Ad in Boone Newspaper Encourages Folks to Make New Home on North Pacific Coast, 1914

Advertisement in the March 26, 1914 issue of The Watauga Democrat, Boone

Come up into the Northern Pacific Country.

This northern tier of states offers a healthful and invigorating climate; the best crop records and, in all respects, the best opportunities in the west.

Low One Way Colonist Tickets on sale daily March 15 to April 15 to many points in the Northwest.

Round Trip Homeseekers Fares first and third Tuesdays.

One Way Settlers Fares, St. Paul, Minneapolis

$16 to many Eastern Montana points every Tuesday, March 10-April 18.

Daily trains from Chicago, St. Paul-Minneapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha to the North Pacific Coast and Puget Sound Country

Write for literature:
S.M. McEwen, T.I.A.

St. Lawrence Hotel

Bristol, Tenn.

Negro Farm Families in Nash County Win State Honors, 1956

“Nash County Receives Award for Progress Among Negroes” in the March 1956 issue of Extension Farm-News

HONORS AND CASH went to Nash County recently when it was named by a state committee as the county in North Carolina making the most progress among Negro farm families. William Poe, associate editor of Progressive Farmer, turns over a check for $500 to Dr. W.T. Gibbs, acting president of A.&T. College, Greensboro.

Nash County recently received an award as the county in North Carolina making the most progress among Negro farm families. The award is presented annually by Dr. Clarence Poe, editor of Progressive Farmer magazine.

William Poe, associate editor of Progressive Farmer and son of Dr. Poe, presented the winner’s check for $500 at an awards banquet in Nashville Negro High School on February 28.

Nash County won out over Pender, Wayne, Bertie, and Franklin counties in the finals of the contest in which 66 counties participated last year. The State Board of Agricultural Agencies and Organizations help determine the progress of the counties involved each year.

Scoring was done on the basis of desirable adjustments in agriculture; improvements in homemaking and family living; community improvements; opportunities for rural youth; and cooperation of all agencies, groups and individuals.

State and General News from the Boone Paper, March 26, 1914

“State and General News” From the March 26, 1914 issue of The Watauga Democrat, Boone

The commissioners of Guilford County have decided to establish a school for wayward boys.

Uncle Sam now has on duty along the Mexican border 18,000 soldiers of the regular army.

V.J. McArthur, postmaster at Clinton, died last week, aged 69 years He was a Confederate veteran.

It is given out that since last September 33 divorces have been granted in Guilford County alone.

The Scout says that during the month of February there were more than $10,000 worth of chickens and eggs shipped out of Alexander County.

Alex F. Santos, who was in charge of the Confederate States mint during the Civil War, died in Norfolk, Va., on the 18^th at the age of 85 years.

The Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina is holding its 24^th annual meeting this week in the first Baptist Church in Henderson.

Senator Simmons, who has been unwell for some time, is at his home in New Bern to recuperate. His wife and confidential secretary are with him.

Collector Keith of the port of Wilmington has resigned, his resignation to be effective May 1. Democrats for some time have been anxious to see his place filled by a Democrat.

The veneer plant at Taylorsville, owned by Connelly & Teague, was destroyed by fire recently. This is the company’s fourth fire and each time the loss was very heavy.

Clarence O. Sherrill, son of the State Librarian Miles O. Sherrill, has been promoted from the rank of captain to major in the engineering corps of the United States Army.

A movement is on foot in New Bern to secure funds with which to place a bust of William Gaston, the author of “The Old North State,” in the new administration building at Raleigh.

Mrs. Squires, wife of Major Mark Squires of Lenoir, died on the 16^th after a short illness. Beside her husband, she leaves two little boys, a father and mother and several brothers and sisters to mourn their loss.

It is stated that in Winston-Salem there are 2,700 children in the city limits unable to get into the schools, which are already over-crowded, and bonds to the amount of $150,000 will probably be voted for new school buildings.

There will, it is announced, be another White House wedding in June, when Miss Eleanor Randolph Wilson will be married to Secretary McAdoo, the head of the Treasury Department. Miss Wilson is the youngest of the President’s daughters, and is 24 years old, while Mr. McAdoo is 50 years old and a widower with six children, two of whom are married.

Cotton Merchants of Wilmington Street, Raleigh, 1913

Buying cotton on Wilmington Street, Raleigh, around 1913. This photo from the State Archives is part of today's post at Goodnight Raleigh. For more wonderful photos, check it out: http://goodnightraleigh.com/2014/03/wilmington-street-showing-cotton-merchants-raleigh-n-c/

Civilian Conservation Corps Address to First Class Completing Its Six Months of Service, 1934

When the Civilian Conservation Corps was begun in 1933 by Congress, North Carolina was allowed to place 6,500 unemployed young men, who would be trained at Fort Bragg. The requirement were that the men be fit, unmarried, unemployed and between the ages of 18 and 25. They had to be citizens and have dependents to whom they would allot a substantial portion of their $20 per month cash allowance. In the 1930s, dependents did not mean wife and children. It meant mothers, fathers, and brothers and sisters still living at home. The state selected the men.

“The young unmarried men are being selected partly because of the type of work and camp life involved, and partly because young unmarried men have had the great difficulty in recent years in securing either work or relief. Some of them never have had a chance to hold down a job since they left school. The work is reserved for those men who have dependents and want to help them, rather than for unattached, homeless transients because the money can be used more productively if it benefits whole families rather than individuals.

“Married men are not being selected unless resident in the vicinity of the forest camp, because it is believe it would be less fitting to separate married men from their families for a six-month period on the basis of a cash allowance of $30 per month, which is all that can, at present be paid for the work. Expansion of other public works, however, is a prospect reserved for such married men.

“There is no discrimination being made in the selecting of the young men for the work except that no person ‘under conviction for crime or serving a sentence shall be employed.’”

Here is Robert Fechner’s address to the first class of young men leaving after 6 months of service with the Civilian Conservation Corps, March 24, 1934. Fechner was director of Emergency Conservation Work. North Carolina had 6,500 men in the C.C.C. Some chose to leave after their six-month enlistment was up, and others chose to re-enlist for a second six months.

This week will be the last time which many thousands of you men now in the Civilian Conservation Corps will spend in Emergency Conservation Work. For the past six months or longer you have been a part of one of the most important projects ever attempted by any government. I congratulate you for having had the opportunity of such an experience. I congratulate you for the manner in which you performed your task.

Many of you came onto the job knowing little about work, less about natural conservation, and not very much about human relations. During the months which you have lived in the C.C.C. camps you have been brought into contact with many things new to you. You have come to learn much about trees and forests and the enormous part they play in the economic life of all of us.

Some of you have labored at the job of fighting diseases which kill trees. Others of you have worked in the fields checking soil erosion, a condition brought about by the absence of trees. Nearly all of you have fought your share of forest fires or you have done that precautionary work to check or reduce the hazards of such fires.

But, in addition to your work, you have lived healthy, out-of-doors lives in camp. You have lived closely with other men. You have been, many of you for the first time, on your own, so to speak. You have been brought under the influence of a measure of discipline.

Few of you have gone through this great experience without learning many things. You have learned what it is to work—to do hard labor with your hands—building trails and fire lanes, cutting and planting trees, building dams and almost countless other forms of conservation work. You have learned much about nature; its beauty and its economy. You have gained an understanding of the necessity for conserving our forest lands and reclaiming thousands of acres which each year is ruined through soil erosion.

In your life in camp you have learned the benefits of a healthy body. Through your associations in camp you have learned something about how to “get along” with other men—that it’s a give-and-take proposition. By your contact with Army officers and forestry officials you have learned to stand up under discipline—a valuable thing to learn early in life.

And as you leave the C.C.C. and go back to your life in the cities and towns, to other jobs and other interests, I should be happy if you would take these things with you. You will find them of untold value, to yourself in your personal life, to the work in which you devote the rest of your years and to the nation of which you form a part quite as much as you did of the Civilian Conservation Corps. You will look back upon the time you spent in the C.C.C. as a great adventure—a great teacher. It has been just that. That is why I congratulate you.

