VOLUME 39
SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1920.
'Number 73.
SENDING PRISONERS AWAY
CONSIDERED BAD POLICY
Wilson Man Scores Raleigh Court for
v Shipping Women Out of the
State.
In Sunday’s News and Observer we
see that one of Raleigh’s undesirable
citizens has been given a suspended
sentence provided she leaves the
State.
We have never been able to under
stand the working of the legal mind
that first invented that form of pun
ishment. If a person is a menace to
society in North Carolina it certainly
makes them no less a menace in South
Carolina or Virginia. We believe it
is as much the duty of a Statfc to
observe the golden rule, “Do unto
others as you would have others do
unto you,” as it is the individual.
Would we like for the undesirables of
other States to be dumped on us? It
is the duty of every state to care for
its own criminals and to punish them
and we believe there should be a law
that the State this woman goes to,
could arrest her and return her to
Raleigh at the expense of that city.
We know it has been a custom of
long standing that when a town has
a character that is too tough for them
to deal with to pass it on by giving
them the choice of leaving or serving
a term on the road or in jail. But we
have never felt it was right. We
have never felt it was right to throw
our dead cats in our neighbor’s yard.
The public of Raleigh know this wo
man and they can keep an eye on her,
but when she goes to another state
and city, they will not know her rep
utation.
We are not criticising Raleigh any
more than we do other towns. Our
own mayors have been guilty of the
same thing, but we do say it ought
to be stopped. We would be glad to
be rid of undesirable citizens and if
they leave on their own accord, well
and good, but we should not force
them on others, and it is not neigh
borly to do so. Raleigh, the Capital
City, should be setting a better ex
ample.—James Dempsey Bullock, Wil
son, N. C., in News and Observer.
Where Presidents Come From.
Of course there is a lot of interest
shown now in the question as to
where the next president of the Unit
ed States will come from. A news
paper man says there is no doubt but
what Ohio will send the next presi
dent to Washington, since all the
candidates are residents-of the Buck
eye state.
But more interest is shown in the
matter as to what profession the next
president will come from. Since one
candidate is the son of a farmer and
't the other a son of a country physici
an, the wonder is being expressed if
another farm-reared miin wlill get
the chair. Up to the present all of
our past presidents but five have been
raised on the farms or at some time
lived on farms. Of the 27 presidents
we have already elected, 16 were born
on farms, and 22 of the total number
have at some time belonged to the
♦ farming class. The five who have at
no time in their lives lived on farms
or gained any part of their liveli
hood by farming are: Chester A. Ar
thur, Grover Cleveland, Wm. McKin
ley, Wm. H. Taft and Woodrow Wil
son.
This surely shows a good record for
farm-reared boys and men and proves
that what one gains by being a resi
dent of the farm is anything but det
rimental to a man’s future. Probab
ly this truth about our presidents is
what caused Gov. T. W. Bickett of
North Carolina, to say: “The small
farm owned by the man who tills it,
is the best plant bed in the world in
which to produce anything from two
pecks of potatoes to the hill to a
president of the United States.”—In
diana Farmers’ Guide.
Punished for Answering.
A San Francisco life underwriter
was drafted into the army and im
mediately upon his arrival in camp
a diary was started. The following
is from this record:
“They took me from a good job
and put in the army. They took
away my name and gave me a num
ber, No. 494. They make me go to
bed when I am not sleepy and make
me get up when I am. They make
me go to church, which I never did
before. The other day the preacher
said: ‘We will now turn to No. 494,
“Art thou Weary, Art Thou Foot
sore?” I said ‘Hell, yes,’ and they
gave me ten days in the guard
house.”—Lenvie News-Topic.
SHOOTING AFFAIR AT
THE FAIR GROUNDS
Mr. R. L. Massengill Peppered With
Gun Shot—Mr. Fred Bizzell and
Miss Aarah Hooks Injured.
The Dublins negroes who live on
the north side of Neuse river just
! south of Smithfield have been getting
drunk and fighting since the Civil
War. They are a bad set of negtoes
but heretofore they have fought
j among themselves and other negroes.
I Yesterday at Sparks shows at the fair
grounds one of them became unruly
and was quieted by Mr. Fred Bizzell,
of* Four Oaks, who was here yester
day to help keep order. Last night
about 10:30 Mr. Bizzell and Mr. Lon
nie Allen came out of the fair grounds
and started to get into a car to go
home. The negroes were waiting for
Mr. Bizzell. One of them remarked
that he was the man who kicked his
brother in the fair ground. They
then threw brick bats, bottles and
sticks at him cutting a place on one
of his arms and several places on his
head. One long gash on his fore
head and one on his head bad. His
head had to be sewed up by a physi
cian. Mr, Bizzell came up town and
four men went to arrest the negroes.
