Newspapers / The Black Mountain News … / Jan. 29, 1953, edition 1 / Page 4
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Buncombe County's Outstanding Weekly" Carolina / PPESS ASSOCIATION j PUBLISHERS Gordon H. Greenwood George W. Dougherty EDITOR . Gordon H. Partner Partner Greenwood PRESSMAN Herman L. Talley SOCIETY EDITOR Mrt. Elizabeth Dinwiddle MECHANICAL SUPERINTENDENT George W. Dougherty linotype operator .Roy L. RueteM mcmoi-n WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION SUBSCRIPTION RATES Buncombe And McDowell Countie* $2 50 Outside Buncombe And McDowell Counties Entered as Second Class Matter September 13, 1945, at the Pest Office in Black Mountain North Carolina, under the Ac of March 3, 1879 An Example to Follow! When Miss Caroline Hall spoke to the Needlecraft division of the Black Mountain Arts club last week, she made some reveal ing statements. Given the task of preparing and delivering a talk on “The Textile Industries of North Carolina”, Miss Hall, a convert from Mich igan, came up with a set of facts which she calls “Superlatives in North Carolina.” They follow: North Carolina leads all states in Textile production. Robbins Mills Raeford Plant is the largest spun synthetic weaving mill on one floor under one roof in the world. Firestone Textiles plant in Gastonia is the largest textile plant under one roof in the world. Fieldcrest Mills. Spray, is the only organ ization in the world which performs the complete operation of weaving, wiring, and marketing the finished electric blanket. Chatham Manufacturing Co., Elkin, blank ets, is the largest single woolen mill in one unit in the world. Biltmore Industries, Asheville, is by far the world's largest hand-woven homespun industry. Cannon Mills Co., Kannapolis, is the largest towel manufacturing firm in the world. The name “Kannapolis” is from the Greek, and means “loom city.” It is also the largest unincorporated town in the world. Burlington Mills, Greensboro, is the larg est manufacturer of fine quality synthetic textiles in the world. Cone Mills Corporation, Greensboro, oper ates the largest flannel mill and the largest denim mill in the world. Textiles-Incorporated. uasionia, ieaus me nation in the production of fine combed yarns. North Carolina leads the country in num ber of spindles. South Carolina is second. The North Carolina State college has the largest and best equipped school of textiles in the United States. This is an indication of what we can do in the Old North State once our hearts, minds, and hands are put to work. ^ ears ago a group of men set out to make North Carolina first in the textile industry. Many of them have long since been forgotten, but the pioneer work they did lives on as a tri bute to the native ability of those who live within the borders of North Carolina. As one can see they made the Tar Heel state first in the world, not just the United States. But why confine our activities to the tex tile industry? Why not branch out into other lines that will prove just as profitable and just as much of an asset as the manu facture of hose, cloth, and allied products? We have the climate, the water, the power, the leadership, and native labor that rank with the best. Success will surely come if we attack with the same vigor and intelligence as did the leaders of the textile industry. If paying tribute to these leaders let us not be envious of their accomplishments, but follow their example to bring diversified industry to our state and community. They had no magic formula, except hard work, planning, initiative, and a fierce desire to make their dream a reality. All of these are available to those of us who are sincere in our desire to see our state make greater strides in the years ahead. Victory May Be Near! Polio seems ripe for a knockout blow. Scientists believe that the end is approach ing for this disease which has caused more suffering and crippled more people than some of our major wars. It now seems certain that ere too many years have passed medical men will have pulled the veil and flung back the curtain from this scourge that has plagued genera tion after generation. But as the research fight against polio becomes more hopeful, the epidemic impact of the disease is in creasing. In 1952, polio hit the nation with record force for the fifth straight year. And for the fifth straight year, March of Dimes funds came to the aid of tens of thousands of victims. Polio seems to be putting up a last titantic struggle just before joining the ranks of conquered diseases — because hopes are strong that it will be conquered. As polio casts its shadow over the potential victims of 1953, the need for a quick knock out blow grows in significance. That punch will take a tremendous amount of March of Dimes funds. We must make certain that as in the past, no polio patient goes without care for lack of funds. Join the March of Dimes, light up your house tonight and send your dimes and dollars soaring to victory as the Mothers March on Polio. Your dimes, your dollars will help insure prompt and adequate treatment for those who are unfortunate enough to be struck down with this crippler of mankind, polio. Give generously that others may walk. PURPOSE—The purpose of this column will always be to