Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / April 27, 1917, edition 1 / Page 1
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GOOD MEETING HELD TUESDAY. Mr. John Paul Lucas Present and Made Address on the Importance of Growing Larger Food and Feed Crops and of Practicing Economy at This Time. Miss Pickens Called Attention to the Needs of the Can ning Girls and the High Price of Cans. These Needs to Be Met. Several Make Talks. One of the most important meet ings held in Smithfield was held in the Court House Tuesday during the recess of court. The meeting was called together by Mr. W. M. Sanders who stated the object of the meeting and called attention to many impor tant assemblages in the old court house in the days past. He referred to the call of our Governor and Pres ident in urging the people to plant and grow the largest food and feed crops possible. Mr. John Paul Lucas, the Execu tive Secretary of the North Carolina Food Commission, was presented and told of the great crisis now on in this country. He referred to the fact of how much the South is purchasing an nually from the North and West in the way of food and feed. The time has now come, said Mr. Lucas, when the State and the South should raise everything needed at home and let the North and West raise supplies for our armies and the armies of our Allies. Millions and millions of dollars are sent out of North Caorlina every year to the North and Northwest for sup plies which we can easily raise at home. Mr. Lucas reviewed the situ ation briefly and plead with the folks to raise all the corn, potatoes, cow peas and soybeans they possibly can, and even suggested that where a farmer can do so that he reduce the acreage slightly of cotton and tobac co and put in more food and feed crops. Summing up his speech in one terse sentence, it is "Grow Your Own Food and Feed Crops or Go Hungry." Following Mr. L,ucas's talk Miss Pickens, Home Demonstration Agent for Johnston County, was called on for a few words. She told of the im portantance of the Girls' Canning Clubs and what they have been do ing in this county. But Miss Pick ens reminded the audience that the advanced price of cans was going to make it difficult for the girls to get a sufficient number of cans to put up the canned goods which could be done. She said that many of the girls had not the ready money to buy the cans and called on some public spir ited agency or the County Commis sioners to make an appropriation for this purpose and place the cans at convenient points so that the girls could get them with the understand ing that they would pay for them as soon as they sold their canned fruits and vegetables. She suggested that the County Commissioners could ren der a fine service by coming to the rescue of the girls' interests at this time. This idea Miss Pickens suggest ed is one that she and Miss Kelly had worked out before the meeting. Mr. W. M. Sanders then spoke for the work of the Girls' Clubs and said that he would guarantee the amount needed to buy the cans, if no other way could be provided. Mr. D. B. Oliver, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, being pres ent was called on and stated that he was glad that the County was able ' financially to help in this work and gave the audience assurances that the needs for the Canning Clubs would be met. Others who took part in the discus sion of the food crop situation were Messrs. F. H. Brooks, T. S. Ragsdale, 1 W. S. Stevens, Lacy John and others. All were enthusiastic for the idea of doing all that possibly can be done for the raising of larger food and feed crops. i It was learned at the meeting that i Mr. George L. Jones, chairman of the ' Smithfield Township Road Commis- < sioners, is plaining to raise some 1 crops of com with his convict force End those present were asked to let ' him know of any vacant land that 1 could be rented for this purpose. i Judge F. H. Brooks offered the fol- ! lowing resolution endorsing the plan i for the County Commissioners to aid < in the Girls' Canning work: i Resolved, That this meeting endorse the proposition made by Miss Pick- ] ens, the Home Demonstrate, that the County Commissioners appropri ate funds for the purpose of buying cans for the Canning Club Girls, and urge the Commissioners to make such appropriations as may be nec essary to meet the demands of the situation. Following the meeting which was well attended by farmers and busi ness men, the County Food Commis sion was organized according to the plans suggested by the State Food Commission. This Commission con sists of the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, the County Superintendent of Schools, the Coun ty Farm Demonstrator, the Home Demonstration Agent, and others to be named by these. Accordingly, Mr. D. B. Oliver, Mr. L. T. Royall, Mr. Lacy