TODAY and
CALENDAR . . . another year
We are starting a New year-. Everybody
get? more or less of a kick
out of the idea that we have put a
milestone of lime behind us. We approach
the New- Year full of fresh
hopes and good resolutions. But why
should we feel that way in mid-winter?
It has alwayo seemed to me
tlrat the beginning of spring was the
right time to celebrate the coming
of the New Year.
Curiously enough, up to less than
two hundred years ago in England
and America and oidy about 350 years
ago everywhere else, the New Year
began on the 21st of March, following
the custom that came down from
the earliest tribal traditions of humanity.
The New Year began when
the leaves began to bud and vegetation
sprouted.
Pope Gregory XIII introduced the
present calendar in 1582. All of the
! Catholic countries, including Scot
land, immediately adopted it, and began
to calculate the year from January
1st. But it was 1752 before it
was adopted by England and her colonies.
That was the year that September
had only 19 day3, for to catch
up with the rest of the world England
had to drop eleven days out of ,
the year.
CHANGE . . . four parts
It begins to look now as if, beginning
with January 1, 1939, we
would have another new calendar.
The great Protestant church bodies
of the whole world, the Church of |
England, the Pope and most of the
important national and international i
business organizations have asrreed 1
with the calendar committee of the
League of Nations for a new international
calendar, in wnicli the year
will be divided into four equal quarters.
each containing two month3 of
3U days and one of 31 days, with an
extra holiday, or "Year Day" between
December 31 and January 1,
and in Leap Year another inter-calar.y
day between June and July.
Easter would always fali on April
8, and eveiy month would always begin
cn the same day of the week,
every year. New Year's Day would I
always be Sunday, the Fourth of July
always on Wednesday. I
FOItECASTS ... on business
Nothing is easier than to make predictions;
nothing is harder than to
make predictions come true. I have
seen a great variety of forecasts for
1935. but most of them seem to me
to be inspired by "wishful thinking."
Sensible men are more cautions
than ever in attempting to predict
the course of events. That is why so
many of the published forecasts sound
pessimistic. Nobody likes to be blamed
for having made a rosy prediction
that didn't come true, especially if
it may have encouraged somebody
to take unnecessary financial riskCol.
Leonard Ayres of Cleveland,
wno nas rne nignesi score or all financial
rorecaaters over a period of
years, doesn't think there will be
much improvement in busiress conditions
in 1935. Making all due allowance
tor his "playing safe" state of
mind, I am still inclined to agree with
the Colonel.
Business isn't going to get any better
until there is a clearer definition
of the Government's policies that affect
business.
COTTON ... the vote
Walter Lippman, who runs a column
in dally newspapers under the
same heading as this one of mine,
stuck a pin into the Secretary of Agriculture's
toy balloon the other day.
Washington officials have been jubilant
over the 9-co-i vote of cotton
growers in favor of restricting production
for higher prices, and keeping
newcomers from starting to grow
cotton,
"What else was expected ?" asks
Mr. Lippman, in effect. "Put the
same question up to makers of typewriters
or ladies' underwear or anything
else, and wouldn't there be a.n
overwhelming majority for monopoly
and high prices?"
The only kind of a majority that
should have a right to vote on any
subject which affects the pocketbooks
of the entire people, is a ma
jomy 01 uie enure people.
JOBS . . . still important
A thousand workers in a woolen
mill in my home state of Massachusetts
were thrown permanently out oi
jobs a week or two ago. when the
owners of the mill decided to go out
of business rather than be bothered
with strikes accompanied by violence
It seems to me that the mill-owners
did the only sensible thing, so long ar
they could afford to quit. I am sorry
for the workers, who were foolish
enough to attempt to intimidate the
employers and only forced themselvei
out of their jobs. But it seems to m<
the height of folly. In these times ol
distress, is for folk who have gooc
jobs to quarrel with them.
Miss Paulne Bllngham, who haj
charge of the mathematics department
at Dobeon High School, spent
the holidays with her parents, Dr
and Mrs. R. K. Bingham, in Bast
Boone
I
"WA.TE
An Ind
VOLUME XLVI. NUMBER 28
1935 Beauty Winner j f
Paris, France.?Mile. Andree Loj
rin (above), displays her victory
i smile after whining* highest beauty
honors ami being crowned "Miss
Par?s of 1935/'
FARM AGENT PLEA
TO ENGAGE BOARD;
|? Vr-- :> I
Final Action in the Employment of
Demonstration Agent Is Expected
at February Meeting of Watauga
County Commissioners.
