The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 5

fcanoEditicas INDIANA NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1971 SECTION mm Population if No Negroes left in Switzerland County; couple has moved to Jefferson By GORDON ENGLEHART Couritr-Journal Timti Staff Writtr VEVAY, Ind. The 1970 federal census is wrong. Or, at least, outdated. The census listed one count them, one Negro living in Switzerland County. There are no Negro residents now in Switzerland.

June Wake and wife, Sarah, have left. In January 1970 the couple there's no explanation why the census apparently listed only one of them moved a few miles west, across the Jefferson County (Ind.) line, into Mad Neither had any difficulty with other students, according to Wake. Ponteeka went on to become the first Negro ever to train as a nurse at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati. She was graduated with high honors. "I don't hold nothing agin nobody," Wake said.

The only discrimination he ever ran into, he said, was that Democratic county officials did nothing about the dead-end road his farm was on. But Wake said that was only because he is a Re- publican. "I do not believe in this hatredness on account of politics," he added. On his farm, Wake himself built a nine-room home and other buildings. In Madison, he built the 10-room, one-floor house he and his wife live in on Elm Street, a few blocks northwest of the main drag.

Wake sold his farm for $13,000. He had bought the land for $2,200, and over a 50-year period had spent an additional $19,000 on the buildings not counting his own labor. Wake used to fish a lot, but no more. Mostly he works. Right now he is helping erect a new hotel in nearby Clifty Falls State Park.

He and his wife are members of Second Baptist Church, and he is a deacon there. He is also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, World War I Veterans, and American Legion. Just about every Saturday night he drops in at the Legion post. Wake's brother, Arthur, was a contract painter in Madison for 30 years before his recent death. Wake likes the city.

has a lot of business for a little town," he said. "I know a good many people. I know I the police chief, the sheriff, the mayor, the bankers, all the merchants it's not like being in a strange place." The Indiana Business Review in its MarchApril issue said the 1970 federal census showed 357,464 Negroes and other "non-white" population in Indiana 7.2 per cent of the total 5,193,669. Carroll County was the only county besides Switzerland listed as having only one Negro resident. Three counties Blackford, Crawford and Warren have none.

history of Little Doe Run School to be graduated from its eighth grade. 4 In those days, he recalled, most boys had to go to work early and had no; opportunity to complete their After graduation, Wake moseyed over to Madison, worked 10 hours a day, six days a week, as a boiler fireman in a saw mill, for $1.75 a day, got married on Oct. 31, 1917, then spent a year in the Army in France. After his discbarge, he signed on as a carpenter in a Madison planing mill. His mother became ill.

Wake returned to Switzerland, renting 100 acres (which he later bought) alongside the family farm. From 1936 on, a Kentuckian, 5 Todd, did most of the farming. Wake carpentered and painted. He reared a family. Stepson Charles Fields is now a plumber in Detroit.

An adopted daughter, Mrs. Ponteeka (an Indian name) Whitley, is a nurse at Larue Carter Hospital in Indianapolis. Over those years, there were several other Negro families in Switzerland County. But all died out or moved away. Charles and Ponteeka were the only Negro students in Vevay High School.

They'd fight for me. I had a wonderful time there I loved it." Vevay attorney Chester Callis and folks around the courthouse in this small river county all spoke highly of Wake. Wake said he moved because his wife's health troubles could best be tended in a city with doctors and a hospital nearby. And, he said, "the farm was not making me anything." "It had a lot of alfalfa on the hills," Wake explained. "When the alfalfa runs out, and you break it up (plow to re-sow), the land washes away, and you quit sowing on the hills, and you are left with not enough hay to feed your cattle." Wake, short and thin, is 76.

He looks and acts more like 56. His wife is dark, but Wake is indistinguishable in coloration and features from any white man. Wake was born in Owen County, Kentucky. When he was 8, his father, George, moved the family to an 80-acre farm on Little Doe Run, three miles east of Brooksburg. Wake is proud of the fact that he was the first boy in the half-century SC June Wake ison.

