The Week in
Washington
A ltESGME OF UOVEKNMJENMKXT.VL
HAPPENINGS IN
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Washington, Feb. 2.--While there
has been no change in the generally
friendly attitude toward organized
labor on the part of the administration
and the majority leaders in congress.
the demand for their support
made by John L. Lewis, leader of the
labor group which is trying to organize
the automobile industry
workers, has had the effect of toning
down much of the enthusiasm for labor's
cause.
Mr. Lewis, in so many words,
called upon the ricbluent tc pay his
debt to labor for re-electing him.
That brings forth a veiled but unmistakable
rebuke from the President
Mr. Roosevelt's friends point
out that, while undoubtedly the mass
of industrial workers voted for him.
there is no evidence that Mr. Lewis'
committee for industrial organization
did any more in his behalf than did
the American Federation of Labor;
although Mr. Lewis did collect nearly
half a million dollars from members
of the United Mine Workers as
a contribution to the Democratic
campaign fund.
But neither that nor anything else,
these friends say, justifies a demand
By Lewis for support of one faction
of organized labor in preference to
another; nor can impartial observers
see that the administration is under
any greater obligation to labor than
it is to all other citizens. To all it
owes impartial administration of the
laws designed to insure equal justice
and opportunity to everybody,
and to none does it owe more than
that.
Keaetion Against Lewis
Mr. Lewis' ill-considered demand
has had the effect of making the department
of labor and ail other government
agencies concerned with the
iabor situation "lean backward" in
tile effort to show no favoritism and
to avoid the appearance of paying off
a political debt. It has also cooled
congressional ardor for some of the
more advanced phases of organized
labor's program.
When congress assembled there
'Continued on page 8.)
Watauga Section Seeks
Annexation to Caldwell
A delegation representing citizens
living within a seven-mile area of
Graiuifathw. mountain .appeared before
the CaJdweiJ county board of
commissioners Monday to ask that
this area be annexed to Caldwell in
the event Blowing Hock is annexed,
according to a dispatch from Lenoir
A delegation from Blowing
Rock urged annexation at a meeting
in Lenoir recently.
Members of the Grandfather
mountain delegation pointed out thai
their children attended school in
Blowing Rock and that, if the resort
were added to" nuilivell their own
section would* be bounded on three
side? by Caldwell county.
OFFICERS ARE NAMED
BY WATAUGA CO. BANK
The election of officers for the
year was the principal business
transacted at a meeting of the directors
of the Watauga County
Bank, held in the banking quarters
here Tuesday. Mr. L A. Greene
was renamed president of the institution:
Mr. G.. P. Hagaman, active
vice-president, and Mr. Paul A. Coffey,
cashier. Miss Bernice Gragg
ami Mr. Cecil Miller were retained
in the bookkeeping department, while
Mr. W. W. Mast will again serve as
chairman of the executive committee.
BLOWING ROCK SENDS
GOODS TO FLOOD AREA
A large truck load of food supplies
and clocking was forwarded to
the flood area, for the relief of the
refugees, last Friday by the citizens
of Blowing Rock.
The load, which weighed 3.500
pounds, was conservatively valued
at $135. and in addition there was
sent $44.05 in cash. There were 1,300
pounds of potatoes, canned goods
in endless variety, and clothing of
every description. The huge load of
supplies, It is understood, was forwarded
direct to a central distributing
agency in Nashville, Tenn.
Uin IKOVt tUUKCH IS
"NEARING COMPLETION
The carpenters are now doing the
finishing work on the new plant of
the Oak Grove Baptist church which
is located one mile west of Boone,
the seats for the auditorium have
been purcnased, and it is expected
tnat the building will be ready for
occupancy within about two weeks.
The church building, which is of
brick construction, will represent an
investment of about $6,000, and will
be one of the most modern rural
churches in Western North Carolina.
Rev. F. C. Watts is pastor of the
church, and he and his membership
are tc be congratulated upon their
diligence and enterprise in providing
the handsome edifice.
WA1
An 1
VOL. XLVIII. NO. 30
RED CROSS FUND
TDi? A rpi v rvrrmo
UUM1LI EiALJCJilld |
QUOTA IN COUNTY
Collections Wednesday Morning
Amounted to $472.64: Funds
Still Coming in and Demands
Yet Being Made From Devastated
Area
Watauga county has gone, over the
top in grand style as regards contributions
to the Red Cross flood relief
fund, a tabulation by officials
Wednesday morning revealing that
?i72.G4 have already been contributed
to the organization from this
county. This 13 more than 50 per
cent above the quota of 5300, and
Mrs. James C-ouncill, Red Cross
chairman, and Russell D. Hodges,
emergency committee chairman,
state that contributions are still
coining in, and that it is quite likely
in the next few hours the local donations
will have passed the live
hundred dollar mark.
