North Carolina Newspapers

VOLUME 37. THE SMITHFIELD HERALD FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1918 Number 102 BANQUET BY CHAM BER OF COMMERCE Most Enjoyable Meeting—Smithfield to Plan for More Dwellings—Cham ber of Commerce Launches Move for a New Courthouse for Johnston—To Ask for Government Building. The Smithfield Chamber of Com merce gave a most enjoyable barbecue supper at the courthouse last night at tended by a large number of the rep resentative men of the town and quite a number of ladies. Visitors were present from Raleigh and Selma. Mr. W. W. Cole, president of the Chamber of Commerce, presided. Just before the supper was served by the ladies of the Smithfield Woman’s Club the president presented Mr. R. L. Brown, of Raleigh, in charge of the State Y. M. C. A, Work, who briefly sketched the line of activities of the Y. M. C. A. He told how it was pos sible for a town of the size of Smith field to do effective Y. M. C. A. work. He also-^poke of the county work and showed something of its possibilities. Following Mr. Brown, Mr. A. M. Johnson, County Demonstration Agent, spoke on the relation of the town and country, showing that the town people could, and ought to be of great service to the country people, and how that the country people could be of great service to the town. There should be a clearer understanding of these needs by both town and coun try. Both are necessary to each other’s welfare and prosperity. He strong ly advocated the get-to-gether spirit. Rev. H. F. Brinson was called to return thanks and then the assem blage partook of a real barbecue sup per with all the acc'esories to make it enjoyable. Following the supper Mr. J. M. Broughton, Jr., of the Raleigh Cham ber of Commerce, was presented and made one of the happiest and best talks heard in Smithfield in a long time. He interspersed his talk with a few most pointed and enjoyable sto ries, holding the closest attention throughout his talk. Mr. Broughton said that for a town or city to be what it ought to be three 'hings were necessary. First, there must be loyalty and civic pride. Sec ond, there must be co-operation; there must be no factional fights and petty politics. There must be a real getting together on the things that make a town and then fight out who is to rule afterwards. Third, there must be the spirit of service. Without this no town can be worth anything. It must find its soul and that will be found in the highest and best service to humanity. The secretary of the Chamber is to be congratulated on securing Mr. Broughton. He fully sustained his reputation as one of the best speakers among the younger men of the State. Following Mr. Broughton’s talk the banquet was over and the Chamber held its business meeting. Some very important things were taken up and discussed fully. The first matter considered was Smithfield’s great need for more dwellings. It was shown that a great many people have recently tried to move to Smithfield but there was no place to house them and their fami 1'es. Mr. Harry N. Atwood, of the Ve r.eer Products Company, made a short taik and outlined some of the things bis company was trying to do. They have just completed an airplane which was built for the government and approved by its engineers. He showed some of the great possibilities in ve neer products and said Smithfield had a great opportunity before it. That veneer would be used for automobile wheels and a great many other things. But the crying need now was for more room to house the folks who would be employed by their plant. He has just returned from the northern factories, where he bought $14,000 worth of up to-date machinery for the Veneer Products Company. Mr. Atwood is much interested in airplanes and kindred subjects. He is a flyer of national reputation and pointed out some of the advantages that Smithfield would get by building airplanes and then flying them over the country to interest salesmen in the veneer industry. The Smithfield Housing Corporation was proposed and eleven thousand dol lars was subscribed to the capital stock. It is proposed that the cor poration shall buy real estate and build dwellings to supply the needs of Smithfield. A committee was appoint ed to solicit subscriptions to the con cern and proceed at once to get a