3Up Varrrn Srrnri)
Published Every Friday By i
The Record Printing Company
BIGNALL JONES. Editor — DUKE JONES. Business Manager
Member North Carolina Press Association
EUTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER AT THE POST OFFICE
IN WARRENTON, NORTH CAROLINA, UNDER THE LAWS OF CONGRESS
"Second Class Postage Paid At Warren on, N. C
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Board Is Too Large
In January the 1970 session of
the Legislature will meet, offering
the Town of Warrenton an opportunity
to amend the Town Charter
If the members of the board of town
commissioners so request.
We would like to see the charter
amended to reduce the number of
town commissioners from seven to
five, which seemingly would be
enough -for a town the size of Warrenton.
Our neighboring town of
Norlina had managed to transact the
business of that only slightly smaller
town with only three commissioners
and, while we do not request
it, we would suggest that Warrenton
might be able to do the same
with little loss.
From our observation over the
years and particularly during the
past year we have come to the
conclusion that the size of the board
makes it unwieldly and interferes
with the administration of the town's
business. If the entire county can
be operated with a board of only
five members, It would seem that
Its county seat could be operated by
a board of the same size.
It has been demonstrated that the
only way large boards can operate
successfully Is through the creation
of a small executive committee.
Warrenton's board may be too small
for the creation of an executive
committee, but it is too large for
the most efficient operation.
At its meeting on Monday night.
Town Manager J. Ed Rooker told
the commissioners that present
indications are that the town's tax
rate, now the highest in the history
of the town, would have to be increased
for the 1971-72 fiscal year.
At a time when careful scrut' ■■y
must be made of all expendit' ,,
we feel that the more than *v00
paid annually for the salaries of
two unnecessary commissioners
might be a good place to start
cutting expenditures.
More Work To Be Done
Warren County students who
have been out of school following
a racial disturbance at John Graham
High School returned to school
on Monday morning without incident
and Warren County schools are
now operating with normal attendance.
The stale of ~e«ier$«j>cjy j)eriod
expired iitt Warrenton and'over the
county early Monday afternoon and
it was the concensus of the board
of town commissioners Monday
night that conditions do not call
for their renewal. For the first
time in several days there were
no pickets on the streets urging
boycott of Warrenton merchants and
in recent days fire calls have been
few.
Seemingly, and hopefully, peace
has returned to Warrenton and
Warren County after a disturbance
of several weeks which, if it accomplished
nothing else, clearly
demonstrated that there is much
work to be done by both blacks
and whites if we are to have race
relations essential to the maximum
development of our town and county.
Perhaps the first step towards good
race relations would be for each
race to take, a. good. .hard. look, at .the u
moat in its own eyes. 1 ' >
1 ifA ! «VCii" • trw
>
We do not intend to preach a sermon
about the racial disturbance,
other than to say that the time when
we celebrate the birth of the Prince
of Peace is not a time for the
building of hate or indulging in
self-righteousness, and to suggest
that the approaching New Year is a
most appropriate time for a resolution
that we shall work harder for
a better understanding and more
cooperation and good will between
the two races bound by destiny to
live together and hopefully as brothers
under the Fatherhood of God.
Renaissance Of The Bicycle
The 9nithfield Herald
That 63-year-old physician In Mew York
City who makes bouse calls on a bicycle
Is a pioneer exploring the new life style that
conservationists say we Americans must adopt
If we survive the threat of a deteriorating
environment.
Dr. Reynald chase, who serves patients in
Manhattan, took to pedaling to save time and
costs. He can ride a bicycle within a mile
or two of his office much faster than he can
move by bus or taxlcab. And his pedaling
means he doesn't have to pass along transportation
fares to patients.
But his resort to the bicycle means more
than time and money saved. And it does
more than provide for him a convenient
means of health-promoting exercise, though
be doesn't discount the value of that at
all. Whether he intended to or not, Dr. Chase
dramatises a change in the American way
of life that seems increasingly necessaryHe
dramatizes a way to solve the traffic
congestion problem In a big city—and In
many a small city and town across the land.
