Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 3, 1926 Page: 1 of 12
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MERCEDES, HIDALGO COUNTV, TEXAS, THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 192G
NUMBER 17
CROP CONTEST ENTRYRf C.Vice-President COMMITTEE NAMED
TIME EXTENDED-11
HAVE MADE ENTRIES
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EX-
TENDS TIME LIMIT FOR ENTRY
IN BETTER STAPLE CROP
CONTEST TO JUNE 15 — WANT
THIRTY CONTESTANTS.
Time limit for entry in the “Better
Staple Crop” contest of the Mercedes
Chamber of Commerce has been ex-
tended until June 15th for the bene-
fit of those farmers wishing to enter
the cotton contest, according to Fred
Johnston, secretary of the chamber of
commerce. The original limit had
been set at June 1, but due to the
rainy weather which held back the
growth cotton to some extent, an ex-
tension of time was deemed advis-
able.
Eleven entries have already been
received in the cotton contest, in-
cluding J. P. Owens, L. W. Ward, C.
Silbola, W. D. Briscoe, Joseph H.
Hess, L. R. Crockett, John T. Thorn-
berg, H. E. Conger, A. T. Brocking-
ton, R. W. Bollier and R. B. Ribboul.
Officials of the Chamber of Com-
merce hope that at least thirty en-
tries will be made, and an even larg-
er number of contestants is hoped
for.
According to the conditions of the
contest, any grower, residing on the
lands watered by the American Com-
pany is eligible to enter. Any size
field from 2 V2 to 5 acres may be en-
tered, but it must be regular in form-
ation, and must be entered by June
15th. No stipulations as to the var-
iety of cotton to be planted is made,
but it must be true to type and speci-
fied on the entry blanks, and must
run an inch and one-sixteenth in
staple. Firse prize for cotton will be
$100; second, $80, and third, $25.00.
It is probable that additional prizes
will be offered.
The prizes will be given for the
greater number of pounds of lint cot-
ton per acre, and each contestant
must furnish affidavit of yield signed
by himself and two other reputable
persons, made at the time the crop
Is gathered. Each contestant is also
required to keep an account of the
time, amount of work, watering and
fertilizer, if any applied to the crop
so entered.
Contests similar to the one spon-
sored by. the Mercedes Chamber of
Commerce are being carried on this
year in 71 counties in the state, Hi-
dalgo County being one of three in
South Texas. Faced by the probabil-
ity of a low price for cotton this year,
cotton farmers throughout the south
are paying greater attention to the
per acre yield of their crop than ever
before.
--o-
Valley Roasting
Ears Are Feature
Insurance Book
Valley roasting ears piled high on
the desk of the president of the In-
ternational Life Insurance Co., fea-
ture the last issue of “Lifeman,'’
weekly bulletin of the company which
is sent out to all of the agents. The
roasting ears came from C. H. Hupp
of Mercedes, and each represented an
application for life insurance secured
by him while writing $45,000 worth
of business in 19 days.
The contest for policies was styled
“The May Cornplanting Contest,"
and pasteboard ears of corn were
used by the other agents. Mr. Hupp
used the real article, and incidentally
secured some valuable publicity for
the Valley and for Mercedse.
-o--
BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL
CLASS TO GIVE PLAY
“The Deacon Entangled,” a three
act comedy, will be presented in the
grammar school auditorium on Fri-
day night of this week by the mem-
bers of the T. T. T. Class of the Bap-
tist Sunday School. In the cast are
Robert Miller, Ruth Erwin, Mary
Fisher, Ray Damron, Jack McAdams,
Della Walker, Brian Glasscock, Mary
Keelty and Carlton Council.
Now in Weslaco
Miss Eva Streckfus, who has been
employed in the office of the Cham-
ber of Commerce the past year, re-
signed her position there and has
taken one with the' firm of Yar-
borough and Jamerson of Weslaco.
