North Carolina Newspapers

Volume XLV TJe Lenoir Topic, 'gtUdd 175 Con,oliUte1 April lf 1919 LENOIR, N. C, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1919 Price, Fit Cent the Copy No. 9 THE ATTORNEY "GENERJIL GIVEN AVAR-TIME POWER PARCEL POST SALES OF GOVERNMENT FOOD CLOSE BIG ORGANIZATION IS TO NEW EXPRESS RUS GO FIGRT WHISKEY IN STATE IN EFFECT DECEMBER III STATE TAKES OVER TWO CALDWELL CO. HIGHWAYS AN APPEAL IS FOR THE President Wilton Again Placet Gov ernment in Control of Nation't Food; Trantfert Authority to Attorney General It It Planned to Help Relieve the North Carolina Divided Into Four Paper-Wrapped Parcelt Limited to Will Build Road from Lenoir to the "One Day for the Orphanage" Cam- Chrittmat Mail Conerettion, Zonet Caldwell It In Zone Twenty-five Poundt Better Wilket Line and from Lenoir to paign It Being Mott Earnettly But Doet Not Affect Freight Shipment! Four, With Officer Reed in Charge Catingt Send Chrittmat Packaget Early Catawba Line County to Pay Only 25 Per Cent Stretted for Thanktgivuig Day This Year President Wilson last Friday placed the government again in con trol of the nation's food supply by transferring the authority of the food administrator to Attorney Gen eral Palmer. Revival of the war-time functions of Administrator Hoover resulted di rectly from the government efforts to avert a famine in sugar, but the powers delegated to the head of the department of justice will be used also to help put down the ever mountaing cost of living. For the present the attorney gen eral will not put into operation all of tire, machinery permitted under the executive order signed by the President, but should conditions arise to make it necessary the full pressure of all the broad power vested in him will be exerted to meet them. Mr. Palmer's staff will begin im mediately to build up a sugar dis-1 tributing system which will allocate all sugar stocks in the country. It will provide an equitable system of distributing supplies and will defeat any concentration or hoarding, offi cials said. Plans, tentatively decided upon, provide for increasing the price of all sugar, excepting the Louisiana crop, for which a price of 17 cents already has been fixed, to 12. cents a pound, wholesale. Through this increase, new sources of supply are expected to be opened. With assurances that a fair margin of profit, said to be about $1.54 on 100 pounds, would be allowed, sugar refiners are ready to enter the Cuban markets and purchase all available stocks, it was stated. Thus, officials believe, the increased price will avert a shortage which threatens to become a famine during the next GO days. Immediate action also is contem plated in curtailing the consumption of sugar by manufacturers whose products are not regarded as essen tial food. This will apply particu larly to soft drink dealers and candy manufacturers. The. abnormal in crease of sales of these articles and the consequent heavy drain on the sugar supplies is traceable, officials declared, to the enforcement of pro hibition. While it has not been definitely de termined, the cut in sugar supplies to these classes of trade probably will be about 60 per cent. Officials in dicated that if the exigencies of the situation demanded they would re duce the allowance to soft drink and candy manufacturers to 25 per cent of their normal requirements. Arrangements have been com pleted, subject to changing condi tions of the sugar situation, whereby beet and cane sugar refiners will en ter the Cuban markets immediately. The department, however, will exact a signed agreement with firms en tering that trade to consign all of their purchases to this country. This will mean that American dealers will get a large proportion of the 4,000,000 tons of raw sugar yet available in 'Cuba, officials said. Normal consumption of sugar in the United States is about 4,000,000 tons. In other years about 3,000,000 tons was imported from Cuba, to which was added the average produc tion of approximately 1,000,000 tons of native grown. But officials were alarmed lest European dealers should continue their heavy purchases, al ready in excess Of 1,000,000 tons, in Cuban markets and deprive this country of the full supply it usually gets there. Th erefiners who have agreed to go into the Cuban trade have been urged, it was said, to use all haste that the stocks may not be exhausted before this nation is sup plied. The danger of a sugar famine will be greatest next month, it was said, as stocks are rapidly baling depleted, and in many sections already ex hausted, and the necessity for gar nering all availabl, esupplies from outside becomes daily more urgent. MRS. CLARENCE B. HOKE DIED FRIDAY NIGHT Mrs. ClarenceHoke, who had been desperately ill at the home of .her