Hertford County Herald
HERTFORD COUNTY'S ONLY NEWSPAPER A PAPER WORTH WHILE BEST ADVERTISING MEDIUM IN EAST CAROLINA
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Volume XQ. Eight Pages Ahoskie, North Carolina, Friday, April 21, 1922 One Section No. 51
AN ATTACK ON THE PROPOSED
CHANGE IN THE MARKETING
AND SALE OF LEAF TOBACCO
Daring the put several weeks con
siderable space hu been given in this
paper to reports, accounts, and argu
ments, all favorable to the Co-Opera
tive Market for the handling and ule
of leaf tobacco. This is a subject
which is being agitated to a consider
able extent in North Carolina at the
present time. The importance of this
matter is so great and means so much
to the farmers, growers, and general
life in this section, that we feel that
any decision rendered in this matter
should be arrived at only after care
ful consideration and both sides are
heard. For this reason we are repro
ducing below an article taken from
the Southern Tobacco Journal, which
discusses the subject favorable to
the auction plan and against the pro
posed plan for co-operative market
ing.
The Southern Tobacco Journal
offers no apology for the position it is
taking in the matter of the Co-Opera
tive Market, u applied to leaf tobacc
co. We believe that we are doing the
tobacco farmer a favor in warning
him against a proposed plan that we
honestly believe will if put into opera
tion work to his disadvantage. Not
only this, but U the proposed plan
should be put into operation, the en
tire business interest of the tobacco
centers of the country would be em
bareased. It is a matter of surprise
to us that bankers and other business
concerns do not realize the serious
ness of the proposed proposition.
Since announcing our positioq in this
rhatter, and stating our objections tf,
the plan as affecting the tobacco inter
est, we have received many letters of
endorsement bf our ilosiiion?and
hundreds of tobacco farmers have
talked the matter over with us. We
find also that bankers and others who
are interested are anxious for all the
information they can get. In our
issue of week before last, we endeav
ored to present facts in connection
with the proposition. Our editorials
were extensively copied and we were
forced to issue several huitdred copies
extra, which were promptly taken by
those seeking information. We have
recently come into contact with hund
reds of tobacco farmers who are
anxious to know what all this thing
of the tobacco Co-operative Market
ing means. We believe that we are
stating the truth when we say that not
more than 10 per cent, of those with
whom we have come into contact with
are in favor the plan. In fact many
with whom we have talked, who have
signed the five year contract, are
anxious to be released from the obli
gation.
We want to say again, and we want
to say it with all the emphasis at our
command, that, we are not influenced
in our position on account of any per
sonal interest Those who know us
'"best know that we have nothing to
lose, nor nothing to gain. Now let us
address a few remarks to our farmer
friends as well as others who should
be interested in their welfare.
You are called upon, gentlemen, to
enter intq an agreement with some
one (God knows who). This agree
ment is supposed to bind you for 5
yean. In this agreement you agree
to pool your tobacco. That is you
place your tobacco in classes with
hundreds of others. This tobacco is
then prepared for market, re-dried,
etc. It is then stored and buyers in
vited to inspect, etc. Then you de
liver your tobacco to be classed. You
are told that you are to receive #0
per cent of the value of your tobacco,
and the remainder, or what, is left
after it is sold and delivered. Of
course you know that out of the to
bacco that is sold you are to pay your
proportional part of the cost of grad
ing, re-drying, packing, insurance,
taxes, etc. They tell you that expert
men will attend to classification, valu
ation, etc. Well now stop just one
minute and estimate what all this will
cost The expert grader, the expert
appraiser, the expert re-dryer?the
expert this and expert that With a
complicated system of bookkeeping?
and then a great loss in weight Yon
know thare will be a bill of charges
that will stagger you. Now think
again: What manner of .man is he,
who can possibly place a value on
tobacco in advance? Did you ever
think of this? If not think seriously
now. No human being can tell what
the price of tobacco will be from one
season to the other?and in face of
this fact, these promoters tell you that
you will receive 60 per cent of the
value of your tobacco.
