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About The Henry County weekly. (McDonough, GA.) 18??-1934 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1918)
WILLIAM J. HARRIS Candidate for the United States Senate as jfyffis£ys>y:■•£>ydjifyffite^^3v»y■' p3&k Ht vßwhuisZTff »«-. £\ ss>W@ jm | a T&?’jy Vj - ~ *%.• ilr rfraiffißraMni The Man of the Hour, and Why William J. Harris was born in Ce dartown, Polk county, Georgia, Feb ruary 3, 18C8. He was educated in tbe common schools of Polk county and the University of Georgia, teach ing school during the summer to pro vide means for his college training. In 1895, he married Miss Julia Whee ler, daughter of Gen. Joseph Wheeler, the distinguished Southern cavalry leader. Mr. Harris has three brothers now serving in the United States Army, Gen. P. C. Harris, Maj. Seals Harris and Capt. Hunter Harris. Many young men have been beneficiaries of Mr. Harris’ aid in obtaining Jn edu cation to-equip them for life’s work. Political Service. As Chairman of the Polk County Democratic Executive Committee, he succeeded in establishing the “white primary,” in 1892. As private secretary to Senator A. 8. Clay, and under the training of this distinguished Georgian, Mr. Harris be gan, in early life, to look after the interests in Washington of Georgians worn every section. In 1912 Mr. Harris managed Presi dent Wilson’s first campaign in Geor gia; was elected chairman of the State Democratic Executive Commit tee, and played prominent part in roll ing up the largest majority Georgia ever gave a candidate for President. Legislative Service. Mr. Harris represented the 38th dis trict in the state senate in 1911-12, and flier# worked and voted for every measure that would help the farmers and benefit the taxpayers of the state. Some of these include: (1) Mr. Harris introduced and aid ed in th« passage of the bill abolish ing the unlimited fees of oil inspec tors, and fixing their maximum salary at SIOO per month. This law lias saved the state thousands of dollars. In 1917 alone, it saved the state net, $182.585. (2) Mr. Harris introduced and pass ed the bill requiring lobbyists to reg ister. thereby eliminating the grafting, (professional lobbyist, and protecting legislation. (3) Mr. Harris advocated the sepa rate leasing of the W. & A. Railroad from the other state property in Chat tanooga, a policy since adopted by the “Lease Commission.” (4) Personally, Mr. Harris has al ways been a consistent prohibitionist, and has always supported all measures looking to freeing the state from the liquor traffic. National Service. As director of the United States Cen sus, to which he was appointed by President Wilson, officials today say that Mr. Harris was the most efficient director since the bureau was estab lished. The chief “criticism” against bis administration, made by Judge Hughes, Republican nominee for Presi dent, was that he appointed so many Georgia Democrats to positions in the department. President Wilson appointed Mr. Har ris acting secretary of commerce, in the absence of Secretary Redfield, and cordially approved his services and ef ficiency as a temporary member of the cabinet. Under Republican rule the Wall street gamblers were permitted to keep down the price of cotton by including in the census estimate the number of bales of linters cotton. Mr. Harris had the linters estimate separated from the regular cotton reports, which re duced the estimates and tended to raise the price of cotton. During Re publican rule, it was freely charged that there were “leaks” in cotton esti mates of the census bureau. Not once since the administration of Mr. Harris has there been the slightest suspicion of a “leak” in the census reports. In the census bureau, Mr. Harris changed the “age limit,” fixed by the Republicans, so tha,t Confederate Vet erans could be given the same oppor tunities as Union Veterans; and many old Confederate Soldiers are now hold ing good places in the department. It was in keeping with his devotion to the old soldiers. His father was a brave Confederate Veteran, and his father-in-law w-as the gallant “Little Joe” Wheeler. Promoted by the President. Due to Mr. Harris’ efficient adminis tration of the census bureau, President W’ilson promoted him by appointing him a member of the federal trade board. Recognizing his ability, his colleagues, two years later, elected him chairman of the board. Resigning to enter his campaign for United States senator as the loyal supporter of Pres ident Wilson in winning the war, as against the present junior senator from Georgia, Mr. Harris carried with him the love, esteem, confidence and best wishes of his colleagues, the depart ment heads and the President who had further expressed his confidence in Mr. Harris by the following additional ap pointments: (1) Appointed by the President as member of