The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-09
MERIDIAN, MISS.

Meridian, Miss May 8.-(SpeciaL)- The general committee In charge of donations to aid sufferers In the tor nado of April 20 has disbursed about S44,000 for the relief of those in the immediate vicinity of Meridian, has turned over s10,000 to the relief com mittee of Jasper county and has about $15,000 more on hand to be expended iii other districts along the path of the tornado, making the total fund to data $69, 1000, contributed by the people of this city and from distant points, some coming from all parts of the United States. The amount does not meet the requirements, but there is yet to be expended something like $50,000. which is said to be in the hands of Governor Russell, $25.000 having been borrowed cn authority of the members of the legislature and the remainder donated by people from the state at large and from others outside the state. This amoupnt is expected to be distributed wherever needed along the path of the storm in this state. Awards made by the committee so far as known have met with entire satisfaction, the amount is expected to be distributed fis financial condition following the disaster.
 The Retail Merchants Association of Meridian has fixed the date for hold ing their annual picnic on June at phis railroad, about twenty-five miles from Meridian. This is an annual event of considerable interest, as hol- iday is given and practically all of the merchants and their employees attend the outing.
 The Meridian Country Club has elect cd officers as follows: M. F. Parker, president; F. J. Hughes, vice president; | w. Richardson, secretary treasurer The board of governors is composed of the following: E. A. Morrison, Levi Rothenberg, c. c. Miller, Louis Three foot, R. P. Osler, c. L. Hughes, R. F. Darah, M M. Rosenbaum, and s. P. Hughes.
 The spring reunion of the Scottish Rite bodies of Mississippi will be held May 10, Il and 12 next week. The class Co take the degrees from the fourth to the thirty-second is a large one and will comprise members from many rarts of the state The reunion is to be followed Friday by ceremonial session of Hamasa temple, when large class will be taken into the Shrine. ElaDorate arrangements are being made for the visiting Masons.
 A largely attended luncheon was given today, at which the Salvation Army home service campaign, which starts in Meridian Monday, was dis cussed in four minute speeches by number of business men. The quota for Meridian is but s6.000, half of which will be expended in Salvatlon Army work in this city and county, and no difficulty is anticipated in the amount being subscribed.
 Continuous rains are re Arding farm work in this section and farmers are becoming uneasy over the outlook for all kinds of crops. The weather for the past two or three weeks has been such as would not permit of much field work, and grass is taking a strong hold on such crops as had begun to grow Because of the great scarcity of farm labor, it will be harS to rid fields of grass should wea her condi- tions change for the bette-. In some parts of the county fairly good stands of cotton are reported, but the outlook for normal growth is said 70 be bad because of the absence of hot sun shine when 1t is most needed.