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Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press
At Franklin, North Carolina
VOL. LXIV Number 48
WEIMAR JONES Editor
BOB B. SLOAN Business Manager
Entered at Post Office, Franklin, N. C., as second class matter.
Telephone No. 24
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ance with the postal requirements.
Fontana Shows The Way
The people over at Fontana Village are making
a success of two ideas that Franklin and Highlands
and other communities in Macon County would do
wejl to adopt.
First ot* all, Fontana Village has set out to he a
tourist" resort, and the folk there have set them
selves to do a good job of being just that. They
have, just as we have here, great natural opportun
ities. and they've made the most of those oppor
tunities. Fverybody knows the result.
Second, Fontana this year has gone on a year
round basis. Tourists will find facilities at Fon
tana. whether it's Julv or January, and they'll find
a welcome, and something going on.
There are two facts that we here in Macon Coun
ty should recognize: As long as we have a tourist
business that la.sts only a few weeks in mid-sum
mer. we'll have a precarious income from tourists;
and the time has passed when touring was con
fined to the summer, and when whole families came
to the mountains to spend the entire season at one
place.
Touring has become a year-round custom with
Americans, and they will go wherever there is
beauty, something interesting to do, and a wel
come.
If Fontana can have a 12-months tourist business,
so can we. We should set out to bring tourists ?
all we can take care of ? to Macon County at least
from April 1 through November 30.
Like Deep- Rooted Tree#
"A native of Macon county . .
"Born and reared here . .
'?'Life-long resident . .
Those and similar phrases constantly recur in
accounts of the deaths of members of a Macon
County generation that rapidly is passing.
These men and women lacked much that we have
today. Not only did they spend most of their lives
in complete ignorance of the conveniences that are
taken lor granted by us today; many of them also
had scant education, and most of them did not bene
fit by the broadening influence of travel. Their
mentaj horizens were limited, and sometimes we
say they were narrow in their views. Perhaps they
were.
Yet they possessed and passed along a quality
that is badly needed in today's confused and con
fusing world. They had stability.
Perhaps it grew out of character begotten by
hardship; perhaps living in the same spot year
after year and decade after decade gave it to them.
Whatever the explanation, there was an easily rec
ognized strength and stability ? like a tree that is
firmly rooted ? -about them.
Today's parents give their children more in edu
cational advantages and far more in material com
forts and pleasures. But are they giving their chil
dren a sense of stability .such as their parents pass
ed on to them? And are all these other advantages
worth much without this basic one of stability?
Exempt Whom, From What?
Haven't \vc maybe got the cart before' the horse
on this draft business? a
Nowadays the man in uniform is well paid* and
he doesn't have to worry about losing his job. Al
lowances are provided for his family. He can buy
cheap insurance, and if he should be disabled, he'll
get a pension. He has comparatively little responsi
bility. somebody higher up usually making most of
the decisions for him. And the armed forces, of
which he is a part, are given the best of everything,
whether it's food, equipment, or medical care.
The poor civilian, on the other hand, has a tough
row to hoe. He has to worry about how to make
his salary check go around. In time of emergency,
he is expected to buy bonds and to contribute to a
hundred and one good causes. And all the time he
has the job of .keeping the national economy run
ning ? he must produce at full blast, in the face of
every kind of shortage. And for all of that, he gets
no fclory.
Yjs?, sir, we think the time is coming when we no
longer will exempt folks from military service, but,
a* a special favor, will exempt them from civilian
service t
\ < Other.' Opiniom y
*' "'?. ' i'*i ii Hi li I rntmmm^?mm^^i^>mf^tl
ALL THAJ'S LACKING
About all that's lacking with the Republican Party ia a strong
will to resell the people that this was originally the workers
and farmers political party and not. (he voice -of big ?corporations.
? Steilacoom (Wash.) Lifkewooti Log.
STOP THIS DANGER AND NUISANCE
One of the blots on , p^sley's good reputation is that the
growing body has condoned the. public nuisance of firecrack
ers for the Christian -festival o i Ch istmas. Both the sale and
the shooting of firecrackers ace prohibited in Greenville, And
erson, Pickens, Liberty and practically every town of the state.
We understand the excuse of a former council which revoked
an ordinance procured at long last to abolish the nuisance, was
that flrewOiks could be bought out of town and it was unfair
to merchants in town to deny them the sale. The truth is that
established stores do not want the nuisance and that the sales
are usually made by peddlers or liK'e stores around the fringe
oi town, church leaders in our area seem never to have been
shocked at the desecration which is peculiar to the Bible Belt,
being unknown in the north and west. The general revulsion
to the practice that has now nearly eliminated it from the
South is based on its senseless annoyance and the danger of
fire and of injury from the explosions. Since both Pickens and
Liberty have abolished the Christmas lirecracker nuisance, on
behalf of at least ninety per cent of our citizens we ask our
council to put an end to it here, both by ordinance and by en
. forcement. ? Easley (S. C.) Progress.
