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VOLUME 34 — NUMBER 11
' SWEEPING THE COUNTRY
• ■
M t By Carl Broome
a^i Editorial on editorials
Some readers of the Brantley Enterprise have been
kind enough to ask why we do not have editorials in the
paper every week.
The answer to this question is somewhat complicated
and probably would be little understood by people who
have never published a small county newspaper, but
some angles of the reply would run something like this:
A country editor has so many things to do that he
has little time to sit down and concentrate on editorial
ideas. He is simply driven from day to day with such a
multitude of things to do that he keeps putting off the
task of writing editorials.
Years ago when I first began publishing this paper
I wrote an editorial criticizing my fellow editors because
many of them did not run editorials in their weekly
papers.
Later I began to realize why the weekly editors con
fined their writings to news and advertising and left the
editorial writing to the daily editors.
Another angle of weekly editorial writing is that i*
your editorials are worth the space taken, they are usually
very controversial. Milk-and-water editorials, the namby
pamby stuff published by some weeklies and also by some
dailies, are not only useless but nauseating.
But if a weekly newspaper editor writes the kind
of editorials calculated to make people really think, then
he makes a lot es enemies. As the years go on he makes
more enemies until he practically “walks alone” in his
community because he has editorially stepped on the
toes of almost everyone of any importance in the county.
The editor of a daily newspaper, an elderly man,
told me once, “I used to like an editorial fight and I
engaged in them often when I was younger, but now I
am old and I crave a little peace and quiet.”
That editpr had been thru the mill. He knew the
petty spite that some people take out on an editor who
“calls them as he sees them” and writes controversial
editorials.
Almost anything an editor writes that has any guts,
any real punch, makes somebody mad. Then the editor
has the burden of the hating person’s grudge to bear the
rest of his life.
The weekly editor does not sit in an ivory tower
“far from the madding crowd” and wield his editorial
punches. Rather he is right down in the middle of main
street, grappling with all the problems and mazes of
community politics, gossip, graft and corruption-
The country editor who consistently writes worth
while editorials must have a very tough -hide. He must
not wince or cry aloud at the bludgeoning of enemies he
makes by telling the truth.
Few of us like to live in a state of constant contro
versy with our neighbors. An editor, being human, does
not enjoy being hated by his neighbors.
The result is that most editors, if they write editor
ials at all, discuss state, national and international mat
ters and deliberately dodge the burning problems at their
doorsteps.
I remember the time I decided to take up the edi
torial cudgels here in Brantley County on the matter of
higher taxation values on “wild lands”. A prominent
citizen told me it was political suicide to “buck the big
land owners” who were then returning their lands, for
taxation purposes, at $1 to $1.50 an acre.
Another prominent citizen promised me he would
back my editorials with a signed letter approving of in
crease in land values for taxation purposes.
I launched my “editorial crusade” but the prominent
citizen never did back me up with any kind of a letter.
Many people, in effect, said “Sic ’em”, but left me
as a lone wolf in the battle for a more reasonable valua
tion for wild lands.
Don’t misunderstand me. I did not get soore at any
one about the matter. I know human nature well enough
to realize how many people take the line of least resis
tance in public matters. They like to see justice done, they
even like to see a fight, but they much prefer for the
other fellow to do the fighting and to let him bear the
brunt of the opposition incurred in any strong move for
civic progress.
All this to discuss a few of the many angles to the
matter of writing worthwhile editorials in a small weekly
newspaper. Many people know just what the editor
ought to write but few of them will really give him sacri
ficial backing in meeting the inevitable opposition incurr
ed in any effective editorial crusade.
It reminds me of what one editor told a man who
came to his office advising him to write an editorial about
a community problem. The editor had crusaded many
times and had received little support
He pointed to the courthouse on the public square,
“See that building,” he said. “If thieves carry it off to
night, we’ll run the news telling that the courthouse has
been stolen but we won’t say one word against the thieves.
Some of their kinfolks might get mad at us.”
Well, I will never get that cynical about writing
controversial editorials, but I do realize how that editor
felt and how any editor could possibly get that way.
WatitUy Eutrrprtsf
NAHUNTA, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1954
Nahunta 4-H Club
Met March 10
The Nahunta Sr. 4-H Club held
its regular monthly 4-H Club
meeting Wednesday, March 10th,
at the Nahunta High School. High
School Principal, Earl May, and
County Agent, George A. Loyd
gave talks at the meeting. >
Mr. May urged all the members
to take active part in 4-H 'Club
work, in order that they might
receive maximum benefits * from
the time spent.
Mr. Loyd discussed the dress
revue, with the girls, and corn
and poultry production with the
boys.
FUTURE FARMERS
MET AT JESUP
MARCH 18
JESUP, Ga. March 17 — Future
Banners and their friends from 25
chapters in this area gathered at
the Orange Street Elementary
school cafeteria here Thursday night
for an FFA Achievement Banquet.
