davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30
Washington, D. c.
1929 9th ST., N. w.
Jan. 19, 1920.

CITIZENS OF MANAIRY COUNTY:
| am glad to note the action OF
the county court in authorizing
an election to vote on the issuance
of one hundred thousand dollars
road bonds. This is certainly a
forward step for the court and
should be backed up by every cit
izen and voter of McNairy coun-
ty. Nothing so vitality affects
all of the common interests of
the people so much as do the
public roads. They are as the
nerve cords of the community life
and influence even the social re-
lations with your neighbors, your
schools, your churches and Sun
day schools when viewed from
the social, moral and religious
points of view, but viewing good
roads from the commercial point
of view, it is hardly probable that
their value will ever be over-sta-
ted.
| have come in contact with
many tourists and prospective in
vestors since coming here who
have toured in our fair southland,
and their main criticism is those
awful roads! when will those
people awake to a realization of
the real value and need of good
roads?" | met one gentleman
of considerable business affairs,
who in his tour of Mississippi,
swung up into Tennessee and hit
McNairy county first, secured an
automobile and made a trip over
the county. His comment was:
Those people are fifty years be-
hind the times, and the thing
that keeps them behind is their
sheer lack of interest in the i'm
provement of their public high
ways. +" He also said: II see
great opportunity for those peo-
|ple. I drove over land that was
not yielding anything of conse-
quence to its owners. and much
that was costing tax and yielding
nothing, when this land, by de-
veloping the highways, could be
used to supply an abundance of
valuable money crops that would
bring to it's owners thousands
and thousands of dollars" He
summed it all up by remarking.
Life is too short to have to ex-
pend SO much energy and getting
nowhere. !" ! simply narrate this
to you that you may know how
men Of large business affairs re-
gard the situation. They do not
spend money simply for the sake
|of spending IL They oil expect
something In return. Il can be
easily deddced from this mans
statements, that he considered
an investment IN public roads in
McNairy coutity, the best invest
fiient for the direct benefit of the
Whole people.
| was out In Maryland a few
days ago and saw a real example
of what good roads mean. Motor
truck routes all along the roads
are established for fifty miles out
of Washington and you can see
small platforms just high enough
for truck to drive up and the
driver take whatever is on the
platform into the truck with ease.
1t may be case of eggs, a coor
of chickens, a can of milk, a beet
or a nnrk. or yepetahlas-anu.
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30

WRITE or telephone us the hap
.penings in your locality. This is
news, and that is what we want to
print. We want every section of
the county represented in our
news columns.
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30

I'VE greatly appreciate the let
ter from Mr.. Lewter, who was a
newspaper man in this county a
score of years ago, and is still an
active worker in the field of jour
nalism in Oklahoma, where he is
prospering. He is well known to
a majority of our readers who
are always glad to greet him on
his occasional visits back to the
home of his younger days. Ed ]
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30

thing can be marketed for only a
few cents freight and the cans or
crates returned to the platform.
Of course where ones products
were Of such quantity as to JUS
| fy he could operate his own team
or truck. The farmers have an
extra COW or a dozen, and put the
milk in cans and send it to the
milk dealers here. We pay 18c
per quart, or 72csper gallon for
this fresh milk. This affords a
constant and daily income to the
farmers. Any part of McNairy
county could operate in this way
between Corinth and Jackson and
by rail anywhere. Then what is
one hundred thousand dollars or
even three hundred thousand to
a county like McNairy. when it is
issued in bonds bearing only a
small rate of interest and payable
T in ten, twenty or thirty years?
Hold on" says some one, do
you mean to heap burdens upon
our rand-children?" No sir; |
mean that the right kind of pub
lie roads will last for generations
with only an up.keep expense
attached, and that by beginning
now we will be doing our duty
to both ourselves and our grand
children by removing from both
of us the burdens-ard-d -drudgery-
t-in-non-prosperous life from
which our county has never been
relieved in all it's past history.
A gentleman from Pennsylva-
MIA recently told me that his state
had just issued fifty million dol
lars worth of bonds for improve
ments, to say nothing of what has
already been done. This issue
alone for Pennsylvania, compar-
paratively the size of Tennessee,
is equal to five hundred thousand
dollars for each county in Ten
neSsee.
Some one has said, "opportu-
nifty knocks at the door of every
body once. f" Dear people of Nc
Marry county, opportunity is now
knocking at your door. Do not
let this, the greatest of all oppor-
tunities, pass, but put this thing
across and you will certainly
have paved the way for the con-
tinued progress of the county for
all the future and the cost will
be the least with the largest in
come possible.
If you are a land owner and a |
tax payer, you will reap benefits
in greater proportions, and if you
are not a land owner, by your fa-
voring this forward step you will
join your fellow-countrymen to
increase your opportunity to turn
your labors into profits, whereas,
they have never afforded you a
full share in return.
With the keenest interest in
anything for the betterment Of
old McNairy county. / join hear
tily in favor of this move, and
please do not forget that the u.
S. government will also put a
dollar on top Of every one you
put into this movement. So in
addition to your one hundred
thousand, you get an additional
one hundred thousand by coop
Grating with Uncle Sam, besides
the hundred thousand dollars Of
fered by the state of Tennessee.
If there is any information I
can gather from this end of the
line, by virtue of my being here,
that will help, or any questions
anyone would like to ask, because
of available information here, I
shall take pleasure in trying TO
secure for You the desired infor-
nation. Sincerely,
GEO. M, GoocH.
v--ssr-s-~s--ssh hzs-sssau=4-a-
1 ~
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30

