davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
USE SAILING VESSELS.
Thomas A. Edison Suggests That
shipping Board Can Readily Add
One Million Tons.

Washington. Nov 15.-Conversion
of more than 100000 tons Of Amer
lean sailing vessels into steamships
was proposed to the shipping board
today by Thomas A. Edison. The in
vcntor's suggestion will be made the
subject of q thorough investigation
Because OF the peculiar construc-
tion Of sailing ships it would be
necessary. Mr.. Edison said, to equip
them with twin screws. American
sailing vessels are not now permitted
to enter the war zone as they are easy
submarine targets There are under
American registry more than 5000
sailing vessels of considerably more
than 100000 tonnage. The govern
ment also will have under it's control
soon some 100000 tons of sailing ships
turned over by the French govern
ment.
Henry Ford's automobile plant at
Detroit, now largely engaged in man
ufacturing airplane cylinders. is about
to begin also the production Of ship
fittings.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
RATES TOO LOW.
COMPANIES APPLY Cop IA,
CItEASE IN RATES
Say Ihey Are Losing Moncy-Adams
american, Wells Fargo and Soutb-
ern Complain to Interstate Con
mercc Commission

washington, Nov. 15.-Express
companies today applied to the inter
state commerce commission for an in
crease of 10 per cent in their rates
The Adams, American, Souther,
and Wells-Fargo companies, makins
the application in behalf of them
selves and other express companies
set forth that they had suffered a net
loss OF $39,S4S as the result of in
creases in operating expenses and
taxes during the first six months of
this year.
The express companies assert thar
they are carrying on greatly increas-
ed business under the most irving
conditions and that their facilities
are taxed far beyond their normal ca
pacity. 1t is Increasingly difficult,
their application says, to obtain nec-
essary labor and because Of the in
creasing demand for express and
baggage cars for movement CT troops
and military supplies, it has been i'm
possible to obtain adequate equip.
ment.
Frequent and substantial advance
in wages, particularly to employees
receiving lower rates of pay, are said
to have been necessary to retain the
employees and it has been necessar,
to hire large numbers of new men tc
fill the places of those drafted into
the army.
Present rates. the companies de.
clare, "are insufficient for service un.
der existing conditions. They add thai
! they are mot only unable to earn c
reasonable profit or any return 70,
their services to the public but are
doing business at an actual loss"
In support of this contention fig.
ures are cited to show that operatine
expenses and taxes Of the four prin.
cipal Ompanies for the six month.
ending June 80, 1917, were s99,653,.
S4S and receipts were $99,613,999
The deficit for July was estimated a,
more than $25O.OOO.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
russia WITHOUT GOVERNMENT
SOCIAL REVOLUTIONARY COALI-
TIoN NOW PROPOSED.
Peace 60 Re Object-Telephone Mes
aase Declares that Kerensky Has
Resreased TO South, Pursued by
Rebels.

Copenhagen. Nov. IA Helsing.
!. fors dispatch to the Politiken says
: that the military committee last
nisht received the following by tele-
yphone:
ID when the revolutionary troops
eououeFed oatchina. Kerensly with
5000 to 5000 men retreated to the
, ssuth. An order was given to cut
on his retreat and part OF the North
srn army was dispatched to attack
him In the rear.
Tho people seem to have lost con-
ndsnce In Lenine and Trotsky. 1t Is
intended to form n social revolution
sty coalition government with repre-
.sentatives of all parties except the
we'll to DO. The first task of the new
sovsrnmsnt was to make peace with
the enemy"
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
NOT IN PETROGRAD.
Russian Says Kercusky Has Not En-
.- tered City.

STOCKHOLM, Nov. IA Russian
Who arrived at Haparanda from Pc.
ftrcsrad Wednesday says that Ke
reusky's troops had not entered Pc
srcsrad Monday and he did not be-
iiisvs they would enter as the garri-
son. numbering $4,000 remained faith
tui TO the Maximalists. The cause OF
ksrensky's unpopularity. according to
this Russian. was his opposition to
peace and he further declared that
II the Aaximalists could have made
peace they would be masters every
where.
telegraph communication with Pc
trograd II still completely suspend
"a. The only news Of the events
thSre has been brought by travellers
through Finland or transmitted by
telephone.
According to what Ia apparently
the latest telephone report from Fin
hnd all was quiet I'm Petrograd last
nsSht.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
NO coAL STRIKE.
REFUSE TO CALL A GENERAIl
STRIKE.
Action In Kansas City is Tacit Accept
ancc OF Much Discussed Penalty
Clause.

