North Carolina Newspapers

OVER TNI TOP FOR VICTORY UNITED STATES WAR BONDS-STAMPS THE ENTERPRISE WAB BOND BAT if* ffMM-un Hum VOLUME XLMI—NUMBER 16 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, February 2o, 10Fi. ESTABLISHED 1899 Armed Forces Call IHaityBeaButFHis' Very-Few Of Them -- ■» — - Thirty Colored Men Out of Approximately 166 Call ed Are Placed in Pool The armed Services are calling goodly numbers of men to tne var ious centers for pre-induction ex aminations, but so far comparative ly few from this county are being accepted and made subject to induc tion, according to a review of the January and February call audits. Approximately 166 colored men were called in this county in Jan uary and February, and so far only thirty'- are definitely known to have passed the physical examinations. It is understood that eighteen fail ed to answer the January call, but most of them were included in the February call, wuich, incidentally, was eighteen short. Most of the sec ond group of “delinquents” have been accounted for and they will answer the next call. It is understood that some of the cases are being turn ed over to the FBI for action. The following men passed their physical examination on January 29 and are subject to call for Army service: Phillip Peterson Barnes, Charlie Freeman, Jr., Melvin Langley, Jas. Thadges Modica, Willie Williams and George Roberson. The following men, answering the same call, were transferred to other boards and it is reliably learned that they passed the physical and are subject to induction into the Army: Leon Vinnard Roberson, trans ferred to Washington, and Elmore Clemmons, transferred to Norfolk. The following men passed the ex amination at the same time and are now subject to call by the Navy. Haywood Bridgers, William Vance Ormond, Jr., Lewis Harris, William Earl Ballance, and James Arthur Slade, the latter having been trans ferred to this county from Durham. James Arthur Slade, Martin Coun ty registrant who was called in January and who was transferred to Norfolk, is understood to have passed the test and is now subject to call by the Navy. The following men, called for the pre-induction examinations in Jan uary, were transferred to the boards designated, as follows: Jesse Hyman and Curlie Morris Rhodes to Norfolk; James Earl Hy man to Philadelphia; James Smith, Jr., to Washington, D. C., and Vir rice Lee Perkins to Newport News. According to unofficial reports, Jesse Hyman, Rhodes, and Smith were rejected for physical reasons. No report has been heard from the other men who were transferred to other boards. Bridgman Lloyd, transferred from Coatesville, Pa., is understood to (Continued on page six) -*--— Commerce solicitor Conductiiig_Canvass A rep -esentative of the United States Chamber cf Commerce ar rived here this week to canvass for memberships and “beg” contribu tions for what has been described us one of the richest and most power ful lobbying organizations in the world. The representative could not be contacted; in fact, one has not been seen in the office of this paper since the late W. C. Manning chased a brazen young guy out about eight years ago. The first report stating that a rep resentative was around, came from Romulus Biggs, who declared the “gypsies are in town.” Calling on Mr. Biggs, the representative re ceived a rather cold or possibly a hot reception. eJcpiaias he can’t understand why small bus inesses would support an organiza tion that would turn around and ad vocate and work for a sales tax that the mighty might be relieved of taxes. “If I was that man I’d quit and look me another job,” Mr. Biggs said, adding in a most emphatic way that he did not and would not consider membership in an organization that would tax the needy and relieve the greedy. Make Last Appeal To Buy “E” Bonds —4 In a telegraphic appeal to County Chairman H. A. Bowen this morn ing, State officials of the Fourth War Bond drive urged a last-minute buying spurt for “E” bonds. While Martin County has reached and pass ed its goals, the State chairman points out that only $38,700,000 of the $44,000,000 “E” bond quota had been raised. Any one who possibly can do so is urged tu buy another ,-E” bond between now and next Tuesday. The bond drive is still making progress in this county, Chairman Bowen stating that several of the townships had reported additional sales, some in fairly sizable quanti ties, during the past few days. The drive ends next Tuesday, and the chairman hopes to have a detailed repor*. v-v townships, ready for pub lic release the following Friday. Many County Men Subject To Call For Pre-Induction Tests No official information could be had, but according to rumors that have been flying thick and fast here during the past two days, a large number of Martin County white men wi/i be called about week after next to report for pre-induction ex aminations at a service