Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / July 14, 1960, edition 1 / Page 2
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and ?1 jr Highlands Ularmuan WEIMAR JONES I Editorial Page Editor THURSDAY, JULY 14. 1M* THE FLORIDA CLUB Good Mountaineers, Too It's interesting- to note that the Florida Club al ready has in exjccss of 90 members. The figure, which undoubtedly is only a frac tional part of the club's potential membership, sug gests how many Floridians are coming to Western North Carolina. It suggests, too, how much this influx may contribute to this area, intellectually and culturally, as well as economically. They come, most of them, first for vacation; then to spend the summer; finally, to make this their permanent home. But why a Florida Club? Don't they .plan to be come a part of this mountain community? Well, we welcome not only these Floridians, but the growth of the Florida Club. After all, the fel low who isn't loyal to his former home isn't likely to be loyal to his new one. If we realize they can contribute much to us, surely they are smart enough to realize we can con tribute to them, too. The fact they remain good Floridians, as evidenced by the Florida Club, doesn't mean they can't and won't become good mountaineers, too. Ironic Owners of I^evittown, N. J., which was intended to be an all-white housing development, must sell ?to Negroes as well as whites. A New Jersey court so ruled, and now the U. S. Supreme Court has upheld that ruling. It did so by the expedient of refusing to review the lower court's decision. Since the Supreme Court repeatedly has held that segregation violates the U. S. Constitution, and thus is a federal, not a state, matter, this latest action is hardly surprising. ^ \\ # There is a touch of irony, though, in the reason it assigned. It declined to interfere, the court ex plained, because the case involved no substantial federal question. Salute Franklin Kuture Farmers cainc home recently ?with an impressive number of prizes won in state competition at Raleit,.!. Included were three first places for the local chapter. These are only the latest in a long list of wins that go back over a period of a decade or so. It has, in fact, become almost routine for the Macon County farm boys to bring back honors from al most every competition, near and far. These things do not just happen, though. They are the result of a lot of intelligent effort by the boys ; of a lot of intelligent leadership by their teacher, Mr. Wayne Proffitt ; and, back of all that, by a lot of dedicated and intelligent training by their parents. Without subtracting any credit from the honors that have come so deservedly to the boys, it is not amiss to rerpember that a salute to them also is a salute to the homes and the Macon County com munity that produced them. Cart In Front? Wc in the United States must produce more wealth, we are told. And not only must our gross material product this year 1 >e greater fhan last vear's ? wc must speed up our rate of increase. \ But why? Why must we produce more wealth, and produce it at a constantly faster rate? " Haven't wc more now than we know what to do with? What about all the gold we have stored underground? What about all the farm surpluses that are a burden? What about the ever-growing number of gadgets that are nice but not necessary? In the end, will it be dollars that win the cold war? Will it be goods? Will it even be the number of bombs and missiles? After all, somebody has to fire a bomb or launch a missile. Aren't we, perhaps, putting the cart before the horse in all this emphasis on wealth, on goods, on purely material things? In the final analysis, won't it be such factors as the intelligence of our thinking, the honesty of our motives, the strength of our national character, the wilt to win ? won't it be these things that de cide the cold war? Travel Now, Pay Later "Travel now, pay later." That's the latest in installment buying. The Southern Railway, ever progressive, has just announced details of its installment-, payment travel program. Want to go on vacation? You can take as much as ten months to pay for the trip by rail. (That leaves you two debt-free months to accumulate funds for next year's vacation.) Anybody can travel on those easy terms. Maybe even a country editor could finance a vacation. But wait a minute! here's a hitch. The Southern, darn it, wants one-fourth down. Let's see, we could go about as far as Prentiss, or maybe all the way to Otto. We could, that is, if there were passenger trains on the T. F. railway. Well, there aren't. But say ! maybe there's a compensating factor. If we went by handcar, maybe the Southern, owner of the T. F., wouldn't demand any down payment. That way, we could take a really long vacation trip. Look out, Clayton, here we come! 