SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1923
NUMBER 32
VOLUME 42
WOMAN’S CLUB BEEN
ORGANIZED IN KENLY
Town Officers Nominated at
Democratic Convention;
, Other Items
Kenly, April 17.—The Community
Club met on Monday afternoon at
4:30 o’clock and had a most enthus
iastic meeting with several of the
Smithfield ladies present, Mrs. W. H.
Lyon, Mrs. Thel Hooks, Mrs. H. P.
Johnson, Mrs. Jack Broadhurst and
Mrs. W. M. Sanders. The Kenly lad
ies were very glad to have the Smith
field ladies with them on this day. At
this meeting the Community Club, of
Kenly, was converted into a Woman’s
Club with Mrs. J. M. Weolard elected
president and Mrs. T.> C. Bailey vice
president. A nominating committee
f a the other officers was appointed
to act with the president and vice
president as follows: Mrs. J. J. Edg
erton, Mrs. H. M. Grizzard and Mrs.
J. E. Holden. The report will be giv
en Friday afternoon and the officers
elected. Refreshments were served at
the close of the meeting. Fifty mem
Ders were present.
The Missionary Society of the M.
E. Church met on Tuesday afternoon
at four o’clock. At this meeting the
delegates were elected to go to Hen
derson to attend the annual confer
ence which will be in session next
Week. Mrs. C. F. Darden will repre
sent the adult society in Henderson
and Mrs. Donahue will represent the
young people’s society. Miss Eloise
Darden and others possibly of the
Young People’s Society will attend
also.
At a Democratic convention held in
the Kenly High School auditorium
Tuesday night for the purpose of nom
inating town officers to be voted on
i'i the election on May rdl •.he fol
lowing officers were nominated: May
or, P. H. Etheridge; Commissioners,
A. J. Broughton, L, C. Wilkinson, Dr.
G. B. Woodard, F. A White and Henry
G Watson,
The Priscilla Embroidery Club was
entertained last Friday afternoon by
Mrs. R. A. Turlington at her lovely
home on Main street from 4:30 to 6:30
o’clock. The home was attractively
decorated for the occasion. During
the social hour refreshments consist
ing of a salad course followed by an
ice course and candied jinger were
served. The attendance was very
good in spite of the inclemency of the
weather and quite an enjoyable after
noon was spent. The club will next
be entertained by Mrs. F. A. White.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Alford, Mr.
and Mrs. Leon Raper and others per
haps from Kenly went to Whitakers
Sunday to attend the funeral and bur
ial of their sister, Mrs. W. T. Batts,
whose death occurred Friday after
noon in a Wilson hospital.
Mrs. Rosa D. Edgerton and children
spent the week end in Raleigh as the
guests of Mrs. H. M. Hamilton.
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. O’Neal and
baby, of Selma, were guests of Mr.
and Mrs. W. H. Etheridge during the
week end.
Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Edgerton, of
Rocky Mount, were guests of Mr. and
Mrs. J. T. Edgerton during the week
end.
Miss Clyde Watson and Mr. Cecil
Rackley, of Wilson, were guests of
Miss Agnes Watson during the week
end.
Miss Jewel Edgerton, who is a stu
dent at Peace Institute, Raleigh,
spent the week end at home with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Edgerton.
Mr. Dobbin Bailey and Mr. Ru
dolph Kirby spent a few hours in
Raleigh Sunday.
Mr. H. P. Edgerton left Wednes
day for an extended business trip
South. He will first spend some time
in Atlanta, Ga.
Miss Faye Barnes has recently re
turned from an extended visit to
friends and relatives in Wilson, Fre
mont, and other points.
Mrs. G. E. Walston and daughter,
of Wilson, were guests of Mrs. H. M.
Grizzard for the week end.
“Sunday School Day” will be ob
served at the M. E. Church Sunday
morning during the church period.
Quite an interesting program is being
arranged for the day.
