The Cleveland Star
SHELBY, N. U
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THE STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY. INC.
LiKB B. WEATHERS — - TTir„..^ President end txuwi
S. ER.VIS'1 ROE?--.... Secretary and foreman
RENN OR DM--........... —...__ News eaitoi
L E OAIL ......-- ——-Adrerttsing Manage.
Entered aa second class matter January 1, 190a. at tne postomce
at 8helby, Kortn Carolina, under the Act of Congress. Mtrcn a. urn#
We wish to call your attention to the tact that it is and nas oeen
"•r custom to charge tire cent* per line tor resolutions of respect,
cards of chant* and obituary notices, alter one o*ktn notice nas
been published Hits will ne strictly adhered to.
MONDAY, AUG. 31, 1931
TWINKLES
September makes it’s bow in the morning and several of
the pessimists would have us believe several months ago that
we wouldn’t be. able to last it out this long.
With Jack Dempsey coming back maybe we ll have an
other prizefight with enough action in it to justify the ex
travagant and exciting descriptive methods employed by
Graham McNamee in telling a radio audience how it is going.
An amusing suggestion in the many methods of relief;
suggested for the cotton farmer: From down in eastern Car-'
ilina comes the plan to tax the land to keep the farmer from
growing too much cotton. And, as we remember it, it was1
that same section which raised such a howl, during the last
last legislature, to fake all taxes off land.
Reports indicate that the depression is not holding down
prospective enrollment at colleges. Instead, a majority ofj
t he colleges report that they will have more students than
ever. There is one evident reason for this: Many young men
in prosperous times are lured away from continued educa
tion by the prospects of a good-paying situation. This year
there are few positions of that type open and the young men
are going back to achool.
Now it seems as if some of the anti-Smith fund used by
Bishop Cannon came from Republicans, and it is also inti
mated that some of the money might have been diverted to
he bishop’s own accounts instead of being expended to de
feat the Democratic candidate. If the Nye committee brings
mt much more information of that type, one cannot blame
the bishop for not desiring the committee to probe into his
political activities.
TEN YEARS GROWTH IN SCHOOL
IN' A RECENT “Ten Years Ago" column in The Star it was
recorded that in 1921 the total enrollment in the city
schools of Shelby was 1,125. A week from today w-hen these
same schools open there will be twice that number of child
ren in school, or almost 3.000 youngsters. That is an unus
ual increase and one that should be borne in mind when we
are inclined to kick about the cost of operating Shelby
schools. It is impossible to educate and house 3,000 children
for what less than 1.500 were educated and housed, and it is
certain knowledge that it lacks quite a bit of costing twice
that much.
THE WHIPPING AFFAIR
IT IS UNFORTUNATE, The Star, along with many citizens.
believes, that the Belwood school whipping had to be
aired in a court room. Such emphasis of an incident of that
type is not conducive to the best interests of a community.
This paper does not believe a child should be unmercifully
whipped, and at the same time it believes that there are oc
casions when whipping becomes necessary. We make no at
tempt to pass a verdict on the Belwood affair. The topic it
mentioned here for the sole purpose of saying that if there
is a division of opinion and disagreement in that section,
which is one of the most progressive and best communities
in Cleveland county, citizens should not permit the discord
to continue. The sooner the matter is forgotten the better
it w ill be. It is only natural in such incidents that there will
be varying sentiments, but it should be remembered, too,
that no minor affair should be allowed to cause any lingering
ill-feeling. Life has too many discordant, and often unfor
tunate occurrence, to magnify them.
FARMERS USE THEIR HEADS
THE MEETING of Cleveland county farmers held here last
week to boost the use of cotton bagging brought out
the fact that farmers are doing more thinking for themselv
es than they have in bygone years.
The fanners attending the meeting were whole-hearted
ly behind the movement to warp their cotton in cotton bag
ging, thus increasing the consumption of cotton which, in
turn, should boost the price. But they reasoned in this
manner: If we wrap our cotton in cotton bagging in order
to increase cotton consumption, it seems to us that there
are other ways and methods of increasing cotton consump
tion. The cottonseed meal, the hulls, the cow and chicken
feed, the rice, the beans, the potatoes, and the lime, cement,
etc., that we use should also be placed in sacks made of cot
ton. And so they should. The Cleveland farmers then went
a step further and demanded, by resolution that all these
products used by the farmer be bagged in sacks made of his
major product—cotton. There is no reason why they should
not be so bagged, and if the farmer will refuse to carry to his
home anything not bagged in cotton which could be bagged
in cotton, then it would not be very long before manufactur
ers would be placing those products in cotton bags. If wrap
ping all bales of cotton in cotton bagging will increase the
consumption of cotton more than 200,000 bales it readily
' follows that the consumption of cotton would be greatly in
creased if all the products named above were bagged in cot
■ ■ - ■ ■■■■ -
ton.
The fanner has the right idea. It will take time, how
ever to bring about the cooperation necessary for the suc
cess of the movement.
