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* CLINCH COUNTY NEWS VOL. III. KANSAS CITY IS SELECTED As the Place For Holding the Next National Democratic Convention. BATE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 Milwaukee Jlade a Strong Fight For the Honor But Was Defeated The Democratic national commit tee met in the parlors of the Hotel Raleigh at Washington, Thursday at noon, to fix the time and place for holding the national Democratic con- rention. The committee was called to order by Senator Jones, chairman of the committee. Every state and ter¬ ritory was represented either by the national committeeman or by proxy. Kansas City, Missouri, and Wednes¬ day, the 4th of July, was the time and place decided upon for the convention. The really significant thing about this decision is found in the absolute and decided refusal of the Democratic leaders to hold their convention on the 9th of May, tho date on which the Popnlist national convention will be held. The sentiment against the prop¬ osition to hold the convention on that day was practically unanimous. Its strongest advocate was National Committeeman Thompson, of Nebras¬ ka, who in some respects has been re¬ garded as Mr. Eryau’s personal sontative on ®e committee. That iu his advocacy of this dete he did not represent the withes or Mr. Bryan, however, was strongly attested by other members of the committee who h ■. in conference with the i< Mie member from his own state nan meu him. Mr. Bryan was in favor of some day in the. first week iu JunsJ preferably 5th -and th«committee would have selected that date except for the stj aa g-*' appeals made by the from Oregon, who -pointed out this would conflict with thoir elec- tions, and that they would he unable to send delgates to the uational con- veution if there were such conflict. Outside of this refusal to accept the Populist date, the most significant d#- velopment of the day’s conference is found in the emphasis given the fact that the Democratic campaign is to Vie pitched so as to catch, if in any way it is possible, the German vote. This firtt manifested itself in the appeal of the orators who spoke for Milwaukee, The geographical arguments advanc¬ ed by Kansas City proved efficacious. To the eloquent appeal of the repre- sentatives of Milwaukee they pciinted to the fact that with the convention of 1896 at Chicago, the Democrats lost Illinois by nearly 150,000 votes, while the Republicans lost tho state in which they held their convention by about 70,000 votes. Kansas City woii by a vote of 41 to 9. Cincinnati had a delegation on board headed by John S. Huff,former- Iy of Atlanta, with an offer of $25,000, but it was decided not to present the city’s name, as the sum was too small to give it a chance. The claims of the rival cities as to hotel accommodation, railroad and tel- egraph facilities were presented in open session by representatives of each city, and subsequently in execu- tive session ex-Guvernor Stone on be- half of Kansas! ity, aud National Com- mitteeman E. C. IVall, on behalf of Milwaukee, explained the financial inducements which the city he repre¬ sented was willing to make. Each offered the committee $50,000, but in audition Kansas City was will- ing to furnish hotel accommodations for the members of the committee and the hall with decorations and music free of expense to the committee. A speech which had a great deal of influence in fixing the date was made by ex-Senator Gorman. He said that four years ago it might have been well to hold the convention early, as the party then took a new position, one which drove many of the leaders out of the party or into temporary retire- ment. The organization then went CLARK’S SOX TESTIFIES. Montana Senatorial Investigation Drag* Wearily On, C. W. Clark, son of Senator Clark, of Montana, appeared before the sen- ate committee Tuesday and told that he had an income of $250,000 a year and that he was in business for him- self. He denied in detail the assertion of such witnesses as Whiteside and Hew- itt, State Senator Myers and others. Mr. Clark submitted what he said was a detailed statement of his receipts and expenditures for political purposes during the Montana campaign. The aegreeate footed up to $118,000. Tlio Official Organ of Olinob. County. into new hands, into the hands of able | men, but many of whom had not been active in control of party affairs. It i took them some time to organize. Now there was a good organization. The party was ready and equipped to enter upon the campaign. The party in power should be allowed to hold its convention first aud the indict- meut of that party could be made as it had been made in times past, address issibd. When the business of the meeting j ^ {ollowing oall . .. The nationa [ Democratic cornmit- tee, having met in the city of Wash- ington on the 22d day of February, '1900, has appointed Wednesday, the Fouith of July, as the time aud chosen the city of Kansas City, Mo., as the