davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
IS FACING
future WITHOUT
FEAR, PARKER SAYS
BY JAMES cARELLE.

The cotton condition Is far from
hopeless" declared John M. Parker
governor of Louisiana, prior to his
speech at the cotton acreage conven-
tton Tuesday morning Il have Just
returned from the governors meet,
where the matter was thoroughly
discussed, and my ideas-on this mat
ter will be ventilated to the utter
most IN my speech to the convention.
Being cotton planter myself, / have
a personal interest in the matter, as
wall as a patriotic one
THE whole South is facing the fu-
tpre fearlessly. It Is looking wide
eyed and unafraid at problems be-
fore which 1t covered short time
ago. The importance of this conven-
tion can not be oyerestimated. Its
good effects will penetrate to the re-
motest part Of the nation and the
reaction will be tremendous. 1t is
not too much to say that the men
who planned and carried out this
meeting win rank among our great
est statesmen in the days to come.
There is general restlessness ev-
erywhere, this is accomplished by an
inQuiring spirit. People are no
longer satisfied with things as they
are because they have been so for
generations; they want to know Why
III affairs can not be remedied, AS
said before I have just come from
the meeting of governors and gov
ernors- elect at Harrisburg, Pa, and
each governor had the same tale to
tell: Restlessness. dissatisfaction and
a desire for betterment.
Feeling General.
"This feeling is found, not only in
the South, according to reports of
various governors who are in a posi-
tior to feel the pulse Of the people,
but in former SNUG and self salts
fled New England, in the opulent
central states and the experiment-lov-
ing states of the West. 1t is wonder
full how far-reaching 1t is.
ut is to this feeling l attribute
the turnover at the late election,
though that is ancient history now.
The people are inclined to expert
ment, as, witness the rapid growth of
nonpartisan movement. Farmers
(Cnntinued ION Page 16. Column -
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
Mail of HamOn; s Widow
Stolen; MterDieWer OF
accused Girl Questioned
-Four Men Force
Entrance Of Flat
And Take Letters

CHICAGO, Dec. 7.-Four uniden-
l. titled men forced an entrance last
night into the apartment building
here where the widow of the late
Jake L. Hamon lives. The men
| seized a quantity of personal papers
and rs letters received for Mrs.
Hamon during her absence at Ard
more, Okla, where her husband was
mysteriously shot to death. The in
truders took nothing else.
Charles Willis. landlord of the
building, had the letters and papers
IN his apartment, which is across the
nall. Actions Of the men indicated
seizure had been carefully planned,
he said.
Willis and his wife, Josephine,
were alone in their apartment at
9.45 o'clock when their bell rang.
He opened the door. The four men
thrust themselves in and two seized
him., pinioning him to the wall. He
believes one Of them may have been
armed. Mrs. Willis screamed ana
she was warned to be silent. The
Other two men then said to her and
| Willis: 1--WE want Mrs lannon's let
ters and papers, where are they?'
II won't tell you," Mr.. and Mrs.
Willis chorused.
The other two men began syste-
matte search Of the Groom apart
ment. Willis struggled to free him.
self from his captors and his silk
shirt was torn off. But they held.
The two who were searching the
apartment visited every Toom, ran
sacking bureau drawers and clothes
closets. The letters were finally
found in a small cabinet in the re-
ception room of the apartment.
"They didnt-give me a chance and
suspected. nothing anyway" Willis
said later. "They flashed stars that
looked like policeHnen's stars and /
suspected nothing until they began
strong -apming me. l was so excited
7 can not give a description of them
Three nights ago l observed two men
luEking In the rear yard. Previously
my janitOr had been approached by
strangers, but had declined to talk
with them. However, | find that a
maid had been approached and had
said that we were keeping Mrs.
lannon's mail in our apartment"
WHO do you think they are?" he
was asked.
IT. don't know. / wouldn't be sur
prised, however, if they were not
persons in the employ of interests
seeking to suppress all possible
sources of publicity in the shooting
of Jake Hamon."
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
Scribe Refuses To
Tell Whereabouts
OF Hunted Woman