John, and M;ss Nell Pickens met and selected the Lalance of the commission as follows. Mr. W. M. Sanders, Mr. T. S. Ragsdale, Mr. M. C. Winston and Miss Elizabeth Kelly. This Commission is to meet in Smithfield next Monday afternoon at two o'clock, April 30, and plan for the organization of the County. Accord ing to the State plans the county is to be organized with the school dis trict as the unit. One member is to be selected in every district in the county, who will be asked to use his test efforts in trying to see that as large food crops as possible are planted and then study to save every thing without waste. The people of Johnston County have not yet realized how serious the situation may become before the war ends. The war is so far away that we fail to realize what it means. One thing it may mean before it is over, and that is that many who are bask ing in the sunlight of plenty today may go hungry, unless they take op portunity at hand to grow all the food crops possible and save. Saving what we make is more important today than ever before. MINIMUM PRICES FOR FARMERS University of Iowa Man Says They Must Be Protected Now Against Low Prices. Overproduction Impos sible. The farmers of the nation must be protected by minimum prices to in sure them against loss if they raise the large crops which the nation needs to meet war conditions, Prof. F. A. Pearson, president of the Io wa State agricultural college told the senate committee on agriculture. Professor Pearson has just accepted the post of "administrative assistant" to Secretary Houston and will be one of the directing forces in the move to enlarge the food output. The planted acreage of the country today is low because of the high cost of seed and labor and the fear that an early peace would cause a falling off in market prices, Prof. Pearson declared. "Over production is impossible now," he said, "yet it is a very hard thing to get that thought instilled into the minds of the farmers. The farmers in many parts of the coun try are afraid that they may not be able to get prices sufficient to meet the cost of production." The remedy for this situation, the committee was informed, can be sup plied by prompt action by congress in enacting into law the recommen dations of Secretary Houston. Professor Pearson asserted that even if war should end within thirty or sixty days the farmers would be in no danger of over-production, be cause of the world wide shortage of foodstuffs. He said the allies now want at least 30,000,000 more bushels of wheat. But little help can be ex pected from Argentina, he said, as that country will not send out more than 5,000,000 bushels. ? Washington dispatch, 24th. OAK FOREST ITEMS. Elder Xure Lee filled his regular appointment at Oak Forest Saturday and Sunday. Mr. J. A. Massengill was ordained as a preacher. A large crowd was present to witness the in teresting event. The people of this section met at the home of James and Callie Bare foot Sunday afternoon and organized a singing class and elected O. H. Barefoot leader. He is a good singer and should have the support of the community. The class will be called Center Highway Class. Mr. William Lee and sister spent Sunday in New Zealand section. We regret to note that Miss Jane Hayes is on the sick list. B. X C. THE MONGOLIA SINKS U-BOAT. When the Periscope Appeared Near the American Armed Liner AH Were on Lookout and When Peri scope Again Appeared One Thou sand Yards Away a Shot Was Fir ed Which Went to the Mark. London, April 25. ? Captain Rice, of the American steamship Mongolia, which has arrived at a British port, told the Associated Press today that the Mongolia had fired the first gun of the war for the United States and sunk a German submarine. The periscope was sighted dead ahead on the last ufternoon of the voyage. The captain gave the or der for full speed ahead with the in tention of ramming the submarine. The periscope disappeared and a few minutes later reappeared on the ship's broadside. The gunners fired, hitting the periscope squarely and throwing up a mountain of water. Captain Rice outlined the incident with modesty, but could not quite control the pride he felt in the achievement of his ship. He paid high tribute to the gunners and especially to the manner in which they were handled by the officers who directed the firing of the telling shots. "For five days and nights," said Captain Rice, "I had not had my clothes off and we kept a big force of lookouts on duty all the time. It was 5:20 o'clock the afternoon of the 19th day we sighted the submarine. The officer commanding the gunners was with me on the bridge where in fact we had been the most of the time throughout the voyage. There was a haze over the sea at the time. We had just taken a