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10—THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C„ October 31, 1968 'No' On Courthouse We urge our readers to vote for proposal No- 3 on the Laurens County Courthouse referendum which will be held Tuesday in conjunction with the general election. Laurens County voters will be giv en three choices: (1) Construct a new courthouse on the site of the old Lau rens Elementary School at a cost not to exceed $1.8 million; (2) Renovate the current courthouse and construct a county office building at a cost not to exceed $2 million; (3) Neither of these. We oppose the first two proposi tions for a variety of reasons but basi cally because of the lacking of plan ning and foresight which has gone into this project. We do not feel that the old Laurens Elementary School site is a satisfactory location. The 7Va-acre tract of land would cost $75,000. It would cost an addi tional $18,000 to $25,000 to demolish the old school building on the prop erty. That totals around $100,000 for 7 1 /j. acres in a fairly congested part of town. In the 1967 courthouse referen dum, the Todd property near the fair grounds was proposed as the court house site. That property would have cost $60,000 for 20 acres. The county legislative delegation went on the assumption that the vot ers’ rejection of the 1967 proposal was a rejection of the Todd property as a potential site. We disagree with that assumption. We believe the vot ers rejected the 1967 proposal pri marily because of the $3 million tag. The Todd property (in front of the Garlington Street School) would be a good location. It is more accessible to the Clinton-Joanna section of the county. In addition to offering too little acreage, the Laurens Elementary School property isn’t nearly as acces sible. Greenwood County’s Courthouse was completed a little over a year ago and already faces parking prob lems. The Greenwood courthouse is DIXIE CONTROVERSY The controversy over the Stara- and-Bars of the Confederate Flag and the song "Dixie” has reached the lu dicrous stage. The first press item we noticed was a complaint by a US Marine from Georgia on duty in Viet nam- According to Rep. W. S. Stuck ey, the Marine was ordered to remove the Georgia State Flag from above his bunk, following the assassination of Martin Luther King. The reason given was that Georgia’s Flag incorp orates the symbol of the Confeder acy in its design and some view it as a ‘‘symbol of racism.” The State Flag of Mississippi also uses the Stars- and-Bars in its pattern. The Pentagon, wisely, issued an order rescinding the removal order, but less than a month later the issue of the flag came into the headlines again, this time in Alexandria, Vir ginia. The issue this time was the flying of the Confederate Flag, along with the Stars and Stripes, and the flag of the City of Alexandria, on Confederate Memorial Day. Once again the flag’s right to exist prevail ed, despite the attempts of a handful of people to eliminate it. Then, in Arlington, Texas, the flag suffered a defeat when protestors, led by a SNCC activist, influenced the student government to vote to elimi nate the ‘‘Rebel” theme entirely from the University of Texas, at Arlington. On June 30, while the Rebel Flag was being lowered for the last time, the radical student was under a peace bond. He had threatened two fellow students for refusing to join a ‘‘black power” group. Now the final blow comes from the University of Miami, Florida. The University’s president has banned the playing of “Dixie” by the school band, and all Confederate symbols are to be discarded. “Dixie” was written by an Ohioan, Daniel Decatur Emmett, two years be fore the Civil War. Those who behold racism in the sonf suffer a popular malady these days: the racism is in the eyes of the eyes of the beholders. on a site estimated at between four and six acres. The site is shared by a Greenwood municipal building The $1.5 million contract was let on the Greenwood Courthouse in 1966 so it took about two years to build. The architect for the Laurens County Courthouse has estimated that it would be at least five years before a new courthouse could be completed for Laurens County, considering draw ing plans, taking bids and doing the other necessary preparations. There fore since the current courthouse is in such a bad state of repair, some reno vation is going to have to be done even if voters agree to build a new court house. Another factor to be considered is that the current courthouse is in such a bad state of repair, Apparently the building has not been been properly maintained. It may be old and out moded but there is no excuse for al lowing it to fall into such a poor stat us. We’d hate to think that we would pay $1.8 million for a new courthouse without any kind of maintenance pro gram. We realize that the legislative dele gation will never come up with a pro posal which will satisfy everyone. Each person has his own ideas about posible sites, type of building, etc. However, we believe voters in this section might look more favorably to ward a new courthouse constructed on property which would be more acces sible and which would allow room for future expansion. The 1967 referen dum gave the voters little choice. The 1968 referendum does not give the proper choices and does not offer enough planning for the future. ONE VOTE In a nation as large as the United States, we often feel insignificant when we go to the polls. Sometimes we feel our vote only gives us personal satisfaction and does little to alter the course of an election. However, the enormous power of just one single vote has been demon- started often through history- The course of nations has been changed because one important vote was cast —or not cast. One vote elected Adolph Hitler. On Nov. 8, 1923, at a beer hall in Munich, a new German political group chose Adolph Hitler as its leader—a ma jority of just one vote. One vote made France a republic. In 1897, after the loss to Germany of Alsace and Lorraine, France deposed its emperor, Napoleon III, and formed