Newspaper Page Text
-TT'vTor county
.♦The (iolden Gat®
Between the Mountains
and the Sea
Traversed hy the
t , s. HIGHWAY, NO. 1»
The Butler Herald.
“KEEPING EVEBLASTINGLY AT IT IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS"
County’s Chief Cities
BUTLER AND REYNOLDS
No section of the state offers
beter opportunities lor small
industries and delightful citi
zenship than either of these
Cities.
Volume 58
BUTLER, Taylor County, GEORGIA, Thursday May 17,1934
Number 28
RIVERS EXPLAINS Eleven Counties Engage
CAICC TAY TO In TltaffaliAnoliAA V«l
SALES TAX TO
LARGE AUDIENCE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
representatives says OUR
PRESENT SYSTEM OF TAX
ATION MUST BE CHANGED.
, a n address last Friday before a
croW d which taxed the Wesley school
auditorium to full capacity Hon. L.
n Rivers, of Lakeland, Speaker oi
,'p House of Representatives, made
„! e of the most forceful speeches
ever dlivered in this county.
Introduced by Postmaster C. E.
tains, of Butler, as one of Georgia s
jLt distinguished citizens Mr. Rivers
.dressed hmstlf to the audience as
„ ordinary South Georgia cracker
ami opened his speech by paying a
flowing tribute to the school, Prof
I. C. Pinkard, and the people of
Wesley community.
In discussing education Mr. Rivers
said “Every man’s child is entitled
to a common school education with
taxpayer’s money before any
person is entitled to a college educa
tion with the taxpayer’s money.” He
deplored the plightful conditions of
our schools and added, “there are
janitors in Atlanta who are being
paid more for their work than the
principals in some of our schools.
Every child in the state of Georgia
should have access to a nind month’s
school, but this can never be done
under our present system of taxation
The state should be made the unit
for raising money to run our schools
and we should not levy local taxes
for school purposes. The richer
counties of the state can raise n'ore
money with a one-half mill tax than
the poorer counties and local school
districts can raise with a 40 mills
tax We can never give the rural
children the opportunities they should
have until we change our present
system of taxation. What this state
needs is a general retail sales tax.”
Mr .Rivers termed our present
system of taxation as ridiculous and
stated that it is turning home owners
into tenants. He advocated letting
homes that are valued under $3,000
be free from taxation, saying that
this would encourage home owner
ship. - .
' u'e need three kinds of taxes,”
said Mr. Rivers. “There should be a
continuance of the ad valorem tax so
as to catch the man who owns too
much land. There should be an in
come tax to reach the man with ex
cessive money, and then we should
have a general retail sales tax. The
good thing about a sales tax is that
you pay when you have the money
to buy.”
In Chattahoochee Valley
Spelling Bee At Columbus
Columbus, May 11.—Eleven coun
ties sent 50 spellers into action
Thursday night in the impressive
finals of the Chattahoochee Valley
Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Led
ger-Enquirer papers and held at the
Springer opera house, Columbus.
Wheeler Tolbert, Jr., outspelled his
mother, Mrs. Wheeler Tolbert, Sr.,
representative from Muscogee county
in the state legislature in the senior
match and thereby won the trip to
the World’s Fair in Chicago and four
day’s expenses.
Gordon Ferrell, son of Arch Fer
rell, prominent attorney of Seale,
Ala., was winner of the junior bee,
after Miss Mary Muirhead of Rose-
mont, in Muscogee county, had tied
him for a considerable period of
time He will receive a silver loving
cup with his name and valley-cham
pionship title engraved thereupon.
The senior contest was won on the
word “punchinello,” (meaning a
character in a child’s play), and the
junior match on the word “dilapi
dated.” Miss Muirhead is the daugh
ter of Mr .and Mrs. A. R. Muirhead.
