The Macon telegraph. (Macon, Ga.) 188?-1905, December 14, 1904, Image 1

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Subscriber’s Paper-Not for Sale THE MACON TELEGRAPH 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