Henderson
gateway to
CENTRAL
CAROLINA
TWENTY-FOUR
425 BODIES RECOVERED IN SCHOOL RUST
IMPROVEMENTS BILL
FOR $2,344,000 SUM,
BECOMES STATE LAW
Legislative Machinery
Moves Slowly as Odds
and Ends of Session
Are Cleared
adjournment may
AWAIT NEXT WEEK
Solons Hope for Tomorrow
Night, However; Compro
mise Auto License Cut
Awaits House Approval;
‘ickes Bill” on PWA
Housing Work Remains
Raleigh, March 19.—(AP) The
H use accepted minor Senate changes
ir. the $2,344,000 permanent improve
ments bill for State institutions to
day and ordered it ratified into law.
The legislative machinery moved
slowly as odds and ends were cleared
up.
Many members still hope for sine
die adjournment tomorrow night, but
the enrolling office was more than
a day behind in its work, which must
he finished before the legislature can
quit.
The “Ickes”, or PWA bills, to fa
cilitate cooperation in PWA housing
and slum clearance projects and per
mit issuance of revenue bonds still
reposed in the Senate calendar com
mittee, but Chairman Taylor said “we
will report them and every other bill
we have to the Senate before the leg
islature quits.’’
Federal officials told the State
group ten million dollars in Federal
funds for public works projects in
N >: *h Carolina depended on the mea
sure.
Senators accepted House changes
in a bill to create a State bureau of
investigation and ordered it ratified.
The Senate also enacted measures
to tighten restrictions on optometrists
amend the 1933 fertilizer law, and tax
scrap tobacco and scrap tobacco deal
ers.
A joint committee consisting of Sen
ators Ijong, of Halifax, and Hill, of
Durham, and Representatives Bryant,
of Durham, Murphy, of Rowan, and
(Continued on Page Two).
Ear hart Is
Poised For
Second Hop
Honolulu, March 19 (AP) —A Su
preme test in navigation, finding a
tiny sandbar 1,532 miles ahead in the
vast Pacific, awaited Amelia Earhart
and her crew, poised today for a take
off on the second leg of her 27,000-mil©
world flight.
The aviatrix who set a speed record
or. her flight here from Oakland, Cal.,
yesterday, said she probably would
'ait for the distant speck of land,
Howland island, late today.
Army fliers pointed out a night
flight would facilitate the perfect nav
igation required to hit the island, for
navigators Captain Henry Manning
and F. J. Noonan will have stars to
guide them.
The landing itself could be accom
plished after dawn.
There is every possibility of a take
late today,” said Miss Earhart.
Sue delayed an immediate start be
cause of weather conditions and to
permit a check of the plane’s motors.
Guffey Coal Bill Pattern
For Proposed NRA Revival
But Government Regulation Cannot Cure Sick Indus
tries, Babson Declares; N o Form of NRA Can Save
Industry from Th is Technical Age
BY ROGER W. BABSONi,
Copyright 1937, Publishers
Financial Bureau, Inc.
Batson Park, Fla., March 19. —Can
a now NRA or similar type of gov
ernment regulation solve the problem
of our “sick" industries? In view of
all the talk about the new Guffey
bill “to fix up’’ the coal business, this
question is timely: Is public regula
-1 ion more powerful than natural eco
nomic laws? The New Deal says,
’ Yes.” The economists say, “No." Let
us examine the coal industry. It is
an excellent illustration, for it is not
only one of our most basic industries,
but it is also one of our “sickest.”
Coal Industry’s Problem.
For the first century of our indus-
Bial life coal was undisputed as our
Hcnhcrsmt daiitpil tspafrlt
— — ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THIS SECTION OF NORTH CAROLINA AND VI^INIA.
HYEAR L the E astociatm?press sF
American Winning;
$4,327,317 in Races
New York, March 19 (AP)—
Americans won a grand total of
$4,327,317 on today’s Aintree grand
national steeplechase.
American ticketholders gained
$1,200,000 on Royal Mai?- which won
the race, $525,000 on Colleen, sec
ond winner, and $200,000 on Pucka
Belle, third.
