North Carolina Newspapers

VOL. 37—No. 27 TWENTY PAGES SOUTHERN PINES. NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY. MAY 24. 1956 TWENTY PAGES PRICE TEN CENTS Bishop Firm To Close Southern Pines Plant Buyer Sought For Business, Official Says A definite announcement that J. Bishop & Company will cease operations here within the next few months was made this morn ing by E. E. Comfort of Malvern, Pa., president of the firm. The announcement confirmed recur ring rumors here for the past several weeks. The plant, which manufactur ers hypodermic needles at the plant here, employs between 60 and 70 people. It has been in operation since 1951. Mr. Comfort, reached by tele phone in his office, said it was the firm’s intentions to sell the plant as a “going concern” to somfeone in an allied industry. If that is not feasible, he said, the building and facilities would be sold to another industry. The firm has about 20 acres on the Southern Pines-Carthage highway. Primary reason for selling out in Southern Pines is that the par ticular type of business done here is foreign to the normal opera tions of the company. Comfort said. “We want to concentrate on producing the things we are fa miliar with after years of experi ence. At present the company’s principal products are precious metals for the oil industry, lab oratory ware, and steel tubing.” Comfort said that no firm com mitments from prospective buy ers had developed yet but that several other companies had shown a definite interest. “Southern Pines is a very de sirable location for the operation of such a business,” he said, “and we believe that a buyer will come along. In the meantime we plan .•to continue normal operations, but definitely expect to be out of Southern Pines within six months.” He said that the company has been more than pleased with the work of its employees in the Southern Pines plant. “I believe it is one of the finest labor mar kets in the country,” he said. He added that he wanted the employees and other people in Southern Pines to be assured that the company’s management is primarily interested in selling the plant as a going business. “We have an obligation to our custom ers to fill the present orders and can’t leave them flat. Even so, we definitely will leave Southern Pines.” Aaron Shank is plant manager in Southern Pines. Post Office Closes On Memorial Day No general holiday will be tak en by local merchants next Wed nesday, which is Memorial Day. The Citizens Bank and Trust Com pany, which observes Confederate Memorial Day May 10 and the Mecklenburg Declaration of Inde pendence Day May 20, will remain open as usual. 'The windows at the post office will be closed all day and there will be no city de livery of mail. Mail will, how ever, be placed in post office boxes and will be dispatched as usual. DEADLINE SET FOR 'PUBLIC SPEAKING' pecause of The Pilot's printing schedule, it is neces sary that letters to "The Pub lic Speaking" column reach the office not later than noon Monday, if they are to ap pear on that week's editorial page. Letters of extraordinary timely interest will be ac cepted, like news, up to Thursday morning, but can not be printed on the edito rial page of a certain week's paper if they are not receiv ed by Monday of that week. Unless the sender indicates ptherwise, letters to the edi tor received after noon Mon day will be printed the fol lowing week in "The Public Speaking" column on the ed- torial page. New Construction Work At Hospital Nears Completion The new entrance wing of Moore County Hospital is nearing completion, and the middle of August has been set for comple ting the new boiler house and laundry building in the rear! Work will then get under way on the patients’ entrance, emergency and periatrics wing, the institu tion’s directors were told at their quarterly meeting held in the Nurses’ Home last Thursday night. The chairman of the Project committee, John F. Taylor, in formed the board that construc tion was proceeding in accord ance with schedule, and spoke in high praise of both the architect and contractors. Furnishings and equipment for the addition which has changed the appearance of the main en trance to the hospital and which will provide administration of fices, reception and storage rooms and quarters for the canteen will soon start coming in, Mr. Taylor said. Paul Dana, treasurer, reported receipt of a check for $3,060 from the Duke Endowment, for charity cases, and of several donations from individuals. The hospital administrator, (Continued on Page 8) Marion NamedNew ABC Board Member L. L. Marion, Jr., furniture dealer of Carthage, has been ap pointed a new member of the Moore County Alcoholic Bever age Control Board succeeding his father, who died two weeks ago. 