davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09
BOOKS on SOCIAL REFORM.

In the Kansas City star an edi7
torial writer raises the old question
as to the alleged difficulty Whch
authors experience in finding pup
fishers for books on social reform.
The writer takes the stand that such
a difficulty no longer exists. polntnS
as evidence to recent and forthcoming
publications Of the Macmillan Conf
pany. He says in part, 1T used TO be
one Of the gloomy arguments or Ger
tain radical r~efornlers that the pub
fishing business must necessarily be
controlled by men with wealth who
would inevitably suppress books urg-
ing social reforms; Logically things
should have worked that way but they
didn't. Here is the great house Of
Macmillan. for instance. bringing out
4 book on The New Democracy :
After setting forth the character Of
DR.. Walter F.. Weyl's critical essay
and making clear thai there is no
mincing Of words in it, the writer
continues. The am house is just
publishing Jane Addams's A New
other volume on Socialism by John
Spargo, n Of the best Of the socialist
writer's, and Professor John L. Clark 5
The Control Of Trusts.
Within the last Nea or two it has
produced such progressive studies OF
social problems as RauSchenbusch's
Christianity and the Social Crisis,
Devine'S Misery and It's Causes,
Patterns New Basis Of Civilization,
Goodnow's Social Reform and the
CONSTITUTIONS Seager's Social Insur-
ance,' hearings Social Adjustment.
and Wages III the United States Will
liam Allen Whites The Old Tariff il
our Times Miss TarbelIs The Tariff
III our Times Sinon's Social Forces
IN American History and Nedder':
Socialism and the Ethics of Jesus
Every n Of these volumes ex.
presses the progressive spirit in vari-
Gus aspects. The standpatter woult
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09
HOW A CONSISTENT
ACCOUNT
Documents Which Throw 1Ight On
Nc Development OF the NECK
lenburg Narrative.

The Review Of March 4th contains
3 copy OF tho original manuscript on
which the Alexander narrative VI the
founded; and. in it's Issue for jan
Hary, that narrative was ~eprOaucto
HS printed in 1912.
Hy q comparison OF that document
with the versions OF the affair given
in the histories Of the State, one finds
shat. while the historians have used
IL, they have built on 1t, and have
made 10Th corrections and additions
that are important. For instance,
The Alexander document says that
Abram Alexander was colonel OF the
county and issued the call for the
election. The historians find that
that is an error, and hat Colonel Polk
was the coloncl and issued the call for
the election. Again. the narrative
is silent az to the great meeting and
She reading Of the Declaration by
colonel POLK to the people and their
enthusiastic approNal The historians
have incorporated into their accounts
IN Interesting scene of Colonel Folks
proclaiming independence. Various
other changes have. in like manner
been made in the Alexander MARIA
two
We now reproduce "a portion of the
documents ON the authority of who's
statements these changes have been
made, promising that these documents
are out Of print, and bat few per-
sons even know Of their existence.
indeed It may be said that the docu-
ment published in the March Review
was never printed before in North
Carolina; hat that published in the
January number has probably been
printed only twice, once in 1919, and
then as an appendix to the address OF
Governor Graham in 1815,-and that
address likewise contains the docu-
mentS from which tho quotations that
follow are made.
ON the publication Of the Alexan-
der narrative in 1879. Colonel Will
liam Polk addressed letters t. sew
tr;tl Of the old patriarchS. and among
the replies received ly him was the
following:
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09

..,t a,ore By General Graham. w.
- .and Doctor. EphTaim bresAau
-asa their report, as near AZ A.ccAA
.eoousrt in the very words we na.e
80. eaan them several tunes 10
print -ss that the
,raamhia Of the resolves OF May %
ppaa.a4ns the very reason Tor TAKING
eot;an That General Graham says WAC
1iren at the meeting. Also. IL IS "
30 observed that the last resolve %
ss.y s1St is the Military order. which
Inbn Su1eson SAYS he heard toiohel
DolI go after reading the Declaid-
ton. - u;t-
Fhe testimony Of these Two va.
,aseas establishes the fact that the
Dac1aration they were talking apou,
1ras the Declaration OF May 3lS. Az
tha other witnesses were talking aoout
the same occasion and the same De
rlaratton that these two We're 80
thav al had In mind the Declara,loh
Of May 31st.
And indeed, when Colonel Alex
ander made his rough notes IN loV''
of.ar the fire. con which the AleNan
der narrative was basedl. he follow
ed the order and sequence or the re-
solves of May 81, according TO thel1
subject matter; showing that ne was
recalling them, and seeking 10 re
produce them.
The historians have taken all theSe
circumstances into consideration. ano
have woven them into q conslsteh'
historical account of this First Decia-
ration Of Independence.
s. A. ASHE.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09
Beaver Dam, October 5. lS3

