McDowell
County’s
Leading
Newspaper
MARION PROGRESS
Advertising
in the
Progress
Pays
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896
MARION. N. C., THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1940
VOL. XLIV—NO. 40
Finals Prc^rams
For Schools Of
County Outlined
Speaks Here Tonight
Commencement Events To Be
Completed First Part May;
Outstanding Students.
Commencement programs for Mc
Dowell county schools and outstand
ing students receiving awards were
announced this week by N. F.
Steppe, superintendent.
The programs and awards for
the schools w'ere announced as fol
lows:
At Pleasant Gardens there are 15
boys in the graduating class and 10
girls. Valedictorian is Ruth Rabb and
salutatorian is Horace Mull. Prizes
will be given to honor students, the
valedictorian and salutatorian, and
for athletics, declaming, reading,
music, science, English, dramatics
and debating.
The baccalaureate sermon will be
delivered on Sunday, May 12, at 8:00
o’clock p. m. by Dr. Carl W. McMur-
ray, pastor of the First Presbyterian
church of Marion.
Dr. B. B. Dougherty, president of
Appalachian State Teachers College,
in Boone, will be the speaker at the
graduation exercises on May 15 at
8:00 o’clock p. m. Diplomas will be
awarded by Superintendent N. F.
Steppe.
Other commencement features are
May 3, 8:00 p. m.. Senior class play;
May 9, 6:30 p. m., community pic
nic and final PTA; May 10, 8:00 p.
m., music recital; May 13, 8:00 p. m.
class day exercises; and May 14,
8:00 p. m., seventh grade promotion
exercises.
Glenwood High School
J. M. Broughton, gubernatorial
candidate in the Democratic primary
May 25, will address the voters of
McDowell county tonight at 8 o’
clock at the court house.
Mrs. Stauffer Resigns
As District Supervisor
Francis Marion
Club To Sponsor
Day For Farmers
Annual Awards To Be Made
For Outstanding Agricultur-
. al Work In McDowell Co.
Plans for the annual observance
of a McDowell, county farmers day
were made at the regular meeting of
the Francis Marion club last Thurs-
Maxwell Gives
Six Point Plan For
N. C. Program
Points To State Needs; Says
Changes Possible Without
Greater Public Tax Bui^den.
A six point program for “building
North Carolina” without increasing
taxes was outlined here Tuesday by
A. J. Maxwell, candidate for gover-
day night. The club voted to spon- nor subject to the May Democratic
sor the event each year and to award
prizes to county farmers who had
done outstanding work during the
year.
According to plans outlined at the
meeting, different prizes will annual
ly be given to farmers. The awards
will be made around the first of
March each year. Five entries in each
pi-imary, as his platform.
Mr. Maxw'ell spoke in the court
house in Mai'ion in connection with
a tour of the western part of the
state.
Advocating a “comprehensive
program of road building”, he said
North Carolina highways were not
built to carry the traffic they do to-
MARION VISITOR —A. J. Max
well, Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor, was a visitor here Tuesday.
acre, oats per acre, lespedeza seed
John A. Lang, state NYA youth i
Administrator, today announced the I"* Potatoes per acre, and soybeans
per acre. Additional awards will be
made to the farmer with the best
division of the contest mus. be reg-lday. A North Carolina motor fatality
istered for a prize to be given. Reg-1 rate 25 per cent above ^ the national
istration will be made in the local average is the result of unsafe high-
ofRce of the County Agent, S. L. [ways, he said. Some 70 per cent of
Homewood. I the farmers in the state live on dirt
Prizes will be awarded to the Me- roads which should be improved,
Dowell farmers having the best!along with school bus routes. He es-
yields of corn per acre, wheat perjtimated that a sum of $50,000,000
resignation of Mrs. Margaret T.
Stauffer as Assistant District Super
visor for District No. 3 with head
quarters at Asheville.
In accepting Mrs. Stauffer’s resig
nation, Mr. Lang commented at
length on the work of Mrs. Stauffer
in hfer many capacities as an NYA
Supervisor. He stated that Mrs.
