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WEATHER FORECAST FOR GEORGIA: RAIN WEDNESDAY: THURSDAY FAIR IN WEST, RAIN IN EAST PORTION: FRESH NORTHEA8T WINDS INCREASING,
ESTABLISHED IN 1826.
MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 14, 1904.
OAILY—87.00 A YEAR
JUDGE SWAYNE MUST GO
TO BAR OF THE SENATE
IMPEACHED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR HIGH
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS—THE FLORIDA'JUDGE WILL NOW
HAVE TO FACE THE TRIBUNAL—FIRST CASE OF IMPEACHMENT
OF A JUDGE IN SEVENTY YEARS.
■WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—Sitting as
a grand jury, the house of representa
tives today, with almost full member
ship and after more than live hours'
discussion, to the exclusion of all other
business, adopted a resolution provid
ing for the impeachment of Judge
Charles Swayne, of the Northern dis
trict of Florida, for "high crimes and
misdemeanors.” The case against the
respondent was clearly set out by Mr.
Palmer of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the sub-committee of the Judiciary
committee which heard the evidence
in the case. He carefully dissected the
evidence bearing on each of the speci
fications, and said that if it were found
that Judge Swayne had done well he
should be vindicated, but if he had
done ill he should be spnt. to trial
"where his excuses and apologies may
or may not receive Vonsideration." He
was followed by Messrs. Clayton of
Alabama. Powers of Massachusetts,
Henry of Texas and Lamar of Florida,
each of whom in most vigorous terms
advocated impeachment. Messrs. Gll-
• lett of California and Littlefield of
Maine. In speeches opposed their col
leagues an all specifications except the
one as to the account rendered to the
government by Judge Swayne.for trav
eling expenses.
Throughout the session intense in
terest was shown by members. Fol
lowing the adoption of the impeach
ment resolution, a provision was made
for the appointment of five members
to notify the senate of the Impeach
ment and for a committee of seven to
present the case to the senate.
Today's proceedings were the first
of their kind since the impeachment
In 1876 of Gen. W. W. Belknap, who
was secretnry of war in President
Grant’s cabinet.
After Mr. Hemenway of Indiana,
from the committee on appropriations,
reported the urgent deficiency bill and
gave notice that he would cair it up
tomorrow. Mr. Palmer of Pennsylva
nia. from the Judiciary committee,
called up the Swayne resolutions.
Speaker Cannon compelled silence'
while it was being rend, remarking
that every member should hear it. Mr.
Palmer then read the specifications
against the Judge, upon which the
committee had baaed its action.
In support of the charge of misbe
havior, Mr. Palmer said the evidence
showed that out of each year Judge
Swayne spent on an average of 212
days somewhere else, neither In his
district holding court, nor outside of
his district holding court. Judge
Swayne, he said, never voted In Flor
ida, never registered there, and never
lived there in any proper sense of the
term.
Mr. Palmer then turned his atten
tion to a review of the evidence taken
before the committee, the main fea
tures of which already have been pub
lished.
As Mr. Palmer detailed the various
amounts paid by Judge Swayne for
board and necessary expenses he was
subjected to a fire of questions by
several members. A question by Mr.
Adams (Pa.) if it was the custom of
the other Judges to accept the maxi
mum of 310 a day for expenses, roused
Mr. Palmer, who answered with an
emphatic "No,” adding thnt If it was
the custom it would be no evidence in
this case. “We are,” he said with
emphasis, "trying the case of Judge
Charles Swayne and not all the other
judges of the United States.”
Replying to Mr. Lacey (Iowa) Mr.
Palmer said the committee did not
look Into the question of whether or
not the rate of 310 a day was a fixed
allowance, not thinking it relevant.
The charge against Judge Swayne of
swearing that his expenses were 310 a
day when In fact these expenses were
proven to be considerably less, he said,
stands unexplained and undefended by
the Judge.
In order that It might be considered
as part of the record in the case and
taken into aceouut in making up the
decision of the house, Mr. Clayton
(Ala.) quoted from a decision of the
court of claims regarding what may
be regarded as proper expenses of a
Judge.
After concluding his resume of the
evidence, Mr. Palmer said that If Judge
Swayne had done well, he ought to be
vindicated and sent out with the com-
mendotlon "Well done, good and faith
ful servant.” If Judge Swayne had
done ill he ought tq be sent to trial
"Where his excuses and apologies may
or may not receive consideration.”
If the house was of the opinion that
Judge Swayne’s conduct had been
commendable "let him go scot free,’
but he added, amid Impressive silence,
"In my Judgment It will be a sorry day
for the republic when such behavior
is commended by the representatives
of the people.”
