Iboone
SKETCHES
By J. C. R.
A MERE SUGGESTION
Boone's City Fathers are about to
complete an excellent year's work . . .
a twelve-month that has witnessed
the cancellation of various lionds and
coupons ... a twelve-month during
which the water system has been
greatly enlarged, and p'accd on a
more or less self-sustaining basis.
These gentlemen have given their
time and energies unselfishly in the
interest of the common weal, and
residents of the town who scorn their
endeavors are low-lived so-and-sos.
Each member of the City Council,
the Mayor, the Chief of Police, and
, their assistants, deserve bountiful
helpings from Santa's saddlebags . .
and we sincerely hope that they get
it . . . along with a quart if their
appetites crave the nectar of jubilation!
Merry Christmas, and many thanks
Is our inexpensive present to the City
* Administration . . and along with it
goes a simple suggestion that we'd
like a little reciprocity ... a gift that
would bring cheer to those who patter
along the Main Drag . . . and the
idea is this: . . . That If a few lengths i
of fire hose were connected with a!
few hydrants in the business district, j
and some of Boone's abundant water
supply were allowed to trickle along
the streets and sidewalks . . . Santa
Claus would find walking a lot more
comfortable, and the Holidays would
be safer, saner and cleaner! And we
again thank you!
o
BUSINESS NOTE
Dr. George K. Moose of the Boone
Drug Company is a strong believer
in Democrat advertising. In last !
week's issue he suggested "Toilet I
Sets" as a "ducky" present for the !
girl friend . . . but alas and alack,
the printer In a moment of weakness
caused the type to "sing a
different tune" . . . and now folks
are wanting to buy toilet seats . . .
just gangs of 'em. Dock Moose
grins and grins as business rolls in
. . . and in order to dispel suspicion
he asks us to announce that his toilet
sets come in assorted sizes,
with holiday wrapping's . . . but
that they ARE NOT fur-lined!
Lumberton Man May
Oppose D. G. Brummitt
Raleigh, N. C.?Solicitor TIil naa uV.
McNeill, Lumberton, of the Ninth Judicial
District, is said to be training
his eyes upon the State position now
held by Dennis G. Brumnutt, to wit:
that of Attorney General. He it was
who one time at least talked about?
whether he thought seriously of it or
not?becoming a candidate for Governor
and threatened to ride a mule
into Raleigh, hitching it to a tree,
in the absence of a hitching post, in
Capitol Square, for his inaugration.
He is really said to be seriously considering
trying to become legal adviser
for the State.
There are those among the State
leaders and in the hands of the Democratic
party who say Attorney General
Brummitt needs a spanking, that
he has not co-operated with, in fact
has hen critical of the administration
of which he has been a part for some
ten years, during the last few years.
He considered running for Governor
the last time, and there are those
also who say he is lining up his ducks
for such a venture this time, although
an off-season year according to tHe
east-west precedent. He may or may
not seek his present post. Mr. Brummltt
has had no serious opposition
since he led Charles Ross and the late
Frank Nash, 'Kith of whom became
his assistants. Peyton Swain. Shelby,
opposed him last time, but not formidably.
Whether Solicitor McNeill is serious
and will make the race, or whether
he is the individual to administer
the "spanking," remains to be
seen. It is a fact that Mr. Brummitt
has a hefty following, especially in
what is usually termed the left wing
of the party, with which he has been
identified lately.
*.
Legislature to Study
Occupational Diseases
Raleigh, N. C.?When the 1935
uenerai Assembly convenes it wiu
have available all of the information
obtainable on "occupational diseases"
and a State fund for insurance under
the workn -'a' compensation law. Occupational
eases are not such as
are recog-^*~": under the law at the
present, a^g^lgh the North Carolina
Supreme . t awarded compensation
in th-^dfi of McNeely vs. Carolina
Asbei^r Company, Charlotte.
The worl as suffering from "asbestoais,"
1 txl by long breathing of
the as be Just. Experiments of
other st are being studied and
will be i ble. Dr. G. P. Schwenning,
ece? es professor at the State
University, now making the study.
Dr. John S. Bradway, of the Duke
University legal aid clinic is making
a study of the State fund for insurance.
This may be necessary, as many
of the stock and mutal companies
are refusing to insure many classes
of workers in the State. r
SSSSSmSKKS^DHIK^^^HBSGEQ
.