center. Or der numbers, ranging up to around 2,600 will be exhausted, it is under stood, one registrant stating that he was subject to call and that his or der number was in that bracket. At that rate the few remaining avail able men are to expect a call in a few more weeks. It is understood that less than 100 men are being called to report for the pre induction exams, but the number is so near one hundred that the difference can be counted on one’s hands with some to spare. There are about 3,500 men in that registration, according to reliable hut unofficial estimates. The first white men from this county to be called for pre-induc tion examinations reported last Tuesday. No official audit is !o he had, but according reports com ing from some of the men who made the trip, about twenty-one or twen ty-two passed the tests. One or two others were held over, and it is now fairly certain that nearly fifty per cent of those making the trip have been or will be placed in the white draft pool and made subject to in duction calls at the end of 21 days or within ninety days. It is understood that the Navy is already calling for men from "the colored draft pool and that they will do leaving for induction within the next ten days. Judge J. C. Smith Calls Nine Cases In The County’s Court Defendant Fined $25 in Case Charging Him With Reekless Driving With nine cases on the docket, a docket considerably larger than any others of recent date but one about the usual or normal size, the coun ty recorder’s court was in session two hours last Monday, The pro ceedings attracted a fair-sized crowd, a few of the old regulars returning to the hard benches after missing several sessions. The court activities were featured by the trial of John Lowry, white man charged with forcible trespass and attempted larceny. The specta tors roared several times when the defendant offered to explain how he had left prison in the middle of a 20-year sentence to look for the war den’s dog. After looking a year and a day in several states, Lowry re gretfully admitted that he never found “that dog.” The man was re turned to prison from Texas to serve more time on the sentence meted out in the case in which he was charged with grand larceny. Lowry, pleading not guilty in the court last Monday, was adjudged guilty, and Judge Smith sentenced him to the roads for four months. Judge Smith, firmly convinced that something was wrong with the man, suspended the sen tence, making it possible for Lowry to continue his search for “that dog.” The defendant was required to pay $23 court costs and to get out and stay out of this county. The case charging Laura Jenkins with violating the health laws was nol pressed. • A continuance was granted until May 8 in the case charging John U. Daniels with non-support. (Continued on page stx) -«_ Car Here Tuesday Traveling north from Florida, Mrs .Lottie Thompson, 612 South Orange Avenue, Newark, N. J., died of a heart attack in a car on the streets here early Tuesday evening before friends could locate a doctor for her. Accompanying Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Galante and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Abrams on the return trip, Mrs. Thompson, 67, had dinner in New Bern early that evening and before reaching Williamston com plained of having indigestion. It was first reported that she died of acute indigestion, but it is believed ueaf/rfl-Julted Ifditmn*!: t attack. She was pronounced dead by Dr. J. S. Rhodes ir. front of his off;ce on South Smithwick Street. The body was turned over to the Biggs Funeral Home and was pre pared for shipment to Newark the following morning for the last rites and burial in New Jersey. Mrs. Thompson, it was learned, had not been felling well for some time, and had been in Florida for her health. She leaves two daugh ters, Mn:. Helen Cafona of the home, Mrs Tessie Mills of Verona, N J . and a son, Edward Thompson, of Irvington, N. J. RATION TOKENS l> Ration tokens will come into use by consumers next Monday, February 27, when a number of changes in the present rationing program become effective. As the new red and blue stamps be come valid in rationing books, they will have a uniform value of 10 points each, while change will be made with the tokens, which have a value of 1 point each. There will be two kinds of tokens, the only difference be ing in color, and the color matches that of the stamps with which they will be used. Blue stamps and blue tokens will be used for processed foods; red i stamps and red tokens for meats and fats. IN HOSPITAL After seeing much action over in the European War theater, Pfc. Elmer Modlin returned to this country recently and is now undergoing treatment in a New York hospital. It is believed the young man was wounded, but particulars were withheld. In a telephone conversation with Mr. Chas. Davenport a few nights ago, the