VOLUME 40
SMITHFIELD, N. C., TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1921
NUMBER 45
I
CAN GERMANY MEET
THE DEMANDS MADE
Germany’s Ability to Keep
Going Is The Heart of
Financial Situation
Berlin, June 1.—The crux of immed
iate problems which the world war has
entailed has to do with finance and
economics and the heart of the situa
tion lies here in Germany.
Upon Germany’s ability to continue
as a going concern the sentiment and
prosperity of many peoples depend.
There is a marked difference of opin
ion here concerning this. There are
those who believe Germany has been
so crippled by the war and the terms
of peace that she cannot meet the de
mands made and to be made upon
her. Her population has been reduc
ed roughly from 67,000,000 to 55,000,
000, her territory clipped of about 25,
000 spare miles, her economic strength
reduced by the loss of iron mines in
Lorraine and the coal fields in the
Saer valley and upper Silesia.
To meet the expense of armies of
occupation, to pay the annual install
ments for reparations and to meet
her own budget for governmental re
quirements are to pessimists of Germ
any an impossibility. The domestic
budget is in itself a formidable ob
stacle to financial rehabilitation.
Before the war the railroads em
ployed some 750,000 men. With the
mileage reduced because of reduction
of territory the present number of
employes should be, if estimated on
the pre-war basis, something like
650,000. As a matter of fact the num
her has grown to more than 1,000,000,
this not alone because of shorter work
ing hours, but largely because of the
necessity of keeping down the num
ber of unemployed. Fear of revolution
bolshevism and kindred ills has made
this necessary. *
This is the black side of the picture.
Present government groups believe
that the tasks before Germany are
r.ot insuperable. If Silesia is retained
if no further occupation of territory
is made, and if the entente will lessen
somewhat the export tax, it is thought
a way out may be found.
The fact that Walter Hathenan has
been willing to accept the office of
minister of reconstruction gives color
to the belief that the present govern
ment intends to pay if it is within
Germany’s capacity to do so. In many
ways the present government is the
sanest and safest Germany has had
since the war and it would be well for
all concerned if it should continue in
power with a more substantial back
ing in the reichstag in order to solve
problems with which the country is
confronted.
One of the great difficulties with
which the continental parliamentary
system has to contend is constant
change of ministers. It will be im
possible for governments to properly
function were it not for the staff of
permanent officers who remain in the
departments. Even so there is a con
stant change in policy which brings
no feeling of security. Great Britain
with practically the same system is
slower to change and is given to sta
bilization of government seldom
found on the continent. One reason for
the difference is the growing of part
ies. Great Britain comes somewhat
nearer, to having a bi-party system
while continental chambers generally
are composed of many parties.
It is generally believed that the
Wirth ministry would welcome a re
approachment with France. Many
Germans think there can be no re
habilitation of Europe until this
comes about.
There are far sighted Germans who
welcome a guaranty by the United
States and Great Britain to come to
France’s aid in the event of an un
warranted attack by Germany. That,
they believe, would give France se
curity which she demands and which
she is trying to obtain by other meth
ods—methods mhich make impossible
economic or political peace.—Col. Ed
fard M. House in Greensboro News.
(Copywrighted 1921 by Philadelphia
Public Ledger.)
Mr. Ford has built his 5,000,000th
motor car, and a good many citizens
firmly believe they have to dodge all
of his output every day.—N. Y. Her
rld.
Mrs. A. T. Riddick, of Charleston,
S. C., is in the city the guest of Miss
Agnes Mosley.
THE FLOOD WATERS
SWEEP COLO. CITY
Loss of Life is Probably 250
While Property Loss Will
Total Millfons
Pueblo, June 4.—Flood waters of
the Arkansas River swept through
Pueblo last night and today and caus
ed deaths that may total 500 and pro
perty damage in excess of $10,000,000
according to fragmentary reports that
can be gathered as the flood recedes.
Morgues were opened in different
parts of the city and by mid-afternoon
132 bodies had been recovered. The
entire eastern and southern sections
were cut off from the business sec
tion.
The Red Cross organized to ail
sufferers and C. W. Lee was named
official food administrator to have
charge of rationing food.
To add to the horror of last night
lightning set fire to half a dozen
buildings in the center of the city.
Firemen could not reach the scene and
they would have been helpless if they
could, for the flood had already cut
i ff water service as well as electric
lights.
