Santa Clj
i The Week in !
Washington
A RESUME OF GOVEHNMKNMKNl'AL
HAPPENINGS IN
THE NATIONAJL CAPITA!,
Washington, Dec. 8?As nearly as
.anything can be certain which has
not yet happened, congress will repeal
or greatly modify the taxes on
undistributed corporation profits
an i on capital gains, and it will do
this with the blessing of the White
House. This relief for business, calc.i.ated
to inspire confidence and inluce
capital to invest in enterprises
v.nich will put men back to work is
regarded by all official Washington
as the most essential thing to be
be done That opinion is practically
. ...... a,,, Or tn V...TU I o
Illl* III u ii vi u*> n* WUI IIUUM-M OI COngress
and in administration circles
from, the President down.
if these tax reforms ran he rushed
through in this special session the
ixsiiit would be quicker in its effect
in breaking the present business depression,
but in spite of the pressing
need for such relief, congress
shows signs of not letting itself be
stampeded into hasty action. Congressional
memories are keen, and
they recall that the undistributed
' refits tax is one of the New Deal
i *ensures: which was rushed through
under pressure from the White;
I louse.
Congress Becomes Wary
Tills time the pressure comes from
the entire business world, but congress
is apparently determined to
proceed in an orderly maimer and
not to enact another law which in its
turn will call for amendment oi repeal
in a year's time. The problem
is not so much how to amend the'
tax Jaw in that respect, though there J
six* differences of opinion yet to be |
ironed out, as it is to provide in the '
sane general revision of the tax laws ,
some other taxes to fill the gap in
revenues which the pro|iosed action
wo,i id leave.
Budget Balancing Move
As nn earnest of the sincerity of
h.s desire to bring the federal midget
into balance, the President has
proposed a reduction in the federal
appropriations for highways. Ail the;,
major trunk roads are now in good
shape, he pointed out the other day.
and the farm-to-m.irket roads built
by WPA are about completed. The
federal highway appropriations have
been running at around 200 millions
a year and Mr. Roosevelt thinks half
oi less of that would be enough.
In the effort to stimulate business :
the President has given orders to a!! j
departments to speed up the neces- j
nary purchases .if all kinds of slip- ,
plies for which appropriations have
DOT. made. About ?275,000,000 of
goods, from cement to typewriter
ribbons are to be bought by Uncle
Sam tieween now and June 30 when
the fiscal year ends. If most of that
Can tie put into circulation in Decmber,
January and February, it is
figured the effect on business and
employment would be beneficial.
I'ower Chiefs Optimistic
Mhch larger expenditures are in;
prospect on the part of the great j
puouc utilities as a result or recent
White House conferences between
the President and the heads of the
big power companies. jVVhile there is
&s yet no official assurance that the
administration will abandon compk-tely
its policy of developing ail
the electric energy possible in the
course of river improvements in aid
of navigation, there are ihany indications
here which have led the
power magnates to the optimistic
conclusion that they have no serious
competition to fear from the government
in the distribution of electric
current.
Progress is slower in the matter
of stimulating building, but a feeling
of unusual confidence exists here
that a way will be found of making
it both profitable and secure for
capital to invest in building projects
of all kinds, and here again, there
are assurances from those in control
of huge sums of investment capital
that they will spend by the hundreds
of millions as soon as a satisfactory
plan of co-operation has been worked
out.
In all the discussion going on J
about ways and means to stem the j
tide of business depression, the first, j
and major item of the program for |
which the President called this spe- j
cial session of congress has not been ;
overlooked, but is far from being j
agreed upon. That is the farm bill j
fiv/vjowin iui wup w?i?It
is a complicated and lengthy
document, which few of the members
of either house understand as
yet. Nobody knows, so far. how
much more the agricultural department's
farm program would cost
than the five hundred millions nowavailable.
There is a bitter battle in prospect
over the quotas to be allowed to
various products, and an especially
hitter difference of opinion about
making quota allotments so mandatory
that farmers may be put in jail
if they exceed their allotted production.
