[HE SMITHFIELD HERALD
Published Every Tuesday and Friday.
BEATY & LASSITER
Editors and Proprietors,
Smithfield, N. C.
RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION:
Cash in Advance.
One year, 11.50
Eight Months, 1.00
Biz Months, .75
Three Months, .40
Entered at the Post Office at Smith
field, Johnston County, N. C., as
8econd-class Matter.
The past two weeks have been two
of the busiest weeks in the history of
the town of Smithfield. Large quan
tities of tobacco have been sold here
daily at high prices- the average be
ing around 30 cents a pound ? and
large sums of money have been turn
ed loose in the community. Much of
this money has found its way back to
the banks, while the merchants and
business men generally have received
their full share of it. The banks have
been busy early and late taking care
of the immense volume of business
that is their daily portion. Their de
posits have been higher than ever be
fore, the deposits for one day in the
.First National reaching one hundred
and five thousand dollars. The John
ston County Bank and Trust Com
pany has received its share of depos
its and more money is on deposit in
Smithfield than ever before.
The streets have been lined with
carts, wagons, buggies and automo
biles, people coming here for miles
and miles away to visit the best little
town in the State. The merchants
with their large forces of clerks have
been doing the business as never be
fore. High prices are not considered
when people have plenty of money,
and the ampunt of business done in
Smithfield indicates that the people
now have money in plenty.
In addition to the tobacco that is
coming here from far and near, the
cotton is beginning to roll in. \Catch
Smithfield, the town that is march
ing "United and Onward."
Tin- Cotton Situation.
News und Observer.
The situation us regards the cotton
farmer is by no means encouraging.
The price still shows a downward ten
dency. In view of what it has cost to
produce the present crop, there is no
profit for the grower at prevailing
figures, especially when it is remem
bered that there is only a part of a
crop.
It is likely that erroneous reports
put out concerning the embargo on
cotton had something to do with the
decline in price. The embargo ns a
matter of fact, as has been pointed out
by the Department of Agriculture,
really limited the available markets
only in a small degree and that not
absolutely.
The Department says in its com
ment on these reports: "It is painful
to observe that there are American
citizens who for gain or in prejudice J
would distort the truth in regard to
- the regulation of cotton exports to
neutrals."
This is cited to show the type of
conditions that prevail at the expense
of the cotton farmer. Erroneous and
misleading reports are only a part
of the machinery that is employed to
force the price of cotton down at the
very time when the farmer begins to
put his product on the market.
There is no reason why cotton should
not be bringing record prices. With
three short crops in succession and
with an unprecedented need for nor
mal purposes and the additional need
for war purposes, there certainly is
nothing in the law of supply and de
mand to justify the present compar
atively low prices ? unless demand is
so manipulated and controlled as to
give the farmers the raw end of the
deal.
The manufacturers could pay a
higher price for cotton and still make
big money for it is currently report
ed that their profits are fahulously
high.
But the question now is, what shall
the farmer do? His advisers general
ly do not like to take the responsi,
bility of counseling him to hold his
cotton for if it should continue to de
cline in price, they would be blai led
for giving bad advice. But old hands*
at the game of trying to fathom the
peculiarities of the cotton market
counsel against selling on a declining
market, and it is likely that farmer*
who can do so will proceed on this
principle. Wherever practicable cot
ton will be held and money borrowed
on it. After the crop is marketed, it
is as certuin as anything in the future
can be that prices will go up.
The cotton farmers' big problem is
to get in shape to hold his cotton if
he thinks after acquainting himself
with an existing situation it is the
wise thing to do. He should certainly
have a moderate profit on his toil
when the manufacturer, according to
report, gets a profit of from twenty
five to one hundred per cent.
To the Boya Who Were Drafted.
(Ry Ilapsburg Licbt of the Violates.)
The writer of this little message to
you, boys, has himself been an
American soldier, and he is very proud
of that fact. He knows army life and
he has seen redhot fighting, and he
knows the ways of officers.
1 will put it like this: I will simply
tell you what I would do if I were
going into the nrmy again. First, 1
would g> into it with the rock-firm
intention of whipping Germany. 1
would look at the matter just like that.
