ELKIN The Best Little Town in North Carolina Th e Elkin Tribune AMERICA First, Last and Always VOL. No. XXXI. No. 14 ELKIN, N. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1942 PUBLISHED WEEKLY Farmers To Discuss Dairy And Cattle Program Here Saturday __—A __ ---— LATE NEWS IN BRIEF From the State and Nation STATE ROCKINGHAM, Feb. 10 — Herbert F. Seawell, Jr., Car thage attorney, former referee in bankruptcy, was exonerated today when Judge E. Yates Webb, presiding over a special term of United States District i Court, directed verdicts of not guilty in all pending indict ments. Judge Webb said that he based the dismissals largely on points of law, but added this much: “I am sure that if I were on the jury and the case | were submitted to me as the government has presented it here I could not have found the defendant guilty. If I had * allowed the jury to deliberate on this case and they had re turned a verdict of guilty I could not have allowed the verdict to stand." k “I AM OPPOSED to all such legislation,” Congressman John H. Folger, fifth district repre sentative, has said of the pro vision for retirement pensions for congressmen, senators, the President, Vice President and members of the cabinet includ ed in a civil service retirement measure recently enacted. Dr. D. C. Speas, of Winston-Sa lem, also a congressional can didate from the fifth district, in a statement last week term ed the congressional action “little short of embezzlement.” NATIONAL WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 — President Roosevelt defined the major war strategy of the United States today as an ef fort to keep the enemy in eheck and inflict the greatest possible destruction upon his men and resources while the allies are building a superior war machine. The chief exec utive made this statement at a press conference when asked to comment on recent assertions that the people generally en tertained an unwarranted spirit ■of complacency regarding the outcome of the war. Mr. Roose velt agreed that to some extent this had been true. INTERNATIONAL MOSCOW. Feb. 10—German ski troops were appearing in large numbers on the north central front tonight and the red army, slowly re-winning more ground after clearing the Invader from three whole pro vinces, faced most stubborn re sistance yet from retreating nazi units. On every sector of the front the Germans were throwing in reserves at great cost and were feverishly forti fying: as deeply as possible the approaches to inhabited locali ties. t. BATAVIA, Feb. 10—.Japan’s grasping tentacles tonight reached closer to Java, queen island of The Netherlands East Indies and nerve-center of the United Nations western de fenses, with a new landing on the southwest Celebes coast coupled with a push toward Borneo's southern shore. In another sector of the Pacific war front—Australia, whose po sition is steadily becoming more anxious—Prime Ministei John Curtin froze dractically the whole Australian economic life as the Japanese Invaden crept down the east coast ol New Britain island and occu pied the small port of Gas _mata. STATE EXPERTS TO BE SPEAKERS AT MEET HERE Farmers of Four Counties Are to Attend SPONSORED BY KIWANIS 4-H Club Members and Farm Boys Are Urged to Be Present TO START AT 10:00 A. M. John A. Arey, extension dairy man, and L. R. Harrill, boys’ and girls’ state club agent, both of N. C. State College, will be prin cipal speakers at an important meeting of farmers, farm boys and 4-H club members of Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin and Alleghany counties, which will be held here Saturday morning at the Reeves theatre to discuss a dairy and beef cattle program for this sec tion. All farmers, 4-H club members and others interested, are urged to attend this meeting, which will get under way at 10 a.m. County agents of the four counties men tioned are expected to be present. The meeting has been called by the agricultural committee of the Elkin Kiwanis club, which is made up of Garland Johnson, chairman; T. F. Cooley, W. A. Neaves and W. H. Combs. The new Reeves theatre is lo- i cated on West Main street, op posite Turner Drug Co., and af fords ample seating space for ; nearly 800 people. NEGRO TRIAL IS UNDER WAY Are Charged With Assault on C. S. Foster, Elkin Deputy Sheriff OCCURRED HERE JAtf. 25 Four negroes, two men and two women, went on trial in Surry superior court Wednesday after noon for an assault on Deputy Sheriff C. S. Foster, local officer, on the night of January 25. The negroes, Else Thompson, Alvin and Alfred Thompson, and Mattie Smoot, are charged with assault with intent to kill, resist ing an officer and hindering an officer in the performance of his duty. Alfred Thompson, who was said to have been the driver of the car in which the negroes were riding, was also charged with driving while intoxicated. The trial had not ended when The Tribune went to press late Wednesday afternoon. According to state evidence, the negroes as saulted Mr. Foster when he at tempted to arrest Alfred Thomp son, and badly cut him about the face and head. In another case tried since court convened Monday before Judge William H. Bobbitt, D. S. Hodge was fined $50.00 and the costs on an assault charge. The grand jury has returned a true bill of murder against Mon roe Meredith for the murder of his wife, Nancy Meredith, it was learned. The February 16 term of civil court has been cancelled. Will Aid in Filing Income Tax Returns Both state and federal income tax experts will be at the City Hall here Monday, February 16, to help local income tax payers to file returns. On February 19 20 and 21, they will be at