North Carolina Newspapers

'he Monroe journ. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. VOL. 21. No. 96. MONROE, N. G, FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1916. ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. V r T it' MADDENED BV Mil. MNKEI.KVS DEATH Wingate People Held Him in High Kt m I train I rjtu. . n Thomas New mil IVntoiwK Correspondence of The Journal. Wlneste. Jan. . The Md new o the tragic death or Mr. Ney McNeeley broueht Borrow and gloom and dis- nnnintment to the hearts of the Wingate people, in common with all of his friends. Few young men were ever more highly appreciated or more closely bound to hearts of our peo ple than was mis nooie young law yer. If we could have had our way the deceased would have been spared but the Grim Reaper never consults us as to whom we would prefer that he should take on or whom he should leave. We feel however, that there are other whom we could better af ford to Rive up. But we are only finite human beings whose vision is too weak and short to penetrate the great and mysterious future. The writer, in reading the account of the death of Capt. John M. Lit tie as given by The Wadesboro An sontan. discovered that Mr. Little was exactly of his age. Both born on the same day of the month of the same year. Both entered the Confederate service as soldiers, serv ed the same length of time and came home safe. It would be quite inter esting to this scribe to know how many more of Anson and I'nlon coun ty old boys can duplicate the a hove especially the birthday. Correction: I said in my last com munication let us pray and hope that better things may be written of the New Year as Its demise than has been written of the old. Not little things, as I was made to say. The Wingate school opened with a full attendance Monday with sev eral new additions. After spending their holiday va cation among home folks, the hoys and girls all returned to their various colleges to resume their studies for tho New ear. May their efforts be crowned with the best of success. Prof, and Mrs. U. Y. Tyner. after spending the holidays with their rel atives and friends about their old homo, have returned to their duties in the Virginia State Normal at Fred ericksburg. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Braswell of Rock Hill, were visitors In the home of Mrs. Braswell's parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. May, last week. Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Lmib and Jlt le Bon, went down, to Poikton Fri day evening and took supper with the family of Mr. and Mrs. J. v Goodman. Mrs. Lamb's parents. Of course they went and came by rail and had a most enjoyable time. Dr. Gale, whose sickness was men tioned in a former contribution to The Journal, has so far recovered as to be able to resume his duties in the Wineate Drug store. A correction: In my last note I stated that Mrs. Addle Joplin's home was at Ked Springs, when it should have been Greensboro at the Nor mal and Industrial college. Beg par don, my friends, mistakes will creep in occasionally. Pastor Black went down to Cedar Grove last Wednesday to conduct the funeral services over the remains of Esq. J. W. Thomas of Diamond Hill who died at his home Tuesday. The deceased was widely known and high ly esteemed by all who knew him. "Smoker Billy," as he was familiarly called, left quite a number of rela tives and friends in Union county, who will be sorry to learn of his death. Mr. Thomas was the son of the late Green Thomas of Anson county, who died in time of the Civil war. His mother was a duaghter of the late William Williams, who lived and died Just west of Wingate near the truBtle on the Seaboard. So It will be seen that the deceased leaves scores of relatives among the Wil liams and Griffin families about Wingate and Monroe, especially. Esq. Thomas was a Confederate soldier, one among the bravest and most gal lant; an active, consistent member of the Baptist church: a kind and de voted husband and father. In short, he was a well rounded character In every sense of the term, and one who will be greatly missed in the home and community or which he was a member. "Cousin Billy" was, we suppose, about 75 or 76 years at the time of his death. Our deepest sym pathies go out to the bereaved fami ly In this their hour of sadness and grief. Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Dies and Mrs. R. L. Womble spent Wednesday aft ernoon with the family of Mr. and Mrs. O. P. T. It was sure a delight to have these good neighborly friends with us. Prof, and Mrs. J. G. Carroll will leave tomorrow on a few days' visit to the home of Prof. Carroll's parents tn Sampson county. Two of Prof. Carroll's sisters, the writer under stands, have recently been married and the Prof, and lady go to congrat ulate, celebrate and rejoice over the happy event. 0. P. TIMIST. Mr. W. P. I'amms, Wadesboro Cltl- sen, Mentioned for the Senate. Wadesboro Dispatch, Jan. 4th. With the advent of 1916, the polit ical pot has begun to boil. The nom ination for State Senators for this district, comprising Anson, Davidson, Stanly and Union counties, will fall to the two first named counties this year. A well defined rumor Is to the effect that Mr. William P. Parsons will be asked to represent the dis trict from Anson county. Mr. Par sons Is a native of this county. He has long been Identified with civic commercial and moral interests of this community and Is recognized as a hnpny medium between the con servative and the radical factions. NO MORF. XKWS OF PERSIA (invcrnmeiit Making F.verv FITirt in ;t Information of How the Ship Ym Hone In IHuth, But Ha" liTarned Nothing. v.'ashington Pit-patch. Jan. (. .lope of obtaining from survivors conclusive proor that it was a torpedo that destroyed the liner Persia, was virtually abandoned at the State De partment when Consul Carrels at Alexandria. Egypt, cabled that no new facts were contained in the af fidavits he had gathered. Secretary lousing is hopeful that inquiries made by Ambassador Pen- field at the Vienna Foreign Office may clear up the situation. A dispatch announcing the presentation of the inquiry was received by the Secre tary today and information concern ing a reply is expected before tomor row night. Various aspects of the submarine crisis probably will be discussed by President Wilson and his Cabinet to morrow. The President Is under stood to have told Senators who call ed upon him today that as soon as the necessary' information was at hand he would take action which he believed would satisfy the people of the United States. The matter also s expected to come up before the Senate Foreign Rela tions Committee tomorrow wheu il holds Its first meeting of the session. The committee discussion may extend the question of submarine warfare in general, the sinking of the Persia. the Lusitania case and other incidents of the European war in which Ameri cans were involved. Chairman Stone said tonight he believed the com mittee would map out a program of procedure with regard to all pending matters including treaties awaiting ratification and resolutions regarding the European situation. The official text of Austria's reply to the second American note on the sinking of the Anemia was mailt' public during the day by the State Department. Except for variations in translations the official text is identi cal with the unofficial version cabled to United States in press dispatches from London. The note is retarded as meeting the demands made hy the lulled States for disavowal, punish nicnt of the submarine commander who torpedoed the vessel and repara tion by payment of indemity for the Americans killed and Injured. A re sponse to the communication will not it wti said tonicht. be tireiuu-ud nn til the facts surrounding ttie sinking of the Persia is known, or it is evi dent that to obtain them will he ini possible. One week has now passed since the Persia was sunk with a loss of ut least two American lives und the American Government is still without information sufficient to shape its course. State Department officials are most anxioiiii to determine Jus t where the Persia received her death blow and the manner In which she sank. With accurate information of this character and a plan showing the bulkhead arrangements of the steam ship at hand naval experts might be able to determine with some degree of certainty, whether a torpedo or a mine caused the Persia to go down There is little disposition here, how- ever, to credit the suggestion that a mine might have sunk the vessel. It s pointed out that the place of the disaster was nearly midway between the Island of Crete and the northern coast of Africa. No mine fields are believed to be in that locality. On the other hand. Austrian submarines are known to have been active there, Naval officers think that If a mine had floated to that part of the sea from