©
©
FORTY-FOURTH YEAR SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY MORNING APRIL 17, 1925.
NUMBER 41
Celebrate Third Birthday
East. Chamber Commerce
_i
Senator Heflin, of Alabama,
Makes Speech On This
Occasion
ABERNATHY ON PROGRAM
The annual banquet of the Eastern
Carolina Chamber of Commerce, which
was celebrated here at noon yester
day, was truly one of the great and
enjoyable events of the Exposition.
The spacious second floor of the
Farmer’s Warehouse was used as a
dining hall for the hundreds of guests
of the Exposition ,and the chicken
menu followed by cream and cake
was served by the ladies of the Wo
man's Club of this city. Mr. J. W.
Holmes, president of the Exposition,
of Farmville, presided.
After the assembling of the guests
about the sumptuous luncheon table,
Rev. Whitley Langston of McRae, Ga.
pronounced the invocation. This was
followed by the singing of America
led by the Victor Band. The presi
dent read a telegram from Governor
McLean, expressing regrets at his
inability to be present. During the
hour the guests were splendidly en
tertained by music by the band and
by the rendition of several o fthe old
familiar melodies which were sung
by Miss Gertrude Van Deinse.
It was announced from the presi
dent’s chair that this assembly was
there to celebrate the third birthday
of the Eastern aCrolina Chamber of
Commerce. The ladies in the audience
had a pleasant surprise for the occa
sion when they produced a birthday
cake with three. candles. Miss Rose
Grantham, Smithfield’s Queen, pre
sented the cake with an appropriate
toast to the East Carolina Chamber
of Commerce. After the presentation
of Miss Grantham, the prize-winning
baby, Agnes Marie Fitzgerald, of Mi
cro, was held aloft while both she and
the Smithfield Queen received hearty
applause.
Following Miss Grantham’s ap
pearance, Congressman E. W. Pou
made an address of welcome in which
he declared that the time was when
Smithfield slept. In that day, it had
a population 300 strong, and to which
for 300 years it neither added nor
subtracted an inhabitant. But in due
time, declared he, an awakening came.
The town has learned the lesson of
co-operation and we have left our 300
mark. We now live in an era of co
operation and progress, a spirit of
give and take. In this spirit he wel
comed the great host of people to
this thriving town. The president,
for the Exposition, expressed in
v.arm words appreciation of Smith
field’s cordial hospitality.
Congressman Chas. L. Abernathy,
representative of the third district,
of New Bern, was introduced and he
made a three-minute talk on the sub
ject: “Neuse River Survey.” Mr. Ab
ernathy had made some investiga
tions of this undertaking and had
found that back in the early eigh
ties the government had spent im
mense sums on river improvement,
but had left the banks of the Neuse
in such impaired condition that the
channel was changed from five-foot
water at Goldsboro to one and a half
foot water. He pledged his influence
to open up the Neuse from New Bern
to Raleigh, making it possible by the
aid of Congress for steam boats or
other freight-carrying crafts to tra
verse the river from New Bern to
Raleigh. He declared that the gov
ernment is spending millions on poor
er waters than those of the Neuse,
and that he expects to fight for this
thing until he suceeds. His speech
was received with great applause.
The Beauty Queens of the Expo
sition were guests of the occasion
and upon a roll call of the various
towns participating in the movement
each queen made her appearance.
The president then ordered a roll call
ei the towns present, and the. .i> flow
ing town- were represented: Ayden,
Griffon, Greenville, Goldsboro, Kin
st°n, Snow Hill, Wilson, La Grange,
New Bern, Farmville, Raleigh, Dunn,
linton, Trenton, Fayetteville, Max
(ontinCued on 'ty-ge two)
©
AGNES MARIE FITZGERALD
tiLMr
First prize winner in girl baby
show.
BABY SHOW Hll
OF EXPOSITION
Little Miss Fitzgerald of Micro,
and Master Swade Barbour,
Jr., of Clayton, First Prize
Winners
Mrs. A. R. Wilson, of Selma, chair
man of the Baby Show committee for
the county was equally as happy as
the parents of the winning children
over the splendid appearance of the
twenty-three boys and girls who were
presented to the big audience at the
the Exhibition Hall Wednesday aft
ernoon. Six of the children who had
been selected to represent their town
ships were unable to be present or
twenty-nine would have been shown
from the platform.
Judge Brooks, platform manager,
was at his best. His success in pre
senting the little tots even excelled
that in showing off the queens, but
he received the surprise of his life
when little Miss Agnes Marie Fitzger
ald, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Fitzgerald, of Micro, danced her way
timidly to his finger, danced her way
across the stage and into the hearts
of the bg crowd present. She tipped
the light fantastic in perfect time
with the music played by Victor’s
Band, and though only two years old,
dropped her courtesies at just the
psychological moment to capture
many a vote that helped to win for
her first place among the girls in the
Baby Show contest. Master Swade
Barbour, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs.
