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Published every Thursday by the FrankHn Press
At Franklin, North Carolina
i
VOL. L.XIU Number thirty-live
Entered at the Post Office, Franklin, N. C., as second class matter
Telephone No. 24
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Good Sense
The Otto school situation had all the possibilities
of a long-drawn-out, community-splitting row. And
it probably would have developed into just such a
row had not the county superintendent, the county
board of education, and Mr. J. J. Mann himself
shown admirable good sense.
It would have been understandable had the su
perintendent and the board taken the attitude that,
ior reasons of policy, they must reappoint Mr. Mann
as principal at Otto. And jcertainly it would have
been understandable hat! Mr. Mann insisted upon
his reappointment as a matter of justification.
Fortunately, however, all three recognized that
the public schools are a community project ; that
they require the whole-hearted support and cooper
ation of the general public ; and that no one connect
ed with the schools can do an effective job working
against any considerable opposition.
For a Free Choice
It has always seemed to t'his newspaper, that the
North Carolina election law and. the rulings of the
state board of elections' deliberately seek to make
it hard ? virtually impossible, in fact- ? for a third
or fourth party to get its nominees' names on the
ticket in a general election.
This newspaper has little sympathy with Mr.
Wallace's third party, or the Dixiecrats' fourth,
but it doesn't believe they should be barred from
the election. There undoubtedly are voters who
want to cast their ballots for Henry Wallace, and
some others who want to vote for the Thurmond
Wright ticket, and they have just as much right to
vote for their favorites as you and I have to vote
for Mr. Truman or Mr. Dewey. In a democracy,
there should be the least possible interference with
the citizen's opportunity to freely express his con
victions at the polls.
That is why we were pleased to see that Judge
W. C. Harris, in Raleigh last week, held that the
latest ruling of the board of elections is "unreason
able". and that the .Dixiecrats are entitled to a place
on the ballot. Whether the supreme court will agree
remained to be seen at the time this was written.
Bring Along Some Cash
After September 19, when you visit your favorite
store to 1my a cook stove, a washing machine, a re
frigerator, a radio (or phonograph or television
set), a sewing machine, furniture rugs, a vacuum
cleaner, a dishwasher, an ironer. or a (room unit)
air conditioner, you'd better carry along some cash.
For you'll have to pay not less than one-fifth down,
and you can carry the balance only 15 months.
If it's an automobile you want, you'll have to
plank down one-third in cash, and be prepared to
pay off the remainder in 15 months.
Don't blame vour merchant or automobile dealer,
because that is the regulation put into effect by the
Federal Reserve board, under authority given it by
the special session of congress. The law and the
regulations are designed to curb inflation.
How far they'll go toward halting the ever-ris
ing level of prices remains to be seen, but they will
prove of value to the individual buyer, in any case.
Because the man who wants one of these gadgets
and can't pay a reasonable amount in cash, and then
pay the balance in 15 months, usually is better off
without one ; to make such a purchase without a
cash payment and on three or four or five years'
time is considerably like jumping in the river with
your hands tied behind your back.
Some Tourist Values
There is a question in the minds of many of us
as to how profitable tourists are. A good manv
persons, in fact, seek to discredit the tourist busi
ness, and to substitute industrialization. And "sub
stitute", of course, is the right word, for we can't
have both ? tourist dollars just don't go to factory
town.
We have figures on how many dollars a day the
average tourist spends, but in appraising the im
portance of the tourist to the community, it is easy
to overlook two factors. The first is the intangible
cultural values the right type of tourist brings into
a community. The second is the dollar crop the
community harvests not this season, but years
hence.
A case in point is that of Mr. and Mrs. George
N'oetel, of Chicago.
Two years ago Mrs. N'oetel came here as a vis
itor. She learned of Franklin through friends, now
adopted Cartoogechaye-ites, who themselves had
come here as visitors.
Mrs. N'oetel was so struck with the beauty of this
country that she promptly bought a two-acre tract,
to be sure she had a "toe-hold" in Macon County.
