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(lit* ffirnnklin ]J?gg N anb dite jHarximait Second class mall privilege* authorised at Franklin. N. C. Puollshed every Thursday by The Prank 11b Press Good Riddance, But "Good riddance f" undoubtedly is the reaction of many North Carolinians to the court conviction of Klan Wizard James W. Cole. For the fellow has made a nuisance of himself; and he has received attention out of all proportion to his importance. Before the case is put out of mind, though, it might be well to take a good, hard look at its im plications. Cole was convicted of inciting to riot. The charge grew out of the incident in Robeson County when a crowd of shouting, shooting Lumbee Indians broke up a Klan meeting. Inciting to riot, of course, is and should be a crime. But what sort of justice is it that punishes the inciter and makes no effort to punish the rioters? Isn't that a little like punish ing one who encourages a murder and letting the actual murderer go scot free? And let's be honest with ourselves : Is Cole real ly being punished for inciting to riot or for being a Klan official? Wasn't the riot charge simply the ! excuse officials had been looking for? The circum stances suggest it was ; because the evidence is that the .police, state and county, though they had been warned of a riot and were mobilized for it, delib erately stayed away until there actually was a riot. The point is not whether we agree with the tenets of the Ku Klux Klan ; most of us have no patience with its beliefs. The point is : Are we go ing to punish men for being klansmen? that is, for holding beliefs most of us are sure are wrong? If we are, then where are we going to draw the line? Most of us are sure atheists are wrong; many of us that Catholics are wrong; some of us that Republicans are wrong. Somewhere . . . Somewhere, somehow, sometime, it's got to stop . . . Today the American citizen finds himself under government that is so obsessed with practicality it sometimes seems to forget there is such a thing as morality. The trend is toward saying and doing what is expedient, without reference to what is right. Illu strations of that trend may be found in almost every day's newspaper. It's happening in all branches of government, and at every level. Somewhere, we've got to draw a line. Because there can be no such thing as just and honest gov ernment unless it is based on the moral principles of justice and honesty. A recent flagrant example was the announce ment by the National Park Service that, starting June 1, it will charge tolls for use of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We are not one of those who feel that such a step would wreck Western North Carolina's tourist business. And we can see the logic of the .Park Service's arguments : Charging tolls is general prac tice, the country over, so why not apply it to the Parkway? and the money collected would enable the Park Service to do a better maintenance job. Those are good practical arguments. The only trouble is they ignore elementary hon esty. For the land for the Parkway was donated to the federal government, and there is on file cor respondence, at the time the Parkway was estab lished, clearly showing the land was given with the distinct understanding this highway always would be toll-free. Until evidence is produced indi cating otherwise, the Park Service has an inescap able moral obligation to abide by the promise made then. And, so far as we have been able to learn, not only has there been no refuting evidence pre sented ? the Park Service hasn't even questioned the existence of the agreement. True, there is no formal contract. But, if a man is really honest, his word is as good as his bond. Is there any reason why the same standard should not apply to government? This Is The Day! It's been a tough winter . . . and the world is out of joint. But no matter how cold it's been, or even what the temperature may be right now, and no matter how topsy-turvy this world we live in, today is different. Look at your calendar, if you doubt it! And the promise isn't in the calendar alone. It's all about us ... in the yellow jonquils that dot still brown lawns, in budding dogwoods, in the streak of color that's a bluebird silhouetted on the sky. And so today we aren't going to fret about the winter that's past. And we aren't going to think of the dangers of atomic radiation, or the problems of a summit conference, or how to lick the busi ess recession. No! Today we've got something in mind that's a darn sight more important than these. For this is the first day of Spring ! Letters Pleased By Cloggers Editor, The Press: We were more than pleased with the Franklin and Macon County talent (Smoky Mountain Cloggers) on Ed Sullivan's TV show, the other Sunday night. To appear on a nation wide show, you've rot to be rood. And they were very good. ALFRED V. BUSSELL. East Syracuse, N. Y. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Bussell's interest in Macon County is that of a prospective resident.) Grandmother Somersaults Editor, The Press: Here's another Tar Heel, born within five miles of Frank lin. I'm here visiting my son in what is supposed to be '?sunny California'" but ever since January 12 we've been having what we used to call, in North Carolina, "a June freshet". The point is, I'm a Maconlan, far from home, and a grand mother. But the other night when I turned the TV to Ed Sullivan's show (all I saw was the last of it), lo and be hold! I saw a beautiful girl named Betty (I didn't get the last name) from Macon county, N. C., I rose up off the davenport and did a good old North Carolina somersault ? I just couldn't believe it! It's just another proof my good old sovereign State ^.of North Carolina is the greatest. The first white child born in this country was a Tar Heel, and the first aeroplane was born in North Carolina . . . and I could go on and on. Every time I cross the Golden Gate Bridge, I remember the times I crossed the swinging foot bridge over the Sugar Fork River, at Cullasaja. Is it still there? And is the old Roller Mill still