Newspapers / The State’s Voice (Dunn, … / Sept. 1, 1934, edition 1 / Page 8
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f Avili CMUUJ , we introduced quite a number of leading Durham citizens to our read ers last year- 'Since then our list of readers has multiplied.^ However, we shall confine our comments to only a few, chifely some who were~not-play ed up last year. Ainng with the University’s most prominent engineer, Mr. H. G. Baity, we arq giving you a glimpse of our friend W. M. Platt as he appeared to the eyes- of a New York artist. That word “friend" in the foregoing paragraph means what it - purports More than seventeen years ago the ed itor returned to Clinton from Louisi ana to find Mr. Piatt the engineer for the town’s extensive water, sewage, and street developments. He became a subscriber to the Sampson Demo crat ; when we took over the Chatham Becord, exactly ten years ago to-day, I believe, to enter that business In the smaller Durham of nearly fifty years ago. 'He ie am enthusiastic member o* several of the fraternal organiza tions and wa» just back from the Ju nior convention held at Lexington, and was off this week for the Odd Fellows’ meeting at Charlotte. If on® had time to talk for several days with Mr. Bagwell he could learn the whole history of Durham. ^ A few minutes with'Chief of Police Proctor served tio give me a better con ception of the magnitude of the police department of the city of;Durham..We small town folk can hardly realize that the department has a half-hun dred men in its employ. Eight of them are plain-clothes officers, A large picture of the whole force shows it to be composed of men of unusual* W. M. PIATT Durham, N. C. H. G. BAITY Chapel Hill, N. C. - ' Two of North Carolina’s Distinguished Engineers as ^)een by a New York Artist Hlg name "was transferred to that a* per’s subscription list, and when e State’s Voice was established he v as * among the original subscribers. Seven teen years*as a subscriber to three of our papers in succession is a real re cord. jur. Piatt’s father was a free-lance Pennsylvania editor and the son has inherited a liking for personal journ alism. Mr. Piatt has pursued his pro fession in numerous North Carolina towns and cities while retaining his residence in Durham, and is, there fore, quite broadly known. He and his two fine assistants, J. M. Maxewell and P. D. Davis, were quite busy. I took a few notes about Mr. Piatt and Messrs. Maxwell and Davis, but, un fortunately, have mislaid them. Mr. Maxwell is one of the Duplin Max wells and Mr. Davis is a native of Wayne. The former is of the Outlaw <Jrady connection and is planning to be on hand at the coming reunion of those clans down in old Duplin. Both the younger men have been well train ed for their profession. Mr. Maxwell is a graduate of the State University and Mr. Davis of State College. ’it is interesting to hear Mr. Piatt tell of his boyhood days as an enthu siastic Democrat in a Republican stronghold. When he was a mere lad, he staged a celebration on the election of his candidate as governor and build ing a bonfire had almost the whole population of the town-assembled to hear addresses by. leading citizens of -the community from whom he had adroitly secured co-operation. The governor became his friend and wel comed him to his office as he would a mature politician. Mr. Piatt easily ranks among the leading men of his profession in North. Carolina. An Old-Timer. Mr. W. B. Bagwell is one of the old-timers. Boro in Raleigh, at nine he moved to Morrisville, where he lived twenty years. For forty-seven years he has been a resident of Dur ham and in his old age is at leisure and is a very interesting gentleman. He was one of the pioneeer wholesale grocery'men of Durham, the second, ly fine appearance. *We were in hope* that we might show *our readers apic tuer of Durham’s clever police chief tain. R. O. Everett should already - be known by name to every mature citi zen of the State. He. is one of Dur ham’s leading attorneys and as a leg islator proved himself of no mean ability. It was only two weeks ago that we wrote of him in connection with his brother, S. C-, of Greenville, and to that article we refer you for his origin. ■Mr. Everett married the charm'ng daughter of Mr.-H. McD. Robinson, Of. Fayetteville, and thus became allied with some of the eldest and* most hon ored families in -the Gape Fear sec tion. He is interested' in much - be sides the law. At present* as chairman of the historical association of Orange and Durham counties, he is preparing to wage a campaign for the establish ment of a government park at the Ala mance Battle Ground. ” In Mr. Everett’s office we. found a native of Dunn, Mr. A. R Wilson, who last year turned from business to the practice ef law, and attributes much of his good start to Mr. Everett, though they are" not associated in a , . business way. ' Mr. Wilson has a neighboring office to his mentor,' That othep Harnett county contribution to . Durham, A. A. McDonald; formerly clerk of the Harnett, court, seems to be doing well in the law. Both he and Mr. Wilson were very appreciative of the quality of the gate’s Voice. There are plenty of Barnett people at home who do not know there is such a pa per published in the county. On ptir former visit to