cs
DEMANDS REPEAL
OF THE ABSENTEE
BALLOT SYSTEM
Strong Letter Sent to the Legi*>
lature by J. ML We*ia!l,
Powerful Citisen
RECITES WRONGS DONE
THROUGH SCHEMING LAW
future of N. C. Depend* Large*
ly Upon Repeal of Law,
Says Big Democrat
In an Open letter addressed" to
members of the North Cerol to* Gen
eral Assembly, n<Jw in sea*lon Jn
Raleigh. J; M. WMUll. ot Anhevitte,
points out the need for changes in
prasent election lava." ,
Repeal of the absentee ballot law,
changing the provision* that pertftit
markers to. enter booths with, voters,
and safegaurding the control of reg
istration books by registrars, are the
principal reforms asked.
The open letter, which is being re
leased in Raleigh this week co-inci
dental with convening of the legisla
ture, follows
"To the members of the General
Assembly of North Carolina:
"I wish to call your attention to
the great need of making important
changes in the election laws of our
state.
"The greater part of our troubles
have been brought upon us because,
the wrong men have been elected to
fill many important offices in our
towns, counties and state.
"Those who have had the election
machinery in their hands have, in
many cases, used the power delega
ted to them to corrupt our primaries
and elections. By doing this they have
succeeded in nominating and electing
many weak men and some corrupt
ones whom they could easily influence
to do unwise and improper things.
"This stat? of affairs has become
unbearable in my city and county,
and we beg and demand that our
laws be changed to make it very hard,
if not impossible, to do again what
has been done.
Cleaning House
"We are 'cleaning house' now and
we will not submit to such election
outrages as have been committed In
the past, and which have made it
necessary to produce almost a revolu
tion in Asheville and Buncombe coun
ty in order to put our house in order.
"We will not longer submit to the
control of our elections and our pub
lic affairs by the men who have here
tofore ruled, whether the power that
afflicts us as state or local. We are
tired of it. Yea, we are inflamed to
the point of danger, and will ncrt
stand it any longer.
"I shall not in this letter attempt
to name all the reforms I think are
needed in the laws that govern our
elections, but will name three of those
most needed.
"First: The 'Absentee Ballot Law*
should be repealed.
"Second We should change the
law which provides that one may have
assistance in marking one's ballot in
the booths at primaries or elections.
"Third: We should have chang
ed the law that provides or allows
party or factional control of regis
tration.
"The primaries of our Democratic
party are of great importance, as
you all must know, and should be
safeguarded by the strictest laws that
can be enacted.
Safeguard Primaries
"In my county, Buncombe, as in
most counties of our state, those who
are nomnatod in our Democratic pri
maries are almost sure to be elected.
It is therefore of greatest importance
to all citizens that we get the best
Democrats as our candidates.
"The methods used to cast frau
dulent votes as absentees, are well
known to nearly everyone of you, I
am sure.
"It is not so easy to commit such
frauds now since some, changes were
made in the law in 1929, but it still
tan be used in several ways to sefve
the purposes of those who have mis
used it before. Its repeat is the only,
.safe thing that .can bo done about.it.
"The second -matter, is that of Al
lowing one to assist the voter in
marking his ticket. This opens the
way for fraud and bribery. It defeats
the purpose of the secret or 'Aus
tralian Ballot Law.'
"The third change needed is to
provide some way to have a fair reg
istration conducted by men who
should be satisfactory to both politi
cal parties, and who will not make
any effort to search out men of their
party or faction and get them to
register while they do not make it
easy for those of the opposite faction
or party to register.
"I know that the best men of my
?>arty have not offered and will not
offer themselves as candidates in our
primaries because of the persistent
work of those who commit these mis
demeanors and crimes and have com
mitted them for the past twelve years
and longer. (
Take Advantage of Law
"Because our laws are bad, it is
easy to prevent honest, capable men
being nominated, such men as for
whom all good Democrats would vote.
When a .man who cannot be controlled
by corrupt politicians offers himself
he is sure to be defeated because de
siginipg men can take advantage of
our election laws and defeat him.
"Buncombe county and Asheville
have been ruined because the better
citiiens were helpless on account of ,
the election abuses which have been
prevalent for years.
"I voice the demand of 90 per cent
of our citizens when I say that we
must have these reforms in our elec
tion laws. ' . |
"Col. C. 0. Sherrill, of Cincinnati, ;
one of the highest authorities, and a !
North Carolina mSn by - birth and ?
rearing, said a short time ago in an
address to us, that the state of North
' Oakland N?w? It?m {
W. J. Raines, of. Lake Toxaway,
Ford Reid of Sapphire, and T. W.