Now comes the proposition of ftnsir
cing the proposition. Naturally those
who can furnish the money will want
to know how it is going to be applied
?and believe us?they are surely go
ing to know. Do you believe foe one
minute that banks or the Government
will loan money to pay for tobacco
on a valuation that would in all prob
ability. be out of reason. And then
again?it is going to take millions of
dollars to pay other expenses. We
will leave it to you to tell us where
it is coming from. Another thing
gentlemen, and that is, if this great
scheme should be put into operation?
those who are stock holders (and
every man who stores tobacco is a
stock holder) become speculators or
dealers in leafjobacco. Suppose the
concern has several million pounds on
hand to be sold. There are only a
few buyers who cut a big figure.
The tobacco that is for sale is of
course put up in hogsheads, re-dried,
etc. One of these big concerns wants
the tobacco handled and re-dried in
its own way?and so do the others?
and the result is that in all probability
none of the tobacco is handled to the
satisfaction of a possible purchaser.
Going back to the grading propo
sition where sfveral hundred farmers
pool their tobacco to be classed. Now
gentleman, Honestly, do you for a mo
ment believe that there are a set of
men on earth that can classify tobacco
to the satisfaction of all concerned.
These are only a few Of the diffi
culties, but there are others. Farm
ers as a class are no different from all
others in that they need their money
when they earn -it. It will be a sad
day for many poor farmers who work
hard all the year, who goes in debt
for his fertilisers and other supplies,
when he is forced to wait indefinitely
for a big part of his tobacco money.
Now come on gentlemen, and think
of this matter seriously. Did it ever
occur to you that it would have been
fairer to the farmer if this contract
had been for one year instead of five.
Why is this five year business? Think
of it?investigate thoroughly?and
when you do, you will discover "the
nigger in the wood pile."
Do you believe for a minute that a
man will come from his home in Cali
fornia to help the tobacco farmer un
less he expects big pay? Do you be
lieve that, men who are active ih the
business are working for nothing?
You are not fools and you know bet
ter.
" We ere frank to say that we believe
the Co-Operative Market Plan as ap
plied to nearly -all farm products is a
good thing. We believe that the plan
is a good one, when applied to such
things as farmers' produce, for im
mediate and direct consumption, but
when it comes to leaf tobacco, all fair
minded men roust agree that the
Auction System of selling leaf tobacco
is the best way.
The fact is gentlemen, the best
friend the tobacco farmer has is the
Warehouseman. The tobacco ware
houseman stands between the buyer
and the seller, and he gets his pay
from the farmer, it is his duty to see
that his patrons receive the best mark
et prices. The tobacco farmer makes
his crop, gets it in good shape, takes
it to the market, places It on the ware
house floor, where all buyers can see
it?and when he is supposed to re
ceive the highest market prices. The
farmer gets the market price for his
tobacco for which he receives cash on
the spot This system if all that can
be desired?and the very best and
fairest way of selling leaf tobacco.
Now gentlemen, listen to us: Just as
certain as any thing can be, the pres
ent system of selling tobacco will con
tinue. For a while there may be a
departure on the part of some from
the Auction System. Those who enter
into the Ave year agreement will re
gret their action and those who refuse
to be led into a departure from the old
way of selling tobacco, will certainly
he glad of their action.
To the business men of the tobacco
centers of the tobacco producing sec
(Continued on page 8.)
THREE RUM HOUNDS CAP
TURED NEAR AHOSKIE
Two Were Tried in Winton
This Week, One Other Girea
Bond of $100 to Appear hi
Court at Tarboro
Local bootleggers have evidently
let up on many of their precautionary
measures of late which makes it a
simple matter for the local officers to
uncover their apparatus, also nab
them""red-handed,"** as was proved
last Friday, when no less than three
were siezed by the long arm of the law
as represented by local deputies aided
by Revenue Officer Wood, formerly of
Kelford.
Vassie Saddlewhite, a local resi
dent, was acquitted Monday at Win
ton by the Superior Court on charges
of being- connected with running a
still. Henry Bobbette, an operator
of a rum outfit near her, was arrested
last Friday, a still having been found
within fifty yards of his house, to
gether with a quantity of other acces
sories. He was given a trial at Win
ton Tuesday, and sentenced to put in
two years manicuring the highways.
