Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / June 16, 1960, edition 1 / Page 2
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and Shf Higljlante JHarmtian WEIMAIi JONES Editorial Page Editor IF PEOPLE VOTE It Won't Be Dr. Lake Most North Carolinians probably agree with most of what Dr. f. Beverly Lake, candidate for governor, says about racial problems. Most of them probably are convinced that the U. S. Supreme Court, in it.s 1954 decisions, exceed1 ed its authority to interpret the law and usurped authority to make law. Most of them probably feel that integration ? at this time, at least ? is unde sirable, for both races; that, to date, it has bene fitted almost nobody but has created vast new , problems for almost everybody. Many probably would go a step farther and say that North Caro lina's own Pearsall law, since its purpose obvious ly is not to bring about integration but to keep it to the barest minimum, is hypocritical ; and that its approval, by a Court under fire, is even more hyprocritical. But however much they may agree with Dr. Lake's views, most voters are opposed to Dr. Lake for governor, and will vote against him in nepct week's second primary ; they will, whatever their attitude toward his opponent, Mr. Terry Sanford. This state's whole history points to that conclu sion. For North Carolinians are a middle-of-the road, , practical, down to earth sort. As middle-of-the roaders, they almost never have follovved an ex tremist ? even an extremist who expressed their own beliefs. As practical realists, they are sure to ask not only how Dr.. Lake, as governor, could im prove the situation; they are sure to ask. too: "Might not his nomination and election serve as a challenge to groups like the N.A.A.CP. to file in tegration suits in Macon and every other North Carolina county?" Finally, as down to earth folk, they have a wisdom about this problem the jus tices of the Supreme Court apparently did not pos sess. Having lived with the problem a- long time, the average Tar Heel, white and black, i.s wise enough to know it cannot be finally solved by logic alone or law alone. He .knows? because he has proved it, over a period of decades ? that great progress is possible under conditions and laws far from ideal. On the other hand, the past six years have shown that relations between the races can seriously worsen under what was intended to be a better law. He knows, in short, that neither the laws nor the -conditions are likely ever to be ideal. He must make-do, as he has in the past, with laws and con ditions as they are. It's a human problem, so any final solution must come not chiefly from the head, but from the heart. Last, but. fa r from least, be senses that there has been too much talk about this thing. Kvery time it is stirred tyv, it gets worse. What is needed now is time ? yes, and quiet. A vote against Dr. Lake is a vote for that heal ing quiet. That is why Dr. Lake is not the choice of most .North. Carolinians. If enough of them vote, he will not be the nominee. Abandoned? What ever happened to the proposed sale by Nantahala Power and Light Company of its dis tribution facilities to Duke Power Company? We suspect the deal is off. Here is why. It has been nine months since public announce ment was made of the proposed sale. But, after nine months, no application has been filed with the State Utilities Cominis.sion for approval of the deal. Suppose the application were filed now. ' Could these well organized corporations offer convincing evidence that it took them nine months to prepare an application? 'And, failing that, wouldn't they be in the position of having deliberately waited to act until public opposition had died down? In that position, they'd have one, maybe two, strikes against them in ap pearing before the Utilities Commission. They'd have two, maybe three, against them in the court of public opinion. Nobody has told us so, but we suspect the pro- ( posal has been quietly abandoned. J THEWORLO 4 EROSION (9 EVEBYBOOV3 (*SMY/ IT BO0S THE FARMED OF FERTILE ?SOIL IT FILL'S ONCE CLEAR UKE5 MO STREAMS WITH SUFFOCATING SILT- IT CREATES DANsecous gullies AND PAVINES THROUGH WHICH FLOOO WATERS RUSH TO LANDS BELOW EFFECTIVE WEAPON ASAINST EROSION/ WHEN A FOREST B'JBNS, THERE ARE NO LEAVES TO BREAK. THE FALL OF PAIN AND NO BOOTS TO HOLD THE SOIL. THC RJREST FLOOR, or <3GOUND cover is also destroyep-anopen INVITATION TO EROSION/ A WELL MANASEP FOREST PROTECTS THE SOIL FROM EROSION AND AID IN MATES RETENTION -IT ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOROUTPCOG REOSXHOI GAME HABITAT AND A SOURCE OF CONTINUAL INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT. OUR FOREST5 ARE OUR ONLY RENEWABLE RESOURCE. PROTECT THE*}/ Those Census Figures New and disturbing light is cast on Macon Coun ty's population loss by another fact: During the last 10 years, more people were born here than died. The county totals for the period 1950 to 1960, as compiled by the State Hoard of Health, are : Excess of births over deaths 2,190 That is, if nobody had moved into the county in the 10-year period and nobody had moved out, the population would have increased by 2,190. Instead, this year's census showed a population loss of 1, It is the two figures together that tell the real story. We had more births than deaths, but instead of showing