Hie Kings Mountain Herald
*™S<’ Established 1889
A weekly newspaper devoted to the promotion of the general welfare and published
for the enlightment, entertainment and benefit of the citizens of Kings Mountain
and Its vicinity, published every Thursday by the Herald Publishing House
Entered as second class matter at the postoffiee at Kings Mountain, N. C., 28086
under Act of Congress of March 3 ,1873.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Martin Harmon.Editor-Publisher
Dick Woodward . Sports Editor
Miss Elizabeth Stewart.Circulation Manager and Socfcwy Editor
Miss Libby Bunch ... .Clerk
MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT
Douglas Houser Russell C. Parrish .Vorman Camp
Paul Jackson Allen Myers Monte Hunter
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TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE
O/ory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
St. Luke 2:H
Christmas 19S3
The celebration of Christmas, A. D.
1963, is underway and will culminate
with the annual traditional rites, literal
ly around the world, on Wednesday.
While theo'ogians note that there
have been some counting errors on fix
ing the date of the birth of Jesus Christ,
both as to year and month, this conten
tion is of no particular moment. The fact
remains that the principals of Jesus of
Nazareth remain the hope and guiding
light of a sinful world.
This year’s Christmas celebration, as
most in the past, will be held against a
backdrop of a difficult year, in which it
has seemed that Christ’s principals are
more remembered than practiced.
A never-ending struggle continues in
South Viet Nam, involving both natives
and Americans. In contrast to last year,
the Russians are indicating for the most
part overtures of friendship, rather than
the familiar sabre-rattling, Red China
having replaced the United States as
Russia's whipping boy, momentarily.
At home, the official period of mourn
ing for the late President John F. Ken
nedy has just ended, Mr. Kennedy hav
ing been the nation's fourth chief execu
tive to die from an assassin’s bullet, an
event that numbed the nation.
Filling the pages of each daily news
paper are tragic events.
Yet the Prince of Peace lives on.
Ear.t Germany is momentarily breach
ing the hated wall, allowing West Ger
mans passes to see their loved ones dur
ing the Christmas season. Regardless of
motive of the East German government,
it has been pointed out, the fact of the
happy reunions speaks for itself.
In Kings Mountain and throughout the
nation, citizens better endowed with this
world’s goods are providing Christmas
cheer for the unfortunate, the sick, and
poor.
All may mourn the failure of human
beings to measure up to teachings of
Jesus Christ, but may also well reflect
on the likely worse state of this com
munity and the world were it not for
the renaseense of the spii'it generated
by the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Christmas Presents
Neighboring Gastonia is getting two
important Christmas presents.
One is the advance opening of the 10.8
mile link of Interstate 85, the four-lane
super highway by-passing Gastonia to
the north.
The other is the agreement of Sou
thern Railway Company to move its pas
senger and freight terminals north to a
less congested area.
Ths major link of Interstate 85 is open
ing six months ahead of schedule, re
flecting both the enviable construction
weather of the past year and the push
given the work by the construction
crews and highway department. is
estimated that 40 percent of the traffic,
representing “through” motorists, will
be removed from Franklin avenue, W'hich
numbers 22 traffic signals. This will be
a boon to local area citizens too, who
have business in Charlotte or points
north.
Though there is a legal barrier to hur
dle in the Southern Railway develop
ment, its proponents think the barrier
naviKable. It will be an added traffic
boon. Gastonia, like Kings Mountain, is
bi-sected by the railroad, has a paucity
Of underpass. Even quick-passing pas
senger trains cause traffic jam-ups. and
shifting freights create both jam-ups
and acident hazards. The agreement be
teween the Southern and the City of Gas
tonia culminates a decade of effort.
The city commission has again de
clined a proffer from a governmental
power agency for some of its power con
sumption. The city doesn’t like some of
the inferences in the terms, and, as May
or Glee Bridges commented, has had a
most pleasant association with Duke
Power Company and its predecessor
compaines since 1905. It is not generally
good business pactice to change suppli
ers when service is impeccable of costs
fair. ^
Foreign Aid Slashed
As the current long session of Con
gress ends, a joint conference committee
has agreed to a $3 billion foreign aid
bill, the smallest appropriation for this
function in many years.
