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Entered at Post Office, Franklin. N. C., as second class matter
Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press
Franklin. N. O. Telephone 24
WEIMAR JONES . . . .
BOB 8. SLOAN ....
J. F. BRADY ....
MBS. ALLEN SILER . . .
MBS. MARION BRTSON
OARL P. 0 ABE ....
FRANK A. 8TARRETTE . .
O. B. CRAWFORD . . .
n MABLB8 B. WHITTINOTON
DAVID H. SUTTON ...
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The Pearsall Plan
II
V. ?
When you and I stand in the voting booth Sep
tember 8 (that's just a week from Saturday), we
cannot shift our responsibilities to others. If we
are good citizens, we already will have consulted
our own minds and consciences, and our decisions
will be our own. Shall we vote for or against the
constitutional amendment that is the heart of the
Pearsall Plan?
Let's look at the proposition.
WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THE PLAN?
The first thing that is good about it is that it is
proposed by a group of intelligent men who have
made a long, careful study of the situation.
And they are honest men. They are sincerely
convinced :
(a) That unless something is done to meet the
situation created by the U. S". Supreme Court's
anti-segregation decisions, the people of North
Carolina, through their legislators, will refuse to
provide enough tax money to operate the schools.
Thus, they argue, their plan is one to SAVE the
public schools.
(b) That this plan, by authorizing educational
grants to children assigned to mixed schools
against the wishes of their parents, and by giving
the people of a local school unit the right to sus
pend one or more schools, by majority vote ? this
plan, they believe, by offering these two methods
of "escape", will reassure the people so that they
will continue to favor adequate appropriations for
the public schools.
The second thing that is good about it is that,
by comparison, it is a moderate course. It provides
for neither educational grants nor school closings,
now ; they are merely authorized, in the event they
seem necessary. More radical plans have been sug
gested in other Southern states ; a far more radical
plan, in fact, was proposed at the recent special
session of this state's General Assembly. It can
well be argued that, unless we adopt this relatively
moderate plan, the extremists may force us into
taking a more dangerous road.
The third thing that is good about it, it seems
to us, is this : It leaves the decision to individual
parents, as to whether they will permit their chil
dren to attend mixed schools; and to the voters in
a local school unit, as to whether conditions are so
"intolerable" as to warrant closing one or more
schools within the unit. Presumably the plan would
permit one local unit to hold on to segregation,
while another tried integration ? depending on local
conditions.
WHAT'S BAD ABOUT IT?
There has been too much haste about this thing
? that is the first thing that is bad about it. While
it is true the Pearsall committee worked long and
hard on the plan, it was adopted by the General
Assembly in just a little more than four days, and
with virtually no debate. And now the people are
being asked to pass on it with only slightly more
than a month for consideration.
The second thing that is bad about it is that the
proposed constitutional amendment is really two
amendments, one dealing with educational grants,
the other with school closings. They are two sepa
rate questions. The .people should have been given
the opportunity to pass on them separately. When
it refused to do that, the Generally Assembly both
denied the people a basic right and betrayed a lack
of confidence in the people's judgment.
Another thing that is wrong is the detail of the
size of the grants. The state proposes to put up the
average amount it costs to educate a child in the
public schools, or about $135 per year. In a private
school, that is hardly more than a drop in the finan
cial bucket. The result might easily be freedom to
choose, for the well-to-do; enforce.1 integration,
for children from poorer families.
The final thing that is bad about it is it is eva
sion ; look at it any way you will, it's an effort to
"beat the devil around the stump". This news
paper hates evasion as a form of dishonesty; it
fears it for its effect on the character of the evader.
Supporters of this plan no doubt are convinced
that the Supreme Cburt exceeded its authority,
and they probably are convinced, as well, that the
court knew it was doing just that ; hence, they
argue, you have to "fight fire with fire". Well,
we'd say it is a temptation, not a necessity; and
we'd add that two wrongs never yet have made a
right. Finally, we would argue that the South's
one hope of getting something done,, about what
it consideres the court's dishonesty, is to come be
fore the nation's public opinion with its own
hands clean.
