LOCAL EDfTOItlAL COMMENT
Shades Of Dodge City
They rode into town early that morn
ing. Some say they rode green horses,
some say blue and jtiH others contend
they rode in on *rfiite Wagons. They
were suspicious looking strangers. You
could tell by the way they eyed the
bank.
Two of them hung out down the street
aways. The third walked slowly toward
the grocery store. Jtrst on the other
side was the bank, loaded with the pay
roll.
The loner looked around. Saw the
streets were clear and quickly entered
the bank. A short time later he came
out. Looked up and down tbe street;
nodded to his partners. Counted five
one dollar bills.
Evidently, the coast was clear. He
headed back to the bank.
Meanwhile, inside the bank waited
the law. They were armed to the teeth.
"They're a comln'," said one. "Now
don't you be afraid, miss," said the
other. "I'll be right behind you."
The knob on the door turned slowly.
The lawmen wiped fit sweat from b?
neath their ten-gallon hats. "This is
it," muttered one. "Yeah," said tbe
other.
The bad guy came in. Looked a
round. The lawman at Die last window
got busy talking to Bit manager. The
other one hid behind the counter. "Fill
it up," said the rabtNpr, handing the
pretty miss behind flie counter a big
paper bag. She filled it
Slowly, the tomtn at the teller's
window moved into position. The gon
? man turned and stuck die gun in the
lawman's stomach. The lawman stopped.
The gunman opened the door and ran.
Bang. Bang. That's how the gun
sounded as the two big city detectives
gave chase. Bang. Bang. "Dang, Hank,
you missed him."
Clop. Clop. That's the way the
feet sounded as they paddled through
the open field down by the old corral.
Slush. Slush. That's how they sound
ed when the lawmen hit the creek.
"You let him get away, Slim." said
the short one. "Sorry about that," said
the tall one.
"Call the Sheriff. Let's roundup a
posse," said another big city detective
who had watched from outside.
The Sheriff came riding up on his
white steed. You could tell he was the
good guy. He wore a white hat. And
his pants were tight.
"I'll get him", the Sheriff said. "I
know these parts. He can't hide for
long," he added as he rode away,
thinking deeply.
The posse looked. It was getting
nigh on to sundown. The rain had wash
ed away all the tracks. It looked hope
less... until...
From away over the horizon, the de
puty yelled, "Over here, Sheriff." The
Sheriff galloped over there. "That's
our man," he said, never batting an
eyelash. "Haul him in," he commanded
as he shifted his gun more comfortably
on his hip.
"I reckon you showed them city
slickers, Sheriff," said the old codger
as he spit out his chunk of tobacco.
"Shucks, t'weren't nothin' " said
the Sheriff as he bent over and kissed
his horse and rode off into the light ,
of the moon.
? f r ; ;?
No Need To Leave Home
There is no need to go away looking'
excitement. If you have the time to
wait, sooner or later, almost everything
happens in Franklin County.
From hurricanes to bank robbery;
from the school band to the Gterm Miller
orchestra; from forest fires to baseball
tournaments, folks living in these parts,
live the full life.
Such was the dtse la#Friday. Rigrt
out of a James Bond novel or a western
movie, suddenly and without public
warning, Bunn became the center of as
much drama and excitement as New York
or Paris ever gets. A week earlier, it
had been the Alert community where
the body of a missing man was found.
Not too long ago, it was Franklinton
with its school meetings and before
that it was Youngsvillft with industry
and robberies. PearrfKMX) came in
with a massive gun robbery. Center- -
ville had a spectacular four-car auto
mobile crash. And so it goes.
Such excitement draws crowds of
onlookers. Bunn, last Friday, was no
exception. However, most of those
spectators join in the efforts. This
too, was the case at Bunn. The irony
of it all, accentuating the drama, is
that it took a mother of four, living near
Louisburg, to bring the story to its
\ Rightful conclusion.
Maybe this is as it should be. End
ings should never be anticipated. Sur
prises are always good for the story.
They make everyone anxious for the
next happening.