a corresponding gain in population, we showed a loss. That suggests a- problem in addi tion : Excess of births over deaths 2,190 Population loss 1,327 Total number exported 3,517 Between 1950 and 1960, this county's. n<;t export of human beings was 3,517. That represents more than a fifth of the entire population ten years ago! Births Deaths 3,332 1,142 327. How Is Important, Too Letters to the editor that express viewpoints dif ferent from his are always welcomed by The Press, and the one from Mrs. K. F. Hirnton that appears on this page is no exception. It could he that American churches are riddled with Communism, as she seems to believe. That is a matter of opinion : and we'd be the first to in sist that she is entitled to hers. Her letter, though, reminds us of something we all need to remember ? but seem prone to forget: What we think is no more important than how we think ? how we arrive at our conclusions. That seems to continue particularly true on this question of who is and who is not a Communist. In trying to decide that, here are some points that seem worth keeping in mind: First, the fact that we disagree with the views or policies of a man or an organization does not iHl'essarilv make him or it Communistic. Many of us disagree with the National Council of Churches, but then many of us disagree with the Roman Catholic Church. It docs not follow that either is Communistic. Second, the mere fact that a man or an organi zation has been called Communist does not make him or it a tool of Moscow. Nor does the promi nence of the name-caller ? -Chairman Walter, of the un American activities committee, for example ? change that in the least. It is good American prac tice to convict or acquit on a basis of evidence. mr Finally, association with those believed to be ? or iven known to be ? Communists is not sufficient :vidcnce. Doesn't the New Testament say that esus sat down with publicans and sinners? LETTERS Communism And The Churches Editor, The Press: I am writing In regard to an editorial that appeared in The Press on March 31 of this year, entitled "The Country's Safe". It was a small comment on the disputed Air Force Manual which was distributed In February or March and among other things charged that the American churches are Communist-Infiltrated. That should have been enough to have frightened us all to death, knowing that Communism hates the very God we love and serve, and knowing that "no man can enter a strong man's house and spoil his goods except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house." Mk. 3:27. Yet the public has been so duped by mate rial appearing In church periodicals over a period of several years that we treat the truth very lightly and that is evi dence enough to show that the Communists have "bound the strong man and entered his house". It's like a deadly cancer eating very rapidly at our very life and all we love and hold dear. In the beginning, this particular part of the Air Force Manual was written by a civilian at Lackland Air Force Base and he used as the text some information he read in two pamphlets entitled "The National Council of Churches Indicts Itself on 50 Counts of Treason Against God and Country" and "Is the National Council of Churches Subversive?" Not one of the charges has been disputed or contested and instead of facing the charges and coming clean with the sin that was In their camp, the Council chose rather to dodge the truth and began attacking the man who wrote the pamphlets. Air Force Secretary Dudley Sharp apologized to the Council and that is dangerous and frightening. When any church group has such power as to make our government apologize for the truth and withdraw truthful statements revealing the evil in that church group, be it the National Council of Churches or the Holy Catholic Church of Rome, then America is in grave danger and shows sickening evidence of a sickly society. Chairman Francis E. Walter of the House un-American activities committee has a list of known Communists in the N.C.C. and also those who are associated with some Com munist front organization and I quote him as saying the charges in the Manual were true and that by recalling the Manual it "created the impression that everything in it was false, actually the charges that were made are true", he said. ("For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall pre pare himself to the battle?" I Cor. 14:8) Unless there is an awakening of our nation from apathy and ignorance of Communism, we well may be the last gen eration of human beings to ever live in a Free State. It is not the Lord's desire that the heathen should rule over us, but by tolerance and compromise we have let the enemies of God become the masters of our nation and world. Rom. 16:17-20 says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, Mark Them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (This doesn't sound like peaceful co-existance to me!) For they that are such serve NOT our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the simple . . . but I would have you wise unto that which is good and simple con cerning evil. And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly". ("How Precious are thy thoughts, O God!" Ps. 139:17) A nation-wide campaign against Communism on every radio station, every T.V. channel, and in every