place for holding the national Demo¬ cratic convention. Each state is en¬ titled to a representation therein equal to double the number of its senators aud representatives in the congress of the United States and each territory, Alaska, Indian Territory and the Dis¬ trict of Columbia, shall have six dele¬ gates. Alt Democratic conservative reform citizens of the United States, irrespective of past political associa¬ tions and differences, who can unite with us in the effort for pure, econom¬ ical and constitutional government, and who favor the republic and op¬ pose the empire, are cordially invited to join us in sending delegates to the convention.” The committee, at 6:30 p. m., ad- journed to meet at Kansas City, July 3. WASHINGTON’S ADDRESS READ I„ ,he Senate By Mr. For»k«r According |to Annual Custom. An annual custom which has pre¬ vailed in the senate for many years is the reading by some senator desiguat- edbyresolution.ofWashiugton’sfaro- we ]l addretjt, immediately after the reading of tSe journal of'the eonate on 1 birthday, Several day’s ago Senator Foraker, ,,f Ohio, was selected to read tho ad- dress. It was a notable compliment j to him that when the senate convened Thursday that all of the public and private galleries were crowded aud scores of people stood iu the corridors unable to gain admission, An unusually large attendance of senators was present and all gave closo attention to Mr. Foraker’s reading, which was a fine bit of elocution, At the conclusion of the reading he was congratulated by his colleagues. Miners (let Advance, An advance of 2 1-2 cents per ton in wages has been granted tho coal dig¬ gers of the Alabama Consolidated Coal aud Iron Company at Brookwood, Bibb county, Alabama. AUUIXALUO IN JAPAN. Insurgent Leader Escaped From Lawton** Expedition. a special from Hong Kong, British China, to The New York Evening World says: “United States Consul Wildman has information that three members of the Filipino junta, Lnban, Ponce and Agoncillo, brother of the envoy, left rece ntlv for Japan to meet Aguiualdo. This gives cre d e nce to the story that Aguinaldo escaped from the island of i. uzon to Formosa when hunted by General Lawton’s expedition through jjjg northern part of the island.” BRYAN INFLUENCED VOTES. umiveimr Att.tnpr. To Upujinnai. bllity Regarding; Treaty. Mr. Grosvenor, of Ohio, spoke in tue house Thursday in support of the Porto Rico bill. Jle said that any political party or individuals who took part in ratifying aud supporting the treaty with Spain was estopped from ' opposing any of the legitimate effects of that treaty. When that treaty hung m the balance, a certain Nebraska colonel (Bryan) left his regiment and came to Washington to aid in securing ratification and he did influence votes at a critical juncture. MEMORIAL FOR GRANT. IIomko Will Appropriate Money For a Statue at Washington. The house committee on library fa- vora bly reported a bill Thursday making an appropriation of plans or designs for a memorial or statue of General Grant to be erected at Wash- ington. The bill upon which the report is based was introduced by Represeuta- tive Mercer, of Nebraska, Populist Leader Dead. Colonel Thomas Fletcher, of Little Rock, known throughout the country as the leader of the Populist party of Arkansas, is dead. HOMERVILLE. GA.. FRIDAY. MARCH 2. 10(H). DEATH AT CROSSING Fast Train Dashes Into a Closely Crowded Carriage. FIVE LIVES QUICKLY CRUSHED OUT lleavy Storm Was Raging and Victim* Heart! Not the Approaching At hi night Kxprwsi. Shortly after midnight Saturday night the midnight express on the Lehigh Valley railroad struck a car¬ riage, containing seven persons, at Tuttle’s crossing, about twenty-five miles east from Rochester, N. I„ in¬ stantly killing five of the occupants, fatally injuring another and badly bruising the other. All were members of a family who had spent the evening at a friend’s house, near Tuttle’s cross¬ ing, and were on their way home. Those killed were: Mrs. Amy Smith, forty-eight years old, Bert Smith, twenty-three years old; Mias Miranda Smith, twenty-four years old; Glee Smith, fourteen, andCatherine Smith, eight years old. The injured are Porter Smith, hus¬ band of Mrs. Smith aud father of the other victims. Gardner Smith, twenty- one years old. Before reaching the crossing the carriage was stopped and Mr. Smith listened for the train, hut did not hear it in the howling gale. The horses had just crossed the track in safety when the engine of the express crashed down upon the carriage and its occupants. Gardner Smith, who was the least injured, crawled to “a station nearby aud secured assistance. The bodies of Mrs. Smith and her daughter Miranda were cairied off for a mile on the cowcatcher of the en¬ gine. The bodies of the little girl and her two brothers were found near the scene of the accident. ENGINES TURNED OVER. Fireman Killed, Two and Flagman Injured in Bad Wreck on L. & N. Train No. 2. northbound, on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, wa* wrecked