North Carolina Newspapers

THE SUN Advertising Columns Bring Results Sun THE SUN Job Printing Department Solicits Your Work VOL. 22 NO. 23 m RUTHERFORDTON, N. C, THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 17, 1919 ?F $1.50 A YEAR THE SUN HAS THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY WEEKLY IN THE TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT GOV. APPEALS TO PUBLIC CONSCIENCE Taxation Subject Of Gover nor's Sermon Up To The People To Make New Law A Success. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA Governor's Office Raleigh July 11, 1919. Mr. Editor: I hand you herewith copy of open 'letter addressed to "Mr. Average Citizen." I regard the Re-Valuation Act as the most impoi'tant economical mea sure enacted by the General As sembly in fifty years. As suggested in the letter, the wise and just pur pose of the act cannot be carried out unless the people give it a whole hearted support. This whole-hearted support cannot be obtained ex cept through the medium of the press. As the Governor of this State I feel deeply grateful to the press for the noble and patriotic sup port it has given to all worthy mea sures and just because you have been so generous in this support heretofore I am again calling you to the colors. I will be glad for you to keep this question of a true valua tion of the property of the State ever before the minds of your people for the next ninety days. Line up on line and precept upon precept will have to be used in order to make this tax measure a perfect success. Sincerely yours, T. W. BICKETT. A letter from the Governor to Mr. Average Citizen. My dear Mr. Average Citizen: An intimate acquaintance with you, extending over a number of years, leads me to write you this in tensely personal letter. I know that you love the truth, that you despise injustice, that you are a robust champion of the square deal. The possession by you of the cardinal virtues makes North Carolina a truly great State. The most vital power of the State is the power to tax, and you believe that this vital power should be exer cised with a full knowledge of the truth. You believe that from this full knowledge of the truth there will flow perfect equality in taxation. For the firs time in the history of the State you, Mr. Average Citizen, have it in your power to write the full truth and perfect equality in the tax books of the State. You have never been called upon to do this be fore; indeed, you have never been permitted to do this before. But now the General Assembly has en acted a law that places the matter entirely in your hands. The new tax law is written on correct prin ciples. The machinery for its en forcement is adequate and approp riate. The law is so written that it will be easy for the citizen to do right and hard for him to do wrong. But on you, Mr. Average Citizen, rests the responsibility of determin ing whether or not the wise and just purpose of the law shall be carried out. Now, Mr. Average Citizen, you will receive a questionaire and will be called upon to swear before God and to all your fellow-citizens what is the fair market value of your property. When you come to take this solemn oath it will be helpful to you to put to your own conscience this question: "If I did not own this property, but wanted to buy it, what would I be justified in paying for it?" and, again: "If I wanted to sell this property, not at a forced sale, but in the way and on the terms that property of this class is generally sold in this community, what do I really believe I could get for it?" The answer to these ques tions will point with reasonable ac curacy to the fair market value of your property. This fair market value you must write down in your questionaire, else you will cease to te Mr. Average Citizen and become Mr. Undesirable Citizen. yhen you, Mr. Average Citizen, tell the truth about your property, it will do no good for your neighbor, Mr. Undesirable Citizen, to tell a lie about his property, because when the books show truly what the prop erty of Mr. Average Citizen is worth this evidence will clearly and con clusively show what the property of Mr. Undesirable Citizen is worth. The local and district assessors, 'when they come to fix. the value of property, will be governed by the sworn testimony of Mr. Average citi zen. And when you, Mr. Average Citi zen, tell the unvarnished truth a bout your property, that truth will wipe out every discrimination and every inequality in taxation in North Carolina. True values are al ways equal values, but the greatest expert canont equalize a series of falsehoods. When all the property in the State shall be placed on the books at its fair market value, many bene fits will accrue to you, Mr. Average Citizen. 