davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-05-27
NEW PRESIDENT
FOR WATTS MILLS
In the Annual Meeting, Held Thursday,
J. d. Hammett Was Chosen to
Succeed Alex. Long.

The annual meeting of the stockh old
ers of the Watts Cotton Mills was held
at the offices of the company last
Thursday afternoon. The meeting was
pre- sided over by Mr.. w. r. Richey
ST., and Mr.. M. l.. Copeland acted as
secretary. Out of a total of 5000
shares 2,400 were represented in the
meeting
The report of the president showed
the affairs of the company to be in ex-
cellent condition and the usual four per
cent semi-annual dividend was declared
payable July 1st.
The following board of directors was
nominated and unanimously elected for
another year: James D. Hammett, of
Honca Path; M. G.. Branch, of Rich
mond, Va; r. B. Hopkins, Of Balti-
more; Alex. Long, of Rock Hill; j. E..
Shrine, of Greenville; w. w. Ball, of
Charleston; w. A. Watts, o. B. Sim
mons and M. l.. Copeland, of Laurens.
In the meeting of the directors, held
Immediately after the stockholders
meeting, Mr.. j. D. Hammett was
elected president and treasurer of the
company and Mr.. M. l.. Copeland, of
Laurens, was reelected as assistant
treasurer.
Mr.. Hammett was chosen to succeed
Mr.. Alex. Long, who was elected last
January TO fill out the term of the late
President w. e. Lucas, Mr.. Long hav-
ing announced some time ago that he
would not stand for reelection at the
annual meeting. In both the stock
holders meeting and that of the direc-
tors resolutions were adopted thanking
Mr.. Long for assuming the presidency
of the mill and commencing his efficient
management of the same since January.
The new president and treasurer, Mr..
Hammett, is one of the most successful
young manufacturers in the State. He
lives at Honea Path, being the presi-
dent and treasurer of the Chiquola Cot
ton Manufacturing Co., which he or
ganized about six years ago. This com
pany is capitalized at nearly $4OO, 900
and the mill is one of the most success
fully operated plants in South Carolina.
AT present Mr.. Hammett will continue
to reside at Honea Path and will make
frequent trips to Laurens, distance of
only 27 miles. Later he will probably
remove to Greenville and from there
divide his time between the two mills.
The out-of-town directors present at
Thursdays meeting were r. B. Hop
kins, of Baltimore; j. E. Shrine, of
Grecnville; w. w. Ball, Of Charleston;
Alex. Long, of Rock Hill, and j. D.
Hammett, of Honea Path.
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-05-27
A Resolution.

The following resolution was unani-
mously adopted at the meeting of the
stockholders of Watts Mills held on
May 21st, 1908:
Watts Mills owes its existence, pri-
marily, to William Ernest Lucas A
large and highly successful manufac-
turing plant having been established in
Laurcns under his direction and man
cccding, he suggested in 1902 that the
time was opportune for the building of
a plant for the manufacture of finer
fabrics. The business men of Laurens,
having great faith in his integrity,
judgment and uncommon ability as a
manufactures, responded most heartily
to the suggestion and under his guild
ancc and with him as the most influen-
tial agent in raising the necessary capi-
tai the Watts Mills company was or
ganiZed and the plant constructed in
1903. Subsequently in 1907 its number
OF spindleS Was increased by 25 per
cent. MIR. Lucas was the president and
treasurer of the corporation from it's
l4th, 1903, and the plant with its vii
lage and the company with its excellent
credit and record for profit earning are
testimonials to his faithfulness, his ad-
ministrative talent and his manufac-
turing skill.
BE it, therefore, resolved by the
shareholders in annual meeting, in
token of their affection for the founder
of this mill property
First. That in the death of William
Ernest Lucas, at the early age of ID,
this corporation has lost an officer of
extraordinary and proved capacity,
whose first aims were the shareholders
interests and the employees well-being.
They gratefully remember the zeal and
diligence with which he labored even
during the months that he suffered un-
ceasing pain and discomfort that the
mill might not suffer. They will al
ways recall him as a gentleman without
rcprOach, modest and consderate in so
cial relations, manly in deed, generous
in impulse, the secret friend of the
poor, the open foe of the mean. Bow
ing to the will Of God they mourn THEN
friend thankful for the example that
he gave of keeping ever before him the
resolve to do his work well.
Second That this proceeding be
spread in the minute book, that a copy
OF it be sent to his family and that il
be published.
". w. BALL,
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-05-27
tss'E4slAs : $%As& E'SasG&s &sas.s 3 > - :
UNANSWERABLE ARGUMENT FOR I
PROHIBITION. :
x ~ x.Z.E,ks..- - s.y.5.Sx. -Hhss

