davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06
HOPE FOR SHIP PURCHASE BILL
DAY SPENT IN ATTACK ON DE-
SERTERS FROM ADMINISTRA-
TION PARTY.
Plans not FuIIy Outlined but Party
Leaders Anticipate Putting Ship Bill
Through Senate.

Washington, Feb. 3.-Plans Of ad-
ministration Democrats to bring the
government ship purchase bill out Of
danger in the senate had not been
completed tonight, but champions of
the measure had not abandoned hope
that way would be found tomorrow
to recommit the bill with definite in
structions for it's amendment.
Recalcitrant Democrats fatty re-
fused to yield to concessions agreed
upon by the majority in secret caucus
Tuesday night and administration
leaders found they could not obtain
enough votes to defeat the coalition of
Republicans and insurgent Democrats
who insist on sending the bill back to
committee without instructions. That
would mean it's death for this session.
Instead of pressing their plan to
recommit with instructions, therefore,
the party leaders contented them
selves with castigating in the open
senate the seven Democrats who
overturned the shipping bill pro-
gramme last Monday. Senator Stone
selected for this undertaking, held the
floor several hours, bitterly denounc-
ing the seven insurgents as the
"recreant Democrats who had endeav-
ored to unhorse their party"
Senator Stone particularly attacked
Senator Clarke of Arkansas, whom he
described as the leader in the revolt,
and Senator Camden of Kentucky. He
charged that Senator Clarke had vio-
lated a caucus pledge. The Arkansas
senator denied this, explaining he had
warned his colleagues that he would
not be bound to any action which
would deprive him of his right to vote
against the bill
While Senator stone was speaking.
Senator'S Kern, Simmons, Fletcher.
MARITIME and others were at work to
forestall a vote until absent Demo-
Gratis could return to Washington or
assurances could be secured that
enough Progressive Republican sup
port could be counted on to insure a
majority.
Tonight the Democrats are counting
on Senators Norris and La Toilette
TO vote with them, but had ceased 10
nope for the support Of Senator Ken
van. Senators Lewis and Smith Of
south Carolina, absent Democrats, are
expected back tomorrow with these
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06

recommitted with instructions for its
return within As hours with amend
ments limiting to one year the term
for which the government might lease
ships to private corporations, and pro-
hibiting purchase of ships which
might menace neutrality.
Republican senators tonight were
hopeful that Senator Penrose would
be able to reach Washington tomor-
row, adding one more to their forces.
His presence, they declared, would
give them enough votes to recommit
the bill without instructions. Should
the effort to amend the bill and re-
turn it within As hours succeed, how
ever Republican leaders. declare their
attack on it will be resumed and kept
up until it either is withdrawn or it's
passage blocked by the death of the
session, March 4.
I'VE are through caucusing," Sem
ator Kern, majority leader, declared
tonight, "and expect to make progress
tomorrow. The shipping bill is not
dead by any means
In denouncing his seven Democratic
colleagues, Senator stone charged
them with open hostility to their
party. Hesalso made a vigorous de-
Tense of the administration, asserting
he would rather follow President Will
sons leadership than that of "Elihu
Root, Henry Cabot Lodge, Theo. E.
Burton, William Edgar Borah, Jacob
Gallinger or any recreant alleged
Democrat who goes about with a dag
ger in his sleeve
Referring to Senator Camden's
secret conferences with opponents of
the shipping bill the speaker said
there had been doubling Thomases
who whispered that if the issue were
sharply drawn between the vested in
terests and the masses Of the people.
the senator would be most active"
Senator Camden replied briefly, say
ing he was willing to leave his legis-
lative sluggishness to his friends and
neighbors to determine but that when
it came to "denouncing secrecy, it
| comes with ill grace from the senator
from Missouri, who is known the
world over as Gum Shoe Bill"
Earlier in the day the senate de-
bated without action resolutions Of
fered by Senator Burton asking the
secretary Of treasury what ships have
been offered the government in con-
nection with the shipping bill plan,
and requesting Secretary Bryan to
state what intimation, if any, the state
department had as to the probable
attitude of belligerent governments
towards purchase Of interned ships.
/ senator Hoke Smith issued a state
ment tonight denying that he was
opposed TO the shipping bill
when the vice president ruled that
the motion to recommit was out of
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06

