davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
ATTACK ON DoUNlA.
Hall Wrecked in What is Re1ieved to
Have Been Attempt at Wholesale

ASSaSSlnadon.
St. Petersburg, March 15.-What
was probably bold attempt Of assas-
sins to kill many deputies in fie Dou-
ma was rrovidentially frustrated to-
day when a large portion Of the cell
ing in the hall coupled by The Dounaa
fell. Over 200 seats were smashed.
Had the accident happened when
the members were in their places
rnany would have been kille1 o. seri-
ously Injured. The sitting Of the Dou-
ma was suspended today, owing to
the ruin of the chamber. A new hall
must b. secured.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
PROPOSED ALL-srATE LEAGUE.
GUY Gunter Visit Greenville and it is

GUY Gunter Visit GreenviiIe and it is
Believed That City Will Come In.
Greenville, March 14.-Guy Gun
ter, the well known ball player, was
n the city to-day tor the purpose of
extending an iavitation to Greenville
to ioir the South Carolina league.
A committee Of fans have been ap-
pointed TO canvass for funds and it is
believed that this city will join. 1t is
proposed to compose the league Of the
towns of Greenville, Spartanburg, An
derson, Sumter, Darlington and Or
angeburg.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

sTo remove a. cough you must get
at the cold which causes the cough.
There is nothing so good for this as
Kennedy's Laxative Cough Syrup.
The LIQUID cold relief that is most
quickly effective, that stills and qUiets
the cough ard drives out the cold.
Sold by all druggists.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
,,o,,,,ot;c pains Relieved.

*B. F. Crocker, Esq, now 81 years
Of age. and for 90 years Justice OF
the Peace at Martinsburs, Iowa, says:
81 am terribly cffiicted with sciatic
rheumatism in o.y left arm and right
hip. I have used three bottles OF
Chamberlain's Pain Balm and 1t dld
me lots Of good For sale oS De-
Lorme's Pharmacy.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
TIE THaw TRIAL.

Deimas Again Gets the Better OF Je-
rome and Bars Out Important Tes-
tiInony.
New York, March 14.-Justice Fitz-
gerald sustained Deimas' objection TO
admitting a conversation between
Hummel and Evelyn Immediately
preceding the dictation Of the famous
Hummel affidavit. Upon the intro
.duction Of this conversation Jerome
had based his hope Of getting in the
affidavit itself and the courts ruling
is a distinct victory for the defense
In the af1idavit Evelyn is ALLEGED to
have denied ever telling Thav that
White had wronged her and to have
asserted that Thaw beat her because
she refused to sign documents pre-
pared by Thaw setting forth thai
White had betrayed her.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
Work of Black Hand.

st. Petersburg, March 15.-Re-
sponsibility for the supposed plot to
wreck the Douma chamber is laid on
the Black Hand, acting under orders
of the Anti-Semetic leaders. It will
take two weeks to repair the hall 1t
is estimated that 400 deputies would
have perished had the Douma been in
session.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

.orino Laxative Fruit ssyrup is a
new remedy, an improvement on the
laxatives Of former years, as it does
not grippe or nauseate and is pleasant
to take. 1t is guaranteed. sibert's
Drug Store.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

"a severe cold that may develop IN
10 pneumonia over night can be
cured quickly by taking Foleys Hon
ev and Tar. It will cure the most OBJ
stinate racking cough and strengthen
YOUR lungs. The genuine is in yell
low package. Sibert's Drug Store.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
WOx71an'S WalchWOrd
Is MOdeSfY.

wonans delicate nodesty ghtens
many permits disease of the delicate wornany
aggravated she
ordeal of unpleasant queonngs offensive examinations
obnoxious treatments which physicians
Doubtless the who advantage
Perces consultation by letter
escape offered from repugnaat nodesty
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
Notice to Our Customers.

'W-> are pleased to announce that
Eoley' Hcney and Tar for coughs,
co,3s aad lung troubles is not affected
by me, national pure food and drug
Jaw. as :. contains no opiates or other
harmful drugs. and we recommend it
as safe remedy for children and
Adults. Sibert's' Drug Store.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
This is Worth Remembering.

