North Carolina Newspapers

ALLEGHANY STARTIMES OVER HALF A CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF ALLEGHANY COUNTY 52nd. Year. - No. 33. Sparta, N. C. Thursday, April 10, 1941. 3 On The Edge of War Washington, D. C.—The United States Government has been mak ing history in recent weeks and the authority and rights of Presi dent Roosevelt have been settled by the acts of Congress. The President has declared that the United States will oppose the war aims of Germany, Japan and It aly, and that “we, the American people, are writing new history today,” and will carry on as the arsenal for democracy, and “when (not if)” the Dictators are defeated, “then our country must continue to play its great part in the period of world re construction.” Today, the United States is on the edge of war, and the appropriation of $7 bil lion is only the beginning of the cost of this tremendous under taking. . It seems proper that this Let ter should report to the leading local newspapers in all parts of the nation a few facts regarding the progress of national defense. The United States turned over to the British, in addition to the 60 over-age destroyers, up to January, 1941, 196 merchant ships, 900,000 rifles, 24,000 ma chine guns, 63,000 anti-craft ma chine guns, 230 tanks, 17 million pounds of T.N.T., and tremendous quantities of other materials. Ex cept for the destroyers, the Brit-' ish paid for everything in dollars. In our swift beginnings the United States has awarded $11, 600,000,000 of contracts for war materials in the past 9 months, and the first 80 per cent were placed with 62 groups of com panies, becausfe they were the only firms that could make quick deliveries in exceptional quanti ties. Automobile manufacturers, airplane companies, steel mills, shipbuilders, munition manufac turers, tool companies, lumber mills, mine owners, oil companies, rubber producers, and builders and contractors in a thousand fields, turned their operations from “business as usual” and cut loose for national defense. The Labor Division of the Na tional Defense Advisory Coinmis «■"" says thaK •wv-millien men and women Went back to work in 1940, and that nearly four million more of the country’s un employed will be absorbed in de fense endeavors. mere is always a lot oi loose talk during times of emergency like the present to the effect that intematnional bankers and the manufacturers are being favored by the Government. An equally fictitious alarm concerns the claim that the United States is parting with the machine of war and giv ing aways its ships, planes, and bombers to Great Britain. It is very important for the people to know that the Army, Navy, Air Corps, and civilian officials directing policies and creating speed and production, are solidly back of President Roosevelt’3 statement that the machines and implements of war “are not for storage but for active usage.” The spread of business in na tional defense is indicated by a Government report that shows how 600 firms in the Ohio river region were able to' turn manu facturing plants that were partly idle in 16 cities into full produc tion. In another instance three counties in the Shenandoah Val ley of Virginia pooled the facili ties of their manufacturing plants, which were 90 per cent idle, and landed enough sub-con tracts to give every worker in the region a job. Seven Government agencies are acting as a clearing house for schools, and other methods "in the fields of defense, labor sup ply and training." In addition to a nationwide Government em ployment service and vocational instruction in schools, there is "on-the-job” training to maintain a steady flow of competent labor. The War and Navy Depart ments have called for 160 new plants, or plant expansions, in all parts of the United States. Eco nomic aid to “ghost towns” for small businesses are provided in the Government plan of “farming out” defense orders among thous ands of smaller shops. Ship construction is at post war peak with 694 merchant ves sels now under construction or contract, including six vessels ordered by the British. The Federal Government de clared in the beginning that the underlying labor policy must be strong enough to maintain “the morale of our people” because that is a defense asset at least as vital and significant as guns, tanks and planes. •4 The National Defense Advisory Commission reports: “The Decem ber 1940 index of factory em ployment alone reached the high est point of any month in the preceding 21 years.” Ou r wo r Id... President Favors “Cooling” Before Striking Washington.