THE ENTERPRISE
? V
VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 54 Williamston. Martin County. North Carolina. ,Tuesday. July 7. 1936 * ESTABLISHED 1899
POINTS OUT LACK
OF RECREATION
FACILITIES HERE
Situation Is Challenge To
" Every Citizen In This
.. County
By MISS MARGARET OWENS
(Martin County Child Welfare
Worker)
Vacation time is here?the schools
have closed their doors. Our chil
dren, strong, healthy, normal boys
and girls have two months on their
Kajids?for what? To pass the warm
summer days with activities which
will keep them strong and prepare
them for the future. Every child
has a right to all the play, fun and
happiness he can crowd liilo his
life. We are thinking of commun
ity factilities and resources that of
fer the children of our county an
outlet for his bubbling energy and
his zest for life. The situation in
this town is a challenge to every cit
izen. To be sure, many parents
will give their children the advan
tage of the beach, mountains and
various camps over the state. Many
cannot afford to do this so their
children will have to remain with
in the confines of our community.
Every day we sec them by the doz
ens on the streets with no place to
go.
We are thinking especially of
those children whose mothers have
to go out every day to earn their
daily bread?who are forced to
leave their children to the mercy
of their neighbors and friends. They
are exposed to the influence, good
and bad which characterizes every
community. Their homes have lit
tle to offer in the way of recrea
tion. They have no means of ex
ercising their minds and bodies?
they have no playgrounds where
hours may be spent in wholesome
activity?they have no swimming
pool where relief may be had from
the heat?they have no libraries
where the long summer mornings
may be passed, carrying them into'
lands of adventure and where
knowledge may be obtained. They
are handicapped in their opportuni
ties to develop the cooperative
spirit, the spirit of good sportsman
ship, the spirit of "give and take."
Hence, they wander away from
home, get into bad company, hang
around the stores, are tempted to
"beg for movie fare or aVdime to
buy candy''.
How much more wholesome our
community would be, how much
better society would be, how much
happier nnr children would be if
we devised ways and means for
the recreational needs of our chil
dren.
JThe writer had "" interesting ex
perience with a delinquent boy a
few days ago. He is twelve years
of age with a strong healthy body
and a face that beams with an air
of mischief. Due to lack of con
trol and poor facilities in the home
he stays on the streets, stays away
from home until late at night, has
become disobedient and wayward,
is given to fighting?has a lot of
energy which must be expended.
The writer took him to the coun
try to spend an afternoon in her
rounds contacting other children.
He enjoyed the ride, took an inter
est in the children of his race whom
he saw working in the fields, play
ing the great out-of-doors?in other
words, he had a good time. When
we arrived in Williamston he turn
ed to the writer and said, "If I had
some way to pass the time and some
thing else to do beside stay on the
streets, I wouldn't be such a bad
boy." And the writer agrees with
him. If he had the chance of play
ground activity he would curb his
delinquent tendencies.
This articles is not meant for
criticism but as a presentation of
the recreational needs for our chil
dren and a portrayal of facts as
they are. Let's face them and work
together in giving our children the
best opportunities possible. The
writerwisKes to continue this ar
ticle next week. ; ? "?
Brief Meeting Held
By Town Board
Very little business cam* before
the regular meeting of the town
commissioners here last evening,
and the officials completed their
work and adjourned in less than an
hour.
The American Legion post sent a
representative to the meeting and
asked what inducements the town
would or could make toward havini
the organization locate a proposed
building here. The matter was tak
en under adviiohen? but ho action
was taken at the meeting.
Several old buildings on Leggett'i
Lane were condemned, the board
preparing orders to have them torn
down and moved away.
Fourth of July Holidays Are
Marked by Quiet Observance
Quietness and the absence of any
serious mishaps marked the obser
vance of the double Fourth of July
holiday in this county. Few arrests
were made by local and county of
ficers during the week-end, and only
one automobile acaident was report
ed in this lection?J. B. Greer,
Georgia salesman, and Vernon
Whitehurst, young county man,
were hurt but not seriously when
their cars crashed on Highway 64,
just east of Everetts Monday after
noon. Whitehurst suffered a frac
tured ankle and jawbone. Greer
was burised and badly cut about
the arms and face, but both men.
placed in a Washington hospital, are
expected to recover. The two cars
were badly damaged.
While this section escaped with
no serious mishaps, the nation re
ported 444 lives lost, the largest
July Fourth death toll since 1931
when 483 people lost their lives in
automobile and fireworks accidents
and drownings. North Carolina re
ported six lives lost, three in an air
plane crash at Nags Head. No esti
mates on the number of people in
jured could be had. but wreck vic
times will number well in the thous
ands, and property damage trace,
able to the holiday celebration will
run well into the hundreds of thous
ands of dollars, it is believed.
