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\ OLTME XLIII?NUMBER 15 Wiltiamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, June 4, 19 W. ESTABLISHED 1899
School Budget For
Next Year Remains
Same As Last Year
Rate of About 55 Cents Will
Be Necessary For the
Schools Next Term
A rate of about fifty-five and one
half cents will be necessary to fi
nance the normal operation of the
schools in this county for the new
1940-41 term, it was learned follow
ing a regular meeting of the board
of education held here yesterday. The
proposed rate is the same as it was
last year, but there is a small varia
tion in the size of proposed expendi
tures for various departments.
The current expense fund, estab
lished to care for salaries paid voca
tional teachers, upkeep of buildings
and insurance, will be increased by
about $300 from $25,682 last term to
$26,000 for the new year. No change
in the 9-cent rate is anticipated in
that department. The rate. 10 1-2
cents, for capital outlay remains the
same, the board pointing out that he
proposed expenditure of $8,000 for
vocational buildings at Oak City and
Williamston will not effect an in
crease in the rate.
Debt service, a big item in the bud
get and representing 36 cents of the
55 1-2 school levy, calls for $43,521
to be applied on old obligations.
A note in the proposed new bud
get cites the retirement of $25,000
Oak City school bonds this year.
Most of the meeting yesterday was
given over to the discussion of the
proposed budget, but the board mem
bers received with reluctance and
sympathetically discussed the resig
nation of Mr. Eli Edmondson as a
member of the Hassell local commit"
For forty years the old Christian
gentleman had served as a commit
teeman in the-district, his advice be
ing sought through times and condi
tions that were not favorable to the
education of common public. But he
held to his post, aqd now that age
makes it fmposstWe for him to at
tend all the meetings, he is with
drawing from the service. The board
had little difficulty in filling the po
sition for a son of the old gentleman
was appointed. E. R. Edmondson, the
son, has shown much interest in the
schools and the work so ably nana led
before him will be continued, no
doubtr
The meeting marked a second
change in the committee personnel
for thd position made vacant by an
other champion of common educa
tion, B. M. Worsley, was filled by
the board in the appointment of his
son, Francis Worsley. And so it goes.
Time marches on, but the county is
fortunate in having young men to
call upon as time progresses and
events transpire in then legulai or
der
Acting willing upon the request
of a number of Oak City citizens, the
board named the new gymnasium
there after the late B. M. Worsley.
All members of the board, Messrs.
George C- Griffin, J. D. Woolard,
chairman; H. C. Norman, J W. Eu
banks and Leslie Hardison, were
present for the meeting, Mr. Hardi
son serving for the first time as a
member of the group.
#
Classes Held For
County Midwives
By DR. JOHN W. WILLIAMS
County Health Officer
Four days of the past week were
spent by the nurses of the health de
partment in class work with the mid
wives of the county. Two days at
Robersonville with 12 in attendance
and two at Williamston with 11 in
attendance were held.
Too large a percentage of our la
bor cases are still dependant upon,
these women but until all mothers
can have adequate care it is essen
tial that our midwives be trained in
this work. They must know the
danger signs of pregnancy, labor and
post partum. how to prepare the
mother for delivery and above all,
cleanliness.
In this class work the midwife
demonstrates to the nurse she knows
what to do and how to do it, from
boiling the water, donning clean cap
and apron and washing each hand
for five minutes when she arrives on
the scene to the last operation of
making a complete birth certificate
before she leaves.
There has been a time that ignor
ance among these necessary evils cost
thousands of lives but today, thanks
to the patience and persistence of
public health nurses, these old wo
men do not wait until a live birth is
out of question and perhaps the mo
ther "too far in valley" for recall, no
matter how competent the obstetri
cian, but they know what kind of
caaes are less likely to give them
trouble and attend only such. They
also have the benefit of the pre-natal
clinics to help her with the cases
engaging her services for delivery.
Above all, the most important les
son learned by her claaa attendance
has been that "she must never make
an internal examination of mother."
It has ben an over and over pro
cess, with teaching by demonstra
lion, in class work, but results are
beginning to show and now that add
ed assistance from pre-natal instruc
tion by physicians at clinics has be
come state-wide, the infant and ma
ternal death rates are falling.
