Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / Jan. 24, 1957, edition 1 / Page 4
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.'.he Jflntitkliit j3rc5? ntu> ^Ltif -Highlands Jflaroira -Second class mall privileges authorized at Prank 1 in. N C Puolished every Thursday by The Franklin Press Telephone 24 WUMAh JONKfe . . Editor moh f SIOAN Advertising Manager J f UH4D> News ?dltor-Pbotoffrapbsr SOLFE NEILL Reporter MR.- AL1 > N dILER Society Editor omce Mansger OARJ f i ABt Operator- Machinist fiANK A STARRETTE Compositor O ^ (KAWPORD Stersotypsr ORARLt> t WHITTINOTON Preaaman DA V ID H SUTTON SUBSCRIPTION RATES < M 'ThlUS MACON UODNT7 ODt Y?t?. $3 00 4U Monilu 1.73 C&jv* Moocbh 1.00 Y?hI> VbrM Venn 5 -2d 7.30 1 NS1DK MACON l/OVMTT due Tear $2 30 Six Months 1. 73 Three Months 1.60 Two Tear# Three Yean 4.2ft ? 00 JANUARY 24, 1957 Time For Guarantees Once more, Queen City Trailways has sought to <curtail its bus service to Franklin and other com tmunities between Atlanta and Asheville. And once again, the move was nfode .so quietly as to suggest an effort at secrecy. In the past, people in the affected communities Slave been 'given' little or no notice of proposed ?changes. This time, the bus company didn't take the trouble to notify even the States Utilities Commis sion ? the conrmfssion found out by accident. Fortunately, the commission has ordered the <oompany to make no change, pending a hearing. "The hearing has been called for Friday, February 1, in Asheville. It ought not to be necessary for Franklin and the other communities affected to send delegations to Asheville iri order to protect their interest, where bus service is concerned. For the bus com pany, like other utilities, is granted a monopoly by the state; and monopoly carries with it the obliga tion to provide service. It ought not to be necessary, but it seems it is. And we hope Franklin will send a big -delegation to the Asheville hearing. We hope, too, that the delegation will insist, courteously but firmly, on some guarantees for the future. The bus company, since it is afforded state protection from competition, should be required to present evidence of its intention to give adequate service. And surely it should be required to furnish guarantees that, in future, it will give adequate notice of any proposed changes. Blithe Spirit In the presence of even the slightest danger of xleath, most of us quail. Not so Mrs. Inez Crawford Murray. Time after time, she faced death ? and laughed him out of countenance. Time after time, through sheer courage and will, she lived ? when ?all the physical rules said she must die. And into her brief 30 years, she crovvded more living than many of us experience in three score years and ten. Despite health handicaps that easily would have conquered most, she built a life not only full and satisfying, but one filled with gaiety. Rarely, if ever, have Macon County people known so blithe and valorous a spirit. Rarely, if ever, have they seen demonstrated so movingly these oft-neglected truths: It is not the length, but the quality, of life that counts. And it is not from the physical body, but from an indominitable spirit, that men draw their strength. More About Water As we in Franklin wrestle with our water prob lem ? and it is a problem for all of us, not just the town's officials -1- one way to clear our think ing, it seems to us, is to ask and try to answer some basic questions.. The first one is: What do we want from our water supply. We want enough water, of course. ? But quality is as important as quantity. If any body has doubts about that, all that is necessary to resolve the doubts is to remember that one of the characteristics of water of high quality is purity. We want enough water, but we also want good ? water. ? Health considerations demand that it be a pure water. On that score, there seems to be some mis understanding; contrary to a widespread opinion, licalth authorities do not advocate taking just any water, no matter how polluted, and treating it heavily enough with chemicals to make it safe. In stead, they advise getting the purest water possible to start with, and then adding only enough chlorine to make it safe beyond question. The second characteristic of good water is that it is pleasant to the taste. Some water tastes bad, some is tasteless, and some tastes good. Then, too, there is water that is "heavy" and water that is "light" ; you can drink more of the latter than the former. Just how important, from a purely practical view point, it is for Franklin to have water that is pleas ant to drink is suggested by the fact that tourists who come to Western North Carolina, or persons who come here to live, usually are first attracted by ? this region's climate, its scenery, and its good water. A third factor in the quality of water is its chem ical content, whether it is hard or soft. This also is a practical consideration. Hard water is uneconom ical ; it s higher cost to water users can run into thousands of dollars in the cost of extra soap. We want a water supply that is adequate. But that alone is not enough. It is just as vital that we get the best water obtainable. Happy Correction As a rule, none of us likes to admit we were wrong. This is one time, though, The Press is happy to confess to a mis-statement. Because the I fact we were inaccurate in a recent editorial is proof of community progress. In a January 3 editorial ("3 Jobs That Need Do ing"), we remarked it didn't make .sense to have school principals running school stores to raise money. We added that it didn't make sense to pre pare wholesome lunches for the children and then spoil their appetites by selling them candy from the stores. Well, most of the school stores have discontinued selling candy. That is progress, and we hasten to hail it as such. The chief point of the editorial still holds true, however. The job of teachers is to teach, not to operate school stores to raise money. And it .still is necessary for them to do that. At Franklin High School, in fact, a soft drink machine is being re installed for that very purpose. Press Responsibility At a time when most of the year 1957 still lies ahead, and especially on the eve of the North Caro lina Press Association', s annual Institute, it seems appropriate for North Carolina newspapers to re dedicate themselves to the principles they put on paper and adopted in 1955. The statement was an effort to define the respon sibilities that the freedom of the press imposes on newspapers. It is perhaps beyond the ability of any newspaper to fulfill all these obligations at all times. But no self-respecting newspaper can fail and have a clear conscience. Because\it is the citizen, in a democracy, who benefits