I Advertisers Wffl Fnd Our Col
uma a Latchkey to Over Sixteen
Hundred Martin Canty Homes
VOLUME XXXIV—NUMBER 57
County-Wide Tax Defeated By 170
2,956 Children Enrolled at Opening
Enrollment Opening
Day Is Largest Ever
THREE SCHOOLS
HAVE SMALLER
REGISTRATIONS
Adjustments Are Subject to
Cause Fluctuations In
the Opening Fgures
Approximately 2,956 white children
entered the eleven eight-months
schools in this county yesterday, an
•n increase in opening-day enrollment
of nearly 300 more than the number
reported last year. Marked varia
tions, resulting mostly from consolida
tions and other factors, were report
ed in several of the schools, the com
bined enrollment being much larger
than was generally anticipated.
Sizeable gains in opening enroll
ment figures were reported in the sev
eral pf the schools, only three units,
Gold Point, Hassell and Hamilton,
•bowing losses. Robersonville, with
IW pupils registered* reported the
largest high school enrollment, with
Williamston following closely with an
enrollment in that department of 175.
There were 529 enrolled in the ele
mentary school at Williamston, some
grades reporting as many as 50 pupils
to the room and 89 to the one grade.
Poverty and want ia said to have
affected the opening-day enrollment
in several communities, one truck serv
ing Hamilton missing 21 children be
cause the little folks did not have
proper clothing to wear. The smallest
primary earollment in the school's
history was reported at Hamilton on
account of actual want, it was stated.!
So many changes have been effected
under Um new school laws, that much |
difficulty is being experienced in prac- |
tically all the schools, and marked
fluctuations are expected in attendance,
records. Bear Grass made signal
gains in its opening-day registration
as compared with that of last year,
but today's attendance was reported
■nder that of yesterday. |
In the table below, opening-day en
rollments are given for the last term
and for this year. Jamesville failed
to report its enrollment seperately'
last year and again this year, but a
big gain is evident in the elementary
grades and it is believed that there is
a slight increase in the high school
number. Hamilton lost its high school
and while no report could be had thisj
morning for its elementary enrollment,
it is estimated that 125 enrolled in
the elementary grades. The table:
1930 1932
School Ele. HS Ele. HS
Dardens SI 85
Jamesville ___ 316 375
Williamston 462 177 529 175
Ercrctts 133 42 190 66.
Bear Grass 204 32 280 50
Gold Point 00 70
Hassell 77 62
Hamilton 157 19 125* " |
Oak City 262 81 275 108
Robersonville _ 296 174 320 180
Parmele 75 76 |
* Estimated.
Dardens, Gold Point, Hassell, Ham
ilton and Parmele have no high
school enrollments. Jamesville failed
to list her pupils separately in the re
port and a distinction between the
high school and elemeutary numbers
iannot be made for the county as a
whole. It is believed that approxi-.
mately 2,300 enrolled yesterday are
children in the elementary and pri
mary grades, leaving about 656 in the
six high schools.
OAK CITY SCHOOL
GOOD OPENING
m
383 .Register for Work In
The Schools There :
Yesterday
■ A splendid opening for the Oak City
ftdtools yesterday morning was report
ed by the principal, Mr. H. M. Ain
sley, today. A goodly number of par
ents was present, and a marked inter
act in the school work there was very
evident, it was staled.
A gain of 27 was reported in the
high school registration yesterday, the
«hnt,cntary enrollment jumping 262 to
275, a gain of 13 pupils. Last year,
there war* tl high school and 262
elementary pupils enrolled the first
THE ENTERPRISE
f MARKET REPORT
The Williamston Tobaco Mar
ket had one of its largest sales of
the season yesterday when 226,-
000 pounds of the leaf were sold
for an average of approximately
seven cents. The aalas continued
all day.
Today's poundage ia estimated
at about 85,000 pounds, with the
price about the same, probably a
little stronger, but not much.