charter and organize for business. The question of the need of a new courthouse for Johnston county was taken up and discussed. A motion was passed authorizing the appointment of a committee to prepare and get sign ers to a petition asking the County Commissioners to build a new modem courthouse. Lack of space forbids completer ac count of plans and committee in this issue. A committee was also appointed to pet a petition asking Congressman Fou to work for a postoffice building for Smithfield. The members of the Chamber of Commerce and the people present are greatly indebted to Secretary Brooks and the committee for one of the best get-to-gether meetings ever held here. RECORD CROP LOOKED FOR. 49,027,000 Acres in Winter Wheat and Yield of 765,000,000 Bushels Forecast. A huge winter wheat crop, larger by 80.000. 000 bushels than any yield in the history of American agriculture was forecast by the Department of Agriculture. The Government’s appeal, made be fore the coming of peace was in sight, saying an acreage of 47,500,000 was desirable and the guaranteed price of $2.20 a bushel for wheat, stimulated extraordinary effort on the part of the farmers, said the department’s an nouncement. As a result, 49,027,000 acres were planted during a long and almost perfect season. The fall growing season has been one of the finest ever known, resulting in the crop being in the best condi tion ever recorded on December 1, and giving promise of heavy yield. Allowing for the average spring abandonment of acreage due to winter killing, the department announced that winter wheat gives promise of a total production of 765,000,000 bushels. An average spring wheat crop would place 1.000. 000 bushels and exceed the record crop of 1915. Last year’s spring wheat production was 363,000, 000 bushels. The rye acreage this autumn is slightly larger than last, being 6,820, 000, compared to 6,708,000 acres. The condition is 89.0 per cent, compared to 84.1 per cent last year and 91.4 per cent average, the condition being held down by poor conditions in the im portant producing States of North and South Dakota. This forecasts a some what larger production than last year’s record crop of 89,103,000 bush els.—Washington Post. PROHIBITION MAKES ANOTHER SWEEP. Texas County Votes Out the Saloon. Fort Worth, Texas, Dee. 16.—Sa loons were voted out of Tarrant coun ty today by a majority of about three to one. The voting was light. Fort Worth has been dry since last April because of the law forbidding sale of liquor within ten miles of any army camp. Last Drink in Colorado. Denver, Col., Dec. 16.—The ap proach of the hour for the initiated “bone dry” prohibition law to become effective found thousands of persons besieging the express office here to night striving for an opportunity to claim liquor consigned to them under the Horton law, which the new meas ure, signed by the Governor today, suspends at midnight. Express company officials said it would be impossible to deliver all the consignments. Now Nevada is Dry. Reno, Nev., Dec. 16.—When the mid night hour struck tonight Nevada went dry and there appeared to be little unusual demonstration in Reno. Cabarets and bars were well filled to the closing hour. MANY CASUALTIES ARE YET UNREPORTED. General Pershing cabled the War department Wednesday the practical ly complete reports of deaths in action among the expeditionary forces. They should reach the department by De cember 20 and those of the severely wounded by December 27. General Pershing said that the num ber of unreported casualties in pro cess of verification at the central re cords’ office of the expeditionary forces on December 14 was 40,440. They were divided thus: Killed in ac tion, 390; died of wounds, 275; died of disease, 353; accidentally killed, 51; severely wounded in action, 39,371. These include all “suspense cases un der investigation,” the general said. The report frcm the American com mander was in reply to specific ques tions cabled by the War Department. In asking regarding the casualties in the Thirtieth division, the depart ment said there had been “much ap prehension” about the losses of this unit which helped the British army break the famous Hindenburg line. Will Be Guest of King George. London, Dec. 19.