TO
CM
GA
STOMA
ZETTE
PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FSIDAY.
TOL.'XL. NO. 4.
GASTONIA, X. C. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 8, 1919.
12.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
BLOODY FIGHTING IN
THE STREETS OF
DARLINGTON TO
SPEAK FRIDAY NIGHT
GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGAN
1919 SESSION YESTERDAY
DID WONDERFUL
FJCHTING IN FRANCE
& Watch Your Label
; The label in this space shows when your
subscription expires. Renew before your
time is out so as not to miss an issue of
The Gazette. Often we cannot supply back
numbers. If your time is out within the
next ten days RENEW NOW.
II J. R. WITHERS SUFFERS
STROKE OF PARALYSIS
Mr. J. R. Withers, superintendent of
the Flint Mill and one of Gastonia 's best
known mill men, sufferedva stroke of pa
ralysis some time last night and is today
' in a very critical condition. Physicians
-1 who were summoned immediately after
Mr. Withers was found to be in an un
conscious condition about 4 o'clock this
Horning, stated that the stroke was caus
ed by a blood clot on the brain ami they
bold out little hope of his recovery.
Mr. Withers had been confined to his
bed since Monday morning by an attack
of influenza. Last night about 11 o'clock
xhe suffered a hard chill, following which
he went to sleep. In the early hours of
the morning members of the family no
ticed that he was breathing heavily and
made an effort to arouse him but the ef
forts were futile.
WITH GASTON'S SOLDIERS
The Gazette will be glad to have
for this column items of interest '
about any Gaston men in the ser-
vice, either overseas or in this
country. Parents or other rela-
lives and friends are requested
to send in such items or phone
them in. In each Instance
please Rie the soldier's full ad-
dress If possible.
Lieut. John O. Durham, son of Mr.
and Mrs. 8. J. Durham, was recently re
leased from active iprviee in the aviation
.branch of the service and is now at home.
He was placed in the reserves. Lieut
Durham received his training at Park
Field, Memphis, Tenn., and it wns there
that he received his commission.
Yeoman Plato Durham has been re
leased from active service in the navy
iull placed in the naval reserves. He is
is now at home and has accepted a posi
tion with W. L. Hal thin & Co.. cotton
brokers. He was in active service for
seven months, during which time lie
made four trips across on the battle
cruiser Denver, which was engaged in
awvoying transports. He wears a chev
ron awarded for four months active serv
ice in foreign waters. Had he remained
in the service ten days longer he would
have received another chevron. Yeoman
Durlinm is a son of Mr. and Mrs. S. .1.
Durham.
PROHIBITION AMENDMENT
RATIFIED BY 19 STATES.
Three more States yesterday ratified
the proposed prohibition amendment to
the Constitution of the United States,
snaking a total of 9 states that have en
dorsed the proposal of Congress to en
tirely suppress the manufacture and sale
of intoxicating beverages. The house of
the Idaho legislature alvo voted for the
amendment, but the senate tabled the mo
tion, delaying final action. The act needs
to be ratified by 17 more States.
While the proposed addition to the ba
ste law was ratified yesterday by the leg
islatures of Ohio, Colorado and Oklaho
ma, representatives of the distillery com
panies of the country met in Chicago and
decided to oppose the amendment and the
war prohibition act, which is to go into
effect on July 1, by every legal means
possible.
The States which have ratified the pro
hibition amendment are Kentucky, Vir
ginia, Mississippi, South Carolina, North
Dakota, Maryland, Montana, Arixona,
Delaware, Texas, South Dakota, Massa
chusetts, Georgia, ' Louisiana, Florida,
Michigan, Ohio, Colorado and Oklahoma.
Evangelist Green Coining.
- Rev. A. Burgess, pastor of East Gas
tenia Methodist church, has secured Rev.
Jin Green, the well-known evangelist to
conduct a series of meetings at the Flint
Groves Betterment Hall beginning Sun
day morning. The meeting will continue
for at least two weeks. People of all de
. nominations are cordially invited to. attend.
DISTILLERS PREPARING
FOR DEATH STRUGGLE
(Hv International News Service.)
