North Carolina Newspapers

•VIS TNI TOP FOR VICTORY OMTED STATES MR BONDS'STAMPS THE ENTERPRISE MAnimr VAT »AT WAS SONS SAT j mm mmmt—uvt mum | VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 42 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, May 26, 1944. ESTABLISHED 1899 Allied Armies Push Doggedly Onward in • — Conflfspuf CoalinuoS Without Letu\> Cracking the little Hitler line in Italy, the joined Allied armies are now pushing on toward the Eternal City, hardly eighteen miles away. The people in Rome can now hear the hig guns on the Anzio beach nead front, and unrest and turmoil prevail in the path of the Allied forces. Cistema, outpost of the Gor mans’ final defense line before Rome, has been captured. The Ital ian front news has held the spot light even over the devastating air attacks which are being continued without let-up against Hitler’s European fortress. And more big news is believed in the offing. The Germans are said to be in ragged retreat before the pounding the Allied forces are unleashing. The American Fifth Army forces joined with the Anzio beachhead pa trols early yesterday morning, and immediately consolidated their pow er to continue the drive, using the greatest concentration of tanks since the Salerno landing back in early September. It Is predicted in some quarters that the di ive will reach Rome in about two weeks. More than 100,000 Germans have been taken prisoner during the past few days, and possibly seventeen Hitler divisions have retreated to avoid being trapped. The recent fighting has been no picnic for the Allies according to in dividual reports, one of which reads, “U. S. doughboys won a savage hand-to-hand battle with the Ger mans in the dank underground cav erns of a cemetery and church near Terracino. The Germans had re moved the dead from their crypts to set up their mortal's. When the battle was over Nazi bodies had tak en their places.” Pvt. Joseph Lapetino, describing the fight, said: “You couldn’t move your head without hearing the zing from a (Continued on page six) Cameron Morrison Candidacy Gaining • • - According to reliable reports com ing from various sections of North Carolina, particularly in the west ern part, the candidacy of Hon. Cam eron Morrison is gaining momentum after an unprecedented scale. Dur ing the past few days, the trend in support of Democratic Party’s war horse has been pronounced, the Hoey record apparently sliding back and tumbling down as the people assert their power in the home stretch. The issues are drawn as between a supporter of President Roosevelt and one who, although honored by the Democrats in the past, did not find it to his liking to mention Roose velts name four years ago. Cam Mor rison’s record speaks for itself from the time he worked in the fields and contributed part of his earnings in support of the Democratic Party, on down through the years in the serv ice rendered the people, all the peo ple of North Carolina. His record as a United States Senator and a mem ber of the House of Representatives rings true to the cause of the com mon people, and strikingly differ ent to that established by Josiah Bailey, and one might add, striking ly different from what would have been recorded had his present op ponent been there. Possibly not Mr. Hoey, but his followers have tried to count Cam Morrison out, but the party’s faith ful warhorse maintains his power, declaring he can outdistance his op ponent and throw him over his head any day in the week. Recover Mail’s Body From The Roanoke Accidentally drowned at the mouth of Devil’s Gut i>* Roanoke River- near Jametotite fthatf 1 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, Cur * ley Biggs’ body was recovered about noon yesterday Biggs, 18 years of age and a resident of the Dardens section, was the third victim claim ed by Ole Man River along the Mar tin County shore during recent weeks. Quitting work in the logwoods that afternoon, Biggs with Raymond Wynne, also colored, started to swim the gut. Biggs pulled off his boots and gave his pocketbook to one of about ten companions. The two men, hot and tired, were about half way across the stream when Biggs ap parently “caught” a cramp and went down. Wynne, nearly exhausted was rescued by the other men with a boat. Investigating the drowning Coron er S. R. Biggs found no evidence of § foul play and no inquest was held. The man’s body was removed tc the Dardens section for burial. Biggs and the other men were working with the Foreman-Derrick son Lumber Company of Elizabeth City. - Germans Replace Italians In Prisoner Of War Camp Here during pas? several months. several hundred iMM [moved reportedly - _.