VOLUME 36 SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, I)E( EMliER 7, 1917. Number 79
MESSAGE GREAT STATE PAPER.
Comments of North Carolina Dele
gation on the President's Message.
Mr. Pou Calls it "The Most Wonder
ful Speech I Ever Heard. "..Mr.
Kitchin Calls It "Best Effort of the
President."
Washington, Deo. 4. ? Both Senators
Simmons and Overman, Majority
Leader Claude Kitchin, and all the
rest of the State deligation in Con
gress praised President Wilson's mes
sage to Congress today as one of the
ablest papers ever presented to that
body. But for that matter every one
else who was fortunate enough to hear
the President's address, with the pos
sible exception of Senator Roberi M.
LaFollqtte, of Wisconsin, thinks the
same way .
"By far the ablest message and
more nearly interpcts the thoughts
of the people," said Majority Leader
Kitchin, "than any other other docu
ment since the war begun. I consider
it one of the best efforts of the Presi
dent."
Senator Simmons: "It was a very
clear-cut, forceful explanation of the
war situation. It was fully equal to
any state paper and in many respects
superior to any. I think it will re
ceive marked attention both here and
abroad. Will have a salutary cffect
in both hemispheres. His recommen
dation that America declare war on
Austria will certainly meet with popu
lar approval."
Senator Overman: "It was the great
est message I ever heard. It should be
read by every woman and child in the
United States. It went to the very
root of why we are fighting Germany
and will go a long ways to bring the
pacifists to their senses."
Representative Pou: "The most won
derful speech I ever heard. It will be
read for centuries to com? and its ef
fect will be most wonderful. It will
go down in history ts the greatest* of
all state papers."
Representative Webb: "A splendid
and most forceful paper. It will be
read with interest by the entire world.
It showed conclusively why we are
fighting and when we will stop."
Representatives E\oughton, Godwin,
Hood and Robinson declared ths mes
sage a most wenderful document and
they thoroughly agreed wfth the Presi
dent's views. ? Parker A. Anderson in
Greensboro News.
AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER.
Benson, Dec. 6. ? Mr. Alton Hall re
turned the first of the week to Wake
Forest College to resume his work
after spending several days here with
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Hall.
Miss Mildred Parrish has returned
to Winston-Salem after spending
some time here with her father and
mother, Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Parrish.
Mrs. M. C. Benson and Mr. and Mrs.
Simon Honeycytt returned Monday
from Falcon after spending Sunday
with relatives there.
Messrs. R. L. Flowers and N. A.
Watson returned this morfting from
New Bern where they have been for
several days as witnesses in atten
dance upon the Federal Court which is
in session there.
Misses Cora Maie Green and Erma
Green returned to their homes near
Lillington the first of the week after
spending some time here with Miss
Ethel Hall.
? Mr. Preston Woodall returned Mon
day from Richmond where he spent
Sunday with his son, Isham Woodall,
who has been in Grace Hospital for
the past two weeks under-going treat
ment.
Mr. R. U. Barbour returned this
morning from Johnston City, Tenn.,
where he has been for the past week
buying mules and horses. He has
five car-loads on the road. They will
reach here Friday or Saturday.
Mr. J. C. Jones, of Angier, has
bought the Sheriff Grimes place on
the Highway near here and will in the
near future move his family here to
live.
Chief Henry and Deputy Marshal
George Moore returned last night
from Atlanta, Ga., where they went to
convey prisoners from Federal Court
to the Atlanta Pen. Among the John
ston County prisoners were Cap
Hodges, Seth McLamb, and Bob Ryals,
all of whom were sentenced last week
by Judge Connor for making whiskey.
Messrs. O. C. Hill and E. R. Cana
day went to Sanford Tuesday return
ing Wednesday.
"* Messrs M. T. Britt, J. F. Woodall,
L. Gilbert, J. L. Hall, W. D. Boop',
and Rev. G. W. Rollins are all in Dur
ham this wdek attending the State
Baptist Convention which is meeting
there.
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Dixon returned
the first of the week from Norfolk,
Va., where they visited their son, H.
O. Dixon, who is in the Navy there.
Mrs. J. L. Hall returned last week
from Buies Creek where she has been
for several days.
Mrs. W. C. Loyd has been visiting
her daughter, Mrs. Jas. Raynor, for
several days. She returned to her '
home at Chapel Hill this week.
Mrs. Bernard Massey, of Florence,
S. C., and her two children are here
for a visit to Mrs. J. T. Stanford.
Mr. and Mrs. Ira Blackman, of
Petersburg, Va., are here this week
visiting relatives. Mr. Blackman was
married there last week and they are
spending their honeymoon here with
relatives.
