BUY AND SELL IN ROCKY MOUNT, TRADE CENTER OF EASTERN CAROLINA
The Rocky Mount Herald
VOLUME 1, NO. 12
Leading Henderson Men
Back Whitmire
Say They Have Found Evi
-dence of Voting Instructions
to Highway Employes
WHITMIRE SAYS HE
ADMITS SEEING GHOST
States They Are Ghost of
Aycock and Vance Com
plaining of Conditions
Hendersonville, April 3.—Five
prominent Henderson County
Democrats issued a joint statement
declaring they had found
at supporting charges
of iJStner State Senator R. L.
Whitmire that officials and guards
of the county prison camp had been
instructed to vote for Solicitor J.
Will Pless, Jr., of Marion.
Whitmire is opposing Pless for
the Democratic nomination for So
licitor in the 18th judicial district.
He precipitated a controversy re
cently when he charged Governor
.J. C. B. Ehringhaus and the State
Board of Elections with manipula
tion of the elections board in Polk
Comity and accused the Governor
of bringing pressure to bear in
v ) support of Pless' candidacy.
The five Democrats Whitmire
requested to investigate his charg
es \\re M. M. Redden, county Demo
cratic chairman; J.' v - H. Yelton,
member of the Democratic State
Executive Committee; L. B. Prince,
Democratic member of the County
Board of Elections, and O. V. Pow
ers, county vice-chairman.
Whitmire said tonight, with re
. -gard to his charges of pressure be
ing brought to bear on county
prison officials and guards to vote
for Pless, that "for obvious rea
sons I cannot disclose publicly the
names of the passer and receiver
of the 'word.' It might add to
the unemployment problem."
Issue Statement
The investigators issued the fol
lowing statement:
"We, having thoroughly investi
gated the Whitmire charge that
high officials of the State High
way Department attempted to use
influence to cause officials and
guards of the Henderson camp to
vole for Solicitor Pless, find in
our opinion there is ample evi
dence supporting the charge made
by Mr. Whitmire. We are thor
oughly convinced of the truth of
the charge."
Whitmire quoted Jack Roach,
prison official of the State High
way and Public Works Commis
sion, as saying: "There is no truth
in it so far as I know. Employes
of the Prison Department have
nothing to do with politics, par
ticularly district and local politics."
The Governor, Whitmire charg
ed, should be grateful to the High
way and Public Works Commis
sion for assistance rendered him
two years ago when he was a can
didate for Governor, and alleged
the Chief Executive had "demon
grated his appreciation to the
\ firman by reappointment."
Told How to Vote
"But employes at the camps,
'who made his election possible, are
not receiving a decent living wage
for risking their lives 12 and 14
hours a day guarding society
y against the criminals of the state,
I'» and have been told to vote as a
unit to perpetuate in office those
belonging to the ring responsible
(Please turn to page six)
o
Physicians To
Attend Lecture
A number of local physicians are
planning to attend a meeting at
Duke university April 6 at which
, Dr. W. S. Rankin, chairman of the
hospital and orphan section of the
Duke endowment, will be the prin
cipal speaker.
The meeting will be one of a
series planned by the Duke Medical
school at which distinguished medi
cal men from this country and
, abroad are invited to speak and
to which physicians from all over
Abe state are invited.
HAROLD D. COOLEY
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Cooley After
Seat In Congress
Harold D. Cooley, Nashville at
torney, is expected to be Nash
county's only candidate to seek the
Democratic nomination in the June
primary for the seat in Congress
made vacant by the death of the
late Hon. E. W. Pou. Mr. Cooley,
in all probability, will make his
announcement within the next few
days. It is generally conceded
that Mr. Cooley will have the
whole-hearted support of Nash
county. He is popular and well
known throughout the fourth dis
trict, and he will be remembered
as presidential elctor in the last
election, casting this district's vote
for President Roosevelt.
Friends throughout the entire
district are urging Mr. Cooley to
enter the race and it is certain
that if he does so, he will be a
formidable candidate.
o
Roscoe Griffin In
Race For House
Mr. Griffin is an outstanding
merchant and well known through
the county. Below is a statement
given out by him. He takes a
definite stand against the sales
tax.
"After thinking the matter over
fo r some time, I have decided to
become a candidate for the Legis
lature from Edgecombe County in
the coming Democratic Primary
and I believe it to be the duty >f
one seeking to represent the peo
ple in the Legislature to let the
people know his views on the im
portant public questions which we
know will comfe up for considera
tion.