sounding for we were getting near shallow water and we were looking at the lead when the first mate cried: There's a submarine off the port bow. The submarine was close to us, too close in fact, for her purposes and she was submerging again in order to maneuver in a better position for torpedoing us when \*e sighted her. We saw the periscope go down and the whirl of the water. I quickly or dered a man at the wheel to put it to starboard and we swung the nose of the ship toward the spot where the submarine had been seen. "We were going at full speed ahead and two minutes after we first sighted the U-boat it emerged again about 1,000 yards off. Its intention probably had been to catch us broad side on, but when it appeared we had the stern gun trained full on it. ine lieutenant gave the command and the big guns boomed. We saw the periscope shattered and the shell and "Teddy" Fired First Shot. "I assure you we did not stop to reconnoiter after the incident, but steamed away at full speed, for it was not improbable that there was another submarine about. The one I got undoubtedly had been lying on the bottom of this spot waiting for the ship and came up when it heard our propellers. I immediately sent a wireless message stating that a submarine had been seen. "That's about all the story, except ing this: The gunners had named the guns on board the Mongolia, and the one which got the submarine was called Theodore Roosevelt; so Teddy fired the first gun of the war after all." ^ Captain Rice recalled that he came from Allston, Mass., and that the en counter with the submarine occurred on the date when the Bay State was celebrating the anniversary of the battle of Lexington. Weather Summary for Cotton Belt. Washington, D. C., April 25. ? Good progress in cotton planting and pre paration of land except in Western Texas, where land is dry; rainfall sufficient in extreme southern Texas and planting progressed rapidly 1 there and in Eastern Texas. Cool nights retarded growth and germina tion of cotton somewhat and rain needed in Southeast. Work on cotton nearly up to average in eastern, but | somewhat late in central and western districts. Cultivation going on in , Southeast. Cool nights retarded growth of , corn and some truck crops, also cit rus fruits in Florida. Weather favor- ( able for sugar cane, pastures, mead ows, winter grains, tobacco, trans planting of sweet potatoes and fruit. , Much improvement in winter wheat in Southwest where general rains 1 have fallen. MORE ABOUT TOBACCO PRICES. Mr. T. S. Ragsdale Gives To His Fellow Farmers the Result of His investigations. Dealers See Bright Future For Carolina Bright To bacco. Fellow Tobacco Farmers: From what we have been hearing, there is being circulated in this coun try, stories that are calculated to mislead some people who are not in formed. 1 have heard more than a few times that some people are telling the farmer who intends to plant to bacco that tobacco will sell low next fall and we were not able to ship any abroad as we have been doing. I think I am in as good position to forecast the future in regard to to bacco as any one in the county. There is every reason to believe that tobac co will sell for even better prices next fall and winter than did the last crop. There is less tobacco in the hands of leaf dealers than has been since I have been in the business, and manu facturers' stocks are at the lowest point they have been in years. The consumption of cigarettes is growing faster than the production, thereby causing less and less stoek to be car ried over each succeeding year. It took about 47,000,000 pounds of to bacco to make the cigarettes that were consumed in the United States last year, and if you will stop to think, that is more tobacco than the Smithfield market has sold since it opened in 1898. There is not the least trouble now to export tobacco to the warring counLies except Germany. Since we have joined the Allies we will be able to export tobacco as we did before the war began There is so much that could be said about the conditions that go to show that tobacco will be in as strong de mand as any other crop that we hard ly know what to leave out for fear that this article would be so long The Herald wouldn't print it. I am giving you below three let ters from three of the beBt posted dealers and exporters in the trade, to show you that I am only voicing what the entire trade thinks of the situa tion. These letters were written to me personally, therefore, I am not at liberty to print the writers' names: "Dear Sir: "I am in receipt of your valued favor of the 21st, and note with in terest all you have to say in regard to the 1917 crop. "You ask me what I think of the probable price of the Bright crop and beg leave to say that I can see no reason why it will not