The courts, he declared, are" the re
fuge of the weak, defenceless and op
pressed, and upon their integrity and
purity depends the preservation of life,
liberty and property.
The fact that there had been no Im
peachment of a judge for more than
seventy years was sufficient evidenc
of the efficiency. Integrity and honor
of the courts. Mr. Palmer, closed by
saying:
"That |hey may be kept pure and
free from all reproach Js my prayer and
my hope and for that reason I shall
vote to Impeach the Hon. Charles
Swayne."
Without distinction, as to party Mr.
Palmer was loudly applauded as he
took nts seat
Mr. Clayton (Ala. a member of the
Judiciary committee, followed, devot
ing much timo to d discussion of what
constituted high ''t1n*rs and misde
meanors. "This man is unworthy of
his high office.’ he said, taking up the
merits cf the case. He was sure that
the house, if It was satisfied from the
testimony that Judge Swayne was an
unjust and unworthy man. would not
hesitate to see that the formal charges
are mad** against him "And he be.ar
raigned at the bar of the senate and
there tried."
CLTATT CASE
IN HIGH COUET
One of the Georgia “Peon
age” Prosecutors
ARGUMENT IS BEGUN
Mr. Clayton was particularly severe
In his arraignment of what he charac
terised as Judge Swayne’s excuses
and exculpatory testimony regarding
his failure to acquire a residence in
Pensacola.
"Ah," he said, striking his desk,
"when he studies the case and the
report he says that he did not swear
far enough apd he now tiptoes on this
question of residence." Judge
Swayne’s amended testimony, he de
clared, amounted to but little, because
when the Judge took steps to acquire
a residence in his district, "he had
wind of these impeachments proceed
ings.”
Continuing, Mr. Clayton said that
the impeachable offense of Judge
Swayne in. violating the statute as to
residence had been committed and
could not be cured by the judge's sub-'
sequent acts.
The question of Judge Swayne’s
residence also was discussed by Mr.
Gillette (Cal.) who insisted that Judge
Swayne *had distinctly shown an in
tent to make Pensacola his home. All
the effort and industry of the parties
making the charges against Judge
Swayne, he said,’ had not produced a
single witness who said Judge Swayne
resided or had a home in Delaware.
To his mind. Mr. Gillette contended,
it made no difference if Judge Swayne
was not in Pensacola over 20 days a
year# because he might have been
somewhere else "doing business for
his country."
The record, he declared, showed
that Judge Swayne went to Florida,
Alabama and Texas to hold court
"There was no evidence," he main
talned, "that anybody suffered injury
by reason of the fact that Judge
Swayne was not in Florida. The Ju
dicial acts of Judge Swayne were
next taken tip by Mr. Gillette who
justified them on the ground that
Judge Swayne not only had the legal
right to act as he did In teh several
oases complained of, but also hac| Jur
isdiction so to do.
While he admitted in 'reply to
question by Mr. Palmer that traveling
over the country by Judge Swayne in
a private car of the Jacksonville,
Tampa and Key West railroad then
in the hands of a receiver .appointed
by Judge Swayne, was a thing that
ought not perhaps to have been done.
It did not constitute an offense of that
enormity, Involving that turpitude
that should f caupe his impeachment;
No harm nor'injury, he argued, were
done, nor was It shown that It was Jn
tended for any corrupt purposes.
The subject of the amounts, charged
by Judge Swayno and sworn to ns
hnving bpen expended by him for
reasonable expenses, wfca, said Mr.
Gillette, a'matter requiring considera
tion and unless explained away <nnd
excused by some circumstance was
serious accusation. If the 310 a day,
said, was collected by Judge
Swayne with wrongful Intent, fully
believing and knowing he had no law
ful right to the same, its collection
should rot be excused. But he nr-
gued. If it was collected by Judge
Swayne in the honest belief that he
was allowed a fixed sum of $10 a day
regardless of the actual amount of his
expenses, he should be excused.
“This," said he, "is the only question
worthy of consideration.”
Mr. Mnnn (Ills.) provoked laughter
by calling attention to the fact that
Mr. Gillette had made a report in the
case one way and a speech to the
other, and he tried to secure a cate
gorical answer ns to whether or not he
thought the resolution should pass.
'When the roll call comes,” said Mr.
Gillette, “the gentleman from Califor
nia will tell you.”
"Then,” retorted Mr. Mann. "I shall
be compelled to vole after the gentle
man.”
If you will follow the gentleman
from California,” quickly replied Mr.
Gillette, "you may vote correctly.”