And he demonstrates one way to reduce the
pollution of atmosphere resulting from motor
exhausts. B many Americans follow In Dr.
Chase's tire tracks,—there also will be a welcome
decline of noise pollution.
The environmental prophets keep telling us
that the automobile must become less important
in the life style at the future, even as
our dependence on all kinds of gadgets and
things must decline If we fere to restore
ecological balance. Walking and cycling have
a destiny that seemed not to exist a few years
ago.
Bicycling lately has become popular among
adults seeking rhythmic exercise. At no time
In the advanced stages of the Automobile Age
did it completely go out of style. Witness
the small minority of Americans who have
long preferred pedaling to motoring as a
means of transportation to and from work. But
the renaissance of the bicycle aeems to lie
ahead. R is probable that news of New York's
pedal-pushing physician will send bicycle sales
soaring In the weeks and months ahead.
Sales Tax: Unavoidable?
The Christian Science Monitor
For the record, lot It to noted that the
people of the United State* will pay three
times as much in sales taxes—state and local
-this year u they did in I960. We say "for
the record" because we are not sure what
can to done shont this, other than to practice
economy in government and try tax reform.
Welfare, education, highways, city renewal,
all cost more. Salaries are op. The taxtoots
the bill. Local property owners
the ever-rising property tax.
nd April, the average midabout
the federal
tax hits everyone,
is some talk in1
lue-added tax—meaning virtually
Sale a taxes are frowned upon aa regressive,
as hitting the poor particularly, and as
sales-inhibiting. But they happen to have teen
the prime source at revenue in 94 of the 44
states imposing them in IMP. Where else
shall the states go tor the major part of their
Quotes
resisting temptation difficult
tor many people is they don't want to disage
it completely.—Franklin P. Jones.
— Herbert
Mostly
Personal
B» BH3NALL JONES
While watching a TV pro tram
a tew night a ago, t became interested
In a black speaker telling
about the aspirations of the
blacks, particularly in his remarks
about retaining the culture
of his raoe. He ttsea two
fingers to Illustrate how two
people could have separate cultures
and still be a part of the
same body. This was reminiscent
of the late Booker T. Washington'*
illustration of how the
races could Uve separately but
equally.
Although old age has many
disadvantages It has the advantage
of a great deal of persooal
experience, Including a great
deal of the evolution of the Negro
race over a period covering
more than 50 years. While I am
sympathetic to the aspirations
of any people to retain their
cultures, this has not been the
experience of most groups in
America and It Is difficult
for me to see how the Negro
is going to keep his In an Integrated
society.
Every race and every group
that has been assembled Into the
society of the United States has
made a genuine contribution to
the nation in what has not
been a retention of cultures
but rather a merging of different
cultures. I have seen
this in Warren County with
the settlement of the Germans
in the Ridgeway Community.
When I was in my late teens
many Germans living in what we
then called Germantown had
been born in Germany and
brought their language and
their customs to Warren County.
They were highly intelligent
people and through the
years showed the natives how to
farm. They took poor land and
by the use of manure and the
plowing under of clover crops
built their land to the point
where it became some of the
best in the county.
At the time when,Iflrst visited
the community one noted the
small homes and the huge barns,
Indicating that they were familiar
with the Scandinavian
proverb: "A fine barn will build
a fine home, but a fine home
will never build a fine barn."
Their homes were surrounded
by vineyards and acre after
acre of dewberries- w«fee to be
seen. From these grapes and
berries they made wine by the
barrel for home consumption,
with an occasional sale or gift.
They had good gardens and
they ate good homegrown food
with plenty of milk and butter
and they largely confined their
alcoholic consumption to the
wines which they usually drank
In a civilized manner. They
were law-abiding people with a
great respect for authority.
