Reader Interest
Established 1885
Each copy of The Press
is read by an average,
of more than 5 persons.
The Oldest North Car
olina Newspaper West
of Buncombe County.
PROGRESSIVE
LIBERAL:
INDEPENDENT
VOL. L1V, NO.JpQ
FRANKLIN, N. C. THURSDAY, DEC 1
1939
$1.50 PER YEAR
J.
TREE PLANNED
FOR CHILDREN
Community Event To Be
Held On Saturday
December 23
. l'raparations are rapidly going
forward on the county-wide com
munity Christmas tree that is to
be given, in j the Macon county
courthouse on Saturday afternoon,
December 23, at 2 o'clock.
This, tree, which is expected to
be one of the largest ever 'given,
is being made possible through the
various organizations in Franklin
and the business and professional
men, who have always contributed
generously to this worthy cause.
Various forms of entertainments
are being given -in different sec
tions of the county to help with
the expenses.
Anyone knowing of needy child
ren or Old people who have no
one to brighten their Christmas
are requested to send three names
to Lester Arnold, in Franklin, giv
ing the age, name and ,sex of
each child. The age limit for the
children is to be under 12 years.
A committee comped of the
Kev. J. A. Flanagan, Tom Moss
and Lester Arnold was apponited
Jo sol'cit contribution- toward this
fund.
Christmas Baskets
To Needy Families
Mrs.- Eloise Franks, superinten
dent of welfare, requests that in
dividuals and churches volunteer
to give Christmas baskets, to needy
families.
These will be selected from the
rolls of those less fortunate in
the county, who -could otherwise
have nothing to make Christmas
a happy day.
Both small and large families,
also individuals who are sick or
aged, are in need of this cheer.
Mr,s, Franks wishes to distribute
these names to those who will per
sonally prepare and . deliver the
baskets.
At the Red Cross meeting on
Tuesday night, Dr. Furr suggested
that all baskets sent be reported
to the welfare or Red Cross offi
"cers, so - that there will not be
duplications. The baskets should
contain fruits, candies and "joyful
gifts."
DEMONSTRATION
MEAT BANNING
E. V. Vestal, To Conduct
Cutting And Curing
Demonstrations
The farmers of Macon county
have an opportunity of developing
a substantial market for cured
meat providing all the meat is
trimmed and cured by a .method
that will give uniform results, is
announced by Sain Mendenhall,
county agent.
On Thursday, December 21, E.
V. Vestal, swine specialist from
North Carolina State college, will
be in the county to conduct two
cutting and curing demonstrations.
Thursday morning at 9:30 o'clock
the demonstration will be at the
home of Mrs. Ed Bradley at Otto.
Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock
the demonstration will be held at
the home of Mrs. Ray Bradley
near Oak Grove.
livery one is invited to attend these
demonstrations.
Christmas Eve Services
At St. Agnes' Church
Arrangements have been com
pleted for the services for Christ
mas at St. Agnes' church. There
will be a carol service on the
afternoon of Sunday, December
24, at 5 p. m., and the usual candle
light Festival Service of Holy
Communion with a Christmas mes
sage by the rector at 11.30 p. m.
the same night. To these services
all in the community are invited
and will be welcome.
BgfTrrr
u
S Hopping
, .llilliilllii!!!-; .
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hi: fij
Power Co. Offers
Attractive Prizes For
Christmas Lighting
Again the Nantahala Power and
Light company . offers, prizes- for
the most attractive outside light
ing displays during the Christmas
holidays.
Due to the increased interest in
last year's contest, the prizes have
been increased . this year to $25.00
for first prize and $15.00- for sec
ond prize.
The rules of the contest are as
follows :
1. No employee of the company,
nor his or her immediate relatives,
shall be eligible to participate.
: 2. Each contestant must register
his or her name at the office of
the company not later than Sat
urday noon, December 10, 1939.
This can be done in-person or by
telephone.
3. All displays eligible ftr prize
must, be outside of the house and
arrayed in such manner as can be
judged by persons passing in an
automobile.
4. The judges will be three . dis
interested parties who have no con
nection with the company. The de
cisions of these judges' will be final.
5. The judging will be done at
night during the week of December
17 to 23, 1939 inclusive, and the
winners will be announced in the
next issue of The 'Franklin Press.
For further information call 50
or 57.
