Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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/ 5 Plan, Action Needed Clinton has embarked upon a long- range planning study and we hope that some long-range planning will re sult. It is sorely lacking. The city has a Planning Commis sion which helps in studying the needs of the future but the commission needs information for planning. The study contract has been awarded and it will include all phases of municipal life, ranging from land use to traffic flow and from income groupings to police and fire pro tection. Without a blueprint for the fu ture, city officials have to fight a “holding action.” They are pressed to keep up with day-to-day needs. In such a situation, it’s hard to set pri orities. A group of Friendship Street resi- dents appeared at this month’s city council meeting, seeking road im provements and fire protection. Some of the houses on the street are beyond the six-inch main which is needed in fighting fires. The houses are within the city limits and deserve fire pro tection. Council promised to look into t h e situation. However, extending water mains is an expensive proposi tion. And how many other houses are in the same stiuation? City of ficials need to know these things. A local businessman lives in a nice • residential area within the city limits but he’s concerned about a drainage problem. In times of heavy rains, raw sewage often runs through the ditches in his neighborhood. It’s a health hazard he’s been trying to eliminate for years. This is not an isolated case. There are many simi lar situations around Clinton and it’s dangerous. This man says his answers from city officials generally have been non committal except for one. He says one councilman told him, "If we fix that drainage problem, we’ll have to do it for all the others who have the same problem.” The businuessman said, "I don’t want any preferential treatment. I don’t want to get in front of someone else who has had this problem longer ; than I have. I just want to know when the city can get to it. Will it be two years, five years’’ I’d just like to know so that I could make some • plans. But apparently there is no plan and nothing is being done.” The planning study will take years. The contract is issued on a year-to- year basis but if the study is taken to its conclusion, it will take three years. In the meantime, Clinton is growing and so is its problems. We would like to see developed some type of priority plan which will correct some inadequacies d u r i n g those three years. LT. COL IVEY Lt. Col. Ben Ivey was honored re cently upon completion of three years' service as professor of Military Sci ence at Presbyterian College. The Legion of Merit award which he received was well-deserved. A graduate of Presbyterian Col lege, Lt. Col. Ivey had a special, deep- rooted interest in his assignment. He was always available to promote the ROTC program and he is an articulate spokesman in behalf of ROTC. He also was interested in the total development of the college. When liberal elements of a college rub against a conservative community, there often are repercussions which could damage relationships between the college and the community. On several occasions, Ivey was an impor tant link between the college and the community when some ties were strained. He was active in both the life of the community and the college and he helped to explain the two sides to each other. He has a strong affection for Clinton and Presbyterian College. Ivey coached the PC baseball team in 1968. This took up a lot of time but he refused any pay for his services. It’s just one example of his dedication to and interest in Presby terian College. Ivey is an outspoken man with some strong convictions which he is willing to back up. When his tour of duty at PC was up, he had a choice of overseas assignments. He chose to serve in Vietnam. LICENSE RENEWAL OFFICE IN CLINTON After a petition and considerable agitation on the part of Clinton-Joan- na residents, the State Highway Pa trol opened a drivers license renewal office in Clinton. The office is located in the Armory and is open five days a week. The reason Clinton folks wanted a license office here was that it was inconvenient and time-consuming to visit the office in Laurens . However, after the office was opened here, many people from this area continued to go to Laurens, ap- parentiy unaware of the convenient local office. We expect our state agencies to operate in the most efficient manner while making services convenient so we would not expect them to keep an office open here if it is rarely used. The license renewal office in Clin ton was estalished for your conven ience, so take advantage of it. ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★•A-** Farm Folks: Telling It Like It Is (EDITOR’S NOTE: The fol lowing article was written by Del Groves, editor of Nation’s Agri- cultare magazine and was pub lished in the May issue of that magazine.) BY DEL GROVES Editor Nation’s Agriculture One of the finest tributes to farm folks I’ve seen was written by a daily newspaper sports wri ter. Bob Barnet of the “Muncie Star’ wrote it after attending In diana Farm Bureau’s Golden Jubilee. It’s so good I’d like to share the first part of his story with you. We quote: “The faces of the men were reddened by wind and sun, but the faces were scrubbed and the shoes were shined and the women looked as if they really could bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy, and not the kind that comes out of a box. ‘They looked like working peo ple, wearing their best for an occasion that was important to them. And so they were. “Inside the massive arena, they took their places and came to their feet when the Ben Davis High School Band played ‘The Star Spangled Banner,’ and a great many of them sang the words. They repeated the'Pledge of Allegiance’ and meant every word of it. “They listened attentively while the new Secretary of Agri culture, a fellow-Hoosier named Clifford M. Hardin, from over around Knightstown, told them how badly the world needed them and they nodded when Dean Earl Butz from Purdue told them, “You should be proud to say, T’m a far mer.’ • “Then they ate an evening meal and came back into the Coliseum to watch a show that cost a lot of money to produce and rightly so, because it was a great show. They heard Eddy Arnold sing 'Gentle on My Mind,’ and 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix,’ and ‘Molly Darlin’,’and the other bal lads he does so well, then they got into their cars and buses and went home. It was 9:30 p.m. and it had been a long day. “And let me tell you something about these people, neighbor. Not one of the men had long shaggy hair hanging down in his eyes. Not a man or woman was wear ing love beads. Nobody heckled the speakers from the back of the arena. Nobody marched any where, and the only banners in sight were those of the Indiana Farm Bureau, which was serving as host at a giant 50th Anniver sary party. “There wasn’t a bit of filth or obscenity in the entire show and during the afternoon and eve ning programs not a single swear-word was spoken from the platform. “I didn’t see a woman in a mini-skirt and not one of them was wearing pink stockings. Not one had her hair hanging down her back in greasy disarray. “I didn’t see a single drunk, or even anyone who appeared to have had a drink. Nobody was bawling cuss-words at the re feree from a safe perch up in the stands. When the crowd left the fairgrounds, nobody threw gravel like a drag-stripper and tried to run down a lagging pedes trian. In other words, these were ladies and gentlemen.’ Bob Barnet, I salute you for “telling it like it was." The Other Side of the Coin Grape Boycott of union interference or domina tion, will turn to increased me chanization in the fields -- more machines and fewer hands. Poses Threat BY THURMAN SENSING Executive Vice President Southern States Industrial Council lonal Council of Churches, have become deeply involved in the California grape situation on the side of the union bosses. The Congressional “liberals’ who profess to be deeply con cerned about hungry Americans would be well advised to take a look at the farm unionization ef fort. Unionization leads to higher product prices, and this, in turn, will worsen the lot of poor fami lies in the nation. The danger of union violence being carried to the supermar kets and grocery stores of the nation is far greater than most people realize. Legislation now before the Congress may deter mine whether this violence is to be prevented and whether con sumer rights are to be protect ed in future. Farm union organizers are working overtime to get a tight grip on agricultural production and veto powers over what farm products are offered for sale at retail outlets. Farm unionists in California grape-growing areas have demonstrated what lies a- head for consumers if unionists have their way. They have sought to organize a national boycott of California grapes. In New York City, grocery stores selling California grapes have been the target of fire-bomb attacks. In Detroit, efforts to en force the grape boycott have in cluded acts of violence and har assment of store owners and em ployes. Clearly, the public has cause for concern about this situation. Among those who already are deeply concerned — to the point of doing something about the sit uation — is State Senator Lor raine Beebe of Michigan. Senator Beebe, who is chairman of the Consumer’s Rights Committee, recently said it is “only a matter of time before supermarkets and grocery stores are faced with de mands to remove any number of thousands of items carried on grocery shelves: cherries from Michigan, oranges from Flori da, dairy products from Wiscon sin, and brand name products of all kinds.* The roughstuff that lies ahead, unless something is done, was re vealed in candid remarks by the Rev. Wayne Hartmire, director of the California Migrant Ministry. He urged boycott ngiporters to 'make a scene every time you are served table grapes in restau rants, camps, church dinners, etc.* Misguided church groups, such as the controversial Nat- In view of the danger of out right union violence and intimida tion of grocery store operators, it is imperative that Congress pass protective legislation. Sena tor George Murphy, (R-Calif.) has introduced a bill to that end. Senator Murphy’s bill would meet the public need by forbid ding all picketing at retail food establishments, outlawing vio lence as a means of implement ing a boycott, and banning se condary boycotts. Sound and ne cessary as are these provisions of Senator Murphy’s legislative proposal, even greater strength ening of the bill is needed to fully protect the consumer’s right of access to farm products. Senator Murphy’s bill allows a farmer to get a temporary re straining order against strikes if he can convince the court that the strike threatens loss or spoil age of a crop in commercial quantities. It wouldbe much more to the public interest, however, if the Murphy bill were amend ed to forbid all strikes at har vest time or at other critical per iods. Without a clear statement along this line, union bosses may be able to wipe out a farmer’s investment in a crop. Farmers could be caught in a maze of legal maneuvering. It is reason able to suppose that the indivi dual farmer would find himself in court, faced by an array of high- priced union legal specialists. By the time be defended his rights, his crop could be ruined. The Farm Bureau is on record as favoring the strike ban, and consumers have good cause for joining with the Bureau in re- que sting legislation with this pro vision. The overall farm union drive is not in the interest of 200 million U.S. consumers. A- side from the danger of union vio lence at supermarkets, there is the virtual certainty that unioni zation of farms will boost prices for American housewives who do the grocery shopping. Every one’s budget will feel the pinch of the farm union drive. Farmers, faced with the threat Housewives in all parts of the country already are concerned about rises in food costs. If they want the line to be held in food prices, they had better become concerned about the farm union ization effort. * * * BOONDOGGLING—Years ago Robert P. Griffin (R.