Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / June 7, 1951, edition 1 / Page 1
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Wt* Rxcontati trice 6 Centa VOL. LXVI? NO. 23 FRANKLIN, N. C? THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1951 EIGHT FAGES TOWN BOARD REELECTS ALL US EMPLOYES Levy $10 Privilege Tax On Franklin Taxi Cabs During a lengthy three and a half hour session Monday night, the Franklin board of aldermen reelected all town em ployes, levied a $10 . privilege tax on local taxis, and approved a resolution condemning the phase of state prison law which allows sex perverts to become honor grade prisoners. With more business on hand than time, the board postponed action on the town's clean-up" campaign and water situation. In addition the board approv ed measures (1) levying the town prlveledge tax on the same basis as 1950 ( 2) authorizing the clerk to send letters to local tilling stations asking for discount bids on gasoline, oil, and other items for town ve hicles, (3) authorizing the budg et committee to include in the budget funds for paying a third policeman, (4) and authorized the street and water committees to investigate a number of sit uations, after hearing cases pre sented by delegations. The board, by unanamous vote, reelected town employees. All of the employes, with the exception of the health officer, who Is hired by the year, are on a monthly ba^is. Salaries of employes were not changed. Employes are, R. S. Jones, town attorney, C. D. Baird, chief of police, Homer Cochran, night policeman, Carl Tysinger, fire chief and building inspector, Dr. H. T. Horsley, health of ficer, Herman Childers, water superintendent, and Mack Franks, electrical inspector. A motion to tax local cab drivers was introduced by Ald erman Verlon Swafford follow ing a discussion which centered around taxi owner's free use of town property. In the past, taxis have not come under the provisions of the privilege tax. By law the town board reserves SEE NO. 2, PAGE 8 This Region Picked As "Safety Area" In Event Of War Western North Carolina has been selected as a "safety area", to which war refugees may be .sent, and In the event of atom ic bombing of the United States, Franklin might wake up some morning to find 30,000 refugees on its hands, J. Richard Queen told an audience that packed the courthouse to the doors Monday night. Mr. Queen was here in con nection with Monday night's courthouse event, the showing of the film, "Medical Effects of the Atomic Bomb". The film was obtained from the depart ment of the Army by Repre sentative Monroe M. Redden for audiences in this congressional district. Mr. Queen, who spoke brief ly, discounted this area's dang er, in the event of all-out war, by reason of its proximity to Oak Ridge, Tenn. Prisoner Flees Road Gang Near Ga. Line BULLETIN Milton Austin, who escaped from the prison camp here Monday, was captured near Clayton, Ga., yesterday mo.n inf. A 23-year-old prisoner, serv ing a Xour-year sentence for auto theft at the Macon Coun ty prison camp, escaped from a road gang about 11 o'clock Monday morning on the Mul berry road near the Georgia line. Shariff J. Harry Thomas ex pMtsed the belief that the pris oner's escape was prearranged and that someone met him neartjy with an automobile. The man was identified as Mlton Austin, 23, of Gastonla, Route 2. At the time of his escape he was wearing brown pants and a white T-shirt. The sheriff said he is of medium build, and weighs about 163 pounds. LIONS SUBMIT MAP TO BOARD To Be Used For House .Numbering Project In Franklin Door-to-door mail delivery, the ultimate goal of the Lions club Community Betterment project, moved a step closer to reality Monday night when a large map of Franklin was turned over to the board of aldermen for approval or dis approval. The map, which lists all houses within the town limits, will prove to be invaluable for house numbering in Franklin, the first step toward mail de livery, Ted Reber, chairman of the organisation's community betterment committee, told the board. A similar map would cost around $6,000, Mr. Reber said. The Lions map was made by H. H. Plemmons in his spare time at a cost of $250. Mr. Reber asked the board to con sider paying Mr. Plemmons for the map since it also could be used by the town for things such as zoning. The board post poned action for further con sideration. The presentation of the map is the second phase of the Lions' mail delivery project. The first phase, completed In the fall of 1949, was street naming. The club spent more than $700 on that feature of the project. Mr. Reber also submitted a number of recommendations to the board for consideration: 1. That one number be as signed for each 12 and a half feet in the business section, I SEE NO. 3, PAGE 8 PLAN SUNDAY SING The second Sunday sing of the Macon County Singing con vention will be held at the Buck Creek Baptist church Sunday afternoon at 1:45 o'clock, Ralph McClure, secretary, announced this week. Plan For "Biggest And Best" Fourth Of July Celebration Plans for making this year's Fourth of July celebration "the biggest and best yet" were mapped Friday night by rep resentatives of various Frank lin civic groups and organiza tions. A pageant-like parade in the downtown area, complete with floats, bands, and "all the trimmings", and field events on the high school athletic field, including a beauty contest and a greased pole, were discussed. Action committees to put plans into effect were appointed. The Independence Day plan ners left the decision to enter floats up to individual organiza tions, but agreed to Judge all entries and award a cash prize to the winner. Judging will be based on originality and minimum of cost. The group decided that decorating costs tor each float should not exceed $3. The Fourth festivities will pn?rom> moat of tb? d*y tor ?