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Election Postscripts
In retrospect. Franklin's 1957 town election was
one of the most interesting in decades."
Among the factors that make it of interest, three
stand out.
THAT SETTLES THAT
On the question of two-way vs. one-way streets,
the people of Franklin have spoken. In last week's
advisory referendum, they indorsed the one-way
system by a vote of nearly two to one.
That ought to settle that. And this question hav
ing been taken out of the realm of debate, we as
citizens would do well to give the time,, thought,
and energy we've been devoting to this topic to
other, more pressing problems.
The very emphasis of the voters' indorsement,
though, underlines the responsibility of the incom
ing town officials to make the system work. Mak
ing it work would seem to involve three things :
<(a) Construction of possible new cross-streets.
(b) Careful study, with a view to possible mod
ifications, at least to ameliorate injustices to indiv
iduals or any groups of businesses.
(c) Elimination of the speeding the one-way
traffic invites. A single serious accident, due to
speeding, easily could shift public sentiment in the
other direction. We respectfully suggest to the new
board that safety is far more important than en
forcement of parking-time regulations ; if half the
attention were paid to speeding that is now paid to
checking meters, the speeding that has become al
most the rule instead of the exception could be
stopped.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
As usual, the statistics are interesting ? and con
tradictory.
The heavy vote here was encouraging. Of 961
Franklin citizens registered, 691 voted. That's 72
per cent, or something like half-again as- many of
those registered voting as is usually true for the
country as a whole.
It looks good, too, when compared with the
then-record vote of ten years ago, when the total
was only 551.
The increase would seem to reflect the growth
of Franklin.
It would, that is, until registration figures are
compared. Ten years ago, more people were regis
tered than now ; for the election of 1947, 1001 were
registered ? or 40 more than for last week's elec
tion.
The chances are, though, the apparent discrep
ancy is accounted for by a more thorough purging,
this year, of the registration list ? the marking off
of citizens who have died or moved away.
MYTH EXPLODED
A hoary and hard-dying myth was exploded last
?week ; that was a by-product of the Franklin muni
cipal election.
"Unless you're a native, you have no chance, in
Macon County, either to be anybody or to get any
where."
How often have you heard that dogmatic .state
ment ! Well, take a look at the election results :
Of the seven winning candidates, five were barn
elsewhere; only two are natives.
And of the eight defeated by the voters, only
two are non-natives, while four were born here.
Taking the two-sets of figures together, it would
seem that Franklin voters prefer non-natives by a
ratio of two to one.
Actually, the voters probably took no account of
where the candidates were born, just as, in our
nonpartisan town election, they take no account of
a candidate's party affiliation. Instead, they voted
for those they, thought best qualified ; which, of
course, is exactly as ft should be.
Done For Fun
It had the attractive title of "A Pretty Girl Is
Like A \Melody", hut an equally appropriate name
for last week's Macon County Home Demonstra
tion Clubs' dress review would have been "How To
Be Well Dressed With An Outlay Of Little Or No
Money". It well might have been called that, be
cause many of the articles modeled were made from
remnants, left-overs, or even feed sack.
That is important, because (a) it gives all of us
a psychological boost to feel we are well dressed ;
and (b) most of us suffer from an inadequate sup
ply of money. '
And there is another reason why this annual
event, which reflects so much credit upon those
responsible, is important : It is amateur. The arti
cles of apparel are made by the women themselves,
and are modeled by them. And, usually, one of the
differences between a professional and an amateur
job is that one is work, the other fun.
Up To County Now
Because the situatidn in Nantahala Township is
a peculiar one, we are inclined to believe th^ Ma
con County Board of Education was right in refus
ing the request for a special election on voting a
supplemental township school tax.
The peculiar situation, of couse, is that two or;
three taxpayers pay the bulk of the taxes in that
township ; thus it would be very easy for a major
ity of voters to impose an unfair burden on a
minority of taxpayers.
It is only in extraordinary circumstances, though,
that an over-all governmental body should deny the
people of the community the chance to vote extra
taxes upon themselves, especially when the tax is
to provide better schools.
There can be no question of the Nantahala
School's need for equipment. Since the school board
(quite properly, it would seem, since a special tax
would have been an extreme of the many imposing
most of it on the few) has said "no" to the petition
for a township special tax election, there remains
only one way for the equipjnent to be supplied. It
must come from county funds. The county author
ities, therefore, ought to take whatever steps are
necessary to provide for the need ? and do it
promptly. And in view of the years the Nantahala
commuhity was neglected, the county should pro
vide in a fashion that is generous.
Letters
Praise For Mr. Bueck
Dear Mr. Jones:
We, the faculty of the Murphy City Unit Schools, desire to
express through the columns of The Press our sincere appre
ciation for the work of Supt. Hleronynvus Bueck.
