MS IMC CIRCQUmON Or ALL OTHER FfWV&Hi THE COQNTT
VOL XIX. NO 24.
THE GREAT COMMONER
I
Hon. William Jennings Bryan Was
the Guest of the Home Guards
Saturday-A Large Crowd Greet
ed Him Enthusiastically-Made
Splendid Address.
Saturday was a memorable
day in Williamston for William
Jennings Br van. 'The Great Com
moner," visited *he town and
spoke to a representative au
dience in the Brick Warehouse.
The previous day had been rainv
and consequently the roads,
which are known as "good"
were correspondingly bad, and
this fact kept manv folks at
home, who otherwise would
have come to hear the foremost
American after Woodrow Wil
son. The business houses and
workshops closed here during
the time Mr Bryan was in the
town.
The Home Guards, under
whose auspices, he came, had
prepared the warehouse for the
comfortable seating of the peo
ple, and the stage was decorat
ed with Hags and the National
colors. The band which belongs
to the Guards and is composed
of Robersonville boys and men,
enlivened the occasion with
stirring strains. Captain W, C.
Manning and W. R. Burrell went
to meet Mr. Bryan, who was de
layed by the lateness of trains,
and so it was after three o'clock
when he arrived But the assem
bled hundreds waited patiently
for his coming, and arose when
he appeared to welcome him to
the town and county. After the
singing of "America" led by
the band, Chaplain Burrell in a
few choice words presented Mr.
Bryan to the audience.
Following his custom during
these lecturing touVs, he spoke
for twenty-five minutes on the
relation of the people of America
to the great world-war which is
deluging Europe with blood. He
pleaded for the support of tho
people to Woodrow Wilson and
every branch of the government,
and made an eloquent" appeal fur
the sale of Liberty Loan Bonds.
After this he announced the sub
ject of his lecture--"The Making
of a Man." The attentiveness of
the audience was most marked
throughout the delivery of his
splendid appeal for the building
of character physically, mentally
and morally. He dwelt largely on
the truth that religion is the
foundation of every moral code,
and that the proper training of
the child was necessary for the
making of the man who was an
integral part of the great Amer
ican Nation.
It is needless to emphasize the
fact that Mr. Bryan is a great
orator-- the world has given that
title years aso; but his limited
time here forced him to mode
rate his speech, as he desired to
leave on the five o'clock train
for Greenville. Many shook hands
with him in the hall and at the
depot, and waited to see the
train leave with him aboard. As
the Gteenville train was 45 min-|
utes late at Parmele, he yielded
to the wishes oi the people there
and talked to them from the
rear- end of the car.
Williamston and Martin County
were pleased and honored to
have this statesman and orator
visit them, and his words of wis
dom will dwell in the hearts of
the people, and it is hoped, bring
forth good fruit
Messrs. R J. and Wilmer
House, and T. W. Davenport, of
Oak City, were in town Tuesday
. on business-
TtiE ENTERPRISE
Selectmen Leave For Camps
On Friday morning of list
' week, eight white selectmen le!t
for Camp Jackson; the roll was
as follows:
William Eason Price,- Kelly
Lorenzo Rawls, Sam Stewart
Hardison, George Gordon Bailey.
Lonnie C. Gardner, Albert Q.
Roebuck, Simon Peter Harrison.
Robert L Coburn.
On the next day (Saturday)
thirty colored men left for Camp
Grant, Rockford, 111 These were:
Ennis Moore, Mitchell Moore,
Ollie Stokes, Lester Williams,
Gus Wilson. Charles Evans,
Alexander Coburn, Goler Henry
Ormond, George Coburn, Paul
Clemons. Jesse Rascoe, Bruce
Gee, Dennis Simmons Wiggins,
Oscar Lewis, Ruffin Council, Sam
Mayo, Dawson Council, Frank
Cromwell, Cornelius Brown,
George Washington Griffin, Lu
ther Gordon, Robert Williams,
Norman Williams, Willie Barnes,
William Dowell Wilson, Rich
mond Johnson, Williwn H. Crom
well, Adolphus Whitaker, Wil
liam HasseU.
The following colored men left
Tuesday of this week for Camp
Jackson:
General Purvis, Williarp Gray,
Boss Peel, John Best, Shephanl
Rice, James Mark Highsmith,
Peter Harwell, Kd Moore, Claude
Wilson, Ernest Bell, Ashley
Muore, Bogiie Slade, Avery
Gibbs, Friendly Allen Mordecai
Purvii-Taylor
Miss Daisy Taylor and Mr.