young man said he was getting along all right but could not tell why he was in the hospital. “lie was so hap py to be back in the States I could almost see him smiling in the telephone,” Mr. Davenport said following the conversation with the soldier. lie is the son of Mr. Joe Gray Modlin of near Janiesville. Be fore leaving for the war zone months ago, the young man was quoted as saying that he hated to go, but that he would give ’em all he had when he got there and in battle. Apparently he did just that. Mrs. Salsbury Dies In Scotland Neck Mrs. Estelle Johnson Salsbury, for many years a resident of Hamilton, died at her home early yesterday morning in Scotland Neck She had been in declining health for several years. The daughter of the late Dr. Rich ard M. and Pattie Shields Johnson, she was born in Scotland Neck 64 years ago. In early womanhood she was married to Paul L. Salsbury and located in Hamilton where she lived until about ten years ago, returning at that time to Scotland Neck. Fol lowing her primary education in the Vine Hall Female Academy, Scot land Neck, Mrs. Salsbury attended Meredith College and was a mem ber of the first graduating class there in TtfOi. —" —•••"•— * ~ ■ Mr... Sat.-.bury made ‘nTSS?" in this county. She was active in re lig-ous work and loyal in the sup port of the church, giving the seats for the new Baptist Church in Ham ilton. Besides her husband she leaves three children, Miss Martha Sals bury, of Scotland Neck; Paul Sals bury, Jr., of Raleigh, and Richard M. Salsbury, U. S. Army, stationed at Charleston, and a brother, Hugh Johnson, of Raleigh, Funeral services are being con ducted this afternoon in the Scot land Neck Baptist Church at 3:30 o’clock by Rev. W. E. Goode, her pastor, assisted by Rev. J. K. Hen derson Interment will follow in the hiir^h^^jetery there. __ Young Man Tells Of | Three Major Battles; II e Participated JLul Luther Mo.liin Is Sponeliii^s Short Time with Re'ta lives near Jamesville Making a business call here yes terday afternoon, Luther Modlin, U. S. Navy, was cornered for a brief review of what is recognized as a r.oblo record in the war to date for tire young man. Modlin, an electri cian 1 -c, had to be almost coaxed for answers, and while he was very pleasant, he surrounded those an swers with reservations. Three stars on his chest had a story behind them. Then there was a bar denoting he was in the serv in’ before Pearl Harbor; in fact, he had been in the Navy almost two years when the Japs made their sneak attack on the Pacific base, It is a known fact that the young man was awarded the Purple Heart, but he did not have it on at the time. Entering the service in February, 1940, the young man worked hard and in time got his rating. Those first two years were uneventful ones, but 1942 was hardly half gone before things began popping and snapping where he was traveling. And strange as it may seem, the young man was badly wounded but that was not one of the major engagements he par ticipated in. His ship was torpedoed in the North Atlantic in August, 1942, and his head was “split open.” De spite the wound, he reported to his station for duty, encouraging others to hold to their posts. He was award ed the Purple Heart for that heroism. Months later, after recovering from his wound, he was transferred to another ship, and soon participat ed in the Sicilian invasion, earning his first star there. Transferred to the Pacific area a short time later, hi' was with the raiding force when Wake Island was attacked, and gained his second star there, lie was at Tarawa during the three days of bloody fighting there, and a short time later went to Bou gainville where lie was In the thick of the fight. “We knocked out all enemy planes at Wake and it was a. pretty quiet (Continued on page six) Three Cases Heard I>y Justice Hassell -- Little activity was reported on the local crime front during the past few days, Justice J. L. Hassell stating that only three cases had been book ed for trial in his court in over a week. Only one person was arrested and jailed in recent days in the county, according to records kept at the courthouse. Three persons, J. T. Briley, Bar thonia Bennett and James Walston, were charged with being drunk and disorderly and they were taxed with $7.50 court costs each by Justice Has sell. [ NO A Pro I MM ENT In a statement released this morning, Mayor John L. Has sell said that no immediate ac tion would be taken in filling the position of local chief of po lice made vacant by the death of Mr. W. B. Daniel last Mon day. It is understood that the commissioners will consider ap plications at their regular meet ing on March 6th. As far as it could be learned this morning, no formal applica tions have been filed for the po sition, and no one has been men tioned as a possiblesuccessor. Expect Higher Peanut Prices In Answer to Farmers' Claim Higher prices