a distant field of operations, it would have automatically become In effective while en route. That any information that may be forthcoming from the Austro-Hun garian Government will lead to se rious complications Is considered im probable. Government officials would not be greatly surprised should Am bassador Penfleld be informed that tin Austrian submarine commander whs responsible for the sinking of the ersia, but that he exceeded his In structions or failed to receive them, and that the Austro-Hungarian Gov ernment regretted the fact and stood ready to make satisfactory amends. The State Department is represent ed as not expecting Information from Ambassador Gerard at Berlin. No Instruction to inquire for Informa tion were sent to him. However, the Ambassador might have made In quiries at the Berlin Foreign Office as has been Indicated In press dis patches upon his own initiative. Marshville Shy on Hotel Acrimiinic elation Marshville Home. As yet no one has undertaken the management of the Marshville hotel. This fact Is the source of no little in convenience to the traveling public. At the present time a man is forced to leave our little city at night, for there is no place In which he may spend the night. We hope some one will soon see fit to open up accommo dations along this line. BAD HABITS Those who breakfast at eight 'clock or later, lunch at twelve and have dinner at six are almost certain to be troubled with Indigestion. They do not allow time for one meal to digest before taking another. Not less than five hours should elapse be tween meals. If you are troubled with indigestion correct your habits and take Chamberlin's Tablets, and you may reasonably hope for a quick recovery. These tablets strengthen the stomach and enable It to perform Its functions naturally. Obtainable everywhere. INTIMATE AND APPRECIATIVE SKETCH OF MR. W. H. BELK t From the Charlotte Observer. In the mercantile world of the Carolina no name is better known than the one which appears above, Rising by sheer force of will, native anility ami untiring industry from me status ol a youth without capital to the leadership of a giant enter- iri.se wnicn tram-act t-acn year a business totalling two and a quarier minion uoiiars, .ir. lieu nas made ntmseir a powerful lactor in the up- building of the State und the city of his adoption. In the years that are past ue lias grappled with problems uiui iiiiuui cii nave dismayed one who was less resolute, he has con- fronted obs tacles in the race of which many a man would have hoist- eu me wnue nag of defeat. But not he. A man of a different mould is this quiet, unassuming but de- iriniineu iiciui 01 a Qoxcn department e : I j stores liu;t form a gulden chain, linking his inierest in ,, dozen Caro- lin.i towns and cities. Today, at the Mood-tide of smiling fortunes, behind him the financial Armugeddons where every struggling young man must wrest It; with the principalities and the powers that seek to defeat his hopes, Mr. Helk Is as modest as on the day he first opened a tinv store in Monroe in his own name, wondering what of good or ill the future nilht have in store for his youthful et.tcrpriso. He is respon- slve now, as he has always been re- sponsive, tn every opportunity to render a public service. June 2, 18B2. while the Civil War was in its height. Mr. Belk was born In Lancaster County, South Carolina. His father was the late A. N. Belk. His mother, before her mar- lage. was Miss Sarah Walkup. She was born In 1X36 In what was then Mecklenburg, but Is now Union coun- ty, In thp Wuxhuw neighborhood, The family has long been intimately associated with the county. One ol her brothers. Dr. H. C. Wulkup. practiced medicine in .Vecklenutirc and later removed to Florida. An other brother, Col. Samuel H. Walk- up, commanded the Forty-eight North Carolina Regiment. Another brother, Col. William W. Wulkup. died about 20 years ngo at Waxhr.w Ho and his wife adepted and nilsed ; about 20 orphan children. Their home was locally known as "the i Walkup Orphanage." In 1XC.5, when Henry Helk was only three yeur.i old. his father met fate that was peculiarly tragic. The grandfather. Thomas M. Belk. owned much land, including the Belk Gold Mine, now known as the Dixie Gold Mine. In this he worked many slaves. At the time of Slier- man's march through that section. ' A. N. W. T,elk had taken refuge, near the mine with some of his slaves. Sherman's soldiers were told ' that Thomas