We can enumerate his many services to the school, the
town, county, and state, but we can never evaluate the power
of his Influence for good in our community.
As an administrator, he has been ever mindful of the good
of his school. He has been far-sighted, capable, and wise In
his policies.
In relations with his faculty, Supt. Bueck has been highly
ethical, sympathetic, understanding, and loyal.
He was loved and respected by the student body for his
? Continued on Pace 3
NEW MEMBER TO BE NAMED
FRIENDS OF TVA FEARFUL FOR ITS FUTURE
By George H. Hall
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Hall,
a Wash In *rU>n correspondent
for the St. Louis Post-Dis
patch, reports the results of
an on-the-spot study of the
Tennessee Valley Authority.
The following is excerpted
from an article in the Post
Dispatch.)
Friends of the Tennessee Valley
Authority are fearful that TVA.
now 34 years old. is in imminent
dancer of losing Its identity as
the world's pre-eminent example
of effective and reasonable river
basin development.
This apprehension is based on
doubts as to the type of man
President Eisenhower will appoint
to the three-man TVA board of
?directors when the term of Harry
A. Curtis expires this week (May
18), and on the difficulties the
agency has been experiencing In
obtaining capital for continued
growth.
The President has made two
points that disturb TV A partisans.
He has said he believed the board
was required to be bipartisan and
that he did not know whether
the man going out is a Republican
or a Democrat. He also said that
a man qualified for the post
would have "in general, what I
would call a middle-of-the-road
philosophy in all this field of Gov
ernmental Intervention In local
affairs."
The board is, In fact, non- parti
san. The only requirement, as
far a* this factor U concerned,
Is that the member "profess a
belief In the feasibility and wis
dom of this act" (establishing
TVA). The law specifically for
bids any political test or qualifi
cation in the hiring of employes
and provides for removal of a'
board member who violates the
prohibition. In the debate pre
ceding the adoption of the basic
act. the late Senator Oeorge W.
Norrls of Nebraska, "father" of
the statute, said It was under
stood the prohibition would apply
to the selection of directors.
Mr. Eisenhower's use of "mlddle
of-the4x>ad" also disturbs those
who believe strongly in the con
cept of the TVA. These persons
recall that Brig. Gen. Herbert D.
Vogel, the board member who has
disagreed often with the boar
majority, said after Mr. Elsei
hower nominated him In 1954 the
during his 30 years as an Arm
engineer he had "walked
straight middle line between pul
lie and private power projects.
It Is widely held here In th
heart of the valley that anothe
appointment like that of Oe
Vogel would mean the beglnnln
of the end of TVA as Senate
Norris envisioned It. and as it
affairs have been oonducted sine
Norris's time.
TVA's friends see in Mr. Elsei
hower's recent statements furthc
indications of his lack of lntere:
m and basic knowledge of th
Authority's functions. They reca
Continued on Page Three
\ SwnoKt Sly JtulKcf^ Critei Iff
' " ? ? ? !? p? ?? ? ? I I ?J
(While luther-the-lionhearted
' IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR. .
TAR HEEL GOVERNORS IN HISTORY,
HE HAS NOT ESCAPED
CRITICISM ^ 'JUST FOR,
THE RECORD
WE HEREBY
PRESENT
SOME SAMPLE.
VIEWS...
AS SEEM BY SOME TEACHERS
ANt> TAX Bill OProtteMTSjh
enouqh? S
.AND CERTAIN NEWSPAPERS.
STRICTLY -
Personal
- By WEIMAR JONES
To make them comply with some
law or other, I hear the parking
meters on Main Street are to be
fixed so they'll accept a nickel
only ? no pennies.
Well, far be it from me to sug
get we shouldn't comply with the
law.
I'll feel a darn sight more kind
ly toward the parking meters,
though ? and toward those who
put them In ? when a new gadget
Is added to them.
Since the town penalizes motor
ists, when they park beyond the
time they pay for, why shouldn't
the town meet the motorist half
way and reward him when he
leaves ahead of time? If we're to
be penalized $1 for parking, say.
ten minutes overtime, why not
reward us with, say. half a dollar,
if we leave five minutes ahead
of time? There ought to "be a ?
VIEWS
? By BOB SLOAN
I would like to add, to the lone
list I know they will receive, a
few suggestions to the newly
elected town and school officials.
To Mr. Bueck, county super
intendent of schools:
For a number of years, I have
heard yie question raised by busi
nessmen and other citizens.
"What happens to all the money
taken in at the various athletic
events held at the Franklin High
School?" Undoubtedly, it is all
spent for good purposes, but a
lot of doubts would be quieted
and rumors killed if a financial
statement were made public each
year as to the handling of these
funds.
A second suggestion is, that it
be prohibited to solicit funds
through the school children for
the various causes, no matter
how worthy. Not only is a large
amount of the teachers' time used
up in the collecting and reporting
of the fund, but there is also a
certain amount of unfairness, In
the matter, to the parent.
