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Entered at Post Office, Franklin. N. C . a* eecond claae matter
PubUabed every Tbuxeday by The Franklin Pi'MB
Franklin. N. O. Telephone 24
WHMAB JONES Editor
BOB 8. SLOAN Bualneea Ibntcer
J. P. BRADY News Editor
MBS ALLEN SILER Society Editor and Office Manager
CARL P. CABE Mechanical Superintendent
PRANK A. 8TARRETTE Shop Superintendent
DAVID H. SUTTON Stereotyper
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Outszss Macon County Iran Macon County
On* Tear $3.00 One Tear *2.50
9tx Month* 1.78 Six Months 1.78
Three Months 1.00 Three Months 1.00
SEPTEMBER 8, 1955
Buses Change - Again!
The bus company has changed schedules and cur
tailed service ? again.
Hereafter, there'll he two buses a day to Ashe
ville, instead of three. There'll be two buses, that
is, except on Sunday, the day many persons have
to do their traveling.
And there'll be one bus a day to Atlanta, instead
of two.
The bus company expressed no regret at the cur
tailment of service. It didn't give any reasons. It
just told us.
Had it thought it worth while to make an ex
planation, presumably the bus company would
have said these runs it is taking off don't pay.
Maybe not. We don't pretend to know.
What we do know is that the bus company, has
a monopoly. It is protected, by the state, against
competition. In exchange for that protection from
competition, the bus company is obligated to pro
vide good service. All it.s runs and all its lines
aren't supposed to pay ; it is, obligated to provide
service, balancing the highly profitable runs and
lines against the unprofitable ones.
And Franklin isn't getting good bus service. The
service, instead, is becoming progressively worse ;
this is only one of a long series of changes and
curtailments ? for chapter and verse, see the bus
company's own announcements, over a period of
years.
We don't like it. We think there are a lot of peo
ple who don't like it.
Does Franklin have to take it? We don't think
so. We think if the state agency responsible for
regulating the buses gets enough squawks from
Franklin, something will happen.
Anybody want to complain? The address is:
State Utilities Commission, Raleigh, N. C.
Needed: Bookshelves
A good many people feel that room should have
been made, either in the new Masonic Hall or in
the new Town ITall, for the Franklin Public Li
brary. We are inclined to agree.
Rut while some of us may feel like quoting the
old comment that "if our foresight was half as
good as our hindsight, we'd be better off by a
darn sight", the fact remains that room was not
made for the library, when these buildings were
planned.
So the Franklin community is in somewhat the
position of a family that has moved into a new
house: a family that has a wealth of good books;
books it would like to use, but cannot because most
of them are stored in boxes in the basement, since
there isn't a bookshelf in the entire house.
Franklin has a fine collection of books in its
library ? for a small town, a distinguished collec
tion. Looks like we'd better build some shelves
for 'em.
Communism In U. S.?
"You have maintained a close continuing asso
ciation with your father, Charles Branzovich, who
is reported to have been in 1943, and /for an un
specified time thereafter, a member or close affili
ate of an imperialist-capitalist organization. . . ."
That is a serious charge in Russia. But of course
there is nothing surprising about such a charge in
Russia. It is the kind of charge expected in Russia.
Well, much as it sounds like the Communists, it
wasn't made in Russia.
It was made in the L'nited States of America. It
was made by the U. S. Air Force against an Air
Force man. It is a direct quotation of the words of
the Air Force, except for a single phrase; where
the Air Force said "the Communist party" we sub
stituted the words "an imperialist-capitalist organ
ization".
On a basis of the charge that he was guilty of
"close and continuing association with" his own
father, the Air Force tried to give young Stephen
Branzovich an undesirable discharge!
Is this the U. S. A. ? or Communist Russia?
? Letters
Answer To Governor
Dear Weimar,
I enclose an editorial from the Florence, South Carolina
Morning News, which I hope you will have room to print. It
seem to me an excellent answer to the speech of the Gover
nor's (on segregated schools) which I read in The Press a
couple of weeks ago.
1
While I am writing, I want to congratulate you and all the
people at The Press for your Centennial Edition. I think it
was wonderful.
