North Carolina Newspapers

r ESTABLISHED in 18S5 Oldest North Carolina Newspaper West of Asheville ' DEDICATED TO MACON County ami the Welfare of its Good People I I I I I t WsWW i 'R0GRESS1 VE LIBERA L INDEPENDENT . Volume xlvi, n. 6 FRANKLIN. N. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1931 ... . .. . . .$1.50 PER YEAR 'I t yi i a CC. iff I - ,s I hi II GO MY T7 A tt rA n I I f II III IX pMomi) WIDE AREAS OF TliilCER BURNED Forestry Service Is Kept Busy Combatting Many Blazes LOSSES ARE HEAVY Lester Munson Arrested Following Fire on Pinnacle Climaxing two weeks of forest fires, most of .them believed to have been incendiary, word was received from Clayton, Ga., Wed nesday that Lester Munson, young Rabun county man, had been arrested charged with having strung out a fire on part of the Nantahala National forest on Pin nacle mountain. Since January 21 more than a score of fires on the public do main have been reported to . the headquarters of the Forestry Ser vice in Franklin, according to J. IT. Stone, technical assistant to the supervisor of the Nantahala forest, A. A. Wood. Hundreds of nrta-nf. J C 4 W n II. '...HI Yl 11 .1 . , .ifl'lPl!.-..! y tvlv9 t'l llic iw 1.1 iiiiiv. Ill I'liantv y have been burned over in parts of Macon, Jackson, Swain," Cherokee and Clay counties, in North Caro lina, and in Rabun and Habersham counties, Georgia, and in Oconee county, South C arolina. Private Losses Heavy In most instances the fires on the government land have been on the edges of the preserve and have been brought under control short- Iv alter Dcing started, Dut toresi fires outside of the reservation, in must cases, have consumed or dam ' aged- large areas of timbcrland before burning themselves out or being checked. Mr. Stone pointed ml that a great deal more private J-nd had suffered than government property, explaining that the For estry Servce is not authorized to y fight fires on private property uitr less they are close enough to men ace the national preserve. Penalty Is Heavy The maximum penalty for wilful p ly starting a fire on federal lands is $5,000 fine, two years imprison ment; or both. For negligence re sulting in a., forest fire on govern ment property the penalty is $1,000 line, one year uiiin auiuniiu, m both.- Young Munson was reported to have been arrested shortly, after the fire on Pinnacle mountain was started. Warden Uoscoe Nicholson informed the Forestry Service headquarters here thatyhc was tak en back to the scene of the fire , -where his boot heel was compared with imprints found in the soil and . found to be similar. Munson was taken tQ the county jail at Clayton and Wednesday , night he was stilt being held there. The amount of b-iil bond had not been set. Mun son was arrested by nanitt J. li. Justice. Under Control The Pinnacle Mountain fire was reported to be serious but under control. Last, week a large part of Black Ruck mountain was burned over. . li was on this mounain that a group of Florida --capitalists had been planning to construct a large rcsort hotel. . Forest fires in Macon county have been comparatively small compared .with those in adjoining , o' nearby counties in this state and iu Georgia and South Carolina. (i,nee county, 'bout 1 1 Carolina, aim the two counties in Georgia where llic national forest extends have been,' the heaviest sufferers, accoid ing to Mr. Stone. He ".estimated llmt the government property "f- ' burned in this county at about 200 acres, ' but .' far more private -tim-bi-riand has been damaged. Situation Serious The situation is daily growing more serious as the dry spell con tintK'S, technical expert of the Nan tahala Forest staff declared. Should .. 1,-,1,-tj ivinl Klnw nn with' the -forest beds dry as tinder it would be a difficult problem to combat :3 forest fire and prevent its spread. Use Bloodhound Forestry officials are making-cv-v ry effort to check the cause of i fires and in a 'number of instances bavc -obtained information upon H II ...1 . .