Stauffer had received national rec
ognition for her work in the field of
would be available for road work in
the state within the next four years.
Primary markets for farm products
were advocated as being essential to
profitable diversified farming. Too
farm records kept, the best record many North Carolina farm products
on a single enterprise, the largest j are shipped out of the state to be
litter of pigs grown to porkers, the | processed in other places, he said,
beat baby beef grown out, and the! in the field of public health he
most improvement in permanent j pointed to the need of a more inten-
pasture during the year. Prizes will! give health program for schools in
be awarded to the three highest pro-[the state, where some 30,000 pupils
Iwere found last year to be hindered
for j by defective vision.
Jenkins Elected To
Head Marion Rotary
Rev. W. A. Jenkins, pastor of the
First Methodist church of Marion,
was elected president of the local
Rotary club at the regular weekly
meeting of the organization on last
Friday. He succeeds Dean Tainter as
head of the club.
Other officers elected by the Ro
tary club were: John Ray Jimison,
vice-president; Clarence Rabb, sec
retary; John Abee, treasurer; and
Bob Smith, sergeant-at-arms.
John Abee w’as elected a delegate
to 'the district Rotary convention,
held Monday in Hickory. Albert
Hewitt was elected alternate dele
gate. Every member of the club sig
nified his intention to attend the
district convention.
L. J. P. Cutlar addressed the club
on the needs of the Marion General
This District
Leads State In
WPA Program
Congressman Weaver Cites
Figures On Amount Allotted
To This Section.
Washington, April 29. — With an
allocation of $13,607,226.84 of
WPA funds since the inception of
the WPA progi-am through 1939, th«
11th district leads all others in N. C.
Representative Weaver (D.,N.C.,)
has been informed through a Works
Progress Administration tabulation.
Representative Weaver (D.,N.C.,)
was informed that a total of $13,-
607,226.84 had been allocated to the
eleventh district since the inception
of the WPA program through De
cember 31, 1939.
This total, the report reveals, is
nearly $4,000,000 greater than the
amount expended in the closest rank
ing district,, the tenth district; and
is nearly $10,000,000 in excess of
the second district which received
the fewest projects.
The report by the WPA ranks the
various congressional districts and
the amounts they have received as
follows:
Eleventh district, $13,607,226.84;
tenth district, $9,506,301.95; ninth
district, $7,585,242.60; fifth district,
$7,327,285.02; eighth district, $6,-
714,629.68, sixth district, $6,663,-
645.75; seventh district, $6,081,639-
45; first district, $5,100,419.25;
third district, $4,608,221.19; fourth
district, $4,504,093.35; and the sec
ond district, $3,629,870.64.
A grand total of $83,662,564.66
has been earmarked for improve-
was accepted as an authority in this
’field.
At the Glenwood high school there gtauffer entered NYA service
are nme boys and 14 girls m the|,„ S„.
graduating class. The valedictorian
ducers in each division.
Farmers wishing to register
, J * * J * I. 1*^® contest must do so with the j For school teachers in the state,'. , • 4.- ... • j i
arts and crafts and stated that she^^„„.„ j ... j xv i. 4.- « i hospital, pointing to the inadequacy
^ J it- -.1. • ...u- i County Agent not later than June he advocated the restoration of sal- . i,
15. Airangements for ‘he contest ;aries to the 1930 level, the establish-^8 333 388
wLmorlnd' " j•>' “ retirement fund by the|jj^ presented to the club by Dr.!state wide projects not specificaUy
W^t oreland. | state, and provisions for sick leave ^ Hagna, in charge of the pro-i credited to any district.
