The Washington herald., 1907-03-11
AT THE HOTELS.

Of Southern Illinois. at the Now Willard.
Our little city has rather a unique
history, too, in that it has been the home
OF any number Of men who achieved great
fame in their day by reason Of their in
tellectual gifts or extraordinary deeds.
VIII give you a few names frCm the long
list Of Bellevilles illustrious sons. First
comes Gov. Edwards who was governor
when Illinois was Territory, and who
was one OF the first United States Sena-
tors
lie was native KentucBian. and was
Territorial governor through appointment
from President Madison. An equally IL
lustrious man was Gov. John Reynolds.
one OF the first Supreme justices Of Illi-
nOis After him came Gov William Kin
ney. who was famed for his advocacy Of
internal Improvements Another great
man contributed by our town was Gen.
James Shields. who was a United States
Senator from three different States rec
ord never duplicated. William II. Bissell,
who was in Congress from the BelleviIle
district in 1854 was a man Of splendid
ability. He and jefferson Davis got into
"A wrangle, and Davis challenged Bisseu
10 a duel Bissel promptly accepted and
the story is that he chose rifles at ten
PAGES. which the Mississippi man declined
on the ground that such q fight was
nothing short of murder. Nobody ac-
cused Davis Of being q coward, bur that
particular duel did not come OF.
"One Of the greatest men Illinois has
produced-Lyman Trumbull-ais0 lived at
Believille. TrJmbull was one Of the few
Republican Senators who voted against
the impeachment Of Andrew Johnson At
the beginning Of the civil war, the fore
most German-AmeTican IN the United
States probably was Gov GUstavus
KOeTner. OF Bellcviue. who was made
Minister to Spain by President Lincoln.
Then il would not do 10 omit Gov
Johnson, who went 90 Missouri from
BeIleviue and became the greatest crfmf-
nal lawyer OF his day. nor his cousin.
Admiral Coghlau nor Capt KossUth
Niles. Of the navy; nor that brilliant
young officer. Lieut. john D. Miley, who
died after the most distinguished service
ia the Philippines; and last but not least.
Editor Hyde, Of the old ST. Louis Rspub-
lican. all from Belleviue.
THE State of South Carolina" said
Mr.. r. g. Rhett. mayor Of Charleston.
at the New Willard has had a very
interesting experience 90 late days in its
efforts to bring in European labor For
some time we have had a labor shortage.
which has caused a reduction OF at least
/. per cent in the operation Of our cot
ton mills. and has led to the abandon
ment Of many Of our farms. As a remedy
for this state of things the owners OF
our large cotton factories got together
and made up the sum of S39009 which
was turned over To the State commission
er Of immigration. Nj Watson. with tile
understanding that ne should use IL to
secure immigrants from the old countries.
No conditions were attached to the offer.
and there IVES no contract or bargain as
70 the disposition 20 be made Of the for
eiguers.
Mr.. Watson went to Europe last sum
mer and found that very few people OF
the wage-earninE class had ever heard OF
Charleston or any Southern city. America
was 90 them represented by only one
name-New York He could only secure
people by presenting some extra induce
ment. and the plan Dee adopted was %
offer them free passage 10 the United
states and transportation home in the
event they became dissatisfied On these
terms he got SO Poles. Belsians Aus
Jrians, and "a few of other nati0ua lities.
who were landed in Charleston last No
yembeF or these about 25a went into the
cotton mills and the rest found employ
ment in other lines of work. Some few.
about thirty grew dissatisfied and were
taken back 10 Europe Perhaps they only
came for the free trip.
Their coming was widely hcralded and
the Federation Of Labor and other labor
bodies. who nate the notion of Europeans
Of any sort being here 20 compete as
bread-winners grew bJsy and invoked the
aid Of the national government TO con-
denim the action OF South Carolina. Com
missioner of Labor Neil was sent down
20 investigate and report on the matter
ana it was passed up o. 8Ir. Straus, the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor. That
official decided thar We had done nothing
wrong. had violated no law. and that
these immigrants We're rightfully in South
Carolina Now comes Mr. Attorney Cen
eral Bonaparte. who hands down an opin-
ion directly contradictory 70 that of Sec
rotary Straus
mir. Bouaparte says that we acted i'm
properly in bringing over these aliens.
even If no contract for their labor had
been made.
Thus the whole matter seems up IN
the air for the present. but we shall
not relax our efforts TO bring in workers
from abroad If there is any possible way
with the United States government. Mr.
Gadsden, vice president Of the Charleston
Board Of Trade. and one Of our leading
men. was IN Washington yesterday lie
is starting TO Europe 10 make an ar
rangement with one of the British steam
ship companies 10 establish a regular
line OF ships 10 Charleston. We may be
able in this way TO secure additional
white people. which IS a vital need in our
State, where the whites are only IS per
cent Of the entire population. We not
only need these white men from abroad
20 help till our fields and spin cotton. but
we need them to aid in the solution OF the
negro problem; but that IS too long a
story to talk about now"
Two leading citizens OF Montreal. Can
ada-Dr. George T. Ross and Mr.. Godfrey
Bird-are at the Raleigh. They had an
experience in Washington Friday that
came near being disastrous. both having
been thrown out OF an automobile through
the bad driving OF a green chauffeur.
They got into the machine TO have a look
over the city. The man from whom thsv
hired it suggested that they pay in ad-
vance but the natural shrewdness OF q
ScOtchman suggested to Mr. Bird that
the fee might just as well be settled after
the ride as before
1t was lucky we did not pay in ad-
vance," said Mr. Bird, for I doubt II We
could have got back our money. AZ II
was, the chauffeur ran the car into a
tree, smashing it badly and throwing DR..
Ross and myself violently to the ground.
though, luckily, neither Of us got injured
beyond shake-up and a few scratches.
Under the circumstances, we did not
think the ride worth paying fo-. though
We shall put in no bill for damages"
Photographed Only in Full Dress.