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UNITED STATES m M
WAR %/ T
BONOS f }
STAMPS
* 111 * //;
VOL 54, NO. 47
DEMOCRATS HOLD "
CONVENTION HERE;
RIVERS CHAIRMAN
Resolutions Adopted as Democrats
Hold Biennial Meeting:
State Convention to Be Held
in Raleigh Friday
The Democrats of Watauga county
met in convention in the courthouse
last Saturday afternoon, with
Wade E. Brown acting in the capacity
of chairman, and M. W. Beach as
secretary.
Following the convention, the
newly-named members of the executive
committee elected Rob Rivers
chairman, and Mrs. Mae Miller, vicechairman.
It was agreed that all attendants
at the Democratic state
convention in Kaleigh next Friday
would be recognized as delegates.
The convention adopted the following
resolutions, pledging support
to the all-out war effort, and honoring
the memory of John H. Bingham,
whose death occurred last
week:
Endorses War Effort
That whereas, it is common knowedge
that our great nation as well
as practically every nation of the
world is going through a period of
great struggle and strain through
the ravages of modern warfare with
all its deadly implications,
And whereas, it becomes imperative
that every person in our country
realize that it is only through
the united effort of all that the
struggle will be won and our people
will again enjoy the freedom for
which our forefathers died,
And whereas, during this period
of national and international crises
the responsibility of carrying on the
governmental functions of our national,
state and county governmental
agencies have been placed
on the shoulders of our great leaders
under the banner of the Democratic
party;
Now therefore, be it resolved, that
the Watauga county Democratic
convention assembled at Boone on
this tjie 16th day of May, 1942 in
regular session, hereby endorse and
pledge our complete co-operation
and offers to our great President,
Franklin D. Roosevelt, to our governor,
J. M. Broughton, and to all other
leaders of our federal, state and
Continued on page eight)
Nelson Asks Local
m
Farmers To Aid In
Scrap Collection
Donald M. Nelson, chairman of
the war production board, has written
a letter to all farmers in Watauga
county urging them to co-operate
fully with the WPA project designed
to move scrap metal and
rubber from farms into war industries.
"Badly needed scrap still remains
on many farms. It is valueless
to the war effort there. Final
victory depends upon how fast we
can give our fighting men the weapons
and machines to do the job. We
need every pound of.scrap from every
farm and we need it now,"
wrote Mr. Nelson.
Harry Hamilton, chairman of the
county salvage committee, has requested
James B. Vogler, executive
secretary of the state Salvage for
Victory committee, to have WPA set
up a unit of its state-wide project
to locate, collect and haul scrap
metal and rubber for the war pro
duction board.
The mailing of the letters marked
the beginning of a state-wide drive
by WPA workers to glean the housands
of tons of rural scrap metal
and rubber now vital in war production.
Each letter contains a post card
addressed to the Works Project administration.
Chairman Hamilton
urges all farmers to immediately fill
in their cards and mail them.
Under the plan a farmer can either
donate or sell his scrap to the
government. If sold, the government
will pay 30 cents per hundred
for scrap iron and steel and onehalf
cent per pound for scrap rubber.
The government will then sell the
scrap on bid to dealers who must
prepare it and ship it to war factories
and mills within 60 days.
Dealer prices will be in line with the
government's scrap price ceilings.
- If the scrap is donated, the money
from its sale goes to the United
States government to aid in the war.
"WPA co-operation solves a major
problem in our salvage program,"
said Mr. Volger. "Transportation of
scrap from farms to collection centers
has been a real problem. With
gasoline rationing the problem has
become acute. WPA will not only
collect and haul the scrap, but they
> will provide wrecking crews to dismantle
material when it is necessary
to do so in order that it might be
hauled."
I
/ATA1
idependent Weekly 1\
BOONE, Wi
j -
Quezon Visits U. S.
|
President Manuel Quezon of the
Philippine commonwealth is shown
above, after his arrival in San
Francisco from Australia. He was
accompanied by members of his
family and his executive staff.
TO OBSERVE POPPY
DAY SATURDAY
Mrs. J. E. Joines of Legion Auxiliary.