They tipped their hats to my
father, simply because as
superintendent of schools he
was part of the authority. They
were and remain a tine people
with a rich heritage but they
are no longer Germans but
Americans, and only afewofthe
older generation can speak or
understand German.
But for some 40 years alter
the first of the Germans came
to the Rldgeway community they
retained their language and
much of their culture. When I
was a boy some of the older
people still spoke German In
their homes, had difficulty In
speaking English, had their own
German school and In their
church one Sunday in the Uionth
the sermon was preached in
German. But no mora.
When the schools were consolidated
the German school
was closed and the children
attended the Norlina high
school where they were soon
Integrated into the life of the
community and made a real contribution
to their county. Many
were good athletes and could be
distinguished by their fine teeth
and sturdy bodies, no doubt due
in part to the milk which had
always been n part of their diet.
rney nave married ana intermarried
with the natives, bat
still they have more often married
and Intermarried anion?
themselves until the old German
town com mtmit* Is a neighborhood
of kinsmen, proud of
their heritage, traces of which
still remain. But they no longer
call themselves German Americans.
Alter three fenerations
they call themselves
Americans and In two wars
have fought against their own
kin In Germany.
What has happened to the
Germans In Warren Comty and
over the nation has happened la
my lifetime to the Irish In Boston,
the Swedes in Wisconsin
and other ethnic groups over the
country.
My mothers people are of Soot
descent, s tact of which I
am very prowL Alter her people
hsd been in this country
tor man than a. hundred vctrt.
my mother as a child would
Letter
To Editor
REPLIES TO MB. YOUNG
To The Bdttor:
to reply to a recent letter
to the editor from Mr. Robert
Young Id which he said that no
mention wee made of why 1 was
fired by Mr. Bernard Thompson
from Warren General Hospital,
and stating that Mr.
Thompson must have had a food
reason lor doing so, 1 will appreciate
your publishing the
following statement:
I have been asked to give
the reason why I was fired
from Warren General Hospital
on June 17, 1970. Mr. Thompson
summoned me to his office,
dance the Highland Fling for the
pleasure of her father, and my
brother wears a Jacket bearing
the colors of the Brodle Clan,
and somewhere I have a necktie
made of similar colors.
This Is nothing more or less
than a display similar to that of
people displaying thelr courts of
arms. Both are rather meaningless
In this Democratic day.
And yet In spite of being proud
of this part of our heritage, I
am not about to wear kilts down
the streets of this town.
The ancestors of most of the
blacks have lived In this country
just as long as have my ancestors
from Scotland. Some of
their African culture has been
retained and much of it has
been adopted by the whites,
such as their dances, their
watermelons and okra. But the
American Negro Is no longer an
African. After more than a
hundred years of a common language,
a common literature, a
common food and a common culture
he Is an American, and not
an Afro-American,' any more
than I am a Scotch-American
or an English American.
James Baldwin, a brill ant
writer and well educated, but
militant and bitter black, left
America and lived In France for t
a number of years. While there,'
be recounts In one of his books,
that he had several contacts
with African blacks, but found
that they had little In common.
He found that he had a love for
America In spite of her faults
and came home to use his pen
and the platform to try to improve
the lot of the blacks
In the United States. H* has,
I think, succeeded to * point, if
In no other way than to show that
the color of one's skin has little
or nothing to do with one's
Intellect.
Mart* Abernathy was seated beside
Ma desk In bar street
rV^tes. I Mid, "you wanted
to in m Mr. ThompaooT" Ha
asked if I knew »*«* Dr. Bunch
had Insulted Marie Abernathy
about my time. I said no, 1
did not, and 11 he did I would
apologize for him, aa wall aa
myself.
Marie Abernathy said aha
couldn't fix the time and get
Insulted about It. We had a
meeting and ware aakad for volunteer
a to work the 3-11 ahlft,
at which time, there were six
volunteers and two non-volunteers,
who were the first to be
put on the list. Neither one said
we wouldn't work thst shift, but
we rather not - both had reaaons.
