MARION PROGRESS
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF McDOWELL COUNTY.
ESTABLISHED 1896. MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, OCT. 19, 1916. VOL. XXI—NO. 8
SINCLAIR SPEAKS HERE
Presidential Elector Arouses Much
Enthusiasm by Excellent Speech
at Court House—Club Formed.
Id an interestio^ address to a
large audience at the court house
Saturday night, N. A. Sinclair,
Woodrow Wilson elector-at-large,
discussed in a masterful manner
both State and National issues, se
verely criticising the record of the
Republican party without any
apologies, stating that no man could
intelligently weigh the merits of
one party without comparing the
records of the two parties. He
reviewed the days of the carpet
bagger and the scallawag in North
Carolina, answered Chairman
Frank Linney’s charges about dem
ocratic mismanagement of state
affairs^nd declared that never in
the history of civilization had there
been achieved such a record of
legislation for the benefit of the
masses as during the administra
tion of President Woodrow Wilson.
Mr. Sinclair was introduced by
Attorney J. W. Pless, as an able
lawyer and one of the prominent
Democratic leaders of the State.
He is a pleasing and convincing
speaker and aroused much enthusi
asm. For more than an hour he
held the closest attention of his
hearers and was many times inter
rupted by outbursts of applause.
STATE ISSUES.
“The republican party,” said Mr.
S^inclair, “came into North Caro
lina a few years after it was born
and proclaimed as a party of great
moral ideas, took charge of the
government, disfranchised the Con
federate soldiers and enfranchised
the negroes. I have a right to re
fer to the record of the republican
party in this state, although I re
gret as much as any man that this
record has been written into the
history of our state. The carpet
baggers and the scallawags stole
every dollar of our school funds,
issued fraudulent bonds and pocket
ed the money. The great Vance
turned them out, and a new pro
phet arose, one Marion Butler.
In an unguarded moment the peo
ple of the state trusted Butler and
Daniel Russell, and they gave us
negro rule. You men of the west
know nothing of negro office hold
ers. In my part of the state we
had negro police officers on the
streets of Wilmington. We had
negroes on the board of education,
and white girls as teachers. We
had negro justices of the peace and
negro cooks swore out warrants for
their white employers. They were
arrested, tried and convicted by
ixegroes.
“Chairman Linney cries we are
not caring for the Confederate
veterans. His party disfranchised
them. We are paying them nen-
48ions. He says we are doing little
for the poorer counties in aiding
their schools. His party spent
$10,000 in all the counties. Today
we are spending $668,000. He
charges we do not collect interest
on the state deposits. Did his
party? Did the national republi
can party ? No not in one instance.
But we are collecting the interest,
from both state and national de
posits, Mr. Linney to the contrary
notwithstanding. ”
In placing his vote, the speaker
said, he would leave it to the con
science of the good citizens and
also thought that it might be a
matter of taste as well.
After dealing with state affairs
he reiterated the accomplishments
of the Wilson administration, cit
ing the benefit derived from the
enactment of the Federal reserve
act, the Rural credits act, the vast
amount of agricultural extension
and educational work accomplished
and of the good roads and ware
house benefits; of the passage of
the shipping bill to control the
freight rates on foreign shipping
thus modifying prices on commodi
ties in this country to the consumer
and concluded his speech by a
scatching denunciation of Hughes'
unfounded criticism of the admin
istration legislation during the past
few years.
He read from an editorial appear
ing in the New York Sun at the
time of Hughes’ retirement from
the governorship of New York in
which it said that his admmistra-
tion had been a dismal failure and
had “left behind him a complete
wreck” which had no pilot and
answered no helm, and ended by
saying that “he had failed.” He
cited Hughes’ acts while the gov
ernor of New York in catering to
the classes by vetoing legislation
in favor of the people and labor,
such as the railway fare bill, the
full crew bill. Coney Island fare
bill and the equal pay for woman
school teachers.
CLUB ORGANIZED.
Following the speaking, a Demo
cratic club was organized with Dr.
G. S. Kirby as president and J.
W. Winborne, Oscar Adkins and
W. H. Hill, secretaries. The vice-
presidents are W. W. McConnell,
E. P. Foy, Marvin Flack, Thomas
Wall, Jno. M. Early and D. T.
Harris. A large number of Demo
crats have already enrolled as mem
bers and others will be invited to
join. The club will meet every
Saturday night between now and
the election.
Britt Speaks at Marion.
Congressman J. J. Britt address
ed a fair-sized audience at the court
house here Monday afternoon. He
spoke about an hour and took up
the greater part of his time de
fending his record in congress.
Mr. Britt stated that he deserved
credit for securmg the $3,000,000
appropriation for purchasing ad
ditional land in Western North
Carolina for conservation purposes.
“I have secured eight rural routes
for the tenth district,” said Mr.
Britt, “and I advocate mail service
for every family in America, a
system by which every family in
the United States mj^ have free
mail service.”
