85 years ago: August 10, 1939

HUTCHINSON RE-ELECTED
P.C. Hutchinson, Dublin barber shop proprietor, today stood on the threshold of his fifth two-year term as alderman from Dublin’s Third Ward in yesterday’s democratic primary in which five city offices were filled. The vote was 439 to 345. Victory in the primary is tantamount to election.Three other councilmen and a mayor were nominated without opposition. They were:
Mayor:
B.F. Sessions 768
Councilmen:
Martin Willis, First Ward 773
Milo Smith, Second Ward 771
M.Z. Claxton, Fourth Ward 758
One vote was polled for Jack Frost for mayor; it was written in.
At the same time, a new democratic executive committee, composed of only one hold-over, was elected. Those elected were
First Ward, O.R. Bennett 775
Second Ward, R.L. Webb 782
Third Ward, James “Skippy” Ogburn 781
Fourth Ward, J.M. Peacock 782
Despite the fact that only one post was contested, yesterday’s primary was one of the most spirited in Dublin’s history where generally every candidate finds opposition in the democratic primary.
Interest in the race was shown by the large vote polled. Out of a possible 1,900 registered voters, 784 ballots were cast while in last year’s
primary, with five candidates seeking three seats on the council from the city at large, only 681 votes were cast out of a possible 1,900.
Voting was brisk during the morning with a total of 348 tickets marked up until 12:30. Quieting off in the early afternoon, Dublin citizens again began streaming to the polls in the fire department during the late afternoon running total tickets marked well near a record.
Official Vote at 10 P.M.
Polls opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m. with the striking of the county courthouse clock. A minute or two before 6 p.m., Chief of Police J.W. Robertson walked to the entrance to the fire department, cupped his hands megaphonically to his mouth and shouted:
“Polls about to close. Anyone not in sight of polls cannot cast a ballot.”
A minute later the clock struck, and Chairman Rollin Stanley of the election managers, declared the polls officially closed.
Election managers transferred their work to the council room of the City Hall and began within a short time tabulating the vote. At 8 o’clock, time was called for supper, after which the work was resumed, with the official vote being announced at 10 o’clock.
A large and interested crowd gathered in the council room for the tabulation while others stood around in front of the City Hall, keeping in touch with progress by questioning those going to and fro from the tabulation room.
Election managers were Col. Stanley, Joe Donaldson, James “Skippy” Ogburn, and J.J. Flanders.
(The story below is copied from the Macon Telegraph, giving the comment carried by that paper in reporting results of yesterday’s election.)
“Dublin, Aug. 9 – Alderman P.C. Hutchinson, veteran administration candidate, was renominated for his fifth consecutive two-year term from he third ward in the only contested race in today’s municipal primary. Hutchinson defeated D.T. (Red) Cowart, advertising manager of the Dublin Courier-Herald, 439 to 345, in what developed into as spirited election as this politically-minded city has ever witnessed.
“Cowart was openly backed by W.H. Lovett, one of the state’s leading business men, a representative in the general assembly, and publisher of the Courier-Herald, who for the third consecutive time had sought unsuccessfully to gain a foothold in city affairs.
In uncontested race for mayor, B.F. (Dee) Sessions, now a member of council, was nominated to succeed Dr. Charles A. Hodges, who declined to offer for a second term. Three other administration candidates for aldermen also renominated without opposition were Martin Willis, Milo Smith, and M.Z. Claxton.”

