North Carolina Newspapers

CO. DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION MET Appoint Delegates to State Convention; Nominate Co. Officers Aug. 31 The Johnston County Democratic Convention was held here last Satur ! day. It was called to order at 2:30 o’clock by Mr. George R. Pou and Mr. S. T. Honeycutt was made chair man of the convention. Messrs F. H. Brooks, W. L. Fuller, C. F. Kirby, Paul Grady and Thad Hinton, were appointed a committee to nominate delegates to the state convention, which meets in Raleigh, Thursday, April 20. While the committee was out at their work of choosing dele gates, speeches were made by Messrs W. M. Sanders and A. M. Johnson. On motion of G. R. Pou, all democrats in good standing from Johnston shall be allowed a ^oice in the convention at Raleigh. On a motion of Mr. F. H. Brooks the convention unanimous ly endorsed the work of Hon. E. W. Pou in Congress. Mr. James A. Wellons made a mo tion which was carried to endorse the state democratic administration. On motion of Mr. Charles A. Creech, Thursday, August 31, was recommended as a day for holding the county convention for the nomination of couty officers. The report of the committee to nominate delegates was received and adopted. The following is the list of delegates and alternates: Wilson’s Mills Delegates: C. M. Wilson, B. A. Turnage, Mrs. P. H. Massey; Alter nates: D. O. Uzzle, C. B. Parrish, Mrs B. A. Turnage Clayton Delegates: W. A. Barnes, E. R. Gulley, H. Johnson, C. W. Horne, IVIrs. B. A. Hocutt, Mrs. J. J. --^Young; Alternates: Dr. B. A. Ho cutt, L. F. Austin, Vic Austin, D L. Jones. Cleveland Delegates: C< L. Sanders, A. M. Johnson, Seba Johnson, Mrs. John Elllington; Alternates: Jno. O. El lington, C. T. Youi.g, D. M. Wood, Mrs. E. N. Booker. Pleasant Grove Delegates: E. S. Coats, Claude Stephenson, Mrs. E. S. Coats; Alter nates: Rom Lambert, B. I. Stephen son, Mrs. Claude Stephenson. Elevation Delegates: R. U. Barbour, J. S. Johnson, Mrs. Delma Hardy; Alter nates: Delma Hardee, D. D. Medlin, Mrs. M. C. Carr. Banner Delegates: C. C. Canaday, W. Troy Lee, J. Willis Creech, Mrs. J. R. Bar bour, Mrs J. F. Lee; Alternates: J. F. Lee, Preston Woodall, J. M. Whit tenton, Mrs. W. T. Martin, Mrs. H. H. Utley. Meadow Delegates: Walter Blackman, J. Mang Wood, T. L. Hudson, Mrs. J. Mang Wood; Alternates: D. J. Wood, J. J. Rose, Ellington Tart, Mrs. Wal ter Blackman. Bentonsville Delegates: LaFayette Langston, E. T. Westbrook, Mrs. Leon Westbrook; Alternates: Leon Westbrook, Cub Britt, Mrs. Geo. E. Weeks. Ingrams Delegates: W. R. Keen, W. H. Smith, Mrs. B. B. Adams, Mrs. J. B. Creech; Alternates Adkin Wood, W. W. Stewart, Mrs. J. W. Sanders, Mrs. William Adams. Boon Hill Delegates: W. P. Sugg, Rufus Creech, J. Walter Baker, Mrs. J. R. Ledbetter, Mrs. R. S. Stevens; Al ternates: A. F. Holt, Geo F. Wood ard, W. T. Hinton, Mrs. E. A. Holt, Mrs. W. J. Massey. Pine Level Delegates: Wiley L Creech, Hen ry Crumpler, Mrs. D. B. Oliver; Al ternates: N. C. Massengill, T. R. Fulghum, Mrs. Floyd Price. Beulah Delegates: J. W. Darden, Dr. G. S. Coleman, W. T. Bailey, Miss Janie McNeil, Mrs. C ,F. Darden; Alter nates: R. T. Fulghum, Dr. J. C. Grady, Wiggs Flowers, Mrs. C. L. Lawrence, Miss Emma Mathews. Micro Delegates: J. D. Creech, C. A. Fitzgerald, Mrs. C. A. Fitzgerald; Alternates: Dr. M. Hinnant, John W. Mozingo, Sr., Miss Sadie Bagley. SELMA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLDS BANQUET Business Men Have Celebration Over Completion of School; J. H. Pou Speaks. SELMA, April 14.—Coincident with •the announcement that the Corpora tion Commission had issued an order for the Southern Railway and the Atlantic Coast Line to build a new union station at Selma, something the people of the town had been fighting for since 1917, the Chamber of Commerce was planning to put on a program, filled with interesting features, for last night. The occa sion was a kind of get-together meeting for the town, and took place in the auditorium of the new school building, it being desired to give the people here an opportunity to get a look-in and see what a magni ficent home has been provided for the Selma schools, the building be ing now nearly completed. The meeting was well attended, the people of the town turning out in representative numbers, while many invited guests were present. At nine o’clock all gathered around the fes tive board, two long tables being fiilled. Here the ladies were as usu al indispensable and they were charming in the adept