and
Che Jii^hlanbs JKarcniait
Published every Thur?<lay by the Franklin Praaa
At Franklin, North Carolina
VOL. LXin Number six
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The Beer Election
' III
ILf ACON COUNTY'S share of the state taxes on
beer and wine is about $32,000 a year ? Ap
proximately one-fourth of the total budget of our
county government.
If Macon County continues to permit, the legal
sale of beer, that revenue will be collected by the
state and turned over to the county and its two
towns. If, on the other hand, the majority of those
who ballot in the election February 14 vote to out
law beer and wine within the confines of Macon
County, the county will lose this $32,000. It will be
divided among North Carolina counties that do per
mit the sale of beer and wine.
If conditions in Macon County can be materially
improved by outlawing the sale of beer, this news
paper believes it should be outlawed ? regardless of
the revenue.
But, other things being equal, the people of this
county would be foolish indeed to refuse $32,000 a
year in taxes ? taxes that are going to be collected
by the state, regardless of the outcome of the elec
tion here.
Are other things equal?
* * ?
The drys advance, among other arguments, two
that are hard to answer. Both are so sound that
they require no elaboration.
The first is that they do not want the moral re
sponsibility of sanctioning, by law, the sale of any
beverage that contains alcohol. Many wets ? cer
tainly the more moderate wets ? will agree that that
position is sound in principal.
Their second argument is that there will be less
drinking if alcoholic beverages are less convenient
to get ; that every time a man passes a beer or wine
or liquor store, it reminds him that here is an op
portunity to get a drink. The moderates will agree
that that argument seems based upon a knowledge
of human nature.
The logic of those arguments is unassailable ?
rather, it would be unanswerable if we lived in a
world ruled by logic.
* * *
The wets counter with these questions, among
others :
With beer legal, and whiskey illegal, isn't it rea
sonable to suppose that many persons will be sat
isfied with beer, a beverage of relatively low alchol
ic content ? in other words, won't there be less al
cohol consumed if beer may legally be bought?
Will not prohibition of beer tend to increase the
evil of bootlegging by offering the bootlegger yet
another market ? that of beer?
And isn't a community in which beer, or even
whiskey, is legally sold a better community in
which to bring up a child than one in which the law
is openly flaunted by people of all classes and con
ditions? better than a community in which a man
can become rich ? and thus powerful and respected
? '???? bootlegging? They add that prohibition, like
u li i law, can be enforced only when an over
. licli.iing- majority not only favors the law in prin
ciple- but favors its actual enforcement.
* ? *
This newspaper's guess would be that a majority
of th? citizens of Macon County would like to see
a dry county ? "the drier, the better", many of them
would say.
But, regardless of the principle involved or of the
arguments, pro and con, it believes the people of
this county face a very practical question :
Is it possible to make it a dry county?
Under the present state law, a Macon County
person may go to Asheville, or to South Carolina,
and bring back with him five fifths (one gallon) of
whiskey; and, if there are five persons in an auto
mobile, a judge recently ruled, they have a legal
right to bring back five gallons. Each may take
his gallon home with him and drink it when and as
he pleases ; or he may give it to his friends. The
legal prohibition in this county is against the sale
of whiskey. ?
And if the sale of beer and wine are outlawed
here, it also will be legal to bring them in in quan
tity.
That may not be a good law. The Presi tfcinki
it is a bad law ; it believes we should have had, and
.still should have, a state-wide referendum.
But the practical fact is that it ia the law.
, And the question is : Under that law, can we have
a dry county?
That ia the question that faces the voters Feb
ruary 14.
Reaaon* Enough
Attention is called to the interesting letter, "A
Neglected Spot", that appears elsewhere on this
page.
First of all, it presents an opportunity to remind
readers of The Press of certain matters of news
paper policy : Every letter to the editor and every
news item sent to The Press by mail must be ac
companied by the real name of the writer ? other
wise the letter or news item goes in the waste
basket. Furthermore, this newspaper prefers that
letters to the editor appear over the real names of
the writers; and letters so signed are more effec
tive. Exceptions, as in the case, of the letter on this
page, occasionally are made to this second rule ; but
never, unless the editor of the paper has on file the
real name of the author.
The chief reason, however, for commenting on the
letter from "A Citizen" is to call attention to its
merit. The writer has said, and said well, what has
long needed saying, and what should continue to be
said until something is done about the situation.
