The Rocky Mount Herald
VOLUME 5, NUMBER 35
Citizen Offers Suggestions
'• To Make City More Beautiful
Si'fce much interest haa been
aroused in the discussion of namee
of streets honoring our old residents
and famous sous, it has occurred
Vo the writer that perhaps sugges
tions of further Improvements to
our growing city, might be in or
der.
■pirst, by all means, the city
Aould purchase that block which is
bounded by Tarboro Street, Cokey
Road ar.'d Hill Street —lying across
from the Lutheran church, and beau
tify it for a residential park. This
has been suggested, and sidetracked
from time to time, but it would add
much to have this lot converted in-
Jo a restful, attractive place where
" our residents 5 mjight eojloy tihe
breeze and children could have the
freedom to exerciso in the out of
doors. There are already several
trees, and, with the disappearing of
the eye-sore of the old run-down,
ghostly house, there would be re
joicing, I am sure.
Second: That strip of ground lying
parallel with Pine View Cemetery,
(once used as a colored burying
ground, now grown up in weeds and
underbush, a veritable breeding
place for snakes, lizards and mosqui
toes,) if cleared of the debris and
simply raked out, would be a joy
to the children of that part of town.
We believe the grounds could be
{leaned up i:.' one day, and resident*
of Mercer, Eastern Ave., and Syca
more Streets, would rise up to call
our City fathers, "blessed," if this
should come to pass. Why not! It
i\ doing no one any good. It is us
ed by no one to any good advan
tage, and the few sunken spots that
call to mind that once it was a
burying ground are all that suggests
its past Years have passed since
anyone was buried there, the
yones having been moved to the col
. ored burial ground in another part
• Of the city. This is a suggestion I
hope may be adopted, if only grant
ed for a period of some years—ra
ther than to have the weeds, vines
and undergrowth remain,—a" id
snakes to multiply therein.
Third; We have made very little
use of the, beautiful river scenery
that we have. If the stretch of road
Recently cut from the Municipal
Plant to the Palls Road, (near tho
new River Bridge,) could be paved,
the undergrowth along the river
bank cut, substantial iron frame
benches painted white dotted about
the river's balk, there would be a
parkway of natural beauty. And, if
our good City fathers will continue
f£his planting of flowering native
shrubs along this area, no one cau
tell the beauty that would be ours
in the springtime for years to come.
Already there are various flowering
trees, alders and judas, , dogwood,
but more could be added, with
1 lit'tle exertion, and small experhe.
Fourth: Since Howard Street, (the
short, one block street that means »o
much to so many people, who park
and enter the stores from the rear
entrance,) has the appearance of
♦ neglect and unslightliness, why
can't the Chamber of Commerce
move toward the end of beautifica
tion there t If each store i'( the j
block would paint the rear all j
white, (following in the steps of the j
Ricks Hotel,,) put up fresh awnings, |
ailfl dress their windows, how much
more beauty would unfold on tilt,
heart of our City citizens to enjoy
—and visitors to admire, rather
than endure, in passing. I believe ev
ery store in the short block woull
agree to joi:. in thi» movement.
Fifth: There runs through ojir
city a little stream that is hidden
i) Inost of us, but emerges from
the closed culvert at a point on
Sycamore Street (between Parker
and George Streets) near the duplex
I Westbrook Apartments and remains
iOpen to Tarboro Highway, near
Dukp's Luncheonette. If this little
stream ( —if it is to be left open,)
could be cleared off and beauti
fied most inexpensively, with iris
a: Id native plants, the underbrush
removed to the point just mention- J
ed, Dukes Luncheonette, there i«>
available an ideal parkway and play
ground for the young residents of
1 that neighborhood. This would cost
next to nothing, as the main consid
eration would be the labor of a cou
ple of days in cleari:£ the spoc.
How much better, than allowing it
j v to grow up in weeds and leaving to
(Please turn to page four)
ROBIN KING
PLANS NEW
DEAL PAPER
I Local Writer Adopts Seven-Point
Program For Reform Weekly
A new "100 per ce~'t Roosevelt"
political weekly to be called "The
New Dealer," will appear in Ra
leigh between September 15 and Oc
tober 1, Robin O. King, editor, an
nounced here.
Formerly connected for 20 years
with the Associated Press, the local
newspaperman said the newspaper
would bo printed in tabloid size from
eight to 12 pages weekly. "It will be
devoted exclusively to poli
tical—national, State, city, a'fd co
unty," King explained.