And it is because of this very thing—to give as many young men as possible an opportunity to gain the advantages of Emergency Conservation Work, that the President has directed that service in the C.C.C. be limited to one year. He saw the possibilities for both the forests and the young men of the country in this gigantic emergency work. It was one of the first steps toward economic recovery he took after entering office. I know that he is pleased with the success which h so far has attended this endeavor and that he is proud of you men who have made it possible. It is through the spirit manifest by such men as you that a national survives and progresses.

I know you will go back to your homes sounder in body and happier in mind. May you continue so always—and good luck to you.

Help Preserve History with the Friends of Oberlin Cemetery This Weekend, Raleigh

“The Friends of Oberlin Cemetery Need Your Help” from http://goodnightraleigh.com/2014/03/the-friends-of-oberlin-cemetery-need-your-help/

The Friends are sponsoring an Oberlin Cemetery Community Clean Up this Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon at the site, which is located at 1014 Oberlin Road. Volunteers are asked to come dressed for yard work and debris removal.

Oberlin Cemetery  was designated a Raleigh Historic Landmark in 2013. Located in the heart of modern day Cameron Village, it is the burial place of many of Raleigh’s most prominent African American citizens. More than 600 graves are believed to be located there, many of which are still marked by gravestones and ornate markers.

Established in 1873, Oberlin Cemetery served as the final resting place for doctors, lawyers, artisans, teachers, and ministers, as well as everyday folk. Walking through the grounds is like turning the pages of Raleigh’s history.

The Friends of Oberlin Cemetery, a nonprofit community organization, is committed to preserving the cemetery grounds. Twice a year the group sponsors a volunteer-based clean up in order to keep the grounds from being overgrown with brush and cluttered with debris.

The Friends of Oberlin recognize that if this cemetery is not preserved, a significant segment of Raleigh’s African American history will be lost forever. This is the goal that motivates their continued effort to protect these grounds. The Friends also plan on sponsoring thermal scanning to identify and quantify each grave on the site.

Muscle power, as well as monetary donations, are gratefully accepted to assist in this important preservation effort.

For more information on the Oberlin Cemetery Community Clean Up and Friends of Oberlin Cemetery, please contact Sabrina Goode at 336.416.1895 or via e-mail at sabrinabgoode@gmail.com.

N.C. Farmers Need to Increase Size of Dairy Herds, 1956

GRASS-ROOTS CONFERENCE—Participants got down to the cow’s level at the N.C. Dairymen’s Conference, which was held at State College. Left to right are Dr. Ray Murley, State College animal industry scientist; S.J. Hassell, Roper; and J.L. Knowles, Plymouth. Approximately 400 persons attended the meeting.

“Trend to Large Cow Herd Cited” in the March, 1956, issue of Extension Farm-News

A tremendous increase in the capital investment needed to operate dairy enterprises is contributing to a trend toward larger herds and larger farms.

Dr. J.W. Pou, head of the animal industry department at N.C. State College, pointed this out in a speech before the North Carolina Dairymen’s Conference. The conference, held at State College, was attended by 400 persons.

Speaking on the future of dairying in the state, Pou said there is still room for growth, and the need for sound management is increasing.

‘Grade A production is one of the best farming opportunities for the years immediately ahead…. We will experience some continued growth, but it will be slower than in the past few years.”

Pou warned speculators against rushing into the business, despite a favorable outlook. Most of the growth potential lies in established herds, largely because of the sizeable investment required to start a dairy operation.

“It costs about $1,200 per cow to start a dairy herd in North Carolina,” Pou said. “It isn’t a business to rush in and out of.”

Pou reported that capital investment in North Carolina dairy herds is up 300 percent from the pre-World War II years. “Depreciation on dairy farm equipment is 97 percent more now than it was just seven years ago.”

Pou calculated that dairymen whose herds are smaller than 25 cows will find it will pay them to expand (on a sound basis) because of their large capital investment. He said that dairymen will also find it more profitable to rent land for feed production than to buy hay.

An increase in consumption of milk and a favorable feed-cost outlook (this year) helped paint a bright forecast for North Carolina dairymen. Pou said that North Carolina milk consumption last year increased 8 percent; production was up 3 percent. Based on dietary needs, the state could still increase its milk consumption, he said.

Guilford Girl Wins Top Honors in Dairy Production, 1955

“Guilford Girl Wins Dairy Production Record Contest” in the March, 1956, issue of Extension Farm-News

A Guilford County 4-H girl won the 4-H Dairy Production Project for 1955.

Miss Betty Boswell of McLeansville, Route 1, is the first place winner of the project which was based on milk production records kept throughout the year. She will receive a $50 bond.

Other winners are Jerry Willis of Lawndale, Route 1, Cleveland County, second place winner; Peggy Ann Carroll of Arden, Route 1, Buncombe County, third place; Bill Summey of Dallas, Gaston County, fourth place; and Darwin Allen of Mocksville, Route 3, Davie County, fifth place.

Ward Snarr Home, Chatham County, 1956

MODERN FARM LIVING seems to be epitomized in this striking farm scene photographed by Ralph Mills, photographer for the visual aids section. The rural home pictured is the Ward Snarr home located between Pittsboro and Raleigh in Chatham County. Snarr, one of the state's progressive farmers, is a dairyman and poultryman.

This photo was published in the March 1956 issue of Extension Farm-News, published by N.C. State College in Raleigh, which is now N.C. State University.

Boone Newspaper Encourages Continuing Support of Schools, 1914

“The Local School Tax” from the Feb. 12, 1914 issue of the Watauga Democrat

We are going to say publically now what we have often said privately, and that is, Boone and our community is one of the best neighborhoods to be found. There is less friction here than any place we know. We, as a people, sometimes go wrong, but never when we know our bearings; when our people find themselves wrong.

Two years ago we voted a tax with which to build a school house. Not one spent a cent otherwise on this building. Now that the house is built, and a debt of $500 is on the district, can we afford to vote out the tax entirely and greatly injury our school? Can we afford to take a backward step along educational lines in this Athens of the mountains? Surely not.

It is safe to say that many thoughtful people, seeing the situation as it is, are changing their minds. There is no criticism upon those who signed a petition for an election, for the most of us did that. Having signed the petition is no reason for any one voting against the tax, when he sees now that the tax should be retained. My good friend, stop, think, before voting, as this is a question of the greatest moment to our people just now, and upon your decision rests largely the success or failure of the public school in Boone for possibly many years to come.

Children Turn Out Better When They're Raised in the Country, 1914

Published in the Jackson County Journal, the Raleigh News & Observer, and the Watauga Democrat, February 1914

Prof. Charles H. Utley, formerly of Wake County but now superintendent of the graded school at Webster in Jackson County, writes for the Jackson County Journal an article on “The Country Schools” that deserves to be widely read:

Every one who has given the subject any thought has noticed that the great men in the city are usually those who come from the country. It is also true that the rugged characters who go to the city and find conditions there plastic under the touch of their personality generally leave children who are by no means the caliber of their father, indicating that the city is not the place to develop the sterner virtues.

So for the sake of the city in which the country boy is to play such an important part the country boy needs good educational facilities. But Prof. Utley makes the plea for better educational facilities for the country boy, to the end that he may do more for the country. He would have the educated country boy stay at home instead of rushing off to the city.

Prof. Utley finds in the efficient country school the solution of the problem of the drift to the city. He well says that the efficiency of the country school in the future will largely determine the joy of living in the country. This is recognizing an essential fact in connection with the problem of keeping country boys in the country. Living in the country must be made more pleasant than it has been heretofore.

Answering the question as to how the country school will do what he says he can do Prof. Utley says the country school must teach the natives how to live and how to get a living. It is well known that homes in the country are not as attractive as they might be and that the comforts of life are not as plentifully provided in the rural districts as they are in the city.

The well-equipped country school will meet these needs from two directions. It will spread the refining influences which tend to make for happiness in the home and it will produce the efficiency which transmutes itself into the wealth which makes the comforts of life possible. “The future,” says Prof. Utley, “holds out many flattering promises to the intelligent, progressive young people who are educated along the lines of industrial science.”

