Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / Nov. 3, 1960, edition 1 / Page 2
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?fyr Higljlan&s fflarnnian WEIMAR JONES Editorial Page Editor TOUGH FOR HIM The 'Undecided' In this election, the fortunate voter is the one who has known from the start how he was going to vote. Only .slightly less fortunate is the one who was able to decide after a period of indecision that was soon over. But consider the plight of the fellow who, all these weeks, has been wrestling with his judgment and his conscienct ? and maybe still is ! We're thinking now of the conscientious citizen who honestly feeLs there is little or no choicc as be tween candidates and parties, and that, as best, it is a question of which is the lesser of two evils; the citizen who feels there is no party and no candi date he can conscientiously vote for ? that all he can do is vote against a party or a candidate be cause it or he may be a little worse than the other. There have been millions of these "undecideds", say the public opinion experts ? there still may be millions. As James Reston,. writing in the New York Times the other day on the Presidential race, put it: "There is still widespread disenchantment with both candidates, and anybody who could put the anti-Kennedy and the anti-Nixon vote together could clearly sweep the country." If a voter cannot honestly bring himself to vote for either candidate, what should he do. It is not for us to say what he should do; that is a question each voter must answer for himself. But here ? offered as information, not as recom mendations?are some of the things he can do. He can wash his hands of his responsibilities as a citizen, and stay away from the polls. Or, if he goes to the polling place, he can do one of three things: ? He can flip a coin to decide which way to vote. . v ? He can vote in those contests where he c&n vote with conviction, and not vote in the others. \ * ? In cases where he cannot stomach cither can didate, he can mark out the name printed on the ballot and write in the name of a man he docs think qualified. Election officials, it is true, have said that cannot be done. They are wrong. In the pri vacy of the voting booth, the citizen can do what ever he sees fit. What the officials mean is that, under the law. such a vote1 will not be counted ; the ballot Will be thrown out as "spoiled". "But, in that case. I'd wasle my vote." Well, mavbe. You'd ."waste" it. certainly. . af far as this election is concerned. But. in the long run, is the expression of an honest conviction ever wasted? i ?j _ Suppose von were' convinced Kennedy (or Nix on ) was the best possible man for the Presidency? exactly the man ,the country needs at this time. But suppose you were certain lie didn't have a ghost of a chance of being uleeted,'. What would you do? You'd vote for him, of course. And you wouldn't feel vou were "wasting" vour vote. Your write-in vote, if you should choo'se to cast one, will not be counted, and so won't affect this election. But it could have a tremendous clfect in the future. ' i Suppose 5" Democrats in this county marked out Kennedv and wrote in some other name, and 50 Republicans marked out N'ixon and wrote in some other name. And suppose that happened, in propor tionate numbers, in counties all over the nation. There'd be a million or so write-in votes. They would not count, in this election. But don't thihk word of what had happened wouldn't get around. And word having got around, can there be any doubt that such a protest vote would have its influence when the tihie conies, four years frorh now, to pick nominees for the Presidency? ? The fate ol civilization is like needlework. You can take it up and worry about it at odd moments.? Frank Sullivan. The School Issue Anything that affects their schools is of deep concern to the people of Macon County. Because that is true, when there is a political question that affects the schools, it becomes an important issue. Such a question has developed in the local cam paign. How that issue shall be decided is for the voters to say. It is not our job to try to tell them. It i# our job to point out that there is such an issue, and try to make it clear just what it is. Under state law, the county schools are run by the county board of education and the superinten dent, who is appointed by that board. The law pro vides that members of the board shall be nomi nated in the primary, and later appointed by the Legislature. It says the Legislature "shall" appoint those nominated. Both of Macon County's candidates for repre sentative have now stated their positions on this matter. Mr. W. A. Cox, the Democratic nominee, has said he will follow the recommendations of a com mittee, regardless of whether it recommends those nominated in the primary. The committee, he said, will be made up of one member from each precinct, to be elected at precinct meetings, and the county Democratic executive committee. Mrs. W. N. Cook, the Republican nominee, in a statement in last week's Press, said this: "I will abide by the results of the last primary election regarding the appointment of a county board of education." Fitting In christening ceremonies at