Platform of The New Dealer will
include seven planks:
"1. We are 100 percent behind
President Franklin Delano Roose
velt and his kind of New Deal gov
ernment. We shall fight every ca-j
--didate for office who opposes the
Roosevelt New Deal principles,
whether he or she ia a Democrat or
a Republican.
. "2. Wb favor a ew Deal govern
ment for the State of North Caro
lina. Our great State has been con
trolled by conservatives all too long,
and we will support only those can-
I didates who promise to give the peo
ple of this State a more liberal and
up-to-date administration.
"3. We favor the immediate and
complete repeal of the disgraceful
absentee ballot law as the first step
in -bringing about honest elections
in North Carolina.
"4. We favor expending the city
limits of Raleigh to take in resi
dents of Budleigh, Anderson Heights
and other suburbs. A majority of
those living in these suburbs earn
livelihood' in Raleigh, make
ugo, of our streets, our public build
ings, and monopolize parking and
office space. Why should not they
share the responsibilities of a citizen
of Raleigh 1
"5. We favor taxing all real es
tate, regardless of ownership, ex
cept churches and parsonages. Real
estate valued at thousands of dol
lars is exempted from taxation be
cause it is owned either by churches
or fraternal organizations, Whyt
"6. We favor giving every old
destitute citizen of North Carolina
who reaches the age of 65 years not
less than 30 mo- Ithly in old age as
sistance. We favor the State and
counties approaching additiona'.
funds to make this possible, when
it is added to the money granted
by the Federal government for such
purposes.
"7. We favor repeal of the gener
al sales tax law, substituting there
for a high luxury sales tax, if the
Btate' g financial condition makes such
a tajc r'ecessary, which we doubt."
King said the Mitchell Printing
Company would print his paper. As
sociate editors will be announced
later.
Timely Tips For
Torrid Weather
All possible advice on how to live
and get along in hot weather has
been published millions of times.
But the matter is always new—in hot
weather, so once again.
No JJot:
Over eat.
Drink too much ice water.
Worry—particularly about the hot
weather.
Indulge in too much mental or
physical activity.
Drink alcoholics of a (y kind.
Take trips unless urgent to places
hotter than your own homes.
Now for a few "Do's":
Wear comfortable and suitable
clothing.
Cultivate a cheerful disposition.
Love your neighbor as yourself
I and, therefore, shut up your dog
I shut off your radio, so that the mem.
' bers can sleep, even though it is hot.
' Hankow military chiefs suppress
I organizations of students of work
* erj sponsored by Communists.
■■ ji"
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1938
A.C, COLLEGE
GIVES DEGREES
TO 44 STUDENTS
Dr. Howard Jensen Of Duke Unk
versify Is Speaker At Graduation
Exercises
Wilson, Aug. 27. —Forty-four sum
mer school students at Atlantic
t Christian College received their di
plomas last night alt commencement
exercises at the First Christian
' church, and heard Dr. Howard Jen
> sen, professor of sociology of Duke
. University, speak on "The Task of
. Education in Time of Crisis."
Genevieve Maco«, of New Bern;
Mrs. Charlotte Y. Thorpe, of Rocky
1 Mount; and Fannie Mae Valentine
1 of Spring Hope, received magna cum
laude honors with their degrees. Sev.
[ en other graduated cum laude. They
, are Grace Birze-dine, Ozeane, Va.;
. Mrs. Alice Grice Brown, Wilson;
Mrs. Ruth Grice Hyatt, Wilso- ; Mrs. j
Bessie Ormtond Wade, Morehead j
[ City and Mrs. Sylvia Weeks, Tarboro,
Other graduates are Fanniej
I Adams, Bath; Elizabeth Boyette,
. Kenly; Mrs. William C. Brake,'
Rocky Mount; Mrs. Ethel Denninj'
Colwell, Turkey; Mrs. Mamie Mills'
Drake, Vanceboro; Louise Edgerton j
Pikeville; Myra Fitzgerald, Selma:
Mrs. Louise Bell Formy-Dubal,
Whiteville; Garlon Hamrick, Ruther
fordton; Florence Heath, Alliance;
Mrs. Cecil Johnso*., Selma; Minttic
Kellun, Jacksonville; Dalton Ken
nedy, Wilson.
Mary Belle Knott, Oxford; Eliza
beth Lunch, Pikeville; Velna Mat-
L thews, Rocky Mount; Mrs. Sarah 8.
May, Bailey; Nettie Mae Motes, Ap
[ pling, Ga.; Mrs. Helen James Mc
l Clenny, Rocky Mount; la-itha Os
, Borne. Deep Run; Erma Parket.'
