PAGE TWO
The Chowan Herald
Published every Thursday by The Chowan
Herald, a partnership consisting of J. Edwin
Bufflap and Hector Lupton, at 423-425 South
Broad Street, Edenton, N. C.
-I i |
North Carolina v-Jx
/wtiiAßoc i ATicwnj
J. EDWIN BUFFLAP Editor
HECTOR LUPTON -—.—Advertising Mgr.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Six Months ♦ 1 ; (K)
Entered as second-class matter August 30,
1934, at the post office at Edenton, North Caro
lina, under the act of March 3, 1879.
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1943
BIBLE THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
A HUMAN EXAMPLE MAKES ALL SIMPLE: I
am the door; by me if any man enter in he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.— John.
Poppy Day Again
Edenton will again have an opportunity to register
its patriotism on Saturday, May 29. when Poppy Day
will be observed and on which day everybody is expect
ed to pledge anew his faith in those who have died
in the nation’s service by wearing a memorial poppy.
Poppy Day this year will be even more significant than
those' observed heretofore, in that not only those who
gave their lives in the first World War will be remem
bered, but even already many Americans have gi\en
their lives in the present conflict for the same cause
for which our boys fought in the previous war.
Mrs. West Byrum has been named chairman to
handle the sale of poppies by the Auxiliary of the
American Legion, which fact is assurance that the
campaign will be in adequate hands. So that to make
the sale the success that it should be will depend upon
the willingness of all of us to buy and wear a poppy
in honor of our war dead.
Progress Continues
When J. H. McMullan relinquished his duties as
Edenton’s mayor Tuesday night, he briefly reiterated
some of the progress made in Edenton since he served
the Town as Mayor for the first time. In those early
days, the total revenug of the Town was in the neigh
borhood of $6,000 per year. There was no stock law,
so that it was necessary to have gates placed where
roads merged with the Town's streets.
Problems faced the City Fathers then, and the carry
ing on of the Town's business was taken seriously by
those in authority. Os course, Edenton has made con
siderable progress since that time, and with it vexing
problems necessarily have multiplied, so that the Town s
business should command just as serious consideration
now as was the case when Mayor McMullan was the
youngest mayor instead of the oldest.
That members of the present administration are tak
ing their duties seriously was reflected in an executive
session Tuesday night when sober thought was given
to a number of problems and plans were set on foot to
intelligently handle these problems.
Os course, the present officials will not and do not
expect to set the world on fire, but when they decide to
seriously consider and deliberate the merits of matters
coming before them before taking final action it tends
to show that they are serious-minded, which will un
doubtedly tend to furnish level-headed Town govern
ment.
You Can Help
Not all of Edenton’s population are eligible for duty
in the Armed forces, but an opportunity now presents
itself for every single person to contribute a small
amount of effort in the war. This opportunity will be
afforded tonight in the Court House when a list of vol
unteers will be sought ,to man the new air warning
observation post on Hicks Field.
The importance of efficient operation of these posts
cannot be over-emphasized, for they are the first line
of civilian defense against enemy attack front the. air.
It smacks of over-confidence if it is thought there is no
possible chance of either the east or we.-t coast being
bombed, and in event such raids materialize; the air
warning service is the logical agency to detect enemy
planes and thus reduce any subsequent damage. There
are already more than a million patriotic American vol
unteers who have offered their services in about
12,000 posts, and to properly complete Chowan County’s
circuit in the neighborhood of 112 volunteers will be
needed.
At tonight’s meeting, therefore, it is hoped that
more than enough will agree to serve in this important
precautionary effort. If the required number will vol
unteer, it will not be necessary for any one person to be
on duty more than a few hours every other week. It Is
little enough to ask of those who are privileged to re
main at home and not be obliged to experience the
horrors of war on foreign soil and at the same time be
contributing their bit toward preventing similar hor
rors on our fair land.
The Edenton observation post is attractive head
quarters, the post must and will be manned, but this
work should be distributed among the citizenry in gen- |
eral and not resort to the old buck-passing of “Let j
George do it.” This is no time to shirk duty and it be
hooves all to help in this very important arm of
defense.
Be at the Court House tonight, hear Captain DeWitt,
public relations officer, explain the workings of the ser
vice and then be patriotic enough to offer a few hours
every other week in helping to man the Edenton post.
Not Superior To Uncle Sam
Probably everybody in the United States, except John
L. Lewis’ striking miners, will approve the firm position
taken by the President in connection with the threaten
ed shut-down of the bituminous coal mines.
It is no exaggeration for Mr. Roosevelt to assert that
a strike in the coal mines “would have the same effect
on the course of the war as a crippling defeat in the
field.” The production of tanks, guns and ammunition,
he said, depends upon coal and without these weapons,
our sailors on the high seas and our Allies in the fielo
will be helpless against our enemies.
