The Greenwood Commonwealth from Greenwood, Mississippi • Page 1

SJS-J GREENWOOD COMMONW Dept. of Archives Iflstory Bos 571 War Memorial BIdj. Co rap. VALUME 43 NUMBER 84 GREENWOOD, LEFLORE COUNTY, SATURDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 6, 1958 FIVE CENTS i I Winning- Float In Winter Carnival Parade Cold Air Mass Over Gulf States Americans Held As Pawns Of Reds In Berlin Issue A Vv- Marked Fourth Try At Moon Shot WASHINGTON (AP) Today's Army moon shot marked the fourth U.S. attempt to fire a space probe to or beyond the moon.

All four fell short. But three of them including today's shot, got off to spectacular starts. The first three shots were han- t-j' (-, 4 The Bank of Greenwood float entitled "Angles Tee Vee" took top honors in the business firms float division in the Winter Carnival parade last night. Second place went to DeLoach's, Inc. Civil Rights Policy Fight Shaping As Committee Trys To Crush Revolt By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A bulging cold air mass capped a two-day eastward movement today by clutching its chilling hand over the Atlantic seaboard and the Gulf states.

Only Florida and the Southwest escaped the cold surge. White the core of the -storm frigidly locked an area from Montana to Minnesota, considerably colder weather also was to rule most of the nation during the day. Overnight and earlv morning readings slid to zero and 10 below in many parts of through the Dakutas to Night-time temperatures were in the 20s from northern New England westward through the Ohio Valley into northern Oklahoma and Colorado. Near freezing to 40 degree recordings were predominant along the Atlantic coastline into the South. The same nippy picture also prevailed from the Rockies west to-the Pacific Coast.

More Cold The Weather Bureau said these areas would get a bigger cold bite today. A number of measureable snowfalls were triggered by the swirling cold thrust in its rapid eastward drive. But little snow activity was forecast during the day except for some widely scattered flurries over the Great Lakes region. Light snow also was on tap for the central Rockies with freezing drizzle expected in the Panhandle region extending into the west portions of Kansas and northeast New Mexico. Friday, fresh snows piled up at Houghton, now measuring two leet.

Another snowfall of eight inches covered Old Forge, N.Y., and a seven-inch layer blanketed Lake Placed in New York State. Stunt Man Dies Of Broken Neck NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) The death of veteran movie stunt man Frederick O. Kennedy Friday was as swift es" his rough-and-tumble Hollywood career. Kennedy was staging a tumble from his horse during the filming of L'cfted Artists" "The "Horse Soldiers' hen he landed on his head ami broke his neck.

Moviemen said the trick was a "simple fall' in the final scene of the movie a story about Grier-son's raid during the Civil War. Co-workers said Kennedy, 43, a native of Ainsworth, broke his neck in an accident two years ago. but it healed. He had been a filmland character and stunt artist for more than 25 years. A brother, Roy Kennedy, who was also in the movie as a wrangler, accompanied the body back to Hollywood by plane Saturday.

Leflore Hi School To Present Show The Senior class of Leflore High School will present their annual Senior Follies on Friday night, December 12, at 8:00 p. m. in the High School Auditorium in Itta Bena. The theme is "Salute to Le- fiore County High Part I will consist of a tableau depicting the life at L.C.H.S. A special treat will be Mrs.

Alma Ruth Durrett's Kindergarten. They will give the "Pledge to the Flag" and will sing several songs. Dances, songs, pantomimes, -kits and music will keep the audience entertained throughout the evening. In closing the program, the Seniors will give the gay and serious in the Christmas season. The final tableau will portray "Christ in Christmas." Admission is 50c and 35c.

The school invitee the public, friends and patrons to attend. DAYS LEFT The Weathei MISSISSIPPI Partly cloudy and colder this afternoon and tonight, continued cold Sunday. Lowest tonight 2D to 33 north and 39 to 43 south portion. TEMPERATURES Today Max. 43 Min.

31 Yesterday Max. 5 Min. 42 River stage 17.85 fall of J2 FT By REINHOLD G. ENSZ BERLIN (AP) An American flier who parachuted into East Germany was held today as a pawn in the Berlin situation. An East German official indicated Lt.

Richard Mackin would be returned to the U.S. Army only through direct negotiations with the East German" satellite regime. Mackin became lost and bailed out behind the Iron Curtain Wednesday. The Communists accused West Germany of trying to prevent German unification. West German Chancellor Kon-rad Adenauer said Friday the West should settle the Berlin problem before getting bogged down in other, long-stalemated German problems such as unification.

