VOL. 28.
selma,' n. c; Thursday, july 19, 1945.
NUMBER 29.
JOHNSTONIAN-SUN
TOCONTINUE
Standi States Policy
Gaskill Named Editor
Subsequent to the death of M. L.
: Standi, who was editor and publisher
Of this newspaper. Corporal Alton u
Stencil, now of the Army, and one of
the present owners, announced this
week that Howard V. Gaskill has
been named acting editor of The
Johnstonian - Sun, effective imme
diately. Gaskill has been assisting
the staff for several weeks and will
continue to serve In a part-time capa
city. Meanwhile efforts to secure
permanent personel are being carried
on by the publishers and an an
nouncement is expected in the near
future.
Cpl. Standi emphasized that The
Johnstonian will continue to be pub
lished In Selma every Thursday and
the owners wish this fact understood
by all readers, ; advertisers, corres
pondents and subscription represen
tatives. An editorial in this issue sets
forth the governing policy of the
paper and attention 'is called to it.
All printing departments, including
that of job-printing, will function un
der the supervision of Bill Stancil.
All . present correspondents and sub
scription representative will b re
tained, stated the Corporal. . An
nouncement concerning selection of a
temnorarv advertising manager to
serve during the illness of H. H
Lowrv la expected within a few days,
Miss Lucy Stancil has . returned
from Washington, and will be in
charge of office work in the position
of secretary-treasurer ana lias ai
iMkufiv hotnin VAll; ?
The office telephone" A number is
205.
RESOLUTIONS
The Selma 'club-of Kiwanis Inter
national presents the following reso
lutions of respect to Mr. m. u a tan
eil:
On Julv 7. 1945 Mr. M. L. Stancil
passed to his eternal reward. In the
passing of our. friend, the Selma
club lost its beloved president and
loyal memtter of maor years.' ;:
Selma has Sustained the loss of one
of its leading citizens. He was inter
ested in civic and social affairs, and
gave himself untiringly to the bet
terment of his community.
Mr. Standi was looked upon by all
an a Christian gentleman. For many
years he was a leader in the Pres
byterian Church, where he served as
elder, Sunday school superintendent
and in other capacities.
In business he was diligent. He
was successful In establishing ana
u4;tinr Th Johnstonian - Sun. a
weekly news of his home town and
environs. This paper was used as an
instrument of civic betterment as
well as a conveyance of news.
To the family and near relatives,
we express our deepest sympathy. In
his passing a great loss is sustained.
But in the midst of our sorrow there
is joy, because a noble man has lived
among us.
: Respectfully submitted,
Ew V. Woodard "
Vernon Wiggs
J. Wade Baker,
Resolutions Committee.
More Refrigerators
And Washing Machines
Raleigh, July 18-OPA officials
have been informed by the War Pro
duction Board fhat more than one
quarter million priorities have been
granted for the manufacture of
domestic refrigerators and almost
160,000 for domestic washing ma
chines. '
Theodore S. Johnson. District Di
rector, pointed out yesterday this
does not mean these long-scarce com
modities will be soon released from
the priority system, but is indicative
of a "general trend toward the alle
viation of serious home-front equip
ment shortages."
The OPA Director added that none
of these refrigerators is expected to
be available to the general public
through normal retail channels be
fore the beginning of 1946. '
JUSTACOLURIN
By AITCH VEE GEE
MOST folks are hearing
A lot these days about
THE food shortage and
THE editor can Touch
FOR the fact that it is
REALLY here as "the Boss"
!WAS unable to find any
THING for our supper one
DAY last week so she and
OUR boy feasted on hot
DOGS and I made out with
MOLASSES and hot biscuit'
AND I am sorry that Barney x
HENRY and John Wiggs were
NOT there to enjoy it with
ME as we are lasses-loving ,
BOYS and now I thank you.
tf ANY ITEMS ' OMITTED THIS
f. sek - for lack ' of space
t.;ll appear latex
POLICE COURT
The weekly session of police court
was brief Monday evening. Herbert
Brown, charged with drunken-driving,
was bound over to .Recorder's
court. Drunkenness charges cost
Dave Crocker $5 and cost, ',. while
Ozie Eason was taxed with court
costs.. For disorderliness and drunk
enness Ed Byrd drew $5 and costs.
irs on us
In a recent issue of The
Johnstonian it here appeared an
ad for Mrs. A. J. Worrels in
wnich the word 'cafe' was used.