If the time ever comes ? and that time has not
yet come ? when we must choose between Evasion
and defiance, there should be no hesitation about
which to choose ; for one is cowardly and dishon
est, the other courageous and forthright. We has
ten to add that defiance need not necessarily be
violent ; passive resistance, in fact, often is the
most effective kind. But if we're determined to
keep segregation, let's make no .secret of our goal.
WHICH WAY TO VOTE?
It is not the responsibility of this newspaper to
tell the people of Macon County how they shall
vote ? we would not, if we could; and we could
not, even if we would. For, happily, most Macon
County people do their own thinking.
It is the responsibility of any newspaper, though,-:
to express an opinion, to take a stand.
This is not the .kind of issue Sve can say "it's all
good" or "it's all bad". We have to .strike a bal
ance, to weigh the arguments for and against.
Well, we think the arguments against this
change in the state's constitution outweigh the
arguments in favor of it ? heavily outweigh them.
Added to that are two pther factors :
1. The Pearsall' committee's whole program is
based on the assertion that the people of North
Carolina will not support the public schools with
out these "escape" provisions. While we do not
doubt that the committee members are honestly
convinced that is true, we ask them : "Where, gen
tlemen, is your proof?"
2. Moderate as the Pearsall plan is, by compar
ison with others, it carries a threat to our public
school system, a system built laboriously and by
sacrifice over a period of half a century. The Pear
sall plan is crisis action ? and there is no crisis yet.
With all respect for those who advocate it, we
take our stand against this constitutional amend
ment. We cannot be honest and take any other.
The Other Amendments
We think the constitutional amendment,' known
as the Pearsall Plan, passed by last month's spe
cial session of the General Assembly, should be de
feated by the people in the election September 8.
At the same time, the people will vote on three
other amendments, submitted by the regular ses
sion of the Legislature in 1955. Those three amend
ments, much less important, seem to us good ones.
One would pay members of the Legislature for
up to 120 days, instead of just 90, when it is neces
sary for the General Assembly to remain in session
longer than 90 days. It also would give legislators
a travel and subsistence allowance when they
travel on state business. That seems only fair. Fur
thermore, in this field, as in any other, you get just
about what you pay for ; if we pay legislators
more adequately, we are likely to get better ones.
Another proposed change would move the time
of convening of the biennial sessions of the General
Assembly from January to February. This seems
desirable, since the date for filing income tax re
turns has been changed from March 15 to April 15,
and it thus is after April 15 before the legislators,
who have to levy taxes and make appropriations,
can know how much revenue the state will get from
income taxes.
The third amendment would authorize a husband
to give his wife written authority to sign and ac
knowledge deeds for him, when he is away from
home. There seems no reason whatever why such
a course should not be made legal.
Others' Opinions
(Opinions expressed In this space are not necessarily those
__ __ of The Press. Editorials selected for reprinting hers. In fact,
are chosen with a view to presenting a variety of viewpoints.
They are. that Is, Just what the caption says ? OTHERS'
Opinions.)
Why Bother With It?
(Greensboro Dally News)
Governor Hodges' appointment of High Point Editor Holt
McPherson as chairman of a 40 or 50 -man committee to push
the Pearsall Amendment parallels the two most recent state
wide election campaigns on special Issues ? the Kerr Scott
Better Schools and Roads drive and the Umstead bond issue
for mental hospitals and schools.
In both cases Governors In charge took no chances. They
conducted state- wide campaigns which paid off In victory;
Governor Hodges has the same goal In mind.
Bat In the Pearsall Amendment election (called the Public
School Amendment by the Governor's publicists) the Issues
are far more confusing to the average voter than In previous
campaigns. Hie bond Issue elections simply called for sup
port or rejection of an obviously constructive program. Involv
ing bricks, mortar, asphalt and concrete.
The Pearsall Amendment ? up for vote In a general election
on September 8 ? Involves several curiously negative aspects.
The program Is difficult to explain because It embraces a
somewhat fanciful and Impractical plan for private schools,
combined with repeated admonitions that same will not be
used "much."
The average voter, looking at the plan, Immediately asks:
Then why bother with it?
