North Carolina Newspapers

A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 12,000 people. The Roanoke Beacon * * * + * * * and Washington County News ******* Advertisers will 6nd Beacon and News columns a latch-key to 1,100 Washington County homes. VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 14 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, April 2, 1937 ESTABLISHED 1889 MORE THAN 500 SOCIAL DISEASE CASES IN COUNTY Important That Domestic Servants Take The Wasserman Test Social diseases are prevalent in Washington County on a large scale, reliable reports indicating there are as many as 500 cases of syphilis in the county, and that only one out of every 27 cases in the State as a whole is treated. inis disease, being determined a social disease, many are ashamed to be examined and treated for it in its early stages and only ask for medical aid when pain drives them to seek relief, and by the time it leaches this stage it is hard to handle. Figures released by federal of ficials indicate that one out of every ten persons is a sufferer while here in North Carolina this ratio is ex pected to be twice as great. It is more prevalent here than it was first thought to be even by phy sicians. There are instances here in Wash ington County where domestic serv ants have been dismissed and it has been known to have been found in the schools. Neither of these suf fers were taking the treatment to prevent its spread and to cure it. Employers here, especially those who have servants for nurses, maids and cooks are having their help take the Wasserman tests which re veal the germ in the blood while sores on their skin point to it as an outside evidence. Diseases of the blood vessels and heart are traced to this trouble while blindness is a common result. Many of the sufferers are driven in sane. Deformities are some times traced to syphilis. The disease has preyed upon the bodies of expectant mothers who transmitted it to chil dren. As many as half of the victims are said to have acquired the disease in nocently as it can be contracted by touching food or articles handled by sufferers or using vessels used by the victims. There are just about as many male purveyors of the germ as there are females in this county. One phy sician alone in Plymouth is treating about 50 sufferers at this time. And there are a large number of suffer ers among the white as well as a mong the negroes. Within the last 12 months there have been at least two lectures with one of them being illustrated by slides on the alarming spread of the disease and how it effects the suf fered as well as treatments that are said to have remarkably successful results. This with the aid of clubs and or ganizations scattered over the coun ty and state are waging a relentless war against this dreaded social ail ment. Medical science has a test to determine whether the person is af fected ana also a treatment to cure. Health officials lament the fact that too many are too modest about the disease and are hesitant about consulting a doctor before the disease has had time to fortify a gainst treatment and thus make the cure more difficult. -<s> Highway Patrol May Be Englarged With Federal Aid —«— Federal Government Plans To Aid Highway Safety Program In State -— From 15 to 20 more men will be added to the state highway patrol if Congress enacts the bill introduc ed in'the Senate by Senator Russell, of Georgia, to appropriate $2,000,000 a year with which to assist those .states which already have state high way patrols and highway safety or ganizations, it was pointed out today by Director Arthur Fulk, of the high way safety division. The bill giv ing the governor authority to trans fer the highway patrol and drivers’ license division from the department of revenue to his office also con tained a provision authorizing the state to participate in this fund if and when it should become avail able. “The Russell bill has not yet been enacted, setting aside $2,000,000 a year to be apportioned to the states to assist them in maintaining high way patrols, but our information from one or two members of the North Carolina delegation in Wash ington is that the outlook for its en actment is very good,” Director Fulk said. “If it is enacted, it will en able us to add a number of addi tional patrolmen to the highway pa trol.” Ho file and ciubNews By Mary Frances Misenheimer Monday, Busy Bee Club. Tuesday, Hoke Club. Tuesday night, Roper