This response was greeted with ap
plause from a number sitting around
him.
Vigorously urging the adoption of
the resolution of impeachment, Mr.
Henry of'Texas declared that Mr. Oil-
lett had made an argument in favor of.
emasculating the charges against
Judge Swayne, except the one count
of improperly certifying to his rea
sonable expenses. Judge Swayne. he
said, should be Impeached for "misbe
havior, corruption and tyranny as a
Judge,” and he urged the house to vote
in favor of the resolution and send the
charges to the senate.
Mr. Powers of Massachusetts de
clared that the real question wai
whether Judge Swayne ought to be lip'
peached upon one or more articles of
the specifications. He reminded the
house that It had no constitutional
power to pass on the guilt or inno
cence of the respondent. "We have no
right.” he said, "to take from him the
presumption of innocence which he
enjoys tinder the constitution.'
the.house had to do, he said, was to
say whether there had been a probable
cause of guilt. If the path of duty in
this case, he argued, was beset with
doubt he would gladly accord the ben
efit of that doubt to Judge Swayne,
"but,” said he, "to my mind the path
of duty Is not beset with doubt. The
question, he contended, was one In
volvlng the liberty of American cltl
sens, and he thought that the one act
alone of Judge Swayne’s arbitrarily
fining and imprisoning two members
of the bar of his court was In Itself a
stench In the nostrils of the people.
Disagreeing with Mr. Powers that
the question was one of probable cause,
Mr. Littlefield of Maine said he did not
fee! that the facts as they were dis
closed by the record had been stated.
Upon all the specifics lions except the
one of the expense account, Mr. Lit
tlefield defended Judge Swayne. He
would not. he said,'vote for any speci
fication he felt the senate would not
sustain.
"If you believed.” interjected Mr.
Henry- of Texas, "Judge Swayne acted
fraudulently in rnnklng these accounts,
don’t you think these other specific*-
Congressman Brantley Makes the First
Presentation—Senator Bacon Also to
Appear — Attorney-General Moody
Files a Brief in Which He Sets Forth
the Government’s Position—Upon
Decision Other Cases Will Depend.
SECRETS OF
MORMON CREED
Revelations Forced Out ol'
Prominent. .Members
BOLL WEEVIL
BOMBARDED
HORRIFYING STORIES
Awful Penalties Agreed to by Thbse
Going Through the Endowment
House, Should They Reveal Their
Experiences and Obligations—Polyg
amy Practiced in Fact, Though Not
in Name—Mormon Religion Taught
in Schools.
VARDAMAN ON STAND
WASHINGTON. Dec. 13.—Argument
was begun today In the supreme court
of the United States in the case of
Samuel M. Clyatt vs. the United
States, in which the court is called
upon to deal with the question of
peonage. Clyatt is a resident of Geor
gia who. In 1902, was convicted In the
federal courts of that state and sen
tenced to four years Imprisonment at
hard labor on the charge of having held
two negroes in peonage on account of
debt, in violation of section 5, 626 of
the revised statutes.
Attorney Wm. G. Brantley made the
first presentation of the case. He ap
peared for Clyatt and claimed that the
record failed to establish the fact that
the men were held in unlawful servi
tude. the apprehension being in the
nature of an arrest. Senator Bacon
also appears in the case for Clyatt,
while Attorney-General Moody will
represent the government.
The attorney-general has filed a brief
In which he says, speaking of the im
portance of the case:
Immediately upon the certification
of this case to the supreme court sev
eral of the district judges in the fifth
circuit, in which numerous prosecu
tions for violations of this statute were
pending, refused to try any of the
cases, and postponed the same to nw f alt
the decision of the court in this case.
It is, therefore, quite evident thnt the
executive arm of the law, so far at
least as the enforcement of this statute
Is concerned, is practically paralyzed.
Notwithstanding the fact that several
United States courts have held this
law to be constitutional, the govern
ment is powerless to compel Its en
forcement or observance, even In the
most typical and flagrant cases. We
think we may truthfully say that up
on. the decision of this case hangs the
liberty of thousands of persons, moat
ly colored, it Is true, who are now be
ing held in a condition of Involuntary
servitude. In many bases worse than
slavery Itself, by tho unlawful acts of
individuals not only in violation of the
13th amendment to the constitution,
but In violation of the law which we
have here under consideration.”
