The Kings Mountain Herald
Estoblished 1889
A weekly newspaper devoted to the promotion of the general welfare and published
for the enlightenment, entertainment and t>eneflt of the citizens oi Kings Mountain
and its vicinity, published every ^Thursday by the Herald Publishing House.
Entered as second class matter at the postotfl^e at Kings Mountain, N. C., under Act
of Congress of March 3, 1873
EDITORIAL. DEPARTMENT
Martin Harman ? Editor- Publisher
Charles T. Carpenter, Jr Sports, Circulation, News
Miss Elizabeth Stewart ^ Society
ikECHAMICAX. DEPARTMENT
Eugene Matthews Horace Walker David Weathers Ivsn Weaver*
Charles Miller Paul Jackson
(?Member of Armed Forces)
TELEPHONE NUMBERS? 167 or 283
SUBSCRIPTION RATES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE
ONE YEAR ? $2.50 SIX MONTHS ? $1.40 THREE MONTHS? 73c
BY MAIL ANYWHERE
TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE
O Lord, correct me, but, uHth judgment; not in thine anger, leat thou bring me to nothing. Jeremiah
Hospital Expansion
In supporting the case of Kings Moun
tain hospital for more hospital beds, the
Kings Mountain medical corps and hos
pital officials supplied some interesting
Information.
Few had realized, the Herald suspects,
that hospital "business" increased by 18
percent in 1953 over the preceding year.
It means that more and more people are
using local hospital facilities.
In addition, insufficient beds are pro
vided for Negro patients. Also insuffi
cient are the available private rooms,
just two in the whole of the hospital, and
very sick people need private rooms for
quicker recuperation. The situation at
Shelby hospital is similar.
The proposed formula of 20 beds for
kings Mountain against 50 for Shelby
Hospital seems a fair proportion in view
of the population division and other
yardsticks. Undoubtedly the necessary
petitioners will be found to meet the
county commissioners' provision for
calling the election. All hope that the
North Carolina Medical Care Commis
sion will be equally improseod with thp
evidence of need.
Hospitalization and concurrent, care
for the ill is a close subject to anyone's
heart and it is easy to guess the people
of the county would approve the $165,
000 bond issue proposed by the medical
men and the hospital trustees.
"Ordering Oil" Lower
Kings Mountain continues a steady
growth, if the report of postal receipts
for 1953 is any criterion and, generally,
postal receipts are considered a baro
meter of a city's commercial and indus
trial activity.
One interesting figure was that given
by Frank Cox, the money order clerk,
who reported purchases last year totaled
$454,928.33.
That total wasn't as bad as most had
suspected, and Mr. Cox further offers
the encouraging news that much of his
gross represents payment of monthly
power hills to the RFA coops serving
rural customers. Most had thought that
Sears, Speigel, "Monkey Ward", and the
others had a much better mail order
take from Kings Mountain.
Citizens owe it to their community ?
as basic good neighborliness ? to shop
their home stores first, and it is encour
aging to learn that the mail order
business is not as grandiose as it might
be. It can be assumed, in a measure, that
the increasing supply of quality mer
chandise offered by home merchants is
partially responsible for the demise in
"ordering off after", a silly habit where
by a person pays for something before
he gets to see it, or feel it, and has to
wait several days for it to boot.
Best wishes'are in order to J. Pat Tig
nor, veteran volunteer member of the
city fire department, who was recom
mended by his confreres for the position
of chief, succeeding the late Chief Grady
W. King, and who, subsequently, was ttp
pointed by the board of commissioners.
Fire - fighting is a dangerous, difficult
task, and the responsibility of the chief
is great.
List your taxes, pay 1953 tax bills to
county and city, buy auto licenses from
city and state. January, indeed, is a busy
month financially, when the stress of
Christmas buying also makes itself felt.
But don't forget the March of Dimes.
Saturday's Election
For the fourth time since 1946, Kings
Mountain citizens will vote Saturday to
determine whether its city government
takes on long-term debt in order to pro
vide some very needed facilities and, in
turn, to supply some badly needed ser
vices. The past three times the answer
has been "no".
Specifically, on Saturday, the Citizens
will decide whether to borrow $250,000
for water system improvements, $200,
000 for sewer system improvements, and
$150,000 for recreational plant construc
tion. In addition the citizens are asked
to vote authorization of a new tax of
five cents per $100 valuation for operat
ing a recreation program.
Few will deny the obvious need for
the expenditure of the sums mentioned.
In fact, most will acknowledge that the
amounts are quite puny in comparison
with the real need. Water suddenly be
came to appear to have golden values
last autumn during the shortage, and
the city lake has still not refilled to nor
mal. It may not by the time summer ar
rives.'-: "? : ?Y ?
