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JfrraitJdnt ??xtz $ aait ?J?e JJtgbhttths jKarxmian I? i claas mtU prtrilegM authorised at Franklin. N. O. Puol^ahed every Tbundaj by The Franklin Press Telephone 24 EstabHshad in 1U6 as The Franklin Press Member. N. C. Press Association. National Editorial Association, Cmrolinas Press Photographers Association. Charter member. National Conference of Weekly Newspaper Editors. THURS.. NOVEMBER 20. 1958 Revealing Sentence When it outlawed segregation in the public schools, was the Supreme Court following the time-honored legal practice of requiring a situation to conform to law, or was it stretching law to cover a situation? Was it simply stating what the law is, or was it making new law? Was it, that is, merely interpreting the Constitution, or was it re-writing By a vote of 36 to 8, the Association of State Supreme Court Chief Justices said the Court was legislating; Later, when U.. S. News & World Re port conducted a poll of all federal judges', the majority of those replying agreed that was true. More recently light was shed on the issue by a member of the Supreme Court itself. When the Court denied Little Rock's plea for an additional grace period, Justice Frankfurter handed down his own separate, but concurring, opinion. In that opinion is a single, incidental sen tence that is revealing. The fact that the sentence is incidental makes it doubly significant ; because all of us, high or low, no matter how honest we try to be, usually reveal our real feelings and thoughts and motives most accurately when we are least conscious we are re vealing them. After disposing of the legal questions, Justice Frankfurter turns briefly to the problems created by the Court's desegregation order, and concludes his comments on that with this sentence: ?"Only the constructive use of time will achieve ?what an advanced civilization demands and the Constitution confirms." Three things about that sentence are noteworthy. First, its arrangement ? the order in which two ideas are placed. Desegregation, Justice Frankfur ter says, is dictated by two things, the demands of "an advanced civilization" and the U. S. Constitu tion. Was it by accident that he put what "an ad vanced civilization demands" in first place, and re legated what the Constitution says to second? Hardly! because he gives secondary emphasis to the Constitution in another way, by the relative strength of the verbs in the two clauses. He says an advanced civilization "demands" ? a very strong (word; but when he refers to the Constitution, he uses a much weaker word; the Constitution merely "confirms". Finally, why did he choose that word "confirms"? "The term suggests adding evidence to support a decision already made. Earlier in the opinion, when lie was talking about law, he was careful to say nthe Constitution "commands" desegregation. Why did he not use that strong word again? Was it that Justice Frankfurter, off his guard while discussing a non-legal aspect of the situation, unconsciously said what he really meant? Progressive Step That's a progressive step the Town of Franklin has taken in arranging for a free parking lot just south of the First Baptist Church. And the com munity is indebted to Joseph Ashear, H. L. Bryant, and the church for generously making the area available for the purpose. The aldermen most active on the project were Prelo Dryman and William (Bill) Bryant. The lot is a reality because those two .stubbornly refused to let difficulties stop them. It is estimated the lot will take care of 100 auto mobiles. How much it will help to relieve the up town traffic situation is suggested by comparing that figure with another one: Along the north side of Main Street, all the way from Belk's to the Nantahala Power and Light, Company, there arc only 28 parking meters. The new lot, that is, will provide space for about four times as many cars as can park on one side of uptown Main Street. ' For the best use of the space, it will be neces aary to lay out and mark off the new lot, and it is to be hoped the town will go ahead and spend whatever additional that may cost. This one lot, of course, will not solve the .situa tion; but it and two or three more would go a long way toward solving it. And we are sure the town will consider this only a first, not the fin^l, step. Town authorities, in fact, it is understood, are Winged Victory :thisaway?^? hopeful of working out an arrangement for use of the Howard Stewart lot, just off Palmer Street. Strange Doctrine That is strange doctrine that came out of last weekrs State Baptist Convention. "There is no such thing as absolute separation of church and state", reported the convention's Committee of 25 ; hence the only problem is how to .keep both church and state free as they work together. Specifically, the committee recommend ed careful scrutiny of federal aid accepted by the church. That report was adopted by overwhelming votfe, apparently with little debate. . What the Baptists do is their business, of course. But surely it is the business of a newspaper to point out change. And this represents change. For that would have been strange doctrine, a few years ago, coming from any