THE ENTERPRISE
PAT DAT
WAR
BOND DAY
STve SMMOIHt?SAVl OOtlAAS
?ijT FOR VICTORY
whh
UNITED STATES WAR
BONDS-STAMPS
VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 43 Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday. May 29, 1942. ESTABLISHED 1899
Class in Nutrition Is
Completed by Local
Women Wednesday
???
Plane Co Forward for Hold
ing Canteen Course Here
This Summer
The Red Cross class in Nutrition,
sponsored by the Junior Woman's
Club and made available through
the (acilities of the Virginia Elec
tric and Power Company, and taught
by their home economist. Miss Irene
James, of the Williamston office,
came to a close Wednesday after
noon.
Enrolled in the class were 60 of
the homemakers of the town. Out of
this number an approximate 40 will
receive a Standard Red Cross cer
tificate. having completed a mini
mum of eighteen hours of class
work. This certificate will entitle
the holder thereof to enroll in a
Canteen course. Miss Naomi Shank,
director of Home Service for the
Power Company, was present; she
fully explained the Canteen work,
pointing out how essential it is,
should emergencies arise, for wo
men to be able to carry on in groups
whether it be to feed soldiers de
tached from their convoys, evacuees
from places more or less in zones of
actual combat, or in sickness or dis
aster to bo equipped to carry on for
our own, administering nourishing
and wholesome food, and maintain
ing sanitary conditions.
This course, too, will require 20
hours of class work and the class
will probably begin about the mid
dle of June should a sufficient num
ber enroll. A minimum of forty will
be required. The class will be open
ed to all women of the town and
community and those interested are
asked to supply this information to
Mrs. B. D. Courtney, Tar Heel apart
ments, phone 210-J.
On the 10th and 17th of June, Miss
James will conduct a class in can
ning; It is earnestly desired that not
only the women of the town, but, al
so, those of the county, will take ad
vantage of?this opportunity.?All
classes will be held at the Woman's
Club, beginning at 1:30 o'clock.
Important is the announcement
that those women who attended the
Nutrition class but who did not have
sufficient hours to entitle them to a
certificate, may enroll in the Can
teen course, and, on completing this
course, become Canteen helpers with
the privilege of wearing arm bands,
but not uniforms.
These services are courteously
and generously supplied by the Vir
ginia Electric and Power Company,
and are appreciated by the town and
community.?Reported
Recover Boy's Body
In River Yesterday
inc mutt-covered body of nine
yesir-old Bobby Davenport was re
covered from the Roanoke River at
Jamesville yesterday morning, the
gruesome task falling to the lad's fa
ther, R R. Davenport, and Edgar
Brown. Investigating the death. Cor
oner S. R. Biggs found there had
been no foul play and ruled that
death was the result of accidental
drowning
Missing since early last Sunday af
ternoon, the boy was last seen on a
dock waiting for a boat ride. Repeat
ed efforts were made by the boy's
father and friends to recover the
body, but they were unsuccessful
until yesterday morning about 8:00
o'clock when it came to the surface
about two hundred yards below the
dock.
The lad, a native of Norfolk, had
moved to Jamesville only a few
weeks ago from Washington County,
and his polite manners and friendli
ness had made him quite popular
among the people of Jamesville. He
-was the son of R. R. and Ruth Olivia
Davenport, of Columbia, and besides
his parents is survived by two broth
ers and a sister.
Funeral services were conducted
at the Horner Funeral Home in
Plymouth yesterday afternoon at
4:30 o'clock by the Rev. Mr. John
son. Interment was in the family
cemetery, near Roper.
?
Swimming Pool To
Open Next Monday
The local municipal swimming
pool will open Its fourth season next
Monday morning at 9 o'clock under
the management of Mrs. W. H. Co
burn and Miss Ruth Manning with
J. D. Woolard, Jr., and Jimmie Man
ning as life guards On week days
the pool will remain open from 9
a. m. to 12, noon, and from 2 to 8 p.
m , and from 7:30 to 9:30 p. m. On
Sundays the pool will be open from
3 p. m. to 7 p. m.
