IMS bOUBLC THE CIRCULATION OP t ALL OTHER Fflg' THE COmTT
VOL XVIII. NO 46.
A Proclamation By the Governor
Taxes are a great burden, and
a source of constant irritation.
The ingenuity of statesmen is
being taxed to reduce and to
equalize the tax burden, and yet
the fire tax annually levied upon
the State of North Carolina is
practically equal to the entire
taxes levied for the support of
• the State Government. We may
equalize the governmental taxes,
but they must be paid by some
one. Two-thirds of the fire taxes
are wholly unnecessary, and are
due to lack of reasonable care.
Realizing this, the General As
sembly of North Carolina has set
aside the 9th day of October of
each and every year as Fire Pre
vention Day, and made it the
duty of the Governor to issue a
Proclamation, urging the people
to a proper observance of the
day.
Now, Therefore, I, T.W.BICK
ETT, Governor of North Caro
lina, in accordance with this sta
tute, do issue this mv PROCLA
MATION, and 1 do set aside and
designate >
TUESDAY THE 9th DAY OF
OCTOBER 1917, AS FIRE
PREVENTIOE DAY
•and do urge all the people to a
proper observance of this day in
obedience to the law of North
Carolina. I urge the public
schools of the State and the mu
nicipal officers thereof to give
proper and formal recognition of
the day and its meaning, andre
quest the citizens generally to
give special attention on that day
to the condition of their premises
to the end that the waste and
loss of property and life may be
reduced in this State.
Done at our City of Raleigh,
this the fifteenth day of Septem
ber, in the year of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and
seventeen, and in the one hun
dred and forty-second vear of
our American Independence.
—_ T. W. BICKETT
Governor
• (SEAL)
Bv the Governor
SANTFORD MARTIN,
Private Secretary.
Mr. Hines Goes To Edgecombe
Mr. F. G. Hines, who was at
one time superintendent of
Williamston Towship roads, but
for the last four years has been
at Robersonville, was appointed
general superintendent of Edge
combe roads by the Board of
County Commissioners at their
last meeting. There were several
applications for the position, but
Mr v Hines wa3 unanimously
elected. Mr. Hines will receive a
larger salary in his new position.
In The Lead Again
Martin County is in the lead
again, for the town of Everetts
was ahead in contributions to the
tobacco fund for the soldiers,
leading the entire State, The
fund was started bv the News &
Observer after the American To
bacc Co., had offered to give a
dollar's worth of tobacco for 25
cents. In each package will be
enclosed a return postal card with
the address of the sender there
on, so that the soldier who gets
each package will acknowledge
the same. This is a fine way to
show interest in the boys who
are in France, and it wiH mean
much to them. Get in the list of
contributors by sending as many
quarters to the Observer as you
feel that you are able to give to
that cause. _
The Misses Aiken and Lyons,
who are teaching at Everetts,
spent the week-end here with re
latives.
THE ENTERPRISE
Society Formed at Hamilton
The "Athenian Literary So
ciety" met in the school audi
torium Friday night, Sept. 21, for
the first time, eighteen members
being present.. The election of
officers was the first thing in
order for the new year. Bryant
Taylor was chosen president,
Elizabeth Davenport, secretary,
Julius Purvis, chaplain, and Roy
Rogers, janitor. Misses Joyce
and Waldo were critics. Program
committee, Misses Joyce, \Valdo
and Rogers.
The following program was
renderd:
Recitation by Miss Elizabeth
Davenport.
Debate: "That Nature is more
attractive to the eye than art "
This was debated by four boys
and four girls. The judges rend
ered the decision in favor of the
negative- The society then ad
journed to meet again in two
weeks. Prof. John Rucker,
school superintendent, is the or
ganizer, and with his ability and
strength behind it, the society
will mean something good for the
community as well as the school.
Bank Statements
A glance at the bank state
ments published in these columns
la3t week, will show that the
six totaled resources up , to
$1,509,958.02; loans $1,159,897.41
and deposits, $931,326.60. The
statement of the Bank of James
ville did not appear and the two
banks in Robersonville published
in their home paper. The three
local banks show their deposits
amounting to $793,303 10 and
loans $1,003,539.49; total resour
ces. #1,277,250.79.
Have You Selected The Best?