It had nothing to do with their color. Except for a few years, Wake had lived in Switzerland, on a farm near Brooks-burg, since 1904. "None whatever," he said yesterday, when asked if he had ever encountered any racial problems. "Oh, to begin with, there were some differences. But I grew up with those boys and girls.

Inman announces platform, stresses industrial-growth need Court decision last year in which the law that could have forced merchants to cooperate was ruled unconstitutional because of a technicality. Plans to build the mall on a volunteer basis were unsuccessful. Many view the proposed mall as a key to revitalizing and retaining business in the downtown area and in turn making the city more attractive to industry. Other main points in Inman's platform included pledges to: Work closely with Indiana University in the development of its new campus. Seek an improvement in the traffic flow.

tHold the line on spending, but at the same time develop a budget that will meet the city's needs. Work with the legislature for proper- 1 was elected to his first term in 1963. The mayor said he is certain the industrial picture will improve because of new sewer lines to the outlying areas of the city and the new beltway around the city that will link 1-65 and 1-64. "These are the keys to new industry here," Inman said. "It will change the whole complexion of things.

There's no question but that we'll get growth out in these areas." Specifically, Inman promised to work toward the development of an industrial park, which is included in the city's general land-use plan. The 110-acre area is to be located near the site of the new Indiana University Southeast campus close to the junction of Grant Line and Mt. Tabor roads. He also cited the work of the New Albany Economic Development Commission and pledged it would "show progress and success in the areas of jobs and new business." On a related matter, Inman said he would seek a change by the Indiana Gen-1 eral Assembly in a law that would make possible the development of a downtown mall area. Plans for a downtown mall were dropped following an Indiana Supreme By FRED BROCK Couritr-Journil Timet Staff Writer Citing the need for industrial development as a prime issue, New Albany Mayor Garnett Inman opened the political season yesterday by announcing his campaign platform.

Inman, 52, a Republican, is seeking a third term. His Democratic opponent for the November elections is Warren V. Nash, 35, Floyd County assessor. Inman's platform leans heavily on what he feels are accomplishments during his past two terms. However, he admitted the city has "many problems because of the population increase, its general rundown condition and the state of Indiana's outmoded property-tax structure." He pledged to encourage the expansion of present business and industry and to attract new business to broaden the tax base and retain New Albany's working youth.

The problem of lagging industrial development in New Albany was a key issue in last May's primary races and is certain to loom even bigger in the fall election. The last major industry to locate in New Albany was the Pillsbury Refrigerated Dough Products plant in 1959. Inman Tudor home donated to Purdue THE 38-YEAR-OLD English Tudor home of Dr. and Mrs. Stewart, overlooking the western side of the Purdue University campus at Lafayette, has been given to the university by the Stewarts.

It will be the residence of Purdue president-designate Arthur G. Hansen, who will take office July 1. Dr. Stewart served 36 years as the university's chief financial officer until he retired July 1, 1961. Since then, the Stewarts have lived in Lafayette and Boca Raton, Fla.

Terms limited tax relief and seek the return of more federal and state money to New Albany. Work for better human relations. Promote more public-works projects. Continue to reduce air, water and land pollution. Expand recreation facilities.

Encourage the active participation of all citizens in city government. Inman added that the building of a new 200-unit high-rise apartment for the elderly, to be financed with federal funds, is imminent. "We'll be taking bids on this in a couple of months. The architects are ready to make working drawings," he said. Inman's broad proposals included a number of specific promises, including: The continued demolition of unsafe buildings.

