Alleghany
[VIC, ECONOMlfc AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF ALLEGHANY COUNTY
GALAX, VA. (Published for Sparta, N. C.) THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1936.
Volume 11.
10 PAGES
Number 61.
by Hugo S. Sim*,
Special Wattling ton CotmponJwt
GUESSING THE VOTE
Guessing the popular vote of
the Presidential election this year
continues to be an interesting
pastime that will be tried by all
political writers before Novem
ber. Sound reasoning, apparently,
will follow every deduction until
the reader is assured of the re
sult, which, nine times out of
ten, will be about in line with
what the reader is hunting. We
have no idea of indulging in this
ancient sport but our readers may
be interested in the figures of re
cent contests. The figures here
given are taken from the World
Almanac for 1936.
THE ELECTION RECORDS
1932
Roosevelt . 22,821,857
Hoover. 15,761,841
1928
Hoover . 21,392,190
Smith. 15,016,443
‘ 1924
Coolidge . 15,725,016
Davis . 8,385.586
1920
Harding . 16,152,200
Cox . 9,147,353
1916
Wilson . 9,129,606
Hughes . 8,538,221
ESTIMATES ARE
CONJECTURES
Applying these figures to 1936
it is apparently possible for a
great shifting of votes, such as
that which occurred between 1928
and 1932, to sweep President
Roosevelt out of office. Mind you,
we do not predict any such thing.
We merely point out that it is
possible, provided there has been
a ground swell against Mr.
Roosevelt and in favor of a
change such as was apparent
when the ballots were counted in
1932 and Mr. Hoover ousted from
the White House.
Republican prospects are based
upon the belief that many Re
publicans who voted Democratic
in 1982 will return to the party
this fall and that they will be
augmented, by many conservative
Democrats, who do not like the
New Deal or any of its works.
Any good calculator can prove
anything that he wants to estab
lish and that the reader o» listen
er wants to believe. It is all a
matter of opinion. Whether the
Republican farmers of the West,
Who left their party when relief
was not given them, will rejoin
the ranks, remains a matter to be
determined. How many conserva
tive Democrats will cast their
ballots against their party nomi
nee is also conjecture, pure and
simple.
“NOBODY KNOWS”
Another question that bobs up
is whether President Roosevelt
continues to be stronger than his
party. In 1982, when he polled
22,821,857 votes, his party’s can
didates for congress managed to
get only 20,494,162, or more than
ten per cent: less than the Presi
dent. In the same year Republi
can candidates for Congress poll
ed 15,896,895 votes. Since that
time many things have happened
but the only one that is positive
in evidence is the Congressional
elections of 1984. In the mid-term
elections Democratic candidates
for Congress polled only 17,620,
432 • ballots and Republicans 13,
484,477—a decline of nearly 3,
000,000 for the Democrats and
nearly two and a half million
for the Republicans. What chang
es of sentiment have taken place
since 1984? The answer, “no
body knows!”
n
IGHT FOR THREE STATES
While political leaders on both
of the great presidential de
continue to claim everything
sight and look for new areas
possess vocally, all signs point
—tchal struggles in several
ov»v«, notably Pennsylvania, New
York and Ohio, which, together,
have 111 votes In the electoral
college. Pennsylvania, long a Re
publican stronghold; is witnessing
a strenuous -effort' to land it' in
the New Deal
and
In New York, where Governor
Lehman will run for a third term,
the Republicans point to the .up
state, where they hope to pile up
thf‘StiSSls&K*gr
of New York. Some talk of T«n
disaffectien and
At snuti.
senti
(continued on page 5)
i-'i v
Doughton Silent
About Senatorial
Race 2 Yrs. Hence
“I Won’t Say I Will And
I Won’t Say I Won’t” Is
Substance Of Greensboro
Statement Saturday
HOEY IS OPTIMISTIC
Senator Reynolds Would Be
Opponent Of Alleghany
Congressman Should The
Latter Decide To Run
In a statement made Saturday
in Greensboro regarding a per
sistent rumor linking him as a
candidate for the United States
senate in 1938 opposing Senator
Robert R. Reymolds, who is ex
pected to seek reelection, Con
gressman Robert L. Doughton, of
Sparta and Laurel Springs, said
“I won’t say I will and I won’t
say I won’t.”
