Home demonstration work was retained and Home Demonstration Agent Miss Marcie Albertson was re-employed Monday morning, January 1, by a unanimous vote of the County Commissioners, all commissioners with the exception of W.J.F. Spence of Newland being present.
The dissenting County Commissioners were simply overwhelmed, overpowered and almost annihilated by the salvos of facts, sentiment, logic and persuasion with which they were assailed. They were left with absolutely no footing to stand on. With petition and resolutions from clubs and organizations representing thousands of voters as against one lone voice raised in protest, the action taken was the only course open to them.
The cohorts of home demonstration were promptly mobilized for the attack. By 10 o’clock in the morning, the advance guard had reached the courthouse and before the reading of the minutes was done the register of deeds office, where the meetings of the County Commissioners are held, was crowded. Had it not been for the storm of early morning which prevented numbers of friends of home demonstration from the county from attending the meeting, the very courthouse square would have had all the appearance of a big mass meeting.
While representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants Association, the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club and of the Junior Order filed into the room where the meeting was being held a more imposing delegation was assembling in the clerk of the court’s office on the other side of the corridor—a delegation of women.
The attack was launched shortly after 210 o’clock when the minutes and other preliminaries having been disposed of, the ladies across the hall were invited to enter. They came, they were seen, and they conquered, almost before the first gun was fired. At the end of 45 minutes of rapid-fire attack the last trace of opposition had melted away and the Commissioners were not only ready to surrender but were in a good humor over it. They were not only willing to reconsider their action. They were positively delighted to do so.
The ladies were led by Mrs. Cam W. Melick, who presented petitions from 375 home demonstration club members throughout the County. Other petitions were already in the hands of Chairman Burfoot and yet others continued to come in during the meeting, having been delayed by the morning storm. Mrs. Melick made a telling argument for Miss Marcle’s work and the Commissioners would probably have been ready to vote for reconsideration at the conclusion of her address. One of the most effective pleas of the morning was made by Mrs. Almira Whitehurst. The Commissioners may forget what she said, but they will hardly ever forget her sincerity and earnestness. Mrs. Sarah Parsons of Salem, despite the weather, was present in person to present the petition in behalf of Miss Albertson’s work in that community.
W.L. Cohoon presented the resolution favoring continuation of home demonstration work from the Junior Order, G.F. Seyffert from the Rotary Club; Gurney P. Hood from the Chamber of Commerce; J.T. McCabe, from the Merchants Assocation; G.R. Little and P.G. Sawyer from the Kiwanis Club; and Rev. N.H.D. Wilson spoke in behalf of the work for the ministerial association. Mr. Hood nailed the economy argument when he showed that for the man with taxable property of $300, the amount paid to home demonstration annually is one cent; $3,000, 10 cents; $100,000, $3.33.
There were numerous other speakers representing no organizations but who made telling points in favor of home demonstration work by citizens, specific examples of work done by the home demonstration agent. There was Dr. C.B. Williams, for ??, who told how, during the influenza epidemic he was called to a family of 12, all ill, and when he arrived at the home found Miss Albertson in efficient and trained ministry on the sick. Others knew of the lives of little children, left motherless, that had been saved through Miss Albertson’s timely help and counsel. Among others who spoke merely as individuals and taxpayers and made forcible pleas for the work were D. R. Morgan and Dr. John Saliba.
The motion for reconsideration was made by Commissioner Bundy, who was one of those voting against the work at the December meeting, and was seconded by Commissioner Thompson, another former opponent of the work.
Mr. Bundy and Mr. Thompson both explained that they had voted their convictions in the first instance; but that the showing made by friends of the work Monday morning was such that they felt that they had no right to withstand it. To this Commissioner Cartwright said amen.
Chairman Burfoot explained that his vote against the work was cast only in order to give the people an opportunity to express themselves on the matter, that he had always favored home demonstration work in the County and was glad to cast his vote in favor of it.
To show that their hearts were in the right place, the Commissioners after voting restoration of the work, also voted to pay Miss Albertson’s December salary.
From the front page of The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Jan. 1, 1923
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