lb* (JflxattMlrf
*nb
^fttgltlan&s ^nrsniatt
VOL. LZIT Number 52
Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press
At Franklin. North Carolina
Telephone No. 24
Entered at Post Office. Franklin, N. C., as second class matter.
i
BOB 8. SLOAN. .Business Manager
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Year. $2.00
SI* Months $1.25
Three Months. .75
Single Copy .06
Obituary notices, cards of thanks, tributes of respect, by individuals, lodges,
churches, organizations or societies, will be regarded ss advertising and inserted at
regular classified advertising rstes. Such notices will be marked adv." is compli
ance with the postal requirements.
A Half-Century Ends
*</^OOD riddance of bad rubbish!"
That's the way a lot of us feel about the year
just ending, and about the half-century that *1950
brings to a close.
The year 1950 has been a nerve-racking year; a
year of constantly mounting tension, which ex
ploded into the Korean war in June, and which, at
the end of December, gives unhappy promise of de
veloping into a world-wide conflict.
And what a half-century !
In the first half of the twentieth century the
world .suffered two global wars and a depression
that probably was the worst in modern times. No
man or woman under 40 can remember living in a
normal world ; everybody under 37 was born, and
has lived, almost constantly, in an atmosphere of
tension and fear.
The last 50 years have witnessed, too, such
things as the San Francisco earthquakes and fire,
in 1906; the Titantic disaster six years later (just
two years before the outbreak of World War 1);
the cynical selfishness and generally unmoral at
mosphere of the 20's ; the Scopes evolution trial of
1925, and the McCarthyism of 1950.
* * *
But the half-century was not all bad.
It has brought much in the way of material com
fort and convenience to the average man and wom
an ; on January 1, 1901, a lot of things, we take for
granted today either were novelties or were un
dreamed of.
1 ii that far-awav year the average man could not
te' -phone for a doctor, or on business, or to his
nc :,rhbor. While the telephone had come into use,
its use was far from general.
The electric light, too, had become an actuality,
but it was to be many years before the John Smiths
of the world would discard the old oil lamp.
And of course today's washing machine and to
day's refrigerator ? the latter with its great role of
cutting the infant mortality rate ? were far in the
future.
The first wireless message to cross the Atlantic
was sent in 1902, and it was not until 20 years later
that daily radio broadcasting came into existence.
In 1901 nobody could put a six-cent airmail stamp
on a letter and have it delivered on the other side
of the ^continent in only a little more time than, at
the start of the century, it took a letter to go from
Franklin to Asheville.
The use of insulin for diabetics was unknown
until 1923, and as the century began .surgery was
largely a hit-and-miss affair.
If you lived in 1901, you didn't know, when you
bought food at the store, whether it was good or
spoiled ? the pure food act went into effect in 1907.
You couldn't mail a Christmas package to a rela
tive, nor could you send goods by mail ? parcel post
was not established until 1913. If you were a rural
resident, you not only had to send by express ? you
had to haul, or have hauled, your package to the
nearest express office.
The person living in 1901 literally lived in the
horse and buggy days. An automobile, in that year,
was a novelty that drew curious and excited
crowds.
If you lived in Franklin, the nearest railroad was
seven hours away.
If you were a man in 1901, your work day prob
ably was 12 hours.
If you were a woman, you could not vote. Woman
suffrage didn't come in until 1920.
If you were a child, you probably attended a one
room school house a few months in the year.
* * *
And despite wars and rumors of wars, and de
spite all the evidence of how far mankind's technical
knowledge has outstripped his emotional and moral
development? despite all these things, perhaps the
half-century has seen even greater progress along
intangible lines than in the physical -events that can
be chronicled as having happened in such and such
a year, and on such and such a date.
The concept of democracy has had its chief
growth during the first half of the twentieth cen
tury. In America, in 1901, we had and believed in
a representative form of government, but faith in
the intelligence and honesty of the average man
was rare.
The half-century has witnessed, too, rapid de-"
velopmeht 01 a social consciousness. It was a devel
opment that had grown unnoticed for three dec
ades, and was translated into action with the New
Deal. The changed feeling in the South toward the
Negro is but one phase of a transformation of at
titude that has taken place all over America, and,
perhaps to a lesser etftent, all over the world.
Education ? though its progress, like all other
progress, has been "spotty" and irregular ? has been
carried to the masses; perhaps more of this has
happened, in 50 years, than had happened in pre
vious recorded history.
There is a tolerance today that was unthinkable
i in 1901.
And, especially pertinent today, there has been
progress toward world peace. Two major attempts
have been made. The first failed. The second may
fail. But it is the history of mankind that, when
enough men want a thing, and want it badly
enough, they work for it and pray for it, patiently
and faithfully, until it is achieved. T?ie growing
hope and demand for world peace is the proof that,
ultimately, it will come.
If the church people of America really believed
what they aay they believe, they would be on their
knees every day praying for a just peace.
Others' Opinions
NO DIFFERENCE
A couple of deacons were out hunting Sunday morning when
one of them said: "What would our pastor think if he knew .
we were out on a hunting trip this morning?"