I WAl
An In>
VOLUME XLV1, NUMBER 25
Baby Expert! 11
I I
New York.?The wonders of New c
York's sky-scrapers failed to iin- J
press Dr. Allan R. Dafoe (above),
I Canadian country physician, who *
brought the Dionnc quintuplets into 1
the world. He came here to lecture. {
JOHN B. HOPKINS"!
PASSES TUESDAY;
Well Known Washington!:!!! and Brother
of Mrs. J. W. Hodges, Boone, |
Victim of Sudden Illness. ,
Buried in District. 11
John B. Hopkins, 76 years old, na- 5
tive of the Gap Creek section, hut for ;
the past thirty years a resident of t
Washington City, died at his home 5
there Tuesday, according to telegraphic
information coming to a sister,
Mrs. John W. Hodges, of Boone. Although
ttie message did not so state, f
relatives here believe his death must j
have been sudden, since they had 110 1
knowledge of any recent illness. j
Other details were lacking except i
a statement! that funeral and inter- I
ment would be in Washington Friday, c
Surviving is the widow, four sons v
and two daughters. William. Josenh. F
Elmer and John Hopkins, Misses Ag- t
nes and Lucy Hopkins, all of Washington;
aiso the following brothers
and sisters: Mrs. John W. Hodges of
Boone; Thomas W. Hopkins, Newland;
George W. Hopkins, Mountain
City, Tenn., and Mrs. Mary Thomas,
Mountain City.
Native of Ashe Comity
Mr. Hopkins was a native of Ashe
County, having been reared on Gap
Creek near the Watauga County line.
He represented Ashe County in the
Legislature of 1895 and a few years
later moved to Washington where he
held a position of responsibility in
the Census Department for twentysix
years, retiring in 1930. Since that
time he had not been actively engaged.
He was a Methodist, a Mason
and a Shriner.
Mr. Hopkins had often visited tn i
Boone with his sister and was well 1
known to Watauga County people, <
who looked forward with pleasure to 1
his trips to this section. He was a
likeable gentleman, a good and able
citizen, and people in this section of
the State will learn of his death with
sadness.
Four Cases Are Heard
By Recorder Tuesday
Only four cases were tried by Judge
John H. Bingham in Recorders Court
Tuesday, despite the fact that Superior
court had been in progress for g
the past, two weeks and had prevented r
the lower court from sitting:
James Simmons, charged with f.
and a., was given a sentence of six
months on the roads after it had
been shown he had violated the terms j
of a suspended sentence. <
Ha'gaman McGuire, public drunken- '
ness; costs s
Ed S. Williams, reckless driving, "
directed to pay cost and repair dam- f
aged car for prosecutor.
Will Lowrance, carrying concealed ,
weapon (steel knucksl, was assessed
with the costs.
Sheriff Howell Captures i
Forty-Second Distillery \
i
Last week Sheriff A. Y. Howell and j
his deputies captured an eighty-gal- j
Ion copper still in the "Pick-breeches" j
settlement, Beaver Dam Township. "1
Two men were arrested and around ,
three hundred gallons of beer de- ;
stroyed. This makes forty-two stills
and twenty-four men captured since
Mr. Howell has been sheriff of Wa- .
tauga County.
COVE CREEK F. F. A.
The Cove Creek Chapter of the Future
Farmers of America met Decem
ber 14th for their regular meeting.
The following program was rendered:
A talk on "December on Virginia
Farms." by Howard Rowe; "Livestock
i Outlook Good," was discussed by
Tommie Ward.
dependent Weekly Nevrspa
BOONE, WATAUGA. COUI
LOCAL EXCHANGE^
NAMED IN PHONE
RATE PROPOSALS
iteduction of 15 Per Cent in Rates ol
AM Phones In State Ordered by tbo
Utilities Commissioner; Budget
i.'runs )ir>vi'nue fro-1
posul. Highways Make frog r mis.
Other Kalcigil News Items.
By M. It. DUNN AC AN
(Special Correspondent)
Raleigh, N. C.? Reduction of 15 pe:
:ent in rates of all telephones in the
State operated by the Southern Bell
telephone and Tefegraph Company
las been ordered by the State Utlll
iea Commission, effective as of Janlary
1, 1935, an order that will, in
he next few months, be followed by, '
itliers which will reach every tele- ;
ihone user in North Carolina and reluce
his cost at least to some ex.ent.
However, the Southern Bell will re>ist
the order and probably apply for
in injunction to prevent the rates be:omlng
effective. If the injunction is
'ranted, that automatically stays the
effectiveness of the reductions, at
least for the lime. If the injunction
s refused, and appeal taken, the rates
go Into effect.