The question as to whether a county "
farm demonstration agent will be em- I
ployed by and for Watauga County, <
the February meeting of the Board <
of Connr.is.sion.ors, it was revealed to f
The Democrat by Wade E. Brown of
the County Agricultural Board. Far- "
mors of the county, it is said, who t
have indicated a preponderance of 1
1 opinion in favor of the agent, think c
[ that it is likely the position will be t
created within a reasonable length of '
time. r
Mr. Brown conferred with Dean
Schaui) of state College last week, i
and was given a list of capable men, r
either of whom might secure the po- i
sition if made. Dean Schaub further 1
indicated that it might be possible to '
take an agent from another county, <
in the event neither of those uneci- 1
ployed proved acceptable. At any rate, 1
it was said, no difficulty would be experienced
in filling the position with 1
the right sort of official. i
SWIFT FORESEES i
SHORT SESSION
Watauga Representative Believes that
legislature May Not Be in Session |
More than 70 Days. Sees Sales
One of the. leading Issues.
Representative Dean Swift, who
left Monday for Raleigh, believes that
there is a likelihood of the momentous
legislative session ending within 70
or 75 days, as against the predictions
of others of the solono that the last
two record-breaking sessions may
find duplication this year.
Mr. Swift sees the sales tax, the
proposal to divert certain of the funds
of the State Highway Commission,
and the call for increased pay for the
school teachers as the principle issues
this time, and does not believe that |
the prohibition question will figure
prominently in the deliberations of
the Assembly.
COMING SPORTS EVENTS AT
APPALACHIAN STATE COLLEGE
Coach Eugene Garbee of State Teachers
College announces the following
calendar of sports activities at the
local gymnasium:
Or. Thursday night, the 10th, the
varsity cage team will engage the
fast quintet of High Point College.
Friday, Jan. 11, the Freshman basketeers
will play Lansing High.
On Monday night, Jan. 14, the girls'
cage team will play Mitchell College.
On Wednesday night, the 16th,
Coach Watkins" wrestling team will
tangle with a tough aggregation from
i the Draper Y. M. C. A.
' FORMER WATAtTGAN A VISITOR
i Rev. J. J. Matney, Methodist rnln:
ister of Clyde, N. C., Is visiting his j
I sister, Mrs. Clarence McGhee, on R.
F. D. 1. Mr. Matney was reared in
i Watauga, a son of the late John Mati
ney, and has spent over twenty-five
111 mo uuriy yeura m wesiern1
i States, principally Washington. He
s may buy property and locate peri
manently in this section.
>
! The Hodges Tire Company anI
nounces today a contest in which ten
dollars will be offered to some high
school student in the county fer writ>
ing a five hundred-word essay on
- Goodyear Tires, and why more people
t ride on them. The full details of the
. contest, which is expected to draw
t unusual interest, appears on page 8
of The Democrat today.
mmmmm i
| |
AUG
ependent Weekly Newsj
RGONE, WATAUGA. CQ
legislature!
begins its work!
THURS. OR FRIDAY
Caucuses Held Tuesday Night. Both
Houses Organize Wednesday Noon
?,*Cu"uJC tO 2S UpnrrJ
on Thuisday or Friday. Superintend
dent Erwin Will Ask for $22,000,000
Edueational Budget.
By M. K. DUNNACAK
(Special Correspondent)
Raleigh, N. C.?The North Caroina
General Assembly for 1835 i?
ibout ready to swing into definite
iction and get ready this week to
;et down to serious business, with in
licaiions that little would be accomilished
before the 170 men get to;cther
next week, prcbably Monday
light.
The schedule for the first few days
>f the session is about as follows:
Tuesday night?Caucuses of Senate
ind House members, Democratic and
JOHNSON NAMED SPEAKER
Robert Grady Johnson of Pender
County was selected a3 Speaker
of the House of Representatives
in Democratic caucus Tuerday evening,
winning easily ovr.r Laurie
McEachcrn of Hoke and Willie
Lee Lumpkin of Franklin. Johnson
had 67 votes, McEuchern 19, and
uuii.[inin LI. ILL LULL ILtllllU LUIlt
Senator Paul D. Grady of Johnson
County was selected as president
pro-lem of the Senate.
Republican, for noniinalions of offi
dais, speaker in the House, president
lirolling and reading clerks and serjeants-at-arms
for both houses.
