FROM DAYS GONE BY JAN. 19, 918

January 19, 1918.
The new mayor and council of Wrightsville met in their first session and elected J. M. walker, chief of police and appointed their regular standing committees. R. B. Bryan, city clerk; E. E. Daley, city treasurer; J. M. walker, collector; B. H. Moye, attorney; J. T. Ferguson, night marshal; E. C. Martin, streetman; T. L. Martin and R. B. Bryan, finance committee; J. H. Rowland and T. L. Martin, water and lights; w. C. Chester and E. N. Hitchcock, street and lane; R. B. Bryan and E. N. Hitchcock, sanitary; J. H. Rowland and w. C. Chester, building.
Statistics of the cotton ginned in this state shows there was a decrease of cotton raised in 1917 of 60,327 bales as compared to 1916. Burke County still leads in cotton production and Laurens is second. The next 8 counties in production were Emanuel, Screven, Dooly, Jefferson, Dodge, Washington, Bulloch and Walton. Johnson produced 20,207 bales ranking 20th in the state.
Adrian held a mass meeting and organized a branch of the Red Cross. It boasts 126 members with Col. T. P. Stephens, chairman; Mrs. L. D. Bradley, vice-chair; Mrs. G. E. Youmans, secretary; Mrs. S. H. Lynch, treasurer. Membership has recently grown to 476 members and a petition has been made for charter instead of a branch. A bazaar was held to raise contributions and Mr. McNeily gave a Duroc-Jersey pig that sold for $25. Nice rooms over the Citizens Bank will be the chapters home.
The Wrightsville Red Cross chapter meets and says 800 members are wanted. Some of Johnson County's boys are in France, others will follow them shortly. Now that our sons, brothers and husbands are laying down their lives for us are you behind them with "all that we have and are?" Though younger men must fight and fall, in France and Flanders far away, your Red Cross serves them one and all; "He also serves" who joins today!
The Supreme Court held the draft law to be constitutional. Chief Justice white in handing down the decision on 9 cases that reached the court, said the arguments of all the objectors were absolutely devoid of merit. The main argument was that the Constitution did not empower the Federal government to make a direct draft of its citizens. This power was never surrendered by the states, it has held and the draft should have been made through the individual states.
Another favorite attack angle was that the draft is slavery or involuntary servitude, and thus violated the 13th amendment. To this Solicitor General, John w. Davis, effectively showed that a soldier is not a slave. The exemption of ministers and divinity students was another ground on which the draft was assailed. They declared this provision tended to establish a religion, which is unconstitutional.
The governments argument anticipated the objections of those opposing the draft. The autocrats of Germany planned to attack the United States after "cleaning up" the allies in Europe, it was claimed. Therefore the draft and the expedition of troops to Europe was actually to repel an invasion, a constitutional right, the government argued.
The power to declare war includes the power to compel military service was the governments contention. Draft also was a normal method of raising American armies at the time the Constitution was adopted, historic records showed.
Miss Ola Peacock will marry Mr. John Bedingfield on January 20th. The bride to be is a daughter of Dr. & Mrs. M. D. L. Peacock of Kite. The groom to be comes from Washington County at Harrison.