for the yeas and nays, voted against
sustaining the ruling of the chair
he said, for the rules of the senate
expressly provide that a motion to re-
commit can be made at any time be-
fore final action in the senate upon a
bill. / have cooperated with the
Democratic caucus in every way to
support this measure and l expect to
continue to do so, and 1 earnestly
desire the legislation passed"
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06

the length Of time in which tho gov
ernment would engage i'm ocean trans
portation business.
Later it was learned that when the
Clarke motion to recommit comes rp
Senator Fletcher will move as an
amendment that the committee report
back within 4S hours and that an
amendment be included which viii not
commit the government to a perma-
nent policy in the proposed shipping
enterprise and that a time limit for
the understanding be fixed.
This. il was said, would be fixed
either at Is months or two years
Upon these amendments it was said
administration leaders pin their hopes
OF winning back Democrats rather
than winning Progressive Republican
support.
Preliminary skirmishes at the cap
itol and White House were begun
early in the day. President Wilson
conferred with several Progressive
Republican senators regarding the
bill. The Democratic majority con-
sidered methods Of procedure to re-
gain its lost ground and the seven
recalcitrant Democrats conferred
among themselves with the avowed
purpose OF standing firm until satis-
factory terms should be presented to
them.
The majority conferer appointed
q special committee of three, Sena-
tor Fletcher. Simmons and MARITIME,
to conduct negotiations with senator's
of both parties with view to ascer-
tanning what support could be gained
for the bill and upon what points of
revision. This committee. after q day
of conferences. told the second caucus
tonight that some progress had been
made and that they hoped for ulti-
mate success.
Revolving Den 'ocrats Senators
Bankhead, Clarke, Camden, Hardwick
Hitchcock, O'Gorman and Vardaman
i'm their interviews with the caucus
committee were asked for a stipula-
tion upon which they might recon-
slider their attitude. With q reserva-
ton that ii might first be wise to re-
commit the bill. the committee was
given TO understand there would be
no change in the revolters' attitude
unless the measure was stripped Of
government ownership features and
presented purely as an emergency un-
dertaking with positive limitations,
One suggestion offered was that pro-
Republican leaders were confident
their fight against the measure had
been won. Senators Smoot, Lodge,
Weeks and others declared the bill
was dead. Democratic lenders on
the other hand, still were hopeful.
In addition to discussing the situa-
ton with Senator's Kenyon and Nor
ris. President wilson sought TO learn
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06
FRENCH WATERS DANGEROUS

Washington, Feb. 4.-The State de-
partmeat today was notified that
Germany had issued warning to al
neutral countries that il is dangerous
for shipping to ply the waters north
md Icst of Frnnce
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06
CHICAGO WOMEN VOTERS.

Many Thousand Register Under Equal
Suffrage Law.
Chicago, Feb. with additional
women on the registration books Chi
cago today took first rank as a. suffrage
city. There are now 690,720 register
ed voters, ACCESS men and 223,4O3
women.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19
War News Fifty Year, Ago


