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 1S96 MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1940 VOL. XLV—NO. 12 M’DOWELL MEN REGISTERED FOR MILITARY SERVICE SUNDAY CONCERT TO BE PRESENTED AT THEATRE Registrants Serious as Approx imately 3,275 Go To Polling Places Throughout County. “Have you registered yet?” was a quistion asked hundreds of times yesterday as residents of McDowell county between the ages of 21 and 35 went to their regular polling places yesterday to sign up for peace time military training and service. Leaden, overcast skies throughout the day cast a shade of gloom over men eligible for military training, as they gfathered at the polling places, each seemingly conscious of the riousness of the step they were ab^t to take and what it might mean. So briety prevailed at all polling places in the county with only occasional levity being obser'fred. By late afternoon yesterday ap proximately 3,500 registration cards had been delivered to polling places in McDowell. Eraquent calls came in to headquarters here yesterday for the delivery of more cards as regis tration totals climbed throughout the day. Approximately 3,275. persons in SfcI>owell are thought to have regis tered yesterday. On the basis of War department calculations, the number of men registered equals about 14 per cent of the population, and about one in 40 of these will be trained in the coming year. Accord ing to these calculations, only about 81 men in the county would be called for training this year, but this num ber will be decreased by voluntary The regular Sunday afternoon concert of classical and semi-classical music that has been presented in the Marion Community building will be given in the Marion Theatre next Sunday, October 20, it was announ ced this week. The concert will begin at 2:30 o’clock in the afternoon and will be open to the public. No admis sion will be charged. Albert Hewitt, of Marion, will be guest soloist on the afternoon pro gram, along with Nelson Parker, of Marion. Mr. Hewitt will present sev eral vocal selections and Mr. Parker will accompany and present piano solos. A program of recorded classi cal music has been arranged and will be played over special sound equip ment. Selections to be heard include the Prelude to Act III of “Lohen grin,” the “Second Hungarian Rhap sody” and “Finlandia.’' The Sunday concerts are sponsor ed by the McDowell county Chamber of Commerce. SEALED BIDS ON MARION PLANT ‘ WILL BE ASKED ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR WPA FORMED HERE A county advisory committee to “promote, interpret and coordinate the professional and service division of the Works Progress Administra tion and community activities” in McDowell county was formed here last Friday when a group of inter ested citizens met in the courthouse Walter J. Cartier was elected chair- nmn of the committee and S. A. Mc Duffie, of Old Port, vice-chairman. A secretary will be appointed. Mra. Lola V. Roberts, district di rector of the professional and service division of the WPA, appeared be fore the group and explained the need of such an organization in Mc Dowell. The committee will help the counted I people of the county to become bet- enlistments which will be against the county’s quota. }ter acquainted with the work of the In the town of Marion, with 2,888 j WPA, and will study the needs of people, according to the 1940 census county and direct WPA work in- 4J94 w«ul4 register and 10 would be,to most productive chann^, she said trained by the array this year. Approximately 75 volunteer work- The next meeting of the commit tee will be held at the call of the ers throughout the county assi^ed i chairman. Mrs. Roberts will be pres- with the registration yesterday, all' ent at that time and will explain the reporting that the work was done in! organization of the WPA. An exec- an orderly manner with the full coop-1 utive board will be appointed, oration of the public. 