Belk had a large quan- tlty of gold hidden in that region. and w hen they found Henry Belk's ! father they Imagined that thev had the possessor of the gold. They de- ' M. Belk, who had graduated from manded that he reveal to them the ; the New York University of Medicine, hiding place of the buried treasure, and was practicing medicine at Mor and on his failure to reveal thatjven. was Invited to Join the firm which he did not know, they dipped j which became W. H. Belk Bro. him In a creek, continuing the pro- I Already the business was branching cess until he was drowned. Mrs. Belk was thus left with two fatherless children, and to add to ''nd for several years at Chester, the perplexities of the situation the!. C. One was opened at Union S. family fortune was lost, like so many! C with it. P. Harry of Charlotte. fortunes of ante-bellum days, be cause the father had nlelgpd it as security for a family of negroes. The plantations were sold to pay the debt. Mr. Belk's mother bought some of the land and stock, the ' mor.cy being advanced hy her broth er. Col. William W. Walkup. Not until 22 years ago did Mr. W. H. B '; and his brother. Dr. J. M. llelk complete the iu t:it of this money, the residue of tin- debt in rurred on behalf in the tolured family. Mr! Belk lived in Lam-aster ii.un iy until about 10 jears old, when he went to Monroe with his family ;.nd there he has spnt much of his life thus far. He attended local Hhools. was taught be Messrs. Hugh Keid. Josei.h ltmiUii, anil nthr .nH finished the emir, ut ih. College, as it was called. H urenared tn enter tho rniuoraii.- r North Carolina and desired to do so. Ini' realized Hint it wi.nl.l intuit m.i uroat a sacrifice on the part of his mother. The call el a business direer sounded loudly in his ears, besides, so he decided to j.o to work and assist in the education or his younger brothers i.nd sisters. This he did. Mr. lielk's first business experl ence was gained as a clerk in the store of Mr. B. D. Heath In Monroe, the latter being associated with his brother. Mr. E. J. Heath, at that time. Henry Belk was then about 13 years old. In June 1, 1X88, he de- termined to embark in business on ,lis own responsibility, and he made ,,ie venture. This was the real be ginning of his battle with the world had made tip his mind that he would succeed, and discouragements served only to Intensify that determl- nation. Prof. Horace Williams, of the chair or philosophy at Chapel Hill, was accustomed to say, and probably still sometimes says, to his studetns, "The time will come, some '"' or other, when it will be neces- '"' you to work 18 hours a day ' nuiKe jour business a success Those days were not lor.g In coming to the ambitious Monroe young man, and he met the Issue fairly and squarely. He worked hy day and, when necessary, he worked hy night. While others were burning their mld- night oil to master the books of other:', he was burning the midnight nil over his own books. Sometimes the financial future looked dark and unpromising. Sometimes he won- dend how obligations could be met. Always, however, he had some true n"d tried friend who never failed to come to the rescue and tide him over these crises. There Is an an- r'ent saying. 'He who would have friends must show himself friendly." Mr Helk complied w ith this proviso '"I he never lacked for friends. Leading citizen.'; of the community SRW that he was one of the right sort, tnat his influence was for good, and ,nV 'pnt him their support. And gradually he began to push ahead. 1's',' Mr. Belk's brother. Dr. out. From time to time new stores 'have been opened. One was main- later merged with Captain Foster's store as the Mutual Dry Goods Store, and later discontinued. There are now in active operation: at Greens- boro the Brown-Belk Company, at Gastonia. the J. M. Belk Company at Waxhaw, the R. J. Belk Company, at Salisbury, the Belk-Harry Com pany, kt Yoik. S. C. the Kirpatrick l-eik Company, at Concord, the Parks -Belk Company, at Sanford Hie alliums - Helk Company, at Slatesx ille. the Johnson-Bclk Com pany, at Raleigh, the Hudson-Itelk Company, at Wilmington, the Delk Williams Company, at Charlotte. Belk Bros., at Monroe. W. H. Belk Bro. It was in September, 1R95, that Mr. Belk's name first appeared in a directory of Charlotte. For exactly 20 years his business experience. Judgment and aggressiveness have been enlisted in the forces working ror Charlotte. In volume of business the