At the same time the rising flood
overturned two trains filled with pas
sengers.
The whole business portion of Pueb
lo was under six to eight feet of water
this morning but by afternoon the
flood had begun to recede, disclosing a
scene of devastation.
The railroad yards were left filled
with mud-covered debris and broken
and overturned equipment, carrying
the damage to more than a million
dollars. Business houses inside and
out were covered with the same slimy
mud, and in many cases even brick
buildings were undermined and wreck
ed. Frame buildings in the path of
the flood were swept away, in many
cases carrying their inhabitants with
them.
While flood warnings had been giv
er. before dark last night many per
sons did not heed them, and to this is
ascribed a goodly part of the death
loss.
Thousands of Mexicans with pos
sessions on their backs, were wander
ing through the city this afternoon
with nothing to eat and no place to
sleep. No gas or drinking water was
available.
A party of Pueblo business men,
who assembled for a dinner at Minne
qua Club last night, still were ma
rooned there today.
Frank Prior, Qf a local furniture
company, spent last night on one
standing wall of his four-story build
ing .which collapsed. Rescuers were
endeavoring to reach him this after
noon.
Richard Philbins was rescued from a
telephone pole where he had spent the
night. He was riding a horse last night
when the waters overwhelmed him.
The horse was drowned, but Philbins
managed to swim to the pole.
While greater loss of life appears
to have been in Pueblo, reports of
damage to property come from many
sections of Southeastern Colorado.
Streams, sent out of their banks by
cloudbursts in the mountains, carried
away farm buildings and drowmed
many heads of cattle. Residents of
the rural districts adjacent to irriga
tion projects spent the night last
night, prepared to flee instantly if the
impounded water broke the irrigation
dams.
Railroads and highway bridges were
carried away and miles of telegraph
and telephone lines were laid to waste.
In Pueblo, damage was increased by
fires in the business section, started
by lightning and unquenched for lack
of water pressure.
The first warning of yesterday’s
flood came at shortly after 5 p m. in
telephone messages which said that
dams near Portland were threatened
and the water in the Arkansas river
had risen dangerously at Wetmore,
Portland and Florence. The fire de
partment siren sounded fifteen minute
flood warnings and within a short time
every available police officer and
guardsman was sent into the West
Pueblo Sauce river bottoms of West
Pueblo to warn the inhabitants.
One woman dragged from her home
before the flood crest reached the
bottoms crawled under the house and
refused to come out. It is feared a
heavy loss of life resulted in this sec
tion, although it has been impossible
(Continued on page 8)
SM1THFIELD HAS AN
UP TO DATE DAIRY
Mr. James Myatt Has Pure
Bred Stock Housed in
Fly Proof Barn
Some writer in The Herald about a
year ago employed his pen to enume
rate some of the things that Smith
field is lacking in that add comfort
to the well-made modern city or town.
Among the list were a city laundry,
an ice plant of ample capacity, and
a sanitary dairy. There was conta
gion in the spirit of that article, and
the talk for these assets to our com
munity soon over-spread the town.
These as well as many more improve
ments for Smithfield seemed certain
after so much talk. But as we live in
a very material world where town
talk is not invested with the magic
of the wizard’s wand, the passing
year has left us somewhat short of
our expectations. It has not howev
er, gone its way and left us nothing
that a progressive town will acquire
in the span of twelve months. The
dairy has come.
Mr. James Myatt, who about three
years ago purchased the Polie Gard
ner farm on the south side of the city
limit, owns and operates a dairy. He
has converted most of his farming
area into grazing fields for his dozen
cows. Most of the cows are pure bred
Jerseys, with one or two of the Hol
stein breed. They are housed in a
fly-proof barn, the floor of which,
where the milking and feeding are
done, is of solid concrete with the
convenience of a constant flush of
running water. The cows are housed
over night in a separate compartment
from the milking rooms, and a fresh
layer of clean pine-straw is spread
for them each night. Thus the cows
and all their surroundings are kept
scrupleously clean and sanitary; and,
in addition, they are tested against
tuberculosis infection.
Mr. Myatt’s cows are milked twice
each day; about four o’clock in the
morning and at four in the afternoon.
The yield is about thirty gallons a
day. The milk is immediately sealed
in sterilized bottles and promptly de
livered to the consumers by Mr. My
att himself. The dairy entire is a
model of cleanliness and sanitation.
