rAGC FOURTHE DAILY REFLECTOII, GREENVILLE, N. C

Mondlay, November 2, 1959

Monday, November 2, 1959

Hallowen, 1959

Sowing Some Seed In Distant Land

&

Gov. Hodges boldest venture in his quest for new industry for North Carolina has now begun with the caravan of Tar Heels in London today and on the continent tomorrow.

Accomplishments of the industry hunters during the hext two weeks may not be evident when they return to North Carolina, but the seeds of interest in Tar Heelia they sow abroad may in time bring a profitable industrial harvest to the'" state. Only time will tell whether it is worthy the money and effort that is going into it.

Without question, there has been and still is more, skepticism about this industrial safari of Gov. Hodges than any he has so far undertaken. Even the first of the series of organized trips in the quest of industry for the state was not viewed with the apprehension of this European trip. To the avarage Tar Heel, Europe seems a long way to go in quest of industry when there are so many areas closer home that might be further cultivated. To some extent this is reflected in the conflicting reports indecent weeks concerning the enthusiasm with which the European campaign wa.i greeted by major businesses in the state that normally send representatives on industry-hunting excursions.

Part of the skeptici>m about the European trip stems from the fact that Americans are accustomed to thinking that U. S. capital traditionally goes abroad to develop industry rather than foreign capital coming to this country for the same purpose. In reality, this exporting of capital is a two-way street. Properly ex-

^Require Quorum

Of N. C. Votes?

LYNN MSBET

QUORUM? The deplorably ilght vote in the recent Ijond election bas occasioned revival of the idea that perhaps there should be a quorum of ballot.s before results of any election would be valid. Whether participation by less than 15 percent of the registered voter.'; .should lie counted a legal election is questionable.

Nearly every organization has a fixed number of persons constituting a quorum for transaction of biusiness- Usually that ns a majority of the total membership. Thp Rules of the House of Representatives <N.C. General As-semblyi set a majority of the members as quorum, but provide that 1.5 members may compel attendance of others to obtain a quorum. The chairman and five other members of any committee coivstitute a quorum. The Senate rules do not establish a numerical quorum, but provision is made for continuing or deferred action on matters taken up when a constitutional quorum Is not present.

There is statutory requirement for petitions to have at least 15 percent of the registered voters in order to justify call for .special elections on bonds. taxes, sale of alcoholic beverages, and other Issues. Butafter 15 percent'of the voters have made the holdings of the election legal, there is no requirement for the number of votes nece.ssary to make the result legally binding.

Prior to 1948 the constitution required a majority of all the qualified voters to authorize bonds or special tax levies. Au amendment adopted that year change the requirement to a majority of those voting. Admittedly. the previous quorum required for adoption was too high. An increasing number of people are wondering if the present plan of no quorum number at all goes too far in the other direction.

MINORITY Democracy contemplates rule by majority. It is rather difficult to justify, in the name of democracy, a situation in which around 75,000 votes can imprqse a debt of $34,400.000 on the four and a half million residents of North Carolina- The argument that all the other two million voters had equal opportunity to express their views, while technically valid, does not take into account the protection afforded by quorum requirements in nearly all private bu.''ine,';s meeting.*!, ses.'ion.v of

the General Assembly and its committee.s. and the 15 percent required on petitions to compel special eloction.';

More simply stated the quo.K-tinn IS this; If it takes 15 percent of the voters to call an election, why .should it noi take at least 15 per cent of the voters to make the election legally effect ive?

The total number of votes ca.q

ill the bond election represented barely five percent of the potential. It may be argued that the majority of votes cast on .several of the issues was two or three times the number cast against thepn, and that this majority fulfiHs the principle of democracy. The fact remains that approximately four percent of the eligible voters put a big debt on the other tib percent. apparently against their Will--on face of the record.

