HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1964-08-06, Page 9There Is Another Side Too
A Sault Ste. Marie motel owner is
likely to have some answering to do be-
cause a group of Canadian Indians claim
that they were the victims of discrimina-
tion when he forced them to leave his
premises.
Gathered at the Soo for a national
conference on matters concerning their
race, the Indians were in an excellent
situation to attract a lot of attention and
some sympathy with charges of discrim-
ination. This is Ontario, you know, and
we have laws against such things.
The Indians claimed that when they
returned from a meeting they found their
belongings out on the sidewalk and the
motel owner refusing to let them stay an-
other night.
On the other hand the motel owner
said the Indians had been holding noisy
drinking parties, that they were over-
crowding the rooms with several more oc-
cupants than the number permitted by
law, and that they had not paid in ad-
vance for the time they had occupied the
accommodations.
The case is an interesting one, of a
• type which is bound to recur many times
in the next few years. It provides proof
positive that man-made laws are at best
a poor substitute for decent motivations
of the human spirit. It is all well and
good to recognize at long last that Indians
should have the same freedoms and pri-
vileges as white persons. In fact, we be-
lieve that recognition was overdue by at
least 150 years. However, the meat of
the matter is that they should have the
same rights—not a legalized excuse for
behaviour which would not be tolerated
if the offenders were white instead of
red.
We have no way of knowing whose
claims are the valid ones in the motel
case, but it points up the inherent weak-
ness of hard and fast legislation for the
protection of any one group in a minority
population. There is a great tendency on
the part of the former under -dogs to
get a bit of their own back --a desire to
demonstrate that they can get away with
anything they please and then cry for
the protection of the new anti -discrimina-
tion laws,
It is fear of iust this result which has
induced many whites in the United States
to bitterly oppose the civil rights bill.
The clashing color groups which
make up the human race will experience
some tragic events before the bars are
finally down and all races face their re-
sponsibilities with dignity and intelli-
gence.
Is It Time for Something Better?
A recent issue of Life Magazine car-
ried a pictorial essay on sports, dealing
largely with American standouts in the
various sports which may or may not take
thein into the next Olympic Gaines. With
Life's characteristic finesse where pictor-
ial treatments are concerned, the athletes
became symbols of grace and smooth co-
ordination.
The pictures of those highly -trained
• young men and women gave us pause to
think about the sports which seem to
hold Canadian attention almost to exclu-
sion, such as football and hockey. Both
of these games provide demonstrations of
speed and muscular development. Cer-
tainly skills are required on the part of
• those who play hockey and football, but
as far as the spectators are concerned, the
most exciting features of the two games
come in those moments of violence when
the opposition is body -checked or tackled
out of the play.
Older and more refined civilizations
• than our own ... peoples who had lived
long enough in one place and under one
system to arrive at an understanding of
the finer and more permanent things in
life, developed sports which demanded
a high degree of skill and co-ordination.
They did not glory only in speed and mus-
cular development. We remind you of
the Greeks, whose champion wrestlers
were given points for form as well as
strength. Witness the beauty of the jave-
lin thrower poised for action, or nimble
fencing master leaping toward his oppon-
ent like a ballet dancer. How about the
high diver caught at the top of his human
arc above a shining pool of water? Or the
ski jumper sailing through space like a
man on slender wings?
High school athletic programs have
been broadened considerably in the past
few years, so there is hope that future
generations will learn to respect and ap-
plaud those movements of the human
body which are intended to do something
more than push an opponent out of the
way.
This Is Tragically Silly
American Opinion, a publication ed-
ited by Robert Welch, founder of the ex-
• treme rightist John Birch Society, has
come out with an article which declares
that both Prime Minister Pearson and Op-
position Leader John Diefenbaker are
linked with an international communist
conspiracy.
The John Birch Society is comprised
• of a group of Americans who have open-
ly anti-Semitic views, who favor armed
violence against other nations to preserve
what they conceive to be the American
heritage. It is this group's odorous re-
putation which has rubbed off to some
degree on Republican presidential nomi-
▪ nee Barry Goldwater and has thus pro-
vided many responsible people in the
Take a Se
This summer it's well worth your
while to take a careful look at your town
• and the countryside around it. We are
living in a veritable Garden of Eden as
far as natural beauty is concerned.
