The Roanoke Beacon
******* and Washington County News »★★★*★★
VOLUME LIII—NUMBER 6 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina. Thursday, February 5, 1942
A home newspaper dedicated
I to the service of Washington
County and Its 12.000 people.
ESTABLISHED 1889
Town
opics
Webb Jones, jr., son of Mr. anci
Mrs. Webb Jones, of Plymouth, has
volunteered to go to Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, sometime during this month
to work as a third-class pipefitter.
Hundreds of young men are being
employed to repair the damage done
in the harbor by the Japanese in
their sneak raid December 7.
P. H. Modlin. manager of the M.
H. Mitchell Furinture Co., here, will
soon remove his merchandise from
the old ice plant part of the munici
pal building on Water Street, in or
der that J. B. Willoughby can begin
installation of the equipment for his
steam laundry.
T. W. Earle, district chairman
of the Boy Scouts, asks those
who have paper to contribute to
the waste paper collection cam
paign to call Norman Furniture
Co., 203-1, or get in touch with
the Rev, E. B. Taylor, scoutmas
ter of the local troop.
Two poems written by Mrs. A. Ed
ison Davenport, of Mackeys, were re
cently read over a Wilson broadcast
ing station. The poems were entitled
"V for Victory” and “The Girl Who
Was and the Woman Who Is.” Mrs.
Davenport is a talented writer and
has been accorded wide recognition
for her literary efforts.
Lewis E. Price, son of Mr. and Mrs.
P. O. Price, was at home from Port
Bragg this week recovering from an
attack of pneumonia. This made the
seventh time the young soldier has
had pneumonia. He seems to be very
healthy otherwise, but he is very sus
ceptible to pneumonia during the
winter months.
A meeting of the members of
the Plymouth Merchants Asso
ciation will be held next Mon
day night in the municipal build
ing at 8 o’clock, it was announced
today by James W. Norman, the
president, who says there is some
urgent business to be considered.
Miss Marie Harden, of Dardens, is
now employed at the Branch Bank
ing and Trust Company here. She
succeeded Mrs. Alvah Whealton, who
resigned.
Several county officers are expect
,ed to attend a district meeting of
OTunty and city officials in the city
hall at Greenville tomorrow to hear
Robert A; .Martino, chief of the ma
terials section of the Office of Pro
duction Management.
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County Boarain
Meeting Monday
The Washington County Commis
sioners held their monthly meeting
last Monday, with a number of rou
tine matters to be disposed of.
The board contracted with Norman
& Rodman for collection of all de
linquent taxes levied by the county
to and including the year 1939. The
law firm is to begin immediately on
the collections, so as to make as
much of the money as possible avail
able to the county in the near future.
J. C. Kirkman and S. D. Davis
asked the commissioners to extend
the time of an option they held for
the purchase of some property owned
by the county. They said that for
est fires had prevented them from
determining the true value of the
property, and they were given until
March 1 to comply with the terms of
the option they held.
Carl L. Bailey appeared before the
commissioners and asked them to ac
cept deed to certain property form
erly owned by Hester A. Haughton
and to release other property being
held on account of taxes.
Mrs. S. M. ■ Rasmusson asked the
commissioners to help get a street
in the village repaired and graded.
This matter will probably be referred
to state authorities.
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Income Tax Man To Be
Here February 25 and 26
-$
A representative of the internal
revenue service of the Treasury De
partment will be in Plymouth at the
office of the chief of police on Wed
nesday and Thursday, February 25
and 26, for the purpose of assisting
taxpayers in filing income tax re
turns, according to information from
C. H. Robertson, collector of internal
revenue for North Carolina.
All References To Time After This
Week To Be Based on Daylight Saving
War time — otherwise known
as daylight saving time—will be
come effective next Monday at 2
a. m., when clocks all over the
nation will be moved forward
one hour in compliance with the
law recently passed by Congress.
Most people will set their clocks
up before retiring Sunday night,
and the new time will be the
only official time for all pur
poses for the duration of the war
and six months thereafter.
