The Alamance gleaner
VOL. LVI. GRAHAM, N, C., THURSDAY OCTOBER 16, 1930. NO. 37.
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1?Monument to Col. Patrick Ferguson, who fell In command of the British at the battle of Kings Mountain.
South Carolina, 150 years ago, which was dedicated by President Hoover. 2?Police of Kansus City driving chil
dren from public playground in enforcing the infantile paralysis quarantine. 3?British light cruiser Danae, com
manded by Capt. E. It. Bent, in the Washington navy yard for a week's visit.
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
President Hoover Talks of
Problems and Policies
in Three Speeches.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD
HpHKEE public addresses in two
days gave President Hoover oppor
tunity to say a lot of things about our
problems, our institutions and our
prospects. His utterances on each oc
casion were dignified and well consid
ered ; they were praised by his admir
ers and fellow Republicans, and belit
tled by some Democrats and others who
do not agree with his national policies.
Speaking before the convention of
the American Legion in Boston, the
President told the Legionnaires that
the Ideals and purposes of their organ
ization must be translated into cold
realism of the day to day task of citi
zenship ; and he reminded them that
the Legion is consecrated by its con
stitution to the high purpose of up
holding the laws of the country. He
touched on preparedness, and said
that real peace in the world requires
something more than treaties, that all
ifiternational good will is founded on
mutual respect among the nations.
Mr. Hoover expressed warmly the
nation's gratitude to the men who
served in the World war and its sym
pathy for wounded and disabled vet
erans. *
LATER in the day the President ap
peared before the American Federa
tion of Labor convention and gave the
workers of the nation a message of
hope and encouragement. He said that
co-operation resulting from confer
ences which he initiated has materi
ally minimized the adverse effects of
the business depression, that wage
levels have been generally maintained,
that industrial strife has been reduced
to a minimum and that some of the
slack in employment has been taken
up by the speeding up of public works
construction. He called for nation-wide
teamwork to pull the country out of
the slump and set it once more on the
high road to prosperity.
Referring to the displacement of as
many as 2,000,000 workers by labor
saving devices and a breakdown of
wages on account of destructive com
petition, Mr. Hoover said that one key
to a solution of the problem lies in
reduction of this competition possibly
by a revision of regulatory laws. This
was interpreted as a suggestion for
amendment of anti-trust laws.
FROM Boston the President traveled
down to the northern border of
South Carolina and participated In
the celebration of the one hundred
fiftieth anniversary of the battle of
Kings Mountain, which was a crucial
engagement In the Revolutionary war.
In his address he dwelt on the Insti
tutions, the Ideals and the spirit of
America, and took the opportunity to
score the Reds.
Likening the American "system" to
a race, with the government as um
pire, Mr. Hoover said that "Social
ism or its violent brother, Bolshe
vism, would compel all the runners
to end the race equally." while "an
archy would provide neither train
ing nor umpire," and "despotism or
class government picks those who
run and also those who win."
But all the menace does not come
from without, the President said, add
ing that "there are always malevo
lent or selfish forces at work which,
unchecked, would destroy the very
basis of our American life."
Mr. Hoover defended the conserv
ative policies of his administration.
and denounced governmental Inter
ference tn business its "a destruction
of equal opportunity and the Incar
nation of tyranny through bureau
cracy."
THIS is the favorite season for na
tional conventions, \ and some of
the most important last week heard
and considered some vital proposi
tions. Delegates to the A. F. of L.
meeting received the report of their
executive council dealing with means
for alleviation and removal of unem
ployment causes and with effort to
carry forward attainment of political
objectives of unions; with the cam
paign to unionize the South, and spe
cific details of national policy toward
immigration; judicial action in indus
trial disputes, and the approach of
more intimate industrial association
with enterprise and organization of
other countries. President William
Green dwelt especially on the cam
paign for the five-day week. Among
the resolutions submitted was one for
change in the federation's prohibition
policy from modification to repeal.
Another asked the federation to sup
port unemployment Insurance legis
lation.