sell at high prices. We have never known the market to be so thoroughly cleaned up of hogshead tobacco and the de mand for all brands of cigarette to bacco, both at home and abroad seems to be on a steady increase, so that I think your farmers will not be disappointed in the price they will receive for their Bright crop. "The demand from abroad will al so be good and the countries that use our Brigbts chiefly, can be shipped to as heretofore. "This seems to the writer an ideal opportunity for the farmers to get an extra move on and increase their crops of all kinds, as much as possi ble as indications point to the fact that all products of the soil will be high for some time to come." "Dear Sir: "We have your favor of the 21st inst., and thank you for your crop report. Of course, We want to see your farmers raising a large crop of foodstuff as we think that is both sen sible and a patriotic duty, but we would also like to see them raise a large crop of tobacco and we believe it would be richly to their benefit to do so, as present indications point very strongly to good prices for to bacco this fall and winter. "There is quite a shortage in ci garette tobaccos and we believe that the farmers will be well repaid for such labor and time as they may be stow upon their tobacco crop. We think this is a time when every farm er should cut out all waste of time and all waste of energy and push his entire labor organization to the max imum, so that he will not have to curtail his tobacco crop, but can at the same time raise an unusually large amount of foodstuffs, such as com, hay, hogs, etc." "Dear Sir: "Yours came duly to hand. In view of the very small stocks of tobacco in hand of dealers we think a fair sized crop of bright tobacco will be taken care of at fair prices. The consumption of cigarettes and smok ing tobaccos is on the increase and the countries that use our bright leaf are not blockaded to any extent. On the other hand the countries that use our dark, Western tobaccos are out off. "We would say that about 90 per cent of the flue-cured tobacco is used in this country, England and the country on the sido of the Allie3, while something like 60 per cent of the dark shipping of Virginia, Kei tucky is used in Europe. So it seems to us the bright grower is in a very fair position, while the dark grower is not. Of course this is only a very frank statement of the situation as it appears to me." Upon these conditions, I am plant ing all the tobacco I can take care of and would plant an hundred acres if I had the least idea I could get the labor to save it in curing time. If I wanted to buy an hundred hogsheads of tobacco I would not know where to look for it, in fact it is not to be had. Finally, fellow farmers, plant and make your home supplies and a lit tle more to help feed the town and mill folks, and then bend your every energy to_ make all the tobacco you possibly can, and take it from me, you will not" be disappointed in the price this fall. T. S. RAGSDALE. Smithfield, N. C., April 2G, 1917. KEEP ALL THE WORK GOING. Would Avoid Stoppage of Industries In War. The Council of National Defense Amplifies Its Recent Ap peal to Employers and Workmen. Tuesday in a statement amplifying its recent appeal to employers and workers not to change labor stand ards at this time, the council of na tional defense declares it recognizes that adjustments may become neces sary and suggests that the council itself may find it advisable to propose modifications, says a Washington dis patch. "It is not the purpose of the coun cil," it is stated, "to undertake to de termine the wage rate that will be sufficient to maintain the existing standards of living. That should be re ferred to the mediation agencies of the government, or to such other con stituted agencies as may exist to the end that such questions may be ad justed in an orderly and equitable manner to avoid the stoppage of in dustries which are so vital to the in terests of the nation at this critical time." It is the judgment of the council, says the statement, that the federal, state and municipal governments should continue to maintain the usual hours of labor and standards of safe ty, sanitation and inspection. The council further asks that no wage change be sought at this time by strike or lockouts without at least giving established agencies an oppor tunity to adjust difficulties. In explanation of its statement that the council may find it necessary to make adjustments, the council says: "While the council does not mean to intimate that under ordinary cir cumstances the efficiency of workers is the only element that should be taken into consideration in fixing the hours of labor, safety, sanitation, women's work and child labor stand ards, it is the object that must be at tained