Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / July 22, 1948, edition 1 / Page 10
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t ^frRttklin Tfixt&s anb Che ^Highlauiis ^Hnrttninit Published every Thursday by the FrankHn Press At Franklin, North Carolina VOL. LXI1I Number thirt WEIMAR JONES ? Editor-Publisher y nontx C?rot.no yA. Entered at the Post Office, Franklin, N. C., as second class matter Telephone No. 24 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One Year . Blx Months Three Months ,.... Single Copy , Obituary notices, cards of thanks, tributes of respect, by In dividuals, lodges, churches, organizations or societies, will be re garded as advertising and Inserted at regular classified advertis ing rates. Such notices will be marked "adv." In compliance with the postal requirements. $2.00 $100 .00 .05 Worth Supporting A movement is on foot here to raise enough ** money by donations to materially supplement the state salary of a teacher of physical education. The aim is to kill two birds with one stone: Provide the Franklin school with an A-l teacher of physical education, a man trained for that specific work, for nine months in the year; and provide the com munity with a first 'rate director of recreation the other three months. Many of us hjng have talked about the need for a coordinated, directed recreation program here. This movement gives us an opportunity to do some thing about it. The project deserves prompt and generous sup port. Undoubtedly it will get just that. The High Cost Of Being Sick Letters on matters of general interest always are welcome in the columns of The Press, and the interesting communications of Dr. T. D. Stagle (issue of July S) and of Dr. Edgar Angel (in this issue) were especially welcome, because they dis cuss a problem of vital public concern, today's cost of medical care. The editor of this newspaper has no desire, and no intention, of engaging in a controversy with the Writers of these letters, and many good reasons ? among them, the fact that both doctors are the editor's good friends. What follows is written purely with a view to keeping the record straight. First of all, the editor wishes to reemphasize that the editorial in question ("The High Cost of Being Sick", issue of June 24) did not refer specifically to conditions in Franklin and Svlva, but to a prob lem that is nation-wide. In the second place, he wishes to make it clear that the editorial was not based upon misinforma tion. The background for the editorial was personal experience and observation during a year and a half working in a hospital, many years as a reporter in close contact with doctors and hospitals and med ical organizations, and an unfortunately large num ber stays in hospitals in the capacity of a patient. The immediate provocation of the editorial was published figures, prepared by the Ashe>ville Hos pital council. finally, the editorial did not say an ot tne tnings the casual reader might be led to believe. It said just four things: 1. That the cost of medical care today is so high that it presents a national problem, especially for the middle class, that even1 a brief hospital illness is something in the nature of a financial catastrophe for the average man. 2. That the cost of hospitalization seems inord inately high to the layman, but (the editorial was careful to add) "the average man is not in position to know whether hospital care can be provided for less". 3. That the cost of illness is multiplied by the hospitalization of patients who could be treated just as well, or certainly almost as well, at home, and that there has been a tendency in the medical pro fession for years to send most non-ambulatorv pa tients to the hospital because it is easier for the ' doctor and a nurse to work there. The proof is that many doctors, especially in the cities, refuse to treat cases anywhere except in their offices or in a hos- , pital. 4. That the cost of illness, must he reduced; and that it is up to the medical profession to do some thing about it, unless it wishes the country to adopt socialized medicine. The letters discussed Xo. 2 in detail, and touched on Xo. 3 and 4. They largely ignored Xo. 1. The big question remains unanswered : How is the average man to meet the high cost of being sick? The Beer- Wine Election Last January, when a special beer-wine election was approaching in this county, The Press outlined certain policies it would follow in regkrd to pub lication of facts and opinions on the issue. Again we are approaching an election on the ques tion of legal beer-wine sales In (his county, and tho policies outlined in January will be followed in the period between now and the special election August Mi Those policies, as they were outlined in this column six months ago, are : This newspaper will not attempt to tell tiie voters hjw they should vote. It would be presumptuous for anybody ? whether he be lawyer, doctor, politician, minister, or ed itor? to do so. While discussion and exchange of ideas are, of course, highly desirable, the issue is one on whicli eaih individual voter should make up his own mind. It is to be hoped that the voters will approach the questions raised by this election with open minds; that they will seek all available information on the subject; and that they will reach their decisions upon a basis of facts and considera tion of what is best, all things considered, for all tne people of this county. But what the voter's decision? and even how he reaches that decision? is a matter for his own conscience. This newspaper will not accept any paid advertising, from either side, designed