ADMIRAL GEOIIGE DEWEY DEAD
Hero of Manila Ray Passed Away at
His Washington City Home in His
Eightieth Year. He Was the Rank
ing Naval Officer of the World. The
Grade of Admiral in the United
States Navy Was Given Him By
Special Act of Congress.
The Associated Press dispatches in
Wednesday's dailies carried the
gloomy news of the passing of Admi
ral George Dewey, the ranking naval
officer of the world, In his eightieth
year. He died at his home in Wash
ington City after an illness of only a
few days. Six days before his death
he was at his office apparently hale
and hearty. He collapsed Thursday of
last week, due to arterior sclerosis,
incident to old age, and died Tuesday
evening.
The body of the Admiral will be
laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery
where so many of his comrades found
a last resting place. Public funeral
exercises will be held Saturday in the
rotunda of the Capitol. The army and |
navy will be largely represented in
the funeral obsequies.
The following incidents in his life
i\ve from sketches appearing in the
daily papers of Wednesday:
George Dewey was born in the
shadow of Vermont's State capitol,
at Montpeller, on the day following
Christmas in 1837. At the age of 17,
he reached the cross-roads of his
career; one road led to West Point,
the other to Annapolis. Young Dewey
favored the former, but ?
"There was no vacancy for West
Point from Vermont," explained the
Admiral in reviewing his life. "Other
wise I might have gone into Manila
Bay on an army transport instead of
on the Olympia. But it happened that
there was a vacancy at Annapolis, so
I entered the navy." * * * * *
From the close of the Civil War un
til the opening of the Spanish Ameri
can, the life of the American naval
officer was made up of routine duty >
at sea and ashore. During this period,
the future admiral cruised, taught a
class at Annapolis; surveyed lower
California and part of the west coast
of Mexico; carried supplies to the sur
vivors of the siege of Paris; perform
ed duty at Boston navy yard and the
naval torpedo station at Newport; in
spected lighthouses and served as nav
al secretary on the lighthouse board;
spent two years traveling on a sick
leave in search of health; four years
as chief of the Bureau of Equipment;
and at the age of 59 was serving as
president of the Board of Inspection
and Survey with the rank of Commo
dore. It was in this important naval
office that he presided at the trials of
all the battlesips, except the Oregon,
which were to demolish the Spanish
squadron at Santiago. * * * *
Only two other men ? Farragut and
Porter ? have held the rank of the ad
miral of the American navy, and
since Civil War days no military fig
ure has held such a place as Dewey
in the affections and admiration of
the American people. His death end
ed 62 years of active service. His bap
tism of fire came in the Civil War,
ihrough which he served with distinc
tion. Promotion followed during the
>ears following, and he was a com
modore commanding the Asiatic fleet
when the orders, "Capture and de
stroy the enemy's fleet," gave him
the first news of hostilities with Spain
and sent him into Manila Bay for the
feat that won undying fame and had
? ?r reaching effect upon the position
of the United States as a world pow
Immediately Dewey was advanced
to rear admiral, and then Congress,
' y special act, made him admiral of
the navy, a grade that died with him.
The Rotation Trust.
One may expect all manner of spec
ulation to get under way over Gover
nor Bickett's declaration, in his in
augural address, that there should be
rotation in office. Of course, some are
apt, at once, to reach the conclusion
that the Governor has his eye on a
senatorial job for future attainment,
and that he can afford to talk about
rotation when it is known to all men
that a Tar Heel Governor never is a
candidate to succeed himself. The ro
tation theory will, however, set well
with thousands of the populace,
though hardly enjoyed at all by those
who hold office. ? Wilmington Dis
patch.
THE STATE'S LAW-MAKERS.
What the Members of the General
Assembly Have Heen Doing for the
I'ast Few Days as Gleaned From
the Daily l'apers.
Senator McNider introduced a bill
in the Senate Tuesday to amend the
State divorce law by making three
years' separation grounds for divorce,
and striking out the proviso that
there be no children from the union.
Senator Scales, in the Senate, and
Representative Page, in the House,
introduced duplicate bills to regulate
the sale of proprietary medicines,
Tuesday, the State Department of
Health to put in the field a State
Drug Inspector and the license tax
for the sale of the medicines scaled
on the tasis of sales, $5 for $2,000
sales; $10 for $5,000; $20 for ?20,000
and $50 for $50,000 sales.
