State

Page Six THE STATE July 11, 1936 GOVERNORS OF NORTH CAROLINA - No. 73— J. С. B. EHRINGHAUS - - By Mr*. Max Abernethy - NO governor of North Carolina probably ever came to oflice more loved by bis home people than did John Christoph Blucher Ehring- hnus, who came to represent the Albemarle country in 1933. The first representative from that sec¬ tion of the State since James Iredell, more than n century before, he came to the governor's chair with the af¬ fection and good wishes of his life¬ time friends and noighltors. Today, as four years ago, the folks back home can 1m* proud of the achievements of their favorite son. Scion of a family that for four generations had stood for the best things in their community, John Christoph Blucher Ehringhaus was born in Eliza¬ beth City. February 5, 1S82. the son of Krskine and Carrie Matthews Ehringhaus. After receiving his elementary educa¬ tion in the city schools of Elizabeth City, and at the Atlantic Collegiate Institute, Mr. Ehringhaus entered the University of North Carolina. Graduate of the University lie was graduated cum laude from the University in 1901 with an A.B. degree and in 1903 was given his de¬ gree from the Law School. He remained at the University for one year as an instructor in English since he was too young to take the State Bar examina¬ tions. Two years later Mr. Ehringhaus started the practice of law in his home town with Mr. E. F. Aydlett with whom he was afliliat» d for five years. He soon became om of the outstanding young attorneys in his community. Interest in politics became allied with Governor KliringhauK was con¬ fronted with the task of leading North Carolina out of the worst eco¬ nomic depression the state has known in modern times, lie accom¬ plished the task in valiant fashion. that of his chosen 1905 hew; .■'.••i.-d turc, being the v . house. During tlm introduced a bill t school in Eastern Carolina. With the passage of this bill the Eastern Caro¬ lina Training School was started shortly. Jlis record in the General Assembly profession and in 1 to the State Legisla- mgest member of the l session he drew and " • -taldish a training so favorably impressed his constituents that he was re-elected in 1907. In 1910 ho was elected Solicitor for the first Judicial District and served until 1922. Always interested in the cause of education, Mr. Ehringhaus worked shoulder to shoulder with Dr. J. Y. Joy¬ ner for the establishment of the present rural High School system, and also secured the passage of an act establish¬ ing the Elizabeth City graded schools. Nominated for Governor In 1933 Mr. Ehringhaus entered the Governor’s race with Richard T. Foun¬ tain and Allen J. Maxwell, and wn- nominatcd in the second I’rimary. In the general election in November he was elected by the largest majority ever given a candidate for governor. Upon his inauguration, Governor Ehringhaus was confronted with a task that was to tax all bis powers of states¬ manship. He was besot with the prob¬ lems «>f a State torn by industrial, eco¬ nomic, social ami political unrest due to the depression. He was faced with the immediate necessity of making both ends meet. At the time his administration be¬ gan North Carolina owed the second highest l>ondcd debt of any State in the nation, its credit was exhausted and State bonds were selling way below par. During the current administration the State’s financial affairs have boon pul in order. The Slate has lived strictly within its income, the value of its bonds has been restored and it has kept from borrowing a single penny. It has met every obligation promptly and in cash and reduced the principal of its debt in an aggregate amount more than ex¬ ceeding the total amount of reduction during the preceding one hundred years of our history. In those four years the State has paid more on its debts than in all the history of North Carolina before Governor Ehringhaus came into office. Cities and towns have also been able to meet their obligations through reduce d property taxes which have also been enacted in the present administra¬ tion. Upon the recommendation of Governor Ehringhaus the State took over the responsibility of running the schools for full eight months, and not a school in North Carolina closed even •luring the worst of the depression. For the first time in the American history hoys and girls in the country were given a chance along with the boys and girls in the towns. During this ad¬ ministration the length of the average school term throughout the State has been increased seven full days, which is the greatest single step or increase nt one time ever made by any State in the Union. Governor Ehringhaus has enterprised and set up the Rural Electrification Authority, which has made the greatest progress of any such activity in the nation. It is estimated that of the new homes reached by rural electrification throughout the country last year ap¬ proximately one-third of them were in North Carolina, which gives some idea of the progress of this activity in the State. Another accomplishment of the present regime has come through com¬ bining the Prison and Highway systems and so putting the prisoners to work. This has made the prisoners self- supporting for the first time since Aycock’s administration and is saving the State $100,000 yearly. Strived for Efficiency Governor Ehringhaus has worked untiring to set up a more efficient and more economical State government. The Departments of Labor, Revenue, and of Conservation have all been en¬ larged and reorganized for more activity and service. Governor Ehringhaus also gave much of his time in an effort to help the State's farmers receive higher prices for their tobacco, cotton, peanuts and ( Continued on page twenty)