SMITHFIELD NEEDS:
Daily Meat and Milk Inspection
Bigger Pay Roll.
A Modern Hotel
Renovation of Opera House
Chamber of Commerce
Johnston County’s Oldest and Best Newspaper - - Established 1882
JOHNSTON COUNTY NEEDS:
County Farm Agent
Better Roads Feeding Highways
Equal Opportunity for Every
School Child
Better Marketing System
More Food and Feed Crops
VOLUME 44—NO. 89
* * *
SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 12, 1926
* * *
$2.00 PER YEAR
Albert Coates Is
Unveiling Speaker
Pays Beautiful Tribute To
The 49 Johnstonians
Who Gave Their Lives;
Carlton Stephenson
Dedicates Monument
For weeks, Smithfield, with the
rest of Johnston county, has look
ed forward to the unveiling of the
bronze statue which the county so
fittingly has erected in memory of
the forty-nine Johnstonians who |
made the supreme sacrifice in the
World War.
Armistice Day was decided upon
as the appropriate occasion for
this sublime exercise, and yester
day saw the streets of this city
thronged with men, women and
children here to do honor to these
dead heroes. The cold winds of
practically the first winter weather
apparently kept no one from being
here, and all who came evinced the
deepest interest in every phase of
the program planned for the day.
Shortly after ten o’clock, a pa
rade several blocks long beg*an to
move along the most prominent
streets of the town. The Princeton
brass band headed the procesion,
national guardsmen, ex-soldiers of
three wars, school children and
decorated automobiles following in
due order. #
The parade halted in front of
the white swathed statute on the
courthouse square, and the unveil
ing ceremonies began. F. 11.
Brooks, standing on a flag-decorat
ed truck placed near the statute,
in the absence of the mayor of the
town, welcomed all visitors .to
Smithfield and turned over the j
keys of the city to them for the
day.
Carlton Stephenson, commander
of 'the Pou-Parrish Post of the
American Legion who has been a
leading spirit in the whole cele
bration, then took charge, and after
the band had played “The Star
Spangled Banner,” dedicated the
monument. He spoke feelingly of
the service of those who fell for
their country and called on their
surviving comrades to “serve
America in time of peace by so
living that Justice, Freedom and !
Democracy may endure forever.” j
A bugle call sounded and a rep
resentative of the American Le
gion parted the white swath and j
the soldier in bronze stood tower- ,
ing above the crowd, symbolical I
of the ideals that towered, high and ;
fine, in the late conflict. Eight,
riflemen in uniform stationed at
the base of the monument, then, |
fired four simultaneous shots, after
which the vast crowd moved into .
the courthouse for the speaking, j
the cold making outdoor speaking-1
impractical.
Following the playing of “Dixie” ,
by the band, H. V. Rose introduc
ed the unveiling speaker, Albert
M. Coates, of the State Univer
sity. Mr. Coates is a home boy
and his oratorical powers are pro
verbial. He did not disappoint his
hearers yesterday. His speech
which is a gem, follows:
“Around midnight on the fifth
of April, 1917, 500 representatives
of the United States, by nearly
unanimous vote, carried a hundred
million people into war. From the
Capitol the news was flashed on
trunk wires to the country’s focal
centers, there it was relayed to
every city and every settlemnt),
(Turn to page three, please)
AUNT ROXIE SAYS—
By Me—
Ever goose oig I gin in when I
listed my property and gin in my
pole hatched out twin geese that
laid golden aigs.
Children Perish
in Wind Storm
La Plata, Md., Nov. 9.—A twist
ing wi/id struck suddenly out of
a sultry sky today and shattered
a schoolhouse here in which about
50 children were studying.
Eleven perished in the ruins, and
two others died while being rush
ed to Washington for treatment.
At least 20 more were injured,
some critically, and a negro man
and woman were killed in their
dwelling, one of three caught in
the narrow mile-long path of the
storm.
Eleven of the torn little bodies
lay tonight in the town’s under
taking establishment of at their
homes, while two were still in the
Washington hospitals which were
Please turn to page three
Urges Farmers To
Use Their Heads
Wright Edmundson Tells
of The Cotton Situation
In The Lone Star State;
Must Reduce in 1927
“Do not use your hands less, but
your head more,” is the advice Mr.