A bill introduced by Senator War
ren would have the Governor, Attor
ney General and chairman of the Cor
poration Commission investigate and
report to the next Legislature on the
State's taxation system with recom-'
mendations and a bill for permanent
adequate stockades at the State farm,
for all convicts vacating the cen
tral prison, and for utilization as in
sane asylum.
The only bill of importance in the
House Tuesday was by Darden, to
appropriate $20,000 for eradication of
the cattle tick within three years.
* * *
Senator Scales introduced in the
Senate Monday a bill to substitute a
State board of charity and public wel
fare for the present State Board of
Charities, the membership to be
seven, appointed by the Governor; an
other bill provides an appropriation
of $20,000 for the work of this State
Board of Charity and Public Welfare.
Another bill by Scales provides for
absent voters to vote In the general
election, the bill being on the order
of the bill offered in the House last
week by Doughton.
* * *
Governor Bickett and the executive
committee, of the State Farmers' Un
ion reached an agreement Tuesday
on "crop lein" legislation that will be
sought in the legislature. It will not
provide for abolition of the crop lien
law, but provides that such lien be
invalid if more than 10 per cent in
excess of cash prices is charged; that
no landlord advancing supplies to
tenant can charge in excess of 10 per
cent above cash prices; that banks
or individuals may advance cash to
farmers to make crops and charge ir.
lieu of interest 10 per cent commis
sion and that credit unions may
charge members for whom loans are
secured 10 per cent commission in
lieu of interest. *
* * *
Raleigh, Jan. 17. ? Representative
Page introduced in the House today
a bill to enable any county, in which
a majority of the qualified voters so
petition, to choose the members of
their County School Boards by vote
of the people. This will bring up the
old fight over the election of boards
by the people, as contrasted with the
legislative appointments of boards
for maintenance of a State system of
schools. State Superintendent Joyner
recommends a special commission to
name the county boards. The consti
tutional amendments will not in
terfere with the present system of
legislative appointment that applies
to most of the counties.
A bill by Roberts, of Buncombe,
would authorize any town or city in
the State to amend its charter at will
as to the municipal suffrage, especial
ly with reference to the matter of
votes for women. Mr. Pharr, of
Mecklenburg, offered a bill to amend
the law as to the status of itemized
accounts as evidence under the Revis
al of 1905. A bill by Cranmer, in
the Senate, would have State banks
examined at least twice a year and
have investigation as to character of
promotors as well as finances when
new banks are formed and chartered.
Representative Griffin, of Chowan
County, introduced a bill that would
give to the entire State stock law.
It provides for stock law in certain
Eastern Carolina counties and that it
shall apply throughout the State ex
cept on coastal points that are entire
ly cut off from the mainland by wa
ter. The bill went to propositions and
grievance committee. ? Charlotte Ob
server
Field Marshal Von Hinderburg, the
great German military leader, is 69
years old. Von Falkenhayn is 5F.
KENLY HIGH SCHOOL NOTES.
Good Session of Farmers' Institute
Held in School Auditorium. Col.
Fred Olds, of Kaleigh, to Deliver
First of u Series of Community
Lectures Sunday Afternoon, Jan
uary 28th.
Kenly, Jan. 18. ? The Kenly High
School closed down Friday of last
week because of trouble with the
heating plant; it was soon repaired,
however, and school opened again
Monday morning.
Monday of last week, Mrs. H. H.
Richardson, of near Kenly, died, leav
ing several children who were at
tending the Kenly school. Mrs. Rich
ardson was a widow woman.
Monday of this week, Mrs. Sallie
Moore, of near Fremont, died. Mrs.
Moore was the mother of Mrs. W. H.
Flowers, who lives near Kinl$\ Mr.
Flowers is a member of the Kenly
School Board.
Wednesday of this week an all-day
session f the Farmers' Institute was
held in the school building. The build
ing is large enough to accommodate
the entire enrollment, amounting to
over two hundred and sixty students,
and at the same time accommodate
such worthy institutions as the Farm
ers' Institute. At one o'clock the stu
dents of the school and the Faculty
assembled in the auditorium and lis
tened to a heart-to-heart talk deliv
ered by Mrs. Sue V. Hollowell, of the
State Department of Insurance, at
Raleigh. Mr. Hendricks, Mr. John, and
Miss Henkull were also on the pro
gram. Although this meeting, because
of the disagreeable weather, was not
fully attended, the speakers on the
program were well prepared, ? and
those who heard them felt that their
addresses were decidedly worth while.
