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S\xnttklm |r^sB an it 0t? pigltlnnits jfltattfitintt VOL. LXVn Number 35 Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press At Franklin, North Carolina Telephone 24 Entered at Post Office, Franklin, N. C., as second class matter. WEIMAR JONES Editor BOB B. SLOAN. Business Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Out-af-County ? One Tear $3.00 IB Macon County ? One Year $2.50 She Months $1.75 Three Months $1.00 Single Copy . .10 OUMfj Mien, cud, ?f It.ih, tri kMa at ninit h j l?lhllinl?. Mna, _ ? -? i ? l. ? ? i _ __ m i - r ?fpnUMM mr pocacfaca, wii dc regtrvra M MvaruMM mmm mum M i ? ll ? rata. Snefc sotko win be witaTSit." la in |H ??ee vttfc the |i?il mdi??n. AUGUST 28, 1952 Plight Of The Liberals COMETIMES the most reactionary of conserva ^ tives is the liberal who has become rich, or the group or party that has become entrenched. That is the way many who enthusiastically back ed the New Deal have come to feel about the Tru man administration. There is a feeling that while the administration in Washington continues to advocate' programs that are labeled liberal, it often has become conser vative to the point of reaction in its methods ; that it has lost faith in the basic tenets of democracy, and more and more tends to resort to pressure and compulsion to put over its programs; that it has come to identify all liberalism with itself, and thus to put ever more emphasis on winning and ever less on principle ? to act as though the end justifies the means. A deep-seated conviction has been coming to the surface in many minds that reforms, no matter how desirable in themselves, cease to be liberal when they bring with them more restraint than freedom ; that the real defense of the reforms of the past 20 years is not a parrot-like reiteration of the word ? "welfare", but evidence ? and there is abundant evidence ? that they gave greater freedom to a greater number; in this case, economic freedom. There has been a growing feeling that many of those in Washington have forgotten that liberal ism means freedom. Whether they are right or wrong in this feeling, many who long have called themselves liberal months ago became convinced that the cause of true liberalism could be best served by a change, by a plean sweep in Washington; by the infusion of new blood and new ideas and, most of all, new dynamic" faith. * Thus the struggle within the Republican party was watched with concern, and hope; and many who never had voted the Republican ticket breath ed a sigh of relief when General Eisenhower was nominated. Some determined immediately to vote for him ; probably an even larger number left the decision open, but were convinced that, at the least, they would have a choice in November. * * ? If liberals ? if those who prize freedom ? have watched with misgivings what has seemed to them the drift of the Truman administration away from freedom, they have watched with cold fear another trend in America ; one that has manifested itself in laws and executive orders and the utterances of public officials. It is a trend toward convicting a man not for what he does, but for what he thinks ? and often for what somebody thinks he thinks ; that way, of course, lies the destruction of all freedom of thought and of speech, and finally of religion. It is a trend, exemplified in a recent Presidential execu tive order, toward putting the burden of proof of i innocence on the defendant, rather than the reverse. It is a trend that is not confined to one party, but that is typified bv Senator Joseph McCarthy. Whether Senator McCarthy is right or wrong in his charges of Communists in government, whether he is honest or insincere, is beside the point. The point is that McCarthy's whole stock in trade is to . try, convict, and punish a man without trial ? often without his even knowing what he is charged with. That is Ku Kluxism at its worst, because it is Ku Kluxism given the sanction of public office. And Senator McCarthy is dangerous not in him self, but as a symbol ; he has become the very em odiment of a mode of thinking that is in conflict with every tradition of Anglo-Saxon justice. It is this man, it is this symbol, that General Eisenhower last week announced he would support in the November election! In fairness to General Eisenhower, it should be recalled that he is a novice in politics ; it also should be recalled that, in the period in which he grew up, it was an axiom in politics that all good Repub licans supported all Republican nominees, and Dem ocrats Democratic. nominees. It is possible that Gen eral Eisenhower, in announcing his decision to sup port all Republican nominees, overlooked a vast change that has come in recent decades. For along with the old axiom of universal support went a universal party discipline, which required all office holders to go along with the party, regardless of personal opinions. That day, of course, has long since passed ; for today the convictions of the in dividual, rather than his party label, determine the way he will vote in congress. It is possible that General Eisenhower, on sec ond thought, may change his mind, and repudiate McCarthy and his fellow travelers. If he does not, many liberals will turn in despair toward Governor Stevenson, hoping against hope that he can and will demonstrate that his election will mean a real and far-reaching change. Other wise, as it