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DEVOTED TO THE CIVIC, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF ALLEGHANY COUNTY
Volume 9.
SPARTA, NORTH CAROLINA,THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1934. 4 PAGES
Number 42.
Looking At
Washington
General Johnson, Recovery Ad
ministrator, heard plenty of criti
cism about the NRA last week,
but made no secret of his inten
tion to tighten up the program.
He insisted that shorter hours
and higher wages were possible,
and that effective regulation to
maintain them would be provided.
Several speakers insisted that
provision be made to protect the
small business men, and a board
for this purpose, headed by Clar
ence Darrow, has already been
named.
Urging the creation of a Fed
eral Communications Commission,
President Roosevelt points out
that the I. C. C. is concerned
with transportation, the Power
Commission with power, but no
“single government agency” is in
control of transmission of tele
phone, telegraph, wireless and
Ciable.’ It is generally believed
that radio will not be included in
the new set-up, but, apparently
the system of holding companies,
largely used by communication
companies, will be thoroughly
explored.
Heretofore, a parent company
has forced a subsidiary to buy
equipment from another subsidi
ary at fixed prices and, inasmuch
as the rates of a communications
company are based upon a yield
on its capital above its expenses,
one can readily see that excessive
prices charged by a subsidiary
largely owned by the same stock
holders, means the same thing as
increased rates. The system has
worked not only in regard to
purchases of equipment and ma
terials, but also through financing
prices and management fees.
Increasing evidence that Con
gressmen have an eye on the
votes of the veterans in the com
ing fall elections is seen in the
recent efforts to annihiliate sav
ings effected in the Economy Act
of last year. A coalition of
Democrats and Republicans in
the Senate put through a series
of amendments to liberalize pay
ments to veterans, said to in
clude $850,000,000 of new bene
fits for the veterans and other
employees.
Moreover, the agitation tor im
mediate payment of the bonus
continues, with a vote set in the
House for March 12th. Already
the President has written Speaker
Rainey that he will veto the
measure if passed by Congress.
Some time ago 145 signatures
were received to a petition to
force the vote in the House.
Faced with the President’s cer
tain veto, House members must
decide whether it is best to sup
port the President or play to the
veterans’ votes.
Huge bonuses and other extra
compensation paid to executive
officers and directors by many
large corporations in boom years
have been revealed by a report
of the Federal Trade Commission.
Obviously, it is impossible to call
attention to all instances of this
kind, but a few examples will
give some idea of the practice.
E. G. Grace, president of the
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, re
ceived a salary of $12,000 a year
between 1928 and 1930, but was
paid $2,470,789 in additional
compensation. While his com
pany paid only $351,000 in 1929
as salaries to certain- officials,
they were given “extras”. of
$3,621,930. The American To
bacco Company paid G. W. Hill,
president, $667,500 in salaries
for the five years, 1928 to 1932,
but he was given $3,181,120 in
other compensation.
While nine hundred companies
submitted figures, there were a
number who challenged the Com
mission’s power and refused to
answer. It should be pointed out
that the bonuses shrunk in 1932
when the depression wiped out
reserves( and that the trend is
pronounced to a straight salary
basis with most corporations.
Interest attaches to the an
nouncement by Governor Gilford
Piftchot, of Pennsylvapia, that he
will run against Senator David A.
Reed. Governor Pinchot has
been a thorn in the side of the
Republican organization for many
years and his candidacy in the
Republican primary to bje held on
May 15th was not unexpected.
Some observers consider the
crash of army mail-carrying
planes, with the death of their
pilots, as the first bneak in the
exceptional fortune which has ac
companied the RooseVelt Adminis
tration since last March. The
fact that some of the fatalities
did not occur on mail flights was
not enough to preveijt a chorus
_ (continued on back back)
Program Of Civil
Works To Come To
End By March 3(1
State And Local Relief
Organizations To Take
Over Many Workers On
April 1
Washington, March 6. — On
March 30, a full month ahead of
the scheduled closing announced
last week by President Roosevelt,
the CWA program, the expedient
used by the administration to
carry 4,000,000 unemployed
through the winter, is expected
to come to an end. Announce
ment was made yesterday by
Harry L. Hopkins, federal emer
gency relief and civil works ad
ministrator, that all civil works
employees in cities of 5,000 or
■over would be dropped from civil
works on March 30 and taken
over by work divisions of state
and local relief administrations
on April 1. When Hopkins re
turns oi> March 10 from a brief
vacation in Florida, a definite
announcement as to the final dis
position of the program in rural
areas, where demobilization is
proceeding rapidly, is expected.
