North Carolina Newspapers

Page TWO THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1963 THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN INCIDENT ILOf North Carolina Southern Pines “In taking over The Pilot no changes are contemplated. We will try to keej ^ paper. We will try to make a little money for all concerned. Wherever ther an occasion to use our influence for the public good we will try to do it. treat everybody alike.” — James Boyd, May 23, 1941. College Trustees: A Grave Responsibi*ty Among friends of education, jubilation at the recent overwhelming vote of ap proval given to a $1 million bond issue for a two-year community college in Moore County is being replaced by the sober realization that grave responsibili- ' ties face the county in the next steps to be taken in connection with the college. Outstanding among these responsibili ties is the appointment of a board of trustees for the institution. The board will be in charge of developments from now on, including the centrally import ant choice of the college president, as well as employment of an architect for the buildings and other decisions vitally essential to the future success of venture. Moore County residents will sponsible for appointment of of the 12 trustee board member'^ law are named in ths manner' four hy Governor Sanford, four by the b^rd of county commissioners anU f?ur by the boards of education irtvolved which, m Moore County, are the county board of education and the hoarck in the two separate administp’^fi''^o districts. South ern Pines and Piriehurst. It was somev*^bat surprising to learn last week, only a day /^^^^° +1,.,+ ■ •'uviduals were al- bond election, that in ,, trustee nosts ready actively seekn- ^ ^ or were campaignii-behalf of others, approaching vari'-^^^^y in the countv.fs well as members of the boards " appointing. was also a suggestion going the rour*^® that the trustees should be named g^ccordance with geographical consid- g^gfions, so that various areas of the (.pjnty would be represented on the Doard. We can’t think of two worse ways to approach the problem of naming the trustees than to go at it politically or geographically. There should be only one consideration when the county commissioners and the three boards of education sit down to choose thdir eight trustees: to put on that board persons who really know and real ly care about education. Partisan politics or, indeed, politics of any kind, should have nothing to do with the choices. Certainly, the trusteeships must not be parceled out by political leaders as a re ward for past services. An assured and knowledgeable devo tion to education should be the only test. Dr. Silver And The Free Mind It is a matter of great interest and, for many Sandhills residents, considerable pride, that Dr. James Wesley Silver—the University of Mississippi professor who last week denounced the totalitarian so ciety that exists in Mississippi—is a for mer resident of Southern Pines, a grad uate of the high school here and a grad uate of the University of North Carolina. Dr. Silver’s scathing analysis of the ways in which the “closed society in Mississippi “imposes on all its people ac ceptance of an obedience to an official orthodoxy almost identical with the pro slavery philosophy” drew an ovation from members of the Southern Historical As sociation before whom he was speaking at Asheville. And rightly. Here is a man who, be lieving in academic freedom, has for many years of teaching in Mississippi spoken the hard truth as he saw it with such courage that he has earned at least a measure of respect from those whom he has denounced—at least enough so that, up to now, he has not been fired from his job, though he and his family have, according to the New York Times, “suffered slander, harassment and threats.” While Dr. Silver’s speech made amply clear the debased status of the Negro in Mississippi and the pressures of the power structure that keep it debased, he tellingly pointed out that the white man has also been hurt: “In spite of the closed society, the Negro has made some gains since his emancipation a century ago. In the same period the white man, determined to de fend his way of life at all costs, has com promised his old virtues, his integrity, his once unassailable character. He has so corrupted the language itself that he says one thing while meaning another. He no longer has freedom of choice in the realm of ideas because they must first be har monized with the orthodoxy. In spite of what he claims, the white Mississippian is not even conservative; he is merely negative ...” We hope that the complete speech, most