WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper
ESTABLISHED IN 1888 ' V T >
IN TOP RANKS OF CAROLINA NON-DAILIES
In 3 years the Democrat has won 14 State Press Assn. Awards, 8 of them
Firsts. This year blue ribbon awards were in General
Excellence, Advertising and Typography
Published for 4S Years by Robert C. Rivers. Sr.
PUBLISHED THURSDAYS BY RIVERS PRINTING COMPANY. INC., OWNER
B. C. RIVERS. JR., Editor and Manager JEAN RIVERS, Associate Editor
RACHEL A. RIVERS. Managing Editor.
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Entered at the postoffice at Boone, N. C., as second class matter, under the act of Conaress of
March 3. 1879. *
MEMBER NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION
NORTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1968
Labor Day Dangers
While Labor Day will actually be
free of toil for most workers, it won’t
be free of driving hazards which the
N. C. State Motor Club warns could kill
as many as 26 persons and injure 700
others in more than 1,100 traffic acci
dents on North Carolina’s streets and
highways during the long weekend.
The state will count its highway fa
talities for summer’s last long holiday
from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, to mid
night Monday, Sept. 2, a period of 78
hours. Last year’s Labor Day toll claim
ed 30 killed and 693 injured in 1,123
accidents.
Leading driver violations reported
were: speeding, 261; drove left of cen
ter, 159; failed to yield right of way,
134; reckless driving, 90; and following
too closely, 87.
Thomas B. Watkins, motor club
president, cautioned that heavier high
way travel and congestion created by
motorists clogging the roads for their
last fling of summer greatly increase
the potential for fatal accidents and
injuries.
“We certainly are not trying to scare
anyone out of that last trip to the
mountains or the seashore,” he said,
“but we are trying to point out the in
creased dangers of highway travel over
the weekend in the hope that it will
lead to more careful driving and a re
duced holiday toll.”
Come Back In October
This week marks the end of August
and heralds the Labor Day period
when many families will have their
last big weekend in the hill country
and the traffic will be extremely heavy
in this gala farewell to summertime.
A great many summer residents had
already left the area as the school bells
rang out and the Democrat is again
joining with a number of leading busi
ness firms in insisting that summer. -
visitors return in October when the
magic of autumn has gilded the for
ests, brought nippy nights and delight
ful hazy days. It is then that the Boone,
Blowing Rock and Linville scenic tri
angle has special inducements to those
who linger in the fairyland of gold and
crimson and purple and green.
More and more this is a year-round
resort area. With an increasing number
of attractions, better accommodations
than ever before, the fail days will be
gayer and happier.
With the finest and most expansive
ski lodges in the southeast, wintertime
will follow to beckon hordes of out
doors people from over the nation, for
there’s fun and wild beauty in the ice
and the snows which succeed autumn’s
colorama.
Last week end the travel was ex
tremely heavy in this area. The Park
, way and other avenues were lined with
family groups having their picnics and
escaping for a time from the torrid,
weather which has gripped the country
for a good many days and enjoying the
panoramic view from the high country.
Come back in October and every
chance between now and then and re
member, it’s fun in the hiiu right on
through the fall and winter.If you can’t
ski, wintertime still has its compensa
tions. The land is fantastically beauti
ful in October, it’s no less enchanting
when everything is ridged with snow.
Umstead Aided The Mentally 111
John W. Umstead, who died on
Wednesday at Chapel Hill, did more
than any other man to develop North
Carolina’s hospitals for the mentally
ilL
A brother of the late Governor
William B. Umstead, he was a member
of a legislative appropriations sub
committee assigned by Governor Cher
ry in 1945 to investigate conditions at
Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh.
Umstead was so disturbed by what he
saw that he made it a point to visit
every other mental hospital in the
state. The outcome of the subcommit
tee’s report was legislation revamping
the State Hospitals Board of Control.
Later Umstead became its chairman.
