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Second class mall privileges authorized at Franklin, N. C.
Puollshed every Thursday by The Frankll* Press
Telephone 24 4
WEIMAR JONES Editor
BOB S. SLOAN *. Advertising Manager
J. P. BRADY . * News Editor-Photographer
ROLFE NEILL Reporter
MRS. ALLEN S1LER Society Editor Offic? Manager
MRS MARION BRYSON Proofreader
CARL P. CABE Operator-Machinist
FRANK A. 8TARRETTE ..... Compositor
CHARLES E. WHITTINOTON Pressman
O. E. CRAWFORD Stereotyper
DAVID H. SUTTON p ^ Commercial Printer
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Outbids Macon County Inside Macon County
One Year . . * . . $3 00 One Year ... . . $2.50
81x Months . . . . 1.75 SI* Months , 1.75
Three Months .... 1.00 Three Months .... 1.00
Two Years . . .? . . 5.25 Two Yer.rs 4.25
Three Years .... 7.50 Three Years 6 00
FEBRUARY 21, 1957
Matter Of Desire
Asheville, a city of 50, (XX) persons, has exactly
two more classrooms in its public schools than it
had 20 years ago;
Macon County, with about a third of Asheville's
population, has done seven times as well in half
the time. This county now has 14 more classrooms
than it had 10 years ago.
Who says Macon County isn't moving forward,
educationally !
The figures seem to illustrate something else, too.
Since a large proportion of our new classrooms
were built from local funds, the comparison sug
gets something this newspaper repeatedly has
pointed out : The problem of providing good
schools isn't primarily one of financial ability. It is
primarily a matter of desire.
2 Reasons
In one of those unique advertisements of his,
Paul Svvaffonl last week put his finger on the most
important reason of all for trading at home.
"I wonder", he remarked, "if trading at home
wouldn't have much to do with keeping our young
men and women from leaving this county to find
employment. How many of them are going into
business for themselves ? at home?"
In other words, if all our trade stayed at home,
there would he openings for more businesses here.
Too, those in business would have openings for
more employes.
Another reason, one that makes it appeal to
purely selfish motives and to common .sense, is ex
plained by The Cleveland Times, published at
Shelby :
A merchant in a nearby large city told us the other day he
?would not be able to make a living if the "suckers" within a
100 mile radius were not gullible enough to travel 50 miles to
save a dollar.
People tend to consider it fashionable to shop in larger
cities. People in Shelby shop in Charlotte. Charlotte shoppers
-go to Richmond. The people of Richmond go to New York. And
-where do the New Yorkers go? They migrate out to the sub
nurban shopping centers.
We have a vicious cycle with no one profiting except the
gasoline companies.
Metropolitan merchants depend more on volume than serv
ice. Our local stores have built up reputations of dependabil
ity over the years. If you are dissatisfied with a purchase, it
as not necessary to travel 100 miles round trip to "take It
back".
Many times, by looking around, shoppers can
find bargains right here in Macon County. This
week end (today, Friday, and Saturday) almost
certainly will be one of those times. On those three
"dollar days" local merchants; in an effort to stimu
late trade here in Macon County, are .seeking to
?give their customers the most possible, for the
anonev. At the least, what is to be offered here this
week end is worth looking at and pricing ? before
taking the time and Jjuying the gasoline to make a
trip to Asheville or Atlanta.
. Another Answer
We arc reminded daily that one of the nation's
greatest needs is more scientists. Well, what can
Macon County do about that?
Most of us would answer, "nothing". But there
are people of imagination who have another an
swer.
They arc the trustees of the Highlands Biolog
ical Station. In an effort to more fully utilize the
vast biological resources of the Highlands plateau,
they have in mind expansion of the present re
search facilities and inauguration of a teaching pro
gram 011 the graduate level.
Such a program undoubtedly would prove of
value to science itself. The results would have prac
tical value to research and industry, throughout
the Southeast. And a graduate school, even on a
small scale, would be a great boon to Highlands
and Macon County.