| ~ ~ ~ z, FFEE't ~ n tNT -, 81 s'if2
The following article was written by
Clarence H. Poe, editor of "The Pro-
gressive Farmer for the Biblical
Recorder, " published at Raleigh, N. c. :
81 am going to vote against State
prohibition because believe in per-
sonal liberty"
II am going to vote against State
prohibition because | believe in
local elf-government.
81 am going to vote against State
prohibition because prohibition does
not prohibit"
81 am going to vote against State
prohibition because the State and
county need the tax money"
SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE ARGUMENTS.
These are the arguments that one
hears from opponents of prohibition in
the present contest in North Carolina
and the purpose Of this article is to place
such argument in the cold, clear light
of reason and inquire into their justf-
cation.
And in the outset we may note the
highly significant fact that it is only
arguments such as these just mention
ed that the friends of temperance now
have to face. The inherent evil of the
whiskcy traffic no one disputes. Even
lis friends must fight its battles in dis
guisc and cloak themselves with some
such excuse as those at the head of
this article.
In this very fact there is the proph-
ccy of victory. No tub that does not
stand on its own bottom can long stand
at all, When an evil becomes so potent
that even its hirengs refuse to fight
under its coors, the failure of even its
disguised partisans is thing fore
doomed.
We may well congratulate ourselves
therefore that in the present campaign
in North Carolina we are quite possibly
lighting the last great battle against
the drink evil in our State. Before the
progress of enlightenment the world
old doctrine of "thc divine right of
kings" has now gone down; before the
progress of enlightenment the curse Of
human slavery has now been blottcd
out for all time to come. 1t does not
seem too much to hope that now we
shall also put under our feet the an
cicnt curse of drink. Certainly neither
monarchy nor slavery was more indie
fcnSiblc; certainly neither was more out
Of harmony with the spirit of our times;
certainly neither was moro far-rcach-
ing in its evil effects than is intcm-
pGrancc.
1t is the pcstilcncc that walkcth in
darkness, the destruction that wastcth
at MONDAY What man is there who
has not seen the red ruin in its path
wrecked lives and homes and hopes and
! hearts, and shame and sin wthal too
| deep for words? What community does
not remember some once brilliant son,
the rose and expectancy of its citizen
ship, by strong drink brought down to
rags and to the gutter? What country
graveyard whispers not its melancholy
| tale of some once strong victim brought
! low by its awful power? What man is
there among my readers whose heart
! has not achcd for some one in his own
| family, bone Of his bone blood Of his
blood the knowledge of whose shame
'ul drink-sIavery has burned like a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
BIDS OPENED FOR
 TORPEDO BOATS

Washington. November 2.-Bids were opened at the navy department today for the construction of eight submarine tor pedo boats for which Congress has ap- propriated $S50O,OO0. There were three bidders-the Electric Boat company of Quincy, Mass; the Lake Torpedo Boat company of Bath. Me, and the American Laurent company of Philadelphia.
 The Electric Boat company bid for both boats of 435 tons displacement from S414- GOO to si4O,00O, according to the class and number of boats built on the Atlantic coast. For constructing the same boats on the Pacific coast their prices range from s446,OOO to $4s1 .OOO For a boat of SI5 tons displacement their prices range from $360,000 to s390. 900, and for the same boats constructed on the Pacific coast from $3SS- GOO to $4OOOO0. The Lake Torpedo Boat company bid on boats of 51S tons displace- ment from $435,O0O to s46OOOO the same boats built on the Pacific being from S4s2. 800 to s5,o00. On vessels of 14O tons displacement the price was from $3S20o to $410,OO0 built on the Atlantic, and from s425,000 to S455 000 built on the Pacific coast. The bid of the American Laurent company of Philadelphia was for one or two boats of 533 tons displacement at s437, ,500
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
Twelve GubernatOrial BattlsgrOundS