*whenever you have a cough or
cold, just remember that Foley's
Honey and Tar will cure it. Do not
risk YOUR health by taking any but
the genuine. It is in a yellow pack
age. sibert's Drug Store.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

*Kodol digests what you eat and
quickly overcomes Indigestion, which
is forerunner of dyspepsia. 1t is
made in strict conformity to the ma
tional pure food and drugs law and
is sold on guarantee relief plan
Sold by druggists.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

ed and IS invaluable in allaying and
subduing nervous excitability, irritable
ity, nervous exhaustion, nervous pros
tration, neuralgia, hysteria, spasms, St.
Vitus's dance, and other distressing,
nervous symptoms commonly attendant
upon functional and organic disease OF
the uterus. 1t induces refreshing sleep
and relieves mental anxiety and des-
pondency.
You can't afford to accept a secret
nostrum as a substitute for this PROVEN
REMEDY OLE KNOWN COMPaSITInN
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
jerome Wins Victory Today, Sue
ceeding in Getting the Hummell
Affidavit in as Evidence.

New York, March 1S.-.A photo !.
grphic plate representing the famous
Hummen affidavit was admitted as
evidence in the Thaw case this morn
ing. Without calling any witnesses
to the stand District Attorney Je-
rome offered plate Of the last page Of
the afadavit on which appears Eve
lyn's signature. This plate was ex-
-c1uded last week. Delmas objected
to the introduction today, saying that
the pate, which is broken now in two
pieces, had never been shown to Eve
lyn and it was irregular to try to
impeach a witness by an exhibit
which had never been presented to
the witness. Justice Fitzgerald over
ruled the objection. Delmas. backs his
argument with a citation. The judge
allowed the broken negative to be
introduced
Justice Fitzgerald also ruled ad-
unitting the carbon copy of the Hum
mel afddavit in evidence. Delmas
wi1hdra wing objection. Both the
pbot5grapnic imprint and the carbon
copy ere offered together to SIM
pi'fy r.satters. Del1nas made a pas
sionate appeal that Evelyn be called
TO say whether she had ever seen it.
Delmas declared, 81 want the jurors
to know how that document cane to
be prepared. I want it read when
the Circumstances surrounding it are
known. If the district attorney wont
read it, will"
The court held that parts of the
affidavit apparently could not go to
the jury. .'But I want it all to go, .
exclaimed Delmas. Then I will with
draw my objection" Jerome then
began reading the famous affidavit
Cor which ne has been fighting SO
long.
Jerome rested his case at 1880
n M
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

*Little globules Of sunshine that
drive the clouds away. DeWitts Lit
tie Early Risers will scatter the gloom
Of sicl.-headache and biliousness.
They do not gripe or sicken. Recon-
mended and sold here by druggists.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

which cut and bruised the skin. He
stopped a moment to rest, and then
renewed beating and continued the
attacks until she was unable to move.
The next morning the same thing
happened.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
Story of Whipping.

The affidavit explained incidents Of
the European trip, saying that Thaw
and she always travelled as. man and
wife. When they reached Katzen-
stein in Austrian Tryol she was as
signed a separate room. IN the morn
ing Thaw knocked at her door She
put on a bath robe and slippers
Thaw entered the room dreadfully
excited, carrying a rawhide whip. He
stripped her nude, seized her and
fs4rew her apom the bed, inflicted sew
+.3 severe Blows with the whip,
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
BARGaIx FOR PRIMERS

3ARG3IN FOR PRINTERS
we naye one Point Simpler
Typesetting Machine and about
$50 pounds Of type that VIII
be sold cheap for cash or on
time to responsible person. In
good order, but discarded to
make room for Linotype.
Also one 6xs Job Press, IN
good order and now in daily
use, but to be displaced by a.
Larger press. -
Also one 2 h. p. Gasoline En-
gine.
osteen Publishing Go.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

The worst thing about looking for
trouble is that we sometimes stack
UP against some fellow who is willing
TO accommodate us.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

one hundred and fifty tales oi
cotton were damaged by fire at ker'
shaw on railroad cotton platform
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

Many a great man who began his
cess in life to the fact that his first
hocS fred him.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
'sThe Blood is The Life.v

Science has never gone beyond the
above simple statement of scripture.
But it has illuminated that statement
and given it meaning ever broadening
with the increasing breadth OF knowl-
edge. When the blood is rbad or im-
pure it is not alone the body which
suffers through disease. The brain is
also clouded, the mind and judgement
are effected, and many al evil deed or
impure thought may be directly traced
to the impurity Of the blood. Foul,
impure blood can be made pure by the
use of DR.. Pierce's Golden Medical Dis
covery. 1t enriches and purifes the
blood thereby curing, pimples, blotches,
eruptions and other cutaneous affectious,
as eczema, letter, or salt-rheum, hives
and other manifestations of impure
blood.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20

Trouble seldom troubles man who
is able to keep his mouth shut.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
Eczema and Pile Cure.

