Watauga Democrat. [volume], December 27, 1934, Image 1

About Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current

Image provided by: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC

                
BOONE
SKETCHES
By J. C. R.
Please, St. Nicholas!
Dear Santa Claus:
Through the months of 1934 we
have labored diligently, conscien
ciously . . . morning, noon and night
. . . endeavoring to supply an exact
ing public with careful accountings of
passing events . . . seeking to mould
an editorial policy that would meet
the approval of our readers . . . sift
ing carefully the dross of current
happenings for those trivial items that
bring joy to the rural heart. On
numerous occasions our feet of clay
have borne us from the green pas
tures of righteousness . . . the flow
ing bowl wherein dwells the deadly
serpent has, a couple of times, lured
us from useful pursuits . . . and the
big ledger you keep perhaps has an as
sortment of minor social derelictions
catalogued alongside the Sketch
Man’s name. But through it all we’ve
clung tenaciously to those human
qualities with which we were en
dowed by a generous Father . . .
we’ve patiently listened to the dis
tracting recitals of a thousand disap
pointed political job-seekers . . . we’ve
lent willing ear to the lamentations
of a hundred widows and orphans . . .
we’ve directed shafts of criticism at
the high and mighty, as we sought
to protect our downtrodden neigh
bors . . . we’ve suffered ourselves to
be crawled over by countless young
uns as their proud parents explained
to them the maneuvers of Mr. Mer
genthaler’s brain-child . . . we’ve
staggered under a mountainous bur
den during the receding year . . . and
most of the time the grimy old pro
file carried a feeble grin.
Now, Dear Santa, if the record
justifies we’d like for you to fetch
us a few of the following items:
One gross of assorted adjectives
(great long ones) that we may,
with greater artistry, describe the
beauties of a homely bride, and ex
toll the virtues of a departed bro
ther ... a pair of hands that will
mechanically carry out their duties
as our ears drink in chapter after
chapter of the “Domestic Difficul
ties of Cousin Etta’s Uncle Jas
per,” as vividly related by an ob
liging visitor ... a club reporter
who’ll disclose the “deliciousness” of
the refreshments and the winner of
high score before Wednesday morn
ing ... a mind that can more ac
curately grasp the elusive current
of public opinion ... a pair of eyes
that will more clearly discern the
inspiring magnificence of this em
pire among the clouds ... a heart
that can manifest proper apprecia
tions for the friends who surround
us, for the roof over our heads, for
the happy children that play at
our feet . . . fifteen cents worth of
chocklut candy, and a red necktie!
And, Santa! ... as you make your
rounds on Christmas Eve, please
leave a message of good-will on ev
ery doorstep . . . tell ’em that the
old Sketch Man trusts their Yule
season will be packed with joy and
gladness . . . that the New Year
will witness the fulfillment of their
fondest dreams . . . that content
ment and peace will banish even
the thought of sorrow! And now
we bid you “Noel!”—J. C. R.
Hie Order Changeth
From the sacred wigwam of the Big
White Father at Washington come
tidings of great joy . . . direct relief
is to be abandoned —jobs created for
a few million unemployed braves! Sa
chems from the broad plains of the
Middle West, medicine men from the
Valley of the Oregon and the wooded
hills of New England, warriors from
the swamplands of the South . . . have
brought to the Head Man’s village
disheartening stories of tribal bicker
ings, ... of squaws who refused to
cultivate the corn, and stalwarts |
whose bow-arms had softened to
uselessness during months of slouchy
idleness about the home tepees ... of
priceless strings of wampum ex
changed to unscrupulous traders for
worthless baubles and low-grade fire
water . . . since the dole was insti
tuted. So the White Father has is
sued his ultimatum . . . the days of
indolence are ended . . . bread and
meat and blankets and moccasins
will be given to only those who labor.