—President Roosevelt yesterday in timated that he favors a “cooling off” period prior to labor stoppages in defense industries, and said the situation was tending toward the government goal. He would not say whether the delay should be volun tary on the part of labor and the employers, or whether it should be required by legislation. • • • President Pledges Aid To Yugoslavia Washington. — President Roosevelt pledged un remitting war aid to Yugoslavia and at the same time prepared to take over 89 Danish ships in a move to alleviate Great Britain’s shipping crisis. He re vealed at a press conference that he will ask Con gress for specific authority to purchase the Danish vessels which already are in “protective custody” of this government. He also said he has authority un der the existing limited national emergency to take over the 28 Italian and two German ships which were seized 10 days ago along with the Danish merchant men. • • • Mexico Also Seizes Axis Ships Mexico City.—Mexico flatly rejected requests of Italy and Germany for the immediate surrender of the 12 Axis merchant ships seized in Mexican ports. Mexico has decided to use the 12 Axis ships seized at Tampico and Vera Cruz for both coastwise and international trade. • • • Vice President Sees War Ahead New York.—Vice-President Henry A. Wallace warned aggressor nations they must realize that “the American people are ready to go to war if their rights are transgressed at any vital point.” These rights •include aiding the fighting democracies “to the limit with planes, ships, munitions and food” and maintain ing the status quo of the Western Hemisphere. Warn ing that “the Germans look on Latin America as their eventual happy hunting ground,” he said “we may be sure that as soon as they have the power they will so push us around politically and economically as to force us into war.” • • • Chairman Land Proposes Greater Aid Washington.—Chairman Emory S. Land of the maritime commission suggested last night that the United States consider aiding Britain in combatting the submarine menace “rather than by concentrating most of our efforts on feeding it with fuel” by supply ing more ships. We want to give the greatest and most effective assistance possible,” he said, “but we might well ask ourselves in our all-out aid to Britain if we could not give give greater help by aiding the British to put out the fire.” • • • Turkey In A Precarious Position Istanbul, Turkey.—Informed sources say that a “considerable quantity” of British war materials arriv ed in Turkey, recently and British quarters hint that the Turks might declare war soon. Any such decla ration was explained as designed to permit Britain to use Turkish soil, at least for air bases, and to en able the British to use the Dardanelles as a route to the Black Sea. If Turkey made possible such oper the Black Sea. Germans Press The Greeks Severely Athens.—Greek and British forces are falling back hastily under a smashing German drive down the Vardar valley to within about 23 miles of strategic Salonika after collapse of Yugoslav resistance on the Greek left flank, it was stated early today. Greece’s main army of the north fell back to form a new de fense line west of the Vardar, abandoning Salonika, while shock troops battled savagely to stem the fur ious assault of Nazi “panzer” forces around Kilkis, 23 miles north and slightly west of Salonika. • • • Britain Delivers Hundreds of Tons to Kiel _ London.—-The British announced last night their warplanes rained “the heaviest load of bombs ever dropped on Germany in a single night” in Monday night’s blow at Kiel, cradle of many of the submar ines ravaging the empires vital shipping lanes. “Hun dreds of tons of high explosives were rained on the German port and submarine building yards. • • • British Say Desert Not Worth Fighting For Rome.—The swift eastward push of Axis forces in North Africa beyond the reoccupied Libyan port of Derna overshadowed in miliary circles last night the Italian land operations in Yugoslavia. Axis occu pation of Tobruk, 100 miles east of Derna and only 75 miles from the Egyptian frontier, unofficially was reported to be imminent. Foreign military experts assumed that British General Sir Archibald P. Wavell had decided to abandon Eastern Libya and concen trate on the Balkans, counting on the intense heat of the waterless desert and rear-guard actions to keep Axis forces from penetrating far into Egypt. Mt. Zion Mt. Zion, April 7.