Mrs. P. T. McDewitt and son, of
BENSON SCHOOL BOY
MAKES RADIO OUTFIT
Fifteen-Year-Old Marshall
Whittington Constructs
His Own Apparatus
About a year and a half ago Mar
shall Whittenton, of Benson, became
interested in radio through reading
articles in electrical and engineering
magazines. He became so enthusi
astic that he acquired a blue print,
and studying it, decided that he could
readily make a set. He already had
a slight knowledge of electrical wir
ing and as soon as he had made up
his mind that he could build the
set he straighteway asked his father
to buy material for him. This took
ed like folly to is father, who felt
that this idea of his son was only
an idle dream and that to invest mon
ey in parts for a radio set would be
sheer nonsense. The boy, however,
was not to be daunted and in the
following summer when the town
of Benson rewired the entire light
ing system, he worked every day
along with the foreman, his father
alowing him to keep the funds re
ceived for is labor and dispose of it
in anyway he wished.
I As he was paid for his work he
i purchased parts for his cherished ra
I dio set. Finally, after many months
all the parts were assembled and he
. began putting them together, work
, ing with the grim steadiness and ex
, perience of a far older person. Last
November he received his first pro
gram, clearly and distinctly, which
' was a lecture on the manufacture of
a spectacle lens, and was delivered
in the Penn Hotel, in Pittsburg, Pa.
Oh! how elated he was that this
earnest efforts were proving worth
-while. This only spurred him on and
he has improved his machine until
it is now one of the best and clear
est in this section of the country. It
is equipped with a loud speaker and
| the entire family is entertained every
evening with high class programs.
Many friends come and enjoy the
entertainments along with the fami
ly
Messages have been received from
! Havana, Cuba. A clock was heard
I ticking on that island as plainly and
i distinctly as if it were within a yard
I of the hearers. Messages have al
so been received from Ontario, Cana
1 da, St. Louis, Mo., points in Ne
1 braska, Texas, Georgia!, Florida,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York
and in fact, from most all sections
| of the United States. Once he had
a direct connection with England.
Besides being a radio enthusiast,
: Mr. Marshall is an electrician of no
! mean ability. He helps the superlr.
i tenncnt of water and lights on any
1 job that comes up and is fast cbmb
I ing in the electrical profession. He
| is a member of the Junior Class of
I the Benson hiph school, and expects
j to enter college and pursue trie
I study of electrical engineer, o.r on
, his graduation from high school
I FLEET OF WOODEN
SHIPS DESTROYED
Washington, April 18.—Five of a
fleet of wooden ships being trans
ferred up the Potomac river from the
j shipping board storage base in the
, James river were practically destroy
! ed by fire today according to a re
port received by marine corps head
| quarters from Quantico. Four other
vessels were reported badly damaged.
I
j
j
j
j
i
\
i
I
Washington, arrived in Kenly Wed
nesday on a few days’ visit.
Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Grizzard were
in Wake Forest last week to be pres
ent for the Bridger-Dickson wedding.
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Edwards, of
Princeton, spent Sunday with Mr. and
Mrs. L. Z. Woodard.
Misses Ethel Morris and Sadie
Revell spent Monday in Raleigh shop
ping.
Mrs. A. H. Hardison left Wednes
day for Washington to visit friends.
Miss Oda Ward, of Norfolk, Va., is
the guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
B. E. Ward.
Mrs. Lester Watson and Miss Nell
Hardison spent Thursday in Wilson.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Winbom, of
Fremont, spent a few hours in town
1 Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Garland Edgerton and
' children, of Princeton, spent a short
while in town Sunday.
MARSHALL WHITTENTON
The 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Whittenlon, of Benson, built and
installed the radio receiving set with which he is photographed above.
PARK’S PROTEGES WIN
GAME FROM CLAYTON
Smithfield Highs Show Fine Form
Winning 9-4 From State Champ
ions of 1922; Avera Twirled.
Showing fine form the Smithfield
High school baseball team made the
last year North Carolina high school
champions bite the dust waen ivy
emerged at the big end of a 9-5
scor-e over Clayton Tuesday. Smith
field had two big innings, the third
and sixth, and succeeded in hitting
well when hits meant runs. Clayton
scored in seventh and ninth frames
with errors in out and infield to be
blamed.
