McDowell
County’s
Leading
Newspaper
MARION PROGRESS
AdT^rtismg
in the
Progress
Pays
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION ANL McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896
MARION, N. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IS, 1940
VOL. XLIV—NO. 29
TEACHERS TOLD TO
SEEK UNITY AND
GREAmSECURlTY
Rose Points To Need Of Re
tirement Plan, Explains
New Experiment.
Emphasizing the need for organi
zation for the common purposes
among school teachers, J. H. Rose,
superintendent of city schools of
Greenville and State Commander of
the American Legrion of South Car
olina, told McDowell county teach
ers last week the teaching profession
should fight for a suitable retire
ment plan.
Mr. Rose addressed an assembly
of city and county teachers of Mc
Dowell county in the Marion high
school building last Saturday morn
ing. He spoke in the place of W. L.
Lathan, superintendent of Swain
county schools, who was not able to
attend the meeting.
Some teachers in the public
schools today should retire, he said,
but they are not able to do so be
cause they have not been able to ac
cumulate savings on the meagi-e sal
aries paid them. Those people en
trusted with the teaching of chil
dren should have some security
against future unemployment and
political intrigue. They should be
made to feel free to teach the prin
ciples of democracy to children, he
said.
Mr. Rose pointed to an experiment
being conducted in the Greenville
schools in which the pupils are not
given grades on their
TO PREACH HERE SUNDAY—
The Rt. Rev. Robert E. Gribbin,
Bishop of the Western North Caro
lina Episcopal diocese, will preach
at St. John’s Episcopal church next
Sunday morning at 11 o’clock.
BUILDING AND LOAN
SETS NEW HOME RECORD;
OFFICERS RE-ELECTED
The McDowell Building and Loan
TWO MORE ENTER
POLITICAL RACE,
THIRD MAY RUN
Steppe And Dixon Announce
For Register, Cutlar May
Enter For Legislature.
Two more candidates have entered
the race for the Democratic nomin
ation for Register of Deeds of Mc
Dowell county, bringing the number
seeking the office to five, and a pos
sible candidate for the General As
sembly has announced that he is
considering entering the race for
Representative.
L. J. P. Cutlar said this week he
was considering being a candidate
for the Legislature in the Demo
cratic primary in May. The incum
bent is Ashby Robinson of Old Fort,
who will seek a seat in the State
Senate. D. F. Giles of Marion has al
ready announced for the office.
Mr. Cutlar said that he wished to
give the matter further study before
announcing whether he would be a
KINZIE ELECTED
MAN OF YEAR BY
LOCAL CIVIC CLUB
Francis Marion Club To Make
Award For Work With
Underprivileged.
Association established a record for i candidate. He is now engaged in the
the number of new homes financed insurance business here. He was for-
by the organization in any one year | merly in the furniture business and
by aiding in the construction of 451 has served as mayor of Marion. I copal church
Rev. Norman F. Kinzie was voted
the outstanding citizen of Marion
for the year 1939 by the Francis
Marion club at its regular meeting
last Thursday night. He will be
awarded a gift by the club and his
name will be inscribed on a plaque
to be hung in the Community build
ing. The naming of Marion’s out
standing citizen will become an an
nual practice of the Francis Marion
club.
Rev. Kinzie was selected by the
Francis Marion club for his work
with underprivileged children of the
community, for his contributions of
leadership and aid to the Boy Scouts,
his help in securing education for
sevei’al children, and his efforts to
better the town of Marion.
Mr. Kinzie, a native of Florida,
took up his residence here in Novem
ber 1938 as rector of St. John’s Epis-
COURT OF HONOR
HELDBYSCOirrS
INMORGANTON
Thirty-One Marion Boy Scouts
Awarded Merit Badges At
District Meeting.
OUTSTANDING CITIZEN— Rev.
Norman F. Kinzie, above, was voted
the outstanding citizen of , Marion
ifor 1939 by the Francis Marion club.
