VOLUME 42
SMITHFIELD, N. C., TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1923
NUMBER 63
MASONIC PICNIC
AT POLENTA LODGE
Dr. H. M. Poteat Speaker of
Occasion; W. M. Sanders
Makes Co-op Talk
For weeks past the people of the
Polenta community and surrounding
sections have been looking forward
to the annual Masonic picnic. Last
Saturday was the day, Polenta
Lodge, the place, and Dr. Hubert M.
Poteat of Wake Forest, the speaker.
Such a combination—a day when the
farmers could suspend work, a place
where cool breezes fanned the leaves
of the fine old oak gr-we making it
comfortable for the civ>wd which
gathered, a speaker of such fulency—
could not but make for a successmul
occasion, to say nothing of the long
table which groaned under its heavy
load of picnic viands, Brunswick
stew and barbecue.
A big crowd greeted Dr. Poteat
and others as they took their places
upon the improvised rostrum erected
in the open. Mr. A. M. Johnson wel
comed the folks to the picnic and
called upon Dr. R. J. Noble, Past
Grand Master and who has been Im
perial Potentate, to say a few words.
Dr. Noble, who has been given every
Masonic honor which can be given him
and wrho was probably the oldest Ma
son present, advised all of the young
er boys to be Masons. He believes in
the order strongly and wants to see
its influence growT. At the conclusion
oi' his brief remarks he called upon
Mr. Chas. U. Harris to introduce
Dr. Poteat, the principal speaker of
the occasion. Mr. Harris characteriz
ed Dr. Poteat as blessed with more
accomplishments than any young nan
vn North Carolina, and one who
though he might win fame in fields
afa>% preferred to serve his native
North Carolina. The fact that at the
age of thirty-six. Dr. Poteat is Grand
Master of North Carolina, shows the
esteem in which he is held by this
fraternal order.
Dr. Poteat then addressed the au
dience. After a few pleasantries ap
propriate to the occasion he announc
ed his subject—“Why Is Free Ma
sory?”—and for twenty-five minutes
he spoke to an attentive crowd. “So
ciety,” he said, “is a great organiza
tion. Within this organization are
other organizations. Chui'ches, clubs,
fraternities, etc., wheels witl-.ir a
wheel, the purposes of which are evi
dent. Every one he said knows the
purpose o« the W. C, i L un i the
V. M. C. A. Got everyone, hr • over
knows the pit pose of Masonry, llie
fact that time and money and energy
have been expended in building up the
Masonic order, indicates that it is an
organization worth while. But not
every one, even those who decide to
become members, realize at first the
real purpose of the order. Some ac
cording to Dr. Poteat, join the order
for unworthy motives. Perhaps they
join to gain certain business advan
tages, perhaps for political benefit.
Others may want a reason to be away
from horn at night, he said, and still
others may be allured by the buttons
indicative of the “grinding of the de
gree will.”
But, after enumerating these mo
tives which fall short of the real pur
pose of the organization, Dr. Poteat
proceeded to present the real purpose
underlying the Masonic order—char
acter building. An important phase
of the Masonic system is that 01 re
lieving: suffering. harCity, in this or
ganization, is founded on brotherly
love. Masonry, too stands for a spirit
of tolerance. ‘‘The spirit of tyranny,’
Dr. Poteat said, ’“is exemplified in
America in the spirit of intolerance.
Masonry teaches command for the
law. It believes in education; and for
separation of church and state. Ig
norance and freedom do not go to
gether. “Ye shall know the truth
and the truth shall make you free,’
he uoted from the Book.
Another purpose of Masonry is to
lift men out of the hum drum into a
life of the ideal. We need all the
beauty and idealism we can get in this
world of materialism. And last but
not least of the purposes of Masonry,
stated Dr. Poteat, Is to aid in bringing
in the kingdom of God. The Mason
ic fraternity is the hand maid of the
church.
A number of prominent Masons in
this section were present at the picnic
among whom were: Dr. R. J. Noble,
(Concluded on page four)
ICOUNTY WILL GIVE
| THANKS ON SEPT. 3
Program, Finance, Publicity
and Music Committee
Are Appointed.
