North Carolina Newspapers

PAT SAT WAS BOND DAT INF MMH-UH MUM THF. F.NTRR PR TSF. OVU THE TOP FOR VICTORY ?Ml UNITED STATES WU BONDS-STAMPS VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 70 Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, September t, ESTABLISHED 1899 More Tires Issued By Rationing Board In County Thursday Applications for Eighty-two Tires Filed During Week Are Carried Over T7ie tire shortage in this county took another decided turn for the worse here yesterday when the ra tioning board released its weekly allotment and carried over applica tions for eighty-two tires. Filed dur ing the past week or since the meet ing held on August 27th, the appli cations will receive consideration in due time, but it is becoming more and more apparent day by day that numbers of cars and quite a few trucks will have been forced off the highways in this county long before the applications for tires can be fav orably considered. The list of current applications is not appearing this week for the sim ple reason that many of the appli cants in the past saw their names in the group and thought tires had been allotted to them. Apparently they failed to understand that the appli cations were only acknowledged, that they were in the list carried ov er for later consideration. These ap plications, filed since the meeting on August 27th called for thirty-sev en automobile tires and an even doz en tubes; 25 new truck tires, fifteen truck tire tubes, twenty recapped tires and four obsolete tires and tubes. New truck tires were issued to the following: W. W. Taylor, Robersonville, four tires and tubes for hauling lumber. R. A. Critcher and Brother, Wil liamston, four tires and four tubes, for hauling lumber. Recapped tires for trucks were al lotted as follows: J. Walter Gurganus, three tires and tubes for farm. Martin County Transfer Company, Robersonville, two tires for hauling farm produce. Frank Fagan Carstarphen, Wil liamston, two tires for hauling fuel. Royal Baking Company, Raleigh and Williamston, two tires for whole sale delivery of bakery products. There were no new car tires al lotted .but recapped tires for auto mobiles were issued to the following: J. H. Hopkins, Williamston, two tires and two tubes for farm Archie Hardison, Jamesville, two tires for farm. M. B Barefoot, Williamston, RFD 3, one tire for farm. J. T. Phelps, Williamston, three tires for farm Mrs Martha M. Rawls. Hassell, three tires for farm. Obsolete car tires were allotted to the following applicants, some of the applications dating as far back as early July: Ernest Best. RFD 1, Bethel, two tires and two tubes for farm. John Best, RFD 1, Bethel, four tires arid four tubes for farm. Andrew Flanagan, RFD 1, Hob good, two tires and two tubes for farm. Bethel Braddy, RFD 1, Hbbgood, two tires for farm H W Leggett. Sr., RFD 1, Rober sonville, two tires and two tubes for farm. Obsolete tires fo rtrucks and trail (Continued on page six) No General Holiday Will Be Observed Here Next Monday Mayor Hastrll Issues Timely Proclamation; Postoffice Closing for the Day N(0 general holiday will be ob served here or in the county next Monday, Labor Day, according to reports coming from industry and business operators. The postoffice will close for the day, however, and no mail deliveries will be made in* either the rural sections or in the town. Activities in all other business undertakings, including the tobacco market and banks, will be continued as usual. While no general holiday will be held here, Labor Day is taking on a new meaning in the eyes of many people during these times of stress and strain. In recognition of labor's efforts, Mayor John L. Hassell is is suing the following Labor Day proc lamation: "In recognition of the fine record and unexcelled spirit of North Car olina's working men and women? Soldiers of Production in the war program, it is the desire of Gover nor Broughton that the forthcom ing Labor Day, Sept. 7, 1942, be a day of acknowledgment for North Carolina labor and he has issued a proclamation declaring Labor Day this year be a day of celebration? a day in which the role of the work ing people of our state be widely rec ognised and given the praise which is justly due them. "Now, therefore, I, J. L. Hassell, Mayor of Williamston, proclaim Mon day, Sept. 7, 1942, as a day of hom age and recognition for labor and call upon our citizens to assist in promoting the observance of Labor Day to the end that the working peo (Continued on page six) Comparison of Enrollment ??? Opening-day enrollment figures in the ten white schools dropped yesterday, but the decrease was not as great for the county as a whole as had been expected and even predicted. In fact, some schools reported slight gains, but in others the losses approximated ten per cent. The decrease, reflected in the figures for both the elementary and high sehool depart ments, was twice as great in the high schools where the twelfth graders apparently did not show up. School offi cials, studying the figures late last night, were unable to reconcile many of the variations, but in view of marked un certainties they were agreed that the opening was very suc cessful. The tabulations below offer a comparison of the enrollment in the ten white schools by departments for the opening day yesterday and the one a year ago: Jamesville Farm Life Bear Grass Williarnstun Everetts Robersonville Gold Point *Hassell Hamilton Oak City *?Estimate. 