The East German Communists promptly charged him with opposing any move to bring together the Western and Eastern German states. The Western Big Three who occupy West Berlin refuse to recognize the East German regime or have any negotiations with it. This affects both the Mackin case and Soviet efforts to make the United States, Britain and France deal with East Germany for access to Eerlin. Premier Threatens Soviet Premier Khrushchev has threatened to turn over to East Germany in six months the Soviet controls over transportation from West Germany to the isolated city 110. miles inside East Germany.

The Soviet boss wants the West to get out, leaving West Berlin a demilitarized, free city at the mercy of surrounding Soviet and satellite troops. The Allies refuse to budge, saying they will stick by their pledges to protect the 2,200,000 residents of West Berlin. But both Washington and London have suggested that the Khrushchev proposals could be the basis for reopening discussions on reunifying Germany, which has been split since World War II. Mackin, 27, was flying a small Army liaison plane when he became lost, crossed the East German border, ran out of gasoline and had to jump feet first into the Berlin situation. The pilot, from Washington, D.C., was held for two days before the East Germans admitted they had him.

Then a Communist district official said, "The Americans will have to talk to us about the pilot." Senior Class Can Use A Little Help The Greenwood Senior Class wants to borrow several items of typical clothes worn by men and women of the "twenties." These clothes are needed by the seniors to be used in their Senior Follies scheduled soon. Of special need is a racoon coat. If you have any of these: 'early' items, tha seniors ask you to please call GL 3-5356. Race Firming Up On Who May Run SAGGUS If the race is not broadened, the campaign promises to be the quietest in recent years. All speechmaking thus far has dealt mostly with ideas rather than personalities.

As a result, most of the general talk about the candidates has been on the thoughtful side, leaving the public without any personality to exalt or vilify. The candidates and prospective candidates all laud segregation, abhor federal interference, condemn taxes and praise industrial development. Both Well Known It is generally agreed that Gar-tin has friends over, most of the state, that he has a good background and some useful experience. It is agreed just as generally that Barnett is a fine lawyer, is well-known over the state and is a smart man and in a good position to cope with any legal problems that come up. There seems to be nowhere that the general public can find a live issue one it can get worked up over and one that will draw the voter to one side or the other.

The nearest thing to criticism is the fact that Barnett has been a losing candidate for governor and that Gartin has been too close to Gov. J. P. Coleman and will inherit some of the animosity of Coleman's enemies. Things seem to be ready for the entry of another candidate and the public might benefit from a bit of name-calling.

Some politicians go so far as to predict it would do both Gartin and Barnett good to get another man in the race if the new entry stirs things up and gets the public aroused. No Agreement On Outer Space UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (AP) Hope faded today ior East-West agreement on outer space. Diplomats reluctantly prepared to push through the General Assembly a U.S. plan to set up a U.N.

study commission despite Soviet boycott threats. A number of small nations have tried to get the United States and Russia together on the hotly disputed space issue before the Assembly takes final action authorizing establishment of the new committee. Informants said the mediators ran into a stone wall when they attempted to persuade Russia to relax its demands on makeup of the group. Nor would the United States give any more ground. The Assembly, which delayed action as long as it could in hopes some accord would be reached, will have to act this coming week last round in the current session.

The Western proposal was expected to pass over Soviet opposition. Benson And Aides Working On New Farm Program WASHINGTON (AP) Secretary Benson and his Agriculture Department aides are putting finishing touches on new legislative proposals to be submitted to the National Agricultural Advisory Commission here Dec. 15-16. Benson will seek views of the 18-member, bipartisan commission before laying a final draft before President Eisenhower for transmittal to Congress later. --The -commission, which was cre ated by Presidential action in 1953.

advises the secretary on agricultural policies. Benson has worked closely with the group in the past before making final program decisions. Dean William I. Myers of the College of Agriculture at Cornell University is chairman. The other members are farmers from various parts of the country.

Nine are Republicans and nine Democrats. Controls The program being drafted by Benson will have as its objective a further reduction of governmental control over production, marketing and pricing of farm products. Benson is expected to propose lower price supports for such surplus crops as wheat, peanuts and tobacco. He may suggest easing of controls on some crops, especially wheat, on the theory that lower supports would encourage greater sales and Jess production. Farm leaders have been speculating as to whether the secretary will urge lower price supports for milk and dairy products.

