North Carolina Newspapers

r always abreast with the changing time IN RANDOLPH COUNTY THE COURIER LEADS THE COURIER THE COURIER AND ASHEBORO MARCH IN STEP—AHEAD BOTH ARE LEADERS TRI-WEEKLY /olumk lx. Est. As The Regulator February 2, 1878 Oldest Paper Published In Randolph County PRINCIPLES, NOT MEN ASHEBOKO, N. C-, SUNDAY, DEC. 20, 19:56. Changed To The Courier September 13, 1879 PUBLISHED TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SUNDA < m ) A YEAR IN ADVANCE NUMBER 93 Town Board Authorizes $100,000 Bond Issue To Complete City Projects Ashcboro’s Share Of PWA Projects Commissioner* Met Thursday With Chamber Of Com merce To Vote Issue Water Extension, Community Bldg. Citizens Will Vote On Issue When Projects Receive Final PWA Approval Meeting Thursday afternoon in a session adjourned from the week before, the city commissioners un animously voted to authorize a jjllli,non bond issue to take care of the city's share of the two I’WA projects now under consideration jf and when they received final ]'WA approval. This approval is understood to be merely a matter of time now. The directors of the Chamber of Commerce met with the town board for this important meeting, and it was tin' unanimous opinion of at* present that this was the proper move to make at this time. For the $1011.01 io it expends, Asheboro will receive improvements to the value ot approximately $180,000; obtain* jug the remaining $80,000 from the TWA. The commissioners also discuss ed the securing of an engineer to make a sanitary survey of the town ami delegated selection of the en gineer to Mayor Walter Punch and Walter Vow. As soon as the projects are ap proved by PWA authorities an election will be held for the people of Asheboro to vote upon the bond issue. The commissioners find the Chamber of Commerce were so de cidedly in favor of the bond issue not only because of the federal funds tiiat would be received but bis* because the* improvements covered by the two projects are so necessary now. The first of these projects is for extension of the water and sewer system. Asheboro's population has increased .so rapidly and spread out so .wide that a larger water supply inr tire protection is absolutely recessary, as is greater scweY facilities for safe, sanitary condi tions. This project rails for an ad ditional f,iM>,OOU gallon frlter unit, Spin feet of six inch water main extension pipe and 25 lire hy drants, and 10,000 feet of sewer extension. This is on tin- point of receiving i,nal clearance by i’Vv A officials, the eity has been inform til The other project is for a coir - iiiunity huilding, which, since the gymnasium now provides some of its original features, it is planned to change to include a eity haP This is also greatly needed by the town, both as a center for con - t,,unity activities and as a suitable building for the city offices that would be a credit to Ashcboro. At present there is not adequate space tor city officials to carry on their work. There is not sufficient fire proof space for the storage of t'>wn records. In addition to these benefits, the proposed building would also furnish Ashcboro with library space in keeping with the fcizc of the town and would pro -ide a community center where local (Please turn to Page 4) By Clement Clarke Moore PNLY MOPE SHOPPING. DAYS Till CHRISTMAS Chinese Kidnap Case Mediator Confidante of both factions struggling to dominate the policies of the’ Nanking government, W. H. Donald, above, Australian adviser to Chinese officials, was reported negotiating for the release of Gen. Chiang Kai-shek, kidnaped by Gen. Chang Hsuehliang in an effort to force a campaign against Japan. Chapel Programs At Local School Christmas I s Heralded j Throughout Week By Ashe boro School Folk Pageants, Carols Amateur Program For Ath letic Department Held On Friday Afternoon Uotorc the dosing of the school Friday lor the holidays, programs relating to the Christniastidc were given throughout both schools sev eral days in advance. 1 loginning on Tuesday, the little folk enter tained with a chapel program. Mis. Rice's third grade gave a playlet interweaving some favorite carols which was enjoyed by the school and visitors. On Thursday morning at the chapel period, Miss Hunt’s fourth grade presented a rather elaborate pageant with decorations and costumes appropriate to the Christmas season. Carols were also used throughout this entertain ment in an impressive manner. Friday morning the entire school joined in a last program giving the story of Christmas in scripture and song. Miss Sara Hayworth did the reading while the entire group and separate grades alternated with carol-singing. Miss Clara (Jill supervised this program. The carols employed in this final school event before the holidays were: ‘*0, Come All Ye Faithful”, school: “The First Noel,” ninth grade; “O, Little Town Of Bethlehem,” school; “It Came Upon The Midnight Clear,” eighth grade; “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.” tenth and eleventh grades; “Silent Night, and “Joy To The World,” by the school. Friday afternoon was given over to an amateur program for the benefit of the athletic department of the school. The school band, directed by l’at Leonard, formed a chief part of the program, inter spersed with violin and guitar solos and hill hilly songs. State Has Reaped Big