is re
garded as a fixed part of the empire
The program of German socialists car
ries no endorsement of the German
government.
AMERICUS MEN LEAVE
ON LONG CAMPING TRIP
W. Thad Glover and W. Thames
Lane, Jr., left Wednesday morning for
a visit to the mountains in north and
northeast Georgia. They gd for their
1 health and to enjoy a good time, fish-
■ ing in the mountain streams, and it is
likely that frost wil! fall again be
fore they turn back to Americus. They
left in a Ford car. and it is understood
that they carried a tent along, and
will live an out-door life and move
whensoever they please.
PLAN NEW STEPS
TO FIGHT WEEVIL
/
/ Several well known planters of this
county arc making investigations pre
paratory to taking another step for
ward in the fight against the boll
weevil. / Learning of the action of,
j farmers in the vicinity of Chipley, Ga.]
I where a co-operative association was'
■ formed for the purchase of a commun-1
] ity feed grinding apparatus, the farm-1
ers of this section are contemplating]
I similar steps.
The Chipley planters, having .taken ]
I up the diversified farming plan as the I
'most efficient means of fighting the I
• weevil, purchased apparatus for grind-
I ing velvet beans, corn and other prod
! ucts of this character, the mixed feed
being cither used on the farms of those
| co-operating in the scheme or disposed
o' in the open market. The principal
use made of the apparatus is for indi
vidual use, however.
The success with which the Chipley
armers have operated this co-operative
| grinder has influenced several well
(known planters to think favorably of
the scheme, and arrangements are now
bein- made whereby a similar plan
may be put into operation in Sumter
county.
WAR TAI MEASURE
NOW JILMDST READY
WASHINGTON, D. C.. May 31. The'
progress made so far on the war tax i
bill in the senate finance committee,
made it seem possible today that the
re-draft of the measure will be ready
by Saturday, and that it will be pre
sented to the senate for consideration
on the floor by the middle of next
week.
It is Indicated this afternoon that
revised measure when it comes]
from the senate committee will be sol
drafted as to raise a total revenue of]
approximately 1,500,000,444 or about
$300,000,000 less than as proposed in
the bill originally passed by the]
house.
I
MACON WILL GET
MORE MEN IRAN
FIRSI DEFECTED
ATLANTA, May 31,—Macon’s mist
tary cantonment bids fair to contain
somewhat more men than has been
calculated. The understanding here is
that, where two divisional camps are
located, though they will be under dif
ferent administration at the outset. wflF
soon both be brousht under one ad
ministration and when that is done the
organization will be of such nature as
to require from 5,000 to 6,000 more men
than figures out. This is brought
I about by the assignment to each two>
i camps of the additional special ser—
s vice expected to be performed by
- the particular body of the army of
additional regiments for specific duty,,
such, for instance, as a regiment or
• two regiments of engirieers.
Robert C. Berckmans, of Augusta,.
> vho is here attending a routine meet
i ihg of the state board of entomology, fat
: deeply concerned over the labor situa-
■ tion on farms and the possible effect
i of the heavy government contracts ta
i be let for camp construction. The ex-
• odus of about 50,000 negroes in tha
■ past ten months, nearly all of them
from the rural sections, has, Mr. Berck-
• mans says, had a material effect on
farming conditions already, and any
thing which threatens to increase that
condition is going to seriously endan
ger farming operations.
’ Commissioner of Agriculture J. X-
Brown already has been studying this
i possible condition, and has written Sec-
• retary Houston of the federal depart
-1 me nt of agriculture, asking that th-?
r matter be taken up at once w’ith the
- war department, and making the sug
t gestion that Secretary Houston insist
■ or. every ocntract the government lets
’ for camp construction work include a.
I clause which will prohibit the con
. tractor employing labor from any farm
in Georgia.
Mr. Berckmans, who has kept a
close tab on the farm labor situation,
expresses an opinion similar to that
entertained by Commissioner Brown,
that the one main hope of the farmer
is that such a clause be included in the
I contracts. Mr. Berckmans stresses the
’ I point that, especially in Georgia, th-*
. i farming element of the state has re
sponded more liberally to the call of
1 the government to plant very heavily
| of food crops, and for the government
■ ( to now permit any contractors, in the
! employment of unskilled labor, to <ie-
I plete the farms would be nearly dis-
I astrous. The construction of two mil
jitary camps at Atlanta, two camps at
I Macon, one and possibly at Au-
I gusta and Aiken, and the likelihood of
] enlargement of port facilities at Sa
] vannah wil), as Mr. Berckmans pointe
I out. all employing labor, under con
i tracts and sub-contracts, make aver
I Stable raid on the comparatively tew
farm hands left in the state. He. too
has taken the matter up with Secre
tary of Agriculture Houston.
A NEW SYSTEM FOR
( BASING BOOK AGENT*
ATLANTA. Ga., May 30.—A Fultoo
county farmer living near Atlanta has
discovered a new system for chasing
book agents off the premises, which is
, A'-cre passed along for what it may be
v-orth to others residing on the farni.
A mule belonging to the Fulton
farmer developed a strong liking for w
I young calf, and assumed guardianship
over it. One day the farmer, plowing >«
I I a field near the house, heard loud.
I shouts for help in the orchard. Hurry
|ing to the orchard to investigate hw
I found a man in the top of an apple
tree with his trousers very much dilap
idated.
J “I am a bcok agent,” the strauger
explained. "I stopped to pet the
calf, and that dad blamed mule bit the
seat of my trousers out and chased me
into this tree."
NO MORE FOOD OR PRESENT*
FOR GERMANS AT THE FRONT
■ AMSTERDAM, May 31.—The send
ing of presents of food to soldiers
at the front is forbidden in an ordev
which came into force this month in.
Ctrmany.
I
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