The rates fixed for Boone and
Blowing Rock in the commission or- ier
follow:
Boone: Business, one party $3,00.
wo-party, $2.50, three party $2.00.
ural $1.75; Residence, one party $2, (
;wo-party $1.50, rural $1.50. I,
Blowing Rock: Business, one party, f
!3.50, two party $3.00, four party,
12.00, rural $2.00: Residence, one pary
$2.50, two party $2.00, four party ~
n.ou, rural sr.50.
BUDGET BOAKU DRAWS RILL
The Advisory Budget Commission
las dratted the revenue and approbations
bills it will offer to the t
931i General Assembly, all except the t
irovlsions of the general sales tax, j.
t was stated, following the meeting ,
lere Friday. That is expected to be (
ompleted later, guesses being that it (
vill be a continuation of the thfde t
icr cent sales tax, without exemp- {
ions of basic food items, as now.. t
Governor Ehringhaus, who spent
nost of last week on speaking trips, '
s expected to spend some time now <
u> these bike and his message to the "*
Jeneral Assembly. He 3poke at the
Oth anniversary celebration of the
bunding of the Duke Endowment ?
lere Tuesday night. He then went to ~
Vashington and spoke at the Crime O
Conference Wednesday, and Friday JJ
ipoke in New York City at the contention
of the National Association
>f Life Insurance Presidents. Preparition
for the meeting of the I-egisla.ure
January 9 is expected to take Or
nost of his time until then.
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
Field investigations of the 736 rural
dectrification projects and extensions
n 77 counties had been completed to ta
December 1 by Governor Ehringhaus' vo
Committee on Rural Electrification, as
mder Prof. D. S. Weaver, of State mi
College, executive director. These ju
)rejects eall for building 4,750 miles ne
>f lines anu would serve about 24,- ac
>00 customers or rural families. An ta
rivestment of about $7,500,000 would ar
)e needed to complete the work, es- ha
imates being that probably half of on
he proposed projects are practical or pr
apable of being operated on a selfrustaining
basis. The $17,200 cost of w
he surveys was met by the FERA, a th
ield investigator going into every be
:ount.- from which rural electrifica- nc
.ion applications were received. The M
itudy of facts collected will probably ca
equire six months longer. ta
COO MII.ES OF ROAD BUILT vc
Exactly six hundred miles of high- ex
vays had been built in North Caro- w,
ina up to November 1 under the U. ps
3. public works road construction st
irogram, 347.3 miles were under conitruction
and 94.7 miles had been ap- p
jroved for construction. The 1934
und of $9,522,239 had only $613,766
eft and the 1935 fund of $4,840,941
lad $3,899,186 still available i
CI
VOTE FOR BANKIIKAD BILL in,
Returns on the Bankhead act on Ct
which cotton fanners over the South in
rated last week indicate that the act tii
s popular by a vote of about 10 to 1 re
:or continuing the provisions restrict- T1
ing the growing of cotton. Indica- m
Lions were that Oklahoma, California
and Kentucky had the strongest sen- tc
timcnt against it, but it carried in to
svery cotton-growing state by a wide si
margin. - M
North Carolina's vote was about 12 ai
to 1, this State casting 117,080 for
and 9,528 against retaining the act, r
incomplete returns showed. In strong '*
Republican counties, generally, the
opposition vote was heaviest, the one
exception being Stanly County, which
is Democratic, but which voted C
against the act, 1,022 to 579. ti
Cotton ginned in North Carolina T
this year up to December 1 amounted S
to 588,141 bales, as against 662.647 li
bales to that month in 1933. The fig- w
urea include running bales, linters not d;
included, the report shows. n
per?Established in the ^
JTY, NORTH CAKOLJNA, THURSDAY
A (Chili) 3a Snrn
I9BBH ggg
Above is pictured it striking scene, r<
'hild in the village of Bethlehem n?net?
fassion play, from which the picture w
phicago this month, a Christmas benefit
Democrat Will Be
Issued on Monday i
In order that those responsible
or the publication of The Dein- W
crat may enjoy a brief Christmas 11
loliday at home, next week's Dem>crat
will be published Monday.
Joutrihutors. advertisers and oth
;rs are advised that nothing can
>c taken nfter Saturday for publi- wc
at ion next week, unit are asked trt
0 govern themselves accordingly. na
The Democrat is anxious that its 'n
erviee continue through Christ- P?
slitlon. la;
Til
ist
URLEY GROWERS ?
