% Page 'I’wo THE pn .OT- THE PILOT Published Each Friday by THE PILOT. INCORPORATED Souihem Pines. North Carolina 1941—JAMES BOYD. Publisher—1944 KATHARINE ROYD . Editor VALERIE NICHOLSON ..... Asst. Editor nAN S RAY General Manager C.G.cbTOCIL Advertisme Subscription Rates: One Year $4.00 6 Months $2.00 3 Months $1.00 Entered at the Postoffice at Southern Pines. N. C. as second class mail matter Member National Editorial Association and N. e. Press Association ‘Tn taking over The Pilot no changes are con templated. We will try to keep this a good paper. We will try to make a little money for all con cerned. Where there seems to be an occasion to use our influence for the public good we will t^ to do it And we will treat everybody alike —James Boyd, May -3, 1941. -Southern Pines. North Ca’^oMna SBaSB=Saa=BeSS=BSSS=B9999eB9SS Friday. February 22,19S2 The First Step The arrest of ten Klansmen by the FBI m Columbus County is the first step to victory in the battle against lawlessness and terrorism in that section. The men were arrested on a charge of kidnaning and their actions in carrying toeir victim across the state line brought the federal dgents into the case. The FBI struck hard and fast. North Carolin ians must be grateful for that, but there will be some who wiU find themselves wishing that the government men had not had to come in: that the Klan had confined their activities to the state so that this alleged crime by North Carolinians might have been handled by North Carolinians. There is always the question: would it have been handled? Would the Klansmen have been caught if they had not run foul of the FBI. That will, of course, remain a question. There were both a deputy and a constable among the men arrested and it may seem unlikely that the police of Columbus County would have exer cised the persistence of the non-local men m bringing them and their associates m violence to justice. Yet we are inclined to believe that there is more than a good chance that Columbus County might have produced a surprise. We base this opinion on the attitude of the people of the county and those two fighting edi tors, Wfilard Cole of the Whiteville News- Reporter and the Tabor City Tribunes Horace Carter. These two editors have conducted an unflagging campaign against the Kla^ iearle^- ly denouncing the org^ization, publishmg the news of every outbreak and spurring authorities. In this they have received the whole-hearted support of their communities. Both editors are now being bombarded with praise by jubilant townspeople. Towns wRh such spirit and such leaders would have been able, we believe, to spur on local officials, how ever apathetic or reluctant, to their duty. Now, of course, they wiU be given chance. The arrest of these ten men is only the first step. The trial will call for both courage and perseverance on the part of the jury and those involved in the prosecution, but beyond that lies the challenge of the twelve still unsolv ed cases of flogging and terrorism that have taken place in Columbus County. Doubtless some of this violence wiU be traced to the ten arrest ed Klansmen, but there must be others involv ed. None of these cases came within the juris diction of the FBI and it is sadly significant that, to date, no arrests have been made. The entrance of the federal government freed the state from responsibility in this case. It re mains to be seen, now, whether North Caro lina can answer the test facing her in the oth ers. In these days when the concentration of power in the federal government is being view ed with increasing concern, there is not a doubt that our state’s attempts to bring the rest of the floggers to justice will be keenly watched by the entire nation. As for ourselves, the chal lenge is immediate. It is up to us to give the backing of an aroused citizenry to the people of Columbus County in this battle to show that North Carolina is able to protect her own and that lawlessness, bigotry and terrorism cannot live in our state. Brotherhood Week of $100 towards the purchase of a viewing win dow for the Negro nursery. The cheque is the gift of the Negro Women’s Federated Clubs of Moore County. On Page Six is a description of a collection of bocks recently gotten together by the Moore County Library dealing with the achievements and problems of the Negro race in this coimtry. Outstanding authors of both races are repre sented. Page Six carries the story of the record amount raised by the Negro division of the TB seal campaign, which surpassed the quota of $1000.00 by $146.26. Dr. Funderburk’s fine re port is given showing the contributions by com munities, every one in Moore County well rep resented. Perhaps the mo'st interesting news item of all is the report from the West Southern Pines Girl Scout Committee, announcing the investiture of three troops with 57 girls enrolled last week. The Pilot has published similar reports be fore: there is nothing unusual in this section, in last week’s news; but as the eyes of the na tion turn to the observance of Brotherhood Week, bringing with it the call for an actual scrutiny of the record, it is, we believe, a good omen and encouraging, in these days of stress and strain, to recognize that in this section “the illiteracy of race relations” is steadily diminish ing. Our colored people are taking their place in community achievement, carrying their share of civic responsibility and making their contri bution to the life of the whole community. Correction and Reminder In a Pilot editorial of last week, mention was made of the so-called nursing home operated by “Mother John” near Aberdeen, with the state ment that it was well known to both the Health and Welfare Departments of the county. It