Announces Plans for
Annual Sale of Flowers
Dimes, quarters and dollars dropped
into the coin boxes of the "Poppy
Girls" this year will aid the victims
of the present war. as well as
those of the first World War, according
to Mrs. J. E. Joines, Poppy
Day chairman of Watauga Post 130,
unit of the American Legion Auxiliary.
The Auxiliary is rapidly completing
arrangements for the annual observance
of Poppy Day on May 23,
when memorial poppic-s will be distributed
throughout the city by Auxiliary
members. A large corps of
volunteers is being formed by Mrs.
Joines to work the entire day bringing
the flowers of patriotic remembrance
to everyone in the city.
"This year,'" said . Mrs. Joines,
the poppy not only honors and aids
the men who defended America 24
jtraia <1?U anu IIIOIL lUIliLlieS, UUl
also those defending America today
and their families. Funds collected
on Poppy Day will be used in the
work the Legion and Auxiliary are
doing for the disabled of both wars,
and for needy families of men in the
service as well as those of veterans.
"The Legion and Auxiliary have
had 20 years of experience in aiding
service men and their dependents.
They are. able to make every dollar
do maximum service in this field.
Their volunteer workers have had
long training and know the quickest
and best methods of bringing relief
to veterans and their families found
in need.
"Victims of the present war are
naturally turning to the Legion and
Auxiliary for aid, and we want to
give them the benefit of our service.
The increased burden calls for increased
funds. We hope that the
public will be generous on Poppy
Day this year because from the contributions
made for the poppies
comes the principal means of support
for our work during the entire
year ahead."
WARNS AGAINST USING
GAS FOR JOY-RIDING
1
Atlanta, Ga., May 18?Oscar R.
Straus, Jr., regional OPA administrator,
warned today that steps
would be taken to curb "flagrant
misuse of gasoline," notably "joyriding,"
unless it is stopped voluntarily
and immediately.
Straus said an OPA official returning-to
the city at midnight Saturday,
shortly after gas rationing
became effective, reported, ". . . cars
about town, driven around, with
young people in them, seemingly
without any knowledge that times
had changed."
"The week-end driving told the
same story," Straus continued.
"Frankly this must stop. If necessary
officers will check the numbers
of automobiles obviously being misused
without regard to the rationing
program. They will look at the
cards, to see what type of ration
cards are possessed, and inquire into
the circumstances surrounding the
cards."
MRS. LAURA B. CROUCH
Belated information reaching The
Democrat tells of the death on Easter
Sunday of Mrs. Laura B. Crouch
in Savannah, Ga. The rites were
conducted in that city and interment
was there. Mrs. Crouch had been a
summer resident of Blowing Rock
for more than 30 years, and was associated
with the late Mr. W. O.
Spencer in the conduct of the Green
Park hotel. More recently she managed
Maplewood Inn.
UGA
r ewspaper-Established
VTAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAR
PRICES GO BACK
TO MARCH PEAR
Two Million Retailers Get De- j
tailed Explanations in
OPA Book
The clock of rising prices was
moved back to March Monday, and
halted.
From now on, no retail merchant
may charge more for consumer products
than the highest price he
charged in March. While the price
control order was not expected to
result in any startling reductions,
economists figured that the average
drop in the cost of living would be
about 1*2 per cent.
I As a guide to the nearly two mil|lion
American retailers affected, the
(office of price administration in
^Washington has begun distributing a
"shopkeepers' bible" entitled "What
Every Retailer Should Know About
the General Maximum Price Regu
lanon. in telling tne retailer what
to do, the OPA bulletin likewise
lets the consumer know what to
expect on the counters o? the corner
grocery or the big department
store.
Five tests are prescribed by OPA
by which the retailer may determine
his maximum selling price under
the universal ceiling.
The first basic rule requires the
retailer to take as his ceiling the
highest price at which he delivered
a specified article in March. The
key factor is the actual delivery
during March, rather than the making
of a sale in that month. Delivery
took place when the customer
received the article or when it left
the store on its way to the customer.
The second rule covers a retailer
who offered an article for sale in
March but made no deliveries. His
ceiling will be the highest offering
price?the price marked 0:1 the article
itself or on the shelves or racks
where it was displayed for sale.