Kansas City, Nov. 15.-By a rising
vote represen natives of coal miners
OF the three Southwestern districts,
IN convention here, defeated a reso-
tuition instructing the presidents of
,he districts to call a general strike
Il The Southwestern Coal Operators
association refused to accept the So
called Kansas City agreement, which
o'o not contain the penalty clause.
me vote was 143 to 126.
on roll call the resolution was de-
leated, 1873 20 166.
me convention adopted a resolu-
''o'' instructing the officers of the
''iee olstrscts to confer with officials
oi the operators association and OBJ
tam the best possible penalty clause.
ihe action rescinds that taken last
night when the delegates rejected. the
penalty clause.
The convention adjourned subject
'c the call Of the chairman. Alexan-
der Howat, chairman of the Kansas
City district. 1t was explained that
negotiations are where they were
prior to drawing up of the socalled
KANSAS City agreement, which con-
tanned clause abolishing the auto
matte penalty clause demanded by
Fuel Administrator Garfield. BY their
action tonight, it was stated, the
miners have tactily accepted the PEN
atty clause.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
U.BOAT STILL DANGEROUS.
american Naval Experts Do Not Be-
licvc Submarine Campaign Has
Collapsed.

Washington. Nov. 6.-American
naval experts it was made plain don't
agree with the view that the Iull in
submarine activities indicates the col
lapse Of the u-boat campaign, or that
the anti-submarine measures have
proved wholly effective. They agree
that progress is being made, but pre-
fer to postpone judgment as to wheth-
er the submarine has been eliminat.
ed as factor until it has been more
thoroughly tested.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
COURT SUS1l|NS BOARD.
ACTION AGAINST STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION DISMISSED.
BY Unanimous Decision Supreme
Court Denied Petition I'm Text Book
Case.

Columbia, Nov. 16.-The Supreme
Court. in q unanimous decision of the
justices who heard the case, denied
the petition OF James 3. Addy, suing
for his own benefit and that of others
against the State board Of education.
asking that they be enjoined from
changing the books as recently order
ed by the State board.
The opinion was written by Judge
Watts. The justice says:
THE intention Of the legislature Is
plain that the State board of educa-
tion have the fundamental and inher-
ent right and will use discretion in
prescribing the courses of study, in
adopting text books. and generally In
promoting the education Of the citi-
zens OF the state and the interests of
the public schools. either in prescrib-
ing additional courses which require
the adoption and purchase of new
books; provided that under the act of
1914 they are forbidden making a
change OF more than so per cent. of
the exchangeable books. and so per
cent Of the exchangeable books are to
he retained by them. 80 that the val.
ue is unimpaired and the scholar has
the right to exchange 1t for any other
book needed in the school from the
list OF books prescribed by the State
board Of education. paying the differ
ence between the book exchanged and
the book received. as provided for un-
der the terms OF the contract made
between the State board Of educa-
tion and the publishers under the
law.
1.-The intent was 20 fix and pre-
serve the value of the book purchas-
ed. so that 1t could be used IL taught
in the school, or exchanged for any
book II found desirable. convenient or
necessary. The difference in the val
ne of the books exchanged being ad-
Justed as provided for by the con-
tracts between the State board of ed
ucation and the publishers. 1t was
never the intention that the board OF
education could not increase the num-
Der Of courses and studies In the
schools as necessitated by the de-
mands Of a modern world advance
ment. civilization and public policy,
and for half of decade to each SO
per cent. OF the books adopted ac-
tually. But the intent was to preserve
the value Of so per cent. Of the books
purchased so. il necessary, to use OF
exchange a credit allowed for what
had been paid for the book when of.
fered for another book OF the lis;
prescribed and adopted by the State
Board. The intent being that so per
cent. OF the books adopted over five
years was to retain their value and
not be discarded and rendered value.
less.
The injunction, therefore. is re.
fused and the petition dismissed"
c. l.. Blease and L. d. Melton were
attorneys for the petitioner, and
George B. Cromer and j. ]. McSwaln
were attorneys for the State board OF
education.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21

Boner Explosion Destroys AsheviIIc
School Building.