+ SAN ANTONIO, TEX, Dec. T.
F. M Ross, a local newspaper man
who last night sent out dispatches
from here saying that he had con-
versed near San Antonio with Miss
Clara Smith, sought in connection
with the fatal shooting of Jake l.
Hamon, of Ardmore. Okla, and that
she had given him a statement con-
cerning the shooting of Hamon, was
taken into custody by police early
today questioned for an hour and
released.
Ross was detained at the request
of Russell r. Brown, county attor-
ney of Ardmore, who asked that his
story be investigated and that Ross
>oe held as a material witness If nee
essary. The newspaper man was
quizzed closely as to his alleged
statements that he had met the
woman after her car had broken
down near San Antonio, that he had
repaired the break and that she had
given him the statement. At the
conclusion of the conference Capt
James Duncan Of the police stated
ne was inclined to doubt the news
paper mans story.
Ross, according to the police re-
rused to tell the whereabouts OF the
young woman, asserting that he
would go to jail first.
Officials said that when questioned
oy t1em he said he became acQuaint-
ed With Miss Smith-while working
on a newspaper in Oklahoma. Later
fndAU hn catd he L
He told his questtoners, it was
stated, that he first saw Miss Smith
on the streets of San Antonio and
that she tried to evade MIN by driyl
ing away in large motor car. He
said that he pursued her in a smaller
car but being unable to overtake
her, hired a>large service car and re-
sumed the chase, overtaking her Just
outside the city limits.
Following their questioning of Ross.
police said they We're inclined to
abandon the search for Miss Smith
here, especially after detectives had
made ap investigation at one of the
leading hotels and failed to find her.
The story told by Ross of his in
terXiew with Miss Smith, according
to the police followed somewhat her
statements to E. w. Sails, of Dallas,
the chauffeur who drove Miss Smith
from Dallas to Cisco.
While a companion fixed two flat
tires on Miss Smiths automobile,
Ross said he took her to 4 nearby
farmhouse and there she told him
she had killed Hamon for he sake
of their son, Jack" According to
Ross, she declared she was wiling
to face any just judge Or any jury
of women. eI
Ross is an employe of the San
Antonio News.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
Natchez's Arrival
In Memphis Expected

Memphis steamboat whistles were
to welcome the arrival Tuesday of
the new federal barge line towboat
Natchez, which river men cialm is
the last word in river construction.
She was built at Charleston, w.
Va, but on account of the extremely
low river stage was uanble to make
the trip to Memphis down the Ohio
river.
Upon her arrival she was to tie up
at the Lee line wharf and city Off
cials are invited to go aboard for I'm
epection, She is 200 feet long and
driven by twin propellers.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07

Your bankers OF the South should
be memorapzed to refuse to extend
one dollar of credit to the man who
refuses to carry out your program
Tor. reduction OF the cotton acre
age," said Gov. John NJ. Parker, in
sounding the keynote of the cotton
acreage reduction convention at the
opening session in Goodwin institute
tuesday morning. Remarks made
during the preliminary speeches in
dicated that a SO per cent reduction
would be urged.
Gov. Parker had just been unani-
mously elected permanent chairman
or the convention by a determined,
business like, yet withal an enthusi-
astic gathering OF delegates, which,
despite the rain, filled practically to
capacity the auditorium of Goodwin
institute. Delegates were there from
everyone of the large cotton grow
ing states and following the nomi-
nation of Gov Parker by c. P. j.
Mooney, managing editor of the
Commercial Appeal, seconds came
from Mississippi, Georgia, North and
South Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri
Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana.
]. P. Norfleet, chairman Of the To-
cal convention committee, and tenn
porary chairman Of the committee,
had already referred to the plan con-
templated by the Memphis commit
tee and those of the other states who
had sent written ideas Of what lines
the cenyention should adopt Mr..
Norfleet outlined the work of the
committee. and the conditions facing
the south. which had brought the
committee into being.
Conditions Different Now.
He said that he had been engaged
in similar work few. years ago, but
the good done by work that year was
minimized by an unexpected advance
of cotton to around 40 cents a pound,
and the consequent rush to grow
cottegtz all over the South. Condi-
tions. he said, were different now
and the South was faced with the
alternative OF reducing its cotton
acreage and consequently it's pro-
duction of cotton or financial ruin.
The convention was opened with
an eloquent Invocation by the Rev,
G. H. Williamson. Ph.D.. after which
the visitors were welcomed to Mem
phis by Mayor Rowlett Paine. The
mayor said that as the chief execu-
tive Of the city, he was called upon
to welcome various sorts Of organi-
zations and conventions to Memphis,
but that he. took peculiar pleasure
Continued on Page 18, Column ~
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
Totes Pistol TO
Church; Arrested