The little village of Ashland has been favored
the No, less than elgh, times has It
enjoyed the eNhlarating excitement OF raid,
varied occasionally by skirmshes and real
battles. Ashland was Of course. not forgotten
during the recent visitation to Virginia of GEN
erai Custer Some OF the citizens had TO pay a
higher price than usual for fine equestrian
spectacle. which hitherto they have enjoy ed
free OF expense Corn and fodder knives and
on the altar or the glorious Union. IT is due
the officers to say that they endeavored to pre-
private house should be entered. 1t is believed
that they tried their best enforce these orders
but. as matter OF fact, they did not do SO
There some movement OF the enemy on
tho north side Of the James Yesterday. and our
nickets in the neighborhood Of White Oak swamp
were driven in but being re-enforced they soon
drove tho invaders back to their original lines
Everything remains quiet on the Petersburg
lines. We are looking daily to hear OF Sheridan
moving from the Hatchers Run line towards
the SoUthside Railroad
Intelligence reaches here that on the 18th four
divisions OF Schoheld's army. or Sherman's
nttackcd General Hardee some where to the south
of Fayetteville, y. c., and that four times they
were repulsed. with great loss, and finally en-
tirely turned from their proposed route
Orlcal reports from North Carolina are to
The effect that neither Kinston nor Goldsboro Is
yet occupied by the enemy, reports from the
North TO the contrary Notwithstanding. Cen
era! Bragg is in front of the enemy IN that
region and. according to tho reports. he Is Civ
ing good account OF himself and the men
under him.
*,
under severe penalties, all trading between the
lines in the States Of Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina and Georgia. This order Is be :
leved 10 be n result OF the big ship
ment OF tobacco from here to Fredericksburg
said 10 be "on government account"
y special committee of the Confederate Senate
composed OF James L. Orr, Thomas J. Se,nmcs
William A. Graham. y. T. Caperton and John
w. q watson. yesterday submitted special
report TO tho Senate. in which they jump on the
President in reply to his recent message TO the
Congress. They declare that President Davis
has been slow recommend to this session OF
the Congress any measure measures calcu-
lated to benefit the country; that the Senate
has awaited his wishes from day to day, and In
one Way and another Invited him to cohm,ni-
cate with that body: but that he has remained
silent until the eleventh hour. and now seeks
TO throw the responsibility OF inaction on the
Congress. The committee depores the neces-
sity OF calling public attention to the discord
and lack OF harmony in the different branches
Of the government
The United States transport steamer The
Thorn was blown UP few days ago In the
Cape Fear River, just south OF Fort Anderson
The work was done by torpedo planted by the
Confederatcs.
The Northern papers tell us that President
Lincoln Is quite sick from attack Of In
1uenza.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19
Lot the Investigation BE Sane

a CTlON taken by the Board Of Aldermen
a last night would seem 20 assure that IN.
vestlgation OF the manner In which the urof,
lem OF commercial lizcd vice has been handled
by the Police Department. that uugh,.,o have
hcen the immediate sequence Of tho rrs, re-
port of the Vice Commission
There is reason 10 believe that The juvesti
fation Will be conducted sanely and with no
further yielding TO sensation than inc cir
cumstances render necessary. There is 10
conceivable justification for dclvinc into the
past record Of any man for making nuhl,r
his weaknesses and derections save a. hi,
actions have affected the duty he was sworn
TO discharge TO that extent ana to tl,,
extent only, exposure is necessary and do.
nanded.
II there is !audable purpose in all this. &,
rs constructive wholly. no good will be done
The community by smirching the character OF
any OF Its citizens, unless from an inspection
Of the record Richmond shall be able in the
future to deal more wisely and efrectivelv
with this most vexatious and dangerous az
Ill human problems
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19
As the railroads View I.crisla,ion

