WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
WATCH the LA
An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1 888.
VOL. LVII, NO. 10
?*> TOW
EST
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1945
$1.50 A YEAR ? 5c A COPY
CITY OFFICIALS 1
PLAN DRIVE TO
PROMOTESAFETY
Traffic Lights to Go On Again
in Effort to Help Traffic Sit
uation; Fines to Be Imposed
On Careless Drivers
Mayor Gordon H. Winkler states
that his office is planning vigorous j
action against traffic law violators
which have become rather prevalent
on the streets of the city since war's
end, and the lifting of the gasoline
rationing. The traffic light* which
were dispensed with duping the war,
are being turned on again, and
warning is given that those violat
ing the laws will be fined.
Since people have grown unac
customed to the use of the stop
lights. Mayor Winkler says, all pub
licity should be given, so that motor
ists may not run through a red light
and endanger the lives of those who
have the legal right of way. j
Laws regulating the parking of
automobiles, the speed at which they
may be driven in town, etc., are to
be rigidly enforced, says Mayor
Winkler, and fines will be imposed.
He urges the full co-operation pf
the public in order that Boone may
be made a safer place in which to
live.
Saf ? Driving Contest
The layor states that each week
following the inauguration of the
drive against traffic violators, one
driver will be chosen who has been
outstandingly careful, and will be
designated the safe driver of that
week, and given a reward.
Soliers With 45 Points
Will Not Go Overseas
?
Washington, Sept. 4 ? The army
gave guarantees tonight to an esti
mated 665,000 older soldiers and
men with high discharge points that
they won't go overseas. , ?
And another 1,100,000 eligible for
immediate discharge won't go over,
or can come home if they already
are abroad.
From now on, the army ordered,
no one will be sent abroad who:
1. Had 45 or more points as of
May 12.
2. 37 years old.
3. Is 34 to 36 years old, inclusive,
and has a yearns military service.
In these categories, war depart
ment officials said, are about 665,000
men now in the United States.
No WACs will be sent overseas,
either.
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins
At Red Cross School
Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Watkins have
returned home after spending 10
days attending the National Red
Cross aquatic school at Camp Caro
lina, Brevard, N. C.
Mr. Watkins received certificates
in advanced work in first aid, life
saving and water safety, boating
and canoeing, while Mrs. Watkins
received certificates in advanced
first aid, with basic certificates in
life saving and water safety, canoe
ing and boating.
Mr. Watkins has attended \ this
school for three terms, while Mrs.
Watkins attended for the first time,
being sent as a representative from
the Watauga county chapter.
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins are plan
ning to give a first aid course in
October.
Triple A Dairy Checks
Should be Cashed Now
Farmers in Watauga county should
make sure they haven't misplaced
any dairy production payment
drafts. If they find any such checks
that haven't been cashed, W. W.
Mast, chairman Watauga County
AAA committee, asks that the drafts
be cashed promptly to help simplify
the Commodity Credit Corporation's
bookkeeping.
Calling attention to the difficulty
of keeping accurate records under
such a nationwide program, Mr.
Mast said that a recent report show
ed that over 32,000 dairy dafts is
sued before November 1, 1944, were
still outstanding on June 30, 1945.
This means that some farmers have
cached somewhere ? perhaps forgot
ten ? thousands of dollars worth of
ready money. *
Almost two million farmers par
ticipated in the dairy program last
year. It would seem profitable for
anyone who has forgotten whether
he cashed his last dairy production
payment draft to dotfcs Mr. Mast
asks, and "take a look around."
Killed in Action
DIES IN ACTION
OFF J AP CO AST
Native of Cor* Cmlt Section Lomi
Life Aboard Destroyer of
Third Fleet
Thomas Kenneth Mast, seaman
first class, 20-year-old son of Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph W. Mast, of Bowie,
aryland, and grandson of the late
S. McBride and Mrs. McBride,
formerly of Cove Creek, was killed
in action aboard the destroyer Borie,
operating with the third fleet off
Japan, on August 9. Kenny had
been on Pacific duty since last No
vember, and had participated in the
Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions.
He was born on Cove Creek July
25, 1925, and lived there until 1930
when his parents moved to Mary
land. He attended pulic and high
schools in Maryland and when in
ducted into the service on October
4, 1943, he was employed at the
Greyhound bus terminal in Wash
ington, D. C..
Besides his parents, he is survived
by a sister, Barbara, and a brother,
Curtis.
