North Carolina Newspapers

3 EVERY . PAY DAY WAB BOND DAT imp tHHum—uvi D0UMt VOLUME XLVI—NUMBER 6 THE ENTERPRISE OVER THE TO!* FOR VICTORY UNITED STATES WAR BQHDS-STAMPS Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, January 19, 1943. ESTABLISHED 1809 Reviews Activities On the Proposed Bill Would Allow Ration Board Members Small Compensation --<*> — By CLARENCE W. GRIFFIN 3 Martak County Representative The 1943 session of the^Genera) @ Assembly is starting to vftkk much ■ -- rr.c■c.'..ions Everybody seem^to be in a lv#)>ry to finish the work and adjourn, how ever, in my opinion, it will be March 15 before the adjournment date is reached, It,.looks as if the next general elec tio|J/Will be asked to vote on a Con stitutional amendment to our State Constitution. A bill has been intro duced to submit a Constitutional Amentment to the next general elec tion which would make the Commis sioner of Agriculture and the Com missioner of Labor Constitutional officers and members of the Court" cil of the State. This bill is an ad ministration measure and will doubt less pass. Two measures have been introduced m the field of taxation. One would provide for State Income Taxes to be paid in quarterly install ments rather than in one installment which we now have. The other bill " would exempt members of the arm ed forces from poll taxes while they are serving in the armed forces. There seems to be much sentiment in favor of this bill. The Governor recommended in his message that 20 million dollars of the State surplus be invested in Gov ernment securities as a cushion for a depression which is expectsd to follow the conclusion of this war. This bill ha:Aipeen amended by the committee to raise the sum to 22 mil lion dollars and to invest in the gov ernor and the council of the State the authority to invest any further surplus from time to time. It seems that this session of the General Assembly will probably give the public schools of North Carolina and the school teachers of the State more consideration than they have had for the last several sessions. Already a bill has been in troduced providing for a State-wide nine months school, which bill has the support of the governor and it looks now as if it has a good chance of passing. The teachers and other State employees will doubtless have a salary raise, effective as of Jan uary 1, 1943. A supplemental appro priations bill has been introduced with the recommendation of the B®*rgovernoi, providing for substantial pay increases for all state employ ees. The amount will range irom 10 to 20 per cent, depending upon the present salary. A bill has been introduced to pre (Continued on page six) --® A Last Warning Is Issued To County .jjcaft Delinquents - Firm Action Promised Draft Delinquents Beginning Next Month “A fine of $10,000 or five years in prison, or both, is the penalty facing a person convicted of delinquency under Selective Service Act,” Gen eral J. Van B. Metts, State Director of Selective Service, announced to day. “Far too many men are escaping their obligations under the act be cause they are delinquent,” the state director said. He further stated that a vigorous effort will be made dur ing the month of January to have de linquents and suspected delinquents report to their local boards to have the charges of delinquency remov ed. ‘‘Those who do report voluntarily to tneir iocai board during the month of January, 1943, will be allowed to comply with their obligations, but those who fail or refuse to do so will find that their names have been re ported to the Department of Justice for prosecution,” the director said. To further clarify the require ments,. General Metts emphasized these points: ‘ 1 '•* 1. Every person who was requir ed to register under any one of the six Presidential Proclamations which have heretofore been issued, except those registrants in the 45-65 year old group, must have in his personal pos session at all times a valid Notice of Classification in addition to his Reg istration Certificate. 2. Upon request, every person re quired to carry a Notice of Classifi cation must submit his notice to any ^ law enforcing officer, representatives of the Secretary of State, the Secre tary of the Treasury, the Attorney Geneal, or any official of the Nation al or State Headquarters of Select ive Service, any member of a local or appeal board, any Government Appeal Agent, or any other official designated by the Director of Select ive Service. 