North Carolina Newspapers

KEEP FAITH *WAR BONDS LOT VOLUME 25 NO. 22. Southern Pines. North Carolina Friday. April 27. 1945. TEN CENTS Annual Reports of Moore County Hospital Show Marked Increase in Service; Present Officers Retained KILLED IN ACTION BACK FROM PACIFIC Hospital Cared for 3,244 In-Patients During Year 1944 The Moore County Hospital cared for 3,244 in-patients during the year 1944. Of this number 455 were newborn babies. This is an increase of over 6 percent from the highest previous total of in patients, set in 1943. The increase in babies over the 1943 total was 25 percent. These summaries were announc ed at the annual meeting of the hospital directors, held last Thurs day at the Nurses’ Home. E. T. McKeithen, administrator of the hospital, reported that there had been 1,171 operations in 1944, and that the average daily house count was 79. The average num ber of days spent in the hospital by in-patients was 9. There were 609 Negro in-pa tients, an increase of 23 percent over the previous year. The days of care for all in-patients to talled 28,812. The ration of free hospital days to total hospital days was 15 percent, reflecting a better understanding on the part of the public that everyone must pay for hospital costs to the limit of his ability. Reports were also made by Dr. M. W. Marr, chairman of the hos pital’s active staff, and by Dr. Clenjent R. Monroe, chief sur geon. Both doctors stressed the loyalty of physicians, nurses, and other personnel in these busy times, and joined with the admin istrator in emphasizing the inval uable help given by the Red Cross Nurse’s Aides. The meeting adopted a resolu tion of deep appreciation for the efficient services of Miss Ellen Bruton, superintendent of nurses, who has been granted a leave of absence for rest and special study. Miss Bruton has bepn on the nurs ing staff since the hospital was opened in 1929; her abilities and unfailing friendliness have meant much to hundreds of patients. Paul Dana, secretary-treasurer, spoke on the financial standing of the institution, and said that an audit of the books by a na tionally known firm had just been satisfactorily completed. The meeting was particularly interested in the report of the fu ture planning icomrriittee, pres ented by its chairman, George H. Maurice. In facing a clear need for improved facilities and en larged accommodations, Mr. Mau rice said, it is essential that the directors plan for the wisest pos sible expenditure of building funds. - Careful thinking is being directed toward the formation of building plans that will be sound in every aspect. It is expected that the Board will avail itself of the services of an expert consul tant before any preliminary sketcjies are made, and the prin ciples of balance, economy in op eration and maintenance, and the efficient use of all space will be carefully observed. As soon as a comprehensive and well consider ed plan is ready, it will be pre sented to the public. Mr. IV^aurice underlined the fact that expan sion will be based on the demon- (Continued on Page 5) SPECIAL COVERAGE The Pilot takes pleasure in announcing a series of special articles on the San Francisco Conference. Ar rangements for coverage of the Conference for the Pilot have been made wi^h Miss Es telle Linzer of the staff of the American Association for the United Nations. Miss Lin zer, who works directly under the well-known commentator and international expert. Clark' M. Eichelberger, will send an article covering each week's meetings for the du ration of the Conference. May 4 Is Date of Local Town Caucus No Hats Openly in Ring; O'Callaghan Suggested for Mayor Friday evening. May 4, at 8 o’clock the Town Caucus for Sou thern Pines will be held in the high school auditorium to nomin ate candidates for the offices of mayor and five commissioners to be elected at the town election on Tuesday, May 8. As the selection by the caucus is virtually tantamount to election, it is the duty of every citizen to attend this biennial convention. It is the privilege' of every resident to attend and speak on any matter pertaining to the town, but only properly registered citizens may vote for candidates for office. 