There has been no indication as to what Benson's position will be on this matter. Some leaders expect him to propose lower supports for corn and other feed grains. The present minimum is 65 per cent of parity. Parity is a standard for measuring farm prices declared by law to be fair to farmers in relation to prices charged them. Judge Challenges Civil Rights Group MONTGOMERY, Ala.

iff) Circuit Court Judge George Wallace" has challenged the Civil Rights Commission to try to force him to surrender voting records in his custody. The judge threatened to jail any commission agent who tries to take over impounded voter records. The registration records of Barbour and-Bullock counties were impounded for grand jury investigations. "They are not going to get the records," Wallace declared. "And if any agent of the Civil Rights Commission comes down here to get them, they will be locked up." In making the promise, the 39-year-old judge said he had no intention of complying with a subpoena ordering him to produce the records at a hearing before the federal commission Monday.

The voting records were ordered impounded by Wallace several weeks ago after taxpayer groups in the two counties filed petitions charging fraud in the registration of voters and attempt to register voters. The commission has subpoenaed voting records in six Alabama counties including the two in Wallace's circuit. The others are Dallas, Macon, Lowndes and Wilcox. died by the Air Force. The first moon rocket exploded 77 seconds after it had taken off from Cape Canaveral, on Aug.

17. This shot was never named. The second first in the Pioneer series was the most successful. It roared 79,120 miles into space before falling back. A deviation in the trajectory got the chief blame for the failure of Pioneer 1.

Pioneer II, the third Air Force moon rocket, crashed back to earth after traveling 7,500 miles from its Cape Canaveral launching pad Nov. 8. A third stage rocket had failed to fire. Today's shot, Pioneer III, appeared to be a success at first. But space scientists said a premature burnout in the first stage rocket had resulted in a velocity lower than the 24,900 m.p.h.

speed needed to break free of the earth's main gravitational pull. The rocket is expected to return to earth and burn up. Council Bans Street Banners The City Council decided yesterday that effective January 1, there will be no more banners placed across the streets of the city. The question of placing banners across the streets was discussed several weeks ago by the council and at that time it was decided to have persons desiring to place banners across the street seek permission first from the council. However, they decided yesterday to have an ordinance passed prohibiting it altogether.

The council is also having an ordinance drawn up which will prohibit the displaying of fruit? and vegetables on outside building. Leflore PTA Meets Tuesday The Leflore County High School P.T.A. will meett Tuesday in the High School Auditorium at Itta Bena. The students of the fifth and sixth grades will present a Christ' mas program beginning at 2:15. Following the program, a business session will be held.

Rev. Brady Dies In South Carolina Rev. M. Brady, father of Mrs. Will (Audrey) Mason, formerly of Greenwood, died yesterday morning in Union, South Carolina.

Mr. and Mrs. Mason were residents of Greenwood for several years while Mr. Mason was manager of the Beik-Hudson Co. Services for Rev.

Brady were held today at Union. Nazarene Church Services Sunday The Church of the Nazarene will hold their' first services in Greenwood tomorrow at the Chamber of Commerce Auditorium in the City Hall. Morning services will begin at 10 a.m. and the evening services will start at 7 p.m. The pastor, Rev.

Allen O'Brien, extends an invitation to evervone to attend the services. Give United Way To United Givers American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America; Leflore Cancer Fund; 4-H Club Council; Girl Scouts of America; Mental Health; Army; State Hi-Y work Y.M.C.A.; State Y-Teen work Y.W.C.A.-U.S.O., United Service Organization and United Cerebral Palsy. 1958-59 United Givers Budget $80,281.00 Received 1704 pledges for 57,054.45 Thor Rocket Fired Today CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The Air Force fired its second Thor rocket in eight days Friday night in a bid to establish it as the country's Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. It was the 21st firing of the fiery, 55-ton weapon that is designed for a 1.500-mile hut has proved itself capable of reach ing as rar as 2,400 miles.

The firing schedule has been stepped up since Secretary of Defense McElroy reported a decision will be announced in December on whether to make the Thor or the Army's Jupiter the top IRBM. Friday night's missile blasted off beautiful! v. trailim? a eisrantie ball of flame. After 2Vz minutes, it, disappeared from view toward the southeast. The Thor is so close to perfection it is expected to become operational this vpar.

Dno nlrpanv has been assigned to a Royal Air Force unit in F.npland It wac used as the first stage of the Air rorce moon rockets, one of which reached 79,121 miles into space. New School Board For Little Rock By RICHARD DAW LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Little Rock voters selected a new school board today to cope with the problem of meeting local demands for segregation in the face of federal court orders to integrate. They chose between a slate which carried the tacit backing of Gov. Orval E.