The sound of the hammer and
saw will again be heard through
out the land . . . schoolhouses will
be repaired, public buildings reno
vated, parks landscaped, roadsides
beautified, postoffices and libraries
built from the ground up . . . wages
are to take the place of free ra
tions. Best of all, hundreds and
hundreds more of those cute little
back-yard bungalows are to be
constructed. An exclusive Interview
Saturday evening with Boone’s am
bitious designer of oue-two-and
three-holers indicated that work of
this nature wiH begin early next
spring. Imbued with a zeal born
of enforced idleness, the enthusi
astic artisan outlined plans for this
great and useful campaign . . . con
cluding his remarks with a rather
premature suggestion that no finer
gift could be contemplated for the
Christmas of 1935 than a properly
cconstrueted. properly-located ‘John-
WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper—Established in the Year Eighteen Eighty-Eight
VOLUME XLVI, NUMBER 26
Christmas Greeting
LONG the rough trails of Judaea, the scat-
J-tered sons of David hastened toward Bethle
hem ... an order had been issued by Caesar Augus
tus that all the world should be taxed, that each
man and his wife and offspring should return to the
land of his birth for enumeration. And the word of
Cae3ar was law. . . . Chills coursed down the spines
of the depressed tribesmen as they read the stem
ultimatum posted conspicuously in market-places.
Camels were packed for the long journey home by
those whose industry had brought forth these ex
pensive chattels . . . litters, borne by ebon slaves,
were employed to transport affluent Hebrews from
adopted habitations to the sleepy little village. In
crude vehicles, astride lowly domestic animals, on
foot . . . they wended their way across the Galilean
border to carry out the wishes of an ambitious
emperor.
A jaded donkey halted near the outskirts of Beth
lehem ... a woman whose comely face was drawn
by the pangs of approaching deliverance slumped
forward on the animal’s back. The stalwart hus
band came to her side, worried and sore afraid.
“Can you make it into the village, Mary?” inquired
the distressed man. Mary guessed she could. And
they trudged on as day gave way to twilight.
Bethlehem was booming. A Syrian overlord with
U. S. FARM CENSUS
ENUMERATORS TO
RECEIVE ORDERS
O. F. McAlister, Supervisor of Ninth
Congressional District, Will Ask
Appointees to Assemble at Central
Points for Course of Instruction.
Facts Gained in Survey to Be Kept
Strictly Confidential.
The ninety-three enumerators who
will be appointed to take the Census
of Agriculture in the Ninth Congres
sional District, beginning January 2,
1935, for the calendar year 1934, will
be asked to assemble at central points
within the district as soon as the ap
pointments are all made for a course
of instruction as to their duties, ac
cording to an announcement last
week by District Supervisor G. F.
McAlister. Statesville.
In the meantime every effort is be
ing made to comply with the request
of William L. Austin, director of the
Bureau of the Census, to place a sam
ple copy of the 1935 schedule in the
hands of every farmer so that he will
be able to give study to the questions
he will be called upon to answer.
Sample schedules can be procured
by writing to the district supervisor.
Some time during January an enu
merator will call at every farm for a
report.
The definition of a farm for census
purposes is all the land which is di
rectly farmed by one person, either
by his own labor alone or with the as
sistance of members of his household,
or hired employees. The land operat
ed by a partnership is likewise con
sidered a farm. A farm may consist
of a single tract of land, or of a num
ber of separate tracts, and these sev
eral tracts may be held under differ-
I ent tenures, as when one tract is
owned by the farmer and another
tract is rented by him.
When a landowner has one or more
tenants, renters, croppers, or mana
gers, the land operated by each is
considered a farm. Thus on a planta
tion the land operated by each crop
per is reported as a separate farm,
and the land operated by the owner
or manager by means of wage hands
is likewise reported as a separate
farm. No report is required of a farm
of less than 3 acres, unless its prod
ucts in 1934 were valued at $250 or
more.
