Page Two
THE CHATHAM BLANKETEER
October 31, 1933
The
Chatham„ Blaiiik€teer
Editor-in-Chief Claudia Austin
Assistant Editor..Charles Calhoun
Business Mgr Robert Hartness
Club Editors i Estelle Powers
I Versie Whitlock
c • 1 ; Juanita Billings
Social Editors< ^ ^
I Gypsy Smitherman
REPORTERS
Spinning & Carding..Pearl Carter
Weaving Tessie Stinson
Spool & Specking-.Ora Belle Wood
Shop & Dye House....Mary Brown
Wool Department Ola Teal
Napping & Wash, Esther Norman
Finishing Dept Frances Hensley
Shipping Dept.. Vera Briggs
Never Too Busy
To Aid Employe
(Continued From Page One)
vered in his endeavor to build
the Elkin and Alleghany Rail
road, a project to which he gave
largely of his time and resources
in an attempt to benefit his neigh
bors in the northwest counties.
Financing this construction work
was impeded by the World War,
and after the war the necessity
for the railroad was lessened be
cause of the advent of good roads
and increased use of trucks and
automobiles. It w^s only then
that he abandoned the develop
ment, and not because he was
discouraged.
I think Mr. Chatham exhibited
the greatest patience when in
variably during his very busy
days he would take time to dis- j
cuss with his employees their
problems and with any one their
troubles, with sympathy and un
derstanding. Never during the
years I worked for him did he
instruct me to tell any one that
he was too busy to see them, I
am sure that Mr. Chatham’s de
sire and willingness to discuss
with his employees their business
and family problems helped
create the good-will that has al
ways existed between employees
and management of Chatham
Manufacturing Company. We are
all fortunate that his son has
this same, as well as other, at
tributes of his father. .
Two vivid events in the lives
of most of us convince us that
Mr. Chatham had courage. In
the flood of 1916 when the Elkiii
mill was almost completely des
troyed and mud was left in its
wake, covering most of the ma
chinery on the first floor and
causing the loss of thousands of
dollars, only the stoutest heart
could have had the courage to
try to recover anything from the
damage and re-establish the mill
operations. Again at the end of
the World War the Government
on one day notice cancelled every
order for blankets when every
loom in the mill was making
army blankets, and at a time
when our warehouses were loaded
with high-priced wool to fill
j those contracts. We had borrow
ed huge amounts of money to pay
for the wool. The day after the
Armistice the values of our wool
declined from $1.10 per pound to
50 cents. The purchasers of our
notes demanded payment. Be
cause of slowness of the govern
ment to adjust contracts, it was
only because of Mr. Chatham’s
courage and the respect he had
among his business associates
that financial embarrassment for
our company was prevented.
I am certain we all realize that
the splendid mills we have at
Elkin and Winston-Salem, and
our position in the blanket in
dustry are due to Mr. H. G. Chat
ham’s foresight and his son’s
ability to carry his plans to frui
tion.
Hugh Chatham
Was Statesman
(Continued From Page One)
called “statesman”. No man was
freer from such faults. He knew
how to express his regard for any
one he cared for, but he did this
in such a way as never to appear
effusive.
Mr. Chatham’s public career,
on a state-wide scale, really be
gan in 1900 during the campaign
which resulted in the election of
Charles B. Aycock as governor.
During this campaign Mr. Chat
ham’s ability as an organizer and
as a leader of his organization
was recognized by the new Gov-1
ernor and by the older statesmen
whose keen eyes and ears were
continually searching for just
such ability. Mr. Chatham’s in
tense interest in the election and
administration of Governor Ay
cock was caused not only by his
desire to see his state freed from
the mis-rule of Dan Russell and
his multi-colored regiment of of
fice-holders, but his great sym
pathy for and with Aycock’s
promise to give every child with
in the boundaries of North Caro
lina an opportunity to get an edu
cation, and whose purpose was
to assist in the uplift of all the
people of North Carolina, both
white and black, through the
power of this universal medium.
As a result of the able efforts
of such men as Mr. Chatham
Russellism was overthrown, and
the little red schoolhouse made
its appearance within the reach
of every child in the state. Mr.
Chatham was pressed to accept
some political appointment in
recognition of his services, but he
steadfastly refused, stating that
he had rather be a private in the
ranks tlian to be under obliga
tions to any organization other i
than the woolen mill, of which
he was president. He was finals
ly prevailed upon to accept the
presidency of the state owned
North Carolina Railroad, which
was the least “political” of any.