HIGHER FARM PRICES SEEN
Most farmers in this area will receive moderate'y higher
prices and somewhat larger net profits next year.
The favorable outlook for farm prices and incomes stems
from the high level of urban employment and business activity
and prospects for a good export demand.
Larger supplies of meat and mbst other foods will be avail
able for consumers in 1951. Retail food prices are likely to In
crease moderately because of a stronger demand,
Employment and consumer incomes are currently at record
highs and are expected to rise further next year as the full im
pact of the current defense program is fe't. Restrictions on
consumer credit and reduced production of consumer durable
goods will increase the demand for food and food prices.
Farmers can expect to pay higher prices for goods used In
production and family living next year. Taxes and farm wages
will rise, but profits will be higher because farm income should
rise faster than costs.
Farm prices in 1991 are likely to average about 10 per cent
over 1950 and net farm Income for the United States may be
15 per cent higher, according to the Bureau of Agricultural
Economics. Probably over half of this expected price rise has
already occurred, and further farm price Increases, on the
average, should be moderate. ? Agricultural Items, publication
of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
'THE STORY OF GERRY MANDER'
In a right good rage Republican State Headquarters in States
ville has issued a booklet, "Buzzard Nest Methods," with the
subtitle, "The Story of Gerry Mander Buzzard and How He
Grew." It is aimed, naturally, at the Democrats.
The New Dictionary of American Politics defines "gerry
mander" (which got its name in 1912 from Governor Elbridge
Gerry of Massachusetts) as: "A redlstricting of a state for the
election of congressional or legislative representatives which
violates the principles of compactness, homogeneity of popular
interests, and often equality of population in order to secure
the further advantage of the party or group in control of a
state legislature."
That is what the Republicans charge the Democrats have
done. And for all their top-blowing rage, they are dead right.
The gerrymandering of North Carolina election districts,
notably in the West, is a disgrace to any principled political
party. Here are some examples from "Buzzard Nest Methods":
The 8th congressional district, as defined by the General
Assembly, sprawls across Piedmont-mountain North Carolina
from the South Carolina border to the northwest. The counties
at some points are barely contiguous. The strong Republican
counties of Wi!kes, Yadkin, Davie and the close (now Repub
lican) county of Davidson have been welded to counties farther
east and south. The latter of course are strong Democratic
counties with a heavier voting population. The result: The
"gerrymandered" counties in the northwest have little chance
at congressional representation.
The 17th judicial district includes Wilkes, Yadkin, and Davie
and then overlaps Watauga to take in Avery and Mitchell.
This district elects a Republican solicitor. Twice since 1930 it
has been juggled around by the legislature. It may or may not
be a coincidence that this juggling fo'lowed the effort of a
solicitor, whose country subsequently was juggled out of the
17th district, to prosecute alleged Democratic election frauds.
Something even a little worse is boards, even In Republican
counties, are in fact "elected" by -the legislature. The school
board members chosen are of course Democrats. Under "some
what similar restrictions, judges are elected by Statewide vote
and not by districts. Though the Republican party normally
casts about one-third of the votes in North Carolina, it has no
representation on important State boards and commissions,
such as the State Highway Commission and the board of the
Department of Conservation and Development.
You may draw any moral you like from "The Story of Gerry
Mander." One we would like to point out is that through pal
pable injustices the Democratic party is stunting its own
growth and defeating its Qwn ends. Thoughtful people of what
ever party do not like this arrangement. ? Asheville Citizen.
PROBLEMS OF YOUTH TODAY
If we older people think we are having a hard time these
days and times, what with the threat of war and other disturb
ing iinfluences, think how much' more so the younger genera
tion, especially the young men just leaving high school and on
up through college age, are affected.
Unfortunately, war demands young men at a time in their
lives when, in normal times, they would just be entering into
a life of their own. War seeks out young men who, in normal
times, would be planning their future. But with war and the
constant threat of a spreading of the conflict, young men just
cannot make any plans.
And looking back in history, especially recent history, it
would appear that a war crops up just in time to involve each
new generation. Let a new crop of boys reach military service
age and there you have it. The draft Is always beckoning.
Several weeks ago the war in Korea looked as if It might be
over. The enemy was fleeing in confusion toward the border of
Manchuria, and United Nations forces were hard pressed to
even keep up. But then, a'most overnight, Chinese Reds en
tered the fray, and as things now stand It looks as If, even
tually, not only young single men will be called Into service,
but young married men of non-veteran status, and veterans
of the last war, too.