Club. Wednesday, Beech Grove. Thursday, Chapel Hill. Saturday, curb market, 8:30. Don’t fail to visit curb market every Saturday morning at 8:30. Fresh vegetables are always avail able. Miss Lula Watson led the curb market sales this past Satur day. The County Bridge Club had 99 per cent attendance at their club meeting Monday. Good attendance always adds interest to the meet ing. After the regular club meet ing a surprise ■fehower was given to the secretary, Miss Blanche Lilley. Swain Club made goals for the year at their last meeting. The first goal was for the interest of the com munity, to beautify the church grounds. Other important goals were made which will mean a lot to the club members and will strength en the club. The clothing leader, Mrs. C. W. Owens, of Creswell Club, reported having attended the clothing lead ers’ school. She gave an interest ing sketch of the lesson given by Miss Hunter. The Alba Home Demonstration club meeting was postponed on ac count of the canning demonstration scheduled for Friday afternoon. Alba Club’s canning leader, food leader, and secretary attended the meeting at the courthouse. Twenty-five club members attend ed the food leaders’ school Tuesday afternoon which was conducted by Miss Sallie Brooks, assistant nutri tion specialist of Raleigh. A study of the busy day meal was made and a demonstration given of dishes that can be used for the busy day meal. The following clubs scored 100 per cent for attendance at the lead ers’ school: Roper, Chapel Hill, We nona, Cherry, Mount Tabor, County Bridge, Pleasant Grove, Swain, Al ba, Creswell, Cross Roads, Cool Spring, and Lake Farm. -Jb ■ Hold Conferences For WPA Foremen —®—— Foremanship conferences that are being held weekly in Williamston to instruct WPA supervisors in the knack of handling workers is at tended by five from Washington County. G. L. Bobbitt and H. L. Rayburn are in charge. Those attending from here are: W. B. Cox, county project super visor, of Plymouth; Roy T. Hopkins, Creswell, foreman of the Cherry Roper-Plymouth road; Joseph T. Weede, Plymouth, sanitary privies; Robert L. Tetterton, foreman, agri culture building; Willie Myers, fore man, malaria control. The subjects being discussed at these conferences include planning of work, job assignment, workmen technique, accurate and timely con duct of operation and foreman workman relationship. This train ing will develop in the foreman a broader view of his responsibilities, assist him in developing leadership qualities; stimulate pride in job; en able him to win confidence of su bordinates; and place before prin ciples of management. Mrs. J. J. Hassell Dies Suddenly - ■ ♦ Funeral services were held at the home in Roper Wednesday after noon for Mrs. J. J. Hassell, wife of the mayor of Roper, who died sud denly at the home of Rev. M. L. Ambrose during a church function. She complained of a dizzy feeling and then slumped to the floor, ex piring in a few minutes. Officiating were Rev. Mr. Am brose, pastor of the Christian church Dr. G. A. Martin, of the Baptist, and Rev. W. W. Watson, of the Meth odist, with the interment taking place in the Methodist cemetery with a large crowd attending the last rites. Surviving is her husband, and the following children: Mrs. B. G. O’ Brien, of Asheville; May land Has sell, Norfolk: Jack Hassell, senior class in chemical engineering at State College; and sisters, Mrs. E. V. Norman, Fayetteville; Mrs. Mac Wilson, Norfolk; Mrs. John Mar shall, Norfolk. NYA HELPS MANY NEEDY BOYS AND GIRLS IN COUNTY Noticeable Lack of Loiter ing on Down-Town Streets “The Washington County NYA is steadily climbing upward in the number of deserving youths it is able to put to work. There is a no ticeable lack of young boys and girls loitering on the down-town streets or sitting in drug stores wishing for something to do,” says Miss Helene Duvall, director. “When a boy or girl finishes school or stops in the grades with no spec ial training or experience in any work it is almost impossible to get any work but manual labor without some help and guidance. The NYA is taking these boys and girls, giv ing them a definite task to do that requires extra thought and effort for a few hours a day and seeing that they do it right and benefit by the training. in me meantime me ui ill c,ai olina State Employment Service and various private employers either al ready have or will be furnished de tailed information of each youth’s skill in