> Macon County participants. Tentative plans call for the pa rade and field events to be held in the morning, a base ball game at the athletic field in the afternoon, and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post plans to hold a square dance that night at the airport. Following are the committees named: Organization} W. O. Craw ford, chairman, Raymond Lowe, Wayne Proffitt, Harry Corbln, Herman Chllders, B L. Mc Olamery, Mrs. Tom Jenkins, Miss Kate McOee, and Mrs. Howard Barnard. Parade: W. W. Beeves. Ad vertising: Norman Blaine and ?Bob S. Sloan. James Blaine and Lee Barnard were appointed to ?ehedule a baseball game. The meeting was presided over by B. L McOlamery, chairman of the C. of C. July 4 committee, and was held at the 0. of 0. offlM on Mftln REAPPOINTED JUDGE GEORGE B. PATTON I Judge Pat ton, of Franklin, is one of four special superior court Judges reappointed by Governor Scott the latter part of taut week. Judfe Pa t ton was reappointed for a two-year ' term. He bas served since 1947. | GRADUATE TEN AT HIGHL ANDS Diplomas were conferred upon 10 seniors by G. L. Houk, coun ty school superintendent, at the Highlands High school com mencement exercises Tuesday night. Principal speaker for the event was Dr. Paul A. Reid, president of Western Carolina Teachers college. He was Intro duced by Mr. Houk. The college president told members of the graduating class that education Is a continuing process through life and stress ed its spiritual and moral val ues. "Education is essential for survival," Dr. Reid declared, "and is a most powerful weapon SEE NO. 7, PAGE 8 WILL HOLD REVIVAL Simultaneous revivals will be held June 10 through 15 at the churches of the Franklin Meth odist circuit, the pastor, the Rev. C. L. Grant, has announc ed. Sunday services will be held at Bethel, Clarks' Chapel, Iotla, and Snow Hill at 11 a. m. and 8 p. m., and at 10 a. m. and 8 p. m. at Louisa. During the week, the churches will come together for services at 11 a. m. at Bethel Monday, Clark's Chap el Tuesday, Iotla Wednesday, and Snow Hill Thursday, with lunch to follow the service each day. Quest preachers will con duct the Sunday services. CONDEMN PRISON PRACTICE AFTER ATTACK ON BOY Recommend No Paroles, Honor Grades, For Sex Criminals Town and county govern mental bodies and Franklin civic organizations drew up res olutions this week condemning the practice of letting sex crim inals become honor grade piis oners, or eliglbles for parole.. The reaction followed an al leged attack on ,an eight-year old Franklin boy last Thursday by an honor grade prisoner from the Macon County prison camp. The prisoner, charged with "a crime against nature", was Identified as David Cannon, 2*7, of Ayden. David Lee Reber, a fourth-grader. Identified Cannon and told of 1 leers he was the man "who promised me a white rabbit" not to tell anyone. The Reber child, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Reber, of Frank lin, told Investigating officers the man showed him dirty pic tures before attacking him. Lewd pictures were found under the mattress of the prisoner's bunk at the camp. Commending the child's par ents for bringing the case out in the open, the town board and the board of county com missioners took action. Monday, both organizations passed slm iliar resolutions, copies of which are being sent to the governor and prison officials, condemn ing the practice of allowing sex criminals their freedom under the honor system while serving prison sentences. The Franklin Oarden club, at a meeting Mon day night, authorized a com mittee, composed of Mrs. Allan Brooks, Mrs. Gus Leach, and Mrs. J. Ward Long, to work with O. L. Houk In drafting a like resolution. The Junior Woman*' club also plans similar action. Cannon is serving two 15-year sentences, concurrently, for ab duction and kidnapping. He was sentenced In Wilson County and began serving his sentence in 1946. Officers investigating the case said that Cannon's record at the camp stated that he was found to be "mentally deficient with sex perversion", following an examination by Dr. ?wens, psychiatrist for the state prison department. According to the Reber child, his dog broke leash and he asked the man to help him catch It. After catching the dog, SEE NO. 4, PAOE 8 This Thing Must Be Stopped (EDITORIAL) A boy and his dog, abroad In field and wood ... That is a picture that is etched deep in the memories of most of us who once were boys; a happy memory every boy has