1 The Friday meeting was called by Polling places throughout the {Mayor Zeno Martin. Among the Mc- eounty opened for draft registration Dowell residents attending the meet- at 7:00 o’clock yesterday morning, j were Mayor Martin, I. L. Caplan, Many Marion residents had already S. A. McDuffie, Mrs. G. W. Kirkpat registered before 9:00 o’clock, tak ing advantage of the opportunity be fore going to work. Mills throughout Marion township had schedules ar ranged for providing time for their employees to register. Marion men in precincts one and two registered at the Community building. Heaviest registration was expected there, over 1,500 cards hav ing been delivered there late yester day afternoon. Registration reached its peak at the Community building rick, Hugh F. Beam, N. F. Steppe Walter J. Cartier, Mrs. John Poteat, Mrs. Walker Blanton and Mrs. Mary Burgin. Referee Holds Hearing Here To Study Future Of Furni ture Firm. Plans for continuing operation of the bankrupt McDowell Furniture factory under new ownership were discussed here last Friday ^t a hear ing before Isaac T. Avery, federal referee. R. S. Crisp of Lenoir, forme^ offi cial of the company, announced that he could organize a corporation to take over the plant and keep it go ing without loss of a day’s work. Mr. Avery ruled, however, that sealed bids for the purchase of the firm would be sought and that they would be opened at a hearing in the courthouse here October 23. The factory is now being operated in the trusteeship of W. E. Stevens, of Lenoir, who has been given au thority to keep it running until No vember 15 to protect the interests of the creditors. Previously Mr. Stevens announced that the company had assets of $467- 293.84. Outstanding liabilities, he said, included a $100,000 first mort gage and $195,039.47 owed to se cured and unsecured creditors. The factory was placed in the hi^nds of state receiver^ last August but later was transferred to the jur isdiction of Federal Judge E. Y. Webb who named Mr. Avery, oT Morganton, to act as special master of the hearings. Since production during the next six months or so depends largely on orders obtained at the Chicago fur niture show, opening October 28, Mr. Avery agreed that Mr. Stevens Cool4r S««iMire a luua^r of sample suites for exhibition there. A number of small controversial SPECIAL TERM i/SUPERIOR COURT BEGINS MONDAY Damage Suit Against the State Highway Commission Sched uled For First Week. A special two weeks term of civil court convenes here Monday, Octo ber 21, with the case of John Yan cey, and others, vs. State Highway and Public Works Commission, a $200,000 damage suit in which a ju ry of view has recommended a settle ment of $75,000, scheduled to be tried during the first week. Judge Wilson Warlick of Newton, will pre side during the two-weeks term. The plaintiffs to the damage suit action. Supreme Court Justice J. Wallace Winborne, as executor and trustee of the W. W. Guy estate, and John Yancey have charged that the construction of the Blue Ridge Park way has damaged the Holston and Heffner apple orchard to an amount betwten $200,000 and $250,000. They charge, that the State Highway Commission appropriated 206.76 ac res of land, containing approximate ly 6,825 “valuable apple trees” for the Parkway, and that surrounding property has been damaged. Other cases scheduled to be tried during the term are C. F. James et al, vs. W. W. Faw, et al; B. S. Mc Kinney vs. E. J. Randolph; Sterchi Bros. vs. Mrs. Frank Waters; An- idrew Rumfelt vs. Ida Rumfelt; Mrs LOCAL PASTOR ELECTED FIRST ZONE DIRECTOR OF LUTHERAN LEAGUE At the zone rally last Sunday at St. Stephen’s Lutheran, Hickory, Paul A. Boriack was elected spiritual director of zone No. 1 of the North Carolina Walther League. Zone No. 1 comprises all of Western North Carolina including Hickory. The Walther League is the young peoples organization of the Lutheran church Other officers elected were Miss Mona Huffman, of Hickory, presi dent; Dorothy Hawn, of Hickory, vice-president; secretary and treas urer, Miss I^elen Huffman, also of Hickory. The above officers together with Rev. Boriack constitute the Ex ecutive Board of Zone No. 1. Other officers to be appointed are the chairmen of Christian Knowledge and of Christian Service depart ments. Both offices are to be filled by representatives of the Asheville or Ruthferfordton and Marion leagues. The early spring zone rally will be held in Marion. In the near future the executive board will meet in Marion with Rev. Paul A. Boriack to outline an intensive and far- reaching program for the year. The local Lutheran pastor is also serving as spiritual advisor to the North Carolina Lutheran Laymen’s League and as