Newspaper Page Text
The Jackson Herald
By Holder & Williamson
“THE DEVIL’S VOICE IN
BRASSTOWN”
It required just two hours and
ten minutes last Wednesday to £o
from Jefferson to Young Harris, a
distance of eighty-eight miles. The
writer and wife made the trip as
guests of Rev. and Mrs. A. B. Elizer,
in their Ford car, through Gaines
ville, Cleveland, Blairsville, and to
Young Harris. In striking contrast
was this journey to the first visit we
ever paid to Young Harris, which
was just thirty-two years ago. Then
the distance was covered in a top
buggy, drawn by two of the best
chargers that ever transported a ve
hicle. Rev. H. F. Branham was pi
lot,, driver and engineer on the oc
casion mentioned. Leaving Jeffer
son at 4 a. m., Young Harris was
reached that day at about 8 p. m.
The route then was through Mays
ville, Lula, Cleveland, Helen, and to
Young Harris. As we were going
down the mountain just before
reaching Young Harris, the breast
yoke broke, the buggy ran up on the
horses, one kicked and her heels
missed our head only a few inches.
The front wheels some how turned
across the road. We jumped from
the vehicle, caught the hind wheels,
and held on until Mr. Branham also
alighted. A catastrophe was nar
rowly averted. No other damage
was done save that mentioned above,
tt t t
The first view of Young Harris
impressed us with its calmness and
isolation. Located in beautiful
Brasstown Valley, with the majestic
mountains rearing their lofty heads
almost all around, it appeared that
man had built the little city in a
fertile valley, where nature would
supply it with a luxuriance of food
and vegetation, the hills with fuel,
ard the mountains give protection
against the vandalism of man and
the fury of the elements. The little
town has grown up about the school,
which was located and built here by
a very consecrated man in Athens,
Young L. G. Harris.
tt t t
In telling us the incipiency of the
school, Rev. Branham on this visit
said, “Mr. Harris appointed a com
mittee of his friends to select a site
for a school in the very heart of the
mountains, and Brasstown Valley
was chosen. He furnished the money
with which to erect the first school
building. His heart yearned to do
something for the people of the
mountains, for he believed no great
er, nobler people ever lived than the
pure Anglo-Saxons of the hills and
mountains. School opened one Sep
tember day, with thirteen pupils. A
bell was provided the school, and the
first morning its sounds echoed all
through the valley. One of the
natives who opposed the school said,
‘This is the first time the devil’s
voice was ever heard in Brasstown
Valley’.” Mr. Branham continued,
“Before this man’s death, he became
one of the school’s staunchest and
best friends. His children are not
only friends, but are patrons of the
school.” We served in the House
with one of this man’s grandsons; a
finer man we never knew.
tt t t
Mr. Branham, an ardent friend of
the school, continued, “Judge Harris
started the school. Not only the in
stitution, but the town, was named
in his honor. He never visited the
school, nor did he ever see its loca
tion, even before the construction of
any part of the school or village.
Sincerely believing he would go to
Heaven, he said he would look down
from the battlement of the sky at
sons and daughters of the mountains
obtaining knowledge and inspiration
here, and that he hoped there would
come to him a voice from the land
of love and song, ‘Weil done.’ Young
L. G. Harris has left here a monu
ment to himself that will live on
and on.” These were the words of
the man who gave us the story of
the location of Young Harris Col
lege.
t t t t
On first visit we met Rev. J.
A. Sharp, the president. From
then until his death we came in
frequent contact with him. We have
known many men, educated and un
educated, x-ich and poor, but Joe
Sharp had few equals, and no su
periors. Modest was he, almost to
the point of timidity. In the field
as a farmer, he was an Agricola.
The science of farming was success
fully applied by him to the tilling of
SINGLE COPY 5c
the soil. Among men, he was plain
of dress and speech, unostentatious,
democratic, kind and unselfish. In
the school room, he was a Gamaliel.
Not only did he impart to pupils the
knowledge of books, but he impress
ed upon them the value of character
by his own life. In the pulpit, he
was a gospel messenger whose pow
er could not have been greater, even
in the College of Bishops. It was
such a man at that time who was at
the head of this school which drew
to it hundreds of students from dif
ferent parts of Georgia. While at
the head of the school he was sum
moned from time to eternity. His
body reposes in the Young Harris
cemetery. Not long since a young
graduate of Young Harris, Mr. J. H.