IT you want to vote in the elec-
tion on March 20 next, your poll
tax must be issued 80 days before
that date, to entitle you to vote.
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30
OBSERVE the regulations of the
health authorities and avoid the
Flu epidemic.

WHILE we are discussing road
improvements, we should not for
get that streets and alleys some
times need attention.
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30
Hiuher and Hiuher.

Bob Minllin's father is making him
study higher mathematics so that he
will be able to write the price tags
when he gets old enough to go to
work.
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30

When you are talking with other
eople, even in the strictest confidence,
lways keep this in mind, "Am l re-
ealing business or family secrets, or
,rivate affairs, which l may regret
some dayT
McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-01-30

An Original camounaes.
The spider crab decks itself with seq
weed in the hope Of escaping the notice
| Of its. enemies.
The Washington times., 1920-04-11

tinguishable finger marks upon the knob.
This, however, could be accounted for by
the robber wearing smooth and thin rub
ber gloves-which Is one Of the up-to-date
animation Of the rose trellis showed marks
tricks Of the advanced safe openers. Ex-
animation OF the rose trellis showed marks
which might or might not have been those
OF climbing feet. Outside Of these there
was no trace. 60
Probably there is in all America no
greater concentration Of wealth in the
form Of jewels than there is at Aiken.
And, therefore, 1t must like any other
treasure house, attract the predatory
minded. The dinner to which Mrs. Dolan
wore the gems the last time was large
one given at fashionable restaurant. At
the tables hundreds of thousands of dol
lars worth of gems were on display. In
fact, IL is a common sight to see small
rainbows of jewels flashing from tbs white
throats and arms of the women in this ex-
elusive dining hall. Though the shades
are sometimes pulled down, they are more
often left lifted, and only a seven-foothigh
hedge Of privet acts as a partial screen
against the public gaze. It is, therefore,
no difficult matter for anyone to mark
down certain Jewels and their owners with
out being under the necessity Of being one
of society.
But to see a thing is not to possess It,
and there is no record of robberies OF vio-
lence at Aiken. To secure the gems GOV.
eted would be. under the circumstances,
far more difficult for the average cracks.
man or burglar than II would be in large
city like New York. Inevitably the pres
ence OF strangers is noted in such fashion
able gathering places and their opportuni-
ties are correspondingly limited.
SO much is this so that at Aiken the un-
usual custom Of wearing jeweiry even on
the golf links has recently come into
vogue. The pearl necklace that was stolen
had been worn by Mrs. Dolan many times
on the Palmetto links.
Investigators from New York went
promptly to Aiken and a most thorough
examination began OF everyone connected
with Calico Cottage. When II was ended
no suspicion could possibly be attached TO
any OF the servants, and one theory that
caddies attracted by Mrs. Dolan's wearing
the necklace on the links had Skinned up
the porch and gotten into the room and op-
ened the safe was thoroughly exploded.
The Washington times., 1920-04-11