—President Wilson will probably be the guest of the King at Buckingham Palace during his visit to England. This official an onuncement was made tonight. MANY ENLISTED MEN FOR NAVY I’lan is to Make American Navy Equal to the Most Powerful Main tained by Any Nation of the World. Legislation authorizing increase of the permanent enlisted strength of the navy from 131,000 men to 217,000 was recommended to the House Naval Af fairs Committee Wednesday by Capt. H. Lanning, acting chief of the Bureau of Navigation. This would include 175,000 seamen, 24,000 apprentice seamen and firemen in training, 12,000 in trade schools for training and 6, 000 in the flying corps. Captain Lanning explained that this large increase of men is needed to carry out the policy of the Naval Bureau of Operation, of making the navy of the United States equal to the “most powerful maintained by any nation of the world.” PROMOTED TO CAPTAINCY. Lieutenant Wayland Jones Received Captain’s Commission August 17. 1918. Mrs. Wayland Jones, of Clayton, received notice from the Adjutant General to the effect that Mr. Way land Jones was commissioned a Cap tain on August 17, 1918. Mr. Jones enlisted in the regular army November 14, 1913, at Columbus ,Barracks, Ohio, and was transferred to Panama. He remained at Pan ama until May, 1917, when he was sent back to the State to Fort Benja min Harrison, Ind. On July 8, 1917, he was commissioned a Second Lieu tenant and sent to Plattgburg Bar racks, N. Y., where he received his second promotion to a First Lieuten ancy August 8, 1917. His next move was to Camp Mills, Long Island, to join the famous 42nd or Rainbow Di vision. On October 15, 1918, he sailed for France and has seen active service about one year. Mr. Jones is ? son of Mr. and Mrs. IT. A. Jones, of C/avton, N. C. He has made a faithful soldier and his many friends are highly pleased with the record he has made. DEATH CLAIMS REV. A. D. BETTS. Aged Minister Passes Away Follow ing Injury Sustained at Goldsboro. Goldsboro, Dec. 18.—Rev. A. D. Betts, known to North Carolina Meth odism as “Father Betts” or “Uncle Betts,” died early this morning at the home of his son, Dr. J. S. Betts, at the age of 8(5 years. He was the oldest member of the North Carolina Meth odist Episcopal Conference, and one of the oldest, if not the oldest, min ister in the State. He joined this con ference when 20 years of age, and, therefore, had been preaching for 65 years. The first three years he work ed in Virginia, and therefore, did not attend two or three of the sessions of his conference, but since that time had attended 63 consecutive sessions. He went to Goldsboro to attend the session which has just adjourned. On the opening day of the session he fell in his room and fractured his hip, and therefore was unable to attend the sessions, much to his disappoint ment. A day or two ago he contract ed pneumonia and rapidly declined until his death.—News and Observer, 19th. FLU KILLS MANY INDIANS ON RESERVATION IN MONTANA Helena, Mont., Dec. 18.—Hundreds of Indians on reservation in Montana have died of influenza and pneumonia, according to reports received at vari ous agencies. It has been claimed that many deaths were caused by drastic meth ods which some tribes used to combat the disease. Influenza patients, it is claimed, took hot water or vapor baths and then leaped into cold moun tain streams. GREAT AIRSHIP IN FLIGHT FROM ENGLAND TO INDIA. Paris, Dec. 16.—Experts watched this morning the departure from Paris of the great British aeroplane on the second stage of its journey from England to India. The aeroplane was designed for operations against Berlin. It measures 127 feet from wing tip and weighs with its full com plement of passengers 27,000 pounds. It has four Rolls-Royce engines, giv ing a speed of 100 miles an hour and carries petrol sufficient for 16 hours of continuous flight. The stages are in tended to be: Paris to Marseilles 450 miles; Otranto 880 miles; Cairo, 1, 170 miles; Bagdad 875 miles; Bandar Abbas 870 miles; Karacht 652 miles. The total d:stance from England to Delhi is 5,800 miles.—Philadelphia Ledger. Ambassador John W. Davis has ar rived in London and presented his credentials to King George at Buck ingham Palace. DAILY MOVEMENTS OF PRESIDENT WILSON Visited Versailles—Left for Battle-1 fields Tuesday—Warm Sympathy for Italy—Not Committed to Any Particular Plan—Will Meet Diplo mats at Murat Palace Today. Paris, Dec. 16.