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VOL. XI.
ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14, 1921
NO. 12
'MERCHANTS' GET-TOGETIIER OCCASION
BIG EVENT FOR
titer
Believed That Last Night's Banquet In Masonic
A Hall Marks Passing of Pessimism and New
Day of Business Optimism In Picture City-
One of the most helpful and In
spirational gatherings of business
men ever held In Elizabeth City was
the Merchants Association Banquet
held In the Masonic hall Thursday
night.
What might be called the keynote
address of the occasion was made by
J, W. Brownley, of Ames & Brown
ley, Inc., of Norfolk, who made busi
ness and service synonomous terms
in the larger sense of the word ser
vice. "This Is an age of organization,"
said Mr. Brownley, "and I am a be
liever in organization. But I am
not in favor of any organization that
sees no further than and exists for
nothing beyond the aggrandizement
of the Individual In it. ThiJ. organ
izatlon which makes its members
say 'I will not' and 'you shall not'
has no right to .existence among
American institutions.
"It has been said that a fair di
vider; is a great multiplier r and ex-
" perience teaches us that it is true
The good Book utters an eternal
truth In the saying: No man liveth
to himself.
"The goods that you sell to your
customers are in their quality an
expression of your character, and in
their sale you touch the homes-and
stamp your character upsn the
hearts of the people of tin communi
ty in which you live and where you
- serve."
The speaker sounded a note of
optimism as to the business outlook
for 1921; and indeed a healthful and
ajert optimism was the watchword
of every speaker of the evening.
Secretary Leonard Hpt-'aks
"I buried pessimism with 1920,"
declared J. Paul Leonard, of States
ville, secretary of the North Carolina
fvjierchants Association, first speaker
' of the evening following the welcom
ing address by Ernest L. Sawyer.
"When I think of what we have
come through," Secretary Leonard
' continued, and of how well we have
come through It I feel like saying,
'May the Lord forgive us for being
so downhearted over the disappoint
ments of 1920.
"Our 1920 troubles were none but
financial ones. .
"In 1918 we were In the grip of
rf urai Dud T a.' a a amino- tin anA dnvn
the State selling war savings stamps
to sav$ the lives or soften the hard
ships of our boys aereas the sea.
"In 1919 friends and loved ones
were dying witli influenza; but un
dertakers will tell you that th'e
times ware never so dull with them
. as they were in 1920.
"We were hard hit financially in
1920 because the purchasing power
of the farmer, with the largest crops
cultivated at the highest 'expense on
record, was cut off by five billion
dollars. ' We have heard a great
deal of criticism of the Federal Re
serve system. But I am here to
tell vou that the Federal Reserve
system is the only thing that "saved
us trom panic. As it Is we have
had no panic nothing worse than
'depression.
Tlire Was No Punic
"I am here to tell you also that
the Federal reserve system has done
all that was sanely possible for 'the
farmer and for ns. Loans on agri
cultural collateral amounted to
nearly two billion in 1920 as com
pared with 700. million only a
lj year ago. Right here In qrar own
Federal Reserve District under the
stress of moving the crop of 1920
loans based on agricultural wealth
Increased from 75 million to 225
million dollars. Does that look as if
the Federal Reserve system had
done nothing for the farmer?
"The thing that made the decline
In prices, which was bound to come,
.fit 1, .. I j.U. ,u.
merchants was- the antl-proflteering
' campaign conducted by the Govern
ment and the newspapers a year ago.
The merchants have dealt squarely
with the people. 1 challenge any
man to deny that the- retail mer
chants -were the last to go up and
the first to come down.
"There was never the time when
the need of organization was greater
than now. The stock market warned
us. had we but had our eyes open, of
the fall In the price of commodities
that was bound to come. Well the
stock market has started upward
again. Commodities are sure to fol-
TTTirrTinimiFwrig PIPKITlg" Bp.We Out
nerd to stand toother to win. A mer
BESS CITY BUSINESS
chant at Warsaw told me the other
day that attending the State meet
ing of the Merchants Association last
year was the one thing that saved
him from bankruptcy In the fall.
. We can meet the problems of 1921
it we will put our heads together to
I solve them. More, frequent meet
ings like this one are the need."
The Gentleman From Kinston
Business Is slow but business is
sound," said C. H. Van Hervie, Sec
retary of the Kinston Chamber of
Commerce.
