VOLUME 39 SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1920 XT L 7,
_ - Number 11.
NEW COURT HOUSE
PLANS ACCEPTED
* Handsome Three Story Edifice Of
Indiana Marble to be Erected on
The Present Court House Site. Will
Accommodate all County Officers
And Have Jail on Top Floor. Steps
Now to be Taken to Build at an
Early Date.
Johnston county is to have a new
and commodious court house. The
plans for the building were accepted
at the regular meeting of the county
commissioners held here last Monday.
Harry Barton, of Greensboro, was
selected several weeks ago as archi
tect for the new building. He, togeth
er with several members of the board
of commissioners visited Wayite coun
ty court house and studied the situa
tion with the result that the plans
were presented Monday and then gone
over carefully and then approved.
The building is to be a handsome
edifice with plenty of room to accom
modate all the county officers and will
tane care of -the county’s business for
years to come. It will be three stories
high with a basement. The jail will
be located on the top floor. We un
derstand it will cost from $350,000
to $400,000.
_ 1
B. F. WELLONS WINS SUCCESS.
Consummates Cotton Mill Deal and
Gets Commission of Fifty Thousand
Dollars.
The more the writer thinks about
the wording of the English language
and the relation of the words one to
another, the greater value he attach
es to some particular word. It seems
customary for some people, or most
people, to have their little pet word,
or their “hobby” and if the writer
may choose his word, it is “Resource
fulness.”
Applying the word “resourceful
ness” it has come to my notice that
if a person taught to be resourceful,
he has a great,'‘or one of the greatest,
assets in life. North Carolina pre
sents untold possibilities for a young
man, and, if he is resourceful, there
is no need for him to lea^e the state
, in order to make money or be emi
nently successful in life. A young at
torney, and if I may use his name,
B. F. Wellons, of Charlotte, may be
used as an illustration. For the past
ten days he has been in our midst
and no one knew just what he was up
to, or perhaps he was up to see his
best girl, as some of us thought, but
lo and behold, it became known to
day that he was all the time secretly
planning or trying to find a purchas
er for the Union Cotton Mills, and
yesterday he closed the deal with a
profit of fifteen thousand dollars com
mission.
This oppoitunity was open to any
one of our young men, and probably
has been for some time, but they,
like most of us, “were in the midst
of the Amazon and did not think the
water was good to drink.” But then
the writer has known young Mr. Wel
lons for some time and has seen him
utilize his opportunities before.
H. H. LOWRY.
Newton, Feb. 4.
Earthquake in Brazil.
Dispatches from the State of Minas
Geraes, Brazil, report that an earth
quake Sunday shook down a number
of houses in the country districts cre
ating great panic among the inhabi
tants. The dispatches say that in in
tensity the earth shock is without
precedent in that region.
The entire town of Loeger, West
Virginia, was destroyed by fire Sun
day and thirty-five families are home
less as a result. The village had about
600 population.
Fifty families were made homeless
and 1,000 families were driven to the
streets by fires in Brooklyn which
swept private residences and apart
ment houses from midnight to 8 o’
clock last night. Firemen were call
ed to extinguish thirty-five fires.
Durham’s Fire Report.
According to the report of D. C.
Christian, chief of the fire depart
ment, which will be submitted to the
aldermen tonight, the fire losses in
Durham during the year 1919 totaled
$30,477.35. The losses sustained by
the property owners was $14,035, a
per capita loss of $1.02. The total
value of property endangered during
1919 was $476,360 against $193,545 in
1918. Insurance loss on buildings and
I contents the past year was $16,
442.25, while in 1918 the insurance
loss was $7,043.27.
Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker,
has accepted an invitation to address
the Chamber of Commerce at New i
Bern on the evening of February 17. i
Mrs. Baker, mother of the Secretary, i
is now visiting friends in New Bern. '
DR. MARTIN SOON TO
WED MISS ANDERSON
Engagement Announced Wednesday
Evening by Mrs. W. H. Hipps at
Very Pleasant Social Function—
Miss Lawley Toasts Bride-to-Be.