Many fierce gubernatorial contests are to be decided today Even in New England there are bitter fights. Ex- Congressman Lilley is assailed in Con necticut, and Judge Robertson, the democratic nominee, is hopeful. New Hampshire has a railroad monopoly fight to settle, and the Rhode Island democrats are planning to make Olney Arnold the successor of Governor Hig- gins, a democrat.
 But for intensity and national inter- est the battles in New York, Ohio, h. diana and Illinois lead all the rest Lieutenant Governor Chanler is run ming against Governor Hughes in New York; Judson l.. Harmon, against Gov ernor Harris in Ohio; Thomas R. Mar shall, against Congressman Watson in Indiana, and Adlai E. Stevenson, against Governor Deneen in Illinois These four state contests enter into and are parts of the national battle.
 There are other warm gubernatorial races. Gov. John A. Johnson wants another term in Minnesota. He is a Swede, and his opponent, Jacob F. Jacobson, is a Norwegian. In North Dakota Governor Burke, a democrat, is also seeking reelection, and his chances for getting it are said to be like Governor Johnson n's-good. Michi- gan, West Virginia and Wisconsin are the seats of republican factional dis putes, and the democrats in each are striving to elect governors. All will send in interesting returns tonight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
Since this fortune falls to you, Be content and seek no new.
 -Merchant of Venice.
Close of the Campaign

At no time during the campaign were the issues clearly defined The tariff did not receive the attention it deserved. The republican position was not assailed as it should have been. Not content with making the cost of production the measure of protection the re2ubncans had the temerity in their platform to add to the difference of production profits for the producers. This might have been assailed from every stump, but it was not and the tariff did not become a elear-cut issue in the campaign. Nor did anything else.
 After all the problem today relates 10 the silent vote. Canvassers in New York report that they sometimes found in one house Taft men, Bryan men and men who would not say word. The silent vote will be felt today It will be cast. It always is. The more silent the voter the more certain the casting of his vote All the appeals of news papers or orators fall without penetra- tion at his feet.
 Party discipline is weakening year by year. and appeals to party fidelity no longer control a vast number of voters. Some of them assert their in dependence of party, but more of them go about as silent as the sphynx, and just about as full of mystery. It Is their vote that will be felt in the re turns put on the wires tonight in the contested states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03

takings are nearly as large as they
 were at the corresponding period of last year. Two things should be con sidered at the New Orleans and Mem phis meetings, namely, the probable size of the crop and the probable con sumptiye demand of the world. There are really no other things to be con- sidered, and there will be no time at either convention 10 consider much else. The consuming world is the key to the problem, and the two big con ventions should strive to measure it in the most dispassionate manner. A slower tide of marketing would be apt to lift up prices, however, in any event, and this will no doubt be considered at New Orleans and Memphis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
Eauer for News.

"The keenness of human curiosity and impatience keeps just few paces ahead of all improved methods of satisfying our craving observed a student of people and conditions yesterday.
 For instance, the people of the United States must know before they sleep to- morrow night the result of the presi- dental election.
 "I can remember when we did not eX- pect to hear the full returns for days and sometimes weeks Of course we did not have the facilities for gathering and con- soldating returns that are now in use and we were satisfied to wait patiently.
 But it is different now. If the con- test between Bryan and Taft is any ways decisive tomorrow we will know the result practically before midnight. We will not be satisfied unless we have the result
 We will not only have the result in Birmingham, but the news will go to all most every hamlet and corner of the state and country. Special wires are being strung into theatres and other public places in the smaller cities and eager crowds will assemble to hear the first news"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Fight Against New County.

