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JANUARY 2, 1954
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What It Means Here
Last week the Communist Vietminh forces cut
French Indo-China in two.
So what? you might ask. How does that affect
you and me in Macon County?
The time was when that question would have
made sense, but that time is gone. For life as you
and I once knew it is irretrievably lost. Not only
will life never again be the same as it was before
1914 ; it will never again be the same as it was be
fore the Great Depression, never again the same as
before the second "World war, never again the same,
even, as it was before the Cold War broke out in
1947.
Whether we like it or not, distances have been
annihilated; most of the force of Europe, which
governed the world for centuries, has been dissi
pated; Communism, a new type of religion for
many, controls most of the northern half of the
world from Poland east to the Pacific; and the
United States has been forced by circumstances in
to leadership of one of the two conflicting philoso
phies and forces that divide the world.
' So what happens in French Indo-China has mean
ing for us here in Macon County. It not only may
mean that Macon County boys must die half way
round the world; it has many other meanings. It
might, for example, so disrupt British trade, the
life blood of that nation, that Americans would
have to choose whether to feed Britain's 50 mil
lions or lose that ally.
? * * *
w II you and I should take a plane in Panama and
fly directly east, across the Atlantic, across Cen
tral Africa, and across the Indian Ocean ? two
thirds of the way around the globe ? we'd come to
(the southern tip of French Indo-China, a country
the size of Texas.
Crescent-shaped, it lies on the east side of the
Malay Peninsula, in southeastern Asia, a penin
sula that forms a natural bridge between Commun
ist China and India. To the south lie the islands of
Borneo, Sumatra, and Java, where Macon County
boys were fighting a decade ago. To the east lies
the Pacific Ocean.
To the west, within the grasp of the crescent,
lies Thailand (Siam). With the fall of Thailand,
Burma, to its north, would be an easy ,prey to the
Communists, and beyond Burma lies vast India.
That explains, in part, why the French have
been fighting the Vietminh in Indo-China for some
six years. It explains why the United States is sup
porting the French there. It suggests how serious it
would be for the United States if the French should
do what many Frenchmen think they should "do ?
pull out of Indo-China.
Bouquets
Our congratulations to the Oak Grove, Carson,
and Clark's Chapel communities, winners in the
rural community Christmas lighting contest. Con
gratulations are due, too, to the />ther seven com
munities entered in the competition, for each did an
excellent job; the displays were admired by thou
sands of people during the holidays.
There was a time when rural homes here were
lit with kerosene lamps, and there was little encour
agement to decorate for Christmas. That time, hap
pilv, has passed. And the rural areas have set a
fine example by making their holiday lighting a
community project, rather than doing it as individ
ual families. '
* * . *
Across the continent to Pasadena, Calif., we
?send our best mountain manners ... to Macon
County's "book lady", Miss Angje VV. Cox, who
has been sending contributions of books ? thou
sands of books ? to the school libraries of this
county ever since her one and only visit here, 15
years ago.
When it is considered that the reading of a single
book sometimes sets a boy or girl afire, changing
| ( ' . ' ?
his or her entire life, it is easy to see that the ef
fects of Miss Cox's generosity are literally beyond
measurement.
I
? Letters
BELATED CONGRATULATIONS .
To The Franklin Press:
Will you spare the space for us to wish you a happy and
prosperous New Year?
This Is rather belated, but we do want to congratulate and
compliment you on your special edition of The Press in No
vember honoring the communities in rural development. That
was a wonderful issue and we feel that all communities tak
ing part appreciated it as much as we did.
Thanks for your cooperation in our efforts.
We remain.
THE OAK GROVE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
Calvin Roland, President
Mrs. Kathryn Pennington, Vice-President
Miss Louetta Browning, Junior President
Mrs. Kate Bradley, Secretary-Treasurer
RAIDED CEMETERY
Dear Editor:
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas ? especially the
folks that took the boxwoods from our uppet cemetery on
Walnut Creek one morning before daylight.
How do I know? They were seen loading them on a truck.
Looks as if we will have to work double hard to win in the
community contest.
Yours sincerely,
Gneiss, N. C. MRS. ETTA SIMMONS
December 20, 1953.
Poetry
Mitor
SLOTH DBADKRICK KR8KDB
WwnrfUl^ North Carolina
WISH FOB THE NEW TEAR
If I could make a wish come true
It would not be for things.
But that your ear be tuned to hear
The rush of angels' wings.
If I could wish all things (or you
I would not leave out sorrow.
For pain makes us appreciate
The Joys that come tomorrow.
If I could in the coming year
Make any wish come true,
I'd ask the Christ to breathe His peace
Into the heart of you.
MABXE SMITH INZER
Others' Opinions
A SLIP LEFT A LOOPHOLE
(Ashevllle Citizen)
Apparently It was an accident, after all, which led to the
drafting of a 1951 legislative act permitting county coiamis
mlssloners to hold secret sessions. Only, one board of commis
sioners seems to have exercised that preorgative. After the
New Hanover board went into private session recently, exclud
ing press and public while it elected a county attorney, the
1951 act was cited to justify the secrecy.