Bouquets . . .
. . . To the Bank of Franklin for its recent im
provements. The revamped lobby is not only at
tractive, but gives evidence of being much more
efficiently arranged . . . To Franklin's girls'' basket
bailers. Twenty straight wins! Who isn't proud
of these youngsters? . .. . Belatedly, to Franklin
Masons on their fine new home. The Masonic Hall
on Church Street is a delight to the eye . . . To the
Macon County Building and Loan Association for
its deserved growth. After 35 years of increasing
usefulness, it now has more than a million dollars
on loan . . . To the Franklin Board of Aldermen
for its promptness in starting to dig another well.
The discouraging failure of the first effort did not
blind the board to the fact it is essential for Frank
lin to have more water before the next summer
season arrives.
We Don't Mean Sausage
When we received Mr. Evans' letter, published
on this page, it gave us a bad start. Without wait
ing to finish reading it, we dashed across the office
for an almanac or encyclopedia. For we never tan
remember when "mountain groundhog day" is ;
whether February 2 or 14. We get so confused, in
fact, that one year we actually celebrated the
wrong date ? ;and had to eat humble ,pie in the next
issue of The Press.
We go to the almanacs and encyclopedias not be
cause we think they know what they're talking
about, at least on this subject, but the reverse. We
know the date they say is right, is wrong; hence,
whichever of the dates they give, the other is the
correct one, according to mountain tradition.
Well, all the books say groundhog day is Febru
ary 2; so, obviously, it's February 14.
Trouble with Mr. Evans, he's been reading the
almanacs and encyclopedias ? seriously. And he
ought to know better ; he ought to know the men
who write such books not only are damnyankees,
but high-brows who, we bet, never even saw a
groundhog! who don't know the difference between
these weather forecasters and sausage!
Letters
Says It's February 2nd
Editor, The Press:
Well, in your issue of February 7, you sounded again your
firm belief that the 14th (Valentine Day) is "Groundhog Day".
We are of the opinion, as shown by books and records, that
February 2 is the only and traditional Groundhog Day. We
have begun to believe that you belong to that group that
thinks F. D. R. changed this date, too.
Some are always claiming that the "old folks" said it was
the 14th. What old folks? We have been around about as
long as the most of them, and can truthfully say that never
was such an assertion made until about thirty years ago.
There is no use to explain how that got its start In West
? Continued on Pace 3
A Columbia Broadcasting System Radio Analysis
ANOTHER 'NEW EISENHOWER'
By ERIC SEVARE1D
Periodically, over "the last three
years, Washington columnists have
discovered what they always call
ed " a new Eisenhower," Some
times they meant his personal
behavior ? he was going to boss
liis team in no certain terms;
sometimes they meant his policies
? he was through compromising
and was going to put the right
wing of his party in Its place and
keep It there.
But events never fully bore out
these predictions; the President
continued to let others make many
decisions, even on vital appoint
ment* such u the national chair
manship or the vice presidential
nomination; he continued to try
to conciliate the Republican right
wing rather than to subdue it.
Personal manner and public policy
remained much the same.
Bat today? or so it seemed to
this reporter ? something new
was revealed. Both as to manner
and policy. Por the first time In
two months, the President held
a news conference. The difference
In the man was subtle, but un
mistakable. This was a man calm
ly. confidently aware that he is
the boss. There was a whiff of
Harry Truman In that crowded
room; the word often used with
Truman was "cockiness." It al
most applied today. Mr. Eisen
hower has Ignored the reporters
this fall and winter to an extra
ordinary degree; today he march
ed in and snapped out. "Any
questions you'd like to ask me?"
Partly In fun, but also in chal
lenge.