Reid of Brevard, motored to Briatol,
Va., Sunday to visit Mrs. Rains'
daughter, Mrs. Fred Hal), who has
been in a hospital in that city. Mrs.
I Hall is recovering nicely from a re
cent operation.
The many friends of Mr. anfl Mrs,
'Charlie Reid will be sorry to learn
that their infant son is seriously ill
at this time.
? Miss Evand Sanders and brothers,
Ray and Robert, entertained one eve
nlng last week in honor of their
eoustas, Misses Lora Bell and Louise
Lyda. Those enjoying this social
event ware Misses Lora Bell and
Louise Lyda, Iva gangers, Inez Alex
ander. Lftisy Sanders, Clarence Nor.
ton, J. C. McCall, G. Whitmire, Fred
Owen and Loots Lyda.
Mr. and Mrs. E: A. Reid visited
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Reid Sunday
afternoon.
Mrs. Waite Reid and daughters,
Hiss Lissie; ealied on Mrs. Clarence
Norton Saturday afternoon.
I Otto Alexander of Brevard,, visit
ed home folks on Sunday.
! Thad Guy was on the sick list Sat
urday night and Sunday.
| Rev. and Mrs. Louis Lyda and
children of Porterdale, Ga., spent
Saturday night with Mr. and Mrs. I.
S. Sanders.
Mrs. Thad Guy and little daughter,
Lucile, visited Mrs. L. F. and Mrs.
| Clarence Norton one day last week,
i Mr. and Mrs. Dan Reid left last
Saturday for Miami, Fla. They ex
pect to visit different points of inter
est on the way to Miami.
1 Mrs. Waite Reid did not return to
Brevard Sunday afternoon on account
of the serious illness of her little
grandson.
; Rev. Louis Lyda preached an ex
cellent sermon at Lake Toxaway Bap
tist church Sunday night.
| Mrs. Bud Nicholson is spending
some time with her daughter, Mrs.
Charlie Reid, at Sapphire.
Elzie Cash was in Brevard Satur
day on business.
Arthur Miller of Sapphire, was a
Brevard visitor Saturday.
Claud Reid called on I. S. Sanders
last Friday.
Mrs. Lee Norton is in Brevard for
a few days visit with Miss Lissie
Reid, or rather, trying to fill the
place made vacant by the absence of
Miss Reid's mother.
I
NOTICE
State of North Carolina
County of Trans-ylvania
By virtue of the power of sale
contained in a certain deed in trust
executed by Gus Roman and wife,
Soultana Roman, to Ralph Fisher,
Trustee, securing a note in the sum
of $2180.00, made payable to Leonard
Simpson and wife, Lillian Byrd Simp
son, which said deed in trust is re
corded in Book 25, page 87 of the
records of deeds in trust for Tran
sylvania County, N. C., and default
having been made in payment of
said note, after same having become
due and the holders of said note hav
ing called upon the undersigned trus
tee to advertise and sell the land
herein descrbed for the purpose of
paying said indebtedness.
I will on MONDAY, the 2nd day
of February, 1931, at 12 o'clock noon
at the court house door in Brevard,
N. C., offer for sale at public auction
and sell to the highest bidder for
cash the land described in said deed
in trust, to-wit:
Adjoining the lands of Alfred Bed
dingfield and others. Beginning at a
stake in the east margin of South
Caldwell street, the same being a cor
ner of the old F. L. DeVane prop
erty (now Beddingfield) and runs
with the DeVane ? or Beddingfield
line South 62 1-4 deg. east 165 feet
to a stake in the line of the I. F.
Shipman property (now J. J. Patton)
formerly the Thrash linos thence
with the said Shipman, Thrash or
Patton line South 27 1-2 deg.
west 67 ft. to a stake in the line of
lot now belonging to -Town of Bre
vard, but formerly to Mitchell and
Mull; thence north 62 1-2 deg West
with the said town, Mull or Mitchell
line 169 ft. more or less to the Mull,
?Mitchell or Town corner, a stake in
the eastern margin of said South
Caldwell street; thence with the east
margin of said South Caldwell street
North 25 deg. east ? 67 feet to the
BEGINNING.
Being the same lot or parcel of
land that was conveyed to L. P. Byrd
by C. B. Glazener under deed dated
Sept. 15, 1922, and recorded in
Book 44, page 572 of the records in
and for Transylvania County, N. C.,
conveyed later by said Byrd to Gus
Roman and wife, which reference is
nereby made to said deed recorded in '
Book 62 and at page 311 of the deed !
records in and for said county and |
state.
