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of Her Benefactor.
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A P» REPUBWCAN NEW8PAPEB DEVOTED TO THK PPBUiili»IN« OF AMERICAN HOMES AND AMEKiCA.V IN'DCSTBIES.
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BURUNGTON, ALAMANCE COIKTV, NO»TH C^WKA. !9, 1915.
jH
1IHE Itt MIRS
Yout county finiaJices are in. bad shape. Your couoty debt is.
merging about twenty thpusjoid dollars per year, that iSi evep^
year, you spend twenty thousand dollars more than you take in,
every tive years your debt is increasing a hundred thouMnd dol-
lai^ and upon tWs vast sum you have to pay interest. Only
last yetf, your county debt increased thirty thousand dollars,
this y(^r it may be more. Every five years you are paying more
than a hundred thousand dollars in interest upon your county
debt—where will it all end? What are you going to do? The
L^slature is iii s^sion now. If you want to do anything, now
is the time. Th^ are only about forty-five days of the session
;ieft. Are you going to allow your county to become banltrupt be
fore you wake up. and take ste^ to prevent it? Your county
debt is now more than three hundred and forty thousand dollars.
It was said during the last campaign that you had two hundred
and sixty thoii.sand dollars worth of good roads and bridges to
show for the deljt, but'the man who made this statement goi
elected and has not been heard from since. Y"ou may have the
bridges, but yoiir roads arje so bad you cannot get to them. These
statements are not campaign thanderj^they are cold facts, they
are the truth. Every one of you know them to be the truth. -They
are not said to injure any man, men, or pasty, they are said be
cause we feel the effects of these conditions. You owe us money,
and we need it, you cannot come to town and bnng it to u.s. You
could send it if you had it, but we know that some of you hava
,not got it. You have smething to sell, but you cannot bring it
to market, therefore, you cannot sell it, and therefore, you cannot
pay us.. You owe others and the same conditions exist. Some
of you do not owe any one, but you have something to sell, and
unless conditions improve you cannot sell it, and you too will soon
have to Qwe some one, and all on account of bad roads. The road
system for this county is rotten, the blame rests upon those in
authority, because they will not change the road system. It may
be that they have not thought it needed chanpng very bad. or it
may be that they did not know what changes to make to better
conditions, but is up to you to speak out, if you want a better
road system. Let your wishes be known to your represfentative,
no matter whether you voted for him or not, if he is the man he
reprBsentes himself to be, anti ought to be, he will not stop to
ask, “Did this n»n vote for me," but he will ask, ‘Is it right,
is this this
point, he will set about the task of doing it.
" Now, what do you want? Read this issue of The Dispatch and
if you are in sympathy with oar sugg^tions. Jet Jt be kiiO'^'r., cr.
if you know a better system, write to your representative. We
have iio pst hobby, we are not seeking to embarrass anybody.
We want sonie^;hing done for you and for us. Conditions are in
tolerable, the faithful rural carriers who make iife more pleasant
for you by making you a visit .each day, can hardly reach you, and
some even have to walk a part of the way at least. Y'ou know
the true conditions. You know the system under which we are
Ho vDU.wantia change, if so, what change do you
want? Put your thinking cap oii, get busy ~Il’i v.vur ndith
it ovpf with Mary, and then write to Raleigh, setting forth
your views. Talk plain, talk English, talk common sense, tell yotjr
zs^resentative that you want relief and that you want it now-
If he cannot make up his mind after hearing from all of you,
and putting all your ideas together, let hinii call a mass meeting
at the Court House in Graham, N. C., and you cai» start the day
before, in order to be sure to get there, and you can take your
own time going back home; and you can give your representative
your Views and your ndghbi)r'can do likewise. Then he will know
what you want and how to get i£ Do you think someone else
wilLftttend to these matters, you must act for your self, but see
your neighbor and talk it over with him, and then both act. There
are hundreds of others just waiting like you for some one else to
start the ball to railing. The business men in all parts of the
county are with you, and are willing to help you, because when
helping you they are helping th«mselves. If you do not kaow how
to go about getting what you want or letting those in authority
know what you want, write a letter to The Dispatch, stating your
views, snd if you do write, sign your name, but if y#u do not
want to sign your name, or do not want your name used, we will
. respect your wishes.
now get busy, and let the lawmakers taiow what you want.
Oar colnnihs are open to you, whether you are subscribers or
not. 'liie Dispatch stands for Process, Better Roads and Better
County Administration.