The members of the school Faculty
were glad to have these public spirit
ed citizens mak? use of the school
building
The first of the series of Commu
nity Lectures, to be given in the
school building during the rest of the
school year, will be delivered on Jan
uary twenty-eighth at three-thirty
o'clock in the auditorium. Colonel
F red A. Olds, Secretary of the His
torical Commission of North Caro
lina, will deliver the address. Special
music will be provided and the people
of this entire community, as well as
other communities near by, will be
and hereby are cordially invited to
hoar Colonel Olds. The meeting will
be held on Sunday afternoon at thre<?
thirty o'clock, on the twenty-eighth
of January. Everybody come and be
here on time.
Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Brickhouse, of
the Kenly High School Faculty, spent
the latter part of last week with their
people at home in Kinston. Miss
TJtad^s B .Wallace, also of the Facul
ty, spent the week-end at her home in
Elm City?\
Miss Bessitf L. Sasser, who has
charge of the deportment of music in
the Kenly school, ha<s completely re
covered from her recent illness, and
is now ready again to take charge
of her work.
OLD BEULAH NEWS.
Miss Cassie Radford, of near Niag
ara, has been spending a few days
with her brother, Mr. A. R. Radford^
Mr. Arthur Van, of the Brown
school house section, visited his sis
ter, Mrs. Nealie Creech, Sunday.
Mr. Ira Baker and family, of the
Niagara section, spent Sunday with
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Creech.
Mr. Andrew Edgerton and little
son, Carlton, spent Sunday evening
at Mr. Silas Edgerton's.
The stork has visited at Mr. Gen
eral Creech's and also at Mr. Forest
Pittman's and left at each place a
fine boy.
Sorry to note that Mr. Walter Hol^
land had to be taken to the Wilson
Sanitorium last Sunday wheTe he un
derwent an operation for appendici
tis. We hope for him a speedy recov
ery.
Mr. D. C. Smith and family have
recently moved to the place vacated
by Mr. W. R. Fulgbum. We are glad
to welcome them back to their old
home neighborhood.
Mrs. Anna Roberson, of near Ger
ald school house, spent last Saturday
night with her daughter, Mrs. Madie
Smith. (
Mr. Alvin Rains, of Ragley, is
spending a few days with the family
of Mr. Joe Bo*rcn.
Selma, N. C., Route No. 3.
OUR STATE CAPITAL LETTER.
"Llfwxam" Writes About the Law.
Makers, the Measures, and Other
Topics at Raleigh. ? Prohibition
Polemics. Gardner and Murphy
Making Fine Presiding Officers.
(By Llewxam.)
Raleigh^ Jan. 17? The Legislature
is dipping into deeper water this
week, having performed its last du
ties in the nursery, after spanking
and putting "Little Bill" to sleep.
Representative Page's bill to take
away from the General Assembly the
powers of appointing County Boards
of Education and to have every ceunty
elect its own board by popular vote,
including the County Superintendent
of Education, is one of the most im
portant measures now on deck. I find
that there is a diversity of opinion as
to the merits of the Page bill. I made
it my duty today to get the ideas of
sotoie of the ablest legislators in both
Senate and House. To my surprise
I found more of them regarding the
measure favorably than I had antici
pated. Senators like Person, of Frank
lin, for instance, unhesitatingly and
frankly saying they are for the bill.
But on the other hand, I find some of
the safest and most experienced
leaders in their communities, some of
them having much experience in leg
islation, just as frankly declaring they
are against the measure ? and they
promptly stated their reasons. Mr.
Page's bill was defeated by the last
legislature, after the Democratic cau
cus had turned it down, by not a very
large majority. But he and his lead
ing helpers are hoping for a different
result this year.
Representative Griffin's State-wide
stock law, just presented, promises to
raise almost as big a rucus as the
County Board of Education bill does.
Both are now in the hands of com
mittees vi(here the friends and oppo
i fients are splitting the air with ar
guir. its.
The resolution of Senator Jones, of
Brunswick, to "ratify" the action of
the State Prison Board in giving the
deserving families of some 400 con
victs with good records a Christmas
present of $10 each, provided the
first real "scrap" of the session in
the Senate.
Senators Wiley Person, of Frank
lin County, and Little, of Anson, led
the fight against "ratifying" the act,
claiming that the Prison Board nor
the Governor had any authority to
use the $4,007 of the Penitentiary
Funds for such purpose ? even if the
convicts had earned nearly a half
million dollars above all expenses, and
paid it into the State treasury dur
ing Governor Craig's four years in
office. Senator Jones and others ably
defended the Board and Governor
Craig was commended for recommend
ing so humane a deed.