Before the National Association of
Manufacturers, in session in New
York, President John E. Edgerton of
Tennessee proclaimed the "unashamed
resistance of organized industry" to
governmental pensions for the aged,
insurance for the unemployed and
similar legislation. He declared noth
ing has happened to weaken the con
fidence of understanding minds In the
soundness of the American economic
system or scheme of government
James A. Emery, general counsel for
the association, upheld lobbying for
and against legislation as a private
right and a public duty. He sounded
a warning that public expenditures,
unless checked, soon will consume
one-fifth of the national income.
FOLLOWING the lead of their fel
low Latin-Americans In other coun
tries, Brazilians took up the revolu
tionary movement, seeking tp over
throw the government of President
Washington Luis ani to prevent the
Inauguration of Presldent-KIect Julio
Prestes. They asserted Prestes was
elected by fraud and that new elec
tions must be held. Such rapid prog
ress was made by the revolutionists
that their complete success may be a
matter of history before this Is read.
On the other hand, the federal gov
ernment declared the revolt would be
suppressed. The rebellion started al
most simultaneously In several of the
most Important states, notubly Itlo
Grande do Sul, Parana, Minas Geraes
and Pernambuco. By the middle of
the week the Important city of Per
nambuco had been captured by the
revolutionists after two days of fight
ing, and large armies were converg
ing on Sao Paulo, center of the vast
coffee-growing region. Numerous
smaller cities and towns were occu
pied without bloodshed.
Of course the rebels were not hav
ing their own way everywhere, for the
federal armies and the navy were ac
tive, and two classes pf reservists
were called out Measures were tak
en to protect Itlo de Janeiro from at
tack. It was feared the food prob
lem in the capital city might become
serious.
GREAT BRITAIN'S hope to revive
her declining trade by the Insti
tution of free trade within the empire
was definitely shelved In the imperial
conference. After J. H. Thomas, do
minions secretary, had given the facts
and figures of England's distress and
asked ,if something could not be done
about It. the representatives of one
dominion after another arose and de
clared In effect that they would not
give up the protection of their own
industries for the sake of Great I>rlt
ain. All of them, however, expressed
hope that Great Britain would buy
more of their agricultural products,
and there were covert suggestions of
a British tariff on foreign food,
against which the present British gov
ernment is pledged. Premier Bennett
of Canada voiced what seemed to he
the general opinion of the dominions
when lie said flatly: "In our opinion
empire free trade is neither desirable
nor possible."
ENGLAND'S huge dirigible, 11-101,
'argest in the world, crashed and
exploded near Beauvais, France, soon
after Its start for India, and 48 men
perished, only seven of those aboard
surviving the disaster. Among the vic
tims were Lord Thomson, minister of
air; Sir \V. Sefton Brancker, director
of civil aviation, and many other lead
ing air experts and airmen. The ship
was flying low through a dark, stormy
night and apparently dipped so far
that It struck a hill. The bag ripped
and sparks from the motors set ofT
the inflammable hydrogen gas.
Following a day of official mourning
in France d ;creed by the government,
the bodies of the dead were taken to
London and placed in state In West
minster hall. A solemn national funer
al service was held and the remains
were then interred in a common grave
at Cardington. the home port of the
ill-fated dirigible.
Most of the fatalities in this disas
ter were due doubtless to the use of
hydrogen gas in the bag. Helium gas,
which is used In American dirigibles,
is not inflammable; but the United
States has the only unlimited supply
of that gas and its export is forbidden
by law. It is likely this ban will be
removed by the next congress.
One of the big Lufthansa passenger
planes of Germany was caught in a
violent squall at Dresden and was
dashed to earth. Six passengers, the
pilot and the mechanic were killed.
CHICAGO'S underworld "pulled h
fast one" tlie'other evening which
caused Police Commissioner Alcock
and his men much embarrassment.
Four young thugs held up the auto
mobile of Mrs. Thompson, wife of the
mayor, at the door of her residence
and took all the Jewelry the lady was
wearing, as well as the gun of her
policeman chauffeur. It may have been
sheer bravado or, as the police sug
gest, a frame-up to have Alcock ousted
so that a man more lenient to or
ganized crime in Chicago might have
his place.
