VOL. 28 NO. 23.
FOURTEEN PAGES
Southern Pines, N. C.. Friday, May 2, 1947.
FOURTEEN PAGES
Highland Pines
To Operate On
Year-Round Basis
Historical Group Holds Carthage
Meet, Tours Sites Of County History
TEN CENTS
SPEAKER
Brown Succeeds
Garland Pierce
In Management
Beginning May 1, the Highland
Pines Inn, operated for the past
few years strictly as a, seasonal
and resort hotel, entered on a
new schedule of year-round op
eration under the management of
W. L. Brown, a co-owner from
Troy.
Garland Pierce, manager for.
the past five years and before
that connected for 15 years with
the Belvedere hotel, is retiring
from hotel business, and will de
vote himself to the Paul T. Bar-
num insurance agency here, of
which he is president, and also
to a real estate development he
has now under way.
A native of Leominster, Mass.,
he has lived here 20 years.
Brown is a member of a firm
owning several commercial ho
tels in the state, at Troy, Carth
age, Monroe and Durham. The
Highland Pines, recently purchas
ed, is the first of its type in the
chain.
Largest hotel of this communi
ty, with features which have suc
cessfully appealed to resort vis
itors and conventions of all kinds,
it is to be continued along the
same general policies except for
the year-round feature. In keep
ing with the progress of South
ern Pines from a seasonal to a*
year-round town, it is believed,
he said, that business will justify
operation during 12 months of
the year.
The dining room, . however;
closed May 1 for the summer,
but it is believed will open
earlier in the fall than heretofore,
with conventions also booked
earlier to make a more extended
season.
During the summer extensive
redecorating and refurnishing
will take place, to maintain the
standards of Highland Pines Inn
as one of the section’s most beau
tiful as well as largest hotels.
Speech By Rondthaler
Prizes Awarded In
Student Competition
DR, H. W. RONDTHALER
Plans Made For
Youth Recreation
Summer Program
Miss Aline Todd Will
Be Girls' Director;
Campaign To Be Held
Insurance Men Meet
At Carolina Hotel
Some 600 insurance man of the
state, members of the North Car-
olinhi Association of Insurance
Agents, Inc., gathered at conven
tion headquarters, the Carolina
hotel in Pinehurst, Thursday
evening for their four-day Gold
en Anniversary convention.
John Ruggles, of Southern
Pines, president of the Moore
Counity Insurance Exchange, made
the welcoming speech at the
opening session, immediately fol
lowing the past presidents’ dinner
Thursday.
Numerous distinguished speak
ers included figures of national
and statewide prominence in the
insurance field. Saturday after
noon will be devoted to golf and
fellowship, and the banquet will
be held Saturday evening. The
convention will end Sunday.
Miss Aline Todd has consented
to stay here this summer as di
rector of girls’ activities for the
city summer recreation program,
it was announced this Wieek by
Diyeetor A. G. Dawson in reveal
ing general ’.plans for the , pro
gram.
She is the' girls' athletic di
rector of the Southern Pines
High school. •
A campaign for financing the
program is being initiated by the
Council of Social Agencies spon
soring organization, to be carried
forward under the aegis of the
citizens’ planning committee.
E.. M. Gentry, industrial arts
teacher of the West Southern
Pines school, will be in charge of
Negro youth activities, with
Dawson in general supervision. .
Under Dawson and Miss Todd,
activities for the Southern Pines
youngsters will last for 10 weeks
during the summer, with the*
Men’s Club building as headquar
ters.
A full sports program is being
planned, with indoor games for
rainy days, dancing (including
dancing classes) and arts and
crafts, with Glen Rounds instruc
ting.
Activities will be scheduled
from 10 a. m. to noon, and from
2:30 to 5 p. m. daily for 10 weeks.
They will be open to all boys
and girls from eight years old
up, and will provide something
for every youngster to do to fill
in those' idle hours.
This is the Second year the
Council of Social Agencies has
sponsored such a program. Last
year’s was considered highly suc
cessful, and some enlargements
and improvements are being
made this year, the greatest be
ing rated the addition of a direc
tor for the girls.
For the fii^t time since its
founding a year ago, the Moore
County Historical association
held its monthly meeting in the
courthouse at Carthage, thus es
tablishing a precedent for this
fennivarsary meeting which, 'jt
was generally expressed, might
well be followed in the future.
A gathering of well over a
hundred included many students
of the variouis schools of the coun-
ty conae to witness the prize
giving in the association’s contest
for historical articles and to hear
the speaker of the afternoon. Dr.