"Prosperity is just around the
corner. It's up to us to go out and
meet it.
"There is money in the country.
The only trouble is getting it out."
Secretary Van Hervie then told in
detail how the Kinston merchants,
in the dullest season and at a time
when their courage was at lowest
ebb, brought the money in that suc
tion out of hiding and within seven
days turned into the tills of Kinston
merchants over $361,000 in cash.
"You can do it here, he said.
When I look at this splendid body of
men I am sure that right here
among you is the man to take the
lead in this matter and put it over
big. And I looked over your stores
to-day. I must compliment you on
them. They look good to me bet
ter, I am bound to CQnfes, than do
those of my own town of Kinston. If
Kinston merchants could take in
$361,000 in seven days ymi ought to
M)e able to do better."
Toastmaster Gilbert, at the con
clusion of Secretary Hervie's talk,
asked for a showing as to how the
merchants present, stood on the
question of undertaking Kinston's
plan and practically unanimous ap
proval was indicated.
In his address of welcome E. L.
Sawyer contrasted merchandising
here twenty-eight years ago, when
the city was without telephones or
electric lights, when there was not a
single exclusive wholesale store in
the city and when he in his father's
store looked after the oil lamps,
kept the coal fires burning, sprinkled
and swept the floor and transmitted
all telephonic communications by
ankle express, with conditions today
when there are nearly two hundred
retail stores and a score or more
wholesale hoii3s, each with its trav
elling salesmen covering all this ter
ritory. No Dull Moments
Toastmaster Gilbert kept things
moving and there were no dull mo
ments during the entire evening.
A most pleasing feature of the
program were the musical numbers
rendered by Mrs. A. R. Nicholson, so
loist, Miss Emma Cobb, pianist, and
H. C. Routt, violinist. There was
singing by the entire assembly at the
opening and close of the program.
Invocation and benediction wera
pronounced by Rev. Mr. Myers, pas
tor of City Road Methodist Church.
The elaborate menu, prepared by
the ladies of City Road Methodist
Church, was served with graca and
ease without hurry or confusion and
no perceptible period of waiting be
tween courses.
All arrangements for the banquet,
both by the ladies who served it and
by the banquet committee of the as
sociation, had been made with such
careful attention to detail th'at the
entire program went through with
out a hitch or any feature to mar the
pleasure of the evening, and the com
mittee and the- ladies were given a
unanimous rising vote of thanks by
those present.
A New Courage
Every man attending who was
heard to express himself at all
echoed the words of Toastmaster
Gilbert. "I amolng back to my bu
siness tomorrow with a netf spirit of
optimism, courage and enthusiasm,
ard with the determination to make
1921 the best year In the history of
my business."
It Is believed that this meeting
will definitely mark an end of the
depression that has for some time
pcavailed in business circles here
and the beginning of a more optimis
tic attitude on' the part of the mer
chants and the public In general.
Those conjposing the banquet
committee were A R. Nicholson, J.
T. Stallings, T. T. Turner II. S. Over
man, M. Leigh Shpen. K. P. Rnnmw
fluxion -White, Tommle Hughes and
Camden Blades.
King's Counsel
Badly Wounded
By Men Who Forced Way Into
His Home in Dublin
Message
Says
London, Jan. 14. William Mc
Grath, King's counsel In Dublin, was
severely wounded when fired upon
by men who forced an entrance into
his home early today, says a Dublin
dispatch. McGrath was struck by
several bullets.
CONFERENCES ABOUT
PROBLEMS OF CONGRESS
Marion, Jan. 14. Harding's con
ferences again covered a wide va
riety of public questions today with
problems of legislation at the pres
ent session of Congress predominat
ing. Three members of the House were
among his callers. He also had ap
pointments with Col. Theodore
Roosevelt and former Governor
Forbes and Judge Johnson, of the
Philippine Islands.
MEET SUNDAY
AT ALKRAMA
Local W. C. T. U. Celebrates
National Constitutional Pro
hibition In Service of Song
And Speaking
The Elizabeth City W. C. T. U.
will celebrate the first anniversary!
of ; National Constitutnonal Prohibi
tion in a service at the Alkrama Sun
day afternoon at three o'clock to
which the public is extended a most
cordial invitation.
