VOLUME 39
SMITHFIELD, N. €., TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1920.
Number 26.
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY
CONVENTION MEETS
Delegates and Alternates Named to
The State Convention Which Meets
In Raleigh Thursday—Resolution
Giving All Democrats Who May
Attend a Voice in Convention—
Congressman Pou Heartily Endors
ed_Ed. S. Abell Endorsed for Del
egate to San Francisco.
The Democrats of Johnston county
met in Smithfield Saturday at noon.
Representative men from most of the
townships were here to participate in
the deliberations.
The convention was called to order
by Mr. Ed. S. Abell who has been
chairman of the County Executive
Committee for the past four years.
Mr. Hubert I. Ogburn was called to
the chair. Mr. T. J. Lassiter was ask
ed to serve as secretary. <^>n motion
the temporary organization was made
permanent and the convention pio
ceeded to business.
The matter of choosing delegates to
the State convention was taken up and
each township was asked to name one
delegate and one alternate with the
exception of Selma which was entitled
to two each and Clayton and Smith
field which were entitled to three
each. This was done and the follow
ing delegates and alternates were se
lected to attend the State convention
at Raleigh Thursday, April 8th.
The first named are delegates.
Wilson’s Mills—Delegate, C. M.
Wilson; alternate, B. A. Turnage.
Clayton—W. S. Penn, L. H. Cham
pion, C. P. Ellis; L. T. Rose, J. I.
Whitley and L. F. Austin.
Cleveland—F. M. Weeks and C. L.
Sanders.
Pleasant Urove—n. i. uguum am.
Claude Stephenson.
Elevation—S. A. Lassiter and W.
E. Thornton.
Banner—Wade H. Royal and J. R.
Barbour.
* Meadow—Walter V. Blackman and
J. Mans? Wood.
Bentonville—W. H. Upchurch and
J. T. Langston.
Ingrams—W. R. Keen and W. E.
Barbour.
Boon Hill—G. F. Woodard and A.
F. Holt.
Beulah—P. D. Grady and H. F.
Edgerton.
Oneals—W. H. Brown and E. Grant.
Micro—C. A. Fitzgerald and W. N.
Barden.
Wilde-rs—W. T. Hinton and J. I.
Murphy.
Pine Level—D. B. Oliver and S. A.
Peedin.
Selma—George F. Moore and R. J.
Noble; W. B. Roberts and F. B. Whit
ley.
Smithfield—Ed. S. Abell, Chas. A.
Creech and Jas. A. W lions; G. B.
Smith, Robt. A. Sanders and George
Ross Pou.
On motion of Mr. Ed S. Abell the
following resolution was then passed:
Resolved That all Democrats who
may attend the State convention shall
be recognized as delegates with the
same powers and privileges as those
delegates elected by this convention.
The following was introduced by
Judge F. H. Brooks and passed unan
imously:
Whereas, the successful termina
tion of the world war was the great
est achievement in behalf of world
wide Democracy and the freedom of
the earth from autocratic domination
yet accomplished;
And whereas, we point with pride
to the part that America played in
this great world di’ama, and the rec
ord of our Great President, Woodrow'
Wilson, during those trying times;
And whereas, our own Representa
tive in Congress, Hon. E. W. Pou, as
Chairman of the House Rules Com
mittee, had an active part in present
ing all the war measures, and in
speeding them through Congress; and
has always stood shoulder to shoulder
with the President and the Democrat
is leaders in Congress in their ef
forts to hasten the winning of the
war, and for the protection of our
own soldiers and the alleviation of
suffering humanity the world over;
And Whereas, that during all the
years that Congressman E. W. Pou
has represented this district in Con
gress he has stood firmly on the bed
rock principles of Democracy, and
lent his efforts to the furtherance of
the principles of our party:
Now Therefore, Be it Resolved by
the Democrats of Johnston County, in
convention this day assembled in
Smithfield, that we heartily endorse
SMITHFIELD BOY HONORED.
Vlbert Coats Has Been Awarded the
Rumrill Fellowship In Law at Har
vard University.