'The appointment was announc ed Wednesday following a meet ing of the county commissioners. Other members of the board are Jerry Healy of Southern Pines and James 'Pufts of Pine- hurst. Lack Of County Races Expected To Cut Primary Vote Saturday 8th District OFF AGAIN on another trip to continue the drive to raise funds for the Presbyterian Synod’s Christian Higher Education campaign. Mayor Voit Gilmore, thairman of the drive, poses with two fellow workers in front of the “College Cruiser,” an airplane the mayor is using to cover more territory in the state. The fel low workers are Mrs. R. A. Willis, Jr., of Monroe, president of the Women of the Church of the North Carolina Synod, and the Rev. R. L. Prince, of the Pinehurst Community Church. Already, Mayor Gilmore estimates he has travelled 7,000 mile* Before the campaign is over early in June, he expects to visit most of the key cities in the state. (Photo by V. Nicholson) Contest Draws Most Interest With not a single race for a county office to stir up interest, Moore County Democrats are pot expected to break any voting ret- ords in the Democratic primary Saturday. This is the first time in even the oldest oldtimer’s memory that Moore has been without a county contest. In the last primary in 1954, there were 5,600 people vot ing; this year some observers said the figure would probably ap proach 4,000. Biggest interest so far has been the battle between A. Paul Kitch- in of Wadesboro and Congress man C. B. Deane of Rockingham for the Eighth District Congres sional nomination. Kitchin, who announced for the race the day filing time ended, has made some inroads into Deane’s strength, at least in Moore Coun ty, observers say. They concede that Kitchin might make a terrific showing in the southern end of Luther H. Hodges, Tom Sawyer, Harry P. Stokely. For Lt. Governor; Gurney P. Hood, Alonzo C. Edwards, Kidd Brewer, J. V. Whitfield, and Luth er E. Barnhardt. For Commissioner of Agricul ture: Kermit U. Gray and L. Y. Ballentine. For Commissioner of Insurance: Charles F. Gold and John N. Fred erick. For Commissioner of Labor: H. D. Lamberth, Jr., James R. Far- low and Frank Crane. For United States Senator: Sam J. Ervin, Jr., and Marshall C. Kur- fees. For Member of Congress: A. Paul Kitchin and C. B. Deane. Deane, Kitchin Working Hard Councilman Answers Letters How the town council reached its decision to locate proposed new municipal buildings on the park block is reviewed in a letter sent to The Pilot this week by Council man Sam B. Richardson. • The councilman’s letter was prompted by two letters to the -pditor in last week’s Pilot, both "regretting that the park had been chosen as the site. To be built on the site—after the present town hall, an old res idence, is razed—are administra tive offices, fire station and police station, or as much of this as can be constructed with $100,000 voted for the purpose in a bond election early this year. “The entire council joins me in assuring the public of its great concern for the continued beauty of our town park and its intention to see that good taste and good sense govern our town’s growth,” Jlr. Richardson’s letter concluded. The letter follows; “The recent letters to The Pilot criticizing the selection for the lo cation of the municipal building in the town park came as a sur prise to the town council, espe cially since there was so much fa vorable comment immediately after the announcement of our se lection. “We held two open meetings before making our decision and all citizens were urged to make suggestions before we acted. These meetings resulted in a variety of ideas, many of which were im practical, upon investigation. The majority of those attending these meetings favored the park loca tion'. The council spent long hours and rode many miles over town before coming to a decision. After considering several other sites and seeking the advice of many citizens, we always came back to the park as the best loca tion. “Moreover, a capable profes sional town planner was retained (Continued on page 8) County Political Leaders Appointed At State Meeting During what some observers said was one of the “most har monious” State Democratic con ventions in history, a number of appointments involving Moore County people were made, thus assuring the county a sound rep resentation in the party for the next four years. Cliff Blue of Aberdeen, the county’s representative to the N. C. General Assembly, was chosen as one of four delegates from the 8th Congressional District to at tend the national convention to be held in Chicago in August. W. P. Saunders of Southern Pines, head of the N. C. Depart ment of Conservation and Devel opment, and Mayor Voit Gilmore of Southern Pines were named alternate delegates-at-large to the convention. Both expect to attend. In other action at the conven tion, which was held in Raleigh last Thursday, the., following ap- tpointments of Democrats from Moore County were also made: Members of the State Demo cratic Executive Committee: W. P. Saunders, Southern Pines, and Bess McCaskill, Carthage. Members of the 8th Congres sional Executive Committee; J. Hubert McCaskill, Pinehurst, and Mrs. W. G. Brown, Carthage.. Members of the Judicial Dis trict Executive Committee of the 8th Congressional District: E. O. Brogden, Southern Pines, and W. Lament Brown, Southern Pines. Members of the Solicitorial District Executive Committee of the 8th Congressional District: Robert N. Page HI, Aberdeen, and J. Douglas David, Pinebluff. Charles M. McLeod, Carthage, was named a member of the State Senatorial District Execu tive Committee of the 8th