Mail, bus, train and all other
schedules will be governed by
the “fast" time. In order to
avoid possible confusion all time
referred to in the columns of the
Roanoke Beacon after this week
will be based on daylight saving
time or war time, and persons
who send in church notes or ac
i counts of meetings are asked to
be governed accortngly. If it is
decided to hold services or meet
ings on standard time, kindly
advance the time by one hour in
reporting It to eliminate misun
derstandings, since this news
paper intends to refer only to
official war time in its news col
umns “for the duration.”
May Take Men With
Dependents for Army
If New Law Adopted
Peanut Mill Here
To Be Reopened
Indications that the old Bain
peanut shelling plant, on the
edge of Plymouth would be re
opened for business in time at
least to take care of this year’s
crop were seen this week with
announcement of the purchase
of the property by J. E. Daven
port.
The deed to the property was
made to Mr. Davenport by R. F.
Bain, vice president, and R. G,
Bain, secretary, of the Bain Pea
nut Company, Inc., a Virginia
firm. The exact price of the
property was not mentioned in
the deed, which said the consid
eration was “$1,000 and other
good and valuable considera
tions.
The buildings and machinery
and 6.18 acres of land were con
veyed to Mr. Davenport by the
deed.
Plymouth Officials
Decide To Reserve
Space for Bus Stop
Place Marked Off in Front
Of Station Here on
Water Street
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The Town of Plymouth Council
In session Monday night, agreed to
permit the reservation of a space on
Water Street in front of Arps Phar
macy for loading and unloading pas
sengers busses operated through here
by the Norfolk Southern Bus Cor
poration. The space was painted
and marked off yesterday, and will
be reserved exclusively for use by
the busses. The agerement was made
for a period of 12 months.
As agent for the bus company, P.
M. Arps appeared before the coun
cilmen and told them the company
needed a reserved space as a conven
ience for the traveling public as well
as a convenience for the company.
Councilmen understand that Mr.
Arps is planning to install rest rooms
in his store, which serves as the lo
cal bus station, and that he will also
provide other conveniences for trav
elers.
The city fathers also approved a
contract with Norman and Rodman
for collection of delinquent taxes for
1939 and prior years. This work is
to be completed within 12 months.
A second trash truck was ordered
purchased by the council. An appro
priation of $1,100 was made some
time ago to cover this expense. It
is understood that the total cost of
the truck, with a hydraulic dump
body, will be around $1,400, but the
dealer agreed to give his commis
sion, which made the total cost to
the town about $1,200.
Car Owners Are Warned To Take All
Possible Steps To Prevent Tire Thefts
Police officials are warning all
automobile owners In this sec
tion to use every precaution to
prevent a wave of tire thefts,
evidence of which began to crop
out this week with at least two
industrial workers here report
ing that tires had been removed
from their cars while they were
at work. Police advise against
leaving automobiles and trucks
In places where they are easily
accessible to thieves.
Raymond Campbell and Tom
Davis, both employees at the pulp
plant here have been the victims
of thieves recently. When Da
vis quit work Sunday night at
12 o’clock and started home, he
found the front wheel and tire
missing from his 1940 Ford. The
thieves also took his hubcap and
the note whish held ths wheel
in place and, although he had a
spare tire, he was unable to put
it on until after he had routed
a garage owner from sleep and
secured the necessary parts. The
car belonging to Campbell was
taken several days ago from the
parking lot at the pulp mill and
driven to a forest, where it was
found later with one of the
wheels and a tire missing.
So far as can be learned, offi
cers have no clues to the identity
of the thieves. Car and truck
owners are being warned to lock
their cars in garages at night or
keep them in their back yards,
where they would be awakened
by would-be thieves. Police also
advise listing the serial numbers
of all tires, in order that they
might be identified in the event
they are stolen.
Local Board Ready
For Registration in
County February 16
Plan Studied by Congress
Will Make Provision
For Dependents
Plans for the third registration,
set for Monday, February 16, having
been completed in this county, the
local selective service board is now
interested in the proposal, discussed
in Congress this week, to pass an
“Allowance and Allotment Act,’’ sim
ilar to that in effect during World
War No. 1, which would clear the
path for raising an army of 8,000,000
men in the United States. Passage
of such an act would release for
military duty a great many of the
10,000,000 men now deferred because
of their dependents. This would also
enhance the possibility of military
service for many of those in the 20
to 45 age group who are to register
February 16th.
