"Buncombe County'* Outstanding Woakly" , l r...l ZT ^ North Carolina /PUSS association?) EDITOR i PRESSMAN PUBLISHER Gordon H Greenwood Herman L. Talley SOCIETY EDITOR Mr*. El zabeth Dinwiddle LINOTYPE OPERATOR F. S. Cunningham MECHANICAL SUPERINTENDENT Roy L. Rowell SUBSCRIPTION RATES Buncombe And McDowell Coun*ies_ Outside Buncombe And McDowell Counties Entered as Second Class Matter September 13 1945. Post Office in Black Mountain, North Carolina under of March 3, 1879. $2.00 $2.50 at the the Act Who Wool,I Benefit? Statements that the proposed plan to con solidate the governmental forces of Bun combe county and the City of Asheville is gaining support causes the News to ask: By whom? The Greater Asheville Council, composed of men within the corporate limits of the city, has recommended that the proposal be studied. The GAC, of course, was organized with the express purpose of fostering varied developments and activties in the greater Asheville and Western North Carolina area. Until more convincing evidence is sub mitted that the proposal would benefit equally the city and county residents, we’ll reserve judgment. We wonder if the GAC members and me City Council are thinking of a lower water rate for county residents, for lower taxes, better roads, better medical services, county wide sewer service, and more nearly ade quate schools. On the other hand, have they considered these angles? Or is there an angle? The News has no quarrel with GAC, the members of the Asheville City Council, or with anyone else connected with this proposal. But as the “county newspaper" we feel it is our duty to raise a few of these questions. You’ll hear more about this from us later. PASSING THOUGHT—The way things are shaping up, the Duke Carol ina game is going to be one of the same old kind we have be come accustomed to expect when these two gentle giants get going on the grid. Only the championship of the Big Four will be at stake. But, as usual, anything can happen and probably will. Better start get ting your tickets linedup. IN' COLORS—Well, we see the beautiful patrol cars are finally out on the road—red, yellow, green, and what have you. It’s a sneak ing trick, this thing of painting police cars like your cousin Ed’s, but it seems that anything goes in this day of trying to cope with modern traffic conditions and care less driving. It may be that governors on cars are the only real solution to our problem. And by that I don’t mean an Umstead, Scott, Cherry, or Hoey on every vehicle. That would be just too, too, but what we need is something that will keep the speed of the car down to 55 miles an hour. The State, if really interested in reducing highway fatalities, might set the example by putting gov ernors on all state-owned vehicles other than natrol cars. If the big majority of wrecks are, as they say, caused by excessive speed, then why not control it—in a cer tain way. Inccidentally, sprawling Robeson county, largest in the State but far down the list population-wise, leads the State in highway fatalities. LET US HOPE—On Wednesday morning, October 28, the State Highway Patrol got its sixth boss in five years. It is to be hoped that enough henefit will be de rived from the move transferring James R. Smith from his equip ment position to commander of the patrol to offset the detriment to morale that will be caused by this most recent change. It is also hoped that W. B. Lentz will do a better job of checking inventory equipment and stopping petty graft than Smith was able to do—as indicated by the newspaper reports to the effect that the State Bureau of Investigation is investi gating these supposed irregulari ties. SINCERELY YOURS- -The R;> botyper is a wonderful machine in that it makes all letters look like personal letters written specially to you. No doubt that is why Kerr Scott has decided to use it in con tacting folks across the State re garding his candidacy for the U. S. Senate. The robotyper plant for this sec tion of the U. S. A. is in Hender sonville. The robotyper, including the machine which cuts the letter, sells for about $1,200, rents for ap proximately $60 per month. Say, if you wanted a letter to go out to 5,000 people. All right. It would cost you in the neighbor hood of $4,000, everything included, to get those letters—if they were personal letters. If they were not personal, people receiving them, would not pay too much attention to them, throwing them in the New York file, fancy name for the wastebasket, as just so much more mimeographed material. The re cipients would not feel "singled out” as a particular friend of the writer. But you want these letters to seem personal, because you are shooting for personal appeal— maybe even money, who knows ? Believe it or not, the robotyper does the trick. You cut the mas ter letter with one of the ma chines. After this is done, you are ready to go to town; for the other machine—the typewriter—handles it just like the old player piano tinkling off ”1 Wonder Who’s Kiss ing Her Now.” The keys go fly ing, doing 100 words a minute or better, and zing, the letter is fin ished. The address at the top is put on by the