I believe in public education and
will support the necessary and
proper expenditures for the public
school system. The present salary
schedule for teachers I deem to
be too low and will vote to raise
them in line with other work of
like character. I am opposed to
the land tax for the support of the
State school system and am abso
lutely opposed to the gross sales
tax. North Carolina has sufficient
resources to support its necessary
functions of government without
resorting to this kind of tax.
I was born in Nash County and
have been a resident of Edgecombe
County for the past sixteen years.
I will appreciate the support of
the voters at the next Primary.
WAR SHELL KILLS BOY
Tillsonburg, Ont. Jack Van
geel, 10, was seriously injured
when the nose cap of a shell found
in Flanders after the war exploded
while he was playing with it. '
Sentiment favoring enactment of
the Bankhead and the Kerr bills
by Congress is growing. Some
farmers believe, however, that the
penalities provided for chiselers by
the Kerr bill are not strong
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, APRIL 6. 1934
Commissioners
I
In Race Again
All five of the Nash county com
missioners and three of the Edge
combe commissioners whose terms
expire are expected to be candi
dates for re-election in the June
primaries.
The five Nash County Commis
sioners expected to run are as fol
lows: R. R. Gay, J. D. Nelms, J.
H. Vaughan, W. B. Bunting, and
J. R. Strickland. Mr. G. R. Fine,
former member of the Nash county
board has also announced his can
didacy for re-election.
Commissioners are voted for at
large rather than by districts in
Nash county, the five with the
largest number of votes winning.
In Edgecombe county, C. C.
Ward, commissioner from this city,
and W. C. Hargroye, of Tarboro,
have another yaar before their
terms expire.
The other three commissioners
have not yet announced their in
tention of running again although
it is generally expected that they
will do so.
Unlike Nash, Edgecombe com
missioners are voted for by dis
tricts.
o
Oxford Singing
Class To Be Here
The Queen City and Corinthian
Masonic Lodges of this city will
sponsor the Oxford Orphanage
Singing class concert to be held
here every April. Many who have
formerly attended these concerts
in the past are looking forward
to the one this year.
The newspaper of Southport last
year at the appearance of the Class
made the following comment which
is typical of scores of articles of
similar nature: "The Singing Class
of the Oxford Orphanage will be
with us on Saturday night of this
week and give its concert in the
High School Auditorium. This is
a yearly event that is always look
ed forward to and greatly enjoyed
by our people and those of the
surrounding communities. These
young folks never fail to give an
evening of genuine pleasure when
they appear here. The local com
munity is anxious for a record
crowd to be present at the con
cert."
The Class is under the traveling
management of Mr. L. W. Alder
man who for many years has been
leading this Class over the state.
He has traveled thousands of
miles and his thousands of friends
among Masons as well as others,
look forward t 0 his coming with
the Singing Class. On account of
transportation difficulties the
Class is again using its own bus
and its appearance on our streets
is an object of interest.
Court Officials
Are Reappointed
Tarboro, April 4. Edgecombe
county recorder's court judge and
solicitor and the county auditor
were reappointed to their posts by
the board of commissioners in thoir
April meeting at the court house
here.
Judge W. Stamps Howard, Soli
citor Chauncey H. Leggett and
Auditor M. L. Laughlin were the
officers receiving the appoint
ments.
The commissioners appropriated
S3OO annually for the Tarboro Pub
lic library so that it might be able
to remain open at night. It was
announced that with an increased
appropriation from S3OO to S6OO
by the city, the annual sum would
total $1,200. The new schedule
with night hours will go into effect
at the library May 1.
The commissioners disposed of a
number of other minor matters.
In Gates county the farm agent,
R. R. Rich, has gotten results by
holding corn-hog sign-up days in
the different high schools.
Ugliest Birds at the St. Louis Zoo
A%
Two frojjnioutlih, "ugliest birds in tlie world." recently arrived at tlie
St. I.ouis zoo from Australia, tlie first of their gaping kind to be brought
in America. Only the London 7.00 has similar specimens.
WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF?
The outstanding event of the Jackson Day Dinner at
Raleigh last Saturday night was the outburst of Governor
Ehringhaus against all Democrats who disagree with him
and the policies of the machine which made him governor.