- Mich.) as a member of the House suggested that Con gress should decree that the number of employees in the Department of Agriculture must never exceed the num ber of farmers in America. Now a Senator, Griffin noted “when I proposed that amend ment there were 8,869,000 farmers in America and 89,- 398 employees in the Depart ment of Agriculture. Today the number of farmers has gone down to 4,638,000 a 41 per cent decrease. The number of Agriculture Department employees has increased to 212,113, an increase of 137 per cent. In other words, there were formerly 87 farmers for every Agriculture Department employee. Today, there are only 22 farmers for every employee.” “A tourist is a man who travels to see things that are different and then complains when they aren’t the same.” 2-B—THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C., June 12, 1969 SENATOR STROM THURMOND REPORTS TO THE PEOPLE A MAN OF INTEGRITY The recent hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee con firmed the belief that President Nixon’s nominee for Chief Jus tice of the U. S. Supreme Court ushers in a new era of Consti tutional history. Judge Warren Earl Burger was unanimously approved by the Committee to be the new Chief Justice. It is evident that Judge Burger has a record which is one of in tegrity and character. A judge should be “Mr. Integrity,” and Judge Burger satisfied the Com mittee on this score. STRICT CONSTRUCTIONIST Judge Burger also impressed the Committee with his grasp of fundamental Constitutional ques tions, as expressed in his opin ions on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The Committee was pleased to find that Judge Burger has been a strict con structionist of the Constitution. He apparently has felt that the Court should interpret the law, but not legislate. His record indi cates that he believes in strong enforcement of the law, and in equal treatment—with favorit ism towards none. It is a long time since such qualities have been evident in a sitting Chief Justice. The Presi dent is to be congratulated for the care and prudence with which he sought out s man of judicial temperament. This judicial temperament was clearly illustrated in a statement which Judge Burger made last year indicating the inherent lim itations of the Judicial Branch. Judge Burger said: “That courts encounter some problems for which they can supply no solu tion is not invariably an occasion for regret or concern; this is an essential limitation in a system of divided powers.” This state ment shows Judge Burger’s re spect for fundamental Constitu tional principles. RIGHT AND WRONG Judge Burger’s opinions are also firm when basic questions of right and wrong are involved in law. He has rejected the idea that medicine and science can assume the functions of the judi cial system. In one opinion he wrote the following: ‘The sciences are not the sources of law. The value judgments involved in shaping legal standards must rest on grounds other than those in which science can speak with authority.” Judge Burger has also ex pressed the feelings of many citizens who become alarmed when confessed criminals are set free on technicalities. The Judge said: “Guilt or innocence become irrelevant in the criminal trial as we flounder in a morass of artificial rules poorly conceived and often impossible of applica tion.” RULES AND SUBRULES On another occasion, he said: “The seeming anxiety of judges to protect every accused person from every consequence of his voluntary utterances is giving rise to myriad rules, sub-rules, variations and exceptions which even the most able and sophisti cated lawyers and judges are taxed to follow.” These quotations from some of the past legal opinions of Judge Burger are like a fresh breexe rustling across the courtroom. They indicate an expansive mind of lyise and true humanity. j Judge Burger realizes that a society must protect itself from marauders, whether they come from within or from without. Excessive concern for the rights of criminals, including those who have confessed or who have been caught red-handed, has led to disrespect of the law. The proper course of reform is to reform the bench, not to turn criminals free. JUDICIAL REFORM As Chief Justice, Judge Bur ger will have the chance to be the leader in the reform of judi cial philosophy. The Chief Jus ticeship of the U. S. is the sec ond most powerful position in the world, second only to the Presidency of the U. S. By example and by leadership, the Chief Justice can exert a powerful force to restore the rep utation of the Court, and to make the Court once again the object of universal respect. President Nixon has done his part. Chief Justice Burger will have as great an opportunity as any man ever had to make the Supreme Court synonymous with even-handed justice. (not prnpnnd or prinUd mt gootmmont oaponoo) Parents Off Minor Children Need Will BY RICHARD GANTT Attorney Presbyterian College Every husband and wife with children, no matter how young, should have wills. Otherwise, un necessary legal problems can continue for years, especially when children under 21 are in volved. For example, a young husband recently died without a wiU. Ac cording to South Carolina law, his property went one third to his wife and two thirds to his two children. After the estate was settled, his wife realized that sbe would have difficulty meeting the monthly mortgage payments. The home also need ed some minor repairs. The landing institution was willing to reduce the monthly payment but to do so required the agreement of her children who were eight and eleven. Because they were minors, they could not sign the mortgage. An extensive court proceeding was neces sary to authorize the guardian of the children to sign the mort- RICHARD GANTT gage for the children. The entire facts were presented to a judge after numerous legal documents were prepared. After the hearing, the wife had to justify why sbe should be allowed a new mort gage. The mortgage was authorized but after it was executed, the wife was forced to report all of her financial proceedings to the probate judge who had control of the monies received on behalf of her children. The point the story makes is simple. If you have minor child ren, you need a will.