"I dont know," said the other, "but I couldn't have been at
church anyway. My wife is sick."? Charity and Children.
THEY WERE RIGHT
A writer says that fifty years ago people were worrying
about what would become of the younger generation. And
time has proven that they had a right to worry? Cajnden
Chronicle).
MODERN NUISANCES
We not only have the living room out of doors nowdays, but
we have the flower gardens indoors. The craze to grow African
violets has gotten around until about every woman must have
extra shelves, tables, pots, and pans, all over the house. I to.d
Oscar King the other day that I have to get an order from
court to raise a window at home, and that if it got much
worse I wouldn't have anywhere to lay my pants when I went
to bed. Guess I'll Just go to sleepin' in my breeches! ? V. C.
Marley in Asheboro Courier-Tribune.
DIXIELAND, AND RUSSIA
. . . Under the red regime people axe captives of the Commun
ist party. Here in Dixieland we're captives of the Democratic
party. We're tied down by a foolish tradition which is Just as
certain In Its outcome as the controlled election of East Europe.
Our one consolation Is that we do have other real elections.
Our prlmarles'offer free and unhampered selection, and as far
as state and local affairs are concerned we get along nicely.
But on the national scale we're getting a raw deal. . . .
? Muenster (Texas) Enterprise.
CITY BOY ON THE FARM
In the Abbeville Chronicle, of last week I saw an account of
a city boy visiting on his uncle's farm. The little boy was very
much Interested in the pigs and when he went back to the city
he told his chums about seeing the pigs on the farm. He said
that there was one big pig and lots of little pigs and that the
big pig was afraid of the little pigs because they kept chasing
her around all the time and when she got too tired to run any
more just lay down aqd all the little pigs jumped on her and
began chewing on the buttons of her vest.? L. P. Cross In Clay
ton Tribune.
A TREE " .
Last week I referred to the number and variety of trees on
the grounds of the State Hospital. In the meantime in going
through some of my books I came across a pamphlet Issued in
1944 by the State Department of Conservation and Develop
ment on "Common Forest Trees in North Carolina". It was
prepared by the late J. S. Holmes, for many years State For
ester. Mr. Holmes truly knew his trees. In the Foreword he
wrote: "Trees are the largest and oldest living creatures", I
had never thought of a tree as a "creature", but have re
marked that trees, more than anything else, next to human
beings, seem to possess personalities. That feeling toward them
is due perhaps to the fact that, at also expressed In the Intro
duction to the Holmes booklet on North Carolina trees, "they
are tn one way or another perhaps more closely associated with
our own dally lives than Is any other class of living things."
Perhaps the poem on trees with which the majority of people
are most familiar is Joyce Kilmer's well known "Trees." I do
not recall ever reading before the lines captioned "A Tree", used
in the aforesaid booklet, and I wondered whether or not Mr.
Holmes wrote It. It U credited to "Arbor and Bird Day Man
ual for North Carolina, 1915", and Is, I think, excellent poetry:
"A tret U WW tf MtvrTi wort#, a wont of P??? to man;
OUR bEMOCRACY^rr1?^
;h slats
[ At tmc eno of the old vbml
IT IS AN ANCIENT AND HONORED
CUSTOM IN AMERICA TO
CAST UP ACCOUNTS AND
TAKE STOCK OF WHERE
WK STAND -AND TO START
THE NEW YEAR. WITH
A FRFSH SLATS .
J
Of course we cant all, as i
INDIVIDUALS, COMPLETELY 6AIANCE |
OUR ACCOUNTS - BUT WE CAN ,
START WITH A FRESH SLATE
TO WORK OUT SETTER, S RAVER.
FLANS FOR OUR. FUTURE*
I TO PROVIDE GREATER SECURITY
I THROUGH LIFE INSURANCE AND
I SAVINGS FOR. OUR FAMILIES ?
TO GAIN FOR OURSELVES GREATER
OPPORTUNITIES AND SATISFACTIONS
IN THE NEW YEAR., ^
IT rfSSM
A word that tells of central strength, from whence a!l things
began;
"A word to preach tranquillity to all our rest'ess clan.
"Ah, bare must be the shadeless ways, and bleak the paths
must be,
Of him who, having open eyes, has never learned to see,
And so has never learned to love the beauty of a tree.
"Who !oves a tree, loves the life that springs in star and clod,
He loves the love that gilds the cloud, and greens the April sod;
He loves the Wide Beneficence; his soul takes hold of God."
? Miss Beatrice Cobb in Morganton News-Herald.
0
GAMBLING MACHINES IN N. C.
Already there are more than a half thousand gambling ma
chines in each North and South Carolina. This is according to
Federal Revenue departments. The Federal government places
a tax of $150 on each of these machines, and this tax is a
most postive guarantee that these machines are here to stay.
It is a sure foundation on which to base the statement that
there will be more of these machines here.
Certainly there is a low on the statutes of these states mak
ing it a misdemeanor and punishab'e with a rather heavy fine
for having In possession one of these machines, even for stor
age. But these machines are mostly in club buildings and in
homes where the door is closed behind them. And the law en
forcement officers are given fair warning that they are not to
visit these places, and if they should they are to keep their
eyes closed and not see them.
