NEW TURN IN N. C. PRISON SITUATION - j Gov. Morrison Withdraws Request for Investigation By Welfare Board The situation in regard to prison conditions in North Carolina has tak en a new turn in that Governor Mor rison has withdrawn his request for an investigation by the state board of charities and public welfare, stating that he will assume “full responsi bility” for the inquiry himself. This decision was announced after a length ly conference with the council of state. The letters from the governor to Mrs. Johnson, State Superintend ent of Public Welfare, and to Attorn ey General Manning, which we are herewith publishing, set forth the l’easons for the withdrawal and out line the plan of procedure now pro posed. Governor Morrison’s letter to Mrs. Johnson follows: “My dear Mrs. Johnson: “I desire to withdraw my request for an investigation by your board into prison conditions in the State. I have decided that my own official responsibility about this matter is greater than I had at first realized. I have, therefore, determined to assume full responsibility in the mat ter and to take far reaching action without delay. Your board, under the law, can only make a report to me for sub mission to the next general assem bly or for my guidance and assist ance. I have decided that I do not desire a report from you for the purpose of influencing my own ac tion, and as the general assembly will not meet for some time, I am unwil ling to wait until that time for action. “I have been giving serious study to the whole subject and feel that I have both the legal power and the disposition to take action in the prem ises. Circumstances are such that I real ly think your investigation and re port would embarrass me rather than aid me in the course I have firmly fixed my mind upon. “I am thoroughly in accord with modern and progressive thought up on the subject of prison reform and, under the law as it is now written, I am satisfied the whole system can be put in modern and up to date shape. I am going to exercise all the power I have and I am quite sure it is sufficient to bring this about. “Very truly yours, “CAMERON MORRISON.” Letter to Manning The following letter was sent to Attorney General Manning: “Hon. James S. Manning, “Attorney General of North Carolina, “Raleigh, N. C. “My Dear Judge: “I will thank you to get in touch with the solMtors of the state at your eat Lest convenience and re quest the:.; to cooperate with you in an investigation of the county pii-' ons an i. camps in which prisoners are kept when being worked. “I desire the most thorough inves tigation made through regular gov ernment channels. “I want jiu to assist personally in ti e prosecution of any hrea o of In ' , or inl unan or cruel tr'i ert or’ priso lers. If your force, together with tie solicitors, is not sufficient t>. viud.c--.te the law and pun.-l air lailuie ci duty. I will be g.f.a to cor $. lor » request from you tor the employ.rent of special cows.'! assist. ‘w;; truly yours, “CAMERON MORRIS . N “ 48 ARE RENDERED HOMELESS BY FIRE Rocky Mount, May 12.—Forty-eight persons, all negroes, were rendered homeless this afternoon by a dis astrous fire which destroyed seven frame dwellings and menaced adja cent property at South Rocky Mount. While the houses were all inexpen sive frame structures, the occupants lost all their furnishings- and per sonal effects and the total is esti mated to range between $5,000 and $10,000. Price Crude Oil Cut. Pittsburgh, May 14.—Another cut of 25 cents a barrel in the price of the principal grades of crude oil was announced today. RUSSIAN LEADERS READY FOR A WAR Firey Oratory and Demon- j strations Characterize Public Meeting Moscow, May 12.—M. Tchitcherin. the soviet foreign minister, dressed in the uniform of a member of the Red army and wearing a Red cross decoration, was the chief speaker at a great meeting held in a theatre here t' day. The theatre was crowded to the doors, while in the streets thousands who had taken part in a demonstra tion listened to speakers from motor trucks and balconies, all of whom made reference to what they.termed the war threat against Russia in the British note; in the assassination of Vorovsky at Lausanne and in other recent international development. Referring to Vorovsky, M. Tchitcherin said: “This is a symp tom of the general European situa- | tion. The direct responsibility rests j with the Swiss government, which j took no preventive measures; while | the moral responsibility is on Eng land, France and Italy, who original ly invited the Russian delegation to Lausanne.” Regarding the British note, which I he characterized as insolent, Tchit- I cherin said: ’‘We are getting tele- j grams that British warships are al ready in the White sea; perhaps by now they have opened hostilities against our ships. “The note contains false facts and messages improperly decihpered. We must reply calmly and firmly. Rus j sia will not go back a single step be- ; i fore the demands we therefore offer a conference. We are ready to dis cuss the losses sustained by British citizens in 1920, but we will render a bill to England for all those England shot during the intervention in the i north. We desire peace, and do not want a break, but we will wait until the enemy attack us.” The foreign minister was followed by War Minister Trotzky, who told the cheering throng that Russia want ed peace, but the Red Russian army, was ready, if necessary, j “If war comes, it will be a long ! one; it will delay the building up of ' our country for many years but the ; Red army, which wants f mce, will ■ carry out its duty until the end.” He suggested that perhaps more J than note writing was going on in the border states, while the border at mosphere was thickening. These states would be the first to feel the brunt if war came. The meeting adopted a resolution j to send a letter to J. Ramsey Mc j Donald, leader of the labor opposi tion in the house of commons, declar ing that Russia would not yield to an ultimatium, but was ready to come to an agreement if England was ready to negotiate, and also a letter to Dr. Fritdjof Nansen, head of the league of nations relief in Russia, asking him to use his influence against a break and possible war.