Page TWO
THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1961
ILOT
Southern Pines
North Carolina
“In taking over The Pilot no changes are contemplated. We will try to keep this a good
paper. We will try to make a little money for all concerned. Wherever there seems to be
an occasion 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.
Firecrackers and Responsibility
The incident of the two young men who
rode through the countryside last week
flinging lighted firecrackers, or “cherry
bombs,” cut the window of their car is
a puzzler.
The spree culminated apparently in the
disastrous burning of the highway bridge
over the Lumber River on the Laurin-
burg Road with damage estimated at
around $60,000, but it is a miracle that
far greater destruction was not done. The
culprits threw their “bombs” everywhere
they had a mind, apparently regardless
of the fact that the country is in a state
of utmost danger from forest fires due
to the prolonged drought.
.“Juvenile delinquency,” the casual
observer will say. But these two were
not boys: one was nineteen and the other
was twenty-one. What could have in
spired such a silly, senseless action? That
it was dreadfully destructive and potent
ially highly dangerous could have given
it a fatal fascination; the spice of danger
is always intriguing to the young. But,
to judge by their comments, this side of
their adventure did not occur to these
two: they “never meant to do any harm.”
But why, at that age, drive way down
to South Carolina to buy firecrackers and
then find amusement—apparently—in
throwing the things out the car window?
These two must have been mighty hard
up for entertainment if they couldn’t find
anything better to do than that.
It is to be hoped that the new “quality”
education will emphasize the' fostering of
self-development, of resourcefulness and
sense of responsibility, of sensitivity to
the things that cause the mind and the
spirit to grow and mature, developing,
perhaps in the end, some wisdom.
This must be part of the answer to
those who deplore such behaviour as
that of which the two young men were
accused and who must earnestly hope
that these two, and manv who may resem
ble them, find something better to do
with their leisure time than, like ten-
year-oldg, to play with firecrackers.
The word goes round these days that
nobody is reading. Johnny doesn’t know
how; Susie and all the rest of the kids
spend—what it it—more time looking at
TV than doing anything else? A look at
the modern house plans shows you the
bookless family: bookshelves are never
included as they always were in the old
days. If by any chance a man acquires an
old house with bookcases in it, he goes
out and buys sets, by the yard, to fill the
empty spaces.
All this is very depressing to book-
lovers. But, hold on; what about these
book-lovers? Not only do these characters
still, despite this gloomy view, exist, but
when you look at some^ facts it seems
that they are doing pretty well. Take the
facts close at home, the town library, to
wit, and you find an astonishingly satis
factory state of things.
In the last fiscal year, ending in June,
the total number of books taken out of
the town library was 29,032. This repre
sented an increase of 1,039 over the pre
vious year. But—and here’s the surprising
figure—during the first four months of
the present fiscal year there was an in
crease in circulation of 1,661. In other
words, the increase in the past four
months exceeded by 622 books the in
crease for the whole twelve months of
last year.
As for Johnny and Susie, they would be
dull .indeed not to be drawn to the librarv
by the grand list of dozens of books to
be placed on the shelves there next week.
No Frigate Like A Book
in observance of nation-wide Children s
Book Week—not to mention hundreds of
other volumes for children and young
people already in the library’s collection.
And, the records show, young folks are
liberally represented in the rising circu
lation statistics.
It would be interesting to know the
reasons for this increase in reading.
Some of it, obviously, is due to the same
population explosion that is hitting the
schools, but it seems that adult readers
are increasing, too. The library, with its
welcoming staff and general atmosphere
of enthusiasm, is growing in popularity;
and there is the fact of this growing town
itself, the newcomers here and in the
area who appreciate the library’s well-
rounded collection. But it seems likely
that there is a third factor, more powerful
if more intangible. In times of tension,
of confusion, of apprehension, people in
stinctively reach out for help, and, to
many, that help can be a book. It rnay
be gained from a few hours of relaxation,
of getting your mind off your troubles
with a good book, the kind that Emily
Dickinson called “a frigate to bear us
lands away.” Or the reader may seek
deeper sustenance in the wisdom or the
inspiration and reassurance to be found
in the great works of past or contem
porary authors.
Whatever the reason, whatever the
need, those who seek help within the
covers of a book will seldom fail to find
it.