Mr. Myatt takes a pride in this fact.
It is his purpose to enlarge his dairy
as the rate of consumption increases.
His aim is to fully supply Smithfield
with all the pure milk that the trade
will demand.
Mr. Myatt’s dairy is one of the
things that Smithfield was asking for
a year ago, and it is hoped that the
town will as fully appreciate its value
as Mr. Myatt has succeeded in set
ting up the kind of a dairy that is
truly an asset to the town. It is hoped
that some of the others of our en
terprising townsmen will soon fol
low with the ice plant and the laun
dry and other things of this nature
that would so materially add to the
comforts of the people.
Winoca Minstrels to Be Here
The Winoca Minstrels to be at
Smithfield Opera House next Friday
night, June 10th, 1921, will be of in
terest to all local theatre goers. The
best minstrel talent in Wilson will
take part in this event and it promises
to be even much better than last year
when they played here to a packed
house. Ed Stalling, noted violinist is
the feature act of the show. For the
past six years Mr. Stallings has been
doing Chautauqua work and has been
with all the leading Chautauquas. This
attraction alone is well worth the
price of admission. Then there is the
Harmony Quartette which takes a
prominent part in the program. Good
black face comedians, and the usual
minstrel afterpiece is one of the
funniest sketches ever seen in a min
strel.
Mr. Stallings was recently in the
city for the week end and played a
violin selection at the Methodist
church.
“And do you think I would prove a
satisfactory mate with whom to sail
the sea of life?” he asked softly.
“You’d do pretty well as a mate, I
guess, if you clearly understood who
was captain.”
THE PRESBYTERIAN
YOUNG PEOPLE MEET
i _
N. C. Synod First in U. S. to
Have Presbyterian Young
People’s League
We are indebted to Mrs. Roger A.
Smith, Jr., for the following interest
ing account of the Presbyterian
Young People’s League which has
been in session at Peace Institute,
Raleigh, for the past several days.
Mrs. Smith and Miss Ruth Brooks at
tended the conference as delegates
from the church here.
The Synod of North Carolina was
the first in the union to have a Pres
byterian Young People’s League.
Now there are ten or more having
conferences this year. The Confer
ence is under the jurisdiction of the
Synod and Synodical Auxiliary.
The Young People are just as wide
awake and full of pep as any crowd
you ever saw, but their activities are
directed by two ideal athletic special
ists. While their main motive and
aim is not recreation, still the Con
ference tends to develop the girls and
boys in the four-fold life, that they
may be like the only perfect man,
Jesus of Nazareth who “advanced in
Wisdom, statue, and in favor with
God and man.”
The motto:—To know the work of
my own denomination and my privil
ege in it. The resources of God are
promised only to those who undertake
the program of God.
In the morning hours there is early
watch held out on the lawn. Then
breakfast, and 8:30 classes in Bible
are held, followed by a Mission Study
or Sunday School Method class. The
Conference period is conducted by the
young people themselves for an hour
or two before lunch. The president
for the past year is Mr. R. Edwin Mc
Clure of Wilmington and the State
Secretary and Treasurer is Miss
Kacnei beall, of Durham.
The afternoons are devoted to re
creation followed by a vesper service
and sermon in the evening by some
noted divine or missionary.
We consider ourselves most fortu
nate in having such a marvelous group
for the faculty and leaders of our
Conference. There can be none bet
ter anywhere. Dr. Charles R. Erdman,
President of Princeton Seminary; Dr.
W. T. Thompson, of Union Theological
Seminary; Mrs. O. E. Cronk, Editor of
the Missionary Review of the World;
Mrs. S. H. Askew, of Atlanta, Depart
ment Editor of the Sunday School
Times; Dr. Gilbert Glass, Assembly
Secretary of Sunday School Work;
Miss Elizabeth Shields, Assembly’s
Field Secretary; Miss Eleanor Berry,
Editor of Home Mission Department
of the Survey; Mrs. W. B. Ramsey,
Chairman of Young People’s Commit
tee. The missionaries fresh from their
fields of enterprise are Rev. J. W. Al
len and Rev. C. L. Crane of Africa;
Mr. Tadlock of Kentucky; Rev. A. W.
Crawford, Supt. of Home Missions of
the Synod of North Carolina; and Mr.
Lane who is soon to sail for Brazil.
