North Carolina Newspapers

THE DEMOCRAT Is your best and mcdP eco nomical medium of advertis ing. With more than r.tOO paid-up. cash subscriptions. Tour menace goes to 11.000 peopie. on the universally used basis of five readers to tach subscriber. WATAUGA DEMOCRAT IMPORTANT The date on your label shows the data raw subscription will the date your p? ?topped unlesa sooner Mi The Democrat la All . .. . ? In* strictly on a eartl An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1 888. * vanc* * VOL. LIX, NO. 40 BOONE. WATAUGA COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1947 5 CENTS A COPY SCHOOLS CLOSED AS HEAVY FALL OF S WOW CONTINUES *? Superintendent Walker Says That All Schools Where Buses Operate to Remain Closed Through the Week; Storm of Week Continues in Area AJ1 schools of the county, which are dependent on bus transporta tion of the students are closed and will remain closed the bal ance of this week, due to the continued snow which has fallen almost steadily for the past week, and which shows little signs Wednesday morning of abate ment. The Boone schools closed Fri day and resumed operations on Monday. However, the attend ance was so small that classes were dismissed at mid-day, and the students who had weathered the blizzard returned home. Superintendent Howard Walker states that perhaps as many as two one-teacher schools on the ?ast side of the Blue Ridge are operating. He says that if weath er permits the schools will open next Monday, but that at least one day of high temperatures will be necessary before it will be considered safe for the buses to transport children over the ice roadways. Mails, Buses Make Schedules 1 Mails over the principal high ways have made their schedules >vith splendid regularity, and bus] schedules are being maintained in most all instances. However,! Postmaster John E. Brown, Jr., says that there will be but one delivery of mail in the city to lay. _ The snow began Wednesday of last week, and reached a depth of perhaps eight inches before the wind got into action. Since tfcat ti?ne, there has been only one day when the snows have ceased and conservative esti mates are that no less than 18 inches has fallen The snow has been accompanied for the last few days by high winds and tem peratures ranging from 5 to 20 degrees Predictions of clearing skies and rising temperatures failed to materialize this morn ing, as the snow continues to pile up, with a driving wind, and a temperature of 10 above zero prevail*. Local traffic has been held to the minimum demanded by ne cessity, and no large number of rural residents have been to town since the blizzard set in. Coal bins about the town, many of them are running dangerously low, and residents of the city are staying close by the fireside, hop ing for an early abatement of the storm. State highway officials have worked valiantly in keeping the roads of the county open for traf fic, and Monday all avenues eff transportation could be used. Continued drifting, however, added to the troubles of the road workers, and since that time all equipment has been in almost constant use in an effort to break the recurring drifts. On Tuesday some of the trucks bringing food supplies to local grocery stores, would not attempt to negotiate the icy roads over the mountains, and there is some apprehension that if the storm continues unabated, supplies will run alarmingly low. JUNIOR ORDER MEETING Regular meeting of Daniel Boone Council, Junior O. U. A. M., will be held at the hall of the council next Monday evening at 7 :30. ,? "Baby your calves" and guard jgainst the serious danger of calf pneumonia during the harsh late winter and early spring weather, says Dr. C. D. Grinnefls, profes sor of veterinary science at State College. AUTHOR DR. D. J. WHITENER PROHIBITION IS THEME OF BOOK Appalachian Coll eg* Professor GiTM Account oi Hectic Liquor Fight in Stat* Dr. D. J Whitener. Ph.D.. of the Appalachian College faculty, is being praised for his recent book, published by the Univer sity Press, which gives a picture of the fight over prohibition dur ing all the years of the history of North Carolina, from the first regulation of "tippling houses" to the present era. The following review of the volume by Josephus Daniels in the News and Observer, gives a clear insight into the content of the new volume "The author dedicates this vol ume to Justice Heriot Clarkson, consistent and militant leader for prohibition, with a dedication by Josephus Daniels. 