The building of a park at the location of the old city dump. iThe developing of indoor recreation facilities in the west section of New Albany to replace the recreation center Indiana official says court ruling a 'shairt Out 6 weeks Boy, 12, dragged Talks still deadlocked rom drain dkch 1 in good condition in siriKe ai jeiiooai that was torn down to make way for a new Holiday Inn. Inman also said he wanted to hold scheduled Board of Public Works meetings in council districts to make it easier for the public to attend. By STEPHEN FORD Couritr-Journal Timei Stiff Writer Indiana Secretary of State Larry A. Conrad said yesterday in Louisville that a Marion County Circuit Court ruling last week limiting three Democratic state officials to two-year, not four-year terms, was "legal malarky" and a "sham." Conrad insisted that he and other candidates for statewide office in 1970 expected to serve only two years if elected, even though voters in that election approved a constitutional amendment extending the terms of the offices to four years.

"However, what does concern me are the mysterious circumstances and legally questionable procedures surrounding this 'trial' a hearing which was conducted in the still of the night and decided in the quiet of the morning," Conrad said in a prepared statement given to reporters at a press conference. The ruling under attack was handed down last Thursday morning by Marion Circuit Judge John Niblack. Niblack, a Republican, ruled favorably on a suit filed the previous day by two members of the Republican State Committee, whq contended that the legislative intent behind the constituional amendment was to make it applicable to state officials elected in the 1972 general election. In addition to Conrad, the ruling deals with State Treasurer Jack L. New of Greenfield and State Auditor Mary D.

Aikins of Osgood. Like Conrad, both are Democrats and both were elected Nov. 3, 1970. The Marion Circuit Court ruling is being appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court. Conrad, of Dalevillc, has argued since the decision was handed down that the hurried trial produced several "irregularities." Specifically, Conrad complained about the speed of the hearing, the absence of "real evidence," the lack of witnesses, the exclusion of the three state officials whose positions were involved in the case and the relative secrecy of the trial.

Instead of two orchestras trying to legally out-play each other before a judge, the people of Indiana were treated to a duet of two kazoos in a dark closet," Conrad charged. "What will this 'quickie lawsuit' this non-debate do to restore confidence in our legal system?" he asked. "I submit that the average Hoosier will just sit back and say, 'Well, the politicians have been at it INDIANAPOLIS A 12-year-old Indianapolis boy recovered in a hospital yesterday after a housewife dragged him unconscious from a torrent of water in a drainage ditch where he had fallen. John P. Woods, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Joseph R. Woods, was reported in good condition after his ordeal Monday. Mrs. Joan L.

Massey, 37, said she saw Woods and another youth near a sewer pipe that flows into the drainage ditch adjacent to the Massey residence. She said Woods was holding to the steel sides of the sewer pipe when he suddenly lost his grip and was swept up by the current in the rain-flooded conduit. Although she can't swim, Mrs. Massey raced to the ditch, jumped into waist deep water, and waited for the boy to be washed out of the pipe. She grabbed his legs, pulled him out of the ditch and applied artificial respiration until a Marion County sheriff's deputy and the Acton Volunteer Fire Department Contract talks in the six-week-old strike at Jeffboat, remain deadlocked this week with no negotiating sessions scheduled between representatives of Teamsters Local 89 and officials of the Jeffer-sonville boat building firm.

Talks broke off last week. And there is no reason to try to call the two sides together again until "someone decides to change their stance," said Joe Kirk-ham, federal mediator. The current impasse occurred after the union turned down a three-year contract proposal and made a counterproposal, which was unacceptable to the company. In a recent letter to all employes, the company's management said that the three-year contract amounted to an 18 per cent increase in wages and benefitsm About 1,000 production employes are affected by the strike, and the company letter estimated that lost wages are adding up to about $130,000 a week. To date the strike has not been officially sanctioned by the Teamsters Union.

