The Pwbli?fc*4 fv?ry FfaiMrn Times Tw*td?y A THvrtrfcy 0< Cmtmty Your Award Winning County Newspaper LOCAL EDITORIAL COMMENT On The Qrow The release, this week, of the long awaited water and sewer planning report, points up what many have been saying for some time now; Franklin County is on the move. The report-prepared by experts in the field-makes reference to the growth of the county over the past five years. One need only look around to see that this is true. Over the weekend, State Conserva tion and Development Board member Clifton D. Moss of Enfield said, fol lowing a tour of the county, that Franklin is on the move. The fact that the report said re commendations were nothing more than an extension of what is already being done speaks well for the pro gressive turn Franklin has taken in recent years. A letter from a county native associated with the space pro gram this week said it very well, when the writer asked that Franklin rush its efforts so that people such as he could return here where, with continued progress, he could make a living. With the upsurge in industrial deve lopment and new awakening to the needs of the county, the future looks bright. The day may soon come when Franklin can retain its talented sons and daughters and benefit from their talents. We have for too long been exporting the best of our young. With still a far piece to go. Franklin cannot rest on its laurels. But it is comforting to note that others are beginning to see what we here at home- have seen for some time. Frank lin is, indeed, on the move. Common Sense Approach Senator Sam Ervin has come up :with a common sense solution to the school integration problem. He has introduced a bill designed to make federal bureaucrats and federal courts abide by the constitution. The bill would give back to the people a freedom of choice. j There is no question but that the constitutional rights of more people in this country have been violated in the name of public school integration than any other pretext in our history. For some unexplained reasons those in positions of power decided that integration was a good thing and that--no matter what the cost-it should be done. Being in positions of power, these people have forced not only their will on the neople but their ways as well. No one can deny that -right or wrong, good or bad -the Supreme Court made segregated schools unlawful. The Court's interpretation of the constitu tion has always been the rules unde which Americans live. Like it or not, this is the way it has to be. But many courts and federal of ficials took this ruling as a license to flaunt their own personal philosphies on others who were in no position to disagree. In short, some juvenile acting and thinking judges and officials have flexed their muscles in a short of power 'far beyond what was ever intended in the 1954 Supreme Court decree. Senator Ervin's bill would elimi nate this. The private citizen would again retain his right to choose. Courts and bureaucrats would be prohibited from interferring with this choice. Teachers would be allowed to work where they wanted and parents could once again choose the school 10 tivfllCh," they wished their child to attend. It is unlikely that the Senator's bill will ever see the light of day. Two things prompt this observation. One, v the Senator is a southerner and secondly, the bill makes sense. It may not pass, but it will serve some purpose. It, at least shows that the North Carolina Senator still has his vyits about him and that in at least one Senate office, common sense still reigns. It might be too much to hope for, but common sense is sometimes contagious. The Senator's disease might one day spread and the people might once again regain their freedom to choose. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING . Perplexing North Carolina Education ine lytjy Ueneral Assembly ap proved an additional tax of two cents per gallon on gasoline, and the price per gallon at my favorite station jump ed four cents. The same Assembly approved a two cents per pack tax on cigarettes, and the per-pack price jumped from 25 cents to 30 cents or from 30 cents to 35 cents, depending on which machine I use. A new law put a tax of one cent per bottle on cola drinks, and my morning break increased in cost from fO cents to 15 cents. So fine, but the perplexing thing is that the rumor now making the rounds in Raleigh is that the solf drink tax will be repealed by the 1971 General Assembly. Besides the fact that I'm not at all convinced my soft drink would return to 10 cents in price, I think repeal would not be in the best interests of the soft drink people. I could make a good case, for example, that the continuing depres sion price of chewing gum (five cents per pack) it a direct result of lack of taxation on this item. If the chewing gum people are smart, they will mount a drive demanding that a one cent per pack tax be placed on their product by the 1971 General As sembly. It will, naturally, then be necessary to charge at least 10 cents for the pack of gum The Fra^kjin Times Established 1870 - Published Tuesdays ft Thursdays by The Franklin times. Inc. Bkkctt Blvd. Dial UY6-3283 Louisburf. N. C. CLINT FULLEH, Managing Editor ELIZABETH JOHNSON, Business Manager NATIONAL EDITORIAL Advertising RaUi Upon Request SUBSCRIPTION RATES ASSOCIATION 1969 In North Carolina: On* Year, $4.64; Six Mohths. $2.83 Three Months, $2.06 ' Out of SUte: On* Y?