MARION STORES OFFER BIG VALUES IN MERCHANDISE FOR ALL PURPOSES-TRADE AT HOME! i MARION PROGRESS I A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1932 VOL. XXXVII—NO. 18 COUNTY OFFICERS' DUTIES CITED AT PUBLIC CEREMONY Courthouse Scene of the First Public Installation of Coun ty Officials Monday Night. "We are all stockholders of a great corporation, the corporation of McDowell county, with an income of $250,000. It is our duty to take some interest in the affairs of the corporation, to know what becomes of the money collected and how our public officials, directors of the cor poration, handle the vast business entrusted to their care." In these words W. T. Morgan, Marion attor ney, opened his remarks on "duties of a citizen" at the courthouse Mon day night when county officers were inducted into office in the first pub lic ceremony of the kind ever held in North Carolina. J. Will Pless, Jr., presided at the meeting giving a short talk on the Institute of Government and the i purposes for which the exercises > were held. He also introduced the speakers who in turn defined the du ties of the various county officers.. i Mr. Pless said the Institute is de signed to inform the public of their r\s'hts and duties as citizens and to brrng p.bout improvement in county go^ .-eminent. By a study of the meth ods of a number of counties in this anc.l other states, it is expected, he saif'i, to eliminate unnecessary and cu/mbersome features in the present system and substitute therefor rbodern and efficient methods to in crease efficiency in administration. Power of Commission J. W. Winborne briefly outlined the duties and responsibilities of the county commissioners, the governing and controlling power of the county. The commissioners, he said, have au thority over all the property, public buildings and affairs of the county in general; have the power to levy taxes, to borrow money; appropri ate funds and pay off bonded indebt edness, without limit except as hedged in by constitutional provis ions and acts of the legislature. J. Fleming Snipes, chairman, J. Logan Lackey and 0. G. Wiseman were then sworn as commissioners. W. R. Chambers said the consti tutional office of register of deeds is a most important one, having the duty of recording all deeds, mort gages, bonds, and other instruments pertaining to the property of the people, with whom he must come in vital contact. Mr. Chambers paid very high tribute to the splendid qualities of Robert V. McGimsey, who was sworn as register of deeds, saying he is an ideal official for daily contact with the public. The treasurer of any corporation is second in importance to no other officer, D. S. Gardner said in his talk on the duties of county treas urer. Having his hands on the finan cial pulse, the treasurer knows the state of affairs at all times and must guard the public interest faithfully and well. M. G. Poteat, who was sworn as treasurer, was a man of high character who had served faith fully, Mr. Gardner said. Presenting the coroner, Dr. J. F. Jonas, Mr. Pless said he is the only man who can arrest the sheriff and succeed to that office when declared vacant in emergency, and the cor oner has other important duties. The office of sheriff is the oldest constitutional office, dating back to «arly English history and there has always been a sheriff, R. W. Proctor •said, going on to tell of the many ex acting duties inthat office and how g.:'ell it ha9 been filled in recent J^.ars, naming McCall, Nichols, and ^dkins as men of high character and 'cient in the discharge of their du . 0. F. Adkins took the oath of e- J- . L. Laughridge, clerk of t, administered the oath in each Morgan's remarks came af 3 officials had been sworn into He pointed out that good citi ■j makes efficient administra |f the law, and without cooper of good citizens the best offi are hampered in performance heir duties. He said that public ers should be supported and as ed in executing public laws and .t they should be applied to all ke, high and low, powerful and sak, rich and poor, GETTYS FUNERAL WAS ATTENDED BY THRONGS AT PINNACLE SUNDAY One of the largest gatherings of people ever seen at a funeral in the county attended the funeral Sunday afternoon of Lee W. Gettys, at Pin nacle Methodist church, near Dys artville. Rev. B. C. Reavia, pastor of the First Methodist church at Mor ganton, and Rev T. B. Hunnicutt, of Nebo, were in charge. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mr. Gettys, formerly of McDowell county, died at his home near Mor ganton Saturday, December 3, fol lowing a stroke of paralysis four days before. He never regained con sciousness. Before leaving McDowell county I about six years ago, Mr. Gettys was i and for many years had been one of the county's prominent citizens. About twelve years ago he served as a member and chairman of the coun ty commissioners, and had filled oth er positions of trust and responsibil ity among his fellowcitizens. He was a teacher in the public schools of the county while a young man. Joining the church at Pinnacle in his youth, he held membership in that congre gation all his life, serving as stew ard of the church and as officer and teacher in the Sunday School. He died in his sixty-seventh year. Surviving the deceased are his widow, and one daughter,-Mrs. Jud Bowers, wife of the clerk of court in Burke county; also three brothers, J. A., of Glen Alpine, B. G. of Mar ion, and W. M. Gettys, of Valdese. CHRISTMAS BELLS RING OVER THE DINNER POT $135 IS AMOUNT WANTED The shrill jingle of Santa Claus' bell will continue to ring beside the big iron kettle on Main street until Mrs. Harbin of the Wayside Relief Home, hag counted enough of the sil very sheckels to buy a nice dinner for each of the families she has lis ted as worthy of a good feed Christ mas day. Each will be given a bas ket of uncooked food sufficient to satisfy hearty appetites, for one day at least. Mrs. Harbin said yesterday that the goal she hopes will be reached is the collection of $135 for the Christ mas dinner fund. Contributions dropped in the kettle so far are en couraging, she said. Thursday, the first day, $1.32 was the amount re ceived; on Friday, SI.35, and on Saturday liberal passersby dropped in nickels, dimes, and quarters to talling $9.75, thus bringing contri butions the first three days to $12/42. Mrs. Harbin is making plans for a Christmas tree in the old bakery stand, December 23, in which lauda ble undertaking she has the assist ance of a number of the ladies of the ! churches, she said. Mrs. Harbin said all cases are carefully investigated before aid is i given, and then only to those found i worthy. FREE SATURDAY MATINEE AT MARION THEATRE FOR SWEET CHARITY'S SAKE On Saturday morning, December 10, at 10:30, the Marion Theatre will give free a school children's 9how, for sweet charity. Mr. House has arranged a splen did program for this show, the fea ture being HUCKLEBERRY FINN, Mark Twain's famous story made in to a splendid picture by the Para mount Company. This program will be absolutely free for all children, | or anyone who wants to come, the only requirement being that each "child or person attending is reques ted to bring some article of food or clothing which will be turned over to the Wayside Mission for distribu tion amongst the poor and needy 1 folks of the community. Mr. House advises that he expects to give these Saturday morning free matinees on alternating Saturdays all through the winter, as he has done in the past. And for which the community should be deeply grate ful, showing full appreciation by do nating liberally through the food barrel. ATTEND DURHAM COURT ! J. L. Morgan, John Yancey. Dr. G. B. Justice, Dr. G. S. Kirby, Ralph Tate and Harold Phillips, the latter a porter at the Hotel James, were in Durham last week as witnesses in federal court at the trial of a case brought by the estate of the late B. M. Hart against an insurance com ,pany. J. FLEMING SNIPES i ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY BOARD New Board Organized After Taking Oath and Proceeded to Business at Once. An organization meeting of the ! board of county commissioners was j held at 10:30 Monday morning, at which time J. Fleming Snipes was elected chairman to serve during the i next two years. His nomination was i made by 0. G. Wiseman and secon-; ded by J. Logan Lackey; the elec ! tion was unanimous. ! R. V. McGimsey, by virtue of his office as register of deeds, serves as ! secretary of the Board. J. W. Win borne was elected county attorney. . There were no applications for the I attorneyship and no other nomina tions. Chairman Snipes is entering upon I his first term as county commission- i er, the first office for which he has ever been a candidate. Mr. Snipes is a well known business man of Mar ion, a native of the county, and has been a prominent citizen here for a number of years. J. Logan Lackey is entering upon his fifth term as county commission i er, he having already served eight years in that office, though not