Miss Ollie Bryant, of Stantonburg,
N. C., is here for a few days' visit to
her sister, Miss Daisy Bryant.
Mr. D. M. Hill, of Clayton, was here
yesterday spending the day with rela
tives on his way home from Fayette
ville.
Misses Annie Wicker and Myrtle ?
Ashecraft^ returned this week from
Raleigh where they have been visit
ing several days.
Rev. A. L. Goodrich, of Point Cash
well, X. C., is here for a short visit
to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W.
Goodrich.
Mr. George Thomas, of Oxford, was
here for a short visit to friends this
week.
Mrs. J. H. Rose and children re
turned yesterady from Raleigh whero
they have been visiting for several
days.
Mr. James Pink Benson, of Raleigh,
was here Tuesday on business matters
for a short while.
Mr. Clarence Britt has accepted a
positron with the Citizens Bank &
Tru^t Company of this city. Mr.
Britt recently returned from Rich
mond where he was taking a special
course in bookkeeping.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Sanders, of Four
Oaks, spent Sunday here at the homo
fo Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Moore.
Mrs. J. R. McLamb and Miss Pansie
McLamb returned recently from a few
days visit tor elatives in Sampson
county.
Mr. A. W. Hodges spent Wednesday
in Fayetteville on business matters re
turning home this morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Creech and chil
dren, of Four Oaks, were visitois to
our city Tuesday, spending the day
with relatives.
Mrs. Nathan McLamb was taken to
Highsmith hospital yesterday for
treatment. An operation will be ne
cessary for her recovery.
Rev. J. T. Stanford left Monday for
Greenville where he is attending the
Methodist Conference this week. Tho
mqibership of the church hero which
he has served for the past two years,
together with his many friends, ear
nestly hope that ho will be returned to
his chargc for the coming year.
Mr. J. W. Whittenton, Benson's
Jeweler, was relieved of a nice watch
last week by a young man who came
in to buy it. The young man had his
fingers tied up and asked Mr. Whit
tenton to write the check and sign his
name to it as his finger was sore and
he could not write, which Mr. Whit
tenton did, as the man had given his
name and told who his parents were
near Four Oaks. It turned up later
that the man had not given his correct
name and the check was no good. The
man who obtained the watch will like
ly be arrested shortly as his identity
has been established.
The pupils of Miss Florence John
son's music class will give a recital
Thursday evening, Dec. 13th, at 7:30
o'clock at the Methodist church. The
public is invited to be present.
Death of an Aged Woman.
Miss Polly Barbour, who made her
home with her niece, Mrs. Riley
Strickland, near Four Oaks, died last
Sunday morning. She was about
eighty years old and was a sister of
Messfr,. Ashley and Green Barbour.
She was buried at Barbour's Chapel,
her funeral being conducted by Elders
G. W. Shepherd, of Wilmington, and
W. Y. Moore, of Benson. She was a
good woman and now goes to receive
the reward of the faithful. She was a
member of Barbour's Chapel Advent
church.
The Red Cross Christmas seals are
now on sale at the following places:
Hood's Drug Store, Creech's Druf
iW. L. Woodall & Sons' Store and
Spiors' Stow.
WEDNESDAY IN THE BIG WAR.
Indications l'oint to Early Re-Opening
Operations by the Teutons in
France. Allies Prepared for It.
Both the British and Italians Are
Awaiting With Complacency the
Enemy's Attacks.
.While for the moment there are no
infantry operations of magnitude in
progress on any of the numerous bat
tle fronts, indications are not wanting
that shortly the Cambrai sector in
France and the northern line in the
Italian theatre will again witness
titanic struggles with the Germans
and the Germans and Austro-Hun
garians the aggressors.
Already the Germans in the Cam
brai region have brought up reinforce
ments with the object of blotting out
the salient driven in their line by
General Byng's dash, a small portion
of which they have reconquered, but at
a fearful price. In Italy, along the
^ette Comuni and the Asiago plateu,
enemy guns of all calibres have opened
fire on the Italian positions and several
hill positions have been captured lti
small attacks. Both before Cambrai
and in the Italian region the allied
armies are awaiting with complacency
the enemy's assaults.
While near Cambrai it is conceded
that the British will be* forced by
reason of the dangerous salient held
by the enemy in their line to some
what straighten out their front, op
timism is expressed that on the whole
General Byng's forces will be able to
give a good accounting for any attacks
the enemy m^y launch.