APATHY Governor Hodges, Secretary of Stale Thari Eure, and other officials and civic loaders have ooplorcu ihe apaihe-tic complacency of North Carolina citizens with reaped to ex-rrcusing suffrage. It is herewith respectfully submitted that tlie no quorum rule is a prime contributor to tlu.s apathy. Two approaches to relieving this situation have been suggested. One Is the establishment of a percentage quorum of voles to make an election legally binding. The other is application of periodic Both are based on the idea that people appreciate advantages more when they face prospect of lasing them,

PURGE The word purge has definite unsavory connotations. Y'et it is recognize<i that in the body politics, no Ic.'s than in the human body, occasional purgative processes are necessary to good health.

A young man from New' Orleans attending the regional YDC conference at Hendersonville last year (hLs name is not at hand explained the Louisiana system. Poll books are checked against registration books and when a registered voter in Louisiana fails to show* up for thi-ee successive general election.s his name is Icmovcd from the registration list, and he must re-register in order to vote again- Such procediue might be too drastic for North Carolina-There is virtually unanimous agreement that .iomcthing should be done to enhance respect of North Carolinians lor the privilege and obligation of voting.

A week before the election Governor Hodges predicted a total vote of between 400,000 and half a million. Thad Eure said he would settle for around 200.000. Your reporter estmiaied 250,-275.000. At time this is written official returns liave not been tabulated, but indications are the total will be le.ss than llO.tXlO approximately five percent of the eligible potential.

All the talk about this being deplorable, disgraceful and d.s-piu!Ung. will not amount to much unlc.ss some of tlie talk Is translated into Iceislalive action, c.'ftablisliing pasitive criteria for what constitutr.s a legal election. An increasing number of people I'K'liove that pcnallie.s for not voting, to balance benefits and privileges of suffrage, must be given .serious coiisideration.

The Daily Reflector

INCORPORATED

Publi.$hed Every Afternoon Except Sunday E.stablished 1882 DAVID JULIAN WHICHAKD, Publisher

Plntered at Pot Office, OrtenvUle, N. C., aa second class mall matter.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES By Carrier ^eek 30c

(BY MAIL, Payable in Advance)

Three Months ............................................. $ 3.50

Six Months .................................................. % 6.50

One Year ....................................................... $11.50

MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated Press is exclusively ent tied to use for publication all news dispatches credited to It or not otherwise credited to this paper and alto the local news published herein All rights of publication of special dispatches here are also reserved,

NTIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES rbomas P Clark Co., Inc., New York. Chicago, Atlanta Membei Audit Bureau of ClrcU'atioa

All advertising copy must be received at least dnc day befort oubhcation date

ploited, North Carolina may find itself equally effective in importing capital from abroad for its industrial development as it has in bringing in capital from other areas of our own country for the same purpose.

Certainly the present industry-hunt is the most imaginative so far undertaken by an imaginative governor of our state. As in other similar trips, proof of the pudding will not be in what our Tar Heel travelers bring back in their pockets, but what follows them back to North Carolina in the months or even years ahead.

They Hold Future Of Mental Health Clinic

Pitt Countys Mental Health Building, dedicated yesterday afternoon, will stand as a perpetual monument to the pioneering spirit and farsighted leadership of the man in whose memory it is named, the late Dr. Walter C. Humbert.

It is the first building in North Carolina, we have been told, built specifically for the purpose of an ot-patient clinic for mentally ill. In the years ahead it will prove an example that will be followed in other areas as greater emphasis is placed on preventive medicine for mental illness.

The late Dr. Walter C. Humbert who served as Pitt Countys Health Director from 1953 until his sudden death in 1957, raised the county health department from a place of mediocrity to one of the outstanding county health department.s in North Carolina. The Pitt County ]\lental Health Clinic, whose service has since been recognized as unique in North Carolina as well as in a liroad area of the nation, was the brainchild of Dr. Humbert. Without his vigorous leadership, his inexhaustable energy and resourcefulness, it is unlikely that Pitt County would have its Mental Health Clinic today. It is unlikely that a broad area of Eastern North Carolina would have mental health service on the scale it does today had it not been for Dr. Humberts leadership.

The building itself affords facilities for carrying on the work of the Mental Health Clinic, but the service in this field rendered by the clinic will rest largely in the hands of those responsible for its operation. We trust they will continue the operation of the (linic with the same energy and devotion exhibited by Dr. Humbert in bringing about its establishment.