Asheville. Nov. GA fire believed
to have been caused by the explosion
OF q boiler In the basement destroyed
one OF the largest negro schools in the
city. Several pupils were seriously
burned. One report states that sever
al pupils lost their lives.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
SCANT NEWS FROM RUSSIA.
REPORTS from Ambassador Containing
Nothing New.

Washington. Nov. 16.-Dispatches
from Ambassador Francis at Petro-
grad dated November IL. arrived to-
day. but contained nothing not al
ready reported in the news cables In
ract his message described the sit =
uati0n as presented I'm the news dis
patches on that date when fighting
progressed in Petrograd
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21

London, Nov. 16.--The independ-
ent Socialist group in the German
reichstag has requested an immediate
session of the reichstag be convok
ed to discuss the peace offer of Nikolai
Lenine. the leader of the Russian
Bolsheviki. the Amsterdam corre-
spOndent OF the Central News cables.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
State CONFERENCE CLOSES.
DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REV.
OLUTION END SESSION
Mrs. L.. w. Duvall Elected Regent of
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for Men in
COuntry's Navy.

Camden, Nov. 15.-The annual
meeting Of the South Carolina Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution came
to close here today with a brilliant
reception at the home of Mr.. and Mrs
Henry Savage. Two invitations were
extended to the conference for next
year, one from Laurens and the other
from Cheraw. The conference voted
in favor Of Cheraw and it will meet
in 1918 with Old Cheraws Chapter.
The election of State officers came
In the afternoon and resulted as fol-
lows: State regent, Mrs. f. w. Duvall
OF Cheraw; State vice regent, Mrs.
John Il. Sloan of Columbia; recording
secretary. Miss Edith DeLorme of
Sumter; corresponding secretary, Mrs
Strother Of Ridge Spring; treasurer,
Mrs. M. T. Turner Of Johnston; reg
istrar, Miss Webber of Charleston; !;
historian. Mrs. L. j. Hames Of Union /;
genealogist, Mrs. w. ]. Wilson oe
Spartanburg.
At the session this morning, which
met at $50 o'clock, the report on
Revolutionary relics for Memorial
Continental Hall was given by Mrs.
Hal p. Duval the report on preser-
walton of historic spots by Mrs. j. T.
Sloan and on national old trails by
Mrs. Sanders of Sumter. Mrs H. s.
Garrison stated in her report on real
Daughters that there is only one now
living in South Carolina. Mrs. Over
ton made the report for the George
town School and Mrs. Herman Ka-
minski made plea for that work
Two hundred dollars was raised for
the purpose. In the absence Of Miss
Kate Lille Blue. there was no report
on publicity. Carolina" was sung by
Mrs. L. r. Mills. The music as render
ed by Mrs. Lockwood of Charleston
was much appreciated and the con-
ference voted No. IL as their choice
but this does not affect the music now
used in singing the State song.
Mrs. Duvall made a splendid talk
and an urgent plea for necessary ar
tlcles for the navy. Mrs. WILLIAM, An
crum. wife of Lieutenant Command
er Ancrum. now in London, told OF
the needs OF the men in the navy as
she knew them and the State regent
urged each chapter to send to her by
December Is next the following ar
ticles: Six knitted helmets. eight
pairs Of mittens. four mufflers, three
sweaters, four pairs of wristlets, IL
pairs Of socks. These are to be made
of any dark color Of wool. Each re-
gent was asked to notify the State
regent whether her chapter can be
depended upon for these articles and
II not. just what the chapter can fur
nish.
The conference paused each day al
IL o'clock and stood in silent prayer
for the nation and for the allies. AT
/ o'clock this afternoon a two course
luncheon was served in the parlors of
the Hobkirk Inn; the Camden Civic
League being hostess. Booklets de
scribing Beautiful Camden" were
given as favors.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
Adams Pays Dividend.