Likewise the menace of a dash by
the Austro-Germans down through the
hills and out upon the plains of Vene
tia have been provided for, so far as
the reinforcement of the Italians by
the British and French troops and the
bringing up of fresh guns is concern
ed. If Field Marshal von Hoetzen
dorf, commander of the enemy troops,
should be able to breach the line and
gain his objective, it will be only after
one of the most sanguinary encounters
of the war.
Submarines or mipes were respon
sible for the sinking last -week of 16
British merchantmen of more than
1,(500 tons as compared with 14 the
previous week. Only one vessel under
1,600 tons was sent to the bottom,
however, as compared with seven the
preceding week. ? Asociated Press War
Summary.
ROYALL SCHOOL NOTES.
The patrons of the school met Mon
day night at the school house, and de
cided to get a piano for the school.
Miss Strickland will have .charge of
the Music Department.
At the meeting Monday night an
organization was formed to secure a
library for the school. This is called
the Royall Library Association. The
officers elected were: Miss Ruth Gil
christ, president; J. S. Johnson, secre
tary, and Victor Johnson, librarian.
The library is secured through the
state library committee.
We are making plans for further
organizations in the school, as Liter
ary Societies, etc. We ar? also getting
in some basket ball practice, and hope
to soon have the teams in good shape.
The following visited the school
Tuesday morning: Mr. J. S. Johnson,
and Miss Cecil Moore.
Misses Ruth Gilchrist and Cora
Johnson spent the Thanksgiving holi
days in Charlotte, and attended the
Teachers Assembly.
Miss Ina Strickland spent Thanks
giving with her parents in Falcon.
Miss Claudia Johnson has been
visiting relatives near Smithfield.
Miss Lily Ruth Johnson, of Smith
field, spent the week-end with relatives
in the community.
We are sorry to note the illness of
Mrs. D. M. Johnson;- and Mrs. T. V.
Allen.
Mr. and Mrs Moses Creech, of near
Kenly, spent the week-end with Mr.
and Mrs. J. A. TyVer.
Master William Olive, of Pisgah,
has been a visitor at the home of Mr.
J. A. Tyner.? X. Y. Z.
Elevation Township.
In p. speech before the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union in con
vention at Washington this week, Wil
liam Jennings Bryan predicted the
ratification by the States of a prohibi
tion amendment to the Federal consti
tution within two years. He declared
that the action of the President in
ordering a reduction in the alcoholic
content r.( beer was a great step for
ward for prohibition.
CHRISTMAS AND THE SOLDIER.
Some Suggestions as to What Those
Itack Home .Might Send Him. A
Fountain Pen Would Be Much Ap
preciated.
In less than three weeks "the people
back home" wilj be enjoying another
"Merry Christmas." The boys and
girls will have returned from their
respective schools to enjoy the Christ
mas turkey with father and mother
and brother and sister. They will all
sit by the fire-side and enjoy the
companionship of loved ones and Oie
association of friends. Santa Claus
will bring each a Christmas present
and in a nice, comfortable home, moth
er, father, sister, brother, friend, will
enjoy the Christmas season.
Hut there are hundreds of thousands
of boys who will not have such a
Christmas. Yes, millions will not
spend the holiday season with mother.
Some will not even have a holiday.
To some, Christmas will be only De
cember twenty-fifth. In some dreary
little hut, or out* on some cold out
post of guard duty, or even in the
trenches, somebody's son, somebody's
brother, somebody's friend, will have
to spend Christmas. It may be yotir
son; it may be your brother. Will this
young man in khaki (for it is the
soldier boys that I am thinking of)
think of home on December twenty
fifth? Scarcely will he think of any
thing else, and he would give a thous
and worlds, had he them to give, if
only he could help eat the turkey at
home, j'.nd just for one hour with some
friend he left behind. The folks back
home are going to think of the boys,
too. They are going to send Christ
I mas to the boys at the front.
Now just a suggestion. The soldier
spends much of his leisure time in
writing to the folks back home. He
gets all the paper he wants from the
"Y". He gets all the pens and ink he !
wants from the "Y". But a pen that
has been used by two or more persons
does not write very smoothly. You
could not give that soldier son, brother,
or friend a more useful and appreci
ated gift than a good fountain pen.
A soldier can take paper from the
"Y" with him to the field. He can
fill his fountain pen before he leaves
the "Y", and out there on the firing
line he can write back home. Think
of the soldier boys while enjoying your
Christmas.
A "Y" SECRETARY.
Columbia, S. C.
AT Tllfe CAPITAL OF BOON HILL.
Princeton, Dec. 5. ? Misses Bessie
and Zilla Wood?rd are spending a few
days with their sister, Mrs. W. L.
Brown.
Miss Hester Gurley and Miss Penina
Deans, from Siulston, spent the week
end with Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Gurley.