'This book deals with every phase of the regulation of strong drink from 1715 to 1945. It phows evidence of documentation ?n ev ery era from 1715 regulation of Tippling Houses to State prohi bition in 1908 to the present day nybrid era of ABC stores in part of the State in violation of the mandate of the people. The au thor has given the story of the long and varied success and de feats in the fight for temperance and prohibition. Newspaper ar ticles drawn upon freely give the picture of the changing scenes of the contests which periodically have stirred the people "The author has delved into every available source to fully document a history that is inval uable to all who are interested in the long fight, losing and winning to lessen or end the sale and use of intoxicants. He has written a readable and full history, invalu able to all who wish accurate data with reference to the long attempts to deal with a subject that has brought out heated con tests. Prof. Fletcher M. Greene, pro fessor of history in the Universi ty of North Carolina, truly says of this new book: " 'It is a sound, scholarly study and analysis of an important problem in North Carolina his tory. It reflects also the general national picture of prohibition. The author has written a clear and interesting account of an is sue in politics that has divided the American people into two hostile camps. Professor White ner has examined practically all available sources, including offi cial documents, newspapers, church minutes and manuscript materials. The study is a defini tive one and will be of timely in terest to the historian and the general reader.' " CONTEST POSTPONED Due to the bad weather the speaking contest which was to have been held at local fiigh school Thursday evening, has been postponed to Thursday (evening of next week. Summary of Happenings in Slate Legislature During Past Week k'xom the ?standpoint of the number of bills introduced, the 1647 general assembly continues to lag somewhat behind the 1945 session. At the close of the 39th legislative day. a total of 608 ti had been introduced, as injit 672 in the same number of- days in 1945. This can mean >ne of three things: (1) not as many bills will be inUoduced this session as there Were in 1945, which would make, on pa per, at least, less work to do and tend to produce a shorter session; <2) many legislators feel that the large amount of important busi ness now before the assembly will keep it in session beyond the time spent in 1945 67 legislative <lays), so they do not feel under * a great urgency to get their bills drawn and into the hopper; or (3) it may be that the time and at tention of the legislators have been so taken up with important and specta.cular matters already before the ysserfibly that they have had less time than in 1945 to think up, draw up, and intro duce particular measures which they ore their constituents nor mally would consider the prin cipal reason for coming to Ra leigh. In other words, it may be that the magnitude And import ance of state business at hand is to some extent at least "crowd ing out" some of the less import ant matters concerning which bills otherwise would have been drafted before now and submit ted for action Perhaps one of the largest crowds in the history of the state to attend a legislative committee hearing converged on Raleigh last Tuesday. The occasion was the public hearing on HB 196 before the joint finance committee, and the crowd was around 3,000, ac cording to newspaper estimates ? so large that the hearing was moved from the hall of the house to the