niE NEWS-RECORD
PRICE A TEAR U- ,
i.) I if i i "M
i Th PROGRESSIVE FARMER
,i THE NEWS-RECORD , (PO OC
ONLY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN MADISON COUNTY ,
VOL. XXI MARSHALL, N. C, FRIDAY OCTOBER 26, 192$ , 1750
MDEVITT SAYS
He Made An Effort To
. Reduce Commission
ers' Salary To $2.
Per Day
The following bill of N. B.
McDevitt's was tabled in the
upper house of the last general
assembly, after being ratified
by the house and passed three
readings in the senate. Mc
Devitt promised to publish the
bill in the Neiws-Record. If
this bill had passed your tax
rate last year this would have
been $1.75 on the hundred
where it jeas $2.05 last year
and $2.23 this year.
The ring crowd met in Mar
shall March the 6th, 1927 and
sent Supt. Dillard roaring on
his way to Ralegh with their
blessing, power, and influence
and the bill was lost as was
Dillard later. The trouble was
the tax rate of $1.75 on the
hundred, and the same crowd
fought tile tax rate in court and
Also the road low. They said
they were 'fighting McDevitt,
but they were fighting the tax
payers of Madison County, so
that spending money would be
available. My Distinguished
friend and opponent, Dr.
Hutchins, at that time was on
the Board of Education, and
when Dillard returned from
Raleigh where he had succeed
ed in having my bill defeated
at .the expensei of the tax pay
ers it appears and is a fact that
a voucher was execued in Dil
lard's favor for the sum of
$54.45 for expense to Raleigh,
and said voucher was signed by
Chairman Ebbs and Supt. Dil
lard as Clerk to the Board. It
doe? not appear to me that Bro.
!VHuteftinr'v
taxpayers if he knew about thig
deal being pulled on thej sore
backed ,tax payers. True bills
lost and nol prossed, etc. at the
expense of the farmers of Mad
son County.
Here is a carbon copy of de
feated bill referred to above:
The General Assembly of North Caro
lina do enact
Section 1. Whereas, the Auditor's
Office of Madison County is not and
has not been an all time office, and
the act creating said office in Madison
County provides that said Auditor
shall only receive three dollars per
day for the actual time necessary in
performing the duties of said office.
It is provided and directed that in the
discretion of the Board of County
Commissioners they may annually
employ an expert accountant at a fix
ed reasonable salary to audit all the
books and records of all the county
boards of Madison County and all oth
er officials of the said County, and af
ter the work of the expert accounts
at or auditor has been completed,
said Commissloers are directed to pay
said auditor: Provided, further that
the County Auditor shall, on the first
Monday in April, one thousand nine
hundred, and twenty- seven furnish a
bond in the sum of Five Thousand
dollars for the faithful performance
of his duties, said bond to be approv
ed by the County Commissioners and
the said Commissioners may from
time to time require the County Au
ditor to furnish aditional bond, if they
deem it necessary. ;
Section 2. That the tax payers of
Madison County, and the County of
Madison may be more fully protected
and represented and the financial af
fairs of the County may have more
attention .and that the wishes of all
the tax payers may have consideration
from said Board of Commissioners,
the following named persons are here
by' appointed County Commissioners
of Madison County; to-wit: Fred
Freeman, Bryan Teague, T. A. Silver,
Lon Carter, and their terms of office
shall begin immediately upon the rat
ification of this act, after their quali
fication and their said terms of office
shall expire on the first Monday in
December, one thousand nine hundred
and thirty: ' That at the first meet
ing of the said Board of Commission
ers held after the Qualification of the
four additional members herein nam
ed, the, said Board shall re-organize
and shall - elect. Garrett Buckner
Chairman for the remainder of the
year, or the remainder of time that he
was elected chairman when the old
board first organized, and the Chair,
man of the Board shall draw the
same salary and mileage as is now
provided by law for said Chairman to
draw, and the Chairman shall per
form the duties of his said office and
(CONTINUED ON 8TH PAGE)
BLANKENSHIP
ANSWERS
HUTCHINS
On or about Oct. 20, Dr. J. H.