— Associated Press. I - MISSING MAN FOUND IN A GRAVEL PIT PETERSBURG, Va., May 14.— James E. Griffin, owner of a bath ing resort near here, who mys teriously disappeared last Mon day night, while driving along a road in his automobile, was found today in a gravel pit, handcuffed and unconscious. He was taken to a hospital where his condition is said to be serious. Physicians said he was suffering from fear and exposure. Griffin, for several weeks prior to his disappearance, had received threats supposedly from a gang of bootleggers whom he had forbidden to enter his resort. He was on his way home from the bathing beach when he disappeared. AMERICAN AMONG 6 KILLED WHEN AIRPLANE FALLS AMIENS, France, May 14.— (By the Associated Press.)—Six persons, including a New Yorker named Schwab, were killed in the fall of a passenger airplane at Conay, thirteen miles south of this city today. The home town paper is more than paper and ink—it’s a part of your REV. H. A. HUMBLE PASTOR OF HAY STREET METHODIST CHURCH, FAYETTEVILLE Mr. Humble is assisting the pastor of the Methodist church at Four Oaks in a revival meeting which has been going on for a week. He is preaching the gospel with power and in simplicity. The meeting is being well attended and much interest is being manifested. Quite a number of professions of faith in Christ were made at the Sunday school hour last Sunday. At the eleven o’clock hour four persons gave their names for church membership. The meeting will last throughout tlfis week with services at 9:30 in the morning and at 8:00 o’clock at night. Anyone desiring to know the way of life will be profited by attending any of these services. WILLARD AND FIRPO MATCHED BY RICKARD Labor Day Fight To Decide Con tender For Jack Dempsey's Crown New York, May 12.—Jess Williard and Luis Firpo, victors in the two star bouts for the milk fund hexing carnival today at the Yankee stadium will be matched in a 15-round contest to decide a championship opp nent for Jack Dempsey, Promoter Tex Rickard announced at the conclusion of the show. The fight, he said, probably would be held in the Yankee stadium June 30. “I intend to match Willard and F'irpo just as soon as possible.” Rick ard declared, “and the winner proba bly will get a crack at Dempsey on Labor Day, either at the Yankee Stadium or Boyle’s Thirty Acres. Both are ready and anxious to sign and I hope to arrange the contest for the Saturday before the fourth. Rickard said that in his opinion Williard had staged a remarkable comeback, considering the odds he was against, Firpo, he said, had proved beyond a doubt that he is one [ of the greatest natural fighters un covered in years. i TEX. TORNADO TAKES HEAVY DEATH, TOLL Relief Workers Report Finding Dead And Injured; Cattle and Crops Damaged Bigs Springs, Tex., May 14.—Fifty persons were killed and about one hundred injured, three miles from Colorado, Texas, when a tornado swept this section, according to re ports telephoned here today. Since this news was received communica tion has been cut off due to damage to telephone and telegraph lines. The worst damage is forty miles from Big Springs, it was reported. It is believed damage to crop and cattle is heavy and that the loss of life and property is heavier in the country distinct than in the town of Colorado, acording to the unconfirm ed reports. Relief parties left here in automobiles this morning. J. H. Green, chairman of Red Cross [ workers here, said the injured prob ably will reach 100 and probably as many -i 50 are killed.” Doctors and nurses from a dozen nearby towns have been appealed to and are searching in the devasted area. [ IT IS THROUGH THE COURTESY OF THE SMITHFIELD STUDIO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW THIS PICTURE OF THE OLD SOLDIERS WHO GATHERED IN SMITHFIELD LAST WEEK. NEGRO FARMERS HOLD A MEETING — . ! Mrs. Jane S. McKimmon State Demonstration Agt. Makes an Address The negroes of Johnston County j are moving forward along agricul tural and home economical lines with ^ an encouraging pace. They now have an all time farm demonstration agent and an all time home demon- 1 stration agent, L. R. Sanders and Lucy Wade holding the respective positions. These agents have been working among the Johnston negroes now for five or six months, and last | Saturday they gave a general demon- ! stration at the Smithfield Training School which reflected much credit upon their betterment activities. During the few months in which county, the county has been partial- ! this work has been carried on in this ! ly organized into farm and home eco nomic clubs, and these were repre sented in the Saturday meeting. Each club present had some kind of an ex hibit for the occasion. In addition to their regular club reports and club exhibits they had an interesting programme planne l, which was carried out according to arrangements. Mi's. Jane S. McKim mon, State Director of Home Eco nomics, of Raleigh; and L. E. Hall, District Farm Demonstration Agent, of Raleigh, were present and made speeches. Misses Minnie Lee Garri son and Mary E. Wells were present and also made short talks. Mrs. McKimmon’s speech was re plete with good sound judgment and advice for the negro