lAArarthm Wm Pad Ov Col
tuna • Latchkey to Ow Sixteen
HMM Xiftb County Homes
VOLUME XXXIII—NUMBER 86
Charity Relief
Inadequate, Report Shows
CASH DONATIONS'
ARE LIMITED TO
VERY SMALL SUM
■ +
Majority of Needy Cases
Pound Among Tenant
Farming Class
75 CASES ARE HELPED
■■■ •
Two-thirds of Needy Ones Applying
For Aid from Women's Club
Are White, Report Shows
•
Confronted by the tragedy of re
peated farm failures, business depres
sion and hunger and want in the midst
of potential plenty, the best that any
of us can do leaves us still with a
sense of shame, was the summarised
report coming from the welfare de
partment of the Woman's club yester
day. For several weeks, the organised
workers including club, and church
members, school children and other
public spirited citisena have assembled
food and clothing for the'needy ones.
Present indications are that this col
lection of food and clothing will hard
ly more than prove adequate in caring
for the needs of the unfortunate ones
during the next few days, that those
are able will soon be faced with I
the task of helping feed and clothe
regularly a large number of families.
The report, coming just two days
before Christinas, is placed before our
readers that they, at a last minute, as
sist further in making Christmas a
merry one for all. The report is limited
to actual eases, and some that have
been corrected are withheld because
their history would actually sting the
conscience of most of us.
'—"vJSjriVing and actually pathetic in its j
appeat, the welfare report on the work j
up until last Saturday shows that many
people arc in need, that many honest- j
hardworkers, ashamed to beg, are !
found with tears in their eyes and hun
gry for food. Cash donations, the re
port states, have been very limited,
pitiful MOTS having been received from '
the little mite boxes placed in the
various business houses of the town.
Naa MS are wWiheld on both the giv
ing aad receiving side but there have
baen several fair cash donations
advanced by citizens. Fifty people have ,
been clothed, many from head to foot, .
by the articles gathered throughout J
the town by the Boy Scouts several '
weeks ago. Seventy-five cases have
been helped, some of them as many as
three times, and the department re
ports that two-thirds of the number
were while people. Investigating fur
ther it was learned that many white
people are in greater need than the
colored ones, as a large part of the/
labor around the mills and factories
was handled by colored employees.
The majority of the needy cases is
found among the tenant farmers who
have suffered two crops failures. Their
landlords are unable to carry them
further and all are facing a critical
turn, some of them facing the new j
year with no home to go into.
The critical stage of the report was j
reached when it was stated that the i
request for clothing had become se
condary, that the appeals were coming l
from hungry s torn aches.
A limited investigstion made yester
day revealed the fact that expert care
is being exercised in handling the dis
tribution of funds, • clothing and food.
of the merchants have nobly
the work, it was learned.
The saddest feature to the whole
situation came to light, not through
the welfare workers for they have dis-;
carded personal happenings, when it
was learned from reliable sources that
a few of those Who are well fixed had
tailed to extend a helping hand, and
actually lurked around that they might
•dd to their own welfare. It is a hap-,
pening that is hard to believe, but it i
was reported as an actual fact. The
two or three cases were withheld.
At the end of the report the welfare
department mentioned its appreciation
for the work and contributions of the
Scouts, schools townspeople who had 1
helped and the several merchants
who have taken in and fully clothed
poor children, extending at the end a ;
wish for a Merry Christmas to all.
■ ♦
Baptists Announce Their
Nest Sunday Services
»■■■
There will be only one preaching
service at the local Baptist church Sun
day morning and that will be at the
11 o'clock hour.
The Sunday school and B. Y. P. Us.,
will' meet at the usual time. > -
•
Uaahte To Attend Game
Unable to leave their businesses at.
this time, Gut Harrison, Cortex Green
Richard Smith, Bruce Wyane and
. Daputy S. H. Gripses will not attend
the all-charity football game in' Ral
eight tonight, it was unofficially re
ported on the stmts here early this
THE ENTERPRISE
W. MARTIN GETS
UNITED STATES
APPOINTMENT
•—
Will Assume Duties as U.
