ilhe iflntitklnt tyrtss
and
vEite Highlit ufrs J&trxmmu
Second cIjum mall prtrtlegas Mitborlnd at FranHtn. N. C.
Puollahed tvary Ttauradty by The Franklin Pre?
Tatophona M
WfclMA R jom
B*>B f SLOAN
J P BRADY
BOLTS NKILL
AiM* AJ-USN 8ILER
CMML P CASK
FRANK A STARRKTTB
O ? CRAWFORD
CHARLES B. WHITTINOTON
DAVID d SUTTON
CommarolAl PtlnUr
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
OCTSXM liACOM COVKTT
On* Tmt $3-00
eu Month* 1.7*
Thiw Month* .... 1 00
Two T?n US
Tbree Tm TJ?
Imsxm Macon Ooowtt
One Tear .. . . $2M
Six Months 1.11
Three Months IM
Two Years 4Ji
Three Teen . . i-Ot
About Water
Three practicable types of public water supply
seem to be possible for Franklin. The town can
sink wells; it can pump the water out of a creek;
or it can go to one or more watersheds and let the
water flow by gravity into the mains.
Wells have been in use here for half a century.
In the view of many persons, they do not and will
not provide an adequate supply. That leaves the
so-called "surface" supply (such as Cartoogechaye
Creek) or one or more watersheds.
At his recent conference with Franklin and Burl
ington Industries officials, Mr. T. T. Dawson, rep
resenting the engineering firm of Harwood Beebe
Company, declared that no town in Western North
Carolina using a watershed has found it satisfac
tory.
Well, that is not exactly in agreement with the
testimony of officials and citizens of half a dozen
neighboring towns that get water from watersheds.
Where an adequate supply is available, the water
shed is the most satisfactory of all sources, they
say.
Nobody on this newspaper has had engineering
training; so we are in no position to say whether
oce or more available watersheds would provide
an adequate supply for Franklin.
In the light of the testimony of people in neigh
boring towns, however, we question the validity of
Mr. Dawson's pronouncement that a watershed is
going to be unsatisfactory, period.
And since other towns have found watershed
water so highly satisfactory, quality-wise, it seems
reasonable to suggest that the possibility of Frank
lin's obtaining all or a part of its .supply from a
watershed be fully explored before a final decision
is reached.
1876 and 1957
As the time approaches for the 1957 North Caro
lina General Assembly to convene, more and more
hard problems pop up for the legislators to wrestle
with. Frankly, we do not envy Macon's Represen
tative Guy L. Houk and this 33rd district's Sen
ator Kelly E. Bennett the responsibilities that lie
ahead of them.
' Among the problems is one that has nothing to
do with taxes, appropriations, attracting industry
to the state, or other such purely practical matters.
But, in a sense, it is more important than any of
them ; because it has to do with the basic question
of the form of government we arc to have in North
Carolina. And without representative government,
we cannot properly solve any of the so-called prac
tical problems.
I
In one branch of our state government are twin
situations that are neither right nor healthy.
The first is the repeated failure of the legislators,
who make laws the rest of us must obey, them
selves to obey the basic law of North Carolina, the
state constitution.
The second grows oiit of the first.
The state constitution provides that each county
shall have one representative in thd General As
sembly, and that 20 additional representatives shall
be divided among the larger counties on a basis of
population. It provides that all the 50 members of
the senate shall be allotted on a basis of population
alone.
Then the constitution says the General Assembly
"shall" reapportion house memberships and re
draw senatorial district lines after each decennial
census, to conform with population changes. That
plain mandate of the constitution the General As
sembly has ignored, time after time.
Here are two typical results:
(a) One group of senatorial districts, containing
only l/10th of the state's population, now elects
l/4th of the senators.
(b) Another group of senatorial districts, con
taining nearly 4/10ths of the state's population,
elects only l/7th of the senators.
In other words, the people who live in one set
of senatorial districts, though they make up only
l/10th of the population, through fHeir senators
can out-vote another group of peo^ who make up
4/10ths of the population. And that in the legisla
tive chamber the constitution says shall represent
population alone!