a provisional government. A conven tion of 706 French deputies met to de cide whether the country would form a democratic republic or return to a * monarchy. Jules Laureant, a mon archist deputy, became violently ill and left the convention before the bal loting. His uncast vote decided France’s future—the Republic won by a vote of 363-362, just one vote. One vote elected the 19th Presi dent of the U. S. In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes won the Electoral College ballot by 185-184—a margin of one vote. One vote brought us our largest state. The Alaska Purchase was rati fied in the Senate by just one vote, in 1867. One vote declared the Mexican War. In May, 1946, President Polk asked Congress to declare war against Mexico- His request passed the Sen ate by just one vote. That vote for the Mexican War brought us, after the treaty was signed, the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and California. One vote in 1824 elected John Quincy Adams as our sixth President. One vote kept our language. In the bitterness against England fol lowing the American Revolution, a bill was presented to Congress to make German the official language of our newly independent nation. It met with a tie vote. The deadlock was finally broken by a single vote cast against the bill. (The man whose vote kept English as the official lang uage of the U. S. was the son of a German immigrant) On the local level, in 1964 Billy McMillan was elected alderman by one vote. He defeated Harry Layton who is now mayor of Clinton. Your one vote may swing your en tire precinct' into your candidate’s col umn and it is at the precinct level that elections are won—or lost. The Nation's Fate Rides On Your Vote WELLESLEY HILLS, MASS.- F ive days from now, the popular balloting for President of the United States will take place in every corner of the nation. But, conceivably, we may not know un til some time in January who the next Chief Executive will be. It could be that close! FORMING A CONSENSUS Following the party convent ions this summer, disaffection and dissatisfaction with the nomi nees was widespread among Re publicans, Democrats, and others not normally hard-and-fast ad herents of either party. Differ ences of opinion within the ranks of Democrats were more notice able than among Republicans, though many staunch Republicans were dismayed at the choice of Governor Agnew for second spot on that ticket. And literally mil lions of Americans, of differ ing political persuasions, have been unhappy because they could detect little distinction in what they regarded as the “hawkish” views of Messrs. Humphrey, Nixon, and Wallace on the Viet nam issue. Many citizens are reported ly so wrought up that they may not vote at all. But as each day passes, more and more unde cided voters are reaching a de cision. The spread between the two leading candidates has ap parently narrowed and there is some reason to believe the third candidate reached a popularity peak some time ago. Right now, additional millions of voters are swinging toward a choice. At this writing, no man knows how close this election will actu ally turn out to be. But we do know that the cleavages over law and order, Vietnam, foreign aid, civil rights, and the war on pover ty will cause more cross-switch ing by voters than normally occurs. We also know that ex- Gov. Wallace has attracted more voter interest and support than any third-party candidate within memory. The Wallace strength and these cross-trends within the major parties could make for a dead lock in the electoral college, even if one of the three candi dates should attain a majority of the popular vote. For it is in the electoral college that the final decision will be made. ELECTORAL PROCEDURE When we make our ballot choice for President and Vice Presi dent, we are actually selecting a slate of electors who will pre sumably favor our chosen candi dates. The electors from each state equal in number the Sena tors and Representatives from that state. Puerto Rico, the Vir gin Islands, the Canal Zone, and Guam have no electoral vote; but the District of Columbia does have 3 votes. Hence, the full complement of the electoral col lege is 538, with 270 votes need ed to elect. The electors cast their votes in their respective states on the Monday following the second Wednesday in December (Dec. 16 this year). If no presidential candidate receives 270 votes when the ballots are opened by the President of the Senate on Jan uary 6, 1969 and tallied. . . in the presence of the Senate and the House ofRepresentatives . . .the House then chooses a President from among the three candidates having the greatest number of electoral votes, with each state having but one vote and with 26 needed to elect. The Senate picks the Vice President from among the two candidates having the greatest number of electoral votes, with each Sena tor having one vote and with 51 needed to elect. IMPORTANCE OF VOTE Voter disagreement with this year’s presidential candidates on particular issues is loud and sharp. Hence, it is feared that many voters may stay away from the polls to avoid having to make a decision. Such a course, how ever, would be hypocritical and cowardly. We contribute to the welfare of the nation by our vote. We do not deserve our rights and privileges --our freedoms -- as American citizens unless we are willing to use that fran chise. The importance of our vote, in fact, cannot be over- stressed. The life of our Repub lic depends upon it. * * * TELEPHONE 833-0541 OFFICE SUPPLIES THE CHRONICLE "TH’ NEXT ADMlVilSTRAVIOVl MAV INHERIT TH’ WAR.