The Journal - Patriot independent in politics Published Mondays and Thursdays at North Wilkesboro, North Carolina JUUU9 c. HUBBARD?MRS. D. J. CARTER Publishers 19SS?DANIEL J. CARTER?IMS y * ? ? "* 1*I?. I SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One Year 12.00 (In Wilkes and Adjoining Counties) One Yea? . 13.00 (Outside Wilkes and And Adjoining Counties) Rates To Those In Service: One Year (anywhere) 32.00 ?- at the aostefflce at North Wilkes tarot North Carolina, as Second-Class matter ?^ Aet of March 4, 18*79. Thursday, Feb. 13, 1947 'garth Carolina MM ASSOC IATB English Socialism A Dismal Failure Newspaper headlines during the past week have told the story of the dismal failure of the socialistic form of govern ment voted into England in the past few years. There the people have been cold, liter ally speaking, because they have not had coal or other fuel to keep them warm. And let it be remembered that the coal industry was "Nationalized" by the labor party in power in England last January Not only is the fuel situation indicative, but practically the same situation exists relative to other commodities in England. In England clothing and food remain strictly rationed, although the war has been over for a year and a half. Numer ous necessities, which in our free economy are plentiful, are fearfully scarce in Eng land. Americans should remember the lesson they are now able to learn by observation pf a people who were free until they turn ed over control to the government and, for all practical purposes, banished free enterprise. American production, we thought, was terribly slow to supply the demand of the public. But in comparison with reconver sion in England, we have worked wonders. It is notable that we have only one com modity under rationing, and that could have been off by now had it not been for sugar price control, which was worse than silly and is directly blamable on the gov ernments price policy of that one "point to with pride" item. The alarming fact is that in America ve have idiotic proponents of socialism, and we have some who are sincere. Still more alarming are those who have sinister designs to overthrow democracy in the United States and institute in its stead a form of national socialism. Those who would socialize the power industry, the railroads, the practice of medicine or who would rigidly control labor practices and wages would lead us directly along the path that England has trod and for which the English people are now shiwering with cold. Americans who value their freedom and who would not sell* their birthright for a mess of pottage should resist every effort of the government, to enter business. There is a dangerous school of thought in this country which leads the people to want to shift their individual problems and responsibilities on the government in a fruitless effort to attain social secur ity. The fullest measure of social security obtainable is in a life sentence to prison. In effect, if we cast all our individual burdens on the government, we will have exchanged our liberty for "security", and will have an existence as surely controlled by government edict as if we were in prison. The Growth of Prepaid . Medicine Prepaid medical care plans of one kind or another are making spectacular pro gress, according to a survey published in Medical Economics. ?the leader in the field is naturally the old established Blue Cross organization, which started in 1934. On September 1 last, its coverage totaled 24,000,000 peo ple. The most rapid growth is being made by state medical care plans approved by medical societies. They are of recent orig in for the most part?of 51 in operation on September 1, 21 started during the last two years. These plans were subscribed to by more than 4,000,000 people as of September 1?a jump of 45 per cent since the start of 1946. The support that the medical profession is giving the plans is shown by the fac; that 75,000 doctors, more than half of al physicians in private practice, are partici pating. Furthermore, coverage will soon reach almost the entire country?as of a recent date, only three small states hac no medical care plan in operation. And it is estimated that the number of people eligible for coverage will reach 100,000, 006. Here is the answer to those who say that private medicine hab done little to make its services available, at reasonable cost, to the rank and file of the people. While the cost of prepaid medicine varies from state to state, in all cases it is re markably low?a few dollars a month for the average family. The extent of the service offered has also been steadily in creased. Prepaid, voluntary medicine is the best solution yet suggested to what ever medical care problems we have. Give people what you think they want instead of what they ask for and you will soon go out of business. T u r EVERYDAY COUNSELOR By Rev. Herbert Spaugh, D. D. When are we going to learn that the grass is not always greenest on the other side of the fence, and that we do not have to leave home to find those things which we think are best? V story of a man who went deer leaving his wife at home. He left early, and late in ftie evening came trudging home with nothing but his gun, tired and discouraged. His wife then led him to the garage and showed him a 95-pound buck hanging from the wall. She had felled the deer in her own garden, after sighting it from her kitchen window. Of course this is an exceptional story, but don't we all have the habit of want ing to leave our own homes for the best public speaker, the best preacher, lawyer, doctor, the best scenery, the best merch andise? This reminds me of one of those stories handed d<^vn in old Salem, N. C. In the early days of the settlement, one of the industries was a pottery, where among other things excellent clay pipes were manufactured. Cigars and cigarettes were not yet in vogue, and smokers kept sets of clay pipes, from which they offered visitors a choice who would smoke with them. A fresh reed stem was put in th pipe. One resident, dissatisfied with the home product, saw an advertisement from New York of an expensive set of clay pipes in plush-lined case. He ordered them. When they arrived he discovered to his surprise that they were "made in Salem." We dont have to leave home to find the best things in life; ? they are with us all of the time. Where are better friends than the home-town friends? Who will do more for us in time of need than the members of our own families? Men and women are roaming over the country, searching for happiness and peace. An increasing number of books are coming from the press telling us how to find it. A host of new ills are assailing us, which we are being told comes from in ward tension, frustration and unhappi ness. ? Two thousand years ago, Jesus said that we do not need to leave home to find peace and happiness. He said that the place to look for them was within our own hearts. When a man learns that he lives in a God-centered world, that when he makes peace with Him, lives his life according to divine plan, becomes part of the Master-plan, peace and happiness come, because he sees God in all about1 him and within him. I | ABNORMAL ABSURDITIES By DWIGHT NICHOLS ?tal WORRY, WORRY, WORRY!? The title of this reminds ub of the colored man who had that gloomy Monday morning look, and a friend asked him if he was worried. To which he replied: "Boy, I'se booked up solid on worrying. I'se got so many wor ries on mah mind that if sumpln' happens to me today t won't get time to worry about it for two weeks." Worry, the state of being which is blamed for early death, heart disease and affiliated ills in addition to much despair, is defined by Webster as being dis turbance due to care and1 anxiety. Worry is differentiated from constructive thought. Often a person will face a problem and think it out. More often a person will have a problem and his or her mind will dwell upon the con sequences of the probable fear ful outcome, without giving a' thought to any possible, and sometimes highly probable, good result. LiADIES FIRST? "How dare you swear before my wife," demanded the indig nant husband. "I am very sorry," replied the intoxicated man, ''I was unaware that your wife wanted to swear first." spring poetry? If louses are lice And mouses are mice Would you say that a guy With 'two spouses had spice? STOPPING PLACE? She: "There's one thing I want I to tell you before you go anyj further." He: "What's that?" She: "Don't go any further." ACCURACY TEST? The doctor had examined the lanky recruit and was filling in the medical form. "That's every thing except the sputum test,' he said. "Just expectorate in one of those vials on that shelf at the tor mHof llto "What d'you mean, doc?" "Spit in one of those bottles on I the shelf at the far end of the| room." "What! All the way from | here?" HOW WOULD SHE KNOW? Sue was congratulating Mary on her driving ability: "Why, you're handling the car like a veteran." v "How do you. know," counter ed Mary. "You've never seen me handle a veteran." FIRST THINGS FIRST? Ad In English paper: Owner of tractor wishes to correspond with widow who owns a modern thresher; object matrimony; send photograph