'With only a few days remaining .before the caucus, there is appar ently no issue, nor any open con testant for office, but in many for mer caucuses a dark horse has sped into the limelight. Following the announcement by Mayor Mat thews that he will not become a candidate for the office, many friends of Commissioner L. V. O’Callaghan have been active in presenting his qualifications for favorable consideration for the mayoralty pointing out that while Mr. O’Callaghan does not seek the office, his many years of service as a commissioner have given him a first hand knowledge of the - needs of the town. The present board of commis sioners includes L. V. O’Callag han, 1927-1945; E. C. Stevens, 1935-1945; A. B. Patterson, 1943- 1945; J. N. Steed and Charles S. Patch. Mr. Patch, a former active commissioner for the years 1934- 1941, was recently appointed by the Board vice H. J. Betterley re signed, as was Mr. Steed in place of M. F. Grantham, resigned. The registration books for the town election are now open at the office of the registrar in the Municipal Building. PFC. JOHN M. KELLY JR. Pfc. John M. Kelly, Jr., 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Kelly of Carthage Route 3, was killed in action in Germany on March 1, his parents have been notified He was a graduate of Farm Life High School and engaged in farrn- ing with his father before his induction into the Army in May 1944. Pfc. Kelly received his basic training at Fort McClellan, Ala., and went overseas in October 1944. He was with 'the Ninth (Continued on Page 4) L. D. McDonald, jr. Lyle D. McDonald, Jr., phar macist’s mate first class, U. S. N., Gov. Gregg Cherry Addresses Kiwanis Club Wednesday Large Group Hears Talk on "The War and Post War Problems" BY HOWARD F. BURNS Gregg Cherry, governor of North Carolina, in an address at the Southern Pines Country Club Wednesday to the Sandhills Ki wanis Club and a large group of citizens from Moore County, on the subject “The War and Post War Problems”, informed his hearers that the recently adjourn ed General Assembly was faced with the problem of what to do with the large State surplus of the General Fund of approximate ly $70,000,000.00 by June 30, 1945. Women Workers Plan Their ‘‘Mighty Seventh** War Bond Campaign ROTARY PRESIDENT arrived home Monday to spend a “Naturally a surplus of this size 20-day leave with his parents. This is his first leave home in two years. He has been on a des troyer in the South Pacific dur ing that time. McDonald enlisted in the Navy in February 1942 and received training at the Norfolk Training Station and the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, Va. He called his parents from the west coast Saturday and flew home from there. Church of Wide Fellowship Observes 50th Anniversary Sunday, April 29 VANDALISM 1945 Poppy Sale Largest On Record The total proceeds of the an nual Poppy Sale held by the American Legion Auxiliary here last Saturday was $573.63. $284.04 of this was made in Southern Pines and $289.59 in Pinehurst, which is included in the local unit of the Auxiliary. This year’s sale was the biggest that the available records show. KILLED IN ACTION New'S leached Cameron Saturday that Vernon Wick er of the U. S. Air Forces had been killed in action in the Philippines. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wicker. ANNOUNCES CLOSING DATE Between the hours of 12:30 and 1:30 a. m. Wednesday an unknown vandal, using an ice pick or similar instrument punctured 20 tires on seven cars parked in Southern Pines. The tires were riddled having numerous holes punched in them. Some of the cars were parked on New Hampshire Avenue, Connect icut Avenue, and Ashe Street while others were near the railroad station and in front of the Highland Lodge. CANCER CONTROL MONTH This month the North Carolina Division of the Field Army of the American Cancer Society is en deavoring to raise $135,628.56 for a full scale fight against this No. I public enemy. If you have not contributed you are urged to do so through your local chair man at once. LECTURE ON MEXICO Emmett Boone announces the closing of the Pine Needles Inn on May 1, following a very sat isfactory season. Mr. Boone ex pects to remain until about May 10. William L. Wonderly will de liver a lecture on his work in Mexico at 8:00 o’clock Sunday evening at the First Baptist Church in Southern Pines. The public is invited. GOLF EXHIBITION Joe Kirkwood will give a trick shot exhibition at the Pinehurst Country Club at 5:00 p. m. Sun day. Sunday April 29th, The Church of Wide Fellowship will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its found ing, with appropriate exercises at the church. Fifty years is a long time, and especially man’s memory becomes a little hazy on events occur ring in 1895. But nationally Grov er Cleveland was president, the citizenry was heatedly arguing the merits and demerits of the new tariff; internationally the United States was in a vigorous dispute with Great Britain over the Venezuela boundary question with Cleveland firmly declaring for the application of the princi ples of the Monroe Doctrine to the question. But in the little village of Sou thern Pines, a small group was dreaming and planning