The Enterprise
Published Every Tuesday end Friday by the
ENTERPRISE PUBLISHING CO.
WILLIAMS TON, NORTH CAROLINA.
W. C. MANNING
Editor ? 1908-193$
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Entered at the post office in Williamston, N.
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gress of March 3, 1878.
Address all communications to The Enterprise
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Friday, December 4, 1942.
Money For War
Quite a few Martin County citizens, occupied
with every-day duties and plugging away at
the task of feathering their nests, thought they
gained a pretty good idea of war financing last
week when an extensive drive was advanced
by the ladies for the sale of war savings stamps
and bonds. We were told that money was need
ed right here in this county for war financing
not in hundreds or tens of hundreds but by
thousands and tens of thousands of dollars.
Early reports indicate that Martin County citi
zens responded nobly to the call.
But while we were being told that large sums
were needed last month, the United States
Treasury comes forth this month with an ur
gent appeal for the largest single loan in his
tory. December requirements are estimated at
nine billion dollars, the amount eclipsing the
previous seven billion-dollar Fourth Liberty
Loan of 1918.
We get all tangled up when we try breaking
down so big amounts so as to show how many
bonds each person would have to buy to suc
cessfully float a nine billion-dollar loan, so we'll
skip those figures and just stress the need for
everyone, man, woman and child, to invest down
to the last penny in an undertaking that means
so much to everyone of us.
Still Serious
The problem created by a rubber shortage is
still far from being solved and the situation
continues infinitely more serious than we have
been told. That the problem can be handled is
not to be doubted, but until the East Indies are
regained it'll require a great deal of ingenuity
and possibly some sacrifice. To date, there has
been a marked inclination to grumble and com
plain with little sign of ingenuity or coopera
tion.
The rubber situation today presents a dismal
picture. Back yonder when there was consider
able argument, the proponents of rubber from
oil won the argument. Now it seems that the oil
and rubber are both badly needed, and one can't
be had without robbing the other. No one knows,
but it is reasonable to believe that a mighty
portion of the 700,000-ton stockpile on hand a
year ago has been depleted, that the pile has
not been added to since that time.
It'll be next year before the synthetic pro
cess enters the picture on any appreciable scale,
and the relief that will follow is not guaran
teed. The status of the nations' transportation
system today can be determined by the condi
tion of those tires now in service. If one has fair
ly good tires on his vehicle and he exerts every
effort to conserve them, he may be in the race
until the end. Of course, there are a few who
will get allotments, but the available supply
will only meet the requirements of a very few.
It is encouraging to hear about what we will
have in the future, but for the present we will
do well to consider the rubber situation as ser
ious if not critical and act accordingly.
A Pledge Of Citiaenihip
By Ruth Taylor.
Citizenship is not a commonplace to be tak
en for granted. It is a badge of honor?a prize
for which to strive, to be earned day in and
day out, not to be remembered only at election
days. Many commodities are realizing this and
are expressing the solemnity of inauguration
day by using the oath which was taken centur
ies ago by the young men of Athens when they
became of age.
In this time of war, when like the Athenians
of old, we are fighting against the savage bar
barian to preserve a democratic way of life, this
oath should not only be made by those about to
take office but by every one of us. Let us re
peat it together.
"We will never bring disgrace to our city by
any act of dlshonsety or cowardice, nor ever
desert our suffering comrades in the ranks."
That is, we will be honest and courageous in
all our dealtnfi with our fellow men, regard
less of class, race, creed, or color. We will aot
shirk?we will work and fight and pray for the
food of the whole nation and we will not al
ls* prejudice or intolerance to deter us in any
?
"We will fight for our ideals and sacred things
of the city, both alone and with many." That
is, while we fight the enemy without with all
our force, we will keep alive the spirit of dem
ocracy and freedom for all, which is the guiding
light of our republic. We will not compromise
our ideals.
"We will revere and obey the city's laws and
do our best to incite a like respect and rever
ence in those about us who are prone to annul
them and set them at naught." That is, we will
not only keep the laws of our community in the
letter of the word, but in the spirit as well. We
will keep our community free from subversive
influences which attempt mental sabotage
against our institutions and ideals, and we will
teach to the younger generation reverence for
the high principles which govern our Constitu
tion and which guide us as a nation.
"We will strive unceasingly to quicken the
public's sense of civic duty." That is, we, by
taking our part in all activities for the preser
vation and protection of the community, will act
as an example to others, encouraging them to
join in work not for themselves alone, but for
all our people.