the Chat ham Manufacturing Company to aid employees there. CT)U Pictured below are, left, John A. *Ji Lj/iI\Lji\.u Arey, extension dairyman, of N. C. State College, and L. R. Harrill, boys’ and girls’ state club agent, also of State College, who will be principal speakers at a meeting of farmers, farm boys and 4-H Club members at a meeting at the Reeves Theatre here Saturday morn ing at 10 o’clock to discuss a dairy and beef cattle program for Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin and Alleghany counties. Men of War Age To Register February 16 Men Here Will Register At The City Hall; Other Points Are Announced All men who became 20 years )f age by December 31, 1941, and vho have not reached the age of 15 by February 16, 1942, will be •equired to register Monday, vith the exception of those men vho have registered in the two previous registrations. In Elkin the registration place vill be at the City Hall, in the arge room upstairs. Plans to •egister Chatham employees at ;he plant have been cancelled, ind all employees who are of reg stration age will register at the 2ity Hall. Surry draft board No. 2, with headquarters at Dobson, has an nounced that plans are now com plete for the registration and have designated registration points for the various townships fci the area, as follows: Low Gap school, Mountain Park school, Pi lot Mountain school, Little Rich mond school, Copeland school, Shoals school. Hours of registra tion will be from 7:00 a. m. until 9:00 p. m. Every person within the speci fied age limits is required to register, except in cases where it is impossible for them to do so. Such persons may register at a later date, it was said. TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (AN EDITORIAL) We are mindful, Governor Broughton, of the urgent burdens on your shoul ders in these trying days; we know that important issues continuously claim your at tention and take up your time. But it appears that one matter quite important to this community and to this entire section has been crowded out. We are referring, of course, to the matter of opening up the State-owned lime rock properties in Yadkin county, to make available to the farmers of this section the soil-conditioner which is so essential, and which now they are having to transport con siderable distances at equally considerable costs. Nearly four months ago this paper was pleased to announce on autnority oi the highway commissioner of this district that "Governor J. M. Broughton has in structed highway officials to investigate immediately the feasibility” of starting such operations. It would seem that more than three months is stretching the term “immediately” right considerable, particularly when the matter had been given serious consideration before, by other highway officials and chemists whose analyses of the rock deposits on the property convinced that the products available there are suitable for road construction as well as for farm soil fertilization and improvement. Once before, under another administration, the farmers of this section were pepped up by what they considered dependable news that this lime deposit would be developed and made available to them. It didn’t ev^tuate. It is the considered opinion of outstanding business men here that this project is practical, and that as a result of its development the agricultural assets of this section would be increased; farm leaders subscribe to the crying need of limestone, at a more reasonable cost, and others who have given the matter thought are convinced that instead of the State allowing this property to remain unproductive it ought to be put to work. This paper thinks that those who have interested themselves in the matter ought to be told something definite, one way or the other. If the decision is to be an adverse one, we think they are due to be told why. True there may be some obstacles in the way of opening up this project at this time—yet what time could be more important to the farmers than the period imme diately ahead, when they will be called on to produce, produce, produce? Limestone will greatly help them to produce, and it does seem so unfair that they must pay heavy transportation costs, when what they need is right here at their backdoor, benefiting nobody under the sun. Our people don’t want to seem impatient, Governor, but they’d tremendously like to know what is the State’s decision about this important matter. A decision, yes or no, bolstered by reasonable reasons, would remove much speculation that may or may not be unjust. Having been represented as authorizing an immediate investigation of this matter, we feel that you will be as anxious as the rest of us to receive a report from the highway officials. You alone can get it without delay. ELKIN CLOCKS TURNED UP TO NEW WAR TIME Business and School Hours Are Changed STORES OPEN AT 9 A. M. School Now Starts at 9:10 A. M. With Lunch Hour at 12:00 OTHER CHANGES MADE Elkin turned its clocks up Sun day night and went on Eastern War Time by the clock but stay ed with sun time in numerous in stances, a survey here has dis closed. The Chatham Manufacturing Company, which works 24 hours per day, turned its clocks forward one hour and then puts its shifts back one hour so that employees will report to work at the usual time according to the sun, al though their clock will register one hour later. Elkin stores, with the exception of food and drug stores, met Monday morning and voted to change their hours so as to give mill employees additional time to shop in the afternoon after they get off from work. These hours are now from 9 to 6 on week days and 9 