to sway public opinion in this particular election. Paid advertising on such an issue is likely to contain exaggerated statements and appeal to prejudice rather than reason? that is one of a number of reasons why The Press has adopted this policy. Except when the accurate reporting of a public gath ering may require it, this newspaper will not publish any statement attacking the good faith or personal character of any individual. This newspaper will publish, as news, announcements of meetings called by wets or drys, and report, as news, what transpires at those meetings. And it not only will publish, but will welcome, the op inions of Macon County readers on this issue. Such letters should confine themselves to fact and opinion and should not deal in personalities. Writers are asked to confine their letters to 250 words, or thereabouts. People are funny. A lot of well-meaning people have become quite excited about segregation of whiles and Negroes in the armed forces. But it never occurs to them to worry about the strict segregation of officers and enlisted men. There is considerable evidence that Truman is not the man the majority of Democrats wanted as their nominee for President. Ami there is fairly gen eral agreement that Dewey was not the most popu lar man among the Republican candidates for the nomination. Vet Truman and Dewey are the nomi nees! Why ? Anyone who reads the newspapers can come to only one conclusion. Truman and Dewey were nominated because all major decisions in na tional political conventions are in conformity with the wishes of a few political leaders ? and what the political leaders want and what the rank and file party members want are by no means always the same. So what? Simply this: Why don't we select our nominees for President just like we select our North Carolina Democratic nominees for governor, in a party primary? As it is, the people of the United States too often are given merely the choice of two evils. LETTERS ABOUT THli COST OF ILLNESS Gentlemen: The cost of being sick, laments The Press, must be reduced. O. K.? how would you reduce it? The last paragraph of the editorial hints at socialized medicine as one way to do it? but it's the Soviet, not the American. It now costs more to be sick because modern science has produced a better grade of medical practice and hospital care. Anything better costs more. When grandpa was a boy, the M. D. treated everything with the drugs in his saddle bag. That's very romantic, but in those good old days, every mature woman had buried her quota of babies carried off by "summer complaint" or diphtheria. Then tuberculosis was a death sen tence. People didn't pay big bills for appendix operations, in stead they died from a mysterious "inflammation of the oowels" or "cramp colic". Within a half century we have seen death rates take a tailspin, plagues wiped out, epidemics controlled. Smallpox, cholera, cnilabed fever, typhoid and many others which mowed down innocents in every family are no longer scourages. All this is due to the combined elforts of the medical profession, which has provided the manpower, and the hospitals, which have provided the tools. And instead of thanking God that his generation had profited from such teamwork, the editor prefers to give them both a kich in the pants. Unnecessary hospitalization, he says. Let up hope that he has never seen any child of his subjected to a necessary mas toid operation; that he has never seen a loved one with pneu monia gasping for air, while the family pathetically tried to erect a home-made oxygen tent. A desperately sick man is iij a constant state of emergency and may at any moment require the skilled services of a doctor or nurse? and need them pronto! Where can any such services be made instantly available' on an around-the-clock schedule? You've guessed it; the hospital, and only the hospital. How much is life worth, Mr. Editor? Millions of people are alive today who would long since have been in their coffins were it not for the "expensive" Impedimenta of modern science. The American public demands the best care available. Our citizens are first rate people and should not have to accept second-rate medicine. But first-rate anything costs money. Who should pay for it? The federal government could, of course. That's how it Is done in Russia. Most Americans, how ever, think that a man who can afford it should pay his own bill. If the patient Is indigent, someone else, some agency, some government unit simply must meet the cost. The oniy alternative Is to let the patient die of his poverty; and I might remind you that patlente needing treatment are never turned down. And for the man in-between, the middle class American, who can pay part of the cost, what else is there to do but accept the necessary supplement help from some state or philanthropic source? Better that than give the middle | bracket citizen a shoddy grade of care because he can't aiford ! to pay the full cost. Hospital costs have gone up. That Is not because ot any dark conspiracy on the part of the doctors or hospital officials. It is simply that everything a hospital needs costs more. The hospital has to pay more for food, dressings, soaps, linens, drugs, instruments, and labor. It can't do this without show ing an increased cost of operation. Anyway you look It it two and two make four. Now is the cost of illness high? is the cost of hospital care inordinately high? Such a general conclusion as made in your editorial, not supported by facts, deserves a little study. Perhaps a recent report by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce will suffice to refute these statements. It shows that during the period 1929-1946. the share of relative consumer expenditure devoted to medical care was at a maximum of 4.4 per cent of personal Income In 1932 and 1933. Expenditures for physicians' services reached a high of 1.4 per cent hi 1932. Hospitals showed the same, with a maximum of 0.8 per cent In the same years (1932-1933). With such facts as these, one does not hesitate to believe the general statement of Dr. Frank a. Dickinson, direc tor, Bureau of Medical Economic Research, when he said, "Thus the more general conclusion Is reached that relative expenditures for such medical care and the component parts, physicians' services and hospitals, attained a maximum In a period ot great depression and a minimum In ? period ot tren t zied prosperity". He continued: "ThU i< a thoroughly reli&blc result, which Indicates quite clearly that a decreasing percen tage of the Income of the American people Is paid to the phy sician and to the, hospital". This answer is given In a brisk, racy, somewhat slangy style; without attempting to match the formality and solemnity of your editorial. Not one iota of factlousnesa is either slated or implied It Is offered as a deiense against your blanke' accusa tion of the medical profession which does not seem to be based upon facts, or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof. I feel that it is simply a case of your having been mlsiniormea and thirt you will want to present the situation in its true light. There are still a lot of us who feel as did the late Will Rogers. "All we know is what v'e read in the newspapers".. Very truly yours, EDGAR ANGEL, M D. July 12, 1948. POETRY CORNER Conducted by EDITH [)!?:, \1)I:RICK KRSKIN'E Wcavervillc, N. C '?/??'? ore t Ail" , illt' iiith ,7i, XtJio. ui 1. .1 iwhhji. I', u if ?'im'n MOHN1NG PRAISE The mocking bird is singing when the sun Has laid his wreath of light upon the earth. Hi:; heart dees not await the day begun But calls his mate in song for morning birth Before fie stars are dim with dawaing's glow. They too are sharers in the matin praise And bid mankind and angels join the flow Oi song, before the strife of noonday blaze. All light is vocal to the discerning ear. The birds and stars have kindred tunes to give To Him who counts th? whole creation dear And "blesses with the words, "So let them live." HOMER CASTO. Weaverville, N. C. Others' Opinions SKIMPING THE NATIONAL FORESTS Even with the aid of strong friends, individual and organized, the national parks received from the Eightieth Congress less than they deserve as the reservations of all the people. But the national forests have more foes "besetting them, particularly in the West where special interests clamor for improper grazing rights in the forests. And right here in Pisgah National Forest the Congressional funds for roads and recreational facilities are far from meeting reasonable consideration. Since simmer cam'e to the mountains in earnest Pisgah and the other national forest reserves have provided recreation for thousands of visitors. They could offer their natural attractions to many more? if the Forest Service were encouraged by Con gress to do what the Service could do and is willing to do. ? Asheville Citizen. LEGAL ADVERTISING ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE Having qualified as adminis trator of Allie Garland, de ceased, late of Macon County N. C., this is to notify all per- ] sons having claims against the estate of said deceased to ex hibit them to the undersigned on or before the 26 day of June 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 26 dav of June, 1948. JOHN BROWN, * Administato; Jlyl? 6tp- A5 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA MACON COUNTY EDDIS CRAWFORD VS. GRADY CRAWFORD The defendant, Grady Craw ford will take notice that an action entitled as above has been commenced in the Super ior Court of Macon County,^ North Carolina, to obtain an absolute divorce from the de fendant on the grounds of two i years separation; and the sale defendant will further take notice that he is required tc appear at the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court o said County in the courthouse in Franklin, N. C., on the 30th day of July, 1948, and answei , or demur to the complaint in said action, or the plaintiff will apply to the Court for the re lief demanded in said com plaint. This the 23 day of June, 1948. J. CLINTON BROOKSHiiitS, Clerk of the Superior Court, Macon County, North Carolina Jlyl? 4tcB? Jly23 NOTICE OF ELECTION CALL ED TO VOTE ON QUESTION OF SALE OF BEER AND WINE IN MACON COUNTY. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to petition filed with the Macon County Board of Elections on June 23, 1948, which petition was signed by 15% of the registered voters if Macon County that voted for Governor in the last election (1944), requesting that an elec tion be held for the purpose of submitting to the voters of Ma con County the question of whether or not Wine and Be or shall be legally sold, there sliall be a Special Election to vote upon said question held in Ma con County on August 28, 1948. The registration baoks .shall be opened on July SI and re main open for three successive Saturdays. August 21, 1943 shall be Challenge Day. J. J. MANN, Chairman, Macon County Board. of,--* Elections. TED BLAINE, EVERETT R. WHITE. Jlyl? 4tc? Jly22 He Best Part . Of Ue Meal" SPECIAL COFFEE I
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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July 22, 1948, edition 1
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