Encouraging Report as to Probsbllity
of a Large Congressional Appropri
ation—Address by Dr. Hunter, the
Government Expert—Expression of
1*hanks to Secretary Wilson snd
Others—Governor Vardaman Saye
Appropriation is Claimed as Matter
of Right.
tlons would throw light An his Int-
tent?” ■
"No,” replied Mr. Littlefield, "I don’t
think this house In an Impeachment
proceeding will undertake to present
to the senate and stand before tho
people on the proposition that It
necessary to rely upon the atmosphere
created by unsustalned charges to sus
tain a charge that is vague In its char
acter.” He was driven, however, ho
said, to the conclusion thnt the evi
dence disclosed In the case of the ex
pense account could not be Ignored.
Mr. Lamar of Flbrlda, who filed the
original chnrges against Judge
Bwayne; closed the discussion by de
nouncing the Judge ns tyrannical and
corrupt. He congratulated the people
of Florida and of the whole country
that there was at leait.one specification
Up6fi 1 which nil were unanimous, and
that was that Judgo H way no "hnd
knocked the federal government out
of money that ought to bo In thq fed
eral treasury."
Mr. Palmer moved the previous
question on the resolution, with an
amendment providing for Judge
Swayne’s impeachment of "high
crimes and misdemeanors.” The orig
inal resolution specified only "high
misdemeanor." The prcv'ous question
was ordered, 198 to 61. The vote then
recurred on the resolution, which was
agreed to without division.
Immediately after the adoption of
the impeachment resolution, Mr. Pal
mer offered the following, which was
adopted:
Resolved, That a committee of five
go to the senate and at the bar In
the name of the house of representa
tives and of all the people of the
United Statea to Impeach Charles
Swayne. Judge of the district court of
the United States for the Northern
district of Florida, cf high crime In
office, and to acquaint the senate thnt
the house of representatives will In
due time exhibit particular articles of
Impeachment against him and make
good the same, and that the commit
tee demand that the senate take order
for the appearance of the said Charles
Swayne to answer to said Impeach
ment.”
Another resolut'on waa adopted pro
viding that a committee of seven be
appointed to prepare and report arti
cles of Impeachment against Judge
Swayne. This resolution Mr. Little
field unsuccessfully sought to amend
by substituting the words "committee
on Judiciary” for the word "seven.”
The speaker thereupon appointed si
the committee to carry the impeach
ment into the senaty Messrs. Palmer
of Pennsylvania, Jenkins of Wlscon
sin. Glllett of California. Clayton of
Alabama and Smith of Kenturky.CH
The house adjourned until tomorrow.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13— Five wit
nesses were examined today by tho
senate committee on privileges and
elections in tho investigation of pro
tests against Senator Reed Smoot re
taining his seat In tho senate. Tho
first described tho obligation takep by
persons to pass through the Endow
inent house, and declared that every
one agrees to submit to mutlilatlon of
the person if he or she reveals what
takes place during thq ceremony. Two
members of the faculty of tho Brigham
Young University tostitted that they
have sustained polygamous relations
since the manifesto of 1890, and
teacher in tho public schools asserted
that the church had religion taught in
such schools.
J. H. Wallis, Sr„ of Balt Lake, said
he hnd stood proxy four times for mar
riages of living women to dead men,
He had been through tho Endowment
house twenty times. Ho waa asked to
give the oaths taken by those who par
ticljiated In the ceremonies and this
he 'did, together with a description of
the secret signs executed by each per
son. Nearly all of the obligations were
that those who took part would not
revenl anything they saw or heard on
penalties of mutilation of tho person,
and every one who passed through tho
temple,* said the witness, was com
pelled to agree to the conditions laid
down by the priests.
The penalties agreed to, were given
by Mr. Wallis as fqjlows: 1 \
That the throat be'vut from
ear und the tongue torn out.
That the breast be out asunder and
the heart and vitals be torn from tho
body.
That the body be cut nsuhfor at the
middle and the bowels cut out.
That if demanded we will give nil
e possess to the support of the
church.
The negt obligation was pno of
chastity, in which the obligator agreed
not to cohabit with arty, person not
given him or her by the priests.
Another obttgntion was one that we
would "never cense to .importune high
heaven to avenge the blood of the proph
ets upon the nations of Ui*.*arth. or tho
Inhabitants of the • earth. I Won’t
member which," said the witness. ' T Thlx
was followed by n quoin I Ion from th.
scriptures. I think Hevelntlons 6:9, "The
souls of those slain erlod aloud
tars for vengeance.* “
tile nl
Mr. Wallis, when cross-examined, said
said he had nlwnyr considered the ohllgn
tlons In the light of a Joke and that Ik
thought mnny others had considered them
In the same way.
Georg* II. Krnmhall, president of tho
Brigham Young University,* testified that
he had two wives, married before 1890.
