QzftoSma, PRES s ASSOCIATION PuMWtad Ewy Thursday Raeford, N.C 283 76 119 W. El wood Avenue Subscription Kites In Advince Pet Yen - $5.00 6 Months - $2.75 3 Months - S1 -SO PAUL DICKSON PubliAer-Editor SAM C MORRIS General Manager KAY PIOTRZKOWSKI Associate Editor MRS. PAUL DICKSON Society Editor JAMACHESSER Reporter Second Class Postage at Kaeford. N. C. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1973 As We See Kay Piotrzkowski "Smoking marijuana isn't any worse than, perhaps not as bad as, drinking alcoholic beverages." This is an oft heard defense for the illegal smoking of pot. Many parents, highballs in hand, wonder how to refute this seemingly logical argument. The first and most obvious rebuttal is the fact that although consumption of alcoholic beverages is legal in the United States (with some geographic and age restrictions), the use or possession of marijuana is illegal. One involves the risk of fine, imprisonment and a criminal record, the other does not. The fact one action or pattern is considered legally permissable has no bearing on the wisdom or legality of related but distinctly separate acts. For instance some states have in recent years enacted liberal abortion laws. Many people consider abortion synonymous with murder. But it does not necessarily follow that these people may commit murder and call it legal on the basis that: abortion is legal, 1 believe abortion is murder, therefore, 1 may murder legally. The drug - alcohol controversy presents the same fallacious premise: the use of .alcoholic beverages is permissable. I believe results of using alcohol and marijuana to be the same; therefore, 1 may legally use marijuana. During prohibition many people felt about alcoholic beverages the way some feel about marijuana today. Speak - easies and bootlegging flourished. The fact these existed did not make them correct, acceptable or legal. All such activities were illegal and although some participants survived unscathed, arrests and convictions were numerous. The citizens of the United States finally achieved, through accepted legal means, the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. The manufacture, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages once again became legal. Public intoxication or driving while under the influence of alcoholic beverages is another matter. These are illegal acts and are punishable under the law. There are tests which enable law enforcement officers to scientifically determine if a suspect is intoxicated. To our knowledge, there are, as yet, no such simple tests in common usage pertaining to the degree of a marijuana - induced high. Does anyone know, at the present time, whether there are any safe limits as a result of smoking grass? Are coordination, reaction and decision making capabilities functioning normally after three puffs of Mary Jane? If so, must a user take five drags, eight puffs or smoke a whole joint before the danger point is reached? Laws governing possession and use of marijuana may be unreasonable, but this is no license for breaking these laws. People who insist on using marijuana do so with full knowledge of penalties to be faced upon arrest and conviction. In many states penalties for simple possession of marijuana have been reduced. A conviction of simple possession in Texas used to bring a whopping 25 - year sentence. Now the penalty in that state for possession of small amounts of Mary Jane is six months. Beginning last month in Oregon possession of small amounts of marijuana is no longer viewed as a crime but as a violation similar to overtime parking. In North Carolina simple possession of less than 5 grams (just over 1/5 ounce) of marijuana can result in a two - year sentence. More than that amount can earn a five - year sentence. After January 1 the two - year penalty will extend to possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. By comparison it seems most incongruous that in this state maximum penalty for carrying a concealed weapon is S500 fine or six months in jail with judges generally levying only a S50 fine and costs. Which is more potentially lethal, a loaded pistol or a few grams of marijuana? Many people seem to feel smoking marijuana in the privacy of their own home should not be considered a crime. Others favor punishing pushers but not users. How can we reconcile these viewpoints? If it is illegal to sell, how can buying and using be legal? These are among the many questions to be answered before Americans have marijuana laws that can be lived with. The thorny question of legalized pot has been with us many years and yet little progress seems to have been made in reaching definitive conclusions on the long range effects of moderate use of grass. Certainly a distinction must be made between marijuana and the hard drugs such as cocain and heroin - the true destroyers. =?* If all that supporters of legalized marijuana say is true: "law makers erred...current laws were enacted before sufficient evidence concerning effects of pot existed..."