The local draft board also sent a
bus load of young white men from
the county to New Bern Monday for
their final physical examinations.
Those who passed the examination
are likely to be inducted into the
service during the next 60 to 90 days,
it was indicated, although no defi
nite dates have yet been set.
Under the plan discussed in Con
gress, service men with dependents
would be required to allot a specified
portion of their pay for the depend
ents, and their allotments would be
matched by an equal or larger
amount from the Federal treasury.
If such a plan is adopted, a large
number of men in the 3-A classifica
tion, including married men with or
without children, and single men
supporting parents or other relatives,
would receive government aid in sup
porting their dependents and there
by be freed for immediate service in
the armed fores.
An outline of the allowance and al
lotment act shows that it would work
out substantially as follows: Men in
the service would allot up to half of
their pay, but not more than $15 per
month each, to their families or de
pendents. The Federal Government
would match this allotment dollar
for-dollar, and an extra $10 a month
would be allowed for the first child
and $7.50 for each additional child,
but the total of such payments would
not be permitted to exceed $50 per
month. Thus a married man with
two children who allotted $15 per
month of his pay. would have his al
lotment supplemented by $32.50 from
the government, and his family would
receive a total of $47.50 per month.
The army's present strength is
about 1,800,000. More than 10,000,
000 of the 17,500,000 men already
registered under the draft law fall
into the 3-A classification. The third
registration, which will take place
February 16, Is expected to add 10,
000,000 more men to the selective
service rolls.
Army officials have estimated that
about 960 men in this county be
tween the ages of 20 and 45, inclu
sive, who have not previously reg
istered will have their names put on
the rolls February 16.
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Program oi Services at
Episcopal Church Here
Services at Grace Episcopal church
Sunday will be as follows: 10 a. m.
church school: H a. m„ Morning
Prayer and sermon; 7:30 p. m. Young
People’s Service League. The Rev.
Sidney E. Matthews, rector, will
preach.
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County Farmers Continue
Campaign for Scrap Metal
County Agent W. V. Hays said to
day that farmers in the county were
still gathering scrap metal to be sold
to junk dealers for use In making
war materials. He said that he had
been unable so far to learn how
much metal lias been collected and
eold so far during the drive.
Owners of Property
Must Finish Listing
By Saturday Night
No Further Extension Will
Be Granted, According
To Authorities
Property owners in Washington
County are warned by Tax Super
visor E. F. Swain that they abso
lutely must list their holdings for
taxation by Saturday night or be
subject to penalties, as there will not
be another extension of time. All
of the property was supposed to have
been listing during January, but the
commissioners last week extended the
time for one week, Saturday night
of this week being declared definitely
the deadline.
W. Linwood Hassell, list taker for
Plymouth Township, said yesterday
that about 85 per cent of the real
property in the township had been
listed and about 75 per cent of the
personal property. Approximately
35 per cent of the farmers have not
yet given in their farm census. Mr.
Hassell urges those who have not
listed or given in their census to
come in at once and save the pen
alty for delinquency in this respect.
Paul B. Belanga, list taker for
Scuppernong Township, said about
90 per cent of the property there
had been put on the books. W. W.
White, of Skinnersville, and E. M.
Chesson, of Lees Mill, have not re
ported on listings in their respect
ive townships. It is believed, how
ever, that about 85 per cent of the
property has been listed there.
It is not known exactly how many
taxpayers there are in the county, by
the four townships, but it is believed
there are at least 5,000 real and per
sonal property owners. Plymouth
Township alone is said to have 2,200
property owners who are required to
list taxes for 1942.
Tire Board Issues
Five Certificates
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Five persons and firms were issued
certificates to purchase three tires,
five tubes, and one obsolete tire yes
terday afternoon, when the Wash
ington County tire rs.tioning board
began issuing ceritflcates for pur
chases against the February quota
of 5 tires and 4 tubes for passenger
cars and 12 tires and 21 tubes for
trucks. This quota compares with
the January quota of 7 tires and 6
tubes for passenger cars and 16 tires
and 13 tubes for trucks.
