I The Week in
Washington
I A RESUME OF GOVEKNMJSNMKNTAI.
HAPPENINGS IN
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Washington. Feb. 8.?Strikes and
floods occupy first place in the
nhiids of official Washington, upset
!ig or deranging plans and proams
of legislative and administrate
agencies.
The strike situation is giving the
vernment more concern than 13 in:ated
by official utterances. How
remain entirely neutral in the
ree-cornered labor controversy beeen
General Motors, the La;wis
1. O. labor organization and the
'deration of Labor is puzzling the
ministration.
The major issue is whether the
clerai government shall give open
tacit sanction to the principle of
it-down" strikes, where workers
he possession of an industry, rese
either to work or to leave the
operty, and prevent others from
The statement by the secretary of!
bor. Miss Perkins, that the legalof
the sit-down strike has neverj
:en settled does not reflect the
meral view in administration cires.
But everyone concerned hesi- j
.tes to approve or order any action ;
oking to the forcible removal of 1
t-down strikers from the General j
The Labor Deadlock
Washington has not forgotten the
rcible eviction of the bonus marchis
from the- government buildings which
they had taken illegal pos- J
ission, and of the disastrous politi- j
i] effect upon President Hoover j
vvhich ensured.
PThis administration does not want)
to mr. the risk of arousing labor's
antagonism. Yet as long as the;
management of General Motors refuses
to negotiate for a settlement
of the questions involved until the j
sit-down strikers evacuate the comna?1V'R
nvonertv n ^nrinuv !
exists which the government has no!
power to break.
That is why Secretary Perkins has
asked congress to give her power to i
l?suv subpoenas and so command 1
the attendance of all concerned at
conferences on labor questions.
Some observers here are pointing |
to what they regard as a parallel be- j
iween the General Motors sit-down 1
ike an those which occurred in j
Itaiy in In Italy groups of |
workers, avowedly Communist, took j
possession of automobile and other
factories and not only occupied them
but undertook to operate them. A
young Socialist newspaper m a n
named Benito Mussolini offered a
solution which the King of Italy accepters.
a system of state socialism
which he called Fascism.
Flood Relief and Control
The disastrous floods have brought
the subject of flood control sharply
to the foreground. Congress acted
speedily in appropriating $790,000,000
which the President had asked
(for relief purposes. Much of this, it j
is anticipated, will be spent for the
relief and rehabilitation of those
who lost homes and property in the
Ohio ?n.l Vicoiccmni Tf io
Ialso the expectation that some of
that appropriation Will go toward
starting flood control works in various
parts of the country under the
so-cajied "Jadwin Plan."
After the 1927 flood in the lower
Mississippi, General Jadwin and the
army engineer corps worked out a
comprehensive plan reaching to the
farthest headwaters of all the important
rivers of the nation. By
means of reservoirs, dams, dikes and
dredging this plan, it is believed,
could retard the flow of heavy rains
or melting snow and so avert future
floods.
The drawback ha3 been the enormous
cost. The Jadwin plan contemplated
that individual states
"j would bear the cost of the necessary
vjj. works inside their boundaries. But
states began to ask why they should
spend money at the headwaters
mt merely to keep some other state, far??
ther down river, from being flooded.
The belief here is that fiood control
will be accepted now as a nationaJ
problem transcending state interests,
and that a beginning will be
3g made toward carrying out the Jadwin
plan as an exclusively federal
?t undertaking.
New NRA in Offing
Something of the nature of a new
INRA is definitely in the making.
Trades and industries are to be authorized
to make agreements among
themselves on what constitutes unfair
competition or other improper
trade practices; such agreements to
cover minimum wages and maximum
hours of .work. As outlined,
the proposed law would make violations
of such voluntary agreements
illegal and punishable by penalties
imposed by federal courts.
Or. Capitol Hill there is talk of
going much farther, and imposing
excise taxes upon business concerns
proportioned to the degree to which
each conforms to accepted standards
of hours and wages. Those who advocate
this plan also propose that
congress should set up its own definition
of interstate commerce, thus
pr sumptively blocking any attempt
(Continued on page 8.)