This was in error. Mrs. Worrels
does not serve meals. Response
to the ad brought Customers
whom she had to disappoint.
The.. Johnstonian.. appreciates
Ithe courtesy of ithla advertiser
herein and is more than glad to
mak correction.
Employment "Service .
Changes Office Hours
The United States Employment
Service of the War Manpower Com
mission, in compliance with an order
from the : President of the . U nited
States, has gone on a 44-hour work
week basis, effective July 1, 194S,
Until further notice, the offices will
be operating five eight-hour aays
Monday through Friday, being open
from 8:30 a, m. until 5:80 p. m., and
4 hours on Saturday, from 8:30 a. m.
until 12:30 p. m.
Please broadcast this to your
friends who might be seeking service
on Saturday afternoons so that they
will not be making a useless trip" to
the office on these afternoons.
War Effort Demands
- waste rai ooivagc
The i farm women of North Caro
lina have made excellent records in
the salvaging of waste fats for the
war effort, and they will need to con
tinue their natriotic efforts in this
direction until the war against Japan
is concluded, according to Mrs.
Estelle T. Smith, assistant State
home demonstration agent oi tne
State College Extension Service.
According to the report .tor May.
89 950 pounds of fat were salvaged in
North Carolina, but there was a arop
in collections for June.. Mrs. Smith
said. She pointed out that V-E day
did not end the critical shortages and
that housewives should guard against
the waste of any fats until the need
for such materials ceases.
The index showing that more lat
being salvaged by the rural women
than by the town women is not sur
prising in view of the meat shortage
in the towns, Mrs. Smith explained
Rural women in some areas or tne
State are collecting the waste law
cooperatively through their commun
ity chairman ana are nispomnir m. wit
material accordingly. Mrs. Smith Sta
ted. In many instances, these women
ar usinir the funds from the sale of
the waste fats for community pro
jects which enhance farm life.
Mrs. Smith suggests that women,
in other communities could render a
natriotic service to their government
by collecting the fats and could or
ganize their efforts, pool the money
made in the sales, and devote the nse
of the funds to community improve
ments. "This would be an excellent
plan," she declared.
Floyd W. Eason In
West Coast Hospital
Marine Private First Class Floyd
W. Eason. son of Mrs. Flora Eason
Selma. N. C, has arrived at a West
Coast hospital for medical treatment
following combat service in the
Pacific.
He is a veteran of Guadalcanal.
Guam, Okinawa, and was also sta
tioned at Pearl Harbor.
Union Service At
Presbyterian Church
The Union Service of the Selma
Churches will be at the Presbyterian
Church Sunday night, July 22, at 8
o'clock. The Rev. J. Wade Baker, pas-
Ltor of the Baptist Church, will do the
preaching. The public is invited and
urged to attend this service.
The process of distribution of to
bacco twine is responsible for ample
supplies in some North Carolina
counties and shortages in others, ac
cording to Tom Scott, . chairman of
the. Stats .AAA Committee at State
eollege. ' . :
PROMINENT MICRO !
CITIZEN PASSES
James Walter Fitzgerald, 73, well
known citizen of Micro died at his
home Tuesday morning at 1:40 fol
lowing a brief illness. Mr. Fitzgerald,
a former mayor of Micro, held mer
cantile and farming interests in the
county and also had served as
sheriff's deputy. '
Funeral services , conducted by the
Rev. J. W. Watson, minister of the
Micro Methodist Church were held
Wednesday at the residence. Inter
ment followed in the Micro cemetery.
- Mr. Fitzgerald was the son of the
late Henry and Mary Eljza Fitz
gerald of Micro. He married the for
mer Hettie Darden of Linden, who
survives with three sons: Aaron of
Goldsboro; Earl of Kinston and
James of Los Angeles, Cahf., and
four grandchildren. '
. He leaves also two brothers and
two sisters: C. A, Fitzgerald of
Micro; Dr. Pauf Fitzgerald of Green
ville; Mrs. Emma Owens of Raleigh
and Mrs. Florence Tuncil of Kinston;
and three half brothers and two half
sisters. Henry M. Fitzgerald of
Princeton; Frank C. Fitzgerald of
Kinston; Clarke Fitzgerald of Ne.
Bern; Mrs. Floyd C. Price of Pine
Level and Mrs. .; Harry Everitt of
Selma.
