Newspaper Page Text
Georgia Briefs
Items of State Interest Culled
From Random Sources.
Pewards for Barn Burners.
Upon complaint of citizens of Ogle
thorpe county that a number of barns
have been burned there within the
last few months, Governor Smith
has offered a reward of SIOO for
each arrest and conviction of the par
ties guilty of these crimes.
The most recent cases were the
burning of the barns of T. J. Erwin
and A. H. Talmadge near Winterville
on December 15 and 18, respectively.
* * *
Georgia Liberal to Old Vets.
With what care and liberality Geor
gia provides for her confederate vet
erans is shown ‘by the annual report
of State Pension Commissioner J. W.
Lindsey, which has just been issued
for the year euding December 31, 1907.
Since 1879, this report sets forth,
there has been paid out to the vet
erans of this state $11,208,011.55. For
the year 1879 the pension roll carried
$70,550. In 1907 it carried $932,685.
In 1908 it is likely that $950,000 will
be paid out. In 1906 the number of
pensioners was 15,298; in 1907 this
number had increased to 16,713.
* * *
Short Respite for Glover.
At a late hour Saturday afternoon,
Governor Smith affixed his signature to
an executive order, in which he de
clined to reduce the sentence of Ar
thur Glover from death to imprison
ment for life, but he granted a res
pite from Monday, January 27, at
which time the condemned man was
to have paid the penalty of his life,
until Friday, January 31. The gov
ernor felt that Glover was entitled to
a few more days in which to make
his preparations for death. Glover
was convicted for the murder of Maud
Dean, his sweetheart, in Augusta.
* * *
Road Working Case Up.
The department of justice at Wash
ington has taken up the case of the ci
vilian teamsters in government em
ploy who are quartered at Fort Ogle
thorpe, and who were arrested and
imprisoned for not working on the
Georgia roads. A question of the right
of the local authorities to require the
men to work on the roads is at issue,
the Washington authorities holding
that the teamsters were bound by con
tract to serve the national government
and that the attempt of the local au
thorities to take them out of the serv
ice of the United States and require
them to work for a definite time on
the state roads is an interference with
the operations of the federal govern
ment.
* * *
Cotton Association to Meet.
The annual meeting of the Georgia
division of the Southern Cotton As
sociation will be held in the senate
chamber of the state capitol at Atlanta
on Wednesday, February 5.
Officers will be chosen for the ensu
ing year, important resolutions will be
adopted relating to the work of the as
sociation, delegates at large will be
named to go to the national conven
tion.
It is desired that every county in
the state be represented at this meet
ing and county associations are urged
to act at once in the matter of the se
lection of delegates and to notify Pres
ident M. L. Johnson, room 919 Empire
building, Atlanta, of the names and
addresses of the delegates chosen.
* * *
School Train Ready to Start.
An agrciultural train, conveying ex
hibits, expert lecturers and President
A. M. Soule of the State College of
Agriculture, will start on its journey
of 3,000 miles over the state at
Commerce on Febraurv 10, at 8 o’clock
in the morning.
The train will reach more than 150
towns, and take one month in so do
ing. It is the purpose of this train
to confer upon the farmers of Georgia
many useful and important facts re
garding agriculture. The baggage car
will be filled with exhibits. Two pas
senger coaches will be used as lec
ture rooms. Five stops will be made
eas day, each one being in length
an Tout and a half. It is figured that
the train will reach over 300,000 citi
zens, this having been taken from the
last census; in this*estimate, however,
the larger towns are not taken in.
The last stop will be made at El
berton, March 14.
* * *
Falling Off in Tag Sales.
According to reports made to the
agricultural department the fertilizer
tag sale is falling off considerably,
this spring, from what it was last year,
Indicating a curtailment of acreage be
ing devoted to cotton and in conse
qence a diminution in the amount of
money to be raised from the sale
of these tags.
The eleven agricultural schools
about the state and the SIOO,OOO agri
cultural college at Athens, which has
just completed such a successful “cot
ton school’’ are supported out of these
proceeds.
To increase this fund a bill is now
pending in the house, which will raise
the price of these fertilizer tags from
the present rate of ten cents a ton
to twenty-five cents a ton, therefore
more than doubling the sum to be
secured.
One of the Chief fertilizers used in
Georgia, and throughout the south, is
cotton seed meal which serves in a
dual capacity of being a good fertil
izer filler and in addition when mix
ed with cotton seed hulls becomes the
best known cattle feed. All of these
district schools and the agricultural
college at Athens urge the use of it
both as a fertilizer and cattle feed.
