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Volume 10.
SPARTA, NORTH CAROLINA,THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1935. 6 PAGES
Number 40.
Washington Correspondent
CONGRESS IS BUSY
Congress is having a busy time
with many legislative problems
before it. Among them may be
included the $4,800,000,000 work
relief bill, economic security,
transportation and aviation, na
tional resources, renewal and re
vision of NRA, new powers for
the Federal Reserve Board, the
budget, the bonus, the munitions
inquiry, and the problem of ex
panding our foreign trade.
The committees dealing with
'these major issues are working
hard, but progress seems to tf,be
difficult and unless some speed
is shown in the near future, the
congressmen will be spending the
summer in Washington or else
rushing legislation pell-mell in
order to get through and go home.
ABOUT “PREVAILING WAGE”
Last week the Work Relief
resolution was being considered
by a Senate committee, which at
one time voted for the payment
of “prevailing wage scale on all
governmental projects.” This was
something of a victory for the
American Federation of Labor
but was short-lived because, upon
reconsideration, the committee re
versed itself. Labor leaders con
tended that when the government
set up a wage scale below that
for similar work in private in
dustry, the effect is to bring
down the scale for private em
ployment.
The Administration, on the
other hand, insisted that the “pre
vailing wage” provision would in
crease the cost of the wk relief
bill by two or three billion dol
lars and defeat the essential pur
pose of the President’s program,
which is to provide a substitute
for the dole. The proposed wages
would be larger than the relief
contribution of the government
but, as the President stated, “Not
so much as to encourage the re
jection of opportunities for pri
vate employment or the leaving
of private employment to engage
in Government work.”
TROUBLES OF LEGISLATORS
It is beginning to be apparent
that some congressmen are be
ginning to worry about the eharge
that the legislative body is becom
ing a “rubber stamp” for the
President. Any observer realizes
that Congress seldom originates
legislation. As a result, Adminis
tration leaders in Congress and,
particularly in the Senate, are
seldom in a position to talk freely
or comprehensively of legislative
plans.
In fact, Administrative steers
men sometimes are unaware of
the details of legislative plans
until they are worked out by law
yers in the Executive Department.
Moreover, originated in the Ex
ecutive Department, the plans are
subject to change without notice,
which would leave the congres
sional spokesmen suspended high
and dry in the event that he
attempted to take the role of
prophet.
Again, there seems to be some
friction developing between the
House and the Senate because the
former, accepting the gag rule,
has limited debate and refused
to accept any amendments at
the President’s request. Then, the
members become hot and bother
ed when the Senate mangles the
measure, sends it into a confer
ence where the House has to re
cede or do the lighting.
SPARING FOR WAR
NRA REVISION IS HOT
Some observers prtft
see the President’s answe
“rubber stump” complaii.
>• submitted to Congress the
(naming of legislation extending
the life and powers of the NRA.
While the President will urge
such an extension, he intimates
;hat the drafting of the bill should
le left to the wisdom and judg
of Congress- Inasmuch as
Is under heavy Are from
labor, as well as a
of other people, the Con
lias been given a “live
to hold.
No reader of cunrent news
.jits can fail to be impressed
the ominous preparations for
r which seems to be underway
i many countries. Affecting this
itry is the policy of Japan
the calm insistence of her
en for naval equality,
with the suggestion that
..ing the United States does
the way of preparation is aim
at Japan. Last week, Tokyo
kesmen suggested revising the
■fortifications pact in Hie Pa
, naively declaring that liralt
s upon Japanese fortifications
Id be removed and those
(continued on page 6)
Stabbing Near
Mount Airy Is
Fatal To Negro
Joseph Penn Dies
From Cuts Received
In Altercation Over
Five-Cent Coin
Mount Airy, Feb. 19.—Joseph
Penn, 24-year-old Negro, was cut
to death late Saturday night after
an argument over a 5-cent piece,
which occurred during an '‘enter
tainment” at the Westfield color
ed school house, ten miles east
of this city. After a coroner’s
investigation held at Westfield
Sunday afternoon by Dr. R. E.