during the period when the na tion's safety is involved." Mrs. P. A. Holland at Home. Sanders Chapel Baracas entertain ed the Philatheas last Wednesday ev ening at the home of Mrs. P. A. Hol land, their teacher. The guests were met at the door by Miss Thelma Godwin and Mrs. W. S. Stevens. When all the guests had arrived every one entered into the contest heartily. The Subjects and Golden Text of their Sunday School Lesson for the past quarter." In this Mr. Ruffin Hill won first place and Mrs. C. R. Raynor won the second. Then every one enjoyed the music and entered into the games with much enthusiasm. When at a late hour the hostess, assisted by several Baracas, served dilicious refreshments, after which each one reluctantly bade the hostess good night and declared the Baracas were grand as hosts. B. L. J. AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER llenson High School Clones Another Successful School Year With a Series of Commencement Exercises. Many Medals Are Awarded To the Contesting Students. Teachers Re turn to Their Respective Homes. Other Items of Interest. Benson, April 26. ? Miss Annie Parker returned the first of the week from a several weeks vacation to Florida and other Southern points. Miss Cora Johnson has reterned home, after teaching for the past several months in Elevation township. Miss Mildred Fairish has returned from Winston-Salem, where she has been attending school the past year. Miss Lillian Reece, who has held a position with C. T. Johnson Dry Goods Company, left Saturday night for her home. Miss Vallie Hill, who has been con fined to her room for the past two weeks with measles, is able to resume her work this week. Iier many friends are glad to see her out again. Mr. J. E. Wilson went to Lilling ton Monday on business matters. Messrs. W. R. Denning, Ezra Par ker and others were in Smithfield Wednesday on business. Mr. J. P. Benson, of Raleigh, was here for a short while Tuesday, af ter visiting his father, Mr. C. H. Benson, of Elevation. Mr. R. G. Grady, of Wilmington, was here on business maters Tues day and Wednesday of this week. Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Parker, and Mr. and Mrs. Claud Canaday went down to Fayetteville Sunday and spent the day with relatives. Mrs. George Moore returned yes terday from a short visit to her fath er, Mr. J. D. Lassiter, near Wilson's Mills. Mr. J. R. Barbour spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Hamlet with his wife who is sick at the home of her father at that place. Rev. and Mrs. A. T. Lassiter and Mrs. Preston Woodall went down to Laurinburg Tuesday afternoon to attend the Presbytery which is being held there. Mr. Randal Turlington, of Wilson, is here today visiting his brother, Mr. Eli Turlington. Mrs. W. O. Rackley left yesterday for Mount Olive and other cities where she will spend some time with relatives. Mrs. Lillie Sewell, of Duke, visited relatives here Tuesday and Wednes day of this week. Mrs. Abernathy, of Cokesbury, spent the week with Mr. and Mrs. T. T. Lanier. Miss Mary Currie, of Raeford, and Miss Ada Guthrie, of Burlington, are here on a visit to the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Faircloth for several days. Messrs. Eli Turlington, Randal Turlington and John Turlington are spending the day in Montrose on a short visit to Prof. Ira Turlington, who is taking treatment there. Mrs. A. M. Pope, who has been spending a few days here at the home of Dr. and Mrs. F. T. Moore, left yesterday for Cary where she will visit before returning to her home in Virginia. The closing exercises of the Ben son High School are over and the teachers have left for their various homes. The exercises were of a high order all through the commencement and were enjoyed very much by the large crowds who attended. The de claimers medal was awarded to Carl McGee, reciters medal to Miss Claudia Wood, Music medal was awarded to Miss Flora Canaday, English medal to Miss Annette Gor don, and the two medals on improve ment were awarded to Messrs. Claud Wallace and Harvey Durham. Still Captured In Boon Hill. On Tuesday, April 24th, Mr. Gard ner, of Goldsboro, a revenue officer, summoned three young men, two of whom were soldier boys, and came to Boon Hill township where they took a twenty-five gallon whiskey still from a pasture near Holt's Mill. The still was being operated just>?south of the Midland Railroad. Two men were at the still when the revenue men approached the place. One of these men took the cap from the still hop ing to save it, but it was too hot and he had to drop it and leave it behind him when he made his escape.
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
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April 27, 1917, edition 1
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