North Carolina Newspapers

Watch The Label On Your Paper, As It Carries The Date Your Subscription E x p i r ? a Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns A Latchkey To Over 1,800 Homes Of M s r t i n County. VOLUME XLIV?NUMBER 60 W illiamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, July 29, 1941. ESTABLISHED 1899 Conditions Calling For Reduction In 1942 Tobacco Crop Hulaon Sayt* Defense Sharing Not More Than 18 Per Cent of Production ? Ably discussing the tobacco situa tio^and pointing out the need of a 10 per cent reduction in the crop next year. J B. Ilutson. president of the Commodity Credit Corporation in an address to the eastern section i . ~ farm Bureau ?n Greenville last Friday afternoon, predicted that tobacco prices on the markets this fall would average about three cents a pound higher than those of a year ago. Mr. Hutson's address, offering a complete picture of the tobacco sit uation as it relates to war and a sen sible program for the tobacco farm er, follows in its entirety: It has now been almost two years since the outbreak of the war in Europe and more than a year since we began our own defense prepara tions. A great deal has happened during this war period in Europe and this defense period at home. In Eu rope we have seen the Hitler war machine crush through country af ter country until it controls practi cally all of continental Europe. As the peoples of Europe have lost their liberties, we have found it im practicable in some cases, and impos sible in others, to maintain normal re ations with them One of the re sults of this has been the loss of mar kets for some of our important prod uc We have maintained more nearly normal relationships with the people of the United Kingdom but due to the war, we have had a mark ed increase in the demand for some products going to the United King dom and a substantial reduction in the demand for other products In this country a great deal of progress has been made during the past year in getting ready for our part in this world struggle. A solid foundation has been laid and war materials are now beginning to be produced in volume. Because of the great diversity of interest of our peo Pie it has required some time, per haps longer than it should have re-\ quired for us to get organized for the job ahead. We do now have a better understanding than in the be ginning of the viewpoints of the dif ferent groups that make up our na tion. Factories have been enlarged and new ones built. Shifts in farm production are beginning to be made so that our farm people can contrib ute their part more effectively. ?nur to the hcginmngof the war less than 2 per cent of our farm and industrial plant capacity and labor were devoted to national defense, and the production of war materials At present we are devoting something like 18 per cent of our total capaci ties and energies to these purposes The production of defense and war materials will soon equal the pro duction reached at the close of the last world war. Changes are taking place dailyi For example, the average number employed in the aircraft industry in 1*88 was approximately 38.000- in 1939 49,000; it is now well above 300,000 and by August it will be at least 450,000, and by 1942 the requir ed average is estimated at approxi mately 850.000 The increase in this industry has been ten-fold already and plans call for an increase up to almost 28 fold. Similar changes have taken place in the manufacture of tanks, muni tions and other defense materials We now have on hand twice as many military airplanes as we had on hand a year ago, and indications are that by the end' of this year we will have twice as many as we have now. Work is almost half completed on over 700,000 tons of ships. We have al most twice as many fields of field artillery as we had a year ago, and more than twice as many rifles In the beginning we had relatively few tanks: now light tanks are being pro duced in volume and some heavy tanks have been completed Produc tion along all of these lines will need to increase for several months to come and then be maintained at a relatively high level for many more months before we are fully prepar ed to meet Hitler's challenge In large part, up to this time, both in agriculture and in other indus tries, the increase in the production (Continued on page six) Portion Of County Tobacco Crop Lost Unusually warm westhtr follow ing a rainy season is playing havoc with the tobacco crop in many sec tions. While there are considerable losses being reported in this county the damage is not near as great as il is in most of the surrounding terri tory. The leaf is ripening or burning sc rapidly that fanners haven't the fa cilities for handling it. Barns are be ing taxed to capacity, and old onei are being patched for emergency us< but even then the crop is burn in j before it can be taken from the fielc in many instances. Those farmers who are pullini their tobacco from two to three timet a week are reporting unusually gooc cures. Indict Owners For Failing To List Property In The County I ' Warrants, charging nearly 300 cit izens with failing to list their prop erties 01 polls, are being issued by Tax Supervisor S. H. Grimes