Farm Organization in
County Is Perfected
FORCE OF HABIT )
Calling for benefit checks is
retting to be a regular habit
with three or four farmers in
this county, according to a story
heard a day or two ago.
Weeks had passed and money
was probably running low when
a farmer called and asked for a
peanut benefit check. No check
for the man could be found, and
then the records were searched,
and it was learned the farmer
had gotten his check some time
ago and forgotten all about it. ?
F. K. HODGES DIES
HOSPITAL EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING
Funeral Services Held In
Methodist Church Last
Saturday Afternoon
Franklin King Hodges, one of
Williamston's oldest and most high
ly respected citizens, died in a Wash
ington hospital Friday morning at
i o'clock following a long illness.
Falling on the streets here the 1th
of last February, Mr. Hodges suf
fered a fractured hip and was en
tered in the hospital. A complica
tion of ailments set in, but about
two weeks before he died it was
thought his condition was slightly
.improved.
The son of the late Edwin G. and
Olivia Swell Hodges, he was born
in Beaufort County, near Washing
ton, on June 20, 1860. In 1894 he
moved to this county and was an
engineer for the old Roanoke Lum
ber Company, with headquarters
near Everetts A few years later he
moved to Williamston and entered
the grocery business, later opening
a general mercantile establishment
which he operated until just a few
years ago. In 1897 he married Miss
Lena Wolf, of Washington County.
No children were born to the union,
and with the exception of one broth
er, Mr. W. J. Hodges, of William
ston, he leaves no immediate rela
tives, eignt brothers and sisters pre
ceding him to the grave. Mrs
Hodges died several years ago.
Quiet and unassuming, Mr. Hod
ges gained the respect of the peo
ple with whom he came in contact
For more than 50 years he was a
member of the Methodist church,
taking much interest in its activities
as long as his health permitted. In
the home he was a good husband
and enjoyed the confidence of a
large circle of friends.
* Funeral services were conducted
in the local Methodist church last
Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock by
Rev. R. R. Grant, his pastor. Burial
was in the family plot in the local
cemetery.
County Board Holds
Short Meet Mondav
Holding their regular session on
Monday, the Martin County com
missioners spent several hours dis
cussing various matters, but limited
official action to two or three busi
ness items. A contract for the an
nual county audit was let to Great
house and Butler, of Rocky Mount.
The board approved the location
for a proposed pulp mill on Roan
oka River and agreed to comply
with certain stipulations and re
quirements to be embodied in an
agreement to be prepared by the
county attorney.
11 is expeciad the hoard will be
called into special sesaion sometime
during the latter part of this month,
when budget estimates will be re
viewed, and sttention is given the
tax rata for IBM.
H. S. Everett Made
President; To Start
Work Immediately
Agent's Office Will Receive
Applications for Grants
Within Few Days
Folowing the organization of com
munity committees during the prev
ious week, an agricultural conserva
tion association for Martin County
was formed last Friday night in the
county courthouse, the various dis
tricts being represented by the chair
men of the individual units. Mr. H.
S. Everett, of Robersonville, wai
made president of the organization;
J. F. Crisp, of Oak City, vice presi
dent; F. C. Stallings, of Jamcsville,
regular member; L. A.. Clark, of Ev
cretts, alternate; and M. L. Barnes,
assistant county agent, secretary;
giving nearly every section of the
county equal representation. The
names of the community committee
chairmen attending the meeting are
A. B. Ayers, L. A. Clark, J. F. Crisp,
W. B. Harrington, D. R. Edmondson,
F. C Stallings, J. R Winalow, C. L
Daniel, Fred Taylor, H S. Everett,
and V. G Taylor, the last two men
attending through a special ruling
of the national and state associations
if.was explained.
The community committeemen are
expected tQ go into action immedi
ately, reviewing the work sheets
signed by the individual farmers and
carrying the acreages planted to
various crops Following, the re
view of the work sheets by the com
munity committees, the county as
sociation officers are scheduled to
review the sheets and have thefn
forwarded to Raleigh for inspection
by government authorities
Under the new program, the com
munity committeeman is to receive
all complaints and serve as a go
between for the grower and the au
thorities. Any errors committed in
handling the soil conservation pro
gram should be called to the atten
tion of the community committee
chairman, and he will take the mat
ter up with the county boa id.
