VOLUME 37.
THE SMITHFIELD HERALD TUESDAY, DEC. 24, 1918.
Number 103
CLAUDE KITCHIN OPPOSES
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
Democratic House Leader Sees Peril
Ahead With the Railroads in the
Hands of the Government—He Will
Strongly Oppose the Five Year Ex
tension Recommended by Mr.
McAdoo.
Washington, Dec. 19.—An organiza
tion oi railway employes into the
most powerful political machine the
country has ever had, a pork-barrel
bill incomparable to the rivers and
harbors “pork barrel” bills and un
reasonable freight and passenger rates
are the results of government owner
ship of railroads as foreshadowed by
Hon. Claude Kitchin, chairman of the
committee on ways and means.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan, the
original champion of government own
ership of the common carriers, had
solicited the powerful influence of the
North Carolina Congressman in favor
of government ownership.- Conse
quently, his pronounced views on tha
subject were conveyed to the great
commoner at his home in Asheville.
Mr. Bryan favors a dual plan of own
ership, state and federal governments
jointly exercising authority over the
railways.
“As to government ownership of
railroads.” said the majority leader
of the House of Representatives to
Mr. Bryan: “I am not convinced that
it is a wise thing, and the results of
the government operation and control
so far have not tended to increase my
faith in its wisdom.
“It seems to me that government
ownership would mean:
“First, unreasonable increase in
freight an4 passenger rates. Second,
organization of railway employes into
the most powerful political machine
the country has ever had. Third, a
continuous demand upon the part of
the organization for higher wages and
shorter hours, and the continuous bid
ding by each party for the influence
of the operation and the vote of its
employes, hy promises of shorter
hours and higher wages, which, of
course, would mean higher passenger
and freight rates, or a large annual
deficit to be paid by the taxpayers
generally. Fourth, the institution of
a railroad ‘pork barrel’ bill in Con
gress at each session. Each member
would have several projects for build
ing railroads in his county and State,
and many would have big projects for
building interstate railroads. Members
would also demand public buildings
railroad depots at numerous stations
in his county and State. The so-called
rivers and harbors and public build
ings ‘pork barrel’ bill would not be a
circumstance to these.”
Mr. Kitchin, who perhaps is the best
informed Congressman in the House
of Representatives as to the trend of
legislation, in an interview today ex
pressly for this correspondence, stated
that the Sixty-fifth Congress would
not sanction government ownership.
“I am opposed to government own
ership of railroads, but for strict reg
ulation bv the government. This Con
gress will never pass any legislation
favoring government ownership, and
it is exceedingly doubtful whether the
five-year plan of Mr. McAdoo will be
adopted. T will strongly oppose the
extension.”—S. R. Winters in News
and Observer.
Jerusalem a Scene of Great Red
Cross Activity.
In Jerusalem the social problems are
many, and the Red Cross is trying to
solve them all as rapidly as possible.
The question of food is an important
one and the Red Cross has devised
several plans new to the Holy Land to
meet this demand. One of these plans
is to rent oxen for plowing purposes,
as in a given district there are only
available 65 plowing animals against
418 during the war. The war garden
plan which makes every vacant lot
available for planting, is another Red
Cross plan for increasing the food
shortage and this also gives employ
ment to scores of destitute native
women. The present is the planting
time in Jerusalem.
In addition to the war gardens the
Red Cross is seeking to find employ
ment for thousands of destitute wo
men and girls in other fields of work.
There are some 10,000 applications for
employment before the Red Cross and
work rooms for women aTe being es
tablished in many localities. All
creeds and classes are engaged in the
various sorts of sewing, knitting,
weaving, basket work and other sim
ple forms of handicraft. The Red
Cross supervises all this work and it
excellent work, too, and a means of
saving the people from absolute des
titution.—Red Cross Bulletin.
Eleven With Flu at Same Time.
Mr. S. A. Godwin, who lives in the
Little Creek section, was here Satur
day, having recovered from an attack
of influenza. Mr .Godwin, his wife
and nine children were all sick with
the flu at +he same time. They are all
up now and will soon be well again.
CONVICTS RECEIVE PARDON.