in ac cordance with an order handed down by Judge W. C. Harris in the Martin County Silperior Court in June The first of the warrants were drawn today and are returnable be fore his honor, Judge W H. Coburn. in the county recorder's court on Au gust 11th. Starting out with approximately 1.000 citizens whose names could not be found on the tax books, the tax authorities state that several hun dred listed and paid their taxes dur ing the thirty days of grace allowed by the court order. The addresses of quite a few persons who, it is believ ed. should have their names on the tax books, could not be determined, leaving about 300 to face the courts. According to rumors heard, some of those persons who have not list ed their property or poll for taxa tion are being misled The round-up to get all names on the tax books that should be there, has been brand ed as a smart scheme to "scare" the people, the advisers going so far as to even assure those who have not listed that nothing will be done about it. Well, the first warrant was issued this morning, and others are being prepared just as rapidly as two typists can turn them out. If a warrant is drawn and served on a non-lister, he muy pay all taxes due and get off with $2.35 cost. If the case is docketed for trial, he will be called upon to pay all taxes and $10 90 costs. If he is unable to pay the taxes and costs, he is subjected to be sentenced to the roads. No more warnings are being issued, and the authorities are determined to prosecute violators of the tax laws. FIRST WARRANT The first warrant in the final round-up of non-tax listers in this county was placed in the hands of the sheriff early this afternoon. Ebron Spruill, color ed, of Everetts, was the first to have his name appear on a war rant which is returnable before Judge W. H. Cobum in the rec order's court on Monday. Au gust 11th. If Spruill and others who are being indicted for not listing their properti CS beat the war rants back, they can escape much of the court costs. While the practice of withdrawing the warrants may not be legal, such procedure is bring considered when the facts merit such action, it is understood. Work On Widening I J. S. Highway 17 Is Started Monday 1 & Thirty Men from Three Coun ties Assigned lo Defense Project Here ? Delayed several weeks for one rea son or another, work on widening U. S. Highway No. 17 between here arid the Beaufort County line was start tuLyesterdav whpn the Works Prr,e. ress Administration started assem bling men from three counties and placed orders for materials. Few de tails could be had in connection with the project, but action followed a meeting of the highway commission i Raleigh last week. Working in cooperation with the highway commission, the WPA transferred thirty Then from two projects in tins county and from oth ers in two adjoining counties yester day. I- It. Marsh, of Beaufort Coun ty, will supervise the project it was learned. According to information gained here, an asphalt plant will be located on the road leading off U. S. 17 at the Old Mill Inn, WPA workers, us ing state highway trucks, are to start hauling materials there immed iately while others will start clear ing rights-of-way for the elimina tion of curves. This type of work will be started just beyond the Old Mill Inn, one report stating that most of the sharp curves in the route would be eliminated or lengthened. It is estimated that the WPA force will be materially increased within a short time, but other details as they relate to completion dates could not be learned. The present plans call for, in addi tion to eliminating most of the curves, the widening of the road by four feet or two feet on each aide. After the road is widened about two inches of sand asphalt will be placed on the entire surface. Lpp Home, Taken III In Conteay, Relurni Home ? Lee House, prominent Martin County man who was taken quite ill while in Conway, South Carolina, last Wednesday, returned to his home near Rohersonville Sunday af ternoon. He made the trip in an am bulance, last reports stating that his condition is somewhat improved. MOVED Williamston'i public library U now in Its new quarters in the town hall, the librarians Includ ing Mrs. J. C. Cooke and town worker* having moved the book# and equipment there this morn ing. The institution, housed in a room in the American Legion Hut for the past three years, Is gaining in aise and popularity. ~ <? Patrons of the library who have books in their imam ?Inn are asked to return them to the library in the new quarter* when the books are doe. No new books will be released before Thursday or not until they can be properly classified and plae Plans Go Forward For Widening The River Bridge Here ? Wur Department Will Hold Hearing on Application in r.ourtlioiiHe Next Week ? Preliminary plans for widening the present bridge across the Roan oke River at this point are fast shap ing tip and definite action is expect ed on Friday of next week when the War Department holds a hearing on a state highway application for permission to place a new structure across the stream and to construct a temporary bridge to accommodate traffic while the new unit is being installed. Boatmen were