This corner knows absolutely nothing about conducting a
war. We do not even know the status of our military forces
now In existence or in the potential stag*. But we do know
that we feel sometimes, that It would be a most excellent idea
to apply th? atomic bomb to Russia and anywhlre else It
might be needed, If such an action would end the continuing
confusion and uncertainty which keeps every peaoe-iovlng
nation on the brink.
It takes no astute observer to see that Russia is behind all
(he confusion which plagues the world today. And it Is a proven
QUa PEMOCAACtt byM*
J|?w
<goo^ citizen iatAat fia
? he, a?>fe ani willing
to pwW Ao weigfit,"
thcodoks. rcjs*. ?.r
Good citizens pull their. weight when they sive their.
BEST TO THEIR. WORK AND WHEN THEY DO THEIR. IMMVIPU/U
5HARE IN NEI6HSOKHOOO AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES.
.... U . // // //.
LThcv PUU. THEIR WttOHT WHEN THEy speak and act
FOR. THEIR. CONVICTIONS.
.ltd
And the good citizen's acceptance of responsibility
FOR. 'PULLING HIS WEIGHT* IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL SECURITY
FOR. HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY IS THE GREATEST FAC TOR.
IN THE STRENGTH AMP STAMINA OF OUR. DEMOCRACY.
fact that but lor Russia arms and tanks and jet planes and
motorized artillery, the North Koreans and now the Red
Chinese wouldn't stand a Chinaman's chance against our forces
in Korea. But thanks to this Russian prodding and assistance,
it appears now that we are in the middle of a bad fix, facing
a hard campaign right in the teeth of winter.
? Thus the future for our young men does not look bright.
They can make no plans, can seek no Jobs with certainty.
About all they have to look forward to Is military service with
possible death at the end of the road.
It is ngt a pretty picture, but it's a picture that exists, and
there is no reason to try and fool ourselves otherwise.
We older folks can worry about business and high prices and
shortages of this and that, and one thing and another. Rut
when we compare ourselves to those young men who are of,
or have Just reached, mi!itary age, we should realize that ovir
worries are trivial. ? El kin Tribunal.
ATOMIC ENERGY AND THE FUTURE
For two days this week I was privileged to sit among some
sixty representatives of press and education in the South lis
tening as scientists discussed the probable impact of atomic
energy discoveries on our world, for good or for evil.
We were in Huntsville Aia., at a seminar for newspaper people
arranged by extension divisions of Southern universities with
the co-operation of the Atomic Energy Commission. Among the
North Carolina delegation were Russell Orumman, extension
director at the University of North Carolina; Walter Spear
man and Jack Riley, members of the faculty of the journal
ism department at the University of North Carolina; and Holt
McPherson, managing editor of the Shelby Dai!y Star.
Remembering how I had to struggle to pass physics in col
lege, I went to Huntsville with misgivings about my ability to
understand anything a scientist might have to say about atom
development. And If I had expected to be confused by dis
cussions of such futuristic terms as "tracer atoms," "radio
isotopes," "reactors" or "unstable Isotopes," I was not disap
pointed.
But there was encouragement for the novice in atomic
science. The editor of The Nashville Tennessean, confessing his
own Ignorance on the subject, remarked in the opening speech
of the seminar that we members of the press could not expect
to leave Huntsville with any solid understanding of atomic
energy but that we should expect to return to our communi
ties with an urge to start digging for Information about the
new miracle of science which is certain to reshape the destiny
of the earth. He correctly foreshadowed the good accomplished
by the seminar.
Far-reaching decisions must be made in the months and
years ahead concerning atomic energy. Not only does the United
States face military decisions about the manufacture and use
of/atom bombs, but there are policies that must be formed on
control and use of atomic energy In medical research and
treatment, in agricultural production, In development of new
power for industrial machhies.
As Sumner Pike, member of the Atomic Energy Commission,
observed during the Huntsville discussions, we live under demo
cratic government and it Is the people who must shape the
policies of the nation. The people must determine the course of
atom development.
But how can the people make intelligent decisions about
atomic energy if they are not Informed about atomic energy?
At Huntsville this week the ground-work was laid for ac
quainting the people with the prob'ems and opportunities pre
sented by atomic energy.
There will be more seminars for the press with many more
newspapers represented. Newspaper reporters and editors will
b* Invited to inspect, the non-secretive phases of the atomic
project at Oak Ridge, Tenn. Newspaper readers will begin to
see more material printed in the news and editorial columns
about atom-splitting and its effect on social and economic life
around the globe. It is hoped that the people will be stimulated
to make deeper studies of the subject than newspaper reading
affords.