Swade Barbour of Clayton, polled the
most votes among the boys, and no
one felt that he did not deserve it
for no mistake would have been made
in choosing any one of the eleven con
testants. The fact that he won out
was a feather in his cap.
Smithfield township carried off
both second prizes, the winners being
little Miss Mary Anne Creech, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Creech, and
Master Roger A. Smith, the third,
young son of Mr. and Mrs. Roger A.
Smith, Jr.
Those winning third place were
little Miss Mary Allen Johnson,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lehmon
Johnson, of Clayton township, and
Master George Battle Whitley, son
of Mr. George Whitley, of O'Neal’s
tow’nship.
Others who appeared on the plat
form were: Geraldine Wood and Hay
wood Alexander Faircloth of Banner
township; Madeline Pope, Beulah
township; Margaret Elizabeth Barrett
and Paul Winstead Edgerton, Boon
Hill; Mavis Lillian Keen and Leon
Adams, Jr., Ingrams; Stephen James
Taken, Micro; Agnes Creech,
O'Neals; Eessie May White and D.
X. Holt, Jr., Pine Level; John P.
Stet hen.-iPleasant Grove; Glell
Bernice White and Ralph Kendall
Younger, Selma; Nellie Reefe Barnes,
Wilders; Carolyn Parker Parrish and
Luther Clarence Davis, Jr., Wilson’s
Mills,-,'. .... (Z')
/•zz\
STYLE SHOW IS A
POPULAR FEATURE
Wedding Scenes Put On Prove
To Be Hits; Other Lovely
Costumes Shown
LOCAL
GIRLS MODELS
If the Ku Klux parade drew large
numbers of men to the city Wednes
day evening, the ladies of Eastern
North Carolina were no less attract
ed by the Style Show at the Exposi
tion Hall which was witnessed £>y a
large number of both admiring men
and women.
Raleigh and Goldsboro firms put
on this Style Show', but Smithfield
had a special interest in the occasion,
a number of the young ladies here
being models for Raleigh firms.
The establishments showing cos
tun^es were: Hudson-Belk, Bpylan
Pearce, C. C. Gunn Company, Ladies
Hat Shop of Raleigh, and Neil Joseph
and the Ladies Hat Shoppe of Golds
boro. Sports dresses, afternoon
gowns, graduation frocks, ensemble
suits, and gorgeous evening appai'el
with lovely hats suitable for all oc
casions constituted a most appealing
array of feminine attire that was not
lost upon the beauty loving specta
tors.
Perhaps the hit of the Style Show’
w'as the wedding scene put on by
Neil Joseph of Goldsboro. Mr. Joseph
made a special trip to New York to
secure the gowns for this feature of
the Show and his pains were reward
ed by the admiration evidenced in
the hand-clapping. Boylan-Pearce al
so staged a wedding scene which ri
valed the first presentation, and no
less beautiful were the other crea
tions shown by every firm represent
ed, though presented in the usual
conventional manner. Smithfield
young ladies who helped in display
ing these chic and nobby costumes
were: Misses Frances Green, Arah
Hooks, Evelyn Wilson, Delia Elling
ton, Elizabeth Creech and Marie Anne
Stevens.
Mrs. Harry P. Stevens was chair
man of the Style Show committee
and she was assisted in making a
success of this feature of the Expo
sition by Mrs. H. L. Skinner.
DEATH CLAIMS AGED
CONFEDERATE VETERAN
Friends here of Mr. A. B. Sasser,
afied Confederate veteran, will be
grieved to hear of his death which oc
curred Wednesday afternoon about
two o’clock in the hospital at the Old
Soldier’s Home, Raleigh. Death came
quietly, peacefully a lingering illness
of about a year.
Mr. Sasser was nearly eighty-two
years of age and for fifteen years he
had been a great sufferer. He was
born near Walters, Wayne County, in
June 1843 and was the son of Col.
John Sasser and Eliza Sasser. More
than fifty years ago he married Mrs.
rsettie Whitley Barnett, a hall-sister
of Mr. A. J. Whitley, who lives near
here. Mrs. Sasser died two years ago
last September. Soon after that time
Mr. Sasser went to live at the Old
Soldier”s Home where he remained
until his death.
Mr. and Mrs. Sasser moved to John
ston county from Wayne about 1874
and for twenty-five years lived in
Smithfield. For nearly twenty years
Mrs. Sasser was a helpless invalid and
during' all those years her husband
was her constant, devoted companion,
tireless in his efforts to make her
comfortable. He was for many years
a member of the Methodist church
and was ever a devout Christian. He
was always kind and considerate of
others never failing anyone in an hour
of need when he was able to render
any assistance. In his youth he vol
unteered for 'service in the Confeder
ate army and served his country dur
ing the hard-fought struggle of 18<31
05.