Dan Cupid found his way to the
home of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hipps,
on Fourth street, in this city Wednes
day evening, and opened the doors to
a number of the younger set. The
reception hall and drawing room were
thrown together for the occasion,
poinsettias and long leaf pine branch
es being used most effectively to-carry
out the color scheme of red and green.
The lights were shaded with red to
add to this motive. Mrs. Hipps and
Mrs. H. W. Baucom very graciously
received the guests at the door.
Upon the* arrival of all the guests,
Mrs. Hipps distributed red hearts and
they then proceeded to their respec
tive places at the tables, where pro
gressive hearts was played. Miss
Augusta Anderson and Miss Lillie
Talton cut the cards for the prize,
both having made the highest score.
As the hands of the block neared
ten, the guests were led to the dining
room by Mrs. Baucom. Here the color
scheme of red and green was most
prominent. Standing on the table
were a beautiful bride with flowing
veil and a wreath of flowers, and
Cupid with his bow and arrow.
Besides each plate was found a
dainty place card representing Cupid
with his arrow. Tied to each of these
was a red ribbon which was attached
to the bride and the Cupid in the cen
ter of the table. Upon investigation,
the guests found that small scrolls
bearing characteristic verses were
hidden, and much excitement was
created on reading these. On a larg
er scroll the, following was found:
“Know ye all, Whereas William, son
of Daniel, of J;he house of Martin, and
Augusta, daughter of Nelson, of the
house of Anderson, having reached
years of discretion and understanding,
seek admission into the state of mat
rimony.
“I, Daniel Cupid, Governor of said
state, hereby proclaim them candi
dates for such admission oh or after
March twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred
twenty.
“Written under my hand and seal
on the fourth day of February, nine
teen hundred twenty.
“(Signed) Daniel Cupid.”
This was read by Miss Lucy Law
ley, who then gave the following
toast to the bride-elect.
“Here’s to the lass from ‘The land of
# the sky,’
Here’s to the lass with the blue in
her eye;
Tho’ she’s been a flirt, still is, ’tis
true,
With her habits of old, she must now
be through.
You’ve surely done well, while Super
visor you’ve been,
You’ve vamped all the School children
and committeemen;
By some hook or crook a man you’ve
acquired,
Indeed, young lady, your nerve’s to be
admired.
Here’s to you, Gus, you’ve made your
choice,
We proclaim your happiness in one
glad voice; x
May the Blue Bird that brings joy all
o’er the land
Be the one bird, the Martin, the lucky
man.”
As quickly, Miss Anderson respond
ed to this toast with the following:
“Here’s to the toast-mistress, the gay
Movie Star;
Here’s to the future, she’s something
to look for;
Here’s to our fair hostess, she’s
charming, she’s gay,
So well she’s entertained us in her
wonderful way.
Here’s to you girls, my hopes are for
you,
Leap Year has served me, may it
serve you, too.”
For a few moments, the room was
filled with one ovation of toasts and
£ood wishes to the bride-to-be.
A delightful salad course, carrying
>ut the color motive of red, was served
with sandwiches and coffee. Misses
Lalla Rookh Stephenson, Mamie Sue
rones, Bettie Watson, Gertrude Car
raway, Cora Belle Ives, Lucy Lawley,
Sadie Puckett, Madge Kennette, Mag
gie Brown, Annie Peacock, lone Abell,
Lillie Talton, Augusta Anderson, Mrs.
H. W. Baucom, Mrs. Rosser Lane
were th$ guests of the occasion.
One hundred and forty-seven golf
:rs played the first eighteen holes of
;he 36-hole qualifying round in the an
lual St. Valentine tournament at
Pinehurst Monday.
NEW COTTON STORAGE
WAREHOUSE COMPANY
Ready to Ask for Charter of Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars.—Seven
teen Thousand Dollars Already
Subscribed.—Stockholders Optimis
tic Over Situation.