Enjoying a limited patronage last
season, the pool is almost certain to
be a popular spot this summer since
travel has been restricted and will
likely be even more limited later in
the season. Season tickets are now
on sale. "
Sufficient chlorine is being car
ried over from last season to operate
the pool for at least a month or six
weeks and an order has been placed
for more.
Retail Wine Sales Are Likely
To Be Banned I This County
The sale of wine at retail under
the ABC system, in all probability,
will be eliminated in the county in
the near future, according to pre
liminary reports coming from law
enforcement officers. A final deci
sion is being awaited from the ABC
board, and licenses recently issued
may be recalled.
During the meantime, few if any
of the retail outlets are complying
with the law regulating wine sales,
and under that condition licenses
may be revoked or new ones denied. ]
It is understood that several of the
cafes handling wines have lost their
A grade ratings and will not be elig
ible for new licenses. The law stipu
lates that only cafes with an A grade
rating may handle wines.
Self-styled grocery stores handling
wines in the county are also said
to have failed 4o meet the require
ments of the law and will hardly be
eligible for license renewals. It is
understood that wine sales have ex
ceeded the percentage allowance in
proportion to total sales in some
cases and that the dealers would be
ineligible to renew their licenses.
Certain other provisions, such as
limiting sales to certain days dur
ing the week, have not been met.
and some of the dealers will be den
ied new licenses on that count.
While no unusually large amount
of wine is sold and consumed in this
county, law enforcement officers de
clare that they have a great deal of
trouble handling the wine addicts.
It is possible that certain cafes and
groceries are eligible for retail wine
licenses, but that most if not all of
the present wine dealers are not
eligible to renew their sale permits.
It is quite likely that few new li
censes will be requested in the
county.
COMMENCEMENT
The Colon Daily Vacation Bi
ble School will bring to a close
with its commencement one of
its most successful sessions to
night in the auditorium of the
Memorial Baptist Church at l:M
o'clock.
The average attendance has
been very good and the fine
work of both faculty and stu
dents has been of high order.
The school is anxious that the
community attend the closing
exercises and view the exhibits
in the church annex.
An opportunity will be given
the congregation to join with
the school in making an offering
to China Relief, which worthy
service was chosen by the school
as its work for "others" this year.
The program will begin at 8:00
o'clock and will last about an
hour. The public is cordially in
vited.
Judge Robt. Coburn
Calls Ei<iht Cases In
The County's Court
No 1.4-1 l'p Appuri-nl in Drive
To OiihIi tin- llli<-il
l.i<|iior Business
*
Despite sugar rationing, copper
shortages, so-called State control and
heavy punishment for trapped vio
lators, the illicit liquor business ten
aciously hangs on in our economy
Two cases were on the docket in the
county court as a direct result of
alleged violation of the liquor laws
Liquor, itself, accounted for most
of the other ones heard in the court
last Monday.
Judge Robert L. Coburn called
eight cases, disposing of six and con
tinuing two until the latter part of
June. Tile last Monday session at
tracted about a normal size crowd,
the proceedings attracting little more
than passing attention.
Loverne Godard, eighteen-year
old youth charged with drunken
driving, was finally brought to jus
tice after evading his bondsman for
several weeks. Incidentally the bond
was never forfeited, the. court ob
ligingly continuing the trial week
after week. Pleading guilty, the de
fendant was sentenced to the roads
for sixty days and had his license to
operate a motor vehicle revoked for
one year The court suspended the
sentence on condition that he be ac
cepted into the Eastern Carolina
Training School, Rocky Mount, and
remaining there under the supervi
sion and rules governing the insti
tution. As far as it could be learned
Godard's two-year sentence impos
ed in Halifax County for allegedly
resisting arrest, is not to be invok
ed. He was placed on probation in
the Halifax court some time ago.
Godard's sentence was later
changed, the court fining him $50,
taxing him with the cost and re
voking his driver's license for one
year. Steve Kenney, State Proba
tion officer, was contacted and he
was quoted as saying he would "go
along with the court." Godard is still
on probation, and his movements
will be observed by the probation
officer.