his particular work his progress and his suitability for any job that may be open. This leaves it definitely up to the youth to show his ambition, his intelligence, and skill and ability to take advantage of an opportunity.” The Washington County project has five girls who are being instruct ed in library work, book-binding, and mending, and how to conduct a library while they are working in the various public and school li braries. There are five youths who have been given the opportunity to improve their typewriting speed and accuracy while doing simple routine office work. Colored youths are be ing given instruction in gardening and landscape beautifying around the colored schoolhouses. Four youths have gone to private employ ment in the last two months. The NY A has been able to do these things through the splendid coop eration of the county officials and many good people of the town. -if Mrs. J. L. Knowles Dies in Hospital -<|0 Funeral services were held Fri day afternoon for Mrs. Pattie Mi zelle Knowles, 68, widow of the late J. L. Knowles, who died in January, with Rev. N. A. Taylor officiating. Interment took place in the Billy Mizelle cemetery near Roper. Mrs. Knowles, who died in a Rocky Mount Hospital, was born near Roper, where she lived until sire married Mr. Knowles, and since has lived in the Dardens section of Martin County. Surviving are three children: Mrs. Charlie Hough, Char lotte; Mrs. J. H. Reddick, Dardens; and a son* J. Linwood Knowles, Dar dens. Active pall-bearers were Louis Mizelle, Willie Mizell, Johnny Allen, Clyde Chesson, Grady Chesson, Worth Poyner, Lonnie Peele, Ed Davenport. Honorary: Edwin Get singer, Clarence Kelly, Roy Swain, J. H. Davenport, Dr. T. L. Bray, Dr. C. McGowan, J. C. Hough, John Jackson, Goldie Simpson, Elmer Mi zelle, Elton Ange, Guy Napier, Her shall Daniels. Writes About "Our Debt to the Farmer’ Below is a copy of a paper ad judged as the best of a group sub mitted on, “Our Debt to the Far mer.” This was written by J. C. Jones of the Plymouth High School. Others writing splendid papers were Phil Liverman, Randolph Jordon, Marvin Sexton and Brinson Cox. “Folks never stop long enough to think where they get their most nourishing foods such as milk, eggs, butter, meat, fruits and many other things to keep the body in a good physical condition. All of these come from the farmer. “Farmers raise cattle to get leath er for shoes. Wool comes from the sheep grown on the farms. “Years ago the farmer was class ed as among ihe ignorant. They had no good farm equipment. Land was broken by tree limbs, seed planted by hand and harvested by hand. But today farmers have machines. They are used to break the land, seed it and harvest the grain. And fertil izer is available now to make the seed grow. ‘Today the farmer stands out in society like others. “Our greatest debt today is to the farmer.” Farm Notes By W. V. HAYS, County Agent A number of irish potato growers plan to grow sweet potatoes fol lowing the early potato crop. In this case it is advisable to use about 200 pounds per acre of potash. Other wise the sweet potatoes produced will be jumboes, coarse and possib ly cracked. More poultry houses, brick brood ers and brooder houses have been built in this past winter and spring than have been built in our county in a number of years. This is a profitable thing to do but around many of these houses we do not see any green stuff whatever. There should be young oats showing a round brooder houses if baby chicks are put in any time shortly. Oats should be planted not less than at the rate of three bushels per acre. Where the space is limited, five bushels per acre would be a much better rate of seeding. There has been considerable in terest in sexed chicks or pullets. There may be some advantage in this especially with white leghorns where cockerels do not sell so well as broners but with these chicks priced about fifty per cent higher than regular chicks it has not been recommended by our extension poul try specialist up to this time. We wish to recommend and sponsor North Carolina hatched baby chicks. We believe that North Carolina chicks well worth a few cents each more than chicks bought more than five hundred miles away. North Carolina should have some of the best breed starters of all breeds ob tainable at any place. North Caro lina chickens in all classes have ben outstanding at the big shows all over the United States. Civil Calendar for One Week of Court Convening April 12 Judge J. Paul Frizzelle, of Snow Hill, To Preside Over Short Term The calendar of the civil term of Washington County Superior Court which convenes here for one week beginning April 12 with Judge J. Paul Frizzelle presiding, is as fol lows: Monday April 12.