Chapel Hill, April 3.—News has
iust reached Chapel Hill that Albert
Coats of Smithfield, Johnston County,
las been awarded the James A. Rum
rill Fellowship in Law at Harvard
University. The Harvard Committee
in announcing the award to Mr. Coats
stated that it was a single Fellowship
jpen to “any properly qualified grad
uate of a college or university in
North and South Carolina, Virginia,
Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Ken
tucky, and is awarded on the basis of
the college record of the applicant
both in scholarship and in general
achievement as a leader in college
life.” The fact that this Fellowship
is for use in any department of Har
vard University makes competition
for it all the stronger and the award
of it a distinct recognition.
RESCUES “999” FROM SCRAP PILE
San Francisco Sportsman Now Owns
First Ford, in Which Oldfield Made
Debut.
San Francisco, Apr. 3.—An exhibit
of unusual interest at the recent au
tomobile show here was the once fa
mous “999” racing car, the champion
of the world nearly 20 years ago, and
the first car to cover a circular track
mile in less than a minute.
This car was really the first Ford,
being designed and built in 1903 by
Henry Ford and Harold Wills. Ford
secured Barney Oldfield, then a pro
fessional cyclist, to drive the car.
On the foundation laid by the 1903
and 1904 campaign of this car, both
men rose to fame and fortune. Mr.
Ford founded the Ford Motor Com
pany, and became the world’s motor
king. Mr. Oldfield became similarly
supreme in the field of motor speed
and is now also a manufacturer, being
president of The Oldfield Tire Com
pany with an annual output worth
many millions.
When the Ford-Oldfield partnership
was dissolved, in 1905, the old speed
chariot drifted to California and lay
for many years forgotten in a pri
vate garage at Venice. It was dis
covered and bought by W. L. Hugh
son, San Francisco sportsman and
motor car merchant, who placed it in
running order and is using it as a
medium of publicity.
As an example of early design, the
“999” is unquestionably an interest
ing exhibit. It has no crankcase, no
magneto, no carburetor, no transmis
sion and no differential. Its four im
mense cylinders dwarf those of mod
ern cars. But it is as fast as ever and,
on a straightaway would be able to
give an excellent account of itself for
from one to five miles, against even
the light, handsome speedsters of the
present day.
Frank Youngblood of Sumter, S. C.,
came last Friday to spend a few days
in Smithfield with relatives and
friends.
Messrs. G. W. Massey. J. T. Austin
and Lonnie Weaver who moved to
Sampson county from Bentonville
township this county about the first
of the year were here Saturday on
business.
Mr. W. L. Ellis made a business trip
to Rutherfoi Jton Saturday in the in
terest of The Smithfield Observer.
The contract for 12 miles of road
from Pittsboro to the Orange county
line marks the beginning on a road
that is of much importance. It will
open a line from Durham by way of
Pittsboro to Sanford and make a new
l;nk in the north and south road
through the heart of the State. It
will be of gravel, and a fine hard road.
It will attract a lot of travel, and in
cidentally give Chatham county a new
start in life.—News and Observer.
the splendid record made by Congress
man E. W. Pou, and attend to him
a vote of appreciation from the Dem
ocrats of Johnston County for his ser
vices to his constituents and the
world in the great world crisis, and
that the Democracy of Jolfnston
County loyally and enthusiastically
endorse him for re-election, and rec
ommend to the Democrats of the Dis
trict his re-electun to Congress to
succeed himself.
Upon motion of Mr. Sam T. Honey
cutt Mr. E. S. Abell was unanimously
endorsed as one of the delegates from
the Fourth District to the San Fran
cisco Convention which meets on
June 28.
r
THE SELMA SCHOOL
BUILDING IS BURNED
Fire Levels to the Ground the Most
Magnificent Structure for Scty*ols
In the County—Loss Very Heavy—
Partially Covered by Insurance—
School Out on Easter Holiday.
The magnificent building of the
Selma Graded school, including all its
furniture and libraries, was leveled
to the ground Monday morning by
fire. The records of the school were
about all that were saved from the
flames. The fire was of doubtful ori
gin. The furnace had not been heated
for a week. The fire probably started
from a short circuit in the lighting
system. It was discovered that the
building was on fire about 9 o’clock.
The fire department rushed to the res
cue, but due to the lack of water pow
er, the department was unable to make
any headway against the fire.
The school had a holiday yesterday
and no one was at school when the fire
was discovered.
Arrangements are being made to
secure temporary quarters and carry
on the school work to the end of the
term.