He said Henntor Hmoot frequently ad
dressed the students ami always urged
he hnd taken no steps to conform to law
In relation to marriages.
"Then, ns you understand It. you are
not legally married to your present wife?''
peeclies Hurled at Him by
the Planters
MINNEAPOLIS LOSES
MILLIONS BY FIRE
PROBABLY THE WORST FIRE THE CITY HAS EVER KNOWN—IM
PORTANT BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS IN TrfE CENTER OF
THE CITY GO UP IN SMOKE—THE DESTRUCTION OF ABOUT
$5,000,000 IN PROPERTY THIS MORNING.
asked Mr. Taylor.
who became his second wife In 189-). ...
Mexico and thnt the ceremony had V>*en
performed while they were walking
through the country. He said there were
no polygamous marriages performed In
the United dtntes nt that time.
Mrs. Margaret Geddtn of Halt Labe said
she became the plural wife of William
fSeddes in Logans. Utah. Hhe had four
children. Her husband died In Oregon
and she then went to har husband a first
and there a baby was horn. Hhe broke
down crying as she gave tills testimony.
It was brought out that her husband
died thirteen years ago. and thnt her
youngest child Is five and a half years
old. Hhe said she had not been married
a second time, and refused to give tho
name of her youngest child's father.
Arthur Morning, a teacher in tne pub
lic schools of Utah, said he had been
called on to conduct religion classes In
from tho books on Mormontsm sent to the
school*. These t>ook* contained lessons
for all grades, from the primary to the
advanced grades The lessons were largely
composed of sketches of ths lives of
prominent Mormons, umong them the
'resident of the church and the apostles,
BANKER FISHER TRIAL
Charged with Crand Larceny in making
False Representations.
NEW YORK. Dec. 13.—George
Fisher, a hanker of this city, was
given a hearing before n magistrate
today on a charge of grand larceny In
connection with the underwriting of
a 115.6000 note for the Southern Tex
tile soirpany. Peter IL Corr. of Phil
ndelphla. testified today that T. Ashby
Blythe and himself paid Mr. Fisher
$7..*»00 on Fisher's representation that
he had paid the ft|)l viuue of the note.
After h legal wrangle the hearing was
postponed until tomorrow. The com
plainants allege that Fisher did not pay
the note as he
ndudlng 8*nator Hmoot.
Senator Hopkins asked Mr. Taylor what
tie expected to prove by that query.
”W« are proving.” raid Mr. Taylor,
"that the Mormon church la teaching ft*
religion nt public sspenso, and that the
’ neons are largely composed Of blographs
' men who are 'notorious* polygamists."
The committee adjourned until
row.
tomor-
TRAVELLING PASSENGER AGENTS.
American Association Holding Session In
Meslco City.
MEXICO CITY. Dec. JJ.—The Amcricon
Association of Travelling Passenger
Agents today elected Jay W. Adams of
Ban Francisco president; C. K. Beniamin
of Bt. Iannis, vice-president; K. W. land
man of Toledo, O., secretary and treas
urer.
Portland Ore., wss chosen as the next
place of meeting without opposition, the
time to l»e fixed by the executive com
mittee, which will be appointed by Pres
ident Adams.
WOMAN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
Sends a Ball Through Mother's Picture
Into Her Breast.
SAVANNAH. Oa., Dee. It.—An un
known white woman tonight attempted to
comroi* rulcide at the Casino at Thunder
bolt. Hhe shot herself In the breast the
bullet going through the picture of her
mother. The woman’s .Identity cannot
be established fib* Js about 30 years
old. good looking and dressed f n mourn
ing. Bhe lx now nt the Park View sanlta-
Hum and It cannot yet be told whether
she will live or dfe.
Oil Fields Beinr: Destroyed.
HOUSTON. Tex os, Dec. 13.—Reports
received from Humble oil field state
that $30,000 damage has been done dur
ing the last twelve hour?* by blow outs
or fissures opening In the ground and
emitting dense volumes''of gag. prac
tically every rig erected with!
past few* days has be-1. damaged or
destroyed. Mud is blown from the
fissures and the well* rover several
acres of ground sr-r-j t. chcj In
thickness.
SHREVEPORT, La., Dec. 18.—Ta-
day’s sessions of the National Cotton
convention were largely taken up with
speeches by prominent delegates and
discussions of the boll weovll problem.
Probably the most Important addresses
were those of Dr. W. D. Hunter, of the
bureau of entomology, department of
grlculture nnd Prof. J. H. Connell,
editor of the Form and Ranch of Dal
las. Texns.