Coin teams played the first two in
nings without scoring although it.
each inning mien died on bases. In
last half of third Smithfield opened
up when Adams singled and Avera
get to first on double. Smithfield
pulled a double steal and with Skin
mr, Holland and Goiw.n hitting >*an'
across home plate ,>:• four tallies.
In sixth inning Smithfiek. scored
fn o times, while Clayton >;ot two
runs in a seventh inning rally errors
in Smithfield fielding being largely
responsible* Grady relieved Avers
in eight with bases practically i' 11
and one gone holding Clayton score •
less. In ninth Clayton again staged
a desperate comeback and two men
crossed rubber with aid of errors.
Avera while a little wild at times
pitched good ball, keeping the hits
scattered and with good support
would have had a shutout game to
his credit. Grady showed up well
while in.
Score by innings: R. H. K.
Smithfield __004 005 000 ‘>116
Clayton _000 000 202 4 5 7
EDITOR WHITE GIVES
OPTION OF EUROPE
Washington, April 18.—Labor and
women, not the Allies or Germany
won the war, William Allen White,
editor of the Emporia (Kansas) Ga
zette, declared here today in an ad
dress at a luncheon given in his honor
by the National Popular Government
league. He recounted impressions
gained on a cruise to the Mediter
ranean countries and England from
which he returned last week.
Labor’s victory is in its present
vastly improved economic condition,
Mr. White said, while women’s victory
is in her advanced social and political
condition. Labor’s advance in the
scale of living is noticeable every
where, the speaker asserted, adding
that the adjustment to this condition
was one of the factors in the present
unsettled state of Europe and the
world.
Likening Europe to a house on fire,
Mr. White said the Europeans were
clamoring for the American fire de
partment, but meantime were doing
little themselves toward extinguish
ing the blaze. He argued that the
United Statets should aid Europe in
some way and suggested a conference
of representatives of all classes in
the various nations in an effort to
arrive at some solution of the world
problem.
Nurse: “You must forgive your lit
tle brother before you go to bed.
You might die in the night.”
! Bobby (reluctantly): “Well, I’ll
forgive him, tonight, but if I don’t
die, he’d better look out in the morn
ing.”—Boston Transcript.
WELFARE BOARD TO
INVESTIGATE CHARGES
Meeting Of Board Will Be Held In
Greensboro April 26—Commis
sioner Is Silent
Raleigh, N. C , April 19.—Any ac
tion which the State Board of Chari
f ties and Public Welfare may take j
in connection with charges of cruelty |
to prisoners in the State Prison will 1
be decided on at the quarterly meet- j
ing of the Board in Greensboro on t
April 27, Mrs. Kate Burr Johnson, ;
Commissioner of Welfare, stated j
yesterday, but declined to make any !
comment, either on the charges or j
on the probable action of the board, j
The meeting of the State Board of j
Charities and Public Welfare, it is j
stated, was not called for the pur
pose of considering the charges '■
brought by E. E. Dudding, president
oi tne rnsoners iteiiei society or
for taking any action thereon, but
since it is near at hand, it is certain
that the question of a prison investi
gation will be considered.
The action of the directors of the
State Prison precisely in line with
the expected, leaves the Dudding
charges still undisposed of with the
flat statement on the part of the
prison directors of their belief that
the charges are of such a character
that they do not merit investigation
by themselves or any other agency.
“We have set up officers of the
law, solicitors, prosecuting attorneys,
grand juries, an attorney general,1
and a commissioner of public welfare
to represent the people and investi
gate alleged criminality on the part
of the officers as well as on the
part of private citizens. We do not
propose in any way to encourage set- j
ting up somebody to have a sensa
tional and useless investigation of I
slanderous charges against our
management of the institution but
if any solicitor, grand jury, welfare
commissioner, or other officer of the
law, wants to make any investiga
tion of any act or anything done at
the State Prison under our manage
ment, it will be the pleasure of the
superintendent and other officers in
charge to expedite the investigation
and courteously assit therein at any
time.”