women present. She told her hearers that they were the faithful few who must go back to ranks and preach the gospel of progress to their race. The health of the State lay largely in the hands of the cooks and that diet was a road to health. “Any woman,” she said, “who can learn to feed a family, who comes to know that the garden and the cow are the two most health giv ing agencies, has learned one of life’s most life-giving lessons." Mrs. McKimmon’s speech was fol lowed by L. E. Hall’s speech of ten minutes. He knew his subject and his hearers and from the first his audience was pleased with his com mon sense presentation of his speech. Mrs. W. H. Lyon, president of the Smithfield Woman’s Club, was pres ent and announced that her club was desirious of advancing better modes of living among the negroes of Smithfield, and as an incentive to home improvement, she offered for the club a valuable prize to the fami ly keeping through the coming sum mer the best kept yard. Following the programme a lunch was served by members of the clubs. TWO WOMEN KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT Henderson, Mayl3.—Mrs. W. G. Coleman, 47, and Miss Nannie Flem ing, 43, sisters, of Macon, were killed shortly after 5 o'clock this afternoon at Middlesex, six miles north of this city, when a Seaboard Air Line north bound freight train struck a small [ sedan in which they were riding. Their two brothers, R. D. Fleming | and Thomas Fleming, riding with ! them, were seriously injured. The , former, who was driving the car, suf I fering a fractured knee and cuts and ; bruises about the head and hands and | the latter a broken shoulder and injuries to his back with other minor bruises. Mrs. Coleman was killed instantly while Miss Fleming lived more than an hour, but was unconscious. The two brothers were brought to a hospital in this city, where it was j i said their injuries were not regarded j as fatal. The automobile was de ■ molished, being strewn along the , track for some 300 yards. R. D. Fleming, who was able to I converse with friends, said his en , gine stalled as he drove upon the track, the rails standing about three | inches above the road crossing and | blocking the car as it slowed down, j Eye witnesses said it was impossible | for the engineer to stop his train be ■ fore striking the car. Fleming said j he did not know a train was ap | proaching until his car had stalled. j Lid you ever wear a collar that didn’t fit? Think how much worse off is a mule or a horse with a col lar that is too large or too small. BUSINESS OUTLOOK IN U. S. CHEERFUL Walter H. Savory Gives His Views on Situation After Trip Across U. S. “American business is cheerful all the way through the county. Values are high, and there is no indication that they are inflated. Optimism is the note most noticeable, without dis cord, both in the United States and Canada.” This is the meat of the volume of information collected by Walter H.Sa vory, personal representative of the vice-president and general manager of the Mergenthaler Linotype com pany, on his return from an annual trip that has taken him from coast to coast, and put him in touch with lo . ai conditions in all parts of the two countries from Florida to British Co lumbia and Quebec to Los Angeles. “Industries in the east are prac tically all working at full capacity,4’ said Mr. Savory. ‘The report places of the South and of California have been overrun all winter, with people who have money to spend. “Crops in all sections have been satisfactory and available at good prices. “Even the cattle country of the plains, hardest hit last year and year before of all localities, is feeling better, and loking for a steady rise of its financial barometer. ‘‘Texas is a veritable caldron of bubbling, effervesing activity. Her oil interests, cement industry, cattle men, cotton growers, are all hustling to keep up with the demands of their clients. “The whole West coast from I»os Angeles to Vancouver is teeming with business so great that real estate values are at a high level. “California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia are all antici pating a remarkable year—in tourist business, in building of all kinds, in WALTER H. SAVORY fruit gi'owing and sale, in transpor tation. “Mining has come back to its own in the states devoted largely to this woik, and labor is well employed. “Corn, cotton, wheat and the other staples are bringing good prices, and th eoutlook is for good crops. “Everybody is hoping that the Eu ropean situation may be straighten ed out soon, but people generally in all business are not figuring on the European situation as a necessary precursor of good times. It is rather a secondary consideration, that will make the outlook even better if it should be cleared. “Wherever a spirit of restlessness is found, and there are few such, it may almost invariably be traced to I the weather or impatience over being forced back to reasonable profits from the tremendous profit taking days ■ post war'. I “Recklesness of spending those ab I normal profits became a habit, and | when, perforce, that recklessness must j be curbed and people drop back to normal expenditure, there is a du . biousness and a blue outlook for those j who must change their habits again. “In other words the cost of high j living has been almost entirely re j sponsible for any feeling of nervous ness as to business of the immediate future. Each year this grows less, and in another year or two it ought al most all disappear. “There’s nothing the matter with fundamental business conditions of the United States or Canada. All we need is confidence in our own abil ity to complete the readjustment pro continued on page four)