Pleading not guilty in the case
charging him with larceny and re
ceiving, Boatman Bland was ad
judged guilty and sentenced to the
(Continued on page six)
ELECTION RETURNS
With the cooperation of pre
cinct election officials and spec
ial reporters. The Enterprise
plans to tabulate and post the
primary election returns in its
windows tomorrow evening. In
dications point to an early com
pletion of the task in this coun
ty, but final returns from the
entire district wUI be deUyed
especially In those counties
where large numbers of candi
dates are in the field.
The polls clone at I'M o'clock,
and the returns should start
- in about an boor later.
Drunken Selectees
Create Problem for
Draft Authorities
llrlieve Su-|Mii>ion of Li<|tior
Salen Would Help Better
Had Situation
Draft authorities, troubled great -
ly in handling instructions from the
Selective Service, are having their
lot aggravated by obstinate drunks
who saturate their bellies and stag
ger in for induction "We terribly
dread those days when men are to
report for induction," a representa
tive of the draft board in this coun
ty said after a group of colored men
was loaded for an army induction
center.
"Instead of recognizing the ser
iousnoss of the mission assigned
them, they render themselves worth
less and a nuisance," an observer re
marked as he watched a group of
colored men getting off to the armv.
Asked to be quiet and use discretion
some of the draftees shout, curse and
stagger. Told they are subject to be .
jailed, the obstinate and repulsive
drunks invariably say they had ra- ;
ther go to jail than to the army, the
curse words flowing from their
mouths in an endless stream. Some
even defy law and order, two of the
very things they are surrendering
their civilian life back home to fight
for, ' ?? ?TT0.?;?~~
Experiencing continued trouble,.
some of the draft board representa- j
tives in this State are of the opinion
that liquor sales should be suspend- !
ed on those days when young men \
are to report for service in the arm
ed forces. The draft board clerk hen
only u few days ago almost pulled
hair from his head as he pleaded
with several in a fairly large group
of men who insisted upon getting
drunk. One turned a pint bottle to
his head and emptied it before the
board clerk could reach him Then
are those in the group who recog
nize the seriousness of their mission
and who resent the action of those
who would make nuisances of them
selves. It is quite evident recently
that thbse who tried to be decent
dttt^jhot want to be near those who
were doing little more than making
fools of themselves.
And after all the "celebrating" is
done, quite a few are rejected as
physically unfit, victims of illiter
acy or some ailment characteristic
of race that is doing more than its
share to plunge head long into de
generacy.
No official report could be had. but
it is understood that well over a
.iilird of- thti draftees were rejected:
UNCLE
SAM
BATTLING TO UPHOLD
Americas
Freedom
THE 24TH WEEK OF THE WAR
President Roosevelt, in a special
message to Congress, reduced his
WPA request for fiscal 1943 from
$465 million to $283 million. He said
the war effort is drawing workers
from every available source, there
by reducing the need for a work re
lief program. To meet labor short
ages. he said, even organized migra
tion of workers may be necessary
The revised WPA program would
provide for an average monthly em
ployment of about 400.000 persons
who will not be hired by private
employers because of age. lack of
skills, or other handicaps."
Chairman McNutt of the War Man
power Commission directed the AJ
S. Employment Service to maintain
lists of skilled occupations essential
to war production in which a nation
al shortage exists, and to make pref
erential referrals of workers to em
ployers in war industries. He direct
ed the WPB to classify war plants
and war products in the order of
their urgency to the war program
He also instructed Selective Service
local boards to confer with local U
S Employment Service offices be
fore reclassifying any men skilled
in war occupations.
Mr McNutt said if it is possible to
insure full utilization of manpower
through voluntary means, "it will
be unnecessary to put into effect le
gal controls" to limit freedom of ac
tion of workers and employers.
