Newspapers / The Franklin press and … / Sept. 5, 1957, edition 1 / Page 2
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EDITORIAL WEIMAR JONES, Editor Far From Spotless That was a fine, talk Mr. Heinz \\". Knllman, of Hazelwood. made to the Franklin Lions Club last week. And Mr. Kollinan, who fled to this country to escape persecution in Nazi Germany, is a good American. His understanding of American tradi tion and the American system and his enthusiasm for Americanism, in fact, tend to put many native Americans to shame. All that, however, in nowise alters the fact that one of Mr. Rollman's basic assertions is incorrect. "We have never started a war in our history", he .told the Lions. It would be nice if that were true, but Mr. Roll man is contradicted by history. And it is impor tant for Americans, since circumstances have forc ed this nation into a role of leadership, to keep the rrecord straight about themselves. We started the American Revolutionary war? by openly rebelling against duly constituted authority. However justified we may have been in fighting the War of 1812, we started it; the record shows it was the United States, not Great Britain, that ?declared war. In our war with Mexico in 1846. hostilities were begun by the Mexicans; but it was a war we would have started if they hadn't. And if there ever was a war of aggression, prompted by naked greed, it was ? our war with Mexico. Whether it was North or South that lit the s.park that became the Civil War, it was we (Americans) who started that war. Technically, it was the sinking of the U. S. S. Maine that launched the Spanish- American War. But again that war was sought I (by the United States, and it turned out to be a war of American imperialism. When it was over, we grabbed every thing in sight. And during its history, this country started ^scores of wars with the Indians. The United States' record as a peace-loving na tion is far from spotless, and it would be anything but wise for us, as we try to work with other na *ir\nc to Lrirl oil vpc it iv; As School Opens . As a new school year begins, it is a good time to ask ourselves: What do we expect of our schools and colleges? The teachers would say ? and with considerable justification ? that most of us expect too much. ?Considering the importance of the job they do, though, in a sense it is impossible to expect too ,-much. ? The question really is : What do we really mean when we say "education"? Surety education should be what the word's Latin root means, "leading out". And that suggests that, stripped of pedagog ical verbiage, education really is a simple thing. Isn't it just this: So stimulating a child's curios ity to know that he will try to find out. and then will use the imagination to compare ? that is. to compare this one bit of knowledge with other knowledge he has gained, so that he can fit this bit into its proper place in the scheme of things? Modern Phenomenon A remarkable phenomenon of the last quarter century is growth of the movement to buy insur ance toward covering the mounting costs of hos-, pital and medical care. Twenty-five or thirty years ago. almost nobody had such insurance: today, it would seem, nearly everybody has. Figures made public by the Hospital Care Asso ciation, of Durham, a Blue Cross organization, il lustrate the point. It reports its membership in North Carolina has passed the 300,000-mark. That's a policy for one out of every 13 Tar Heels. Consid ering that most of these policies probably cover the entire family, the number insured by the Hos pital Care Association must be something like four or five out of every 13. And this association is only one of several offering this type of insurance. Even more amazing is the figure on the amount the Hospital Care has paid North Carolina hos pitals and doctors during the past year? a total of more than h/3 million dollars. That's an average of nearly $1.50 for every man, woman and child in the state. And again, this is only the amount paid out by one agency. Without this type of insurance, most of us would be in terrible financial condition after an illness. The folks who would be worse off still, though, would be the hospitals and doctors. On Wearing Shorts (Harnett County News) Without disputing the right of man or woman to don any sort of raiment that suits the individual taste, we make bold to question the scnsibleness of wearing anything that's out rageously unfitting. Like the orator's speech, It should cover the subject, but some of the shorts we've seen definitely do not. The other day we saw a man whose framework was of the tall, lanky kind. His legs appeared for all the world like fenceposts a farmer had hired some careless helper to erect instead of selecting the material and overseeing the job him self. They were as unshapely as a dog's 'hind props. Never theless, he wore shorts that would have graced the form of an athlete. His attire was a sight to behold. A day or so ago we saw a woman wearing shorts which, we firmly believe, she either stole or borrowed. She was not bad looking, either from an upper or lower view. But her shorts didn't belong to her, we felt sure, because they would have come nearer to fitting a woman twice her size. Shorts give an appearance of coolness, therefore comfort. They're all-right, so far as we are concerned, provided the person wearing 'em is built for 'em. Now, take the little kiddles In shorts ? there you have the best that can be offered In fitness. As much as necessary