THE MARION PROGRESS A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY ESTABLISHED 1896 MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1944 VOL. XLVIII—NO. 32 Red Cross War Fund Drive Gets Under Way Here Campaign Opened Tuesday To Raise Quota Of $10,200 Set For This County. The official Red Cross War Fund drive got off to a good start yester day, according to word received from Eugene Cross, chairman of the War Fund drive. Mr. Cross stated that all citizens of Marion and Mc Dowell county would be given an op portunity to contribute to this drive. Canvassers are hard at work in an effort to reach the quota of $10,200 set for this county. Mr. Cross was high in praise for the liberality ob served so far and in the cooperation received from the general public in this work. JL lie rveu vjruss pciiuima uiaii^ duties, acting at all times in the in terest of servicemen and their fami lies. Red Cross agencies follow servicemen to the battlefields and help in keeping open lines of com munication between them and the folks who remain at home. The Red Cross supplies many small items tending to give personal comfort to the boys on the battle fronts. Agencies of the Red Cross spend long hours administering to the sick and wounded, keeping on hand a supply of blood plasma, which is of ten the difference between life and death to a fallen soldier. A part of the money collected in Marion and McDowell County by the Red Cross will go directly to prisoners of war. According to in formation from National Red Cross j Headquarters, American and Allied i prisoners of war receive a "prisoner [ of war package" once each week! while confined to prison camps in the European area. When a prison er of war receives one of the above mentioned packages, he gives the Red Cross representative a receipt and a week later this, or another representative of the Red Cross con tacts the prisoner for the purpose of finding out what happened to the package. So far as the Red Cross has been able to establish, the Ger mans have not made any attempts to misuse the "prisoner of war package" given to American and Allied prisoners. In addition to these packages, the soldiers when captured receive a special parcel. This parcel is about all the captured soldier has, for when beginning fighting some morning or night, the soldier does not take extra equipment with him. This special parcel contains a hair brush, shoe brush, pocket comb and cover, plastic jar of shaving cream, two bath towels, two face towels, shoe polish, four handkerchiefs, two pairs of shoe laces, a box of Cas caria, a box of vitamin tablets, a box of band aids, pipe, package of pipe cleaners, a pair of pajamas, a pair of bedroom slippers, a safety razor, three packages of razor blad es, a sweater, two pairs of socks, one pair of light underwear, six cakes of toilet soap, two bars of laundry soap, a package of tooth powder, a tooth brush and container, and a clothes brush. Last year the American Red Cross packed 5,300,000 "prisoner of -war packages." From the information given out by Red Cross officials, the Japanese government has not allowed the dis tribution of these prisoners' packag es in Japanese prison camps near and around the Island of Japan but the American Red Cross has thous ands of these packages stored in Vladivostock, Russia, for distribut ion as soon as it is allowed. BANNING TAKES POSITION AT McCALL-BURGIN STORE C. Y. Banning, for a number of years employed at the McDowell Hardware company, has accepted a position with the McCall - Burgin Hardware company and has entered upon his work with the latter firm, it is announced by the latter firm. Mr. Banning succeeds Charles Lytle who will enter service with the arm ed forces. Mr. Banning has had about 25 years experience in the hardware business and is well known throughout the county. SEAGLE EMPLOYEES SUPPORT RED CROSS DRIVE 100 PER CENT Evidence that the McDowell Chapter of the American Red Cross will experience little dif ficulty in meeting its quota of $10,200 is revealed in the fact that one manufacturing1 plant, the G. P. Seagle Lumber Com pany, has already contributed 100% to the drive, according to announcement in this issue of iThe Progress. Each employee of the company contributed a day's pay to the annual Red Cross War Fund drive, amount ing to $206.60. The