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by Esn Steslmsn
This is another in a series of articles
exploring some of the more intriguing stories
of the University's past.
George Moses Horton was perhaps the
most outstanding man of letters Chapel Hill
produced before the Civil War.
But he was never a student or member of
the faculty, despite a close association with
the University lasting nearly 50 years. .
Horton was a black man, a slave who by a
miracle of effort and will taught himself to
read, write and compose poetry. From the
middle of the War of 1812 until the
University's temporary closing in 1868, he
would walk from his Chatham county home
each Sunday, sit in front of Gerrard Hall and
sell poems of his own composition to
students for a quarter apiece.
Horton was born in 1 797 in Northampton
County, but had been moved to Chatham at
about age six by his master. William Horton
(slaves normally took their owner's last
name) was a lenient slaveholder by 19th
century standards. Whippings seemed to
have been comparatively rare, and slaves
were allowed to travel to the nearby
University on their days off, sell produce
from the plantation and keep most of the
profits for themselves.
It did not take students long, however, to
notice that George Horton Was different
from the other fruit and tobacco venders.
For one thing, he could read. As a child,
left to tend the Horton family livestock, he.
had stolen every spare moment memorizing
the contents of an old blueback speller which
had fallen into his hands.
From this he progressed to a Bible and his
mother's Methodist hymnal. The rhythm
and flow of the words somehow struck a
chord inside him; soon he found himself
making rhymes in his head as he plowed
fields or chopped wood.
At first, the students, amused by Horton's
elevated vocabulary and occasionally
awkward syntax, would gather round and
pay him to deliver long orations.
Then, somehow, someone discovered that
Horton could write poems on any subject
requested. Tradition has it that James K.
Polk, an 1818 graduate and later President
of the United States, first encouraged him in ;
this respect
Thus by the 1820$ he was writing poems
on order chiefly sentimental love ballads
which students usually mailed to girlfriends
as original compositions. A specialty of
Horton's was acrostics, poems in which the
first letters of every line, arranged vertically,
spelled out the name of the young lady in
question.
For all this, Horton charged 25 cents per
poem, although grateful customers
frequently chipped in as much as 50 cents or
SI if their purchase proved particularly
effective.
Horton's activities attracted the attention
of University presidents Caldwell and
Swain, and other University officials, most
of whom became fervid patrons and close
friends.
Caroline Lee Hcntz, a faculty wife from
Lancaster, Mass., transcribed several of his
poems and gave him lessons in meter and
diction. Horton responded by writing a
touching eulogy when Mrs. Hentz's first
child died.
By the 1 8301, the works of the "Sable
Poet" were appearing in the liberal Rzleigh
Register and the prestigious Southern
Literary Messenger.
White friends sponsored the publication
of two anthologies. The Hope of Liberty
(1829) and Poetical Works ( 1845), in hopes
of raising enough money to buy Horton's
freedom. Several fund-raising drives, one
sponsored by N.C Governor John Owen,
were organized with the same object.
But AH Horton, who had inherited George
Moses from his father, remained adamant. If
his "property" was valuable enough for
ST O
VI E 1 fx 1 1 1 1
Vol. 83, No. 27
Chapel Hill's Morning Newspaper
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Thursday, October 3, 1974
1?
respectable persons to raise money for it, he
had no intention cf letting it go.
So Horton remained a slave until 1 865,
when he was liberated by Sherman's troops.
With the help of several Union officers, he
published a third anthology. Naked Genius.
Moving to Philadelphia in 1866, he was
admitted to the Banneker Institute, a society
of black intellectuals, and wrote a series of
short stories on Biblical themes set in
modern times before his death sometime in
1833.
Today, Horton is regarded as the most
important black American poet between
Phyllis Wheatky and the figures of the
"Harlem Renaissance." Several studies,
most notably Richard Walser's The Btack
Poet (New York: Philosophical Library.
1966), have been written on his works.
Founded February 23, 1893
Jon
es captures
RHA
1
presidency
by Art Eisenstadt
end Jim Roberts
Staff Writers
Betsey Jones won a narrow victory
over the team of Mike O'Neal and Lars
Nance in the race for the Residence Hall
Association (RHA) presidency. Voter
turn-out was sparse.
