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Your Award Winning County Newspaper
LOCAL EDITORIAL COMMENT
A Long Time Until November
Congressman Jim Gardner came to
Franklin County this week and a
number of people were impressed.
Nearly 500 gathered in a local ware
house for a rally and to hear the
youthful lawmaker.
Gardner's every statement was
tailor-made for his audience. He de
cried the things that are going on in
this country and he made some very
clever observations on how some of
; them might be halted.
He is a conservative and speaking to
a conservative audience in a conserva
tive county, he said all the right
things. It was an enjoyable evening
and chances are the Congressman
made a few inroads into the Democra
tic ranks in Franklin County.
It was, perhaps, the things Mr.
Gardner did not say that are worthy
of note. For one thing, he made very
little reference to the issues in North
Carolina. He criticized the "tired and
worn promises" of the Democratic
administrations to the people of the
East, but he never quite got around to
making any promises of his own ex
cept to say he would make none he
could not carry out.
The Congresssman and his Demo
cratic counterparts in Washington,
continue to fill their constituents with
oratory' on how terrible conditions are
in this country just as though it is all
somebody's else's fault. We agree
whole-heartedly with the things Mr.
Gardner said here. Something does
need to be changed. But, if our
elected Congressmen do not make
these changes, who in the world is
going to do so?
If Mr. Gardner and our own Second
District Congressman and others from
North Carolina can't make some of
these changes in Washington, what are
they doing there? If crime in our
streets is a major issue - and surely it
is - why has Mr. Gardner and the
others not introduced legislation to
help solve the problem?
Realizing that one lone lawmaker
or even a few would find the going
extremely rough right now should
they attempt to buck the establish
ment, it is nevertheless a question that
haunts us all. It is well and good that
our representatives keep us informed
of their views and certainly most of us
here agree with Mr. Gardner that
something must be done. The ques
tion which obviously follows any such
expression by Congressmen, is "What
are you doing?"
It is possible Congressman Gardner
is doing all he can and if he is, we are
grateful. But, if he intends to be
elected Governor of North Carolina,
he's going to need to change his
approach. Somewhere along the line,
he's going to be asked not only the
above question, but others like it
And somewhere along the line he is
going to have to confront Bob Scott
and issues closer to the govemship of
this state. But, then it's a long time
until November.
I
Party Loyalty
It was disclosed this week at the
Jim Gardner rally that there are regi*
tered Democrats serving as Republican
precinct chairmen in the county. At
least three men were introduced at the
rally as such. Others, some of whom
are former members of the Democra- I
tic organization have switched party
allegiance and are now serving as
precinct chairmen of their new party.
The makeup of the organization of
these two parties and any others, is of
course, a matter for party leaders and
the particular party plan of
organization. It is not the business of
this newspaper.
However, this disclosure, if true,
does bring to light one of the major
issues of the coming fall campaigns.
That issue is party loyalty.
In Franklin County, where Demo
crats have held control for so many
years, it is natural that the budding
Republican organization have growing
pains. There are long time Democrats
who do not fully understand the
makeup of the party organization. It
is understandable that some confusion
could arise among the GOP.
Large numbers of Democrats may
cross over in November; some for
Gardner and perhaps more for Nixon
or Wallace. Very few party leaders are
expected to openly support the na
tional party ticket. Most have long
since separated the national Democra
tic party and the State Democratic
party.
However, some Democrats are
being eyed by their fellows with some
thing bordering on contempt, because
they accept positions within the party
organization and go out and openly
support a Republican candidate for
state office. This is viewed as a kind of
have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too sort of
thing. i.
In theory, these registered Demo
crats are in position to vote on and
indeed to formulate policies within
the organization, which could con
ceivably bring aid and certainly com
fort to the opposing Republican
camp. The same, of course would be
true if the parties were reversed.
It somehow doesn't seen right that
this condition exists. If a registered
Democrat wants to cross party lines in
an election, it is his right as an
American voter. The same is true of a
Republican. This, however, is one
thing. Accepting a position of res
ponsibility in either party, however,
and then while holding the position,
work against the organization, ij
another matter.
Politics is a touchy game at besi
and this issue is designed only to maki
it more so. It would be well, it seem;
to us, that holders of positions withir
either or any ptarty be registered in thi
party and abide by the rules of thi
organization. Unable to abide by sucl
rules, one should search for anothe
organization, with rules by which h
or she could abide.
