The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-10-14
Your Washington
And Mine! !!
FROM
Behind the Scenes
BY DIR. James E. Pope
BY DR.. James E. Pope

Washington. - Roosevelt bears
the historical distinction of being
first occupant of the White House
to recognize old-age pensions as a
moral obligation of the U. S. Gov
eminent.
Had his Administration brought
into existence nothing constructive
besides that the name of Franklin
D. Roosevelt would still go down
in history as that of great Presi-
dent, far-seeing statesman, an
outstanding and friendly helper OF
mankind. Admitting that the pres
ent Social Security law is inadequate
and insufficient, and not all who
need and deserve pensions are get
ting pensions under it, and that the
present set-up is not commensur-
able and not workable in many OF
the weaker or more Indifferent
states, it still stands as a milestone
in human progress and social
achievement in America.
For one thing-and this is i'm
portant-it commits the National
Government to the principle of
old-age protection through pensions
without casting upon the benefici-
aries Hereunder the stigma of
charity. But with all that, the
status fthe progress is yet wholly
experimental 1t is felt that Presi-
dent Roosevelt would gladly well
come a more workable plan, one
which might give the country some
thing more desirable than the not
altogether workable Social Securi-
ty law as it now stands. It is sensed
that he might revamp the whole
pension structure, and in this re-
construction give the people a pro-
gram that will pay direct Federal
pension of $50 a month, minimum,
and make this the sole function
of the Government, independent of
what the several states may or may
not render in the way of cooperative
assistance.
All this Black-Klan backfire and
Observation-Disclosures ammunition
supplied by the Administrations
backfriends would sound more
convincing were it not so diaphan-
ously plain that their target is
Roosevelt and not Black. At some
time Mr.. Black may have turned
adapter for political expediency-
and got caught. Others simply
were not caught. But many of us
regard his radio talk as a finer
showing for tolerance than that ex-
emp1ifiied by some of the intoler-
ant ones who cannot tolerate Mr.
Justice Blacks declaration of intol,
erance.
This correspondents ancestors
were members of the original Klar
in the Old South during the Recon
struction days of another century
yet we hold no brew for nor do we
champion the cause of those WhC
today, parading under a similar
title, seek to propagate their swee
bells of bigotry. This is no pie;
for racketeering gangsters who car
only for the gate receipts, VIII
preach racial and religious hatred
in furtherance of un-Christia1
schemes merely for the purpose o
collecting enrolment fees.
This is another day. But the darl
days following Appomatox and tn
assassination of the noble Llncoh
brought terror to the hearts o
Southerners- terrors in its most I'm
speakable form million time
more CHASTITY than war. It was tn
terror spread by moral hyenas ant
jackals, those too cowardly to fgh
in Grants army and despised b.
the North, who, after the bullet
stopped flying, swooped down tx
pillage the helpless Dlxleland, ant
by melting ignorant blacks to act
of violence on the persons of girl
children and women, brought int
being the Ku Klux Khan of the day
It stands as lasting tribute t.
the undying spirit of American
manhood that these human skunk
made a concerted exodus, suddel
going forth-many Of them not NOR
than three jumps ahead of the trig
ger-fnger or the moose!
Perhaps these Southern fathers
brothers and husbands of outraged
girls and women, not being lega
technicians, were technically guilt.
of ruthless intolerance? If so, tn
members of the patriotic banC
known as the Boston Tea Party Wer,
equally ruthless and intolerant.
BELMONT ABBEY BOYS