Drue Holloman, also of near here,
was found operating a rum making
plant at the rear of his house on the
same day as Bobbette, and was placed
under a $100 bond, for his appearance
in Federal Court at Tarboro Monday.
Other gangs of liquor violators are
thought to be in action near Ahoskie,
and efforts are to be made by the local
officers to uncover both the miscreants
and their apparatus as soon as suffi
cient evidence as to their whereabouts
can be obtained to warrant further
action on the part of the officers.
A
NORTH CAROLINA
DRAINAGE ASSOCIATION
The North Carolina Drainage Asso
ciation will hold ita next meeting in
Goldsboro on April 28th and 29th.
The drainage problem is to important,
particularly in pastern North Caro
lina, where thert are so many areas of
wet lands, it is hoped that a large
number of intelligmft and progressive
citizens will attend tins meeting.
Drainage is important^not only for
our unreclaimed and cut-over lands,
but also for lands in cultivation.
There are so many hundreds of farms,
some of which have been cultivated
for many years, which are uncertain
in crop production because of insuffi
cient drainage. Every wet season
means reduced crop production, and
not infrequently entire destruction of
growing crops. As a rule these farms
cannot be drained independently but
must unite with other land owners in
construction of large canals to a com
mon outlet iii order to secure cheap
and effective drainage. This carries
with it the necessity of organizing
drainage districts under the general
drainage law.
The existing depression in agricul
ture, which by the way is nation-wide,
should not operate to curtail unduly
this drainage movement. Drainage is
essential for crop production.
The North Carolina Drainage Asso
ciation which was organised in 1908,
has been a large factor in the progress
of the state. More than half a mil
lion acres of cut-over swamp lands
have been drained and thereby in
creased the taxable wealth of the state
by many millions of dollars. This
good work must be continued by the
same progressive methods
Full information may be obtained
by writing Col. Joseph Hyde Pratt,
Director, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Very respectfully,
JNO. H. SMALL.
n
MR. HINES MOVES TO
MURFREESBORO
People of Ahoslde regret the fact
that Mr. F. G. Hinee, Road Super
visor, who has made his residence
in Ahoskie for the past ten months,
will be no longer a resident of Ahos
kie, he having moved to Murfrees
boro Monday, where bis family will
reside in the future.
0
AGED RESIDENT OF
COMO PASSES AWAY
Mrs Antlonette Picot, widow of
Captain Julian S. Picot, died at her
home in Como, Wednesday. Funeral
services were held at Como Thursday.
Mrs. Pieot, a highly respected and
mueh-loved resident of her commun
ity, had Just passed her 86th birthday
at the time of her death
AHOfcKIE TO HAVE
?ANY IMPROVEMENTS
Board of Commissioners Voted
Jdt Proqaia Many Much
Needed Improvements Mon
de# Night, April 17th
The Board of Commissioners of
Ahoskie, in a meeting Monday night,
voted jto promote many much needed
fmprovsments for the town. The
date for "Clean-Up Week" waa set
for week beginning April 24th. A
feature of this measure waa that all
the trees on the principal streets are
to be whitewashed, as well as special
attention to be given to the improve
ment of the streets of the town in
gpneral. Among other steps taken by
the Board was the appointment of a
special committee to confer with the
Road Commissioners in regards to
the grraveling of the two principle
thoroughfare of the town at an early
date. Further protection at the rail
road crossings was also considered,
and it is understood that a "Stop and
Go" apparatus will be installed, with
other safety measures to warn the
public of oncoming trians, also to
limit the speed of trains passing]
through to ten miles per hour. Among
other things, the town officers are to
construct a public watering place
for farmers' horses, and the general
public as well. Many other meas
ures were given consideration by the
meeting, but the inauguration of
"Clean-Up-Week," and the improve
ments referred to above were the
principal points covered.
TO THE CITIZENS OF
THE TOWN OF AHOSKIE
On behalf of the Commissioners
and officers of oar town we wish to
extend oar thanks and appreciation
for the assistance and co-operation
rendered us for the past few years.