render the greatest good' to the largest number of people. This is an ambitious objective and will require a great deal of effort and perseverance. But I am prepared to search and probe; to inquire and prod; to search out the facts and present them as 1 find them to the readers of this column. Together, we may hope to have at least some small part in altering the course for good. Those individuals and groups desiring to serve their state and the people for the common good will be assisted. Selfish interest will have their toes walked on. GOVERNOR’S ILLNESS — It has been said that a pessimist can see a difficulty in every opportun ity; and an optimist can see an opportunity in every difficulty. I'm an optimist. For instance, I think Gov. Wil liam B. Umstead’s illness may very well add many years to his life and to his usefulness to the people of North Carolina. There has never been a person with more concern for the welfare and comforts of the people and less concern for his own than Gov ernor Bill Umstead. When he was in the United State Senate, he became ill. The senate physician diagnosed his case as pneumonia and prescribed treatment which included abso lute rest. What happened? With a high temperature and a deep cough, Senator Umstead ig nored the advice of the physician and continued to carry out the regular duties of his office, work ing daily from early morning un til nearly midnight. Being Senator Umstead’s ad ministrative assistant, I naturally worried a great deal about him then. That is the main reason I am not so worried about him now. No doubt a cardiagram at that time would have showrn his heart in a condition similar to that which existed a few days ago when he was taken to Watts hospital. Main difference in the two illness es was that, in Washington, Mrs. Uinstead and his family physician were not around to look after Mr. Umstead’s health. These two—the wife and the physician—are the only tw'o peo ple I can think of right now who can influence him with regard to his health and taking care of him self. OWN MASTER—Come to think of it, I don’t know anyone, includ ing those two just mentioned, who has much influence with Governor William B. Umstead on anything. He is pretty much his own master; and this may become more appar ent as time goes by. PROTECTION—If Gov. Um stead’s illness keeps his friends from imposing too heavily upon his time for such things as speech es and conferences during the next four years, then it will have been helpful—and my prediction is that the new governor of North Caro lina will be just as active, maybe more so, as any of his predeces sors, will serve out his term and attend the funerals of a lot of his friends who for the past two weeks have been worrying about his health. As you know, Mr. Umstead is not a large man physically. He is slightly built, but is wiry, and has a lot of stamina and endur ance. His mental strength and enthus iasm keeps him moving at a pace which would soon wear out the average fellow. TOPSOIL FOR HIGHWAYS— One of the first matters which will receive the attention of this col umn is that of using the precious topsoil off fine old North Carolina fields in the construction of our highways. It just doesn t make sense on the face of it for the federal govern ment and state governments to spend millions of dollars each and every year to stop soil erosion and to build up the soil while at the same time thousands and thousands of dollars worth of our finest soil is being used on our highways. It will not be necessary to build the farmer a road on which to come to town in all kinds of weath er if he has no soil left at home on which to grow his crops. He will have nothing to bring with him to sell; and therefore no money with which to buy his needs. A serious situation is becoming more serious daily as we continue to dump topsoil on our highways. This subject will receive more and more study; and facts and figures will be provided in later columns. Meantime, if any of our readers will write us about the situation in regard to this in their own com munities, we will appreciate it. No names will be used. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE — To me, walking into the governor’s office was a little like returning home after a long absence. The first time I went into the office two weeks ago, I felt like hanging up my hat and going to work. There was Ed Rankin, Lib Duke, Rachael bpears, and Margaret Scott, all of whom were in Wil liam B. Umstead’s office when he was in the U. S. Senate. The work was hard, but we all enjoyed it. The only landmark missing was Betty Claywell of Morganton, but in her place was her best friend in Washington, May Davidson of - Itf M "Some oi de ol' doctors sez all of us folks is crazy some of de tune . . . I guess de new doctors dese days knows just how much of de time . But they is just afraid to say.” Poets Corner beauty I find you in a raindrop, Or in a great oak’s root, I find you in a tiny cloud, Or in a new preen shoot. I find you in a spider's web Silvered in the sun, I find you in a fire fly's glow When day is done. _Clara Lundie Crawford. “I find you in a spider's web Silvered in the sun. No “versifier,” but only a “poet at heart” could have composed these exquisite lines. All true lovers of