| Farmers Will Vote for a Planned Tobacco Control Program Saturday Between 7A. M. and Sunset j
II Watch The Label On Your
H Paper, As It Carries The Date
1] Your Subscription Expiree |
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rHE ENTERPRISE
Advertisers Will Find Our Col
umns A Latchkey To Over 1,600
Homes Of Martin County.
VOLUME XLIII?NUMBER 58 ITilliamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, July 19, 1940. ESTABLISHED 1899
???? I
Roosevelt Accepts
Nomination; Spoke
Early This Morning j
Wallace Chosen As His Run
ning Male By Convention
In Chicago
e
Party battle lines, setting up new
precedents in the political world,
were formed this week in Chicago
when the Democrats chose Franklin
Delano Roosevelt and Henry A. Wal
lace as their standardbearers, the
Roosevelt nomination offering much
discussed third term issue its first
real test.
Coming a full day ahead of the
regular convention schedule. Roose
velt's nomination for a third term
was by acclamation last Wednesday
night. Several other names were
before the convention but the Pres
ident's nomination was assured as
the roll call reached the New York
delegation. Other names were with
drawn and nomination by acclama
tion met with loud approval. The
President, holding to his duties in
Washington, had a short while ago
expressed his stand on a third term
whan he said that he had no desire
to be a candidate and released the
more than 900 delegates pledged to
him. His action shifted the respon
sibility to the delegates who read
ily accepted it and cheered the draft
plan for nearly half an hour before
the chairman. Senator Alben Bark
ley, of Kentucky, could continue the
work of the convention.
Late last night Henry A. Wallace,
Secretary of Agriculture, was nom
inated for the vice presidency on
the first ballot after the convention
had expressed a difference of opin
ion in regards to a running mate for
the President.
Taking the microphone at 12:20
this morning in Washington. Mr.
Roosevelt addressed the convention
and the -Stating his accept
ance Ft r more thatv half an hour, the
President spoke to the convention
on the eve of its adjournment "I
have no personal desire to run
again," the President said, explain
ing that he preferred to retire to
private life and relieve himself of
the burdens and care that had rest
ed heavily upon his shoulders for
crisis now facing the world, and in
accepting the nomination pledged
his best efforts in rendering every
service humanly possible for him to
render the country and its pepole.
His acceptance speech was regard
ed as his greatest, and restored com
plete harmony to the convention just
before it adjourned about 2 o'clock
this morning.
The nomination of President
Rooaevett brought forth various re
actions, but it is apparent that the
Democratic Party with Roosevelt at
its head enters the campaign with
the rank and file and the masses
behind it. Senator Burke, of Nebras
ka, after openly fighting the Pres
ldent and his progressive measures,
advised Republican Nominee Wen
dell Willkie that he would support
him in the campaign. A Nebraska
congressman, in answer to the de
feated Democratic Senator, said that
Burke had fought the New Deal,
that he had now openly expressed
his support of Republicans
There's a world crisis at hand, and
while a heated presidential cam
paign can be expected, no one can
foretell what will happen before
election time rolls around next No
vember.
Martin Farmers To
Save On Interest
Firmer* in Martin County will
save about $8,000 a year as a result
of legislation just enacted by Con
gress affecting interest rates on
Federal land bank and land bank
commissioner loans.
Hie temporary rate of 3 1-2 per
cent on first mortgage land bank
loans will be continued for two years
ending June 30, 1042. During this
period the interest rate on first and
second mortgage land bank com
missioner loans will be reduced
from 4 to 3 1-2 per cent. Land bank
and commissioner loans were origi
nally written at contract rates aver
aging about S per cent.
At present about 104 Martin Coun
ty farmers have land bank and com
miasioner loans outstanding aggre
vatlng $3$>,080. The difference be
tween the .contract rate and the
temporary rate thus effects a sub
stantial saving for farmers.
In a statement from Washington,
A. G. Black, governor of the Farm
Credit Administration, said that the
savings to farmers through the re
duced interest rate will have the
same effect as an addition to the
farmers' net income.
