Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-05-03
Scraps aud fatts.

peaSantry, draws an appalling picture
Of their sufferings. He says: This is
the worst famine that Russia has ever
known. No less than 100000 people
distributed throughout the southeast
ern provinces cannot live without aid
to see another harvest. This famine
stricken region is spread over an
area five times as large as that or
France. Funds will be greatly needed
to the end of July to feed all these
millions, and then the harvest Will
bring relief to some, but there are
many hundreds Of thousands TO
whom the harvest will not bring re-
lief, for they have neither land nor
cattle, and will have nothing to live
on. The few cows that are in exist
ence are not fit for milking purposes,
and infant mortality is great, to say
nothing of the epidemics Of various
diseases that add to the terrible condi-
tions obtaining"
For the last sixteen years, says
a dispatch, the Chicago postoftice has
had a surplus of l cent on its books.
No one has been able to find the
source of the surplus or to whom the
money was due until yesterday, when
w. L. Ciucas, a special agent of the
North American Life Assurance COM
pany, notified the postoffice authorities
that he held a draft for l cent on the
Office. It was issued January 5, 1891,
to his father, w. ]. Clucas Of Lebanon,
Ill. w. ]. Clucas was postmaster of
Lebanon, ILL.,, in the administration Of
Grover Cleveland. At the end Of
Cleveland's term of Office Mr.. Clucas
sent in his statement 1t then appear
ed that he had sent in cent too much.
1t was returned to him in the form of
a draft. Mr.. Clucas, wishing to keep
the draft as a remembrance, never
cashed it. After his death in 1899 the
draft was turned over to his son, who
kept 1t as a relic. After the settle
ment Of the estate Mr.. Clucas found
1t never could be cashed, as his father
had not indorsed it in his name. For
this reason the postoff1ce auditor new
er will be able to balance his books
unless Mr.. Clucas takes the matter
into court.
President Roosevelt, in note to
the department OF justice last Tues
day, expressed the opinion that John
William January Of Missouri should
have his sentence commuted at once
or be pardoned outright. January was
convicted some years ago Of robbing a
postoffice in Oklahoma, and served
the greater portion of a five-year SEN
tence at Leavenworth. He then es-
capped and after nine years Of liberty
was rearrested in Kansas City and re-
turned to prison. Many petitions have
reached the president asking for jan
uary's pardon. He had lived in Kan
sas City under the name of Charles
w. Anderson during the time he was
at liberty. After his escape January,
under his assumed name, secured en-
ployment and eventually established
himself in business, which he was
successfully conducting at the time Of
child. The department of justice,
upon receipt Of President Roosevelt's
memorandum, dispatched letters to
the trial Judge and the district attor-
ney who tried Anderson, asking for a
report on the case and a recommended
ton as to whether or not he should
receive executive clemency. When
these reports are received the depart
ment will make a report to the presi-
dent.
Ambassador Creel of Mexico, and
Assistant Secretary Of State Bacon,
conferred at length on Tuesday con-
cerning the situation in Guatemala.
Advices received in Washington and
Mexico City agree on the point that
affairs are approaching a crisis in
Guatemala and any moment there may
be an uprising which the present ad-
ministration here will be unable to
control. The assassination Of former
Guatemalan President Barrillos in
Mexico; the attempt on the life of
President Estrada Cabrera in Guate-
mala City, and the alleged anti-Mexi-
has been engendered in the Cabrera
government have caused complications
in Central American politics which, 1t
Is believed here, must be handled by
firmer hand than can be found in
Guatemala. Indications Of an upris-
ing against the Cabrera government
are giving the United States and
Mexico some concern as a revolution
airy movement now probably would
embroil the whole republic in conflict.
1t is believed here that an agreement
will be reached between the two coun-
tries by which Mexico, with her
troops already on the border will po-
lice Guatemala just as the United
States pOliced Nicaragua and Hondu
ras in the recent warfare between
those countries.
The widely heralded values and
practical uses Of denatured alcohol
have been kept in the background
since the passage of the bill removing
the tariff. The law left the manufac-
ture of free alcohol practically in the
control of the large distillers of bev-
erages. who were. of course, in no
haste to make the product cheaper.
AS it is intended as substitute for
kerosene and gasoline. the interests in
control Of those products We're natur-
ally indisposed to encourage develop
ments that would mean loss to them.
Lamp and engine manufacturers were
slow to meet the demands upon their
inventivenesS. But amendments be-
coming effective September l. make it
possible to establish small cO-opera-
tive distilling plants, which will use up
surplus grain and potatoes and save
shipping charges. Appliances to which
the alcohol may be adapted are being
prepared for the market, and doubt
less new uses for the fuel will be dis
covered from time to time. At present
denatured alcohol costs nearly 80 cents