Shirley Brown 8,
Is Injured When
Struck by Auto Here
Shirley Brown, 8 years old, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brown,
of the Rich Mountain section, was
injured Saturday afternoon when
struck by an automobile driven' by
Mr. Ted Cook, a soldier, of the
Bamboo section.
Information is that the child
dashed into the street in front of
the vehicle driven by Mr. Cook and
that the accident couldn't have been
avoided. The car was in low gear
at the time, it is said, and moving
perhaps ten miles an hour. The
driver was absolved of any blame
by investigating officers.
The little girl suffered a fracture
and dislocation of an ankle, and was
taken to a Charlotte hospital. With
out complications, it is believed the
injury will not result in permanent
disability.
GOVERNMENT PLANS
HOUSING PROGRAM
Washington, Sept. 4 ? The govern
ment is set to lead a building boom
with a $100,000,000 public housing
program for low -income families.
Projects already blueprinted, and
financed through the Federal Public
Housing authority, are ready for
builders in a hundred communities
from coast to coast.
They are designed to accommo
date 25,000 families. The monthly
rent will average about $20 a family.
In Pacific Area
E J. Norria, teunin Oni cUm.
ion of Mr. and Mr*. J. E. Morris.
Boone Route 2. is serrlng in the
Pacific. He entered service in
July, 1944, and trained at Camp
Peary. Va.
O .
JAPS SIGN PAPER
BRINGING END TO
GLOBAL CONFLICT
Unconditional Surrender of Nip
pon is Formally Accomplished
Last Sunday, Marking First
Defeat in Jap History and
Ending Biggtfst War
Japan surrendered formally and
unconditionally to the allies Sunday
in a 20-minute ceremony which end
ed just as the sun burst through
low-hanging clouds as a shining
symbol to a ravaged world now
done with war.
The solemn ceremony, marking
the first defeat in Japan's 2,600
year-old semi-legendary history,
took place aboard the mighty bat
Hf lp I4issouri in Tokyo bay with
12 signatures which required only
a few minutes to affix to the articles
.of surrender.
Surrounded by the might of the
United States navy and army, and
under the eyes of the American and
British commanders they so ruth
lessly defeated in the Philippines
and Malaya, the Japanese represen
tatives quietly made their marks on
paper which ended the bloody Pa
cific conflict.
War Ends Officially
That horrible war, which had en
tered its eighth year in China and
had raged for nearly three years and
nine months for the United States
and Great Britain, was finally and
officially at an end with complete
victory for the allies.
On behalf of Emperor Hirohito,
foreign Minister Namoru Shige
mitsu signed first for Japan. He
doffed his top hat, tinkered with the
pen and then firmly affixed his sig
nature to the surrender document a
paper about 12 by 18 inches.
Signs American Copy Flrmt
Shigemitsu carefully signed the
American copy first, then affixed his
name to a duplicate copy to be re
tained by Japan.
Following him. Gen. Yoshijiro
Umezu, of the Japanese imperial
general staff, sat down resolutely,
and scrawled his name on the docu
ments as if in a tremendous hurry.
A Japanese colonel present was
seen to .wipe tears from his eyes as
the general signed. All the Japs
looked tense and wary.
General MacArthur was next to
sign, as supreme allied commander,
on behalf of all the victorious allied
powers.
. MacArthur immediately called for
Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright of
Bataan and Corregidor and Let. Gen.
Sir Arthur Percival of Singapore to
step forward.
These two defeated allied com
manders, now savoring their hour of
triumph, stepped up, and Wain
wright helped MacArthur to take his
seat.
MacArthur signed the documents
with five pens. The first he handed
immediately to General Wainwright,
the second to General Percival. The
third was an ordinary shipboard
navy issue pen. MacArthur then
produced a fourth pen, presumably
to be sent to President Truman.
Then he completed his signatures
with a fifth, possibly a trophy to be
retained by himself.
They were followed by serene
faced Admiral Nimitz, who signed
on behalf of the United States. Next
came China's representative
General MacArthur acted as a
brisk master of ceremonies. He
made a brief introductory statement
before the Japanese signed, then
called upon each nation's signer in
turn to step forward.
The United Kingdom's signature
was followed by that of Soviet Rus
sia. Quickly in turn, Australian,
French, Dutch and New Zealand
representatives signed in that order.
