The Mexia Weekly Herald (Mexia, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 30, 1924 Page: 2 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
■a
,
mmm
OPPORTUNITIES;
I*. B. * T. CO.'ONE OF BIGGEST
to tell the world about it and let
Mexla people know that our city
can well boast of an automobile ac-
cessory business, filling and service
station that is the third largest in
By DeWITT LAMB,
t ry Mexia Manufacturers and
Jobbers Association.
I have set out to write a short,
iting history of the beginning
the progress of a number of
ia'i Industries, and I am quite
|}tore that I shall approach no other
'concern in the city with any greater
of pleasure and anticipa-
tion than I found when I started to
:4lterview Jim Prickett. I was as-
sured that I could have the story if
,'l did not go "too strong" and make
it appear that I was picturing
:ihe proprietor as a highly suc-
cessful business man.
j'v This is a story of Jim and of the
Mexia Battery & Tire Company. I i , , , , ,
i " •. .... ,u *• ! first, and not only have I stressed
am going to write it in the first . . , ,
• - , • ■ n • t • .. it in all my advertising, but have
person because Jim Prickett is one
* „ , , . , ,, . . . ; lived up to it. I have also been for-
Vmrrlnet f.*linws tn intorview 11
«a.„ n.j .ii, ggg
Platform of Good
Government Demo.
League of Texas
Be it resolved, by a conference
of Texas Democrats, assembled in
Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, Sep-
tember 27, 1924: We heartily agree
with John W. Davis, our great Na-
tional Demoeratc Leader, that the
paramount question of the hour is
honesty in office and that this great
question transcends all party lines
SBRaSa
. ft** "" *; i"' '
T«K JMBXIA wKEKLV HERALD
, ' 1
Thursday,
Oct, 80, ivtfvt
Texas.
We ventured another question: 3n(j party obligations; that it is the
Jim, how do you account for the (juty of every good citizen to vote
rapid de/elopment of this business
into the big institution that it now
is? What one big thing have you
liarncd aside from the everlasting
first code of being always on the j fice_
against any nominee of his party
in the November election if neces-
sary in order to effectively express
his opposition to corruption in of-
job and pushing?" His reply did
not surprise me.
"Every business must have the
confidence of the people to suc-
ceed," he replied. "I have been
fortunate in realizing this from the
flf the hardest fellows to interview
t have ever talked with, and neces-
.aarily there will be very few quota-
tion marks.
I knew before I called that a cer-
tain amount of romance and opti-
ttism were mixed up in the prog-
mss of Jim's business from the be-
ginning about nine years ago. I
knew, too, that Jim Prickett was
timid about telling a publicity man
of his successes, but I never dream-
ed that I was going to be two
weeks in getting enough facts
wormed out of him to build this
story.
Jim just can't be made to see that
there is anything at all to tell. He
can't bring himself around to the
reader's viewpoint, who is always
interested in the human side of a
business venture. If I am mistaken
in my conclusion that Jim has one
of the most interesting stories to
tell of any business man in Mexia.
then I shall have t0 admit that I |
am no reporter.
In 1915, nine years ago, Jim re- j
moved to Mexia from Teague and ;
1 tunate in enlisting the best help
that I could employ, and every man
in the organization believes as
thoroughly in our motto as I do."
"I employ the best of help, stay
i on the job, know my line, and build
' confidence. That is all there is to
| it. Hard work did the rest. I am
mighty thankful."
In the two big service stations
and sales rooms which Jim runs
there are 22 people, all 100 per cent
loyal to t«3 company. His payroll
last year amounted to more than
$32,000.
Jim Prickett finds time to con- j
tribu'e much to the Chamber of I
Commerce and other civic affairs |
and organizations. He is usually at )
We are whole-hearted supporters
of Davis and Bryan, and of the New
York platform, but we are ualter-
aly opposed to Fergusonism.
By Fergusonism we mean the
sort of Government administered
by James E. Ferguson as Governor
of Texas as admitted in his sworn
testimony before the Iligh Court of
Impeachment in 1917, which he
then justified under oath as fully
measuring up to his standards of
honesty and of sound and whole-
some government and which he now
demands shall be "vindicated" by
the people of Texas at the Novem-
ber election through his return to
potentian influence in the Govern-
or's office at Austin.
We believe that the success of the
j Ferguson candidacy for Governor
j would work serious injury to the
I welfare of the State and its people
| during the next two years, would
| do irretrievable damage to the
j State's good name and would work
untold moral injury to the youth
of Texas and of America for all
NEW INCOME TAX
LAW REVEALS
SOME BIG
SURPRISES
MEN AND MONEY
the head of the list \.hen something | seemingly placing the seal
is to be put over for the good of j popu]ar approvai l]pon the Fer.