The increasing pride and interest
which home and business owners now
take in the appearance of their properties
accounts in no small measure for the
beauty one finds on every hand. Then,
too, this has been an exceptional growing
season—plenty of hot weather mixed with
• ample rainfall.
Something, truly worthy of note is
the vast improvement in the appearance
of so many farm homes. Until a few
years ago a majority of farm people ne-
glected outdoor work if its only purpose
was to make the place look better. They
seemed to feel that well -tended fields
and barns were adequate proof of their
•
U.S. with the basis for grave doubts
about that country's future under a Gold-
water administration.
Publisher Welch, however, has not
enhanced his own reputation for keen
observation of the international scene by
declaring that Pearson and Diefenbaker
are playing on the same team, no mat-
ter how secretive that squad might be.
It is hard for Canadians to imagine
their two federal leaders agreeing on the
time of day, much Tess on any cloak-and-
dagger conspiracy.
American publications have repeat-
edly mentioned the fact that Goldwater
has not so far repudiated any connection
with or sympathy for the Birch Society.
He might be wise to do so without delay.
cond Look
excellence as tillers of the soil. Today,
however, due to the leadership of Wo-
men's Institutes and Junior Farmer or-
ganizations, there is evidence on every
side that farm people are indeed proud
of their homes. A drive through the
countryside rewards the interested ob-
server with some lovely sights.
are fully aware of the need for better
Still another sign that country people
things in life is the development of the
increasing number of small riverside
parks, which, of course, are being con-
structed at the behest of the general pub-
lic in rural areas. The latest move in this
direction has been taken by the people
in East Wawanosh Township. Knowing
their interest in civic improvements as
demonstrated by their share in the Bel -
grave community centre, school fair, etc.,
it is not hard to predict that their park
will be one of the hest.
THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES
Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited
W. Barry Wenger, President - Robert O. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer
I ember Audit Bureau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Associ-
ation; Mezrlber Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives
Authorized by the Post Office Department as Second Class Mail and
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Advertising Rates on application
REMINISCING
August 1914
Mr, W, Carter. who has
been c0nductitl; ,,:.hue repair-
ing business here }or the past
eight months, 1,„s ;accepted a
situation in Kincardine in Mr,
Gledhill's shoe ,tore and left
on Monday last r„ till the posi-
tion. Mr, Carta i h 1 move
his family to tka town shortly.
The many friends and pa-
trons will he sore. to hear that
Mrs. Green, wi . t:;e, conducted
a most suceessh.l millinery bus-
iness on Joseph/:i •rraet has de•
cided to retire •lr: ilus111ess,
and will shortly „.e: to To-
ronto where she , ..11 make her
home in the fur
Mr, Win. 131• a :enoridgc•,
who last week '' lei his draybus-
iuess to Mr, Rot -err ".1LGc,c,
iia; purchased Mi. las, Austin's
100 -acre farm :.lid crop on the
pith concession .,f Turnherry.
Mr. Breckenhrki w ill take
possession of hi!, i;a w property
in the near futur, .
A second con.patty of Vol-
unteers left on :,;. iidav for God-
erich to join the (•',ntulgent
Mere, with a view of going to
Britain should thy..; be required,
The company cousste•d of the
following: Fred 'Templeman
Earnest Pitt, William 1layles,
Frank Wiley, John McPherson,
and Herbert French.
Dr. Mary R, Findlater, who
has been visiting at the home
of her father, Mr, Wm. Find -
later of Morris, la. ft Thursday
for Newport, R. I., where she
will enjoy the breezes of the
Atlantic coast before returning
to her duties in Lead, South
Dakota. The doctor was elect-
ed as a member of Lead Board
of Education last spring, which
office brings its own work, as
a new public school building,
costing $70, 000, is to be
erected during the coming
year, work beginning Sept. 1st,
1915. Two adjoining towns
followed the. example of the
citizens of Lead and elected a
woman as a member of their
school boards.