FATHER-SON
BANQUET HELD
F. F. A. Celebration Great
Event ; Attendance
Of 200
The Franklin high school chap
ter of the Future Farmers of
America entertained with a Father
Son banquet at the Franklin high
school last Saturday evening with
an attendance of 200. The "future
farmers" wore overalls and the
future "farmerettes" who served
the banquet, were attired in print
dresses, and straw, hats.
There were the usual admoni
tions to youth by older heads, ap
propriate to the occasion both ser
ious and in lighter vein. Also the
opportunity was made good in tell
ing fashion by the future farmer
of Macon to tell the elders a few
things as well as to express fitting
gratitude to the proud dads 'pres
ent.
The program was presided over
by Roy Fouts, toastmaster, who
gave the "Dads" a royal toast, to
which Jim Gray responded. George
Martin reported the State Fair
trip, Oscar Ledford and. Sam Gib
son. Jr., discoursed on the all-important
subject "Increasing Farm
Incomes." A humorous skit on
"Living in the U.' S.-A." by George
Gray, delighted the audience. E. J.
Whitmire, teacher of agriculture
in. Franklin high school and advisor
of the local chapter of F. F. A.,
introduced the guests and also
talked on the vital topic of "Keep
ing the Boys on the Farm". (Best
shot: "Keep the girls on the farm
and the boys will stay".)
Home talent enlivened the eve
ning with music in their best man
ner by "Pop" Anderson, "Doc"
Corbin, the Carpenter "Boys" and
"Adopted Son," Vivian Carclock.
A, J. Cribble and Vivian Carclock
tap danced to the bands music in
a manner worthy of Major Bowes
"Amcteur Hour".
The evening was topped by' the
bountiful banquet prepared and
served by Mrs. T. J. O'Neil. home
economics teacher and her class of
30 girls. Baked chicken -and ham,
candied sweet potatoes, tomatoes,
salad, ice cream and cake, with all
the "fixins", were on the menu.
Colored Lights Are Great
Attraction On Main Street
The Christmas lighting on Main
street gives Franklin a gay and
festive air, making by far, the most
beautiful of all decorations.
For these the town i indebted
to the Nantahala Power and Light
company, who have made the light
ing possible, by their donation of
the current during the period of
the holiday season.
An effective criss-cross design
of wires, strung with red, green
and white electric bulbs, extends
through the entire business section
of Main street, from the postoffice
to Harrison avenue. The glittering
lights can be seen in a fairy-like
design from quite a distance out
side of town.
The 1,520 feet of wiring was put
up under the direction of John
Archer ' and Joel Thompkins by
Messrs, McGlamery, Messtr and
Reed,
Alex Monroe Truitt, 75
Passes December 13
Alex Monroe Truitt, 75, died at
his home in the Etna community
on tlie Bryson City highway, Wed
nesday riiorning at 0 o'clock. Death
was caued from heart ailment and
complications, following an illness
of five days.
Mr. Truitt, the son of the late
John W. and Marie -McGaha
Truitt. was born in Swain county,
November 10, 1805. He was a
fanner and well known in his
county. On October 9, 1902 he was
married to Miss Dolly Green of
Bryson City. '
Funeral services will be held at
the Tellico Baptist church on
Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
The Rev. D, C. McCoy, a : Bap
tist minister of the Oak Grove
community, and the Rev. Judd
Smith of Tellico will be in charge
of the services. Burial will be in
the " church cemetery.
The pallbearers will be, T. C.
Roper, Billie lch. Judd Mc
Gaha, Vclton Daws P. M. Bow
ers and Virgil Davis.
Surviving are the widow and an
adopted daughter, Mrs. Judd Mc
Gaha, of Etna, one brother, Char
lie Truitt, of Etna, one sister, Mrs.
Callie Welch, of Nantahala. '
Dramatic Club .
Sponsoring Play
The Dramatic Club of Franklin
high .school is sponsoring a play,
"The Light on Beacon Hill", to be
given at the courthouse next Sat
urday night, December 10,. The
admission will be 10 and 25 cents.
As The World Turns
A Brief Survey of Current Events In State. Nation
and Abroad. ;
BRITISH CATCH
NAZI RAIDER
The two months hunt for the
German pocket battleship, Admiral
Scheer, ended yesterday in a spec
tacular battle off the coast of Uru
guay, within American territorial
waters..