As we've said before, it's good to
live in Franklin County.. .Where the
action is.
Letters To The Editor
To The Editor)
I want to thank you for your
editorial support of tte East
Carolina University bill. Your
stand, I bailer*, more accur
ately reflected tte Ttews of a
majority of the citizens of this
state than the stand taken by
tte metropolitan papers.
We believe that our cause Is
Just and that no apologies are
needed tor our efforts, Being
ambitious for provMlag ex
tended opportunities Is in
keeping with tte highest tra
ditions of our great State. In
fact, some of our critics
should have been ottering us
their leadership, guidance,
and encouragement, ft is dlf
ftcult to who ts'tiw
victor now that we have met
with temporary defeat.
Air Pollution Gains
The Health, Education and
Welfare Department has an
nounced signifies at bftik
th roughs towards tte control
of air pollution. Ttetecretery
said while there was apparent
Your to Ice in support of pro
gress will strengthen the will
of the people. It will help
them unite In an effort to Im
prove their lives and the Uvea
of their children. All of us
working together can achieve
for the East and, Indeed, for
all of NOrth Carolina realis
tic goals that will be of last
lag benefit to our people.
Very cordially yours,
Leo W. Jenkins,
President.
Westmoreland
Vice President Humphrey
has defended General West
moreland against senatorial
charges that the commanding
general Is being used to mut
ate Vietnam war critics. He
said the 'general had made an
excellent assessment of the
war situation. '
Vietnam losses
Senator Richard Russell,
chairman of the Armed Ser
vices Committee has charged
teat there has been "great
derelictions" in the guarding
tfV. S. airfields and am muni
tion dumps in Vietnam
Times -
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:c thtCKlrtSH
ALL AIN'T HEAVEN
WHERE PAPPA SITS
JOHN J. SYNON
There is a bustle over my head
and while my curiosity about the
activities of this household, gen
erally, is confined to what's-for
supper, 1 understand this particu
lar ado. I know without asking
what is going on and I don't like
it. It has an ominous sound, like
hammering on a scaffold: I know.
The fuss is being caused by
the grande belle of this menage,
by that lady and by my remain
ing chick, the only sibling still
in residence, full time. They
mean me no good, those two,
with their dressmaker's talk of
picture hats and bodices ("It
can't be that low. Mother, the
nuns won't let you") and all
the other hoopla that goes with
high-school graduation.
There is a conspiracy afoot, in
other words, to rob me of my
child, to strip me; there is a soft
spoken cabal at work that means
to leave me sitting.
I went through this thihg, last
year, so I know every * thorn
strewn step of the way. In a
matter of days, now, I will be
requested to put on my good
pants, my tie, and my coat, and
go watch my little girl disappear.
And my baby, as one of a string,
like pearls, will go down a shade
spangled lane, into the sunlight,
slow stepping, step-stop-step -
out of myjife.
Through it all, I shall be
speared on every side: "Aren't
you proud!" Not as a question,
you understand, but as a chal
lenge. They would dare me to
say I am not proud.
"Isn't she pretty!"
And 1 will bristle at their im
pertinence: Who are such johnny
come-latelys, to query me so?
There is not a one of them who
knows how I sank to my knees
when this one came into the
world, sank abjectly and told
the lady, so God would hear, I
loved her so, and always would,
and would try my inept best.
None of them knows how my
heart sang as the diapered toddler
came running to her Daddy, pot
bellied in front, and surprisingly
billowed behind. Nor of the
bouncing ponytail who danced
her way to kindergarten. Nor
the shock I felt that night the
doorbell rang and there - the
first of a long, subsequent line ?
stood an ape, beady-eyed, malign,
smelling of strong soap, asking
was my baby at home.
And now the two of them,
mother and child, a-bu*tle over
head, with never a thought for
what sits beneath. ("It can't
touch the ground, Mother, we
will be on the lawn, you know" J)
t
O
So wise. Seventeen.
