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THE COVINGTON NEWS — THURSDAY. DECEMBER 2.1976
The West should bargain
Representatives of the Oil Producing and Exporting
Countries (OPEC) have been conferring recently on
when and how much to raise the wholesale price of oil.
The rumors coming out of their meetings all amount to
one thing- bad news. Some of the more greedy but for
tunately less influential OPEC members are calling for
price rises of 40 percent.
Evan a 5 percent boost, which Saudi Arabia is said to
be arguing for, could rocket U.S inflation and critically
damage Western European economies.
From time to time, Secretary Kissinger has used strong
words in talking with the OPEC leaders. He has warned
that the US. will not tolerate economic strangulation.
President-Elect Carter aimed a warning at the OPEC
nations in the second debate, suggesting embargoes of
critical US. goods and services as a countermeasure.
Economic wars can be dirty business, and people —
whole populations — can suffer. History shows that
economic wars often escalate to shooting wars.
This time we need common sense, not bombs or
bombast.
The OPEC nations have something we desperately
need — oil. Collectively, the U.S, Japan, and the Wes-
Carter's Mideast problem
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is appealing to the
United States for arms assistance He does so on the
grounds that "I have proved myself to you," Simultan
eously, he offers to go to a Geneva conference with
Israel without preconditions and with an open agenda.
Sadat's appeal and conciliatory spirit demonstrate
both the hope and the danger in the current Mideast sit
uation. As an Arab moderate, Sadat is coming under in
creasing pressure from his military commanders who
are disappointed that Cairo's turn away from Moscow
and toward Washington has brought no apparent bene
fits to Egypt.
On the contrary, Israel's position seems as unyielding
as ever. When the U.S. recently voted for a U.N. Security
Council resolution criticizing Israel's colonization of
captured Arab territories, the Israelis reacted with fury.
Their position seems to be that the U.S. should continue
to sell or give arms only to them — in virtually unlimited
quantities — and to give full diplomatic support to
almost any polkas they choose to pursue.
cNtwton County ... i
By Mary Sessions Mallard
DID YOU KNOW ... That the
late Pinckney Jefferson Garrisons of
Covington were the parents of four
sons, all of whom became Ministers
of the Gospel?
Mrs. Garrison was Lorena Black,
daughter of J. W. and Florence Loyd
Black. She and Mr. Garrison made
their home in Covington, where he
was a rural mail carrier, and an elder
in the Presbyterian Church, of which
they were faithful members.
Their four sons were: Dr. Joseph
M. Garrison, retired pastor of the
Presbyterian Church of the
Covenant, Greensboro, N. C., where
lie and his wife, nee Evelyn
Hawkins, now live - 3 children; Kev.
P. Jefferson Garrison, Jr., who
served as Executive Sec’y. of Church
Extension, Winston-Salem
Presbytery, and in the same post
with the N. E. Texas Presbytery,
Dallas, Tex., where he and his wife,
nee Erma Meeker, make their home
since his retirement - 3 children;
Rev. Wm. Ernest Garrison was
pastor of North Little Rock,
Arkansas’s Ist Presbytery Church,
prior to entering the engineering
field in secular work, and serving as
a USAF Major during World War
11. He and his wife, nee Alice Lee
Penn, had one child; and, he is now
Cmringtmi Nema
C Th* Georgia Ent*rpnse Established 1865 — The Covington Stor Established 1874
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One year in Georgia $9 27 Covington News, Inc
Once year out of state sl2 88 Mabel Sessions Dennis — publisher 4,32 H *v 278 N W
Second Closs Postage Paid Leo S Mallard — osst publisher editor Covington, Georgia 30209
At Covington, Georgia Mary Sessions Mollord — associate editor 404 786 301
tern European countries have something they need,
equally desperately — technology, management skills,
and surplus agricultural products. Therefore, there is a
perfect "environment" for healthy bargaining
The OPEC countries do not stand in such a healthy
bargaining position with the Soviet Union. The Soviets
do not need their oil, and they have little in the line of
technology and management skills to offer and abso
lutely no food stuffs. If, however, we get hard-nosed
and refuse to bargain sensibly, the Soviets will step in
with the offer of military equipment and a "nuclear um
brella" to protect their proteges. And then, where will
we be?