With best wishes,
\ '
ANNIEWILL SILER.
New York City,
August 28, 1955.
Tells Of Recent Flood
We have made several trips to visit our son in Pennsylvania
but our recent visit was so exceptional that we would like for
our friends to hear of our experience.
Mr. Gray and I left home on August 17 on a beautiful clear
morning, ideal weather for a trip ? so we thought.
Toward midnight, while we were riding along on the bus, it
began to pour the rain. By the time we got to our destina
tion, Delaware Water Gap, about 4:30 p. m. Thursday, it was
pouring from the heavens. After eating a hearty supper, we
retired early. About 11 o'clock, our son, Elam, awakened us to tell
us that a big flood was coming down the river and that we
might have to vacate before morning, but we were tired and
went on back to sleep and slept until 6 a. m.
By that time the water was swelling up fast. Then people
all began to move furniture and their belongings to the sec
ond floor. By 3:30 in the afternoon the water was several feet
in the house. The crest was reached about 5 o'clock, filling the
basement and first floor of the house about four and one-half
feet.
By daylight the following day, the river had subsided until
they could begin cleaning up the ruins. At Delaware Water
Gap the water was not very muddy and there was not much
debris; there were some dead fish and a lot of silt left on
everything, but not a lot of big trash like there was farther
up the river. Damage was slight compared with that in towns
farther up; but everybody had a job cleaning house.
We especially appreciated the cooperation and hospitality
of the people in town who lived on higher ground. They in
vited us to stay in their homes and invited us to meals as
long as it was necessary for us to leave home.
Talk about southern hospitality; we think it cannot surpass
that of Delaware Water Gap. We appreciate knowing that our
son, Elam, and his family, live where they have so many won
derful friends.
We consider that we were lucky to have made our trip just
when we did. Had we started a day later, we would have had
to return; the railroad tracks were washed out' and all travel
was halted. Then, too, one could never realize what a flood is
without being there and seeing it. Yet the damage we saw
was so light compared to that In other places where houses
were washed away and lives lost!
We were thankful that we were there and could be of some
assistance, though the people of the town were calm and not
panicky.
Although we are glad we had this experience, we would not
like to have It again.
MRS. JAVAN GRAY.
Franklin, Route 2.
Others' Opinions
Time To Talk
(Shelby Star)
For not sticking his neck out too far, we think Judge Chester
R. Morris's charge to the Hertford County Grand Jury should
have the cake.
"A lot could be said. A lot needs to be said in North Caro
lina. A lot of serious, conscientious thinking needs to be done.
We need to think soberly and seriously about the problems
as they confront us. And they are problems that confront all
North Carolinians ? white and colored and rich and poor."
We don't know of a single grand jury or other Tar Heel
who is opposed to thinking conscientiously, soberly and ser
iously. Some of them may not do this all the time but at
least they are not opposed to the proposition.
As for what could be said and as to what needs to be said,
we don't see why Judge Morris just didn't open up and say it.
STRICTLY
PERSONAL
By WEIMAR JONES
I grow a little weary hearing
from Southerners as well as
non-Southerners, the constant
suggestion, day after day, week
after week, and month after
month, that desegregation is an
exclusively Southern problem.
So I got quite a kick out of
a little speech, on the final day
of that five-day newspaper con
ference I attended recently in
Illinois. The speaker was a
young newspaper man from
Louisiana, the only other South
erner at the meeting. What he
said was quite mild, and he
spoke quietly. But his remarks
drew the only purely spontan
eous applause of the entire
conference.
"At this conference", he said,
"we've talked a good deal about
segregation and discrimination,
against the Negro in the South.
It came up at the very first
session, and it has continued to
enter the discussions ever since.
"I deplore any discrimination,
anywhere, against anyone. But
I'd like to point out that, in
the past five days, you your
selves have reported these
things:
"In a little town in Indi
ana, white landlords doubled
the rent on certain houses'in
order to keep Negro tenants
out.
"In s. California commun
ity Negroes were not permit
ted on the streets after dusk.
"In a city in Iowa pressure
was brought to bear to force
a successful Negro out of a
business that he was operat
ing.