'Amaze Your Friends . . (Christian Science Monitor) We are amazed? but not for the desired reason ? at the number of ads that start out: "Amaze your friends . . or "Imagine your neighbors' surprise when they see your new . . We are amazed, all right? and annoyed. "Be the envy of your neighbors," says the come-on for chry santhemum plants. "Startle your visitors," urges another, selling blueprints of guided missiles (presumably obsolete or unsuccessful) to mount In one's den or playroom. "Mystify other motorists," crows a third, about a simulated police antenna stuck to a car root with a suction cup. All this Implies that customers should not only buy what they may not need or want, but should do so entirely to af fect someone else. In Second Place? (Randall Henderson in Desert Magazine) ^ ... In one of the chamber of commerce brochures gotten out by a Southern California community I read: "The cul tural life of a community holds a place of scarcely less im portance than that of the commercial." Unfortunately, this is a viewpoint held by well-meaning men In nearly every community ? dollars first, the art of living second. Basically, that Is the philosophy of Karl Marx ? that if man's economic Interests are well served, then cul tural man will emerge as a matter of course. That is the materialistic basis of socialism, and there Is Increasing evi dence that it is more and more becoming the creed of capit alsim. I know one small community which recently raised a storm of protest against the levying of a small tax for the con struction of a new library ? and then endorsed the raising of a $20,000 fund for advertising ballyhoo to publicize the town's commercial opportunities. For my part I cling to the faith that if the chamber of commerce would devote Its energies and resources to the cul tural aspects of community development, the cash register would take care of itself. I have confidence that eventually a more enlightened generation of businessmen will undrstand this. Free Speech For Everybody (Winston-Salem Journal) Mayor Robert F. Wagner of New York faced an agonizing decision In ruling on the application of George Lincoln Rock well, self-styled commandant of the American Nazi party, to hold a rally in Union Square. The Mayor knew that New Yorkers have no patience with Rockwell or his teachings. As Mr. Wagner said, "not a decent, re l sponsible citizen in the city would follow him In his preach ing." And the Mayor also may be correct in saying that If the people of New York were left to their own device* they would stone him out of town. Faced with the possibility that a riot might result from Rockwell's planned Fourth of July rally, the Mayor announced that Rockwell's application would be denied. A case like Rockwell's puts to the hardest kind of test the effectiveness of the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech and "the right of the people peaceably to assemble." For Nazism in any form Is nauseating and repulsive not only to New Yorkers but to all Intelligent and decent Amer icans. But the fact remains that those who style themselves Nazis have the right under our Constitution to a free expres sion of opinion. Tifue freedom of speech means not merely freedom for accepted opinions but freedom for the thought we hate. And the persons who hold unpopular views also have the right of peaceable assembly. In denying Rockwell's application, Mayor Wagner has de clined to give an unpopular group the right to meet for fear of violence against it on the part of Its enemies. It would be foolish to minimize the problem that Rock well's rally would present for New York police. But Mayor Wagner would have been better advised if he had followed the counsel of Dr. Joachim Prinz, president of the American Jewish Congress and an expelle from Nazi Germany. Dr. Prinz had urged that Rockwell's right to speak be respected but that police should be alerted to arrest him if he or his followers caused a disturbance. Surely New York's police force is suffi ciently competent in handling crowds? even hostile ones ? to deal with this situation. Such action would have robbed Rockwell of the right to claim that he was being victimized in his effort to convert others to his way of thinking. It would also have given him an opportunity to show his true colors of hatemonger for all to see. LETTERS Seeks Data On McDowell Editor, The Press: I am making a study of the life of Silas McDowell <1795 1879), who lived in Macon County from 1830 on. A very ver satile and imaginative man, Mr. McDowell was perhaps best known for his writings on mountain scenery and for originat ing the "thermal belt" concept. I am now making a search of the literature, but I should deeply appreciate hearing from anyone who can throw additional light on this fascinating figure GARY S. DUNBAR Assistant Professor, Department of Geography University of Virginia. Charlottesville, Va. I " DO YOU REMEMBER? Looking Backward Through the Files ot The Freai 65 TEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1695) Clean up your premises and prevent sickness. A large proportion of our colored population went to Rabun (County, Ga.) Saturday to attend a big meeting. A company of Franklin's elite young people went picnicking to Burnlngtown Palls on the Fourth. Mr. W. C. Hough, of Conn., arrived last week and will spend the summer at the gem mines on Cowee. The town council should take some steps to have our streets cleaned up. 35 TEARS AGO (1925) Mr. and Mrs. I. T. Peek spent the week end in Macon County and left Monday for their home in Sunburst. 15 TEARS AGO (1945) W. E. (Gene) Baldwin, co-owner of Baldwin-Liner Market and Grocery, has been appointed by the two members of the Board of County Commissioners as chairman of that board, to fill the unexpired term of the chairman, Gus Leach, fol lowing the latter's death. The first service in the new St. John's Episcopal Church, on Cartoogechaye, Is to be held Sunday morning, July 15. 