memorial auditorium?The bill which attracted such a Yath ering would amend the laws dealing with co-operative, mutu al and marketing associations so (Continued on page 4) LAST NEWLAND BANK ROBBER NABBED BY FBI Cazada G. D. Taylor. Last of Five Wanted for Robbery of Avery County Bank. Taken by FBI in Indiana; Two Others Taken at Portland, Oregon Gazada G. D. Saylor, last of five susDects wanted in connec tion with the sensational $25,000 robbery of the Avery County Bank at Newland January 30, was captured Tuesday afternoon bar agents of the Federal Bureau ^investigation Saylor was taken at a tourist camp near New Albany. Ind., and flt the time was armed with a .38 caliber revolver, the FBI said. He is a native of Harlan county, Kentucky. * Two other suspects were nab bed at Portland, Ore., Monday, after they were arrested for speeding. They were listed as William M. Aired, 27, also of Harlan county, and D. L. Birch field. 29, of the Roan Mountain section of Tennessee. Announcement of Saylor's ap prehension was made by John C. Bills, agent in charge of the FBI in the Carolinas. Mr. Bills said that all five suspects have al ready been indicted by a Federal grand jury at Asheville, four be ing charged with bank robbery and George Crowe with receiv ing. Saylor had a 1946 Chrysler in his possession when he was seiz ed Tuesday, according to the FBI report. When arrested Birch field and Aired also were said to have had a 1946 automobile for which they had paid $2,500 cash, several guns and $6,000 in paper currency and three $5 rolls of dimes in wrappers of the same kind used on the $1,300 worth of . times stolen by the bandits in jmo Newland robbery. NSMie FBI said Saylor would be field in Louisville, Ky., until shortly before time for the trial in Asheville at a date still to be set At Portland, Ore.. FBI Agent Howard Bobbitt reported that Birchfield and Aired denied any part in the robbery They are being for Federal authorities in this state. radio King WAS NOT HELD Chunbfr of Commirc* Postpones Gathering to Discuss Radio Station Her* Due to the snowy weather the meeting of the Boone Chamber of Commerce was not held as sched uled last Thursday evening, at which time it was planned to have radio engineers from John son City, Tenn., give the com merce group detailed information concerning the possibility of es tablishing a radio broadcasting station, in Boone. Mr. H. W. Wilcox, president of the Chamber of Commerce, states that the radio matter will be discussed at a meeting to be held when weather conditions permit. Labor Leaders See Drive to Kill Unions Washington, Feb. 25. ? Militant) labor leaders who led strikes last year, A. F. Whitney, Joe Curran and Harry Bridges, complained bityerly to Congress today against panding legislation which they allied anti-labor. "Curran and Bridges, CIO Mari time union leaders who worked together n the 1946 shipping strikes, did not appear on Capitol Hill in person. But they sent hot statements to the Senate labor committee charging that present "anti-labor bills" are nothing more than efforts by "monopoly interests" to doetroy labor unions! Meantime chunky David Dubin sky, president of the AFL. Ladies' Garr^ant Workers, which has a long record of labor peace, testi fied eooly before the Senate group. ?He told Senator Ball, Republi can of Minnesota, that Ball's pro posals to outlaw industry-wide bargaining and the closed or un ion shop would deal "a body blow to our democracy" and increase industrial strife "a thousand fold." Russia Backs U. S. Program in Pacific Washington, Feb. 26 ? In a sur prise move, Russia has stamped its cordial approval on a plan for American control of the 623 Pa cific islands wrested from Japa nese mandate, Secretary of State Marshall disclosed today. A Moscow note took the posi tion that United States control would be entirely fair because the bloodshed in evicting the Japanese was largely American. The empire state building weighs 303.000 tons. MM Wfrn ?:i&M I j.?. V ve L. GREER DIES AT AGE OF 75 Retired Merchant of ZioaTilU