Beaver Dam, October 5. 1880.
Dear Sir: ] received your note Of
the 25th Of last month requiring in
formation relative TO the M~ecklenburg
Declaration Of Independence. AS l
am. perhaps. the only person living,
who was a member Of that
ton, II being far advanced in years.
and not having my min Frequently
directed TO that circumstance for some
years, ! can give YOU but a Very sue
cinct history Of that transaction.
There were two men chosen from
each captain company, to meet in
Charlotte. TO take the subject into
consideration. John Mcknitt Alex
ander n myself We're chosen from
one company; and many others We're
lnere mat L now recOllect, whose
names | deem unnecessary to mention.
the members met and We're
perfectly ~nized for business a
motion was made to declare ourSeN es
Independent of the crown Of Great
Britain. which was carried bv q large
majority. Or. Ephraim Brevard was
then appointed TO give US a sketch
OF the Declaration Of lndependence.
which he die. James Jack, was ap-
pointed to take it on to the American
congress. then sitting IN Philadelphia.
with particular Instructions to deliver
it to the North Carolina Delegation
80 NHS ICoPC III las ell }
When Jack returned. he stated that
the Declaration was presented to Con
greS, and the reply was thai they
highly esteemed the patriotism OF the
citizens OF Mecklenburg: but they
thought the measure too oremature
| am confident that the Declara-
ton Of tnCsp endence ly IT,. people 81
MeckleHburg was made public al
least twelve months before thai O,
; the Congress Of the United States
JOHN DAVIDSON.
These anH - The other certificate.
given corroboTated the main fact ,h.,
IN May. ITS. the people OF AecL}.n.
burg declared independence.
h particular day was not IL
question. II while some mentione,
Nay Goth that probably was he
cause the printed Alexander ncrrativ.
stated that TO be the date.
There was no mention made by an,
OF the wording Of the resolves er
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09

the n year, l755. think
al least positively before July tth:
1875, the males generally OF that
county met on a certain day IN
Charlotte, and from the head OF
the courthouse stairs proclaimed
Independence on the English Govern
ment, by their herald Col. Thomas
Polk. ! was present, and saw n
heard it, n as a young man. ana,
then a student in Queens Museum.
was an agent in these things.
FRANCIS CCMM1NS.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09

is made By Dou,la-
gay, rage q Co, that in the ear1v
spr1ng they will publish a new eai
u ume OF poetry BY Gale Young Rice.
t uues NE utie OF Far Quests" In
ms oook MI. Rice has arnla
tunitN for the broad ranra oppor-
aeliities 80 a : lyric poet r rs
VISIONS range over all parts oe ne
world, including both the az. .ae
and the Orient. oteldens
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09
There were various other state
ments, giving the details:

ments, giving the details:
From General J.. Graham.
Vesuvius Furnace, 4th October, 1s5o.
Dear Sir: Agreeablv to your re
quest. | will give you the details or
the Mecklenburg Declaration Of In
dependence OIL the goth Of May, 11I5.
as We'll as / can recollect after a
lapse OF fifty-fve years. | vas then
a lad. abOut half grown-was pres
ent on that occasion ia locker on.
During the winter and spring pre-
ceding that event. several popular
meetings Of the people We're held in
Charlotte-two Of which I attended.
On the goth Of May, 1715, besides
the two persons elected from each
militia company, CASUALLY called Com
mfttee mem a much larger numbe
of citizens attended in Charlotte than
at any former neutrality-suspicious. half
the men in the county. The news OF
the battle OF Lexington, the 18th OF
April preceding, had arrived. There
appeared among the people much ex-
element. The committee were or
gained in the courthouse by appoint
ing Abraham Alexander, Esq, hair
man, and John Mcknitt Alexander,
ESQ, Clerk or Secretary, to the meet
ing. After reading q number OF pa
peIS ~ usUti- AZ HUGH tI1lillsttSu
discussion, the question was taken,
and they resolved to declare them
selves independent. One among the
other reasons offered. that the King
or Ministry had, by proclamation or
some edict, declared the colonies out
Of the protection Of the British
Crown; they ought, therefore. to de-
clare themselves out Of his protection.
and resolve on independence. That
their proceedings might be in due
form. . subcommittee, consisting OF
Doctor Ephraim Breyard. a Mr.. Ken
non. an attorney, and a third person,
whom | do not recollect. were APP
pointed to draft their Declaration
They retired from the courthouse for
some time: but the committee con
tlnued IL session in il. >
The subcommittee appointed to
draft the resolutions returned and
Doctor Epllraim Brevard read their
report as near ] can recOliect. in the
very words We have since seen them
several times in print. 1t was unani-
mouSlN adopted. and shortly after it
was moved and seconded to have pro
Clamation made and the people COY
lected, that the proceedings be reaG
at the courthouse door, III order thai
all might hear them. 1t WAS done
and they were received with cnthus.
lasm. II VAS then proposed by some
one aloud to give three cheers and
throw up their hats. 1t was imme.
diately adopted. and the hats thrown
Several Of them lit on the court
house roof. The owners had some
difficulty to reclaim them.
I. GRAHAM.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09
From John Sinlcson to Col. William
Polk.
Providence january % Is

