HENDERSON’S
POPULATION
13,873
twenty-sixth year
46 Lose Lives In Kentucky Floods
* * * * * ** ** * * * * * * ********** **'* ******* ,
SENATE OK OF MONEY POWER SEEMS SURE
After House Passed Bloom Neutrality Bill
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V ictors and vanquished forget differences to pose for this picture after the Bloom Neutrality Bill passed
the House of Representatives, 200 to 188. It gives President or Congress power to find a state of war
exists between foreign nations and retains embargo on shipment of weapons to Warring countries. Left
to right, Representatives Robert G. Allen, Pennsylvania (supporter); Laurence F. Arnold, Illinois (sup
porter) ; George H. Tinkham, Massachusetts (opponent); Sol Bloom, New York (author of the bill): arid
John M. Vorys. Ohio (opponent). (Central Press)
Holiday Death Toll Hits 618,
Over Third From Automobiles
(By The Associated Press.)
The motor car killed 70 times as
many persons as did firecrackers as
America observed the 163rd anniver
sary of its independence with a four
day celebration marred by more than
600 violent deaths.
A survey today listed only four
lives lost by exploding fireworks, to
277 sudden deaths in automobile ac
cidents throughout the 48 states.
The total toll was at least 618,
compared with 517 reported for the
three-day celebration last year.
Thronging of beaches by merry-
Pedestrians
Lead Deaths
By Traffic
Daily Dispatch Bureau,
In the Sir Walter Hotel.
By HENRY AVERILL
Raleigh, July 5. —The pedestrian,
quite a curious creature in many
respects is a major headache in
North Carolina’s traffic situation,
according to statistics of the High
way Safety Division and in the opin
ion of Safety Director Ronald Ho
cutt, who concurs generally in the ;
findings of the National Safety Coun- i
cil, organization which probes the
safety problem from all angles.
‘ He is at one and the same time
the forgotten man and the problem
child of traffic. He has been neg
lected, but he also has been pamp
ered and spoiled”, reported the
council in a national release. Mr. Ho
cutt might not want to be quoted
personally in as strong language,
but the facts of North Carolina traf
fic fatalities and injuries last year,
and so far this year, for that matter
appear to be so closely in conform
ity with the National CounciPs
raiting that he scarcely needs to be
quoted at all.
In the nation, for instance, rough
ly three out of every five persons
killed in traffic accidents in cities
were pedestrians. North Carolina,
with few dense urban centers, didn’t
qdite reach that 60 per cent, but of
traffic deaths within its incorporated
units, 93 were of pedestrians against
85 among occupants of vehicles, giv
ing a 52 plus percentage of pedes
trian deaths out of all city and town
fatalities. Not only that, but 746
pedestrians were injured in cities
and towns during 1938.
On the highways, North Carolina’s
(Continued on Page Five)
VIRGINIA GROCERY
CHAIN HEAD DIES
Wilmington, July S.—(AP) —W. P.
Kerr, of Harrisonburg, Va., executive
of a grocery chain, died suddenly of
a heart attack at his Wrightsville
Beach cottage this morning. The body
jvas returned to Harrisonburg.
TlntiU'rsmt Datlxt Dtspatrh
ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THIS SECTION OFNORTUCAROLINA AND VIRGINLv *
leased wire service op
IHE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
making millions accounted for the
second highest number of fatalities
—lB3 drownings. Trains killed 29
person. There were 36 fatal accidents,
eight plane deaths and 79 dead in
miscellaneous accidents.
Two fireworks deaths were caused
by the premature explosion of’home
made bombs or firecrackers.
Hildred Sowders, 14, of Marlin,
Texas, died after a piece of tin blown
from a can placed over a firecracker,
severed his jugular vein.
Ironically, Edward Fisher, 21, of
Chicago, who was studying to be a
safety engineer, was killed when his
Six Are Dead In
Auto-Bus Crash
Washington, Pa., July S.—(AP)
—Collision of a light sedan auto
mobile with a passenger bus
early today killed six persons,
including three children, as they
sped toward their West Virginia
home after a holiday outing.
Victims were Fred Wendt, 35,
his wife, 35, and two of their three
children, Joan, 4, and an eight
months-old daughter, all of Wells
burg; Albert Bailey, Sr., 55 and
his son, Jimmy, 14, Follansbee.
Mrs. Bailey, 53, and Albert
Bailey, Jr., 16, were injured so
seriously they may die. Four
year-old Joseph Wendt also was
hurt, but hospital attendants ex
pected him to recover.