Certificates were issued as follows
Wednesday:
H. E. Clifton, of Creswell, one tire
and one tube, for pick-up truck used
for farm hauling and fire-fighting
work.
J. B. Edmondson, of Plymouth: one
obsolete tire.
Owens Brothers, Plymouth: tire
and tube for hauling farm products.
J. L. Phelps, of Creswell: one tire
and tube for farm truck.
Plymouth Box & Panel Company:
two truck tubes, for use on trucks
hauling raw material to manufact
uring plant engaged in defense in
dustry.
Woman Lawyer
With Firm Here
The first woman lawyer to practice
law in Plymouth is now in the em
ploy of Norman and Rodman here
as associate counsel. She is Miss
Margaret Johnson, only daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Johnson, of Pitts
burgh, Pa., who came here from
Craven County, where she had been
working about a year for the local
legal firm.
Miss Johnson is a graduate of
William and Mary College and re
ceived her LL.B. degree in the Law
School at the University of North
Carolina. She passed the North
Carolina State Bar examination in
1940, just after her graduation in
June.
Completing her assignment of work
for the local firm in Craven County,
she came here a few days ago and
is living at the home of Dr. and Mrs.
T. L. Bray on Main street.
Blackout Test Set
For Next Monday
P. W. Brown, chief air raid
warden here, said that he would
reorganize the local force and be
ready to take part in a test black
out set for Monday night between
8 and 10 p. m., for towns in the
Williamston district, including
Plymouth. Williamston, Windsor
and others In Washington and
Tyrrell Counties. The test has
been authorized by W. F. Nufer,
assistant director of Civilian De
fense for North Carolina.
People here are urged to be
ready to blackout their homes
and places of business at any
time between 8 and 10 p. m. Mon
day. Mr. Nufer will likely visit
here between now and Monday
to complete arrangements and of
ficials may be here to determlno
the succeas of the test.
Wilbur M. Darden
To Become Clerk of
Court on March 1st
Announces Acceptance This
Week; Is Successor To
C. V. W. Ausbon
Representative W. M. Darden this
week stated that he had decided to
accept appointment as clerk of the
Washington County Superior Court,
clerk of the recorder’s court, and
judge of the juveinle court, to suc
ceed C. V, W. Ausbon, who resigned
on account of his health, effective
March 1.
Mr. Darden will serve the unex
pired term of Mr. Ausbon. which has
until December 1 to run. Mr. Dar
den. if he wishes to continue in the
office, will be required to file for the
Democratic primary in May and run
for election in November if nomi
nated.
Mr. Darden is accepting the office
on the fee system basis, which holds
good until December of this year.
An act of the legislature last year
provides for a salary of $1,800 a year,
or $150 per month, for the office
after December 1st.
Mr. Darden was recommended by
unanimous vote of the Washington
County Bar Association for the office.
Members of the bar felt that a per
son who had received legal training
would make for increased efficiency
in the office. The appointment was
made by Resident Judge Walter J.
Bone, of Nashville. So far as could
be learned, there were no other as
pirants for the office.
Mr-. Darden has been practicing
law here for about nine years. He
has served as solicitor of the record
er's court, and is now county repre
sentative in the General Assembly.
Washington County
Exceeds Quota for
Infantile Paralysis
County Chairman Thanks
Contributors and Can
vassers for Work
-<$•
A total of $210 has been contribu
ted by residents of Washigton Coun
ty in the annual campaign for funds
for the National Foundation for In
fantile Paralysis, which is climaxed
by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
birthday, when dances are held over
he nation in connection with the
March of Dimes” campaign.
Since the quota for this county
was $165, John W. Darden, county
chairman, was elated over raising the
$210, which is $45 over the county
quota.
Special appreciation was expressed
to Mrs. J. M. Phelps, at Creswell; H.
H. McLean, of Plymouth; Mrs. Isa
Johnston, of Roper, and W. H. Berry,
of Plymouth, for their work in put
ting the campaign over the top. He
also expressed his thanks to those
who contributed and helped in other
ways.