Smith and Sheriff J. D. Thomp
son, James France, the alleged
wielder of the knife, was lodged
in jail and given a preliminary
hearing.
The slain man had engaged in
a drunken argument with several
other Negroes over a nickel, for
which they had been matching,
the eyewitnesses told officers.
Penn then went outside and was
spoken to by France, who was
not involved in the first argu
ment. He struck at France with
a stick, they said, and France
stabbed him through the heart
with a pocket knife. The dead
man’s open knife was found open
ed in his pocket, together with
half a bottle of liquor. France
was involved in a serious cutting
affray on the same spot two
weeks ago.
Three white men of the neigh
borhood were summoned to the
scene of the cutting, where they
performed a perfunctory exami
nation of the wounded man with
a flashlight. They informed the
crowd of about one hundred col
ored spectators that “you need
an undertaker, not a doctor,”
and looked up to see the panic
stricken Negroes fading into the
darkness. The scene was prac
tically deserted immediately and
most of the Negroes were not
seen again until some twenty of
them were rounded up by officers
and brought to the investigation
Sunday afternoon.
Judge R. L. Kirby,
Grayson Lawyer, Is
Claimed By Death
Judge Robert L. Kirby, In
dependence, Va., who for many
years was one of the leading
members of the legal profession
in Grayson county, died yester
day (Wednesday) afternoon in
Galax hospital, where he was
taken Tuesday suffering from
pneumonia.
Judge Kirby was, at one time,
judge of the Grayson county
court, before the formation of
the twenty-first judicial circuit
of Virginia, of which Judge Hor
ace Sutherland,"Galax, is now the
presiding judge. Since that time
he has practiced law in Indepen
dence, for the past few years
having been engaged in practice
with his son. Robert L. Kirby, Jr.
The deceased attorney is sur
vived by the widow, one son,
Robert, Jr., and two daughters,
Mrs. Ruth Ring and Miss Jean
Kirby, all of Independence.
Funeral plans had not been
announced when this issue of the
Times went to press, although it
was regarded as certain that fun
eral and interment would take
place at Independence.
Two Slightly
Injured In
Auto Mishap
Miss Madge McMillan and Leo
Irwin were slightly injured Satur
day night when the car in which
they were riding left the highway
and struck a large tree. The
accident occurred west of Sparta
at Richardson’s shops.
.... The automobile, which was
driven by Miss McMillan, was al
most completely demolished. The
two young persons escaped with
bruises and slight cuts.
TENNESSEE DEFEATS EFFORT
TO REPEAL “MONKEY LAW"
Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 18.—
Tennessee today refused to give
up its “monkey bill.”
The house of representatives
debated more than two hours the
attempt of 82-year old Cecil An
derson, Vanderbilt law student
• V I *!* ’
Mysterious Fire
Destroys Barn
Sunday Morning
A barn, belonging to A. A.
Woodruff, prominent fanner of
the New River community, was
destroyed by fire early Sunday
morning. Two horses, two mules,
and two sheep, as well as a large
quantity of feed and a number
of farming tools, were destroyed
in the fire.
The blaze, which is thought to
have been of incendiary origin,
was discovered about five o’clock
but it was then impossible to
rescue the animals. Blood hounds
were brought from North Wilkes
boro and Sheriff Walter M.
Irwin also led a posse of men
in an attempt to track the
guilty person or persons, but all
efforts to find a trail failed. This
failure to find tracks has led
to a theory adopted by some
that some person sleeping in the
barn accidentally started the
blaze and perished along with
the animals.
Americans May
Never Jingle
Gold Again
World Has Apparently
Turned To Currency
Policies Based On
A Bullion Reserve
Washington, Feb. 19.—In view
of the decision of the United
States Supreme court handed
down Monday sustaining the New
Deal in the all-important gold
cases, it is probable that never
again will gold coins jingle in
the pockets of Americans, ob
servers here said tonight.
The only apparent alternative
is a return to the old standard
gold dollar, which is viewed as
practically impossible.
The world has apparently turn
ed to a policy of national cur
rencies based on a bullion re
serve. Even in France, which is
still on the gold standard, gold
coins are not circulated.
