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Entered at Poet Office, Franklin, N. C., as second class matter
Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press
Franklin, N. O. Telephone 24
WEIMAR JONES . Uttflt
BOB 8. SLOAN Advertising Manner
J. P. BRADY News Edltor-Photourapher
MRS. ALLEN SILER ... ... Society Editor Ottlce Manner
ICRS. MARION BRYSON Proof renuer
CARL P. CABE Operator- M;i< ii?iU8t
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SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Outsxdb Macon County
One Year
81* Months .
Three Months
Two Years .
Three Years
Inside Macon Cocntt
$3.00
1.75
100
5.29
7.50
One Year
Six Months
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t2 SO
I 73
i no
4 25
? 00
MAT 24, 1956
Let's Have A Say-So
Since this county and state usually ? though not
always ? go Democratic, the voting in the Dem
ocratic primary election Saturday may well decide
who is to serve us in county, state, and national
office. (The Republicans usually name their candi
dates in convention.)
The choice of nominees for U. S. senator, gov
^enor, and other state offices is important, terribly
important; for usually we get state and national
/ government of about the same calibre as the men
we put in office.
But if the only nominations to be made Satur
day were for two local offices ? this county's rep
resentative in the Legislature and membership on
.the county board of education ? it would be worth
-the while of every registered Democrat in Macon
"County to go to the polls and vote Saturday.
Because this county's representative not only will
help pass the laws that govern us all ; he will help
shape state policy, at a crucial period, on such
vital matters as taxation and education. And the
men we name to the three-member countv board
of education will determine the policies and fix the
? direction of Macon County's schools for the next
two years.
It's our business ? yours and mine ? that coun
ty, state, and national governments transact If
we're smart, we'll have a sav-so about who handles
that business.
Slipping Backward
North Carolinians have been accustomed to
think of their state as progressive, a leader, espe
cially in the field of education.
Once that was true. But Tar Heels have become
complacent ? and now North Carolina is falling
behind in education. Consider these figures:
Everybody knows the importance of individual
attention for the child in school, but only two
other states in the Union have a higher number of
pupils per teacher.
In only three other states has the average adult
completed so few years of schooling.
This state ranks 41st in the amount spent per
pupil for school operating expense.
And here is how the gap is widening between the
average teacher salary in the United States as a
whole and the average in North Carolina:
In 1950-51, the average North Carolina teacher
drew S280 less than the average for the countrv as
a whole. The, next year, the difference iumned to
$3.i5. The following, rear to $157. In 1953-54. we
gained a little ground, reducing the difference to
$430. But in 1054-55, it had jumped to $588. the
next year to $700. and the estimated difference for
this year is $875.
As we have paid <>ur teachers less and leKs, as
compared with salaries in other states, the schools
have been penalized:
In 1954-55. we lost 2.700 teachers. Less than 200
of them retired ? the others presumably sought
better paying jobs.
As of now, 75.000 elementary children are being
taught by high school children, due to the teacher
shortage.
. We need approximately .ViOOnew teachers every
year to fill vancancies. but far fewer thai) that num
ber are being graduated from our teacher .training
schools, and many of those do not go into teach
ing.
This newspaper takes these statistics, like all
Our (Great America
ReCORP HARVEST OF MORS
THAN 1-4,000 8 16 6AMt AUIMAlS
t WAS takeki from wist coast
TBf* FARMS IN
others, with a grain' of salt. But it would-be stupid
to assume that all of them are wrong, that all
these and dozens of other similar signs have no
meaning.
The meaning is unmistakable: .something is
wrong.
And just as North Carolina blossomed when it
was going forward in public education, just so it
will wither as it lags in that field.
The proper agency to reverse the trend is the
General Assembly. But that agency will act only
when spurred by public opinion. If you and I , and
other Tar Heels, want something done about the
situation, and say so, often enough and loudly
enough, the General Assembly will act. Otherwise,
we'll continue to slip backward.
Negroes And Republicans
Kidd Brewer, candidate for lieutenant governor,
urges appointment of more Negroes to state
boards.
We have no quarrel with that suggestion. In fact,
we think it an excellent idea ? but with one reser
vation. A Ne?To should not be named to a public
position merelv becaUsc he is a Negro, any more
than we shouM divide the membership of the State
Supreme Court between men with blue eyes and
men with brown. The only test should be the man's
qualifications for the post.
Mr. Brewer's suggestion recalls a penetrating
remark of the late Ralph Fisher, Transylvania Re
publican, a few years ago, when the agitation first
became strong for giving Negroes more represen
tation on such boards.
"Fine!" said Mr. Fisher. "I'm all for it. But what
about Republicans? Nobody ever suggests, you
know, that North Carolina Republicans have any
representation at all on these boards". And he went
on to add that there isn't a Republican supreme or
superior coprt judge in the state, no Republican
county board of education, no Republican county
superintendent of schools, etc.
The contrast is a commentary on our consis
tency.
Edward B. Byrd
l-.dward B. Byrd took his citizenship seriously.