Expressing himself merely as a
candidate for renomination by the
Democratic party as representative
from the ninth congressional dis
trict. which he has served consecu
tively for 12 terms, 24 years,
Representative Doughton said "it
is far too soon to comment” on
the possibility of his running for
the senate.
In Greensboro for the luncheon
session of the annual convention
of the Young Democratic Clubs
of North Carolina, which Satur
day night concluded its two-day
meeting, Representative Dough
ton was given a rousing welcome
when he entered the ballroom at
the O. Henry hotel, at which
session Clyde R. Hoey, of Shelby,
Democratic nominee for gover
nor, was the speaker. Arriving
several minutes late, the ninth
district congressman walked brisk
ly through the ballroom and
sought his seat at speaker’s
table while every one of the at
tendants rose to their feet and
lustily applauded him.
Rumors had persisted around
the convention headquarters early
in the morning that the represen
tative would oppose Reynolds in
1938.
“It is too far away to talk
about it now,” declared the veter
an legislator. “I won’t say I
will and I won’t say I won’t. In
fact, I’d rather wait for a while.
You know, a man can’t be a
candidate for two positions at the
same time. My problem now is
(continued on page 8)
Railway Officials
Hold Banquet Sat,
At Roaring Gap
On Saturday night, July 18,
officers and representatives of
the various railroads in the Unit
ed States, some . two hundred in
number, held a meeting and a
banquet at Roaring Gap. There
were representatives and their
executives or officials from prac
tically all the railroads in the
United States.
After the banquet an address
was male by William E. Lee, In
terstate Commerce Commissioner,
of Washington. The invocation
was pronounced by Dr. Ralph
Herring, pastor of First Baptist
Church, Winston-Salem. Visitors
and guests were introduced and
golf prizes awarded. The moun
tain was literally covered with
visitors and guests of the hotel.
Many had come from other sec
tions to escape the heat.
There were a few Alleghany
people present as special ggests
of the meeting. The visitors were
pi^fttse in their prgise of the
Roaring Gap climate and its
beauty as a summer resort. The
golf course is said to be one of
the finest in the United States
and attracts many of. the outr
standing players.
Ill Taylorsville
Two thoroughbred calves,' the
property of J. R. Crouse, were
stolen last week from the fartn
of Shelby Atwood.
Assidious tracing of the stolen
property by Sheriff Walter M.
Irwin located the missing proper
ty in Taylorsville, from where it
Dynamite, Powder
House Near Hare
Blown Up Saturday
Through some unknown source
fire started Saturday in a powd
er house located on a Scenic
Highway project near Hare,
which was used for storing dyna
mite and powder and blew up the
whole supply. A load of dyna
mite had been stored there only
the day before, in addition to
the supply on hand.
Workmen saw the fire in time
to escape.
The blast blew a hole in the
groundt blew up automobiles and
all movable objects nearby.
Damage was done to the near
est house, that of Luther Gentry.
Formal Coiffure
HOLLYWOOD . . . Fashion
folks say it is most complimentary
and interesting and the ideal hair
dress for formal events, first in
troduced by Mary Boland (above).
Paramount star, in a recent picture.
The eleven arrangement of curls
at the sides is repeated over the
toti of the coiffure.
“Oh, Doctor,” To
Be Given Here
Missionary Society Of
Baptist Church Sponsors
Play To Be Presented In
Sparta H. S. Auditorium
Much interest is being shown
in the play “Oh, Doctor,” which
will be presented in the Sparta
high school auditorium tomorrow
(Friday) night at 8:00 o’clock by
local talent. The production is
being sponsored by the Baptist
Missionary society.
“Oh, Doctor” is a delightful 8
act musical comedy that is al
ways enjoyed by those seeing it.
