The Columbia Record from Columbia, South Carolina • 1

I Weather Forecast FOR aOUTH CAROL! Mil Fair tonight and Friday wanner tonight Gentle to moderate shifting winds OBfll ciirnou i GOV BIEASE RESIGNS ANDLIEUT GOV CHAS SMITH SUCCEEDS HIM EXECUTIVE GIVES VONKLUCK LEADS THE GERMANS IN TERRIFIC BATHE FOR Unusually Brief Message to Senate Conveying Comes Like a Clap of Thunder From a Cloudless Resignation Accepted Immediately Struggle for Knoll of Ground Northeast of Soissons Remains Little Is Gained By Either Side But Both Suffer Heavy Losses Cole -L Blease today filed his resignation as governor of South Carolina No reason for his action was given in the document worded with unusual brevity which Gov Blease filed with Secretary of State McCown Gov resignation simply stated: McCown secretary of state 1 hereby resign my office as governor of South This action came without warning Intense excitement was caused in the General Assembly which was then in joint session in the Russian sphere of Inuuence In Persia This city of 200 0G0 population apparently was taken without lighting In view of the fact that the small Russian garrison maintained In Tabrls In times of peace had been withdrawn It la believed that the sufferers by the occupation If any are the Armenians whom the Kurds constituting the Turkish advance guard are always ready to attack Today's dispatches from Petrograd say that the Turkish Invasion of Persia continues and that the Turks are penetrating farther Into the country The Russians still claim to hold the upper hand In the lighting in the Caucasus In the vicinity of Kara-Urgan but the lack of details -suggests that the battle which has now been In progress for seven days has not yet resulted for either side The principal feature of news la London la the resignation of Count von Berchtold the Austrian foreign minister Some maintain that his action Indicates that a crisis In the affairs of the dual monarchy Is at hand Others suggest that-the appointment of Baron Stephen Burlan von Rajecs to von Berchtdld's place Is a move to placate the dissatisfied Hungarians (AaaoelaUA Press Dtoateh) London Jan 14 12:85 Like the etubbornly conteeted battlea In the early daya of the war on which hinged the German occupation of weat Flanders the atruggle for the knoll of ground northeast of Soissons known aa 132" remained undecided today according to Information recited in London The Germans however by their counter attacks appear to be In better position eastward of the spur In view of the relatively small amount of ground gained the losses have been heavy on both sides but the Germans show no signs cf giving up their attempts to take the hill It Is said Gen von Kluck himself Is now In command of the German forces which would seem to lift the battle out of the ordinary run of contflicts along the western front Farther east near Perthes where another sharp light continues the situation has not changed materially Judging from dispatches In the east In the absence of any radical developments In Poland and Galicia Turkish operations hold the foreground of Interest with the much heralded but equally doubted reports of a Turkish advance Into Egypt that Is said to be virtually ready and with the occupation by Turkey of Tabrls KILLED AND THE QUAKE Loss of Life in Stricken Italian Towns is Appalling Being Greater Than First Avezzano of 12-000 Population Destroyed 'wcatid Press uisoatcn Rome' Jan Reports from tho zone which suffered from earthquake while still fragmantary Indicate that there has been appalling loos of life and property Estimates of the number killed ranged night as high as 12J100 while the number of persons Injured was placed at about SOJOOO Estimates mado this morning however In the light of further Information from the stricken district placed tho number of killed and wounded together at more than 50000 The earthquake sons apparently extends for nearly 200 miles from Naples to Ferrara In the north and practically across the entire width of country -In that district The country to the east and southeast of Rome suffered the most apparently for-reports of loss of life and damage to property come from all over that district Avessano a town with 12000 inhabitants 68 miles east of Rome seems to have been the center of the disturbance nd this place with a number of nearby towns and villages Is reported as having been destroyed Great loss of life occurred at Avessano and Its vicinity the dead there being placed at more than 15000 Among towns In the earthquake district reported entirely destroyed are BussL Capelle Sourcooa Magllano Cappadocia Celano and Pesclro Bora and Arplno are said to have been partially wrecked Naples felt the shock severely but suffered only slight damage Sulmona and Aqulla In the province of Abrussi and other towns In that region report much damage and some loss of life No one was killed In Rome but there Is considerable