The Rocky Mount Herald
VOLUME B. NUMBER~iT
STATE BOARD CONDEMNS
ABSENTEE BALLOT LAW
r State Board Of Elections Recommend
1 Repeal Of The Present Obnoxious,
Fraudulent Measure Now On
Statute Books
Th State Board of Elections
recommended to Governor
}i Hoey the "absolute repeal" of tho
J state's present absentee ballot law.
In its place, the board recommend
ed that the 1939 general assembly
enact a new absentee law which
would make fraud 'Svell night im
e possible, and if committed, certain
1 of detection."
Condemning the law now in force
I as a"convenient instrumentality of
fraud," the recommendation specified
that the proposed new act should
; safeguard the "custody, issuance and
i subsequent handling" of absentees.
"The majority of this board be-
Ijeves," it was said, "that there is
»need for an absentee ballot law by
which persons legally entitled to
k vote, but who otherwise could not
jl do so, can exercise their right of
franchise. * * *"
►') However, the recommendation
continued, if safeguards "are not suf
ficient to eliminate the prevalent
abuses of the, absentee ballot law,
! then the state board of elections
i would recommend not only the
j J abolition of the present law, but
jW* that no substitute statute be enact
f ed, even at the risk of depriving
persons physically unable to go to
the polls, or temporarily absent from
( the county, of their right to vote."
The board, which held numerous
1 Meetings last summer in investigat
ing alleged primary voting irregu
larities in a number of counties, al
so recommended:
i Subdivision of precincts in which
'"4 more than 500 persons voted in the
J*j| 11J36 election; a new state-wide reg
u|J istration, which was held "impera
>V tiveand The abolition of ballot
1 markers at precincts, except in cer
-5 tain circumstances.
I The recommendations were an
) nounced by Chairman W. A. Lucas,
rt- * JO*Wilson, who , that fou r mem
•ws of m mm- vwfrr -ru TKV*
of the report. He said the fifth mem
ber, J. O. Bell, of Henderson coun
ty, did not concur in the recom
mendations.
Lucas explained that the board
f also believed all primary and elec
tion laws should be uniform. Repeal
of the present absentee ballot law
and abolition of markers would re
move the differences, he said, as
I they are practically the only fea
tures of the state's election mach
inery which vary.
The Teport stated that a new ab
sentee ballot law should:
1. Make the county elections board
I' chairman the "solo custodian" of
the ballots, with their issuance a
"non delegable duty." This step, it
' was said, would eliminate the "pres
ent diffusion" of responsibility
among the county chairman and pre
cinot registrars.
2. Permit ballots to be issued only
' upon "sworn written applications."
3. Limit delivery of the ballots
to the voter in person, or by mail
addressed to him at his postoffice
adiress. This, the board said, might
eliminate "evils growing out of for
geries of voters names, 'market
baskets' quest for applications and
signatures, the 'hawking' of absen
»»tee votes for sale, and the voting
of dead men and felons."
4. Permit the county elections
board chairman to begin issuing ab
sentees 30 days before an election
and require him to cease the issuance
three days before the voting. This
should be coupled with a require
-V "wnt, the board continued, that the
A chairman list the applications, make
VI them open for inspection, and post
them at the courthouse door three
days before the election, and that
each registrar post a list at the polls.
► 3. Require the county chairman to
' file with the board thTee days before
the Election the original of all ap
plications on which he has issued
absentee ballots.
6. Require the voter to mark his
ballot in secret and return it in
person to the county chairman at
least 24 hours before the polls open.
7. Provide "specific penalties" for
'"specific violations" of the law.
The board held it as "apparent"
that the present absentee law "in
tended to afford an opportunity for
voting by qualified voters unable
to go to the polls," but instead "open
the door for abuses, and may nul
lify not only the will of the legiti
mate absentee vote*, but may over
\ (PleMa «* m u> pa«e tow)
ACCIDENTS
TAKE EIGHT
FOR MONTH
Birth Kate Nearly Don Men Death
Kate In Rocky Mount Again In
December
Right persons died in Rocky
Mount during December as result
of accidents, according to the month
ly vital statistics report released to
day by the city huadth department.
Five persons died as result of au-l
tomobile accident injuries, one was|
run over by a train, one was killed
when caught in a belt and pulley
and one d'«d of gun shot wounds.
Six persons lied of heart disease
during the month. Tuberculosis and
pneumonia 'accouhted for three
deaths.
Birth in the city nearly doubled
the deaths during December. There
were 78 births, 53 of them among
among while residents. Deaths
17 of them involving residents of
the city, totaled 42. There were se
ven illegitimate births, one among
white residents and six among Ne
gro residents.