LAURENS TAX DIGEST REVEALS DECLINE
Decision of many Laurens countians to drive last year’s jitney another 12 months today had caused a serious drop in the 1939 tax digest despite a nice rise in valuation of real estate and personal property.
A.E. Hadden, Laurens County Tax Receiver, in making public the 1939 digest, reported total valuation of automobiles in Laurens County at $435,85 as compared with $502,575 during the previous year, a drop of $66,770.
Even with the heavy loss to make up, Mr. Hadden reported, the total gross drop in the digest was cut sharply by a gain in real estate and personal property values during 1939 over the preceding 12 month period.
Taking homestead and personal property exemptions away from the 1939 digest, net taxable property was placed at $5,616,885 as compared with the higher $5,738,295 during 1938. Losses to the net digest ran $21,410, according to Mr. Hadden.
Homestead and personal property exemptions in Laurens County, where some 8,000 persons will pay taxes this year, shot upward during the past 12 months. Total exemptions this year amounted to $2,434,640 as compared with last year.
Real estate exemptions gained $64,00 over last year.
Decrease in the valuation of automobiles in Laurens County during the past year was blamed for the greatest reduction in taxable property. Mr. Hadden explained that state scales of automobile valuation showed reductions of from $250 downward on automobiles that are a year old this year. He estimated that between 4500 and 5000 automobiles are owned by residents of the county, having placed the automobiles on the digest from information secured from the state tag department.

CONVICTS BE RETURNED
Moving for more economy in administration of county affairs, Laurens County Commissioners have decided to return to the state all but between 20 to 25 of the 70 convicts now being used in road work, it was revealed today by Walter Daniel, Clerk of the County Commission.
Mr. Daniels said that the transfer of prisoners back to the
state would be effected by September 1. Action of the commissioners was taken several weeks ago, but no transfer has been made, it was said.
In the past, it was explained, convicts received from the state have been employed on improvements to state-aid roads on which the county received contracts from the Georgia Highway Department until such activities were curtailed because of the state of Georgia’s financial affairs.
Atlanta officials have announced that no additional road work for counties will be let for sometime, and commissioners J.F. Graham, R.M. Lord, and L.O. Beacham, Jr. voted to return the convicts to the state as soon as present contracts expire.
Private sources reported that the 20 to 25 convicts being kept by the
commissioners would be needed to care for bridges in the county.
At present the convicts are housed at Camp Number One about four miles from Dublin, consolidation of the three county camps having been effected during the month of July.

RECORDER REPORTS ON FEES
Dublin merchants and business men who have gone this far in the 1939 year without payment of operating fees have until Monday morning to right their accounts with the city.
Council, acting on a suggestion of Alderman Milo Smith, Chairman of the License Committee, ordered Judge Dawson Kea of Recorder’s Court last night to clear all old license cases off the docket immediately.
Judge Kea set Monday beginning at 9 o’clock as the hearing for those 24-odd who have failed to pay 1939 operating licenses.
Sufficient policemen will be in court on Monday morning, Judge Kea said, to bring all defendants and witnesses to court if they do not appear voluntarily.
City Clerk Millard Rogers estimated that between $600 and $700 is still due the city from 1939 licenses.
Council took action on the delinquent merchants when Alderman Smith asked Judge Kea to report on condition of all license cases turned over to the police for collection.
Judge Kea reported that some 24 were still unpaid and that the officers had postponed final action until cotton money began circulating more freely.
Police officials made cases against a majority of those who failed to pay their licenses by the January 25 deadline during the latter part of June and the first of July but held off more drastic action of collection on pleas of some businesses that July is always a dull month and that payments could be made more easily when cotton money began forging its way through the channels of trade.
Action on the license case was taken at the regular bi-monthly meeting of the mayor and councilmen last night at the City Hall. Present at the meeting were Mayor Charles A. Hodges and Councilmen Dee Sessions, Martin Willis, E.B. Mackey, W.P. Tindol, Milo Smith, and M.Z. Claxton.
The Mayor and Council also voted not to extend sewers and water mains outside the city limits. The vote came when an extension was asked on Bellevue Avenue.

VAGRANCY TO BE NO MORE
Vagrants, both white and black, will be no more in Dublin, Chief of Police J.W. Robertson said so. And if that isn’t enough, Judge Dawson Kea of Recorder’s court is backing the police chief to the limit.
Chief Robertson said too much cotton is in the fields for anyone to be idle and said that anyone caught idling and loitering on any of the streets of Dublin in the future will be arrested and charged with vagrancy.
This rule has already come into effect. Judge Kea sentenced Horace May to ten days work on the streets of Dublin on a charge of vagrancy the other day. The judge warned that other such sentences will be meted out to those found guilty of the same offense.