Preliminary arrangements are
now being made to receive applica
tions for participation in the soil
grants, it was learned from the of
fice of the county agent this week.
Land measurements will get under
way immediately after the first ap
plications are received. The appli
cation blanks are not available just
now, but they are expected within
the next few days.
I Develops Racket
By Theft of Cows
Dave Melton, young colored man,
arrested for the alleged theft of a
cow from Dr J. S. Rhodes last week,
was fast building up a cow-stealing
racket here, developments released
over the week-end indicate. Mel
tpn would spot a cow about town
and lead her home and then nego
tiate a sale with a Durham cow
dealer. He stole Farmer Marshall
Wilson's cow from a field last week,
sold the cow for $15 and forgot a
bout it. In the meantime, the farm
er missed his cow, and when ques
tioned Melton admitted the theft.
Faimer Wilson recovered his cow.
Special Meeting Masonic
Lodge Members Tonight
S. H. Grimes announced today
that lhara would be a special meet
ing of Skewarkee Lodge, No. 00, A.
F. and A. M., tonight at ? o'clock in
the lodge hall. All Masons are in
vited to attend. Work in the third
degree.
MARTINS WIN SLX
GAMES IN ROW;
NEAR TOP PLACE
Greenville Leading League
By Narrow Margin Over
Walker's Boys
Winning six games in a row, the
Martins are now holding a leading
position in the Coastal Plain loop
today, with 20 victories and 10 de
feats. Wile the locals are even with
Greenville on a "games" basis, the
Greenies have a slight edge in the
percentage column.
The Martins started working for
a perfect week-end last Thursday,
when they, with the aid of "Dizzy''
-Dean's pitching, defeated Goldsboro
there, 7 to 3. Dean turned the Bugs
back with 7 hits, while Walters,
Black, Ferrell and Douglass got two
apiece to help run the total to 12.
Friday afternoon Goldsboro was
again defeated by the Martins, Tom
mie Morris giving up 15 hits that
netted the locals 8 runs. The visi
tors got 9 hits and 5 runs. Corbitt
hit 4 out of 5 trip to the bats, and
Douglass, with 3 hits, batter! 1.000
Tarboro _was defeated there last
Saturday afternoon, 4 to 1, before a
large holiday crowd, but Nicketakis
held the Martins to 8 hits.
Sunday, Kinston came over with
a bag ful of errors that figured
mightily in an 8 to 5 victory for the
Martins. Smith yielded 12 hits,
Corbitt and House getting 3 each to
lead the locals.
Yesterday, the Martins had to
work 10 innings to register an 8-to-7
win over Tarboro here. The locals
started off in the third with an at
tack that netted four runs. Ferrell
hit a home run with two on in that
inning Tarboro came back in the
next frame to make one run. and
added 3 more in the sixth to tie the
score. In the eighth the visitors
made 3 more runs to lead the locals,
7 to 4 Williamston added two in
its half of the eighth, and knotted
the score in the ninth, bring the
contest to an end in the tenth in an
exciting fashion. House's triple to
open the tenth was the deciding fac
tor.
Plans Go Forward
For Legion Home
In Martin County
Two Towns Expected To
Enter Bids for New
Building
Plans foT the~ construction of art
American Legion hut or building in
this county are rapidly being push
by the building committee, pre
liminary reports stating that sev
eral hundred dollars have already
been donated and the veterans are
becoming more interested in the
proposed undertaking.
At a repent menling fat|j|f|
ing committee the question of lo
cating the building came up for dis
cussion, reports stating that Rob
ersonville and Williamston are ex
pected to enter bids for the struc
ture. After much discussion, a reso
lution was adopted that the com
mittee would have the post build
the hall in the town giving the mosl
in the way of building material, lot,
labor and money.
It-is expected that much friendly
competition will result between the
two towns, and it is believed that
other towns of the county will also
make bids for the legion home. It
was stated by a member of the
committee that one town other than
Williamston and Robersonville had
already offered the committee a
sizable lot free.
Each town In the county is repre
sented on the building committee,
and it was delegated to the mem
bers of the committee.to hanHi^ ? u,.
matter in their respective towns and
to report what each town will do by
August 8.
The hall may be built as a mentor
ial to those who lost their lives in
the war. It is expected to be a very
worth while building and as asset
to any" town in the county.
Dr. Jos. H. Saunders Home
From Washington Hospital
Dr. Jos. H. Saunders, confined to
a Washington hospital last Week
for treatment, returned to his home
hara Sunday, report* stating that
his condition is much improved.
