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Bn tared at Post Office. Franklin, N. C.. as second class matter
Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press
Franklin. N. O. Telephone 34
WKMAR JONES Editor
BOB 8. SLOAN Business Manager
J. P. BRADY News Editor
OABL P. CABB Mechanical Superintendent
FRANK A. 8TARRETTE Shop Superintendent
DAVID H SUTTON
flULM B. WHI'ITINOTON
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Outhbb Macon Comrrr
OM Tmt $3.00
Btx Months 1.79
TfcrM Months i . . 1.00
I?I? BtACOJf COURTT
One Tmt $2sc
Six Months . . 1.78
Three If on t ha . . IM
Why Not?
For some strange reason, most of us postpone
paying town and count}- taxes just as long as we
possibly can. We know they have to be paid, but we
keep putting it off.
Yet the person who is hurt most by the delay is
the taxpayer himself. For if he doesn't pay early,
he loses a discount ; and if he doesn't pay until late,
he has the embarrassment of being listed as delin
quent in legal advertising in the newspaper ? and
has the costs of the advertising added to his tax
bill !
Each year. The Press carries long lists of de
linquent taxpayers, both for the county and for
the Towns of Franklin and Highlands. As of now,
132 Highlands taxpayers have not paid 1954 taxes
(which were due last year) totalling $4,498.91. In
Franklin, 137 owe approximately $6,400. The num
ber and amount for the county are much greater.
Franklin will start advertising unpaid 1954 taxes
in May ; Highlands and the county, in August. Why
wait until your name appears in those lists? Why
pay more for the privilege of dilly-dallying a little
longer?
The newspaper gets paid for this advertising.
And of course it can use all the business it can get.
But this is business we'd rather not have. We think
it gives the county and the towns a black eye to
outsiders to appear to be populated by citizens who
either are proverty-stricken or are deadbeats ?
neither of which is the case, of course. And we
think publication of these long lists of delinquent
taxpayers doesn't help our own community and
personal self-respect. We think everybody would
be better off ? including The Press ? if there
were no lists of delinquent taxpayers.
And there really is no necessity for there to be
any such lists.
Let's have one year when there aren't any!
There's every reason why we should have such a
year; there's no really good reason why we
shouldn't. It's up to you. Mr. Taxpayer.
By The Back Door
This i newspaper came in for criticism when it
expressed the suspicion that the proposed new mili
tary reserve law was nothing hut a way to get lin>
versal military training ? by the back door.
We pointed out that all efforts of the military,
over a Ion;' period, to .yet LT. M. T. enacted into
law as a permanent, peacetime policy, had failed.
We suggested that this so-called "reserve" bill,
indorsed by President Kisenhowcr, is an attempt
"to foist on the American people something they
repeatedly have rejected" (through their congress
men); that it is universal military training, "pleas
antly sugar-coated".
Without discussing the merits or demerits of
U. M. T., the editorial criticized the President and
the military for being less than honest with the
American People.
That was last January.
The other day the same suggestion came from
Drew Pearson. In his case, though, it was not ex
pressed as a suspicion ; he said flatly military men
admit that that is what is happening.
In his "Washington Merry-Go Round" of April
24, he wrote:
"The Pentagon is very quiet 'about it, but it's skillfully
maneuvering a sugar-coated version of Universal Military
Training through Congress.
"What's more, the brass hats won the first battle in a
?Mtte armed services subcommittee, almost without church
grasps realising the battle had started.
"Theagh 'H. R. 2N7* is described as 'strengthening of
wwrw forces' Its supporters admit that it's a back-door
(TUT. It authorizes compulsory drafting of youths as well
as service veterans into reserve components, which can be
Motivated to full military status at the win of the President.
"Owty difference Is that Pentagon lawyers are playing
? w *hs word 'neerva' instead of 'universal military train -
?x
New York As I Saw It
/ (EDITOR'S NOTE: In the
following article Miss Emma
Watson, Franklin High School
junior, (Ives her impression of
New York. Her first visit to a
big city, she won the trip in
an essay competition.)