Officials point out that there is
an increasing need among the flood
refugees a3 the scope of the disaster
widens into new territory, and that
there must be a continuance of the
generosity of the people, in order
that there may be as little suffering
as possible due to disease and exposure.
Contributions should be left with
Mrs. James H. Councill. at the WataURR
Countv Bank Ihe Cui-mom
Hardware Store, or The Watauga
Democrat office.
Following is a list of contributions
thus far unreported:
Owen Wilson. $1.00: Wade K.
Brown, $,ri.00; G. D. Brinkley, $1.00;
! Gillie Dale, $1.00: I. L. Bodenheimcr,
j $5.00, H. S. Webster, $2.00: Cleve
| Gross. $1.00; Mrs. W. H. Wagner,
1 $10.00; J. F. Robbins, $1.00; Jack
(Continued on page 8.)
LOCAL DRY GROUP
j ATTENDS MEETING
i Five Dry Leaders Return From
Raleigh Hearing; Believe
They Will Succeed
i Messrs. Clyde R. Greene. Wade E.
I Brown, W. D. Farthing, Archie
j Quails and Rev. J. C. Canipe com!
posed a delegation from the local dry
organization which journeyed to Raleigh
Thursday to appear before a
legislative committee in the interest
of the Hutchins bill, which' would
grant the people of the entire state
an opportunity to vote on whether or
not there should be any changes in
the state prohibitory law.
The hall of the house of represenj
tatives waS crowded to capacity for
I the hearing, and the local citizens
feel that their cause is greatly
strengthened. Prof. I. G. Greer, superintendent
of the Mills Home, is
credited with having made the most
pffpctiufl AnAMlh hof/lPA PAmmit
tee. |
The local dry organization, it is
said, is well organized, and will be
ready to put up an effective fight
should the issue be presented to the
voters again. Local predictions are
that Watauga county would likely
register an increased dry majority
this year.
WOULD ABOLISH
AVERY COUNTY
Bill Introduced to Restore County
to Watauga, Caldwell
and Mitchell
The general assemly Friday received
a bill to abolish Avery county
and called back for committee
consideration a tabled measure providing
for maximum weekly workhours.
The house adopted a resolution by
Representative Uzzell of Rowan,
providing for the appointment by
Governor Hoey of a nine-rr an commission
to study tax classification
and exemption of property.
Senator Abernethy of Caldwell introduced
the bill to abolish Avery
county, restoring the land from
wiiicn uie unit was xormed in 15JI1 i
to Mitchell Caldwell and Watauga
counties.
Under the bill, the division would
become effective July 1, 1937, and
Avery's bonded indebtedness would
remain charged against property
within the county and would be
; 'liquidated and discharged by proper
tax levies against said property
in the same manner as if said Avery
county still existed."
Aberncthy said he had been requested
by J. Vv. Ragsdale of Spruce
Pine and B. E. Williams, Avery j
county attorney, to introduce the j
bill.
AUG,
Independent Weekly News
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNT
1,000,000 HOMELESS
FLOOD ZONE J
News pictures of flood scones, ]
tiie Ohio and Mississippi river basins
flood peaks, loss of lives and great
from toppling and bursting oil tanks
rors and losses. Top photo shows r<
spreading over the flood water froi
top. A crew of a coast" guard unit
800 coast guards, 200 boats, 12 airp]
tion outfits were sent into flood ter:
coast guard for flood reiief in hist
rescue of a critically ill citizen fro
scene as in all flooded towns as citii
SOIL PROGRAM BE
EXPLAINED HERE
County Agent Arranges Gath- 1
ering to Disseminate Information
on 1937 Proposal
The 1937 soil conservation program
has been worked out and a .
meeting will be held at the courthouse
in Boone on Wednesday. Feb- ,
ruary 11 sat 2 o'clock p. m., to explain
the program to the afrmers of
Watauga county according to an announcement
by County Agent W. B.
Collins yesterday. Mr. Fred Sloan,
extension district agent, of State
College, will be here to explain the
program in detail to the farmers.
Tire 1D37 program is very much ,
the same as the 1936 program, but
certain changes have been made in
regard to the amounts of payments |
that may be earned, and for this reason
a large number of farmers of j
the county should attend this meet- ,
ing, so they may thoroughly under- j
stand the program, and plan their
1937 farmins- nrvratinn in such a -
manner as to take full advantage of
the program.
Every farmer in the county is invited
to attend this meeting.
WILL LECTURE ON
TOBACCO CULTURE
Raymond Ronsen, farm agent of
Washington county, Tenn., will deliver
a lecture at Cove Creek high
school Friday afternoon nt one
o'clock on the cultivation and care
of tohacco.