—Dr. O. R. Black and son, Dr. Kyle Black, also Dr. Black’s son-in-law, Ralph Lynn, of Landis, were dinner guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Pugh on Sunday. Other guests were Mrs. T. E. Pugh and daughter, Logene. Mrs. Cleo McMillan and Bus ter Anderson, of Turkey Knob community, spent Sunday with Rev. and Mrs. R. L. Billings. Rev. S. G. Ferree filled his regular appointment at Mt. Zion on Sunday and he and Mrs. Ferree were dinner guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Pugh. Mrs. Z. L. Rutherford was tak en to the Wilkesboro hospital Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Hallie Douglas visited Mrs. Alice Douglas, of Piney Creek, on Sunday. Doris and Billy Jones, of New Hope, visited their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Black, on Sun day. Hoke Fender and Raymond Hill have returned home after | spending: some time at Holly Ridge. Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Edwards, of Topia, spent Sunday with Mrs. Edwards’ father, George Black. A number of young people from this community attended the roller skating at Piney Creek Saturday night. Ray Fields, of Greensboro, spent the week-end with relatives and friends here. Edison Fields, of Elkin, visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fields, Saturday night. Paul Fields is ill. Mr. and Mrs. Kilby Atwood and children, of Twin Oaks, spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Smith. Mrs. Flora Moxley' and daugh ter, Lorene, of Topia, spent Sun day with Mr. and Mrs. Lee Black. Mrs. T. E. Pugh, her daugh ter, Logene, Robert Blevins and Louise Perry made a business trip to Wbst Jefferson last week. I Oscar Evans, of Twin Oaks, I spent Sunday with Howard Smith. Educator. K. G. PHILLIPS New President of N. C. Education Association Following the 57th Annual [ Convention of the North Carolina i Education Association, held in i Asheville on April 3, 4 and 5, | Mr. K. G. Phillips took up the | reins as president of the Associ- j ation. He has been the vice-! president for some time, and is the active principal of the James A. Gray high school in Winston Salem. Presbyterian Auxiliary Met Monday Mrs. Page Thompson was host ess on Monday night to the wom en of the Presbyterian Auxiliary. An impressive devotional talk was given by Mrs. John Guerrant on the “Book of Esther.” Mrs. Clay Thompson had charge of the program, the topic being, “Christi|jh Schools and Col leges." The pastor, Rev. R. L. Berry, gave a talk on “Why the Christ ian College?” Others taking part on the program were, Mrs. Page Thompson, Mrs. R. L. Berry, Mrs. C. A. Thompson, and Mrs. Rush Thompson. Refreshments in keeping with the Easter season were served. Stratford Stratford, April 7. — Mrs. I B. Richardson, who has held a position in Bel Air, Md., for the last year, has returned to her home here. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Douglas and family, of Sparta, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mabe, of Galax, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Mabe and L. E. Edwards visited on Sunday in the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Mabe. Mr. and Mrs. G. O. Edwards and daughter, Edith, of Hills ville, spent Sunday at their farm here visiting Mr. and Mrs. Char les Reeves. Rex Hines and Franklin Hen drix, of the CCC camp, spent the week-end with homefolks here. Eddie Williams has returned from California. Bert Williams has gone north after a load of furniture for his store at Wadesboro. Mrs. Wil liams is spending this week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Coy i Collins, near Turkey Knob. Mrs. Myra Cutshall and son, Earl Semans, of Gordon, Nebr., who have been visiting friends and relatives here for the past month, started back home Wed nesday morning. Mrs. Cutshall will be remembered as Miss Myra Warden. Stratford, April 1.—Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ellison, of Cove Creek, N. C., spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Richardson, of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Mabe, Mr. and Mrs. Duroe Atwood and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kenny went to Ga lax Sunday to visit Mr. Kenney’s sister, who is very sick. Mrs. C. G. Fender is recover ing from an attack of flu. Several have been at work Marriages ANDREWS—CROUSE Elmer Andrews, of Sparta, and Miss Marie Crouy, were married on Saturday, March 22, by Elder S. G. Caudill. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Letcher Crouse, of Whitehead, and Mr. Andrews is the son of Mrs. E. A. Andrews, of Sparta. Battleship North Carolina . Begins Career The 35,000-ton battleship North Carolina, one of the mightiest naval vessels ever constructed, was turned over to the navy at colorful commissioning exercises at Brooklyn navy yard yesterday. Secretary of Navy Knox, fed eral, city and state officials of New York and North Carolina participated in a brief ceremony which made the $75,000,000 sea killer a “ship of the line.” The first capital ship commis sioned by the navy in 18 years, she will be for a month the larg est and most powerful unit in the fleet. The Washington, a sister ship launched at Philadelphia last June, will be commissioned in May. About 1,500 guests witnessed the traditional naval ceremony in the closely-guarded navy yard— now operating under full war time restrictions. Celebrities who attended beside Knox were Mayor F. H. LaGuar dia, of New York, Governor J. M. Broughton of North Carolina, and Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews, commandant of the third naval district and of the north Atlantic naval coastal frontier. Miss Isabel Young Hoey, daughter of North Carolina’s former governor, was sponsor. Presbyterians Organize New Sunday School Rev. Mr. Berry announces something really new for next Sunday at 9:45 o’clock when the Presbyterian church will inaugu rate its new Sunday School organ ization under the direction of G. Glenn Nichols as Superintendent. Alton Thompson is Secretary and Treasurer; Rev. C. W. Ervin, Bible teacher at Glade Valley School, will teach the adult class; Miss Lillie Ervin will conduct a young ladies class; Mr. Higgins, of Sparta High School, will teach a class of boys; and Mrs. C. A. Thompson and Mrs. Berry will take the classes of beginners. All those not actively connect ed with some other Sunday School are invited to come. Revival Services At New Haven, Church Rev. Fred Dancy, of Boone, is conducting a revival at New Haven church this week, which will run through Sunday morn ing, to be followed on Sunday night by a special Easter pro gram by the young people of the church. Sunday Fishing To Be Legal On Easter Because the official opening of the legal fishing season comes on Monday, April 14, which is only the next day after Easter Sunday, the local Game Warden, Dick Gentry, has been notified that this year the matter will be stretched a day so that those who wish to fish on Easter Sun day will not run the risk of civil prosecution. clearing the cemetery at Shiloh church. R. F. Atwood has had a ser ious attack of fever and pleurisy. J. M. Estep is very sick at this time. Mrs. F. M. Cheek and Mrs. A. O. Joines, of Sparta, recently paid a short visit to Mrs. Gart ney. Misses Imogene and Alma Ruth Richardson, from Phiffer college, are spending the Easter holidays at home. Miss Mollie Hampton and bro ther Bertie Lee, are slowly re covering from pneumonia. Mrs. C. M. Sanders is at the bedside of her mother, who is very sick, and asks that news be sent in to her on Mondays as she cannot get out to gather it. The dismal history of Prohi bition shows that when a man wants a drink, he is going to get it And a bootlegger will be there to provide it if the legitimate sources are closed.— Charlottesville, Va., Progress. Most Popular . . HAZEL RICHARDSON Superlatives Are Awarded By Senior Class i As a friendly school compan-1 ion, and after serving as treasur- , er of the class, Hazel Richardson j was accorded the honor of be ing voted the Most Popular girl 1 in the Senior class of Sparta | high school. The annual fun of voting on and awarding the superlatives of various kinds to the members of the Senior class brought forth these results. The honor of be ing the Most Popular boy was voted to Arza Richardson, who also drew the honor of being Best All-around boy. Gretchen Duncan was the Best All-around on the girls’ side. She also drew the votes for being Most Friend ly, while Jimmy Atwood was Most Friendly boy and also Most At tractive as well as Best Dressed. Among the girls the Most At tractive was Vanalene Edwards, and the Best Dressed was Mil dred Wagoner who was also vot ed the Cutest and the one hav ing the Best School Spirit. For the boys Eugene Shaw was voted as having the Best School j Spirit and also being Most Stud ious. The Most Studious girl was Mattie Lee Rector. And Sarah Warren waa counted the Wittiest girl, while Jones An drews was named as Wittiest boy. The Most Athletic