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{[he Jfrnnklht ^rrss nttit Ckc 3it9blatti?s ^fRnmiuau Second elm mall privileges authorised at Franklin. N. G. Puollsned every Thursday by The Franklin Press Telephone 24 J Established <n 1886 as The Franklin Press Member N. C. Press Association, National Editorial Association. Cmrolinas Press Photographers Association. Charter member, National Conference of Weekly Newspaper Editors. THl'RSDAY, SEPT. 11. 1958 3 Ways Not To Solve It There probably isn't any one, single, easy solu tion of Franklin's downtown traffic problem. Cer tainly, this newspaper has no pat answer. Sometimes, though, the best way to think through to what to do is to list what not to do. And for what they're worth, we suggest three good ways how not to solve this problem. 1. To assume ? as all of us would like to assume, when we face a tough problem ? that if wfe just ignore it, maybe it will go away. It won't go away. Barring some miracle like a helicopter attached to the seat of the pants, it will get worse, not better. 2. To rely .solely on parking meters. At best, meters keep parkers from dilly-dallying; they make a car move, after a Space of time, to make room for another car. But you still have t\vo cars? and just the one parking space. As a matter of fact, parking meters aren't as effective as they're sup posed to be in keeping traffic moving; because, aside from the all-day parkers, most of us stay as long as our business requires. If we ,put in a nickel and don't finish our business in an hour, do we go move our car? No, we go back to the meter and put in another nickel, or maybe a couple of pennies. The car stays right where it would have stayed if there had been no meter there. 3. To think traffic policemen at busy intersec tions is the whole answer. Because a policeman is more intelligent than a traffic light, and isn't con trolled by a time-clock, he can often speed up traf fic. But he does nothing to reduce the amount of traffic; no matter how fast they move, there are still the same number of cars ? and still not enough places for them to go. These are excellent ways not to solve the prob lem. And until we recognize that they are, at best, pain-Jcillers, not cures, we won't even start to look seriously for a genuine solution. What Does South Think? What is the viewpoint of the South on integra tion, and specifically on the Little Rock crisis? In a recent article (reprinted at the bottom of this page). The Christian Science Monitor sought to answer that question. The Monitor, published in Boston, is recognized as one of the nation's finest newspapers. And while it is, and long has been, pro-integration, it has been obvious to any reader that it has tried to be fair; nor has it closed its eyes to the problems facing the South. Here, then, is an honest, sympathetic attempt by a .Northern newspaper to tell its read ers what the South thinks. How good a job does it do. We'd say, a poor job. We'd cite as evidence, first of all, the Monitor's comment that it is the South speaking at Little Rock, and the voice is that of Arkansas' Governor ? Faubus. Well, maybe ; but there are a lot of South erns who are honestly convinced that segregation is the lesser of two evils, but who never would choose Orval Faubus as their spokesman. Then the Monitor makes the point that it is of "the white South" that it speaks, implying that opinion may be .segregated bv race. That is de batable; in any case, integration is opposed, at least at this time, by many Southern Negroes. How many, nobody knows; but any honest Negro in tegrationist will be quick to say there are too many, from his viewpoint. Lastly, and chiefly, we think the Monitor has done a poor job because what it undertook was an impossible task. It is impossible because there ii no one Southern viewpoint on integration. Kven in "the white South", there is a wide variety of viewpoints. There is, first of all, a considerable number of Southern integrationists ? as segregation leaders bitterly complain. There is another group that doubts the wisdom of integration, but feels the * Sooth should obey the Supreme Court's decree. There are, of course, the segregationists, rabid and mild. And there are those who have no fixed, final convictions. ' ? Finally, the Boston newspaper virtually ignores a viewpoint that cuts across segregation-integration lines. For there are thousands in the South wfio either do not oppose a little integration, or \yho ac cept it as inevitable, but who strongly oppose the way it is sought to be brought about. Plain citizens, many of them are inarticulate about it. But talk to them long enough, and you'll i Valley Of Humility find, under the surface, a conviction that legally enforced integration, like prohibition, is both un wise and doomed to failure. Thorough realists, they see effects ; and they see the chief effect, to date, as a worsening, rather than improvement, of race relations. And still farther down in the sub-conscious is a fear. They are unversed in the details of