1. You will have the great satis faction of knowing that the record written by all the people of the State is a true record and not a libel on the commonwealth. This knowledge will wonderfully strengthen the mor al fiber of our people. 2. You will know that every dis crimination in taxation is wiped out, an dthat every citizen is carrying his fair part of the burden. 3. As the values go up the rate of taxation will go down, and here after North Carolina will be known far and wide as a wealthy State with a low rate of taxation instead of a poor State with a high rate of tax ation. 4. The General Assembly has made a pledge not to collect, under the proposed true valuation of prop erty, revenues greater than ten per cent in excess of the revenues under the present false values. This means that the total revenues collected by the State shall not be greater than ten per cent in excess of the total revenues collected under the pres ent law. This most emphatically does not mean that no particular citi zen will have to pay taxes in excess of ten per cent of the amount he has heretofore paid. A particular citi zen may pay less taxes than he has ever paid before. He may pay double what he has heretofore paid. This depends on whether or not he (has heretofore paid his fair share of the taxes according to his true worth. If he has paid more than his fair share the increase as to him will be less than ten per cent; if he has paid less than his fair share, the in crease as to him will be more than ten per cent. You, Mr. Average Citizen, will at once perceive the essential justice in thus equalizing the public burden. I call on.you to lend your vigorous support, first, by example, and then by precept, to this attempt by the General Assembly to build up a taxation system in North Carolina grounded on perfect truth and per fect justice. By so doing you will help to practically demonstrate that it is profitable in money and in morals to a people as well as to an individual to tell the truth and shame the devil. Sincerely yours, T. W. BICKETT, GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY Jurors For August Term Of Court Selected The board of commissioners, the sheriff and the clerk of the court on Tuesday drew the jurors for the next term of civil court which begins Aug. 18th, with Judge James L. Webb, presiding. The names drawn are as follows : First Week: G. N. Owens, Col fax; J. D. Link, Cool Springs; E. M. Toney, Logan Store; J. D. Searcey, Chimney Rock; F. B. Harrill, Cool Springs; C. M. Holland, Cool Spring; Ed Watkins, Cool Springs; E. A. Waters, Duncans Creek; Bryan Weast, Logan Storey C. L. Nix, Chimney Rockffi C.j S. Hemphill, Cool Springs; J. M. Tate, Jr., High Shoals; W. A. Baber, Colfax; J. C. Black, Duncans Creek; Waldo E. Lynch, Green Hill; J. T. Fortune, Cool Springs; J. S. Condrey, Camp Creek: C. F. Clayton, High Shoals. Second Week B. Ledbetter, Chimney Rock; T. R. Searcey, Chim ney Rock; O. T. Waldrop, Ruther fordton; J. H. Long, Golden Volley; D. D. Webb, Cool Springs; J. T. Lewis, Rutherf ordton ; M. H. Jones, Rutherf ordton ; S. B. Biggerstaff, Logan Store; G. W. Grayson, Logan Store; R. K. Aydlett, Camp Creek; O. R. Norvell, Logan Store; F. Z. Elmore, High Shoals; W. G. Harris, Morgan: R. W. Whisnant, Golden Valley; Clyde Weast, High Shoals; Carl Wormack, Union; J. G. Lamb, Sulphur Springs; G. P. McDaniel, High Shoals. Mr. J. O. Ledbetter, a promin- : ent farmer of Uree, R-l, was here ' Friday on business. AT HOME AFTER NEARLY SEVEN MONTHS IN EUROPE HssssBshBsBsM ff? jjjj v WATCH THE "HUMP" WOODROW WILSON CONCRETE HIGHWAY TO SEABOARD DEPOT Town And Federal Govern ment To Build 16 Foot Road Jointly. The latest improvement for Ruth erfordton is a sixteen foot concrete road to the Seaboard depot. Mayor Simmons had this assurance from the State Highway Commission last Friday. It will be built on a 50-50 basis by the Federal Government an dthe town of Rutherfordton joint ly. Surveying will begin soon and work soon after as possible. When the road bonds were issued the county commissioners in their application for Federal aid request ed that the incorporate limits of Forest City and Rutherfordton be exempt from the 38 miles of high way to be built. Mayor Simmons made a trip to Raleigh and got it extracted. Unless the authorities at Forest City get busy at once they will have only the sand clay road through the incorporate limits of their town. The towns - of Forest City and Rutherfordton will pay their part of the taxes for the bond issue for the highway. The authorities here feel like it was an unfair