appears that this is an error. A letter from Mrs. Walter Cole, County Welfare superinten dent, states that “the Mother John Home has been operating only four months and neither the Health or Welfare Departments or any workers on either staff had known the home existed until it was reported by the Coroner.” The Pilot’s information came from what we comsider reliable sources and we believe the error- arose partly through what might be called a technicality. While it is possible that Mrs. Cole is right in stating that the present “home” has been operating only four months. Mother John has been well known in this section ever since she first came to Aberdeen in 1939. Ac cording to an article, published in the Sandhill Citizen of November, 1949, based on a personal interview with this Negro head of the Solid Rock Church of Holiness, Mother John began to care for the sick and needy in her nine-room home in Aberdeen soon after she arrived. 'The present “new” home was under construction when the article was written. It is, of course, possible that it took three years to build. But in any case Mother John has been running a nursing-hOme of sorts in Aberdeen for a good many years. This enterprise, carried on un1;il recently in her own home, appears to have been well known locally. In the Sandhill Citizen article her care of the sick and various “cures” she is said to have perfonried were described. It seemed reasonable to believe that those inter ested in the care of the health and welfare of the colored population would be aware of these facts. We are glad to make the correction Mrs. Cole requests and regret that the editorial was inac curate. The situation, however, remains un changed. If a nursing-home gets written up in a local paper, and is well-known to many people, it seems reasonable to expect that official no tice should be taken of it with a view to investi gating and regularizing -the situation: either giving the home a license, if it passes the state tests, or closing it up, if it does not. We congratulate the state and county welfare people for their speedy investigation and action following their receipt of the Coroner’s report; we point out, as we have so often before, that both county departments, especially the Welfare Department, are greatly understaffed, making thorough coverage of this big county difficult; we still feel unhappy that it took a death to un cover conditions in the .care of our sick that should never have existed in Moore County. What Tliey're Saying Brotherhood Week must be a time for nation al self-appraisal: criticism as well as commenda tion. While the strides forward in solving the problems of the melting-pot have been marked, there remains much to be done to make of this country a land where all men do in fact share equally the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The fact of this evil and discord in our coun try is not only a black mark against us, but a weak link in our armor that is being exploited to the fuU by those who would destroy democ racy. Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois, in a re cent speech, laid telling emphasis upon this peril. Said he: “Bigotry, intolerance, racial vio lence and the social tensions they engender are not only serious handicaps upon our strength and unity as a nation, but they are a visible en- cmnbrance upon America’s leadership in the world, where we must lead or lose. And to lead, we will have to tell the world what we are for, not ]ust what we are against.” But, along with the condemnation of what Governor Stevenson calls our “illiteracy in hu man relations,” goes the good that has taken place. We do not have to go far to see some of it. In last week’s Pilot appeared several items that, as we scan them, seem4o establish con vincingly what this commimity, at least, is for. In this Brotherhood Week, we recall them to our readers with special satisfaction. The first is on Page Five. It is the announce ment of the gift, to the Moore County hospital Stirring of the Spirit th: one sure way J.ONES FUNERAL HOME Laurinbuxg. N. C.—Tel. 614 Raeford. N. C.—TeL 624-1 JOIN JONES MUTUAL BURIAL ASSOCIATION Ambulance Service Day and Night Tombstone Agent Lady Attendant BROTHERHOOD WEEK iooniored by The National Conference of Chriitiani and Jew. Grains of Sand “I don’t see how in the world!ford and one here, that our boys, anybody could write about the]Troop 73, won everything in sight, history of Boy Scouting here and They came out on top in the point leave “out Max Backer.” a lady said to us last week. “He was such a fine scoutmaster, and he gave so much time to it, for so long. He did a splendid job for so many boys. My two were in his troop and I certainly appreciated what he did, and I hope you’ll say something about him.” We did write a sort of a history of scouting, more or less hittinr the high spots, in The Pilot during Boy Scout Week. Only one or two scoutmasters were named, as we lad nothing like a full list— though some day, maybe, we can get one up. We’d like to. We appreciated the suggestion made by Mrs. John Pottle, whose sons, George and John, she said were in Max’s troop about 1925, nd we agreed with her he shoiHd be mentioned. Any scoutmaster vho does such a good work his memory lasts more than 25 years is due a lot of recognition. So we nabbed Max in the bank a few days later. “Sure,'T was a scoutmaster,” he said. “T’ve for gotten just how long. Back in the twenties, and—^well, in the thir ties, and up until the time World War 2 began, almost. “I had some of the finest boys '"u ever saw, and we had a good time, tod. “In those days Boy Scouting wasn’t organized in this section •he way it is now. There were just judging in every respect. “But,” said