THE ENTERPRISE
Advertisers WW rimi Ou Cai
umoi a Latchkey to Over l.SM
Homes of Martin County
VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 2 Williamston. Martin County. North Carolina. Tuesday. January 7.1936 ESTABLISHED 1899
FARMERS STUNNED BY AAA DECISION
Commissioners Vote Installation
Of Traffic Lights on Streets Here
Town Board Adopts
Suggestions by Club
Women's Committee
Plan Ordinance To Stop the
Sale of Vegetables and
Fruits From Trucks
Williams ton, at the suggestion of
the local Woman's Club American
Citizenship and Civic Committee,
planned to shed its small town
clothes, dress up in big city style
and throw blaring crinks into Main
Street traffic by ordering four stub
bom traffic or plain old nuisance
signs placed on the corners of Haugh
ton and Main, Smithwick and Main,
end Watts and Main Streets and at
the Atlantic Hotel corner on Wash
ington and Main. The ever-present
danger at the outlet of the narrow
street next to the post office or Bal
timore Street, was pointed out, but
the several hundred dollars' cost for
installing the nuisances at the other
comers made a fifth light a thing out
of the question just now. Possibly
later on a few more of the dumb
things can be strewn between the
blocks to accommodate the safety of
those wishing to cross the streets at
convenient points.
The whole system is recognized as |
purely mechanical, and gained life |
on the violation of the speed laws.
In other words, the lights will slow
down traffic on Main Street to a
standstill, while empty side streets
stare the motorists in the face three
fourths of the time. Another prob
able result will be the encourage
ment of the practice of racing be
tween intersections to "catch" a
green light before it turns red.
The cost is being investigated, but
whatever the cost, the authorities
have ruled to have the lights in
stalled, regardless of whether or not
the killing of the three AAA's re
duces traffic to the point yhere grass
will push through the pavement on
all the streets.
In further promoting safety, the
club committee suggested that stop
signs be placed on Church Street at
the Smithwick intersection, giving
traffic on the last-named street the
right-of-way. The authorities ap
proved that, and leaped ahead of
the club group by ordering similar
signs placed on Church Street at
the Haugh ton intersection.
The deplorable sewer and sanita
tion condition existing despite the
town's costly system, was mentioned
by the club in its request to "Put
proper sewerage on Railroad Street,
between Haughton and Elm Streets,
and on all other streets where need
ed."
The "report" carried the names of
Fannie Chase Staton, chairman;
Grace Moseley, vice chairman; Bon
ner Gurfanui His, Annie Fagan
Biggs, Vella Andrews Wynne, Car
rie Alexander Rhodes, Martha Har
rison Coburn, Mary Morton Andrews
and Allie Hadley Rose.
Action on the request for proper
sewerage facilities was delayed un
til such a time as the town is finan
cially able to meet the cost. ,
?he regular meeting of the board,
lasting well over an hour, was in an
agreeable mood last evening, and
ordered tile placed in drain ditches
crossing the lot of Mrs. Emma
Thompson on West Main and the lot
of D. G. Matthews on Park Street
in New Town. Mrs. Thompson is
building a home on the lot just this
side of the late Reuben H. Harris
home, and Mr. Matthews is planning
the construction of one on Park
Street next to the Chesson home.
A renewed effort was advanced to
stop the paddling and sale of vege
tables and fruits from trucks, the
board directing the mayor to draft
an ordinance designed to stop a
practice that has proven unfair to
local merchants and others in past
years. The ordinance, it is under
, will be designed so as to make
awful the display of any goods
on sidearalks or streets
The board also proposed to make
the alleyway leading from the back
lots to Church Street near the
Crockett and Barnes home a one
way thoroughfare.
The last of the street lights allot
ted the town by the power company
will be placed on Marshall Avenue,
Local Patrolmen Have Made
28A wests for Using Old Tags
Thirteen automobile owners were:
arrested in this and Bertie Counties
last Friday and Sunday by Patrol-!
n>en Hunt and Stewart for not dis- j
playing new 193S license plates on
their machines. Most of them were
in Bertie County, and in court at
Windsor Monday the alleged violat
ors were fined $10 and taxed with
the costs Judgment was suspended
upon payment of the cost in the oth
er cases handled in this county.
So far there have been 28 arrests
in this section for the alleged use of]
improper licenses, but the number is
dwindling rapidly. Patrolman Geo.