3. Every registrant between the ages of 18 and 45 should keep his lo cal board notified of any change of address so that he may be sure that he receives his mail at all times with reasonable promptness. The local (Continued on page six) I No Immediate Call Expected irTor Married MiM'ffl'Cotrrng my, na\y, n.arir,' or coUst guard service is expected in this county, according to unofficial in formation gained here this week. Last fail it was considered probable that the draft would reach into the marri take ranks in this county and Pose men without children or other dependents. It is now believed that these men ^h^have another. months. However, the belief is bas ed on normal calls, and there is no assurance that the siz4 of the calls will hold to a normal level. ThJ| February call has been received for white men and it is somewhat small er than was expected. However, it is possible that it will be followed by a second one during the month, possibly for Navy, Marine or Coast Guard recruits. It is not quite clear ■n) eiuSStoxr.yrtf the Army, ft«e? a3 other branches of the service, but with a small cr.li already in it is be lieved that the next men will go to the Army and that if any others are called during the period they will be offered to the other branches of the @ Thf information just gained is based on estimates aff& is offered on are cJf.y>T'r.llllP HIP normal site during the next few Inonths. It is understood that the next calls, beginning in February, •will draw heavily from the 18- and 19-year-old ranks or those young men who registered last June, It is understood that none of the recent registrants was included in the list of those just recently instructed to report, and none of them is expect ed to be called in February, -More Martin Couiltv M#n~Called By- Army APPLICATIONS ----- Nearly 800 applications have been signed and forwarded to Raleigh from this county by far mers who cooperated in the 1942 soil conservation program, it was announced this week by Miss Mary Carstarphen, clerk in the county farm agent’s office. It Is estimated that there are approx imately 1,550 farmers in this county who are entitled to con servation payments in varying amounts. According to one report, Mar tin was one of a fairly small number of counties in the state where more than 90 per cent of the farmers cooperated in the soil conservation program last year. Board Reclassifies Fifty-eight Men in Monday Night Meet .—. Members Expected To Meet Again Soon To Complete Their Reclassifications -* Receiving several personal appeals and burdened with borderline cases touching on the pathetic side, the Martin County Draft Board handled only 58 reclassifications in a long meeting here last night. The mem bers plan to meet again soon to com plete the reclassification work. Pos sibly no more than two-thirds of the appeals were reviewed at the meet ing; There has been some talk about changing deferment requirements, but the boMtf has received no offi cial notice and its work is based on the old rules and regulations. Quite a few high school and col lege students were deferred at the meeting, but the deferments were for short periods only. In those cases where classifications were granted in the B groups, the board acted in accordance with official rulings di rect from Selective Service head quarters. {Continued on page six) — ■■ - ■■&>— Re-Elect Members Of Health Board -. t: Meeting in special session in the courthouse Monday, the constituted members of the Martin County Board of Health, R. L. Perry, chair man, Mayor John L. Hassell and Jas. C. Manning, re-elected on the mo tion of Hassell the three elective members of the board, Drs. W. C. Mercer, V. A. Ward and J. S. Rhodes. No other burin-sea--was- handled by the board, but the chairman is call er? thp members into a special meet ing 10 be held on the first Monday in February. It is understood that the board will meet in joint session with the coun ty commissioners for a review of the department’s activities on the first Monday in next month. ROUND-UP v__ Nine persons were arrested and placed in the county jail here in routine round-up last week-end, the number being sev eral points larger than for the previous period. Six of the nine were booked for public drunk enness, and it should be noted that public drunkenness is a violation of the law within the town limits if it isn’t a violation on the outside. One each was ar rested and jailed for non-sup port, assault with a deadly wea pon and violation of the unem ployment compensation act. Two of the nine persons were white. Another Armv Call j Pending for Early Part Of February —*— Ten Men Granted Few Days of Grace When January Quota Is Reduced - a> More Martin County white men will be leaving soon for the army, a fair-sized number of registrants having been notified the latter part of last week to report for a trip to an induction center