Until 1951, legislative acts governing commissioners have
provided that "every meeting shall be open to all persons."
This clause was left out through an inadvertence in the draft
ing of a bill designed simply to permit special sessions of com
missioners on shorter le.gal notice. We are satisfied from the
explanation that there was no intent to hoodwink the public.
Of course, this does not excuse the New Hanover board. It
violated the spirit of the general statutes and of the Constitu
tion itself. Objection brought resort to the 1951 act with its
legal boobytrap. It cannot be said too often that public busi
ness is the public's business ? supposing that you agree with
the basic tenets of democratic self-government. The pitiable
fact is, of course, that the 1953 General Assembly Itself was
moved to embrace secrecy, so that alteration of the 1951 sta
tute (let alone the 1953 one cloaking public spending) may be
all the harder.
THIS 'CREEPING SOCIALISM'
(High Point Enterprise)
?
We're hearing more and more these days about "creeping
socialism", and what a bad thing it is. We agree ? it's bad, this
subtle penetration of government into areas where private en
terprise can function much more efficiently and successfully.
1 However, we get the unpleasant feeling that those who are
loudest in their condemnation of this creeping monster are
frequently most guilty of letting it h&ppen. Only when they do,
they change the name.
For Instance, TV A we're told, Is the worst kind of socialism.
The authority doesn't pay taxes, and power authorities claim
that In the main the difference between the cost of publicly
operated power and privately-owned Is roughly equivalent to
the tax differential which the private companies have to pay.
So far ao good. But how about those accelerated tax write
offs for certain plants declared essential by Washington? Ite
net result of * write-off Is a huge reduction In tans, the
equivalent of a government subsidy. But businessmen dont call
that socialism, that's "keeping our industrial potential strong."
If a businessman gets a huge federal plant rent-free on the
promise to make war materials, that's fine. But if the farmer
gets a subsidy to help him maintain purchasing power, that's
socialism.
You cant have It both ways. The fact is that last year farm
subsidies amounted to 463 ^million dollars, while subsidies to
business were over one billion dollars? more than twice as
much. It looks as though we need a new definition about what
"creeping socialism" really is. Right now it looks as though
some people are changing the rules In the middle of the game.
WE ALL MAKE 'EM
(The Lincoln Times)
We have made a lot of mistakes and expect to make more
in the future. We try to keep them to a minimum, but they still
slip through. Sometimes, they even enrich newspaper reading,
however, and these we dont mind.
For Instance, last week, we committed a classical mistake,
which we would like to call to the attention of our readers
who may have overlooked It. We had a big laugh over it and
we think you will too. Photographer Don Frazler was the first
to spot It.
In Thursday's paper, under the heading of Brooms ? which
incidentally was what we were talking about? the following
"boo-boo" showed up:
"Keep grooms clean by dipping them for a minute or two
In boiling soap soads. If this is done once a week it will keep
them tough and flexible and will prove a saving in both rugs
and brooms."
Juick, ladles, pull your hubbies out of hot water, we were
talking about brooms, not grooms!
NEXT FBI WILL TAIL 'UNCLE REMUS'
(Charlotte Observer)
Must Robin Hood go the way of Little Black Sambo? Mr*.
Thomas J. White of the Indian* State Textbook Commission
?ays he must. Consider his heinous crime: he robbed from the
rich and gave to the poor. That, says Mrs. White, Is Just a
variation of the Communist theme of destroying the bourge
oisie and leveling everybody down to the common denominator
of poverty.
Bold Robin probably never thought of that. And can you Im
agine mar Tuck consorting with a Communist In defiance of
the Pope?
If this thing keeps up, well have no literature left, and fu
ture generations of boys and girls will be denied the thrill of
vicarious high adventure. With Mrs. White's reasoning we could
easily prove Torn Sawyer a spy up to some sabotage against
Mississippi River shipping
It would be no trick ?t all to read Socialist propaganda into
"David Oopperfleld" or to show that the Three Musketeers were
the minions of fascism And in these days of cradle-to-grave
social security, who would dare read that parable on self-re
liance and independence, "RoMnson Crusoe"?
Just think how the Beamen's Union could go to town with
'Westward Ho" or "Captain courageous" or "Two Tears Before
the Mast" or "Treasure Island."
There's no end to It. Before long we shall expect to read that
Brer Rabbit has haled Brer Fox Into an international court on
a genocide count.
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION
(Greensboro Dally News)
Is the Statue of Liberty In New York or New Jersey? That's
the question In court right now but It isn't as important as
the question: Is the spirit of liberty at large in the U. S. A.?
STRICTLY
PERSONAL
By WEIMAR JONES
Like all good things, the
Christmas holidays are about to
come to an end ? and all too
soon! I find it quite a wrench,
after two weeks at home, to
leave again.
Not that I don't like Chapel
Hill? I do. And not that I don't
like my work there ? I do. But
because Franklin and Macon
County have their own Inimit
able charm.