By EMMA WATSON
Before I say anything about
New York, I would like to ex
plain how this tour was made
possible for high school stu
dents. In 1953 the American
Freedom Association was start
ed in Mount Airy by a business
man there. The purpose of this
organization is to gain peace
first through religion and sec
ond through education. Each
year the association sends ma
terial and information to the
high schools on a topic about
world peace and each year the
topic is different. The informa
tion and material is used to
write speeches on this one topic
and a final winner is chosen.
This winner, if he (or she) can
get some organization to pay
the expenses for the trip or if
he can pay his expenses, can go
to New York and the United
Nations.
I was sponsored by the Frank
lin Lion's Club to which I am
deeply Indebted.
New York City is not as won
derful as it is described in books
but it does have an exciting
and Interesting atmosphere. It
is a huge, bustling city with
big, beautiful buildings, which
have floors on top of floors and
some of them are so tall that
they seem to touch the clouds.
At night New York, with its
many streets, stores, hotels, and
other attractions, is a blaze of
light. Its many signs, advertise
ments, and lights of all designs
and colors shine brightly all
night.
There are so many interesting
sections and things in New
York that it is hard to explain
how interesting they all were
to me. For instance:
Chinatown, with its old, Ori
ental atmosphere, is like some
thing that you might find in
an antique store. It is quaint
and different and the Chinese
people that you come in con
tact with as you visit the
souvenir shops and bazaars are
friendly and have something
different in their personality
that you don't find in other
races. Chinatown is not the
fighting, brawling section of
New York that it once was, be
cause most of the people have
become Christianized and those
who havent still worship In
their peaceful Buddhist temple
like their ancestors.
Like every large city, New
York has Its place (or the
homeless and dejected people of
the city. In New York this place
Is called the Bowery. Here you
see men and, sometimes, women
who have no friends, no Jobs,
no one to love and to care for
them, and who have become
slaves to drink and drug. They
stand around on the streets of
the Bowery, half-starved, rag
ged, dirty and helpless. Their
only hope is to find a pope or
a priest at the mission, who
will give them enough money
for their next meal and at
night they will probably ?leep
on the sidewalk or on some
doorstep. As one looks at these
dejected people he thinks of the
many generations who have suf
fered untold sorrows such as
these people are suffering to
day and he says a silent prayer
for these people and thanks
God for the many wonderful
blessings that have been be
stowed on him.
The United Nations was the
most Interesting to me because
here everyone, whether door
man, guide, waitress, elevator
operator, or top official, is
working for world peace and
the betterment of mankind. The
United Nations is not a perfect
organization but it Is a mag
nificent human achievement. To
me the United Nations stands
between the free people of the
world and Communism. Its idea
is that nations and peoples
working together can do more
for the common good than each
could do alone. As we saw and
were explained to how this or
ganization works we felt the de
sire for world peace. If all the
people of all colors, races,
creeds, and nationalities could
see and understand what the
United Nations is doing for
world peace, they would not be
so free with criticism, rumors,
falsehoods, etc.
So before we say and do
things against the United Na
tions let us first think of its
many achievements instead of
its short comings.
I loved New York as long as
I am visiting but I know that
I wouldn't want - to live there
because there isn't enough
grass, flowers, and trees. Just
give me "The Good, Ole North
State" and I'll be satisfied.
Others' Opinions
WHAT TO SAY?
(Catholic Digest)
"How is your wife?" the man asked an old friend he hadn't
seen for years.
"She's in heaven," replied the friend.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Then he realized that was not the thing to
say, so he added, "I mean. I'm glad." And that was even worse.
He finally came out with, "Well, I'm surprised!"
BASIC RIGHT
(Raleigh News and Observer i
Weimar Jones, editor of The Franklin Press, raises once more
the question, "Why can't wt elect the members of our County
Board of Education?"
The answer, of course, i:> that that right should be restored
to the people in all the counties of North Carolina. The denial
of the right was instituted to "protect" the people of the west
ern counties from the Republicans. Now the process only em
phasizes that the denial of this right which the people of
every county ought to have is imposed by the Democrats. Such
an interference by the State Democratic Party in local self
government no longer benefits the Democrats and it clearly
damages democracy.