manner in which they presided. Undoubtedly every man was a suffragette and would have voted the ticket unani mously had the balloting taken place right then. The supper was abund ant and comprised a tempting menu. While the guests were seated at the tables a number of very happy speeches were made, C. P. Harper act ing as toastmaster. There were speeches by Mr. Jamieson, secretary of the Raleigh chamber of com merce, Rev. A. A. Butler, pastor of the Baptist here, who has recently moved to Selma from Hertford, May or L. G. Stevens, of Smtthfield, and A. M. Noble also of Smithfield. J-ames -H-. Boii^o/ Raieigh,,wa,s_the principal speaker of the evening and spoke at greater length than the pre ceding speakers. Being a native of Johnston county and familiar with past and present conditions here, Mr. Pou touched upon vital local matters and gave wholesome advice for the upbuilding of the community. He was thoroughly optimistic and referred to the many opportunities here for expansion and development if taken advantage of and utilized. His speech was replete with practical and wholesome advice and pleased his audience. This was the first annual get-to gether meeting the Chamber of Com merce has held, the organization be ing young, but there was evident a line spirit of fellowship and co operation, and substantial good is e' oected .to follow.—News and Ob server. Fire at Farmer’s Home. Saturday night, April 15, Mr. W. H. Cole, who lives in the southern part of Ingrams township lost by fire a shed and some lumber and a lot of feed stuff. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr. Cole in trying to check the fire got his face and hands badly burned. Between 600 and 700 invalid sol diers are on the way from Germany to the government hospital at Fox Hills, Staten Island. Oneals Delegates: P. B. Chamblee, Heflin Brown, Mrs. P. B. Chamblee; Alter nates: W. H. Godwin, Newsome Nar ron, Mrs. W. H. Brown. * Wilders Delegates: W. M. Nowell, J. W. Barnes, Miss Pearl Barijes; Alter nates: W. T. Hinton, R. E. Barham, Mrs. Atlas Batton. Selma Delegates: Geo. F. Brietz, N. E. Ward, Dr. George D. Vick, C. F. Kirby, Miss Margaret Etheredge, Mrs. J. B. Person; Alternates: R. L. Ray, Jesse Daughtery, Frank Barnes, F. B. Whitley, Mrs. R. J. Noble, Mrs. W. H. Call Smithfield Delegates: J. W. Stephenson, R. A. Sanders, C. T. Hill, D. B. Hamilton, Mrs. H. L. Skinner, Mrs. T. J. Lassiter, Mrs. F. H. Brooks; Alternates: W. L. Fuller, Oscar Stephenson, W. M. San ders, R. D. Johnson, Miss Sarah Sanders, Miss Mildred Young, Mis3 lone Abell. SECOND COTTON VARIETY TEST State Extension Service Co Operates With J. H. B. Tomlinson in Test The Division of Agronomy of the State Extension Service will conduct a second cotton variety test in the county this year in cooperation with Mr. J. H. B. Tomlinson of near Smithfield. A test was run here last year, but owing to th e unsual drought prevailing during the latter part of the year, many of the farmers who saw the test think the differences in the yields for the several varieties used were net as marked as they would be under normal conditions. Then, too, there are a number of out standing good local varieties of cot ton in the county which were not grown in this test and which we would like very much to include in our num ber of varieties this year. We have already secured a small quatity of seed, approximately one half peck, of a number of good local varieties and the county agent is very anxious to secure a similar amount of seed of any good variety that farmers wish to have grown in this test. In sending or bringing seed of the variety to be used in the test, give us the name of it and the man by whom it was, originated or grown. All seed to be included in this test must be sent in during the week as the cotton will be planted next Mon day. The purpose of conducting a vari ety test is to give the farmers of the county a chance to see what variety or varieties will really give the great est return under our conditions. The prevailing soil type throughout the county is so nearly uniform that a variety of cotton might easily be se lected which would give uniformally good results in every part of the en tire county. Until we can settle on i a~sTngle variety'antT^^p-rtr-ififpro^ ed, free from mixture which occurs in the field and in the common gin, we will not be able to obtain the best prices for our cotton crop. A good many of our varieties already are lacking in uniformity and prolificacy as a- result of crossing and