half a mile north of Floma- ton, Ala., at 4:05 o’clock Sunday morning, killing one negro fireman and injuring both engineers and an¬ other fireman. Tho traiu, which was a double head¬ er on account had of heavy mardi gras traffic, been somewhat late, aud was running at a high rate of speed in order to regain her schedule time. When half a mile north of Flomaton she ran into a switch which had been set for the Pensacola branch to allow a freight traiu to pass to that division, and which had not been reset for the main line. When the forward engine of No. 2 struck the switch the wheels went between the open points and al¬ most immediately were on the ground. Engineer Copeland immediately ap¬ plied the brakes, but before the train could be sufficiently checked, both en¬ gines had plowed the gravel for a dis¬ tance of 100 yards, and turned over. 111(1 BLAZE IN BIRMIXdilAM. KuHineHft Block* Burned Entailing a Los* AKicrcKatinK #140,000. The explosion of a gasoline stove in the basement of the Metropolitan hotel in Birmingham, Ala.,Friday afternoon, was followed by a fire which burned that building and the Hewlett block adjoining, both three stories high, causing a loss estimated approximate¬ ly at $140,000, the insurance on which amounted to about three-fourths of the loss. The fire spread rapidly, and great difficulty was encountered by tho firemen in reaching it. Before the flames were gotten under control everything on Twentieth street from First avenue to Morris avenue was a wreck, but a strong fire wall back of the Hewlett building and the Metropolitan hotel prevented the fire from extending any further toward Nineteenth street. HEIVALL MET BRYAN. Rode to Atlanta. From Williamson With III* Old Running Mate. Arthur Bewail, of Maine, who ran with Bryan in 1896 on the National Democratic ticket, has demonstrated very effectually how high the Nebras¬ kan stands in his estimation and re¬ gard. He climbed out of bed in Atlanta at an early honr to get aboard a special train and go down the Southern road as far as Williamson, Ga., to meet Mr. Bryan and have a long friendly talk while on his way to Atlanta. Shortly before his departure for Washington Mr. Hawaii said concern¬ ing his talk with Mr. Bryan: “I enjoyed seeing Mr. Bryan again very much. “We discussed the political situa¬ tion briefly. Br. Bryan and I are in perfect accord on all of the issues of the day. If you know what his views are you know what mine are.” MANY OPPOSE TARIFF BILL The Porto Rican Measure Proves a Stumbling Block. REPUBLICANS IN CONFERENCE. Differences Hard to Adjust—-Both Factions Averse to Yielding Their Contentions. A Washington special says: The effortsto unite the Republicans of tho house on a PortoRieau bill failed again Sunday, aud after prolonged confer¬ ences, it was stated that matters were substantially where thoy were after the first meotiug. A long conference was held Sunday night at the residence of Representa¬ tive McCall of Massachusetts, between the committee appointed at a Repub¬ lican conference Saturday night, rep¬ resenting the Republicans in favor of the pending Porto Rican tariff bill, and a committee agreed upon by those Republicans who are opposed to the measure. The latter committee was made up of Messrs. Powers, of Ver¬ mont; Crumpacker, of Indiana; Lori- iner, of Illinois; McCall, of Massa¬ chusetts, and Littlefield, of Maine. Preliminary to this meeting the op¬ ponents of the Bill to tho number of about ton, had assembled at Mr. Mc¬ Call’s house during tho afternoon and determined upon the stand they would take and upon their five representatives. Mr. Weeks, of Michigan, was among those at the afternoon session and he re¬ mained with the committee of five to participate in Saturday night’s meet¬ ing. NO AGREEMENT REACHED. Propositions pro and con were made by both sides, but none of those made on behalf of the advocacy of the pjpsUug rapid; of the bill principle amounted of to abandon- nWi’i/H'of the issue, viz: T the United States to levy a ta*.6u imports from Porto Rico; and as its opponents consider this the fun- damenta! objection to the measure, no agreement could be reached. It was stated aftor the conference by members opposed to the bill that both sides were practically in the same position as they had been before tho meeting, and that there was no prob- ability «f another gathering before the conference of Republicans called for Monday night. From their state- ments it was evident they intended to maintain the position they have held all along, that under the constitution the government has no right to tax the products of territory under control of the United States. It was suggested by opponents of the pending bill that the whole matter be left in the hands of the president with the understanding that Porto Rico should have free trade with the United States, but this was objected to and nothing came of it. The oppo- nents of the committee bill also sug- gested that