100 GALLON STILL
IS CAPTURED BY
FEDERAL AGENTS
houses during 1939, Zeno Martin,
Secretary-treasurer of the Associa
tion reported at a stockholders
meeting Monday night.
In pointing to the success of the
organization in 1939, Mr. Martin
Cutlar is well known in McDowell, , „
county, having been active in public j ^ I"
affairs for some time.
For the office of Re^^ter of I f
Deeds John M. Stepp and Mack L.
Dixon announced this week. Already
stated that assets of the Association entered in this race are D. M.
ketball tournament to be held here
February 22-24 were nearly comple
ted. The club expressed its disap-
increased by $51,943.46, placing the
total assets well above the half mil
lion dollar mark. The sum of $112,-
woii~ and loaned during the year to
children are allowed to speak more
for themselves, both on their studies
adn on school activities. Much im
provement has been made in the re-
latioRS betwe^ teachers and
Returning to the subject of a re
tirement plan, Mr. Rose concluded
that security and peace of mind
A 100-gallon illicit still and sev
eral thousand gallons of mash were
captured in the Brackett township j
section of McDowell county Tues
day by alcohol tax unit investiga
tors working out of the Asheville
office.
Earlier, the investigators had
seized a still in the process of con
struction in McDowell county and
had arrested two men, charging them
with illegal ownership of a still.
One of the men, Wilbur Rumfelt,
was released on bond following a
hearing before United States Com
missioner Nichols at Marion, but the
dens and has been with the Marion
Manufacturing Company for about
135 people and the number of mort
gage loans held was increased by 90,
he said.
The average loan to home build
ers was approximately $1,000. Prof-|i*u
its earned during the year by sbaVe-j SO years?'Hr is'now issistanC ove?
holders totaled $17,569.50 with $11,- seer of tbe plant. He was bom in
394 of this amount being earned by I McDowell county. He has served as a
should be given to teachers who are,being! committeeman of precinct four.
. _.e xu_ J.. earned by shares withdrawn, and $4,-
390.29 by full-paid shares, he said.
A total of 2,329 new shares of in
stallment stock were issued to 247
persons during the year.
All officers of the Association were
re-elected with W. L. Morris contin
steppe, Zeb L. Lackey, and T. wJP''.''™' ° tte proposed re-rooting of
Gowan. Highway No. 64.
J. M. Stepp is well known in Mc-j T. McAbee addressed other, Charles Childers, was held
Dowell county and has been engaged club on the work the Faith Mis- last night in Buncombe county jail
in the giocery business in Marion! doing in Marion. The Mission default of bond,
for some time. seeking to give aid to needy peo-
Mr. Dixon lives at Pleasant Gar-jP^e who are not provided for by oth-
shaping the personalities of the fu
ture leaders of America.
Hugh F. Beam, superintendent
of the Marion city schools, intro
duced the guest speaker.
N. F. Steppe, superintendent of
McDowell county schools,
briefly, stressing the need
er relief agencies, he said.
The election o.f officers is scheduled
'ior“^the next regular meeting of the
Francis Marion club.
DRIVE FOR POLIO
FUNDS IN COUNTY
NINE TEAMS ENTERED
IN BASKETBALL MEET
Residents of McDowell county
Nine basketball teams, from Me-1 contributed $163.25 to the national
The liquor plant captured Tues
day was one of the largest taken in
Western North Carolina in several
years, federal agents said. Taken
with it were “at least 4,000 gallons
of mash, 800 pounds of sugar, 200 j
pounds of “shorts,” and 200 pounds!
of malt.
Thirty-one Boy Scouts of Marion
were promoted or awarded merit
badges at the session of the district
court of honor which was held in
Morganton at the North Carolina
School for the Deaf on last Friday
night.
The meeting was presided over by
Piedmont Scout Executive R. M.
Schiele, of Gastonia, who opened the
session by leading in the recitation
of the Scout oath.
The following advancements and
awards were made:
Tenderfoot rank, Henry Stauffer,
Jr., troop 1, Marion.