"The ultimate purpose of the re
duced interest rate on land bank and
commissioner loans is to help far
mers keep down their fixed charges
and thus leave more income for the
"Money saved on interest charges
retirement of debt principal, or to
meet necessary operating and liv
ing expenses," Governor Black said,
will thus
refl**cUni in incrfaM'd
purchasing power, benefitting both
industry and agriculture, and also
will help in a measure to raise farm
living standards and safeguard farm
Sneaking Attack Against Leaf
Program by Unknown Parties
Striking at the eleventh hour and
afte ra sneakish fashion, a party of
four men riding in a big automobile
and whose identity could not be es
tablished directed a circularized at
tack against a planned program for
tobacco in this county yesterday.
In a lengthy word attack on one
side supported by a ridiculous car
toon on the other, the self-appoint
ed saviors of the little farmer dart
ed through sections of the county
tooting their loud-sounding horn at
farmers and throwing out the vile
handbills by the dozens.
Suffice it to say that the argument
advanced on the unsigned sheet was
without foundation. The text of the
reading matter reminded one of the
early thirties when a poorly balanc
ed economic system forced farmers
from their lands and working men
from their homes while the rich
waxed richer and the poor became
poorer
Playing the role of yellow cow
ards. the four men tarried no where
and the group of Martin County far
mers who gave chase never found
them. And probably it was just as
well that the contemptible curs did
not fall into the hands of the group.
It is believed here that the four
men were from some of the border
counties. Their visit into this sec
tion has. according to reports, awak
ened the control advocates to the
danger the referendum is facing to
morrow and it is possible that they
will become more active in getting
out a big vote from 7 o'clock in the
morning until sunset.
Lumber Company Will
Enlarge Loeal Plant
HEARINC
EveretU community citizens
are planning to direct another
appeal to the State School Com
mission for the reeatablishment
of their high school, it was learn
ed here today. "We are planning
to appear before the commission
on Thursday, August 8," Mr.
Paul Bailey, acknowledged lead
er of the Interested group, said.
He added that It was hoped as
many as 100 patrons of the
school would go to Raleigh and
appear before the commission.
"We believe we have a meri
torious claim* vjuid that ,we are
due every consideration/' Mr.
Bailey explained.,
Mysterious Story
Heard About Cats
Is Not Mysterious
Vlurk Guplon Tells About His
Unusual Trutie Here
Yesterday
Some time ago an old fellow went
iround the country with an old goat
aking pictures. Armed with an old
?amera, he took pictures for a liv
ng, but some how or other, the good
jeople of this section pictured him
is a German spy. Reports flew thick
ind fast, and according to those re
torts the* old man was questioned,
irrested, jailed and branded as a
ipy There was no truth in the re
>orts.
Given a few days' time, the good
teople forgot all about the old man
ind his old goat. And then Mark
jupton, a world war veteran with a
?ervice record and an honorable dis
?harge. came along gathering up all
he stray cats he could get his hands
Well, the good citizens just knew
hey had a spy this time. But they
lid not travel so fast with him as
hey did with the man and the goat.
Gupton was not reported to have
suffered the alleged fate of the old
photographer. But a bit of mystery
surrounded the collection of cats,
and Gupton, asked for an interview
yesterday, cleared the whole mat
ter up, and today it can be said that
the 41-year-old veteran is doing a
good job in making a living for him
sen ana renaering uie puDm ana
game birds a real service.
Gupton readily answered all ques
tions and offered credentials to
prove that he wag doing a legitimate
business. While it is possible that
he resembles a foreigner, Gupton is
a native Tar Heel. He was born in
Johnston County in or near Four
Oaks. He is now living at R.F.D. 1,
Wslkertown, N. C., not far from
Winston-Salem. Injured in the World
War, he was not able to return to
his old job at the end of the con
flict. His compensation was so small
that he bad to do something to
make a living, so he started out
(Continued on page six)
ffiliit Pierce Booked For
Trial On Liquor Charge
Said to have violated the liquor
laws back in January of this year
when officers found a certain amount
of illegal liquor in his possession al
leged for the purpose of sale, Willis
Pierce, Free Union colored man,
was bound over to the Federal Court
for trial next October by United
States Commissioner Walter Halber
stadt at a hearing held here Wednes
day.