-— .T_.-— to Camp Burner ffST'TuSday afternoon. With the camp cleared, several hundred Ger man Prisoners of War are replacing the Italians. A train load of Ger mans were brought in late Tuesday afternoon, and several hundred more reached here about 3 o’clock this morning, according to unoffi cial reports. It is understood the German prisoners were brought here from Tennessee. Traveling with a heavy guard complement in eight coaches and deep tourist cars, the first prison ers were carried on the train right to the camp site and unloaded along with a carload of personal belong ings and effects. It was one oi the few times that a passenger train 'moved to the river at lias point, | and possibly it was the first in more ! From distant observation the Ger man prisoners appear to be very young, and frail, in the opinion cf many, to measure up to the stand ards of Hitler’s super race. They seem to be fairly contented, and made friendly gestures to those who gave them an impromptu greeting. Quite a few of the group are said to speak English. The prisoners are being made available for work similar to that carried on by the Italians, and it is understood they will be handled in about the same way, some re ports going so far as to say that the German worker is more efficient than the Italian, that they are doing good work in many areas. Names Of Thirty-one Candidates On Ballot PLASMA FUND More than $»00—$910.00 to be exact—was raised in this coun tv for the Army’s Blood Plasma Fund, sponsored by the DAR, Mrs. J. E. Smith, chairman of Windsor, and Mrs. J. Paul Simp son, co-chairman for this coun ty, announced yesterday. , In announcing the results of the drive, Mrs. Smith stated that she was well pleased with the response given the plea by the people of this county. The var ious civic, religious and fratern al organizations were most lib eral, and individuals greatly aid ed the drive. The names of each donor and amount contributed are in the files of the sponsoring organi zation and they will be preserv ed with other Martin County war records. County Bookmobile Will Make Regular Schedule Next W eek New Books Added To Collec tion for Distribution In This County -• Special attention is called to the changes in time of stops and also to the change in days. The trip usually made on Friday will be made on Wednesday during the summer mon ths. Many new books are ready for circulation to the children next week, including a special group for the very young reader. The adults will tind choice items in the Baker and Taylor selection of outstanding books for this month. The summer scedule follows: Monday, May 29—10:00, Edward’s Service Station; 10:30, Sherrod Farm; 11:00, Hamilton Bank; 1:00, Oak City; 2:30, Smith’s Store (Pal myra Road). Tuesday, May 30— 9:15, Everetts; 10:15, Cross Roads Church; 11:15, Parmele; 12:00, Edmonson’s Service Station (Hassell Highway); 1:00 Hassell; 2:00, Gold Point; 3:00 Rob ersonville Library. Wednesday, May 31— 9:30, Dard en’s (Jordan’s Store); 10:45, Brown ing’s Store; 11.45, Ange Town; 12:30, Poplar Chapel Church; 2:00, James ville (Brown’s Store). Thursday, June 1—9:15, Griffin’s Service Station; 9:45, Farm. Life (Manning and Gurkin Store); 11:00, Smithwick’s Creek; 12:00 Corey’s Cross Roads; 1:45, Bear Grass (Terry Bros. Store). The bookmobile is anticipating an increased patronage during the summer months since many of the youthful readers will not have any texts books to work on. FARM WAGE f A hearing will be held in the Bethel gymnasium next Mon day, beginning at 2 o’clock, in connection with fixing a wage rate for harvesting Irish pota toes by labor secured through the United States Employment Service or otherwise in the po tato area including parts of Martin, Pitt and Edgecombe Counties. Potato farmers in this county are invited to attend the hearing, it was announced by the Martin County Wage Board chairman. At a hearing held in the court house here a short time ago a wage rate of 25 cents an hour was fixed for general farm work. The rate is applicable to prison labor and workers certified or furnished by the U. S. Employ ment Service, and is not applica i ble to “free” labor or individual contracts. Interest Believed To Center In Race For Governorship -» .