1941 1942 Ele. H.S. Tot. Ele. H.S. Tot. 336 Ill 447 351 97 448 155 67 222 123 69 192 236 68 304 220 61 281 562 ?197? ?759? 579 204 783 ' 208 208 198 198 303 291 594 294 249 543 62 62 60 60 60 60 60 60 178 178 187 187 225 185 410 217 169 386 2325 919 3244 2289 849 3138 Enrollment Decrease Reported By Schools INSPECT POST Making a hurried tour of this section, representatives of the United States Army last Tues day night inspected the opera tion of the local airplane obser vation post on top of the Enter prise building. They found ev erything in order and stressed the importance of maintaining a 24-hour, seven-day service. Chief Observer W. H. Carstar phen explained today that the schools and colleges are taking possibly 50 of his "watchers" away, and there is an urgent need for at least that many more. Any one who can and will take a turn of an hour or two at the post is urged to volunteer by calling Mr. Carstarphen at 83, his office, or at his home. No. 71. And the observers are again urged not to walk on the tin roof. Judge Robt. Coburn Calls Fifteen Cases In Recorder's Court Business in Court Pirks Up Following Opening of Markets Week Ago Following a period of compara tively little business the week before, the Martin County Recorder's Court last Monday waded into one of the largest dockets in recent weeks, the increased business coming during the first week of the current tobacco marketing season. Judge Robert L. Cobum called fifteen cases during the three-hour session. A much larg er crowd than ordinarily attends the court sessions was present for the proceedings. The case charging Leonard Bos ton with vagrancy was continued un til September 14th. It was explain ed to the judge that the defendent is subject to immediate employment in the armed forces. If the man does not "stick" he will face trial and possible judgment. In the case charging Leonard Bos ton and Robert Boston with violat ing the liquor laws, a nol pros was taken as to Robert, and the case was continued until September 14th for the other defendant. Pleading guilty in the case charg ing him with drunken driving, An drew J. Flanagan was fined $50, tax ed with the court costs and had his (Continued on page six) RED CROSS Material for making surgical dressings was delivered to the Martin Connty chapter of the American Red Cross here yester day after a long delay, and ar rangements are being completed today for reopening the project in the rooms over the Western Auto Store Monday morning at *M o'clock. Miss Nell Harrison, In charge of the project, Is call ing upon and urging volunteers The need for the dressings Is to report at that time for work. Indeed urgent, and special Red Cress representatives, visiting here this week, pleaded for the successful execution of the proj Loss Not As Croat In The County As Had Been Expected ??? R<"<Tiiil Teacher* from Farm* ami Home*, Leaving; Four VacancicH al Prewnt While net over-optimistic, author ities were reported very well pleas ed with the opening of the ten wh^a and a number of colored schools in this county yesterday morning There were four teacher positions vacant and the total enrollment in the white schools was 106 below the opening-day figures, a year ago, but I considering the teacher shortage and the marked changes in condi tions, the officials had reason to be encouraged While some counties re ported as many as twenty teacher positions vacant on the eve of their school openings, the number had been reduced to four in this county and most of them if not all of them, will likely be filled by next Monday morning. Very little comment accompanied the opening-day enrollment reports, but in some communities many par ents were present for the brief first day programs. Slight increases in the enrollment figures are expected in many of the schools, and even be fore any gain, the yesterday-enroll ment was much larger than was ex pected, exceeding predictions by a big margin. Three schools, James ville, Williamston and Hamilton, re ported small gains. Hassell made no report, while the others showed losses varying in number from two to fifty-one. The following tabula (Continued on page six) Renewed Interest In Scout Activities In line with the opening of school and the return of the boys to a norm al routine came word from local Scout leaders that Troop 27 is plan ning an extensive recruiting and ad vancement campaign designed to build a full troop by Thanksgiving Plans are rapidly being complet ed for the troop's first joint Board of Review and Court of Honor which is to be held early in October. Ten tative arrangements call for the par ents of the Scouts to be invited and be given the inside story of Scouting in Williamston. Of the 10 boys now registered three will be First Class by October, five will be Second Class, and one will be a Life Scout with the majority of them trying for their first