stands today, the liberals have nowhere to go. When a business man hires an employe, he doesn't select someone for the job because that someone is deserving or needs a job or is his friend or relative. Instead, he hires the person he believes will give him the most and the best serv ice for the mon?y. In hiring our public .servants ? whether they be governors or legislators or county officials or school teachers ? we'd do well to follow the same rule. After all, they're the employes of the taxpayer, and the taxpayer has a right to get the most possible for his money. Other's Opinions IT WOULD BE (Hal Tribble in Charlotte Observer) A toy left behind by some forgetful youngster almost broke up a recent wedding rehearsal in a Myers Park Church. Stumb ling over an object as he prepared to join the waiting couple, the minister stooped, picked up a stumbling block, held it in view. It was, and wouldn't you know it, a kid-sized shotgun. ? SEEMS CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES (Coatesville (Pa.) Record) . . . When the Democratic delegates booed when Eisenhower's name was mentioned, were they expressing resentment against the Republican candidate, the man who carried World War II in Europe to a satisfactory .conclusion, or were the boos aimed at the man the Democrats wanted as their own candidate in 1948? . . . THE UNTOUCHABLE HOUR (Herbert Spaugh in Charlotte News) It is refreshing ever so often to find a person, a public ser vant, whose mind is not chained to 5 o'clock and pay day. Those who do the work of this country are becoming so con cerned about pay and hours that they all too often lose sight of the job. On every hand, employers tell me that the first question a prospective employe asks is what are the hours and the pay. Recently Judge Dan K. Moore, of Sylva, In Mecklen burg superior court, announced, "There is nothing sacred about 5 o'clock," after a lawyer had argued that his client's case could not be tried before adjournment time at 5 o'clock. OUR DEMOCRACY -by Mat J 05T FlSKW'AND THI NKW' <S)nce upon ? time tAerc too* ol "Farmer. H? imi a Tarmer ? but a fitt f< Lajij. A?i Ik tilub fieAing 1"i?Ajng an^ Tainting. So wtfH Ac (*ab plou>e& aff Aie Aut m? -A^ter fcAe crop* lucre in. fie wni fitfihy ? Tn* fling anS Thinking. Ani Ac fc( lliat one *Ficl& , Grow rant u>i t A (At ""Poeeij 1 ke next ?5pr ing Ac turned it unSer .A.nb {fie crop grew ani Ac went fitting. Nou> "Fisting anb Tltintiy txab sUarptntb tie ^ ""Pouters of Ofeser oaf ion ~anS Ac noticed that tte Crop on tftat pafcti of I_?anb wat (xtUr tfvan t Ac Otters . Ht fiaS bit covtrtb tAe i ti ?Soif-?uifiing Vafue of ?>wtit Cfouer. 5wcet Clouer u?eb (0 U coiled ' Pcm?jW??&. WHO'S ZQO-ON THI HIGHWAY DON'T BE A GOOSE. Honking won't moil* a ttollod i Um v?vr hw wiiy in < TOO MUCH SPARE TIME, MAYBE (Hannibal (Mo.) Courler-POst) The navy announces tests which showed its new plane desig nated as D-558-2 Skyrocket, has developed a speed of 1,238 miles an hour and reached an altitude of 79,494 feet. Whatever the navy will do with such a craft and however practical it may become as a war weapon, it might be suggested as being both a little too high and too fast for ordinary use. Maybe we have too much spare time now. AUCTION (Roy Thompson In Journal-Sentinel) Went out to the Eflrd auction the other night. They were selling everything lrom pipe holders and napkins to rugs and a surrey with a fringe on top. The auctioneers were cleaning up One woman bought 12 stringy dish towels for $7.50. Nobody but a psychiatrist could have been as happy as an auctioneer that night. Peggy Leight say her pappy, Jesse Bowen, walk in. She waved to let him know where she was ? and somebody told her she had been put down for a $120 bid on a green rug. I started to scratch my nose once but decided against it. They were auctioning off a glass fish dish, and I was afraid I'd get the thing. They had a list of everything to be sold. Claimed it was to let the women know what they were buying, but I figure it was for them to take home and read the next day to find out what they'd bought. BEAN ON THE BEAM (Corona (Calif.) Independent) In spite of the generally sad rate of pollsters in 1948, not all of them missed the boat or the bandwagon.. A certain Louis H. Bean, an agricultural economist by profession, went out on a limb four years ago ? and didn't fall off. He early predicted the Democrats would win and was so right. Well, Mr. Bean has taken up residence on the same limb again. He says it's the Democrats to win for the Presidency, the Senate and House. The midterm elections of 1950, he points out, showed no overall decline in Democratic strength. Prom this he con cludes that the normal increase in Democratic voting which occurs in Presidential elections will give the party in power about 60 per cent of the popular vote this fall. Other factors supporting his prediction are these: There will be no Progres sive party, which got four million votes and prevented Presi dent Truman from winning New York in 1948; and again there may not be a Dixiecrat movement, which took several s more states out of the Democratic column; business Is expected to remain good, and Its hard to beat the "Ins" in relatively good times. Mr. Bean says there could be a Republican mir acle" In November. We shall see. Maybe the day of miracles isn't past. STRICTLY PERSONAL i By WEIMAR JONES Millions of words have been j written and spoken In