Succumbs to Long Period of lllifess Lige Greer, 75 years old, one of the leading citizens and a re-| tired merchant of Zionville, died at the residence Sunday, follow ing a long indisposition. Para lysis was given as the immediate cause of his death. Funeral services were conduct ed Wednesday afternoon at the Zionville Baptist Church by Rev. R. C. Eggers and interment was in the church cemetery by Reins Sturdivant Funeral home. The widow, Mrs. Nancy John son Greer, survives, together with two sons and one daughter: Howard Greer, Zionville; Ray mond Greer. Battle Creelc, Mich., and Mrs. Dora Greer Penn of Zionville. There are three broth ers: R. T. Greer, Lenoir; Sam Greer, Brownwood, and Noah Greer, who resides in the state of Maryland There are eight grandchildren. SAFETY SHOW WELL RECEIVED Charlotte Police Officer and Trained Dogs, Pigeons. Ap pear in County A large number of people at tended Officer Pressley's safety show, when the Charlotte police man came to the county last week to give performances at Blowing Rock, Cove Creek. Valle Crucis and Boone. Large numbers of school child ren as well as adults were delight ed with the performances of Of ficer Pressley's trained dogs and pigeons, emphasizing the im portance of traffic safety, and which ha* become one of the leading safety shows in the na tion. There are now 70.000 mem bers of the Pressley Safety Club. The show is under the overall sponsorship of the State Auto mobile Association. Farm Repair Shop Open 2 Days Weekly The agricultural repair shop at the Cove Creek Schawl will be open Tuesday and Thursday nights of each week, in order that farmers may do their repair work. The hours for the next few weeks will be 7 to 10 o'clock. BILL TO ABOLISH CHAIN STORE TJOt IS THROW* OUT Raleigh, Feb. 26. ? An amend ment eliminating the State chain store tax was killed by an over whelming voice vote in the Joint finance committee meeting today. Chain-store representatives pre viously had appeared before the committee asking for removal of a 20-year-old tax from which the State collects around $185,000 an nually. Senator Hugh Horton of Martin submitted the amend ment which evoked almost no discussion. FARM REPORTS NEAR COMPLETE Near 100 Par Cent Co-operation in Making Federal-State Farm Report* Paul A. Coffey, county ac countant, states that he is ad vised by the State-Federal Crop Reporting service that during the tax listing period the local list takers did pretty nearly a 100 per cent job. In fact, in only two instances was the crop reports less than 100 per cent. The townships of the county, the listtakerg, and the number of farms reporting, are given below, the number of farms reported be ing 100 per cent, except where otherwise indicated: Bald Mountain, W. F Norris, 115 farms. Boone, E. D. Cook, 8 farms. ; Blue Ridge, G E. Miller, 220. Blowing Rock, Fred Spann, 124. Elk, Ralph Hayes, 112. Beaver Dam. A. E. Trivett, 311. Laurel Creek. Charlie Mast, 269 Stony Fork. Lloyd Wilcox, 282. Watauga, C. P. Moore, 382. New River, G. M. Watson, 200. Brushy Fork, Mrs. L. M. Hodges, 208 listed. 206 reported, 99%. Shawneehaw, A. C Miller, 133. Cove Creek, W. K. Wilson, 371 listed, 370 reported, 99.7%. North Fork, John Potter, 79. Meat Camp, L. E. Wilson, 318. Mr. Coffey and Mr. Frank Parker, of the crop reporting service, join in thanking the list takers and citizens for their aid in making this report so com plete To Assist State Income Taxpayers John L. Smoot, deputy col lector of revenue for the State Department of Revenue, will be in the grand jury room at the courthouse March 6 and 7, from 9 to 5 o'clock for the purpose of assisting taxpayers in filing their state income tax returns. SIX MIORE MEMORIAL HALF DOLLARS PLANKED! Washington, Feb. 25. ? A Senate banking subcommittee today vot ed to issue six more memorial half dollars and then end the practice. Senator McCarthy, Republican of Wisconsin, said the group ap proved a Treasury proposal that Congress limit such commemora tive pieces in the future to medals, rather than money. The six proposed half dollars would commemorate: The 200th birthday of General Pulaski; settlement of Jamestown Island, Va., and opening of the Jamestown drama; The 100th an niversary of Wisconsin statehood; Patrick Henry; the 200th anniver sary of the founding of Reading. Pa., and the 100th anniversary of the entry of the Utah pioneers into Salt Lake valley. 