Howard Rondthaler, president of
Salem College.
The prizes were given by Mrs.
Ernest Ives, secretary of the a's-
eociation, in the absence of
Struthers Burt, one of the judges,
who was unable because of ill
ness to be present. Mrs. Ives con
gratulated the winners on the
excellence of their writing as well
■as the amount of research which
each had made. "Winners were:
High school division—first
prize, $10, “History of Moore
County,” by Lewis W. Pate, 12th
grade. Southern Pines; second,
$7.50, “Union Church,” by Viola
Fore, 10th grade, Cameron. .
Elementary school division—
first prize, $7.50, “History of
Pinehurst,” by Ann Davis, eighth
grade, Pinehurst; second, $5
(Continued on Page 5)
Southern Pines
Glee Club Wins
PicquetCup
Three High School
Groups Compete In
Kiwanis Program
The Southern Pines High
school’s mixed chorus of 45 young
voices sang themselves into win
ning the Picquet cup for the sec- ' May 6 approaches.
TOWN CAUCUS HERE TONIGHT,
VOTE IN SIX TOWNS TUESDAY
Vass, Pinebluff,
Aberdeen, Carthage,
Robbins Will Elect
Five towns in the county be
sides Southern Pines are going
through election throes, with
things in general very calm as
ond year, at the annual county
wide glee club contest held Wed
nesday under auspices of the
Sandhills Kiwanis club.
They had stiff competition
from two glee clubs of proven
worth, the Aberdeen Girls’
chorus,, which won a 2 rating in
its class in the state music con-
Vass caucus was scheduled for
Monday night, but only three
pepple showed up besides a few
town officials. They just deci
ded to skip it and it looks as
though Mayor H. A. Borst and
Commissioners S. R. Smith, A.
M. Cameron and H. C. Callahan
will go right back into office
Your Ballot
Is Important!
test at Greensboro last week, | whether they want to or' not.
Carolinas Open
Draws Golf Stars,
To Local Course
Sandhill Folk Turn Out to Glimpse
Marshall, Home From Moscow Meet
‘T'
The eyes of the world were on
the Sandhills last week as Sec
retary of State George C. Mar
shall, newly returned from the
Moscow conference, enjoyed a
brief interval of relaxation at his
Pinehurst home before flying to
Washington to make his report to
thie President.
The grapevine was busy, and
early Sunday afternoon the crowd
began to grow at Resort airport,
swelling to 1,000 as the scheduled
time of departure, 2:40, came
and went, and the special plane
with its U. S. army star and bar
showed no signs of warming up.
There was a false alarm soon
after 3 o’clock when the Mar
shall car drew up at the side of
the plane—to put on some lug
gage. Doubt as to whether Mrs.
Marshall was flying too was dis
pelled as a hatbox flew open,
revealing veils and flowers which
meant feminine spring hats.
< The car went away, to return
at 3:30 with the Secretary of
State, Mrs. Mlarshall and their
Chinese maid.
.IVpplause
The crowd burst into spontan
ecus applause at sight of them.
A tray of pansies was presented
to Mrs. Marshall by members of
the Walter Hines Page Book club
of Aberdeen, which was there in
full force, along with citizens
from practically\every other town
in the county. The applause con
tinued as the Marshalls mounted
the portable steps into the plane,
and they turned at the top, to
wave and smile in response.
Mrs. Miarshall, who has waited
alone at home during the agoniz
ing conference months, looked
radiantly happy and also very
smart, in a navy sheer suit with
perky grey straw hat.
Her husband, a big good-look
ing man with a permanent smile,
appeared not to have a worry in
the world. He showed no signs of
the weariness that might be ex
pected after the ordeal of Mos
cow, and a flight halfwiay around
(Continued^Ain Page 5)
By Howard F. Burns
Carolinas Open golf champion
ship, a 72-hole medal tournament
to be played over the 6,401 yard
Mid Pines course here today (Fri
day), Saturday and Sunday is ex
pected to draw the top golfing
talent from North and South Car
olina.
The change in dates was made
last weekend from Sunday, Mon
day, Tuesday previously an
nounced.
George Corcoran, Greensboro,
District P. G. A. president, and
Purvis Ferree, Winston-Salem
secretary, expect the strongest
field ever to battle for the title,
now held by Skip Alexander of
Lexington, 1941 National Ama
teur medalist and former Duke
university linksman, who will de
fend his crown.