recent years on the problem that u? ually develops when two races attempt to live together, and specifically on the white-Negro problem In the United States. The wisest things that have been said, however, It seems to me, were not the pronounce ments of the philosophers and the scientists, or the clarion calls of the crusaders, or the slogans of the statesmen. The wisest things I have heard said on this subject were said by j ordinary men. The comments of four such men stick in my mind. The first was in the nature j of a witticism. It was the re I mark of a . Western North Caro l ltnlan, made in the early 1900's ; (and given me second hand). In that period, party loyalties , went much deeper than they do j today, and this man, since he was a Democrat, had little ad miration for the then Repub lican President, Theodore Roose | velt. When President Roosevelt created a furore by having Booker T. Washington, a Negro, as his luncheon guest at the White House, this mountain man summed up his reaction thus: "I am not surprised at Mr. Roosevelt, but I thought Booker Washington had bet ter sense". What he was saying, of course, was, first,' that this problem calls for a recognition of the realities ? and that Negroes, as a rule, are realists; and, sec ond, that the responsibility for the preservation of racial har mony is a two-way affair. The second wise comment on this subject was made 10 or 12 years ago by an elderly Negro minister. Asked about progress, during his long lifetime, in relations between the races, he replied: "Yes, there has been prog ress, because there has been a growth of good will. That is the only basis for better relations between the races. And we need to remember, al Oontinued on Page Three? News Making As It Looks To A Maconite ? By BOB SLOAN Judging by their first tests under lire since they entered the national arena, Gov. Adlat Stevenson Is a bigger man than Dwight D. Eisenhower when it comes to the crucial test of standing up and being counted on an issue. This past week both were lac ed with a test and there Is little doubt* as to which made the more clear cut and open stand. Also In my mind there is no doubt as to which showed the more moral courage regard less of whether or not It garn ered or cost him votes. Due to statements by his run ning mate, Robert M. Nixon and a radio broadcast by Carl Mundt, South Dakota senator, which said that he would en dorse and campaign actively lor Senator Joe McCarthy, Els enhower was forced to take a stand. Granted, It was an unpleasant situation. Among other things, McCarthy said that General George Marshall, "Is not only willing, he Is eager to play the role of front man for traitors." The reference to traitors there made in 1950 could have easily been construed to Include Eis enhower since for many years he has been considered a pro tege of Marshall's. Also Mc Carthy has fought hard against the Marshall plan which Elsen hower Is for. On the other hand McCarthy has consider able following in the Mid-West where Ike needs support and there is also the question of party harmony. It was not la situation that could be turned off with an easy answer. Eisenhower met this situa tion, which was being watched by millions of Americans, with contradictory statements. He said that he will support Mc Carthy as a member of the Re publican organization, but, then, later declared that he had no patience with anybody who has criticized the record of General Marshall. He stated his position at a press conference, and after he finished, reporters were still asking him, if he intended to back Senator McCarthy and they and millions of Americans still want to know. Governor Stevenson brought to a head, by his own action, an equally touchy situation for him to handle. He invited Governor Allan Continued on Page Three ? Do You Remember? (Looking backward through the file* of The Press) 50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK The largest watermelon brought to town this season was brought In Monday by Mr. Geo.^N. Penland. It weighed 5554 Sam Max well are vll (Jtelatives In Franklin this ek. A Mr. Robertk and wife have been doing phoA work In a tent on Main Street! during court here. They seem] to do excel lent work. "? 25 YEARS AGO Paul Carpenter, of Franklin, last winter entered Nick-a-jack cave with Lawrence S. Ashley, who Sunday dug himself out after being in the cavern for six days, and at that time Ashley told Carpenter that there was reported to be an unexplored route through the cave that would bring one out in Georgia. A splfllcated hombre on the streets of Franklin this week was a rare sight. Judge Harding, presiding at the present term of court, says that something must be done about a jail. Every right think ing citizen of the. county will agree with the Judge. 10 YEARS AGO Capt. G. E. Ledbetter, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Ledbetter, of Route 2, has been promoted to major at Fort Adams, R. I. This Is the first report we have received of a Macon County man being promoted to this rank. Clark Gable has just enlisted' in the U. S. Army? and it seems only yesterday that he joined up with the Confederate army as it retreated from Atlanta. (Frankie Macon). It is officially predicted that beef will be scarce and high priced next year, so well all be working for "high steaks."
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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