The funeral services were held yes
terday afternoon at 3:30 at Sanders
Chapel and intermew .was made in
the cemetery there by me side of his
wife. The services were conducted
by;his pastor, Rev. A. J. Parker, as
sisted by Re.tr. W. J. Watson, of Foirr
Oaks. q
FIRE COMPLETELY
DESTROYS BARNS
Fire of Unknown Origin Sweeps
Over Three Big Barns On
Poole Place
FEEDSTUFFS
BURNED
The fire department was called out
yesterday morning about eight o’clock
under the impression that J. W.
Moore’s residence in this city was on
fire. Instead of the Moore home, how
ever, it proved to be the old home of
Mrs. Moore about two and a half
miles from town. This place was
known as the Poole place. Three big
barns were completely destroyed by
fire.
It is not known how the fire orig
inated but stiff wind from the north
caused the fire to sweep over the
three buildings. All the stock and
practically all the farm implements
were saved by the hard work of the
crowd which had quickly gathered
from the neighborhood. The fire
truck from this city and also a num
ber of citizens rushed to the scene of
the fire but were too late to save the
barns. A bucket brigade prevented
the burning of a fourth building,
which housed Mr. Poole’s cotton.
Mr. John Poole, who lives at this
farm carried insurance to the amount
of $2,250, which will not nearly cover
the loss. A quantity of feedstuff’s
and cotton seed were burned. No feed
for his stock was saved except a
small amount of hay.
ANOTHER TRAPPED IN
CAVE IN KENTUCKY
Cave City, Ky., April 14.—Sand
Cave, claimant of the life of Floyd
Collins, Cave explorer, trapped Elmer
Hays in its death chamber for more
than an hour today.
Shifting rocks of the cave suddenly
blocked the passage of the lateral
leading from the shaft of Collins’
body as Hays, a member of the party
now trying to release Collins’ body,
was about to ascend the crawlway
in the lateral. A rope was used to
pull Hays to safety.
This accident resulted in an order
prohibiting anyone from entering the
cave by way of the lateral tunnel,
which is 55 feet under-ground. Be
cause of this danger, W. H. Hunt,
Central City, Ky., mining engineer
in charge of the work, immediately
began to sink the shaft 10 feet deep
er. At the 65-foot depth another lat
eral will be cribbed to the natural
tomb, making it large enough to ex
tract the body. The additional work
will require at least another week,
Mr. Hunt estimated tonight.
Billy Sunday says that the man
who buys liquor is just as mean as
the man who sells it in violation of
law. He is absolutely right. The writer
has often wondered why it is that
laws are directed solely at the man
who sells the stuff.
WOMAN NAMED FOR
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
The first woman to be named
on any town board of aldermen in
Johnston county is Mrs. B. B. Ad
ams of Four Oaks, who was nomi
nated in a primary held in that
town last Friday night together
with Messrs. W. J. Lewis and D.
W. Lambe. Dr. J. W. Stanley was
named as mayor, and R. A. Keen
for coroner. The election will take
place the first week in May and
the new officers will select a po
liceman.
This is the first time that wo
men in Four Oaks have taken any
special interest in town politics,
but the ladies had been studying
a book on citizenship, and it was
driven home to them that they had
a duty in standing by the men to !
elect efficient officers. When it be
came noised abroad that the wo
men were going to the town con
vention, instead of the usual lit
tle handful to get together and
name a ticket to their liking, the
town hall was packed on last Fri
day night. The above named tick
et appears to be a .good one and
no doubt will be elected without
any trouble.
-&--t._
<D
1
Ku Klux Parade
Draws Big Crowd
SWADE BARBOUR, JR.
First prize winner in boy baby
show.
IU. BUAKU WANli
PEOPLES WISHES
Defer Calling Election In Regard
To Circular Road Until First
Monday in May
According to Mr. M. L. Stancil,
clerk to the Board of County Com
missioners, the calling of the election
to vote on the circular road proposi
sition will be postponed until the first
Monday in May, and in the meantime
the County Board wants an expres
sion from the people as to whether
to call the election or not. The fol
lowing statement in regard to the
matter has been given out by the
clerk to the Board of Commissioners:
“Senator P. D. Grady went before
the Board of County Commissioners
last first Monday and made a plea to
have the Board call an election so the
people of Johnston County could have
an opportunty to vote on the ques
tion as to whether or not they
are in favor of having levide a
county-wide tax of 15 cents on all
taxable property in Johnston county
in order to build a circular road
around the county as provided for in
a recent act of the legislature. It is
the desire of the Board of County
Commissioners that a sufficient num
ber of representative citizens of the
county come before them at their
May meeting and express themselves
on this matter to gi-ve them a clear
idea as to the public sentiment of the
county that is for or against calling
an election to vote on the question.