"A Citizen" suggests several convincing reasons
why the people of this county should bestir them
selves, from purely selfish motives, to see that the
beautiful and potentially rich trans-Nantahala coun
try should be provided with roads and the other
developments which most of us take for granted.
To the selfish reasons cited, this newspaper would
add another :
Macon County needs the Nantahala section's
greatest resource of all- ? the potential wealth of
citizenship that lies in western Macon. The Anglo
Saxon peoples have shown themselves the world's
greatest masters of self-government, and probably
nowhere in the world today is there purer Anglo
Saxon blood than in the region that lies west of the
Nantahalas' crests. (The Press is quite conscious
that it has become unfashionable to suggest that
any particular race or strain has special merits;
but, so long as scientists repeatedly prove the im
portance of blood and breeding in livestock, we shall
continue to believe that blood counts among hu
mans, too.) i ? ?
And to the purely selfish reasons why we should
do something about the long neglect of the Nanta
hala country might well be added this fact : Those
people are entitled to roads, etc., even if it weren't
financially profitably to the rest of us to help them
get these things.
| ? ? ? LETTERS ? ? . |
A NEGLECTED SPOT
| Editor, The Press:
Few people stop to think or even realise that approximately
half of Macon County lies back of the majestic blue Nanta
hala Mountains or that nearly a tenth of the population of
this mountain county resides In this area; nor do many realize
what a huge slice of the taxes of our county are derived from
the hydro-electric plant and the property of the Southern
Railway which lie In this community.
Well, during these snowy days when most of us are housed
up, trying to keep from freeelng, we have had time to think
of these things, and lots more. We have reached the conclu
sion that there are few spots In our state . worse neglected
than this.
Our greatest need at present i a roads. To gain access to our
community, you must climb one or the other of the steep
winding roads which are usually washboards to summer and
quagmires to winter? or, even worse, so covered with snow and
Ice or blocked by slides until It Is a feat t? go t? the nearest
town.
I feel that certain side roads here need Immediate attention.
For Instance, the school bus Is supposed to serve the patrons
of Camp Branch to transport their children to the Otter Creek
school. However, due to two steep grades, at times It is Im
possible to get the bus to and out of there, let alone the child
ren. There are three side roads that Should be graveled at
the earliest possible moment. They are: The road from the
Queen's Creek church to the Swain county line; the road
from the Kyle church through the Bateman-Soleabee com
munity, which Includes the Long Branch road; and the road
to the Briartown Baptist church.
I honestly believe that If the good people of Macon County
could realize how much of the trade of this area Is going to
Swain and Cherokee counties that they would not rest easy
until something was done to divert more of this luerative busi
ness into their own cash registers. For instance, to show you
what I mean, more cars and trucks are bought from out of
county dealers than from local dealers. The Andrew* physi
cians are getting as much or more of the practice of this
community than the Franklin doctors. (Ill bet there are
Franklin physicians who have never been In this section on
a call). The young people of this area look to Andrews, Mur
phy, and Bryson City for amusement. We could go on and on
pointing out specific cases of where our county is losing trade
and services to neighboring counties, but I feel that It would
be useless? what we want Is roads? roads at home, and roads
connecting us with the outside world.
Will you lend your support in helping us get these roads?
A CITIZEN.
Flats, N. C.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND 'BEER JOINTS'
Dear Editor:
In behalf of the people of Macon County who con few Christ
J ecu* as their Savior, let me urge everyone to take their chil
dren to Sunday aehool. Just think what It would mean If there
were no Sunday schoole In the land I It we have Sunday
school*, they will have to be attended, maintained, and cup
ported by the God-fearing people.
The brewers, distillers, and beer -Joint, operators won't main
tain them. Many people today stay away from church on
Sunday because they spend Saturday night In a beer Joint
and don't feel like attending a place of worship because of
that "night-after" hang-over 111 admit that there are many i
other reasons why people fall to attend services on the Sab- i
bath, but this is one. I
I want to give the people of this county something to mull
over. My subject Is "Sunday Schools and Beer Joints". Both ]
are turning out products in this county, both are shaping and i
mouldiny the We?ls, fcgMti, M4 lives e< the puth tf this i
? Tifti II II 111 mi' i i > ? ? i ?' ? '
county. I want the good oltiaens to oompare these two organ
izations and the trulU each yields and decide which they will
support.