Director Austin ■wishes to empha
size the fact that every supervisor
and enumerator, as well as all Cen
sus employees, are sworn to secrecy
regarding the reports. The law pro
vides that the individual return made
by each farmer is absolutely a con
fidential Government report. All em
ployees are required to read the law
and penalties imposed for disclosure
of information. The Director desires
particularly to impress every farm
er with the fact that his report will
not be used as a basis for taxation
nor communicated to any tax official.
ny’ ... a soothing retreat from the
cares of a workaday world ... a
lasting memorial to the thoughtful
\ ness of the donor ... a gift to be
; enjoyed and cherished by each
member of the family throughout
iV e years to come!
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1934
Motorists Get Warning
About New Auto Tags
Raleigh, N. C.—Motorists with
out 1935 tags on their cars after
midnight December 31st will be
subject to prosecution, it was said
at the State Motor Vehicle Bureau
Friday.
L. S. Harris, director, said there
would be no extension of time for
obtaining license plates.
“The rush hasn’t begun yet,” j
Harris said, “and it is an easy
matter for motorists to get their
plates right now.”
Motorists in the past have wait
ed for time extensions, but in view
of the new instructions it is ex- I
l>ected that sales during the last
days of the year will be fast. Wa
taugans rriay procure tags at the
North Wilkesboro license bureau.
SURVEYOFPARK
ROUTE CONTINUES
Browning and Gilkey Confer With
National Park Officials. Flagging
on Part of Route Completed.
Engineers in Alleghany.
R. Gettye Browning, chief locating
engineer for the State Highway Com
mission, and J. Q. Gilkey, recently
were in Washington conferring with
national park officials in order to get
as definite information as possible as
to the route which will be followed
by the sixteen-million-dollar Shenan
doah - Smoky Mountains highway
through Western North Carolina.
They also went to Baltimore in quest
of other information, Mr. Browning
representing the State Highway Com.
mission, which must get the rights
of-way in North Carolina.
The flagging of the route from
near Mount Airy, where it enters the
State, has been completed to Blowing
Rock and actual surveying is ready
to be started. Engineers are now sta
tioned in Surry and Alleghany and it
is said that construction may begin
in the early spring. The building of
the thoroughfare is expected to re
sult in the employment of hundreds
in the two states.
Gurney Church Goes to
Jackson Training School
Gurney Church, minor son of Mr.
and Mrs. Turner Church, of the Bald
win community, was sentenced to the
Jackson Trailnng School at Concord
by Juvenile Judge J. D. Stanbury at
Jefferson recently, according to a
story in last week’s Skyland Post
The sentencing of the Church boy
grew out of the near-fatal stabbing
of Rufus Gwyn Yates, son of Mr. and
Mrs. C. M. Yates of Hopkins, several
weeks ago when the Fleetwood school
visited the Baldwin school for a bas
ket ball game.
Both children are under 12 years
of age. Although dangerously hurt,
the knife barely missing the heart,
the Yates child is recovering.
Ashe County officials conducted the
Church child to Concord the first of
the week.
yaa — BKv , ' s '
-n j}. «
his glittering entourage of patronizing yes-men had
swooped down from the northlands ... a hundred
Roman soldiers in full armor had arrived to see
that Caesar was not denied his tribute. Harpies from
surrounding villages had gathered in as vultures
follow the herd . . . tavern-keepers smiled as they
drew from dusty cellars rare red vintages for the
exacting appetites of the convivial publicans! Yes,
business was at flood-tide in a village which for
untold years had lain in lethargy. Even the vain
Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, had sent a group of
smirking ambassadors to bid the tax-gatherers
welcome . . . and ladies of his court for their amuse
ment.
Joseph halted his donkey at the inn’s entrance
. . . spoke reassuring words to the suffering worn-
ELECTION BOARD
CANNOT REVOKE,
SAYS BRUMMITT
Boards Are Powerless Once Certifi
cates Are Issued to Those Elected,
Attorney General’s Ruling Indi
cates, Although Recanvass Might
J Change Result. Greene May Contest
I Assembly Seat of Swift.
