THE
Roanoke Beacon
and
Washington County News
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
in Plymouth, Washington County,
North Carolina
The Roanoke Beacon is Wash
ington County’s only newspaper.
It was established in 1889, consoli
dated with the Washington County
News in 1929 and with The Sun
in 1937.
Subscription Rates
Payable in Advance)
One year-$1.50
Six months_ .75
Advertising Rates Furnished
Upon Request
Entered as second-class matter
at the post office in Plymouth,
N. C., under the act of Congress
jf March 3. 1879.
l - ■
North Carolina . . \
PPESS ASSOCIATION'Ol
.'S'*
December 11, 1941
• W•*« WAS TWAf
- UADV - •
"‘Wit lasts no more than two centimes”
—Beyle
DECEMBER
10—Steve Bonnet, notorious
pirate, executed. 1718
11—Indiana admitted to the
Union. 1816.
12— U. S. Panov sunk by 'ap
anese. 1937.
13— First U. S. savings bank
incorporated. Boston
1816.
14— San Ralael mission
founded. Cal., 1817.
15— Sitting Bull" arrested
and killed, 1890.
16—U. S.-Bahamas radio
service started, 1932.
Aroused and United—
We Face the Future
After months and years of rumors
of war with Japan, we are now faced
with the grim reality. And coupled
with that reality, it is fast dawning
on most Americans who have not bur
dened themselves overly with think
ing that the Japanese are no "push
over.'’ A short week ago, the aver
age American citizen ridiculed the
idea tha ^ Japan ( would tight; and
most of « feta who really believed
such a war might develop did not
have any idea that the hostilities
would be more than a brief warm-up
for a part of the United States Navy
and a few airplanes.
Any such wishful thinking—or
lack of thinking—has been rapidly
dissipated by the shocking events of
the past few days. The tremendous
distances of the Pacific Ocean—with
its area of over 64,000,OCX) square
miles—are just beginning to be real
ized by a large proportion of our
population. It is dawning on our
people that we have a powerful foe
and that practically all of our re
sources and much time will be re
IF YOUR FORD could talk you'd learn in
short order that you get best Ford serv
ice at your Ford Dealer’s. Because only
experienced Ford mechanics work on your
car. Factory approved tools and equipment
eliminate expensive "guesswork.” And
any replacement parts used are genuine
Ford parts, best every time for your Ford.
So if you want your Ford to last longer, run
better, and cost you less—
BRING YOUR FORD BACK
HOME FOR SERVICE!
MANNING MOTOR GO.
J. R. MANNING, Owner PLYMOUTH, N. C.
|F YOU should make a list of things that are the attributes of a perfect
Christmas Gift, wouldn't it go somethting like this: Beauty. Usefulness. )
Sentimental, but with sense. Lasting qualities. And perhaps—thrift.
They are the very virtues that make Electrical gifts presents with a future
... gifts that satisfy the sentimental impulse, yet justify their existence by
constant usefulness.
We urge you to make your Electrical gifts selection now, while your,
dealer is able to offer a wide choice of smart, efficient, lastingly useful
r appliances. Your Electrical gift is a reminder of your thoughtfulness and
generosity long after Christmas hours have ticked byl
YOUR ELECTRICAL DEALER.. OR
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER CO.
quired for the eventual absolute vic
tory which must be ours
Passing over, for the moment, the
manner in which it was accomplished,
it came as an almost unbelievable
blow to our national pride that the
Japanese should have gotten the jump
on us. We are starting in this war
on the defensive, whereas we had al
ways supposed it would be the other
way around, and it will require some
tremendous efforts and gambles to
seize the initiative from the enemy
as a result of those first blows.
There has been a widespread dis
position to blame military and naval
authorities for being caught "asleep."
Until all the tacts are available, we
should go slow in condemning as in
competent the leaders who are at least
risking their lives to defend our pos
sessions. It is ridiculous for the av
erage man, with no knowledge what
ever about naval or military strategy
and very limited and proscribed ac
cess to the true facts in the case, to
presume to pass judgment on men
who have made a life study of such
subjects. The truth of the matter is
that our pride has been hit—and
badly hurt—and, as usual in such
cases, we are seeking a scapegoat.