So far this season, the local
market ia leading ita last year's
aales, and yesterday new buyers
were on the market, a stronger
tone resulting. However, the prices
continue low, with the inferior
grades commanding very little
money. The better grades are
about the same.
TEXAS SOLONS IN
THROES OF HUGE
COTTON BATTLE
Legislature There Not Ex
pected to Sanction Long's
Cotton Holiday Plan
Austin, Tex., Sept. 14.—The Texas
House of Representatives today dealt
a crushing blow to advocates of an
extensive cotton curtailment move
ment when it voted down amendments
proposing 25 to 50 per cent reductions
of the present acreage.
The professer amendment limiting
acreage to 50 per cent of the present
ariuuirtt was voted down, /0 to 45. A
second, which would reduce the acre
age 25 per cent, likewise was defeated,
68 to 45.
Texas partisans of Governor Huey
F. Long, of who is demand
ing complete cotton prohibition in 1932
have rallied for a final fight in the
legislature, although faced by a strong
opposition force committed to a pro
gram of acreage reduction rather than
a toul ban.
Meanwhile, three Governors of three
other cotton-growing States today cast
their lot with Governor I-ong. Gov
ernor Sterling, of Texas, has advocat
ed a curtailment law only.
Por Long Plan
I Governor Blackwood, of South Car
olina, called his Assembly into spec
! ial session with an appeal for a law
forbidding cotton planting in 1932, say
ing: "We have for a long time listened
to the doctrine that the people of the
Scuth must be emancipated from cot
ton-growing slavery. Now comes a
crisis that , means despair if we do not
accept the alternative that presents it
' self."
In the Texas legislature, T. J.
I Gaughan, of Camden, Ark., represent-
I ing Governor Harvey Parnell, of Ar
| kansas, was one of six Arkansas men
)' introduced to the Senate who urged
| Texas to prohibit cotton planting next
year.
Senator Margie Neal received a tcle
i gram from Governor .Russell, of Geor
| gia, saying he believed the majority
. of Georgia cotton farmers and tnem
> bers of the Georgia Assembly favored
i a cotton holiday in 1932. He said he
i 1 would convene the Georgia legislature
.'immediately upon action of the Texas!
>' Legislature in passing a cotton prohi-
. 1 bition measure.
"Cotton Holiday" Pwend
Columbia, S. C., Sept. 14.—Convened
in extraordinary session today for the
first time in 17 years, the South Car
r otina General Assembly tonight cleared
i its path for action on the proposed
' "cotton holiday" in 1932.
Committee* of both houses late to
-1 day approved similar bill* making it
(Continued on pace
r Begin Revival at Holly
Spring Church Tomorrow
Beginning tomorrow night at 7:30
- o'clock, Rev. C. T. Rogers, local
t minister, will start a series of revival
services in the Holly Springs Metho
t dist church, four miles from here,
t Services wiM be held each evening at
> 7JO o'clock during the next ten day*,
r it wa* announced by the minister to
* J»y- *
t The public is cordially invited out to
bear Mr. Roger*.
Williamston, Martin County, North Carotina, Tuesday, September 15, 1931
704 ENROLLED IN
LOCAL SCHOOLS
FOR 1930-31 TERM
Registration Yesterday The
Largest In the History
Of Local Schools
Opening the new term yesterday, the
local schools reported an enrollment
of 704, one of the largest ever record
ed on an opening day here. A gain of
67 was reported in the elementary
grades, a loss of 2 resulting in the
high school. In commenting on the
registration number, Principal William
R. Watson stated yesterday that the
indiations point to an increase of 10
or IS pupils in the high school within
the next few days, and that there are
approximately 20 children who will
enter the lower grades within the next
few days. e
The principal was anticipating an
opening-day enrollment of around 737,
hut it was learned yesterday that a
goodly number of children were with
out proper clothing and were unable
■ to" attend. In an eflfort to- provide
schooling for any such children, the
principal is urging pupils acquainted
with the cases to report them to their
, grade teachers. The cases will be in
vestigated and all'help possible will
be rendered the less fortunate ones,
j "This is important to both school and
I pupil, and especially to the children,"
jrhe school man stated, in urging the
'pupils now attending to report cases
j where other children were unable to
attend the school.