Providence. January 90. 1920.
Dear Sir: After considerable de-
lay, occasioned partly to obtain what
Information could, in addition 10
my own knowledge of the facts. in
relation to our Proclamation Of hide
p~endcnce, and partly 10y a p~recarious.
feeble old age. now write TO you
in answer To yours Of the 24th alt.
| have conNerStd with many of
my old friends and others. and all
agree in the point. bat few can state
the particulars:
Yourself, sir. in your eighteenth
YEAR and on the spot. your worthy
father. the most popular and inhuen-
tiai character in the county, and YOU
cannot state much from recollection.
Your father. as commanding ofli-
Ger OF the county. issued orders to
the captains To appoint two men from
each company to represent them in
the committee. 1t was done.
Neill Morrison. John Flennikin,
from this company; Charles a. Alex
ander. John Nckuitt Alexander, Heze-
kiah Alexander. Abram Alexander,
Esq, John rhifer. David Reese, Adam
Alexander. pi"kty Barry, John
QuearH, with others. whose am ]
,annot obtain. AS to the names OF
ihose who drew up the Declaration
! am inclined 10 think Doctor Bre-
Fitfu was the principal, from his
Known talents III composition. It Was
however. in substance and form. lik,
chat great national act agreed ON thir.
teen months after. ours was toward:
the close of May. l.75.
IL addition to what ! have said
The same committee appointed three
men to secure all III. military store!
for the ~cnuntI'S use. Thoma Polk
John Phifer and Joseph Kennedy.
Was under arms heal the head of tn.
line. lea Colonel Polk, and heart
him distinctly read a long string o
grievances, the Declaration. and Nil
itarN orders above.
JOHN SIMPSON. Sen.
j. :. | Viii give YOU . short anec
dot. An aged man near me, on he
ms asked if he knew ANYTHING q
tins affair, replied, och. aye. Tan
Polk declared Independence long be
fore any body else" This old ma
is 81.
other statements We're as follows.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09
Certificate of Samuel Wilson.

state OF North Carolina.
Mecllenburg County.
| .o hereby certify. that in Nav.
fTT.. 4 committee or decoration fr.-n
the different militia companies in this
county met in Charlotte: and after
consulting together, they publicly de-
clared their dependence on C;res,
britain and on her Government. This
was done before u large collection of
people who highly approved of If. I
was then and there present, M heard
vt read from the courthouse door.
certified by me.
SANT Ell WILSON.
Francis Cummins TO Nathaniel IN
Lexington. Georgia.
November 10, 1913.
Dear SIR: At leneth ..
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
BUILDINGS ON SOUTH SIDE
J. A. Hughes and James Grant Put
ting Up Business Houses on
Nena Street.

South Mena street will soon have
two new business buildings. One
of them is now under construction
and work on the other will start
Monday morning.
James Grant is now working on
a small store room about ~ by 35
feet, between his building and the
one occupied by Reece & Goss as a
storage room and owned by NJ. M.
Shields.
On Monday morning work was
begun on a 25 by 40 foot building
just north of vandiver's drug store.
This is to be built by J. A. Hughes,
who purchased the lot about two
weeks ago. When it is completed
it will be occupied by the Milham
and Hughes harness shop. Mr.. Mil
hams shop is now in the Hamilton
building on the corner of Sherwood
and Mena street.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
ARRESTED FOR FORGERY.
Thomas Irby Paid Note and Kept
Out of Jail.