If any farm bill at all is enacted
before the special session rises,
it will surprise most observers.
ius is Co
mi
An Ir
VOL. XL1X, NO. 22
| BRING IN THE TOYS
I Pat MeGuIre, firo department
chief, tells The Democrat that the.
citizenry Is even tardier than usual
in bringing used and broken
toys o the city hall to be refinished
and repaired for npedy
children at Christmas. Mr. Mc
venire urges all those interfiled >
in this work to furnish the desired
toys at once, so that it will I
be possible for the boys to have ;
them ivady for Christmas. At
the last minute it is well nigh itn- j
possible for the members of the J
department to complete this work, j
T. L CRITCHER IS
TAKEN BY DEATH
Prominent Business Mail and
Loader of Bamboo Section
Succumbs Thursday
Thomas L. Critchcr, pioneer mer-1
chant of the Bamboo section, a Ma-.
sonic leader and one of the most. J
substantial citizens of the county,
died at the home last Thursday ruCtcr
a long period of lading health.
The death of Mr. Cribcher. who was
80 years old. came after a serious
illness of only a few days.
Funeral services were conducted
Friday aftjemoon from the Mount j
* vi mjii oapusi. cnurcft, :ri riic nome
neighborhood. Rev. W C. Payne being'
in charge, of the obsequies, and
burial was ir. the Critcher cemetery.
There was a large outpouring of
friends for the rites, many from
Boone and other points going to pay
their respects. Air. Will Cook led j
the hymn singing during the course
of the services The. Masons were j
in charge of the burial.
Surviving are Uie widow, Mrs. Biz-!
zie Critcher; one son, Jia C. Crilcher i
of Bamboo, and one daughter, Mrs.
Chas. E. Vannoy of Boone. Two
brothei-s and two sisters also survive:
A. M. Crilcher. Blowing Rock; Chas.
Critcher, Zionviile; Mrs J. M. Elrod,
Hudson, and Mis. Ida Coffey, l,'.1 noir.
Born in Watauga
Mr. Critcher was born in Watauga
county, a sosi of the late fSnilford
A. and Mrs. Critcher, and spent his
entire life in Use county. As a young :
man he entered the mercantile busi- i
noes, in which he was engaged for]
more than Half a century. Through!
his many fine traits of character, j
Mr. Critcher was, early in lire, rec- j
eg,sized as an outstanding c'tizca |
fit' WUi (X 'H.IHUU1 .IIlv:tTUV'l Ml iiil .
Baptist church, had sincere religious I
convictions, and was a kind and
helpful neighbor. He wan one of the
ok test Masons in the county, and
was past rooster of Watauga Lodge,
No. 273 Mr. Critcher found time
away front his mercantile business
to engage in farm big and to do some
surveying: No more honorable or
popular citizen than he resided in
this county?broa<l-minded, publicspirited,
kind and generous, and
there is cause for deep sorrow in his
passing.
BOOK BY BOONE
AUTHOR ON SALE
"Greater Love Hath No Man,"
Written by David P. Allison
Has Good Prospects
David P. Allison, Boone author,
has just received half a dozen copies
of his new volume of fiction, "Great
et Love Hath No Man," which came
from the presses of the Eerdman's
Publishing' Co.. Grand Rapids, Mich.,
last week. Walker's Jewelry Store
.?.i.,w,ntf tftl* tllP
J3 -reaurmg uic vusuuiw .?.?*
Christmas trade ami the demand is
said to be brisk.
The volume which is dedicated to
the memory of the author's father.
David James Allison, ''a son of the
mountains," weaves its piot about a
00-year-old mountain feud into which
Eric Brown unknowingly ventured
as he sought material in the Virginia
mountains for a Civil War
novel. His stay was filled with romance
and high adventure. His
j friendship with big Jim Csllum, the
i growth of a Christ-like love in Jim's
great heart and the sacrifice which
| brings the feud to an end?this is an
unforgettable and dramatic tale.
