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PublUhed cvtry Thursday by th? franklin PrMl
At franklin, North Carolina
VOL. I.X1I1 i Number Forty-si*
WEIMAR JONES ? ?_ *....Xdltor-PublUhel
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Election Postscript
*yiIERE are almost as many explanations for the
surprising results of last week's election as^
there were voters.i Nearly everyone has his own
pet theory of just what happened, and why it
happened.
And in many cases those (of both parties) who
}vere surest, before the election, that Dewey would
win, and who were most insistent that they knew
exactly which states would go Republican, and
why. were the first to recover from the shock of
the election, and to insist with equal emphasis
that theirs was the one and only explanation for
what happened November 2!
Well, that's a good American custom.
And, after all, why shouldn't the layman in
dulge in it, so long as the expert does? For the
experts, almost without exception, dogmatically
asserted that Dewey's election was a foregone con
clusion. Thev proved themselves no better than
the layman, perhaps not so good ? and most of
them have been explaining ever since last Wednes
day.
* * *
The organized labor vote elected Truman, some
say; and the cynics are inclined to add that Tru
man bought the Presidency with his promises to
labor.
Organized labor certainly helped to elect him,
but the cynics overlook the fact that organized
labor was badly split. To John L. Lewis, whose
Word still carries great weight with the miners,
Truman was anathema ; and some of the other
union leaders damned him with almost equal em
phasis.
Furthermore, examine the vote. Dewey, not Tru
man, carried the industrial states of Connecticut,
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Michi- .
gan, the last name being perhaps the most highly
industrialized state in the Union and a stronghold
of the . CIO, whose leaders favored and worked
for Mr. Truman. The vote in those states is suf
ficient proof that all labor didn't vote Democratic,
but that many workers cast their votes ? as they
should have ? according to their individual con
sciences as citizens. Truman, therefore, does not
owe his victory to a few labor leaders, or even to
organized labor as whole.
The farm vote, say others ; and again the cynics
are ready with the suggestion that Mr. Truman
bought a four-year lease on the White House
from the farmers. But again look at the vote.
Dewey, not Truman, carried four of the states
most predominantly aericultural ? Kansas, Ne
braska, and the two Dakotas.
And here is something else for the cynics to
ponder. Hardly anv measure could have v had a
greater appeal to the purely selfish, interests of a
large number of voters than the 1947 act which
reduced income taxes by $5,000,000,000. That bill
was passed bv the Republican congress, over the
veto of President Truman. Yet the voters re
pudiated that congress, defeating, among others,
Rep. Knutson. who wrote the tax reduction bill,
and whose chief claim to fame is his advocacy of
tax reduction.
* * *
If Mr. Truman won his election on issues, the
record of the 80th congress probably was the
most important one. That congress not only
drastically reduced taxes at what was perhaps the
most inopportune time in American history, but
it failed to do anything substantial about such
pressing problems as inflation and housing.
From one end of the country to the other, the
Democratic nominee damned the 80th congress
f?<! the "second worst" the United States ever had.
He apparently convinced .the voters that it was
just that ; for they not onlv elected him, but over
turned Rupublican majorities in both senate and
house. To the voters, the 80th congress repre
sented the Republican party, and the voters ap
pear to hive felt that if congreil, organized by
the G. 0. P.i could not do a job, the party ehould
not be trusted with the Preiidency.
As a matter of fact, however, there is consider*
able evidence that issues were not the primary
consideration of the voters; for there really was
not a great deal of difference between the pro
grams proposed by Mr. Truman and Mr. Dewey.
A major faetor in the election undoubtedly was
the characters and personalities of the two men
To many voters, Dewey appeared to be so ef
ficient that he seemed more machine than human;
he gave the impression of being not only cold,
but somewhat artificial; and his failure to put
himseli on record except in the most general
terms suggested either that he had no deep
seated convictions or that he didn't trust the
people's intelligence enough to tell them what he
proposed to do, and how he proposed to do it.
Whether those conclusions in the popular mind
were justified is beside the point ; justified or
not, they affected the result.
Truman, on the other hand, appears to be first
of all a likable human being. He certainly is not
brilliant ; he probably is not* great ; and he has
made many mistakes, some of them first-rate
blunders. But those very mistakes appear to have
convinced the American voter that the man in
the White House had convictions, and was trying ;
that he was doing just about what the average
man, were he himself President, would do.