nature will hear the echo in their hearts. Charlotte, who served as secretary to Congressman Hamilton Jones until the Republicans caught him and he was defeated by Charles Jonas. This crew that is in Governor Umstead’s office is the hardest working team I have been on— and I do not except Wallace Wade’s footba’l outfit at Duke university. NOTES—We are particularly impressed with the fine little pub lication, “North Carolina FACTS" published weekly now by the N. C. Research Institute, with Felix A. Grissette, editorial director. Articles in the first issue had to do with subjects like: “Governors Can’t Succeed Themselves in 15 States” and “Many Counties Named for Former Governors'” and “Governors Enjoy Good Health While on Duty.” Look for Wilson’s veteran rep resentative, Larry I. Moore, Jr., to be one of the powers again in the legislature. When we say “veteran” we mean with reference to service—not to age. We keep hearing reports that Secretary of State Thad Eure will run against Sen. Willis Smith next year. . . .He can do so, of course, and continue his office. If he should lose, well, it’s still a long wav from 1954 to 1956 when he would come up for re-election. MORE WASTE—Last week we mentioned the waste resulting from money being spent to con serve precious topsoil while at the same time this soil, heavy with plant food, is used to build our highways. This is only one way in which the taxpayers' money is being diverted from its intended purpose. Our State Highway Dept, spends an enormous amount of money each year—and a lot of it is wast ed. The majority of our State em ployees are hard-working and hon est, but Washington has no mon opoly on graft and corruption in government. It is high time for us to take a look in our owti closets before more money is swept down the drain. INVESTIGATION NEEDED — The sooner the Legislature pro vides machinery for a wholesale investigation of the N. C. Highway Dept., the better it will be for the taxpayer. The member of this Legislature who introduces such legislation will be doing his State a noble service. It should be done It must be done. Once an inves tigation committee is established to receive and check on informa tion furnished it, the facts w’ill be amazing! GIFTS—The public was shock ed to learn that employees and of ficials of the Federal Government had accepted expensive gifts and entertainment from those desiring to do business with Uncle Sam. Do you think such activity is confined to the National Capital? Then you should stand at the receiving door of our own State Highway Department here in Raleigh the week preceding Christmas and watch the carts of hams and other more expensive looking gifts be ing delivered to the employees and officials. Imagine the same procedure be ing followed at the ten division headquarters throughout the State and you begin to get some idea of what we are talking about. Do you think for one minute all those gifts are from Aunt Emma ? Or do you believe they come from people who expect to make the recipient say “Uncle” when the chips are down ? A CASE—Believe me, a case of whiskey to a two-hundred-dollar a-month highway inspector is a small amount when compared to the fact that the inspector has the full authority to approve, let us say, Material B instead of Ma terial A as meeting the specifica tions on a road costing the state a million dollars to build. Said case of whiskey might well cost the state—taxpayers, that is, —$50,000 and, my friends, that is expensive whiskey. FULL SCALE—Let us repeat. If and when a full scale investiga tion is made, hundreds and hun dreds of shady instances occurr ing throughout this fair state of ours will come to light. In the meanwhile, any information furn ished this column will be useful in bringing about a thorough in vestigation. The source will, of course, be kept confidential. I am sure the majority of our public servants are above reproach and will, therefore, welcome the investigation the same as you and I. It is long overdue. TURNPIKE—While on the sub ject of roads and investigations, it is time also for the Legislature to find out what has happened since it passed the necessary leg islation at its last session to per mit the construction of a 200-mil lion-dollar toll road stretching across the Piedmont from the Charlotte-Gastonia area to Mount Airy. Any investigation should include a very close look at the manner of procedure followed so far in con nection with the proposed road. The public is entitled to know the facts. NEW DAY—Remember the good old days when a political cam paign, once finished, was wrapped up and ill feelings melted in the warm sunlight of party harmonv? Remember 1936 when Dr. Ralph McDonald was finally knocked out in that famous long count? But came the fall of 1936—despite the fact that Dr. Ralph was con fined to a Black Mountain sani torium with TB—The Democrats pulled together behind FDR and Clyde R. Hoey? Used to be that, when the de cisions were in, the final whistle had blown, and the crowds had de parted, the game was over. Well they were the good old days. Now we must go into extra in nings, overtimes, and what have vou Although the Olive-umstead campaign was concluded eight months ago, it still proceeds apace. stink bomb set to explode in Smithfield on the day of Gov.Bill Umstead's inauguration, and thus to take the news play away from same, is now sputtering merrily ‘"'now that the matter has been opened again, many a day may go bv ere it is closed again. The home team must next have its turn a bat: and so marches in close har mony North Carolina s grand old Democratic party. THE SEARCH Some time ago It Gov. Luther Hodges received from 10-year-old Beamon Thomas ■i letter with reference to his be ing appointed a State Senate page. However, Beamon didn t include hi! home address. The letter was postmarked Raleigh. Mr. Hodges is an exceedingly busy man. hut Beamon will he bpreud to ’learn that Lieutenant Governor Hodge.