Stewart rode 145 miles on the main
highways of this. Bertie and Wash
ington Counties Sunday and did not
see a single old license plate. "There
may be a few old Dlate? in those sec
tions where the roads are not hard
surfaced, and we plan to visit those
areas just as soon as we can," a
member of the patrol remarked.
Most of the eight arrests last Sunday
were made in the strictly rural sec
tions of Bertie, it was learned.
Commissioners Take
Up Relief Problems
NOW WHAT? 1(
. *
Approximately 1,500 new to
bacco contracts are bring de
livered in Raleigh this week by
Agents Brandon and Barnes for
farmers in this county. The num
ber represents about 90 per cent
of the growers, leaving about 20
farmers who, for one reason or
another, are not participating in
the program, It was stated. More
than half of the 20 non-particiO
pa ting growers are considering
signing, it was pointed out, how
ever. ~
Several of the growers failing
to sign pointed out that appar
ently it would be to their dis
advantage to participate in the
program, and that they would
risk their fate on the outside this
year.
F. H. A. FIELD MAN
TO BE IN COUNTY
ON NEXT FRIDAY
Applicants Urged To See
J. H. McMullan In the
County Courthouse
Dispensing with the local office
force a few days ago, Field Repre
sentative J. H. McMullan of the
Federal Housing Administration will
be in the county courthouse Friday
of this week to see all those persons
who have applied for FHA loans and
those who wish to make applications
it was announced by the county
chairman today. "We have not
withdrawn from this territory," an
official of the administration said
this week, "and we are really mak
ing arrangements to do something,"
he added.
All those who have filed applica
tions for loans, and it is understood
that many have applied, are urged
to see Mr. McMullan at the court
house in the old grand jury room,
on Friday of this week. The repre
sentative plans to be in the court
house all that day, and possibly a
part of Saturday, if necessary. Any
others wishing to apply for loans are
advised to file their applications at
that time with Mr. McMullan.
It is understood that the housing
administration is making commit
ments wherever they are justified,
and it is hoped that the several ap
plications filed by prospective build
ers in this county will receive at
tention shortly.
The housing situation here con- j
tinues acute, reports today stating
that at least two familTes had to sur
render their homes and had no place
to store their furniture or even a
room to sleep in. _
Plan Radio Broadcast lor
Local Firm Tomorrow J
In cooperation with the Williams
ton Hardware company, the distribu
tors of Benjamin Moore paints are
starting a series of broadcasts over
station WPTF, Raleigh, at 11:30 to
morrow morning, Mr. J. C. Ander
son, manager of the local firm an
nounced this morning.
Adjourned Meeting
Is Resumed Today;
Many Appeals Made
Board Recognizes Problem
As Big One, But Delay
Action Until Today
After discussing several problems
and listening to many pitiful pleas
for aid from the needy, the Martin
County Board of Commissioners re
cessed at 1 o'clock yesterday after
noon without taking final action in
any of the matters. The meeting ad
journed and was resumed this morn
ing, giving the board members an
opportunity to attend the last rites
for Mr. Edward James in Roberson
ville Monday afternoon.
The relief situation loomed again
this morning as the big problem be
fore the meeting, but a report on
the board activities was not avail
able at noon today. At no time in
the history of the county have the
demands for relief been more ur
gent. The authorities, while sympa
thetic, are finding it difficult to meet
the numerous requests, but individ
ual opinion had it yesterday after
noon that all possible would be done
for the less fortunate.
Requests were before the board
from more than 50 dependents,
some of the pleas being more than
pitiful. One man, 85 years old and
unable to appear in person, wrote:
"l apply to you gentlemen for help,
as I'm hungry and naked. Please
consider me as yourself. I was born
in 1850 and I've always lived loyal
My record is in your house. If you
f lease. Whatsoever you will, it's ap
preciated/' Conditions even more
pitiful were described in person be
fore the commissioners. Anxious
souls awaited action overnight, and
were back in the courthouse this
morning, their very lives resting
with the commissioners. Even with
a liberal response by the commis
sioners, the situation will not and
cannot be relieved, throwing some
response, probably greater than
many relize, on the charity of each
of us. Conditions call for action,
and action now.
Liquor Sales Reacli
Peak I^ast Month
Liquor gales in the four A. B. C.
stores in this county reached a peak
last month, when nearly $14,000
worth of the spirits were sold, the
output nearly doubling that for any
other month since the stores were
opened last July.