New York, Nov. 15.-The Adams
Express Company today declared a
dividend of 81 a share from accumu
lated surplus. payable December ].
This compares with dividend OF
$1.50 declared three months ago.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
AMERICANS IN FIGHT.
Battle With Germans i'm No Mans
Land

With American Army in France,
Thursday, Nov. 15.-Thcre have been
further encounters between American
patrols and Germans in No Mans
Land. There were a number Of
clashes last night, but no American
casualties. The American artillery
shelled and silenced German machine
guns which occupied shell craters.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
Earthquake Shock Rcportcd

Washington, Nov. ia pro.
nounced earthquake. estimated to be
central five thousand miles from
washington. occurred during the
night beginning at 1899 and con
tinuing nntil 1859 this morning.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
WEALTH FROM THE SEA.
U-Boat Ravaees Make Opportunity for
Irish Fishermen.

| Base American Flotillas in British
Waters, October 81 (Correspondence
OF the Associated Press)-Irish fish,
ermen along the coasts where the u
| boats operate. have made some re-
markable catches during the past
year. The story Of the fisherman who
FOUND a $15,000 box of diamonds from
the Lusitania in his nets one day. and
whose honesty in returning them to
| their rightful owners was rewarded
by a check for $1,000, is well known.
There is another fisherman who came
nome from fishing expedition with
a. fine new American automobile
iashed to the deck Of his little trawl-
er. There are hundreds of fisher
men who have made modest for
tunes out of salvage of one kind or
another. Wheat, flour and coal sai-
wage are all profitable business in
the coast towns nowadays. ' '~-
The story of the man who came
nome from the sea with brand new
automobile is a household fayorite I'm
the Irish ports. Accompanie6 nv III.
son he was mackerel fishing when he
was aroused by the report of an ex-
piosion. On the horizon cargo
steamer from America was settling by
the stern. 1t had been torpedoed.
The fisherman headed forNit and soon
met the captain and crew in two open
boats. She's loaded with American
automobiles. you might get one before
she goes under" said the skinner
JoKingly an he and his shipmates
passed on toward shore. -
The torpedoed ship was still welt
above water when the fisherman came
alongside. He at once sent his SON ON
board to look around. The latter
found the hold full of automobiles
Run one out through this gangway."
directed the father. With the aid Of
some tackle the machine was dropned
into the fishing vessel A few mo-
ments later as the trawler steamed
away the ship disappeared. The
fisherman with an automobila 20 n,,
the envy Of his village.
Many tor oedoed vessels manage to
reach shore where they are usual,v
pounded to pieces on the rocks. But
before the cargo is lost forever peo-
pie come from miles around to sal.
wage it. Anything that will float is
used and everyone helps himself.
Men, women and children attack car
30 and ship. removing brass fittings
and anything else of value. Flour
and canned meats. fruits and vege-
tables form the larger portion of the
articles.
one village has had the good for
tune to have couple of foodships
'ring up on its very doorstep. Most
'f the SHIPS of course go down at
sea. But this does not dishearten
he alert fishermen who have been
Known TO transfer several hundred
acks of the best American -four from
vessel wl'iie it is sinking MANY
niles from land. If the explosion
ears big enough hole i'm the victim
much OF tbs cargo will become loos-
ned and wash ashore where it ,s
luickly spied by the watchfui eyes OF
he natives.
savage companies also are very ac.
I'VE ana are making huge profits.
'o'ie nave transferred their whole
taffs to this coast Their agents can
id on wheat cargo without seeing
ana can tell just how far into
ack OF flour the water will have pen
trated in given period.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
REGULATE FREIGHT TRAFFIC.
RAILROAD WAR BOARD MAKES
RECOMMENDATION.
Five Hundred Commodities VIII be
Placed Under Ban If Suggested
Course Prevails.