Wright Edmundson, a native of
this county, but now living in
Texas, would give to his farmer
friends back home and to the far
mers throughout the south. Mr.
Edmundson is interested in seeing
the farmers get a fair price for
their cotton, and it, is his belief
that if the proper cooperation can
be had among the cotton farmers
in reducing acreage and in other
matters that the 1927 crop will
not be practically given away.
Mr. Edmundson writing from
Waco, tells of the present situation
in the Lone Star State and offers
some timely suggestions for all
cotton growers. His letter is as
follows:
“Texas has the largest cotton
crop in its history. The big prob
lem is gathering it. We have been
having excessive rains in all parts
of Texas, and labor is scarce—
about onc-half enough to save the
cotton.
“Since my return to Texas from
North Carolina, I have devoted
practically all of my time in going
over almost the entire State. I
think I would be perfectly safe in
saying there are at least 3 mil
lion acres in cotton, producing a
big crop that has never, as yet,
been touched. Farmers, renters es
pecially, are not interested in get
ting it out. Picking is high, with
the price of the staple low. There
is a genera] financial depression
over the entire cotton growing
section, and in many sections, far
mers have refused to pick the crop
at prevailing prices. The only so
lution, as I see it, is about a fifty
per cent reduction in the acreage
in 1927.
l he larmers ot the bouth are
using their muscle in production
and their brains are entirely inop
erative. We must have cooperation
among the farmers of the South
or they will be slaves for Wall
Street interest for all time. There
must be concerted action, and that
at once, or go into bankruptcy.
What is the solution? Raise more
hog and hominy and less cotton.
“Only a few years ago, cotton
was selling at [15 to 40c per pound.
Why? There was a demand. To
day we are raising seventeen mil
lion bales of cotton creating a big
surplus. As I see it, the farmer
is responsible for present day con
ditions in our fair Southland. Di
versified farming is the remedy.
Mr. Farmer, did you know that a
twelve million bale crop is worth
more to you than a seventeen ?
“Lack of confidence and cooper
ation is one trouble. I have known
meetings of farmers to discuss
acreage reductions; about 90 per
cent of them will agree to reduce
25 to 33 1-3 per cent, break up
and start home, and 95 per cent
of them will decide now. is the time
to make my jack. All being of the
same mind, find at the end of the
CCointinued on page eight)
Judge J. H. Kerr
Addresses Legion
Makes a Notable Speech
Before Audience That
Filled The Court House
—Barbecue Dinner
I The touching prayer made by
Chaplain Ira C. Whitley of the
} Pou-Parrish Legion Post, which
concluded the unveiling exercises
here yesterday, was the signal for
F. H. Brooks, chairman of the ci
vilian committee, to take charge
of the prog-ram, and for the next
hour the audience, which filled the
courtroom to overflowing, heard,
with deep attention, a splendid
address by Congressman John II.
Kerr, of Warrenton.
After the speech, the barbecue j
dinner was in order, and then the j
other festivities of the day and i
night. Over four hundred ex-sol
diers of the World War, the Span- |
ish-American War, and the War !
Between the States, registered and
were served with dinner. Eight
hundred pounds of barbecue and
cakes galore cooked by some of
the best cooks Johnston county af
fords with other accessories ,pro
vided ample refreshment for all
who wore badges.
The barbecue feast was good,
but the mental feast provided by
Congressman Kerr gave those who
heard him food for thought. No
nation, no state, no people, said
Judge Kerr, ever remain great un
less they cherish the valor of their
soldiers. Then he spoke of the
greatness of North Carolina and ;
the part she has played in past
‘wars. In the World War desertions
by North Carolina soldiers were
practically unknown; evasions of
the draft were few; more were
killed from North Carolina than
from any other state; and this
state sold 12 per cent more than
its quota of Liberty Bonds.
Judge Kerr told the members of
the American Legion that, the vet
erans of„ other wars are passing,
and that the Legion is coming to
the forefront. He called upon them
to maintain the same idealism that
carried them into the war. He
reviewed conditions in America
showing that the American people
are for the most part indifferent
to government, indifferent to re
ligion, indifferent to social life. He
told the Legion members that
they had it in their power to
change such conditions, that they
had it in their power to stop war.
Because of their position, their in
fluence and responsibility is rela
tively great.