WA1
An I
VOL. XLVIII. NO. 31
TO GIVE FARMERS
INFORMATION ON
SOIL PROGRAM
County Agent Announces List
of Meetings to Be Held to Ex-1
plain 1937 Soil Conservation i
Program; Stale College Spe-!
eialists to Be Here
County Agent W. R. Collins announces
that Beginning next Wednesday
a series of thirteen meetings
are to be held in Watauga for the j
purpose of explaining to tlic farmers j
of this section the 1937 federal soil (
conservation program. At this time
a number of leading farm authorities
wili be present. Following arc the
times and places at which the gatherings
will be heid:
Cove Creek high school on Wednesday.
Feb 17. at 9:00 a. m.
Bethel high school on Wednesday, j
Feb. 17. at 1:30 p m.
Deep Gap school on Thursday, Feb.
18, 9:00 a. m.
Blowing Rock high school on Feb.
18. at 1:30 p. rn.
Green Valley school on Feb. 19, at
9:00 a. m.
Triplett school on Friday, Feb. 19,
at 1:30 p. m.
Foscoe school or. Saturday, Feb.
20. at 9*00 a. m.
Valle Crucis school on Saturday.
Feb. 20. at 1:30 p m
Matncy school on Tuesday, Feb.
23, at 9:00 a. m.
Courthouse at Boone en Tuesday,
Feb. 23. at 1:30 p. m.
Mabel school on Wednesday. Feb.
24. at 9:00 a. m.
Todd school on Saturday. Feb. 27.
at 9:00 a. m.
Bamboo school on Saturday, Feb. \
2'.. at 1:30 p m.
H. R. Niswor.gvr. horticultural
specialist at State College, will
make talks on growing cabbage, potatoes,
fruits and truck crops at
i Cove Creek, Bethel, Deep Gap and
Blowing Rock meetings. I
? r t poe^( specialist in animal bus- j
I bandry, State College, will talk on
j beef cattle and sheep production at
] uic ?_w?r v,irci\ anu DW1C1 lUL'CUilgs. I
H. W. Taylor, swine specialist, will
give a picture allow and make a talk
on swine production at the meeting
xi L the courthouse in Boone.
Any farmers especially interested
in the above subjects, should attend
the meeting where the specialist will
speak.
At all these meetings the home
demonstration agent will discuss
home demonstration work in the
county.
The assistant county agent will
discuss 4-T-T o'ub work and improving
live-stock in the county.
The county agent will explain the
1937 soil conservation program, and
how the farmers can best take advantage
of this program.
A general discussion of farm problems
will follow the talks which will
be made at these meetings.
The farmers and farm women of
the county should attend the meet
ing closest their homes and acquaint
themselves1 with the extension program
of the county, so they may be
able to "take full advantage of any
services available to them.
LOCAL PEOPLE GO
TO LINCOLN DINNER
Greensboro Event Slated to
Draw I,arge Group of Republicans
From Over State
No less than fifteen local Republicans
will journey to Greensboro
Friday afternoon, to be present at
the annual Lincoln Gay Dinner at
the King Cotton Hotel, according to
Mr. Russell D. Hodges, local Republican
committee chairman, who is
anxious that all those intending to
make the trip notify him at once.
Among those who have already
signified their intention of making
the trip are: W. H. Gragg, J. E. Holshouser,
Clyde R. Greene, Earl Cook,
T. A. Weaver, John W. Hodges,
Russell D. Hodges, C. M. Critcher
and D. L. Wilcox.
Congressman Fred A. Hartley, of
New Jersey, will be the guest speaker,
and is known as having weathered
every Democratic landslide since
1925. He is said to be an able and
forceful speaker.
ELON MEET SCHEDULED
LATTER PART OF FEB.
Due to a misunderstanding between
the athletic department and
the publicity department, a story released
to the state papers stating
that the Appalachian State WTestlers
would tackle the Elon matmen
Wednesday night, February 10, was
incorrect. The correct date is definitely
set for late February.
