JOHNSTON COUNTY FAIR OPENS TODAY AT 9 O’CLOCK
FORTY-THIRD YEAR
SMITHFIELD, N. C., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1924
NUMBER 86
SM1THFIELD FOLKS
HEAR GOV. MORRISON
Discussed Port Terminals For
North Carolina In An Address
Here Friday Night
PUTS UP GOOD PLEA
Gov. Cameron Morrison in a speech
in the courthouse in Smithfield last
Friday on behalf of the Ships and
Waterway Bill, to be submitted to
the people in the coming election,
satisfied practically all of his hear
ers that there was nothing new or
hazardous in the undertaking. In his
language, it simply raises the ques
tion as to whether North Carolina is
to prepare herself to participate in
a fixed policy of the Congress which
provides annually millions of dollars
to the several states which are at
tempting to improve their water
ways and harbors. This policy of the
Congress is plainly expressed in the
Democratic, Republican and La Fol
lette platforms for this year, and has
been in several national platforms
for the last twenty years without an
attack from the opposing party. The
last Congress appropriated thirty
five million dollars for this purpose;
thirteen million and a half of this
was given to ^Texas to aid her in de
veloping a harbor. For twenty years
gress has been appropriating from
thirty to fifty million a year for
rivers and harbors, and North Caro
lina has not been able to participate
at all in this appropriation simply
because she has not done anything
herself to aid in the developing of
ports.
The fact that North Carolina pays
in one hundred and sixty-five million
dollars a year into the Federal Gov
ernment and has never been able to
receive any of it back, should shock
anybody into a realization of the
high importance of carrying the
Port Bill. North Carolina pays into
the Federal Government more taxes
than all except four states, New
York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and
Michigan. Therefore, when North
Carolina has passed the Port Bill,
she will be in a good position to de
mand a large annual appropriation
from Congress. It must not be for
gotten that North Carolina must do
her part first, before she can partic
ipate in this. The Governor asked the
question, “Should North Carolina
not participate in the revenues from
the Government as well as partici
pating in the paying of taxes?”
The Governor read from the 1919
“River and Harbor's Bill” passed by
Congress: a clause in the law which
says that every state should have a
port and share in the distribution of
the appropriation provided essential
water terminals existed in the state.
The Governor called attention to
the Commission, composed wholly of
hard-headed business men, who are
successful and honest in their own
business, and who have studied ti e
proposition for fourteen months and
now have simply advised the doing
of what Congress has been recom
mending that North Carolina do all
these years.
The speaker cited the City of Mo
bile, Ala.., which owned its own port,
and which was recently taken over
by the State of Alabama at a cost of
of tne million in order that the State
might participate i n the appropri
ation made by Congress. All for
the same purpose the State of Cali
fornia has taken over the port of
Los Angeles at a cost of thirty mil
lion. The history of port terminals
shows that to be successful they must
be controlled by the state* rath vr
than by the cities, because the bene
fits are for the states at large more
than they are for the cities.
The Governor then asked, “What
good will come from the develop
ment of our port?” The answer is
simple— cheaper freight rates which
affects everybody who buys any
thing. Water transportation is one
fourth as cheap as rail transporta
tion, and all the states that have wa
ter transportation get a correspond
ingly cheaper freight rate. This af
fects every town in the state and not
only those that are touched by the
water carriers. The Interstate Com
merce Commision makes this possi
ble when it allows shippers to use
what is known as through bills oi
lading.” This gives the receiver oi
the goods the lower rate even though
POU SEES STRONG
DAVIS TENDENCY
“There lias been a phenomenal
movement to Davis throughout the
whole ‘country,” declared Congress
man Edward W. Pou at the Sir Wal
ter hotel Wednesday before his
speech last night at the Wake county
court-house. “There has been a phe
nomenal trend, greater than we had
any right to expect.”
“Davis will win either in the
House of Representatives or in the
electoral college,” he said.