Ail farmers in Watauga county
interested in the (subject to be discussed
are cordially invited to attend.
pa/s /?Established in the
=* j*- -
.ORTH CAROLINA, THURS
NATION'S
ONG GREAT RIVERS ]
Ira
! 'i r c;' ; ;
ff^] "
Pittsburgh to New Orleans, down
, ail tell the same story of record
property damage. Fires, started
in Cincinnati but added new horiging
fires, caused by oil and gas
n burstcd tanks there. Second i
leaving Chicago for flood duty;
lanes and 21 portable cominunicaritory,
the biggest mobilization of
ory. Third from top. a thrilling
m flooded home. Lower photo,
zens flee to the hills for safety.
l ?*? T*nmn*\ r?
MINISTERS MEET
IN BOONE MONDAY
'"Present Tendency of the Time"
Will Be Topic for Discussion
by the Clergy
The monthly meeting of the Watauga
County Ministers' association
will be held at the Boone Methodist
church Monday morning, February 8,
beginning at 10 o'clock. All ministers
of the county are invited to attend.
President J. C. Canipe will
preside.
The subject, "Present Tendency of
the Time," will be treated as follows:
1. "From a Social and Secular
Standpoint," by Rev. J. W. Parker,
of Henson's Chapei Methodist church.
2. "From a Political Standpoint,"
by Rev. J. C. Canipe, of Boone Baptist
church.
3. "From a Religious Standpoint,"
by Rev. H. V. Kistler, pastor of several
Lutheran churches in the county.
BARK MILL, RARE RELIC
STOLEN FROM PREMISES
A bark mill, which had been used
uj ivui gciiciakiuua ui uic itaium
family, and which had long since
been discarded, was recently stolen
from the premises of Mrs. Joseph
Hardin, and she is very anxious to
receive any information as to the
whereabouts of the valued relic.
The piece of machinery, which
was operated by a sweep, similar to
a cane mill, weighed several hundred
pounds, and was used to pulverize
bark preparatory to making
the ooze for tanning. Because of its
great age, it was highly valued by
the Hardin family, who will greatly
appreciate any proffered information.
I I
Mnr
; Year Eighteen Eighty-Ei
DAY, FEBRUARY 4. 1937
Watauga Cou
Merge With
Institutions c
Proposed New Financial Institut
western Bank, With Main <
Be Three Million Dollar Ba
With over 30 per cent or tin
County Batik represented at the
holders, held in the banking qua
it was unanimously voted to ha
enter the proposed consolidation
ern Bank.
The consolidation plan is fo
chants and Farmers Bank of Bak
ville, the Deposit and Savings I
Bank of Sparta, at Sparta, and
Boone, with a branch at Blowin
tion of those four institutions, I
Bank, and have the newly forn
sets and assume the liabilities c
unanimous approval given to th
Boone Saturday, is considered as
HUNDREDS GATHER
1JLrKWU?/?.; VXX & AA&JLIAV
TO PARTICIPATE IN
PRESIDENTS BALL
Benefit Affair is the Most Sue- j
ccssful in History of the Oc- j
casion: Net Proceeds More
Than Two Hundred Dollars
A throng of several hundred per-j
tons, made up of people of Boone.
Watauga county, and every nearby
town and county, converged at the
Daniel Boone hotel last Saturday
evening to enjoy the President's
Ball and at the same time lend a
hand in the fight that is thus being
waged against infantile paralysis.
The dance was a brilliant affair,
the best of good feeling prevailed,
and a preliminary report made Wednesday
morning by Roger Mctiuire,
ehaitMuai-. of the arrangements committee,
Iridic tod that sligfily more
than S300 had boon received from
the event, with reports stiil to come
in from ticket sales in some of the
outside communities. After the expenses
are all paid there will remain
something- more than $200. 70
per ecnl of which will be retained in
the community for infantile paralysis
sufferers, the remainder to be used
for the benefit of the Warm Springs
Foundation. A complete report will
be made as soon as ticket sales are
all reported.
XTe M . - Ininc urilh Uminf
Gragg in extending thanks to the
people who gathered, for their excellent
conduct and their fine spirit of
heipfulness, and they find general
agreement in the belief that it was
the most delightful function of the
kind thus far held in the community.
Mr. McGuire particularly desires
to thank those who sei-ved so unselfishly
on the various committees and
helped to make the ball the greatest
financial success thus far known in
the city
CHILD IS INJURED
Little Miss Helen Hodges, sevenyear-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Ronda Hodges, suffered a severe
fracture of an ankle last week, in an
accident, which occurred while she
was riding a bicycle. She was taken
to the Orthopaedic hospital in Gastor.ia,
where it was thought she
would show an early recovery.
m:nhl named new
tax supervisor
Resident of Rutherwood Section
is Successor to Emory
Greer in County Position
Clement D McNeil, prominent
resident of the Rutherwood section,
was named by the board of commissioners
Monday as county tax supervisor
for the ensuing twelve months,
and took over the duties of the im
portant office immediately.
