Commencement Exercises
Take Two Nights; Class
Day Program Given On
Thursday Evening.
BIGGEST CLASS TO FINISH
Every graduating class is an event
in the life of any community, and
Smithfield realizing this, turned out
in lai’ge numbers Thursday and Fri
day nights to witness the graduat
ing exercises of the biggest class
that has yet received diplomas from
the Smithfield High School.
On Thursday evening the class day
exercises were held. The stage had
been converted into a veritable flow
er garden with rose trellieses, grace
fully supporting pink Dorothy Per
kins roses, vines and flowers form
ing a lovely setting for a garden
party, the farewell party of the class
of ’24. Miss Sara Oliver was hos
tess, Miss Ava Wellons presided
over the punch bowl, and the merry
group of boys and girls, other mem
bers of the class, completed the
realistic scene. The party opened
with appropriate words by the
class preident, Mr. Tilden Honey
cutt. Miss Jane Avera was called up
on to review the history of the class
and by the time she had finished, a
wandering gipsy, (Miss Josephine
Biggs), was prevailed upon to stop
and reveal the future of the class.
Miss Maude Meacham had compiled
interesting statistics which were given
at this point, followed by a “Declara
tion of Independence” by Mr. Thel
Hooks. Mr. Morgan Broadhurst had
been chosen executor of the last will
of the class but due to a slight op
eration was unatle to read the will
which task was performed by his
r:stcr, Miss Pauline Broadhurst Miss
Odessa Massey was class poelevs, and
after she read her poem, the gift
cvan, Miss Pauline Broadhurst, ce
livertci tokens of appreciation to Mem
bers of the faculty who had taught
the seniors. The class song was com
posed by Mr. Lawrence WaLace, and
One “Garden pa. iv„ closed with this.
Mr. Wallace singing the stanzas and
the class joining ir. the ch rus.
The graduation exercises proper,
were held Friday night when the fol
lowing received their diplomas at
the hands of Dr. L. D. Wharton,
chairman of the school board: Jane
Avera, Ida Batten, Josephine Biggs,
Mozelle Boyette, Pauline Broadhurst,
Blanche Fitzgerald, Ava Wellons,
Maude Meacham, Sarah Oliver, Cor
nelia Powell, Johnnie Watson, Gladys
Turnage, Ola Beaty, Ora Tolley,
Odessa Massey, Mary Louise Tur
ner, Lawrence Wallace Thel Hooks,
Rexford Gardner, Nick Avera, Eear
nest Aycock, Charles Beasley, Wal
ton Booker, Morgan Broadhurst,
Delma Brown Eugene Caudil, Edward
Fuller Tilden Honeycutt, Marvin
Jordan, Ronald Keen Leland Parrish,
Arthur Pittman, Frank Skinner,
Wilbur Turner, Gilmer Wharton, and
John Parker
The program of the evening was
featured by an address by Dr. Hu
bert A. Royster, of Raleigh. Using
as his subject.: “Education and Its
Counterfeits,” Dr. Royster presented
a number of interesting facts to an
appreciative audience. Speaking in a
conversational tone for the most part
his speech simple and direct had a
personal appeal for each of his hear
ers. He closed his remarks by advis
ing the senior class to do three things
if they would continue to expand and
grow: Read, Discuss, and Travel.
Always an interesting moment of
the graduation exercises is when the
winner of the Edwin Smith Pou Med
al is annuonced. This medal is given
each year by Congressman and Mrs.
E. W. Pou in memory of their son,
who gave his life in the World War.
The medal was won this year by
Mr. Gilmer Wharton, and represents
four years of hard work in high
school here. Mr. Wharton is the
third member of his family to receive _
this coveted prize, his brothers,
Messrs. Benton and Donnell, having
had this same honor. Mr. L. G. Stev
ens made the presentation speech.
At the beginning of the evening, |,
Special Term Of
Superior Court
It will be of interest to the far
mers who were summoned to serve
is jurors or witnesses in the spe
cial term of court to begin June!),
t oknow that on account of the re
cent rains and the pressing need
for the farmers in their crops the
County Commissioners sent a
request to Governor Cameron Mor
rison asking that the special term
be called off. The request was sent
yesterday and in the afternoon Mr.
W. T. Adams, clerk of the Hoard
of County Commissioners, receiv
ed the following telegram;
“At request of Board of Com
missioners of Johnston County I
have to-day cancelled special term
court called for June t) for entire
term. You are authorized to adver
tise same to that effect.
