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Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press
At Franklin. North Carolina
VOL. LXIV Number 49
WEIMAR JONES
BOB 8. SLOAN
Editor
Business Manager
Entered at Post Office, Franklin, N. C.. as second class matler.
Telephone No. 24
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Another Dark December 7
TODAY is the anniversary of that dark day in
* 1941 when the Japanese struck at Pearl Har
bor, and the United States found itself a partici
pant in World War 2.
At a tcrrilic price, in treasure and lives, we won
that war. Now, just nine years later, the world
teetjys on the brink of World War 3. And if De
cember 7. 1941, was a black day for the United
States, is December 7, 1950, any less foreboding
for America, and for the world?
Todav the United States and other members of
the United Nations already arc engaged in an un
declared war with Soviet Russia's most powerful
satellite. Communist China. Far outnumbered, our
forces in Korea are in retreat. As this is written,
the time has come when we must make a choice:
We can withdraw from ? or possibly be driven
out of ? Korea; that would be the first step to-,
ward isolationism. We can do the militarily obvi
ous thing, and bomb the Chinese points of concen
tration of men and material, across the Korean
border in Manchuria, and assure an all-out war
with China's millions ? a war that might last for
decades. "Or we can have a .show-down with Soviet
Russia itself, with all the dangers of. a world war
that such a show-down would entail. Possibly
there is still one other choice, a holding operation
in Korea that might last for years, and that would
gain us nothing but time. ?
If the layman finds himself baffled by the situ
ation, he can find comfort ? or more likely, fear?
from the fact that his. leaders are baffled, too.
I '
* * *
There are Great differences between 1941 and
*1950. Perhaps the most marked one is the fact
that, in 1?41, the nations fighting Nazi Germany
weft praying we would enter the war. This week,
bv contrast, Clement Atlee, Great Britian's prime
minister, is in Washington to tfrge a stubborn
Harrv Truman, whose patience obviously is becom
ing frayed, not to let the United States ge^ in
volved in World War 3. Europe, virtually unpro
tected. quite naturally is in mortal fear of a Rus
sian invasion.
And if the United Nations are not agreed on a
course of action, neither are Americans. There
appear to be two schools of thought on what our
policy in the Far East should be.
One, which can best be described as ,the Mac
Arthur philosophy, assumes that the only langu
age the Oriental can understand is force. The
worshippers of General MacArthur ? and he rather
pointedly permits them to use his name ? would
use an iron hand in the Far East, regardless of
consequences. They put primary emphasis on the
military security of the United States, with the
hope of world peace, though some such organiza
tion as the United Nations, forgotten. They would
"get thar fustest with the mostest" ? though they
seem to forget we do not have the "moatest" of
anything, with the possible exception of the atom
boinb. Meanwhile they scream that "Acheson"
must go".
The reason for that cry is not entirely personal.
For Acheson's program is something entirely dif
ferent. His policy appears to be based on the as
sumption that almost nothing could be worse than
a third world war ; that the best preventive of war
is to offer cooperation and friendship to those
who will accept it (and thus gain friends, too, in
case we need them in the event of a world war) ;
and, finally, that so long as the fighting has not
become world-wide, there is hope ; that every ef
fort must be made, every precaution taken, to pre
vent its engulfing the whole world in a holocaust.
However idealistic Mr. Acheson's efforts to work
ihrough the United Nations may appear to the
MacArthur advocates of direct action and use of
the mailed fist, the Secretary of State has this
much of common sense on l\js .side: The war in
Korea, even before the Chinese intervention, prov
ed beyond doubt that the United States is not
prepared for a world war.
* * * *
Between the two extremes stands President
Truman. So far, he appears to have tried to steer
a middle course, to keep both sides satisfied. But
the time has come when he must make a decision ?
just ti he had to make it when we used the atom
l)omb in Japan in 1945.
