Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-02
SECRET SOC|ETY'S
PART IN POLITICS
Reported to Hold Balance of
Power at Portsmouth and
Norfolk, Va.
WORK ON BATTLE ABBEY
is NEARING COMPLETION
Probably Will Be Dedicated in 1915
When Confederate Veterans
Meet at Richmond.
Special correspondence Of The Star.

1 AASVt OF 4kASAuAVAus
Special correspondence Of The St4r.
| RICHMOND, Va, November L, 1919.
/ An unusual condition of affairs polit-
ically has developed in the city of Nor
! folk. the city OF Portsmouth and the
county Of Norfolk For tile first time
| in many years the faction known as the
straightouts'' administered q defeat in
the city of Portsmouth and in the county
! OF Norfolk, the "fusionists'' being beaten
at every turn of the game. One of the
| best known politicians of the machine
| faction. here yesterday, said that the
! "straightouts" had been able to do this
| by methods new to the .'fusionists'-a
secret organization-one of the member
| ship requirements of which is that no
man who belongs to it shall ever cast
his ballot for other than a Protestant
These men We're at the polls in Nor
folk county and in the city of Ports
mouth wearing n white badge, on which
were the American flag and the national
colors, said the man referred to. They
Were there in force and they put In the
whole day working like beavers. And
when the polls closed that night they
We're rewarded by success in every case
in which they made a fight. They are
powerfully strong III that section. l do
not understand Just how il is that they
are allied with the straightouts,'
but 1t is fact that they were SO allied
and that the combination Is one that
played hob with the fusionists.
There is to be regular election in
Norfolk Tuesday, and the members of
this organization are at work in that
city. How strong they are l do not
, know. But / do know they are active.
The chances are that the machine will
he 6ara f,lT tod yhar, h..
are received. and l do not see at this
time how more than two Of the old
guard can possibly vim
Battle Abbey Nearly Finlsned.
The Confederate Memorial Institute or
Battle Abbey has been completed SO far
as the exterior is concerned. and much
of the interior has received the finishing
touches. The building VII have cost
when completed close on to million
dollars. The mural decorations are being
done by an artist employed by Thomas
r. Ryan of New York and Virginia, and
will depict scenes from the more impor-
tant battles In the civil war.
While no time has been set for the
formal opening of the building. it is ex-
pected that this will take pace during
the year 1918. when the United Confed-
crate Veterans will come here for what
will be the last great gathering of the
veterans of that organization Next year
the veterans are to go to Florida, and
Richmond. always dear to the hearts of
the soldiers of the south. will be chosen
for the following meeting. The building
VIII be filled with relics of all sorts from
the war-books, papers, pictures rifles,
saberS records, Confederate money and
other things which make 1t a most in
terest:ng museum and serve to perpet-
uate the glories OF the south of years
ago.
New Cider Process.
Rockingham county is the center Of
much interest at this time There has
sprung up in that county demand for
cream separators that depleted all stocks
md caused rush orders to be sent. The
demand continued to grow and at last
the mystery was solved.
There is a great apple crop in that sec
ton. There is also alcoholic drought
The discovery was made by man that
| to take fresh cider and to submit 1t to
| treatment in cream separator would
| produce cider that made the partakers
of the beverage feel as though thay had
been imbibing the o!d-fashioned red eye
The secret became known, and where
cream separators were being neglected
the new use became popular. The new
cider was said to contain about % per
cent of alcohol, whereas the cider pro-
duced under the old system contained
less than per cent. Cider drinking has
increased wonderfully in the last few
weeks. and it is still on the increase
Apples are being held at higher figures
than formerly.
Richmond to Be Larger.
That the boundaries of the city will
be extended according to the action of
The council there is little question. The
area of the city up to this week was
about eleven square miles. The council
added about fifteen. the annexation
scheme taking in several populous sub
urban towns on both sides OF the river,
adding more than 10000 to the population
and providing for territory for the build
ing of many homes. The section annexed
is Ticn. the land lies We'll and is almost
wholly devoted to Residential purposes,
especially Oh tile northern side % the
river.
The towns have ordinances wsiicl! pre-
Vent the sale o. property TO negroes and
also prevent the renting vi property to
them, and FOR that reason the suburbs
are growing more and more popular for
people who have business III the cities and
can afford to go to the suburbs Tor the
night. 1t IS believed that Richmond will
have not less than 10000 population next
year, and that by the time the next fed
eral census Is taken it will show an In
crease that will bring the total to 1900.
insanity among negroes.
DR.. William + Drawry, superintendent
OF the Central state Hospital, in making
his annual report to Gov. Mann for the
year lays stress on the fact that insanity
among the younger negroes shows an
alarming and steady increase. He be-
leves that this is wholly due to the hab-
! its OF the race. lack OF attention to hy-
gieIlic living, dissipation eating To eN-
cess and in various ways d!sregarding the
| laws OF health.
| lie refers To what - remarkable i'll that
N Ave years there have been but three
cases OF appendicitis III the 1000 or more
patients treated. He declares that the
open-air treatment. keeping the inmates
AT work in the fields, furnishing all sorts
l OF employment has done more To relieve
/ and restore the patients than medicines
DR.. Drexry is one of tile most noted
alieliSts in the country, having several
times refused offers TO go To other insti-
! tutions, preferriug to remain in Virginia
| and to continue his study of the negro
| His report SHOWS that the PER capita
cost Tor inmates In the hoSpita. was less
/ than SiU0 u year. Dr. DreWFy declares
| that thirty-tW and olie-half gallons OF
K whisky We're used ia the institution and
!! that he does not see that liquor is bette
/ iicial III his work.
Regarding Liquor Question.
one is continually hearing the report
that the word has gone forth that lie
I'll, = -.