66TH YEAR
Oldest Weekly Paper
In
Western North Carolina
Ijigltlatri)# Baconian
CIRCULATION
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VOL. LXVI? NO. 31
$110 MACON'S
CRUSADE FOR
FREEDOMGOAL
Mayor Dillard Will Head
Drive; Requests
Cooperation
Mayor Robert M. Dillard an
nounced this week that he has
accepted the chairmanship of
the local 1951 Crusade for Free
dom drive and he called for the
whole-hearted support of every
one in putting Macon County
over the top of its $110 goal.
Radio Free Europe, combating
Russia's propaganda machine
by beaming the truth through
the "iron curtain", is a direct
result of the 1950 Crusade cam
paign.
Outlining the objectives of
this year's campaign, Mayor
Dillard pointed out that more
powerful freedom-stations are
badly needed to counteract the
distortions spread by the Soviet
directed propaganda machine
and said that it is hoped the
campaign will provide at least
two more powerful transmitters
for Radio Free Europe and
establish a freedom-station in
Asia to stop the spread of Com
munism in the Far East.
Since truth is the deadliest
enemy of Communism, he said
the slogan for this year's cam
paign is "Help Truth Fight
Communism ? Join the Crusade
For Freedom."
"The lesson in Korea," the
mayor pointed out, "should
prove to us all that now is the
time to stop the spread of
Communism. This campaign will
give everyone in Macon County
an opportunity to strike a blow
for the truth and the ultimate
liberation of enslaved peoples
under the iron fist of Commun
ist tyranny."
General Lucius D. Clay, na
tional chairman of the crusade,
set this year's nation-wide goal
at 25 million members and $3,
500,00 in contributions.
Contributions will be collect
ed locally through the use of
transparent coin banks In the
shape of freedom bells, the
mayor said. The banks will be
placed in business establish
ments as soon as they arrive.
MACON NATIVE
DIES OF MISHAP
Sergeant E. J. Robinson
Given Military
Funeral
S. Sgt. E. J. Robinson, 39, a
native of Macon County who
had served in the regular army
since he was 17 years old, was
killed in an automobile acci
dent in Pennsylvania Thursday
of last week.
A son of the late Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew Robinson, Sgt.
Robinson was a brother of G.
M. Robinson, Mrs. Boise Hall,
Mrs. Cecil Crawford, and Mrs.
A. G. Kinsland, of this county.
At the time the accident oc
curred, Sgt. Robinson was on
his way from his station at In
dian Head, Penna., to his home
jn Trenton, N. J., to visit his
?wife and two sons. Five other
(soldiers, also on their jvay to
visit their families, were in the
car. While details of the acci
dent have not been received
here, it was learned that the
one other occupant of the car
?vas killed, and the other four
injured.
"l'he body was sent to Mariet
ta, Ga., where Sgt. Robinson
was given a military funeral
Tuesday. He was buried in the
national cemetery there. His
brother and four sisters here
were among relatives present
for the rites.
Sgt. Robinson, who had serv
ed In France and Germany dur
ing World War 2, and had seen
service in Japan and Korea,
was brought back to the States
shortly before the outbreak of
war in Korea a year ago.
Survivors, in addition to his
kin here, include his widow; two
sons, Ronny and Harry; six
other brothers, G. M., J. P., L.
H., E. L., and Everett Robinson,
all of Canton, L. C. of. Wilkes
Barre, Penna., and George M.,
of Harrlsburg, Penna; and an
o?he- .?ister, Mrs. Arthur Ensley,
of Clyde.
OUT FOR CONGRESS
, J. RICHARD QUEEN
Mr. Queen, of Waynesville, is
the first candidate to announce
for the Democratic nomination
for congress from this (the
12th) district. Rep. Monroe M.
Redden some months ago said
he would not run again. The
Waynesville man, former secre
tary to Senators Broughton and
Graham, is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Sam L. Queen, and is a
nephew of John M. Queen, for
mer solicitor of this district. Mr.
Queen, a veteran of World War
2, formerly was a teacher. He
is now staff director of the
house sub-committee on mines
and mining.
Will Visit
Farms Here
August 15
August 15 has been set as the
date for the annual Macon
County farm tour, County Assent
S. W. Mendenhall announced
this week.
The tour Is staged each year
by the county agent to give
farm men and women and in
terested persons an inside pic
ture of agricultural progress
within the county.