ior the IU*i4 peanut crop were predicted this week as a result of a heated conference held in Washington last Thursday, accord ing to late reports reaching hero, 1 t Tempted' t>i a group ut "mad j growers from several peanut produc ing areas, a special congressional delegation appeared before War Food Administrator Marvin Jones this week and advanced the claim for higher prices. It ws declared follow ing the meeting that the prospects for an increase in peanut prices for the 1944 crop were bright. It was also pointed out that the food adminis trator already had a recommenda tion on his desk for a price increase, but the size of the increase, if any, was not mentioned. There is some doubt it the demand for a boost to $197 80 a ton in the price will he granted. Among1 the delegation go ing before Jones was Herbert C. Bonner, congressman from the First North Carolina District. Jones was reported to be very sympathetic tuwa’-il the claim. f oe 'eiaim for tin1 iti,; i ,i.m in pct4 p.ut prices was heatedly advanced last Thursday when a large number of growers met in Washington and lambasted all opposition and declar ed that the $150 floor price 'was not high enough. Among the delegation from this county were Messrs. Jim Gray, E. G. Anderson, J. K. Winslow, of Rob ersonville, and Robt. L. Coburn of Williamston. According to one report, farmers just iccently adding peanut culture to their production schedules, were the most insistent in advancing the demand for a price increase. NO LIST, YET v__ A list, carrying the unit values of farm crop:; vital to the war, has not yet been received in this county, according to a report coming from Martin County Draft Board officials here short ly before noon today. Already pressure is being brought by blocks of farmers through their organizations to have the l(i-unit requirement reduced. It is almost impossible for some farmers to maintain their preferred draft classifica tions under the new plan, and it is thought that unit values will be shifted or altered so as to make it possible for honest-to goodness farmers to meet the re quirements. Until the list of unit values is received, the draft au thorities in this county will not open any farm classification cases for review. Little comment has been heard in this county so far, the farmers apparently choosing to wait until unit values are an nounced before commenting. Jurymen Are Drawn Names of Martin County citizens drawn for jury service during the regular two weeks term of superior court convening in March, are: Jamesville Township: Clarence Barber. Griffins Township: B. Frank Lil ley, N. Staton Roberson, Harrison Rogers and W. Rufus Hardison. Bear Grass Township: R. L. Leg gett, L. H. Taylor, Warner Bailey. Williamston Township: Oswald I). Stalls, B. F. Baldree, J. H. Chesson, Ben D. Courtney, G. H. Harrison, Jr , Frank J. Margolis, John W. Gur kin, and V. J. Spivey. Cross Roads Township: Walter Beach and Tom It. Wynne. Robersonville Township: C. 1) Carraway, M. E. Roberson, G. David (»i i ij_ t i. B K ■ >oc, :vo ,* ■, j 1 ^“ ..e Davis Purvis. Goose Nest Township: W. A. Cof field, L. A Thompson and Henry L. Hopkins. Jamesville Township: S. L. Ellis, J. H. Davenport and C. T. Gaines. Griffins Township: J. C. Gurkin, J. Dawson Lilley, J. Arthur Corey, P. E. Getsinger. Bear Grass Township: George R. Taylor, A L. Hardy and Leonard C. Bennett. Williamston Township: W. Clyde Manning, J. F. Weaver, J. B. Taylor, J. A. Manning, Jr., Clyde Waters and Guy Robinson. Robersonville Township: Jimmie L. Roberson and R. J. Langley. For Superior Second Week s Williamston Youth Tells About Exciting i Times He Had During Months In Pacific i Finding a short breathing spell af ter weeks and weeks of hard work, Young Bill Holloman, petty officer 2 r, dared to explore a few of the bloody battlegrounds hack from the! coast on Guadalcanal island. Going inland about a mile, the young man ran across several Jap bodies on what the Army men called “Bloody Knoll.” .Holloman explained that he did not know how many Americans sacrificed their lives there, but the fight was costly for both sides. All the American bodies had been recov ered and carefully laid to rest in the cemetery, but pressing duties in oth er sectors had made it impossible for the clean-up squads to dispose of all the Jap bodies. A bit daring and anxious to col lect souvenirs, Bill clawed into the clothes of the dead Japs after a mat ter-of-fact fashion. He admitted he had never had much respect for 'he yellow scoundrels, he lost it ail and was made fighting mad when he reached in the pocket of a dead Jap and pulled out ten American “dog” or identification tags. “I was infur iated and before I realized what l was doing, I twisted the head off, and a few minutes later I cut a leg off,” Holloman said, closing his eyes and shaking his head slightly as he recalled the act. The tags were turned