Tuberculosis cases on hand in the
city totalled 102 on December 1 and
100 on January 1, the report stated.
Probe Building
Filling Station
Citizens and Board Members Join
in Angry Protests Against
Procedure
Joining several citizens in vigor |
protesting the erection of a
la 'fie Main stfeet
'business district at tho Mfcirigold
street intersection, the city alder
men in a call meeing last night
named a committee to find out how
the city can successfully thwart the
project.
Meanwhile construction on tho
filling station continued today and
E. C. Sykes, the comany's represen
tative in charge of construction, said
this afternoon that it is expected
o be completed in about three
weeks.
The fillling station is being built
by the Sperry Distributing Com
pany, a national gas nnd oil retail
ing firm, on about 60 feet of land
leased from the Atlantic Coast Line
railroad company. The site of the
proposed filling station is between
the railroad and a newly opens 1
section of S. E. Main street, in an
areia that was formerly used for
marketing cotton and unloading
boxcars but during the past year
has been frequently mentioned by
aldermen as a spot that the city
should beautify.
Aldermen, Citizens Protest
Both aldermen and citizens indig
nantly protested last night against
§ie fact »hat for three o r four
months plans for the filling station
has been going on without their
knowledge. Pracically every alder
man who participated in the heated
discussion declared that he hai
known nothing of the proposed fill
ing station until Tuesday afternoon,
when construction was already under
way and the news of the filling sta
tion broke like a bombshell.
After two hours of discussion dur
ing which all the aldermen whj
spoke declared their opposition to
the filling station but were unable
to say how the city might stop the
project the board named a commit
tee to look for a loophole.
Amid a welter of motions and sub
stitute motions, nearly every mem
ber of the board present was named
to the committee and declined—com
mented Mayor Q. Robinson, who
said he called the special meeting
at the request of several aldermen,
"This must be a hot potato. It looks
like nobody wantts it."
Finally the board carried a mo
tion naming on the committee City
Manager L. B. Aycock, City Attor
ney W. L. Thorp, Fire Chief J. R.
Sorsby, who is the city building in
spector, and Alderman A. J. Mims,
chairman of the parks and play
grounds committee —with Alderman
Mims dissenting.
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY. JANUARY 13. 1938
Which of These Roadsides Looks Better To You?
§(r- ■.« •» - WWMM£/.- ' |i
' i fiirwKfr * • ~ i
* ;«
If you were visiting North Carolina for the first time, which of the above road
side scenes would make the best impression?
The Governor's Committee on Roadside Control and Development believes that a)
most any one can see the difference between the two scenes and that a majority
of people would prefer the roadside shown at the bottom, with the neat tobacco barns,
not marred by any signs and the well-kept fields extending up to the right-of-way,
rather than the shaggy, shabby roadside grown up in weeds and the sign-plastered to
bacco barns shown in the picture at the top.
The Governor's Committee on Roaflside Control and Development is seeking th«
cooperation of farmers and landowners in an effort to make them realize the value of
making their property look as attractive as possible where it adjoins the highways.
City Should Own Land'—Not
Compel High School To Tresp ass
This afternoon we noticed the track team out having ona
of their first exercises of this season; and where do you
imagine they were? The nearest piece of vacant land to
the high school was the block of land opposite the Lutheran
Church, the very piece of land that the citizenship of Rocky
Mount want for a park. Rocky Mount boasts that it is the
finest city in Eastern North Carolina, and yet less has been
done considering the size of the city and the amount of pub
lic money spent, in the way Of building parks than any
town of its size to be found. We have, in times past, played
on private property. This property has been taken up and
the children will be compelled to go to the streets, which
are death traps for playing, unless something is done to pro
vide park and playground facilities. When you visit a great
city the citizenship of that city, if they have decent parks
and playgrounds, will show you these parks and playgrounds
first. Rocky Mount has in times past always carried their
visitors to the tobacco markets, but since the tobacco mar
ket does not last but about two months now, we will be
deprived of this as a show place to visitors. Rocky Mount
has an opportunity to buy a block of land within two and
oife-half blocks of the business district of the city. This
is an unusual opportunity which does not come to a city
of our size very often.
A Visit to The
Of Roses at Pasadena
(R. T. Fountain)
Being one of those who followed
the trail of the Duke University
football team out to the Rose Bowl
fir the historic contest between the
East and he Wes.t which took place
on New Year's day in Pasadena,
Calif., being one of tho great fea
tures of the Pasadena Tournament
of Roses, I thought it might be
of interest to the readers of the
"Herald" to give a few observations.