Wednesday noon Both houses con;ene
and sites of officers named at
he caucuses the night before will be
lominated, and ihe Democratic canlidates
elected. The two houses will
hu3 be organized and will notify
governor Ehringhaus that they are
eady for business.
Thursday or Friday?Governor Eh inghaus
will present his biennial
nessage to a joint session, including
n general his recommendations foi
egislation for the next two yearo,
The budget report will be laid on the
lesks of the legislators, along with
die recommended revenue and appreciations
bills.
Also, during the latter part, of the
.veek. Lieutenant Governor A. H.
[Sahdv) Graham, president of the
Senate, and the Speaker of the
House, elected Wednesday, are exlected
to name the Senate and House
committees, about 55 in each house,
to one of which all bills introduced
,vill be referred for consideration and
report.
Due to the short week and the preliminary
work to be done during the
xc J ? winl o
LUOl 1CVT uavo, iismv w* vrw-.. ?vl
is expected, although many bills will
probably be introduced and referred
to the proper committees.
Prophets are saying 75 to 60 days
will be all the time needed, and this
is probably a good guess. The twc
main bills, appropriations and reve
nue, are not expected to give as muel
trouble as usual, due to belief tha
those prepared and to be introducer
early will not be materially changed
But they sometimes are. Social iegia
lation, including old-age pensions, un
employment insurance, relief am
compensation insurance, will have t<
be considered. The sales tax is expect
ed to be re-enacted, without the ex
emptions. but ever, this may g:
awry.
STATE HOI.DS BANK RECORP
North Carolina has another "first,
an important one. Every bank in th
State now open and doing busines
and licensed by the Federal Depos!
Insurance Corporation is classed b;
that organization as a No. 1 ban!
and there is no other of the 48 state
in which that is true. And, again, al
of the banks in the State are mem
bers of the FDIC, thus insuring thei
deposits, except one commercial, an
eight Industrial banks, and they ar
in excellent shape also.
Information that the State lead
the nation in condition of its bank
was brought to Raleigh by W. Ken
neth Hayes, special assistant to Le
T. Crowley, chairman of the board o
the FDIC, who conferred with Get
ernor Ehringhaus and Commissione
of Banks Gurney P. Hood last weel
They were elated over it.
P.EI.IEF EXPENDITURES
Hie NERA distributed $1,692,803.9
in relief in North Carolina durin
November, of which $1,404,226.10 wa
spent through the slightly more tha
100 units, counties and cities.
Watauga County! had 490 familiE
on relief, a total of S12 cases and
total of 2,933 individuals, which i
19.3 per cent of the county's populf
tion, and an increase of 10.6 per cer
over those on relief in October. I
this county the average contributio
per family was $5.53, and the toU
relief distributed in the county in Mi
vember was $4?593.38.
A DE
>aper?Established in the
>UNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDA
Brilliant Staff of New Jer
Prosecuting Accused Kid
'inwi 11" 'IIM ' !' rf fi IM i
Members of the legal fraternity |
of New Jersey who are engaged in
the prosecution of Kichurd Bruno
Hauplmonn, (Sermu.n carpenter who
Ss charged with the murder of
the Lindbergh baby, following the
most sensational kidnaping ease of
American history. The trial which
has been going on for a week lias
featured the teg-. *mony of Charles
Lindbergh, aviator-father of the
slain child, Its mother, Anne Morrow
Lindbergh, Betty (low, the baby's
; j nurse, and others.
testimony ui $;?? luriit?<>vu j
PLANSTOASSIST f
POTATO GROWERS
' Governor Promises Aid in Establishing
Market for Surplus Crop. Pneslbllity
of Making Dent Through
Federal Relief Channels.
Governor Eliringhaus expressed
himself as being intensely interested |
Wade E7 1
his aid in establishing a market for
the Watauga-grown tubers The Governor
stated that, he would do every[
thing in his power to aid the farmers,
but of course was mindful of the fact
that production control and subsequent
advanced market prices would
j have to be fruits of the national Con|
gress.
Governor Eliringhaus stated further,
however, that he was using his
. influence in the establishment of a
. market through the channels of the
Emergency Relief Administration ana |
believed there was yet hope of dts-1
posing of a large part of the surplus j
in this manner.
Leading farmers of Watauga estimate
that from two to four hundred |
thousand bushels of potatoes remain
in the county with little or no market
for them even at 40 cents per bushel.