Mexia. He gives his money and ! nlall gtandard of official con.
time cheerfully, without any strings j
or conditions hanging to them, and! ' We agr6e wUh John w. Davis
he firmly
NEW YORK, Oct. 25,—Transfer
and distribution of some of Amer-
ica's greatest blue blood fortunes
is bringing to the fore a new class
of wealthy publication of income
tax returns for 1923 revealed here
today.
John D. RockefellerSr. long re-
garded the richest man in the world
is found to have handed down to
his son the bulk of his huge for-
tune as told by these two income
tax payments:
John D. Rockefeller Jr., $7,435,-
109. 41.
John D. Rockefeller Sr., $12i,-
266.47.
Young Rockefeller and the family
and motor works of Henry Ford
are shown by the first published j
income payments, to represent the j
two greatest incomes in the coun-
try today.
But while the holdings of the
elder Rockefeller are being trans-
ferred to his son, the once great
fortunes of the Astors, Vanderbilts
and Goulds, are shown to have been
so distributed among members of
the family that no one income tax
paid by any one of them would
indicate the commanding fortunes
once held by the heads of those
old houses.
J. P. Morgan is found to pay
an income tax of only 598,643 as
designated by law. Since there was
nothing in the law which specifica-
lly permitted "publication" of the
income tax payments, some of the
authorities held publication was con-
trary to law. The newspapers were
divided on the point, the News York
MAKE THIS BANK SECURE.
There are two ways of measuring the Strength and Standing of a
bank.
In the first place—money resources—CAPITAL AND SURPLUS—
give it Financial Strength.
In the second—MEN—OFFICERS and DIRECTORS—they give it
character, determine and execute its policies.
We pride ourselves on having a strong and helpful bank because it
has ample resources and a personnel of proven character and ability.
PRENDERGAST-SMHH NATIONAL BANK
Since 1882—The Old Reliable
f believes that this pro-. that nQ obligation can justify j Times' World- News
<i«l,, i\ -lii^,. l-iii^ r'l^AM, I i : 4 ' il. _ i1' _
opened a small bakery in the same
location where the Jimmie's Cafe
and Bakery is now running. It
was a success from the start. It
had to be with Jim behind it and
pushing. It was Mexia's only bak-
ery at that time, there being none
here when he opened his place.
1915 was an eventful year for Jim
cedure is not only a duty but should
be a pleasant one for any citizen.
I asked him what he though ad- |
vertising had done for his business, i
1 Everyone knows that the Mexia J
Battery & Tire Company is one of, j
if not the very biggest advertiser L, whfch ^ fcr Uig
in Mexia. Last year three per cent mary e]ect5on kd .to support
a citizen in casting a vote w
will injure the State and we asser
that there can be no legal or moral
obligation which binds any voter
to cast a vote in violation of his
and other
hich | printing the figures, while the Her-
conscience.
of the year's gross sales were ap-
propriated for advertising expense.
You can figure easily enough what
three per cent of a quarter of a
, .... . t , .. million' dollars is. He was prompt
for not only _did he start wUh his ^ ^ gtatement that he had
realized a great deal from such
spending.
first venture in business but it was
in that year he married. He was
working in a small bakery at Tea-
\ gue at the time, working for Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Steinmetz.
Jim never could sit still and let
well enough alone. He flew at the
bakery business like fighting fire,
and with the constant help and en-
couragement of his good wife soon
built the business up to a volume
that attracted attention. In less
than two years he had sold the busi-
ness at a profit and opened the ori-
ginal Mex'a Battery & Tire ac-
cessory business in the Opera House
building, corner Palestine and Sher-
man streets, which soon outgrew
the limited room, and which Jim
moved to the building where now
stands the City National Bank. It
was 1919 and 1920 that the acces-
sory business under his guidance |
began to show what it could do.
The election Statutes of
pri-
pledge .to support the
nominees, at the same time pro-
vide explicity how voters of any
party may lawfully vote for candi-
dates for office not on their party
tickets.
We believe tfyat the intere t of
Good Government demand that the
He believes that he has | ^ contrQversy should be wholly
gotten his full money s worth, and | eHminated from the pending cam.
while this years appropriation was J ^ ^ c,arnesUy desire to
not so much, probably coming near- j fof Govcrnor of Tcxas a
er two per cent, you never can tell < * . - , , „ ,
t.i pw i .> , c]cari able, honest, progressive can-
but What Jim will make it four per j opposition t„ the Ku
cent next year. i Klan canno(. fce doubted.