Miss Hester is teaching school at
Saulston.
Miss Grace Warrick from Goldsboro
is visiting Misses Bessie and Jessie
Massey.
Miss Alliene Pettway, of Goldsboro,
has been spending a few days with
Miss Alma Holt this week.
Mr. and Mrs. John C. Hood, of Kins
ton, visited Mr. and Mrs. Ed. A. Holt
Sunday.
Miss Eunice Pool and Misses FWssie
and Malissie Wellons have been spend
ing a few days with Miss Mildred
Massey.
Miss Jenneth Woodard is visiting
Miss Sallie Wrigth this week.
Miss Lola Lynch and Miss Zola
Woodr.rd are visiting Mrs. George II.
Perry. ,
Mr. W. L- Hastings, from the Battle
ship Maine, is at home on a week's
fourlough, visiting his parents. Logan
is a member of the band on this vessel.
The friends and relatives of Miss
Lena Woodard will be glad to learn
that she is improving, slowly, but is
yet very sick at her home.
The little child of Mr. and Mrs. W.
T. Pelt is seriously ill wiih symptoms
of pneumonia.
Miss Ethel Baker is at home, spend
ing a few days. She is attending Rock
Ridge High School in Wilson County.
Mrs. Frank Wells continues seri
ously ill at her home, wijh symptoms
of improvement today.
Mrs A. C. Faircloth and bab^ have
been visiting her sister, Mrs. Murchi
son, in Smithfield for a few days.
The box party given at the school
house Thursday night was a success.
The object was to raise mopey to pur
chase a piano for the school. The re
ceipts amounted to more than f<yty
dollars. Miss Jarvis Mtchcll won the
cake for being the prettiest girl pros
ent. The cake sold for twenty-eight
dollars and seventy-five cents. The
boxes brought by the young ladies
were beautiful and some of them sold
for more than four dollars.
Miss Amma Stancil, teacher in the
graded school here spent the week-end
with relatives at Selma.
At a conference of the members of
the Baptist church last Sunday, Rev.
Mr. Dupree was unanimously called to
preach at this church for the next
year. It was known by the members
that Mr. Duncan had accepted another
call and therefore would not serve the
church another year.
Mr. Floyd C. Price and Mr. Gurley,
of Pine Level, came down Sunday to
attend services at the Baptist church.
Mr. John R. Massey, one of our boys
is with Uncle Sam's army in France,
and is attached to the engineers divis
ion. The relatives and friends of all
our boys in the army and navy should
remember that a few lines from home
cheers them up, and we should send
them cards and letters often to let
them know and feel that we think of
them.
For the past month or so copies of
The Smithfield Herald were sent to
some of our boys who are on the
battleships out on the Atlantic ocean,
and receipt was soon acknowledged
saying, "Send them along regularly.
They are just like a letter from home."
So send the boy's a copy of their home
paper. There are at least four boys
from Johnston County on the Battle
ship Oklahoma, one each from Clayton,
Smithfield, Selma and Princeton, and
we do not know yet how many are on
other vesels in Uncle Sam's Navy.
Te relatives of#Hubert L. Bridges
have received notice of his death at
the Camp in South Carolina, on De
cember 2nd ? cause, spinal Meningitis.
The body is expected to arrive here
J today. This is the first death among
the forty-eight young men from this
township who are in the army and
navy.
THE WEEK'S NE\V<S IN SELMA.
Selma, N. C., Dec. 6. ? Mr. J. D.
Massey spent Wednesday in Raleigh
on business.
Mr. G. C. Hinton has resigned his
position with A. V. Driver Co. and
accepted a position as Secretary and
Treasurer of the Ethel and Lizzie Cot
ton Mills, succeeding Mr. S. V. Pitts,
resigned;
Rev. C. K. proctor left Tuesday
morning for Greenville to attend the
Methodist Conference in session there
this week. Mr. Proctor has been on
this charge for one year, and has en
deared himself to a host of people here
who hope that he will come back an
other year.
The Stewards of M. E. Church and
their wives met at the parsonage last
Monday night and enjoyed a social
hour with the preacher and his wife.
Mrs. Sallie Upchurch left Tuesday
for Wilson where she ent<fred the
; Sanatorium for treatment.
Mr. W. L. Stapcil spent Sunday with
friends in Wilders township.
County Commissioner, W. M. Now
ell, of near Wendell, was here for a
few hours Monday enroute to Smith
field.
The Selma merchants are making
extensive preparations for the Pay
Up-Week which begins Monday, and
Dollar Day next Thursday. Liberal
discounts are being offered to those
who settle up during Pay-Up-Week,
and the Dollar Day bargain counters
will offer a various .assortment of de
sirable bargains for this day.