constitu tionalism, and they may never have even heard the phrase, "consent of the governed". But there is a vague feeling that something is wrong when nine men, not elected but appointed for life, suddenly reverse what long has been acknowledged as the law. There is nothing vague, however, about their feeling that something is wrong, sorely \<'rong, when children face bayonets as they enter school. They probably could not put it into words, but in the back of their minds is the belief that the violation of the Constitution started at the top ; that way, they fear, everybody's freedom is en dangered. And there is the half-formed thought that maybe the first thing to do is to go back to law as^a principle, not merely as a means to an end. That viewpoint, of course, js not confined to the South. It has been publicly expressed recently In state supreme court justices, in duly adopted reso lution; by such a revered jurist as Judge Learned Hand; and by many others. ' J r Why is it chiefly in the South that it is provok ing resistance? One obvious answer is that it is in the South that customs are most directly affected. A less obvious but possibly equally important answer is that the South, traditionally, has been the region most conscious of history and ,most in terested in the basic principles of government. There is a bigger fool than the fellow who knows it all; It's the fellow who will argue with him. ? Tarheel Banker. Strictly Personal By WEIMAR JONES You've heard of puppies that get attached to old shoes, and of men who get attached to old hats. Well. I'm attached to an old car I suppose It's nice to be able to buy a brand new automobile every year. I suppose so; but I can only suppose, because I've never been able to do it. I can't afford a new car every two years, or every three even. I can't. And I'm glad. Don't misunderstand me; I'd like to have more money. And undoubtedly I'd be like everybody else, when they get in a big. fine new car: I'd strut sitting down. Moreover, if I had more money. I probably would have no better sense than to buy a new car every time the models changed. And what would I get? I'd get slavery. I'd be a slave, first of all. be cause I'd live in fear and trem bling I might not have the money to make the monthly payments. Worse. I'd be a slave because I'd live in constant dread of what might happen to the car. You know how it is. Let a man get a little dent In his new fender, and he's like a child whose bal loon has Just burst. And so he drives with the utmost caution: he looks daggers' at anybody who tries to park near him. and loses his temper if they so much as graze him; he won't let his wife drive the new car. and if he does, he worries every minute till she gets back home. As long as that automobile is new and shiny and undented, he's miserable. But me, in my 1950 Plymouth ? I'm happy. , Suppose somebody does dent a fender. I don't worry. (Not even if I do it myselflt Because it's dented already. What's one more dent in a beat up old jalopy? Those Confusing Signal Lights (Berthoud, Colo., Bulletin) It used to be said that when a woman stuck her arm out to signal you could be sure of one thing ? she was going to do something. But take these new signal lights ? you can't be sure of anything. Going down the highway or street you may find yourself behind a vehicle that has the turn signal on; if it is indicat ing a left turn you stay behind waiting for the car to reach the intersection ? instead, it keeps right on. After one mile you begin to wonder just where the intersection is. After another mile the steam begins to build up inside your car. Another mile and you don't give a hang and go around. Letters 'Let South Be South' Dear Mr. Jones: In reference to youi article on the editorial page of the August 28 Press. I would like to say that it surely does sound as if it was from a man that certainly is mixed up. What do you mean by "face saving"?! If people would just let the South be South, things would be fine. In the state of California, everyone goes to school together and it works out, but it will never change in the South like that. Not over night, anyway! I've lived with Negroes for the last 18 months and didn't start a war about it, but let me tell you that it would have never been that way In school. It's all too silly to fight about. You know what the great South feels; maybe it's right, maybe not, but I think If the politic ians Would shut up for a while and let the people do what they want, It would surely be better. I was In the T. V. lounge of our squadron when all the Southern governors discussed these same topics and all the men were inclined to agree that the South should stay like it isj even the Negro airmen. As for the children having to go to school, I'll bet my next year's pay that no law except the National Guard could make the schools safe If they were mixed in Macon County. We have too good of an understanding between the races of the county to disturb them. Let the people run the schools the way they want to. After