om in en cement in lumberfon THE ROBE Meson ounfy Schools ipnl SOMAN ESTABLISHED 1870. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS' COUNTRY, GOD AND TRUTH . $1.50 A YEAR. DUE IN ADYAWC VOL XLVI. J LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1915. NUMBER 14 , 1 "T , ROBESON COUNTY SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT Greatest Educational Rally in Histo Lumberton Friday of This Week tion Will be Furnished the Large Parade, Spelling Contests, Deliv Contests, Two Bands Pres. Potea Weather permitting, Lumberton and Robeson county at large are to witness their greatest educational rally in the form of a County Com- mencernent, r riday, April ui county superintendent and the va ' rious 'committees assigned to aid him in the work have had their hands full for the past two weeks and every thing is now just about ready, there being a few details of course that cannot be completed until nearer the -day. The programme decided upon is found below and those who arrang ed it are to be credited for the na ture and variety of the entertainment and instruction it will furnish for the big crowd which will be here on the 9th. It would be unfair to call any sin gle number on the programme a fea ture, without stating that each is a feature in, itself. The parade, the spelling contests, the delivery of the diplomas, the speaking, the athletic contests and the bands each event will claim its own following anq most will be seen and heard by all. The Grand Educational Parade will form at the graded school build ing at 11 o'clock in the1 following or der: lei by chief marshals, mount ed; they will be followed bv the Parkton Concert Band, immediately behind the band will come the coun ty Board of Education and the School Committeemen of he county. This in itself will be a feature of the occasion, for while everybody ought to know it, few people ever stop think that in Robeson county there are seventy-five white school dis tricts, and that directing the affairs of these schools, there are some tw hundred and fifty of Robeson's best tvoe of citizenship. These are the Ttien who have saerifced their own time and interests and personal means to further the educational interests of the county to hIp assure the fu ture of the children. Without any flare of trumpets, they have quiet ly gone ahead, co-operating with the county superintendent and the coun ty Board of Education in their ef forts to increase the efficiency of the schools and Robeson's splendid school system is the result of their united effort. This is the first chance the people have ever had to view these men in a body and no patriotic citi ren should miss the opportunity. j Following the committeemen, will v come the school children of Robe son, led by the children of the Lum berton Graded School. - Every teach er in every school has been request ed to be present 'and to spare no energy in training the children to march. There will be a place in the parade for every school child of Rob eson county and it is hoped that ev ery one will be in his place. The appearance of the parade will be en livened by specially ordered banners and pennants which many of the schools have provided for the occas ion. Immedately Behind the school children will come the Robeson County Boyns' Corn Club, one hunT vlred strong. Each member of the club has been sent a personal letter and something novel in the way of regalia is to be excepted in this por tion of the parade. The parade will end as it began with a band, the Bladenboro Band. For those who Tiave never had the opportunity of earing this band, let it be said that 't- is well trained, well equipped and will do its full share of honors for the occasion. The Parkton Band "eeds no introduction to a Robeson ian. The parade will end at the court honse. where the spelling contests will be conducted by Rev. C. L. Greaves, pastor of the First Baptist church of Lumberton, and a cash prize will be awarded to the winner in each contest. As was announced several weeks ago, examination questions were sent by Superintendent Poole to every school in the county. 