Editor and Army Officer Argue Politics and the Future, April 30, 1920

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., April 30, 1920

Editor Versus Army Officer. . . Two Letters in Which Each Says What He Thinks of the Other

For the delectation and divertissement of its readers, The Independent published the following correspondence of recent dates. Capt. Andrew L. Pendleton, Commandant of the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps of the Georgia School of Technology writes to W.O. Sanders, editor of the Independent, from Atlanta under date of April 21.

Says Pendleton

My dear William O:--
There has always been a gentleman’s agreement between us to the effect that we could always tell each other what we thought of one another with out the other getting peeved. Personally I like you a hell of a lot. The man that you are is self-made. You’ve got plenty of ambition, and except for the narrow confines of your environs and the high cost of travel you could be devilish delightful. I know you, know you so dern well that I like you, and this is certainly strange when you come to think about it. Our views are so entirely different that they hover about the two very extremes of human fancy. In fact, if I held your view of various things I would feel more at home in Russia Your Harney cartoon in the April 9th issue amuses me the same as it has no doubt amused your readers in the First N.C. District. You’ll never get to Congress if you are opposed to feeding your followers on “pork.” They love it as much as a Hebrew hates it. It even pleases the multitude more than did the two loaves and five fishes (or vice versa) that Christ manipulated for his followers. Figuratively speaking that was “pork”. And aren’t you sick of government control of utilities? If people like you don’t stop stirring up discontent we’ll have to control the railroads, mines, etc., but it will be with 100 per cent Americans armed with rifles and machine guns. Mark what I say. In 1910 I told you that we would be mixed up in a world war in less than 10 years and you called me a fool. Your idea of taxing idle land is funny. What are you going to do about the North Pole that belongs to us? Wouldn’t I hate to see you turned loose with Free Speech and Free Press! Why not add Free Silver? There are too many dangerous people in this country now for us to give speech and the press any more freedom than they have now.  The vicious and pernicious Hun propaganda would read like Bible stories alongside of some of the stuff that I know you would turn out. The Lord saved the world with one Ark and now the Department of Justice is trying to save the U.S. with another. Do you believe in Free Transportation? What do you know about war/ War Referendum saved Germany and made us the goat. You didn’t know much about War; you missed the best one that we ever had. Just think, without that war Germany would still have the Kaiser. Your friends in Hunland are the “real limburger” now; they have the opportunity of a life time to put your ideas of good government into practice. What’s this about no war without the vote of the people? What are we going to do while the people are voting? I would have to be a voter in Norfolk with an enemy fleet at Hampton Roads. Ten to one you would claim San Francisco as your legal residence. How do you stand on birth control? I would truly welcome what you term Universal Disarmament, but my good sense tells me to let the other fellow do it first.

True indeed is old saying that nothing is so bad that there isn’t some little good in it. And this is true of your shaky old platform; it has one plank that isn’t rotten, “Education.” And in making this admission I am possessed with one fear that were you given the opportunity you would try to legislate education into the noodles of the masses. With your “Independent” you could educate more people than you could by going to Congress. But you don’t even to this; much of the time you feed them the kind of stuff that makes white folks “red.” Sometimes I think that you must have smelled something bad in your cradle and you’ve never gotten over it. Now don’t tell me that you wear a sprig of mistletoe on your coattails for fellows like me.

Just one word more for your platform. I know of one excellent purpose it could serve; your well developed posterior should be spanked forceably and severely with each of its planks.

I know darn well that you believe in Cash Bonuses for ex-service men. Certainly you do because I do not. Wouldn’t you rather see my small pay as an Army officer increased? You might need us of the Regular Army again before your voters finish voting on the next war and before you get Japan to disarm. Think it over.

I could account perhaps for your wild ideas if it were not for the fact that I too have read Hubbard, Brann and the Bible. I would like to read “Bob” Ingersoll too as well as Omar, but there is more in the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians than in all of their discomforting thoughts.

William O. you are a great fellow, and I like you but honest to God I would rather see you in a warmer place than Congress. Wait until we are cursed with a soviet rule in this land of the free before you build your political platform—or reform. Victor Berger is a close neighbor of mine, altho we are separated by iron bars. I hope you‘ll come to Atlanta some time to visit us but not like Victor came. I would certainly like to see you, jolly old Falstaff.