Beer Tax ’36 According to Allen J. Maxwell, commissioner of revenue for the state of North Carolina, beer drinking North Carolinians have donated $1,867,961.70 to the state treasury since April, 1963, when the sale of beer with a kick first became legal in North Carolina. During the current fiscal year, the equivalent of 100,000,000 boo ties of the amber fluid will trickle down the hatches of Tar Heel elbow-benders, setting an all-time state record and bringing in $L 000,000 in taxes. Every fiscal year since the legal ization of high-powered beer, rev enues from ‘ the brew have in creased, Maxwel said. [Collections during the fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1934, totaled only $340,471.64. They increased to $365,536.06 the next year and to $624,607.8! dur ing the period ending June 30, 1936. - .. . During the first five months of the present fiscal year, $463,709.31 has been collected, Maxwell sam, and each cent in levies represents approximately the equivalent <■» one bottle consumed. N. C. Primary Law Discussed With Special Com., 18th Advisability Of Changing | Primary Election Day From Saturday Tuesday Approved N. C. Press Association Sug gested Change At Waynes villc Summer Meet Discussion of the advisability of changing the state primary law to provide for the first Tuesday in stead of the first Saturday in June, consumed the most of the time at the meeting of the committee ap pointed by the Democratic state executive committee, in session in Raleigh Friday. In addition to the change in the day for the primary elections, the special committee re commended that the voting hours be set between C a. m. and 7 p. in. conforming, as much as possible to the hours observed in general elec tions. The shift from Saturday to Tues day was asked by the North Caro lina Press assoeiation at its sum mer meeting in Waynesvillc, and very general support of that plan has been given by the press. ?t was contended that the Saturday primaries cause the loss of a day after the voting in that incomplete returns sent in Saturday night are little supplemented on Sundays. The newspapers contend that they could give a much better news ser vice by this change. nccommendations to the state committee were tentatively adopt ed as follows: “1. Changing the plan of organ ization so that candidates in pri mary may not serve as chairman of county executive committees. “2. Fixing definite plan for rota tion of nominations of state senat ors in districts composed of more than one county and fixing definite plan by which such agreements may be terminated. “3. Declaring against establish ment of permanent headquarters and election of all time secretary. “4. That the election law be amended so as to provide for pri mary elections to bo held on the first Tuesday in June between 111’ hours of fi a. m. and 7 p. ni., and that second primary be held fou* weeks later, except when that date should fall on July 4, in which event five weeks later. "5. That a statewide new regis tration be hud before primary of ]!»;>8 except in those counties in which there has been a countywide new registration subsequent to January I, litdfi. "G. For repeal of all local oltc j tion laws except those dealing with county conventions and municipal elections. “The committee then appointed a subcommittee composed of J. M. Hrougtiton chairman, L. I*. McLen don and A, Hall Johnson, with J. Wallace Winbornc as ex-officio member, to give further study to other questions including absentee voting, markers, division of pre cincts, separate registrations, for primaries and general elections, court jurisdiction of election con tests and other matters, and to re port to full committee at a meet ing to be held in Raleigh the night of January G, 1037.” Soil Program In County Same As ’36 The soil conservation program for 1937 as it affects Randolph county will be practically the same as it was in 19116, said E. S. Mill saps, county farm agent, Friday after returning from a meeting of farm agents from the entire state in Raleigh, where plans were dis cussed for the coming year. Nothing definite was settled at the Raleigh meeting. Various sug gestions were discussed, and it was tho intention of farm officials to get the opinion of the county ] agents and extension workers on the proposed plans, then to refer the plans with the suggested changes to Washington. K It will probably be a week or ten days be fore the final plans are announced. However, Mr. Millsaps said that approximately the same acreage reduction will be asked for as last year, and farmers who wish to co operate can plan their crops ac cordingly. Further announcements will be made as soon as forms are available for signing up and com plying with the 1937 program. Some 20 per cent of the farm ers who cooperated in the program have not yet signed applications for payment. All these are urged to come in to the county farm of fice soon as they must sign or they will not receive payment. Trip To Florida Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Lovett and Mr. and Mrs. Reid Hannah are leaving today for a week’s motor trip to Florida. They expect to visit several places in that state before returning to their homes in Asheboro. Feared Dead In Utah Plane Crash Machinery Set Up For Security Act Special Session Of State's As sembly Set Machinery In Motion