Several variations are noted in the
grade enrollments this year, resulting
'partly because several communities,
Sandy Ridge truck route in particu
lar, failed with a full representation.
The first graders turned out in full,
89 of the little folks in the district
reporting for work yesterday morning.
An unaccountable drop was reported
for the second grade, only 69 little
jkitowledge-seekers registering for work
in that grade yesterday morning. The
third grade was out in big numbers,
'SO going into one room and 39 into
j the second room. Registrations in the
other grades were as follows:
I The opening of the term was fea
tured by the presence of a large num
ber of parents, both from the country
'and town. Rev. C. T. Rogera opened
pthe informal exercises program with a
devotional, and R. L. Coburn extended
a welcome to the teachers and chil
dren coming here for their first time.
Rev. C. H. Dickey, representing the
churches, and Editor W.. C. Manning,
representing the civic clubs and or
ganizations, also made short talks.
During the term the school w ill op
erate on the same schedule in effect
last season, Frincipal Watson stated.
Honey Bees Block TraHice
In A West Virginia Town
♦
Kowlesburg, W., Va.—Bees be bees,
as Ellis Parker Butler didn't say, but
these particular bees almost be traffic
policemen. Anyway, they had the
."stop and go" sign on Rowlesburg's
main street for a while on an afternoon
' recently.
| About two bushels of bees swarmed
in front of the Hollis store, sending
l>edestrians scurrying in all directions
and halting the movement of automo
biles and all other traffic.
W. C. Wilson and others volunteer
ed to save the day. When they ap
proached the bees, however, the in
sects became frightened and after
buzzing around for a time, flew to a
tress on the old Shoch property,
where they were eventually surround
ed and forced to "beehive" themselves.
First Bale of 1931
Cotton Ginned
The first bale of th« 1931 cotton
crop was finned in Haaaoll last
VMk, M far u it could ba learned
here. Several other gina in the
county are now opera tine, but it
is believed that Farmer Andrew
Wynne, of Gold Point, waa the
first to reach the gin.
Ths bnlo, weighing SOS pound a,
was sold for 6 cents s pound to
the Sslabury Supply Company,
HaaeaU, Mr. J. W. Eubank*,
manager of the HaeeeU Gin Com*
pany, stated. . .
in one of the bast sec
tions of the county for cotton, the
Haseell Gin Company handles
many bales aacfa saason.
County Board
Tax Problems
Hold Third Session This Month In An Attempt To Set
tie Budget Problems and Determine County Tax
Rate; Will Hardly Finish Work Today
Meeting for the third time this
month, the Martin County commis
sioners today made another attempt to'
establish a tax rate and dispose of a
number of other matters, but at noon
today it looked as if there would be
much unfinished business carried over
to another session. Commissioners
Coltrain and Pope Stated about noon
that the board could hardly complete
its work, and that it looked as if an
other meeting would be necessary to
determine the county tax rate.
This morning, the board members
spent much time in hearing various 1
committees from the several schools, '
but final action had not been taken on
Many Mourn Death
Of Mr. A. Anderson
*
SCHOOL TODAY? I
V /
"And what are the children go
ing to school for today?" one lo
cal citisen a eked this morning,
thinking that the election yester
abolished all the eight-montha
schools in the county.
Thinking that the defeat of the
election yeaterday would limit all
school terms to six montha, the
man .voted against the measure.
Little did the man think that the
paaaage of the election would have
limited the apecial rate to 20 centa
inatead of 35 centa, the present
limit in thia district.