If Congress was in really good shape just now I wouldn’t mind so much seeing you there. Give ‘em a chance “Bill”; they may not need you after all. After a year or two more the investigation of the conduct of the war will be concluded and the conclusion as to whether or not we won the war and should declare peace will be openly arrived at. I am like you, I don’t know what I am in a political way but I want to be something therefore I am going to vote for General Wood for President. Who are you going to vote for? Or hasn’t your party named a prospect yet/ I am 33 years old and I haven’t yet cast a vote—not one. Never before did I see any need of voting. Remember, “Bill” we ae good friends but I do wish that I could cast my vote in the First N.C. District this next election. I’d certainly vote for John H. Small first, Ward second, and nobody third. And since I truly hope that General Wood, a republican, will be our next president my uncle and your friend, Dr. Pendleton, wouldn’t keep the post office anyway. So don’t fling that back at me.

Not that I love you less or Mr. Small more do I say that he is by far the best man that the First District could send to Congress. The only thing that some of you people have against him is the fact that he has been in Congress so long. If you do hold that agin him then you know less about Congress than I give you credit for. Have you any conception of the trials of a Freshman in college? Do you know that most men are valuable on account of their experience rather than their pin-feathered fancies.

Congress is a school. A new Congressman is a Freshman. Mr. Small is a big man in Washington. This I know to be a real fact. He knows the ropes so to speak. His experience—his length of service—makes him a most valuable man. You know this as well as I do so don’t twist it into wormy bait for your own fishing. You might get a few bites but the wise fish will see the hook. I believe however that Ward is harping on this phase of the campaign more than you are. Mr. Small may not always get what he goes after—that would be too much to expect of any one man in this day of political intrigue and trading—but he gets his share and certainly he does know how to go after what he wants. And this I also know to be a fact.

Now “Bill,” read some good books and stay at home for a while longer, where everybody knows you. I would hate to go to Elizabeth City next year and find you out of town and in Washington. I would feel mighty badly.

Here’s wishing you health, happiness and prosperity, and may your shadow never grow less—but for the love of us all don’t leave home.

As ever and sincerely yours,
“Pen.”

Says Saunders

My Dear Pendleton:--
The only surprise about your letter of Apr. 21 was that it didn’t come sooner. From a clean, wholesome, democratic fellow you have graduated into a junker and a snob, the fate of most good fellows who go thru Annapolis or West Point and get an officer’s billet. I say I am surprised that you have read The Independent so long without admitting that the stuff was getting under your skin.
Of course you would “hate to God” to see me in Washington, because I am opposed to militarism, opposed to your murderous profession, opposed to all the arrogance, snobbery, trickery and secret diplomacy of your military caste. You think you and your class are the bloody saviors of civilization. You boast about ridding Germany of the Kaiser. What you do is, you have come pretty near fastening Prussian militarism upon the United States and you will vote for Leonard Wood for President of these United States because he’s the nearest thing to a Kaiser you can pick out of the multitude of monstrosities offered as presidential possibilities.

You did tell me 10 years ago that this country would be involved in a world war in 10 years and I didn’t quite believe you then. I didn’t know how well you military fellows had planned the thing. That is your game. You don’t wait for the next war; you are always planning what the next war shall e. You are planning right now what you would do to Japan. And, Japan, knowing all about your plans, is doing some planning on her own account.

Your class in Russia, France and Great Britain were planning the late world war as far back as 1912. They made secret pacts as far back as that. Russia was going to take Constantinople. That meant war with Germany and a chance for France to grab back Alsace and Lorraine while Russia was keeping Germany busy on the eastern front. Great Britain was drawn into the same scheme. And Germany, Germany with her great spy system, was watching the game and foolish enough to believe that she could anticipate it and beat the Russian Bear, the British Lion and the Froggies to it.

You brag about your great war. I ask you, is the world better or worse to-day as a result of your great war? What have you given us?  You talk about Bolshevism and the Soviets. Who gave us Bolshevism and the Soviets? Whoever heard of a Soviet form of government until war had reduced the people of Russia, Hungary, and Italy to such extremities that they were compelled to adopt communism or starve? You gave us Bolshevism; you reduce the world to chaos and poverty and then bite your manicured nails because some one has a plan opposed to yours.

You are opposed to government ownership of things. That’s damned funny. The government owns you; the biggest thing, the most expensive thing the people have to support to-day is your army and navy, both run by the government. I suppose you think however that you are running the government. I must confess that your class comes perilously near it, and I shudder to think of what is due us when you get your General Wood seated in the White House and encase his carcass in the imperial purple.