The greatest increase and the larg
est sales were reported by the Wil
liamston store with sales amounting
to $7,173.30. Nearly $1,000 worth of
liquor was sold by the store the day
before Christmas. Robersonville,
with sales totaling $3,709.50, was sec
ond. Oak City reported sales amount
ing to $1,630.50, and at Jamesville
the sales totaled $1,468.85, making a
grand total of $13,982.15.
Profits for the period ore not
known, but they will be determined
by an audit within the next few
days, Board Chairman Sptvey an
nounced.
2 YOUNG WOMEN
SERIOUSLY HURT
IN CAR ACCIDENT
Misses Helen Johnson and
Louise Council Victims
Truck-Car Wreck
1
Miss Helen Johnson, pretty young
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eld John
son, of Oak City, lies seriously in
jured in a Tarboro hospital, and
Miss Louise Council, daughter of
Mrs. Oscar Council, also of Oak City,
is in a Rocky Mount hospital with
a crushed hip and head injuries, as
a result of an automobile-truck
! wreck near Hobgood last Sunday
afternoon about 5 o'clock. Miss Cau
dell Daniel, a third party in the car
driven by Miss Johnson, was
ibruised and shocked, but her in
! juries are not serious.
Miss Johnson, sister of Miss Mar
jorie Johnson, who was killed in an
automobile accident year before last
near Gold Point, was not expected
to live when she was entered in the
Tarboro institution, hut later reports j
stated that the condition hud slight
ly improved. The nature of her in
juries could not be learned.
According to reports reaching
here. Miss Johnson, driving a Ford
|V-8 toward Hobgood, started to pass
a truck traveling in the same direc
tion. She either lost control of the
I car or started to turn back to her
sijie of the road too hurriedly and
the right rear fender of the car
struck the left front fender of the
truck The contact threw the car
! sideways and directly into the path
jo fthe truck, which carried it over
jirto a ditch on the right side of the
j road, the machines stopping with
part of the car resting on the truck
engine. The left door of the car flew
open and caught Miss Johnson under
it, and she remained in that position
until help could be sumoned from
Hobgood more than a mile away
She was removed about 15 minutes
later and carried to the hospital.
After first-aid treatment in the of
fices of Drs Rhodes and Eason in
Williamston, Miss Council was car
ried to a Rocky Mount hospital,
where she was reported today to be
getting along as well as could be
expected.
Occupants of the truck, a man,
woman and child whose identity
could not be learned, were not hurt.
The truck, loaded with furniture,
was traveling from Bath to Weldon.
Very little damage was done eith
er to the truck or the car, it was
said.
White Schools of
County Resume
Work Thursday
Condition of Roads Might
Cause Another Delay
In Opening of Plants
No change in plans for reopening
tile white schools in this county next
Thursday was being considered by
authorities today, but the county
superintendent pointed out that an
other delay would be ordered if the
condition of the roads would not
permit the general operation of the
busses at that time Reports from
various sections of the county today
indicated that some of the roads
were still in bad condition, but with
weather any way favorable during
Wednesday and Thursday, traffic
could be handled without great dif
ficulty. At any rate, if the roads get
no worse than they now are, the
schools will reopen Thursday of this
week, it was said.
The plants, closing for the Christ
mas holidays on the 20th of last
month, were scheduled to reopen
Monday of this week, but bad weath
er and the condition of the roads
made a postponement advisable.
Must File Tickets for. Gas
Refund Before January 15
Operators of peanut pickers will
flr.d it to their advantage to send in
their gasoline purchase tickets on
or before the 19th of this month, as
no tax refund will be made after
that date, Mr. O. H. Harrison, of the
Harrison Oil Company, said today
The refund runs around 9 cents a
gallon on gasoline, which makes it
important for peanut picker oper
ators to get their tickets in to sub
stantiate the claims.
Supreme Court Declares
Entire Structure Invalid
Warren Says Congress Must
Devise Substitute Legislation
That the downfall of the Agricul
tural Adjustment Act will command
attention in Congress, possibly for
months to come was made quite cer
tain on Monday shortly after the
ruling reached the ears of the law
makers.