He said compulsion "may from
time to time be necessary," howev
er. in the administration of the man
power program. He stated four
fifths of all jobs in vital war indus
tries can be handled bv women
Rubber and Gasoline
The WPB said if Americans do not
conserve the transportation miles in
their tires '* mfiy n" my rvvn
tually to transfer automobiles and
tiros to communities where they are
needed more. The Board reported
no rubber can be spared in 1942 or
1943 to make new tires for ordinary
passenger cars, because the armed
forces need all the rubber the nation
can muster from its stockpile, syn
thetic program and greatly curtail
ed crude sources. The synthetic pro
gram might produce 30,000 tons of
rubber this year and 350.000 tons in
1943. the Board said.
Price Administrator Henderson re
ported a preliminary count of car
owners in Eastern rationing area
showed about 10 per cent received
X ration cards, 31 per cent receiv
ed A cards. II per cent received B-l
(Continued on page six)
MISSING
Two works ago It was report
rd through this paper that Geo.
Benjamin Roebuck, son of Mrs.
G. B Roebuck, of Stokes, had
brrn killed in action. According
to an official notice sent to Mrs.
Roebuck by the Navy Depart
ment her son "was performing
his duty in the Manila Bay area
when that station capitulated."
No report uf his death or injury
has brrn received and he will
be carried on the Navy records
as "mivsing" pending further In
formation. Roebuck, who was a
seaman first class In the navy,
has onr brother, Elmer J. Roe
buck, and onr sister, Mrs. Jer
ome Perkins, of Stokes.
Total Property Values In Martin County
Supported by marked gains in personal property values, the combined property valua
tions, exclusive of corporation listings, in the county this year are nearly a million dollars
greater than they were in 1941, according to preliminary but fairly accurate figures released
a few days ago by the county tax supervisor. The combined real and personal property values
were increased from $10,394,596 in 1941 to $12,138,174 in 1942, a ^ain of,$911,316 or 8 1 per cent.
Every township in the county reported an increase in its combined property valuations, but
the combined listings for the colored owners in Jamesville Township show a small reduction.
As a whole, the figures present the best taxation picture as far as values are concerned, seen
in this county in many years. Tax authorities are holding their breath in anticipation of change
before 1943 listing time rolls around. The figures below, showing combined values for the
years 1941 and 1942, gains or losses and percentages by race and for the several townships, do
not include corporation listings. To be certified later, the corporation figures are expected
to boost the total to approximately fourteen million dollars.
Whit*
Colored
1941
1942
Gain
Pet.
1941
1942
Gain
Pet.
Jamesville
$ 1.646.685
$ 1,764,480
$117,795
7.1
$124,422
$122,138
$ 2,284*
*10
Williams
280,399
296,519
16,120
5.7
36,176
38,819
2,643
7 3
Griffins
573,079
619,223
46,144
8.0
12,790
16,633
3,848
30.0
Bear Grass
565,661
609,309
43,648
7.7
34,241
27,395
6,846
25.0
Williamston ..
2,542,495
2,933,895
391.400
15.4
170.240
191.507 _
21,267
12.5
Cross Roads
542,943
606,090
63,147
116
31,243
37,885
6,642
21.2
Robersonville
1,973,184
2,045,334
72,150
3.7
154,418
175,169
20,751
1.3
Poplar Point
333,660
344,102
10,442
3.1
8,916
11,916
3,470
41 1
Hamilton
872,123
902,239
30,116
0.3
90,968
104,717
13,740
15 1
Goose Nest
1.064,367
1,084,375
20,008
1.2
176,164
199,578
23,414
13.3
$10,394,596
$11,205,566
$810,970
7.9
$832,262
$932,608
$100,346
12.1
*?Denotes decrease.
First Volunteer for WAAC
j Pictured in her home in Manhasset, I<ong Island, Now York with hoi
1 husband Everett and her daughter Evyno is Mrs. Jaync House, th.