SLAYER OF FREMONT
YOUTH IDENTIFIED
Wilson, Nov. 9.—George Brez
emore, Williamston neg-ro, was be
ing held for safekepeing here to
night under a charge of mur
der, after being identified today by
| three residents of Farmville as the
[man in possession of the truck
[load of tobacco which Gordon Yel
jverton was bringing to the local
market when slain.
! Despite the fact that he was
[identified by the Farmville dele
jgation from among several other
negroes in the jail, Brezemore
stoutly maintained his innocense.
A murder charge was lodged !
against him when he was unable'
to give a satisfactory account of
his actions last Saturday and Fri
day.
The first theory was that a white j
man and two negroes had acted.
jointly in the killing of young j
Yelverton, by shooting him through
the head and leaving* his body some '
25 feet from the highway in a I
patch of woods near Farmville. I
The three men were said to have
driven the truck of tobacco with |
which Yelverton had started out i
to Farmville and unloaded it; that !
later they ran when some com- 1
ments were passed as to the qual- i
ity of the tobacco and that they j
did not return for their checks. !
Later developments, however, 1
tend to point to point Brezemore
as the criminal, it was said. Breze
more denies any knowledge of the
crime.—Goldsboro News.
“I crave a ‘high flyer,’ shouts a
Hollywood movie extra. Then *-et
you a sheik in balloon breeches,
honey.
RECORDERS COURT
MEETS THREE DAYS
The Recorder’s Court was in
session here on Tuesday and Wed
nesday and is also in session here
today. Each day has been devoted
to the whitling down of the crim
inal docket. A large number of
cases has been disposed of and
there yet remains about fifty cases
to be carried over to next week.
Baptist Begin
Revival Sunday
Dr. A. J. Fristoe, of Ashe
ville Experienced Evan
gelist, (Will Preach
The Baptist church will begin a
series of revival meetings next
Sunday, with Dr. A. J. Fristoe, of
Asheville, preaching morning and
night. Dr. Fristoe is a preacher of
fine ability, and with a wide ex
perience as pastor and evangelist.
He has held pastorates in leading
cities, but has given the last few
years mainly to evangelistic work,
for a number of years being State
evangelist in Maryland.
The meetings here wilj continue
for about ten days, services be
ing held each night at 7:30, with
perhaps a day service to be an
nounced. The Baptist congrega
tion ask for the cooperation of the
members of all the churches, and
especially of the members of the
several choirs. Large congrega
tions are expected Sunday, the pas
tor of the Methodist church being
:>ut of town attending the annual
conference. He announced that
there would be no services at the
Methodist church, and invited his
congregation to attend the revival
meetings at the Baptist church.
The general public has a cordial in
vitation to attend all the services.*
MERCHANTS GIVE PREMIl'MS
C H R Y S A NTH EM I'M S H O W
Plans are complete for the
chrysanthemum show to be held by
the Woman’s Club here next Wed
nesday at Austin’s Store. Anyone
in the county interested is cordial
ly invited .to participate. If you
do not wish to compete for the
prizes offered for flowers, cakes
*nd candies, come to the show
anyway.
The following business firms of
Smithfield have offered prizes:
Victory Theatre, one week’s pass;
City Market, five pound roast;
Hood Brothers, box candy; Charles
Davis, pair of gloves; Hudson-Belk
Store, silk hose; Huntley’s, sijlk
hose; Rose’s five and ten cent
store, boudoir set; Wallace Gro
cery Company, one pound Max
well House coffee; R. Lewis,
boutonniere; Creech’s, cut glass
bon bon dish; A. Baroody, one doz
en apples, one dozen bananas, one
dozen oranges; Austin’s, silk hose;
Spot Store, silk hose; J. D. Spiers,
percolator; Young Motor Company,
motometer; Vara Smith, bouton
niere; Sam Stallings, five gallons
gas; Holleman Motor Company,
some Chevrolet accessory; Sundry
Shoppe, bath powder; W. M. San
ders and Son, sack of flour; Peedin
and Peterson, (to be selected); N.
B. Grantham, men’s gloves; Amer
ican Dollar Store, box of powder;
First and Citizens National Bank,
S2.50 gold coin; Jordan Jewelry
Company, a piece of silver; Coats
Hardware Company, pair of scis
sors; Turnage and Talton, quarter
sack Roller Champion flour; Jor
dan-Edmundson Hardware Com
pany, six Community silver tea
spoons.