There is no better example of , We .edare that t. 0 truMt and
what faith in one s self and his | ^ (o ^ Democratic party
fellow man, confidence m your home (kmam,s 'that Tcxas Democrats
town, and a determination to make , ^ 1q defeat Fergusonism
good will accomplish than found ■ at ^ jn November in ordcr
in this familiar home business con- j ^ ^ NaUona] Democratic P!at.
, form may not be repudiated; that j date for president was shown to
the party may be relieved of re- ! have paid an income tax of $84,-
driving, alert to sense the slightest 1
change or improvement in business
conditions or methods, and never, may be dcmonstrated to tho
that the
cern. The whole organization is;
loyal, energetic to the point
rt I aid-Tribune did not print them.
Amoung the nationally known
figures in different cases of life,
interesting elevations of success
are to be drawn from the tax fig-
ures. E. H. Bary, chairman of the
board of the United States Steel
Corporation paid a tax of $473,000,
while Charles M. Schwab, another
steel magnate paid $29,000, Thomas
W. Lamont of the Morgan firm,
paid $817,000, several times as
much as the head of the firm.
In the Theatre world, here -were
some of the taxes paid:
Eddie Canter, comedian $6,500;
David Belasco, noted producer S3 3,-
800 and one of his leading stars,
Lenore Ulrich, of Kikif fame $.10,-
300 and another Jeanne Eagels,
who has made history with "rain,"
$1,866; Marie Claw $9,308; David
Warfield $9,800; Marcus Lowe $19,-
800; I. Jolson $45,000; Alice Brady
$18,000; Otis Skinner $12,600.
Among the prominent in politics,
John W. Davis, democratic candi-
sponsibility for two years of Fer- 000; Charles Evan Hughes, Secre-
j gusonian Government and that it tary of State $3,600; Morris Hill-
It was on this prominent corner j
that the bu>ness began to t
on a growth and sudden desire
is a new attachment or appliance
announced that you do not find it
| first on display in Jim's windows.
The above Observation is given to
the reader for what interest he may
tion and to the world
Democrats of Texas have never in-
fended to vindicate Fergusonism or
return it to power.
, , , find in il I have tried to make it
that the bu>ness began to take j ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Mexja
... 1 Battery & Tire Co., Inc. To my
climb. Realizing that even this , ;t representg a wonderfui ex-
commodious building would soon i
become too small to accommodate
i ample of
organization built
the variety of goods and the uni- j
que service which he wanted to sell
BAPTIST REVIVAL
TO CONTINUE ALL
DURING THE WEE
The big tent revival being con-
ducted under the big tent at the
corner of Paris and Slain treet,
under the auspices of the Mexia
Baptist church, enters its second
week of services today. The ser-
vices, at both morning ar.d evening
But I do know that if real work , hours, are well attended and great
j and an honest endeavor, with the j results have featured the first
| continuation and help from my good j week's efforts. The preaching is
I around Jim Prickett's motto or
( business slogan: "You are entitled
i to service, quality, and courtesy;
| See that you get it."
His parting words when I went
away was this :"Lamb, if you are
| going to write something about me
i or the business here, please make
I it plain that I do not consider my-
i self or the organization successful
I yet by any mean
Jim began to look for another busi-
ness home.
He encountered no difficulty in
financing a brick building on the
corner of Commerce and McKin-
ney during 1021, and located again
in bigger surroundings. Hardly
had the paint become dry on the
new* signs out front when the oil
boom struck Mexia. Immediately
north of the building just complet-
ed was residential property, occu'| friend3 and as50ciates that we will ! being done by the pastor, Rev. Joe
pied by old dwellings which were | (jme ^ {he fu(ure bg ab)e tQ Jeffers> xhe pubi;c js cordially in-
I announce t.-, the world that we are | vited to every service. The revival
quit, Socialist Leader $2,600;
Chauncey M. Depew $143,000;
Nicholas Murray Butler $6,500.
Then there is Jack Dempsey with
$90,000 and his manager, Jack
Kcarns with $7,600.
Thomas Meigan, movie star, liv-
ed up to the reputed incomes with
j a tax of $51,200, while Richard
j Barthelmess paid $30,000 and Lil- j
| lian Gish $673.
j George W. Goethals, who built I
I ths Panama Canal paid $45,000.
The greatest confusion occurred
in New York when it was suddenly
revealed that the tax payments has
been released to public study. This
confusion was enhanced when the
treasury department last night call-
ed attention to a phrase in the tax
law which made publication of in-
come-tax information illegal..