7 + the neighbours boy breaks windows. he is
l on the high road to perditiou, and should
lie sent to reformatory. If son breaks
windows. ii is merely an exhibition Of youth
iu cxuberance, TO be passed over lightly.
The neighbours dog is NANCY cur: our dog
may not be beautiful, but such pedigree.
Everything in the point OF view
In recent years the wicked railroads have
been made TO suffer for their sins. Their
rates have been strictly regulated on one
land. while, the other they have been
subject to eght-hour working laws and TO all
conceivable safety appliance regulations.
The railroads have taken their medicine
pretty we'll on the whole. but every now aud
then an official gives the railroad side OF the
question.
These official writings under the lash OF
restrictive legislation are occasionally anus
Inc, and Of such kind proposition re-
Gently advanced by rairoader to apply 10
farmers the same kind Of legislation imposed
railroads. 1t would alter. he thought. the
public attitude towards transportation cor
porations So he proposed that farmers de-
string 10 raise the prices OF their products
should be required to file schedule which
should go into effect in thirty days. unless
suspended by the Farmers Commission In
crease in prices must first be passed OH by
engineers and accountants. and the commodi-
ties subject to the farmers tariff regulations
should include grains. vegetables, live stock
and dairy products.
The hired man should not he allowed TO
work more than eight hours day. and not
a lick on Sunday. Besides. every farmer
should be required TO keep one more hired
man on the place than lie needs All wagons
should be provided with patent couplers
coupling by impact. so that the hired man
need not risk himself bet een the wheels and
the heels of the mule. Al bulls. when NOV
ing the highway in unfenced areas
should be equipped with bell OF not less
than fifty pounds weight. steam whistle and
electric headlight All barns and sheds
should be adequately heated and lighted.
The observation is humorous the applica-
ton serious. If put ourselves in the
other fellows place We may be able 10 see
as he does. AT least. shall have gained
lie power 10 make allowances
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19
Britain's Gracious Bounty

n REAT BRITAIN has made one concession
~ TO the United States and other neutrals
in the matter OF her recent annexation of the
deep blue sea. OF her bounty and loving
kindness. she has consented that her warships
shall not seize neutral vessels save in Euro
can waters. This is 10 be understood prob
ably. as an act Of especia! grace 10 the United
states. as u can have no favorable influence
OH Italy, Holland, Spain or Scandinavia
Under tRe terms of the order in council.
there was no reason why the seizure OF
American ships should not have been effected
Just outside the three mile limit OF the Ameri-
IAN coast II is gratifying 10 be informed
mat this is not contemplated and that our
'essels will be permitted 20 cross the ocean
"efore being placed under arrest
Otherwise, the order in council stands as II
was framed Americans mus, have a very
s'rong sympathy with the allied cause-a
sympathy wholly preponderant over their pa
triotic love for their own country-,o be will
ing 10 remain passive under this gross and
ari ogant violation OF neutral rights
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19

stronger Sex. but 1t will give thrill of relief
10 the fathers Of girls. especially of twins
VINO expect to graduate this June.
AT the Normal Heights School of San
Diego, all graduates. both boys and girls are
10 be limited to the sum of 81 for the pur-
chase OF graduating effects. One iron man
must cover the whole bill. The graduation
costume prescribed for girls includes four
and one-third yards OF white cross-barred
lawn. at 3 cents; lace for trimming, 90
cents: buttons. 10 cents; cotton thread,
cents The girls are doing their own dress
making Materials are bought at Wholesale.
and sewing machine has been installed as
part OF the schools laboratory fixtures.
The scheme may succeed, but we doubt it.
All honor to San Diego for trying such a
heroic experiment. but there are some ccono-
mics which are too much for human flesh to
rear. a man will give up cigars his club
theat ers will even economiZe the church
but it is bitterly hard to expect the young
girl graduate, after four years Of work with
this one thing in view, TO get up before a
critical audience and read her paper on The
Nhatness of the Why" in a l5-cent lawn
dress which she has manufactured herself.
No. we predict failure for the San Diego eX-
pertinent Why should woman be striving
for such comparatively unimportant things as
the privilege of suffrage, when her God
given and inaenable right to look her best
is endangered
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19
STRAssBURG's FATE STILL A MYSTERY