material damage Several historical structures were damaged but It Is hoped not Irredeemably so About 100 persons were' killed In towns near Rome according to reports Relief work Is already under way and It Is stated that King Victor Emmanuel will himself visit the most severely stricken districts Premier Salandro has personally taken charge of relief work Special trains with doctors medicines ambulances and nurses have already been dispatched and government offl- CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) MEN OFFENSIVE Russians Again Start a Drive Against Two of Their Opponents Heavy Fighting Against Turks in the Cau- casus Said to Be Proceed' 4 ing (Associated Prut Dispatch) Russia has again undertaken ax offensive movement against two of her three opponents Her forces In tho north are attempting to penetrate from two directions Into East Prussia wv Russia several months ago sustained one of the most severe defeats of the war 1 In the Caucasus Russian forces are again engaged In heavy fighting a 1th the Turks who according to official Petrograd advices have ustalned largo losses In late encoun-ers In Galicia ard Bukowlna where activities are directed against Austria there is now little activity seve-e weather having checked military operations In the west the fighting about Soissons has developed into unexpectedly large proportions Tbs Germans and the allies apparently have thrown in heavy -clnforcements nd definite defeat for either side might result In the re-shaping of the battle line over a long section of the front Elsewhere along the front Germany is believed to be sending In more troops In response to the movement of England which Is pouring In fresh soldiers weekly by the thousands Ordinary passenger traffic over railroads In Germany has been suspended for several days It Is assumea extensive troop movements are under way Although Russian forms In northern Persia apparently offered no resistance i- the Turkish advance on Tabriz small forces of Persians defenu-ed their country from invasion but with no success Of a guard of 4Q0 Persian horsemen at Mlandoab the to all hut four were killed i CHIEF COUNSEL IS CHARGED WITH AN ATTEMPT TO BRIBE (Associated orw D1 snatch I Parkersburg VA Jan 14 A Leo Well of Pittsburgh cblef counsel for the Manufacturers' Light Jb Heat Co was arrested on a train at Wil-llamstown VaH' today by Sheriff Hill charged with attempting to bribe Bronson of the Public Service commission in an effort to Influence a decision in which the light company Is Interested Buy? Ground After Four Violent Attacks CAssodatMl Pmw iMmatea1 Petrograd via London Jan 14 8:10 Furious fighting has been resumed In Russian Poland Tho Russian forces In the north which are pushing toward east Rrussla In the region near Mlawa hive captured a number of villages In tho center the Germans have made four violent attacks within the last 48 hours They forced back the Russians and occupied considerable ground (Associate! Ptms Dlsuatea) Berlin Jan 14 by wireless to London 8:45 Emperor -William was present in-1 person during the spirited battle on the Vregny Plain northeast of Soissons which resulted yesterday In that elevated ground being cleared of the French and which la described In the German official statement today aa a "brilliant feat for our In the engagement the Germans claimed to have captured 14 French officers and 1150 men COLA CONVOCATION -IN ANNUAL MEETING (Special to The Ridgeway Jan 14 The regular pntine? meeting of the Columbia convocation was opened Tuesday morning with a celebration of the holy communion at 10:30 The Episcopal diocese of South Carolina Is divided Into three convocations the Columbia convocation comprising the parifta and missions in the central portion of the state There are 28 clerical members The Rev Flnlax rector of Trinity church Columbia Is dean and presiding officer The convocation has no legislative function In the Episcopal chflrch Its annual meetings are for the purpose of discussion and debate on some leading Issues of Importance to the church At opening session Tuesday morning the subject was Introduced and discussed Social Obligation of the Individual Church Member' The general point of agreement was the social nature of the Christian re llgion and the obligation which rests upon the Individual to work out his own salvation by service to others The afternoon topic under the leader ship of the Rev Boyd of Rock Hill was Courts and Penal Every evening there is service and sermon In St church The convocation will be In session until Thursday evening of Assistant Attorney Fred Dominick took the oath of office ae governor respectfully A Smith This message was also received In the senate In the house It was roundly applauded John McMahan of Richland county moved that a committee be appointed to confer with the governor and learn his wish In regard to a more formal Inauguration before