Don't be swayed or disillusioned by the idea that legalized
drink will keep out the bootlegger. Do we ever notice in the
papers any account ol where the sheriff or patrolman has
caught some bootlegger? Sure we have, and legalized beer has
not driven him out. "How can Satan cast out Satan?" Legal
booze and bootleg booze serve the same purpose, they have
the same thing in common, and both stem from the same
Satantic powers of this world.
CLYDE O. MORGAN.
Nantahala, N. C.
January 31, 1948
? Others' Opinions ?
STASSEN HAD FACTS
Edwin Pauley has several times challenged Harold E. S Lassen,
Republican Presidential hopeful, to put up his facts in the
charges against Pauley's commodity dealings.
Mr. Stassen has done Just that, and the picture is not a
pretty one. Say all you please about the partisan element in
any attack that Mr Stassen might make on Mr. Pauley, it
can be counted on that Mr. Stassen would not be so careless
as to make bold and frank statements that couldn't be sup
ported.
It Is good that Mr. Pauley Is getting out. Let him say that
Mr. Stassen didn't smoke him out, but the end result is the
same, and that's what counts.? Durham Morning Herald.
LEGAL ADVERTISING
EXECUTRIX NOTICE
Having qualified aa executrix
of John H. Thomas, deceased,
late of Macon County, N. C.,
this is to notify all persons
having claims against the estate
of said deceased to exhibit them
to the undersigned on or be
fore the 7th day of January,
1949 or this notice will be plead
In bar of their recovery. All
persons indebted to said estate
will please make immediate set
tlement.
This 7th day of January, 1948.
LILLIE A. THOMAS,
Executrix.
J15 ? <5tc ? F19
EXECUTOR'S NOTICE
Having qualified as executor
of Virgil T. Potts, deceased, late
of Macon County, N. C., this is
to notify all persons having
claims against the estate of said
deceased to exhibit them to the
undersigned on or before the
14th day of January, X949 or
this notice will be plead In bar
of their recovery. All persons
Indebted to said estate will
please make immediate settle
ment.
This 14th day of January,
1941.
J. C. SORRELS,
Executor.
J22-fltp--F2?
EXECUTRIX NOTICE
Having qualified as executrix
of J. E. Palmer, deceased, late
of Macon County, N. C., this is
to notify all persons having
claims against the estate of said
deceased to exhibit them to the
undersigned on or before the
21st day of January, 1040 or
this notice will be plead In bar
of their recovery. All persons
indebted to said estate will
please malce Immediate settle
ment.
This 21st day of January, 1048
ELSIE E. PALMER,
Executrix.
J20 ? 6tp? F20
NOTICE OF SALE
NORTH CAROLINA
MACON COUNTY
Under and by virtue of an
order of the Superior Court of
Macon County, made In the spe
cial proceeding entitled, "Oilmer
A. Jones, Administrator of Will
Browning, deceased, vs. Newton
Browning, _et al," the under
signed commissioner will, on the
1st day of March, 1948, at 12:00
o'clock noon, at the Courthouse
door In Franklin,* North Caro
lina, offer for sale to the high
est bidder for cash that cer
tain tract or parcel of land In
Macon County, North Carolina, 1
more particularly described as
follows:
fikot tract: Being tne
same lands described In a deed ;
from Andy Baxter to William i
Crump, dated August 1st, 1911
and registered In Book S-3 ol
Deeds, page 113, office of Reg
ister of Deeds for Macon Coun
ty, N. C , excepting the land:
adjudged to belong to William
Crump by Judgment of the Su
perior Court of Macon County.
N. C., August Term, 1914, copy
of which Judgment Is recorded
In Book W-3 of Deeds at page
181, Register's office, Macon
County, N. C., to which deed
and Judgment reference is here
by made for a more definite
description of said lands, con
taining 32 acres more or less,
being the land described in a
deed from Lawrence Hyatt (un
married) to William Browning,
dated 12 November, 1921, and
registered in the office of Reg
ister of Deeds for Macon Coun
ty, North Carolina, in Book 0-4
of Deeds, page 437.
SECOND TRACT: On the
waters of Tennessee River, BE
GINNING on a pine, 1. C. West's
corner, and runs North 90 poles
to a white oak; then 8 M deg.