Bond, required in the sum of $500,
was raised by Pierce.
The man had successfully eluded
arrest until a few days ago. Pierce
was booked on h seronrt ehargp in
connection with the operation of a
liquor still near his home, but the
evidence was not considered suffi
cient to substantiate the charge and
the case was dismissed.
Farm ville - Woodard
Company Will Build
Two New Dry Kilns
LtM'iil Plant Iiiorinwe* Capa
city Following Rig Firr
At Hohgootl
While definite plans await a fi
nal decision by the owners, the
management of the Farmville-Wood
ward Lumber Company here today
stated that arrangements were be
ing advanced for enlarging the
firm's local plant. The proposal to
materially increase the capacity of
the local plant comes within one
week of the big fire that destroyed
the huge Farmville-Woodward mill
in Hobgood.
Earlier this week the local plant
started operating with two shifts in
an eftort to maintain as near as poS7"
sible in organization and to fill in
creasing orders. The company's pay
roll has been materially increased
almost over night, and large num
bers of additional men will be em
ployed in the construction of new
units to the plant
According to information coming
from Mr. Lean Speight, local plant
manager, the company is planning
the construction of two new dry
kilns and the addition of a fourth
boiler to its plant. The dry kilns will
be 100 by 20 feet in size, Mr. Speight
explaining that construction work
on the new buildings is scheduled to
get underway immediately. Orders
for additional plant equipment are
pending, it was learned.
No estimate could be had in con
nection w ith the payroll increase,
but it is believed that the company
will maintain within a short time
one of the largest payrolls in this
immediate community.
Since taking over the old Murray
McCabe plant here several years
ago, the company has distributed a
greater part of its lumber from this
point, shipments coming here from
Hobgood by rail for transfer to boats
and barges on the Roanoke.
Fire, said to have started in the
dry kilns, destroyed the company's
huge plant in Hobgood last Friday
afternoon, causing a loos estimated
as high as $100,000. Officials of the
firm have held several meetings to
map future plans, but no official an
nouncements have been made.
Opposition Grows
Against Operation
uor Stores
Of Liqi
Beaufort County Citizens Are
Signing Petition For
An Election
?
The .legal sale of liquors in coun
ty- and state-operated stores is fac
ing a growing opposition, one Mar
tin citizen venturing to say that if
the people of this county were giv
en the opportunity they would vote
to close the stores. In the face of past
elections held in connection with the
liquor problem, the expressed be
lief would appear without founda
tion. However, numerous expres
sions coming from individuals
throughout the county indicate that
there is a marked increase in the
opposition to the legally-operated
stores.
Commenting on the change in at
titude as it relates to the legal sale
of liquors, a representative citizen
said this week that he was on the
main street of Everetts talking with
a dozen or more men recently. One
out of the group voted against the
legal sale of liquor in the 1935 elec
tion. The others voted for the stores
at that time. The group, according
to the report, is now unanimous in
its stand against the operation of the
legal stores.
Advancing his campaign over a
wide territory in the county earlier
this year, a candidate for a public
county office stated that he was sur
prised to learn there had develop
ed so much opposition to the opera
tion of the stores.
Most of thos^ expressing opposi
tion to the stores troubled to ex pl?n
the foundation for their opposition,
and it is possible that this, a recog
nized wet county, is not so much
against the liquor itself as it is
against the methods of operating the
legal stores They point out that li
quor prices are too high, that too
much money is being sent out of the
county to Raleigh to maintain un
necessary boards'and pay handsome
salaries to political appointees. They
also point out thattuo much money
is being sent out of the county and
State to other sections of the
the legal sale of liquor will not solve
economic problems, but that it ac
tually retards economic progress.