? SpwagP has hppn a continuing and
worsening problem with each passing
day, month and year. The city wants
$200,000 for rebuilding the McGill sep
tic tank and for laying sewer lines in
areas now overpopulated with septic
tanks.
The recreation plant bond issue is ad
mittedly pulled out of the air as a por
tion of the amount of money needed to
provide a highly desirable recreation
center. Just how the $150,000 will be
spent has not been made clear, and there
is some area of disagreement on recrea
tion center plans between some mem
bers of the city adminis tration and some
members of the recently renovated city
parks and recreation commission.
Question 4, op the five-cent tax for
recreation purposes, is easily under
standable. Any administration could de
cide to levy three cents, one cent, or
nothing, though authoritative power
customarily means that the tax is as
sessed. The full five cents would make
about $4,750 per year available for put
ting on a city-wide recreation program,
based on the 1053 city property valua
tion, in addition to whatever parking
meter receipts the city board makes
available.
The Herald, as it did in 1946, 1049, and
1952, urges approval of the sanitary
sewage bonds. The Herald also urges ap
proval of the water bond issues. Water
service and sewage disposal service are
basic to the welfare of a community and
Kings Mountain is sadly behind on pro
viding its citizens these needed services.
Public recreation is desirable; some
say it is badly needed.
However, in view of the fact that the
$600,000" represents between 35c to 40c
worth of tax rate annually, the Herald
regards the recreation issue as least im
portant to the long-term welfare of the
community, though even a 40-cent in
crease in tax rate for a few years would
not likely bankrupt anyone or any firm.
All citizens should go to the polls Sat
urday and exercise their right, preroga
tive, and duty of voting. The question
concerns spending citizens' money, and
none should be content to let someone
else attend to his order business.
Our congratulations to John H. Lewis,
who has been elected president of the
Kings Mountain Merchants association
for the coming year. Mr. Lewis has been
activei ir. the affairs of the association
and has rendered it good service. He will
make a good president.
10
TEARS AGO Item* of mwi about Kings Mountain area people and events
THIS WEEK taken from the 1943 files of the Kings Mountain Herald.
Miss Jewell Bannister, of Rock
Hill, S. C., has assumed the duties
of Kings Mountain high school
band director, succeeding Paul E.
Hendricks, who resigned after
eight years of service, to volun
teer for military service. .
Charles E. Erwin, Superintend
dent of Schools of Ruthferfordton
county and Past Governor of the
Carollnas District Kiwanls. in
stalled Postmaster W. E. Blakely
as Lieutenant Governor of Di
vision I at the regular meeting of
the local Kiwanls club Thursday
evening.
Members of the Woman's club
met at the home of Mrs. A, H.
Patterson last Thursday night.
Mrs. Paul L. Wilson, who recent
ly came to Kings Mountain from.
British Guiana, was guest speak
er.
Miss Marie Wright has return
ed to Baltimore, Md., after spend
ing several days here with her
mother, Mrs. Vance Wright.
Members of the Junior Wo
man's club met Tuesday night at
the home of Mrs. Hubert David
son with Mrs. Lynwood Parton
as co-hostess.
Misses Louise Wright and Bet
ty Ware returned to Western
Carolina Teacher's college Mon
day after spending the holidays
at home. *
MXRTIN'S
MEDICINE
>7 Martin Harmon
Ingredient*: bits of netoa,
uAadom, humor, and comment.
Directional Take weekly, if
poeeible, but avoid
overdosage.
A lot of folk missed a good
barbecue supper last Friday
night when they didn't come
OU?. to?the Young Democrats
rally. Result was that some
others almost atte too much, Hal
ward and I among them At
any rate, all the 75 to 100 as
sorted persons present, some
admittedly a little over-ripe for
yoUng" designation, othter pro
digals returned from a trip
with the Elsencrats last au
tumn. and Just plain Democrats
got plenty to eat of the delici
ous pork Rfed Bridges turned
out
m-m
The meeting was interesting,
If not dramatic, and attracted
a good portion of county office
holders, though the city admin
istration was light in atten
dance. Harold Phillips was the
only "city father" on hand, and
Hugh A. Logan. Jr., the only
nired man present.
m-m
Somte of the older dyed- In
the-wool boys were a little dis
appointed that no rip-snorting
speeches were put forth, and a
wire of one YoUng Democrat
expressed amazement to this
department . on thfe following
day that her husband had re
turned home both early and
completely ^ sober. I. too, con
sldered the early break-up
somewhat unusual, I confessed,
but told her therte was no sur
prise at all at the sobriety of
the party.
m-m
Generally, the speech- making
was confined to historical cita
tions to Dembcratic old-timers
of the past who organized the
Young Democrats, first Grover
Cleveland, then, later-on, O.