Pittard, said, “We will build a great
monument to Dr. J. A. Sharp.”
May his efforts be crowned with suc
cess. He will have our sincere co
operation.
tt t t
At that time we listened to one
of the greatest debates ever heard
in a school auditorium. One of the
participants was Jack Lance, a young
mountain boy who had never at that
time seen a railroad. We have list
ened to school boy debates, political
discussions and legislative argu
ments, but never have we heard a
better prepared speech and one de
livered with greater earnestness than
the speech of Jack Lance in 1906
in this debate. After his graduation
at Young Harris, he attended col
lege, taught in other places, but to
day he is the president of Young
Harris College. His name has fre
quently been mentioned for Chan
celler of the University of Georgia.
With him in this position, no Uni
versity woud have at its head a more
conscientious man. Young Harris
has a big enrollment of pupils. We
were there this year just before the
close of the spring term, and what a
grand array of bright boys and girls
passed in review before these two
hundred Stewards of the Methodist
church of the Gainesville district,
who spent that day in Young Har
ris. It was not only a pleasant, but
happy day, meeting so many good
citizens and churchmen at this con
ference, and seeing so many noble
and promising young men and wo
men.
tt t t
Many improvements have been
made in the school during this past
third of a century. New buildings
have been erected, and modern
equipment bought. A man who de
serves much credit for the many
betterments of this institution is
Scott B. Appleby, a native of Jack
son county, who has amassed a big
fortune out in the business world.
He has given to Young Harris thous
ands. Young Hai'ris College has
wrought a wonderful work in the
educational field. We have often
made this statement, that no school
any where renders greater or better
sei’vice for the amount spent than
Young Harris. This school educates
at minimum cost, not only the head,
but the heart. It builds character.
Rev. M. J. Cofer, for many years
chairman of the board of trustees
of the school, frequently said,
“There is not a black sheep among
the graduates of Young Harris.”
+t t t
Besides going over the Blue Ridge
in a buggy, as above mentioned, and
this year in a late model Ford, there
was another time when we crossed
this lofty crest of nature that gave
us a great thrill. We were chairman
of the State Highway Board, and
determined to construct a great
highway across this mountain range.
The division engineer, H. W. Mor
gan, walked over the mountain nine
times before he found a satisfactory
location. After this the survey was
made and contracts were let for con
struction of this needed highway,
one of the contractors erected a
tent in which to dwell in a gorge not
far from the right of way of the
newly surveyed and contracted road.
We were invited by Mr. Morgan to
go over the entire project from end
to end with him and make an in
spection of same, beginning south
of Blairsville. We rode a short dis
tance on horse back. From then on
it was walking. With John H.
Moore, Dr. C. R. Arnold and Mr.
Morgan, we walked some miles, af
ter which we spent the night in the
contractor’s tent. It was certainly
JEFFERSON, Jackson County, Georgia.
Womans Club Meets With
Mrs. L. H. Isbell
The Jefferson Womans Club held
the final meeting of the club year
on Monday afternoon at the home of
Mrs. L. H. Isbell, with Mrs. Isbell,
Mrs. H. L. Garrison, Mrs. H. W.
Davis, Mrs. Y. D. Maddox and Mrs.
Hubert Martin hostesses.
The meeting opened with the
reading of the Club Collect by Mrs.
J. D. Escoe.
After the minutes of the May
meeting were read and approved, the
president, Mrs. M. M. Bryan, called
on each of the department chairmen
for a report of the past year’s work
accomplished by the club in its re
spective departments. These proved
most interesting, and showed splen
did achievement in all phases of club
activities.
A motion was made and passed
that the Cabin be used as a meeting
place for the club next year; also,
a motion that the secretary write a
note of thanks to Dr. Lord and Dr.
Stovall for giving their services in
the clinic recently held at Martin
Institute for immunizing the school
children against diptheria, typhoid,
and small pox.
The president appointed a com
mittee for arranging hostesses and
the program for the next club year.
Miss Joyce Storey, who is second
vice-president of the club, is chair
man of this committee.
Mbs. L. H. Isbell reported on the
Curb Market, which was opened Sat
urday at the Canning Plant.