The meeting will begin with a
son? service led by Frank Hufly.
Rev. II. E. Myers of City Road
Church will pronounce the invoca
tion, after which Rev. It. K. Wil
liams, pastor of the First Baptist
Church, will read the Crusade
Psalm 146.
Addresses by J. C. 1!. Khringhaus,
J. IS. Leigh and I..M. Meekins, will
follow, interspersed with musical se
lc';'i:.:3. Rev. J. M. (). niond, pas
tor of the First Methodist Church,
will take the collection, and after
the singing of "Bless be, the tie that
binds," Rev. G. F. Hill, rector of
Christ church, will pronounce the
benediction.
It I?, hoped that t Alkrama will
be packed, for 'the entire service,
both music and speaking, will be well
worth hearing.
Denies Making
Allies Proposal
Munich, Jan. 14. General Lud
endorf denies that he has presented
a memorial to the Allies proposing
a joint offensive against Russia by
England. France and Germany.
He also denied any connection
with General Hofman, who recently
said "Pershing or Foch should lead
the' world army against the Bolshe
vik!." HALLOOXISTS IX NEW YORK
New York, Jan. 14. Kloor, Far
rell and Hlnton, American balloon
lsts returning to the United States
after their spectacular flight into
Canada, arrived here today, exactly
one. month since they landed near
Moose Factory after their balloon
flight from Rockaway.
A crowd of relatives and nnval of
ficers greeted the balloonims, who
declared they were none the worse
for their adventure and lined up for
the photographers apparently with
the Bust of feeling.
Greeks Advance
On Briissa Front
London, Jan. 14. The Greeks
have made another Important ad
vance against the Turkish Nation
alists on the Brussa front, according
to the Greek legation here.
TO AMEND TARIFF
Washington, Jan. 14. Decision
to open the house emergency tariff
bill to amendment was made today
by tho Senate finance committee.
IIASKETnALL TONIGHT
There will be a boys' basketball
?ame between the Elizabeth City
M'gh School team and the Edenton
High School team at the Y. M. C. A
tonight at eight o'clock.
Adm'sslon Is twenty-five and
;hlrty-flve cents.
i irnTnnaTnrr
Norfolk. Va., to undergo an opera
Hon at Sarah Leigh Hospital.
BELLAMY URGES
"BETTER BABIES"
At Least His Measure If Passed
Would Give Some of Them
Better Fathers And Mothers
Raleigh, Jan. 14 Applicants de
sirous -of embarking upon the ma
trimonial sea in North Carolina will
be required to satisfy the Register of
Deeds that they are safe and sound,
both physically and mentally, if a
bill Introduced in tl House Tuesday
morning by Representative Bennett
II. Bellamy of New Hanover passes
the required three readings in both
houses of the General Assembly.
Representative Bellamy in writlne1
the bill specifies a physical cxamlna-i
tioii of all applicants for license to
marry and a certificate trom a repu-i
table physician or from tiie county',
health ot.ieer whose duty It shall
be to examine such applicants and
issue such
certificates without
charge.
Issuance of a license to marry i
without the presentation by the ap
plicant of a health certificate shall'
bo fined "not less than $2(ii) or lm-,
prisonment for thirty days." A sim-j
ilar fine and imprisonment for six i
months in tin event the physician i
issuing the certificate lmikes any I
false statment as to tlje applicant's!
mental and physical condition. The'
bill further provides: ;
"No license to marry shall bo is-j
sued by thesReglster of Deeils of any
county to a male applicant therefor!
except upon presentation by the said
male applicant of a certificate execu
ted within seven days from the time1
of presentation of the said certificate!
to the Register of Deeds" which will!
show the "non-existence of any vene-j
ral disease, the non-existence of tu-'
berculosis of the infectious stage,!
and that tiie applicant has not been ,
legally adjudged to be insane, nor1
shall any license be Issued to any fe-i
male applicant who shall not present
a certificate showing' the non-es:s-tonce
of tuberculosis of the infec-i
tious stages and that the applicant!
has not been legally adjudged to be'
Insane. j
Reprtst ntative - Mumford, of i
Wake, introduced a b'll seeking to
amend the law regulating the sale
of conceal; d weapons bo that per-
mils for the purchase of firearms '
may be issued by mayors of the I
towns of the State instead of or in j
addition to the cerk3 of superior,
court. ' j
Morrison'! First Message
Governor Morrison said today that)
he was not ready to discuss any of j
the recommendations he bad in
mind for the General Assembly, but!
that he would in all probability go!
before a joint session of the legls-!
lators within the next two or three;
days I
It is known that Governor Morri-j
son will in his first message, make
some recommendations with refer
ence to the enactment of a new sys
tem of taxation. The Governor in
dicated as much in his inaugural ad
dress but did not go at length into
the subject because he desired to
talk directly to the members of the
legislature.