Eventually, my baby will i
momentarily, before Revere rid
Mother and then the will turn l
the most radiant of all God's
beings - diploma in hand, cool,
poised, for the world to see. And
from the audience will come a
long, reverberating honk, like a
distressed goose down by the
head. Poor, confused Old Man.
And it will be over. And who
will come home with me? Mam
ma? Yes, always. But my little
baby? Not likely. My baby will
be gone. There will be in my
baby's bubbly place the poised
lady who metamorphised before
my eyes, her thoughts aimed
elsewhere.
It happened just so, last year.
So, 1 know. It wasn't so bad,
then, for 1 had another string
to my bow; this one. But now it
is the end; both my babies gone.
We, Mother and me, through
force of circumstance - it's them
apes - have already begun to
practise eating alone. And it takes
some doing, some getting used to.
When there are but two, Mother
says grace, and that distracts
me: Why should Mother be say
ing grace? The children always
say grace. And there are no
children, no children at all.
No, sir, I don't like it. I'm
going to tell you right now, 1
don't like it. I want this world
to stop right where it is, right
here, right now. This thing has
gone far enough.
I say that because I know what
comes next. Truth is, "next" is
here already. The apes are getting
thicker, and thicker, and thicker,
and one day, one of those
grinning, long-toothed baboons,
still smelling of strong soap, is
going to ask politely - oh, sure,
politely - if he may have a word.
-O
He will get his word all right.
Every last one I know, every
word 1 have been saving, prac
tising, since the horrible pos
sibility ftrst crossed my mind.
And he \Sll have asked for it -
that is sonfe solace.
And the child's mother? I
don't know whoae side she is
on, not really; measuring, talking
through pins, sewing, snipping,
and every now and then, her
rich laughter. And me down here
bleeding to death.
And just like the rest, she
will smile and squeeze my arm
and say, "Isn't it all so beauti
ful?"
Beautiful? It is terrifying. I
feel like a sainted martyr tied
to the stake, up to my ears in
oil-soaked diplomas, and baboons
gibbering all around - grinning,
yowling, callow apes - faggots
afire, ready to touch me off.
I tell you, my honk will re
verberate. They will hear me
from here to Kingdom Come.
Graduation, my foot.
You give me back my babies,
Reverend Mother, and you can
have your old diplomat.
Subject
(Continued from Pic* 1)
area. Will be coming In In a few mlnutM."
Somewhat dejectedly, Sheriff William Dement returned to ?
the Bunn bank office where FBI and SBI agents waited, unaware
that a suspect had been sighted.
It was 10:30 p.m. Twelve hours since a lone bandit had
walked Into the Bunn Branch of Flrst-Cltlsens Bank and "
walked away with a brown bag containing $8,788.
"Loulsburg P. D. to Car One."
"Go ahead, Loulsburg. ' Sheriff Is out of car. Can get him :
If It Is Important."
"Ten-four, Car One. Car Three advises subject In custody.
Picked up two miles west of Frankllnton on Creedmoor road."
"Ten-four. Stand by."
Sheriff Dement and agents of the SBI and FBI had "read the
traffic." They had heard.
"Car One to Loulsburg P. D."
"Go ahead, Car One."
"FBI advises return subject to Bunn for Identification."
"Ten- four, car one."
"Car four to- Loulsburg P. D."
"Go ahead, car four."
"Advise car three, will meet him at Dick's Drive Inn in
Loulsburg and transport subject to Bunn."
"Ten-four, car four." f
Then the waiting began. Officers were seen entering and
leaving the bank. As though, they too had "read the traffic,"
citizens began to gather near the bank office. Something was
up. Cars sped along the main street. It was getting late.
The wart of a strenuous day was beginning to tell. Coffee was
being served Inside the bank for officers and reporters. Where
was that car?
"Car Two to Loulsburg P. D."
"Go ahead, Car two."
"Sheriff advises location of Car four over."
"Car four to Loulsburg P. D. Tell Sheriff we're at Hall's
crossroads, about two miles from Bunn."
"Ten-four, car four."
