THE COMMONWEALTH
Published Tuesdays & Fridays by
The CfcmiEonwealtii, Inc. .
v Scotland Neck Bank Blug.
Scotland Neck, N.C.
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Entered at the Postoffice at
Scotland Neck, N. C, as second-
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matter Tinder Act or ou
March 3, 1879.
gress,
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Tuesday, March 13, 1917. j
m ; rrri
The action of twelve
United States j
acnntnrs in conducting a filibuster
in i
the closing hours of congress that de
feated the will of the president,
overwhelming majority of congress
an
and
a like proportion of the people of the
nation, will have" at least one benefi
,pnt result, rtesmtc the fact that the
act will stand out as one of tho blackest j
.Yinifrea nn Ampricin -natnotism
At
CFlilg, A 1
vrill solidify the Ame
rican people be- ;
hind the pre
c;,j.Ti hi ( oTprminaiion :
JX i 1 1
erery poliical raitn nave
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the disgraceful filibuster. Ministers, i
merchants, professional men, laborers, I
farmers worn, en, everywhere show a j
determination to assert for once and all ;
American rights upon the seas, even if ;
it loads to the war we so ardently de-;
sire to escape. The people do not want ;
war if it can be honorably- avoided, j
hut they are ready to fight and sacri- ;
free for the retention of their honor and ,
their rights of life and commerce if it :
becomes- necessary to do so. .Today ,
there is a grim set to the American
countenance that means stern business.
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EDUCATE MORE I ARMBSS
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It is coming to be ccognized as
most obvious fact that if we as a peo
ple are to again put our country on an
equitable living basis we must educate
more farmers. Not educate more farmer
boys for professions, but educate more
BOYS for FARMERS.
From the incipienc'y of the public
school up to within the last decade
the entire trend of education has been
away from the farpi and toward the
professions. Even the manual training
schools have tended to swell the ranks
of the mechanical trades at the expense
of the farms.
No nation can achieve permanent
prosperity without a great and pros
perous farming class. When the farm
decays the nation deterioates. Our
fams are the very life and heart of
of country.
Some, though, may ask how we are to
educate more farmers.
Very simple. Make every free school
i' the land primarily an agricultural
school, and a literary school as a secon
dary matter. Belles letters are not the
crowning necessity of existence. Bread
and meat are. Educate the youth of
tbe land first toward that which is most
vitally necessary to our national life,
a& when this is accomplished, of there
be leisure and means for. adding the
frills, let them be added.
Nine out of every high school pupils
n emerging from that school enter the
ranks of the toilers, in some department
r other. If . in their education the
farm has not only been made attractive
to them, but they have been given a
thorough and practical knowledge of its
wtfkins, then a large per cent of them
vrill as a matter of course that as-their
occupation in life.
When war broke out between" the al
lies and the central powers 'the world
stood amazed at the wonderful perfec
tion of the German military machine.
But the cause behind it was as simple
as A. B. C. Every German youth had
been educated and trained as a soldier
FIRST OF ALL after that for a vo
cation. But in time war will cease. The arts
of peace will again demand the atten
tion and energies of the world, and a
mwk them there is none to compare
with the great art of coaxing from
Mother Earth her golden harvests.
But, you. may ask, if all of the boys
are educated to a farmer's life, what
of the professions?
There will-always be some who, by
matural fitness, will gravitate to the
professions, enough to keep their ranks
recruited. As a matter of fact, these
same professions could spare half of
tiieir present members and not suffer
ia the least.
Educate farmers! The farms are
suffering for them, and the professions
al trades are overburdened with them.
to assert the inviolability of American i take place here if, instead of having j anJ then Qny can the otU be gure of
life and commerce upon the high seas. ! the homage of every man in town they j a poaee that UniteJ states can demand
I every section of the country men of , should become brazen, self -sustained, shall be a iasting peace.
WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE ' '
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Representative Robert W. Winston,
Jr., struck the keynote, on the question
of Woman's Sufirage, at least ior
North Carolina, in his speech before
the Assembly in opposition to the measy
ure when he stated the question was
not wnai we vtuuiu JL11'
would lose in North Carolina if the
plans of the suffragists went through.