Pros Strong
Dugan Aycock, of Lexington,
chairman of the P. G. A. tourna
ment committee, has announced
the field of contenders this year
will include Clayton Hae^ner of
Charlotte, Johnny Palmer of
Badin, and Orville White of Wih-
ston-Salem, all former title hold
ers; A1 Smithy Winston-Salem;
Charles Farlow, Greensboro;
Clarence Owen, Martinsville, Va.;
A1 Gering and Boyd Jaeger, High
Point; Marshall Crichton, Dur
ham; Dave Tinsley and James
Orr, Charlotte; and Thurman
Edwards, Winston-Salem.
Bobby Locke, the South Afri
can champion, who has been
tended to Bobby Locke, the South
African champion, who has been
touring the southern circuit, has
accepted President Corcoran’s
special invitation to attend.
Good Amateurs
Two top ranking amateurs are
expected to give the pros a battle
for the crown. They are: Felice
Torza, Connecticut open cham
pion and medalist in the North
and South and George T. Dunlap,,
former National Amateur cham
pion. Richard D. Chapman of
Greenwich, Conn., runner-up last
year, will not enter the tourna
ment this spring, going to Eng
land on the Walker Cup team.
Frank Cosgrove, operator of the
Mid Pines, is posting upward of
$1,000 and states the course is in
excellent condition for the tour
nament.
Howard Dupont, of Pinehurst,
who served in World Wars I and
II, will be in charge of the score
board, as in previous national
events.
Preceding the event was a pro-
amateur match held Thursday,
for which many of the entrants
for the Open were on hand. .
after passing the district contest
with flying colors and a rating of
1; and the Pinehurst High school
Gle,e club, which also scored well
in the district contest and whose
soloist, Frances Campbell, was a
high ranking state contest entry.
The contest was held at High
land Pines Inn following the Ki
wanis club’s luncheon meeting
there, and' representer C. W. Pic-
quet’s program for the year. A
number of specicil guests were
present.
Professor Rheuter, director of
music at Flora McDonald college,
acted as judge, and the cup was
presented by Mr. Picquet. A
third successive victory will en
title the winner to retain it as
perrnanent possession; otherwise,
it will be passed to next year’s
'vvinner.
The singing of all the groups
was adjudged excellent, and much
praise was given the three di
rectors, Miss Hope Bailey, for
Southern Pines; Mrs. D. O.
Wooten, Aberdeen, and Paul V.
Peck, Pipehurst. '
Each group sang three songs,
as follows:
Southern Pines—As Torrents
in Summer,” from the cantata
(Continued on Page 5)
Funds On Hand
For Signals But
Delay Expected
Funds are on hand to instal
automatic crossing signals as- re
quested by the Southern Pines
town board, though work may be
delayed on account of shortages
of material, according to infor
mation received this week by
Howard Burns, town clerk, from
R. M. Burns, Seaboard Air Line
superintendent at Raleigh.
However, Stone wrote, he
very much doubts” that the cit
izens will like the plan as agreed
on last month, since it provides
for signals at four successive
Broad Street crossings (Vermont,
Connecticut, New Hampshire
and Pennsylvania). He advocates
instead that every other crossing
be closed and said that he would
come to Southern Pines within a
few days to discuss the matter
with the board.
Aa the plan now stands, the
Maine and New York avenue in
tersections, at either end of the
business district, are the only
ones which are to be closed. This
plan, he says, is all right with
the railroad if the board will as
sure him it is still the one they
Want.
In any event, however, nothing
can be done for several months,
probably toward the end of the
year, on account of the continu
ing lack of equipment. .
There are no new nominees at
Robbins, either, making reelec-
tion a sure thing for Mayor W. P.
Saunders and the commissioners,
E. M. Ritter, E. F. Laudermilk,
F. H. Upchurch, T. R. Monroe
and Dr. W. N. McDuffy.
At Pinebluff, David Packard
and J. K. Mason have filed for
rnayor. R. F. Stewart, mayor for
the past 10 years, has withdrawn
from the race for any office.
Three commissioners will be
elected from the following: Lu
ther Tyner, George Moger, James
Smith, Lament Brown, Douglas
David and Craig Pickier.
Carthage and Aberdeen held
caucus some weeks ago, produc
ing a good many nominees
though some have since with-
t’.rawn.
At Carthage, things political
are reported “getting warm”
election day nears, and a stiff
contest is predicted between E.