Joint assembly of the two houses tonight This motion was carried unanimously The following members were appointed: John McMahan Josijh McCollough and Charles Charles A Smith of Timmonsvllle became governor at 11 minutes to 1 o'clock when the oath of office was administered to him by Chief Justice Eugene Gary In the supreme court room Mr Smith was accompanied by the retiring governor and other State offlcala The ceremony was -brief occupying but a few minutes Upon conclusion of the formal proceedings Governor Smith repaired to the executive offices on the first floor of the capital aud assumed charge as chief magistrate of the State He then notified both branches of the legislature that he had become governor sending in a brief and formal message LeGrand Walker senator from Georgetown county by virtue of hla position as president pro tom of the senate to which position he was elected a few days ago automatically became lieutenant governor of South Carolina to fill out the unexplred term of Governor Smith Governor Smith atated to reporters that he would make a public statement at an early date MENDE SMITH ELECTED JUDGE TO SUCCEED GARY rJijv Lieutenant Governor Charles A Smith was 10 minutes later sworn In as governor of South Carolina The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Eugeqe Gary of the State supreme court In session at the capital Governor Blease stated to the representative of The Record that be would state no reason for tble action He was then In the supreme court room where preparations were being made to administer the oath of office to Charles A Smith the lieutenant governor While a crowd of Stale officials members of both branches of the legislature and several score citizens crowded the supreme court room to overflowing and packed toe wide halls of the capital before the court room Charles A Smith pallled with excitement that caused the entire assemblage of possibly two hundred to quiver noticeably became the governor of South Carolina The new governor's home la at Timmonsvllle He was a candidate defeated last summer for the office Though from no official source could the statement be confirmed It was generally stated In the legislative halls that Governor Blease resigned because be did not the personnel of the This body is known to bo almost unanimously and bitter ly opposed to him When Governor Blease was this morning told of a meeting of members of the legislature when the proposal of Instituting Impeachment proceedings against him was considered be visibly effected and restrained hla speech -with apparent difficulty To the newspaper men the resigning governor after quitting that office appeared a defiant man He was cool and self-possessed the most composed man In all that growing crowd that thronged the South Carolina capital Immediately after news of the resigning became known IqChe Joint session ol the legislature that body broke up with precipitate haste The newspaper men did not observe the decorum of the body and ran rapidly from the hall of the bouse of representative! followed closely by the members Received With Applause Near 12:80 while the house was In the midst of routine matters connected with the presentation of Bret reading bills Sergeant- at-Arms Wilson announced a messenger from Excellency the Governor" Blackburn the secretary appeared with the message and was admitted The following brief message waa read followed by a sudden hush on the floor and then wild applause: the Members of the General Assembly of the State of South Card lina: hereby tender my resignation to yon aa governor of the atate of South Carolina 1 respectfully When order was restored the rou tine business of the house continued although the hum of excited conversation continued At 1:10 Mr Blackburn again appeared and was announced as a messenger of Excellency the He presented the following message: "To the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: have the honor to Inform you that upon the resignation of the Hon: Cole Blease as governor of" the state of South Carolina I we-uf before the supreme court andrfpon motion a Mendel Smith of Camden former speaker of the house of representatives and candidate last summer for governor was Thursday unanimously elected Judge for the fifth Judicial circuit to fill the vacancy made by the deat'i last June of JuJge Ernest Gary of Columbia by the general assembly In Joint session Representative McMahan of Richland announced withdrawal of the candidacy of William Aycock of Columbia Mr principal opponent Soon after the house convened at 11 Thursday that bqdy adpt-ed a concurrent resolution providing for a Joint session at 12:15 to begin balloting on the election of a Judge for the fifth Judicial circuit composed of Richland and Kershaw counties after changing the hour from 11 An amended -concurrent resolution from the senate was adopted which provided for a Joint Thursday January 