In fhe pages of the volume the
South comes to life, and the author's
knowledge of the region and
deep love for it, has brought about
a story, every minute of which is
filled with rare enjoyment.
>mmg Ba<
AUG
idependent Weekly News
BOONE, WATAUGA COU1
imST
OF MAILS AS TO
HOLIDAY PARCEIS
Postmaster Hartzog and Other
- v^unaoivia urge uo-operation
of the Public is Packaging
and Mailing Christmas
Gifts This Year
The Boone postoffice. as well as
other offices throughout the county,
especially urge the people of Boone
and Watauga county to mall their
Christmas greetings and parcels
early this year.
Conditions now indicate that this
will be a banner year for the postal
service and with the co-operation
of the mailer each card and package
is expected to be delivered on time.
Parcels that are destined for the
greater distances should -be mailed
immediately, and those for nearby
states should be mailed at least a
week before Christmas. No mail
service will l?e given on Christmas
day as the postoffice department at
Washington want3 its employees as
far as possible to spend the day with
their families.
Postmaster Iiartzog wishes to emphasize
the fact that all parcels
must be packed properly , for transmission
through the mails.
Parcels of a fragile nature must
be packed in excelsior, or similar
packing, and covered with a strong
cardboard or wooden b<?x Boxes or
candy or fruits must be of such a
nature as to hold the contents should
they become broken dr crushed.
Christmas greeting cards requir<
the 3a.mc rate as last ycju* of one anci
one-half cents if unsealed. Sucl
cards may not be forwarded or returned
if undelivered. It is 3uggeste-.l
that three cents be placed un the
more expensive ones, This wall
guarantee reiurn or lowawwg.
well as handling same as other first
Class mail.
Specific information concerning insurance,
special delivery, air mail
etc., will bo gladly furnished at the
postdffieo.
RITES FOR ROBY
BROWN TODAY
Aged and Popular Citizen o:
Route 2 Succumbs Wednesday
Morning
At press time The Democrat learn:
lot the death this (Wednesday;
| morning of Mir. Bartleft Rob;
i Brovvr., an outstanding citizen o
I Route 2, which occurred after a Ions
I period of declining health, trough
about by an incurable ailment.
Funeral details are not complete
as this 13 written, but it is said tha
the services will be held at the lab
residence Thursday afternoon, am
interment will be in the family ceine
tery.
Surviving are five sons: VV. O. am
G. G. and Roscoe Brown, Boone
Claude Brown, Hcaton; Rond;
Butte. Montana.
Mr. Brown, who was reared in tlii
county, was one of the finest typ
of citizens to be found in this reglor
and, his death is deeply mournec
More detailed information concern
ing the death of this good man wi
te published when it is available.
FOY ANN DAVIS
j Foy Ann Davis, two and a-ha
months old daughter of Mr. and Mr
Wilfred Davis, of Boone, who ar
temporarily residing at Crab Oj
chard, W. Va., died Saturday morn
ing. The baby hadn't been ii! pre
viously.
Rev. E. \V. Powers conducted til
funeral services and interment wa
in Mount Tabor Memorial remoter;
Beckley, W. Va? with H. T. Caffe
| & Son taxing: care 01 uxe wto*?|
nients.
The only survivors in the immc
diate family are the bereaved pai
ents.
STUNT NIGHT
The annual stunt night will be ot
served at the Demonstration scho<
In Boone Saturday evening, at 7:3<
There will be an admission charg
of 10 and 25 cents, the proceeds to g
to the benefit of the school librar;
HICKS CHILD
A two-year-old son of Mr. ar
Mrs. Arnie Hicks of Baird's Creel
died last Thursday and the funer
and interment was in the hon
neighborhood. The parents are tl
only immediate survivors.