The state department of agriculture
has sold only $6,405 worth of fertilzer
inspection tags since January 1, as
compared with sales aggregating sll,-
458 for the same period of 1907, a fall
ing off of $5,053.
As January and February are the
big months for sales of these tags, this
fact is considered as bearing out the
recent statement coming from the de
partment that there is prospect of
large decrease in the sale and use of
fertilizers as compared with last year.
FORGER IN THE TOILS.
Ex-Bank Clerk Chased All Over the Coun
try and Finally Nabbed at
Mayport, Florida.
Tracked through many states and
sailing under many different names, T.
Nordstrom, a former bank clerk of As
toria, Oregon, was captured at May
port, Fla., Thursday night. Ke is
wanted at Chicago, where, posing as
the representative of F. A. Cole &
Sons, wealthy wholesale grocers of his
home city, he forged the name of J.
Roy Bennett, cashier of the Astoria
Bank, and cashed a draft for $15,000
at the First National Bank.
From Chicago Nordstrom fled and
continued his crooked dealings in
many cities throughout the United
States. During all of his operations
since the Chicago forgery he has been
closely followed a Pinkerton detective.
This detective who located the man
and planned his capture when his pri
vate yacht Kathryn was boarded as
she lay in midstream off Mayport by
a party of officers. Nordstrom was
taken from his bunk and hustled to
Jacksonville. From Chicago, where
he was C. A. Cole, Nordstrom appear
ed in various cities under ofher names.
At San Franciscq, where he was track
ed, he operated under the name of B.
F. Kavanaugh. Under this name also
he carried on crooked deals at Galves
ton, Texas, and at New Orleans. From
New Orleans he was followed to Bruns
wick, Ga., where he had dealings with
the Brunswick Bank and Trus* com
pany as F. M. Wood. The forgery of
the draft on the Chicago bank was
committed on December 3rd last.
From that time until December 13
Nordstrom was followed over miles of
territory, and finally traced to Bruns
wick.
Here he lived in luxury for a time
and purchased from Frank D. Aiken,
president of the Brunswick Bank and
Trust company, the yacht, aboard
which he was beginning a world tour
when captured. From Brunswick
Nordstrom went to Jacksonville aboard
the boat, whose name was changed
from Lucile to Kathryn.
On the return trip Nordstrom was
positively identified as the man want
ed for the big forgery by photographs
in the possession of the detective and
by the fact that his right hand is bad
ly disfigured. The first finger is mis
shapen as the result of some accident,
and the second finger is cut off at the
second joint.
When he saw" that to deny his iden
tity would gain him nothing, Nord
strom admitted his guilt and said he
would submit peacefully.
GIGANTIC FEDERAL PENSION ROLL.
Appropriations Committee Calls for Enor
mous Sum of $150,000,000.
Representative Keifer of Ohio, chair
man of the -subcommittee on pensions
of the house committee on appropria
tion, has announced informally that,
that committee has agreed to recom
mend a pension roll of $150,000,000 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1909.
This will be about $7,000,000 in excess
of the pension roll of the present year.
LABOR UNIONS
GIVEN A BLOW
Through Important Decision of
United Sta.es Supreme Court,
L. AND N. WINS CASE
Railway Companies Have Right to Dis
charge Employees fof Belonging
to Labor Organizations.
A Washington special says; The
constitutionality of the act of congress
of June 1, 1908, prohibiting railroad
companies engaged in interstate com
merce from discriminating against
members of labor organizations in the
matter of employment, was called into
question by the case of William Adair
against the United States, which was
decided by the supreme court of the
United States Monday favorable to
Adair.
The opinion was by Justice Harlan,
and held the law to be repugnant to
the constitution. The court held that
Adair, as master mechanic of the Louis
ville and Nashville Railroad company,
had a right to discharge an employee
because he was a member of a labor
organization, just as it was the em
ployee’s right to quit such employment
because of his membership in such or
ganization.
The case came to the supreme' court
on a writ of error from the United
States district court for the eastern
district of Kentucky. Adair is the mas
ter mechanic of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad company, and he
was proceeded against on the charge
of threatening to discharge from the
employ of the company a locomotive
engineer named Coppage, because the
latter was a member of a labor union.
The act of 1898, which was one of the
results of the great Chicago strike, was
invoked for Coppage's protection, and
the district court fined Adair SIOO. The
constitutionality of the act was stren
uously attacked in the district court
by the railroad attorney, and when the
decision wa3 announced they promptly
brought the case to the supreme court,
with the result that the decision of
the lower court was reversed. In his
decision Justice Harlan held it was
Adair’s right to serve his employer
as best he could, so long as he did
nothing forbidden by law as contrary
to the public welfare.