for final medical examinations. Ordinarily the regis trants report about ten days after they are notified by the draft board. Ten men escaped the draft cal! this month and gained a few days of grace when the current quota was ordered reduced by that number. Those next in line can expect a call ordering them to report in early February. Names of the men in this county just recently notified to report are, as follows: Cushing Biggs Bailey, RFD 2, Wil liamston Henry Wells, RFD 1, Williamston Johnnie Scott, RFD 1, Oak City Jeff Daniel Etheridge, Hamilton Conner Cowin, RFD 3, Williams ton Benjamin Jasper Whitfield, RFD 1, Ilobgood William Joseph Pierce, RFD 3,Wil liamston John Faries Gearhart, W>Ui' ms ton Howard William Stokes, William ston Lester Latham Wiutaker, RFD 1, Robersonville^^^ Henry HarTuntVilliarm, James ville Ernest Speight Meurs, Williams ton and Wilson Benjamin Jordan Hopkins, Wil liamston James Kader Rogerson, Williams ton and Craddock, Va. Jasper Ellis, Oak City William LeRoy Hadley, RFD 1, Williamston Richard Gladstone Slade, Hamil ton aunn mcnara v-nampion, wmiam ston Otis Gerald James, RFD 3, Wil liamston Wm. Stanley Peele, Jr., RFD 2, Williamston Lynwood Carlyle Stallings, James ville and Newport News William Whitaker, RFD 2, Wil liamston Jennis Howard Price, Jamesville Marion Taylor Holliday, RFD !, Jamesville Godfrey Erwin Dixon, Roberson ville Gilbert Hinton Ward, RFD 1, Wil liams ton Earl Luther Taylor, RFD 1, Jamesville Robert Ernest Modlin, RFD 1, Hob good Robert Eason James, RFD 2, Rob (Continued on page six) -» Station Robbed In County Last Week —•— Prizing open the front door, rob bers entered the filling station of P. M. Matthews on Highway 125, near Spring Green, some time dur ing last Saturday night. A passerby saw the door open about 2 o’clock Sunday morning and reported to Mr. Matthews who had locked and left his place of business about four hours earlier. Investigating the robbery, Mr. Matthews found that four or five cartons of cigarettes had been stol en along with a few dollars the thief took after bursting to pieces the money box on a pool table. No gasoline or kerosene coupons were missing from a box in. the station. The robbery was the first report ed in that section in recent years. Allies Score Great Air War Again Carried to the Heart of Germany With Devastating Effect , Gathering momentum day by day, Allied forces are scoring great gains against thPenemy on the far-flung battlefronts this week, the successes 'WfiflJ^Riterecf lfiTTSPlcTising AT siege at Leningrad yesterday and in the devastatif* -ir raids over Ber lin by Allied njpiters Saturday and Sunday nights/ The push against Rommel, just recently renewed by General Montgomery's Eighth Army, looms up as a part of the good news, and in the Pacific things are going bad, very bad, for the yellow Japs. The siege of Leningrad, held at bay by the fighting Russians for 16 long months, was finally broken when the ancient fortress of Schlues selburg was captured following a seven-day fierce battle and the Len ingrad garrison and the northern Red Army joined forces, A greater part of ibo long 1;800 milc Russian front is alive with ac tivity, and the Soviets are pounding the invaders at every turn. Among the recent successes is the capture of Kamensk, important German stronghold on the Rostov-Moseow rail line. One of the heavy blows dealt the Germans in the war was the one before Stalingrad. Trapped there, 22 Gorman divisions or well over 200,000 men have been reduced to less than 50,000. The Russians have encouraged the world with their superior fighting and have done a great deal to wear Hitler and his gang^uwn, out there is still no room for over-confidence, for the war is not yet won. The real success of the Allied raids over Berlin has not been determin ed, but the Saturday and Sunday night raids must have weakened morale of the German people. The raids certainly “pepped” up the Brit ishers who begged that Rome be giv “n a similar dose. Carrying over block-busters and incendiaries, the Allied planes left great fires burn ing in the heart of the city. Only one piano was lost Saturday night when the defenders were caught flat-foot ed, but 22 planes were lost the fol lowing night. Rommel is fleeing again lecture the British Eighth Army on the road to Tripoli, and observers believe lie will hardly slow down until he makes a supreme effort to join the German forces in Tunisia. Allied forces, including the Camel Corps of the Fighting French, are moving in on Tripoli from several sides, the British Eighth Army being within 70 miles of the port on the west. In Tunisia, the Germans launched two attacks, one of which was beat en