said to have come here last week-end to study the sit uation, and it is possible that oppo sition to the present ?plans will be off cried. Detailed plans for widening the bridge have not been made public, but it is understood that the pres ent structure including the pivot bridge and fenders, will be removed. Following is a notice issued last week-end by the United States En gineer Office of the War Depart ment, Wilmington: The application of the North Car olina State Highway and Public Works Commission for approval of plans for the reconstruction of the draw span in the existing highway bridge and the construction of a temporary highway bridge across Roanoke River at Williamston, N. C-, will be considered at a public hear ing to be held by the undersigned in the County Courthouse, Williamston N. C., at 11:30 A M . Friday, August 8, 1941 All interested parties are invited to be present or to be represented at the above time and place, particu larly the crfficials of any county, city, town, or local association whose in terests may be affected by the pro posed work. They will he given an . opportunity to express their views upon the suitability of the location and the adequacy of the plans in ref erence to navigation, and to suggest I changes considered desirable. Oral statements will be heard, but for accuracy of record all important | facts and arguments should be sub mitted in writing, as the records of the hearing will be forwarded for consideration by the War Depart ment. Written statements may be j handed to the undersigned at the hearing or mailed to him before hand. According to plans submitted by the applicant the reconstructed bridge will have a draw span with a horizontal clearance of 60.0 feet (20 feet less than the present clearance (Continued on page six) Call For Aluminum Answered In County Martin County people today are completing a round-up of scrap aluminum, incomplete reports from the campaign indicating that an un usually large amount of the scrap metal is being made available for defense. Estimated to weigh between six and seven hundred pounds, the collection here far exceeded expec tations. \Getting behind the movement, in terested citizens under the chair manship of L. B. Wynne, really went after the old metal. The Scouts can vassed the high places in town. Of ficer Ai'shr""!*! combed the outly ing districts, and Rural Letter Car rier Bob Leggett did an effective work in several rural communities. "Dummy" Speight, colored man, dug into old trash piles and carted a number of old pots and pans to the bin in front of the town hall. The movement had the support of a peo ple united in their efforts for defense of the nation. No definite reports have been re ceived from other communities, but It is understood that the collection of the scrap was very successful. Plans for gathering the metal in to a central location in the county for moving it to Raleigh are now being made. This Week In Defense Acting Secretary of State Welles said present Japanese activities di rected toward Indo-China endanger "peaceful use by peaceful nations of the Pacific . . . jeopardize the pro curement by the United States of es sential materials such as tih and rub ber . . . necessary for . . . our defense program . . ." He said the safety of other areas, including the Philippine Islands, also is eriflfcmgered. The President issued a statement that the United States has been let ting oil go to Japan "with the hope ?and it has worked for two years ?of keeping the war out of the South Pacific for our own good, for the defense of Great Britain and the freedom of the seas . . Mr. Roosevelt told his press con ference events in the Far East are bringing to the American public a greater awareness of the danget* of the whole world situation. But as yet, he said, the public is not suffi ciently cognizant of the perils of the situation, any more than it realizes the dangers of war in the West. Army Secretary of War Stimson said production of vital items has been increased with the cooperation of American industry during the past "100 crucial days" as follows: Light tanks. 475 per cent; medium tanks, 467 per cent; smokeless powder, 127 per cent; machine guns, 93 per cent; TNT, 92 per cent; training planes, 55.7 per cent; bombers, 17.8 per cent. The War Department said Army expansion has progressed -faster in the past year than the manufacture of modern weapons, but since it is more important to know how to em ploy a weapon tactically rather than to know how to fire it, "little train ing value is lost by the substitution of a stove pipe for a mortar or an oak bough for a machine gun." If a company has fewer guns than men, the guns are rotated so each man has a chance to learn how to handle them. The War Department said it is giving four types of tests to discover a trainee's ability and to help find Ins "right" place in the Army. Se lective Service Headquarters an nounced that 752,572 twenty-one year-olds registered on July 1st. Highways Congress passed a $320,000,000 de fense highway bill for construction of roads and experimental airplane landing strips, and to pay states for damages from Army and Navy -ma neuvers. Aid To Britain < L?Federal?Loan