husband's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Hoke, since her arrival from Cosmo, Utah., several weeks ago, passed away Friday evening shortly aftetf o'clock. Her death had been expected for several days. Her hus- . band had been called from across the continent to her bedside, arriving here early in the week before her death. Mrs. Hoke's sisters, Mrs. W. H. Wilcox and Miss Agnes Wills of Brinkleyville, Salifax county, were . ' also here at the bedside when death came. Mrs. Hoke was a young woman of refined character.' She and Mr. Hoke were married just two years ag6. They have one son, C. B., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Hoke had been living at Cosmo, Utah, for some time, where during the war Mr. Hoke wsa in the government service as a chemist. . The body of Mrs. Hoke was taken to Brinkleyville, her girlhood home, - for interment. x The first census of the Untied States was taken in 1790, during the administration of George Washing ton. It related solely to ppoulation. , After Dec. 10 the government will discontinue acceptance of mail or ders for groceries and other goods carried by the army quartermaster retail stores, according to informa tion received here this week. Here is the official announcement relative to discontinuance of parcel post deliveries of the government's retail goods, an action which is de signed to relieve the Christmas sea son congestion in the mails: The quartermaster general of the army has issued instructions to the superintendents of the 25 army quar termaster retail stores now operating under his direction to decline to ac cept after Dec. 10 any order for goods carried by the army quarter master retail stores which calls for delivery of goods by parcel post. The quartermaster general of the army ha staken this action to relieve -the mails, usually congested during the Christmas season, of the addi tional burden entailed by transpor tation of the stocks sold by the army stores on mail order. Persons contemplating making purchases in the retail stores which must be delivered by parcel post are requested to place their orders with the retail store in the district in which the purchaser resides before Dec. 10. The parcel post orders must be actually on file with a store prior to Dec. 10 to receive consideration. The army quartermaster retail stores will continue to accept bulk orders placed by municipalities, mu nicipal selling agencies and commu nity buying associations for commod ities offered for sale through the re tail stores. Such orders are delivered by freight. A discount of 10 per cent on the entire bill of goods or dered in bulk is allowed the pur chaser to cover overhead expenses entailed in making distribution of the commodities so purchased. The deliveries of bulk orders are made freight prepaid f. o. b. point of des tination. RED CROSS SEALS COMMITTEE FOR LENOIR AND COUNTY A splendid committee has been ap pointed and is working for the best ! sale yet of Red Cross Christmas j Seals. Seventy-five per cent of the proceeds of this sale are used right ! here in our own community for health work. Much good has been accomplished with this fund in buy-, ing blankets, milk, medicines, etc. Lenoir is expected to buy $250 worth of these seals before Jan. 1. Is there a man, woman or child in our town or county who would not be glad to help care for the sick and county will not fall down in this cam confident that Lenoir and Caldwell needy? We truly think not, and feel paign for health. The health of the community is no safer than the com mon enemy. It is hoped and expect ed that each organization of the town will invest in a health bond of $5 or $10 at least. The following compose the com mitee for this community: Mrs. W. H. Craddock, president Daughters of the Confederacy; Mrs. H. M. Teague, president Maids and Matrons' Club; Mrs. G. C. Courtney, president Priscilla Club; Mrs. C. L. Robbins, president Wise and Other wise 'Club; Mrs. L. F. Stine, president New Idea Club; the president of the Q. V. Club; Mrs. M, M. Courtney, president Methodist 'Missionary So ciety; Mrs. J. E. Hoyle, president Baptist Missionary- Society; Mrs. John Tolbert, President Baptist home missions; Mrs. J. H. Dinglehoef, pres ident Lutheran Missionary Society; Mrs. A. G. Jonas, president Episcopal Missionary Society ; Mesdames A. A. McLean, G. F. Harper, J. C. Seagle and W. H. Craddock, chairmen of the Presbyterian Missionary Circle; Miss Mary Coffey, for the graded school; Mrs. E. F. Reid, for the Betterment Association, with County Agent Rob erts and Supt. R. M. Smith. FURNITURE MEN ENJOY A TRE MENDOUS BUSINESS Reports submitted at a session in Asheville of the Southern Furniture Manufacturers' Association's annual convention show that furniture, man ufacturers have experienced an un precedented volume of business over