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PAGE TWO THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina FRIDAY. MARCH 18. 1955 Southern Pines North Carolina “In taking over The Pilot no changes are contemplated. We will try to keep this a good paper. We wih try to make a little money for all concerned. Where there seems to be an occa sion to use our influence for the public good we will try to do it. And we will treat everybody alike.”—James Boyd, May 23, 1941. Looking Toward The Town Election Filing time for candidates in the (municipal electicn will open in two weeks. The election May 3 will mark the end of the first biennium of the city manager form of gov ernment here, and perhaps the first thing to be noted about the coming election is that the form of gcvemment itself will not be an issue. It appears to us that, regardless of controversies about specific measures put into effect by the town council in the past two years, the city manager form has proved its wcrth and has achieved well-nigh universal local approval. Despite the lack of out-and-out opposition to the form of gcvernment, we anticipate a “live ly” election apd welcome that outlook. ^ We would like to see at least two candidates for each seat on the council. If there are mere than 10 candidates, necessitating a primary, we would consider that as evidence of a keen civic interest that, in the end, can only mean better government and wider citizen participation in town affairs. Two groups who will likely enter candidates for the council in order to have direct represen tation at town hall are residents of West South ern Pines and residents of Knollwocd, the lat ter being a sizablp group of citizens whose property was annexed by the town in the past biennium and who wiU be voting in their first town election. While a number of Kncllwood residents do not maintain a voting residence in Southern Pines, it is natural for this group to want repre sentation on the council and we expect and hope that one or more strong candidates can be produced from that area. West Southern Pines .has entered strong can didates, claiming support from both sides of town, in recent town elections and it would not surprise us greatly to see a West Southern Pines representative elected to the council in the natural course of events on May 3. We look for increased registration of Negro voters and this, combined with the support for a Negro candidate which will be given by many thoughtful voters on the East side of town, may well seat a Negro on the council this year. West Southern Pines civic leaders would do well, in advance of filing time, to reach agreement on a strong candidate and then round up support for him on both sides of town. A proposal to enlarge the council to seven members and set up election machinery that would assure election of representatives from various parts of town, including Knollwood and West Southern Pines, was abandoned, at least temporarily, by the council earlier this year because of the difficulty and confusion of con ducting the special municipal election that would be required to effect such a change, in the same year as and just prior to a regular town election. While the proposal was being discussed by the council (and it does have a grpigft deal of merit), some astute political ob servers hazarded the guess that the end result —^representation from all sections of town— might well be achieved in May without any ma chinery to guarantee such an outcome. Whether this will prove true will be something interest ing to watch. And we suggest voters keep this genuine need for wide representation in mind when allcting their support to. the various can didates in the primary or the election May 3. We urge Southern Pines residents of ability and civic interest to file as candidates and not to under-rate the importance of civic service. We urge registration of eligible voters who are net now registered. And we urge the careful, considered participation by all voters in the town election. Tourists Flock To Historical Restorations Activities of the Moore County Historical Association have turned the thoughts of many residents of this area toward the past—most notably in connection with the Alston House which is probably Moore County’s most inter esting historical landmeirk in that it still shows the bullet holes of a Revolutionary War skir mish and was occupied not only by the Patriot Alston family, but later by Governor Williams. Other evidence of local historical interest is the Shaw house here, with the old log cabin that has been restored on the property. The Historical Association is both the cause and effect in the matter of this historical inter- . est. AU over the nation people are becoming aware of the past. The growth and activities of the Historical Association are evidence of this interest, as well as a means of extending the interest in this area. A recent visitor to the Sandhills, George B. Wells who is president of the board of trustees of Old Sturbridge Village, a historical restora tion in Massachusetts, testified factually and eloquently to increasing interest in the past on the part of