DETAILS WORKED OUT FOR REA LINE
Plans for advertising for bids on the $188,000 rural power project recently approved by the Rural Electrification Administration in Laurens, Wilkinson, Bleckley, and Twiggs counties will probably be laid this week, it was revealed today.
J.L. Allen, President of the Oconee Membership Corporation, reported that all details pertaining to securing necessary funds from the REA had been removed and things are in readiness for advertising for bids.
Mr. Allen said, however, that bids could not be laid for advertising until a meeting of the Board of Directors of the project is held. He said that this meeting will be held this week when last minute details will be worked out.
At the same time, Congressman Carl Vinson, who has been interested in securing REA approval of the 226-mile project, informed officials that he had received confirmation of information pertaining to approval of the allotment by the REA which he had passed on to interested parties last week.
Plans submitted to the REA call for construction of 226.4 miles of rural power lines throughout Laurens, Wilkinson, Bleckley, and Twiggs counties with a total membership of 693 families and a prospective membership list of 534 additional families.
Officers of the Association are looking forward to extending the proposed line when present rural power lineage has been constructed.

WELFARE CHECKS MAILED
Payments by the Laurens County Welfare Department increased $8 during August over July, it was reported today as checks for the regular August benefits were mailed to more than 327 persons.
Checks in the mails now for the August 15 payments to old age, dependent children, and blind recipients totaled $3,019 as compared with $3,011 during the month of July when benefits were paid to 315 persons in the county.
August payments were placed in the mails yesterday, Welfare Department officials stated.
Latest benefits were divided as follows:
60 families with 142 dependent children, $739.50
19 blind, $216.00
238 old age, $2,063.50
Total, $3, 019.00
Payments during the month of July were divided thusly:’
234 old age, $2,027.50
62 families with 149 dependent children, $769.50
19 blind, $214.00
Total, $3,011.00

WPA WAGE HIKE
Like other workers throughout the Macon District, WPA job holders in Dublin and Laurens County will receive pay hikes on September 1, it was disclosed today.
Skilled workers on projects in the county will receive a $7.80 per month raise under new increased in pay, ordered by F.C. Harrington, WPA Administrator in Washington. Skilled workers now are receiving $66.30 per month.
Professional and technical workers in the county are looking forward to a raise from $74.10 to $75.40 on the first of next month.
Intermediate workers and unskilled labor will receive a pay hike of $3.90 which will bring their wage to $57.20 for intermediate workers and $42.90 for unskilled workmen.

NYA GIRLS ENJOY TRIP
Twenty-four young girls form the local NYA home on Crescent Drive enjoyed a trip to Washington, D.C., which was made possible by their being thrifty housewives, Miss Virginia Graves, NYA Counsellor, said today, as she gave an interesting report of the trip.
Economizing in various ways with their household budget over a period of three months, the capable young Laurens County girls saved funds for the delightful and educational trip.
Traveling in a comfortable and spacious bus driven by Burnsey Dominy and Nolan Holliday, the girls were accompanied by Miss Graves and Mrs. F.M. Ford, who is a WPA Teacher. Mrs. C.M. Page and John Bridges of the Dudley High School faculty made the trip with the group.
En route, the first stop was in Columbia, South Carolina, where the party visited the Carolina state capitol. They made an overnight stop in Raleigh, North Carolina, where they were guests at Meredith College and visited the state capitol building while in Raleigh.
Arriving in Richmond, Virginia, the travelers were shown places of historic interest by Mr. Bass, local NYA director, which included state buildings, Seven Pines, famous old churches, and Byrd Park.
Continuing to Fredricksburg, visits were made to Martha Washington’s tomb, and to Betty Washington Lewis’ home, Kenmore.
In Washington, the NYA home was visited, and the party was served refreshments by the NYA staff. They were entertained at supper in the Friendship House by Miss Lydia Burklin.
Places of interest visited in the capitol city included the capitol, the White House, treasury-where the girls saw money being made – Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the Smithsonian Institute, and numerous others.
On the return trip in the state of Virginia, Skyline Drive was included on the itinerary, and a night was spent in Roanoke.
NYA Girls making the trip were
Odell Brown
Mamie Register
Addie English
Louise Knight
Fannie Graham
Wilma Hatcher
Velma Watson
Martha Bailey
Louise Bell
Florine Tyson
Sara Flanders
Reea Watson
Omie Lee Harden
Verdie Glover
Evie Dell Taylor
Mattie Lee Parish
Dorothy Faircloth
Marjorie Bracewell
Verna Floyd
Lorabelle Stewart
Selma Fountain
Beatrice Bracewell