Whether he was casting his vote at the ballot box,
attending a precinct meeting, br serving as chair
\
man of the board of county commissioners, he was
equally conscientious in discharging his civic duty.
During his service, in recent years, on the county
board of education, this newspaper sometimes
found itself in disagreement with Mr. Byrd on
policies and methods, but never was there any
question of his sincerity. Ed Byrd was honest, in
the broadest sense of that term ; nobody could
doubt his motives ? always his purpose was to do
what was best for his county.
Retiring, soft-spoken, he was anything but dog
matic ; he was dlways ready to listen. But once he
had made up his mind, on what he considered a
matter of principle, there was no moving him.
We need more men possessed of that .kind of
character.
Others' Opinions
(Opinions expressed In this space are not necessarily those
of The Press. Editorials selected for reprinting here, in fact, ___
are chosen with a view to presenting a variety of viewpoints.
They are, that Is, Just what the caption says ? OTHERS'
Opinions.)
Sure Sign
(Frederick, Colo., Farmer tt Miner)
A boy Is growing up when he would rather steal a Idas than
second base.
A Look At The Future
(Greensboro Dally News)
Governor Hodges, addressing the Jackson County Chamber
of Commerce at Sylva last week, touched upon a point which
needs to be emphasized and re-emphaslzed In any effort to
bring North Carolina a balanced, expanding economy.
The state's chief executive would "put our land to work '
and plan accordingly . . . produce more and more for the
right market" and have more small Industries throughout
North Carolina.
The Governor envisioned a three-fold-industrial program:
Securing new Industries from outside the state, expansion of
Industries in the state and creation of new home-owned in
dustries. As for the final step, Mr. Hodges declared: "We
need more locally financed and locally operated industries
which can grow to be our great industries of the future."
In line with that assertion, the natural resources are here
for the processing; labor is available, as attested by the Job
applications which pile up for each new Industry; markets,
especially the state and Southern, are expanding; and sub
stantially Increased bank resources and subscriptions to the
Governor's own small industries' corporation, prove that cap
ital Is not lacking. Research, which means much Indeed to
business and Industry, has taken on new life in North Caro
lina with almost untold possibilities in the Raleigh-Durham
Chapel Hill area.
It Is Governor Hodges' looking to the future, when small in
dustries may have become large under proper vision and man
agement, which needs to be especially stressed. Look about
you now and note how many of the larger Industries which
contribute so heavily to North Carolina's economy and living
standards had their start on a relatively small basis. The list
Is endless, but Greensboro has immediate evidence In Cone
Mills, Burlington Industries and Carter Fabrics as an illustra
tion; and in neighboring Winston-Salem there is the R. J.
Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Small, diversified industries to undergird our economy, in
crease our employment opportunities and supplement farm in
come we badly need on the community level. But what any
of these industries may eventually become can only be left
to the imagination, leadership, a favorable operating atmos
phere and a happier, richer and fuller life for their em
ployees. The whole proposition is essentially a matter of con
servation and utilization of our human and natural resources.
Some books are to be tasted, others swallowed, and some
few to be chewed and digested.? Francis Bacon.
One way to prove to the other fellow that your job is not as
easy as he thinks It is to offer to swap jobs with him.
Stat Magazine Cites Macon Attractions
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The fol
lowing from the last issue of
The State magazine.)
Up in the Cowee Valley near
Highlands amat ur rockhounds
dicing for rulves ? am| find
irg them. So f r the gem fans
I avp been coming in flocks of
c'ozens, but because of the growth
of rockhuntirg and publicity
: iven the old Cowee mines, it is
.expected that hundreds will find
their way to th" region this sea
: "n. The "boom" is spreading
t hiou'-hout western North Caro
lina. ?
?The State i confused about
the loeation of the ruby mines.
Instead of being near Highlands,
which lies southeast of Franklin,
they are a few miles north of
Franklin, just off Highway 28. ?
Editor
A< least two landowners have
opened up their farms to the
ruhy-hunters on a fee basis. You
pay $1 and dig all day, and keep
what you find. Everybody doesn't
find a ruby, but a lot of people
do. One girl found a 25-carat
g"m reputedly worth several
thousand dollars. Most of the
gems ais pretty little chips of
more ir.o ' <t value, but still worth
mount
The Cowc-> ruby mine field was
first opened about 1880 but as
a commercial venture the oper
ation was not especially success
ful.
Urr.'er t': is setup, though the
minrs pay handsomely. The mine
owner ge' s a steady income and
the "miners" pay their own wages.
A recent story in a national
magazine has started a flood of
inquiries, and the mine-owners,
Wei- " ? an i Carroll Gibson and
Will Holbrooks, have been swamp
ed with inquiries from people
planning to come down this sum
mer.
The story abuut the ruby mines
is just a fragment of the larger
ftory ab ri* tt-e rock-hunting fad
sweeping North Carolina ? and
a good part of the U. S. Up at
Highlands recently Ed Potts said
fully 75 per cent of the summer
cottagers at that resort now were
roekhounds. They have an active
minerals club which plans regular
?expeditions to likely spots.