'All children completing the seventh-grade work this year were to take the examina tion, their papers to be graded and sent to the superintendent's office, where diplomas were to be issued. Nearly two hundred successful appli cant have been reported so far and more are expected. Each of these v ill lis awarded a handsome dinloma. thirteen by sixteen inches, certifying that t be pupil has honorably com peted the work prescribed for the first seven grades of the public schools of the county. Each diploma will bear the seal and signatures of 1he county Board of Education, the signatures of the county superintend ent and the teacher of the school where the pupil attended. The diplo mas will be delivered by Countv Sup erintendent J. R. Poole and Mr. Lu cius McRae. chairman of the county Board of Education. Dr. W. L. Poteat, president? of "Wake Forest College, will deliver the address of the occasion. He will be ry of Robeson County to be Held in. Variety of Entertainment and Instruc Crowd Expected Many Features ery of Diplomas, Speaking, Athletic t of Wake Forest College the Speaker I introduced by Mr. T. L. Johnson. I One A the leading features of the ' County Commencement will be the j school exhibits, which will be on dis play at the court house. These will consist of all kinds of work done by i the pupils in the various schools of the county, such as specimens of let- terwriting, compositions, maps, an alyses in arithmetic, drawings, paint ings and other work done by the little folks Each specimen will shov the name of the child, his age and da grade in the school.. Above each xhibit will be shown the name of the school from whence it came. The athletic contests in the after. ioon will claim the attention of old and young alike. One hundred, two iundred and twenty and four hon Ired and forty yard dashes, open to one contestant from each school, a cash prize of $2.50 to the winner of each; jumping cOntestSj $2.50 to the same prizes; and a relay race. This is By no means the first thing of its kind Robeson county has ever attempted, but it is by far on j a bigger scale than anything ever be fore tried here. As a celebration of the educational progress of the coun ty, it is the duty of everv patriotic citizen to lend his encouragement and moral' support by his presence. PROGRAMME OF COUNTY COM MENCEMENT Lumberton April 9. 11 A. M. Parade ot school children (Fnom graded school building to station, thence to court house. Prayer Rev. W. B. North. Selection Band. Primary and High School Spelling Contests conducted by Rev. C. L. Greaves. 12 M. Address Dr. W. L. Poteat, Pres. Wake Forest College, introduced by Mr. T. L. Johnson. MuIc. , Presentation of Diplomas by Supt. J. R. Poole and Mr. Lucius McRaey Chm. County Board Education. Recess. 2:30 P. M. Athletic contests: 100-yard dash. 220-yard dash. 440-yard dash. '. " Running broad jump. Running high jump. Standing broad jump. Potato race (girls). Potato race (boys). Relay race. Marshals for County Commencement. R. E. Sentelle, K. K. Bethune, chief marshals. Marshals appointed by chiefs: A. E. Spivey, Zeph Lytt0n, A. H. Hart ley, L. McK. Parker, J. M. McCal lum, Herbert Singlet0n, Jno. French, J. Robert Prevatt, J. A. Barker, W G. Reynolds, Jno. C. Fuller, C M Prevatt, Geo. W. Thorndyke, A V. G. Wishart, Colin H. Phillips, E L Hamilton, I. S. McManus, J. W. Cur rie, Guy Townsend, C. V. Brown, W. G. Pitman. Marshals aopoined by schools Law rence Buie, Douglas Barnes, Phillip Smith, Foster Currie, Dennis Par. nell, C J. Biggs, S. H. Dunlap, H F. Purvis, Sam Paul, Lindsay Norm'ent, J. D. Andrews, Sebastian Pitman, D. H. McCall, R. T. Cobb, G W. Williamson, Z. T McMillan, c! M Bryan. Mr. Sentelle is superintendent of the Lumberton graded schools and will have to go to Chapel Hill Thurs day with the Lumberton beys who will be in the debates there this week and Mr. B. J. Bowen, assistant to the county superintendent 0f pub lic instruction, will take his place as chief marshaj. Each marshal is requested to be present at the graded school build ing at 10:30, mounted and ready to proceed in directing that part of the parade that will be assigned to him. BRING DINNER TO COUN- TY COMMENCEMENT Every one attending the conn- ty commencement here Friday will be expected to make per. sonal arrangement about lunch. It has been circulated in some parts of the county that there would be a picnic dinner her- on that day but this is r : true. It would be impracticable to attempt to spread a picnic dinner for the immense c-wd expected here on the 9th. Meeting of Executive Committee of Farmers' Union. The executive committee of 'the Robeson Division of the farmers' Union is requested to meet in the court house in Lumberton Wednes day of this week. The committe is composed rf Messrs. W. S .Tnlinsnn W. At Bullock, N. A. Townsend, E.' K. Bass and W. K. Cuibreth. LIGHT QUESTION DISCUSSED President of Yadkin River Power Co, Addres8es Mass Meeting of Citi zens Claims - Many Advantages for Town in Accepting Proposition of His Company Many Small In dustries Would be Attracted to Town Another Mass Meeting To morrow Night. The mass meeting, in the court house Thursday evening was attend ed by a 'good many of the citizens of the town. s staged ir. i'h? Koh esonian, this meeting was held for the iJiiiposa of securing info".Ti'ti'n on what the xadkin Kiver rower wer M). proposes to do if Lumberton sells its 'muugm. ,Vie " fight plant to it. Col. Chas. E. John- tVu" th's morning, is justly proud son, president, and Mr. C. N. Rack- cf Vl? v0 caton,a daVf r?uh liffe, manager of the power depart llke Saturday It shows merit, of the Yadkin River Power Co., that the people of that district are were both present and brought out determined to have g0od schools and many points on the subject that the k,eeP UP wlth procession. The people have been wanting informa. election was held at the school build tjon m ing. This brings the number 0 Mayor A E White introduced Col. ! fiPecil tax districts in the county to Johnson in' a 'very impressive way. ; 63, and in the 63 districts there are He taid that he and the town board, bout 90 schools. when the proposition of the Yaiktn River Power Co. was submitted to purchase the town's light plant for $15,000, the town to give a 60-year franchise to do business in Lum. berton and a 10-year contract for lierhtihff the streets, decided that the best thing to do was to place be-; week, clean up ween, n0t much work fore the voters of the tqwn all the in- iwas done alone the line of cleaning formation possible in o'rder to aid up. Mayor White says the work them in arriving at an intelligent ' will be continued this week and ex opinion; that it was a business ques- tra wagons will be kept on the tion, absolutely, into which politics streets for the purpose of removing should not enter, and for that rea-'all rubbish an dtrash that may be son Col. Johnson and Mr. Rackliffe j piled out. He urges all citizens of had been invited to attend the meet-j the town to co-operate in this move ing and explain the proposition. and by so doing- make Lumberton a Col. Johnson is a man whose face healthier, cleaner and more attrac ted manner inspires confidence. lie tive place in which to live. spoke simply, in straightforward manner. lhe Yadkin Kiver rower Co. wants to come to Lumberton, said Col. Johnson, if they can have the co-operation of the people. If they come they expect to do all thev. can for the good of the town and be good citizens. They will bring all the enterprises they can here. If the people are willing for them to come here as citizens and will co operate with them they want to come, otherwise they do not. The Yadkin River Power Ce. will pay the town $15,000 for its plant as it now stands. Col. Johnson said that this was more than the plant was worth and more than they want ed to give, but as they had their lines extended here they were will ing to do it. All the bulbs and elec tric fans will have to be changed. The Yadkin River Power Co. will bear this expense, which will be' about $2500. It will cost the company about $17,000 in addition to the $15, 000 for the plant, to get ready to furnish electricity here. They must have a 10-year contract to secure the above expense. It would not pay them to come under a shorter-term contract. They have a uniform rate; the rate here will be the same it is in Ral eigh, Goldsboro or any other cities where they have contracts. Their min imum will be $1 per month, where the minimum here npw is $1.50. This wilf mean a saving of $1,000 per year by the citizens here, accord ing to estimates made by experts of the power company. They will also light the streets more efficiently than they are now being lighted, covering 31 per cent more territory than is now being cov ered, at about $1,000 less than the present cost. The 31 per cent addi tional territory will be made possible by arranging the lights in a better way. This also includes the "white way" stands at present being operat ed and those that are being put up around the court house. Some of the people here have been in doubt as to whether or not they would be without current any of the time while the Yadkin River Power Co. was installing its new plant. Col. Johnson says there will be no inter ruption in the sewlce. The lights will be cut in in the day time and the town plant will be operated until the' power company is ready to take over all lights. It has been suggested that if the power plant here was removed to a site on