stenographer. All you have to do under “Sincerely yours” is sign your name. Presto! A personal letter. You can turn them out by the hundreds in little or no time. DOWN THE LANE—The robo typer agent for this area lives in Asheboro. In Raleigh last week, he was in an awful hurry. He had to install a robotyper for W. Kerr Scott. Had Mr. Scott opened head quarters? Well, yes and no. Then where was the machine going. Oh, came the nonchalant reply, out to Mrs. Grace Lane’s home on Brooks avenue. And who is Mrs. Lane? Well, first of all, of course, a rabid Kerr Scott fan. And, on top of that, one of the best stenographers in these parts. Youngish, attractive, and efficient. She used to work in the Markets Division of the State Agriculture Department. If memory faileth not, she later labored as stenographer in the of fice of the Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture. Whether she did or she didn’t makes little differ ence. But when Kerr Sccott made George Ross director of the De partment of Conservation and De velopment, lo and behold, Mrs. Grace Lane became the high-salar ied administrative officer of C&D. She kept that job until a few months ago when Ben Douglas went in as director. The job is now vacant. It’s a peach, too, but Douglas is looking for a man to fill it. Now Mrs. Lane is—apparently— robotyping. All she needs is a good mailing list. In this connec tion, it is understood that Mr. Scott attempted to secure the alumni list of State College about two weeks ago. Failing in his first attempt, he turned to New Alumni Presi dent Frank Turner. He received no encouragement and hinted broadly that State might be want ing some favors from him when he became U. S. Senator. But this high pressure works both ways, for W. Kerr Scott might want, and need, some favor? from State College faculty mem bers well before he goes to Wash ington. However, nevertheless, and meantime, robotype me a letter— if you just sign yours sincerely. Or—ho hum—and other terms of endearment. DRAGGING BOTTOM — State school officials aren't shouting .t from the rooftops, but in private conversation they admit that the teacher shortage has at last be come really serious. Reports we get indicate that sev eral schools in North Carolina have not been able as yet to obtain their full quotas of teachers for this year. Principals say they don't know where to turn to find them. Hundreds of new classrooms will be built within the next two years. It looks as if we are finding it much easier to buy steel, mortar, and brick than to locate teachers. A few weeks ago an instructor in one of the Eastern North Caro lina schools quit the classroom be cause he realized he could make much more money driving a truck. A school principal in one of the Piedmont high schools had nine girls in his graduating class last spring who could have gone to col lege. He had talked to them throughout the year and was con vinced they would make good teachers. During the summer two of them got married and the other seven took jobs in a nearby indus trial plant which would pay them more at 18 than they would receive as teachers at the age of 22. Pay scale, however, is not the only stumbling block confronting educators attempting to persuade high school and college students to enter the profession and to dis courage teachers from leaving it. Let’s face it. Students are be coming more difficult, day by day, to teach. They are spoiled rotten by their parents and in general have little respect for school auth ority. Look for the State Board of Ed ucation to take some vigorous ac tion—perhaps some new approach to the teacher shortage problem. —On Sept. 1, North Carolina’s 1953 flue-cured tobacco production was estimated at 793,375,000 pounds, 11.7 per cent below 1952. ' \ih •— » ■ — A Doctor’s prescription is some thing the Doc thinks you has tc have . . . Sho’ do cost you a lot . . And you still don’t know jus' whai you has got. Look Who’s Here! Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Gilbert of Aberdine, Wash., have a daughter born Oct. 30. Tommy is the grand son of Mrs. H. B. Kerlee of Black Mountain. Who, ME? hr Robert Osborn TK* Trov*l«rs So My S#rvic* Three out of four traffic accident* in 1952 involved passenger cars. Only YOU can prevent accidents! LETTERS TO THE EDITOR; — DISTURBED — October 28, 1953. Editor of Black Mountain News Dead Editor: Some questions disturb me great ly. Do we have two different standards of “justice” in North Carolina? Why are Christian peo ple and the churches so indifferent to civic righteousness—but at the same time devoting tremendous energy and “spiritual resources” (prayer meetings and high pub licity) to an evangelistic cam paign? What makes news? Four years ago two boys, ages 16 and 17, were seized by the po lice in Pitt county; frightened and with little or no chance for legal support forced to sign a confes sion—although neither one could read—of a suspected murder, tried by an all-white jury and at once condemned to death. They were from sharecropper families with no record of crime against them—and they are both negroes. Finally, the case grew enough support to file an