the original bill introduced by Mr. Payne providing for free trade be substituted on the floor of the house for the committee bill, but this likewise failed to receive favorable consideration by the advocates of the pending measure. Considerable talk was indulged in over the proposition made by the committee bill advocates to fix a time limit during which the tariff of 25 per cent against the imports of Porto Rico shall remain effective, this time vary¬ ing from two years to an indefinite pe riod, but the opposition indicated their unalterable opposition to any tariff, no matter how short the time of its imposition may be. With a view to meeting some of the objections to the bill, its advocates suggested a change in its title, which would indicate that it was intended as an exigency measure for the purpose of raising revenue, hut this also found no favor with the opposition who reiter¬ ated thier hostility to the bill on prin¬ ciple. One of the advocates of the measure after the conference express¬ ed it to be his opiinion that bill finally would become a law with a provision limiting the time during which it shall remain in force. CASTELLANE IN BARIS. The Count Say. He Will Sue Figaro For Libel. Count Boni de Castellano, who, with the Countess de Castellane, left New York February 15th on the steamer La Gascogne, appeared iu the chamber of deputies at Paris Sat¬ urday afternoon. In conversation with the Associated Press, the count said: “I have not yet had the opportu¬ nity to consult all my friends, which I shall do before I reach a final de¬ cision as to what definite steps I shall take as to The Figaro and De Bodays. However, it baa been agreed to insti¬ tute proceedings against the Figaro for libel." H. M. COMER DEAD Prominent Georgian and President of the Central Bailway, PIONEER OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH Ill* Illness Extended Oyer Five Months ami Ills Passing Away Not Unexpected. Hugh M. Comer, president of the Central of Georgia railway, died short¬ ly after 4 o’clock Monday morning at his home in Savannah. His illness had endured for five months, and his death not unexpected, as for several days preceding his demise it had been known thut ho could not long survive. Mr. Comer was conscious to the last. He talked with his sons and other members of his family; gave directions about his servants, even arranging the plans of his funeral. He stated where lie wanted to be buried, and then con¬ versed cheerfully about liis approach¬ ing end. There was no man iu Savannah more thoroughly identified with its business interests than Mr. Comer. Ho was mainly instrumental in having the handsome hotel, the DeSoto, erected, subscribing $10,000 to the enterprise himself, and inducing oth¬ ers to subscribe like amounts. Hugh Moses Comer was horn near Clinton, Jones county, Georgia, Sep¬ tember 1, 1842. His mother, Mrs. Fletcher Comer, was there on a visit at that time. Shortly after Mr. Co¬ mer’s birth she returned to the family plantation in Barbour county, Alabama, near Midway. It was there Mr. Comer was raised. Shortly before the war his father died and he ran the plantation. After the war the young man went to Eu- fanla, Ala., where he married Miss Mary Bates. Iu 18(57 he removed to Savannah and entered the cotton business, the firm being Comer &. Bates. After¬ wards it became H. M. Comer & Co. His first wife died in 1875. Iu 1880 Mr. Comer married a second time, his last wife, who survives him, being Miss Lilia Hall, of Wallingford, Conn. The deceased was president of tho Steamship Central Railway of Georgia, the Ocean Company, Georgia'Import the Savannah j Hotel Company, the and Exchange Company of Savannah, the Bibb Manufacturing Company of Macon, and the Columbus Power Company of Columbus, Until a few years ago he was largely interested in cattle business in tho west, and the fertilizer business iu : Florida. He disposed of all these in- ] terests. His wealth is estimated at j $1,250,000. j Flogs on the ocean steamship ves- eels in port aud on the Savannah cot- ton exchange were placed at half-mast ; Monday on account of the death of Mr. ; Coiner. | the Vice-President Central railway, John M. Egan, of sent out a eircu- lar to all employees of the Central railway notifying them of Mr. Comer’s death. He also telegraphed Governor Candler, Judge Emory Speer aud others. The Central railway’s buildings have been draped iu mourning, DAMAGE CLAMS SENT IN. Amount* A»;er«'<-Rr»t« #132,000—Several Bon thorn Staton Included. Secretary Root has sent to the lion so claims for damages alleged to have been caused by United States troops during the Spanish-American war, principally while encamped or travel- ing. The claims aggregate $132,006, and by states include, Florida $3,139; Georgia, $11,140; South Carolina, $24,- 082; Virginia, $14,555. REWARD IS OFFERED. Insurance Company Will Fay 8250 for Apprehension of Kelly Brfngfleld. The Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland has offered a reward of, $250 for the capture of Kelly Brins- field, the defaulting bookkeeper of the southeastern agent of the Manhattan Life Insurance Company. The reward was offered through the Atlanta agents of the surety company, Aaron Haas & Son, araBkmll be paid on the delivery of Statew^^^^ IlflBkn any jail in the United Mills I’uy Nine C'eiits.