Governor Grants Release to Men
Whose Aggregate Sentences
Total 42 Years.
Four pardons in addition to the par
don of Jim Wilcox were granted by
Governor Bickett yesterday, freeing
men whose aggregate sentences were
forty-two years. The pardoned men
are Henry Hayman, of Martin coun
ty, convicted in March, 1911, of man
slaughter, „and sentenced to eighteen
years in the State Prison; Beil Black,
of Cumberland county, convicted in
November, 1915, of second degree
murder and sentenced to fifteen years
in the State Prison; James Harper, of
Forsyth county, convicted in Decem
ber, 1915,^ of rape and sentenced to
seven and a half years in the State
Prison; James Houser, of Forsyth
county, convicted in municipal court
of Winston-Salem, of larceny and
sentenced to eighteen months on the
roads of Forsyth county.—News and
Observer.
GOVERNOR BICKETT GIVES
PARDON TO JIM WILCOX.
Having served half of his thirty
year sentence, Jim Wilcox, convicted
as the slayer of Nellie Cropsey, his
Elizabeth City sweetheart, in 1902,
was pardoned by Governor Bickett
yesterday. Governor Locke Craig
twice refused to grant Wilcox a par
don and Governor Bickett once, but
neither Governor before had the state
ment of Wilcox himself. This, backed
by the prisoner’s perfect record and
by public sentiment in Pasquotank
that the prisoner has been sufficiently
punished, moved the Governor in his
course.
“The jury found him guilty of mur
der in the second degree and, under it,
the prisoner could not be executed,”
said the Governor. I do not believe in
life imprisonment except in incorrigi
ble cases. I am clearly of the opin
ion that no further good can come to
society or to James Wilcox by keeping
him in prison any longer.”
Governor Bickett issued the pardon
shortly after receiving from Wilcox
first statement he has made in connec
tion with the crime since his arrest,
and with it an appeal for clemency on
the part of Capt. H. T. Phelps, guard
at construction, who has observed Wil
cox for many years, and whose recom
mendation for pardon was the first of
his eighteen years’ service as a prison
official.
For sixteen years and over I have
been unjustly punished,” wrote Wil
cox to the Governor, “and now broken
in spirit and health, I come to you
asking mercy.”—News and Observer,
21st.
Mustering Them Out.
Efforts of the War Department to
hasten the demobilization of ustrain
ed recruits will be heartily approved
by the people of the United States.
Now that the need for training the big
army has passed, the sentiment in fa
vor of getting the men back into civil
life is growing stronger daily. Sena
tors and Representatives are besieged
with requests to use their influence
to get men cut of the cantonments,
and the War Department is flooded
with similar demands.
Secretary Baker states that already
more than 300,000 troops have been
demobilized and that men are being
discharged at the rate of 150,000 per
week. If this rate is maintained it
will require about eight weeks in
which to muster out all the men se
lected for demobilization. General
March recently stated that it was
planned to discharge men at the rate
of 30,000 per day, and while this rate
has not yet been attained it is possible
that it may be. As the mustering offi
cers be.come more familiar with their
work it is believed that the rate will be
increased.
Young men who willingly joined the
colors at the call to arms are now ea
ger to get back to their ordinary em
ployments. Good jobs are ready for
them ,and their friends and relatives
are anxiusly awaiting their home
coming. Under the circumstances the
War Department should use every
means in its power to hasten the mus
tering out process, not only in defer
ence to the wishes of the public, but to
relieve the industrial situation
throughout the country. At the same
time, the department must hold in re
serve a supply of men for overseas
duty in case the occupation of enemy
territory should be prolonged. It is
not to be expected that the department
will reduce the army to mere handful
of men.—Washington Post.
Musical Mysticism.
“What is that tune you were playing
on the piano?”
“That isn’t a tune. That is a
sonata.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Well, with a sonata it’s hard for
the average listener to detect mis
takes. With a tune you’ve got to
know pretty well what you’re about.”
—Boston Transcript.
KAISER’S PROPERTY
5,000,000 IN CASH.
Only 7 of His 90 Estates Are Crown
Property, Is Report.
