Page TWO
ILOT
Southern Pines
North Carolina
“In taking over The Pilot no changes are contemplated. We will try to keep this a good
paper. We will try to make a little money for all concerned. Wherever there seems to be
an occasion to use our influence for the public good we will try to do it. And we wiU
treat everybody alike.”—James Boyd> May 23, 1941.
The Sandhills and the New Mozur Plant
It should be a matter of satisfaction to
Southern Pines that—at a time when a reces
sion, with unemployment and declining in
dustrial production, is plaguing the nation as
a whole—this town is on the verge of launch
ing the largest industrial project in its his
tory: the new $360,000 plant of Mozur Laces,
Inc.
And it should be an additional source of
pride in Southern Pines and the SandhiUs
that residents of this area have shown their
interest and faith in this project by subscrib
ing around $180,000 in bonds to help finance
the construction of the plant.
Not to be forgotten also is the essential part
played in this industrial project by the North
Carolina Business Development Corporation
whose loan of $175,000 will also go into con
struction of the plant. The Business Develop
ment Corporation, which has heretofore been
to local residents merely a name in the news
papers, thus becomes a key factor in a major
business venture here. 'Without the local sub
scription of funds and without the Business
Development Corporation’s aid, the project
would not have been possible.
Effect of the plant project will be felt al
most immediately with creation of jobs by the
Welcome to Southern Pines, General Gavin
The Pilot welcomes Lt. Gen. James M.
Gavin and his family to Southern Pines for
a two-months stay that we wish were going
to be longer. We are pleased that he chose
this community for his residence, following
retirement from the Army and prior to as
suming his new civilian post witfi an indus
trial research, organization.
The circumstances of the general’s Army
retirement are well known. Although he was
Army Chief of Research and Development
and thus was a key figure in the missile de
velopment programs. General Gavin came to
the conclusion that he could “do more for the
Army out than in.” He was afforded immedi
ate opportunity along that line in his testi
mony—^which as a civilian he could give with
complete frankness and freedom—before the
Senate preparedness committee. In this testi-,
mony he spoke, with the directness and hon
esty that has characterized his whole career,
of the apathy and neglect that had hindered
the missile program as well as the inadequacy
of the proposed budget to carry on its devel
opment.
A factor in the warmth of the welcome ac
corded General Gavin here is the Sandhills’,
long association with the 82nd Airborne Divi
sion—formerly commanded by the generad.
The 82nd’s review in his honor at Fort Bragg
last week was a fitting climax to his Army
career.
When General Gavin and his family leave
Southern Pines after their few weeks here,
this town is saying au revoir, not good-bye.
It is our hope that later in his career—^which
we are confident still holds a large measure
of service to the nation—the Gavins may re
turn to Southern Pines t!o make their home
and stay.
Inspiring Interest in Local History
The Moore County Historical Society—
with its photography contest for elementary
and high school students—^has hit on a won
derful device to stimulate interest in local
history.
The habits of Americans are such that we
don’t really feel we’ve visited a place or made
it a part Of our personal experience unless
we’ve stepped up with a camera and “shot”
it for the family photo album. We can read
for all were worth about say, the “Lost Col
ony” on Roanoke Island—^but it doesn’t seem
very real until we’ve been to Manteo and tak
en a few snapshots around the restored build
ings there.
Another likely result of the Moore County
contest will be the discovery of old buildings,
sites, utensils and other items of historic in
terest. A building is hard to miss: we doubt if
there are many old buildings of historic in
terest that are not known in this county—but
again there may be. As to smaller items—
tools, utensils, furniture and such—there may
well be many things of interest not brought
to light before.
With the Entire school population of the
county alerted, there can be many sharp eyes
peeled for things of interest. We trust that this
contest will be brought to the students of the
coimty’s schools in an interesting way, so that
their interest will be aroused. The idea of a
treasure hunt never fails to appeal to young
folks, and if they can take pride in digging
out and turning up new discoveries in local
history, this photo contest will redound to the
pleasure and interest of all concerned.
For our part, we can’t think of a better way
to spend a summer day than to start off early
in the morning with a camera in hand and
some sandwiches in our pockets, to seek out
some (dd house or the site of a skirmish or the
route of an old road or forgotten graves in the
woods.
With the contest lasting, until November 1,
there Is ample time for young folks to find
subjects, to get their pictures and, if they are
not at first satisfied, to take the photos again.
We feel sure that any young person who is
sincerely*interested in this contest would get
interesting tips as to historic sites from such
e:^perts in this field as Rassie Wicker of Pine-
hurst or E. T. McKeithen of Aberdeen. If The
Pilot can be of any assistance to contestants
in any way, we’ll be pleased to do what we
can to help.