The campaign to jail the Chicago
master criminals or drive them from
the city is progressing slowly and not
so surely. Several of the worst gang
sters have been arrested on vagrancy
charges and held In heavy bonds; but
unscrupulous lawyers and magistrates
who are over-observant of technicali
ties may frustrate the best efforts of
the crusaders.
BY A resolution adopted by the Na
tional Poultry, Butter and Egg as
sociation in annual convention in Chi
cago, an organized attack was started
on the federal agricultural marketing
uct.
The resolution "calls upon and Im
plores the leaders of representative
units of this indnstry to lay aside all
other considerations and join a move
ment to perfect an organization with
prestige and power enough to carry on
a determined flght" against the farm
act and any other "radical leglsla
tlon In general and that affecting our
own Industry In particular,"
The officers of the association,
whose Industry Is estimated by them
to approximate a volume of a billion
dollars annually, are Instructed hy the
resolution to "accept It as a mandate
to proceed with ail possible force and
dispatch."
<?. !?!? w?M?ra Xrmmwr Uafcra.)
DacLchjs r fjjjl 9 '
Fairi} Tale
A- -MAIOf-GRAHAM-BONNER
J i win* nwv?w union ?
MR. GIANT
i
You have heard of the Every-Day-Is
Nice Club. Now aouie of the elves
had been complaining of the weuther.
It was neither sunny, nor wns It
rainy.
"What Is this we hear from some of
our club members?" roared old Mr.
Giant.
lie did not sound cross but Ids voice
was very loud and powerful and well
suited to his great body and big head.
The elves who had been complaining
?Edle and Effle Elf particularly?
hung their heads In shame.
Would they be turned out of the
club? They wondered. They feared I
tliey would, and yet they did so hope '
they wouldn't.
"Oh. Mr. Giant," said EBle, "I am j
so sorry. It was all my fault. I start
ed breaking the rules. I complained
of the weather.
"Edle only followed my had ex
ample."
"Oh, I grumbled Just as much," said
Edle. "Yes. Mr. Giant. If it hadn't
been for me, Effle would have made
the most of the weather and enjoyed
herself.
"And 1 said the weather was not
the right kind at all. I was much
more harsh about It than she wns."
"No," said Effle, "If anyone Is to be
.omvwwij team mrsvv : n
^** ~jy *?? ?
"What la Thla We Hear?"
put nut of the club, It should be my
self."
"No," screamed Edle, "please, Mr.
Giant, make It Edie and not Eflle."
Mr. Giant was smiling. He was
very happy.
"You both did break the rules of the
club," he said, "but there are many
things worse than that.
"If you had told on each other and
had been tattletales, then you would
both have been put out of the club.
"But each was ready and willing to
take the blaine."
"Yes," agreed Witty Witch, "if there
Is one thing I hate, It's a tuttletale.
"Such a person Is a coward and
wants to be praised, while another Is
blamed.
"Ugh?" And Witty Witch shivered
at the very thought.
"And so," continued Mr. Giunt. "you
will both be kept in the club, and
neither of you will lose your badges.
"Yotr will simply have to get up a
very Dice nnd Jolly party this evening
to make up for complaining of the
weather."
"What a lovely punishment," said
Effle nnd Edle together, as they hugged
each other, for they felt that each had
been a real and true friend to want to
tuke all the blame.
"Yes," said Mr. Giant, "and we must
remember that the reason we are hav
ing in-between, damp weather, is be
cause the cloud children are visiting
the sun's rays, and so we have half
and half of each kind of weather."
But what a splendid party they all
had that evening. It was Just as Jolly
as could be.
Mr. Giant had tine ideas!
PUZZLES
What la the difference between a
dollar bill and a allrer quarter? Sev
enty-flve centa.
? ? ?
How ttould you make money go an
far aa poaaible? By giving it to a
foreign mission.
* ? ?
What la the value of the tnoonT
Four quartera.
? ? ?
What motive had the Inventor of
rallroada In view? Locomotive.
? ? ?
Why la a quarrel like a bargain?
Tr.kea two to make It.
? ? ?
Of orbat trade are all preeiilcjta?