Whit Purvis were married at
Camp Sevier, Greenville, S. C.,
on the 20th of April. Miss Tay
lor left here with her nephew,
Mr. Hermon Taylor, and went to
Gamp Sevier where Mr. Purvis
has been stationed for months
He volunteered in the early sum
mer of 19i7, arid joined the Na
tional Guards.
Mrs. Purvis is the daughter of
Mr. Eli Taylor and a young wo
man of varied charms. Mr. Pur
vis is the son of Mr. Julius H.
Purvis, and before volunteering
was with Saunders & Fowden
here, and is fine representative
of Martin County manhood.
Evangelistic Service
Rev. Walt Holcomb will com
mence a series of services at the
Brick Warehouse on Surriay
morning at 11 o'clock. The
churches in the town have com
bined to make this the greatest
meeting ever held in the town or
county. A choir of the best voices
in the town has been organized,
and Evangelist Holcomb will
bring with him, Mrs. Cunyus,
a soloist who has wonderful pow
ers of expression.
Everybody in the county and
adjoining counties are invited to
come and help make the meeting
great in its scope for usefulness:
there is work to be done* for the
uplift of every community, and
a united effort can largely accom
plish this work.
Come early and bring your
neighbors and friends.
Mrs. and Mrs. Roland Robert
son and children and Mrs. Flor
ence Peel returned to Suffolk
Monday.
Notice
Home Guards monthly drill
wiil be at 2 p. m. Monday May,
6th, instead of Ist Tuesday as
formerly announced.
W. C, Manning.
Robert Salsbury, of Hassell,
was in town Sunday.
Come to the National Highway
meeting Monday, ask your neigh
bors to come.
WTI.LIAMSTON. N C.. FRIDAY MAY 3. 1918.
Hon. Tasker Polk Here
Hon. Tasker Polk, of Warren-]
ton. spoke :\* the Brick Ware- j
house Wednesday night for the |
Third Libe-ty Loan Bond issue.
His analysis of the planting of
the presefit war germ by Bis •
mark more than fifty years ago,
and the following up of his
teachings and policies by the pre
sent despotic and diabolical ruler,
the Emperor, the "K," was
very clear and interesting His
explanation of the Archduke of
Austria's summer rest of 1914 on
territory robbed from Serbia so
enraged an unbalanced Serbian
student that he fired the fatal shot
that caused Germany to jump
at the throat of all her peaceful
and unpared neighbors, which
has caused the death every day
for over three years of seven
thouvsnd human souls, was true
to the point
He showed the duty of all
America to stand square to the
Democratic Liberty bequeathed
to us by the blood of our fathers.
One of the most interesting
things in the speech of Mr. Polk
was his proof that every dollar
in America was of draft age,
and subject to be called at any
time, and how much better it is
to lend your money to *he gov
ernment at a rate of interest
than to bear such heavy burdens'
of taxation.
At the close of the speech
about $4,500 in Bonds were sold,
though WjHiamston had already
exceeded its apportionment by
25 per cent. The speech was pro
nounced one of the best ever
j heard in Williamston.
Mr. btephen Ewell Dead
Death came suddenly to Mr.
Stephen Ewell on Tuesday even
Jing April 30th at his home in
Hamilton For some time, he had
suffered with chronic nephritis,
and for several days the end
seemed near On Tuesday even
ing about 11.o'clock, his wife
who was taring for him, made
him as comfortable as possible;
and in a idiort while, she
went to him and found that
the soul had taken its eterr al
fligh*. For days he had not been
able to lie down, owing to a weak
heart caused by the disease.
Mr. Ewell was born near
Williamston and was the noprtew
of the lale Joshua L. Ewell, and
wa-i sixtv years old. Years ag O
he married MissSallie Watts, the
half-sister of Mr. J. W. Watts,
and she with one son survive
him. Mrs. Ewell has been post
mistress at Hamilton for a num
ber of years.
Thursday afternoon, the fun
eral services were conducted by
Rev. C. H. Jordan, and tl»e inter
ment was in the family cemetery
Colored People LoyaL
It is gratifying to state that
of the 127 colored drafted men
of Martin County called to re
port for military duty within the
past thirty days to fill calls for
entrainment to Camp Grant and
Camp Jackson, every man an
swered to the roll call except
three and two of those who did
not report were sick and the
other man did not get his mail.
The Local Board was able to fill
the calls with all ease.