Later, she brought Mr. Noetel, a heating contractor,
here to see what she had discovered. As a result,
they have added about 78 acre? to their future
homesite and have invested some $50,000 in Frank
lin real estate.
Eighteen months hence they plan to come here
to live ? and will serve as yet another magnet to at
tract their friends to this community.
LETTERS
EX JOY ED TRIP HOME
Editor, The Press:
I have just returned from five weeks in Western North
Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, and let me say Franklin is
keeping pace with neighboring towns, But we need a new court
house; it is the drawing card that Macon needs most.
Second, let me say I have never met business men in gen
eral to equal Franklin's. They really mean to see that visitors
and tourist are welcome. We appreciate your kindness.
I have driven better than 8,000 miles since June 18, spent
lots of my time exploring the mountains and enjoying the good
roads. Do you know 40 years ago we walked the trails there?
I will never forget both kin and friends; your hospitality
and every act of kindsess made my vacation more than I had
expected.
Kindest regards to you all.
F. H. BRYSON.
August 16, 1948.
Lyman, Washington.
ROAD- LESS NANTAHALA
?
Editor, Franklin Press:
As a native and former resident of the Nantahala section of
Macon County, I have followed with intense interest the tire
less?and seemingly hopeless? effort of Mr. Cochran, Mr. Shields,
and others to get more consideration toward establishment ol
' all-weather" roads through that section.
I know from personal experience the poor condition of roads
found on Nantahala. During the first years of World War II,
X was living in the Choga section. Trapsportation on the
Aquone -Andrews mail truck was being furnished for the 10 or
12 children of compulsory school age to attend school in An
drews. As winter approached, the roads into the Choga section
were becoming impassable. Repeated appeals were made to
the school authorities in Franklin, but were ignored. This
means of transportation had to be discontinued until spring.
A new excuse was found? "there's a war on", they said.
Of course, as usual, nothing was done about this situation.
It was necessary lor me to leave home and board in Andrews
at my own expense in order to finish my last year of high
school. The younger children were not so fortunate. They were
denied any means of attending school. This is merely one ex
ample of the continued neglect of one of the finer sections of
Macon County. This continued disregard seems inexcusable.
I close with the hope that Nantahala soon will be provided
roads, which are so vital to a functioning community.
Yours very truly,
SwannanOa, N. C., R. L. RUSSELL, JR.
August 17, 1948.
THE BEER ELECTION
Editor, The Press:
You have already given me far more than my share of space
in The Press, but if you have room for this, I shall appreciate
it very much, and I promise you I won't bother you again soon
(if I can help it).
I just want to say that I am glad we are having the beer
election Saturday. The question of whether or not we shall
have beer is a serious question, a matter of life or death per
haps, and as I see it, the responsibility of the whole thing
snouid lest where it belongs? with the majority of the people,
or at least with the majority of the voters.
Doubtless many people are in my position? just don't know
what is best for the county. However, we can't steer away from
the responsibility by not voting. As my father would say, "we
must do something, even if it is the wrong thing".
Personally speaking, I believe that Christianity is the only
real remedy for the evils of alcohol, and of course a man can
not be forced .to become a Christian. He can no more be forced
to give up drink for Christ's sake than he can be marched
into the river at the point of a gun in order to be baptized for
the same reason, Or at least that Is how I see it.
However, it may be that prohibiting beer will lessen some
what drinking heie in Macon County. It may be that by clos
ing up the beer joints somebody's life will be saved.
On the other hand, it may make bad matters much worse.
It may cause more white liquor to be consumed and we all
know irom experience of the past just what that means.
CORA TALLEY.
Franklin, N. C., Route 2,
August 20, 1948.
? Others' Opinions ?
5,000,000 CHILDREN NEED OUR HELP
The bumper wartime crop of babies, about 5,000,000 larger
than the population experts expected, Is reaching school age.
At school these youngsters should find a good education
awaiting them. That is their most cherished American birth
right.
