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Entered at Post Office, Franklin, N. C? aa second class matter
Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press
Franklin, N, C. Telephone 24
WKIMAR JONES Editor
BOB 8. SLOAN Business Manager
J. P. BRADY I. News Editor
MRS EDWARD CRAWFORD . OBlce Manager
CARL P. CABE Mechanical Superintendent
FRANK A. STARRETTE Shop Superintendent
DAVID H. SUTTON Stereotypy
CHARLES E. WHCTTINQTON
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
outbid* macon county
One Year $3.00
Six Months 1.75
Three Months 1.00
IMull MACON LOUHTI
One Year 12 JO
Six Montha , 1.73
Three Months 1.00
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1955
ATest And An Experiment
You'd think every business in North Carolina
was on the verge of bankruptcy, if you took seri
ously the howls the tax-levying legislators are hear
ing in Raleigh.
Any additional tax on tobacco products would be
calamitous. The bus companies simply can't stay in
business if they have to pay the sales tax on their
vehicles and parts. And a one-cent tax on soft
drinks would destroy the bottling industry. (Funny
the bottlers weren't afraid a penny increase would
scare off customers when they themselves recently
raised the price from five to six cents!) And so
with every other industry that might be affected.
They just can't stand any additional taxes, they
all chorus.
We suggest that the legislators apply a test and
try an experiment.
The test : If the lobbyists for these interests ar
rive at the capitol driving jalopies, then their howls
deserve consideration. Otherwise, the experiment
is worth trying.
The experiment is suggested by the Confederate
veteran's story about how his company hanged a
spy. The spy begged for any kind of death except
by hanging. "1 just can't stand to be hanged", he
declared.
"We'll try an experiment", was the reply. "We'll
hang you and see if you can stand it."
Bouquet
A bouquet to Mrs. Holland McSvvain for demon
strating a lesson most of us need to learn.
For last week's county-wide P. T. A. stud}'
course, held at Cullasaja school, not only was there
an excellent program; it was one of the smoothest
running gatherings ever held here. That, of course,
didn't just happen. It was because Mrs. McSwain,
as chairman in charge, had carefully planned, had
attended to every detail, had thought of every con
tingency. Those of us who are inclined to call a
meeting and then forget it until time for the meet
ing ? and then wonder why the program limps
along and gets nowhere! ? could well take a leaf
out of Mrs. McSwain's book.
Incidentally, something that happened during the
meeting also was noteworthy. It was necessary for
the school children to pass through the auditorium
in groups, to get to the lunchroom. But they did it
so quietly there was no interruption of the pro
gram : persons in the auditorium were hardly con
scious the children were passing along the side
aisle. Such discipline and courtesy are in themselves
a bouquet for the faculty and students at Culla
saja.
Since When?
In a letter published in The Asheville Citizen,
Senator \Y. I). James appeals for letters from the
public to members of the General Assembly in be
half of legislation to curb the health insurance
racket. Under present laws, some companies collect
premiums from the well; but cancel the policy when
the well become sick.
We are in complete sympathy with Senator
James' legislative objective. And we hope mam
people will write their senators and representatives
on this subject.
We find ourselves a bit shocked, though, by Sen
ator James' implied confession that nothing can be
done about this admitted racket unless the people
apply more pressure to the legislators than the lob
byists do. Since when have legislators become mere
referees between the people they represent and
purely selfish interests?
Intolerant: What people are who stick to beliefs
contrary to ours.
? Letters
? TILL ALL FOOLS' DAY'
Dear Mr. Jones:
Since the ground hog myth was originated by our forefath
ers in England, why not accept their version as given in this
old, quaint verse:
"If Candlemas day in Leap Year be
And the ground hog his shadow cannot see,
Back to his ground-hole he goes to stay,
For winter will last 'til All Fools' Day."
i
Franklin.
Sincerely yours,
(MRS.) MARGARET ORDWAY.
NEEDED: RECREATION CENTER
Editor, The Press:
What are the adults of Franklin and Macon Cotinty doing
for the young people of t'hls community, the young people who
will be our citizens of tomorrow?
We give them good food to make their bodies strong. We
work to clothe and educate our children, but In all this out
pouring of concern, we have overlooked the necessity of good
recreation, which Is one of the best methods of building good
character. t
Several attempts at organizing a youth center in Franklin
have failed due to the lack of adequate facilities. If in some
way, a suitable lot could be made available and enough people
were interested In our young people to help erect a building
for a recreation center, then our problem would be partly
solved. This action is needed at once, If we are to realize the
full value of providing wholesome recreation, not only for the
young people who reside here, but to help our summer visitors
entertain their children properly.
The maintenance and equipment for such a center can be
provided by dues and sale of refreshments. The time and little
/noney spent for this project will pay big dividends in the
future.