Last year's event attracted a
record-breaking crowd estimat
ed at 450, and more than 75
automobiles made up the motor
cade as it wound through the
county.
Features of interest this year,
in addition to inspecting a
number of outstanding farms in
the county, will be a ditch
blasting demonstration and a
showing of Future Farmers of
America and 4-H club beef and
dairy calves, Mr. Mendenhall
said.
The motorcade will get under
way promptly at 9 a. m.
Dinner will be served at the
Iotla Baptist church by the
women of the Iotla and Burn
lngtown home demonstration
clubs.
The county agent said every
one is invited to go on the tour
and said transportation would
be furnished for those who do
not own automobiles.
Average Draft Registrant Here Goes
Through Eighth Grade, Survey Shows
Th" average Macon County
draft registrant has completed
the eighth grade.
Eleven per cent of the local
board's total registration of 1,
181 men have completed high
school.
These facts are revealed by a
survey of selective service rec
ords on file in the Macon
County draft board office.
With a view to obtaining a
i cross-section of the educational
j picture, the records of 242 reg
istrants were checked for edu
cational qualifications.
Two groups were selected for
study, those born in 1929 and
those born in 1931. Those groups
were chosen since men born in
those years were well under
draft age during World War II,
but nevertheless were subject to
forces, because of the war,
which may have had decided
effects on how much schooling
they received. When these men
were in their early teens, many
of their families moved every
few months, from one job to
another, during the war years,
taking their children out of
school with each move and in
some instances falling to re-en
roll them again, once at a new
place.
And a number of those born
in 1929 were approaching 15
i years in age at the peak of the
war, and many dropped out of
school because of an urge to
i pull the wool over the eyes of
recruiters and "get in uniform".
| Records of 117 men born in
1929, 22-year-olds today, show
that 13 per cent of them went
j through the eighth grade and
stooped. Only 14 per cent com
pleted high school, and two per
'cent of the 117 men have no
j education whatsoever. Nine per
'.cent through the fifth grade.
Records of 125 men born in
1931, now 20-year-olds, show lit
| tie change in educational stand
ing from those born in 1929.
\ These 20-year-olds, on the aver
age, went through the eighth
! grade before dropping out ol
school.
However, a higher percentage
of these men, 15 per cent, ac
tually completed high school,
and five per cent have at least
two years of college. Of the 125
men, 16 per cent went through
; the fifth grade, 11 per cent
i through the tenth grade, and
only two per cent through the
| eleventh.
Whether a true picture has
been painted by this survey is
hard to determine. However, it
I is believed that the average ed
ucational level Is higher now
than it was during the last war.
The local army and air force
recruiter, Cpl. Clay Henslcy,
said recently that Macon Coun
ty enlistees on the whole are
making higher grades on army
and air force entrance examina
tions than men in adjoining
counties.
Official Census
For County And Towns
Announced
The official 1950 census,
made public last week by the
U. S. Census bureau, shows
that Macon County gained
1.9 per cent over the ten
year period with 16,174 per
sons. The county's population
in 1940 was 15,800.
' Franklin climbed the popu
lation ladder over the ten
year period, falling short of
the 2,000 mark by 25 persons.
The official figure for 1950
gives Franklin 1,975 persons
as compared with 1,249 in
1940.
Highland^, on the other
hand, slipped by some 54 per
sons since 1940. The 1950 cen
sus shows that the resort
town has 515 living perma
nently within its limits. The
'40 population was 569.
Mayor Asks Cleanup
Cooperation ; Says
Put Trash Out Front
While thr town authorities
are deeply interested in clean
ing up, and are ready to co
operate fully with individuals
in the clean-up campaign, resi
dents are asked to be reasonable
in their requests. Mayor Robert
M. Dillard said this week.
Mr. Dillard explained that the
town truck cannot go to the
back of people's premises to
pick up trash ? that it must be
placed on or near the sidewalk,
where it will be picked up.
He adde|d that, in a few in
stances, the town truck has been
asked to haul brush off of what
is virtually farming land, rath
er than town lots. The town
cannot engage in farming oper
ations, the mayor explained.
The Rev. Joe A. Bryson, of
Columbus, Mo., will preach Sun-|
day evening at 8 o'clock at the
Sugarfork Baptist church, it has
been announced.