Max Gardner, and there were
several definitive statements
that the main purpose of the
organization is to elect Demo
crats a sure ticket, it was
said, to guaranteeing the com
monwealth safe, sane, and pro
gressive government, and pros
- parity far one and all
. m-m
Several good yarns were
spun in the pre- meeting and
post ? meeting chit-chats, but
Rep. B. T. Falls, Jr., camte clos
est to making an old-fashioned
political talk when he suggest
ed that, If the economic drop .
since the Influx of the GOP Into
Washington continues at its
present rate, the next FREE
barbecue the YDC gives will
find the crowd hanging on the
chandeliers and out the win
dows of the Masonic Dining
Hall. If it's free, you'll attract
em all, Buzz noted.
m-m
And referring further to the
defection of some normally reg
ular Democrats last fall, Rep.
Falls said he knew other Demo
crats. like himself, were ready
to forgive and forget and to
welcome into the ranks any
and all "either by letter or pro
fession of faith".
m-m
Any snide remarks directed
at the turncoats of '52, if any,
were made on the quiet, not
from the rostrum.
m-m '
Among the better tall tales
spun and tellable in print was
one by Jim Willis on the far
mer trying to sell a ce.lf at the
sale barn, Thfe farmer got no
offers to buy at all and finally
yeUed, "If anyoneil admit he
voted for Eisenhower, I'll give
him the calf." According to
Jim's tale, there were no tak
ers, everyone being ashamed to
talk.
m-m
At the end of the meeting,
Chairman Jack White Invited
all present to Join up at one
dollar per head, and almost all
did, Treasurer George Thomas
son doing a good Job of getting
the, money. Jack explained he
had consulted with State Chair
man Ktinegay and that any
Democrat, regardless of age,
can be a welcome member of
the Young Democrats. The 40
age limit applies only to hold
ing of YDC offices it was ex
plained, not to taking folk's
money.
Young Democrat meetings,
both local and state wide, usu
ally take on a partisan flavor
rvhen big races are In the of
fing, even though the "official"
view is always one of neutrali- '
ty. But last Friday's meeting
seemed to be an exception, no
particular note being taken of
the Just around- the- corner fra
cas between Senator Alton Len
non and Former Governor W.
Kerr Scott
But thte local YDC has sche
duled regular meetings for each
fifth Tuesday. That places the
next one in late March, leading
to an easy guess that th* Joc
keying will be on by then and
that the attendance will be
quite heavy. Indeed, plenty of
Republicans who can't help but
diddle In the Democratic pri
mary, undoubtedly will be
trashing the gate. .
By A. C, Cordon]
CROSSWORD
16? Ontk letter
1 9 ? KIWiter (abb.)
*?? Prcft* dcootint ba
11? Military aariataat
36? Ceramics
IT ? Reviee
>? ? Arrayed with wea
3ft ? Cotttinant (abb.)
31? The elder (abb.) I BUlwa U aad !? 4
Sm Th? Went Ad 8?ctioo roi TMi VmVi Computed 1
Viewpoints of Other Editors
1954: A KEY YEAR IN
ANTI-SECRECY FIGHT
The issue of secrecy in govern
ment produced one of the major
news stories of 1953 in North
Carolina and it promises to make
more Important headlines in 1954
and also in 1955.
In 1954 the state's voters will
choose members of the next Gen
eral Assembly, and that Assemb
ly in 1955 will be asked to undo
what the 1953 Afis^mbly did to bar
the public from legislative com
mittee meetings.
-Public opinion will play an Im
portant role in thp mntinnlnp
fight against secrecy. And 1954
is the year in which public opinion
can exercise the influence that is
needed to turn the tide toward
victory in this fight. As candi
dates present themselves for leg
islative seats, they should be ask
ed and will be asked how thtey
stand on the i?sue of secrecy in
government And their replies
should be remembered at the
polls.
It appears now that the 1955
Legislature will have to decide a
good deal more than the question
of whether sub-committees on ap
propriations should keep their
meetings open to the public. The
issue of open-door meetings at thte
level of local as well as state gov
ernment is sure to be raised when
the next Assembly meets. F"or the
discovery has Just been made that
a 1951 re-writing of a statute re
moved from North Carolina law
a positive mandate calling for
open meetings of county commis
sioners. Those responsible for the
revision of the Statute say their
purpose was not to remove the
open-meeting provision and that
its omission from the re-written
law was an oversight. But It's
possible that there will be oppo
sition to restoration of the pro
vision when the 1955 Legislature
considers correction of the over
sight
The next General Assembly not
only should correct the 1951 over
sight and repeal the 1953 secrecy
law. It should clear up all confu
sion concerning secrecy in ' gov
ernment and in unequivocal lan
guage should declare the open
door policy applicable to all in^et
lngs of public boards and com
mittees, local and state.