back by tank and infantry forces on the central front Small German gains were reported in the second attack which was borne by the Fighting French. Early aPemoon reports from Rus sia, released in special communiques, stated that the Russian forces were about to cut off the entire northern German army. Swedish dispatches state that Sweden is on the alert for ] (Continued on page six) -—<15 Mrs. Ed Gurganus Dies In Everetts Mrs. Mollie Roberson Gurganus, respected citizen and widow of Ed Gurganus, died at the home of her nephew, Arthur Roberson, in Ever etts last Sunday evening at 8:30 o’clock following an illness of only three days. She suffered a stroke of paralysis just a few days before her death. Mrs. Gurganus, 70 years of age, was the daughter of the late Wiley and Edna Peel Roberson, of this county She had lived in the Bear Grass and Cross Roads sections all her life, spending the past several years in Everetts. No immediate members of her family survive, but she leaves three nephews, Brinkley, A. R. and "Jab" Roberson. Services were conducted in the Everetts Baptist Church Monday af temoon hl 3:30 o’clock by Elders B. S. Cowin and A. B. Ayers and Rev. J. M. Perry. Interment was in the Everetts Cemetery. -® Mrs. M. E. Weaver Passes In County -a Mrs. M. E. Weaver, well-known citizen of this county, died at her home between Gold Point and Has sell late last Saturday night. She was 64 years of age and had been in declining health for several years. Mrs. Weaver was the daughter of the late W. K. Eborn, a native of Beaufort County, and wife, Elizabeth Andrews Eborn. She is survived by two sons, Thelton and D. O. Weaver, and one daughter, Mrs. Cottie Bry ant, all of this county. Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the late home by Rev. T. H. House, Robersonville Methodist minister. Interment was in the family ceme tery, near the home. Committees to Carry Program to Farmers Friday and Saturday -*♦—— fwswvs ;i>{iiHTCT8wr io rnv The 1943 Plans Every Possible ^inpport The 19-13 plans'for mobilization of agriculture in this county in support of the war will be carried to every Martin farmer on Friday and Satur day of this week. Community fiom mitteemen will sit at desi^*eated places to receive the farmers during the two days. The 1943 allotments for basic crops, recognized as little different from those in effect last year, will be released ar/d pledges for war crops will be solicited. There is notnlng about the pledges, but President Roosevelt and other leaders who are earnestly working for victory and a lasting peace are pleading with the farmers to support the program in every way possible. Already there is evidence of pledged cooperation on the part of merchants and other business men and while it is a far cry from an ac tuality possibly clerks, business men and others will offer a helping hand before the muddle we are now in is cleared up. Despite scattered grumbling over peanut price differentials, many Martin County farmers are already proving that their patriotism is greater than greed and selfishness and indications are that they will do all that it is humanly possible for them to do in advancing the war pro gram and helping to write the peace. Committeemen will sit at the fol lowing places and farmers will re port to their respective district cen ters: Jamcsville Township: Town House, Friday and Saturday, G. C. Gurkin, H. A. Sexton, Carl Griffin and L. R. Gardner, committeemen. Williams Township: County House, Friday and Saturday, Joe Lawrence Caltrain, O. S. Green and R. J, Har dison, committeemen. Griffins Township: Stephen Man ning's store at Piney Grove, Friday and Saturday, Geo. C. Qriffin and D. F. Lilley, committeemen. Williamston and Poplar Point Townships: Agricultural Building, Friday and Saturday, John W. Gur kin, R. T. Griffin, W. M. Hardison, committeemen. Cross Roads Township: At Cross Roads on Friday and at Everetts on Saturday, W. L. Ausbon, Frank Bai ley and G. H. Forbes, committeemen. Bear Grass Township: Rogers Sup ply Company Friday and. Saturday, T. L. Roberson, Jos. S Griffin and H. G. Harrison, committeemen. Robersonville Township: Texaco Station Friday and Saturday, R. S. Everett, S. T Everett, Clifton Keel and J- It- Daniel, committeemen. Hamilton Township: Slade-Rhodes store Friday and Saturday, Geo. Og lesby and W. J. Beach, committee men, and at Hassell also on Friday and Saturday, D. It. Edmondson and Woodrow Purvis, committeemen. The Hassell team will be in P. C. Edmondson’s store. Goose Nest Township: J. H. Ayers’ store Friday and Saturday, H. A. Early, Jack Smith, L. L. Harrell and J. T. Mizelle, committeemen. Agricultural leaders are anxious to complete