Those who had subscribed stock in
the cotton warehouse met here Wed
nesday and voted to apply for a state
charter for $500,000 capital stock,
with $17,000 subscribed. J. P. Park
ier, S. T. Liles and A. M. Johnson
were the committee appointed to se
cure a charter and to call a meeting
of^the stockholders to elect directors
and officers as soon as the charter had
been granted, which will take abotit
a week. The secretary, Mr. Johnson,
was instructed to continue to solicit
stock and the warehouse committee
was asked to get ready to dicker with
the state warehouse superintendent
for a building and a site at Smithfield
to begin with this year.
The stockholders are very optimis
tic over the new venture because the
state is behind it. The profits from
cotton warehouses in the past have
been above 15 per cent dividend. John
B. Cannon was not able to be pres
ent but wired that he would come
later. He is president of the Spar
tanburg Warehouse Company that
was organized last year in South Car
olina and which is doing so well.
Mr. Liles grinned out loud just af
ter the meeting and said that he was
sure now* that he was going to live to
see Johnston County cotton in out of
the weather and marketed at a liv
ing price, and he has gray hairs too.
“The ice is now broken and we are
at the bottom of things,” he said,
“and we are surprised to find that we
are in only ankle deep; it will be
easier now.”
Cotton Meeting.
There* were some 200 in attendance
at the cotton meeting here Wednes
day in spite of the rain and mushy
roads. Mr. S. T. Liles, president of
the local cotton association, presided.
A. M. Johnson, the secretary-treasur
er, reported what had been done to
date and made an appeal for immedi
ate action in starting warehouses here
in Johnston county. Mr. W. M. San
ders explained the options being tak
en on low grades of cotton. Mr. S. J.
Kirby, the new county agent, suc
ceeding Mr. Johnson, was introduced
to the folks present and asked that
they give him a chance to help solve
their farm problems and he would
see to it that they would not be dis
appointed. During a short recess cot
ton association members were solicit
ed and 36 were secured.
The next issue was the taking of
options for low grades of cotton or
low middling and below. Here was a
scramble, 41 cents for low middling,
with 80 per cent cash, the rest in de
ferred payments at six per cent. Over
1400 bales were disposed of. But
some of the banks refused to endorse
the delivery of the farmers’ cotton
an^l that may make a difference. But
Mr. Johnson is going to find out about
it and let those who took options know
by Saturday, 7th. Options can be
signed till the 10th of February. The
blanks may be had from Mr. Johnson
at his offise over the post office, he
says. The option holds the one who
made it for 30 days only.
Flu Situation in Raleigh.
Two deaths and 109 new cases of in
fluenza were the developments in the
situation at Raleigh Wednesday. None
of the Colleges there except the State
College have the disease-’among the
students. A strict quarantine is ob
served.
The situation at the Methodist Or
phanage where there have been more
than two hundred cases, is improved.
No new cases were reported. There <
have been however, two deaths at the
orphanage, two boys who developed
pneumonia.
AN UNUSUAL CASE.
Wife Wants to Provide English Sweet
heart and Baby of Her Husband 1
With a Home Here.
New York, Jan. 31.—A plea that <
her husband’s sweetheart, Miss Emily i
Knowles, a young English girl and
her three months old baby be permit- ]
ted to land in this country has been ]
made to the Bureau of Immigration !
in Washington by Mrs. Cora M. Spik- !
jr, of Baltimore, wife of an Ameri- ]
-an aviator, it was learned today at 1
Ellis Island. j
Mrs. Spiker declared that she and 1
her husband, Percey R. Spiker, wish :
to adopt the child and also offer Miss
Knowles a home. The aviator’s broth- <
;r, Guy S. Spiker, who has never seen
-he English girl, submitted an affidav- 1
it that he was willing to marry her.— i
Concord Times. <
BUSINESS LOTS SELL
AT FANCY PRICES
'1
Six Thousand Four Hundred Dollars
Paid fcr One Lot 25x146 Feet Two
Blocks of Court House—Sale Con
ducted Wednesday by the Union
Auction Company.