-. I which they hope they can ormg abott rests and prosecutions. In "an l'firrt to lrace own 'rc ugs mug Tax Reduction Is What Folks Want, Legislature Told, Not Tom Foolishness By Carl Goerch RALEIGH, Feb. 4 After read ing in the papers about some of the bills that have been introduced lately in the legislature, 1 believe I'll sit down and write a letter to Willis Smith, Speaker of the House, and a mighty fine fellow. Hon. Willis Smith, Raleigh, North Carolina. My dear Willis : I've been following proceedings of the legislature with a whole lot of interest and I've been watching some of the bills that have been introduced. There was a bill presented a few days ago by Representative John son, of Halifax, to amend the law on the squirrel and raccoon season. There was another bill, introduced by Senator Lawrence, of Hertford, tn make blue and white the regu lar and standard colors of State automobile license tags. Represen tative McDcvitt, of Madison, pre sented a bill to require at least ten verses from the Bible to be read at the opening each morning of public schools. And Senator Mc- Swain, of Cleveland, came forward with a bill to change the date ot the primary from the first Satur- day in June to the nrst iuonuay in June. Now Willis; I'm not saying a Red Cross Not Drought Aid Drive Here ASK REPEAL OF ABSENTEE LAW ii mi- 4 Petitions for Revision Of Election Statutes Sent to Raleigh Petitions signed by hundreds of persons urging repeal of the absen tee ballot law insofar as it applies to Macon county have been sent to Raleigh by J. H. Stockton, for mer register of deeds. In forwarding the petitions Mr. Stockton wrote letters to Dr. W. A. Rogers, Macon county's repre sentative in the General Assembly, Kelly E. Bennett, who represents the 33rd . district in the state sen ate, and W. C. .Ew'mg. chairman of the House committee on election laws, declaring that it is the con sensus of opinion among the peo ple of this county that the. absen tee ballot law be taken off the books. He also submitted a bill designed to accomplish this and requested its introduction. Mr. Stockton's letter to Dr. Rog ers follows : "January 29, 1931. "Hon. W. A. Rogers. "Representative of Macon County, "Raleigh, N. C. "Dear Doctor Rogers: "I am forwarding you under sep arate cover the original petitions of voters in Macon county asking for the repeal of the Absentee Bal lot Law in Macon county. There arc 25 of these petitions and. con taining hundreds of names. At least 95 per cent of all the people, both Democrats and Republicans, who had an - opportunity signed the pe titions. ... "The petitions were not given any publicity but were just sent out (Continued on "page four) . Days of Old Southland To Be Revived Once More On Thursday, February 12, from 4 to 6 o'clock thq United Daugh ters fo the Confederacy will bring back the charm of days "when men lived in a grander way with ampler hospitality." The doors of stalely Rogers Hall will be thrown open in true ante-bellum style so that the charm of the Colonial "open house" may be once again enjoyed by all. The guests yn be entertained in true colonial fashion. Lovely maid en in rtnint costumes will dance Rfa CildD IP!? word of critism against any of those, bills. So far as I'm concern ed, all of them may be splendid measures and they may react to the advantage of our people as a whole; I'm not claiming that squir rels and raccoons don't deserve special consideration, and as for the Bible, it's the greatest of all books. Neither have 1 any objection to a permanent blue-and-vvhite color scheme for license tags, and if they want to have the primary on Wed nesday, Thursday or Friday, it's O. K. with me. But Willis; we folks back home arc interested in something else besides those bills. The thing that is uppermost in the minds of most of us, is this business of, reducing the tax on real estate. And that brings me up to the suggestion that I had in mind. When Mr. Johnson, of Halifax, comes up with a bill to give con sideration to squirrels and raccoons. I want you to give him polite and courteous attention. And I want you to ask him a few questions. "Mr. Johnson," you might say, "I think this bill of yours - is ;i mighty fine thing. But will it help to cut down the tax on real estate in North Carolina?" "Why, of course not." Mr. Joh'i (Continued on page four) To Launch Contributions, However, Will Be Welcomed By Local Chapter Advice has been received by R. D. Sisk, county chairman of the American Red Cross, from John Barton Pavne. national head, that no organized drive would be put on in Macon county for the Red Cross drought relief fund. How ever, Mr. Sisk states that volun tary contributions will be welcomed front all desiring.-to'" share in this great effort of relieving the thous ands who are facing starvation in the drought stricken areas. Con tributions will be received by R. D. Sisk, chairman, and R. S. Jones, secretary-treasurer of the Macon County chapter.'