There can be but one outcome to the threatened
strike. No labor union is superior to the government oi
this country. If the United Mine Workers have been
misled, then it is high time that the government makes
effective its lesson.
i'HE CHOWAN HERALD, EDENTON, N. C., THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1943
Heard and seew j
By "BUFF” j
If Edenton goes to the dogs during the next two years
we’ll just have to blame it on the Baptists, for in the
present city administration eight of the 11 members
are Baptists. The Episcopalians, who when I landed
in Edenton some 20 years ago, had the reputation of
running practically everything in town, have two mem
bers in the official family, while the Methodists are
lucky (or maybe unlucky) in having only one member.
Here’s how they stack up: Baptists, Mayor Leroy ti.
Haskett, O. Branning Perry, West Byrum, Jordan Yates,
J. Clarence Leary, Graham Byrum, Jimmy Partin and
Walter Wilkins. The Episcopalians are Henry Gardner
and Joe Conger, while the lone Methodist is yours truly.
Then if the town goes to the dogs, the Lions should also
be blamed, for five of them are among the Town Scoun
drels. Ed Bond Post of the American Legion also
claims five members, while Rotary lays claim to only
one member. But what I’m trying to get around to is
that if every member would be a 100 per cent. Baptist,
Episcopalian or Methodist every day in the week in
stead of only on Sunday, or if the principles of the other
organizations represented were fully carried out, there
would be little doubt but that the Town’s business
would be conducted on a high plane. What, eliminate
all criticism? Heck, no! Why the Lord Himself was
' criticized by the people of His day and it’s a lead pipe
cinch that there are some people in Edenton who would
find fault with Him today if He lived in Edenton, so how
in the dickens can a few mere Town Councilmen satisfy
everybody ? It just can’t be done, and criticism is part
of the “pay” of Town Councilmen.
And speaking of pay, it was called to my attention
the other day that on a number of occasions in this
column some comment has been made relative to the
“munificent” salary of Town Councilmen, (yep, it’s the
grand total of 24 bucks per year, regardless of how long
or how many meetings are held) and that not a wore
has been printed about the salary of the street commis
sioner, which runs into the “staggering” sum of $240
per year. I’ll say something about that and at the same
time include the “wonderful” salary of the Mayor ot;
Edenton, which is SIOO per year, to which because of
estra work during the fight for the Chowan River
bridge some years ago S2OO per year was added for
stenographic or clerical assistance, and which has since
remained, despite it a target on several occasions
to whittle down the budget. In the first place, the
Mayor’s salary is a joke, for there’s hardly even a shoe
shine boy in Edenton who does not earn that much in
consuming about as much time as a Mayor should de
vote to the office. The Mayor of Edenton is, or should
be, a responsible position, for which taxpayers should not
expect any one man to devote his time, thought ana
energy without receiving pay, especially when any par
ticular man in office could use this time in other ave
nues to realize mcome or for sonie sort of recreation
and pleasure which in these strenuous times would he
worth more than the few dollars involved. Yes, the
Mayor’s salary is a joke and now going into the “higher”
brackets of the street commissioner’s salary: The street
commissioner is just as busy and in all probability even
busier than most of those critics who find time to figure
out reasons to bellyache. In connection with this par
ticular job. there is no telling how much time is con
sequent investigation of these complaints. The office
sumed in meeting and arguing with salesmen, then no
little time is utilized in listening to complaints and suh
also requires not a few letters to be written on which,
incidentally, the present street commissioner has not
used a single stamp bought by the Town. The job re
quires chasing all about Town for which a personal car
and personal gasoline has a used, all of Which run.,
into a little money during the course of a year. In fact,
everything taken into consideration, the street com
missioner's salary is near about as big a joke as the
Mayor’s and Town Councilmen’s: salaries. It wasn’t
with any intention of concealing the street commis
sioner's salary that no mention was made in this col
umn, but rather a feeling of embarrassment that a high
sounding title should mean only 240 bucks a year. And
after all. if salaries of Town officialswere what they
should he and were in keeping with Edenton's reputa
tion along other lines, there most likely would be
more candidates for office on the part of those who are
so free to hand out advice and criticism, but unwilling
to take a chance at being elected to a place in the offi
cial family where their knowledge of running a town
and their advice would be more beneficial.
o
Ain’t politics sumpin’? Os course, when one wins
out in an election, there's always congratulations for
the winners, and last week’s election was no exception.
But what I can’t understand is that despite the fact that
I was high man in the t’ouncilmen-at-large race, only
218 votes were credited to me, while I have had about
300 tell me they were glad to see that I was re-electea
and that they had cast a ballot for me. Maybe we
ought to have a recount of the ballots, for something is
screwy. Then, take Dave Holton, A lot of voters tola
him they would help him out. Well, some of ’em did
help him “out”.
o
Which reminds me that in a heated election some few
i years ago Father F. J. McCourt was asked, as he en
i tered the voting place, whom he was going to vote for.