S. District Attorney
January Ist
■ •—r-
Mr. Wheeler Martin, popular at
torney of this place, was this week
, appointed assistant United States at
torney for the Second District, the
| appointment being made by United
States Attorney General Mitchell, of
Washington.
Mr. Martin is scheduled to be
sworn in today by the local United
State commissioner, and will enter
| upon his new duties January 1, it was
stated by him yesterday.
Mr. Martin will succeed Mr. T. H.
Briggs, of Raleigh, who had held the
office for several years.
While his official residence will be
in ( Wilmington, Mr. Martin will con
tinue to live here, going -to and from
hi« work. He, will work in all the
United States courts of the Eastern
district.
The appointee has practiced law in
this town and county for a number
of years, and has been a leading mem
ber of the Republican Party in this
section of the State for years.
NEW CHRISTMAS
FOR ERRING LAD
x ♦
With Tobacco In His Poc
kets, Wm. Taylor Gladly
Goes Away to School
♦
With his two and one-half sacks of
J smoking tobacco a few cigarette pa
■ pers, William Taylor, 12-year-old
| white boy wa's a happy youngster last
I Friday afternoon when Deputy S. 11.
Grimes escorted him to a school for
boys, near Rocky Mount. The little
fel|ow, bright as a dollar and the oldest
of seven children was the rounder in
hi;-, community, hut killing chickens
made possible an opening in the school
for him.
William talked very convincingly of
.his past, telling how hungry he had
lieen at times when there wasn't even
as much as a col lard leaf on the place
'to eat. "And even my smoking tohac-
Ico would run out sometimes," lie
would add as comment.
The lad's mother died three years
ago, leaving him as his father's main
helper. With six brothers and sisters
to look after, Wiiliam advanced rapid
ly, but the task apparently drove him
i to the rough side of life and he became
' the "rounder"' of the neighborhood.
Those of kind heart here equipped
1 hmi with new clothes from top to
bottom, gave him a few toys and in
troduced him to tooth brushes and
\ troth paste, and although it was just
five days before Christmas he was haf>-
py when he left "for his new environ-;
■ ment. .
FEW FARMERS
KILLING HOGS
* *■
Season In This Section Is
Yet A Few Weeks
Away
Even though the main season is yet
a few weeks off, many Martin farmers
have already killed and packed their
, meat, according to reports made by
j farmers. Tjhe percentage of
those farmers killing or those who
have already killed is comparatively
small and it'll be sometime in January
when the slaughtering fully gets un
derway. • : J
Prospects for large killings in this
' county this season are declared by
many farmers to be unfavorable in
that the supply is limited. A few far
mers state they have more meat than
last season, but as a whole
the majority reports a much smaller
amount. Cholera and a shortage of
feed are said to have been the main
.factors limiting the supply.
John P. Gay Is Killed
Suddenly by Explosion
■-i ♦
Mr. John P. Gay, of Savannah,!
was instantly killed there last Friday l
evening by a dynamite explosion.
Few particulars of his sudden deathj
were available here yesterday, a wire 1
to his mother. Mrs. W. J. Hunter, of I
>thif place, stating that he was killed i
in an explosion but no details were;
given.
Mr. Gay had been in the employ of
the Southern Bell Telephone company
for 30 years and held a. responsible
position iwith that company at the
time of hit death.
The funeral was held in Savannah
Sunday, his mother and sister, Mrs.
J. G. Godrad, of this place, attend
ing from here.
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, December 23, 1930.
I
Even though the candle light burns dim, may Jjg
the real spirit of this Christmas kindle a light J*!
that will afford each of you much joy and happi
ness, and as Dickens' Timy Tim said, jfljj
'God Bless Us, Every One' jl
THE ENTERPRISE. 9*
The Cold, Stormy
Back In The
■ ♦ *
I Americans Should Review
History of Washington's
Daring Exploit
hi one of the greatest and most
f spectacular exploits of his military
. career, General George Washington,
1 on Christmas night, 1776, wrested a
t victory from the forces of Great Bri
.l tain and in a few short hours lifted the
r spirits of his countrymen from the
> despair into which they had been
I. (dunged by a series of defeats and re
i verses. With a sure swiftness that ins
-4 pired terror in the hearts of his ene
| mies, the American Commander-in
«JChief, at the head of a small force of
i ! 2400 Continentals, crossed the dan
| gerous, ice-filled Delaware River, and,-
i |in a fury of desperation, fell upon the
r | Hessian troops commanded by Co
. | lon el Rah! at-Trenton. The net result
; lof Washington's action was a thou-
prisoners of war and a most con-,
i | voicing triumph for the Americans,
i j On the occasion of the 154 th an
i mversary of this great achievement the
■ Division of Information and Publica
i ticn of the George Washington Bicen
' tennial Commission calls attention to
the event in a statement issued today.
