BSMITHFIELD NEEDS: I—Bigger Pay Roll. *—A Modern Hotel —Renovation of Opera House. —More Paved Streets. 4—Chamber of Commerce. \ __ ~ Johnston County’s Oldest and Best Newspaper-Established 1882 SMITHFIELD, N. C., TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 8, 19?5 Know Your County Do you know that Johnston, Wil son and Pitt ounties raised more produce per acre in 11/22 than any like area in the United States? Forty-third Year * * NUMBER 109 DR. H; W. CHASE 10 m HERE President Chase of State University Here To morrow Night; Albert Coats Also Corning. TO ADDRESS ALUMNI Daniel L. Grant, secretary of the General Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina, has written the alumni of the coun ty a letter in Which he urges every University man to be pres ent at the courthouse here Wed nesday night at 7:30 to hear President H. W. Chase. Mr. Grant states in his letter that Albert Coates, of the law faculty of the University, is also coming, and every effort is being made to have Chief Justice W. P. Stacy here too. Judge Stacy is president of the Alumni Association. The purpose of the meeting is simply to provide an opportunity for the president of the State Un iversity to meet the alumni of this county, and vice versa. Johnston county has always been well rep resentwf at this institution, has , sent men there who became lead i'.\ ers of student life, has served the ffi University well in every partic ” ular. It is therefore fitting that the head of this institution should come to this county, and it is fit ting that University men from all over the county should gather here to hear him speak and give him a warm welcome. This is in close keeping with the alumni associa tion plan of keeping the alumni in touch with the University. If Chief Justice Stacy can come, then the combination of Chase, Coates and Stacy will be a trio well worthy of any institution and well, worth anybody’s hearing Albert Coates has always been a keen orator^ has always been given a ready ear wherever he goes. Just this past Sunday he delivered a memorial address in Greensboro which has already gained wide R. publicity. He does Johnston coun cil ty proud. b Vocal Union Meets i Lower Johnston vocal union met W with Beulah Hill Christian church y Sunday, November 29, with five j choirs as follows: Beulah Hill, with 1 C. M. Moore, leader; Holly Grove, (John A. Parker', leader; Home Choir, Milton Phillips; Pauline, Herbert Hines, leader; Tee’s Chap el, R. E. Thomas, leader. Classes were arranged together at 10:30 with unison song, “Jesus Lover of My Soul.” The scripture lesson from the fourteenth chap ter of St. John was read by Pres ident J- B. Beasley, and prayer was offered by Mr. Geo. D. Phillips. After another unison song, “Blest Be The Tide That Binds,” the wel come address was made by Mr. C. M. Moore. Two rounds of two songs each were sung and the crowd adjourned for dinner. All the choirs met again and sang sev eral songs each. This was a very cold day and everybody thoroughly enjoyed the singing. A large crowd estimated at between twenty-five hundred and three thousand was present. The next vocal union will meet in the school auditorium in Benson on the fifth Sunday in January. We are hoping to have several choirs. Mr. Leader, get your choir together and come and sing with us. You are welcome. J. B. BEASLEY, President. V. J. UNDERWOOD, Secretary AUNT ROXIE SAYS— By Me to* Ilse offen wondered Ilambone is a widerer. Mistai Opens Sport Arena f’jji V.^, X lAvn-ocX5~rt^J THE MAMMOTH new Madison Square Garden opens its doors to sport throngs. Here is Tex Rick ard, promoter, posing in hockey regalia, first sport he will .stage in new arena. J.T. Vinson Passes Away In Clayton Succumbs To Heart At tack In Few Hours Af ter He Is Stricken. Friends and relatives through out Johnston county will regret to learn of the death of Mr. J. T. Vinson which occurred at his home in Clayton yesterday afternoon at one-thirty o’clock. Mr. Vinson had suffered several heart attacks hav ing had a slight one last week. He arose as usual, however, yester day morning and went to his of fice. He returned home for break fast and about seven-thirty was taken sick, growing gradually worse until the end came shortly after the noon hour. The deceased was about sixty years old. He was a brother of the late J. A. Vinson, and was the executor on his estate of his brother. Surviving Mr. Vinson are seven children as follows: Messrs. Turner, Ilerrpan, Willard and Loomis Vinson, of Clayton, Misses Naomi