THE ELKIN TRIBUNE
Published Every Thursday by
BI.K PRINTING COMPANY, fnr.
Elkin. N. C
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22,1932
Entered at the post office at Elkin. N. C., as
second-class matter.
C. 8. FOSTER - President
H. P. LAFFOON Secretary/Treasurer
SUBSCRIPTION RATES, PKR YEAR
fa tbe State, SI .50 Oat of the State. «2.04)
The Christmas Spirit
Before another issue of The Tribune appears
•Christmas will have come and gone. The day
will be celebrated in the usual widety different
•Ways: There will be those little tots to whom
Santa Claus is a sacred personage whose favor
they crave; there will be others to whom the
fine spirit of the day will be lost in ribald
frivolity, augumented by brews that bring only
veneered pnioyment; there will be that other
group, all too small, who will lift their eyes
heavenward in thankfulness for Him who came
to suffer and to save, and whose birth the day
reflects. '
There is a marvelous magnetic force in the
Christmas idea that draws all men unto it. Under
its influence the primitive instinct to get which
causes rivalry and dissensions and hatreds, gives
way to the impulse to give, which unifies and
makes the world akin.
The angel song of peace on earth, good-will
to men has awakened a responsive chord in the
hearts of mankind that has become greater in
volume and sweeter in intonation than when first
echoed from Judean hills. The whole round
world .now joins in the spirit of the refrain.
In this Christmas spirit there is a magically
ennobling influence that searches out the finest
qualities and finds them common in high and
low, rich and poor, and temporarily at least estab
lishes a bond of sympathy that holds across these
casual lines of cleavage. It is like a great orches
tra, which thundering out the strains of a mighty
symphony, sets a-thrill with responsite harmony
the lowest utensils in the building.
Out of every manifestation of the Christmas
spirit comes the prompting to enlarged sympa
thy, to generous sharing, to greater kindness and
mercy and to all those finer and tenderer emo
tions which universally are recognized among
mankind as basicly good. There is something in
the Christmas spirit that makes the people of
many countries feel that even the lower animals
ought to have a share in the Christmas bounty.
This has been a year of privation for many
of us: we will argue that we can do little to carry
on this commendable spirit by giving gifts. May
be this is so. But there are gifts that may not
be measured in dollars and cents —and we,, can
give these, unstintedly, and feel richer by cloing
so.
And so we come again to this period that
ought to be a joyous one for all—let's not forget
those whom we have reason to believe are short
on joy. We can bring some little brightness into
their lives and thus brighten'our own.
The Tribune extends its heartiest best wishes
to its readers and to everyone, for a Happy
Christmas.
Do We Need A Dictator
Italy's chamber of deputies has passed a bill
presented by Premier Mussolini himself, giving
the government the right to veto the erection of
new industrial plants or the enlargement of ex
isting ones. Premier Mussolini points out that
the bill would have importance during business
revival by preventing the extension of industrial
capacity beyond consumers' demand.
That is one of the troubles of the United
States, in that in boom times from 10 to 20 per
cent of capacity has not been utilized; the prin
ciple of free initiative has developed a competi
tion which in its race for prestige does not pro
vide for the necessary profits, and the net result
is idle plants and idle men.
The successful manufacturer in any com
munity is haunted with the knowledge that his
success invites others into his field, resulting in
a "capacity beyond the consumer's demand."
This absorbs investment funds which must be
lost and generally gives rise to bitter competition
to the further detriment of profits.
The principle of freedom of initiative for
American business has no place for a dictator, but
Sometimes it seems to us that an iron hand is
needed to keep the economic ship to an even keel.
Of course if Mussolini were directing affairs 1
in this country he would not confine himself to
the manufacturer, but the farmer would be given
more than a gentle hint that a reduction in his
cotton and tobacco acreage would dovetail into the
supply and demand theory of production. The
chances are too, that the hint would not be dis
regarded.
■ * Surplus Money—ldle Men
The government recently sought loans total
ing six hundred million dollars. The total money
offered was ten billion seven hundred and ninety
five million dollars, or nearly eighteen times as
much as the government wanted to borrow.
The interest the government offered on
these loans would not average two percent, yet
ten billion one hundred and ninety-five million
dollars has been offered —for which the govern
ment has no use.