— Disgusting Charge hy Cherry Forres Is Without Any Foundation The names of thirty-one candidat es—twenty-six on the Democratic ticket and five Republicans—appear on the three ballots to be placed before the voters of this county on Saturday of this week. The county and state senatorial ballot carries the names of nine democratic can didates who form four contests— State Senate, representative, county judge and county commissioner for the Jamesville-Williams District. On the State democratic ballot there are seventeen names and six contests. The republican ballot car ries five names and two contests. The line-up follows: County and State senatorial bal lot: For State Senate, second senatori al district: Zeb Vance Norman, W. Roy Hampton and E. A. Daniel. The voters will choose two of the three men. For State House of Representa tives: J. R Winslow and Clarence W. Griffin. For Judge of the Martin County Recorder’s Court: R. L. Coburn and J. C. Smith. For County Commissioner, James ville-Williams District: Joshua L. Coltrain and Charlie G. Gurkin. State Democratic ballot: For United States Senator: Giles Yeoman I^ewton, Clyde R. Hoey, Cameron Morrison, Marvin Lee Hitch, and Arthur Simmons. For Governor ...Ralph McDonald, Olla Ray Boyd and R. Gregg Cherry. For Lieutenant Governor: W. I. Ifalstaad, L. Y. Ballentine, and Jamie T. Lyda. For Secretary of State: Thad Eure and W. N. Crawford. For State Auditor: Geo. Ross Pou and Fred S. Hunter. For State Treasurer: Chas. M. Johnson and L. J. Phipps. Republican ticket carries the fol lowing two contests: For Lieutenant Governor: Robert L. Lovelace, A. Harold Morgan and George L. Greene. (Continued on page six) | Soldiers Appreciate Club’s Free Smokes The local Lions Club’s program of providing free cigarettes to serv icemen overseas is being received enthusiastically, especially by those on the receiving end. Several months ago, or shortly after our sol diers first arrived in England, the ,nlocal Hub donated and sent 23,000 1 Camels to ,,s distributed among our troops there. To indicate the appreciation ot the soldiers who received Some of those cigarettes, we are quoting the re marks received by the local club: S. Sgt. Chester J, Petrie writes, "Thanks, with people like you be i hind us, we’re sure to win, thanks I again.” * Corp. Johnny E. Mize, possibly the j ex-major league ball player, said "Thanks a lot for the cigarettes ” Sgt. Jesse W. Thornton wrote "Thanks a million for the cigar ettes. They have been greatly appre ciated by all over here. You have certainly done a great work in this I noble gesture." The local club hopes to send free : smokes to servicemen at various bat ' tlefronts throughout the world, ane they are giving the people of oui community an opportunity to con tribute through the Lions coin col lectors which are placed in busi ness houses throughout this section Rente a dime will send twi packs.to a man on the front line TOWN - FARM IN WARTIME ii iii mill nil>j~ii i1 nMlwlirn i •he rural press section of the OWt news bureau) Eggs white potatoes, fanned peas and canned green and wax beans l will be in plentiful supply through out most of the country during June, the War Food Administration re ports. Other plentiful foods now in clude: oranges, frozen vegetables: frozen baked, beans: peanut butter; citrus marmalade; raisins; dried prunes;; dry mix and dehydrated soups; soya flour, grits and flakes; wheat flour and bread; macaroni; spaghetti; noodles; oatmeal; and rye breakfast foods. Sugar consumers may apply for their 1944 home canning allotment in two periods, the Office of Price Administration reports. In each period, users may obtain up to 10 pounds of sugar per person in ad dition to five pounds available with Sugar Stamp 40 in War Ration Book 4. Persons not applying in the first period but who need sugar in the second period, may obtain up to their full 20-pounds-per-person al lowance if the application justifies that total. Resumption of manufacture of civilian-type telephones to the ex tent of 200.000 sets per quarter has been authorized by the War Produc tion Board. First deliveries are ex pected by fall. Approximately 100, 000 new orders for telephones that cannot be filled because of lack of equipment are accumulating each month. The “open kettle’’ method and the “oven” method of home canning can not be depended on to kill harm ful bacteria in food, say canning specialist in the Department of Agriculture, and in addition oven canning lias caused serious accidents wlien jars explode. The specialist recommend that fruits, tomatoes, and pickled vegetables be precooked and packed boiling hot in hot jars, with lids adjusted correctly, then processed in a boiling water bath canner with sufficient water to cover the jars. Peas, beans and other non-acid vegetables should be pack ed in the same way, but processed in a steam pressure canner. Some of the 400,000 new steam pressure can ners