appeal, but it came in ONE day late—because of the slowness of the affair commanding atten tion of those who wished to seek adequate justice—and the N. C. . Supreme court refused to review ; the case—because of the lateness i of one day. Un this technicality the case ap pealed to federal circuit court and finally to the U. S. Supreme court —in each case the technicality of one day let upholding the N. C. Supreme court but in each case the decision was split. Of these decisions Justice Soper of U. S. Court of Appeals said: The special and unusual circum stances of the present case justify the statement that the constitu tional rights of the prisoners were so clearly violated that the judg ment against them would have been reversed by the Supreme Court of N. C. if it had felt free to entertain their appeal (but be ing one day late etc.”) The two boys are slated to die early in November unless Gover nor Umstead steps into the case and changes the sentence. This he, and he alone, has the power to do, Is North Carolina to have i Sacco-Vanzetti case of its own ? When a U. S. Court judge says the above; when two U. S. Courts ren dered a split decision and wher the case has never been reviewer on its merits but only a techni cality—is there not enough honest doubt existing in the minds of any body that the case should be re viewed and justice done? A white man—Demos \\ oous self confessed slayer of a sheriff is given a life sentence; two col ored boys—illiterates—tried in : small local court clearly showint racial intolerance—are to be exe cuted for allegedly same—bu clearly unproved crime. Is tha N. C. justice? Do enough Chris tian folk in N. C. care about thi; enough to write Governor Umsteai asking him to prevent such i thing? Is there enough civic am state pride to keep this from hap pening—which if it does, will b spread world-wide hy the Commun ists as an example of “democracy in the United States? I am disturbed by these ques tions. Very truly, Edwin M. Hoffman. BEST WEEKLY? Chapel Hill, N. C. October 18, 1953. Dear Libby: I got news, news, and more news I’ll put it down below, and hop that it will fill up some space i the NEWS. I’m having a great time, excep that I do miss those mountain: Whenever anyone asks me whs part of the country I come froi (I usually tell them before the get a chance to ask) I just sa “I’m from thu’ Mountains—u ■ around Black Mountain." Ever; • one usually nods and says, “U1 . yeah, Let’ see, I’ve heard of Bl— : “Yes," sez me, “It’s the home < the Black Mountain News, one ( the states outstanding weekly papers.” And I proceed to tell ‘ them about it. I've done practical ly everything but go out and re- ' sell my copy. College would be wonderful, ■ were it not for those infernal class- < es. * 1 Peekin’ looks real good—espec ially from here—and so do Reflec tions (How’s TV now?) I hurry ( back from Thursday classes every j week just to see if the News has ( arrived. Wish everybody a coke for me and be careful about hanging out the washing—people are talking. Your friend, —David. Department of Motor Vehicles Raleigh, N. C. October 30, 1953. Editor The News Black Mountain, N. C. Dear Sir: I am venturing to approach you on a matter of high public service which I hope you and the other editors of North Carolina will per form in the interest of greater safety and security on the streets and highways of our State. As you know, on January 1 North Carolina will become the forty-fourth state to effectuate a security type Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Law. Experience in most of the other states has dem • onstrated that this type of statute ' greatly benefits everyone and need not cause hardship for anyone when ' its provisions and penalties are '• made known prior to the date en - forcement begins. On the other r hand, in the several states where - that sound precaution was omitted - the law has proved generally inef - fective and unreasonably burden ■ some to a great many motorists. - In the belief that the people are - entitled to know in advance the • stern penalties our new law re quires and the very simple means 3 by which they can be avoided, the " Department of Motor Vehicles will conduct a program of public edu > cation beginning December 1 and • terminating on December 31, the I day before our new statute be comes effective. Obviously our e mission can succeed only if we ■ have the cooperation of North II Carolina’s public spirited news ^ papers. t a g it it is d a d > ie l Beginning shortly belore Decem ber 1, we will send you a series of approximately ten news releases, each of which will officially ex plain a major point in the new law. They will be marked as to date of publication. 1 am sure I speak for the entire State in expressing a sincere hope that you will find space for them in your highly val ued paper. I assure you that they will he newsworthy in every re spect. 