Red Cross Chapter Reporting
Slight Increase in Donations
While donations are gradually in
creasing. the Martin County chapter
of the American Red Cross is lag
ging in its support to suffering hu
manity in the troubled and war
stricken areas across the seas. A to
tal of $39 has been contributed to
date, the amount being just $361 be
low the initial quota assigned the
chapter. Based on the growing needs
made startlingly pitiful in their ev
ery detail, the quota has been in
creased to double its initial size, and
Red Cross leaders point out that the
larger amounts will hardly begin to
cope with the situation as it exists
There are those who insist that we,
the American people, be complacent
about the whole affair m Europe, but
a prominent churchman recently
back from the scene of suffering and
death cries out that only dumb beasts
could draw into their own shelters
and do nothing while millions of
aged men and women and children
too experience starvation and death.
Possibly there is no reason for any
one to get panicky, but accepting the
reports from Europe at one-half or
even one-tenth of their value there
is reason for one to shake off his com
placency and express himself in
deed. If we are the Christian people
that we claim to be. we will double
and redouble the Red Corss quota
even if we have to forego a few and
even everyone of our pleasures. If
we will help' stabilize world peace,
we must act now and not wait for
countless millions to suffer and die
needlessly..
Quite a few. unable to find Harry
Biggs, county chapter chairman, have
left their donations with The Enter
prise All donations left at the paper
office will be turned over to the
chairman immediately.
A list of donors' names not pre
viously acknowledged follows:
Mayo Hardison $ 1.00
Woman's Council. Christian Ch. 10.00
W. J. Hodges 2.00
Mrs. L. B. Wynne 1.00
H. L. Barnhiu t.Ofr
A Friend 1.00
Previously reported 23-00
$39.00
The m-ed for a strong Red Cross
support was never portrayed in more
realistic terms than when Horace
Fuller, ambulance driver in France,
told of his experience in the war
torn areas The wounded were left
to die. and the dying were left to
their own resources and suffering,
the faculties for rendering them aid
being far too inadequate. Fuller's
story appeared in the State papers
yesterday
Second Major Move in
W ar Is Expected Soon
NEW MEMBER
Nominated in the May 25 pri
mary, Leslie llardison. James
ville young man. entered upon
his duties as a member of the
Martin County Board of Educa
tion yesterday immediately af
ter receiving the appointment at
the hands of the County Demo
cratic Executive Committee.
Road Worker Badly
Burned Near Here
Badly burned when a pipe burst
ed and spilled hot asphalt on his
face and hands, R ?. Chewning is
improving rapidly. Although he was
painfully hurt, the man lost little
time from his work The asphalt, near
the boiling point, took the skin off
part of his face including the eye
lids, it was said
The man was working on an air
jet when the pipe gave way and
poured the melted tar on him. He
complained little. ?
The contractors with whom the
man is employed are completing the
second application on the road lead
ing off U. S. Highway No. 17 at Old
Mill Inn into Griffins Township. The
project will be completed during the
next two weeks.
Rpjwrtn On The
Foreign Tobacco
Front Look Bad
Uncertain of the future, the
. Imperial Tobacco Company, ac
cording to unofficial but reliable
reporta reaching here, la liquidat
ing He organisation In this coun
try, The action points to a
gloomy outlook for the tobacco
marketing season, unless the fed
eral government steps in to take
up the slack.
According to unofficial reports,
the Imperial Company released
numbers of Its men at a meeting
held In Norfolk last week-end.
Included in the list of releases
were men who had been with
the company for as many as forty
yearn. Given the beet of refer
ences, the men left the meeting
mMh has! wiiahaa 4b dftomsm a. -
wild dom wnnn ID incir vcwmin
for new jobs.
Martin farmers are still opti
mistic however, one of the many
growers stating that he would
aOt soil his crop for I1M an acre
at this time.