Foray into Dangerous Territory
On Sunday the Voice of America
beamed 52 transmitters at the Soviet
Union and sent messages to the Russian
people informing them of their govern
ment’s action in resuming nuclear testing
and filling the air with poisonous radio
active fallout. The program was repeated
throughout the day in many languages
and the question repeatedly asked: “Have
you been told?”
This sounds like a good idea on the
surface, but actually what will it accom
plish? Granted that the majority of
Russians certainly ought to, but do not,
know what their government is doing,
will it do any good for us to tell them?
What will be the effect of this broad
cast? One way to get a line on the answer
would be to imagine a reversal of roles.
Supposing the Russians started sending
similar or other accusations against the
United States, what would be the result?
That’s easy: everybody would be hopping
mad.
A good many Americans have the
happy idea that the Russian people are
ready to rise up against their government
at the slightest chance. This is probably
true of the satellite countries but not of
the Russians. According to every authori
tative report, the people are solidly be
hind their leaders, with the vast majority
entirely satisfied with a government that
has raised so high and so fast the Russian
standard of living. Too bad, but too true.
So what will this broadcast do? It
seems doubtful if many Russians did
listen to it and among those who did few
will believe it, any more than Americans
would believe a broadcast from Russia
denouncing this county. But if it has no
good effect, will it have a bad one? After
all, here is the chief Soviet opponent in
the, to date, “cold” war trying to bring
about—what actually is the Voice of
America trying to bring about? A march
of the Russian people to Moscow to tell
Khrushchev to stop? Well, hardly.
Does this whole thing recall another
time when radio broadcasts from the
United States were aimed at a people of
Europe and the terrible tragedy, with
deep humiliation to this country, that
Christmas Lights
The Race Is On
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AL RESCH LETS FLY AT SENATOR StJMNER
Criticism of Press Challenged
By E. A. (AL) RESCH
In The Chatham News
There may be specific seasons
for hunting quail, deer, geese,
ducks and other wild ga.me, but
there never is anything but open
season for banging away ai the
press.
Nobody in his right mind claims
perfection for the people who
write our newspapers. Being hu
man they are subject to the reg
ular run of frailties As in any
other business there are men and
women who. leave much to be
desired in the honesty of their
approach.
For the most part, however,
these people are honest and
what mistakes they make are
made usually under the pressure
of the clock.
followed? It should.
At the time of the Hungarian revolt,
broadcasts from this country were wide
ly blamed for arousing the Hungarians
to their desperate attempt. The anguished
pleas that came over the air as the Soviet
tanks closed in showed only too clearly
that hopes of aid had been raised by these
over-enthusiastic and careless broadcasts,
hopes which this nation had no idea of
fulfilling. The present situation is quite
different but if this new broadcast to a
foreign people’s only effect is to infuriate
the great majority of those who hear it,
including the leaders with whom we are
trying to deal, is it such a good idea?
By coincidence it was just five years
ago this week that U. S. radio people
made their ill-starred attempt to meddle
in international affairs. Let us hope that
this latest foray into this complex and
tricky field—made at a highly critical
time—will not produce another -unfort
unate result making things all the harder
for those who are wrestling to save the
peace of the world.
The Jaycees this week are conducting
a whirlwind campaign for business sec
tion Christmas lighting funds, taking over
with enthusiasm and determination a pro
ject that has been a sort of unwanted
step-child for several years in the realm
of local civic endeavor.
These young men who spend an amaz
ing amount of their time working for
town betterment have faith enough in
some 165 merchants and professional
people in the Southern Pines business
community to believe that each will give
at least $10 to make possible purchase of
“English lantern” decorations that seem
well suited to Southern . Pines and would
produce hete an attractive display of
Christmas lighting.
We urge full support of this project by
business and professional people and,
though not solicited directly by the Jay
cees, from other residents, many of whom
have expressed disappointment at inade
quacy of downtown lighting in recent
years.
I don’t mind criticism when it
is documented and specific. I am,
however, becoming considerably
irked over the scattershot tech
nique that some critics of the
press are .employing.
In a recent speech before the
Agricultural Council in Asheville,
State Senator Ben H. Sumner of
Rutherford County listed two
needs for the 1961 legislature in
which he served as a member.
One was the need for men who
could bs counted. The other was
for honest reporters.
No Detail
If Senator Sumner went into
detail during the course of his
speech I am not aware of it, He
should have.
As regards the members of the
General Assembly Mr. Sumner
should have stated what his fel
low legislators needed to ne
counted for. If he knows anything
the public doesn’t know he would
be doing the state a great service
by telling all.
