EDITORIAL
AND OPINION
PAGE
4 4 We cannot know where
' we are going if we do not
know where we have been."
by Bruca Barton
1 "
WHAT'S FAD FOB THE
GOOSE IS FAS FOB THE
GANDEB, INCLUDING ED
JOHNSON
I am one of the many
folks in Robeson County who
has disagreed with Ed John
son from time to time. Ed is
chairman of the Robeson
County Republican Party and
cocky as all. get out. He is
closely allied with conserva
tive Republican Senators Jes
se Helm and John East and
has. to say the least, been
highly visible and vocal in
offering "A conservative re
sponse" to a lot of Democratic
party and and liberal, as he
sees it, carryings on.
But he and I agree on one
thing: Robeson County would
be better off with a viable,
two- party system. Although
registered as a democrat for
the time being (becarike
most of Rote Son County Is
too) I put little store in the
notion that the Democratic
. Party (especially in Robeson
County) holds the answers to
our ills and shortcomings.
It was the Democratic Party
that fostered three bathrooms
in Robeson County and deci
mated the ranks on the Lowry
Band after Henry Berry Lowry
and the Republican Party
were removed from power
following the traumatic days
of the Civil War madness.
And Democratic governors
named (until the late 40's) the
mayor and councilmen for
Pembroke-always conser
vative. white Pembrokians
even though Pembroke, as
it is now, predominately Indi
an. And double-voting and
illegal annexations and more.
Evils galore I So, the demo
cratic party has little to crow
about, as I see it.
And. as I recall it, Pem
broke and Robeson County
fared well under the admini
stration of Republican Gover
nor James E. Holshouser. Jr.
Yet I am registered as a
democrat. But I am not starry
eyed about it. To me political
parties are contrivances, ve
hicles to a desired end.
Nothing more.
Ed Johnson, in the main, as
I see it. is healthy for Robeson
County, even when I do not
agree with him. And that is
more often than not. But it the
dialogue, the exchange of
ideas that is important. Robe
son County is stagnant and. in
many instances, as I see it,
repressive because one party
the Democratic Party- has
done all the talking and ruling
over the last few y?ars. You
talk and let me talk.1 Give me
the right to make up my own
mind, even if I make it up
wrong.
Which brings me to the
point of contention- Ed John
son's problems with the Rob
eson County Tax Collector's
office. In recent editions of
the Robesonian his good
name has been held up to
public ridicule because he
seemingly owed a small
amount for taxes for the last
two or three years. The
articles also noted that his
checking account was being
garnished for the past due
taxes:a sum of less than $500
with almost half that owed for
1980. It is a very common
occurence, I might add, for
?"SKffirt ?y. so?.
thing's wrong in Of Robeson.
I dare say there are hundreds
of Robeson County taxpayers
who are more in arrears in
taxes than Ed Johnson. Whj
single Ed Johnson out for
public ridicule? Is it because
he is a Republican and a
spouter of highly quoted
"conservative responses?"
1 disagree with about 70
percent of Ed Johnson's "Con
servative responses" but I
uphold 100 percent of his
right to express them.
I say fight Ed Johnson in
the political arena, and leave
his taxes out of it, especially
when he owes so little and
there are hundreds of us who
owe more.
Keep expressing yourself,
Ed Johnson. I defend your
right to state your position on
political and other issues as
much as 1 defend my right not
to agree with them. America's
strength and democracy is
based on a free and open
exchange of ideas.
As Henry Berry Lowry was
reported to say once, "Boys, I
got no fight with the Repub
lican Party. I just know it's
going to get tougher as soon
as they leave..." And history
has proven him right.
What's fair for the goose is
fair for the gander, including
Ed Johnson. Let every man be
free to express himself with
out undue repercussions, in
cluding a public airing of his
taxes and private life.
Then consider the case of
Ralph Hunt and his associates
in their celebrated case which
has many corollaries to the
one stated above.
Note that no restrictions
f were made on future tobacco
warehouse activity. Hunt and
his associates were barred
from working with a tobacco
warehouse and fined seem
ingly exorbitant fines of up to
S10.000.
As a reader noted, "Surely
the District Attorney's lack of
action in seeking an indict
ment against Sutton and
Sparks deserves some atten
tion and or written comments,
particularly in view of the zeal
with which he sought to
prosecute Ralph Hunt and
others even after the federal
courts had entered judge
ment."
Ralph Hunt seemingly
committed a cardinal sin in
the eyes of the politicos in
Robeson County. A democrat,
he did not always follow the
party line. That seemingly is
the unpardonable sin for
Robeson County politicians,
no matter what their party
affUiatiMtSt*.
As I see it, free expression
should not have a price tag
placed on it. Ralph Hunt, as a
former Chairman of the Rob
eson County Board of Educa
' tion, and a power in Robeson
County political circles, has
laid his considerable reputa
tion on the alter as a
seeming expiation for sins
others have charged him with.