Meanwhile, the President last week asked con
rress for vnst new sum? r*t~ iho beginning of what
'promises !o become all out . mobilization. In his
message, he railed the Chinese intervention in Ko
rea "naked, deliberate, and unprovoked" aggres
sion, adding that, whatever happens, "we shall not
falter or turn back". While that is typical of the
fearless stubbornness that is Harry Truman's
strength, it also has something of th? sound of a
small boy's dare as he draws a line on the ground
in front of him.
And down at the level of the individual citizen,
there is fast-growing public pressure for an action
that would make a world war inevitable: "Why",
more and more people are asking, "not use the
atom bomb on Russia itself?"
* * *
It is another black December 7. And whether it
is to be all-out war nnw or later, of a long neriod
of armed truce and undeclared skirmishes, of one
thing we can be sure:
If Americans are to save their freedom, they
must be prepared for sacrifice, and more sacrifice,
and yet more sacrifice.
Another thing is almost equally certain: Unless
we find a solution ? if we have to fight another
world war, when it is over we'll have little left but
freedom.
Marks Era's Passing
The death o? E. C. Greene in Asheville last week
removed nor only an interesting and -colorful per
sonality, but also a man who typified a political
philosophy.
To "Deacon Greene", ,as he generally was
known, politics was a game; it was a game he
played with zest and consummate skill. And in his
formula for political success, a cardinal rule was :
Give the people good government, and they will
continue to give you the power to rule. The sec
ond rule in his formula was: A political favor,
such as an appointive office, demands repayment in
unquestioning loyalty and support by the appointee
and by all his relatives and friends.
Usually Mr-. Greene and his associates gave good
government. The "Deacon" himself almost never
made a speech and rarely held office, but he was
active behind the scenes, watching public opin
ion, keeping close tab on government policy, and
advising those who were in office. One of the
reasons he and his associates were able to give
good government ? and one of the reasons they re
mained in power so long ? was Mr. Greene's far
sightedness and good judgment in searching out
promising young men, whom he trained and push
ed forward. Many, especially in Buncombe coun
ty, Owe their start to him. Among his more suc
cessful proteges are Brandon P. Hodges, who to
day is state treasurer, and Weldon Weir, the pres
ent city manager of Asheville.
Generally, too, through careful .selection of those
given political reward, Mr. Greene and his asso
ciates got unquestioning loyalty from their sup
porters. Thus they perfected a political organiza
tion ? for many years known as "the Ring" ? so well
oiled that all that was necessary to swing votes
this way or that was to pass the word along to a
few leaders in various communities ; it then be
came their job to get out the votes of their fan>
ilies, their relatives, their friends, and of those
under obligations to them.
By following those two rules, the so-called Ring
became a tremendous power, first in Buncombe
county, then in the mountain region, and finally in
the state.
The slender, courtly, white-haired man who ap
peared so mild, but who could be so coldly ruth
less on occasion, had a definite code, and he ad
hered to it scrupulously. He frankly and honestly
believed in a benevolent dictatorship bv the intelli
gent few at the top. Of democracy, as it is under
stood today, he had little understanding; with it
he had slight patience, and in it he had no confi
dence whatever.
The passing of power from such a group was in
evitable with the development of a new concept of
democracy, and the upsurge of a new demand for
political freedom ? the belief that the average man
is both honest and intelligent, and the demand that
he have the right to make his own decision^ about
his government ;? the right to make them, even
when he is wrong.
But what of the future?
'The death of "Deacon" Greene does not remove
the philosophy he embodied. There is considerable
evidence, in fact, that the powerful North Caro
lina group which always has had nothing but con
tempt for the opinions and the rights of the aver
age man merely has changed its technique. There
is considerable evidence that there has simply been
a shift of policy ; instead of passing the word
down through channels to the bottom, the new
policy, it appears, i.s to go direct to the bottom ?
an effort to win control by appeal to the igno
rance and prejudices of the lowest stratum among
the voters, a group that is relatively small, but
which, in close elections, may hold the balance of
power.