. The entire program of civil
works was ended yesterday ini
North Dakota and South Dakota
and in the drought ' areas of
Minnesota and Kansas. Similar
action may be taken shortly in
drought areas of Wisconsin.
Demobilization will continue
during the next four weeks a.s
originally planned and announced
last week. It was pointed out
virtually all of the 1,500,000 per
sons who will be on the payrolls
March 30 will be in cities. The
plan for demobilization calls for
far more rapid disbanding of
work forces in the country than
in cities. This is due to the fact
that farm work is beginning and
with better weather most of the
rural workers will' find some sort
of occupation.
The persons who will be trans
ferred to work divisions will cease
to be federal employees. They
will become employees of the
state and local relief organizations.
While on civil works they were
classed as federal employees and
as such received the benefits of
federal insurance in event of
accident or death. They were
paid by government checks
through the veterans bureau dis
bursing officers. Hopkins said
a new plan for payment was be
ing worked out.
Only those who can show need
will be employed under the new
plan. The need will be checked
by the staff of local relief ad
ministrations acting under the
state administration. Only one
person in a family will be given
work. Only able-bodied persons
will be given jobs; others being
cared for by direct relief.
The federal " emergency relief
administration will allot funds to
the various states on the basis of
needs. This money will be spent
by local and state administra
tions which also will be required
to supply a share of the cost of
operation.
Wages will be the local pre
vailing rate but not less than 30
cents an hour. Hours of labor
will be 24 a week.
The new system, Hopkins said,
today will make it possible for
state and federal governments to
plan relief projects over longer
periods than was possible under
CWA.
The UWA, he said, was a tem
porary expedient, whereas the
new plan is designed for long
range operation.
Work to be done under this
program will be much the same
as under CWA. Hopkins esti
mated that 80 per cent of the
CWA projects will be eligible for
continuance under the new ar
rangement.
FIRST WOMAN NOMINATED
FOR U. S. CIRCUIT BENCH
Washington, March 6.—Presi
dent Roosevelt today nominated
Supreme Court Justice Florence
E. Allen, of Ohio, for United
States judge to serve on the
sixth Ohio circuit bench. The
President had already smashed
precedent when he opened the
cabinet and the diplomatic ser
vice to women and the nomi
nation of Justice Allen marks the
first time in history that a wo
man has been nominated to be a
U. S. circuit judge.
TO HOLD REPUBLICAN MEET
IN TAYLORSVILLE MARCH 30
Announcement has recently
been made by C. W. Cook, chair
man of the Alleghany county Re
publican Executive committe,
that a Congressional convention
of the Republican party for the
ninth Congressional district of
j North Carolina will be held on
1 Friday, March 30) at 2 p. m. in
I Taylorsville.
The purpose of the convention,
according to Mr. Cook, is for
the transaction of any and all
business that may properly come
before it.
Roosevelts First
Year As President
| Completed Sunday
Sixteen Major Accomplish
ments, A11 Recommended
By Chief Executive, Real
ized During Year
Washington, D .C., Mar. 4.—
One year ago today, when Franklin
D. Roosevelt became President
of the United States, he said “I
pledge you action, and action
now.” It was a cold, bleak day
when he made this pledge to the
American people and at the time
the nation was staggering under
the weight of a collapsing finan
cial and economic system.
Many banks were closed and
many factories idle. Industry
was disorganized. Morale was low
and leadership was lacking. A
year after his pledge of “action
and action now,” the President
has said the nation is on the up
ward climb back to prosperity.
President Roosevelt has an
nounced his purpose is to “drive
out the money changers” bo re
fashion the fabric of industrial
life, and to erect safeguards and
barriers against a recurrence of
depression.
More than 16 major accom
plishmentsi every one of them
recommended by the President,
have become realities. Outstand
ing among them is the repeal
of National prohibition brought
about by a tidal wave of popular
rebellion, after nearly a decade
and a half of the “noble” ex
periment.
In the belief that a sound
banking structure is the keystone
of business, industry and com
merce, the Administration brought
about the permanent closing of
banks that were financially shaky,
enacted a deposit guarantee law
to protect those still in ■ oper
ation, and poured more than a
billion dollars of Government
credit into banks needing tem
porary assistance.