“Coolidge will carry hardly any
thing in the West and Middle West
•where La Follete is making rapid
strides,” he declared, “The movement
toward Davis is distinct and unmis
takable. He will carry all the so
1 called border States of Maryland,
West Virginia, Tennessee and Ken
tucky. Missouri is safely lined up
in the Davis column.
“Indiana is one of the probable
Davis States. He has been greeted
with wonderful crowds out there and
in New Jersey he has also stirred
great enthusiasm with his speeches.
Nebraska will go for Davis, in all
probability,” he said.
“Senator Swanson with whom I
have been working,” said Mr. Pou, I
“is certain that Davis will win in the
electoral college and that the elec- j
tion will not be forced into the Con
gress.”
Mr. Pou was suffering from a se
vere cold which he contracted in the
sudden cold spell during the last
few days. He was not well yesterday
and stayed most of the time in his
room at the Sir Walter which he
kept warm with an electric heater
in addition to the ordinary furnace
heat of the hotel.
He looked well in spite of the cold
and was vigorous in( his enthusiasm
over the movement toward the Na-1
tional Democratic candidate.—News,
and Observer...
the freight is carried all by mail.
The Governor then asked why so
many people living near the Virginia
line were having their goods shipped
to them at some station in Virginia
near the line and then trucking their
goods from thirty to forty miles into
North Carolina, if North Carolina is
not being discriminated against in
matters of freight rates? The facts
are that a Ford automobile can be
shipped from Detroit through Char
lotte to Norfolk twelve dollars cheap
er than it can be stopped in Char
lotte”
Governor Morrison told how the
railroad companies are d oing all
they can to defeat the issue. They are
hollering bonds and trying to “sceer”
the folks in order to defeat it. At
the same time the railroad compa
nies are asking for an increased rate
in North Carolina. The Governor
stated that they were doing this in
the face of the fact that the A. C. L.
railroad in 1922 received an average
revenue of $14,596.00 per mile for
their road through the ten or more
states through which it runs, while
in North Carolina they received $18,
107.00 revenue per mile for the same
period. The Southern Railroad re
ceived an average for their entire
system of $18,431.00 per mile, and i
in North Carolina an average of
$23,212.00 per mile. The Seaboard
Railroad received an average for its
whole system of $12,773 per mile and
on the part in North Carolina $20,993
per mile. Therefore, it is clear that
these three large railroads are mak
ing more profit out of roads in North
Carolina than they are in their en
tire system. .
Governor Morrison explained that
North Carolina has adopted a new
and modern system of taxation. Not a
penny levied on personal property and
real estate for state purposes. And if
the project is voted and it should
fail, “ the state will not,” declared the
governor, “take a backward step in
I placing a tax on personal and real
'property to pay off the bonds. Some
I other means will be found.”
The Governor summarized the
fight as a fight between railroad in
terest and the interest of the people,
and expressed confidence that when
the people were told the facts that
they would rise up on November 4th
and win their transportation inde
pendence. He stated that the only
hope of the railroads was that the
people would not understand the facts
before the election and therefore
through ignorance vote against the
measure.
BENTONVILLE FAIR
QUITE A SUCCESS
Col. Fred Olds Makes Address
of Occasion; Other Features
Please Crowd
MR. PAGE NOT PRESENT
The promoters of the Bentonville
Community Fair have had a double
purpose in holding a fair this fall.
They wanted a fair, as a matter of
course, and they wanted to create
interest in the development of an im
proved highway through their section,
which will connect them with Smith
field and Clinton. As a means to
this end, Hon. Frank Page,State Com
missioner of Highways, and the
general public were invited to attend
the fair.. They were greatly disap
pointed when they learned that Mr.
Page could not be present.
They had a great fair, nevertheless
for Col. Fred A. Olds, the affable and
genial Secretary of the North Caro
lina Historical Commission, saved the
day for the fair. Col. Olds’ work in j
North Carolina is not primarily that
of road building, his is a bigger work
—that of developing the state along
all lines.
In a speech at the beginning of the
Bentonville fair, he stated that he
was as versatile as the celebrated
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and so on
that occasion he would be first
Frank Page and then Fred A. Olds.