[ fiist woman to volunteer for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. The
i corps, authorized by congress, calls for enlistment for non-combatant
I aervice of women between the ages of 21 and 49. Before she volunteered
[Mrs. House had been active in the Red Cross and other war activities
Silent Vote Expeeted
In Primary Saturday
^ide Variation In
Guesses Oil Sizes
Of Vote Reported
Wiir mid ItiilioniiiK Vlmortl
('crlaiil To Hold Null'
To I.oh Fifiurr
War, rationing and general apathy
on the part of the electorate are re
sulting in some wild guessing as to
the size of vote scheduled to be cast
at the thirteen pooling places in this
county tomorrow. Despite the ad
verse factors, there are those who
firmly believe a Sizable vote will be
cast in this county and throughout
the district. Little has been said
about it, but tin- silent vote the vote
that has not been expressed in pre
primary discusMons has many j
guessing, and it is quite possible that j
the untouched vote will have a .j
marked bearing on the election out i
come tomorrow. While there may be \
indifference on the part of many,
there are those who greatly value the
right of the ballot and who will not
miss the opportunity to participate
in the primary tomorrow
Some few who have studied Un
political line-up, weighed the var
ious ? factors and reviewed past pri-!
mary voting records, are, for the
most part, looking for a compara
tively large vole in this county to
morrow The guesses range from a
low of 1,800, offered by J.41. Hoe
buck, to 3,550 offered by Joseph
Griffin. Most of the guesses advanc
ed in the friendly contest range ber
tween 2,500 and 3,000 votes.
It is generally conceded that the
congressional bout will be the main
vote puller in the county, but that
doesn't mean there is no interest in
the other contests. Tin? House race
(Continued on page six)
Si;w ING ROOM I
The Keel Cross Sewing rooms
are kept open each Tuesday
nixht from 8 to 10 o'clock. Ev
eryone who can is urxed to spend
sewing and knitting so that Wil
liamston's quota may be filled.
The sewing room will not op
en as usual during the day each
Tuesday, Mrs. A. K. Dunning,
chairman of the project, stating
that there was very little mater
ial on hand for sewing. The club
will be open each Friday in ad
dition to the Tuesday evening
hours. More material is expect
ed shortly and it is likely that
the rooms will be open lonxer
hours. For the present time,
there is much knitting to be done
and knitters are urxed to par
ticipate in the work.
Nation Now Lookinir
To Youths For Its
Fighting Manpower
Fifth Draft Hf^inlratioil Will
lt<- Ill-lit in Nation On
Tnt'Hilay, Jimr 30
Scheduling its fifth draft registra
tion for Tuesday, June 30, the na
tion, apparently is looking to its
youths for fighting manpower. It is
reliably reported that there Ts a pro
posal to lower .-the minimum age for
compulsory military service to 19
and possibly to 18 years. The meas
ure will he put before Congress soon,
it is believed, but just how it will be
presented has not yet been determin
ed.
Announcing the registration sched
ule^?President Roosevelt declared
that it was advisable "to insure vic
tory. final and complete, over the
enemies ol the United States," by
registering the approximately two
million youths Men. 18 and 19 years
of age and those who have reached
their 20th birthday since last Decem
ber 31 or will have reached that
birth point by June 30, will be re
quired to register. However, under
the present law, men under 20 years
of age arc not subject to military
service. It is reasonable to believe
that the law will be changed to in
clude young men 19 years of age or
younger.
The registration is the fifth order
ed by Mr. Roosevelt since October
16, 1940. With it, the nation will
have enrolled all its men between
18 and 65. Only those 20 through 44
are subject to military service un
der the selective service law, but
(Continued on page six)
SUGAR STAMP
Those persons who must have
their roffee and tea sweetened
and who have a sweet tooth to
satisfy are cautioned that tomor
row is the last day Stamp No. 2
on the sugar rationing card will
Im- acceptable at retail outlets.
Instituted the early part of
this month, the sugar rationing
system la apparently function
ing without murh confusion and
not a great deal of trouble. Com
paratively few books have been
lost and no great number has as
yet applied for extra allotments
for preserving food.