Johnston Veterans
Returned To States
Miami, Fla., July 19. Florida
looked even better than in travel ad
vertisements to two Johnston County
fighting men flown here fromsfar-
flung battle fronts in ATC planes,
they agreed as they landed at Air'
Transport Command's Miami Army
Air Field. .
They were among'the first 50,000
returnees ATC is flying to the states
from overseas each month under the
Army's redeployment plan. From
here they will go' by rail to Camp
Blanding, Fla. .Then they will be
sent to reception centers nearer home
tr.r. .r,.,;.,..- tu j
V WMM BUUU DCl'iVV
Those m hearty agreement inclii-!
ded:
Benson S-Sgt. James E. Evans,
29, 104 W. Church St, Field Artil
lery, 25 months in Europe terminated
in Germany, six battle stars. '
Selma Pfc. Harvey F. Strick
land. 26. Rt. 1. Enirineent. 32 months
in CzorhnalnvaVin ai haftla etara i
invasion arrowhead.
Cpl. Rudolph Phillips
Returns To Camp
Cpl. Rudolph Phillips has returned
to duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, after
spending a fifteen day furlough with
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Phil
lips of Selma, Route 1. Cpl. Phillips
spent 22 months in the South Pacific.
Since retuminiyto tha "States he' has
been stationed at Camp Hood, Texas;
and Fort Sill, Oklahoma,
DALY ADVANCED
TO COLONEL
The C. M. Dalys were advised by
telegraph last week that their son.
Major Owen Daly, USA, had been
advanced to the grade of Lieutenant
Colonel upon reporting to Fort
Benning following a furlough spent
with his parents here.
Colonel Daly entered the Army in
1940 and is a veteran of 32 months
service in the Aleutian islands. His
wife is a commissioned officer in the
Army Nurse Corps.
A total of 137 farmers sold 14,121
pounds of wool with an advance of
$5,309.23 on the wool in the coopera
tive pool at Williamston.
Kiwanis Holds Memorial
For late President
The Selma Kiwanis club devoted
its weekly meeting of last Thursday
to a memorial service for Ms l
Stancil, their late president Kiwanis
President - Stancil died Saturday
morning'. Julv seventh, following a
lengthy illness.
The relay program, presented by
chairman Rov Smith, had the Rev.
Howard Newman sneaking of the
late president's devotion to his church
and of his many services to the
Christian cause; past president
Howard Gaskill speaking of Mr.
Stancil 's activities as a layman and a
business man, and Raleigh Griffin
with a biographical resume of the
life of the former editor and pub
lisher of this community's newspaper.
The report of the committee appoint
ed to draft resolutions commemorat
ing the, community service of M'
StaacO was read by Khraniaa'Wade
It Needham Morris
' Returning Home
First Lt Needham D. Morris, , of
Selma, N, C. is now returning home
from Europe with the Eighth Infan
try Division, the divison : whch ac
counted for 21 times its own weight
in Germans by taking 316,187 prison
ers during ten months of combat. The
Eighth (Golden Arrow) Division was
in the Normandy breakthrough, the
rapture of Brest, the bitter fight in
the Hurtgen forest. Troops of the
Eighth were the first to cross the
Roer River, launching the drive that
reached the Rhine. The Golden Arrow
Division, then cut the Rihr pocket in
wo and finished its ETO fighting by
crossing the Elbe and linking with
The Russians.
Lt Morris was engaged in farming
before he entered service in October,
2940. His decorations include the Sil
ver Star and the French Croix de
.Guerre.
Babb Announces
'" , Church Homecoming
1 The public is cordially invited to
attend the annual Homecoming of
The Church of God in Selma, Sunday,
Muly 22.
Services will begin at iu:uu o ciock
And last until 4:30, states the Rev
E. H. Babb, pastor.
S The regular fourth Sunday singing
Convention will be held as usual and
all singers are invited to be with us
for this, service.
- : :
Southern Trained
r Soldiers In Railroading
The Southern Railway System has
provided a "school" and a ."faculty
for the, teaching of" more tyian 6 000
American soldiers in the art of rail
roading, according to a recent report
tby Ernest E. Norris, president 'of the
railway.':
V'This extra war job," Mr. Norris
colamed. "was taKen on
! Jcolained. "was taken on early m
1 J . ,
. ' ;In(,inw to
American soldiers who would some
day have the job of operating mili
tary railroads in a distant 'theater of
operations." And although the South
ern's rails were already beginning to
hum with a record volume of war-
time traffic, a
school' was made
available for the soldier-railroaders.
without charge, on the 200-mile
main- line of the Southern between
New Orleans and Meridian, Miss. In
struction cars and other special fa
cilities were provided, and veteran
Southern officers and emoloyes vol-
unteered to serve as 'teachers."