Second class, Thomas Fleming,
Jr., troop 3, Marion; Dewey Thorn
hill, troop 3, Marion; George Gibbs,
1, Marion; Jack Sickler, troop
6, Marion; Billy Burnette, troop 1,
Marion; John M. Haire, troop 1,
Marion; Alvin Callahan, ti-oop 1,
Marion; Calvin Willis, troop 1, Mar
ion; and Van Harold Brown, troop 1,
Marion.
First class, Hugh Noblett, troop 6,
Marion; and Howard Burgin, troop
6, Marion.
The following merit badges were
awarded:
Animal industry, Otto Gross, troop
1, North Cove; and Norman Eng-
jland, troop 1, Chesterfield.
Cooking, Lee Perkins, troop 3,
Marion.
Dairying, Arthur Melton, troop 1,
Marion; and Sammie Homewood^
troop 6, Marion.
Farm home sind layout manage-
j ment, Sammie Homewood, troop 6,
Firemanship, Jasper Finley, troop
3, Marion; and Clifton Willis, troop
3, Marion.
ENDS SUCCESSFULLY! MARION WINS THREE Handicraft, George Conley, troop
GAMES, LOSES THREE Marion; and Walter Crawford,
'troop 1, Marion.
The Marion high school boys'has-i Mechanical drawing, Arthur T.
BISHOP GRIBBIN TO
PREACH HERE SUNDAY
VYII,.. ,T. XJ. ..Txwixio .1 w.f |^owell Bttd adjaccnt counties, have;fund to aid victims of infantile par-jj-g^. continued its winningV'. ' , M °
., spo e I president, J. F. Snipes as j signiified that they will take part in ^ alysis, practically tripling the am- j gtreak this week by marking up two | ’ P > ar on.
o ac ive,— ^ t> /-ii — -~ithe basketball tournament to beiOunts that have been raised here -wins in conference play, defeating
said S. J. Westmoreland, I ]\jQj.ganton 37-7 last Friday night
tary-treasurer. inounced Truman Westmoreland, i chairman of the committee soliciting ^nd downing the North Carolina' Photography, Arthur T. Melton,
Directors of the Association are | chairman of the committee arrang-1 funds m this county, this week. The School for Deaf 46-26 last Tuesday I1’ Marion.
Bradford, W. R. Chambers, T.'i^g the meet for the Francis Marion ; campaign ended Friday. The goal of jjjigjii- j Pioneering, Lee Perkins, troop 3,
A. F. Hunt, C. F. I club, this week. The meet will be | $100, originally set for the county,! xhe Marion girls lost both their; Marion.
James, W. L. Morris, D. M. McIntosh j staged by the Fiancis Marion club 1 was gieatly exceeded. 'games during the week, going down! Plumbing, Arthur T. Melton,
J. F. Snipes, J. H. Tate, and C. A. iof Marion. j The city and county schools de-|before Morganton 46-14 and. losing troop 1, Marion.
Workman. Plans for the tournament will call; serve much praise for their efforts 1^^ N.C.S.D. 36-26. The girls contin-1 Poultry keeping, Sammie Home-
for 12 teams to be entered and for ^ and for their contributions totaling jygj near the bottom in conference. wood, troop 6, Marion,
four games to be held each night ex-| $59.07, he said. The sum of $30.00, ratings, having only one win for thei Public health, Herman Baldwin,
, J , . „ J i L i vice-president, W. R. Chambers
ers ^ Program for teach- geno Martin as secre-jheld in Marion, February 21-24, an-; the pa?t,
At the conclusion of the general
meeting group assemblies were held
for city and county teachers to dis
cuss their problems.
A. S.
H. Henderson,
Metal work, Arthur T. Melton,
The Re. Rev. Robert E. Gribbin,
TWO DIVORCES GIVEN
IN SUPERIOR COURT
cept Saturday night, February 24, i contributed by the Marion Theatre,' ggason. They defeated Forest City troop 3, Marion.