*r, $6.60; Six Months, $4.00 Thra* Months, (3.60 I i ? f ?!.CrCd " >CCOwd ci*M mail mtlter PotiHfi p?w ?t the Post Offlcc at Louteburg. N. C. 27549. 'Speak . . . Speak . . Who Has Memories Of Squeaking Shoes? Henry B?lk In 0?Mib?ra N*w*-Argu? How is it that the shoes you buy today do not squeak like shoes you bought when a child? Somehow or other the shoe manufacturers seem to have eliminated the squeak to produce a silent type. When 1 was a boy in marvelous Monroe of "Sweet Union" it was a real delight for me when I got a new pair of shoes. I could hardly wait until Sunday to break them in. For Sunday shoes were as much cared for shined, and greased as a Sunday suit was cared for with special attention. The louder a new pair of shoes squeaked, the better I liked it. And I would wait until most of the con gregation at Central Methodist had been seated. Then I would select the central aisle and walk all the way from the back of the Church to the front all the while making my new shoes squeak the loudest possible. Now this was when I was a little fellow. By the time I vas entering my teens I was ashamed when new shoes squeaked as I found my way to our pew. I would try to walk in such a manner that the shoes did not squeak, or if they did they did so gently. What is it that makes us that way. Why is it that at certain ages (say when the boy is growing into a man) different situations have different psychological reac tions on how one feels? Why was it that at age 111 just loved to make new shoes squeak gqing to the front of the church, but by the time I had reached 16 I was ashamed of squeaking shoes? HIGH OVERHEAD A socially ambitious young woman made her hus band's life miserable trying to get him to rent a more expensive apartment. One evening he came home in very good humor. "Good news, dearest!" he cried. "Wo don't have to move. The landlord has raised the rent." merit of costs in both cases, $100.00 fine and that he not operate a motor vehicle on the public highways for 12 months. Henry Morton Gupton, w/m/62, fail to reduce speed to avoid accident. Not guilty. William Bra me, non sup port. Prayer for judgment continued on payment of costs. James Sturdivant Hobbs, w/m/21, speeding. $30.00 fine and costs. James Thomas Powell, n/m/26, scratching off. Nol pros with leave. Christine Mitchell, worth less check. Nol pros with leave. Richard Parker, Sr., assault on female. 30 days in jail, suspended for 1 year; to pay costs and not in any way assault his wife for 12 mon ths. Morby Broston Spell, w/m/41, speeding. Prayer for judgment continued on pay ment of costs. Marvin Jackson Taylor, w/m/39, operating auto in toxicated. $100.00 fine and costs. James Thomas Wilson, w/m/44, speeding. Prayer for judgment continued on pay ment of costs. Ernest NoweU, assault. Nol pros with leave. Donald Wilder, assault. 10 days in jail, suspended for 1 year; to pay $15.00 fine and costs and during period of suspension not to be found guilty of any crime involving assault; that he not go on the grounds of any public school of Franklin County during school hours. Henry Edward Conyers, n/m/36, speeding. $20.00 fine and costs. Robert C. Hill, non sup port. 4 months in jail, sus pended for 2 years on pay ment of costs and $25.00 each week for support of minor children. Ronald Vincent Danleis. w/m/16, safe movement vio lation. Nol pros with leave. Harry Thomas Cleland, w/m/21, non support. Nol pros with leave. Harry Thomas Cleland, w/m/21, abandonment and non support. Nol pros with" leave. Jasper Leon Godwin, Jr., w/m/27, speeding. Prayer for judgment continued on pay ment of costs. Roscoe Joyner, w/m, worthless check. To pay costs and amount of check. Jimmy Alston, n/m, as sault; carrying concealed wea pon; disorderly conduct, in jury to personal property. Judgment absolute on bond. James W. Neal, c/m/32, non-support. Judgment abso lute on bond. James Waist er Neal, c/m/30, driving under In fluence; carrying concealed weapon. Judgment abaolute on bond. Elmo Long, n/m/87, pub lic drunkenea* Judgment abaolute on bond. Raymond John Fogg, Jr., n/m/24, driving under in fluence. 4 months in jail, im pended for 1 year; to pay District Court Dockot Continued costs, $125.00 fine, surrender his operator's license and not operate a motor vehicle on public highways for 12 mon ths. Notice of appeal. Bond set at $200.00. Lawrence Cifers, non sup port, 6 months in jail. Notice of appeal. Bond set at $250.00. In the remainder of the cases, the defendants pleaded guilty under waiver statute. Moses Morgan, w/m/31, riding motorcycle without helmet. Paid costs. These defendants were nknrged with motor vehicle vfclations eteh paid Wits'. Walter l*e Massenburg, n/m/20; Robert Sidney Lu cas, n/m/34; Dwight Steve Wynne, w/m/18; William Joseph Helms, w/m/16. (Continued from Page 1) These defendants were charged with public tkijnke ness and each paid 96.99 Am and costs: Joe