"On March 18, 1942. the training
was begun. From that day to the end
of January. 1945, soldier-railroaders
worked alongside Southern officers
and employes throughout this 200
mile long 'school' on trains, in
shons and roundhouses, on tracks,
and in offices and yards. They learn
ed to railroad by railroading."
The Southern has been privileged
o train, not only its own famous
Southern - soonsored 727th Railway
Ooerating Battalion. Mr. Norris con
tinued but also three other battalion"
and the personnel of a replacement
school.
"And now that this VrtrV war iob
of the Southern can be told." he add
ed, "the record shows that when these
soldier-railroaders graduated from
our 'school' and went overseas they
added brilliant new chanters to the
history of militarv railroading on
the battlefronts of World War II."
Newsman Improving
Latest available reports indicate
that H. H. Lowry is somewhat im
proved. Mr. Lowry was returned to
Smithfield hospital Saturday.
Baker and approved by unanimous
voice vote. Members of the committee
were Ernest Woodard, Vernon Wiggs
and Baker. Copies of the resolution
were ordered sent to the Johnstonian
Sun, the Smithfield Herald and the
Kiwanis Magazine for immediate
publication. A copy will also be ten
dered the family and one will become
a part of the permanent records of
the club.
The club meets this Thursday on
the lawn of the American Legion
building in an open air supper ra
thering. NorveD Smith will be in
charge.
Miss Mary Lou Jeffreys supplied
at the piano and the evening meal
was served by the Woman's club com
mittee composed of Mesdames Gaskill
and McClamrock, assisted by Mrs.
Willard Johnson of the Junior group.
Past pnetdent'Howand'.Gaskill -was
far the chair, v: ,; '-yv
COLLAPSES
Wins Medal
m.
4
. LT. WILBUR S. BRANNAN, son
of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Brannan, Sr.,
of Clayton, has been awarded the
Bronze Star medal for meritorius
achievement in connection with
military operations against
enemy of the United States in the
European theatre of operations
from October 1, 1944 to April 30,
1945. Lt. Brannan entered the
Army in April 1941 and 'was sent
overseas in August 1944. He serv
ed with .the Third and Seventh
armies and saw action in France,
Germany and Austria. In addition
to the Bronze Star Medal, he is
entitled to wear three Bronze Serv
ice Stars. . His wife is the former
Miss Hazel Lane of Selma.
Tire Dealers Warned
Of Bad Certificate!
Raleigh, July fO. Tire dealers in
Eastern North Carolina were cau
tioned this week about acceptance of
new tire certificates presumably is
sued by "War Price : and Rationing
Boards in other states.
Many tire dealers have been vie
timized by crooks who have tendered
stolen or counterfeit tire certificates,
drawn on distant boards, he said.
All tire certificates are now being
sent to OPA verification center in
Atlanta after being turned in by
dealers, OPA explained. All counter
feits are charged against the dealer's
inventory account, he added, which
means his stock of new tires will be
reduced by that number.
In case of any doubt regarding cer
tificates. OPA suggested that tire
dealers call their own local War Price
and Rationing Board for advice on
how to proceed.
Tobacco Barn Fires
Cause Heavy Losses
A considerable loss of money is
sustained annually bv North Carolina
tobacco farmers when barns filled
with tobacco burn, but a few precau
tions against fires would prevent a
tremendous amount of worry and
money, says David S. Weaver, Exten
sion agricultural engineer of State
College.
A survev made of some tobacco
barn fires in 1944 reveals that the
replacement cost would be about $400
each with an average loss of ?oo
worth of tobacco., or a total loss of
$700 for each fire, Professor Weaver
points out The three important
causes of fires in tobacco barns ar:
1. Tobacco leaves falling on the .flues
and furnace. 2. Defective flues and
fumes. 3. Inadequate and unsafe
foundations.
Professor Weaver suggests the fol
lowing methods of fire prevention:
Careful selection of sticks of proper
length and sufficient stren-rth, to
gether with the correct looping and
hanging of the tobacco on the sticks.