It is one of the most successful
plays, it is said, that has aver
appeared in this section and it
has been in great demand bat has
appeared in only a few places in
this state. The play is refresh
ing and absorbing in interest,
and holds the full attention of
its audience at all times. The
production consists of charming
choruses, peppy dances, pleasing
drills, and delightful repartee
throughout, according to an in
terested person.
The cast is composed of about
75 persons, includinug school
children from the lower grades
in the choruses and high school
girls in the dances. Beautiful
costumes add to the impressive
ness of the play. Miss Nedra
Lanford, who has had several
years of experience in training
casts for plays of this kind, is
directing the presentation here.
The Baptist Missionary society
is also sponsoring a ‘'Little Miss
or Mr. Sparta of 1936” contest.
The winner of this contest will
be presented a silver loving cnp,
which is now on display in the
drugstore window, together with
pictures of the contestants.
The main characters in the
play are;— Mrs. DaHen Warren,
mother; Charles Bee, father;
Johnson Sanders, crook; Gordon
ganipe, social lion;. Mrs. Edwin
Duncan, leading lardy; Brian Tay
lor*. leading man; Miss Jean Bop;
aker, negro maid; Fked Hiatt, old
country cousin;
hick taror,
ie Halsey, kid sister.
BAPTIST MINISTER TO
DELIVER SERMONS SUN.
Rev. Howard J. Ford, new pas
tor of the Sparta Baptist church,
is expected to preach at Laurel
Springs Baptist church on Sunday
morning, Jhly 26, and at Scott
villa church in the afternoon ol
the same day, at 2:80 o'clock.
If Ruth Bryan Owen W«b Ogt. Bocrge Rhode |
IZ*3
HYDE PARK, N. Y. . . , With President and Mrs, Roosevelt as
guests, Mrs. Ruth. Bryan Owen, U. S. Minister to Denmark and daugh
ter of the late Wm. Jennings Bryan, was married here to Captain Boerge
Rhode, of the Royal Life Guards of King Christian X of Den marie.
Photo shows the bride and groom leaving the church.
Doughton Goes To
Washington Last
Week On Business
Contact* Road Officials
Concerning Employment
Of Parlcway Help From
Other States
Congressman R. L. Doughton
and his secretary Sidney Gambill,
went to Washington, D. C., last
week to attend to official mat
ters'there. While at Washington,
Congressman Doughton contacted
the-Bureau of Public Roads and
the Department of Labor con
cerning complaints that contrac
tors who are constructing the
Blue Ridge parkway were em
ploying labor from other states
and workers who were not certi
fied by the Re-employment of
fice, when available workers can
be found locally.
It has been charged that the
contractors have been ignoring
regulations to the effect that all
workers be taken from the reg>
istration lists of the local re-em
ployment office and that they
have refused to employ and have
discharged men who were quali
fied and able to do their work.
It has been further .charged that
they have brought in outside
labor and have given employment
to men who have never been
registered and that some workers
have been allowed to work more
than 40 hours per week, the
maximum amount under regula
tions -of the Department of La
bor, while local labor has been
given only thirty hours per week.
An investigation has been un
der way for the last few days,
and immediately after Mr.
Doughton took the matter up
with the officials at Washington,
orders were sent out demanding
that all contractors use only local
registered men as far as they
(continued on.page 8)
———
MethodUt W. M. S.
Holds Regular Meet
Fri. At Roaring Gap
The Women’s Missionary so
ciety of the Methodist church
held its regular meeting at Roar
ing Gap at the home of Mrs. J.
;T. Inskeep on Friday, July 17.
, The Junior society held its
seating at the same, time and
place, with Miss* Josephine Ins
keep hostess.
The program was ahly pre
sented by the Junior society with
Min Lorain* Reeveat ns.; leadpr,
assisted by Misses Floreno*. War>
fen, Margaret Jane (Meek, MaJy
Ceeife Higgins and JmeeliJM^
, A lovely, quartet,? composed of
Misses Louise Crouse, Mery Ce
cils Higgins, Emaline Hawthorne
and Carolyn Maxwell, sang
’‘Whispering Hope.”