Maybe that is unimportant. But if it is, then we
fought a war, about 175 years ago, about some
thing that wasn't important. Because the only dif
ference between taxation without representation
and taxation without fair and honest representa
tion is a difference of degree.
This problem is basic to good government. We
hope Senator Bennett and Representative Houk will
so recognize it, and will devote their thinking, their
energies, and their influence to seeing to it that
something is done about it.
A Great 'Crusade'
In Washington, there is great pother about civil
rights legislation. The Eisenhower administration
and so-called liberals in both parties are shouting
from the housetops about it.
Prior to 1954, there may have been a need for
such legislation. But that year the U. S. Supreme
Court ruled that discrimination is unconstitutional,
and that segregation is discrimination, per se. And,
as these same liberals have been telling us from
that day to this, what the Supreme Court says is
"the law of the land".
In short, we've had civil rights legislation for
nearly three years. Moreover, the court's rule is be
ing enforced, by the federal courts themselves.
Why, then, the hue and cry for Congressional en
actment of what is already law?
The answer is all too obvious: What we are
witnessing in Washington is not a great crusade to
preserve the civil rights of all citizens; what we
are witnessing is a great crusade to buy the Negro
vote, en masse.
Others' Opinions I
(Opinions expressed In this space sre not necessarily those
? of The Press. Editorials selected for reprlntlnf here. In fact, !
are chosen with a view to presenting a variety of viewpoints.
They are. that Is. Just what the caption says ? OTHER*
Opinions.)
Needed: Thrift Incentive
(Windsor, Colo., Beacon)
It's the season again to hear and read gripes about high
taxes, and sometimes we wonder If we haven't created a
monster bureaucracy In Washington which will eventually de
vour all the nation's capital.
If someone could Just devise a means whereby unspent tax
money was returned to the taxpayer, along with an explana
tion of where the money was saved and by whom, our prob
lems of government waste would be over.
Instead, almost any department does its utmost to spend all
the money It can obtain ? If they don't spend It, It'll go Into a
general fund and aome less -deserving department will get It
next year.
It's only natural that each elected representative try to give
bis own constituents their lair share of the loot, and among
politicians we bear remarks like: "We have the beat highway
engineers In the state? they never have to turn any money
back In, at the end of the year."
#
So, until there's some system through which our govern
ment employes can receive recognition and thanks for prac
ticing thrift, we'll always have enormous waste In government
spending? and enormous taxes.
Letters
School Needs And Evaluation
De*r Mr. Jones:
The Highlands Parent-Teacher Association, at their regular
meeting on January 3, requested that an open letter be sent
to The Franklin Press and the Commissioners of Macon Coun
ty stating our position on certain matters regarding school
support.
Some months ago a committee of Macon County citizens
drafted a list of written proposals to the Board of County
Commissioners In which they pointed out the pressing need
for more fupds for the maintenance of our local schools. In
some cases, there is not even enough money for soap, towels,
, and cleaning supplies, to say nothing of money needed for
necessary repairs. As an example, the Highlands School has
been unable to make use of certain classrooms because of a
roof which Is leaking badly. Severe damage has already re
sulted from this condition.
In the Highlands community a number of children under
sixteen ygprs of age are not even enrolled In school. There
are reports of similar conditions In other parts of the county.
A county truancy officer is necessary before much can be done
to remedy this problem.
The ? high school curriculum at both of the county high
schools outside of Franklin Is trimmed to the barest essentials.
Nantahala and Highlands Schools are in desperate need of
home economics and vocational' courses. Although the enroll
ment at both these high schools is much smaller than at the
Franklin High School, this does not mean that we do not
have an obligation to these children to provide an opportun
ity for high school education equal to that which other chil
dren In the county have. We could list many other needs, but
these serve to point out the problem.