"Even granted that we would have
better laws" said Mr. Winston "whaTj
would become of the home and the
fireside ? '
The objection of women's suffrage,
j i as we see it, is not tne quesnon uj.
vote. That would be a small matter,
but it is the unsexing of woman that
we fear. Putting women into man's
arena. Associating her with that free
and easy mode of life that has the ten
dencv towards the abolution of the sa-
credness of Sunday, wild and untrained
children, loose family ties, childless
marriages, empty churches and desert-
ed homes.
As we trv to fathom the future iin-
L.de such a rule our mind dwells on the
lovelv feminine natures around
many
us in this vicinity, both dame and maid
whose great charm is that daintiness
of feminity that makes the men of the
south courageous and ready to fight for
these loved ones who have so far evad-
C'll liie Ccili UJ- lilt; i- i - ll umau,
which is not liberty but license. Hunk .
Tor a, moment Avnai a cimui: nuum
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litical and secular, upon the street cor
iiers, and leaving the home to take care
of itself. Such a picture is horrible j
to-our mind. And, yet, we are asked j
to remove the mother from the home
and put her in politics. j
As Cardinal Gibbons rightly stated;
on this question "When I depreciate
female suffrage I am pleading for the
dignity of woman, I am contending for j
her honor, I am striving to perpetuate !
those peerless prerogatives inherent in j
her sex, those charms and graces which j
exhalt womankind and make her the
ornament and coveted companion of ;
man. Woman is aueen indeed, but her I
empire is a domestic kingdom. The I
greatest political triumphs she would'
achieve in public fade into insignifi
cance compared with the serene glory
which radiates from the domestic
shrine and which she illumines and
warms by her conjugal and motherly
virtues. If she is ambitious of the dual
empire of public and private life, then,
like the fabled dog, beholding his im
age in the water, she will lose both,
she will fall from the lofty pedestal
where nature and Christianity have
placed her and will fail to grasp the
spectre of political authority from- the
strong hand of her male competitor.'
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IF WAR COMES
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mis is the title of an article by
Frederick Palmer, appearing in last
week's Colliers, and so valuable are
the views expressed by this leading
war correspondent that we shall quote
certain passages from this article in the
hope that our readers will read the en
tire story.
' ' Was the German note an act of des
peration in keeping withj;he threats of
some German extremists who said that
if Germany had to go down to defeat
she would drag the whole world with
her?" Is the query that Palmer puts
to his readers, and he is ready to an
swer it himself by gracing the un
neutral acts of . Germany towards this
country during the past two years.
He further agrees with the average
citizen that Germany could do us no
real harm, but ho disagrees with most
of those who think that we could do
Germany no harm, as the most of us
do not realize the full power of this
country.
In writing of Germany Mr. Palmer
makes it plain that he does not mean
the German people but the three rulers
of Germany, the Kaiser, Hindenburg
and Bethemann-Hollweg, who have, and
continue -to, illusion the German people
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mtn 1)0 VkaHrk-P 4-1, i n ...
the battle of defence and that England I
aim x ranee were, naif way across Bel-'
srium before fiprmanv fi J
xvj. a, ouub cat
Liege.
.tiinctenburg" he says "is the mili
tary master of the central emmrM-I
Bethmann-Hollweg is the public liar I
and the Kaiser decides. All three are
fighting to preserve the dynasty and
their caste. "
Hindenburg is for ruthless submar
ine warfare, according to this writer,
ijgr it means destruction of ships carry
ing supplies, and may mean a dearth
of instruments of war, and for this rea
son we shall never be able to get "The
Three" to acknowledge that the sea is
for the transport of cargoes, and the in
ternational law is based on this theory.
A lawful blockade neither threatens
nor destroys non-contraband cargoes,
but the blockading submarine has no
time to discriminate. Its whole method
is that of destruction, not of warships,
without headquarters. She passes" over By virtue of - acertain mortgage tq
that military; line that . Washington M Hoffman & Bro. by Harrod Johnson
never passed in the mostcritical mo.. and wife, Henrietta Johnson, on the 18
ments of the Revolution, and even the day. 0f January, 1910, which is re
Gemans have formerly prescribed such corieiin the E-egister of Deeds office
warfare, until it has now suited their q Halifax county, North Carolina, in
purpose to themselves pursue it. ; Book 211, page 447, ; we will sell for
With a hundred million people, more cash to tte highest bidder at public
than has England and France jjombin-j. aueti0n, at the Court house door in
ed or more than the combined popula- j Hali'f ax on the 2 day of April 1917, the
tion of Germany and Austria. With j f ollr5Ving described piece or parcel of
mills equipped witn every conceivauie
war material, wnicn is now supplying
the allies. With a people, of iniatia
tive and energy, not the ignorant boor
such as has been brought into the con
flict, by Russia, and with inventive
minds that will come forward as neces
sity demands, United States is now bet
ter equipped to "enter the war than Ger
many was when she took up the cudgels
against the entire world.
