The Robesonian from Lumberton, North Carolina • Page 1

THE ROBESONIAN YOU XCVII--No. 36 PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY TO rMlOAY IN ROB WON COUNTY LWflBERTON, N. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, I960 ESTABLISHED COUNTRY COO AND TRUTH TWENTY-FOUR PAGES--Price Ten Klan Rally Ban Heads For Hearing A hearing has been scheduled to this afternoon which will deic-rmine whether the Ku Klux Klan will be allowed to hold a rally in Robeson County or be permanently barred from such activities in view of possible violence. A hearing in Robeson County Superior Court is to determine whether a temporary injunction blocking such rallies should be made permanent. The legal question was whether a state can prevent a gather: ing of Klansmen when violence Is expected as a result, or whether that would be a violation of the right to assemble.

The temporary injunction was Issued March 17 by Superior Court Judge W. A. Johnson, who presided at the hearing. The action was taken to prevent the Klan from meeting in the same area where eight years ago gunfiring Lumbee Indians routed a Klan rally. Gov.

Dan Moore said the injunction was necessary "to insure that all the laws of the state are enforced; that violence Is prevented and that all citizens of North Carolina are protected." Shortly before the planned March 27 rally, state officials received police reports the Lum- bees were buying high-powered rifles with telescopic sights, shotguns, dynamite and even hand grenades. The Lumbees long have been bitter enemies of the KKK. The 1953 rally was broken up when the Lumbees leaped from ditches and gullies with war whoops and gunshots. J. Robert Jones, North Carolina grand dragon of the United Klans of America, said he had actually postponed the March 27 rally before the court injunction was issued.

Jones said he wanted to bury the hatchet with the Lumbees and convince them they should become members of the KKK The Indians were cold to the suggestion. The origin of the Lumbees is lost in history. They never have lived on a reservation and have long been against the Klan's racist philosophy. They live mostly in Robeson County and surrounding areas. Mrs.

Gandhi Urges More Investments NEW YORK (AP) Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has appealed for more private foreign investment to help India become self-sufficient. In an address Wednesday night to the Economic Club of New York, she warned that without such assistance her country would be forced to seek financial aid from friendly nations. "These years will certainly be crucial to the people of India in terms of the effort and sacrifice which they will be called upon to make," she said. "They will also be crucial for our friends elsewhere in the world in that they will face the test of whether they intend to continue the suoport which they have given India so far, decisively enough in the future so as to make a difference," she added. Mrs.

Gandhi called the next 10 to 12 years a "critical period" in India's efforts to become self- reliant. Joint US Force Slaps Reds 1 By THOMAS A. REEDY SAIGON, South Viet Nam (AP) Two brigades of U.S. 1st Cavalry, Airmobile, Division, ranged over the rugged hills on the Cambodian frontier today, challenging a large North Vietnamese force -across the border to battle. U.S.

officers said a major fight may be in the making on the scale of the 1st Cavalry's nine-day stand last fall in the la Drang Valley only a few miles away. One report said two more helicopters were lost in new fighting this morning, bringing the number downed by the Communists to six. There was no confirmation of this in Saigon, however. The fighting in the highlands came in the midst of new antigovernment demonstrations in Saigon, Da Nang and Hue with The U.S. military command announced a tripling of enemy casualties last week and a lesser rise in U.S., Vietnamese and other allied losses.

The Jst Cavalry troops in the highlands spotted Communist into the wooded mount-ins 13 miles west of the cava'iy encampment at Plei Me to on the enemy. The battle raged heavily and a full company was called in to help. Then a second company Record Victory Seen Apartheids Win S. African Vote JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP)--Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd's white National- seemed headed for a record victory. This overwhelming endorsement by the country's white voters for the party's apartheid policy of rigid racial segregation.

With returns in for 130 of the 166 House of Assembly seats to be filled, the Nationalists had 92, United party 37 and the Progressive party one. Unofficial computer analyses, which in previous elections here kave proved accurate, indicated the Nationalists would win a record 124 seats. The highest pre- Yious total won by any part was 111, by the now main opposition United party in 1938. Helen Suzman, outspoken Zritic of apartheid, was the successful Progressive. She won reelection by a majority of 711 votes over her United party opponent in a Johannesburg district.

Her majority in 1961 was B64. The only member of her party fci the previous Parliament, Mrs. Suzman, 49, made more than 100 major speeches charging that Verwoerd's policy of separate development for the black majority will lead to disaster for South Africa. another all-white Assembly to serve for five years. Persons of mixed blood (called coloreds) lad already voted separately for four white persons to-repre- sent'them.

iThere are about two million coloreds out of the total nonwhite population of 14,138,000. The number 3,335,000, and about 1.7 million eligible to vote. Verwoerd, who has been premier for 7 years, easily won reelection from his Heidelberg constituency in Transvaal Province with a majority of 5,516 against a United party opponent. He was unopposed in the previous election. Under the parliamentary system, the party with the most seats forms the government and the party leader becomes premier.