Representative Lindsay C. Warren
was the first member of either
branch of Congress to take the floor
after the decision was known. His
remarks, as officially reported, fol
low:
Mr. Warren: "Mr Speaker, the Su
preme Court of the United States
ha* ^list handed down its opinion
declaring the Agricultural Adjust
ment Act to be unconstitutional
(applause). I would like for it to
be noted that the applause comes
entirely from the Republican side of
the House.
"This decision of the court will be
received with consternation and a
mazement by millions of farmers
throughout the this land who have
been benefited by the first construc
tive program that any Congress or
any administrtion has ever propos
ed in their behalf (applause). It
comes to them as a sickening and
deadly blow.
"Regardless of court opinions. Mr.
Speaker, I believe there are enough
members of the present Congress,
who are deeply interested in the
welfare of the American farmer,
that they will keep this Congress in
session until Christmas, if necessary,
to write upon the statute books
legislation that will repair this dam
age. The farmers of the nation will
never return to the economic salv
ery that existed prior to 1933. (ap
j plause)."
LIME EXTENDED
FOR DELIVERING
PEANUTS TO MILL
Effect" AAA Ruling Will
Have on Plan Cannot
Be Learned Here
Peanut growers with contracts
have been granted an extension of
time to divert a part or all of their
1935 crop by delivering their crop to
oil mills, according to advice from
State agricultural authorities to the
office of the county agent this week.
Under the new ruling, contract grow
ers may deliver peanuts to the oil
mills as late as January 15, the pre
vious time limit being placed on De
cember 31.
Activities on the local markets will
largely determine the amount of de
liveries to the oil mills during the
few remaining days that farmers
will be allowed to divert any or all
of their peanut crops. If the open
market price ranges around 3 rents,
few deliveries to the oil mills is ex
pected. During the past few days,
the local markets have been strong
er, it is understood, and it is likely
that the prices will hold up as long
as the diversion offer remains open.
The Southcin Cotton Oil Company
at Hertford and Weldon; the Sapona
Cotton Oil Mill at Sanford; the
Farmville Cotton Oil Mill at Farm
ville; and several others are inter
ested in crushing peanuts, the au
thorities pointing out that deliveries
made to the crushers will take pea
nuts out of the competitive market,
and should boost the open price.
Farmers planning to make deliv
eries to the mills will be aided by
the office of the county agent in get
ting proper forms guaranteeing the
grower $20 a ton, the amount of the
diversion payment.
Authentic reports on diversion ac
tivities by farmers in this county arc
not available just now, but at one
time many growers were making ar
rangements to deliver a portion or
all of their crop to the crushers.
This offer is a part of the peanut
diversion plan designed to remove
sifrplus peanuts from the normal
channels of trade and divert them
into the manufacture of peanut oil
The objective of this plan is to main
tain a minimum price of $62 50 a
ton to growers for Virginia type pea
nuts of 65 per cent sound meat con
tent, with proportionately higher
prices for peanuts of higher meat
content and proportionately lower
prices for peanuts of lower meat
content.
One Contagious Disease
Case Repotted in County
Health conditiqna in Martin Cour
ty were still riding out in Decern be
the board of health office reportin
only one communicable disease cat
during the period. Only one cat
was reported the month before,
will be remembered.
One cas* of scarlet fever was ri
ported last month, and that was I
Williamston Township.
HIGH WATER
The highest water in the Roa
noke since December 8, 1934, is
expected at this point about
Sunday, the local weather sta
tion anounced this morning.
Warnings have been issued to
owners advising the to remove
any stock they may have in the
lowgrounds at once, Hugh
Spruill stating that the river
would overflow its banks by
three or three and one-half feet
the latter part of the week.
During the past 24 hours a
three-inch rise in the stream
was reported, Mr. Spruill stat
ing that the river would rise
possibly as much as 12 inches
In that length of time about Fri
day or Saturday.
EDWARD JAMES
DEATH SUNDAY
SHOCKS FRIENDS
Funeral Services Conducted
In Primitive Baptist
Church Monday
Edward James, prominent county
citizen, died in a Rocky Mount hos
pital Sunday m<|ning at 9:15 o'
clock, fololwing a long period of de
clining health. He had spent some
time in a Richmond hospital several
weeks ago for treatment of some
stomach ailment, but returned home
just before Christmas, his condition
reported much improved at that
time. He was able to be out until
a few days ago and was taken sud
denly worse and entered in the hos
pital at Rocky Mount Saturday und
died a few hours later.