It is probable that none of our sol
diers will have to. fire' a shot. The navy
however may have to render assistance
and is in condition to do so. Principal
among the duties that will fall upon
this country will be that of financing
the war, to take care of .the book-keep-ling
end of the business, and to-be
ready to furnish ' supplies sufficient to
make the end a matter of only a few
months instead of years, -as it now
seems.
i As the belligerents have done so must
!
! we. Luxuries must come under the ban
in this country as it has in Europe, and
, sm.;mit;T,, nf hp 11T1lertnkmr must
the seriousness of the undertakii
be brought- home to everyone. Then
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THE WHAT CH AMA COLUMN
(By George Martin)
We are tired of being idiotic. It's so
blithering silly.
One can be entertainingly brainless
up to a certain point, but beyond that
one is merely annoying. ' j
We had thought today to diagnose
the toy terrier, that nickel's worth of
dog with a million-dollar pedigree,
which wags a warped lead pencil on
one end and sports a nervous nose on
.the other. But that did not appeal to
we considered the porcupine;
and figured out a -fetching line about
his being the original apostle of pre
paredness because he trains his hair for
home defence. But we tried it on the
office boy, and he didn't laugh, so we
set that subject aside. We tried some
other things, but they were just as use
less. There are times when even a profes
sional fool can't do a good job of it.
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"WEATHER OR NO"
The man who lets you in on
the ground floor usually winds up
by kieking you out of the win
dow. Old Man Sage.
f $
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GOOD ROADS BY STATE AID
This act provides for the creation
semi annually of a state road fund of
'$400,000, or $800,000 each year, for the
next forty-one years, which will be
loaned to the. counties complying with
the law at the rate of five per tent
per annum which will in that period
pay both interest and principal.
The first loans under this act will be
made July, 1, 1917.
In order to secure such loans twenty
per cent of the qualified voters of the
county must sign a petition, which wifi
be filed with the Board of County Com
missioners, asking for an election,
County Commissioners, asking for an
whieh will be held on the second Tues
day in May, 1917. 1
A new egistration is necessary, and
all the formalities for such election law
must be complied with. Since such
election must be held in less than, six
ty days, it is absolutely necessary that
quick action be taken by the counties
desiring to secure road money under
this act.
I shall be glad if you will print in
your next issue a statement setting
forth these facts so. that the necessarv
petitions may be circulated and signed
7ltnout delaF so that elections may be
u -ay.
I shall be glad to supply come
gla.d to supply conies nf
the law and blank petitions to inter
ested persons.
TT "
. .e-Pe?-ation m giving publicity
important matter will be appre
ciated.
W.S. WILSON,
Legislative Librarian.
TRAP-SHOOTING CHAMPION SAYS
675,000 CRACK SHOTS WOULD
ANSWER WAR CALL
PHILADELPHIA, March 12.--Six
hundred and seventy five thousan crack
trap shotters will answer the nation's
war call if it comes, according to a
statement here today by Charles Henry
Nowcomb, National amateur champion
trap shooter of the United States. Penn
sylvania alone could furnish about 30 -000
of them, he aaid.
land to wit: -
That piece of land containing ten
acfes, more or less, and being in said
County and State, and in Uoiioconara
To"wnship, beginning on the patn De
tween Simon Smith 's and A. T. Dick
ens' line, which runs into the old Tar
bo"ro road; thence up the path to Aus
tin Shell's line; thence with Spell's
j.
line-to a red oak; Jthence with Spell's
line to a post oak; thence back to the
rath along Simon Smith's line to the
beginning, and being the place where
TTorrnfl Johnson lived Drior to his
death.
This the 1st., day of March, 1917.
M. Hoffman & Bro., Mortgagee.
Herbert Smith ,Assignee
3 30 17.
First Class Goods
Auto Goggles at - - - - - - 75c.