Highest prices ever paid for business
lots in Smithfield were paid here Wed
nesday for the seven lots on the south
side of Market street, just opposite
the Center Brick Warehouse. These
lots were 25x146 feet in size and
within two blocks of the court house.
The corner lot brought $6,450 while
the lot next to it brought five thous
and. The third brought over four
thousand and so on, the lowest bring
ing three thousand. The sale was
conducted by the Union Auction Com
pany. Mr. Sam T. Honeycutt was
manager of the sale, while Mr. H. T.
Herndon was the auctioneer. Among
the purchasers were Mr. Simon B.
Jones, Mr. W. F. Grimes, Mr. Don
Peterson, Mr. Whitehurst, Mr. J .D.
Underwood and others. These lots
are on Market street and in the cen
ter of what will be one cf the best
business districts of the town in a
few years. The seven lots sold for
a little more than $28,000. .
Joe Johnson Hurt Wednesday.
We regret to learn that Mr. Joe
Johnson was badly hurt Wednesday
afternoon while delivering a tractor
to a purchaser near Princeton. He
had the tractor on a big truck and
crossing a creek about three miles
from Princeton he found that he was
unable to make it up the hill on ac
count of the condition of the roads.
He therefore decided to take the trac
tor off of the truck and drive it to his
customer with its own power. But
in some way the skids turned and it
looked as if the tractor would fall
and so he drove it down the skids and
some way it threw him off the seat
and one wheel passed over his leg. He
was taken to Princeton and Dr. Wood
ard dressed the injured limb. A car
was sent from Smithfield and brought
him home. He was taken to Wilson
to a hospital by Dr. Muns and his
brother, Mr. Henry Johnson. There
it was found that the bone was not
crushed but the flesh was badly torn
and the wound was a rather painful
one. It is hoped he will be home
again in a few days.
PNEUMONIA AND INFLUENZA.
New Cases Appear In Greater Num
bers Throughout North Carolina.
Pneumonia developing in many sec
tions of the State Wednesday, says
the News and Observer, added to the
apprehension of health authorities
over the spread of the epidemic of in
fluenza that has been widespread for
the past three weeks. During the day
79 new cases of this most dreaded dis
ease were reported to the State Board
of Health, with nine deaths. Sylvia,
the county seat of Jackson county,
was the worse stricken with 36 cases
of pneumonia and 30 cases of influ
enza for the 24 hour period ending
at 8 o’clock Tuesday night.
The influenza epidemic spreads un
checked, according to the reports at
the State board, with an increase of
500 new cases for the day, a total of
2,485. Distress calls are being receiv
ed in considerable numbers, and ad
vice requested as to the advisability
of closing schools, churches, and all
places of gathering. Such help as the
ooard is able to offer is being furn
ished, but the matter of closing
ichools left in the hands of local health
authorities.
Relatively few deaths have been re
ported thus far in the epidemic, but
with the increase of pneumonia that
s expected for the next few days, the
leath rate will probably increase al
so. Influenza itself is not regarded
is so serious as it was last year, but
;he possibility of pneumonia following
nfluenza seems in no way reduced.
Wednesday’s report by counties is
is follows:
Cabarrus, 150; Chatham, 27; Chero
cee, 23; Clay, 31; Cleveland, 40; Cum
jerland, 1; Davidson, 133; Durham,
l8; Winston-Salem, 214; Franklin, 3;
jaston, 8; Granville, 12; Greensboro,
10; Guilford, 500; High Point, 70;
Jalifax, 3; Haywood, 22; Jackson, 30;
^ee, 10; Martin, 10; Mecklenburg, 16;
ditchell, 75; Moore, 75; Montgomery,
i; Wilmington, 17; Ne/w Hanover, 2;
Northampton, 13; Pitt, 42; Polk, 6;
tockinghan, 40; Rowan, 98; Ruther
ord, 50; Sampson, 15; Stanley, 15;
surrey, 2; Union, 300; Raleigh, 94;
Washington, 10; Wilson, 42; Yancey,
4. Total, 2,485.
Pneumonia was reported Wednes
lay as follows:
Carthage, 2; Sylvia, 36; Tryon, 2;
Wilson, 2; Gastonia, 2; Wilmington,
!; Winston-Salem, 1; Albemarle, 10;
scattered, 19. Total, 79.