These race-winnings, together
with $2,102,317 awarded at the time
of the Irish hospital sweepstakes
drawing, brought the grand total
to more than $4,000,000.
2nd Durham
Woman Wins
$150,000 Pot
Aintree, England, March 19.
(AP) —Royal Mail, one of the fa
vorites owned by Lloyd Thomas,
todhy won the 99th running of the
grand national steeplechase before
ail estimated crowd of 500,000, in
cluding the king and queen.
J. J. Ranks’ Colleen, an outsider
was second, and E. Bailey’s Pucka
Belle third in the field of 33, six
of them American-owned, that
started the four and a half mile
journey. Golden Miller, the favor
ite, dorpped out early in the race.
Royal Mail, well up with the
leaders from the start, finishes
three lengths in front of Colleen,
which held on to save runner-up
honors by a head from Pucka
Belle.
The winner was held at 100 to
6 in the betting, with Colleen quot
cd at 33 to 1 and Pucka Belle at
100 to 6.
ANOTHER DURHAM WOMAN
IS WINNER OF $150,000 SUM
New York, Marcli 19.—(AP) —
Eight Americans held tickets on
Royal Mail, winner of today’s
Aintree Grand National steeple
chase.
Each winning ticket is worth
$159,000 besides the $3,070, which
the lucky tickets were awarded
when their coupons were first
drawn.
The winning holders on Royal
Mail include Mrs. F. W. Shields,
911 Holloway street, Durham, N.
C.
Lindsay Warren
Tells Solons Os
Tar Heel’s Shad
Washington, March 19.—(AP)—Con
gress had the word of Representative
Lindsay Warren, Democrat, North
Carolina today that North Carolina
“shad is without a superior in the
nation.”
“It sells for higher prices,” Warren
told a House sub-committee consider
ing the annual Commerce Department
appropriations bill. The record of the
hearings was published today when
the bill was reported to the House.
Warren, appealing for a $25,090 ap
propriation for improvements to the
Federal fish hatchery at Edenton, N.
C., said the hatchery has been of lit
tle value to the State because of lack
of pounds.
leading energy producer. During this
period, when operators had every
thing their own* way, little was done
to improve their product and methods
of its use to make it immune from
competition. In 1818, coal consumption
hit its peak—67B,ooo,ooo tons. In that
year coal produced 81 per cent of the
energy used, compared with 15 per
cent for oil and natural gas. and four
per cent for waterpower. Today, two
decades later, output has dropped to
around 530,000,000 tons, producing 52
i per cent of total energy against 38
per cent for oil and natural gas, and
10 per cent for waterpower.
Since 1918 two trends have cut
down coal’s lead. <D Greater effi
(Continued on Page Pour.)
HENDERSON, N. C., FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 19, 1937
| ssHfc. jjrr j |
msk m M f L ft
s* " -lip \ ■ |gJP
Pictured in New York as they arrived on the Berengaria are the members of the British Imperial Policy
Group, who, it is reported, will hold discussions in Washington on the war debt question. Left to right,
they are Lord Phillimore, chairman; Kenneth de Courcy, deputy chairman; the Earl of Manfield, and
Henry V. Alpin Mackinnon Raikes, M. P. (Central Press)
Chief Justice Hughes Might
Testify At Court Hearings
Washington, March 19 (AP) —Some
opponents of the President’s court
proposal expressed the hope today
that Chief Justice Hughes might con
sent to lead off their witnesses at
Senate hearings next week.
If the chief justice comes before
the judiciary committee, at least one
other member of the court probably
will testify, it was said.
Committee members who tangled in
heated disputes over the questioning
of witnesses favorable to the Presi
dent’s program yesterday, met again
today to hear further expressions of
support from William Lewis, of the
Bailey Was
Not Against
Last Dinner
Says Furthermore
He Is Continually
Inviting Officials to
North Carolina
Dally Dispatch Bnreas,
In the Sir Walter Hotel,
lly J. C. BASKBRVILL
Raleigh, Marchl9 —Senator Josiah
W. Bailey maintains that he had
“nothing” whatever to do with the
plans for the second “Victory Dinner”
held in Raleigh last week, that he had
“no objection to the dinner” and in
fers that he thinks those who have
been holding him responsible for in
viting Senator Millard F. Tydings as
the speaker for the first so-called Vic
tory Dinner and for what Senator Tyd
ings said, are doing him a great in
justice, in a letter received by this
bureau from Senator Bailey.