any previous twelve months in the history of the association. This re markable increase in business was attributed . to the realization that during the four years of the war only necessities were purchased and that few homes were built. Manufacturers from the states 61 . South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi . and Georgia . seemed unanimous in optimistic re I ports that the demand durng the past j year had exceeded the supply in the I furniture business, and from these reports it is interpreted tnat tne price will not be lowered so long as this unsurpassed demand for all grades of furniture keeps up. PAGE AND MERCHANTS FAIL TO GET TOGETHER ., The merchants of North Carolina were in conference again with Food Administrator Page at Raleigh last Friday, and the' Raleigh Newa and Observer says tbejf failed to agree on a margin of profits to be put. into effect in this State. The governmnet's enforcement of the nation-wide prohibition law, I tant classification change the Ameri which goes into effect Jan. 16, 1920, i can Express Company has made in worth Carolina will be in the hands of an organization headed by Commissioner T. H. Vanderford of Salisbury, who will direct the work in four districts or zones. At a conference at Raleigh last week between Collector Bailey, In come Tax Supervisor A. D. Watts, Col. Vanderford and Mr. S. R. Brame, supervising prohibition agent for North Carolina and five other States? organization plans were, dis cussed and the machinery of the en forcement law explained to the agents. The State has been divided into four zones, with Commissioner Van derford in direct charge of raiding forces. He will be assisted by Mr. J. F. Lifsey, who will also be in charge of zone No. 1, which will com prise the territory in the northeast ern section of the State. Mr. Her bert G. Gulley, with headquarters at Raleigh, will be in charge of zone No. 2, composed of the. territory ol the southeastern counties. Mr. J. H. Reed of Asheville will be in charge of zone No. 4, comprising the ex treme western counties. The officer in charge of zone No. 3, which will be composed of the territory in the northwest and piedmont section, is Mr. E. G. Dancey. He will have headquarters at North Wilkesboro. Each of the zone chiefs will have a large force of raiders under him, and will also be supplied with two automobiles for use in patrolling the zone. Mr. Brame is the supervising pro hibition agent of the district com prising North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina. Caldwell county is placed in zone No. 4, with J. H. Reed of Asheville, leader; R. B. Roger, J. A. Galloway and G. R. Rhyne, sub-leaders; J. F. Cabe, C. F. Kerksey, John Lail, R. F. McFarland and Charles Stewart, raiders. The counties are Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, McDowell, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Ruther ford, Polk, Henderson, Buncombeftj Madison, Swain, Haywood, Transyl vania, Jackson, Macon and Graham. Other nearby counties east of here come in zone No. 3 with E. G. Dan cey, leader; R. P. Allison, J. H. John son and F. C. Ralbert, sub-leaders; J. B. Mauguss. R. L. White, C. F. Dunnagan, T. D. Hatcher and C. C. Shores, raiders. The counties are Caswell, Rockingham, Guilford, Ran dolph, Montgomery, Davidson, Stokes, Forsyth, Surry, Wilkes, Alle ghany, Ashe, Yakin, Davie, Iredell, Alexander, Rowan, Stanley, Anson, Union, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Gas ton and Lincoln. PERPETRATES UNPARDONABLE HOAX IN ATLANTA Vice-President Marshall was ad dressing an audience, of several thousand people in Atlanta, Ga., Sat urday night when an unknown man telephoned to the office of the build On being told that Mr. Marshall was ing and asked for the Vice-President, making an address and1 could not come to the telephone the voice re plied : "Well, he'll come now, for the President is dead and Washington wants him on the long distance." C. T. Christian, engineer of the building, received the telephone call and a policeman carried the- news to the stage and told dt to Charles G. Haden, a prominent Atlanta business man. Coming as it did from the po liceman, Mr. Haden informed the Vice-President that "the President is dead." Mr. Marshall bowed' bis head and appeared overcome. Others on the stage heard the whispered words and for a few momerts all was silent. Then, recovering himself to a degree, the Vice-President t!d the audience what had been told .J'-a. 11- could hardly spak. Women Vok.' into weeping and someone bem. to play "Nearer, My God, to Thee " jn the immense organ. As soon as he could the Vice-President got a telephone and called the Associated Press, where he was assured that there was no truth in such a report "Thank God!" he trembling tone. "Meant.imp.. "t.h