—Henrie Spruill against Farmville-Woodward Lum ber Company; Ruth Burgess against Farmville-Woodward Lumber Co.; Mary Pharr vs. Farmville-Woodward Lumber Co.; C. M. Davenport a gainst T. H. Davenport and H. H. Clifton against T. H. Clifton. Tuesday, April 13.—Cox Motor Company against John Ataman chuck; G. W. Harrison against Rec. Norfolk Southern Railroad Com pany; Lillie Gaylord against Rec. Norfolk Southern Railroad Com pany; J. L. Halsey against Clara E. Snell, executrix. Wednesday, April 14.—Washing Production Credit Association a gainst T. H. Davenport et al; W. H. Benchette et al against Sarah F. Nurney et al; Hopewell Nolmes a gainst L. Holliday et al; Jerry McL. Harris against Wade Waters; Butler Brothers against A. B. Spruill et al. Divorce and motion cases will be called at the pleasure of the court, Clerk C. V. W. Ausbon said. -v 14 Licenses To Marry Issued Marriage licenses have been is sued to 14 couples by Mrs. Mary Smith Cahoon since the first of 1937, with 8 being colored and 6 white, as follows: White Claire Wilson, Plymouth, to Mil dred Tetterton, Plymouth; Delmer Harris, Plymouth to Oner Bee Har dison, Dardens; Rufus Cahoon, Co lumbia, to Cora Patrick, Creswell; Harold Harrison, Plymouth, to Ha zel Riddick, Plymouth; Joseph M. Chesson, Roper, to Dizzie Marie Phelps, Creswell; Joe Thomas Woodley, Creswell, to Marie Phelps, Creswell. Colored Joseph Hornablew, Creswell, to Elmer Jane Rhodes, Creswell: Har dison Reeves, Creswell, to Blanche Palin, Creswell; William Ballance, Windsor, to Bertha Small, Plymouth Dink Brown, Roper, to Wilmer Nor man, Roper; Milton D. Downing, Roper, to Helen Purnell, Roper; Jethro James, Jamesville, to Ruth James, Jamesville; Rob Roy Spruill, Roper, to Gertrude Norman, Roper; Charlie Bell, Plymouth, to Mildred Staton, Plymouth. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS RATED IN LIBERAL CLASS Frazier-Lemke Farm Debt Moratorium Bill Ruled Valid by 5-4 Majority The United States Supreme Court this week turned liberal and re versed itself when it handed down three opinions recognized as liberal, Justice Roberts turning the tide against the conservative ranks when he switched his position to give a five-to-four majority in the decision upholding the right of states to fix minimum wages for women. The court unanimously upheld the revised Frazier-Lemke farm mortgage act, making billions of dollars of farm indebtedness eligible to three-year moratoriums. An other unanimous decision followed when the court upheld the railway labor act guaranteeing collective bargaining to rail workers. Fourteen years ago the Supreme Court invalidated a District of Co lumbia minimum wage law for wo men. Less than a year ago, the court, by a five-to-four decision, de clared New York’s law unconstitu tional. This week, it sustained a similar statute from the State of Washington. Associate Justice Roberts, long recognized as a balance of power of the court, voted against the New York law last year, and for the Washington statute this week. In his latter action, he left the court’s “conservative” block of Mc Reynolds, Sutherland, Van Devan ter and Butler. For them Associate Justice Sutherland read in indig nant dissent, obviously aimed di rectly at the proponents of the President’s bill. “If the constitution, intelligently and reasonably construced .. .stands in the way of desirable legislation, the blame must rest upon that in strument, and not upon the court for enforcing it according to the terms,” Sutherland said. “The rem edy is that situation—and the only true remedy—is to amend the con stitution.” With the Senate already engaged in a spirited debate on the court issue, Senator Robinson, the Demo cratic leader, announced the de cision on the Washington law to his colleagues with a shouted assertion that: “The court has completely re versed itself.” “I assume the Senator is delight ed,” interjected Senator Wheeler, leading opponent of the President’s bill. “Of course, I am delighted,” said Robinson. “I’ve never been able to understand the theory on which the Supreme Court held unconstitu tional the New York minimum wage law, nor for that matter the District of Columbia