His proposal to send Chief Justice Vinson to
a conference with Stalin, for example, was inept,
to say the least. Yet that mistake probably helped
to elect Truman ? the average man considered it
proof that the President was going to leave no
stone unturned, no matter how foolish it might
make him look, in trying to find a way to peace.
Then, too, the American people love a scrapper,
and Truman proved himself a fighter ? against
odds that would have disc?uraged most men to
the point of quitting; Americans always are in
clined to pull for the game underdog.
That probably swayed many voters who were
unenthusiastic about either of the two major
candidates. ?
* * *
An important by-product of the election is the
almost unprecedented opportunity it presents
President Truman.
When he takes office next January, both houses
of congress will be in conirol of the party he
heads. His election, since it was primarily a per
sonal rather than a party victory, gives him such
prestige that any congress would be inclined to
iisten to his recommendations And he will start
the term as President-in-his-own-right with a
freedom such as no President, with the possible
exception of Washington, has enjoyed. For it is
a fairly safe assumption that the only promises
by which he is bound are those public promises he
made during the campaign. He can't owe a very
bi? debt to any individual or group, -for the very
good reason that about the only person who cam
paigned for Harry S. Truman was Harry S. Tru
man.
He owes his election, therefore, not to organ
ized labor alone, nor to the farmers alone, nor to
any other group alone. He is President by the
grace of the American people, of all classes and
groups. That makes him free to devote all his
energies to the interests of the nation ^as a whole.
* * *
There are a lot of things about the election in
which all good Americans can take pride.
First of all, is the size of the vote. It was not
up to the 1940 or the 1944 total, it is true. But
when 47,000,000 people go to the polls in an elec
tion year when the result appears to be a fore
gone conclusion, it's a pretty healthy sign that
democracy is still functioning. That phase of the
election must have been a blow to the hopes* of
the men in" the Kremlin.
Quite as healthy is the overwhelming way the
American people vetoed the decision of the expert
forecasters. These men who sample public opinion
were perhaps never so sure of themselves. iDewey
was certain to be elected, they said ? and they con
vinced nearly everybody that they knew what they
were talking about. Yet the American voters
47,000,000 of them, went to the polls, and elected
Truman! ,
That action gave the lie to the old theory that
most Americans are band-wagon jumpers, regard
less of their convictions.
It proved not only that the average American
does his own thinking, but that that thinking isn't
so superficial it can be read at a glance by a
public opinion poll-taker.
And it did demoracy a great service by taking
the poll takers well out of the realm of omni
science. For when the public opinion experts can say
with certainty, far in advance, how an election is
going, why should the average citizen vote? More
over, if the poll-takers were able to forecast an
election result accurately, and if the American
people were band-wagon jumpers, it would be
quite simple for corrupt, or even merely pre
judiced, public opinion survey organizations to
_swing an election whichever way they desired.
So, regardless of which of the two candidates i
you or I may think was the better man, as good
Americans we can all thank God that no group of i
. . f
experts can vote American citizens as though they
were sheep.
We can be thankful, too, for our American
political traditions and our American good sports
manship that make us accept the resut without
question.
Because of that tradition and that good sports- ,
manship, we can all go forward from here ? not j
as Democrats or Republicans, but as good Ameri- *
mans. And as good Americans we can all prtf that
the next four, difficult years may be characterized
by that American unity that Mr. Dewey so
patriotically and so generously wished for the ad
ministration of the man who defeated him.
LETTERS
BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE
Dear Editor:
In the iuue of November 4 of The Franklin Preu I read
where six people vo'ed for Wallace. Why not get their pictures
for the next issue of The Preu?
Truly yours,
W. C. TAYLOR
Franklin, N.- C.
Route 4
Nov. 5, 1948.
FLORIDIAN LIKES MACON COUNTY
Editor, The Press:
This is Autumn in the Mountains, and I wonder how
many people appreciate the passing colors of the season.
While I have lived in South Florida for a number of years,
"among the palm trees" and year-round green foliage, 1
think it* takes a change of season to make up really appre
ciate living and keep us on our toes.
Yes, Florida is a "dreamland of sunshine and flowers",
and a wonderful place to retire. But who wants to retire?
Blnce being in this country, I have enjoyed working hard
and playing in the branches more than I can express. It
has been one long "vacation" for me, and I am still en
Joying Lt.