AUG,
independent Weekly News
BOONE. WATAUGA COUNT
Women and Child
Memphis. In the great Mississi
trous winter flood was in getting v
the angry waters poured into the A;
the lowlands. Map and photos abo
concentration camps. Note tags ol
nAV fiP DP AVFP IS
im i ur i iirt i liii u
TO BE OBSERVED
Union Service at Lutheran J
Church is in Participation of
World Wide Event
j 5??-?
The people of this community and i
county are invited to join in a fellowship
of prayer the world around
on the World Day of Prayer, Friday
of this week, February 12, at 7:00
p. m.. at the Grace Lutheran church.
All the churches of Boone are taking
part in this fellowship of prayer,
anil tncre snouid be a large attend- i
ance. A cordial invitation is exten- j
tied. j
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of j
the Livingr uod;" is the-program to
be presented, arid was written by
Miss Mabel Shaw, of Northern Rhodesia,
Africa.
This is the eighth year that the
Boone churches have engaged in this
fellowship service on the World Day
of Prayer. It is hoped that there
will bo a large representation from
each of the churches.
Time: Friday, February 12.
Place: Lutheran church.
Hour: 7:30 p. m.
First Friday in Lent.
At 8:15 a. m. Friday there will be
morning devotion hour broadcast
over NBC All are asked to listen
in. and join in prayer in the early
morning hour on the World Day of
Prayer.
Boone Transfer Co.
Sells Out Franchise
A deal whereby the Smith Transfer
company of Lenoir, became the
owner of the franchisees and equipment
hitherto the property of the
Boone Transfer company, has been
consummated, but the new owners
will not likely take over the business
for some days yet.
Spencer Miller, owner of the local
concern, states that the trade involved
franchises on 450 miles of road,
including the lines from Boone to
Bristol, Johnson City, Mountain City,
Winston-Salem, West Jefferson and
other points, and also all the rolling
stock being used by his concern.
Mr. Miller has been in the transfer
business for about six years and
has been successful. He is relinquishing
the Dusiness on account of
poor health, and for the time being
expects to enjoy a much-needed period
of rest.
MASONIC LECTURER IS
HERE DURING THE WEEK
Mr. J." F. Marquette, assistant lecturer
of the Masonic Grand Lodge of
the state of North Carolina, is in
Boone all this week giving lectures
to the Masons at the old Masonic
hall quarters. The lectures are
given each evening at 7:00 o'clock,
and all Masons are urged to avail
themselves of the opportunity of
participating in the benefits.
Mr. Marquette is appearing under
the auspices of Snow Lodge, but
owing to the bad condition of the
roads at, the lodge building near
Sugar Grove, the engagements were
arranged for Boone.
CONSTRUCTION IN 1936
PLACED AT $5,600,000,000
New York, Feb. 9.?Estimating
the year's volume at $5,600,000,000.
"Engineering News Record'" asserted
today construction activity in
1936 "exceeded all advance predictions
by a substantial margin.''
V DE
4>
paper?blished in the
Y. NOR'B^PAROLINA, THURSI
lrei> 3C, Always iirst
ppi valley, as in the Ohio valley eari
vomen and children to safety and fine
Mississippi valley refugees by the tlioi
ve show where flood hit hardest ar.(
f identification tied around children's
ACCOMPLISHED STUDENT
| ""
I r2?TJ"' Via
* MBbBm
^SBEBpf - ]
H wfl^.
Neil
Hartley, son of Mrs. Pearl
Hartley of Boone and WJ?kcsh?ni>,
who won second place for extern- j
porancous speaking in the forensic I
tournament which closed at Appalachian
last Saturday. Mr.
Hartley is an exceedingly popular
student and last week was elected
the most talented student in the ;
election held by the senior class. '
j Rfrrtrv on piahl I
** " ? !
WRESTLERS MEET
TENN. SATURDAY
Appalachian Team Headed for
Championship of the South:
Full House Expected
The Appalachian State wrestling
team, headed for the championship
of the south by a winning streak
which has carried over two years,
and almost for five years, will stage
its feature meet of the season here
Saturday when Coach Robert W.