Dunkerque Retreat
Regarded Greatest
Success In History
Briti*li Kmpirc Will (larry On
l*rim?k Mini*trr Unireliill
DerlarcM in Speech
As events take form for a second
major phase of the current world
war more horrible and even more
difficult to conceive, speculate
tinues rife on as many fronts as there
are in the path of the invading Ger
man hordes. Hitler is promising more
horrible attacks on both France and
England, but whether the attacks
will be made separately first on
France or Britain or vice versa or
whether they will be advanced si
multaneously, the observers do not
say. The war is not over, and many
think the sythe is being sharpened
for the heart and life of France as an
alohg the battle fronts today.
While the next onslaught is being
awaited, news of the retreat to Dun
kerque is being patched together to
show up the event as the greatest
military feat in all history. More than
355,000 soldiers were removed from
the trap under most difficult condi
tions, and the drive is said to have
proved to be among the most cost
ly ever experienced by an army on
the offensive. As the last stand is be
ing made at Dunkerque on the Eng
lish Phpnnpl rnmnnnln nf 1
defeated army hold 275,000 Germans
in temporary check. The last of the
British Expeditionary forces are be
ing debarked, Prime Minister Chuch
ill stating today that England had
lost 40,000 men, killed, wounded and
missing in Flanders, and frankly
stated that the Battle of Flanders was
a colossal defeat for the Allies.
It is believed in military circles
that the longer the Dunkerque frag
ment# hotel out, the longer General
Weygand will have to prepare for
a counter offensive further to the
south. Little has been said about
such an attack^ but indication are
that the Allies will start an offen
sive of their own.
Admitting the possible invasion
and subjugation of the British Isles,
Prime Minister Churchill in an- ad
dress to the House of Comm ns to
day stated that even in that event,
Britain would carry on until in God's
own time peace is restored.
An air raid on Paris yesterday
when more than 1,000 bombs were
dropped, HO people killed and 151
wounded, is bringing repisals. Re
ports state that Allied airmen are
working on German centers, one
agency slating that eight people were
killed near Munich in one of the
raids. No definite details of the raids
have been released, but some be
lieve that Berlin got its first taste
of death and destruction from the air
sometime during last night.
Italy's stand continues in the talk
ative stage, some observers say she
will and others saying she won't en
ter the war. It has been claimed that
Hitler is begging Mussolini to step in.
Similar reports and claims are num
erous, but judging from Churchill's
speech today and defense prepara
tions in Washington the worst is yet
to come.
Mussolini met with his war cabi
net this morning and talk about
Italy's entering the war was hard
ly nothing more than a gesture. In
or out of the War he is helping Ger
many, and the Allies state they have
tolerated about all they are going
to from him.
Unsettled conditions in the world
yesterday prompted Roosevelt to
say that he would consider running
again for the presidency.
Mrs. Delia Clark
Dies Suddenly In
The County Sunday
Funeral For Highly Re?|>eet
ed Croaa Roads Citizen Is
Being Held Today
Mrs Delia Clark, widow of Wil
liam A. Clark, was found dead near
her home in Cross Roads Tow nship
about 10 o'clock Sunday morning,
the apparent victim of an heart at
tack. She was believed to have been
dead about an hour when a member
of the family found her.
Sixty-four years old. Mrs. Clark
told members of her family that she
was going to visit her son about a
mile away.?that she preferred to
walk for her health. Walking along
a foot-path and a nearer route to her
son's home, Mrs. Clark had gone only
a short way when she suffered the
heart attack, death apparently fol
lowing instantly. Mrs. Clark had not I
complained of feeling ill, and she j
was unusually active for one her I
age.
The daughter of the late James and
Susan Nicholson, she was born in
Williamston Township near William
ston where she spent her early life.
When eighteen years of age she was
married to Mr. Clark and located in
Cross Roads Township where she
was soon recognized as a kind and
accommodating neighbor and friend.
Following the death of her husband
about twenty years ago, she assum
ed the management of the household
and little farm. Her children received
the tender car of a loving mother,
and their children were readily re
ceived around the fireside at the old
home. Three of the grandchildren
were orphaned at early ages, and
they were taken into her home and
recognized as her own.
For more than a quarter ot a cen-1
tury she was a devoted member of
the church at Cross Roads, remain-1
ing loyal to its teachings and faith
ful in its service until the end. She
was a devoted mother and an ever- j
helpful neighbor; she was a good
Christian woman, ont? who gained
and held the respect of everyone who j
knew her. ? ' - . ' ? ' '?