nnHienro Hi. persed and the false report spread over the city. Telephones at the As Kociatd Preae nffip nH th local newspapers were, almost swamped with anxious inquiries. HOEY GETS NOMINATION BY A BIG MAJORITY . Clyde. R.Hoey of Shelby, Federal assistant aisxrici attorney, was nom- in a tori in Ma Tlam A.atf !ml in Z Jirth ddsS MondaPv Trthe ! JJFJ0. v seat in Congress vacated by E. Y. Webb, recently appointed to the Federal bench. Mr. Hoey's majority is 'estimated at 4,500 to 5.000. He carried every one of the counties in the district except Mecklenburg, the home of his opponent, Johnson D McOall of Charlotte. -i The nominee will be opposed in a special, election Dec 16 by John M. .j turer of Charlotte, the , Republican nominee. Wha tis probably the most impor- since a revision was made in 1914 is the one which has been under con templaition for two years, and be comes effective Dec. 10, -919. The complete list of changes is contained in supplement No. 5 to the official express classification No. 26. Of particular interest to shippers is the change to be made in paper wrapped packages. No package weighing over 25 pounds will be ac cepted wrapped in paper, but must be in boxes, crates or barrels. Paper-wrapped parcels will only be ac cepted when the weight is under 25 pounds. However, when boxes, crates or barrels is stated, it does not neces sarily mean that the boxes must be of wood, but the circular which the company has issued says that the term means either a wooden box or fiber board, pulp board or double faced strawboard box, provided the latter conforms to the specifications laid down in the new rules, which the company has just issued. The company feels that so many articles wrapped in paper that weigh in excess of 25 pounds are damaged in transit that the new ruling must be made in the interest of both the company and the shipper. Class -or earthenware parcels may be shipped in fiber board, pulp board or strawboard boxes ronly up to 65 pounds gross weight. Thes erequrie ments also apply to articles weighing 25 pounds and less. The circular, defining the various rules and regulations, as well as the new classifications which go into ef fect next month, will be given to any shipper interested, and the express official will do all in their power to co-operate with the shipper so that the new rulings may be understood. Another thing that Mr. Huntley, local manager for the express com pany, is calling to the attention of patrons is that of the rush of the Christmas season. Mr. Huntley is advising all who intend shipping Christmas boxes to make their ship- wants .ready aad forward them as J early as possible. The Christmas season is always a busy one and to get the boxes started early will give greater assurance of their reaching their destination for the holidays. The label, "Not to be opened until Christmas," may be attcahed to each shipment. TWENTY-EIGHT ARE BURNED IN A DANCE HALL Twenty-eight persons, mostly women and girls, perished in a burn ing building at Ville Platta, La., last Saturday night when 300 attending a dance became, panic-stricken and stampeded down a narrow stairway, many being crushed to death or burned. Fifteen are known to have been dangerously injured. Ten were burned to death, their features being unrecognizable an didentification was by remnants of clothing or by jew elry. Duffy Martin, owner of the gro cery and restaurant in which the fire occurred, has left the town. Hints of lynching had been rumored among the relatives of the dead, who heard that Martin had allowed the fire to burn thirty minutes before giving the alarm. A LAMENT FROM TEXAS (Houston Post) Oh, the clouds hang low in my old Kentucky home; 'tis winter and the trees all are bare; the 'lection is o'er and the publikins have won and the dimmycrats are up in the air. The old State's dry and the bluegrass withreed and the stills all are shut down good and tight, and the boot legger's charging $15 for a quart, then, my old Kentucky home, good night! CAUGHT MAN OPERATING A BIG STILL OUTFIT Friday Sheriff Triplett, assisted by F. T. Sherrill, located and1 raided a blockade liquor outfit in the Brushy mountain in Little river township, capturing Vance Roberts at the still. The plant, which was a big Conner replied in a ! outfit, was in operation when the of ! fleers approached. After destrovine fifteen tubs and ..stands of beer and , otner material the officers brought tn stiM kettle, cap and worm to Le- uOUY - - . , . $lt)0,000 OF JEWELRY STOLEN The trunk of a jewelry salesman was stolen from the Yarborough ho- lteI Raieign, last week, taken to the. ffffi . 