The colored people of William
ston are to be commended for
the hospitable manner in which
they entertained the men while
in town, and proved themselves
loyal and patriotic citizens.
J. L. HasseU,
Member Local Board.
Mrs.# Myrt Harris went to
Rocky Mount Sunday.
Houor F'ag Towns.
Among the towns and coun
ties on the list of "Honor Flag"
Towps, Cities and Counties,
Martin County is only entitled to ;
one entry -lhat of Oak City
This is pleasing to know that, a:
least, one place in the county
has done its duty to that limit
which was asked, The list is fi
nished up to 3:00 p. m. on April
23rd- By now other towns in the
coulty have gone "over the
top" in the sale of Liberty Loan
Bonds. If not, why not?. There
is plenty of money in the county,
if bank statements stand for an v
thing, and truly the people are
patriotic enough to help win the
war for US. There are only a
few days remaining for the
I'Third Liberty Loan." While
there is time, arrange with your
banker to get a Bond or Bonds
for you. It is the safest invest
ment in the world, and is a mor
tgage on the richest country in
the universe. Take along with
the Bonds, some W. S. S. for
the little folks and teach them to
save fftr themselves.
Rally For The Highway.
Again the attention of the!
citiiens of Martin County is call
ed to the rally here on Monday
next, May oth. Col. Benehan
Cameron, Mr. Fallis, an engi
neer and Hon. Oscar Everett, of
Durham, who is a son of the
county, will be here to appear
before the Board of Commission
ers and to make addresses on the
subject of securing the Bank
head Highway through th-
cpunty. This is one of the great
est things that Martin h;is had
put before it, and the opportu i
ty is now. With government aid
in ,-ight and a few thousands o''
dollars from the county, this
splendid highway may be secur
ed, and become a link between
th> Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Tie ic are lew greater needs he
fore the people today than good
1 highways: th>y bring the people
of different sections- closer to
'her and in this h»>nr r »f trhd,
form a route over which war
supplies can be hastened.
let everybody come to this
m »\ing next Monday.
Got The Bear Meat.
B^ar'tracks were seen on the
Suton farm near here, and th"
11 •■ xt day, the animal went to th
h >use of a colored family at
Robersonville, and lost, his hi
appearing in public. A bull
dog chased his bearship up a
tree, from which he tumbled be
cause of the quantity of lead
which was sent into his body. In
the fight after the tree-climbing,
some negroew beat him to death
with their Runs, after having
; used up all the ammunition in
j sight. The meat was offered for
sale in the Robersonville market,
but hear steak and roast are not
popular in this part of the world.
Will Install New Board
The Williamston Telophone
Company has just received a new
Kellogg switchboard which re
quires two operators. It will be
installed in a few days, and the
patrons of the Company can be
Sjven better service than form
erly, as it is modernly equipped
in every particular. With 400
subscribers, the work has been
very heavy but the new arrange
ment will lighten the burden of
the operators and render more
efficient service
Mra. Wheeler Martin, Jr., is
visiting Mrs. I. M. Meekins at
Elizabeth City this week.
The Water Question Again j
\.
As the hot months approach, j
one begins to think of pure, good,!
water for drinking. Though there
are plenty of wells in Williams :
ton for the private individual, 1
very little attention is paid to the I
public places. Good water can be 1
secured here, but so much money 5
is paid for other things, that the i
vital questions are left unsolved I
In an recent article by a
visitor to the town,- he states ;
that Williamston attempted to I
secure a well at a Co3t of 53,000 1
Eviiently he wa« writing about
the expensive hole with neat
house over it which stands on '
Smithwick Street near Main at '
the Godard Building Every citi- '
zen knows that at one time this 1
well was one of the greatest con-
veniences that the town had; 1
everybody in the business section
used 11 In the desire to get an
overflow (something impossible
except below the river hill),
the well was ruined by a man
who was allowed to pocket SSOO
of the people's good money and
vampoose. However, this well
could be made to furnish good
( water at a small expense, if only
the town officials would think the
j matter over. The people in the
vicinity need the well, and
as they are taxpayers, they de
serve some consideration. Let's
have some more water out of the
$3,000 well.-
Honor Roll For April
The following pupils were on
the Honor Roll of the Graded
School for the month of April.
No rull for the first and second
grades on account of absences:
Third Grade
Lueile Hasseli, Evelyn Harri
son, Martha Leggett, Charles
Peele. Trulah Ward Page, Pearl
Stokes.
Fourth Grade
Laura Orleans, tj
.Manning, Bill Harrison, Sar;.;>
, B. L"ggett.