Col. Olds’ strong forte is History,
and in his talk on the roads of this j
state, he naturally fell into his old
theme—History. He told how life in
North Carolina was quickened by the
first rail road, and how later both
transportation and travel were great
ly advanced by the opening up of
the plank road in 1849 from Fayette
ville to Salisbury, thus planting the
idea that has developed into our fine
system of modern automobile roads.
He stated that only four states of the
union now outrank North Carolina
with its road system. Twenty four
thousand men are working every day
on North Carolina highways. Quot
ing from the Manufacturer’s Record
of October 16, 1924, he proved that
North Carolina’s superb system of
highways has been miraculously
brought about under a system of
bonds that does not cost the people
one penny, no, not even those wTio
own cars and buy gasoline; for our
system of transportatoin has been
worked out with such rare ability as
to cause every penny to come back
to the people in the form of invest
ments paying high dividends. He
concluded his speech by saying that
he was itching to live long enough
to see this splendid agricultural sec
tion traversed by one of the best
highways in the state.
Then, speaking for “Fred A. Olds”,
he stated that he was thrilled to
know that he was standing on the
ground that witnessed the last blood
shed between warring nations on the
American continent, but was sad
dened to see an utter lack of pub
lic interest in this historic ground.
He compared the battle field of Ben
tonville, where he then stood, to York
town, the scene of the last battle of
the Revolutionary War. “The York
town battle field,” said he, “is Na
tional property, and is studded with
statues and markers.”
He commended the people for the
fair that they were holding, and de
clared that such would engender the
community spirit. He urged them
to organize with the same grip of ef
ficiency with which the people of
Catawba county have organized,
which is the best county in the Unit
ed States with the exception of Penn
sylvania County. He stated that cow
peas, butter and sweet potatoes have
put Catawba as one of the highest
ranking counties commercially in
civilization, and these very commod
ities from Johnston county ought to
be themselves upon every market,
north, south, east and west.
Col. Olds’ speech received closest
attention by all who were present. He
was kindly received by the Benton
ville people, and be made them a
very charming address.
Besides Col. Olds’ speech, there
were other features of the day which
contributed to the success of the fair.
First of all, the exhibits were decid
edly creditable, particularly those
belonging to the woman’s department.
Then a program of storyteMSng by
STILL WORKING ON
CAR. FLA. SHORT CUT
T- C. Young, President of The
Association, Presides at Ban
quet Meeting at Rowland
SEVERAL BOOSTERS TALK
The Wilson short automobile route
from North to South through North
and South Carolina, which the Caro
linas-Florida Short Route association
has sworn to win or “bust” was given
further impetus at a delightful ban
quet at the Rowland hotel at Row
land Tuesday evening. Boosters for
this most logical of all the routes
proposed through North and South
Carolina to Florida were there from
Smithfield, Fayetteville, Lumberton,
and across the line in South Caroli
na, from Dillon, Latta and Florence,
guests of Rowland members of the
association, and besides the inspira- ■
tion and solid welding of purpose and f
prefecting of plans in after-dinner
talks, it wras a most delightful oc
casion.
Mayor R. F. Graham, after full
justice had been done in discussion
if the well-prepared and well-served
banquet, turned the meeting over to
Mr. T. C. Young, of Smithfield, pres
ident of the association. Mr. Young
iriefly set forth some of the reasons
for the faith that is in him and others
who are laboring on this project with
out pay. They have satisfied them
selves, he said, that beyond any ques
tion this is the shortest—shortest
ay 153 miles—route from Richmnod
ind the North to Florida, and that
it will be hard-surfaced from Virgin
ia to the South Carolina line earlier
.han any other route. Pressure re
cently has been brought to bear, he j
said, to forsake the proposed route
from Fayetteville via St. Paul, Lum
berton, Rowland, Dillon, Latta, and
Florence, and pull for the proposed
route via Laurinburg, but the route
through Robeson is considered more
logical, the grade is better, and if
energy and determination do not
fail it will be improved sooner than
any other route and will attract
tourists.