His recommendations on taxation
will he of particular'' Interest to the
citizens of North Carolina.
Compensation Act
Advocates of the workmen's com
pensation act for North Carolina
are somewhat leary of the fate of
the recommendations made by fie1
commission appointed at the special j
aes3lon of the General Assembly and I
at this time there are Indications
that the bill may not be written up
on the statute books of the State.
Organized labor is literally up In
arms over the commission's report
to the legislature for an act similar
to the one now In force in the State
of Virginia. Inasmuch as the lab
orers are more vitally Interested In
the proposed legislation than any
body else there Is a disposition that
the bill, when It Is drawn will be
defeated or radically amended.
Senator J. L. DeLaney, of Char
lotte, has a bill he proposes to In
troduce which will satisfy the
unionized laborers, but It Is not
known whether It will be agreeable
to the employers and the manufac
turers. The provisions of tho pro
posed bill as submitted by the com
mission follows:
The scale of compensation Is
sixty per cent of the weekly wag"
for a gradual period not to exceed
500 weeks except In cases of total
disability. Relief accorded by the
proposed bill will entail no outlay
from the treasury except a tempor
ary appropriation of 10,000.
-Tnr ijrgniiw linrgiirKx'CTiahgo-
A bill Is now pending In ths leg
islature whlrh would legalize the
DROWN GETS VERDICT
WITHOUT TAKING STAND
The defense in the case of the j
Home Development Company vs. C.
W. Brown was awarded a verdict !
Thursday afternoon without putting
on a witness, the Jury holding after
hearing the argument that the plain
tiff company had failed to make out
a case.
The suit was entered to set aside
a deed to Brown for the old Citizens
Bank building which It was alleged
that Brown had obtained by fraud.
Thursday morning witnesses for
the plaintiff were still on the stand
and observers thought that the en
tire afternoon would be taken up
with evidence for the defense. When
the defense decided to go to the jury
without offering any evidence, the
end of the trial' was hastened." The
Jury took the case at 5:15 and
brought in a verdict within five
minutes.
Superior Court adjourned Friday
morning and Judge Allen left for
his home In Kinston.
BROOKS FAVORS
PRESENT PLAN
Of Selecting County Boards of
Education, But Bitter Fight
Next Week On Subject Is
Predicted
Raleigh, Jan. 14. Prospects of a
bitter fight over a proposed bill at
the present session of the General
Assembly which would require the
election of all county boards of edu
cation by popular vote are now
cropping out as the legislators get
down to real hard work.
While the survey made b the
educational... commission recently
urged that 'the law be changed pro
viding for this manner of selecting
the members of the educational de
partments of the various counties
Dr. E. C. Brooks, State Superinten
dent o(f Public Instruction, in his
report to the governor has recom
mended that no change be effected.
There is some sentiment among the
House members to ignore the rec
ommendation of Dr. Brooks and put
the bill over.
But it is going to develop upon
the Republican members to sponsor
the bill, and they will doubtless start
the movement during the next week.
Democratic members Interviewed
frankly admit that the present plan
of having the county board appoint
ed from Raleigh works an injustice
upon the minority party in some
counties, particularly in those coun
ties that are regularly and over
whelmingly Republican. They are
inclined to vote for the change, but
would prefer that the fight be start
ed by members qf the opposition. I
A number of counties are already'
naming their county boards by
popular vote, Mecklenburg offering
a striking example. There are oth
er counties which will likely be ask
ed to come under the Mecklenburg
plan at this session even 'if a law
applying to the SJato a3 d wi,0(,
fails of passage.
Secret Hullot Popular
During the first week of the ses
sion a number of counties have been
placed under the Australian ballot
system, indicating In the minds of
some of the legislators Including
Representative Emmett H. Bellamy,
of Wilmington, that there is an
abundance of sentiment in North
Carolina for the secret ballot.