There is no doubt at all about the strategic part which the country school will hold in the solution of the problem supporting the teeming millions of the land. Greater production is clearly seen to be one of the crying needs of the day. The country school, teaching among other things the branches that will tend to enthusiasm and success in farming, can accomplish wonders towards bringing lagging supply within reach of hurrying demand.

Johnson County Farm Families Speak Up, 1956

From the March 1956 issue of Extension Farm-News

NOT A BIT BASHFUL are these Johnston County farm families who took part in a panel discussion of “What the Farmer Wants” at the Farm Press, Radio and Television institute. Johnston County Agent John Piland (far left) led the panel in the discussion which proved to be one of the more popular parts of the program. Left to right are Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Smith, who engage in part-time farming; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cross, general farming; Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Gregory, who rent land for farming; and Mr. and Mrs. Chester Barber Jr., who operate a dairy. 

Give Women a Husband and Home Instead of the Vote, 1914

As published in The Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Va., Sunday, March 22, 1914

Husband Instead of Vote

Candidate for Congress Announces Antisuffragist Plan

Special to the Times-Dispatch

Washington, March 21—John Basil Barnhill, Democratic candidate for Congressman at large from Illinois, as an antisuffragist, announced here today his platform “A husband and a home for every woman.”

“Woman undoubtedly has a grievance,” said Mr. Barnhill, “but man has the same grievance. Double the wages of the men and you have solved both grievances, for then practically every woman can leave industry and take care of a home. I believe that nine-tenths of the women would rather have a home and a husband than to have the vote.”

Mr. Barnhill says he has received threats from suffragists if he persists in his candidacy for election to Congress.

'North Carolina News' From the Charlotte Democrat, March 29, 1895

“North Carolina News” from the Charlotte Democrat, Charlotte, N.C., published Friday, March 29, 1895

Kinston’s misfortunes continue. Another incendiary fire there Monday night burned the jail and a stable. The loss is about $10,000.

New Lutheran Pastor—Rev. J.E. Rudisill of Henry, N.C., has been elected to the pastorate of the Lutheran Chapel congregation to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Rev. Dr. S.S. Rahn. The new pastor will hold services with his church on the fifth Sunday of this month.—Gastonia Gazette

The Bentonsville monument near Goldsboro, erected by the Goldsboro Rifles, was unveiled Wednesday with beautiful, impressive and appropriate ceremonies. General Wade Hampton delivered a grand address. The monument was unveiled by 13 young ladies in military uniforms, representing the South, who acted as an especial escort of honor to Gen’l Hampton.

Mr. H. Miller of White Plains, S.C., was in Monroe last Tuesday and reported a most distressing accident which took place near White Plains on Wednesday of last week. Four boys went out in the woods to burn a coal kiln and, to keep the rain off, made a shelter of rails and covered it with pine straw and dirt. As it continued to rain the improvised shelter gave away under the weight and fell on the boys. Three of them escaped but one little fellow named Williams was instantly killed. There was a fire under the shelter and the rails and pine straw caught on fire and the body of the unfortunate boy was severely burned before it could be gotten away from the flames.—Monroe Enquirer

A Sad Accident—Last Saturday the five and a half year old daughter of Mr. Wesley Funderburk, who lives near Tradesville, S.C., happened to a most unfortunate accident which resulted in immediate death. She asked her father for his knife, which was very sharp. She took the knife and went into the yard. When a short distance from the house she fell down, and rising up ran to her father saying that she had cut her throat. What was his horror to see the blood streaming from her neck cannot be imagined.  He carried her in the house where she died in less than 15 minutes. The jugular vein was cut and death resulted from loss of blood.

Last Wednesday a little daughter of Mr. Marshall Perry of Ames sucked some parched corn into its windpipe and lungs and died at 11 o’clock that night.—Monroe Journal

A Presentiment of Death—When an aged couple have lived together happily for half a century, the life of one sometimes ends soon after the death of the other, but with those in the prime of life this rarely happens.

A.J. Caudle, a clever carpenter at Gaffney, lost one year ago his beloved partner and after her death he appeared gloomy and said he had a presentiment that he would soon follow her to the grave. Yet he was in robust health all the time until three days before his death last week at Gaffney, S.C. After a few days illness, he died on the anniversary of his wife’s death. Thus in one year husband and wife rested peacefully by the side of each other in the grave and his presentiment more than disease hastened his death last week.---Shelby Aurora

As a rule it is much worse for a man to be left with several children than for a woman to be so afflicted, but an exception to the rule happened not many miles from Reidsville a few years ago. A farmer was left with two small children by the death of his wife, but he did not break up. He kept them at home, and did the cooking and washing until they got large enough to help him; and he raised them smart, too. In an adjoining county a crowd of children were bereaved of their parents, but they held together, the oldest, a mere lad, taking the place of father and mother; and they grew up with the respect and confidence of all who knew them. All of them have done well. How true is the old saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”—Webster’s Weekly

Some Union County Money—We were given by Mr. E.C. Williams a specimen of Union County currency. Its face says “Monroe, N.C., March 1^st 1863, Receivable in payment of Taxes for county dues to the amount of 25 cents. For the Relief of soldiers’ families.” It is signed by Maj. D.A. Covington, chairman of the county court, and J.E. Irby, clerk. On the back is stamped in large red letters “Twenty five cents”. This money was issued by the county to soldiers’ families who were destitute and thus got into circulation—Monroe Journal

Working Day and Night—The monazite miners are getting exceedingly industrious here of late. They are now working day and night. The rich mine that was recently purchased by Mr. Julius Phifer from Mr. E.C. White at $500 per acre is being worked day and night. Mr. Phifer works during the day with about 20 hands and Mr. White works at night with about the same number. The reason for this is the lack of water. The mine is some distance from the branch and as the stream is small it doesn’t furnish enough water to work all during the day. This is one of the finest mines in the county.—Shelby Star

The Difference in the System

A farmer of this community recently gave the Democrat his experience in cotton raising. He said several years ago when he was getting 8 and 10 cents for cotton he bought some land. He did not raise his home supplied, but raised cotton almost entirely and bought his supplies. But every year he found that it took about all he could make to pay for his supplies, and so could pay nothing on his land. He changed his tactics and commenced raising his own supplies at home, and though the price of cotton declined steadily, he was able to make payments on his land. With corn in his crib and meat in his smoke house and lard in his pantry he could save money. He said finally cotton fell to 4 ½ cents, the price for which he sold his last crop, but with his home supplies he still made payment on his land and nearly paid out last year.

The good man said that he saved much more money to pay on his land when he made his home supplies and sold his cotton at 4 and 5 cents than when he bought his home supplies and sold his cotton for 8 and 10 cents.—Scotland Neck Democrat

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Watauga and State News, 1914

State and General News from the Watauga Democrat, Feb. 12, 1914

The burning of a steam laundry at Durham entailed a loss of $10,000.

Henry M. Pindell of Illinois, who was recently appointed Ambassador to Russia and the appointment confirmed, has declined to accept.

We learn from an exchange that there are now about 900 students in all departments of the University and that all are North Carolinians save 49.

Mr. M.M. Culp of Mooresville, who for 30 years was an inmate of the State Hospital in Morganton, died suddenly a few days ago at the age of 75. He entered the institution from Raleigh when it first opened.

We are sorry to learn from the Advocate of the serious illness of the children of Rev. J.H. Green at Leicester. Mr. Green has many friends here, where his mother resides.

The Howie gold mines near Waxhaw is producing a satisfactory amount of gold and the plant is to be improved at a cost of about $250,000, says the Lexington Dispatch.

The Methodist Church in Troy, N.C., was recently destroyed by fire. It caught from an old school building, in which the graded school was being taught, the new school building not yet being completed.

The dormitory of the Elhanan orphanage near Marion was destroyed by fire on the first. It was a two-story frame building and the fire is supposed to have started from a stove flue or lamp. The loss is from $8,000 to $10,000.