Equal treatment under the
law is a right we claim at birth
as Americans; it is not earned
for good behaviour as defined
by others.
AND I ATTEND MY FUST
LREMC BOARD MEETING
After being arrested for
attempting to do so initially, 1
am pleased to report that I
have attended my first board
of directors meeting at Lum
bee River Electric Member
ship Corporation in Red
Springs.
It was anti-climatic almost
since the board of directors
decreed at their last meeting
that any member consumer
can now attend meetings. I
applaud them for having a
change of heart on the
matter.
We'll be reporting what is
happening at the board mee
tings in the days and months
ahead.
Painting tha house? Coat
door hinges, knobs, lock
latchas and other hard
wara with i' coating of
petrolaum jally to re
due# (craping afterward.
Tht MHffl of tartar you
um whan baa lino ayy
whHai (ami from fipti
It I* dapowtad on tha
Mdai of wtna aatht dur
tn? ilia farmantation
?? frapat Into wtna
An .
Editorial
Expression
of the
Carolina
Indian
Voice
BEN FLOYD JR. WAS A
PROGRESSIVE FORCE IN
ROBESON COUNTY
B?n Floyd. Jr. long time
clerk of court in Robeson
County, and a political force
to be reckoned with, died
Monday afternoon at the
Cancer Institute near Lum
berton. He was 61.
He led a progressive move
ment in Robeson County in
the late 50s and 60s that
forged a strong alliance of
Indians. Blacks and whites.
The county is better for it. He
was a beacon of hope to many'
Robcsonians who had prcvi
ously been denied political
participation because of. as
we sec it. the ctjior of their
skins.
In later years we did not
always agree with his mode ot
operations but we always
respected him. He was in.
strumental in knocking d?m n
many uf the political. Mnto. {
logical and psvvhtdngkal bar.
rters that separated as as a
people. That la bis legacy. one
that can lie pointed to in years
to come "as the was to go nt
the iMiwr "
W
Pharmacist
Pembroke Dr?| CcnUr w
wmn?i?????i
Food-drug combination alert
Many foods adversely react with the drugs we
take. Sometimes they speed up or slow down a
drug's absorption into the bloodstream.
The most dangerous food-drug combination is the
one between MAO inhibitors (for depression and
high blood pressure) and foods such as aged cheeses.
Chianli wines, chicken livers, salami. |?e|?|ierwni.
vugnrl. star cream, canned figs, bananas, sin sauce,
beer, rata, coffer. chocolate ami raisins.
That's a list. But It's your hculth we're trying to
improve. Consult with
me If you have a ques
tion ?
i^llSi'sfS
AND tALWI HUNT, THE
OTHE* SIDE OF THE COIN ?
And this appeared'm the
December 4th Uiue of the ?
Robesonian:
Sentences Handed Down I
Two Fairmont men were sentenced to three-year prisoti
terms and $2500 fines Thursday in a tobacco inspection
ticket forgery scheme.
Horace C. Sutton, part-owner of the Growers-Mitchell
Warehouse in Fairmoot, and auctioneer Edwin W. Sparks
were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Raleigh Thursday
morning after a two-day trial. They were each convicted I
on 10 counts of making false and fictitious statements to a
government agent. HI? -I. ? I
Sutton and Sparks were accused of filling out the I
government sections of tobacco inspection'tickets, in- I
dicating a higher price for the product than that given by I
the inspectors, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney I
Wallace Dixon. The tobacco was then sold to the W.A.
Adams tobacco company of Oxford, which originally filed I
the complaint.
Also sentenced was John D. Campbell, a tobacco farmer I
who pled guilty to the charges on Monday. Campbell was I
given a two-and-a-half year suspended sentence and I
ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $320 restitution to the I
tobacco company.
Sutton and Sparks will be required to serve 90 days of I
their sentences, with the remainder suspended, and will I
be on three years' probation. Nc restriction was made on ?
future tobacco warehouse employment. ? YVONNE ?
TORSTENSSON apMI
? ? ?*
Seasons Greetings
and best wishes
fora happy and safe
? ? *
f 1982.
Yout Nationwide agent unhn you the happiest of
holidays, and a new yeer Ml o? health and toy
f
/ 1 >
WILLIE VON LOWKY
3rd Si.. Pembroke
yj 521-43IV .
|f| NATIONWIDE
B I INSURANCE
NMonwid* I? on your side
iiMtrianM Mutual mwtnct Company ? Naaommoa Mutual I'l mauianca Company
Haaantim caa mauianca Company .Mama omca Coumpua Omo
^on/
OuA/CAec&na/
ONLY *500 ^
MINIMUM BALANCE /^^H/$SOO /#/
REQUIRED /^^?l ?^w I^^^hwm/ ?