Third, for an article neither delivered
nor offered for sale in
March, the ceiling is the highest
price of the "similar article most
nearly like it" delivered or offered
for delivery during March.
Fourth, if none of the first three
rules applies, the retailer must fix
the price of his article "not higher
than the highest March price o? the
most closely competitive retailer of
the same class for the same article"
or the article most nearly like it.
Fifth, if none of the four previous
rules applies, the retailer must put
his problems up to an OPA regional
office after arriving at a possible
price through use of a complicated
OPA formula?which is carefully
explained in the "bible."
Civilian Defense
Council to Meet
Wade E. Brown, chairman of the
civilian defense council for Watauga
county, states that a meeting will be
held in the courthouse Thursday
evening, May 26, at 7:30 o'clock, at
which time Dr. Robert R. King will
explain the basic principles of poison
gas and how people may be
protected from its effects.
Mr. Brown especially request?
messengers, auxiliary police, air raid
wardens, auxiliary firemen, road
workers, teachers, first aid workers,
housewives and business men to attend
this meeting, together with the
general public.
Little Interest Is
Showin In Primary
A minimum of interest is being
manifested in the primary election
which is to be held on Saturday,
May 30, and reports indicate that
few new voters have registered.
Richard T. Fountain of Rocky
Mount, former lieutenant governor,
is seeking to unseat Senator J. W.
Bailey. Mr. Fountain opposed senator
Bailey in the last primary.
BANK HOURS
Mr. W. D. Farthing, cashier of the
Northwestern Bank, calls attention
to the fact that the present banking
hours are 10 a. m. to 3 p. m. Mr.
Farthing further states that on numerous
occasions patrons of the
bank desire to transact business after
business hours, and that while fce
is anxious to render the most complete
banking service possible, that
under the terms of the wage and
hour law, employees must be paid
at the rate of time and one-half for
overtime consumed when patrons
arrive after 3 o'clock, Mr. Farthing
states that he is most anxious to
render the best service, and solicits
the co-operation of the people in
this connection.
There is no defense or security for
any of us except in the highest intelligence
and development of all.?
Booker T. Washington.
DEMC
f in the Year Eighteen 1
OLINA, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1!
'Get In the Fight, Th<
This photo which arrived in Ne
shows Adolf Hitler as he tried to <
There can be no doubt that the Na
agement to keep them fighting and
much talked of "spring offensive/' a
experienced in Russia during the v
Fuehrer believed a visit from him \
Tourist Resorts In ]
Rock Area Vi
Blowing Rock, May 19.?Recent t
publicity given the concerted ef- r
forts of the mountain resorts of this a
area to obtain better transportation n
facilities and special consideration o
in regard to gasoline rationing ap- t
pears to have caused misapprehen- a
sion on the part of some persons. v
Reports and inquiries coming to
the chambers of commerce in sev- il
cral of the resort towns imply that c
the impression has gone out that the I<
resort business is very "downheart- f(
ed" and just about ready to "close
shop and call it a day" for the dura- h
tion. p
Aiuo 13 IUC uuixuuuoii UL IUC tin til. U
So far as is known, every hotel, c
guest house, restaurant and business E
place of importance plans to be
open as usual this season. In fact, h
many improvements are being made h
and the service offered will be on a s
higher plane than before. Optimism n
in the face of undeniable obstacles t
prevails everywhere. c
The resort business is not "down- a
hearted." In Blowing Rock, for ex- c
ample, the two largest hotels, May- a
view Manor and Green Park hotel, t
are spending thousands of dollars in c
improvements. Entirely new kitch- c
en equipment is being installed in c
both places. New tennis courts and I
a putting green are being built at t
Mayview. Plans are already made c
to transport guests to the Norwood- 1
Green Park golf course. The same t
high type of food service will be t
maintained as in the past. Rcserva- r
tions for season accommodations are
coming in at a gratifying pace. f
The smaller hotels, already open, e
are doing their usual business; in j
some cases better than at this time
in former seasons. Cottagers are already
established, many of them, t
in their homes here for the season. t
Others are coming in increasing r
numbers weekly. More than a dozen c
new homes have been built during ^
the past winter and are ready for ^
occupancy by their owners. r
The filling stations are facing the r
issue squarely and staying open to t
serve their patrons with whatever a
amounts of gasoline their allotments l
call for. I f
The specialty shops will be open j
as usual. The local moving picture
theatre has placed orders for the ]
latest and best pictures of current
issue and will open June 1. Plans
are being made for horse-shoe pitching
courts and shuffle-board. The
horse show will be held. The coun- ^
try club will be open.