Cullowhee last Sat- . nrday, Western Carolina College's fine new. admin istration building was given the name, "Bird". Nothing could have been more appropriate. It is fitting because the man so honored has' given more than forty years of his life to serving that institu tion. It is fitting because few men are beloved by so many. And it is fitting because this quiet, simple man, in his unobtrusive way, has brought distinc tion to the college bv distinguishing himself. And it is interesting and gratifying that, when this mountain institution, dedicated to the educa tion of mountain youth, looked about for the per son most deserving .of this honor, the obvious choice should have .been one who himself is a prod uct of the mountains. The ruggtfd character, the distinctive flavor, the spontaneous kindliness ? all these traits of the mountain people arc ideally blended in William Ernest Bird. Wait! The final days of a political campaign often are holidays for libelers, liars, and dealers in half truths. In these last days of this campaign, when you hear a new defamatory report about a. candidate or a group or a party ? or new details on an old re port?stop and think: If ii is true, \Vhy didn't it come out sooner? Isn't there a good chance it was held back till the last, just so there wouldn't be time to prove it false? In being gullible enough to believe it. am I letting someone use me and my vote for his own selfish ends? Am 1 being a sucker? let's not, be afraid to ask questions, to be skep tical, to demand proof. Whether we're Democrats or Republicans ? or independents ? in these last days of this campaign, let's <h) our own thinking. The Least We Can Do Whether and how much- you and I contribute to the I'nited Fund is for each of vife to decide for himself. . ? Before dccidin^, though, here's something to think about : The fellow who calls on us for our contributions will be doing it as a public service. He believes the U. F. is the best way to raise the money, locally, for various charitable causcs. f And he'll be giving his Own time to make this ?canvass. He'll give a lot more of his time to the job than you and I will give in discussing it with him. Isn't he entitled, therefore, when he comes to see us, to an unhurried, thoughtful, courteous hear ing? Isn't that about the least we can do? Let's give him that. If we do, the chances are we'll make a donation, too. Not Worth Much Then (Editor's Copy) At the end of this happy life, the man with the most money will find It means very little. , LETTERS *? > r Says Paper Fair Editor, The Press I hope that you will find the space in your "letter col umns" to publish this letter since I feel many of your readers may be interested to know how I, as one candidate, feel In regards to the treatment given to one candidate by your paper. I admire you for the fair way you reported all the news concerning my campaign and I feel that no newspaper could have been fairer in reporting news about Congressional candi dates on both tickets than has your paper. In your news coverage you have not only been fair you have also been one hundred per cent impartial and I want to go on record to state that I admire your paper for this attitude. HEINZ ROLLMAN Waynesville, N. C. DO YOU REMEMBER? Looking Backward Through the Files ol The Trtm < J ? ? 'Mvv I 'V. , Y ?TW C5 TEAKS AGO THIS WKBK (1895) A light rain fell Sunday evening, the first for nearly two months. Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Franks left Wednesday morning, via Clarkesville, Ga., for the Atlanta Exposition. Mrs. H. H. Jarrett returned Saturday evening, after a week spent visiting relatives in Buncombe County. Mr. T. J. Christy presented us a fine apple as we passed Balsam, called the Wonder of Balsam, raised on top of the mountain, that for size and flavor was hard to beat. 35 TEARS AGO <1925) The J. B. McCrary Company, of Atlanta, has purchased from Messrs. Charles Grist and W. M. Martin 1,000 acres of land, lying partly in North Carolina and partly in Georgia, between Estatoa (Mud Creek) Falls and Scaly. The new own ers plan one of the greatest summer resorts In the South. Plans call for construction of 800 homes and cottages within the next two years at a cost fc>f $300,000. 15 TEARS AGO (1945) Miss Lassie Kelly has been named on the reception com mittee for the get-together meeting of the state senate in Statesville November l ,and 2, when President Truman and other notables will address the Senate and the general public. 5 TEARS AGO (1955) Carl Morgan, of Franklin, Route 3, Saturday was reelected chairman of the Macon County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation committee. Many Editors Skeptical About Both Parties, Both Candidates < EDITOR'S NOTE: The arti rlt below, reprinted from the Goldsboro News-Argus, is by Peter Edson, Washington < or responrient of the News-Paper Enterprise Association.