Mr. G. H. Harrison Still
Confined To His Home
Mr. G. H. Harrison, suffering an
attack of neuritis, continue* In bed
at his home here. His condition ii
improved, however, and he is ex
pected out shortly.
Clyde R. Hoey Wins Democratic
Nomination for Governorship by
Over 50,000 Majority Saturday
Official Returns of County
Vote in Primary Saturday
???
The official vote cast in the second Democratic primary lxst Sat
urday fives McDonald a decided majority for Governor. lloey car
ried only one precinct, and that was by a small martin. The vote
tabulated lxst Saturday evening and verified with the official returns
Tneaday follow*;? ?
GOVERNOR LIEUT. GOV. SEC. STATE
Precinct
Ilrtey
McD.
Gdy
H't'n
Eure
Wade
Jamesville
132
268
317
36
219
94
Williams
47
10!)
35
23
82
37
Griffins
46
248
165
48
104
70
Bear Grass
r lit
188
154
48
137
63
W'illiamston
388
518
602
213
437
383
Cross Koads
42
200
135
46
132
51
Kobersonville
| ..1,1 Pninf
183
37
75
231
53
62
213
53
61
203
23
59
361
83
iiotu roim
Poplar Point
52
76
32
39
Hamilton
70
104
80
58
94
56
llxssell
10
104
58
35
73
18
Goose Nest
100
121
137
55
88
108
County Totals
N
O
.266
2,072
865
1,855
1,035
Large Vote (last In
Second Primary In
County Saturday
Ten of Twelve Precincts In
County Show Increase
In Number of Votes
e
While no new record was estab
lished, the large vote in this county
last Saturday came as a big sur
prise to some of the prognostigators.
giving valid .proof that no one can
predict with any degree of certain
ity what the electorate is going to
do and how. Casting 3,132 votes
in the first primary on June 6, the
county polled 3,524 votes last Sat
urday, a gain of 392 votes. The
vote fell short by 263 votes of the
all-time record of 3,787 votes cast in
the 1932 general election.
Mr. A. llassell, with a gu??ss of
3,250 votes, won the $1.50 subscrip
tion prize offered the one making
the best prediction. The guesses
entered in the contest averaged less
than 3,000 votes.
?Every precinct trr the cb'UnryejF
cept two showed an increase in the
number of votes, and Gold Point
pollen! the same number and Goose
nest lost two. WrHtamston polled
one of its largest votes.
The vote cast in the primary lgst
Saturday and in the first primary
one June 6 are, as follows:
Precinct
2nd
1ST
Jamesville
too
36:<
Williams
iao
ma
OriiTins
?P4
?243
Bear Grass
289
238
Williamston
914
814
Cross Koads
245
224
Robersonvillo
481
420
Gnid Point
90
90
Poplar Point
135
132
llassell
114
109
Hamilton
176
153
Goose Nest
230
232
Totals
3524
3132
Young Son of Mr. and Mrs.
Gurganus Dies In Hospital
Lester C. Gurganus, young son of*
Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Gurganus, died
in a Richmond hospital last Monday.
He had been in declining health for
some time and had receivixl treat
ment in the hospital for about 70
days before his death.
The body was brought to the home
of his parents, near Bear Grass,
where ihe lasi riles were conduct
ed. Burial was in the Meeks eetne
tery, near Everetts.
Besides his parents, he leaves foui
brothers and two sisters.
1
New Town Baseball Team
Wins Two Games Recently
The New Town baseball boys reg
istered two victories during the past
few days. Boykin pitched his team
to an 8 to S w?h over Old Town
last Thurrday, and Edmondaon won
12 to 3 over "Doodle Hill" this
morning. ?
Goat Gives Birth To Four
Kids On Farm Near Here
A ?>.???, 1? at- - ?I
n iwiimr !"?? oft me iviai y
Cherry farm, near here, gave fcirth
to four kids yesterday. Farmer G
L. Brown, owner of the animal, ex
plaining that the quarduplet birth
was very unusual.
I PARTY NOMINEE
\
Cyde Koark lloey who wsls
nominated for Governor of
North Carolina by more than
a 50,000 majority by the Demo
cratic Party last Saturday.
LOCAL TOBACCO
MARKET OPENS
SEPTEMBER 1ST
Expect Increase in Tobacco
Exports During The
Coming Year
The local tobacco market will
open Tuesday, September 1 this
year, or about one week later than
the opening date last season. Late
crops south of here were probably
the controlling factor with the To-1
bacco Association of the United
States which organization set the
dates in annual convention at Hot
.Springs, Va t lur.t week. j
The Georgia belt^opens August 4,
South Carolina, August 13; middle
belt. September 22; old belt, Oc
tober 5, and dark-fired belt on No
vember 17.