CHICAGO, Jan. 8. Distillers of the
: United States, armed with a billion dol
i lar fund and led by Levi Mayer, are to-
day preparing to go the limit in fighting
J prohibition in every State in the Union.
Three hundred distillers have pooled
their interests. They expect the amend
ment to carry in the H6 States needed for
its ratification, but plan to fight the mat- J
ter out in the courts.
DEATHS
DEATH OF AGED CITIZEN.
W. N. Davis Passed Monday Night at
Home of His Daughter in Dallas
Funeral and Burial Today.
Correspondence of The Gazette.
DALLAS. Jan. 8. Mr. W. N. Davis,
better known as "Bill" Davis, died Mon
day night at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Brady Leagan, of lung trouble. Mr.
Davis had been in declining health for
the past two years and had . been confined
to his bed since August of last year. He
was 70 years, four mouths and nine days
old, having been born in this county on
August 2R, 1848.
Surviving deceased are his widow and
eight children, Messrs. John P. Davis,
Luther Davis and Thomas Davis, Mrs.
Neal Hoyle, Mrs. Pearl Cloninger and
Mrs. Brady Leagan, nil of Dallas, Mrs.
Jonas Pack, of Thomasville. and Mr. Will
Davis, of Belmont.
Funeral services will le held at the
residence of Mrs. Leagan, conducted by
Hew W. S. Ilamiter, pastor of the Pres
byterian church, assisted by Rev. C. K.
Fritz, pastor of the Lutheran church, and
interment will be made in the Presbyte
rian cemetery.
ANDERSON CRAWFORD.
Anderson Crawford, aged 7!. died at
-412 Kast Long avenue Monday, follow
ing an illness of some time, ami was bur
icd in Hollywood cemetery yesterday af
ternoon. He was a stone cutter by trade
and was a native of York county. South
'arilina.
ADOLPHPS N. CARPENTER.
Adolphus N. Carfenter, of the ('rouse
section, and one of the most prosperous
farmers of that section, died Saturday
after a brief illness from pneumonia. The
funeral and burial was conducted at An
tioch church on Sunday. Deceased is
survived by his widow and several chil
dren. ADJUTANT-GENERAL PRAISES
WORK OF LOCAL BOARDS.
In a bulletin sent out under date of
January 4, from the oflice of the Adjutant-General
in Raleigh, to memliers of
the various local boards of the State, are
the following paragraphs which are very
complimentary to the work of the local
boards in North Carolina:'
"The writer was called to Washing
ton during December to attend a confer
ence at the office of Gen. Crowder, and
while there he was informed by the de
partment that North Carolina has made a
splendid record in the Selective Service
work. Major Langston, formerly special
aide to the Governor, now acting chief of
the Classification Division, which is the
most important division of the Provost
Marshal General's office, was enthusias
tic in his praise of the record attained by
the North Carolina organization. These
compliments are passed along to you who
have been the shock absorbers of the sys
tem, and j to whom the credit is due.
"Governor Bickett, as the head of our
department, is especially proud of your
work, and he joins me in asking that the
final service be performed with the same
spirit of devotion to duty that has char
acterized your past efforts."
Mrs. Sparke Cameron, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Johnson, is critically
ill at the Gaston Sanitorium. She is suf
fering from influenza-pneumonia. Her
many friends hope for her early recovery.
(By International News Service.)
LONDON, Jan. 8. Bloody street fight
ing continues to rage in Berlin. Hun
dreds have been killed. The government
is reported as victorious in early dispatch
es hut this is made doubtful by later ad
vices. Heavy reinforcements for the gov
ernment troops, among them 480,000 loy
al soldiers under Gen. Groner, are being
rushed to Berlin to fight the Bolshevik i.
The Ebert government has offered to
negotiate with the Sparticides but the
latter are reported to have rejected the
overture. A violent struggle took place
around the chancellor's palace, which the
Sparticides tried to capture by storm.
Twenty Bolsheviki were killed in the
first charge. Another furious battle took
place near the foreign office in Wilhem
strasse. There was heavy firing in the
streets throughout the night. The Spar
tacus group are strongly armed, having
captured the great Spnndan arsenal. The
Spartacus at last reports control the Mar
shal buildings and the police headquar
ters, where mounted machine guns swept
the streets. While scores are being kill
ed with machine guns and bombs in the
heart of the city, "movie" operators nre
grinding out pictures of the sanguinary
slaughter. It is reported that Gen. Von
Hindenburg is in Berlin.