No organized effort has been ad
vanced in this county for having the
authorities call a special election, but
reports state that other counties, wet
during the past few years, are fol
lowing the lead of Johnston County
in placing the question before the
voters again. Beaufort County is said
to have qpccessfully circulated a pe
tition for an election. One report
maintained that over three thousand
persons had signed the petition, but
as far as it could be learned here no
election has been called by the
Beaufort authorities
?A recent report from Wayne
County states that the dry forces
(Continued on page six)
LIBRARY HOURS
Striving to better serve Its
ever-increasing number of pa
trons, the local public library
recently adopted a schedule of
longer hours. The new sched
ule was adopted following a
meeting of the library commit
tee a few days ago.
The library, according to the
new schedule, Is now open each
day from 9:00 o'clock a. m. to
12:30 p. m. and from 7:00 to 8:30
o'eloek p. m.
Thousands of Tobacco Referendum Ballots
Ready for Use in Martin County Saturday
Thousands of tobacco referendum ballots are being distributed throughout the
producing areas in six states for use at the polls on Saturday, July 20. It is estimat
ed that nearly 3,500 ballots will be used in this county if anything like a rapacity
vole is polled. Martin farmers are urged to participate in the referendum. Below iit
a reproduction of the ballot that will be used on Saturday.
FLUE-CURED TOBACCO MARKETING QUOTA. REFERENDUM BALLOT
Vote One Quettion Only
Question
1
Question
2
Question
3
Are you in favor of the quota which has
been proclaimed for the one marketing year
beginning July 1, 1041, and also in favor of
having marketing quotas in effect for three
marketing years beginning on the same date?
If so, put 'X" in this box.
Are you opposed to having marketing quo
tas in effect for three marketing years but
in favor of the quota which has been pro
claimed for the marketing year beginning
July 1, 1941? If so, put "X" in this box.
Are you opposed to quotas- for both one
year and three years? If so, put "X" in this
box. ?
For 1941 And Aluo Tin* Two
Following Year*
Again*! 3 Yrurn
Rut For I <>41
Against 1941, 1942, and 1943
Authorities Predict Farmers of
This County Will Give Tobacco
w
Program F avorable Y ote Saturday
Opposition Likely
To Cast Big Vote
In Leaf Election
Vote Cast in December, 1938,
And October, 1939.
Reviewed
With the opposition allegedly
working secretly, agricultural lead
ers are anticipating an increased
vote against the tobacco control pro
gram in the referendum tomorrow.
While the opposition is almost cer
tain to increase its vote, little inter
est on the part of those who favor
the program is cert tun to he reflect -
ed in the size of the vote for the pro
gram
Reports from the field indicate
that the present situation is simi
lar to the one in December, 1938.
when farmers showed little interest
in the tobacco problem and the pro
gram failed of passage. The vote in
this county, while giving the program
a big majority, was 1.2iH> short of
the voting strength. The program
received 2.404 votes as compared
with the opposition's 287 votes. In
October of last year when farmers
had tobacco ready for market and
could not sell it, they voted 3,367
for a program, the opposition polling
only 26 votes.
Speaking before a meeting of 42
fanners in Bear Grass Wednesday
evening. Elder A. B Ayers referred
to the vulture eating the carcass of
an animal partially buried in an
iceberg. The bird saw the berg mov
ing toward a waierfaHr-buV-ftg'Tiepf
on eating. Just as the iceberg start
raised his wings, but finding his feet
frozen in the ice he went to his de
struction. The bird moved too Inte,
"and if the farmers wait until next
Monday to vote, it will be too late.
They will be facing destruction just
as the bird faced his doom.' Mi Ay
ers said.
The vote cast in the last October
referendum for 1940 quotas fol
lows, by states:
Yes No Pet.
Georgia 15.780 2.600 85 6
Florida 2.260 496 82 0
Alabama 18 2LJ87.5
N. Carolina 147,717 15.004 90 8
S. Carolina 20.474 2.353 89 7
Virginia 18.510 2,395 88 6
The December, 1938. and October,
1939, votes cast in this county for and
against the establishment' of quotas
for 1939 and 1940 respectively. fol
low by districts.