WHAT DO YOU STAND FOB?
Mr. J»m«« W.- Murnf, Preaidfini the-'Tniat CAinpany^ Loses
His iite in !^amUco Souad whea Wjf Julia, to Coalpletely De-
ati«yaii by «t Her GawiKn* . itaeix Lut Friday IfanuRg—
Mrs. Murray the Only Sorvlw of th? ExptogioiiT-Tiie SMrehintr Party
. linaUe to Find any of the Xkrve BdSiM W«re
Mr. Janves W. :Murtay, president of
the PiedBMMit IVust Company, of tiiis
city; Mrs. W. E. Porch, of Beaitfort;
and Mr. G. P. Dodson, of Norfolk, y®.,
lost their lives early last Friday
morning when the gasoUoe tanks .rf
the yacht exploded, on Pawlicd sound,
n«af Long Shore river at a point about
twenty miles from En^i^rd, Hyde
county, and the vessel ^nk before
any as^taiice cotiU! reach them.
Mrs. J. W. Murray was a member
of the party, but was blown ‘ clear
of the boait by the explosion, and
was picked up by fisherman about two
jxours l&ter. She is the only survivor
of the pjiPty.
Mr. and Mrs. Murray, and Mrs.
Porch went to Norfolk, early in the
week to buy the yacht. The purchase
was made, and Mr. Dodson, from
wfcom the yacht was bought started
south on board the vessel, on Wednos
(Jay afternoon. The trip wa-s unevftnfc-
fu! until Friday morning when the
ei^^losion occurred. j
On sccoiint of rought weather the
com|Muiy kept- -on gnmng until nov,r
it & one of the State’s strongest Tru^t
Coiqpanies atid does an.extensive busi-
ItieSs all thrattgb this section
Mr. Mun^ -president up until
hi$ deai^, 1^ liad nM been actively
last few months in
the affair ^ tha .cinhpanyv ho being
'oat of town a stood bit of the time,
l^r. Mmray not oidy look^ into the
and anticipated the needs of
the; jpeopie the Piedmont Section
but as * thorougiii organize* it is
doi^ntful if he bas a peer.
It was Mr. Murray’s intention, ow
ing’; to the condition, of his headth, ta
ret^ from the active management of
the Piedmont Trust Company as pres- that they want it changel,
ijjent and had trained each of his as-
sistants to conducly his particular de-
pcuAment.
It was throiigh the efforts of Mr.
Mvtmiy that the Piedmo^nt Railway
& ?E)fectric Company was formed and
th4 i^rolley line given rto Burlington
jAlsinance ccunty. Another of
hiS rreat undertakings was a hospital
party was forced to put m to Elizabeth 1 1 T i
for Burlington, which is now assured
ritv on Thursday, and left there late
in the afternoon or night. i
About 1 o’clock Friday morning
Mrs, Murray heard sonuK>ne strike
cabin of the vessel causing the ex-
^osion. She was blown tiircugh a
window oii ihs oj>mu=i^ side of the
yacht, and in going 'Hirmgh the ?yia-
dow managed to catch hold of a life
preserver, which she mansjred to get
around her which held her up in Ihe
water until the fisherman .irrivod,
about two hourji later. Mrs. Porch's
clothes were sei. aKre by the explo
sion and Jtfr. Murray threw her over-
bcaiyi a,'.i Mr. Ocd-
son also jumped. Mrs. Porch atidi
Mr. Murray -.-.cf* r.c'-'cr ?>e^n again.
Mr, Dodson swam up near to Mrs.
Murray and told her "goodbye," say
ing the life presen-er would not sup
port two and if he caught hold of it,
botJj ini^t drown, so he left her and
beneath the wateif, never to
arise again.
Mrs. Murray was taken to Engle-
hard where medical attention was giv
en her. She remaining there until
Sunday afternoon, when .?he weni vjn
board the U. S. Revemi« Cixtor. Pam
lico, which seaioheJ for tti» bodies.
anfi will be built in Piedmont, and will
be in aH probialnUty named the Mur-
niy ^,M«mori||l
•nie yacht “Julia,” vras 2 feet long
aTid was handsomely fitted in quartei-
c-i ssk. Sh« had sleeping accommo
dations for eight and a carrymg; ca
pacity of thirty five persons. She was
equipped with gasoline engines and
carried supply tanks ivhirh held -50 to
40 gallons of fuel.