Visitor of Circuit No. 7 of the Southeastern Lutheran Dis trict. DEDICATION OF GILKEYPARKIS SETOCTOBE20 Refuge Area And Lodge To Be Named For Late Member Of The Board. COUNTY HEALTH UNIT DISCUSSED BY ROTARY Discussion about a health unit for McDowell county was held at the regrular weekly meeting of the Rota- Ruby Bennett "vs. " J.’ rT Bennett;! Friday with Cari S. Gib- Mrs. Annie Duncan vs. Bernus Dun-l^^n, county health officer, explain- can; and Frank D. Glenn vs. G. P Seagle. Dedication of Gilkey Memorial park and Gilkey Memorial lodge in the Mt. Mitchell Game refuge near Busick has been set for Sunday af ternoon, October 20, at 4 o’clock, ac cording to Coleman W. Roberts, president of the Carolina Motor club, member of the state board of conservation aaid development and chairman of the state parks commit tee. The ceremony honors the late John Q. Gilkey, long active on the conser vation board and in its progpram, and precedes the semi-annual meeting of the conservation and development board and a conference with officials of the Great Smoky Mountains Na tional park regarding erection of tourist facilities in the park area and along the Blue Ridge parkway. Santford Martin of Winston-Sa lem, whose service as a member of the board is described as having par alleled that of the late Mr. Gilkey, will deliver the dedicatory address following invocation by the Rev. B. F. Bray, of Marion. Hundreds of visitors, including prominent state officials and friends of Mr. Gilkey, are expected to be present at the dedication, for which music will be furnished by the Marion high school band. Constructed of native stone and consisting of a living room, audito rium, kitchen and several bedrooms, be used as NOTED CLERGYMAN AT ST. MATTHEW’S SUNDAY St. Matthew’s Lutheran church ing the advantages offered by a county unit. Mayor Zeno Martin dis cussed the proposal at some length, j giving figures on the approximate | the memorial lodge will cost of a unit in the county and ex-; conference quarters for board mem- plaining details of the work that! bers, game protectors, foresters and would be accomplished. j others'^f the department of conser- Action to be taken by the Rotary i vation and development. Adjoinini? will observe the /annual Mission Fes-! club was left up to the board of j a fish hatchery and game refug* matters were brought before Mr. tival next Sunday. The speaker at | directors. The directors are sched-1 containing a collection of native wild the 11 o’clock service will be theRev. juled to meet tonight at 7 o’clock in Rudolph S. Ressmeyer, pastor of Im-|the Marion Drug Company. “It would not be possible for us manuel Lutheran church of Balti-1 Guests of the Friday meeting in-jto erect a more fitting memorial to more and also chairman of the Mis-1 eluded Mayor Martin, Mr. Gibson, {John Quince Gilkey, M^.Roberts sion Board of the Southeastern Lu- i and Rotarian Fred Hallenback of j declared. Both the park area and theran District. The purpose of the | High Point. j the lodge itself are entirely the re- Mission festival, it is stated, is to I The following program chairmen, suit of his planning and it is, there- comply with the Savior’s last wish to'were announced: October 18, Albert | fore, highly appropriate that they His followers “Preach the Gospel to!Hewitt; October 25, Macon Hewitt;!be dedicated to his memory. Through every creature.” Special emphasis in November 1, Clarence Rabb; and his work for the state and his own Avery during the hearing Friday. Most of the time was spent argu ing the mei^ts of a claim that the bankrupt concern owed over $1,500 to its company store operated by L. M. H«9)|ihill, and that this should be gfiven a preferred classification be cause the debt involved coupons is sued in lieu of wages to workmen. Mr. Avery reserved decision on this question until a later date. TO BEGIN REVIVAL AT EAST MARION BAPTIST CHURCH NEXT SUNDAY Rev. W. E. Pettit, pastor of Old Fort Baptist church, will assist the pastor. Rev. R. Von King, in a revi val meeting to begin next Sunday, in the early morning and tapered off j October 20 at East Marion Baptist after that until the late afternoon church. Rev. Mr. Pettit will deliver when many mill employees rushed to the polls. Special arrangements were made at the Community building for the registration of colored men. They