Bulbs and seeds will be on sale
at the flower show.
The Herald’s
Campaign
Is Now On!
Turn
To Page 4
Dr- Frank Crane
fA'JTQCA’TTrr^ |$|pjB
«r
; Dr. Crane s articles appear every
jweek in The Herald and in the.’n
"'ill be found much food for
thought.
Expression Class
Renders Program
Appropriate Exercises At
the School Auditorium
Celebrating Armistice
Day Wednesday Even
ing
The pupils of Mrs. A. R. Wilson’s
expression class gave an Armis
tice Day program which was very
much enjoyed at the school audi
torium Wednesday evening. A
large crowd was present to hear
the young speakers who acquitted
themselves and their instructor
with credit.
A special feature of the eve
ning was a short play entitled
“Scenes of the World War.” Five
scenes were depicted: Columbia’s
prayer, Red Cross nurse and
baby’s prayer, “Just Before the
Battle, Mother/’ the wounded sol
dier, «*nd the world at peace ag*ain.
Those taking part in the play
were: Dixie Johnson, as Columbia;
Durwood Creech, as Uncle Sam;
Mrs. Jesse Coats, representing
Thought; Catherine Mqrtin, the
baby; Willis Stevens, Winfield
Jordan, Paul Brown and Frank
Morgan, as soldiers; Ava Wal
lace, Mattie Lee Crimes and
Franees Massey, as Red Cross
The program which preceded the
play was as follows:
Song—“America, Audience.
American Creed, Six Boys.
Acrostic—“Armistice Day,” Dur
wood Ureech.
Quartette, “Over There.”
“Patriots of America,” Six Boys.
“Heroes of Yesteryear,” Marcia
Stevens.
“Our Soldier’s Dead,” Elizabeth
Thornton.
Star Spang-led Banner and Dixie
Drill, Eighteen Girls.
Declamation—“Thoughts for
Armistice,” Willis Stevens.
“Armistice Memorial,” Frances
Jones.
“Service Flag,” Marcia Stevens
and Frances Massey.
Acrobatic Dance, Annie B. Mor
gan.
“Poppies of France,” Twelve
Girls.
Honor for Soldiers, Sadie Mas
sey.
In Memory, Nine Girls.
Declamation—“The Army c|c
Peace,” Winfield Jordan.
“Johnnie’s Ideas,” Thomas Hood.
BUYS OUT RED STAR
FILLING STATION NO. 2
Mr. T. N. Thaxton has recently
purchased from Mr. Sam Stallings
Red Star P'illing Station Number
2, which is located at the edge of
town on South Third street. Mr.
! Thaxton has changed the nan^‘
| of this filling' station to the De
Luxe Service Station. Mr. Thomas
i Watson has charge of this station.
|It is open day and night, and quick
service is assured.
I
Baptist Ass’n At
Baptist Center
i
R. H. Gower Elected Mod
erator For 24th Time—
Nearly All of Forty-five
Churches Represented
By REV. S. L. MORGAN
The Johnston association held at
Baptist Center November Oth 10th
was a very satisfactory one. Repre
sentatives were present from all
but one or two of the 45 churches.
Seldom has the attendance and in
terest kept up to so high a pitch
to the end. Pastor R. L. Shirley, of
Selma, displayed on a large black
board which he had made the main
facts as to membership and contri
butions for all the churches during
the year, a service for which the
body gave him a vote of thanks.
Reports showed that in the aggre
gate the year had been one of
comparatively small gains in mem
bership. ^ In fact, many of the
[churches excluded or dropped from
their rolls more names than they
added—a fact for which the
churches will be better off. The
net gains were great enough to
run up the membership of the 45
I churches slightly above 6,000.
A very gratifying thing* was
.that the large number of pastor
less churches a little while ago
[were able to report that pastors
had been secured, five new pastors
being welcomd: J. E. Kirk, of Ben
son, Ira E. D. Andrews, of Clay
ton, R. L. Shirley of Selma, A. L.
Brown, of Four Oaks, and G. P.
Lanier, of the Trinity field. R. II.