Five prominent county farmers, for teachers such as that now Whet« the ^ 1th liatrict’s
r^;;aie M:^nne; and t^^^ the Francis Mario. taining with st.te employe.^.
r State Consultant on arts dub at the meeting. They were Ed; Mr. Maxwell outlined as tl
, . - , ^ ^ , , « . , sor, and State Jonsultant on arts
tonan IS Ivey C. Crawley Jr. Pnzes!
and medals will be awarded for at-1 organized county exhib-
of the hospital space and facilities jments in North Carolina by the WPA
been for
, , . .. , 1 , .. Visitors at the Rotary meeting j Priations were expended is shown in
club at the meeting. They were Ed, Mr. Mawell outlined as the j, following breakdown by coun-
Visitors at
appro-
;ties: Buncombe, $4,577,505.87;
Morgan of Glenwood
tendance records, scholarship in the!r“"'r- ''“""“j Next Friday .the Kotary club will I Cherokee, »818,645.48; Clay, »646,-
four high school classes, to the sa- ^ 'Tocy/nd be host to members of the Marion!362.64; Graham, |644,645.98; Hay-
T^ti “r;!f'*r'*P“?*‘7!ci;rrle7Mirer, ofTs^^^^^
of Pleasant; of vocational training in the scnools j
lutatorian and valediqtorian, and to
the best all-round boy and grirl.
The baccalaureate sermon will be
duced by NYA youths on local and
resident projects.
In a letter to Mrs. StauflPer today.
Marion, and Clyde Gilliam of Old j be given to the great majority of
Fort. Walter J. Cartier, secretary of j school students who
the local Chamber of Commerce, j college, he said.
never attend
delivereTby Dr.”w. A7Ayere,^^^^^^^ expressed his sincere re-1 was also a guest. j As the sixth point on his program
of the First Baptist church of Forest I s’^ch a faithful andj In a brief business session the; he advocated the teaching of North
City on Sunday May 12 at 2 *30^1 history in schools, stating
o’clock pm ' j ue to serve on the Advisory commit- j Allen as a member and voted to have: that high school graduates now know
! tee as a consultant for arts and j a skating party for members and: little or nothing about the state in
; crafts. Mrs. Stauffer resigned to 1 their dates on May 2. j which they live,
devote her full time to private busi-j i Mr. Maxwell was introduced to
p. m.
The Hon. W^alter Murphy, at
torney, of' Salisbury, will be the
speaker at the graduating exercises! . „ . ^
on May 15 at 8:00 o’clock p. m. Di-j"'** ">
plomas will be given by C. L. Nor-| Mrs. Frances R. Sisk, NYA Super
wood, principal. j visor of Swain county, v^ as named by
Other commencement features are | Lang to succeed Mrs. Stauffer
May 10, 2:00 p. m., patrons visiting
day and seventh grade promotion
exercises, and at 8:00 p. m., the glee
club recital; May 14, 8:00 p. m.,
class night exercises.
Old Fort High School
In the Old Fort school graduating
class there are 19 boys and 14 grirls.
Marilyn Byrd is valedictorian and
Virginia Early Salutatorian.
The baccalaureate sermon will be
delivered on Sunday, May 12, by
Rev. W. E. Pettit, of the First Bap
tist church in Old Fort.
There will be no speaker at the
graduation exercises but a special
program has been planned. Diplomas
will be awarded by S. A. McDuffie,
j>rincipal.
As a commencement feature, an
operetta titled ‘Sunny of Sunnyside’
will be given by the seventh grade
on May 16 at 8:00 p. m.
North Cove High School
Five boys and eight girls are in the
graduating class at the North Cove
school. Valedictorian is Marlene Mc
Gee and salutatorian is Ruth Swaf
ford. Prizes and awards will be giv
en to the valedictorian and salutato
rian; and for scholarship, citizenship
and music. Three awards will be
made to students with perfect atten
dance. They are Marion Good, six
years attendance, Jewell McBee
seven years, and Billy Brown, eight
years.
The baccalaureate sermon will be
as Assistant District Supervisor for
District No^ 3. Mrs. Sisk has been
with the NYA since February, 1939,
Methodist Conference
Will Be In Old Fort
the McDowell county audience by
j Judge Paul J. Story, of Marion.
The annual Methodist district con
ference for seven Western North
Carolina counties will be held in Old
and will begin her new duties May | Fort next Wednesday, May 8. Coun
1. 1940.