At the close of the business meet
ing, Miss Carolyn Lord rendered two
piano solos, which were greatly en-
joyed.
After adjournment, the hostesses
served sandwiches and punch.
Those present, were: Mesdames J.
C. Turner, Y. D. Maddox, Guy
Strickland, J. D. Escoe, M. M. Bry
an, J. S. Ayers, Effie Flanigan, J. E.
Randolph, L. H. Isbell, E. H. Deaton,
W. TANARUS, Bryan, R. M. Rigdon, E. H.
Crooks, Stiles Dadisman, B. E. Mc-
Collum, Byrd Martin, A. S. Johnson,
H. E. Aderhold, J. N. Holder, Tom
Turner, Claude Barnett, T. T. Ben
ton, H. L. Garrison, H. W. Davis,
Hubert Martin, C. B. Lord, Misses
Frances Smith, Carolyn Lord, Joyce
Storey, Irene Rankin, Mary Irwin
Smith.
a quiet night. Not a sound was
heard save nature’s voices, except
the tinkle of a cow bell as a member
of the bovine tribe grazed on the
mountain side or in the cove. The
ceaseless and monotonous tinkling of
the bell denoted no disturbance
about there, and this noise aided us
to enjoy perfect repose and sweet
sleep. Next morning bright and
early we resumed our journey
across the mountain. At times the
progress was slow, as there was no
path to travel. Sometimes the dis
tance above and below us was hun
dreds of feet. We always clung ten
aciously to bushes and trees, and
never let loose of one until we
caught another. Finally the in
spection of the project late that day
was completed, and a feeling of
deep satisfaction abided in our heart.
tt t t
Not only did we see these road
projects completed, but they were
followed by other contracts provid
ing for their hard surfacing. Final
ly a paved road, though only ten
feet wide in some places, stretched
from Gainesville and Cleveland,
across the mountain to Blairsville.
From Blaii'sville the hard surfacing
was continued towards Murphy, to
the North Carolina line. Then fol
lowed the paving from Blairsville to
Young Harris, and to Hiawassee.
Many difficulties, obstacles and em
barrassments were encountered in
this mammoth undertaking. There
was little money with which to con
summate the effort. If at time we
almost despaired of doing the task,
no one was made aware of it. Two
men, however, not only encouraged
us, but lightened the burden as far
as they could with their efforts,
Joseph A. Sharp of Young Harris,
and Wm. E. Candler of Blairsville.
Both lived to see a hard surface road
across the mountain, and both were
important and contributing factors
in this achievement. Nothing we
ever did in public life gives us more
pleasure and satisfaction than the
work we did as chairman of the
State Highway Board in helping
build and pave a great highway from
Gainesville to Young Harris.
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
Political Races Warming Up
Among the Gubernatorial
And Senate Candidates in
Georgia.
Senator Walter F. George will
formally open his campaign for re
election at a home coming celebra
tion planned by his fellow citizen of
affirmed his pledge of tax reduction,
In the meantime, speaking dates
were announced Saturday by two of
his opponents.
Lawrence S. Camp, federal dis
trict attorney, who is running on a
New Deal platform, will speak at
the court house in Jonesboro at 2:30
o’clock (E. S. TANARUS.) Saturday after
noon, June 18.
Governor Rivers is busy every day
making speeches at commencements,
barbecues, picnics, the Georgia Press
Association and other similar gath
erings. While his speeches are not
political, he takes occasion to tell of
some of the achievements of his ad
ministration.
Hugh Howell, candidate for gov
ernor, in a speech Friday night, re
affirmed his pledge of tax reduction,
better rural schools and elimination
of the “unreasonable number of high
salaries” in assailing the Rivers ad
ministration. He attacked the dis
counting of rentals of the state
owned W. and A. railroad as extra
vagant, and called for economy in
the state welfare department.
Pegging down the homestead
plank in his platform, senate candi
date Eugene Talmadge declared Fri
day night “free land built America
and free land must save America.”
In the second broadcast address
of his drive for votes, the ex-gover
nor forwent any mention of his
three opponents, but observed:
“Judging from the speech of one
of my opponents last Saturday night
over the radio, it will not be neces
sary for me to go to the expense
and take up the time public
in pointing out the defects and
faults of my opponents. I am satis
fied that my opponents will tell on
each other.”