In a prepared statement, Mr. Dar
den said: “I sincerely thank every
person of Washigton County for the
splendid response to the call for
funds for the campaign against in
fantile paralysis. This county, in
ihis campaign, as it does in all cam
paigns, went over the top.
“I desire to suggest that the local
or county organization arrange for
all children, both white and colored,
who are suffering from this dreaded
disease, to obtain some treatment
from the funds now in the bank for
chat purpose. This will have to be
done through the county organiza
:ion and with the advice of the doc
:ors of the county. It is my purpose
:o call a meeting of the county com
nittee sometime in the near future
o work out plans for this service.”
It is understood that there was
ibout $150 in the bank to the credit
of this fund, and about $100 from
the current campaign will be added
t othe money on deposit for infant
ile paralysis work in the county.
Five Cases Tuesday
In Recorder's Court
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Only five cases came before re
corder's court Tuesday, but some of
them were long-drawn-out, causing
Recorder W. Ronald Gaylord and
Prosecuting Attorney W. Blount Rod
man to work until about 9 o’clock
that night.
Mrs. Blanche Ainsworth appealed
from a fine of $10, in lieu of 30 days
on the roads, for injuring a hog be
longing to W. S. Spruill.
Mrs. Ainsworth and her husband,
T. H. Ainsworth, won a directed ver
dict of not guilty on a charge of
causing the death of a mule and a
cow belonging to W. S. Spruill.
Leroy Comstock, 18, white, charged
with violating the highway laws, was
given 30 days on the roads, suspended
upon payment of the costs. Tire court
also required him to obtain an op
erator's permit before driving a car
again.
Martin Luther Thompson, 38, white
entered a plea of guilty to violating
the highway traffic laws and was
fined $10 and coats.
Daylight Time Will
Bring Some Changes
In Schedule Monday
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L
CLERK OF COURT J
Representative W. M. Darden
announced this week that he had
decided to accept the appoint
ment as clerk of the superior
court, succeeding C. V. W. Aus
bon, resigned. He will take of
fice March 1.
Military Unit Makes
Ball Park Base for
Surveys in Vicinity
Engaged in Work on Aerial
Maps; To Be Here for
Two Weeks
•-<8>
The Army moved into Plymouth
this week, when the tents of 55 mem
bers of the first platoon of Company
A, 649th Engineers, were set up in
the Kieckhefer ball park Tuesday.
Lieutenant W. H. Toy is in charge
of the group, which is making ground
surveys for aerial maps. They may
remain here about two weeks before
moving on to other sections
Observers were impressed with the
business-like manner of the officers
and men as they busied themselves
about the camp here. A number oi
local people watched the men erect
.heir tents and viewed the large army
trucks and the one "jeep’- comprising
the motorized equipment of the de
tachment.
E. L. Walker, general manager of
the North Carolina Pulp Company,
visited the camp Tuesday and ex
pressed the willingness of his com
pany to cooperate with the men in
any way. They seemed to be most
interested in his offer to extend use
of shower baths at the plant to mem
bers of the outfit. Dr. S. V. Lewis,
district health officer, also visited the
camp and offered the cooperation of
his department.
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Funeral lor Edison
Phelps Held Sunday
Funeral services were conducted in
Columbia Sunday afternoon at Wes
iey Memorial Methodist church for
Edison Phelps, who was accidentally
killed at the Norfolk Naval Base on
Thursday, January 22. The Rev. A.
L. Chaplin officiated, assisted by the
Rev. L. B, Bennett. A large crowd
attended the services, and a large
floral offering was contributed.
Mr Phelps was well known in the
lower part of Washington County,
Active pall-bearers were D. W. and
Willard White, Roy and Murrell Has
sell, Raymond Phelps and Eugene
Brickhouse.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs.
Gladys Bateman Phelps, and one
daughter, Barbara Ann. of Columbia;
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Z. H.
Phelps; five sisters, Mrs. R. A.