With only his night clothes on, a man who in lucid moments says that his name is Gillis and that he came from North Carolina, was found wandering in Mason County, West Va., and placed in an insane asylum at Huntington in that State.

Mrs. Kluttz, wife of Mr. Whitehead Kluttz, Secretary of the Canadian Boundary Commission, died on the third in a Salisbury hospital. She would not have been married three years until April 2. She was a daughter of Rev. J.A. Lynn, a prominent Durham minister, and was herself a devoted member of the Lutheran Church. She leave a little daughter less than two years old.

Mrs. A.E. Pease died in Asheville on the 28^th at the age of 91 years. She was a native of New York and came to this State soon after the Civil War. She was the founder of the Normal and Industrial College in Asheville where many a poor girl has been educated.

Prof. C.C. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instructions in the county of Wilkes, and who now represents the 7^th Congressional District on the State Board of Agriculture, is a candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture to succeed the Hon. W.A. Graham of Lincoln.

Augustus Koopman, painter and etcher, died in Franceon the 31^st after an illness of several months due to paralysis. Mr. Koopman was born in Charlotte, N.C., in 1869, and left this state in boyhood. He was in the city of his birth last year, the first time in 30 years. He was a very celebrated artist.

From the Times-Mercury we learn that in West Hickory there is a young man 18 years old who is afflicted with fits as a result of the excessive use of cigarettes. He had several fits in church recently and it is said that when he has one, two or three men are required to hold him. He will probably be taken to the hospital in Morganton for treatment.

P.P. Claxton, Commissioner of the United States Bureau of Education, approves a plan by which he says, two million children might be enlisted in vocational work. He says the practice of closing public schools in Summer is “primitive and preposterous,” and that the most “important problem of the day is to keep city boys from the three months contamination in the streets.”

Investigation disclosed that the baby whose dead body was recently found in a mill pond near Spartanburg, S.C., was the child of Miss Fleta Pendleton of Durham, N.C. She is only 19 years old, a daughter of a shoe salesman. The father of the child is Clyde C. Clement, aged 23 of Sandy Springs. S.C. They had both been in school in Spartanburg. When arrested the girl confessed. She said the babe was born in Charlotte; Clement promised to marry her if she would dispose of the child and she tried to give it away. Failing in that, they dropped it into the pond. The father was arrested at Charleston, S.C., preparing to leave for San Francisco.

Mrs. Dolle Johnson Norris

Resting In Peace

Mrs. Dolle Johnson Norris was born Dec. 19^th 1889 and was happily married to Edgar Norris March 6^th 1910 (who preceded her to the better land, some three years ago) died at the home of her father Mr. J.B. Johnson in West Hickory Jan. 18^th 1914.

The life of a dear girl, wife, and mother is enclosed within the above dates, covering a period of 24 years and 19 days. Her happy childhood was spent in the mountains of Watauga County and her life was as pure and spotless as the untrodden snow that crowned the lofty summits of these grand old sentinels that lifted their giant forms around her childhood home. Always gentle and kind, she was loved by all who knew her, and those who knew her best, loved her most, and prized her noble characteristics of mind and heart. Her care was always for others. Self came last. This writer has known her form childhood, and she would set aside all fulsome praise and speak of her now, as she often did in life, as one of the dearest, best girls she had ever known. She smiled her way through life and met the King of Terrors without a complaint or murmur and smiled at his uplifted dart, for she was ready. She had no fears, but breathed her life out on the bosom of Him who had gone to prepare a place for her. 

Her pastor, Rev. W.N. Cook, not many hours before she died asked her if she took any nourishment. She rallied all her strength and whispered, “Yes, I am living on the 14^th chapter of St. John.” What faith was this? While far out in Death’s cold waters “unseen fingers” pointed at those comforting words of the Master. In my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. Such faith as this can “foot it over mountains and wade thro’ the deep dark waters of affliction. It can grasp the arm of the Eternal, and wade out into the deep billows of Jordan, without a fear or struggle. 

All that fond parents brothers and sisters could do was done, through weary months of suffering but human aid could do nothing. Her last words were “kiss me Mamma, and leave,” and then without another struggle the faithful woman thoughtful of others to the last was in the house of many mansions.

Great sympathy is felt for the bereaved family, especially for the baby boy too young to realize his loss. “May God temper the wind to the shorn lamb” and guide the tiny passenger safely over life’s turbulent sea and finally land him on the shores of everlasting peach.

                                A FRIEND

Hickory, N.C.

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'North Carolina News' March 1, 1895

“North Carolina News” from the Charlotte Democrat, Charlotte, N.C., published Friday, March 1, 1895

Mr. William Parker, Lanes Creek township, has a calf 18 months and 15 days old which weighs 656 pounds gross. The calf is just a common cow, no fine blood coursing through its veins, Mr. Parker wants to know who owns a larger calf, age considered.—Monroe Enquirer

Some interesting money is shown by Mr. L.L. Jenkins. It is the fractional paper currency of a quarter of a century and more ago. Some of it he has had in his possession 22 years. There is about $10 of it in 5, 10, 15, 25, and 50-cent bills. It looks like what we used to see other people have in old times.—Gastonia Gazette

On last Tuesday Mr. T.M. Brown of this place undertook to separate two game cocks that were fighting. One of the fowls made an attack upon Mr. Brown and stuck a spur into one of his legs twice, inflicting right painful wounds. We have never heard of another such incident.—Monroe Enquirer

One of our good Democrats said a few days ago that the little blank book that Rev. C.H. Martin showed on the stump during the last campaign and to which he gave the title “What Congress Has Done” can be put to good use now showing what the fusion* Legislature has done.—Monroe Enquirer

Several new firms have recently been organized at Matthews. McLaughlin and Warlick, Barrett and Grier, and Stevens and Stevens have all begun under the new firm names since the first of the year. The latter firm is composed of Messers. J.A. and W.F. Stevens, the latter having recently moved from Stevens’ Mill in this county to Matthews.—Monroe Journal

A Rich Mine—Mr. Daniel Jarrett who lives above Belwood, this county, has discovered a very rich monazite mine on his farm. He has been offered $20,000 for 30 acres of land but has not accepted. Mr. Jarrett has a farm of 87 acres, which was incumbered, and was a comparatively poor man until the mine was discovered. The quality is said to be very good.—Cleveland Star

Bessie, the 5 year old child of W.F. Jetton of Lowesville, caught on fire on the 12^th. Marvin, who was in the house with Bessie, threw her down and rolled her over in the snow and piles snow upon her till her mother arrived. Bessie is severely, but not dangerously, burned. Marvin, who worked so faithfully to save his little sister, had his hands badly burned. Marvin is 7 years old.—Lincoln Courier

Burned to Death—An awful death overtook a young man named W.F. Gladden at Mr. A.P. Froneberger’s distillery last Monday night. Gladden was tight. He had lost some sleep and was sitting over the fire nodding. When the distillery closed about dark, Gladden was left there for the night, as he was not in a condition to be sent away. There was about a hatful of fire in the fire place. Next morning about daylight Gladden was found dead out in the floor, with all his clothing burned off. His tongue and lips and nostrils were burned by the fire and smoke he had breathed. There were signs of his having crawled around in the room in helpless distress. He was a young man of about 25 years of age but was not considered altogether bright-witted. Nobody knows how or at what time of the night he caught fire. A negro woman not far away says she heard cries of someone in the night but as it was a common thing she paid little attention to it.—Gastonia Gazette

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*Fusion Legislature--Frustrated by Democratic domination of nearly every election since 1876, the Republican and Populist parties decided to combine forces in an effort to gain control of the state government. The coalition was dubbed "fusion" by the Democratic press. Instead of running competing candidates on separate tickets, state Republican and Populist leaders divided the offices and ran on a single ticket. The parties first combined in 1894, successfully taking control of the state legislature. They joined forces again in 1896, claiming control of the legislature and several prominent offices in each election. Populist spokesman Marion Butler was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1894, while Republican leader Daniel Russell was elected governor in 1896. Similar attempts at fusion were made in other Southern states, but nowhere was it as successful as in North Carolina.

