Lessons of the defeat of consolidation in Charlotte
The consolidation loss reinforced two important lessons, Lowe believes: it is hard to win an issue on the first attempt, and those pushing for change should not try to do too much at once. The consolidation loss thus may have laid the groundwork for future victories, and in Lowe's half-optimistic, half-resigned worldview, that is a good thing.
Citing this Excerpt
Oral History Interview with Charles M. Lowe, March 20, 1975. Interview B-0069. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Full Text of the Excerpt
- LOWE:
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Well, let me take about thirty seconds if I may. In looking back on
consolidation, the theory was right. There were two things. One, you
don't generally win it on the first time. The second thing
was we did try to do too much at one time if we were going to win it the
first time. But, I think we were right in what we did because we laid a
good foundation. Anybody that talks or sells consolidation in the future
has got to look at what was done. Whether they do
it right or not, at least they've got to consider it. They
can't pass over it and go the wrong way without somebody
bringing it up. I think this is healthy because, in a democracy, you do
talk both sides. You make a decision, and, if it's right,
fine. You stay with it. If it's wrong, you change it. People
are disheartened today, and they say, "Look at
Watergate." Well, to me, being an old man, I think Watergate
was a great thing. I'm sorry that Mr. Nixon led us down the
road he did, and I'm sorry that he and come of his cohorts
did the thing. But, I am proud of our government and our people for
reacting. I think, in the long run, we will emerge stronger and the
country will be better off on account of it. So, I don't feel
badly about it. I am sorry that it happened, but, in the long run, I
think it's good. I feel the same way about this
consolidation. I'm sorry that we lost, but I think we went
about it right. I think, in the long run, we will be better off, and
we'll get better consolidation and will get consolidation on
account of the effort.
- MOYE:
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You think that will probably be several years before…
- LOWE:
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It will be some time, yet, because you've got to get a new
crowd, and you've got to get a new feeling about something.
There's no use to bring something right back up after
it's defeated. That's foolish. You wait a while,
and you get a new crop, and you get a new feeling, and you get new
leadership, and you get a new spirit, and somebody else says,
"Yeah, I think it can be done!" That's the
only way that progress is made. You don't take the same old
were-out ideas and horses and the same old vehicle and get it done. You
get new ones, but you build on that. It wasn't in vain. I
don't feel that at all.