A 14 hour running sea fight be
tween the sleek Nazi raider which
has sunk a number of British ships,
and three British cruiser' ended
when the badly-hit German war
ship took refuge in Montevideo
harbor. Thirty of her crew were
killed and 60 injured. One British
cruiser was put out of commission.
LEAGUE TAKES STEPS
TO EXPEL RUSSIA
Russia has curtly rejected the
"invitation" of the League of Na
tions to cease hostilities in Fin
land. Calling the Russian invasion of
Finland "aggression" a committee
of 13 nations drafted resolutions
which declare that Russia has plac
ed herself outside the covenant,
which presages expulsion from the
League.
The delegate from Argentina anT
nounced that this South American
republic would resign if Russia
were not expelled; . '
League action authorized the
secretary-general to invite the U.
S. to cooperate with League states
to help the Finns.
.
FINNS REPULSE ENEMY
Finnish invasion of Russian soil
is believed to have already taken
place, while Soviet troops have
been repulsed on two fronts with
heavy losses. Also Finn sources re
port new attacks by air and sea.
turned back.
LINER BREMEN DOCKED
The German 51,000 ton liner
Bremen is safely docked at Bre
merhaven. The luxury iship made
a safe journey from New York to
Murmansk, Russia, after the war
started and was within the range
of an English sub on its way home.
It is not clear why the submarine
did not capture or sink the vessel.
SOVIET ENVOY TO ITALY
The Russian ambassador to Italy
after only 15 days ,stay has been
abruptly recalled, before presenting
his credentials to the King. Re
peated anti-Soviet and pro-Finnish
demonstrations by the Fascists is
the reputed cause of the envoy's
hasty departure.
"
BRITISH SECRET
SESSIONS
The British House of Parliament
held secret joint sessions yester
dav. lit is understood that sharp
differences concerning the conduct
of the war were to be threshed
out.
In open session the Lords cheer
ed Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax.
In his speech he said: "Hitler's
speech to the reichitag has been
Christmas Press
Out Early
The Christmas issue of The
Franklin Press and' Highlands
Maconian will be placed in the
postoffice on Wednesday, De
cember 20. ThisvvH" enable all
county, subscribers ' to receive
their paper a day earlier, and
advertisers to reach their cus
tomers in time for the three last
clays of Christmas shopping.
Medal Awarded
Macon County Man
David Lawrence Conley, an .em
ployee of the Atlantic City Electric
company for the past 15 years,
was presented a medal last week
for saving the life of Ernest Baum,
a fellow employee, who came in
contact wilh a 4,000 volt line, and
of which Mr. Cohley used his
knowledge until the company sur
geon arrived, and took over the
case.
The medal being a gift of the
Fldison Electric company and
which was awarded by the insti
tute, was supervised by the late
Thomas F-dison. It is a silver
plated 1 copper alloy, the base be
ing part of the salvaged copper in
the first underground' transmis
sion in New York. This medal,
which' is the second of its kind to
be presented to a member of the
Bridgeton group, in Bridijeton, N.
J., was awarded 'for "saving hu
man life- through the prone pres
sure method of resuscitation".
Mr. Conley is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. E. B. Conley, of the Otto
section of Alacon county.
quoted as .showing he was anxious
for peace. I am quite certain that
Hitler is very anxious for peace
on his own terms. I am not so
sure he is anxious for peace on
terms which would make for the
peace of Europe."-
i.
BRIT1AN AND FRANCE
ORDER U. S. BOMBERS
Representatives of the British
air ministry has signed, a contract
with the Lockheed Aircraft Corp.,
of Burbank, Calif., for 200 "Hud
son" bombers at a cost of "almost
$20,000,000".
At the same time it was learned
the French air ministry had order
ed 270 additional bi-motored bomb
ers' from the Douglas Aircraft com
pany, of Santa Monica, Calif., at
an unspecified cost.
v
BROUGHTON ANNOUNCES
FOR GOVERNOR
J. M. , Broughton,. Raleigh attor
ney, . has announced his candidacy
for Governor of North Carolina
on the Democratic ticket.
.
NEW RECORD ON
BURLEY MARKET
Smashing all previous records for
volume, an estimated 300,000 pounds
of burley tobacco sold on the
Asheville market yesterday for $47,
254.43 and an estimated average of
$15.70 per hundred pounds.