That danger raises a question that long has
needed raising ? the question of the wisdom, at
this time, of universal suffrage.
It suggests two possible steps: First, to handle
tlie immediate problem, the setting up of new
standards of character and intelligence as a pre
requisite to voting; and, second, as a motive to
ward universal suffrage as an ultimate objective,
an intensive movement to bring this bottom
stratum up to meet those standards.
% * ,
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OUR DCMOCRACV
Not-so-dumb Animals
.The InJnitrious Beaver :
^workc with all hit Might j
r* g' ? i ? . jj
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! The Stubborn Mule ? stubborn ?
; r ^
| jn eating only what he Ne?da. 0
In these cays, patriotic americans arc called
UPON TO SAVE AS THIUmiy as squirrels -
TO WORK UK* BEAVERS AT PRODUCTION FOR.
NATIONAL STREN4TH-AND TO BE AS STUBBORN
AS MULES IN BUVIN6 ONLY WHAT THEY NEED.
Need 'Reexamination'
Following Senator Robert A. Taft's recent re
turn to Washington, he was questioned by news
reporters as to what he thought this "Lame Duck"
session of congress should do. He laughingly re
plied, "adjourn !" /
An account of this was carried the next day by
many daily papers, playing up the facetious re
mark as representing Senator Taft's views on the
matters facing congress.
Tuesday night of last week Senator Taft was in
terviewed over the Columbia Broadcasting System
network. During the interview, he was carefully
questioned by reporters.
Among other things, he said that he:
1. Favored statehood for Hawaii, was opposed
to it for Alaska.
2. Hoped we would not have to use the atom
bomb.
3. Felt that we should not pull out of Korea.
4. Did not know what to do about the interna
tional situation.
Here was a real expression of views on vital
issues bv a leading Republican. Yet the following
morning there was no mention of the interview in
the Asheville, Knoxville, or Atlanta daily papers.
Since the word "reexamine" is being used so
often just now, it might not be amiss to suggest
that the daily press .should 'reexamine', occasion
ally, its definition of the word news.
Letters
?
TRUTH EASES UNCERTAINTY
Editor, The Press:
I commend you on your editorial, "It Happens Again".
Nothing can take the place of sons. But equally important is
truth. It somehow eases pain from suspense when cold reality
sinks deep into the heart and tears and grinds. Decided,
there is no longer mental uncertainty.
MRS. LOUISE STAMEY RIGGINS.
Griffin, Georgia.
r
Others' Opinions
A MOUNTAIN LEADER
R. B. Slaughter of Robbinsville devoted the adult part of a
rich 75 years to his acmmunity, his state and his nation. No
vember 27 death removed him from a scene where he had
been a fixture of good citizenship and sound leadership. The
loss is all Western North Carolina's.
Mr. Slaughter was once a deputy U. S. marshal under the
late Charles A. Webb. He was register of deeds In Oraham
county for 14 years and for 22 years he was mayor of Robbins
ville. This later term of office had few to rival It In length
anywhere in the mountain region.
Service, however, was Mr. Slaughter's code. In small and
large things he gave always of himself to his people and his
community. Robbinsville, Oraham and Western North Carolina
are the sadder for his passing but the better for his lifetime
of loyalty to his progress.? Ashevllle Citizen.
SUGGESTS HUMILITY
We are naturally extremely Important to ourselves. However,
the latest look man has taken into the universe is likely to
prick some bubbles of his pride.
Built on a lonely mountain top In Southern California, the
200-Inch Hale telescope has enabled man to peer out Into the
space In which our world spins one billion light years.
What will we discover?
What we will discover Is? we were tempted to say? com
paratively unimportant. The knowledge we will gain of the in
finite Room of the Creator's Mind In which our globe moves
will not be unimportant. What we will say Is: Now that we
know there is an incomprehensible space through which In
numerable galaxies of solar systems spin, we should be vain,
Indeed, to consider that the course of eternity depends upon
the history of our nation.? Cleveland (County) Times.