discrimination against the towns to elkninate their incorporate limits when they share the major portion of the county's cost of the highway. Mayor Simmons is to be highly commervded for this progressive move. More improvements will fol low later. PROF. MARSH HERE Local School Teachers Par tially Elected Prof. Roy A. Marsh of Marshville, former principal of Forest City Graded Schools has been elected as principal of Rutherfordton Graded School for the coming school year. Prof. Marsh served in the army for some time. He is a graduate of Wake Forest College and is one of the State's ablest teachers. He has given complete satisfaction wherever he has taught. The local authorities are very fortunate in securing his services. Other teachers have been elected as follows: High school, Misses Mamie Stacey and Louise E. Justice. Seventh grade, Mrs. A. A. McFar land. Sixth grade, Miss Mary Sue Hill. Fifth grade, Miss Louise Brown of Ashford. Third grade, Miss Edna Harris, Rutherfordton. The first, second and fourth grade teachers have not been settled yet. Misses Stacey, Justice and Hill and Mrs. McFarland taught last year while Misses Harris and Brown are new teachers here. School will open between Septem ber 1st and 15th. The Rev. F. D. Lobdell is in Amagansett, Long Island, the guest of his brother-in-law, Hon. V. M. Da vis of the New York Supreme court, awaiting the arrival of his brother, Captain Leighton Lobdell of the 5th division, which sails this week from overseas. Father Lobctell's return is uncertain at this time. Mr. W, S. Freeman and son, E. F. Freeman were here Friday on business. Young Mr. Freeman was recently discharged from the service of Uncle Sam. He was in the 317th Field Artillery. He was overseas ten months. He was discharged at Camp Lee. Capt. (Dr.) Scruggs Located In Charlotte Charlotte will hear with keen in terest that a prominent war surgeon has located here. This is Capt. (Dr.) William M. Scruggs, formerly of the U. S. Medical Corps, and who until very recently was stationed at Fort McPherson after returning from France. Capt. Scruggs was one of the leading surgeons at Camp Greene. He went over with Hos pital Unit 54, organized at Camp Greene by Col. Henry Page, July a year ago. He was chief surgeon at the Provisional Hospital No. 8 at Mesves, rFance, a distinctive feature in connection with the Base there, being that there never was a death. Capt. Scruggs is a native of Ruth erfordton, and before the war was surgeon in the hospital there. He comes to cast his lot with the citi zens of Charlotte, and has already gained recognition in the profession al world of the city. Socially he is prominently known here. Dr. Scruggs and brother, Dr. W. N. Scruggs went to Rutherfordton last evening to spend Sunday with their parents. Charlotte Observer. Subscriptions And Renewals Continue To Come In. The "Hump" continues to grow. During the past week 51 names were added to The Sun's rapidly growing list. The following are the names: Rutherfordton Walter Goode, R-2 $ .50 C. E. Briscoe, R-4 .50 D. G. Padgett, R-2 .50 W. A. Johnson, R-l .75 Rev. B. Graham 1.50 J. A. Smith, R-l .50 J. L. Henderson, R-l .50 Mrs. P. Beam, R-l 1.50 J. P. Harris .50 M. O. Dickerson 1.50 F. C. McKinney, R-l .75 Forest City J. F. Weathers $1.00 Julius Queen, R-2 .50 Wister Bridges, R-l 1.50 J. O. Toms, R-2 1.50 A. H. McDaniel .75 G. W. Edwards .75 Bostic W. L. Long, R-l $1.50 Maggie Jones, R-4 .50 O. R. Flack .75 S. B. Harris, R-4 1.50 T. L. Harrill .75 W. G. Deviny, R-2 1.50 Uree Frank Camp, R-2 1.50 Robert Camp, R-2 .50 J. O. Ledbetter, R-l .75 J. C. Searcy, R-l 1.00 Union Mills M. C. Morgan $ .50 C. F. Keeter .75 Gilkey W. S. Freeman $ .50 R. T. Biggerstaff .50 Geo. Flack 1.50 Harris R. B. Powell $ .50 C. E. Owens, R-l .50 Ellenboro A. H. Hamrick, R-2 $ .50 C. A. Jones, R-2 1.50 James Withrow, R-3 1.00 Miscellaneous Nellie Newman, Lynn, S. C. $1.50 Carrie B. Wilkins, .Spindale 1.50 C. S. Williamson, Ucon, Idaho .75 J. B. Carver, Hawaii Islands 1.50 O. R. McDaniel, Charlotte .75 W. M. Rhinehardt, Caroleen .75 W. D. Hamrick, Cliffside .75 J. A. Matheny, Mooresboro,R-2 .75 T. M. Frazier, Henrietta .75 Hiram B. Morse, St. Louis, Mo. 1.50 J. L. Elliotte, Gem, Kansas .50 A. W. Young, Mayworth .75 B. Young, Ruth .75 M. V. Bartles, Thermal City .75 S. C. VISITORS HERE Short Concert On Main Street Sunday Afternoon "What's that? Who are they? Where are they from? Ain't that band fine. Look at the big fat man. Ain't they a very fine looking bunch." Such were the expressions heard on main street here Sunday af ternoon about 4:30 o'clock when a band of 22 pieces began to play. It was the Glenn-Lowery Mills Y. M. C. A. band from