all, who pays the taxes? BOBBY STEVENS, A/2c U S AF. . Port Hueneme, calif. Christian Science Monitor Seeks To State Viewpoint Of South On Little Rock Crisis (EDITOR'S NOTE: What Is the Southern viewpoint on Inte gration? In the article below. The Christian Science Monitor, a treat newspaper, attempts to answer that question for Its readers. The article is riven par ticular timeliness bj the fact the V. S. Supreme Court Is expected to rule today In the Little Rock case. See also edi torial. "What i Does South Think?") By BICKNELL EUBANKS It Is the South ? the white South; ? which Is speaking to the rest of the United States and the world through Little Rock. It Is a troubled volcg which warns that the forced Integration of Southern public schools can lead' to serious disorders. And the same voice Insists that for the federal courts to demand such a step against the will of Southern whites will result in more of the overt acts wnich already have damaged educational (tandards In Little Reek and will continue to do so elsewhere "If relief Is not granted." This relief Is sought In the form Bf a period of grace In which tempers can cool, emotions can subside, and perhaps In some cases, at least the fringe areas of the Deep Soutn can see the in- < evitabllity of integration in public schools and prepare Itself to take i such a step. i The voice is that of Gov. Orval 1 Faubus of Arkansas. The state- ! menus he uttered In addressing a special session of the Arkansas Legislature represent the feelings of white Southerners. It is an at titude strengthened here In Ark ansas by the big victory of the Governor when he carried all 75 counties In the recent state Dem ocratic primary. Oovernor Faubus sought to pin point the problem in his hour long address to the joint session of the Legislature. He used the very language of the. United States Eighth Circuit Court of 1 Appeals In St. Louis, which set ' aside a stay of 2'i years granted 1 by federal District Judge Harry 1 I. Lemley of Hope, Ark. 1 Although the appeals court re- ! versed the stay ? a reversal which 1 has thrown the issue squarely ' Into the hands of the Supreme Court of the United States ? the opinion, as quoted by Mr. Faubus. said in part that "It Is Important i to realize, as is shown by the i evidence, that the racial incidents I and vandalism which occurred I In Central High School during i the past year did not stem from mere lawlessness on the part of the white students In the school, or on the part of the people of Little Rock on the outside of the school, nor did they stem from any malevolent desire on the part of the students or others con cerned to bomb the school, or to b\irn It down, or to Injure or persecute as Individuals the nine Negro students in the school. "Rather, the source of the trouble was the deep-seated pop ular opposition in Little Rock to the principle of integration, which, as is known, runs counter to the pattern of Southern life which has existed for over 300 years." The Governor sought ( and received from the Arkansas Legis lature) sweeping powers to close any schools. Including Central High School, where it appears that integration under federal orders would touch off disorders or disrupt, in his opinion, normal administrative and education pro cesses of schools which are oc cupied or surrounded by federal troops or federal marshals sent In to enforce Integration decrees. Other measures, of sweeping significance and Importance, are designed to give the state a firmer kulwark against what it considers Federal encroachment on the rights of state* to control the education of children In public schools. Each one of the bills. Incident ally. carries an emergency section which says. In part, that "a large majority of the people of this state are opposed to the forcible Integration of. or mixing of the races In. the public schools of the state." It adds that "practically all of the people . . . are opposed to the use of federal troops in aid of such Integration." One bill calls for a type of legislation not yet tried by South ern states In the fight to preserve segregation. It would provide a "choice of classes for students" who did not want to be in Inte grated classes and would provide penalties for Interference with a student's choice of classes. This bill, incidentally, declares that since the Supreme Court "predicated its school-Integration decision upon the psychological effect of segregated classes upon children of the Negro race. and. at the same time Ignored the psychological Impact of Integrated schools upon certain white chil dren who observe segregation of the races as a way of life." such legislation "is necessary in ort'er to protect the health, welfare, well-being, and educational op portunities for such white chil dren." (I do have to take It to the shop, of course, when I dent It badly enough that the front wheels won't turn: but straightening my fender Is no major operation: "Just knock it out enough so the wheel won't scrape. Looks? Why it couldn't look any worse ") And