and Claudia Vinson of Clayton and Mrs. Ivan Smith of the Bethesda section. He also leaves three sisters: Mrs. Marce line Cox, of Durham, Mrs. H. B. [pock, of Clinton, and Mrs. Rosa Duncan, of Ciayton. The funeral will be held this af ternoon about two o’clock at the home in Clayton after which the body will be taken to the old Vin son burying ground at Wilson’s Mills for interment. The deceased was a member of the Clayton Baptist church and his pastor, Rev. R. C. White, will con duct the services. Kills Big Hogs Mr. W. A. Lee, of Four Oaks, route 2, was in town Saturday. He said he killed two Duroe Jer sey pigs last week which weighed 1212 pounds. One weighed 550 and the other 6G2 pounds. Mr. Lee says he has just started to kill ing his hogs. He feeds them on corn, peas and beans. Mr. Lee lives at home and boards at the same place. Mother of Mrs. G. A. Martin Dead Mr. and Mrs. G. A.. Martin were called to Raeford today by the death of Mrs. Maa-tin’s mother, Mrs. Mary B. Currie, which occur red at her home Sunday night. Mrs. Currie had been seriously ill for several weeks and her death was not unexpected. The funeral will be conducted at the Presbyter ian church in Raeford this morn ing at eleven o’clock. Miss Laura Currie, a daughter, who teaches at Brogden near town, left yester day for Raeford. Prominent Farmer Of Ingram Dies Mr. Robbie T. Massengill Passes A way Following Serious Operation. Mr. Robbie T. Massengill, who lived in Ingrams township, died at the Smithfield Memorial hospital ! Saturday following an operation I for appendicitis. He was taken ill j some time ago and was operated on Thanksgiving day, but his con dition was so serious that the op eration was of no avail. Mr. Massengill was born Aug ust 11, 1895, and was a little past thirty years old. He was a son I of the late J. A. Massengill ef Ingrams township. During* the World war he served in the Unit ed States navy for twenty-six months. In 1923 he married Miss Salim Johnson of Bentonvillo, who survives him. He never united with any church but was a believer in the Primitive Baptist faith. He was from a prominent family and was a successful farmer and business man. The deceased is survived by his wife, his mother, Mrs. Sarah Mas sengill, of Ingrams toWftship, two sisters, Mrs. Jesse Barnes, of this city, and Mrs. W. G. Thomas, of Varina, and four brothers, Messrs. J. T., N. A., and J. A. Massen gili Jr., who live at the old home place, and Lester Massengill, of Montgomery, Ala. The funeral was held at the home Sunday afternoon, conduct ed by Elders Xure Lee and L. A. Johnson, and interment was made in the family cemetery. An un usually large crowd estimated at about 3 thousand people attended the. funeral to pay a last tribute of respect to their departed friend and neighbor. The floral offering was profuse and very beautiful, silent testimony to the esteem in which the deceased was held. The bereaved ones have the sym pathy of a host of friends in this hour of bereavement. Death of Beady I’. Wiggs Selma, Nov. 30.—On Friday, November 27. about 3:15 o’clock, the Death Angel visited the horn:* of Mr. Alex Wiggs, Jr., and took j from him his loving wife, Beady P. Wiggs. She was born November 10, 1882 and died November 27. 1925, making her stay on earth 43 years and seventeen day . She was twice married, first to Henry W. Stuckey and to this union were born three 'children. Later she married Mr. Alex Wiggs, Jr. and to this union was born one child. The deceased was converted about thirty years ago and joined the missionary Baptist church and her seat was never vacant when she was able to go. Surely she has reaped the reward of a righteous woman and will be missed by everyone that knew her. Oh, how sad home is without dear mother. She was so good to us all and seemed to love us all so much. How hard it was to give her up, but she was too good to live in this old sinful world any longer and God saw she had toiled and suffered long enough and called her home. We all knew she was good and she is out of this sin ful world and is peacefully resting. Our loss is her eternal gain. She was taken to Parrish Me morial cemetery on iNovemDer ta and Rev. Jim Worley preached her funeral about four o’clock. She was laid to rest amid a large con course of sorrowing relatives and friends. The floral offerings were beautiful, showing the love and esteem in which she was hied. Those left to mourn her loss gre a husband and two children, Ar chie L. Stuckey and Andrew Wiggs. She also leaves five broth ers: G. H. Parrish, Z. A. Parrish, J. E. Parrish, M. P. Parrish and G. W. Parrish, and three sisters: Mrs. John Campbell, Mrs. J. V. Oliver and Mrs. S. P. Phillips. The best thoughts we have about her arc her parting words. They were: “I am going home to rest.” A precious one from us is gone, A voice we loved is till; A place is vacant in our home That never can be filled. We wish to thank each and every., one who assisted in any way during her sickness and Maintenance Tax In Pleasant Grove ana Bentonvilie Will Mean High School Buildings. REFUND BOND TAX The County Board of Education and the County Board of Com missioners held a joint session here yesterday with a full membership present! The consolidated school district in Pleasant Grove and El evation which voted bonds this summer, will not be required to pay the special bond tax this year, since the bonds have not yet been sold, and the policy in regard to this action was clearly outlined by the two boards. Other items of business included the decision to buy an additional school truck, the authorization of the Board of Ed ucation to build school buildings for the negroes in Princeton and Wilson’s Mills districts, and the fixing of the Christmas holidays for the county schools from Wed nesday, December 23 to Thursday December 31. Mr. Jas. D. Parker, County At torney for the Board of Commis sioners and Mr. H. B. Marow, Sec retary of the Board of Education, have approved the following an nouncement: At a joint meeting of the Board of County Commissioners and Board of Education the county wide policy of education in John ston county was further discussed and planned as follows: On September 11th/these boards assumed as a county obligation all of the school bidding bonds out standing in all the school districts in the county school system. This was done because the obligation rested on both boards to provide high school instruction to all the children in the county and the condition on which the bonds of the several high school districts of the county were assumed was that these high school districts in return for the county’s assuming their bends should admit free tui tion for the first six months of j their term such student as the j Board of Education should direct | bo attend their schools whqther said students were within these I districts or from other districts of the county. This action established the policy that the whole county is responsible for all of the school buildings in the several districts belonging to the county system. Prior to the adoption of this pol icy of September 11th, the voters of Pleasant Grove Township ap proved an issue of bonds in the amount of $40,000.00 for the erec tion of a building sufficient to provide adequate high school in struction in that township. The former policy of the county has been that the district should raise a part of the cost of their build ing by a bond issue. In the light of the new policy it was the judg ment of both boards that it was not wise to sell bonds of Pleasant Grove Township, as had been an ticipated, when the election was called, when these bonds would-be assumed by the county as a whole just as soon as this district by a special tax should be in position to maintain a high school that could do accredited work, because bonds issued in tne name ox any district would necessarily have to bear a higher rate of interest than those issued in the name of the county, or a higher rate than mon ey borrowed by the county. Con templating the sale of the Pleas ant Grove bonds as soon as the money should be needed to begin the building the nesessary tax rate for carrying the bonds was levied for the year 1925 in the Pleasant Grove District. The sale of the bonds has been delayed because it was not deemed necessary to sell them until money was needed to pay construction cost of the build ing. In thd light of the policy adopt ed by the county September 11th of relieving the districts entirely of the cost of their buildings death. * Written by her niece, MRS. ANNIE PARRISH. CAPT. J. B. INMAN .'