Four children, Mrs. Henry Leggett
and Hoy Clark, of Cross Roads Town- j
erH
ship, Mrs. Oscar Butler, of Rober
sonville; and Mrs. Eva Raynor, of
Hamilton Township, survive. She al
so leaves one brother, Matthew Nich-1
olson, of Baltimore. A son, Will j
Clark, was killed in the first World |
War on October 9, 191H. He was a
member of Company B, 120th infan-1
try, and it is believed that the asso
ciation of the current war with that
of a quarter century ago and the]
death of her eoit may have hastened ]
the end for her. There are thirty-two
grandchildren and five great-grand-1
children.
Funeral services are being conduct
ed at the late home this afternoon at |
3 o'clock by her pastor, Rev. J. M.
Perry. Interment will follow in the
Clark family cemetery in Cross
Roads Township.
Gives Figures On
Church Attendance
By REV. JOHN IIAROY. Rector
Church of the Advent
Many of us think that we can wor
ship God as well by relaxing over
our newspaper, fishing, or some oth
er means--of change from our daily
activity, as we can in church. It
would be entirely out of keeping with
the purpose and practice of Christ
ianity to force our people to attend
church services on Sunday. There is
not a minister in town who would
do so. Yet with these trying times
abroad and the wave of war scare
drawing closer lo our fllium,?we
would do well to keep our moral and
spiritual faculties clear and this can
best be done by worshipping God
every Sunday in His church. Church
attendance has already begun to de
cline and with the coming of sum
mer, it is likely to do so even more
unless we realize the solemn obliga
tion that rests upon us.
Church
8.8.
Y.P.
A.M. PM
Baptist
125
15
95 42
Methodist
85
25
48 65
Christian
118
8
95 57
Holiness
100
Presbyterian
15
29
Episcopal
18
30
Totals
359
40
297 284
Prev. Sun.
448
*0
299 197
Ward's
Market Now
At New Location
-e
Ward's Market, for many years
housed in the town hall, has been
moved to new quarters in the Ed
mondsnn and Ward Grovery build
ing on Main Street between Margol
is Brothers Store and G. P. Hall's bar
ber shop. The big task of moving the
heavy and costly refrigeration plants
is being completed today, Mr. Ward1
stating that he hoped to have every
detail handled within the next day
or two.
Rated as one of the best in this sec
tion of the State, the market has ex
perienced considerabcl expense in
renovating its new home and moving
its modern equipment. "We have
done everything possible to maintain
the rating and to continue an effi
cient and acceptable service for the
general public." Mr Ward said.
Board of County Commissioners
Baffled By Finaneial Problems
Centering Around Relief Budget
Market 'Monopoly'Broken by
Action of Local Town Board
The "monopoly" existing here dur
ing the past years for the sale of
meats has been broken, and the town
board in regular session last evening
made tentative plans for converting
the lower floor into a strictly mum
cipal building with the possible ex
ception of a little space for the pub
lic library. No definite plans for re
arranging the lower floor jiave been
made public by Mayor J L Hassell
and Commissioner Green, members
of the committee named to handle
the work. The town is said to be con
sidering housing the mayor's office
in the building, separating the po
lice headquarters from the treasur
er's office, enlarging the fire depart
ment and possibly assigning a small
corner to the library.
Plans for altering the lower floor
of the old town hall have been con-'
sidered for months, but not until re
cently did the town call for the room
occupied by the market. Ward's mar
ket is being moved to the Kdmond
son-Ward grocery store, and it is pos
sible that the remodeling plans will
be advanced within the next few
days at the town hall
Rev. J L. Guff, chairman ot the
library board, made a strong plea for
library space in the building He re
viewed the worlTlTf the library, told
how generous the I .eg ion post had'
been in furnishing the library a home '
during the past 26 months and ask
ed for recognition by the town
In their short session the commis
sioners passed an order instructing
the town attorney to prepare an or
dinance to control and prohibit or
ganized piddling and soliciting Con
demnation proceedings required
owner L C Hoggard to tear down
several old buildings on Washing
ton Street were upheld by the board
when no extension of time was grant
ed for complying with the order. The
paving of Hay Street from Watts to
Biggs Street was included in the
Wl'A improvement program now un
derway
The board was advised that plans
for an enlarged water and sewer sys
tem in cooperation with the Wl'A had
been placed before the authorities in
Washington.