Max, “you mustn’t give me any credit for that. It was just that I had such good boys, and they all worked hard and cooperated in everything they were supposed to do. There’s one of them right now.” And he grin ned over the counter at Bobby Dtmn. teller, who grinned right back and agreed that those were pretty good days for Boy Scouts in Southern Pines, Though the national Boy Scout program, uniforms, insignia etc., were employed, the troop more or less went its own way and lit tle emphasis was placed on rank advancement. Outdoor events were the big thing and many were the camping trips the boys and their scoutmaster went on, also hikes, for miles out in the woods There was one special event they held every now and then every body likpd—the “father-and-son’! hike. ‘“I’d start a boy and hi-^ father off on the hike together one pair eyery 10 minutes, then we’d all meet at the end for p campfire and some outdoor cook ing. That gave the kid and his dad a good chance to, get ac- auainted. You know, life doesn’t bring too many opportunities of that sort as a boy is growing up,” the erstwhile scoutmaster said. “A lot of the success of our ne wav ii la xiuw. ——x, — -- a few troops scattered around. For,troop was due to my assistant any kind of competition we had leader, BUI Fisher, who was one to go clear over to Dunn, where of the best boys ever to live in nnotbpr good lively troop wasUbis town. It didn’t surprise me a operating !bit last’fall when the Air Force ‘There was a Council set-up, though different from the way it Is now. and I remember well two Council Jamborees, one at San- To The Pilot. The annual North Carolina Press Institute held recently at the University of North Caro lina and Duke University did more to lift the spirit of those who attended than any similar event in our memory. There was prevalent among the newspaper folks an earnestness, a seriousness, a self searching and a stirring of faith and other inner qualities which, in the midst of qur troubled times, bespeak weU for the future and the manner in which we shall meet it. The tone, level, pitch or whatever you desire to call it of the three-days’ program illustrates what we mean. Of the four principal speakers two were ministers, a third was a philosopher whose utterances were by all tests a sermon, and the fourth was the managing editor of a newspaper nationally known for its crusading for the right, the just, the fair and the decent. The whole emphasis of these addresses was in that vein—the right as it affects individuals, governments, nations and races of peoples. The admonition was that the press seek for and up hold this right, that it condemn the wrong, that it start with self-examination, that there be a paramountcy of the inner faith, and that de mocracy, our Christian civilization, be given a genuine opportunity to find itself, to live and save and serve. Our democracy, our way of living, our Chris tian civilization have saving depths to plumb; and last week’s press institute demonstrated its awareness of these depths. —Greensboro Daily News I wonder how many of your readers could correctly identify the author of the following lines: made him a brigadier general.” added Max. “‘The only thing that surprised me. they waited until he was 40 to do it.” The Public Speaking WORDS School Cafeteria MENUS FOR WEEK (Subject to Minor Changes) February 25-29 MONDAY “I see in the future a crisis arising that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the 5!pfr.f^r of mv country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the pre judices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” Bologna Sandwiches, Mustard or Catsup Spanish Rice Buttered English Peas Sliced Peaches Milk TUESDAY Blackeye Peas, MSneed Onion Potato Salad Turnip Greens Corn Bread, Margarine, Honey Milk WEDNESDAY Was he some “Fair Dealer,” ‘New Dealer,” socialist, commun ist, cr “fellow traveler?” Indeed no. 'The foregoing words, so ap propriate to the present-day scene, were written by Abraham Lincoln in 1864. Kscslloped Ham and Potatoes Buttered Snap Beans Cocoanut Pudding Cheese Biscuits, Margarine Milk THURSDAY I was moved to send you this quotation by the sight of a power company’s advertisement, which quoted Lincoln in an attempt to convince readers that the contin uance of vested interests is essen tial to the public welfare. Imagine Honest Abe functioning as a power-lobbyist! Vegetable Soup, Crackers Peanut Butter Sandwich Cheese Sticks jSr'ice Cake Bsirs ^Milk I FRIDAY Salmon Patty with Cream Pea Sauce Buttered Carrots iCherry Cottage Pudding iVTieat Bread, Margarine Milk Sincerely, RUSSELL E. POWELL Manufacturing The World’s Finest First Quality 54 and 66 gauge also blaek heels Nylon Hosiery at mill prices 0 Aberdeen Hosiery Mills Co^ Inc, Pinehurst Road Aberdeen, N. C. The Prudential Insurance Company of America L. T. "Judge" Avery, Special Agent Box 1278 SOUTHKIN PINES TeL 2-4353 L. V. O’CALLAGHAN PLUMBING & HEATING SHEET METAL WORK Telephone 5341 DRIVE CAREFULLY — SAVE A LIFE! ^MATTRESS RENOVATING New Innerspring mattress and box springs made to order. Cotton and felt mattresses converted to Innersprings. All work sterilised and guaranteed. One day service. PLASTIC and LEATHERETTE UPHOLSTERING LEE MATTRESS and SPRING COMPANY Southern Pines. N. C. w. S. No. 1 Phone 2-5614 Main Plant—Laurinburg. N. C. TeL 1089 ADEN SCHOOL OF DANCE Old VFW Clubroom Ballet : N. E. Broad Si., Siraka Bldg. Tap : Acrobatic Ballroom Phone 2-8224 HAVE YOUR CLOTHES CLEANED —at— fALCT D. C. JENSEN Where Cleaning and Prices Are Better! OTTFSrBIWP TO THE ®TLOT_ ik,oonP LEADING NEWS WEEKLY. $3.35 fifth IlMultd Whidiir, >< fnof, 30% Whlsluy, 10% Groin Ntolrol Spirits. Austing^NicKoIs BROOKLYN-NEW YORK