A good representation of the
committee to arrange for a Johns
ton County Thanksgiving service
appointed recently by Judge F. H.
Brooks, Chairman, met in this
city yesterday to further plan
for this occasion. Those here
from the various townships are
enthusiastic over the proposition
which in view of the splendid
crops growing in Johnston Coun
ty is very fitting.
One of the important changes
made is the day for the Thanks
giving service, w hich has been
changed to Monday, September 3.
The chairman has not definitely
yet as to who the speaker will
be but announcement will be
made in due time.
The following committees were
appointed yesterday: Program:
C. W. Horne, Rev. Neill Mclnnis,
W. H. Royal!, W. H Call, Rev.
N H Shepherd, C M Wilson, W H
Austin, Rev. J. R. Woods, F H
Brooks, Chairman; Finance Com
mittee: F K Broadhurst, N. B.
Grantham, Jas. A. Wellons and H
C Woodall; Publicity Committee:
John R. Morris, Mrs. T. J. Lassi
ter, W S Penn. W L Ellis, M L
Stancil and J B Benton; Music
Committee: Mrs. Charles G. Gul
ley, Mrs. E. M. Hall, Mrs. C V
Johnson, R E Thomas, Matthew
Raynor and Hector Creech.
NEW TYPE OF “FLU”
FOUND IN VIRGINIA
State Health Department Wrestling
W7ith a New Disease WThich is
Causing Widespread Interest
Danville, Va., Aug. 1.—The State '
health department is wrestling with
a new disease which has not been defi- ;
nitely diagnosed as yet, but which is
being sent out to health officers and |
practitioners throughout Virginia by
Dr. Ennion Williams of the state j
board of health at Richmond.
City Health officer R. W\ Garnett,
who has just returned from Richmond
says that the new malady is causing
a good deal of interest and existing
medical authorities are being scrutin
ized. The victim is taken first with
a fever, this coming suddenly, and on
the following day severe abdominal
pains set in. These pass usually with
in 24 hours, leaving the victim in an
extremely weakened condition. The
malady so far has been confined to
eastern Virginia, but doctors through
out the state are being urged to
watch for cases with these character
istics. There have been no deaths.
The malady has been termed by
those living in sections W’here it ap
pears as “devil’s grippe.” It is sim
ilar to the malady which broke out
in 1896, it is said. So far as doctors
have been able to determine it is not J
but is considered by some as a new
type of influenza.
LIEUTENANT OSCAR R.
RAND REACHES HONOLULU
Cards received by friends from i
| Lieut Oscar R. Rand, announce his 1
| safe arrival on Oahu, one of the Ha- j
j waiian Islands, where all of the |
American troops in Hawaii are sta- I
j tioned. He has been assigned to m
i 27th Infantry located at Schofield !
Barracks. Lieut. Rand says that sugar j
production and rice growing are chief I
industries in Hawaii, whch are car- I
red on largely by Japanese labor j
there being about 120,000 Japanese I
on the Islands. He seemed impressed
with the tropical vegetation, wThich
includes pineapples, cocanuts , and
bananas, and with the wonderful col
oring of the plants and flowers.
Lieut. Rand formerly lived in this
city and has many friends who will be
interested to learn that he has been
stationed in the.Hawaiian Islands.
Mr. and Mrs. 0. W. Rouse of Wil
mington were the guests of their sm
Mr. A. M. Rouse for the week end.
HARDING S FUNERAL
WILL BE SIMPLE
Body Will Arrive in Wash
ington Today; Burial in
Marion, O., Friday.
Washington, Aug. 4—The national
capital, in sorrow and mourning, sym
bolic of that of the nation, went for
ward today with the preparations to
receive and pay a last tribute to the
dead President.
A state funeral to be marked by a
solemn dignity and simplicity, was
arranged for by President Coolidge
and other high officers of the gov
ernment, who devoted themselves un
tiringly to the preparation of cere
monials that will fittingly express the
grief and reverence of the American
people.
President Coolidge, Chief Justice
Taft, and members of the cabinet and
of Congress, and others high in gov
ernment councils will participate in
the ceremonies.