of which appeared in the New York Times last Friday, will be reprinted and widely circulated, because its message is not only for Mississippi but for the closed mind anywhere—an aspect of human folly that is not lacking elsewhere in the nation, and not only in the South. We like to think, too, that we are justi fied in tracing the roots of Dr. Silver’s clarity, compassion and courage at least in part ta his Tar Heel educational herit age — to the. University where freedom to think and to speak has long been honor ed; and to that golden age of Southern Pines High Schoc^i in the 1920’s where the late Professor Allen somehow managed to communicate to elass after class of students an almost hbiy^ regard for the human intellect and its p^ejiija.lities. May There Be No More Mistakes Last week a Pilot editorial called at tention to the misleading lack of full coverage in an AP release on tfie halting of the U. S. convoy as it startel^ to cross East Germany to Berlin. The onlission of pertinent details resulted in a picture over-dramatic and basically inacdprate. In an article carried elsewhere op this page the noted Christian Science Moni tor’s Joseph C. Harsch presents further information on this incident, information which, again, has not to our knowledge been carried in dispatches to the U. S. Hail To The Carousel! The Pilot welcomes the many visiting golfers here for the 10th annual Southern Pines Golf Carousel, sponsored by the local Junior Chamber of Commerce, opening today and running through Sun day. At this 10th milestone of the Carousel, the Jaycees deserve a special bow for their sponsorship which not only brings scores of visitors to Southern Pines but makes financially possible such civic pro jects as the Jaycees’ continuing program of adding new playground equipment at the town park. That golfers love the Carousel is at tested by the fact that many come- back year after year ,taking advantage of the “package” plan that lets them play several rounds on two of the outstanding courses in the Sandhills and take part in two scheduled social events, while also allowing them to stay and eat where they choose and circulate around to enjoy other attractions. May the sun shine this weekend, may all drives be straight, all approach shots hit the green and all putts roll right to the cup! In short, hail to the Golf Carousel! But whether the fault is that of the wire services or that of those who receive their releases, and proceed to edit them according to their ideas, is a pertinent question. With both, the temp tation to be inflammatory and therefore sell more papers is ever-present. As the story was printed, only the highly alarm ing details were given; the only quotes were more like threats than comments on the happening. The information presented in the Harsch article is reassuring. To know that this nation was not alone in its protest but was immediately backed up by its allies makes a welcome change in the first picture. The details Harsch gives also widen the reader’s knowledge of just what the system is under which convoys operate. Now further details have been added to the picture. Printed on November 11, “Armistice Day,” was a column by Drew Pear;:on entitled “Soldiers Weeping.” In it Pearson discloses that “at the news of the coi yoy’s holdup on the Berlin auto bahn, ilje White House was on the orange button. Thi&,” adds Pearson, “is the alert just short of war.” The writer lists some of the mistakes that brought on previous wars and some which have already brought the world in the last few years to a state of utmost tension. He points out that one mistaken move on either side in the recent convoy incident might have plunged the world into war and concludes: “Regardless of whose mistake it was, there are thousands of men under white makers who must wonder whether they will be joined by other men under more white markers, all because of an argu ment over the lowering of a tailgate or the counting of 42 men on the Berlin highway.” 