Administrator Jtmes announced the RFC has authorized a loan of $425,000,000 to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to pay for war sup plies Great Britain ordered before the Lend-Lease act was passed. Mr. Jones said Great Britain has put up collateral which includes securities f U. S. corporations, capital stock r>f 41 British owned U S. insurance companies worth $300,000,000, and the earnings of U. S. branches of 41 British insurance companies which have net assets of approximately $200,000,000. The loan matures in 15 years and bears interest at 3 per cent per year. v Power OPM Director General Knudsen named J A. Krug, OPM Power Con sultant, head of a special power unit to assure an uninterrupted supply of electrical energy by reducing con sumption in non-defense industries, and, if necessary, by rationing pow er where shortages are threatened. Mr. Krug said vast "power pools" will be created to insure adequate supply of electricity for aluminum and magnesium plants now under construction. He said one has already been formed for aluminum plants in Tennessee and others are being con sidered for Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, the southern sec tions of Kansas and Missouri, and for the Northeastern lection, includ (Continued on page six) ? ? Bear Grass Vital Statistics In 1940 Hear Grass Township had a ratio of births over deaths of almost sev en to one last year, the bureau of county vital statistics recording 41 births and seven deaths. Odd as it may seem, there were no deaths among the colored population re ported in the district during the per iod. Twenty-five of the 41 births were among the white population, and six of the 16 colored births were of doubtful parentage, p A man 68 years old became the father of his twelfth child last year. The mother was forty years old. A third child was added to tip family in one home where the mother was just 19 years of age. Two mothers of illegitimate" tots had barely turned 16. Nearly half of the mothers were attended by midwives, doctors re ceiving no calls to colored homes. The seven death victims ranged in age from a few hours to 88 years, the average age for the group be ing just a little over 36 years. Pre mature birth resulted in two deaths, one death each being attributable to heart trouble and rheumatism. Cere bral hemorrhages accounted for two deaths, and cause of death could not be determined in two other cases. Change In Schedule Causes Ve?y Little Confusion Locally Williamston people, in accordance with the wishes of the President of the United States and at the call of Governor J. M Broughton. switched from Eastern Standard Time to a daylight saving schedule sometime during Sunday night, numerous re ports statingfhat the change was effected without much trouble and that little or no confusion resulted. A few persons complained about ad vancing the getting-up time yester day morning, but the trying exper iences surrounding that ordeal were forgotten and ntore than offset when weary typists, office workers, clerks and others laid down their pens and tools an hour earlier yesterday after noon. As far as it could be learned, the change was just about unanimous locally, one or two housewives of a not-too-stubborn individualism de claring that they were not going to change their dinner hour for any body. Mill whistles sounded an hour earlier. Some good morning fresh air found its way into the stores, and as a whole the new schedule went into effect orderly and without any trouble. * There were a few who belittled the movement, but if the seriousness of the situation could be grasped, there would be no complaining and a greater willingness-to abide by the new schedule and to do other things in behalf of defense. Reliable reports state that authorities in some defense areas have been combing towns in this part of the State, plead ing and begging for every single kil owatt of electricity that can possi bly be spared. The baseball hour has now been definitely set, and after tonight, games will start at 8:30 instead of the nine o'clock hour tonight More Selectees To Leave County For Army On August 6 Kleven Yoiin Men Gel Instruc tion* from Draft Board This Week 1 After pending off twenty three young white men on Wednesday of last week, the Martin County draft board this week is sending out in structions for eleven more to report for possible army service on August 6th. The original quota called for 14 young white men, but out of twen ty-two examined recently, four fail ed to pass the physical examinations, three were reclassified when they established dependency and. four were deferred on account of occu pation. The deferments were grant ed young farmers who proved they were in the middle of a crop and that hardships would result if they were called into the service at this time. The names of the eleven men scheduled to leave the county on Wednesday, August 6th, are Da I lie Merry, of Everetts; Jesse Earl Wynne and Alton Morris Lynch both of Hamilton; William Council Haislip, of Williamston; Dallas'Mur ly Harden, of Hardens; Jesse Wilson Griffin, of Williamston Route 2 and Elizabeth City; Augustus Edison Moore, of Williamston Route 1; Paul Graham