Durham in the interest of the State’s Voice the court was engaged in that big HesSee trial and it was difficult to meet the court ,house officials. On our; visit the other day, we had the pleasure of meeting several whom we did hot meet last year and of renewing acquaint ance with others. In the latter group were Supt. of Schools Barbour and' County Welfare Officer , W. E. Stan ley, the latter of whom we found to be One of our, most enthusiastic read" ers. - ^ It was our first privilege, to meet Sheriff E. G. Belvin and-then lack of Hmff served to limit our. chat. Hewa$ one of the deputies for years under the late Sheriff Harward and succeed ed him upon his death; Even* a few moments sufficed to convince me that Durham county has a genial, and clev er gentleman as sheriff. .... Mr. A. J. Barbee is register of deeds and unless he dies will be the same, I suspect, as long as he wants the job. At twenty he left the farm to join the army- When the World War came on, he became a member of the "Old : Hickory” Division and went through the terrible drives participated in by that heroic body- In the Quinton . Drive he was wounded upon the cheek by a piece of shrapnel. After 14 months over seas, he' returned And be came deputy register of deeds in Octo ber 1919, serving thus for nearly ten years. In 1929 he succeeded the late M. G. Motley as register and has been elected to. two terms since and is the nominee for re-election this fall. ■ Our Former Lieutenant-Governor* It became our privilege as a resi dent of Pittsboro, for more than eight - years to become Well acquainted withj J, Elmer Long, former lieutenant-gov-. emor- He is. a native of Alamance and cannot get over it. As his practice extends to that county, he finds great pleasure in meeting his old friends at the Graham courts. His. father was/ long a prominent citizen of Alamanc^. Mr. Long married one of the charming Peay daughters of the Pittsboro com munity and their visits to the old homestead, where Mrs. Long’s sister Mrs. De Graffenreidt holds forth, are quite frequent. As an associate of At torney D. L. Bell in the firm of Long and Bell at Pittsboro, Mr. Long is frequently found pleading in the Chatham courts. If you do not know Elmer Long you should take the first opportunity to become acquainted with him. J. ELMER LONG Conner Lieutenant-Governor. Mr. J. D. Pridgen had a long biisi rUr,6er bef0r* guardian of Barham county's cash. He waa bOTU Nash county. For thirty years he operated one of Durham’s most popular shoe stores. He has been treasurer for six years and will prob the jQb^ loa« A* be wants Not a cent bas the county borrow ed. except through bond issues, during Of Durham’s fluau » d°“*' ‘“.the county de faulted during the depression. Not a cent did the county lose through th* disastrous bankfailures 0f Burba* though there were goodly sums 0°’ deposit He had observed the legi requirements and had adequate securi ty One batch of notes upon Durham dtiseng was mislaid, but this is a sufficient number of them to introduce to you at one, time. But I do wish to call your attention to a unique situa tion in the county and city health de partment. ‘Doctor** Epperson the; call the superintendent but he inform ed me that, he is not a physician at all, and that, health department work is not a curative business. Neverthe less,! believe Mr. Epperson is the only non*physician superintendent of health in the state. The notes i took of his career were among those mis laid; but I believe be is a native of Ok lahoma and a graduate of the Univer sity of that State. R. H. SYKES Attorney and Bank President Durham, N. C. Highway Organization Has Dual Handicap. y The tradic. death of .John D. Waldrop jehief engineer of the Say department, was it great loss to the highway zanon. The serious il'I f Chairman jeffress foi ls a more trying handi cap, even if fortunately it shall be only .a temporary one. Mr. jeffress has accomplish ed marvelously. • The tax upon his energies has been incalcul able. Only a unusual gift for organization apd quickness of perception, tenacious memory of details, and prompt decis ions have made it possible for him to accomplish the task that became his two years ago. And the writer's- extensive travels, through numerous counties make him to' marvel at the de gree; of the. success attending his. undertaking to maintain a highway system.iof more than fifty thousand miles with a fund that a few years ago would have been dissipated upon balf as many miles. - The State of North Carolina has a deep concern in the re storation of Chairman Je^r,e,s,s to. his wonted state of health and activities; Olive Succeeds Tom C. Daniels. It was a gracious act on th, part of the Legionnaires » North Carolina to. elect last year the oldest yf their num ber, Captain Tom C. Daniels, as commander of the Nort Carolina Department. And h administration has been mark ed by the good sense that on might expect of a Trinity ma pf the late eighties and nin % tips; Again1 the Legionnair Seem to" hSVe ‘chosen wisely, and the . Dispatch congratu lates both Captain Daniels on his successful administrate and Hubert Olive upon his P1^
The State’s Voice (Dunn, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 1, 1934, edition 1
8
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