over to an Army intelligence officer, the act establishing the fate of ten Ameri can young men who had sacrificed their lives. Holloman, while not at all certain, was of the opinion that the Jap had killed the ten men himself and that he was keeping the tags as souven iors. It is possible, however, that he had gathered them from the persons of Americans killed by others. Tearing a few buttons from the clothes of th" dead Japs and recov ering a few pieces of silver money, Holloman returned to his base proud ly carrying the skull and leg bone, Already the young man had work ed tirelessly shaping souvenirs from shell casings and knives from Jap bayonets, and the work had occu pied his attention and mind during long hours when Jap planes and bursting bombs made sleep impos Iu the next or sixth install ment, Young Bill Holloman, who spent about eight months on Guadalcanal, recalls a few of the high spots ou the island. sible. He would not think about the ever present dangers, but would con tinue working feverishly in his lit tle air raid shelter, beating a shell casing into a bell, or shaping a fan cy handle to a halved Jap bayonet. “Quite a few of the boys did nothing to occupy their minds, and it went bad with some of them,” Dill said. The young man developed into a real craftsman, shaping aluminum and glass from wrecked Jap planes and mahogany wood into handles f,>r carving knives. The new and weird collection ef fected on “Bloody Knoll” occupied the young man’s attention for quite a while. With pent-up malice, he scraped the meat from the Jap skull and leg bone and to erase the last vestige of Jap germs he saturated them in formaldehyde. Later he pol ished them down to a glossy finish, knowing all the while that he was not supposed to handle the skull and bring it home. The leg bone was fit ted around a Jap bayonet for a han dle, but the relic was never dressed down for regular duties became more pressing and he slept more at night now that the Japs nad about given up their raids over the island.- (To be continued). Prominent Citizen Of County Dies At Home in Jamesville Funeral This Aflri'iioon in Janiesvillc ('liuroh For Mrs. Panic Wallace Funeral services are being con ducted this afternoon at 2:00 o’clock in the home at Jamcsvillc for Mrs. Pattie Wallace, well known and greatly beloved county citizen who died at her home in Jamcsvillc last Tuesday evening at 7:00 o’clock. Rev. Gilbert Davis, her pastor of Bellarthur, assisted by Rev. James M. Perry, of Robersonville, and Rev. C. B. Mashburn, of Farmville, form er pastors, is conducting the last rites. Interment will follow in the family burial plot on a high bluff overlooking the Roanoke, near the home. Mrs. Wallace, member of a family prominent in the early history of this county and who for years held important positions in the civic, re ligious and political life of the sec ton, had been in declining health for some time, but her condition was not considered serious until just a short time before her death. The daughter of the late John R. and Emily Bates Mizelle, Mrs. Wal lace was boi'n in Jamcsvillc on De cember (i, 1861, and spent her en tire' life there, interesting herself in the affairs of the community and in the welfare of her followman. Possessed of an humble Christian character, she was a devoted mother and grandmother, and enjoyed the friendship of everyone. While she maintained an interest in the af fairs of the current period, the ex periences of her early life during the reconstruction period made lasting impressions, and after a remarkable fashion she reviewed in detail not so long ago many happenings of that time. She was a good neighbor and a splendid citizen, but the infirmities of advanced age had confined her to the Rome duxing recent ! (Continued on page six) I -<*> Last Rites Tuesday For Win. 15. Daniel --t Last rites were conducted last Tuesday afternoon at the home on Biggs Street for Vr. Barcil Daniel, local chief of police, who died Mon day morning following an illness of only a few hours. Rev. B. T. Hurley, hi. pastor, as sisted by Rev. John L. Goff, local minister, Rev. John Hurley, of Snow fill, and Dr. W R. Burrell, local Bap tist minister, conducted the last, rites. mrm „nw burial r)L-.