The point that we must not fail to capitalize on is that
the OPEC countries want to keep East and West at arms
distance, because they are literally in the middle. They
don't want Armageddon. They just want yellow gold or
green dollars for black oil.
We're the experts at private enterprise — at Yankee
bargaining The Soviets are experts at power politics.
And that means that we had better get in there in a
hurry and do "our thing." The alternatives range from
rusty Cadillacs to nuclear holocaust.
This will be a major problem for Jimmy Carter. On the
one hand, his campaign promises pledged full support
for Israel; but on the other, such a U 5. policy runs the
strong risk of discrediting the moderate Arabs and of
encouraging Israeli hard-liners to stand fast against
making any concessions, territorial or otherwise, to the
Arabs.
The situation seems genuinely promising this time for
an overall peace settlement, but only, we believe, if the
U.S. throws its full weight behind it. This inevitably
means using some of our leverage on the Israelis. We
cannot simply continue to give them a blank check on
our support.
It will take a great amount of political courage by Jim
my Carter to apply this necessary pressure on Israel. But
failure to make any progress now will likely embitter the
Arabs and drive them again to desperate measures. We
should remember that our increased dependence on
Arab oil will make another oil embargo far more serious
now than it was in 1973.
engaged in a secular business in
Seattle Washington.
Dr. Webb Black Garrison, Webb’s
twin, strayed from the fold to find
his life's work in the Methodist
Denomination, despite his
J’resbyterian upbringing and three
brothers in the Presbyterian
Ministry . He became a member of
the Methodist Denomination's
Board of Education in Nashville,
Tenn.; server! as Assistant Dean of
Emory University's School of
Theology , and contributes numerous
articles to various religious
periodicals, in addition to authoring
several successful books. He and his
wife, nee Mary Thomson, had three
children; and now live in Evansville,
Ind.
If it seems a bit more than passing
strange that Dr. Webb forsook
Presbyterianism for Methodism, a
retrospective look at “The Rock
from which he was hewn" may put
his decision in clearer fierspective.
His mother, nee Lorena Black, was a
daughter of J. W. and Florence Loyd
Black, daughter of Washington and
Pheobe Paul Lumsden, grand
daughter of Rev. Jeremiah Lum
sden, b. 1735, a circuit riding
Methodist Preacher, whose circuit
included Louisville and
Milledgeville. So, as the great-great
great-great-grandson of one of
Methodism's early courageous
Circuit Riders, who braved Indian
arrows, as well as near starvation, to
spread the Gospel, Dr. Webb
Garrison's choice becomes a fitting
tribute of gratitude to his ancestor,
as well as his parents, for a priceless
religious heritage.
We are indebted to the late Dr. J.
O. Martin, former Newton Co.
School S. S. and State School
Supervisor, and to Mrs. R. D.
(Florence McDonald I Campbell, of
Monticello, for much of the Garrison
Family information. She is the
daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Harmon (Nellie Black! McDonald
of Covington; and. is a faculty
member of Jasper Co. Schools. Her
brother. Brice, only other child of
the McDonalds, is now deceased.
Another sister of Mrs. P. J.
Garrison, who lived in Covington,
was the late Mrs. W. J. (Carrie
Black I Dingus, who had no children.
The Blacks' other children included
Russell, m. Mittie Seagraves - 3
children; W. Ernest, m. (II Vida
Waldrop -1 child. (2) Edisa Endira -
2 children; Webb. m. Ruth Van
dergriff - no children.
Leo S. Mallard
Voting time again
December is the month for
municipal elections throughout
Newton County, and once again our
“vote weary” citizenry is being
asked and begged, to come out on
the appropriate election day in their
town or city, and to cast their ballot
once again.