R. H. KERN, JR.
Elected vice-president of the Merce-
des Chamber of Commerce Tuesday
morning.
HAYNES TAKE OVER
CITIZENSJOJTO CO.
Secures Mercedes Agency for Hupmo-
bile and Packard Automobiles—
Several Carloads Are Or-
dered
Announcement was made the first
of the week of the transfer of the
Mercedes agency for Hupmobile and
Packard automobiles to J.. E. Haynes
by the Citizens Auto Company of San
Antonio, who have been operating a
branch in this city for the past year.
Mr. Haynes has bought the Mercedes
agency, according to C. R. Voss, as-
sistant manager of the San Antonio
office, and will incorporate under the
name of the Citizens Auto Co., Inc.
In transferring the agency Mr. Voss
stated that his company was well
pleased with the deal, although they
had enjoyed their associations in
Mercedes during the past year.
Mr. Haynes states that Mr. Doehne,
who has been in charge of the ser-
vice department, will remain. Orders
have been placed for several carloads
of cars, he states, and all models of
both Hupmobiles -and Packards will
be carried on the floor. The new
Hupmobile Six coupe and Eight sport
roadster are among the latest models
which will soon be on display.
-o-
Republicans Are
Planning Entries
In First Primary
Plans for the conducting of the
first primary of the party ever held
in the state of Texas are being made
by Hidalgo County Republicans, in
common with the organization in oth-
er counties throughout the state.
Precinct meetings were held in every
precinct in the county last week, and
a county wide meeting of the party
at Pharr on Monday night of this
week was largely attended.
Several possible candidates were
suggested for each position on the
ticket, and it is thought that by June
19, the last day on which candidates
may file for a place on the primary
ticket, that at least two candidates
for each place on the Republican
ticket will have announced. W. C.
Wise of Mercedes was elected tem-
porary chairman of the committee on
organization chosen Monday night.
-o---
Scattering Rain
Does Little Harm
MEETWITHCOUNCIL
Mayor Haynes Asks Co-operation of
Chamber of Commerce, in Mat-
ters Pertaining to Contemp-
lated Municipal Improve-
ments
Speaking for Mayor Haynes, who
was unavoidably prevented from at-
tending the meeting of the chamber
of commerce Friday night, Council-
man Charles Saladino stated to the
meeting that in view of various con-
templated municipal improvements
Mr. Haynes requested the appoint-
ment of a committee of nine members
of the organization to meet with the
council. Desiring the fullest co-op-
eration and harmony in the carry-
ing out of plans for additional street
lighting, the construction of addi-
tional units to the sewerage system,
and other matters, this committee is
expected to make suggestions and
offer criticisms of all matters which
may come before the council, Mr.
Saladino stated.
Following discussion of the need of
the contemplated improvements, the
following committee was appointed
by Judge L. T. Hoyt, president; E.
Keith Lyons, Chas. Hupp, E. B. Wit-
rner, Frank Dawson, H. T. Tidmore,
John Herndon, E. H. Kasey, Ray Tol-
son and Oscar Roman.
-o-
Jim to Speak in
Valley Monday &
Tuesday Nights
Jim Ferguson, former governor,
and husband of the present governor
of Texas, will speak in the Valley on
Monday and Tuesday nights of next
week in the course of his tour of the
state in defense of the administration
of Gov. Miriam A. Ferguson. The ex-
governor will appear in McAllen at
8 p. m. next Monday and at Harlin-
gen at the same hour on Tuesday
night, June 8.
According to information received
CHAMBER COMMERCE
SETS BUDGET FOR YR.
AT TEN PUSAND
ENTHUSIASM FOR FUTURE OF
CITY AND COMMUNITY SHOWN
AT ANNUAL MEETING DIREC-
TORS ELECTED BY 42 MEM-
BERS PRESENT AT ANNUAL
MEETING.