Queer paradox ! Ten million idle men and
ten billion idle dollars! Men willing to work for
less than they had ever dreamed would be of
fered them in wages; dollars willing to work for
an interest rate that should prove profitable.
While state and city governments and citi
zens' relief committees are trying to care for idle
linen, the idle dollars are allowed to go back to
their hoarding places to remain idle dollars still.
What we don't know about high finances
would fill a bam, but the more we look at those
figures, the more we are convinced that the gov
ernment could anticipate settlement with the war
veterans, and with that rate of interest, make
itself some real money. While the veterans are
only a small part of the idle ten millions, every
one of the group would benefit by the wide dis
tribution. and there would be less need of talk
about the idle, hoarded dollars.
Financing Our Competitors
England has paid her war debt installment,
maintaining her honor, and has risen in the esti
mation of the American people. France has done
neither. The debts were honestly made, cautious
ly agreed to and every effort should be made to
meet thsm. Conditions arise with nations, as
with individuals, when obligations cannot be met.
It looks like that condition exists in the case of
the war debts. If so a generous American public
will be glad to approach the council table through
its representatives to revise them and make them
less hard to pay.
If the European nations cannot pay in gold,
they can pay in something else. It is Governor
Roosevelt's idea, apparently, to talk turkey to
them individually: trade agreements may be
reached that will make their obligations to us an
easy matter, and the exchange mutually helpful.
Uncle Sam is not a Shylock, neither does he enjoy
having the wool pulled over his eyes.
Cancellation of the debts would mean that
European taxpayers would be favored at the ex
pense of the American taxpayers, and European
industries would be favored at the expense of
American industries. Therefore the debts should
not be cancelled but held for legitimate trading
purposes, for trading is the fondest thing Europe
is of.
Senator Pat Harrison points out that in the
event of complete cancellation the total remain
ing debts of the United States, Great Britain,
France and Italy would be about $68,000,000, and
if we deduct the total pre-war debt the remain
ing war heritage would be $54,000,000, which
would be divided among the nations as follows:
"Germany would escape with possibly 1 percent
of the remaining burden of the war; France, 8
percent; Italy 2 percent; the United States 39
percent and Great Britain, 50 percent.
And then Senator Harrison adds this further
significant observation: "Germany, free from
debts, will be a principal competitor in world
markets and Italy and France will have to be
reckoned with."
A Heavier Burden on the Other
Shoulder
The next legislature will hear a lot about
balancing the budget, and a general sales tax
looms as not only a possibility but a probability.
If the 15 cents state property tax for school is to
be eliminated, the state will have to look elsewhere
for money. If the property tax is to be replaced
with a sales tax, the question arises will the farm*,
er be the beneficiary. The principal argument in
favor of the source transfer, is that it will bene
fit the landowner.
Available figures show that the abolition of
the 15 cents property tax and the substitution of
the 2 percent general sales tax in its place will
cost the farmers and their families almost $2,-
000,000 more per year than under the present
set-up.
The forthcoming tax commission's report,
with calculations based on the 1930 census in
North Carolina and on other data, will probably
show that only 9 percent of all the property taxes
in the state are paid by farm property. Corporate
property and land for other than agricultural
purposes pays about 50 percent of the properties,
leaving the other 41 percent to be paid by non
corporate city and town properties. In other
words property taxpayers are divided into three
main groups contributing to the state in about
the following ratio: farmers $445,000; corpor
ations $2,250,000; city taxpayers $1,805,000.
If these figures are anywhere near correct,
the corporations would benefit most from the re
moval of the 15 cents property tax, the city
property owners next and the farmers last. On
the other hand the general sales tax would fall
heaviest on those who live in the cities, because
of the increased population and the consequent
consumption of commodities. But next to suffer
would he those who live in the rural districts. The
corporations benefiting most by the shifting of
the property tax, would pay less to the state in
lieu of it, because corporations buy little across
the counter on Saturday evenings, or any other
time.