With all precincts eligible to vote for
the post reporting in Wednesday's
campus-wide elections, unofficial
figures showed Jones with a total of 519
votes, compared to 467 votes for O'Neal
and Nance.
Meanwhile, a proposed
constitutional amendment which would
authorize the Campus - Governing
Council (CGG) to allow Student
Government-funded organizations to
keep budgetary surpluses was approved
easily.
With all precincts reporting, "yes"
votes unofficially outnumbered "no"
votes, 966-202. This, is about a five-to-one
margin in favor of the amendment.
Fewer than 1,200 voters, or one of
every 19 students eligible to vote, cast
ballots in the election.
O'Neal and Nance carried only six
precincts.- They were Morrison,
Connor, Parker, Ruffin, naval armory
and Granville.
Jones won the remaining eight
precincts by about a two-to-one margin.
The RHA vote apparently settles a
controversial problem of RHA
leadership. . :
O'Neal lived in Craige dormitory last
year, but the predominantly graduate
residence hall is not an RHA member.
The RHA constitution requires the
president to live in an RHA dorm. Last
year he moved to Granville.
Under pressure from Student Body
President Marcus Williams and
Chancellor N. Ferebee Taylor, O'Neal
resigned on Sept. 13.
Granville residents onlv regained the
right to vote in the RHA election during
a special Supreme Court session held
Tuesday night.
The amendment passed easily in all
precincts. In some, support ran as high
as eight-to-one in favor.
The wording of the referendum on the
ballots was "I approve the amendment
to allow student government
organizations to retain surplus funds."
Now that it is approved, the
amendment will go into effect
immediately. As previously written, the
SG constitution required all budgetary
surpluses to revert to the general budget
surplus, used as a contingency fund in
the following, year's budget.
Under the amended version, CGC can
vote to allow any particular
organization to keep its surplus. If CGC
does not act, the funds will revert to
CGC as before.
In the undergraduate court districts
on campus district 1, Peter Gardner and
Gloria Anderson ran unopposed.
Gardner won with 1 18 votes and
Anderson won with 1 16 votes.
Susan McAdams ran unopposed in
on-campus district II, receiving 64
votes. In on-campus district III John
Cox ran unopposed and got 106 votes.
Susan Adams also ran unopposed,
receiving 109 votes.
Bruce Tindall and Mary Virginia
Curry ran unopposed in on-campus
district IV receiving respectively 60 and
67 votes. H. Morris Caldwell Jr. ran
unopposed in on-campus district V and
received 74 votes.
Ken Ledford and Betsy Brown both
ran unopposed in on-campus district
VI, receiving respectively 137 and 135
votes. In on-campus district VII Jon
Mundorf defeated Jon Shoebotham
and Rick Mayo with 32 votes. Kathy
McArthur ran unopposed and received
80 votes., v
In on-campus district VIII James
J ernigan defeated Sam Cooper with 66
votes. Ashley Moore ran unopposed
with 104 votes.
By press time, CGC results were not
final.
1
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Democrat Rufus Edmisten reveals tax history for past decade Wednesday
Gl
lifted for
election
by Jim Roberts
Staff Writer
The Student Supreme Court rescinded its
contempt order against Granville Residence
College Tuesday and instead ordered
vacated the position of Granville governor,
held by Mark Miller. The court also held the
Granville senate in contempt, of court
without immediate punishment.
The court will also write a letter to
Chancellor N. Ferebee Taylor, emergency
justice David Ford said. "The letter will state
that Granville would not go along with the
lawful order of the court and will ask the
Chancellor to review Granville's status as
University-approved housing."
With the position of Granville governor
vacant, Mike Mayhevv, speaker of
Granville's senate, took over as acting
governor.
The Granville senate was to meet
Wednesday night to vote for a permanent
governor. The senate can again choose
Miller if it wishes. If this occurs. Ford said,
the court would have to take further action.
"The purpose of holding the position vacant
was to make them hold another election."
The decision came as a result of a suit filed
by Bill Strickland on behalf of Granville.