a right to treasure. But last week a shadow fell across the picture . . . A shadow cast by something in the shape of a man, a thing not only sex-crazed, but whose instinct is twisted and turned back upon itself. Eight-year old David met a sex pervert. The rest of the story is sordid . . . sickening. * ? ? A young inmate of the prison camp here, upgraded to be coime a trusty and thus have some liberty, is charged with the offense. His guilt or innocence is not established; it can be established only by the courts. But whatever the verdict of the court in this case, It is true that this thing has been happening with alarming fre quency, in this state and others: A man convicted of a sex offense, or a prisoner with a history of sex perversion, is up graded to become a trusty, or is paroled . . . and another child must pay, often with his life. In such cases, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Reber feel, the child Is the victim not only of a pervert, but of a system that is wrong. And so UtUe David's parents have done a courageous thing; Instead of hushing up the story of what happened to their son, they have deliberately brought It out in the open, so that something can be done to protect other boys and girls. Prison reform In this matter is long past due. Something should be done, must be done about that. But we must go farther. It Is high time we dragged this ugly thing out of the dark corners. Time we let some light in on this fast-spreading blight. Time we stopped speaking of it in whispers. Time we examined this problem, and did some Intelligent thinking and aeting. It is time we .recognized it for what it surely is, a disease of the mind. We have learned better than to imprison our other insane; we put them in institutions for the insane, treat them, and release them only when they are whole again. It is time we did something about this thing before some child has to suffer to prove the existence of perversion. We do not wait until half the population is infected before we isolate and treat a case of leprosy. It is time we put some people to work to find out the cause of this type of insanity, to find out what is wrong with a society that breeds perverts. It |? time, It U long past time we made it sate for a boy Mi dog to ba abroad. . . . Named Superintendent HOLLAND McSWiUN 3 GRADUATED AT NANTAHALA HI Nantahala High school's grad uating class Saturday night be came the first class to receive their diplomas In the new school building. Diplomas were ' Honor Students VESTER MAY Valedictorian s , " v "Nefev . ? MISS SUSIE DOUTHIT Salutatorian conferred on eight seniors by j Guy L. Houk, county school su- | perintendent. The baccaluareate sermon SEE NO. 5, PAGE 8 McSwain Elected Superintendent Of Schools Here 'cwlon Reelected; Three Commii '.eerr-en Qi lit ; Appoint Mitchell Reverfceraflons of a Highlands chool f ont oversy were heard it Monday's meeting of the county board of education. Letters read at the meeting revealed that the Highlands di tiict school committee had reversed its previous action, and reflected W. C. Newton as a teacher in the Highlands school, and that three members of the ive-man committee had resign ed. At Monday's meeting Chair- 1 man Bob Sloan announced that he had Walter Bryson's letter of resignation from the High lands district committee. Mr. B yson resigned to accept ap pointment to the county board. Chairman Sloan then read three letters. The first was a copy of a let ter from James O. Beale and James H. Crawford to Sidney McOarty, chairman of the High lands committee. In the letter, dated May 29, Mr. Beale and Mr. Crawford resigned, "efiec tive 10:30 p. m? May 28. The second letter, dated June 2, was from Mr. McCa:ty, sug gesting to the board that the committee be reduced from five to three members. The third letter, undated, in formed the board that Principal O. f. Summer had recommend ed and the school committee, with four members present, had reelected Mr. Newton. Emphasizing that it is the policy of the county board to go along with district commit tees on matters of personnel, the county board proceeded to reduce the Highlands commit tee to three members, and to name C. E. Mitchell as the third member, and to approve the employment of Mr. New ton as a teacher in the High lands school. All three actions were taken on motion of Mr. Bryson, the Highlands member of the coun ty board. The three motions were seconded, respectively, by J. C. Sorrells, Walter Gibson, and Mr. Sorrells. The board gave County Supt. G. L. Houk authority to make the necessary arrangements to provide for water storage at the new Iotla school. Mr. Houk ex plained that the recently -dug well supplies only about six gal lons a minute, and that some method of storage would be necessary. He also was given authority to have the necessary grounds grading done at the new Nan tahala school, which he said would be ready for final in spection about June 20. NAMED TO SOCIETY John H. Wasilik has been made a charter .member of the Manhattan honorary physics so ciety at Manhattan college In New York, It has been learned here. He Is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wasilik, Jr., of