The wishes of the women voters
!s believed expressed by Miss Exum
C'r meat, of Ashcvlllo, who !: here
for the first time as representative
in the lower house from Buncombe
County, who has already Introduced
a State-wide bill providing for priv
acy In balloting. There are other
friends of this plan although they
are not Inclined to endorse com
pletely tho Australian system. The
tate Federation of Labor is said to
favor the system and will ask their
representatives In tho Assembly to
vote for It.
HOWEX-STEKLE
Mr. Jami-s Thomas Bowen and
Miss Lillle Mae Steele, both of Nor
folk. wero married by Rev. H. K.
Williams Thursday afternoon at his
home on West Main street.
charging of exchange between banks
'n Nortli Carolina. Senator Oates,
of Hendersonvllle, who Introduced
the bill, declares that the act will
correct the discrimination In the
ruling of the Federal Reserve Board
requiring a non-member bank to
flear all checks and papers at par.
Tiie bill provides that a fee of ten
sintK mfy be chargcd for clearing
"-t exceed one-eighth of one per
rpnt for handling.
N. Y. POLICE
ARE ON GUARD
Intimated That Warning of
Radical Demonstrations Was
Given Last Night By Federal
Authorities
New York, Jan. 14 Public
lie buildings, churches, public
utility plant3 and homes of(
wealthy citizens throughout
the city are under heavy guard
today by police order a3 a pre
cautionary inearure against,
possible radical demonstration.
The police officials are ex
tremely reticent concerning the
order given verbally last night
to the entire police force but
they intimated that it was
prompted by federal authority.
Washington, Jan. 14. Warning
of the threatened demonstration with
bombing activities In New York has
been received by the government
from a reputable private detective
agency, Department of Justice ofli
cials said today.
An investigation is being made,
but Federal agents are unable to
find any evidence that demonstra
tions aTe to occur.
PERET TO FORM NEW
FRENCH CABINET
Paris, Jan. 14. Raoul Peret,
president of the chamber of depu
ties, hns been asked by Millorand
to form the cabinet to succeed the
one headed by - Georges Leygues,
which resigned yesterday.
AWAITS FURTHER
WORD FROM JAPS
State Department Expecting
Assurances of Japanese In
tention to Make' Repetition
Killing Incident Improbable
Washington, Jan. 14. Satisfac
tory assurances by the Japanese gov
ernment that its regrets over the
killing of Lieutenant W. II. Lang
don, 6f the Cruiser Albany, by a
Japanese sentry, would be supple
mented by convincing proof of Its
intention to make similar incidents
Improbable were awaited today by
the State Department.
Confidence that the Japanese gov
ernment would make adequate rep
aration for the killing was expressed
by the State Department In a note
despatched last night to Tokyo.
Foreign Office oflicials are inclined
to regard the end of tho Inc'dent aa
In sight.
INCENDIARY FIRE RAGES
IN PENNSYLVANIA TOWN
Clearfield, Pa., Jan. 14. Fires
believed to be of Incendiary origin,
broke out at Madera, near here, to
day at 9:30, destroying thirteen
buildings at an estimated loss of
a quarter of a million dollars, and
the fire is still burning.
The fire was brought under con
trol only after the buildings In the
path of the flames had been dyna
mited. Madera Is a thriving town In the
bituminous coal district.
Whites Outnumber Blacks
Two to One In Richmond
Richmond, Jan. 14. The negrj
population of Richmond Is 54,047:
whlto, 117,565.
All other races number 55.
FEDERAL TROOPS WITHDRAWN
Charleston. W. Va.. July 14.
Federal troops on duty In I ho Min
go County coal strike zone begin to
move out tomorrow on tholr return
to Camp Sherman, Ohio. The move
ment will be gradunt and It "will be
some time -before ail troops havo
been withdrawn.
This was announced today by
Governor Cornwcll.
SENATOR WILLIS SEATED
Washington, Jan. 14. Former
Governor Willis, of' Ohio, took his
seat In the Senate today as succes
sor to President-elect Harding, who
has resigned for the remainder of
his term expiring March fourth.'
MrH7Ttr7irelYurncld, of Goidsboro,
Is visiting her grandmother, Mrs, II.
O. Sudberry, 324 West Main street.