Il would take at least three men, two look
outs and one worker, to get inside OF the
Dolan grounds unnoticed The place is so
private that strangers would at once be
observed on the place.
The Dolan robbery has all the marks OF
the skill and super-criminal efficiency
which two years ago caused such unrest
and worry in the fashionable cottage
colony.
The most unusual OF these-that In
which the Jewels OF Mrs. Dorothy Whitney
Straight, sister Of Harry Payne Whitney,
OF New York, and youngest daughter
Of the late William G. Whitney, were
stolen-still remains an unsolved mys-
terry.
erea, Britain Rishis Reserved
The Washington times., 1920-04-11

Of the household was centered upon the
kitchens, the pantries and the dining
room. The lights still burned on the bed
room floor, but the maids soon left the
ladies' rooms and either went to their own
apartments in another part OF the house
or came downstairs.
Since the Whitney cottage Is surrounded
by its own ample grounds II Is not the
custom TO pull the shades in the dining
hall during dinner. In spite Of the vigil
lance of the private watchman, Craig, 1t
would have been quite possible for burg
lars to watch the guests at dinner through
the windows and to have hidden behind
the ample shrubbery II the watchman
passed by on his rounds
The Washington times., 1920-04-11

leading to the place runs also past the en-:
trance way leading to the Palmetto Coll
Club, and is on a private roadway by Itself
looking down on Coker Springs: Parties
passing the Gardner place would attract
attention at once as being bound for the
Dolan cottage, as the road ends at the
place.
Since the Mrs. willard Straight, Sand.
hurst and Josef Hofmann robberies last
season the Winter residents have been
especially guarded against trespassers OF
any kind No one pretending to hunt or
even actually hunting is allowed to enter
any part OF the colony domains aside from
the public highways The watchman force
has been doubled In some instances ana
icl 1920. International Testure Service. Inc.
The Washington times., 1920-04-11

At any rate, whether from inside or from
outside the house. somebody became very
busy upstairs while the merry dinner party
was in progress downstairs. Curiously
, enough, the wealthy hostess, Mrs. Straight, =
escaped the full force of the burglars at
tentions because her maid had thoughtfully
turned the key in her mistress's bedroom
door when the hostess went down to din.
ner.
The dinner moved along smoothly.
Groves, the head butler, saw that each ser.
want was In his place and that the service
was prompt and irreproachable. Barney
Craig, the faithful old servtor walked his
beat around and about the premises He
did not, of course. search the shadows Of
each Of the tall evergreens which screen
the house on all sides. But nobody doubts
the fidelity of the watchman, who had been
employed for years as caretaker Of the
homes Of the Hitchcocks and the Whit
neys.
The Whitney estate is one of the largest
in Aiken. the residence being right in the
centre Of Brooklyn" the curiously named
quarter selected by the very fashionable
set, and the very fact that the Whitney
grounds are so considerable in extent
makes 1t impossible for a watchman to be
sure that intruders are not hiding in the
hedges or the shrubbery.
Besides the jewels which the hostess
wore to the dinner, II is not known what
she left behind in her room. The door be-
ing locked, the thieves did not search 1t.
so nothing was lost and, therefore, no list
Of Mrs. Straights jewels was given to the
police. Mrs. Harrison Tweed left on
dresser in her room silver lace mesh bag
which was rather valuable in itself. II
contained four beautiful dfamoLd rings,
several jeweled brooches and beautiful
pearl necklace worth many thousand dol
lars. The silver bag and all that was In
Il was taken.
When Mrs. Arthur Swami went down to
dinner she left in her room on a small
writing desk two jeweled gold pins and
several other articles Of value in jewel
case. All were stolen. In a trunk in one
Of the upstairs rooms were some things
belonging to the hostess, MIS-. Straight.
The lock OF this trunk had been forced
open and bills to the amount of $1,000 and
Jewels were taken. Everything in the up
per tray of the trunk had been paved over
IN n 0uTTleu SedTCu. Inc tultNSS IlOoOu
down the lid of the trunk and hid the
broken lock by a silk scarf which covered
a part OF the trunk. Did the thieves know
that there was money hidden In this trunk"
The robbery continued, for long to be
mystery in spite Of all the efforts made to
fathom IT, II was not made known to the
authorities until 10 o'clock the following
Wednesday morning. From that hour I'LL
late in the afternoon the phone was kept
busy ringing up the Sheriff, the Chief OF
Police and the deputies.
The loss was at first stated 70 be small.
and II was not until the following day that
II was learned that II amounted to at least
s50,O00. Even then the loss from the
trunk was not included.
A New York dispatch was sent to
detective agency in cipher describing the
Jewels, as the greatest anxiety was evl-
IDENTIFY felt to recover them before they hao
been divided up into fragments.
But neither jewels nor cash we're ever
found.
The Washington times., 1920-04-11