Sources: William S. Powell, North Carolina through Four Centuries. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1989; Helen G. Edmonds, The Negro and Fusion Politics in North Carolina, 1894-1901. Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 1951. 

http://www2.lib.unc.edu/ncc/1898/glossary.html

Home Demonstration Club News from Across North Carolina, March 1957

From Extension Farm-News, published by the Agricultural Extension Service, N.C. State College, March, 1957

NEW HANOVER COUNTY

Home demonstration club women are beginning to realize more fully the value of the training they receive through club work, particularly as officers.

“It is so satisfying and rewarding to serve as an officer of a home demonstration club,” says Mrs. R.A. King, president of the Long Leaf Pine Club in New Hanover County. “Nowhere,” she continued, “can you get training that not only prepares you to serve the home demonstration club but other clubs in the community as well. I could never have served as president of the Women of the Church this year had I not served as president of the home demonstration club first.”

YANCEY COUNTY

Because Yancey County home demonstration club women felt the need for increasing their knowledge and experience in home nursing, the Yancey County Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs, in cooperation with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, is sponsoring home nursing classes.

According to Home Agent Sue Nottingham, Mrs. W.P. Honeycutt, county health leader, agreed to teach the courses. Mrs. Honeycutt is a registered nurse and has had the Red Cross training for teaching the classes.

In the first class, Mrs. Evelyn Pate, Mrs. Pete Coletta, Mrs. Brooks Boone, Mrs. Howard Simpson, all of Burnsville; Mrs. Willie Lou Bailey, Mrs. Peggy Bailey, Mrs. Lee Evans, and Mrs. Ada Buckner, all of Hardscrabble Club, are enrolled.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

“My husband asked what I felt I could possibly learn about sewing at a clothing school since I’ve been sewing for years,” was the response that came from Mrs. Reuben French, home demonstration club member in Rockingham County, at the recent Clothing Training School. “After the first session,” she said, “I surprised him by giving a demonstration of just what I had learned.”

According to Eugenia Green, assistant home agent, the purpose of the school was to equip the 4-H adult leaders with knowledge and skill on the care and use of sewing machines so that they would work more effectively with 4-H’ers in their local communities.

“Although many of the women are accomplished seamstresses,” explains Miss Green, “all were amazed to see how their machines could be used to better advantage. As a follow-up of this training school, the leaders plan to hold classes in their homes, in community buildings, and sewing laboratories in schools for the 4-H club girls in order to train them on what they have learned.”

WILKES COUNTY

Mrs. Gussie Scott, garden leader of the Brushy Mountain Home Demonstration Club in Wilkes County, believes wholeheartedly in practicing what she preaches.

According to Annie H. Greene, home agent, Mrs. Scott is a very enthusiastic and hard-working garden leader and gives a good garden report at every club meeting.

Recently, after she finished with her garden report, she opened up a large bag and took out vegetables she had taken from her garden that morning—collards, parsley, onions, rape, Blue Siberian kale, curly mustard, Savory cabbage, winter radishes and turnip greens.

As a result, the club members responded, “if she can raise that many vegetables, we can certainly improve our gardens and plan for year-round ones.

Mrs. Scott further reported that “besides having all these vegetables in my garden, I’ve stored Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, yellow and white turnips, dried peas and beans, as well as all of the canned fruits and vegetables. We really produce the food we eat.”

UNION COUNTY

Reports from Annie Lee P. Howey, Union County assistant home agent, show that the home demonstration clubs in the county feel that Community Development plays an important part in their community life.

Since they voted to continue taking part in community development this year, special emphasis will be put on mail box improvement, and cleaning up roadsides. They plan a campaign to urge the community-minded citizens to put up mailbox name plates.

During the last year, says Mrs. Howey, much was done on church grounds, cemeteries, club houses and grounds. This will continue this year as each club chooses a specific project to work on.

Some of the projects that are already underway include a new clubhouse at the New Salem Club community. The Midway Club is completing the furnishings of their new club house. The Shiloh Club has done much to assist with raising funds for the volunteer fire department, which has been put into action in their community. They are now completing rest rooms and kitchen equipment as a project for the year.

Grandma Sends Baby To Mom Via Parcel Post, 1914

From the Washington Herald (Washington, D.C.), March 18, 1914

With Stamps on Brow and Tag Around Neck, Babe Makes Trip of Twelve Miles by Mail

Hagerstown, Md., March 17—Rural Mail Carrier B.H. Knepper hauled today a 14-pound baby from Clear Spring to the home of its mother in Indian Springs, 12 miles distant, by parcel post.

The child’s grandmother at Clear Spring had been caring for it, and the mother, anxious to see her babe, telephoned her mother to send it home. The grandmother, sick and unable to make the trip, thought of the parcel post, which solved the problem.

The grandmother tagged the baby around the neck and the postage stamps were stuck on its brow.

The 12-mile trip was made without the baby, which slept all the way, giving a single whimper, and inside of an hour or two the mother was hugging her child.

St. Patrick's Day Won't Be Celebrated During Lent, 1894

From The Charlotte Democrat, Friday, March 16, 1894, is the following reminder: 

St. Patrick's Day, the anniversary of the patron saint of Ireland, falls due next Saturday, the 17th. As it falls during Lent, festivities will be postponed until Easter Monday.

Judge Warns Durham Men About Dangers of Tango and Turkey Trot, 1914

From the Durham Dispatch and the Watauga Democrat, February 1914

DURHAM--Judge Jeter C. Pritchard today registered his protest against the tango and the turkey trot and the slit skirt in the fifth of a series of meetings for men being held at the Baptist Church. Judge Pritchard was heard by over 1,000 men, and many amens and nods of the head greeted what he had to say about the present-day fashion of the feminine part of the North Carolina population.

“The Conservation of Manhood” was the subject on which Judge Pritchard spoke, and he outlined a number of ways in which the fathers and mothers of the State could conserve the manhood of the rising generation. The distinguished jurist spoke with a seriousness characteristic of all his discussions of moral issues. He talked in a conversational tone, but none of the addresses that have been delivered in Durham have been listened to more attentively.

His speech was filled with illustrations of the results of the failure of parents to give their children the proper home training. All of these illustrations came from the observation of the speaker while he was on the bench, in the Senate and in his present position.

The proper home training was the first means advocated for the conservation of the boys and girls of the State, and the second was prohibitive and repressive laws.

In the first case Judge Pritchard said that he knew of many instances in which the fathers left the whole training of the children to the mothers. That this was bad was shown from the fact that there are always times in the life of boys and girls when the strong arm of the father’s authority is needed.

That the prohibition law was not an interference of the personal liberty of any man, but an effort to take the temptations away from the people, the young people of the State, was the position taken by Judge Pritchard on the whiskey question. He recalled some of the scenes from the early history of Madison County, and said that while he was practicing law in that section of the country he defended 57 murderers. The dockets of the county were crowded with murder cases. He told of the fight made against whiskey in that country, and finally wound up with the present day conditions of Madison.

The duty of the South in the enforcement of these laws was stressed. The duty rests heavier on the South than on any other section of the country because of the fact that the South is the most American part of the country, and hence on her depends the preservation of the American Institution.

Farm News From Across North Carolina, March 1956

“Around the State” in the March 1956 issue of Extension Farm-News

Tryon

A.P. Williams of Tryon, Route 1, likes grapes but not in the large numbers he had last year. Polk County Assistant Agent Robert D. Flake says that Williams made the mistake of planting all of his home garden bunch grapes in the same variety. And of course, they all ripened at the same time. He’s correcting the situation by replacing some of them with varieties that will ripen at different times.

Fremont

It’s a pretty good bet that J.L. Lamm of Fremont, Route 2, has plenty of barbecue-loving friends dropping in at his house around supper time. Wayne County Assistant Agent H. Calvin Hodgin says that Lamm cooks and chops up big batches of barbecue and then freezes it as a means of preserving pork. Hodgin says that with depressing hog prices, “opportunity is begging the barbecue lover to turn his hogs into barbecue and store it.”