For State Six-Day Session State Law Presented To Board Meeting On Satur day Morning Several hundred people left Raleigh Thursday after a six-day special session of the state legis lature after setting up machinery for administering the new unem ployment compensation act. The special session lasted only six legislative days, cost less than |J5,000 and saved the state an estimated $3,000,000 in PWA funds and unemployment compensation benefits. The only measure consid ered besides the compensation bill was one allowing the state and its units to issue bonds up to June J to match l’WA allotments. Some legislators interview today by the Associated Press said they believ ed the regular session would be nearly as harmonious as the speci al meeting, that the business could completed -within 90 clays. The concensus, however, indicat ed the session would last five months or longer. Several repre sentatives and senators have pro mised to amend the compensation bill. Governor Ehringhaus said he had been informed by Frank llane, ex ecutive director of the Federal So cial Security board, that the State law would be ready for presenta tion at a meeting of the board Saturday morning. Since the un employment compensation bill or iginally was approved by social security officials, indorsement of the measure, which passed un-; changed through a special session of the General Assembly, is mere ly a formality,, the Governor said. In Washington conferring with Bane are Charles G. Powell, sccre- j tary of State who yesterday was j named chairman of the State Un- j employment Compensation com mission. A. S. Brower, director of the Division of Purchase and Con tract; Assistant Attorney General Harry McMullan, and R. G. Dey (Please turn to Page 4) Everybody Knows There Is A j •/ Santa Quits Now And Forever Wo take pleasure in answer.ng the communication below, express ing at the same time our great gratification that the faithful author is numbered among tin friends of The Sun: “Dear Editor: I am eight .tears old. Some of my lijttle friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says ‘If you see it jin the Sun, it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth: Is there a Santa Claus?-*—Virginia O'lianlon, 115 VV. 95th St.' Virginia, your friends are wrong. They have been affected bj the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their iittle minds. All minds, Vir ginia, whether they be mens or] children's, are little. In this great | universe wf oars, man b a mere in-, sect, an aril, in his hr ;i!ect, as compared with the boundless world about him, a« measured by the in telligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would He as dreary as if there were no Vir ginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no Romance to make tolerable, his existnee. We should have no enjoyment except j in sense and sight. The external Choice of a flying career rather Ilian romance .led .Miss .Gladys Witt, right, 2fi. to what may have been her death with six other per sons in a Western Air Express plane in I'tah's Wasatch mount ains. The plane, piloted by Samuel J. Samson, left, was believed wrecked after it failed to land at Salt Lake City on its flight from Isjs Angeles. Miss Witt recently won- attention when two suitors raced to Kansas City to claim he.1 hand'. She was unable to make a choice and decided to return to work on the airline as a stewardess. Christmas Party At Central Falls L 'Central Falls Mills Will Have Annual Party For Em ployee’s Children Santa Claus There Workers Receive Money Ac cumulated Untier Christ mas Savings Plan K. W. Smith, superintendent »' the Central Falls Manufacturing company, has announced that dol ing the past year the plant has op erated a Christmas Savings club for employees desiring to partici pate, and through this plan this year a large twin her of employees have systematically saved a small amount each week, the specified amount to he deducted from their weekly pay being designated ho forehand by the employees. These accumulated saving with interest paid oil the account, based on the length of time the account was in operation was returned a few days ago to the employees. A few em ployees have withdrew their sav (I'lease turn to I’age 8) light with which childhood fills lie world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not-believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys at Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but ever, if they did not see Santa Claus com ing down what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus The most real things in the wand are those that neither men ro children can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that'they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside,’but there is a veil covering the unseen world, whicli not the' strongest men, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah! Virginia, in dM this world there is nothing else real and and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and he lives forever. A thou sand years from now, Virginia; nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.