IT the new county amendment prOpo- sition is defeated or if it is even close it will be fine tribute to Birmingham s aggressiveness,' said a member of the Commercial club last night. Three weeks weeks ago it looked very much as though the proposition were going by default Little was heard of it and there appeared to be so little interest that a few votes in favor of it scattered here and there over the state would easily have made the amendment part of our organic law.
 But when the Commercial club took the matter up and some of Birminghams s leading men took hold of the proposition it soon became evident that there was to be fight. They have made a fine campaign and even if they lose 1 think they are entitled to great credit for the ginger they have put into the campaign. It simply goes to show what can be done when men who have their heart in a thing take it up and fight it out. While l am not well informed about conditions in south Alabama I am inclined to think that the rain will keep more of those who favor the amendment away from the polls than it will keep of those who oppose it. l think the opposition will be found strongest iH the cities and it will be in the cities that the largest percentage of the normal vote will be cast"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
CONFESSION OF
 BRUTAL MURDER

Detroit, Mich, November 2.-After con- fessing his guilt to the police today, John Kurka, a teamster, and Mrs An thony Schultz were arraigned before Jus tice of the Peace Gerhard, in Hamtramck township, and pleaded guilty to the charge of murdering Mrs Schultz's hus- band, who was half brother of Kurka. The latter said that the crime was at- tributable to an Illicit affection between himself and his half-brother's wife. kur- lka had been living in the home of the Schultz couple
 Annie, I've told them all about it." said Kurka when the woman was brought before the police after Kurkas confess sion, and the woman dropped sobbing and hysterical into q chair. The police of ficials sat silent for 10 minutes until she controlled herself, and then listened to her story.
 According to the two confessions, the police say, Schultz was murdered in his bed about 3:30 d. m. a week ago yes terday the wife in another room being able to hear the fatal blows of the axe each time it fell.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
HOW THE ARAB TRAVELS.

From the London Field.
 It is most interesting to note the way the Arab treats his faithful friends. So inured indeed is the Arab pony by long usage and descent to the manner of life in the desert that even my own pony posi- lively improved on the treatment, and never saw him so fit as when he came back from the trip.
 If the Arab and his horse are by legend closely allied they are in point of fact even more intimately connected. His mount is his first thought, and at all times by far the most interesting topic of conversation.
 He is ungroomed, unclipped, unhaltered for the Arab prefers to shackle him by means of two ropes, short cord con- meeting the fore and hind fetlocks and a long line tethering him above the hind fet- lock to a peg in the ground. Thus he can move about or roll at leisure, and should there be any rough herbage at hand can forage for it.
 Perhaps one of the principal reasons why the Arab so excels at long journeys is that he never worries himself nor does he ever distress his mount unless there is real cause to do so. He simply con- tinues steady walk all day, and hardly ever gallops in the wild way in which one so often sees him depicted by artists
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
Chairman LathrOp and the Seventh Distir3 #

Chairman Lathrop of the republican state committee took few minutes off last week to send word to his brotherrepublicans throughout the country that the Seventh congressional district of Alabama would possibly elect a republican Congressman and certainly a republican elector.
 MT. Lathrop certain inly has a peculiar version of the laws of Alabama if he thinks the voters of the Seventh dis trict possess rights not shared by the voters of the other Alabama districts. He will find the peryerse democrats throughout the state will insist on taking a hand in the election of Il electors, including one from the Sev- enth district.
 The Lathrop scheme is a neat one, but there seems at present no way to render it feasible Nearly half cen tury has elapsed since the days of re- construction, and the ways of those days, which were peculiar, are no longer applicable to the situation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
SUPREME COURT
 GRANTS PETITION

Washington, November 2.-The supreme court of the United States today granted the petition of George D. Bryan, former collector of the port of Charleston. s. C., for writ of certiorari in the suit brought against him by Roxana S. Kerr, execu- trix of the estate of the late w. w. Kerr, who was the owner of the steam ship Laurada, which was seized by the United States marshal for the district of South Carolina in 1S95 on the charge of flibustering in connection with the Gu ban disturbances of that day. While the vessel was in the marshals GUS tody the collector, acting under the direction of the Secretary of the Treas ury, placed an inspector on board, and the present suit was instituted by Kerr to obtain $5OOO damages for the retention of the vessel. The case was decided by the trial court, the district court for the district of South Carolina in South Caro- lima, in Bryan's favor, but that yer dict was reversed by the court of ap- peals of the fourth circuit on <the ground that the writ under which the marshal took possession of the vessel was rreg- ular and, therefore, void
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
Position of Cotton