His blast at newspaper report-
•ers should also be clearly delin
eated as to events, dates, times
when reporters were anything
other than honest.
I happen to know the prepon
derant majority of the men and
women who cowered the doings of
the legislature. I have a son who
toiled many long hours trying to
pi’esent an accurate picture of
what was going on in Raleigh. I
resent his being included in an
undetailed charge that reporters
ar.3 dishonest.
Unusually Able
The reporters who covered the
1961 session did what I think
was an unusually able job in cov
ering the legislature.
What has gotten under Mr.
Sumner’s skin I have yet to learn
and would be pleased to have the
gentleman from Rutherford
County outline the reason for the
charge he has made. I sp-ent a
good deal of time in Raleigh dur
ing the 1961 session. Many of the
legislators, some friends of mine
and others whom I scarcely knew,
were kind enough to tell me they
had never been in a session that
was so ably covered by the ladies
and gentlemen of the communi
cations media.
Mr. Sumner may have become
disturbed over the coverage of
his own action. He introduced
a bill or resolution which called
for the elimination of the federal
income tax and some other ultra
conservative suggestions which
had little' chance of passage.
If memory serves me correctly
a number of the reporters put the
John Birch Society tag on the
Sumner action. Being so labeled
may have been the reason for Mr.
Sumner’s ire. I wouldn’t know
and he hasn’t said.
Not Dishonest
It would be well, however, for
Mr. Sumner to re,alize that in
writing what they did the report
ers were not being dishonest.
They were reporting in print and
by the spoken word what most
of the legislators themselves
thought Mr. Sumner was doing.
And they were saying so in the
lotunda of the Capitol. I heard
many of the comments myself.
The one incident, however,
isn’t of sufficient importance to
warrant a scatter-gun charge qf
reportial dishonesty
If there were other evidences
of dishonesty and Mr. Sumner
knows what they are he would be
doing the people of North Caro
lina a fine public service by be
ing specific.
Mr. Sumner, a manufacturer, is
a part owner of The Rutherford
County News, or he was the last
time I talked with him. As such
I believe he is a member of the
North Carolina Press Association.
I would, therefore, be bold
enough to suggest that Mr. Sum
ner communicate with -Clifton
Blue, the Aberdeen newspaper
publisher and veteran Moore
County legislator now serving as
the association’s president. I am
sure.Mr. Blue could arrange for
a spot on the program at the
newspaper institute in Chapel
Hill, upcoming in January, I feel
sure he would be given a courte
ous hearing and an opportunity
to spell out his charges. Newspa
per people welcome honest criti
cism. After almost forty years of
association with them I am sure
they don’t claim perfection nor
do they develop hypersensitivity
to criticism.
U ndocumented
Resentment results only when
undocumented charges are made.
The corps of capital correspon
dents deser\.3 better treatment
than they received from Sen.
Sumner, What he said is serious
business and needs to hs spelled
out. Otherwise the charges don’t
hold water and should be labeled
as the outburst of a disgruntled
politician or one who seeks to
curry favor with the public by
shooting in all directions.
Tlie Public Speaking
'The While Knighi' With
A Madison Avenue Touch
To the Editor:
The other day a lady, a dear
friend to me and mine for forty
years, asked me what I thought
of Barry Goldwater. My lady is
lovely and charming and has a
good brain with which she can
think logically on almost any
subject except politics. Possibly
sh.3 expected me to praise the
man. At all events she seemed
disappointed, not to say slightly
shocked, at the phrasing of my
reply. All I said was, “In my
opinion Goldwater is a Styles
Bridges with Madison Avenue
trimmings.”
If this lady, a Philadelphia Re
publican, thinks that I was not
denigrating Goldwater by com
paring him to Bridges, then she
must think that I insult him by
implying that somehow he smells
of Madison Avenue. The lady
herself is of the opinion that
Madison Avenue is a place where
a great deal of time and effort is
often expended to give some
thing the appearance of that
. which it is not. More briefly put,
on Madison Avenue there are peo
ple who work hard at deception,
and by so doing earn big money.
Maybe in that peculiar Philadel
phia Republican way of thinking,
it is quite all right to bare one’s
conscience for money—occasion
ally, for quite a lot of money—
though it must be considered def
initely unsporting in others to
take note of the fact.