In the old Parliament, which had only 160 seats, the Nationalists held 106 seats, the United party 49, the Progressives one and four represented the col- ords. The Nationalists have been in power for for 17 pears. The Nationalists plan to create independent black states within South Africa. In these "Bantustans" the will have limited self-rule and will be allowed to commute to work 8 Rail Firms Struck CLEVELAND, Ohio AP) -The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and struck eight major railroads early today. H.

E. Gilbert, president of the operating rail union, said the basic issue of the walkout was the railroad industry's "using the courts for delay and an outright refusal to meet any issue, including a for firemen, at the 'bargaining table." The chief negotiator of the railroad industry, J. E. Wolfe, said in New York that the strike was "completely illegal" and he would seek an immediate court injunction in federal district court in Washinsfon to it- Gilbert called the strike "authorized and legal and in keeo- ing with our rights under the Railway Labor Act." A REPAIR CREW scrambles over a downed helicopter as other U. S.

crouch behind a dike wall to guard against Viet Cong snipers. The heli- copter was hit by mortar fire from a Viet Cong ambush during a Marine assault on the hamlet of Bich Nam, southwest of Da Nang. (AP Wirephoto) Deadline Extension Seen Possible Big Medicare Sign- Up Push Underway elements at noon Wednesday. A joined in. Four helicopters were shot down.

By nightfall, tha troops were surrounded by estimated 1,000 dug-in North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. The Americans called in artillery and air power with flare ships', to plaster the Red positions. More reinforcements flew this morning, cleared the landing zones, evacuated the dead and wounded and then fanned out in new searches. A U. S.

spokesman said the xxiies of 75 Communists were, bund. American casualties in one company were reported; moderate, in another company light. To the west in the coastal Quang Ngai area, the U.S. Marines closed out five-day-old Operation Indiana, claiming Viet Cong killed, one captured and 21 weapons seized Marine jets destroyed or damaged 55: buildings, silenced two gun'pod- tions and cut a road. Air Force B52s hit two Viel- Cong jungle base camps, only yards apart, this morning lit Quang Nam Province about 55 miles southwest of Da Nang.

One was a puerrilla training post, an Air Force spokesman said. Over North Viet Nam tfo heavy weather restricted Navy carrier planes to two missions Wednesday, but they destroy.ecl two gun emplacements 1 junk near Dong WASHINGTON (AP) The Social Security Administration puts on a big push today to sign up 'all senior citizens who wish doctors' bills insurance at a cost of $3 a month." Reports circulated that Presi- dent Johnson would ask Congress to extend the deadline, which is midnight tonight. Officials said that at last count, about 17 million persons past 65 had signed up for the program, which takes July 1. This is nearly 90 per cent after the date have a seven- of the some 19.1 million potential signers. The midnight deadline applies to persons who reached their Both birthday on or before Dec.

31, 1955. Persons beco.ning 65 Wcs Driver For Governors Only while persons voted the heavily industrialized Wednesday in the elections for 'white-controlled areas. Highway Patrol Officer Busted For 'Incompetence RALEIGH (AP) A State Highway Patrolman who was chauffeur to four governors and worked his way up to lieutenant has been demoted to trooper and assigned to the mountainous Easter Lily Day Slated Saturday Easter Lily Day will be observed Saturday by the Robeson County Easter Seal Society which is sponsoring a campaign to secure money to help crippled children and adults in the county. The campaign will begin Sat- TM lm TM Tuesday and as, I signed to start working the West urday and continue through will be adults roads around West Jefferson. Col.

Charles A. Speed, patrol commander, acknowledged Wednesday that Lt. Lloyd M. Burchette, executive officer of Troop in Greensboro, had been busted for "incompetence." in command at Greensboro. Asked about the demotion, Col.

Speed said: "Since assuming command of the State Highway Patrol Jan. 4, 1955, I have received through I Easter Sunday. Lilies sc-M by local volunteers, and high school girls. Sixty percent of money collected will remain for use in the county to provide local services and treatment. Labor Party Gains Favor As Britons Go To Polls LONDON (AP)-Britons voted ty.

As the voting booths that Britain pulled its interna- official channels reports that L. M. Burchette is incompetent to perform the duties of an executive officer the Highway Patrol. "I have thoroughly investigated these reports and am now Burchette demoted to pa- satisfied of their accuracy and reliability. I have reduced Lt.

Bui-chette to trooper status and Jefferson area Wednesday. He wos not available for camment. He a relief chauffeur for Govs. Kerr William B. Umstead and became a regular driver for Gov.

Luther Hedges. Burchettp was driver for Gov. Terry Sanford from 19S1 until he med a lieutenant and assigned as second have assigned him to duty with the law enforcement division." Speed would not comment beyond the statement. The demotion to patrolman III, third from the bottom, means Burchette's salary was cut from $9,288 to a year. Burchette, 41, joined the patrol Sept.