3 Nations Coordinate In Crisis By JOSEPH C. HARSCH With permission of The Christian Science Monitor London The important thing about the latest episode on the road to Ber lin was the speed and complete ness of coordination in the West ern answer to Soviet action. The achievement was more re markable than appeared on the surface. For example, the French main tain a small garrison in Berlin and normally supply it by rail. One of the reasons they don’t use motor vehicle convoys on the Hdlmstedt-Berlin autobahn is precisely to avoid getting entang led in rows over dismounting and opening tail gates. The French had no standby convoy ready to send through on short notice. They had to impro vise one—which is not easy for a military organization which used the railways rather than motor vehicles. Further, the move had to be approved at the highest level in Paris. Improvised But the French did improvise a convoy and had it on the road from West Berlin headed for Marienborn exactly 31% hours after the American convoy had been stopped. Getting the British convoy or ganized was physically easier but politically more difficult. Physi cally, the British were organizing a convoy scheduled fo go through two days later. The vehicles, the men, and the cargo were all there with a fixed assignment. Physi cally, all that was necessary was to advance the timetable. Politically, the British maneu ver involved getting clearance from a Prime Minister campaign ing about farm prices in the high land glens of Scotland and also taking a firmer position than in any similar recent incident. The British convoy rolled out through the West Berlin check point a half hour behind the French convoy. During the afternoon hours of Tuesday, while the British garri son was getting the convoy load ed and ready in Berlin, the Brit ish Government in London was doing what it so noticeably and dangerously failed to do during the Cuban crisis of a year ago. It “got the message over” from Downing Street to Fleet Street. Solid and Agfreed “Getting the message over” consisted of first achieving a solid and agreed position within the Cabinet and then conveying that position along with convinc ing reasons for it to the news paper offices in Fleet Street. This involved making the gov ernment position so clear and compelling that the press would accept it. It did not, of course, in dicate Britain’s press is controll ed in any sense. The contrast between the re sults this time and over Cuba are striking. In the Cuban crisis only one of the great British na tional daily newspapers support ed the American stand consistent ly and solidly from the opening day—the Daily Express. The Daily Mail and Mirror gave sup port on the second day. Others questioned the validity of the American position until Moscow confirmed it. The domijiant mood in Fleet Street during the Cuban crisis week was neutralism. This time the Communist Daily Worker was the only London newspaper which supported the Soviet position. All the -great na tional dailiesi either spoke out firmly for British solidarity with the United States or reported the official view that the Western position on the autobahn had to be defended. The solid effectiveness of the Downing Street “educational campaign” of the afternoon hours of Tuesday of this week is suf ficient evidence that it can be done when the government is willing and able to speak with one voice. During the Cuban crisis the Soviets were not wasting their time cultivating people in Lon don like Stephen Ward and his friends in high places. Staggering real opportunities existed then for driving a wedge between Britain and the United States. Except for the Express, Mail, and Mirror, Fleet Street did go neutralist. Steadiness But the Soviet wedge did not quite break through during the Cuban crisis. A major reason was the steadiness of then Lord Home and his professionals at the Foreign Office. The man who did the Horatius at the Bridge act during the Cu ban crisis was Prime Minister when this week the Soviets stop ped the American convoy. We do not know why the Soviets blocked that convoy but they learned out of it that West ern co-ordination is suddenly and remarkably improved. In fact, this was the most perfectly exe cuted exercise in Western co-ordi nation to date. The Publ ic Speaking Let's Be Sure We Spend School Bond Money Wisely To the Editor: Our bond issue has passed and I am proud to be a citizen of Moore County where people think enough of their future cit izens to vote the expenditure of their money for education. But let us spend it wisely. I personally feel our local school plans to spend at least $300,000 without adequate con sultation. Their plans are already announced and many feel as I, that the expenditure of large sums, where any controversy ex ists, should be done only after thorough public discussion and adequate, expert consultation. This our school board has not accomplished. Educational ex perts have not publicly compared for us, the taxpayers, the relative merits of maintaining a separate high school or consolidating with cur neighbors. Are we to arrive at a point a few years hence when Aberdeen, Pinehurst and West End have a fine consolidated high school, with a good comprehensive curri culum while we still have a high . school