, Benson; Mrs. BUa M. Paarce, Nash-'
ville; Mrs. Verna Randall, Falcon;
r C. R. Simpson, Peach land; L. W.
. Starling, Godwin; William M. Ty
( son, Wilson; Lizzie May Warren
• Spring Hope; Viola Waters, Pante
t go; Mrs. Affie H. Williams, Wash
, ington; Cassie D. Williams, Ora.-
choke; Katie Louise Wood, Elm'
I City,
r
Sold Spoon To
Dead Men
1 i
Herbert Sain, 20-year old Toluca
' youth, sold ten cents teaspoons to
1 dead men for $5 each.
The young man was placed under i
' a S3OO bond after a hearing before
1 Federal Commissio- er John P. Mull
i when FBI agents charged him with'
using the mails to defraud. Pos
' tal inspectors said the youth's ruse
' was one of the most unusual and
1 unique methods his department has
' ever discovered.
1 After his arrest, young Sain ad
mitted guilt to the charges and re
vealed that his scheme was as fol
lows:
3 Watch the papers for an obituary
1 —a death notice of some import
ant men. Tho name and address was
' ■ toted and the dead man was mail
ed a well-wrapped package, $5 col
* lect.
The family thinking it was some
article their beloved husband or fa
ther had ordered, in their bereave
ment, and lack of usual judgment,
1 would pay the $5, and on unwrapping
it, find the tencent spoon.
Sain makes his home at Toluca
j with his father, Dan Sai'', who is
s a respected farmer and merchant.
( Morganton postoffice was used as the
t starting point for the operation, and
Sain went there to mail the spoons.
Anoither plan the postal inspector
said Sain used in money
from the public was to place a "pen
tny column" advertisement in 1
Charlotte paper, describing himself
r as an employment agency and (
guaranteeing work for unemployed.
Fee for filing was sl.
s Several se-'t the dollar, bult none
got work, or apswers to their in
quiries, it was learned.
0 Sain's correspondenence was in his
personal longhand and was easy to
trace, the inspector said.
f
GET LARGE SUM
North Carolina farmers recieved
$9,710,780 for cooperation in the 19
is 37 Agricultural Conservation pro
gram, says E. Y. Floyd, AAA execu
tive officer at State College.
The Mayor's Objectives
\
When the Mayet- of Rocky Mount took office and made an
r address over the radio to the citizenship at large outlining
his objectives in - compliance with his platform declara
tons, he stated that one of his first objectives would be to
enlarge the power plant so as to meet the residental and
commercial needs of the city's future growth, and his sec
ond objective was that the city would provide more park
and play ground space, and he especially mentioned that it
would be his purpose to acquire the block of land lying be
tween Cokey Rd. Hill and George Streets and the Luther
an church. The power plant has been provided and there
has been some progress in playground activities but the
city has made exceedingly small progress in acquiring ad
ditional sites. A small piece of ground has been acquired
on Western Avenue but no additional land has been ac
quired on the Eastern side of the town but a lot which
was brought by the school board many years back has
been cleaned up apd two tennis courts have been provided.
We do not believl land will ever be cheaper in Rocky
Mount than it is how and if the Mayor and Board of Alder
men purpose to secure these parksites it appears to us that
now is the best time the Board could proceed in this matter.
,Out of all the money 'that has been brought to Rocky
Moun from the national treasury, the East side of town has
very little to show for it and while there has been much
spent on the West side we are constrained to believe that
they have very little to show for the amount spent by them.
The Mayors term of office expires by limitation next May
and unless the city gets busy and acquires this designated
park site which he promised and other park sites then this
may be one of his pledges that may go unfilled and we are
counting on it being fulfilled, while it is so full of good sug
gestions. We read a communication a few days back of Mrs.
W. Gray Williams paragraph of which we copy below:
By all means,- the city should purchase that block
which is bounded by Tarboro Street, Cokey Rd. and
Hill Street—lyng* across from the Lutheran church, and
beautify it for a residental park. This has been sug
gested, and sidetracked from time to time, but it
would add much to have this lot converted into a rest
ful, attractive place where our residents might enjoy
the breeze and children could have the freedom to ex
ercise in the out of doors. There are already several
trees and with the disappearing df the eye-sore of the
old rundown ghostly house, there would be rejoicing,
I am sure.
The city needs nbt spent much money on this block.
What the city needi is to purchase the block. Certainly the
Board of Aldermen who live on the East side of town
could not fail to give support to this project for they have
not done much along this line sofar and the Aldermen from
the West side could not fail to support this purchase be
cause of the largeness of expenditures that have already
been made on the West side. The old people of the city are
interested in this park for a place to sit down and rest and
enjoy the breeze. It is close enough so that they can walk,
and the nurses with baby carriages can also reach this park
—neither would have to rent an automobile.