When public bodies hold closed
meetings, the peopfe can't know
what their elected officials think
and do about the people's busi
ness. And' when the people are
kept In the dark they aren't in
formed sufficiently to cast intelll
gent ballots at the polls when
public officials offer themselves
for re-election. The result can
only bo that the grieat concept of
representative government be
comes meaningless.
One way the people can help
to strengthen representative de
mocracy is to support at the polls
those legislative candidates who
stand unwaveringly for open
meetings of public bodies and the
right of the people to know how
public representatives conduct
public business. ? Smithfield
Harold.
BETTER WATCH OUT
Encouraging progress hat been
made In the light against polio,
a disease that has been given the
right-of-way for fund raising in
January. President Roosevelt was
a victim of polio, and since Jan
uary 31 is his birthday, this mon
th is the time for the March of
Dime*.
Predictions havte been made in
recent months to the effect that
a vaccine against polio is nearly
ready ? the result of long years
of research at tremendous cost.
? This Is a heart-breaking di
sease, for in thfe majority of cases
where paralysis follows, children
and young people are the victims.
This makes the cause to: In ap
appeal for POLIO
FUNDS HERE SHOULD
BE GENEROUS
We don't Know too much about
fhe "whammy" used by highway
patrolmen and city police against
speeding in some of the larger
towns, but we do know the radar
outfits, while effective, are ex
pensive. However, the contrac
tu ns now in use both locally and
elsewhere by the highway police
men seems to be the answer to
the question of speeding insofar
as it is possible for the patrol
men to cover their territory.
This new mechanism will ac
cgiatfeiy ciactt tue uf a
passing car, and so far as we
know, anyone getting arrested for
speeding after having bfeen told
oh" by the new device, hasnt a
leg to stand on.
Under the old system of catch
ing speeders, it was hard for a
highway patrolman to Judge too
closely the actual speed a motor
ist was making, and in many
cases, no doubt speeding motor
ists were allowed to go unmol
ested because of this margin of
doubt. Or vice versa, there may,
have been some motorists arrest
ed and convicted for speeding
who perhaps weren't speeding at
all, but were right on the top lev
el of the speed limit.
But nowadays, old man elec
tronics has turned his hand at
nabbing the law-breakers as well
as doing other wonderful things.
And our advice to those, who like
to trorr.p down a little heavy on
the gas pedal would be to stay
within the law. For the new con
traption, while discernable, is
a bit hard to see if one is travel
ing real fast and It will accurate
ly clock the speed the car Is mak
ing. V ?
This new aid to the highway
patrol, plus the law that provides
for the temporary removal of a
motorist's driving license if he is
nabbed doing ovter a certain fig
ure, are two wise steps in the
crusade against death on the
highways. But seems like as long
&s some people are allowed to
get under a steterlng wheel, where
they seem .to lose all sense of
caution or reason, the highway
patrol, the ambulance drivers, the
hospitals and the funeral homes,
are still going to be in considter
able demand.
One of the finest New Year
resolutions any motorist could
make for 1954 would be to use
moderation and common sense in
driving. ? The Elkin tribune^
pealing to those who want to
have a part not only in the re
search effort* but also in thte care
of thise who are stricken.
Stanly county has benefitted
greatly from the National Fund
in years past, and although we.
have been free from the disease
in lucent years, we, have no as
surance that we will be so fortu
nate In years to come.
The appeal should have ft
prompt and generou response. ?
Stanly News and Press.
Pat you best looks foiwaxd!
You'll always appear to your best advantage when your
clothes aze skillfully dry-cleaned by oar thorough (bat gen
tle) methods. Colors retain that like-new sparkle and depth
... all of the original richness of tlw texture Is preserved.
The result looks so much like brand-new clothes that only
your budget can tell the difference! Salute Fall with a com.
pletely renqyred and refreshed wardrobe. Look like a million
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Phone 910 ? 310 N. Piedmont At*.
YOU WMt to fc)|l
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I WINE k
delicious ? H's energizing,
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keep
away
B?7 it bjr UM
D^INK
Groat with food
CMCfRWfrfJE IS IN TIINE WITH YOUR TASTC
New '54 DODGE with Elegant
Matched by more massive length
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dependable
Mevi/54
. >
MARLOWE'S, Inc. ? 507 E. King St
It's Not Too Late I
II issi club v
lp .. C.? FuU D.t?il.
K; ^-fco-nAnyOllft*,
Me&MOOiSi
? tw \ ' i c ^ V;,.. '% IF*