'v ' ' i i : : Oy WIS CUnieSSBU to l8King It BWBy ! ?nd oths ar implicated. The trunk I has been found with but few of its contents missing. The thieves thoutrht the trunk contained .whiskey. ' During the war American, French and British navies bagged 200 Ger- man submarines, according to the war cabinet blue book, . ,, It is announced from the While House that President Wilson will not peace. ha9 been formal declared. ' ginia football game at Chapel IlilL Two Caldwell county roads have been accepted by the State highway commission for construction by the State and Federal governments. These two roads lead out from Le noir and form links of the great county seat to county seat system that is being worked out by the State highway commission. One road leads to the Wilkes county line, following the approximate survey of the old nd.je road by King5s creek. From the Wilkes county line the road will be joined from Wilkesboro, thus forming the link between Lenoir and Wilkesboro. The other road is the Lenoir-Hickory road leading through Hudson and Lovelady townships. These two roads will be constructed on the basis of Caldwell county pay ing 25 per cent, the. State 25 per cent and the Federal government 50 per cent. The construction and location of these two roads will be entirely in the hands of the. State highway com mission, with the approval of the Federal government road authorities. As quickly as the survey has been made and approved the State high way commission will advertise for bid3 for the construction. If the county has established a road force by that time and wishes to build the roads the county road commission will have to submit bids and give bond just as any other contractor would. There was quite a controversy over the location of the highway sys tem betwee nLenoir and Wilkesboro. People living in Yadkin Valley en tered the race, for the road to be lo cated in the Valley from Wilkesboro to Patterson and then to Lenoir. The Wilkes county highway commission had agreed to this route until a dele gation of property owners who lived along the ridge road presented their claims. Finally the matter was set tled very satisfactorily and the ridge road adopted as the location. In building these highways none, of the county's $250,000 bond issue will be used. The last legislature provided for the counties to take care of their 25 per cent of the high way ttonstructipn costs through the issuance of county bonds by county commissioners. This being true, King's Creek and Lower Creek town ships can now use their bond money on the construction of other roads. . SETTLEMENT OF COAL CONTRO VERSY UP TO CABINET Settlement of the controversy over a new wage agreement in the bitu minous coal industry is awaiting ac tion by President Wilson's cabinet. At the meetingshmrfwlyupwshrdl A definite decision by the cabinet regarding all phases of the strike situation was expected, and if the cabinet is in disagrement the whole question may be put before, the Pres ident. Fuel Administrator Garfield, speaking to the joint wage scale com mittees of operators and miners, an nounced five principles which have "governed" him and his associates, but different interpretations were placed upon its various provisions by the workers and the mine owners. in informal discussions after the meet ing. Dr. Garfield called the miners and operators together after a lengthy conference with Attorney General Palmer, Director General Hines and Assistant Attorney Gen eral Ames. Owing to the. disagrement which had arisen as to the amount of the increase in the cost of living, and consequently the per cent of wage advance needed to meet higher living costs, great significance was attached to Dr. Garfield's declaration that "the average tota increase in pay over the 1913 base, which was the base considered in 1917, should not exceed the present increase in the cost of living over the same base. "It is also to be considered that the cost of living will fal! rather than rise during the next few years," he' added Operators construed this state ment as in conflict with the conten tion of Secretary Wilson that nvlners should be given a 31 per cent wage advance to equalize the margin be tween present wages and a 79 per cent rise in living cost since 1914. Pointing out tha twar-time coal prices were fixed for the purpose of stimulating production, Dr. Garfield declared that the public would not now pay the increase over normal profits allowed during the war. His further statement that any wage increase should be "borne by the operators or the public or both" was generally taken to mean that ' tu - j. ... ., uiuok .umc vub of the excess profits of the mining , companies. EMBARGOES ON WHEAT AND FLOUR TO BE REMOVED Embargoes on wheat and wheat flour will be lifted Dec. 15, it has been announced by the United States grain corporation. Lifting of em bargoes on both exnorts and imnorts ' followed the action of President Wil- ' son in Washington dn signing a nroc