J. Burns, incumbent, and W. D.
Sabiston for mayor. Five com
missioners will be chosen from
among the following: W. M. (Bill)
Carter, H. F. Seawell, Jr., Tony
Gilchrist, D. A. McDonald, L. A.
(June) Lawhom, D. Carl Fry,
Wilton H. Brown and H. J. Hall.’
W th just one nominee. Mayor
Forrest Lockey, for reelection to
the post he’s already held for two
terms, the contest at Aberdeen
is centering on the race for com
missioner. Five are to be named.
Running are J. B. Edwards, E.
O. Freeman, J. M. Taylor, N. A.
Pleasants, W. H. McNeill, Jr., J.
L. Blount, A. J. Smith, Dr. E.
M. Medlin, Ralph Leach, Jr.
Entries From 14
NC High Schools
In Tourney Here
County YDC Rally
To Be Held May 23
The Moore County Young Dem
ocrats are getting together
again—^not for any purpose, in
this off-political year, except fel
lowship and solidarity.
The occasion will be a banquet
and rally, to be held at the Club
Chalfonte in Pinehurst Friday,
May 23. Capacity of the dining
room is limiting to 125 the num
ber which can be accommodated.
Representatives from other coun
ties of the Eighth district are to
be invited.
Plans were formed at an ex
ecutive committee meeting held
Monday night, led by President
Hugh McCaskill of Pinehurst,
and McCaskill, Leland McKeith-
en and Paul C. Butler were nam-
Fourteen schools are entering
feaams of four in the North Caro
lina High School Golf tourna
ment, which fill take place next
Thursday and Friday on the Sou
thern Pines Country Club course
with the Southern Pines High
school host to the meet.
Teams have been entered
from the Greensboro, Durham,
Sanford, High Point, Badin,
Mount Airy, Goldsboro, Reids-
ville. Mount Holly and Southern
Pines High schools, Hugh Mor-
son in Raleigh, Boyden in Salis
bury and Central in Charlotte.
They will be accompanied by
their coaches, who will meet for
the pairings at 11 a. m. Thurs
day at the school, and play will
take place Thursday and Friday
afternoons. Eighteen holes will
be played each day, for 36-hole
medal play. There will also be
individual play for the state
championship.
Tommy Grey, Eugene Maples,
Robert McLeod and either Bert
Perham or Robert McClellah will
compose the Southern Pines
team, of which A. C. Dawson is
coach.
Some fine play is anticipated
from the youngsters, who may
make their elders sit up and take
notice. A few girls may be in
cluded in the teams.
The tournament, held annually
under auspices of the North Caro
lina High School Athletic assoc
iation, has been at High Point
for the past few years. This is
Southern Pines’ first time to play
host.
ed' to a program committee to se-
cuite a speaker and attend to
other details.
Sale of tickets at $2.50 each is
in charge of T. Clyde Auman of
West End. .
Last election only 80 people
voted in Southern Pines; 80 out
of a possible 480.
We don’t know how that com
pares with other places, but for
a; town at boasts a citizenry as
educated as ours, and as gener
ally interested in local affairs,
it seems a pretty poor showing.
Last time, of course, the war
was still going on. People’s minds
were ielsewhere and the affairs
even of their home town seemed
relatively unimportant. There
was perhaps also the feeling
evidenced in the national elec
tions, of wanting to keep the
same good team' in there playing
till things Were more certain.
That feeling is gone now and
many are wondering if something
else hais come in its place. Many
realize that good government be
gins at home; that our town is
worthy of the best we can give
it and that whether we vote for
the same crowd or try to put in
some others, the town elections
are important and it is everyone’s
duty to take part in them. Many
believe this feeling is general and
there is no doubt of the increase
in interest in the election this
year. The question remains, how
ever: will the people really fol
low through and comie to the
caucus Friday night, and the elec
tion that follows next Tuesday?
It is easy to say: they should,
but anyone who prophesies that
they will, will be sticking his
neck out mighty far.
■ Why is it that folks will go to
the movies every night of the
week, but can’t be bothered to
attend a town caucus? It isn’t al
together because, the movies are
more fun; part of it, we submit, is
a soirt of shyness about messing
in things. It is so much pleasant
er to sit back and let the other
fellow take the responsibility of
action. It is a confession of weak
ness in our people, but it is a
fact that many actually prefer
not to vote in a local election so
that they won’t feel uncomfor
tably responsible when things
are not satisfactory. “At least,
they congratulate themselves,
‘We had nothing to do with elec
ting that prize bungler,” and they
can sit back and. criticize to their
heart’s content.
like to take sides aigainst a
Other potential voters don’t
friend, and, in a small town like
ours, we are all friends. Others
feel, and with a good deal of
reason, that the meetings are run
by a few people who generally
have their slate pretty well de
cided and are inclined to take
charge and steam-iroller it
through. They don’t like these
tactics, yet few are rugged
enough to try some counter
measure. In the end it is just
easier to stay home and let
things take their course. All cit
izens suffering from such civic
aenemia had better think twice.