*^-’ Cotton touched 9 cents in Colum¬ bus, Ga., Monday. John T. Davis & Co. sold nearly COO bales to the Mus¬ cogee mills at from Sj to 9 cents. BARRETT A DEMOCRAT. Former Prominent Populist of Georgia Return* to Hi* Old Love. James Barrett, who has for several years been prominent in the Populist party in Georgia, a member of the ex¬ ecutive committee, an elector to the national convention and candidate for agricultural commissioner on the state ticket announces his return to the Democratic party jn a signed article in The Augusta Chronicle. NO. 18 . CRONJE READY FOR FINALE Boers Begin Active Mobilization of a Second Army. GATHERING AT BLOEMFONTEIN The Defeat or Capture of Cronje’s Hosts Will Not End the San¬ guinary Conflict. A London special says: ‘‘The Boers are assembling an army near Bloem¬ fontein, with which to dispute the invasion of Lord Roberts. This in- - telligenco comes from Pretoria by way of Loureuzo Marquez. The command¬ oes are described as 'hastening from all quarters of tho two republics. ‘‘No estimate is made of their num¬ bers, but the withdrawal of Boers from most of the places where they have been in contact with the British, except the district near Ladysmith, may raise the resisting force to 30,000 men. This figure assumes that the Boers have between 60,000 and 70,000 men in the field. “The gathering of this nrmy across the path of Lord Roberts gives signifi¬ cance to General Cronje’s steadfast de¬ fense. He has engaged the corps of Lord Roberts for ten days now, and whether he is relieved or not, he has given time for the dispersed Boor fac¬ tions to get together aud to prepure positions to receive the British ad¬ vance when Cronje is overcome and Lord Roberts'moves forward. “n,;„ difficult to conceive that the Boers are strong enough to take the offensive and to rescue General Cronje from his precarious situation. “General Buller on Saturday faced the last and strongest, positions of the Boers who bar his way to Ladysmith. Tho strenuous fighting indicates a battle -between armies, rather than rear guard Thursday actions protecting a re¬ treat. On and Frilly he , lost forty-three officors kijled and wounded, representing probably a total loss of from 400 to 500. General White's guns workod on Saturday upon tho Boer positions and a heliogram from Ladysmith reported that the Boers were retreating and that larger rations were being issued in view of tho fact that relief seemed at hand. Nothing has been heard from Mafekiug since February 12th. “The ordinary campaigning season is over, and the sickly season for both men and animals has set in. Techni¬ cal military writers take these things into consideration in forecasting events.” If tho latest dispatches from Paar- deberg throw any light on the situa¬ tion, they show that General Cronje’a forces have far more protection from Field Marshal Lord Roberts’ heavy lire than tho first dispatches indicated. A cable dispatch from Paardeberg, dated Saturday, February 24th, says: “A balloon has discovered tho ene¬ my well covered by a system of bur¬ rowing in tho river bank, which're¬ sembles a rabbit warren, and affords a shell-proof position.” PRETORIA IS IMPREGNABLE. Mr. Montague White, the Boer rep¬ resentative, now in New York, said to a Press reporter: “It seems to me Cronje has offered himself and his men as a sacrifice to hold Lord Roberts’ great army in check till a second line of defenses are completed. “If Cronje and his men are cap¬ tured it will not end the war. It will be a tremendous blow, but not a mor¬ tal one. “The war will not end until Preto¬ ria falls, and when the British reach the Transvaal capital many thousand lives will have been lost. The Boers believe that Pretoria is impregnable, and there is good reason for theii con¬ fidence. As to intervention, the out¬ look is not pleasing. I see no hope in Europe, unless Russia should take action, and thatdoes not appear like¬ ly. I believe Emperor William would like to stop the war, but he does not exactly know how to go about it. __* SPANISH FORCE INFERIOR. Dewey Fail* To Get Amount of Prize Money Anked For. The Uuited States court of claims has rendered a decision on the claim of Admiral Dewey fri* prize money on the ■ account of destruction of the Spanish fleet in Manila bay. The court decided against tho admiral's contention that the enemy’s force was superior to his, and awarded $9,570. The decision excludes the support¬ ing shore batteries, mxues and torpe¬ does in the determination of the ene¬ my’s force. Admiral Dewey’s claim was for $200 for each man belonging to the enemy’s fleet, including those in charge of the fortifications,