TO VOTE ON TAX I
ca
op Reduction Plan to Continue if ^
Growers Desire. Walker Says All
Ballots Must Bo in by 22nd. Lr<
Three-fourths Necessary.
- in
The Burley tobacco growers in Wauga
now have the opportunity of o:
ting for or againat the tobacc.o t.a>: n'
it relates to the crop-reduction 9?
ichinery of the Agricultural Ad- W(
stment Administration. It will he
cessary for three-fourths of the st
reage of 1934 to be voted for the w
x if it is to be continued through <lfc
lother year, and contract growers ac
.ve already been furnished blanks c''
1 which they may indicate their
eference. JV
Tbf1 f>fii-Ha mitnf" hi? moiloH tn W T-T
alker, Boone, so that he will receive
em not later than Saturday, Decemr
22nd. All those growers who are
it contract-signers should call at B<
r. Walker's office for a card and A:
st their vote for or against the de
x, as is their preference. he
Every 193-1 tobacco grower should 1"
ite, says Mr. Walker, who further of
:plains that those not growing the a'
eed this year are not eligible to take ?\
irt in the poll. Voting positively
ops Saturday night, December 22. ?
baskets Are Given to
Confederate Veterans
k<
At a meeting of the Watauga or
hapter, United Daughters of the w
rnfederacy, at the home of Mrs. Joe in
ook on Tuesday afternoon, principal cc
terest centered about the prepara- w
on of baskets of goodies for the few w
maining veterans of the Civil War. ct
tiese are to be presented for Christ- in
31
Fruits, candies, etc., were donated pi
> the chapter by the following local
lerchants: T. M. Greer, Carolina ^
tore; Mr. Upright, Carolina Store;
[ullins and Clay, A. & P. Tea Co
id Smithey's.
-ivil Court Term ^
Closed Last Thursday p<
ir
The two-weeks term of Superior tl
ourt, called by the Governor for the b
-ial of civil cases, was adjourned on a
hursday afternoon by Judge N. A. t<
inclair. During the term something tl
ke 45 cases, many of long standing ci
'ere disposed of, and the civil calen- >1
ar is said to be in the best shape for t!
lany years.
MOC
fear Eighteen Eightyr,
DECEMBER 20. 1934
A! fBi'tfjlplipm
a-enacting the birth of the Chri
>en centuries ago. "Chris tus/' t!
as photographed, was featured
for underprivileged children.
USS BELL HEAD
RELIEF OFFICI
likes Woman Will Ik* Keller .
linistrator for Six-County Distrl
in Whieh Watauga Is Locate!
Offices in North Wllkesboro.
Mis.") Victoria Boll, Wilkes Cou
iman, and recently relief admii
rtor in Catawba County, lias b
nied district administrator for E
the district, which besides Wat
Includes the counties of Will
she, .AJlcghaiiy, Surry and Yadk
appointment' was "Imnoun
it week from the offices of J
lomas O'Berry, State Relief Adn
rator, in Raleigh. Appointments
cse to fill other positions in
w set-up have been made, it is s
t their names have not been m
bite.
Miss Beit, according to a ref
rried in the Wilkes Journal, is \
alified by training and experic
fill the post of district admi
rtor.
The district offices will be Iocs
the Bank of North Wilkesl
Hiding in North Wilkesboro. and
fice rooms have already been
shed, and were expected to h
en occupied by the first of
?ek.
In the meantime no definite
ructions have been received at
atauga relief offices, and it is
irstood that business will be tri
tea as usual unui tne district
iinery has been set in motion.
Irs. Alice Councill Is
III at Hickory Hoi
Information coming to relatives
>one Tuesday indicated that 1
lice Councill, pioneer Boone i
:nt, is seriously ill at her Hici
ime. Mrs. Councill celebrated
?2nd birthday anniversary the i
December, and due to her extr
je, friends are very apprehen
rer the outcome of her illness.
'onvicts Moved to
Local Prison Cai
Eighty prisoners have recently
in up their abode at the State I
1 camp one mile west of Boone,
ill be engaged in doing road w
this section. Seventy-two of
>nvicts are negroes and eight
hite. Some of the men, it is s
ere sent to the road3 on ser
larges, but most of them are s
g sentences for minor infracti
id are not regarded as dange
-isoners.
Engineers at Work or
Park to Park Highw
Information is that engineers
usily engaged in making prclimii
irveys of the Parlcway at vai
aints between the Shenandoah I
i Virginia and Blowing Rock,
lat in some instances locations
ping completed. It is expected
ctual work may begin on some
>rs within the first few week
le Ne-'- Year, the plan being to i
instruction at different points a
le way, rather than to work stra
^ro-gh from one terminus to
'her.