Gower was elected moderator for
the 24th time, R. L. Shirley, vice
moderator, S. L. Morgan, clerk and
J. A. Smith, treasurer. An im
jportant change was made in the
[executive committee, in enlarging*
its membership to nine members,
at least three of whom are to be
women, and by adding the officers
of the association to the commit
tee.
The body committed itself to
continuing the work of Miss
Gladys II. Beck for another year
and of Miss Gertrude Mattison for
six months—her engagements com
mitting her to six months each in
two associations. There was a
strong demand for continuing both
these departments of work, al
though the general delinquency of
the churches in contributing the
funds necessary had resulted in a
deficit of about $300. A large num
ber of the churches made definite
pledges during the session of the
association, aggregating about $800
of the necessary $1,100, and the
others are asked to make a defi
nite pledge to these two salaries
and report it to the writer as soon
as possible. While it was under
stood that the work will continue
in both departments, yet it is con
tingent on the pledging of the full
amount needed. All churches that
failed to contribute their due ..part
to this fund last year are urged
to send in their contributions as
soon as possible to apply on the
deficit. Also it was noted that the
amounts sent in for the minute and ,
expense fund was far below the
amount needed, many of the !
churches having- sent nothing at J
all. The Clerk was instructed to |
write these churches urging a lib
eral contribution. lie hereby asks
that Baptist readers will see to it
that their churches take up the
matter promptly, if it has been
| neglected.
A resolution was adopted ex
pressing the appreciation of the
ibody to Commander D. Carlton
Stephenson and the committee ar
ranging for the Armistice Day
celebration under the auspices of
the American Legion in Smithfield
at their decision to cancel the pub
lic dance that had been planned,
and expressing the hope of the
bdoy, representing 6,000 Baptists,
that such a feature will be ex
cluded from all future celebrations
of the day, as being out of har
mony with the sentiment of grati
Itude and worship which attach to
the day in the minds of a great
many who remember the agony of
the World War, with the religious
feeling awakened by the announce
ment of the armistice.
Another resolution was adopted
urging the coming General Assem
bly to enlarge the appropriation
Plan to Reduce
Cotton Acreage
Dr. E. C. Brooks, president of
North Carolina State College, was
Monday named to direct a cam
paign for a diversified program of
agriculture in North Carolina, with
the immediate objective of a 25
per cent reduction in cotton acre
Dr. Brooks was chosen by a cen
tral committee to which all details
were referred under a resolution
adopted by the mass meeting eall
e,| for yesterday by the Governor.
The committee will meet again on
Friday, November 19, to launch the
program, and it is probable that a
uniform date for a sign-up cam
paign will be adopted.—News and
Observer.
Presbyterians
Revival Closes
Ku KIux Present Dr. Paul
Pressly With Purse At
Closing Service
The meeting which has been in
progress at the Presbyterian
church since Monday night, No
vember 1, closed Wednesday night
with a large crowd attending the
last service.
At the beginning of the serv
ice Wednesday evening, members
of the Ku Klux Klan entered the
church, marched down to the chan
cel and presented a purse to Dr.
Pressly. The minister in thanking
the Ku Klux for their generosity,
said- that he was not afraid of any
organization that backs the church
of God.
Ur. Paul Pressly, of Chester, S.
C.. who did the preaching for the
ten-day meeting, gave his hearers
excellent sermons. The revival
was conductd on a high and dig
nified plane, emotionalism having
no part in any of the services.
Wednesday night, Dr. Pressly
preached on “Divine Forgiveness,
using as his text-Mark 2:5—“Son
thy sins be forgiven thee.” With
illustrations taken from the Bible,
Dr. Pressly portrayed the infinite
tenderness of Jesus in dealing with
sinners, and showed how willing
Jesus was while here upon the
earth to give, not only what a pe
titioner asked for, but more than
he asked for or even dreamed of.
In healing the sick man’s body,
Jesus healed his soul and gave him
a new nature, doing far more for
him than he or his friends asked.
The minister told of the tactful ap
proach of Jesus to sinners and of
how his heart yearned to help
those in trouble. The sermon was
calculated to convince the listeners
of the great compassionate heart
of the Saviour, and of His eager
ness to forgive all those who have
sinned.
During the meeting several met
with the session of the church and
gave their names for membership.
