-"I
PAGE 2, KINGS MOUNTAIN MIRROR. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 16, 1972
Washington Report
By Congressman James T. Broyhili
National Debt Limit
The House of Representa
tives last week performed
what has become the annual
ritual of temporarily increas
ing the national debt limit.
Under present law, the per
manent limitation on the nat
ional debt is $400 billion.
Present law also provides
for a temporary additional
Increase of $30 billion, pro
viding an overall limit of
$430 billion, effective through
June 30, 1972. The House
approved an additional tem
porary limit of $20 billion,
also effective through June
30, 1972, bringing the total
debt limit up to this date to
$450 bUlion.
During the debate on this
measure, several Members
expressed the viewpoint that
the failure to increase the
debt limit would provide a
means to limit Federal
spending. Although 1 am
greatly concerned about the
yearly increase in the nat
ional debt, 1 feel that this is
an unrealistic point of view
and could be equated with
locking the barn door after
the horse has escaped.
The most effective way to
limit Federal spending is to
hold the line of appropriat
ions bills and to curb new
programs which authorize
expenditures of large, new
sums. In this way, spending
can be limited on a selective
program-by-program basis.
The Administration has re
ceived the brunt of the blame
for this situation. But to a
large degree, the Congress
must share much of the bur
den of blame. The Congress
has followed the same anti
quated appropriations pro
cess for sixty years, and it
is no longer responsive to
the nation’s fiscal needs.
While the fiscal year extends
from July 1 through June 30,
the Congress follows the cal
ender year. Thus, when the
Congress convenes each Jan
uary, it has only six months
to prepare the appropriations
bill for the entire Federal
government. It is rare that
this July 1 deadline is met,
with the results that Federal
agencies do not know what
their budget will be until well
after the new fiscal year has
begun.
Another problem with the
present appropriations pro
cess is the piecemeal con
sideration which budget bills
receive. At no time during
the consideration of the four
teen annual appropriations
bills is there a balancing of
how much total money has
been committed. Each bill
is considered separately and
independently, with the re
sult that it is easy for addi
tional funds to be slipped in
with no attempt to look at the
total picture.
Alter carefully weighing the
consequences, 1 decided to
vote to temporarily increase
the national debt limit. I
would like to stress that my
vote should not be interpreted
as advocating increased Fed
eral spending. My voting re
cord will show that I have
consistently voted to reduce
Federal spending and cut the
waste from the Federal bud
get. I expect to continue this
policy as future appropria
tions and authorization bills
arise. However, I felt that to
fail to temporarily increase
the debt limit would be an
irresponsible way to attempt
to bring Federal spending
under control.
By keeping the national debt
limit below the figure re
quired to meet the cash needs
of the Federal Treasury,
spending could be limited only
in a chaotic and disruptive
way. If this were to occur,
the Treasury Department
would be unable to issue any
new securities. The Treasury
cash balance would be deplet
ed rapidly. Once the cash
balance is exhausted, the gov
ernment would be compelled
to delay full payment, or re
sort to partial payments, of
financial obligations which
have been made by law. This
would include contract obli
gations, government salaries
various loan and benefit pro
grams, and grants to states
and local governments when
they becomedue. Conceivably
this could result in reductions
in Social Security and vet
erans benefits payments and
could cause severe financial
hardship s for a large seg
ment of the population. Com
panies holding government
contracts would also suffer
financially.
Once again, the Congress
was called upon to intervene
in a labor dispute, as the
House passed a temporary
settlement to the West Coast
dock strike. Although long
shoremen and shippers had
reached a tentative agreement
the Congress, to prevent a
possible continuation of the
strike during the recess,
acted to approve the Presi
dent’s emergency legislation
to provide a settlement. I
have long advocated fegisla-
tlon to provide a permanent
method for settling crippling
transportation disputes.
Frontier
^i2>N0TI
By Gene Cox - Historian, Kings Mtn. Military Park
The Affair At
Halfway Swamp
When Francis Marion learned that Major Robert McLeroth
with his 64th Regiment was escorting some 200 recruits toward
Wlnnsboro, South Carolina, he assembled 700 mounted men and
moved to intercept this force. Some 20 miles North West of
Nelson’s Ferry on the Santee River, just above Halfway Swamp,
Marion made contact.
The British pickets were driven in, their rear guard attacked,
and McLeroth took up a defensive position. His path now blocked,
McLeroth sent a flag to protest the shooting of pickets and
daring Marlon to meet him in the open. The Swamp Fox, as
Marion was nicknamed, replied that so long as the British
burned houses and continued their raids he would pick off pickets.