the Seaboard railroad that it could be operated at about $750 per year cheaper than it is now. A new plant on a new site would cost the town $23,000 and the town w0uld not have any more available current than it has now. If the town sells to the Yadkin River Power Co it will have $15,000 to retire bonds and if it moves to the railroad site it will i an additional debt of ahnnt- ?23,000. I All the towns and cities that they V'.ve entered in North Carolina, Col .'hnson said, have given them a 60. vear franchise and a 10-year con ract and it has given entire satis faction. They do not want an ex clusive franchise and would not have it if the town would give it. Col. Johnson said that there was a town in South Carolina that wanted to give them an exclusive franchise but they would not accept it. All. they ask is permission to do business here for a period of 60 years. Col. Johnson brought out many points as to what the Yadkin Riv ( Continued on page 4) SPECIAL SCHOOL TAX VOTED District No. 5, Howellsville , Town ship, Votes Special Tax of 30 Cents on Property and 90 Cents on Poll Special Tax Advocates Not Faz ed by Bad Weather Saturday. School district No. 5, Howellsville township, the Tabernacle school voted Saturday a special tax of 30 cents on the hundred dollars worth cf property and 1M ents f,n the poll. Fifty-sjx voters were registered and :0 votes were cast in favcr of the r 'cial tax, 12 against. Mr. Isham Kinlaw, who was registrar and who i , , : . . u: CLEAN-UP WEEK NO. 2. Weather Interfered Last Week and Work Will be Continued This Week Lend a Hand. Owine to weather conditions last Remember, this is .-;ean-up week .No 2, and if you have not given your premises a thorough cleansing get busy and do so at once. CITIZENS MEETING Mayor White Calls Meeting tp he Held Tomorrow Night to Discuss Proposed Sale of Municipal Light Plant There will be a citizens' meetinsr held in the court house Tuesday night, April 6, at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of general discussion of our i electric light proposition. This is an important matter and every citizen, whether in favor of or opposed to a sale of the electric light plant, should come out and express himself on this question. A. E. WHITE, Mayor. Quart-Limit .Supply Stolen Booze Shipped Back. Ten Lumberton people were short their lone Easter quart yesterday because of the fact that the A. C. L. trainas too late to make connec tion with the V. & C. S. at Hope Mills Saturday afternoon and the ex press for Lumberton had to lie ov er at Hope Mills Saturday night and during the night robbers broke into the express office and stole quite a bit of stuff, including the 10 quarts mentioned. At the close or business at the express office Wednesday night there were five packages of whiskey, three 1-gallon and two half-gallon, that had not been called for. According to the new two-quarts-per-month law, which went int oeffect April 1, this could not be deliveed, so it was re turned to the shipper by the next ex press. Quite a bit of the "stuff" was received during the last few days before the law went into ef fect. Superior Court. Quite a number of cases were clear ed off the 'docket during the first week of the two-weeks' term of civ il court which convened Monday of last .k. However, Tnvst of them were disposed of without iury trial. Only two jury trials have been heard since the report of the proceedings published in Thursday's paper were written. These were: W. W. Goins vs. Indian Normal school, verdict for plaintiff; McKinnon Currie Co. vs; Fannie Caulk, vercrjet for defendant. It is expected that court will last through this week. Parkton Band Concert at St. Pauls April 8. Correspondence of The Robesonian. Parkton, April 5 The concert that was to have been given at St. Pauls on last Thursday night by the Park. l'ir. concert band was postponed on iccount of snow and cold weather and will be given at that place Thurs- ! 