Upon its arrival here from San
Francisco Tuesday, the funeral train
will be met by Mr. Coolidge and other
ranking officials, who will accom
pany the body to the White House
behind the escort of a squadron of
calvary and a batallion of field ar
tillery. It then will lie in the east
room until Wednesday. Whether there
will be private services at the White
Houe will depend upon the wishes of
Mrs. Harding.
In Capitol Rotunda
Wednesday morning the body will
be escorted to the capitol and placed
in the rotunda. After funeral serv
ices there it will lie in state until 6
p. m., and an hour later will start
on the last journey to Marion, wTiere
on Friday it will find a resting place
in the soil of Ohio.
As the flag-draped casket moves
from the White House over Penn
sylvania avenue it will be escorted
by several thousand troops under
Gen. John J. Perishing, and behind
the automobile carrying Mrs. Hard
ing and members of the family will
be President Coolidge, members of
his cabinet, members of the supreme j
court, and senators and representa
tives. In line also will be represen
tative groups of patriotic organiza
tions, headed by their respective com
manders with colors and uniforms as
well as many civic and commercial
organizations.
The Masonic orders of which M
Harding wras a member will be rep
resented by 150 Knights Templar ar.d
representatives of the Grand lodge
and there also will be small groups
from other fraternal organizations.
As the funeral cortege moves from
the White House 10,000 Washington
school children will lay down a car
pet of flowers for the cassion bring
ing the casket and a children’s
chorus, recruited from the city’s
playgrounds, will sing the favorit
hymns of Mr. Harding. Pennsylvania
avenue will be roped off from th<
(Concluded on page four)
COOLIDGE SWORN
IN AS PRESIDENT
His Father Administers
Oath of Office At The
Coolidge Homestead
Plymouth, Vt., Aug. 3.—Facing his
father and with his wife at his side,
Calvin Colidge was sworn in as the
thirtieth President of the United
States at 2’43 this morning, stand
ard time, in the parlor of the Cool’dge
homestead, directly across the road
from thh house in which he was born.
ri he President’s father, John ( ah in
Coolidge, 78 years old, like his son
of stalwart New England stock, ad
ministered the oath of office. It was
the Lrst time in the history of the
Republic that n father installed bis
son as the Chief Executive of the
nai < n.
The ceremony took place in a t>m;'
cal New England parlor or sitting
•t n , a comfortably furnished, liva
ble loem in the father’s farm house at
.°1„outh Notch, in the "southern
part of the Green Mountains, nearly
2,C ;0 feet above the level of sou
The faint light of an old-fashio.'ed
kerosene lamp, with a fluted top chim
ney and etched sides, was su’T ciem
to throw the fnces of the President
ane his father into bold relief, for
rest of the small group that witness
ed the simple ceremony were in a halt
light, almost a shadow’. Back of
the President was a large framed por
trait of himself, which occupies the
position of honor in his father's home.
'The President’s father sturdy and
active despite his years, stood at the
south side of a small centre table that
held the lamp, the family bible and
a-number of other books.
’I he President stood at. the other
si<?< of the table, facing his father,
M"-* Coolidge, her face saddened by
the gravity of the occasion and sym
pathy for Mrs. Harding, expressed a
fewr minutes earlier, stood in the space
formed by a hay window, less than
a yard from her husband.
Simple Dignity Marks Ceremony
It wa« an impressive sight when
Mr. Coolidge took his place opposite
(Concluded on page four)
SMITHFIELD BABY HAS
7 LIVING GRANDPARENTS
Little Miss Doris Mae Brown, nine
months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
C. Hubert Brown of this city, can
boast the distinction of possessing
seven living grandparents—four
grandparents and three greatgrand
parents. They are as follows: Mr.
and Mrs. Lawrence Brown of this
city, parents of Mr. C. H. Brown;
Mr. and Mrs: L. E. Creech of Pine
Level, parents of Mrs. C. H. Brown;
Mr. and Mrs. K. K. Kornegay of
Pine Level, great grandparents of
the baby being the father and
mother of Mrs. L. E. Creech, and
Mrs. Cornelia Price great grandmoth
er of Doris Mae, the mother of Mrs.
Lawrence Brown.