Cabinet makera.
? ? ?
When la a fowl'a nect like a bell?
When it la rung for dinner.
? a ?
Why do glrla have anklea? To
keep their calvea out of their corn.
|Spllll?l!??@ll)
f
By ELMO 8COTT WATSON
Pale tapers glimmer In the sky,
The dead and dying leaves go by;
Dimly across the faded green
Strange shadows, stranger shades, are
seen?
It Is the mystic Halloween.
^^LTHOIKjH this writer is no
seventh son of n seventh
jy I son and therefore possess
V 1 Ing "second sight" and the
yglft of prophecy, be feels
perfectly safe In making a
prediction. It is this:
On the night of October
31 there will be unusual
activity among the Juvenile population
of the United Stntes of America. Par
ties of them will gather in houses in
which the decorative scheme will in
clude grinning jack-o'-lanterns, dry and
yellowed stalks of corn, black cats,
witches et cetera. But the principal
activity will be outdoors rather than
indoors. In the cities and towns
white-sheeted figures will ronm the
streets, and other figures, lacking any
special costume, wUI flit furtively
among the shadows in alleys and back
streets. In the country the roads and
lanes will see more night traffic than
usual and dogs will bark at shadowy
intruders in farm yards.
The neit morning merchants In city !
and town will find the front windows
of their stores decorated with long
scrawling lines of white?soap put
there, but not to clean the panes.
Gates will he missing from their ac
customed places, benches and chairs
will hare disappeared, water will be
gushing forth from unguarded taps
and in general there will be such a
transposition of nny object left out
doors by the careless householder as
to cause one to wonder by what
strange magic have hitherto-Inanimate
things come to life. Farmers, finding
wheels missing from their wagons?
hung, perhaps, high up In a tree, or
even, perhaps, discovering the wagon
Itself perched astride the ridgepole
of the district school?will mutter the
same thing that the merchant Is mut
tering under his breath?"The little
heathens!"
They shouldn't call the children
that, however. "Pagans" Is the word,
rather than "heathens." For October
31 Is Halloween and on that night
young America Is a throw-back to their
pagun ancestry of thousands of years
ago. For the boys and girls who go
about on Halloween playing pranks
on their elders, even though probably
not one out of a hundred knows It, ere
simply keeping alive a custom born
In Kngland In the far-off days of the
"Druids?with this difference: their
ancestors of ancient days observed
this custom to keep away or propitiate
evil spirits, whereas their descendants
assume the characters of evil spirits,
or at least, mischievous ones, and act
accordingly.
The origin of Halloween goes back
to the respect and homage paid by an
cient nations to the sun. The pagans
of those days, whether Egyptian, Creek
or [toman, assigned a place of great
Importance In their pantheon to the
sun god, the giver of light and heat
and life. The sun marked out for
them the time of work and the time
of rest; It divided the year Into sea
sons; It made possible bounteous crops
of grain and fruits and under Its
warming rays flourished'all that was
beautiful and splendid and Wonderful
on this earth.
?So It was only natural that the early
pagan should set aside a day of grief
for the ending of summer when his
beauty and splendor declined under
the frosts and winds of the coming
wlnterr when the earth fell under the
spell of the evil powers and was not
to be free from them again until the
coming of spring, ltut mingled with
this grief over the passing of summer
was the Joy which he felt as he be
held the golden harvest of the autumn
and In his heart he felt a song of
thanksgiving for the ripened grain and
fruit. The deity to whom the [tomans
were accastomed to render their
thanks for these gifts was the god
dess, Pomona, and they were accus
tomed to set apart October 31 or No
vember 1 In her honor as a festival
day In which nuts and apples, repre
senting the winter store of fruits, fig
ured prominently.
The Celts, the original Inhabitants
of the British .Isles, worshiped the
spirits of the forests and streams.
Their priests, the Druids, held their
rites beneath the great oaks which are
characteristic of that land, since this
tree was held In special veneration by
the Celts. The Druids In time became
skilled prophets In Interpreting the
will of the gods. They kept their
sacred lore from the people and hand
ed It down only among themselves.