As for the bir fight in the open, Marlon sent word that if “Major
McLeroth wishes to see mortal combat between teams of
twenty men picked by each side, I will gratify him.’’ This archaic
challenge was accepted, a field was selected, and the fasclmtlng
contest was organized. Marion named Major John Vanderhorst
team captain and carefully picked 20 men. The rebels decided
to hold their fire until they were within 50 yards of the enemy,
each one eyeing his target, moved forward. The deadly game
was not played out, however, on orders from their officers the
British team marched off the field, and it became apparent
McLeroth had been stalling for time. Around midnight, McLeroth
slipped away from his burning campfires and headed toward
Singletons, South Carolina. The rebels learning of this man
euver beat the British to this place and delivered one volley of
fire at the redcoats and then, to the amazement of the rebels,
they fled. The reason being in this bizarre episode was that
the Singleton family had the dreaded disease, smallpox.
FOl ND.ATION GIVES .ART
Wa.shington-The tv. Ave-
rell Harriman Foundation
has given 22 major work.s of
art to the Nationai Gailery
of Art in memory of Marie
N. Harriman, wife of the
tormer ambassador. No esti
mate of the paintings was
given, but it is believed to
be in the miiiions.
RESIGNS TITLE
Ft. Leonard Wood. Mo.-
The "U.S. .Army Wife of the
Year’’has resigned the title
in a protest resulting in the
manner in which career of
ficers are being discharged.
Mrs. Biilie Willett made this
decision foilowing her hus
band’s discharge.
UN .AIRM.AIL HIKE
Seymour Wenner. Postal
Rate Commissioner, has
proposed a 2-cent increase
in airmaii rates, higher par
cel post rates and a reduc
tion in special fourth class
material.
HEAVY RIDER!
■■
NEWS REPORT
FROM WASHINGTON
Congress Slalls-
Niion's Request-
The Cost-
Politicians Silent-
Washingtun, D. C. —The
White House was bitterly
disappointed by recent
stalling on Capitol Hill, as
West Coast dock workers
continued to tie up shipping
with their strike.
Last year the President
personally intervened in an
effort to obtain a settlement
and at one point thought he
had produced a compromise
accord. But that brightpros-
pect collapsed and in Janu
ary—with the strike still
crippling the national econ-
omy-he appealed to the
Democratic-controlled Con
gress to pass a law ending
the strike.
Striking dockers know
most politicians in Congress
are hesitant to vote for any
bill which might cost them
organized labor’s vote. Con
gress, as expected, stalled.
The President made an ur
gent appeal in early Febru
ary, but Congress still
moved leisurely. It was the
old story. Organized labor
exerts greater power over
many Congressmen than any
other political or pressure
group.
President Nixon two years
ago proposed strikes in rail,
airline, shipping, longshore
and trucking industries be
limited. He would have im
partial mediators settle dis
putes in these industries
because such strikes incon
venience or harm the public,
the general welfare or na
tional security.
Congress failed to act,
even as the dock strike on
the West Coast continued
to cost the nation hundreds
of millions in lost exports-
at a time when the nation
was experiencing a minus
in its export-import trade for
the first time in eighty
years. The comment of
House Labor subcommittee
Chairman Frank Thompson
(D-NJ) was typical of the
attitude of most members of
Congress. Thompson, in
reply to the President's ur
gent appeal, said he felt all
his colleagues hoped a set
tlement would be reached
before they were forced to
act.
Mr. Nixon feels Congress
should have acted two years
ago, in the case of the dock
strike at least a year ago.
This basic difference is one
of the key issues in the
1972 presidential campaign.
The President’s position is
that strikes by a small num
ber of workers should not
be allowed to cause undue
suffering to the vast major
ity, threaten the general
welfare and flout the nation
al interest.
Democrats, who have long
enjoyed the support of or
ganized labor, won’t go
along. Among all Democrat
ic presidential candidates,
none spoke out forcefully
against the West Coast
strikes in recent weeks.
EMPLOYMENT UP
The Labor Department has
reported that the nation’s
job situation improved some
what in January. The total
unemployment figure remain
ed high at 5.9 although it
was down slightly from the
December figure.
ON SCHOOL MERGERS
Attorney General John N.
Mitchell has registered his
opposition to the merger of
suburban school districts
with inner city school sys
tems just to achieve racial
integration.
ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS
President Nixon has ask
ed Congress to broaden the
jurisdiction of the Civil
Rights Commission to deal
with discrimination against
women. He said this Admin
istration will continue its
strong efforts to open equal
opportunities for women.
ON SPENDING
When President Nixon an
nounced a $246.3-billion
fiscal 1973 budget, unveil
ing two massive deficits
totaling $64.3 billion, no
new tax proposals, he re
quested that Congress limit
spending to ‘■'stop raids on
the Treasury.”
reflections
by Rodney Dodson
lf!nL
He’s Strictly A Skipper Bowles Man...
€)
When Josh Hinnant got up to
introduce Skipper Bowles at
the Royal Villa Friday night,
he reUyed Mayor John Henry
Moss’s regrets that he could
not be present.
“The Mayor Is attending a
class on how to secure Fed
eral luDds." said Josh, and
after a bried pause aMed,
"I don’t know It he’s la king
the course or teaching it!...
but the Mayor sends word
that he’s strictly a Skipper
Bowles man.” A voice from
the audience of about 100
local men piped “I don’t be
lieve Itl” - that brought the
bouse down.
***
No doubt Skipper Bowles
made some friends here Fri
day night. He’s a very warm
personable man. He talks to
you, not at you, and projects
an air of sincerity that is bel
ievable. He left the floor open
to questions, and didn’t at-
tem^ to dod^ any.
GOLDEN GLEAMS
Every man at his best state
is altogether vani^.
-Psalms 5:150.
Virtue would not travel so
far if vanity did not keep
her company.
-La Rochefoucauld.
He’s an enthusiastic cam
paigner, easy talker, and
quick thinker, the type of
'’andldate who benefits from
personal contact aixl TV ex
posure.
«**
Bowles, Pat Taylor, and
Hugh Morton are all able and
NEWS VIEWS
Melvin Laird, Secretary of
Defense:
“We’re moving in the di
rection of an all-volunteer
force.”
Frank Church, Senator (D-
' Idaho):
“We could abolish pov
erty among the elderly for
what it costs to run the war
in Southeast Asia for three
months.”
Ernest F. Hollings, Senator
(D-SC):
“I regard Mr. Wallace as
a‘Bona Fide’ candidate for
the Presidency.”
Earl L. Butz, Secretary of
Agriculture:
“If we’re to save America
we’ll have to save those
people whose feet are im
planted in the soil.”
formidable candidates, and
with the May primary close
at hand, the nerd three months
should be InteresUng Indeed,
and what about the Republican
primary? Very interesting
indeed!
Erma Angevine, Director,
Consumer Federation of
America:
“This year the unfinish-
edfausinessofCongress will
be a prime issue.”
Georges.McGovern, Senator
(D-SD);
“Hunger must be elimi
nated, most especially
amongour children, because
it’s wrong in and of itself.”
Nguyen Van Thieu, South
Vietnamese President, of
fering to resign:
“This will give the people
of South Vietnam complete
freedom to determine their
own future.”
Barry Goldwater, Senator
(R-Ariz):
“The defense procure
ment needs a head-rolling
overhaul to halt waste in
money, manpower and time.”
o
mm
n
The Death That Gives Life
international Sunday School Lesson for Feb
ruary 20, 1972. LESSON TEXT: Luke 23.
Jesus’ death was the fulfillment of His re
demptive mission on earth. Today we will
concentrate out attentloa on the meaning of
His death and consider its effect upon man-
klntl at this time, in order to formulate our
own individual and adequate response to His
love.
Although Christ was possessed of powers
beyond any mere human understanding, and
could, at any time, have saved Himself from
the a^y of the cross — as He was urged to
do, many Umes, by His tormentors — He
embraced death of His own tree will, bolding
His Messianic mission for mankind dearer than
His physical well-being. This was the greatest
exhiblUon of unselflsb love the world may ever
hope to see. It Is therefore not to be wond
ered at that the Impact of this supreme act
of salvaUon by grace brought startling changes
in attitudes of those who were witnesses to
the spectacle!
Crucified between two thieves, one repented
and begged Chirst to Intercede with the Father
on his behalf. And Christ, in His last agonies
extended forgiveness in His Father’s name,
not only to the dying thief, bat implored for
giveness for those who were crucifying Him.
To the end. His love for mankind was His
upmost concern!
