PRESIDENT HARDING ENDS HIS CRUSING —— > i President and Wife Leave i Houseboat to Spend Some j Time in St. Augustine ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., March 24 —President and Mrs. Harding land ed from the houseboat Pioneer th's afternoon, improved in health, to spend a week here before returning to Washington by way of other Southern Winter and Spring resorts. The eighteen days spent by Mr. and Mrs. Harding on board the McLean houseboat between here and Miami have demonstrated that it is still possible for a President of the Unit ed States to leave Washington and l.ot be bothered by politics and other interruptions to a vacation. In these eighteen days only one political inci dent affecting the President has oc curred. That was Attorney Gener al Daugherty’s announcement at Miami last week that Mr. Harding would be a candidate again. Judging from reports reaching here, the only surprise caused by this statement was the manner in which it was made and the fact that it came so early—nearly a j^ear before the usual beginning of pre-convention cam paigns. Virtually every day, except Sun day, during the past eighteen days, Mr. Harding has played an equal number o# holes of golf, and through-' out his vacation he has becorge so ab sorbed in the game that, as one mem ber of the party expressed it, “even the exhaust of the motor boats pas sing the Pioneer say ‘Put-put-put.’ ” Persons along the east coast be tween here and Miami at points touched by the Pioneer have display ed an almost universal consideration for the President and Mrs. Harding. They have shown a realization that Mrs. Harding is in Florida to re ®gain her strength after her serious illness of the Fall and Winter, and that $he President had not left the White House since last July and is in need of quiet and rest. Few; attempts have been made to persuade the Hardings to take part in entertainments arranged in their honor, but some of these attempts were so insistent as to tax severely the patience and tact of Secretary Christian and Secret Service men. The President’s good nature gave way under the persistence of one person who sought to have the Pio neer stop at a small Winter resort real estate project in which he was interested. The man had made two attempts to pass the Secret Service men and reach the President on the Pioneer. He finally succeeded when Mr. Harding was leaving church. Hanging to the President’s arm on the walk to the dock, he talked long and earnestly and did not leave un til he had obtained a promise to vis f it the resort. It meant a motor drive of several miles, but the Presi dent slashed his way around the new sandy golf course, a “Harding Circle” was named in his honor, there was a luncheon with speeches describing the resort as “God’s footstool,” while the movies perpetuated the historic occasion. There was a band at the luncheon, and when ordered to strike up “Hail to the Chief” on the President’s ap pearance it played the only greeting it knew—“Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here.'’ It was not recorded that the President purchased a lot, but at an other resort this failure to become a Florida landowner was corrected. When the Pioneer docked, there was a reception comnpttee waiting with the deed to a seaside lot already made- out in the President’s name. It cost him nothing, but real estate men protest that the land is worth much more than that. Registration Books Open. The registration books for the town election to be held in Smithfield May 8th, will be open Monday, April 2, for 20 days. The books will be at N. B. Grantham’s store. W. M. GRANTHAM, Registrar. , Circle Number Four To Meet. Circle Number Four of the Metho dist Missionary Society will meet Wednesday afternoon at the church after Bishop Hay’s address. Every member is requested to be present. BASKET BALL TEAM GUEST OF KIWANIANS Coach Fetzer of Chapel Hill One of the Speakers; Others Talk Tfct members of the boys basket bail team of T. G. S. were guests of honor at a banquet given by the Ki wanis Club Thursday evening, the oc casion being a pleasing courtesy ex tended because of the unusual suc cess of the team in wanning the Eastern Championship and in com ing so close to winning State Cham pionship. Coach Fetzer of Chapel Hill was also an honor guest of the occasion and made a splendid talk on Athletics. Mr. C. C. Poindexter, a member of the senior class of the State Uni versity was present and added a few remarks relative to athletics. Messrs J. H. Abell and R. P. Holding on be half of the Kiwanis Club made short talks, Messrs Chas. B. Parks, local coach -and Mose Godwin making re sponse for the team. The thought emphasized in all of the speeches was clean athletics, one fine value of games being the instillation of .1 sense of fair play. The boys of the basketball team honored on this occasion Were: Frank Lawrence Skinner, James Hill, Raymond Stephenson, Norwood Hol land, Delma Brown, Leon Hill, Jean Caudill, Gaston Patrick, John Caudill, Clarence