for a church, and this is a story about that church. And such a story of people, of their struggles, their 'disappointments, their failures, their triumphs. Who they were, this little group of men and wo men, the passing years render, only dimly, recollections. But what they were, of their courage, and their devotion to a cause, the way they met and overcame all obstacles the records bear wit ness, and the beautiful structure at Bennett Street and New Hamp shire Avenue is the fulfillment of their dreams. •Qn the evening of April 5, 1895 “a few people interested in forming a Congregational Church in Southern Pines, N. C.” met at the home of C. D. Tarbell, and eleven present signed for mem bership. The following week at a meeting twenty-six had signed up for membership, and at this time the members voted to name the new church “The First Con gregational Church.” The Ar tides of Faith were adopted at the next meeting and church of ficers were elected:C. D. Tarbell, George A. Woodard, R. M. Couch, deacons; L. S. Johnson, R. M. Couch, C p. Tarbell, trustees; Ir ving L. Hamlin, clerk, and W. J. Stuart, treasurer, were named as officers. The first official church ser vices were held Sunday April 28, 1895 in a structure erected by Rev; Mr. Thorn and used by different groups for religious services. This place still stands and is i)ccupied by Mrs. Florence Deacon. In May the Rev. G. R. Ransom of Colochester, Conn, who had “counselled and-advised with us” was invited to be pastor of the church, “the church to do the best it could as to salary.” It was in the spring of 1896 that $400.00 was paid for the church site and the ‘building committee began earnest work for subscriptions to build a church.” A contract was let in Jime to Messrs. Chatfield & kjesser for. a net $2420.00 for the structure, “the whole work to be completed by November 15, 1897.” Work was started in June, and the cornerstone laying exer cises were conducted on July 5th. But the work “progressed slowly due to changes in plans,” the' house being dedicated April 3, 1898. The church was generous in its praise of its members and the building committee. It lauded the fact that “from the first, full and free discussion has been had, and agreemeiit, after many changes, has been reached . . . questions upon which we have differed have not been settled by ‘snap judgement.’ ’Nought has been done in a corner’. Members of committee have gracefully yielded to each other in case of ‘pronounced views’ on the part of some ... We have aimed to act in relation to at least a lim ited consensus of opinion, by com parison of views that the best should be the result finally.'. . Hence, differences havfe been calmly discussed, and time and patience has led us to such final conclusions as have seemed to commend themselves to all. . . “and we are united in heart, as the very beams and boards that hold together the beautiful house we have been permitted to erect; in view of all this, who of us can fail to recognize with profound gratitude, the guiding hand of our God, and say with glad acclaim, ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.’ ” , And so the young church be gan, grew, and prospered, al though financial problems pres ented themselves on numerous occasions with one annual report showing receipts and disburse ments the same, and with the rueful notation “leaving a bal ance of nothing.” The growth of the church is marked by the fact that in 1897 there were fifty members, but in 1918 there was hung bn the church walls an Honor Roll of thirty-four mem bers serving in the “European War”. By the name of one of these members is a gold star. In the early twenties the church began to grow beyond its fac ilities, and plans were drawn for a new structure as an addition to the original church building. And at this time it was decided to change the name to The Church of Wide Fellowship as it more adequately expressed the Church’s relations with those that came to worship there. So thirty years after the first building was start ed the second began, and the cost was nearly twenty-five times the cost of the first, or $53,000.00 and the indebtedness on the new structure was approximately $40,- 000.00 when finished. The final debt was retired in 1943, and a beautiful debt-free structure, a church with nearly two hundred members, stands today as a mon ument to the courage, the vision and the faith of its founders, a laith they so simply stated nearly fifty years past, “who of us can fail to recogni.ze, with profound gratitude, the guiding hand of our God and say with glad ac claim, ‘Hitherto, hath the Lord helped us.’ ” creates a problem new to this State, after struggling for many years to maintain a balanced bud get.” He stated immediately our institutions, agencies and public schools requested substantial in creases. This was the natural thing. At the same time the tax payers demanded a cut in the tax rate similar to adjoining states. “In my opinion the Gen eral Assembly not only faced but solved the problem in the most satisfactory way in placing ap proximately $52,000,000 of the surplus toward retiring the debt of the General Fund.” At the same time the law-makers pro vided considerable increase for the State agencies and schools, and provided for such tax reliefs as was consistent with an abnor mal war year. The Governor, a pleasing speak er who has made a thorough study of the State and its needs, pointed out another of the problems is the maintenance of 60,000 miles of State Highways, since there has been a curtailment in the main tenance force and difficulty in securing materials and machin ery.. This has forced the State to suspend its construction program. However, we have an unexpend ed surplus on hand which adding to Federal Funds, will be avail able at the end of the war for the construction of many miles of highways. The third problem to be brought on by the war is that of the re turning veterans. We have 330,- 000 in the armed services. They expect to find North Carolina as they left it or better,” he said. He informed the club that $5,000- 000 had been ear marked for their benefit. The General As sembly also provided for a State Veterans Administration to see that they receive the full benefit of the G. I. Bill, and other Fed eral assistance. Where the Fed eral program leaves off, the State must step in. Continuing, the speaker pointed out a large num ber of homes had been saddened, many business concerns suspend ed, many seriously disrupted. For all these sacrifices and many more to come a grateful State can do no less, than acknowledge this debt 6f gratitude and make some provision for lessening the shock made by the impaqt of war, the extent of which can not yet be determined. In conclusion, he pointed out with a Federal debt of $300,000,- 000,000, we will have high taxes for many years to come. The Fed eral Government is likely to in vade other fields of taxation and further restrict the sources of taxation of the State Government. “I am raising these questions,” he said, “in order that you and other interested citizens may be giv ing some serious thought to the solution. A solution which must be found before the full impact of the peace problems are upon us. The Federal Government will not be in a position to do ^ the job; each of the forty-eight States will have to do its proportionate share, and each community will be called on to do its part.” He stressed the importance of business enterprises of the State and loan institutions lending their help in the creation of new jobs, new enterprises and the expan sion of old businesses to help our fighting men. The speaker was introdpced by George Ross of the Department of Marketing, Raleigh. Upward of one hundred visit ors and Kiwanians attended the meeting. The Kiwanians will at tend the church service at the Vil lage Chapel in Pinehurst next Sunday, in a body. Stale Chairman Is Guest Speaker at Luncheon Meeting VIRGIL P. CLARK V. P. Clark Is New Rotary President Virgil P. Clark was elected president of the Rotary Club for the coming year at the weekly luncheon held Friday at the Sou thern Pines Country Club. Morris Johnson was made vice president, and E. H. Lorenson, secretary- treasurer. Mr. Clark is one of the propri etors of Brown and Clark Garage. He volunteered his services and enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1942, serving as a tech nical expert in motor mechanics at Camp Lejeune until honorably discharged, late last summer by special order, of the Commandant. Newly elected members of the Board of Directors are Harry L. Brown, Dan S. Ray and Will L. Wiggs. Robert E. Harlow, editor and publisher of The Pinehurst Out look, gave a very interesting talk on “Freedom of Thought.” Visitors present were Robert Morrison, Junior Rotarian for the week, Rotarian Howland of Titus ville, Pa., the Rev. Thompson E. Davis, Paul Jernigan, and Edwin Humphries. Weather spoon Win Golf Championship The Sandpipers, men golfers of The Southern Pines Country Club, played the final round of their 1945 championship on Sunday, April 22. Bert Weatherspoon and Noris Hodgkins, having survived the onslaughts of all other com petitors, engaged in a thirty-six hole match to decide who would wear the crown as champion for the coming year. At the end of the first 18 holes Weatherspoon enjoyed a one up lead by virtue of a win on number 18. The next round was almost