Henry Freeman, negro, was finei
$50 and bound over to thh grand jury
by Judge II. II. Barker, in police
court, Monday afternoon, for carry
ing pistol to church.
Freeman said he was a member Cf
the "Sanctified Church." choir, aad
attended "all night" services at the
house of worship.
The negro, old and wrinkled, said
it wasn't safe to attend the nighr
services without being armed.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
BY Al eoooFELLoW.

Down in Mississippi there is a lit
tie girl named Opal, who wants a
sleeping doll for Christmas. Her
letter reached MY desk this morning
In it Is expressed every confidence
that the Goodfelows- Santa Claus
club will remember her this Christ
mass. The letter is one that con-
tafns such an appeal that only by
quoting 1t can the real message be
conveyed to my readers. Here it is.
Dear .Goodfellows-I am little
orphan girl seven years old. | didn't
have a Christmas last year. My dad
dy had Just died. / want a sleeping
doll and a new dress for this year.
haven't had doll of any sort for
some time Can't the Goodfeilows
send me one? know they won't
forget. Thanking you. OPAh'
Now Goodfellows, how can you
overlook that plea from little moth
YER who wants a dolie who goes to
kleep. And that new dress. The kid
die says she is sure you won't for
get. And | am pretty certain myself
that the Santa Claus club will re-
member Opal.
That is just one Of the letters which
are virtually pouring into my office.
The past few days have doubled the
mail which the Goodfellow postman,
brings to my desk each morning.
They are pleas for coal, for food and
for the things which bring Christmas
cheer.
Tuesday our total reached S4,722.1t,
which is quite step from Monday.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
IMMIGRATION BILL
MAY Be BROUGHT
Up IMMEDIATELY.
BY A. o. HAYWARD.
international News Service Staff


SSlIuSPSNhNNAsI
WASHINGTON, Dec. Acting
under the belief that the country is
demanding a temporary cessation of
the flood of immigration. Republic
an leaders in the house planned this
morning to jam through late today,
under q special rule limiting debate,
the Johnson bill suspending all i'm
migration for a period of two years.
Efforts to effect an organized
fight against the legislation were
made today by Representative Sigel.
of New York. Republican, and Rep
.resentative SABBATH. Chicago, Demo-
crat. Each represents a district with
a large foreign population, They
want more drastic exclusion regula-
tions to keep out the undesirables.
but free admission of all immigrants
who are likely to make good citi-
ZenS
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
S|NN FE|N PEACE \
TERMS VARY FROM
'BR|T|SHPROPOSAL
BY WILLIAM L.\MALLA5AR,
international News Service Cor
respondent.)