Red Cross Appeals
For Flood Funds;
Sets Quota At $195
The local Red Cross chapter
has been asked to raise a min
imum of $195 as Macon County's
share of the special disaster
fund for flood victims in the
Mid-West, Mrs. J. Ward Long,
secretary, said this week.
Tho'ipnhds of persons have
been left homeless in the wake
u. the rampaging Mississippi
river, at its highest flood level
in 107 years.
"Our goal here is very small
and we should have little trouble
raising it and more if everyone
will cooperate", Mrs. Long said.
"If the shoe was on the other
foot the rest of the country
would be behind us, so this Is
our chance to show we are ready
to give others a hand."
Persons wishing to contribute
to the fund may leave donations
at the local Red Cross office
in the Bank of Franklin build
ing.
Bloodmobile
Collects 22 Pints In
Highlands
The American Red Cross
bloodmobile, from the regional
center in Ashevllle, collected 22
pints of blood in Highlands July
19, the local Red Cross office
announced this week.
James O. Beal and W. H.
Cobb were in charge of arrange
ments. Collection was made at
the community hospital.
The bloodmobile is scheduled
to make its third visit to Frank
lin August 28.
TO OBSERVE COMMUNION
The Rev. C. E. Murray, pastor
of the Franklin Methodist
church, has announced that
Holy Communion will be observ
ed Sunday morning at the 11
o'clock service.
He also announced a meeting
of the board of stewards Sunday
evening at 7:30 o'clock at the
church.
Pages Find Union Of South Africa Informal
And Friendly; Land Of Sports Fans, Movie
Goers, Just 'Like The United States'
Darkest Africa isn't really
"dark" at all, and life In gen
eral Is pretty mufch as it is in
the United States, as seen
through the eyes of Mr. and
Mrs. L. H. Page, of Franklin,
who Just recently returned from
a four-month sojourn in the
Union of South Africa.
Cities there are up-to-date,
very ultra-modern, the people
are avid sports fans and movie
goers, stores and shops sell
Paris hats and American clothes,
and an air of sincerity and
friendliness surrounds new
comers to the land.
In fact, Mrs. Page said, "We
didn't feel at all like strangers
because it was just like the
United States."
Mr. and Mrs. Page, who spent
most of their time in the gen
eral vicinity of Johannesburg,
the financial center of the
union, said the one thing that
left the greatest Impression
with them was the down-to
earth informality and friendli
ness of the people there.
"Without a doubt," Mr. Page
said, "they were the most hos
pitable people I have encounter
ed In all my travels." Mr. Page,
owner of Franklin Mineral
Products company, has behind
him an impressive travel record,
including tv:o trips to India.
There is little formality, like
dressing for dinner and the
theatre, and the people are in
sistent that visitors actually see
and know how they live.
Johannesburg, a youthful city
of 60 years, the offspring of a
mining camp, is honey-combed
beneath its surface by gold mine
shafts, and on the surface Is
pinpointed by large mining
dumps. There are 44 gold mines
within a 50-mile radius of the
city.
The shafts under the city are
well timbered, Mr. Page said,
but a number of jolts are felt
each day as the ground shifts
and sinks. ? |
"Eventually the timbers will
rot," he pointed out, "but It
doesn't seem to perturb them
in the least."
The country is rich in natur
al resources, but Is sadly lack
ing in oil and timber. Most of
the structures are made of
stone, Mr. and Mrs. Page said. I
They compared the general ter
rain with that of the "bush
section" of Texas, where trees
are scrubby and vegetation
1 sparse.
While there they went on a
four-day safari into the 8,000
square mile Kruser Game re
| serve, where Hons look upon
automobiles as Just "lazy ani
mals", and visitors are caution
ed never to leave the safe con
fines of their vehicles.
In the northwest section of
Southern Rhodesia they viewed
breathtaking Victoria Falls,
I which, according to Mr. Page,
I would make Niagra Falls seem
I like "a mere trickle".
j They rode on the snail-like
narrow-guage trains, that sel
dom move faster than 35 miles
per hour; they drove over com
pletely paved roads and those
that are only paved In strips to
fit the wheels of automobiles;
In short, they "had a wonder
ful time".
As Mr. and Mrs. Page point
ed out, the people in the Union
are sports minded, catering to
cricket and football like folks
here do to baseball and basket
ball.
However, the Union of South
Africa beats the United States
when It comes to movies, or
"bioscopes" as they call them
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 8
Highlands
To Get About $4,004) For
Streets
Highlands stands to receive
approximately $4,000 for street
aid under provisions of the
Powell municipal aid bill, ac
cording to Town Clerk V. W.