Protestant denomination; it would have been strangest of all, coming" from the freedom-loving, independent Baptists, with their historic emphasis on separation of church and state. It wouldn't have berti much more incredible, in fact, a decade ago, had the Baptists taken the stand that there is no absolute separation of right eousness and sin, so the "realistic" approach is to accept sin, but to make sure it is controlled. As recently as 1950, the Baptists did not face this problem of reconciling the principle of separa tion of church and state with the practice of work ing together. That year they rejected $700,000 in federal funds for the Baptist Hospital, choosing, instead, to raise the money themselves. For other churches, as \ve!l as the Baptists, the new problem prows out of a new practice, accept ing federal tax money for church purposes. ... And Reindeer, Too What would Santa Claus be without reindeer! Well, there i* a Santa Claus;. and this Christmas, there are to be reindeer, too ? real ,live reindeer. Appropriately, this reindeer-proof ("Of course there is a Santa! look! there are his reindeer!") ? appropriately, this reindeer-proof of the reality of Santa Claus comes from the youngest "child" in the "family". Alaska, the 49th state, is sending 10 reindeer to Washington, D. C., as a Christmas gift to her 48 older, and therefore more skeptical, sisters. They'll be seen there December 23, in the Christmas Pageant of Peace (and later go to the National Zoological Park). And the way the reindeer will reach the nation's capital is in keeping with the spirit of the gift. The Alaska Steamship Lines will pick up the reindeer at Seward, Alaska, and ship thein to Seattle ? for free. There a motor freight company will be wait ing to transport them to Washington ? without charge. What better investment could they make in bringing joy to the hearts of thousands of youngsters ! Definition : Prejudiced? what's wrong with the fellow who disagrees with us. STRICTLY PERSONAL waMa jonh Did you ever try to clean up the attic? Well. It you ha vent, take my advice and don't! It'i an In terminable Job. Like so many jobs around the house that we keep putting off, I'd been putting this one off ever since we moved Into our present home. At that time, we moved from a big house Into a little one; so there were a lot of things we had to store In the attic because there was no other place to put them. And for a dozen years since, we've been putting things away up there In the attic,, sticking them into any available crack between all the boxes and the old suitcases and the discarded pieces of furniture. A dozen times Mrs. Jones has threatened to clean up that attic, but each time I've dissuaded her; give me time, and I'd do it ? and besides, she'd be sure to thro* away something I wanted. Well, one day last summer my conscience got after me on a day when I didn't have anything par ticular to do, and so I climbed the steps to clean that attic. I was taken aback by what I saw. I had been there many times before, but, somehow. I'd never really seen the situation. It look ed like a hopeless mess. With my usual optimism, though. I told myself all I had to do waS set to work; I'd have it ship-shape by noon. That was a morning early last summer, and it still isn't ship shape; for somehow, each time I go up there, my enthusiasm is less keen. I first set out to throw away. I opened an attic window, took out the screen, and started toss ing things through" that window. But it wasn't an hour till I found Anniversary In Budapest (New York Times) It is two years since that tragic morning in 1956 when the Soviet Army struck treacherously and mercilessly In the streets of Budapest to crush the Hungarian people's fight for free dom. The passage of time has not dimmed our admiration for the patriots who fought so bravely, with the crudest of weapons, against Soviet tanks, guns and planes. Nor has the passage of time lessened our regret that this brazen violation of the tTnlted Nations Charter ? and of the most elementary principles of decent conduct among nations ? has in no way been dealt with effectively, either by the United Nations Itself or by the nations of the free world. Only a feto months ago the usurpers who rule in Budapest behind a shield of Russian bayonets added further to the human toll by executing the last legal Premier of Hungary, Imre Nagy, a step which could only then and can only now b? regarded as an act of Barbarism and a confession of fear about the future. Inside Hungary, we may be certain, bitter ness and resentment exist on ,a wide scale, even If their open expression is inhibited by vivid realization of the swift and terrible punishment that awaits any who speak out. It is to the United Nations that the civilized world stlll'looks for some effective gesture that will show the Hungarian people they are not alone. The General Assembly still harbors delegates who represent only the Kadar group and its Krem lin masters, not the Hungarian people. So long as this situ ation continues, the moral authority of the United Nations is undermined, for it means that the organization is unwill ing to take even the most elementary action required to back up