It is $1.5 billion less than President
Kennedy had requested, and results
from a new dis-enchantment with the
program in the Senate, where the ap
propriation request was vigorously at
tacked by several former hearty sup
porters. The House has never been as
friendly to the foreign aid program, re
flecting more closely a grass-roots ap
proach, and the comparative closeness
thereto of the Representative who must
get re-endorsement from the voters bi
ennially.
It can be assumed that, rightly or
wrongly, the cutting action will cost no
Congressman his job.
Most will agree that some of the bil
lions expended in foreign aid has been
beneficial to this nation, but there have
been billions expended down the drain
of waste.
It is conceivable that the pared ap
propriation will be spent more benefici
ally for the very fact that less is avail
able.
Legal Liquor Request
Ralph Gilbert, of Shelby, has asked
the county board of commissioners to
use its authority under the law to call
a referendum on the legal sale of alco
holic beverages.
Mr. Gilbert based his request on two
theses: 1) that revenues are being di
verted to legal liquor outlets in South
Carolina, North Carolina and to illegal
dealers at home, rather than to the coun
ty and city treasurers; and 2) that the
question is not a moral one, but a prac
tical one of control vs. illegality.
These are essentially the contentions
which have been advanced in other areas
of Piedmont and Western North Caro
lina, where a strong moral aversion to
the use of spiritous beverages has not
necessarily been accompanied by com
parable consumption habits, bringing the
accusation that folk of the Piedmont and
West “vote dry and drink wet.”
In Charlotte, Greensboro, Catawba
County, and Asheville, citizens have en
dorsed these contentions.
In other citiets and countites, the vote
of citizens has been “no.”
Cleveland County’s most recent de
cision on the matter concerned the sale
of the so-called mild beverages, wine and
beer, and Cleveland resoundingly elimi
nated both from legal sale by a margin
of 9 to 1. However, the vote in the cities
of Shelby and Kings Mountain was less
resounding, though here the vote was
3 to 1 against.
Most will agree that the thinking of
the county on this matter has changed
somewhat since, though not as many
would hazard a prediction that Cleve
land is ready to vote wet.
The commission took no action on
the request, though Commissioner Hugh
Dover said he was opposed “categorical
ly.’*
Though the commission has the au
thority to call the election, it is hardly
conceivable it will, minus a petition of
the voters, and ABC store supporters
would undoubtedly find the going easier
if they eschew the whole of the county
and arrange voter elections in the two
major cities.
With constant pressure mounting for
funds for governmental functions, the
revenue angle has appeal, but odds do
not favor Cleveland going wet, in spite
of the long-acknowledged failure of the
National Volstead amendment which
President Hoover labered “the noble ex
periment,’’ and the fact there appears no
correlation between alcoholism and le
gal liquor whether in dry or wet coun
try.
Registration books are open again Sat
urday for the January 14 election on the
constitutional amendment to change
representation in the General AmmMp.
MARTIN'S
MEDICINE
By MARTIN HARMON
Ingredients: bits of news
wisdom, humor, and commando.
Directions: Take weekly, if
possible, but avoid
overdosage.
I thought it test year and think
it again. The Christmas greeting
cards from friends all over are
prettier, more unique, more ori
ginal, and more colorful than
ever before.
m-m
And they come from all over
the world.
From m y cousin, Virginia
Plonk Morris in Ismir, Turkey,
comes a card which is a repro
duction of a Turkish rug. The
Arabic inscription woven into it
in the 16th century reads, “Those
who pray to God with purity of
heart enter heaven.” Virginia en
closed an interesting letter re
lating that her husband and fam
ily plan retirement from the ar
my next 'May and will live in
Signal Mountain, Tenn.
mm
Originality of choice marks the
card from Joe Heddens. Is it Joe
in Santa outfit, baton in hand,
directing the strains of "Merry
Christmas”? Ditto for the card
from the Howard Jacksons. This
one is a colorful night scene in
New York, a lady and gentleman
In foreground, package - laden.