When near the place the negroes
shot two loads of shot into Mr. R. L.
Massengill from his forehead down
to his feet It is said that one of his
eyes is put out and he has been sent
to a hospital for treatment. A Mr.
Riley who lives on the W. D. Avera
farm was with Mr. Massengill. Hav
ing no way to defend himself he ran
after the first shooting. When about
thirty yards farther away they load
ed 21 shot into Mr. Riley’s back.
Deputy George H. Mooi’e and Chief of
Police C. R. Cable approached the
negroes from a different point but
I they ran and escaped. Later three
j of them were arrested at the hoipe
of a negro John Lassiter. One was
arrested at Jim Dublins and two
more were found elsewhere. Six are
in jail A brick bat thrown at Mr.
Bizzle struck the hat of Mr. D. B.
Hamilton and went further against
a daughter of Dr. Thel Hooks. An
other brick bat knocked off Judge F.
H. Brooks’ hat.
The parties in jail are Harvey, John,
James, and Jack Dublin, Charlie Wil
liams and Donnie Griffin.
Three Countries Added to Belgium.
Belgium has had three tiny coun
tries added to her territory by the
terms of the Versailles Treaty. They
lay in between Prance, Germany and
Belgium. One was given to Belgium
outright, and the other two held elec
tions to say which country they would
prefer to be governed by, and they
both selected Belgium. One of these
countries was created by a mistake
of the surveyors a century ago, who
laid off the boundaries of the adjoin
ing kingdoms. And soon after the
mistake was discovered, a great de
posit of zinc was found on the un
owned land. It was too valuable then
for any one of its neighbors to con
sent to any other having it, so it was
erected into an independent country.
Rural Carrier Examination.
The United States Civil Service
Commission has announced an exam
ination for the county cf Johnston,
N. C., to be held at Four Oaks on
October 9, 1920, to fill the position
of rural carrier at Smithfield and
Four Oaks and vacancies that may
later occur on rural routes from oth
er post offices in the above mention
ed county. The examination will be
open only to citizens who are actu
ally domiciled in the territory of a
post office in the county and who
meet the other requirements set
forth in Form No. 1977. Beth men
and women, if qualified, may enter
this examination, but appointing of
ficers have the legal right to specify
the sex desired in requesting certi
fication of eligibles. Women will not
be considered for rural carrier ap
pointment unless they are the wid
ows of U. S. soldiers, sailors, or ma
rines, or the wives of U. S. soldiers,
sailors, or marines who are physical
ly disqualified for examination foy
reason of injuries received in the
line of military duty. Form No. 1977
‘ and application blanks may be ob
j tained from the offices mentioned a
bove or from the United States Civil
service Commission at Washington,
; D. C. Applications should be for
| warded to the Commission at Wash
ington at the earliest practicable
date. Those wishing to file applica
tion may obtain blanks from post
master, Smithfield, N. C.
THE FOUR OAKS GRADED
SCHOOL OPENED MONDAY
Large Number of Parents Present—
Attendance Somewhat Off—The
Faculty for Ensuing Year.
On last Monday the Four Oaks
High School opened for the work of
the year. At the request of the
superintendent many of the parents
assembled for the opening exercises.
Rev. E. R. Craven and Rev. C. E.
Stephens made the principal address
es. Besides these, G. K. Massengill
of the Board of Directors and other
citizens made inspiring and helpful
addresses. It was plainly demon
strated that the parents desired a
standorlized and progressive school.
They all pledged their support and
co-operation in the work.
The attendance is somewhat off on
account of the rural children having
to assist in the cotton pickings. How
ever, Prof. Blankenship hopes that as
soon as the parents learn that school
is beginning at eight and closing at
one o’clock that the children will
practically all be sent in.
The faculty for the ensuing year
consists of O. F. Blankenship, Princi
pal; Miss Catherine Wilson, Miss An
na Ford, Miss Zelma Westen, Miss
Caroline Fitzgerald, Miss Martha
Ratcliff, Miss Leone Martin, Miss An
na Laura Walker.
Under the supervision of Prof,
| Blankenship and his efficient faculty
| the citizens of the town are looking
| forward to a very successful year.