merit badges. By joining now the new Scouts will be ready to be advanced to Second Class by the Board of Review and be given their badge. With two overnight camping trips under their belts the boys are bus ily planning a third to be held dur ing Thanksgiving week. Scouts join ing now will be fully experienced and ready to go along. Meetings are held every Tuesday night on the second floor of the Guaranty Bank at 8:00 o'clock sharp. This Tuesday's meeting will feature a giant scavenger hunt, so bring your flashlight and bikes if you have them. Prizes for the winners and free water for the losers. If youVant your boy to be physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight let him go the Scouting wsy. UNCLE SAM BATTLING TO UPHOLD America's Freedom - THE 38TH WEEK OF THE WAR Gen. MacArthur's Australian head quarters reported in a special com munique August 31st that Japanese invasion troops have suffered a dis astrous defeat in the Milne Bay area of New Guinea. A force of Austral ian shock troops had been secretly concentrated along the bay in an ticipation of the Japanese landing August 26th. the report said, and as a result the Japanese landed in a trap. The Japanese lost all of an "en ormous quantity" of heavy material they landed, including tanks, and except for a few troops evacuated stroyers, the enemy land force was annihilated. The Navy announced that Ma rines holding six islands in the Southeastern Solomons had killed or captured all Japanese troops at tempting to retake the islands. Tile Navy reported August 30th that sev en enemy planes were shot down when they attempted to rani the air field facilities which the Murines had captured on Guadalcanal, bring ing the total of enemy plants shot down in the Solomons fighting to 78 The Navy also announced the Ma rines, With Navy support, raided the Japanese base on Makin Island in the Gilberts, killing all but 2 of an estimated 330 enemy garrison. U. S. losses were less than 1 to II) of Jap anese. In the European Theater, U. S. flying fortresses bombed the air drome of Wevelghemen, near Coun trai III Belgium, in the eighth straight operation without loss. In other pre cision bombing raids, the (nrtresscs attacked the. Rotterdam shipyards and an airplane factory at Mcsulte in Northern France. Lt. Gen. Joseph W Stilwell announced August 31st in Chungking, China, that U. S army planes based in China have made heavy and successful attacks on Myilkyinu and Casino, the two large Japanese liases in Northern Burma. The Navy announced the sinking of five more United Nations merchant ships by enemy submarines ill the Atlantic. Josepti C. Grew, former Ambassa dor to Japan newly returned from Tokyo, said in an address the Japan ese wftl fight "with all the force and power Jat their command . . until they are utterly crushed." Mr Grew stated "we are up against a power ful fighting machine, a people whose morale cannot and will not be brok I II even by successive defeats, who will certainly not he broken by ec onomic hardships, a people who in dividually and collectively will glad ly sacrifice their lives for their em peror and their nation, and can be brought to earth only by complete defeat in battle " Controlling the Cost of Living President Roosevelt said he would announce his new anti-inflation pro gram in a nation-wide address the evening of Labor Day, and would send a message to Congress earlier tile same day lie told his press con ference that forthcoming steps to control the cost of living will include stabilization of furm prices as well as wages, because neither could be stabilized without the other. He said wage stabilization would be flexible and would not amount to flat freez ing of wages and salaries The Pres ident also said the Government is considering one meatless day a week as a plan to be used largely as a means of saving oceanic shipping space for the total war effort He said under the plan American meat could be shipped to nations in need, and this would make 30 to 40 allied ships available for hauling war ne cessities to world-wide theaters of United Nations war activities. Stabilization of Farm Prices The Office of Price Administration announced it is planning a price ceil ing for live hogs and similar action is contemplated soon dor cattle prices The ceiling would be worked out in conjunction with representa tives of livestock producers. The of fice said "vigorous steps" afc being taken to enforce quality grading pro visions of its beef regulations to pre (Continued on page six I No One Injured In Minor Accidents No one was injured and no great damage resulted in a series of mi nor motor vehicle accidents in the town and community during the past three days Walter W Brown, making a turn into Perlie Moore's drive way on the Hamilton Road late Tuesday after noon, was struck by a pick-up truck driven by Claiborne Cooke, of Sur ry, Va. No one was hurt and dam age to the two vehicles was esti mated at about $100 by Patrolman Whit Saunders who investigated the accident. Cooke's employer agreed to pay the damage. Bumpers and fenders were scratch ed and dented in two minor accidents on the main street during the week, but they were of such a minor na ture that no records were made. > Tobacco Pours Into The Local % Market As Price Trend Moves Upward For The Better Grades New Middle East Commanders Gen. Sir II. II. L. (i. Alexander. who replaced Gen. Auchinleck as chief of the Allied forces in the Middle Last, is shown (left! with Lieut. Gen. li. L. Montgomery, commanding the Kighth Army, shortly after their appointments had been announced in Cairo. It is believed that the changes resulted from Prime Minister Churchill's recent visit to the Kgyplian theatre of war. This photo was radioed direct from Cairo. (Central Pres^) Stabilization Of Soy ?