maH, from a free press, we re-publish be low the Statement of Principle of the North Caro lina press. We do so in the hope our readers will help us to more perfectly fulfill the obligations it sets forth. A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE The newspapers of North Carolina, conscious of their obli gations, and mindful of their own human Imperfections, re dedicate themselves to these principles which guide a respon sible press in a free society. I Freedom of the press exists in a democracy, not for the power or profit or pleasure of any individual, but for the com mon good. The right of the people to know cannot be denied or diminished without endangering democracy itself. It Is the obligation of the press to provide accurate, timely and com plete information about all developments which affect the people's political, economic or social well-being. Given the facts, the people usually will reach wise decisions. n ii The trusteeship of a free press is the final responsibility of the publisher. He may share it, but he cannot ^escape it. The good publisher provides the necessary money and space for adequate coverage of the essential news and employs person nel of Integrity, ability and sound Judgment. He exalts ac curacy above every other consideration, and insists upon prompt, full and even generous correction when errors occur. ra Every citizen deserves the stimulus of a strong editorial page, on which the editor voices his own well-informed opinion, clearly and forcefully; yet willingly provides space for con trary opinion. The good editor often takes sides, but without arrogance or intolerance. He champions boldly the rights of the people, sometimes against government itself. He provides leadership, particularly In his own community. He has a spe cial responsibility to defend the weak, to prod the public conscience, and to speak out against the injustices of which a majority can sometimes be guilty. IV The primary function of a newspaper is to report the news. "It's Ei A Little Chilly, Isn't It?" The good reporter strives constantly to find and write the truth. This task, no matter how difficult, Is his unescapable responsibility. To be true, a story, together with Its headlines, must be honest. To be honest, It must be fair. To be fair, It must be accurate and complete. Honesty demands objectivity, the submergence of prejudice ' and personal conviction. Fairness* demands regard for the rights of others. Accuracy demands courage, painstaking care, and perspective to assure a total picture as true as its In dividual facts. V The final test of every story, every headline, every editorial, every newspaper is: Is it honest? Is it fair? Is it accurate? To the end that they can more frequently answer these questions in the .affirmative, the newspapers of North Carolina adopt this statement of principle. Letters Old Names And Places Dear Mr. Jones: Appreciate your paper very much, although all names are not as familiar as when I was In Macon County. Places are the same and I remember most of them. Sometimes I think I would like to purchase all the Bend of the River as I knew it, and come back to live there. ? Here's my subscription for another year, and I do wish you and your entire staff and your family many happy and pros perous years. E. P. JARRETT Long Beach, Calif. Liked Letter Editor, The Press: The letter from Mrs. Gilmer Setser ("God, The Russians, And Us", issue of January 3), was so timely, I wish many peo ple could have a copy. I've thought of a number of ways It could be done, but if there should be a demand sufficient, I know you will find a way. One way would be to make re- , prints and sell them. If there was any profit in it, perhaps you would be glad to give it to the Hungarian relief. .Maybe people of churches would buy them by fifties and hundreds. ? MRS. F. E. MASHBURN Norfolk, Va. 1 - . ? .1 , ? ] Others' Opinions (Opinions expressed In this space are not necessarily those _ of The Press. Editorials selected for reprlntlnf here. In feet, I sre chosen with a view to presenting a variety of viewpoints. They sre. that Is. Just what ths caption lays ? OTHER* Opinions.) He Pays The Taxes (Steamboat, Colo., Pilot) When you shop at home you know you are going to get fair dealing and the merchant is going to stand behind what he sells you. And it^ould be realized that It Is your home town merchant who supplies much of the tax revenue that keeps your schools going, your roads repaired and helps provide many of the other services you expect from your local gov ernment. VIEWS ?r BOB SLOAN This Spring there will be an election to select members of the town board and a mayor. Have you ever stopped to thiiik of some of the problems that will be facing the persons we select? Futhermore. these people will have to solve these problems in their spare time, (as if anybody had any spare time these days). The water problem is one of the biggest and most pressing. To give Franklin an adequate water supply, we are obviously go ing to have to spend at least $300,000. Any time you authorize the spending of that much money it should require a lot of thought and study. The sidewalk problem is also acute. Sidewalks are desperately needed to the school in East Franklin, on Palmer street from its intersection with Phillips street to the intersection with Maple (See Back Page. 1st Section) Do You Remember? (Looking backward throufh the files of The Press) 60 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK If J. H. Mincey will call at our office he can find something of interest to him. Mr. J. S. Sloan is handling the yard stick in R. L. Porter's store these days. Mr. Lyle has introduced a bill to protect the iron bridges of Macon County. 25 YEARS AGO Plans for a Macon County min isterial association will be discuss ed at the next meeting of the min isters; Mr. and Mrs. Lawson Shook and family have moved to the John Collins farm. We are glad to have them in this section.? Gneiss item. The warm weather dosen't ap peal to J. L. Smith so well at the present. He has a hog ready to kill that will weigh around 600 pounds. ? Telllco item. 10 YEARS AGO ^Macon County will go to the polls May 10 to vote in the first ilcholic beverages referendum in this county in 14 years, if a bill pending in the General Assembly Becomes law. Macon County farmers last year ?Id more than two million pounds }f milk. i I Mr. and Mrs. K. F. Montague, who recently returned to Frank lin, have announced the purchase )f Arnold's Orocery Store front >ster Arnold. They will run a -estaurant in the building, to be -ailed the Dixie Grill "and Sand wich Shop.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 24, 1957, edition 1
4
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