EDEE Knowing what it was to suffer, T
liiLL will give Free of Charge, to any
afflicted a positive cure for Eczema, Salt
Rheam, Erysipelss, Piles and Skin DIS.
eases. Instant relief. Don't suffer ieng-;
er. Write T. w. WILLIAMS, 400 Manhat-
tan Avenue, New York. Enclose stamp
I0-3-ty
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
MOSES PAPERS YIELD NOTHING.
District Attorney Moran, Of Boston.
Finds Nothing discriminating in
Documents of Former Governor of
Soufll Carolina.

Boston, March 12.-Whlle DlstrIct
Attorney J. B. Moran would make
no statement today regarding his ln-
vestigation of the suit case full Of
documents found in the room Of Ex-
Governor F. J. Moses, Of South Caro-
Ina after his suicide, it is learned that
he has given up hope of achieving re-
suits through them. It is said that
nothing of an incrirnating nature
has been found.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
BOY SENDS FIVE CENTS
TO CONSCIENCE FUND

Z WORCESTER, Mass, Nov. 3.-The !.
= conscience fund of the city treasury =
!. is growing slowly but surely. 1t has :
I now reached $490. This fund was =
!, started about three months ago when :
4 city laborer, who through some =
!. slight clerical error had received <
i. more than his weeks wages. wrote a :
l. short note to City Treasurer De Witt =
!. Clinton inclosinc the extra money :
= and saying his conscience would =
1. trouble him if he kept what didn't :
X rightfully belong to him.
y The latest contributor is small y
!. boy named Kelley, whose conscience :
!. evidently pricks hit. for stealing ap- =
!. pies from the city orchards. The foi- =
j. lowing is the letter he wrote to May :
4 or Duggan. inclosing scent piece: :
\ Dear Mayor Duggan: have read =
4 in the papers of the boys and girls =
!. who have stole apples belonging to =
4 the city. too am one that has stole =
4 apples, and 1 have felt grieved ever =
!. since. l am OLD enough to know bet =
!. ter, but feel so much grief that =
I. send you five cents to pay for the y
i. apples took"
+ ! + + l. i 4 ! ! ! y =
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
NORTH CAROLINA

CHARLOTTE N. c., Nov. IA fugitive
from justice since last August, when he
killed his wife, Vansom Goodwin, a Johns
ton county farmer, shot and killed himself
in the woods near Selma. N. c. He was
76 years old. Goodwin sent word to his son
telling where and when his body would be
found.
misunderstanding Master Montgom-
cry announced that the next hearing of
the Southern Railway rate case will begin
at Washington next Monday.
CHARLOTE-Deliriou from drink, Ellis
Hightower shot and killed his mother in
Goulidge township, Anson county, and
then attempted suicide by taking strych-
ming The physician summoned to attend
the mother, already beyond human aid,
frustrated the attempt, but later High
tower cut his throat with a razor, bleed
ing to death before aid could be sum
moned.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
PENNSYLVANIA

BRISTOL, Penn, Nov. 3.-A freedom
party was held at the home of Frank
Roberts, S56 Riverton avenue. Many
Camden friends were present.
IEBANoN-Rev. A. G. Peters of
Slatington was unanimously elected
pastor of st. Stephens Reformed
church.
CoATESvILLE-Felix Legianda'. a
French Canadian, died at the hospital
from poison.
BLOOMSBURG-Rec from a
siege of typhoid fever, Dalious Rough,
living near Berwick, disappeared from
home and all effertS to find him have
proved futile.
MAHoNAY CITY-Isaac Refowich,
clothier of this city, died suddenly in
bed of apoplexy, aged SO years.
]. Clymo Tregellas has been trans
ferred from chief clerk at Boston Run
colliery to a similar position at Tunnel
Ridge colliery John r. Reed, jr., sue
ceeds him at Boston Run, and Roy Har-
lor is promoted to shipper at Tunnel
Ridge colliery.
MIDDLEBURG+E. H. Leisenring,
pastor of the First Lutheran church OF
Chambersburg, Pa, was extended a
unanimous call to become the pastor
of the Lutheran church of Middleburg
LEWISTOWN-John Glasgow died al
his home in Oliver township, aged 81
years. He had been engaged in the
mercantile business in that section OF
| the county since 1865.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
CONNECTICUT