Dogs, Dog Owners and the Public
We’re Tiearing complaints about dogs again
—stray, car-chasing and otherwise. A reader
brings in a newspaper clipping pointing out
that you can’t blame a dog for straying: it’s
somebody’s fault that he is not properly train
ed, penned or sheltered. We hear complaints,
too, about people who go off and leave dogs
for several days or even up to a week without
providing, for their care. Sometimes, the
neighbors feed these abandoned pets. Then
the dog becomes halfway theirs, whether they
like it or not. Owners repeat the procedirre,
knowing the neighbors will look out for the
dog while the owners are away. And usually
no thanks is forthcoming.
A dog in one case about which we were
told apparently is not licensed or vaccinated.
This makes such cases of interest to every
body, in the matters of taxes and public safe
ty.
It should be noted that the dog situation
is much better than it was before the establish
ment of the county dog potmd and dog warden
system. With the warden operating, there is
something everybody can do about a stray
dog. The warden can be called—and in our
experience, he has been prompt and cooper
ative always when his assistance is request*
ed. Persons who are bothered by stray dogs
should make it a practice to call the dog
warden. That is the first and most important
thing to do.
The clipping brought in—a letter to the edi
tor of another paper—calls poisoning dogs “a
sneaky and dangerous thing” and points out
that a law requiring proper penning and shel
tering of dogs would work two ways: it would
protect the public from stray dogs and would
protect dogs from being poisoned.
In Southern Pines, there is a law against
allowing dogs to chase cars. Car-chasing is
another problem about which we’ve been get
ting complaints. Here again, you can’t blame
the dog. Somebody is falling down on the
job of proper training.
As we’ve said before, we' like the dogs of
Southern Pines. All in all, they are well be
haved and friendly, as they should be in a
town where many dog lovers live. There’s no
reason why dogs and humans shouldn’t get on
very well together here. Concentration on
training by dog owners, complaints made tm-
der the authority of existing laws and alert
ness and promptness in calling the dog war
den should take care of most any problem
that presents itself in the canine field!
‘‘Nothing Much ^What’s New W|th You, Dearie?”
start of construction work. On completion of
the plant, its regular employees will create a
new payroll, providing an economic boost
that will be felt, directly and indirectly,
throughout Moore County.
The Pilot welcomes to Southern Pines the
Mozur company, its president, Charles J.
Mozur, and the other company executives and
their families who plan to move here. There
is every indication that the association of
Southern Pines with this com.pany and the
people connected with it will be long and
happy.
The Southern Pines Development Corpora
tion, the group which has conducted negotia
tions with the Mozur firm and has raised the
local funds that are going into the plant, de
serves the thanks and appreciation of the
community. No one who has not been in close
touch with the activities of this group could
know the vast amount of time and effort its
members have devoted to the project.
When the Moziu: company chose Southern
Pines for its new plant, the work was just be
ginning. Without efforts of the Southern Pines
Development Corporation members, the pro
posal would not have become the encouraging
reality that it now is. i
'1^
SHED A TEAR FOR THE IRON HORSE
Fascinating Trains Disappearing
(By HARRY GOLDEN in
“nie Carolina Israelite)
No matter how fast jet-planes
fly; no matter how many satel
lites circle the globe, nothing will
ever equal the fascination that
the railroad train has had for
whole generations of American
men and boys. There’s something
about the “Iron Horse” that has
held the imagination of mankind
more than any other industrial
development or invention.
At Every Level
While the airplane has been
“used” in a few murder stories,
there is an entire American liter
ature on the railroad train, and
at every level of our culture. Un
told millions of men and boys
have walked down to the railroad
tracks just to watch the train go
by, and other millions who didn’t
go down to the tracks were doing
something about it too; the men
were pulling out their watches;
“Old 38 is two minutes late to
day,” and a farmer in the field:
“That whistle sounds like snow.”
(They knew a great deal about
atmospheric conditions from the
way “the whistle” carried). And
the boys were listening—and
maybe thinking too.
And the poetry of those
wheels. You could sing with
them, and recite poetry to them
and even hold a political debate.
As sure as anything those wheels
would answer you back.
How About Songs?
, And how about the songs from'
“I’m A’Working on the Rail
road,” to “Chattanooga Choo
Choo,” and a thousand others in-
between? And even in sorrow the
j:ailroad took it all in stride like
a gentleman, always leaving a
memory:
*He was going down the road at
ninety miles an hour.
He didn’t hear the whistle
scream.
They found him in the wreck
with his hand on the throttle.
Scalded to death by the steam.