August 1928
News of the death of Mrs.
Arthur Lawlor of Wingham at
Eldorado, 111. , on July 24th
came as a shock to her friends
here. She has not been in
good health for some time and
went to her sister's at Eldorado
for a visit, where she passed
away. She is survived by her
husband to whom she was mar-
ried four years ago.
Thomas Bolt, one of the
pioneer residents of Turnberry
Township and for some years a
resident of Wingham, died here
on Saturday at the age of 91,
following a brief it ess.
There is a general satisfac-
tion all round to hear of suc-
cess of any citizen whether
they be prominent employers
of labor or a mere mechanic.
Wm. Cronin came to Canada
not so many years ago, and to
Wingham comparatively re-
cently, yet despite more handi-
caps than one he has succeeded
in buying a property, and a
few weeks ago, saw it free
from debt. This idea is worth
copying.
A quiet but pretty wedding
took place at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. John Anderson, John
street, at 12 o'clock, Saturday,
July 28th, when their only
daughter, Gertrude Irene, was
united in marriage to Archie
McKinney, of i3luevale. The
ceremony was performed by
Rev. Dr. Petrie of St. Andrew's
Presbyterian Church, Wingliatn.
August 1939
The fact that raspberries
have ripened is hardly news at
this time of the year but Mr,
Andy Murray, Victoria Steet,
has a raspberry bush laden with
the ripe fruit that is news, In
fact it qualifies for the Be-
lieve -It -Or -Not column,
A fine maple tree on his
property is nursing this rasp-
berry hush that has caused quite
some interest. The bush is lo-
cated in a crutch of the t re e
about ten feet trom the ground,
where it thrived and bore lus-
cious
us-
cious fruit.
Mrs. Clayton Procter, of
Fort Francis, sang a solo at the
United Church on Sunday. Mrs,
Procter and her son, Grant, and
daughter, Grace, were week -
MOUTH -TO -MOUTH respiration was one fa-
cet of the water safety program taught at
Gorrie this summer. Ed McMillan demon-
strates the technique during tests in that
community last week. The "victim” is
Elaine Ash. Well over 100 young people
took the various courses during the month
of July.—Advance-Times photo.
frcun WA)
nooZime
Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, August
SECOND SECTION
end guests of Mr. and Mrs. C.
Hopper.
The sympathy of this com-
munity is extended to Mrs.
James Adams, of town and her
daughter, Mrs. J. A. Coombs
(Nellie Clark), of London, in
the death of Mrs. Coomh's ;-
year-old son, Donald, whowas
drowned at London last Tues-
day of last week. Mrs. Coombs
is well known here being a
former Wingham girl. Mr.
Coombs used to live at Blyth,
being the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Coombs, former Rlyth
residents.
Neil Williamson has joined
that famous Hole-In-C)ne Club.
On Sunday, using an iron, on
the fourth hole, he drove off,
the hall lit about ten feet in
front of the cup and went down
between the flag -pole and cup.
Neil was the last of a foursome
to drive off. The others play-
ing were: Ken Somers, George
Scott, Murray Rae.
Melvin Phippen has been en-
gaged as junior clerk by the lo-
cal branch of the Canadian
Rank of Commerce,
August 1949
Mr. and Mrs. A. R. DuVal
attended the Historical and Re-
ligious Pageant "Salute to Ca-
nada" held at the Martyr's
Shrine at Midland on Saturday
evening last.
The Rev. Jack Roberts, B.A.,
of Mirror, Alberta, who is vi-
siting with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Charles A. Roberts, will
have charge of the services in
the Anglican church for the
next two Sundays.
Barry Fry's team won the
first playground Field Day with
a total of 82 points. Raymond
Bennett's and Doug l lurra.y's
teams were tied tor second with
loints each. The individual
champions were: Senior (13,14)
Larry glutton 28 points. Inter-
mediate, George Waine 23
points and Junior Jim 13aitt 3u
points. Ilighlight of Jim 13ain's
performance was a high jump
of 3't;". The junior age limit
is ten, Another good distance
was 7'6" standing broad jump
by Bruce MacDonald in the sen-
ior division.