Attorney General Dennis G. Brum
| mitt Thursday afternoon ruled that
) neither the State nor the county
I board of elections has the authority •
I to revoke certificates of election once
jit issues them to individuals, even j
| though a re-canvass of the votes is j
| held and a sufficient number of appar- J
ently illegal votes is found to change i
tt.'. first result.
The State Board of Elections in its j
investigation of alleged fraud in the |
conduct of voting in Watauga and j
other counties, asked Mr. Brummitt
to answer the following questions:
“Whether, after certificates of elec
tions have been issued by a county
board of elections, and the holders of
same have qualified and been induct
ed into office, the State Board of
Elections has the power to order a
county board, upon satisfactory proof
of the illegality of a sufficient num
ber of votes to change the result of
an election, to revoke its certificates
heretofore issued and to re-canvass
the votes of said election and to cer
tify the results a3 found by the re
canvass.”
No Supporting Law
Mr. Brummitt replied: “I am una
ble to find anything in our election
(Continued on Page 8)
ASHEMAN DIES AS
TRUCK OVERTURNS
Jethro Cantor, Well-known Farmer,
Loses Life In Accident on Lenoir
Road. Three Other Occupants
Were Not Injured.
Jethro Cantor, 38 years old, resi
dent of the Tolliver community in
Ashe County, succumbed Thursday
evening in Caldwell Hospital, Lenoir,
from injuries received a short time
previous as the truck he was driving
turned turtle on the Lenoir road near
the foot of the mountain.
Meager information is to the effect
that Cantor had just passed another
vehicle and in some way lost control
of the truck, causing it to turn over
in the road, and pin he and three
other occupants of the cab under
neath. All others escaped injury. The
truck, badly wrecked, was brought
to the W. R. Chevrolet Company here
where it had been bought a few days
ago.
Mr. Cantor was a farmer, and had
recently been engaged in lumber haul
ing. He was well known to many Wa
tauga County people.
Funeral services were conducted at
Three Top Baptist Church Sunday af
ternoon at 2 o’clock, and interment
was made in a nearby cemetery. Sur
viving are the widow and nine chil
dren.
an, anxiously surveyed the meagre store of shetveu.
in his purse . . . and entered the doorway. Em
harassment was written on his features as he halt
ingly explained his predicament to the keen-eyed
inn-keeper . . . his worn garments were covered
with the dust of travel . . . his large hands bore the
rough callouses of honest toil. The inn-keeper was
not in mood to lend his attention to the ailments of
lowly pilgrims . . . illustrious guests were demand
ing his services . . . Joseph, Mary and her precious
burden sought shelter from the elements in a near
by stable.
Shepherds were watching over their flocks in the
hills of Judaea . . . conversation had waned . . . the
night air carried a stinging chill . . . the men hud
dled close together. The peaceful fields were sud
denly illumined with dazzling light! An angel ap
peared in the midst of the startled herdsmen ... a
chorus of cherubs drifted down from on high, and
blended their golden voices in glad hosannas.
The angel smiled as he made his brief announce
ment: . . . “Behold, I bring your tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people; FOR UNTO YOU IS
BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A
SAVIOUR WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD! And
this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
(Please turn to Page Four)
Julian Price May Build I
Vast Estate in County
Julian Price, president of the I
Jefferson Standard Life Insurance
Company, Greensboro, recently
purchased 1,600 acres of land on
Boone’s Fork, near Shulls Mills,
from the Hunter Manufacturing
Company of New York, and con
siderable speculation has mani
fested itself as to what develop
ment plans are anticipated by the
capitalist.
Information is that a vast lake
is to be created, a home and other
buildings constructed, and that the
property will be developed as an
exclusive estate to be used by its
owner during the summer season.
However, no definite idea of the
new development is forthcoming at
this time.