The Hodges-Pearsall leaders have a good reason for both
ering. In the emotional atmosphere of school desegregation
they foresee a show-down conflict between the court decis
ion and the public school system. In such conflict, with no
"safety valves" available, they fear either outright defiance
of the law of the land or wholesale destruction of the public
schools. Rather than let these Issues collide headon, they
prefer, in words of the Christian Science Monitor, "accom
modation rather than defiance."
Such "accommodation" does Involve dangers to the public
school system. It amends the State Constitution so that a
simple majority In a local option election can close the
schools In a community. The Smlthfleld Herald opposes the
Pearsall Amendment on that ground, saying:
"We would no more favor a plan for letting a simple ma
jority take away from a child [Its] right to educational oppor
tunity than we would favor a plan for letting a simple ma
jority take from American citizens their right to freedom of
thought and speech. In the American system of government
there are basic rights which even majority rule cannot or
should not disturb."
But the Herald forgets that the people of North Carolina
face a condition, not a theory. If the Supreme Court insists
on integration, but the people of a community refuse to ac
cept it, the schools might go down anyway. Or even worse
the General Assembly might pass an Inflexible state-wide
segregation plan far more binding than the Pearsall program
and guaranteed to wreck the schools.
The Pearsall Amendment is not error proof. But it Is bet
ter than no plan at all or a policy of drift toward some
major, inflammatory crisis.
During the four weeks remaining before September 8 the
McPherson Committee must explain the real purpose of the
Pearsall Amendment to the state. The job is not easy.
Pattou Fills The Need
(Raleigh News and Observer)
The selection of Judge George B. Patton as Attorney Gen
eral is a fortunate one. He is not only qualified by every
reasonable standard to perform existing duties of the office,
Continued on Page Three ?
STRICTLY
PERSONAL
? By WEIMAR JONES
A Congressman from this dis
trict is said to have remarked,
early in this century: "Politics
? she air one so-and-so".
Had he been able to view the
recent national conventions by
television, we suspect that opin
ion would have been reinforc
ed.
After watching some of the
sessions, I found myself agree
ing with the almost unanimous
exclamation of British corre
spondents covering our quad
rennial political gatherings.
How, they asked in amazement,
can the United States ever get
a good President in such an
atmosphere ? an atmosphere
that is a strange combination
of a three-ring circus, many
"smoke-filled rooms", and a
free-for-all fight among ado
lescents.
? * ?
Except for the contest for
the Democratic Vice-Presidential
nomination, both conventions
were dull affairs, since the re
sults were generally taken for
granted long before the ballot
ing began.
That doesn't mean, though,
that some strange and ? to the
layman ? inexplicable results
didn't come out of the conven
tions. They did.
The most obvious oddity Is
the men chosen for the nomi
nations, In the light of their
past histories.
Pour years ago, the voters
emphatically rejected Mr. Stev
enson for the Presidency ? but
the Democrats nominated him
again! And In 1952 and again
in 1656, Democratic leaders
themselves held that Mr. Kefau
ver lacked the qualifications for
President ? but this year they
nominated him for the Vice
Presidency, an office removed
from the Presidency by only a
heart-beat.
The Republicans, In their
turn, nominated part-timers ?
one known, one preferable. For
Mr. Elsenhower was a blithely
part-time President, even when
he was In good health. Now, it
Is reasonable to assume, he will
devote even less time to the
biggest job in the world And
if Mr. Nixon should ever be
come President, a possibility by
no means remote ? well, most
Americans, whatever their party,
will feel that the more part
time he is, the better for the
nation.
Since the purpose of politics
is to get votes, another illustra
tion of the strangeness of pol
itics is the mild stands the two
parties took on civil rights. The
Supreme Court desegregation
decision, almost every political
leader will tell you, is the law;
but the two parties, in their
platforms, did not endorse it.
They not only failed, they re
fused?to indorse the law of the
land!
Why?
All the evidence suggests
that almost nothing, this year,
could drive the South out of
the Democratic party and into
the arms of the Republicans.