Save that I would certainly not dis
count the importance of anybody else,
1 would 4 lievc, so f.ir as it were pos
sible, that it was up to me -to me,
Imyself to give Germany, the earth's
pariah nation, the licking that is go
I ing to make all nations safe in a world
democracy.
And at the moment I was sworn
into the service, I would resolve that,
no matter whether it suited me or
not, I would obey orders very strictly
and to the letter. That is the magic
phrase it is the religion of the army:
obey orders. During my time in the
army, no man who lived up to that as
his motto could go through with a
term of enlistment without having a
chance of being made a corporal, or
a sergeant, or even a sergeant-major.
There are few commissioned officers
who will overlook the enlisted man
who never disobeyed an order, when
promotion becomes necessary. And in
this war, men from the ranks are
going to win commissions, boys; re
member that!
Hut every man of the company, or
the troop, or the battery, or whatever
it happens to be, can not be advanced,
you say; and you are right. Rut every
man can be a soldier. How much there
is bound up in those three little words!
You'll know yourself after a while. A
real, dyed-in-the-wool American sol
dier, of course, is a gentleman too.
* * However, there is bound to
be a chance for you to win your chev
rons. I've never yet seen the man who
tried hard for promotion, if he tried
honorably, who came out of it a pri
vate. In spite of their bluflf military
manners, officers are just like you un
der the skin; they are quick to rec
ognize, and they are most heartily
glad to recognize the golden qualities
> f a soldier and a gentleman in an
enlisted man. Remember that, too!
Also, remember this: You are in the
service to light for your country, and
not to make soldiering a trade; you
are going across the Atlantic for the
purpose of whipping Germany, and
for no other reason. So long, boys,
and good luck to you; and may the
good God of our fathers bring you
back to us!
WILL FIGHT UNTIL GERMANY
GIVES IT ALSACE-LORRAINE.
Paris, Sept. 18. ? The French minis
terial declaration was read by Prof.
Paul Pr.inlevc, the n w premier in
the Chamber of Deputies this after
noon. It re-affirms the determination
of France to continue the war until
the disannexation of of Alsace and
Lorraine from Germany is assured,
along with reparation for the dam
ages caused by the Germans.
Alluding to the efforts made by the
Germans to weaken the moral forces
of the country, the declaration says
that in cases already under investi
gation and those that may nereafter
require inquiry justice will follow its
course without hesitation or weak
ness and without taking any account
whatever of the personalities in
volved.
Teachers To Be Entertained.
The Smithfield Woman's Club will
entertain the teachers and patrons of
the school at the Club Rooms on Sec
ond street to-night from 8:150 until 10
o'clock. Every patron of the school is
cordially invited to be present.
Vocal Union To He Held.
Th? next session of the Lower John
ston Vocal Union will be held with
Selah Christian church in Wayne
County, the fifth Sunday in Septem
ber.
J. B. BEASLEY, President.
GOV. BICKETT NO SLACKER.
<JueJI? Mob of Infuriated CitiifM in
Raleigh W ho Were Thirstiag Kor
Itlood of Nejiro Brute Who Had
Afmaultfd White Woman.
A mob cf 200 nv-n, which dwindled
to u determined 50 in a I'ulf hour's
attack on Wake County jail early this
mornin'T for the purpose of lynching
the negro, Earlc Neville, alleged rap
ist, was dispersed by Governor T. W.
Bickctt who, in a fervid address to
the crowd, promised that he would
order a specie! term of court today
for the trial of the prisoner.
Governor Bickett, called from his
sleep by The News and Observer
when the demonstration assumed se
rious proportions, without hesitation
advanced on the crowd then engaged
in ctorming the south door of the
jail. Standing 25 yards from them,
he began his speech. He told them
that he stood for justice, that he was
elected by them to stand, for justice
and that tj-ey were about to do a deed
which they would regret all the days
of their lives and a deed which would
bring shame and disgrace to the name
of North Carolina. He promised them
then that he would call a spccial term
of court for the immediate trial of
the negro, and that if he is guilty,
I electrocution will be th" penalty.
During all this time, the crowd, al
[ ready dense about the corners of the
jail, and in the streets from both sides,
I had been getting closer. Leaders of
the crowd warned the Governor to
stand back. He, tLo, as he spoke had
been moved up.