Mr. Chatham’s ability and wis
dom in State affairs becoming
recognized more and more each
year, he was in 1907 made chair
man of the State Democratic Ex
ecutive Committee, and through
his tireless energy and faithful
ness to duty directed the perfec
tion Of a state-wide organization
that could not be defeated. At
about this time Mr. Chatham
moved from Elkin to Winston-
Salem, where his company had
built another blanket factory, and
his popularity as an adviser or
“consulting engineer” on public
and political subjects increased
rapidly. He firmly but good-
naturedly rejected many proposals
to allow his name to be used as
a candidate for any political of
fice, but in 1913, while he was
spending a few days at his sum
mer home at Roaring Gap, he was
drafted as nominee for the State
Senate and served as Senator
from Forsyth for two years, was
made Chairman of the Finance
Committee and a member of oth
er important committees. Dur
ing the World War Mr. Chat
ham’s ability as an organizer was
recognized by the Wilson admin
istration and he was made a
member of the Council of Na
tional Defense.
Hugh Chatham was esteemed
for his honesty, his fine common
sense and practical wisdom, and
for his great strength of charac
ter, and it was because of these
qualities that Senators and Gov
ernors, the high and the lowly,
white and colored came to him
or called upos him for advice or
assistance, and no man, woman or
child went away empty-handed.
In his passing the Nation, the
State and we who so frequently
asked of him some favor or ad
vice lost a great statesman and
a trusted friend.
^oci ETY
Weddings
Wriglit-Ti'lplett
Of particular interest to
friends of the contracting par
ties is the announcement of
the wedding of Miss Con
stance Wright of Elkin to
Ralph Triplett of Jonesville. The
marriage was solemnized at the
Methodist church in Independ
ence, Virginia, Saturday, Octo
ber 14, with Rev. R. A. Poole
officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh
Madison of Elkin accompanied
the young couple to Independ
ence and witnessed the cere
mony.
The bride is tlie daughter of
Walter Wright and the late Mrs.
Mary Reynolds Wright. She
was educated at Columbus Indus
trial High School at Columbus,
Georgia, where she formerly re
sided.
The bridegroom is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Triplett of
Jonesville and a graduate of El
kin high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Triplett will
make their home for the present
with Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Madi
son.
Hensley-rhillips
Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Hensley
announce the marriage of their
daughter. Prances, to Troy Phil
lips, August 7, 1933, at Hills
ville, Va., with Rev. R. H. She-
waiters officiating.
Mr. Phillips is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. T. J. Phillips, who re
side near East Bend. Mr. and
Mrs. Phillips will make theii'
home in Winston-Salem where
they both hold responsible posi
tions.
Robertsoii-Norniaii
Mr. and Mrs. Will Robertson,
of Stokesdale, N. C., announce
the marriage of their daughter,
Ora, to Mr. Cecil Norman, of
Winston-Salem, August 7th, at
Hillsville, Va., with Rev. R. B-
Showalters officiating.
Mr. Norman is the son of Mi’’
and Mrs. L. C. Norman of the
Mt. Tabor section. Mr. and MrS’
Norman will make their home
with Mr. Norman’s parents, neaf
Mt. Tabor.
AVood-Hayes
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wood an'
nounce the marriage of theii'
daughter, Maude Memphis, to Mi'
Doc Hayes, of Cycle, Saturday.
Oct. 7th, at Independence, Va-
with Rev. T. R. Windsor officia- ;
ting.
Mr. Hayes is the son of Mr. .
and Mrs. John Hayes, of Cycle,
and is a service station operatd"
in Arlington. (
Mrs. Hayes is employed in the 1
Burling department of the ElkiH <
,mill. They will make their home
in Jonesville, N. C.
('rescent I’lillathea Cla.ss ^
Kntertaiiied '
Mrs. Bertha Rhodes and Mis- ^
Mable Rhodes were joint host' t
esses to the members of tli^ ^
Crescent Philathea class of tli^ ®
Chatham Baptist church on TueS'
day night, Oct. 17, 1933 at theif
home on Liberty St. After ^
short business session games aii^
contests were enjoyed. Fiftee!’ ^
members answered to the ro!^
call. The meeting came to ^
close with the serving of delicioU- ^
refreshments to the members aii^ ^
guests. B
C
Mrs. Troy Phillips Honored
Mrs. Granville Coe entertaine*^
at her home in West Salem oi’
Friday evening, October 20tl'
(Continued On Page Four)