1--v nio-kt nf this u-oclr Anrll Stk Everybody should hear and see this cencert. Mr, J. P. McNeill is hsv:itr some improvement ? made in the second and third floors cf his laree -ore build ing on Elm street. Wirlows have beet cut giving upon the stairway, one in the office of Dr. J. D. Regan on the second floor and one in the hall used by the Royal Arch Ma sons on the third floor. The third floor of this 110-foot buildjnc is ad mirably arranged to meet the needs of fraternal orders. There are sev eral separate regalia . rooms and in the rear is a large dining hall suit able for banqueting. LUMBERTON SCHOOL AT TOP Only One Other School in State Has Won Remarkable Honor of Being Represented in Chapel Hill Debate Each of 3 Years 60 High Schools .in Finals. Chapel Hill Dispatch, 2d. Complete reports from the high school triangular debating teams show that 60 high schools from every part of the State will be eligible to come to Chapel Hill to compete in the final, April 0. The first year of the de.ba'.ing uni-n saw lt schools in the finals hero, and last year 41. As there art; .'i.V) high schools in the union this year as against 150 last year, the increased number qualify ing for the final hp about normal. The schools officially reported as having won both sides of the triangle and therefore "eligible for the final are: Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Bur lington, Henderson, Statesville, Lum berton, Holly Springs, Derita, Rich Square, Mason's Cross, Belmont, Low ell, Tarboro, Pinacle, Lowe's Grove, Angier, Ruffin, Jamestown, Louis burg, Battleboro, Waynesville, Clin ton, Reynoldson, Atkinson, Rebo, El ise, Webster, Cool Spring, Gibson, Orrum, Unionville, Mt. Pleasant, El kin, Mapleviile, Bessemer, Hillsboro, Whiteville, Balk Creek, Taylorsville, Christ School, Atlantic, Polkton, Mid dlesex, Franklin, Yadkin College, Jef ferson, I. O. O. F. Orphanage, Sil van, Falling Creek, Kittrell, Killiams Academy, Manteo. This is the first year that the tri angular composed of Raleigh, Char lotte and Greensboro is represented. For the first time tile Durham-Wil-mington-Gold.-boro group has failed to be represented. To Lumberton and Holly Springs g the remarkable honor of being the only two schols to be represented each of the three years. Both of these places triumphed over their oppon ents again and will come to Chapel Hill on their third pilgrimage. Win-stori-Salem, winner of the cup last year, has the sole distinction of re turning identically the same team as last year. Manteo, last year repre sented by four young ladies, will eain send two teams composed whol ly of girls. LONG BRANCH LOCALS Broad Ridge Commencement Mis sionary Day Cat Adopts Young Rabbits. Correspondence of The Robesonian. Long Branch, (Lumberton R. 4), March 31 This morning a beautiful snow has fallen. It looks now like the farmers will have to replant corn after this. It is something un usual for it to snow this time of the year here. The writer enjoyed the commence ment exercises of the Broad Ridge school Friday of last week. The teachers are indeed worthy of all praise given them. A large crowd attended the mis sionary day at Long Branch Sunday school Sunday. The collection amount, ed to $6.53. I fear we don't real ize as we should the necessity of spreading the Gospel to exery na tion. Mr. Cough's address, was fine. Mr. G. E. Thompson of Lumberton spent Sunday afternoon here. Miss Jennie Ivey of Orrum sper.t a while Sunday afternoon with Misses Henrietta and Evelyn Amnions. Yesterday while plowing Mr. W. M. Baxley plowed up some little rab bits and brought them to the house for the cat and threw them down in the yard and called the cat to eat them. The cat didn't seem to be very hun gry and took them into the house and has cared for them ever since. The cat seems' very foolish over them and in all probability they will be raised. Town Primary Candidate8. Interest in the town primary to be held on the 27th inst. may be ex pected to wax warmer and varmer rfter the light plant question is set tled on the 8th. There is no lack of interest now.. Mayor White is in the race to succeed himself in the office which he has filled with sig nal ability and with credit to the town for a number of terms. Chief of Police H. H. Redfearn has formal ly announced through The Robeson ian that he is a candidate to suc ceed himself in the office the duties of whi"h he has discharged faithful ly and well for the past 4 years. Mr. D. P. Walters formally announc es his candidacy for this office today. This brings the number of candidates for this office ,i chief of police to 5, Messrs. P. P. Greene, Elmer A. Mc Neill, and W. J". Britt having previ ously announced their candidacy. Messrs. L. T. Townsend. Geo L. Thompson and S. H. Hamilton, whoe terms expire as town Commission ers, have stated that they would not be candidates for re-election. Mr. I. E. Bullard is the only candidate for this office who has come forward so far. Other candidates fort this office, also for school trustees and members of board of audit and fin ance no doubt will be put forward by their friends soon. Good middling cotton