The Fr
n Times
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ILINT FULLER, Managing Editor
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?I'D LIKE TO WITHDRAW Art RtflUtfT FOR A WfflGNP fASJ IH SAI60N*
From Th? Off-ice Of
Congressman Fountain
Poss Level Of Toleration
Washington, D. C. . .
Crime in this country has
long since passed the level of
toleration for any society
which calls itself civilized.
And murder, especially the
public murder of national fig
ures, paralyzes our consclous
d ess and defies rational ex
planation.
The root causes of crime
are many and complex. They
cannot be cured by any one
segment of our society but
they can be attacked jointly
and sincerely by us all.
Congress has now made a
legislative beginning in enact
ing the bill known as the
Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968.
This law will nQt in itaelf
solve our crime problems. But
It should help those with
whom we entrust the enforce
ment of our laws - the police
man, the sheriff, the highway
patrol, solicitors and others.
It should help restore the
long loct confidence of our
people in the ability and right
of law enforcement officers
to do their duty.
Several features of this act
Mintmversifll and orobab
ly will remain so until we
have had enough experience
in practice to see exactly how
It will work.
One aspect about which 1
still have reservations is feder
al financial assistance to
states. I believe the federal
government already is partici
i pating in programs in which it
has no business and, there
fore, I always approach any
such new program with wari
ness.
New ground was broken,
however, in the crime bill.
1 The $100 million authorized
for fiscal year 1969 and the
t $300 million authorized the
following year for assistance
1 to the states will be distribut
S ed in bloc grants, an approach
1 I have long favored when
Federal aid is to be given.
This means that the states
8 will determine their own
1 needs for those funds to help
r In training law enforcement
personnel, combatting organ
e ized crime, planning for riot
control and prevention and In
other areas of need.
Then, under the bloc grant
approach, the state will de
cide how to use its share of
the funds. For the present,
there are no Federal controls
but we must be eternally vigi
lant to keep law enforcement
1 ..
that way.
Congress made a beginning
with this approach last year
with certain education funds.
I hope it will continue and
strengthen its efforts.
Another provision of the
bill would permit voluntary
confessions of a suspect to be
admitted as evidence, under
certain conditions, in federal
cases. The jury, with proper
instructions by the court, will
be the judge of the facts. The
Supreme Court in recent
yean has made it extremely
difficult for prosecutors to
get evidence given voluntarily
accepted in court.
Wiretapping, which most
of us abhor as a general pro
position, and another contro
versial subject, would be per
mitted in certain instances
and under specific controls,
including court approval.
Some examples include cases
of murder, kidnaping, espion
age, treason, rioting, presiden
tial assassination, narcotics
violations and so on.
Some persons feel this
authority is too broad and
too sweeping. Since it is aim
ed at crime and criminals, and
in view of the lawlessness so
prevalent in our land, we had
no alternative but to give it a
chance to work.
Other sections of the bill
deal with limitations on the
sale of pistols by mail and
across state lines, the immuni
ty of witnesses, the suppres
sion of evidence and the like,
which I do not have the space
to discuss at this time.
I do want to emphasize,
however, that we have made a
beginning in providing the
tolls needed to suppress crim
inal acts which threaten our
existence as an orderly socie
ty. Let me emphasize- we
must take the handcuffs off
the police and put them on
the criminal. The anti-crime
bill we passed is not a perfect
start but it is a clear expres
sion of Congress' concern for
all our citizens. If the courts,
law enforcement agencies and
officers, and we as individual
citizens do our part, there is
still.an excellent chance that
we can make America once
again a safe place in which to
move and have our being.
I
\
^'COME
ggf THINK
tof it..."
by
frank count
Then is in this land of plenty . . . this land of opportunity
ind equal everything .... one of nature's creatures that has
been abused, mistreated and overlooked almost since the
beginning of time And it hurts a little to realize that
nobody's marching . . . carrying banners ... or even editoria
lizing about the plight of this creature
It's almost as if nobody
cares . . . but we know dif
ferently . . . There are some
people who care a great deal
. . . and the time is almost
upon us when all of us can
take some gallant actions . . .
brave the opposition . . . .and
do something about It . . . p
This tired and mistreated \
creature brave* the elements m
. . . the public ... the com- V
petition . . . and often times
unbearable hardships to do
his duty to his family and his
rnmmnnitv Always unsel
fish ... he gives the shirt off his back to almost anybody
bearing his name ....