the price fixing committee of the war industries board, to rflx prices for army supplies. When New England manufacturers endeavored to fix the price of cotton, Mr. Harris op posed them most vigorously. He also brought charges against the “bagging trust” which is now facing trial. (2) The President named the sec retary of agriculture, Mr. Hoover and Mr. Harris a committee of three to in vestigate the advisability of the gov ernment taking over the meat packing houses. The President’s confidence was further expressed when Mr. Har ris resigned, by the request that he name his own successor, and Mr. Har ris named Hon. Victor Murdoch. The Confidence of Mr. Wilson. V%rther indicative of the confidence of President Wilson in Mr. Harris, is the following conclusion of the Presi dent’s letter accepting his resignation from the federal trade commission to run for the United States senate: “May I not say how warmly I have appreciated the way in which you have performed the difficult and often dell cate duties assigned to you in the trade commission? I am sure that l am expressing the general feeling when I express my regret at youi withdrawal. “Cordially and sincerely yours, “WOODROW WILSON. “Hon. William J. Harris, “Federal Trade Commission.” Mr. Harris’ Qualifications. Mr. Harris is in close touch with conditions at the national capitol. His relations with the administration are intimate. He has the confidence and esteem of the President and depart ment heads. Through these relations he is in better position to represent Georgia in the United States senate — her people, her commercial, financial and agricultural interests and to ren der effective aid and service to Geor gia soldier and sailor boys, fighting for Americanism and Democracy,— than probably any other Georgian now in the public eye. Mr. Harris’ elec tion will mean that the good same of Georgia will be redeemed from the charge of disloyalty and “kaiserism” with which it has been staine'd by the misrepresentation of the recent past. HENRY COUNTY WEEKLY, McDONOUGH, GEORGIA BRITISH CAPTURE 17,000 PRISONERS L. DESPERATE STAND MADE BY THE GERMANS TO CHECK BRITISH AROUND BAPAUME WHOLE TEUToTIINE IN PERIL The French Troops Have Reached Territory North Of Soissons, Now Increases Danger Of Germans New York, Notwithstanding the fact that the Germans have brought up strong reinforcements on both wings of the battle front, the British and French forces everywhere have beaten off the enemy and continued their vitcorious progress. Many additional towns have been captured by Field Marshal Haig’s men in the north, while the French have successfully overcome obstacles placed in their way and reached territory north of Soissons which adds further to the danger of the Germans in the Noyon sector, and to their line running eastward from Soissons to Rheims. All along the front from Arras to the Somme the Germans are gradual ly being driven back to the old Hin denburg line by the British. Along the Somme the enemy is being harass ed well to the east of Bray, while farther north strong counter attacks have been repulsed and the town of Mametz, the Mametz wood, Martin puich Lesars and Leßarque have been captured. It is around Bapaume that the Ger mans are keeping up their strongest efforts to hold back the tide that is surging against them, but the British are continuing to make slight gains daily in the process of surrounding the town, which seemingly soon must be evacuated. The taking of Lesars and Leßarque appears to be a forerunner of this eventuality. Le Barque is only 2 1-2 miles southwest of Bapaume. NO STRAIGHT FLOUR FOR UNITED STATES 80 Per Cent Wheat And 20 Per Cent Other Grains Ordered By Herbert Hoover ♦ - New York. —The Ignited States will share with the allies their sacrifice of food as well as blood in the cause of world democracy, declared Federal Food Administrator Hoover, on his arrival here, en route to Washington, after a visit to England and France. Asserting that “we have to make good,’’ a pledge to this effect which he has given to the allied food admin istrators while sitting “at a common table in a common cause,’’ Mr. Hoover said, to do so, America will next year have to supply the allies four billion pounds of fats, nine hundred million pounds of beef products, five hundred million bushels of cereals and one mil lion five hundred thousand tons of sugar. However, Mr. Hoover added, beginning September 1, there will be no need for drastic food rationing in the allied countries, except in the case of sugar and beef. In a statement dealing with the sit uation Mr. Hoover says: “By the great effort of our farmers our United States harvests are better this year, but in order that we may build up a surplus of wheat this year, as against crop failures, such as w r e had last year, we have decided to mix 20 per cent of other grains w r ith w r heat flour in all the countries fighting Ger many. We cannot ask for better bread than France, and w r e propose the American people should maintain a common standard of bread with them.’’ Lusitania Horror Not On Cunard Line New York.—The Cunard Steamship company cannot be held liable for loss of lie and property in the torpedoing of the Lusitania by a German subma rine, according to a decision handed down in the admiralty branch of the United States district court by Judge Mayer. “The cause of the sinking of the Lusitania was the illegal act of the imperial German government, act ing through its instrument, the sub marine commander,’’ declared Judge Mayer, who held that “the fault, there fore, must be laid upon those who are responsible for the sinking of the ves sel in the legal as well as moral sense.” - • Stabilize Prices, Say Cotton Seed Men New Orleans. “Stabilize food prices or let the law* of supply and demand have full sway,” is the de mand food administrators from zone six. comprising the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ok lahoma, Tennessee and Texas, will on September 4 put up to Federal Food Administrator Hoover, it was decided at a joint meeting here of food ad ministrators and cotfbn seed crushers from the states named. The demand will be made on behalf of the cotton seed industry. GERMANS REVOLUTION General Ludendorff and Associates Take Steps To Stamp Out Insubordination British Headquarters in France. — Germany’s military leaders now have become distinctly worried over the prospects of a revolution in Germany. General Ludendorff, in a captured se cret order, has taken steps to em ploy the assistance of his command ing bfficers and various governmental agencies to help him stamp out the glowing spark which has been seen. The order, which is more illuminating than anything which has come out of Germany in many months, follows: “It has come to my knowledge through a letter addressed to the royal Prussian ministry of war that men on leave of absence have spoken publicly of a revolution which is to break out after the war. “A soldier said to have come from the industrial region of Rhenisch West phalia declared in a train that in his home district men are going ctn leave, taking weapons with them for the aforesaid object and that it was easy to take home German or captured re volvers as well as hand grenades sep arated into two parts. “1 desire that the clothing of men going on leave be searched as test cases before their departure. It will be possible to carry this out at the baths and dressing stations. “I wish to impress upon all superior officers who happen to hear such ob jectionable t,alk or who hear of it through others that they must deal with it at once and without hesitation. The home authorities and the director of military railways have been direct ed to take corresponding measures.” RIOTING IN JAPAN WAS PURELY ECONOMIC People Inspired By Foo4 Shortage And Rage Against The Profiteers Tokio, Japan.—The violence of the food riots and the rapidity with which they enveloped the country have as tonished the Japanese and have con vinced them, though far removed from the center of the war, that they can not escape its consequences, nor re main untouched by the world move ments which the w T ar has set in mo tion. No such disturbance* have con convulsed the nation since the days of the restoration. The movement appears to be en tirely economic and social, and has no political aspect except as it is directed against the Japanese ministry, which is popularly regarded as bureaucratic. From the protest against the prohibi tive price of Japan’s substitute for bread anti-wealth demonstrations de veloped. The property of the rich es pecially was attacked. The residences of a number of millionaires were burn ed to the ground and immense dam age was done to the property of mer chants dealing with the people and, in particular, those suspected of ex cessive profiteering. PRESENT RAIL RATES CONTINUE o*l COTTON Ruling Applies For This Year To Cot ton Shipped In Any Quantities Washington.—Existing freight rates on cotton shipped in any quantities will be continued this year, the rail road administration announces. Allowances to cotton compressors will be raised by the railroads, how ever, by some njethod yet to be work ed out to encourage extra dense'com pression of bales and consequently heavier loading of cars. A plan is under consideration, said a railroad administration announce ment, for establishment of carload rates on cotton next summer with a minimum of 100 standard bales to the car, with less than carload rates on a higher basis. Over 100,000 Huns Bagged Since July 18 Paris. —The allied armies have taken more than 100,000 prisoners since July 18 says Marcel Hutin, in the Echo de Paris. The allies have damaged six German armies since July and the