newspaper to awaken America to the immediate threat of Communism in the name v of. Jesus Christ is our only hope. There already is such a broadcast going forth over 104 radio stations across the coun try. If you and your friends who read The Press in other states want to hear more of how this infiltration is happen ing from day to day and receive documented material that cannot be challenged, I urge you to inquire at your local radio station and see if the "20th Century Reformation Hour Broad cast" is carried in your community. If not, ask that it be put on at least one station per town. The address is the "20th Century Reformation Hour Broadcast ", Collingswood, N. J. We need to know who the men are in the National Council of Churches and the offices they hold, and if they are associated with any Communist front organization so that when we read our daily papers and church publications we will know whether it is truth or the Communist line. This you will learn from the "20th Century Reformation Hour Broadcast". MRS. R. E. HUNTON Greensboro, N. C. < Looking Backward Through tbe Files of The Press DO YOU REMEMBER? 65 TEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1895) Professor M. C. Allen went to Ashevllle Saturday. There seems to be $ome attraction over there for the Professor. Mr. Lyman Deal returned home Monday from the Horner Military School at Oxford, N. C. Lyman is looking well. A dime's worth of oil of lavendar, mixed with a half pint of water, and sprayed about the house where flies mostly congregate, will rid the rooms of flies. Try it. Miss Kate Robinson, after the commencement at Ashevllle Female College, is visiting friends at Weaverville. 35 YEARS AGO (1925) North Carolina's new automobile speed law permits motor ists to travel at a maximum speed of 35 miles an hour. Ellas Ammons, former governor of Colorado, who was a native of Macon County, died In Denver recently. Plans have been announced for the Southern Bell Telephone Company to build a phone line from Franklin to connect with long distance lines at Dillsboro. 15 TEARS AGO (1945) George B Patton, former assistant attorney general and legislator, has been appointed general counsel to the State Highway Commission. Miss Catherine Marietta Young became the bride of T. Sgt George P Byrd in a ceremony at the home of the bride June 2 5 TEARS AGO (1955) Governor Luther H. Hodges this morning (June 16) will open Franklin's three-day Centennial celebration. Taking part in the celebration will be Franklin's five nonagenarlas : Mrs i T. W. Angel, Mrs. Nan Ray, Mrs. George A. Jones, Mrs. 'Lee Crawford, and Ernest Rankin. STRICTLY PERSONAL By WEIMAR JONES "You have to accept figures . . . You can't argue with statistics." The heck you can't! In my book, they're the very things you'd better argue with. I have some before me now that I'm going to argue with. First, though, a word about why statlstics should not necessarily be accepted as gospel. Don't misunderstand me. I know figures are Important. I know statistics have their place. We couldn't get along without 'em. My point is, they ought to be taken with a grain of salt ? may be with a whole handful of salt. They ought to be looked at through skeptical eyes; at the least, through the eyes of com mon sense. How often have you heard people argue, about something that was absurd on its face: "But It's bound to be so; the figures prove it"? And it isn't just a question of whether the figures are accurate. They can be accurate and yet seem to point to conclusions that aren't true at all. There are so many elements that enter into this thing of figures, of statistics. There's the question, for in stance, of how the gatherers of statistics phrase their questions; if the questions are asked orally, even the tone of voice of the questioner may influence the amswer. There is the matter of how well the one asked under stands the question, and of whether he makes his answer clear. There's the question of whether he answers accurately, or even truthfully. (In the recent British elections, the polls went haywire in predicting the results; and the pollsters explained it by saying those polled "talked one way, but voted the other".) Finally, there's the important matter of interpreting the infor mation gathered. The conclusions the figures seem to point to and the truth may be miles apart. Any interpretation, to be reasonably true, has to be arrived at in re lation to other known facts and figures. For instance, if one set of statistics showed a big decline in the number of men and women of the age to have children and another set showed a big increase in the number of babies born. It would be a good bet that one of those sets of figures must have gone wrong somewhere along the line. The figure I take exception to is being used in a good cause. It is the basis for a program, sponsored by newspapers and tele vision stations In the Southeast, to teach adult illiterates to read, the teaching to be done via TV. Now literacy is desirable; there are too many Illiterates; and if TV can teach some of those wty> can't read and write to do so, more power to It. But why use an obviously im probable statistic to justify what is a good cause without any sta tistics? To justify this program, the re sults of a 1957 survey made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organiza