Wars are seldom, if ever, fought
according to rules; and, while the re
membrance of what occurred to
Americans in Hawaii on the date of
infamy—December 7, 1941—should
spur us into a cold fury which will
make absolute victory the more cer
tain, it is foolish to run out of the
corner and yap about being hit be
low the belt before the bell had even
rung. The memory of those men and
women and children who died on
Oahu Island, and the manner of their
deaths as the result of the most ilag
rant treachery in our diplomatic his
tory. will remain fresh in the minds
of our people and insure the eventual
complete subjugation of the nation
which dared use such tactics.
There is no turning back now. And
there is a job for each and every one
of us, in and out of the armed forces.
We in this section have our work cut
out for us, and nothing should be
be permitted to interfere with or
cause us to deviate one iota from the
course to eventual victory which is
charted. We doubtless will—and
should—learn a new meaning of Win
ston Churchill's oft-quoted remark
concerning ’'blood and tears, toil and
sweat.” Heretofore they have been
high-sounding figures of rhetoric, but
already we begin to understand that
they have a literal translation also.
Whatever we are called on to do.
and the calls may be many, we must
do with dispatch to the limit of our
abilities—physical, mental, moral and
financial.
The news we shall receive the dur
ing th£ coming weeks may doubtless
become much worse before it grows
better. But whatever comes, we can
not, we must not, allow any thought
of defeat even enter our minds to de
ter us from doing the job at hand,
which will become more complex as
time goes on.
The manner in which we were at
Question of oo
THE WEEK - I
Individual Opinions of People You Know About
Current Matters of General Public Interest
another. Any prejudice instilled is
consdered a definite gain.
Of all forms of fifth column activ
ity, the most vicious and difficult to
fight is the whispering campaign,
particularly if it succeeds in affecting
well meaning innocents. Aside from
actual arrests by state and federal
agents, only one effectual means of
countering it exists. That is—counter
organization.
The formation of such groups in
consistent with traffic conditions.
Never cut out of line in crowded traf
fic. Refrain from careless and reck
less driving. Never pass a car unless
there is ample space ahead: that
means, of course, never on a hill or
curve.
4. Obey stop signs, they are for
your protection. Stop on red traffic
sign and stay stopped until the light
has turned green. Stop before enter
ing through streets and highways.
With the greatest of care
Still waiting for business
That hadn't come there.
It's a recognized fact
With merchants who sell
They run some good ads
Their story to tell
So "lie'’ stepped to the phone
■‘He" needed help soon
So we dropped in the store
Do You Think That the Town oi Plymouth
Should Be Given a Share of the Profits from
The Plymouth ABC Store?
V H. Harrison. Jr., farmer: "If the
town needs it, and assume it does, I
think that for the police protection
and other advantage afforded by the
town, it should receive a fair share of
the profits I would not undertake
i to estimate any amount of the profit
'that should accrue to the town, but
\ I do believe the Town of Plymouth
j should have some part of the profits."
J. E. Askew, farmer: "I think that
I the Town of Plymouth should have
i a share of the profits. Tire same
! protection and advantages that are
. given to other stores in the town are
afforded the liquor store here, and it
appears to me that the town is en
titled to some compensation. There
is enough net profit to the county
from the local .ABC store to afford
a small portion to the town for po
lice and fire protection."
Mrs. W. C. Moore, farmer's house
wife: "Definitely, no. The Town of
Plymouth has no more right to ask
a share of profits from the ABC store
than it has to single out any one
merchant and ask him to divide his
i profits. And if it had any voice in
the matter, the ABC store could be
moved from the town. This should
be done before the profits are divided
with the town. The Town of Plym
outh sold its light and ice plant, and
now it is envious of the profit that
the county realizes from the ABC
store.”
George T. Barden, bookkeeper: T
think the town should have a share
of the profit. The county should at
least pay a tax on their merchandise
in the store in proportion to the tax
charged other merchants and busi
nesses that opera .’ in Plymouth. The
ABC store gets same advantages
that are shared iv other businesses
within the corporate limits of the
town. But the amount of taxes that
they should get or a share of the
profits, should be worked out on a
friendly basis brt'.u-en the county and
town officials.”