Faubus and a group the governor labeled as in-tcgrationist. Polls opened at 8 a.m. and were scheduled to close at 6:30 p.m. A moderate turnout was predicted. The new board members will fill the posts of five members who resigned because of the integration impasse and a sixth who was elected to Congress.

All 13 candidates have announced their opposition to integration. Campaigning was keyed largely to the question pf who was against it the strongest. whose school- closing action touched off the current stalemate, maintained a hands-off policy toward the election until Friday, declaring, "I don't vote in the Little Rock district." But less than 24 hours before the polls were scheduled to open, the governor branded a slate of candidates backed by businessmen as "the integrationist slate." He made no reference to another slate, supported by the strongly prosegregation (Capital Citizens) Council. But his statement was interpreted to give tacit backing to it. Petroleum Tax Revenue Gains JACKSON, Miss.

(JP) Mississippi petroleum tax revenue last month totaled $3,862,419, an increase of $345,308 over November, 1957, the motor vehicle comptroller reported Friday. Gasoline taxes amounted to an increase of $283,130 over November, 1957. From the total taxes collected, the comptroller's office disbursed: To counties, to the Highway Department to the highway bond sinking fund to Mississippi Aeronautics Commission to coast counties special road protection and to the state treasurer for the municipal fund $83,333 for the highway portion and for the county portion. Air Force Planes Land Here Today Four 123 Air Force troop car-ier planes landed at the Municipal Airport this morning. The Planes WPr -frnm an A if Force Reserve Unit in Memphis ana were making practice landings at the airport, it was reported.

Each plane made one landing. 1 Winter Carnival Winning Floats The Winter Carnival parade committee announced lajst night the winners in the float contest. First place in the business firms division went to the Bank Greenwood and second place honors went to DeLoach's. The Catholic Church took first in the church division and the First Methodist Church second. LeBonte Women's Club was first in the Civic division with the Lions club second.

In the Children's division Belle's, club first and the Park Commission second. Hearn Kimbrough Still Critical i Hearn Kimbrough, who Was seriously injured in an automobile accident last week, was reported to be slightly improved over his condition yesterday. Yesterday it was reported that his condition had worsened. In a telephone call to Campbell's Clinic this morning about a brother reported that Kimbrough was improved from last night and was "just holding his own." The other two who were injured in the accident in which two Greenwood men were killed, were reported slightly better. It was reported that Mrs.

BiJlie George' Richards "has shown some improvement," and Haywood Turner was showing day to day improvements. 1959 Governor's As Talks Center vBy JAMES JACKSON, Miss. (AP) The iyo governor race is rapidly taking on distinctive characteristics even though the entries and prospective entries are still in the warming-up stage. Neither of the two candidates, one of them still unofficial, has generated red-hot enthus i a among the rank-and-fde voter. The talk has centered more on who may run than on who is running.

This does not mean that neither Lt. Gov. Carroll Gartin, the only announced candiaate, nor attorney Ross Barnett of Jackson, regarded as certain to run, lack supporters. It does mean, however, the election dav turnout will be comparatively slim if there are oniy two candidates. The latest entry in the gubernatorial speculation is circuit Judge Tom Brady of Brookhaven, one of the state's most active segregationists.

"I am considering making the race," Brady said. The judge, who has been tied close to home by court sessions, probably won't make a decision until he has had time to visit around the state. Ladner Mentioned Mentioned as possible candidates are Secretary of State Heber Ladner and State Treasurer Bob Morrow. Neither has indicated publicly how seriously he is thinking of running or when he will make a decision. There has also been some talk the time is ripe for a darkhese candidate if it is still a two-man race by the time the campaign proper begins.

There is one thing certain not all the political leaders have found someone to give their all-out support. WASHINGTON AP) The Democratic National Committee was primed today to crush a revolt by Southern segregationists against its civil rights policies. And to nail down its stand on this volatile issue, the committee was expected to vote commendation of National Chairman Paul M. Butler who has said that Southerners can accept a strong civil rights plank in 1DG0 or go their own way. The immediate issue before the party governing group was a home state attempt to oust a mille M.

Gravel Jr. as Louisiana national committeeman because he had said segregation was morally wrong and because he had praised a civil rights bill passed by Congress last year. Despairing cf making a headway in the ouster attempt, Southern committee members voted 14-5 at a caucus Friday night to demand Gravel's resignation from the parly's executive committee-Gravel, who had been elected as a Dixie representative on that policy-making group after the 195S presidential nominating convention, said he would not resign any party post. He added that the only charges against him were that he supported the national party's principles and its nominees. Clayton Backed The Southern caucus voted to back Hugh M.