On December 8, Covington citizens
will go to the polls to elect three
council members. On the same day
Oxford citizens will vote for three
"Back Off Man! He’s Ours! We Had Him First!"
Thinking out loud
Sigman on
Youth Cottage
Dear Editor:
I feel that we have not informed the
citizens of Newton County regarding
the reason we need a facility to house
childr -n for emergency type situa
tions. The possible reason for lack of
information was the busy “day by
day" attempt to take care of the
problem with the resources that are
available to Newton County.
Die Newton County Juvenile
Council was formed during the early
part of 1976, and from this group of
people who take care of the “daily"
problems of emergency needs of
children, they started to tackle the
big problem of lack of places for
children. Emergency type care was
given priority.
The council consists of all persons
who deal with community problems
and each person had a voice in
stating that an emergency facility
was needed. They heard: the voice
from the foster care workers who
said, “we do not have enough loving
and caring individuals to be foster
parents", the voice from a worker at
the mental health clinic who said
"sometimes a mother who has been
caring for her child has to go to the
hospital for treatment of drugs, alco
holism or emotional illness and there
are no relatives that can or will care
for the child"; the voice from a
policeman who said "sometimes, we
have to pick up a mother and child
w hen the mother is driving under the
influence of alcohol and the jail is
not the place for a baby or small
child"; the voice from the Juvenile
Court Judge who said, “the deten
tion facility that we must use is not
the place for children when they
won 't go to school or when they steal
items from the local department
store."
All of the voices from this small
group decided that a group facility
would be the only plan to work
towards and a twenty-one room
house known as "The Teachers
Cottage" seemed the ideal place.
Children from infancy to seventeen
needed to be housed and there was
adequate space at the cottage.
The Juvenile Council understands
completely that a place for children
is not the complete answer. They are
making plans for qualified people to
supervise the children on a twenty
four hour basis, work with the chil
dren while they are being cared for,
and plan with the parents and-or
relatives to assume their responsi
bility as parents. The council would
very much like for all parents to
assume their responsibilities as
parents but also knows that a tem
porary facility is needed to house the
neglected, abused and unruly child.
I am presently serving as board
chairman of the Youth Cottage
Board of Directors and appreciate
councilmen. Porterdale residents
will select persons to occupy four
council seats, and they will also cast
their ballots to determine whether or
not to allow the Newton County
Youth Shelter to be housed in the old
Porterdale Teachers Cottage.
Newborn voters will cast their
ballots on December 6. for a mayor
and four councilmen. On December
15, residents of Mansfield will select
occupants for three council seats.
your support with our efforts toward
keeping Newton County children in
Newton County.
Bobby Sigman
Chairman of the Board
Newton County Youth
Cottage
Youth Shelter
is worthwhile
Dear Editor.
I am surprised to learn of so much
opposition against the Youth Shelter
being located in Porterdale. In one
letter to the editor last week it seems
that the opposition centers on the
older people who live by themselves.
I am a widow and retired, but I'm
for the Youth Shelter. I think the
Bibb officials should be commended
for offering the old teachers' cottage
for such a worthy project.
Why not here? The building is an
ideal place and with a little work can
be made into a home for those who
need it. So many say the county
needs such a shelter and are in favor
of one, but let it be somewhere else.
Should we shun our duty to help
those who are unfortunate and just
say let somebody else do it?
I am sure that if the place once gets
into operation there would be lots
that people could volunteer and do
and get a blessing in helping the
young people who need love and
guidance.