The annual meeting of the Grand
Lodge of Masons and of the State
Anti-Saloon League this week brought
many distinguished visitors to Ral
eigh.
The Prohibitionists, it is now clear,
will demand the passage of a law
creating the office of State Prohibition
Commissioner to enforce the law, as
in Vijrjjynia, and a Prohibition ouster
amendment to the present prohibition
law.
Because of this determination, fol
lowing the visit of Dr. Peters (the
Virginia prohibition commissioner)
and Wm. Jennings Brayan's address
to the League's meeting here, it be
came necessary to draft anew- the
bill which had been prepared for
presentation to the Legislators by the
League's committee on legislation.
Therefore there has been some delay
in getting the "authorized" prohibi
tion bill of 1917 into the second floor
of the State House building. It is
expected almost any day now, howev
?. ? ~
It is certain that features of the
new bill will be opposed in the Senate
and House and an interesting discus
sion is inevitable."
One of the features of the Masonic
Grand Lodge communication was the
memorial exercises in honor of the
memory of the late Grand Secretary
John C. Drewry. Nearly all the liv
ing Past 'Grand Masters were pres
ent and all paid high tribute to the
virtues and activities of Mr. DreWry
as a man and as a Mason. There were
a number of aspirants for the posi
tion he filled for nearly a quarter of
a century. Mr. W. W. Wilson, of Ral
eigh, was chosen as his successor.
Max Gardner and Walter Murphy
are making fine presiding officers of
the Senate and House and their
friends believe there are higher hon
ors in the public service ^awaiting 1
them. The observant newspapermen
are now able to get a line on the
ability and usefulness of the "lead
ing" senators and representatives and
it is interesting to watch the "raw
material" bud into embryo states
men. There's lots of good material
here ? and 90 per cent of it is "raw" ?
so much the better. t
THE ALLEGED "LEAK" ENQUIRY
Mr. Pou Acting Chairman of the
Rules Committee. To Employ Law- ]
yer to Direct Investigation.
The biggest news feature of the <
week has been the investigation of
the House Rules Committee ef the
i
alleged "leak" in regard to President
Wilson's letter on the Peace question
to the Entente Allies, through which
it is claimed several won large sums
of money on the New York Stock
Exchange while many lost heavily.
Tom Lawson, the Boston stock
speculator and author of "Frenzied
Finanpe," has charged that Chairman
Henry, of the House Rules Commit
tee, is the mkn who told him of the
rumored connection of government
officials and others, with the "leak"
scandal.
Chairman Henry has promptly de
nied having told Lawson anything of
the kind, and there you are. All
others of the government official fam
ily have been as prompt and as em
phatic in their denials as has been
Chairman Henry.
At Wednesday's hearing before the
Committee, in the absence of Mr.
Henry, Mr. Pou, of the Rules Com
mittee, acted as Chairman. More time
ha* been granted the Committee to
make a more complete investigation
and empower the Committee to em
ploy suitable counsel to direct the
inquiry.
In the House, both Republicans and
Democrats, have asserted their faith
in Mr. Henry whose veracity has
been questioned by the Boston finan
cier.
Leading financiers and public men
have been summoned to appear and
give testimony in the investigation
which promises to be a live one all
the way through.
BETHANY NEWS.
Measles are raging in this district
now, and we are sorry for the chil
dren to miss school.
We are sorry that our teachers
could not attend the Teachers' Meet
ing at Glendale, on account of Miss
McMillan being sick and the weather
so bad. Reports say the meeting was
splendid.
The Atlantic Realty Company sold
part of the Maurice Godwin, and part
of Mr. Collier's Elwood -Farm Mon
day. Reports say the price paid per
acre was not very high. No doubt
the rain and cold kept many people
from attending who were interested,
as the farms are splendidly situated.
Bad roads is the cry generally. We
hear that Oneals township is soon to
have another election to see if we
can get Bonds. If any one will travel
the piece of road from Old Beulah
to Evans Store, we think that will
convince them that Bonds is about
the only way to get a good road ? 'Tis
just fine now, while the roads in
Oneals are in bad shape. May the day
soon come when every road in North
Carolina will be O. K.
We hope high-priced cotton and to
bacco will not keep folks from try
ing to raise plenty of meat and bread
at home. There is more money in
hogs than cotton. Why, Mr. Flyn
need not try to tell farmers what to
cat and how much, when they have
plenty to eat, they can eat what they
like, at any time.
Mr. Henry Creech is quite sick at
his mother's, Mrs. Martha Hodge.