From that time on he fought the
legislative battles for the mental hos
pitals. Joe Hunt, former House Speaker
who is now chairman of the State High
way Commission, said, “The thing that
has impressed me most about John
Umstead is his willingness to slave for
the mentally ill who have no lobby or
alumni association to front for them.”
Umstead also worked hard for prison
reform and for the cause of higher edu
cation. He served a total of 14 terms
in the General Assembly—two in the
Senate and 12 in the House.
He and his wife, who lived in Chapel
Hill, let numerous students who need
ed financial assistance stay in their
home while attending the University.
Every year after he graduated in 1909
he helped some student attend one of
the Consolidated University’s branches.
In the passing of John W. Umstead
North Carolina loses a unique and able
public servant. His achievements will
long continue to benefit the people of
the state.—Asheville Citizen.
Inklin’s In Ink
BY RACHEL UTtU
In their turn, the Democrats seem to be get
ting the ume going over that the television
networks afforded (word used advisedly) the
Republicans.
The artworks, at least the two who are
point at It full-time, are duty-bound to make
the necessary hours of routine conversion
happenings literally blister with interesting
observations. And It’s alrlgM if you can't
watch every slow second of It . . . They’ll
•be repeating it from time to time.
And, of course, to keep someone spell
bound day and nigit they just about have to
harp on possible eortllcts. Warnings of deep
divisions In a party tend to add a bit of mystery,
but then without those deep divisions, which
ptt groups of party faithful against each
other, there would be no need for conventions,
{And that way, says the amateur observer, the
puty In question might not always come up with
the hast possible candid ate.
In Miami, television reporters seemed to
become so bored that they began to nag some
of the people who consented to be interviewed.
Remember Governor Romney? He tried to evade
what really was an Interrogation, bid the re
porter became Impertinent and Romney bad
to answer, even partially, In order to escape
his pursuer. Other GOP leaders got the same
harsh treatment from time to time.
Perhape taking a tip from the goings-on
in Miami, the Democrats fixed it so there
would not be nearly so many eoafl let-inaigiy re
porters on the convention floor. This drew
a comment from one anchor man that the
Chicago convention was a "police state" af
toir. And of course there’s bean a bit too
much said about the armament thrown up to
ward off the threat of convention disruption
by as many as 100,000 antagonists, according
toons report.
So, when it comes to who looks worse on the
tube news, if a Just about a toss-up.
Departing Leaves Him Dizzy
S*jQsn>iy ///coatisns'
FROM THE EARLY FILES OF THE DEMOCRAT
W. W. Kitchin To Address
Voters Of Watauga County
Sixty Years Ago
August 27, 1908
Hon. W. W. Kitchin, candidate
for Governor, will address the
people of Watauga in Boone on
Friday, Sept. 4, 1908, which will
be absolutely the only opport
unity they will have to hear
this great orator. Let as many
of our citizens as possible come
out to hear him. The ladies are
also invited and expected to
attend. .*mju ^ .ivmj
* John p«1 Jonesj cf .Zit>nville,
who, by the way, is one of our
most scientific and prosperous
small farmers, is of the opinion
now more than ever, that there
is good money in the soil for
us if we will only get it out.
He has the heaviest corn we
have seen this year, and he
tells us that he has been of
fered $50 for a single acre of
the product as it now stands.
Friend James Hardin, of
Sutherland, has sold his farm to
T. H. Sutherland, and purchased
another expensive farm at
Limestone, Tennessee, where
he, with his family, will make
his future home.
Attorneys Ballou ana uoun
cill, of Jefferson, were in town
a few hours last week.
Rev. J. M. Payne has been
called to the pastorate of Zion
ville Baptist Church.
Miss Lettie, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. J. F. Spainhour, of
Morganton, is visiting her aunt,
Mrs. E. S. Coffey, in Boone.
Dr. Houck and family of
Statesville, left yesterday for
their home after a visit to
friends in the village.
The Three Fork Association
now in session at the Forest
Grove church, has been much
interfered with by the heavy
rains.