- PARENT-TEACHER MEETING CALLED FOR THIS FRIDAY The Parent-Teacher Association will hold its regular monthly meet ing at the school building Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'cloeK'. . All members and those interested arc urged to attend as this is an important meeting. After the busi ness session the Rev. .G. Clifton Ervin will give a short talk on the importance of Parcrit-Tcacher work in the community. Eastern Star Chapter 1 To Elect Officers A regular meeting of Nequassa Chapter, No. 43, Order Eastern Star will he held at the Masonic Hall tonight iit 7:30 o'clock. This is the time for the annual eh tiioii of .'officers.' The', worthy 'matron, Mrs. .'Sam L, Franks, requests thai as many members as possible- at tend. the stately minuet; old fashioned girls will sing the songs of yester day; a 'negro quartet " will ' again make the. plaintive strains ot the spirituals echo through the haJl; and the violin and piano will bring to mind the old forgotten melodies. The Daughters of the Confeder acy arc giving this, silver, tea that they may continue the j work of bestowing the crosses of honor on the veterans who are still with us anil the placingof crosses to mark the resting places of those who hrwe pone beyond. AUDIT OF BANK EXPEOED SOON Plans for Opening Old Bank or New One In Abeyance NOTES BEING CALLED Obligations Transferred To Other Banks Must Be Satisfied The report of the auditors on the condition of the closed Bank of Franklin' is expected to be sub mitted soon, possibly the latter part of this week or early next week. Meantime, plains for re opening this bank or putting a new one in business arc being held iu abeyance. From " comments heard among business men and farmers, deposi tors and stockholders, during the past week, it seems to be the gen eral opinion that the old bank should be reopened ' if possible. This hinges on the report of the auditors, which will be filed with the State Corporation Commission and also with the clerk of Macon county superior court. Prompt Attention Promised Officials of the State Banking Department and the Corporation Commission, which has supervision of the former, have promised to give prompt consideration to the re port. The opnion has been con fidently expressed here during the last week that the Corporation Commission would make a more favorable proposition whereby the Bank of Franklin could be reopen ed than that reported to have been advanced recently by Examiner G. X. Ilensou, who is iu charge of the liquidation of closed banks in West ern North Carolina. However, there has been no official word to this effect. It is believed by many interested persons that little difficulty will be encountered iu obtaining an agreement of the necessary num ber of depositors- to allow" their accounts to be frozen. ' How Matters Stand There are two schools of opinion on the matter but those who have promoted the new' bank, already chaterred under the name of the Bank of Franklin, are withholding action for the time being. While there is some difference of opinion, there appears to be little or no dif ference in objective doing what i? best for the financial welfare of Franklin 'and Macon county. In any event, it has been pointed out, the affairs of the old bank will have to be liquidated. If the bank- reopens this will be carried out by the bank with the super v ision of ' the Corporation Commis- son. " Concerning Notes Some persons who had notes wth the Bank of Franklin which were transferred to other banks are reported to hav e the impression that if the bank ' is reopened these notes will be returned to the Batik of Fiankliiv instead of being forced for collection. It has been learned on good authority, however, that this is not the case. The situa tion is this: Prior to the closing of the Bank of Franklin it had been necessary for it to borrow some money from other banks. As collateral security for these loans, the Bank of Franklin put up vviih the banks fioin vvhoiu it had borrowed, cer t.tin notes held by the Bank of l-'j anklin. These notes arc now in the hands of various banks and are not subject in any way to the control -of the liquidating agent 'of the Bank of Franklin acting for '. . Uitc. Corporation Commission, i There seems to be ait impresson that these collartcral notes will be brought back to the Bank of Franklin by the Corporation (loin mission whether the makers pay the notes or not. Vc have it on reliable information that this is not the rase, nor will it be possible fo briii'; the notes back till the amount owed the banks holding the -notes jf . llic Bank of Franklin have been paid. It is reported that the banks holding these notes have written the individual makers and endorsers that they are look ing to them to make prompt pay ment or that the notes will be placed in the hands of some at torney for collection. When such (Continued on pare four) ;GairfiDBDg; FcQFesft McCoy Forestalls Sale of Property Sale of five tracts of valuable property in Franklin's busines. district by Sheriff A. B. Slagle under ah execution by John B Justice, administrator for . th estate of