Clayton, Mississippi national committeeman, as Gravel's successor on the executive group. Clayton told reporters he would abide by the National Committee's decision, which he obviously expected to go against him. Gravel won 7-2 support from the party's Credentials Committee in his fight to keep 'from being replaced by Jett M. Talbot as Louisiana national committeeman. Talbot was named by the Louisiana State Committee in an October meeting to succeed Gravel, who had become involved in a political controversy with Gov.

Earl K. Long. The state committee contended Gravel was out of step with the opposition of Louisiana to racial integration. At a hearing before the credentials group, Gravel said he always has taken the position that while segregation is morally wrong, it would be disastrous because of economic, emotional and social problems to end it by force at this time. Talbot's supporters told the credentials group that rejection of their.

man might mean a third party movement in the South, endangering Democratic chances in 1960. Gravel replied that those who were trying to oust him were interested primarily in starting such a movement. After the credentials group had acted, Talbot told reporters that if the national committee upheld the decision, Gravel would be a man. without a party in Louisiana. "His name won't even be on the letterhead," Talbot said.

Gravel replied that whether or not he has the backing of his home state organization, he intends to find some way of making certain the names of the national party's 1960 nominees are put on the ballot in Louisiana. Butler Taught Butler, who has been publicly supporting Gravel, was the target of sharp criticism from Southern members in corridor huddles. In Baton Rouge, state Democratic chairman Hayes said he was disappointed at the action of the party's credentials committee. Hayes again appealed to Gravel to step aside rather than cause Louisiana to break away from the national party. At the Southern caucus in Washington that voted to demand Gravel's resignation, Denmark Grovcr Georgia national committeeman, moved that the Louisiana committeeman be asked to step aside.

Grover's motion was supported by Clayton and Mrs. B. B. Everett of North Carolina, Mrs. T.

K. Ken- drick of Georgia, Mrs. Lcnnard Thomas and Mrs. C. W.

McKay of Alabama, Mrs. W. B. Ar-dery of Kentucky, Mrs. Violet 4'ollard and G.

Fred Switzer of Virginia. Thomas 11. Pope 'and Edgar Brown of South Carolina, Paul Chambers of Arkansas and Mrs. Lovie Gore of Mississippi. The five who supported Gravel were Mrs.

R. D. Randolph of Texas, Herbert S. Walters and Mrs. Ruth Russell of Tennessee, Mrs.

Peggy Ehrmann of Florida and Gravel himself. The National Committee put off any final decision on where it will hold its 1JW0 convention. It has bids from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Atlantic City, Miami Beach and Chicago. Semmes Named To Oil Mill Post The management of the Tlinter City Oil Mill announced today the employment of Edward C. Semmes as general manager and secretary-treasurer of their plant at inter City.

Semmes is now employed as as. sistant manager of the Planters Oil Mill at Ko.sciusko. J. R. Flautt, president of Min-ter City Oil Mill, stated that Semmes will his new duties with the inter City Oil Mill beginning January 1, 1959.

1958 Harvest Near Comnleiion STATE COLLEGE. Miss. (AP) Mississippi's 195S harvest is just about complete. Corn yields arc generally excellent, cotton is fair and soybeans are good to fair. Winter pastures generally are in good condition and cattle are in good flesh.

The Agriculture Extension Service Saturday listed these farm conditions by county: Clay: Harvest is just about completed, yields, especially in the western part of the county, are very good, a lot of fall plowing has been done and winter grazing crops are in good shape. Marshall: Practically all of the cotton and nearly all of the corn have been harvested, winter grazing and cover crops are growing well and cattle and other livestock are in good shape. Scott: Harvest is completed, corn was" excellent, cotton was fair, planting of clovers, grasses and small grains is nearly completed. Greene: 95 per cent cf a bumper corn crop has been harvested, farmers are beginning to receive and plant pine seedlings. Lee: Crops are nearly all harvested, corn production was excellent and cotton and soybeans fair, winter grazing crops are Rites Today For Mrs.

Humphreys Funeral services were held today at 2 p.m. for Mrs. Nannie May Humphreys, who died at the Golden Age Nursing Home Thursday, from Wilson and Knight Chapel. Dr. Van 31.

Arnold officiated. Interment in the Vaiden cecietery. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Loren Washburn, St. Petersburg.

and Mrs. Samuel Moore, Oklahoma City, Okla. Pallbearers were: J. II. Peebles, George Harrison Curtis.

Dan Brewer, C. A. Maxwell and Dr. S. H.

Guess. To be given to reach goal.