Sixty-four years old, Mr. James
was the son of the late Ameleck und
Polly James. Born near Everetts,
he spent his early life on the farm,
later locating in Robersonville. He
had always taken an active part in
public affairs, and was a vigorous
advocate of the principles of the
Democratic party. For many years
he was connected with the State
Revenue department as collector, re
signing that job several years ago
on acount of failing health. Since
that time he interested himself in
the operation of his farms. He was
widely known over this section for
his consideration of others, and al
ways proved himself a valuable
friend to his fellowman.
Funeral services were conducted
from the Primitive Baptist church
in Robersonville yesterday afternoon
at 2:30 o'clock by Elder B. S. Cowin,
and Interment followed in the Rob
ersonville Cemetery, the Stonewall
Masonic Lode ??mbers conducting
the last rites at the grave.
Besides Mrs. James, he is survived
by the following children: Mrs. GSe
neva Weaver, Jesse and Everett
James. He also leaves three sisters,
Mrs Mary Everett, Mrs. Oscar Dan
iel and Mrs. Patty Faulkner, and two
brothers, W. A. James, of
Wllliamston, and Neal James, of
Everetts.
Bitter Dt Miuneiatioii
Of Court Kings from
Farmers in Seetion
Unlimited Production Can
Cause 8-cent Tobacco
And 5-cent Cotton
I The Agricultural Adjustment Ad
minsitration. the agency that has
brought a renewed hope t > de
pressed farmers* over the nation
'since 1933, was declared unconsti
tutional in its entirety by the.United
States Supreme Court yesterday by
a vote of six to three The decision,
while its ultimate effects are not now
to be known, comes us a rebuke and
slap in the fac ? of the dirt farmer 4
'but one that brought expressions of
happiness from textile interests and
corporate wealth in general
As the decision is understood here,
all efforts made by the present ad
ministration have been rendered use *
less. The 1,500 tobacco contracts
from this county are being carried to
Raleigh today, but it is likely they
will be brought back for the Kerr-.
1 Smith bill was not in keeping with
the age-old constitution, the court
ruled. The cotton act is no good, and
| the potato barons who have profited
I much at the expense of the lowly.
? farmer now have free reign again,
jit is understood. State's rights have
i been upheld ut the expense of the
tillers of the soil. The action by the
court likely means unlimited produc
lion and consequent 5-cent cotton
and 8-cent tobacco unless something
is done, agricultural leaders stated
The court ruling Was so far-reach
ing that even the premises upon
which the farmer found hope were
declared invalid.
While the farmers of this little
community received the news of the
century with shock, few realized the
iserious ness of the situation Those
few were pessimistic, however, and
the others did not know what to say
or think when the ruling reached
j them Some of those disgruntled
for one cause or an^fier with the
activities of the AAA expressed
themselves heartily in favor of any
movement to continue the program
oi adopt another. A united front
wus evident on the streets for the
present administration and hot at
tacks were directed against the six
supreme court justices who, the
farmers believe, favored the wealth
of the nation rather than the masses
Individual responses to the ruling
were heard here in great numbers,
and while they variec- in text, all
showed bitter disappointment with
one or tfto exceptions.
"I started to buy a farm just three
days ago, but the owner would not
sell Now I wouldn't give 30 cents
for it,' one farmer remarked.
"Apparently it is the beginning of
the end," another farmer said.
"I am trying to sell everything on
my farm just as fast us I can," still
another farmer said when he visited
the local peanut market yesterday.
The market was uncertain at this
point, and buyers did not know what
to do. With unlimited production
possible this year, a diop in peanut
prices is in order, one man rea
soned.
At the courtliouse here, AAA em
ployees, uncertain of their salaries,
continued at their posts awaiting or
ders from Raleigh. Just what the
outcome will be no one seems to
know, for there is much confusion
Hut in it all there is probably
some hope as expressed by Con
gressman Lindsay Warren when he
said that he hoped Congress would
stay in session until some remedy
was found, even if it was until next
Christmas. Probably at no time in
the history of this country are the
eyes of the farmer turned more
eagerly to the law makers and to
the administration, pleading that
their rights be preserved.
Highly Respected Colored
Man Dies at Home Here
Ed Johnaon, aged colored man and
highly respected citizen, died at hia
home here last Saturday night fol
lowing a long Illness. He suffered
much with rheumatism. Funeral
services were conducted yesterday
afternoon.