He told his questioner he’d tell him after he voted, and
sure enough when Father McCourt emerged from the
building, the fellow eased up to him to ascertain if he
voted for a certain candidate. Speaking in a low tone,
Father McCourt asked, “Can you keep a secret?” The
fellow drew up a little closer as he replied, “Oh, yes sir,
you can count on me keeping a secret.” “Well, so can
I,” said the priest, as he left his apparently befuddlea
politician.
o
Albert Byrum has, by reason of not seeking re-elec
tion as Town Councilman, eliminated some of his wor
ries, but he still has plenty of them in connection with
his chairmanship of the local War Price and Ration
Board. Just a sample is a recent experience he had
when he was aroused about the middle of the night by *
telephone ringing like crazy and when he reached it he
was asked how chances were for a stranded truck driver
to buy a new tire. In the first place, Mr. Byrum does
not happen to have access to a gang of tires to sell and
in the second place, tire dealers were also snoozing, so
that it would have taken about the remainder of the
night to get one of ’em out of bed and then the chances
are that the right size would not have been on hanu.
All of which is mentioned in the hope that people will
1 JUST HUMANS ay oene carr
’ •! ' '
■ - ■ ■ ■ — 1
Cop—You Men Move Oaf
KM—**WdL 1 Guess It's Ud to lis to Move. Jfcnaurf
use plain, common sense when deal
ing with the Ration Board.
o
There are all sorts of signs on the i
rear of automobiles ami trucks, but
one noticed the other day takes the
prize and possibly throws some light
on a lot of highway accidents. The
sign on a large truck read thusly: j
“Please Pass Quietly—Driver Asleep,”!
Maybe, in some cases, the informa
tion is all too true.
o
Somewhat of a small war took
place Tuesday night when a group of
Marines had a brush with Edenton’s
police force. It appears that Joe
Habit wanted to close his case but a
number of the Marines weren’t ready
to leave, so that Joe called the police
who were just across the street.
Practically the whole police force
had their hands full for a little spell
but finally the Marines left and Joe
locked up his place.
- Chappell owns a number of
automobiles but even at that they
were all in use Tuesday, so that he i
had to hitch-hike to Hertford on |
some important business. He finally |
got there and back and in his trip of j
12 miles each way, he rode a bumpy j
truck, a Chevrolet and a Chrysler, j
He figures that if he had a few more
cars, maybe he could use one of ’em |
for his own use once in a while j
anyway.
—o
If you’ve read the story in this is
sue about Town Council’s meeting on
Tuesday night, that portion about |
Mayor McMullan relinquishing the i
gavel of authority to Mayor Haskett
is an illusion. As a matter of fact,
the town’s paraphernalia does not in
clude a gavel despite the fact that the
Mayor should have one to call down
some folks every once in a while.
But Mayor McMullan went through
the form by picking up my pipe, tap
ping on the table and handing it to
ward the incoming Mayor. Friend
Haskett didn’t get hi's mitts on it,
however, for I grabbed the thing
(dear old pal) liefore any damage
could befa.l! it: Anyway, why in the
dickens doesn't somebody contribute
a gavel to the Town now that the
business of holding down the budget
will soon be started by Walter Wil
kins and Jimmy Partin?
o
Charlie and Mrs. McCullers were
welcome visitors in Edenton early
this week. Mac is still stationed at
Camp Butner at Durham, while Mrs.
Mac, having finished teaching school,
has a new job. She is running a
country store in a rural section of
Wake County, where she spends most (
Chowan Mutual Produce Exchange j
f (INCORPORATED) \
EDENTON, N. C. j
Announces Opening of the Auction Block at Valhalla ;
MONDAY, MAY 17 ]
For Sale Os May Peas ]
During the summer sales will be held for the sale of various 1
t kinds of farm produce, the sales to be conducted by Francis Hicks, j
‘ well known and experienced auctioneer. 5
FARMERS, bring your Produce to our Auction Block, where j
* you can be assured the best possible prices will be secured for you 5
and that your business will be greatly appreciated.
CHOWAN MUTUAL PRODUCE EXCHANGE, INC.