company also lists 33 employees now in the service (of the armed forces, including one gold star member. Mr. Seagle is justly proud of the record made by his employ ees. MARION HIGH BAND TO HAVE SPRING CONCERT The Mai-ion High School band will appear in concert for the second time in the present school year on March 10 at 8 p. m., Glenn Palmer, director, announced this week. Mr. Palmer stated that the pro gram should be an unusually good one as the band has had very little to divert its attention since the last concert. Since practice was begun in the new gymnasium building, the sound pfroofness and other qualities of the new room have helped to cor rect mistakes that were left unheard in the empty auditorium when the band rehearsed there. Mike McCall will be saxophone soloist and he needs no introduction to the band's supporters. He is probably the band's outstanding mu sician and his solo should prove to be a highlight on the program. The band has been recognized as one of the State's outstanding High school organizations and the people of Marion will be given ample proof of this on March 10th. MARION-GLENWOOD SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER The Marion girls trounced Glen wood girls in a thrilling "revenge" basketball game here last night. The girls were led in their 32 to 25 victory by Alta Godfrey and Dot Neighbors with Evans leading the losers as high scorer. The Glenwood boys took a 24 to 20 win over the Marion boys in what proved to be one of the roughest games of the season. The game started out as a smooth basketball game should but, as the game grew older the boys got bolder and soon it was just a rough and tumble affair. Flack and Mask led Marion as high scorers and Reel led Glenwood. IVEY CRAWLEY GIVEN RANK OF STAFF SGT. Sgt. Ivey C. Crawley, Jr., station ed somewhere in New Guinea, has been promoted to Staff Sergeant, ac cording to word received by his pa rents, Mr. and Mrs. I. C. Crawley, of Route 1, Nebo. Sgt. Crawley is a member of the ground crew of the air corps. He entered service in De cember, 1940, and has been over seas for two years. Another brother, Sgt. Vernon H. Crawley, who entered service in De cember, 1942, is now stationed at Patterson, N. J. FARMERS FEDERATION MEET HERE SATURDAY The Farmers Federation will hold its annual stockholders' meeting for McDowell county at the warehouse in Marion next Saturday morning at 10:30 o'clock. James G. K. McClure will give a short report of Federation business in general and the business of Mc Dowell county. Election of officers for a period of one year and the nomination of a director for Mc Dowell county will take place. Coffee and doughnuts will be seiv ed by Federation employees. All stockholders of the Federation are invited to attend. I MINISTERS TO HOLD ! MEETING NEXT MONDAY The monthly meeting of the Mc Dowell County Ministerial Associa tion will be held at the Methodist hut next Monday morning at 10:30 o'clock. County Check On Food Prices Will Be Made Merchants Aides To Visit Food Establishments During Week OF March 13. A county wide check on food pric es in McDowell County will be con ducted during the week of March 13, simultaneously with the beginning of a home front pledge campaign to enlist the support of housewives in the OPA's effort to hold down living costs and to effect an equitable dis tribution of scarce food commodities through the rationing program. The purpose of this check on food prices and survey on food commodities is to help retail stores keep in compli ance with food price regulations. In making the above announce ment, the chairman of the Food j Panel of the local War Price and Rationing Board stated that price panel assistants or merchant aides [would take an active part in this | work. The announcement further i stated that Merchant Aides would i i visit every food establishment in the |county during the time mentioned! above. Merchants generally are patriotic- ■ ally doing their best to maintain I their prices at or below price ceil- j ! ings. Experience has shown that Jwell over 95% of all merchants are! j attempting to serve their customers j ! under established ceiling prices; the 'remaining 5% or less are either! careless or wantonly indifferent to the seriousness of the issue or other-j wise just plain dishonest. New community