CAMERON MORRISON,
Governor.”
Mr. P. B. Johnson Succeeds
Mr. Talton; Work In
Johnston County Attracts
Attention Abroad.
UNOPPOSED IN PRIMARY
For some time it has been custo
mary for the Democratic conventions
or primaries to nominate the mem
bers of the County Board of Edu
cation. With the primary three days
off, with the time for filing candida
cies closed, it speaks well for the pre
sent board that there is no opposi
tion to any member. In April, it was
necessary to fill a vacancy on the
board, Mr. Talton of Clayton having
resigned, and Mr. P. B. Johnson of
Benson was chosen by the remain
ing members of the board, according
to the law, to be his successor.
With boards of education and
school superintendents coming from
other counties to examine the school
system of Johnston County and the
buildings which have been erected
recently by the Board of Education,
the people of the county are begin
ning to be conscious of the fact that
its board of education must be ach
ieving something as its goal, the giv
ing of every boy and girl in John
ston County an equal opportunity for
getting an education at an '’qual
cost to himself and parents. To this
end all of its activities have poi ir»d
since the adoption of this po’ cy.
Looking toward the realization of
this goal the board has erected, < r
is about to erect, thirteen large
buildings with a total number of 163
class rooms and auditorium space
sufficient to seat 6850. Most of these
buildings are equipped with steam
heat and running water. It is doubt
ful if there is a board of education
in North Carolina who has achieved
more in so short a time. Especially
commendable in the policy of the
board is their effort to give the
country boys and girls as good a
chance to get an education as the
town boys and girls.
PRAYER-MEETING AT
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The mid week service of prayer
will be held at the Presbyterian
church Wednesday evening at eight
o’clock. A cordial invitation is ex
tended to all to worship in this ser
vice.
The invading army of insect* will
soon launch their attack. Is your
spray rig ready for the battle?
Supt. Franks read the honor rolls,
ind winners of special honors and
prizes. These will be published in a
ater issue of The Herald.
Also at this time music prizes of
fered by Misses Peedin and Kehoe,
ivere awarded to Misses Elizabe^i
ferdan, Jeneatte Holland, Hilda Peed
n and Catherine Smitha, for playing
he most correctly in the recitals.
Vliss Leah Alley was presented a
srize for memorizing the most selec- i
ions.
Johnston County Board Education
JOHN THOMAS TALTON
PRESTON BRIGHT JOHNSON
WILLIAM GILLIAM WILSON
GEORGE F. WOODARD
Biographical Sketches
Mr. John Thomas Talton, leading
banker of Clayton, was a member of
the Board of Education from July 4,
1921, when he succeeded Mr. J. Wal
ter Myatt, to April, 1924, when his
business undertakings drew so heavi
ly upon his time and energy that he
found it necessary to resign. Mr.
Talton is a son of John Westley and
Elizabeth (Penny) Talton and he
was boi'n at Pinkney, Wayne County,
on February 29th, 1880. He says he
is 44 years old, though he has
never had but one real birthday, hav
ing been born on a fifth Sunday in
February and there having been only
one fifth Sunday in February since
that time, which was on February
29, 1920.
Mr. Talton was educated in the
public schools of Johnston County, at
Turlington Institute, State College
of Raleigh, and Massey’s Business
College. Upon completing his educa
tion he was for six years connected
with Ashely Horne and Son of Clay
ton. On June 20th, 1911 he married
Miss Ruth Barnes. For the past
eighteen years he has been connected
with the Clayton Banking Company,
of which bank he is cashier. Besides
being leading banker Mr. Talton is
actively engaged in farming, insur
ance, and other business enterprises.
It was with reluctance thai the
Board of Education accepted Mr.
Talton’s resignation in April, 1924,
for his good council and Sound busi
ness discretion had done much te for
ward the progressive program which
the Board of Education was carrying
out.
Mr. Preston Bright Johnson, the
leading merchant of Benson, is the;
junior member of the Board of Edu
cation of Johnston County. He sue-1
ceeded Mr. John T. Talton who re- '
signed in April, 1924. Mr. Johnson, j
besides being one of the largest mer
chants of the county, is actively en
gaded in farming, cotton buying, and
many other general business under
takings throughout the county.