Delicious refreshments were
served about 85 members and
guests by the hosten.
The next meeting of both so
cieties will be held at the home
of Mrs. C. W. Higgins.
Wife Of Sparta
Business Man Is
Taken By Death
Mrs. D. C. Bledsoe Dies
On Monday Afternoon In
N. Willceshoro Hospital.
Funeral Held Here Wed.
Mrs. Cyntha Pearl Bledsoe 28,
wife of D. C. Bledsoe, widely
known automobile dealer and
prominent young business man of
Sparta, died Monday afternoon in
the North Wilkesboro hospital
from spinal meningitis, which fol
lowed a mastoid operation per
formed two weeks ago.
Mrs. Bledsoe, a daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Reeves, of
Laurel Springs, was a member of
one of Northwestern North Caro
lina’s most prominent families.
She was educated at Appalachian
State Teachers college, Boone,
and was a teacher in Sparta high
school for a number of years.
During the past two years, until
her illness this spring, she was an
assistant in her husband’s office.
Surviving are the husband, two
children, Jane 6, and D. C., Jr.,
7, the parents, two sisters, Mrs.
Eugene Shepherd ahd Mrs. Lon
nie Busic, and a host of relatives
and friends.
Funeral services were conducted
Wednesday afternoon at two
o’clock in the Sparta Baptist
church by Rev. S. L. Blevins, as
sisted by local ministers.
Active pall bearers, cousins of
the deceased, were! Earl Reeves,
Laurel Springs; Ben Reeves,
Whitehead; John Reeves, Russell
Barr and Bernard Graybeal, West
Jefferson, and George Reeves,
Sparta.
Honorary pall bearers were: k.
A. Doughton, R. L. Doughton, R.
F. Crouse, Amos Wagoner, Edwin
Duncan. W. V. Blevins, Sidney
Gambill T. R. Burgiss, Robert
Gambill) C. H. Sears, D. C. Dun
can and Dr. B. E. Reeves.
So great was the abundance of
floral tributes that the designated
flower bearers were unable to
carry them and the group was
supplemented by a number of the
members of the Baptist Missionary
society, of which Mrs. Bledsoe was
a member. The flowers were very
beautiful.
Those designated as flower
bearers, who were cousins of the
deceased,' follow*. Mrs. E. C.
Choate, Mrs. Bessie Graybeal,
Mrs. Katherine Duncan, Mrs. Rus
sell Barr, Mrs. John Reeves, Mrs:
Earl Reeves, and the Misses Jean
Reeves, Ruth Reeves, Anna Choate
and Alice Carr Choate.
fam
may*
for same
E. Black,
agent.
Mr. Black, in a recent state
a aauetAitz
era, since he has many requests
for information as to where prod
ucts may be purchased.
Glade Valley P. O.
Robbed Sun. Night;
$57 In Stamp* Taken
The post office at Glade Valley
was robbed Sunday night and
about $57 in stamps was stolen.
The post office is located in the
store building of C. C. Thompson
and Sons.
Ten cartons of cigarettes and
$10 in cash was also taken by the
intruders from the store. —
Authorities are working on the
case but no arrests have been
made as yet. Inspector Kyle,
of the Post Office department, is
here working in conjunction with
county officers.
Facet Radio Libel
NEW YORK . .. BOW URtr
* - 1 — - X ■« - ■ — «
\8vOVcji noio cooBDCfiOK)*f rus
been tasted by Governor Hefltno
is a $100,000 Bad an*. aDegns
that os April bt, Mr Cuter on
“Gov. Hofiman Mew of the Wen
del kidnapninrtlwhfch on »■
^a m —a—^
foivai in ax i myi aw
tipo.
Lemke Defends
Townsend Plan
In Address Sun.
Speaks At Meeting Of
Townsend Clubs. Cadis
Administration Program
“National Lunacy”
Cleveland, July 21.—The Union
party’s candidate for president,
William Lemke, aligned 'himself
Sunday with Dr. Francis E. Town
send, as he said, “in the great
fight he is making on behalf of
the citizens of our country.”