The opening paragraph of Senator
Bailey’s letter says:
“I am inclosing a clipping in which
you have misrepresented me and I de
sire you to make a correction.”
The letter closes with a postscript
which says:
“I have misplaced the clipping.”
In connection with the second Vic
tory Dinner held here last week, at
which Secretary of the Interior Har
old L. Ickes took as his subject—
“ Glad Tydings” —and who was not in
vited by Senator Bailey—in order to
correct the record and erase the ef
fects of the previous Victory Dinner
at which Senator Tydings made an
anti-Roosevelt and anti-New Deal
speech, Senator Bailey said:
“I did not go to Raleigh with the
view of having anything to do with
the proposed second Victory Dinner.
I had not been home since January 3,
and I went at the time mainly be
cause my little daughter was sick.
However, I wished to go. While there
I had nothing whatever to do with
plans for the second dinner. Certain
ly I had no objection to the dinner.
I think Democrats might celebrate
victory in as many ways and as often
as possible. The more we celebrate,
the happier we are and perhaps the
(Continued on Page Three.)
RAPIDS MAN ROBBED
OF $l9O CASH SUMS
Roanoke Rapids, March 19.
(AP)—Officers hunted today for
three men who I. M. Clark, driver
of a sandwich company truck, re
ported held him up last night and
took $l9O.
British Mission Here for Debt Talks
American Law Institute, and Dr.
Charles Hanes, of the University of
California at Los Angeles.
Another clash of legislators appear
ed likely over the neutrality bill. The
House passed, 374 to 12 yesterday a
measure giving the President discre
tion in applying a “cash and carry”
policy to trade with warring nations.
In doing so, it rejected a mandatory
bill previously passed by the Senate.
A $522,847,808 appropriation for the
United States Navy came before ”.e
Senate today.
President Manuel Quezon of the
Philippines, predicted Congress would
ifflßoT
Last Barrier Removed To
Final Decree So Wally
Can Wed Edward
London, March 19.—(AP) —The last
apparent barrier to Mrs. Wallis Simp
son’s divorce and her marriage to
Edward of Windsor was cleared to
day when a charge of “collusion” was
dismissed by the president of the Bri
tish divorce court.
Sir Boyd Merriman, president of
the court, directed the charge strick
en from the record after the king’s
proctor informed the court, treating
the case “as any other,” he had made
a careful investigation, and failed to
find any grounds to prevent the ab
solute divorce of Mrs. Simpson and
Ernest Aldrich Simpson.
His action, following- the proctor’s
surprise move in asking “for instruc
tions” in the case, removed all legal
obstacles except the technical grant
ing of the final decree April 27.
Rebels Are
Reported In
Fast Flight
Madrid, March 19. —(AP) —Defeated
soldiers of the Brihuega garrison fled
northward through Guadalajara moun
tain passes to elude capture by vic
torious militiamen, government com
manders reported today.
The insurgent retreat, characteriz
ed as “completely disorganized,” fol
lowed reported capture of the town
yesterday by the forces of General
Jose Miaja, Madrid general. Brihuega
is 44 miles northeast of Madrid.
Under cover of darkness and rain,
the great mass of insurgents manag
ed to slip from the wartorn town be
fere government bridgades began
“mopping up operations.”
OtRWEAHIERMAN
FOB NORTH CAROLINA.
Increased cloudiness, possibly
warmer tonight, followed by show
ers Saturday.
be asked next year to move the date
of independence for the islands for
ward from 1946 to 1938 or 1939.
COMMITTEE TURNS TOWARD
COURT FOR AID IN STUDY
Washington, March 19 (AP) —The
Senate Judiciary Committee turned
today to the Supreme Court itself for
aid in studying President Roosevelt’s
plan to revamp the tribunal.