—Today was another holiday for Paris. The residents in the section east of the Place de la Concorde saw the President today for the first time and they made the I most of their opportunity. President Wilson, at the conclusion j of his address at the city hall today in reply to the greetings of Adrien | Mithouard, the President of the Mu nicipal Council of Paris, was present ed with the Great Gold Medal of the city of Paris. To Mrs. Wilson was awarded a dia mond brooch adorned with an enamel dove. President Wilson passed the early forenooon in doors, reading a large number of letters. He then started by automobile for a visit to Versailles, where the final meeting of the peace conference will be held, going by way of the Bois de Boulogne. The Presi dent was accompanied by Mrs. Wil son. Paris, Dec. 16.—President Wilson will leave Paris in an automobile to morrow to visit the principal points along the old fighting front, notably the battle fields of the Marne. Paris, Dec. 16.—President Wilson will proceed tomori’ow to Sonlis, Marshal Foch’s headquarters, to con fer with the allied commander. Later he will visit the battlefield at Chateau Thierry, where the first American di visions distinguished themselves, and also Rheims. Paris, Dec. 17.—President Wilson’s official visit to Paris came to a close last night. The Paris edition of the London Daily Mail, in discussing the President’s reception, says: “He has had one of the most re markable receptions ever accorded a guest of the French nation, although the President has been careful to give his view that in him Paris has seen the representative of the American nation.’’ The President and Mrs. Wilson went for an automobile ride today in the outskirts of Paris, the skies hav ing brightened towards noon. During the rainy morning Mr. Wil son worked in his study, being obliged to forego his expected trip to the golf links at Versailles. In the afternoon the President saw the Italian Ambassador to the Uni ted States with whom Mr. Wilson had several important conferences during the voyage from the United States. It is known Mr. Wilson feels the warmest sympathy for Italy’s claims arising from the war and the Presi dent virtually told Count Celere the extent to which he was willing to support .them during the forthcoming informal conferences with entente government premiers. After the drive the President and Mrs. Wilson returned to the Murat residence for luncheon. With them at the table were Miss Margaret Wil son and Admiral Grayson. Paris, Dec. 18.—President Wilson this afternoon gave out the following statement: “The Paris edition of the Chicago Tribune this morning in a dispatch accredited to its correspondent at Washington, declared that before leaving for France I gave assurance that I approved a plan formulated by the League to Enforce Peace. This statement is entirely false. “I am, as every one knows, not only in favor of a League of Nations but believe the formation of such a league absolutely indispensible to the maintenance of peace. But the par ticular plan of the League to En force Peace I have never directly nor indirectly endorsed.” Paris, Pec. 19.—President Wilson’s present Christmas plans contemplate hi sdeparture from Paris on Christmas Eve for Cha.umont, American head quarters on General Pershing's spe cial train. On Christmas morning he will go by automobile to a nearby rest camp and dine with the troops, re turning to Paris the same night. American Ambassador Sharp, as dean of the diplomatic corps, has ar ranged to present all the Ambassadors and Ministers accredited to the French government to President Wilson on Friday at the Murat Palace. Paris, Pec. 19—CHavas.)—The com I mPtee of Frpnco-America gave a re ception tVs evening in honor of President Wilson. The President was b,r Gabriel Par'oto”x, of the French Acrdemv. Darn? the course c.f the r^centien P'"°s'dent Wilson had conversation with Senator T eon Pur e"eoi? ProJ’. ITcn-i Ptr-g^on and Paron 'fi’t-ni. Jam ne.se Ambassador to ' Fran-e. A” the T at:n- \merican d'n 1 lojiri' were r>regent.—Ne^'s and Ob server. AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER. Benson, N. C., Dec. 19.