:k to Boo
03E
paper?Established in the
STY, NORTH CAROLINA. TH^|
This !s Jf
Composing a letter to Santa is
may not be lilerary, but be usually
Happy Holid
; Throng Str?
i Traffic was practically block
ed by the crowds of children
and grown-ups who packed the
,! streets! Saturday evening for
the Official opening of the
! Christmas shopping season, and
| for the long heralded visit of
Santa Claus. The jolly old genr
tleman arrived on schedule time
j in a small wagon, filled with
! gifts for the kiddies and drawn
f j by a fast-stepping Shetland
' pony. Some hundreds of children
raced back and forth
through t o w n ' Cor another
5 glimpse of Santa Claus, who
. was kept busyi 'tossing gifts
f from his huge pack to the glee;
ful youngsters.
' TUBERCULAR SEAL
; SALE ANNOUNCED
[1 Boone Elementary School; Dis:
poses of $21 Worth of
a Health Stickers
* The city of Boone is to be can,
vassed the end of the week for the
i. sale of Christmas seais furnished
i- by the Tubercular Association the
" proceeds of which go toward the
fight against tuberculosis.
Mrs. G. K. Moose, the chairman
of the campaign, is most anxious
, that there be as ready a response te
e the appeal in the city as there was
in the Boone school.
l" The Boone elementary school sole
a total of $21.00 worth of the seals
The sixth grade led in sales with
0 Miss Josephine Miller selling $3.05
s worth. The gTsdes sold stamps as
e follows.
, Grade 1, Miss Moore $1.0C
Grade 1, Miss Fleming 1.0C
Grade 2, Miss Brandon IOC
Grado 2, Miss Robinson 1.0C
Grade 3, Miss Weaver 1.0C
Grade 3, M!rs. Clay ...^ 1.0C
Grade 4, Miss Austin 1.0C
Grade 4, Miss Goodman 1.0(
Grade 5, Miss Trivette 1.0(
" Grade 5, Mrs. Howell - 1.0<
?- Grade 6, Miss Sigmon 1.0(
"e Grade 6, Mr. Rivers 5.0(
? Grade 7, Mr. Cole 1.4!
y- Grade 7. Miss Todd 3.5!
Total - 521.01
id The student-teachers In the elc
k, elementary school very gracious!
si accepted the responsibility of sellini
io 315.00 worth. More than ten dol
10 lars has already, been turned in t
Mrs. Moose.
ne Next !
MOCI
Par Eighteen Eighty-EigV
AY, DECEMBER 9. 1937
ous Business I
indeed serious business. Tiie writing <
manages to till the orders. i
ay Crowds
?ets Saturday;
Business men believe that the '
tlirou v present for the opening- was
the J. g'est, on any similar occasion,
in the history of the town, and long
after St. Nicholas was resting from
his strenuous evening, hundreds of
people remained on the streets, under
the brilliantly illuminated evergreen
chains, passing in and out of
the stores ai intervals and making
preparations for the filling of thrugift
lists.
Ail the stores are now arrayed in
their Christinas embellishments, the j
isuiuay guoua are Utlracuvciy (us-1
played, and prospects for a record |
business between now and Christmas j
are said to be bright. The city governing
unit is joining with the mer- i
chants association and with Individ-1
ual mercliants in welcoming holiday!
shoppers, and by the end of the week
the streets will be filled with men.
women and children from all parts
of this and surrounding counties.
EMPTY STOCKING'
FUND IS STARTED
New River Light and Power
Company Pledges Fifty Dollars
to Community Chest
The New River Light & Power |
Company dispensed with its usual I
prize contest for the most attract-1
ively decorated Christmas tree this
year, and paid fifty dollars in cash i
as a starter for the Firemen's Com-!
muniLv Chest Fund. Tt is honed I
i that this liberal contribution will be
followed by many others to the end
that destitute children of this community
will enjoy a more completely
happy Christmas this year than ever
before.
The Watauga Democrat - is subscribing
ten dollars to the fund, and
the amounts contributed by other
firms and individuals will be reported
in these columns next week. Contributions
may be left with the Watauga
Democrat or with Pat McGuire,
ch:ef of the fire department.
FRIGID WEATHER
Boone and this entire region have
been visited by the most severe
winter weather for the past few
days, experienced in this section in
December for the past many years.