dis trict and Page Was also named district assistant secretary. Town Affiliation Proposal Given Warm Reception If a, small but enthusiastic group of local people get active encouragement from more peo ple, there is ^ .;di§tinct possibility that Southern PineS will “adopt” a foreign town in the near future. That was the general feeling that the group, meeting in Town Hall Monday afternoon, had fol lowing an hour-long discussion of the advantages of becoming affil iated with a town comparable in size to Southern Pines. The affiliation, which would be primarily of a cultural nature, would not be an official project of the town itself, but between private citizens or civic clubs and similar groups in the “adopted” town. Mayor Voit Gilmore had called the meeting of civic and business leaders last week to determine if there was sufficient interest in the project to formally organize such a move. Several of those who attended said they had been associated with the idea in other towns and had found it a widely- accepted and worthwhile project. Frank Warner, a winter resi dent of Southern Pines, spoke of the work his home town. Garden City, N. Y., had done in connec tion with the town adoption idea (Continued on page 8) POLLING PLACES Polling places in Moore County will be open from 6:30 a. nn. to 6:30 p. m. Sat urday for the Democratic Primary, Sam C. Riddle, chairman of the county board of elections, said yesterday. Here is a partial listing of the voting places in the coun- ty: Southern Pines, firehouse; Aberdeen, American Legion building: Pinebluiif, Home Demonstration club building; Vass, firehouse; Pinehurst, Community house next to firehouse; Cameron, commu nity building. the 12-county district, but give him little chance in the other sec tions. Deane, favored to win in popu lous Davidson County and in the northern counties that have about as .many Republicans as Defno- crats, has been spending a great deal of time in Moore County and in Davidson. Deane was first elected in 1947. He succeeded W. O. Burgwin of Lexington. At present he is a member of the House Appropria tions Committee and various sub-committees. Kitchin is a former agent with the FBI and is now a law partner with former Lt. Governor H. Pat rick Taylor and State Representa tive H. P. Taylor, Jr. The only public office he has held was as a member of the Anson County Board of Elections. Here are the candidates on the only ballot that Moore County voters will receive: For Governor: C. E. Earle, Jr., C. B. Deane, the Rockingham resident who is serving his fifth two-year term as Congressman from the 8th North Carolina Dis trict, is running hard in the Dem ocratic primary campaign that will end in Saturday’s electiqn but, say his supporters, he’s not running scared. While insisting that the long record of service and the Congres sional seniority of their candidate will not be forgotten by a major ity of the voters in the Eighth District Saturday, Deane forces recognize that the candidacy of A. Paul Kitchin of Wadesboro poses a threat that can’t be ignored. Deane, who has refused as a matter of principle to accept per sonal cash contributions to his campaign—believing that “it is not right for vast sums to be spent” for such purposes—has been ringing hundreds of door bells over the 12-county district and has solicited the backing of loyal friends he has made during his near-decade in office. Moore County supporters of Deane point especially to his rec ord of service to this county in matters affecting the welfare of the whole area and in giving gen erously of his time and effort to attend to requests from many in dividuals. They have pointed out his successful efforts in helping to keep the USAF Air-Ground School in Southern Pines last year and this year; his work in getting peach crop insurance in Moore and neighboring counties and his part in restoration of a low inter est rate on Farmers Home Admin istration loans for small farmers. Also mentioned as services of the Congressman to this county, which should not be forgotten by voters, are his blocking of the ab olition of post offices at Highfalls, (Continued on Page 8) President’s Son Visits Sandhills Bank To Observe New Summer Hours 'The Citizens Bank and Trust Company will be closed on Wed nesday afternoons from June 6 through the first Wednesday in August, it was announced today by bank officials. Most retail establishments in town close during the summer months at noon Wednesday, it was noted, and similar hours at the bank would allow employees more time off during the week. Regular banking hours will be observed on othfcr days of the week throughout the summer. Southern Pines and Pinehurst golf courses are going to get a workout from the son of a famous golfer this week. Major John D. S. Eisenhower, son of the President, said Tuesday that he plabs to play a little while he is here, taking the one-week course at the Air-Grouiid Opera tions School. “I was here a couple of months back and really enjoyed it,” he said. “The courses are really fine. I just whacked a few balls then but I hope to be able to play a round or two this week.” The 33-year-old major, who wishes to be just another of the hundreds