Supreme Court Justice Holmes also
expressed the opinion that the law
should be construed as Intended. He
thought that the right to mako con
tracts had been stretched to the limit
by the court’s decision in this case.
That congress had a right to so legis
late as to encourage labor organiza
tions was another suggestion of Justice
Holmes.
“While,” said Justice Harlan in his
opinion, “the rights of liberty and prop
erty guaranteed by the constitution to
the United States against deprivation
without due process of law is subject to
such reasonable restraint as common
good or the general welfare may re
quire, it is not within the functions of
government—at least in the absence of
contract between the parties—to com
pel any person in the course of his
business and against his will to accept
or retain the personal services of an
other or to compel any person against
his will to perform personal services
for another.
“The right of a person to sell his
labor, upon such terms as he deems
proper, is in its essence the same as
the right of the purchaser of labor to
prescribe conditions upon which he
will accept such labor from the person
offering to sell it. So the right of an
employee to quite the service of the
employer, for whatever reason, is the
same as the right of the employer, for
whatever reason, to dispense with the
services of such employee. In all such
particulars, the employer and the em
ployee have equality of rights and any
legislation that disturbs that equality
is an arbitrary interference with the
liberty of contract which no govern
ment can legally justify in a free
land.”
• CASE RESTS WITH ROOSEVELT.
Hancock Courtmartial Matter to Be Passed
Upon by President.
The case of Major Hancock, coast ar
tillery corps, stationed at Fort Baran
cas, Fla., has been received at the
war department for action of the pres
ident. Hancock was tried by court
martial at Atlanta, Ga., on charges of
alleged violation of a pledge to ab
stain from the use of intoxicating li
quor.
.MID-WINTER SHOW
Formally sod Officially Opened at Jackson
ville, Florida, by Message from
President Rcosevelt.
The Florida Midwinter International
Exposition was formally opened at
Jacksonville, amid the booming of can
non, by a message from President
Roosevelt, which was read to the thou
sands of persons who had gathered
at the exposition grounds. The presi
dent’s message was as follows:
“William H. Sebring, Mayor and the
Honorary Advisory Board Florida Mid
winter International Exposition: I
take great pleasure in opening the
'"lorida Midwinter International Expo
sition, and in expressing the hope that
the fullest measure of success may at
tend it.
“tSigned)
“THEODORE ROOSEVELT.”
The exposition bilding is a magnif
icent structure, and the exhibits and
attractions on the “Trail” are all high
class.
The exposition promises to be a suc
cess from the very start. It will re
main open until April 15.
GLADYS VANDERBILT WEDS.
Heiress Takes Over Hungarian Count for
Better or Worse.
In the famous Vanderbilt mansion
at Fifth avenue and Fifty-seventh
street, New York, Monday at noon,
Miss Gladys, youngest daughter of
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, cousin of
the duchess of Marlborough, and one
of the richest of American heiresses,
became the bride of Count Laszlo Jono
Maria Henrik Simon Szeclienyi, a
young Hungarian noble of ancient lin
eage and comfortable fortune.
Last summer, Miss Vanderbilt be
came of age and, under the provision
of her father’s will, entered into pos
session of her share of his great for
tune, estimated at from $12,000,000 to
$15,000,000. .
Ever since her coming out, a few
years ago, rumor has been busy en
gaging Mis 3 Vanderbilt to numberless
young Americans, as well'as to an end
less succession of titled foreigners,
ranging from royaltj r to the latest im
pecunious noble who happened to land
on American shores. But even the
gossipmengers concede that in her
marriage to this comparatively obscure
young Hungarian she is making pure
ly a love match.
MIKADO BAR 5 IMMIGRATION.
Issues Imperial Edict Ordering His Sub
jects to Stay at Home.
An imperial order issued at Toklo
prohibits all Japanese emigration to
the Hawaiian Islands, excepting in the
cases where relatives of Japanese are
already residing there. The order is
being strougly opposed by the steam
ship companies of all big lines, after
being served with the order personally
appealed to the foreign offlcce to at
least modify it. They were met with
an absolute refusal.
Stringent orders have also been is
sued to all officials that the prohibi
tion of emigration of laborers to
America and Canada must be rigidly
enforced.
HANCOCK VERDICT IS AWAITED.