His replies were, on the whole,
much sharper, crisper; little cir
cumlocution this time; less con
cern about saying something that
might offend somebody, some
where. Liess impluae to painfully
qualify everything he said, to leave
an out. to cover all bases. Yester
day. he acted like the boss with
the National Committee and pick
ed his own new chairman; today
he acted like the bow with the
reporters; he seemed freer. In his
own mind; like a man through
with constant placatlon, a man
finally able to say "that's It ? take
it or leave it."
In terms of policy, the change
is even more unmistakable and
startling; at one place in the
questioning he said his basic at
titude toward government has not
changed; but other statements
completely contradicted this. He
uttered, in fact, the most funda
mental, far-reaching acceptance
of the New Deal, welfare state
philosophy any President has ever
uttered. I quote him. "as long as
the American people demand, and.
in my opinion, deserve, the kind
of services that this budget pro
vides, we have got to spend this
kind of money." Unquote. This
is a hundred and eighty-degree
turn. The old Elsenhower had
been passionately opposed to such
things as federal aid to schools ?
the specific subject that produced
this statement; the old Elsenhower
had talked about a smaller role
lor the federal government; the
old Eisenhower had said that
people who wanted complete se
curity could find It in Jail.
In spite of the attempts to
rationalize the spilt, he is now
in fundamental disagreement with
his Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr. Humphrey believes a severe
depression could happen; Mr.>
Elsenhower made it clear today
he does not so believe; Mr. Hum
phrey would avoid federal deficit
spending to cure a depression,
would, in fact, keep government
out of the picture; Mr. Elsen
hower, I quote him again, "would
do everything that was Constitu
tional and the federal government
could do . . . there would be no
limit. . . ."
Mr. Elsenhower has finally cast
the die; he has taken his party
across its inevitable Rubicon: the
old Taft wing, as represented by
Humphrey, Weeks, Wilson and
? OMtlBMi Ml r?C* I
"Must You Stand There And Drool?"
CTfp
* i
STRICTLY
Personal
? ? By WEIMAR JONES
Recently, my work has put me
in touch to an unusual extent
with Macon County educators. In
addition to Individual contacts,
I was present at two meetings ?
one of principals, the other of
representative teachers and P.-T.A.
workers ? at which school prob
lems were discussed.
The result was to confirm a
previous impression about the
folks who teach our children.
Now I know there's plenty
wrong with our schools. Many
classrooms are crowded ami we
VIEWS
? By BOB SLOAN
This is a not too well inform
ed layman's view, but I, for
one, believe that the small
country of Israel is largely in
the right in its current dispute
with Egypt and the United Na
tions.
It is asking for the right for
their ships to be free to come
and go from its ports -unmolest
ed and for a guarantee that
marraudlng bandits from a
neighboring country will not be
allowed to conduct raids across
its borders. It is perfectly will
ing to secure these rights by
its own military strength, but
both the United Nations and
the United States seem to be
asking Israel to lay down Its
arms and just hope these
things won't happen again.
These people, who for cen
turies have been a people with
out a country, have hammered
a nation out of a desolate waste
land. They have, by hard work
and enterprise, made it a grow
ing, livable country. They are
not going to give up this long
dreamed-of home land, for
which they have worked so
hard, without a fight. While
some United Nations and Unit
ed States officials don't, they
realize that a promise from
Nasser is as worthless as the
word of A1 Capone or some
other hoodlum.
If you were standing face to
face with a slinking, but deadly
timber wolf, you wouldn't lay
down the stick In your hand
unless you were assured of some
other protection; Israel doesn't
intend to, either.
? ? ?
I still think the neighborhood
club with a community develop
ment program Idea is good for
Franklin. The people of North
Franklin proved it. Unfortunate
ly, the rest of us did not take
advantage of the opportunity.
With Spring coming soon, let's
all get either organized or re
organised and take a fresh
start. Surely the people in that
one section of Franklin aren't
the only ones here Who can
work and play together.
? ? ?
Since I am writing this the
day the Smoky Mountain bask
etball tournament Starts, I
don't know the outcome for
? Continued an Page S
lack materials and equipment. The
discipline isn't always what it
might be; and I wonder sometimes
if the schools put sufficient em
phasis on the truth that the price
of achievement always is hard
work.