President Coolidge Sets Friday
as Day of Mourning and Prayer
Washington, Aug. 4.—President
Coolidge will not disclose any of the
policies of his administration until
after the burial, at Marion, of Presi
dent Harding. This official annou .
ment was made from the temporary
offices of' the President in the W
liard Hotel today.
It can be stated with the full ap
proval of the President that the nu
bers of the Cabinet have not resigned
nor is there any basis for the report
that these resignations are immedi
ately in prospect.
The President was up before S
o’clock this morning and following a
breakfast of coffee and cereal he was
hard at work in his temporary office
which is room 333, on the third floor
of the Williard. His first official
act was to sign the proclamation set
ting aside next Friday as a day of
mourning and prayer throughout the
United States, that being the day on
which the body of President Harding
will be laid to rest in the Harding
burial plot in Marion.
Mr. Coolidge will not take up his
residence in the White House until
his return from the burial at Marion,
which will probably be a week from
tomorrow7. In the meantime the
Williard will continue to be his tem
porary Washington home. Early this
morning rooms adjoining the Presi
dential suite were hurriedly trans
formed into temporary executive of
fices and stenographers and other
White House attaches wrere soon at
work.
For the present at least there will
be no reorganization of the execu
tive staff. George B. Christian re
mains the Secretary to the President
and Brig. Gen. Charles E. Sawyer is
stil the White House physician. This
statement is official. It may be sev
eral weeks before any change is made.
There may be some changes in the
Cabinet, but this is a situation which
the new President has not considered.
Because of his health, there are many
who are of the opinion that Attorney
General Daugherty wall resign. Mr.
Daugherty’s probable resignation, due
to his physical condition, was hinted
at many times during the last weeks
cf the Harding Administration.
Whether there will be other changes
is a question which only the Presi
dent can answer.—Associated Press.
Smithfield Man to ,
Represent N. C. at
Harding’s Funeral
THE following telegram was
received here Saturday aft
ernoon notifying Hon. E. W.
Pou, Representative from the
Fourth Congressional District
of North Carolina, that he had
been appointed by the Speaker
of the House to represent North
Carolina officially at the funeral
of the late President of the
United States. The telegram
follows verbatum:
“Washington, D. C.
Aug. 4, 1923.
“Hon E. W. Pou,
“Smithfield, N C.
“You have been appointed by
the Speaker of the House of
Representatives to attend the
funeral of Warren Gamaliel
Harding late President. Service
will be held in Rotunda of Cap
ital at 11 a. m. Wednesday,
Aug., 8. The committee will
meet at Hotel Powhatan 18th
and Penn Ave., at 9:20 a. m.
Proceed to the White House.
The committee will not accom
pany the remains to Marion, O.
“J. D. ROGERS, Sgt. at Arms.
“House of Representatives”.
From an article in the Wash
ington Post it appears that Mr. |
Pou is the only Congressman to
represent North Carolina at the
funeral of the nation’s dead
chief.
FIVE TEST FARMS
GIVEN TO COLLEGE
Experimental Work To He Made
Basis Of Instruction; Trustees
Meet
Unification of the five State test
farms with the college test farms and
placing them all under the adminis
tration of the college, conversion of
the summer school into a teaching
agency for farmers only, and the im
mediate issuance of bonds for the
entire permanent improvement pro
gram authorized by the General As
sembly were approved at a meeting
of the Board of Trustees of State
College yesterday.
Consolidation of the five test farms
now maintained by the Extension Ser
vice with the college farm and making
experimental work done the (basis
for agricultural instruction in the
college is regarded by President E.
C. Brooks as one of the most impor
tant steps yet taken in the reorgani
zation of the teaching program at the
college. Unanimous approval was
given by the trustees.
Discontinuance of the summer
school as it has been conducted for
the past ten years, with hundreds of
young women teachers in attendance,
and directing the entire energies of
the summer session to the instruction
of teachers in farm life schools, an
nounced by Dr. Brooks on Tuesday
was also enthusiastically iendorsed
b\ the Board. Training of elemen
tary teachers will be left to other col
leges.