top prices effec-! tive as of March 1 will be used in making this check. This program is 1 not an investigation nor an "enforce-, ment drive" but an educational pro- j gram to assist both merchants and purchasers and to determine any cas-1 es where merchants may need help j from the local War Price and Ra tioning Board. i A meeting will be held in the of-1 fices of the local War Price and Ra-j tioning Board on Tuesday evening, March 7, at 7:30 o'clock for the pur-! j pose of training the Merchant Aides | |and assistant members of the Price; Panel for the work that lies ahead of ! them. A member of the district of j fice, located at Charlotte, will be 1 | present to participate in the affairs j of this meeting. In working out the details of this meeting it was point ■ ed out to the officials of the local j jWar Price and Rationing Board that j j the survey to take place between the , : dates of March 13 and March 18 is1 j nation-wide in scope and that out of j this work price control should be-! come established on a more firm j foundation to the end that all com | modities necessary to maintain a ; reasonable standard of living should ibe held in check. I | TOTAL OF 21,039 NO. 4 RATION BOOKS IN COUNTY j j i Distribution of war ration book | four now totals 128,760,419, the of-! fice of price administration in Wash-! ington disclosed in making public a | tabulation showing the number of i | books issued in each county through- i ! out the country. Distribution of the | ibook began October 18, 1943. Tabulation for North Carolina, in I ! j [ which 3,423,109 books were distrib-1 juted, follows, in part: i Avery, 11,839; Buncombe, 99,-j ■ 954; Burke, 33,492; Caldwell, 34,- j 1355; Haywood, 31,074; Henderson,! j 24,278; Jackson, 15,966; Macon,; 114,035; McDowell, 21,039; Mitchell, j 14,184; Polk, 10,358; Rutherford,! ; 39,729; Swain, 12,467; Transylva jnia, 12,353; Watauga, 15,780; and I Yancey, 13,240. | OLD FORT COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE IS NAMED I I W. W. Neal, Jr. civilian defense chairman, has announced the ap jpointment of Mrs. C. L. Norwood as i chairman of a Civil Service Commit ! tee of Old Fort. Others serving on the committee with Mrs. Norwood | are Mrs. Janie Reid and Mrs. Lola Lonon. j Mrs. Reid recently resigned as chairman of the Old Fort Civil Ser vice Committee, but will continue to serve as a member. Token System Put Into Use In Food Sales OPA Gives Uniform 10-Point Value to Stamps Under New Plan Effective This Week. The new "token system" of buy ing' rationed food is now in effect. Officially put into operation Sun day, the new plan makes the blue stamp in ration book four exchange able for processed foods and the red for meat and dairy products and gives each stamp a flat 10 point value. The tokens, which are used in making point "change," will be good indefinitely, while the stamps have limited validity as under the old system. 1 "Through the use of 10-point | stamps and the new tokens, the1 work of all who handle ration cur- i rency — the public, the trade, the ration banks—will be greatly reduc ed," OPA said. Almost 2,500,000, 000 stamps—6 per cent of the 4, 000,000,000 going over retail count ers each month under the old pro gram—will be eliminated." 'Complete transition to the new system will take about three weeks, however, since the last of the old ! brown and green stamps of 8, 5, 2' and 1 denominations will remain j good through March 20. Here is a list of the new 10-point stamps valid through May 20. Blue (processed food) stamps A8, B8, C8, D8 and E8. j Red (meats-fats) stamps A8, B8, j and C8. The old-style stamps good through ! March 20 are: Green (processed food stamps K, L and M. Brown (meats, fats) stamps Y and Z. OPA urges housewives to use their remaining green and brown stamps first since they expire long before the first series of red and blue stamps. Also all purchases of ration food can be made from one ■ book—number 4 when the brown stamps in book three have been used. The new program calls for valida-; tion of three red stamps for meats fats every two weeks, while for pro cessed foods a series of five stamps will be validated at the start of each month. In other words, housewives j will have 50 processed food points; a month from each ration book, com pared with 48 previously, and 30 