This sale is to the highest bidder j
for cash and will be reported to the
office of the Clerk of the Superior
Court* as is done in sale of land by
trustee if there is no raising of the ,
bid within the time prescribed by ?
law, which will be confirmed by the '
Clerk of the Superior Court and deed i
made to said successful bidder.
This 6th day of January, 1931.
RALPH FISHER, Trustee. j
P8 -].5| 22 29
Carolina is more to blame for the
terrible situation in Btfncombe coun
ty than we, the citizens, are. What
he said is true, because our election
officials are named by state officials
and the state officials appoint the
bank examiners, many of whom have
failed In their duty.
"When we get fair and honest elec
tion laws we will correct all of our
evils, because we have plenty of good
men for whom good men will vote re
gardless of party.
"You can save us, and I believe you
will not disappoint' us."
J. M. WEST ALL. :
January o, 1931.
PAY YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
STRANGE, WEIRD TALE TOLD
OF SEEING SHADOWY FORM
OF JIM AIKEN ABOUT TOWN
Strange, weird tales are going the i
rounds among the colored people of i
the town, while many, many white i
folks are discussing the matter with
equal breathless interest. i
It is said that the shadow o f Jim
Aiken, once a leading negro hero, has
been seen recently flitting about in
magy sections of the town. At first,
this report was given sympathetic
hearing, as people believed it to be
only the imagination of one or two|
easily excited colored people. Now,
however, white men of good standing
have added their evidence to this un
usual story, and declare that jthey
have seen the shadow of Jim Aiken
with ,such clearness that tfceyjooked ,
and looked hard for the bulky form
of Jim himself, so thoroughly were
they convinced that the long shadow j
moving swiftly and silently along the I
streets, alleys and the railroad track
could be cast by no one else other
than Big Jim himself.
Jim Aiken, king of the colored
people and well liked by the white
people, was killed one day, years ago,
by the explosion of a fire extinguish
er as he was helping to push the fire
truck to a burning building in Prog
Bottom. His tragic death caused
real suffering in the community,
and from time to time it has been re
ported that Jim's spirit messages
have reached a few of his closest
friends here. Not until recently,
however, has it been reported that
Jim's -shadow has been Been walking
and stalking -stoout'-theplaceBi of- his.
old familiar haunts. ,
Three or four of the town's best
colored citizens are said to have been
talking in a car parked on the
fringe of Prog Bottom one day re
METHODISTS ADOPT
MANY PROPOSALS
New Year Resolutions Call for
Much Support of Church
By the Membership
At a church conference and social
get-together meeting held last Thurs
day evening, the membership of thej
Brevard MethodiBt church adopted the
following resolutions, as prepared by
the pastor, Rev. J. H. West:
Resolved, That we are going to be
better men, women, boys and girls
ithan we were last year, God being our
helper.
I Resolved, that we will endeavor to !
| practice the doctrine of the Golden J
;Rule in our religious, social, politi- 1
cal, and business relationships.
Resolved, That we are not going to
Jndulge in excuse making, for not j
doing our part in building up the re- 1
ligious and worthwhile community in- '
terests. <
Resolved, That we are going to be j
boosters and not knockers, pullers
and not kickers, Optimists and not
pessimists, constructionists, and not
destructionista.
Resolved, That if we are not lead
ers, we will be followers. That we
are going to pray and praise more j
and criticise less.
| Resolved That we are going to be
charitable toward other denomina- 1
tions and their organizations but not |
at the expense of our own church and i
her organizations.
Resolved, That we are going to dig
up our church vows, look thein square |
( in the face, and for one year at least,
i endeavor to keep them, by the help of
God.
j Resolved, That if in any thing the !
old year condemns us, that we are
! going to so live and love and serve
(.that the 'New- Year may witness in
'our behalf.
| Resolved, That we are hot going to
displease God and violate our own
conscience, when facing any worthy
task, by saying "No" when we should
say "Yes."
i Resolved, T.hat we take an iijven
' tory of '-oAr '-liabilities arid of our
assets for the new year, and be sure
that our assets are sufficient to t;ike
care of our known and unknown |
liabilities.
Resolved, That we are going to
give the Stewardship of Life, Time,
and Money, serious and unpreju
diced thought during the year.
Resolved. That in the matter of
the church's support during the New
Yrar, we are going to give the Week
ly Payment Plan and its advantages
Ili'ayerful consideration.
HELP FARM TO MARKET ROAD j
By O. H. Benson j
It is estimated that tjie Federal
government spent $1,750,000,000 in
the building of roads on a national
basis in 19J0. This is $250,000,000
more than was spent in 1929.