to 7 on Saturdays. Hours formerly were 8:30 to 5:30 on (Continued on last page) Elkin Gives $3,320 To Red Cross Fund Elkin’s contribution to the present Surry county Red Cross War Relief Fund totaled $3,320.15, according to an announcement Tuesday by Mrs. Joe Bivins, local Red Cross chairman. Miss Betty Allen is treasurer of the Elkin organization. At the week-end the county as a whole was only about $275 from the $7,500 goal, according to information received from Mount Airy, county headquarters for the American Red Cross . The drive will be continued elsewhere in the county until the goal is reached, according to county Red Cross officials, how ever, the drive here, which far exceeded all expectations, is closed. Japs Claim City Is Burning Fiercely As Defenders Withdraw Delivery Patrons Asked to Fill Out Postoffice Slips Slips have been distributed by the local postoffice to prospective free delivery mail patrons here on which should be written the names of all persons who will receive mail at that address, including: ser vants. These slips should be filled out in ink and returned to the postoffice immediately, F. W. Graham, postmaster, stated, so that plans for city free delivery may be worked out and a city directory compiled. The slips, Mr. Graham said, were either attached to the door or put in the mail box at the various homes. BANQUET HERE IS BIG SUCCESS Approximately 160 Present at Annual Employer-Em ployee Event REYNOLDS IS SPEAKER Approximately 160 people at tended the annual employer-em ployee banquet of the Elkin Mer chants Association held at Hotel Elkin Tuesday evening. The pro gram, which was in charge of George Royall, master of cere monies, was highlighted by a humorous talk by Henry Rey nolds, of Greensboro, secretary to Judge Johnson J. Hayes, of the federal court. Mr. Reynolds, a former resident of North Wilkes boro, used the friendly rivalry which exists between North Wilkesboro and Elkin as the base for his remarks. Various prizes were awarded during the evening in a novelty quiz program. E. W. McDaniel, president of the association, presided. Mr. McDaniel gave a summary of the activities of the association dur ing the year, citing many civic projects which had been sponsor ed by the group. The banquet hall of the hotel presented a gala scene with dec orations in the St. Valentine motif. A delectable dinner was served. Following the dinner a square dance was enjoyed, with music by a local string band. New Books Received By Elkin Library Mrs. W. J. Price, librarian here, has released the following list of books recently received by the li brary: “Blue Horizons,” Baldwin; “Genesee Fever,” Carmer; “Wind swept,” Chase; “Army Doctor,” Seifert; “One Foot in Heaven,” Spence; “A Soldier’s Sweetheart,” Holliston; “Betty Zane,” Grey; “Doctor’s Wife,” Greig; “Black April,” Peterkin; “Door Between,” Queen; “Red Pepper Burns,” Richmond; “State vs. Elinor Nor ton,” Rinehart; “Window at the White Cat,” Rinehart; “Mein Kampf,” Hitler; “World Almanac, 1942.” Association Is to Prepare Black List According to E. W. McDaniel, president of the Elkin Merchants Association, a black list is being compiled by the association list ing delinquent debts. Copies of the list will be mailed to all local merchants and copies will be also sent to banks and commercial credit agencies, according to Mr. McDaniel. REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR! TOKYO CLAIMS TROOPS HAVE ENTERED CITY Civilians Are Being Evacuat ed by Sea LULL IN PHILIPPINES MacArthur Reports Enemy Preparing for a New Onslaught REPORT BURMA BREAK Under skies darkened by battle smoke from bombs, shells and flame, the Brit ish defenders of Singapore were reported to be fight ing a hopeless battle against overpowering forces of Japanese, it was reported by radio late Wed nesday afternoon. Unconfirmed reports had it that 30,000 British sol diers were encircled, while the Japs announced that the city was burning fierce ly. Civilians were being evacuated. London was re ported to be prepared to hear of the fall of the im portant naval base at any hour. A Jap break-through to ward the Burma road was also reported in late radio bulletins. From the Philippines General MacArthur report ed a lull in the fierce bat tle of Bataan as the Japs brought up more troops. Imperial Tokyo headquarters asserted Wednesday that Japa nese troops entered “the city area of Singapore” at 8 a.m., local time, even as reports reaching London declared Singapore’s defenders (Continued on last page) LOCAL MEN ARE HURT IN CRASH Othel Wagoner Suffers Dis located Shoulder and Frac tured Skull DRIVER LOSES CONTROL Othel Wagoner, 36, of this city, is in a serious condition at Mar tin Memorial hospital in Mount Airy, suffering from a skull frac ture and a dislocated shoulder re ceived in an automobile accident on the Blue Ridge Parkway Fri day. According to hospital at taches, Mr. Wagoner, who was unconscious until Tuesday, is im proving, although he is still not out of danger. Thomas Sprinkle, also of this city, who was with Wagoner at the time of the accident, received minor injuries but returned to his home the following day. The ac cident occurred between Cumber land Knob Park and Galax, Va., when the car, said to have been operated by Sprinkle, went out of control and overturned down an embankment. A passing motorist found both men unconscious, Wagoner in a ditch and Sprinkle in the wrecked car, and took them to the Mount Airy hospital. Both men are connected with Chatham Manufacturing com pany. Wagoner is head loom fixer on the third shift. A parkway ranger expressed the opinion that locked wheels caus ed the accident.