Americans, reporting that this res toration project of some 30 buildings on 25 acres of land in central Massachusetts last year drew about 154,000 tourists who paid a fee to look it over. And, as Mr. Wells pointed out, “No American will spend the best part of a $5 bill unless he gets something out of it.” What they get out of it is the subject of considerable speculation and philosophizing by Mr. Wells and others who have been in close touch with the situation. We feel that these thoughts are pertinent locally in view of rising historical interest here, as well as the effort by the Sandhills and the State in stopping tourists and providing attractions that will bring them our way. It may be, said Mr. Wells during his visit here, that people in turbulent modern America, with its stresses and strains, are finding in his torical restorations of the way our ancestors lived a glimpse of peace and a simpler life, per haps linked with a revival of moral values, as though by looking back at the way cur ances tors lived we dan acquire some of the simplicity, strength and peace of mind that they had of at least appear to have had. The Sandhills visitor quoted the remark of a young man with his wife and children who stood in one of the old Sturbridge Village houses: “This,”; he said tO'his family, “is HOME.” So, it is not the buildings or the furniture or the stone-grinding mills or the blacksmith shops or the candle-making equipment or the old things themselves people are primarily interested in— it is the way of life, Mr. Wells believes: a striv ing to see, know and somehow gain moral strength from a way of life that appears to be mere spiritually rewarding and less confusing than our life today. The Sturbridge Village restoration began with the problem of housing a family antique collection and then, because of public interest, turned into the complete village set-up, with many of the “old” buildings moved to'the site or newly built. The thing that makes it differ ent from a museum which would never draw WASHINGTON REPORT Taxes To Be ’56 Campaign Issue By BILL WHITLEY | tail sales and increased demand The Democrats don’t intend to fer industrial production, let the Republicans forget about | Figures thousands of persons, is that throughout the village about 30 people are employed actually carrying on the varied trades and manufactur ing processes that would have been found in a village of 150 years ago. The way of life, not just the materials of it, is visible. The products they make are sold an(^ there is even a book shop, specializing in historical books, that sells around 2,000 volumes a week in the height of the summer season. The meaning of all this for North Carolina and the Sandhills is not as remote as it might seem. Seen in the light of this background, the Alston House—of course in a far smaller way than a project like Sturbridge Village—may become in itself one of the major places of interest in this area, drawing people here. Aside from all other values of the Alston House, it is therefore well worth all the effort of Historical Association members and the $5,000 the State is now being asked to put into the project. The Massachusetts man says that $1 million “wisely spent” could create in North Carolina a project like Sturbridge Village “that would pay for itself.” While we see no million dollars fortticoming from either public or private sources, it is not bpyond the bounds of possi bility that a similar project, even if on a much smaller scale—perhaps depicting the way of life of the Scots settlers of the Cape Fear Valley— could be started somewhere in this area. , Such projects elsewhere in the nation said Mr. Wells, are “fantastically successful”—and that means commercially successful, top-rank ing tour^t attractions. The capital to start something like this might be found right here in the Sandhills. Expert advice on historical details is readily available locally and from elsewhere in the State. We feel sure that the advice or cooperation of Mr. Wells and others who are experienced in com mercial restoration projects would be gladly given. The more we think about it, the more attrac tive the idea becomes. It would bring to the Sandhills a whole new group of tourists—peo ple who do net play golf—as well as provide for regular visitors an added attraction that would serve to spread the fame of the Sandhills. It would be in no way seasonal and could oper ate throughout the year more easily than simi lar projects in the North. taxes when election time rolls around next year. Even though they stand a good chance to lose their fight to give low-income groups a small tax cut this year, they will have some good points to campaign on next year. The 1954 tax law was written— under direction of Secretary of the Treasury Humphrey—with the idea of taking some heavy burdens off the shoulders of cor porations and high income groups. It was done by the Republican Congress on the theory that the many millions of dollars put into the hands of investors and poten tial investors would be turned back into industrial expansion, thus creating more jobs at a time when employment was drop ping. Effects The effects of the new tax law are highly debatable. 