The time for the State Fair is
rapidly approaching, and the
question is asked often if Martin
County will be represented there
by the very best specimens of
her agricultural products? Now is
the time to get busy in the mat
ter Mr. J. L. Holliday has urged
the people to show to the world
what Martin County has and
what it is doing in the line of
progress. This is one of the best
ways by which to advertise the
splendid farm lands of the county
The president of the State Fair
is a Martin County man; he will
be gratified to see his native land
represented at Raleigh. Are the
farmers here so satisfied that
they do not want others to know
and learn about the county?
Then there are the fairs in neigh
boring counties, which want ex
hibits from Martin-let's show to
the world the good things which
Martin County has in store for
all those who will come in and
make a dwelling place.
Little Child Hart
Tuesday, the little child of Mr.
and Mrs. George Coltrain fell
from a wagon which was near a
house, and was crushed between
the wheel and the house. Dr.
Saunders was called and the
services of Dr. Dave Tayloewere
secured, as an operation was ne
cessary, the skull having been
cracked. The little sufferer was
made as comfortable as possible
and from last reports was doing
very nicely. '
Mrs. John D. Biggs has called
a meeting on Monday for the
purpose of organising a com
mittee of National Defense for
the county. The hour is 2 p. m.,
at the Rest Rooms in the F. &
M. Bank building.
WILLIAMSTON, N. C., FRIDAY OCTOBER 5. 1917.
Makes His Soa Shoot Him
Will Hudgins, a negro, filled
himself with "monkey rum" on
Sunday and proceeded to clean
up his household about 12 o'clock
that night- He with his wife and
children lived on the Staton farm
near town, and on the night of
the tragedy, he shot his wife
through the leg, intending kill
ing her, but she ran out of the
house and escaped. He then pro
ceeded to whip his twelve-year
old boy, and finally made all ar
rangements to kill himself; ho
realized that shooting his wife
meant a term on the roads, and
he preferred death instead. He
tied a string to the trigger of his
gun, and stretched himself on
the bed, and placed the muzzle
against his breast, and after
threatening his little son, made
him pull the string. A physician
was called to the wife who had
been shot, and attention was
given her.
There was no inquest held over
the body of the negro, aa all evi
dence pointed to a well-planned
suicide with the boy frightened
into acting as murderer. No
blame could be attached to the
child, and so the matter rested.
The tragedy is one the most un
usual which has ever happened
in the county, and can be direct
ly traced to booze, which is so
vile as to make the tame wild,
and the good a devil.
Opening Of School
The Graded School pupils reg
istered Monday at the Court*
house at different hours for the
various grades Prof. Bundy,
Mrs. Harrell, Misses Biggs, Prid
gen. Jobe, Manning, Hodges,
Teague compose the Faculty The
smaller grades will not regularly
enter into the work until next
week, but the High School
pupils are attending every day,
I the court f-oom being used for
them. Supt. Bundy is using every
'effort to arrange matters so that
j the children can be kept in touch
j with their work until, the new
building is completed.
■— m » m « €**-
Maryland And The Loafers
The State of Maryland has
passed a law which compels all
loafers in the state-rich and
poor alike- to go to work for
themselves, or go to jail and
work for the state.
This is a revolution which
should happen in every communi
ty in every state in the Union.
At this season of the year when
the farmers need so many
laborers to harvest their crops,
the law would work fine. Right
around Williamston, and in many
places in Martin County, there
are to be numerous loafers
who eke out an existence by
preying on some one else. This is
true of both races. Often when
a family desires the service of
any one, it is impossible to hire
for love or money. No Amount of
wages will tempt these loafers,
who either gamble, steal or sell
booze. The Maryland law is far
reaching in its efforts to treat
all loafers a like, artti, no doubt,
much work will be done in that
state; still many will, perhaps,
go to jail, and be forced to work.
Maryland's law is: "Won't
Works" Must Work.
The weather was so bad on
Saturday that the Union at
Smithwick Creek was not so
largely attended. On Sunday the
crowd was greater though the
amount of water on the roads
hindered travel. Saturday (to
morrow) the Association begins
at Robersonville, and a large
number of visitors is expected.