United States Attorney Lawrence
S. Camp, one of the three candidates
seeking the seat of Senator Walter
F. George, devoted half of his open
ing campaign address Saturday night
to criticism of the senator.
George’s third foe, William G. Mc-
Rae of Atlanta, opened his campaign
with a broadcast speech Saturday
night.
Injecting anew issue into Geor
gia’s senatorial campaign, Mcßae
urged support of the Townsend Na
tional Recovery plan.
The Pro New Deal Atlanta at
torney, in his opening campaign
speech, criticized his opponents,
Senator Walter F. George, United
States District Attorney Lawrence
S. Camp and former governor Eu
gene Talmadge.
Mcßae asserted that in every pri
mary election this year in which the
Townsend plan was an issue “the
candidates favorable to it have been
elected.”
RIVERS BUYS PLOT
FOR HUGE MARKET
Georgia has bought a 16-acre
tract of land in Atlanta on which
Governor Rivers said the state plans
to build “the biggest market for
farm products in the south.”
The governor tendered a check
for $22,750, drawn on the state’s
stabilization fund, and gave the deed
to the plot to Columbus Roberts,
commissioner of agriculture.
Georgia will ask a $1,000,000
grant from the WPA to build stores,
warehouses, cold storage plants and
loading platforms at the site, situat
ed between Atlanta and suburban
College Park.
Roberts heads a committee to
work out details for the market.
Other state officials on the commit
tee are Hamilton Ralls, marketing
supervisor of the agriculture depart
ment, R. C. Job of the state plan
ning board, and Dean Paul Chapman
of the state college of agriculture.
BOLT KILLS FARM HAND
Madison, Ga., June 13.—William
Davis, 22, negro, and the mule he
was plowing were killed by lightning
on H. A. Davis' farm near Apalachee
Saturday shortly after he returned
to the field from the noon hour. His
brother, working near him, was
shocked.
Thursday, June 16, 1938.
COUNTY AGENT’S
COLUMN
We are holding the school to in
struct supervisors in checking per
formance on the 1938 farm program
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,
June 13, 14, and 15. We are be
ginning to check compliance earlier
this year than previously, and expect
to have this work completed not
later than August 16. We are re
questing the farmers to co-operate
with the supervisors in charge of
their farms by being present when
the farms are visited and assisting
with the checking of each field. We
had lots of complaints last year from
farmers stating that all of their cul
tivated land had not been measured.
We are anxious that this be correct
ed and the numbers of acres of crop
land be correct when turned in by
the supervisors. In fact, each farm
er will be required to sign a state
ment showing that he was present,
and that all land cultivated by him
was measured by the supervisor.
The supervisor will not be allowed
to measure a farm unless the pro
ducer is present or his representa
tive. This precaution is taken to
stop any chance of having com
plaints against the supervisors in
checking the farms as they should.
A good number of our farmers are
using a combine with which to har
vest their wheat and oats this sum
mer. On account of weather con
ditions, we wish to caution each one
to be careful and see that his grain
does not heat.
The grain should be poured out on
a tight floor, or, if left in a sack,
each sack should have plenty of
space for the air to circulate around
it. Wheat that is poured on the
floor should be stirred occasionally
until it is completely dry.
We have had our first experience
this year in having flour made from
wheat grown on our own farm.
This is a superior grade of flour in
all respects to what we have been
buying. I am certain that if the
producers in Jackson county would
make their wheat into flour, they
would have a market that would take
care of every bushel that they would
have for sale. I can assure those
who purchase flour made from Jack
son county wheat that it is a very
fine grade of wheat, and a good cook
can make fine biscuits, etc., from it.
Let’s patronize our home-grown pro
ducts, and help our farmers to sell
large crop.
I wish to state that the R. E. A.
project is going along nicely, and
that we expect to have funds in hand
directly after the first of July with
which to start construction of linens
with which to carry this service to
our people.
J. W. Jackson, County Agt.
RIVERS OUTMILKS
ROBERTS IN TEST
ON CAPITOL LAWN
Atlanta.—Governor E. D. Rivers
put the double squeeze on a butt
headed Jersey, and out-milked
Agriculture Commissioner Columbus
Roberts by the barest cream-in-your
coffee margin.
The smiling governor stoutly held
out for a handicap over Roberts,
long a big dairyman, but the pair
came to grips on even tex-ms. It was
a capital lawn stunt to publicize the
“drink more milk” drive.