Perry R. Hyatt, ha been forestalled by W. L. Mc Coy, Franklin attorney, in whose name the property re poses. The property involved includes the Franklin Hotel & Restaurant, ' several stores and the new brick building in' which are Mr. McCoy's offices and other valuable property on Main street. The sale at public auction was advertised for last Monday noon, but before that date Mr. McCoy obtained an injunction froitv Judge Walter Moore, presiding over Cherokee County superior court at Murphy, restraining Sheriff Slagle from carrying out the execution. The injunction is returnable February 16. Mr. McCoy is reported to hive left Franklin early this week on a trip to Florida. DEATH CLAIMS l CUNNINGHAM Dies Few Days After His Return from Stay In Arizona Marshall Stone Cunningham, whose health was broken while in training camp at Raleigh, during the World War, died Sunday short ly before midnight just three days after he had been brought home from Tucson, Ariz., where he had gone in a futile hope that he might recover from his long illness. Mr. Cunnniiighain, who had hun dreds of friends in Franklin and Macon county, was a so of Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Cunningham. While at camp during the war he con tracted influenza, which left effects from which he never recovered. In vain efforts to regain his health he made several trips to the west and twice, for several months each time, he was a patient at the gov ernment hospital for 'ex-service men at Otcen. Brought Home Mis last months were spent in California, New Mexico, Texas ami Arizona. He was brought home from Tucson by his brother, Roy Cunningham, last week, arriving here Thursday. He appeared to have stood the trip well, was bright and cheerful, hut his body was weakened beyond recovery, and he died Sunday night -with members of his family at his bedside. Mr. Cunningham was born on May 6, 1899. He made many friends here and elsewhere. Be fore his health broke he worked in his father's store, E. K. Cunning ham and Company. Survivors Me is survived by his father and mother; four brothers, W. (! Cun ningham and Roy Cunningham, of Franklin; J. K. (unniimhain, of Norton, Va., who was out west at the time of his brother's death ami was unable to get here in lime for the funeral; and Charles E. Cun ningham, of Akron, O. ; and three sisters, Mrs. Ed Wallace, ' of At (Continued. on page four) Farm Students Planning To Beautify School Site The Vocational Agriculture class of the Franklin high school plans to set out during the .conii'n)month from 75 to 125 trees. The plans call for a complete row of white jiincs,'- bordering the left of the grounds from the elemen tary building to the highway. Tin dead trees -nearest the sidewalk will be moved and replaced by a bed of rhododendron. Other trees and shrubs to be used in the im provement project include spruce, balsam, hemlock, inc, holly, dog wood, rambler roses, English ivy, and a number of perennial flowers. Around the base of the main building will be placed a number of hemlock settings to. hide the foundation. . These will be inter- tspersed with flowrs. Salaries of All Public Employes Voluntarily Cut Farmers' Meeting Held Saturday Attended By Hundreds MAP PLANSVOR 1931 Macon Planters Urged To Grow More Food and Feed Crops The agricultural outlook in Ma con county this year is brighter than that of many North Carolina counties but there is urgent need for the production of more food and feed 'crops, declared John W. Goodman, district farm demonstra tion agent, Saturday morning in an address at the famerrs' meet ing in the county courthouse. Several hundred farmers from all sections of the county attended the meeting, which was called for the purpose of outlining an agricul tural program for the coining year. Fred S. Sloan, farm demonstra tion agent for the county, presided. ' Among the speakers were some of the leading agricultural author ities in the state. They included, besides Mr. Goodman, I-'. R. I'arn liam, dairy specialist - of the North Carolina State '-college extension si rv ice; C. (i. Filler, livestock ex pert connected with the State De partment of Agriculture; C. F, I'arrish, poultry expert of State college extension service, and Miss Pauline Smith, home demonstration agent. Crop Drficiences M r. Goodman declared that Ma con is deficient 72 per cent in hay alone, pointing out that the fanners, especially those engaged in livestock production nad dairy ing could effect large savings by growing their own cattle feed. He also urged the growing of corn for fattcning-hogs, giving convinc ing examples anil figures to show that1 corn fed to . pigs is more profitable than corn sold on the market. . . Mr! 