Christianity Wins
In Chinest War
SHANGHAI—October 25. Wire-
1 ess reports from Tien Tsin state
Gen. Wu Pei Fu's collapse is com-
plete and it is considered here that
the war is over. A peace confer-
ence probably will be held at Shan-
ghai. Wu Pei Fu has retreated to
Ching Wang Tao. The Christian
General Feng Wu Hsiang is send-
ing troops to cut off the retreat
of Wu Pei Fu's army and compel
its surrenedr.
Mexico Closes
considered a fire hazard.
property was bought and another j ^'c73b{u1 ftnd in a rea] iarge way. i will continue all this week
brick building, an extensive store I
building started up on the grounds. ;
It was at about this stage of
Jim's business career that he en-
listed the co-operation of several
of Metda's big business men, and
the Mexia Battery & Tire Com-
pany was incorporated. The capi-
tal stock wa3 $100,000, the figure
at which it still stands, and there
isn't a man in 100 miles of Mexia
today but 'ho will tell you that the
Mexia Battery & Tire Company is
PtUl a $100,000 business. There are
mighty few people in a radius al-
most as large that do not know Jim
Prickett.
He is president and general man-
ager of the company, only two con-
cerns in Texas of the kind are
considered as large or even pretend
to compare favorably with the
MB&T. Houston and Dallas each
have a business conducted along the
same Unes, that is, they sell the
■am* variety of merchandise and
®ff«r the varied service. Mob? men
would be inclined « boast of such
a bttt o with Jim ,
We were almost through ■
-.Mm titm euaatioaa *h«n '-h? j
^gdlHii y.-m vrrurg from j
b II wu «f aoeh t(rniflcanc« In !
wnj ol ttinkifg that we wanted j
NORTHEAST AREA
RESEMBLES A
YOUNG FIELD
ALREADY
The Northeast Mexia territory
holds the center of interest among
the oil field fraternity as the new
week of sensational activities gets !
under way. Wortham is on the qui
vive of excitement, following inci- !
dents of the past few days.
Several new locations for tests
have been rumored of late but not
yet confirmed. The Boyd Oil Com- j
pany will likely be making rapid
headway downward within a few
hours, its derrick being up and the )
work of rigging up well under way j
as the new week opens. The
Boyd Company's test on the Boyd
has standardized and may be drill-
ed in anytime. Colonel A. E. Hum-
phreys of this company has been in
the field for ten days now and since
his coming, the entire section has
taken on a new lease of unusual !
life. The Boyd Oil Company is re-
ported to have secured field offices
in Wortham and the Colonel is here
r.\igling with friends every day.
Thousands of dollars have been paid
for leases since his recent, return.
The Humble Company is understood ;
to be planning to drill a test in the ;
near future.
George Peyton reports the stand- '
ardizing of the test on the Davis, !
known as the number 2, and il will
be drilled in this week.
He has also made a contract to
drill a £as well on the C. S. West
ranch near old Richland, the pro-
duction to be sold to the Lone Star
Gas Company, whose mains run
near that point.
Local oil men returning from oth-
er southwestern fields report that
there is a general feeling preva-
lent everywhere that the next big
field to be developed in the south-
west Is to be opened soon near
Mexia. This sentiment has already
resulted in many families returning
to the section and more are under-
stood to be on the way.
The road between Mexia and
Wortham is alive with rapidly mov-
ing traffic and the Northeast terri-
tory already bears the marks of a
young field, as material is rushed
to the several tests already being
sent down. This road, which is the | ^
X-All highway is in fair condition
and the distance to the field may
be covered by motor vehicle in a
few moments. /
The leasing activity has netted
the farmers near Wortham many
thousands of dollars already.
wkmrn ^
F. R. KLOTZ
HARDWARE
I SELL THE OLD RELIABLE
PETER SCHUTTLER AND
WEBER WAGON
My prices are right on Wagon
Bows, Wagon Sheets, Cotton Scales,
Cotton Picking Sacks—
J L:
—Bridles, Lines, Collars and Har-
ness, Kerogas Oil Cook Stoves, New
Perfection Oil Cook Stoves, Wood
and Coal Cook Stoves.
D
©
r
SON
Insurance Agency
NUSSBAUM BUILDING
Telephone No. 8
AS STRONG AS THE STRONGEST—
OLD LINE COMPANIES
INSURANCE THAT PROTECTS
riRE FIDELITY BONDS
TORNADO AND WINDSTORM AUTOMOBILE:
COMPENSATION Fire-Theft
ACCIDENT collision
HEALTH Property Damage
BURGLARY Public Liability
FIFTY YEARS IN MEXIA
J.
