The Chapel Hill weekly., 1963-05-26
-Pearsall: No Political Ambitions, But :. =
Continued from Page II


AS might be expected, cause
and effect are items of continual
pursuit. He has examined North
Carolina for effects, found causes
and moved from there to RENE
dies.
Il am concerned with a num-
ber of problems, particularly this
adjustment we've got to make
there are dangers in the picture
they affect the entire state.
We're in a period OF transition
from an agricultural to an indus
trial society We've lost such
large numbers from our rural
sections, and that S one OF our
tragedies. We're losing some Of
the good ones. MeChanization is
having its effects. People are
not being asked to leave, but
when they move off, they aren't
replaced. except by a tractor.
Cotton corn. peanuts. small
grains are all being mechanical.
Only tobacco remains largely I'M
mechanical, and when research
at State College ticks that. there
Will be a great abundance OF
labor that must move.
Where are they going to 30?
What are they going to do?
We hear discussion of a brea-
ther, a respite. so to speak. from
the headlong industrialization Of
the Hodges era. and the continued
pace of the Sanford adminiStra-
ton. The facts of life and the
circumstances won't permit it.
The State can't afford, to stop.
We have a long way yet to 90,
and there's more room ahead Of
us than behind us"
Growing out of industrialization
and the elimination of need for
great quantities of agricultural
labor are the dual needs of re-
training the existing labor pool
and inSuring the higher quantity
of young people entering it.
North Cardinals low per. capita
income and the low percentage
Of youth who go on to education
beyond the high school level and
each other in vicious circle of
cause and effect. Ultimately the
State suffers as a whole.
Textiles. tobacco and furni-
ture, the traditional industries
here, are not highly skilled oc-
equations. We need something to
help raise our wage rate" Spe-
officially. advanced industries,
electronicS and related fields. but
these are reluctant to come be-
cause there is no trained, skilled
labor pool already here.
The first step is creation of
that highly skilled labor pool. and
it is here that North Caroliaa's
three-phase program of higher
education enters the picture.
The Selectiye Service records
show that our men are deficient
mentally or healthWiSe. Npth
Carolina is at the top Of the. lad
der in reflections by the Armed
Forces.
Until North Carolina solves
these problems, nothing will
change.
when we talk about Stacking
up. we're not going anywhere.
North Carolina can't afford that
luxury.
People in an average business
position don't rub shoulders with
the facts of life as they are down
here. You have to in order to
find the truth. You have to re-
member that behind each one of
these cold figures is a .Warm
body, or an empty stomach Or an
uneducated mind.
Il was totally flabbergasted to
find a direct correlation between
illiteracy and poverty. right in
my own County. And | think
we're above the average down
here. More than half the people
applying for food stamps couldn' t
sign their names. You've got to
start with educating the illiterate.
There has been a lot of progress,
all in less than three or four
years, but you've got to train
the adults, the displaced people.
and this is a need that is greater
than the average person appreci-
ates. | had a sad awakening.
4 u L