of the subject is covered, and there's nothing that seems out of order. What's more rightly conforming to the fitness of things than a youngster, male or female, wearing a cute pair . of shorts, and barefooted? Bare feet? To be sure. What can be more fitting. In this little old world than a child going barefooted in summertime? WHAT DOES KREMLIN SPLIT MEAN'! Here's Evidence It Points Toward Disintegration Of Red System By V. N. RVDIN (KUrrOR'S NOTE: Mr. Ru <hn, a native of Russia, is president of International Re search on Communist Tech niques, Inc. What follows is cxcerpted from a recent re port made to his organiza tion , which has headquarters In New York.) All signposts have pointed to -ward the current climactic and :(atal spilt In the headquarters of the world communist con spiracy. But in our highspeed civilization such signposts are too frequently unheeded, and news of the recent purge of ?Communist Party leaders ex ploded on July 4 with a shock to many international observ ?ers, who are still chewing on the bone of speculation. Factual -reports and analyses of surface effects In the Communist Party have been adequately presented In the press of the free world, mo ' there Is no need to review 'these here. However, behind the Khru schev victory In purging such prominent figures as Molotov, Malenkov, Kaganovich, and less Irrevoeably Shepllov, lie basic reasons nils event holds enor mous consequences for the fu ture of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPS U), the Oi'lU system, ana the entire communist world. ,| A split within the top leader- 1 ?iHp of the C P S U, Which Is 1 wywttly holding onto Its ?WW C P leadership, -was an | Inevitable result of the status of the communist regime at the death of Stalin. It was a head less pyramid. The structure of the regime was designed for a dictator ? but there was no single successor to Stalin. With out this head, the pyramidal Soviet system has proceded log ically and Inevitably toward dis integration. Long Under Way The struggle among the "col lective leaders", or among groups within the Presidium, began immediately after Stalin's death. The liquidation of Berla on July 10, 1953, the forced ab dlctlon of Malenkov on Feb. 8, 1955, the fall of Molotov which began In Oct. 1955 and was fol lowed by his resignation on June 2, 1956 ? all were mere stepping-stones leading toward the spectacular climax of July 1957. The Internal struggle dur ing the 20th C P Congress, which did not become apparent to the West until much later, actually began the alignment of forces that have recently come into open conflict. The fight among Soviet lead ers and factions cannot be eval uated on a basis simlar to that among conflicting groups in a normal democratic state, nor even among Latin American power groups. Although It is a struggle for power, the personal aspect is the least significant. It must be realized that all factions of the Soviet leader ship are aware of the present vulnerability of the Soviet sys tem itself? and of the fact that their own survival depends up on survival of the system. Therefore the primary concern of all the "collective leaders" since the- death of Stalin has been to save the communist system ? and thus themselves. Their prime motivation is the fear of Internal revolution. The East Oerman Revolt of June 1953 and the first open revolts in the Soviet concentration camps In June-Oct., 1953, sounded an alarm that has been dinning the ears of top Soviet leaders ever since. The basic cause of conflict in the Kremlin, therefore, Is the difference of opinion among the various factions as to the tactics necessary to save the communist system. Main Change Out of the many accusations heaped on the Molotov faction, we can crystallize the following as the essence of the current situation : "They (the Molotov group) set themselves the goal of re turning the party to the false methods of leadership which were condemned by the 20th Communist Party Congress." In these few words the Cen tral Committee confirmed the acceptance of the tactics advo cated by the Khruschev faction. In brief, these are: The communist regime of the USSR can no longer govern the people according to the so-call ed Stalinist methods (actually, the methods of the communist system Itself), because this would lead to imminent or Im mediate revolution. Therefore, there must be a change in tac tics, allowing for some conces sions to the demands of the people. This more flexible policy, pro posed by one Stalinist faction headed by Khruschev at the 20th C P Congress, was opposed by another Stalinist faction headed by Molotov. Use Same Logic By a similar process of logic, motivated by the same desire to save the system and the same sincere devotion to the goal of international commun ism, the Molotov faction believ ed that any relaxation of "Iron grip" tactics would bring about t|je same Internal revolutionary upheaval. This conviction was strengthened by subsequent events in Poland And Hungary, which Molotov considered a di rect result of Khruschev's policy of relaxation and denunciation of Stalin. The Molotov group therefore urged a retraction of the small liberties that the re gime was forced grudgingly to give the people after the 20th C P Congress. This has proved Impossible, especially among the Soviet Intelligentsia. t It Is not my place to discuss Conttnned on Pare Three ? "I Love You ? Bushels And A Peck" sgsri dm Urge far* & BENEFITS !i y^.,1 . . Strictly Personal By WEIMAR JONES Some