Former Mexia Man
Pastor In Dallas
Liens Run True
At Friday's Meet
r
SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL
RESULTS
University of Texas 7, Flordia 7
Nebraska I I, Kansas 7
Be/lor 3, Austin College 7
S. M. U 7, Texas A. & M. 7
Princeton t, Notre Dame 12
Harvard 0, Dartmouth 6
Y U IS, Brown 3
Ions IS, Minn. O
Ohio Stale Chicago 3
W. Va. Wesley an 10, Navy 7
Auburn S, L. S. U. O
Wisconsin 0, Michigan 2t
Ga. Tech. 0, Ala. II
The Lions Club meeting of Friday
the 24th ran true to style. The at-
tendance was splendid and the Lions |
all seemed eager to be at work. Lion i
British Consuls
.. , ^ . , . t-i_, — „n i
which proved to be enjoyable to ail.
Lion President Hughes, after an ab- ]
sence of nearly a month, told of his j
trip to the East and made a talk
on the subject that he is noted far:
shooting straight at the mark and co-
operating to build a greater Mexia.
As it is near the er.d of Lion Hughes
term of office and he believing that
he will be absent at next Friday's
meeting, he reviewed his administra-
tion and said he would always look
on this past year with pleasure, ex-
pressing his appreciation to each
and every good Lion for his splen-
did work ar.d help.
Music was furnished on the pro-
LONDON, Oct. 25.—The Mexican
consulates at London, Liverpool,
Glasgow, and other points were or-
dered closed by the Mexican gov-
ernment. "The move is not made as
a demonstration of hostility, but
merely as a manifestation of our
felf respect,'' an official statement
said, adding, "the Mexican govern-
ment considers it undignified to
maintain consular operatives as long
as England does not concede Mexico
the honor of maintaining official
relations."
BRIDGE TO BE OPEN
DURING LABOR MEET
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28.—Cus- | gram by the Werner Jazz Orchestra,
toms service here announced that.
the rules closing the international
bridge between El Paso and Juarez
between 9 p. m. and 7 a. m. will
be suspended during the American
Federation of Labor convention in
El Paso November 10-17, as far as
delegates are concerned.
FOR SALE or trade for Ford
Truck, good span of mules, wagon
and plow tools. R. H. FLIPPEN,
Route 0, Box 114. 23-2t
which brought great anplause from
the Liors and necessitated many en-
cores.
After a short talk by Lion Cason
a motion to endorse the Merchants
Trade Campaign was passed unan-
imously. Another sign of the splen-
did co-operation being shown that
will make the affair a complete suc-
cess.
J. F. Stewart of tho News Pub-
lishing Company was voted in to
the club.
According to the current issue of
The Texas Christian Advocate, Rev.
W. H. Wallace, Jr., son of W. H.
Wallace of Mexia, who has been
serving a Methodist pastorate at
Denison the past year, has been
sent to Ervay Street Methodist
church at Dallas this conference
year. The North Texas Confer-
ence of which he is a member held
its annual session recently at Pftfis
and the minutes of the proceedings
were reported in the current issue.
In Conference notes, the report of
the year's work of Rev. Wallace
shows one of the best reports made
by any of the churches of North
Texas conference, highly praising
this young man. He has many
friends here, where he was reared
and educated, and these will bo
glad to note his rise so rapid to
the pastorate of one of the great-
city churches of Dallas.
SCHOOL
SUPPLIES
We cany all Special Books for High
School and Grade work. ,
R A. (DICK) WAGNER CO.
209 E. Commerce St., Mexia.
Pure Bred McDonald Birds.
Dark and light Barred Plymouth
Rock Cockrels for sale, March
hatched, $2.50 each. Dr. B. F.
OVERTON, Route 6, Box 21, Mexla,
Texas. 23-2t
Mr. J. W. B. Speight left Sun-
day f'< his home in Mineola, after
several weeks spent with his sister,
Mrs. S. E. New of Shiloh.
The word "Mother" loses its sac-
redness when you see a woman
smoking a cigarette while nursing
her ba'
WHY BUY FROM AGENTS?
When you can buy direct and save
their commission?
Mexia Marble & Granite Works
P. O. Box 237
Mexia, Texas
tW
AMBULANCE SERVICE
UNDERTAKING
JOHN R. CORLEY COMPANY
Phone: Day 9; Night 25 and 85
*1 k
« I 9
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Houx, N. P. The Mexia Weekly Herald (Mexia, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 30, 1924, newspaper, October 30, 1924; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth292442/m1/2/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Gibbs Memorial Library.