MELON THIEVES
IN ROLE OF BEAR
Unable To Tell Negro from
Bear, Men Start Hunt in
Williams Township
♦
Two colored men in Williams Town
ship succeeded a few days ago not
only in frightening two other colored
men but caused tliem to start a big
bear hunt.
The two men, named Fagan and
Knight, who played the trick, were in
a watermelon patch stealing melons.
Hearing tlje other two colored neigh
bors coming, they got down on their
hands and feet and began to crawl
away. This so frightened the other
two that they ran away, raised a bear
hunt, got most of the inen and dogs
in the township in the drive, but could
find no bear.
Dick Fagan straightened things out
by telling the crowd that his brother,
Abram, and Wiley Lanier did not
have sense enough to tell a negro from
a bear.
Substituting In the Local
Faculty for A Few Days
Miss Mary Benson, of Benson, is
teaching in the local schools here this
week, substituting for Miss Martha
Louise Anderson for a few days.
While there has been a steady
decline in the acre
age planted to cotton in thia
county, Martin farmers planted
11,564 acrea to cotton in 1930, rais
ing 3,436 bales. Overshadowed by ,
that shnighty crop, tobacco, tha
price of cotton has not meant so
much to the county aa a whole in
recent yaara, bat the growers
themselves are eagerly awaiting
actio* started in Texas and Louis
iana. It la believed that they will
take pert in urging the governor
to call a apodal sseslon of the
North Carolina legislature that
tha cotton situation might be dia
cuseed or aooao legislation paseed
controlling the cotton crop.
any measure- up until noon, one of the
board members stated.
I Before the tax rate can be deter
mined the board will find it necessary
to take some action on the supple
mental budget for the schools, con
sidering therein an allotment for ad
ditional instructional service, addition-,
al pay for principals working before
and after the schools close, and a num
ber of other items, directly or indirect
ly connected with the schools. Just
when the authorities will settle these
.issues was uncertain at noon today.
I They might consider and pass upon
tliem before the day is spent, and if
they fail to do so it in not known
when they will meet again for final
action.
HAD LONG BEEN
PROMINENT IN
BUSINESS HERE
Funeral Services Are Being
Conducted from Home
Here This Afternoon
——•
This section lost another of its lead
ing citi?cqp when Mr. Arthur Ander
son, prominent merchant, died at his
home here Sunday morning at 9:45 o'-
clock of heart disease, his death com
ing just 12 days after that of his wife.
Suffering heart trouble for a number
of years, his condition became sud- j
denly worse at the death of his wife, I
and several days befory he died it was
believed that lie could not but a
very short while.
Last Saturday was the first one in
40 years that he had failed to report
for his usual duties at his store, and
late that night lie suffered a severe
heart attack that resulted in his death'
the following His death, 1
following so closely that of Mrs. An
! derson, brings a deep sorrow to his
relatives and the entire community.
Mr. Anderson, the son of Mr. Ar-
I thur Anderson and wife, Louisa Pip
I pin Anderson, was born near here and
attended the local schools in his early
I youth. In early manhood, he taught
school in the county, later coming here
jto work for Buck Sladc. About forty
years ago he formed a mercantile part
nership with his brother, the late Mr.
J. W. Anderson, the firm known now
as O. S. Anderson and Company. I
Interested in the welfare of his fel-
I lowman and his community, Mr. An
derson commanded a leading part in
I the educational advancement of the lo
cal school as well as those throughout
| the county. He served as a member
of the local school cbmmittce for a
number of years, a period that called
for a whole-hearted and serifus leader- /
ship. In his business career he made
hundreds of friends, enjoying one of
| the largest patronages of any mer-l
chant in the county for a long number
of years. He will be missed by many, 4
and especially by those who have'j
turned their business transactions to
him for almost a half century. His
home life was one 6f perfect accord, ,
his friendly spirit and cheerfulness
gaining for him a wide circle of
.friends throughout this section.
Up until about a month ago, he was
found regularly at his duties, handling
them with accuracy and dispatch for
a man of his age, 72 years.
though troubled with heart disease, he
continued the work he loved so well
until just a day or two before his
death.