*(The Wreck of the Old 97)
The boys, and the miniature
trains, the fascination of the
switch-engine for young and old
even in this age of rockets and
spaceships.
But most of all, the fellowship.
The fellowship of the smoking-'
car, where you learned about
crops and farm machinery and
politics and religion; about a new
kind of razor and a private reme
dy for every ailment known to'
man.
No one talks on a plane. They
mumble. I have traveled thous
ands of miles on planes and all I
have ever heard is “Mr., is the
cigar lit?” Of course not! But
once in a while I gp into a little
speech about how I am a “chew
ing-man,” and how it’s rarely lit
STRANGE CONTRAST IN VIEWPOINTS
. Killers And Death Penalty
(From the Raleigh News and
Observer)
By coincidence the story that
Frank Wetzel had escaped the
death chair again and received
another life sentence appeared on
the same front page as the news
of release from prison of Nathan
Leopold. Both cases indicated the
reluctance of our generation,
which has dismissed all qualms
about dropping bombs on women
and children, to deal with implac
able severity with the most guilty
criminals.
Not Much Chance?
Leopold escaped the death pen
alty in 1924 only because of his
youth and the judge’s belief that
he was putting him in prison for
the rest of his \ life. Now Wetzel
apparently faces the remainder of
his life in prison though he would
be eligible for parole after serv
ing 20 years in prison. State Pa
role Chief George W. Randall
says, however, that “I don’t think
there’s much chance for a fellow
like that.” Probably his chance
will be in sotaebody else’s hands
when that time comes.
Obviously, if this man Wetzel is
The Public Speaking
Many People Don’t
Know What They Want
To The Editor:
Too many people are so mixed
up until they really don’t know
what they want; and when they
do get what they thought they
wanted, they don’t know what to
do with it. There are too many
people in this world that are so
mixed up and in such a hurry
that they just don’t take time to
hear the word of God.
It is praying time, and instead
of gathering arms to fight, we all
should put prayer into action
now; becaiise this great oppor
tunity will some day be cut com
pletely off and then where will
this world be?
Too many people are angry
and hold grudges against their
fellow man for some evil or,
wrong done them; but the word
of God says: “Fret not thyself be
cause of evil j doers, neither be
thou anxious against the workers
of iniquity.” Psalms 37-1.
Now people are talking of go
ing to -the moon. I wonder why
they don’t try the sun? David
told God in Psalms 17-8: “Keep
me as the apple of the eye, hide
me under the shadow of Thy
wings.” That’s what we all should
want. Instead of trying to get
above God, we should humble
ourselves under his mighty hands
that he might keep us from the
evil of the world.
’The only way for these people
to get on the right road is with
the knowledge and wisdom from
thp almighty God, Peace break
ers will one day cease, this old
world of mixed up people will
cease, but the love of God will
stand for ever.
JESSE J. DOWDY
Pinehurst
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1958
guilty of anything, he is guilty of
the most brutal, ruthless, heartless
crime. If he is guilty of anything,
nobody in North Carolina in re
cent years has so clearly deserved
the death penalty as he does.
Great efforts were made to con
vict him. Indeed, the second trial
in which the State had a weaker
case than in the first one was
probably a futile and costly en
terprise after Wetzezl had escaped
the death sentence in Richmond
County.
Matter of Luck
For all practical purposes. North
Carolina has apparently abandon
ed the death penalty. Wetzel’s
escape indicates that not the bru
tality of the crime but special bad
luck brings the few who die to
execution. One man has been ex
ecuted this year. One was put to
death last year. Neither was
guilty of a worse crime .than Wet
zel. Obviously since 1949 when
the State gave juries the power
to limit punishment in so-called
capital cases to imprisonment,
only those criminals who make
the lowest appeal to the emotions
of jurors have had to fear execu
tion. In justice probably none
should die, if a man like Wetzel
(who seems to have made a sort
of Elvis Presley appeal to jurors)
can escape.
More Civilized?
Perhaps we grow more humane.
We don’t like to take human life.
Maybe we become more civilized.
It is still odd that people who
cannot bear to take the lives of the
worst men send their best boys to
learn how to drop with skill, but
without compunction, bombs
which, according to expectation,
will indiscriminately mangle men,
women and children. We are
ready to poison the air, contami
nate the soil, bring mass death
and slow death, too. An<i history
will not fail to record that we—
the good, kind Americans—^per
fected and first used the ultimate
horror in killing human beings.
This is our civilization. Be kind
to animals. Don’t execute cold
blooded killers. But leam swiftly
to wipe out cities, including the
most innocent babes they may
contain.
even when I am supposed to be
smoking. But they are “not
amused.” No one is “amused”
about anything in this space-jet-
rocket-age.