5 TEARS AGO (1955) Alabama's Gov. James Folsom and his family have rented the Ronald Baty home on Mirror Lake, in Highlands, for the summer. Gov. Folsom plans to spend the week ends thei;e with his family. Temperatures here during the past week ranged from a high of 89 to a low of 64. STRICTLY PERSONAL t ' By WEIMAR JONES What are the hardest of all words for the human tongue to say? The answer may vary from per son to person; but If we were all completely hondst with ouiaelves, I suspect we'd agree: The hardest words for any of us to say are: "I am wrong". We probably arc, wrong; for most of us are wrong much of the time. We know it in our hearts. We are reminded of it by the high price we must pay for our mistakes. But to admit it to the other fellow ? that take's some doing. It is a confession not only to our error. It suggests that, since we are wrong, the other fellow may be right, and hence that we are inferior to him. Most of us spend a lifetime try ing to learn to say those three words, "I am wrong" ? and never really learn the lesson. And what are the easiest words for most of 'us so say? No words come more easily, and in such a rush, as these: "You are wrong!" Maybe the other fellow is wrong. Well, why not give him time and let him find it out fori himself? Chances are, he knows it already ? but just doesn't like to admit it. Why then, tell him? As a matter of fact, there is nothing we could say that would make him deny more emphatically that he is wrong than those three words: "You are wrong". There's nothing that could make him more uncomfortable; or that could make him like us less. Yet, by saying It, we suggest that his being wrong makes us right, and so makes us superior. We just can't resist that. So most of us go through life repeating, over and over, those unfortunate words: ; / "You are wrong!" That's one way to avoid saying those words that are so hard to say: "I am wrong." ? ? ? A friend who was reared in a neighboring county, lived away many years, and then came back home for a visit, strikes a nostalgic note In a personal letter:. "For those who remember the tranquil days when houses were widely spaced and farming was a genuine if non-lucrative occupa tion, It disturbs to see what In dustries have done to a green valley." ? ? ? Most of us are too quick to criticize and too slow to praise the other fellow. I think perhaps that has come to be particularly true In the case of public officials. Not that those who hold public office should be immune to criticism ? far from it! But how often do you and I damn these public servants, with out real thought! and how rarely do we tell them when they have done a good job! Surely we should give them an occasional pat on the back. I had that brought home to me only the other day. A member of Congress took a stand that I not only thought was right, but that I was sure required courage. His attitude was, "I'm doing this thing because I know it Is right; if It isn't popular, that's just too bad." I am neither one of his con stituents nor a member of his party, but I was so impressed. I wrote him a few lines of ap preciation. His reply struck an al most plaintive note. After thanking me for writing, he commented: "Those of us who are engaged in public service are frequently subjected to criticism on the part of the press and constituents. This Is quite proper and I am not making any coiriplaints about it. However, an occasional word of appreciation or at least under standing is welcome and helpful." After reading that, I made up my mind I'd redouble my efforts to do what i think every news paper editor should do: Vigorous ly damn the deed, if it seems wrong; but be slow to damn the man. FROM MODEL T How Auto Service Has Evolved! W. CURTIS RUSS In Waynesvllle Mountaineer There was a time back in the Model T Ford era when operating a service station consisted of know ing how to turn the gasoline pump handle; fill up the radiator; put the much publicized "Wee Air" in the tires, and slap a quick patch on an inner tube. Changing the 30 by 3>/2 clincher tires was a mat ter of a quick twist of the wrist to get it off the rim. ? Many young people today never saw a "Free Air" sign at a service station. Back in the early days of cars, most tires were inflated with a hand pump and motorists seeing a "Free Air" sign would drive in for service and gas. Many stations supplied the hand pump and the customer supplied the elbow-grease for Inflating tires. Changing oil back then was not routine. You just kept adding oil, In fact, many cars used oil so fast that the supply in the crankcase was always almost new. Greasing cars then was alsc simple ... a little in the hub caps some on the spindle bolts, and a dash of old crankcase oil on the springs, and she was ready foi the road. Nowadays, one has to be mechanic, oil specialist, a grease analyist, an electronics expert, and a few other things, besides a gen eral walking bureau of informa tion, to give service. Oreasing is done by charts, with ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY To Find Truth, Men Must Be Free To Examine The New, Re-examine The Old By William D. Aycock (EDITORS NOTE: This 1* from an address by Chancellor Aycock, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, delivered at a recent altunni luncheon there.) On a cool October day In 1957 when I took the oath of office Of chancellor, I deemed it Important to express my convictions about the importance of freedom. I was aware that during the long his tory of the University tljere were periodic attacks on Its freedom. In 1925. as some of you will recall, opposition arose In the state to some of the lecturers who appear ed on the campus and to certain articles published In the Journal of Social Forces. Moreover, in the same year a resolution was introduced in the General Assembly which was de signed to restrict the freedom to teach and publish. The alumni and friends of the University Joined hands with President Chase and the faculty and saved the Institution from a sentence which would have Imposed a slow death; a death even more horrible than the tragedy of 1871. It Is far bet te rto close the doors of a Uni versity than to kill its spirit. Today I feel Impelled to repeat the substance of what I said lr. October. 