On Friday evening the citizens as
sembled and organized a Board of
Trade. The officers are: H. B. Ad
ams, President; G. K. Massengill,
Vice President; B. I. T^rt, Treasurer,
Dr. Austin, R. C. Cannady and W. J.
Lewis were elected as Board of Di
rectors.
Since Four Oaks stands the second
highest in the county in the percent
age of increased population, that it is
beginning the construction of its
$100,000.00 school building and the
citizens have united for building up
a progressive community it is ex
pected to soon become one of the
leading towns in the county.
OF INTEREST TO MUSIC LOVERS
Charlotte to Hear Caruso—“Louise
Homer to Be a Fall Bride—Mc
Cormick on World Tour.
Charlotte is to hear Caniso on Oc
tober 25th. The music lovers of that
city had to put up a guarantee of
$12,000 before he would consent to
come. The promoters of the concert
do not expect to make more than ex
penses, but they are having the con
cert for the general uplift of the mu
sical taste of that section. It will
be the first time that Mr. Caruso will
ever have appeared in a city of less
than a quarter of a million inhabi
tants. He is regarded by most mu
sicians as the greatest living singer,
and Charlotte is congratulating her
self upon the prospect of hearing
him.
Miss Louise Homer is to be one of
the Fall brides, according to the
Sun-Herald of New York. Miss Ho
mer, who is the daughter of Mme.
Louise Homer the noted Contralto, is
said to have as fine a voice as her
famous mother, though it is a So
prano. She has already made a de
cidedly good impression upon the con
cert stage. Her fiance, Mr. Stires, is
thg son of a Presbyterian clergyman
of New York. Mme. Homer, her
mother, is the daughter of a Presby
terian clergyman, of Pittsburg.
John McCormick isn’t finding life
wholly harmonious on his world tour.
His Irish birth plus his American
citizenship, is a handicap in the other
loyal colonies of Great Britain. In
Australia recently, he omitted the
National air from a program, and
there was a demonstration against
him. Concert promoters in London
fear similar feeling when he appears
there, and his managers may cancel
his engagements. Mr. McCormick
has cabled the British for fair play,
saying that “art knows no citizen
ship, and shouts down no man be
cause he is an American.”
Use Tobacco for Horse’s Bed.
One farmer who sold tobacco this
week says he has some at his home
hardly suitable for the market and
since the other tobacco is so low he
has decided to use the low grade to
bacco at his home for bedding for his
horse. He says the horse will have
a soft bed now.
REV. H. W. BAUCOM’S
SERMON LAST SUNDAY
Text Was Taken From Pout. 33:25
—“As Thy Days, So Shall Thy
Strength Be."
A good sermon was delivered at
the Baptist church last Sunday morn
ing by the pastor, Rev. H. W. Bau
com. Mr. Baucom used as his text
Deut. 33:25—“As thy days, so shall
thy strength be.” He divided his ser
mon into the following divisions.
First. Encouraging promise in
view of our weakness.
Whether our work be preaching,
teaching, grappling with business
problems, or the mother in her home,
we feel unworthy and incapable, but
our over against our weakness is this
precious promise that we shall have
strength for every task.
Second. We need this promise to
strengthen, reinforce us, when we
look at our besteeing sin.
There is some sin that makes a
strong pull on every one. “Let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us.” You
have yours; I have mine.
1. For some one it may be a ten
dency to be easily discouraged.
2. For another, it may be envy.
3. For another', it may be un
charitableness.
4. For some others it is anxiety.
The late Dr. H. B. Carroll said:
“There are two things that we should
not worry about; things we can help,
and things that we can not help.”
There is a limitation to all of God’s
promises Nowhere does God say He
will satisfy our desires. Many times
they are improper and selfish. He
said He will supply all your needs,
not always our wants.
"As thy days”—all days as they
come—dark or bright.
Some one asked Moody if he had
dying grace. He said: “No, I have
livi*r grace. I do not need dying
‘grace Until that hour comes,” but
when he lay dying he said, “Is this
death, This is glorious! Heaven is
opening; God is calling and I must
go.”
PROMOTION DAY EXERCISES
A Number of Pupils of the Methodist
Sunday School Will Be Advanced
To Other Classes Sunday.
The annual promotion exorcises will
take place at the Sunday school hour
Sunday morning at the Methodist
church.
Parents and friends of the school
are cordially invited to be present.
Certificates will be presented to the
little folks entering the Beginners
Department from the Cradle Roll, al
so to those entering the Primary De
partment from the Beginners. Then
the children of the Primary Depart
ment, aged nine, with their little
graduation exercises, will receive di
plomas to enter the Junior Depart
ment.