With Roberts, it was a full dress
affair. He bowed to bossy robed in
a flowing white outfit. Rivers rolled
his sleeves and stripped his coat.
But there was method in Roberts’
plan. “You see,” he explained with
all dignity to the laughing throng,
“I’m milking grade A milk. The
governor there, he’s going to milk
grade B.”
The glossy-coated cows appeared
contented enough considering the
off-schedule hour they were asked to
give—3 p. m. At any rate they
backed and behaved in the decorous
manner befitting registered bovines
christened Doll Sadie Blake and Ma
jestic Fairy Lady Flora.
With an abiding trust in Doll
Sadie Blake, Governor Rivers plant
ed a pail between her feet, perched
himself on a tiny stoll and double
streamed it. He had a quart before
the cow could shift her cud.
More cautious but just as jaunty,
Roberts kept a safety hand on the
bucket and flourished a fancy left
hand swing movement. He finished
a cup-close second.
Vol. 62. No. 46.
CCC CAMPS
1806 To Be Enrolled In CCC
Camps Between July 1
And July 20.
Atlanta.—The largest enrollment
of CCC workers since last October
will take place in Georgia between
July 1 and July 20, when 1806 en
rollees will be sought.
Of the total number, 1679 of the
vacancies are for white youths, and
127 for negroes.
Since two applicants are required
for each vacancy in order that an
alternate may be selected in event
some of the applicants fail to pass
the necessary physical examination,
it will be necessary to have approxi
mately 3600 to take the examina
tions. The State Department of Pub
lic Welfare now has on hand the ap
plications of 1300 young men who
have passed all requirements except
the physical examinations. This
leaves approximately 2300 new ap
plications to be placed in form be
fore July Ist.
Each county of the state will be
assigned a quota in the enrollment,
and county welfare directors will be
advised of this quota.
Applications for admission to the
CCC should be filed with county
welfare directors by young men be
tween the ages of 17 and 25, whose
families are in need of the support
they will be given through their en
rollment. Each enrolee must return
to his family $25 of the monthly pay
of S3O which he receives.
All of the vacancies in the July
enrollment with the exception of 300
are for Georgia camps. The 300
others are for vacancies in camps on
the West Coast.
Great Singing to Be Held at
Maysville, Sunday, June 19
The Northeast Georgia Singing
Convention will meet at Maysville
on the third Sunday in June, the
19th, at the school auditorium.
This convention includes nine
counties, and is composed of some of
the best singers in the state.
Mr. C. F. Kesler of Cornelia is
president of the convention, and he
urges that all who like good singing
to attend the meeting.
! 1 ~ i
ARMY OFFICER AT BENNING
HELD IN WIFE’S SLAYING
Columbus, Ga.—The federal gov
ernment jailed Major John R.
Brooke, Jr., Saturday on a charge
that he murdered his wife but its-'
spokesmen steadfastly withheld all
details of the case against the 200-
pound army officer.
U. S. Commissioner N. A. Brown
ordered the 44-year-old grandson of
a major general held without bond
after the prisoner pleaded innocence
and waived preliminary hearing.
Brooke will be held in county jail
pending action on his case by a fed
eral grand jury expected to be sum
moned late this month.
Mrs. Brooke, comely, 42-year-old
mother of three children, was found
fatally beaten in the Brooke home
at nearby Fort Benning last Wednes
day.
Major Brooke, an instructor m
the Fort’s vast infantry school, was
afield on maneuvers when two
daughters discovered their mother’s
body. He was recalled, placed in
the post hospital where he was held
until civil authorities claimed him.
6,551 IN GEORGIA GIVEN JOBS
IN MONTH
Employment was given 6,551 job
less Georgians during May through
the activity of the Georgia State
Employment Service and National
Re-employment Service, it was re
ported Saturday.
The state service placed 3,588 per
sons, 1,315 in private employment
and 2,273 on public works jobs. The
National Re-employment Service
placed 2,963 persons, 846 in private
work and 2,117 on public-works
jobs.
The Macon District led in private
placements for the month with 452,
while the Atlanta District was next
with 373.
The public employment offices
registered 9,835 persons for employ
ment during the month, the number
representing 9.2 per cent increase
over the preceding month. j