Ex-Widow Os
Judge Claims
He Is Dead
New York, July s.—fAP)—'The
widow of former Supreme Court
Justice Joseph Force Crater, assert
ed in supreme court today that the
long missing jurist died by “exter
nal violent or accidental means,” and
that his body was “disposed of by
cremation’’. It was the first definite
theory she has expressed as to his
fate.
As recently as last May 11, the
widow, now Mrs. Stella M. Kunz,
expressed doubt as to what happen
ed to Justice Crater after he dis
appeared August 6, 1930.
“I don’t know what happened to
him,” she said on that occasion. “I
believe if he -were alive I would
have found some trace or clue.”
It was not immediately indicated
whether she had now discovered
some trace or clue as hinted in the
words “disposed of by cremation.”
Mrs. Kunz is suing to collect dou
ble indemnity totaling $60,000 from
the Mutual Life Insurance Company
of New York and the Fidelity In
surance Company.
HENDERSON, N. C., WEDNESDAY AFTERNIO N, JULY 5, 1939
auto skidded off the road in Michi
gan. His father, Dr. H. E. Fisher,
secretary of the National Safety
Council.
In the largest group tragedy, six
West Virginians, including three
children, were killed when their
light bus collided with a car near
Washington, Pa. Three persons died
when their motor car tumbled near
ly 100 feet into a canyon near Alamo
Gordo, N. M.
Lightning took several lives. It
killed two bathers, man and wife,
at Bay City, Mich., but spared their
baby, who was in the father’s arms.
Silver Vote
Shows Jumble
Os Congress
By CHARLES P. STEWART
Central Press Columnist
, Washington, July s.—The Senate’s
recent vote to end the President’s
authority to devalue the dollar any
longer just goes to show that there
is not now a bit of use in trying to
distinguish between Democrats and
Republicans. There isn’t much use
in trying to distinguish between con
servatives and liberals. New Dealers
and anti-New Dealers are mixed al
so. After that ballot anybody is lia
ble to vote any way on any proposi
tion.
Dollar devaluation is a technical
job of governmental financiering into
the details of which it’s necessary to
■ enter. The essential part of it is that
Congress, only in President Roose
velt’s first term, empowered him to
devalue down to a certain point and
for a certain length of time, which
was set to expire June 30, 1939. He
did devalue considerably. It didn’t ap
pear to make much difference here
at home but it had a decided effect
in international money markets. The
administration’s version is that it
(Continued on Page Two)
Local Government
Commission Sells
City, County Bonds
Raleigh, July S.—(AP) —The Local
Government Commission sold $21,000
of revenue anticipation notes for
three municipalities today.
The commission approved issuance
of $58,000 Beaufort county refund
ing bonds, and authorized Pembroke
to issue $14,000 improvement bonds
if they are approved by the voters
there.
Notes sold included: Raeford, $6,-
000 four-months term, to the First
National Bank, Winston-Salem, at a
premium of $2.53 with interest at
five percent; Whiteville, $5,000 four
months term, to the Waccamaw Bank
& Trust Company, of Whiteville, at
a premium of $35.97 with interest at
five percent.
Outlook For
Success Is
Called Good
Committee Defers Ac
tion Until Saturday;
Will Stay Until Vote Is
Had, Pittman De
clares; Issue of War Is
Declared Involved
Washington, July 5.—(AP) —
Senate Republicans attacked the
legality of the administration’s
monetary bill today after Pres
ident Roosevelt discussed with
Democratic leaders strategy for
recovering his devaluation pow
ers and winning support for
neutrality legislation.
Picking up the monetary fight
where they left off Saturday
morning, Republican speakers
told the Senate that even if the
bill was improved, it would not
legally restore to the executive
authority to devalue the dollar
or power to operate the $2,000,-
000,000 stabilization fund.
The monetary powers, con
tended Senator Austin, of Ver
mont, acting Republican leader,
“are entirely dead.”. It would be
“contrary to law,” he said, to ap
prove legislation designed to
continue them before they had
expired.
Washington, July S.—(AP) —Ma-
jority Leader Barkley said after a
conference with President Roosevelt
today he expected the Senate to ap
prove late this afternoon legislation
restoring the administration’s dollar
devaluation and currently stabiliza
tion powers.
A vote on the measure was sche
duled for 5 p. m., the hour having
been fixed early Saturday morning
after a‘ coalition of Republicans and
some Democrats had filibusted it be
yond Friday night, when the mone
tary powers expired with the end of
the fiscal year.
