Looking Back

(Editor’s Note: This column looking back at St. Francis County’s history is featured each Friday on this Lifestyles page along with the week’s History Photo. The items included in this column were printed in previous editions of the Times-Herald.)

June 1917

Live Contestants - Who will win the half million prize ballot? Who will win the 400,000 prize ballot? Who will win the 300,000 prize ballot? Who will win the 200,000 prize ballot? Who will win the 100,000 prize ballot? The answer to the above all important questions will be decided Saturday night by candidates in the Weekly Herald's big tour campaign. The five special prize ballots will be awarded the five candidates in this territory who secure the most subscription money between May 27 and June 16. The young lady who wins the half million prize ballot will have the best opportunity for securing the tour and it goes without saying a "battle royal" will be fought during the remaining days of this week. In addition to the prize ballots, each $10 turned in this week, will earn 75,000 extra votes, besides the regular vote given to each subscription. Only three more weeks Just think! Only a little over three weeks remain in which to secure the votes necessary to win a tour of over two weeks duration, with all expenses paid. The opportunity is one seldom offered the young ladies of this section, and this is the most important week of the entire campaign. Remember Saturday night is the close of the offer and all subscriptions should be turned in this week.

Have You Heard the Bell? - At the request of Mrs. Wm. G. McAdoo, chairman of the Women's Liberty Bond Committee, the Southwestern Telephone Company through General Manager S.C. Poage, announces that arrangements have been made thru the Company's organization for the ringing in every town and hamlet in Arkansas at 9 o'clock Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. The significance of Liberty Bell Ringing to serve as a challenge to Americans by the lovers of Liberty, who signed the Declaration of Independence. The bells will toll four times on Monday, three times on Tuesday, two times on Wednesday and one time on Thursday signifying the amount of days left to buy Liberty Bonds.

Women Should Register - We are afraid that many women do not realize the importance of paying their poll tax this year. It is true that primary suffrage has been given us and we will probably not have an opportunity to vote even in a primary next year, but to vote then it is necessary to pay this year’s poll tax. But it isn't the inability to vote next year that is likely to do the cause of suffrage harm. Failure of women to take advantage of their opportunity to register now may have the effect of causing many to believe that women really don't care to vote after all, and this may set back the day of complete emancipation in Arkansas. "A half loaf is much better than no bread at all." All eyes are on Arkansas as she is the first state in the dear old South to grant suffrage to her women. Do not let the 30th day of June find your poll tax unpaid – act at once. Pearl Dans, Chairman of Equal Suffrage, St. Francis County Central Committee.

Locals - Mr. William Jordon of Goodwin was a business visitor in the city. ***Attorney S.S. Hargraves spent Monday afternoon at Colt on professional business. ***Attorney R.J. Lanier spent Thursday afternoon in Palestine on professional business. ***Miss Solma Warshavsky is spending a few days in Memphis shopping and visiting friends. ***Mr. Bedford Sanders of Johnson Township was a genial business visitor in the city. ***Miss Sadie Burd is spending several weeks on a most delightful visit with friends and looking after some legal business. ***Attorney C.W. Shields spent the first of the week in Memphis attending the annual meeting of the Tri-State Druggists Association. ***Dr. J.S. Webb Jr., spent Tuesday afternoon on a pleasant visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Hughes at Haynes. ***Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Hughes Sr., passed through the city Saturday morning en route from Memphis to their home at Haynes. ***Mrs. H.E. Ashmore of Holocomb, Miss., is spending some time in the county in attendance at the bedside of her father who is quite ill. ***Mr. A.L. Stevens, president of the Forrest City Grocer Co., left Tuesday morning for Memphis where he spent a day or two on business. ***Miss Wilmouth Christopher of Colt is spending the week in the city a guest at the home of her sister, Mrs. Chas. R. Izard and family.