These recAt months and years have
been very trying and nerve racking to
us, as your servants as well as to
yourselves in your respective voca
tions, in trying to make buckle and
tongue meet, and we sincerely solicit,
and invite nil constructive criticism
you feel inclined to offer. We have,
of course, made many mistakes and
are trying to make these mutakes ac
crue to the benefit of the Town by
guarding against repetition as well as
taking cognisance of them in passing
on present and future problems.
Wb meet, usually, every Monday
night and are always glad to have any
citizen who may desire to meet with
us, and we will gladly give careful
consideration to any requests, com
plaints or suggestions which would
tend to be of benefit in any way to
our town. We realize that the tax
rate is higher than it was before we
had water, sewer, and electric lights,
and we suggest that you investigate
the tax rate' of other town which are
offering its citizens the same advan
tages that Ahoskie offers and we are
confident that you will appreciate
the fact that our rate is much lower
than many towns which do not offer
as many advantages as your town
offers.
The books of the Secretry-Treas
urer are always open to inspection
and a copy of the receips and dis
bursements are posted in his office,
and the mayor's office; also a copy of
the Auditor's report of the financial
condition can be examined on appli
cation to the Secretary-Treasurer.
Feeling that we have'withstood, to
some degree of satisfaction, the most
trying financial stringency in the his
tory of our town and that we are
now beginning to see the dawn of a
new* era of prosperity, we earnestly
ask the free co-operation of every
citizen pf Ahoskie, both men and
women. Respectfully,
W. L. CURTIS, Mayor.
I A
AHOSKIE HIGH
SCHOOL FINALS
The Ahoslde High Scholl has been
fortunate indeed in securing two
much accomplished thinkers and
speakers for its commencement this
year.
Dr. J. T. Riddick of Norfolk will
preach the beccalaurete sermon on
Sunday. 11 a. m., April 30th.
Congressman H. 8. Ward will de
liver the literary address, Tusday, 8
p. m., May 2nd.
The public ia cordially invited.
?For immediate results, try
HERALD WANT ADS.
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HERTFORD COUNTY HERALD
The Eastern Carolina Automobile
Show, an annual affair, to be held
at Rocky Mount on May 1-6 will be
better and larger this year than ever
before, was announced by the man
agement recently. Many nyw at
tractions and free amusements are to
be featured.
Community service work in Rocky
Mount will start in that city next
week, with John Martin, famous Com
munity worker in charge of the organ
ization. Athletics, recreational facil
ities, and civic leagues in the high
schools will be the main object of the
workers at the beginning.
The public school building of
Thomasville was totally destroyed by
fire, thought to be of incendiary ori
gin, Saturday. The loss was esti
mated to be around $160,000. The
erection of a new building will begin
immediately.
Cantaloupe growers of the counties
of Cumberland and Robeson are
working this season on a co-operative
marketing basis, both in planting and
later on in the season, when market
ing time comes. This method is ex
pected to do much to relieve the
melon situation of former years of
the glutted markets and low prices.
When Charles B. Aycock became
governor in 1900, the total value of
all the school property in North Caro
lina was only $1,097,664, and the
total expenditures for all public
school work in the State was only
$887,710.98. At the end of J 920,
the total value of all the school prop
erty in the state was $24,057,8^8,
and the annual expenditures for
school purposes was in excess of 12
million^. This shows in a graphic
way the great progress of our state
along educational lines in the last
20 years.
The farmers of Davidson county
are much encouraged over the excel
lent prospects of a banner wheat
crop this year, a crop in many res
pects better than in the past several
years.'
The 4th semi-annual convention of
the North Carolina Collegiate Press
Association will meet at Wake Forest,
April 21-22.
Jerry K. Stafford, of Goldsboro,
while riding a bicycle Friday, was run
over by an automobile, demolishing
the wheel, but the rider escaped un
hurt.
C. F. Ballard, an inventor of Ham
let, was recently offered $65,000 for
rights on his latest invention, a
monkey wrench. Ballard says he can
get a half-million on his invention.
A lumber plant of the Jackson
Brothers Lumber Company of Fay
etteville was destroyed by fire, entail
ing a loss of $20,000, Friday. The
loss is practically covered by insur
ance.
The city of Fayetteville is to shortly
begin extensive street paving opera
tions. By these improvements the
city is to present a much more in
viting appearance in the near future.