"And thus, in all these ways, we will strive
to transmit this city not less but greater, better
and more beautiful than it was transmitted to
us." Our duties as citizens are not only to our
selves and our neighbors, our community and
our nation, but to those who follow. The only
way we can pay our debt to those who bequeath
ed to us a free way of life is to pass on to subse
quent generations a free nation, united in de
votion to the cause of liberty, better and more
beautiful because of that unit. Thus it came to
Common Men
From The Common Defense.
We are so impressed and overjoyed by the
smashing victory of the British Eighth Army in
Egypt that we have forgotten, perhaps, how the
dismal prospects for the British of a few months
ago have been changed into the present tri
umph.
After all, no victory in Egypt was possible
without providing the armed forces with re
inforcements as well as new equipment and
supplies of all kinds. These Could be brought
to Egypt only by ship and, since the Axis con
trolled the thousand miles of coast between
Bardia and Tripoli, convoys from Britain could
not reach Egypt by way of the Mediterranean
?a journey of only 3,000 miles. Instead, fhey
had to make the much longer trip of 12,000
miles around the Cape of Good Hope to Alex
andria. That they did successfully is now clear
enough, for the British Eighth Army, which has
routed the Axis, is well supplied with both men
and material.
There is something very important, as well as
moving, about this patient and determined per
formance of duty by those unknown seamen
who transported soldiers, tanks, and guns to
Egypt over 12,000 miles of dangerous sea lanes.
Their names will never apear in the head
lines. They will not receive citations for brav
ery. Few people in all the world know any of
them well enough to call them by name. They
will probably go on for the rest of their natur
al lives just doing their duty in the same ob
scure and purposeful way. But, without them,
there could have been no victory in Egypt.
These seamen represent the common people
of the earth of whom Abraham Lincoln said that
God must love them because He made so many
of them. They are everywhere. They walk the
main streets of our towns and cities. They are in
our churches and shops and factories. They run
our trains, till our farms, and mine our coal.
They are our doctors and lawyers and legisla
tors, our teachers, publishers, and clergymen,
our firemen and policemen, our soldiers and
sailors and airmen. They are the common peo
ple. They are us.
We have praised famous men. Now let us
praise men upon whose strength and loyalty the
future free world depends so much.
Just One More Gallon
Christian Science Monitor.
Eastern motorists who are complaining about
losing that fourth gallon of gasoline on each
ration coupon might feel better after consider
ing the feeling of men on the fighting fronts as
they hear the sputter of a gasless motor. There
is the case of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker and his
companions who undoubtedly wished for just
one more gallon. What civilian motorist would
not gladly have given up his whole ration book
if it would have helped these men to reach their
destination?
Maj. Ben S. Irvin, home on furlough at Wash
ington, Ga., tells of flying with other officers
/>ver the wastes of Borneo with the gas gauge
sinking fast. "For a while we thought we were
goners," he relates, "but finally we identified a
river in the jungle and found pur way to an air
port with only about ten minutes fuel supply
left." So far, demands at home have not forced
any plane to go out without a full tank. But to
day full tanks over Africa may require empty
tanks in America.
If Eastern motorists, by temporarily giving
up one gallon on each gas coupon, can release
enough tanker space (which is the real shortage)
so that the boys who really need it can have the
one more gallon required to bring them safe
ly back, they may well feel a glow of satisfac
tion that comes from giving where it is need
ed.
So many who clamor for increased produc
tion are the very ones who are doing the least
to increase production or help the war pro
gram in any way.
IT'S
CHRISTMAS TIME
AGAIN!
TOMORROW!
BELK - TYLER'S
CHRISTMAS
OPENING
?
In this War-torn World Tpday . . The Spirit of
Christmas should mean more to us than ever be
fore. With all nations on earth gripped in a
death struggle . . with malice and hatred on all
sides . . . the spirit of thoughtfulness and love
. . . the spirit of giving should hind us closer to
gether. Yes, the Spirit of Christmas should be
of paramount importance this year as never be
fore.
Shop Early This Christmas
Select a few Gifts each day. Stocks of merchan
dise are at their peak just now. It will be impos
- sible to replenish the items as they sell out.
Don't Delay!
Buy It Today!
Be sure to attend our Christmas Opening tomor
row . . . Make a good start on your Christmas
Gift List!
Bdk-Tyler Company
J DCPART/AE/IT STORES J
WILLIAM STON, N. C