■.'i'ratESEEl Capt. John B. Inman, custodian of I the state memorial hail at Spring | field, III., was elected commander in I chief cf the Grand Army of the Re public at the national encampment at Grand Rapids, Mich. He served through both the Civil war and the Spanish-American war. A GOOD ACCIDENT POLICY No driver of a vehicle ar.d more especially no driver <>£ an automo bile, should ever cross a railroad or interurban track without first looking in both directions to de termine .whether a train is ap proaching-. Whore there are two or more tracks, never start across after a train has passed without waiting to see whether another train is ap proaching on anotb. r track. Let the first train get by at least 500 feet. If necessary to shift gears, do so not less than 50 feet be- j for# reaching the track, lest the auto stalls on the track. At crossings protected by flag mar, gates, bells or wig-wag, new'-' atSrr.W to cross' while '.he flag-1 man is on the crossing, or gates lowered, or bells or wig-wags arc j in action, for this moans that the | train is closely approaeing. These are a few suggestions to drivers which occasion no incon venience and which it observed will prevent accidents at grade cross ings for a grade crossing is only dangerous wiv-n mad o !>;# care less driving. In fact, the danger is in the driving, not in the cross ing.—Benson Review. wherever that district could serve the county by providing free tui tion for high sehcol students of the county, as stated above, it is not economical to issue the bonds in the name of the Pleasant Grove or any other district. Therefore, j the County Conjtaissiomers with the consent of the Beard of Edu cation have this day ordered the taxes for 1925 assessed in the-i Pleasant Grove District for bond purposes refunded and at the same time ordered that notice be given to the citizens of Pleasant Grove and Bentonville Townships that the county will erect' a modern and adequate building for each of these townships, which will complete the county-wide building program,. without any cost to these districts as soon as these districts vote a sufficient maintenance tax to guar antee to the county the operation of a high school. It is the judg ment of both boards that as soon as the people understand what the new policy means that they will ap prove this course. Pleasant Grove and Bentonville Tbwnships are now paying their part of the cost of buildings in the other districts ol the county which have high schools and are not enjoying the privilege of a high school themselves. An efort will be made to give this notice as wide publicity as possible in Pleasant Grove and Bentonville townships for in order to erect a school building and have it ready for occupancy by the open ing of the next school year the contract for the same must be let in January or early part of Feb ruary. It will, therefore, be nec essary for an election to be held it once in each of these districts, if they wish to secure a building by the opening of the next term. In terested citizens should therefore, notify the Board of Education of their intentions and desires at once in regard to this matter. The boards will have a special meet ing if necessary for the elections must be called early in this month if it is to be in time to have the building in time for the fall of 1926. Willing for Road Engineers To Say Meadow and Ber.tonviile Townships Present Arg ument For Two Routes. Good road advocates are now vying with schools in making their wants and needs known tip the Board of County Commissioners. Delegations here yesterday from Bentonville and Meadow townships' presented two routes for what it is hoped in time will be a state highway maintained by the State Highway Commission. The Mead ow township folk were asking that the road be routed along the dine between the two townships, while Bentonville citizens were favoring the road by Bentonville. Mr. Walter V. Blackman, repre senting Meadow, presented a pe tition with 260 signers to the Board of Commissioners, and call ed upon a number of citizens to speak in favor of that route. Among the speakers, was Mr. W. A. Bizzelle from Sampson county, who pointed out that the road between the townships would re duce the distance from Clinton to Raleigh by from five to seven and a half miles. He suggested that the county commissioners empower the county attorney to take the matter up with Mr. Page of the State Highway Commission, with the idea of securing a state engi neer to route the road. Speaking for Sampson county, he stated that Sampson would not be interested in helping to build a road by any other route. Mr. John J. Rose, in speaking for this route advanced the idea that the folk in that section would come to Smithfield more if they had a road to come on. As it is now, they come to the county seat as little as possible, and hate even to come to pay their fcixes. He spoke' of that section as a neg lected part of Johnston county and thought they deserved a road