Enthusiasm for the possibilities of
the Mercedes community during the
coming year was reflected at the an-
nual meeting of the Mercedes Cham-
ber of Commerce held on Friday
night of last week at the Busy Bee
Cafe when the 42 members present
voted unanimously to set the budget
for the year’s activities at $10,000.
The report of Secretary Fred Johns-
ton showed that $4,200 had actually
been raised during the past year out
of $4,900 subscribed, and it was felt
that prospects for the ensuing year
more than justified the doubling of
last year’s, expenditures.
Necessity for increasing the budget
is emphasized by the resignation of
Fred Johnston as secretary and the
necessity of a full time secretary for
the position of active head of the or-
ganization. Several applications have
been received by the board of direc-
tors, and the qualifications of the ap-
plicants are being carefully consider-
ed.
Directors chosen Friday night for
the ensuing year are L. T. Hoyt, R.
H. Kern, Fred Johnston, James
Howze, J. R. Barry, Ralph L. Buell
and S. H. Collier. At an organization
meeting held Tuesday of this week,
L. T. Hoyt was re-elected president
of the organization, with R. H. Kern
as vice-president and Fred Johnston
as treasurer. On Wednesday morn-
ing the budget committee of S. H.
Collier, W. A. McNeil and Ray Tolson
reported, and a canvass of the com-
munity for pledges of support will
be made starting immediately.
Reporting for the committee to se-
cure a cotton yard, Dr. E. H. Kasey
stated Friday night that it now
seemed certain that a yard would be
C. of C. President
L. T. HOYT
Elected president of the Mercedes
Chamber of Commerce for the third
consecutive term.
COTTON PICKERS WILL
BE AVAILABLE, REFT
Local Farmers May Secure Labor
Through Chamber of Commerce,
Says Letter from U. S. Depart-
ment of Labor to Johnston
this morning from Milton West of I established in the city for the com-
Brownsville, who is handling the Val- | ing season. Chas. Saladino, speaking
ley campaign for Dan Moody, the at-' for Mayor Haynes, reported to the
torney general will not be able to ap-} Chamber of Commerce that various
pear at the firemen’s convention in i municipal improvements were being
Harlingen, but will visit the Valley contemplated by the city, and at his
about July 10.
Showers which fell in Mercedes and
vicinity during the first of the week
appear to heve been scattered
throughout the entire Valley and to
have done very little general harm.
Little rainfall is reported in the
Schwartz neighborhood northeast of
Mercedes, and little due north of the
city. The showers skipped a portion
of the territory south of the city, but
landed on Santa Maria. East of the
city of La Feria little rain fell.
Heavy rains on Tuesday and Wed-
nesday were reported from the Pharr-
San Juan neighborhood and the dry
land farming section is reported to
have received a much needed mois- rested
ture.
Cotton Crop Has
Not Been Costly
To Valley Growers
Provided rains which have threat-
ened this section for the past week
hold off for another thirty days, the
cotton crop now being cultivated to
maturity in the Valley will prove one
of the cheapest crops ever raised in
this section, local farmers report.
Rains early in the season provided
the necessary moisture to bring the
crop out of the ground, and there is
a considerable acreage in the Valley
which has not yet been irrigated this
season.
Farmers point out that even if the
crop does not bring as high a price
as in former years, the economy with
which it will have been raised will
enable the grower with a good yield
to make as much profit as in former
years. July cotton is sellirfg today
at New Orleans for 17.72, which
would indicate a price between 19
and 20 cents in the Valley,
Ing to cotton men.
1 request a committee of 9 was ap-
! pointed by Judge Hoyt to attend
meetings of the city council and to
co-operate with the council in all mat-
ters.
Sid Hardin Opens
Campaign Tonight
In McAllen Speech
Sid Hardin of Mission, candidate
for the Democratic nomination for
congress from the 15th District, will
fire the opening gun of his campaign
tonight in McAllen, where he is
scheduled to make an address. A
record breaking crowd for an Hidal-
go County political meeting is expect'
ed to be present to start the local
man off on his race. A “Hardin for
Congress” club has already been
formed in McAllen with scores of
members, and assurances of support
from all sections of the district con-
tinue to come in.