At the afternoon session Governor
Vardaman of Mississippi appeared ot
the stage. He was greeted with ap
pica use and addressed the delegates
briefly
Ho hnd no doubt hut thnt the federal
government would lend Its financial as
sistance to any proper method to check
the ravages of the weevil—not as
gift but ns a matter of right; for. ho
said, tho Southern states contributed
their Just share of taxation for the ad
ministration of the national govern
ment.
The first session was called to order
by Permanent Chairman Peters
promptly at 10 o'clock. Ho introduced
Dr. L. O. Howard, chief of the bureau
of entomology. Dr. Howard said he
was here as the personal representative
of Secretary Wilson nnd he spoke of
the intertlt tho secretary Is taking in
the fight on the boll weevil.
Mr. Howard brielly reviewed the his
tory of the insect In Texas and Louis
hum fields nnd said that Dr. W. D
Hunter whb has so much valuable
practical experience In combatting the
spread of tho pest, would explain the
work of the government more fully.
Dr. Hunter was Introduced and spoke
ns followgtfll^^HI^^HHpBpMHi
Dr. W. D. Hunter, who has charge
of the boll weevil Investigations of the
United States department of ngrlctil
lure spoke upon "The Boll Weevil Bit'
uatlon." He said In part.
"Tho ruvugos of tho boll weevil have
affected not only the cotton producers
of Texas, ns well ns of tho United
Btntes. but havo also disturbed the
general economic conditions through
out the South, and have caused din
turbnnrcs in every quarter of the globe
where American cotton Is used In the
factories. It has caused every person
Jn the world, who uses cotton In any
form to pay more for It than formerly,
The pest was first known to occur
Texas In the vicinity of Brownsville
about 1892. HI nee that date It has ad
vanced annually 40 to 60 miles, and
there seems no probability that it will
not eventually reach all parts of the
Houth where cotton Is produced, If
does not Indeed reach other cottoit,prn<
during cduntrles. At present the In
rested territory covers practically all
of the cotton producing counties
Texas and the larger portion of six
parishes in Louisiana. Numerous re
ports regarding the occurrence of thft
the pest outside of the states thst have
been mentioned have been Investigated
nnd found to be erroneous.
Careful investigations of the life
history of the pest reveal few factors
that seem to Indicate that It will d|e
out ns hns been tho case with some of
the Injurious Inserts, although It is
not beyond the range of possibilities
thnt some such an occurrence may
eventually tnke plaee, The only sug
gestion thnt has been offered towards
cheeking the Invasion of the pest is
in the establishment of a wide zone
of land In which the cultivation of
cotton should be prohibited. On ac
count of the many dlfflcutle* III the
way of such n procedure and on ac
count of the reasonable degree of sue
cess that has attended efforts toward
controlling the pest In Texas, It seemed
doubtful if such means would be just!
fled.
"The effects of the ravages of the
boll weevil In Texas may bo lummnr-
rlzed os follows:
”1. It has during the past five years
caused a loss of At lenst 80 millions of
dollars,
"2. It hns Increased decidedly the
area required to produce a bale of cot
ton.
3. It has practically destroyed the
credit of.the small farmer, who has
been In the habit of depending upon
cotton, although farmers who have
diversified their crops are still able to
obtain necessary credit.
"4. It has had the effect of driving
large numbers of negroes from the cot
ton lands of the state. Negroes lend
themselves poorly to the modifications
In the system of producing the staple
which are necessary on account of the
ravages of the pent. Intensive cull
vation. to which negroes can h
brought only with great difficulty, is
one of the great essentials In produc
ing a crop,
”5. It has forced a diversification of
crops, and In this way Is considered by
mnny parlies as a beneficent Influence.
While this may be the ultimate result
of the work of the boll weevil, the de
pression that comes from the changes
necessary before a complete system of
diversification may he followed Is ap
parent to all parties who have Inves
tigated the matter In Texas. %
“It will be noted that cotton pro-
dudon In Texas has decreased an
nuailly (with the exception of ohe year,
1900) since the Invasion of the pest,
ulthough the reduction has not, on the
whole, been very decided. This ab
sence of a great falling off In produc
lion Is due to two principal factors. Cl)
that there has been a consldrable fit
crease In acreage, and it) following the
must be followed to mitigate the dam
age by tho pest. The system recom
mended by the department of agricul
ture. as the result of several years
study of the habits of the pest, and
experiments upon a large scale In va
rious parts of Texas Is now generally
known as the "Cultlural System." The
greatest danger to be feared from a
further invasion of the cotton belt is
ttyit this system, which has been found
to work well In Texas, may be less ap
plicable elsewhere. Mnny conditions
of climate and plantation practice show
that there will be Increased difficulty
when the pest reaches the alluvial
lands, which produce the bulk of the
crop In tho eastern portion of the belt.