Fate of Major, Accused of Drinking, in
Hands of General Davis.
The military career of Major Wil
liam F. Hancock, coast artillery corps,
courtmartialed in Atlanta on a charge
of conduct unbecoming an tfficer, rests
now with General J. M. K. Davis, om
mandlng general of the department of
the gulf and reviewing authority, aud
possibly with President Roosevelt.
SHORTAGE OF HUNDRED MILLIONS
la Faced By United States Treasury Saya
Chairman Towney.
The urgent deficiency appropriation
bill occupied the attention of the
house Thursday to exclusion of all
other business.
A surprise was sprung when Chair
man Tawney of the appropriations com
mittee warned the members that the
countrv was confronted with the cer
tainty of a $100,000,000 deficit unless
the estimates for the next fiscal year
should be cut down materially.
MAYOR AFTER BOMB THROWERS.
Cash Reward Offered for Arrest-of Miscre
ants at Girard, Ala.
Mayor Foster of Girard, Ala., has of
fered a cash reward for the apprehen
sion of the parties who exploded dyna
mite bombs in front of the homes of
officers of the Law and Order League, j
There have been no further develop
ments in the case.
CLUBS USED ON
ARMY OF IDLE
Po' ce and "‘Unemployed" Paraders
Have Clasti in Chicago.
BROKEN HEADS RESULT
Crowd Was Only Routed When Leader
Was Knocked Down and Placed
Under Arrest.
An attempt of the socialists to bring
about a "march of the unemployed’*
through the down-town streets of Chi
cago Thursday, resulted in two sharp
fights with the police, In which the
would-be marchers were routed after a
number of men had been clubbed. Dr.
Benjamin L. Reitman, the originator
of the plan to march through the
streets, and two of his followers were
arrested.
For several days Reitman, who i 3 a
socialist, had been making announce
ments of his intention to hold a pa
rade of “hoboes” and “unemployed,**
despite the warning given him by
Chief of Police Shipp that no march
through tho streets would be permit
ted. Reitman, however, continued to
defy the authorities and Wednesday
night thousands of circulars were dis
tributed through the downtown saloons
and lodging house district calling on
all the men nut of work to assemble
at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon on
the lake front. The chief of police
early in the day reiterated his state
ment that the march would not be
permitted and directed that all the
police force be held in reserve at the
various stations.
At a few minutes before 2 o’clock a
crowd commenced to gather on Michi
gan avenue in front of tho Art Insti
tute and in a few minutes a column
which was really a series of bunches
of four and five, and, headed by Reit
man, they started west on Adams
street. The marchers proper did not
number more than 200 at any time,
but many hundreds of people followed
them along the sidewalks and added
to the confusion.
After marching a block we3t on
Adams street, Reitman countermarch
ed to Michigan avenue, passed north
to Madison street and then marched
west two squares oa Madison street.
Here he encountered a strong squad
of police, who, after a command to
disband had been disregarded, ordered
his men to charge the marchers. The
police came on a run and the column
was instantly broken up. Several men
were knocked down and the police, not
attempting to make arrests, used their
clubs freely in quickening the foot
steps of the fleeing ‘ unemployed.’’
Followed closely by the officers, tha
marchers darted Into the crowd of
shoppers along State street and seve
ral women were pushed to the side
walk during the confusion. No ar
rests were made and nobody was se
riously injured, although the police
dealt vigorous thumps with their clubs
on the backs of the marchers. f
A numb' f of tb<? meters, after get
ting away frem the police, went smith
on State street, aiming to form an
other column as they went. At State
street and Jackson boulevard they had
formed the' semblance of another pa
rade and, taking the middle of the
street, they marched along, six abreast.
Just before reaching Clark street they
were met by another detachment of
police. Another order to disperse met
with no response, the marchers at
tempting to shoulder their way along.
The police instantly charged, swing
ing their clubs right and left.
The marchers fled wildly, some run
ning in the doorway of the Union
League Club, while others sought safe
ty in the postoffice building. Others
turned south into Clark street, but
were quickly captured and placed un
der arrest.
BANK REFUSES TO PAY INTEREST.
State National at New Orleans is Due
I ouisiana Sum of SIO,OOO
Governor Blanchard of Louisiana an
nounced Friday night that the State
National bank of New Orleans has re
fused to pay the state interest due on
state money deposited with the bank
during 1907. The amount due Is a
little over SIO,OOO.
The bank's refusal was based on the
recent, withdrawal of the state funds
amounting to about $200,000 after di
rectors of the bank had recommended
that it go out of business.