Whitmore, S. C, under the direction of Mr. W. M. Sherard and others just stopping here for a few minutes rest and to see how things in these parts look ed. The party was composed of 55 men from the Glenn-Lowery Mills of which Mr. W. M. Sherard is sup erintendent. He is pleasantly re membered as the superintendent of Henrietta Mills. They had been on a three days' outing to Chimney Rock, Hendersonville, Asheville and points in the mountains. They came by here to see Chimney Rock and our county. We must say it was one of the best bands that ever visited our town. Their music brought many a person to main street in a run, ev en if it was hot. They only played three pieces as they had to drive to Whitmire that night. They were a happy bunch, the best of fellows, and in fine spirits. The South Carolinians are good baseball players. They have play ed 19 games this season and won 18 of them. They beat the famous Kenilworth team in Asheville Satur day afternoon 6 to 5. We hope the South Carolinians will come again. "A little music now and then is relished by the wis est of men." Moral, we need a good band here. PROCEEDINGS OF CO. COMMISSIONERS Usual County Affairs Bills Paid Few Exemptions From Poll Tax. Mrs. H. E. Edwards received a message from her son, Clyde, Sun day stating that he had landed in Boston, Saturday from overseas. The county commissioners, Messrs. G. F. Watson, T. J. Wilkins and J. A. Martin were in session here three days last week. Jurors for the August term of civil court were selected and other important mat ters were transacted. Among other things the following orders were is sued : M. H. Morrow be released from 'poll tax for 1918 and 1919. M. W. Wall have free license to peddle dry goods for 1919. A. L McFarland, $20 buriel ex penses of Sarah Campbell, pension eer. M. G. Crow, $35 listing taxes in Golden Valley Township for 1919. Dr. J. C. Twitty, $40 for county medical services for May and June. J. C. Cagle, $25.15 for work on court house and jail. Yelton Milling Co., $28.50, goods to county home for June. Z. T. Searcey be released from poll tax for 1919. Z. V. Taylor $45, listing taxes in Chimney Rock township. A. C. Lovelace, $49 listing taxes in Green Hill township. L. G. Frazier be released from oll and road tax until revoked. O. D. Barrs, $20 for capturing still at Sane Carrolls. T. R. Padgett, $8 for coffin for Raleigh Washburn. D. A. Cardell, $21, expenses car rying Horace Cardell to insane asy lum. L. D. Hemphill, $45 listing taxes in Morgan township. E. H. Logan, $42, listing taxes in Gilkey township. Justice-Erwin Co., $146.12, goods furnished county home for June. J? F. Flack, $360.31 coal for county. J. D. Morris, $47, listing taxes in Camp Creek township. T. C. Jordan, $50 as assistant tax supervisor. J. R. Anderson, $110.84 water and lights, court house and jail for May and June. Miller Hardware Co., $58.21, goods for county home for June. Ordered that Mr. A. M. McKinney 'furnish Mrs. R. B. Padgett and chil dren $12 per month, beginning with July until notified. Robinson Co., $10.75, goods for county home for June. BOY SCOUTS TAKE OUTING Philatheas Give Picnic Prayer Meeting Locals (Special to The Sun). CAROLEEN, July 14. The Boy Scouts of Caroleen and Henrietta are leaving today for Spruce Pine and Altapass for ten days camping trip, accompanied by their master, Rev. W. R. Shelton. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Haney from Concord visited Mrs. Haney's pa rents, Mr. and Mrs. Lynch Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Lynch and daughter, Ruth and Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Harvey motored to Chimney Rock, Hendersonville, Fairview and Asheville Saturday. The Baptist Philathea class will meet tonight (Monday) at the Wel fare house for a picnic, each one is to invite a boy friend to go with her. Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Blanton and family left Friday for Sulphur Springs where he is to help in the normal school there. The Junior Philathea class is now having a prayer meeting every Tues day night. They are to meet with Miss Wilma Stalnaker tomorrow night. Sunday afternoon, the Baptist W. M. U. Society, the Y. W. A. Society and the Sunbeams met at the church and had a very interesting program. $150 Per Acre The Weldon Hampton farm, near Ruth which was sold at public auc tion last week brought a good price. Five farms of about 3 to 14 acres each, were sold which averaged $115 per acre. About 30 lots were sold which brought on an average of $150 per acre. They ranged in size from 1-4 to 2 1-2 acres. Much interest was manifested in the bidding. Deputy J. W. Jones left Tues day for Raleigh on business.