SHELBY, N. C. MONDAY - WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY SU BSCRII*TION PRICE By Mall, par year-—___ By Carrier per year ...—. 13.60 $3.00 THE STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. «.ga B WEAfHERS -- ,,, President and Editor B ERNES! HOETV ... .—-T- Secretary and foreman RENN DRUM _______... News Editor A. O JAMES .............. Advertising Manager Entered aa second class matter January 1, 1906 at tt» postoftice At SheJby North Carolina under the Act at Congress March A 1879 We wish to call your attention to the tact that tt is and has oeen . our custom to charge fire cents per line tor resolutions at respect, cards ot thanks and obituary notices, after one death notice has been published. This will be strictly gdherred to WEDNESDT, DEC. 11, 1929 TWINKLES A big building program, say national leaders, will as sure prosperity in 1930, but, we ask again, who is to pay for the building? REPUBLICAN BEING SHOWN UP BY MR. HOOVER THE STAE of Virginia, considering the role she played along with Cannon in the late lamented campaign, perhaps has more interest in the outcome of the Hoover regime than any of the other states in the once Solid South. Mr. Hoover, admittedly, at the time of his election, was not a favorite child, of the Republican regulars, and his elec tion came from a coalition -of insurgents in his own party and those of the Democratic party who shied at the bugaboo of A1 Smith’s religion and his alleged enmity to prohibition. Therefore it is very interesting to note the reaction as in terpreted in Virginia. In congress Hoover measures have met unexpected reverses, time and again. On the surface one gains the idea that these anti-Hoover demonstrations result ed from the unsettled economic conditions, but, really, they are born of the fact that Mr. Hoover in principle and policy is too much of a Democi’at at times. The Richmond Times Dispatch, published in a Hoover-Democratic state until the recent election informed Bishop Cannon that he was nil in Virginia politics, says: \ “It has taken the country a long time to find out about Republican tactics and “principles,” but the present congress is spilling the beans. And Mr. Hoover, able as he is, is cort tributing to the revelation. He is actually fighting for a principle, he is seeking to aid a class of Americans that has been at a disadvantage for years, but his own Republican majority has gone back on him. Intent on aiding the special interests alone, they have forgotten the farmer and they are using all their strength to defeat Mr. Hoover. “The president himself, because he is strong-willed and is really seriously interested in the welfare of the country, is certain to be the means of exposing the hollow sham of Re publican pretensions. The Republicans are not for the country, they are for a few people in the country, and, iron ically enough, the leader of their party is to be chiefly in strumental in showing them up.” DO WE GIVE ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE . TO GIVE? IUST the other day. as a story is related to The Star, a citi zen interested in The Star’s Christmas Stocking fund for the poor and unfortunate of Shelby, stopped another citi zen and made some remark, of a complimentary nature, re garding The Star fund. “It’s a good idea I guess,” said the other, “but when I pay my taxes I pay so much for welfare, or charity work, and that’s all I care to give.” Think that statement over. 'that’s, all he cares to give! But does he give it? Very few men pay their taxes without grumbling. Many of them would not pay at all if they did not have to. Yet because Cleveland county takes a very small portion of the tax to tal for the county home and charity this man believes that he is giving all that he cares to give. In reality he is not giv ing one cent; be is merely paying what he has to pay. If the charity portion were not included, and it never goes half as far as actual need demands, he would never give that small amount. The sum he does give, by way of his taxes, is ex tracted and not given. If that be charity, God pity the unfortunates and the needy. Those who give because they have to give are not givers at all. Each year The Star gets nothing more than a gratification, resulting from service rendered and a response that is very pleasing, from conducting a Christmas campaign for the unfortunates. Christ said, in speaking of the poor and afflicted, “Do unto these as ye would unto Me.” These unfortunates are our own. If you feel when you have paid your taxes that you have done your part as a follower of Him, then rub your hand compacently and move along. It is beyond us to appeal successfully to your finer being. But if not, then give what you are able to give. The fact that you are paying your taxes each year does not take care of the mother who has been on crutches for 35 years and fights