G.W. Andrews, prominent and pop
ular citizen of Scotland Neck, died
at his home in that town Saturday.
More than 20,000 people were pres
ent at the Easter Morn services at
the old and historic Moravian church
at Winston-Salem on last Sunday
morning. This record of attendance
eclipses that of any previous year.
People from many other states were
present.
The most spectacular fire in the
history of Goldsboro was that of the
Utility Manufacturing Company's
plant which burned down Saturday
night entailing a loss of $100,000.
This is one of the largest enterprises
in that city, and as a result over one
hundred workers are now out of em
ployment.
Judge R. W. Biggham, of Louis
ville, Kentucky, spoke to a large aud
ience in Goldsboro Monday night, for
the purpose of promoting co-opera
tive marketing among the tobacco
farmen of that section.
Chapel Hill. April 16.?Carl Sand
burg, the noted poet, is coming to the
University next Saturday night to
render some of his best selections in
jazz poems. Sandburg is one of the
most famous poets of today hi his
particular line.
Political candidates in Richmond
county are more numerous than fas
many years past, according to re
ports received from that section.
The State Department of Agricul
ture says the crying need in this state ?
is more food products raised at home,
plus a little more economy, and above
all, more dairying on the farms of the
entire state. Each farmer is urged
to consider these points and act ac
cordingly
Mrs. Ann Parker, aged 87, died at
her home in Winston-Salem, Sunday,
Mrs. Parker was well-known in that
city.
Business conditions in High Point
are on the upward trend according to
the amount of freight handled in that
city daily?in excess of 60 cam,
both of incoming and outgoing
freight. Other indications are to the
same effect in this busy city, espec
ially the revival of the furniture busi
ness.
Mr. R. Beamon, secretary of the
N. C. Traffic Association, delivered an
address to the business men of Rocky
Mount Monday night, on the subject
of co-operation among the business
interests to help fight off the propoaed
increased freight rates, to be put into
effect in the near future in this state
if no measures are taken to prevent
euch an increase.
The bankers of North Carolina wiH
meet in their 26th annual convention
atPinehurst, April 26-27-28. Many
Many distinguished bankers and pub
lic men of the state will be present
at the meeting.
Raymond Allison, of Statesville, is
now recovering from a pistol wound
inflicted by Policeman J. W. Mills,
whom he attempted to escape from
arrest, Monday. The charges were
selling liquor.
Pitt county is now planning for a
county-wide clean-up week to be in
augurated in the next few weeks.
More efforts are to be expended te
make this the most successful cam
paign in the history of the county
than ever before.
L. H. Hole, Jr., of Greensboro,
has been appointed as receiver of Hie
Carolina and Yadkin Railroad which
recently went into bankruptcy.
The University of North Carolina
still holds the lead in baseball among
the other collegiate teams of the state.
In all recent games Hie college has
proved its superiority in the baseball
field.
J. O. Sharrod, of Louisville, Ky., ?
is now in charge of the Artie Ice
Cream company's plants in Greens
boro, having taken over the posision
as manager recently. Mr. Sharrod,
while in Louisville, was manager of
one of the largest ice cream corpora
tions in the entire south.
Today?Thursday, is city-wide dol
lar day in the city of Raleigh.
Lexington, April 18.?Damage,
probably approximating $85,000, re
sulted from a fire here today, whom
the garage of the Motor Service Co.
was completely destroyed by flames.
The loss is practically covered by In
surance.
Mrs. B. C. Williams of Henderson,
was seriously injured in a railway
accident in that city Tuesday. Sba *
is now on the road to recovery.
Elizabeth City,?April 18.?The
most serious forest Are in the history
of this section is now raging in the
Burnt Mills section off Camden
county, and from latest reports, was
in no fair way of being checked, aa It
grew in volume each hour. Efforts
are being made to check its progress
in the direction of Elisabeth City.
Colonel Joseph Hyde Pratt, of
Chapel Hill, was elected president of
the Made-in Carolina Exposition at
a meeting of the directors hi Char
lotte, Monday. The slogan of this
organisation is to boost "Carolina
Products for Carolina PUople."