The suit stated that the original contempt
citation improperly labeled the defendent as
Granville Residence College,
. When Alvia Gaskill filed suit for a new
Granville gubernatorial election, the
defendant named was "Lindsay Hughs
Wrenn, as . Chairman of the Granville
Residence College Elections Board."
However, when the contempt of court
citation was handed down because Granville
failed to hold the necessary election, the
citation labeled the defendant as Granville
Residence College.
The contempt citation suspended
Granville Residence College from RHA and
forbade residents there from voting in
"campus-wide elections which involve the
election of RHA officers." In effect,
Granville residents could not vote in
Wednesday's election for RHA president.
Tuesday's late night decision allowed these
students to vote.
Strickland said the citation violates the
right, as specified in the Student
Constitution of the RHA, to handle matters
concerning student life in University
approved undergraduate residence halls. "In
suspending Granville from RHA, the
citation also suspends the Student
Constitution."
by Sandra Millers
Staff Writer
.In an effort to rescue his campaign for
state attorney general from damaging
controversy over his income taxes,
Democrat Rufus Edmisten released a
personal financial statement Wednesday
covering the past decade.
He also challenged his Republican
opponent, incumbent Attorney General
James H. Carson Jr., to do the same.
Edmisten's income and tax listings
showed a total income for the 10-year period
of $194, 143.44 and Virginia income taxes of
$7,087.94. The statement also showed
Edmisten and his wife, an attorney whose
earnings totaled two-thirds of his paid joint
federal income taxes of $78,100.59.
"I'm taking this action, 1 challenge my
opponent to disclose to the citizens of North
Carolina an equally candid and complete
statement regarding the amount and sources
of his income and the amount of taxes he has
paid," Edmisten said during a Wednesday
morning press conference.
Carson replied later in the day with an
itemized financial listing including his tax
returns since 1963. Carson disclosed that he
paid $4,984. 18 in North Carolina taxes last
year.
In a statement released by his campaign
office, Carson said he believes "public
officials have an obligation to go above and
beyond their legal responsibilities" in
responding to questions about their financial
statements while serving as attorney general.
"With this statement," Carson said, "1
think I have gone as far or further than any
other candidate for statewide public office in
Sunny
Today will be sunny and cool. Highs
will be in the middle 60s, and lows
tonight in the low to mid 30s.
Chance of rain is near zero today and
tonight Winds will be from the north at
10 miles per hour.
terms of public disclosure of financial status
and North Carolina tax returns."
The controversy over Edmisten's taxes
began during a Chapel Hill debate Sept. 24
when Carson charged his Democratic
opponent with paying state income taxes in
Virginia while working for N?C. Senator
Sam Ervin, although maintaining legal
residence in this state.
In his Wednesday statement, Edmisten
called Carson's comments irresponsible and
unfounded, and accused the attorney general
of "abusing his important office for partisan
political gain." Edmisten said other
congressional aides had also filed taxes in
Virginia while voting in their home state.
"The present Republican administration
has had two years to begin enforcement of its
policy if indeed this is its policy,"
Edmisten said, "and it appears most unusual
that I a Democrat running against a
Republican appointee happen to be the
first and only person singled out."
Edmisten said he has consulted with
experts in North Carolina tax laws and that
he remains convinced "no language
contained in the general statutes of North
Carolina expressly and explicitly requires
me to file North Carolina returns since
Virginia law absolutely required me to pay
taxes on all my income.
"I felt that my income was not subject to a
second tax by North Carolina and that I was
not required to file a-second tax return"
The Democrat expressed surprise that
Gov. James E. Holshouser Jr., who
appointed Carson attorney general, had
refused to investigate the possibility that his
tax records had been leaked.
Edmisten refuted Republican rumors that
he might withdraw from the race and
affirmed his desire to get back to the issues.
In his Wednesday statement, Carson
replied, "1 am pleased my opponent has
chosen to join me in debating the issues of
the campaign." The attorney general added
he feels confident North Carolina voters now
have "a clear track record" to help them
decide how to vote.
FvomatinOM's fetaire tongMemliffig: on earampes
Students say Pine Room improved
Administrators see no problems
by Don Baer,
George Basco
end Jim Buie
Staff Writers
Many students believe the Pine Room has improved
significantly since last year.