SHORT WEEK WILL
NOT FEED HUNGRY'
Everybody Must Do A Reasonable
Day’s Work To Down H. C. L.—See
No Reason Why Farmers Should
Slave Long Hours, While Others
Slack On the Job.
Sherman J. Lowell, master of the
National Grange, in a statement giv
en out at Syracuse, N. Y., Monday, de
clared it was the belief of the farm
ers of the country that the only way
to reduce the cost of living was for
every one to be willing’to do “a rea
sonable day’s work," and that the for
ty-four hour week would never sup
port even America. Mr. Lowell’s
statement, in part, follows:
“The farmers’ belief concerning the
way to reduce the cost of living is for
everyone to be willing again to do a
reasonable day’s work. The 44 hour
week will never support America, to
say nothing of feeding a hungry world
“Those who are best informed on
agricultural conditions in America
cannot offer the slightest hope of low
er food prices, so far as the farmer
is concerned.
“In the reconstruction everyone
must get ready to actually work again
to save again, and to a considerable
degree to get back to thrift, sanity
and common sense, or else accept as
permanent the present scale of living
costs, in which event we might just as
well stop ranting about the high cost
of living and realize that a new basis
of economic procedure is here to stay.
“This is the declaration of the Na
tional Grange, which sees in the fu
ture no reason why its members
should slave long hours, seven days a
week, to supply cheap food to the oth
er workers of the country, who enjoy
short hours and unlimited opportunity
for rest and pleasure. Speaking as
the largest and best established farm
ers’ organization in America, the
Grange hereby notifies the world that
the farmers do not intend to keep re
sponding to the call, ‘produce, pro
duce, produce,’ so long as other lines
adopt as their slogan, ‘reduce, reduce,
reduce.’
“There are five very definite things
that may be expected in time to have
an effect upon the production of a
world’s food:
“1. A more direct and less expen
sive system of distribution.
“2. The removal of all artificial
restrictions \upon the sale of farm
products.
“3. A lengthened industrial day,
with honest service for wages paid.
“4. Increased dividends on farm
investment which will enable their
owners to meet the wage scale of
competing occupations.
“5. Increasing social and educa
tional privileges in rural communiti
es.”
GLENDALE ITEMS.
There were services at the Free
Will Baptist church Sunday. They
have a new church house which is
furnished with new seats, lights, rugs
and bell. Also there is a wide awake
Sunday school under the supervision
of Mr. E. G. Holland.
Miss Lelia Currin spent the week
end with friends at Mount Olive.
Mr. Clarence E. Blackstock of Ashe
ville spent the week end with his sis
ter, Miss Ethel Blackstock who has
charge of the music department of
Glendale high school.
The farmers of our section are
quite busy preparing plant beds for
tobacco.
Miss Ora Holland of Fremont was
the guest of Miss Debbie Cuddington
last week.
Services will be held at Old Beulah
next Saturday and Sunday the 7th
and 8th by Elder Martin of Virginia.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Woodard went
to Wilson last Saturday.
Mr. Stephen Alford of Kenly has
recently moved in our midst. He has
built a nice dwelling and we under
stand he will open a store and garage
shortly.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Eason of
Smithfield spent last Sunday with Mr.
and Mrs. J. A. Wheeler.
Miss Nancey and Mr. Herman Price
of Kenly spent the week end with
Miss Octavia Hales.
Every two weeks on Monday night
there is a picture show given at Glen
iale high school. A large crowd at
tends and the pictures and music are
snjoyed by all.
A delightful party was given last
Saturday evening at the home of Miss
Elsie Boyett in honor of her guest,
Miss Frances Morris of near Selma.
Mr. Richard Fimell formerly of our
section has been visiting Mr. H. A.
Stancil the past week.
BJiOWN EYES.