as closely con tested with Weatherspoon closing out his rival on the thirty-fifth hole. Ben Wisler and Howard Burns were the finalists in the first flight. Both of these players were right on their games and the re sult was a torrid golf match. It 'was a nip and tuck battle right up until the end withWisler taking the decision on the seventeenth green. He won 2 up and one to go. On Wednesday night, April 25, the Sandpipers held their an nual banquet. The women’s golf organization, the Pine Dodgers, joined in celebrating the close of a successful season for both clubs. BIG AIR SHOW AT MAXTON SUNDAY An enormous crowd is expect ed to attend ‘Open House” at Lau- rinburg-Maxton Air Base next Sunday, April 29, when a full prograrn commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the founding of the First Troop Carrier Command will be presented. The gates will open at 12 noon. The show be gins at 2 p. m. and wiU be over by 5.00. Visitors are advised to carry lunches. Noted visitors will be present and the program will include pre sentation of awards, glider dem onstrations, a mock battle, and snatch pick-ups of gliders. Moore County and the region of which it is a part will go over the top in a big way in “The Mighty 7th” War Loan drive which officially begins May 14 and continues through June 30. This prediction is based upon the enthusiastic response of women leaders from fifteen towns who gathered some 70 strong at the Southern Pines Country Club Tuesday to learn details of the drive and to formulate plans. In charge of the luncheon meetr ing were the county and regional chairmen of the 'Women’s Divi sion, Mrs. N. L. Hodgkins of Sou thern Pines and Mrs. P. P. Mc Cain of Sanatorium, Assembled in the newly decorated club house gay with roses from the garden of Mrs. H. A. Cameron of Rae- ford, around a “U” shaped table suggestive of uniting in a com mon icguse, the group entered confidently into the business at hand. Mrs. Robert N. Page, Sr., of Aberdeen gave the invocation and later offered a prayer for the San Francisco Conference. County Chairman E. C. .Stevens spoke words of welcome and Mrs. McCain and .Mrs. Hodgkins intro duced the various local chairmen, who in turn presented the work ers from their towns. Mr. Stevens then discussed the drive and announced the local quotas for Moore County. Briefly, the facts are as follows: Moore County’s overall quota is $611,- 000, with the “E” quota $397,000, which is larger than that of the 6th drive. Howeveh, only two drives are planned for this year instead of three, and there will be a longer time in which to raise the amount than there has been in previous drives. Bonds bought and processed through the Federal Reserve Bank between April 9 and July 7 will count on the quota, so if every individual will begin at once to buy “E” bonds systemat ically, there should be little dif ficulty in reaching the goal. Em phasis is on the purchase of “E” bonds and every person is urged to buy at least one bond. Moore County has never failed to reach its overall quota, but in the fifth it did fall short on the “E” quota. In each of three of the drives, between $900,000 and a million dollars was raised, amounts far in excess of the askings in the seventh. Immediately after lunch Philip Weaver, head of the Southern Pines Schools, showed a motion picture, “Mr. and Mrs. America,” featuring the payroll savings plan of war bond purchase. Mrs. Karl Bishopric of Spray, State chairman of the Woman’s Division of the War Finance Com mittee, discussed a number of sales promotion plans, outlining the blue star plan by which work ers are advanced in rank accord ing to the number of bonds sold. She was followed on the program by Mrs. Nancy Robinson, chair man of the Southeastern States, who gave helpful ideas for sell ing that had been used in her ter ritory. Those present were given an opportunity of presenting prob lems for discussion. The figures as announced by Mr. Stevens, give the overall quo tas first and the “E” quotas sec ond. They are: Pinehurst, $140,530; $91,310. Aberdeen, $85,540; $55,580. Cameron $6,110;$3,970. Carthage, $85,540; $55,580. Robbins, $103,870; $67,490. Vass, $6,110; $3,970. Southern Pines, $171,080; $111,- 160. Pinebluff, $3,055; $1,985. West End, $9,165; $5,955. Mr. Stevens presented cita tions to a number of women who had done outstanding work in the Sixth War Loan drive. HIGHLAND PINES CLOSES W. E. Flynn announces the clos ing of the Highland Pines Inn on Thursday, April 26, following a most successful season. The management plans renovation and new furnishings prior to re opening some time in November. Mr. Flynn will leave in a few days for the opening of the Inn at Charlevmx, Mich.