The NRA was placed in oper
ation to help industry put its own
house in order by driving out
“sweat shop” employers and to
aid in the establishment of uni
form working hours and minimum
wages.
The Public Works Administra
tion, with more than 3,000 mil
lion dollars as its initial appro
priation, was established to pick
up the ’slack of business, provide
employment, put money in cir
culation and to construct public
(continued on back page)
Grassy Creek Boxing
Bouts Well Attended
Although weather conditions
interfered to 9ome extent, the
boxing bouts staged at Grassy
Creek 'on Saturday night, March
3, were very entertaining. Due
to the inclement weather, some
of the best boxers were pre-;
vented from being present.
A large crowd witnessed the
following bouts: “Red I” Candler
vs John Mack Pennington, 85
pound class—Pennington, winner;
Bryan Blevins vs Bill Candler,
110-pound class—Candler, win
ner ; Gwyn Blackburn vs David
Parsons, 130-pound class—Par
sons, winner; Joe Graybeal vs
Emmert DuVault, 150-pound class
—DuVault, winner; “Uppercut”
Candler vs Jack Thomas, 125
pound class—Candler, winner.
Jim Scott, known as Grassy
Creek’s “Mountain Man," after
being presented to the audience,
performed a number of unusual
stunts. However, he was unable
to give an exhibition bput, due to
the fact that he could not wear
any o*f the gloves that were avail
able.
Two Little Fellers Needin’ a Friend
They were captured in the mountain wilds of China; they
have traveled more than 10,000 miles; they are still less than a
year old . . . and now they are housed in the New York zoo . . .
where milk and honey seems plentiful. They are “mystery” cubs,
zoologists now trying to decide whether they are Himalayan Browns,
Oriental Grizzlies, Black Bears ... or some rare and unknown
species. Photo shows “Scotch” and “Soda” upon their arrival,
being fed by Miss Florence La Baue who gained their friendship
aboard ship.
Details Concerning Apprehension Of
Highwaymen Given In Croom’s Report
Patrolman Tells How He, In Company With Other Of
ficals, Round Up Criminal Gang In Alleghany And
Surry Counties And Locate Stolen Property.
Lieutenant W. J. Croom, cf
the North Carolina State High
way Patrol, in a report to
Captain C. D. Farmer, Raleigh,
relates a number of interesting
happenings in connection with the
arrest, of the several persons
who are being h*fld awaiting trial
for participation in the recent
series of highway thefts in Al
leghany and Surry counties.
Lieutenant Croom states that he
came to Sparta on February 3,
in company with Mr. Shoaf,
automobile inspector, under ord
ers of L. S. Harris, Director of
the Motor Vehicle Bureau, where
they obtained information that a
gang of thieves was operating in
the two counties.
On the strength of this infor
mation, Lieutenant Croom, to
gether with Sergeant Duncan,
Corporal Lentz and W. A.
Coble, the latter an investigator
for the Automobile Underwriters’
Detective bureau, returned to
Elkin on the night cf February
14. About 8 o’clock that night
they received a call from Sparta,
where they went immediately and
found Ransom Brooks and Odell
Holbrook at the Alleghany Motor
company. They arrested the two
and on Brocks’ person was found
a .32 calibre Smith & Wesson
revolver. In Brooks’ automobile
was found a sawed-off double
barrel shotgun, a 12. calibre
double-barrel shotgun, a 30-30
Springfield rifle and a 25-20
calibre Winchester rifle. Follow
ing their arrest the two men were
taken to the Forsyth county jail
in Winston-Salem.
On the next morning two
searching parties were formed.
One of these was comprised of
Mr. Coble, Sergeant S. D.
Moore, Corporal Lentz, Deputy
Sheriff Erwin, of Alleghany
county and a Deputy Sheriff
from Surry county. These men
went to the home of Ves Douglas
at Mountain Park.
In Douglas’ possession was
found a car, the motor of which
belonged in a car that was stolen
from J. W. Conklin, Mouth of
Wilson, Va. The number on the
motor had been changed but was
later identified by Mr. Coble
at Elkin. Several other motors
were found at the home of
Douglas, who was arrested and
taken to the Forsyth county jail.
The other searching party was,
comprised of Lieutenant Croom,
Sergeant S. H. Mitchell, Sergeant
Duncan and Patrolman C. H.
Ingram. They went to Sparta and
obtained a search warrant for
the home and premises of Ran
som Brooks. While searching
these premises, a coupe body was
found stored in the woods near
the home and it was later identi
fied as belonging to the coupe
owned by Ex-Senator J. M.