1 shall be most grateful if you can find time to drop me a brief note 'of acknowledgment. Should you desire any special information, please do not hesitate to ask us for it. We hope you will look to this Department as the source of official information about the new Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibili ty Law, to the end that the people of North Carolina shall be accur ately and adequately informed. Sincerely, Edward Scheidt, Commissioner Los Angeles, Calif. Oct. 30, 1953. Dear Editor: s- It is our pleasure to send you a >e ‘‘first-day cover” memento of the in issuance of a special stamp com memorating the industry’s 50th an pt niversary. As you may know, these s. “first-day covers’’ are collector’s at items for those interested in m stamps. We feel this event is recognition iy not only of the vital place which JP trucking now holds in America’s y- economy hut of the free-enterprise h. system which provides a climate for economic development unparal °r leled anywhere in the world. In the short span of 50 years, tin- Trucking Industry has grown until today it is Americca’s second largest employer, using more trucks than the rest of the world and offering a variety of transport service unapproached by any other nation. It is no coincidence that the greatest period of development of this nation’s industry and agricul ture parallels the growth of the Trucking Industry. In the years ahead, we pledge every effort and resource to make an ever-increasing contribution to our nation’s welfare. American Trucking Associations, Inc. Walter F. Carey, president. CARD OF THANKS The family of Billy Cline wish to thank their friends and neigh bors for their many acts of kind ness and beautiful floral offerings during their recent bereavement. Mrs. Ruth Cline and Steve, Mr. and Mrs. Hazel Cline and family. BROWNIE TROOP 89 ELECTS OFFICERS The six-week period has ended and so the Brownie Scouts have elected new officers. President of the Christian Brownie Patrol is Pollie Sue Tatham. Treasurer is Barbara Jean Riddle. President of the Safety Brownie Patrol is Kay Frances Goode Wright. Treasurer is Katherine Anne Rogers. Ann Beddingfield was elected reporter of troop 89. WOMAN'S CLUB TO MEET with mrs. McGregor The Black Mountain Woman’s club will meet Wednesday. Nov 11, at 3:30 p.m at the home of Mrs. J. Rupert McGregor, Mon treat. An executive board meeffnj will be held Monday, Nov. 9, at the elementary school lunchroom at 3:30 p.m. The farm driveway, where it en ters the paved highway, is one of the most dangerous spots on the farm. Black Mountain Takes Lead In . County League Trailing 7-6 at halftime the Black Mountain Darkhorse> over come a large dose of first half over confidence at W env rrv ie Thursday n. ;ht last week to go on to win decisively. 3~-i. victory gave the locals the lead in the Buncombe county confer ence Their claim to a clear title will hmgc on their game with Swannanoa Friday. . Wayne Osteen, speedy halfhack, set the WB eleven back on its heels in the opening quarter by racing 60 yards for the first score. The missed point looked larger and larger as the home team scored to take the lead It uas 7-6 at the half. But m the third quarter the Darkhorses sent Osteen over again on a 20 y ard run and shook Reece loose for 45 and a TO Early in the fourth quarter the Colts re covered a W B fumble on their own two and drove 98 yards for the points. Buchanan took it over from two yards out. Just to pro vide a safe margin of victory Reece intercepted a pass and went 70 yards for the final tally Black Mountain racked up 243 yards on the ground to 195 for the losers. The Lineup: Black Mountain (32) E: Calloway. Davis T: Hender son Jones. (1: Jolly. Tolly ( ( a> slin. Corkran Backs: Recce. Buch anan. Osfeen. Parris. Scoring TD: Osteen (2). Reece (2). Buchanan (1). Points after TD: Corkran. Reece Weaverville-Barnardsville (7) E: Bob Embler, Dick Russell. T: Bill Embler. Ingle. G: Buckner, Lindsay. C: Briggs Backs: Ever ette McHone. Tom Russell. Frank McHone. Hensley. Scoring TI): McHone. Points after TD: Embler With The Sick Airs. C. W. Riddle is sick at her home. Insects destroy millions of dol lars worth of stored grain in the United States each year. The nation’s corn production prospect dropped 114,000,000 bush els during August, making it 3, 200,000,000 as of September 1. The United States total wheat production this year is estimated at 1,109,000,000 bushels, 7 per cent above the average. The nation’s 1953 cotton crop prospect improved during August, bringing the current estimate to 15,169,000 bales. The nation’s total production of all vegetables and melons for fresh market this year is expected to exceed that of 1952 by about 5 per cent. — Milk production on North Carolina farms totaled 162,000,000 poi nds (75,348,372 quarts) during August. Commercial vegetable production for fresh market this summer wa3 6 per cent above that of a year eai Her. ; wUfwjTivme f WANTADS I Mu. Goi YEAR-AROUND LIVING. Many Black Mountain business firms are using this emblem (three-quarters of an inch deep) on their business station ery to advertise the town and community. SUGGESTED SOME TIME AGO BY WILLIAM HICKEY AS A CHEAP MEANS OF ADVERTISI ING THE COMMUNITY, THE IDEA HAS CAUGHT THE IMAGINATION AND HAS BEEN WIDELYj ACCEPTED. THE DRAWING WAS BY MISS SARAH KITCHEN. CALL (tot, The Blade Mountain NEWS for full informatics.