Chowan County

Alma Forehand of Cross Roads community Chowan County is operating a regular modern “pig factory,” says County Agent C.W. Overman. Forehand built his “factory” last fall and it’s really going in high gear now. It has 10 “maternity wards,” special facilities for older and larger pigs, automatic brooders for the youngest. Forehand said he was tired of losing pigs, and is going to do something about it.

Green River

Clyde Morgan, vegetable farmer in the Green River section, believes in making the most of what he has at hand. Assistant County Agent C.H. Thompson says that Morgan collected native mountain stone and used them to veneer his attractive farm home. By doing the masonry work in his spare time, he figures he saved from four to five thousand dollars.

Tabor City

A few years ago, B.G. Lane, Tabor City, Route 3, dairyman, would probably have recoiled at the mention of “wire grass.” But he tabs it more respectable relative, Coastal Bermuda, as the answer to his grazing problems. Columbus County Assistant Agent Archie F. Martin says that Lane’s farm is sandy and he has been unable to get more succulent grasses or clover to hold up during the summer months. But that irrepressible Coastal Bermuda “stays right in there.”

Davidson County

Here’s a new angle for the old “environment versus heredity” argument. Gary Gallimore, 4-H Club member of Davis-Townsend school, comes in on the side of environment. Davidson County Assistant Agent W.W. Johnson says that Gary was getting only 18 to 22 eggs per day from his 85 pullets, but after building a new poultry house and moving the pullets into it, production shot up 55 to 60 eggs daily.

Alleghany County

M.E. Motsinger of Alleghany County doesn’t believe in kidding himself. He says, “My farm has a potential for much greater production, if it is managed properly.” D.G. Harwood Jr., Extension farm management and marketing specialist at State College, says that Motsinger recently requested assistance from his county agents in re-organizing his farm for maximum production. With the current cost-price squeeze, Motsinger realizes that efficient, economical production is a must.

Mebane

Marvin Newlin, dairyman of Mebane, Route 2, would be the first to admit it’s hard to beat luck. Alamance County Assistant Agent Thomas M. Haislip says that Newland recently attended a cattle sale, planning to buy a registered calf for his son, Wilbur’s 4-H project. The calves went pretty high and at the end of the sale Newlin didn’t have the calf he had promised to bring home. But then fate stepped in. It was announced that Newlin was the winner of a registered calf given by the sponsors of the sale.

Asheboro

Looks like chickens are just like people when it comes to wanting attention. Or so says Foy Gann of Asheboro, Route 4. Assistant County Agent E.M. Stalling says that Gann has two groups of broilers. Although both get the same feed, he is pressed for time and doesn’t get to visit one of the houses as often as the other. The “slighted” broilers aren’t doing nearly as well as the others. Gann recommends being “neighborly” with broilers.

Catawba County

Bet you don’t know that cows are very “sensitive” creatures. Garland Abernethy, Catawba County dairyman, says they very definitely are. Assistant County Agent Frank A. Harris says that recently Abernethy was feeding alfalfa hay along with his silage; when he began feeding lespedeza, milk production dropped from eight cans to six. After resuming the alfalfa feeding, the production quickly moved back to 7 ½ cans.

Belwood

If anyone has any secrets of getting a cow to have a heifer calf, please pass them along to Charles Peeler of the Belwood community, Cleveland County. He’d be everlastingly grateful. Assistant County Agent Henry W. Dameron says that Peeler received a registered Jersey heifer as a 4-H Club project back in 1946. The next year the heifer freshened with her first calf—a bull. Nine years have passed and each year—another bull calf. Peeler, now too old for the 4-H Club, says wistfully, “The sad part is that she was such a good milk cow.”

Robeson County

Roger Gentry, Maxton farmer, thought he had a lazy tenant on his hands last year. But now it looks like the tenant was just smart. Robeson County Assistant Agent G.T. Rodgers says that Gentry’s tenant was a week behind in his tobacco harvesting last year—by Gentry’s reasoning, that is. The tenant refused to be hurried, however, and is Gentry glad! The late-harvested tobacco sold for $300 an acre more than any other harvested on the Gentry farm.

Tyrrell County

Lawrence Brickhouse, of Columbia, Route 2, has noticed that many people have a fondness for knees—cypress knees that is. Tyrrell County Assistant Agent Donald E. Steagall says that Brickhouse, a Senior 4-H member, has decided to capitalize on this fondness for knees. He’s going to make electric lamps out of cypress knees as part of his farm and home electric project this year.

Transylvania County

Mrs. Harriet Herbert of Pisgah Forest, Route 1, thinks she must be growing the most “delectable” grubs in her garden. At least skunks seem to think so. Transylvania County Assistant Agent G.H. Farley explains that Mrs. Herbert has been finding odd, funnel shaped holes in her garden. But what puzzled her was that the holes weren’t confined to the planted rows so she knew it wasn’t something after seed. Finally she discovered that the skunks were digging for grubs and leaving their “calling cards.”

Polk County

Leonard Green, Polk County poultryman, may be spoiling the fun of scratching for his chickens, but he’s sure saving on mash. Assistant County Agent Robert D. Flake says that Green makes his feeders about two inches wider at the bottom than at the top. Green comments that “with troughs only one-half to three-fourths full and the slides sloping inward, a chicken has a hard time scraping feed out.”

Hertford County

F.E. Holloman, purebred breeder of Poland China hogs, received two “valentines” from an unexpected source. Hertford County Assistant Agent P.E. Parker Jr. says that early on the morning of February 14, one of Holloman’s sows farrowed eight pigs, which made him happy. But he was even happier when at 12 o’clock he went to turn the sow in with her pigs and found two more beside her.

How We Helped Pay for World War II

It's not unusual for a country at war to run up a debt. How did Americans deal with this problem during World War II? They bought War Bonds.

North Carolina in 1919: Yes to Paved Roads and 6 Months of School, No to Allowing Women to Vote

From The Independent, March 14, 1919

The General Assembly of 1919 Made Good Record

Not as Progressive as Was Desired But It Moved the State Forward on Health, Education, Roads and Taxation Problems

A fairly comprehensive review of the work of the General Assembly of 1919, which concluded its session this week, is given by John A. Livingston in the Raleigh News & Observer. It follows:

Measured by magnitude of results accomplished, the most important session of the General Assembly in a decade has virtually passed into history. Legislation furnishing machinery for revaluation of all taxable property was its most noteworthy achievement; provision for a six months school term in every community in North Carolina its most praiseworthy act.

Submission to the people of the income tax amendment to the State constitution opens the way to a new era in the economic history of the commonwealth while the inauguration of a State-wide system of highways is the outstanding feature of the session from a material standpoint. Strengthening of the public health laws comes as a direct result of lessons learned in a world war.

It Kept the Faith

The General Assembly didn’t do all that was expected of it nor did it go further than to reflect, perhaps imperfectly at times, the wishes and desires of enlightened public opinion. Thanks to the efforts of wise an conservative leaders, it kept the faith and rendered service that merits the approval of the people of the State.

The legislators go home with the consciousness of having set in motion new forces for the development of the Tar Heel State, which if intelligently directed will make for great progress and development.

Not Ready to Pioneer

While the General Assembly was too firmly wedded to ancient ideas to respond to the demand for equal suffrage, its passage in the Senate and the closeness of the vote in the House showed that even here a distinct advantage had been made in progressive thought, as compared with the session of two years ago. Had the supporters of suffrage started early in the session with consistent purpose, it is entirely possible that equal municipal suffrage would have been achieved. However, the present session, in failing to pass its measure, missed its greatest opportunity to show its progressiveness and this in the future will be charged against it as an unwarranted ultra-conservatism.

Again the General Assembly was too firmly committed to conservative thought to call a constitutional convention. It was realized that the present document is out of date and should be superseded by a more workable one but the legislators as a whole didn’t want to disturb things too much. The Senate passed this bill but it died in the House.