All who use the public highways
are favorably inclined and interested
in this great expenditure and we arc
hopeful that the "powers that be,"
both national and local, will give
their leadership to the program of
helping farm families who are off
the main auto roads in the country to
get a little bit of road building for
the marketing of their food products.
Here is the injustice of mu.ch of our
former road building.# The factors
controlling the expenditure of gov
ernment funds have given preference
to roadways between towns and cities
without any regard to the relation
ship of these roads to the farm
market problems of the nation. And
against this fact )ve all know that
the farmers pay their proportionate
share of all road taxes as do the
people who live on the main highway
and use therrtt There are 6,250,000
fanners lajul .Over 5,000(0 00 -of thesf-'
are off gsrd ro-> ?s. lUbsl of the year'
their <js are muddy, full of it.!
or snowdrifts.
cently. The afternoon sun was Bear
ing the western horizon, and the loni
shadows cast their lines across Frof
Bottom. AH at once the conversation
ceased, for a man's shadow was Deen
slowly moving alongside the car, and
all the men were gasng intently
the shadowy form. It was so clearly
that of Jim Aiken, in form, in looks,
in characteristics, that the men were
horrified and all but paralyzed.
The shadow passed on, it is said,
and the men looked at o&e another,
without speaking for some time. Di
rectly one said: Oh, God, that was
Jim Aiken's shadow! The others
agreed.
Others report having, smr the
shadow down at Greasy Corner,"
*alkng about as if in deep thought,
and on each occasion the shadow ap
proached the church nearby and was
swallowed up in the larger shadow
of the church building.
Others report having seen Jim's
shadow walking down the railroad
tracks at the overhead bridge, going
on to the bend in the roadway. Sev
eral others have reported seeing it in
different places, and all reports
agree as to the descriptor
That it is the shadow of Jim Aiken
no doubt is left in the minds of those
who have seen it Just why Jim's
shadow should be moving about Bre
vard now brings on many explana
tions. Some of the colored people
are firm in the belief that it is be
cause of the ungodly manner of liv
ing , of v many ^people now, their sins
and their indifference to the church
and to all good. It is said by these
that Jim himself is back in the spirit
to warn his people tcr flee the wrath
to come.
PLAN PROGRAM FOR
FARMERS OF STATE
Purpose to Further Reduce the
Amount Spent With
Other States
A program of farm meetings for
the puipoae of carrying facts about
the agricultural outlook and the need
of food and feed-stuffs production in
North Carolina next season has been
arranged by the agricultural exten
sion service of State College to cover
every county in North Carolina dur
ing January and February.
Five teams of extension special
ists will go to work during the week
beginning January 6 and starting in
the coastal counties will work grad
ually westward towards the Ten
nessee line. Five meetings a day will
be held. In these meetings, the speak
ers will present facts about the pre
sent production of food and feed sup
plies, will show how far the county is
from being self-supporting, and will
outline the program embodied in the
adopted slogan, "Farm to Make a
Living in 1931."
Dean I. 0. Schaub says the cam
paign will be in charge of the dis
trict agents in their respective groups
of counties. The local home and farm
agents will arrange the meetings and
give them local notice. Leading key
farmers, bankers and business men of
all kinds will be invited.
There will be no guess work in the |
facts to be given, says Mr. Schaub.
Already the economists are working I
out the need of a family or a live
stock unit for feed and food for one |
year. The home demonstration peo
ple are also at work on facts about
more complete diets which may. be
prepared from foodstuffs produced at
home.
Mr. Schaub says it is' not enough
next year to reduce the : acreage to
cotton and tobacco. The crops that
be raised in place nf these two must
receive attention. The need of local
markets must be studied and above
all else, if there is a- lack oT h&nu'
grown supplies, this must be remed
ied. " *
ORGANIZING BASKETBALL FOR
BENEFIT OF THE YOUNG MEN
Basketball is to provide exercise
and entertainment. for the young men
and boys of the town, plans r.;nv b:
ing perfected for this work. Rev. R.
L. Alexander will have charge of the
games, which will be played several
nights during each week. The High
School auditorium will be used. The
purpose of this undertaking is to
provide wholesome amusement and
exercise for the youg men and older,
boys of the town. First meeting will
be held Thursday night at 7 o'clock.
' NEW YORK'S *
HOMELIKE HOSTELRY
THE ,
SHERMAN
? SQUARE ?
IROADjiVAY at 70th STREET
WW. You Will Find
LARGE ROOMS
CHARMINGLY FURNISHED
AMPLE PARKING SPACE
and BEST C-ARAGES
Finest Food at
MODERATE PRICES
p XTEC _ SINGLE from $2J0
KAICO * DOUlie frw. $4.00
"* ' ?