If the sentiment against this proposed
road tax seems to be overwhelmingly
strong, then no election will be called
and the tax will not be voted on the
people, but if the sentiment for vot
ing the tax seems to be overwhelm
ingly strong, then the commission
ers will be expected to order an elec
tion and put the question up to a vote
of the people. It is hoped that a suffi
cient number of people will come be
fore the Board next first Monday to
give a clear idea as to the general sen
timent of the county in regard to this
question. Petitions signed by the qua
lified voters of the county will be con
sidered.”
Miss Van Deisne At Methodist Church
Miss Gertrude Van Deisne, who
has been delighting the large au
diences at the Exposition will sing
at the eleven o’clock service at the
Methodist church Sunday morning.
Mr. Reece, a member of Mr. Vic
tor’s band, the man who makes the
violin talk, will give some special
numbers on the violin, during the
opening period of the Sunday school.
The sermon will be by the pastor,
Rev. A. J. Parker.
There ara twenty-five million cats in
the United states according to recent
reports. This is one reason why bird
life is disappearing from about the
farms. Birds reduce losses from in
sects while cats a&Huee nothing ex
cept thfc family larder.
A Thousand Hooded Figures
Make Impressive Scene In
Line of March
TREMENDOUS CROWD HERE
The predictions that the Ku Klux
parade would draw a bigger crowd
than anything else scheduled for
Exposition week, wTere more than ful
filled Wednesday evening when the
streets of Smithfield were literally
thronged to see the spectacle which
had been announced. Some wrere
sceptical, wTe are told, as to wheth
er it would really come off, and
failed to come to town, but between
ten and fifteen thousand people took
a shot on the announcement’s being
true and were on hand for this, one
of the biggest occasions of the Expo
sition.
The twilight hour approached and
men, women and children hurried the
evening meal in order to catch tfte
first glimpse of the robed figures as
they started down the line of march.
Darkness deepened, the crowd grew
denser, and anticipation keener, un
til at last from the east end of Mar
ket street glowing fire brands thrown
on the pavement, the blare of trump
ets and the roll of drums proclaimed
that the army of Kluckers was on
the march. And it was a veritable
army. Fully a thousand and over,
marched two and two, rode horse back
or appeared in automobiles in the pa
rade.
Chief Cable mounted on a horse
rode in front of the line made by
ropes stretched by the Boy Scouts to
keep the people back. Mounted Klans
men in all the regalia of the order
headed the procession. A brass band
from Fayetteville followed the horse
men and these in turn by a double line
of Klansmen representing twelve cit
ies in Eastern North Carolina. It was
an impressive scene with the fiery
crosses recalling the Scotch custom
of assembling the Highlandere, and
for the most part the crowd was com
paratively quiet until the banner
bearing the words: “One School,” fol
lowed by a little red school house,
came in sight, and then in turn the
various banners were applauded. The
banners bore the following inscrip
tions: “One Flag”; “One Bible”;
“Home Protection”; “100 per cent
American.”
About a hundred women Ku Klux
marched in the parade, and were on
hand at the Smithfield Tobacco Ware
house where a generous barbecue feed
was served to the entire body after
the parade.
For the most part the Kluckers were
masked but occasionally appeared rob
ed figures with their masks off.
Recorder’s Court Proceedings
Only three cases were tried in Re
corder's Court here Tuesday. They
were as follows:
State vs. Alonzo Lassiter, Sam
Lassiter and Mamie Lassiter ( all
colored) charged with violating the
prohibition law. Defendants guilty,
Alonzo Lassiter was given four
months in jail and taxed with one
third costs; Sam Lassiter, sixty days
in jail and one-third costs; Mamie
Lassiter, 60 days in jail and one-third
costs.
State vs. B. G. Stancill, disposing
of mortgaged property. The defen
dant paid one-third the costs and
two of the prosecuting witness paid
one-third of the cost each.
State vs. Fred Lee assault with
deadly weapon and cursing. Guilty
on two counts. The defendant was
given eight months in jail to work on
roads in fifirst count, and 60 days in
jail and pay cost in second count; jail
sentences to run concurrently.
CARD OF THANKS
I wish to express to my friends
my heart-felt thanks for their kind
services by lending a helping hand
during my dear brother’s illness and
death. May God fully repay you for
your kindness and thoughtfulness and
for every service rendered^
W. A. MASSWGILL.
Four Oaks, N. C,
1