Bishop of Western North Carolina, i
will preach at St. John’s Episcopal
church next Sunday morning at ll! •'“'Ige Frank M. Arn,strong, of
o’clock. The rector, Rev. Norman F. I P>^esidmg m McDow-ell county
Kinzie, will preach in Shelby Sun-!
day morning at 11 o’clock. '“'y Monday.
The services Sunday will include
Celebration of the Holy Communion
at 8 o’clock, churcb school and Bible
at which
played.
time the finals will be was obtained from the sale of tickets | weeks ago.
Collections from private sources and “Marion placed by far the best;
The teams already entered in the the sale of tabs brought in $73.25.
class at 9:45, morning prayer at 11
o’clock and evening service at 7:30.
Week day services will be held
during the Lenten season as follows:
Monday 3:30 children’s service;
Wednesday 9 a. m. the Holy Eu
charist; Thursday 8 p. m. study class
on “Faith and Practice” conducted
by the rector; Friday afternoon at 3
o’clock Litany service.
INFORMATION SOUGHT
ON HEALTH SERVICE
Letters have been written to the
State Board of Health and to the
boards of health of various counties
in the attempt to get information
that would help in determining the
cost, organization, and work of a
full-time health service for Mc
Dowell county, said N. F. Steppe,
Superintendent of Public Instruc
tion, this week. Mr. Steppe was
asked by the Board of Health last
week to determine what full-time
health service for this county would
cost.
According to Mr. Steppe, the ef
fort will be made to determine what j the project back,
part of the costs the county, state. No definite announcement
Divorces were granted in the
cases of Mrs. Kathleen McDaniel
Pumphrey vs. W. H. Pumuhrey, Jr.,
and Ed L. Ritchie vs. Mittie Ritchie.
In a $10,000 damage suit against
the town of Marion, which was be
gun yesterday, non-suit was declared
Several witnesses of the plaintiff,
Mrs. Beulah Gettys, failed to ap-
appear.
Mrs. Gettys brought suit against
the town for injuries she was alleged
to have sustamed last year when
she fell on one of the streets in
town. Her fall was alleged to have
been due to negligence on the part
of the town.
The following cases have been
continued: Robert L. Simmons vs.
W. L. Richards et al; Lester Fair vs.
W. L. Richards et al; M. L. Ledford
vs. W. A. Brown; W. A. Plemmons
vs. Laura Jaynes et al; and D. G.
Pender vs. John Hall.
PROJECT SUBMITTED
A WPA project for the building
of a city park or playground beside
the Community building is under
stood to have been submitted to W
PA authorities, but the lack of avail
able WPA labor is said to have held
and federal governments will be re
quired to pay for the service. No
answers to his inquiries have as yet
been received.
has
been made about the cost of the pro
ject or its extent, should it be ap
proved. As planned, the project
calls for a playground for children.
tournament are North Cove, Pleas
ant Gardens, East Marion, Beacon
Mills from Swannanoa, Spindale
“B” team. Plum Tree, Crossnore,
Glen Alpine, and Nebo.
Scheduled to referee the games
are the Shehan brothers of Forest
City. Judges for the tournament will
be S. L. Homewood, Coach Art Ditt,
and Barron Caldwell.
Prizes will be given by the Fran
cis Marion club to the teams placing
first, second and third in the meet.
In addition, awards will be made to
the consolation winner and loser.
Other awards will be made to out
standing players in the tournament.
Members of the committee ar
ranging the tournament are Truman
Westmoreland, chairman, Albert
Neal, James McCall, Howard Hol
land, Fiank Goldsmith, Clarence
Rabb, and George Conley.
It is expected that the list of en
tries in the meet will be completed
soon.
TAX RECEIPTS
Approximately 74:8 per cent of
the county tax levy of $202,551.93
had been collected by the county up
to February 1, said Mrs. Mary Bur
gin, county accountant, this week.
The sum of $50,989.50 is still un
collected, she said, but receipts are
a little better than they were last
year at this time.
Argentina shippe4 ever
pounds of dressed tttjrkeys
United States in isbd*.