Tieing the Tolberts for a while in
the senior contest was Miss Eugenia
Lucille Ferrell, sister of the junior
victor. At the time, the word “chor
al,” was given her and she first
spelled “coral,” but when the word
was repeated gave the correct spell
ing. At first, it was counted a miss
and she left the stage, but under the
rules bearing on such point, the
judges called her back to the plat
form to resume spelling which the
audience applauded
Elizabeth Shaddix of Eleventh
Street school and Lillian Brinson of
Rose Hill were among the junior
stars, and a sensational feature of
(Turn to Page 8; No. 1)
C. C. C. Notes
(By Horace Isabell)
If there is any truth in rumor, we
regret to annouce that this is our fin
al contribution to the “Butler Her
ald.” The writer wishes to tna. te,
“Moonbeam, Show Cases” Draughon,
precious Doll Baby Rooster Hill,
Evans “Shine” Thornton, “Coconut”
Bennett, and Sgt. R .E. French for
their untiring efforts which they put
forth in order to make the CCC
Notes a success. Their actions and
various escapades have been the
source of much inspiration for the
author .
Lets Keep The Schools Out of Politics.
(Editorial)
From reports recently obtained by the Herald, some of those
whom we have heretofore regarded as friends of education, but who ap
parently are third-rate politicians, have been nagging and endeavoring to
obstruct the educational work in Georgia ever since Dr M. D. ColHns
assumed the office of State Superintendent of Schools.
Those responsible for such a condition, as the Herald understands
the situation, have been sufficiently wise to remain in the background.
They realize that the school officials, the teachers and all friends of
education would resent their efforts should they attempt, publicly and
in their own names, to antagonize the present state school administra
tion.
Every effort to induce some of the real educators of the state to op-
nose Dr. Collins, it is said, have been attempted. This attempted sabotage
C most evident at the recent meeting in Atlanta of the Georgia Euuca
ckn Association, we regret bo learn.
Being unable to persuade any of the men of their choice to enter the
race and not being sufficiently good sports to admit their defeat, they
were insistent upon placing someone in the race behind whom they
might hide and endeavor to obstruct and embarrass those school officials
’ o have overcome what appeared to be insurmountable obstacles, and
who have kept the schoolhouse doors open for hundreds of thousands of
our girls and boys, and who have secured money that meant meat and
bread to many thousands of our patriotic teachers.
Perhaps to these individuals it meant naught that funds from out
side of the state had been secured to pay 5,000 teachers their February
salaries, 8,000 for March, 11,000 for April, and 4,000 for May; that 1,500
unemployed teachers were given positions, and that 25,000 Georgians
were afforded an eduactional opportunity they otherwise would not have
received. These schemers would have openly rejoiced had every school
house been forced to close and had all teachers been forced on the relief
rolls.
Apparently it means naught to them whether or not the schools stay
open and whether or not teachers are paid It is of no consequence to
them that they make a scapegoat of a young man who might make a
success in his chosen profession.
Can it be possible that these individuals would try to scuttle the
Ship of Education, and rejoice to see the schoolhouse doors close and to
see the teachers go without pay or be peturbed by the sacrifice of one
more reputation ?
In the history of our state never before has education faced times
more critical. Without energtic, aggressive, far-sighted leadership,
Georgia education today would be bogged in the slough of despond. That
leadership must not be permitted to waver from the path of duty. The
pilot must keep his hand on the wheel and his eye on the compass and
his efforts for the present school by any flotsam that may be cast in
the way.
As the Herald sees it it is the duty of school officials, teachers, and
all friends of education to uphold Dr.. Collins in the great fight he is
^niakiilg. Though success has crowned hiefforts for the present school
year, another year is looming, full of perils for our schools.
Dr. Collins should, and no doubt will, carry every county in the state
by an overwhelming majority. Success to his efforts and to the determi
nation of his friends to continue him in his present position which he so
ably fills. |
Mr. Homer Chapman, Former
Taylor Co. Citizen, Seriously
Injured In Auto Accident
Numerous Taylor county friends ol
Mr. Home Chapman, son of the late
Mr. S ,T. Chapman, of Butler, and
convict warden of Houston county,
will regret to learn of serious in
juries he received in an au
tomobile accident Tuesday night near
Echeeconnee, while returning to his
home at Perry from Macon where he
had been in attendance upon the ses
sion of the state convention county
commissioners. M r . Chapman’s
car is said to have collided
headon with an Independent Laundry
truck from Macon driven by J. J.