local store has probably increased a thousand per cent since its first year. And in the meantime Charlotte has grown somewhat, too, having trebled it population. One of Mr. Belk's first acts here was to assist in the formation of the Piedmont Fire Insurance Company. which erected the Piedmont build ing on South Tryon street, a notable addition to the town in that day. He was one of the prime movers in the erection of the Selwyn Hotel and al io In the construction of the city's? Irst tall building, the 12-story Reaity luilding. The Interest of Mr. D. A rompklns, a director in the EquI ".able Life Assurance Society, was en .isted in the Realty building projec ind his aid secured. In 1910 Bel' Uros. erected the handsome an ommodious building they occupy o .ast irade stree. Mr. Belk Is i tockholder in many enterprises, an us been instrumental in brlncln onie of the largest or them to thi ity. He is a director in the Piei iiont Fire Insurance Company, ar. iresident of the Charlotte Due 'lothing Company. Ho is a direeU n the Cole Manufacturing Companj Charlotte National Bank, Merchant, and Farmers National Bank, Imk pendence Trust Company, the Wit. Chester Electrical Company, th Hamilton Millinery Company, th. fidelity Cotton Mills, end In 30 o. more other business concerns of thL y and section. An elder in the Monroe rrosby- terian Church ror years, Mr. Belk has given generously or his time and mtar.s to religious and benevolent causes. For 15 years he has been a member of the board of regents ol the Barium Springs Orphanage. He Is a member of the board of trustees of Davidson College, and he is a member of the Board of Home Mis sions or North Carolina ror Meck lenburk Presbytery. For eight years he has been a member of the Board of School Commissioners or the city of Charlotte. He was married last Spring to Miss Mary Irwin, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John R. Irwin of this city. A unique blending of sane conser vatism with hopeful enterprise, a willingness to face facts as they arc rather than to find pleasure In roseate, unreal dreams and to adapt himself to the real situation, a well grounded confidence in self, united to the ability to learn something from the other man and to rely on the special knowledge of a man In a special field these are some or the elements that enter into the charac ter and personality or one who has shown himself an apt student of business, a sound Judge of Its condi tions, and an organizer of high skill. Unite these characteristics, and the others that heve been fndicnled, and you have a combination that spells "Success." (Beside the above named business enterprises Belk Bros, are large stockholders In the Monroe Hardware Company and compose the advisory board of the company. The Jour nal.) More Married Than Single .Men En listed. Loudon Dispatch, Jan. 4. Lord Derby's recruiting figures for the period between October 2.1 and December 15 show that 1.150,00 unmarried men and 1.67!i,2fi3 mar ried men presented themselves for service. Of the grand total of 2, 82!). 263 married and Ringle men, 103, Ooo un married, and 112.431 married men enlisted Immediately. Eight hundreu and forty thousand single men and I,u44.!i79 married men were attested for future service. Of the single men 207,00 were re jected while 221.852 married men were not accepted by the recruiting officers. The Earl of Derby's report shows that the total men or military r.ge in England. Scotland, Wales, wV were not enlisted when the canvass began were: Single men. 2.173.231 and married men 2.823.210 a total or 5.011.441. The total or attested, enlisted and rejected men having been 2.829.263 the available men aggregating 5.- u ii,4 4 1, snows that there are 2, 182, 178 men who did not offer their services. FOUND A SI RK THIXtJ I. B. Wixon, Farmers Mills, N. Y has used Chamberlin's Tablets ror years ror disorders or the stomach and liver and says, "Chamberlin's Tablets are the best I have ever used. Ob tainable everywher. RUSSIANS STIFFENING VP. (ietting Active All Along the Lino and Are Beginning, to Trouble Their Foen Again. By a majority or 298. the British Parliament has passed the first read ing of Premier Asquith's conscription bill, under which the single men of military age or widowers without children dependents may be drafted into the military service. The bal loting showed 403 memo is for and 105 against the measure. The vote, which seems to presage the passage or the