con secutively, and was chairman during three terms as commissioner. Mr. Lackey also is one of the best known citizens of the county, engaged in business at Old Fort. Mr. Wiseman has served two terms as commissioner and is therefore en tering upon his third term in the of fice. He is a farmer and business man of Ashford and has been an ac tive figure in county politics for years. Both Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Lackey were members of the last commission with J. L. Nichols as chairman, and were re-elected for the present term. Mr. Nichols was not a candidate for re-electon. Prior to the meeting the new com missioners were sworn in by Clerk of the Court J. L. Laughridge. Im mediately after the organization the board proceeded to the transaction of business brought before it. THREE CORNERED CONTEST IN ORATORY WON BY GIRL FROM PLEASANT GARDENS Miss Ellen Wilson, a senior in the Pleasant Gardens high school, was declared the winner in a county high ; school oratorical contest, an annual event sponsored by the American Le gion. Finals took place at Pleasant Gardens Friday night with three; schools participating, Old Fort, Ne bo and Pleasant Gardens. The subject of original orations, prepared by the contestants was! | "Education in North Carolina, past and future." Miss Nannie Sue Sand-! lin represented Old Fort and T. B. Hunnicutt was sent up from Nebo. ; The three contestants handled the subject well, going into the history and progress of education in the state from colonial days to the pres-! ent fine system of schools. Each ex ' pressed the belief that there would j be no letup in aggressive support of education as it has become a fixed belief that it is less expensive to edu cate than to allow the youth of the state to grow up in ignorance, they! 1 pointed out. Miss Wilson will represent Mc-' Dowell county in a district contest at Asheville December 16, from which a representative will be selec ted for the statewide contest at a later date. DR. A3HWORTH SELLS LOT REALTY COMES TO LIFE There's life in the old land yet, Dr. B. L. Ashworth believes. He has just sold a lot in West Marion, one he had - been holding several years until real estate picked up, he said. The lot was sold to Earl Poteat, who will erect thereon a residence structure. HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Miss Elma Carson has succeeded in getting some attractive work done on the hospital grounds. With the cooperation of E. C. Bobbins, of Pineola, a considerable amount of shrubbery has been put on the lawns i and other work done to add greatly to beauty and attractiveness. CALDWELL MEN PUT ON GOOD PROGRAM AT KIWANIS MEET Lenoir Clubmen Guests Of Marion At Dinner Tuesday Evening; Rabbs Are Leaders It ia seldom that two brothers go out in the world, make good, then in later years meet at the banquet board as heads of the leading civic organizations of the respective cities in which they have climbed to prom inence. It is true, however, of Clyde Rabb, president of the Marion Ki wanis Club, and Carroll Rabb, head of the Kiwanis organization of Le noir. The two clubs led by the broth ers Rabb met in a joint session at the Marion Lake Club Tuesday night The meeting was an unusually good one, three score or more guests be ing present, about evenly cHvided be tween Marion and Lenoir. President Rabb of the local club opened the ceremonies and called up on J. W. Winborne, first president of the Marion club when it was organi zed in 1923, to welcome the visitors. Response was made by James Pritch ard, city court solicitor of Lenoir. Crawford F. James in turn presented the Marion gentlemen to the visitors, with a brief character sketch of each, done in his usual humorous way. Le noir's representatives were then in troduced to their hosts. After an ex cellent supper the company was grouped and photographed for the Kiwanis magazine. Lenoir had charge of the program. It consisted of a mock organization of a Kiwanis club, done by a group of Lenoir youths in the role of black face comedians. Some good jokes were perpetrated on a number of prominent members of the Marion contingent, the whole program being given in facetious vein and proving highly entertaining. The meeting Tuesday night was outstanding in god fellowship and pleasure, a fine example of the bene fits of interclub meetings. The Le noir gentlemen were congratulated on the excellence of their perform ance. DR. PAUL N. GARBER TO SPEAK TWICE IN MARION Dr. Paul N. Garber, one of the professors