Mercury struck the zero mark in
pTactically all sections Monday evening,
and the plummeting tempera5
lures were accompanied by a consid_
fwyo Kin fo)l r*f or?Anr
[> ,
Dr. Robert King;, of tlie district
v health office, announce that in the
? future he will be in the office here
- on Saturdays until 4:30 p. m., but
o will not be in the office on Mondays
as heretofore.
Saturday
tAT~
it
$1.50 PER YEAR
vpoplexyTatal
to j.c. fletcher;
funeral sunday
'ormer Boone Attorney Succumbs
in Ccnoir Hospital at
Age of 69; Prominent Reader
in Masonic and Civic Endeavors
Funeral services were conducted
Sunday afternoon in Lenoir for J. C.
Letcher. 6a, native Watauean and
>romincnt attorney, who died in that
dty Friday evening from, a sudden
Lroke cf apoplexy. Many Watau;ans
attended the rites which wero
rc 11 ducted from tile First Methodist
:hurch by the pastor, Rev. J. S.
Sialt, Lhe services at the graveside
n Belleview cemetery being undrer
he direction cf the Masonic fraternity.
Born in the Cove Creek section of
Watauga county on December 18,
1368. Mr. Fletcher was the youngest
;hild In a family of five. He was
he son of the late Spencer Fletcher
md Emaline Wilson, of this county.
His father died wlhin the young
>oy was two years of age and he
assisted his mother with the support
of the family. He was educated,
n the common schools of the county,
ind was given some college educa.ion.
He lived on he farm until reacting
the age of 17 years and then
studied law for two years. He was
ready for the bar at the age of 20,
but had to wait until reaching his
majority lo being the practice of his
chosen profession.
He was licensed to practice law
it ttie February ter n of the supreme
rt of 1800. He began to practice
'aw at BurnsviUe in Yancey
county in Uie fall of 1890. He moved
to Boone in 1S93, where he remained
until 1913 when he began work aa
a title attorney for the United States
department of agriculture.
Since that time he has passed on
lhe title of perhaps 500000 acres of
land for the government.
(Continued on page four)
SCHOLARSHIP IS
GIVEN JOE BROWN
Watauga Boy Caaius State College
Scholarship for Baby
Beef Endeavors
Joe Brown, 14-year-old Watauga
4-H Club member, has beer, awarded
a one-year scholarship to State
College for his excellent record in
4-H baby beef work this year, according:
to an announcement made by
L. H Ilarrill, 4-H Club leader at
State College. The award came
through the National Cotton Products
Association.
The Hereford calf weighed 470
pounds when Joe acquired him last
April During a 164-day feeding period
the calf gained an average of
3.1 pounds a day. He ate 2,445
pounds of com, 247 pounds of oats,
404 pounds of cottonseed meal, 796
j pounds of hay and 110 pounds of
bran during that time. And from
j April to September he was on a
| nurs6 cow.
In the show ring Joe and the calf
(won first and grand championships
| at the Watauga county fair, first in j
I heavyweight in the fat steer class.
and reserve championship in the 4H
baby beef show.
The calf also won first place in
| the open show at the state fair and
was named grand champion of the
I Ashcville fat stock show. His prize
winnings totalled $69.16.
At the conclusion of the Asheviile
...vhibition the Hereford weighed 1
000 pounds and was sold at auction
for $205 or 20.5 cents a pound. The
calf cost Joe $566.70, and the expenses
were $133.47. The profit was
$S7.10, plus a scholarship valued at
$80.
H H. Hamilton, assistant county
agent, states that Joe "petted, pampered
and fed the calf in such a manner
as would put any good Scotch
herdsman to shame."
SANTA COMING AGAIN
The tremendous ovation given
Santa Claus on his visit to the
city Saturday evening, has caused
the rotund old gentleman to decide
to make a return trip to
Boone next Saturday, when he
will again have goodies for Hie
children. Santa Clous Ls expected
to arrive in town sometime early v'-v,
in the afternoon.
- -