—Miss Bess Weaver spent the week-end in Smith field with her sister, Miss Dale Weaver. Mr. J. A. Stewart, of Coats, was a visitor to our city yesterday on busi ness for a while. Corporal Eric Tilley, of Durham, who has been stationed at Camp Jack son, spent Sunday here with friends. Lieut. Alfred Parker, son of Dr. Geo. E. Parker, passed through Tuesday en route to Pensacola, Fla., from New York City. Lieut. Herman Jernigan has return ed from Camp Gordon, where he has been stationed for several months. Mr. Josephus Johnson, a prominent farmer of Elevation township, was in town Monday on business. Messrs. B. L. Langdon and L. L. Levinson, of Coats, were Benson vis itors yesterday. Mr. Jesse Ryals, of Rocky Mount, arrived Monday and will relieve the force in the depot here, while some of them have the flu. Miss Rettie Loyd, of Chapel Hill, is here for a visit of several days to her sister, Mrs. James Raynor. Mr. Major Barbour, of Elevation township, was in Benson yesterday. The District Conference at Golds boro assigned Rev. E. M. Hall to the Benson charge for the coming year, as the successor of Rev. J. T. Stanford. Messrs. Bradley Johnson and Joe Ryals, of Emporia, are here for a few days with relatives. Mrs. R. T. Surles returned Monday from Penniman, Va., where she spent some time with her husband, who holds a position there. Miss Ola Stephenson, of Greens boro, is here for several days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Lee. Mr. Alonzo Parrish and daughter. Miss Mildred, and Mrs. Parrish and Miss Daisy Bryant spent Monday and Tuesday in Raleigh. Miss Velma Goodrich is spending several days visiting relatives in Kin ston, N. C. Mr. O. C. Hill, who formerly lived in Benson, returned to his home in Louisburg Monday after spending a few days here. Messrs. William Strickland, D. H. Stephenson, Albert Allen, Joe Morgan, and Harvey Stancil returned the first of the week from camps in South Car olina. Miss Strickland, a registered nurse of Raleigh, arrived yesterday and is nursing the two sons of Mr. R. B. Johnson, who have influenza. Mr. and Mrs. H. 0. Dixon, of Nor folk, Va., came home Tuesday. Mr. Dixon has been in the navy but has been discharged, and his wife held a position in Norfolk, but resigned, and they have returned to Benson to live. The influenza has quite a number of Bensonians on the list this week, among them being Messrs. Moses Pea cock, Howard Creech, Claud Canaday, Herbert Stewart, Casper Jernigan, R. C. Wells, Preston Woodall, Oscar Surles, Dallas Langdon, J. L. Hall and Alton Hall, and Professor Lanier. The Peacock Drug Company had to close its doors as Mr. Peadock and Mr. Creech both have it. Mrs. Sarah Barbour, age about 70 years, died at the home of her son, Mr. J. C. Barbour, in Elevation town ship, Sunday with influenza. The burial was held Monday at Rehoboth church, of which the deceased was a member. Mrs. Barbour was a woman held in high esteem in her neighbor hood and will be missed by the people. The family of her son, Mr. J. C. Bar bour, practically all have the disease at this time. Owing to the prevalence of the in fluenza in the surrounding community and in the town, the school trustees of ‘he Benson school have closed the school and there will be no more school till next fall. The ban has been placed on public gatherings of all kinds by the City Fathers, and there will be no church or Sunday-school till the ban is removed. The disease so far has been much lighter than when it visited our town some time ago, there being more cases at this time, but the patients are getting on much better than before. This is probably due to care that is being taken in the homes where the disease has appeared. P. O. APPROPRIATION BILL $357,350,000 Washington, Dec. 18.—The annual postoffice appropriation bill, carrying a total of $357,350,000, was passed late today by the House with an amendment requiring the Postmaster General to use army aviators for mail aeroplanes instead of organizing a separate flying corps. This is the first of the 1920 supply measures to be passed by the House and it now goes to the Senate. More than 60 per cent of the chil dren of the Caswell Training School at Kinston have been ill this week with inf’eerza. One child, Lula Per lier, of Hidd-mlte, r ge 13, died Wed nesday. OLD HICKORY PAID HEAVILY General Pershing Wires Complete Casualty List—Thirtieth Division, Used on All Rough Jobs, Suffered Total of 7,623 Casualties. Washington, Dec. 16.