flocked to the place throughout the day and several hundred are expec ted to have registered. In most instances only about 15 or 20 minutes was required for the registration of a draftee. Each appli cant was required to answer about eight questions, was^ given an identi fication card and a booklet of infor mation about the di'aft. The registration in McDowell was under the direction of T. W. Gowan, chairman of the county board of elec tions. McDowell men who will be eligible for actual military training will be passed on by the county draft board, composed of W. L. Morris, A. S. Bradford, Wm. S. Shifiet, .and Dr. J. B. Johnson of Old Fort. Robert W. Proctor/Marion , attorney, will be appeals agent. All members of the draft board have not been finally ap proved but have been recommended by the President. Registered men ha^ been reques ted to keep in close touch with their local draft boards, which will have charge of deferments and the intro duction of men, chosen by national authorities, to military service. PILOT CLUB MEETING The Pilot ^Inb will itaeet at the home of Mrs. C. A. Workman on South Garden street Thursday even ing at 7:30 o’clock. his opening message on Sunday even ing at the regular worehip service. The services are planned to continue day and night for two weeks daily at 10 a. m. and 7 p. m. The public -will be welcomed to these services. Rev. Pettit is a tal ented speaker, and a successful pas tor and evangelist. Before coming to Old Fort he was pastor of Arkwright Baptist church in Spartanburg, S. C. He has many friends throughout'this section. He is the vice-moderator of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association for the coming year. WILLKIE RALLY AND BARBECUE TO BE HELD Members of the Marion Willkie club will stage a rally 4ind free bar becue at North Fork clubhouse to morrow night, October 18, at 7:30 o’clock. The club house is located be yond Yancey bridge on the North Foi^ road. The meeting has been advertised as a “Non-Partisan” and “Indepen dent Democratic Willkie Rally.” Free barbecue will be given to all persons attending the meeting. A special in vitation has been extended to ladies to attend. M»LENDON IS TO SPEAK this service will be upon the purpose j November 8, Walter J. Cartier, and blessing of foreign missions. i Special music will be rendered with; report $5,735 PAID TO IN MARION OCTOBER 261 Albert Hewitt as soloist. j JOBLESS HERE DURING I The Rev. Ressmeyer will address | MONTH OF SEPTEMBER I Major L. P. McLendon, prominent | the annual convention of the N, C. | in Democratic party work in North Carolina for many years and former chairman of the state board of elec tions, will speak at Ihe court house in Marion on Saturday night, Octo ber 26, at 8:00 o’clock, it was an nounced this week. Major McLendon comes to Marion in connection with the Democratic campaign in McDow ell which will be climaxed Saturday night, November 2, with a torchlight parade and an address by J. M. Broughton, candidate for governor. The parade, led by the Marion high school band, will move up Main street, then out West Court street to the high school where Mr. Broughton will ^eak. \ SATURDAY NAMED AS . DAY FOR TAG SALEf’ The annual milk bottle Tag Sale day, sponsored by the Marion Par- ent-Teachers association, will beheld here Saturday, October 19, it was announced this week. The tags will be sold by the Marion school children and the proceeds will be used by the lunch room at the local school build ing. Tag sales are under the direc tion of Mrs. R. W. Proctor. Sales will begin at 9:00 o’clock in the morning WELFARE MEETING TO BE HELD HERE NOV. 19 Mrs. W. B. Aycock, director of noafatf organKation for the State Welfare Board, announces that a dis trict welfare meeting will be held in Marlon on November 19th. REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL ELECTION BEGINS Registration for the November general election opened* last Satur day in the 17 precincts of the county Registrars will be at the polling places from 9 a. m. until sunset for the next two Saturdays to register voters who have become of age or moved from one precinct to another since the last registration. The third Saturday after today will be for challenges. Lutheran Woman’s League at Ruth- distribution of $16,370,- erfordton