Swinson, of Williamston; Julius Lee Revels, of Williamston Route 1; Woodrow Bullock Sugg, of Jamesville, and Elbert Harvey Whichard, of Robersonville. The young men are to report to the in duction center at Fort Bragg The first three men, Merry, Wynne, and Lynch, volunteered their services. On August 22, fifteen colored se lectees are scheduled to leave this county for army service. No new white registrants are in cluded in the group Scheduled to leave the county on Wednesday of next week, but it is possible that one or two new colored registrants will be included in the group scheduled to leave the county on the 22nd. The first questionnaires are being mailed this week to new registrants Thirty of the questionnaires were mailed Monday, covering order num bers within the S-567 to S-1095 group. Twenty-two hundred ques tionnaires had already been mailed to the old registrants, and it is un derstood that about 50 more ques tionnaires will be mailed to the new registrants before their numbers are brought up to date with those of the old registrants. After that point is reached, the distribution of ques tionnaires to the new registrants will (Continued on page six) Rationing Of Cas Is A Possibility Voluntary reductions in the con sumption of gasoline having failed to bring results, the rationing of gas oline along the Atlantic Seaboard is now seen as a possibility. A renewed appeal is being directed to car own ers, and if there jpn't a marked cur tailment shortly, rationing cards are to be expected, according to reliable sources. In his last appeal to motor ists in the Atlantic States from Maine to Florida, Harold L. Ickes, Petrol eum Coordinator, pleads for a one third reduction in gas consumption, beginning right now. The lower consumption schedule is expected to last through the coming winter. "There has been virtually no evi dence of a drop in gasoline consump tion," an informed source declared, since Mr. Ickes' first call for a 20 per cent reduction last June and his rec ommendation of July 20. "The alter native fast approaching is rationing ?and nobody wants that." Continued high consumption would bring not only a shortage of automo bile fuels but would cut down on shipments of fuel oil used In nation al defense plants and to heat homes, it was said. Commenting further on its action, the committee stressed the fact that gasoline curtailment was necessary because 100 tank ships in the fleet of 200 under American registry "eith er have been taken or called for by the Federal Government." r STILL EMPTY People are getting mighty good in Martin County when the rommon jail remains empty an entire week. Week before last, the jail was emptied for the first time in four years. A liberal patronage was reported that week-end when eight patrons were cared for. A week ago to day. the jail was emptied and Jailer Roy Peel was astounded when the week-end came and went without a boarder being placed there. The jailer, handling odd jobs in and about the jail and court house, is still sticking around and in readiness to receive any and all patrons at any time. Head Issues Ruling On Marital Status -t Modification of Policy of Len iency Toward Married Men Announced 1 Registrants wla> jad. married -on. the eve of induction or after being ordered to report to the. doctor for physical examination will do so at 4heir own risk and?will find?thufr their marriage will not keep them out of the Army. " This wns made clear today by General J. Van It. Metts, State Di rector of Selective Service, as tie an nounced a modification of the for mer policy of leniency toward mar ried men which has been recom mended by State Headquarters. Gen eral Metts stated that a modification in this policy --was made necessaVy by an increasingly large nymber of registrants?wtio-xtre?apparently tm dertuking to abuse the policy of len iency in an effort to evade military service. The modified policy, which was passed^TUT tn ntt ""Srtrcuve Sorv let agencies in the State today, is as follows: "When a registrant acquires mar ried status after issuance of 'Notice to Appear for Physical Examina tion', it should be assumed that both parties concluded the marriage knowing that the registrant was sub ject to early call for service and were prepared to take the consequences, and therefore deferment in such cases would not appear to he justi fied. Hut when a registrant has indi fated on his questionnaire that he is engaged, giving the date set for the wedding, or has given similar in formation in writing to the local hoard and the wedding date falls nf ti r issuance of Notice to Appear fur Physical Examination,' his case should be considered in the same way as those who married after Tf Siiration, as provided by Amend ment No 77 to Selective Service Regulations. Of course, there may be other eondiions which would ob viously emper the above announced modification of policy, e.g., proof (Continued on page six) ? g No Service* In Janienvillc Ha/ilitl Church Sunday ? No servicus ^yyill be held ui the Jamcsville Baptist Church Sunday, August 3rd. A representative of the church stated that the schedule was being changed due to the extremely hot weather. COTTON aSTAMPS i / The first cotton stamps, is sued In connection with the sur plus cotton marketing program, were placed in the hands of Mar tin County people yesterday. Mrs. Charlotte Taylor, operating a farm in Robersonviile, receiv ed the first booklet of the stamps from the office ef the county ageat. Fred Taylor, WUIiamston Township farmer, received the second Issuance The stamps, offered to those farmers who reduced their plantings he lew their regular al lotments, are being released as rapidly as possible. Trend Of Events Is Toward War in the South Paeifie Area 1 " "v (><>rmun Pt'ople Told Now Not To E*|>?'