authorized by WPB for the canning season are now available in certain areas in the South and others should lie available throughout the country before long Many com munity food preservation centers provide local home canners with equipment and supervised instruc tions on proper canning. Medium-Sized Vote Expected in County --- According to political observers only a medium-sized vote will be cast in the county primary tomor row, the guessing ranging from 2, 800 all the way up to 3,600. Using the average guess as a foundation, it is estimated that approximately one-half the voting strength on the books will be thrown into the bat tle of the ballots. There are approx imately 5,775 names on the books, but several hundred of those belong to servicemen who are away from home and who, in most cases, are not participating in the primary con test. The following figures show the total registration first and the num ber of votes cast in the 1942 pri mary, by precincts: Jamesville, 560 and 317; Williams, 265 and 107; Griffins, 435 and 293; Bear Grass, 420 and 242; Williams ton No. 1, 752 and 348; Williamston No. 2, 848 and 536; Cross Roads, 410 and 215; Robersonville, 985 and 492; Gold Point, 165 and 105; Poplar Point, 210 and 107, Hamilton, 180 and 145; Hassell, 155 and 95; and Goose Nest, 420 and 213. The total vote was 3,215, or about 500 less than the total cast In the 1940 primary. Father Of Teacher Dies In Seaboard Mi. James?. Ht'-nAV-y, father of Miss Edith Bradley, a member of the local school faculty, died at his home ir Seaboard Wednesday night. He had been in declining health for months but his condition was not regarded serious until just a short time be fore the end. Funeral services will be conductec at Seaboard Sunday afternoon. POOR RESPONSE The response to the call for volunteer workers in the Red Cross bandage room here has been most disappointing since i the room was reopened a little over a week ago. During that period only fourteen women have visited the room to aid in 1 the urgent tasks. Material shipments were de layed and the chapter is running behind in its quota, it was point ed out. Volunteers are earnest ly asked to make every possible > effort to visit the room each af ternoon and evening. Health Services Make Plans For Malaria Control Project Plans for an extensive program for the control of the malaria mn«-I day by representatives ortho unu ed States, State and County Health Services, it was learned from John W Williams, head of the depart ment in this county. Specialists are going over the plans today, and ef forts are being made to launch the control work here next week. Few of the proposed program de tails could be had immediately, but the plans call for a special force of ten men to be supplied by the Pris oner of War camp and a foreman to be employed by the combined serv ices, It was pointed out that the proj ect is to be handled in cooperation with the Prisoner of War Camp, that boundaries and methods of proced uro wifi bo determined l"ter Ditches will be cleared and drain j it i« c'>rwderod •impractical, oil will bo used as a spray. The Roanoke River swamps on tin- Bertie side offer a big problem, and there is some doubt if they can bo included in the program now un der consideration. There was some talk about using an airplane for spraying the extensive swamp areas, but no comment could be had from official sources in that connection. It is a bit late to launch a pro gram. but it is certain that much can bo accomplished even at this late time, that owners could do much to aid the project by clearing their properties of cans .rubbish and oth er foreign material. More Martin County Men Called By Navy Ten Men Report To Navy Station From County on Thursday Six of the Group Were Taken From Farms; Fight Are Married -• Ten white men were called this week hy the Navy from the Martin County draft pool for final induc tion. The group, except one who was transferred, left yesterday for an induction station where they will be assigned to training posts. Eight of the ten men are married and leave six children behind. It is understood that all the men are un der twenty-six years of age. Six of the ten were taken from farms in the county, the other four coming from various types of indus try or work. No call has been received for men by the Army from the draft pool in this county, but one is expected momentarily. The ten men called this week for final induction received their pre liminary physical examinations on April 17. So far six of the approxi mately 36 farmers reporting for the pre-induction examinations have been called to