- Editorial Opinions -
“YOUR HOME NEWSPAPER’S” editorials are the opinions of staff members. As such
they may be wrong. Whether you agree or disagree our columns, under “The People
Write” heading, are open for you to express your own opinions.
C/assic Example Of Poor Timing
A perfect illustration of the paradoxi
cal irony of legislated minimum wage in
creases may be seen in the case of Good
will Industries—a national organization
dedicated to employing handicapped per
sons. The organization may have to lay
Off some of the more severely handi
capped people it employs because of the
federal minimum wage increase from
$1.25 to $1.40 last year and to $1.60 this
year.
Goodwill Industries is a nonprofit
organization hiring marginal personnel
who cannot compete in the mass labor
market because of physical or other
handicaps. A spokesman for Goodwill
says, “These people came to Goodwill
. . . because they don’t want public as
sistance. We’re trying desperately to find
some way to keep them independent.”
Countless jobs have been lost in in
dustry, because employers find they con-
not pay the required minimum wage to
unskilled and part-time workers and still
hold the line on prices in a competitive
market. In short, the practical effect of
the minimum wage law is to create un
employment and feed the fires of in
flation.
The practical effect of the minimum
wage increase which brought on a jump
of 35 cents in one 12-month period is
a case of too much, too fast. It may work
out in the long run but there are enough
examples in the Roanoke-Chowan of
marginal people being laid off since
February 1 to create doubt about the
judgment of those responsible for in
stituting such a big jump in the short
space of a single year.
Those laid off must be wondering the
same thing. Likewise the jump from
nothing to $1.15 for farm labor in a single
year is pushing mechanization just that
much faster. The big tobacco trade fair
at Wilson is a good example.
With the nation’s cities in danger
from too much rural migration and the
economy overheated from a war caused
inflation, the problems brought on by
the minimum wage increase are just that
much worse. It has been a classic exam
ple of poor timing.
From what we read in various peri
odicals there seems to be a growing trend
to make temptation and crime close kin
folks.
Take the case of the absentminded
professor, if you will. He drives up to the
Post Office to post a letter ind leaves
the keys to his jalopy in the switch.
Along comes a larcenous-minded juvenile
delinquent, he sees the key, hops in and
takes off.
Now, Professor, you have committed a
crime by leaving your car key in the slot
made for it. You have tempted a young
ster to commit a crime. Are you not as
guilty of crime by presenting the temp
tation as the fellow who took your car
for his own use?
Ever forget to lock the back door of
your business on closing of an evening?
Shame on you. You have tempted young
Johnny as he takes a short cut through
the alley on the way home, finds your
door unlocked, so he walks in to take an
armful of your goods to barter at some
nefarious joint.
You’ve got to be vigilant these days,
at least that is what we read. When you
go for the paper out front in the morn
ing, lock the door on going out else you’ll
be charged with aiding and abetting
crime. You are a tempter. You may be
fined for making lawbreaking easier.
If you are a real conscientious stu
dent, don’t take the final examination in
mathematics because some unprepared,
lazy lout might look over your shoulder
and copy the problerti you solved but he
couldn’t. You tempted him to cheat and
that isn’t the nice thing to do in these
days of the honor system. You see, you
might get jacked up for displaying your'
knowledge and in the displaying to make
a good grade you tempted another to
cheat.
All of this sounds ridiculous, but don’t
take the inference lightly. Temptation is
a ravenous quantity. You could have to
answer for it.
Enclose your store wares with a se
cure fence of hardware cloth. You are
offering a temptation to crime when your
goods are spread out for sticky fingers.
By so doing, you are not only aiding and
abetting crime but you are making your
business liable for a big suit in court.
The Gold Flow
Figures for January, just available
from the Central bank of Belgium, re
veal that gold continues to flow out of
the reserves of central banks in Europe.
The flow in January was at a lesser rate
than in November and December,
amounted to about $100 million accord
ing to the best estimates.
The United States supplies about half
that amount, the Belgians 3.7 per cent.
(Few banks reveal gold losses and the
estimated loss total for January came
from computations made on the basis of
the Belgian central bank’s figures for
that month.)
As these figures were revealed, the
Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Wil
liam Martin, said flatly he opposed sug
gestions that the price of gold be raised
from its present $35 an ounce price. “The
future evolution of the (international
monetary) system should and can be
based on the present price of gold,” he
told the National Industrial Conference
Board in a New York speech.
Thus the United States, through its
top finance officials, continues to seek ac
ceptance of the $35 an ounce price for
gold, to stabilize the world market on
that level. But gold continues to flow out
of the reserves of the major central
banks, and out of the United States re
serve.