Stephenson and Mose God wfTP The banquet, which was served by the Woman’s Club, was served in the usual good style at which the ladies have become adepts. A turkey menu was dispensed on this occa sion. The tables were quite attrac tive with decorations suggestive of the Easter season. FOURTEEN YEAR OLD BOY DROWNED THURSDAY* The fourteen year old son of Mr. Perry Holland, of Micro township was drowned Thursday afternoon in Little River near the old Bagley station. The boy together with his brother and others was on his way to work about two o’clock in the after noon, it being necessary to cross the river to get to their place of work. Instead of going over on the boat the boy swam across. According to the report which reached us, after swimming across he decided to turn and swim back. Evidently he was overcome with the cold or had cramp for he found himself un able to swim and went down. His brother with the boat made an effort to reach him but not until he sank for the last time. His body was recovered in about forty mjnutes, a doctor was called and efforts were made to resusitate him but to no avail. The funeral took place Friday afternoon. REV. B. R. LACY IK) PREACH BACCALAUREATE SERMON Superintendent Franks has receiv ed the acceptance of ar invitation *o Rev. B. R. Lacy, of Atlanta, Ga., to preach the baccalaureate sermon be fore the graduating class of T. G. S. this f-pt .ng. Rev. Mr. Lacy who is now pastor of Central Presbyterian church of Atlanta, Ga., has many friends and adroi'ers in Smithfield and Johnstou county. His first pastorate included work in this county, since which time his friends have watched with inter est the success which has been ac corded him as a minister. His re turn to Smithfield for this com mencement event will be looked for ward to with pleasure. aster Vesper Service. A Vesper service by the music de partment of the Womans’ Club will be given Sunday afternoon at five o’clock. The public is cordially in vited to be present. The program will appear in Friday’s paper. “Can’t I sell you avcopy of this wonderful volume entitled, ‘Every Man His Own Master’?” asked the book agent. “No,” said the weary business man, “I cannot spare the money now for a divorce.”—The Handcuff. SMITHFIELD BASKET BALL TEAM, WINNER OF EASTERN CHAM ^ PIONSHIP AND LOSER OF STATE TITLE BY ONLY ONE POINT GIRLS LOSE EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIP BY 1 POINT Wilmington Defeats Smithfield in Extra Quarter by 28-27; Game Tied End of Second Half. For the second time within the month Smithfield High School was denied the highest basketball honors in the state by the same margin of one point when Wilmington nosed out over the Smithfield girls at Goldsboro Friday afternoon. The score at the end of the second half stood tied at 23 all and it was decid ed to play arc extra five minute quar ter. Wilmington took the lead witn three successive field goals for five points while Smithfield came back with a last minute rally and rang up four points only to have their efforts cut off by the blast of the final whis tle in the offvial basketball season of North Carolina high school. The game started off with Smithy field’s powerful attack which soon put the local girls at the big end of a ten to nothing score. Wilmington rallied and scored three goals be fore the whistle blew for quarter. The second quarter was almost a reversal of the first, Wilmington tak- j ing the offensive and running the ! score up to 16-12, lead by the swift j forward Bonitz. Smithfield came back strong in the ! second half and tallied point for ^ point with Wilmington until the final , minute when it tied the score with two successive field goals. The extra point period started dis astrously for Smithfield for with Bo nitz leading the attack Wilmington 1 struck her finest stride and ran the ] score up to 28 points by three field ' goals (one an overhead shot). But Smithfield came back with a fighting attack and ran the score up to with in one point when the game ended, j The leading scorer for the game 1 was Wellons for Smithfield with 21 j points while Bonitz for Wilmington ' accounted for 20. Woody playing guard for Smithfield was the bright1 light in that department for her first i time at guard’s position. Smithfield boys lost State Cham- j pionship to Asheville by a 24-23 score j while Wilmington took the Eastern | girls championship by 28-27 score. L/ine-up ana summary: Smithfield (27) Wilmington (28) Patterson - Bonitz Right Forward Wellons-Creaey Left Forward Avera-Rehder Center Sarjders-Moore Right Guard Meacham___Belden ; Left Guard Substitutions for Smithfield, Woody for Meacham; for Wilmington Mc Millan for Belden and Belden for Moore. Field goals: Wellons 10, Patterson 3; Bonitz 9, Creaey 3; Foul Goals: Wellons 1; Creaey 2, Bonitz 2. Time of quarters: 8-8 8-8 5. Referee: Mrs. Walker; Umpire Miss None. New General Merchandise Store. Mr. R. N. Gossett, who has been living at Rocky Mount has moved to this city and has opened up a gener al merchandise business. He is lo cated in the J. D. Dickens old stand near the depot. Mr. Gossett and his family are occupying the Puckett house in Brooklyn. FUNERAL SERVICES OF JESSE I). MORGAN Henson Loses Fine Citizen; For Two Terms Was Register of Deeds of Johnston County. BENSON, March 24.