The recent pleas for assistance in
solving the transportation problems c
of these "off the railroad" areas r
were based largely on the situation ?
of the smaller rooming houses and "
places of business that depend large- *
ly on the guests who stop for only *
short periods of time?overnight or *
for the week-end. They will stand F
to lose business, and they are the 1
ones who need it most.
Those who plan to come to the s
larger places for their entire vaca- ^
tion or all the summer will find 3
ways and means of getting here. In e
fact, arrangement is being made c
with local taxis to meet all incoming f
guests of the hotels at nearby rail- s
road centers?Asheville, Hickory,
Johnson City and Bristol. This will 1
be done in cases where bus connections
call for unusually long delays
in travel.
The feeling is that the mountains c
have in this emergency something to i
offer that is essential in the all-out i
war effort. They have the atmos- 1
phere that refreshes and rebuilds, c
)CRA
I undr ? and, Eighty:
- ?
942 &
ey C /t Hurt Us!" ,
^v?wS^wjf -'* w
w York from London by clipper,
:heer up wounded Nazi soldiers.
LUU SV1UC 9U11 Ui CJIUUUIl
to bolster their morale for the
iter the many reverses they had
/inter months. Evidenly Der
vould do the trick.
Blowing
fill Open As Usual
i
hat gives hard-driven workers a
icw lease on life, that builds morale
nd breeds optimism, that sends
nen and women back to their places
f duty with new energy, new enhusiasm,
new courage, new hope
nd new power to do their tasks
rell.
Sympathetic interest is being man'estcd
by representatives and offiials
in both Washington and Ra;igh
in the efforts of this section
ir better transportation facilities.
Replying to the recent letter sent
im at the instance of the Blowing
lock Chamber of Commerce, the |
hairman of the ways . and means;
ommittee of congress, Robert L.
loughton wrote:
"Your letter of May 7 th comment:ig
on the serious situation in Blowlg
Rock and our mountain section,
o dependent upon the tourist busiess,
as it will be affected by the
ire and gas rationing, has been reeived
and given attention. This is
matter which has been giving me ?
onsiderable worry for some time,
nd one which I have discussed with i
he proper authorities on several oc- 1
asions. Whether or not something
an be worked out that will take
are of the situation I am not sure;
>ut I shall continue my efforts in
rying to have the government work
mt some remedy. I will lay your
letter before the proper authoriies,
and immediately accentuate to
he limit of my ability the seriousless
of the situation."
A more recent communication
rom U. S. Senator Josiah W. Bailey
ixpresses his interest in the matter
n these words:
"Thank you for your letter of May
th with reference to the effect of
he gasoline curtailment on tourist
rade in your community. I am comnunicating
at once with the office
>f Price Administrator Henderson
n an effort to be of assistance to
rou in this matter. Certainly it is
oy hope that satisfactory adjustnent
can be made due to the fact
hat yours and other communities
ire dependent upon the tourist
rade. You will be promptly noti1...1
...U T 1.
JIV.U TV11C11 x Iiavc ailj llUUliimilUU
rom the officials here."
MACHINE SHOP FACILITIES
AVAILABLE TO FARMERS
The facilities of the shop of the
ocatiohal agriculture department at
Appalachian high school, will be
tvailable to farmers of this area
:ach Saturday throughout the sumner,
it has been announced. The
lecision to keep the shop open on
laturdays has been made in order to :
lid those who have machinery in
leed of repairs. Some members of I
he defense metal working class will
>e present to assist farmers in mak- i
ng the desired repairs, it is stated.
No charge will be made for these i
ervices. At the disposal of persons :
iringing machinery to be repaired
ire blacksmithing equipment, an
ilectric welder, a machinist lathe,
trill press, a spray paint outfit,
lower grinders and other common
hop tools and equipment.