Incidentally, I've been struck,
since I've been here for the hol
idays, just as I was when I
first went to the University, by
the vast distance between
Franklin and Chapel Hill. I do
not refer to the miles, though
there are a lot of those between
the two towns, but to the com
plete difference in atmosphere.
I think every Macon County
student home from college for
the holidays would agree that
going from Macon County to a
college community is almost like
passing from one world to an
other; they are so different as
to make it impossible really to
make a comparison.
One reason for the difference,
of course, is the fact that, in
the strictly college community,
everything revolves about the
college and Its activities. I
found that out the Sunday be
fore Christmas. Classes ended
at noon Saturday, but I stayed
oVer until Sunday morning ? and
at 8 o'clock that morning I
could find no place in Chapel
Hill open where I could get
breakfast. The town closes with
the school.
What makes an even greater
difference, I suspect, is the fact
that a college community is
dominated by youth; the atmos
phere is one of energy, enthu
siasm, and zest for life.
? ? ?
So this is a new year!
What kind of a year will it
be? Nobody can answer that
question at the beginning of
any pew year, and least of all
a year in this period of un
certainty and confusion.
But the kind of year it will
be for you and nje will be de
termined pretty much by the
way we look at It. Our attitude
may not be the deciding factor
In where we are, what we are
doing, or how much money we
make. But It will be the de
ciding factor in whether we are
happy or unhappy with our lot;
whether we are bored or excit
ed by what goes on about us;
whether we use or waste the
time and the experiences that
come to us.
HUGQNS GETS V
SERGEANT RAM^
Macon Soldier Now
Serving In Germany
With 43rd Division
D. L. Hugglni, 34-year-old son
of Mr. and Mr*. Forrest J. Hug
glns, of Franklin, Route I, re
cently was promoted to sergeant
while serving with the 43rd In
fantry Division In Germany, the
Army Home Town News Center
announced this week.
Sgt. Hugglns, an armorer &
the division's 168th Regiment,
has been overseas since October,
1951. His division is training aa
part of the NATO army for the
defense of western Europe.
Tellico
Mrs. Jess Cook, who hu been
on the sick list. Is improving.
Mr. and Mrs. A P. Smith, of
Aiken, S. C., spent the holiday*
visiting Mrs. Smith's father,
Rufus McOaha, and other rela
tives In this section.
Mr. and Mrs. l^eonaxd Smith
and family, Mr. and Mrs. J. L.
Smith and son, all of Bock Hill,
S. C., spent the week-end with
the Smith's brothers, Arlln aad
Joe, and families.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee DeHart and
Mrs. DeHart 'a nephew, Harry
Hownes, of Belmont, spent the
week-end visiting Mr. DeHart 'i
brother and sister-in-law, Mr.
and Mrs. V. c. DeHart, and
family.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith,
of Charlotte, are spending the
Christmas holidays visiting his
parents, the Rev. and Mrs. Judd
Smith.
Mr. and Mrs. O. V. Puller and
family spent Christmas In Ashe
ville visiting Mr. Puller's par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Oar fie Id
Puller.
Mr. and Mrs. Geprge Ramsey
have gone to Haxelwood for an
extended visit with Mrs. Ram
sey's brother, Norman Justice,
an* family.
ABOVE THE PARAULSL
Pfc. Earl Roane, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Frank R. Roane, of
Franklin, Route 1, spent Christ
mas north of the 38th parallel
In Korea, according to tre Army
Home Town News Center. He k
on security duty with the 45th
Infantry Division. He has bees?
In Korea since August. J '
ON MERIT ROLL
Miss Claudette McNeal, of
Franklin, Route 1, was on the
Merit Roll for the grading peri
od just ended at Rabun Qap
Nacoochee School, where she is
a student, the school principal,
R. H. Philp, has announced.
(
M TEAKS AGO THIS WO^K ^
Blockade liquor ?u demon
strating its ban?fal influence
about Christmas In and around
town.
Messrs. Dan Lyle and George
Mashburn returned last Wed
nesday from Colorado after sev
eral years absence.
How much money has been
raised to purchase a town
clock?
Mr. Jule Robinson has been
laid on the shelf for a week or
more. Mumps is the trouble.
When you see a citizen g6ing
about with his or her neck all
muffled up in woolen goods, it
is safe to conclude that that
citizen has mumps.
With two high schools in
progress in Franklin, education
al interests ought to flourish.
10 TEARS AGO
Franklin is expecting the
largest crowd that ever assem
bled on the square In the his
tory of Macon County on Sat
urday, New Tear's Day, for the y.
dedication of the "Roll of Hon
or" board to our men and wom
en in uniform.
The Franklin Future Farm
ers of the agricultural classes
of the Franklin High School are
making needed equipment for
the veterans confined to the
Moore General Hospital at
Swannanoa. >
A sizable congregation gath
ered at the Methodist church
Sunday night to welcome the
new minister, the Rev. Leonard
P. Smith. (Highlands High
lights).
J. E. Lancaster, formerly of
Franklin, has accepted a posi
tion with the Farm Security
Administration and is now lo
cated in Rutherfordton.
)