ALLEGHANY TAR+TIMES H HALF A CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF ALLEGHANY COUNTY 52nd. Year. . No. 27. Sparta, N. C. Thursday, February 27, 1941. Washington, D. C.—So many political traditions have been shattered within the lost year that it isn’t surprising to find Wendell Willkie setting a new precedent for the role of defeat ed presidential candidate. It’s the first time in this country’s history that a former presidential nominee has tried to keep the leadership of his own party by not only actively endorsing his successful opponent’s policies .but even Serving as his personal en voy on a' highly important mis sion. Friends of Willkie claim that he will not actually under take a full time job under the president, nor will he return to head the Commonwealth and Southern Corporation. There are indications that Willkie is con sidering several law positions which have been offered to him. The Republican candidate’s un orthodox post-election behavior has provoked even stranger re ' actions on the part of his former friends and foes. General Hugh Johnson, who was one of Willkie’s moat ardent admirers has recently bunt fiorth into vitriolic editorial comment on Willkie’s lease-lend bill stand. On the other hand, PM’s Ralph Ingersoll, who heap ed invective on Willkie through out the presidential campaign, now has uneasily decided that perhaps he isn’t so bad. Our political cynics say that this proves one thing which they have known all along—that the flour ishes and alarms which go on during presidential campaigns have very little to do with what the candidates believe in or rep resent. Tbe current industrial boom - with its huge expenditures for non-productive war. materials, is , causing concern to government ecoMqaisto who are looking ahead toward the inevitable peacetime letdown. ' The truth of the mat ter is that the United States Government alone, although still ' planes as was spent in the peak year of the first World War. When the European war is / over, this gigantic industry will certainly topple if not propped up by an immediate switch to more productive manufacture of consumer goods. After World War 1, the new auto industry / wag on hand to take the place of the war production, but so far no similar substitute is available. In a time of crisis, there are always orators who can rise to the occasion. The past few years hqve developed a set of speakers who certainly reach larger audi ences and perhaps possess greater skill than the famous Ciceros and Demosthenes of antiquity. A con sensus of opinion nominates Presi dent Roosevelt as the Number ' • Due onator of this generation for his sense of drama and timing and hds superb diction. Winston Churchill runs a close second, with his forceful and sincere de livery. Heading the labor con tingent is John L. Lewis, who has the resonant voice and rolling cadences of an old time Biblical prophet. Among the ladies, Mrs. Roosevelt is a poised and ener getic speaker. The booby prize, of course, goes to Adolph Hitler for his ungrammatical diction and a voice which ranges from gut Iteral harshness to shrieking semi hysteria. Laurel Springs Laurel Springs, Feb. 25.—Van Brine gar and Miss Carrie Shep herd, of McGrady, were visitors in thjs community Saturday and Sunday. Miss Katherine Walker, of Winston-Salem, is visiting her grandmother, Mrs. M. F. Osborne. Rev. Cartie McKnight has an appointment to Preach at Pleas ant Grove church on Sunday, ,March 2nd, at 2r30 o’clock. Mrs. Caroline Brinegar is ill at the home of her son, Charlie Brinegar. Talmadge Anderson has pur chased a Ford car. Ben Osborne spent the week end with home folks near Van nqy, N. C. Jakie Brinegar was at home * last week-end from the CCC camp at Laurel Springs. Fmnk Brinegar is very ill at this writing. Mrs. Caroline Brinegar is visit ing her daughter, Mrs. Candice > Brown, at State Roads. If you have n Turkey, Greece and Britain Understand London.—Great Britain has reached an “excellent! understanding” with both Turkey and Greece on mut-' ual defense problems in the Balkan-Mediterranean zone, the News Chronicle reported today in a Cairo1 dispatch. • • • Preparations for German March in Bulgaria Sofia.—The British legation yesterday began de stroying confidential records, and evacuated members of its staff to Turkey as signs multiplied rapidly that the German army is ready to begin its large-scale occupation of Bulgaria, possibly within a matter of hours. i Extent of Italian Losses in Albania Athens.