Mr. John W. Wood called atten tion to the fact that persons liv ing in a part of Meadow and Ben tonyille townships were cut off fmm the railroad, it being neces sary either to cross Ingrams, or Meadow or Wayne county to get to a railroad. In conclusion Mr. W. V. Black man summed up the main facts in favor of the shorter route- He said it is the logical route because it is the most direct, most econom ical, meets the approval of Samp son county, and a large part of the citizenship of that section of John, ston. However, he is sure Meadow township will be satisfied with the decision of an engineer. The Board of Commissioners then asked to hear from advocates of the Bentonville road, and Mr. S W. Lassiter presented a plausible argument. In the first place the Bentonville road is practically built though it is badly in need of repair work. Then, too, Benton viile township has arranged for convict labor on the roads, by a special tax, and would like the township to get full benefit of the taxation. Besides these two reas ons, the Bentonville road splits the old Bentonville battlefield in two, making it possible for passers-by and tourists to see one of the his toric spots of North Carolina, The breastworks can still be plainly seen from the road. In the last place, Mr. Lassiter stated that the Bentonville road would still serve Sampson county and would also serve a portion of Wayne. Mr. Lassiter closed his remarks .with ! the statement that Bentonville township would lie satisfied with the decision of a state engineer, !but> asked for a month to present la petition if it should be neces sary. Mr. J. D. Parker, county attor ney, explained after Mr. Lassiter had taken his seat, that the tax to which he referred would be used exclusively for Bentonville township to keep up the old road, in the event the road should bo routed the other way. He, too, favored leaving the location of the road to the Highway Commission, since it was the idea to get this road ultimately in the State sys tem. Others spoke for the Bentonville route, but it was finally agreed to leave the matter in the hands of a state engineer. A rising' vote County Board In Regular Session Dispose of Routine Busi ness In a Full All Day Session. The Board of County Commis sioners met in regular session here yesterday with the following mem bers present. A. H. Morgan, of Meadow, L. E. Barbofir, of Ele vation, W. T. Lee, Banner, J. T. Edgerton. of Beulah, A. B. Hoc utt, of (V’Neals. The following items of busi ness were disposed of during the day: Ordered that J. W. Wcllons be released cr one lot valued at $2090 in Mioro township which was listed by error. Ordered that J. F. Harper be released of special taxes for the sale of Lang’s Products in Johns ton county. Ordered that A. D. Radford be refunded $2.00 dog tax in Smith field township, it appearing that said tax was paid by him and j that he did not own said dog at j listing time. Ordered that D. J. Williams be ; paid $6.30 for bridge work in Ben- ' tonville township. Ordered that Wr. .B. Harper of j Elevation township, be released of j poll tax. Ordered that W. H. Bailey of Boon Hill township be released of poll tax. Ordered that $25.00 be allow- , 2d to build a bridge acros Mill I Branch on the Beulah road in . O’Neals township. Ordered that J. J. Rose, Geo. R. Johnson and W. V. Blackman be | and they are hereby appointed as j a committee of three to investi gate and make a repbrt on their j findings relative to whose dogs; killed John WT. Wood’s geese in September 1925, and try to ascer- j :ain the number of dogs in that j immediate neighborhood which are allowed to run at large at night, i and also whether or not these dogs ; are listed for taxation. Ordered that there be allowed ; 525.00 for the burial expenses of , S’ancy Emily Honeycutt, the wid- j 3W of a Confederate veteran, as provided by the statutes. Ordered that J. T. Edgerton, A. > if. Morgan, W. T. Lee be and the same are hereby appointed as the I committee to audit the office of j the clerk of the court as of De cember. i Ordered that there be executed, under the Road and Bridge Act | Johnston county, notes to the amount of $25,000, and placed in j General Convict Fund of Johnston ! county to . reimburse the general j county fund. The following were placed on the outside pauper list: B. O. Bar bour, Elbert Barbour, Mrs. A. Wr. Pippin, Fannie Holland and Beat rice Holland. Wednesday Night Service In the absence of Rev. Chester Alexander, pastor of the Presby- , terian church. Rev. J. H. Gruver, home mission superintendent, of j Raleigh, will he present and with the aid of charts will present home missions as he sees it. All members of the church are urged to be present. Others are cordially in vited. A CARD OF THANKS We wish to express our sincere thanks to each and every one of j our many friends for their many deeds of kindness shown us during j the sickness and death of our son and brother, Lee. Nay God's rich- ^ est blessings rest on every one. MR & MRS. C. F. BROADWELL AND CHILDREN. Auto Salesman: “Now I'll throw in the clutch.” Customer: “Good, I knew you d throw in something if I waited, long enough.”