suppose somebody does scrape the paint off: "That's perfectly all right: there aren't many places where there is any paint left, anyhow." I don't glare at everybody who parks next to me: I smile at em. Nor do I worry about that bad road I want to tackle, or that mud puddle I have to go through, or those limbs on a wooded road scraping against the sides. I love that old car. Because with it. I have a freedom not even mentioned in the Bill of Rights: I'm automobile-free ! PROBING QUESTION'S How Tolerant Should We Be? Ill another town. I recently sat in on a discussion of religion. The speaker commented that most of us are narrow and intolerant about othrr faiths. That, he said, is especially true of Americans, particularly true of Protestants, and notaoly true of rural and small town Protestants. All of is should recognize, he added, that there is good in every faith) that In essential points, indeed, most religions are very much alike. Then he suggested we should stop trying to convert the world to our religion, and should move, instead, toward the creation of a single, world relig ion, a faith combining the best points of all religions. Our narrowness, he thought, stems from evangelical fervor: hence we should get rid of the fervor by all means, and probably the evangelism as well. Those remarks, of course, pre cipitated some discussion ? some probing questions from members of his audience. The first question went some thing like this: Intolerance is a vice: we al! deplore it. But let's be realistic about the situation in the world as it Is today. The West is en gaged in a life-and-death struggle with Communism: and our West ern civilization is based on Chris tianity. Suppose we lose our re ligious fervor, in order to become broadly tolerant. Won't we then lose faith in the very principles on which our civilization rests? And if we do that, how can ws compete with a Communism ? based on wholly different prin ciples ? that is not tolerant, but fanatical? Question No. 2: Have you ever 'Coot. Back Page. First Section) UN1LE ALEX'S SAYIN'S Folks is supposed to dress for two things, comfort and looks. Well, all I've sot to say about some of these summer git-ups is, I shore hope they're com fortable. Uncle Sam's about the only feller in the world that makes his own rules. Take, f'instance, the money-bo rry in' rule. When he come to the end of his rope the other day, and the law said he couldn't borry any more, why he just up and changed the law. Now If that'd been you or me, the bank would 've made the rules ? if the old woman didn't lay down the law first. DO YOU REMEMBER? Looking Backward Through the Files of The Press 65 TEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1893) Misses Sallie Stallcup and Pearl Leach have returned from a visit to friends in Jackson County. There are 36 business enterprises in Franklin, but only seven advertise in The Press, and yet some men look for progress. Misses Belle Rogers and Allie Caler, two of Franklin's winsome lassies, enlivened our sanctum for a short while Sat urday. 25 YEARS AGO (1933) Twenty-one Macon County pupils passed the seventh grade examination and are eligible to enter the Franklin High School. Work started Tuesday finishing the surface of the first 10 miles of Highway No. 28 west of Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Henry, of Ellijay, announce the marri age of their daughter. Miss Ruby Henry, to Leslie Young, also of Ellijay. 10 YEARS AGO Authorities have rented space over Doyle's self-service gro cery to be used as an additional schoolroom this year. ? High lands item. Bob Myers was elected president of the Methodist Youth Fellowship sub-district at a meeting Monday evening at Snow HU1 Church. ? , Thomas H. Johnson, chairman of the Macon County Demo cratic executive committee, Clerk of Court J. Clinton Brook Jhire, Register of Deeds Lake V. Shope, Lester Waldroop, Taylor Crockett, C. Gordon Moore, and Alex Arnold attended the Democrats' barbecue at Sky Brook Farm, Henderson County, Saturday. ' t v Science for You By BOB BROWN PROBLEM: Pour "nothing" out of a pitcher, and extinguish candle flame NEEDED: Candle, pitcher, dry Ice. i DO THIS: Place dry Ice In pitcher, and cover with a card. After dry Ice disappears, pour the Invisible contents of the pitcher over the candle flame as shown. The flame goes out. HERE'S WHY: Dry Ice Is carbon dioxide In solid form. When It disappears, the carbon dioxide gas, which Is .heavier than air yet Invisible, fills the pitcher. When poured on the flame It pushes away the oxygen necessary for the burning of the candle, and the flame Is smothered out. The carbon dioxide can be allowed to accumulate In a tank as shown, and may be dipped out like water. Use slow motion In the dipping. WARNING: Do not handle dry Ice with finger*. Copy. '58 Oen'l Features Corp. TM-World Rights Resvd.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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Sept. 11, 1958, edition 1
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