"In a certain mid-western
community a Negro family
was unable to bury one of
their dead in the graveyard
because of the color of his
skin.
"In much of Colorado Span
ish-Americans do not vote.
"In Minnesota, a Jewish
boy failed to get a commun
ity distinguished service a
ward ? because he was a
Jew.
"So I think you will agree
that the problem Isn't confin
ed to any one section, or even
to any one group. It is present
in every section.
"And in each section, we'll
have to meet it and solve it in
our own way."
* ? ?
Of course that phrase "in
our own way", is what sticks in
a lot of people's craws.
The truth is there probably
is no more discrimination in
the South ? even against the
Negro, population considered ?
than anywhere else. The differ
ence is it's practiced outside
the South voluntarily; we legal
ize it. That's "our own way".
The South's greatest sin, if
non-Southerners were honest, is
not the fact it discriminates,
but the WAY it discriminates.
The South's "way" fails to con
form to the pattern elsewhere.
And failure to conform, in
modern America, is about on a
par with "the sin against the
Holy Ghost" in the public mind
of another day.
* * ?
All that, of course, doesn't
excuse anything; but I think it
explains some things.
THE SOUTH CAN'T WIN
We Don't Like It... But We Can't Stop It
An Editorial From The Florence, S. C., Morning News
Shortly after the United
States Supreme Court handed
down its implementation de
cree, this newspaper expressed
the editorial opinion that in
the final analysis the South
will have to yield.
An editorial entitled "Segre
gation Going," in this paper
said:
"In our section there can be
little thought of bending to the
will of the NAACP ? but we
had better evaluate our prob
able losses and see how they
compare to the limited gains in
time.
"Any changes we make in our
programs of education should
be made in full acceptance of
the fact that the South cannot
maintain the policies of racial
segregation for any length of
time into the future."
Since the Court's publication
of its implementation decree,
the Southland has been feeding
itself large doses of self-delu
sion and false hope. Politicians,
writers, wishful-thinkers and
the unthinking have been tell
ing our people that the Court's
decree can be defeated and
will be defeated.
The Court's decree will not
be defeated.
South Carolina people need
to hear realism. They need to
hear truth. They need to pre
pare themselves for a realistic
future ? not an impossible fu
ture constructed out of the
words and blind hopes of those
who have not accepted the in
evitable. . . .
This state's leaders are on the
verge of destroying the public
school system. Or, they say they
are on the verge of so doing.
We don't think they will.
Sure they will abolish a few
public schools ? in Clarendon
County for example ? but such
actions will be an effort to
gain time. . . .
Some of our political "think
ers" are advocating Constitu
tional changes to allow the
South to keep segregation. This
isn't thinking, it is political
eyewash. The editorial mention
ed earlier expressed an opinion
we think holds true now ? and
for the future; the opinion that
"The South is a minority sec
tion and will receive less than
minority consideration."
Southern senators cannot get
legislation through Congress in
support of segregation; nor can
the South expect the necessary
support to pass a Constitution
al amendment in support of its
position. ...
This is the age of sociological
change. We don't like It. We
don't want it. But, we can't
stop it. How can we hope to
preserve sectional institutions
that are not legal in approxi
mately three fourths of the na
tion? . . .
We, as a section, expect great
favor and comfort from our
Federal judges. Those who en
courage this hope for favor and
comfort are fooling the people.
Pro - segregationists cannot
look to Ashton Williams, Cecil
Wyche and George Bell Tim
merman for special favor. Those
men are' judges. They have
taken an oath to uphold the
law of the land. The Supreme
Court has defined this law, and
these men will uphold the
law. . . .
The Court has decided, and
the Court will not change. This
is not a period of going back.
Initial mistakes in the field of
sociology are not corrected by
court reversals.
South Carolina can't spend its
historic life in fighting lost
battles. In order to make prog
ress and shape the best pos
sible life for our people, we
must learn to accept the things
we don't want as well as those
we do want. We must learn to
accept things we don't want
when we lack the ability to
change those things.
We cannot change the Court's
decision. We have got to live
with it. We can start living
with it today, tomorrow or next
year ? but we are going to live
with it.
