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THE AMERICUS TIMES-RECORDER
•THIRTY-NINTH year.
I PATRIOTIC MASS MEETING WILL
BE HELD HERE ON IUIONDM NIGHT
Walter T. Colquitt of Atlanta
To Be The Principal
Speaker
RETURNS FROM NATION'S
CAPITAL WITH MESSAGE
Special Program Arranged For
Gathering et First Meth
odist Church
On .Monday night citizens of Ameri
cus will be given an opportunity to
receive first-hand information regard
ing the situation in which the nation
finds itself at this time, with reference
to the world -war. At a great pa
triotic mass meeting to be held in the
First Methodist church at 8 o’clock,
Walter T. Colquitt, of Atlanta, who has
just returned from Washington, D. C.,
will deliver an address in which he
■will set forth the exact conditions fac
ed by the nation's executives, having
been called to the capital to partici
pate in a conference on preparedness
in various lines of activity.
A former federal judge of this state,
Mr. Colquitt is one of the best known
Georgians. His acquaintance with men
and affairs at Washington give him a
peculiarly accurate conception of what
now confronts the nation in the way of
military and economic preparation for
the conflict with Germany. He is the
son of the late Alfred H. Colquitt, who
was a major general in the Confederate
army and who was later governor of
Georgia and a United States senator.
Judge Colquitt comes to Americus at
the instigation of the Americus and
Sumter County Chapter of the Red
Ctoss, and his address touching on the
vital facts problems which must be
solved, if the war is to be concluded
with success to our arms, should be
of utmost interest to the citizens of
this section.
It is intended that not. only the resi
dents of Americus, but of the entire
county, shall be given an opportunity
to hear Judge Colquitt, and every dis
trict will be visit by a special commit
tee distributing posters, etc., an
nouncing the big mass meeting and in
viting the residents to attend.
The program for the meeting Mon
day night is as follows:
Invocation - • .Rev. James B. Lawrence
‘ America” Assembly
Ti troduction of Speaker..E. A. Nisbet
Address... Walter T. Colquitt, Atlanta
"Star Spangled Banner” Assembly
Benediction.
OEfiTH CLAIMS ONE
OF OLOESTJESIDENTS
The death of Mrs. Malissa Jennings
aged 74 years, of Plains, occurred on
Thursday at the home of her son, J.
\V. Jennings, of Douglas, Ga.. where
she had been visiting.
The remains were brought back to
Plains on Friday and at 4:30 that af
ternoon the funeral was held at St.
Luke’s cemetery, at Bottsford, Web
ster county, Rev. C. A. Phillips offi
ciating. The arrangements were in
charge of Ross Dean.
Mrs. Jennings was one of the oldest
residents of Sumter county, having
spent 49 years of her life here. Os a
lovable Christian character, she was
highly esteemed by a host of war"
friends who knew her as a woman
of high ideals and principles.
She is survived by six sons, J. W.
Jennings, of Douvlas, Ga.; B. T. Jen
nings, of Winter Haven, Fla.; M. M
Jennings, L. E. Jennings and P. D.
Jennings, of Plains.
4 WEATHER FORECAST. ♦
♦
♦ FAIR TODAY with continued ♦
•* coolness.
HUGE LOAN TOTAL
GROWS AS LATE
RETURNSJRRIIIE
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 16.—50
overwhelming was the country’s re
sponse to the Liberty loan that officials
were unable tonight to check more
than an approximate of the huge total.
Only one reserve district. Atlanta,
has completed its work of tabulating
the totals. Estimates from the other
eleven districts sent the probable ag
gregate for the country rising to new
high levels.
The totals of figures that have actu
ally been tabulated in New York, Bos
ton, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago,
Cleveland and San Francisco —where
with the exception of Atlanta the work
of compiling the totals is still in pro
g-tss—and of official estimates of to
tals in the other districts show a sub
scription of at least $2,815,500,000, rep
resenting only a portion of the full
amount.
Estimates of all districts, including
the official tabulated returns from At
lanta, sent the prospective total to $2,-
051.000,000. These figures include sl,-
.■',0.000 subscribed in the Philippines
but did sot include any of the subscrip
tions sent direct to the treasury here,
of which no estimate has been made
public.
Indications are that the final re
turns will not be available before
Monday. Even then there probably
will be only an approximate idea as
to the total number of subscribers.