Mr. Tbompaon said, did
you know that I had to come
over here and stay with ter for
four hours she was so upset.
And the only thing he could do tor
me was to firs ma. 1 said,
Mr. Thompson, I won't tske
this like you did - one persons
word. I will see you In Court.
I left his office and returned
back on the hall to finish the
patients I was assigned to I
gave them their baths and
combed their hair. These patients
were all Negroes. If
there is not a Black nurse to
do their hair it is not done
by a white nurse - they aay
they don't know how to comb
their hair.
We had a meeting with the
members of the Board and they
wanted to know what kind of
nurse I 'was. Mr. Thompson
replied, one of the best we have
at Warren General Hospital.
One member wanted to know
if I refused to work the 3-11
shift. I was fired before I had
a chance to. Yet Mr. Thompson
said I broke the chain of
command.
I went back to work one day
- in Room 32 with a patient
when I was approached by Mr.
Thompson and was told, "Candles,
you were hired by the
Board to work in Dr. Bunch's
office, not on the hall." I said
Mr. Thompson, no one told me
this and I am not mad at you."
He said, "Candies, -I had
planned to hire you back, but
before I will be made to hire
you, "Hell will freeze over."
On that day I left and didn't
return until I went to Court and
went back to work under Court
Order. You would think I had
commuted,/ terrible crime before
the Bo^fd could make adeoision
to reinstate me on my
job. But that's the consequences
you pay for being Black.
Twice I have raised money to
becniN ot some at my fund
ralalng eflorta. So that'a to (how
my Interest in the hospital.
For yaara 1 have alwayabeen
paid by the month, but since I
returned to work I am only
being paid (or the daya that I
worked. I asked about this and
why. I waa told that Mr. Tboropaon
had a meeting and they decided
to pay ma tor only the
days I worked, and not by the
month. I hava been fatting paid
by the month since IMS.
I wu also told If I cam* back
to work, over half of the employes
would leave, but tbe
same help Is still there and
two mora added.
So, Mr. Younf, you wished
to know why I was (lred - here
It la, and the half about the
hospital and Board still hasn't
been told.
I have been back to work for
about a month or mora, and I
still have to go back to Court
and try to |*t my back pay.
(MRS.) CANDIES MILLER
About 1,000 tons of meteorites
annually fall on the moon's
surface; they compose about
2 percent of the lunar soil.
Mb. Dnh Em ployed
Put-Tiaie CmsiIImI ?
lira. Mabel H. Davis of Wise
has bMn employed by the family
Counseling Center at Loulsburg
w a part-time consultant
In the area of children's aer-^
vice*.
lira. Davis, who recently retired
from her position as
Instructional supervisor with
the Franklin County school
system, in her new position
will assist In Identifying children
with special needs and
will attempt to expedite their
referral to a aource of evaluation
or treatment.
Mra. Davis la also serving
as vice president of the North
Central Region, North Carolina
Mental Health Association and
a member of the board of directors
and the executive board
of the NCMHA.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
The Mt. Pleasant Baptist Sunday
School will present a
Christmas program at the
church on Sunday, Dec. 20, at
6 p. m. The public is cordially
Invited to attend.
Harrwt SUrnrii
FOR A CHRISTMAS GIFT
THAT LASTS THE WHOLE YEAR
IT'S ONLY $3.00 A YEAR AND WE
MAIL IT ANYWHERE. OUT OF STATE
$4.00 A YEAR.'T
b;;9;.IUvr ii vsti .iM
nl ehnettl rftlw nvrNlori <*H
GIVE A SUBSCRIPTION
remember when...
A Nickel i
Would Buy 1
A Two-Scoop
Ice Cream
Cone?
mm \
m - x
LOTS OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED
SINCE THEN: BUT YOUR TELEPHONE'!
STILL THE BIGGEST BARGAIN
IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET.
SYSTEM
«I.