All the denominations in town
cooperated in a splendid manner
for the success of the meeting,
helping with the music and attend
ing the services in large numbers
for Mother’s Aid in the State.
The next session of the associa
tion will meet in Selma Nov. 1, 2.
1927, Dr. I. E. D. Andrews of
Clayton, to preach the introduc
tory sermon, and J. E. Kirk of
Benson, to preach the missionary
sermon.
Husband and Wifi
Whenever we have an argument
my husband gets dignified and calls
me “My good woman.”—Mrs. R
WHAT DOK_.jUANU DO'i
H.B. EasomWeds
Clinton Bride
Former Smithfield Citizen
Weds Miss Margaret
Stevens — Elaborate
Church Wedding
Clinton, Nov. 10—One of the I
leading social events of the fall I
season was the marriage of Miss
Margaret Stevens when she be
came the bride of* Mr. Horace Ber
nard Easom at a beautiful cere
mony at the Baptist church Wed
nesday evening at eight o’clock.
The church was very artistically
decorated for the occasion. Large
baskets of white chrysanthemums,
the leading flower,'stood out again
st a background of green pine,
palms, and fern. A shower of white
wedding bells hung from the three
arches over the altar, the center
arch where the ceremony was per
formed had a touch of pink carry
ing out the color scheme. Tall
lighted tapers added the finishing
touch to a very lovely scene.
A musical program was given,
just before the entrance of tho
bridal party. With Miss Mablo
Parker at the organ, Messrs. T.
M. Lee, violinist, and Harry Stew
art playing- the flute, as accom
panists, twro Autumn preludes,
Humoreske and Traumeri wer«i
very beautifully rendered. Thin
was followed by a Huto solo, Mel
ody In F. The bridal chorus from
the Rose Maiden was sung by a
double quartette composed of Mrs.
Herbert Smith. Miss Barbara Wier,
Sopranos, Mesdames Floy(j Rawls,
Tom Ferrell, Altos, Messrs. T. M.
Lee, Cornelius Colline, Tenors and
Harry Stewart and T. H. King,
Bass.
Promptly at eight o’clock the
bridal party entered, the wedding
march from Lohengrin was usecl as
a processional. First came the
bridesmaids, Misses Celeste Hub
bard, Clinton; Betsy Wright, Kin
ston, N. C.; Annie Aman and Wil
helmina Huske, eft Fayetteville;
wearing pink colonial gowns with
pi-nk satin slippers. They carried
nosegays of pink rosebuds and
blue delphinium with a shower ot’
rosebuds. They also wore a wreath
of rosebuds and blue forget-me
nots in their hair. Next came the
groomsmen, Messrs. Edward
Wright, C. M. Walker, of Ashe
ville; Howard Gray, of Smithfield;
and James Hubbard, of Clinton;
then came the flower girls. Misses
Jane Powell and Frances Barrus
dressed in ruffled pink taffeta and
pink ldd^ shoes, carrying baskets of
pink roses following these came
the maid of honor, Miss Mary Pow
ell, of Oxford. She wore pink taf
feta gown colonial style with pink
sf^tin slippers carrying a nosegay
of pink rosebuds and -blue delphi
nium with a shower of rosebuds.
She was followed by the ring bear
er, Miss Toots Smith, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Smith, dress
ed as a miniature bride in white
crepe de chine, trimmed with lace.
She wore a long tulle veil cap
shape wreathed with orange blos
soms carrying a shower bouquet
of bride’s roses and sweet peas
with the ring attached. Then came
the bride with her brother, John
A. Stevens, of Wilmington; who
gave her in marriage. She wore
a white satin gown with elaborate
trimming of Spanish lace and
pearls and court train with white
slippers with rhinestone buckles.
Her tulle veil worn helmet fash
ion was trimmed with lace and
orange blossoms. She carried a
shower bouquet of bride’s roses
and valley lilies. They were met
(Continued on page eight)
A Tantalizer
There is exactly enough let
ters in the line below to spell
the name of a person in Smith
field, and if the right one de
ciphers their name and will pre
sent it to The Herald office, we
will present them with a com
plimentary ticket to the Vic
tory Theatre. You m«3t bring
copy of this paper in order to
secure ticket.
laeamle
Wilbur Johnson recognized
his name last issue.