Meanwhile President Roosevelt,
freed by the decisions of one
main obstacle to his new deal
prices and a dollar pegged at
a sustained purchasing level, dis
cussed legislation to clinch the
government victory with Attorney
General Homer S. Cummings.
Cummings, government pleader
in the momentous cases, said the
legislation was still in the dis
cussion stage and that no de
cisions had been reached.
The legislation was believed
intended to head off possible
suits by American gold clause
bondholders in foreign countries
who might be able to collect
damages under the Supreme
Court’s interpretation in the
liberty bond gold clause case if
they could show actual loss in
terms of a foreign currency. Of
ficials believed, however, that
such suits would have only a re
mote chance of success.
Student Strike
At Boone Ends;
Strikers Win
Boone, Feb. 19.—Students at
Appalachian State Teachers col
lege here celebrated last Wednes
day night what they believed was
a victory in their strike for
greater social privileges. At a
mass meeting held ~ faculty mem
bers of each college class and
five members of the faculty,
which will act as a board to
settle disputes and grievances
among the students.
It was also agreed that a
greater social freedom would be
given a trial and men would be
allowed to accompany women to
two athletic or social functions
to determine the adminstration’s
policy on the mingling of students
at such gatherings.
The action followed a strike
among students in protest against
what they regarded as unreason
able restrictions placed upon the
students in regard to men and
women in attendance at athletic
or social events, etc.
REYNOLDS CASE IS SET
FOR HEARING MARCH 11
' A court hearing on a proposed
“family settlement" of the —Z.
Smith Reynolds estate has been
definitely set for the superior
court term beginning March 11.
Sanders-Coolidge Marriage Is Rumored
WASHINGTON. . . The closest friends of the Coolidges, back
in their White House days, are now whispering that “early this
Spring” Mrs. Grace Coolidge (above), wife of the late president,
will become the bride of Everett Sanders (above), one time
Coolidge secretary at the White House and latea- chairman of
the Republican National Committee. Mr. Sanders has a 500 acre
estate in Maryland. He is a widower, 53 years old. Indiana is
his native state.
Tax Substitute
Is Opposed By
Power Companies
Senate Passes Bill*
To Outlaw Operation /
Of Slot Machines
In State
Raleigh, Feb. 19.—Slot ma- ■
chines were outlawed in North i
Carolina 1 tod.ry whtniMCoae at&te
Senate passed, without a dissent- '
ing vote, a House bill to make
their operation illegal.
The joint finance committee i
took up again the study of the j
McDonald-Lumpkin substitute for;
his sales tax. Before it appeared
representatives of four major *
power companies and of insur
ance firms to protest increased
(continued on back page)
Doughton CaUs
Townsend Public
Enemy Number 1
Alleghany Congressman
Says Townsend Scheme
Has “Poisoned” Minds
Of Many People
Washington, Feb. ID.—America |
has a new public enemy number |
one, according to Chairman Rob
ert L. Doughton of the House
ways and means committee.
The new public enemy is not
a Capone, a Dillinger or a gang
ster or kidnaper. He is a gray
haired California doctor by the
name of F- E. Townsend—
known throughout the country as
the author of the famous Town
(continued on back page)
Through State Capital Keyhole^
By Bess Hinton Silver
AUTO TAGS—It’s now recog
nized as a foregone conclusion
that automobile license tags are
going to be cheaper when you
decorate the mahogany of the
State Revenue Department next
January. The Joint roads com
mittee of House and Senate have
already agreed upon reducing the
rate per hundredweight from 65
cents to 40 cents with a minimum
tag costing $9 instead of $12.60.
By the time you read this the bill
may have become law by passage
through the General Assembly.
LOW DOWN—News is seep
ing down from Washington that
the AAA Is not so hot for legis
lation controlling the production
of potatoes. Tar Heels and other
representatives of potato-produc
ing States put the bee on the
AAA boys but it now appears
that Secretary Wallace’s crowd
put one over oh the potato men.
They drafted a bill that bids fair
to classify many potato farmers
as criminals if they violate tech
nical provisions of the act. Con
gressman Lindsay Warren has
promised to look after North Caro
lina potato men with the proper
amendments before the bill be
comes law.