Watching Caboose
, And soon we may have to say
“farewell” to the smoking-car and
the fellowship. Some of the rail
roads would gladly give up all
their passenger traffic now if the
franchise would permit; but let
us hope that we may at least con
tinue to enjoy the thrill of watch
ing that red caboose in the dis
tance, and perhaps even wave to
the brakeman, the salute of the
hundreds of millions who have
made that same gesture through
four or five generations of Amer
ican history.
Crains of Sand
By WALLACE IRWIN
Guest Columnist
Dickie Pollock is "the enterpris
ing son of Hoke and Jeanie; he’s
' somewhere around nine in years
and seems to have appreciated
my recent report on wild animal
life on Fairway Drive for he sur
prised and delighted me with a
book callea CATS, profusely il
lustrated and describing with
realistic pictures all thfe breeds of
housebroken pets. Turning from
page to page, I started dramati
cally when I came to a fine por
trait of the hairy monster I des
cribed as the mystery of Fairway.
He was a size one and a half
cat, elaborately done in Oxford
stripes and with one of the long
est, bushiest tails ever seen on
anything less than a little girl’s
hair-do, so I named the critter
Felix Americanus, which was un
fortunate, because Felix is sort
of Latin for happy, and this Felix
has a notably sour disposition.
When Tish, impressed by his
royal beauty, said “Nice Kitty”
and offered him a plate of de
licious scraps he swore at her an(f
threatened to knock her down.
Behavior unbefitting one of
kingly race, even a Tudor. But
next morning, when Tish looked
out, she saw that the plate had
been emptied of its dainty gar
bage.
When I refer to Felix as of
royal line, I am speaking with
authority of Dickie Pollock’s cat
book. Felix is classified Yankee
fashion as a Maine Coon Cat, and
that is because his handsome tail
has ring-around stripes on it. He
comes of the unfortunate decapi
tated French royal family.
The story is this; I quote: “It is
told that during the French Rev
olution, Queen Marie Antoinette
planned to escape to the United
States. She had her agents buy
a house in a little town in Maine.
Among the possessions that
that she planned to take with
her were • six beautiful Persian
cats. . . ” To shorten a story,
Marie lost her head; but the ship
she was, to have taken was load
ed with her cats, so the confused
captain went to Maine and turn
ed the pet Persians loose to mate
with the local plebian tabbies. The
children of these unions were the
longhaired striped beauties which
the farmers called Coon Cats, as
something of a come-dO'wn for
noble refugees from Versailles.
It requires two kinds of think
ing to complete the world’s intel-
, lectual circle—otherwise’ all Jap
anese would be Swedes, a cal
amity for both sides. No matter
how crude the tribe, it falls into
divisions sometimes as curious as
that between Democrats and Re
publicans. Even in the New Heb
rides the demi-nude inhabitants
have to decide what party to
join, whether they are Big Nam-
bas or Little Nambas, the choice
depending on, nothing at all. Thus
we can see why the people of
the world are in warring cults,
the Cat Lovers against the Cat
Haters.
Small boys are by nature Cat
Haters. So are dogs. If a boy
starts petting pussy to make her
purr, he becomes a sort of Bene
dict Arnold and gives his soul to
the cause of cat-loving. I’m one
of ’em. But I’m not exclusively
devoted to the Egyptiai^ cat-
goddess Pas Pascht. I need a dog
in my life, and not to chase cats
either. Maybe it’s because I can’t
be restrained by one party. I’m
a nachel born mugwump. Maybe
Dickie Pollock is, too. So I’ll -vote
for him whenever he decides to
run for CTongress.
Battle of the Bulge
B and K in their heyday
Fought it to a tie ,
But Bulge got rushed and now
he’s Krusched—
Bye-bye, Nikolai!
On the other hand Beria
Didn’t even get to Siberia.
The,PILOT
Published Every Thursday by
THE PILOT, Incorporated
Southern Pines, North Carolina
1941—JAMES BOYD—1S44
Katharine Boyd Editor
C. Benedict Associate Editor
Vance Derby News Editor
Dan S. Ray Gfen. Mgr.
C. G. Council Advertising
Mary Scott Newton Business
Bessie Cameron Smith Society
Composing Room
Lochamy McLean, Dixie B. Ray,
Michael Valen, Jasper Swearingen
Thomas Mattocks.
Subscriptioa Ralea:
One Tear $4. 6 mos. $2> 3 moa. |1
Entered at the Postoffice at South
ern Pines, N. C., as second class
mail matter
Umber Nirtional Editorial Assn,
and N. C. Press Assn.