125,000 teachers in U. S. on sub standard licenses survey shows. JOHN ROMINGER FATALLY HURT Matney Veteran is Killad Whan Aulomobila Skiddad on Slip ptry Highway John Rominger, of the Matney neighborhood, one of the seven son* of Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Ro minger. who saw service in the armed forces of the country dur ing the last war, received fatal [injuries when the truck which he was driving skidded and over turned on the icy highway near iHeaton. Avery county. Mr. Ro minger succumbed in the Ban ner Elk hospital Wednesday eve ning. Funeral services were held at the Matney Baptist Church Sun day afternoon at 2 o'clock, with Watauga Post American Legion in charge of the graveside rites. In addition to his parents, he is survived by the widow; a small daughter; eight brothers, jFred. Grady, Benny and Howard, iall of Banner Elk; Ernest of Ro minger; Clyde of Orlando, Fla., and Richard of Hawaii; and two sisters. Mrs. William Wrenn of 'Flint, Mich., and Miss Edith Ro minger of the home. BYRNES DENIES BEING OFFERED POST OF ENVOY Washington, Feb. 25. ? Former (Secretary of State James F. Byrnes today told the Charlotte Observer that he had not been offered the appointment of Am bassador to London, and that he had no plan at this time to re enter the government service. Secretary Byrnes, the first South Carolinian in 100 years to hold the high post of Secretary | of State tendered his resignation [January 7, becaus" of ill health. I He hsW been advised by his physician that he must "slow | down" and take a long delayed [rest. MONDAY MARKS START OF RED CROSS CAMPAIGN Roll Call Chairman Form* Organization to Start IB tensive Campaign to Brian County Quota of $2,16#; ? list ot the Canvassers Clyde R- Greene, chairman of the Keel Cross roll call campaign in Watauga county, is putting toe finishing touches on his organi zation. preparatory to the opening of the eftort next Monday, and with the view to raising the local quota of $2,666 within the short est possible time. Mr. Greene hopes to end the campaign by the 15th of the month, although the period really extends to March 31. The quota this year is about half of that of a year ago, and citizens are asked to respond promptly so that Watauga may "go over the top" quickly. Those who recall the recon struction efforts ot the Red Crews in Watauga during the flood of 1940, will realize that the home disaster activities of Red Cross will more than justify the con tribution asked, to say nothing of the invaluable assistance being given to men in the armed ser vices. Of further interest is the fact that this year 70.7% per cent of money raised will be re tained for local use, while only 29.3% will Joe forward to the na tional organisation. Below is the organization for the different parts of the county Town Of Boon* Butlntu SkUod Grady Tugman, chairman, G. D Barnett. C. li. Craven, Joe Huffman; A. & P. Company. W. T. Welch; Matheaon Building. Dr. Wm. Matheson; Belk -Whlte Company. W. W. Cheater; Hunt's Department Store, Guy Hunt; Carolina Pharmacy, Dr. Mock; Court liouac, Paul Coffey; County Building. Mrs John Clawson: Appalachian teachers College. W H Cottrell, John WUbom. Mrs. R. W Watklns. S M *yers; Daniel Boone Hotel* C. A Price; Stale Highway Department. E. Ford King; Dr. Perry Building. Mrs F. M Stubbs; Post Office. J. Edgar Brown; Colvard Oil Company and af filiated stores, Georgia Ayers; Trail way Laundry. Frank Wyke; Super Cleaners. Dee Shot make; S mi they* Store, Mr. Walsh; Watauga Hospital. Sirs. Bessie Brown; City Hall. Mrs Ruby Ellis; Wilcox Drug Company. Chas. Wilcox: Winkler Motor Com pany. Paul Walsh; Boone Drue Com pany. Dr. Moose; Gateway Cafe, Mr