The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14
-
Then
&9eNE
WHY TOLERATE GRAFTERS
AND FIVE PER CENTERS?
BIZ VICTOR MEEkINS

happen unless there be some def
ciencies in our National character.
There is so much selfishness in
the human race that a new tribe
Of five per-eenters, and even
larger per-centers has grown up
1t has always been puzzling, why
when war comes and our nation
is in peril, and the blood Of our
finest sons is being spilled to de
fend it, this nation must pay a
higher price for everything it buys.
When misery and sorrow stalks
the land and men lay dead on dis
tant battlefields, our laboring men
remaining home in comfort and
security, demand higher wages and
grow fat on the overtime pay de-
manded.
In time of distress, when hurri-
canes have visited US, and funds
have come to US because of mis-
fortune often out of the goodness
in the hearts Of distant people,
frauds and false claims are work
ed up to get some money that is
not rightfully due Misrepresenta-
tons have been made to the Red
Cross, and funds obtained to re-
place losses that did not occur, to
buy new nets for some that never
existed.
Only last week, the Chairman of
the Board of County Commission
ers in Onslow County was forced
to vacate his office when it wa.
shown that he had used that office
to extract graft from contractors
engaged in making storm repairs
on the seashore of his county
Chairman James F. Mohn was let
ting contracts to men who would
give him a kick-back of Is per
cent. How can a man, in the con-
fidence Of the people, use his office
TO be dishonest, is mystery. Yet
we have people all about US who
cook up false claims 70 get relief
funds and disaster funds, none Of
which they have right to get.
We may think it doesn't happen
closer home, but it does. We can
name several instances. There was
q case where Board Of Commits
sioners bought creosoted lumber
to repair a publicly owned harbor,
but this lumber was diverted to q
privately owned dock. 1t never
benefited the public whose tax
money paid for it. Subsequently,
following hurricane, this same
Board turned in an outrageous
claim for funds to repair this pub
lie landing place, asserting the
claim on the basis of the hurricane.
This was done with the full
knowledge of all officers, some of
them having voices raised loud
and often in church-even filling
pulpits.
We could go a lot further and
have more if we didn't have SO
much time wasted by frauds and
humbugs. The most useless and
costly individual with US is the
hypocrite. He wastes our time
telling all what great person he
is, when he would be more useful
if at work. He is the kind of fellow
who carries tales, and as the say
ing goes, a dog who carries bone
will bring one, or vice-versa. He
also tries to carry water on both
shoulders-pretending to all alike
he is their friends and favors the
things each of them favors. 1t is
amazing how long a fellow can
thrive in this kind of manner, but
there are new suckers being born
all the time, so it can last for
years.
Last week / was down at Bath,
that beautiful, interesting and his
toric town which is the oldest in
our state. It's celebration has been
recited in the daily press, but as
always, impressed by the eating,
and the barbecue dinner served at
Kirby Grange, with it's beautiful
green lawn sloping down to Back
Creek. Rarely do l find more
interesting and restful scene, and
it must be a joy to live at this
home which is owned by Mr.. and
Mrs. William F. Midgette, who,
with their granddaughter, dressed
in Colonial costume, were hosts to
the party. Some 300 people were
fed at this barbecue. Present were
the widows of three former Gov
ernors, Mrs. j. C. B. Ehringhaus,
Mrs. ]. M. Broughton and Mrs. w.
B. Umstead. Governor and Mrs.
Hodges were there; Mr.. and Mrs.
Lindsay Warren, Mr.. and Mrs.
Herbert Bonner, Senator Sam Err
win, Thad Eure, Secretary of
State; Frank Crane, Labor Com
missioner, Chas. F. Gold, Insur-
ance Commissioner, State Treas
mar Hanrv Rrid0es Attorney