"Why, I'm not afraid of you. Xre
you afraid of me?" Governor Bickett
called.
"No, we ain't afraid of you. Get
those cops back and we don't care
how close you come," was the answer.
Immediately the policemen were
askeA to stand back. Th crowd stood
back also, and the Governor went up
close, mounted the steps of the south
jail entrance and there addressed the
crowd. He made them the same state
ment of his purpose that he had made
before, and after half an hour of cross
fire, questions and answers, they in
timated their willingness to disperse
provided that h , as Governor, would
give them his word that no action
would be taken against them for their
attack on the jail. This he promised.
The crowd filed by him, shaking his
hand and slapping him on the back.
At the street as they got in auto
mobiles in which they came to the
jail, a volley of pistol shots was fired
into the air and the crowd moved off
yelling. ? To-day's News and Observer.
Oklahoma's Broom Corn Crop.
Oklahoma will raise 6(5,000 tons of
broom corn this year, which is as
much as was produced in the entire
United States in 1916.
Oklahoma is the greatest broom
corn-producing State in the Union.
In 1916 this State produced 37,000
tons out of a total production of 60,
000 tons in the United States. Com
mission men estimate that this year
the production in Oklahoma will equal
that of the entire couutry in 191(3
and that the total yield in the United
States will be increased to 100,000
tons. If these figures bear out, Okla
homa wfH? harvest 60 per cent of the
entire broom corn crop of the United
States this yenf.
The estimated value of the broom
corn of Oklahoma for 1917 will be
$12,000,000. Accurate figures cannot
be given at this time owing to possi
bilities of fluctuation of pirce, but on
a basis of (>0,000 tons estimated yield,
bilities of fluctuation of price, but on
throughout the season, this figure will
be reached.- -Christian Science Moni
tor.
Fishing Industry of Portugal
Statistics of the fishing industry of
Portugal issued by the Government
show n total value in 1915 of 9,307,
071 escudos, compared with 6,772,981
escudos in 1914 and 7, 279,283 escu
dos in 1913. The escudo is equal to
about $1 United States currency at
normal exchange, but is now worth
only about $0.62. Sardines form the
most important part of the catch,
their total value for the three years
being 4,575,256, 6,772,981, and 7,
279,283 escudos, respectively. Other
varieties of fish of a high commercial
value are whiting, sticfl-backs, shad,
and codfish. The salmon cnught in
the Minho River said to be the far
thest south that these fish are found ?
numbered 85 in 1915 and 162 in 1914.
These retail in Lisbon at 4.50 and 5
escudos a kilo (2.2 pounds).
In 1915 there were 46,957 persons
engaged in the fishing industry and
the value of material employed, in
cluding ships, boats, nets, etc., was
5,825,257 escudos. A large quantity of
supplies nre imported from the Unit
ed States. Thirty-eight ships were
sent to the Newfoundland banks for
codfish, md the value of their catch
was 464,642 escudos, compared with
243,759 escudos in 1914. ? Consul Gen
eral W. L. Lowrie, at Lisbon.
THE SMITHFIELD MARKET.
Cotton 21
Cotton Seed 1.00
Wool 20 to 30
Pat Cattle 6 to 64
Kirgs 30 to 35
Fat cattle, dressed 11 to 12 4
Granulated Sugar 10 to 104
Corn per bushel 1.50 to 1.75
C. R. Sides 26 to 274
Feed Oats 1.00 to 1.10
Fresh Pork 124 to 15
Hams', per pound 29 to 31
Lard 22 4 to 274
Timothy Hay 1.40 to 1.50
Cheese per pound 35
Butter, per pound 35 to 40
Meal 4.75 to 5.00
Flour per sack 6.00 to 6.25
Coffee per pound 10 to 20
Cotton seed meal 2.25 to 2.50
Cotton seed hull* 1.00
ShipstufT 3.00
Molasses Feed 3.00
Hides, green 10 to 124
MISS HELEN WALLACE WILL BE
glad to welcome her friends at
WoodalFs.
POSITION WANTED IN SMITH
fiekl. Officc work preferred, but
will cltrk in store. Miss Ruth
Jonw, a
II YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY
in buying your Furniture, see The
Austin-Stephenson Co.