—AND TU' PARIS PEACE TALKS..." mam Protect Yourself The Editor: The Clinton Jaycees are very concerned about the American way of government. Our found ing fathers established a coun try with a democratic form of government. This means that the government was to be “of the people, by the people and for the people”. However; we, the peo ple, are letting this form of gov ernment decay. This constitution, along with it’s various amendments, has given every adult citizen(in most states this means 21 and over, but in several states the age is 18) the right to vote. This is not only a right, but responsi bility. Each and every citizen has a responsibility to himself and his family to support the ideals, the candidates supporting these ideals and various other laws etc. which, he feels will best serve his needs and interests. However, many of us in Clin ton are dodging this responsi bility. There are 7,346 (1960 fig ure) adults in the Clinton area who have the right and respon sibility to vote. Yet less than 4,300 (this figure includes the registered employees of both Clinton and Lydia Mills; all of whom do not live in the Clin ton area) are registered to vote. However, not all of these take the trouble to vote. In the last National Election (1964) only 2,642 people bothered to express an opinion in their own behalf. And in something as current as our Mayor’s election only 882 people voted. This is by no means rule of the majority, but rather rule of the majority voting. All of us have opinions and do not hesitate to express them, yet when less than 30^ of the people in Clinton voted when it counted, not many of us really have the right to complain. So protect yourself and your family. Express an opinion vote. Urge your friends to vote. The Clinton Jaycees do not at tempt to tell you how to vote. We are a club of individuals and each of us has his own opinion and ideals. Our intent is to in form you and urge you to vote on November 5, 1968. We will be. The Clinton Jaycees POST OFFICE POLITICS— Recognizing that mail delivery is important to people. Rep. William Scott (R.-Va.) said. “The Administration exerted pressure upon the Congress to exempt the Post Office Depart ment from reducing employees. Congress had little choice and did agree. However, it does seem ironic to talk about re stricting such vital activities while at the same time urging full funding of the Office of Economic Opportunity which operates questionable pro grams in our big cities and foreign aid. It seems time to take the Post Office Depart ment out of politics and not use it as a lever to thwart con gressional efforts to reduce spending and balance the budget.” Some Guns Must Be Registered The Gun Control Act of 1968, just passed by Congress and signed into law by the presi dent, grants possessors of ma chine guns, sawed-off shotguns, sawed-off rifles, bazookas, rockets, mortars, bombs, mines, grenades, and similar destruc tive devices, 30 days grace to register these weapons. Weapons previously registered with the director, Alcohol and To bacco Tax Division, need not be re-registered. The definition of machine gun was revised to in clude the frame or receiver of any such weapon, therefore all firearms which were rendered into a dewat and removed from the classification of firearm un der the former dewat program must be registered. Information furnished to effect proper regis tration within the specified per iod cannot be used against the registrant in any criminal pro ceeding for a prior or concur rent violation of the law. Old */( “You can tell a company by the men it keeps.” To avoid criminal prosecution for unlawful possession of these weapons and destructive devices, they must be registered with the director, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division, Washington, D.C., during the period November 2 through December l, 1968. Fail ure to comply could result in criminal prosecution punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/ or imprisonment of up to ten years. I | Everyday BY DR. HERBERT SPAUGH While we live in a society where the mode of travel and transport is largely dominated by the automobile, the bus, the truck, and the airplane, we should not forget the railroad to which we owe a tremendous debt Without the 'Iron Horse’ and its suc cessor, the diesel and electric locomotive, the industrial achievements in this nation would not have been possible. The railroad has by no means been superceeded by other forms of travel and transportation. The great Southern Railway System, one of the most modern and up-to-date in the country, has kept pace with the demands of modern business. Some (A their specially designed cars for transporting bulk freight and the automobile are wonders to be hold. We discarded the electric trol ley car as a means of trans portation more than a generation ago, and we’ve been forsak ing passenger trains on our rail roads. We’re doing this at our peril. If we let all the passen ger trains go, what’s going to happen when the planes are grounded? As our cities become one continuous traffic jam, ex perts are beginning to study the return to some forms of trans portation which do not pollute the air. I am now reading a fascina- f Counselor I A ting book, *My Iron Journey - A Life With Steam and Steel* the autobiography of OttoKuhler. He literally grew up in iron and steel factories, forges, and with locomotives. In addition to his mechanical skill and ability, he was also equally skilled with the pencil and brush of the artist He designed many of the beau tiful stream-lined locomotives of the late steam age. Born in Germany of a family which for generations had been engaged in the iron and steel manufacturing business, he served during World War I in the railroad section of the Ger man army. It was while he was m duty in occupied Belgium that le met the girl who was later to become his Hie-long com panion and who now lives with him on their scenic ally - rich Colorado ranch. There is a growing number of railroad historical societies which are dedicated to the pre servation of the artifacts of the era of steam. The number of rail fans is growing, and I free ly admit that I am one of them. Don’t sell the railroads short We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. If you want to get a copy of the magnificent book, “My Journey,” by Otto Kohler, write the Inter- Mountain Chapter National Rail way Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 5181, Denver, Colorado 80217. The book is profusely and mag- nificantly illustrated by the au thor.