At some point soon the trend must
be checked. How long the slower run
can continue before another crisis oc
curs, or what might trigger a new crisis,
are critical questions. Certainly the con
tinuing outflow of gold from the world’s
major central banks is sufficient reason
for concern, and action, in both the legis
lative and executive branches in Wash
ington.
Looking Backward
Interesting items reprinted from the old files of the Roanoke-Chowan Times
My MISS ESTHER CONNER, Editor Emeritus
MARCH 19, 1925
A Thought For The Week - Boast not thyself
of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may
bring forth, — Proverbs 27:1
John J. Blair, school house planner of the State
Department of Education, has written that he will
be in Rich square this week to assist the local
school board in planning the new school building
to replace the one burned Saturday before last
known as the dormitory or teachers* home.
There will be regular communication of Rich
square Lodge No. 488 AF & AM Thursday evening
of this week. Sen, W. H. S. Burgw3mwill be pres
ent at this meeting and make an address.
There will be a town election held in the town
of Rich Square on the 31st day of March, 1925,
for the purpose of determining whether the town
shall issue bonds in the aggregate sum of$13,000
for the purpose of paving the sidewalks on one
side of the principal streets of the town. R. L.
Allen is appointed registrar and W. J. Vann, W. A.
Weaver and W. R. Baugham judges of election,
J. William Brown, mayor.
The program which is to be put on at Woodland
Wednesday night, the 25th of this month, by the
Guilford College Glee Club promises to be one of
the best entertainments ever staged in the com
munity.
Have you been over the state highways of North
ampton and Hertford? If not, you would be interest
ed in the trip. You can now make the circle from
Jackson, Conway, Murfreesboro, Winton, Ahoskie,
Aulander, Rich Square to Jackson on improved
highways built and kept in repair by the state and
can make the round trip in a few hours. At Winton
you can see the new bridge being built across the
Chowan and at Rich Square you can run down to
the Roanoke on a fine gravel road and see the
bridge being built across the Roanoke on which the
contractors have already been at work for more
than two years. In making the circle described
above, you can see some very fine farming lands.
MARCH 24, 1938
The following students of State College, Raleigh,
spent their spring holidays with their parents;.
Jim Worrell, James Everett Brown, Bob Elliott,
Stafford Bolton and Walter Smith,
The American Legion Auxiliary held its regular
meeting with Mrs, Pete Stephenson in Severn on
Friday, Mrs. W. D. Barbee gave abrief outline of
the subject for the month, community service,
which Mrs, S. R. Motzno discussed, Mrs. Paul
Calvert was asked to be responsible for a box to
be sent to the auxiliary guests at Oteen Hospital
in April,
The Rich square Parent-Teacher Association
will present “The District school of Blueberry
Corners** at an early date,
E. W. Martin, Conway attorney, announces that
he is a candidate for the office of solicitor of the
Recorder*s Court of Northampton County in the
June primary.
The Woodland Woman*s Club held its regular
monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, March 16,
at the home of Mrs, C. J. Vaughan, The program
leader for the evening, Miss Sonora Bland, in
troduced the speaker, T. G. Britt of Jackson High
School, The hostesses were Mrs, C. J. Vaughan,
Mrs. W. D. Holloman and Mrs. H. J. Purvis.
Mr, and Mrs, V. D. Strickland and children spent
Sunday in Zebulon where they visited Mr. Strick
land’s mother.
Newly elected officers of theRichSquareChap-
ter 201, Order of Eastern Star, were installed
Tuesday evening, March 15, in the Masonic Hall,
Mrs, Janet Brown, a past worthy matron, was
installing officer, Mrs. Maggie Madry was in
stalled as worthy matron and her husband, J, G.
Madry, as worthy patron.
The annual meeting of the Woman’s Missionary
Union of the West Chowan Association will be held
at the Rich Square Baptist Church on Wednesday,
March 30,
Temptation A RavenousQuantity
CEEP 0^^’
„ W)T»\TA')t-FREE
I REVEMUE BOVIDS
fj -M.C.SUPREME COURT
NORIHAMPTON TIMES-NEWS
Rich Square and Jackson, N. C., Thurs., March 14, 1968
Carlton Morris Writes
Planes Symbols Of Big
Change In 50 Years
Most of us at 39!!!tn at least, have one thing in
common. We can only look at the world in amaze
ment.
The first plane I ever saw came into sight from
the south and we all rushed out to watch it go by.
It looked a great deal like aboxkite and best I re
member, it stayed In sight on a straight course
from south to north for 10 minutes. Everyone,
especially the kids, talked about it for days. And
we got into all types of arguments as to where the
plane was when it flew over our community.