J. G. Askew, farmer: T believe the
towns should have a share of the
profits in lieu of taxes. However, it
could well be worked out by officials
of the county and town so that the
town would get a proportion which
the county could a ell afford to pay."
groups against each other, and to
stimulate sectionalism of one sort or
WHAT MAKES A
PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT?
each community and each part of a
community, representing in equal
Parts every segment of the popula
tion, irrespective of religion, creed,
race, previous nationality or econom
ic or social position, is suggested as a
means of not only defeating the
malefactor but also is an instrument
of protecting and nurturing the
ideals of Democracy.
The name suggested for these
groups, which any outstanding citi
zen can take steps to organize in his
own community, is “The Weed Pull
ers.'' Recommended as a set of ideals
to guide them in their works in a tri
logy made up from the Golden Rule
from the New Testament, the Ten
Commandments from the Old Testa
ment and the Bill of Rights from the
Constitution of the United States.
“Weed Pulllers!” There can be no
finer task than to pull obnoxious
weeds from the garden of American
ideals.
Safety Driving—
1. Drive only when physically and
mentally fit. Keep brakes, lights and
entire car in as safe condition as
when new.
2. Learn and obey city traffic laws
and general laws and rules of the
road of the country. Obey all street
and highway signs and signals.
3. Pay strict attention to driving
Stay well to the right of the road
and drive at a speed that is safe and
the other fellow has the right-of-way.
5. Never start.stop or turn right
of left without giving proper hand
signals of your intention to start,
slow down or change directions. Sig
nals protect you as well as the other
fellow.
6. Slow down when approaching
intersections, slippery pavements, or
railroads. Slow down when approach
ing pedestrians, especially children
and old people. Keep the car under
complete control and be prepared for
any unexpected movement of other |
vehicles or people.
7. Lower your speed when driving
at night. There is no substitute for
daylight when it comes to visibility.
8. Thnik ahead. Always be careful.
Assume responsibility. Give pedes
trians the right-of-way. Don't take
chances but give the other fellow a
chance.
9. If you've been drinking, don't
drive, even if you think you are so
ber. The evidence is all against so
ber drivers that have been drinking.
10. Make the golden rule your own
guide and your safe and courteous
driving an example to others.
Previewing—
'Twas two weeks before Christmas
And all through the store
Not a thing had moved
Not even the door.
The goods had been placed
Being of' help, more and more.
Wasn't so bad for one who knew
Selling goods is our favorite stew
Placed his copy in the Roanoke Bea
' i con
’hings started to happen: give us
our due.
\ a
Ani X soul made happy
Ni}c“iger forlorn
For heO d big business
'Ere t$e New Year was born.
PI. $1.00
Prepared by Green bros Inc Cinti 0
Rambling
...About
By TUE RAMBLER
Campaigning—
A new pernicious form of whisper
ing campaign is being introduced into
the United States by fifth columnists
and ther fellow travelers. It is de
signed to instill fear and uncertainty
by breeding suspicion, distrust and
antagonism among Americans.
To achieve the greatest possible
measure of disunity, a large fifth
column of personable-looking men
and women, has been employed to
travel from community to communi
ty. ostensibly on business or pleasure.
The duty of these "units" is to op
erate wherever people congregate—•
in hotel lobbies, railway stations,
public vehicles, office buildings, ele
vators and the Ike.
The insidious job of these well
dressed. well-spoken, important look
ing groups, usually consisting of a
man and a woman, or possibly of
two men and one woman working
together, is to speak sufficiently
above a whisper to be overheard by
those nearby. Invariably, the stock
topics of conversation include the
hopelessness of the British military
position, the might of the Nazis, the
inefficiency of the administraton. the
advantages of a dictatorship and
such rot. Seeds of distrust are cast
to throw labor and capital at each
other's throats, to arouse religious
tacked has at least served a good
purpose: It has united our people as
nothing el.-e could have. And for a
united and an aroused \merica, there
is no task ton great, no insurmount
able obstacle. God grant we may re
main aroused and united.