Grains of Sand
Miaow
GRAINS has just learned that
this is National Cat Week, to be
followed by Children’s Book
Week.
Well, youngsters and kitties
go well together.
To give The Cat his due, and
with a bow to our cat people,
both four-footed and two, we
print a few appropriate remarks
by the Great and near Great:
“Cats are a mysterious kind of
folk. There is more passing in
their minds than we are aware.
—Sir Walter Scott
“If man could be crossed with
the cat, it .would improve man,
but it would deteriorate the cat.”
—Mark Twain
“A cat can be trusted to purr
when she is pleased, which is
more than can be said about hu
man beings.”
—William R. Inge
“Now a cat will not take an
excursion merely because a man
wants a walking companion.
Walking is a human habit into
which dogs readily fall but it is
a distasteful form of exercise to
a cat unless he has a purpose in
view
—Carl Van Vechten
“Living with a cat is like being
married to a career woman who
can take domesticity or leave it
alone, sp you’d better be nice to
her.”
—Margaret Cooper Gray
“In a continent which screams
neurotically about cooperation
and the Golden Rule, cats are dis
dainful of everything but their
own immediate interests and
they contrive to be so suave and
delightful about it that they even
receive the apotheosis of a Na
tional Week.”
—R. Davies
Believe It Or Not!
That Miss America is an ex
ceptional young woman.
When asked by the prying re
porters for her opinion on the
Berlin Question, she replied: “I
don’t think a ninetesn-year-old
girl’s opinion could be of much
value.”
M for Miraculous Modesty,
Maid Maria!
Such words from a teenager
should go down in history—ac
companied by a good glossy print
of Asheville’s pretty Miss A.
Sam Ragan Says A Mouthful
From Sam Ragan’s column
“Southern Accent” in the Sunday
News and Observer w.e glean this
comment:
“The man who said: let some
one else write the laws but let
him write the songs of a nation
must not have been thinking of
what the songwriters are turning
out today.”
The Madison Avenue .touch
that others notice is that this
conscience-baring more than
slightly resembles a campaign—
organized not only to line up fol
lowers, but to collect in advance
from the faithful to help finance
future campaigns. Ambitious
politicians of cour&o are entitled
to organize campaigns of prop
aganda—and in this instance at
least contributors get a book for
their money. But the lady who
thinks like a Philadelphia Repub
lican must forgive those who so
promptly recognize the Madison
Avenue “angle,” namely, propa
ganda thinly disguised under the
specious title of conscience, spell
ed with a capital C. Only the most
credulous are so easily deceived.
Surely, therefore, it is not un
reasonable per se, though I think
that the lady must believe it to
be especially deplorable, when
skeptics raise a modest Bronx
cheer at the spectacle of the
Knight in Shining Armor, on his
banner the device of a white ele
phant borne erect upon the sur
face of i river of flowing gold, in
the background clouds shaped
vaguely like numerals.
To the Philadelphia Republi
can type of mind a political cam
paign is always a “Great Cru
sade” (remember the phrase?) by
the GOP against the forces of
evil. Could The White Knight be
thinking of leading some sort of
crusade in 1964?
DONALD G. HERRING
Southern Pines
Putting It Another Way
And Ben Swalin, another Tar
heel, has a word or two to say
about the same sad subject.
“America has gone backward
in the popular music field. The
jazz and swing we heard twenty
y.ears ago was musically pioneer
ing, interesting. It is very differ
ent from what we constantly
hear today.”
The Director of the North Car
olina Symphony suggests the
only -adjective that seems to fit
today’s rock and roll, bebop, and
so on, is the French expression
“abrutissant” which, he says, is
defined as describing anything
that brutalizes man.
Says Dr. Swalin: “As long as
untrained and sometirnes untal-
ented entertainers can amass for
themselves and the record com
panies millions of dollars almost
overnight, they will continue to
exploit the adolescent tendency
to choose the tinsel instead of the
gold.”
The PILOT
Published Every Thursday by
THE PILOT, Incorporated
Southern Pines, North Carolina
1941—JAMES BOYD—1944
Katharine Boyd Editor
C. Benedict Associate Editor
Dan S. Ray Gen. Mgr.
C. G. Council Advertising
Mary Scott Newton Business
Mary Evelyn de Nissoff Society
Composing Room
Dixie B. Ray, Michael Valen,
Thomas Mattocks and James E.
Pate.
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