Broughton To Speak
In Courthouse Tonight
J. M. Broughton, candidate . for
governor of North Carolina subject
to the May Democratic primary will
speak in the courthouse in Marion
tonight at 8:00 o’clock.
Mr. Broughton is basing his cam
paign on a “Sound Program of
Progress for North Carolina.”
He visits Marion in connection
with a tour of the western part of
the state.
The Broughton campaign in Mc
Dowell is being managed by J. G.
Neal, who was recently appointed to
that post.
elude the senior class play on May
10 at 8:00 p. m. and a music recital
on May 13 at 2:00 p. m.
Nebo High School
In the graduating class at the Ne
bo high school there are six boys and
10 girls. Dolores Thomas is valedic
torian and Glenn Pyatt salutatorian.
Special recognition will be given the
valedictorian.
The baccalaureate sermon will be
and dinner will be served on
grounds. The meeting will open at
9:30 a. m. and the Rev. T. R. Wolf,
of Cliffside, will preach at 11:00 o’
clock.
Representatives from Methodist
colleges, children’s homesL and the
Mission Board will be present. Ap
proximately 400 delegates and
preachers from the 35 charges in
this Methodist district are expected
to attend.
Work of the Methodist church dur
ing the last six months will be re
viewed and a church program will be
made for the coming year.
[high school band. Entertainment for| wood, $1,273,401.31; Henderson,
I the meeting will be planned in cen-i $858,650.52; Jackson, $1,054,887.38
nection with the observance of Boys j McDowell, $786,799.04; Macon,
land Girls week, an annual event on j $729,525.62; Polk, $263,915.86;
the Rotary progrram. j Rutherford, $1,080,230.39; Swain,
j $809,831.72; and TransylArania,
Negro Freed Of Blame
In Death Case Here Work On City Streets
T I? fv, f H f fhJ Is Scheduled To Begin
Tom Rutherford, a negro of the: ®
Black Bottom section of McDowell |
county who has been confined to the i Work on the $50,589 WPA proj-
county jail here pending an analysis; ect for the improvement of streets
of the stomach contents of Charles i in Marion will begin tomorrow when
Dale, was cleared of all charges but approximately 50 men will be em-
larceny and robbery this week. {ployed in surfacing and placing gut-
A report from Raleigh officials re-1 ters on North Logan street, announ-
vealed that the stomach contents of jced Mayor Zeno Martin this week.
church here last Sundav Of the 35' showed no sign of poisoning,! The projects as approved by WPA
chuich here last bunday. Ot the County, officials calls for curbing and surfac-
officials decided to have the stomach ing to be placed on North Logan and
contents of Dale analyzed some time j Crawford streets. Avenue A, Morgan
ago when it was alleged that anoth-1 terrace, and Crescent Drive. Curbing
er negro became ill after having! will be placed on Morgan street and
District Meeting Held
At Methodist Church
Approximately 400 pastors, stew
ards and laymen attended a Meth
odist meeting held in the Methodist
ties to be represented are McDowell,
Burke, Rutherford, Polk, Avery,
Yancey and Mitchell.
An all-day program will be given j charges in this Methodist district 31
the I -yy^ere represented at the assembly.
The program was under the direc
FOUR APPOINTED TO
ASSIST HORTON CAMPAIGN
delivered on May 12 at 8:00 p. m.
delivered on May 12 at 2:00 p. m.jby.Rev. W. W. Rowe, of the First
by Rev. McRae Crawford, of the Reformed church of Lenoir.
Methodist church in Ashford. ■
Guest speaker at the graduating
exercises on May 14 at 8:00 o’clock
p. m. will be Leo K. Pritchett, dean
of Lees-Mac|lae College in Banner
Elk. Diplomas will be given by E. V.
Gouge, principal.
Other commencement features in-
Rev. W. A. Jenkins, pastor of the
First Methodist church of Marion,
will be guest speaker at the graduat
ing exercises on May 15 at 8:00 p.
m. Diplomas will be awfirded by
Stanley Livingrston, principal.