Outcome Of Crucial
Fiditiii" In Russia
r # c
Remains Uncertain
\xi* Turned llaek in Libya
By RAF; Mexico Mukett
War Declaration
While America and Britain are be
lieved to be making meaningful
preparations for action in the Eu
ropean war arena, the outcome of
crucial fighting in Russia is still in
doubt.
Delayed in their drive on Khar
kov, the Russian armies of the Uk
raine were reported again pushing
forward yesterday in their slow and
often interrupted march on Khar
kov, ahd in the I/.yum-Barvenkova
sector to the south, enormous, con
tinuing Soviet pressure was said to
j have halted the German counter-of
fensive and sent it reeling back to
hard-held new positions,
j This was the general picture of
fered in Soviet military dispatches;
the niid-dav communique of the Red
command, however, was restrained
in tone, merely reporting a consoli
dation of positions about Kharkov,
and a continuation of fierce battles
to the south.
Countering the Russian reports,
the Germans are boasting that Gen
eral Sene on Timoskenko's million
I man army will be liquidated within
I ten days to two weeks and that the
eal thing" wvill get underway on
the south Russian front. German
successes there would block Russian
supply lines to the Persian Gulf and
threaten-the middle e&St
There has been little news from
the other war fronts, the absence o!
such reports indicating that things
are going back in China. Reports
from the shipping' lanes, while
brightened by telling action on the
part of the Brazilian air force, are
still disheartening. Five ships were
sunk in a single day this week by
Axis subs. Brazil dispersed a group
of German subs, sinking one and
damaging others. A submarine ten
der was also said to have been cau
turod by Brazilian '"fortes aided by
U S fliers
Mexico Went to war with tier
many yesterday, but a formal dec
titration-by-?President Manuel Avila
Caniacho is not expected before to
morrow.
Axis forces, charging again in
Libya, have been turned back by
the Royal Air Force in its greatest
display of strength in that sector
so far in the war
Late" reports from Libya state that
the Axis have launched a new Cam
paign and Were pushing toward To
bruk with 250 tanks. The RAF is
fighting hack with some success.
Hitler was reported to - have taken
over command at Kharkov, the an
nouncernent coining after the Ger
mans claimed they had won that
crucial battle. Russia is starting a
now drive on a huge scale about 18
miles north of Kharkov Moscow
claimed today that the Germans had
(Continued an page six)
(lonv i<*t Three For
Firing Woodslamls
'
Three pursuits were convicted in
Justice John L. HasseLl's court here
yesterday for alleged violation of
the forest fire laws, and a fourth de
fendant is scheduled for trial in the
county next Monday.
Said to have started a fire in
Cross Roads Township last month
without procuring a permit, James
Johnson was directed to pay $5.50
costs. Johnson pleaded not guilty.
According to the evidence, the de
fendant started the fire that spread
to other lands and caused consider
able damage.
Lester Best, pleading guilty in the
use charging him with starting a
woods fire in Goose Nest Township,
was fined $20 and taxed with $5.70
costs.
James Moore was fined $5 and
taxed with $ti 9 OcosU for starting a
fire in Williams Township last
month.
The fires went out of control and
damaged other lands, Fire Warden
Marvin Leggett explaining that care
lessness was in a large measure re
sponsible for one of the most costly
forest fire losses this past season
than in many years. Other cases are
being investigated.
County Boys (-limb
In Armed Forces
With approximately 400 of its
young men in the armed forces, Mar
tin County is more than holding its
own when it comes to promotions.
Only a few days ago, Wheeler Mar
tin, Jr , of Williamston, was commis
sioned a captain in the Army Air
Corps. It could not be definitely de
termined, but possibly the young
man holds the highest military rank
of any Martin County man in the
Army since the Civil War. Of course
Don Godwin and Bill Harrell hold
ranking positions in the Navy, but
they are "old" boys in the service.
Just recently, Noah H. Gurganut,
young son of Officer and Mrs. J. S.
Gurganus. was promoted from cor
poral to sergeant.
Dixie D. Roberson, ?on of Mr. and
Mrs. Harvey Roberson, of Rob won -
ville, was recently promoted
sergeant to staff sergeant.