Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1927-04-28
Town Ticket Named in
Mass Meeting Friday
w. X. CraggNominated for Mayor
and T. B. Moore, A. Y. Howell
and Clyde Greene for Aldermen

At the call of Mayor Cottrell, a
mass meeting at ended by about 100
citizens was held in the courthouse
FRIDAY evening for the purpose of
naming a candidate for mayor and
board of aldermen for the town of
Boone, to be voted for on May 8. W.
Roy Gragg was nominated for mayor,
and T. B. Moore, A. Y. Howell and
Clyde R. Greene were the choice of
the citizens for aldermen.
There was liye'y contest for the
office of mayor Mr.. Gragg won on
the second ballot over his nearest
rival, J. NJ. Moretz, by vote of SIS
to 45 Cther names placed b fore
the convention and voted for or the
first ballot were D. J. Council, Clyde
r. Greene, d. :, Cot rell, j. A.
Spro es and E n. Hahn Only three
names were pre- ented for aldermen
and they were nominated by acclama-
ton.
When one vote is cast in the cleo
tion next Tuesday, the above named
citizens will be elected, as there will
pe no opposition, the nominations
Friday night being equivalent to cleo
ton.
Much interest had been aroused in
the town before the meeting, ard
"a her warm time was anticipated,
because of the fact that somebody
had injected the "wet" and dry"
IUgaboo into the fore. 1t is said that
two or three NEE ings had been held
in some of the churches with the idea
of saving the town from "goirg to
the dogs" Mayor Cottrell on several
occasions stated that he would not
stand for reelection; but before he
meeting Friday night, let it be known
that if no one else sufficiently arid to
suit the so-called "drys" could be
found, he would run.
On the Other land. opcs- ION to
the present administration seemed 10
t;'lnk that the 'wet-drv' issue was
laised in or6or u force to the back
ground other issues OF vitaly more
Importance; for instance, a city man.
I agcr, provided for in the town char
ter as amended by the last general
assembly.
Some citizens felt that if the town
is to pay $2,400 year for police pro-
lection, man qualified to look after
street work, collecting of taxes and
water rem in addition to his police
duties could be had without any in
crease in the town payroll. Accord
ing to a recently published statement
OF receipts and disbursement of the
town for the fisca1 year ending May
5, next the police department cost
the town $2,450 for that year. 1t is
claimed that two all-time police Off
GERS could be had for this sum, with
one of them devoting a large part of
his time to looking after stree work,
the collection of taxes and water
rents thereby saving good sized
sum to the town, which is already
overburdened with debt
1t was also rumored that if the old
board was retained, or new board
friendy to the old administration
policies was elected, another bond is
sue of $4,000 would be floated
for additional municipal improve
ments. Whether or not there is any
hing in this rumor, The Democrat
is not Informed; it was talked on the
streets.
AS to whether the new officials, or
rather candida es until next Tuesday,
are committed to any definite policy
toward further expansion or retrench-
ment is not known. But they are all
good business men, and it is conf
IDENTIFY expected that they will give
the town wise and business-ike ad-
ministration.