From the Junior Department the
promotion exercises will, include mem
ory work from the four years and di
plomas given those entering the In
termediate department. Other chang
es will be made in the Intermediate
Senior Department.
At the eleven o’clock hour the pas
tor will preach from the subject,
“Life Service,” paying special em
phasis on the service a Sunday school
teacher may render, and ask for vol
unteers to enroll in a teacher training
class.
The Superintendent of the Junior
j Department and teachers cordially in
vite all children in that department
to meet at the church Friday even
ing at seven thirty in honor of those
leaving the department on Sunday
morning, when they will enter the
Intermediate. Children, come bring
your parents with you. A social hour
will be spent together. S.
An Evening in Japan.
An interesting program has been
arranged for the Epworth League
service Monday evening. The church
basement will be so decorated as that
it will make one feel. than he is in
the Orient sure enough. Some musi
cal features of the program will be
rendered in Japanese.
This program will be in the hands
of Mrs. Clifton Beasley, superintend
ent of the fourth department of the
League, who is noted for her interest
and enthusiasm in the work of the
League.* A treat is in store. Qon’t
miss it. Young and old will receive
a cordial welcome. R.
HAPPENINGS OF WEEK
IN THE TOWN OF BENSON
Citizens Gave Reception Monday In
Honor of School Teachers.—
Personal Items of Interest.
Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Hall and Mr.
Alton Hall sent Sunday in Raleigh
with Miss Ethel Hall who is a student
of Meredith.
Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Roon and fam
iy spent Sunday with relatives in
Wendell
Miss Louise Temple of Jonesboro
is spending a few days here with re
latives and friends.
Mr. M. T. Britt and Mr. Willie
Dixon made a business trip to Ral-!
eigh Monday.
Mrs. W. T. Martin returned Sunday
from Lumberton where she was the
guest of honor at a reception given
by the Woman’s Club to the faculty
of the Lumberton schools.
Mrs. Guthrie McLamb was taken
to a hospital in Fayetteville Monday
for treatment.
Mr. J. R. Britt, of Lakeland, Fla.,
is visiting his brother, Mr. Jesse M.
Britt.
Mrs. Saliva Wallace, who has been
at Sanatorium for several weeks is
visiting her brother, Mr. Rufus Bar
botir, of Elevation.
Messrs. Eli Turlington, Dallas
T.angdon and John Whittington spent
a few days in Richmond this week.
(’apt. .1 W. Goodrich returned Mon
day from Lex Hospital where he has
been undergoing treatment.
Mr. and Mrs. J. II. Godwin s'.nnt
Tuesday to Raleigh.
Miss i lora Canady, of the faculty
of Buie’s .Creek Academy, spent !ast
week-end with her sister, Mrs. <' A
| Barbour. j
i Mr. Walter Strickland is attending
| the reunion of the eighty-first divis
ion, of which he was a member, now
being held at Camp Jackson, Colum
bia, S. C.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Royal and Dr'
and Mrs. A. S. Oliver went to Raleigh
I Tuesday. While returning home,
Mrs. Royal became frightened at
what seemed to her a near accident
and jumped from the car, breaking
one of her limbs just above the ankle.
She was returned to Raleigh and plac
ed in Rex Hospital for treatment.
Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Barbour, of
Scotland Neck, recently visited her
father, Mr. A. F. Barbour, of Ele
vation.
On Monday evening at the Graded
School building, the citizens of Ben
son gave a reception for the teach
ers of our school. Every organiza
tion in the community was represent
ed and contributed largely toward
making the reception the success
that it was. The Mayor or the
town, Mr. C. C. Canaday, gave over
the keys of the city to the teachers |
and told them to do what they pleas
ed. Dr. J. F. Martin extended -a
hearty welcome • in behalf of all
the churches and assured the teachers
that they would find a free atmo
sphere for consecrated service in the
church life of the community. Mr. J.
R. Barbour as the representative of
the Chamber of Commerce, greeted
the faculty in a few well chosen
words. Dr. A. S. Oliver Commander
of the local post of the American
Legion told the teachers that his or
ganization stood for a one hundred
per cent Americanism, and that he
knew of no people with whom the
American Legion, coul/d more suc
cessfully work than the teachers of
the rising generation. Therefore, it
was a pleasure to greet and to extend
j to them, a hearty welcome in the
name of the boys who fought in the
late war for the preservation of Am
erican life and who are now fighting
for a purely American citizenship in
order to make secure our national
lie for the future. Rev. A. T. Lassi
ter in a most happy vein welcomed
I these talented ones as the president
of the Community Association. Mrs.