This basic right of local government should be restored in
North Carolina.
A HEALTHY THING
(Chatham News)
School controversies are healthy things because they cause
people to think positively about schools.
All too frequently the average citizen of a community re
fuses to bestir himself In behalf of schools. He develops the
mistaken Idea that members of the school committee will be
able to look after all things without any help from the side
lines. Unfortunately school committee members, because of
public apathy., develop the opinion that they are fighting a
battle all by themselves.
A bit of a controversy serves to wake up the people. It makes
them take sides. It convinces public officials that they are
public servants and not proprietors of a private domain im
mune to the problngs of the people.
If people retain their perspective and avoid developing per
sonal animosities a difference of opinion on schools Is a
healthy thing. It serves as a tonic to a lethargic citizenry and
as a spur to officials, elected or appointed.
1 do the vary beat I know how ? the very beat I can; and
I HMD to keep doing ao. ? Abraham
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PRISONERS AND HOME VISITS
(Shelby Daily Star)
The state should certainly want to avoid making country
clubs out of its prison camps. Rigid and humane discipline
should be in effect all the while.
Yet there is a measure of good sense in the legislation which
has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly
allowing convicts periodic weekend leaves of absence as an aid
to good conduct and to aid in the rehabilitation of prisoners.
The bill, offered by Rep. Arthur Goodman, of Mecklenburg,
would permit such leaves from 6 p. m. Friday until 6 p. m.
Sunday. Prisoners would not be eligible for the leaves until
they had served six months or more. They could not receive
leaves oftener than every three months.
The greatest incentive any prisoner has for good behavior
is to get home again. Why not capitalize on this motive by
allowing a prisoner to see his home once in a while? He cer
tainly wouldn't be any worse for such a visit and it might im
prove his whole attitude,
A CHILD'S PRAYER
(Jim Parker In Chatham News)
"A Child's Prayer" by Mildred Bright Payton, Negro home
demonstration agent of Chatham County, won second prize
In the fourth annual Guilford County Fine Arts Festival last
week. The poem, published in 1954, is as follqws:
God, please send two little angels
To watch me through the night,
And let them stand beside my bed
When I turn out the light.
God, I thank you for keeping me
While I was out at play,
Now watch my puppy through the night,
So he won't run away.
And watch my dolls and tea sets,
To see that they don't break.
I will look after them myself
Tomorrow when I wake.
Now, God, please bless my daddy,
And little Jimmy Dale
(You know the boy who plays with me
And pulls my puppy's tall.)
And bless my mama separately,
And keep her nice and warm,
And keep her close beside my bed.
' To kiss me in the morn.
STRICTLY
PERSONAL
Bv WEIMAR JONES
This piece is in praise of old there, and always thought of
maid aunts. everything.
Of course they aren't always
aunts, the kind of persons I'm
thinking of. They may be dis
tant cousins ? or no kin at all.
And they aren't invariably old
maids, these selfless persons
who usually are indispensable
but often aren't fully apprecia
ted. Sometimes they are widows
without children, or widows
whose children are grown and
gone. Maybe they are grand
mothers. And on very rare oc
casions indeed they are found
among men.
Generally, though, they are
old maid aunts. Everybody
knows the kind: The person we
can always count on when
there is need for a helping
hand; the kind of person who
is there as a matter of course.
She was there when our little
noses wanted wiping, or when
we wanted to learn about Moth
er Goose, or when our tears
needed smiling away. She kept
house for us while Mother was
at the hospital for the arrival
of little brother or sister. She
helped us when the arithmetic
or the grammar just wouldn't
come right. She stayed home
and washed the dishes so Moth
er and Dad and we children
could get to the school program
or the community meeting or
the movie on time. And when
there was a death, anywhere in
the community, she waj always
She often does those same
things today, but with time, the
pattern of activities has chang
ed. The old maid aunt hasn't.
She still thinks of everybody ?
everybody, that is, but herself.