Last, but not least, is Miss Mamie
McElwee, who is prime mover of the
Synodical Auxiliary, with Mr. Garth,
as Executive Secretary.
Colonel Olds took the entire assem
bly to the penitentiary, State Hospi
tal, Hall of History, Governor’s Man
sion and Museum Wednesday after
noon, which we all enjoyed to the full
est extent.
Friday afternoon we went for a
stroll in the woods, some took hikes,
while others played games. About
six o’clock we were served most grac
iously with lots of good things to eat.
Fayetteville Presbytery has the
largest delegation, and a mighty fine
bunch they are. May each one go to
their district rallies and to their differ
ent homes resolving to be always
what their Lord and Saviour would
have them to be, to put into practice
the grand ideals that were taught
them this year in Raleigh, the Capi
tal City, at Peace Institute on May
31 to June 6.
N. C. Merchants Association
The nineteenth annual convention
of the North Carolina Merchants As
sociation will meet in Greensboro,
June 21, 22, 23, at the 0. Henry Hotel.
Mr, R. B. Peters, of Tarborp, is pres
ident of this association, which prom
ises an interesting program this year.
Several addresses by notable business
men of the country will feature the
convention.
N. E. EDGERTON DIES
IN THE CAPITAL CITY
Former Resident of Johns
ton County Passes Away
After Brief Illness
Following an illness of little more
than a week, N. E. Edgerton, one of
the best known business men in this
part of the State, died shortly before
midnight Thursday at Mary Elizabeth
Hot p'tal.
Menday, a week ago, Mr. Edgerton,
became ill, and his condition was re
garded as serious from the first. Rich
mond specialists were called here for
consultation with Dr. Harold Glass
cock, his physician, this week but an
affected heart struggled for a few
days and last night gave way.
,phe story of Mr. Edgerton’s life is
a story of business success of a man
who found time and had the energy
and interest to participate in all those
activities that build and bless a com
munity.
Among his varied business connec
tions in Raleigh, Mr. Edgerton was a
member of the board of directors of
•the North Carolina Home Insurance
Company, the Citizens National Bank,
and until recently president of the
Raleigh Cotton Mills. During the ad
ministration of Governor Craig he was
a member of the State Prison Board.
Fifty-three years ago he was born
in Lowell, Beulah township, Johnston
county, the son of Cabriel Edgerton.
Thirty-odd years ago he was agent for
the Seabooard Air Line and Southern
railways at Selma. Later he engaged
in business for himself at Selma, saw
the future of cotton manufacturing
and in a few years had made for him
self a substantial place in the industry
in North Carolina.
Four years ago he moved to Ral
eigh, selling his holdings in Selma
cotton mills, and taking up his resi
dence on Hillsboro street. Many bus
iness connections in Raleigh occupied
his attention, but just as in his native
county, he found occasion to take an
active part in church ^nd civic life.
He was a Methodist and a member of
Edenton Street Methodist church.
He is survived by a widow and one
son, Edward Edgerton; and by four
brothers, John Edgerton, president of
the American Manufacturers Associa
tion, of Lebanon, Tenn., Henry and
Jarvis Edgerton, of Kenly, and W. A.
Edgerton, of Wilson; and a sister,
Miss Rena Edgerton, of Wilson.
Mr. Edgerton was married in 1896
to Miss Alma Wynee, of Raleigh.—
News and Observer.
The funeral of Mr. Edgerton was
held Saturday afternoon at 4:15 at
the residence on Hillsboro Street, and
was conducted by Rev. W. W. Peele,
pastor of Edenton Street Methodist
church asisted by Rev. C. K. Proctor,
pastor of Central Methodist church.
The pall bearers for the funeral
were:
Active—W. A. Green, John An
drews, Alex Webb, F. K. Ellington,
Graham Andrews, Dr. Harold Glass
cock, C. W. Horne and J. T. Rowland.
Honorary—Joseph G. Brown, Dr.
T. M. Jordan, Ivan M. Proctor, J. R.
Chamberlain, Judge J. Crawford
Biggs, Col. C. E. Johnson, Charles
Root, W. M. Sanders, W. H. Call, Dr.
T. D. Vick, E. B. Borden, Jr., F. K.
Borden, Clyde Dunn, F. N. Brid
ges, H. A. White, P. Boney, Captain
Busbee, F. M. Miller, James McKee,
Capt. S. A. Ashe, George F. Brietz,
L. D. Debnam, Stacey W. Wade, John
Westbrook, Jonathan Havens and C.