TROTSKY HAS LENINE
PLACED UNDER ARREST
(By International News Service.)
COPENHAGEN, Jan. 8. Nicholas Le
nine, Bolsheviki premier of Russia, was
arrested on orders from Leon Trotsky,
foreign minister, says a Moscow dispatch
today. The break came wheu Lenine pro
posed n coalition cabinet with the moder
ates. Trotsky favors the continuance of
the reign of terror.
COL. ROBERT LOWRY DEAD.
(By International News Service.)
ATLANTA, Jan. 8. -Col. Robert Low
ry, a financier known throughout the Uni
ted States, died this morning after a
brief illness, aged 7. He was born at
Greenville, Tenn.
OFFICERS INSTALLED.
Enjoyable Public Installation of Officers
of Providence Camp, Woodmen of the
World.
Providence Camp No. .'!M'J, Woodmen
of the World, held a very enjoyable pub
lie meeting in their hall on West Long
avenue last night, at which a public in
stallation of the officers of the ramp for
the ensuing term was held. There were
present a large number of Woodmen, as
well as many inited visitors not inein
bets of the order.
The installation was in charge of Past
Council Commander G. II. Marvin, who
was assisted by District Deputy Grand
Sovereign .1. Sid Winget. With appro
priate and interesting ceremonies the fol
lowing officers were installed:
Bismarck Capps, council cnmumiidcr ;
W. 1). Davis, advisor-lieutenant; J. 11.
Dellinger. banker; S. A. Deal, clerk; K.
S. Robii.sou, escort; W. B. Diggers,
watchman ; 11. M. Albright, sentry r Dr.
J. A. Diminette, camp physician; A. L.
Falls, E. Lee Wilson and W. Lyle Smith,
managers.
Other features of the program were the
singing of "America" by the audience,
musical numbers by the Flint, baud, and
a vocal so Ki by Miss Jane Morris. Miss
Morris sang "Mammy Plays With Baby's
Toes,'" the words of which were compos
ed by Mr. G. H. Marvin and are printed
below. The poem had been been set to
appropriate music and was a very enjoy
able feature of the evening. There were
addresses by Mr. Capps, Mr. John Car
penter, and others, after which the Wood
men and their guests repaired to the Car
olina Cafe, where an enjoyable oyster
supper was served, followed by a smoker
at the hall.
MAMMY PLAYS WITH BABY'S
TOES.
(By G. H. Marvin.)
I was strolling by a cabin.
Where the honeysuckle grows.
When I spied an old black Mammy.
Playing with a baby 's toes.
Says I, ' ' Mammy, where 's the mother.
To that white and pretty babef "
She looked at me in amazement.
And to me, these words she said:
CHORUS.
"Baby's Ma's done gone up yonder.
Where God's chosen only goes,"
Then she dropped her head in silence.
As she played with baby's toes.
Then I wiped away a tear-drop.
As I said to her, "Good day,"
For it brought to mind a loved one,
I had lost the self -same way.
And I said, "God bless you, baby,
When a man you grow to be.
Will you ever know my feelings.
As old Mammy said to met
.
Miss Helen, Ragan" returned to
Queens College, Charlotte, yesterday, af
ter spending the holidays with her par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Ragan.
Will Be One of Several Prominent Speak
ers on Program for Methodist Group
Meeting at Main Street Methodist
Church Friday Dr. E. H. Sawlings,
Rev. John C. Hawk and Rev. R. M.
Courtney Also on the Program Is in
Interest of Centenary Missionary
Movement.