Other conunencement features in
clude a May Day festival on May 1.
J. W. Streetman, Jr., manager of
the gubernatorial campaign of W. P.
Hoi*ton in McDowell county, an
nounced this week the appointment
of four Marion men who will serve
vdth him in promoting the Horton
campaign in the county. ♦
To assist* in the McDowell cam
paign are W. D. Lonon, R. L. James,
Jr., Zeno Martin and E. A. Morgan.
Already serving as a member of
the headquarters staff of Mr. Hor
ton, is R. W. Proctor, Marion attor
ney.
Announcement was made this
week that Lieutenant-Governor Hor
ton will make a public address in the
courthouse in Marion on May 13.
The time for the speech has not been
scheduled. ^
tion of D. W. Alexander, district lay
leader. Guest speakers were W. B. - , , i • j n -u u ^ a a
i d^uuk some of Rutherford’s whiskey I sidewalks will be extended on North
Cooper, of Morganton, who discus^d ^ ^ ^ ^
the work of the charge and the value
of charge-wide meetingrs; F. C. Kin-
zie, of Spindale, who spoke on the
“Unified Budget;” and Floyd Todd,
lay jLuder of the Gastonia district,
who save an inspirational address.
represented at the meeting were
Burke, McDowell, Rutheii'ord, Polk,
Avery, Yancey and Mitchell coun
ties, which make up this Methodist
district.
M’MURRAY NOMINATED
PRESBYTERr MODERATOR
The Rev. C. W. McMurray, pas
tor of the Presbyterian church in
Marion, was nominated as modera
tor of the Concord Presbytery at a
meeting at the Waldensian Presby
terian church in Valdese on Tues
day, April 23. He will be elected at
the next meeting of the Concord
Presbytery in July at the Center
Presbyterian church at Mt. Mourne.
Dr. L. F. Jackson, treasurer of
Davidson College and an elder in the
Davidson church, was elected mod
erator at the meeting. Moderators
are elected quarterly.
The retiring moderator, the Rev.
Neil R. McGeachy, of Spencer, deliv
ered a sermon before 100 pastors
and elders who attended as dele
gates.
Precinct Meetings
To Be Held Saturday
Dale was found dead in a negro j Main and West Court streets,
church in the Black Bottom section | Between 25 and 30 per cent of the
on April 12. Rutherford is alleged to 1 cost of the project will be borne by
have taken about $24 from him. the town of Marion. The remaining
cost will be contributed by the Fed
eral government under a WPA
grant.
The application for the project
was submitted to WPA officials in
February. Approval of the project
was granted without changes being
made in -the cost and construction
plans.
It is expected that approximately
eight months will be required to com
plete the work called for under the
project plans.
Democratic precinct meetings will
be held at the various polling places
next Saturday, May 4, at 2 o’clock.
At these meetings precinct commit
tees will be elected, and delegates
chosen to attend the Democratic
county convention, which meets in
Marion on Saturday, May 11, at 11
o’clock.
The new County Democratic Ex- j MARION MERCHANTS TO
ecutive Committee will be composed
of the chairmen of the seventeen
precinct committees. The new exec
utive committee will meet May. 11—
HAVE MEETING TONIGHT
A meeting of the Merchants divis
ion of th^ Marion Chamber of Com-
same date as the convention—^at 12!merce will be held tonight in the
o’clock and elect officers of the com
mittee for the next two years.
The county convention will elect
delegates to the State Convention,
which meets in Raleigh at noon. May
17th, and attend to such other busi
ness as may come before the con
vention.
The calls for the meeting were is
sued by Robert W. Proctor, present
county chairman.
Town hall to discuss the credit sys
tem now in force in the town and to
reorganize the credit bureau of the
Chamber of Commerce, announced
Walter J. Cartier this week.
The advisability of joining state
and national credit associations will
be discussed. A special invitation to
attend the meeting is extended to
all credit grocers in McDowell
county.