I The incidents leading up to and con
-1 nected with the Battle of Trenton are
• recounted in a story of the maneuvers
I by which George Washington saved
: | tliji- cause of the Colonies at a time
when all hope seemed to be lost. It
■ j was this movement which restored
the confidence of the Americans and
gave them the courage to continue the
, struggle for liberty in the face of all
, odds.
I I
I The attack on Trenton had been
1 planned by Washington as a means of
I bolstering the rapidly declining hopes
of his countrymen. The enlistment
j term of his most valuable and ex
perienced soldiers would expire at
the end of the year, and he knew that
; but few could be prevailed upon to
| r( enlist under the unpromising condi
tions which then prevailed. It wai*
not only imperative that these troops |
be reenlisted, but it was fust as es- {
sential that the morale of the entire 1
population be.improved. The whole
country tonic of an inspir
} iiitf victory.
While General Howe occupied New
York in the summer of 1776, he em
ployed his army in inflicting a series
of minor defeats on the Colonials in
that vicinity. At Long Island, White j
Plains, Forts Washington and Lee on
the Hudson and in skirmishes
i tiie British had beaten and discouraged
the Americans. As winter approached
and the weather became more and
mere disagreeable, Howe became less
inclind to fight and gave most -of his
attention to preparing comfortable
quarters in which to plan the spring
campaign? To the English leader it
appeared that the Revolution had been
' a!! but crushed, and he seents to have
expected what spirit remained with the
I Colonists to wear itself out in the
' cold, freezing snows of winter. At any
j rate, he had apparently conquered
j New Jersey and by the time spring
i came he would be ready to capture
i Philadelphia, the rebel capital. , t _
The British commander had station-,
ed troops at several places in New
I Jersey to prevent the Americans from
retaking that territory should they'
make an attempt to do to, although!
I little concern was felt in this direction. 1
Washington was just across the De'a-j
•
(Continued to page i, Sec. 1)
1» ; — ? '
'if WHEELER MARTIN
\ j
11
i;
m rg^gH|
Recently appointed Assistant U.
i'S. Attorney for the eastern district
Mr. Martin starts work January l
A CHRISTMAS
ANTHOLOGY
Presented By Charles H. Dickey
For unto you is born ttiis day in the
city of David a Saviour, which is
| Christ the Lord.—Luke 2,11.
Heathenism has prdved unequal to
the wants of men; and it was when the
most Oioughtlul among the Pagans
I were turned away from its hollow
mockeries and misleading altars that
I the anthem of the angels broke clear
j and loud above the slopes of Bethle
hem: "Glory to 4 iod in the highest I
l'eace on earth and good will toward
all men."—Mm. M. Taylor.
——•
j The whole air of the first Christmas
'tide was tremulous with joy. It was
a time for holy song, for inspired pean,
fot seraphic song. Let joy come still
,to our homes and our hearts. Christ
gives brightness and beauty, gladness
and glory, to the whole circle of life
and duty. Come, Lord Jesus; there
shall be room for Thee in our homes,
j Once there was none in the inn, but
only in the stable; now, our best is
Thine. Only honor us with Thy bene
ficent presence. Let us away with
! strife at this season; now is the time
to speak kindly words, Let us not
carry into the new year the enmities
oi the old; let not the harsh notes of
contention come into the heavenly
song of peace. Christ came, to .give
peace. And from heaven's throne to
day He bends to give peace to all who
trust Him.. He was the only |>erson
ever born into the World who had His
choice as to how He should come. He
' might have come man, as did the first
man. Adam; He inserted Himself in
to our race at its lowest and weakest
point. If He were to lift the race He
j must get under it. He glorified the
cfa'dle; He beautified boyhood; He
sanctified motherhood. -—Robert S.