—The funeral of Mr. Jesse D. Morgan was con home by Elder Exure Lee, assisted by Elder William Turner, interment being made at the Benson cemeterjn A concourse of friends and relatives gathered. from far and near to pay their last respects to a man justly loved and held in the high esteem of everyone. Beautiful floral designs covered the grave, one of the love liest being sent by the senior class of the Benson High School in ex pression of their deep sympathy for their classmate, Gardner, the young est son of the deceased. The pall bearers were Messrs Chas. Johnson, M T. Britt, J. Greenthal, Will Dix r/n; 'R. D-. Langdort; Pre&ten WoodsJ.V Henry Langdon and Parlia Hudson. Mr. Morgan died at four o’clock Thursday morning following an ill ness of several months and Benson feels that one of its most wofthy and honorable citizens has gone from us in his death. Ten years ago he mov ed his family here from his farm in Elevation township where he had been reared. He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina and taught school for several yea>’3 He served two terms as Register of Deed in the county and was an effi cient member of the school board here for a while. He belonged to the Primitive Baptist church at Han nah’s Creek. He was considered by everyone to be a man of the highest character and sound integrity. He is survived by his wife and six chil dren: Mrs. E. D. Langdori, of Ben son, Misses Ellie and Esther Morgan who are- teaching at Princeton, Messrs Eli Morgan, of Creedmore, Jesse T. Morgan, a member of the firm of Peacock Drug Co., and Card ner Morgan, all of whom have the deepest sympathy of our entire com munity in their loss. All of the bus iness houses of the town closed yes terday from four till five-thirty on account of the funeral. BISHOP HAY TO BE AT M. E. CHURCH WEDNESDAY The people of Smithfield and surrounding1 communities will have an unusual opportunity Wednesday to heaV Bishop Hay, who has just returned from China, and is prepared to give a splendid first hand account of conditions in the foreign field. He will speak of the use being made of the Centenary fund and his address is expected to be of general interest. He will talk at the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, this hour being chosen in order not to conflict with the revival services now in progress at that church. Library Hours Changed. The chairman of the Library de partment of the Woman's Club, Mrs. A. G. Johnson, asks us to announce that the time for opening the library on each Thursday for awhile now will be from 3:30 to 5:30 o’clock. “Say, Offisher, where’s thiR Flat Iron Building? I wanna get rr.y clothes pressed.’’—Pelican. STATE SANATORIUM HAS A NEW BOARD Will Select Superintendent After End of Legislative i Investigation , RALEIGH, March 24.—Dr. Thos. ! William Long, of Roanoke Rapids, ! is the chairman of the new Sanator ium boatd which will take over the management of the hospital for the tuberculous and the members meet ing here today chose with him Sena tor W. E. Harrison, of Richmond county, who will be secretary. This board will have the election of a superintendent .iust as the oth er state hospitals provide machiner r for their own workings. But the se lection of a superintendent will wait on the conclusion of testimony which was begun during the latter days of the assembly. The management is now under attack of varied kinds and the hearing has just begun. The board will conduct an investigation of its own beginning April 4. This was a part of the legislation designed to take the sanatorium unde’ the control of the state board of health. The legislation was not offered in hostility to the state board but as a complment to other laws which makes the conduct of an in stitution the concern of its own board of directors. These directors are appointed by the government as those of other hospitals. The members of the new board are Dr. Long, J. C. Thomas, of Raeford, Ji hn R. Jones, of Sanford, U. L. Spence, of Carthage, W. E. Harrison of Rockingham, Jonas Oettinger, of Wilson, Dr. W. P. Hot, of Duke, Dr. J. C. Braswell, of Whitakers and R. M. Miller, Jr., of Charlotte.— Greensboro Daily News. EASTERN CAROLINA QUEEN SELECTED '' * *• - ■ — Miss Hulda Blythe, of Wilson, and | Miss »Helen Joyner, of Greenville, Win. WILSON, March 23.