The Board of County Commissioners has been unable to
grant additional funds for such needs In the past, because the
money was not available. It would seem that we have reached
the time when it is necessary for us to thoroughly review
present property evaluations throughout the county. There are
many instances of inequitable valuations on the present tax
books. Although the standard is supposed to be 35 per cent
of the actual value of the property,, there are many instances
where the valuation is far below this figure. It may well be
that there are other instances where the valuation is too high
and needs to be adjusted downward. All we ask is that the
present assessors do a fair and honest job in evaluating prop
erties throughout the county, and we wish to assure them of
our support in this undertaking. It is our belief that through
adjustment of present values will produce sufficient revenue
on the present tax rate of $1.40 to meet some of our most
pressing needs.
It is only natural for us to avoid a higher tax If possible.
However, If we have a sense of responsibility toward the fu
ture citizens of Macon County, we will be anxious to do every
thing within our power to see that they are given an oppor
tunity to receive the best education possible. It Is our convic
tion that the overwhelming majority of our citizens are in
terested In providing such an opportunity and are willing to
carry their fair share of the responsibility.
Sincerely yours,
HIGHLANDS PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION
R. T. Houts, Jr., Vice President.
Highlands.
IN RETRUSfUVT
WOODROW WILSON SEEN AS A PROPHET
/ Ralph McGill in Atlanta Constitution
At a quarter to 1 o'clock on the
Sunday morning of Dec. 28, 1856,
In the manse of the- Presbyterian
Church at Staunton, Va., a son was
born to Dr. and Mrs. Joseph R.
Wilson.
He was christened Thomas Wood
row, after his mother's father.
On both sides there was a long
line of Presbyterian Convenanters
to whom the word "convenant"
meant a religious pledge, not mere
ly a promise.
It comes as something of a
shock to many Americans to rea
lize that had this child, born on
that December day, lived into our
time he would be 100 years old.
"Why, I knew him. . .
"I saw him many times. . . ."
"I recall my father taking me to
hear him speak. . .
Many persons remember Wood
row Wilson because they saw him
or knew him. But in a very real
sense he has been a part of all
our lives, the young and the old.
He is our modem symbol of the
travail and agony of a world seek
ing a mechanism far peace.
He U in the conscience of all of
us . . . those who saw him arid
those who know him merely as a
name. It. was the tragic betrayal
of his League of Nations by po
liticians who put themselves first
and their country last which made
Woodrow Wilson a brooding, ac
cusing figure In the consciousness
of all peoples everywhere who be
lieved world peace possible. That
those who wrought "The Great
Betrayal" were so partisan and
blind they did not know they were
committing their country and
their children's children to war
does not lessen the condemnation
which rests upon them.
We will never know, of course,
but there is valid reason to believe
that had this country supported
the League in the elections of 1920
the balance of power might well
have been maintained in Europe.
The German Republic would have
survived. Hitler would not. there
fore, have risen out of its ruins.
World trade would have flourish
ed and the great depression would
have been avoided. The trail of the
League meant that all the evil
forces of economics and interna
tional politics were unleashed.
For a book commemorating this
anniversary (The Greatness of
Woodrow Wilson), President
Dwight D. Elsenhower provided a
foreword. He paid tribute to Wil
son's principles "which he so fear
lessly upheld." He noted Wilson's
belief in the capacity of a free
system to bring forth leaders. He
described Wilson's actions as
teacher, writer administrator and
President as "a role of lasting sig
nificance." And then President
Elsenhower wrote how Wilson had
seen "the great part this nation
should play In the community of
nations."
It Is a generous, deeply sincere
tribute.
Wltson was a prophet. *
When the League of Nations
was betrayed, a saddened Wilson
said publicly that the war would
have to be fought over again with
in 20 years.
One of his last official acts as
President was to veto a tariff mea
sure which, he said, called upon
this country to lend money to Eu
rope so It could buy from us while
we bought nothing from It. This,
he said would assure a world ec
onomic crash.
Luis QuantanBla. distinguished
diplomat of Mexico, in "The Oreat
ness of Wood row Wilson" recalls
how Wilson, In 1919, saw what Is
not plain to many leaders In 1956.