tion (UNESCO) are being cited. That survey came up with the startling finding that one adult out of every five (over 25 years of age) in North Carolina is a "functional illiterate". A "func tional illiterate" Is defined as a person who has less than five years' formal schooling. ? Now if UNESCO had said that one high school graduate out of five can't read properly, It might have made sense, though that probably isn't susceptible of proof. If it had said that one college graduate out of five doesn't read, I certainly would not have ques tioned it. But what UNESCO says is that one out of every five North Caro lina adults had less than five years in school ; that is, one out of five dropped out of school at about the age of 11. If that were true, the schools certainly have a lot of explaining to do. But is it true? How many per sons of your acquaintance can't read and write? How many of them dropped out of school at age 11? A few elderly ones, perhaps. A very few young ones. After all. 25 years isn't very long ago; it takes us only back to 1935. In 1935, we'd had a thriving public school system and a compulsory school attendance law for a long time. This is a statistic just too im probable to be accepted without a lot of questioning and examina tion. Yet look who's accepted it, ? hook, line, and sinker! The very people a part of whose job it .is to be skeptical, to ask questions, to demand proof. This highly im improbable conclusion has been accepted, apparently without a single question, by newspapers and TV people! 'RIGHT FUR PIECE' Starts 52nd Year On Same Job ISAAC S. LONDON In Rockingham Post-Dispatch Today, May 12th, marks my 51 years of newspapering. Tomorrow I launch on my 52nrt year. I wonder how many Editors there are In the State who can beat this record? And 1 feel as pert and active as I ever did, despite the 75th milestone to be reached this De cember 11th. ^ To begin with, I was raised in my father's Chatham Record of fice in Pittsboro. And I could stick type at age of 10. v In 1909 I brought the Slier City Grit, and issued my first paper May 12, 1909. Sold it in November 1917 and came to Rock ingham and bought the Post and the Dispatch and combined them into the Post-Dispatch, with the first issue December 6, 1917. On April 1. 1953, I sold the paper to Mrs. Sybil Williams Cadieu and i the late J. Neal Cadieu, and have* stayed on as Editor, and with &n j entirely free rein to editorialize and run it as tho' still my very own. Both Neal and Mrs. Cadieu have been most kind to me. Over the years I have tried to make the P.-D. a personal medium. Have never gone in for "feature" pictures even though realizing the possible truth of the Chinese proverb that "one picture is worth a thousand words." I particularly like history and dates. And I like my friends, ever mindful of Emerson's "The only way to have a friend is to be one." 1 But 51 years is a right fur piece ? to be on one job; but I like It and hope 25 years from now when I am a 100 that I can still be actively in harness. t The Last Word On 'You All' _ RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH ? You can take encouragement from an article appearing in the spring issue of the University of Georgia's Georgia Review. It is the most thorough and scholarly refutation we have seen of the interminable wisecracks, tiresome gibes and boresome wheezes con cerning the Southern use of the phrase you all. Written by George P. Wilson, a native of Mecklenburg County, Va.. who retired in 1956 from the faculty of the Woman's College at Greensboro, N. C., it shows that the Southern usage as to you all is found in the writings of Chaucer, Shakespeare. Swift. Byrcn, Jane Austen. Winston Churchill, and dozens of other eminent Britons. Dr. Wilson also quotes similar you alls from the writings of such Northern Amercians as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Erfiily Dickinson. William Dean Howells and Thorn ton Wilder. In these passages are examples of the usr of the phrase in ad dressing une person, but where more than a single individual is :learly connoted Professor Wilson las also discovered passages in Shakespeare where the Bard em ployes you all In addressing two persons, but without any apparent Implication that more than two are referred to. He even shows that equivalents of you all are to be found in Latin. Greek, German, French, Spanish and other languages. t He also says, correctly: "Perhaps the question which churns up more foam and wrath than any other is: Do South erners use you all as a singular? "In 'The Gumps' comic strip of January 2. 1943. a Negro maid says to a white woman: 'Has you all got a cinder in you-all's eye. Miss Tilda?' " Dr. Wilson is aware that the foregoing is a perfect example of the doleful distortions that occur in the North. No Southerner, white or colored. In the history of the world, ever uttared any such preposterous sentence as this. It is good to have so authorita tive and conclusive an analrois of the South's use of jrou all. We are filing Dr. Wilson's conclusions on this epochal matter for the benefit of future generations. It's I the last word on the subject. |
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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June 16, 1960, edition 1
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