MODERN STEP—Wild old-age
pensions and unemployment in
surance as well as other social
security legislation coming along
to relieve old-fashioned county
homes of much of their burden,
State Senator Julian Allsbrook,
of Halifax, thinks it might be a
good plap to turn over the county
home buildings to the care of
neglected children. Many coun
ties in North Carolina have mod
ern buildings constructed as
"poor houses” that will be vacant
if the aged and unemployed are
supported by government money.
Senator Allsbrook is considering
introducing proper legislation to
carry out his idea.
NOT SO FAST—People who
would divert highway taxes to
the support of various and sun
dry causes are not getting along
so well with the present General
Assembly. Probably that is be
cause many members live on sec
ondary roads that have created
a financial surplus by a mainten
ance deficit. At any rate the
Legislature lost no time appro
priating $3,000,000 for immedi
ate repair and improvement of
roads of the State.
KNOWS SCHOOLS — Legisla
tors are generally agreed that
Senator Lloyd Griffin, of Cho
wan, know his schools. Senator
Griffin, was chairman of the sen
ate education committee that
drafted the first eight months
school machinery law in 1933 and
heads the same committee this
session. The manner in which
he answers questions regarding
the State-supported 'schools is a
marvel to many interested law
makers.
GOVERNOR—The guesses are
still going around Raleigh as to
who will be a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor next year. One week the
news is that Congressman R. L.
Doughton will run and the next
week the grapevine reports that
he will not choose to be a can
didate. But few people doubt
that Clyde R. Hoey, Shelby
Democratic silver-tonguer," and
Lieutenant Governor A. H.
(Sandy) Graham are going to try
for the honor. At all odds, a
good time is likely to be had by
one and all.
SPEED — Representative R.
Gregg Cherry, of Gaston, chair
man of the House finance com
mittee, and Senator Harriss New
man. of New Hanover, chairman
of the Senate money group,
Jury Fmds Bruns Hauptmann Guilty
Of Murder And His Punishment Is
Fixed At Death In Electric Chair
I
FFA BOYS VISIT
FARM IN ALLEGHANY
With C. C. Tucker, instructor
in vocational agriculture at In
dependence high school, county
agents, and others, members of
the Independence FFA chapter
visited the farm of Ed Hawthorne
in Alleghany county, North Caro
lina, last Tuesday to learn about
the operation of Mr. Hawthorne’s
trench silo. The visitors were
very much interested in what
Mr. Hawthorne had to say about
his silo.
Several of the boys - expressed
the possibility of such a silo
being constructed on their home
farms.
County Agent To
Hold Corn-Hog
Meets Next Week
Contracts Now Keady
For Farmers Of This
County To Sign. Time
Limit Is March 2
Corn-Hog contracts for 1935
are now ready for farmers of
Alleghany county to sign, accord
ing to W. B. Collins, county farm
agent. Mr. Collins says the con
tract is more liberal this year
than Last and, in many ways, bet
ter suited for this county.
The hog contract calls for a
reduction of 10% from the aver
age number of hogs raised and
sold during the years of 1932
and 1933. For this reduction,
$15 pel head will be paid.
Farmers growing more than ten
acres of corn can sign the corn
reduction contract, agreeing to
reduce their crops not less than
10% nor more than 30%. For
this reduction, farmers who sign
will be paid 35 cents per bushels
on the estimated number of bush
els that would have grown on the
land taken out of production.
In order that every farmer in
Alleghany county may have an
opportunity to sign the Corn-Hog
contract, Mr. Collins is to spend
the week of February 25 to
March 2 assisting farmers in fill
ing out the contracts. Meetings
are to be held during next week
as follows:
Sparta, county agent’s office,
Monday, February 25; Stratford,
Tuesday, February 26, from 9
to 12 a. m., and at Scottville from
1 to 4 p- m. the same day;
Whitehead, Wednesday, February
27, from 9 to 12 a. m., and at
Laurel Springs from 1 to 4 p.
m.; Piney Creek school, Wednes
day night, February 27, at 7
o’clock; Blevins Cross Roads,
Thursday, February 28, from 9
to 12 a. m., and at Edmonds
from 1 to 4 p. m. the same day;
Glade Valley, Friday, March 1,
from 9 to 12 a. m.. and af
Cherry Lane the same day froip
1 to 4 p. m., and Saturday,
March 2, at Sparta, in the county
agent’s office.