21 for electing a code commissioner three members of the board of directors of the State renltentlary and two members of the board of visitors to the Citadel this tate military college at Charleston The house refused Immediate consideration to the proposed concurrent resolution adopted Wednesday by the senate setting February 13 as the date for final adjournment of this session After transacting the routine morning business and passing to second reading a number of new bills the ft SECOND SHOCK FELT IN ROME (Associated Prase Dispatch) London Jan 14 12:40 news agency dispatch from Roma says that a further distinct earth shock was felt In Rome about 8 this morning In several quarters of tho city the people fled from their houses Into tho open air bouse adjourned at 11:20 for a recess of 50 minutes Representative Dlxod Introduced in the house a bill proposing certain changes In th) procedure of the courts which would for a speedy administration of This measure was referred to the committee on Judiciary A proposed measure providing for changes In the laws relating to the manner of holding elections cities of over 4000 population upon the adoption of the commission form of government was Introduced by Representative Boyd of Spartanburg The bill making the giving of tips a misdemeanor Introduced Wednesday In the senate by Senator Carlisle of Spartanburg was Introduced In the house by Representative Boyd of the same delegation Representative Charles began the fight of the cltisens of Timmonsvllle to have abolished the county dispensary at Timmonsvllle This bill was referred to a special committee con-slating of the Florence county delegation The house adopted a resolution tendering to the State bar association the use of the hall of the hoase of representatives for the sessions of this association In the afternoon of January 21 and the afternoon and evening of January 22 The senate informed the house when It reassembled at 12:10 of the acceptance of the Invitation to attend a Joint session at 1 Thursday to open and formally dwell the election of governor and lieutenant governor President Smith of the senate called to order at 12:15 the Joint session held to begin balloting on the election of a Judge for the fifth Judicial circuit Representative Mills nominated Hon Mendel Smith of Camden former speaker of the house of Representatives and candidate last summer for governor Some surprise was caused In the Joint session by the announcement of Representative McMahan of Richland that Attorney William Aycock had withdrawn his candidacy for tills position in the Judiciary which assured the election without opposition of Mr Bmlth When balloting was completed President Smith announced that Mendel Smith was unanimously Where Do You After a heated campaign In which he defeated Featherstone the prohibition candidate in the Democratic primaries Cole 1- Blease was first inaugurated governor on January 16 1911 His first Inaugural address was a unique state document In the political history of South Carolina in which he reviewed hla official and unofficial achievements and scathingly denounced hla enemies particularly the newspaper From almost the first he commenced granting executive clemency to the prisoners confined In the state penitentiary giving aa his reason that the hoklery mill a private institution conducted at the atate prison was a "tuberculosis After a heated fight this concern was abolished the legislature and he then gave aa hie reaeons for wholesale clemency his for suffering During hla four years' Incumbency executive clemency was granted in mors than 1600 Instances During his administration aa governor Blease has never had a friendly legislature and he and the lawmakers were continually embroiled More bills have bean passed over hla veto than any other governor la' the history of the state The principal measures passed over his objections were numerous items In Lie annual approprltalon bills which bs Invariably giving economy aa bis reason During bis first year ss governor the legislature expurgated a part of one of bis messages which contained a virulent attack on certain newspaper editors In South Carolina After the stats bad been tom by one of the bitterest campaigns ever Every person in Columbia and its environs is earnestly requested to answer the above question to him or not to the public for in many cases the answer might be embarrassing HOW DO YOU STAND! Are you a good South Carolinian or not? If you spend South Carolina money in South Carolina YOU ARE If you order from mail order houses or one day drummers you ARE NOT One of the greatest virtues to be had loyalty and no good citizen is without it If you are not a good citizen GET RIGHT and Resolve to Spend South Carolina Money in South Carolina The Business Interests of Columbia and vicinity appeal to your patriotism (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) -A- i km.