The Robesonian from Lumberton, North Carolina • Page 1

THE ROBESONIAN VOL. CIV--No. 27 PUBLISHED5 WEEKDAYS AND SUNDAY IN R08ESON COUNTY LUMBERTON, N.C. SUNDAY, MARCH ESTABLISHED 1870 COUNTRY GOD AND TRUTH FORTY-FOUR PAGES--Price 15 Cents Leads Tour Of Sites Tuscarora Chief Offers Tribal History Account By BILL PRICE Robesonian Staff Writer PEMBROKE --Stressing an historical basis for recent moves by Tuscarora Indians in Robeson County to regain Indian schools, Howard Brooks led a walking tour Saturday, to two places he says hold special historical significance for his people. Beginning at the site of the former home of his father, Duugle Brooks, Brooks said, in pointing to the debris remaining there, "This is where we can start the historical reasons for what we are doing.

We would be complete fools if we, as Indian people, continued to sit around and let a scandal like this happen Brooks described the homeplace as he remembered it as a boy, with fruit trees and grape arbors, and said, pointing to the remains, go to any extreme to see that this kind of scandal is stopped, this kind of scandal the white man has provided for the Indian people." Brooks says the farm is in such poor condition today, because his father lost it because of a dollar debt on the place he was unable to pay, and that although he has tried to buy the place back from its white owner, all effort have been refused. Brooks maintains that his homeplace was bought by a white man (See TUSCARORA Page 2) HOWARD BROOKS (third from left) were joined Saturday by six Robeson County Indians who claim Tuscarora lineage as a result of blood tests he said were conducted near Pembroke in 1934. (Price Photo) Shopping Center Project Gets Tentative Acceptance By TONIGOODYEAR Robesonian Staff Writler The Lumberton Redevelopment Commission at a special meeting Friday tentatively accepted the proposal uf New Day Corporation, headed by Dr. E. B.

Turner, to develop a shopping center in the South Lumberton urban renewal area. The bid, for approximately 3.7 acres from Holly Street to Cotton Mill Branch along N.C. 41, was $45,000 and New Day was the sole bidder. The price is considerably less than the re-use projection arrived at four years ago which placed a $70,000 value on the land. According to Gerald Hill, director, no appraisal was done, though residential lots adjacent to the commercial property are selling for about $3,500 and acre.

Hill maintains that that area is not worth $23,000 an acre a re-use projection indicated. Finalization of (he contract with New Day is contingent on HUD concurrence in the price, city council approval of the project and acceptance of final construction plans by the commission. The preliminary plans call for a covered shopping mall nine stores and general office space totalling 24,450 square feet. Included will be a supermarket, barber shop, drug store, snack bar, beauty shop and three others not yet named. There will also be a 1,200 square foot drive-in bank and 219 parking spaces.

Projected completion date is 24 months from initiation. A total of 32 intended shareholders was included in the list of corporation members, buf two were disqualified on basis on conflict of interest. Weather Partly cloudy skies are forecast through Monday with slowly diminishing winds expected by Monday. Noticeably colder temperatures today and tonight with highs in the mid and upper 50s and lows in the 20s. Not so cold waether is predicted for Monday.

Winds will be northwesterly 15 to 20 m.p.h. today, and probability of rainfall is'near zero through tonight. Sunrise and sunset: today, 6:23 a.m. aiid p.m.; Monday, 6:22 a.m. and.6:27 p.m.

David Thompson, a member of the Redevelopment Com- missiun, was listed as vice- president and publically disclosed his conflict to the buard and abstained from voting. This was not sufficient, however, nor was it sufficient in ihe case of George Leach, in charge of relocation for urban renewal. Due to a HUD regulation which prohibits their having an investment, both resigned from ihe corporation and all interest in it. The financial statement of the corporation notes that each intended stockholder (no stock has as yet been issued) contributed $200 and optioned to purchase 20 shares of stock at $100 per share, bringing ihe assets for 32 members to $64,000. A total uf 1,000 shares can be suld, the report stated.

Other members are Thomas (See SHOPPING Page2) Action Line ACTION LINE answers questions from readers, with informatron from sources. If is concerned with the lems of individuals relating to public agencies and vices, and with questions of general interest. Write Action The Robesonian, Lumberton, N. 'or dial 739-4325 I contact to get A Drivers Who do enrolled in Education? Contact Robeson Technical Technical Institute at 738-4241. I would like to know the age of Paul Newman and where can I write to him? A.B.