-these supporters of legalized grass should have no difficulty in presenting a strong, thoroughly researched and well documented case through the legal channels available to them. If afl they claim is true, much effort is being wasted in trying to beat or break the law. This effort should instead be directed at trying to change the laws. We believe the sale and use of marijuana, at some future date, wilt undoubtedly be permitted under the laws of this country. Browsing in the files of The Newt-Journal 25 years ago Tharadav, November 25,1948 The mechanical inipection lane of the North Carolina Dipartment of Motor VMtjdas will open in Raeford on Saturday morning, Novemhefc^, anil Will ?. He here ilirouuh Tuesday. November JO. A portrait of the lata Thomas B. Upchurch w*? unveiled at a ceremony al Upchurch school north of Raeford Sunday afternoon. From Poole's Medley: There were two graves only on the plot of ground laid off for a cemetery when we cam to Raeford in 1905, and now there are hundred*. 'This winter we are feced with certain ehortioee The Midnight Oil by Jama Chester There comcs a time, usually on Sunday morning, when even the laziest among us decides it is impossible to sit in his car without getting dust on his duds, and so, the Sunday car cleaning is begun. The Sunday car cleaning is a semi - annual event at our house. It does not consist of merely washing and vaccuuming the car, oh no. We do that at least four times per annum. The Sunday car cleaning is more. It begins around 10 a.m. with a car wash. TTien comes the rub scrub, followed by the chrome polish, body compound, window wash, car wax, upholstery cleaning, floor mat washing and carpet cleaning which all results in a dean machine, usually. However, having a clean car this week wasn't worth all the effort. In other words, after looking at the freshly washed and polished vehicle in the driveway, Cap and 1 realized we want a new one. It is at times like this wives discover the one sport that can tear their men from weekend television, car hunting. Now, while car hunting is not a lot more exciting than football, at least it gives the wife some avenue of participation. Puppy Creek Philosopher Dear editor: If you think times are out of joint because we're running out of oil, gas, bailing wire, honesty and other things we're told we're going to have to do without, consider the standing of the fireplace. It has been completely reversed. Once upon a time the fireplace was the average man's source of heat, the first thing a pioneer did was build a fireplace and chimney and build his house on to it, but last night while I was conserving electricity by turning off the T.V. set during commercials I read that "if you have a fireplace and you're rich, you order some firewood and stay warm while the rest of us shiver." This is true. A friend of mine from the city said he was in a supermarket the other day and saw firewood on sale for three sticks for SI .49. This makes a man stop and think as winter is closing in on us and I have been reflecting on some of the ideas being advanced to conserve energy. One idea is to close service stations on weekends. This will save gas sales on Saturday and Sunday all right but it sure will run sales up on Friday. It will also run up the sales of funnels and five - gallon gas cans. Another idea is to ban all driving on Sunday. The trouble with this is that itil also ban most patronage tt cafes drive - ins, motels, football games and churches, and I'm sure the public u ready for both of the last two. One maybe, but which one I'm not sure. I guess you notice nobody ir Washington is brave enough to suggest people cut their television watching time in half. And I have waited in vair to hear somebody suggest banning tractor - driving three 7tyt a week although I stand ready to mate On sacrifice. One expert said if everybody don hi part in saving fuel and we have a mik winter, we might git by. You redcoi this is right?! mean, I never have seen a winter yet that wasn't cold. ProbabI; the only answer is for everybody to tun his furnace off and move to Florida. Yours faithfully JJk She usually gets to select the most important aspect of the new car, the color which is usually covered with dust anyway. Generous husbands have even been known to allow wives to request an interior color, or other particular convenience. I am presently involved in a somewhat concentrated campaign to convince my husband we should take turns in selecting the whoooole car. I decided on this line of action after much deliberation over my gasoline receipts and after finding several brochures on two seater sports cars stashed among my husband's socks. I figure since Cap has picked out the last four cars, it will be my tjfrn for a long time. If this plan works, it will take years to catch up on my turns. Cap has decided on the last four cars purchased with only a minimum of my economy minded opinion. If more wives could convince their husbands to try this plan, we could covcr the roads with dirty economy cars and save a little gasoline. Senator Sam Ervin Says WASHINGTON - Congress in a series of "energy sessions" is responding quickly to the President's request for legislation to meet the fuel shortage. In a span of twelve days, it has sent to the White House two major energy bills and the Senate has passed a third measure giving him sweeping emergency powers to cope with the