Franklin. Nantahala Fourth Attraction In North Carolina During '50 The Nantahala National For est rated fourth among North Carolina's "Big Ten" attractions during 1950, according to atten dance figures recently made public by the N. C. department of conservation and develop ment. i Figures show that 1,220.480 persons visited the scenic Nan tahalas during the year. The top attraction in the state was Pisgah National Forest, the en trance of which is near Ashe ville, with an attendance of 1, 199,775. Second and third places went to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains . National Park with 1,825,491 1 and 1,774,265 respectively. "Unto These Hills", the Chero kee drama in neighboring Swain county, which opened in 1950, drew 107,140 persons to its per formances and rated eighth place. Forty-four per cent, 147, 1T7 acres at the Nantahala For est'* 414,133 acres are within the confines of Macon County, and the total population In the forest Is approximately 60,000. The Nantahalas boast excel lent hunting and fishing, as well as its many breath-taking scenic beauties. Sixteen picnic and camping areas dot the ex panse of forest and offer tour ists and "home-staters" a treas ure of rest and relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of every-day life. From the John Byrne Me morial Tower atop 5,300 feet Wayah Bald, visitors may view the Appalachians and peer Into four adjoining states on a clear day. Just below the Bald, on Wayah Crest, lean-to shelters, tables and fireplaces, pure mountain water, and sanitary facilities add to the appeal of the forest and Its many attrac tions. For color camera enthusiasts and nature lovers, 350 species of shrubs and trees grow on the SKI NO. I, FAOI ? Chosen By 4 to 0 Vote; Will Succeed Moult On July 1 Holland McSwain, a fo-mer county superintendent and pres ently business manager of Flora Macdonald Co'ls^o, at Red Springs, was elected Macon County superintendent of sch Mils at Monday'3 meetin? o i the county boaid of education. The vote was 4 to 0. Walter Bryson, who earlier in the meeting had nominated G. L Houk, present superintendent, did not vote. After calling the meeting to order, Chairman Bob Sloan ex plained that all of the appli cants had been considered by the board members in informal discussions, but read the list of the 20 who had been under consideration. He then called for nominations. McSwain Nominated There was a long 4jau.se. Then Mr. Bryson nominated Mr. Houk. The latter imme diately explained that "I am not an applicant . . . and I am not going to be a party to any ruckus, inside or outside of this board". There was no sec ond to the nomination. Next Walter Gibson nomi nated Ralph L. Smith, principal of the Sylva High school, Sylva. There was no second to that nomination. At this point, J. C. Sorrells nominated Mr. McSwain, com menting that, "judging from the Information available, I believe Jie would make us a good man." Charles W. Nolen seconded the nomination, and Mr. Sor rells, Mr. Nolen, Mr. Oibson, and Mr. Sloan voted for him. Mr. McSwain, who will take office July 1, at the expiration of Mr. Houk's present term, Is a native of Shelby, and a grad uate of the University of North Carolina. He alst) did graduate study at the University. Served As Superintendent After seven years as a school principal in Caswell county, he was elected superintendent of schools in that county, a posi tion he held for 15 years. He went to Flora Macdonald col lege, at Red Springs, Robeson county, last fall. He is 47 years old. The new Macon County su perintendent is a Democrat, a past president of the Rotary club at Yanceyville, Caswell county, a past master of the Masonic lodge and a former district deputy grand master, and an elder In the Griers Presbyterian church and a former moderator of the Orange SEE NO. 6, PAGE 8 Baptists Plan County - Wide Training Union Thi# Week Plans (or a Baptist Training Union Enlargement campaign, Sunday through Friday, under the sponsorship of the First Baptist church, were announced this week by the Rev. M. W. Chapman, pastor. The Franklin church cam paign Is to run in conjunction with similar Baptist campaigns throughout the county, conduct ed by the Macon County Bap tist association. According to Mr. Chapman, James P. Morgan, director of the North Carolina Baptist Training Union department, is sending more than 18 field workers here to assist in pro moting the county-wide cam paign. At the First Baptist church. Miss Wllla Marks, a former as soclatlonal missionary, will teach the young people and adults. Miss Betty Brewer, state inter mediate leader, will Instruct In termediates, and Miss Mable Starnes, a former state Junior intermediate field worker and present dean of women at Oardner-Webb college, will teach the Juniors. Mr. Chapman extended an in vitation to Baptists, whose churches are not conducting a campaign, to meet with the Franklin church. The study group* will meet each night it 7; 10 o'olock
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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June 7, 1951, edition 1
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