is quoted at 9 cents per pound on the local mar ket today. Middling basis, 8 5-8 cents. ... ' BRIEF ITEMS Or LOCAL NEWS Regular communication of St Alban's Ixnige No. 114. A. F. k A. M.. tomorrow evenine- at 8 o'clock- Work in third regree. I The closing exercises of Mt. T'!iam public school will be Held to r i;ht, after having been postponed twice on account of snow. The Lumbee Research Club will meet with Mrs. I.. R. Vars'cr Thurs day afternoon at 4 o'clock at her (h..mr' (,n East Fjfth street. i The three local banki will take ''H:iay Friday on account - of the county commencement. They are clos ed today on account of Laster. Miss Mayce Glasgow of the Lumberton graded school faculty acted as one of the judges at Scot land county commencement at Lan rinburg Friday. A superb feature at the 'Star theatre Wednesday of last week wa Julius Caesar in six reels of motion pictures. "Brewster s Millions" was an enjoyable feature at the Pastime Friday. Mr. David H. Fuller, a student of the law school at Trinity College, arrived Thursday njtrht of last week, and wrir spend several days visiting ' home folks.- Mr. Fuller will gradu ate this year. A marriage of interest to many Robesonian reader wjll take place next month, on th 6th, when Mr. S. J. Kirby, principal of the farm-life school at Philadelphus wjll wed a Miss " Cobb in Clinton. License has beon issued for the marriage of the following: J. K Da- is, Jr., and iJcrtie Davis; i ('. Jor dan and Jessie Johnson; A. F. Jones and Annie May Outlaw; J. W. Jones and Claudie L. Beard. The Robeson County Medical So ciety will hold a quarterly meeting here Wednesday of this week. Dr. A. J. Crowell, a leading physician of Charlotte, will address the society. All members are urged to be present! A first Monday. The county commissioners and the board oP ed ucation are holding their regular monthly meetings today, Superior Court is in session, and many people are in town from all parts of the county. Mr. L. E. Blanchard, county farm demonstrator, left last night for Washington to attend a wedding in Government circles. He has let ters of introduction to officials of the Agricultural Department upon whom he will call while in Washington. Sarah Floyd, aged about 60 yean, a highly respected colored woman, died at her home across the river rom town yesterday at noo". She was stricken with paralysis just a week before and had not spoken, eat en or dunk anything since that time. Mr. Joe Newman, manager pf Cartee's 5, 10 and 25 cent store, is having the store decorated in colors representing the scnool colors of the various schools in the cunty, mak ing preparation fo- the large crowd that is expected here Friday of this week. Capt and Mrs. A.' B. Small :!hered up this inorning, at their me on the corner of Pjne an First streets, harvest of two weeks from 30 industrious Rhode Island Red her--, between 20 and 25 dozen eggs. Capt. and Mrs. Small ought by all means to jon the poultry as sociation. Mr. W. H. Lamb of Long Branch, is among the visitors in town today. Mr. Lamb asked The Robesonian to say that the Long Branch Local of the Farmers' Union, which was re cently re-organized, will meet Satur day night of this week at 7 o'clock. All old members can join by paying their dues for the year, which is on ly $1. It was stated in The Robesonian of the 25th ult., that Mr. James A. Carrroll would go the following day to Fayet.teville to make his home with his nephew Mr. Willie Carroll. The name should have been given Mr. Samuel Willard Carroll instead of "Willie". Mr. Jas. Carroll did not go to Fayettevjlle until a week ago " today. Mr. Stephen I.awson, who lives near Orrum, is one of Robcon's farmers who believes in raising plen ty of hojr and hominy at home. He brought a nice let of hams to town one day last week ard sat them dowr. inside of Mr. C. M. Fuller's saies stables while he trie! around to see what he would be offered for them. While Mr. Fuller and the oth ers who work about the stables were gone to dinner smebody went and took' one of the laxeest of the hams ard hied away with it. Mr. A. L. Stone of the Long Branch section, rural route No. 4 from Lumberton, brought the editor this morning a present that is highly ap preciated, some of the finest Nancy Hal! sweet potatoes he has ever seen. They rttracted the admiring com ment ' visitors to The Robesonian office :his morning but they are not on exhibition in this office any more: they are going to help get out the next- issue of this, album of song and com pendium of useful information.