Highway Commissioner
To Seek Larger Fund ^
Highway funds of $33,381,596 for
the year 1935-36 and $29,087,023 for
3 1936-37' are sought for maintenance,
new construction and debt service, an
amount which car. be secured from :
license and gasoline fees if they are I
not reduced and none ot the funds c
diverted, (."hairman Capus M. Waye
nick, of the State Highway and Pub- '
s lie Works Commission, asks in a lett
ter to the legislature.
>' Saying that it will take $6,152,000
' to put the highways in the shape they
s should be in now, and would be but
" for maintenance restrictions of the
1933 General Assembly, Mr. Waynick
r asks for $3,000,000 for an emergency
11 program to rehabilitate roads and
- nridges during tne next six montns,
to be deducted from the amount
3 asked for the next biennium. This is
3 to halt deterioration and put highways
and bridges back in the condi0
tion they would be but for the cuts.
The budget proposal states that
$12,938,000 is needed for new conr
struction, the $2 938,000 is needed for
new construction, the 32,9338,000 of
it to match Federal funds that must
be matched 50-50 to be secured, and
$10,000,000 more; $8,944,895 is re6
quired for debt service, and the balg
ance, about $11,500,000 for maintenj
ance, for the year. 1935-36. For the
n next year, when $29,087,523 is sought,
$8,809,333 is required for debt service |
,3 and about $20,000,000 for maintena
ance and construction.
Ls In the request is included a twenty
i- per cent increase in salaries and
it wages of highway employees, some
n of whom get less than $35 a month. '
n
il President Andrew Johnson was a j
>- tailor for seven years before he
learned the alphabet.
MOC1
Year Eighteen Eighfcy-Eig
Y. JANUARY 10. 1035
sey Attorneys Are 1
naper of Lindy's Baby
r
c
C
r
h
11
a
1
the voice of llauptmann as the \
same he heard as he and Dr. Con- c
don transferred Hit* ransom money c
hi a Bronx cemetery; a taxi driver y
identified Hauptniami as the man ^
who Rave him a ransom note, and j.
Wednesday Dr. Condon hiniseJf said j
the voice of the man with whom x
he negotiated was that of Hsuipttiiann.
Practically all evidence so
far has l?een damaging to the defense,
which is expected to begin , ^
giving testimony todav. Hauptniumi
himself mav take the witness
* c
~? ' 3
c
FARMERS ASKED ?
TO REPORT ON ?
POTATOES HELD T
Mr. E. M. Hale, field supervisor 1
of the Production Credit Association,
and S. C. Eggers, secretary
to the organization, have issued a
joint request to the farmers ask
inn that (hey report by Tuesday, | f
the 13th, (he number of potatoes |
they are holding fur the market,
specifically of the number one
eresdrv;-.? -
Messrs. Hale and Eggers are
hopeful that they may be able to o
find a market for 100,000 bushels I
of the Watauga surplus, but at. t
this time only want a report on the n
spuds, as no deal has been closed... \
A number of inquiries have C
reached these gentlemen as to Wa- s
tauga potatoes, and many are v
wanting to buy, but have protest- I i:
ed that local growers do not grade ?
and clean according to IT. S. Stan- S
dard No. 1.
Growers may notify Mr. Etreere1 j
office by mail or in person as to
the number of bushels of "ones" j
they could furnish. In the event a t
sale is put through potatoes must t
be machine graded and placed iu ,
new bags. It is emphatically stat- <
ed, however, that under no condi- i
lion must potatoes be brought to c
Boone until the* market is finally t
established?just a report made. i
I
1
f
Finley P. Moore Passes
At Home in Caldwell ;
Finley P. Moore, well-known to
scores of Watauga people, died at
lis home in the Globe on Wednesday
ef last week, after a lengthy illness. :
Funeral services were conducted on
Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock
from Globe Baptist Church and in
torment was made in a nearby cemetery'
Dr. B. B. Dougherty of Appalachian
State Teachers College and Rev.
Shores were in charge of the rite3.
Mr. Moore was 77 years of age.
and was the last surviving child of
the late Carroll Moore of Caldweii
County. For fifty-five years he had
owned and operated a store at Globe.
He was the original owner of the
Moore Cotton Mill in Lenoir and resided
at that place for many years.
Born and reared on the farm where
he died, Mr. Moore came to be one
of Caldwell's most progressive citizens
and leading business men. Ho re
ceived his education at the old Globe
Academy was was married many
years ago to Miss Caroline Todd, of
Boone, a daughter of the late Col. Joe
Todd, and a sister of W. G. Todd of
Perkinsville. He was a devout member
of the Baptist Church and since
young manhood had been closely connected
with all its activities.