What is regarded as one of the most
remarkable showings came from the
navy department. The department and
the ships took an estimated total of
$3,000,000.
Atlanta’s Total $55,582,000.
ATLANTA Ga., June 16. —Total sub
scriptions to the Liberty loan in the
Atlanta federal reserve district were
$58,582,000, according to revised fig
ures late today, and which may yet
be slightly changed.
SPANISH THRONE
TOTTERING FROM
POPULAR UNREST
I
LONDON, June 16. —The upheaval
caused by the great war which has
already hurled two monarchs from
their thrones now menaces the anc
ient throne of Spain. The utmost ex
ertions of the Spanish censors have
tailed to completely suppress the re
ports o fgrave happenings. From what
little is known, the Spanish army is
taking the lead in the revolutionary
movement which is further accelerated
by the food scarcity and industrial un
rest.
Rumors of revolt have been current
for several months and at the end o'
May it was announced that the con
stitutional guarantees would be sus
pended while the government prohib
ited all public manifestations in respect
to international questions. This was
followed by an outbreak at Barcelona
on June 1, the seriousness of which was
indicated by the fact that the soldiers
sided with the revolters and imprisoned
a number of their officers.
The exact pact which the issues of;
the war play in the Spanish crisis is
difficult to determine. The masses of
the people have been generally credited
with being strongly pro-ally in senti
ment while the aristocracy leaned to
ward the side of Germany. At the
sae time the demand for internal re
form and other domestic questions
have apparently had a leading role in .
the growing unrest.
RECRUITING OFFICE FOR AMERICUS LIGHT INFANTRY IS NOW OPEN IN THIS Cl IY—THE NATION CALLS
A PAPER 10 R ALL THE PEOPLE
AMERICUS, GEORGIA, SUNDAY MORNING JUNE 17, 1917
CRIMINAL CALENDAR OF
GIT! COURT ARRANGED
Judge W. M. Harper yesterday
morning set the criminal calendar of
the City Court which convenes for the
regular June term on Monday morn
ing. No regular session of the court
will be held this week, on account of
the annual convention of the Georgia
County Officers’ Association which
opens in this city on Wednesday. On
Saturday morning the civil calendar
for the term will be arranged. Indi
cations are that the criminal business
at this term will consume about one
week.
WILL INTRODUCE
BILL TO ABOLISH
CITY COURT 1321
Bills are to be introduced at the
coming session of the state legislature
providing that the City Court of Sum
ter county shall be abolished in Jan
uary, 1921, and that the Solicitor of the
City Court shall draw a flat salary of
$1,60q during his present term of office,
which expires on December 31, 1920.
It will also be provided in one of
these measures that the judge of the
City Court, during the remainder of
his present term, may practice law in
other courts of justice. Under the
present statute, the judge of the City
Court is prohibited from handling an»
general law practice.
A conference was held this morning
at the court house by the county com
missioners, representatives of the
Americus Bar Association and the leg
islative delegation from Sumter county
in the general assembly this year. At
tending the conference were Arthur
Rylander, T. B. Hooks. Neal A. Ray,
R. S. Oliver, W. A. Dodson, J. E.
Sheppard, W. W. Dykes, R. L. Maynard,
Senator-elect M. B. Council and Repre
sentatives-elect Ed Timmerman, Sr.
and Stephen Pace.
The grand jury at the November
term of the Superior Court recommend,
ed in its presentments that the City
Court be abolished, substituting four
terms of the Superior Court to handle
the business usually transacted in the
lower tribunal. The investigating body
also recommended that the Solicitor of
the City Court be placed on a salary I
rather than on the fee system as at I
present obtaining.
It is understood that the Sumter
county delegation is solidly supporting
the bill providing for the changes in
the judicial system as previously des
cribed. The Americus Bar Association
at a recent meeting selected a com
mittee to consult with the county com -
missioners and legislative delegation
regarding the proposed changes, and
the result of the conference yesterday
morning is understood to meet with
the approval of the committee.
NEGRO FINED FOR TRYING
ID PUT UP SLOE MACHINES
Gordon Moses, a negro claiming to
hail from Atlanta, yesterday morning
entered a plea of guilty to the charge
of operating slot machines in places
of business in this city. One machine
had already been installed and several
more were in readiness at the rail
road depot waiting to be erected.
Judge Harper sentenced him to pay a
fine of slso or spend 8 months on the
gang.