McAnthur.
—— JLi
God framed the history of the world
in view of the coming of Jesus Christ. |
In the very beginning He chose a
(Continued to page 1, Sec. I)
21 CONFEDERATE
»PENSIONS GIVEN
' IN THIS COUNTY
| Five Veterans and Sixteen
j, Widows Receive State
Pension Checks
$1,712.50 IS DELIVERED
Sevreal Requests for Pensions Filed
But Delivery Hat Not Been
Made to Clerk Here
♦
Ihe early sixties offered unlimited
' hardships, no doubt, but the hearts of
live soldiers and sixteen widows in
this county who took a purt either
directly or indirectly were made glad
last week when $1,7J2.50 in pensions
was delivered to them. The remunera
tion is limited, to be sure, but it comes
at a time when it'll be greatly wel
comed by most of them. • «
•hive of the checks received- by
Clerk oi -the Superior t ottrt R. J; Peet
came a lew weeks too late,'two of
the Confederate Veterans and the
widows of three more having died dur
ing the meantime. I hey were returned
and yesterday only one of the other
twenty-two checks remained un
delivered. I heidelivery of the checks is
a slow process as the receivers have
to sign for them, and the distributors
.ue not allowed to mail them direct.
Several requests for pensions were
tiled recently and the applications were
forwarded to Raleigh, but up until
yesterday no' word had been received
of their acceptance. They are looking
for the letters any day, and it is hoped
that delivery, even though late, can
be made by Christmas eve.
Only two classes of pensions are in
cluded in the list this year, checks go
ing to seventeen class. H widows and
five checks to class A soldiers. Pay
ments are made twice each year, the
widows receiving SIOO and the soldiers'
fj(>s ill semi-annual payments. j
Pension checks have been delivered
ito the following widows: Cresy L. 1
Harnhill, Mary Ann Ruth S.i
Chesson, Mary A. Everett, Mahala J
Curganus, Martha Gurganus, Sarah
J. Hoard, Elizabeth Keel, Winnie Mi
zelle, Martha J. Peel, Louisa Perry,
Virginia Perry, Allie Riddick, Mosella
Roberson, Caroline Rogerson, Mary E.
Thompson.
Class A soldiers receiving checks in
clude: Win. Jones, Oak City; James
H. Johnson, Oak City; P. R. Rives,
Williamston; IJ. F. Roberson, Rober-j
sonvillc; Joseph W. Ward, Parmele.
MARKED DROP
IN MARRIAGES
♦ rw
Number of Colored Appli- {
cants Drops from 18 to 1
So Far This Month
»■ i
Business in Martin county has pro- 1
gressed unusually well under the de-.
pression, but matrimonal ventures have
suffered one of the greatest slump£ i
ever recorded in the county so far this
month. Up until yesterday there had '
bien only five licenses issued in the j
county during December. For the
same period last year there were twen
ty-two licenses sold in the local office '
of_ the "register of deeds. The greatest
drop was recorded in the number is
sued to colored couples, the number
dropping from 18 last year to only one
this year.
Register J. Sam Getsinger, however, i
predicted better business during today
! and tomorrow and probably on Christ- ;
| mas Day. t
Plan to Open Bank
At Everett Monday
[GIFT SERVICE IS
j WELL ATTENDED
1 P*
\ Service at Baptist Church
| Advances the Real
Christmas Spirit
f #
M In a beautiful setting in the local
[ I Baptist C hurch an appealing White
' Gift Service was held last Sunday
I alternoon. Before a large congregation,
: the real spirit of the Christmas sea
[ son was advanced when the fourteen
. classes in the Sunday school offered
r useful gifts to alleviate the suffering
Hand hunger lurking in the midst of
' I many at this time. Dispensing with
[ the old system of exchanging giit- or
ptoviding a Christmas tree the Sunday
| ! school members brought forth nu~
. merous gilts that will make the hearts'
I of many to overrun with jov and
l gladness.