FIRE DESTROYS
NINE-ROOM HOME
Poly Moretz Suffers $3,500 Loss as
Flames Sweep Frame Building on
Friday Evening. Fire Thought to
Have Originated in Wiring.
Flames, which were believed to
have originated from faulty electric
wiring, Friday evening completely de
stroyed the nine-room frame dwelling
of Mr. Poly Moretz, located a mile
east of Boone. Although the flames
had reached through the roof when
discovered, Mr. Clayton Moretz, who
was occupying the house, together
with others, was able to remove a
good part of the furnishings.
The loss, which is estimated at $3,-
500 was partially covered by insur
ance.
Electricians, it is said, had just
connected the electric wires to the
building which had been unlighted
for some time, and some trouble had
been noted with the lights soon after
ward. It is thought that a short cir
cuit ignited the building.
President Roosevelt
Greets Disabled Vets
Indianapolis, Ind.—Through Frank
N. Belgrano Jr., National Command
er of The American Legion, President
Roosevelt Friday transmitted the fol
lowing Christmas message to all dis
abled World War veterans:
•• • •
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D. C.
To All Disabled Veterans:
Once again I send you Christmas
Greetings and assurance of continued
solicitude for the nation’s disabled
ex-service men and women.
Especially do I hope that the New
Year will bring you restored health,
a renewed courage and patience to
carry on, a determination to make
this our constant objective.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year to you, one and all.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
$1.50 PER Yh~AR
NEW RELIEF SET-UP
MADE; CHANGES TO
TAKE PLACE SOON
Miss Watson Will Be Head Case
Worker for Skeleton Organization
at Local Office; Misses Marguerite
Miller, Mary Alexander and Erie
Greer Assistants. Others Dropped.
MLss Ballou New Stenographer.
A new organization, which is only
a skeleton of its former self, was es
tablished Friday evening for the ad
ministration of Federal relief in Wa
tauga County, when a group of the
local workers were summoned to the
district offices of Miss Victoria Bell
in North Wilkesboro to receive in
structions by which to carry on their
changed work of administering ERA.
Under the new system, which elim
inates counties as individual admin
istrative units, only the case workers
ar.d one stenographer will be em
ployed in Watauga. Miss Theodosia
Watson, who has been the county ad
ministrator, is now head case work
er, and will be assisted by Misses
Marguerite Miller, Mary Alexander
and Erie Greer. Miss Virginia Ballou,
daughter of Attorney R. L. Ballou,
will be stenographer for the case
workers.
It is pointed out, however, that this
arrangement is only temporary, and
that changes will likely be made and
personnel added after the first of the
year, at which time relief through the
channels of employment is expected
to begin.
Unemployables Back to County
After the New Year begins the ad
ministration will withhold relief to
unemployables, and these, which in
clude those not mentally nor physi
cally able to take care of their wants,
will be turned back as wards of coun
ties or municipalities. Destitution
which is not traceable to the general
economic status, and wnich would
stiil exist in normal times it is held,
is not a problem for the national
government, but for the local units of
government.
As the administrative offices in
Boone were approaching the end of
their work Saturday, a crowd of sev
eral hundred came from all sections
of the county, and food orders, sur
plus perishable commodities, blankets,
etc., were freely distributed, the
words of the Government being placed
in the position of enjoying a good
Christmas dinner, and at the same
time providing a stimulus to the re
tail business along the streets.
District Officials
Key positions in the district are to
be held by the following persons: Miss
Victoria Bell, formerly of Catawba
County, administrator; C. H. Smithey,
Jefferson, project supervisor; C. W.
Miles, of Sparta, rural rehabilitation
farm supervisor; F. B. Moore, of
Boone, disbursing officer; Guy Nor
man, of Dobson, statistician. Assist
ants and clerical force were selected
from county offices throughout the
district.
Bom to Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Gar
bee at the Hagaman Clinic on Satur
day afternoon, a daughter.