Two children, one daughter, Miss
Martha Anderson, and one son, Mr.
Oscar S. Anderson, both of William
ston, survive. He also leaves three
grandchildren, Oscar, jr., Martin and
Arthur Anderson.
Funeral services are being conduct
ed from the late home on Haughton
Street and Simmons Avenue at 3:30
this afternoon by Rev. C. H. Dickey,
pastor of the local Baptist church, as
sisted by Rev. W. R. Burrell, pastor
(Continued on back page)
HOW THEY VOTED I
j
Tabulated by The Enterprise,
and recognized as fairly, accurate,
the following table shows how they
voted on the school election held
in this county yesterday:
Precinct k , - For Against
Jamesville 154 98
Williams 16 118
Griffins 153 172
Williamston 303 127
Bear Grass 86 115
Cross Roads 85 114
Robersonville 182 187
Gold Point 21 66
Goose Nest 42 81
Hassell 2 113
Hamilton 92 39
Poplar Point 3 79
Totals 1,139 1,309
CROP REPORT
SAYS TOBACCO
OFF 14 PER CENT
Production In This State Is
Estimated at 502,265,-
000 Pounds in 1931
The Federal and State crop report
ing service, last week issued the bul
letin as to tobacco crop prospects in
the State and Nation:
Tobacco growers in'the Stftfe~report
ed the,average condition of the tobacco
crop on September Ist at 76 |x-r cent
of normal, compared with 75 on Sep
tember Ist last year, and a 10-year
average of 78 on that date. This in
dicates a total production of 502,265,-
000 pounds, or a reduction of 14 per
cent from last year's large crop.
Conditions through the tobacco belt
have been somewhat in contrast to
last year. 19.10 was extremely dry in
(most of the producing area, while this
season began with comparatively dry
conditions, followed by a season of
rain, during which quite a large pro
portion of the crop was damaged be
j fore it could be harvested. The sec
ond growth, as a result of rainy
weather, resulted in a larger propor
tion of inferior grades.
I The 722,000 acres for harvest this
year is 7 per cent less than last year,
and this, combined with the lighter
yields per arre, has resulted in the in
creased production prospect.
| United States Crop
I The condition of the United States
tobaco crop on September Ist aver
aged 77.7 per cent of normal, com
pared with 63.6 on the same date last
year and a September average of 77.(1
during the previous 10 years. Last
month the condition was 74.1 per cent.
, The production of flue-cured tobac
co, the major type, is indicated to be
705,790,000 pounds, which amounts to
12,676,000 pounds less than August
Ist forecast, and 154,041,000 pouiitts
less than the record production of
1930. The decrease from '.he August
Ist forecast in the prospective produc-
I tion of the flue-cured type is accounted
for mainly in eastern North Carolina,
where the crop deteriorated slightly as
a result of excessive rainfall during
August.
Other types of tobaco, such as bur
ley and fire-cured, show indications in
excess of last year's production. With
the exception of no change in the
'wrapper class, prospects for the pro
duction of cigar tobacco improved
slightly, during August.
Prospects for all types combined im
proved near 2 per cent during August,
Snd the September Ist estimate of 1,-
pounds is slightly above
the record crop of last year.
LOW PRICES
1 ✓
Marketing a barn of tobacco last
week, a Poplar Point farmer took
the proceeda and went to a store
and purchased a 24-pound bag of
flour and 5 pounds of meat. He
had to borrow five centa and add
to the proceeda received from hia
load of tobacco, an entire curing,
to pay for tha goods.
Marketing his entire crop one
day laat week, a township farmer
received |2O for the offerings.
"Gentlemen, that is my entire
crop," the farmer said. The initial
price was |ls for the lot, the^buy
ers and warehouaemen after weigh
ing the man's words, increased the
price to S2O. The tobacco waa
grown on four acrtp of land and
suffered badly from wildfire. Bat
the price, |5 an acre, even then
appears plenty low.