West 13 poles to a chestnut oak;
then South 8S deg. W 4A poles
to a stake and pointers; then
9 12 deg. W 80 poles to a black 1
lack; then East 20 poles to the
BEOINNINO, containing 32 i/i
teres, more or less, being the
i?me l?nd fruit H to? the IUt? i
to Berry Johnson by State UJf rant
No. 13519, recorded In BooU^ o O
of Deeds at page 411-412 in t>vJ
fice of Register of Deeds for "
Macon County, being the land
described In a deed from -Harv
ey Johnson and wife to William
Browning, dated 10 December,
1922, and registered in the of
fice of Register of Deeds for
Macon County, North Carolina,
in Book 1-4 of Deeds, page 139.
THIRD TRACT: Being Lot No.
3 on mountain tract and Lots
Nos. 1 and 2 of the lower tract
of Carter lands of Macon Coun
ty, as divided:
Lot No. 3 on mountain, BE
GINNING at a stake or rock 6ir~ '
the mountain, Roxlf*' Burgess'
8. W. corner and runs with old
line W 19 poles to a stake;
then N 3 E 40 poles to a stake
in back line; then with old line
E 19 poles to Roxie Burgess'
N. W. corner; then with b llne~?
South 40 poles to t1-' i .jrf IN
NING, containing 4 ?/4 acres,
more or less.
Lots Nos. 1 and 2 of the low
er tract, BEGINNING at a black
oak and persimmon in the old
Tlppett line and Andy Baxter's / '
corner and runs S 87 E 40 pole?,,1
to a rock; then S l'/i W 2I>
poles to a Spanish oak corneA
of the Dan Carter Lot No 2 -J
then N 87 W 40 poles to a rocu
and pointer on a ridge; theni
N with Tlppett line 25 poles
the BEGINNING, containing
9% acres more or less, the
above two tracts being all the
land described in a deed from
R. D. Sisk, Commissioner;
Will Browning, dated 27
cember, 1934, and registered in
the office of Register of foeeds
for Macon County, North Caro
lina, in Book Y-4 of Deeds,
page 28.
FOURTH TRACT: BEGIN -
INIG at a pine stump 25 poles
North of a B oak sappling, cor
ner of the Andrew Baxter place,
and runs East 80 poles to a
stake; then N 40 nrt&s to a
pine; then W 80 to a
chestnut oak; then s*40 voles
to the BEGINNING, also the
following tract BEGINNING in
the first line of the tract above
mentioned 30 poles East of the
pine stump and runs S 10 poles
to a stake; then W 10 poles to
a stake; then N 10 poles to a
stake, the aforesaid line; then
with said line W 10 poles to the
BEGINNING and Including
Crump's garden, containing 20
acres more or leas, being the
land described in a deed from
Charles Morrison to Will Brown
ing, dated 10 September, 1935,
and registered in the office of
Register of Deeds for Macon
County, North Carolina, in Book
X-4 of Deeds, pag^ 409.
FIFTH TRACT: Lot No. 2 of
Mountain Tract, BEGINNING at
a stake or rock or black gum,
Mary Love's corner In the old
line, runs West with old line 19
poles to a stake or rock and
chestnut oak pointers; then
North 3 degrees East 40 poles
to a stake In a hollow; then
East with old line 19 poles to a
itake, Mary Love's corner; then
3outh with said line to the BE
QINNING, containing 4% acres.
Lot No. 4 In Lower Tract, BE
3INNING on an old hickory
and chestnut stump and runs
North 87 deg West 40 -
i Spanish oak, the Carter
corner; then Nortl^ \y2 deg.
Bast lJ'/i poles to a' rock, Dan
Darter and Emits Slier corner;
then South 87 deg. East 40 poles
to a rock; then South 1V4 deg.
West 12'/j poles to the BEGIN
NING, containing 3 1/8 acres.
She above described two tracts
aelng the land described in a
leed from J. T. Burston and
wife to Will Browning, dated 2'
November, 1937, and reglit'
In the office of ReglrJ
Deed* for Macon County/
a Book C-B of Deeds, p
Any and all other la
nte rests In lands, mlneri
ind easement* owned
drowning In Macon
forth Carolina, at the
ill death.
This Mth day of
Ml.
OILMBR A. JONES,
Commissioner
iMtMJ-rn