NEW HAVEN, Conn. Nov S-Prince-
ton has proposed the following question
to Yale for the annual debate to be held
at Princeton on December 6; Resolved,
That laws should be enacted providing
that in case of personal injury to work
man arising out of and in course OF en-
ployment. his employer shall be liable
for adequate compensation and shall not
set up contributory negligence or negli-
gence of a fellow servant as a defense"
The choice of sides rests with Yale.
STAMFORD-The failure of the electric
lights caused trouble at the dinner given
by the Wee Burn Golf club at Noroton
for the bridesmaids and ushers who at
tended the wedding of DR.. Ransom S.
Hooker and Miss Mildred Phelps Stokes
in St. Luke's chapel
The twenty-four guests as well as the
bride and groom had just seated them
selves at table when the lights went out
and a chorus of feminine shrieks arose.
Steward Schmidt of the golf club was
in despair.
my dinner is ruinedr' he cried. Then
he ran to a country store and procured
several pounds of tallow candles. These
were arranged on the tables and the BAN
quet went along merrily.
WINSTED-Wallace, the S-year-old son
of Bradford Palmer of Lee, Mass, while
playing with a loaded revolver with an
other boy a few days ago, shot himself
In the thigh.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
RUNS AFFINITY AGENCY
AND MAY GO TO JAIL

K CHICAGO Nov. S.-Marion Grey. !
+ the young affinity agent of Elgin' !
!. appeared before Judge Bethea In the :
+ federal court and told of her matrl- Z
~ monlal agency scheme. The girl Is :
+ 20 years old, slender and pretty. =
!. II was not aware that 1t was 7
!. wrong che said.
+ Had | thought II was | never !
i should have gone into it. UP to this !
i time my character has been good in !
= every way.
+ "While l was at the University OF :
!. Michigan my girl friends and myself !
= answered a number of matrimonial !
4. agency advertisements for fun. l !
!. saved the literature thus obtaiend, !
+ and from it my whole scheme was !
4 developed. Nobody was in with me !
4. on it, and am wholly responsible. / !
4 became short of funds and wanted to :.
i finish my education in college. This J
= scheme appeared to be money :.
+ maker. I went into it," !
i Judge Bethea said to her: 81 may 4
i have to send you to Jail. but hope !
!. not. 1 will continue the case until J
!. next term"
l. Miss Grey is charged with obtain !
i. ing upward of $1,000 by promises of :.
i afflnities. !
************* + + + + + + =
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
ARKANSAS


TEXARKANA, Ark, Nov. 3.-James
Ogden. a farmer at Garland City. was
brought here by a deputy sheriff, charged
with killing a negro named Charles Jones.
The latter some months ago is said to
have borrowed Ogden's gun on the pre-
text of going hunting and then beat him
almost to death. He was not seen again
until Saturday last, when he made threats
that he was going to kill Ogden.
Ogden armed himself and meeting the
negro, killed him.
LITTLE ROCK - The perjury case
against Senator A. w. Covington, presi-
dent of the 1905 session of the Arkansas
senate, was passed in the Pulaski county
circuit court over the protest of Prose
cutting Attorney Rhoton. When the case
was called Attorney Lewis, who is de-
Tending Covington, stated that the firm
had discovered itself to be in a dilemma
II being employed to conduct the defense
in the Chitwood case.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
MARYLAND

ROCKVILLE, Nd, Now 3.-Licenses to
marry have been issued by the clerk OF
the circuit court hers to John Marshall
Cowherd and Miss Anna Howell Lynch,
both of Richmond, Va; Stephen j. Cas-
sassa and Miss Margaret Mary Kennedy.
both of Washington; Ray Thompson Jenk-
ins of Washington and Miss Cora Estelle
Joy of Berwyn, Md. and Stockton Shields
bywaters and Mrs. Mary c. Patton. both
OK Washington.
BALTIMORE-In the clothing OF
Charles White, aged 40 years. who COM
mitted suicide by inhaling illuminating
gas, was found a receipted undertakere e
bill for his funeral.
ANNAPOLIS-Some excitement has
been caused in the neighborhood of 81
Margarets, a village about four miles
from Annapolis, by the disappearance OF
Rena, the 15-year-old daughter of An
drew Garrison, farmer living in that
section.
CUMBERLAND--Alb L. Wrenn aged
% years, a brakeman, was killed at Con-
nel.sville by being knocked from the
bridge. Four cars passed over his body
below the waist.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
NEW YORK