Sparrow of Hawkinsville.
Mr. Chapman was taken to the
Macon hospital where he is under
treatment for a broken right elbow,
and lacerations of the scalp, face and
left leg.
Many Georgia Baptists
Attending Southern Con
vention at Fort Worth
Mr. Rivers said that the one cent i , „ . , ,
sales tax from gasoline which goes • The Woodpeckers 9 journeyed down
into the Equalization School Fund!to Albany last Saturday. As a ges
and the sales tax on tobacco is all
that is keeping our schools open and
cur old Confederate soldiers paid. He
explained how a general retail sales
tax would relieve the home owners
from having to pay an ad valorem
tax and also stated that the tax col
lectors could collect the tax and send
tnt money to Atlanta and it would
not be necessary to add more em-
Hoses to the state’s payroll by pass
ing the sales tax, but it would save
we state much money because the
sales tax would bring in the ready
j-asn and it would not be necessary to
forrow money and pay interest on
a m order to keep our state insti-
■utions running,
‘Some people are saying the gen-
erai retail sales tax would hurt the
armer,’ said Mr. Rivers. “But how
} ttle n anie of high heavens is the
armer going to have to pay more
axes if the sales tax is passed?
ouidnt it be better for a man to
j; 5 a sales tax with his home ex-
i p ; | taxation than to pay the
- 'alorem tax he is now paying?”
Mr. Riv
when
fightii
7?ilatun
V6 rs was loudly applauded
„ a he said, "I am going to keep
a-h. I! 18 unt ** the sales tax is passed
i.”,, er it is passed in the next
wo ?l 0 P e continue to hold back and
then! • , homes sold from under
it ,u Wlthout h°irg anything about
banlr^ are wea h kneed and have a
tackbone of macaroni.”
advr, als ? told the audience that he
this «!? ( f r ee school books. “I think
Wilts'’l s h° u ld have free school
oZIn’nl 1 saki ; “ This is not an
advtto dea of mine. Tom Watson
W vn ted for y ears - I don’t know
son w\ pe ,°P le feel about Tom Wat-
the’ ari! think that Mr. Watson was
hail." ?t, man Georgia has ever
plaude,i , Point the audience ap-
ston s p. Joudly until he had to
the an,i! mg for 3 moment. After
Rivers , lence stopped cheering, Mr.
cannot'',? n t mu ®d fa y saying, “a child
desk, the school house, the
hook. n the teacher unless he has
<W *" ere are thousands of chil-
their school today because
them.'' rents cannot buy books foi
nw rs , al J?° made a powerful
^irrn to Page 8, No. S)
lowers
FOR SALE
for
CHARLIE COULTER
SHOT TO DEATH
IN OWN YARD
COMMUNITY GREATLY STIRRED
OVER TRAGEDY. CORONER’S
JURY FIXES CRIME ON JESSIE
SMITH ALREADY UNDER AR-
REST BY SHERIFF McGUFFIN.
One of the worst crimes that has
been recorded in the county in a Long
while occurred about 10 o’clock Sun
day night, when Mr. Charlie Coulter
well known Taylor county farmer;
was shot to death in the yard of his
own- home located about seven miles
west of Butler.
Being disturbed by the continuous
barking of his dogs in the back yard
Mr. Coulter went out into the yard to
investigate the disturbance. As he
did so a man sprang from behind a
barrel in the yard and fired on him
with a shot gun, according to the
statement made by Mr. Coulter be
fore he died. The entire load from
the gun, which was fired at close
range, found lodgement in Mr. Coul
ter's abdomen, from which wound he
died about two hours later.