wage law.” While Robinson was talking, Sen ator Schwellenbach, Democrat, of Washington, an administration Sen ator but uncommitted on the Pres ident’s bill, said the decision indi cated that the discussion aroused by that measure was having “some effect” on the court. Senator Clark, Democrat, Mis souri, an opponent of the court legislation, said he did not think the reversal would have any effect in the battle over the legislation. Letters Are Given To Roper Athletes —$— The following members of the Roper basketball team were award ed their letters recently: Boys, Lu gene Mitchell Waston, Benjamin1 Carl Bray, jr., Thomas Williford Ainsley, Johnnie Watson Everette, Asa Fitch Johnston. Girls: Carolyn Spruill, Sarah Frances Leary, Eva Virginia Chesson, Virginia Mae Ain sley, Lula Mae Ange, Hazel Lee White, Margaret Elsie Knowles. County Man Tried In Federal Court Colon Bowen, well-known young man of this county, twice in the toils of the law on charges grow ing out of the sales, handling and such of untaxed liquor, was given 18 months in the Federal peniten tiary and was fined $200 and asses sed half of the tax on the illicit beverage with the total amounting to about $500 that he must pay the government. This sentence was meted out in Federal court at Washington this week by Judge I. M. Meekins. The cases against Preston Midgett and Jack Williams were continued. They were arranged on similar charges. Judson Pearce was given a year and a day. The Learys from down the county were also given sen tences. About Town 1 A fild day program will be given by the colored schools of Washing ton County at Roper on April 9, with E. V. Wilkins and J. J. Clem mons and W. H. Berry, Plymouth, in charge. A parade, literary pro gram, music, exhibitions, and ath letics feature the events, which start at 9:15, ending at 3 p. m. A revival will begin m the Pen tecostal Holiness Church in Roper on the second Sunday, April 11, with Rev. E. W. Downing, of Nashville, as the speaker. Special music will also feature the meeting. Everyone is urged to attend. Members of the Lion’s Club of Plymouth have decided not to have a meeting on April 8, but instead will go to Williamston, attending the charter night program of the re cently organized club in that place. President E. B'. Still will lead the delegation from here. W. S. Corriher, of Wilson, a rep resentative of the Lovelace-Green Motor Company, distributors of the Hudson and Terraplane motor cars, was here this week interviewing sev eral local men in an effort to estab lish an agency for his cars here which may be done. Farmers interested in livestock growing are urged to attend the field meeting at the Blackland Experi ment Station at Wenona on April 8, says W. V. Hays, farm agent. Ob servation of experimental work will begin at 10:30 a. m. Lunch will be served at nominal cost by ladies. Miss Misenlieimer Named Captain in Drive on Cancer ro Lead Work in County; Assistant for Each Pre cinct To Be Named Miss Mary Frances M'isenheimer, home demonstration agent and pres ident of the Junior Woman’s Club of Plymouth, has been informed of her appointment as captain for the Washington County division of the Women’s Field Army of the Ameri can Society for the Control of Can cer. Miss Misenheimer will name a lieutenant in each precinct in the county to assist her in this work. She will cooperate with a program that will be in charge of Mrs. W. S. Carawan, of Columbia, who is vice commander of the first congression al district. The quota of Washington County is $50. It costs $1 each to have the name enrolled as a member of this organization. Seventy per cent of this money remains in the state, while 30 per cent is sent to national headquarters. Assisting Miss Mis enheimer will be the following: Mrs. Sidney Smithson, Creswell; Miss Alice Ambrose, Roper; Misses Mar tha Mayo, chairman; Flonnie Davis and Ruth Modlin, Plymouth. ihe purpose of the campaign is to enlist women in a campaign to re duce cancer mortality. They advise early fights to cure the disease be fore it gets a hold on the body. Campaigns will be waged through publications, and they hope to se cure the name and address of every sufferer in this section. When any of the following signs appear the victim is urged to see a physician at once: “Sudden changes in growth in the form of a mole or wart: persistent indigestion; any sore that doesn’t heal, particularly about the tongue, mouth or lips; any irregular bleeding or