* WASHINGTON ? (NEA> Large measures of skepticism are found in comments of U. S. daily newspaper editors on this year's p.esicfential election, all across the country. Criticisms are applied to both Democratic and Republi can parties, platforms. candidates almost Impartially: even by sup porters. This crass-roots opinion should be a potent political warning for 1964, even though it may be too Late to apply in 1960 "Neither candidate has emerg ed' as a person." comments Editor Published Wayne W. Bleakley, Jr . of the Franklin. Pa.. News-Her aid. Thinking so far is pretty negative." In the same vein. Editor Don ald L. Breed of the Keeport, 111.. Journal ? Standard writes: "What we would like to see is a (positive approach to the presiden tial candidacy of either Nixon or Kennedy, rather than a negative one. I "That is. we should like to read . . . just why either Kennedy or Nixon offers what we need in the Whits House.v without tearing down his opponent . . . the more the average citizen absorbs the negative approach, the more he Is apt to feel like voting against both of them, and therefore feel inclined not to vote at all." Warren Thornton of the Marys ville - Yuba City, Calif.. Appeal Demccrat puts it this way: "I believe that Nixon and Ken nedy axe . . . flagrant opportun Lsts. The political philosophy of each of them is determined by whatever he thinks is popular with the majority of the voter-! . . . the differences are so minus cule as t: Rive the voter no real choice." In a slightly more charitable way. Editor Dan J. Rooker of the ' Pulaski. Va.. Southwest Times puts it like this: "I personally do not believe either of these candidates Is as socialistls as their party platforms would Indicate. But I am convin ced that they are convinced that is what is needed to buy votes for the presidency." For downright cynicism over the American political situation today two editors who ask that their confidential views be not attributed to them or their pa pers take the prize; i "Although this newspaper is ' suppo. ting Vice President Nixon,' writes an eastern editor, "in my personal opinion it is a lost causc. Ths Republican party ci:es not have a military hero to lead It into battle this year. It Is not as well organized as the Democrats, "therefore, a weak party will be fighting a strong one, plus the labor unions, the solid S:uth and the world's most powerful organi zation?the Roman Catholic Church." t 'As always," comments the second ar?:nymous cynic, from the South, "the fools will outvote the reasonable people. But the Democrats are always better nt gulling the fools, so. more or less accidentally , the Kennedy-John son team will win." Editors on both sides of the political fence say they have to stick with their respective parties, even though they don't like them. "We do not agree with every thing in the Republican platform, but we have no place eke to go," says Pubiishev Roy C. Swank of the LiOranss, Ga? Daily News. "The Democratic party lias marie it clear that the South is no l:rser welcome," confesses Nat chez. Mi.-s., Times Editor R. K. Wilcox somewhat sadly. He goes on to say that, "Sulking on the oul'ii^s may express dlgust, blit we muht go along and do what we can to counteract the influ ence A misguided zealots." In an editorial headed, "This year's presidential race leaves conservatives out in the cold," J. W. Gore of the Foit Lauderdale. Fla.. News laments that "The election bolls down not to a choice between a liberal and a conserva tive. but between an ultraliberal and a plain liberal who has Just a few overtones of conservatism " STRICTLY PERSONAL By WEIMAR JONES In a campaign year, you see political badges everywhere. Many people? perhaps most people ? wear them, thus clearly labeling themselves as Democrats of Re publicans. You see them even on children. Ynt. so far as I can recall, I've never had one on. Realizing thai the other day. I began to wonder why. It's not. I am sure, that I ob ject to the other fellow's wearing a political badge; whether he does or doesn't, and why, is distinctly his affair. It's not that I'm ashamed of how I vote, or even that I object to people's knowing. And' It's not that I have no in terest in politics.' I am deeply in terested, and I have often voted with great enthusiasm ? far Frank lin Roosevelt for President and for Dr. Prank P. Graham for U. S. Senator, to cite just two instances. But these political badges are not for me. Something deep inside makes me instinctively ?hun them. Part of it, maybe, is thai I feel a little self-oonailous wearing badges and buttons of any kind ? like a Sout hAmerican general literally covered up with his medals. But. I asked myself, am I consistent? After all, I some times wear a Rotary button. Is there any difference? I think there may be. First of all, the fellow who wears a civic club button doesn't wear it just a few weeks cut of every two or four years; he's like ly to wear it all the time. If being a Democrat or Republican is something to be proud of, and so to tell the world about, via a badge, why wear it only when an election is approaching? There's another difference, I believe, that goes deeper. Being a civic club member doesn't in volve deep convictions about prin ciples and policies that may be controversial; almast all of us could subscribe to the tenets of almost all civic clubs. In politics, it's another matter. And therein, I'd guess, lies one of the major (reasons why I cannot bring myself to wear a political badge. To me ? and this is a strictly personal feeling ? political conviction is something