on gallantly trying to make a living for her five children. It will take more than one Good Samaritan to make it a real Christmas in all Shelby—will, you be one? CLEVELAND COUNTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT \fEXT Monday night at Raleigh Goernor Gardner will givej a dinner to 200 North Carolina newspaper men at which he will attempt to demonstrate that the best of meals may be served without using a single product not produced in this state. Those in this section who know Governor Gardner and have known him will say now that it will not only be an attempt, but that it will be a success. And that introduction gives The Star reason to say that it wishes that Governor Gardner could be back in Shelby operating his farm out on Highway 20 and practising law. lust the other day The Gastonia Gazette, commenting upon a: farm meeting in this county, declared that in its opinion Cleveland county was an agricultural leader because the farmers of the county were willing to listen to “book farm ers” and to u|; the information gathered from them with ;ha information gathered by actual experience. Cleveland bounty farmers are just as shy of “book farmers” as are the farmers of any county in North Carolina; they always will te, because that inclination is a hereditary one. It was not =so many years ago that supposedly, and at that time, suc cessful farmers of Cleveland county got several laughs out of Max Gardner, the Shelby lawyer, who poured the fertili zer to his farm in attempting to demonsti'ate that this sec tion could produce as much cotton to the acre as could any county in the South. Today ClevelanfT county is doing just that, but it took three years for Max Gardner, the farmer lawyer, to convince his home county and some, as yet, are not convinced. For that reason The Star wishes that North Carolina’s governor can manage to convince an entire state it will bi much better than convincing one county. Three years ago, in an interview with a hometown newspaperman. Mr. Gard ner declared that if he was czar of his home county that he would compel every farmer to put at least three acres in feed crops. That year Cleveland county farmers purchased less outside hay and feed than ever before. This year, accord ing to figures assembled by County Agent Shoffner, a young fellow who knows his job and is out to render the best service possible, Cleveland county farmers will purchase more than 50 per cent of their feedstuff. In this same year, despite most unfavorable weather conditions, Cleveland county is producing its record cotton crop, many farmers averaging a bale and one-half to two bales to the acre. Yet because the weather has damaged the grade of the crop approximately 30 per cent of the income from the county’s cotton crop will be paid out for food and feedstuff not produced in the coun ty—all of which might have been produced here. We do not say that Max Gardner could have convinced, or could con vince, the farmers of his home county that their general farm program is not a money-maker, but we do know that farmers are hard-headed as a rule and must be shown and we know, too, that his idea of showing them by taking a chance with his own money in purchasing fertilizer taught them that one must spend money to make money. If all the spare and unproductive acres in Cleveland county this year had been used to produce feed and food crops, or as a pasture for hundreds of fine dairy cows, whose production the county would well use, Cleveland county farmers with their record cotton crop, regardless of price and so-called hard times would be sitting on top of the world. It is our hope that the governor may convince a state in stead of a county. Should he do so, North Carolina will rise to heights never heretofore attained. AVERAGE INCOME OF FARMER S270 That’s Farmer's Average Net Froflt For His Twelve Months Work. (By Bion H. Butler, In News & Observer.) The North Carolina tax commis sion not long ago made a study of the farm and tax situation in a number of counties of the state, among the number including Moore county. In Moore two phases of the problem was studied, one the peach situation and the other tire general farm condition. As the peach problem was somewhat ab normal as concerns farming that Is qot so much of a question from the farm view point.. But the study of general farming in the county as well as In other counties of the state Is somewhat Illuminating. To begin with a bulletin from the state agricultural department says the average Income of the farms of North Carolina is $1,351. The aver age cash Income of the farms of North Carolina for the year 1928 was $854. Out of this comes taxes, fertiliser, wages for hired help, the wages allowed the whole family working on the farm, and every other expense. In the bulletin un der consideration it appears that of the farms In the survey the net cash