I write this in behalf of the youth of our community, who
have appealed to me for help. It is only through the coopera
tion of all the parents of Macon County that the desire of
these young people can be met. How many of you parents are
willing to give a little time and money so your children will
have a supervised recreation center?
Sincerely,
Franklin. MRS. ROY M. BIDDLE, SR.
WORD OF APPRECIATION
Dear Mr. Jones:
First, please let me say that I hope that you will not let the
personal relationship contained in the content of this letter
interfere with your professional ethics.
I have often heard your view expressed that the columns of
The Franklin Press were open to individuals to express their
opinions on various subjects. I hope that you continue the
policy in regard to this letter.
The purpose of this letter Is to call the public's attention to
an individual, who although having no children in public
school recently, has given of her time and strength In working
for the betterment of public schools in whatever community
she lived. It has been our good fortune that for the past nine
years she has been living in Macon county.
The work of Mrs. Weimar Jones in the development of the
Parent-Teacher Association in Western North Carolina and
particularly Macon County is a record of outstanding, achieve
ment.
Her latest unselfish service In helping In the growth of an
organization that has as Its aim, the betterment of our schools
through a closer understanding between parents and teachers,
was as P. T. A. district director. During her three years in
that unpaid work, IS new associations were organized. Five of
them were in Macon County, making this county the first in
District 1 to be 100 per cent organized, that Is, a P. T. A. In
every school. Many miles of difficult travel and hours of time
were spent in accomplishing this. Mrs. Jones also gave valu
able assistance in helping with institutes, workshops, and study
courses for P. T. A. workers.
Truly, through the work of this one individual, and all the
other P. T. A. leaders, the Parent Teacher Association in our
county has grown into an organization of which we can all
be proud.
Since this month (February) we are observing Parent-Teach
er Association "Pounders' Day", I think it only fitting that
we, the school patrons and school children of Macon County
(and I'm sure I can speak for all these), express our sincere
appreciation to one who has done so much.
Yours truly,
Franklin, N. C. MRS. CURTIS PEARSON.
DEFENDS DICTIONARY
Dear Mr. Jones:
It has been said, "A turtle never gets anywhere unless he
sticks his neck out".
Whether or not our ancestors came by Siberia to Alaska,
came over on the Mayflower from Plymouth, England, or to
Florida with Hernando De Soto, we who live in the moun
tains are just as you say, "Mountainwhite". Real, red-blooded
Americans. Who can deny this?
To defend my dictionary and encyclopedia, I for one must
answer your question in last week's Editor's Note:
Some of us have learned Noah Webster was well known for
his publication of the American Dictionary of English langu
*
age, 1828. (Note: It was an "American Dictionary" published
for the use of all, whether they be North or South.)
My dictionary, last copyright 1951, is published by H. S.
Stuttman Company, New York, with special articles and de
partmental supervision by a corps of educators, writers, and
specialists in the United States and England. The dictionary
in this unified work is not published by the original publish
ers of Webster's Dictionary or by their successors.
You see the dictionary could be "mountainwhite", as well as
"damnyankee". The questions are: Who are the educators,
writers, and specialists? Where was their birth place?
Anyway, I could not find the word damnyankee in my dic
tionary. Yankee is a nickname applied by the English to the
people of New England in the early Colonial days. When the
war between the North and South (the Civil War) was being
fought, the Southerrilrs gave the name Yankee to all peoples
from the North.
As I do not intend my letter to revive a Civil War, or to
start a feud between you and me, let me say I like a saying
of David Webster.
"Knowledge, in truth, is the great sun in the firmanent.
Life and power are scattered with all its beams."
Be groundhog day on Feb. 2 or Feb. 14th, I am "Mountain
white".
What do you know, Mr. Jones? While we have been going
on about Groundhog Day, we have let another great day get
by us, St. Valentine's Day, February 14th.
Sincerely,
Highlands. MILDRED JACKSON.
Others' Opinions
IS A GENERAL SALES TAX FAIR?
(Chapel Hill News Leader)
A hint comes from Raleigh that, unless strong protests
come In, the General Assembly will find needed additional
revenue from a "general" sales tax with no exemptions ex
cept possibly for a few agricultural needs.
If so, the legislature will have wiped out the principle of
ability to pay and substituted a tax on consumption which
will bear heaviest on families of low income.
Also, the big interests will have dodged the burden of in
creased taxation and loaded it on the merchants and dealers
who must collect the proposed flat tax from the people who
can least afford it? the luckless, the aged, the sick, and the
unemployed.
All over the nation state and local taxes are rising while
federal taxes are easing off? at least for some Interests. But
there Is an increasing tendency to solve the situation by im
posing new or broader sales taxes instead of getting the money
from the people who can afford It.