discharge from any body openings; any persistent lump or thickening, especially of the breast.” Justices of the Peace Named bv Assembly The following justices of the peace of Washington County have been appointed for a term of six years, begining April 1: Plymouth Township: Walter H. Paramore, G. W. Harrison, J. T. Mc Nair, S. D. Davis, John W. Darden. Lees Mills Township: Robert W. Lewis, W. A. Swain, E. A. Everett, Thomas W. Norman. Skinnersville Townhip: W. W. White, H. L. Davenport, M. F. Dav enport, J. W. Alexander. Scuppernong Township: J. P. Snell, T. F. Davenport, J. A. Combs, Joe Hathaway. These men must qualify within 90 days after April 1. C. V. W. Aus bon, clerk of the superior court, has received the notice of their appoint ment by the General Assembly from Thad Eure, secretary of state. PERMITS MUST BE SECURED BEFORE BURNING BRUSH -9 State Warden Urges En forcement of Recently Enacted Legislation Below is a letter from W. C. Mc Cormack, chief of state forest fire control, to S. F. Darden, county fire warden of Washington County, in regard to the securing of permits by all parties desiring to burn their premises for planting or other pur poses. “In view of the fact that this is a new law, and that the people are not familiar with its meaning, I am asking that you enforce this law in a manner that will represent edu cation. “When you find a man who is preparing to bum brush, ditch banks or other forest lands, you should in form him that there is a law pro hibiting his burning from April 1 to June 15 and from October 15 to December 1, and that it is necessary for him to secure a permit before burning such material on his own lands. t You should then issue to him a permit on the regular form for such burning and inform your to.verman that you have issued such permit, and that during such period as it is outlined in this permit, your tower man can expect a fire to occur at such designated point. This will materially reduce the travel of your smokechasers in running down le gal fires. “This law has been drawn by me primarily as an educational meas ure. It will make the burners real ize a responsibility for their burn ing that they have not realized in the past, and, as brought out above, while I do not wish to work a hard ship on anyone, if a man has been warned that such a law exists once, and violates it later by failure to secure such a permit, then law en forcement work should be carried to the limit.” Singing Class To Be Here Monday, 12th —<*,— The Singing Class of the Oxford Orphanage, which will be in the Plymouth High School Auditorium on the night of April 12, is again under the direction of Mrs. Sadie T. Hutchinson, and is composed of 14 boys and girls. The program will be featured with delightful songs, recitations and drills with colorful costumes and splendid music. For more than 50 years the Sing ing Class has made annual tours all over North Carolina, each year bringing a new group of children with a new program, and the appear ance of these children in the various communities has been a great influ ence in cultivating interest in the cause of the orphan. In the 62 years of its existence there is scarcely a community in the State that has not sent some boy or girl to the Oxford Orphanage for care and training. School Play at Roper Next Week —*— Under the direction of Miss Cor delia Lanier, junior class advisor, the juniors at Roper High School will present “Red-Heaaed Step Child,” in the auditorium Friday night, April 9, at 8 o’clock. The cast includes Margie White, Beulah Furlaugh, Margaret Phelps, Johnnie A. Everett. Rosebud Gay lord, L A. Parisher, Kenneth Ches son, Sylvester Lilley, Ruth Nowarah, Lula Ange, Ruth Lilley, and Ida Sources of $75,853,000 State Revenue for Next Biennium Here’s how North Carolina pro poses to raise $75,853,000 during the next biennium: Inheritance taxes $ 3,550,000 Schedule ”B” (business licenses) . Franchises .. Income . Beer . Wine . Gift .. Liquor . Gasoline (highway diver 4.950.000 16,559,400 19,750,000 2,000,000 300.000 400.000 1.300.000 sion) . Sales tax . Meals .. Building material Miscellaneous Non-tax revenue Here are the rates per 4.200.000 17,000,000 724.000 400.000 20,000 2.800.000 $100 and items on which the new taxes on in tangibles will be levied: Money in bank ($100 exempt), 10 cents. Money on hand ($100 exempt 20 cents. Matured insurance poli cies, 25 cents. Bonds, notes, etc., 40 cents. Shares of stock, 30 cents.