income on the average farm In the survey totaled $270 to the farm alt er all the expenses were paid. That shows right plainly the con dition of farming in North Carolina, and for that matter is a rather fair representation of farming all over the United States. Much is heard of the plight of the wage earner, cut if a survey should be made of any other occupation than farming and the net cash income of a represen tative number of persons in various counties of any state should disclose a net cash income of $270 to the family the upllfters would be out on the streets denouncing everything for the situation. It Is argued that the farmer has his home to live in and that he has his garden to help out In his living, but any other man can hare his gar den and his house as well as the fanner can. The fact is that the farmer’s average net cash Income Is $270 after all his costs of operating his farm are counted. AccorcLxig to the figures in the survey Moore county farms earned an average of $29 on the farm as an investment. Many counties of the state earned nothing as an Investment on the farm. Five of the eleven areas sur veyed showed no return on the farm for investment. In Moore county 51 farms were surveyed. The net income to the farmers average 1 $337. Allowing five per- cent inurest on the investment In the farm the profits on these farms averaged $29 to the tanner. These (arms did not include the peach oroitards vftigh were considered separately. The Moore county farms surveyed show ed an average tax charge of $83. The taxes took 19.80 per cent, or just about one fifth of the fanner’s net Income. On rented farms In this district the taxes took 27.2 per cent of the rent received. In the Moore county area 51 farms were surveyed. These averaged 129 acres. The average Investment to the farm were $6,156, distributed land $3,615, Improvements $1,931. livestock $316, machinery $159 and feed $135. Gross receipts averaged $2,398. The three Important crops were tobacco, cottpn and dewberries. These farms did not Include the peach orchards. The three impor tant crops returned an average of $1,457, and the expenses of the farms averaged $1,256. Wages and fertilizers were the chief expenses. Almost a fourth of the expenses went for fertilizers. The cash In come averaged $555. The average tax payments were $83. This throws considerable light on the farm situation In Moore county and the state, and as the farms sur veyed were average farms the story Is probably fairly representative of agriculture In the state, and as North Carolina is one of the lead ers In farming In the country It Is probably an Informative statement for the whole nation. TRUSTEE’S SALE. By virtue of the authority vested in me as trustee In those toe ce tain deeds of trust executed by Monroe Degree and wife, H. Dovte Daniel by deed recorded m book 3-0, page 17* of the office of the register, for Cleveland county, N. C. and bounded as follows. Be ginning on an Iron pin on he west side of a 30 foot alley, N. r5. corner of the original lot at the interesc tlon of a 10 foot alley with said 30 foot alley and runs thence with the old line and the south edge of said f i foot alley N. 87 W. 88 feet go a stahe In said line; thence a new ’toe 8. 3 W. "3 feet to a stake; th— 87 E. 88 feet to the west edge of said 30 foot alley; thence <*ith the same N. 3 W. 58 feet to the oegin ning. This tlie 19th day of November, 1929. 3. T. PAU.S, Trustee. Try Star Wants Ads.i — CHRISTMAS AT McNEELY’S IT’S REALLY CHRISTMAS HERE FOR WE HAVE A GIFT FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. GIFT JEWELRY A big assortment of Cos tume Jewelry from 75c t0 $9.50 ONE SPECIAL TABLE OF NOVELTIES AT $1.00 Each HAND BAGS A lovely assortment of Hand Bags and Mesh Bags. Priced from— $2.50 t0 $12.56 GIFT LUGGAGE A lovely Hat box or fitted Week End Case will make her Ka^py. BATH ROBES AND NEGLIGEES With the Bed Room Slippers to Match make an ideal Gift. HOSIERY — There is nothing nicer for a Gift than a lovely pair of Me Neely’s Hose—Priced— $1.29 to $3.95 — LINGERIES AS A GIFT — There is nothing appreciated more than a pretty piece of lingerie. We have such a pretty assortment of pretty silk underwear to select from. Just come in and see what we really have. Priced from— $1.25 to $12.50 y3 Off Coats Special For Christmas Coats y3 Off We have 65 Beautiful COATS that we are put ting on sale for Special Christmas selling at % off Dresses $12.75 25 WOOL SPORTS MATERIAL AND JER SEY Dresses, regular $19.75, to close out at $12.75. Dresses $14.75 Al l. SILK DRESSES WORTH $19.75 TO CLOSE OUT AT $14.75. Velvet Dresses Just a few velvet Dresses left—Closing them out at very low prices. Come in to see them. WE HAVE MANY MORE GIFT ITEMS THAT ARE NOT MENTIONED IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT. JUST COME IN TO SEE WHAT WE REALLY HAVE. J. C. McNEELY CO. .STYLE-QUALITY-SERVICE.