Today she is likely to be do
ing that unspectacular church
or community task nobody else
has the time or the inclination
to do. Or she is helping Junior,
who is sure nobody understands
him, to understand himself; be
cause the modern version of the
old maid aunt is likely to be a
psychologist as well as a saint.
And the chances are nobody,
not even she, knows how many
nieces and nephews and cous
ins she's first inspired and then
financed through college.
She's made no history ? she
doesn't even get in the news
paper, as a rule. But she's made
a lot of character, as she went
her quiet way. And without
realizing It (because It has
never occurred to her that she
U unselfish), she has demon
strated for a lot of us the truth
of the axiom we all accept but
few follow ? "It is more bless
ed to give than to receive".
She'll have plenty of star
studded crowns, surely, In the
hereafter. In the meantime,
here's a simple and Imperfect
one for her In the here-now.
News Making
As It Looks
To A Maconite
? By BOB SLOAN
Whether It Is right or wrong,
whether It is a continuation of
Dean Acheson's Far East policy
or a new revitalized Dulles plan,
when representatives of the
United States government sit
down to a conference table with
representatives of Red China
there will be one result that all
must face. Red China will then
be one step nearer recognition
as a sovereign power.
It is a bitter pill to swallow
and most of s
us dodge the \
fact, but the |
truth of the f
matter Is that |
Chou En-lai is |
head of the 1
government of i
China proper 1
regardless of I
what means he I
used to come
into power. S!oan
This is true
because he is there and neither
the United Nations nor the
United States cares to pay the
price necessary to restore
Chiang Kai-shek to power. Cer
tainly Chiang can not build
enough power on the Isle of
Formosa to reconquer the main
land of China. His cause is
hopeless unless the United
States fights his battle, and I
know of no one who will ac
tually advocate we go to war to
restore the Nationalist govern
ment in China.
An interesting sidelight to the
struggle Is just how silly the
remarks about "turning loose
the mighty farces of Chiang
against the Red Chinese" made
by Elsenhower and other Re
publican leaders in the last
election seem now. They have
been turned loose for some two
years now and all they have
done Is scream for help when
ever the Red Chinese made a
threatening gesture toward For
mosa. '
* * *
There have been reports of
people paying premium prices
to obtain the new Salk vacci
nation for polio. Any person so
doing should immediately be
placed in jail. To create a
black market in a medicine of
this kind would do immeasur
able harm to the polio preven
tion program besides being a
great gamble with the health
of a child. Of course any per
son making such a sale Is also
one of the most despicable
characters we can think of now
or any other time.
Do You
Remember?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Pre?s)
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
The Franklin High School
closed its spring term last week.
Over 100 pupils were enrolled
during this term. We learn this
has been one of the most suc
cessful terms of this school in
a number of years. M. D. Bill
ings has been reelected by the
trustees as principal for next
year.
Misses Margie and May
Franks, Ruth and Agnes Zach
ary, and Rosa Watkins went to
Bryson City last week to at
tend the closing exercises of the
Bryson City School.
25 YEARS AGO
More people appear in High
lands each week-end. Those who
already have summer homes are
preparing to move into them
in a few. weeks, and others are
building and renting places. The
week-end just past saw 10 or
12 different states represented
by the cars, some from as dis
tant states as Illinois and Penn
sylvania. ? Highlands item.
. Miss Lillie Rankin entertained
the members of the Sewing Club
at her home on Rlverview
Street Friday afternoon. In ad
dition to the club, Miss Rankin
had as guests Mrs. Florence
Hampton, of Bryson City, and
Mrs. J. E. Lancaster, of Frank
lin.
Mrs. Sam L. Rogers has re
turned from an extended visit
to Phonotoffa, Fla., and an
nounces that Rogers Hall will
open for the summer season on
May 15. Mrs. Rogers has been
away since February 1.
10 TEARS AGO
Jerry Ledford has returned to
Pontiac, Mich., after spending
several days here visiting his
mother, Mrs. Bertha Ledford,
and family.
Miss Nancy Allen, who has
been employed at Washington,
D. C? Is spending several days
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Dewltt T. Allen, ot Franklin,
Route 3.