The House never gave the Senate an opportunity to act on any of the proposed safeguards for the better enforcement of prohibition laws. Practically all of these measures were defeated and there again the Legislature was derelict to its trust.

The Most Forward Step

The revaluation program was worked out under the direction of Representative Ruphus A. Doughton, chairman of the House Finance committee, and Senator James A. Gray, chairman of the Senate Finance committee. They had the help and co-operation of Corporation Commissioner A.J. Maxwell and so completely and so thoroughly was their work done that the bill was passed exactly as reported by the committee and without discussion on the floor of either house. Never before perhaps has such an epochal bill been enacted into law by unanimous consent in this State unless in times of war or of dire necessity. Speaker Brummitt did his best day’s work when he named Governor Doughton to head this committee and Senator Gray, able young banker, proved to be a running mate worthy of his veteran colleague.

New Educational Program

In the educational program aimed specifically to secure a six months school term a wide divergence of opinion existed at the beginning of the session as to the methods to follow. It was no easy task that faced Representative Victor S. Bryant and Senator F.C. Harding, chairmen of the respective Education committees, but with wonderful tact they reconciled conflicting opinions and brought the warring elements together. In forming this program the guiding hands of J.Y. Joyner, retiring State Superintendent, rendered great service.

The income tax amendment directly jibes with the provisions for revaluing taxable property and in fact is considered an indispensible feature of the new program of taxation in North Carolina. It was brought into the House by Governor Doughton, who has justly earned the title of “the grand old man of the General Assembly.” He championed the measure and left nothing in the way to hinder its thorough consideration by the people.

Roads Bothered Much

The General Assembly had most trouble in getting a State road law into shape and while the law finally enacted for the present does not seem to meet the wishes of anybody in many particulars, it is predicted that it will eventually prove to be satisfactory to all or to a large part of the people. It was upon this measure that the General Assembly devoted most discussion and gave the most time. Senators Scales and Stevens were the pioneer champions of a State system when it was considered doubtful if the General Assembly would try a hand at it, and a host of legislators have worked at it since. The Senate stood for a State-wide system while the House was committed t a county system with State and Federal aid. The result is a compromise in which the State system is retained with optional county aid. While not authorizing a bond issue it is provided that money may be borrowed. The law as finally passed represents the best efforts of a conference committee. It was Governor Doughton that put it across in the House when it looked like no bill could get through that the Senate would endorse.

The health legislation, approved by the State Health Board and the War Department provides for radical changes in the control of venereal diseases and for inspection. Senator Joseph A. Brown and Representative Stanley Winborne headed the respective Health committees and encountered little opposition in putting these measures through. However, had there been a fight made, they would have proven worthy opponents.

Able Presiding Officers

Speaker Dennis G. Brummitt was happy in the selection of his committees in the House and they worked in hearty accord to put through a progressive program of legislation. Scarcely any friction was encountered and this is a most excellent record when the magnitude of legislation passed is considered. Practically every chairman was the right man for the right place. Speaker Brummitt was actuated in his appointments by a desire to organize a working body that would serve the State. Speaker Brummitt proved himself to be a presiding officer of exceptional ability. His decisions were rendered with impartiality and fairness to all concerned while his conduct of the business of the House met with approval on the part of the members.

Lieut. Gov. O. Max Gardner was equally happy in the organization of the Senate and never at any time was there friction of any consequence. Never once during the session did anyone question the justness of his decisions while acting as presiding officer. He had the advantage of being well acquainted with public affairs and with the personnel of the Senate. His committee assignments were thoroughly considered by him with a view to securing a maximum of service by putting the proper man in the right place, and the Senate’s record shows he exercised excellent judgment.

Their Thankless Task

Chairmanship of an Appropriations committee is ordinarily a thankless job because it is never possible to please everybody but Senator George Holderness and Representative R.S. McCoin, who headed the respective committees of the Senate and House, are exceptions to the rule. They had the task of properly distributing more than five million dollars among the various State institutions and this required careful thought and study. Both were well fitted for the place, senator Holderness being a banker and farmer while Representative McCoin is a lawyer and business man.

Increased Pensions

It fell to the lot of the Appropriations committee to find a way to increase the pensions of the Confederate veterans of the State. They couldn’t see the way clear to make it a million a year, but they brought it up to nearly $700,000, as compared with $525,000 which was paid out last year.

In connection with the road legislation it is interesting to note the estimate that between 60 and 70 million dollars were authorized in bonds for public roads in the various counties of the state during the next two years. The road committees, headed by Senator Ferebee and by Col. Bennehan Cameron, rendered faithful service.

Little Partisanship

A notable feature of the General Assembly was the lack of partisanship exhibited in the discussions. Not once during the Senate sessions were partisanship fights encountered and only once in the House. The utmost good feeling existed between Democrats and Republicans and all were moved by the common purpose of serving the State.

The General Assembly while hosing evidence of progress along many lines was not disposed to change “the law of the land.” It killed all measures to abolish capital punishment or to lessen the number of crimes punishable with death while little change was made in the civil procedure although many bills to that end were introduced.

Child Labor Law

After much discussion and debate the General Assembly passed a child labor act and compulsory education measure that fails in many respects to be what the intelligent thought of the State thought it ought to be. In passing this law as a welfare measure, the General Assembly was inconsistent in not providing sufficient funds to carry it out and further in failing to put it in the department where it belongs. However the law on the books is still a step forward and will eventually result in putting North Carolina squarely in line with other progressive States.

For Budget System

After the next session of the General Assembly the State will have a budget system so that it will be easy to determine the exact state of its finances. Early in the session Senator Gray introduced a budget bill which was passed without debate and which provides for a budget commission. This will place the State on the same footing with the practice of cities and all corporations.

A constructive measure that should prove of great help to the cotton farmers in future years is the Price warehouse law. This provides a tax of 25 cents on each bale of cotton ginned which shall go towards making up a guaranty fund. It was endorsed by such men as Dr. Clarence Poe and was the outcome of legislation introduced early in the session by Senator W.B. Cooper. Senator Cooper worked zealously in the interest of warehouse legislation and had an important part in getting Senator Price’s bill through the General Assembly.

Governor and Legislature

Many of the recommendations of Governor Bickett in his biennial message in the General Assembly were adopted, among the most important being the law to provide for revaluation of property and for a six months school term. The governor was in favor of allowing the counties to pay one-fourth of the cost in the State-wide system of roads, but the Senate was firmly opposed to this while the House endorsed the suggestion. The result has been the passage of an act that was aptly described by Senator Stevens as “a dog fall” between the two ideas.

The Legislature adopted his recommendation of removing the State prison and its administration to the State farm and to convert the State prison into a State hospital. His recommendations as to compulsory school attendance and for examination of physically defective children were also adopted. Other gubernatorial recommendations incorporated were: fixing a minimum salary for public school teachers, to make sanitary closets compulsory for the owner of property on property on which a closet is within 300 feet of a dwelling; ratification of the Federal prohibition amendment, provision for an agricultural building, and to prevent perpetuation of species by idiots and imbeciles.

The General Assembly failed to carry out the Governor’s recommendation to amend the State primary law and to apply the principal of the short ballot to all State administrative offices. It likewise failed to enact an ouster law and turned down in the House the bill to require health certificates for marriage licenses.

House Failed to Concur

In failing to pass laws charging fathers of illegitimate children with their education and maintenance and to require health certificates for marriage licenses, the House was responsible for failure of two of the Governor’s wisest recommendations. The Senate passed both bills and sent them to the House in plenty of time for thorough consideration but they died in committee.

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A dogfall is a tie or draw.

Workers Not Allowed to Leave Farm Jobs, March 1944

From “Carolina Farm Notes” by F.H. Jeter, Extension Editor, N.C. State College, Raleigh, as published in The Southern Planter, March 1944 issue

With the planting season at hand, North Carolina farmers are voicing alarm at their prospects for meeting production goals this year due to a shortage of labor. “So many farm workers have left, that our farmers are wondering how they are going to produce and harvest the crops they have been requested to grow this year,” writes the farm agent of Duplin County. He expressed the opinion that many farms in his county will not be cultivated this year and that on many others, only the tobacco will be fully planted. Now that a 20 percent increase has been allowed in the tobacco acreage, the operators will plant their full allotment even though other essential crops may be decreased rather than increased.