The scene in Tokyo bay was large
ly obscured by clouds which hung
fairly low amid the surrounding
hills, ^flags of the United States,
Britain, Russia and China fluttered
(CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)
Christmas Mail Month
Decreed by Governor
Raleigh, Sept. 4? Governor Cher
ry today proclaimed September 15
to October 15 as Christmas mail
month for the armed forces.
"The people of North Carolina,"
he said, "are urged to mail their
gifts during that period to relatives
and friends of the armed forces who
may still Be overseas by Christmas.
Citizens generally are urged to
choose all gifts wisely, wrap all
packages securely and use the latest
address in all cases."
The dates he named were those
designated by the war department
and post office department as
Christmas mail month.
Picks Up Passengers On the Fly
Coastguardsman Bradley Van Brunt of Milwaukee, WU? seated in
sling, is being raised into the helicopter from a speedboat, pro ring
that it will not be necessary for helicopters to stop for passengers, but
can pick them up on the fly ? if the passengers are willing.
103 Years Old
T"
1P? <&> 'rife w * ?l
J. E. LUTHER
J. E. Luther, 103
Will Be Honored
On Next Sunday
On Sunday, Sept. 9, the Gap Creek
Baptist church, at Deep Gap, will
have a celebration which few, if
any' of us will ever have the op
portunity to attend again.
This event is to celebrate a man's
102nd birthday, and this is a cor
dial invitation to everyone to at
tend this birthday celebration in
honor of the oldest man in north
western North Carolina, Mr. Elihu
Luther, who has spent many years
of -his life in this section.
Mr. Luther will be very happy to
see and welcome the citizens of
Northwestern Carolina on this day.
There will be plenty of good singing
furnished by a choir from Stony
Fork Baptist church and a choir
from Laurel Springs Baptist church.
Dinner will be served on the
ground. There will be addresses by
many outstanding men of the state.
The program will begin at 10 a. m.
and continue throughout the after
noon.
Milton G. Shearer
Notes 90th Birthday
Lenoir, Sept. 4 ? Milton G. Shear
er, for many years a familiar figure
around the Caldwell cojinty court
house, where he served as magis
trate, today is celebrating his 90th
birthday.
Born on Sept. 4, 1855, n%ar Boone
in Watauga county, Mr. Shearer
moved to Lenoir from Collettsville
48 years ago. All members of his
immediate family were in Lenoir
over the past week-end for a visit
with him and Mrs. Shearer and help
ed him celebrate the event.
Present for the occasion were Mr.
anct Mrs. D. R. Shearer of Johnson
City, Tenn.; Mr. and Mrs. J. R.
Blair, Miss Elizabeth Blair and Mr.
and Mrs. Vann B. Stringfield, of
Thomasville.
Mr. and Mr*. Shearer celebrated
their 90th wedding anniversary on
Sept. 25, 1044. _
. . ?
* The Commodity Credit Corpora
tion will make payments to any per
son who cells sheep and lamb* to
legally authorized slaughterers for
slaughter, according to the USD A.
In order to have early spring on
ions next year, it is necessary to
plant seed or sets sometime during
the fall, advise horticulturists at
State College.
BLOWING ROCK
ROAD IS FIRST
Commissioner Say* Road From Le
noir to Resort WU1 Be Built
Soon as Possible
J. Raymond Smith, district high
way commissioner, in an address in
Lenoir last Friday, stated that the
prospects are bright for completion
of the Lenoir-Blowing Rock high
way as soon as material, machinery,
supervisors and men are available.
In praising the new highway com
missioner of the state, Hon. A. H.
Graham, Mr. Smith said that Mr.
Graham would back the desire of
the governor for the completion of
the long proposed farm to market
roads as soon as possible.
"Road projects in this area, so
very ably planned by V. D. Guire,
whom I succeeded as commissioner
of the district, will be carried out
just as soon as possible," Mr. Smith
added.
NEW TERM STARTS
AT APPALACHIAN
Enrollment at College Expected to
Be 25 Per Cent Above a
Year Ago
Registration for the fall term at
Appalachian College started this
morning, and information coming
from the office of Registrar H. R.
Eggers is to the effect that all the
women's dormitories are full, and
that 75 reservations have been made
by men, as against only 30 a year
ago.
Although definite estimates were
impossible this morning, college of
ficials confidently expect that more
than 500 will have been enrolled
when regular classroom work be
gins. There were 400 last year.
Local OPA Office Is
Now On 40-Hour Week
The local OPA office is now op
erating on a 40-hour week, and the
office henceforth will not be open
on Saturdays. On the other five
days the hours will be 8:30 a. m. to
5 p. m.