Mr. Britt attacked the attitude
of his opponent on the Child La
bor bill, charging that Mr. Weaver
kept quiet on child labor while in
Rutherford and McDowell coun
ties and advocated an age limit in
counties farther west. He also
stated that he was no advocate of
making sectionalism an issue, and
denounced Mr. Weaver for having
caused Congressman Heflin of Ala
bama to make a speech in Ashe
ville. “Mr. Heflin,” declared Mr.
Britt, “is the extremest sectional-
ist in America.”
Services at St. John’s church
next Sunday at 11 a. m. and 7:45
p. m.
NEWS FROM THE COUNTY
Brief Mention of Some of the Hap
penings in McDowell County—
Items About Home People.
NEBO
Nebo, Oct. 17.—Revs. Sorrels and
Nanney, both of Union Mills, are con
ducting a series of meetings at the Bap
tist chnrch this week Everybody is
cordiaUy incited to attend the meeting,
and we hope that it will be a success.
Mrs. Marshall li'cLean, son Hubert,
and niece. Miss May Roney, have re
turned to their home at Gibsonville af
ter spending a few days with Mr. and
Mrs. M C. Sigmon.
Joe Hnnter has retnrned from Balti
more, Md., where he spent a week with
his sister.
Will and Key Landis of Dysartville
were the guests of their aunt, Mrs. G.
D. Taylor, a few days daring the past
week.
Misses Tracy Sigmon and Greneva
Alexander were shopping in Marion,
Monday.
Rev. O. Paul Fitzgerald of Elon Col
lege was a pleasant visitor here a few
days last week.
Miss Allie Setzer of Morganton is the
guest of Mrs. W. J. Bowman this week,
T B. Landis of Dysartville made a
business trip to Nebo last Monday.
Mrs, G. A. Link of Hickory was the
guest of Mrs, M. C. Sigmon, Monday.
Mrs. Setzer of C!ollettsyilIe is visiting
her daughter, Mrs- W. J. Bowman.
THOMPSON’S FORK.
Thompson s Fork, Oct. 15.—M. Sim-'
mons made a business trip to Marion
one day last week.
Vannus Brown of Glenwood was a
visitor here one day last week.
Mrs. Mattie Tate visited relatives at
Nebo one day last week.
Mrs. W. C, Janes of this place and
Mrs. Hattie Wilson of Nebo have re
turned from Cleveland county after an
extended visit to relatives and friends.
J. H. Janes was a visitor at Glen
wood, Sunday.
Mrs. A. E. Rowe and son, Dan, are
visiting relatives at Glen Alpine.
Mrs. J. M. Brinkley of Glen Alpine
was a visitor here last week.
Floyd Lawing of Halltown visited
homefolks here Saturday and Sunday.
Ferman and Lafayette Simmons weie
in Marion one day last week.
D. C. Brown and family have removed
to Glenwood.
James Hemphill has purchased the
farm belonging to J. H. Hemphill and
will soon return to make this place his
home.
STROUDTOWN
Stroudtown, Oct. 16.—Stroudtown
graded school is progressing nicely with
Alonzo Davis as principal and Misses
Dora Gibbs and Mae McCurry assist
ants.
Mifta Mattie Hunter and Mr: Albert
McKelvy were quietly married Sunday
afternoon, October 8, at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. John Flowers, Marvin
Shirlen officiating. Only a few intimate
friends witnessed the ceremony. May
gladness and peace reign within their
hearts thru long and useful days.
Mrs. W, H. Poteet has returned to
her home in Canton after a visit to
relatives here.
Mrs. Tina Noblitt left Sunday for
Spartanburg, where she will spend a
few days.
Annie Gray of Asheville was the
guest of Miss Ida Pool last Sunday.
A number of young people enjoyed a
singing at the home of Mrs. Lula Stroud
Saturday night.
B. F. Horton, who is teaching on Flat
Creek, visited homefolks here Saturday
and Sunday.
Mrs, Stacy Nublitt is spending a few
days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
S. M. Hawkins.
Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Frisbie and chil
dren spent Sunday with Mrs. Rebecca
Tate near Greenlee,
ASHFORD
Ashford, Oct. 16.—Mr. and Mrs. J.
C. Connelly spent Saturday and Sunday
with relatives at Pitts,
E. E. English and daughter, Alda,
visited homefolks here Sunday and
Monday.
Mrs Anna Conley of Marion is visit
ing i^latives here this week.
Joe Carpenter spent Sunday with
homefolks at Altamont.
Mrs. C. A. Peterson of Spruce Pine
visited relatives here last Friday.
Miss Lurlene Hicks spent the latter
part of last week with her mother at
Marion.
Ben Moore of Burke county was here
on business one day last week.
Chas. Wilson spent last Saturday and
Sunday with his sister, Mrs. S. B.