LONDON, Dec 7.-Sinn Fein peace
terms, as revealed today by the Daily
Graphic, are at wide variance with
the proposals contained in the home
rule bill now being debated in the
house of lords. According to this
newspaper they provide for a single
Irish parliament instead of a dual
parliament as set forth in the home
rule bill Sim Fein insistsrupon the
right to establish its own militia
and police force, but does not wish
an Irish navy. Furthermore the
Sim Fein ask for fiscal autonomy
and the power to negotiate CONNER
cial treaties on the principle of
Irish independence.
1t is reported that a Sim Fein
envoy has been in London for five
weeks to consult with republican
leaders.
Sir Horace Plunkett. famous Irish
leader, who will sail for New York
tomorrow on the liner baltic, does
not believe that the peace proceed
ings will be successful. Sir Horace
is one of the originators of the
movement for a dominion form OF
government in Ireland. Discussing
the Irish outlook today, he said:
"Is any peace proposals have been
made and considered they came from
the pacifist side and are not rec
ognized by leaders of the republican
movement The government insti-
tuted O terrorist campaign but 1t
failed. Now the government is at
tempting to work through economic
pressu fe, but this will fail also. There
IS no tangible prospect for truce.
The whole thing amounts to this:
"The government has a pious hope
that proposals for peace will be re-
pudiated by the party which is de-
manding freedom for Ireland"
Sir Horace denied that Irish mats
ters are concerned In his American
visit. He said he was going to the
United States for n rest Timothy
Healy telegraphed the Daily Express
advocating action by King George to
end Irish hostilities. Healy said he
thought the king should be advised
to exercise his prerogative ito sum-
mon a parliament in Ireland" pend
inS the negotiations for a truce. TheN
object of such a meeting would be
tn take preliminary steps for the
creation OF an Irish constitution. Ac-
cording to Healy the king is en-
powered by an old law to summon
an Irish parliament. ....
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
lam Il Going to Kill You" :"
Precedent Broken
By Informal Tea

WASHINGTON, Dec. For the
first time within the memory of the
oldest attache of the White House,
a first lady of the land entertained
today a next first lady of the land.
Mrs. Florence King Harding, wife
of the president ELECT, was the guest
of Mrs. Edith Boiling Wilson, wife
of the president, at an informal tea
for two at the executive mansion
late Monday. Mrs. Wilson met her
guest in the front hall and escorted
her 9 to the Blue ROOM where tea was
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
Br-r=E Cold Snap
To Come After Rain

Get out your mufflers, overcoats
and other Notifications against the
cold.
Local United States weather fore
casters promise cold snap as a. con-
sequence to the present rainy
weather. An .82-inch precipitation
was the result of Monday nights
rain, and the temperature will prob
ably drop to freezing by Tuesday
night, forecasters say.
The river is rising, though not
rapidly, and river men are anxiously
awaiting the 12-foot stage necessary
to float certain packets that have
been idle for some time The heavy
rains are general over the upper
river regions, forecasters say.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
TEXAN WILL FATHER
COTTON LEGISLATION

WACO, Texas, Dec. Newt B.
Williams, representative in the state
Legislature from McLennan county,
will introduce fou. bills in the com
ing session Of the legislature designed
to regualrte the marketing of cotton.
They will provide for bonding cot
ton buyers who must stand examina-
ton as classers; district for taxing
to build warehouses for congresses
to- be attached to warehouses and
prohibiting congresses from charging
a fee for storage on cotton received
by them from warehouses.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
CUT ACREAGE 80
{. PER CENT; GROW
100000 BALES
Col. W. P. Thompson, of New
Orleans, Says South in
Earnest-Warns World to
Prepare for Short Crop. Z