I I COMPOUNDED I I f m J
IF BALANCE 1 1 I I f /
ssajswrl \^avc;ri> / ^?/fl i
PER CHECK IS " V ?
NECESSARY IF BAl ANCE \^?f ?
falls below *50o. . j a ^Hrl
u? POSITS INSURED UP TO $100,000
PROCtRESSl V E savings & loan, ltd. i
in n c~rTv, MEMBER NCSGC
lu-MyW.jWX. 7M "l> J
PHILOSOPHIZING
.
with Lew Barton
THE COOKING OF INDIAN
WOMENt THEY WHIP
YOU UP A MESS OF LOVE
When 1 was a' mete child,
I used to think that the
cooking oi Grandma Elizabeth
Dial was better than anyone
else's because she was old
and her hands were wrinkled.
Later, I discovered that her
baby daughter, my mother,
had the same magic touch.
When my wife finally replac
ed my mother and I had
misgivings least the special
taste of that kind of cooking
was lost to me forever, I was
joyously surprised. My Wife
had the magic knack of it, tool
And so, in fact, do many
Indian women!
Nobody can quite define it.
And no one can quite explain
why. But there la something
I very special about the taste of
'an Indian woman's cooking.
And I can prove that by the
avowed testimonyof at least
one-third of Robeson's popu
lation. And if the other two
? thirds doesn't necessarily
think so, it at least has the
' good manners and good sense
i not openly to say so.
An Indian woman can take
nothing ingredients and make
a something meal. <
Except that the "nothing
ingredients" are not really
nothing. One of them is one of
the most priceless ingredients
in the world, something called
love.
Now, I'm not denying that
we have some excellent public
eating establishments around
here which serve excellent
food. But none of it is
prepared and served with
love, and I guess that is what
makes all the difference.
When an Indian woman cooks
she puts her heart as well as
her skill into the effort. And if
you've got any taste buds at
all, you. can teO it.
Have you ever walked into a
restaurant and ordered a plate
at col lards, boiled pork and
corn bread? With some really
fresh buttermilk on the side?
You might as well be up
North, ordering grits with
your ham and eggs for
breakfast. Or here in the
South, ordering oatmeal at
breakfast time. People simply
look to you as if they think
you're a refugee from Belle
vue. Or Dorthea Dix.
Now, some of these public
eating places advertise ham
biscuits and other delicacies
"just like grandma's," but
they lie. None of 'em are
served with love...unless
somebody just happens to
have a grandma who works at
the joint.
Yep. That's what the mys
tery ingredient is, all right.
Love. And the person who
discovers a way to serve it
with food in public eating
establishments will become a
millionaire overnight, and de
servedly so. The nearest thing
to it isn't found at a national
chain of eating joints, but at
the church socials where there
is dinner on the grounds.
God always answers pray
er. But sometime His answer
is no. And we are the better -
off for His answer having
been that.
If God gave us every thing
we asked for, like a rich
parent indulging a spoiled
child, just think what would
have happened to that poor
hammer the last time you
smashed your finger with it
while putting up a wall photo!
Christmas Cheer from
the Pembroke Eve CI inic
To Fine Citizens of Pembroke
Area:
Dr. Adams and I want to
express our appreciation to
the fine citizens of the Penfe
broke area. Seventeen months
ago. we opened our Pembroke
Eye Ginic and we promised to
expand our days of practice as
soon as your support justified
more time. We are happy to
announce that you have been
very supportive and kind, and
we plan to expand our time in
Pembroke to include Thurs
days beginning on January
So, we begin 1982 with
grateful hearts to you. We are
committed to your complete
eye ante-on Tuesdays, Thurs
day* and Frid^irfaf each
?%c&; and of course, if you
sfWOTO need Dr. Adams or
me. please call the Fairmont
Optometric Clinic at any time.
Dr. Adams joins me in
wishing for you God's bless
ings during this glorious
Christmas Season and throu
ghout the New Year.
Gratefully yours,
Harold C. Herring, O.D.
union van
NuusmSmi
?F MFonunu
ABOUT Im^iIE^i
First Union would like you to
open your tax-deferred Individual
Retirement Account with us. But
even if you don't, we want you to
feel comfortable with your deci
i? 1
sion to open one anywhere.
Because we believe we have an
obligation to help you manage
all of your important financial
affairs knowledgeably.
For example, did you know
that if you open your IRA early
enough, put away enough and
earn enough interest, you could
retire with a million dollars or
more? It's true. And the chart will
show you how it can be done.
We've got the answers on IRA.
So call or stop by any First Union
office. Well give you a lot ?
of information for
absolutely il .
__itInTON
SEE WHAT YOUR INVESTMENT
WILL EARN
Age When Account What You Will Have
Is Opened At Age 65*
25. . .rT. $?249,000
30 1,216,000
35 654,000
40 348,000
45 181,500
50 91,000
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