A COMMENDABLE MOVE
THE REDUCTION of admission prices to the Cleveland;
County Fair the last of next month was a wise move
upon the part of fair officials. Somehow we have the idea
that it will be greatly appreciated by the thousands and
thousands of people who look forward each year to this big!
agricultural event. This year adults and children will be
admitted day and night for twenty-five cents each. A quar
ter with timos as they are is equivalent to a half dollar, the
former admission price, a few years ago. Fair officials
realized that and announced the reduction. In doing so,
however, they pointed out that the fair program, from be
ginning to end, would be equal if not superior to those of
previous fairs. In other words, those who attend this fall
will sec as much, if not more, for twenty five cents as they
did heretofore for twice that sum. Come to think it over,
there are few places and few times where anyone can come
nearer getting his or her money’s worth out of a quarter
than a day at the State’s largest county fair.
It is a time when people are cutting out as many need-|
less pleasures and extravagances as possible, a period when I
economy is the watchword, but the fair is something few
people will mark out of their budget or should mark out. One
trip through the exhibit halls, where all displays boost an
improved form of agriculture, is w-orth Reveral times the
cost from the educational standpoint, not to speak of the i
many free amusements and other entertainment. And it’s
about time now to make your plans to take in as much of the
event as possible. The opening day is less than a month off.:
PUBLIC IS ENTITLED TO KNOW
RECENT COMMENT by The Star concerning publication of
actions of public office-holders should not be construed j
to mean that it is in Shelby and Cleveland county alone thatj
it is some time difficult for a newspaper to secure desired
information. Neither should that comment be interpreted
as meaning that officials here have at any time attempted
to keep any actions secret. It was a mere reminder, in the
nature of friendly advice, to office-holders that for their
own best interests the people should be kept niformed as to
what is going on in public office.
Elsewhere newspaper encounters similar difficulties at
times as is shown by the following remarks made by The
Gastonia Gazette, after noticing The Star’s commen:
To illustrate: The Gazette has never been present
at a meeting of the Gastonia city school board, or at * ,
meeting of the county board of education. Nothing in
the way of what transpires at these meetings is publish
ed except what the officials choose to give out. Salaries
are fixed and policies determined that the public knows
Nothing about.
On the other hand, a reported from The Gazette is
always present at all meetings of the city council and of
the county commissioners, even at all the executive ses
sions. If there are certain things that ought not to be
printed, the reporter respects the wishes of those in
authority insofar as he does not violate the trust repos
ed in his newspaper by the public. He is generally the
judge of what ought to be printed and what ought not to
be.
The Gazette is making this point, because just at
this time, there has been a lot of talk about schools.
- budgets, taxes, salaries, etc., etc., and a lot of it could
have been avoided if the newspaper had had free ac *
cess to the records and minutes of the school board
! meetings.
Public officials cannot ignore the public. They are
sen-ants of the people. The public is depending on the
newspaper to get the news. And if officials refuse to
give the news, it will react against them and that right
soon.
Mr. Harris Asks Some Questions
Of The Star And Is Answered
To The Editor The Cleveland Star:
You seem to be pretty well in
formed. You say that the officers
ajre not entitled to a per diem and
not allowed 50c for summoning
themselves. Tell me where you
tound that law. Tell me why that
per diem is on the back of each
warrant along with the other offic
ers fees. You say that the officers
have been collecting illegal fee*.
They have been collecting that per
diem for a number of years. These
bills were passed on by the commis
sion and passed by them. You say
it's not right to jerk a man up In
court and put a big bill of cost on
him. I say its not right for a man
to disturb his country and put the
burden on the officers. You say the
officers can quit if they choose. I
say that people can stay out of
court if they will try. You say that
the employer don't like to pay big
bills of cost for their men. There is
nothing compulsory about it. One
man will kick about his mar being
caught and if another man has a
fellow that bothers him he's tickled
silly to see the other fellow caught.
It all depends on who’s ox is being
gored.
The laws were made for the pro
tection of the people. If a man
wants protection he has the right to
ask for it. No one has a right to re
fuse it for him. The sheriff was
elected by the people to serve the
people. The people decided who
would be sheriff. Our sheriff was
elected by a good majority, not be
cause people thought he was a bet
ter man than his opponents but be
cause he was experienced and a
good enforcement officer The good
| officers have been doing their duty.
' And they should be praised tor it
instead of kicked. A lot oi them
work for a living and serve the peo
ple while they rest, making many
trips that bring them not a penny.
Many cases that they have one man
cannot handle and when It comes to
dividing fees between several of
ficers it looks little. When they got
$3.00 for arrest and 10 cts. mileage
for taking a man to Jail then go
back the next day to take him out
and try him. Everybody can't live in
town. Some people go for miles to
go to town. Tlie good officers should
be paid and praised for their work.
I don’t think that the sheriff should
be advised as to what to bring into
court. Let the Judge decide on the
cases. It's the people's court, the
people's law and the people's sheriff.
Another thing a lot of witnesses go
as much as 13 or 30 miles to the re
corder's court for 50 cents fee. The
recorders court has been clearing
from $30,000 to $30,000 a year for the
county for several years. You don't
hear any kicking on that. The offi
cers are responsible for most of that.