of The Duke University School of Religion, will speak in the First Methodist church at the even ing service next Sunday. The sub ject of his address will be, "The Hei' itage of Methodism." Dr. Garber for many years has made an extensive study of the subject of Methodism, not only as it is known in America, but Methodism throughout the world. His address Sunday evening should be of interest to all those who are interested in church history On Monday evening m the Meth odist church hut, Dr. Garber will address the McDowell County Duke University Alumni Association at a dinner that is to be served by the Junior Aid Society of the Methodist church. Former students, parents of students now at Duke University, those with sons and daughters to at tend some college of university with in the next few years, and all friends of Duke Univei'sity have an invita tion to attend the banquet. They are requested to pay the price of the plate, and to advise Mr. W. F. Wood or Rev. Howard P. Powell of their desire to attend. PROGRAM BROADCAST BY MARION MUSIC CLUB Sweet Miss Mary Neidlinger Boats 0' Mine Miller The Club. She Never Told Her Love (Haydn) Mesdames Pless, Harris, Miss House Prelude in G Minor Rachmaninoff Miss Burton. Forgotten Cowles Mrs. Wilson. Just As My Lord Promises__ Mesdames Pless, Harris, Klontz. At Parting Rogers Pleading Herman The Club. Polonaise in A Flat Major __ Chopin Miss McCall. The Platinum Blonde, JEAN HAR LOW, with a popular star, CLaRK GABLE, will be at Marion Theatre on Thursday and Friday, two days, in "RED DUST". COUNTY COMMISSIONERS END TWO DAY SESSION OF NEW TWO YEAR TERM The greater part of a two day ses sion of the board of county commis sioners beginning Monday was taken up with routine work of paying bills, hearing petitions for relief and draw ing a jury for the January term of superior court. After organization Monday morning, Chairman Snipes, | and Commissioners Lackey and Wiseman were duly inducted into office at the formal exercises held in the courthouse. The board designated Chairman Snipea as purchasing agent for the county, with Mrs. Mary G. Burgin as assistant. A. E. Nichols was em ployed as janitor at the courthouse, which position he has held the past two years. The board had up for considera tion a number of bills for work and supplies on account of relief work done in the county. Expenditure of the money involved in payment of these bills was not provided for in the county budget. Therefore the board made a decision that such bills will be paid out of funds re ceived from the reconstruction cor poration, when received, as the county is without funds to meet the extraordinary expense. After preparing a jury list for the next term of court the board ad journed until the first Monday in January. YOUTH ROBS BENEFACTOR ~ AND LEAVES FOR PARTS UNKNOWN IN STOLEN CAR Doing the Good Samaritan act cost J. H. L. Miller heavily. Yester day he was still wondering what had become of his automobile and sun dry other things carried away by a youth who had been with him a short while. Recently, Mr. Miler said, a young man about 19 years old was taken in by him at the request of Ben E. Hendley, superintendent of the coun ty prison farm and camp. The lad's father is on the gang, sent up from Haywood county, it was said. By re quest Mr. Miller had taken the youth out to his farm and was caring for him in return for such light work as could be found for him around the house and farm. Monday, while the Miller family came to town, the white boy was left with a young colored man to sliuch corn. About two-thirty the c. >lored man left the house to drive the cat tle up from pasture and when he re turned the white boy was going away with the car, saying he was going to town and would return shortly. But he didn't. It- was two hours later before members of the Miller family re turned. Investigation brought out the fact that in additionto the fam ily automobile, someone had carried away several dollars in money, a good Elgin watch, an extra suit of clothes and some other things. Mr. Miller advised officers of the law, who at once spread the net to capture- the young .marauder, but yesterday their efforts had borne no fruit. MRS. W. O. NICHOLS, HURT IN MOTOR WRECK NOV. 10, DIES AT OLD FORT HOME Tuesday night, Mrs. W. 0. Nich ols died suddenly at her home ir Old Fort. She had been under the care of a physician during the past month, since a motor accident in which she received injuries. The funeral will be held at the Baptist church in Old Fort