Upon all such he visits the wrath of his displeasure. They
are to be cast into outer darkness. For all time to come they
are to suffer the pangs and punishment of his disapproval.
We assume that one rare' privilege will be left. Such per
sons, heretofore supposed to be Democrats, but now officially
designated by his excellency as "Mugwumps," will be per
mitted to vote in primary and election for the candidates
chosen by the machine.
And from what source does this assault come? Think
back a moment if you will. For years the Gardner machine
has engaged in a continuous campaign of propaganda against
every Democrat, whether in official position or not, who
dared disagree with it. During the legislative session of
1931, Gardner, Governor of the State and head of the party,
in a public speech accused Democratic County Commissioners
not only of incompetence but of graft. The primary cam
paign of 1932 was filled with ridicule, abuse, and villification
of Maxwell and Fountain, the opposing candidates for Gov
ernor. And that type of campaign, generated and developed
by Gardner, has continued to this day against every Demo
crat who dares to disagree with his program to turn the
Democratic party and the State over to the control of the
special interests.
But, you who thought you were good Democrats, you have
been told now you are to come along, take the pat or the
kick with equal thankfulness, and do as you are told. You
may look at the King. You may praise him. In fact that
is your chief mission as a Democrat. But don't dare life
your voice in disagreement, suggestion, or disapproval. For
if you do, according to this new doctrine, you are no longer
a Democrat. s
We wonder what effect this outburst will have. One angle
of the problem has occurred to us. That great body of Demo
crats who have been fighting for the rights of the people
against the combined power of the machine and the special
interests can't be any worse off by keeping up the fight.
They have become hardened soldiers by now. For some years
now they have endured abuse, slander, and villification. That
his Excellency has become more exasperated cannot surprise
them. They knew he was in the other camp. They knew
his autocratic conception of government. He simply adds a
few more epithets to the vocabulary of his followers.
We suspect that the great battle for democratic govern
ment against autocracy, the machine, and the special in
terests will go on. For Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
NASH TO HAVE CANDIDATE
IN 4TH DISTRICT CONTEST
County Tax
Books Now Open
Books for listing Nash county
taxes in the Rocky Mount township
opened Monday in the office of
Deputy Sheriff P. H. Johnson on
Howard street.
The books for listing Edgecombe
taxes opened in the Merchants as
sociation office on Main street
Tuesday.
The books will remain open un
til the end of this month in both
counties, officials announced.
By order of the Edgecombe com
missioners, no property may be
listed except by the owner or his
qualified agent and no blanks may
be removed from the listing place,
filled in and later returned.
This custom was allowed in past
years but was ordered discontinued
because of errors in listings and in
complete listings, E. C. Speight, in
charge of the township books said.
Property owners were warned
that delinquent listing will subject
the owners to a
One Announcement Certain
and Another Possible in
Congressional Race
Nash county will have one can
didate in the race to succeed Rep
resentative Edward H. Pou, belov
ed congressman who died in Wash
ington Sunday morning, and pos
sibly two of them.
Harold D. Cooley, Nashville at
torney of the firm of Cooley and
Bone, prominently mentioned for
U. S. District Attorney for the
eastern district, and long active in
the democratic party in his county
and district as well as in the state,
will be a candidate it was learned
from unquestionable sources today,
although Mr. Cooley wiil probably
wait for several days before he
makes his formal announcement.
CRAZY TEACHERS
New York.—Dr. Emil Altaian,
chief medical examiner for the
public schools of this city, .classi
fies 1500 of the 36,000 teachers as
emotionally or tau*.
Representative
Dies In Washington
Aged Martin Nan
Kills Young Wife
Shoots Her Down and, In
Spite of Pleading Cries;
Shoots Again
Williamston, April 3.—Joseph H.
Davenport, 84, early tonight shot
and killed his wife, Maggie Daven
port, 26, and wounded her seven
months old baby So badly that it
probably will not recover.
The shooting occurred at Daven
port's home in a remote section of
Martin county known as The Is
lands. Jealousy over the atten
tions Mrs. Davenport is said to
have received from Mike Knox, a
neighbor, is said to have been the
occasion of the crime.
According to reports obtained by
officers, Davenport first emptied
the contents of one barrel of his
gun into his wife's abdomen. She
fell pleading that he not shoot
her again. He shot her in the
head killing her instantly. He
then shot the child, 57 No. 4 shot
being lodged in its legs and one
of its hands. Its recovery is
doubtful. Whether he reloaded his
gun to shoot the child or used an
other weapon was not learned
here. The child was placed with
the county welfare department.