TAR HEELS PLEAD
FOR AIR ROUTE
Business leaders of North Car
olina went to Washington this
week and presented a strong case
on behalf of the projected Penn
sylvania-Central airlines, Norfolk-Knoxville-Cincinnati
route, the civil
aeronautics authority hearing on
line was completed today.
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, SR.
DIES SUDDENLY
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., 55 years
of age, died unexpectedly at his.
Santa Monica Beach home, of a
heart attack, December 13, at
12:45 a. m. The body will probably
be placed in Forest Lawn cemetery,
where' lie the remains of Will, Rog
ers, Jean Harlow and many other
Hollywood celebrities.
SHARP DECLINE
IN TRAFFIC TOLL
The automotive safety foundation
in New York announced today that
an estimated 31,500 traffic deaths
during 1939 would reduce the mile
age fatality rate for highway travel
during the year to the lowest on
record.
CAROLINA POWER
STRIKE ENDS
Carolina Power- and Light com
pany . employes who walked ' out
November 28 when they were re
fused demands for a closed shop,
returned to work yesterday after
noon under an agreement signed
by company officials and repre
sentatives of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Miss Elizabeth
Fitzsimmons Passes
News has come to friends in
Franklin of the death on Thanks
giving day, of Miss Elizabeth FiU
simmons in New Rochell, N. Y.,
following a ' heart attack.
Miss Fitzsimmons lived in Frank
lin a number of years, during the
residence of Miss Mary. C. Mis
sel!, with wh-Mii she lived as a
companion. For a number of years
she practiced her profession as
trained nurse, Her many friend.!
enjoyid seeing her again when she
returned for a visit in the early
fall, as the guest of Mrs. Thomas
J. Johnston.
A person of rare goodness and
charm, Miss Fitzsimmons, during
a long life, spent herself in lov
ing service. She was a member of
the F'piscopal church. Her inter
ment was at Woodlawn cemetery,
New Rochellc, in the Bissell family
plot.
1940 ROLL CALL
GREAT JUCCESS
Reports Made At Dinner;
435 Memberships
During Drive
The Red Cross Roll Call for 1940
has been a great success, accord
ing to the Rev. Harry S. Williams,
chairman of the Roll Call for tne
Macon County Chapter of 'the
American Red Cross. Members ex
ceed any roll call since 1919. '
At a victory dinner at Hotel
Edwards, Highlands, of workers
and officials on Tuesday evening,
the announcement was made that
435 memberships had been receiv
ed during the drive, with 347 of
these coming from Franklin and
the surrounding communities and
88- from Highlands township. This
represents a 30 per cent increase
over last- year's total. Funds re
ceived during the drive amounted
to $504.97 with $124.00 of this
coming from Highlands and $380.97
from Franklin and communities
around.
A round table discussion based
on experience of workers and im
provement of Red Cross service
to the county brought many help
ful suggestions.
Points dscusscd included plans
for increasing the service, espe
cially to children, with extension
of roll call in rural areas. What
can be done to help people see
the good of the Red Cross, why
some refuse to give to the Red
Cross, greater publicity, were
among the many . phases talked
about. . ' J
The Chairman, Rev. Harry S.
Williams, presided and guided the
discussion in a helpful way. He
recalled that the Master always
approached relief of human suffer
ing in a realistic way, and urged
that we face facts and accept re
sponsibilities for those among us
who need help.
Mrs. Robert Gaines, county nurse,
reported pellagra patients furnish
ed yeast, undernourished children
cod liver oil. and -other health
work. '
Mrs. Eloise Franks, superinten
dent of welfare, also reported on
the assistance given by Red Cross
to needy cases.
0. F. Summer, principal of the
Highlands school, suggested that
a detailed report be printed so that
members may appreciate the value
of the work accomplished.
Mrs. Henry Slagle suggested first
aid kits for busses not already
supplied and also Jor schools, with
training in first aid.
Rev. J. A. Flanagan pointed to
the need of life saving training
for young people.
The chapter officials attribute
the increase in this year's member
ships to the work of the solicitors
and the generous response of the
public to Red Cross needs at home
and abroad in the many fields of
service. Half of the dollar mem
berships go to the National Red
Cross.
These memberships were added
since last week's report: J. E. Jen
nings and Homer Stuman,. Culla-
saja; Mis,s Florence Stalcup, J.