22, 1947 and was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant Jan. 1, 1954 and assigned to Greensboro where he was under Capt. W. S. McKinney.

Troop covers 13 counties. No replacement for Burchette has been announced. month period to apply. This period comprises (1) the three months prior to their birthday month, (2) the birthday month, and (3) the following three months. The nation's 712 Social Security offices are staying-open until midnight tonight to receive ap- pu'cations.

For those who could net get to these offices, the 34,000 main post offices have self- mailer forms which would protect a person's rights until the full application form could be filled out. The insurance will pay 80 per cent of a person's doctor's bills o'-er and above a S50 deductible. Officials explainde the reason for a deadline is that without it many people might wait until they got sick before starting their $3-a-month payments. This would deal a blow to the insurance program by loading it with "adverse risks," they said. However, there has been criticism in Congress the March 31 deadline, specified by law, is arbitrary.

The betting was that the administration More Fires I Burn Area Woodlands Fifteen forest fires burned approximately 700 acres of Robeson woodland Wednesday, according to East Robeson Fire- tower operator, Mrs. Evelyn Smith. The largest of these burnings occurred on property owned by Pate's Supply company in would ask Republican troduced legislation the date to Aug. 31. an extension.

The leadership has into extend acres) and John P. Buie at Red Springs (over 100 acres). Other fires were scattered over the county. Lost weekend in a three-day period, 32 forest and brush fires occurred in the city and county. Because of this recent upsurge in land fires, fire burning permits for district 8 of the N.

C. Forestry Service, which encompasses Robeson County, have been temporarily cancelled by State Forester F. H. Claridge, according to Mrs. Smith.

lor a new House of Commons to- bookmakers reported a flood of day with Prime Minister Harold Wilson's Labor party a runaway favorite to continue in control of the government with healthy majority in the lower bouse of Parliament. Pollsters and bookmakers rat- a Labor landslide a certain- The Weather Generally fair skies and continued rather cold is forecast for tonight. Variable cloudiness is expected Friday with warmer temperatures and widely scattered afternoon and evening showers. The high temperature reading Wednesday was 70 and the low was 43. The reading noon today was 56 degrees.

money on Wilson's party. The three leading public opinion polls gave Labor an average lead of 11.8 percentage points -enough to boost the government's majority in Commons frcm the three seats it had in the last Parliament to more than 100. The polls close at 3 p.m. EST and by 6 p.m. EST the trend should be clear.

A large turnout was forecast, perhaps 80 per cent of the 36 million voters. But predicted cold weather, with hail and showers, could cut this down. The election campaign has been fought mainly on domestic issues. The main argument has been whether Wilson, 50, a pipe- smoking economist, or Edward Heath, 49, the leader of the Conservative party, is better equipped to run a nation in need of drastic industrial reform. Wilson and his Laborites received a boost on election eve with news from the Treasurv tional trade balance $70 million in the black during the last quarter of 1955.

For the year as a whole, Britain spent million mare abroad than it earned. But this was less than half the deficit piled up in I9S4. most of which was under a Conservative administration. About 1,700 candidates arc contesting the 630 Commons seats. The party that wins the largest number forms tin government.

In the outgoing Parliament, Labor held 314 seels, the Conservatives 303, the Liberals 10, the nonvoUnp sneaker one and two were vacant. All British citizens over 21, except members of the royal family, lords, lunatics and convicts are eligible to vote. Wilson and the other party leaders have to fight personal battles for Commons seats. Wilson is running in Liverpool and one of his opponents is rock-'n'- roll sigef, Screaming Sutch. an irfeoendent.

News In Brief MOON ORBIT TRIED MOSCOW (AP)--The Soviet Union today launched an apparently unmanned rocket in an attempt to pat an artificial satellite in near orbit aromd the moon, the Soviet official news agency Tass reported. U. S. JOINS TESTS CANBERRA, Australia (AP) --The United States is joining Britain and Australia in a scries of rocket launching: to southern Australia to help develop an anti-missile missile. JEWELS STOLEN MIAMI A Fla.

(AP) Robbers smashed a luxury hotel's lockbox- os early today and stole an estimated $1 million in cash and jewels owned by guests who thronged the hotel for Passover. THE LUMBERTON MUNICIPAL LIBRARY was the recipient of a new walnut desk Monday which was purchased with a $500 contribution for that cause by Mr. and Mrs. W. C.

Lattimore of Shelby, formerly of Lumberton, in memory of their son, Billy, who was killed in Florida several years ago. Accepting the massive piece of office furniture is Mayor R. A. Hedgpeth with library board members, (left to right) Mrs. E.

R. Hardin, Mrs. J. H. Barrington, and Mrs.

Jack Spruill, board chairman. Mrs. John Williamson, stamps the first book on the desk for the Mayor. On the front portion of the' desk, the library board placed a brass placque in-; scribed with the names of the donors. The presentation was made in conjunction with National Library Week, April 17-23.

(Arm jGeaovase photo)..