Wool raisers and onion growers in
the district are strongly behind Mr.
Hardin’s candidacy, according to Roy
accord- j Buckley of Mission, who is managing
I his campaign.
CITY DRAWS FIRST BLOOD IN
FIGHT TO CLEAN VP.-BOOZE IS
TAKEN. -COCKFIGHT BROT TRIAL
Plenty of cotton pickers will be
available for the Mercedes section
when the cotton season opens, accord-
ing to a letter to Fred Johnston, sec-
retary of the Chamber of .Commerce,
from the U. S. Department of Labor
at Fort Worth. The communication
received this morning states that
pickers will be sent to the Valley
through the San Antonio office of the
department upon application. Trucks
may be sent to San Antonio for the
labor, or the San Antonio office will
arrange for the transportation, the
cost of which will be paid by the farm-
er and deducted from the first wages
of the laborer.
While laborers are not as plentiful
as in years past, yet it is thought that
an ample supply will be secured for
this section. Local growers are urged
to get in touch with the office if the
Chamber of commerce in the Legion
building and notify the secretary of
the number of laborers which will be
needed.
A deputy of the department of lab-
or will be in Mercedes between June
15 and 25 to conclude arrangements
and to learn the price per 100 pounds
to be paid pickers, and other details.
Six Lights Planned
Each Block of Main
Residence Streets
First blood in the campaign start-
ed by Mayor J. E. Haynes last week
to rid the city of organized vice was
drawn last Saturday afternoon when
federal officers, accompanied by
Doyle Perkins, special city patrolman,
raided the premises of Tomasa Janu-
ary on the north side of the track.
Four hundred bottles of tequila, sev-
eral cases of beer, and a large amount
of assorted liquor was seized. No
liquor was found in the house ad-
joining and no arrests were made.
Sunday afternoon Officer Doyle
Perkins broke up a series of cock-
fights being conducted near the dump
on the north side of the city, and ar-
the three alleged principals,
Ignacio Champion, Pilar Cavazos and
Deputy Sheriff Jacinto Reyes. Warn-
ings had been issued to the alleged
operators that arrests would follow
any attempts to stage the affair,
Mayor Haynes states.
The three alleged operators were
arraigned for trial in the municipal
court Monday morning, but trial was
postponed to allow them to secure
counsel. The case went to trial Wed-
nesday morning, with Henry Lauder-
dale representing the defendants and
F. G. Moffett acting as prosecutor for
the city. Champion and Cavazos
were found guilty by Mayor Haynes
and fined $10 and costs. Reyes was
acquitted. Notice of appeal to the
county court was given immediately
by Mr. Lauderdale for his clients.
Plans of the city council for the
lighting of the residence section of
Mercedes include the erection of six
lights per block, one on each corner
and one in the middle, of Texas, Ohio
and Missouri Avenue from the bus-
iness section of the city to Tenth St.,
according to the report given the
chamber of commerce Friday night
by Chas. Saladino.
The lights planned will be orna-
mental, it is stated, and will be fur-;
nished by the Valley Electric & Ice
Co. at its expense. The matter of
rates to be paid by the city for the
current used is no-# being taken up
with Frank C. Ludden, Valley man-
ager of the properties. A total of 236
lights will be used, according to ten-
tative plans which are being worked
out.
SCHOOL BONDS BRING
GOOD PREMIUM: SOLD
WEDNES.J0 BROWN
CONN BROWN OF SAN ANTONIO
BUYS $140,000 ISSUE, PAYING
PREMIUM OF $2,127 FOR ISSUE.
FIVE BIDS PRESENTED T O
BOARD.
The $140,000 issue of Mercedes In-
dependent School District bonds vot-
ed in April was sold Wednesday af-
ternoon of this week to Conn Brown
of San Antonio for par, plus accrued
interest, plus a premium of $2,127.