The dying and repentant thief, however, was
not the only one affected by His out-reaching
love. The Roman centurlan and Joseph of
Arlmathaea was moved greatly. Indeed,
Joseph — a member of the powerful Sanhedrin
gave courageous public testimony of his new
found faith when be begged for the body of
Jesus in order that be might tend it in the
lasblon of that day, when death had come to
someone of Importance. Thus Christ, to the
end, brought an experience of spiritual per
ception and awareness to all who were willing
to receive Him.
The thlnUng Christian of today will fully
acknowledge that the spiritual consequences of
the sinning which is inherent in mankind would
be unbearable if it were notforChrlst’slovlng
intervention on our bebalfl For He died, not
only for mankind in His own day and time,
but for us in ours — and (or the generations
yet unborn that will follow usi That is His
most glorious truth!
Through the advent and death of the Savior
of the world we are assured that God has
neither forgotten us or abandoned us In our
sin. Christ is our intermediary!
The tenet of Christ’s mission lay in His
own simple statement: “I came not to call
the righteous, but SINNERS to repentance...
(Luke 23 - V. 32).
However, sin that is not acknowledged cannot
be forgiven. To achieve a state of grace we
must face our failings and acknowledge them
openly and honestly, and ever strive to turn
from weakness and temptation to sin and sin
again. Our attitude must be one of reverence
and gratitude, of absolute confidence In — and
commitment to — the Son of God 11 we would
walk with the Father.
That we should have such a golden opportunity
was the motivation of Christ’s wlHlng sacri
fice... the death that gave us life!
(These comments are based on outlines of
the International SundaySchool Lessons, copy
righted by the International Council of Relig
ious Education, and used by permission.)
Q
Republican Senate Hopelbls Will Have Rough Primary
Not long ago it was the De
mocrats who shed all the
blood in North Carolina prl-
maried, but that day appar
ently is gone forever
Tar Heel Republicans have
a death struggle going on for
the gubernatorial nomination
and are on the verge of a Texas
Tag Team Match (or the
U.S. Senate nomination.
We reported here on Jan. 3
that Concord’s Jimmy John
son would wind up in the bat
tle (or the U.S. Senate and
on Monday of this week, he
took the trip to Raleigh to
announce those intentions.
Johnson Is th second Re
publican to lay claims on the
Seate nomination. William
Booe, a Charlotte attorney,
changed his registration from
Democrat to Republican and
tossed his bonnet into the
ring, dutifully citing the 11th
Commandment; "Thou shall
not bus my chUd to school.”
The fireworks are not over,
as tar as candidates are con
cerned. Jesse Helms of Ral
eigh is a conservative, well
known Raleigh television ex
ecutive. He reads editorials
on radio and TV and writes
a newspaper column. Helms
has that quality that causes
people to swear by him or
at him. If the tides don’t
rise and the earth doesn’t
shake, Jesse Helms will an
nounce as a Republican for
the U.S. Senate on Feb. 18.
Simple arithmetic tells us
that it will be three men run
ning (or one nomination. But
it’s more than that. It’s three
men who are as controver
sial as a topless dancer at
the church bazaar.
Booe is a redhead who dear
ly loves a good fight. A mem
ber oftheCharlotte-Meeklen-
burg School Board, Booe has
on occassions so angered fel
low members of the board to
the extreme they could hard
ly swallow. He will not run a
shy campaign.
Johnson is a political mav
erick, the Wizard of Concord.
He openly courts the Demo
crats, often to the dismay of
his own party who sometimes
are led to think that an autopsy
would reveal a heart shaped
like a donkey.
Johnson says: “1 don’thave
as much money as I would
like to have heading into this
campaign, but I think more
will come. But if guts and
the willingness to fight mean
anything, I’ll do oay.”
The 36-year old Johnson
almost got dizzy stepping to
the brink of this race only to
back off. He had planned to
run, then steppen aside for
the hoped-for entry of Con
gressman Jim Broyhlll into
the race. With Broyhlll out
of the way, Johnson again
stepped forward to offer his
services, only to hear rumb
lings that Jim Gardner wanted
to be a candidate for the Sen
ate. As Gardner said no,
Johnson was about ready to go
again when word came down;
“We think Vinegar Bend
(Congressman Wllmer Mlz-
ell) is going to agree to run
for the Senate.”
Says Johnson: “I stepped
aside lor Broyhlll, Gardner
and Mizell. Now I’m ready to
draw the line and say, ‘Olay,
this is it. I’m running and
if you want a fight, you can
get one.”