Parsons, Independence, Va., which
was stolen from in front of his
home on the night of last October
9. The chassis and frame of this
car was later found in the woods
near Douglas’ home in Surry
county.
A set of skid chains identified
as belonging to a car stolen from
Mac C. Edwards, Sparta, and
about 200 pounds of dynamite,
stolen from a construction com
pany near Independence, Va., was
found, also.
A differential from a car
stolen in Salisbury on August 1,
1932, was found and several
parts of this car ware found
near Brooks’ home.
Other articles found while
searching Brooks’ home, included
one set of jail keys, which would
fit all locks in the Alleghany
county jail; a pair of handcuffs;
a Sam Brown belt and holster;
a uniform cap; two badges; a
Coleman gasoline lantern; a Rem
(continued on back page)
MAKING EFFORTS TO FIND
OTHEy* WORK FOR■ CWA MEN
Since demobilization of the
CWA has begun> local' Reemploy
ment officials are directing their
efforts toward the placing of
those who have had civil works
employment, on farms and in
private employment. Announce
ment to this effect has been made
recently by J. E. Joines, manager
of the local office.
Mr. Joines announces, also,
that if there are any farmers
who need and would like to
employ tenants or farm hands,
they should come to his office
in Sparta and register, and that
the officials there will endeavor
to help them find such persons.
Tenants or farm hands,
themselves, who wish to obtain
employment, are advised, also,
by Mr. Joines to come to the
office and register, in order that
the officials may know who they
are.
ARGUMENT SCHEDULED ON
CONDEMNED MEN’S APPEAL
North Wilkesboro, Mar. 6.—
Appeals in the case of Mike
Stevenough and R. E. Black, two
of the four men convicted of the
murder of T. C. Barnes, bank
cashier of Taylorsville in an at
tempted hold-up there last July,
were scheduled for argument to
day before the North Carolina
State Supreme Court at Raleigh.
The case was to be presented by
Eugne Trivette, F. J. McDuffie
and J. F. Jordan, members of
the local bar.
Stevenough and Black, tried a
short time after the crime, were
sentenced to death. The’ other
two defendants, Bascom Green
and his son, Lester, were recently
captured in Morristown, Tenn.,
and were convicted at Taylors
ville last week. They also were
sentenced to death. Their case
will be appealed.
'WANT COURT QUARTERS IN
N. WILKESBORO BUILDING
Washington, March 6.-—A dele
gation from North Wilkesboro
accompanied by Representative'
Lambeth and Doughton) visited
the Department of Justice and
Treasury officials yesterday to
urge that court quarters be in
cluded in the new Federal build
ing soon to be constructed in
North Wilkesboro,
Public works money has already
been made available for con
struction of the building.
Trial Of Tilleys
Scheduled To Open
On Mon., March 12
Case Expected To Consume
Entire Second Week Of
Wilkes Court. Judge
Warlick To Preside.
North Wilkesboro, March 6.—
The Tilley case, in which five
members of the Tilley family are
charged with the murder of Miss
Leoda Childress on December 30,
will be called for trial on Mon
day, March 12, during the term
of Wilkes Superior court which
began here yesterday with Judge
Wilson Warlick, veteran jurist,
on the bench. It is expected that
the Tilley case will consume the
entire second week of the two
week term of court.
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Tilley
and their two sons, Luther and
Clyde, and Mrs. Luther Tilley
are the defendants who are fac
ing five charges in the indict
ment; murder, aiding and abetting
in murder, conspiracy to murder,
accessory before ami after.
The case is drawing widespread
attention and a closely contested
legal battle is expected. Solicitor
John R. Jones, under whose per
sonal direction the evidence
against the quintet was uncover
ed, will lead the prosecution. As
sisting him will be Attorney J.
H. Whicker, prominent member
of the Wilkes bar, and Attorney
Parks Hampton, well-known at
torney of Elkin. Attorney J.
Hayden Burke, of Taylorsville,
and Attorney A. T. Grant, of
Mock'Svillc, both of whom are
well-known criminal lawyers in
North Carolina, will represent Mr.
and Mrs. WT. W. Tilley and their
sons. Mrs. Luther Tilley has em
ployed Attorneys Eugene Trivette
and J. F. Jordan of the Wilkes
bar.