And isn't it still true that the
Negro holds the balance of
power in 17 states, states that
are far more important, politi
cally, than the South? It would
seem that even the Democrats
would have run little risk, and
have stood to gain much, by
adopting a strong civil rights
plank. And that would seem
even truer of the Republicans
Back of these maneuvers,
there must be good, realistic
politics. But the strategy Is
much too deep for this layman.
* * *
The strangest thing of all,
though, was to hear such ar
dent and undoubtedly sincere
integrationists as Mrs. Roose
velt and Mr. Truman plead with
the Democratic party not to ad
vocate enforcement of the de
segregation law.
It is the dictum of the Su
preme Court; therefore, by all
the rules, it Is law. And un
doubtedly Mrs. Roosevelt and
Mr. Truman believe it is a rood
law. "But we mustn't try to
enforce it", they warn! Instead,
let's reach the goal by persua
sion and education.
As a means of bringing about
social change, nothing could
make better sense But as ap
plied to law . . .?
Do we give ^violators of the
laws against treason or theft
"time to adjust"? Do we try to
convert traitors and thieves by
persuasion and education,
meanwhile suspending enforce
ment of the law?
Mrs. Roosevelt and Mr. Tru
man pointed up, as nobody else
could have, how far Its deseg
regation decisions took the Su
preme Court Into a legal never
never land.
VIEWS
? r
BOB SLOAN
To me, It doesn't seem right
asking the filling station opera
tors to stop washing cars. May
be in case of an emergency it
is Justifiable, but when an em
ergency becomes a habit that
continues for years, that, as the
saying goes, is a grey horse of
another color.
There are approximately 24
filling stations within the city
limits of Franklin. To cause
that large a group of business
firms to curtail their business,
year after year, usually right at
the height of the Summer sea
son, is unfair and an undue hard
ship.
However, as long as Franklin
continues to depend on wells for
its water system, we will con
tinue to be faced with periodic
water shortages. When the last
well was dug it would prevent
shortage for at least ten years,
"they" said. Living in a section
that has one of the highest
rainfalls in the United States
and having to limit the use of
water from time to time are
two things that I find hard to
make fit together.
There is one answer, of
course, and that is. a watershed.
The sooner Franklin officials
wake up and realize this and
start planning accordingly the
better off we will be ? I am sure
the filling station operators
join me in this.
* * ?
I don't exactly understand
Why the Republicans are so
elated over the mythical bal
ance that President Eisenhower
has achieved in the budget this
year. In the year 1948 THAT
man Harry Truman, whom the
Republicans like to label a ter
rible waster and reckless spend
thrift, showed a profit or sur
plus in receipts over expendi
tures of more than eleven bil
lion dollars. Ike will have to go
some to match that.
Do You
Remember?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Press)
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
The Franklin High School is
opening the fall term September
6 under the principalship of
Misses Laura Jones and Margaret
Bulgin.
Miss Lucy Sloan, of Greenville.
S. C? is the guest of relatives
here for two or three weeks.
Mr. P. H. Nolen has moved into
his new store on Cartoogechaye
and now has room for quite a
large stock of goods. Jay Moore
is clerking for him.
25 YEARS AGO
Gov. O. Max Gardner made a
surprise visit to Franklin late Sat
urday afternoon, and while here
chatted for a few minutes with
old friends. The governor and his
party came to Franklin after visit
ing the Great Smoky National
Park.
Miss Kathryn Porter will leave
Thursday for Barnardsville where
she will teach English In the high
school.
Mrs. John Trotter and Miss
Ethel Hurst returned last Friday
from Baltimore and New York
where they had been buying new
fall goods for the Trotter's store.
10 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Burdell Ray, who Is em
ployed at the Ray's Florist Shop
in Waynesvllle, spent the week
end here with her daughter. Mrs.
Clyde Clark, and Mr. Clark.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sanders left
Tuesday for Columbia, Mo., to be
present when their son, Sol W.
Sanders, is graduated from the
Journalism school of the Univer
sity of Missouri.
Holt McPherson. district gov
ernor of the 194th District of
Rotary International, will pay his
annual visit to the Highlands
Rotary Club next Tuesday even
ing at 8 o'clock. ? Highlands Item.