?'t Quirk Victory (krr Russian* While there is an apparent policy of appeasement still clinging to Am ei ican Japanese relations, the trend of events points to a showdown if not actual warfare in the South Pa cific area ere long. Japan has occu pied Indo-China, improving her po sition in the Southern Pacific, and additional moves anticipated in some quarters, will aggravate* the situa tion During the meantime, the Dutch Indies, a spot where th* real rub is expected, have, scrapped their pact which provided oil from the Netherlands Borneo fields for Ja pan's navy, the third largest in the world The pact was scrapped-with the blessings of both Britain and the United States, giving rise to a num ber of questions of serious propor tions. If Japan moves to take over the fields, will Britain and the Unit ed States act? The United States placed in effect last week economic reprisals after Japan occupied Indo-China. The ac tion while "bordering close to steps leading to war. is not believed to hold the serious implications many first believed it held. There is a definite trend toward a continued appeasement policy, the advisability of which can only be determined by the State Department It has been said by business men closely asso ciated with Japanese trade that""the United States would certainly back down when 200.000 workers in the silk business were forced out of work. Whether the United States will back down is a matter of spec ulation. but following the action freezing Japanese holdings in this country, the State Department con tinues to invite Japanese ships into our ports. Whether the United States is still selling oil to kill defenseless Chinese women and children is not known. It is fairly certain that con ditions m the Far Fast are in a ter nble mess just now, and it is now be lieved by many that the militarists were right when they advocated a showdown w ith Japan before Hitler timed it for Ins convehience. If the United States and Britain could strike now while Russia has Ger many occupied, one of the really -scr ious threats of the struggle could be eliminated and without much cost, many believe T7h the- Russian front the Gel' mafis have admitted that a quick victory is not to be expected, and the Get man people back home are he ing warned against raising then hopes too high The task which Boh Reynolds said could be handled by Adoll Hitler and Ins hocHes in less than three weeks is not yet complete and the war is well into its sixth week. Reports, although contradictory to a great degree, leave no doubt but what a terrible slaughter?is result ing in the bloody battles around Smolensk, the city allegedly captur ed by the Germans nearly two weeks ago - ?in air nddress tn the British "peo^. pie last night, Prime Minister Wins ton Churchill recognized the parts Russia and the United States were taking in the war, but he told them that Kngland must play an even gieater role if the war is to be won. lie pointed Out that Britain was win ning the upper hand in the Atlan tic. that more British ships are now being built than at any time during / the World War. / In this country, a wrangle based oil/ deep-seated grievances almost over J Shadowed the events in other parts of the world The august Senate body is arguing over isolationist Senator Wheeler's son and the mailing of a million post cards free under the Senator's franking privileges. The action of the Senate is disgusting to the people of the nation which still looks on Boh Reynold* as the fun niest of the senatorial clowns. Wheel er's son, while entertaining his fa ther's views, wanted to get into a naval officer's training school pos sibly to get something free from the government as his father did in abus ing the franking privilege. The ad miral. learning of the youth's views. explained that the Nttvy-h?d no place for him. Late reports from the Russo-Ger man war state that Germany is on the claim pathw again. A few weeks ago the Nazis claimed they had brok en every vital point in the Stalin line Now they are apparently break ing them all over again, according to the claims. Slight Respite In Weather Predicted After soaring to new high levels for the summer the mercury is ex pected to retreat slightly tomorrow in this section following scattered showers forecasted for late today or this evening. There's been a great deal of talk about the weather since last week-end when the mercury crawled well up into the nineties and the section felt its hotteat spell of the year. While this section was sweltering under a relentless sun, victims in Ohio and several other states were reporting temperatures approaching IOS degrees.