'Goodman also said that the county should produce (2 per cent more poultry, 33 per cent norc wheal, - two per cent more corn and 31 pe cent more eggs. These figures -represent its deficiencies for what its home consumption is, or should be. He explained that iu eggs, for ' instance,, the county may produce more nearly what it actually consumes but expressed the opinion that eggs 'should have a larger place iu the average home diet hereabouts. In some products Macon.-has a surplus, especially in pork and lard and' potatoes, according to Mr. Goodman. The .'income from tin sale of these surplusses partly off sets what is paid out to make tip for the deficiences in other pro ducts, but the opinion' was 'express ed that some of. the shortages could and should he turned into surpJusscs,. thereby, increasing the county's agricultural income. Urges Home Gardens Miss Smith urged the growing (Continued --on page 'four) The plans being made are for a long time project and will cover a period of several years. As the trees and shrubs grow and reach maturity the unsightly scenes will gradually disappear. i Due to the shortage of funds this work will all be. done, by the boys of the Y. T. H. F. club composed only of agriculture students. Each .member of the club is urged o collect as many trees as possible. These will be brought to the school and set in places where mostly needed. P.y doing this the boys will have an opportunity to ptit iu practice the transporting of trees. . '. These trees will be used to com memorate the bi-centennial birth day of George Washington irt Feb n'Tv, 1912. .,',-..!-,! i' .......J...... 7" Action Makes Possible $10,000 Saving for Tax-Payers x SLOAN TOHOLD JOB Decision of Commission To Continue Farm Work Applauded " Farm demonstration work will be continued in Macon county with Fred S. Sloan as the demonstra lion agent. At the meeting of farmers in the county courthouse Saturday morning, attended by several hun-? dred farmers from all sections of Macon county. Commissioner C, II. McClure announced that the Hoard of Commissioners, other county officials and employes had agreed to accept a 10 per cent re duction in salaries and wages, thereby making it possible to keep the farm demonstration agent and, besides, to effect a saving to the tax-payers estimated at $10,(XKI. Monday morning, at the regular monthly meeting of the1 commis sioners, it was voted to continue Mr. Sloan as the county agent. It is known that two other men had been proposed for the job but the commissioners decided that Mr. Sloan, a native of this county who knows its people and their prob lems and who has won the confi dence of the farmers, should be given the opportunity to carry out the projects he has put under way. Mr. McClure, in announcing the acceptance of lower pay by those on the county's payroll, pointed out that the reduction is for one ycar only, effective March 1. He em phasized that keeping the demon stration agent would not increase the county's expenditures. He esti mated that the saving to be effect ed by the reduction in salaries and wages would be $10,000 above th $1,2X) contributed for the farm demonstration work. The greatest part of the expense for the dem onstration work is borne by the slate and federal governments. A wave of applause swept through the several hundred fann ers attending the meeting after Mr. McClure's announcement, and after he had finished speaking John Fulton came forward with a motion for a rising vote of thanks to the Hoard of Commissioners, which was promptly adopted. LORD'S PRAYER IS TOPIC OF SERMON BY DR. ABERNETHY The Baptist Sunday school meets at 9:45 each Sunday morning. Since the weather conditions are more favorable the attendance is increas ing. . Preaching" service begins at 11 o'clock. Last Sunday morning Dr. Abernethy used as a text, "Our Father," Mathew, paying a high tribute to the wonderful man who gave this worldwide prayer to a worldwide race of people. "It is not profane to think about the social side of God," said Dr. Abernethy. "When he was here on earth he longed for companion ship.' At the evening service Dr. Aber-' nethy spoke from Luke, 19-10, "For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost," showing the mission of Christ on earth. ... The evening preaching service will-begin now, for a while, at 8 and the B. Y. P. U will meet at 7. ' Several members from the B. Y. P. U. went to Hickory Knovvl last Sunday evening and aided in the organization of a B. Y, P. U. Roy C. Dady delivered an , excellent talk on "The Difference in an Ac tive and an Inactive Church, Mem ber.". ' -..'." ; . : y The W. M. U. will meet with Mrs. Frank I. Murray. East Main