the mobilization plans during the two days and all farmers are urged to report to their respect ive community centers and work for all-out production. -® Curb Market Sales Establish Record -a Marketing surplus farm products placed North Carolina home demon stration club members in the hi" business class in 1942, as sales on the 55 organized markets topped the half-million dollar mark for the first time. Mrs. Cornelia C. Morris, extension economist in food conservation and marketing at N. C. State College, pointed out in a year-end summary that other sales in addition to those on the curb market pushed the 1942 total to $1,199,656 66. The home demonstration curb mar ket serves as a retail agency and provides farm women with a direct outlet to nearby consumers for such produce as vegetables, meat, butter, eggs, poultry, milk products, cakes, bread, flowers and canned goods, The second type of market for farm women is furnished by merchants, individuals, institutions, hotels and similar large buyers. Women either sell individually or group themselves together in selling produce to these buyers. Curb market sales during the year just closed amounted to $570,643.87, and sales to hotels, institutions, and other large buyers to $629,012.79. The Durham County home demon stration market jumped into the lead in 1942, selling products valued at $45,500.34. Nash was second, follow ed by Wayne. TOBACCO i Tobacco was given official recognition by national draft au thorities this week when tljey noiifprl the county draft boilfd would emu/. one unit fir the sys tem for inferring farmers from military/duty. By %cognbsing tobacco/as an “essential" crop and giving it a comparatively high .unit value, the draft au thorities, it is beleved, will make it possible for a few farmers who have a well-balanced farm pro gram to support draft defer ment claims. There has been some talk ajput lowering the number of uints required of farmers seek ing deferment from 16 to 8, but no official notice has been given the draft board in thjff county. The reductiou will make it pos sible for many farmers to sup port deferment claims, it is be lieved. Official notification is awaited by county draft author ities. I >o Birthday Bail Will Be Held Fn The County This Year -<*> Appointed chairman to carry the tenth annual appeal to the people of his county in support o%?a nation .vide §tht jyyhmt V> ia)l ve rson Skinner last week-end .'outvoted plans Hr the annual drive for funds. Recognizing the .serious - less of existing condilions, the chair nan announced that no dance or birthday ball would be held in the ■ounty in connection with the drive, >ut that everyone would be given an opportunity to share in the worth while task. Aided by Dr. E. T. Walker, co •hairnuyi, and Mrs. Wheeler Martin, /ice yb/iirman .and E. J. Hayes, or ;aniz(j# in the colored schools, Chair nan ||kii_ner is depending upon dis -rict Chairmen to pu<i|) the campaign o a successful concl<jj)jion by the last >f this month. These district chair ucn are: Jamesville, P. B. Britton: .trass, t. tj. i i^KB^^^^Ratnston, 3. N. Hix: Everetts, D. W. Gaskill; •tobersonvilie, L. W. Anderson; Gold Point. Mrs. Annie Roberson; Hassell, Seamen Subjected To Heavy Question Bombardment Here —■ Stmlontu (Greatly Enjoy®Visit Of llritislx-rs in tin* Local Schools Petty Officers Alfred Williams and Frank Moore visited the Williamston schools during their recent stay in Williamston, and spoke briefly be fore assemblies at the grammar and high schools. The British officers visited the grammar school last Friday at the invitation of Miss Edith Bradley's sixth grade room which had charge of the assembly, and entertained the children by reviewing English his tory and by describing the conditions under which the children of England are receiving instruction during the war period. The seamen stated that tire war had inflicted great hardships on chi! dren and on family life in their na tive land. An extensive question and answer period was enjoyed by those pres ent, the little folk asking innumer able question ranging from the prog ress of the war to the consumption | of barbecue in England. At the high school yesterday morn ing the mixed chorus entertained the visitors by singing several special selections, including the British na tional anthem. The.st.iident body and mixed chorus also sang the songs of the various branches of our aimed forces. In presenting the visitors to the assembly, Principal D. N. llix ex pressed appreciation that the seamen were able to get their impressions ueo. uaisiip; Hamilton, J, Howard Bunn, and Oak City, H. M. Ainsley. Chairman Skinner has already ef fected the distribution of 80 