In January of that year Wilson
said in a public speech:
"Gentleme?rttae_select classes of
mankind arfc no longed the gover
nors of mankind. The fortunes of
mankind are now in the hands of
the plain people of the whole
world. . . . Fail to satisfy them,
and no arrangement that you can
make will either set up or steady
the peace of the world."
And, again, he said, in Septem
ber of 1919:
"Have you ever reflected, my
fellow countrymen, on the real
source of revolution? . . . Revolu
tions do not spring up overnight.
Revolutions come from the long
suppression of the human spirlt.
Re volutions come because men
know they have rights and they
are disregarded. . . ."
He knew mankind would /never
remain still ? because It could not.
It had always to go forward.
Is It any wonder Woodrow Wil
son seems so much a part ot our
life today?
There Is yet time to listen. But
It Is later than many of us think.
VIEWS
, Bach year In this column, m
have expressed hope of some
gains that would be made In
our town, Franklin, during the
coming year. Usually, we have
listed some eight or ten alms or
desires. This year, we hope that
the people of the town win
unite to bring about one ac
complishment, the obtaining of
a sufficient supply of satisfac
tory water for the town.
By a sufficient supply of
water, I mean that we should
have enough water available so
that no Industrial user, wheth
er It be a filling station oper
ator or our largest manufactur
er, be prohibited from engaging
in his normal business at any
time. With our present system,
I can not remember a summer
when filling stations have not
been asked either to stop or
curtail their car washing. Fur
thermore, I think that fire pro
tection is a prime consideration
in the amount of water supply
that we should have available.
There has not been a summer
in recent years when the water
supply did not reach dangerous
ly low levels from a fire protec
tion standpoint, according to
?Carl Tysinger, local fire depart
ment head.
By satisfactory water, I think,
that it should be drinkable. It
Should be free enough from
sediment so that it will not
damage water meters or elimi
nate it for any other industrial
use. It should not contain any
mineral element to a degree
that would make it unsatisfac
tory for industrial use, and it
should meet health department
standards.
To me, It seems, that entirely
too* much emphasis is placed on
the taste of water. It should be
drinkable and should be noth
ing disagreeable about the taste,
and regardless of where we get
the water here, there will be lit
tle difference in taste.
Town Board members should
set up the following priority in
meeting the water needs: 1. suf
ficient reserve for adequate fire
protection; 2. sufficient supply
for commercial and industrial
users; 3. freeness from sedimen
tation; 4. taste, drinkable.
I think we should all back
the town officials in whatever
way they find is the cheapest
way to meet the above require
ments.
Do You
Remember?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Pren)
60 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
Married Sunday morning, Jan.
10. 1897, John Gribble to Miss An
nie Davis, all of Franklin, N. C.,
N. P. Rankin,' Esq.. officiating.
The locust pin factory started
up again Monday after a three
weeks' shut down.
Kope Ellas went to Hayesville
last week and returned Sunday.
25 YEARS AGO
G. T. Stiles has returned to his
home here after a visit with his
son, N. H. Stiles, at Haines City.
Fla. He brought back with him a
lemon weighing two pounds and
five ounces.
About 500 signatures of Macon
County people were placed on a
petition for wotrld peace and dis
armament by all nations which
was circulated recently by a com
mittee of women under the chair
manship of Mrs P. L. Siler.
E. B. Byrd is remodeling his
house. ? Stiles item.
10 YEARS AGO
Patrons have been asked to con
tribute funds to pay the electric
light bill of the Franklin school
because state funds have been ex
hausted.
Births out-numbered deaths by
three to one during 1946. Lake V.
Shope, register, reported in year
end figures.
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie W. Miller
announce the birth of an eight
and a half pound son. Virgil In
gram. ? Scaly item.
Benefit Box Supper
Set Saturday Night
A benefit box supper is sche
duled Saturday night at 7:30 at
the Holly Springs Community
Building, under the sponsorship
of the community organization.
A drawing for prizes Is planned.
Proceeds are earmarked for com
munity work. The public Is In
vited. ?