without enough students to piTwide an optimum curriculum andNleachers who can teach in their g^ecialty? If we c&tL b^ve something bet ter, I would\l^e to find out more about it spending any large sum of mQney. I feel our school bolprd should present both sides of tnSl^consoli- dation controversy publicly^ How can the public or the school TOSffd know what is best for our chil dren without expert comparison? •C. A. S. PHILLIPS, M.D. Southern|Pines Overseas Visitors Bring $400 Million To U.S.A. To the Editor: Your editorial of October 10 was a wonderful breath of fresh air. Thank you for your look at the United States Travel Service pro gram and your conclusions. Through all the political haze of Washington the fact that shines bright and clear is that 49.9% more visitors to the United States have come from overseas points in 1963 than came here in the same period of 1961, before we began our operation. Overseas visitors will bring more than $400 million to the United States in 1963, and we be lieve that is what counts in con sidering our “VISIT USA” efforts abroad. VOIT GILMORE Director, U. S. Travel Service Washington, D. C. 'Right and Responsibility Of the People to Know' To the Editor: The traditional open forum on our college campuses has been greatly inhibited by the recent passage of the North Carolina “speaker ban” law. The students of this campus and, we are cer- taiii, of the State appreciate your editorial stand on this unneces sary law. We notice that you make it your policy to print all letters on the subject, even though you dis agree with some. We are remind ed of the Statement of Principle adopted unanimously by the North Carolina Press Association in January of 1955, which reads in part as follows: The right of the people to know cannot be denied or diminished without endan gering democracy itself. It is the obligation of the press to provide accurate, timely and complete information about all developments which af fect the people’s political, economic or social well being. Given the facts, the people usually will reach wise decisions.” 'This statement embodies not only the principles of responsible journalism, but those high ideals and democratic principles which are our nation’s heritage as well. There is a basic similarity be tween the goals of the responsible press and those of the state’s ed ucational institutions. Both rec ognize the right and the respon sibility of the people to know. Both strive to fulfill this recog nition by presenting an open fo rum. Selective education and enforc ed ignorance are contrary to the very founding principles of this nation. Again, we wish to thank you for your efforts to maintain the freedom of expression and in quiry so vital to our educational communities. MICHAEL H. LAWLER President of the Student Body RICHARD W. ELLIS Presidential Assistant University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Dreaded Moment Is Here: South Vietnam Going Red To the Editor: You wanted a boo for Madame Nhu— Well, you got it and much more, too. She’s under dmess from the lib eral .press; Her husband’s dead and laid to rest. The CIA has had its day; Her brother-in-law n’er more will pray To God Almighty to bless his land. To save it from enemies on every hand. So South Vietnam is going Red; The moment has come that we’ve lived in dread. She tried to warn us but we couldn’t hear; Her just criticisms we seemed to fear So, Madame Nhu, a fond adieu. And, PILOT dear, I still love you. PAT VAN CAMP Southern Pines EVIDENCE OF SANFORD INFLUENCE? Governor Russell Keeping Peace The following editorial ^pearing recently in the ChStfleston (W. Va.) Gazette was by Robert Bruce Lewis/\ ® former 'Southern Pines resident who is an editor of \fhat newspaper. A graduate Hl939) oif Southern Pines HighV School and of the University \ North Caro lina's JourmSi^^ School, Mr. Lewis was wit* *1*® Cleveland (Ohio) Plain OTaler for five years before 1 9oin3 to Charleston. He fhe son of Mrs. Bruce H. jfce^s, 310 N. Bennett St., aiHHjt’I^t® Mr. Lewis, an alto^^^^^® prac ticed here. What the Go\l Carolina said ,tq| South Carolir b&sn: “It’s timl ation.” North Carolinl humility between^ of conceit—Virgir Carolina,” long thought of itself most progressive and schools it con^ Its university has utation for liberaliti Therefore it was that the Tar Heel Supreme Court’: gation decision^ grace of any^ eracy and. North |rnor of have loder- desegregation to the schools of of its major cities. But South Carolina, the tinder box of the Civil War and long addicted to iniemperence in poli tics, might have been expected to erupt with all the violence of an Alabama or