Status of Treasurer s
Race Still Undecided
Horton Withdraws
To Give Broughton
Rare For Gov ernor
lll'lt Coin lnr\ OffirinlU Kilo
For Sti-oiitl IViinarv in
Thin (lomitv
The State political situation was
virtually cleared up yesterday after
noon when Wilkins P. Horton, run
ner-up in the first primary for gov
ernor, announced he had withdrawn
aid would not ask a second contest,
leaving J. Melville Broughton, Ral
eigh attorney, to carry llie Demon u
tic banper for the Democrats into the
general election next November
Horton's withdrawal, however, does j
not settle the second primary ques- j
tion in this county, Ben I) Courtney,
runner-up for treasurer in the first
county primary, stating late last
night that he was not certain whe
ther he would withdraw or adhere
to well-laid plans for advancing his
campaign through a second contest
Vi-h?' n'"k i-' "pi"""1"'
"I have just completed an exten
sive tour today and did not learn that
Horton had withdrawn until I re
turned home,11 Coui tney said?last
night when approached on the sec
ond primary question. "The outlook
for my candidacy is encouraging, but
I am going to contact my friends
over the county and if they think it
best for me to withdraw from the
second primary I will do so," Mr.
Courtney said. The young man is
making that survey today and is ex
pected to reach a decision not later
than Thursday or Friday. He has of
ficially filed notice of his plans to
let' the second primary with the
chairman of the county board of
elections.
During the meantime his opponent
continues his campaign, indicating
that a spirited contest wcU~ follow
on June 22 in the event Courtney
does not withdraw. Courtney said
last night that he had been assured
the John Peel support, that person
ally he was anxious to enter the
contest. It is apparent that other fac
tors will determine his action, and
those facts should jeveal themselves
today and tomorrow and help him
make a final decision as to his plans
for a second contest
In announcing his withdrawal from
the race for governor, Wilkins P.
Horton stated that he was doing so
in the name of party harmony. A
second State-wide primary was made
unnecessary when Horton withdrew
and George M. PNtcftard, guberna
torial candidate for the Republicans,
conceded the nomination to Robert
H. McNeill. While Morton's action
came as a surprise, it was thought all
the while that he had little chance
of winning over Broughton who held
a marginal lead of more than 41,000
votes in the first primary. It is possi
ble that party harmony was consid
ered, ax early reports received hergj
indicated that strong factions were \
being formed rapidly and that a
heated contest could have been ex -1
. Pec ted Only last Saturday evening
Horton was quoted as saying thai he;
was more optimistic over the out
look than he was at any time during
the first primary, but apparently his
plans did not materialize over the
week-end and he stepped down.
NKXT GOVKRINOK
J. Melville Kroughton. conced
ed the Democratic nomination by
W. P. Horton yesterday, will be
North Carolina's next governor.
Of course, he will have to go in
to the election next November,
hut the nomination is tantamount
to election on the Democratic
ticket in this State.
Overly in toxica ted, Robert Lee,
young colored man, harmlessly wan
dered into the Bear Grass teacher
age some time during Sunday and
was found sound asleep in the bed
room oi I'mfc.^tn?and Mrs T .11
Hickman late that afternoon. Taken
by the collar, Lee was partially car
ried out of the home and across the
mad before he showed any sign of
hfe.
As far as it could be learned he
had troubled nothing in the home,
Mrs. Hickman's watch on top of the
radio and within the man's reach,
having been left untouched.
Favorable Report
Reeeivetl On RFC.
I Am n A p pi ira I ion
An application tor a $47,000
sewer-water extension program
for Williamston received favor
able consideration in the offices
of the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation in Washington City
yesterday, Messrs. N. ('. fireen,
town treasurer and W. II. Co
burn, town attorney, said upon
their return here last night.
The town representatives con
tacted the head of the KF'C and
were encouraged by a report on
the loan application. Action is
expected within the next few
weeks.