Grain, mules and meat are all high, and the southern farmer cannot see why cotton should not also be, for corn, mules and meat all center into the cost of producing cotton. Today spot cotton Is worth about 10 cents in Liverpool, 9 cents In New Orleans and 8 cents on the farm.
 Eight cents is not a satisfactory price. The price has recently risen perhaps F cent and s1s cents may be said to be today the farm price of middling cotton, but this is not satis- factory, and next week the farmers, bankers and merchants of the south will gather at New Orleans and Mem phis to consider the situation.
 It is hard problem that will come up at New Orleans and Memphis. Cot ton bales are coming in rapidly, and they are being exported as rapidly az they come in from the farms. The continent has already taken 100000 bales of the new crop, and England ,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
WHY BRYAN SHOULD WIN

Adlai E. Stevenson in Success Magazine.
 The election of MT. Bryan and of a democratic Congress would insure, with in safe lines. tariff revision having strict- ly in view the reform conceded by all to be absolutely necessary. He is, moreov- CT, the embodiment of antagonism to the Trust" He was among the first to sound the keynote of opposition to "un- lawful combinations of capital" under whatever form or guise such combina- tions appeared. His oft-eXpressed views upon that question are crystallized in the platform upon which he is now a candi- date for the presidency. The trust is the crying evil of today. By combinations of capital unknown to our earlier days, against public policy, and in many in- stances in direct violation of state laws, the small dealer has been driven from the field His occupation is gone. He cannot successfully compete with the trust The field being clear-competition destroyed-the manufacturer and the va rious trusts fix prices at their own pleas- ure. The trust virtually destroys compe- tition-the life of trade. In no small de- gree it usurps the functions of govern ment. By intelligent machination-exelu- sively to its own gain-it has greatly increased to the consumer the cost of articles of daily consumption. The shad- ow of the trust has fallen upon every hearthstone in the land It is the mon- ster evil of our day-a constant menace to popular government. In very truth, two good words of our language" "protec- ton" and 'trust''-have been made the synonyms of injustice and greed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
Ladies Get Hunters License.

Birmingham declines to be outdone by Montgomery.
 T read in a Montgomery paper several days ago, that hunters license had been issued to a certain lady residing in the Capitol City, and the statement was set forth that she was probably the only lady in Alabama who had taken out hunter S license,' said Chief Probate Clerk Sam Blake yesterday afternoon.
 Tn the matter of lady hunters Birming- ham is just three times as big as Mont gomery, and the Montgomery lady is not the only lady hunter in the state because the three Birmingham ladies who have procured hunters licenses all bear the reputation of being good hunters ana good shots.
 "A short time ago I issuer 9 license to Mrs. Harry Burn and today licenses were issued to Mrs S. D. Harris of North Birmingham and Miss Mabel H. Rand of Birmingham"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-03
A GHASTN JOKE.
. Washlngton Post.

From the Washington Post.
 A gay young clubman of Baltimore who thought it such a merry prank to change the funeral crape from the door of bereaved family to the door of another household. and then telephone to ask if the daughter of the household were dead, probably regarded himself as a very clever fellow. But his fun" cost his vic tins lot of suffering. The consequences might have been far more serious. If the head of the family or any of it's members had been returning home after a brief absence in the expectation of hnding all the loved ones well, and had found the badge of woe hanging from the door knob, the shock might have been serious. Persons with weak hearts have been known to die of such a shock. It was a ghastly joke.
 The Baltimorean's explanation that he had been dining out with the boys does not excuse him. His idea of amusing himself at other peoples expense was too cruel, too coldblooded, and too grave in its possible consequences to be tolerated Unless he be adequately punished, other youths may attempt to express thelr hl- larlty of spirit in the same fashion. Neither does the young mans social posi- ton excuse him. All the more reason why he should have known better and not have forgotten that a gentleman is never brutal even when dining" Who ever the young man is, and whatever his pleas in extenuation, Baltimore should make an example of him by giving him the severest punishment under the law.