"Red" Watkins' mat artists entertain
the University of Tennessee
wrestlers in a return match at the
college gym. Appalachian defeated
the Vols in Knoxville last Saturday
night by a 28-0 count.
With the A. A. U. tournament to
be staged here the first week in
March, much interest will be centered
on this meet. If Appalachian can
defeat the Tennessceans even more
decisively than in the first meet,
then several of the Mountaineer
wrestlers will assume the role as favorites
or co-favorites in the tournament.
union iiasKin, iresnman sensation
in the 118-pound division, failed to
pin his man in the Tennessee meet,
(Continued on Page Eight)
Rainty Weather Stops
Beautification Work
The beautification program instituted
by the town, which includes
the setting of rows of trees and
evergreens along the main street,
was suspended Tuesday on account
of Hte rainy weather, but those engaged
in the work are hopeful that
the project may be resumed at an
early date.
Something like one hundred plants
have already been set out, with
painstaking care, the roots imbedded
in rich soil hauled from vacant
lots, and it is believed there will be
a high rate of survival. Meantime
little damage has been reported to
the trees, and Mayor Gragg states
that it is his purpose to invoke the
penalties of the law to a letter
against any whom would wilfully
damage the trees.
MOC1
i Year Eighteen Eighty-Eij
DAY. FEBRUARY 11. 1937
ni 7 7~7 7 w 1
i" looci Problem | |j
I ?ii. j*TilUi5*ii'>liii?'l ?11
icrf the first problem of the disasling
shelter and food for them. As
Lisands were brought in here from
3 refugee mothers and children in
necks in photo on right.
EARL GREER HURT
IN BLOODY MELEE
Boone Youth Severely Injured
in Altercation at Tourist
Camp Near the City
Ear! Greer, of Boone, was seriously
injured as a result of an affray
occurring at the Rett Oak Tourist
eamp near Rut her wood late Saturday
evening, in which a number of
persons, patrons of the establish
merit, are said to have participated,
and in which intoxicating beverages I
are said to have figured.
Young Mr. Greer is said to have
been struck over the head with a
bottle two serious gashes were made
aCTuSa nia lixCc with ol klilfC, Hi-d
some of his teeth are said to have
J>een. knockedW His .condition is
serious but it is believed he sliould
show a reasonably early recovery
Little is known of the affray,
pending a preliminary hearing which
was to have been held Wednesday
before E. NT. Hahn, Esq., ami whcili
was continued due to Mr. Greer's
condition. Frank Purlear. Glenn
Ragan and Lee Ed mis ten were arrested
in connection with the affair,
and later Greer was also served with
a summons on a charge of assault.
Baptist Ministers
To Gather Monday
The Baptist ministers of the county
will gather at the Baptist church
in Boone on Monday, February 15.
at 9:30 a. m., and an interesting and
helpful program has been arranged
for the occasion as follows:
9:30 to 9:45?Devotional, Rev.
Vilas Minton.
9:45 to 10:15?"What can be done
to make our Baptismal services more
impressive?" Rev. W. D. Ashley.
10:15 to 10:45?"How can we as
ministers create a greater public
sentiment against the sin of strong
drink?" Rev. Robert Shore.
10:45 to 11:15?"What can be done
to improve our Christian fellowship,
and keep off the extremes?" Rev.
Dwight Edmisten.
11:15? Bible Study, Rev. J. C. Canipe.
All brother ministers, please come,
and deacons also.
Seed Loans Again
Will Be Available I
. i
Mr. D. M. Hale is in Columbia.
S. C. today attending a conference of
field representatives of the federal
seed loan organization, at which
time he will receive instructions and
information regarding the new seed
loan proposals. Blanks on which
farmers will make application for
+Vi do/1 lnma urill o iro ila hlf. Sn n
few days, it is said, and loans for
seed, fertilizer, etc., are to be made
in amounts varying- from $15 to
$400 .