Methodists from over the Shelby dis
trict will gather in Gastonia Friday to
attend the Centenary district group
meeting and and a meeting of the dis
trict stewards. Several prominent sieak
ers of the denomination will be present
to present the work of the Centenary
missionary movement, among them Bish
op U. V. W. Darlington, of Huntingdon,
West .Virginia ; Dr. John C. Hawk, of
Nashville, ami Rev. R. M. Courtney, conJ
ference missionary secretary. The pres
ence of these men here insures a program
of much more thnn ordinary interest and
it is expected that the attendance will be
large. Bishop Darlington has indicated
his intention to be here ami he will speak
on Friday night. This will be his first
visit to Gastonia, though many Gas
tonians heard him at Charlotte where he
held the Western North Carolina Confer
ence in Novemlier. He is one of the new
ly elected bishops of the church and is a
speaker of marked ability. The oppor
tunity to hear him is one which the Meth
odists of this district will highly appre
ciate. The other speakers are also men
of well-known ability and their partici
pation guarantees na excellent program.
This meeting will be somewhat in the
nature of an institute of methods for
carrying out the missionary centenary
campHigu this year. There will be three
sessions, the first at 9:.'t0 a. m., another
in the afternoon and the third at night.
The program will be replete with inter
esting and helpful addresses and discus
sions. It is expected that more thnn (10
preachers and delegates will be in attend
ance and numbers of visitors from nearby
towns have signified their intention to
be present. The general public is cor
dially invited to attend all the sessions
ami every man and woman of the town
who is at nil interested in the subject of
missions, is urged to lie present t every
service.
It is expected that Bishop Darlington
will remain over for the Sunday morning
service at Main Street Methodist church
wheu he will probably preach for the
pas4 or. Rev. A. L. Stanford.
Mr. W. B. Morris, chairman of the en
tertainment committee, requests that all
persons who will entertain one or more
delegates at dinner or supper on Friday
telephone him at No. i'i. There will !
probably be a few delegates who will re
main over night and those who desire ti
entertain these in their homes Friday
night are also asked to phone Mr. Morris.
LETTERS FROM OVERSEAS
From Corporal Grover C. Stewart.
Following tie some extracts from a
letter which Mrs. J J. Stewart, of Clo
or, recently received f rom tier son. Corp.
Grover C. Stewart, of A, ll.'ith M. G.
Battalion: Dec 1. H'ls.
Dear Mama: Here 1 am to write ou
a few lines to let you know that I am
well and enjoying life fine. I have a seven-days
pass which started last night at
1:1 o'clock. I am at the Grand Hotel de
Pnrnmc, at St. Malo, right on the coast.
It is a real pretty place, but it's raining
here this morning, almost too bad to get
out and walk around. 1 have been out
to the V. M. C A. 1 got some cakes,
candy and meiitholntuin. I also got some
tooth paste, chewing gum. cough drops
and writing paper. I am in m little
room looking right out on the bench.
Will try ami take some views of the place
home with me. You know we are going
home right soon, at least that is what is
rcKrted.
Went out for a walk this afternoon and
went to the big Y. M. C. A. It sure is a
nice place and they are doing all they can
to give the American soldiers a good
time while here. We are going to take a
trip out a little ways from here Tuesday
to St. Mihiel. Every one who has been
there tells me to go, so I know it must lie
grand. Another lioy and myself, from
Co. B, are rooming together. He is a cor
poral just as myself, a dandy good pal.
We are having the time of our life while
in France. You don 't know how I did
feel last night when I got in that nice
clean bed. It makes me think of home.
You know we boys sing a great deal. We
have some fine singing and you know I
love it. We sing, 44 Lord, I'm Coming
Home," but we have changed a few
words. I don 't want you to think that I
think wc have made the piece better or
anything like that We say:
"Mama, your boy's coming home.
Never more to roam,
Open wide your arms of love,
Mama I 'm coming home. " '
But there are more than one dear girl
and mother that will not see their dear
one marching back to them. But they
died for a good cause. They sacrificed
their life for their country and I hope
that they will meet their loved ones in
heaven some time bye and bye.
I am going to mail some csrds of the
Dennis G. Brummet, of Granville, Chosen
Speaker of the House Governor's Mes
sage to Joint Session to Be Delivered
Today D. P. Dellinger, of Gaston,
Reading Clerk of House.
Charlotte Observer.
Raleigh, Jan. 7. Nominated in the
democratic caucus of house members to
night for speaker, Dennis G. Brummitt,
of Granville, declared that while he has
sought the place for the honor and pre
ferment there is in the office, he also de
sired the speakership for the opportunity
it afforded to accomplish something for
the common good in this crisis in the de
velopment of the state. He urged a
brond vision in dealing with the affairs
of state.