—“Queens Day” at the eastern Carolina exposi tion was largely attended, there be- 1 ing over 8,000 paid entrances. People j were here from every section to boost j their favorites for queen of the east and incidentally to trip the light fan tastic at the “Queen’s ball” which was a fitting climax to the day’s fes^,! tivities. The votes for the successful “Queens” were not announced until this afternoon. A $500 diamond ring was awarded Miss Hulda Blythe, of Wilson, who received the greatest number of votes for local honors. Miss Helen Joyner, of Greenville, having received the greatest number of votes of any of the counties at large, was presented with a counter- | part of the stone presented to the Wilson queen. There were 6,062 votes : cast. Miss Blythe received 1,175, Miss ! Joyner, 1,242. The crowning took | place this evening. ; GOV ERNOR PAROLES JOHNSTON COUNTY MAN j I Because of the severe illness of ; ; his seventy-nine year old father and ■ 1 the fact that he has already served | fifteen months of a thirty-six months ] sentence, C. H. Hodges, of Johnston county, convicted of violation of the prohibition law was paroled by I Governor Morrison yesterday. Hodges, who was sentenced by J Judge E. H. Cranmer had the sup | port of A. M. Noble, Judge of the Johnston county court; together 1 with the mayor and the chief of S police of the town of Benson. ; “The prisoner’s father is a very j old man and desperately sick, it i being represented to me that there 1 is little hope of his living much 1 longer. There seems to be a strong : sentiment among the officers of ! Johnston county and the town of | Benson that the young man having | served 15 months imprisonment for i the offense committed out of com j passion for the condition of his fath i er, should* be paroled and allowed ! to go home to be such comfort to his father as he can. His father is 70 years of age.”—News and Ob | server. ! ' _ j Mrs. Jones: “I don’t think you ought to pur'uT. a child on a full stomach, do you?” Doc. Briggs: “No. Turn him o"cr " F. H. BROOKS HEADS DEMOCRATIC CLUD Chairman Democratic Nat ional Committee Makes The Appointment WASHINGTON, D. C., Mar. 22.— Chairman Cordell Hull of the Demo cratic National Committee has ap pointed Hon. F. H. Brooks to act us a special representative of the Na tional Democratic Victory Club”' in Smithfield. This is a part of a Nation-wide plan of organization, extending into every one of the 5,000 larger town1; of the country, and having for its object the formation of an army of 100,000 Democrats to bring vict in 1924. Chairman Hufl is thus striving by intensive work THIS year, to win the Presidential election NEXT year. The plan is for each club presi dent appointed by Mr. Hull to orga nize a club of twenty livest Demo crats in each town, thus giving the National Chairman 5,000 flying squadrons, each one composed of 20 dependable men and women, and each under a trustworthy captain,— broadcasted over the whole United States and acting as the eyes, ears, and good right arm of the National Headquarters. Formation of the ^Victory Club among Democrats will start imme diately. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, SAYS U. S. Raleigh Family Get Payment From Government For Cotton Seiz ed By Sherman. The Federal Army did not know that it was dealing in futures, sixty years ago, when trailing Sherman to the sea through northern Alabama, it seized, .twelve.bales of cotton, the_ property of James Lee, a supporter of the Confederate States of Ameri ca. After a law-suit instituted 15 years ago, however, by King and King, Alabama attorneys, the courts have decided that the government did “take a flyer” and Mrs. Nannie G Lee, 330 West Hargett street, has been paid for the cotton .which 60 years ago, was checked off to the “less” column by her late husband and almost forgotten. When the cotton was seized 60 years ago, it was bringing 50 cents a pound. By settling today the go v ernment realizes a handsome profit $1,200 for the cotton but half of Mrs. Lee has received an award oi this went to the attorneys who in stituted the suit. Had the cotton been paid for at the time of the seizure the owners would have real ized $3,006. However, Mrs. Lee and her chil dren, Dave Lee and Mrs. Lena Lee Cox, to whom half of the award was made, are doing anything but kick ing about the somewhat tardy pay ment. They bad given the cotton little thought until about fifteen years ago when they noticed an advertise ment for the heirs of James Lee to x whom the government owed a debt for cotton. They answered the ad vertisement but as the years passed with sopradic correspondence they had gjven up whatever hope they en tertained. “It’s not much,” said Mrs. Lee yes terday, “but it seems a great big sum when you never exjpected to get anything.”—News and Observer. HUMAN FLY SCALES AUSTIN BUILDING HERE Yesterday at two different times at 2:30 o’clock and again at six, Bill O’Brine, of Pittsburg, Pa., scaled the three-story build ing of the Austin Department stores, making the spectators hold their breath as he made the ascent. Before scaling the wall he was drawn up by a rope to the top of the building, his head hanging down in which position he released himself from a straight jacket. This stunt occu pied about six minutes. The whole performance was daring, and the streets were crowded to witness the unusual feat. Go to church and Sunday School next Sunday.