A few minutes later Car Four, driven by Deputy Sheriff
Lloyd Gupton drove up and stopped In front of the bank. Gup
ton and some special officers who had been riding with him
stepped out. WtQi them was a slender, young Negro man.
His clothes were 111 arranged. His shoes were muddy. He
looked as if he had been caught In the rain. He was hurtled
Inside the building. He leaned on the ledge at the number
one teller's window. The window where earlier someone had
collected over 98,700 only to lose It In the chase which follow
ed. He was taken to the bank office where the FBI and SBI
waited. They cloaed the door.
Deputy Dave Batten arrived with Mrs. Helen Jones, the
cashier who had faced the bandit and the gun. Bank manager
Bill Andrews was already on hand. Everybody talked In whisp
ers and everyone waited.
Soon It was midnight. Then 12:18. It had been a long day.
Around 12:30 the news came.
"Car One to Loulsburg P. D."
"Go ahead Car One."
"We're bringing suspect in."
The Jailer was waiting. The suspect was locked up. The
paper read $25,000 bond. Charges: Armed Robbery.
"Congratulations, Sheriff," we said, "You done good."
"Let's go home," he replied with a smile.
From The Office Of
Congressman Fountain
School Boards
Benefit From
New Federal Plan?
Washington, O. C. - What could to the most Important advance
of the year to all the people of the Second Dlctrlct Is the decision
to remove U. S. Education Commissioner Harold Howe from the
Job of deciding whether local school boards are entitled to
Federal education funds.
I say "could" because the net effect will not be known for.
sometime after June when the change takes place.
From one point of view, Secretary Gardner's reorganization
plan should help the entire country because It brings together In
one office the authority to determine when desegregation is
being carried out on the local level.
Previously, these decisions were made In a number of offices
charged primarily with other functions. Too often they spent
most of their time telling local authorities whether or not they
were guilty of discrimination.
This means that agencies responsible for education programs
can? or should? give their attention to education; agencies
dealing with health can concern themselves with health pro
grams, and soon.
Although I normally oppose centralisation of authority? as do
many other Americans? this appears to be a case where It Is
needed.
U Secretary Gardner's plan works as it should, one office
would worry about civil rights and the operating agencies would
curry out their specific programs as intended.
What I have said should include a note of caution, however.
We simply don't know yet how the new plan will work.
One thing is clear. A change of attitude is needed by those who
will be charged with enforcement of the Civil Rights Act.
Most North Carolinians, whether they agree with It or not,
recognise that the Civil Rights Act is the law and that they are
obligated to comply with it. They also recognize that there would
be no basis tor complaint if the law were carried out properly.
But they resent? with good reason? the fact that the Office of
Education has Ignored and violated provisions of the Civil Rights
Act Intended by Congress to Insure fair treatment to children of
all races and due process of law. Actually, the Office of Edu
cation should set the example for others by careful compliance
with the law.
Congress was aware of the possibility of bureaucratic abuse
when it enacted the law. As a safeguard, it specifically provided
thst Federal funds could not be withheld unless there was "an
express finding, on the record, after opportunity for hearing"
of discrimination.
Despite this unmistakable requirement, the Office of Education
under Commissioner Howe, denied Federal assistance to stu
dents in some schools for as much as two years without a find
ing of discrimination or any opportunity for a hearing.
Howe contended that administrative "deferral" of funds did
not constitute denial. He thus proclaimed himself Judge, Jury
and prosecutor.
Last year, the Fountain Amendment? while not accepting the
"deferral" premise -was adopted overwhelmingly in the House.
As finally approved, It prohibited any "deferral" tor more
than SO days without a hearing. ?,
Again, an une<*itvocablo expression by Congress was ignored
by Howe and his staff. We have reoently found that at least
46 school districts throughout the South were placed on the
"deferred" list andlsept there beyond the 80-day 11m it and with
out hearings. They have now been removed from that list.
L*t as hope tor the kind of attitude and approach which will
rs*ilt in the use of Federal funds as they were Intended. But
until that time come*, we must remain on guard against ecu
timed bureaucratic abuse of Vmr pttpn . ? - ? -