—A government spokesman last night reported the torpedoing of another Italian troop ship in the Adriatic and strong aerial attacks on Fascist lines in Albania where 105,000 Italian troops are said to have been “knocked out” of the war thus far. The authoritative newspaper Proia paid that seven Italian divisions totaling the 105,000 nten had been shattered and that hospitals in Tirana, Durazzo and Valona were “overflowing” with badly wounded Fascistsi. Greek Determination to Finish Albania Athens.—The Greek army in almost four months of war has captured 20,000 Italians and “will not cease fighting until the Italians are out of Albania,” a government spokesman said last night. Italy’s Shredded and Tattered Africa Cairo, Egypt.—Royal Air Force bombers smashed at Italian airdromes in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethi opia, while reinforced British land columns seized two additional posts on the Juba River front in Somaliland and are within 40 miles of closing a pincer movement against beseiged Cheren in Eritrea, the British an nounced yesterday. “Extensive damage” on the Ital ian air base buildings in Addis Ababa was reported in an R. A. F. communique issued last night at Aden. • • • Roose veltArociousto Give All Aid Possible Washington.—President Roosevelt said yesterday that peace terms in the European war must await a military triumph and he opposed any change in the pending lend-lease bill which might curtail all-out aid to Great Britain. Mr. Roosevelt said that while he cannot publicly discuss any proposed amendments to the legislation, it is obvious that he does not want any amendment which would change the government’s policy in sending all possible aid to Great Britain. 40 Millions for Marine Base in N. C. Washington.—Construction of the “largest marine corps base in the United States” in Onslow and Pam lico counties is authorized in the $842,302,883 bill for naval shore establishments passed yesterday by the House. The action paves the way for passage today of an appropriation bill which is expected to contain an initial fund of $1,500,000 for the huge development that will cost in excess of $-10,000,000. • • • Mussolini Asks People to Cease Gruimbling Rome.—Admitting that Italy has suffered enorm ous blows .«n Africa, Premier Benito Mussolini yester day told liis Blackshirt followers that German mechan ized detachments as well as dive bombers have arrived in both Iiibya and Sicily to herald a “new season of success for us.” “Great Britain soon will be aware of this,” Mussolini said in reference to the German aid, after he had called upon the Italian people to cease ther grumbling and “intensify our hate” in order to achieve a final victory over Britain. Topia Topia, Feb. 25.—Mrs. Ruth| Osborne, of Mt. Zion, visited her sister, Mrs. Flora Moxley, Vast week. Miss Logene Pugh, of Piney Creek, spent the week-end with Miss Sara Blevins. Mrs. Della Ward, of Crumpler, visited in this community Monday. Mrs. O. E. Moxley visited Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Pugh, Monday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. R. V. Blevins visited Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Pugh Friday evening. Mrs. Carey D. Blevins and children, and Mrs. T. E. Pugh and children, of Piney Creek, spent Sunday in the home of Mrs. Belle Blevins. P. C. Edwards, Eugene Black and Miss Farye Lee Black made a business trip to West Jefferson Saturday. Visitors to Mrs. Viola Williams on Sunday were Misses Virginia Douglas of Crumpler, and Nell Weaver of New Hope, Joe Cald well and Paul Douglas. Mrs. Myrtle Perry visited her sister, Mrs. Grace Taylor in Galax, last week. Formal Statement From Tokyo Gives Assurance The Japanese government “is lot pessimistic regarding the fu ,ure of its diplomacy towards the Jnited States,” Premier Prince ftimimaro Konoye said today in a formal statement. “The government believes it tas no need to fear anything if t pursues the right path,” Prince Konoye said. “The govemmeiit, however, is resolved to do alt in its power to make the United States and Great Britain undersand the true inten sions of our country.” The premier’s written state ment was sent from his sick bed n reply to a (questionnaire sent lim. by thirty-one leading mem bers of the lower house of Parlia ment led by the veteran liberal, ITokio