Sheriff C. B. Roebuck arrested
the man and brought him to jail.
He admitted he had killed his wife
but appeared cool and collected, as
though he did not realize the
gravity of the deed.
The aged man and the young
woman were married seven years
ago. Before marriage she was
Maggie Barber. It is charged
that she tried to kill her husband
several months ago. She" was to
have been tried at a recent term
of court but her husband was un
able to appear in court against
her.
Local Woman Will Funeral Service
Attend Meeting For Wade F. Brant
A number of local women are
planning to attend the thirty-sixth
annual meeting of the Woman's
auxiliary of the Albemarle presby
tery to be held at the First Pres
byterian church in Washington
April 10-11.
Official delegates are Mrs. H. L.
Hicks, president of the local aux
iliary and past president of the
presbytery, Mrs. Willard Conger
and Mrs. Norman Johnson. It is
expected, however, that many
others from here will attend the
sessions also.
The meeting will open in Wash
ington Tuesday, April 10 at 10
o'clock a.m. with an executive board
meeting and will continue through
Wednesday morning. Reports of
various chairmen and the election
of officers will feature the session.
Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Hicks are
scheduled to take minor parts on
the program.
Special speakers of the conven
tion will be Mrs. S. H. Askew of
Atlanta, Ga., Mrs. C. M. Norfleet,
of Winston-Salem who will bring
a message from the North Caro
lina auxiliary, of which she is
president, and Rev. H. M. Wilson,
pastor of the Farmville, Falkland
and Fountain Presbyterian church
es.
NOTICE
Those desiring to subscribe to The Rocky Mount
Herald may do so by sending SI.OO with name and
address to The Rocky Mount Herald, Rocky Mount,
N. C.
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SI.OO PER YEAR
Dean of House Has Served
North Carolina District
Since March, 1901. Accord
ed Tribute of Capitol
Funeral.
Edward William Pou, beloved
dean of the House of Representa
tives, died Sundajr morning, April
1. at 7:30 o'clock at his apartment
in the Wardman Park Hotel in
Washington.
Mr. Pou has represented the
Fourth District of North Carolina
in Congress continuously since
March 4, 1901. Apprehension had
been felt concerning his death but
his actual passing wds unexpected.
He awakened that morning and
asked his nurse for a handkerchief
and succumbed to a heart attack
while she was arranging the pil
lows.
Mr. Pou's memory was paid the
highly unusual tribute of a funeral
at the Capitol in the presence of
a joint session of Congress. Ar
rangements for this distinction
which had been accorded to very
few members of Congress, were
made Monday at a conference at
tended by Vice-President John N.
Garner, and Speaker Henry T.
Rainey and other congressional
leaders.
The unusual honor of the Con
gressional service was in keeping
with the high esteem in which Mr.
Pou was held here.
Hundreds of telegrams were re
ceived from throughout the coun
try. Mrs. Roosevelt was one of the
first to express sympathy. Presi
dent Roosevelt was out of the city
but many other high officials call
ed. Following the funeral services,
the body of Mr. Pou lay is state
in the meeting room of the Com
mittee of Rules, of which he was
Chairman, until Tuesday morning,
when it was taken to Smithfleld
for burial. Services there took
place at the Smithfield Cemetery
at 3:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
(Please turn to page two)
Funeral services for Mr. Wade
F. Brant, 56, former Atlantic
Coast Line engineer who killed
himself last Tuesday, were held
Thursday afternoon. The Masons
were in charge of the funeral. In
terment was made in the Pins
View Cemetery.
Mr. Brant had been ill for soire
time and recently had been .suffer
ing from poor eyesight. Brooding
over this and the fact that he has
been unable to work were thought
to have caused him to take his
life.
He has been employed by tha
Atlantic Coast Line for the past
24 year* and was also a beloved
member of the Masonic order. Be
fore coming to Rocky Mount his
home was in Pennsylvania.
The deceased is survived by his
wife and two daughters, Dolores
and Verna Mae, all of this city.
o
54,814,249 INSURED
DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS
Washington.—There are 54,814,-
249 insured accounts in the 13.652
banks holding membership in this
government's temporary insurance
fund. Total deposits, covered by
the $2,500 limit on individual de
posits, aggregate $15,512,744,137.