-.i 000
IF COUftTS HAVE NO POWER THEN WE NEED SOME
NEW LAWS
We notice from the papers that it was expected that the
judge might rule that the state board of Elections and the
Courts had no power to go behind the certifications of
County Board of Elections. Now if this is the law then wc
have come to a pretty pass in North Carolina that a county
Board of Elections can fix up returns which have been
found in many instances to be loaded with fraud and illegal
votes many of them dead and gone, moved to other states
and then there is no power to correct this in the law or in
the courts. If this be the law or in the courts. If this be
the law Governor Hoey should immediately call the Legisla
ture again into extra session and haVe the law ammended
before the fall election so that we can assure to the elec
torate of North Carolina some degree of honesty in Elec
tions. Now when it comes to the Burgin and Dean case we
are only acquainted with it through statements appearing
in the press but from admissions and statements which
have not been denied there was certainly illegal voting car
ried on in that primary and there ought to be sufficent
laws to see that we have honest elections. A stolen office
is just as bad as stealing a cow. Would the property hol
ders be willing to do away with the law on stealing prop
erty? We do not believe the governor should wait. ,
COOPER HITS
AT RAL. GANG
Wilmington Mayor Speaks At Hemp
At First Moore County Live
stock Show
Hemp, Aug. 27.—Declaring that
North Carolina is fast heading to
ward a Fascist state, Mayor Tom
Cooper of Wilmington, president of
the North Carolina Mule Dealers As
sociation, told a gathering of 2,000
Moore County farmers today that
they must do all in their'power to
bring the government of the peo
ple back to the counties, where it
rightfully belo- £s.
Cooper was the principal speaker
at the first annual Moore County
Livestock Show. Others on the pro
gram were O. J. Coffin, professor of
Journalism in tho University of
North Carolina; C. B. Deane, appar
ent Democratic nominee, of Rock
ingliam, and John R. Jones, Repub
lica-' candidate fo# Congress from
the Eighth Destrict; L. B. Allmnn
and J. K. Hoffman of the Stato
College Extension Service. E. H. Gar
rison, Moore County farm agent pre
sided. Two thousand farmers enter
ed horses, mules, mares, and colts in
the show.
Cooper lauded the farmers of this
section for their progress in live
stock development, and said he was
glad to see the people of the State
making a forward step toward rais
ing their owr' livestock.
Admonishing the crowd that home
rule for counties and cities, of North
Carolina is an inherent right, Coop
er warned that "The Raleigh gang
is doing all in its power to usurp
the rights of the people.'' Ho said
that centralization must end, and
that counties afld municipalities
must be allowed autonomy.
DENOUNCES SALES TAX
W. F. Dowdy, president of the
North Carolina Merchant* Associa
te?» in an address before the New
Bern Rotary Club, Friday, denounc
ed the state sales tax as "the worst
thing that has happened to tho state
in recent years" and declared he!
could never favor such a tax except
for emergency purposes. He said the
merchants association would work for
a reduction of the sales tax next
year. In his talk he also outlined tho
purposes and phr Is of the merchants
organization, and he called for a
better understanding and co-opera
tion between government and busi
ness. ,
Sales Tax Test Case Heads
Towards State's High Court
Essay Contest
Winner
Dgfc W |ra
"•
-v
■PSF "mB
The wilners of tho 1938 Essay
Contest conducted by the division of
Vocational Education, State Depart
eration with the Chilean Nitrate
Educational Bureau, Inc., for stu
ment of Public Instruction, in coop
dents of Vocational Agriculture
throughout North Carolina, have
been selected after very careful
consideration of all essays submit
ted, announced Roy H. Thomas, State
Supervisor of Vocational Agriculture.
The subject of the essay was "HOW
THE MAJOR CROPB GROWN ON
MY FARM ARE PERTILIZ>."
The e»say chosen as best from the
360 submitted from 43 schools in the
State was written by Wilburn Mer
ritt, of the Franklin High School,
Kerr, North Carolina. The other win
ners are listend in the ord'r of
first, second, third, fourth and fifth
prize winners respectively.
District 1
Roy Keith, Fuquay Springs, N. C.,
1 15.00; John Lassiter, Conway, N.
C., 2 12.50; Jackson Britt, Conway,
N. C., 3 10.00; Lewis Styons, Ply
mouth, N. C., 4 7.50; William John
son, Conway, N. C., 5 5.00.
Liquor Money Will
Help Advertise N. C.