For appearance and stature the
figures could easily be Howard
and Hazel.
m-m
The photo department is al
ways intriguing. The pajama
elad trio of children of the Hen
ry Neislers, back to audience, are
gazing anxiously at three stock
ings over the fire-place. On the
reverse side, facing front, "Parks.
Henry and David are saying
‘Merry Christmas’.” None more
appropriate has arrived than the
annual family photo with letter
from the Hugh Mortons at Wil
mington. This charming family
of six is pictured in color and the
backdroD is BB 55, the USS
North Carolina. As chairman of
the commission to bring the big
battleship home, Hugh is credit-!
ed with finding ways and means'
of slashing the red tape involved
in making the ship an historical
Tar Heel museum. Yet another of j
the intriguing family groups is
the seven - member Richardson
Preyer clan. Though not stated,
it appears that the family dog
has delivered eight little puppies,!
for each is cuddling one of the1
little fellows. The extra one per
mitted the littiest Preyer two. A
handsome photo of five young- i
sters arrives from the Mofatt
Wares, Jr., and another hand"
some one is of the two bright
eyed daughters of Mr. and 'Mrs.
Paul Ham.
m-m
One of the most intriguing!
novelty cards comes from Mar
garet and Carlysle Isley, of Bur
lington. A die-cut clock rn gold,
red and white, the clock dial her-1
aids ‘It’s Christmas, the hands
reading seven minutes past mid-j
night.
mm
Governor and Mrs. Sanford
employ a reproduction of the
German sculpting “Adoring An
gel” against a rich, red back
drop, the work itself at the North |
Carolina Museum of Art, a gift
of the Mary Biddle Duke Foun
dation. Religious art is also the
feature of the handsome greet
ings of Julia and Arnold Kiser,
they employing the lovely Ferru
zi painting "Madonna of the
Street”.
mm
Congressman and 'Mrs. Basil
Whltener employ a beautiful co
lor reproduction of a chancel, the
American flag in the foreground,!
and our neighbors the Matt Pou
chaks send a rich color photo of
their church, Greek Orthodox
Cathedral Holy Trinity, of Char
lotte, with Greek inscription as
well as message in English.
mm
From a young kinsman. Ton*
James, in Germany is a repro
duction of Geissendorfer’s paint
ing of Munich's famous Christ
mas Fair, with greetings in bot.'t
German and English.
m-m
The color combinations grow
more intriguing too. This year (
notice a particular incidence of
gold embossing, on white or blue,
and also heavy use of a subtle
light blue.
mm
They Indeed arrive from al
>ver, the Turkish arrival bein;
>ur most distant. Most distant i
the USA to date are the card
from the Bob Cox family in Coi
dus Christ!, Texas, and from th
Tom Harpers, at Mountain Horn
Idaho.
mm
And they bring kiformatio
do. Newsman friend Frank Hok
tj«n, of Arlington, Va„ and h
vife now Inscribe the names c
•hree littler Holemans on the
‘Star in the East'1 greeting.
m-m S
To everyone: A joyous Christ
I Want You—and 01 Get You!
jgA*4* ,/lj
Viewpoints of Other Editors
NUCLEA GLOVES
ACROSS THE SEA
It looks as though Britain’s in
dependent deterrent is to get a
brisk airing in the election cam
paign between the Conservative
“ins” and the Labor Opposition.
The debate will probably show
that whichever party controls
the British Government after the
voting, the American - British
partnership will remain unthreat
ened by the outcome.
The British nuclear debate will
however disclose some interest
ing differences in the relations
of the two major parties to the
aims of Washington.
Today the American hope of
preventing the spread of nuclear
weapons into many independent
hands, and the problems of build
ing joint controls for an allied
nuclear deterrent, actually seem
more likely to receive maximum
aid from the Labor Party than
from the Conservatives. This pos
sibility is underscored by Prime
Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Homb’s
insistence on the value of an in
dependent deterrent for Britain.
He sees it as a specially strong
support for Britisih prestige, as
suring Britain’s presence in world
councils ‘‘by right.”
The Labor Party takes rhe
position that Britain docs not
really have an independent de
terrent now. The Labor Party
therefore would be readier to
leave a Western deterrent to A
merican control, at any rate for
the time being. This position
would accord with that of Nor
way and some ether of the smal
ler allies, though definitely not
with that of France.