♦ FOOD CONTROL BILL ♦
♦ REPORTED TO SENATE ♦
♦ WASHINGTON, D. C.. June 16. ♦
♦ —Following President Wilson’s ♦
♦ request for immediate action on ♦
the food control bill, the meas- ♦
♦ ure was today reported to the ♦
♦ senate without committee recom- ♦
♦ mendation. and may be reached ♦
♦ Monday. ♦
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
WILL GO AFTER
FUNDS FOR FAIR
WITHOUT_ DELAY
At a meeting of the stockholders of
the Third Agricultural District Fair
held Friday night in the offices of the
Chamber of Commerce, it was decided
to inaugurate a movement during the
present week for the purpose of secur
ing the necessary $4,000 with which to
complete the preparations for the big
exposition in Americus this fall. The
absolute necessity of raising this fund
was thoroughly explained by the offic
ers of the association and the impossi
bility of holding a fair unless this
money can be secured, was forcibly
impressed by the directors who have
thus far handled the affairs of the
organization.
On Monday afternoon the directors
of the fair will hold a conference for
the purpose of thoroughly threshing
out various phases of the proposition
and formulating definite plans where
by the $4,000 balance may be secured.
The officials plan to raise the fund
this week, but if it appears that the
citizens of Americus and Sumter
ccunty are not willing to co-operate in
I utting on the big exposition here this
toll, then the whole project will be
dropped as far as the present organ
ization is concerned.
The entire membership board of
Directors, whose term of office expired
recently, but who have been holding
over until the annual election, were re
elected by the stockholders, The mem
bers of the board are L. G. Council, J.
S. Poole, Frank Lanier, Frank P. Har
rold, Carr S. Glover. L. A. Morgan and
Crawford Wheatley. ,
The directors, after their election
last night, retired for a few moments
and on returning to the meeting, an
nounced that they had elected G. R.
Ellis as president of the association
and Frank Lanier as vice-president.
Lee Hudson was re-elected treasurer.
Various phases of the situation were
discussed, it being brought out that
the failure of many persons who sub
subscribed for stock to pay their
pledges, is the cause of the present
stringency in the financial affairs of
the organization. The untenable posi
tion of these parties was explained and
every effort will be made to collect >
these long overdue pledges.
GERMAN! MAKES
OFFER HF PEACE
TO NEW RUSSIA
i STOCKHOLM. June 16. (Via London)
i The Social Demokraten says Ger- '
many has made an offer of peace to-
Russia through a number of the Swiss
■federal council.
| The Social Demokraten today pub-
I lishes the translation of a telegram.
| said to have been sent in cipher from
'the political department of the Swiss,
i federal council to E. Odier, the Swiss
minister at Petrograd. It is dated I
Betne, June 5, and says:
“Hoffman, a member of the federal
council, authorizes you to make to
Grimm, ta Russian socialist professor
who returned to Russia from Switzer
land after the revolution) the follow
ing oral communication:
- ” ‘Gerany will not undertake an of-1
fensive so long as an arrangement
with Russia seems possible. After con
i versations with an important person;
age. I am convinced that Germany aims
ala peace with Russia honorable to*
both parties, with intimate economic i
and commercial relations and financial
support to place Russia once more on
her feet. No interference in the do
mestic affairs of Russia. An entente
cordiale on Poland, Lithuania and
Courland, in view of the relationship
between the peoples. Restitution of
the occupied provinces, and Russia on
the other hand, to give back to Austria
the provinces which she has been abl -
to take."
GINNING GLOB SHOWS
HEMHBMPHOGHESS
The members of the Sumter County
Canning club are entering into the
work this season with a boundless en
thusiasm, according to Miss Rowena
Long, home economics agent for Sum
ter county. The agitation for home
gardens has resulted in enlisting sixty
members in the movement, so that
there are now sixty flourishing gardens
tended by canning club members
throughout the county.
From these gardens will come the
vegetables that will be canned under
Miss Long’s direction, and within a
short time actual canning operations
will have begun along this line. At
this time the members are busy putting
up fruits and berries.
Miss Ruth Salter, of the New Point
Canning club, has tomatoes in abund
ance in her home garden, and will
shortly begin to preserve them, only
waiting on the delivery of cans re
cently ordered. Several other niem
brs are anticipating record output-;
this season and the prospects for a
most successful season with the Sum
ter County Canning club are exceed
ingly bright.