Dogs like him and for the most part . . .kids do too . . .
Some mothers are known to have given him a friendly pat now
and then . . . grandmothers think he's alright ... if he belongs
to them . . . .mothers-in-law frown on him . . .bill collectors
hound him and the telephone is one of his worse enemies ....
He is a peculiar animal . . . not demanding much .... a
little rest ... a few minutes of peaceful quiet now and
then .... an occasional night out ... at least one meal a
day . . . more if he can get them ... but all in all, . . . any old
thing will do ... .
He is never hard to please .... often times found alone . . .
most of the time he's broke ... but often times he's happy
As far as we know no monument has ever been erected to
one ... nor are the flag; flown at half-staff when one is
lost . . . Yet . . . this country would be in pitiful shape without
him . . .
We're not advocating any mass movement ... We don't
even plan a sit-in or a camp-in or even a love-in . . . But we
would like to see somebody stand up and be counted . . .
rights, right . . . and it's time this poor underprivileged charac
ter got his ...
We've seen several lately . . . mostly they look tired . . .
worn out . . . and some have that far-away longing ldok . . .
apparently looking and longing for some small recognitio ^
n . . . which he so richly deserves . . .
' i " "
They say it is always darkest just before the dawn . . . and
in this saying . . . whatever it means . . . there might be some
light .... Checking the calendar, we see one hopeful sign . . .
the day is near when this wonderful creature will be allowed to
stand temporarily in the spotlight . . .
If it doesn't blind him he might be able to see that
for all the shortcomings those around him might have .... he
is still a very important part of his world . . .
In view of our feelings on this matter ... let us suggest that
on this particular day .... Sunday, June 16 ... . buy old
dad something nice . . . It's Father's Day . . . and it's high time
somebody noticed this old bird ... Be kind to him . . . You
ain't never gonna have but one
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
Gun Control Laws
TKe Courier-Times, RoxBoro, N. C.
The increased rate of violent crime in
the United States, illustrated all to gra
phically by .the assassination of public
figures, has generated in this country a
desire of the majority of citizens for
strengthening gun control legislation
The subject has caused considerable
debate ? not bo much over whether tigh
, t?r controls are needed as over the exUnt
of control. The major question ia how
far can gun control lawi go before they
infringe upon the Second Amendment of
the Constitution, which assures the peo
ple ot the right to keep and bear arms.
Sportsmen and firearms manufacturers
are particularly sensitive on the matter
of gun control. However, the majority
of sportsmen in this country, it will be
found, know how to handle guns and ri
fles, they respect the lethal capabilities
of such weapons and treat them accor
dingly. Unfortunately, the attitude and
responsible action of sportsmen who use
firearms for recreational purposes has
not rubbed off on the remaining segments
of the general public
In short, guns don't kill people ; people
kill people ? too frequently, the instru
ment involved is a, firearm. It would
seem, then, that gun control laws are
needed to protect people from themselves
and from each other. When one reads of
a death due to a firearm almost with
out exception, there is a human element
involved ? the mortal bullet wound is
either self-inflicted, due to humun care
lessness or the result out-and-out murder.
Human frailty, as we see it, necessi
tates gun control, just aa it necessitates
restrictions as to who may and who may
?uot operate a motor vehicle. To Be sure,
?tighter gun controls will not completely
eliminate gun accidents and murder by
firearms. Hopefully, however, the poten
tial and frequency of these incidents
could be lessened.
We totally agree with a recent obser
vation made by The News & Observer:
"We list real property, register and
license automobiles, even dogs. But guns
are afforded the status of legally secret
sin and pleasure. Law enforcement could
be given a tremendous assist if the own
ership of firearms were policed at least
aa casually as the ownership of automo
biles. Indeed, public protection could be
measurably improved and the solution
of crimes involving guns enormously
increased, if the profitable traffic in
guni> were left untouched but owners
were required to register their firearms."
Surely firearm registration is the
least protection the general public could
ask. It should be instituted.