The Hague, Nov. 28.—The Rhein
isch-Westfalische Zeitung says that
the kaiser’s private fortune in cash,
mostly deposited at 4 1-2 per cent
with various banks, is estimated at
20,000,000 marks, or $5,000,000, and
his annual income therefrom roughly
at $225,000.
The revolutionary government has
declared (so far as its declarations
have any effective value) that the
Kaiser’s private landed property will
not be seized, though the crown do
mains will pass to the treasury. The
newspaper says that of ninety forest,
farm, park and other estates, castles,
etc., only seven are crown domain,
all the rest being private property.
Thus the Kaiser’s private estates in
clude Bellevue palace in Berlin and
Monbijou palace, within whose
grounds is St. George’s English
Church. In Potsdam he has thirteen
palaces, all belonging to him; also
Wilhelmshohe palace at Cassel, where
King Edward paid his last visit to the
Kaiser, and where Napoleon III was
confined after Sedan.
Besides, palace and estates in Cob
lenz, Weisbaden, Charlottenburg,
Friendwalde, and elsewhere, he owns
the well-known experimental farming
estate of Cadinen, of which he used
to boast when the Agricultural League
met annually in Berlin; also the fam
ous shooting box and forest of Rom
inten, near the eastern frontier. He
has house property at Trouville, and
apparently the Achilleion palace in
Corfu belongs to him.
The cash consists largely of savings
effected by Frederick William Ill
calculated in 1840 at about $3,750,000;
after 1871 William I, received $1,
125,000 as a sort of war bonus. Since
this latter item clearly came from the
French indemnity, the Kaiser might
possibly have to disgorge when Ger
many has to repay the indemnity. The
Kaiser also received $2,500,000 from
the State for the ground where the
royal library stands, and for the old
Opera House of Kroll, where the late
Sir Herbert Tree gave his Shake
speare performances. Most of this,
however, was spent in improving those
very royal stables from whose sub
terranean passages officers resisted
the revolution.
The University of Paris Honors
Mr. Wilson.
Paris, Dec. 21.—In the great am
phitheatre of the University of Paris
(the Sorbonne) President Wilson this
afternoon received the degree of doc
tor, conferred upon him in recogni
tion of his work as a jurist and histo
rian. This is the first itme in the
history of the University that a*
honorarary degree has been bestowed,
authorization for its granting having
been given by a recent decree.
President Poincare, the presidents
of the Senate and Chamber of Depu
ties and diplomatic corps, government
and civil and military authorities at
tended.
Great crowds cheered the President
when he arrived, accompanied by Mrs.
Wilson, American Ambassador Sharp
and Jules Jusserand, French ambassa
dor to the. United States. Alfred
Croiset, dean of the faculty of letters,
welcomed President Wilson in a short
address and presented to him the di
ploma of doctor as a testimonial to
his work as an historian and his writ
ings on historical subjects. Ferdinand
Lamaude, dean of the faculty of law,
then bestowed upon the President the
degree of doctor for his works on ju
risnrudence and political science.
Lucien Poincare, vice-rector of the
University and brother of the Presi
dent of the Republic, paid an elo
auent tribute to President Wilson’s
ability as a professor before he en
tered upon his political career, and
told of the President’s part in the
war.
THREE IN AUTO KILLED
BY RAILWAY TRAIN.
Wilson, Dec. 21.—Mrs. J. T. Flowers
and her daughter, Miss Laura Flowers,
and her son-in-law, Mr. Harvey Har
rison, all of Old Field township, who
were riding in an automobile, were
fatally injured here last night when
the car in which they were was crash
ed into by the rear car of a Norfolk
Southern train at the Tarboro street
crossing of the railway.
All three were removed to a hos
pital. Mrs. Flowers and Miss Flowers
died in about an hour. Mr. Harrison
died this morning at 8:15.
The accident occurred w(hen the
train was backing out of the “Y” pre
paring to resume its eastward trip.
The auto, with its occupants, was
dragged about 15 feet. The rear car
of the traia was derailed.—News and
Observer.
Rev. E. C. Stevens will preach at
Blackman’s Grove Baptist church,
Sunday, December 29, at 11 o’clock.
DR. J. Y. JOYNER RESIGNS.