Administration leaders contended
that, although the legislation origin
ally was drawn to extend the pow
ers before they died, approval now
would have the effect of restoring
them
Bent upon getting this legislation
approved, and also undertaking to
have the Senate pass administration
sponsored neutrality measures, the
president returned to the Capitol
(Continued on Page Five)
Smith Seems
About Ready
For Talking
- a
Not Going To Be Goat
in Louisiana Scandal,
Says Ex - University
Head, Accused of
SIOO,OOO Theft from
Institution
Baton Rouge, La., July S.—(AP) —
An assertion by Dr. James Monroa
Smith that he was “not going to be
the goat’ indicated today the resign
ed president of Louisiana State Uni
versity soon would end his reticence
concerning charges he embezzled
SIOO,OOO from the institution he
headed for nine years
Unable immediately to raise $50,-
000 bond, Dr. Smith spent the night
in the parish jail. With his wife,
who was indicted as an accomplice,
the genial educator was returned
yesterday after a trip under guard
from Canada. Mrs. Smith was re
leased last night under $7,500 bond.
After refusing to talk with Federal
agents or District Attorney Dewey
Sanchez, Dr. Smith suddenly asked
near midnight to speak with San
chez. Jail officials said he then de
clared, “I am not going to be made
the goat in this thing.”
Sanchez had by that time retired
and Sheriff N. H. De Briton did not
call him.
(WsaiJwi
FOR NORTH CAROLINA
Generally fair tonight and
Tburoiay; rather warm in the
interior. <*: »Hli
Britain To Assist
Poland Only Under
Very Clear Threat
Foreign Under Secre
tary Parries Direct
Question in Commons;
Any Steps Deemed
Necessary Will B e
Taken, Chamberlain
Says
London, July 5. —(AP) —Richard
Butler, under secretary for foreign
affairs, told the House of Commons
today that Britain was obligated to
resist aggression against Poland
only in the event that there was a
‘‘clear threat” to Poland’s independ
ence
Asked if Britain’s policy included
resistance to any possible attempt to
change the status of the Free City of
Danzig, Butler referred his ques
tioner to the “terms of our pledge tb
Poland, which Great Britain will
certainly fulfill.”
(The British-French undertaking,
as announced * last March 31 by
Prime Minister Chamberlain, is to
lend “all support in their power” to
Poland in the event of any action
which clearly threatens Polish in
dependence, and which the Polish
government accordingly considered
vital to resist with her national
forces.)
*\ Chamberlain shortly before had
declared His Majesty’s government
“will not fail to take any steps which
will seem to them necessary and
desirable to make their attitude ab
solutely clear. This has already
been stated with precision in re
cent speeches by ministers.”
Despite Chamberlain’s statements,
some of his hearers recalled that
neither he nor Lord Halifax had
mentioned the Danzig situation spe
cifically in any of their recent
speeches, nor been more specific
concerning Britain’s pledge to aid
Poland if her independence were
threatened.
Calls Issued For
Banks’ Condition
As of June 30th
Washington, July s.—(AP) —The
comptroller of the currency issued
a call today for the condition of all
national banks at the close of bus
iness June 30, 1939.
CALL ALSO ISSUED FOR
REPORT ON STATE BANKS
Raleigh, July S.—(AP) —A call
was issued today for the condition
of all State banks at the close of
business June 30, 1939, Banking
Commissioner Gurney P. Hood said.
CAPTURES EXCEED
CONVICT ESCAPES
Raleigh, July S.—(AP) —Recap-
ture of 406 escaped prisoners dur
ing the 1938-39 fiscal year exceeded
341 escapes by 65, Ebnal Director
Robert Grady Johnson to
day. Fifteen penal units reported
no escapes. They included: Women’s
prison and county camps in Halifax
Martin, Northampton, Greene, Wash
ington, Brunswick and Wilson coun
tiees
Held in LSU Probe
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111. ' fife
Mrs. James Monroe Smith
Mrs. James Monroe Smith, wife of
the former head of Louisiana State
University, was arrested with her
husband at Brockville, Ontario.
They were permitted to remain in
their hotel, rather than go to jail,
pending return to the U. S. for trial
of Dr. Smith for alleged embezzling
c£ university funds.
PUBLISHED EVERY AFTERNOON
EXCEPT SUNDAY.
Envoy to Poland
I
I
% ■
Hans Adolf von Moltke
Hans Adolf von Moltke, German am
bassador in Warsaw, Poland, was
reported to have received a secret
message by special courier from
Hitler’s headquarters in Berchtes
gaden, Germany. European chan
cellories speculated on bearing the
message might have on the tense
Danzig situation.