You talk about 100 per cent Americans running our railroads and mines with rifles and machine guns. That’s the only way you know how to run things. But you won’t run the railroads and the mines of this country that way. You can’t drive a free born American citizen to work at the point of a bayonet.  When you try it—and it will not be long before you will be trying it—you are going to meet your Waterloo. Mark what I tell you.

I’ll tell you, Captain Pendleton, the people of this country are going to take over the railroads, mines and other public utilities. They are not going to take these away from anybody. But here is what is going to happen: the owners of these things will presently come to the people and confess that they can no longer run these things with profit. They will beg the people to take them over. And when the people take them over a lot of you arrogant snobs who live on the fat of the land and have your boots blacked by your buck privates will have to get to work. That will be heard on you, Andy.

But don’t worry about me going to Congress. I had planned my withdrawal from the Democratic Primary before you threw your conniption fit. I’m glad you like Mr. Small. I like him too, but not for the same reason that you like him. You like Pork; in fact you are, I believe, one of his porkers; he got you educated for your military career at the government’s expense. We poor civilian jays back here in Pasquotank are still paying the bill, or helping to pay it. Make the most of it Andy while the graft is easy, and don’t lay away nights worrying about Bolsheviks kicking you out of your job; if the American people ever recover their senses after the brainstorm of the past four years they’ll find another job for you.

And this with best wishes, from

Your sincere,
W.O. Saunders
Apr. 22, 1920

A.A. Combs Says He'll Run for Legislature to End Prohibition, April 30, 1920

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., April 30, 1920

Mr. Combs Wants His Whiskey and Says So. . . Will Run for the Legislature if Necessary to get It Back as in Other Days

In a letter to this newspaper under date of April 24, A.A. Combs of Gum Neck, Tyrrell County, says:

”I am 82 years old or will be on August 9 if I shall be blessed and spared to see it, and if there is no other man got the face on him to ask the people of Tyrrell County to give us whiskey as we had it in our daddies’ and grand-daddies’ times, I will be the man to do so. I am as much opposed to public drunkenness as any Prohibitionist living, but I am not opposed to a man getting drunk if he wants to and will stay out of sight with it. I will, if I have to be a candidate to represent this county, use some language the Prohibitionists won’t wish to hear. I hope every county will put out a man of the same type and I assure you I will vote for no man that will not publicly declare himself as such. I as for you to publish this over my name.”

Big Twiford and Little Twiford, Dealers in Real Estate, April 30, 1920

From the front page of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., April 30, 1920

Big Twiford and Little Twiford

Readers of this newspaper are familiar with the firm name of Twiford & Twiford, dealers in real estate. Well, here they are—the pair of them. They are as inseparable as the Siamese Twins, Damon & Pythias or Daniels & Cox. In Elizabeth City we call them “Big Twiford and Little Twiford” to distinguish t’other from which. The Big one is Dallas, a heavy weight, hard hitting son of Dare. He used to manage things for the Dare Lumber Co. at Buffalo City. He came to Elizabeth City about two years ago when the Dare Lumber Co. began to look shaky. He says he’s here to stay; he likes Elizabeth City and Elizabeth City likes him. T’other Twiford, Mr. L.B. Twiford, was for several years connected with the J.H. Aydlett Hardware Co. He is one of those long headed fellows and saw Elizabeth City and its opportunities before his partner. The real estate firm of Twiford & Twiford was established in September of 1919 and has been a success from the start. The pair of them probably would succeed in any line in which they placed themselves.

True Americans Not Ones Who Profited a Thousand Times Over During the War, Says Allen McCurdy, April 30, 1920

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., April 30, 1920

What Is This 100 Per Cent Americanism? The Answer Maybe Be Found in Allen McCurdy’s Entertaining Contribution. . . Why Not Call Them “Thousand Per Centers?”

By Allen McCurdy

An Americanization Committee was recently thrown into confusion and debate by the simple question, “What is 100 per cent Americanism?” No phrase is more universally used. All politicians are strong for “100 per cent Americanism.” It is a curious phrase. When James Otis, Patrick Henry, Daniel Webster, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln spoke of Americanism, it was always in terms of liberty, equal opportunity for all, special privileges for none, the fear of injustice and despotism, the hatred of monopoly and the aspiration for freedom. It is significant that the modern politician describes Americanism, not in terms of the aspirations of the human soul, but in the terms of the banking house, the ledger and profit.