I think, too. we may have too
many Macon County persons
teaching in our schools. Not that
there's anything wrong with
Macon County people who teach:
but I think it makes no better
sense to hire a teacher just be
cause he is a Maconian than it
would to refuse to hire him for
that reason. Furthermore, I hava
the feeling that we use too large
a proportion of the products of
Western Carolina College. Again,
there is nothing wrong with
W. C. C.; but we need graduates
of many institutions if we are to
have a variety of viewpoints and
the breadth that is basic to any
real educational effort.
Well, check those off and see
how many of them can be blamed
on the teachers. Even the problem
of school discipline is a national,
not Just a local, situation; and
it starts not in the school, but
in the home.
Sure, there's plenty wrong with
the schools. But there's also plenty
right.
And in listing the things that
are right, I'd begin and end my
list with the teachers. For in the
final analysis, it isn't the build
ings or the organization or the
method of teaching that make
the schools good or bad, but the
individual teacher. I suspect they'd
be the first to agree that there's
a lot of truth in that old saw
about "Mark Hopkins". Somebody
(was it Mark Twain?) once said
that the school where he learned
most was "sitting on one end of
a log with Mark Hopkins (a fine
teacher) on the other".
Nobody, I am sure, has a harder
job than the teachers. Imagine,
you who find yourself exhausted
at the end of the day with one
or two or three, trying to teach
30 or 40 eager but squirming
youngsters!.
When you consider that chil
dren are soft clay, easily moulded,
and when you take into account
that what little Johnny becomes
may depend on whether, some
time during his school days, some
teacher can light the fire that
is latent within each of us, surely
nobody has a more responsible
job.
And now to come-back to that
impression. My recent contacts
have confirmed what I've long
thought: There isn't a more dedi
cated group of people anywhere
in Macon County than our
teachers.
Aren't there some poor ones?
Undoubtedly. But, taken as a
?whole, they have a sense of
mission, a patience, a faith in
youth, a devotion to the job, that
stirs my admiration and renews
my confidence that Macon County
will become the great and rare
place to live it can become.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
Looking Backward Through the Files of The Press
60 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
Cornaro Baird will soon be looking down In the mouth. He
Is studying dentistry.
Mr. Joslah Raby, of Cowee township, reports that on Tues
day of last week he was held up in broad daylight by a man
with a Winchester rifle in his hands, and a veil over his face,
and robbed of $133. On the day of the robbery, Mr. Raby's
horse was stolen and concealed in the woods and while search
lng for it, he was met by the masked man and ordered to
give up the money. Mr. Raby told him. he had no money with
him. The robber made him stand in an open field near the
house until he went to the house and forced Mrs. Raby to
get the money.
Mr. J. P. Bradley, of Smlthbridge township, was In town
Saturday looking cheerful over the arrival of a new boy at his
house. He named him after Sheriff Roane.
25 YEARS AGO
Miss Nannie Roper, who has been a student at Kyle for the
past six months, returned home last Friday. ? Rainbow Springs
Item.
Mr. Manson Stiles left this week for Lawrencevllle, Ga.,
'where he has a Job as logsetter at a sawmill.
Mrs. Will Cleaveland and daughter, Miss Evelyn Cleaveland,
of Highlands, were here Friday shopping.
1* YEARS AGO
Sanders' store, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sanders for
the past 20 years, has been sold to Bower's, a mercantile or
ganization with stores In three states. T. Y. Angell, of Brevard,
who has been with the Bower's company since his discharge
from the armed forces about a year ago, will be the new
manager.
A. C. (Claude) Patterson, of Tesenta, has been elected gen
eral manager of the recently organised Macon County Farm
ers Cooperative. Robert Fulton, of Cullasaja, tooty over the Job
of president, which Mr. Patterson resigned to become general
manager.