Surviving are tne widow: two sons,
Joe Moore of Illinois and Dr. J. Claud
Moore of Clintwood, Va.; and the following
grandchildren: Mrs. B. C. Williams
of Rutherfordton, Mrs. Victor
Abernethy of Lenoir, Prof. Earnest
Moore, of the department of physchology
at North Carolina State College,
Finley and Frank Moore, students at
A. S. T. C. here, ar.d Bob Moore of
Clintwood, Va.
: VA ANNOUNCES 3
MEETINGS FOR
LOCAL FARMERS
ontracts Will Be Let for Growing of
Crops to Be Csed by Cannery at
Cranberry. Seed Will Be Furnished
by Association and Paid Back Out
of First Sales. One Hundred Acres
of Beans Visualized.
Three meetings of the farmers of
vratauga County have been announced
y Van Masters, general manager of
he Carolina Mountain Mutual Assoiations.
a sub-organizatior* to the
^ennessee Valley Authority, the pur>ose
of the meetings being to arrange
for the production of certain
nminnrliiipR In Ho nrnoortm<i
lovernment cannery at Cranberry duing
the coming season.
The first of these meetings will be
teld at Deep Gap schoolhouse Janlary
17th at 7:30 p. m., the second
it the Cove Creek School, January
8th at 7:30 p. m.. and the third at
Soone courthouse on January 19 at
':30 p. m.
All those who are. interested in
growing crops for the camiery are
irged to attend, and it is stated that
contracts to the growers will be let
>ut at these meetings. The seed will
>e furnished by the association and
>aid for when the farmer brings in
lis first crop. Contracts are also bong
let to the farmers for the fresh
vegetable market.
The commodities grown for the canlery,
it is understood, will include a
naximum of 100 bushels of snap
teans, and beets, carrots and corn
/ill likely be undertaken should those
rops take well with the farmers of
his section, it is explained thai the
ommodities contracted for thi3 venurc
have their market guaranteed,
nd considerable interest is being
oanifestcd by f armers in certain secions.
HEET1NG0F FARM
LOAN BODY TUES.
Lnnual Stockholders Meeting of Sugar
Grove Association Elects Eggcrs
us President; $10,000 i-oaned
During the Past Year.
Js. C. Kggers was named president
f the Sugar Grove National Farm
oan Association last Tuesday when
he stockholders of the organisation
let in regular annual session. John
Vard was named vice-president while
P. Haganian is the new secretary
nd treasurer. A board of directors
iras named, consisting of the followng:
John Ward, S. C. Eggers, S. O.
itanbury, Solomon Eggers and A. E.
South.
The local loan association receives
mnlications for leans from the Fed:ral
Land Bank, and it is said that
nore than $100,000 has been loaned
o farmers of Watauga County within
:he past twelve months. This money
t is pointed out, was used to displace
ither indebtedness, and there has been
10 increase in the local debt as a reiult
of the loans. Longer periods of
iine for payment are allowed and the
nteiest rate is more favorable. A
;reat many farms and homes have
jeen saved for their owners through
he operation of the farm loan agen:y,
it is said.
HHS MARY MORETZ FETED ON
8SRD BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
On January 6th Mrs. Mary E. Moretz,
with her nine children, thirtyfive
grandchildren and a number of
near friends, celebrated her eightythird
birthday anniversary at her
home on Boone Route 2. There were
ninety persons present.
The group enjoyed a bountiful meal
served in the living room of the Mo
retz nome.
Despite her age. Mrs. Moretz is
very active and does most of her
house work. She was one of the gayest
of the group and added much to
the conversation during the day.
A pleasing feature of the day was a
number of sacred selections sung by
Mr. and Mrs. George Wilson and family
of Boone.
Friend of the venerable lady hope
that she may live to enjoy many more
happy birthdays.
NO TAX ON BANK CHKCKS
Officials at the Watauga County
Bank have called attention of depositors
to the fact that the two-cent
Federal tax on bank checks went out
on January 1st. Many had doubtless
forgotten that the excises lasted only
through 1934, and inaccuracies in the
keeping of check book stubs are sure
to result. The abolition of the tax
furnishes a further encouragement
for the use of checking accounts.
Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Gragg and children
of Trinway, Ohio, arrived In
the county during the hoUdayB and
will reside here for the next two
months, returning to their Ohio home
about the first of March.
I