Late Friday evening Sheriff
James Thornton arrested Thomas
Irby, who came here from Womble
yesterday. He was wanted for
forging the name of w. C. Green of
Womble on a note for $6i. When
arrested he stoutly eontended that
he was Jesse Irby, and not Tom.
Jesse and Tom are brothers.
Later, after having been identi-
fled as Tom Irby by persons who
knew him, he admitted he was the
one wanted. The sheriff phoned
to Womble and was instructed to
release Irby upon his payment of
the amount of the note. Irby paid
the amount and was allowed to go.
He then went and changed coats
and hats with his brother Jesse,
with whom he had changed before,
so as to disguise himself.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
PASSENGERS ARE
IN DEADLY Peril
Unconscious Engineer of Crowded
Texas Train Held Throttle for
Miles After Head Was Crushed.

Fort Worth, Tex. March 49,
Several hundred passengers, most
ly delegates to the Texas cattle
mems convention in Ft. Worth, un-
knowingly faced death or injury
late yesterday when Engineer Lar
~ GiInagh of a southbound Fl.
Worth and Denver train held the
throttle while unconscious. The
train sped on mile after mile with
the half dead engineer guiding it.
Gilnagh had thrust his head out OF
the cab window and a mail crane
struck him, fracturing his skull.
He remained in the same position
and his fireman did not learn OF
his injury for some time after
wards. The train passed several
other trains and over number OF
switches. Arriving in TT. Worth
the engineer was taken to a hos
pital, where he died today without
regaining consciousness.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
j. S. Marines ARE
LANDED IN China
Threatening Attitude of Rioting
Soldiers Makes Action Necessary
TO Protect Aliens-Marine Take
Charge OF Customs House.

Swatow, China, March i8.-A de-
tachment of marines from the T..
S. Monitor Monterey, was landed
here today in consequence of the
continuous disturbances all over
the city and the threatening atti-
tude of some of the natives. The
marines have taken charge of the
customs house.
Heavy fighting between the Hak-
ka tribesmen and the troops from
Canton went on for eight hours to-
day in the streets of the city. For
ty natives are known to have been
killed during the fighting, but it is
believed that the casualties far ex-
ceed that number. A shot from one
of the combatants who was firing
wildly killed a blue jacket on board
a Japanese warship in the harbor,
while several other bullets struck
the hull of the United States Moni-
tor Monterey.
Reports from Walchow say that
the troops there are mutinous.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
EXPECT SETTLEMENT
OF MINE TROUBLE
Belief Is General That the Miners
VIII Not Suspend Work on
April 1.

New York, March 1S.-The belief
that a suspension of work in the
anthracite coal mines on April 1
because of the deadlock between
operators and miners over work.
ing conditions will not be continued
long and that a settlement will be
reached, was expressed by coal OPP
orators here today. 1t was pointed
out that a similar situation exist
ed. when the agreement of the mine
workers expired before. There was
a refusal of the mine workers de-
mand, followed by a suspension
and later negotiations were opened
and the old agreement renewed.
Vice President Loomis of the Della
ware Lackawana and Western rail-
road said nothing had taken place
that would prevent further con-
ferences on any new proposition
made by the miners. He would not
undertake to predict whether or
not there would be strike this
time, he said, but he felt that the
rank and file of the mine workers
were not anxious for a strike, for
they were making good wages and
their relations with their employ
ers were friendly.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
ALIENS HAVE NOT
BEENLOCATED YET
Officers Find Plenty of Whisky and
Moonshine Outfits, but May
Not Have MountaineePs
Surrounded.

Hillsville, Va, March i9.-Cor-
dons of cavalry equipped for a long
and systematic seige and search Of
the mountains seem today to be
the only practicable method by
which the members of the Allen
clans can be captured.
Reports from Mount Airy, n. c.,
received late today, left a serious
doubt as to whether the outlaws
have been surrounded. Detectives
searched the roads and houses
within radius of IS miles and were
unable to find any clue. Being
without facilities for camping, the
posse has not dared to spend a
night in the mountains anywhere
near the summit of Blue Ridge.
Four members of the posse
which confscated the still at Floyd
Aliens home returned here today
with four outfits consisting of ket-
ties and worms, and also had about
so gallons of moonshine whisky.
Great quantities of illicit whisky
were poured on the mountain side,
Hillsville has almost regained its
composure, but the women are still
afraid to go out. When the shad-
ows begin to lengthen the mems
hands instinctively go back to their
hip pockets.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
Z MEN DEAD FROM
DRINKING DRUGS
Long Spree From Use of Perfume
and Patent Medicine Proves Fa-
tai to Ben kidIett and VIII
liam Tolan of Wilton.