For instance I told all the kids that it flew di
rectly over our next door neighbor’s house. But
when I had gone to the far end of our community,
the kids said it was beyond their homes.
I doubt if a single person who saw that old kite,
realized he, was seeing the beginning of a vast
world none of us could even visualize in our wild
est dreams. ,
I merely single out planes because they seem to
symbolize our tremendous change from 50 years
ago to the present time. And I remember how the
world bowed down and worshipped at the feet of a
gangling young man who flew across the Atlantic,
Years later, I looked at his tiny Spirit of St, Louis
in the Smithsonian in Washington, and still the im
pact of our times didn’t touch me. Like all the
rest of the world, I wondered how anyone could
have the courage to fly such a distance in such a
small plane.
As I’ve said many times, I deeply admired the
man who flew to Ireland due to a deliberate mis
take. I was a married man in those years and when
people declared we would soon be flying around
the world nonstop, along with millions of others,
I paid no attention,
A few days ago they rolled out a plane that
could carry that first old kite, Lindberg and all his
later tragedy plus his plane as well as Wrong
Way Corrigan and his plane, plus 250 soldiers to
any part of the world in a matter of hours. And
Around The Old Well
School Attorneys Advised To Plan
Total Integration In 3 To 4 Years
WHAT'S NEW
AT
[NORTHAMPTON MEMORIAL
Ml I iM I w 1 e I—uM.ii-ii I
LIBRARY
they could take along all the tanks, guns and
ammo plus the \mheard of tools of war in this*
plane bigger than a football field.
All this has come about during 50 years of re
membering. And to the upcoming generation con
cerned only with trying to learn enough to get to
the top of the material world, the whole thing is
only commonplace for they expect to take their
long weekends on the moon.
But I grew up in the generation that got up be
fore dawn and thought I was lucky to be on the job
at daybreak. As a boy I remember getting home
after night and feeding the stock by lanternlight.
Wood heaters heated the living room and I doubt
if we had even heard of a blanket to keep us warm
in our freezing cold bedrooms. But those old quilts
Ma hand-made kept you warm and snug and brought
to you their own special kind of dreams and I was
39 before I ever heard of a sleeping pill. After
10 to 12 hours of .hard work, you simply don’t have
to be rocked to sleep. ■
Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. For one
day of that kind of living would kill me, and I’m
glad we’ve invented enough machinery to emanci
pate a few of us so we can dream of going to the
moon.
But it seems to me that the Apostle Paul sort
of pinpoints us when he warns against worship
ping the creature rather than the Creator, For all
the things we have, were right here during all the
years the world has existed, even if the people
who believe their forefathers were apes or mon
keys, are right when they give the world millions
of previous years. I think the work, at least most
of it, of our hands is great. But it seems to me we
bow down and worship our machines, atoms and
education while forgetting that God is the Creator
who made everything and without Him nothing was
made.
Someone has said a little education is a dan
gerous thing. I think we are neglecting our educa
tion in leaps and bounds, when He is left out.
March is here and spring
comes on apace! Northampton
Memorial Library is echoing
the brightness of the sunshine,
the growth of the jonquils, the
twitter of the birds and the ac
tivity on the farms. Lillian
Pearce and Evelyn Hull have
arranged an attractive display
on the bulletin board announc
ing spring’s arrival using the
green and leprechauns of St.
Patrick’s Day, a boy flying a
kite with a dog at his heels,
and a spray of bright red tul
ips. One peep gives the magic,
the feel, and the color of spring!
the bright and colorful jackets
of new books add their bit to the
overall picture. Come and see.
Many interesting requests
have come our way this week.
Russell Manning, former prin
cipal of Jackson High School, is
now principal of Granville Con
solidated High School and is do
ing graduate work at Duke Uni
versity, He has chosen the Por
tuguese of Northampton County
as the subject for his thesis.
Through Betty Nance he asked
that we search our files of the
Northampton Times-News for
1958 for issues carrying ar
ticles on the Portuguese. We
found two full and comprehen
sive news stories dealing with
this subject. Betty made photo
static copies and sent them to
him.
The newly reorganized Ex
plorer Scouts in Jackson have
given us another opportunity to
help this week. Under the lead-
jership of Messrs, T. A, Ste
phenson. Roy Bigger staff andH,
W, Grant this group has adopted
the project of trying to restore
the site of the Battle of Boone’s
Mill. They are counting on our
War of the Rebellion series with
its accompanying maps and our
set of Clark’s “History of the
Civil War” to help them recon
struct this battlefield. Already
the leaders and boys have spent
much time here searching and
taking notes. This project will
be an asset to Northampton
County as well as making his
tory come alive to those who
participate. Good luck. Explor
ers!