small coin collectors in filling stations, stores and other public places throughout the county. Made in the shape of a poster with a coin slot, the little collectors are expected to ac count for well over $100 this year. Another supporting plan in the drive is the bittiufjp greeting card with coin slots for twenty dimes. The chairman is hopeful that every grade in every school in the county will ac count for one or more of these cards. Mr. Skinner has asked that they be turned over to him so they can be mailed, or in those cases where they are mailed direct he asks that a rec ord be kept so an accurate report can be filed. Approximately 500 of the greeting cards are being distributed in the county, and a special appeal is being directed to various organiza tions and clubs, urging their leaders to assist in the work. The Woman’s Club in Williamston has already agreed to assist in handl ing the greeting cards. A third suporting plan will center around the March of Dimes. The dime parade is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, January 30. The Junior Woman's Club has agreed to head the march in Williamston. Tags will be given those persons supporting the march of dimes. -«► Farm Equipment Is Rationed by Board In Martin County Few Machines and Similar Items Made Available To Farmers Reeenily -(4, While many items necessary to (Continued on page six) -® Lightning Fires And Burns Barn • Fire, started by a bolt of lightning, destroyed the tobacco barn and a quantity of hay belonging to Joe Iiland near the church at Cross Hoads yesterday morning at 9 o’clocl,. Driv ing along the road, Nathan Wynn saw the lightning strike the struc ture, but before he could summon help and reach the barn the fire had gained so much headway it could not be checked. Several bags of fertilizer under the barn shed were saved. No estimate on tile loss could be hud, and it couid not be learned if the property was insured. The fire was the second one re ported in that community in a little over a week. The home and all the contents belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wynne were burned last Sat urday a week ago on the S. T. Wynn farm. No fire tv'd been in the house that day and no one was at home and the origin of the fire could not be determined. The only thing Mr. and Mrs. Wynn saved were the clothes they were wearing at the time. The loss amounted to well over $1,000. IMPORTANT MEET An important meeting of all Martin County retailers, includ ing filling station operators, gar ages, pressing clubs and regular merchants, will be held in the county courthouse Friday night at 8 o'clock, .it was announced this week by A. A. Chappell, field price officer for the OPA. The meeting will review price regulations and ceilings, Mr. Chappell pointing out that it will be well worthwhile for the retailer to attend and acquaint himself with the regulations. Vi olations ,even unintentional, re ported after the meeting will be subject to prosecution. farming operations are still on the “free” list, the rationing system is being tightly drawn on others. In recent weeks, the farm machinery rationing board in this county has issued much farm equipment, but few machines were included in the list. Items issued included as little as few years of poultry wire, but most of the rations covered wire for fencing. Rations covering various items were made available to the following farmers: Joe II. Hopkins, RFD 1, Williams lon, three rolls of barbed wire. Lester L. Everett, RFD 1, Rober sonville, two rolls of poultry and one roll of field fence wire. Coy Roberson, Williamston, cy press tank John Gurkin, RFD 2, Williamston, three rolls of fence wire. J. E. King, Williamston, three rolls Df fence wire. Luther Peei, Williamston, three rolls of fence wire. Mrs. Nannie llaislip, Oak City, one fertilizer distributor. T II. Johnson, O ik City, fertilizer distributor. '• U. S. Hassell, Jamesville, one roll of wire. Mrs. Clara Everett, Hamilton, fer tilizer distributor. Wm. C. Hopkins, RFD 1, William ston, six rolls of fence wire. C. B. Allen, RFD 3, Williamston, two rolls of fence wire. H. M. Ainsley, Oak City, electric water pump. W. K. Ward, RFD 2, Williamston, two rolls poultry wire. Jesse Clark, RFD 3, Williamston, two rolls of fence wire. Garland B. Jones, RFD 3, William ston, one roll of wire fence. Clyde Roberson, RFD 3, William ston, four rolls of wire fence. E. G. Anderson, Robersonville, one 2-horse disk plow. Paul Dolberry, RFD 1, Palmyra, one 2-horse wagon. Robert L. Pierce, RFD 3, William ston, three rolls of fence wire. Nancy Keys, Jamesville, six fact of poultry wire. L. H. Hux, Oak City, fertilizer dis (Continued on page nix)