—The “Old Hickory” division paid a heavy toll in killed and wounded for its brilliant ex ploits in France. The casualties list of this fighting organization, made public today on, receipt of a cable gram from General Pershing, shows that the apprehensions of heavy cas ualties were well founded. The figures were brought out by the following inquiry cabled to Gen eral Pershing by Secretary Baker: “Much apprehension here as to cas ualties in Thirtieth Division. Have these men fully reported to you and forwarded to us ? Can you cable class ified estimate of total casualties in that division?” General Pershing replied: “Thirtieth division checked their total casualties against the records of central records office November 23. and casualties of records in their office have been re ported to War Department. Casualties classified as follows: “Killed in action, 1,168; died of wounds. 283; died of disease, 16; died of other causes, five; severely wound ed, 1,181; wounded, degree undeter mined, 3,973; missing or captured, 193.” This is the first authentic informa tion of the total casualties of this di vision composed of North Carolina, South Garolina and Tennessee guards men. The thirtieth covered itself with glory in the sanguinary fighting, which resulted in the first break of the supposedly impregnable Hindenburg line. General Haig cited the entire division in a special order of the day for its brilliant conduct on that occa sion. The casualties of the o' ganization would have been even heavier than those reported had not the worst of the fighting, at the time the Hinden burg line was broken, been launched in a heavy fog which, military men say, made it impossible fer the German ar tillery fire to be accurately directed. All the casualties did not occur in the fighting referred to at this par ticular location, as the Old Hickory was in almost continuous action from August until the end of the campaign. They were used as shock troops and shifted from place to place where the roughest jobs had to be undertaken.— H. E. C. Bryant in Charlotte Ob server. THE NEWS IN CLAYTON. Clayton, N. C., Dec. 18.—Misses Rosa Hinton and Ruth Penny spent one afternoon this week in Raleigh shopping. Mr. A. V. Gulley, of Smithfield, spent last week-end here with his family. Mr. C. B. Gill, of Raleigh, was in town yesterday on business. Miss Sulon McCullers arrived Sat urday from Staunton, Va., where she attended school at Mary Baldwin Seminary, to spend the Christmas holidays here with her parents. Mr. Coy Thompson, a member of the U. S. Army, who was stationed at Seattle, Washington, is here on a visit to his people and says he is discharged from the army service. Mr. Willard McCullers came from Camp Jackson last Saturday with his discharge and will remain home for a while. Several of our boys received discharges and we surely welcome them to our town again. Misses Eloise Turley, Mary Wil liams, Gene Thomas and Thelma Yel vington will arrive from Meredith to day to spend the holidays at home. Mr. and Mrs. Miller White and little daughter, Susan, of Norfolk, after spending several days here with rela tives left Monday to visit relatives at Goldsboro. Miss Ann;e Harrison, of St. Paul, N. C., visited relatives here last week. The flu situation is much improved here and we surely feel thankful and hone we will not have any more soon. Christmas is just one week off and all of us are fired with a spirit of glad ness. People have done Christmas shopping early this year and have thus kept off a great rush. It seemed that the people who have washed for rain of late have had their wishes granted for the past few days. We surelv have had our share. Mr. Wilbur Connor, who has been a member of the S. A. T. C. at Chapel Hill, has returned heme. Messrs. Bill Ellis and Lea Thomas, who have been in school at A. and E. Golloge. Raleigh, are here to spend Christmas. Mr, Harvev Parker, of Princeton, was in town Sunday. Their friends are pushing the claims of former Judge O. H. fMon, of New Bern. S. J. Everett, of Pitt county, and Paul Fr'zelle. of Greene county, for Judge in the Fifth Judicial District to succeed Judge Wi'odhee, w’ho resigned a few days ago.