Thirty-Nine Yeart Agt
August 29, 1929
Rev. W. L. Trivett, who, as
sisted by Rev. J. L. Isbell at
Lenoir, is conducting s series
at meetings at Lewis Fork Ad
vent Church, spent Tuesday
night with his family in Boone,
He was accompanied by one ol
his members, Mr. Adopphus
Taylor of Harley, who was ai
Interesting caller at the Demo
crat office this (Wednesday
morning.
The Democrat man had thi
pleasure last Simday of callin'
on Ms old friend, Mr. J. M
Isaacs, of Mabel, <r\x> has beei
in very poor health at late ant
it was good to bear Mm say
that he Is Improving. He is nos
able to walk about the hous<
but has not ventured out yet
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph PMUipi
Of CMeago, ffi.; Mrs. H. B
Mason, of Stlllbold, N. J., ant
Mrs. Charles Menzles of Hek.
ory have been Wetting for sev
eral days with home folks and
friends in Valle Crucis and
Boone. The ladies are the daugh
ters of the late T. H. Taylor
of Valle Crucis.
Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Barn
hardt and Mrs. Barnhardt’s sis
ter, Mrs. C. E. Vaughn, of
Lynchburg, Va„ who is her
guest, spent the weekend at
Black Bear Inn with Mrs. Ada
Penn Coffey, who is spending
some time there. Mrs. Vaughn
remained there :f6r a1'Visit;—
Lehoir News^-TopiC'. *
Fifteen Years Ago
August 27, 1953
Mr. Joe Gaither who has been
attending Duke University sum
mer school is visiting his moth
er, Mrs. J. M. Gaither. His
guest is Miss Nancy Hammond
of Laurinburg.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Broome,
their daughter, Betty, and Mrs.
Hilton, Mr. Broome’s mother,
are spending a few days with
Mrs. Broome’s parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Blanton, in Gastonia.
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cline
visited in Jefferson Sunday.
Miss Linda Kay Cline, who
has been spending the week with
Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Little,
returned home.
Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Hudson
of Hagerstown, Maryland have
been visiting Mrs. Hudson’s
sister, Mrs. W. R. Richard
son and Dr. Richardson.
Mcs..Hal HaversofMMktmat
Glen and John of Glendal*t{&M^
ifornia and Mrs.MarthaBdUhfe
and Richard spent the weekend
in West Jefferson with Mr. and
Mrs. Tom Winkler.
Miss Mildred Pennell, student
nurse at Grace Hospital, Mor
ganton, left last week for Ashe
ville, where she will be affili
ated with Highlands Hospital
for three months.
Mrs. Thelma Dent of Balti
more, Maryland spent the week
end with her mother, Mrs. Mae
Miller. Mike Dent, who has
been spending the summer here,
returned home with his mother.
Just One Thing
BY CARL GOERCH
AFTER ANOTHER
There is one subject on which
men can argue whenever they
feel like arguing; it is a sub
ject inexhaustible, I think—
whether the world is getting bet
ter or not. I used to hear it
discussed when I was a small
boy, when I was a young man,
when I reached middle age,
and the other day.
There were three men in the
group at this last session. One
of them insisted that the world
is no better now than it was
hundreds of years ago.
The second agreed with him,
“I was reading just the other
day,*’ he said, “that an investi
gator states that ninety-seven
per cent of the men in the world
handle the truth carelessly. Just
think of that—ninety-seven men
out of a hundred! ”
“Well,” the third man said.
“That’s encouraging. David
wrote away back yonder that
all men are liars. We've gained
three per cent since the Psal
mist’s time, anyhow.’*
Someone sends me this,
UNIVERSAL WANT AD
WANTED—A man for hard
work and rapid promotion, who
can find things to be done with
out the help of a manager and
three assistants. A man who
gets to work on time in the
i morning and does not imperil
the lives at others in an at
tempt to be first out of the of
fice at closing time. A man
i who is neat in appearance and
does not sulk at an hour's over
time in emergencies, A man
who listens carefully when he is
spoken to, and asks only enough
questions to insure accurate
carrying out of Instructions. A
man who moves quickly and
makes as little noise as possible
about it. A man who looks you
straight in the eye and tells
the truth every time.