So let’s consider this matter care
fully before voting on it and think of
what Jesus said: “Suffer the little
children to come unto me and forbid
them not, for such is the kingdom of
heaven." This shelter is being sought
for God's little ones, who by some
older person have been neglected
and abused. So we need have no fear
of them that would be sheltered
there; and instead of fearing, give
them love and show them that some
body cares. And, who knows? Some
young life may be molded into one of
the greatest future citizens.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Pauline Almand
25 Hazel Street
Porterdale
HOSPITAL OUTLAWS
CIGARETTE MACHINES
BALTIMORE — The Johns Hop
kins Hospital, where much of the
research leading to the original Sur
geon General's report on smoking
took place, has banned cigarette
machines and prohibited doctors,
nurses and students from smoking in
patient care areas.
Hospital board members decided
that physicians should set examples
for the entire hospital community
after receiving a letter from Dr.
Robert Mason, associate professor of
cardiovascular medicine, who wrote
"as a healing institution, the hospital
should refuse to endorse the sale of
cigarettes."
This has been a record year for
elections in Newton County. Last
spring voters came out to vote in a
special sheriff's election after the
death of Sheriff Henry Odum. Then
came the sheriff’s run-off election.
Next came the various campaigns
for the August primary, and then the
primary run-off. A brief breathing
spell came before we returned to the
polls for the general election where
we elected local and state officials,
and James Earl Carter as President
of the United States.
That is a lot of voting for one year,
but we still have one more important
election coming up in each town or
city in our county. The mayors and
members of the various city councils
in our county hold important jobs,
and the candidates for these posts
need the people to come out and vote
in the scheduled elections.
Everyone was happy with the
larger than expected turnout for the
general election, but there is fear
among municipal candidates that
their important election will be over
looked or ignored by many weary
voters this December.
Seats in municipal governments in
our county are often thankless jobs,
but these low paid public servants do
a great service for the people of their
respective city or town. Candidates
for these posts deserve the attention
of the registered voters in each
municipality.
The men and women who will be
elected in these municipal elections
draw little pay for the service they
perform for their city governments.
But, they are the ones who make the
decisions that determine the quality
of services that the residents of each
town get from their “city govern
ment."
It is odd that people in America
should have to be urged to go to the
polls and cast their ballot, no matter
how many times it is required during
a year. This is one of our important
freedoms in this country, and
everyone should be eager to exercise
their freedom to cast a ballot for
their favorite candidate at every
opportunity.
City elections are important, and
every effort should be made to go out
and vote in the municipal election of
your town. You will be voting on
basic local leadership for your town’s
government for the next two years.-
Actions that the people you elect
take will effect your daily life
through the services you receive
from your town’s government during
this period. It is not too much to ask
that you go once again to the polls
and cast your ballot for the persons
you deem most qualified to hold
these municipal government seats.
Your vote is important...to you and
the candidates running for office.
The freedom to vote also carries with
it the responsibility to vote. You are
sincerely urged to go out and vote
one more time this year. Your city
will function only as well as the
leadership you help elect to run
municipal affairs. Plan now to vote
in your upcoming city elec
tion PLEASE!
DHR official
to speak at
Kiwanis Club
Guest speaker Thursday at the re
gular weekly meeting of the Coving
ton Kiwanis Club will be Bobby
Dorn, Director of Claims Processing
and Payment, Medicaid Unit, De
partment of Human Resources,
Atlanta.
Kiwanis meets at the Crest Restau
rant at 1 p.m. each Thursday.
Kiwanian Steve Love is the pro
gram chairman of the week and he
will introduce Mr. Dorn. The
speaker's subject will be “Where
1 hey U ere. What They Have Come
Through, and Where They Are
Today.”
News Briefs
The American Association of Re
tired Persons of Newton County
chapter will hold its December
meeting with a Christmas party and
dinner at the Village Inn at 7 p.m.
Dec. 6.
Members who have not been
contacted by the calling committee
and wish to attend are asked to call
Grace Moore, 786-7255, for
reservations.
The Newton County Board of
Education will hold its last meeting
of the year at 1 p.m. Dec. 7 in the
board room at the Board of
Education Building on Newton
Drive.
Memorial Day was first observed
officially May 30, 1868, on order of
Gen. John Logan, Grand .Army of
the Republic commander.