Mr. Young called on Mr. Husk of
Fayetteville, who is one of the most
tetermined and clear-headed boosters
af this route. Mr. Husk demonstrated
ay map traced from a Rand-McNally,
that this route, Washington to Tam
aa, is almost exactly straight, as (,
straight as any route could be, and
that in the towns alone through
which it passes in North Carolina
there is a population of 04,500. He
showed how it would attract Federal
aid by reason of the fact that it
ties up Washington with Morehead
City, with Fort Bragg, and with the
naval base at Charleston and with
Paris Island. He declared that the
plan is not to fight any other pro
posed route but to present the out
standing advantages offered by this
route, advantages given by nature
and which cannot be equalled by any
other route.
Mr. Dickson of Fayetteville, Mr.
Meeks and others of Florence, Dr.
Stackhouse and Mr. J. W. Mckay of
Dillon, Mr. H. E. Stacy of Lumber
ton, and several others discussed the j
proposed route at length, all express- j
ing their absolute faith in the route as
the most logical that has been pro- ,
posed. Mr. Stacy recalled that hbout
a year ago a banquet was held at
this same hotel, that at that banquet
some gentlemen from South Caro
lina were present, and State High
way Commissioner McGirt was in
duced to promise to match from the
S. C. line below Rowland on to Lum
berton the gravel road from the S.
C. line to Dillon. Contract for that
highway was let on the 30th of last
month, and now South Carolina is
being called upon to match North
Carolina in this short route.
And South Carolina is nothing
Col. Olds and Miss Mary E. Wells
delighted those present, and the
stunts, which included a rftimber of
relay races and other games, added
variety to the occasion. Miss Minnie
Lee Garrison, County Home Agent,
was in charge of this part of
the program. A sumptuous dinner
served in picnic style Will be remem
bered by many as one of the leading
features of the occasion. Pictures in
the evening completed a most suc
cesful day.
Will Work On
.. . I .ir-MTiv ...JNV j fy
j iAutocactkr i y y /1—j
Louise McDonnell 21, San Fran
cisco shop girl who inherited
$85, 000, says that she will keep on
working at a department store
glove counter. Half of the money
she will give to her mother and
some of the remainder will be used
to educate her younger brothers
and sisters.
STRIFE IN CHINA
SUDDENLY ENDED
Mukden, Oct. 24.—Ending of the |
war with the Chinese Central govern- !
ment was officially announced in a
communique issued at the headquart
ers of Chang Tso-Lin here at three
e’clock this afternoon.
The communique stated that Feng
Y’u-Ssiang was in possession of Pe
king, that President Tsao Kun had
taken refuge in the legation quarter
:>f the capital city; and that Wu Pei
Fu, commander of the central gov
ernment armies, was in full flight.
Retreat of the Central government
armies at Shanhaikwan had been cut :
off, it was declared.—Associated
Press.
Pine Level and Ilepzihah
Regular monthly services at the
Pine Level Baptist church next Sun
lay, November 2, also on Thursday
night will be “ The Human and Di
vine Natures Contrasted.” Reports
from the Association will be made. I
A full attendance of the member
ship is desired. Sunday subjects as |
follows: eleven a. m.—“Divine Teach
ing on Material Prosperity;” at sever. !
p. m.—“Our Citizenship in Heaven.”
At Hepzibah on Sunday at three
o’clock p. m., the Laymen’s Federa
tion of Smithfield will conduct a most
interesting service. They make mu
sic one of their special features.
Their singing will be acompanied by
a number of musical instruments. Let
everybody turn out and enjoy this
service.
JAS. W. ROSE, Pastor.
'
loath to do that same, according to
the capable and purposeful gentle
men who were there speaking for the |
Palmetto State. In fact, Mr. McKay
allowed that if they didn’t mind
South Carolina would match North
Carolina like she did on that other
proposition, by being there first.
Mr. Stacy recalled that at a recent
meeting of the association in Fay
etteville Commissioner McGirt said
that the highway from Lumberton to
Fayetteville is the next to be hard
surfaced in the Third district, and
with the construction of that high
way a most important link of the
short route will be built.