BOONE BOY FAVORED IN
GOLDEN GLOVE TOURNEY
Len Wilson, outstanding Boone
leather pusher and a member of
Coach Brewer's Appalachian fighting
machine, is favored to emerge
victorious from the Golden Glove
tournament which is to begin in
Charlotte February 23, and continue
throughout the week. Nine local
fighters are entered in the tournament,
in which no less than 300 pugilists
will participate, and unusual local
interest attaches to the sports
event.
f? Al TP
Lv.nL x
,ht
$1.50 PER YEAR
DRYS WAGE FINAL
FIGHT ON COUNTY
WET BILL TODAY
Delegation of Local Men Again
Go to Raleigh to Intercede in
Behalf of State Prohibition:
Wet Legislation Passed by
House Last Week
A number of local dry leaders will
journey to Raleigh today to appear
before a senate judiciary committee,
along with several hundred others, to
make a last-ditch fight against the
passage in the upper house of the
so-called county option liquor bill,
which was rushed through the house
last week by a vote of 67 to 43. after
the Hutchins state-wide referendum
bill was killed by a margin of two
votes, and nailed down for the session
by the legislative clincher
State dry leaders believe there is
still a chance to forestall the enactment
of the law. while Wednesday
wet leaders in the assembly, following
a count of noses, predicted its
certain passage. The wots said pledged
support in the upper body, indi
tauu IUI uiuii niroauic wj
a majority of not less than three
votes.
Independent opinion seems to be
that the wets have the whip hand
in the struggle, and if this is true.
North Carolina will be thrown into
the wet column for the first time
since 1908. although the sale of hard
liquor is now permitted in 18 counties.
under legislation enacted during
the closing days of the 1935 session.
?
Something of the Bill
Under the measure as passed by
the house each county would be authorized
to decide for itself, through
elections, whether the sale of liquor
should bo permitted. Counties voting
wet would operate liquor stores
and retain the profits, but the state
would levy a gross sales tax of 7
per cent.
lot*.turns wouiu bo cailed Cither by
the board of county commissioners
or on receipt of a petition signed by
15 per cent of tiio registered voters
in the county '
There would be a state board of
alcohol control, appointed by the.
governor and consisting of a chairman
and two other members, which
would supervise purchases of liquor,
and prices charged at the various
county stores, and determine the
number of stores and their location.
The county bodies would be selected
jointly by the commissioners, the
county board of health and the board
of education and would consist of
three members. The salaries would
be fixed b3r the boards mentioned.
It would be legal to take less than
one gallon of liquor from a wet
county into a dry county, provided it
was not taken for the purpose of
sale. Any amount of liquor could
be shipped through a dry county to
a wet county.
redcrossItod 6
keeps growing
More Than Fifty Dollars Have
Been Contributed Since Last
Report Was Made
Ninety-five dollars and seventeen
cents have been contributed to the
Red Cross flood relief fund by the
people of Watauga county since the
last issue of The Democrat came
from the press, bringing the eot&l local
sum sent to the devastated areas
to $567.81. Mr. Russell D. Hodges,
chairman of the emergency committee,
is still receiving some contributions
and those who have hot already
helped in the movement are again
asked to contribute.
Following arc the names of those
who have thus far been unreported:
W. A Proffit $ 2.00
Forest Grove Sunday School.. 11.15
Forest Grove Community 27.18
Poplar Grove Church 3.00
Brushy Fork Church 9.00
Oak Grove School 1.00
Dr. W. M. Matheson 1.00
Mrs. W. M. Mhtheson 1.00
Mrs. Frank Critcher 1.00
Miss Melta McCrary 1.00
Henson's Chapel S. S 10.10
Valle Crucis School and Community
collected by Ann
Muse 15.24
Lee Swift 1.00
R. F. Billings - 1.00
Mrs. Mlinnie Watson l.OO
Gap Creek Baptist Ch. 6.00
South Fork Baptist Ch 3.50
Previously reported $472.64
Total $567.81
(Note: Since the above was put
in type, Mrs. James H. Oouncill reports
receipts from the Proffit Grove
Sunday School of $2.85 and from
the Boone Methodist Church of
$8.00.)
J ." .'V.