But unless something is done quickly, millions of these chil
dren will be cheated. They will crowd into classrooms already
run on double shifts. They will move In with children who are
now sitting two In a single seat. They will read germ-loaded
books mangled by a generation of use by grimy hands.
? ? ?
So the continuing crisis in American education is given a
new twist by unexpected pressure on school plant and equip
ment.
The U. S. birthrate has jumped by leaps and bounds. Instead
of declining in the '40s, as the experts expected It would, the
rate climbed from 17.9 per thousand In 1940 to 21.5 In 1943. It
jumpeed to 25.9 in 1947, an increase of 45 per cent since 1940.
Result? by 1956 elementary school attendance In the United
States Is expected to jump from 18,200,000 to more than 23,
400,000, an increase of about 5,200,000, or more than one-fourtn.
The rush has already begun. It will pick up speed next fall.
Now, while this pressure has been building up, our public
schools and their equipment have been running down? first
through Inevitable wartime neglect, then because inflation and
material and labor shortages made It difficult to oatch up.
If we are to give this bumper crop of youngsters the break
they deserve? and reach the educational standard! the nation
needs? we must speedily do a major Job of educational rehabil
itation and expansion.
? ? ?
Soma headway h&i betri made in overcoming thi teacher's
salary crisis.
Teacher*' salaries are Improving. Pay problem* were driving
gcod teacheis away irom tfttir post* in drove* not long ago.
But In the year since the 57th editorial Is this series empha
sized that crisis, the average teacher's annual salary has in
creased about $300? irom $2250 to $2550.
True, increases vary enormously (rom state to state and
from town to town in a few states the average Increase has
been $500; in some less than $100. Bui, .or tne nation as a
whole, last year's Increase put teachers about even in the race
with the cost of living. Alter taxes, their salaries have risen
68%, and the cost of living 67%!, since 1939. In terms of pay
Increases, however, they are not nearly as well off as are in
dustrial workers, whose average weekly wages after taxes have
risen 108% since 1939. They are far behind farmers, wnose
net income is now four times what It was in 1939. And teach
ers had notoriously low salaries to start with.
A great deal more needs to be done In raising salary stand
ards to put our school system on a firm .footing. There are still
about 100,000 teachers, nearly 12% of all public school teach
ers, who hold temporary or emergency credentials. They can
not meet prevailing standards, and not very severe standards
at that, for persons holding their posts.
The salary crisis, however, is easing.
But now comes the new crisis in school buildings and equip
ment.
We would have been hard put to get our schools back Into
shape alter years at wartime neglect ? even witnout a booming
birthrate complicating the problem. Klght now, 85% of ail
public school buildings need major remodeling to remove
neauh asd safety hazards.
And we aren't building enough new schools to keep up
with current needs, to say, nothing of catching up on those we
were not able to build during the war years. Scnool construc
tion expesuiiures lor 1948 are estimated at $375 million? which
is less than what was spent in 1939. With buiiidng costs twice
as high as they were in 1939, that means we aren't even hold
health and saiety hazards. ? ,
And now comes the rush of war babies.
? ? ?
We must spend at least 11 billion dollars on new schools and
equipment in the next decade.
Public and elementary schools must have 6.6 billion. Equally
important, another 4.4 billion "must be invested in buildings
and equipment in our private schools, colleges and universities
if they are to meet the demands which will be made upon
them. The private school and privately endowed university
are doing their full share and doing it well. The need for them
is increasing.
These figures cover only rockbottom needs for educational
plant and equipment. But statistics are a very restricted re
corder of this crisis.
You can see it better, I'm sure, in schools not very far from
your home. There are schools with leaking roofs and outdoor
toilets in our greatest cities. There are schools where students
still use histories and geographies copyrighted before 1920?
books with no mention of World War 1, the depression of the
1930's, the Russian R^olution or the rise the dictators. There
are countless schools where modern methods of visual educa
tion are completely unknown.