inter crossing. Wherever a county or ev en a community has adopted a com mon variety, and set about improv ing that, they have increased the yield and improved the quality to a point where it commands a splendid prem ium. Johnston county is one of the very best cotton counties in the state and it is time for us to come to the point in progressive farming where cotton is not necess arily recognized as cotton. We have some of the very best varieties of cotton started in this county that are to be found in the cotton belt and the only way to distinguish the merits of these varieties one over another is to grow them side by side under uni form conditions. We solicit the hearty co-operation of every progres sive cotton farmer in this county in this variety improvement work. Samples of seed may be sent by parcel post to the county agent, Smithfield. CONDOR GRABS BABY IN ALBS Giant. Bird, Shot, Falls So Slowly Child Is Only Slightly Hurt. GENEVA, Switzerland—Seizure of a Swiss peasant’s baby by a huge bird identified as a condor is chron icled by the Oberlander Volks Zei tung. The mother, while weeding her garden on the slopes of the high Hasliberg mountains, left the child sitting on a blanket on the gras3. Her husband, seeing the condor swoop down and lift the infant into the air, ran for his army rifle and shot the bird which fell so slowly that the youngster was only/slightly hurt. The condor had a wing spread of 17 feet 5 inches and a beak 16 1-2 inches in length. That it is a true condor, which is a native of the South American Andes, is vouched for, ac cording to the newspaper, by Prof. Ochsenmaul, University of Berne ornithologist. It will be stuffed and placed in the Berne museum. Meeting Postponed. The revival meeting which was to have started at Smithfield Baptist Church has been postponed one week on account of the illness of a child of Evangelist J. L. Jenkins. STATE SCHOOL FIGURES COMPILED Twenty Years See Big Prop erty Increase; Still 94 Log School Houses RALEIGH, April 17—The State of North Carolina will spend this year for educational purposes the sum of $3,267,200, not including any money raised by the counties of the State i'<>r school purposes nor any bond money. This sum of $3,267,000, as well as a further sum of $345,000 which is appropriated to such institu tions as the Caswell Training School, the Stonewall Jackson Training School and others not 100 per cent i lueational in their nature, making a grand total of $3,612,200, comes from the general state fund secured through state levies upon incomes, corporations, railroad, etc. Practically every other state in the Union levies a state-wide ad valorem tax for schools, and there are very few states where the state rate is less than 75c, on the $100 worth of proper ty; and this is in addition to the lo cal county taxes which run the total assessment for school purposes up to $1.25 to $1.50 per $100 valuation. State Help 37 Counties. Included in the total of $3,612,200 is not only the cost of administra tion for the State Department of Ed ucation and all appropriations for teacher training, extension work, the medical examination of children and the support of all State institutions, but also $832,250 which goes to sup plement the county funds of 37 coun ties of the State in order to assure a six-months term for every school in every county. This is known as the Equalization Fund. Each County before participating in the Equalization Fund is required, under an act of the recent Legislature to levy a county tax of not less than 39c. If the tax thus levied, isjmt_ suMcienf~to~pt<iSitte-—8 SttC^months term for eacji school, then the defi ciency is made up by the State Board of Education. It is interesting in this connection to note that, according to figures se cured from the Commissioner of Rev enue, there are seven counties in the State whose levy for school purposes is 30cts. or under. There are 24 counties who levy 39cts or less. Nine counties have a rate of 60cts or more and 27 counties have a rate of 50ets or more. The county having the high est rate is Camden with a levy of 80 cts. New Hanover has a levy of 65 1-2 cents and Caswell 65cts. The seven counties having a rate of 30 cents or under are, Alleghany, Ashe, Cabarrus, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Wa tauga, and Yadkin. A Record of Progress The record of the development of the educational system of North Car olina during recent years is one in which the State may well take pride. Here are some