Ozaki, who throughout his more them 50 years in Parliament has been a staunch advocate of Japanese-American friendship and :o-ope ration. The deputies asked a full and bank statement, aB to the gov ernment’s general program in the face of the present international srlsis. Next Sunday Important Day For Methodists Of purely local interest, and yet of very great interest is the new heating plant going into the Methodist Church basement this week, ready for its initial ser vice next Sunday. Not like the old furnace which sent al) the heat through one register into the center of the building, and some times sent some smoke with the heat, this new furnace hag pipes running direct to each room and is so built that it will heat the building after the modem man ner. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Strader, is particularly pleased at the pros pect of being able bo do away with the assorted old stoves that had served their day so faith fully in the various church rooms. The congregation is happy for the new furnace and for the roof repairs that have been done, and also for the prospect of further improvements to the interior of the church building. Next Sunday probably will see one of the largest audiences at the Methodist church that has gathered there in many a month. Mr. Strader should find plenty of inspiration for his Sunday mom-1 ing sermon. Little Pine and Rich Hill will Have New Schools Plans for the construction of modern new school buildings at Little Pine and Rich Hill are now nearing completion, and work may way hr "the near future, L. M. Outchfieid, district WPA supervisor,. states. Buildings are to contain three rooms each and will be construct ed of face tile and brick. When completed, these build mgs will do away with old school buildings at Dividing Ridge, Hook er, Blevins Crossroads, Rich Hill and Litle Pine. The new schools are to be built in Glade Creek township. French Active In Indo-China And Japan Amazed From Saigon, French Indo China comes word that Franc bolstered her rndo-China militar establishment today with a boat load of naval, army and air fore from Dakar, Senegal West Africa. The officers — their number were not disclosed — landed a Tuesday from the 10, 086-ton French ship Bernardin d Saint Pierre. They had come fron Dakar by way of the French In dian Ocean island of Madagascai At the same time a spokesmai for the Japanese military missio] in Indo-China, Colonel T. Naka mura, declared Japan had no de sire for naval or military base m southern zones of the colonj but wanted only “rubber and ric rndo-China prosper. The spokesman also expresses polite bewilderment at “whom th Australians in Singapore are pre paring to fight” since, he saic Japan and Britain are “on th best of terms.” Britain recently reinforced de fense stations in Malaya, at the tip of which lies Singapore, with thousands of Australian troops. Tax Revision Bill Passes National House The House passed and sent to the Senate a bill designed to re lieve inequities of the 1940 ex cess profits tax law. The measure constitutes a se ries of amendments to last year’s revenue act. It was sponsored by Chairman Robert L. Doughton (D.), N. C„ of the ways and means committee. He said it would give “relieF’ to corpora tions which would have suffered undue hardships under the origin al law. The legislation was drafted by, tax experts of the committee and; the treasury. It is Resigned pri marily to adjust “abnormalities” of basic income on which the ex cess profits tax would be comput ed. The Foreign Invasion That Must Be Stopped Baptist Sunday School Conference Next Wednesday The Sparta Baptist church will hold a special Sunday School conference next Wednesday night beginning at 7r30 o’clock. This is one of 70 such meetings being held throughout -North Carolina with the aim of increasing Bap tist Sunday School attendance ten to fifteen per cent.' This meeting is promoted fcy the Sun day School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention with head quarters ip Nashville, Tenn., and a representative of that board is expected to be in attendance here, I as also a representative from the State Mission Board in Raleigh, j Also included on the program will i be the local pastor, Rev. V. W. Sears, the Moderator of the Alle ghany Association, A. O. Joines, and the Associational Sunday School Superintendent, Miss Ivy j Grace Doughton. The purpose o