The building was erected in 1916 at
a cost of about $60,000. It was easily
the finest and best arranged school
building in the county and one of the
best in the State. It was insured for
about $50,000, but at the present high
cost of building material, it will re
quire twice or three times that amount
to rebuild the structure.
The Selma Graded School, under
the superintendency of Prof. W. B.
Crumpton, has made an excellent rec
ord for the present school year. The
enrollment has gone above 500. A
strong organization of the student
body has been effected since the open
ing of the present term, and the school
had under way a great year’s work.
The loss of the building is keenly felt
by the Selma community and it comes
as a blow to the educational, work of
the entire county.
DANIELS DENIES REPORT
PUBLISHED IN PAPERS
Secretary of Navy Never Said Japan
Is Menace to the United States.
Washington, I). C., April 2.—Chair
man Page of the Senate Naval com
mittee, made public today a letter
from Secretary Daniels denying re
ports published in some newspapers
that the Secretary had told the com
mittee yesterday that Japan was a
menace to the United States.
“I am moved to write you,” said
Mr. Daniels, “because this publication
conveys an impression that is calcu
lated to give a friendly nation a view
of the attitude of the Secretary of the
Navy and your committee that is
wholly at variance with the attitude
of your committee and the Navy De
partment.
“I stated to the committee that our
relations with all countries on the Pa
cific were more friendly and cordial,
and that I was sure this country would
adopt no policy based upon antagon
ism to any power in the Pacific.
“I am sure that you and all the
members of the Senate Naval affairs
committee will i-egret a misleading
publication that may be misinterpret
ed by our Japanese ally and friend.”
Mr. Daniels appeared before the
committee in executive session to urge
appropriations for enlarging naval
docking and repair Dualities, on the
Pacific coast to meet the needs of the
enlarged fleet in those waters.
Gardner Asks Cleveland Not Endorse
Him.
Cleveland county Democrats were
surprised Saturday when Max Gard
ner asked the county convention not
to endorse his candidacy for Governor. ■
His friends were ready to offer the
customary resolution, but Mr. Gard
ner wanted the doors of Cleveland
county left wide open for any and all
aspirants for the office for Governor.
He said he was willing to leave it
entirely in the hands of his Neighbors
and friends.
General Wood in Campaign
General Leonard Wood, candidate
for the Republican nomination for
President, wound up his first trip into
Ohio in the interest of his candidacy
Saturday. The general expects to
make more speeches before the Ohio
primaries come off on April 27.
/
POU TO OPEN BATTLE
ON PEACE RESOLUTION
Will Move to Extend Time of Debate
—Hot Fight in l’rospeet—Clark,
Kitchin. Flood and Pou Will Lead
Democratic Offensive.
Washington, April 3.—One of the
hottest fights the house has staged
since the Republicans came into con
trol about a year ago will be waged
over the Porter resolution seeking to
declare peace with Germany by joint
resolution instead of by a peace treaty
ratified by the senate after negotia
tion by the President.
Representative Edward W. Pou, of
North Carolina, today announced that
the first gun in the fight would be the
introduction of a substitute resolution
extending the time of debate which
Republican members of the rules com
mittee propose to allow' on this impor
tant peace resolution. Democrats in
the house are preparing to enter em
phatic protest against the Republican
plan to put the peace resolution
through the house after only seven
hours of debate.
After Representative Pou, as rank
ing Democrat of the rules committee,
has moved at least twp .days debate
of the resolutioh, other Democrats will
take up the cudgels against the peace
resolution. The leaders in the bitter
fight will be former Speaker Champ
Clark, Representative Claude Kitchin,
of North Carolina; Representative
Flood, of Virginia, former chairman
of the foreign affairs committee, and
Representative Pou.
Representative Pou as ranking
Democrat on the committee, will of
fer a substitute rule allowing at least
two days debate on so important a
matter as a resolution declaring the
war with Germany at an end. Al
though Representative Pou is not con
fident of the adoption of his substi
tute, it will at least afford Democrats
an opportunity to denounce the “gag
rule” under which the peace resolution
is to be considered.
Democratic members oF the house
will contend that after the senate de
bated the peace treaty of Versailles
for almost a year it is ridiculous to
ask the house to discuss a peace reso
lution in seven hours. Though the
Porter resolution is regarded by Dem
ocrats as unconstitutional and un
precedented, and the President is ex
pected to veto it when it reaches the
White House, the minority members
of the house insist upon adequate
time for discussion of such an impor
tant proposal as that declaring the
war at an end and repealing wartime
legislation. a
Indications now are that the Re
publicans will relentlessly shorten the
house discussion and will not permit
more than one day’s consideration of
the Porter resolution. The program
is to send the peace resolution to the
senate late next week.