Brummitt was nominated by Repre
sentative Gold, of Guilford, ami seconded
by Stanley Winborne, who withdrew this
morning as his opposing candidate.
Alex Lnssiter, of Bertie, was elected
principal clerk without opposition; D. P.
Dellinger, of Cherryville, as reading
clerk; J. H. Mooring, ns sergeant at
arms, and (). P. Shell, as engrossing
clerk. The only contest was for ser
geant ni arms, when Mooring received 51,
S. D. Moore :I0 and M. W. Hines .1.
The caucus organization met with Vic
tor Bryant, of Durham, as chairman, and
Representative Mull, of Burke, secretary.
The senate caucus made J. A. Brown
chairman. He told the senate that it was
just "ti years ago that he served his first
term in the senate. Senator Scales, of
Guilford, nominated Senator Lindsay
Wurren, of Beaufort, for president pro
tern, of the senate, and he was chosen tty
the caucus by acclamation. R. O. Self
was named without opposition for prin
cipal clerk; C. C. Broughton, for rending
clerk; I. W. Hughes, as engrossing clerk;
W. D. Gastor, for sergeant at arms, and
J. A. Bryson, of Hendersjnville, us as
sistant sergeant at arm.
Governor Bickett had about completed
his message to the legislature this after
noon, in readiness for its transmission to
the joint session of the senate and house
that will follow the form a f organization
of the two houses Wednesday. However,
it is possible that the organization may
consume so much time Wednesday that
the general assembly will conclude to re
cess Thursday morning for the joint ses
sion to receive the message of the gover
nor, which it is understood he will deliv
er in person, following the precedent es
tablished by Governor Craig six years
ago.
The message will ileal with all the
state problems that are expected to come
before the legislature from the viewpoint
of the governor ami his administration.
It is a foregone conclusion that he will
call for those educational policies recom
mended by Doctor Joyner in his recom
mendations, including six mouths' mini
mum school term, compulsory school at
tendance, advances, and the like.
The governor is known to favor the so
called short ballot and is expected to dis
cuss this from the North Carolina view
point. Of course he will stress the appli
cation of his pet constitutional amend
nient to exempt mortgages on farm homes
from taxation. Then there will be his
recommendations as to changes in the
taxing systems, and these are awaited
with keen interest as indicating nlong
what lines the movement for the tax re
forms insisted to lie necessary will bring
in the legislative efforts.
Davidson county has a creamery which
made good last year. It did not pay a
dividend but invested a considerable sur
plus in War Savings Stamps ami Liberty
bonds. It paid out for butter fat to Da
vidson county fanners toil,
Mr. ami Mrs. Lloyd Bynnui will go
to Greenville, S. C. this week to spend
some time with relatives.
Mr. John L. Page, who has been in
training at Camp Jackson, has received
his discharge from the service and re
turned home a few days ago.
- Mr. R. D. Lewis ami family have all
Im-cii confined to their home on Rankin
avenue by intluen.a. Mr. Lewis is able
to be out today and the other members
of the family are improving.
Mrs. Lillian Peterson, of Stanley,
has qualified as administratrix of the es
tate of her deceased husband, the late M.
B. Peterson, of Stanley, and gives notice
to creditors through the advertising col
umns of The Gazette.
Mr. Edgar McLean, son of Mrs. R.
J. Smith, of Gastonia, who was recently
discharged from the army, is teaching at
Spring Hope. Mrs. McLean left yester
day to join him and to assist him in his
school work there.
Nets for Smugglers.
curious method of preventing
smuggling Instituted by the Italian
government is the fixing of a metallic
net along the length of the Swisa fron
tier. The net Is of five-mesh steel
wire 'about nine feet high, and there
are gateways at different points.
plaee home, Hope they will get there
safe. Well, I had belter close. Hoping
to see you all soon, your own son,
SORP. GROVER C. STEWART.
Men Who Were Trained at Camp Chroni
cle Artillery Rang Here Fought Bril
liantly and Effectively Overseas Son
Interesting Facts from the War Ds
partment as to Part They Played in
the Great Conflict.