Deepest of all the mysterious occur
FENCES that have marked the progress.
Of the world war. the case OF the Ger
man cruiser Strassburg. which has
never been heard OF since the start
OF hosthities. stands without a paral-
lei II was more than a year ago that
the Strassburg, light, fast cruiser of
the same type as the Karlsruhe and
q year Older than that vessel. went
10 South Atlantic waters, In command
OF Rear Admiral Rebeur Paschwitz.
the admiral and his officers were
entertained at Buenos Aires on March
6. 1914. Later the vessel went to Mon
tevideo. then steamed TO West Indian
waters, where she was during part OF
the Mexican trouble.
Just previous to the declaration of
war the StrasSburg entered the port OF
ST. Thomas, Danish West Indies, and
began TO coal. On August . she was
known TO he still in that port. But
from that time to this not a word
has been heard or her. Her oonsorts
at that time were the Karlsruhe and
the Dresden. the latter OF which has
just been accounted for.
1t is believed now that the case OF
the Strassburg is one OF those nys-
teries OF the sea that may never be
solved until the day when the sea
gives up It's dead" If the cruiser had
been sunk by British vessels. the fact
surely would have been made known,
for II has not been the policy OF the
British admiralty to conceal any Of the
successes 1t has gained on the water.
What has happened to the Strass
burg" Did she fee before stronger
force until, far from the paths Of ocean
traffic, she shook off pursuit. only 10
find her bunkers empty and drift n
hplD1eHs hnlk until Oyerv. nv =
storm? One objection to this theory is
that she was equipped with wireless
and could call for help, but use OF her
wireless would bring down swift pur-
suit from the British and French yes
sells. Or Is she safe In some sheltered
nook on the South American coast, held
In reserve In the mysterious haven tina =,
the war vessels OF the Kaiser must
have somewhere along the South At
lantfc until her commander thinks the
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19
Help bestowed in the Right Place

THOSE iii charge Of the collection of the
4 $4,000 fund for the support of the Boy
Scout movement in Richmond deserve the
ranks OF the community for the diligence
and success with which they have performed
Tic duty ntrusted 10 them Certainly. also.
The community is entitled TO a glow OF pleas
urablc pride that its recognition OF the value
of this agency OF social betterment and indi-
vidual Improvement has been so prompt and
generous.
The Boy Scout is lad that most Of us
have learned to respect and admire. He is
the right sort of boy. and there is every
GOOD reason 10 believe that he will be the
right sort of man He and the orga MIA
iion Of which he is member deserve help,
largely because they know we'll and are bein &
fought even better how to help themselves.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19

time is ripe for dash to the open
sea"
Another theory, that at the start Of
war the Strassburg made her way
across the Atlantic 10 a home port, is
discounted by the fact that her mission
was that OF commerce destroyer. and
there is 10 reason TO believe that she
alone OF the gallant little German crui-
sers that have performed such wonder
full feats. should have turned tall and
run for home.
Caught in the West Indian hurri-
cane. without coal supply. tho plight
OF the vessel OF tho type OF the strass-
burg would indeed be serious Per-
! maps. battered by wind and sea, and
, driven, helpless. through unfrequented
paths. the little cruiser has gone to
JOIN the company OF dead ships In the
Harsasso sea- whose clinging, gripping
tentacles Of marine growths may al
ready he entwining themselves over
her steel sides and covering tho muzzies
OF her long four-inch rifles with it's
Shiny vegetation.
Tho disappearance In war time Of
hshtins weasel such rs the strass
burg has It's parallel in our own navy
IN the vanishing. more than 100 years
ago, OF the sloop of war Wasp, whose
rate never was cleared up.
the Wasp. the second vessel OF that
name, and commanded by Master Com
MA Iuci johnston Blakesley, was to the
naVies OF her day what tho Strass-
burg Is TO the war vessels Of to-day
She was fine. fast br!g, mounting TWEEN.
~ short thirty-two -pounders-and two
long twelve-pounders. Her commander
was gallant and capable officer who
lost no opportunity 10 engage in bat
! tie, and who, with his little vessel
performed numerous deeds OF daring.
Leaving the United States in MAY.
1914, the Wasp cut a wide swath IN
British shipping, sinking the British
sloop OF war Reindeer, taking several
prizes and burning and destroying those
which she could not take into port.
biakesley actually had the audacity
TO cut out a merchantmen from a con-
| voy OF vessels under tho protection OF
British line OF battleships Of seventy-
four guns, burning his prize under the
nose of his Zoe on hoard the clumsy
ship OF the line.