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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",