The robbery occurred
on q Tuesday evening.
Barney Craig, the Whit
ney private night watch
man, reported at the usual
hour to Groves. the head
'bvtler. Groves, With the
silent dignity becoming
his profession, signed the
watchman's report for
duty, bowed and closed
the back door.
Craig made his FIRST
round of the premises at
eight o'clock. No sound
or unusual occurrences
disturbed his walk. The
Whitney cottage is sur
rounded by ample grounds
with Iuxuriant shrub
berry.
While Craig. the night
watchman, strolled about
the paths, the house was
ablaze with lights. Mrs.
Straight had two house
guests, Mrs. Arthur Swami
and Mrs. Harrison Tweed,
both well known in the
fashionable world of New
York, Newport and Palm
Beach. On the ground
floor the big culinary de-
partment Of the Whitney
cottage was busy, and
many servants were pre-
pairing dinner for a party
Of guests. At seven-thirty
Mrs. Straight, the hostess,
had finished dressing and
descended from her rooms
on the second floor and
greeted the gathering Of
guests in the drawing
room. A few moments
later Mrs. Arthur Swami
was released from the at
tentions OF her maid and,
descending the stairs.
Joined the guests in the
drawing-room. A moment
later Mrs. Harrison Tweed
had finished dressing and
her arrival in the drawing
room completed the party.
At ten minutes OF eight
dinner was announced.
The guests passed from
the reception room into
the big dining hall, both
OF which are on the ground
floor, and the busy hustle
I'D was centered upon the
.-too and Tho dining
The Washington times., 1920-04-11

The detectives we're
very reluctantly forced
to admit that the bur-
glary had been carried
out with extraordinary
deftness. Their opin- 4
ion was that 1t had GER
tainly been done by
someone in the colony
who moved in the same
circles as those he
robbed. A reward Of
$500 was offered by
Mrs. Dolan and pla-
cards were placed in all
the main parts OF Aiken,
telling the reader that
no questions would be
asked positively" and
that all communica-
tions would be held
"strictly confidential"
It was thought that II
some caddy' had really
stolen the gems or
some professional thief
had been tempted to
take them the large
sum of the reward
would bring them to
terms OF settlement.
The Dolan home, Cal
leo Cottage, is situated
to the right Of the ia.
nous "Whiskey Road"
past Tall Pines, the
home of Colonel An.
thony Guser, OF Phila-
delphia, and not far
from the home OF the
late Senator Augustus
p. Gardner. The road
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-25
A Dramatic Adventure

Soon New York may expect to
see steamship with company OF
passengers such as never before were
sent from this port--nearly 800
Russian boys and girls, who were
taken out Of Petrograd in May, 1918,
when that city's food supply was
running short. The Soviet govern
ment conceived the idea Of sending
a thousand children to Siberia. The
Siberian revolution prevented them
from going home. The only way
they could get back was to travel
still further eastward. This they
did, and in the face Of difficulties al
most insuperable the American Red
Cross has kept them safe and sound
at least, 782 of them.
At the end of two years, and still
guarded by the same organization.
the little ones are coming to New
York, where they will rest a few
days before starting for Bordeaux,
France, where the Red Cross has
established school colony for their
benefit.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-25
Not So Eager