Miss Iva Hocutt, of Corinth, is
visiting in this section this week.
Mr. Carmel Creech, who is in the
Sibbey Hospital in Washington, D. C.,
for treatment, is getting along nicely
and we hope will soon be able to come
home.
Mr. Kirkman Creech spent several
days in the Nation's Capital recently.
He thinks the city is grand, but not
too fine for our great Nation, of which
it is the capital. BETH.
January 17, 1917.
The new battleship Tennessee will
use '27,500 electrical horsepower,
enough for a city of 100,000 inhabi
tants.
(LA WON NEWS LETTER.
Hiss Pitts Resigns as Music Teacher,
and Mrs. Gulley and Miss Penny
Are Chosen to Fill the Vacancy.
I>oath of Mrs. Polk Varner. Mar
riage at Baptist Parsonage. Other
New* Items of Interest.
Clayton, Jan. 17._MUs Ursell Now.
i?. of Wendell, spent a few days re
cently here with friends.
? Mf* S- Aubrey Gattis spent last
Sunday at Four Oaks.
Mr. Ed. Creech, of Selma, better
known here as Sudie. was in town
>ne day last week on business. He
xpects toTnter school here in a few
lays. His many friends here are glad
to have him back with them.
Miss Barbara Gulley went to Selma
ast Saturday and spent the night
with friends, returning Sunday af
ternoon, accompanied by Miss Jessie
? ulley, who had been visiting rela
tives there for a week.
Mr. J. M. Smith spent a few days
recently with his brother, Mr. G. T
Smith, at Lillington.
Mrs. Chas. G. Gulley and Miss Ru
>y Penny. have been chosen as music
teachers in the Graded School here
Our beloved Miss Mary Pitts, who
has taught here for several years
resigned her position in order to go'
home and be with her mother who is
in very feeble health. While every
' < V in town was grieved at the
thought of losing Miss Pitts, we feel
ike we are fortunate in getting the
two chosen and hoping them great
success.
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Gulley spent last
? unday with their daughter, Mrs W
R. Smith at Selma.
Mrs. Polk Varner died at her home
in Gibsonville last Saturday. She was
brought to Clayton Sunday night and
was carried to the home of Mr. J. W.
Massey, Monday afternoon. She was
>uned at the cemetery here. Some
time in the past she made her home
li re and had a host of friends. Their
many friends here sympathize with
the famdy greatly in the losing of a
faithful wife and mother.
On Thursday afternoon of last
week a wedding of great interest took
pace at the Baptist Parsonage here,
when Miss Pearl II. Barnes, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Barnes, of
- ers township, became the bride
of Mr Tom Carroll, of Clayton. Their
many friends wish for them many
ong years of happiness and success.
Mr. Jesse J. Ellis is visiting rela
tives in Florida this week.
it G' W' Fisiler 0f Gatesville, vis
1 ?p Mrs- D- W- Barbour this week.
iev C. A .Jenkens spent a few
days last week at Richmond, Va.
The many friends of Dr. V M
Barnes are glad to see him back with
as again.
Mrs James S. Timberlake and
granddaughter, Miss Kathleen Bur
roughr, of Youngsville, visited Athe
Pythian Home this week.
fjlr m u' HamiIton left last week
for Goldsboro where he has accepted
a position with a garage. He has been
engaged in the same kind of business
nere for several years
_ Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Adams, of
valeigh, spent a few days this week
here with Mr. an J Mrs. Ransom Pen
ny.
NEW CHURCH FOR FOUR OAKS.
Methodists to Build a Twenty-Thou
sand Dollar Edifice During
This Year.
Four Oaks, Jan. 18. ? The first quar
terly Conference of the year for the
Four Oaks charge, M. E. Church,
South, was held with the church at
Four Oaks, January 13th and 14th.
The pastor. Rev. T. E. Davis, with the
ro-operation of the brethren, made a
fine record on this work the past
year and begins the new year with
bright prospects for a still more suc
cessful year. At the business session
of the Conference on Saturday, the
Four Oaks congregation was author
ized to build a new church and a
building committee, composed of B. ..
B. Adams, G. K. Massengill, B. I.
Tart, Chas. A. Creech and W. H.
Tucker wras appointed. It is planned
to build a church costing about $20,
000.00, the work to begin in the ear
ly spring and be pushed to early com
pletion.
"If I were a North Carolina editor,'*
says Don Seitz, of the New York
World, "I would start a painting
campaign and try to have every house
painted in rotation."