Mr. Johnson is a son of James I
Henry and Amelia Barefoot John
son and he was bom in Meadow7
township on March 3, 1876. He was
educated in the public schools of
Johnston County, Turlington Insti- j
tute, and the University of North
Carolina. On December 23, 1903 he
married Miss Mattie Ryals, Since
leaving the University of North Caro
lina he has been constantly in the
mercantile business in Benson. For
some time he has been vice president
of the Citizens Bank and Trust Com
pany of Benson. Mr. Johnson is pre
eminently a business man, but at,
the same time he is not lacking in
breadth of vision concerning the pub
lic welfare of the county. Member of
the Board of Education, Johnston
County, 1924.
Mr. William Gilliam Wilson, chair
man of the Board of Education of
Johnston County, is the oldest and
leading lumber manufacturer of the
County. He is a member of the firm
of C. M. and W. G, Wilson, which
business was begun and carried on
by his father until his death.
Mr. Wilson was born on October
27th, 1860, and is the son of John
Marshall and Susan (Bobbitt) Wil
son. Mr. Wilson was educated in a
private school maintained by his
father and for three years under the
instruction of Mr. John C. Scarboro
at Selma, and further for three years
at Bingham’s Academy, Mebne, N.
C.
Since the completion of his educa
tion in 1878 Mr. Wilson has been ac
tively and continuously engaged in
farming, merchandising and lumber
manufacturing. He is a director in
the Atlantic Fire Insurance Company.
Also he is president of the Eastern
Cooperative Ware-Housing Corpora
tion, this being the holding corpora
tion of the Tobacco Growers’s Co
operative association.
On January 4th, 1893, Mr. Wilson
married Miss Mary Charlotte Rouse i
of LaGrange. Mrs. Wilson is sister ;
of Mrs. J. Y. Joyner and Mr. Wilson
and Mr. Joyner have always been
kindred spirits in the forward move
ment of education in North Carolina j
It would be hard to find in the I
State of North Carolina a man who
by training, associations, business ex
perience, and a sanely progressive
vision of educational progress who
would be better qualified for the
chairmanship of the Board of Educa- !
tion than Mr. W'ilson. Member of the !
Board of Education, Johnston County '
1909.
Mr. George F. Woodard, banker
and farmer of Princeton was born in
Wayne County on December 7, 1865. J
He is the son of B. T. and Zilla j
(Edgerton) Woodard. Mr. Woodard j
was educated in the public schools
Cars Runs Off
Embankment
A Grant Six driven by John R.
Hughes, of Raleigh and accompa
nied by W. T. Turner of the same
city, left the highway about two
miles from here near the Grant
ham place Saturday night about
nine o’clock pitching down a slight
embankment. The car was dam
aged considerably but neither oc
cupant was seriously hurt. Mr.
Turner received a cut and s'a, '
bruises. They were, en_route .to
I aG range but after the accident
returned to Raleigh. The accident
was due, according to our informa
tion, to the bright lights of an ap
proaching car. A mule and wagon
was also passing at that time, and
in the effort to avoid hitting the
wagon, the car went off the em
bankment.
STATE TICE FOR
COMING PRIMARY
Interest Centers Around
Governor’s Race; Both
McLean and Bailey Sup
porters Claim Victory.
PERSON OPPOSES POU
In our last issue of May 30, an ar
ticle was published giving the can
didates for the various county offices
as filed with the county board of
Elections, with the exception of the
name of Mr. W. T. Whittenton, can
didate for County Commissioner,
whose name for some reason was
omitted.
For the convenience of our readers,
many of whom are Democratic vot
ers, we are giving below the Demo
cratic State Primary Ballot: For
Governor. A, W. McLean and Josiah
W. Bailey; for Lieutenant-Governor:
Thomas C. Bowie, Robert R. Rey
nolds, J. Elmer Long; for Auditor:
Baxter Durham and James P. Cook;
for Attorney-General: Frank Nash,
I). G. Brummitt, and Charlie Ross;
for Commissioner of Agriculture,
William A. Graham, T. B. Parker,
Fred P. Latham; for Commissioner
of Labor and Printing: M. L. Ship
man, O. J. Peterson, Frank D. Grist,
Luther M. Nash; for Insurance Com
missioner: Stacey W. Wade and J.
F. Flowers; for members of the Cor
poration Commission: George P. Pell
and Oscar B. Carpenter.
Mr. E. W. Pou, who has represent
ed the fourth Congressional District
for a number of years is opposed by
Willie M. Person.