Mrs. Nettie Radford is visit-
ing with her daughter, Mrs.
Jack Colvin.
Mr. and Mrs. R, A. Cruick-
shank of Hamilton, visited last
week with his sister and brothera
John, George and Nellie and
other friends.
Mr, and Mrs. Will Alton and
Wendell, accompanied by Mr.
and Mrs. John Blake, spent an
enjoyable week -end motoring
SUGAR AND SPICE
The Wonderful Filler
By BILL SMILEY
As a teacher of English
and a former weekly editor,
I note with despondency
that standards in the week-
lies are sagging rather sor-
rily since the days when the
weeklies found their finest
flowering — the days of
Smiley, that is.
Cannibalizing my favour-
ite weekly today — that's
what you do, you don't read
it, you cannibalize it — I bit
into an item that was soft,
squashy, pulpy, tasteless
and meaningless.
Both as an editor and an
English teacher, I must pro-
test it. Pretty soon there'll
be nothing to cling to in this
country but stumpy maple
leaves and soggy two-line
fillers.
The "filler", as all new-
spaper people know, is an
item, anything from one line
to a paragraph, that fills out
the page. The whole page is
made up, and there's a hole
left, a blank space. You
stick a filler in it.
The filler is a vital compo-
nent of the newspaper. and
the main source of the liber-
al education of some read-
ers. It says, "The natives of
Baffin Land are immune to
lung cancer because they
smoke only potato peelings
dried in cow manure". Or
something of the sort.
Another one might inform
you, more briefly, that
"Two hundred and twenty-
four unwed fathers are born
every third Wednesday." Or
something of the sort.
My quarrel today is with
the tampering that has tak-
en place with what I consid-
er the greatest filler ever
written. It happened a few
years ago. We were ready
to go to press.
We had already used up
all the supplied fillers about
around Georgian Bay, visiting
Toberinory, Wasaga and I'ene-
tang.
Mr. and Mrs. Jas, A. Halli-
day and Mr, and Mrs. R. G.
Gannett, spent the holiday
week -end in Midland and at-
tended the pageant, "Salute to
Canada" at the Martyr's Shrine
on Saturday evening.
Baffin Land and unwed fa-
thers. We had thrown in
about eight red-hot one-lin-
ers like, "Support your local
Red Cross" and "A stitch in
time saves 9" (no room to
spell out the nine).
But still this gaping little
slit eyed us. Like a cobra.
Then it came. Genius. I
wish I could claim it for my
own, but one of the boys in
the back shop had the flash
of inspiration.
It read, "Harold Jones
has the gout." Five words.
One line. Perfect.
The statement was true.
Mr. Jones, a respected local
citizen, did have the gout.
No room for a libel suit. But
what suggestions and impli-
cations and allusions and
suspense were in those five
words ! What a turmoil of
speculation and comment!
From those who did not
know him — "Who is Harold
Jones". From those who
had never heard the word —
"What in the world is the
gout". From those who
had heard it — "I'tn not
surprised." From those who
didn't know what it was, but
wouldn't admit it — "I won-
der if he's taking anything
for it"
This was all very well. I
considered it my high point
as a weekly editor. It was a
short story that Hemingway
would have applauded. The
English was impeccable,
stripped to the bone, true
alive.
And what do I read in the
same weekly five years la-
ter? This mushy, slushy,
phony, wordy, sentimental
filler: "Mr. Harold "Skin-
ny" Jones is suffering from
the gout again."
Isn't that disgusting? He
is now "Mr. Jones. He is
now addressed in the false
intimacy of a nickname. He
no longer "has" the gout,
he "suffers" from it, a hide-
ously hackneyed phrase.
And the word "again" has
about as much impact as
the statement that Canada
"again" spent more on li-
quor than missions.
I think it's time I took an-
other whirl at weekly edit-
ing, if only to prevent such
desecration of genuine
works of art.