Mr. McKay was appointed a com
mittee of one to get up an auto
booster trip across South Carolina
to see what stretches need attention
first, and he was promised any assist
ance needed.
The meeting broke up about 10:30
with a vote of thanks to the Rowland
gentlemen for their hospitality and
with the distinct feeling on the part
of all present that this short route
is worth working for and has every
J advantage to offer over any other
* proposed route.
Present from Lumbei-ton besides
Mr. Stacy were Messrs. D .P. McKin
non, W. K. Bethune, and J. A. Sharpe
Small Distilling Plant Captured
Federal officers captured a distil
{ling plant on Middle Creek about six
miles from here last Wednesday. The
still had been moved but the plant
and several implements were taken.
Several barrels of mash which were
ready to be run off were also fuond
j No arrests were made.
I
DEATH OF WALLACE
A DISTINCT SHOCK
Secretary of Agriculture Suc
cumbs at Hospital After Brief
Illness; Underwent Operation
TOXEMIA POISONING
Washinpton, Oct. 25.—Henry C.
Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture,
died at 4 o’clock this afternoon at
the Naval hospital of toxemia pois
oning vhich developed after an op
eration performed last week in an
effort to releive sciatica. He was in
his 69th year.
Death came peacefully after long
hours of unconsciousness, and after
medical science was unable longer to
check the ravages of the poison. At
the bedside were Mrs.. Wallace and
their daughter, Miss Ruth. No other
members of the family were in the
city.
Dr. .Joel T. Boone, one of the White
House physicians who had been in
constant attendance since the Secre
tary was taken to the hospital, is
sued the following statement:
“The Secretary died at 4 o’clock.
He slept very quietly, Mrs. Wallace
and her daughter were present. Im
mediate cause of death was bactere
mia, and the contributory cause was
choleocystitis, inflammation of the
gall bladder.”
The death of the Secretary, al
though expected throughout the day,
came as a shock to official Washing
ton, and to his many friends both in
the city and the country. After the
operation Mr. Wallace began to im
prove, and it was thought that he
was convalescing rapidly.
As late as Thursday night, the Sec
retary’s condition was not considered
alarming, and at that time Mr. Wal
lace instructed Dr. Boone that the
agricultural department might issue
a denial of a recurring report that
he expected to resign his Cabinet
post about the first of the year. The
report had persisted for some time,
and several friends were prepared
for such a step because of the Secre
tary’s health.
His condition after the operation
became serious Friday, as an infec
tion developed and the poison began
-preading through the Secretary’s
system. Despite every effort of phy
sicians his condition steadily grew
worse.
As soon as Mrs. Wallace returned
to her home from the hospital, Presi
dent and Mrs. Coolidge called upon
her to offer their condolences.
Later, in a letter to Mrs. Wallace,
the President said:
“I am writing to you of the shock
and of the great sorrow that has come
to Mrs. Coolidge and myself with the
news of your distinguished husband’s
death. Though we had followed with
much solicitude the reports from the
beginning of his illness, it had not
seemed possible until the very end,
that this great loss could come to’
the country.
* do not need to tell you that all
of us who had been associated so
long with him share with you in the
sorrow which this hour has brought.
His loss will be indeed a grief to the
entire nation, for his fine qualities
and able untiring services had en
deared him to all the people.. Coming
from private life to the post of Sec
retary of Agriculture at a time when
its administration was surrounded by
acute and unprecedented difficulties
he brought a particularly effective
equipment of wisdom, industry and
executive capacity. .Through their un
^pai ing application he achieved a
splendid series of successes in behalf
ot the restoration and rehabilitation
of this supremely important nation
al interest. His work has won for
; him the unstinted confidence of all
citizens, as his high character and
appealing personal qualities gained
tor him the affection of all who en
: joyed the privilege of intimacy with
him.
“To you and the others of his fam
ily I extend for Mrs. Coolidge and
my self the profoundest of condolen
: ces. We want you to know that we
| share with you alike in your sorrow,
' and in the pride that must be yours
as you contemplate the splendid
legacy that his great career has left
to you and to all who are nearest to
him.”