Fifth 'lr ido
Mit tie Broun, Puttie Harris,
William Hodges, George Han is,
Bryant Curstarphen, Vel na Har
rison.
Sixth Grade
5 Minnie Robertson, Esther Har
rison. Einma Belle Harris,
Toeli.ia Brown, Mary Leggett.
Seventh Grade
Beatrice Burrell, Mary Gladys
Watt.-;, Ethel Harris.
High School
Satali Harrell, Mattie Lou An
derson, Estelle Crawford, Nellie
I Wynne, Ethel Griffin, Louise
Robertson.
\ Mr. I. H. Little Dead.
1 The death of Mr. I. H. Little
occured at his home in Rober
sonville on Wednesday. Blood
poisoning was the cause of his
death. He was one of the promi
nent men of the county, and a
member of the Masonic frater
nity. His wife, who was a sister
of the late Mrs. George W.
Blount, died more than a year
ago. He leaves several children.
The funeral occured Thursday,
and Masons from Williamston
went up to assist in the cere
mony of the Order.
Notice To Subscribers.
The Exchange of the William
ston Telephone Company at Wil- 1
liamston will be closed beginn- 1
ing at 10 o'clock Saturday night !
until 5:30 Sunday afternoon, '
new time. This is done for the
purpose of installing a new '
switchboard.
Miss Lillie Dixon, who has
been visit'ng her sister Mrs. J.
W. Mallard, left this morning
for Wilmington.
si.oo a Year in Advance
Now Give.
The people of the United
States are investing: in Bonds to
carry on the war: these Bonds
art 1 the safest in the world. As
an investment they are gilt-edge,
for every foot of land and every
piece of property in the United
States are back of them. They
are indeed the "first mortgage."
But the people are not only ask
ed to invest, but they must (jive
also. The Red Cross campaign
for its War Fund iB beginning,
and the people must give to this.
What it means to our soldiers in
camp and on the battlefield is
well-known. War is horrible, bat
without the Red Cross workers
with their supplies, what would
it be? Now that we have invest
ed, we must give, and give abun
dantly for somebody's boy will
need help and comfort. When
you are approached by the cam
paigners. do not turn away, but
put your hand in your pocket
ami give.
The People Complain.
To one who has noticed, there
have been old houses in th* pro
cess of being moved through the
principal streets of the town for
the past year. And instead of
moving as quickiy as possitde,
these old delapidated buildings
are left in the streets to hinder
traffic and to mar rhe appearance
of the town. Why this is flow
ed, no one seems to understand,
but the citizens complain, and
rightly so. The old Pope hmise
was left, in front of the Farmers
Warehouse for day- with om • a
narrow passageway for veineles
and Saturday when a large c >wd
of visitors was in t'>»vn f,> bear
Bryan, that old derelict was
right there in lil'ty yards he
place where the rr> vd assembl
ed. Then accidents :ir • j>i ;.■> oc
cur as the street 11 in-.
til-re a;i..v.i.. I'.i .li
y.eiis will oe glad ",'.i "i ev - >! 1
thing is moseyed along t!r.>-igh
the streets until thee.' i; nothing
remaining.
Building V..ts
Or J. S. O'flaiv i; in town
■ this week from I'lymo th. where
he is residing now 11-- f ited
that he had 20 vats in of
erection or planned in W.i-.i.ing
; ton County, and ili• • tick ta i-t go
in a short time. T-ie })■";) of
Martin County built a nwmf.r of
. these vats but not enough yet.
i Louisiana made a record for clean
i up ticks, having 'JOO,
(X) 0 cattle during March; 813 vats
were built during that month
also This is going at the business
and North Carolina can do as
J well and needs to do it Consult
Dr. O'Hare about buildiug a vat
' and improve your own cows and
1 calves by ridding them of ticks.
Never has there been a greater
■ need for beef cattle, milk and
butter, and ti:*ky cattle are not
good for either product.
More Bonds Purchased.
This week, Rev. VV. R. Bur
rell spoke at Poplar Point Town
ship on Third Liberty Loan
Bonds" and the sale of Bonds
amounted to $16,000 that even
ing. This was a splendid show
ing. and evidenced the fact that
one has only to understand the
needs of the govei nment to en
liat in the campaign to swat the
Kaiser. Many more Bonds have
been sold and later a report will
be filed.
Harry A. Biggs, who was op
erated on for appendicitis at Ry
Mount recently, returned home
accompanied by his mother on
Wednesday afternoon.