personal and intimate, like religion and friendship. Just as I'd hesitate to make a public display of some per sonal religious experience or to violate the intimacies of friend ship by talking about them in the marketplace, just so I hesitate to advertise my political convictions and the personal experiences they grew out of. Since the same situation might apply to the other fellow, I've al ways felt it wasn't for me to try to tell him how to vote, to try to convert him to my way of think ing ? even by so much as wearing a political badge. To me ? and again, this Is strictly personal ? that's a little like saying I've got the political truth by the tail, and everybody else is wrong. Be cause of this feeling. I'd never dream of asking the other fellow how he had voted or was going ' to vote for. To do so would be an Invasion of his privacy. All of this may grow out of something that happened when I was a child. I can remember hearing considerable discussion about the blessing of the Austra lian ballot ? voting in the privacy of a booth. (There was a time, you know, when a man could not vote 1 nsecret.) That discussion left on me, I suspect, the impression that the ballot is something very per sonal. even sacred, and so some thing not to be pried into, or even talked about. In trying to analyze my feeling, one question has kept recurring to. me: Wonder if anybody else feels that way I do about this? * * ? The approach of next week's election reminds me of elections h?re when I was a child. There are many memories, but two stand out. The first has to do with J. Prank Ray, who, though he was the perennial Democratic repre sentative from this county, oc casionally lost to a Republican. On one occasion, he and his Re publican opponent were having a "great debate" on the issues in the courthouse. It seems that Mr. Ray, In the previous legislative . session, had put the stamp of' legitimacy on the sale of liquor here by providing for a "dispen sary". His opponent was bemoan ing the evils that resulted, and. In a burst of oratory, told of the heartache and tragedy and degra dation caused by this legal whis key. Mr. Ray, in an undertone that, intentionally, carried to every part of the courtroom, punctured the oratory with the drawled com ment: "Why, that must a-been blockade." The other memory is of the terror of election nights. In that period, election day was, for many, a day to get gloriously drunklt was also a period for . discharging firearms. _ * After nightfall, when the vot ing and counting were over, the drunks headed for home, usually on horseback. And as they passed our house, one after another, the pounding of the galloping horses' feet was accompanied by blood curdling yells and the firing of pistols. In bed, but still awake, I never could get my head fat enough under the covers. Must Ocracoke Ponies Go? GOLDSBORO NEWS- ARGUS Must the banks ponies of the Ocracoke Boy Scout troop go? The Legislature passed a law pro hibiting livestock, goats or, other animals, from the Outer Banks. The law was a- conservation mea sure to keep animals from eating erosion-controlling vegetation. The problem was serious. Destruction of grasses and shrubs handicap ped erosion control and hastened the washing away of the beaches. The law made one exception. Boy Scouts of Ocracoke were per mitted to keep 30 of the funny little creatures. Then voluntarily the Scouts cut the number to about 20. The National Park Serv ice Rave a lease to the Scouts for a range In which the ponies were to be penned. But the little ponies are determined and agile crea tures who hate being fenced in. They keep getting out. The Park Service has notified the Scout committee lhat it will not renew the lease on the pony range unless methods which in sure that the animals cannot es cape to destroy erosion plantings are devised. Ocracoke has hired Lem Gaskill to tend the range fences. I )l k K PR !?: DICTION It Seemed A Safe Bet RUSSELL SPEAR in Madison Messenger It happened like this. I started down the street for a cup of cof fee. On the way, WinfreU Robert son flagged me down. " "Hey Russ," he said to me, "There's a fellow in my store that wants to bet me $1,000 to $100 that if Kennedy is elected, three days after the election the banks will be closed and soldiers will be marching. Would you take him up qn it?" Unwittingly, X replied. "Yes. man. It would be like taking can dy from a child." We went into the store and there stood Alf Webster. Alf was fondling a roll of the green stuff. He turned tc me and asked: "How much do you want?" "Are you serious, man?" I said. "Serious as I ever been in my life," Alf replied. "Here's my money to prove it." "It's too darned easy," I told Alf. "I wouldn't have the heart to take your ny>ney." '"If you think it's so easy sup pose you look at the calendar again," he suggested. I did, and to my humiliation and chagrin, I discovered that the third day following the elec tion is November 11, Veteran's Day. a national holiday. ( I kicked myself all the way back up the street to the print shop.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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Nov. 3, 1960, edition 1
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