t«: Page 2—MIRROR-HERALD—Tuesday, November 1, 1977 eOllORIN. cwnofi Institute publishes pros and cons on succession District meetings ended untii spring ITie local government one-on-one meetings have ended tor 1977, but will return In spring 1978 vdth a general town-wide meeting scheduled tor the third Saturday In June 1978. A number of cltlxens took advantage of the six district meetings to air their feelings about local government and to get answers to questions pertaining to city services. Unfortunately, the majority of the citizens In each district made no effort to attend any of the meetings. It Is unfortunate because now, probably more than at any time In the past, the citizens of Kings Mountain have the opportunity to really become Involved tai the operation of local government. The entire non-proflt (^ration of municipal government la to benefit the citizen-taxpayers and the best way to make sure the taxpaying citizens get the things they want and need Is tor them to get Involved, make themselves heard. It was repeated again and during the district meetings by the mayor and host commissioners that local government officials want to hear frxrm the people. ITiey want to hear what’s right with the city and what’s wrong so plans of acticHi to clear up the wrongs can be Implemented. The district meetings will begin again In April and run Into May and will be followed by the annual C<»nmunity Development Block Grant public hearings. Judging from some of the Ideas erqrressed In the recent meetings, citizens can expect to see much of Oils put forth Into CD applications; Ideas such as street and mini-park programs to cover the entire city. And like the city officials said again and again. If you don’t see action on your proposal as soon as you feel It should come, then continue to bug city haU until you do get action. Enter units in KM Christmas Parade Ihe annual Kings Mountain Christmas Parade la set for ’Tues., Nov. 29 at 4 p. m. Over the past three years the parade haul taken on a different atmosphere. When dropped by the Chamber of Commerce tour years ago, the sponsorship was picked up by the Kings Mountain Fire Department. ’Ihls year the Chamber of Commerce-Merchants Association and the city are Joining with the Ore department to sponsor the aimual event and imits are already being lined up for display. But there’s always room tor more and that’s what Wanda Moore la after — more parade floats and entires to make the 1977 one of the biggest parades of all time. Anyone Interested In placing a float, entry or unit In the Christmas Parade may contact Ms. Moore at 789-4786. Tlie Institute of Government at UNO Qi^el Hill has prepared a report on the proposed Gubernatorial Succession Amendment. 17118 will be one of five amendments to the State ConsUtutlon Tat Heels will vote on In the Nov. 8 election. The report Is prepared "In keeping with the Institute of Government’s tradition of providing analyses of Important public Issues . . .’’ Included In the report are arguments for and against the succession amendment: Arguments In favor are (1) The people should have the right to decide whether a Governor should ccaitlnue In office. It also points out It Is not uncommon for Incumbents to be defeated. A poll of 19 states allowing succession since 1900 shows that during the 1960-68 period over a third of the Incumbent Governors were defeated for re-election. (2) Four years Is Insufficient time to provide effective leadership. It Is not enough time for a Governor to familiarize himself with the office. Its powers and limitations, to staff and establish the tone and direction of' his administration, to develop his legislative programs, to deal with the myrald problems that come to his desk. (3) The need for continuity in planning and policy requires two terms. (4) The need tor effective control over state government requires two terms. Being a "lame duck" lacks the effective authority to handle the problems of bureaucracy to get his programs underway. Facing eight years with the same Governor tends to make the bureaucracy more likely to cooperate with the Governor. (6) A two-term Governor could be a more effective national spokesman and could play a more powerful role In dealing with the federal government and regional com missions. (8) A two-term Governor could attract more qualified people to work In state government. (7) A two-term Governor may be more accountable to the people. There would be more thorough scrutiny of the Governor's performance duiinghls first term If he faces the task of campaigning for re-electlcn. (8) Recent Tar Heel Governors have all recognized the need for two terms. Including Hodges, Sanford, Moore, Scott and Holshouser. (9) The national trend among states Is toward allowing two terms for Governors. North Carolina is (me of only seven states that prohibits the Governor from succeeding himself. TOM MclMTYRC Arguments against the succession amendment are (1) why change when we generally have had g(x>d Governors? (2) A two-term Governor may unduly dominate the General Assembly and ef fectively diminish this legislative check on his power. Even without veto and succeeding lights, our Gtovernor has a strong voice In legislative matters, eqieclally when his party controls the General Assembly. He prepares and administers the budget and makes hundreds of appointments that may be effectively used to steer his program through the legislature. (3) Tile problems associated with "lame duck” status will also