The Crasade Is On
It is good bye to barbecue and
the Saturday lunch for the visi
tors and the town folks, too, for
all the stands have been ordered
removed, as the first step in a
crusade agsinst things that
might mar the present prospects j
for improvement The* Board of
Commissioners have started out
in a most commendable way-a 1
crusadeVhich will make for a
town beautiful, moral and sani 1
tary. -
Whether the appetizing odor
of cue mixed with the sickening
scent of "monkey rum," was too
much for the olfactory nerves of
the Board, who have set a high
ideal, has riot been disclosed;
but at any rate, the supply bases
for "monkey" and other concoc
tions, devilish in their effects up
on those who are foolish enough
to let it disgrace their ailmen
tarv canals, have been "spotted',
and with the 'cue stands will be
relegated to that place where
there are no resurrections.
The crusade will be extended
farther until the gambling dens
in and around town will come
under the Sunday closing law
for the Holy Sabbath is the chief
day for this degrading practice.
And not only one day in the
week, but every day and night,
'tis said that Kings snd Queens
hold high carnival at various
places abont here, but the end is
near, for the revolution will de
throne this royal family.
Then for a town with a clean
reputation, and all praise will be
given to the Board, who com
menced their great work by en
acting the best law in years--
that of closing places of barter j
and traffic on Sunday. The fight j
is on; let it continue until j
Willamston will be rid of things,
mar and defame. And please do
not forget to behead the weeds.
Were You There?
'lf you were not, then you
missed one of the best attractions
of the season. For Rutenberg &
Adler brought a typical New
York scene to town Friday night
last Were many folks there?
You bet; everybody, big and
little, old and young crowded in
to the store when the doors open
ed at 8 o'clock. The show win
dows were artistic in conception
and execution, and in them were
displayed women's and men's
dressy clothes. All through the
store, one found counterparts of
the fashionable centers of the
Northern cities. While music fill
ed the air, men, women and
children feasted their eyes on
the beautiful things, and formed
a resolution that they would
come back and possess some of
the things offered-and they did.
The fttore and stock would be
creditable to a large city, and
demonstrated the fact that
Williamston is swinging upward
in the mercantile world.
'm . |
Heard Many Cases
~v _
The term of Court, which end
ed on Friday last was remarka
ble for the amount of work done
during the two weeks. Of cpurse,
the criminal docket was cleared
as usual, but the civil calendar of
ten remains in a congested state.
But this was not true at the last
term, for twenty-two cases were
heard, and many others com
promised and a few continued.
The docket was therefore prac
tically cleared after faithful labor
on the part of the attorneys be
fore Jndge Daniels, who can dis
patch the business of his court,
with ease. The case of Harring
ton vs Shields was settled out of
court, and thus a hard-fought
caaeis off the docket
Stanrill-Bridgman
Monday morning at Washing
ton, Miss Cecilia Bridttman and 1
Mr. Charles Stancill were quietly
married at the home of the bride :
who is one of the splendid young ;
women of that town, which is 1
noted for its attracttve women. ,
Mr. Stancill is the brother of
Miss Miriam Stancill, who has
been in Williamston for a num
ber of months, and has a respon
sible position with the McKeel- ]
Richardson Hdw., Co. 1
- |
Meeting of Standing Committee ]
A called meeting of the Stand- \
ing Committee of the Diocese of 1
East Carolina was held here last
week at the Rectory on Haugh
ton Street. The members of the
Committee are, Dr. R B. Drane,
of Edenton; Rev. Mr. Boogher,
Fayetteville; Rev. C. H. Jordan,
of Williamston; Mr. George H.
Roberts, of New Bern; Mr. F. R
Rose, of Fayetteville. Dr, Drane
is Chairman aad C. H. Jordan is
secretary. The Committee of each
Diocese passes upon' the ordina
tion of ministers and the election
of all bishops in the American
Church, and is therefore the
most important committee in the
Protestant Episcopal Church.
The visitors were entertained by
Mrs. Rome Biggs, Jr., Misses
Lamb and Mrs. C. H. Godwin.
Hamilton Items
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Edmond
son spent the week-end with rel
atives. '
Miss Thelmu Taylor is spend
ing the week with Miss Ruth
Pippin.
Miss Marie Hyman has been the
i guest of Mrs. T. B Slade, Jr ,?
this week.
Claude Council arrived Mon
day from Wilmington to spend
some time with his mother.
Mrs T. B.JrJade with friends
spent Tuesday afternoon in Rob
ersonville.