Interest in the state ticket natural
ly centers in the gubernatorial race.
Both McLean and Bailey supporters
are claiming victory for their can
didate, but it will take the vote next
Saturday to tell the true story.
of Wayne and Johnston Counties.
During his education he came under
the instruction of Mr. Grey C. Gar
ris, a teacher who seems to have left
indelibly stamped upon his students
the character and capacity to ach
ieve something. When Mr. Woodard
completed his education he taught in
the public schools of Johnston Coun
ty for six years. Since that time Mr.
Woodard has been engaged in the
mercantile business, banking, farm
ing, and insurance. Me is at present
cashier of the Mercian:* and Far
mers i;.u k of Prince :on.
Mr. Woodard has been married
twice. He first married Miss Stella
Morris and after her death he mar
ried Miss Lelia A. Watson on \pril
10, 1901.
Mr. Woodard and Mr. Wilson were
both elected to membershin on the
Board of Education in the same vear.
1909. No member of the Board has
stamped more unmistakably on the
educational progress of Johnston
C ounty a wise conservatism, always
contemplating future needs and de
velopment. Member of the Board of
Education, Johnston County, 1909
FORMS A NEW UNIT
TO VOTE Oil SCHOOL
Three Districts Acting As A
Unit To Vote On $45,000
Bond Issue; Also Apply
To State Board.
MR. BLACKMAN WRITES
On May 27 a school bond election
in Meadow township in which six
districts participated was held, and
the bond issue was defeated. Some
of the folks in that community were
considerably upset because the plans
for a new building were thus frus
trated, and a number interested in
the situation appeared before the
County Commissioners in session
here yesterday and made provision
for a building for three of the dis
tricts, Glenwood, Hood’s Grove, and
Meadow which are now functioning
as a unit. The commissioners called
an election for the three districts
mentioned, for a $45,000 bond issue.
This same unit has in an application
with the state for $30,000 and until
the money can be secured the com
missioners and the County Board of
Education will borrow the money to
complete a building at once.
Sentiment, it seems, is rather di
vided in regard to the election, some
of those interested in the education
of their children feeling keenly the
turn of events. The following letter
from Mr. W. V. Blackman, who lives
in that section, is evidence that some
of the people at least are in dead ear
nest about giving their boys and girls
a chance:
“Editors The Herald:
“It is with much regret and un
pleasantness that I have to acknow
ledge defeat last Tuesday in our
election to say whether we shall con
tinue our educational advance or re
tard, fall, go down, and backward.
When we lost our election it meant,
as I see it, one of the worst incidents
that ever occurred in our community.
It has torn down community pride,
destroyed our community center, has
thrown us back years and years.
“Dear reader, there is a cause, a
very serious cause, I am so sick. 1
appeal to you for your sympathies. I
earnestly appeal to you to awake and
look up, up, and fortify yourself,
that you may not get entombed in
such defeat.
“I have mentioned this in public
print, hoping that it might be a
warning to you to put on full arms
and help us to put down the un
American exercises that come up
among us as doth the thistle among
the wheat. Let me again appeal to
you for your sympathies and for you
to pray with us and act with us hop
ing that some day all will be well
and we can resume our educational,
community, and civic advancement.
If you as a reader exercise your
abilities as a citizen, for the benefit
of progress, moral uplift educa
tional up-building and advanremen%
tire not for the enemy encroaches
on our liberties. Awake, thou that
sleepeth and bestir thyself at once
for the time is short and always
short to duty.
“Before I close let me call atten
tion to and endorse for your consid
eration the strong plea of Rev D.
H. Tuttle, Rev. S. L. Morgan and
Rev. D. C. Johnson make in the col
ums of The Herald. •,
“Yours in lamentation,
“WALTER V. BLACKMAN
Bentonville, Route 2, June 2.”
Smithfield Summer School.
Miss Sarah Patterson, a graduate
of the Smithfield High School and
now a student at the N. C. C. W.,
Greensboro, has been appointee’ tu
tor for students who failed on cue
or more subjects during the past
year. Miss Patterson was one among
the very best students in her ciass
while in the Smithfield High School
and has been making a fine record
at college. She is well fitted to do
the tutoring.
The summer school work will be
gin Monday, June 0. Students or
parents interested in this matter
should see Miss Patterson this week
and arrange for the work.
T1IOS. H. FRANKS, Supt.