"The United State* . . . seeks to prevent the establishment
of a world police state without a third world war and seeks to
prevent a third world war without surrender to the threat of
m world polloe itate."? Former Senator Frank j?, Oraham,
BUSINESS
Making
NEWS
_ By BOB SLOAN I
' There are indications that a
new drug store may be opened
soon in Franklin. Since compe
tition Is the 'ife of trade, we
know that everyone will wish
| the new-comar well.
I Frank Leach wiU soon have
his new store, located at the
coiner of School street and
Porter street, ready for opening.
He is completing a small cinder
block structure and nlans to
handle school supplies, candy,
soft drinks, and other merchan
dise. with the idei of catering
,trn t'v to rchool children.
Congratulations are certain'"
in order to all the persons con
nected with the Christmas dec
operations for this year.
Since It is the Christmas sea
son, here are some things w ;
would like for Santa to bring
Macon county :or Christmas,
since it doesn't seem likely
anyone else will: A paved road
from Franklin to Nantahala, a
better highway from Franklin
to DiUsboro, an announcement
that plans are being starte t
now for a county fair next fall.
We believe that each of these
things would make a lot of busi
ness in Macon county.
Evidently there Is a great de
mand in Macon County io.
heated hen houses. E^gs this
past week-end soared to the
price of 80c per dozen (price
on Friday, probably higher Sat
urday) and the only apparent
reason was that the hens Just
figured it was worth more to
lay eggs on a cold morning. So
it* looks like we had better
heat those hen houses. (Bill
Sloan; please note and apply
to your rural electrification
program.)
Livestock Quotations
(From Franklin Auction Sale
November 29
Number of head 75).
Cows: Per 100 lbs.
Fat
Medium $15.50 to $18.00
(Turn to Back Page 1st Section)
ft
Do You
Remember . . . ?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Press)
50 TEARS AGO THIS WEEK
Monday seemed to be Repub
licans day in town. Republi
cans from almost all parts of
the county came to town. Per
haps they wanted to see the
new Republican administration
sail into office. They saw It.
You can get your green cof
fee, 8 pounds for $1.00, Ar
buckVs roasted, 15 cts. per
package; flour 65 cts. per quar
ter; and salt at 90cts. per sack,
at Trotters'.Adv.
A diminutive strike at Cor
undum Hill yesterday. The mill
hands were called out to re
pair the trough that brings the
corundum from the mines. It
was a damp raw day and some
of the men said they would
quit before they would work at
it such a day. They were In
formed they could work or quit.
They quit.
25 YEARS AGO
There was a box supper at
the Burningtown school last
Saturday night ? with good
salesmen and plenty of pretty
girls, we made up $75.39 for
the purpose of buying an organ.
? Stiles local.
Franklin must consider itself
fortunate to have employed
Roberts and Company, of At
'anta, to design its municipal
dam and power house and to
supervise the construction work.
V
10 YEARS AGO ~
The Franklin Glee club, com
posed of IS voices, will appear
In Its first concert in the aud
itorium of the Methodist church
Dec. 18.
Miss Virginia Ramsey, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Ramsey, of Tellico, who will re
ceive her B. S. degree from
Asheville college In June, has
been selected as one of the rep
resentatives of Asheville college
to be listed in Who's Who
Among Students in American
Universities and Colleges.
Climaxing an impressive court
of honor ceremony Monday
night, the Rev. Frank Bloxham,
who came here especially for
the purpose, presented Scout
Paul Lee Plemmons with his
Eagle badge.
Carl Paul Mason and Wil
liam Langford Welch, who both
volunteered for Immediate serv
ice rather than wait to be con
scripted, will be the first Macon
County men to be Inducted In
to the army under the selective
??rvice act.