-. w i adm*** tered by members of Skcwarkey Lodge here at the grave. Among those from out of town at tending the services were, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Daniel and children, Bev erly and Evelyn, and Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Daniel, of Norfolk; Mr. John Bobbitt, of Rocky Mount; Mrs. Eula Carter, of Tar boro; Mrs. B. K. Barnes, Miss Alice Carter, Mrs. Frank White burst, Mrs. Fannie Bowers and Miss Alice Davenport, all of Bethel. Mr. Edgar Daniel, a brother, returned to his home in Jacksonville, Fla., yes terday a/t< • end the funeral. IN EARNEST j v_; Trailing in their production schedule for weeks, volunteers are rapidly advancing the- work I assigned the local Red Cross bandage room, according to re ports coming from Mrs. J. B. 1 Taylor, the chairman. As many as thirty-five volun I teers reported for work in a sin gle night this week, and large , numbers have been reported 3 during other periods. It was stat i ed that more dressings had been prepared so far this week than during an entire month hereto 1 fore. 2 Increased demands have been t received by the Red Cross sew l ing room, and more volunteers 21 are being asked to report there for duty. Raids On Continent \ntl In The Pacific I lold.W ar Spotlight. llulian Situation Looks Some Better; Reeent Attacko \re Thrown Back While the participants on the Ital ian fronts are working feverishly in anticipation of the next move, the war rolls forward in high gear in the air over the Continent and in the South Central Pacific and on land in Russia. The forced withdrawal of Ramirez as head of the Argentine 'government la«t night and his re placement by pro-Axis leaders fla vors the activities on the diploma tic front with garlic. One report early today maintain ed that the Italian beachhead is look ing better for the Allies, that three German attacks, two against the Am erican forces at Cisterna and one at Cassino had been turned back. It was evident, however, that Hitler is mov ing up a new division, the 362nd in fantry, and preparing to launch an other all-out drive on the beachhead. The Germans have put ten divisions in the fight there. It has been revealed that the Ger mans lost 7,000 men in their second big attack in the beachhead last week, the work of the defenders scoring a new high record for Ger mans knocked out of the war in the Italian campaign. While no startling developments have been reported on the Italian land fronts this week, the Allies are making history in the air over the Continent, their work being equalled only by daring sea and air attacks on the Japs in the Central Pacific. Since last Sunday, the Allied air forces have dealt telling blows on aircraft manufacturing centers in Germany and Austria. Allied plane losses were fairly heavy, but the raids were highly effective. In the mightiest assault yet direct ed against the perimeter of Jap de fenses, the Allies this week attacked the Marianas, the Carolines and the Marshall Islands, the drive carry ing the Allied forces to within 1,300 miles of Japan. The outcome of the raid on the Marianas has not been made public, but it is firmly believ ed that the Allies were chasing im portant units of the Jap fleet that fled from Truk last week. In Russia, the Red Army has cap tured Duo and is driving toward Pskov, key point for a drive into Es lonia. To the south, the Germans are retreating from Krivoi Rog tow ard the Bug River. The full meaning of Ramirez’ ov erthrow last night in Argentina is not yet known, but the new situa tion is not considered very favor able for the Allies. To Hold Program At School Tuesday -<*. Pupils of the Williamston Elemen tary School will present an enter tainment in the hi eh school audi ;>i H o'cTock' The special program will include a wide range of enter tainment, including short playlets, song dramatizations, readings, skits, and stunts. Pupils in grades one through seven will participate in the program which is being sponsored by the Williamston Parent-Teacher Association to secure funds to pro mote association activities. “Mother Goose Helps Defense”, presented by the first and second grades, will offer a timely theme on closer cooperation with the war ef fort. The toy orchestra composed of third grade children will play sev eral numbers, and presentations by other elementary grades will round out an evening of wholesome enter t-i'.emifnt. . .. Mrs. Harrell Everett, finance chairman of the P. T. A. and Miss Mary Benson, chairman of the teacher group, are in charge of the special program. Teachers’ com mittees include Misses Baker, Craw ford, Turnage, Katherine Bradley, Whitley, Manning, Mewborn, Talton and Mrs. Bunting. The public is invited to attend the program. -» ..— Discusses Ceiling Prices At Meeting —*— At a meeting held in the court house here last evening, a represen tative of the Office of Price Admin istration, Raleigh, outlined methods for determining ceilng prices for wearing apparel. According to one interpretation, a retailer is violat ing the rules and regulations if he sells an article, the same type and make of garment, at a price higher than the one he charged in March, 1942. The representative went on to explain how prices are to be deter mined where new lines of wearing apparl have been stocked for retail sale. Quite a few merchants from Wind sor and Robersonville were present, but only one Wiliiamston merchant attended the meeting. It is understood that new OPA price lists will he widely distribut I ed to consumers within the next few days.