No strike benefits have been paid to employes because the original walkout occurred before the negotiators reached an impasse in contract talks. However, Tom Trcnaman, a union steward and member of the bargaining committee, said that many of the workers have found other jobs since the strike began. Until the strike, production employes at Jeffboat had been working without a contract since last fall, when the Teamsters won a close bargaining-agent election over the incumbent Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America. The election was disputed, however, and talks on a new contract did not get under way until late April, shortly after the Teamsters handily won a second election. Beg your pardon Because of a typesetting error, the name of William F.

Loader, who is leaving WHAS, as promotion director, was misspelled in yesterday's Courier-Journal. More Indiana news on page 8, section A joe creasoe Like the acorn and the oak a little fib became a giant Indiana builders study riding making them liable for defects Associated Preti INDIANAPOLIS Indiana home builders yesterday were studying an Indiana Appellate Court decision that may leave them liable for defects in new housing. A spokesman for the Home Builders Association of Indiana said the industry has not yet determined the full impact of Monday's court ruling. The court unanimously ruled that Mr. and Mrs.

E. Frederick Theis Jr. of Evans-ville had an "implied warranty" that the home they purchased was livable. The plaintiffs said drainage and sewer lines were improperly installed permitting water and sewage to back up in the house to depths of as much as four inches on the first floor. Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge i Benjamin E.

Buente had dismissed the suit, against Mr. and Mrs. James F. Heuer, on grounds there was no legal "BllthoHtv for tjranHri r1if Since she had so much confidence in him, the other woman fibbed just a bit in the interest of good health and assured her the doctor not only was married but that he had twin sons who were college seniors. The woman visited the doctor and was pleased with his skill.

She continued seeing him and, although she was interested in his fictional family, she never felt forward enough to ask him about the sons. However, every time she saw the friend who had sen! her to him, she wanted to know how the boys were doing. Having started weaving the web, the friend was reluctant to set the record straight for fear the acquaintance would change doctors. So she compounded the myth. First, she reported the sons had graduate -from college.

Then, in answer to subsequent inquiries, she had them entering th3 Peace Corps and finally be-ing drafted and sent to Vietnam. "Now I'm really it. a fix," she moaned to me one day. "I don't know what to do next. I hate to think of having to kill off those boys because I've gotten attached to them myself!" I never heard how it all came out, but it must have taken the combined wisdom of Solomon.

Dear Abby and her twin, Ann Landers, to unravel that tangled web. The sure cure THIS guaranteed cure for tobacco addiction was displayed on the signboard outside a Lexington drive-in restaurant: "How to stop smoking carry wet matches." BECAUSE IT underlines the truth of the ancient saw about what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive, let me repeat a story with an O. Henry-type twist I heard three or four years ago. I won't identify the principals or even pinpoint the locale exept to say the incident took place in Kentucky. The cast of characters included a woman, an elderly and unmarried female acquaintance and a bachelor doctor with, of all things, fictitious twin sons.

The sequence of events started when the elderly woman became ill and the other suggested she see this particular doctor. "Is he married?" the maiden lady asked primly. "I just won't go to him if he isn't a married Me, the idiot AFTER having forgotten to enclose the check with the monthly statement stub I mailed to one of the Louisville stores I'm in hock to, this thought came roaring into my mind: If, as they say, there's no fool like an old fool, it just proves you can't beat experience. A waste of time THE LATE Joe E. Johnston of Plea-sureville was an amazing man.

A banker for more than 60 years, he also was a lay minister who took up writing after he retired at age 80. He was past 90 when he died. He used to tell of a slightly deaf woman who was on the front row at a church where he once preached. The woman sat with her hand cupped around her ear while he talked, but she had trouble hearing his message. "You know," she said afterwards in a toneless, high-pitched voice, "if the Lord couldn't hear what that man was saying any better than I could, his sermon was a waste of everybody's time!" Price, loo? IN LISTENING to a Big Sandy valley-area radio station en route to Pikeville recently, I heard a commercial which either contained a classic error or an honest confession.

"No matter how small the repair your car needs," the announcer said, "you can depend on 's Garage treating you like it was a major overhaul.".