The fact that Mrs. Luther
Tilley, who is alleged tc be the
writer of the note found in
Leoda’s apron pocket two days
after she was killed, has em
ployed separate counsel from the
other four defendants adds in
terest to the belief that she was
not on good terms with the other
members of the family and that
somebody may be made the
“goat” of the case by the other
defendants.
Miss Childress, age 20, was
killed at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. W. W. Tilley, her foster
parents, about neon on Decem
(continued on back back)
Many People Attend
Board Meetings Mon.
Many people from all sections
of Alleghany county were in
Sparta Monday, when all members
of the Board of County Commis
sioners and the Board of Edu
cation were present and attended
to routine business.
The Commissioners paid several
claims, adjusted over-charges in
taxes, heard claims of farmers
for loss of sheep killed by dogs,
etc.
] The Board of Commissioners
I was in session during the entire
day.
VA. SENATE ACCEPTS PEERY
CHANGES IN LIQUOR BILL
Richmond, Va., March 6.—
The Senate this afternoon voted
to accept Governor George
Peery’s amendment to the liquor
control bill, making the buyer of
illicit liquor equally guilty with
the seller.
Retail druggists will also be
permitted to buy liquor direct
from the manufacturers instead
of through a state dispensary.
The House concurred today in
a Senate resolution memorializing
Congress to establish a national
park at Appomattox Courthouses
Power Of Highest
Court Seems To Be
Back Of New Deal
Chief Justice Hughes And
Justices Roberts, Bran
deis, Stone and Cardozo
Support Opinion
Washington, March 6.-—The
power of the mighty Supreme
Court apparently was thrown
completely to the upport of the
| new deal yest rday in a sweep
i ing and bitterly fought opinion
i sustaining the validity of New
■ York state’s milk control law.
It was a 5-to-4 decision.
The court not only upheld the
authority of federal and state
| governments to fix prices, the
most important phase of the New
York case; but sternly warned all
courts that it was not part of
their function to determine the
economic policy of the state.
“The courts are without auth
ority either to declare such a
policy, o^ when it is declared by'
the legislative arm, to override
it,” Justice Roberts said in the
majority opinion which he wrote
and read.
“If the laws passed are seen to
! have a reasonable relation to a
proper legislative purpose, and
are neither arbitrary nor dis
criminatory, the requirements of
due process are satisfied.”
The decision, handed down at
almost the same time that Presi
dent Roosevelt was pleading with
the nation for the success of his
program, seemed to extend far
beyond the specific case of the
Rochester, N. Y., milk dealer who
brought the appeal, and to have
been written with a view to
other and broader questions which
may come before the court.
As in the case of the Minne
i sota mortgage moratorium case,
j decided several weeks ago, the
court’s alignment was Chief Jus
tice Jughes and Justices Roberts,
Brartdeis, Stone and Cardozo* for
the recovery legislation; Justices
McReynolds, Vandevanter, Suth
erland and Butler, against. Mc
Reynolds wrote a minority opin
ion dissenting sharply.
Justice. Roberts delivered the
court’s views in the silenc of
the marble pillared coqrt room.
Lawyers and laymen leaned for
ward as the import of the de
cision became apparent.
Sketching lightly over the his
tory of the case from the time
Leo Nebbia, Rochester, N. Y.,
cut-price gioccr, was arrested for
giving away a loaf of bread with
two quarts of 9-cent milk. Rob
erts turned quickly to the more
significant phases of the opinion.
This involved the interpretation
of the historically debated Four
teenth Amendment to the Consti
tution which, since the days of
Chief Justice John Marshall', has
been relied on for the protection
of property rights, and which
i libral law students contend has
been carried far beyond its origi
: nal intent in this direction.
The court’s decision appeared
to mark an historic turning point
in its attitude toward the amend
' ment, and this phase of the New
i York milk ease was termed by
Roberts as the “more serious
phase” of the litigation.
I Se3
i» thx,
> ft’es'i&nJb
s«3 I
"None are more apt to boast than those of
the least worth."
^.MARCH
5— Merry Widow Hats make
their first appearance,
1907.
6— Ring Lardner, humorist
and writer, born 1885.
7— First telephone patent is
issued to Bell, 1876.
I,, 4, B—First bridge over Niagara
OnijiMrrrfr River is opened, 1855.
8—Famed battle of Monitor
Q-j-y/, -j, vs. Merrimac, 1862.
10—Germany declares war as
Portugal at last, 1916.
11—Start of great three-day
blizzard, New York, 1888.
•who