Mrs. Ashley Bolton of Rich
Square came "^^th her daughter,
Rosie, bearing a gift for North
ampton Memorial Library from
her father,GuthrieMadry,Mad
ry has given this library his
copy of “Tar Heel War Record
(In the Great WorldWar)” com
piled by J, R. Graham. In it are
the names of North Carolinians
serving in World War I with pic
tures and biographical sketch
es of many of them. This volume
is a valuable addition to our
North Carolina shelves.
We used the new In-Watts
telephone service to libraries
to secure reference, books on
inter-library loan for Carey
Parker this week, Carey is a
student at Chowan College and
needed material on Saen
O’Casey and his plays which
we did not have. The call was
placed on Tuesday afternoon and
Carey picked up his desired ma
terial on Thursday. Fast ser
vice! Don’t forget that this ser
vice is for everyone.
N
orthampton
Hi Ram T
racks
By JOURNALISM CLASS
By DAPHNE HAWKES
CHAPEL HILL - North Caro
lina teachers have no authority
for collective bargaining, ac
cording to a recent opinion of the
attorney general. This was the in
terpretation presented by Andrew
A. Vanore Jr,, staff attorney.
North Carolina attorney general’s
office, speaking to the 1968 Con
ference of School Board Attor
neys at the Institute of Govern
ment this past week.
The two-day conference cov
ered three major areas of school
board concern; desegregation,
teacher negotiations and school
finance. Panel presentations and
open discussions involving the 40
attending school board attorneys
were held.
Mr, Vanore quoted an opinion
written by Ralph Moody of the
attorney general’s office when
speaking of the legality of teacher
negotiations in the state. It read;
“The legality of collective bar
gaining by teachers is not in doubt
in this state. There is no right
of collective bargaining of teach
ers or any other public employ
ees.”
It was noted at the conference,
however, that while many states
have similarly restrictive laws
concerning teacher negotiation,
there are numerous militant ac
tions being taken by teachers
throughout the country,
Lester Ball, professor of edu
cation, UNC-Chapel Hill School of
Education, addressed the attor
neys concerning this contradic
tory situation,
“I would predict that school
board attorneys in North Caro
lina will spend a large amount of
their time on cases involving
militant actions and negotiations
by teachers during the next few
years,” Ball said. “It would be
most valuable for you to spend
time now reeducating yourselves
in these areas.”
In the area of desegregation,
the group was apprised of the
1969-70 target date set by HEW
for the disestablishment of dual
education, Robert E. Phay, as
sistant director of the Institute
of Government, said that the
“trend during the last 14 years
has been for federal judges to
become less willing to sanction
legalistic facades, such as the
North Carolina Pearsall Plan,
which attempted to enforce segre
gation, while appearing to employ
‘all deliberate speed’ in estab
lishing integrated school sys
tems,”
Vanore, a law graduate of the
University of North Carolina,
stated the position of the attorney
general’s office in this state.
“The 1967 guidelines issuedby
the Department of Health, Edu
cation and Welfare went far be
yond the authority granted in the
1964 Civil Rights Act. The HEW
policy statements said distinctly
that it is not only necessary to
give all students a free choice
in school attendance but also
that the school board has an af
firmative duty to integrate.”
“I suggest you gentlemen, as
school board attorneys, should
start to condition your boards for
a program of total integration In
the next three or four years,
“The Supreme Court has ex
hausted all ‘due deliberate speed’
and will soon require some posi
tive action. To date. North Caro
lina has been most fortunate in
that no North Carolina district
has had its federal funds termi-
Sgt. Futrell’s
Unit Commended
WICHITA, Kan. - T/Sgt, Rob
ert L. Futrell, son of Mrs,
Ethel V. Futrell of Route 2,
Conway, has been recognized
for helping his unit earn the
U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit
Award,
sergeant Futrpll, an elec
trician in the 381st Strategic
Missile Wing at McConnell AFB,
Kan., will wear the distinctive
service ribbon as a permanent
decoration.
His unit was cited for meri
torious service during the
period January 1966 to June
1967.
Lt, Gen, William B. Kieffer,
Eighth Air Force commander,
presented the award to the wing.
Sergeant Futrell was grad
uated from Conway HighSchool.
His wife, Betty, is the daughter
of Thomas M. Woody of Wichita,
“He is the greatest patriot who
stops the most gullies.’’—Patrick
Henry
“When we sign our names on
paper, few of us use the ‘mark’
made with two straight lines. In
stead we write our signatures
with lots of curves. We need
more ‘writing* on the land and
fewer ‘marks,’ ” - George R.