Has Been State Superintendent for
Seventeen Years—Governor Bickett
Appoints Mr. E. C. Brooks, of Trin
ity College to Succeed Him—Gossip
Says Joyner May Be Candidate for
Governor.
The news sent out front Raleigh
Saturday and published in the Sunday
papers that Dr. James Y. Joyner had
resigned as State Superintendent of
Public Instruction came as a great
surprise to the general public. The
Raleigh dispatch to the Charlotte Ob
server gives the story as follows:
Dr. J. Y. Joyner has resigned as
State Superintendent ofPublic Instruc
tion and Governor Bickett appoints
E. C. Brooks, of Trinity College, as his
successor, the resignation and ap
pointment to be effective January 1.
The resignation came as a complete
surprise although it seems that Dr.
Joyner had notified the Governor last
summer that he contemplated such
action. Dr. Joyner has been State Su
perintendent of Public Instruction for
seventeen years.
Dr. Brooks, the new State Superin
tendent, was for a number of years
connected with the State Department
of Education before he joined the fac
ulty of Trinity College. He is an ed
ucator of recognized ability, and is fa
miliar with the wcrk of the State Su
perintendency1.
Dr. Joyner’s resignation is for the
purpose of taking a much needed rest.
However, in spite of this, gossip is
getting him very much entangled as
a strong possibility in the next race
for Governor and also as president of
the University of North Carolina, as
successor to the lamented Dr. E. K.
Graham. Dr. Joyner wrote this letter
to the Governor:
“My dear Governor:
“As county superintendent of my
native county before I was 21 years
of age, as chairman of the county
board of education, as teacher and
superintendent of the public schools,
as teacher and dean in the State Nor
mal and Industrial College, as State
Superintendent of Public Instruction
for the past seventeen years, I have
been in public service and have felt
the weight of public responsibility
for 37 years. I have had joy in the
service. I am more grateful and ap
preciative than I can ever express in
word or fact for the measure of con
fidence, support, co-operation and ap
preciation, far beyond my deserts,
that I have received from the people
of North Carolina during all these
years. I need a rest now. I hope to
have earned it. I«iave had scant time,
especially during the past 17 busy
years, to give to my private business.
It needs attention.
“In accordance with my notification
to you last summer, I beg, therefore,
to tender my resignation as State Su
perintendent of Public Instruction, to
take effect January 1, 1919.”
In accepting the resignation, Gov
ernor Bickett wrote Dr. Joyner as fol
lows:
Governor Pickett's Reply.
“My dear Doctor Joyner:
I am just in receipt of your letter
of this date tendering your resigna
tion, effective January 1. I deeply re
giet that the State is to lose the ben
efit of your services, but concur in the
opinion that you have rightly earned a
period of rest.
“I know that any words of fulsome
praise would be distasteful to you. but
writing with rigid conservatism, I am
constrained to say that during the 17
years you have been State Superin
tendent of Public Instruction you have
made a noble and imperishable con
tribution to the intellectual and moral
life of the State.
“I deem it not improper to add that
when you notified me last summer of
your intention to resign the first of
January I at once offered to consult
with you about your successor. You
stated that vou would prefer that I
should not do so, as you did not de
sire to have anything to do with nam
ing your successor. Immediately after
this conversation I made up my mind
to appoint Dr. E. C. Brooks,‘of the
chair of education in Trinity College,
and at once went to Dr. Brooks to as
certain whether or not he would be
willing to accept the appointment. He
advised me that he would, and T am
todav naming him as your successor.
“With sentiments of affectionate es
teem, I beg to remain.
“T. W. BICKETT.”
Td<>a?s of Service.
Boys and girls who g™ to count
j ’pr<irp]v Jo 0ur f0TriTnT*r!rtv' life when
I they become mon and women must be
actuated by ^deels of service, be eb^e
to think str-lght, and be will've- to
co-operate with others in those activ
'ties which roa^e to- the common
~ood. The qoes+ion ton eve-y teacher
is: “Are my doits develooine these
’deals and abilities now?”—George D.
Strayer.
W. S. S. STAMPS NOW PAY
HIGHEST RATE OF INTEREST
Stamps nought in December Pay 4.55.