Apparently, there was no division
of opinion among the directors of
the prison as to the course of the
board in regard to the Dudding
charges. Chairman James A. Leak
had already expressed himself in no
uncertain terms.News and Observer.
1 GERMAN KILLED; 17
HURT IN CLASH
Essen, April 18.—(By Asso
ciated Press.)—Clashes between
unemployed and the police were
reported today from various parts
of the occupied area. The most
serious disturbance was at Mul
heim where a crowd attacked the j
town magistrate’s office. One Ger
man was killed and 17 wounded
in a clash with the security po
lice.
The unemployed at Mulheim
have been re-inforced by men
from Duisenberg, Oberhausen and
nearby towns and marched to the
town hall to present their com
plaints.
As Spring approaches each year j
we always wonder how Noah re- j
framed from using the two fishing
worm s.—Phoenix.
JOHNSTON COUNTY
HAVE ANOTHER FAIR
Dr. R. J. Noble Elected Pres.
And R. A. Wei Ions New
Secretary-Treasurer
Notwithstanding the fact that the
lease on the Fair Grounds is out
having expired Dec. 31, 1922, and that
the Fair Association faced a deficit
of between $250 and $300 last year,
the stock holders of the Johnston
County Agricultural Society who
met in the court house Tuesday af
ternoon laid plans for a bigger and
better fair next fall than ever be
fore. Dr. R. J. Noble of Selma was
chosen as president of the Fair As
sociation; Mr. C. M. Wilson of Wil
son’s Mills as vice-president; and
Mr. R. A. Wellons of this city, ns
secretary-treasurer.
The meeting of the stockholders
was called for three o’clock but it
was around four before a majority
of the stockholders were assembled
together. Mr. J. W. Stephenson,
who has served efficiently as presi
dent for several years, presided over
the meeting. The financial statement
of the association was called for
which showed a deficit of about $275
which situation has left some of the
premiums offered unpaid. Among
the unpaid premiums are the amounts
due the schools at Kenly, Benson and
Ivanhoe Mill of this city.
After hearing the report of the
financial status, even though behind
in funds, it was the unanimous opin
ion of those present that a great
agricultural county like Johnsto i
could not afford to do without a
County Fair, and a committee was
forth with named to nominate new
board of directors of the organiza
tion. The following persons were
nominated and elected: Robt. A.
Sanders, Smithfield, R. P. D.; Dr.
R. J. Noble, Selma; J« Rufus Creech,
Pine Level, Route 1; C. M. Wilson,
Wilson’s Mills; W. D. Avera, Smith
field, R. F. D.; R. E. Lee, Meadow
township; B. A. Turnage, Wilson’s
Mills; B. L. Jones, W. D. Hood, J.
A. Narron, R. A. Wellons, F. H.
Brooks, E. S. Edmundson, Mrs. T.
J. Lassiter and H. C. Woodall.
Making provision for a place to
hold the fair next fall was referred
to the board of directors, and the
stockholders meeting adjourned.
A meeting of the directors was
called immediately and the above
named officers elected. R. A. Wellons
was elected secretary at a salary of
$500, the salary which has been paid
for the past several years. Mr. Wel
lons agreed to act as treasurer with
out any additional renumeration, and
the by-laws were accordingly amend
ed, so that the secretary nd treas
urer can be one and the same. He
was then elected treasurer. Mr. Wel
lons, who owns the site of the Fair
Grounds, made propositions in the
meeting whereby the grounds could
be either rented or purchased. Af
ter a full discussion, a motion was
carried to rent the Fair Grounds for
the next fair, the rental being fixed
at $500. At the same time the di
rectors have the opportunity to take
an option on the fourteen acres com
prising the Fair Grounds, until af
ter next fall. The board will meet
again on Saturday morning, April
28 at 10 o'clock at the court house to
accept or reject this option.