Should We Ac To Ban Strikes?

Bv HAL BOYLE

Seamed Via The Mails

By RALPH ROBEY

Late last week it appeared that the .steel workers would be back on the job a.s of now. No matter when the strike ends, however. it will be months before the economy, the workers, and the companies fully recover.

The hoped for ending of the strike was the result of the injunction obtained by the Administration requiring the steel employees to return to their jobs. Under the law, sixty days after the return to work, a secret vote must be taken of the employees on the final offer of the companies. If this offer is accepted, the strike Is over for the duration of the contract. If the offer is voted down, the .strike may be resumed twenty days later.

At Time of Reconvening

Congress

Should such a resumption of the strike occur it would come just as the new session of the Congress Is getting under way.

This would mean that there would be enormous pressure to pass some kind of law to make it impossible for the public welfare to be undermined in such a manner. Among the suggestions which would be made are:

1. Prohibit all strikes in basic industries. THIS IS UNTHINK- .

ABLE. In the first place the de-. termination of a basic industry is not easy, and secondly, and more important, THE RIGHT TO.

STRIKE IS BASIC IN SO FAR

AS PRIVATE INDUSTRY IS. (ONCERNED AND IT MUST.

NOT BE PROHIBITED. ......

2. Provide for the appointment of fact finding commissions with the authority to make recommendations. FACT FINDING COM*. MISSIONS TODAY DO NOT HAVE THIS RIGHT AND IT SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO THEM. They do not know, and

cannot find out, as much about the issues in a labor controversy as the immediate parties. And unless the recommendations are made compulsory, it means what is called compulsoiT arbitration. Such arbitration is used in the interpretation of provisions in an existing contract, but it must not be used as a general method for settling labor disputes.

3. Give the Federal Government authority to settle a strike when it has continued beyond a specified time. THIS WOULD.

ROBEY COLUMN (con'l) DESTROY COLLECTIVE BAR- . GAINING. . Such settlements, necessarily would be made on a political, rather than an economic. basis.

4. Subject the unions to the antitrust laws, or their equivalent. This would have the effect of eliminating the power of one person. or a small group of persons, to bring down a whole industry. We would not think of permitting the companies of an industry to get together and jointly decide that on a given day they all will stop production. But that would be no worse from the viewpoint of public welfare than leaving with union leaders the power to strike a whole in-dastry.

Congress May Be Forced To Act

As of the moment one has to say that the chance of the Congress eliminating this monopoly power of labor union chieLs is not great. But should the steel strike be resumed, and the public become aroused, it Is possible that the Congress might move in this direction. Certainly nothing else will serve as any real protection to the public from the continued and repeated monopoly actions of the preferred few in the labor union movement.

NEW YORK (AP)Things a columnist might never know if he didnt open his mail:

What are your longevity prospects after you reach 65? Two out of four will live to 75. and one of every four will make it to 85 or beyond.

Juke boxes in the United States now take in nearly a billion dollars yearly in small coins. Think vhat a musical culture America might have if the same amount were spent on symphony orchestras.

A reader writes in to ask if we knew that in Charleston, W. Va., its illegal to burn down

P'

your home unless you first remove the roof. Nope, next question?

Our odd authors: Marcel

proust, who suffered from asthma. wrote in a cork - padded room to keep out annoying smells and sounds.

Food fact: The word salad, or sallet as it was spelled in the 17th century, originally meant merely something salted.

Our quotable notables: Life. said Horace Walpole, Is a comedy to those who thinka tragedy to those who feel.

Motherhood table: It takes 18 days for a pigeon to be born, 28

Other Editors Saying ... Light On Outer Space

(Hertford County Herald)

Much has been written and much has been said about the nations space program, or lack thereof. And the more that Is said and the more that Is written, the harder it becomes for the average American to know what in the world is going on in this countrys attempts to get outside of the world.

We cannot say how the governmental space organization should look. We dont know if the army should do this, the Air Force that, or the c|vilian space agency the other. We dont know' if it will take ten years to get to Venus, or ten billion to hit the moon.