Like Booe, Johnson will not
run a campaign based on tim
idity. He usually lets people
know when something bugs
him.
“This is the year for the
Republicans to win the Senate
seat in .North Carolina,”
Johnson says, and you can tell
he isn’t talking about any old
Republican.
If it can be said that Booe
and Johnson don’t back away
from a knuckle sandwich the
same can certainly be said
of Jesse Helms. As an off-
the-alr campaigner, he won’t
even hame to offer equal time.
That’s just the Senat race.
You already understand that
Jim Gardner and Jim Hol-
shouser will go or the knock-
ot in the gubernatorial cam
paign.
Bacn in the good old days,
the Republicans used to lave
all the hedlines in the pri
mary to the Democrats. And
they seldom lost any of their
own blood.
GOP Chairnun FrankRouse
says of the primaries: “It
shows our party has come of
age in North Carolina.”
That ain’t the half of it, Mr.
Rouse.
Political
Notes
Gubernatorial candidate
Hugh Morton, who just com
pleted a series of 30-minute
televised press conferences,
is having a poll taken on the
Governor’s race. Morton
hopes to have the results back
In a couple of weeks.
«««
Our Man For All Seasons
Award; To Mecklenburg Sen.
Jack Baugh, who thus tar has
indicated a desire to run (or
Congress, the U.S. Senate,
the Mecklenburg County Com
mission and now Congress
again.
The Jefferson-Jackson Day
dinner scheduled (or March
4 is an Important event (or
Tar Heel Democrats. They
need the money. Party Chair
man Church says: "We’re
not in great (ii^clal shape
but we’re decent,”
***
A Democratic Party king
pin in North Carolina paid
off his company’s workers
last week, with this message
stamped on the pay envelopes
“Warning, President Nixons
may be hazardous to your
wealth.”
Charlie Knox, who heads
Pat Taylor’s campaign In
Mecklenburg, Is the brother
of Mecklenburg StateSen. Ed
die Knox... I don’t know if
the IRS Investigation Into
campaign donations will mean
anything, but try telling that
to politicians trying to raise
money this year.. Skipper
Sowles must have a dozen
blue suits. Notice him dur-
the campaign. It’s a blue
iiult every day.
North Carolina Democratic
Party Chairman John T.
C iurch Is happy the Repub-
lioans are having a primary
to r Governor.
“We knew we would have a
tough primary,” Church said,
“ and now the Republicans
have one of their own. That
sort of equalizes things.”
I asked Church what effect
President Nixon’s popularity,
or lack of It, in North Caro
lina would have on state races.
Church acted like I was talk
ing Greek.
'Tm the chairman of the
Democratic Party,” be re
minded me. “Nixon’s their
(Republicans’) problem.”
Church says he hasn't seen
“any nasty, slurring attitude
among Tar Heel Democrats.
“People want to help me,”
be said. “I haven't seen any
bitterness In our party. I
wouldn’t say we’re in great
shape financially, but we’re
in decent shape.”
Church sees his role as one
of “keeping peace in the party
keeping things as harmonious
as possible. We have to be
united. I’m staying strictly
neutral in the primaries. As
a party we must be more dis
ciplines than ever before. We
must be more professional
than ever before.’’
What effect will the presi
dential primary have on Tar
Heel politics?
"It’s a brand new thing,”
Church said. “I don’t think
anyone knows what it’s going
to do."
Keep Moving
All things come to him
who waits—but “him” bet
ter he working while he’s
waiting.
-Sentinel, Onawa, la.
Best Of Press
Generous
Many a man’s charity is
to give unto others the ad
vice he can’t use himself.
-Spotlight, San Diego.
So They Say
It takes hard work to make
easy living.
-Enterprise, Hubbard, Ore.
They Do?
Babies are angels whose
wings gn)w .shorter as their
legs grow longer.
-Bee, Midway Island.s.
Well Defined
Some folks are like blis
ters—they don’t .show up
until the work is done.
-Tribune, Chicago.
o
Box 345 Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086
Published Each Wednesday at
222 S. Railroad Ave. in
Kings Mountain by
Mirror Publishing Co.
Rodney Dodson: Editor and Co- Publisher
Lem R. Lynch: Co-Publisher and Business Mgr,
Sheryl Clark: Layout and Justowrlter
Sylvia Holmes; Women’s News, Features
»•»
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
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Total Press Run: 4,000 Copies
Phone; 739-3851
o