1957. On this campus and throughout North Carolina we have certain fundamental free doms ? Including freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion. These funda mental freedoms protect teachers, authors, editors, reporters, pub lishers, broadcasters, and motion picture producers from controls and regulations which interfere with their mission to seek and to state the truth. Indeed, they pro tect each of you and every citizen throughout this commonwealth. These freedoms are not abso lute. There are limitations, such as the laws of libel and slander which apply to all and statutory prohibitions against the use of public buildings by any person for the purpose of advocating, ad vising or teaching a doctrine that the government should be over thrown by force, violence or any unlawful means. In addition to legal limitations, there are pressures of various types ? economic, social and political ? both direct and in direct ? which can be brought to bear on people engaged in seek ing and stating the truth. We recognize and accept the legal limitations such as the laws of libel, slander and the use of public buildings, but we reject economic, social and political pres sure which would fetter research, publication, teaching and learn ing. If we do not reject these pres sures. we forfeit our claim to be a university. A true university must seek out, examine, assemble and Interpret (acts. It must seek new Ideas, new forms of knowledge, new values and new artistic standards in or der that mankind may continue to grow in understanding and wis dom. A part of this creative mis sion is the duty to examine the bases, the foundations, and the as sumptions on which present knowledge rests. This duty is not limited to certain categories of knowledge but extends to all. An institution engaged in higher education cannot be a university if it undertakes to fix or freeze knowledge or doctrine merely be cause it is suitable to some in dividual or group, however highly placed. By what authority, may I ask. can a person say that he has found the final truth for the youth of our land? History does not record a single successful effort to fix or freeze knowledge or beliefs. A university must provide an environment ir which diversity, controversy and tolerance prevail. It Is not ex pected that every person within or without a university will agree with the views of every speaker or teacher who appears on the campus. It is imperative, however, that the university be free to listen to differing views on con troversial Issues of the day. This Institution was fathered by rebellion against oppression and mothered by a vision of free dom. It has become an instrument of democracy and a place in which the weak can grow strong and the strong can grow great. The pro cess of youth maturing In an en vironment of freedom is always an erratic one. sometimes a turbu lent one. and frequently a disturb ing one to those whose memories of their own youth have faded. Yet. generation after generation of young men and women have gone forth from this campus to provide sound leadership through out the length and breadth of this land. special grease for many of the parts. Service stations have changed a lot since the day when the at tedant lifted the front seat of the Model T, and using a special ruler, measured the amount of gas in the tank, and put In $2 worth, which was done by so many turns of the pump handle. Tires were usually gauged by a mere kick from the toe of the shoe, and the specialist could tell by the thud of the tire If it needed , more air. if It were a real hot day, chances are 1 to 10 the tire was termed OK. Jacking up a car in the old days to change tires was done about as quickly as today. Usually there .was one strong man about the station who would back up to the car, grab the spokes of the wheel and with a sigh of great strain [lift the corner of the car while an [attendant slipped a large block of wood under the axle. , The same blocks of wood were often used in getting the cars [started ? jack up the rear wheels, .throw the car in gear and start 1 cranking. The car in gear served as a fly wheel in helping turn the motor. [ If that failed, a little extra 4 [priming by pouring about a tear [spoon of gasoline under each .spark plug would usually put life in the stubborn car. And speaking of spark plugs ? cars then often stopped dead still In a heavy rain, or after plowing through deep water on the streets or highways. Water around the plugs would short out the motor, and then came the tedious period of drying out. The events of the early days of motoring came to mind, as we watched service station men check i the many details it takes today to properly service a car. ' ESSENTIAL THING IS THE TEACHER The essential event In the edu cational process Is the encounter of the teacher with his students In the classroom. Administration, building, maintenance, all the ac tivities and apparatus of an elab orate school system exist only to make this dally encounter con sistently and consecutively slgnifi-' cant and fruitful. Clearly, no cur riculum, however sound In theory, can supply the want of competent teachers, an orderly classroom, and students eager to seek aca demic excellence. ? Prom the re port of the San Francisco Cur riculum Survey Committee.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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July 14, 1960, edition 1
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