W. T. Clark, retiring president of
the association, declared in his an
nual address that while the export
tobacco trade was suffering "tem
porarily" it was "obvious" that to
bacco grown in the United States
wohld maintain their position in
world's trade, because of consumer
taste. High prices and efforts of
governments to become independ
ent of other nations largely account
ed for tobacco exports dropping
lower than in any year since 1915
during 1935, he said.
The local mai ket has been assur
ed a full seTof buyers for the open
ing day, and preparations are get
ting underway for the event, one of
this section's biggest during the
entire year.
The association in its last week
meeting deferred action on a re
quest of J. S. McFayden and A E
i^i x on, representing Fa/etteville,
for the establishment of a market
there.
Price High for Squirrel
Killed Out of Season
?
Killed out of season, a lone squir
rel cost Jake Downs, Haxsell man,
just about $11, a rather high price
according to County Cam* Warden
Dill Abbitt. r
Caught by Assistant Warden C.
F Bland recently. Downs was given
a hearing before Justice C. L. Nel
son, the fine and cost amounting to
$11 ?
McDonald Carries
Every Precinct in.
County Except One
Horton and Eure Receive
Majorities In Primary
Last Saturday
Carrying about 68 out of the 100
counties. Clyde Roark Hoey was
[nominated for Governor of North
Carolina last Saturday by one of the
, largest votes ever accorded a candi.
date for any office in the state. Un
official and incomplete returns to.
day gave Hoey a lead of more than
50.000 votes over Dr. Ralph W. Mc
Donald. the count standing at 262,
945 for Hoey and 210,022 for McDon
ald, with 72 out of the 1,858 pre
Cincts unreported. With the excep
tion of a number of^eountiea in the
east and one-or -ttvo in the west,
Hoey made xi clean sweep in the
State. /
Incomplete^returns also indicated
that W P. Horton had won over
1 aul Grady for lieutenant governor
late reports giving the head man a
lead of about 6,000 votes. In the
race for secretary of state, Thad
Eure overcame a big handicap to
lead Stacey W. Wade by nearly 43,
000 votes. In the first primary Eure
trailed Wade by more than 40 000
votes, but last Saturday he overcame
the handicap and polled a larger
majority than his opponents receiv
ed on June 6.
The large vote, while slightly less
than that of June 6, surprised polit
ical observers. There were several
1 easieis advanced for a smaller vote
last Saturday than in the first pri
mary, but when the voters got start
ed last Saturday, apparently the
holiday affected the vote little.
Ill this county, McDonald polled
3.266 to lead Hoey almost by a two
to one count, lloey annexing 1,240
votes. Grady polled 2,072 votes
against 865 for Horton. Eure led
With 1,855 votes 1,035 fur Horton,
the county failing to throw, its sup
port to a single winning candidate
other than Eure for secretary of
state. Hoey, the'Shelby lawyer, car
ried only one precinct. Poplar Point,
and me victory there was by only "
13 votes.
The rare for governor attracted
the most attention in the county, the
other two-contents falling-askiw as
76 votes in one or two precincts be
low the count for governor.
Peanut Statistics
And Reports Will
Now Be Required
?
George Bill Passed by Last
Congress To Require
Information
The George bill, making it a law
that pickers of peanuts should be
licensed and furnish nn accurate
lecord of peanuts picked, was passed
by the last Congress and signed a
few days ago by President Roose
velt. Under the bill requiring pea
nut statistics collected and. report,
ed, farmers, warehousemen and
mills are to make periodic reports
of stocks on hand, similar to the re
ports mpde by the cotton industry.
The new law will remove the dif
ficulty of estimating stocks on hand
at any time and will enable the in
dustry to secure fairly accurate in
formation for the first time in his
tory.
Passage of the bitt is the culmlna
lion of many -efforts made in the
past seven years by peanut associ
ations, millers and others to have
such requirements made legal. It is
expected to play a big part in stab
ilizing the industry. .
Heretofore, peanut picker opera
tors were supposed to acquire li
censes from the register of deeds
-end -make weekly reports tu the
county agents, but the operators
just about ignored it.
The importance of the new bill
can be seen from the activities of
the market for the 1935 peanut crop.
Happening along in the peanut belt
just about the time peanuts were
dug and stacked, tome millers got
the idea that there was a large crop
and the price was weak until the
marketing season was over, and
then the price - went up. If the
George bill had been law during
the season, the production quantity
would have been reported months
?? doubt, h>any farmers
received more ?