LAURENS LADIES AT CONFERENCE
A large number of Laurens County ladies are in Athens this week attending the annual Farm and Home Week programs being held at the University of Georgia.
Led by Miss Nelle Robinson, Laurens County Home Demonstration Agent, these ladies from this county are attending:
Miss Lucy Stanley McArthur, Irwinton, Route One
Mrs. O.M. Bracewell, Rentz
Mrs. L.N. Mullis, Rentz
Mrs. J.C. Lindsey, Rentz
Mrs. Daily Harden, Harmony Community
Mrs. J.A. Wolfe, Bethsaida Community
Mrs. C.S. Thomas, Dexter
Aside from the ladies at the meeting are two girls 4-H club and one boy 4-H Club member in attendance in the State Leadership Conference. The girls are Miss Evelyn Wyatt, Dublin, Route One.
Miss Martha Weaver, Dudley
The boy is James Lowery of Cross Roads.
Other women from the county are expected to go to Athens the latter part of the week to take part in interesting and varied entertainments,
The Laurens County Band goes to Athens tomorrow and will take part in an expansive program on Friday.

OLIVET NEWS
By Mrs. Harry Minton
Congratulations to Fannie Joe Minton on her second birthday anniversary, August 2.
Mrs. Dewey Faulk and son visited Mrs. Leona Fuqua recently.
Mr and Mrs. Russell Minton and children and William Minton visited Mr. and Mrs. Harry Minton and daughter on Sunday.
Friends of Mrs.Lizzie Fuqua regret her illness and wish her an early recovery. She is at Claxton’s Hospital.

DUBLIN ROUTE 6
By Mozelle Warnock
Miss Lannell Williams has returned to her home near Lyons after visiting her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Snow.
Mrs. Estoria Barwick and son Clovis were the Sunday guests of Misses Mozelle and Clemmie Warnock.
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Clements were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clements.
C.J. Purdee has returned home after visiting in Glenwood.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hall and children of Pleasant Springs spent Monday with Mr. and Mrs. Hardie Warnock.
Miss Clemmie Warnock returned to her home here after spending a while in Savannah with Mr. and Mrs. E.O. Smith.

DUBLIN, ROUTE 2
By Erma Brown
Mr. and Mrs. John Dominy and daughter, Hazel, of Glenwood are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Dominy and family.
Misses Ellen and Beulah Payne are visiting friends and relatives.
Friends of Miss Martha Linder regret her illness and wish her an early recovery at Coleman’s Hospital.
Curtis Moorman of Lovett was the week end guest of Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Brown.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wheeler and little daughter and Mrs. Kitchens of Dublin were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. I.H. Fisher and Miss Hattie Fisher.
Miss Idell Beckham of Thomas Cross Roads is visiting Mrs. Walter Sumner and Mr. Sumner.
Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Dominy, Miss Jeanette and Mett Dominy were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Curry of Dudley.
Mary L. Brown of Kittrell is visiting Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Brown.
Lamb Herndon has returned home here after visiting relatives in Dudley.
Friends of Mrs. H.L. Dominy are delighted that she is much improved after a recent illness.
Miss Irma Brown in visiting in Dublin as the guest of Mrs. J.F. Harden and Mrs. W.C. Coleman.