A man who does not pity
himself for having to dig in
and hustle. A man who is cheer
ful, courteous to everyone, and
determined to make good.
If interested, apply any hour,
any day, any place, to any
employer.
Profanity is often used as
a medium for relieving one’s
feelings but there are some
people who can use a style of
language which isn’t profanity
at all but which sounds even
more effective.
Kenneth Hoyle, of Sanford,
came under this classification,
because somebody told me some
years ago that on one occasion
Mr. Hoyle got into an argument
with a fellow-townsman and
brought the discussion to an
abrupt end by calling the other
fellow a “rancid old left-handed
parallelogram!”
In reading an article the other
day we came across the follow
ing sentence: "The Inn Is two
and one-half storeys high. Taxes
were once paid in North Caro
lina in accordance with the
number of storeys—half
storeys did not count."
"That’s wrong!” we said to
ourselves, as we looked at that
word "storeys."
Later on, however, we began
thinking about it; so we west
to Mr. Webster and found that
the word was abeoltdely correct.
A floor of a house Is known
as either a story or storey.
H you use "story," the plural
is "stories,” and If you use
"storey” the plural la
"storeys."
KING STREET
BY ROB RIVERS
Continuing The Process.. With Changes (?)
When is transferred to the printed sheet the
Democrats will be well on the way to nominating their
candidate for the Presidency. . . The gathering will be
different—very different—on the face of things... The
stockyards arena will be fenced off and well guarded
by police officers, Sheriff’s men and National Guards
men. . . A delegate or other qualified visitor to the
extraganza, will be checked three or four times behind
the steel fences which have been erected, a modern
version of the old stockades built by the Indian fighters
of long ago. . . A number of minority groups are to
move on the country’s biggest convention city, word is,
maybe thousands of them, to protest every sort of griev
ance, imaginary or real and it’s a little disheartening
that a time-tested political process has to be carried
on under conditions of siege. . . But that’s the word
and to add to the harried situation an effort is to be
made by the leadership to ban demonstrations in the
vast hall... Not that the demonstrations, as such, make
any sense, but it’s part and parcel of the strange, noisy
ritual of national conventions, which may need chang
ing, but let’s not do it all at once. . . After all there
has to be some way to kill the tedium, in the event that
the convention is allowed to proceed without undue
harassment.
AT THE DETANCE it would
appear that Vice-President
Humphrey is going into the
sweepstakes aboard the donkey
and we wouldn't be much sur
prised if in the finals of the
meeting, Terry Sanford isn’t
chosen for the second spot . . .
The wish may be the father
to the thought, as we think
he’d be a good man for the
place , , , Well known over
the country, his stature has
grown through the years . . ,
It would be good news to those
of us who*ve been lined up
with Sanford all along, and would
be good for the party in the
South and over the country .. .
To our way of thinking he’s
still a bright light in the po
litical scene . . . We’d like to
have him as Governor again if
the Vice-Presidency don’t in
terfere.
Different Way
Of Counting Notes
Ten years will have rolled
by again with 1969 and on April 1,
1970 the national census will be
carried out... But in a turmoil
of change, the way of the big
bount Mil different. The
mah will no longer call'on yotf
with the long forms and with
his pocket full of pens and
pencils, but the count will be
made principally by mail, which
we*d argue would save everyone
time and add tremendously to the
efficiency of the project . . .
The correctly-filled out forms,
we learn, will be fed directly
into a computer . # . With the
names detached, even a compu
ter expert will be unable to
track down any one person . . .
By providing such an aura of
privacy, the Census Bureau
hopes citizens will respond
more honestly ... If you have
gotten a job, the word is, a
loan or a divorce on the
basis of false information, the
census can’t tell on you . . .
You will only appear in census
publications as one of millions
in any category of age, income,
occupations, education, etc . . ,
One news story says that the
Census index of occupations in
cludes that of robber, which is
one of 308,497 other “profes
sional, technical and kindred
workers not elsewhere clas
sified.”