in Franklin? I can just taste some of those delicious biscuits, made out of what we called the "seconds' ! And who is the pretty "Betty" I saw on TV March 2? I haven't been back in North Carolina since I left in 1917. My name then was Ethel Stanfield, and I lived with my grandparents, Mr. and Mi's. John Washington Stanfield, near Prentiss. I'm homesick for Macon County, and I hope so much I can make a visit back there some time. In the meanwhile, the next best thing is The Franklin Press, so when I get back home in Portland, Oregon, I'm going to subscribe. MRS. ETHEL ALLEN Richmond, Calif. (EDITOR'S NOTE: The "beautiful girl named Betty" Mrs. Allen refers to apparently was Miss Betty Johnson, of Pos sum Walk, N. C., who appeared on the same Sullivan show as the Smoky Mountain Cloggers.) "Well, We're Rid Of The Fatcata Ooope!" aBS5 STRICTLY PERSONAL ? * By WEIMAR JONES The thing we Americans val ue most is success. Next to that, probably, is ed ucation. But there are almost as many definitions of those two terms as there are people. Happily, we've moved some what beyond the old idea that success could be measured by the number of dollars accumu lated. Unhappily, there is evi dence we've retrogressed in our conception of education. Today many of us are inclin ed to value education solely In terms of just two things: (a) whether and how much it helps us to earn a living; and (b) how closely it is related to technology ? how well it equips us to build and operate ma chines. In the course of a single day, recently, I ran across interest ing definitions of the two words. One was a yellowed clipping, the other was published in last week's newspapers. One came from a Kansas girl, the other from a North Carolina educa tor. But they have one thing in common; they measure val ues in terms of the individual and of the human spirit. A prize-winning piece written by the Kansas girl, I don't know how many years ago, defines success this way: "He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an im 'LI VIA G HALF A LIFE' WHAT CAN U. S. SAY IN FACE OF WORLD'S GREATEST DANGER? (EDITOR'S NOTE: The statement below, published by the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, was signed by Americans dis tinguished in almost every field ? science, business, lit erature, labor, agriculture. It comes on the Heels of a recent petition, which bore the sig natures of more than 9,0#? scientists from all over the world, urging the United Na tions to find a way to halt nuclear bomb tests because of their danger to health and the future of the human race. Indicating the varied back grounds of the signers of this latest statement are these names: Norman Cousins, ed itor of The Saturday Review; Dr. Ralph K. Lapp, eminent physicist and author; Murray D. Lincoln, president of Na tionwide Mutual Insurance Company; Brigadier General Hugh B. Heater, U. S. A., re tired; Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdiek, noted divine; Dr. Panl Doty, chairman of the Federation of Amerieam Scien tists; Lewis Mumford, author; Bho Roper, marketing con sultant and public opinion an alyst; and Dr. Peter A. Soro kin, professor of sociology at Harvard Uni verity.) We are facing a danger unlike any danger that has ever existed. In our possession find In the pos session of the Russians are more than enough nuclear explosives to put an end to the life of man on earth. The same propulsion device that can send a man-made statel llte into outer space can send a missile carrying a hydrogen bomb across the ocean in eighteen min utes. Meanwhile, our approach to the danger Is unequal to the danger. We have been living half a life. We have been developing our ap petites, but we have been starving our purposes. We have been con cerned with bigger Incomes, big ger television screens and bigger cars ? but not with the big Ideas on which our lives and freedoms depend. What the world expects of America Is not Just bigger and bet ter Intercontinental missiles and hydrogen, bombs. The world is looking to us for the ideas that can make this planet safe and fit for human habitation. Indeed, the test of a nation's right to survive today is measur ed not by the size of its bombs or the rang* of its missiles, but by the size and range of its concern for the human community as a whole. There can be no true security for America unless we can exert leadership In these terms, unless we become advocates of a grand design that is directed to the large cause of human destiny. There can be no true security for America unless we can estab lish and keep vital connections with the world's people, unless there Is some moral grandeur to our purposes, unless what we do is directed to the cause of human life and the free man. Just In front of ui opens a grand human adventure Into out er space. But within us and all around us Is the need to make this world whole before we set out for other ones. We can earn the right to explore other planet3 only as we keep this one from be coming an atomic furnace. There is much that America has said to the world. But the world Is still waiting for us to say and do the things that will In deed and in truth represent our great est strength. What are these things? First, As It Concerns The Peace, America Can Say: That we pledge ourselves to the cause of peace with justice on earth, and that there Is no sacri fice that we are not prepared to make, nothing we will not do to create such a Just peace for all peoples; That we are prepared to sup port the concept of a United Na tions authorized and empowered under law to prevent aggression, to enforce disarmament and to settle disputes among nations ac cording to principles of justice. Next, As It Concerns Nuclear Wea pons, America Can Say: That the earth is too small for Intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs and that the first order of business for the world is to bring both under con trol; That the development of satel lites or rocket stations and the exploration of outer space must be carried ?on In the Interests of the entire human community through a pooling of world science. As It Concerns