Sunday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock. There will be no services at St. Matthew’s Lutheran church on Sunday night. C. W. WILSON RE-ELECTED RECORD CHIEF 40TH YEAR For the 40th consecutive year C. W. Wilson, of Clinchfield, has been re-elected chief of records of the Improved Order of Red Men for this district. Mr. Wilson was re-elected Satur day night at the district meeting at the lodge. Other officers are Quincy Morgan of * Marion, sachem; S. R. Mashburn, of Asheville, prophet; C. C. Alexander of Arden, senior saga more; and Luther Anders of Ashe ville, jttoior sagamore. George Pennell, Asheville attor ney, delivered the principal address. The address of welcome was made by R. L. Bishop of Asheville, and the response was by G. W. Kinzely of Marion. M’DOWELL TEACHERS TO ATTEND NCEA MEET Teachers of the Marion city unit and of McDowell county schools will attend the district meeting of the North Carolina Education association in Asheville Friday of this week. They will be accompanied by principals of all McDowell schools and Superin tendents N. F. Steppe and Hugh F. Beam. Superintendent Beam has been recommended for the presidency of this district of the N.C.E.X. and the recommendation has been supported by many educational leaders through out the district. 462.19 to unemployed and partially unemployed workers on North Caro lina in the 33 months of benefit pay ments through September, the 46 white employment offices and 10 col ored branches distributed 2,595,147 checks, Chairman Charles G. Powell of the State Unemployment Com pensation Commission, states. This distribution included 30,516 checks for $325,473.68 going to out- of-state workers who had previous ly established wage credits by work in North Carolina. During the month of September, 1940, the distribution of jobless benefits amounted to $413,506.75, included in 79,795 checks, of which 2,211 checks for $19,551.36 went to out-of-state claimants with wage credits in North Carolina. The McDowell Employment office distributed $268,667.33, embraced in 41,260 checks, in the 33 months of payments in the area served by the office, through September. In the month of September, this office dis tributed 1,179 checks for $5,735 to the unemployed in the area. LOCAL STORE TO SELL NEW LINE OF GOODS The Streetman Drug Company of Marion this week received a large shipment of Hanna’s Green Seal paints which will be handled by the store in the future in this territory. Featured in the large stock of paint now on display at the store are out side paint, floor and hard-finish en amels and wall finishes of all kinds. The paints to be sold at Street- maA’s have been distributed in this territory for many years. The store now carries a complete stock to fill all painting needs. unselfishness, Mr. Gilkey has built for himself a far more lasting me morial in the memory of his associ ates.” Highlight of the dedicatory exer cises will be the unveiling of a bronze plaque containing a profile of Mr. Gilkey and a tribute. LOCAL ELEVEN LOSES GAME TO SHELBY, 13-0 With Moore, fullback, making the scoring plunges, Shelby high school tallied in the second and fourth quar ters and defeated the Marion high school eleven, 13 to 0, in Shelby last Friday afternoon. Handicapped by the loss of several players who were out because of injuries. Coach Art Ditt’s Marion squad entered the game with Shelby being favored to win. Robertson, Good, Hawkins and Harris sparked the play for the local eleven, while Moore was outstanding for Shelby. The Marion high eleven rests this Friday, no game being scheduled. On October 25 the squad goes up against Forest City, there. After the week’s rest it is expected that the full team will be in shape to tackle Forest City. PTA SUPPER AT NORTH COVE SCHOOL TONIGHT The North Cove school l*arent- Teachers Association will sponsor a supper to be held this evening from 6:00 to 8:00 o’clock in the school building. Proceeds from the supper will be used to buy equipment for the lunch room so that it may be opened for school children. There will be a small charge of 25c per plate. Everyone is invited to come. DULA HAWKINS HONORED Dula Hawkins, who is a law stu dent at the University of North Car olina at Chapel Hill, has been elec ted vice president of his class. Mr. Hawkins is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hawkins.