If you receive a copy of The Dispatch, and are not a subscrib
er, it will be an imntation to sub.scribe, and you need not hesitate
to accie];:^ the'paper as it is paid for, so far as you are ■eoncemed.
Read this i^ue carefully, and if if meets your approval, call No.
265 and request us to place your name upon the record of The
Dispatch family. Remember it comes to you twice each week.
Seven days is a long time to wwt for the news in this progress
ive age. When you are a subscriber to The Dispatch, you get
dcNibld ytlfie in fm!^ readaUe and up-to-date news. In this
connection allow us ib call your attention to the coupon in this
issue regarding the. aboHtioh.(>f the Office of Co^^' feeasui'er.
If you, favor t^s ,ihang^r pl^se sign ycsur ihe. (d^up^n,,
then cut it out and bring or sen^ it to Tlie pispatch office.
Do hot negloct this. It is an important matter to the tax pik^ers
of this county. *
Death, it is a solema call,
A ouudc:: to us a1!;
It ’takas Hie young* as well old.
And f-I'Js in its azTHs .?>
• —0—'
Jehovah is ray .'>trtnfpth aiid my
shild; my heart hath trusted in him,
and I am helped; therefore my heart
greatly rejosceth; and with my song
wiU I praise him.—Psalm 28:7.
0
ELON DEFEATS TRINITY.
Trinity, Jan. 1C.—Last night wit
nessed a hotly contested basketball
^ game on Trinity’s floor, in which tfc«
! strong Elon quint outplayed the ‘Trin-
Up to this time none of the bodies 6ve.,
have been recovered. , Eton started the scoring in the be-
The fira news of tite a«*UBt re- in the end the score was
ceivod here came !n a tde«r«n to
Mr. C. Brovm Cfr*, fnmi Mrs. Sfwsy »tetandinff star for -^ty
Friday afte^n saying the boat had SUen pock^d four
bean burned and that she was iJje
sole survivor.
Mr. pox .Friday aftcrnoonon No.
22 to go to . l^e scene of the disaster
and asai&t in seandilnf for the bodies.
He returned to the city this morning
on No. 21, with Mrs. Murray, after
seaiohine tsT^ days ajid two nights
for tha bodi^ i^ich they were un
able to recovtr.
IF W OUR ADVICE TO REPIiiENmiVE VERMIN.
the Dispatch has no desire to dictate to Hon. John H. Vernon,
Democratic Bepreseh^tive to the Le^slature from this county,
but we believe Mr. Vernon is broad enough or ^t least should be,
to want the advice and co-operation of every elector in the county,
be he Democrat, Republican, Progressive, Prohibitionist, or any
other creed; and The Dis^tch believes that if he will listen tP
some of the advice given, that his record as a Legislator, will b«
a credit to himself and the-party who elected him, ' Mr. Venion,
knows as well as The Dispatch that our system of county govern
ment is Wrong, and badly wrong. Mr. Vernon knows that our
road system is a disgrace to an intelligent people^ and while The
Dispatch differed with Mr. Veir.oR upon political matters, and
stills differs with him, yet we want to see him rise above partisan
ifne.'? and do what is best for this county, regardless of who ad
vocates it. We want to see him do what is best for our people,
ever if what he does makes tlie county so rock-ribbed Democratic
that the Republican party will not black the board in years to
come, and he has the opportunity. Will he grasp it? or will he
Mrken to the bosses and allow conditions to drag along aS they
have been, rather than advocate and pass measures for the relief
of the tax payers just because the measures are advocated by
what he terms his political opponents? The road system is bad.
The method of collecting the road tax is bad. These things should
be changed. We feel quite sure that Mr. Vernon feels they should
be changed, and we know from cbhvei^tjon that a great many
j people who helped to sleet him feel that this system is bad, and
It is this knowledge that has prompt
ed us to suggest to Mr, Vernon that he undertake to change it.