They taught that souls were Immortal
and that they passed from one body to
another when life became extinct. *
On October 31 the Druids taught
that the Lord of Death gathered to
gether the souls of all those who had
died during the year Just passed and
I assigned to them bodies of the ani
mals they were to inhabit the coming
twelvemonth, according to their con
demnation.
Samhain, "summer's end," was No
vember 1 to the Druids. Flocks were j
brought in: people rested from labor;
fires were built to Baal?fires of thanks
giving for the season's close which
brought harvest In abundance. Altars
were lighted, and after midnight rites
on October 31, fire was carried to every
dwelling by the people. The old fires
were quenched and the new en
throned. They were kept burning for
a year?until the return of Samhain.
Fire blessed the household.
From this custom, and that of burn
ing a sheep, arose the practice of
delving into the future. In the dying
sheep's struggles were read omens of
the morrow. Evil spirits that came
out of Samhain in Ireland lived for
the rest of the year In Cruchan Cave
in C'onnaught, called the "hell-gate of
Ireland." On this yearly date the
cave was opened and evil spirits in
the form of "copper-colored birds"
came out. They preyed ou families,
stealing babies from their cribs, leav
ing in their places goblins and hideous
changelings. These evil spirits had the
reputation of being very cunning and
the peasantry, In order to get rid of
them, and around their evil visitations,
performed various an'd sundry acts of
propitiation. They boiled egg shells
in the sight of the changelings, treat
ed III the children left them and did
other weird and strange things.
The Celts placed great store In
tests. Samhain was the great time for
these. Individuals were blindfolded
that they might be the better guided
b7 1rf -
In the practice of these supersti
tions the Celts were not alone. They
were universal over Europe in the
ages previous to the Christian era.
Christianity ami the Roman emperors
put them to rout. Augustus forbade
liis subjects to be initiated into the
Druidicial worship when he occupied
Britain. Tiberius drove the priestly
cult from Caul and Emperor Claudius
stamped out their belief. The Romans
pursued the Druids ruthlessly to the
Island of Mona. near Wales, where
they exterminated them at one fell
blow and destroyed their oaks.
Christianity In time succeeded the
Druidicial worship. Onto the old re
ligion and old festivals were grafted
new names and new customs. The
midsnmmer festival was dedicated to
St. John; I.uguasad gave way to lem
mas. The berries of the mountain
ash or rowan tree, which had been
food for Tuatha. "the people of the
goddess Dunu." now served to exorcise
the very spirits in whose honor they
at one time had been eaten.
All Hallows, or All Saints' Day. on
the church calendar, was assigned to
November 1. In the beginning it was
! celebrated in May, the month In which
Pope Boniface IV, in CIO, consecrated
the Roman Pantheon to the Virgin aud
all the saints and martyrs of the
| church. The latter day assignment
was made by Pope Gregory IV in 833
in order that the crowds which came
up each year to Rome for the religions
services might be fed sufficiently from
the bountiful harvests of the year. In
the Tenth century November 2 was
made All Souls' Day.
Since America Is the melting pot or
the nations it Is only natural, perhaps,
that this observance, like so rniiny oth
ers, partakes of (he customs and tradi
tions of uiany lands. Hence our Hal
loween lore Is a combination of Irish,
English, Scotch and German tradi
tions, not to mention contributions
from the French, Dutch, Spanish, Por
tuguese, Austrian, Italian and Slavic
states as well as Nordic. The original
celebrations in this country were
mainly EDgllsh In origin, even though
in Colonial times the day was not
much celebrated. A few of the Eng
lish In the colonies kept np the moth
er country tradition but for the most
part It was let pass. This was due
largely to the wide settlements, the
hardship of communal association and
the necessity for the colonists to be
busy at this time of the year laying
In the harvest and provisions for win
ter. But despite this one could find
now and then old Halloween customs
In full force. There followed then
such games as apple ducking and ap
ple snapping as well as apple peeling
and throwing the peel over the left
shoulder, comb and mirror tests and
ballads topped off by a round of gboat
stories.
(A llll. Westers Sewsroper 1'i'ot.t 1