Hf.,in. nrf hi. hand of "Rinesters"
had a circular printed and circulated asked "hard" enough and persistent
on the Board of Education, alleging ly enough. I want to assure you
that certain things had been done in however, that we very greatly appre
the public school system of Madison ciate what the State Highway Com
County to foster the corruptness that mission, through you, has done for
has been existing for years.
The gentlemen seem to howl about
Madison County boys and girls not
being permitted to teach in their na- nusswners at tneir regular meeung,
tive county. For the benefit of the ,'wWch explains itself. I believe when
fair-minded people, I wish to say that you figure up the mileage you will
more native boys and girls are teach- nd that the actual mileage in Madi
ing in the county schools than ever ,on County is no greater than.it was
hfnr in th hiatorv of the cowntv. Por to 1927 and that we have not
The following figures show how many
county boys and girl have taught in T
the ounty for the past three years:
1926 84
1927 109
1928
.120
Thege figures show how false and
erroneous the howl of the "Ring" is.
We have tried to use as many local
teachers as possible. However, it is
imnnaaiMo In triva Anrh ntlA n. loh in
the big schools on account of their
certificate qualifications.
The ."Ring" says that the "Board
of Education and County Superinten
dent should be retired to private life"
and a new board appointed. Have
they forgotten the fact that Dr.
Hutchins was a member of the old
board that, had a de.fLc.it, o fs
wva. vj v , aaau. . u u.U. J. V A
S61,780:8TtWbr did, .'ftr
thig if h iscii fiieresited tot.WrfW a irg portion of i
taxpayers money?: It will take tbe
farmers ten or fifteen years to get ov.
er rJiis shock.
Whm I assumed the Superinten -
dency of Madison Couny, there was a
budget filed with the Board of Educa-
tion for SlSI.Oftn. Th RnarH Wn,,lH
not approve this budget and asked me
to see if we could not reduce it. We
finally reduce it to $160,000, decreas-
ing the tax rate approximately twenty
r.nta. W livoH within nr J,,w
and had a surplus of $5,581.77. This
year we reduced our budget $6,204.88
and yet the Ring shouts from every
street corner, "The Board of Educa-
tion hag caused the tax rates to g0
up
Ton , 0nhl, n,
tion put up the argument that 6000
children in Madison County can be ed
ucated for the amount that it takes to
run the offices of the Sheriff, Register
of Deeds, and Clerk? This idea would
have been progressive one hundred
years ago, but today it seems like
The Slow Train Through Arkansas"
The old "ringstersf' howl because
we rejected the bids on certain school
Duudings and hired them Duilt by day
labor. The law gives the Board the 11, 1928. Present at said meeting, W.
right to reject any and all bids if G. Buckner, Chairman; J. C. Chandler
they so desire. On the two buildings ' and C. J. Wild, Members, being the
that they have in mind the two low-'full Board: The following resolution
est bids combined were $9,765.58. was offered and unanimously adopted:
We rejected these bids because we j "WHEREAS, Chapter 200, Public
thought they were too high. These 'Laws of North Carolina, Session 1927
two jobs cost us $9,006.06 saving the provides that the State Highway Com
county $759.47. Can any loyal, pa- mission is authorized and empowered,
triotic citizen criticize this Board or and it shall be their duty to take
any. other for saving the County's over for State maintenance addition-
money! The fello'ws that are howl-
ihg are accustomed to getting their
fingers tbe "Gravy," but we are out
of "gravy" and they are, sore about it.
We have no apologies to make in
regard to tbe way we have built the
school houses. We have saved the
County's money and that? is what we
were working for. Our books are o
pen for inspection to any citizen in
the county. Come in any time and I
shall be glad to show the things that
the fellows are howling about or any
other transaction we have made for
the County, . a ;Av': '
The Board of Education is not in
politics, but since Dr. Hutchins and
his campaign managers have directed
their campaign against the ' Board
rather than Mr. McDeviti, we felt that
it was our duty to let the people know
why they are distributing circulars a.
gainst nt in a sneaking, under-mining
Way; trying to deceive the good peo
ple of thia County. ;w ... ?
C M. BLANKENSHIP.'