British are now eating into the seventh with the spread of the battle north ward and over a front of seventy miles. Whether the enemy is prepared or unprepared, allied efforts have had the same results and the Germans have been outgeneraled and outfought. United States After Swede Editor London. —At the request of Ira Nel son Morris, American minister to Stockholm, M. Boevgren, the Swedish minister of justice, has ordered that action be brought against the news paper, Aftonblaet, of Stockholm, for having injured a foreign power and making an attempt to interfere with the amicable relations existing between Sweden and the United States, says a Copenhagen dispatch to the Ex change Telegraph company. Mr. Mor ris asks that action be taken because of articles. GERMANS RETREAT ON 50-MIIE LINE • BRITISH MAKE IMPORTANT GAINS ON THEIR PART OF THE FRONT, AND FRENCH ARE ADVANCING NUMEROUS JOWNS TAKEN Badly Worsted From Soissons To Ar-. ras Region, Teutonic Hordes ; Are Forced To Retire New’ York. —Over the fifty-mile bat tle front north of Soissons, the Ger-; man armies are meeting with defeats which apparently spell disaster. Ev erywhere the British and French forces have continued on the attack,; the enemy has been sanguinely worsts ed; and the end of his trials is not yet in sight. To the British over the thirty miles of the fighting zone from the Cojeulj river, southeast of Arras to Lihons, south of the Somme, numerous towns have fallen and enemy territory has; been penetrated to a depth of several miles. Where the French are fighting be tween the Matz river and the terri-; torv north of Soissons, additional good gains have been made in the envel opment of Noyon and the general . maneuver which seefys to crush or drive out the Germans from the sa lient between the Somme and the Ai lette, and to put into jeopardy the entire German line running to Rheims. Notwithstanding the fact that the Germans brought up large numbers of 1 fresh reinforcements in an endeavor to stay the progress of Haig’s armies, their efforts were without avail. Where they were able momentarily to hold back their oncoming foes, the Ger mans finally w r ere forced to cede the ground demanded. And they paid a terrible price in men killed, wounded or made prisoners for their temerity. The entire Arras-Albert road has been crossed by the British. The strongly held positions w’here the Ger mans saw disaster facing them if they fell, were stormed and captured and the British pushed them, going east ward. SUBMARINES SEND THREE VESSELS TO THE BOTTOM Lake Edon, Westbridge and Cubore Were Torpedoed While In Foreign Waters Washington. Sinking of three American vessels in foreign waters by German submarines was announc ed by the na\*y department. The steamship Lake Edon, army-charter ed cargo transport, w r as sunk on Au gust 21; the United States Steamship Westbridge of 8,800 tons on August 16, and the United States Steamship Cu bore of 7,300 tons on August 15. Sixteen of the crew of the Lake Edon are missing, thirty-nine having been accounted for. The names of the missing have not been reported to the navy department. Three men w r ere reported lost in the sinking of the Westbridge. There was no loss of life among the crew of the Cubore. Diomed Sent Down Off Atlantic Coast Shelled and torpedoed by a big Ger man submarine just at sunrise the British freighter Diomed was sunk, with the loss of two of her crew’ and w’ounding of many others, 125 miles east of New York. Of the 104 sur vivors, including a number of Chinese seamen, rescued and brought here by another steamship, many had been cut by shrapnel and scalded by steam when a torpedo crashed through the boiler room. Though attacked with out warning, the Diomed’s gun crew answered the German fire, but with out effect. After the twelfth shot at the U-boat, one of the submersible’s shells disabled the freighter’s steer ing gear. The raider’s commander then supplanted gunfire with a a tor pedo. Submarine Stops Swedish Steamer A Swedish freight steamship which arrived at “An Atlantic Port,” was stopped by a German submarine 70 miles off that port and held for an hour while the U-boat examined her papers. The vessel w’as allowed to proceed, the German officer told the freighter’s captain, because he was engaged in carrying foodstuffs for his own country. Britain Leads Allies In Naval Work London. —Interesting figures and percentages concerning allied war ships engaged in anti-submarine war fare have been prepared in London. They show that in the eastern Atlantic 80 per cent of the vessels are Brit ish, 14 per cent American and 6 per cent British. Submarines engaged in hunting submarines in the same wa ters are 78 per cent British, 17 per cent French and 5 per cent American. Of the miscellaneous patrol craft, 86 per cent are British, 11 per cent are French and 3 per cent American.