I had looked forward for some time,
when an opportunity would present
itself, to visit the west coast of the
Unied States, and when the foot
ball team of our Duke University
was invited t ocontest at the fam
ous Rose Bowl, I planned at once
to attend. And then the Southern
Railwtay, under the leadership of
Mr. J. S. Bloodworth, District Pas
senger Agent, announced that it
would run a special train from Ral
eigh, N. C„ to Los Angeles, Calif.,
I decided that only sickness of my
family would prevent me from mak
ing this trip. Before going in more
! details of the trip, will say that it
was one of the finest things ever
offered to North Carolinians, most
comfortable, wonderfully informing
and educational. Our people took
advantage of this trip in great num
bers. More than 400 made the trip.
Two tra'.ns were required to carry
the crowd. These trains ran about
20 minutes part all the way out to
California. We were Ihonbred in
having Mr. Bloodwbrth in charge
of tho train, make the entire trip
to Los Angoles, always zealous in
looking out for the comfort of all
passengers. Mrs. Bloodworth was al
so one of the party. We never seem
ed to be away from home on the
train, more like sitting in one of
North Carolina's hotel lobbies sur
rounded. by North Carolina friends.
The passenger list represented all
sections of North Carolina and was
an enjoyable and cordial group. Be
ing together for 13 days made a
tinge of sadness, notwithstanding
happiness on getting back home.
Railroad travel has been made
much more comfortable with the air
conditioning of trains. The day
coaches are better in many instances
i than many of the pullmans. With
all of its pullman conveniences, this
MRS. BARNES DIES
AT LOCAL HOSPITAL
Funeral Services Thursday From
Home Near Nashville
Mrs. Nannie Barnes, 45, of near
Nashville, died at a local hospital
Wednesday after a n illness of only
a few hours.
Funeral services were held from
tho home Thursday afternoon at 3
o'clock and burial made in the Nash
ville cemetery.
Mrs. Barnes was a member of Elm
Grove Baptist church.
Survivors include her husband, K.
M. Barnes; one son, R. B. Barnes
of this city; five daughters, Mrs.
Herbert Wood, Mrs. Joe Ayers, Ruby,
Geraldine, and Dorothy Mae Barnes,
all of Nashville; two brothers, Sid
ney and Chris Smith of Nashville;
two sisters, Mrs. P. W. Jenkins of
Nashville and Mrs. Minnie Overman
of Warren Plains; and her mother.
Mrs. Nannie Smith of Nashville.
probably may be the solution to the
passenger side of the railroad prob
lem. The railroads are safer and
tups restful, affording comfort
which the automobile cannot give.
We were glad to get to Los Ange
less, but all were thoroughly rested.
The Rose Bowl contest was a very
evenly matched contest. In fact, I
thought our Duke boys did the best
playing. However, I am not so well
informed in football and cannot
describo the detailed plays. I was
somewhat dazed when the game end
ed as it did. I thought we already
had the game, and I was making
ready "to leave the stadium when
the thing hdppended. I am sorry
that we did not win, but am fully
satisfied with the way our team
played all he way through. The
team made a fine impression on
California, and most of the Cali
fornians with whom I came in con
tacit wanted us to win. Of course
f'his did not include the college
group.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis of Wilson,
parents of Jap Davis made the trip
to Los Angeles on our train.
(Please turn to back page)
By Hugo Sims, Special Washington Correspondent
LOOKIN OAT WASHINGTON ....
DIPLOMATIC IMPASSE
WAR NOT INEVITABLE
OUR INTEREST IN CHINA
TRADE PACT IN FRANCE
MUST BUY IF WE SELL
GERMANY'S AIR FORCE
WPA AND POLITICS
NO COALITION LIKEI /
Diplomatic relations between the
United States and Japan have reach
ed the point where war is inevitable
if both these powers insist upon
what they consider their rights.
The Jananese proclaim a "New Or
der" in the Far Fast, under which
'Japanese Jiave superior rights to
other powers, regardless of their
treaties with China and Japan. The
United States rejects this thesis
and reserves all rights, refusing as
sent to any impairment of them,
far as the exchange of notes is con
cerned, the clash could uot be morp
complete.
j
I
This does not mean, of course,
that wa r is about to break out be
tween the United States and Japan.
It does mean very emphatically,
that if the United States attempts
to uphold its righs in China by
force that warfare will result unless
Japan abandons the present course
of conquest.