Lee Paaree, w/m/42; Joe Junior fcrgee son, w/m; Jessie Ptteips, w/m; Julius C. Henderson; Bessie Hardy, n/f/42; David Collins; Archie Lee Burnette; The following were charg ed with speeding and each paid $5.00 fine and costs: Willie Edward Upchurch, n/m/26; Dale Eugene Mackie, w/m; Annie Louise Walker, n/f/30; Lee Roy Mangum, Jr., w/m; Lyman Eason Harris, w/m; Lottie Harris Hunt**, n/m; Woodrow Funderburk, w/m; Glenn Ervia Ooillns, w/m; Henry Marshall Frank lin, w/m; Jimmle Roy Jef freys, w/m. Robert Jackson Jenkins, w/m/41, improper passing. $10.00 fine and costs. The following were charg ed with speeding and each paid $15.00 fine and costs: Paul Edward Blue, c/m; Clar ence Douglas Kearney, w/m; James Urban Ruppert, w/m; William Lassiter Lamm, w/m. Johnnie W. Alston, worth less check. Paid check and costs. Epsom Lions Meet Members of the Epsom Lions club are continuing their effort to collect used eye glasses for indigent per sons with vision problems, it was reported here today. All used spectacles col lected will be donated to "Needy Ey?," a non-profit organization located in Short ttl, N. J. From there, the (lanes "are distributed both in the United States and abroad to persons needing glasses and unable to secure them other wise. Last year the Epsom club collected and sent to "Needy Eyes" some 3,600 pairs of glasses. The members now are requesting support from the community in this project. Persons having used glasses to donate are asked to either take them to Kesler Funeral Home in Henderson or call Fred Kesler, 438-4717 or 438-3686, as soon as possible. FIRST, YOU HAVE TO GET HIS > ATTENTION y^PATHY, ignorancc. unconccrn. - j j , Those three words about describe what was fo*ir*J when a special Gallup Poll ?.urvocd the attitucU M Americans toward their public schools. Reported M Nation's Schools, the poll revealed that 44 per cent j M ; those polled did not know the name of their local scMp&y superintendent, 60 per ccnt did not know the local fBfc. school principal, and 72 per cent did not know tip hmh .J of the local school board chairman. Incredibly, 35 per ccnt of those polled said y even care to know more about their local school}. A full J 49 per cent replied that ? regardless of neerf-^lotil officials probably could not convince them to vote higher school taxes. More than two-thirds of thesa polled said they weren't interested in serving oo theif 1 school board. The poll may or may not be an accurate appraisal tf the American public's attitude toward its schools. a time when schools in some parts of the country M? being closed for lack of funds, in a time when NqRh. ? Carolina school bond issues are being overwhck#u^f^r defeated one after the other, and in a time *hen teachers often must strike to get their salaries up to those paid garbage collectors, it is clear that apathy, ig norance, and unconcern are rampant. It defies logic. In a technological age when computers proliferate and man trods the lonely reaches of the moon, the public ought to be overwhelmingly interested in the institution which made those machines, those steps, possible. In an age when the value of a year of education is measurable ? even in terms of the almighty dollar, a materialistic public ought to be concerned. In an age when the highway from the ghetto to the execu tive suite is paved by education, the public ought not to be apathetic. } ? i But just for conccrn, knowledge, and in terest doesn't friakc it so, and most educators would t" -probably agree (hat the Nation's Schools poll uncovered '|he most critical failure of the public schools ? the in ability to get and to hold the concern and attention of (he public from which *11 financial support must come. ? ? ? It would be easy to accept the pofl results, throw up : collective hands, and say the public is already get-,, j. I ttf>|ff*ore than k deserves from its schools. It would be castigate the public as an ignorant oaf who f piMy gets cxcited about the latest over-powered, chrome * plated offering from Detroit, or the fall television Kltedvle. and frho quarrels mightily over a $10 annual incrfcase in the property tax but willingly spends $24 for four tickets to a football game. But something is badly wrong with the way we as educators arc telling the school story if 35 per cent of oar people don't even want to know more about their schools. We have alienated rather than enlisted support if 49 per cent of our people couldn't be convinced to vote higher school taxes. We have utterly failed to com > fiwalcate the excitement of the classroom if more than two- thirds of our people don't want to serve on a school board. Perhaps we have talked for too long of budgets and figures and square foot costs when we should have been describing the spark of understanding irt the eyes of a six-year-old Perhaps we closed the doors on "my" classroom and "my" school system when the doors should have been thrown wide and the community invited in. Perhaps we retreated into our dull pedagese when we should have answered in simple, concrete terms. 1 And perhaps ? just perhaps ? enough of us con sidered teaching dull and menial to project that kind of image to the public. ? GK