condemnation of the Soviet crimes in Hungary. That elem entary action is a vote to reject the "credentials" of those whose papers are really signed In the blood of the patriots who died at the hands of the Soviet Army two years ago. Letters Ejection Thoughts Editor, The Press: The Republican Party is trying to dig its way out of the election landslide; they're scratching their heads and saying, ?what's happened? Well, several things. For one, the fixed bayonets at Little Rock may have had its affect the length and breadth of this nation. The recession has played its part, even though it was short. People like to be promised something. Have you ever promised a little child candy If it would stop crying and notice how quickly it stops? Well, grown people are that way, too. People are afraid of recessions and depressions, and the party that can promise the most Jobs and best wages Is almost sure of being elected, for the grocery bill for one hundred and seventy million people would run pretty high in a week. My guess is that the working man and woman worry more about getting and keeping their jobs than anything else. Be cause they know their Jobs are the bread of life. We are no longer living in horse and buggy days; people are looking for and expecting a more modern way of life at all costs. Where will we go from here? It could be war, depression, inflation, or prosperity. HERMAN WILSON. myself going down to retrieve something: That old coat, many years out of style, was much too good to throw away; or that old chair leg might come in handy, one of these days, repairing something; or that old hat from the Franklin Centennial obser vance ? where would I get an other one. In case of a similar observance? I'd better save It. And all those old suitcases; who knows when there'll be another depression and we might be glad to have 'em? It was not things like that, though, that proved my real Waterloo. It was when I came to the boxes and boxes of. letters and records and clippings I'd saved over the years. Now that is something that really takes time. "Why. here's a letter from Aunt Jane! I'd forgotten all about her. A long letter. I'll have to read this." "And here's one of the chil dren's report cards. Pretty good grades. Wonder if I took the trouble to say so at the time? ? Have to save that; the grand children might like to have it." "And here's a short story I wrote when I was 15. Golly! but I was flowery in those days. Let's see. now. how did I end it?" Throw all these things away? Well, yes, of course, most of them. But I wouldn't dare* throw 'em a'vay without looking at them. There's sure to be something I want to keep. And so I laboriously go through a bundle of these dusty old papers, sorting. "This pile I'll throw away; these I'll keep"-. And by golly! first thing I knew, the "keep" pile is bigger than the "throw away" pile. And now they aren't neatly tied up in a bundle as they were when I started. The ir.fts is really worse than it was when I began. And so . . . shall I open the next bundle. No: it's too near din nertime, I'll wait and start on those tomorrow. Clean up your attic? I strongly advise against it. Because already HE PAYS TOLL FOR 1-TON VESSEL Capt. Robert P. Legge, 53-year old Navy surgeon, set a record for the Atlantic to Pacific swim of the Panama Canal ? after pay ing a toll of 72 cents, the mini mum for a one-ton vessel in bal last. Records indicated Captain Legge's time of 21 hours 54 min utes is the fastest. He also is the oldest person to swim the length of the canal. ? A. MA. News. THE BURNT ADULT DREADS FIREWORKS It's hard for young (oik, who love the noise of popping fire crackers, to understand the seem ing stupidity of older folk in ob jecting to these fun producers. But enough older folk have been victims of pyrotechnic accidents to know their danger. Police vigilance In enforcing the anti pyrotechnic law of the state Is in order. ? Kings Mountain Herald. I find myself frantically looking for things I wanted to keep, but that I'm terribly afraid I've thrown away. Happily, folk who have been married In recent years won't have this frustrating experience And for the very good reason that most of today's houses. I've noticed, not only have no front porches, bu(. also are attic-less. What, I wonder, do these young people do with the stuff we've always put in the attic? Obvious ly, there is but one thing they can- do with It ? throw It away. And that leads me to a couple of speculations: First, is there some relation ship between two modern archi tectural phenomena? New houses have neither front porches nor attics. Is there something about modern living that at the same time denies people the time to sit on front porches and gives them the will power ? or the indiffer ence ? to throw things away? The other speculation has to do with the future. Every history and biography you or I read is filled with illusions to information the author got from old letters; letters not ten years old, but a hundred or two hundred. How in the world is the biographer and historian of the' future going to get those Intimate little touches nothing but old letters can give, when people nowadays don't keep a letter beyond day after