Sixty nurses from United States
general hospital No. 19 at Oteen near
\sheville have been sent to Chicago
M help in the influenza epidemic
;here.
GROUND BOUGHT FOR
NEW HIGH SCHOOL
Board of Trustees of Smithfield Grad
ed Schools Has Purchased Myatt
Lot South Present School Grounds.
Board Will Take Steps to Erect A
New High School Building at an
Early Date.
Last Wednesday the Board of Trus
tees of Smithfield Graded Schools pur
chased more ground and will plan
for the erection of a new high school
building as early as possible. For
some time the board has been consid
ering several sites and after weigh
ing and considering the question from
eveiy standpoint a decision was reach
ed this week that no better or more
available site could be secured than
the western end of the lot belonging
to Mr. J. Walter Myatt. While the
board was looking around the Myatt
lot passed into the hands of the Un
ion Auction Company and the deal
was made with the company for the
property. The Union Auction Com
pany was planning to cut up the prop
erty into residence lots and offer them
for sale at an fearly day. They al
ready had the day set for the sale and
had part of their advertising matter
ready for advertising the sale. While
the auction company which is com
posed of several Smithfield citizens
was quite sure of making a nice profit
on the sale it was generous in its deal
with the school board and asked for
only enough above the price paid to
cover expenses already incurred.
The members of the board appreci
ate the action of the Union Auction
Company in surrendering what might
have been a nice profit to the compa
ny for the good of the schools of the
town.
At an early date the school board
plans to have an expert on school
buildings and an architect to visit the
town and help the board to determine
what kind of building is most suited
to the needs of the town.
The property purchased comprises
all that lot south of the present school
site except the house and lot where
Mr. Myatt now lives. In all the land
secured i£ almost two acres and will
furnish room for the nevtr high school
building and also provide the neces
sary playgrounds.
CLAYTON NEWS.
Clayton, Feb. 4.—Miss Genie Thom
as of Meredith College, Raleigh, spent
this week end with her parents.
Mr. Ralph Austin has accepted a
position with J. R. Hinnant & Co. He
was there until called into service.
After having seen active service in
France his friends welcome him back
again.
Mr. Elsie Gattis of Four Oaks spent
Sunday here.
Mr. Harvey Parker of Selma was
in town last Saturday.
Mr. A. V. Gulley made a business
trip to Princeton last Saturday.
Mr. Wayland Jones happened to the
misfortune to break his arm yester
day while cranking a Ford truck. He
is getting along nicely todaj^> *
Mrs. O. G. Smith spent last Satur
day in Raleigh. 9
Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Wallace spent
Sunday in Selma.
The friends of Mr. Elwood Kelly are
glad to see him back in the post office
again. He has been gone for some
time, having enlisted in the U. S.
Navy at the beginning of the war.
Mrs. Miller White will be hostess to
the members of the Halcyon Club this
afternoon at three o’clock at her home
an Main street.
Bom to Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Lam
bert last week, a daughter, Rosalind
Hinton.
Mr. C. W. Home and Ashley are
both confined to their beds with in
fluenza. They are getting along nice
ly and hope to be out again soon.
There are several other cases in town
but none of them have proven very
3erious yet.
The Young People’s Book Club.
Friday afternoon, January 30, Miss
Agnes Massey cordially entertained
The Young People’s Book Club from
three to five o’clock.
The business first in order was
burning in all the books, after which
progressive rook was engaged in.
Following this delightful entertain
ment, a most unique salad course was
served with hot chocolate, the salad
being served in attractive orange
baskets.
The occasion was much enjoyed and
ill agreed unanimously they would be
glad when it came Miss Massey’s time
to entertain again.
Those present were Mesdames Lu
ther Edgerton, E. F. Holt, John Wood
ard, Will Suggs, R. S. Stevens and
Misses Agnes Massey, Bessie and Jes
sie Massey, Lena Woodard, Leone
Holt, and Lena Brewer.
The club will meet next with Mrs.
E. F. Holt, Friday, February 13th.
Princeton, Feb. 3.