Page Four
THE NEW BERN MIRROR, NEW BERN, N. C.
Friday, May 1, 1959
THE NEW BERN MIRROR
Published Every Friday at 111 King Street,
New Bern, N. C., by the Soie Owner
j. GASKiLL McDaniel
-Editor and Publisher
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Year $2.50 Six Months $1.25
Entered as secend-class mail at New Bern April 4, 1958,
under the act of March 3, 1879.
GUESSING GAME
Anyone who professes to know in advance the outcome
of Tuesday’s election is kidding himself while trying to kid
others.
None of us can speak with certainty on such matters, and
God pity America if a day arrives when our elections can be
foretold ahead of time.
Enough voters will always keep their preferences to them
selves to inject at least a small question mark into the picture.
That, of course, is the way it should be.
How you cast your ballot is nobody’s business but your
own. In fact, if ever a white lie is justified it would seem to
be in order when a candidate backs a citizen into a corner, and
puts him on the spot about hife vote.
For the sake of the record, the editor of The Mirror is
willing to admit that under like circumstances he most certain
ly would pitch a curve to a candidate who invaded his rights
this way. When a vote seeker gets lied to, simply because he
placed a voted in this embarrassing position, the candidate in
volved gets what he deserves.
Of course, if a voter voluntarily pledges his vote and
support to a candidate of his choice, that’s a different matter.
Freedom of the ballot makes no attempt to force you into secre
cy. It only guarantees you secrecy if you deem it advisable.
A secret election is the only election under high heaven’s
blue that can serve the interests of a free land. The moment
a citizen’s vote is a subject of public scrutiny, that moment
he or she is deprived of a real right to vote according to the
dictates of heart and conscience.
As the editor of The Mirror sees it, even your husband
or your wife has no right to know how you vote. Nothing in
your marriage vows says that you forfeit your full rights of
citizenship, so if it’s necessary to keep peace in the family, lie
about your vote to him or her too.
Far be it from us to suggest that candidates and issues
shouldn’t be discussed within the family circle. We’re only sug
gesting that each of us, having discussed them peacefully or
otherwise, is entitled and obligated to cast our ballots as indi
viduals.
Everyone has that privilege and that obligation. As an
editor, we have no axe to grind in furthering the interests of
any candidate. We have written no editorials telling you how
to vote, although we are urging you to vote in this and every
other election.
However, an editor has his rights too as an individual. Like
the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker, he can vote
as he pleases. If the Good Lord sees fit to keep us among the
living until Tuesday’s election, we plan to do just that.
In urging you to vote, may we remind you that it is a
great personal tragedy when any qualified voter fails to show
up at the polls on election day. .Al of us are aware of this,
yet in all likelihood a large segment of New Bern’s citizens will
pass up the opportunity to have a voice in the government of
their community.
This situation should be a matter of concern to all of
us. Don’t let the sun go down and find you among the non-
voters. One vote may not determine the results, but whether
it will or it won’t doesn’t relieve you of the responsibility
that is resting on your shoulders.
Cognizant of the fact that everyone should vote who is
entitled to vote, the New Bern Civitan club will have automo
biles available for any citizen who needs a ride to the polls.
These courtesy cars are as close as your telephone. Simply
by dialing MElrose 7-6333, from noon on, you can avail your
self of this service. The cars will be clearly marked as courtesy
vehicles. Civitans in providing them are not concerned with
how you vote, but only with the fact that you do vote.
YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT
FOR THIRD WARD ALDERMAN
WILL BE APPRECIATED.
PETE CHAGARtS
Election, Tuesday, May 5th
The Mirror Advertising Pays!
Letter to The Editor
New Bern is designated as a sanc
tuary for birds. Actually it is a
sanctuary for alley-cats, belonging
to no one, that continuously prey
on birds.
While gardening all day Saturday
we counted eleven alley-cats on
the prowl for birds. At least one
mocking bird, two robins, and a
red-headed woodpecker fell prey
to the predatory cats.
These were the ones we saw kill
ed, or wounded beyond aid. Un
doubtedly, a much larger number
were killed during that period in
this single city block, since these
cats, descendants of hundreds of
generations of other alley-cats,
must kill to live.
They have necessarily developed
an uncanny skill in keeping out of
sight of birds, much less humans.
The city of New Bern has done
extremely well in eliminating the
hungry, homeless dogs that once
prowled the streets, yards, and gar
dens in search of food. Unfortu
nately, this yeoman-like job has up
set nature’s balance, and alley-cats
live, thrive, beget and beget in this
designated bird sanctuary.
Please let us make it clear that
as a lover of animals we have noth
ing against pet cats, but someone
must make an effort to protect the
birds in New Bern from this huge
population of wild, stray cats.
Therefore, we recommend that
the City of New Bern and its socie
ties interested in the protection
and humane treatment of animals,
the garden clubs and like organiza
tions, join in a united drive to rid
the city of these alley-cats as hu
manely and quickly as possible.
Please remember that this is, the
time of year when young birds
are choice and easy prey for these
cunning, hungry cats.
Without technical knowledge on
the methods of handling the alley-
cat problem, it seems to us that it
might be handled on a block by
block, or section by section, basis.
Whereby it would be announced
that on a specific day that area
would be worked for the control
of alley-cats. Sufficiently publi
cized, this would practically elimi
nate the possiblity of pet cats be
ing involved.
We suggest prompt action, and
ask for the reader’s comments re
garding the alley-cat-bird sanctuary
problem.
Incidentally, we have planted a
Villoge Verses
TOKEN
It seems quite right that after all these years
Of separation I should call you friend;
And that within this cynic vale of tears
Our hearts should quicken when we meet again.
You’ve changed, and yet, in fancy I can see
The little girl who lived across the way;
That’s why the little boy I used to be
Comes back to write these lines to you today.
—JGMcD.
6 Rooms, 3 Bed Rooms,
Living Room, Dining Room,
Kitchen and Garage.
Large Lot.
One-Half Mile West of
New Bern
Roy O. Fagan
308 Broad Street
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50-foot row of giant sun flowers
for the benefit of the birds. Any
bird lover has missed a great deal
if he hasn’t seen a cardinal hanging
upside down on the head of a ma
ture sun flower, eating his fill of
the large nutritious seed. Why not
plant a few of these sun flowers for
your own as well as the birds’ en
joyment?
—Ben Hurst
205 Broad Street
Uneasy lies the head that tries
to make a living without working
for it.
READ THE MIRROR WEEKLY
For Expert Plumbing
at Reasonal Prices,
Call
James L. Cayton
ME 7-9389
N. C. Liconu 1697
Time Now for
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