Stanford Tillman, state FFA
treasurer from Surrency, presided
at the meeting. Approximately 190
persons were invited to attend the
banquet honoring FFA members
who have achieved the Georgia
Planter and American Farmer de
grees.
Among those appearing on the
program were Donald Clark of Mt.
Vernon-Ailey ,last year’s FFA Star
Georgia Planter; Ben Benton, presi
dent of the Glenwood chapter
which earned Southeast Georgia’s
chapter achievement award last
year; and Jim Thomas of Patterson.
Members of the host Jesup chap
ter presented the FFA emblem
building ceremony, and entertain
ment was provided by Wayne Tyre,
Odum.
The banquet guests were wel
comed by H. M. Morris, field rep
resentative of the Georgia Chain
Store Council which is sponsoring
the event. The response was by H.
F. Johnson, Baxley, and the invo
cation by Wendell Durrence, Glenn
ville.
Music was provided by Augus
tus Smith, Ludowici, at the piano
and Rudolph Thomas, Patterson,
on the electric guitar.
FFA chapters participating in
the banquet and their advisers were
Alamo, T. C. Cliett; Alma, R. W.
Sanders; Baxley, A. R. Tuten;
Blackshear, Wallace Childs and S.
V. Lee; Claxton, E. D. Sikes; Col
lins, Louie Price; Darien, Don R.
Grinstead; Glennville, J. D. Kaney;
Glenwood, D. L. Stephens; Glynn
Academy, W. E. Rayburn.
Hazlehurst, E. O. Baggett; Hobo
ken, W. J. Moore; Jesup, A. E.
Kitchens Jr. and R. E. Harrison;
Ludowici, E. C. Strickland; Milan,
W. K. Warren; Montgomery Coun
ty, L. G. Calhoun; Mt. Vernon-
Ailey, H. A. Moses; Nahunta, W.
C. Long; Odum, Robert Babb; Pat
terson, Oswell Smith and M. L.
Anderson; Pembroke, C. N. McGee;
Reidsville, E. L. Grinstead; Screven,
Ronald Faircloth; Statesboro, L. H.
Akins; and Surrency, J. S. Green.
MINIATURE FOREST WILL BE DISPLWE’J
Tree Growers In this vicinity will have an opportunity soon to see the f.rct mima.ure Ppr.ac.e for—. ' ex
hibit ever constructed. Mounted on a trailer, the realistic display will feature mi^t p.ne trees, in ~
powersaws and even a pocket-size mechanical tree planter. The exhibit will snow local landcwr.-.s h«w to
Increase their woodland income.
PROCEEDINGS
OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
The Brantley County Commissio
ners of Roads and Revenue met in
regular session Feb. 26th for their
March session. Present were R. B.
Brooker, chairman, R. C. Harrell
Jr., clerk, C. H. Penland, T. V.
Rhoden and Silas D. Lee.
The following pauper list was
pproved and ordered paid: Ocie
Moody, $10.00; Alice Rewis, $10.00;
Thelma Sapp, $10.00; Mrs. Edd
Knight, $10.00; and Jessie G. Ald
ridge, SIO.OO.
The following warrants were is
sued to the Road Hands for the
month of Feb. 1, 1954: O. G. Lee,
$200.00; Perry Crews, $152.00; E.
C. Redding, $160.00; Elvin Griffin,
$160.00; Monsie Wilson, $200.00;
Ottis Morgan, $152.00; Woodrow
Wilson, $152.00; Junior Knox, $160.-
J 0; J. F. Wildes, $152.00; Edwin
Herrin, $160.00; Tom Hickox,
$141.60; Carlton Lee, $141.60.
The following commissioners were
paid: R. B. Brooker, $30.00; R. C.
Harrell Jr., $30.00; C. H. Penland,
$30.00; Silas D. Lee, $30.00; and
T. V. Rhoden, $30.00. The above
commissioners were paid for six
days service each.
The following general bills were
I ordered paid: Georgia Power and
Light Co., $37.55, lights and power;
S. E. Blount, $50.00, janitor; Re
becca D. Griner, $254.86, salary;
Lorena Rowell Strickland, $142.10,
salary; Wayne County Health Dept.
$243.20, Dr. and Sup. salarys; Dr.
E. A. Moody, $30.00, salary; D. W.
Herrin, $150.00, salary; C. Winton
Adams, $25, salary; D. F. Herrin,
$78.50, salary & fees; Archie Johns,
SBO.OO, salary; J. R. Walker. $38.34,
salary; George A. Loyd, $191.25,
salary and travel; Georgia State
Forestry Comm., $425.00, budget;
Teachers Retirement Board, $35.49,
retirement, C. A.; D. S. Page, sur
veyor, $5.00, service; Brantley Tele
i phone Co., $54.66, phones and calls;
! Brantley Enterprise, $112.50, print
ing and supplies; J. W. Brooker,
$109.71, parts and supplies; T. F.
Rhoden, SIBI.BO, services rendered;
Burns Electrical Cent., $5.35, re
pair; Wilson Garage, $119.25, repair;
State Welfare Dept., $628.24, bud
get; City of Nahunta, $6.75, water.