Plain Statement of Facts
as to Third District Fair
A canvass of Americus and Sumter County discloses the fact that our
people are unanimously in favor of holding the Third District Fair and
want it to be a great success, but it is further disclosed that some have
not contributed what they could to that end.
It is admitted that an Agricultural Fair is of great educational value
under normal conditions, and much more valuable under the present war
conditions which have so increased the demands for all kinds of agri
cultural products, that President Wilson has issued a proclamation to
the effect that it is the patriotic duty of every one to contribute what he
can towards increasing the yield bf all food and all feed products. But,
patriotic duty is not the only incentivi to a larger yield for the present
high prices for crops of all kinds make it very profitable to grow them.
The people of this section have an opportunity to serve their coun
try and at the same time to increase their wealth. The fertile lands of
Sumter County and this section produce much wealth annually but the
present yield, great as it is, is not one half of what it would be under
proper methods of cultivation. Any citizen of the county is willing to do
something to help double the wealth produced in the county annually,
and the best way for him to contribute to this increase of wealth, is to
help the fair. Such an increase of wealth will add greatly to the com
fort and the happiness, as well as to the prosperity of our people.
Increased wealth means increase 1 opportunity, and prosperity for
every one. One should not help the fair simply to receive a personal or
selfish benefit, but as a public spirit d contribution to community wel
fare. As a citizen in a civilized communtiy, one cannot live for self
alone, but organized society protects his life, his liberty and his property,
and in return he must serve his natiin. his State and his community. As
a matter of fact, men are little, and mean to the degree that they are sel
fish, and try to live for self alone; they are good citizens to the degree
that they are unselfish, and try to serve humanity.
Certain public spirited citizens of Americus and Sumter County
have spent much of their valuable time in promoting the Third District
Fair by soliciting stock subscriptions, serving as Directors, and some by
serving as officers of the same, witho i pay, except that they were and are
anxious to serve their community. Others, who receive the same bene
fits from our community life, and who are to receive the same benefits
from the fair, and who should be inspired and moved by the same mot
ive. have, for some reason, neglected their duty, and have not done their
part. They owe it to the community to do their full part, and we trust
that this duty will not longer be neg evted. Seine, who are able to sub
scribe for stock, have not done so, and in failing to do so. have failed
to do their duty; some who subscribed for stock, have not paid for it. and
no doubt this failure on their part to pay for it has been due to the fact
that they have not given the matter proper consideration. By subscrib
ing for the stock, they assumed the responsibility of paying for it, and
nothing will excuse payment, except inability. Besides, we are quite sure
that those who subseribde for stock and have not paid for it, have over
looked the fact that they have not only overlooked complying with their’
written obligation, but their derelictim of duty has made it hard for those
who have paid, and who have been toiling ardently and ceaselessly for
the success of the fair, and have even made it embarassing to the officers
who are serving tjieir community by serving the fair. As a matter of fact,
these who subscribed for stock and have not paid for it. though we are
charitable enough to believe that they have not thought of the matter ser
iously, have made it impossible for the officers and directors to make
progress towards putting on a first-class fair. These parties who sub
scribed for stock are expected to pay Cite same in full during next week,
for it is absolutely necessary to collect these unpaid subscriptions before
the fair can be properly arranged and held. If the fair is not what it
should be. or if for any reason it should not be held, the failure is and
will be chargable directly to these subscribers who have not paid their
stock subscription.
This article is written for the purpose of trying to be plain and for
the purpose of trying to place the responsibility for delays and failures
on those who are its cause. At the same time, we express confidence in
the people ot Americus and Sumter County, and desire to say that we be
lieve that by bringing this to the attention of those who have not done
their duty, they will promptly discharge their duty by subscribing for
stock and paying for it where they have made no subscriptions, and by
paying their subscriptions where they have subscribed for stock. But,
please remember that this must be done and must be done at once, and
that money must be paid or payment satisfactorily arranged before Sat
urday, June 23rd, 1917.
G. R. ELLIS. President Third District Fair.
J. W. SHEFFIELD, SR.
VICTIM OF ACCIDENT
John W. Sheffild, Jr., left on Friday
night for Jacksonville, called there by
a telegram from the attending physic
ian stating that his father, J. W
Sheffield, Sr., had suffered a slight
fracture of his arm, caused by a fall.