figures calculated to make the average Tarheel sit up and take notice: The value of all school property in 1900 was $1,097,564. In 1920 it was 24,057,838, of which $11,977,272 was represented by rural school property. The average value of the school houses of North Carolina in 1900 was $158. The average value today is $3,009. In 1900 there were 1190 log school houses. Only 94 of these are left. The number of school houses built from 1902 to 1920 was 6,805. The average length of the white school term in 1900 was 73.3 days. The average white school term in 1920 was 135.9 days. The average length of the oclored school term has increased from 65 days to 127.4 days. The average monthly salary paid to white teachers in 1900 was $26.18 for men and $23.41 for women. The average monthly salary today is $69. 55. The average monthly salary for colored teachers has been advanced from approximately $20.50 to $46.85. There were in 1920, 12,970 white teachers as compared with 6,000 in 1900. There were 1992 local tax dis tricts in 1920 as compared with only 18 in 1900. There were no rural high schools, and no standard high schools in the towns of the State in 1900. There are today 412 rural high schools and 111 standard high schools in the State. There are 4,686 rural libraries and 2,125 supplemental libraries in the State at present. The total expenditure for all pur MR. W. H. AUSTIN BACK FROM OKLAHOMA CITY Reports Enthusiasm For Cooperative Marketing of Cotton Through out the South Mr. W. H. Austin, the president of the North Carolina Cotton Growers Co-operative Marketing System, re turned Sunday morning from a trip to Oklahoma City where he had been in conference with the heads of other Organizations perfecting -the plans for the sale of the next crop. He reports great enthusiasm on the part of the cotton growers throughout the South and says that the infor mation from all sources is to the ef fect that a great majority of this year’s crop will be disposed of through this marketing system. Mr. Austin has devoted considera ble time to this proposition and has, at his own expense, made a full and thorough investigation of all the facts and possibilities of the same. He is not receiving any compensation for his time, work or expenses, but is contributing all in the firm belief that the results will be so beneficial to the cotton growers of the State that he will feel amply repaid for his time and trobule. He is a large farmer himself and expects to raise at least one thousand bales of cotton this year. He informs us that he, confidently, expects to sell this for at least $25 per bale more than he could have otherwise obtained. The small farmer, who is a mem ber of the Organization will benefit in the same proportion, and the small farmers in the Organization are to be congratulated that they have at the head of the system a man with the ability and patriotism that Mr. Austin possesses. Prayer Meeting at M. E. Church The mid week prayer meeting will be held Wednesday evening at 7:30 jp-dfick. Give time and attention to this means bf^fai*‘-Ttfhcri3ubjt1(‘t'fcr~ pi’ayer: For that which is lacking in your faith. Welcome for all. poses for rural schools in 1900 was $887,710.98. The total expenditure in the rural schools of the State in 1920 was $7,973,640.86, of which amount $5,717,705.59 was paid to teachers and superintendents, as compared with $770,615.69 in 1900. A total of $2,645,515.10 was in vested in new’ school houses and sites for rural schools in 1920 as compar ed with $40,711.54 inveted in 1900. A total of $935,144.20 was raised by local taxation for rural schools in 1920, as against $5000 raised in the same way in 1900. The State appropriation for schools in 1920 was only $100,000. The State appropriation for schools in 1920 was $3,432,063.16. In 1000 only $55,000 was appropri ated for permanent improvements and maintenance of State Educational Institutions. In 1920 $3,287,200 was appropriated for these purposes. A comparison of figures for 1921 and 1922 would show still further progress, but these figures are not available yet. Rapid Progress Hemg Made Notwithstanding the remarkable progress which has been made by North Carolina along educational lines during recent years, Superinten dent of Public Instruction E. C. Brooks and other educational leaders in North Carolina realize that the State is still far behind a vast ma jority of its sister states in the edu cational opportunities which it is of fering to its youth. Greater prog ress is