As he addressed the closing
session of the national convention
of Townsend clubs late Sunday in
Cleveland stadium, Lemke issued a
statement in which he said that
as president the White House
doors would be open to Townsend
and “to any other leader of a
great and humane cause.”
“I am one hundred per cent
for an old age revolving pension.
The details of such legislation
by your organisation and congress,
by your organization and ongress.
“As president I will sign any
bill that congress enacts which
will give an honest and fair com
pensation to old people who have
helped create the wealth of this
nation.
“I will veto any subterfuge or
substitute such as the so-called
social security act which should
have been called the social in
security act and which is sham
legislation and was intended to
cheat and deceive the members
of this organization and its lead
ers.”
At the outset of his speech
Lemke read the statement which
said he stood “four square” back
of Dr. Townsend.
Using open handed gestures, the
representative from North Dakota
stretched to the full length of
his short figure, and shouted his
words into the microphones.
He called the program of the
present administration “national
lunacy.” £\
Crouse Farm Taken
Over To Be Used
For Rehabilitation
Crouse
taken over
^■is
B. R.
River Stock Ffcra. I
Ten men are now employed bj
the Rural Rehabilitation corpora
tion to fence and improve th«
property. J. R. Crouse Is acting
of the work.
About 70 head
mules are to bo
farm.
Landon Prepares
For Notification
Ceremonies Thu’S.
Spends Most Of Tuesday
In Mansion, Blocks Away
From Gaily Decorated
Downtown Topeka Streets
ENJOYS HOME-COMING
Completes Draft Of His
Acceptance Speech. Will
Deliver Address About
8:30 O’clock (CST)
Topeka, Kas., July 21.—Gover
nor Alf M. Landon spent most
of today in the governor’s man
sion, blocks away from decorated
and holiday-spirited downtown
Topeka, enjoying his family’s
home-coming and a few welcome
hours of rest before Thursday’s
notification ceremonies.
The address in which he will
accept the Republican party’s for
mal notice of his nomination for
the presidency was completed yes
terday.
But after a night’s sleep Lan
don once again went over its
3,500 words, making perhaps a
minute change here and there.
After this last check-over, a
close adviser 9aid that in addition
to probably emphasis on farm
relief, unemployment, federal
spending and taxation, and the
constitution, the Republican nomi
nee was likely to touch on labor
problems, outlining his views on
what - the government’s attitude
should be toward the labor move
ment.
Mrs. Landon arrived before 7
o’clock from the governor’s sum
mer ranch at Estes Park, Colo.,
and drove directly to the execu
tive mansion. She saw fluttering
across broad Kansas avenue,
which threads Topeka’s businen
section, a myriad of banners and
flags. Golden sunflowers glittered
on blue backgrounds; a “Welcome
G. O. P.” framed the familiar
elephant on hundreds of banners;
Landon’s picture was everywhere
and streets and business houses
alike were dressed in red, white
and blue bunting.
“Why it is almost unbeliev
able,’’ Mrs. Landon said, appar
ently amazed at preparations for
the notification expected to bring
upwards of 50,000 visitors.
A haircut was ail the governor
said he could report. The morn
ing, he added, was passed at home
visiting with his family.
Topeka, Kas.. July 21.—Facts
about ceremonies notifying Gov.
Alf M. Landon Thursday night
that he is the Republican presi
dential nominee:
Time: Ceremonies scheduled 8
p. m. (CST) and require at least
an hour. Landon speaks about
8:30.
Place; South steps of state
capitol.
Broadcast: Two national net
works—NBC and CBS.
Program: Invocation; introduc
tion of Representative Bertrand
SneJl (R., N. Y.) by National
Chairman John Hamilton; notifica
tion by Snell; Landon’s accept
ance address; benediction.
-
ARMSTRONG IS APPOINTED
Frank Armstrong, Montgomery
county lawyer, has been named
to succeed the late Judge John
M. Oglesby.
..