And these local officers are not going to do anything that
would knock the Federal government out of $150.00 a year for
each of these one-arm bandits which take a large amount of
the pay of folks who are not able to spare it. In South Caro
lina there is a state tax of $150.00 and it is said that they pay
the tax down there and therefore know where the machines
are located. But they continue operation.
Bootleggers in the dry sections of this state use the same
tactics to sell their il'egal wares. They pay the Federal tax and
then (so it is reported) pay the local officers, and find little
difficulty in selling whiskey to any who may want to buy. It
is the biggest and most influencing argument of the liquor
manufacturers and dealers in legalizing their wares.
It will not be long until there will be an effort to legalize
these gambling machines in the Carolinas. By a referendum
vote gambling machines would be defeated just as liquor sales
would be defeated. These gambling machines are now found in
military reservations, in soldier and ex-soldier club houses, and
in most of the regular club houses; especial'y those in- and
near the larger cities of the state. And these bring in much
money for the owners and operators. In iact, it is so much that
all the members of the clubs, as well as the operators and
distributors would oppose the legalizing of them to be oper
ated by the general public under a license as they are in
Nevada.
We are opposed to the legalizing of these machines in North
Carolina. If there must be a few operated, then the fewer the
better. ? Mecklenburg Times.
Letters
BOUQUET FOR BRADY v
Dear Mr. Jones:
Would you pin a bunch of roses on J. P. Brady for me? I
don't know the guy, but It would be a pleasure to do so. His
"Makin' Macon" column is really neat. The manner Is what I
would call sprightly.
Now up to the time Brady hit town, football was just a word
to me. (I was always a rifle, pistol and shotgun artist.) But
now I get to ltchln' to see some fancy football and basketball
pitchin'.
Catch is, I work at Zickgraf's, In the flooring mill at night ?
farm of days.
Yours,
CHARUS J. FEROUBON
BUSINESS
Making
NEWS
? Br BOB SLOAN ?
To open the new year we
would like to suggest several
additional services that might
be offered by Franklin business
firms during the coming year
and what we think are some of
the be ter new business oppor
tunities.
Either the bank or a savlng3
association shou'd offer a Christ
mas savings club plan. Under
this system a small deposit each
month enables you to have
available a substantial sum for
Christmas purchases and during
the year you receive Interest on
your deposits. The plan would
benefit the average person In
that It wouldn't take him until
next Christmas to get over this
">ne and the merchants would
have benefitted by having re
ceived cash for their Christ mM
stock of goods.
Bus service facilities should
x expanded so as to raak*
available a bus station which
has adequate waiting room.)
which are open when a bus It
departing or arriving. Then;
should be proper rest room ?
available for all those wtu>
travel by bus. 'During the com
ing year this may become In
creasingly important since with
Increased moblization there wl'l
be more travel by soldiers and
transient workers.
For new business opportun
1 les we would like to suggest
the following: a men's clothln j
shop devoted exclusively to*
men's wearing apparel with par
ticular emphasis on sport's
wear and supplies; a small bak
ery shop which specialised in
pasterles and cakes; a recrea
tional place which offers a
place for the teen age group to
gather.
* * *
Talk with Franklin merchants
Indicates that many did the
best Christmas business in their
history, perhaps this was .due
to some extent to the promo
tional work done by the frank
lin Merchants Association. Con
gratulations on your first year
of work and more and bigger
promotions for next year.
Do You
Remember . . ? ?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Pmm)
SO TEARS AGO THIS WEEK
The Press being in the centre
would respectfully ask its es
teemed exchanges on the .ex
tremes, the Dover (Ky.) News
and the Palmetto (8. C.) Post,
what has become of the Black
Diamond Railway scheme? If it
don't revive soon. Franklin is
going to dig out in one direc
tion or the other.
There was a great deal of
drinking in town last Saturday.
The dispensary was partially
wrecked Monday night about
8 o'clock by a dynamite cart
ridge exploded either under or
within the room. The interior of
the building was considerably
damaged, part of the stock de
stroyed. Such lawlessness is
both dangerous and wrong.
25 YEARS AGO
The movement now on foot
to build a commercial hotel la
Franklin is one of the most im
portant started in many ^ears.
You can smile at the little '
Franklin boy who starts going
to Sunday school and washing
behind the ears just a few
weeks before Christmas.
10 YEARS AGO
A small plant for the purpose
of extracting sulphate of magn
esium, or Epsom Salts as it is
familiarly known, from nickel
ore on an experimental basis
is now under construction.
Approximately 1,250 Christmas
bags and 140 Christmas baskets
were distributed over the coun
ty, either through Christmas
trees or individually, a* report
ed by the newly organised
I Christmas club chairman.
E. J. Robinson
Ghrert Promotion
To M Sertfttbt 1
Edward J. Robinson, of Frattfc
lin, has been promoted tO'th*
rank of master sergeant in the
6th Armored division of the
army, according to tnfortaMto
received from camp' CnifTw,
Ark.
The Macon County soldier has
been in the army 10 years, and
won the Silver Star for gal*
lan try in action during WorM
War n.