This should be told to the
people of South Carolina. The
only decision facing our peo
ple is how much energy, ef
fort and expense they want to
exchange for a limited amount
of time.
The only thing that can be
gained is a short time ? what
price is our section willing to
pay for a short time? This is
the issue. Segregation vs. de
segregation is no longer an is
sue ? it is no longer a debate ?
it is no longer a contest. The
issue has been resolved. There
is to be no more segregation.
Face it. Ask state officials to
be honest. Then, move as close
to objectivity as Is possible
when facing an emotional Is
sue, and ask yourself what
price you and your children
want to pay for a short period
of time.
There is nothing "cowardly"
about stopping a fight when
you've been beaten-hands down.
It is a little insane to waste
your institutions, resources,
progress and possible future
after you have lost the fight.
Segregation is going ? it's
all but gone. South Carolina
and the rest of the South
can't reverse the trend.
We can fight ? and will fight;
but let's be honest with our
selves and ask how harl we
want to fight when we know
we can't win.
News Making
As It Looks
To A Maconite
? By BOB SbOAA
Random thoughts about this
and that, heard here and there:
The other day I heard a bril
liant lady who resides In New
York most of the year make
the following comment con
cerning the Secretary of State,
John Foster Dulles. She ex- i
claimed: "The only thing he
neeas to oe a
Chamberlain Is
an umbrella."
The most un
fortunate thing .
about the ?it
uatlon is that
it will take
some ten or
fifteen years
to find out
whether or
not we have
had a firm
Sloan
policy or it has been one of
peace at any price so that we
can win next year's election.
When the answer comes, it will
be too late to do anything
about it.
* * ?
According to a well-informed
educator, the college population
of North Carolina should double
in the next ten years. That
looks to me like a wonderful
chance for Franklin to acquire
a new industry? one that would
be mo6t desirable, too. I really
believe that possibly the finest
acquisition we could make to our
community would be a small col
lege. Certainly with the growth
in the number of college students,
there will be a demand. Such
an addition would bring more
money than many people real
ize in to the community. And
there are many other advan
tages besides the monetary one.
In fact, in this case, they are
the ones that appeal to me
most. One thing I feel sure of,
with the great demand that
there will be, if the people of
Macon County would put the
effort behind it that they have
applied in other efforts to bring
new payrolls, a small college
could be started here.
* * ?
If North Carolina wants to
have segregated but equal
schools, the teacher allotment
system will have to be changed.
Here in Macon County we are
alloted three teachers for the
Negro school on the basis of
enrollment. Even if the Negro
high school students are trans
ported to Sylva (and I doubt if
white parents would think it
very fair if that applied to
their children), the Negroes
have one teacher for each two
and a fraction grades. The
white schools have one teacher
for one grade. *
If Governor Hodges wants to
get the Negroes to accept the
voluntary segregation plan, he
should work hard to remove
such inequalities as this.
Do You
Remember?
(Looking backward through
the tiles of The Prfss)
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
?Mr. Larry Waldroop expects
to leave tomorrow for Atlanta
to engage in business there.
About $375 worth of mica
was taken from the Poll Miller
mine on Burningtown during
August.
Dr. Lewis W. Eiias went to
Asheville Friday to hang out
his shingle and make that city
his home for a while at least.
25 YEARS AGO
Miss Catherine Franks left
Wednesday for Winston-Salem
to enter Salem college.
Mrs. A. W. Daugherty, of
Lexington, Ky., is visiting her
daughter, Mrs. R. L. Porter.
Mr. William Crawford and
Emory Corpening made qi trip
to Charlotte Friday of the past
week.
10 YEARS AGO
Cpl. Andrew Patton, who has
been stationed at Spence Field,
Moultrie, Ga., is spending his
15-day furlough with his fath
er, Robert A. Patton, on Har
rison Avenue.
Z. V. Henry, of Jacksonville,
Fla.. is here for a visit with his
brother, R. F. Henry, at his
home, Franklin, Route 4, and
other relatives and friends in
Macon County.
Captain George Saussy, Jr.,
USMC, has returned to the
United States after two and a
half years of foreign service.
Following a 21-day furlough, he
will report for reassignment.?
Highlands item.