Five bids were offered the school
board, as follows: Conn Brown, San
Antonio, premium of $2,127; Weil,
Roth and Irving of Cincinnati, prem-
ium of $1,636; White, Phillips & Co.,
Davenport, la., premium of $1,470;
E. A. Tobleman, Galveston, premium
of $1,300; J. E. Jarrett & Co., San
Antonio, premium of $512. The bid
of Conn Brown was accepted by un-
animous vote of the board, all mem-
bers being present with the excep-
tion of L. M. Henry.
Members of the board Wednesday
afternoon expressed themselves as
being well pleased with the price se-
cured for the bonds, as doubts had
been expressed as to the possibility of
securing a substantial premium, due
to the uncertain market for Texas
securities following the decision of
the Supreme Court in the Archer
County road* bond case. The price
paid for the bonds figures 101.51,
which is considered good.
The premium more than covers all
expense incident to the issue, the
printing of the bonds, and the opin-
ion of Wood & Oakley, attorneys of
Chicago, and all incidental expenses
amounting to only $485. Contract
for the buildings authorized to be
erected under the issue will be let
next week.
--o-——
H. E. Shekell
By Death Sunday
Night; Illness Brief
Howard Eugene Shekell, aged 27,
died at midnight Sunday night of this
week, following an illness of one
week. Labor pneumonia which at-
tacked Mr. Shekell on the preceding
Monday proved fatal. Funeral ser-
vices were held Monday afternoon at
the Methodist Church, Rev. D. Scar-
borough presiding, and the body of
the deceased was buried at Edna,
Texas, the family home.
Born in Kentucky on May 23,.
189 9, Mr. Shekell removed with his.
parents to Edna, Texas, id 1911,
where he made his home until three
years ago, when he came to Mercedes
in connection with the opening of the
Mercedes store of the Shekell & King
Co. He graduated from the Peacock
Military Academy in 1922, being mar-
ried to Miss Effie Jewell Snell on
September 5, 1923.
Surviving Mr. Shekell are Mrs.
Shekell, his mother Mrs. C. E.
Shekell of Edna, Texas, two sisters
Miss Mildred Shekell of Mercedes and
Miss Mary Shekell of Edna, and two
brothers W. E. Shekell and Howard
Shekell of Edna.
Odd Fellows Will
Hold Special Service
A special sermon for the members
of the Mercedes Lodge, I. O.O. F. will
be preached at the Presbyterian
Church next Sunday morning, the
subject to be “The Fraternity of
Men,’* according to B. K. Tenney,
pastor. The members of the lodge
will meet at the Odd Fellows Hall at
10:30 and march to the church in
a body, where they will occupy seats
reserved for them.
Similar services will be observed
by lodges throughout the state, ac-
cording to the annual custom of the
order of holding services in honor
of deceased members.
Taxpayers Elect
Officers; Mission
Man Is Named Pres.
Willard Ferguson of Mission was
chosen president of the Hidalgo Coun-
ty Taxpayers Association at the an-
nual meeting of the organization held
last Friday at Alamo. W. C. Duncan
of Donna was elected vice-president;
Mrs. H. O. Schalaben, Edinburg, sec-
retary, and John A. Cook of Pharr,
treasurer.
The political situation in the coun-
ty was discussed at length, no defi-
nite action being taken. The next
meeting of the association will be
held on June 17, at which time fur-
ther discussion of county politics is
expected.
-o-
Leave for Oklahoma
Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Brandon and
family, who have been residing in
Mercedes for almost a year, left on
Tuesday for Leedey, Okla., to look af-
ter their farming interests in that vi-
cinity. While here Mr. Brandon pur-
chased 20 acres of land on the base
line.
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Buell, Ralph L. Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 3, 1926, newspaper, June 3, 1926; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1003395/m1/1/: accessed July 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.