White Metal Spectacles at - - $1.0&
15 year guaranteed gold filled
Spectacles at $2.50
1AK Gold Spectacles at - - -$7.50
The lenses in all my glasses are the
best that can be obtained and are guar
anteed to give you perfect satisfaction
F X class Watch and Optical repair
g at reasonable prices. All "work
GUARANTEED
B. W. MAKTIN - JEWELEK
With E.
WHITEHEAD Company
M. E. MEEKS
PRACTICAL PLUMBER
With
HARDY HARDWARE CO.
"We are in business for your
health."
DESPONDENCY DUE TO CONSTI
PATION Women often become nervous and de
spondent. When this is due to consti
pation it is easily corrected by taking
an occasional dose of Chamberlain 's
Tablets. These tablets are easy to take
and pleasant in effect.
MODEL BARBER SHOP
J. D. Smith, Prop.
Skilled Barters, Sanitary
Methods, Sharp Steel, Best
t- Service
Electrical Shampoo and
Massage' Machines. : :
ENTERTAINMENT WHILE YOU
WAIT
DE. D. F. KEEL
(Successor to Dr. A. C. Livermon)
DENTIST
Scotland Neck, If. C.
Office Upstairs in the Whitehead Bldg
Office Hours: 9 to 1 & 2 to 5 O'clock.
From 7 to 9 P. M. by Appointment
A BILIOUS ATTACK
When you have a bilious attaek your
liver fails to perform its functions. You
become constipated. The food you eat
ferments in your stomach instead of di
gesting. This inflames the stomach and
causes nausea, vomiting and a terrible
headviche. Take Chamberlain's Tablets
They will tone up your liver, clean out
your stomach and you will soon be as
well as ever. They only cost a quarter.
CAR LOAD OF RED CEDAR SHIN
GLES. HARDY HARDWARE CO.
as - as
1 A TREAT FOR
THE FAMILY
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The wife and kiddies will
i enjoy" a change from the
monotany of home cooked
meals. So why not suggest
coming here at the
I NPW VflBlf PA 1717
I " M B
m for Sunday dinners? No 1
worry, no delays, no dishes g
U . L " m. -1l 1 . M
s io wast! lusi su down to a
delightful, wholesome, satis- B
mm e ' 1 m
tactory meal, served in a way 1
that all will like. Moderate I
prices too, ,
ICE CREAM SATURDAY AND
H ' SUNDAY TWO KINDS
ALSO SODA WATER DRINKS
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BILL COTTAS
PROPRIETOR
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THOROUGHLY
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Since they have done their
the past two and a half years
people of this town are
THOROUGHLY
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They could not possibly do better, so "are giving me more
largely than ever cf their valuable patronage. My stock is more
complete than ever, service as good as can be had, quality
the very best that money will buy, . Prices lower than cculd
be made' on to-days markets. Your orders appreciated.
as
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LARGEST'; RETAIL ' GROCERY
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1USINESS
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THE house may be as magnificent as can bs made, the
. grounds as extensive as you please, but if the furniture is
not well chosen it never resembles a home.
There is a certain cheerful atmosphere of '
contentment about furnishings properly
selected and placed that creates the real
home, regardless of exterior surroundings.
Gome to US for Homebuilding
Furniture.
M
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MR. GARDNER:
ARE YOU GOING TO TRY
H KETY OLD GARDEN TOOLS
r NO-NOT IF YOU COME IN
LABOR-SAVING IMPLEMENTS
Dyr- TOOLS
wojjji EASY AND YOUR GARDEN "GROW". THE TIME
TTTT O A TTTTi 1TTTT T tTS- tttatmutt . .
xuu OAVJ5 wiJLl Jdju WUxCTH
TOOLS WILL COST
OUR GARDEN TOOLS ARE
'THE TEST.
Josey Hardware Co,
PIONEER HARDWARE DEALERS
SCOTLAND NECK,
CON YIN CED
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grocery buying at my store f0r
a great percentage of the good
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CONVINCE
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IN HALIFAX
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uv ui uv ca '-j h kls j u uu u tru &3 u u u tn . 7, tru
WJT esa RE r5 m n a r i n r n - t
Li U EZ1 ITU E3 C3 U n
linl
t Sure
we've got those
GARDEN
TO MAKE THOSE RUSTY, RIC-
"DO" FOR ANOTHER YEAR?"""
AND SEE OUR UP-TO-DATE
WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR
MORE THAN THE, NEW
THE BEST: THEY STAND
. t , . 5, ,
NORTH CAROLINA
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