Some men already have seeded down some of their most fertile land to pasture and perhaps this is one good thing that will come out of the existing labor shortage.

In populous Pitt County, a heavy movement of tenants from farm to farm has been noted. Many have moved two and three times, due probably to some proselytizing on the part of those farmers who did not have a sufficient number of tenants. In Moore County, there are a number of farms without tenants or the prospect of tenants before the planting season begins. During the last six month, 188 men were released from Moore County farms to go into other work paying higher wages, and with no compensating return of labor from other jobs to the farm.

Tom Broom Said “No”

Folks in North Carolina are still commenting on how Tom Broom of Union held the line for farm labor in his county during the past fall. When crops were “laid by” last July, Mr. Broom allowed some labor to leave for temporary outside work until September 1.

When September came, many of them requested a renewal of their releases.

“No,” flatly refused Mr. Broom. “No more releases until all the crops are harvested and the fall seeding is over.

During that month, a farmer rushed into Mr. Broom’s office about 4 o’clock one afternoon and told the county agent that buses were in the county gathering up Negro laborers to be hauled to Knoxville, Tennessee, and that three of his men had quit work that day to join the crowd. He said the buses would be in Monroe about 5 o’clock, one hour later. Mr. Broom called up the U.S. Employment Agency, in nearby Charlotte, and was instructed by that Agency to notify the police and have the bus operators arrested. Fifty-five laborers had assembled in Monroe for the trip but when they found that they could not get away without releases the busses left empty and the Negroes went back to their farm jobs.

In October, the Employment Service began calling for laborers to work at Camp Sutton at the U.S. Rubber Company Plant near Charlotte and in textile mills at Kannapolis, Concord, Charlotte, Fort Mills, Lancaster and other nearby places. Mr. Broom said flatly that no farm labor would be released from Union county until the crops were all housed and the fall seeding had been completed. As a consequence, labor was kept in the county until his work had been done and was then released only for two or three months with the condition that all laborers be back on the farm at least by March 1.

Not All Young Men Who Leave Home Do As Well As Herman Crump, 1914

From The Watauga Democrat, Thursday, March 12, 1914, R.C. Rivers, Proprietor

Mr. Herman Crump, a fine young man from Caldwell County, but now residing in Wisconsin where at Racine he is studying to be a machinist, is at home with his father and mother Mr. and Mrs. Millard Crump of Rocky Knob. Tis worthy couple of the good old timey sort, whose home is every ready to receive the way faring man, the front door never barred, the back door unlatched. It is pleasing to meet our mountain boys who following the advice of Horace Greely to “go west,” return to the old home, having “made good.”

It thrills the heart to shake hands with such boys, but how one’s heart aches to think of how some of our boys, for lack of proper parental training go wrong and every man’s hand against them, pitching headlong into the outside world are caught in the whirlwind of disregard for public opinion and consequent loss of self-respect, and, like Cain, become “wanderers” upon the face of the earth, haunted by an ever present fear of detection, arrest and subsequent incarceration, all because one parent, maybe both, failed to delay the boy gratification of a foolish whim or the furtherance of a selfish aim.

A school for teaching parents how to train their children would not be amiss in this day of utter disregard for the right of the child to be taught his duty toward the parents and toward the government under which he was born.

Report from Washington, D.C., March 1903

Watauga Democrat, March 12, 1903

From Our Regular Correspondent

What democratic representatives designate as the most flagrant outrage ever perpetrated on the rights of the minority occurred last week when the majority voted, amid a scene of wild disorder, to unseat Representative J.J. Butler of the 12^th Dist. Of Missouri and seated in his place Mr. G.C.R. Wagoner.

Mr. Butler was elected by a majority of over 6,000, and because of some frauds were found in the election returns, 41 precincts were thrown out and Mr. Wagoner accorded his seat. Representative DeArmond of Missouri made a scathing speech saying in part “And now we have here the farce, the shameful special of an attempt to put that man into the House, to draw $10,000 salary, to draw two mileages to draw two allowances for stationery. In all the proceedings, not only in the United States Congress, but in the wide world over, in the history of election contests, no other case so low, so base, so mean, showing such utter want of decency and all pretense of right, so thoroughly  colorless of anything except iniquity and wrong can be found; nothing in baseness and hypocrisy, nothing in meanness and deceit; nothing in bitter partisanship, and can’t to match or be compared with this case can be found. Welcome this man to your bosom as a man not at all entitled to the seat but as a man fully entitled to the political fellowship of those who would steal it for him—the recipient of stolen goods placed on a precise par with those who stole the goods.”

As a result of the unseating of Butler, the Democrats pledged themselves to filibuster on every motion on to the end of the session and have made good their pledge. Only by the adoption of rules clearly beyond the spirit of the Constitution and rulings which are more tyrannical that those of the last Speaker Reed, have the Republicans accomplished any business whatever.

Republican members of the Senate took occasion when Sundry Civil Bill was under consideration to criticize the President for his appointment of Senators Lodge and Turner on the Alaskan Boundary commission. As these appointments do not require the confirmation of the Senate no further actions can be taken, but Senators Hale and Hoar were bitter in their denunciation of the practice of appointing senators on special commission although they protested that their objection in no way involve the personality of the Senators appointed.

The Republican members of the Senate, forced to commit themselves by Senator Blackburn’s systematic presentation of the question, voted not to consider the Littlefield bill. Senator Hoar had said that this measure constituted the only effective provisions against the trusts and it was known that the President and the Attorney General approved the bill but the trust influence in the Senate prevented even its consideration. The claim is made that there remains no time for the consideration of so important a measure but on the other hand there is an organized attempt to enact the Aldrich financial bill, capable of farther reaching effects and infinitely more difficult to understand. According to the program arranged by Mr. Aldrich and Representative Payne this measure was to pass both houses without debate, but it is now believed it will suffer defeat in the House.

The probably defeat of the Aldrich bill in the House is a source of much relief to the Democrats who believe they see in its provisions great possibilities of evil. It is pointed out that it would authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to determine what railroad, state, county and municipal bonds he would accept as securities for government funds and what he would reject and were there to be selected a Secretary whose integrity was not of the strictest he could be confidential information to his friends slightly in advance of his contemplated action, enable them to reap fortune on either side of the stock market.

The President sent to the Senate an earnest appeal for the passage of the Philippine sugar and tobacco imported into this country from 75 to 50 per cent of the Dinglev rates, and admitting other imports free. Your correspondent made a careful canvass of the Senate and ascertained that a majority of the Democrats and of the Republicans would be glad to vote this measure but will not, it is feared, have an opportunity because Senators Patterson and Teller of Colorado, have determined to talk the measure to death if its further consideration is undertaken. They fear the competition of the Philippine sugar with the beet sugar product of Colorado.

Statehood legislation was declared off a few days before the adjournment, the Republicans having proposed an impossible compromise and the Democrats voted unanimously, in caucus, to reject it. The dead lock on the Panama Canal remains unbroken, however, and an extra session of the Senate has been called to ratify the Colombian and Cuban treaties. Senator Morgan adheres to his proposition that the Colombian convention as drafted is as infamous measure and has announced that he will oppose any vote on the bill. Mr. Morgan is the only Senator who is opposed to the treaty but he is a Gibralter, under the circumstances.

There has been much criticism of the White House chiefly by those who have never been it or who have gotten their information secondhand. Moreover, the impression has gotten abroad that the President is to blame for all that is criticized although he is neither an architect nor a decorator. With regard to the office building the President asked that it be made plain and his desire has certainly been carried out. Your correspondent, who has lived in Washington for many years, and who has been in the White House on many occasions during and since Grant’s administration, but without being a connoisseur in art decoration, can say that the convenience of the White House has been greatly improved and no complaint has been heard from the President with regard to the office building.