While the terrifying aspects of atomic warfare were not
omitted from the discussions at Huntsville, I nevertheless came
away with a felling of hope for the continued advancement
of civilization.
I returned home more convinced than ever that It's time for
us Johnstonians and all other Americans to get rid of any
hysterical fear of the destructlveness of atomic weapons and
to begin looking upon atomic energy as the key to better
health, to better farming, to greater industrial development,
to a better economic life generally, not only for the people of
the United States but foe the people of the whole world.
If ill health and economic misery are seedbeds of war,
atomic energy could well be the answer to the problem of world
peace rather than the weapon for destruction of civilization.
If we of the press can help the people understand that, it may
be said that history wu made at Huntsville. ? T. i. Lasslter tn
Smlthfield Herald.
Experience is the cheapest thing you can buy? if you're
smart enough to get it secopd hand.? Ties, Southern Railway
Publication.
L BUSINESS
Making I
NEWS
By BOB SLOAN I
1 Duncan Motor Company, with
their 19S1 Ford now on display,
are the first car dealers to pre
sent the '51 model to the Ma
con COunty public. Shortly
fore time to display the new
models, Duncan Motor received
notice from the Ford Motor
company that their disp'ay
shipment would be cut in half.
We wonder if this is an indica
tion of things to come In civiN
lan automobile production for
the coming year. .
j In this week's column w*
wou'd like to Journey across the
mountains 40 miles to Haywood
county and show what can be
accomplished by the use ol two
simple things which we are sure
are available in large quantities
in Macon , County. Those two .
things are cooperation ? tmaf.-- ?
ine every one in Macca County .
working together toward a com-,,
mon goal, and leadership which
gets all to working toward a
common goal.
Haywood County's Community -
Development Program was start
ed in 1949. The amazing re
sults of the fir3t ful' year -are
briefly summarized below: . .
1. $500,000 income from poul
try (increased f om *300,000 be
fore program was started).
2. $1 million from dairying,
(increased from- $750,000).; 51 ?
Grade A dairy tarns built. .-*t
3. $750,000 from apples (in
creased from $700,000), Hayv
wood County Smoky Mountain
Apple Producers Association or
ganized.
4. $1 million from burley -to* .
5. 105,000 seedling trees set. : .
bacco (same as 1949).
6. $2 mJlion f'om beef cattle
(about same as year before, but .
much work building herds tor:
future income. . .r
7. 28 Ladino clover demon- -.
strations held; 50,000 pasture,
handbills distributed in county,
and goa1 set for 10,000 more
acres Ladino.
8. New playground centers
added to the pleasures of young
and old; 3,000 people enjoyed
athletic events, singing, and
other recreation; 300 people
sang in combined chorus at:
music festival. ???j
9. 1,200 attended fall and>
winter recreation contests be-. ?
tween Iron Duff and Ratcllffe:
communities.
10. 400 farms in county vtafc*.
ed by 6,558 people on 23 w
munity tours; 156 went on six
day tour of North Carolina,, ?
Tennessee, Kentucky,- Indiana.
Ohio, and West Virginia.
11. 1,700 rural homes showed
many major improvements.
12. 35 rural churches improv
ed? $40,000 spent on one church.
Practically all of the cemeteries
cleaned off and beautified.
Furthermore in a community
(Turn to Back Page 1st Section)
Do You
Remember . . . ?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Press)
50 YAERS AGO THIS WEEK
?Dr. W. H. Higglns placed a
new, improved, up-to-date den
tal chair in his office last week.
It cost him $150.
The double track1 street rail
way on Lyle street is in opera
tion again.
Joe Harrison and John Gil
lespie, after spending several
months in Indian Territory, re
turned home last week. "There's
no place like home."
25 YEARS AGO
Charlie Morgan has for. sale
at $1.50 booster tags for Frank
lin. The sign is colored like
solver and is a key, with the
words, "Key City of the Moun
tains" in red on the shank of
the key, and Franklin above
the key.
Before day on Thursday Mr.
Bob Bryson left his car stand
ing on the Bryson City road for
a few minutes. While he was
absent the car moved off and
went Into the river.
Power from the municipal
dam Is now ready for use and
has been since yesterday.
10 YEARS AGO -
Construction of the latest ad
dition to the Forest Services
.chair of fire towers over the ,
Nantahala forest, a 32-foot
lookout tower on the summit of
Satulah mountain near High
lands, will be completed shortly.
It was bear against panther
here last Friday afternoon whsn
the Franklin high Panther*
tangled with Canton on tM ?
high school gridiron and tbr
Black Bears of Canton CUM- -
out victors, 19-0.