Vi*it? Parents
Pfc. Paul J. Carroll ?ntmd the
army la March. 1942. and during
lis 17 month* overseas he spent
12 months as a prisoner of war of
the Germans. He was liberated
at the close of the war in Europe,
and has nctaSr spent t M-day
furlough with his parents. Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Carroll. Route 1.
loeas. He la now at Fort Ogle
T
LOCAL FOLKS JOIN
IN CELEBRATION
OF END OF WAR
V-J Day is Greeted Locally With
Impressive Program, as Many
Gather to Offer Prayer and
Thanksgiving for Victory Over
Last Enemy
Boone celebrated V-J day fitting
ly as Soldiers of both World wars,
business men, ministers of the town,
and civic leaders paid tribute to the
members of the armed forces, and
offered thanks to Almighty God for
\he victory He had brought to the
arms of this nation.
The program, which was planned
by the American Legion, was carried
out on the lawn of the postoffice
building, and several hundred resi
dents of the city and county gath
ered along the streets to hear the
addresses and take part in the meet
ing
Mayor Gordon H. Winkler had
:harge of the first portion of the
program and delivered an address,
n which he pointed to the fact that
:he "tasks of peace are quite as ar
luous as the problems of war," laud
:d the men of Watauga county for
heir valor and patriotism, and
voiced optimism o mr. the willing
less of America to provide for them
he place to which they are entitled
n the peacetime era.
S. C. Eggers, representative from
Vatauga county, who gave two sons
o the service, one of whom is miss
ng in action as a result of a disas
rous B-29 flight over Japan, spoke
eelingly of the war and its impact
ipon the nation, and expressed the
'ope that the nation would not
igain revert to the paths leading to
war as was the case following the
;nd of the fighting in 1018.
William R. Lovill, former mayor
ind senator, who has two sons in the
service, spoke briefly, while Clyde
Ft. Greene, likewise the father of
two lads in uniform, and president
of the State Merchants Association,
spoke of the 250,000 men who lost
their lives, and asked for a united
effort for lasting peace.
Dr. Amos Abrams was introduced
by Mayor Winkler, and reviewed the
part Appalachian College had played
in the global struggle. Nine hun
dred men, said Dr. Abrams, who
once attended the college and walk
ed the streets of Boone, took up
arms, and of this number 35 paid
the supreme sacrifice. Dr. Abnuns
read the names of those who were
killed in action, gave the places
their deaths occurred and their
home addresses. Taps were sound
ed as he concluded.
Mayor Winkler then turned the
program over to Mr. Beach Keller,
adjutant of Watauga Post, Ameri
can Legion, and head of the local
employment service. Mr. Keller
paid tribute to the men who went
to the battle front, and likewise to
those who manned the factories and
produced the weapons.
Mr. Elihu Luther, Confederate
veteran, 103 years old, the last sur
vivor of the Civil war armies in
Watauga county, was recognized by
Mr. Keller, and roundly cheered by
the audience.
Mr. Albert Watson, Spanish war
veteran, spoke briefly of the con
flict of the nineties, while W. C.
Greene, veteran of World war 1, was
heard. Mr. Greene announced the
celebration at Gap Creek Church
next Sunday for Mr. Elihu Luther.
L. B. Swofford, local businessman,
who was injured in the fighting in
Germany, praised the home front
and stated that "it provided the
goods, we just delivered them."
A number of veterans of the pres
ent war who happened to be in
town were recognized. Lionel Ward,
Legion service officer, spoke, and
Commander H. S. Steelman made a
talk. Coach R. W. Watkins, former
field director of the Red Cross, told
something of his work, and Rev. E.
F. Troutman, chairman of the local
Red Cross chapter, wac heard.
The different ministers of the
town offered prayer and Scripture
readings, while an excellent musical
program was supplied by the Boone
High School Band.
1st Cavalry to March
Into Tokyo Saturday
San Francisco, Sept 4? Tha U. 8.
first cavalry division will begin tha
occupation of Tokyo Saturday morn
ing, Sept. 8, Gen. Robert Eichelber
ger of the 8th army, announced to
day (Tokyo time), CBS Comtpan
deal William J. Dunn, reported from
YoRthama.
Dunn said he had just returned
from Eichelberger's headquartei*^
where the 8th army commander
made the announcement.
. ->-/ .'Ssfife'i