All of these conditions promise to get worse? promptly? as
that scheduled 5 million Increase in the school population
gets rolling.
? * ?
The Metropolitan Life Insurance company does not indulge
in lurid prose. It says after painstaking study of the educa
tional crisis that:
v "Uviless definite measures are taken immediately . . . large
numbers of American boys and girls will be deprived of an
adequate education."
?
Currently we are deeply concerned about our military de
fenses. We are taking, and I think rightly, emergency measures
to strengthen them. But we must regard our schools as a part
of our national defense as vital as are our armed forces. This
is particularly true In these times of fifth columns and ideolog
ical warfare.
If we are wise, we will raise our sights. We will give the con
tinuing crisis in education the same urgent attention bum;:
given the more obvious but no more real crisis in national de
fense.
Go to the school house in your neighborhood and discover
what needs to be done to provide for the rising tide of young
Americans. Ask your school board and your school administra
tors and teachers how you can help them.
That Is good citizenship.
That is patriotism.
That is our duty to the oncoming generation.? James H. Mc
Oraw, Jr., President, McGraw Hill Publishing Company.
LEGAL ADVERTISING
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
BEFORE THE CLERK
NOTICE OF SERCICE OF
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
NORTH CAROLINA
MACON COUNTY
GILMER A. JONES, Administra
tor of the Estate ot ROBERT
SCRUGGS, deceased
vs.
ADDIE SCRUGGS, et al.
The defendants, H a r 1 e y
Scruggs, Claudia Scruggs,
Charles B. Scruggs, Alice Scruggs,
Dora Woodward, Richard Wood
ward, Sally Keith, Laura Jean
Jacluon, Thelma Jackson and
Robert Scruggs will take notice
that an action entitled as above
has been commenced In the Su
perior Court of Macon County,
North Carolina to sell lands of
the deceased to make assets to
pay debts and the said defen
dants will further take notice
that they are required to appear
at the office of the Clerk of
the Superior Court In the court
house In Franklin, North Caro
lina on the sixth day of Sep
tember, 1948 to answer or de
mur to the complaint in said
action or the plaintiff will ap
ply to the Court for the relief
demanded In said complaint.
This 5th day of August, 1948.
J. CLINTON BROOKSHIRE,
Clerk of the Superior Court
A 12-4tc-JJ-S2
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
OF SUMMONS
NORTH CAROLINA
MACON COUNTY
FLORA ELLIS
VI.
JOHN gT T.Tfl
The defendant, John EUlt,
will take notice that an action
entitled as above has been com
menced in the Superior Court
of Macon County for the pur
pose of securing an absolute dl
voroe {or the plaintiff, Flora
LEGAL ADVERTISING
i : ?
Ellis.
Said defendant will further
take notice that he Is required
to appear at the office of the
Clerk of Superior Court of Ma-?
con Cpunty, North Carolina, "lit "
the courthouse In' Franklin,
North Carolina, on the 15th
day of September, 1948, and to
answer , or demur to the com
plaint in said action, or the
plaintiff will apply to the Court
for the relief demanded In the
complaint.
This 13th day of August, 1948.
J. CLINTON BROOKSHIRE,
Cleric Superior Court.
A19 ? 4tcJJ ? 89
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE
Having qualified as adminis
trator C. T. A. of T. B. Crunkle
ton, 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 undersign
ed on or before the 13 day of
August, 1S49 or this notice will
be plead In bar of their recov
ery. All persons Indebted to
said estate will please make im
mediate settlement.
This 13 day of August, 1948.
EARL CRUNKLETON,
Administrator, C. T. A.
A19 ? 6tp ? S23
EXECUTRIX NOTICE
Having qualified as executrix
of Mary Esther Huger, III, 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 19th day of
July, 1949, or this notice will
be plead in bar of their recov
ery. All persons indebted to
said estate will please make
Immediate settlement.
This 19th day of July, 1048.
Charlotte Barnweii Elliott,
Executrix
jiyaa-etp-AugM