This emphasizes the continuation of
the experimental work of the depart
ment In regions that are about to be
come Invaded.
A telegram to Dr. Howard from a
friend In Washington was read to the
convention und It was received with a
storm of appleause. It was as follows:
bill approplnting $226,000 for
further Investigation by the depart
ment of agriculture was considered
favorably yesterday by a sub-mmmlt-
tee of the b n use of representatives and
will today be considered by tho full
committee on agriculture."
Chairman Peters was instructed to
send a telegram of thanks to the sub
committee expressing the appreciation
of tho convention for Its pfompt action
In regard to the appropriation. A tel
egram also was ordered to he sent to
Secretary Wilson for his earnest ef
forts in connection with the appropria
tion.
Dr. Otto Gngzow, Imperial German
agricultural nnd forestry expert, rep
resenting Baron Speck Von Sternberg,
the German ambassador to tho United
Stales, opened the proceedings of the
afternoon session by reading n paper
on "The World’s interest In Cotton."
He said:
"Concerning the cotton question, not
only tho United States but Oermnny
and the whole world has mj, intense
Interest In It. Germany Is a great cot
ton consumer, but we cun never pro
duce cotton In olir country. A few
years ago we stnrted cotton raising In
our colonies, but up to the present
time the growth, when compared with
the immense production of America, is
inconsiderable. This great production
and your excellent methods nro two
of the grent reasons why Germany
must lenrn from thd United Siutes how
to cultivate cotton. I ea'me to this
convention only ns a learner, not ns nn
Instructor."
Dr. Osgsow said nn old enemy of
cotton, the army worm, had been con
quered. and he saw po reason why the
boJI weevil should not ho exterminated
MINNEAUOLTS, Dec. 14.—Probably
the worst fire that the city of Minne
apolis has ever known is now raging
here and at 12:30 o'clock three million
dollars worth of property has teen de
stroyed, with prospecta that the total
loss will reach at lenst five millions.
The fire started In the photographic
supply fiouse of O. H. Peck & Co., on
Fifth street and First Avenue south,
and In less than one-half hour this
building was a mass of wreckage.
Next to the Peck building Is the fur
niture supply house of Routed Bros.,
tho largest house of Its kind in the
Northeast This building soon caught
fire and Is now burning, the sparks
from it being carried blocks by the
north wind which Is blowing, aided by
zero weather. The firemen are ex
periencing severe difficulty In their
work which has not as yet been ef
fective, ns the fire Is burning Itself out
In one or two buildings, and their
work is entirely directed to the build
ings In close proximity In an attempt
to save them. It Is reported that threo
firemen have already lost their lives.
At 1:30 o’clocic there was still no
abatement In the fire, and though
several buildings which it was expect
ed would go have been saved, the
three burning now must burn them
selves out. The firemen of this city
and St. raul are paying no attention
to the burning buildings, but are giv
ing all their efforts toward saving
property within the block by .throwing
water on the adjoining property.
Bou tel I Bros, and Peck’s stores nro
total wrecks and ail still burning
fiercely, and though the Powers Mer
cantile store has been saved from tho
flomes It has been heavily damaged by
water.
Several live wires have been burned
down and it Is Impossible to toll how
many * people were struck by them ns
e crowd Is immense Within a radius
several blocks of tho conflagration.
It Is estimated the total To.mm will
nch more than four millions.
suggestion of the bureau of entomology
of the United States department of
agriculture arid their own sxperience,
th* planters of* Texas are becoming
familiar with the proper system that | piny.
MUST GO TO PRISON
District of Columbia Court of Appr.il
Affirms th# Sentence of the Trial Cour
In the Matter of the Postoffice Grafter
WABniNGTON. Dec. 18,—Ths Dlstrh
of f’nluinbln court of ejipenls today n
firmed tho derision of the orlmlnnl rou
In tint postal ••onsplracy cases «.f Auf
W. Mnchen. George K. Lorens, Hamuel .
Groff and Hiller ll. Groff, who were n*
tenred.to two y.*ars Imprlwuimont In t
West Virginia penitentiary ami to p
a tine of 410,000.
The court of appeals announced th
after considering every point made
counsel no error had bona found In f
proceedliac.% in the trial for tvhlcjs t
K"' TiinU'
Id lint t|
fed for hr
list if tho lower cot:
llifr* line of ntguinci
tli.it the counsel f n
os la I cnsei
km to the
*n will I
by agricultural methods.