Marion; Carolina Cafe. G. C. Greene; Boone Trail Cafe. Mr. Norman; Wa tauga Hotel. Mr. James Rrawley Town Of Boons Residential Sections Mrs. M. R. Maddux. Mrs. E. T Glenn chairman Mrs Chapel Wilson. Mrs R E. Agle. Mrs. G. D. Barnett, Mrs Floyd Hagaman. Mrs Jack Storle. jMrs. Len Hagaman, Mrs. Morris Eg |gers. Mrs. Paul Coffey, Mrs. Wiley G Hartzog. Mrs. Hal Vance. Mrs. W W [Chester. Mrs. A. E South. Town Of Blowincr Rock Mrs. H. C. Hayes and Miss Ellen Coffey, chairmen. Schools Howard VSalker. chairman. , Appalachian high school. Mrs. Fred Gragg, Harold Ouincy. Boons elemen tary. Donald Thompson. Mrs. Joe Crawford; Howard's Creek. Mrs. J. W Norris; Ruthcrwood. Mrs. China R Lavender; Rich Mountain. Nellie M Lewis; Bamboo. Miss Pearl Cowles. Green Valley. Mrs. Imogene Hardin, Wlnebarger. Mrs Nell C. Greene; Rlverview. Mr*. Blanche Payne; Deep Gap. Mrs. Pearl P. Dowling; Stony Fork. Mrs. Grace E. Greene; Mt. Par on. I. J. Bingham; Elk. Mrs. Ethel P. Trlplctt; Lower Elk. V. M. Greene; Blowing Rock high school. Mrs. Beat rice C. Winkler; Blowing Rock elemen tary. Mrs. D. J. Whitner; Penley. Mrs Lona Cook; Cook C. F Whisnant; Val le Cruets, Mrs. Pansy K. Taylor Grandfather. Miss Floy Cannon; Cool Springs. Mrs. Mary Sue Wataon; Cove Creek high, Mrs. Mattie H. Wilson; Cove Creek elementary. Miss Anna Mae Sherwood. Romlnger. George Harmon; Presnell, Mrs. Ruth W. Pre? nell; Kellersville. Mrs. Ella Fae Phjl lips; Windy Gap, Henry Hagaman. Bethel. Thomas TurbyfiU. Mrs. Dorthy Greene; Mabel. Mrs. John Combs; Tamarack, Mm. Pearl H. Greene. Rural Sections L. E. Tuckwlller. chairman. Mrs A !E Hamby. associate chairman. The following are captains of their respective sections and they will select their assastants: Ix>wer Meat Camp. D. C. Coffey; Up B;r Meat Camp. Mrs Wade Clawson. ew River. Mrs. S. J. Barnes. Lloyd |Moret2; Bald Mountain. W S. Miller; Valle Crucis. W W Mast. Mrs. W. H 'Wagner; Shulls Mills, Mrs. C. P Moore; Mabel, Marlon Thomas; Laurel Creek. Ned Glenn, Henry Hagaman: Shawneehaw. Marshall Farthing; Deep Gap, H. E. Greene. Hayes Wellborn; Elk. Stewart Simmons; Blue Ridge. Mrs Foy Adams. Mrs Vance Keller; Blowing Rock, Collie Greene; North Fork. Mrs. Robert Thomai; Brushy Fork, Mrs. L. A Henson; Bethel. D IF. Greene; Reese. Clyde Robinson j March Is Proclaimed 'Red Cross Month' by President Truman Whereas, the American Nation al Red Cross, traditional friend and counselor of the servicemen and the veteran, furnishes com fort and renewed hope to our sick and wounded in hospitals, and provides morale-building welfare and recreational facilities for our occupation forces abroad as well as a wide range of services to those returning to civilian life in this country; and Whereas, the Red Cross, char tered by congress and equipped by experience to cope with hu man needs when disaster strikes, performs its errands of mercy with skill and expedition; and Whereas, the Red Cross is de voting increased attention to its home-nursing and first aid pro gram*. which are designed through training courses to check the spread of disease and to re duce the frightful toll of acci dents; and Whereas, thn; 01 conization is entirely dependent upon the vol untary contributions of the peo ple of the United States in ren'-j dering these services, and has e* timated that a minimum fund of $60,000,000 will be necessary for the implementation of its philan thropic pro?ram in 1947: Now. therefore, 1, Harry S. Trurnan. President of the Uni ted States of America and presi dent of the American National Red Croas, do hereby designate and proclaim the month of March 1947 as Red Cross Month and urge every citizen of this coun try to respond generously to this essential, humanitarian cause. In witness whereof. I hay*' hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this twelfth day of February In the vear of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty-seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the one. hun dred and seventy-first. HARRY S. TRUMAN By the President: G C Marshall Secretary of State.