But one thing we know: we are not getting any enlightenment on the situation from those who are supposed to H^ow, or who at least are charged with the responsibility of trying to find out.

There seems to be a dedicated effort going on in Washington, if not to hit the moon, to at least keep Americans in a super-stellar fog when it comes to knowing what Is going on.

From this fog, we discern that the most basic criticism is that which says that the national administration looks on space as primarily a budget problem. More and more we hear that this country is lagging in the race with Russia because of. a pinch-penny aU titude on the part of the administration.

Now the last thing that should

be done is for somebody to up and say: OK, the purse-strings are off, everybody who thinks he can get into orbit, come and grab a hunk.

On the other hand, it would seem that the least the administration could do would be to give us a fireside chat. In this chat, we should be told frankly what the administration believes to be the need and the hopes of Americans in outer space. We should be told why a country brimming with milk and money and an industrial complex that can turn out automobiles by the million, cannot turn out space vehicles wth the thrust' of those hammered out in some Soviet factory. We would imagine that if a vote were taken, nationwide, the people of this country would vote overwhelmingly to put into a program all that Is necessary to keep ahead of Russians in a race to any spot, including the moon, Venus or Mars.

Somewhere betw'een unlimited opening of the pursestrings and the present policy of checking off every space dream against a budget ledger, there Is a middle ground that can give that famous American know-how and desii'e to win the w'herewith-all to make us first in space.

Somebody should bend all effort to finding that ground and finding it quickly. And that someonq should candidly, and in words of not more than two syllables, tell other Americans what is going on and why.

days for a rat. 280 days for a human being, 10 months for a whale, and 21 to 22 months for an elephant.

One hears of a smoke-filled room being a prelude to the presidency, but many U, S. presidents never acquired the smoking habit. They include Har--ry S. Truman. Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson. Woodrow Wilson tried smoking once, got sick and quit. George Washington hated tobacco smoke so much he grimaced when he had to join Indians in puffing the peace pipe.

You can amaze your friends with your knowledge of French vintage wines by remembering a simple thing: Those in all the odd-numbered years in the 1950s are considered exceptional.

Artificial eyes were made as early as 2.600 B. C.

What are your chances of getting an ulcer? Well, you are most likely to acquire an ulcer at an early age if you are the son of a dominant mother and a henpecked father.

The next time someone asks you at a cocktail party how many cows there are in the United States, dont just stand there tongue-tied,- Tell him there are 20 million.

One inch of rain doesnt sound like much, but an inch-deep rain over a single acre weighs 226,-512 pounds and amounts to 27,-143 galloi of water.

Benjamin Fi'anklin founded the first U. S. public library in Philadelphia in 1731. Its first librarian. Louis Timothee. had this firm rule: If any person hath to be aw'akened twice, he shall be requested to leave.

Quote...

A .survey shnw.s that Britains famed national health scheme is costing more than the old private medical practice .system, rervice Is poorer, taxes will have to be raised, and fee.s now mu.st be charged for .services that originally were planned to be free. Britain Is gradually retreating from socialism, and with every retreat her economy takes another spurt. Tell that to the young vms. Overland Park Kansas) Johnson Co. Herald,

Poiisn People Brave

By ROGER BABSO.V

WARSAW. Poland - Warsaw is the capital of Poland, located not quite midway between Berlin and Moscow. I will not now discuss the government of Poland, although it claims to be a free democracy with officials and parliament elected by the people; yet 85 per cent of the property Is owned by the municipality or state and practically all the people work for the government. It is much like Russia in many ways; but its people claim not to be Communists. The Polish people take part in no propaganda, but ask only to be let alone and left free to run their own affairs. They claim to be 100 per cent neutral, but surely appear friendly toward the Russians yet hate the Germans w'ho bombed them unmercifully during World War II.