Watch the Label On Your
Paper As It Carries the Date
When Your Subscription Expiree
ESTABLISHED 1898
Favorable Vote
In Only Three
Polling Places
11,139 PEOPLE IN
FAVOR OF TAX,
j - 1,309 OPPOSE IT
Several Districts Vote To
| > Have Higher Tax Rates
Continued This Year
An attempt to provide equal educa
-1 tional advantages for all children iTi
I Martin 1 ounty failed in a county-wide
I election held yesterday when 1,309 cit-
J izens voted against a uniform rate of
not more than 20 cents fur the sup
j port of the seventh and eighth months
i f school. Only three precincts, Ham
j ilfon, JamesvilU', anil Williamston gave
the measure a majority, Hassell cli-
Imaxiiig the election with, a vote of 2
for and 11.l against the measure. And
instead of support the seventh
and eighth mouths ot school on a uni
; lorm rate i>! not more than 20 cents,
the property owners will continue to
pay in their various districts from zero
to 35 cent-, for the seventh and eighth
i months. v ,
| The count lor the, election was 1,13 V
for and 1,300 against, a majority of
17(1 citizens voting against the "meas
ure. Registration .figures, reported at
2,4.i1 after the hooks were supposed
to have closed September 5, bounced
UJI to 2,448 when the final count was
in last night, hut there might have
been some error in the early . reports.
I In short, as one citizen troni another
town remarked this morning, after
seeing hundreds of young men and
-..Wwjncn passing through on their way
to the various colleges-yesterday, ''as
the thousands flock to the Colleges,
Martin County people, or 1,309 of
tliem, flocked to the polls and voted
to have their children return to the
cotton patches and tohacco fields ami
create profits for the big man and"
more poverty for the little one."
I Hear Grass voted by a majority of
j 2'' to retain a 35-cent rate instead of
I voting for a rate not to exceed 20
Only in four voting precincts,
I l.illey's Mall, Macedonia, (iriftins, and
Farm l.ife, did the vote for a
six months school in preference to an
eight-months term. The Farm Life
j people favored thg plan almost by a
j unanimous vote, hut the other half of
the district did not. In the other dis-
I tricts, all "having the eight months
| term, the citizens did not vote on that
I issue hut voted against a uniform tax
I rate. All hut the 251 children living
in the four districts mentioned are in
i line for a term of eight months, and
I it is generally believed that the rates
' in the remaining eleven districts will
i have to be raised to keep the schools
open the extra two months unless more
; State aid is secured than is now in
prftspect.
From present indications, either an
inreased rate in this'schoo! district or
a short term is certain. Just what
the rate will lie or whether the schools
will run as long as they can and close
can not be determined at this time.
lit-ar (irass district is levy
ing its-. limit, 35 cents, now. li that
amount fails to support the extra two
months," it is very clear that it will
have to get help from somewhere, the
Lord only knows where, or close down
before the full term is completed,
i Williamston has a 35-cent tax limit
for its'extended term, and it rests in
the hajids of the authorities whether
the 22 cents now levied will he in
creased or whether the school will be
closed before the term is completed.
Of course, if the 22-cent levy is suffic
ient, all is well ahd good, hut if it
—. —— ■ 1 .■ » (p in.
(Continued on the back page)
Election Outcome Proves
Disappointing To Some
——*
Com inn here today, the Farm Lift
I School Committee members expressed
| themselves as being greatly disappoint'
td in the outcome of the school elec
tion held in the county yesterday. With
flu per cent of the citizens in the Farm
Life district voting for the measure,
the school representatives stated that
6heir people wanted to have the ex
tended term, but they were at a loss
to tell how they could now arrange for
j& • „ . . . .
The district now has a 15-cent levy
supplementing the six months term,
and the school patrons are now mak
ing an effort to have it applied on the
extended' term.
V *