Before the meeting adjourned, an
Executive Committee was elected as
follows: Messrs. B. L. Jones, J. Ru
fus Creech, W. D. Hood, E. S. Ed
mundson, H. C. Woodall and J. A.
Narron. The following were placed
on the finance committee: F. H.
Brooks, C. M. Wilson, and W. D.
Avera.
***********
* CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
* ABOLISHED FOR PRISONS
* ______
* Tallahasse, Fla., April 18.—
* The house of representatives
* today voted 63 to 15 to abolish
* corporal punishment in this
* state in the handling of county
* prisoners. The action came on
* the adoption of an amendment
* offered by Rep. Davis to the
* measure which would abolish
* the county convict lease sys
* tern. The morning was con
* Burned in discussion of various
* amendments to the bills of leo
* ser importance.
• *
MR.HARDiNG’S COURT
PROPOSAL APPROVED
Democrats Manifest Much
Interest in it Since Wilson
Announced Position
Washington, April 18.—Democrats
are manifesting more interest in the
world court since former President
Wilson announced his position. A
leading party worker said today that
senate will fight for the world court
provisions as contained in the League
of Nations, but will take the best
way they can get. A few democrats
will vote against it, saying that a
butchered court is no good.
Democratic workers and politicans
here believe that it was a mistake
to force former President Wilson’s
hand at this time. They assert that
the republicans stood by their policy
of isolation until the pro-league mem
bers of their party became angry,
and then the President announced the
court proposal. Now the administra
tion is for cooperation instead of iso
lation. This new program has split
the republicans and the best course
for the democrats is to stand pat and
let the enemy fight, and break their
, party into factions.
These practical democrats fear
| that the republican wisdom will suc
ceed in pulling Harding down, and
putting up some other man. They
do not anticipate any serious trouble
with Hiram Johnson, but some con
servative substitute for Harding.
They were chagrined when they saw
the Rouse-Wilson communications in
print.
Prominent democrats connected
with the national committee, as mem
bers and officials, will undertake Lo
interpret President Wilson’s letter to
Representative Rouse of Kentucky.
They do not think that he meant
the Harding-Hughes plan should be
defeated.
Former ambassador to Great Bri
tain, John W. Davis, ol T» :
ginia, said:
"I think the democrats should meet
the republicans on this world court
proposal, and accept it. There is no
reason for discussing reservations at
this time. I did not understand Mr.
Wilson to say that he was for the
world court program of the republi
cans. He made it clear what he
stands for, but did not say he would
vote against the court proposition.”
The democratic national commit
tee is trying to give the republicans
a free and open field for controversy
over the world court, They believe it
is to be a finish fight, with a bolt at
the national convention. The commit
j tee predicts that President Harding
i will “try to convince the people
j that we should be a member of the
permanent court of international jus
tice, a course to which no one is
opposed, unless it be the republican
members of the foreign relations
committee.”
The directors of the policy of the
committee will formally state in i
few days that they do not interpret
the Wilson letter to Rouse to mean
“we should not take the Harding
Hughes court proposal.”—H. E. C.
Bryant in Charlotte Observer.
FIVE KILLED IN
APARTMENT FIRE
Lynn, Mass., April 19.—Five per
sons were killed in a lire which des
troyed the Essex Castle, a five story
brick apartment house on Ellis street
in the center of the city early today.
Many occupants were hurt.
The blaze started at one o’clock on
one of the lower floors and almost
, imn: diately the interior of the Tijjid
iing burst into flames. The 150 per
; sons living in the 49 suites were
quickly aroused. A few made their
j way down th estairways before these
were cut off by fire and smoke. Many
jumped from the windows and -others
were taken down ladders by the fire
men. There were many narrow es
capes when the roof fell in.—Wilm
ington Star.
Late Of Minstrel Changed to Tuesday
The minsti el given by the boys of
Smithfield High school under the
management of Miss Margaret; New
ell and Dixor Wallace will not be
shown tonigift as advertised on ac
count of the mass meeting here. Tues
! day night is the date fixed for the
; minstrel and the high school audi
torium will be the scene.