I embargo Control which has been in t. u. & ......... ., eiiect iur mure uiou iwu jeaia. The North Carolina Orphan Asso ciation is making a final appeal for the Thanksgiving offering for the child-caring institutions of the State. The "One Day for the Orphanage" plan, so effective heretofore, is being stressed with increased vigor thia year. Never before, it has been point ed out, were the needs of the institu tions greater, and never before has the responsibility of caring far the fatherless and the motherless chil dren of the State been attended with so much expense. "The North Carolina Orphan Asso ciation," says the final appeal being sent out now, "asks the business man, the professional man, the laborer and the salaried man, the farmer and the shop worker, the boys and the girls, to devote but one day's income to a cause approved by the Master, who charges you, personally, to care for the fatherless ones. There are many orphanages in North Carolina and there are countless North Carolina children without other hope of home than these orphanages. " 'And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?' "Are you doing justly unless you aid in saving these chil 'ren who come into the world through no will of their own and who can never make a safe harbor without your aid? "Do you really love mercy unless you show mercy to these tots with out homes, without friends, without food, without knowledge of God's Word! "And do you walk humbly with thy God unless you carry out His com mand: 'Even so.it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones shall perish.' "And perish they surely must un less you are merciful and give of your abundance give one day's in come if you will, more if you can, less if need be. But give give for your own children's sake, be they liv ing or dead, and give for Jesus Christ's sake, that He may not have died in vain for such as you and I and these street waifs. ''Let this offering be given with a heart filled with gratitude, and joy, hat you are privileged to serve your God and humanity in so acceptable a manner. Let it come, as is most fit-tin-'', on or near Thanksgiving day. "The need is urgent, and the cry of the orpKaned child rings loud and insistent. You cannot shut your ears to that cry. Should you try and do so, should you fail to accept this op portunity of rendering service to these innocent ones most deserving, perhaps in years to come that cry will still ring in the secret chambers of jour heart, and when the long 'ourney begins you will see that in spired text written in letters as fire: " 'Inasmuch as ye did it not unjo one of the least of these ' "For our Master's sake GIVE!" NORTH CAROLINA ALLOTMENT OF RED CROSS SEALS This year the National Tuberculo sis Association is offering to the peo ple of the United States 650,000,000 Red Cross Christmas Seals, of a total value of $6,500,000. Of this amount North Carolina is asked to take $90, 000 worht, virtually all of which is for the promotion of local work against tuberculosis. It is a small amount when the enormous loss from tuberculosis in the State each year is considered. While there has been a gratifying decrease of about 12 per cent in the. number of deaths from this disease during the past four years, yet last year 3,'391 peo ple died, and about 27,000 people were suffering because, of tubercu losis. The economic loss to the Stat is in excess of $15,000,000 each year from this one source alone. To re duce this loss, and to save the suf fering and sorrow caused by tubercu losis the people of the State are asked to purchase during the ten days between Dec. 1 and 10 these little messengers of hope and cheer to provide the funds for a bigger, more intensive and more efficient fight against the common enemy. I The sale of the seals was begun I under the auspices of the State com I mission in 1913, when 525,307 seals (.were sold. Since then the increase has been marked: In 1914, 674,522; I in 1915, 803,386; in 1916, 1,207,874; in 1917, 1,754,102. There' was no I sale in 1918. In the last sale Greens , boro led the State with a total of 160,956 seals sold, more than dou bling the next largest sale. : Grouped ! closely together for honors for sec ond place were four cities, their to-, tal sales being as follows: Ashe ville, 78,160; Raleigh 75,112; Char lotte, 70,724; Wilmington, 69,028. -It has been the custom since tha sale of seals was begun by the com mission to leave 75 per cent of the total receipts from sales in the handa of local committees for local expend iture for the eradication of tubercu losis. The remaining 25 per cent ia divided between , the American Ked Cross, the National Association and the State commission for the purpose of financing their work. The fourteenth census " is to be taken during January, 1920. : V,