situation. Within a week after the President delivered his Energy Message to the Nation, Congress completed action on the Alaskan pipeline bill which is designed to increase domestic oil supplies by 1977, and on the fuel allocation bill which required the President to establish within 30 days a program of allocation of crude oil, residual oil and refined products. On November 19, the Senate completed action on the emergency petroleum bill which grants broad powers to the President to meet an impending national shortage of three million barrels of oil a day. The bill declares that a state of emergency exists and directs the President to establish plans to conserve scarce fuels, alleviate shortages, and increase domestic energy supplies. It also provides for the conversion of certain fossil ? fueled powerplants from oil or gas to coal or other fuels, and allows variances from air pollution control standards and from the National Environmental Policy Act under certain conditions. If any doubt yet exists in the minds of our citizens, the legislation is needed because we are faced with severe shortages of energy supplies - the first peacetime crisis of this nature in our history. This winter we are facing oil shortages of 20 percent or more with prospects of economic dislocations and personal hardship*. The suddenness of the Arab oil cutoff hat brought us to the brink of decisions that seemed unthinkable two months ago. In all, the Senate voted on 66 amendments during the debate on S. 2589, the National Energy Emergency Act. in one of the closest votes, the Senate rejected an amendment which I favored tha| would have limited public ,. ? I ,A |1 ll ? ? M f* ||u transportation 01 icnooi cfuioren to tne school nearest their Somas in order to save fuel. x The Senate modified the Mil reported by tht Senate Interior and Insular Affafcl Commit tM to a number of * amhoricad the from fuel burning, provided penalties for fuel black ? marketeering, permitted unemployment insurance benefits to persons adversely affected by the emergency, asked for the continuance of U.S. - Canadian negotiations on the importation of petroleum into this country, authorized the President to place limitations on energy consumption instead of operating hours of commercial establishments, required controls to be applied equitably to all businesses whether large or small, called for U.S. agreements with other nations to improve our energy supplies, and required that Congress be provided information concerning the impact of the crisis on the economy. The Senate bill also sought to remedy a major concern of many Americans regarding news accounts of the export of petroleum to other countries. The Senate adopted an amendment authorizing the President to terminate petroleum exports which have an adverse impact on domestic supplies. The President's request for legislation authorizing the use of year - round daylight savings time as an energy conservation measure is being handled as a separate bill. That measure has been ordered favorably reported by the Senate Commerce and House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committees, and is expected to be acted upon shortly. I Stories Behind Words By William S. Penfield Donnybrook In 1204 a fair was established in the billage of Donnybrook, now a part of Dublin, Ireland. The fair originally was devoted to business, serving as a place where merchants brought their goods to sell. Over the years the business aspect declined and the event developed into a pteaaure fair, increasing in bolpterous activity until It was commonly accompanied by lighting and bloodshed. The. fair became so wild that it was discontinued in I8S5. But long before thaa the teim "Donnybrook fair," later shortened to "donnyfcrook," was applied to any riotouaiceae or brawl. CLIFF BLUE ? ? ? People & Issues TOP RACES IN 1974 . .. Outside of the U. S. Senate seat it now appear) that the top political contests in North Carolina may center around seats on the State Court of Appeals and the State Supreme Court. Heretofore, the court seats while elective, usually went by appointment but with last year's age limit amendment to the State Constitution, on judicial positions this will likely be a thing of the past. Last week Superior Court Judge William Copeland of Murfreesboro announced his candidacy for Associate Justice of the N. C. Supreme Court. Two other Superior Court Judges, Robert M. Martin of High Point and Edward B. Clark of Elizabethtown filed with the State Board of Elections to run as Democrats next year for seats on the State Court of Appeals. Martin is seeking the seat being vacated by Judge Hugh B. Campbell and Clark filed for the seat formerly held by Judge Raymond B. Mallard. ELIZABETHTOWN ... I never go through Elizabethtown without thinking about the late Mrs. E. E. McCulloch, longtime editor of the Bladen Journal. I also thought of Mrs. McCulloch as a chamber of commerce for Elizabethtown which in recent years has been growing and expanding with many new homes and industries, which 1 observed enroute to and from Wilmington on Thanksgiving Day. SOCIAL SECURITY . . . Social Security is a great thing. To my way of thinking along with bank insurance, these are two of the