report for active serv ice. The Navy and Army are calling for those colored youths who pass ed the pre-induction on or about the first of April. The size of the calls could not be learned, hut the men, it was learned, are to leave June 2. The names of the white men leav ing for the Navy yesterday follow: Charlie Bowen, HKD 2, William - ston. Elbert Wilmber Barber, RED 1, Jamesville Charlie Gilbert Mobley. RED I. Williamston and RED 1, Plymouth. James Ottis Bullock, RED 1, Rob ersonville. Thomas Redmond Harris, RED 1, Robersonville. Alfred Thomas Tice, RFD 1, Wil liamston. John Calvin White, Williamston. Lester Thompson Harrell, Jr., RFD 1, Palmyra. Paul Purvis Ward, Robersonville and Monroe. William Henry Leggett, RED 1, (Continued on page six) Closing Exercises In School Here Tonight j I - The school year at the Williams ton High School will be closed offi cially tonight when graduation ex ercises for the Class of 1944 will be held. Twenty-two students, seven boys and fifteen girls, have met the requirements for graduation, and will be awarded diplomas. The commencement finals are ■ ■<-hv:dul.-d .to get underway at 8'8« in the high school auditorium Tiie program follows: "Star Spangled Banner." “When 1 Was a Lad,” from H. M S. Pinafore, by Gilbert and Sulli van, Billy Myers, baritone, as Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B “The Wind’s in the South,” by John Biindie Scott, Alberta Swain, soprano soloist. “I Hear the Soft Note of the Echo ing Voice,” from “Patience” by Gil bert and Sullivan, sextet: Louise Griffin, Angela McLawhorn, Fran ces Jarman, A1 Ward, J. D. Lilley and Billy Myers with the mixed chorus. Processional. Invocation, Frances Jarman. Welcome, David Roberson, Salu tatorian. Thoughts for Today: What It Means to Be Great, Jane Goff. Science and the Future, Maurice Moore. The Freedom We Defend, Joseph Wynne, valedictorian. Presentation of Diplomas. Presen tation of Awards. Recessional. TO PLAN BOND DRIVE 1 t.j Meeting in the hotel here Sunday, financiers and other volunteers will map plans for the Fifth War Loan Drive sched uled to Ret underway through out the nation on June 12. Rep resentatives from about sixteen counties in eastern North Car olina are being called into the meeting by Mr. Biilie Woolard. regional director for the bond drive. The nation is being called upon to raise even more money than it did during the last drive. Mar tin County’s quota has not yet been announced, but it was learned that Herman A. Bow en and S. L. Roberson will head the drive in the county with the assistance of other volunteers. Forty-one Colored Men Accepted from County by Services —— Acccplunrc Pcm'iitugr About Tin* l ;u<'r>l |{<-|>oitril R((('cnlly Reporting for their pre-induction examinations on May 11, forty-one out of approximately 106 colored men answering the call were ac cepted either by the Army or the Navy, it was learned from an offi cial audit just returned to this coun ty. The acceptance percentage was believed to be about the highest re ported for any recent group of men, white or colored, leaving the coun ts'. Twenty-four men were accepted by the Army for genera! service, and seventeen by the Navy. One exami nation is still pending. Sixty-four were said to have been rejected. Nine failed to report and seven were transferred to other boards for the pre-induction examinations. No report is yet available on the group of about fifty white men who left the county for their pre-induc tion exams on Friday of last week. The following were accepted for general army service: Stephen Griffin, Jr., Larry Thom as Ruffin, Chester Peel, John Wesley Dunn, Nathaniel Broaden, Thurston Spruill Alvin Darphy Windley, Walter Edison Cordon, Spurgin Lambson, John Henry Shepard, Tarleton Davis, Julius Cherry, Rus sell Armstrong, S. T Jackson, James Ed Andrews, Elijah Fields, Jr., Cal vin Coolidge Duggins, Roman Lock, Robert Louis Davis, Oscar Jones, James Glin Williams, James Hardi son Reid and David Hopkins. The following men were accepted by the Navy: William T. Williams, Eddie San ders Clemmons, Wheeler Ben La (Continued on pa"e six) ELECTION RETURNS Ill keeping wiih its general service policy, The Enterprise is making plans to post the pri mary election returns as soon as possible after the polls close to morrow evening. The public is invited, and the cooperation of the election officials is earnest ly solicited. Martin County is usually among the very first to tabulate and report the returns in the entire State, and it is be lieved election officials will help better the record tomorrow. It is impossible to get addi tional phones