- went to t,.< t. ble to check through several sources, including the rolls of the dtv schools of Raleigh to secure Beamon’s address in order that he might write the lad a personal letter. The little incident makes me feel proud, too—proud of Lt. Goi. Luther Hodges. DEFENSE DIRECTOR — T.. F. Bailey, former mayor ot High 1’oint. was the first appoint ment made by «ov L msteadTh = was a compliment o Bill Bailey. It was also a compliment to Gov. I instead; and fortunate for the sfue that Bill Bailey would serve in the capacity of director of our civil defense program. I was present recently when Bailev was offered an opportunity in private business which would have raid him double the salary So wH? receive in h,s new ob-Jt 'E„. tn«-re,<rf - public service. . Tf «*p orp not moving m direction of war. then spending a lot of mone> ^ ' for armaments. Bill Bade) • the Civil Defense program f Hich Point. He was a colonel in the last war. He realized tha 1 next war will be fought byW ians as well a? b> th» . He thus knows the nece-i heing alert and P our chi, dren and his. If.war comes, you »"d 1 will ,o glad Rill Bailey was more n erestod in his children and our ban in the amount of salary he ■ould make. If Gov. Bill can get a Bill Bailey o fill all of his appointment;. hen the people of North Carolina ihould feel fortunate indeed. NEW OUTLETS — We appre • iate the fine reception the column s receiving. Among the fine pap ers which have started running Woundup since we took o\er ar he following: Cherokee Scout in durnhv McDowell News, Marion; Cleveland Times, Shelby; Farm ,-ille Enterprise, Farmville: Ccur er-Times. Roxboro; Smithfield lerald. Smithfield; News-Journal, ■tacford; The Enter price, "llliani; iton: Franklin Times, Louisburg. md Mocksville Enterprise, Mocks •ille. This brings to 53 the total num r of papers getting the column, loir combined circulation 1»>1,(H)0. Hope to see you right here next ek. here fo!' "e g°to Jvc VOU mv impression* T" u ♦ go ng "" in the new o{ vvha' , i - most of you CCT"uJ the make up of the realize that cj,PK- what new congress .*« P™'- > many of us wo M deo '■ - a .h. fluence in connection with «P preaching legislation. Office Setup Rut before I go further let me ,gam tell you something about my 'f ' Helms is my administrat ive assistant He keeps up witn ms in th. legislative work that am called upon to perfonn- >^ imc3 he will be able to an wet --s^ra sraasw-sa f he is contacted hi re in 1>> ,1tier bv mail or telephone. Some jme> 1 »m Urf -p *>' .ccasionally days, on some he army ' that keep.-, me ou* for considerable time. John K. Slear, »>, years was with Con, winkle, Jones, - rison, is secretary m • is always ready t with various stover in an effort to a than. Don't hesitat. as and when his needed. We have an ex, y.,tinp ladies in th. jikewise anxious to service that they r;r: of North Carolina: Recently, Mrs. i| Newton, who has with my office fr ninp. has returned and taken a posit Hickory Daily R, her lonsr-time journ . She has been a m, ■ junct to this offset reprets very much - leave Washington. I 1 ti * 1 0 h ii i t i of her newspaper in..- ■ too preat for her a position that was off- Jj tainly, The Hickory \< has the eonpratula- 9 one of u» here in - '9 securing the servic. y. 9 Furthermore, she ! staunch and true I> had a keen insipht in-. . 'i problems constant!) ..-..ml Washinpton. We very much. We have recenti) m I office Miss lh»ri. —Turn This is The Picture of a Man Spending $2 a Year Yes, this man, who could be any one of thousands of you: N friends here in the Swannanoa Valley is keeping up with the | home news by reading his hometown newspaper, The Blacs ' Mountains News. He looks happy because every week the news is brougiu to his home for the small token price of only $2 per year He looks happy, too, because it is all about his friends and neighbors and the events which interest him most. And—it brings the news that all the family can read with pleasure and enjoyment. If it happened in the Swannanoa Valley, you’ll read about it in the NEWS. For a year’s enjoyment sign and return the subscription blank below - Do it today . . . notv subscription blank SEND ME THE BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS FOR ONE YEAR FOf! WHICH I ENCLOSE CHECK-MONEY ORDER—FOR $2. s£i Name Street Address or Host Office Box No. Town , . 4 1 iNote: Outside of Buncombe or McOcv. co nt'es »he price is S3 per yi
The Black Mountain News (Black Mountain, N.C.)
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Jan. 29, 1953, edition 1
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