Gibbs, Mrs. Phillip Ambrose, Misses
Maxine, Jeanette, and Agnes Phelps;
two brothers, Junior and Bobby
Phelps, all of Washington County,
Schools and Most
Local Stores Will
Adopt New Hours
Means Starting Day Earlier
But at Same Clock Time
For Most People
A few changes in schedules will
be made by various organizations in
Washington County next Monday,
when daylight saving time—or war
time—becomes effective, it was indi
cated in a survey made today. In
most cases, the clocks will simply be
set forward one hour, in compliance
with the law recently passed by Con
gress, and all schedules will remain
the same by the clock, although they
will be an hour earlier than at pres
ent according to standard or sun
time.
The clocks in all the schools of
the county will be advanced one hour,
but the schools will change their
schedules somewhat, varying accord
ing to the locality, with most of them
beginning the day’s session at 9 o’
clock or shortly after. This will en
able the high schools to have three
periods in the morning and four in
the afternoon, instead of four in the
morning and three in the afternoon
as at present. The noon lunch recess
will be about at the same time by
the clock as at present, and the day’s
session will close about 4:30 p. m.
At a meeting of the Plymouth
Merchants Association Tuesday aft
ernoon, It was decided that all stores,
except groceries would open at 9
a. m. and close at 6 p.m., by the new
time. The grocery stores will remain
on the present schedule of 8 to 6
p. m. Following the meeting, some
of the merchants decided that it
would be well for all the stores to
open and close at the same time and
advocated opening at 8:30 and clos
ing at 5:30 by the new time. James
W. Norman, president of the associa
tion, said this morning that so far
as he knew no action had been tak
en on the proposal, and that he un
derstood all the stores except the
groceries would open at 9 a. m. and
close at 6 p. m., as decided Tuesday.
This schedule will remain in effect
until the Wednesday afternoon clos
ings become effective in the late
spring, when it is expected the stores
will return to the present 8 a. m. to
6 p. m. hours.
According to the law, industry,
commerce, farms, business houses,
schools, churches and all other activ
ities will be based on war time after
2 a. m. Monday, when the law be
comes effective. It is not a volun
tary action, as was the case last
summer, but is required by an act
of Congress. It is designed to con
serve electric power needed for the
war effort by making available more
daylight hours for work. While no
material saving in electricity is ex
pected in this immediate section, the
plan is of considerable value in some
industrial sections.
Funeral Last Week
For W. J. Ainsley
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| Funeral services were held at the
j home at Lake Landing in Hyde
; County last Friday afternoon for W.
J. 'Billy John) Ainsley, 73, who died
at his home last Wednesday. The
Rev. C. A. Martin, formerly of Cres
well, officiated. Burial took place in
the family cemetery.
Mr. Ainsley was well known in
Washington County, especially in the
Creswell section.
Pall-bearers were H. W. Spruill,
Haywood Spruill, jr„ Charlie Arm
strong, Ausbon Armstrong, Gilliam
Ainsley and Tom Armstrong.
Surviving is his widow, Mrs. Mag
gie Dunbar Ainsley; two daughters,
Mrs. H. V. Spruill and Mrs. Tom Arm
strong, Columbia, route one; two sis
ters, Mrs. Willis Blake, of Columbia,
and Mrs. Martha Sawyer, of Edenton.
Organized Labor Will Sponsor Drive
To Boost Sale Defense Bonds. Stamps
Organized labor here is plan
ning to stage an Intensive cam
paign in Washington County to
stimulate the sale of Defense
Bonds and Stamps, according to
W. L. Garrison, vice president of
the State Federation of Labor
for the Plymouth district, who
attended a meeting in Salisbury
la't week, when plans for a state
wide campaign were made.
The local unions here will ap
point a committee to conduct the
campaign in this county. It was
said that the North Carolina
Pulp Co. has already agreed to
cooperate by putting into effect
the payroll allotment plan to
stimulate bond and stamp sales
among its employees. Under this
plan, workmen may voluntarily
request the company to deduct a
specified amount weekly from
their checks for the purchase of
defense bonds and stamps.
Other concerns in the county
are expected to follow in adop
ing this plan. All the local un
ions here will cooperate in the
drive to ask every merchant,
to arrange a plan for purchasing
defense bonds and stamps, both
for themselves and their em
ployees.
It is believed that sales of the
bonds and stamps will be great
ly increased by the direct can
vass. Several plans will be rec
ommended for firms and individ
uals who wish to buy stamps and
bonds.