\ J. P. Barnett, Manager E. L. Pearce, Sec. and Treas. *
■ __ .. _ MM. Mm MM Mm . M. m.m M
of the time sitting on a keg. During
the course of a day she takes in
about 50 cents in cash and about $5
a day is charged on the books. In
fact, the store was opened in 1908,
and aside from the store-keeper
(Mrs. Mac) there has been little
change—the same store, same shel-
I ves, same merchandise and almost
I the same customers. But, Mrs. Mac
i is apparently enjoying her job, sit
ting on a keg and Joining in the dis
cussion of events of the day. Her
hardest job is to keep a box filled
with saw dust for the tobacco sharp
shooters, and to date, she is not
wearing spectacles nor chewing snuff
in order to be in line for the spitting
spree.
o
Mrs. Braxton Gay, the other day,
bought some eggs from a farmer
who lives near Roper and when pre
paring to break a number of them,
she discovered on one a queer forma
tion, It appeared as if the shell had
shrunk and in knitting together had
formed a perfect reproduction of the
j Japs’ emblem of the rising sun. When
| she realized what the formation
l looked like, it didn’t take her long
jto smash the egg. Here's hoping that
it is a sign of what the Yanks will
soon be doing to the whole Jap j
shootin’-match.
o
Today's the 13th, boys, so that it’s I
I only seven more days until May 20— j
i the date when we can pack up our
fishing poles and other parapher
nalia and fish wherever we dam
please. According to reports the
I bloomin’ fish were biting fine on
Easter Sunday and Monday (the ban
being lifted for the two days) and
here’s hoping the scudders continue
to act right so that some of us can
get away from a lot of worry and
trouble and concentrate on watching
a cork bob a little. Os course, al
most all of the fish caught Eastei
Sunday and Monday, say the fisher
men. were“under the fish hatchery
bridge.” Which only goes to show
that a lot of fishermen are big liars. J
RATIONING 1
AT A GLANCE
II m
Blue Stamps
(For canned, frozen and certain
dehydrated foods).
Blue stamps G, H, J remain valid
through May.
Coffee
Stamp No. 23 in War Ration Book
One is valid for one pound of coffee
through May 30.
Fuel Oil
"Period 5” coupons now valid and
will be until September 30. Consum
ers may go to local ration boards
and claim fuel oil to keep tanks from
"floating” during late spring and
summer months.
Gasoline
“A” book coupons No. 5 good for
three gallons each and must last
from March 22 to July 21, inclusive,
in North Carolina.
Red Stamps
(For meat products, canned fish,
most edible oils, and cheeses).
Red stamps “E” and “F” remain ,
valid through May. Red stamp “G” a
became valid May 9 and is good
through May. Red stamp “H” be
comes valid May 16. Retailers must
register with local boards and re
ceive allowable inventories of meats
and fats by May 14.
Shoes
No. 17 stamp in War Ration Book
One good for one pair of shoes until
June 15.
Stoves
New coal and oil-fired heaters are
being rationed. Persons who will use
new coal stoves to replace oil burners
may apply to their local War Price
and Rationing Boards for purchase
certificates. Oil-fired heaters can be
purchased only under very unusual
circumstances because of the fuel oil
shortage.
Sugar
Stamp No. 12 in War Ration Book
One is valid for 5 pounds of sugar
through May 31.
• •
j Evans Church News ,
* «
Mrs. G. E. Harrell, Mrs. E. B.
Williams and Miss 'Viola Wilson vis
ited Mrs. Joe Goodwin Sunday after
noon.
Bernice Williams and Peggy Turner
of Center Hill are visiting their aunt,
Mrs. W. P. Turner, of near Cora
peake.
Mrs. J. H. Cale visited Mrs. E. R.
Wilson Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Miller spent
Sunday in Durham, visiting Rufus
White, a patient at Duke Hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Goodwin and
Mrs. E. B. Williams visited Mr. and
Mrs. W. A. Nixon Sunday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Keeter visited
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie
Keeter, in Edenton, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Williams at
tended a birthday party in honor of
Mrs. Daughtrey White, of Rocky
Hock, Monday evening.
Miss Mildred Wilson spent the
i week-end with Miss Wessie Harrell,
| of near Sunbury. I
I Ration Board Quotes
Few Ceiling- Prices
The Chowan War Price and Ration
Roard has released information rela
tive to the prices of eggs, poultry
and butter, In round figures, the
price which retail stores may pay for
eggs are as follows:
Grade B medium, 37c; grade B
large, 41c; grade A medium, 39c;
grade A large, 43c. When farmers
sell eggs to individual consumers,
they may increase the above price by
17 per cent.
Regulations governing ceiling
j prices for poultry has recently been
simplified. When farmers sell poul
' try to haulers or wholesalers they
may charge 28' 2 c per pound for
young poultry, 25c per pound for
hens of all weights; 21c for roosters.
When selling to retailers, they may
charge 30c per pound for young pouU
trv, hens 26 , £>c, and 32' 2 c for roos
ters, which prices to individual con
sumers must not be over 3.6 c for
young poultry, 32c for hens and 27c
for roosters.
The ceiling price for butter varies
according to grade. When farmers
sell ungraded or “No Grade” butter
to a retail store, the ceiling price is
45c per pound.