All Corn-Hog contracts, if
signed at all, must be signed by
Saturday night, March 2.
All farmers in the county who
have been raising a large num
ber of hogs, or planting a large
acreage of corn, according bo
Mr. Collins, should investigate
this contract and see if they can
sign it to their advantage.
Bill Would Amend
Election Laws For
Alleghany County
A bill was introduced on Feb
ruary 15 in the State Senate in
Raleigh, and sent to the Com
mittee on Election Laws, which
would increase the pea: diem com
pensation of election officials in
Alleghany county to $2, and the
per diem pay of members of the
Alleghany county Board of Com
missioners and the Board of Edu
cation to $3.60.
The measure is known as Sen
ate bill 195 and is intended to
“amend sections two and three,
chapter 127, of The Public,
Local and Private Laws of IMS,
relating to compensation for elec
tion officials and County Com
missioners of Alleghany county,"
11 -
Long, Drawn Out Trial
Ends And Prisoner Is
Now In Death House. Stay
Of Execution Expected
Flemington. N. J., Feb. 19.—
Conclusion of the long, drawn
out Hauptmann trial here was
reached at a late hour last Wed
nesday night when the jury re
turned a verdict of murder in the
first degree without a recommen
dation for mercy, making the
penalty of death in the electric
chair mandatory. After deliber
ating the case for more than
eleven hours, the jurors reached
a decision at 10:31 Wednesday
night.
Justice Thomas W. Trenchard
pronounced sentence on the de
fendant, Bruno Richard' Haupt
mann, at once, and set the week
of March 18 as that in which
the sentence was to be carried
out in the death chamber of state
prison in Trenton.
However, Hauptmann’s New
Jersey counsel, openly defiant of
Chief Defense Counsel Edward J.
Reilly. Brooklyn, carried an ap
peal from the death sentence to
the state’s highest court today,
and a stay of execution was indi
cated by the appelate action.
Moving swiftly, C. Lloyd Fisher,
of Flemington, and Frederick A.
Pope, of Somerville, went before
Chancellor Luther A. Campbell,
applied for and were denied a
writ of grace to carry the appeal
to the state supreme court, and
thus threw their case automatically
into the court of errors and ap
peals.
Earlier, the lawyers went be
fore Justice Trenchard and ob
tained an order requiring Hunter
don county to pay the costs of
printing the 1,600,000-word rec
ord of the six weeks’ trial and
the voluminous briefs necessary
in an appeal.
Only one more step was needed
to insure a postponement of at
least seven months in the execu
tion of the sentence, and that waa
to be made within the next day
or so when Pope presents a writ
of error to the clerk of the court
of errors and appeals. That auto
matically results in a stay of
sentence.
There was a possibility that
execution of sentence might be
still further delayed if the attor
ney is successful in obtaining a
postponement of argument before
the court from the May to the
October term. Even though the
court should rule against such a
postponement and the arguments
be heard at the May term, there
would still be ,a delay in exe
cution since the court would not
render its decision until Septem
ber, and the probable appeal to
the court of pardons would not
be passed on until October.
Wednesday night, when sen
tence was pronounced, Hauptmann
received the words of his doom
calmly, and was soon returned to
his cell in the Hunterdon county
jail.
The scene in the courtroom
when it became known that the
jury had reached a decision, and
during the formalities that sur
rounded the making known of
the decision, was dramatic.
Hauptmann was taken to Tren
ton Saturday and placed in the
•They who are often at the looking
glass seldom spin."
FEBRUARY
YMB' IV—Knichu of Pythias or*•»
\KP i»d at Washington, 1W».
JS—-fJO—Cuba ravolts against cnwi
5^*'* Spaniah nda, 1*95.