Bankers Say Stamps Best
Best Investment.
Winston-Salem, Dec. 23. — The
bankers of the State are calling to the
attention of the public the fact that
War Savings Stamps purchased in
December at $4.23 will pay the inves
tor 4.55 per cent interest, which is the
highest rate of interest received on
any security yet/issued by the Govern
ment. For the reason that the stamps
mature in four vertrs, January 1, 1923,
and give both the large and small in
vestor an opportunity not only to in
vest on an unusually attractive basis,
but an opportunity to render his gov
ernment assitsanee in paying the enor
mous war debt, the stamp is the most
attractive investment that is before
the public at this time.
Persons who are contemplating
buying stamps of the 1919 issue, and
those who are asking for an opportu
nity to redeem their War Savings
pledges in 1911) stamns, will do well
to consider what is to be gained by
buying1 stamps in December of 1918.
Stamps bought in December of this
year bear 4.55 per cent interest
against a rate of 4.20 per cent inter
est if bought in January or February
of next year. In addition to this,
stamps bought this year mature one
year earlier than those bought next
year.
SLUMP IN PRICES OF USED CARS
Signing of Armistice Makes New Car
Production Factor in Market.
Ot its best the used car market has
always been somewhat unstable. Va
rious makes of cars have at different
times been in great demand, and dur
ing this period naturally the price
has been high.
Previous to November 11, when the
armistice \yas signed, any sort of an
automobile, so long as it would run,
commanded a good price, because mo
tor car manufacturers had been in
structed by the government to be on
a 100 per cent war work basis by Jan
uary 1, 1919. This meant »o more
new cars built. In fact, many manu
facturers already were out of pro
duction and there was no telling when
new cars would be offered for sale.
Consequentuy any one who contem
plated the purchase of an automobile
proceeded to buy.
All of this has been upset by the
signining of the armistice and the
granting of permission for motor ca,r
manufacturers to resume production.
With the knowledge that it will again
be possible to get new machines, per
haps not immediately, but within a
few months, many will prefer to wait
and get a new machine instead of buy
ing a used automobile. To many
who were offered liberal inducements
to part with their cars six weeks or
two months ago it will be a distinct
shock when they try to dispose of
them now, to find that there is a great
variance in the price they were offered
and the price that can be had today.—
Washington Post.
Johnstonians in Washington,
Mr. S. R. Winters, writing from
the National Capital to the News and
Observer, gives some news of interest
to Johnston county people as follows:
A marriage license was issued in
Washington City today (Friday) to
Reginald C, Pierce, of Fair Haven,
Mass., and Hilda R. Tomlinson, of
Clayton, N. C. The groom is twenty
seven years old and the bride twenty
four.
Representative Claude Kitchin will
spend the holidays in Washington.
Representative E. Y. Webb is already
in Shelby and will remain during the
Christmas period. Representative E.
W. Pou will spend the festive week
here. Representatives Godwin, Small,
Robinson and Doughton will be in the
State. Representative Zebulon Weav
er and his private secretarv. W. L.
Hardin, will both remain in Washing
ton.
Mrs. G. R. Pou and daughter, Miss
Lillian Sanders, will arrive this week
in Washington to join George R. Pou,
lately named secretarv to the House
Rules Committee. They will take an
apartment. Miss Margaret Atlee Pou
arrived here today from Smithfield to
spend the holidays with her parents.
EX-JUDGE OWEN GUION
TO SUCCEED WHEDBEE.
Raleigh. Dec. 20.—Governor Bick
ett, turning up unexpectedly tonight
from Baltimore, appointed Judge
Owen II. Guion, of New Bern, judge
to succeed Harry V/. Whedbee, there
by settling a race that had become
exciting, with H. J. Everett leading in
bar endorsements.
Governor Bickett was moved to
name the elder of the trio by the fact
that Judge Guion had served o» the
bench, is a seasoned trial officer and in
the Governor's opinion a highly able
lawyer.
NEWSY NOTES FROM SELMA.
Miss Paris, Domestic, Science Teacher
to Re Married Jan. 4—Twentieth
Century Mother’s Club Organized.