We hear aj lot about communism
and democracy these days. A lot
of people are acting pretty scared
as if democracy was really in
danger. That is nonsense, but it
won’t be nonsense if Americans
stop voting in town elections. The
abdication by the citizen of his
civic responsibilities is the great
est danger there is to democracy.,
Prospects For
Municipal Leaders
Stir Discussion
A good turnout of citizens is
expected at the town caucus at
8 tonight (Friday), for nomina
tions for mayor and town com
missioners pneliminary to the
Tuesday election.
The caucus will be held at the
schoolbuilding, led by Mayor
O’Callaghan until a chairman
can be elected. Voting will be
held at the city office from sun
rise to sunset . Tuesday.
A mayor and five commission
ers are to be elected for a two-
year term'.
With no hot issues in the wind,
and general satisfaction express
ed with the way the town has
been run, no crusades have de
veloped, and no reformers have
appeared.
In fact, almost no one has ap
peared who is even willing to
run for office. With Mayor
O Calllaghan and Commisjsioner
Pat Patterson bowing themselves
out early iij the game, citizens
have been doing a lot of thinking
and talking about getting new
men on the board.
For Mayor
For mayor, it is generally con
ceded that experience on the
board is a desirable prerequisite.
With at least two of the present
commissioners. Gene Stevens and
Charlie Patch, stating positively
that they won’t have the job, talk
in the past few days has veered
airound to Chan Page, and at pres
ent writing it appears that the
finger is on him.
Queried this week as to his
sentiments, Chan said all right,
yes, if the people want hiim.
“I’m not hunting the job,” he
declared, “and anybody who gets
it will have a tough time trying
to fill Mayor Cal’s shoes. If he
were running I’d certainly be for
him. He’s a fine leader and gen
tleman, and I’ve learned a lot
just from working with him in
my one term on the board.
Everyone should give some
form of community service, to re
turn in some measure what he
receives from a town, and if this
is what the people want me to
do. I’ll do the best I can.”
Veteran board members
Stevens and Patch, and newer
member Joe Steed—especially
useful because he’s a civil en
gineer ,a'nd the board almost has
to have one—have said that if
they’re elected to the board
again they will serve. But
Stevens, explaining h/is refusal
even to entertain the idea of be
ing mayor, said, “The job has
changed' a lot in the past few
years as the town has grown. It’s
a full-time job now. Few people
appreciate how much time it
takes just to look after the house
keeping details, not to mention
all the extra chores a mayor must
take on. No, thanks!”
Young Men Wanted
He and Patch have each served
around 15 years and O’Callaghan
is leaving town government after
20 years as commissioner and
mayor. All the members are pro
moting the ide,a of new young
blood on the board—veterans or
other young mCn with fresh
ideas, who represent the coming
business element of the commun
ity.
Of non-board members, John
Ruggles and Sam B. Richardson,
(Continued on Page 5)
Citizens Ponder Postmaster Problem '
As Preeinctmen Meet and Adjourn
There are hats in the ring for
the Southern Pines postmaster-
ship—including an overseas cap
and perhaps even a woman’s bon
net.
Whether the owners tossed
them in, or their friends did for
them, is immaterial. An appoint
ment is to be made, the precinct
committee must make a recom^
mendation to the county Demo
cratic committee, the county com
mittee must recommend to Con
gressman C. B. Deane—and
Deane will do ,as he pleases.
And what any of them will do
is a favorite topic for talk up and
down Broad street. i
As for Deane, ■ he’s evidently
willing to let bygones be bygones.
Indicating a strong desire to
know who’s wanted locally, he’s
let it be known that will be his
guide—which throws the ball
right back to the precinct com
mittee.
Chat With Deane
It is learned that Deane, home
in Rockingham last week, asked
for, and got, an interview with
John Ruggles, precinct commit-
tiee chairman, to ask for action—
and to pass on a few facts.
And these, it seems, are tend
ing to crystallize the committee’s
growing sentiment toward rec
ommending an acting postmaster
from within the post office or
ganization. . '
(Continued on Page 8)