meats-fats points every two weeks against 32 under the old system. The difference, however, will not be translated into more canned goods and less meat, since OPA plans compensating adjustments in point values. But stamps foods will get a slight point increase and red items will go down a trifle. OPA emphasized that the figures on the face of the blue and red stamps have no significance as to the value of the coupons. The books v/ere printed, it was explained, be fore decision to give the stamps a uniform 10-point value. While the old brown and green stamps remain in use, tokens will be given as change for them just as for the red and blue. In addition, one point brown and green stamps will be usable in making change until they expire. This plan was adopt ed, OPA said, as a precaution against the possibility that tokens may not be well distributed in all sections during the first few weeks they are in use. MISS LAURA YORK DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS Miss Laura Cheek York, 55, died at the residence of her uncle, John McCoy, at Old Fort, R. F. D. No. 1, early Friday morning after a linger ing illness. Funeral services were conducted at the Siloam Presbyterian church Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock by her pastor, the Rev. Thomas B. Buff, and burial made in the family plot in Siloam cemetery. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Myrtle York Harrell, her uncle John McCoy, and one aunt, Mrs. Thomas Tate. Buy war bonds and Stamps. Washington, Feb. 25.—The tax bill which President Roosevelt de scribed as a relief for the greedy has become law. The senate today completed the congressional revolt against the President by overriding his veto of the $2,225,000,000 measure. Since the house similarly reject ed the President's veto yesterday, the measure now becomes law. The vote in the senate today was overwhelmingly against the Presi dent's veto. Seventy-two senators voted to override; only 14 voted to sustain the President. The vote in the house yesterday was equally large against the Presi dent—299 to 95. As a result of overriding of the veto, Americans after April 1 will have sharply increased excise taxes; on a long list of articles. Liquor I taxes will go from $6 to $9 a 100- j proof gallon; cabaret taxes will be 30 per cent instead of 5 per cent;' admissions taxes will be 20 per i cent instead of the present 10. j Many other levies will rise similarly. | Effective March 26, the local post age rate will go from two to three j cents an ounce. Individual income tax provisions of the new law will not affect com putation of tax returns due March 15. But in computing estimated taxes due on 1944 income, on re turns now due April 15, and in com puting income taxes henceforth, there will be no earned income credit as heretofore. In addition to the rate increases,; the bill has other important provis-1 ions. One freezes the social securi-1 ty tax for the rest of this year at! the present one per cent. It was due to increase to two per cent on March 1. j CLINCHFIELD RHYTHM BAND GIVES PROGRAM AT KIWANIS MEETING The Clinchfield Rhythm Band, un der the direction of Mrs. Bernard Hirsch, was the feature attraction at the regular weekly meeting of Ki wanis Tuesday evening, rendering a number of patriotic selections. In addition to a record attendance of Kiwanians and guests a number of others came in after . the regular meeting for the program which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. John A. Finley was elected to membership last Tuesday and the of ficial emblem was presented by Judge P. J. Story. Guests at the meeting included Rev. W. H. Tipton of Marion, D. C. Golf of the War Price Panel, Char lotte, W. H. Patten of Marion and son, Lieut. W. H. Patten, Jr., U. S. A., and Carrol Corbett, U. S. N. OPA TO MAKE CHECK ON COUPON ENDORSEMENT Beginning the week of March 6, OPA will attempt to check all gaso line ration books to see that the coupons are properly endorsed with license number and state, as part of the nationwide campaign against black markets in gasoline. Motor ists found with unendorsed coupons will be notified to report to their lo cal board within 10 days with en dorsed books. Anyone who fails to do this faces revocation of rations. STATE W.M.U. CONVENTION TO MEET IN CHARLOTTE The State