Areas of improvement, they say, include food
preparation, menu variety and general sanitation.
Ninety-five students eating in the Pine Room between
12:30 and 6 p.m. were polled by the DTH.
Most of the students ate in the Pine Room daily.
Twenty-eight students said they ate in the Pine Room last
year. About half said the food preparation has improved
since last year, while the other half has noticed no change.
"They have made some effort to change the atmosphere,"
Kay Pritchett, a Spanish graduate student said. Junior Tom
Fowler thinks they still heed to make improvements.
Compared to last year, 53 per cent think the menu variety
is better, while 40 per cent found no change.
"It certainly has improved over last year I would not eat
here last year," Rick Stradler said.
Although 40 per cent of those polled believe sanitation
and housekeeping has improved since last year, the majority
found no notable differences in this area.
Overall, most students think sanitation conditions are
now good. ; : . :
"They should make Chase as good as this," freshman
Edwin White said.
The consensus is, however, that menu variety and food
preparation are only fair.
"Sandwiches are the only decent food," Fowler
commented.
"Yesterday I had to throw away a chef salad it was at
least two days old," junior Enid Miller said.
Although students seem to think improvements have
taken place, many are still dissatisfied.
More than 80 per cent of those polled said they eat in the
Pine Room not because of food quality, but convenience.
Three of every four students said food items are not priced
fairly.
Graduate student Dora Polacheck cited other cafeterias
downtown as having more reasonably priced food.
The Food Service Advisory Committee is scheduled to
decide this month if Servomation, the company presently
operating the Pine Room, should have their contract
renewed. Students were asked whether Servomation should
be allowed to stay or should be replaced.
A majority of .students believe a replacement should be
sought, while six per cent think Servomation should be
allowed to stay.
"If another company can serve us for the same price and
increase quality, I would definitely say replace
Servomation!" Linda Livengood said.
by Ted Mellnlk
Asst. News Editor
Servomation Mathias, Inc. now seems to face a brighter
future at UNC.
Threatened last spring with termination of their contract,
Servomation was required this year to make changes in its
pricing, menu and sanitation policies. During the first fall
meeting of the UNC Food Service Advisory Committee
Wednesday, students and University administrators said
they thought Servomation, although still not perfect, is now
doing a satisfactory job of serving UNCs food needs.
"I . think we have come a long way since last spring,"
committee member and Associate Student Affairs Dean
James Cansler said. ,
"We appreciate it," Servomation Director Robert Greer
replied.
James A. Branch, committee chairman and auxiliary
enterprises director who earlier this year said the food
committee would begin recruiting a replacement for
Servomation if the required changes weren't made, said he
thought Servomation was doing well
"So far it's in their favor," he said. "I think they've done a
good job."
And Servomation officials appeared eager to correct any
remaining complaints.
"If anybody ever gets a cold sandwich, the best thing they
can do is bring it back to the serving line," Pine Room.
assistant manager Bill Terry said. "And if we have to make
them another sandwich, they'll get another sandwich. And
that goes for any product anybody gets that is
unsatisfactory."
"And if they wish," Pine Room manager Jack Haney
added, "we'll refund their money if they've already paid for
the item."
A Daily Tar Heel poll taken Wednesday showed that
many Pine Room customers believe service in that
Servomation facility is now satisfactory. However, another
DTH poll taken recently showed that students are still
unsatisfied with the Union Snack Bar.
"I've been in the Pine Room many times this year and 1
think there are many improvements,M Cansler said. "But I
haven't eaten any Snack Bar hamburgers. I got scared off by
the newspapers."
. Snack Bar manager Clarence Mayo thinks the Snack
Bar's problem is its reputation rather than its food.
"We expect a certain amount of criticism on the Snack
Bar," Greer said, "but it is fast. That's our primary concern
and there have never been any complaints about that."
Mayo said representatives of Servomation's main office
visited the campus last year and heard that students had been
complaining about the Snack Bar's food quality.
"Well, as long as you are still packing the students in,"
Mayo recalled one representative saying, "why worry about
the foodr