Mr. McNeil succeeds Emory G.
Greer, who has rendered the county
most acceptable service as tax supervisor
for the past four years.
The new official is particularly
well qualified for the position and
it is believed the commissioners have
used fine judgment in the selection
CHRISTMAS SEAL REPORT
Mrs. G. K. Moose, county chairman
of the sale of anti-tuberculosis
Christmas seals, reports an addition
al sum of S3 50 received from Cove
Creek, making a total of $100.41 tc
stay in the county.
RAT
tght
$1.50 PER YEAR
nty tSanK: To
Three Other
)f Northwest
ion to Be Known as The North>fficcs
at North WiJkesboro: to
nking House at Outset
S common stuck, in the Watauga
annual meeting of the stockrters
here Saturday, January 30,
ve the local banking institution
to be known as The Northwestr
the stockholders in the Merersvilie,
with a branch at Burnslank
at North Wilkesboro, the
the Watauga County Bank at
ig Rock, to approve a eonsolida>y
organizing The Northwestern
ted institution purchase the as>f
the four banks named. The
e idea by the action taken in
assuring the success of the plan.
' Such a consolidation will give to
the northwestern section a $3,000,000
financial institution at its very outset,
and in doing so, will in no wise
interfere with local commercial
rj<*.iiKing conuiciuiiS in any 01 vrte
communities now being served. On
the other hand, it will afford a greater
and more efficient banking service
through the increase of loaning
limit from the present maximum of
$13,000 in the individual unit, to a
i maximum of $45,000 in the consolidasion
A limit of such proportions
will afford ample accommodation to
; any of the industrial, agricultural or
j other borrowing demands in the eni
tire territory served, thus precluding
the necessity of any individual or
j enterprise leaving the northwestern
| section to be accommodated clse1
where.
Other advantages to he gained by
I such a consolidation will be in the
j centralized and day to day super |
vision over all of the operations; the
j immediate retirement of $65,000 in
j ReconsLru'ftion Finance corporation
preferred stock on which three cf
the four banks entering the consoliI
d&tion are now paying approximately
,_$2,0GG yb- annual dividends; in a.
; considerable saving through ceh;
tralized purchase of supplies, and in
: the centralized and skilfully trained
! direction of security investments,
j The latter item in itself is one that
I has attracted primary attention dur!
ing the past decade, as banking investments
in stocks and bonds are
| now approximately amounting to 45
; per cent of the total resources of all
banking institutions.
Similar meetings of the stockhoid\
ors in the three other institutions
(Continued on Page Eight)
Blowinff Rock Scouts
Aid Flood Victims
Last Sunday an appeal came over
. the radio from the flood relief authorities
to the Boy Scouts of America
for assistance in raising funds
for the flood stricken areas of the
middle west.
The Bo.v Scouts of Blowing Rock,
Troop 42. Winston-Salem Council,
canvassed the village and raised the
sum of $2.1.41 which was forwarded
to the relief agencies at Louisville,
Ky. This sum was subscribed by the
citizens of Blowing Rock in sums of
| from three cents up to one dollar per
i person. The fund is continuing to
I grow and there will be another
i check forwarded in due time. The
! Scouts feel proud of the way in
which their fellow citizens responded
and also fee! a commendable
pride in being able to thus do their
bit in a worthy cause. ,
The Blowing Rock Troop is made
up of the following boys:
Ray Castle, Tommie Gragg, .11mmie
Harris, Granville Hartley, Bcr
nard Pennell, Ross Pitts, Max Story,
| Johnnie Tale, Bobby Ward, Billie
I Williams, Jimmie Williams, Ernest
! Williams and Claude Gragg.
Last Monday the whole troop visited
the Boone troop and had a very
Iyivooniii. CVC1UI Ig aL giUUCS itilU JJHM-'"
tiling- various of the numerous
things Scouts learn to do, including
bandaging, life saving, fire drills,
etc.
A pressing invitation was extend ed
to the Boone troop to visit the
Blowing Rock boys at an early date.
Much Clothing Is
Sent to Flood Area
Wednesday a shipment of clothing
was forwarded to the flood sufferers
, which had been gathered by the may:
er at city hall; and which was esti:
mated to have a value of around
; $300. There was clothing of every
11 size and description, for men, women
' and children, and the shipment in!
| ciuded some dozens of good heavy
>' quilts and other items of bed cloth!
ing.
!