Previous to the shooting Sunday
night Mr. Coulter had considerable
trouble, it is claimed, with Mr. Jessie
Smith. Circumstantial evidence point
ed strongly to Mr. Smith as the man
He was ar-
hii
A large number, of both men and i
women, prominent in the Baptist who did the shooting.
churches of Georgia, left Monday for rested early Monday morning at
Fort Worth, Texas, to attend the I home in the same community as tne
Southern Baptist Convention which shooting and placed in the county
began yesterday its 79th annual ses- jail here.
sion. _ A jury, empanelled by Coroner A.
Included among the Georgia^ dele- I. Parks, after hearing much evi
ration were Mr. and Mrs. E. _E. Jar- dence in the case, though of a cir-
" 0 "'ers, " JI any occasion. Cut
? a<i « to or<lep e d flora) designs
1Ve "’anted by ^ e ia hlc representa-
<<'2^) DERS0 ’N the florist,
Americus, Ga.
ture to “Ole Man” Meyer, 1430
dropped a agme to Capt Meyer’s sol
diers and ..oreman nine to enable him
to bolster up the morale of his own
commend.
• • •
Sunday afternoon the hard hitting
Woodpeckers of Co. 1430 pecked out
a 7-6 win over the fast Ft. Benning
Supply Co. club in an 11 inning tilt
on Rohrer Field. Medicore playing by
both teams resulted in a ninth inning
tie. In the eleventh inning Thornton
singled past third and promptly pil
fered second. Carmichael, who hadn't
gotten a hit all aftenioon because of
mistaking catchers signal for teach
er’s permission to leave the room
then stopped studying his A. B. C.’s
long enough to drive out a screaming
triple to deep center, and Thornton
crossed the plate with winning run
The feature of the game was the
hurling of Johnzell Anthony, who
gave up only four bingles.
* * »
Saturday the Woodpeckers will
journey to Columbus and attempt to
make it two straight over the strong
Bibb Manufacturing team. Sunday,
the Albany nine will invade our field
for a contest. Come one, come all,
this game promises to have more col
or and excitement than any of the
season.
• • •
How glad will Forman be when
Precious Doll Baby Hill goes back to
Mississippi? ^
Carmichael announces that curb
service is in order at the Post Ex
change on washerwoman’s pay-day.
• * *
L .A. Scott was seen playing “odd
man out” with a brace of Butler s
fairest damsels—for the drinks
Who won, Scott?
• • •
Coconut Bennett crawled from
Conner Drive to the Power House at
2:00 a. m. probably an election bet—
we don’t know.
• * •
“Charming Billy” Anderson led the
rush of Chow Hounds out of the
church when the truck horn was ac
cidentally sounded.
• * •
Reverend Pate filled his regular
date at the camp last Sunday morn
ing, bringing a wonderful message on
“Mother” to a goodly number of
boys present. ^ ^
Since the beginning of the school
for cooks from various camps held
(Turn to Page 8; No. 2)
Farm Record Books
Business Partners
Daniel Declares
Recently distributed farm account
books will prove valuable business
assasitants if their owner handle them
correctly, Mr. G. "C. Daniel, county
farm agent, said yesterday.
“A daily record of all farm business
transactions enables one to find, First
of all, the leaks in a farm business,"
he said, “and these records will also
help in planning budgets, in making
Sister of Rev. Pafford
Wins Pulitzer Prize
For Her First Novel
Butler friends of Rev B. A. Pafford
foremr highly esteemed pastor of the
Butler Methodist Church, and Mrs.
Caroline Miller, of Baxley, a sister oi
the former local pastor will be inter
ested in the announcement that Mrs.
Miller won the Pultizer prize for her
work as novelist.
The first novel and published work
of Mrs, Miller, “Lamb in His Bosom,”
leasing arrangements, and in obtain- was declared the best of the year and
ing credit.” . its author was given the Pultizer
These record books, recently made prize which carries with it a cash
available for all county farm agents i award of $1,000.
to distribute by the University of | Mrs. Miller has been invited to
Georgia Agricultural Extension serv- ] speak at Wesleyan College in Macon
ice and the United States Department i where her niece, Miss Helen Pafford,
of Agriculture, will also prove valu- daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pafford, is
able in filling out AAA contracts and
proving compliance, the agent added.