Sheep Killing Dogs - Citizens here are in receipt of a letter from the Department of Agriculture in reply to a telegram sent last week with reference to the initiating movement to eliminate the sheep-killing dogs which have developed into a serious menace to one of the most prominent farmers and citizens here, the reply is directed to Mr. L.C. Marshall, president of the Forrest City Commercial Club and is as follows: Dear Sir: I have your telegram of June 13. I know of no proposal to impose a tax on dogs in order to bring about their elimination. I seriously doubt whether such a proposal could be entertained, especially in the existing situation. While it seems highly necessary that dogs be controlled so that they may not interfere with livestock, this appears to be a matter falling particularly under the jurisdiction of the various States and it seems that the state machinery should be invoked to bring about desirable results. Very truly yours, D.F. Houston Secretary

Refuses to Aid - On his return from the tour of the western part of our county, Capt. A.L. Stevens of Red Cross team No. 3, reports having encountered the first man who flatly refused to contribute to the cause in the person of W.H. Cross of Goodwin. Stevens states that Cross spoke in a sneering and treasonable manner of the Red Cross campaign and declared that it was all a scheme to "graft" the people. Cross is a pensioner and is drawing a bounty from the same government which he castigates and traduces. Stevens also states that Cross insultingly inquired of him and associates: "How much are you fellers gitten 'out’er this?" Mr. Stevens who is president of the Forrest City Grocer Co., and who with a number of other prominent citizens of Forrest City, has devoted his entire time freely and unselfishly to the success of the Red Cross campaign throughout the entire week, in addition to a most liberal contribution in money, states that his encounter with cross made him sick and adds that he hopes never to be called upon to undergo such another nauseating and humiliating experience.

Wylds Died - Daniel T. Wylds, aged 70, died at his home seven miles Southeast of this city Monday, June 25, from a second stroke of paralysis, the first having been received in February, 1916. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J.N. McFarlans, of the Presbyterian Church, and by the Odd Fellows, the active pallbearers were selected from the The Odd Fellows, as follows: Charles Havens, R.J. Ash, Robt. Brittian, J.B. Beck, W.A. Pearson, J.F. McDougal, Isidore Yoffie, R.C. Eldrige and Rufus Scott; and the honorary pallbearers were: John Eldridge, J.G. Stern, Thos. Rowland. Wm. Ligon, J.M. Davis, S.P. McDaniel, J.D. Baugh and F.W. DeRossitt. The deceased is survived by one daughter, Mrs. W.P. Dowell of Phoenix, Ariz; three sons, Dan T., A. Grover and Rodney F., of this city. Dan T. Wylds was a native of St. Francis County and was born Dec. 4,1846, on the farm settled by his father David Wylds, in 1827. He was a large planter, the old homestead consisting of 1,813 acres of good land, and a successful business man, for a number of years having been a member of the mercantile firm of Brandon, Baugh & Co. He received his education in the common schools of this county, at the age of 17 years he enlisted in the Confederate Army, as a member of company F, First Tran-Mississippi Cavalry. He was under General Sterling Price on his famous Missouri raid, being wounded at Jefferson City on Oct. 7,1867. He was made prisoner and taken to Richmond; exchanged, March 5,1865, and walked from that city to his home on June 19,1865. The South has lost one of her most loyal sons and the entire community mourns with the relatives in their bereavement.

More Locals - Col. S.E. Sweet of Widener came over Tuesday afternoon on business. ***Albert Waterman spent Sunday in Memphis taking in the sights and the ball game. ***Senator Lon Slaughter of Palestine spent Monday evening in the city shaking hands with his constituents. ***Attorney S.S. Hargraves spent Monday afternoon at Colt on legal business. ***Squire Dave Duncan of Johnson Township was a genial business visitor in the city Tuesday. ***Attorneys J. Walker Morrow and W.J. Lanier motored over to Palestine Tuesday to try a lawsuit in Squire Coffey's court. ***Mrs. J.L. Hare of Colt passed through the city Wednesday morning en route to Brinkley as delegate to the missionary conference. ***Dr. W.A. Winter of Widener was a business visitor in Memphis the first part of the week, returning home Tuesday evening via Forrest City. ***Miss Julia Evlyn Macon, a most attractive Memphis lady, is here on an extended visit in the home of her aunt Mrs. Eugene Williams. ***Mrs. William Ivey arrived home from Memphis where she had spent a day or two visiting friends and shopping. ***Mrs. J.F.E. Bates left Tuesday for her home in Bentonville in response to a message stating that her mother was critically ill.