/ Beans Proposed Here Plans Discussed By Representatives at Meet Wednesday Prnpohe I'riee of Alionl # 1.50 Per IIiihIicI for (liirrnil Soy brail drop County farm -agents and commit | teemen from most of the counties in northeastern Nortti Carolina at a meeting in the courthouse here Wert nesrtay with AAA officials from Washington and Raleigh a proposal to stabilize the price of the current ,soybean crop. The plans, out lined and discussed, have not advanced beyond the preliminary stage, but it is fairly certain that the price wi be fixed at about $1.1)0 per bushel | for soybeans having medium oil con tent and about $1.40 for those of low j oil content. The beans will he purchased at about the prices listed and fixed by the Commodity Credit Corporation by agencies and warehousemen des ignated by the corporation, and it is i expected that the Growers Peanut | Cooperative warehouses which have handled government purchases of i peanuts for the past five years, will ( be the agency designated to purchase the beans. If the peanut stabilization agency is designated, and there is little reason to believe that it will not be, then those warehouses receiv (Continued on page six) $ Makes His Fortieth Trip To The Courts Recently charged with disorderly , conduct and threatening the life of I his wife with a shot gun, Clyde Si I - verthorne, well-known character hen*, made his fortieth appearance in the courts of this county last week ] the count not including his* appear ances before the minor courts. Without the services of a lawyer, [ the defendant planned his own de fense, and he made an able plea as far as the damaging evidence would permit. He pushed tears from his' eyes at will, asked intelligent ques tions and offered some plausible ex planations to the court. Just before entering the court room, Silver thorne who is very polite and agree able when sober, asked a lawyer in the ante-room what was the maxi mum penalty for simple assault. Ad- l vised that it was only 30 days, Sil- j verthorne was quoted as saying, "I'll plead guilty to simple assault, that's what I'll do." Judge Robert L. Coburn would not accept the plea, and when no other plea was offered by him, he was pleaded guilty Adjudged guilty on the strength of the damaging evi dence, including that offered by his wife, Silverthorne was sentenced to the roads for two years. "I'll give you credit for one thing," he told the judge *rYou gave me all you had.' Asked what he ought to have been given, Silverthorne suggested that a year was a mighty long time. Along about then Mrs. Silverthorne swoon ed. The husband declared that he just could not go to the roads, that he could not handle the tasks assign ed him. Judge Coburn compromised with the man and reduced the sentence to eighteen months. Silverthorne kiss ed his wife goodbye in the court room, and with tears in his eyes, he turned and followed Jailer Roy Peel to the cell block to await his transfer to a prison road camp. c~ * scr \r Mai Cm County, mukitiK an en viable record in the collection of scrap metal during recent month*, i* being asked to con tinue the effective work. Since last December 7th, exactly 3, 099,000 pounds of scrap metal? 2,220,000 iHiunds of castings and steel, 771,000 pounds of tin and 105,000 pounds of brass, copper and lead? have been shipped from this county pirncipally by the Williamston Metal and Parts Co. It is understood that fairly si/able deliveries have been made by others, but no estimates on the poundage could be had. If Martin County people are to meet the obligation assigned them, they will have to raise about the same amount of scrap between now and next January. Rommel's Drive In Desert Checked by American Bombers Ct'i-niiiim Continue I'u-li Tow ard Stalingrad and Covet ed CaneuMiiH Coal ? Allied fighting outside Russia is becoming more pronounced as suc cessful Operations take place on both the offense and defense on far flung battle fronts. The aggressive spirit is marking up new gains in the Southwest Pacific, and also in China where the Chinese are push ing the Jap invaders toward the sea around Cunton. The big news, how ?ver, comes from the defensive front n the Middle East where Allied forces have cheeked initial attacks launched by General Rommel this week American bombers, pounding the German bases, tillcry have batter! forces, and while a fijit fJ lack may not have hero the invaders have not yet weak spot for launching it There c an he no weak spot if the? Allies are to succe ssfully defend Alexandria and tin Sue /, for'no inviting line <?f tre at is to he- had Suffering fosses at the ratio of thre e to one, Romme l was forced to withdraw his crack German tank fnrce\s from exposed points along the front However, dispatches caution ed that Rommel's withdrawal was limited and confined to scattered sex-tors. But there- was every indica tion that the- vicious Allied counter blows, with American planes in the vanguard, we re- te lling on the Axis commander's field strength as he fought to consolidate his foothold in (Continued on page six) CI.OSE OFFICE Thr ollicf of the Martin Coun ty Rationing Hoard in the agri cultural building will be closed all day next Tuesday when mem bers of thr board and all clerks will go to Greenville to attend a joint meeting of twenty-nine loeal Officr of Prlee Administra tion War Prier and Rationing Boards. Thr meeting, it is understood, will discuss a new "yardstick" guide for gasoline rationing, and thr board mrmbcrs and others will hear a discussion of legal problems led by the State Ra tioning Board attorney, r Record Deliveries Block Traffic For Blocks on Highway No \|i|?ar?'iit Kffecl from Oil ing Price Order Report ed on Market To Hate Pouring into the local market early today m an almost steady stream, tobacco deliveries blocked traffic on at, one time traffic was tied up on the main highway running through "tobacco town." The tie-up was soon straightened out by local and coun ty-officers. hut sidewalk space near [the warehouses was at a premium as [the growers squeezed closer to the ; wareheuse d?x?rs and unloading op erations were handled on the side walks and along the middle of the Streets A block was certain early this morning, and the second sale was filling up rapidly with a number of farmers moving into the other houses on the market. The price trend is possibly some Stronger today with the better qual ity grades selling right along for 47. 4B and 41) cents a pound. Pirces for the medium and inferior grades are equally as strong as they have been since opening day. with possibly a slight increase for the medium grades in effect. Karly last Tuesday, the local mar ket passed the million-pound mark, and sales today will push that fig ure to about one million and six hundred thousand pounds. Price av erages continue to vary as to grades of tobacco, but as a whole the sales are unusually stable with the gener al price trend moving upward A few tags are turned now and then, but, as a whole, the farmers consider the quality of their tobacco and declare that they are making good sales. Reliable reports clearly indicate that grade for grade, the local market is more than holding its own in prices with sales running equally as weU jn size as they did a year ago If the price ceiling, place, din ef fect last Monday, has had any effect on prices, farmers and others appar ently cannot detect the change. It is possible that prices for the better grades would go higher, hut that is | only a guess. At the same time any advance in price for the better grades would possibly have been offset by a corresponding decrease in the price for the inferior quality types. Meeting in Wilson Wednesday night at the call of the N. C. Farm Bureau, farmers, farm representa tives discussed the price ceiling, and according to R. Flake Shaw, presi dent of the State Farm Bureau, it was not called to for any immediate action hut was held to "smooth out any possible worries." Shaw also re called a talk he had with J. B. Hutson, president of the Commodity (Continued on page six) 1 Dr. Vi. E. Robertson Passes In Hospital After Long Illness ?? l iuieral Srrvim For Ixxuil Man IIHri at Home Yen leitlay Afternoon I)i William Ellison Robertson, re ined dentist, died in a Washington hospital last Tuesday night at 10:30 o'clock following an illness of about eighteen months' ^duration. Trying to prevent worry for an aged moth er and others, Willie ,as he was fav orably known to his friends here, suffered unto himself until about five months ago when his condition became much worse and he was forced to undergo special treatment. Although his condition grew worse rapidly, he was able to be up and at tend to a few duties around the home until about five weeks ago when he was removed to the hospital. Death I was expected momentarily since last Saturday, but almost to the end he I bore his affliction without complaint The son of Mrs. Susan Emma Elli son Robertson and the late Joseph L. Robertson, he was born here 60 years ago, the 29th of last July, the anni versary following one day after he entered the hospital. Aft?r studying in the local schools, he studied and mastered telegraphy under the di rection of his uncle, the late W. A. Ellison. For a number of years he worked as a telegrapher in Ports mouth. When his hearing started failing him, he resigned his position there and studied dentistry in the Virginia Medic^ College, later open ing an office in Suffolk where he successfully practiced his profession for eight or ten years. Almost total deafness forced his retirement and he returned here to make his home with his mother. Leading a quiet life, he found peace and contentment in (Continued on page sis)