HISTORY OF POLAND

The city of Warsaw wa.s founded in the tenth century and Sunday I attended a church dating back to 1187, although Christianity was formally introduced into Poland in 962 and was actively practiced in Warsaw in 1241 when the Polish armies re-pt^led the Mongol hordes. In fact, the whole of Southern Europe owes its freedom to the armies of Poland. Again it was the Polish armies which stopped the Turks from overrunning Europe in the 17th century. The whole of Europe owes a great debt to the Polish people whose kings fought continual attacks from all sides. Poland has a most marvelous history; and through the centuries has enjoyed periods of peace and prosperity, enjoying the culture of science, art. and literature, starting with the great astronomer Copernicus and ending with the great pianist Paderewski.

Unfortunately, Poland was torn asunder during World War II and Hitler gave it a terrible and unnecessary beating, principally

so he claimedbecause of the large number of Jewish people who had escaped from Germany into Poland. As a result, nearly 80(L000 innocent people perished in Warsaw between September 1, 1939 and January 17, 1948. This was not only the result of ruthless bombings, but of great fires and massacres, all under Hitler's directions. As a result the population of Poland dropped from 35.-000,000 before World War II to around 28,000,000 in 1958.

POLISH PEOPLE CONTINUE

TO BE COURAGEOUS

Notwithstanding the barbarous treatment by the Germans, Polands people continue to be happy and courageous. The people are poor, there being very few automobiles and almost no bicycles. Living costs and taxes are high; but the people are very industrious and saving. Looking out of my hotel window this morning, I counted only three automobiles, but saw five home-made wagons with the shafts made of poles cut from forests and the harnesses of the faithful horses made of worn-out iron tires from broken cartwheels. Yet Warsaw Is now mostly rebuilt and I should be proud to live in it.

Last week, in Germany, li was amazed at the energy of the Germans and noted their great activity. 1 wondered why this energy was not used to curb Hitler in his wickedness. It almost seems as if a vast number of Germans in their own minds

hoped that Hitler would win.

I further feel that many Germans believe another Hitler will arise who will have all of his energy but who will be without his sins!

Each of my readers '-many of whom are loyal United States citizens, even though perhaps of German descent must decide for himself; however, this is my reaction; Although I came to Central Europe an optimist, hoping to find some attractive German stocks and bonds to recommend, I am returning home pessimistic. The fire ignited by Emperor Wilhelm II and hLs Prussian foUowers may be yet smoldering. Wise are those who now Invest their money only In the United States of America or in Canada.

Strength In Brief

For Todcv Opinions The Buying Public Is Well Known

Rv FAR I. 1.. DOIJGLA.S.S -t w'

By EARL L. DOUGLAS.S Colipclnr of Beautiful Things

A home in which I am frequently entertained Is filled with beautiful thingsbeautiful books, antique furniture, plaques. pictures, and things artistic gatliered from all parts of the world. Recently I asked the gracious man and woman who preside over the home how tliey went about it to collect so many beautiful thiug.s, be on the lotik-out for them all the time, and visit the places where you expect to find them.

I wa.s struck by the fact that the principle underlying this declaration is unusually applicable to the living of every-day life.

Look for the beautiful, seek it out, go where it iThis is .sound advice for anyone seeking a happy life and peaceful relationships with others. Strife generally arises from a di.sposition to look for trouble; unkindnes.s from refusal to tolerate the weakness of others If we are alert for the beautiful we shall be surprised how often we find it where we least siuspect Its existence. If we seek out the places where beauty Is to be found, it will retre.sh and . strengthen ns and send us away with its benediction of peace.

The neutralists liave now to con.sider whether Communism ever r.''nlly meant to accept the haliway-hou.se neutrali.sm e\-tept a.s a temporary expedient. Mr. Gomulka complained earlier this year that it would not be so bad if the Yougoslavs called themselves, .social democrats. It was their claim to be Jnside the Communl-.t world and yet di.s-tinct from it that was so irritating. It may take some lime before the cold wind from China niake.s a full impact on the neu-trali.st world. There will be no stampede toward.s the West. And the West, having become used to the ide.i of neutrali.sm, would not want one. But there may be more floating voters at the United Nations and more un-der.standing of the difficulties of mediation To start with, it will be good fur all roiicerned if, neutralism ceases to be .simply an intPinational cliche London Times.