Eight
:
$1.50 PER Yi^AR
Selection row is
i dropped in lap
: of atty. general
I
Brummitt Must Give Opinion as to
Whether or Not State Board of
Elections Has Power to Revoke
Certificates of Watauga Officials.
May Yet Get Into Courts. Zimmerman
Present at Saturday Hearing.
"Attorney General Dennis G. Brummitt
had the "buck" passed to him in
an all-important question last Saturday
when the State Board of Elections
asked the State's attorney to
give an opinion as to whether or not
it had the right to revoke certificates
of election given Watauga County
Democratic candidates a3 a result of
the November balloting. Saturday's
hearing was the most recent episode
in the post-election tangle, which was
precipitated when local Republicans
who lost by a reduced majority, complained
to Raleigh that there were
various and flagrant violations of the
election laws, and that three poll
books were not found after the countout.
They contend that enough illegal
votes were counted to have
changed the result of the election.
Board Wouldn't "Take It"
. The State Board of Elections eviIdently
didn't know whether or not
they could do anything about it, so
the Attorney General is asked to tell
them if they can revoke the election
ist certificates. It is pointed out that the
he law as to revocation has not been inilt
voked in many a day. In the Britt vs.
Weaver contest, it is shown, the State
? Board of Elections was powerless,
the Superior Court likewise impotent,
and no change was effected by the
highest court, the returns having alaci
ready been certified lower down.
At any rate, the board is now up
against the problem of revoking or
prosecuting the Democratic officeholders.
In Alexander, John R. Jones
10 only Republican State official, would
appear for the State, while in, Watauga
L. S. Spurling, Democratic solicitor,
would put up the scrap.
nj3_ In the last hearing Charles Zimeen
merman, Boone attorney, who is appealing
for the Democrats, indicated
au_ prompt retaliation in the event Re<ea
publicans in this county went to the
jn ' courts. Eugene Trivette of North
~ Wilkes boro is appearing for the Repubilcans.
llnJ It is learned that if the Attorney
, of General should rule the State Board
tlle has the right to revoke the election
certificates, the respondents would
rtll J refuse to step out and then quo war
Iranto proceedings would be in order.
Anyway, Mr. Brummitt's position at
, present is not particularly enviable,
vc "and the question he has been asked
comes somewhat in the nature of a
nis- ,,
"poser."
t'o Agricultural Classes to
U,u Enter Essay Contests
fur
*ve Cove Creek and Boone High schools
will be represented by a number of
their agricultural students in a Statewide
essay contest being sponsored
by the Division of Vocational Agriun*
culture of the State Department of
K?s" Education, according to Mr. G. G.
ma~ Farthing and Mr. R. G. Shipley, vocational
farm teachers. The contest
this year, like last year's is intended
; to develop interest in and encourage
study of the rarer elements in crop
production and animal nutrition. The
Chilean Nitrate Educational Bureau
3 in is co-operating with the Division of
Vocational Agriculture by offering
*esi- prizes for district and State winners,
tory -Last year," Messrs. Farthing and
her Shipley say, "eighteen boys in this
;irst j state won prizes for their essays.
eyne | It is possible for twenty boys to re
swe ceive prizes this year. With this encouragement
and the importance of
the subject to our farmers, we are
expecting the boys to turn in some
splendid essays,
tip "Of course it has been known for
some time that there is a lot more
ta- to crop fertilization than .iust apply*ris
ing varying amounts of nitrogen, potand
ash, and phosphate. The Agricultural
rork experiment stations throughout the
the United States have shown that a lot
are of elements like magnesium, calcium,
laid, manganese, iodine, copper and zinc
ious are necessary for proper plant growth
erv- and development. This contest proons,
vides the best way we have ever
rous found for an intensive study of the
subject, and the boys are looking forward
to it as much as we are.
'ay Only Four Veterans
Now on Pension Rolls
are
mry Only four veterans of the Confedious
eracy from Watauga County remain
sark on the pension rolls, according to
and Austin E. South, Clerk of the Supeare
rior Court, who has just received
that checks for distribution among the
sec- survivors of the South's armies. Elihu
s of Luther, Lemuel Greene, Enoch SWift
start and W. H. Norris each receive $182.50
long twice a year, while twenty-one Class
light B widows get a semi-annual payment
the of $50, and two Class A widows get
pensions of $150 twice a year.