Mr. Sheffield left by automobile about
a w-eek ago for Florida in company
with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sheffield,
Frank Sheffield, Jr., and Mrs. Henry
Collier of Atlanta. The party went
first to White Springs and Mr. Shef
field, not caring to make the trip
down the east coast, left them at
Jacksonville. No details have been
received as to how the accident occuf
red.
While not necessarily serious, his
triends naturally feel apprehensive,
because of Mr. Sheffield’s advanced
age, he 1 being in his eighty-sixth year
AMERICUS LODGE OF ELKS
TAKES SI,OOO LIBERTY BONDS
The Americus Lodge of Elks No
752 has subscribed for SI,OOO of the
“Liberty bonds,” in response to the
appeal made by President Wilson for
the popular support of the great war
loan.
RED GROSS WEEK
OPENS MONDAY
THROUGHOUT U.S.
On Monday morning the Americus
, and Sumter County Chapter of the
Red Cross will “go over the top” in
the new offensive which is to be start
■ ed throughout the land to raise SIOO,-
i 000,000 to be used in the Red Cross
work across the seas for the Amer
ican troops that will shortly be fight
ing in the trenches.
Every Red Cross chapter in ths
United States will participate in the
general campaign during the week of
June 18-25 and every section of the
country is expected to do its share to
ward furnishing the funds necessary
to supply help for the fighting men
soon to be sent against the German
forces on the western front.
Canvassing committees were ap
pointed Saturday morning at a con
ference of members of the local Re.l
Cross chapter and the city will be di
vided into districts which will be
thoroughly covered by the ladies who
have the work of soliciting funds in
charge.
Many business houses of Americus
have signified their desire to help the
cause by donating 5 per cent of the
cash sales on one day during the
campaign to the Red Cross fund. The
following concerns will co-operate in
this manner:
MONDAY, June 18th—Sparks Gro
cery Co., Morgan’s Market. Ansley’s.
Rylander Shoe Co., Allison Furniture
Co., J. W. Harris Hdwe. Co., Prather-
Ansley Drug Co.
TUESDAY, June 19th —Buchanan
Grocery Co., Church well’s, Sherlock’s
j Market. Gyles-Andrews Furniture Co.,
I Hooks Pharmacy, Buchanan Hard
ware Co.
WEDNESDAY, June 20th-Gatewood
Grocery Co., D. Pearlman, Sheffield
Hardware Co., Murray’s Pharmacy,
Acme Sanitary Market, Thomas L.
Bell.
THURSDAY, June 21st—Arthur
Mize Gro. Co., J. W. Josey, Howell's
Pharmacy.
FRIDAY, June 22nd—Pinkston Co .
Hightower’s Book Store, W. H. C.
Dudley, E. J. Walker, Millinery, Al
cazar Theatre.
MONDAY, June 25th —W. A. Joyner,
Tillman & Brown.
The executive committee of the
Americus and Sumter County Chapter
makes the following statement regard
ing the situation that must be met at
the present time:
"We hope the people of Americus
will rise to the occasion, and astound
even themselves by the size of their
contribution to the Red Cross War
Fund."
‘ The main idea at the back of the
plans of the plains cf the American
I Bed Cross to stir the I'nited States to
'a heartfelt realization or debt and
duty, to raise $100,000,000 more rapid
ly than that amount jyas ever collect
j eo by voluntary subscription, to assem
■ ble the best trained talent that Amer
ica possesses, to assemble the great
stores of supplies and provide the
ships, and then to start to Europe, es
' pecially f£> our French and Russian
friends, a stream of help that will
never cease to flow, an unending rich
current of material and moral aid.”
“Excuse and evasions won’t do. If
people will meet the situation with
that spirit we will have our wall of
granite in no time, put life and heart
into our shaken Allies, do a tremend
ous work before our armies begin to
fight, and so deliver a tremendous
punch, straight from the American
shoulder, at German military power
The man who grumbles at taxes and
at the call to subscribe will do well to
keep in mind the thought that if
France and Russia and England break
down he will be paying everything he
ha’s to German tax collectors for the
rest of his natural life. That’s all
there is to it. That's precisely the
way matters stand.”
NO MORE GERMAN TO KE
TAI’GHT IN XENIA M HOLS
XENIA. O. : June 16.—Spanish and
French language will replace German
in Xenia’s public schools at the open
ing of the next term, it was an
nounced here today.
1
’ NUMBER 144.