A Labor spokesman has said
that the party would be more
interested in winning Britain’s
share of control over nuclear
power through helping to form
an alliance agency for this pur
pose. This mearjs Labor would
not be so interested in the Amer
ican-British Polaris program. On
the other hand La'bor would pre
sumably work toward the sort of
join* controls that might make
Britain’s collaboration with the
Common Market more feasible
than it appeared to de Gaulle
last January.
The Christian Science Monitor
WAR SERVICE
AND RELIGION
Over a long period of years
Congress has granted Federal
Charters to a considerable num
ber of national organizations
such as the Ret* Cross, the Boy
Scouts, the American Legion, the
D. A. R. and others. These char
ters confer certain rights and
privileges, specifically enumerat
ed in each case. No recent addi
tions have been made to the list,
but two will be, if bills just ap
proved by the Senate are concur
ed in by the House. The two new
mtries are the Catholic War
Veterans of the United States of
Xmerica and the Jewish War Vet
'rans of the United States.
Measures granting these two
harters were approved alter t
-biimum of debate (apparently
less than a quarter of an hour
nd afteT discussion in which
ewer than half a dozen member^
■>ok part. The chief advocates of
he bills were two Senators frorr
Tew York. The chief opponen*
?as Mr. Hickenlooper of low
'his is a gentleman with whom
•e do not often find ourselves t
| ’reement; but we must say that
« think he raised a valid poin‘
'hen he said:
I have nothing but the great
vt respect for the religion o'
nyfcody, but when we put reli
FLOWERS FROM KENYA
President Johnson in h e r i ts
from his predecessor a greater
measure of good will toward the
United States on the part of the
uncommitted people of Africa
and Asia than has been poured
1 out since the end of World War
i It.
1
One of the most touching tri
I butes this week came from Ken
ya, whence students sent a
; wreath of 1,720 blossoms, repre
: senting the number of young Af
S ricans now back in their home
| land after schooling in the Unit
| ecf States.
Somehow John Kennedy eap
| tured the imagination above al
i of the younger generation in
| many countries of Africa and
Asia. Perhaps it was his own
iyouthfulaess. Perhaps it was his
■grace and style on great occas
ions—qualities which helped to
make intelligible to the Old
World the sometimes baffling
concepts of the New. But above
all it was his accession to the
presidency at a time when United
States foreign policy was turning
away from the inflexibility of the
late Secretary of State John Fos
ter Dulles.
Mr. Kennedy himself was in
the van of this changing empha
sis in American foreign policy. A
speech from then Senator Ken
nedy indicating sympathy with
the Algerian nationalists in re
volt against French rule marked
him out to Africans and Asians
as a man who had some feeling
for their cause.
He had never sternly warned
the countries of Africa aktd Asia
that nonalignment was immoral,
and that whoever was not for the
United States would have to be
considered against it. (Such was
interpreted American policy of
the 1950’s in Africa and Asia.)
This, then, is what the new
President is bequeathed. Let us
hope that osn both sides under his
administration underst a n d i n g
will continue to grow, so that Af
rica and Asia will recognize in
controvertibly that the founda
tions on which the United States
rests are the principles and ideas
to men everywhere.
The Christian Science Monitor
' charters for servicemen, that is
segregation by anybody’s stand
! ards.
i
On the vote, only nine other
senators agreed with Mr. Hicken
looper. Sixty-five voted to ap
prove, which is a sad commen
tary on the judgment of the Se
nate. We hope the House shows a
better sense of values by turning
down this essentially segrega
tionist proposal.
New York Times
1 TEARS AGO
| y THIS WEEK
Items of news about King
Mountain area people am
events taken from the i$6
files of the Kings Mountain
Herald..
Semi - Annual dividends of
lome Building and Loan Associ
ition paid during the past week
end totaled $20,25134.
Industrial Kings Mountain was
slowing its gears Monday toward
i virtual complete shutdown for
he rapidly approaching Christ
mas holiday.
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
Town and Country Garden dub
members held their December
nee ting at the home of 'Mrs. D.
Management and Staff
I Carolina Daii
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