There was a time, said Ed, when
the Summer people walked just
for the fun ol it, or for exercise.
This hobby has been dying out
for a long time, and was con
fined to the confirmed outdoors
men.
It is coming back in the rock
hunting craze. The amateur pros
pectors walk miles and miles over
old mine dumps or down stream
beds.
Their rewards are specimens
from the "mineral sample case"
which is North Carolina. Rock
hounds hoard, display and swap
specimens just as stamp collectors
do. Some of the things they find
are precious or semi-precious
stones and gems, and these they
make into jewels. I am told that
a gem cutter who set up business
in Highlands grossed $30,000 last
year catering to this business.
(The State probably refers to
Archie Jellins. ? Editor).
U. S. 64, where a lot of this gem
hunting is going on, some of these
days is going to be modern high
way. Piece by piece it Is being im
proved. All in all. I think it is the
most varied and interesting high
way in North Carolina.
Talking about Highlands ? that
town had an unusual windfall
from the weather. It is the high
est resort in North Carolina ? over
4,000 feet ? and when it gets
cold, the visitors leave. But last
winter it got so cold that the
ponds and lakes all froze solid.
The word spread, and skaters from
all around flocked in to enjoy
ice-skating. On week-ends, people
had to open their homes to ac
commodate these unexpected
"tourists." The skating season
lasted for about two' weeks, and
Highlands hopes for another one
next year.
? * *
In Highlands. William. J. Trow
bridge, manager of Kings Inn, has
also taken over the Bascom-Louise.
He plans a new restaurant > to
serve the guests of both hotels. He
also is planning a swimming pool.
The Country Club has added,
some new cottages and rebuilt the
casino, useful for conventions and
group meetings.
Highlands right now is proud of
the fact that It has acquired two
doctors ? a surgeon and a gener
(See Back Page, 1st Section)
VIEWS
v
BOB 8I4OAN
Saturday is election day in the
Democratic party primary. Every
Democrat should, first as a citizen
and second as a party member, go
vote. As has been said different
times In many different ways,
democracy does not function prop
erly unless the people express
their sentiments. This can only
be done with effect by voting.
Little interest has been shown
In the primary this Spring, but
it is important that we have the
best man available In the office
of Representative and as members
of the Board of Education. All
members of the Democratic party
should do their part Saturday to
see that their party selects as
nominees the best man possible.
They can do this by voting.
Here Is a suggestion about
voting. Do not be Influenced in
the decision of whom you will
vote for by any last many charges
you might hear against any candi
date. When you go to the polls
Saturday, vote the way you would
have voted last week. Oftentimes
in order to defeat a man, right
at the last minute such rumors
are started as, "So and So is for
organized labor," or, "Did you
know he Is a socialist," or in a
Democrat Primary. "His family
are all Republicans, "Don't be
lieve that stuff particularly when
you hear it right at the close of
a campaign. If it were so, you
would have heard It long before
then. The people who spread such
gossip wait until the last minute
'because they don't want the man
to have a chance to disprove it.
? ? ?
When the Little League begins
their first day of play, Saturday
many people will have had a hand
in making it possible, but my hat
is off in particular to Bob Carpen
ter. As the saying goes, he has
really "laid with it" to bring this
about. It is a fine contribution to
ward better recreation for the
children. Congratulations, Bob.
Do You
Remember?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Press)
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
Misses Rebe Sloan, Hester Pen
land, and Olive Patton have re
turned home from Breneau Col
lege, Gainesville, Ga., to spend
vacation.
Dr. Paul Robinson arrived
home Sunday from Philadelphia.
He graduated in pharmacy, but
being under 21 years of age, his
diploma is withheld until he at
tains his majority, which will be
next year.
Mr. Y. A. Sanders purchased
Dr. W. A. Rogers' interest in the
harness shop of T. T. Angel, and
the firm is now Angel & Sanders,
and they have moved into the
house recently purchased from
Col. A. A. Howe. Grover Jamison
has also moved his jewelry shop
into the Howe building.
25 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Bob King and
their daughter. Miss Mahala
King, spent the week-end here.
They plan to open their beauti
ful summer hotel, King's Inn,
within, a short time. ? Highlands
item.
Mrs. Cecil Pendergrass and chil
dren left last Sunday for Morgan
ton where they plan to spend this
week visiting Mrs. Pendergrass'
parents, the Rev. and Mrs. D. S.
Richardson.
Miss Ada Brunette Trotter, who
is attending Western Carolina
Teachers' College at Cullowhee,
spent the week-end here with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John S.
Trotter.
10 YEARS AGO
T. J. Griffis, of Buffalo,' N. Y?
personal counselor of the Van
Raalte Company, the concern
which last week announced plans
to erect a textile plant in Frank
lin, was here Wednesday.
Miss Lillian Beeco. who has
been visiting her brother, James
Beeco and family, at Cedar Point,
Md? has returned to her home on
Franklin, Route 4.
Fred L. Hannah, who is teach
ing school in Haywood County,
spent the week-end at his home, 4
Franklin. Route 1.