Ihe service was a striking one.
| Spotlights were directed on a beauti
fully arranged background, and the
j i choir of seventeen members all dre's
j scd in white robes, made the services
■ j complete with a well-rendered cantata,
j Pastor thai les Dickey offered a
prayer of thanks, bringing the service
to a close with the saying of Dickens'
I iny I im, "God Bless Us. Everyone."
. 1 be ladies of the church will handle
I the distribution of the largenumber of
 uselul gifts; it was • stated by the
pastor.
*
' RECORD HONOR
ROLL IN SCHOOL
1 FOR 3RD MONTH
I *
114 Pupils In Local Schools
Meet Requirements To
i Get Names on List
i New scholastic records were esta
blished in the local school, during the
I third month when 114 pupils averaged
, % or more on all their school work
and met all other requirements iuclud
i ed in the honor roll standard. Princi
pa! \\ . R. Watson, announcing the
honor names, stated that splendid
work is in progress in the several
grades, that the pupils —air —stTOWiTTg
much interest in their studies.
I'irst grade—Keg. Griffin, S. ('. (irif
fiit, Ruth Corbitt, Mary Charles God
win, Rina Jackson, Mary Lewis Man
ning, Iris Spruill, Nina' Mae Bunch,
Ktta Mae Wynne, Martha Whitley,
Kathleen Nicholson, William Bate.
Second grade—Arthur Anderson,
Martin Anderson, Ben llarjihill, jr.,
Stuart I rilcher, Jerry Manning, Km
ory Mi l abe, Joe I higpeu, Jiminie
Watts, Nina Bland, I*l leaner Brown,
Marjorie Dunn, Difrothy Harrison,
Katherine Manning, Madeline Pope,
Sarah Taylor, Leslie Coltrain, R >bt.
McClaron, William Revels, McDon
ald Sarvis, Arna Wallace, Doris Bui
| lock, Dorothy Jones. - •
Third grade—Bernice Cowen, Min
nie Chesson, Sallie G, Curkin" Mar
garet Jones, Doris Moore, Louise
MeUpn, l'earlie Mae Roberson, Elea
nor Taylor, Susie Whitley, Virgil
i Ward, Julia Watts, Bill Ballard, Jerry
j Clerk, Dick Dunn, Jack Kdmoiidsou,
Gordon Manning, Klbert Peel, jr., Jas.
i Willis Ward, I), (). Bowen, jr., Mel
burn Hardison.
I Fourth grade—Grace Barnhill, Mary
Barnhill, Alice Bonds, Theliua Griffin,
Marion Pender, Lydia Revels, Pauline
White, Billy Biggs, Reg Manning.
John Ward, jr., Muriel Bland, Ben
Hopkins.
I Fifth grade—Janie Gurganus, Nel
-1 lie Gray Rogerson, Lois Mae Taylor,
Melrose Bonds, Eva Wilder, Nellie
• Gray Hopkins, Rachrl Wynne, €. B
i Rogersop. ,
1 Sixth graue—Bolten' Cowen, Fran
ces Cox, Ella Wynne Critcher, Marie
Griffin, Ruljy Harrison, Evelyn Lilley,
Kathleen Price, Doris Teele, Gwendo
lyn Watts, Jean Watts, Milton James,
'Ben Manning, Jessie Btille Sw^in,
• Carrie Williams, Flee Nicholson.
j Seventh grade—Billy Griffin,' Law
rence Lindsley, Carrol Jones, Exum
|Ward, Pattie Ray Bennett, Mary Bell
( EdmondPm, Eula Green, Alice Har
rison, Blanche Harrison, Grace Man
ning, Anpie Wynne.
| Eighth grade—Olive McCabe, Mat-'
tie Gurganus.
I Ninth grade—Russell Roebuck,
Jennie Green Tatylor,
| Eleventh gracfe—Joseph Griffin,,
Raymond Gurkin, Wheeler Manning,
Reginald Simpson, EHith Peel, Fran
cerf Peele, Edith Taylor, Mary Clyde
Williams, Frances Bowen, Verona
Lilley.
Enterprise Closes Shop
jA [ * ■ [i
• Upon completing its work late to- ] j
night, the Enterprise force will scat
ter for Christmas and a few days' of:
.rest. The shop will be closed Christ-j I
mas Day, and Friday. j I
„ S' "u >./
• r '
SECTION 1!