H. A. Mcdonald returned last
Thursday from Wilton and re-
ports the strange death of two men
at that place Wednesday. Their
names are Ben Kidlett, who died
Wednesday morning, and William
Tolan Wednesday afternoon. Both
deaths were caused by drinking
drugs of various kinds that
contained alcohol.
Kidlett was a man near 70 years
of age, while Tolan was between
so and So years of age.
1t is said the two men, who have
been close companions and heavy
drinkers, several days ago started
on a spree, and, being unable to
procure a continued supply of
whisky, began buying drugs that
contained a considerable percent
age of alcohol. Patent medicines
were swallowed in large quantities
and cheap grades of perfume con-
tinued the drunken condition.
Wednesday night relatives and
friends found the two men to be in
bad way, and medical attention
was given them, but the elder man
died before morning and Wednes-
day afternoon Tolan passed away
while being held on his bed by his
wife, with the assistance of others.
Both men have families and are
old residents of Wilton.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
BOMBS TO SUCCEED BRICKS?
Sufrragist Says Stage OF Civil Wsr
Has Been Reached.

Chicago, March iS.-Bombs soon
may substitute window smashing
bricks in England, DR.. Jessie Muir
ray Of London told meeting of
the weman's party of Illinois here
tonight.
you in America do not realize
to what economic straits women of
England have been reduced" she
said. I'VE are fighting for life
and honor. Men there are taking
away our means Of livelihood by
legislation. They are robbing our
working women Of privilege 10
work. when they are eager and
willing 10 work TO support them
selves. Men are crying for their
places.
1T has reached the stage Of a
civil war. People have asked why
We don't substitute bombs for
bricks. II our demands are not ac-
scdod 70 soon. I assure sou bombs
wiil be used.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
THE WOMEN MUST SUFFER.
Wife of Sidney Allen Wishes Gun
Had Never Been Made.

Hillsville, Va, March i9.-Confl-
dent that they had located the Al
len outlaws, a posse of 40 deter
mined citizen volunteers stretched
Gordon around Squirrel Spur in
the Blue Ridge Mountains last
night and today prepared to as
sault the heights. A close watch
is being kept on the Allen women
for clues.
Mrs. Sidney Allen, at the home of
Steven Williams, expressed regret
when told that Floyd Allen was
still alive. I have no idea where
Sidney went after he left mt
Thursday" she continued. Il only
wish l did. | wish there never hat
been gun made. l left our home
the night this awful thing happen
ed and my husband was still there
AS | kisesd him goodbye he told me
to do everything | could for our
two little children and to be kind
to his dog and cat"
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
RAILROAD RECEIPTS SHOW
BIG INCREASE IN MENA
Freight Business in February ST.
1861 Greater Than in Same
Month Last Year.

Through the kindness Of Agent
Ravenscraft, this paper is enabled
to give figures showing the trend of
business in Mena.
Last year the receipts in the
freight Office for February were
81. .233.S3, while for the same month
this year they were S9,750.44, or
greater by s2,5i6.6i, gain of near
35 per cent.
The gain for the same month in
the ticket Office was S2i9.9i.
On the day these figures were
given for publication the 7:i0 a. m.
freight brought Mena ten cars Of
merchandise, and the local five
cars, fifteen cars for the day.
Despite the removal of the rail-
roads division. il will be recalled
that the business Of this station
last year showed a very substantial
increase over the previous year,
and from al indications the gain
for 1912 will be very much greater.
The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-21
TEN WERE DROWNED
AFTER OCEAN WRECK
Seven of the Passengers and Three
of the Grew CapsiZed
in Boat.

London, March iS.-Seven pass
engers anr three Europeans of the
crew of the Peninsula and Oriental
steamer Oceana were drowned
Saturday after the collision be-
tween the Oceana and the German
bark pisagua in the English chan
mel. A boat in which the seven
passengers and sailors were max
ing for the mainland capsized.
The P. & o. officials say several
Lascars of the crew were drowned.
The Oceana sank soon after the
collision. The Pisagua was towed
to Dover in a sinking condition.