tomorrow? I like this little poem, which appeared many years ago in Good Housekeeping. It's by Minnie Case Hopkins. WINDS I have not seen the wind But I have seen a rose Burst into crimson rapture When a south wind blows. I have not seen the wind But when the sun-kissed air Is full of flying leaves, like bird?, I know a wind is there. I have not seen the wind, But this, I know, must be : When waves, like horses, leap and run, A wind is on the sea. I have not seen God's face But I have seen a clod Become a reaching soul, because It felt the breath of God. UNCLE ALEX'S SAYIN'S Yon can always tell a r'allr big man ? he ain't stuck on himself. Lot o' times, when a woman says somethln', her man ain't just shore what she means. But she knows what he means afore he ever opens his month. Feller that ain't cot no man ners ain't cot none fer one of two reasons: Either he's to* Ignorant to know how to be peril te; or he's job?keered ? afraid if he acts like a decent human being, folksll see how much too little he is fer his Job. DO YOU REMEMBER? Looking Backward Through the Files of The Press 65 TEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1893) The young people enjoyed a sociable at Mrs. V. A. Crawford's Friday evening. Macon County mica won a medal at the World's Fair. The Franklin High School opened last week with between twenty-five and thirty pupils. v Married Sunday, November 18th, at the residence of Mr. B. H. Franks, the bride's father, Mr. D. L. Garland to Miss Minnie Franks. 25 YEARS AGO (1933) Beneficent rain, a heavy downpour of it, came Tuesday night, blotting out a raging forest fire which was fast sweep ing over the Cowees into Macon County. Jobs for 260 men have been made available in Macon County by projects already started or soon to be undertaken with the aid of funds provided by the Civil Works Administration, the most recently created branch of President Roosevelt's enor mous national recovery organization. 10 YEARS ago All grazing of domestic livestock on the Standing Indian wildlife management area will be prohibited after December 31. it was announced here this week. The ruling was made by the Atlanta office of the U. S. Forest Service. Miss Maxlne Talley Monday was elected president of the newly organized local chapter of the national Beta Club. ? service leadership organization for high school students.? Highlands item. SPREADING POISON What Else Do We Kill When We Kill The Bugs? Nobody Knovys One of the growing businesses today Is spreading poison. It Is done by planes and helicopters. It Is done by big spraying and dust ing machines spewing forth great clouds drifting with the winds. No one knows if the many millions of pounds of poisons cast upon the land are doing more harm than good. And no regulations, beyond those restricting spray residues In food, control this mass poison ing. Maybe th? killing of mosqui toes. gypsy moths, spruce bud worms, fire ants and other pests outweighs the damage done by these poisons. But no one knows what the damage may be. We know fish and birds are often killed. We know that the pests themselves develop Immunity to the poisons, again forcing the use of larger quantities. But we do not have the slight est knowledge of whether these poisons are building up year after year In the soil, In our wild life. In our domestic animals and In ourselves, to present us some time with a catastrophe we did not foresee. This Is Inexcusable public Ig norance. to permit the mass spreading of poison with no cal culation of the dangers. Last year SO planes spread 1, S00 tons of DDT and fuel oil over 3.000.000 acres of public and pri vate lands In Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. In woods and swamps It killed a variety of wildlife, from fishes to damsel files and frogs. It fell on gardens to contaminate food. It Introduced an unwelcome substance to those "organic" farms operated on the theory that crops and animals should be raised without "chem cals." It left DDT in milk. This year 20.000.000 acres in the South are being sprayed with dleldrln to control the fire ant with the same lack of adequate understanding of the possible side effects. In Massachusetts we have sev eral agencies spraying and dust ing without any correlation, so that areas dusted for mosquito control may be again dusted for gypsy moth or greenhead fly. All this should be stopped until Boston Herald, we know what we are about. We should know all the effects of the poisons on the pests we are at tacking. We should not rest there, either, but go on to develop meth ods of concentrating our attack so that only the pest suffers. Francis W. Sargent, the state natural resources commissioner, has recognized the problem, and has called on Senators Saltonstall and Kennedy to pres? for a fed eral research. Mr. Sargent also urges state legislation to control and regulate all spraying and dusting, both public and private, and plans a meeting of all Inter ested persons to consider such a meaure. We need such a public awaken ing to the problem.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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Nov. 20, 1958, edition 1
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