B. Barbee.
Alfalfa in Johnston
Alfalfa has been grown successfully
on a few farms in Johnston. Mr. J.
W. Stephenson has had fine success
with it on his farm near Smithfield.
Mr. Dwight Barbour has four and a
half acres of alfalfa on the Barbour
farm near Swift Creek a few miles
south of Clayton. His second cutting
last week gave him about ten tons of
fine hay. He will get three more cut
tings making five in all. Mr. Barbour
is highly pleased with alfalfa and ex
pects to seed five and a half more
acres to it next fall. This will make
ten acres from which he thinks he will
get all the rough feed needed on the
plantation. Other farmers who have
suitable land might raise it to advan
tage also.
Mrs. Fannie Parker spent the week
end in Rocky Mount with relatives.
MISS HOLLAND BUNDY
DROWNS AT THE LAKE
Tragedy Occurred Sunday
Afternoon When a Boat
Capsized Near Dam
The first tragedy since the making
of Holt I^ake, three miles from town,
about four years ago, occurred there
Sunday afternoon when Miss Holland
Bundy, of Selma, was drowned near
the old mill dam. Miss Bundy and
Mr. Oscar W. Sasser, of Kenly had
gone rowing in a small canoe. Ac
companying them in another canoe
were Miss Sasser, sister of Mr. Oscar
Sasser, and Mr. Luther Oneal. After
rowing past the old mill dam near the
white rocks, Miss Bundy and Mr. Sas
ser decided to turn back. In making
the turn a gust of wind capsized the
boat and carrying it to shore left
nothing to which the drowning per
sons could cling. Miss Bundy grasped
her companion thus hadicapping him
in his efforts to save her. They both
went under twice. After rising the
second time, Miss Bundy suddenly re
leased her hold and sank to the bot
tom. Mr. Sasser managed to grasp
a bush and hold on until assistance
came to the rescue. Their companions
were unable to render aid in time, but
brought help from the boat house,
who recovered the body of Miss
Bundy and did everything possible
to bring about a resuscitation. Every
effort failing the body was taken in
charge by the local undertaker.
Miss Bundy was the nineteen-year
old daughter of Mr. J. H. Bundy, a
mule dealer of Selma. She was engag
ed to be married to Mr. Sasser who
was with her at the time of the acci
dent, and the wedding, we are inform
ed was to have taken place about two
weeks hence. Her trousseau was
ready and she was shrouded, we are
told in her wedding dress. The un
fortunate affair has affected her
fiance profoundly and he to-gether
with the young lady’s family have the
deep sympathy of the entire commun
ity.
Miss Bundy formerly held a posi
tion in the post office at Selma, was
well known in that city and quite
popular.
The body was carried to Mount
Olive yesterday where interment took
place.
Little Girl Dead
On May 18, the Death Angel visit
ed the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. T.
Whitley in Oneals township and took
their little daughter, Frances Yarber.
All that loving parents and kind
friends could do was done but to no
avail. She was sick only two weeks
but she suffered a great deal.
She was laid to rest in the family
burying ground at Mr. Jimmie Wood
ard’s home in the presence of a large
crowd, who had come to pay their
last respects.
She leaves a father, mother, three
sisters, and two brothers besides a
host of relatives and friends to mourn
her loss.
The grave was almost covered with
flowers. She was loved by all who
knew her. “But when Jesus saw it, he
was much displeased and said unto
them, Suffer the little children to
come unto me and forbid them not,
for of such if the kingdom of God.”
Mark 10 and 14.
By a Friend, J. M. O.
Robeson Farmers Sign Contracts
Lumberton, June 4.—It is estimat
ed that around 98 per cent of the cot
ton production in Robeson will be
signed up in co-operating marketing
contracts, Maxton, St. Pauls, Row
land and Fairmont townships have al
ready signed that per cent and reports
from other townships indicate that
they will follow suit. The campaign
for securing co-operative cotton mar
keting contracts has been on in Rob
son for two weeks and the farmers
of Robeson are much interested in
the movement, as indicated in the way
they are signing the contracts.
It is expected that at least 50,000
bales will be signed up in Robeson
county. That is one-fourth of the
minimum requirements for the entire
State. If other cotton growing coun
ties do as well in proportion, the min
imum will be greatly exceeded.—
‘News and Observer.