occur with the two- term Governor. A two-term Governor may be during his first term no more effective than a one-term Governor If he undertakes a strategy of not offending anyone In order to assure his re-election. (4) Re-election concerns will cause the Governor to campaign while In office and will have a detrimental Influence on his actions and judgments. If the Governor campaigns for re-election to a second term he will spend Ore majority of his final two years In office doing just that rather than spending fulltime administering his office. (6) Succession may reduce competition within an Incumbent Governor's political party. We now have vigorous competltlcxi for party nomination every four years. Why change from our present system, which provides new leadership every four years? Luther Hodges was the first Governor to serve for more than tour (xrnsecutlve years and was the first to publicly call for a con stitutional amendment to allow the people to re-elect the Governor for another term. Hodges was elected Lieutenant Governor In 1962 and succeeded to the office of Governor In 1964 when William B. Umstead died. Hodges was then elected to a full tour year term In 1966. James K. Polk emerges from history On Mar. 12, 1969, Hodges delivered aj special message to the General Assembly concerning the recommendations of the 1969 Constitutional Commission. The commission recommended an amendment providing for succession to the governorship upon the death or resignation of the Incumbent, but did not mention the second term Idea. Hodges said, "Based on my own experience of woiiclng on a long-range state program, I think a governor shcxild be allowed a second consecutive term If the people vote to return him to office. Under no conditions should such a change. If made, apply to me, but I hope you will look seriously at the second term . . .” No consideration was given to the Idea, no bills were Introduced. In 1968, under Governor Dan K. Moore, the first public move toward submitting the two- term amendment to the voters was begun. Gov. Moore urged the North Carolina State Bar to take the lead In recommending revisions to the State Constitution. Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. has been by far the most persistent exponent of the succession amendment and It Is on the state-wide ballot along with four other proposed amendment changes In next Tuesday's election. James Knox Polk, eleventh President of the United States, was born on a farm In Mecklenburg County on November 2, 1796. Though one of our better Presidents, Polk has only recently begun to emerge from historical neglect. When he was about 10 years old his family moved to Tennessee, but Polk returned here to attend UNC. Nominated by the Democratic Party In 1844 (while serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives), Polk was the first "dark horse" candidate to be elected President, largely on the Issue of admitting Texas to the Union. Polk recognized the feelings of Manifest Destiny on the parts of most Americans, and became, ultimately, Its personification. Faced with war on both borders over territorial growth, he commissioned the Oregon-Canadlan border dispute with England, and then went to war with Mexico over Texas. Through the addition of Texas, California and other western territories, Polk was responsible tor the greatest territorial growth of the nation since the Louisiana Purchase. He served only one term as President, however, and worn out by the cares of office, died shortly afterwards. -oOo- Lee Slater Overman was the first U. S. Senator to be elected by the people of this state, winning his third term In that office on Nov. 3, 1914. €D ,9^ 9MITH This week in tar heel history Until the adoption of the Sixteenth Amendment to the U. S. ConsUtutlon In 1913, U. S. Senators had bean elected by the state legislatures. -oOo- HlstorUins have called TTiomas Lanier Olngman . . "not the greatest but probably the moat extraordinary man North Carolina has produced." Yet he died "Impoverlahed and senile” at the age of 86, on Nov. 8, 1897. CTlngman was bom In Huntsville, Yadkin County, In 1912. "ReaUeas, Inqulaltlva, contentious, wlUi great vanity and ambition and greater Intelligence,” he became a successhil legislator. Civil War general, sdenttst and mountain explorer. He aeplred to be President, yet today his name Is remembered only by virtue of the mountain peak that bears his name. Elducated at UNC, CUngman was a ver- aatUe, natural scholar. He rose quickly In North Carolina political affairs, eventually holding the western counties virtually In his pocket. He even survived a mid-career switch in parties (from Whig to Democrat). As Congressman and U. S. Senator he was a staunch friend and aUy of Henry CSay. He was the only Southern Senator to oppose, successfully, the mighty John C. C^alhoun. On one occasion he successfully fought for legislation extending the right to peUtlon under law to slaves. Yet he favored sec- ceaalon (thcxigh It ended his naUonal aspiratlona In politics) and as a CIvU War general was twice wounded. CUngman tirelessly promoted western North CaroUna, locating mineral deposits -I' ■ li., Poet’s Corner vVawec.T.TWP'a:*" THE UNLraERATED Lord give me a good attitude Toward the work that I must do Don’t let me shirk those pots and pans Or (Ushes stacked up a-new. Let me be thankful dear Lord For the chores that are mine to attend Although when I think I have finished Another one happens to begin. Give me a go