Dr. William Stubbs, director of the MArHPN I HDPN7 PT VI
I#oul*lann experiment station, also fid- UlrlV/IIL#li, L.vH\L#li£* LI AL-
dressed the convention.
The Night Session. *
At a meeting tonight of tho South
ern Cotton Growers’ Protective Asso
ciation. presided over by President
Harvlc P. Jordan of Georgia, the fol
lowing resolution was unanimously
adopted:
The Southern Cotton Growers' Pro
tective Association recognises that tho
Houth faces a monetary crisis, due to
the recent depression In the price nt
her grent money staple crop, cotton.
The resolution speaks of the bearish
speculative Influences nnd continues:
"We know that nt the present prices W.? 4 J > * !nV4m * UliTy an < 4 40 W
ot manufactured cotton goods nnd tho
splendid trade condition throughout
the civilized world that the mills enn
nbmrb Ihi- entire output nr the prenonl Hnne.Yt I" !*•
rop nt 10 cents per pound, paid to the The opinion called
producers. We, therefore, earnestly US!-' 1
upon holders of spot cotton
In the Houth to stand firmly to- trials" Hiibve.juentl/w
gather ntul demand a minimum price
of 10 rents per pound for tho remain
der of the cotton crop In their posses
sion. We earnest ly Invoke the aid of
bankers, merchants and other allied
trade Interests throughout the Houth
In successfully resisting the present
crisis which confronts Southern agri
culture and commercial Interests, nnd
we wish to emphasize our high appre
ciation of tho voluntary proposition of
the Southern hankers to finance ths
present situation.
We urge the farmers of the South
to organise as speedily its possible. In
order thnt they may have a uniform
system of co-operation and protection,
“We authorise the president of this
association to confer with the official |
heads of allied organisations through
out the Honth for the purpose of hold- I that
ing n Southern Interstate convention
at the city of New Orleans, or other
conveniently located city In the cotton
belt, on the fourth Tuesday In Janu
ary, 1906, to consider the best Interests
of the producer* with reference to the
cotton industry for 1905.
We urge curtailment In production
of cotton and an Increased production
of food supply crops. ^V© congratu
late the producers of the South In the
firm and loyal stand they have taken
since December 3. and their financial
ability to bold their cotton and pre
vent Its confiscation at prices which are by '
Illegitimate and below the cost of pro- . Gsp*.
duction."
A’ resolution was also passed com
mending the correctness of the repre- . Th*_Moulton »*rucK .
(tentative* of the government statis
tician at Washington."
It |m prolmflii
defense In the |
to curry llu* ca
of the United S
THAT COLLEGE "JOKE.”
It Proves to Hsvo an Altogether i
Character.
LYNCH in TUG. Va.,i l* f c. 13.—A
frotn Hlarksiiur#:, to tWNews slat
the position of the fsctitty m r#
the trouble with the; Junior cist;
substance as follows; . •
That a member w*s dismissed
of the party who hung In efflssr t‘
The prei
nnd contended th
nt nnd Wt in
.Ids that r.uch a
their connection
other words, dl»r
tlon hf
SCHOONER SAVED.
The Schooner Rebscca
NB WIIAVEN, Con
sehooner Rebecca J. M
Jer. from Oeorgoton. I
which was ashore for
SOUTHERN TEXTILE COMPANY.
NEWARK. N. J.. Dec. II.—Vice
Chancellor Pitney today signed an or*
der directing F. F. Guild receiver foi
the Southern Textile Company to sell
the property of the company. Thomas
A. Darby, a director, large stockhold
er and heavy creditor of the concern,
secured the appointment of a receiver
several days ago, alleging that It was
Insolvent.
George K. Fisher, a banker. Is under
arrest In New York on a charge of
grand la teeny for alleged diversion of
$7,500 s-ild to have been pi Id him by
two underwriters of a note of $15,000
In' favor of the Southern Textile Corn-
tag* City, snd at one
that she would go to pie
however, gradually wash
er water, and she anchoi
position until reached b)
LUCKY HOTEL CLERK.
Receives Ch-W for -10.000 From « 1
Hr 0«fr>en#rd
NASHVILI j- -i I '• • 1“ Hou-
Bond. a clerk In a ! i rx "t<!
city, received s corn; • -i • '* I'fln m«
Ing from Evansville. •’ f*»r* J’»*
Four years ago an old g- 1 • '
the sidewalk Ip front of tns haw
M-v*-rely Im r -•'. hln»>* if M*
tint!
IP as- stat'.'*-. lift' d I im
ground and cared for hln
recovered. Th* cheek this
Russia’s Pj
LISBON. I'onus
squadron