Washington, Nov. 15.-Denial of
ra abroad transportation to more than
500 commodities classed as non essen
tial was recommended to the govern
ment today by the railroad war
board. At the same time the board
put out a statement declaring the
country's railroads at the present rate
of increase in traffic would be unable
to meet demands this winter.
The commodities included in the
recommendation were not made pub
lie.
Both the ui,lic and the manage
ment Of the roaGs must courageous
ly face the fact" said the statement
written by Fairfax Harrison. chair
man of the board, that under the
trying conditions which will develop
this winter it probably will become
impossible For the carriers to handle
all the traffic which the public can
offer.
THE course of developments is
forcing those responsible for the rail-
ways operation to anticipate that
probably they will become unable to
provide transportation for all classes
of commodities which they have been
moving.
The list Of commodities classes as
non-essential was made up by a COM
mittee Of railway traffic officers. and
contained $50 commodities whose
transportation. it is declared. could be
dispensed with without any great in
convenience to the public, and rs
which it is held the public could dis
pense with but not without incon-
venience.
The inability of the roads to move
what will be offered them is due the
statement points out. entirely to a
tremendous increase in the volume OF
freight and passenger traffic.
statistics just made available" )"
says the statement. shows that in the
months Of April-August, inclusive,
the first five months of the war, our
railroads handled 16 per cent. more
freight traffic than in the same
months Of 1916. The traffic handled
in these five months was SO per cent.
greater than moved in the same
months of 1915, and exceeded the to-
tai traffic moved in any year prior to
1914.
Perhaps the most remarkable fig
ures are those regarding the move
ment Of coal. In the six months
from May to October there were
moved 10000 more carloads of
anthracite than in the same months
of 1916. an increase Of 18 per cent,
and $4,000 more cars OF bituminous
and Ignite, also an 1S per cent. in
crease. A total Of 10000 carloads Of
freight had to be moved to the Nat
ional Army and National Guard
camps.
The railways still are moving
total freight traffic SURPRISING any
ever before known and it should be
borne in mind that they are doing so
with almost no greater facilities than
they had two years ago.
"The railways this year have had
to handle the largest passenger busi
ness ever known. In addition they
transported between August and No
vember II. 100000 troops. involv-
ing the use Of 1850 special trains"
II the non-essential commodities
are eliminated. says the statement.
the railroads without doubt can move
all commodities required by the gov
ernment for war purposes and by the
people for sustenance.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
THREE KINGS TO MEET.
Conserenoe of Scandinavia to BE
s>sr Held Next Week.

Copenhagen, Nov. 16.-The kings
of Denmark and Sweden. 1t Is an
nounced, will visit King Haakon OF
Norway on November 2sth. They will
be accompanied by the premiers and
foreign ministers.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21

Honolulu, Nov. 1G.--The value of
the estate left by the late queen will
not exceed two hundred thousand dol .
lars' one OF the executors Of her will
SAID today Her jewels are Appraised
at ten thousand dollars. ,s~
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
Still Advancing and Still Taking Towns

Berlin, Nov. 16.-Cismona, Oh The
northern Italian front. has been cap
tured, the war Office announces
Near the Adriatic on the western
bank of the Piave. the Hungarian
troops have advanced and captured n
thousand Italians e~
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
ITALIANS HOLD LINES.
All German Attacks Repulsed Yester.
day.

'.s' tBy Associated Press.)
home. Nov. s.-Ali along the
mountain front at Asiago and on the
Rsave river. the attacks OF the Austro-
German forces have been repulsed.
All positions attacked yesterday re-
msined In the hands OF the Italians.
II is officially announced.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
BRITISH STEAMER MISSING
Kansas City Has Not Been Heard of
Since September 5th.

Washington, Nov 6.-The British
steamer Kansas City Is believed to
have been lost at sea. Nothing has
been heard OF her since she separat
ed from the convoy in storm on
September 5th
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
POPE APPEALS TO HUNS.
Invaders Of Italy Asked to Respect
80 International Law.

Rome. Nov. 16.-The Pope has ask
I'd the Central Powers to instruct
their military authorities operating
wsst Of tho Isonoz to follow the rules
ofxshternational law respecting the
lfsAs and property OF civilians. and
the protection OF women. children,
clergy. hospitals and churches.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21

LORD Brassey, in SO years. has sail
eo sS2'ooo miles in different yachts.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-21
10 SEARCH FOR OF.

1es Engiish Government Advised by
Ansesscan Geoiogists 70 Explore for
ON.