Moore, in Burke county,
Earl Brown spent Sunday with friends
at Linville Falls,
Mrs. J. B. Lonon spent Saturday and
Sunday in Marion.
J. E Wilson has gone to Nebo and
Marion on a business trip.
Community Fair at Dendron.
The premium list for the Com
munity Fair to be held at Dendron
on October 28 has been issued and
much interest is manifested in the
fair which promises to be a great
success. An interesting program
is being planned for the occasiort
by the citizens of the community
with Miss Daintry Graham, of Old
Fort, the teacher in charge of the
school at that place, as general
manager. There will be an all day
program, featured by an address
by Gov. Locke Craig. Besides the
address by the Governor there will
be others present who are booked
for speeches, among them Attorney
D. E. Hudgins and County Farm
Demonstrator Bailey of Marion.
The school exhibit will be of
special interest. In this will be
shown an unique collection of West
ern North Carolina plants, and
also a map of McDowell county
showing the natural elevations.
There will be a picnic dinner on
the grounds and the public is cor
dially invited.
School News.
Miss Gowan, agent of the Na
tional Department of Education,
was a caller at the county sunerin-
tendent’s office on Tuesday. Miss
Gowan is traveling in the interest
of school gardens, and especially
school gardens in the mill towns
of the states in her itinerary. She
has some surprising and interest
ing statistics as to the economic
results of vegetable gardening in
mill town back yards, and the
progress in agriculture made by
the children.
The enrollmen at the Clinchfield
school has reached 160. There are
beside this number 25 children of
school age not yet entered. This is
40 more than can be at present ac
commodated. Because of the con
gestion in certain grades in both
cotton mill districts, parents are
advised that preference will be
given to the pupils most regular
in attendance. Pupils absenting
themselves for any but the most
satisfactory reasons are likely to
find their places filled.
The first Philiopino Congress,
consisting of a Senate and a House
of Representatives, created by the
“Philippine independence” bill
pass^ at the last session of the
American Congress, convened yes
terday.
Mrs. Martha Avery Phifer, aged
74, widow of the late George L.
Phifer of Morganton, died Sunday
at her home in Morganton. She
is survived by seven sons, a daugh
ter and one brother—Mr. Isaac T.
Avery.
STATE NEWS OF THE WEEK
Items Concerning Events of In
terest and Importance Through
out the State.
The fair at Salisbury opens on
the 24th.
Quaker Meadows township,
Burke county, has voted $20,000
of bonds for good roads.
Albert Anthony, 68 years old,
committed suicide last week at his
home in Shelby by cutting his
throat with a razor. Despondent
on account of ill health.
The Charlotte Observer reports
that a North Carolina manufactur
er, one of the largest employers of
labor in the State—perhaps the
largest—has contributed a check
for $10,000 to the cause of Presi
dent Wilson, and he is a man who
it was thought might not be pleased
by the 8-hour labor law.
Friends of former Congressman
James M. Gudger, Jr., of Ashe
ville, are determined that no op
portunity to secure a good Federal
job for Mr. Gudger shall be over
looked. He has now been endorsed
for a place on the District of Co*
lumbia Supreme Court to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of
J ustice Thomas H. Anderson.
John C. Drewry of Raleigh, sec
retary of the grand lodge of Ma
sons, who died a few days ago, left
an estate valued at $250,000. He
willed $10,000 to the grand lodge
of Masons, $500 to St. Mary’s
School, Raleigh, and $1,000 to the
vestry of Christ’s church, Raleigh.
The bulk of the remainder of the
estate is left to the wife and son.
Governor Craig has issued an
appeal to the people of North Caro
lina for them to make contributions
October 21 and 22 along with the
people of the whole country, for
tbe relief of the war, famine and
disease stricken in Syria and Ar
menia. He says that quoting the
language of President Wilson, “I
feel confident that the people of
this State will be moved to aid
these people stricken by war, fam
ine and disease.”
Meeting at Court House Saturday
to Discuss Farm Loan Law.
In a great many counties over
the State farmers and bankers are
holding meetings to organize Na
tional Farm Loan Associations.
The wide spread use of this Fed
eral Credit law will mean a new
awakening in the agricultural de
velopment of the state. There is
such general interest in McDowell
county that it has been thought
well to hold a meeting in the court
house Saturday, October 21, at 2
o’clock, when Messrs. B. B. Price,
W. T. Morgan, Geo. I. White and
others will discuss briefly various
phases of the new law. No effort
will be made at this time to organ
ize, but we need to know if there
is sufficient interest to organize at
a later date. Besides the discus
sions of loans, there wUl be an in
teresting address on opportunities
in McDowell by J. L. Thurman,
of Old Fort, recently from Mon
tana.
If you will subscribe to The
Progress or renew your subscrip
tion at once we will include four
standard macrazines, all one year,
for only 25 cents extra. Write or
I phone.
were shopping in Marion last Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Mack Lonon of Marion