Roane Bradley, Miss Amanda
Slagle, Mrs. Herbert Angel, Miss
Nancy Jones. Charlie W. Moore,
J. J. Mann, T. T. Love, Miss Ruth
Byrd, Miss Christine Browning,
Mrs. Bess Stewart, B. W. Wood
ruff, Mrs, B. W. Woodruff, and
Miss Marie Womack.
The following memberships are
from the LLC Camp at Otto : Leon
Abbott, Capt. E. H. Strickland,
Lieut. John L. Kennedy, Alvin
Davis, G. J. Setzer, W. R. Wal
droup, Kennith Koristan, Ezra Con
stance, M, C. Waters. The other
hoys gave donations of less than
a dollar making a total of $22.37
from the Otto camp.
MACON COURT
ENDS TUESDAY
Judge Pless, Of Marion
Tries Criminal And
Civil Cases
The . civil term of the. Macon
county superior court, which con
vened Monday) with Judge Will
Pless, Jr., of Marin, presiding,
closed Tuesday evening. All crim
inal cases were dispensed of last
week. , ,
Among the sentences given on
some of the criminal cases tried
last week were :
Charlie White tried for assault
with a' deadly weapon on Charlie
Chambers, was sentenced to 12
months on the road. Sentence sus
pended on payment of $100 fine
and one-half of the court's cost.
He was given until the next term
of court to pay. the fine.
Jake Waldroop and Lester C.
Waldroop tried for an assault with
a deadly weapon on Clifford
Cruise. The three men. involved
were all given from 18 months to
24 months on the road.
Bill Munger who was tried ,for
breaking and entering the resi
dence of Mr. Calhoun of High
lands, was sentenced to' serve from
5 to 7 years in state prison at
hard labor. This is the third time
the prisoner has been sentenced
to serve a term of this offence,
once in the state reformatory and
once in state prison.
Wayne Lowe was given four to
six years in state prison at hard
labor for breaking and entering at
the same time as an accomplice of
Bill Munger.
The civil case of the Town of
Highlands vs. W. S. Davis was
non-suited.
Funeral Rites For
George B. Hurst
Funeral services for George Bas
com Hurst, 07, were held Satur
day morning at 10 o'clock at the
Cowee Baptist church, five miles
north of Franklin on the Bryson
City highway. The Rev. R. I. May
berry, pastor, was in charge of the
services. Interment was in the
church cemetery.
Mr. Hurst, a well-known citizen
of Macon county, died at his home
near Iotla Bridge Thursday night
at 8 o'clock following an illness of
two -ars. Death was due to rheu
matism and complications.
Mr. Hurst, the son of the late
Mr. and Mrs, Matt Hurst, was
born and reared in Macon county.
On January 7, 1912, he was mar
ried to Miss Arie Tippett, of the
Iotla community. He was a farmer.
The pallebarers were: Ed Duvall,
Sam Gibson, Ralph D. West, John
T.T. Martin, Claude Sanders and
C. M. Duvall.
Surviving are the widow; three
children, Mrs. Edith Pickens and
Rogers Hurst, of West's Mill com
munity, and Mrs. Nina Morgan, of
Pennsylvania; two brothers, John
and Fid Hurst, of Sylva, and 12
grandchildren. r
Macon County Supply
Company In New Dress
The M aeon County Supply com
pany's store looks like a 1940 model
streamlined, new paint, and all
dressed up for Christmas.
I he entire interior of their build
ing has been re-decorated, with ex
tensive improvments and re
arrangement of stock. New dis
play counters and show cases pit.
hibit their varied lines and depart
ments to exceptional advantage.
This ' kind of improvement by
business firms is an advantage not
only to the owners but to the gen
eral appearance of the town. This
particular store now would do
cretijt to any city. , '
Lyman Hicdon and H arve I..
Bryant.' partners of this firm, arp
progressive business men wlio havp
built up their service to the com
munity steadily by carrying stand
ard products and full stocks in a
variety of lines.
these include radios, electric ap
pliances, sporting goods, table
ware and a nice display of Christ
mas goods, besides the nsil.il hard
ware and paint needs of the build
ing trade and farm. .
BIRTHS ;
Mr. and Mrs. lames L.
announce the birth of a daughter,
Joyce Lee. at their hnmi nn Prir.1,-
lin Route 4, on Friday, December
i. ivirs. Croom is the former Miss
Emma Elizabeth Hyatt, of Canton.
A son, Charles Robert, was bom
to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Earl Dill
on Tuesday, November 28, at their
home on, Skeenah.