If practically all of the revenue from a gen
eral sales tax is to come from the pockets of rural
and city dwellers, the burden has not been shifted
from the shoulders of the farmer as he had
hoped. It is pointed out that instead of
$445,000 now paid by the farmers in the 15 cents
property assessment, his purchases covered by a
general sales tax will cause him to pay $2,400,-
000.
The farmer has been promised that the 15
cents property tax would be lifted from his back.
If he is to be saddled with another that will take
a greater toll, where will he benefit? When the
farmer sees the ambunt written on his tax re
ceipt appreciably lowered, he is inclined to jump
up and pop his heels in glee, forgetting that at
the cross roads store and in the purchases in
town he has paid the amount of the decrease sev
eral times. The argument that he "pays and
doesn't miss it" may be good psychology but it
isn't good business.
We do not profess to know the intricacies of
taxation, but we do know that often in the past,
taxes have been camouflaged to make them ap
pear what they ain't.
One thing we would like for Santa Claus to
put in our stocking is a debt moratorium.
The Washington Herald observes that "a
lame-duck Congress naturally contains a good
many quacks."
, .
The Great Trade-In Season -By Albert T. Reid
\ $ *I'D tlKt ToTRAX>EL THAT
il' IP foi*. ANYTHING —JUST AMV-
Surry Body Hands
Alleged Primary
Fraud Matter Back
(Continued from page One)
4, 1932. This investigation was made
by the Attorney General of North
Carolina and the Solicitor of our
District. It was given to us at a
time that we were very busy with
other court matters. The report con
tains nearly four hundred pages. No
recommendations were made to us
from either the Attorney General or
Solicitor. No member of our grand
jury has much knowledge of the
Election Laws, and none of us has
any legal knowledge. Without
knowing the law, and without legal
.help, we examined this report the
best we could and it is our opinion
that it should be further examihed
by a more competent party."
The report states that the jury
found the conditions at the County
Home and jail in satisfactory condi
tion. Recommendations for minor
repairs were made for the court
house. A total of 47 true bills
I * •
or for
y here among
g-ift offerings.
select the gift B u [ ova Watches
The ever popular Bulova
is now on display. All
pVPT new models. And priced
lylr I at
Conklin $24' 75 to $37- 50
will please, Rings
irs of use—
A man will appreciate a
bO Oil ring. Ruby setting—
~ Cfi.OO to CIA.OO
batches
Ladles' beautiful stone
J3*o0 h U.'|frM ■ Bar Pinsiiio to sl2 55.75
KARL W. STEELE
E. MAIN ST. JEWELER $ g ELKIN, N. C.
were returned and 6 not true bills.
Eight presentments were received.
Touching on the whipping post
matters, the report declares:
"It is our opinion that a whipping
post, properly handled would be of
great benefit to Surry county. Call
this also to the attention of our leg
islators."
Want A Carol?
Light A Candle
On Christmas Eve night the mem
bers of the Senior and Intermediate
Baptist Young People's Union. of
Jonesville, will sing Christmas car
ols. Those desiring carols sung in
front of their homes are requested
to put a lighted candle In their win
dow.
Stolen Automobile
Found Near Zephyr
The automobile which was stolen
from Paul Fletcher Monday night,
December 12, has been recovered, it
was learned Tuesday. The machine
was 'said to have been found aban
doned in the woods near Zephyr.
A tire was missing and the motor
was frozen, it was reported.
Thursday, December 22, 1932
Stage Bankrupt Sale
Of McDaniePs Stock
Following the referee's sale Mon
day of the McDanlel'B Department
store stock, which was confirmed
shortly thereafter, the entire stock
has been repriced at bankrupt fig
ures and was placed on sale to the
public this morning.
The store is in the hands of a
special selling agent who promises
some of the biggest values ever to
be offered in Elkin.
A LETTER TO SANTA OLA US
State Road, N. C.,
Dec. 20, 1932,
Dear Santa Claus:
I want you to bring me a big doll,
candy, oranges, gloves and galoshes,
so the snow will not get in my shoos.
Fred, my brother, who is three
year old, wants a harmonica, a big
truck, candy and a ball.
With love,
ANNIE LEE KARRIS,
4th grade Bryan school. 10 years old.
Oh, if women could only learn
to chance gears as smoothly and
non-chalantly as they change hus
bands!—Arizona Producer.