greatest pieces of legislation promoted by the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. What 1 don't like about Social Security is the penalty put upon earnings above a very limited income. We think a person should be able to make at least S6.000 without any penalty being imposed. We believe that one thing causing shortages is that not enough people are working. Many of our retired people would like to work, but hesitate to do so when every time they earn a dollar SO cents must go back to the government. As Social Security payments are being upped, we think it a good time to up the amount our senior citizens can earn without being penalized. MEDICAL MANPOWER ... It looks like the proposal State Rep. Jay Huskins of Statesvilie is planning to offer could well be the answer the General Assembly will buy regarding doctor shortage. Rep. Huskini, co-chairman of the Medical Manpowar Study Commission is preparing a report recommending a two - year medical school at East Carolina University. This recommendation, if enacted, would carry ECU over to the 1975 General Assembly. If adopted the Huskins recommendation would run counter to the recommendations of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. The Huskins plan would expand the ECU one - year medical school program to two years, with the freshman class being expanded from "20 to 30 to 40 as rapidly as possible, and that the program be adequately funded." Sounds like a reasonable plan! MONGER . . . Ralph Monger, Jr., of Sanford, Supervisory Revenue Collector for Area Four of the N. C. Dept. of Revenue for 30 years, rather than accept a demotion and a transfer offered him by the Holshouser Administration has taken retirement. A former President of the State Employees Association, now only 54 years old, more may be heard from Monger in the coming months. The Sanford man says he was told there was absolutely no complaint about his work. His "firing" seems to have been politics, pure and simple. Monger's job was above the average as he had ten counties under his supervision. Except for Holshouser's campaign statements saying that state workers doing a good job had no need to fear, he no doubt would have expected to be moved out to make room for a "deserving Republican." Talk is now being heard that Monger would make a good candidate for lieutenant governor. His age is ok. He is an able speaker. He is an active churchman, and having served a^ President of the State Employees Association gives him a statewide group whfre he could expect good support. For several years in the 1940's and 1950's he served as Reading Clerk in the State House which also gives him contacts over the state. Financially, Monger has nothing to worry about. If he is looking for something to keep him busy the lieutenant governor's race might be the answer. Just One Thing After Another By Carl Gotrch One of our friends in New Bern tells us that she was in the A & P store in her town and heard an interesting discussion between one of the clerks and a customer. The customer waftted some "Secretary Hash." It took her some little time before she succeeded in letting the man know what she was after. * * ? Former Governor Bill Tuck of Virginia undoubtedly possesses a number of distinctions. So do other governors. But there's one distinction Bill has which we do not believe is shared by any other Governor. He puts sugar into his soup. Says it brings out the flavor. ? * ? How's your health?Are you having ailments which keep you from feeling up to par'JHave you been unable to find a remedy which will help you get rid of your troubles? Then read the following list of "cures" which for many years have been used religiously by some folks in North Carolina. Maybe you can find something in the list which will help you to feel better. Anyway, we hope so. When the baby has "hives," give it red alder tea. Mare's milk is good remedy for whooping cough. Put a dime in the upper lip to stop nose bleed. Wear sulphur in the shoes to ward off disease. Wear a dime around the neck to prevent painful teething. To prevent nightmares place shoes under the bed with toes pointing away from you. When the baby has "thrush," let it drink water from the shoe of a black ? eyed woman. Warts will disappear if you steal a neighbor's dishrag and wipe it across them. And here's some more: A sty can be removed by running it over with the tip of a black cat's tail. To cure cramps in the feet turn your shoes bottom side up before going to bed. Carry an Irish potato to ward off rheumatism. A buck - eye, if carried all the time, will ward off rheumatism also. To stop some kinds of bleeding tie a yarn string around the finger. Collect gray "sellar bugs," tie them in a rag and place around a child's neck to prevent difficult teething. Place a Bible under the pillow and you will never have nightmares. Cure anemia with sassafras root. Yellow jaundice can be cured with Mayapple root. Give calamus root for indigestion. Snake root will cure fever. For boils, drink te* made from red alder instead of water for several days and the boils will entirely disappear. Smear the brow with crushed onions for headache. To bathe the forehead with water la See JUST ONE THING, Pay 1S