This Is God's big country, and so close to Nature! Many
people who come here to spend a few weeks do not want to
leave. There is something about this country that makes you
feel lt Is "home", and you are satisfied to write your last
"chapter" in the book here.
OWEN C. FURLOW
Franklin, N. C.
November 1, 1948.
LEGAL ADVERTISING
ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE
Having qualified as adminis
trator of Mary Gaston Curtis
deceased, 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 5 day of Oc
tober, 1949 or this notice will
plead In bar of their re
covery. All persons Indebted to
said estate will please make im
mediate settlement.
This 5 day of October, 1948.
GILMER A. JONES
Administrator
014? 6tp ? N18
NORTH CAROLINA
MACON COUNTY
Under and by virtue of the
power of sale vested In the
undersigned trustee by a deed
of trust executed by David F.
Morris and Fred J. Cannon,
dated April 28, 1948, and re
dorded In the oflce of the Reg
ister of Deeds for Macon County,
North Carolina, in Book No. 42,
Page 132, said deed of trust
having been executed to secure
certain Indebtedness therein set
forth, and default In the pay
ment of said Indebtedness hav
ing been made, I will on Mon
day the 29th day of November,
1948, at 12 o'clock noon, at the
Courthouse door In Franklin,
North Carolina, sell to the high
est bidder for cash the follow
ing described land:
BEGINNING at a stake in
the West margin of U. S.
Highway No. 64, a corner of
the J. Q. Plerson Estate 22
acre tract; runs South 78
West 203 feet to a stake in
the old run of Big Creek
now submerged by the
waters of lake Sequoyah;
then down said creek, South
25 degrees West 230 feet to
a stake in the center of
Cullasaja River now sub
merged by the waters of
Lake Sequoyah; then South
37 degrees East with the
meanders of said river 290
feet to a stake; then North
S3 East 165 feet to a stake
in the Weet margin of U. S.
Highway No. 64; then with
the West margin of said
highway, North 8 degrees 30'
West 300 feet to the BEGIN
NING.
Also all the contents, fix
tures, furniture, equipment,
etc., in the building located
upon the land above de
scribed, known as the Dug
out.
This the 28th day of Octo
ber, 1948.
raD?
IN TBS SUPERIOR COURT
NORTH CAROLINA
MACON COUNTY
None*
w. B. DOBSON, JR.
TS.
RJ. DOBSON, LILLIAN A.
DOBSON, MARY LXK and
husband Lm
MARY KLIZABBTH DOBSON
tBd KTHKL ANN DOBSON
...I?* d*',n<Unt?. *? i. Dobaon,
UlU*n A. Dobaon, Mary Lee and
149, WUl
bake notice that an action en
titled as above has been com
menced In the Superior Court
of Macon County, North Caro
lina, for the foreclosure of a
mortgage; and the said defend
ants will further take notice
that they are required to ap
pear at the office of the Clerk
of the Superior Court of said
County In the Courthouse In
Franklin, North Carolina, on
the 15th day of November, 1948,
and answer or demur to the
complaint In said action, or
the plaintiff will apply to the
Court for the relief demanded
In said complaint.
This 12th day of October, 1948.
J. CLINTON BROOKSHIRE,
Clerk of the Superior Court
'Macon County, N. C.
021? 4tc-JJ? Nil
EXECUTRIX NOTICE "" "
?
Having qualified as executrix
of J. E. Calloway, deceased, late
Macon County, N. C., this Is to
notify all persons having claims
against the estate of salcT de
ceased to exhibit them to the
undersigned on or before the
26 day of October, 1949 or this
notice will be plead in bar of
their recovery. All persons In
debted to said estate will please
make Immediate settlement.
This 26 day of OctobeififlHH
JULIA JS. CALLt^B
^L^Hrecutrlx
028 ? 6tp-yD2 ~
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE
Having qualified as adminis
trator of Nannie J. Mlncey 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 11th day of
October, 1049 or this notice will
be plead ln bar of their re
covery. All persons Indebted to
said estate will please make Im
mediate settlement.
This llth day of October, 1948.
I*. L. MINCEY,
Administrator
021? fltp? N25
JOIN
Bryant Mutual
Burial Association^
Oldest and Stronfesl
In the Connty
MacOtt \ J
Dty Cleaiw:^
Prompt Efficient^Work
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