ESTABLISHED 1896
FACTS ARE VERY
> FAVORABLE FOR
THE REOPENING
Report Indicates That De
positors Will Recover
Their Money
e ( SIGN UP VERY LARGE
,| A Marked Coop ration on Part of
Depositors Hasi Prevailed So
, Far, It Stated
| That the Planters and Merchants
|, Dank would re-, p. n its doors the ear
! -n ..i next- week. probably Mon
jl»y officials of the
in-titiiti.-n ye«frrday when more than
i* rS - (K)0 °f 'he $85,000 on deposit had*>
*.jbeen signed by thfr dt-p..sit. >rs. "We
J | have nut had a single «lc|.o.sit, >r to
,11'rn the proposal down so far," an «f
--jtiC'al of the hank stated yesterday, and
• | we are looking for a continued coopefa
•|tion," he added.
A meeting of the depositors vvas call
ed last week, hut had weather limit-*
' e.i the attendance Rreatly. > How
ever, the contract drawn under the
idirection of the corporation' comniis
• believed that a 100 per cent sign up
, i, w 1 " have been secured by the early
[part of next week.
I _ f acts that are very favorable to the
, -fipopening of the hank that temporarily
suspended operations the 10th of this
month have been disclosed hy the au
sion Continues to gain favor, and it is
ditor, and a very bright outlook for the .
depositors is reported The auditor,
making the examination is quoted as
• saying that the affairs of the institu
. tiitii svvrr in as good a , allv „f
the be-.t lie had ever examined uu
I der the eitHilitimis surrounding the
susjieiisKi'ii ill operations.
A marked cooperation on the part
■ till' dep s tors and officers has i>re
vailisd so far, and the undertaking pro
mises" to be a tttccttthil one.
Operations following the re-open-
I in>! of the bank w ill he carried on at a
■ minimum cost, and it is believed that
tin suggested plan wi'l be the inu|t
advantageous one to the depositors
that can be devised.
I.IONIS SEEN BY
MANY FRIDAY
_—»
Sidelights Interesting; Bill
Peel Believes Lion Was
Here Years Ago .
l.eo, Metro-M ay er-Goldwyn's lion,
arrived here on scheduled time last
I riday afternoon to. find- several hun
dred people waiting for a limited in
terview. The weather was a bit dis
agreeable, but even then the crowds
pushed to the side of the cage to see
the sleek animal that marks all pictures
produced by the picture corporation.
Lei's history was given and high
spot?, already recorded dnring his
world tour, now in progress, were told
l>\ those accompaning jhe king «f
bfasts. Entering the cage, trai
ner had him do a few tricks for the
oil-lookers, but the show became
centered when Leo turned his eyes to
a large hunk of beef, and the crowd
ga/ed at his actions.
The side lights were interesting* as
Well as numerous and recalled circus
history made in our little town. Mau
rice I). Watts averred that he would
lead the lion around, but he did not
krow just how s ahead he would
be leading.
| Sam Taylor recalled a good lion
story, one that brought forth a hearty
laugh. "Over in a neighboring town
a number of years ago," Mr. Taylor
said "Walter Hasscll and Jack Little,
I two colored carpenters were attending
a circus A report, stating that the
lions were loose, vvas .heard by the two
men. Hassell, of comparatively young
aye, vvas recognized as a swift runner,
but old man Jack, then 70 or more
years of age, was thought to be not so
good. Upon hearing the report, Has
sell took the lead across an open lot.
Hut'"as old man Jack opened up and
was passing Hassell, he said 'take
care, son, take care.'"
Hut real history was brought to
; light in the remarks of William Jjr.
Peele who-allowed that Leo was the
! same animal that visiter here 40 years
apo.. "He was greatly surprised to find
the streets paved, but he well knew
where he was when he reviewed the
faces that had gazed in bewilderment
at hitn so many years ago.
Leo advertised Metro-Mayers-Gold
wynll rery successfully, for many ol the
business men left their' 1 work to see
him, but the lion probably caused the
most excitement wbert he waked many
people with his roar early Saturday
morning.
After spending a restful Might in the
GroAore storage room, Leo continued
his around-the world- Journey, going
from here to Plymouth. i.
. ' .