girl was Anita Duncan, and the Most Athletic boy was Page Barre. Most-Likely-to-Succeed boy was David Easterling, and all the girls are expected to succeed. And then there is one more superlative that seems like a real tribute; Margaret Sexton was voted the Most Loyal to Home, and among all the boys Bayne Caudill took similar honor as Most Loyal to Home. The class of 58 is the largest in the history of the school, and j it has 21 boys and 37 girls. Total enrollment for the year has been , 801, which is also a record. ] W. M. S. Will Meet Next Wednesday The April meeting of Circle No. 1 of the Baptist W. M. S. will meet on Wednesday of next week, the 16th, at 2:30 o’clock at the home of Mrs. A. O. Joines. The program leader is Mrs. Amos Wagoner. A full attendance is expected. Lucille Ford Circle Will Meet Tuesday The Lucille Ford circle of the Baptist W. M. U. will meet on Tuesday night, April 15, at 7:30j p. m., with Mrs. Bruce Wagoner, at her home in Glade Valley. Mrs. Hugh Choate will be the program leader. The topic for the month is “An Urgent Gospel—Challenge to True Discipleship.” Births k.a Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Halsey an nounce the birth of a son on Saturday, April 5, at the Baptist hospital in Winston-Salem. A fellow has to be a con tortionist to live these days. First, he has to keep his back to the wall and his ear to the ground. Then he must put his shoulder to the wheel, his nose to the grindstone, keep a level head and have both feet on the ground.—New York Times. Mr. and Mrs. Cheek Leave Sparta For Colorado Attorney and Mrs. George W. Cheek left Sparta on Tuesday morning at 10:30 by bus for Colorado. And while they plan to come back some day to visit, yet to all intent and purpose they have torn up and are moving to Colorado to be near their daugh ters and grand children. They have been so active in Sparta and Alleghany county for so long, and have made such a wide circle of friends, that their going will be a very distinct and sad Joss to the community. For many many years Mr. Cheek has been United States Commissioner in Sparta. At the August annual meeting of the Bar Association of the 11th Judicial District, which comprises Ashe, Alleghany and Forsyth counties, Mr. Cheek was chosen president. As deacon in the Presbyterian church his place will not be filled easily. As a patient and kindly attor ney his services will be sadly missed by many who depended on his judgment and counsel. Very many have been the earnest expressions of regret that such as Mr. and Mrs. Cheek are leaving our midst. A thousand and more good wishes go with them. Their address will be 2210 Euclid Avenue, Boulder, Colo rado. High School Closing Exercises April 25 to 21 The Baccalaureate Sermon for the Senior Class of Sparta High School will be delivered by Rev. V. W. Sears of the Baptist church in the School auditorium at 11 o’clock on Sunday, April 27. On Saturday, April 26, at 10:30 o’clock, in the auditorium* Dr. D. J. Whitener of Appala chian State Teachers College at Boone will deliver a Literary ad dress to the Graduating Class in connection with the graduation exercises. On Friday, April 25, at 1:30 o’clock in the auditorium there will be held the Speaking Con tests and the Presentation of 7th grade promotion cerifictates and the certificates for perfect at tendance. The Speaking Contest has listed three Recitations, three Declamation, and four speakers in the Debate. This year the Sparta High School has seen the largest en rollment ever—402 boys and 399 girls, the first time the school has reached 800. And the Senior class of 68 is the largest Senior class in the history of the school, according to Prof. C. R. Roe, principal. a.a Next Sunday | At The Churches | ii. iti Easter Sunday, April 13 Special Easter services at Spar ta Presbyterian church at 11 o’clock, with special music by the faculty and student body of Glade Valley school, with sermon by Rev. Mr. Berry. Easter service at Rocky Ridge church at 3:30 o’clock, following Sunday school at 2:30. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Berry. Easter Service at Sparta Bap tist church at 11 o’clock, with Rev. Mr. Sears preaching on the theme, “Not a dead, but a living Christ.” At Belleview church Rev. G. R. Blackburn will preach Satur day night and Sunday. ■■.ijji At Little Pine church an Eas ter program by the young peo ple at 2 o’clock. At New Haven church in the morning Rev. Fred Dancy will preach, and at 7:80 an Easter program by the young people.