“But they are primarily for the
farmers themselves,” it was empha
sized, “and should be kept by the
farmers for their own benefits.”
Those who do keep them will stay
“out of the red,” Mr. Daniel believes
and for this reason he is particularly
a student.
An Explanation
The local committee of the Butler
Methodist church, who sponsored the
_ . entertainment at the school building
anxious that every farmer keep his Tuesday night, featuring Snowball &
book complete at all times. | Sunshine, feel that an explanation is
“No business can ibe successful j U e the public for the non-appeai ance
of the “Kalico Kids,” as was adver
tised.
The committee had been promised
the personal appearance of these
young celebrities and very much dis
appointed when advised by the man
agement of the entertainment upon
arrival in Butler that other features
had been substituted unexpectedly
and unavoidably.
A remarkable story of courage is This is not intended as a reflection
told in the action of Wilber Hall, a: on those taking part in the evenings
young negro employed at the turpen-; entertainment, but due to a change
tine still of Mr. T. J. Davis, near of program, the committee feels that
rell, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Trussed
and Mrs T. L. Fountain, all of But
ler ar.d numbered among the leaders
of that denomination representing
the local church.
The Southern Baptist Convention
is of special interest to Georgia Bap
tists because it was organized in
Augusta, Ga., May 8, 1846, and
Georgia leaders have been prominent
in its work in these 89 years.
Plans made at the sessions held
last year at Washington, D. C., will
be reported on at the Ft. Worth ses
sion .
Georgians who appear on the pro
gram include Dr. Louie D. Newton,
of Atlanta, Georgia member of the
Southern Baptist convention execu
tive committee; Dr. W. H. Knight,
of Atlanta, alternate for the preach
ing of the annual convention sermon;
Dr. J. B. Lawrence, of Atlanta, sec
retary of the Home Mission board,
which will make its report Wednes
day evening; Mrs. A. F. McMahon, of
Atlanta, and Mrs. Ben Thompson, of
Madison, representing the woman’s
work of Georgia, and Dr. Ellis A.
Fuller, of Atlanta, who will deliver
an inspirational message Friday af-
ternoorf.
Featuring the opening session yes
terday was the president’s address
delivered by Dr. M. E. Dodd, of the
First church, Shreveport, La.
Representatives from the four mil
lion Baptists in the 25,000 churches
in the 18 states of the Southern Bap
tist convention will be in attendance
(Turn to Page 8; No. 4)
without records," he concluded.
Bitten Several Times By
Snake Negro Kills Reptile
And Used Body as Evidence
Charing, which occurred one day last
week.
Hall, it is said, was engaged in
cutting turpentine boxes in the woods
when he was attacked by a large
moccasin that stuck its fangs three
times in the negro’s leg. Seizing a
stick the negro succeeded in killing
the reptile. Being alone in the woods
and fearing death might overtake
him, the negro is said to have seized
the dead snake by the tail and ran
dragging it behind him to the near
est settlement for attention for his
wounds. His reason for taking the
snake with him was as evidence in
the event of his death, he said.
Although in a serious condition for
several days as the result of the bites
of the snake, Hall is said to be on
the road to recovery..
this explanation is due the public
The committee also wishes to thank
the public for the splendid co-opera
tion shown them by the large atten
dance present on this occasion.
AT THE METHODIST
CHURCH NEXT SUNDAY
Sunday school at 10 a. m. League
at 7:15 p. m. Preaching at 11 a. m.
and 8 p. m. We extend to the public
a cordial invitation to worship with
us.
If the remaining pledges are paid
in we will be able to retire the church
debt this week.
Preaching at the local OCC Cam)
next Sunday at 8:30 a. m.