Now, as to the remedy: Our position is the same now as during ’
the campaign. Mr. Vernon knows what this position is. He
heard it stated day by day, and no doubt knows it hy heart. This
is the only remedy we have. It is the only one that we think
will accomplish the desir^. results. We ask Mr, Vernon to give
it careful consideration, and unless he can devise a better systeni,
to write our proposition into law. If he can devise something
better, .something that will remedy the existing evil, and will do
it, then he will be entitled to the gratitude of a mud-burdened
people, and not only will he be entitled to the gratitude of a mud-
burdened people, but if he .x’eally enacts a good road law, he will
not only be entitled to the gratitude of the people, but we are
willing to go a step father and say that he will be entitled to the
sappoii Qt the' p^ple. The Diitpatch is Republican to the core,
but we are not so partisan as to want to see Mr. Vamon blunder
in making a new road law, or to allow the present rotten system
to remain, but rather would we see him enact such a law as would
be a blessmg irir; taK payers of this .county--nnd rob us of_a
political issue so far as the road sy.stem is concerned. Now, will
Mr. Vernon ri.se to the occasion and enp.ct such a law, or will he
allow the presertt system to remain in vogue, rather than give
affront to the grafters who pi-ofit by the present road law at the
expense of the taxj>ayers of the county ?
Our advice, Mr. Vernon, is to pass an act that the county con-
vice shall construct at least two miles of permanent roads in each
township in the county during the year fr>r a period of twenty
years. Tuat tliey shaii worK. oO hosirs per
r. small compensation over fcheir up-keep and the same to go to
the dependent upon them i*or suppoi t, or to any person they mav
designate, and if they do not have any one dependent upon them,
or do not care to designate some one to receive their wages, that
it shall be hold in trust and paid to them upon their release. That
you repeal the present law in regard to working the roads three
days or pay so much money; that no one be allowed to work the
roads in lieu of his tax, but that everj' person from the age of
21 to 45 be required to pay a money sum for the benefit of the
road fund, and that it be listed at the time his other taxes are
listed, and collected the same as his other taxes are collected;
that all public roads be laid out in sections of so many miles each,
and let out by contract to the lowest bidder every two years, rro-
vided, that if any contractor complies to the very letter and spirit
of his contract, that he shall be awarded his section of road for
another two j’ears at the same price, without having to re-bid.
This provision will be an incentive to keep his road in good re
pair, all contractors to give bond in reasonable amount for faith
ful performance of duty, all bonds to be for double amount of
contract.
field goals and also four fouls out of
seven tree passes.
For Eion Mbrefield, the Elan fr«sh-
MB. MURRAY’? ®
iNGTON’?-jriaroRY.
We advise further that you have the Office of County Treasur
er abolished, and that the amount no%v paid to the county treas-
man aloBgwiiii Captain "Bradfoiy, did jUrer, be put into the road fund with which to help employ a
tJie greater part of the ofFen^ve work, competent civil engineer to have charRc of the road work in the
wUiie Mossey and Morgan were- de-| County. This amount, together with ihe amount you now pay
fendin* thar goal with tliedr oldJtime' your road superintendent, will empli v a first class mon.
iigHting spirit. McCauley, playing his; Our information is that only fifteen hundred people out of more
first yMr at center, proved a sticcess, | than four'thousand pad their road tax. This leaves twenty-five
scoring two field goals to Neal’s one. hundred people liable to road duty, who either are supposed to
' ■work the road, or who shirk this work altogether. Is it any rea
son that yoiu: roads are in the condition that are are? and it
this not proof positive that the system ought to be changed?
There are many other needed reforms wnich ought to be put
into operation, but our representative is only human, and of
coiiu^e cannot work out all the n^ed reforms in one session of
the Legislature, but if he has the interests of his people at heart,
lie will at least see that this miserable makeshift of a road law
is changed, ^d changed along the lines set forth above, or a bet
ter system than this work^ out if thJit be possible.
As a parting shot; Won'^t you rob The Dispatfch of this much
caoipM'gn thuiider daring the next campai^ 5n so far as
Roads of Alamance County are concerned?
-0
AID TO COUNTY FAIRS.
The sena.te last passed a bill
appropriating |8,S00 lor the purpose
Mr. Murray began his business ca- o£s«idipg in agricultural exhibits at
reer here as a lawyer about iiffteen j county fairs. The appropriation car-
ago. He ioade a success of ias. ri«3 $90 for each coanty fair in the
business and later organized the Pied-} State.
mont Trust Company, a then sioanj O
ccfiii^lshy 4nng a real estate buslnesii. While the demccraw may not have
'This‘|(ikved so successful that he en-jdon« «11 they promised to do, t^e
larg^ tite field of bis c«i(n{kan.7 byjcoun^ ia periiaps willinir to ba Wt
adding stocks and bonds to it. The alone.
RI NT