There is only one fair tax principle today, and that is to
raise the money by income taxes, making sure that the rate
rises in proportion to the amount of income.
North Carolina promised years ago that its sales tax was
only an emergency measure and would be temporary. The least
it can do is to keep food and drugs ? already high enough ?
free of taxes, and lower the sales tax gradually from 3 to 2,
and then 1 per cent, while adjusting income taxes in accord
ance with ability to pay.
STRICTLY
PERSONAL
By WKIMAR JONES
(NOTE: This is from a talk
at last week's Franklin Rotary
Club meeting, which marked
the 50th anniversary of the
founding of Rotary.)
It was 50 years ago tonight
that four men, meeting in a
Chicago business office, organ
ized the first Rotary club.
What was happening here
then? What was life like, In
Franklin, back in February,
1905?
In seeking a partial answer
to those questions, I did Just
what any of you would have
done, had you been given this
assignment. 1 went to the old
files of The Franklin Press and
consulted the minutes of the
meetings of the town board of
that time.
The minutes show that E. H.
Franks, generally known as
"Mr. 'Lish Franks" (he was the
father of Mack find J. D.) was
mayor. Aldermen were George
H. Dalrymple (whom many of
you knew), Dr. Fred Siler (Al
len's father), Jean Bryson (he
was a brother of Mrs. Tom
Porter), Dr. W. H. Hlggins
(Harry's father) and John
? Continued on Back Pace
News Making
As It Looks
To A Maconite
? By BOB SLOAN
Befpre I write the remainder
of this column I would like to
preface my remarks by saying
that the business men of Frank
lin are, as a group, among our
most public spirited citizens. I
think, that In most small towns,
your business men are usually
the leaders In community
mlndedness, and I think that
our business men here in
Franklin are far above the aver
age even for a small town.
Taken on a national scale, I
am not so sure that this com
pliment fits as well for busi
ness men as a group. And I
have an even stronger feeling
that one theory concerning
business men does not always
hold true on a national scale.
Many people say, and seem to
think, that the way to have
the best government Is to turn
It over completely to business
men. I don't know how many
times I have heard, "It we
could Just get some good hard
headed business men up there In
Washington, everything would
be all right." We certainly need
good business management in
government, but there are other
factors Involved which make
the handling of a particular
problem different from Just a
debit and credit matter, and
call for some viewpoint in addi
tion to a business man's. Two
recent events, I think, illustrate
what I am talking about.
One of the main results of
the election of the Eisenhower
administration was the send
ing of business men to Wash
ington. An action of this ad
ministration is the proposed toll
on the Parkway. Some business
man has looked it and said,
"we can get some revenue
there"; a typical big business
approach, I think. So regardless
of the effect on the local econ
omy, or the Implied, if not writ
ten, understanding in the past
that there would be no tolls, re
gardless of the wishes of the
state government that contri
buted to making this highway
possible, we are going to have
a toll on the Parkway because
it will bring in revenue for the
federal government.
In the Far East It seems to
me that our President has been
so influenced by his business
associates in Washington that
he approaches each problem
? Continued on Last Page
Do You
Remember?
(Looking backward through
the flies of The Preaa)
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
The Macon High School cel
ebrated Washington's birthday
last Wednesday with Interest
ing public exercises, and a
public debate was had at night.
J. O. Slier recently sold his
grist mill, located near Mrs.
Gaston's, to T. S. Waldroop and
Walter Deal, and the machin
ery was removed the latter part
of last week to a location near
Mr. Waldroop's, about 2V2
miles from town.
Fred Munger returned from
Douglas, Wyo. to his home at
Highlands last week.? Highlands
Item.
25 TEARS AGO
A large three-motored plane
flew over this town one day
last week. This may be a com
mon occurence for some towns,
but this was only the third
plane to fly over Highlands. ?
Highlands item.
Mrs. W. M. Lee and Mrs. John
Crawford made a trip to At
lanta, Ga., and Westminster, S.
?C., last week, and returned to
Franklin on Tuesday.
Mr. C. R. Cabe, of Otto, was
a business visitor in Franklin
last week.
10 YEARS AGO
Miss Brandon Corpening, who
has been doing stenographic
work in Charlotte for several
years, is here on an extended
visit to her sister, Mrs. Henry
Christy, and Mr. Christy, at
their - home at Mimosa Inn.
Cadet Nurse Maxine Brendle
has returned to Greenville, S.
C., where she Is taking train
ing at Greenville General Hos
pital, after a visit with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B.
Brendle.
Mrs. Walter Houston and her
small son, Bobby, recently en
joyed a week-end visit in Mur
phy with Mrs. Houston's broth
er-in-law and sister, Mr. and
Mrs. Everett Anderson.? High
lands Item.