WE REMEMBER AS A CHILD
when James W. McGhee was
making the census in Boone ...
How he meticulously filled out
the forms with a steel pen,
which he dipped every word or
so into a big bottomed bottle
of ink he carried along, with
his extra pen points and census
forms . . . He was an expert
penman which was considered
one of the qualifications in those
times and he did a beautiful
Job.
Other I imely
Information
Those who have had diffU
cult/ In getting birth certlfl
eataa due to the fact that their
birth dates were before vital
statistics information was re
quired in North Carol ins tread
vised that a transcript of one’s
earliest census entry is legally
acceptable in lieu of a birth
certificate ,. .If you need docu
mentary proof, that after all,
you have been born, there's
a census bureau office to help
you ... It is located in Pitts
burg, Kane, and handles old cen
sus records, with names and
addresses . . . For a fss of
$4 you can obtain ths transcript
from them to settle your birth
certificate problem.
Warming Weather
Persistent In Hills
K we dfcfcit have the weather
to talk about, tfaere’d be great
voids in the string of conver
sation . . . And here on top
of the Ridge we make just
as much fuss about 90 degrees,
when occasionally that happens,
as they do about 100 and over
in the lowlands . . . But what
we like about a TV announcer
is that solacing bit about it
being “a very warm 98 de
grees,” . . . It’s always heart
ening too, in wintertime, when
the wind’s howling and it’s 6
o’clock and we need to stir
and the fellow says “it’s a very
chilly 8 degrees above zero.”
Uncle
Pinkney
HIS PALAVERM’S
DEAR MISTER EDITOR,
It's like they say, I reckon,
great minds run on the same
track. Ed Doolittle come up with
a problem at the coutry store
Saturday night, and Zeke Grubb
come up with the answer.
Ed reported to the fellers he
had been doing some reading on
this rural-urban life and he was
of the opinion folks has got to
choose between living and mak
ing a living. We’ve just run
out of room where we need it,
allowed Ed, and they ain’t no
way to do both.
Fer instant, said Ed, we got
Cities with more cars than park
ing places, more sick people
than hospital beds, more folks
at conventions than hotel rooms,
more mouths to feed han food
and more crooks than ;ops. We
run out of sideways space a
long time ago and now we was
running out of straigh: up room.
Trouble is, Ed allow'xl, we got
millions of acres wi h nothing
on ’em, then we got millions
of people on a few acres.
Then Zeke broke in to say
he had done some study on this
problem and he had come up
with the Zeke Grubb Group
Plan. All it is, said Zeke, was
what them science fellers calls
“mass movement.” What had
got him on this plan, reported
Zeke, was where he had saw
that by 1985 we will have a
average work week of 22 hours
and workers will be retiring at
38 years old.
We got to copy the ants, Zeke
explained. Keep the workers in
the ant hill cities and git the
deadwood out on land that ain’t
being used. Instead of all that
public housing in the middle of
the cities where land is scarce,
put it out on the deserts and
mountains and on all that land
in the soil bank. We would have
people’s pastures fer all the
worn out folks over 38, was
Zeke’s words. Take all retired
folks out of the cities and we’d
have room fer them under 38
that has to work.
And the Zeke Grubb Plan, he
said, would take care of that
problem we got now when re
tired folks was living so long.
Them that had retirement in
come could take care of the
farms and ranches and not
starve to death while they was
doing it.
Ed butted in to say he spe
cial liked the Zeke Grubb Plan
on account of the retired folks
would have plenty of parking
apace and more’n 10 foot fer
burial space.
All the fellers, Mister Editor,
took to the Zeke Grubb Plan.
Even Ed said it might work if
the Guvemment didn't git aholt
of it. I figger the fellers at the
country store went along with
Zeke on account of we're alrea
dy out in the people's pasture
and the only move we got to
make under the plan is to the
cemetery.
Yours truly.
Uncle Dan
4