W. D. Boon, representing the John
Charles McNeil Book Club, spoke in
a very schollarly manner of the de
light of her organization in having
in the community those who had ac
quainted themselves with the litera
ture of standard authors, and thus
she welcomed them and hoped their
sojourn here would be of great as
sistance to the book club. In a most
pleas»ng way, Mrs. C. C. Canaday, of
the Entre Nous Club interpreted the
feelings of her new organization as
being that of ever bounded felicity
as she welcomed these trainers of the
mind to this city of rapid growth. Dr.
W. T. Martin at his juncture inter
rupts the program, and says that he
THE TOIUCCO OUTLOOK
IS NOT SO PLEASING
The Durham Warehousemen Boost
The Prices By Buying Weed
On the Opening Day.
Durham, Sept. 22.—There is a dis
tinct tendency on the part of tobacco
growers in this section to hold their
crop from the market despite the good
prices offered on the opening day.
This may be attributed in part to the
organized effort to hold tobacco
throughout the State and in part to
the fear that the price will weaken.
It is expected better prices will be
offered if the crop is withheld for as
long a period as possible.
Offering# for the past two days
have been smaller and the grade is
not of the best. Prices have also been
weaker, but it is probable the grade
of weed ocered is responsible for that
feature of the market. It is also re
marked that much of Monday’s buy
ing was done by the warehousemen.
Warehousemen believe the market
will soon strengthen though prices
are not expected to approach last
year’s level. There is no material
dissatisfaction among local growers,
but the situation throughout North
Carolina and Virginia has acted as a
depressing influence which, many far
mers are looking upon as a warning
and are waiting to see just what will
develop.
Meeting at Stevens Chapel.
I
The meeting going on at Stevens
Chapel Methodist church is increas
ing in interest. Rev. A. B. Crumpler
of Clinton is doing the preaching and
aiding the pastor. The subject for
next Sunday morning will be “The
Second Coming of the Lord.” At 3:30
Sunday afternoon there will be a ser
vice for the children.
feels as if one class of his fellow citi
zens needed representation on this
occasion and that tht'y had asked him
to plead their cause. So for the
young men, and bachelors of the
town he threw wide open his arms to
the lady members of the faculty.
Mrs. W. T. Martin said, I also have a
class of citizens in mind who should
be represented. In their present re
lationship to the community, they
have never extended a welcome to
anyone, but they appreciate the fact
that their day has come. Members
of the Benson Graded and High school
I welcome you in behalf of the newly
enfranchised citizens of our town.
Mrs. J. R. Barbour at his point in
jects the statement that she has been
called upon by the young ladies who
reside in Benson, to state that they are
happy to greet the teachers but prays
the lady members of the faculty not
to deal too kindly with the young
men, r.nd at all times, use discretion.
Professor Wells heartily thanked
the citizens for the warm reception
extended, and assured them that noth
ing like unto this was ever witnessed
before. The program was not con
cluded at his point. The best part
comes now. Punch and chicken
salad.
Last Friday night the local post of
the American Legion gave a barbe
cue at Stewart’s pond.About seventy
five representative citizens of Benson
were present. Rev. C. C. Wheeler,
Chaplain of the Legion made a brief
statement of the purpose of the or
ganization, after which short speech
es offering greetings and co-opera
tion were made by Messrs. C. C.
Canaday for the city of Benson, by
H. A. Parker for the Chamber of
Commerce, by Rev. A. T. Lassiter
for the Community Association, by
J. H. Rose for the School Board, by
Ezra Parker for the Township
Road Commission. After grace of
fered by Rev. E. M. Hall, a bounteous
feast of barbecue was enjoyed.
Then the company gathered about a
big open fire for an interesting, but
informal speech-fest—the leading top
ic being ways and means of introduc
ing better sanitary conditions for
Benson. As a result, plans were
made to secure a Secretary for the
Chamber of Commerce, who will di
vide his time as Secretary and Sani
tary officer for the city. Other
plans for co-operation between the
Legion and other city organizations
will be matured in the near future.
Prominent among the speakers
were Dr. A. S. Oliver, and Messrs. P.
B. Johnson, W. J. Root, J. E. Wilson,
and Jas. A. Raynor. The get-to
gether spirit of this occasion prom
ises much for a bigger and better
Benson