Refugees from behind the Iron Curtain report that the Cyrillic alphabet, which is u.sed in Ru>.sia, will be introduced in l.atvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Until now they hn\e used the Roman alphabet but now it will be Red' letter fime.Na.-hvil!e iTemv.i Banner.

By ELMER ROES.SNER

Ted O. Thackrey, who has spread more Iarnina' in book form in America than Dr. Charles William Eliot of Harvard, knows exactly to the fourth point beyond the decimal how likely you are to buy a set of encyclopedias at your neighborhood supermarket.

Mr. Thackrey has moved to greener pastures after selling more thousands of encyclopedias than he can count. He can count pretty good. too.

He ha. been a specialist In setting up deals whereby supermarkets offer encyclopedias at the rate of one volume a week. The fiist volume is sold for pennies and the succeeding volumes for less than $I each. MATHEMATICAL .MERCHANDLS-LNG

Through expedience, publLsh-er.s and sellers of such sets of books have learned to evaluate their market so accurately that they are able to walk into headquarters f a supermarket chain and offer a certified check for the profits at the signing of a contract.

They can tell just fhow many books will be sold by the total sales \olume of each mai'kef. The average total purchase has iioihiiig to do with book

whether it be $10 or $20.

But the ratio of books to total weekly sales volume is almost invariable. There Is one minor modifier: encyclopedias sell

somewhat better in neighborhoods where there are more children.

They know, too. just how many shoppers will buy the second volume. <The fii'St is almost a giveaway.! And they know how many will buy the third and how many will will buy the twentieth.

Its very easy to calculate the sales. Mr. Thackrey told me. After the second volume, there Ls a fall off of 4 to 5 per cent in the sales of each succeeding volume, until the middle volume.' when the fall-olf drops to I to 2 per cent in tlie sales of each .''Utceeding volume, until the middle volume, when the fall-off drops to 1 to 2 per cent The

number of copies of the tenth

volume sold is usually an accurate measure of the average sale of 20 volumes

A PARTHIAN. SALE

The publishers representatives agree to prepay freight, furnish rack.s. rtplen^h stocks and take away ; inder.s. There are usually .c' namders be-

cau.se It p a few

more book ' *'lv to

M okL It, . ..I ...lock-

ing the next store to handle the books.

Sales agreements provide that each supermarket must display the books so the backs catch the eye of the shopper just before she reaches the checkout counter.

There are sound reasons, Mr. Thackrey said. Shoppers dont like to buy books before they know what theyll have to spend fur food; they dont like to pile other purchases on top of books. At the start, encyclopedias are an impulse items; .shoppers may piok them up as a reward to themselves for keeping within their budgets.

This sales pattern Is not liy-Dothetical; hundreds of tests have shown books sell best just before the checkout. This fact reassures market operators. They can see that money for books IS added spending, not taken out of food budgets. Operators have two advantages; they make a profit on the books and they are assured . that buyers will return each week,

Whle (hlldien are an important rea.!on for biiyiiiK encyclopedias. some people appear to buy them to fill up gaps In tlieir book shelves. Otherwise. Why should anyone stop buying an en-fl^clopedla in the middle ol the

P's? asked Mr. Thackrey. The color of the binding appears to be important to some hoppers, le said. They dont want booite that clash with their decors.

Mr. Thackrey is the same Ted O. Thackrey who was editor of several Scripps- Howard newspapers, publisher of two newspapers in China, general manager of the New York Post, and once founded a New York daily, the Compass, to support the candidacy of Henry A. Wallace for President on the Progressive ticket. He Is now engaged in research and writing projects for a number of very capitalistic corporations.

SHORT BUSINESS NOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Because of the drought In northern France this yeai', Pari.s is importing milk and butter from The Netherlands . . . New sub-nilniature selenium diodes, once costly components in electronic devices, are now offered as low as 1.'* cents in quantities by General Instrument Corp. . . The popularity of off - street autos pow'ercd by lawnmow'er engines is booming the sale of small pneumatic tiie.s . . . Trees in Malaya treated with horinon** jfiAld Hi Qgal ppora rubber.