Fresh Delay
In Fight On
Neutrality
Roosevelt Back at
Capital To Direct
Fight and Has Not
Changed Mind, Bark
ley Says; Huge Lend
ing Program Bills Be
ing Written
Washington, July 5.—(AP) — The
administration encountered another
delay today in its efforts to win re
vision of the neutrality bill when the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
postponed until Saturday considera
tion of the House-approved Bloom
bill.
Senator Harrison, Democrat, Mis
sissippi, who served as chairman,
said action was delayed because sev
eral foreign committee members also
are on the finance committee, v/hich
will begin consideration tomorrow of
proposed changes in the social se
curity law.
Chairman Pittman, Democrat,
Nevada, 'who arrived just as the
meeting broke up, said he was un
perturbed by the delay, and made it
plain that administration forces in
tended to demand a final showdown
on their proposal to repeal the arms
embargo of the present law.
“Certainly we shall stay here un
til there is a vote in the Senate on
neutrality,” Pittman said.
President Roosevelt has insisted on
neutrality revision this session. The
(Continued on Page Five)
Committee To Start
Visit To TB Sites
Charlotte, July S—(AP) —Sen-
ator Joe Blythe, of Mecklenburg .i
county, announced today a spe
cial legislative committee would
leave Raleigh Tuesday to k visit
16 or more cities and towns and
select a site for the $450,000
Eastern North Carolina tuber
culosis sanatorium.
After a conference Monday in
Raleigh, the committee will visit
Franklinton, Henderson, and
Louisburg Tuesday, Blythe said.
Other points on the group itiner
ary include: Rocky Mount, Wil
8 PAGES
TODAY
FIVE CENTS COPY
Cloudburst
Catastrophe
In The Night
38 of Dead in More
head, Ky., and Others
Scattered Over Moun
tain Country; Tragic
Incidents Separate
Families In Area
Morehead, Ky., July 5.
(AP) —Forty-six persons were
reported drowned today in
floods that followed quickly a
night cloudburst and swept
creeks and rivers out of their
banks in eastern Kentucky.
Thirty-eigfcit of. the dead were
listed here by postmaster W. E.
Crutcher.
The State Board of Health at
Louisville said it had been in
formed at least eight were
drowned when a wall of water
rushed down the gorge of the
Kentucky river at Jackson.
Bridges, homes, stores and
school buildings were swept
away, the department said.
A woman and her three children,
her mother and brother were drown
ed as they were attempting to start
an automobile to llee from the on
rushing water. The car was over
turned and washed several hundred
feet
No students of Morehead Students
College, located here, were in the
flood.
Crutcher said the death toll was
expected to be high in the rural sec
tions of Rowan county, with which
it has been impossible to communi
cate.
Farmers, a village seven miles
west of here, was completely cut off,
and Clearfield, a factory town of
about 500 persons on the opposite
side of Triplett Creek from More
head, was feared to have suffered
heavily. Rescuers were unable to
cross the swift current to reach the
community. Water on Railroad
street, Morehead’s main thorough
fare, varied in depth from four to
(Continued on Page Five)
New Proposal
On Pact Sent
From France
Paris, July 5. —(AP) —France sent
new suggestions to London today for
proposals to Moscow in continuation
in efforts to get Soviet Russia into
the British-French front.
French officials expressed disap
pointment at Moscow’s latest reply
to previous British-French proposals
and feared further delay.
The new French plan, the nature
of which was not disclosed, was re
layed to London for discussion with
Britain before further steps are tak
en in Moscow over the points at is
sue—the difficulty of giving guaran
tees of aid to smallef* states which
do not want such guarantees.
French commentators were alarm
ed and angry at failure to reach a
quick agreement with Russia. Form
er Premier Blum called for some
straight “yes and no” answers from
the- negotiations, which were being
conducted in secrecy. “The hour is
past,” he said. “The people wait, but
perhaps peace will not wait.”
son, Tarboro, Williamston, Eden
ton, Elizabeth City, Snow Hill,
Greenville, Washington, Kinston,
Wilmington, New Bern and
Southport.
Other members of the commit
tee are Representative O. M.
Mull, of Cleveland county; Rep
resentative L. L. Burgin, of Hen
derson county.
The General Assembly has ap
propriated $250,000 for the pro
ject, and Federal funds would
be sought for the balance of the
cost.