a Mississippi. That the first court-ordered integra tion of schools in South Carolina could have Come about with such peace and, as pictures show, even smiles, is notable. Gov. Tem;^' Sanford of North Carolina is inaking a name for himself as one of those rarest of birds, a liberal Southern poli tician. It would be nice to think he is having'; an effect on his brother Dixi^ governors. At any ratte, we shudder to , think of wha| could have happen ed in South Carolina had its gov ernor been a Wallace or a Bar nett. . It.’s, ./a^rtainly a negative m^TOd of estimating a poUti- iran’s worth, but the fact that lings have been as peaceful as gy have in South Carolina must ind to the credit of Gov. Id S. Russell. tVING CREATURES ^ght not to treat living glike shoes or household which when worn throw away. —PLUTARCH ODYSSEY OF THE SPANISH PIGS Did you know that besides be ing the descendants of English, Scotch, Irish, French and German stock, certain North Csirolinians have Spanish blood in their veins? It’s a fact—to wit: the pigs. The lean, tough, razor-back ed pine-rooters of the deep swamps, where a few terrifying old buccaneers are stiU said to exist, are the descendants of the pigs that General Hernando De- Soto brought over with him from Spain when he came to explore this continent. He brought 13 fine porcine con- quistadores destined as food for his soldiers; destined also to set a goal of heroic exploration never to be again achieved in the history of Porkdom. The Odyssey of the Spanish pigs is of epic proportions. The gloomy swine of Ulysses played a niggardly role compared to the amazing performance of DeSoto’s porkers. Until we came across a fascin ating book, “The Eyes of Dis covery” by John Bakeless, full of excerpts from the actual journals of the great explorers, we did not realize that DeSoto and his troop of Spanish cavalry — armor, swords, lances and all—^had come through this state, let alone brought pigs with them. It was in 1591 that they set foot on the shores of Florida and started the trek that led them on the 1,000-mile loop up through Georgia and South Carolina, through the edge of this state and on to the Mississippi and Texas. They came into North Carolina along its western border: “We passed through a high range with rough and lofty ridges and came finally to the Indian town of Xualla,” in Swain County, the author thinks. It took them two weeks to make that swing: rough country, indeed, no trails, and, of course, always the pigs. Anyone who has ever tried to lead, guide, force, or bribe a pig to go anywhere he doesn’t want to go will understand the heroic pro portions of this enterprise, pro portions that multiplied fast. There were thirteen pigs to start with; by the time they reached North Carolina there were 300. Substitute swineherds were be ing sent into the line at every mile. Besides the pigs, the party in cluded lines of Indian prisoners in chains and an enormous gay company of Indian damsels. These ladies were among the gifts made the explorers by the In dians to speed them on their way. They also loaded them with food: corn, berries, rabbits, (dead, luckily), wild turkeys—700 from one desperate Cherokee chief tain. Another tribe gave them 300 “dogs,” probably possums—any thing to get rid of them and the havoc caused by their grunting, rooting pigs, wallowing in the drinking water, barging into tee pees, fighting with everyone in sight. Eventually the Spaniards reached the Mississippi where De- Soto took sick and died. And no wonder. The band turned back with their numbers gravely re duced but th.3 pigs had increased to more than 8,000, according to the official count. Probably by that time they were seeing pigs doubled and tripled, behind every bush. Anyway, when the Span iards started home they left the pigs behind, to populate our Oke- fenokee swamps and generally raise hell till the long hunters and their sharp-shooting descen dants pretty well cleaned them out. Two questions remain to haunt our dreams: 1, clearly the sows were having families in reckless succession: how did the little pigs keep up? And (2), how, oh HOW did the herders keep the pigs go ing, let alone keep them going in the right direction? 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 Bessie C. Smith Advertising Mary Scott Newton Business Mary Evelyn de Nissoff Society Composing Room Dixie B. Ray, Michael Valen, Thomas Mattocks, J. E. Pate, Sr., Charles Weatherspoon, Clyde Phipps. Subscription Rates Moore County One Year $4.00 Outside Moore County One Year $5.00 Second-class Postage paid at Southern Pines, N. C. Member National Editorial Assn, and N. C. Press Assn.