'The Demo crats are arguing that unemploy ment is stiU rising and industrial production is dropping. Thus, they claim, the benefits given to the high-income groups last year are sticking to the hip pockets of the wealthy. The argument of the Democrats is that more money should be put into the hands of low-income groups. There, they argue, it has no chance of sticking, and will be turned back into the overall econ omy with the result of higher re- Below are some of the argu ments Democrats are usmg against the tax law enacted by the Republicans: The dividend exclusion and credit sections of the law are es pecially favorable to higher in come groups. To begin with, 92 per cent of all American families own no corporation gtock what ever, so dividend benefits help only eight per cent of our fami lies. Further, 3.7 per cent of all taxpayers—those with incomes over $10,000—get 76 per cent of all dividend income. It is the ar gument of the Democrats that these are the people who are in good financial shape and really need no help compared with the man making two, three, or four thousand dollars a year. Another big complaint is be ing filed against the special fund “reserve” clauses that allow cor porations to deduct certain an ticipated expenses a full year be fore they are actually made. It was originally designed as a need ed aid for business, but such things as anticipated vacations for workers are being claimed as legitimate future expenses. Sec retary Humphrey originally esti mated that it would cost 47 mil lion dollars a year in revenue. The estimates, as a result of un reasonable claims pouring in, are now in the billions. The Public Speaking Chapel Hill PTA Approval Ufe.” For ABC Stores Is Opposed The standards of homelife are To The Editor: i lowered. . . net raised ... by the At the regular meeting of the j Prinking of strong drink. Aberdeen-Pinebluff P. T. A. on| ^ February 17, 1955, ' attention was| “To secure adequate laws for called to'an article that appeared i the care and protection of chil- in the Raleigh News and Observ-1 dren and youth.” er, dated February 15, 1955. The' Instead of securing “adequate article stated that the Chapel Hill laws for the care and protection GOVERNOR HODGES LISTS REASONS Why Is N.' C. 44th In Income? FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION “Freedom of expression is not merely a right —in the circumstances of today, its constructive use is a stern duty.”—^Dwight D. Eisenhower. “So long as the truth is made available to our people, we need have no fear for the future of our democratic system.”—Harry S. Truman. •'T disapprove of what you say, but I will de fend to the death your right to say it.”— Voltaire. “Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.”—Napoleon. In his recent special news conference at Raleigh for weekly and small daily news papers, Gov. Luther Hodges offered several suggested rea sons for the comparatively low per capita income in North Carolina, as compared with the other 47 States. The Governor suggested as one remedy that more local capi tal should be put into busi nesses and that processing plants to handle products pro duced in the State would help raise income. Here is the Governor’s full statement on this problem, as made at the press conference: During the year 1953, North Carolina ranked 44th in per capi ta income as among the 48 states. South Carolina, Arkansas, Ala bama and Mississippi were the only states in which the per capi ta income was lower. The North Carolina figure of $1,097 is con siderably below the national ave rage of $1,709. Several reasons have been of fered in explanation for North Carolina’s per capita income Among these are: 1. The excessive number of small, marginal farms. North Carolina has more farms per farm capita than any other state in the nation. These small farms are, for the most part, operated manually and their yield is extremely low. 2. North Carolina has compara tively few industries which make use of highly paid skilled labor. Such manufacturing as is done in this State is of a kind that uses principally low wage labor. 3. This state has a high percentage of Negroes in its population. More than one million or about 26 per cent of the total population of North Carolina are Negroes. The 1950 census showed that the medium Negro family income in this state was around half that of the medium white family income. 