ABC Counties of State Contributing
To World's Fair Fund
Wilson, Aug. 29.—North Carolina
will be advertised at the World' 3
Fair in New York next year with
the partial help of liquor money,
it was revealed here at a meeting
of the eouty. commissioners Satur
day.
Several months ago the commis
sioners voted to donate $l,lOO to
the World's Fair fund as their part
in the contribution that the 27 ABC
counties of the state are making.
The entire contribution amounts to
around $30,000, it is understood.
Saturday at the commissioners
meeting here, Commissioner T. H.
Woodard explai-ed that Representa
tive W. E. Fenner, of Rocky Mount,
chairman of the North Carolina com
mittee to advertise at the World's
Fair, hud obtained an enabling act
passed at the recen spee.ial session
of the North Carolina legislature,_en
abling the wet counties to contri
bute money to the Fair's advertis
ing fu - 1 in connection with the North
Carolina exhibit.
MILK FLOW UP
Milk production per cow on Aug
ust 1 was about 4 per cent larg
er than a year earlier and only ]
per cent Ies 9 than the peak for Aug
ust 1 reported in 1929, says John
Arey, State College extension dairy
man.
NOTICE
Those desiring to subscribe to The Rocky Mount
Herald may do so by sending SI.OO with name and ad
dress to The Rocky Mount Herald, Rocky Mount, N.
Name
Town , State Route No
SI.OO PER TEAM
Raleigh, Aug. 20.—A Supremf
Court t°st of the validity of Nortk
Carolina's three perecent retail salac
tax appeared assured today whe»
Revenue Commissioner A. J. Mai well
ruled that the commu-'ity variety
store of Winston-Salem must pay
the levy.
The variety store is operated by J.
Paul Leonard of Statesville, who s«l
u pthe shop to test the constitution
ality of the tax, which nets the
state approximately $11,000,000 an.
nually.
Leonard, secretary of the North
Carolina Fair Tax Association, said
he would pay the tax under protest,
and take hi g case immediately tr
court.
Maxwell's decision was announced
at the conclusion of a two-hour
hearing at which the levy was as
sailed as dictatorial and unconstitu
tional.
Fred parrish of Winston-Salem, at
torney for the Fair Tax Association,
asserted that "even Hitler wouldn't
do much worse" than some of the
"arbitrary provisions" in the sale*
tax law.
The association, in a brief filed
with Maxwell, alleged that the
tax was unco' .stitutional because it
was legislature. Since 1930, Leonard
pointed out, the legislature has re
fused to reapprtiou its membership
on a population basis, as prescribed
by the state constitution.
Maxwell pointed out that this ar
gument, if uheld by the Supremt
Court, automatically would void al
laws passed by the General Assem
bly since 19?9.
Parrisli said the sales tax law il
lowed merchants to pay the tax them,
selves, rather than pass it on to
the consumers, but made i t illegal
for merchants to advertise that they
would pay the levy. ,
"That's contradictory to fre«
speech and freedom of the press,'
he charged. "It's legal for a merch
ant to obsorb the tax, yet it's le»
gal for him to so advertise.
"In other words, they can send
a merchant to jail for advertising
he is going to do a perfectly legal
thing. EVen Hitler wouldn't do much
worse than that.
"You're not in jail," Maxwell grin
ned.
"No, sir," said Parrish, also smil
ing. "I'm right here."
A provisio- in the law which fixes
the maximum sales tax on any sin
gle item at sls was termed "purely
arbitrary' 'by the association's attor
ney. "That maximum helps the big
fellow and discriminates against oth
ers," he said.
Parrish pointed out that a man
who bought four automobiles for
SSIXI each would have to pay s*'»!
sales tax, whereas a man who*
bought one car for $2,000 would
have to pay only sls.
Funeral Rites For
J. R. Whitehead
Funeral services for J. Rufu*
Whitehead, 78, a long resident of
Battleboro, were held Monday after
noon at four o'clock from his homo
with Reverend Rosser officiating as
sisted by Reverend Hoyle, both of
whom are Missionary Baptist minis
ters at Battleboro. Interment follow
ed in the Battleboro cemetery.
Mr. Whitehead died Sunday ev
ening at his home after having been
in declinr | health for several years.
He is survived by his widow who
was Mis s Mamie Wright before her
marriage, and two sisters, Mrs. Q.
F. Jones, of Battleboro, and Mrs.
Cobb of Elm City.
Pallbearers for the services includ
ed Robert Marriote, H. A. Taylor,
Wiley Fisher, L. O. Collins, T. A.
Williams, and J. W. Fisher.