—Ex, The, train robber was holding up a Pullman car: “Out with your dough. I’ll kill all men without money and kiss all the women.” _ An elderly gent said: “You shall not touch these ladies!” An old maid in an upper beri.ii then shouted: “You leave him alone; he’s robbing this j rr,vn.” —Ex. showed that'this settlement of the matter was practically unanimous. i LADIES OOESTS BENSONKIWANIS Raleigh Club Has Charge Of After Dinner Pro gram On 4 ‘ L a d i es Night.” PERSONAL MENTION Ben on, Dee. 5.—Ladies Night was obsei v :d at the Bfiwanis club Tuesday night. A full attendance was present. The Raleigh club had charge of the after-dinner pro gram. Frank Jeter, President o£ the club, presided. A fine program had been arranged for this occas ion. Miss Moore, a member of the faculty of Peace Institute, accom panied by Miss Roundtree, also of the Peace faculty, sang sever al solos. The famous Raleigh quar tet delighted .their audience. Prof. Cunningham of State College gave a number of Readings in Scotch, Italian, Negro, German and Irish dialect that were unusually fine. Judge 'Horton made a very fine speech on the spirit of Kiwanis Frank Jeter and Judge Harris made talks. It was an interesting meeting from beginning to end, and a real treat for the Benson dub and their wives. The attend ance priles went *?b Mesdames J. T. Morgan and W. Tt Martin. A Thanksgiving menu was served ov the manager of the North State hotel. Mrs. M. A. Peacock entertained about forty ladies Tuesday eve ning in honor of her house guest, Mrs. R. A. Tyson, Jr-, of Green ville. The .house was tastily dec orated in keeping with Thanksgiv ing. The centerpiece for the din ing table was mound of assorted fruit. The guests enjoyed a game of mother earth. Mrs. W. D. Boone was the winner and received a bot :ie of perfume, which she present ed to the guest of honor. The hos tess served an ice course with lt.mc made cake and mints. The favors were in keeping with the •cason. Mrs. F. L. Perkins entertained with a five course luncheon Sat urday complimentary to Mrs. R. A. Tyson, of Greenville, the guest of Mrs. M. A. Peacock. Covers were laid for eight. The centerpiece was s pumpkin filled with fruit. Yel low candles in yellow holders were used. A color scheme of yellow ur.d white was used throughout. Favors suggestive of Thanksgiv ing were used. The guests includ ed: Miss Bertha Edgprton, of Ken |y; Mrs. R. A. Tyson, of Green ville; Mesdames W. T. Martin, L. L. Levinson, J- H. Rose, M. A. Peacock and J. W. Parrish. M'ys. L. L. Levinson gave a dinner party Friday evening com plimenting her guest, Miss Bertha Edgerton, of Kenly Covers were Irid for eight. A turkey menu with accessories was served. Autumn colors were used in the decora tions. Dr. and Mrs. W. T. Martin spent Sunday in Raleigh the guest of Miss Eunice Martin. Mrs. J. B. Fairclot'h and ehil f'vcn spent the holidays in Jones boro with Mrs. Faibcloth’s par ents. Miss Vallie Hill returned Thurs day from Hollywood, Fla., whero she spent a week. Mrs. A. S. Olivw and children spent several days last week in Selma visiting. Mrs. J. C- Warren spent last week in Creedmore visiting her parents. Mrs. Heber Creech of Smith-? field, spent) Thanksgiving with Mr. and Mrs. J- H. Rose. Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Britt re cently visited Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Lanier in Jonesboro. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Darden of Clinton, spent Thursday with Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Britt. Mesdames M. A. Peacock, L. L. Levinson, R. A. Tyson and Miss Bertha Edgerton spent Friday in Raleigh. Mr. and Mr?. Oscar Anderson, Messrs. J. B., James Garrett, Ken neth , Glenn Elwood, Mrs. J G. Anderson and Master Arthur An derson spent the Thanksgiving hol idays with Dr. and Mrs. W. T. Martin The kindergarten cla» of tiia Benson school is still growing.