4. North Carolina has an un usually large ratio of school age persons in its population. One- third of the State’s population is under 15 years of age and is non income producing. The national percentage of persons within this age bracket is 26.9. The large number of young people in the State’s population has an additional effect which is that the State’s expenditures for education must be somewhat larg er than would normally be neces sary. Enlightening Comparison A recent illustration of com parative per capita income be tween New Jersey and North Car olina is very eidightening. Trenton, New Jersey and the metropolitan area showed a per- capita income of $1672, whereas, Greensboro in Guilford County showed $1685. When two rureil counties were tompared. Ocean County, New Jersey, showed an average of $912 against Franklin County of $580. When the states as a whole as weU as from our waters which are abounding in seafood. A striking illustration: CaRip Lejeune, North Carolina is pur chasing its seafood as follows: State No. Sources Oysters: Virginia 1 Shrimp: Florida 1 Perch: Georgia 1 Florida 8 Maryland 1 Haddock: Georgia 1 Florida 5 Maryland 1 Halibut: Florida 7 Mackerel: Florida 1 This is disgraceful! What’s wrong with North Carolina?'' P. T. A. voted to ask the County Commissioners to caU a county wide referendum on the estab lishment of ABC whiskey stores in Orange County. > We agree with the- Chapel Hill P. T. A. in that more funds are needed for the purposes of educa tion. However, we do not believe that the means of securing these funds as proposed by the Chapel Hill P. T. A. are justified. Section 2, Article III, of the Na tional Bylaws, as quoted in the Parent-Teacher Manual of Na tional Congress of Parents and Teachers, 1953-1955 edition, def initely states: “This organization shall be noncommercial, nonsec tarian ■ and nonpartisan. No com mercial enterprise. . . shall be endorsed by it. The name of the Congress, its branches, or its of ficers in their official capacities shall not be used in any connec tion with a commercial concern or wiith any partisan interest, or for any other purpose than the regular work of the Congress.” ABC whiskey stores are both “commercial” and “partisan” in nature. To use the influence of any P. T. A. in getting such stores established is to go directly against the above mentioned By laws. On page 4 of the Manual, the ob jectives of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers are list ed. We quote these objectives be low with a statement concerning the effects of the use of alcoholic beverages in our attaining Of said objectives: “To promote the welfare of children and youth in the hqme. school, church and community.” The use of strong drink always degrades the individual welfare. It never promotes it in the long run. It may help build education al buildings, by the revenue de rived therefrom, but the welfare of the children, youth and adults is not promoted by the use of in toxicants. “To raise the standards of home of children and youth,” the sale and consumption of alcoholic bev erages often violate many laws that have already been passed for “the care and protection of youth.” “To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that pa rents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the training of the child.” Instead of enhancing the close relationship of the home, school, psirents and teachers, the drink ing of alcoholic beverages will en danger that relationship by mak ing it more difficult to have an intelligent cooperation between all groups involved. “To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as wiU secure for every child the highest advan tages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education.” (Article I of the National Bylaws). The drinking of strong drink does not develop “united efforts” between the educators and the general publit in seeking “the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual edu cation.” Because of the detrimen tal effects of strong drink upon the individual personality, .the use of strong drink makes it im possible for a person or a group to achieve “the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education.” Since the consumption of alco holic beverages undermine the ef forts of the individual, the school, the parents, the church and the cornmunity at large, in attaining of our objectives, we siqcerely hope the Chapel Hill P. T. A. will rescind its recent action regarding its efforts in making the estab lishment of ABC whiskey stores possible in Orange County. THE ABERDEEN- PINEBLUFF PTA Harry Howie, secretary; W. A. Tew, Mrs. M. D. Coward and Dr. F. B Bishop, committee. <U SoMct Another Sign of Spring Nearly everybody has his own sure sign of spring and they may be as different as the people them selves. The ground hog has noth ing to do with any of the signs we hear about. A short time ago. Col. Calvin Burkhead, who lives at the corner of Pennsylvania and Ridge, called for a member of The Pilot staff to step outside and listen to a mock ing bird serenading in one of the syedmore trees across the street from the newspaper. To the re tired Army officer, that was an unfailing sign of spring and one worthy to be proclaimed to the world or at least to this part of the Sandhills. The colonel was so elated that winter and cold weath er were past that it is not improb able that he hastened up the hill to his home and forthwith chang ed to summer attire. And Yet Another There is another retired man in Southern Pines who now has his own special way of knowing spring is here and that nature and the bees and birds are preparing for it. L. S. Walker, former railroad supply executive who lives on S. May St., is spending his first win ter and spring in Southern Pines. Having led a busy life for many years, Mr. Walker perhaps never had the time or