If the United States, in support
of her diplomatic position, resorts
to other measures, such as extend
ing financial aid to China, putting
an embargo on the shipment of
goods to Japan, or prohibiting the
sale of Japanese goods in this coun
try, war might be averted, but onlv
if tho Japanese accept the cond'-
tions without resort to force. It, '
may be taken for granted, we think, j ■
that if any measures of the United j 1
States becomes effective enough to 1
impair the Japanese campaign in']
China, the danger of a conflict will 1
be great. i
I
While the United States has not 
the commercial investment in Chin i I
that Great Britain has, it is a mis- ]
take to assume that our interests '
in the Far East are less than that 1
of the British. For generations, the '
United States and China have been i
on extremely friendly terms and 1
missionary activity in China has i
given the people of this country
great interest in the Chinese. Tran
scending the material interests is '
the concern of the United States '
over the continued successes of ag
gressor nations, which flout treaties 1
and the rights of other powers,!
thus leading the world to a day
when force, and force alone, will be
come the arbiter of national devel
opments.
It is possible, of course, that the
United States may follow the course
adopted in 1932, when Secretary of
State Henry L. Simson reserved
American rights in Manchuria after j
Japan had completed her •conquest,
of that area. Diplomatically, we J
have refused to recognize the newi
status in Manchukuo and while Ja
pan has systematically interfered
with the commercial rights of Amer
icans in tho new state, the Ameri
can Government has permitted the
matter to rest. If this course is fol
lowed in regard to the other parts
of China, the Japanese will not be
concerned with the American atti
tude nor care much about our "re
servation" of rights in China.
The Anglo-American trade agree
ment, slashing tariffs in this coun
try, England and her crown colo
nies, became effective on January 1.
As the New Year began, warehouses
in this country, England and other
parts of the British Empire, were
stocked with merchandise shipped
in under bond to be held until the
NOTICE
Those desiring to subscrii>e to The Rocky Mqunt
Berakl may do so by sending SI.OO with name and ad
dress to The Roeky Mount Herald, Rocky Mount, N. K
Stats Route Ns
SI.OO PER YEAS
at
I tariff reductions provided for **- *
der the Treaty became effective.
Undoubtedly, trade between th«
| English-spaking peoples will be in
creased by the new pact. In H(nin
land, nawspapers report large quan
tities of electrical appliances, deir
tal equipment, foodstuffs of varions
kinds, lumber, silk hosiery and other
products from the United States
ready for distribution there, la
this country, at the same time, Eng
lish merchandise was similarly ia
storage, the largest quantities being
in woolen piece goods, cutlery, din
ner-ware, cotton cloth and leather *
product®.
Of course, the cry will go up in
many sections that these English,
goods nr" keeping American work
men from being employed. Those,
who raise thi -ompfaint 3 > not
, point out that the American
jsold in England and her c olonies
; prbvid"d employment for v. ,rken»
j here. In Great Britain, and thr other
parts of the Empire affected !>y the
new Treaty, the same cries will ba
raised. It will be asserted th it th*
importation of American prodad*
prevents British laborers from be
ing employed. Over there, just aa
in this country, the protesters will~
| say nothing about the empl ym«i
I provided by the goods exported.
We do not know, of course,
whether the United States w'.ll sell
more goods to Great Britain than
the people of this country will buy,
under the new treaty arrang ment.
It will be necessary to watch the
practical workings of the pact. If
it follows the lead of other recipro
cal trade treaties, we may expect
an increase in the two-way com
merce that is necessary if interna
tional trade is to be profltabll'. The
people of the United States musk
accept the fundamental idea thafe
if they expect to sell American
products either of our factories or
our farms, in foreign lands, we mutk
be willing to purchase some of the
products of the other countries.
This is true, to some extent, alway»,
but particularly so under present
world conditions, when so ninny na
tions have difficulty in establishing
the gold reserves necessary to fin
ance excessive imports.
Just before the Czechoslovakia*,
crisis in September, official figures
as quoted upon good authority, es
timated the fighting strength of
Germany in the air at 3,000 planes.
The British Empire was credited
with 4,000, France 3.0C0, Russia 4,-
700, Italy 3,200 and Japan 2,000.
While the negotiations were going?
into effect and immediately follow
ing the surrender of the democra
cies at Munich, the report gained
credence that Germany had an air
force of 10,000 planes and an air
industry which, in an emergency,
could produce fighting planes much
' faster than any other nation. Ia
fact, it was said, that the British
anil French General Staffs, after re
viewing the situation, were convin
ced that if war broke out the Ger
man ai r force would command tha
sky completely in about a month.
Recently, 8. Paul Johnston, edi
tor of the magazine, Aviation, re
turned from a tour of Europe. He
reported the air strength of the var
ious nations in this proportion:
Germany, 10; Italy, 0; Great Bri
tain, 5; United Staes, 4; France, X.
From other sources, comes infor
mation that Germany and Italy a»
more than a match in the air for
the rest of the world, thus completa
ly destroying the mythical "bal
ance of power" in Europe. Credenea
(Please tofn to page three)