W. E. HIGHTOWER, Pastor.
Large Crowds Attending
Services at Baptist Church
Much local interest is being mani
fested in the series of services in
progress this week at tne Baptist
church conducted by the pastor, Rev.
J. E. Pate with Mrs. Julian Edwards
in charge of the music
The attendance has been large at
each service, especially at both
services Sunday when extra seats had
to be provided.
The hours of service are 11 a. m.
and 8:00 p. m. with a most cordial
welcome to all to attend.
A
At Charing
Yes! A Fiddlers’ Convention at
Charing lriday night, May 25th.
We are expecting all the good fid
dlers to be there and a prize of one
two and three dollars will be given
to the best fiddlers. Will also have
the circle cake walk and ladies’ beau
ty contest. You young men will
want your best girl to get this prize.
So bring her and see that she gets it.
There’ll be good things to eat too.
Admittance is only 25c and the fun
you’ll have will do you good Pro
ceeds will be used for remodeling the
Methodist church building.
—Committee.
PINE MOUNTAIN HILL
BILLIES TO APPEAR IN
PERSON AT WESLEY
The Pine Mountain Hill-Billies, a
group of past and present radio en
tertainers, will be at Wesley school
building Saturday evening, May 19,
at 8 o’clock. There will be a stage
show with blackface and rude come
dians and plenty of music.
The public is cordially invited to
attend and enjoy the evening with
these popular radio artists. Admis
sion 10c and 20c.
cumstantial nature, returned a ver
dict late Monday afternoon in which
they charged Mr. Smith with the
crime and a warrant to this effect
was issued against him. Whether he
will ask for a preliminary trial or
await the action of the next grand
jury, which will not be in session
until next October, is not known.
Mr. Coulter, who was about 45
years of age and regarded as a good
citizen and an industrious farmer is
survived by his wife and several
children .
Smith is about 30 years old and is
unmarried.
Negro Thought Mortally
Wounded By Stab Late
Saturday May Recover
What is thought to have been the
result of a falling-out between the
pasties’ involved over the ownersmp
of a dime as a stake in a card game
near town Saturday afternoon 1 last,
Nan Lawson, negro about 26 years of
age, received what at first was be
lieved a mortal wound in the- left
side by being stabbed with a 6-inch
3-cornered file used by turpentine
workers. Clinton Burk, another negro
about the same age, and who was
charged with the crime, was arrested
by Sheriff McGuffin Saturday night
and is being held in the Taylor coun
ty jail awating the outcome of tne
wounded man’s condition. Both ne
groes are employes of the T. J. Davie
Naval Stores Company near Charing,
Lawson^ was given inedical atten
tion at the hospital here and later,
removed to his hornet According to
latest information Lawson has «.
fairly good chance I4r recovery.
! ,
Shooting In Panhandle
District Sunday Night May
Prove Fatal to Grady Hicks
With a pistol wound in his abdo
men Grady Hicks, negro, about 21
years of age, was brought to the lo
cal hospital Sunday night in a seri
ous condition. He was given medical
attention and according to latest in
formation has a slight chance for
recovery.
The shooting was done by a young
negro by the name of Sap or Henry
Stern on the Duke pantation in Pan
handle district and was witnessed by
several other negroes who had gath
ered at the home of Jim Livatta
where the shooting occurred.
Following an investigation of the
affair Sheriff MoGuffin arrested
Stern and brought him to Butler
and placed him in jail to await the
outcome of Hick’s condition.
Mr. John Purvis Painfully
Injured In Motor Accident
When a car driven by Mr. John
Purvis, of Charing, collided headon
with another car driven by Mr. W,
M. Mathews, of this city, Thursday
night, about 8 o’clock, near the res
idence of Mr .J. J. Windham, in But
ler, both machines were badly dam
aged and Mr. Purvis bruised up con
siderably. Mr. Mathews was con
siderably shaken up but otherwise
uninjured.
Mr .Purvis was carried to the local
hospital where his injuries were
given medical attention and he was
sent home.