NEW YORK. Nov. 3-Two drivers of
liquor wagons were lost in this city for
several hours.
They were sent out with load each
of prepared cocktails, ETC., and did not
reach the saloons where they were sent.
The police were asked to find them
Later somebody telephoned:
They've been found. They're drunk;
the booze is gone rEF
DUNKIRK-A number of messages
were received in this city from Erie, Pa.
asking for information as to the where
abouts of the tug Ida, which left Erie
for Buffalo on Wednesday morning. The
messages stated that the boat had not
reached Buffalo up to yesterday after
noon and nothing had been heard
from it.
ATTICA-The marriage of Miss Katie
A. Mengers and Edward Kryman took
place at the home of the groom's parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Kryman. Rev Mr..
Westermann. pastor of the German
church, officiating.
LOCKPORT-After years of litigation
a disposition has been made of the estate
of the late Jane A. Porter, an incom-
petent of Niagara Falls, who died leaving
an estate of s5O0,0O0, with her only kin
in London, England. The sister of the
deceased is Fredericka Porter Burial.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
TENNESSEE

GRAYSvILLE, Tenn, Nov. S.-Mrs.
Meister of Cleveland has returned to her
home.
Mrs Wolf, son and daughter of New
Decatur, Ala, have taken rooms at Mrs.
Ridgeway's for the winter.
j, NJ. Davis and family of Hartman
are now residents of Graysville and are
living in the Light property.
Miss Goldie Baldwin left for Campbells,
S. c., where she will engage in teaching
school this winter.
NASHVILLE-There is much gossip in
Nashville concerning certain appoint
ments on the city police commission by
Mayor Brown. An allegation is that the
appointments were made in compliance
with prediction promises, which the law
makes indictable, and that the mayor
was threatened with prosecution if he
failed to make the appointments.
CHATTANOOGA-By the blowing out
of a drip cap at the plant of the Chatta-
nooga Gas company General Superinten-
dent s. =. D. Freese was severely burned
about the face and body and Foreman
John Lutrell received serious burns. Lut-
rell also inhaled the flames and may die.
Fire followed the explosion and consid-
cradle damage resulted.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONCORD. N. H.. Nov. 3.-Governor
Floyd, his council and the members of the
board of trustees of the state sanatorium
for consumptives inspected the Ragged
Mountain club property in Andover. The
visit and examination were made with a
view to purchase of the property.
Ragged mountain is a part of the Kear-
sarge mountain chain, and the property
Is situated upon its southern slope. 1t is
owned by a club composed chiefly of Man
chester persons, who have used it as a
preserve for fish and game.
EXETER-The annual convention of the
New Hampshire Sunday School union and
the annual session of the Second Advent
ist conference of New Hampshire opened
here, meetings being held at the Advent
church. There are forty Sunday schools
represented.
NASHUA-Jacob Wolfson. who has just
leased store in Abram Slawsby's new
brick block on Main street, had not more
than returned from police court session,
where he appeared as a complainant, than
he had business at the station again, and
returned there on a run. He said two
him in the face
He ran out on to the sidewalk following
the men after the assault. Here one of
them picked up brick and threw 1t at
the fleeing storekeeper.
Wolfson says he does not know the men,
but can identify if he sees them.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-04
HE LATE NEWS FROM YOUR OLD HOME STATE
MAINE

SOUTH PARIS, Me-, Nov. 3-Wallace
G. Everett, the alleged murderer of Ed
gar L. Radcliffe. has not yet obtained
bail and the belief is that he will not
be able to do so. Everett, who was cool
all through the trial, has not lost heart,
although cast down for short time by
the disagreement of the jury, as he had
been made to believe that Lis acquitta1
was certain.
BIDDEFoRD-At the request of his
neighbor, Ernest Davis of West New
field placed man who went by the
name of Joe Watson in his barn to sober
off. He was paid for being obliging by
waking during the night to find his barn
on fire. Davis was unable to prevent its
complete destruction and lost his horses.
cattle, sheep, hens, hogs, farming tools
and hay. The young man made his es-
cape from the building and has not been
caught. 1t is thought that he is a de-
serter from the United States navy and
has been working for Frank Goodrich
under an assumed name.
DANFORTH-An inquest over the death
of Harold Whitney of Bancroft. whose
body was found in the Mattawamkeag
river was begun. Although the only
mark upon the body was slight cut near
one eye. there has been a suspicion that
there is another murder in Aroostook
county Whitney left his home in Ban
croft September "a to go on a short hunt
ing trip.
BANGOR--The annual convention of the
Maine Teachers association and of the
Maine Association of Colleges and Pre-
paratory Schools has opened here. Fif-
| teen hundred delegates have arrived. The
officers OF the Maine Teachers associa-
| tion are Milton P. Dutton of Putnam.
Conn, formerly of Augusta, president:
A. j. Roberts of Waterville, vice presi-
dent; E. L. Palmer of Dexter, secretary
and treasurer; Elveretta S. Blake of
Portland. corresponding secretary. These,
with Superintendent c. e. Tilton of Ban
gor, form the executive committee.