While speculation over whether one
or more justices might appear to test
ify was intensified by talk among op
\ Continued on Page Two.)
—■-—■a -
Sitdowners
Still Occupy
Auto Plants
Moves at Detroit and
Start of Textile
Unioniz a t i o n In
Strike Spotlight
Charlotte, March 19 (AP) —A re
capitulation of reports today show
ed wage increases have been an
nounced affecting about 56,000 tex
tile operatives in the
most cases the wage hikes amount
ed to ten percent.
(By The Associated Press.)
The launching of a unionization
drive among 1,250.000 textile workers
shared attention today on the nation’s
industrial rront with the impending
crisis in Michigan’s major automotive
strikes.
A meeting in New York today of
the textile workers’ organizing com
mittee signalized the beginning of the
campaign ordered by the C. I. O.
Labor leaders said the decision of
textile firms to raise wages for more
than 47,000 workers in Virginia, the
Carolinas and Georgia and 35,000 in
New England would not deter them
from organization activities. Among
the objectives were a minimum wage
of $lB weekly and a 35-hour week.
Writs of attachment calling for the
Continued on Page Two.)
fiscOecordof
ASSEMBLY ‘DISMAL’
Lumpkin Pans Administra
tion-Controlled Legis
lature for Its Work
Daily Dispatch Bureau,
lit the Sir Walter Hotel.
Raleigh, March 19. —The fiscal rec
ord established by the current General
Assembly is “dismal,” in the opinion
of the anti-administration forces of
the legislature.
A general summary of the alleged
faults and failings was given Thurs
day by Willie Lee Lumpkin, recogniz
ed spokesman of the “outs”, during
discussion of the Halstead hill propos
ing to issue $5,000,000 in bonds for im
provements of secondary roads.
Four “cardinal sins” were laid a
gainst the assembly record by the
(Continued on Page Three.)
PUBLISHED EVERY AFTERNOON
EXCEPT SUNDAY.
Believe Over 600
Children Perished
In Big Explosion
Martial Law Prevails in Stricken Com
munity of New London, Texas; Fear
More Dead I n Wreckage
4
•—■■
New London, Texas, March 19—(AP)—Laborers ceased
digging into the ruins of the London consolidated school this aft
ernoon and wearily said “the job is finished” after 425 bodies
had been removed from the pile of debris.
Workmen admitted it was under that pile they expected to
tmd many more bodies. How many more no one could say.
The recovered bodies, comprising virtually all of the coun
try-side s younger generation and their teachers, were scattered
among morgues.
™ u Es ™. al S! ? f these ran £ ed from Highway Patrol Captain
Walter Elliott s “more than 500” downward to the 388 figure of
-he troops enforcing martial law.
It was a dismal drizzling scene, battered with frenzied red
eyed parents and determined investigators at the school house
in a rainstorm.
Major Gaston Howard, appalled at the nation’s worst mod
ern child tragedy, said an investigating board of six would start
functioning this afternoon. Survivors and eye witnesses would
be questioned in an open hearing, he said.
■ vi IS j definite indication accumulated gas caUsed the blast
that lifted hundreds of school children, heavy girders and bricks
into the air came from Major Howard when he said Dr. E. P.
Shoch, noted chemistry professor at the University of Texas had
been summoned to testify.
Disaster At
A Glance
(By The Associated Press.)
Texas school disaster at a
glance:
Scene: High school building,
New London, Texas, consolidated
district. ‘
Dead: Estimated from 450 to
700.
Identified: 425 bodies.
Injured: Estimated at 275. *
Cause: W. C. Shaw, superinten
dent, said the blast undoubtedly
resulted from accumulated gas
from nearby oil fields.
Time: 3:20 p. m. Thursday, ten
minutes before dismissal time.
Construction: Two-fctory brick
and hollow tile structure of a two
bullding plant.
Geography: Located between
London and New London, Rusk
county in the midst of the gigan
tic east Texas oil fields. Estimated
population of two communities,
2,000. Enrollment, from a 30
square mile area, around 1,200.