40,000
to the
Principals in the schools in the
county took charge of the collections
in their schools. The following con-
Itributions were received from the
principals: Miss Ruth Greenlee,
Clinchfield, $20.00; Miss Mamie Sta
cy, East Marion, $5.60; Mrs. Addie
Williams, Cross Mill, $7.88; Miss
Pauline Tipton, West Marion, $6.17;
H. C. Holland, Marion high school,
$7.37; W. A. Young, Pleasant Gar
dens, $1.59; Mr. McDuffy, Old Fort,
$4.31; Mr. Norwood, Glenwood, $2.-
80; Mr. Liyingston, Nebo, $3.35.
Expenses for the campaign totaled
$10.18 for the purchase of tabs. A
balance of $152.07 will be this coun
ty’s contribution to the national
fund.
The chairman of the county com
mittee and the members of the com
mittee expressed their appreciation
for the cooperation they had re
ceived during the campaign.
NEW JAIL DISCUSSED
The McDowell county commission
ers held a special meeting in the
court house Tuesday and discussed
with the architect plans for the
building of the addition to the coun
ty jail.
Changes in the original plans were
found to b‘e necessary to segregrate
juvenile and older prisoners.
Curtis Ezell, director of the state
department of correctional institu
tions attended the meeting and dis
cussed with the commissioners the
changes necessary to meet state re
quirements.
Reptile study, Lee Perkins, troop
3, Marion.
team to show on the local court this : Stamp collecting, Lee Perkins,
season,” said a Morganton sports troop 3, Marion.
writer there in commenting on the; Wood carving, Lee Perkins, troop
game there last Friday. W. Kaylorj3, Marion.
led the scoring for the local boys!
with 24 points to his credit. W. Mass i
was second high with eight points. 1
Leonard of Morganton contributed j
four points for his team to be high
The town of Manon will submit a
man. j , . , .
In Tuesday’s game the Marion j P^^P«««1 ^^e improvement of
boys led all the way, N.C.S.D. trail-to WPA authorities, it
was decided at a meeting of the
TOWN TO SEEK WPA
PROJECT FOR STREETS
ing at the half 11-19. In the girls’
game N.C^.D. increased its lead in
the second half to take the game at
35-26.
Marion’s teams played the teach
ers of the local high school last Sat
urday night. The high school girls
lost to the teachers 31-26. The boys
defeated the teachers 42-29.
DAIRY SPECIALIST TO
GIVE DEMONSTRATIONS
P. R. Farnham, farm dairy special
ist of State College, will be in Mc
Dowell county Friday, February 16
giving pasture planting demonstra
tions on several farms near Marign,
announced County Agent S. L.
Homewood this week.
Demonstrations will be conducted
on the farms of A. F. Hunt, J. R.
Jimeson, J. M. Carpenter, S. H.
Brown, and J. W. McCurry. Soil sam
ples'for testing will be taken from
each farm and the advantages of
the fertilizing methods recommen
ded by the specialist will be found
later by comparison with strips of
land not treated with the feritlizers.
Board of Aldermen last Thursday
night. Plans for the work will be
given to oMcials of WPA soon in or
der that the project may be approved
quickly and work may be started
this spring.
Improvements on eight city streets
were planned for the project. Should
the proposal be approved, North Lo
gan and Crawford streets. Avenue
A, Morgan Terrace and Crescent
Drive will be surfaced and curbing
will be placed. The plans also call for
the placing of curbing on Morgan
street and the extension of sidewalks
on North Main and West Court
streets. Of the cost of the project it
is expected that between 25 and 30
per cent will be borne by the town.
The Board of Aldermen gaye their
final approval to the Mayors’ tour of
Florida, providing that Zeno Martin,
Mayor of Marion, make the trip at
the expense of the town. The tour is
aimed at publicizing Western North
Carolina and will be conducted Feb>
ruary 12-23.
The Board authorized the pur>
chase of raincoats and gloves for
the Fire Depratment.
iMmii
iiife