Mrs. J P. Boyle, Mrs. M. W,
Ballard, Mrs. Harry Waldo and
little daughter spent Tuesday in
Williamston.
Mrs. Lucy Council and daugh
ter have returned from Durham.
Mrs P. H. Davenport and Mrs.
C. I). Perkins spent Thursday in
Robersonville,
James Edwin Harrell has re
turned from a visit of two weeks
to Philadelphia.
Mrs. F L. Gladstone and Miss
Fannie Gladstone left Friday to
spend some time in Tarboro.
Dr. Serde Purvis is spending
some time with his mother.
N. W. Myers and brother of
Coltrain, are (-Visiting B. F.
Myers.
; , Prof. C, J. Whitley left Fri
' day for Columbia, S. C-, where
he will' go in training.
Miss Addie Lee Grimes, jpf
Bethel, is the guest of Mrs; if, B
Haislip. '
Dr. and Mrs. John Davis and
daughter, of Bedford City, are
visiting Mrs. R. W. Salsbury.
Mrs. Asa Johnson left Saturday
to visit her sister in Suffolk.
Mr. and Mrs. John Davis and
children of Tarboro, visited their
daughter here this week.
r"" '
Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Peel, Mr.
and Mrs. Jesse Everett spent
Friday in Williamston.
R. G. Harrison has purchased
the Harrison residence lately oc
cupied by Mr. A. D. Mizell, and
will move there. Sheriff Page
! will move to the house where Mr
Harrison is now living.
si.oo a Year in Advance
The Fuel Situation
Perhaps, no other item of the
household expense gives mere con
cern at this season than that of
fuel, whether it be coal or wood.
In a land where wood is as plen
tiful as in this section, it should
not be among the listed high
priced articles, but it is and will
no doubt, remain so. Even if peo
ple are willing to pay the price,
the farmers are not anxious to
haul it, for thev claim that cut
ters are scarce. There is no doubt
that Williamston is the highest
priced wood market outside of a
city. If the coming winter is extre
mely cold, people will come very
near the suffering point unless
better means for* securing fuel
are provided. The size of the
town and the demand for wood,
opens up a good place for a .
wood and coal yard, where
a cutter could be installed.
Coal is high and a great many
people do not care to burn it,
preferring wood and heaters.
There should be some concerted
action to secure plenty of fuel for
the town ere the winter cornea
on.
The Time la At Hand
Bishop Lawrence has denied in
very simple and gallant wordi
that Americans are wedded to
ease or enthralled by money.
Their strength and their wealth
are at the service of the nation,
and they stand prepared to spend
for noble ends the accumulated
riches of the country.
God will not sell safety. In so
far as we are prepared to !ny
down our lives for justice and
humanity, in so far is our wel
fare secured.
The reduction of unnecessary
consumption is perhaps a matter
of taste. The discipline of action
and endurance is a stern necessi
ty.
The time for proving that we
coined money in no base spirit,
and that we hold it at no base
value, is at hand.
For our own sake, no less than
for the world's sake, this truth
must stand the test. Tne angel
who looked too long at Heaven's
golden pavement was flung into
Hell.—Agnes Repplier in the
Atlantic Monthly.
PERSONAL
Miss Mirian Stancill spent the
week end near Washington.
Miss Marv Cook has returned
from a visit to Robersonville.
i Mrs. J. H- Page and children
spent the week-end near Bethel.
Rev. C. H. Jordan spent Tues
day night in Jamesville.
: Mrs. John L. Hassell and Mrs-
James S. Rhodes have been in
Norfolk this week.
Miss Hilda Crawford left Sat
; for Bailey where she will teach
again this year.
Mrs A. D. Mizell, of Pink Hill
' attended the Union near here
Saturday and Sunday.
I Mrs. George M. Underwood,
!of Norfolk, was a visitors in
town Monday,
r Elder Andrew J. Moore, of
Whitakers, attended the - Union
1 at Smithwick Creek Sunday.
William Baker and Robert Ad
kins, of Robersonville, were in
town Sunday.
Miss Bessie Wadsworth, who
has been the guest of Mrs. J. G.
[ Godard, left Tuesday for her
, home in Greenville.
I Mr. and Mrs. John W Mann
! ing and Mr. and Mrs. Eason
' Li 1 ley motored to Rocky Mount
Wednesday to attend the fair.