ANNIVERSARY SUPPER FOR
FORMER SMITHFIELDIANS
Hillcrest, four miles west of Kin
ston, was the scene of an enjoyable
supper last Friday afternoon, when
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hood of Kinston
entertained a number of friends and
members of their bridal party in hon
or of the ninth anniversary of their
marriage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hood
were formerly of Smithfieid: Mr.
Hood being the son of Mrs. J. B.
Hamilton of this city and Mrs. Hood
being fomrely Miss Lucy Sanders,
daughter of Mrs. A. M. Sanders of
Oakland Heights.
Tables were spread for two groups,
the smaller one being for the children
of the guests. Among the sources of
merriment was the cutting of the wed
ding cake in which Miss Bettie Lee
Sanders of this city and sister of the
bride, drew the dime.
i SELMA PHYSICIAN DOES
POST GRADUATE
Dr. J. B. Person of Selma is taking
I past graduate work in the diseases
| of children in a Children’s Clinic at
| Saluda. Dr. Person will be away
from the county two or three weeks.
WILSON TO RIDE IN
FUNERAL CORTEGE
Sends Word He Will Take
Part in Ceremonies “As
Far as Possible.”
Washington, Aug. 5.—Woodrow
Wilson authorized the statement to
day that he “will participate as far
as possible” in the funeral cere
monies here Wednesday for President
Harding.
The extent of the former Presi
dent’s participation was not made
known, but the stat ment was taken
to mean that he at least will ride in
the funeral cortege from the White
Houe to the Cvitol. Whether he will
attend the services in the rotor, la
will probably depend upon his physi
cal condition at that time.
Extended Invitation
President Cndidge extended an in
\ itation to Mr. Wilson yesterday to
take part in the ceremonials, byt aft
er a conference between the Presi
dent’s aide, Colonel Sherrill, and Rear
Admiral Grayson, Mi. Wilson’s phy
sician, the annoui'-ement was made
Inst because of the state of his health
the former President regretted he
could not participate.
Mr. Wilson decided later, however,
that so far as his physical condition
will permit ho will join publicly in
the last tribute to be paid to the dead
President, whose kindness and cour
tesy to him on March 4, 1921, was one
of the outstanding features of that
i, augural day.
Should Mr. Wilson find it possible
to appear in person in the funeral
cortege, it will be his first public
appeai’ance since the burial of the
Unknown Soldier on Armistice Day.
1921, and his third since he left the
W’hite House, to seek seclusion and
rest in the home that, had been pre
pared for him on S street.—Associat
ed Press.
JUMP OF $7.00 PER
BALE IN COTTON
Low Government Condition Report
A Surprise And Advance Is
Result
New York, Aug. .1—The agricul
tural bureau furnished another sen
sation for the cotton market today
when its report, made public at 12
o’clock, showed a condition of only
67.2, or 2.7 points down from the
prevous month and fully three points
below’ the average of all the private
reports that were issued. It was
practically a opint lower than the
lowrest guess of any cotton exchange
member and 1.4 points under the low
estimate of any of the private con
dition reports.
Immediately following the report,
the market jumped fully 140 points,
or $7.00 a bale. A heavy volume of
buying orders to cover shorts was
executed in the ring and there was
a notable increase of outside specu
lative demand, part of which was sup
plied by southern hedge selling and
by offerings for Liverpool account.
October contracts reached 22.5z and
December 22.42 on this rise. Later the
market became somewhat quieter and
eased off about 3 points from top,
but near the close showed a renewal
of its earlier strength with some
prices reaching new high ground for
the day, and final quotations were 115
to 131 points net higher. A good deal
of the late afternoon buying was at
tributed to a bullish interpretation
of the weekly crop and weather re
port, which it was claimed indicated
a considerable deterioration in the
week since the government report
was compiled.
NEW CAFE OPENED IN
ASHLEY SMITH BUILDING
!
A new cafe known as the Farmers
' Cafe has opened up in the Asheley
j Smith building on Market street. 'Mr.
E. 0. Hudson is the manager, and
I he says that barbecue will be his
specialty.
MR. SILAS JOHNSON
CATCHES 7-POUND CHUB
_____
Mr. Silas Johnson, who lives near
town, brought to this office Friday
morning a large chub which was
caught, by Mr. James H. Baker, who
lives near the Lake, and it weighed
almost seven pounds.