McCall.
A survey of streets conducted
by Ray Norton, on order of the
mayor and town board, showed
that an estimated 8.12 miles of
streets within the town limits
come under aid provisions, the
clerk said.
Results of the survey were
mailed to Raleigh July 25 for
approval.
DR. BLACKWELL
TO SPEAK HERE
Mars Hill President
To Conduct Youth
Revival Here
Dr. Hoyt Blackwell, president
of Hill college, is to be guest
speaker at the youth revival of
the First Baptist" church, Aug
ust 12 through August 19, the
Rev. M, W. Chapman, pastor,
announced this week,
Dr. Blackwell's theme for the
series will be, "The Light of
the World is Jesus".
President of Mars Hill college
since 1938, Dr. Blackwell receiv
ed his A. B. degree at Wake
Forest college, his master's de
gree at the Southern Baptist
Theological seminary, and his
doctorate at Wake Forest. He
joined the Mars Hill faculty
in 1928, where he taught Bible
and served as head of the de
partment of religion until his
appointment as president.
The following, Mr. Chapman
said, are serving on the youth
council:
Russell McKelvey, president,
Audrey Hays, vice-president,
Mary Ann Johnston, secretary,
Roger Cole, song leader, Mrs.
George Cook, adult advisor,
Edith Plemmons, organist, and
Ann Hays, pianist.
Committee chairmen are Pat
sy Hays, testimony, Mertls Angel,
publicity, Bill Klnsland, usher,
Beverly Higdon, social and en
tertainment, Betty Jean McCall,
prayer meeting, Robbie Gay Tal
lent, contact, Nancy Angel,
music, Marilyn Hogsed, forum,
and Frances McCall, finance.
Early To Preach
At Greensboro
Church Sunday
The Rev. Robert E. Early,
pastor of the Highlands Metho
dist church, has been Invited
to preach a home-coming ser
mon Sunday afternoon at the
Rehobeth Methodist church In
Greensboro.
Mr. Early Is a former pastor
of tl\e Greensboro church and
his appearance there will be In
connection with a corner-stone
laying ceremony for the new
Rehobeth church there.
Mr. and Mrs. Early and their
children, Eleanor and Dickie,
plan to leave Saturday for
Greensboro.
The Rev. George Ehlhardt,
president of Brevard college,
will conduct the Sunday morn
ing worship service at the
Highlands church In Mr. Early's
absence, It was announced.
SIHiAKS TONIGHT
I
DUANE STRAWBRIDGE
Mr. Strawlpridge, program ad
visor for the southeastern divi
sion of the chamber of com
I merce, will address a meeting of
I the local chamber of comnur e
| tonight at 7:30 o'clock at the
Agricultural building. He will
! discuss national problems cur
rently confronting businessmen.
NEW PRODUCE
MARKET WILL
OPEN FRIDAY
Constructed By Georgia
Agriculture Unit For
Produce Growers
The new $30,000 produce
market building which has just
been completed at Dillard, Ga.,
j will be opened Friday, it was
[announced this week.
The modern brlclc structure
was constructed by the Geor
gla Department of Agriculture.
Principal speaker at the open
ing ceremony, which will begin
at 2 p. m., will be Tom Linder,
commissioner of agriculture for
the state of Georgia.
Others taking part on the
program will be William O'Neil,
president of the Rabun County
Farmers bureau, W. N. Corn,
Rabun County farm agent und
T. H. Fagg, Macon County as
sistant farm agent.
Other prominent figures in ]
Southern agriculture who wiil
be on hand for the occasion
are Harry Brown, former Unit- i
i ed States assistant commis
sioner of agriculture, who is
now serving as Dean of the vo
cational agricultural college at
tho University of Georgia, Paul
Bechman, prominent southern i
produce farmer, and W. V.
Ragsdale, horticulture specialist I
with the University of Georgia
extension service.
The new produce market was
erected on land which was pur
chased by contributions from
produce growers In North Geor- j
gla and Western North Caro- j
Una. The building has more
than 6,000 square feet of floor
space and contains a manager's
office, two merchants' sheds, in
addition to the main warehouse
j room. Modem . processing and
packaging equipment for hand- |
ling vegetables has been install
ed.
A railroad siding has been
constructed to enable quantity
shipments of produce.