bill, came despite the antagonism shown against it by the labor congress, which by a large majority favored the withdrawal of the measure from Parliament. The quitting of the Cabinet bv the Laborite president of the Board of Education, and the withdrawal from the Government councils of two oth er Laborites the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Home affairs and the Lord Commissioner of the Treas ury followed the vote of the Labor Congress. Although the heavy fighting con tinues in eastern Calicia around the Bukowina frontier and Turther north across the line up into Russia in the Styr River region, no accurate esti mate or the situation is as yet ob tainable, as both the Russians and Austrian claim successes ror their armies. Seemingly there has been a re- crudesence of the fighting along the line from Kiga southward to the Priget River. The Germans have re treated before the Russians near Ja- cobstadt and the RusKians have cap tured a position near Czartorysk, while the Germans have driven the Russians from a sector in Voihynia. On the other fronts there have been the usual artillery, bomb throw ing and mine operations, in which no essential gains have been made by tiny of the contending forces. While no definite information has yet been obtained as to the manner In which the Persia met her fate, the steamer owners announce that 336 persons on board have not been ac counted for ll!i passengers and 217 members of the crew. The French passenger steamer Kannrk, arriving at Marseilles from the Mediterranean reports having been chased by an under sea boat. .Meeting of District .Mail Carrier Wadesboro Ansoninn. -The Rural Letter Csuvicrs' Associ ation of Union. Aiuion. K'chmond ami Scotland counties, h'.M their first meeting of tho New Ycur in the court house here Saturday. Rev. A. R. Woodson opened the meeting with prayer after which Mr. T. V. Howell took the chair. Mr. W. K. Boggan delivered the address of welcome. Ho paid the carriers a very eloquent compliment in the great work they are doing on their respective route. He showed much knowledge of tho services and praised the carrier for w hat they are doing for good schools, and other Improvements. Mr. Howell responded and thank ed Mr. Boggan for hi.s encourage ment. Mr. W. C. Bivens made a short talk to the carriers. Dr. J. E. Hart, chairman of the board of county commissioners spoke, to the "boys" about good roads and the National Highway, urging them to do what they can to bring It through Anson. He found the carri ers already in favor of this road and thev passed the following resolution: Whereas, We the Rural Letter Carriers of Union, Anson, Richmond and Scotland counties regard the Charlotte-to-Wilmington branch of the state highway as an important and very necessary piece of roadway; and. Whereas, We feel that the very best route for this highway 1st through the counties of Union, An, son. Richmond and Scotland; there tore, be It resolved: 1. That we urge and petition the proper authorities to locate the said highwny in the counties shove named. 2. That we hereby put ourselves on record as not only ravorlng the said highway through the counties mentioned but that we pledge our loyal support or the same In every way In which we can assist In Us con struction and maintenance. HENRY F. GIBSON, A. J. GREENE. GEO. E. BURNS, Committee. Pror. Paul J. Klker addressed the carriers, urging them to keep up their good work. The business of the Association was then discussed, after which the rariers and their guests. Rev. A. H. Woodson, Dr. Hart, Prof. P. J. Kl ker, and W. C. Bivens were given a most excellent dinner at the Brown House. Judge Allen Recommended to Suc ceed J iin t ice lAiiutr. Washington Dispatch, Jan. 5th. W. R. Allen, member of the North Carolina Supreme Court and John W. Davis, solicitor general of the De partment of Justice, have been rec ommended to President Wilson to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court of the United States caused br the death of Justice Lamar. The President has not yet given se rious consideration to the question but Is expected to reach a decision its quickly a possible. CHAMBERLIN'S XU!JH REMEDY MOST EFFECTUAL "I have taken rront man km. ties of Charmberltn's Cough Remedy and every time it has enred me. I nave louna u most etiectual Tor a hacking cough and for colds. After taklnr It a coueh iIwim iHcinmr writes J. R. Moore, Lost Valley. Oa. UDtainaoie everywhere.