The $47,000 is the town's share
in the cost for financing a pro
posed extension of water and
sewer lines and thr sinking of a
new deep well in cooperation
with the WPA. The project tag
been pending in the WPA offices
for several months, and it is now
believed that some action can be
expected within the next few
weeks.
Requests Received
From Agencies lor
P
Increase In Funds
Appropriation for Tho
IMMI School Buililin^.s
1? Appro*t'll
Battered by numerous requests lor
increased appropriations, th?- Martin
County Board of Commissioners in
regular session here yesterday held
firm the lines of economic defense,
the victor to be determined at a later
date No requests were granted and
none was refused; the commissioners
calling for more time to study the
needs It is apparent, however, that
any additional appropriations grant
ed any one or more agencies will be
offset by decreased appropriations
for other agencies.
The authorities merely lifted the
lid on the 1940-41 budget and out
jumped numerous financial prob
lems that will prove baffling even
to a Wall Street Wizard. After figur
ing with the figures, the authorities
stated that if the requests are met
and no decreases can be effected in
cent increase in the new tax rati- will
cent increase in teh new tax rate will
be necessary. It was pointed out,
however that no increase has been
approved, that the budget will not,,
'hi' appiuml an.v tunc j 'un. At tin ?
meeting yesterday the commission
ers merely discussed the relief re
quirnients and budget for the county
home. They did receive a request to
increase the .appropriation fur the
forestry service from $1,020 to $1,270.
No action was taken. The home agent
asked that she be allowed a fiuTl time
societal,v, liei -icqnest-bring-ncoom
pained by a note explaining that she
had never asked the county for any
Urmg unlo>s-it was sorely needed
i ne real pruuiein cemeicu arounu
the WPA sewing ri'inii where about
fifteen women art- employed FoF~
tlu* operation of the project^ during
thi* fiscal year now drawing to a
close, the commissioners appropri
ated $557 78 They are now being
asked to appropriate $2,827 for the
operation of the project during the
coming year. Representatives of the
WPA pointed out that the sewing
room made and gave to the needy
7,500 garments during the past year,
that the federal government hud been
supplying the materials and the
county had paid the rents and inci
dentul expenses The government
funds are fast being depleted and
the county is being asked to appro
priate slightly more than 68 per cent
of the money necessary for thi- pur
chase of the materials. It was also
pointed out that the government
would pay during the new year a to
tal of $8,480 m salaries and about
$1,000 for supplies or about $7,480
against $2,827 to be paid by the
county Well, the commissioners
n;.r>ny huiw what to do about it.
They hate to see fifteen needy per
sons thrown out of^work, but there's
the tax rate to consider
No action was taken on a WPA Re
quest for $188 to supplement a coun
ty library service similar to that
made available by the bookmobile
this year
The board approved an $8,000 ap
propriation as its share of the cost
for the const rtict ion of an $8,000 vo
cational building at Oak City and a
liamston Approval was given on the
condition that the appropriation will
not be reflected in the tax rate.
Requests? for roud improvement
were filed with the board, the peti
tioners urging the board to appeal to
the State Highway and Public Works
Commission for the inclusion of sev
(Continued on page six)
Party Executive
Group In Meeting
Meeting in u l>rief and informal
session here yesterday morning,
members of the Martin County Dem
ocratic Executive committee ap
pointed Ix'slie llardison to a place
un the county board of education to
fill the place made vacant by Mr.
E. H. Angc, resigned. No other bus
iness wos considered by the group
and the meeting was adjourned
promptly by Elbert S Peel, chair
man of the committee.
It was one of the few times in re
cent years that the committee has
been called into meeting Messrs.
Joshua L. Coltrain, A. Corey, J. H.
Winslow, H. C?. llorton, A. E. James.
Jesse Crisp, J. W. Eubanks and E.
S Peel were present for the meet
ing which was held in the commis
sioners* room.
Mr. Hardison, a short time later
accepted the oath of office as admin
istered by Cleric of Court L. B.
Wynne and entered upon the duties
of office with other members of the
board at 10 o'clock. "Die term to
which he was nominated subject to
the action of the 1M1 legislature be
gins next April.