There being no further business
the meeting adjourned in regular
order.
R. B. Brooker, Chairman.
R. C. Harrell, Clerk.
Popwell - Wages
Miss Hazel Popwell and Joe
Wages of Jacksonville, Fla., were
married on March 14 at the home
of County Judge in Folkston, Ga.
i Mrs. Inez Popwell served as
Matron of Honor and Clinton Pop
well was best man to the groom.
The bride wore a navy blue
dress with black and white acces-
sones.
Immediately after the ceremony
the bridal couple left for several
days honeymoon in Atlanta, Ga.
Mrs. Harriet Thomas
Died Sunday Night
Funeral services for Mrs. Harriet
Thomas of Hickox, who died Sun
day night, were held Monday af
ternoon at three o’clock at Corinth
Church in Charlton county, with
the Rev. Oliver Lewis officiating.
Burial was in the church ceme
tery.
Survivors include two daughters,
Mrs. Janie Wainright and Mrs. Mary
Johns, both of Nahunta; one son,
J. M. Herrin, Nahunta; several step
children; two brothers, Riley Ho
ward, Waycross and Marion How
ard, Jacksonville; one sister, Mrs.
Mary Moody, Tampa, Fla.; several
grandchildren, great grandchildren
and great great grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Banner Wain
right, Bill White, Elias Herrin, Jim
R. Herrin, Manzie Johns and Ed-
ward Brand.
Mincy Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
Raybon Church of
God Holds Revival
The Church of God at Raybon is
conducting a series of revival meet
ings this week, it is announced.
Services are held each night at
7:30. Rev. Cyclone Hager is the
evangelist. Mrs. Hager also assists
in the meeting. The church cor
dially invites everyone to attend
the services.
PERSONALS
T. E. Raulerson is a patient in
the Jesup hospital.
• • *
John W. Harris, Seaman, USN,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Harris
of Nahunta, returned March 3 to
San Diego, Calif., and is aboard the
attack carrier USS Yorktown after
completing a tour of duty in the
Far East.
♦ * *
Harry L. Pearson, son of Mr. and
Mrs. 0. N. Pearson of Hortense is
serving aboard the USS Chief, a
minesweeper, in the Far East. He
entered the navy in 1951.
CIVIL DEFENSE
MEETING SET
FOR MARCH 25
G. A. Lloyd, chairman of Brant
ley County Civil Defense, announces
that a meeting of all officers of
Civil Defense in the county will
meet at the Court House on Thurs
day, March 25 at 8:00 o’clock P. M.
The public is invited to attend.
A representative^ Savannah Air
Filter Center will be present to
speak and to show a movie on Civil
Defense.
I All members of the Ground Ob
, server Corps are urgently requested
| to be present.
OFFICIAL ORGAN
RED CROSS
CAMPAIGN TO
BEGIN MONDAY
The campaign in Brantley Coun
ty for Red Cross funds will begin
Monday, March 22, it is announced
by drive chairman Prof. Herschel
Herrin.
Brantley County’s quota is $550.
Committees have been appointed in
each precinct in the county to can
vass for the needed funds. John
Wilson is chapter chairman of the
Red Cross in Brantley County.
Some of the needs for Red Cross
activities in Brantley County in
clude blood donations, hardship
cases for service men and emergen
cy furloughs.
Half the Red Cross funds donated
remain in the county for local use.
SENIOR CLASS
TO PRESENT
COMEDY DRAMA
The senior class of the Nahunta
High School will present a comedy
play entitled, “They Went Thata
way” in the school auditorium Fri
day night, March 19, at eight o’-
clock.
The play is a three-act western
which is calculated to provide ma
ny laughs. The cast of characters
are;
Charlotte Pelham, Reba Rauler
son. . : ■ -?
Lil Bower, Betty Jean Saddler.
Sheriff Jackson, Arthur Hiller.
Joe Chuckwagon, Douglas White.
Princess One Blossom, Dawshene
Highsmith.
Elmira Spring, Mary Lou Willis.
Slug, Reginald Highsmith.
Waxy, Ben Garrett.
Sue Castle, Slyvia Bowen.
The seniors are hoping for a
good attendance, as the proceeds
of the play go for the benefit of
the class.
ROYAL
Theatre
Nahunta, Georgia
Saturday 6:47 and 8:15
PROGRAM
Thurs., Fri., March 18-19
“Mogambo”
With Clark Gable and
Ava Gardner
Saturday, March 20
“Wyoming
Roundup”
With Whip Wilson
MON., TUES., MARCH 22-23
“Little Boy Lost”
With BING CROSBY
and CLAUDE DAUPHIN
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24
Beast From 20,000
Fathoms”
With P. CHRISTIAN
TIIURS., FRI., MARCH 25-26
War of the Worlds”
With GENE BARRY
and ANN ROBINSON
SATURDAY, MARCH 27
“Fargo”
With BILL ELLIOTT