of officers who come to Southern Pines for the Air Force indoctrination school, gave report ers five minutes between classes Tuesday. He posed for pictures,, but was visibly uncomfortable. He was asked: “When you play with your father, who usually wins?” “Well,” he said, “he gives me about five strokes and we manage to come out about the same, al though I’ve beaten him several times. He’s pot too taken with medal play though; prefers match play.” How’s his new baby, the one born in December? Fine, he answered, and was pleased at the question. “I wish I . . I had brought my family down. hours off each day.” The major is stationed at Ft. Belvoir, Va., now and plans to make the Army a career, just like his father did. Phoney Appeals Being Used By Magazine Sellers Magazine subscription sales men, palming themselves off as students at an orphanage in South Carolina and apparently in other fictitious roles, made a few fast bucks in Southern Pines Tuesday. The salesmen, who said they were 18 years old and worked for the Union Circulation Com pany of New York City, inform ed the people they called on that they were students at “Hendricks Orphanage” in Columbia and were working as subscription salesmen in order to raise much- needed fimds. In one instance that was brought to The Pilot’s attention by the persons involved, the two youths, nicely dressed and pos sessing good manners, went to a (Continued on Page 8) A. Paul Kitchin, seeking to un seat Congressman C. B. Deane in (Saturday’s Democratic primary, talked for almost an hour at the Kiwanis Club meeting here Wed nesday and didn’t mention a word about politics. (The club long, ago adopted a standing rule against allowing its guest rostrum being used by peo ple seeking public office. Kitchin told of the work of the FBI, of which he is a former member. See another story in today’s Pilot). After the meeting, however, Kitchin met with reporters for half an hour and discussed the ■present state of his campaign to oust Deane, who has represented the 8th District since 1947. “I am an amateur in politics,” he said. “This is the first time I have ever run for anything. Frankly, I’ve enjoyed the cam paign and am .grateful that no mudslinging has been done eith er by my supporters or those of Mr. Deane. “As it stands right now, just three days froiri the election, I’m encouraged. If every one I’ve talked to votes like they talk, I think I’ll win.” Kitchin, who is 47, said he had been quite busy during the past few weeks, particularly in the four northern counties of the dis trict—^Wilkes, Yadkin, Davie and Davidson. “1 didn’t know many people up that way,” he said, “and I went up on a hand-to- hand tour. I’ll probably be in Lexington Thursday or Friday and back in Anson, my home county, on election day.” Questioned on his stand re garding the Southern Manifesto, which was signed by 101 South ern Congressmen but not by (Continued on page 8) Mysterious Death In Addor Probed The badly decomposed body of a Negro woman was found in a lonely wooded area south of Ad dor near the Hoke County line last Thursday. The woman, identified as Sarah McRae, 39, of Addor, had prob ably been there at least four days according to Coroner Ralph Steed. According to members of the dead woman’s family, she had last been seen Sunday morning. Steed said the body could have easily decomposed almost beyond recog nition during the four-day period because of a few days of very warm weather during the interim. Because of the condition of the body no autopsy was held. Pend Didn’t know I’d have these few ^ng further investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Moore County sheriffs de partment, Coroner Steed-said the cause of death had not been de termined. Allen Named New Moore Farm Agent; Succeeds Garrison Fleet Allen, who has beeii an assistant in the Moore County farm agent’s office for three years, has been appointed agent succeed ing E. H. (Jarrison, who has re signed effective June 1. The county board of commis sioners, in a special meeting Wed nesday, announced the appoint ment. Garrison retired after 30 years in the county. He gave ill health as the reason. Allen has been primarily con cerned with the broiler industry since he came to thq county from Randolph to succeed W. G. Cald well, who had been an assistant agent 15 years. Allen is a native of Marshville. He graduated from N. C. State College in 1942 and went to work immediately as an assistant agent in Pasquotank county. He took the Randolph position in 1944. He is married to the former Vir ginia Woods of Hillsboro. They have two daughters, Betty and Peggy. The Allens live on the Vass road. VOTE RETURNS Election headquarters here will be set up at radio station WEEB Saturday night. Jack Younts, president and general manager , of the station, said i that the hallway of the build ing, located at 135 West New Hampshire Ave., would be open for visitors who want to see how the election returns are coming in from around the state. The station will maintain direct contact with the sher iff’s office in Carthage for county returns, and with the Associated Press for state re turns. The station will be open until all returns are pretty well in.