being made at the present time however, than at any time in the pre vious history of the State, and this progress is being made, in so far as State Institutions, the administration of the State Department of Educa tion and all other activities except the operation of city and county schools, through revenue derived from industry and commerce in the State. An ad valorem tax on real proper ty in North Carolina sufficient to pro vide the funds necessary to carry on the present program would be consid ered prohibit by a large propor tion of the tax payers of the State if recent agitation regarding taxes may be considered at all representative of the sentiment in North Carolina with regard to taxation. In most other states, however, larger sums than North Carolina is spending on her ed ucational system are being raided in this manner. FIRE DESTROYS CENTER BRICK Entire Loss Incurred Around $70,000; Some Insurance On the Building Early Saturday morning just be fore five o'clock, the fire alarm siren sounded, and it was found that the Center Brick tobacco warehouse was on tire. The entire building seemed to be in a blaze when the alarm was turned in. Both th^ white and col ored fire companies were soon on the scene, and while it was impossible to save the warehouse, they did val iant work in preventing spread of the flames. A high wind was blowing and the redrying plant of the T. S. Ragsdale Co., almost adjoining the warehouse, was in’imminent danger. A dwell ing on the north side of the building caught several times, but was prompt ly put out. Sparks blew to consid erable distance and only watchful ness on the part of residents in the territory northeast of the burning structure saved other buildings from catching fire. The warehouse, which was a total loss was valued at $fi0,000, with about $20,000 insurance. It belong ed to the estate of the late George T. Poole. Several cars, a hearse, a cement mixer and nine bales of cot ton stored in the building were among the things destroyed. One automo bile was the property of Mr. T. S. Ragsdale and one belonged to the Geo. T. Poole estate. The cement mixer belonged to the T. S. Ragsdale Co., the 'hearse to Cotter-Underwood Co., a truck to Sanders Motor Co., and the cotton to Mr. W. H. Lassiter. The entire loss including building and contents was estimated at $70, 000. It is not known how the fire origi nated..__ A considerable crowcT gathered trr watch the fire. This was the first call of any consequence which the newly organized fire companies have had to answer. They w'orked swiftly and effectively, keeping the situation in hand, and taking every precaution against the crumbling of the walls af ter the fire had been extinguished. During the day dynamite was used to raze the dangerous portions of the walls left standing. An Automobile Accident. Friday evening about 7:30 o’clock an automobile accident occurred on the road near the Claude Sanders place about seven miles from town which resulted in the painful in'ury of Miss Bessie Faulkner. She and her brother Mr. Alton Faulkner had started to spend the evening at the home of their brother, Mr. Buren Faulkner and were driving a big Jor dan car. Their lights were dim and they were on a wagon loaded with lumber before they cr aid stop. Sev eral pieces of the lumber shot through the windshield, completely shattering it, and struck Miss Faulk ner in the neck. Mr. Faulkner re ceived only a slight cut on the fore head, and the two negroes on the load of lumber received ony slight injuries. Miss Faulkner was removed to the home of a colored man across the road and medical assistance summon ed. In a very short time Dr. Thel Hooks and two nurses from the hos pital were on the scene. They took Miss Faulkner to her home and ren dered first aid until Dr. Tyner, who is a surgeon, could arrive to assist. It was found that several small ar teries were severed which were promptly tied. The accident was a narrow escape from death but the friends of Miss Faulkner will be glad to know that she is now getting along nicely. Tomato Seed For Tests. Miss Minnie Lee Garrison, County Home Demonstration, eeived from the State Home Demon stration Agent, tomato seed for dis tributon to women who will turn in records of same. It s desired to find ■ out whether the tomatoes are subject to blight. The> were sent o the % state office from Washington Miss Garrison wishes all club meP'-her« 'j who want some of the seed to apply to her at your earliest convenience. The supply is limited.