1940 Quota 1939 Quota
Yes
No
yes
No
Jamesvillc
292
10
217
47
Williams
144
0
106
17
Griffins
380
3
268
10
Bear Grass
365
3
250
33
572
1
445
33
Cross Roads
335
1
219
22
Robersonville
472
5
274
86
Gold Point
140
0
1 19
6
Hamilton
117
0
114
9
Hassell
152
1
135
3
Goose Nest
398
2
258
40
Totals 3387 26 2404 287
'Includes Poplar Point vote
Last October when the markets
were closed, the six states produc
ing flue-cured tobacco voted 204,
1 (Continued on page six)
??
Lightning Claims
Sectnul Victim on
Farm In C.onnty
i Robenonville H< raid1
James Wilson. Negro, was in
stantly killed by lightning last
Friday evening at 7 o'clock on
the Sam Andrews farm which
is now owned and operated by
Charlie Hurst.
Wilson, son of Tom Wilson,
was standing in the open front
door of a tenant house occupied
by his brother, to which he had
come. leading a mule, as a place
of refuge from the pelting rain.
Though terribly frightened the
mule was not visibly injured.
However, he did plunge and rear
on his hind legs from the shock.
Wilson. 30 years old. leaves
five children and a wife with
out support.
This Is the second death rec
orded in a period of four years
from lightning on this same
farm. (irey Hauls, white, was
?killed by a bolt of lightning on
the Andrews farm four years
ago.
Hitler Declares
Germany Prepared
For Loii* Struggle
p rr
????
M.iki- ItouHiful Speech lt<
>r?' Itt'ii-liKla^!; "PfiHiiiflt's
Armv Stuff _
In a long "pep" talk to the Heieh
stag thus afternoon Adolf Hitler,
"WoTTcTs Public Enemy No 1,~TT
viewed the empty military accom
plishments of his barbarian forces
and loudly boasted of German's po
sition to carry on tin- war for years.
Some observers recognized 111 his
talk a signal for the launching of a
blitzkrieg attack on the British Isles
Whatever his immediate plans are.
the mad killer expressed confidence
in them, and boasted loudly about
German's power to overrun all forces
Contrary to- his desires and hot
wishes
It was promotion day in the Gel
man service, the mad man advancing
scores of men to higher positions in
the army and air corps Little was
said about the navy men. Possibly
the navy is without daring officers
In his review of his country's emp
ty military accomplishments. Hitler
said that the loss of manpower was
not as great as had been anticipat
ed. The loss of arms and equipment
in overrunning Poland, Norway,
Holland, Belgium and France was
negligible, the scoundrel audaciously
stating that tlioie was an overpro
duction in armaments, and that the
storage rooms were filled to over
flowing "Our military power today
is greater than it was a few months
ago. We will soon he a self-sustain
ing nation, and we will he able to
carry on war for five years," Hitler
boasted
Hp reviewed? the events leading
up to the war, and told how Eng
land had planned to invade Norway
and Sweden and to drag tin* Balkans
into the conflict. He traced the ori
gin of the war to the Treaty of Ver
sailles. forgetting that his own Ger
many had made no effort to repay
the damage done by the German
armies in 1914-18. His talk clearly
indicated that all other peoples are
inferior,, that the Germans arc the
chosen people and that they must
and will dominate the world
For an hour and forty-five min
utes, Hitler continued to attack dem
ocratic government, praise the move
of the yellow cur, Mussolini He re
ceived great ovations during his long
declaration of might.
~ttenunlelmf( Blitzkrieg
Striken Main Street
a
(Continued on page six)
A remodeling blitzkrieg, carrying
the marks of a Nazi bomb, struck
on the corner of Main and Smith
wick Streets here this week when
workmen started tearing down the
fronts on the buildings housing the
Alpha Cleaners on the corner and
Willard Shoe Shop, next di^or.
Wooden supports used , in con
struction of the buildings Were rot
ting and are to be replaced by steel
girders. The fronts will be modern
ized to a certain extent, according
tu their owners, Messrs C B. Clark
and E. M. Gurdy.