I know one instance where the of
ficers were responsible for more
than $1,300 going Into the county
treasury’ in two days. Let us praise
and help them in their charity work
instead of picking on them on every
side.
If we don't pay them in money,
pay them in compliments.
T. B HARRIS.
Star’s Viewpoint.
Mr. Harris apparently resents
jThe Star's attempts to keep the
facts straight in regards to the con
troversy about fees of deputies and
other officials. The Star does not
care to engage In a controversy with
him and readers likely are of the
opinion that the space could be bet
ter used. The paper, however, does
not desire to have its position misin
terpreted. Mr. Harris. formerly a
deputy himself and among those left
off the force when it was reduced
by Sheriff Irvin Allen, is Inclined to
Insinuate that The Star has it in for
the officers. Such is not the case.
Tar from it. It is the opinion of this
paper that Sheriff Allen is one of
the most efficient and active sher
iffs in the history of Cleveland
county. He has under him deputies
who are leading citizens of the
county and admirable men, There
are some on the force who are fre
quently criticised by citizens but Mr.
Harris or no other has seen The
Star encourage that criticism. Per
haps there are men on the force
who decrease the popularity of the
theriff, as he is considered respon
sible for his men, but that is the
sheriff’s business.
The only comment about officers
made by this paper was anent the
fee controversy. Shelby’s best attor
neys have Interpreted the law as not
permitting "per diem" fees for ar
rests in the county and one or two
other fees which it has been cus
tomary to add to the court bill of
costs. The Star referred to those
matters because it certainly is not
proper for a law enforcement officer
to infringe upon the law he enforces.
It is not contended by anyone that
officers did this knowingly and ih
tetlonally. But since the law has,
been interpreted it should be fol
lowed. Neither do we say that of
ficers are overpaid. If they are en
titled to more they should have it,
but upon a salary ba3ls or oome fix
ed schedule. The fee system is stead
ily losing favor, because it opens up
too many avenues of possible ex
pense and leaves the door open, for
enforcing the law to gain remuner
ation by additional fees instead of
enforcing it for the sake of law and
justice. The "per diem” blank on the
back of warrants, attorneys inform,
is to cover the expense of officers
who go out of the state or make ex
tended trips for prisoners or to act
as witnesses.
As to the trivial cases referred to;
So far as this paper kncm-s no one
gave Sheriff Allen orders to have
his deputies stop arresting people
for minor misdemeanors. The Star
does recall, however, that the sher
iff himself stated recently that un
less go many arrests for trifling mat
ters did not stop he would make an i
announcement sating that he would
refuse such prisoners unless com
mitment papers came along when
he thought the violation such a
slight thing that it should not be
bothered with. It is a matter of gen
eral knowledge, too, that superior
court judges and judges of the coun
ty court have frequently kicked
cases, little spite affairs 'and minor
matters, out of the court because
they were considered too trivial to
take up the court's time. Likewise,
at the last legislature Senator Mc
Swain and Representative Edwards
in passing an amendment to the
county court law added a section
stating that too many little cases
were brought into the court and
that when the judge had a mind to
he could dismiss trivial charges and
put the costs on the prosecuting wit
nesses.
Mr. Harris should take note of
these things before making insinu
ations. The Star at no time has un
duly criticised any law enforcement
officers and the record shows that
for years, many years, this paper
ha3 upheld officers of the law and
just enforcement thereof. If he de
sires to go into the criticism of ar
re /is in trivial matters, he might
discuss it with Sheriff Allen, County
Judge Weathers, Senator McSwain
and Representative Edwards. Offi
cially and unofficially they have had
more to say about the matter than
The Star. That statement, howbeit,
should not be taken as passing the
buck. The Star still contends, and
will contend, fees not provided for
by law should not be collected—by
deputies or anyone else. Perhaps the
Interpretation of the statute as
given to The Star Is wrong. As this
paper understood it at the time such
controversies are ordinarily cleared
up by the clerk of court. If there is
doubt about the interpretation, why
not have the clerk consult the coun
ty attorney and have his interpre
tation published?
Those who insinuate without any
basis for it that The Star would in
any way handicap the officers of
the law do not understand, it seems,
that there is another side. This year
at least a score of substantial Cleve
land county citizens, and surely one
leading citlaen has pretty much the
same opinion as another, have come
to The Star with this and that crit
icism of some officers. One criticism
made, and by a man who has never
been arrested in his life, is that of
ficers carry so many guns and black
jacks that a visitor would think this
a dangerous place in which to live.
Another criticism frequently heard
is that officers are occasionally a bit
rough in making arrests and hand
ling prisoners. The most frequent
criticism is that many arrests are
made for trivial acts that would not
have been noticed in bygone years.
But The Star, knowing the officers'
side, has attempted to explain to
the critics that officers do not have
a bed of roses and that there are oc
ions when some situation* cannot
* bandied with gloves. Some of the
CONTINUED ON FAOC SEVEN .
Washburn
Scores Again!
Announcing
New Reduced
Prices On
COAL
CASH
MAVHOWIft COM
Never before have such bargains
been offered in COAL. We are
making our prices to help you
economize during this economic
depression.
Sonny fltua
BED ASH
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WASHBURN
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