VYKE SELLS GROCERY
STORE TO COOK AND CLAY
W. M. Cook and J. E. Clay, owners
if the King Street Grocery, have
mrchased Wyke's grocery store and
ire comoining it with their line,
iilr. Wyke will continue to handle a
lomplete line of feeds.
Eight
$1-50 A YEAR
John h, bingham
claimed by death
thursday night
Former Superior Court Clerk,
Judge of Recorders Court and
Educational Leader Succumbs
to Long Illness; Funeral Sunday
Afternoon
John H. Bingham, member of one
if the county's most prominent families,
former judge of the recorder's
:ourt and clerk of the superior court
if Watauga county, died last Thursiay
evening at the Banner Elk hospital,
after a long period of failing
health. Mr. Bingham had been admitted
to the hospital a few days
prior to his death.
Funeral services were conducted
from the home Sunday afternoon by
Rev. M. A. Osborne, Methodist minister,
who was assisted in the rites
by Rev. Dwight Edmisten and Rev.
H. K. Middleton of the Baptist
cnurcn. ivir. w. K. L.oviU, life-long
friend of the deceased, spoke briefly.
Interment was in the Mast cemetery,
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home being
in charge of the arrangements.
John Houston Bingham was born
n Watauga county, a son of the late
William and Roxana Presnell Binglam.
In young manhood Mr. Binglam
taught in the public schools of
he county and was principal of
Walnut Grove Academy, which was
he county's leading educational inititution,
prior to the establishment
if the Appalachian Training SchooL
dr. Bingham studied law at Wake
"orest College and was admitted to
he bar in 1912. He was clerk of the
Watauga county superior court from
898 to 1902 and was judge of the
:ounty recorder's court from 1934
intil the abolishment of the tribunil
in December, 1936. He was one
if the county's most widely known
nen, was a citizen of great ability,
md lived a life of service to his felow
man. He will be sorely missed
>y a wide circle of friends throughmt
this area.
Surviving are the following sons
ind daughters: Mrs. J. J. Mast, Mrs.
C. Mast, Mrs. Hugh Reese, Misses
Jphelia and Roxanna Bingham, Sugir
Grove; Joe, Don, Finley and Bob
White Bingham, Sugar Grove. One
lister, Miss Jane Bingham, a resilent
of Sugar Grove, also survives,
ogether with 14 grandchildren and
icven great-grandchildren.
Stockholders' Meeting
C O 1 ** 1 - *
r or uuriey marKCl IS
Held Last Thursday
The annual meeting of the stockholders
of the Mountain Burley
Warehouses was held last Thursday,
and a favorable financial report was
received. Mr. Roscoe Coleman, lessee
of the warehouses, was present
and urged the farmers of the county
to plant their full quotas this year.
Mr. Coleman stated that those who
do not have a base this year should
also plant tobacco, as he believes it
will pay, notwithstanding the penalty
of 10 cents per pound which is
imposed.
All officers of the corporation
were re-elected by the board of directors.
Mr. H. G. Farthing is the
president, and J. B. Mount, vicepresident.
Mr. Clyde R. Greene is
secretary and treasurer.
The board of directors consists of
the following: S. C. Eggers, chairman;
J. B. Mount, Jack Shoun, R.
L. Doughton, Roscoe Coleman, W.
H. Gragg, T. L. Mast, G. K. Moose
and Chapell Wilson.
A.S.T.C. Alumni
Group Not To Meet
During Summer
An announcement from Wheeler
Farthing, president of the Appa
tacnian rtiumm Association tor Watauga
county, indicates that all summer
meetings of that organization
have been postponed.
The officials of the organization
conferred recently on the proposed
meeting at Bethel on May 28, and
decided that attendance would be
small because of individual vacation
plans. The club will not meet until
further notice.
HONOR ROLL
Additional men from Watauga
county serving in the armed forces
of the nation, and whose names
were unintentionally omitted from
the roster published some time ago
are:
Ronald C. Rominger
Arnold Rominger
Gordon Hicks
Norman Tester
Gilford Presnell
Johnny M. Harmon. j