Senator Lodge says he does not an
ticipate protracted discussion in the
senate, although he appreciates that
the constitutional question involved
will be a temptation to senators to
discuss the resolution at some length.
—Theodore Tiller, in Greensboro
News.
SEN. GLASS DEFENDS WILSON
Denounces Shallow Democrats Who
Have Followed in Wake of Lodge.
Lynchburg, Va., April 3.—Senator
Carter Glass, of Virginia, in a letter
to City Solicitor R. C. Jackson, of
Roanoke, made public today, sharply
criticises “shallow democrats” in the
senate who “meekly followed” Sena
tor Lodge and “his hand-picked for
eign relations committee” on treaty
reservation.
“The wretched talk about the ob
stinacy of the president over the
peace treaty,” Senator Glass writes,
“is purely an invention of adversary
politicians, acquiesced in by a species
of democrat who never sympathized
with Mr. Wilson’s ideals or his poli
cies.”
The Virginia senator, who wrote de
nying Washington dispatches alleging
friction between the president and the
Virginia delegation in congress, de
nounced “men affecting faith in dem
ocratic principles and methods” who
“traduce” the president.
He calls the charges that the presi
dent refused to permit the slightest
change in the Versailles treaty “a sil
ly lie,” and speaks of so-called demo
cratic leaders in congress “who have
never led.”
HIGH FLOOD AT CHATTANOOGA
Many More Manufacturing Plants
Forced to Cltfee Down—1,000 Fami
lies Removed.
Chattanooga, Tenn., April 3—While
the flood at Chattanooga had reached
a stage of 40 feet early tonight,
Weather Observer Pindell declared he
did not expect the crest to go beyond
42 feet. Relief forces have been busy
all day aiding those in the lowlands
to move out and many families are
now domiciled at various public build
ings.
Many more manufacturing plants
were forced to close down today. The
railroads entering the city are gradu
ally overcoming the obstacles caused
by bood waters and normal setwice is
being resumed with the exception of
two lines.
In the flooded areas hundreds of
families rushed to save their house
hold goods and move to high ground.
School buildings, churches and city
auditorium are being utilized by ref
ugees. Army field kitchens sent into
the city from Fort Oglethorpe have
been placed at the various buildings.
It is estimated that 1,000 families
have already been removed from the
danger zone and the work is being
continued tonight.—Associated Press.
Vermont Women Will i'ry to Vote.
Burlington, Vt., April 2.—Women
will go to the primaries in this State
next month and will attempt to vote,
notwithstanding Gov. Clement’s re
fusal to call a special ratification ses
sion of the legislature, according to
an announcement from the State Suf
fragists’ Association headquarters
here tonight. If they are refused the
ballot, the association will appeal to
the Supreme Court.
The suffragists contend that a bill
giving women the right to vote for
Presidential electors which was pass
ed in the Legislature of 1919, but
vetoed by the Governor, is a law,
claiming that, it did not require the
Governor’s signature.
CLYDE HOEY SLATED FOR
CHAIRMAN OF CONVENTION
Ninth District Congressman and Sen
ator Overman Billed for Keynote
Speeches.
Raleigh, April 2.—Jt is thought in
state political circles that Clyde
Iloey will be made permanent chair
man of the state democratic conven
tion next week.
He will deliver one of the keynote
speeches and Senator Overman an
other. Iloey will talk on state affairs
and Overman on national. Whether
Simmons will be here is not yet
known. Governor Bickett will not ap
pear before the convention in person
to advocate endorsement of woman
suffrage, but his recommendation that
the convention pursue this course will
certainly come up. It is expected that
this will precipitate a lengthy debate
which may prolong the convention,
certainly if women delegates are seat
ed.—Charlotte Observer.
Educators Attend Chase Inauguration
Chapel Hill, April 3.—The accept
ance of President A. Lawrence Low
ell, of Harvard University, to be one
of the chief speakers at the inaugura
tion of Harry Woodburn Chase as
President of the University of North
Carolina, April 28, makes the 32nd
college President who will be in Chap
el Hill at what promises to be one of
the most important events in the Uni
versity’s century and a quarter of
history.