—Edi ■ torial from The New York Sun, 1897, NC Unemployment Commission Met First Time Dee. 19 Informal Session Of Newlj Appointed Commission On Friday Evening __ Three Members Plan To Open Offices And Start Work In Earnest If Possible Monday - | The first meeting of the newly appointed Unemployment Compen sation Commission for North Caro lina, was held Friday night in Raleigh in informal session. Charles G, Powell, chairman of the commission, stated that he' would resign as Secretary of State as soon as he can qualify for his new' post and Thad Eure, Secre tary of State-elect, announced that, he would give Governor Ehring haus his decision today on w'hether he w'ould accept the offer of ap pointment to Powell’s unexpired term. Mrs. J. U. Spilman of Green ville, second appointive member of the commission, stated that she was ready to resign as vice chair man of the State Democratic Ex ecutive Committee in accordance with the provision of the mew law which prohibits any commission member from serving “as an of ficer or committee member of any political party organization.” Appointed Wednesday within 12 hours after the passage of the Un employment Compensation Act, neither Mrs. Spilman nor Powell have qualified for their posts. Ma jor A. L. Fletcher, Commissioner of Labor, is an ex officio member of the commission. Salaries of the comission mem bers have not been determined, Mrs. Spilman stated last night. It is expected that the chairman, ap pointed for six years, may receive $(>,001); Mrs. Syilman, $5,000; and Major Fletcher, eventually the same amount, by act of the Legis lature. Fletcher now receives .$4,500. The first business .of the com mission will be to draft a budget for its expenses until January 1 for presentation to the Social Se curity Board, which will pay all costs of the program from Feder al funds. Chairman Powell suggested that the commission carry the budget to Washington and while there make a study of unemployment compen sation administration. Returning from Washington yes terday, Powell stated that infor mation there indicated that 40 to 50 persons would be needed imme diately by the commission to dis tribute tax return forms to 8,000 employers and collect their con tributions to the State unemploy ment compensation fund. “All appointments will be tem porary, probably on a six-months basis,” Powell asserted. Civil ser vice eventually will be established for the commission staff. While Powell is expecting the Bureau of Internal Revenue to give North Carolina- employers an ex tension on Federal pay roll taxes to allow the State agency to begin 1 operations, he said that the com mission would proceed on the as sumption that no extension would be granted—until it is granted. Amateur Hour At School A Success ' The high school athletic associa tion presented a very successful amateur hour program at the high school Thursday afternoon, the money raised going to the associa tion for athletic equipment. The show was well attended, and the audience voiferously showed its ap proval of the various acts. The entertainment was quite ! varied, there being about 15 en tries, all high school students. The high school band played, and there were also music by string bands, singing, tap dancing, and comedy sketches. O. Max Gardner Purchases Mill !• Announcements Friday from Shelby made public the fact that former Governor O. Max Gardner has purchased the half interest owned by his partner, Odus M. Mull in the Cleveland Cotton mill. This trade now makes Mr. Gardner owner of the? mill and will gi%e Mr. Mull the opportunity to de vote his entire time to his law practice, with his office at Shelby. The former chairman of the state Democratic executive com 1 mittee and the former Governor erected the mill about 10 years ago as a small plant, with Mull in charge of operations. The plant is valued at a million dollars, has 5fi0 tobms and employs 800 work ers. * *, ? Eyes Open, But _She’s As>/ ) -v Christmas will mean only the completion of 15 months of un broken sleep—with eyes wide open —for 3-ycar-old Maxine Yarring ton. In September, 1935, Maxine was tucked in bed by her parents at Fairview, Pa. Next morning, in a coma, she was taken to an Eric hospital, where she is pictured above. Maxine’s affliction, called a form of sleeping sickness, is com plicated by the fact her wide, blue eyes have remained open through out her long slumbei. Annual Christinas Twilight Pageant Choir And Young People Of Presbyterian Church Pre sent Pageant Today Advent Of Christ “The Day Spring From On High” A Beautiful Candle Light Service The choir and young people of the Presbyterian ehurch will pre sent at twilight this afternoon its annual Christmas pageant, “The Day Spring From On High.” The pageant takes place in two parts, before Christ came and the Advent of the Saviour. The period delt with in the Old Testament was hope kindled,—like a night sky in which the day star had as cended with its promise of the dawn. The New Testament begins at the point where expectation had reached its most breathless mo ment, and shows how the long pro phetic hope was vindicated in the Gospel story. The choir and young folk arc en deavoring by this presentation to convey a hint of this ancient aag orness and something of the joy that brightened at its fulfillment. The loveliness of this Christmas | candle light service is enhanced 'oy (Please turn to Page 8) News Flashes -Iroin Everywhere EDITH MAXWELL CONVICTED AGAIN Wise, Va.