Free.
NCHS plans to have 14 members at the annual Tri-County Library
Club meeting to be held at Roanoke Rapids on Thursday night, March
21, at 7:30. The guest speaker will be Ellen Graff from Norway,
talking on the life and customs of Norway,
The Roanoke Rapids High School Club will be host to Murfrees
boro and Northampton Clubs. This is the third year of the annual
meetings. Last year it was held at Murfreesboro and the year be
fore at Northampton. These meetings are to create a little get--
together for the three schools.
' Planning to attend from , NCHS are Gayle Williams, Jane Clark,
Jackie Williford,'Jd^e Martin,' Carol Jo Vick, Mary Ruth Boone,
Elaine Barnes, Nancy Draper, Linda Woodard, Susan Burgess, Anna
Beale Burgess, Vickie Barrett, Betty Anne Edwards and Debbie Fish
er.
♦♦*****♦
Mrs, Mebane Burgwyn, guidance supervisor of Northampton Coun
ty, spoke to Mrs, Smith’s sociology class Monday, March 11, on
“Choosing a Vocation.”
She first compared choosing a vocation to doing Christmas shop
ping early, pointing out that one should have some idea early in life
of what he wants to do and then determine whether he is qualified
for that type of work.
Mrs. Burgwyn also showed some books and pamphlets on prepar
ing for a job.
Some of the boys in the agriculture classes have planted pansies
in the courtyard, in front of the school and in the circle at the right
of the front door,
********
The sixth period boys’ advanced PE class, under the leadership
of Mr. Hudgins, had a volleyball championship game in the gym on
March 6 with a final score of 21-16,
The tournament games were the result of two weeks of volleyball
play in which a total of seven games was played by each of the four
teams. There were also two tournament games.
Members of the winning team were Tommy Heller, Jimmie Glov
er, Edward Timberlake, Gene Taylor, Newton Stephenson, Riddick
Ricks and Eddie Drake.
********
Spring begins and so does baseball at NCHS. Approximately 35
boys are working out for places on the 20-man squad that Coach El
len will use during the playing season.
The Rams’ first game is scheduled for March 22 with Bertie on
NCHS’s home field. Coach Ellen stated that Clyde Carroll, outstand
ing player from last year’s team, is returning for practice.
*:^******
The four “Students of the Month” for February were announced
March 12 during homeroom period.
They are Tony McDowell, 12th grade; Cynthia Vann, Hth grade;
Kathy Fleetwood, lOth grade; and John William Price, ninth grade.
The nominees from individual homerooms were chosen onMonday
and voted on by the faculty that afternoon.
From the 12th grade, the other candidates were J. Billy Blythe,
12-1; Martha Davis, 12-2; Billy R. Futrell, 12-3; and Gene Taylor,
12-5.
From the 11th grade, other candidates were Marty Brown, 11-1;
Willis Edwards, 11-2; Bill Hoke, 11-3; Whit Price, 11-4.
The other lOth grade candidates were Glenn Brown, 10-1; David
Edwards, 10-2; Dan Johnson, 10-4; Gary Warren, 10-5.
The other ninth grade candidates were Edward Bazemore, 9-1;
Debbie Davis, 9-2; Quinton Garris, 9-3; Cynthia Johnson, 9-4; and
Billy Wheeler, 9-6.
********
The highlights at NCHS this week Include a visit trom Trooper
Bob Corey from Woodland. He Is to give a talk to the first and sec
ond period PE classes on safe driving, laws involved In drinking
while driving and traffic laws in general.
Next Tuesday, either Dr. Fleetwood or Dr. McTammany of Con
way will speak on drugs and dope. The PE classes will see a film,
“The Decision,” concerning narcotics before the doctor comes.
********
Dan Edwards was candidate for president of the Northeastern
District Beta Club at Gates County High School Wednesday of this
week. Thirty-eight Betas backed Dan’s candidacy by attending the
district meeting and campaigning for him.
********
Basketball will be revived at NCHS Tuesday night, March 19, at
7 p.m. when the Boosters Club and the faculty men square off In
their annual encounter. The second tilt of the twin bill will pit the
Ram seniors against the junior cagers. The proceeds will go to
ward defraying the expenses of the annual athletic banquet honor
ing athletes of all sports during the year.
A seer says the world is on the threshold of the dawn
of a new era. Even if so, when comes the dawn it may
not he anything to rush out and dance in the streets
about, as many new eras have been worse than the ones
they succeeded.
The government, in its naivete, believes most riders
on the front seat of cars would use shoulder harness, al
though surveys show only about 25 per cent of them
even use seat belts.