installed to ex pedite the handling of the re turns. and the general public will help relieve the load on the present facilities by waiting un til the peak is past before mak ing individual inquiries, giving the election officials right of way in reporting the returns for their respective precincts. Graded School Had First Finals Program Here .May Thi' following is an account of the first graded school commencement in Williamston on May 25, 1304: Wednesday morning marked the closing of the first session of the Williamston Graded School. The patient and painstaking labors of the efficient corps of teachers mani fests itself in every way. The ex cellent beginning, however, is but an earnest example of what is to be done in the future, which bids fair to make the Williamston Graded School one of the leading educa tional factors in this section of the State, At 11 o’clock Wednesday morning Hon. John H. Small delivered the literary address to the school. He discussed education in a general way pointing out some of North Carolina's deficiencies in this line and urging more and better schools as the remedy. He showed by sta tistics that about 20 percent of North Carolina's population is un able to read and write. Mr. Small closed his speech by a brief refer ence to the Negro as the chief ob stacle in the way of more extensive education by taxation. And he sug gests as a remedy for this that in stead of giving the negro a literary education, training schools and work shops should be established to teach them the trades in order that they might make the most useful citizens possible in their sphere. Mr. Small gave us an able, learn ed and instructive address which was highly enjoyed by all whose privilege it was to hear him. At fj o'clock the commencement exercises properly given by the schools was most excellently dis <Continued on page six) Local Boy Is Hurt In | Jump from Airplane Joe Thigpen, young son of Dr. and Mrs. J. F. Thigpen of Williamston, was painfully but not seriously hurt in a low altitude jump from a train ing plane at Fort Henning, Cia., this week, according to information just received here. He suffered no brok en bones, but his body was blue and black as a result of the fall, it was learned. Placed in the hospital there, he was reported to be getting along very well and apparently is expect ed to be out soon. According to unofficial reports reaching here, several other boys were hurt in the jump, some suffer ing fractures of both legs. A note from the young man reads: "When I was home about ten days ago, a lot of friends asked me questions about the ‘chute’ troops. Besides the old reliables, ‘How was your first jump?’, and Were you not afraid?’ questions, almost every one wanted to know how it. felt to land m a tree. 1 didn't know what to tell them because I had never land ed in one. But I know now! “However, I’m still at a loss to explain it except to say it’s pretty doggone rugged! It is about like be ing in a washing machine with a couple of octupuses and they with a stick in each tenacle. “Eight of the twelve-man ‘stick’ were hospitalized, all going in the woods. I was unlucky enough to get a couple of bruisrs, so they sent me on to the hospital with the others. “1 casually told a couple of home folks when I was there that I would try to find out about tree landings for them. Unintentionally, I did, ev en if it did put me in the hospital. I’ll be out in about a week and I wanted the folks to know that I did no' let ’em down.” Report Heavy Rains In Parts Of County ——a. The backbone of the planting sea son drought was battered and brok en in several part.-* of the county last Wednesday afternoon when. rains fcli, leveling crop rows and covering acres of farm land. The ! rain, accompanied hy an electrical and hail storm, was described as one of the largest, if not a record one, in the Oak City area. “It was the largest rain I ever recalled seeing in my life,” Mr. Roger Critcher, who is over 80 years old, and who was trapped in the stonn there, was quoted as saying. Some damage was done by the rain and hail, but it is understood that most of the hail damage was cen tered on the farms of Francis Wors ley, Dennis Bunting, L. J. Daven port, Herman Manning and a few others in that area. In some instances a few farmers wili have to reset their tobacco and possibly replant a few corn crops. A small hail storm was reported in the Fairview section of Williams Township, and a heavy rain was re ported in one or two other sections of the county. Th°re are still sec tions in the county, however, that have had lil‘le or no rain in recent weeks.