inclination to take more than a passing interest in birds—^their habits or mira tions or the remarkable part they play in helping replenish the earth with trees and shrubbery. Mr. Walker has a green car and takes particular pride in its gloss. The day following a recent special cleaning and polishing, the cedar, waxwings cams to town. He has now regained his composure and by next spring will no doubt be as resigned and philosophical about the waxwings as most of the na tive and long-time residents. Typ ical of this attitude is Virgil Clark’s comment: “We can at least be thankful cows can’t fly.” ing a week-end in Southern Pines recently and Voit caught Dr. Ben jamin Swalin, conductor of the orchestra, with his baton down. So he took him to his Sunday morning class as guest teacher. Members of the class are still recalling the earnest talk made by the symphony conductor. Parkway Calendar Residents along May St. (No. 1 highway) need no calendar to teU them when spring or winter me here. A glance at the parkways in front of their homes, they say, reveal what the traveling public is eating or drinking and what percentage of the motorists have colds. In spring, they report, they find beer cans, ice cream emtons, pop corn packages and candy and gum wrappers of every description. When winter comes and colds take over, paper tissues return and it’s a slighted resident who looks out ,, his window and sees less than half thing special must be done to pro a dozen of the white paper squares nothing was rfesird from him until 10 days ago. It’s now beginning to dawn on Mrs. McLean that Hous ton is friendly with her for a pur- po^. He deserted her after his family was raised last fall and now he’s mending his political fences, getting ready to bring an other batch of little Houstons into the pine trees—and why should one refuse food for his family when it’s there for the taking? Self-Owning Tree Down in Athens, Georgia, there is a tree that owns itself. And, doubtless for that reason and for that reason alone, it has stood firm into a grand old age. It seems that, early in the 19th century, a Col. William H. Jack- son, owner of the land where the tree stands,, decided that some- Guesl Teacher Voit Gilmore is one of the six , , , I or seven teachers of the older were considered. New Jersey had Brownson.Me- a per capita income of $1,7311 Presbyterian Sunday against North Carohna of $1,091. g^hool. The teachers are rotated Among the things we need to so that there is no undue imposi- do in North Carolina is to create tion on either the teacher or the on his parkway. S£dd one May Street resident: “One wonders how long it will be before some enterprising auto manufacturer installs a garbage disposal unit in his car. But that wouldn’t work,” this spokesman added, “What motorist would reach over to drop his trash into a receptacle when a nice open window is there—and the other feUow will have to clean it up?” 'Houston' Is Back Mrs. L. L. McLean, who also re sides on May St., is positive Spring is here because “Houston” dropped down for a call about 10 days ago, after an absence of seven months. Perhaps “Houston” would be better known to many by the name of Sitta Pusilla or brown headed nuthatch. Any name you give him, he’s not that large. There are hundreds of nut hatches in Southern Pines, but probably none more friendly or trusting than “Houston.”* He adopted Mrs. McLean about a year ago when she offered him a crack- more local capital and more ac tual individual interest in local processing plants to handle the products of the farms and fields. class members. It happened to be Voit’s time to teach the Sunday the North Caro lina Little Symphony was spend- The PILOT Published Everv Friday by THE PILOT. Igcorporated Southern Pines, North Carolina 1941—JAMES BOYD—1944 Katharine Boyd C. Benedict Dan S. Ray ' C. G. Council Mary Scott New;ton Editor News Editor Gen. Mgr. Advertising Business Bessie Cameron Smith Society Composing Room , Lochamy McLean, Dixie B. Ray, ed pecan, provided he would eat Michael Valen, Jasper Swearingen it from her hand. After making dozens of passes at the nut and Subscription Rates; coming a little closer each time, jOne Year $4. 6 mos. $2: 3 mos. $1 he filially threw caution to the'^— T'VVu' n * «• To—TiT wind and settled down on her 1 at the Postoffice at South- hand for a meal. Since then, I N-.C., as second class they’ve been good friends. j mail matter In the early fall, he stopped Member National Editorial Assn, coming for his dedly handout and i and N. C. Press Assn. i tect it: it w'as too big and old and beautiful to risk to the uncertain, tempers of uncertain Man. So he got up an inscription, had it en graved on a plaque and the nlaque firmly set into the base of the tree. It reads like this: “For and in consideration of the great love I bear this tree and the great desire I have for its pro- *''ftion for all time, I convey en tire possession of itself and all land within eight feet on all sides to the tree.”
The Pilot (Southern Pines, N.C.)
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March 18, 1955, edition 1
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