To the incoming board of alder
men, I would like to suggest that
there is no greater need for any
larger group of people than the
construction of a sidewalk from
a point near Lee Polndexter's ser
d vice station to the East Franklin
i- school. As it is now, school chll
it dren have to cross private prop
y erty, to walk to school, as there
a Is no public throughfare over
> which they can safely walk. When
" some child Is killed or seriously
e Injured, the sidewalk will be that
.r much too late.
n From the comments that I heard
g prior to the town election, I be
ir lleve that rilbst everyone is in
;s accord that a more adequate water
e system should be provided. The
solution to this Is difficult, but
). should be given top priority by
,r the town officials. Each year
,t that a decision is put off means
e that many business people in
II Franklin are handicapped In their
means of making a living. "Pro
- crastination is the thief of time."
adget; one attached to the pari
ng meter, t<> do just that.
And, at the least,' shouldn't the
larking Meter be equipped with
, device to return our change?
f I pay a nickel for one hour
ind stay only 12 minutes, doesn't
he parking meter owe me four
?nts?
Yes, sir, there ought to be a
- gadget.
? ? *
If the growing birth rate
neans more and more Indus
rial progress, and we build for
hat progress, what's going to
Lappen to business when the
>lrth rate levels off ? or drops?
? ? ?
Times change, it is said.
Well. I wonder.
And what prompts the wonder
s something that appeared In
lie Press back in 1892.
But, first, let me explain a
[lfflculty about mail we here at
The Press constantly have. Hardly
. week passes we don't get a piece
if mail addressed to "The Prank
In Times". Now The Franklin
rimes Is published at Louisburg,
down in Franklin County; but a
lot of its mail comes to Franklin
town . . . and finds its way.
naturally, into our box.
Sometimes it's subscriptions:
sometimes advertising orders:
sometimes checks; occasionally,
Just junk.
Of course, we carefully and
promptly forward it to Louisburg.
(Incidentally, it never happens the
other way; why no mail, especi
ally checks, for The Franklin
Press ever comes to us, forward
ed from Louisburg, I cannot
guess.)
Well, that has been happening
regularly now for (he eleven years
I've been on The Press. And have
times changed? Just read this,
from The Press of May 25, 1893;
"The Progressive Farmer last
week said: 'The Franklin Press
says so and so'. Well, now, we
didn't say It. It was the fellow
at the other end of the State
known as The Franklin Times that
said it. Bro. Ramsey (of the Pro
gressive Farmer) should put on
his specs and look straight here
after."
DO YOU REMEMBER?
Looking Backward Through the Files of The Press
65 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
(1892)
We have the promise of a communication next week from
a gentleman who fully realizes the Importance and benefits
that a creamery would add to dur toWn. This Is an Important
matter and the communication should be read carefully and
the subject studied well with a view to making the experi
ment.
Mr. John B. Gray is as crazy as a doodle-bug over the ar
rival at his home last Sunday of a 12-pound boy to carry the
name of Frank Temple Gray.
The Franklin Furniture Company Is busily engaged on the
new Episcopal school building on Church Street and will have
it ready for occupancy within the next two months.
25 TEARS AGO
(1932)
This from a correspondent at Aquone: "When reading the
papers we see quite a bit about repealing the 18th amend
ment. It seames as if It had bin repealed at Aquone & Kyle
already. The market price of corn don't seame to be advanc
ing. Corn seventy cts per bushel in dry form and nine dol
lars In liquid." ,
If shelled corn brings 70 cents and distilled gets $9, as our
correspondent states, Aquone has escaped the depression. In
other sections of the county, the grain prices range from 35
to 50 cents and the liquid goes for $1.50 or $2 at the still and
$2.50 to $5, delivered.
Miss Mae Warren, nurse at Angel Bros. Hospital, spent her
vacation with relatives and friends, at Cornelia, Ga.
Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Flouts and little Frances Ashe recently
spent the week end with Mr. and Mrs. Dover Fouts, at Burns
ville.
10 TEARS AGO
Hazel Robinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Robinson,
of Franklin, Route 1. will deliver the valedictory address at
Franklin High School graduation. Her four-year average grade
was 95.9. Frederick Corbln, who had a four-year grade of
94.6, will give the salutatory. He Is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
F. J. Corbin, of Cullasaja.
Purchase of Rodney's Cafe, on the northeast side of the
courthouse square, by Frank Jamison fromT. L. Stanfleld, was
announced this week.
Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Roland, of Franklin, Route 3, had all
of their children with them Mother's Day, for the first time
In nearly five years.
With the coming of Dr. William A. Matthews, Highlands is
to have a year-round physlcan for the first time In a number
of years.? Highlands item. *