Austin—Governor James Allred
acted quickly and ordered martial
law and sent troops into stricken
cominunit’es.
Washington— Headquarters of
Red Cross ordered relief workers
to the .scene.
Warm Springs President
Roosevelt, appalled, instructed
government agencies to render all
necessary aid.
Magnitude: Greatest such
tragedy of modern times.
Scrap Tobacco Measure
Only Weed Bill Passed
That Will Be Effective
Dally Dispatch Bnrean,
In the Sir Walter Hotel.
By HENRY AVERILL.
Raleigh, March 19. —A bill impos
ing a prohibitory license fee upon sel
lers of “scrap” tobacco is likely to be
the only really effective bit of “weed”
legislation enacted by the present ses
sion of the General Assembly.
This, however, is no fault- of the
North Carolina law-makers who loyal
ly and sincerely sought to pass—and
so far as they were concerned did
pass—compact laws, which would
prove as great a boon to the tobacco
farmer as did the late-lamented A. A.
A.
A fertilizer bill, already through the
House and almost certain to go thro
ugh the Senate, is expected to be of
considerable aid to tobacco farmers
as well as other agriculturists of the
State. •
Add to these three measures the
Fenner bill aimed at creation of a
closely-knit warehouseman’s organiza
tion; and a local bill regarding tobac
co thefts and thieves in Caswell coun
ty, and the list of tobacco measures
considered is about complete.
There is even a possibility that the
scrap bill will not stand the acid test
of a hard court battle. An effort to
ban sales of scrap was made by the
1935 Assembly, but when the law was
taken to the North Carolina Supreme
* io Today
Pages
TWO SECTIONS.
FIVE CENTS COPY
HORROR OF DISASTER IS
INCREASED BY, DIGGINGS
New London, Texas, March 19 (AP)
—'Horror of the nation’s worst school
disaster mounted today as tangled
wreckage of the New London consoli
dated school yielded scores more of
crushed bodies. The . known dead
reached hundreds .
Walter Elliott, Texas highway pa
trol captain, reported to his Austin
headquarters 500 bodies, including
those of 17 teachers, had been taken
from the explosion-ground debris of
the luxurious school built by oil
wealth of the vast east Texas fields,
and wrecked yesterday by a blast be
lieved caused by seeping gas from
those same fields.
Some estimates of the ultimate
death toll ranged above 600.
Elliott added order was restored to
the stricken community when Gover
nor James Allred declared martial
law last night after inrushing sights
seers and rescue workers, mingled
with frenzied parents, brought about
chaotic conditions.
“Work on examining buildings for
bodies should be completed today” El
liott’s message said.
Acetylene torches cutting the twist
ed steel beams of the massive build
ing, tugging cranes and bare hands
worked together in uncovering the
bodies.
Rain splashed at the workers this
morning, slowing their beaver-like la
bor.
Nurses in an emergency hospital set
up immediately in the rear qf the
building revealed they were rushing
preparations to care for about 75
more bodies expected to be exhumed
Continued on Page Two.)
Court, the justices, held it was not in
conformity with the Constitution of
the State.
At this session it has been sought to
remedy the defects in the 1935 act as
pointed out by the court; and W. W.
Eagles, of Edgecombe, a legislator
probably as conversant with tobacco
laws as any man In the assembly, has
expressed the opinion the new bill
will meet the test of constituionality.
It defines “scrap” in clear, concise
language and imposses the SI,OOO per
county tax without discrimination,
Mr. Eagles believes.
The fertilizer bill imposes upon
manufacturers the duty to show clear
ly the analysis of their fertilizers. Mr.
Eagles pointed out that purchasers
are often unable to understand wheth
er the product they are buying is
“acid” or “basic” and with a view to
clearing up any doubt in the mind of
a buyer, the bill specifically requires
the manufacturer to display prom
inently the percentage of various im
portant elements such as sulphur and
calcium contained in the fertilizer.
While no mention of tobacco is
made in the fertilizer bill, Mr. Eagles
said that it will be df considerable
benefit to the tobacco farmer. The
measure was sponsored and pushed
Continued on Page Two.)