President Lowell, together with
President Hibben, of Princeton, and
Dr. Chas. R. Mann, Chairman adviso
ry board, war plans division, war de
partment, will discuss “The Higher
Education and Its Present Task,”
President Lowell speaking from the
view-point of the graduate school.
The total number of colleges who
are sending delegates, chiefly mem
bers of their faculties, now runs above
eighty, including nearly all the well
known institutions in the United
States. In addition to these 20 learn
ed and professional societies have
named delegates who will represent
them. Among these are the National
Geographical Society, American Ori
ental Society, American Society of
Naturalists, American Chemical So
ciety, and many others.
Mr. J. N. Cobb, of Wilson, spent
Sunday in the city with relatives and
friends.
THE NATION’S DEBT
BEING REDUCED
Reduction Doubles That of Any Pre
vious Month.—.With Debt Now At
824,698.000,000. Treasury Hopes for
Other Big Inroads.
Washington, April 2.—A reduction
of $705,660,000 in the national debt
—more than double the amount by
which the debt was lowered during
any previous month—was accomplish
ed during March, the treasury report
ed tonight. The national debt now
stands at $24,698,000,000.
Officials said this record could not
be used as a basis for forecasting fur
ther monthly reductions. They re
garded it, however, as “sound evi
dence” of the success of the treasury
program for financing the post war
period when government expenditures
still continue to run high.
March payments on the public debt
were confined almost wholly to re
tirement of certificates of indebted
ness issued in anticipation of income
and profit taxes. Reductions by
months since August when the re
tirements began were: October $15,
533,000; November $94,478,000; I)e-V
cember $278,973,000; January $168,
689,000, and February $264,057,000.
Heavy payments on the debt in De
cember and February both were
traceable to the retirement of certi
ficates of indebtedness, but the amount
of obligations retired each month, al
though fluctuating, has been on the
increase.
Future monthly reductions will
hinge largely on new appropriations
and tax legislation, officials said.
They expected, however, that opera
tions of the sinking fund would re
flect more and more on the gross na
tional debt each month hereafter.
None would venture a prediction as
to the net for the calendar year.
As the public debt now stands, it
is made up of $15,616,800,000 com
prising the four issues of liberty
bonds; $4,422,700,000 of victory short
term notes; $2,667,820,000 in treasury
certificates; $870,000,000 in war sav
ings certificates and approximately
$1,000,000,000 in bonds issued prior
to the world war.
1 he greatest single item among
these old bonds is the issue of con
sols of 1930 which aggregate $600,
000,000.—Associated Press.
NEWSPAPER EDITOR DIES
IN DUEL WITH STATESMAN
South American Politicians Settle
Their Differences in Ancient Man
ner.
Montevido, Uruguay, April 2.—
Washington Beltran, editor of the
newspaper El Pais, was shot and kill
ed in a duel today by Jose Batlle Or
dones, former president of Uruguay.
The duel took place this morning
with the usual formalities and with
seconds and surgeons in attendance.
The weapons used were pistols. Belt
ran was shot in the breast and died
shortly afterward.
The morning newspapers today
printed announcements of the impend
ing duel. They said the former Pres
ident Batlle had sent his seconds to
Beltran, challenging the journalist be
cause of statements published in El
Pias, which Batlle considered offen
sive.
Beltran was a Nationalist member
of the Chamber of Deputies and a
leader of that party, which is oppos
ed to the ‘‘Batllistas.”
Batlle twice has been President of
Uruguay. His last term was from
1906 to 1910. —Associated Press.
Enrollment at A. & E.
West Raleigh, April 2.—The enroll
ment at State College for the current
year has established a new high mark
in attendance at the state's teehincal
institution. A recent tabulation of
the registration by courses shows that
1046 young men are preparing them
selves for industrial pursuits. This is
the largest enrollment in the history
of the College. The highest pre-w'ar
registration was 742, reached in 1917,
and the present enrollment is an in
crease of 40 per cent. The freshman
class of 367 is larger by 42 per cent
than any other incoming class. The
number of students in each of the six
principal courses is ts follows: Agri
culture 295, Mechanical Engineering
183, Electrical Engineering 176, Tex
tile Engineering 169, Civil Engineer
ing 111, Chemistry 41.