Farmers throughout this area
are urged to attend the opening
Friday to acquaint themselves
with the opportunities which
this new market will open to 1
the produce grower, and to re
ceive an explanation as to how !
the market will be operated.
Specialists To Meet
With Wildlife Club !
Two fish specialists from the
N. C. Resources Wildlife com
mission will have the program
at a meeting of the Macon
County Wildlife club tomorrow
(Friday), it was announced yes- i
terday. The meeting is set for j
8 p. m., and will be held at the
Agricultural building. ,
CLUB WILL MEET 1
The Franklin Garden club j
will meet Monday at the home
of Mrs. Lester Conley on Har- j
rlson avenue to discuss plans ,
for holding its annual flower
show. It was announced this
week. 1
Hostesses will be Mrs. Frank
Hlgdon, Mrs. Roy Geoghegan, 1
Mrs. W. W. Sloan, Mrs. George I
Cook, and Mrs. Conley. <
WATER SUPPLY
SERIOUSLY LOW
OFFICjALS SAY
Tourist Rush, Broken
Main Lower Town's
Suoo'v
A heavy drain on water be
cause of the tourist rush, and
a broken water main in East
Franklin prompted town offic
ials to take Immediate steps
this week to conserve Frank
lin's rapidly diminishing water
supply.
Filling station operators were
asked to stop car washing un
til further notice and Franklin
residents wpre requested to co
operate with the conservation
move by not watering lawns.
"The situation is serious,"
Charles O. Ramsey, town clerk,
slid, "nnri these measures are
for the health and safety of
everyone in Franklin."
In the event of fire, Mr. Ram
sey said, firemen would be hand
icapped in fighting it because
of low pressure.
The town's three storage
tanks on Harrison avenue,
which have a combined capac
ity of 300,000 gallons, yesterday
i Wednesday i were approximate
ly 90,000 gallons short of being
full, the clerk said.
"If we build up a bad repu
tation by letting ou.- water sup
ply slip away from us, our In
surance rates are going to go
up," he warned.
Friday, a bulldozer crushed
the main water line leading to
East Franklin and a large
amount of water was lost then,
he said.
MACON BAPTISTS
TO OPEN 2-DAY
MEET THURSDAY
Association To Hold It's
Forty-eighth Session
Next Week
Thi* fnrty-elghth annual ses
sion o' the Macon County Bap
tist association ? the largest
church group In the county ?
will be held Thursday and Fri
day of next weok (August 9 and
10 1 J. Horner Stockton, moder
ator. announced this week.
The opening session Thurs
day will be held at the First
rtaptif.t rhttvch and Friday the
meeting will move to the Wa
tauga Baptist church. This
year's meeting marks the first
time the session has met at two
ri ffprent meeting places, the
moderator said.
The t',vo-day meeting last
year, held at the Sugarfork
church, drew a record -breaking
attendance estimated at more
than 1,000.
Outlining the program, Mr.
Stockton said, "We are looking
for a representative delegation
from all the churches In the
county In the hopes that this
year's meeting will be even
better attended than last year's."
Thursday at 11:30 a. m. the
Rev. M. W. Chapman, pastor of
the Franklin church, will deliv
er the doctrinal sermon, and
Friday morning at 11:15 o'clock
a missionary sermon will be
preached by the Rev. W. L. Sor
rells.
During Thursday's session,
which will begin at 10 a. m. and
end at 4:45 p. m., the follow
ing reports are to be present
ed: Hospitals, the Rev. W. C.
Pipes; orphanage, the Rev. Arvll
Swaflord; Christian literature,
Mrs. Bob Bryson; ministerial
relief, the Rev. W. N. Cook;
Tlnance, Mrs. Pearl Corbln; B.
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 6
The Weather
Temperature* and precipitation for At
>aat seven days, and the low temperature
iresterday, as recorded at the Coweeta Ear
>eriment station.
High Low Pet.
Wednesday , 84 62
rhursday 87 60 .03
Friday 86 59
Saturday 82 60 .25
3unday 84 60 .41
Monday 82 58 .M
Tuesday .....i 82 64
Wednesday 65
Franklin Rainfall
[A? recorded br Minna Vitae l?r TV A*
Wednesday, .47; Thursday, .03;
Friday, trace; Saturday, now;
Sunday, .55; Monday, .52; TUM
lay, .07; Wednesday, none.