The placing of poultry wire netting
directly over the fumnce and flues
might b of considerable value in re
ducing fires. t
The furnace and fines, says Pro
fessor Weaver should be carefully
checked for anv defects before the
first firing of the year and between
each cure. Furnaces should be at
least two feet longer than the length
of the wood used, so thit the fir is
well up from the mouth of the fur
nace. Furnaces and flues should be well
protected by masonry, wch as brick
work, from parts of the wooden
irtructure. At least twelve inches
should' be the distance between any
niart of the fnma and a wooden
niece. The stacks should always ex
tend higher thin the roof of the
barm. .
WEDNESDAY
Upper Part of Building
Gives Way fj
v ; : -; .
Mayor Issues Statement
Selma's town hall was badly dam
aged aboutfjt o'clock yesterday morn
ing when the supporting structure
overnead in the second floor auditor
ium collapsed. V
Failure of the . beams running
across the large room, formerly used
aa an opera house, caused the tie
rods and ceiling to give way. A por
tion of some of the beams could be
seen protruding from the windows
here this morning. No great damage
to the outside walls has been noted as
yet, but some few window panes
were broken. It is thought that
heavy leaks over a period of time
may have gradually rotted the mas
sive beams, placed several years ago.
Immediately on being appraised of
the calamity town officials had the
driveways and streets adjacent to the
property barricaded to prevent their
use by unauthorized persons and re
sultant possible injury.
AH town personnel were promptly
evacuated and temporary quarters
have been arranged for town Clerk
Matt Wall's staff in the rear of the
Person-Vick building on the corner
of Raiford and Anderson streets. The
police department is expected to
share in these offices. Prisoners will
be lodged in the Smithfield jail.
Shortly after the accident Building
Commissioner J. C. Avery reported
his findings to Mayor Henry and a
consultation was then held with
Myles Hildebrand, architect with the
Pi Rogers Construction Company
of Smithfield. who declared the build
ing unsafe. Condemnation was recom
mended. It is understood here today
tha a representative of the insurance
company has also advised condemna-.
tion.. Mr. Rogers was out of town ana :
no estimate was available .from hm
as to cnta of Tpair and .hen such
worlc could De stanea. ine mayor
has authorized Commissioner Avery
to ; make all necessary advance ar
rangements. According to Mayor Henry, the
present contemplated plans are to
raze the structure down to the audi
torium, removing all superstructure,
re-inforcing the outer walls and then
placing an entire new roof.
Following erection of the building
about 1913-14 it was used first as an
ooera house and market in order to
bring in revenue for the town, with
the town officials using the small
room now assigned to the police de
partment. About the time of occu
pancy by The Johnstonian-Sun the
town decided upon use of the entire
space for it's own use.
Heavy leaks were experienced m
portions of the building about a year
agop but were repaired, said the
mayor. Parts of either side of the
roof were brought down with the
falling of the auditorium ceiling.
Mavor Henrv also advanced tne
opinion that the blast resulting from
the explosion of a large truck-load of
ammunition near here about two
years ago greatly contributed to the
cause of the failure, since the force
of this explosion tore large crevices
in the walls. Local residents well re
member that experience.
Although no formal meeting of the
board of commissioners has yet been
held in connection with the pressing
matter work is progressing towards
the completion of plans to rebuild at
the earliest possible date. Town offi
cials explained that considerable diffi
culty is being experiencied in secur-
- , .AMMintA,'a BdrVIPAa
just now. Further information re
garding same will be forthcoming in
the very near future.
The building was erected at an es
timated cost to Selma citizens or
fifty thousand dollars.
New Shoe Stamp
Identified By OPA
Raleigh, July 18. OPA District
Director Theodore S. Johnson an
nounced yesterday that Airplane
Stamp No. 4 in War Ration Book No.
would become valid as a shoe stamp
on August 1. Airplane Stamps Nos.
2 and 3 are valid indefinitely, he
added.
It was pointed out that the inter
vals between validation of stamps de-.
pends on the available supply of
shoes. The last stamp OPA validated
was on November 1, 1944.
To increase the serviceability of
non-rationed shoes for men and
juveniles. OPA further announced
that in the future, manufacturers will
be permitted to use leather welts and
lightweight leather insoles. Straight
or short shield tips and backstays of
pigskin leather will also be allowed .
on these shoes, Johnson said. -;
The rate of accidents on school
grounds in May, 19a, doubled lb'
rat, for ApfiL 1M4.