Gastonia played a part on the battle-,
fields of France, not only by sending the
best of her young manhood into the serv-.
ice, backing up the government at every
turn financially but also providing the
artillery range, judging by what was ac
complished by the men who trained on
the local range, as told in an official com
munication received today from the of
fice of the Chief of Staff of the War De
partment by the Artillery Range Com
mittee of the Gastonia Chamber of Com
merce, of which committee Mr. W. T.
Rankin is chairman.
It is term-, as are all official state
ments, but between the lines one may
read of heroic service valiantly given, by
the splendid young artillerymen of the
Fourth Field Brigade, who won such
warm place in the hearts of Gastonia
people while located at ('amp Chronicle,
under the command of Brigadier General
Edward N. Babbitt.
The last of the Fourth Field Brigade
left Gastonia about the 2Qth of April af
ter weeks of intensive training on the
range here. To the work on the local
range the men had come from store, of
fice and farm, from all professions all
over America. And the brief training
given ns a result of Gastonia 's generosi
ty wns all that they were to get For
from here they were almost immediately
flung overseas and into the trenches oa
the Hindenburg line. Within less than
60 clays from the time they left Gastonia.
they took up a position on the line, with
out further training or preparation, near
Galfingan.
On July 18th, less than 20 days from
the time they began their first front line
tour of duty, they slammed home their
first offensive, attacking the enemy just
to the west of Chateau Thierry. On An- "
gust 2nd they were on the line at Boiade.
Nesle-Coulognes, relieving the 'Forty -Second
Division and on the following day
they advanced to Chery-Chartreus and
then on the 7th took up a position oa the
Vesle, participating with great effect ia
an action against the Bodies at Buzo
ches on the Vesle on the 10th of August.
On October 4th they participated in
an attack on the German positions andoa
the following day bravely stood their
ground under a punishing shell-fire from
the enemy, repulsing repented counter
attacks made by the Germans. On she
IL'th they were in position on the line
north of the Hois de Koret and saw con
stant duty on the line until the armistice
was signed. The Fourth is now n part of
the Army of Occupation.
It is understood from unofficial sources
that, the units training here suffered
heavy losses, which is natural' as they
were constantly in the face of the enemy '
tire, as shown by the official records.
Gastonia did not see the range placed
to the extensive use first planned for it
but has the comforting thought that she
did her full part and thnt at least 5,000
went into the offensive which smashed
the Hindenburg line, the better fitted to
give the good account of themselves they
did, as a result of what Gnstnniu gave.
EXONERATES MR. DICKSON.
To the Editor of The Gazette:
The local board wishes to explain
through you that the name of Mr. Ches
ter Blaine Dickson, Route ;i, appearing
in the list of delinquents failing to file
questionnaire in list published in your is
sue of the .'(rd inst., wus given to you in
error. Mr. Dic kson had in every respect
complied with requirements, and had duly
fixed his questionnaire. Through our
oversight in the office, it had not been
posted to the classification list, from
which the list referred to was taken. This
explanation is made in justice to Mr.
Dickson.
LOCAL BOARD.
DEMONSTRATIONS IN SAVING
MEAT.
WEST RALEIGH, Jan. . To over
come, some of the great losses occurring
annually in North Carolina, because of a
lack of general knowledge about butcher
ing, cutting and curing meat, the agri
cultural extension workers of the State
College and Department of Agriculture
are giving demonstrations in different
sections showing just hom this work is
best done. At the same time, the utiliza
tion of the by-products is also stressed in
order that the annual loss sufferedeach
winter may be reduced as much as possi
ble. v ..
This work has been put on, as stated,
as an aid in saving the great loss annual
ly suffered by the State because proper
methods of curing and handling the farm
meat supply are not followed. According
to Mr. Gray, the farmers of the State
could save several thousands dollars ef
losses each year by improving their meth
ods. He has prepared Extension Circular
No. 4, "Curing Meat on the Farm,
which is available free of charge to citi- .
sens of the 8tate as long as the present
supply lasts. This circular explains the
best methods ia use, especially the brine
method now being demonstrated by the
swine extension service. .