Rev. C. K. Proctor reports a very
enjoyable Thanksgiving service at
Sanders' Chapel church Thanksgiving
Day. A good collection was taken for
the orphans. The people of this
church are contemplating the erection
of a modern Sunday school addition
to their church in the near future.
Mr. T. C. Henry went to Wilson
yesterday on business in connection
with the moving of his stock there
January 1st.
The remains of Mr. Walter Crocker
arrived here yesterday from Rich
mond, Va. Mr. Crocker went to a
Richmond hospital about two weeks
ago for an operation on his head. His
head was injured some years ago by
falling from a train, and physicians
advised him that an operation was the
only means of relief. The operation
wj? performed Monday, and he died
Tuesday night, the remains reach
ing here yesterday. The burial will
take place today in the family burial
ground.
Mr. R. C. Pearce has resigned his
position with Roberts Atkinson Co.
and accepted a position as Manager
for W. E. Smith Co.
HE ASKS FOR WAR ON AUSTRIA.
President Wilson in Second War Mes
sage to Congress Gave a Definite
Statement of America's War Aims.
Washington, Dec. 4. ? A definite
statement to the world of America's
war aims and of the basis upon which
peace will be considered was made
today by President Wilson in an ad
dress to Congress in which he urged
immediate declaration of a state of
war between the United States and
Austria-Hungary ? Germany's vassal
and tool. As to Turkey and Bulgaria
? also tools of the enemy ? he coun
seled delay "because they do not yet
stand in the direct path of our neces
sary action."
To win the war, the president de
clared in emphatic and ringing tones,
is the immediate and unalterable task
ahead. He urged congress, just begin
ning its second war session, to con
centrate itself upon it.
The President sharply dismissed the
possibility of premature peace, sought
by German intrigue and debated here
by men who understand neither its na
ture nor the way it may be attained.
With victory an accomplished fact, he
said, peace will be evolved based upon
"mercy and justice^r-to enemy and
friend ? with hope of a partnership of
nations to guarantee future world
peace."
The war will be deemed won, he de
clared, "when the German people say
to us, through properly accredited
representatives, that they are ready
to agree to a settlement based upon
justice and reparation of the wrongs
their rulers have done." Terms of
peace, he added, would not include
dismemberment, robbery or punish
mentof the enemy, but would be based
on justice, defined briefly as follows:
Freedom of nations and their peo
ples from autocrati^ domination; re
paration to Belgium; relinquishment
of German power over the peoples of
Austria, Turkey, the free Balkan
states, as well as evacuation of Prus
sian 'territorial conquests in Belgium
and northern France.
Emphasizing the purpose of the
United States not to interfere in the
internal affairs of any nation, the
President aserted that no wrong
against the German empire was in
tended and that there was no desire
to re-arrange the Austro-Hungarian
empire. He said when he spoke eight
months ago of the right of nations to
free access of the seas he had Austria
as well as the smaller and weaker
nations in mind.
Mr. Pou At Benson.
Sunday afternoon Congressman
Ed. W. Pou, of Smithfield, delivered an
address in the school auditorium to a
large audience of Benson people.
His topic was "The War" and he
delivered one of the best addresses
heard here so far. He began at the
beginning in 1914, and traced the acts
of Germany right down to the present
time. His information was authorita
tive most of it coming to him by
vrtue of the fact that he s in a posi
tion to learn war news first hand. He
took pains to tell his hearers that
nothing he had to say was in any
way false but the picture he painted
of the horrors of Germany and of the
German army outclassed the most
harrowing tales of the New York
gunmen or the Black Hand. Jack-the
ripper has taken a back seat, the most
merciless of his crimes being tame,
tame, compared to what Germany has
done to civilians and prisoners alike.
Mr. Pou went on to tell of how Ger
many had violated every law of na
tions deliberately and with premedi
tation. He satisfied all present as
why this country entered the war and
proved by all processes of reason that
the Allies are right in their action and
effort at forcing Germany to throw up
her hands.
He laid stress upon the fact that
hits is a great war with far reaching
effects and that this country could
be successful only by each and every
citizen fighting as is Germany ? a unit.
He stressed the importance of co
operation of all Americans. He mad&
a great speech and one appreciated by
all who heard him.
After the speaking a substi ntial
collection was taken for the P.ed
Cross. ? Benson Review, Nov. 27.
Every new member and every old
member of the Red Cross should buy
Red Cross SeaJs, and those who are
not members should buy Red Cross
Seals and help the Tuberculosis Fund.