A reduction of at least so per cent
in the cotton acreage in 1921 and a
crop of not more than 100000 bales
was predicted by w. P. Thompson,
of New Orleans, former president of
the New Orleans cotton. exchange,
in his address Tuesday before the
cotton conference here
THE South is determined to re-
duce the cotton acreage in 1921 to
at least one-half of that of last
year." Col. Thompson said. This
will mean that the coming crop will
be reduced to 5000 900 bales or less.
The convention here is called for the
purpose of solidifying this determi-
nation and serving notice on the
world that the cotton producing
South will no longer permit it's chief
agricultural asset to be slaughtered
and it's producers impoverished by
any combination of circumstances or
interests whatsoever"
After outlining the course of the
mhrket in recent months, Col.
Thompson continued: This reduc-
tion movement has been made neces-
sary by the appalling decline in
prices, due, we are told by apologists
for the ruthless deflation campaign,
to production.
Heavy Price Decline.
In spite of the fact that in the
spring the farmers were urged and
encouraged by the financial author
tiles at Washington TO produce all
the cotton possible, we are, after the
price has declined to figures which
represent less than one-half actual
cost of production, told that we have
produced too much and must stand
the consequences of such over
production.
"The answer to- this is" Col
Thompson, said, that we will hold
tight to every bale of the so-called
surplus, and that we will reduce
the,next crop to proportions which
will stagger those who would re-
duce the cotton producer to con-
dition of destltution.
THE bankers, q merchants and
farmers of this section understand
the situation and its remedy per-
fectly. Even IL the farmers were
able and willing to plant full acre
age, the bankers and merchants will
not supply the necessary means.
This is not a matter of mere reso-
luton by farmers to reduce acre
age, but an issue of vital necessity
for which the whole financial South
is taking up its arms.
LET the world prepare itself for
a five or six million baie crop in
1921" -,...
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
MAN ELECTRocUTED

F'REEPORT, Tex, Dec, Fired
Brock, electrician for the Freeport
Sulphur company, was accidentally
electrocuated here yesterday while
employed at the works. He was "a
years old and IL months ago mar
ried Miss Mamie Hendricks, OF Well
lington, Okla
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
CONSTANTINE GOT
98 PER CENT VOTES
(Ry the Assoolated Press. }

10y the N6socIated Press,L
PARIS, Dec. 7.--EX- King Constan-
tine received % per cent of the votes
cast in Sundays plebiscite on the
question OF his return to the throne
of Greece, 1t is announced in an
Athens dispatch received by the
Greek legation here today.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
sIS =! SNXl SiIsIElEIRg

Tennessee--Rain; colder
Mississippi-Fair; colder.
Arkansas--Fair; freezing.
Alabama--Rain; colder.
Kentucky-Snow.
Louisiana-Fair; colder.
Oklahoma--Fair; colder.
North and South Carolina, Georgia
and Flprida-Rain; colder. .,.
East Texas-Fair; GLIDER.
West Texas-Fair; warmer.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
WOULD WITHHOLD
/ CREDIT TO GROWER
WHO WON'T REDUCE
Governor John N! Parker, as
Permanent Chairman Cot
ton Acreage Convention,
Indicates Credits Keynote.
BULLETIN.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-As an
amendment to the currency law.
Senator McKellar, following "a
conference of senators from cot
ton growing states, today intro
dueed a bill providing that fac
tors paper with cotton or other
staple agricultural products as
collateral, shall be eligible for re-
discount in federal reserve banks.
All congressman from cotton
growing states are said to be
pledged to support the measure.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
APPOINTED sUBCLERK.

Sim T. Carman. Y. M. C. A., was
appointed to 1he position Of substi-
tute postal clerk Tuesday, according
to an announcement of the U. s.
railway mail service. He has been
assigned to q line in this district.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-07
Stigma" Is Alternative.

"The United States" said the
president "can not refuse this role
of champion without putting the
stigma of rejection upon the great
and devoted men who. brought its
government into existence"
The presidents message was trans
mitted by messenger the president
adbering to his decision not to adj
dress congress in person.
The presidents message was not
read Immediately in the senate.
which waited until II had disposed
of routine business. Secretary Tum-
ulty was among the spectators in the
senate. occupying a seat on the floor.
Public galleries were again filled and
several diplomats were present.
The house listened to the reading
OF the presidents message in silence
until 1t was concluded, Gwhen the
Democrats arose and Applauded.
There was some applause also from
the galleries where crowds had gath
cred in anticipation of the possibility
that Mr.. Wilson might at the last
moment determine to read his COM
munication in person.
In the senate arrival OF the White
House messenger with an armful OF
communications, including some
1900 recess and other appointments,
and with the announcement several
messages in writing from the presi-
dent" caused laughter on the floor.
Debate on farmers relief measures
was in progress and II was half an
hour before the clerk began reading
the presidents message, senators
following the reading from printed
copies placed in their hands earlier.