A rapid fall in the eagerness OF
Governor Cox to open his box of al
legged information concerning the
awfulness of the conspiracy to buy
the Presidency is discernible. He ap-
parently is the one person in the
United, States who is unaware that
the Kenyon committee would like to
talk with him. He is impatient of
suggestions that he appear as wit
ness. He says he wants to tell his
story in his own way, and his way
is a stump speech, not subject to
cross-examination.
The telegraph wires are obviously
working badly. Senator Kenyon S
telegram, as given to the press, ex-
explicitly says his committee would
like Governor Cox personally to ap-
pear. But the Governor says he has
received no request. Perhaps he re-
sents the fact that Senator Kenyon
remarked in his message: Il am
sure that as a good citizen and as a
candidate for the Presidency you
will be willing to assist US and
would not make these statements
without evidence to support them. -
The idea.
In the mean time unofficial evil
dence pours in Of the poverty of both
committees. They are both de-
scribed as fiat broke. The high cost
of stenographers and clerical help,
not to speak OF the price Of paper,
has drained away their resources.
Yet Governor Cox reiterates that the
great purchase is on. An Ohio man
not long ago received a Republican
campaign circular whose printing
and postage were paid for by infa-
nous Chairman Hays. Such nefari-
business must be stopped In the
mean time Messrs. Bryan and La
Toilette, who have specialized on
the conspiracy issue, are surlily 81
lent. They naturally don't enjoy
q manifest attempt to kidnap their
favorite child.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-25
Oklahoma Zinc Product

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: AS reader OF your payer for
almost lifetime l was much interested
IN one OF your editorials OF las: Sun
day, in which you referred to TIE zinc
industry. You stated that the principal
zinc mines were abou. Joplin, No. Y
you will consul, the Bureau OF Mines 8.
Washington you Will be advised that the
principal zinc mines of the world are
located in Ottawa County, Okla. This
one county OF Oklahoma produces more
zinc than any other state in the Union
We feel that Oklahoma has been over
looked in connection with this zinc basi-
ness when you speak OF Missouri hsv-
ing the principal mines.
Out here in Oklahoma we s-e leaders
in mineral production. Oklahoma pro-
duces more oil than any other state, and
the value Of the oil which will be pro-
duced in Oklahoma this year is in ex-
cess Of all the gold mined in the whole
world during 1920. S. T. BISBEE.
Oklahoma City, Okla, Aug 10, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-25
The Intrastate Rate Bog;e

The refusal Of the State Public
Service Commissions to allow intra
state passenger fares to be cor
related to interstate fares is excused
on the ground that interstate fares
are fixed by contract and statute.
The Legislature is to meet in extra
session next month There will,
therefore, be an early opportunity to
repeal the limiting statutes.
In transportation matters it is i'm
practicable for evesy state to make
rules for itself alone and to ignore
the conditions established in inter
state traffic. The first result of such
aloofness is to create discrimination
against neighboring states, to pc
nalize commercial intercourse with
them and to excite retaliation on
their part. When the states were
finally united under the Federal
Constitution they forswore such re-
striction on freedom of commerce.
1t is particularly impracticable
for New York State to have it's own
rates. Access to this city is easier
through New Jersey for many of
New York's southern tier, central
and western counties than it is by
routes wholly inside the state. By
erecting different standard for in
trastate passenger fares the Legis-
lature and the Public Service Com
missions also effect determinations
between different sections of the
state. Some interior cities would
enjoy lower rates to New York than
others would
The southern and western parts
of New York are served by trunk
lines which pass into PENNSYLVANIA
and New Jersey before reaching this
city. The lower intrastate scale
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-25
by the Independent Labor party Of
Great Britain. One answer said:

GAtdt OIitdlN. Olle AuSWeI SalO.
at is most unlikely the hourgeoi-
sic will surrender It's power without
struggle. Therefore the workers
of Great Britain should prepare, not
for en- easy parliamentary victory.
but for victory by a heavy civil
war"
The Third Internationale sup
ports violence. It's reliance is or
force. 1t would overthrow democracy
with machine guns. Lenine, who
created the organization. has so de-
clared over and over again. AS
Ramsay Macdonald, one Of the Brit
ish radicals, says: "The Moscow
revolutionists are no fireside revolu-
tionists. When they say revolution
they mean bloodshed and violence. ="
The Socialist Endorsement of the
Third International, the willing
ness of the Socialist party to have
any association with it, settles a
question debated last winter during
the Albany custer proceedings. The
Socialist Assemblymen denied they
were physical violence men. They
refuted the charge that as Social
lists they were necessarily such.
Now where do they stand? Do they
stick to their party? 1t scarcely
needs TO be pointed out that the
issue now is not the one debated at
Albany.