Baptist W. M. U. con vention will be held at the First Baptist church in Charlotte on March 7-9, it is announced by Mrs. C. C. Parker, superintendent of the .Blue Ridge Association. The theme of the meeting will be "For Ye Serve the Lord." Delegates from the various churches in the county have been named to attend the con vention. TAXPAYERS TO BE GIVEN AID ON FILING STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS F. L. German, deputy commis sioner, will be at the court house in Marion on March 1 to 8 from 9 un til 5 o'clock for the purpose of as sisting taxpayers in filing their State tax returns. . State income tax reports must be filed by March 15. LENTEN SERVICE TODAY The Rev. Albert P. Mack, rector of St. Francis' church of Ruther fordton, will conduct Lenten ser vices at St. John's Episcopal church here this morning (Thursday) at 10:30 o'clock. McDowell Draft Board Changes Status Of Men 150 Registrants Placed In 1-A. Subject To Early Physical Examinations. One hundred and fifty McDowell county registrants have been assign ed 1-A status by the local selective service board, according to an an nouncement released by the board during the past week. The men are subject to early pre-induction physi cal examinations at an army center. Those placed in 1-A include the following: James Mason, Joseph Laughridge, Ted Blalock, William Hughes, James Smith, Grady Greer, Charles A. Mc Kinney, James T. Brooks, Harry R. Mason, Edward W. Huffman, Edgar T. Medford, Arnold Pyatt, Thurston G. Haynes, Paul Elliott, Ralph L. Phillips, Ted T. Johnson, William C. Raines, Royce L. Hogan, Jesse P. Cannon, Kenneth W. Young, Delmar T. Allison, Gary F. Peade, Virgil L. Morgan, William H. Morrow, Carter M. Curry, John C. Edwards, Troy Davis, Charles H. Smith, Robert G. Radford. Herman A. Summey, Arvey L. Washburn, Robert W. Quinn, Clyde R. Whisnant, John L. Lewis, Albert N. Burnette, Clifton L. England, Eugene T. Yon, Walter F. Jackson, Alvin R. Bartlett, Grady Liester, Robert P. Greene, James G. Ray, Louis R. Thomas, Woodrow A. Wall, Galen A. Mace, John M. Riser, Wil liam H. Poteat, Clifton R. McCor mick, Harry M. Gilliam, Clyde W. Holland, Thomas P. Thomas, Austin J. Harris, James R. Wilkerson, Sam uel M. Yancey, Edgar B. Henline, Clarence C. Wise, Joseph P. Row land. John V. Roland, Odell L. Ward, Herman C. Walker, Charles C. Car son, Paul S. Whitner, David S. Gal lion, James L. Crawley, James L. Ferguson, Howard C. Osborne, James V. Reynolds, Wayne P. Ad kins, Arlond T. Bank, Clarence Car son, Dysart M. Hawkins, Andrew R Davis, James F. Elliott, Kenneth A. Hardy, Mvles P. Young, Paul G. Willis, Ralph A. Gibbs, Floyd T. Young, Kenneth Young, Lemuel A. Early, William B. Wright, Buford R. Elliott. Edward A. Owens, William F. Anderson, John D. Wilkerson, Er nest B. Hollifield, Arthur C. Loftis„ Samuel M. Smith, William R. Mues, Aaron L. Huffman, Lonnie Crisp, Frank M. Baumgardner, Troy B. Marler, Thad Stevens, Winfred J. Poteat, Otis T. Vess, Coy C. Bart lett, James L. Finley, Alvin L. Price, John A. McNeill, Robert G. Sim mons, Joe N. Hollifield, Luther N. Parker, Jesse M. Lytle, Grant Wil liams, Lester Pressley. Harlin Moody, Bill B. Deck, Har dy L. Murphy, Carl P. Jimison, Ro>r M. King, John E. Suttle, Paul G. Burgin, Barney T. Rector, Daniel 0~ Bradley, Presley B. Jaynes, John W, Evans, Charley M. Hensley, Loui* Evans, Bernie E. Hollifield, James R Bruner, Lawrence M. Ellington, Gil key S. Hollifield, Fred G. Moody, Everette L. Hutchins, Joseph W. Sumlin. Enoch W. Shirlen, Wilburn W. Revis, Floyd W. Gable, Carsie H. Reese, Arwin H. Hicks, Hugh O. Mc Call, Cecil E. Patterson, Clyde W. Pyatt, Barney R. Suttles, Alden P. Honeycutt, Gaston B. Waycaster, Daniel L. Williams, John E. Sim mons, George W. Gardner, Boyd Morgan, Lee M. Lewis, Tice W. Hicks, Donald D. Duncan, James W. Moore, Edward Sherlin, Daniel M. Willis, Ray D. Grant, John W, Saunders, Paul Williams. A. R. HAWKINS VISITS PARENTS AT MARION? j A. R. Hawkins, 19, radioman sec ond class of ehe navy, has been spending a leave with his parents, Mr. and Mis. A. L. Hawkins, of [West Marion. I Following his leave he returned to Now York city, where he expects a new assignment. He has been on active sea duty for more than a year. Radioman Hawkins attended Marion high school prior to entering service in December, 1941.