Nuclear Testing. America Can Say: That because of the grave un answered questions with respect to nuclear test explosions ? espe cially as it concerns the contami nation of air and water and food and the Injury to man himself ? we are calling upon all nations to suspend such explosions at once; That no nation has the moral light to contaminate the air that belongs to all peoples, or to de vitalize the land, or to tamper with the genetic Integrity of man himself; That while the abolition of test ing will not by itself solve the problem of peace or the problem of armaments, it enables the world to eliminate immediately at least one real and specific danger. Also, that the abolition of testing gives us a place to begin on the larger question of armaments control, for the problems In monitoring such tests are relatively uncomplicated. As It Concerns Qur Connections To The Rest Of Mankind, Amer ica Can Say: That none of the differences separating the governments of the world are as Important as the membership of all peoples In the human family; That the big challenge of the age is to develop the concept of a higher loyalty ? loyalty by man to the human community; That the greatest era of human history on earth Is within reach of all mankind, that there is no area that cannot be made fertile or habitable, no disease that can not be fought, no scarcity that cannot be conquered; That all that is required for this is to re-dlrect our energies, re-discover our moral strength, re-define our purposes. i/iuvcu poppy, a periect poem, or a rescued soul; who has not lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express It; who has always looked for the best he had In himself; whose life has been an inspiration and whose memory is a benediction." The description of what an education does to a person came from 33-year old Dr. H. Earl Danieley, on his inauguration last week as president of Elon College, Christian Church insti tution in Piedmont Carolina. It makes, as well as anything I've ever read, the distinctions be tween the trivial and the im portant. Dr. Danieley said; "The liberally educated per son will have a considered sense of values. ... He will not only know how to read, but he will have established standards of excellence as to what to read. He will be able to recognize the difference between size and im portance, speed and progress, money and wealth, knowledge and wisdom, excitement and pleasure. He will know that man is worth more than things and that things are Important only as they serve mankind. He will be able to see both the forest and the trees, and seeing them will recognize that although the trees come and go, the for est remains." ? ? # It's an old story. But maybe It's so old it's like the styles that come in, go out, are for gotten, and when they repeat themselves seem brand new. Anyway, I think it's a good yarn: "What", asked the Sunday school teacher, "is a He?" Johnny, who had a quick answer, may have been a bit confused in his Scripture, but at least he proved he'd reflect ed on his experiences. "A lie", he said, "is an abom ination in the sight of the Lord ? but a very present help in time of trouble." 'WAKE UP, READ' Thoughts On Library Week By FRED DODGE TEXT: "Readin* maketh a full man." ? Francis Bacon. The businessman was raging. A book salesman had disturbed him. "You and your books," shouted the businessman. "I ? I ? I ? can't find words to say what I'm thinking!" "Ah," said the book salesman, "I can help you. I'm selling an English dictionary with all the words and slang phrases. Take it. You'll never be at a loss for words again." ? ? ? Perhaps the National Library Week slogan, "Wake Up and Read," should be phrased, "Read and Wake Up!" Reading has al ways awakened mankind. Readings' feeds us with ideas. We may em brace those ideas; we may chal lenge them, but reading opens the mind. It causes people to act. Cicero wrote this about read ing: "No mental employment is so broadening to the sympathies or so enlightening to the under standing. Reading gives stimulus to our youth and diversion to our old age: adds a charm to success, and offers a haven of consolation to failure. Through the night watches, on all our Journeyings and in our hours of ease, it is our unfailing companion." "He that loves reading." wrote William Godwin, "may possess himself of every species of wis dom to judge and power to per form." * Read and Wake Up! (Copyright, 1958, Fred Dodge) DO YOU REMEMBER? Looking Backward Through the Files of The Press TEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1893) Messrs. George and Erwin Patton returned home last Fri day from a two months' trip South with horses and mules. L. K. Moffitt's steam saw-mill burned Tuesday night of last week In Smith's Bridge Township. Messrs. Joseph Smart, L. C. McClure, Bill Macon, and John McDowell, of Macon County, were In WalhaDa, S. C., last week doing their season's trading. They are successful farm ers, and were attracted to Walhalla by the tobacco factory, to whom some of them have heretofore sold a lot of fine to bacco. ? ? 25 YEARS AGO (1933) Closed since March 8, when the nation-wide bank mora torium went Into effect, the Bank of Franklin re-opened Tuesday for payment of depositors, but not to accept new deposits. An official Chevrolet automobile agency has been estab lished In the Franks Building on East Main Street by a group of Cornelia, Ga , businessmen. W. C. Burrell, of Clayton, is sales manager. 10 TEARS AGO ' Approximately 1,100 persons heard the N. C. Little Sym phony Orchestra at Its appearances here Monday. Mrs. C. N. Dowdle and Mrs. G. X? Houk entertained with a bridge party and shower, honoring Miss Byrda Nell Southard, bride-elect of James Perry, at the home of Mrs. Houk last Thursday afternoon. The birds are a-slngln', frogs a-hollerin', grass a-growln', streams a-flowln', farmers a-plowlh', women a-cleanln' ? it's spring! ? From Gneiss news.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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March 20, 1958, edition 1
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