—Edith Maxwell was convicted Thursday for the second time of the murder of her father | and sentenced to 20 years for second degree murder. She was re leased on $15,000 bail, however, pending argument of the defense to have the decision set aside. NEIGHBORS W ANT MRS. SIMPSON TO LEAVE Cannes, France.—Mayor Pierre Nouveau of Cannes said Friday that many residents of the Riviera are protesting the presence of Mrs. Wallie Simpson, in particular the British aristocrats. The trades people of Cannes, too, are fearful lest her presence interfere with their business. I CAPTURE GERMAN TROOPS IN SPAIN Madrid.—Resisting all rebel at tacks, Madrid defenders stated Thursday that they had captured a number of German soldiers fighting with the insurgent army. The insurgent reports of the battle admitted that an “international” brigade took part. EXTRA SESSION COSTS $12,362 Raleigh.—With the last clerical work for the extraordinary session of the General Assembly wound up, it was discovered that the entire cost to the taxpayers of North Carolina was $12,562, the cheapest special session in many years. The 170 house members drew $8,627.50, the 60 senate members $4,035.10, while the clerks received an ad ditional per diem. Ten Percent Rise In Cost Of Food Seen By Wallace Hopes Higher Wages Will Offset Rise In Living Costs For Coming Year Annual Report (’ash Income To Farmers Put At $7,800,000,000, Eleven Percent Over 1935 Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace in his annual report to the president this week predicted a 10 per cent rise in food costs in 1937, paying the blame for this rise, as in 1934, on the drought. General living costs will mount 3 per cent, he estimated, but he is hopeful that higher wages will offset thia. Supplies of meat, some fruits and vegetables and dairy products will be below average, Secretary Wallace added, with greater con sumer buying power causing prices to move upward. He recalled that after the 1934 drought “retail food prices as a whole averaged about 11 per cent higher” in the first half of 1935. Hut he presented a brighter side of the picture also, pointing out that a 10 per cent rise in the cost of food tends to produce a rise of only about 3 per cent in total living costs. '■ The secretary said that for city dwellers and employed workers this will be offset substantially by recovery in urban buying power. He reported present food prices are 15 to 20 per cent below the pre-depression level. He sees a need for stronger crop control measures in future national farm programs. Reviewing administration farm policies of the past four years, Secretary Wallace advised the Chief Executive that, “on the whole, agriculture is out of the red and making progress toward fin ancial rehabilitation.” This, he said, was despite devastating droughts this year and in 1934. Looking ahead, he reported a need for a federal crop insurance plan, a solution of farm tenancy problems, and a long-time national program to reduce drought dam age. These three matters are be ing surveyed by special commis sions appointed by the president. Secretary Wallace said the orig inal AAA placed crop control first, with soil conservation second, while the present conservation act re versed these purposes. Probably in a period of good crops and high yields, the degree of crop control attainable under the present measure will not be adequate, he said. A return to normal weather and yields “would revive the problem of agricultural surpluses,” he added. Regarding a permanent long time farm plan, Secretary Wallace said this must “achieve soil con servation, consumer protection and crop control together.” Rational use of land was termed the “cornerstone of a sound na tional economy.” Secretary Wallace described "profitable farming” as farming adjusted to the available market. “If want continues after that has been accomplished,” he said, “the remedy is to create more buying power rather than to compel farm ers to produce indefinitely at a loss. . . “It is not desirable to have eith er a peasant agriculture manned by tenants and laborers, or a col lective agricultural run by the central government.” The secretary reported cash in come to farmers this year would reach $7,800,000,000, or1 11 per cent more than last year, 81 per cent more than the depression low of 1932, and about 25 per cent less than 1929. He said net income—what the farmer has after paying taxes, labor and production and deprecia tion costs—would be $4,538,000,000 i this year, compared with $1,492, 000,000 in 1932. Gross income—cash income plus the value of products used on the farm—will mount to $9,200,000,000, he added, a figure 72 per cent larg er than in 1932 and about 23 per cent below 1929. Secretary Wallace’s report ot progress toward an Anglo-Ameri can reciprocal trade agreement coincided with his recommendation that such pacts also should he made with Germany and Japan. His annual report said farmers had begun to benefit under the Roosevelt Administration’s trade agreement program but that a real test could not be made until treaties have been signed with one or more leading foreign markets. Major markets for farm reports, he said, are industrial producing countries such as Great Britain, Germany and Japan. Judge Siler Visits Judge Walter D. Siler, repre sentative in the state legislature from Chatham county, was in Asheboro Thursday for a short visit to friends. v |