This gives us a clue to what “100 per cent Americanism” really is. Senate Document No. 259 shows us the practical side of “100 per cent Americanism” by revealing to us some “100 per cent Americans. One steel company, according to this document which is based upon returns to the Treasury Department, in the year 1917 after paying its excess profit tax, made 212,584 per cent profits, its net income being $14,549,952 on a capital stock of $5,000., Senate Document No. 259 also reveals that during 1917 net profits were reported by

Dry goods stores as high as 9,826%

Coal companies as high as 7,856%

Meat packers as high as 3,295%

Flour mills as high as 2,628%

Canners (fruit and vegetable) as high as 2,032%

Woolen mills as high as 1,700%

Building contractors as high as 1,390%

This is concrete “100 per cent Americanism.” From the men who made 109 per cent or more in the year of supreme sacrifice (1917), when economy was urged upon the mass of the people and when our soldiers were risking and giving their lives for $30 a month, has probably come the money to finance the political campaigns and pay for the enormous publicity whose chief end seems to be to call all who object to this kind of Americanism as “traitors,” “Bolshevists” and “revolutionists.”

It is highly significant that although Senate Document No. 259 has been within easy reach of the Attorney-General of the United States, not one of these “100 per cent Americans” has been prosecuted for profiteering. Instead, the activities of the Department of Justice have been directed toward the “revolutionary efforts” of the workers to secure enough wages to keep pace with the increased cost of living, the cause of which is suggested in the above figures.

At a public meeting recently, such men hissed the statement of one speaker that “this country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right of dismembering and overthrowing it,” being ignorant, until they were informed, that they had hissed Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address. Lincoln would have called such men to-day what he called them 61 years ago. “They are the vanguard, the miners and sappers of returning despotism. We must repulse them, or they will subjugate us.”

Americanism, in terms of the dollar, is that patriotism which Ben Johnson defined as being “the last refuge of scoundrels.” It must be destroyed and replaced by the Americanism of Jefferson and of Lincoln, which I marked by “its superior devotion to the personal rights of men holding the right of property to be second only and greatly inferior—the man before the dollar.”

Senate Document No 259 contains unanswerable facts which dictate the necessity for the public ownership of basic industries. For, according to the able analysis of this document by Mr. Basil Manly, published in the April issue of “The Searchlight,” “the American people in the last three years have paid in net profits every dollar’s worth of stock of the coal companies, and to the United States Corporation in the two years of 1916 and 1917 net profits amounting to $888,931,511, which is $20,000,000 more than the total capital stock of the Steel Corporation.” And yet the advocates of private ownership ask us how the people can afford to buy from the profiteers the ownership of these industries. The financial part of this problem is solved. The legal part of it will be solved when the people who believe in government ownership of basic industries come together in one great political party.

Local Affairs From Boone and Watauga County, Published April 29, 1920

From The Watauga Democrat, Dedicated to the Interests of Boone, and Watauga County, Thursday, April 29, 1920

Local Affairs

Mr. G.M. Henson of Sherwood was in to see us Friday. He had just returned from Charlotte, where he had spent two weeks with his son, Lawrence, who is in one of the city hospital recovering from an attack of double pneumonia, following influenza. Mr. Henson said the young man had been extremely low, but was now very much improved, and it now seems that he will be able to return home in the very near future.

Mrs. C.A. Ellis and mother-in-law were week-end visitors to relatives in Johnson City, Tenn.

“Old Charley,” the faithful family horse owned by Mr. R.M. Greene, died of colic last week.

The promise of an abundant fruit crop in Watagua this year, remains good.

Mrs. George Shook of Grandfather is spending a few days with her daughter, Mrs. W.R. Gragg in Boone.

Mr. Grover Triplett of Lenoir spent Sunday in Boone with his wife and little daughter, returning to his home Monday morning.

Mrs. Jacob Hobson is at Montezuma this week with her mother, who, according to reports, is seriously ill.

A cream receiving station in Boone will be open for business in the very near future.

Government Title Inspector J.C. Fletcher has returned to his work in Lenoir after spending a few days with his family in Boone.

Rev. J.R. Walker is recovering from a typical case of mumps. On account of his illness the Rev. J.M. Downum filled his pulpit at 11 o’clock last Sunday, the night service being deferred.

Messrs. John Lay, Wiley Vannoy, and Mr. and Mrs. Tell Vannoy left Tuesday for the State of Montana. Friend Lay went for a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Jno. Vannoy, the others intending to make their homes there.