months ago, I wrote a piece about how visitors, if they failed to see the signs at the town entrances, would find it hard to know what town this is. I suggested business houses write beneath the names of their businesses, on their win dows or signs, the words, "Franklin, N. C." After that appeared In The Press, I found myself very red faced; because I discovered there was no "Franklin, N. C." on our own Franklin Press sign. Well, we remedied that defi ciency; It's there now. But there still are far too few signs that tell the stranger what town he's in. The proof is an experience I had last week. As I crossed .Main Street on foot, an out-of town motorist, driving along Main, called to me: "What town is this?" We think we have a good town, a distinctive town. We want people to remember it. But they have to stop us on the street to ask what our town is named! * ? ? Last week I commented on the way the old songs are being changed to eliminate any refer ence to Negro slavery. The ra dio and TV networks are re writing Stephen Foster, making substitutions for such words as "massa" and "darkles". NBC says it uses "chullun" Instead of "darkies"; CBS says it uses "folkses". I remarked that that was un realistic. Well, after thinking about It, I've concluded the stupidity of such an attitude is only the be ginning of the story. What the Negro is called, in song or story, is of no real im portance; it's not the word that Is used, but the frame of ref erence or the tone in which It is spoken that suggests con tempt or affection. And America will survive the re-writing of Stephen Foster's songs, childish as that seems. The real Importance of the incident is the way It illustrates how quickly and easily the great networks bend to pres sure. It would be the same If enough Jews or Catholics or Polish citizens or whathaveyou, objected. They'd re-write Shak espeare or the Bible or even Webster's dictionary, if enough people demanded it, loudly enough. The networks could have an influence greater than that of any agency in history. Here is a great opportunity. But what do they stand for? Perhaps they do indorse God, home, and mother, but if so, they're lukewarm about it. And possibly they do condemn sin, but they're careful to qualify that condemnation. Never has there been such an opportunity. And never has op portunity been met with such irresponsibility, such cowardice. ? ? * Nothing better illustrates our changing sense of values than the story about the teen-age boy who was remarking on the hard luck of a neighbor fam ily It seemed the family had long been having financial difficul ties, but now it had reached a new depth: "It looks like they are going to have to sell some of their furniture", the sympathetic young man told a friend, "to meet the next payment on their car." WHERE ,i TRAFFIC LAWS ARE OBEYED , -DEATHS GO DOWN! Drive safely and courteously your* self. Observe speed limits and warn ing signs. north carolinaI DEPARTMENT ofl MOTOR VEHICLESj DO YOU REMEMBER? Looking Backward Through the Files of The Frees 65 TEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1892) Dr. W. H. Higglns is adding an upper story to his dwelling on Harrison Avenue, which will add greatly to its appearance and give much more room. Dr. F. T. Smith and Miss Nannie Trotter and Mr. N. N. Ferguson went over to Cullowhee on a pleasure trip last Fri day and returned Sunday evening. While over there Sunday, they attended a baptizing, about a halt mile from Judge Davis', but the Dr. having fallen Into very interesting com pany, went the "near way" to the baptizing (3% miles), so we are informed. Mrs. E. R. Kinnebrew and children, after a month's visit to relatives in Franklin, left for their home In Athens, Ga., Friday. 25 TEARS AGO (1932) I A medical society for Macon and Clay County was organized at a meeting of physicians from the two counties at Angel Bros.' Hospital Thursday. Dr. Furman Angel was elected presi dent; Dr. J. I. Schiffll, of Highlands, vice-president; and Dr. F. M. Killian, secretary-treasurer. Sept. 15 Is the date tentatively set for beginning the $55,000 Improvement project recently authorized for Nintahala Na tional Forest. About 1,000 men will be employed, on a rotating basis. A 30-hour work week Is expected to be used. Crews will be used on a monthly basis and then rotate, to give more men a chance to work. A P.-T. A. was organized at Slagle School House this week with J. J. Mann as president. Laddie Crawford is associate president and Mrs. Charles Nolen, president of the Farm ers' Club, was chosen secretary. 10 TEARS AGO The Franklin board of aldermen, at Its meeting Monday evening, voted to advertise (or bids (or the paving o( Depot Street and a section o( Wayah Street. Most of the meeting was devoted to hearing delegations and to discussion of the water situation and parking problems. Contract for the construction of the Nantahala Power and Light Company's Queen's Creek hydro-electric plant has been let to an Andrews firm. The dam will create one of the high est head units In Eastern America. The water In the reser vlor will be 1,005 feet higher than the power house. A delegation from the Gold Mine section Monday flatly told members of the county board of education and the county superintendent that. If the officials persist In consolidating the small Gold Mine school with that at Hlgdonvllle, Gold Mine parents will not send their children to school.
Sept. 5, 1957, edition 1
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