Constructed about the year 18g8,
according to Warren'H. Biggs, the
corner buiTdlng Is the oldest bflCk
structure now standing on Main
Street. It was built by Mr. Biggs' fa
ther, the late S. R. Biggs, when
Warren was about four or five years
old.
w
Future Welfare Of
Farmers Dermis
On Saturday Vote
? *
4 anipui^n Is Brmi)ilil 1 ?> a
('Iiim1 in the <'t>11 ill> tin
VIViIim-mIuy
Although they are not at all cer
tain about the size of the vote, agn
cultural leaders in this county to
day are of the opinion that Martin
farmers will give the tobacco con
trol program an overwhelming ma
jority in the referendum tomorrow.
The campaign for a planned program
was brought to a close in the coqntJL.
Wednesday- evening when commun
ity meetings were held at Bear
Grass, Williams and Farm Life, the
drive having been climaxed by mass
meetings at Williamston early this
month and in Robersonville last
Tuesday night
Speaking to 400 farmers at a Farm
Bureau meeting in Robersonville
last Tuesday evening; Will Rogers,
of the State Extension Division, ap
pealed to the farmers to support the
program and declared that their
future welfare and lliat of the to
bacco sections depended on the vote
to be cast Saturday.
Before the speech-making began,
approximately 400 farmers, inelud
ing a number of colored farmers and
tenants, were served a plate con
sisting of delicious barbecue, stew,
slaw and bread with a glass of lem
unade thrown in on the side. They
were guests of the Martin County
-Farm Bureau FedeValien
We are facing a situation that is
too serious for the average mind to
comprehend and unless we approve
this three year contract, no one can
fnri I en .11' 1i-ll )' ' 1 11111 fn
wrtt-be up against for the nekl lew
years." Mr. Rogers pointed out "We
must have a majority of two-thirds
I to make the program constitutional
and without the work and the coop
eration of the farmers the program
I may he defeated
I Mr Rogers said he did not wish
or desire to paint a dark or gloomy
picture but when we have no for
cign markets there is no one to as
>ist the farmer ether than the gov
eminent "The acreage must be kept
in line with the demand and last
year we laised one billion anil four
hundred million pounds of tobacco,
giving us a surplus of over 400,
000.000 pounds. This condition or
, IV ne t I" It null fliutch ,ITIcr~
the quicker we adjust our produc
jion to conform with the consump
tion. the quicker our farming pro
gram will reach a profitable basis.
Mr Rogers emphatically pointed
out that the domestic companies
could not, and would hot, buy all the
tobacco I'llliU'd in the B ?t- ecpbr
companies have no faith and have
no confidence tn an alternating pro
gram. that is operating one year un
der control and out of control the
next year The three-year program
will have a stabilizing effect and it
it the only means we have of meet -
ing a situation that is serious beyond
description," the speaker said.
Ahram Robcrson, who acted as
chairman "I tin met ting next in
troduced Tom Scott, chairman of the
Stale committee Mi Scott, a native
and resident of Johnston County,
spoke briefly to the farmers and he
too appealed that they support the
measure at tic polls next Saturday
Haywood Dail, with his good hu
(Continued on page si*)
Church League To
Moot Hero Sunday
The Young People's Interdenomi
national League will hold its next
meeting in the local Baptist church
Sunday afternoon at 3 ill o'clock
when an interesting program will be
offered by members of the group.
Meeting with Miss Mary Elizabeth
Keel in the home of Mr and Mrs
P. H. Brown last Tuesday evening,
council members formulated the
program which centers around the
topic, "What Shall 1 Do With My
Life?" A feature on the program
will be a talk by Miss Jean Vinson,
of Texas. She will have for her sub
ject, "Deciding My Life's Work."
Other features on the program
are, "Where Shall I Serve?" by Miss
Ruby Wynne, of Roberson's Chapel,
and "Guidance in Making Decision,"
by Hubert Hardison, of Poplar
Point.
"Every young person in the coun
ty is invited and urged to attend
this meeting. Pastors of the various
churches are asked to make sure
that (Mir church Is represented, as
this is one of the greatest youth
movements to have taken place in
this county. Let every church, re
gardless of denomination, hack this
movement."