George J. Meyer, Manager
? M. - -- i . - ".J
f
I
On January 7th about 12 o'oclck in
the night the Grim Reaper entered
?#? Mme?f one of our moat. respected
eltlrens and claimed as its victim
John Radford, who was in his 60th
year. He leaves to mourn his loss,
Bis wife and two daughters: Mrs.
Manley Arlington and Miss Aurie
Radford; tiro sons, Delier end Harv
ey Radford, besides a host of friends
and relatives.
I Mr. Radford's death was not uner
pactw," bicanae he had beer, in ill
{Malik tot some time, suffering with
i paralysis.'
i He was a father in all .that name
implies. Death is always sad, no
matter what the circumstances, but
wlien it comes into a happy home and
calls away the father, vrlwn all seems
so peaceful and happy, we are made
to wonder sometimes why it is neces
sary that this is the case. "Blessed
are the dead which die in the
Lord."
The -deceased- was a ?iemher<. of the.
Baptist church and remained faith
ful until death. He attended services
whenever his health permitted. He
was laid to rest in the Davidson
River cemetery. Pallbearers were El
zie and DeWey Burns, Jess McCall,
John and Clayt Stepp, and Clyde
Sentell, all relatives of the deceased.
Miss Minnie Galloway spent Sunday
with Miss Annie Leverett
The sick list in this section this
week includes, Rebecca Patton, Hen
ry Sentell, Jessie Mackey, Tina Hed
rick, Mrs. Jack Arkington and baby,
Charlie Allison, Will Stepp and Jim
Carter.
Miss Mary Barnett was a recent
guest of the Hainlltons at Conncs
tee.
Mrs. Jim Carter received the sad
news Sunday of the death of her
cousin," Mrs. <> Samuel i Johnson, oL
Avery's Creek.
Glenn Bryson is employed at Cash
iers Valley.
Community prayer services will be
held at the home of Mrs. John Rad
ford on Friday evening.
Community singing, which is held
each third Sunday afternoon, will be
held at the Baptist church Sunday
afternoon, beginning at 2 o'clock. The
public is cordially invited to attend.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Mackey, on January 13, a son.
Pugah Forett New*
Unintentional Suicide
Mi-ay people we (lowly poisoning
themselves juit u ?urely u if they
drank iodine every morning for break
fast. They are daily absorbing the
toxins, or poisons, created by accumu
lated waste matter in their constipated
digestive systems. Sooner or later
disease will conquer their weakened
bodies.
If you have headaches, coated
tongue, bad breath, no appetite,
bilious attacks, you are probably
snffering from self poisoning caused
!sy conotipation. A relief for thia
condition is Herbine, the vegetable
cutKurtic which acta in the natural
way. Get ? bottle today from
0AVIS4J0NG DRUG CO.
rwu'ij ?
6 6 6
if ? doctor1 ipreoeriptiem for '
COLDS aal HEADACHES
e the moot op*
66 6 also
It it the moot J
Wut Ada vArw iComd ?A?01?gi A|?H
ILOOK:
We Give 24 tear
Electrical &a?kc
We have Light Bulb* for
Farm Lighting Plant* and
for City Current Alee,
other Electrical Equip
ment
Elemleflfcwtc by
Guy Dean
R. F. THARP
Day Phone Night Phone
224 225
53 West Main Street
THE NEW FORD
Everything
yon want or need
in a motor car
THE more yon see of the new Ford, the more you
realize that it brings you everything you want or
need in a motor car. rlj. . And at an unusually
low price.
Its substantial beauty of line and color is ap
parent at a glance. Long, continuous service em
phasizes the value of its simplicity of design and the
high quality that has been built into every part.
The new Ford accelerates quickly and it will
do 55 to 65 miles an hour. It is an easy-riding car
because of' its specially designed springs and four
Hciudaille double-acting hydraulic shock absorb
ers. It has fully enclosed four-wheel brakes and
the added safety of a Triplex shatter-proof glass
windshield. Operation and up-keep costs are low
and it has the stamina and reliability that mean
thousands of miles-of uninterrupted service. ?
See the nearest dealer and have him give you
a demonstration ride in the new Ford. Check up ^
every point that goes to make a good automobile
and you will know it is a value far above the price.
The New Ford
Tudor Sedan
LOW P.RICBS OF FOBD CABS
*435 to *660
f.O.B. Detroit, plus freight and delivery. Bumpers tpme tire estrm
?I small cost. You can purchase a Ford on economical terms through
the Authorleed Ford Finance Flmu ?/ the Universal Credit Company,