this, Thursday afternoon, at three thirty o'clock. The accident occurred at the sharp curve east of Muddy Creek bridge November 10. Mrs. Nichols was rid ing with Mrs. Nannie Justice and Mrs. T. L. Nichols when their car was struck by a bread truck and com pletely demolished. While all were hurt to some extent, it was thought at the time that Mrs. Justice was most seriously injured. She was tak en to the Marion Hospital and is still a patient in that institution. The driver of the truck wj.s taken in charge by members of the high way patrol and put under bond to await developments in the case. Gifts to the hospital include $3 by Baraca class; $1, Mrs. Masters; $1, Mrs. Pollard; butter, Mrs. McGim sey; milk, Mrs. Gardin; bedspreads, Mrs.'* Cutlar; potatoes, cereals and canned goods, Marion first grade, Miss Little; sausage, livermush, Mrs. A. P. Poteat. i THE PROHIBITION REPEAL BILL LOST BY NARROW MARGIN Congress Tackles Old Ques tion First Day of New Ses sion, Drys Win by Six Votes Washington Dec. 5.— A bold and unprecedented attempt by the Dem ocratic leadership to force its party's outright prohibition repeal proposal through the House failed today and dimmed the prospects of further ac tion on the issue in that branch during the remainder of the short session. The action was interpreted on cap ital hill as foreshadowing a special session of the new congress next spring soon after President-elect Roosevelt is inaugurated so that the Democrats may carry out their pledge for flat repeal.. Despite the defeat of the resolu tion by a narrow margin of 272 to 144—two-thirds majority being re quired for adoption— the Democrats planned immediate attack on the problem of modifying the Volstead law. Speaker Garner hopes a beer bill will be ready for action before the Christmas holidays. Eighty-one "lame ducks members, not returned to the next congress, and thirty-three Democrats re-elec ted in November, voted against the measure. Sixty-nine defeated in cumbents voted for it. A shift of six votes from the negative to the af firmative would have sent the resolu tion to the senate. How They Voted Altogether 168 Democrats, 103 Republicans, and 1 Farmer-labor, voted for the measure; 44 Demo crats and 100 Republicans voted against it. Nine North Carolina con gressmen voted for repeal of the 18th amendment today as follows: Warren, Kerr, Pou, Hancock, Clark, Lambeth, Doughton, Bulwinkle, Weaver. It was the first test in congress on flat repeal of the eighteenth amend ment since it was voted into the con stitution in 1917, although the Beck Linthicum submission proposal was defeated last sping by 227 to 187. Speaker Garner was greeted warm ly a9 he vigorously walked into- the chamber promptly at 12 o'clock to open the house. The galleries were packed with prominent persons. Sen ators and members of the cabinet were on the floor to watch. Dispensing with the opening for malities as quickly as possible, the vice-president-elect then discarded all custom by recognizing Represen tative Rainey, of Illinois, party floor leader, to offer the resolution. Several attempts were made to ex tend debate time, but the wets were apparently so confident of victory they prevented it. REGISTER CLOSE CALLS IN HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS LAST WEEK END Saturday night, about eight o' clock, James Freshour, seventenn year old youth of Clinchfield, was knocked down by a passing car on the highway just north of Marion, escaping death or serious injury by the skin of his teeth. However, at the Marion Hospital where he wag carried promptly, it was found that he was among the lucky ones, only slightly hurt and discharged Sunday. James Boswell drove his car off the highway south of Marion with serious injury to the car, officers said. He was carried to the Marion Hospital where it was found that hig personal injuries embarced a broken leg and cuts and bruises, the high way police reported. NEBO DEFEATS GLENWOOD Nebo's fighting Mountain Beai'3 defeated Glenwood on the latter's court Friday afternoon by a 14-11 count. Although Glenwood used two strong teams in an attempt to cop the prize, the Bears' powerful de fense held them on the short end of the score. This win puts Nebo in a fair position to bag the 1932 county championship. Don't forget that two of your fa vorite stars, JANET GAYNOR and CHARLES FARRELL, will be at Marion Theatre next Monday-Tues day in their latest production, "TESS Of THE STORM COUTRY",

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