Schools Close to Open Again De
cember 30.
Selma, Dec. 23.—The Christmas
j Roll Call for Red Cross members is
meeting with favor. Interest is grow
ing in the drive daily.
School closed Saturday until De
cember 30. Most of the teachers are
going home for the holidays. Miss
Eunice Keel, of South Carolina, will
spend the holidays with Miss Louise
Relle Pittman at Mount Olive. Miss
Jessie McKee, of Belmont, will spend
the time with Mrs. E. H. Moser.
Miss Julia Winston will go to Nor
folk to spdnd Christmas with her par
ents.
Miss Lelia Straughn and Miss Alta
Debnam, students of the Greensboro
College for Women, are at home for
the holidays.
The Twentieth Century Mother’s
Club met at the school building Fri
day under the direction of Mrs.
Brown and organized a mothers’ club
for Selma with twenty-three charter
members. Mrs. J. B. Person was
made president, Mrs. R. R. Lanier
vice-president, Mrs. E. V. Woodard
recording secretary, Mrs. J. E. Young
assistant recording secretary, Mrs. I.
W .Mayerberg corresponding secre
tary and Miss Margaret Etheredge
treasurer. No better organization
was ever started in Selma for the
good of the town and its children thaa
this one. It should be heartily sup
ported and encouraged. The school
teachers will co-operate with the or
ganization and help to make it far
reaching in its influence for better
training of children in the community.
This kind of a tie between the parents
and the teachers is needed in every
community and has long been needed
in Selma.
Miss Helen Paris, of the Selma
school faculty, resigned her position
as Domestic Science teacher Saturday
Miss Paris will be married to Lieut.
C. E. Ervin, of the Marine Corps,
Paris Island, S. C., on January 4,
1919. Lieutenant Ervin is a graduate
of the State University, and a gradu
ate of a Pennsylvania Medical Col
lege. Miss Paris is a Normal gradu
ate and a successful teacher of Do
mestic Arts. Both these young people
are accomplished and popular. The
people of Selma extend to them their
best wishes for a happy life.
Friday night the Archer Literary
Society of the Selma schools gave a
dramatic representation of The Bird’s
Christmas Carol. These girls had in
tended to use this as a regular pro
gram at the Thursday’s Society meet
ing. But when they had prepared it
under the direction of Miss Dodwell
and Miss McKee they decided to give
it for the benefit of the public. An
admission of fifteen cents was charg
ed and a goodly sum realized which
will go to the Library fund.
The school offered the following
program for Saturday morning’s ex
ercises:
1. Marseillaise—Tenth and Elev
enth French Class.
2. Song No. 31—School.
3. Devotional Exercise—Mr. Moser.
4. Song No. 29—School.
5. Story—Katherine Robinson.
6. Song, “Away in a Manger.”—
Second Grade.
7. Pantomime “Holy Night.”—Six
girls of third and fourth grades.
8. “Jolly Old St. Nicholas—Second
Grade.
9. ‘Upon the Housetop”—Third and
Fourth Grades.
10. A Story “Christmas”—Lucy
Talton, Sixth Grade.
11. A Song—Fifth Grade.
12. Reading—Douglas Driver.
13. A Song—First Grade.
14. Reading—Miriam Breitz.
15. Solo—Thelma Oliver.
16. A Story—Agnes Rose.
17. A Song—Eighth Grade.
18. A solo—Margie Benoy.
19. A Song No. 32—School.
A large number of the town people
came to the opening and enjoyed the
delightful Christmas program offered
by the school children.
The correspondent wishes a merry
Christmas to all the readers of The
Herald. If you wish to be the hap
piest possible and remember Christ
mas most pleasantly in the future, do
your best to make some else happy
during the Yule Tide season. It is
not the receiving of gifts that brings
us contentment and happiness, but it
is being able to give good cheer and
render service to others that makes us
happiest. A little sacrifice to render a
service will do the work and fill the
heart with the season’s good will and
good cheer. So a merry Christmas to
all.
Special Services.
Rev. John E. Lanier will conduct
services at Pisgah Baptist church the
fifth Sunday in December at 11
o’clock. He urges the members es
pecially to attend.
1