D17CAI ITTlfiTW WNT
: IlLiOULiU Olilll
STATE HIGHWAY
ciat
Hon. J. G. Stikeleather,
State Highway Commissioner,
Asheville, North Carolina.
My dear Mr. Stikeleather:
Somebody asked Brownlow, repre
sentative Johnson City District in
Congress, how he got so much patron
age for his District and he said he
got it by asking "hard." They tell
it in Madison County that the reason
we haven't more State Highways in
Madison County is because we naven t
! n tne way 01 tugnway con8truc-
on. i am nerewun senaing you resu-
l"t"ns adopted Dy ine county tom-
had the 20 per cent increase as pro
yided in the 1927 Act. The people who
reside in the sections of the country
j where both of the roads mentioned
are located are vigorously urging
jthat some action be taken to induce
the Highway Commission to take over
and maintain these roads. The people
n California Creek and Upper
Laurel, as soon as the rainy weather
sets in, are almost cut off from the
outside world, the fact is, the condi-
uon on mat ruau una uveu eAueuiciy
bad all this summer and the same
conditions have existed on the Sandy
Mush road. I hope that you may see
your way clear to make the greatest
effort possible to try to take over
these roads. I am sending you this
resolution, and .writing .this letter in I
- .-iv - - T
W- the Commissioners of Madi-
.w" " " w 01
s?n voumy. w e hum greatiy aPPre-
c,ate 11 you may De aDle t0 Klve.us
; some encouragement aoout taxing
over ana n"n'ng roaus m
V. t least write me and tell
me what vou think the Prospects are.
"The people in question are so handi-
u" 01 lne a roQ3
that thelr v01ces wiU not be downed
and they keep clamorin They y
the County has borrowed money and
. j i .1 j i i
!ane1d to, the, State to bulld highways
n other a"d that
'been Uxf Pav ,nterest on these
!lans and that ,they are amon tne
I best taxpayers of the county and they
j argue and I think justly so that they
. should haVe Some relief- I eg of you
'in their beha!f to do tbe very best
you can on this proposition and do
it now.
With very best wishes,
Yours very truly,
JOHN A. HENDRICKS.
RESOLUTION FOLLOWS i
North Carolina Madison County.
Regular meeting. Board of Com-
missioners, Madison County, held in
the Court House at Marshall. October
al roads heretofore maintained by the
several counties, amount of addition-
al roads so taken over for State main
tenance shall not exceed 20 per cent
of the present mileage as is now de
signated and maintained as State high
ways, and ' - - '
"WHEREAS it appeart that while
the 'State Highway Commission has
re-constructed certain roads in Madi
son County, and has ' built . some
new roads that certain other; high
ways formerly maintained - by the
State was discontinued as State main
tained roads, and it appears that the
County of Madison has practically
the same amount of mileage now as
it had before the passage of Chapter
200 above mentioned, and V,,-.? V-;
j i "WHEREAS V there are certain
roads in Madison County which ap
pear to this Board to be very neces
sary under the law to b maintained
by the State. -
t "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the State Uitfnnry CewmfsaFoo-
mm.
rnNrpnn
VEDrJLSOAY. OCTOBER 31st
AT 2:00 O'CLOCK, P. M.
AT THE COURTHOUSE
HerljOTiF. Seaivell.
Republican Candidate For Governor
- - - . - ,
Jake;:F. Newell
Prominent Attorney, of Charlotte,1 N. C. and one
oi ine
Won
Everybody interested in the public welfare of our"
County, State
I Hot Dos and Coffee Served Free
10-piece Band Will Furnish Music.
be and it is hereby requested by the
Board of Commissioners of Madison
County to take over and maintain the
road formerly maintained by the
State Highway Commission and dis
continued by the State Highway Com
mission, known as the California
Creek Road, situate in No. 15, 5 and
11 Townships, leading to what is
known as the Sams Gap. This road
accommodates a large population and
is one of the most important roads in
the County.