Mrs. Geo. McGuire of West Jefferson died at her home Monday and was buried near her former home at Elkland yesterday. Her brother, Mr. Conrad Yates of Boone, attended the funeral.

Mr. Wade H. Wagner, who, with his wife, spent the winter at St. Augustine, Fla., has returned and speaks of locating here for the summer, at least. Mrs. Wagner is expected within the next few days.

Lumber is being delivered on the ground for a considerable addition to the residence of Mr. W.D. farthing one mile west of the village. The work is under contract to Mr. W.G. Hartzog and will be rushed to completion just as soon as possible.

The town should pass an ordinance compelling business houses, offices, etc., to provide receptacles for waste paper and other rubbish, and not allow it to be dumped or swept into the street to blow at will over the premises of others who try to keep them at least decent.

Mr. J.B. Cannon of East Boone has rented his pretty property to Engineer Miller and moved to Blowing Rock where he has taken a position in the store of Lentz Bros. Cannon has been a resident of Boone for the past two years, is a just upright man, and we are sorry to see him leave.

An office for Watauga’s Public Health Nurse, Miss McCartney, is being fitted up in the court house. The furniture and other equipment have been ordered, and it is hoped that the room will be ready for occupancy early next week.

Mr. H. Walter Horton has returned from his Florida winter home, and is again greeting his customers at his place of business, the Highway Motor Garage in Boone. Mrs. Horton and the children returned with him, the trip from Miami, Florida to Boone being made in an Oakland car.

Mrs. Holshouser, mother of Messrs. W.L. and Luns. Holshouser, of Blowing Rock, died at the home of Mr. N.L. Edmisten, near that town last Friday, and interment was made Saturday in the cemetery at the Reform church. Mrs. Holshouser had passed her 93^rd birthday, but regardless of her great age she retained her sunny disposition and winning demeanor that endeared her to those who knew her best. She was the grandmother of Mrs. Newton Greene of Boone, who, with her husband children attended the funeral of her aged ancestor.

North Fork of Cove Creek was the scene of a near tragedy last Friday evening. We have not learned the particulars further than that Messrs. Charles and Conley Thomas had an altercation which resulted in the former shooting the latter twice, one ball entering the left side, the other inflicting a flesh wound in the hand. A physician was summoned, and an examination revealed the fact that wound in the side was not so serious as was first thought, the ball striking a rib, glancing, and only making a very painful but not necessarily dangerous flesh wound.

Two Marriages on Route 1

On last Wednesday evening a beautiful wedding was solemnized at the home of Mr. Granville Norris on Route 1, when Miss Bessie Phillips of Brownwood was happily married to Mr. Finley Winebarger of Route 1. Mr. Winebarger is one of our prosperous farmers and we wish for the young couple much happiness.

-=-

Married on last Sunday, the 18^th, at the home of the groom’s parents, Mr. Ottis Watson of Virgil to Miss Blanche Brown of Brownwood, Mr. Albert Watson, Justice of Peace, performing the ceremony.

Forest Fires Raging in Watauga County, April 29, 1920

From The Watauga Democrat, Dedicated to the Interests of Boone, and Watauga County, Thursday, April 29, 1920

Forest Fires Raging

The latter part of last week, during the dry, windy days, forest fires swept great areas of Watauga forests. Friday a fire was started on the railroad right of way near Mr. R.R. Colvard’s, supposedly by a spark from a passing engine, and within a very short while had spread largely over the wood lands of the Winklers, but, thanks to the efforts of a band of fire fighters, the loss, aside from the damage done to standing timber and a small amount of fencing destroyed, the loss was light. Mr. Colvard lost pulp wood to the amount of approximately $100.

The same day, a spark of fire from a railroad engine fired a barn on the farm formerly owned by Mr. Joseph Phipps at Foscoe, and the building was soon destroyed.

We hear also that fire went wild from the steam drill on the Boone Trail Highway and the Sands section had a big proposition to hold the flames in check, and save much property from destruction.

Fire Leave Herbert Cook Family Destitute, April 29, 1920

From The Watauga Democrat, Dedicated to the Interests of Boone, and Watauga County, Thursday, April 29, 1920

Dwelling and Barn Destroyed by Fire

On Friday evening last, Mr. Herbert Cook of the Deerfield section lost his home and barn by fire, the entire contents of both being destroyed with the building. We are told that some small children were responsible for the conflagration. The family is left entirely destitute.