COLORED NEWS
The Progressive Club of Jackson Chapel CME Church will meet on Monday, August 25th, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hall, 405 Florida Street.
The president urges that each member be present at 9:00 promptly.
The trustees, parents, and 4-H Club members of the Mary Grove School are sponsoring a picnic in the interest of the Mt. Calvary AB Church, August 24th, 1939. There will be a program and rally at 2:00. Mr. H.H. Dudley, a prominent Dublin business man, will be the main speaker. There will be also other interesting speakers on the program, viz Mrs. E.M. Lampkin, Home Demonstration Agent; Mr. Emory Thomas, Farm Agent; and Rev. J. Foster. After the speaking there will be lemonade and lunch served.The parents are urged to come and pay their pledges, and a cordial invitation is extended to the general public to be present.
Henry Pearson, Reporter

CURB, GUTTER JOB PROGRESSING
Weather permitting, work of curbing and guttering Franklin Street will be completed possibly today and assuredly by tomorrow, Meran Roberts, city engineer, revealed.
The Franklin Street job is a part of a city-wide project being jointly sponsored by the Works Progress Administration and the city of Dublin. This new project, calling for 16 miles of curbs and gutters on both sides of eight miles of city streets, was begun on March 1.
To date, Mr. Roberts said, approximately 116,,000 feet of curb and gutter, or a little over a mile, of city streets had been laid by 55 WPA workers. This project thus far has been confined to Franklin and Lawrence streets, he said.
Other similar jobs are contemplated over the city when property owners along streets where there is no curb and gutter agree to participate in the program, he said.

CHANGES IN NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS
Col L.C Pope, commanding officer of 121st Infantry, Georgia National Guard, today announced three changes in the commissioned officers staff of Company K, local infantry company.
Col. Pope announced that:

1. First Lieutenant Clifford H Prince has been promoted to captain succeeding captain Charles F. Pope who was promoted to major in charge of plans and training for the 121st Infantry and assigned as commanding officer of Company K.
2. Second Lieutenant Brooks Bryans of Headquarters Company of the Third Battalion has been promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to Company K, succeeding Captain Prince.
3. A.T. Coleman, Jr. has been commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to Company K, succeeding Lieutenant Chris White, resigned.
   In making the announcement, Col. Pope said that the changes would become effective immediately.
   Captain Prince has been connected with the Dublin national guards for a number of years, first enlisting in Company K soon after its formation. His second enlistment was in 1932. During the next year he rose rapidly in the ranks and when commissioned second lieutenant of the company in 1933 ranked as sergeant, having served previously as corporal.
   In 1935, Lt. Prince was promoted to first lieutenant of Company K, serving in that capacity until his recent promotion when Captain Pope was promoted to major.
   Captain Prince was in active command of Company K during recent summer maneuvers at Ft. McClelland, Alabama.
   Lieutenant Bryans has had wide experience in national guard companies, both in Headquarters Company and Company K, Dublin’s two units. He was a charter member of Headquarters Company which was organized in June 1921. After serving one enlistment in that company, he retired from National Guard work until several years later when he enlisted in Company K. He rose rapidly, serving as supply sergeant and top sergeant of the infantry company before being commissioned in March 1936 as a second lieutenant and transferred to Headquarters Company for duty.
   During the Third Army maneuvers in Mississippi in 1938 Lt. Bryans served as communications officer for he Third Battalion.
   Lt. Coleman served for three years in Company K before leaving Dublin for residence. During the three years of his service, he rose through the ranks, ranking as a corporal and then as sergeant. Upon returning to Dublin, Lt. Coleman re-enlisted in Company K and was commissioned second lieutenant to succeed Lt. White who resigned.