"BE IT FUURTHER RESOLVED
that the Board of Commissioners of
Madison County again request as it
formerly has done that the State
Highway Commission take over and
maintain the road leading from Mar
shall by way of the Freeman Gap to
the Forks of Sandy Mush, thereby
making a direct connection between
Marshall, the Cotunty Seat of Madison
County, and Waynesville, the County
Seat of Haywood County, and to this
end the Commissioners of. Madison
County most urgently request
the
State Highway Commission to take
over and maintain the two above men
tioned highways and the Board of
Commissioners stand ready and are
anxious and willing to cooperate to
the fullest extent to have these high
ways maintained by the State and it
appears to the Board that under the
law that Madison County is entitled
to this additional mileage."
I, J. Will Roberts, Register of
Deeds and ex-officio Clerk of the
Board of Commissioners of .Madison
County do hereby certify that the
foregoing is a correct copy of reso
lutions passed and . unanimously : a-
dopted by the Board of Commission
ers at the regular meeting' held Oct
ober 1, 1928. - j
Given under my hand and official
seal, this the 16th day of October,
1928. ,
- .1 J. WTLL' &0SEKTSY -,T. I
Clerk Beard 'of CommissioDcrs.
r'r
1 ' .' '
(I
pesx oraiors in uic
And
Cltas
Republican Candidate for
1
. . ..4
and Nation, should be here and
MADISON NEWS
SPOTLIGHT
By GLENN W. NAVES
FIELD DAY, FARMERS'
PICNIQ PLANNED
The combination of the program
for the Coanty-wide school field day
meet scheduled to be held here Octo
ber 27, with that of the farmers' pic
nic to he. held here the 30th, has been
announced. It was decided to com
bine the two events and present a
joint program, following a confer
ence by .County Agent Earle Brint-
nall, County Superintendent o f
Schools, Carl M. Blankeship, and
G.'.fant McDarris, Chairman on the
Committee on Arrangements for the
Field- Day event, and Mr. McDarris
and his Committee have expressed
themselves) as being very favorable
j to the new plan.
The gathering is expected to bring
to Marshall for the all-day program
on Blannabassett Island several thous
and farmers) school teachers and pu
pils, in addition t" 'siness and pro
fessional men whi.. . e interested in
the event The morning will be giv
en1 to 'an athletic meet, followed by
a CountyV vke spelling contest, each
school being . allowed two contest
ants, except in relay races where
four entrants for each institution,
will be allowed.
1 The noon hour will bring the pic
nic, followed by the appearance on
the program of two of North Caro
lina's and the South's most prominent
agricultural leaders Dr. Clarence
Poe, Of Raleigh,' Editor of the Pro
gressive Farmer, and F. H. Jeter, Agricultural-Editor
, of State College,
Raleigh. ' Later in the afternoon a
football game between two unnamed
teams will mark the first grid, con
ovtiic
v.
Congress .
test ever staged on an Island in Mad
ison County, if not in the State. It
is probable that the Mars Hill High
and Chums elevens will clash in the
game, ' since negotiations between
Coach Kuykendall, of Mars Hill and
the manager of the Asheville elevens
are under way.
The awarding of prizes in the va
rious classes of the athletic meet and
the oral spelling contest, together
with the other attractive features on
the program, is expected to attract
Countyjwide interest.
FLOYD CONNOR INJURED
Floyd Connor, well-known farmer
of the Spring Creek section, is re
ported as resting well at the Marsh
all Community hospital, following a
recent operation, after he was
rushed to the hospital suffering from
a fractured skull and other injuries
received when he was struck by fly.
ing stones scattered by an explosion
'while engaged in blasting near his
home. Mr. Connor, it is said, had
lighted the fuse and retired to what
he considered a safe distance, when
(Continued to page Five.)
A BIG DEMOCRATIC
RALLY!
Hon. John G. Davis, former Chair- -
man of the Democratic Party of North
Carolina, will adddess the voters of
Madison County, at 1 :00 o'clock, P.
M., Saturday. October 27th at the
Court House in Marshall, N. C All
persona, regardless of political affili
ations are invited to be present Ex
pect to have a band for the occasion.
Be here without fail. ' : - v ..
GUY V. ROBERTS, Member State
Executive Committee. '
JOHN, H. k MCELROY ' Secretary
Democratic County Committee.
, s- -
A.