Paul Newman was born in 1925. Write to him in care of United Fan Mail, 8966 Sunset Hollywood, Calif. I would like to know if there is a shooting range in the Lumberton area or if there are any plans for a shooting range and if so who would you contact in support of a shooting range. Police Chief Wilbur Lovette says, "The Police Department is now planning a shooting range for police department use and will try to wurk il out for community use." I would to know when the minimum price wage is going to go up to S- an hour and if it will pertain to the Little Mint. INDEX Classified 7B Editorial IB Entertainment SB Obituaries -A Sports 1 Sat.

Comics Women's News IA-7A Legislation fur the $2 minimum wage has not been passed as yet. Fur information un wage and hour laws pertaining to various establishments, contact the Department uf Labor, Wage and Hour i i i P.O. Bux 1689, Fayeltevillc 28302. What is "Common I have read of its phenomenal growth so it must present some sort of needed program, though there seem to be no members in the area. "Common Cause" is a national citizen's lobby working at all levels uf government in the public interest.

It is aimed at the central issues that threaten our existence as a democracy." (Taken from booklet, "What is Cummun Cause? Who is Common Cause? Why is Common Cause?" Write tu Cummun Cause, 2100 M. Street, Washington, D.C. 20037 If you open a can of frosting and plastic lid on it would it spoil? C.R. The label on the can would be the best guide as lu storage i i However, it is suggested that you store in the refrigerator after opening. Mrs.

Jenny Smith, hume economics extension agent, suggested that ihe icing should not be stored for a lung periud of i because it might becume sugary and lose its quality. (See ACTION Page J) New Offer Is Proposed To Indians By TERRY DEVINE Associated Press Writer WOUNDED KNEE, S.D. (AP) The federal government made another proposal Saturday for a settlement of ihe stalemate at Wounded Knee and a Justice Department official told the occupying Indians the offer was "the best I could do." Assistant U.S. Atty. Gen.

llarlingtun Wood delivered the government's offer for settling the 18-day-old dispute to Dennis Banks, a leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM), outside a roadblock about a mile from the center of Wounded Knee. Wood gave Banks a manila envelope which he said contained the government proposal. Details of the proposal were not learned. The federal official told Banks, "First of all, I want to thank you for keeping the peace while I was gone. I want you to take your time to study this proposal.

If you want to see me again, I'll come back at any time. It will be at your pleasure." Woodxr.etiirhed to.Pine Ridge Saturday aiter conferring with Justice and Interior Department officials in Washington, D.C. AIM leaders met in a house in the Pine Ridge Reservation village to study the proposal. Meanwhile, Justice Department spokesman Jack Murphy announced that Marvin Franklin, Interior Department assist- ant.secretary for Indian affairs, had arrived at Pine Ridge and was meeting with the Oglala Sioux tribal president, Richard Wilson. The AIM members and other Indians who took over Wuunded Knee on Feb.

27 have been demanding Wilson's ouster. Franklin is the highest ranking Interior Department official directly involved in Indian affairs. Indians had been demanding throughout the seige to negotiate with a government ufficial of Franklin's stature. "Franklin is here at the invitation of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council," Murphy said. There were no incidents Friday night, but Murphy reported thai 40-50 shots were fired near une of the Indian outposts at midmurning Saturday.

"The shots were fired from what appeared to be an auto- malic weapon," said Murphy, "They did nut appear to be directed at a federal roadblock. They appeared be target practice." TUSCARORA CHIEF HOWARD BROOKS points over his shoulder at the remains of a house once owned by hia father, Dougle Brooks, one of two sites in Robeson that Brooks cites as historically significant to the Tuscarora Indians. Holds First News Conference- Restoration Of Confidence Seen In House Appointment By BILL NORMENT ttohesoniuti Stuff Writer PEMBROKE Carolina's first Indian to be named to the N.C. 'House of Representatives, Henry Ward Oxendine, held his first news conference here Friday. Oxendine stated a his selection to the House should restore Indian confidence in the democratic system, and he answered questions from whites and Indians concerning local matters.

"Fur too long Indians have felt they were left out of ihe decision making stated Oxendine. "I hope my appointment will restore confidence and trust in the democratic system which Indians have lost through years of frustration and disappointment. "I hope to help bring about respect and understanding between the he said, "I believe that this district has an opportunity to show the rest of the state and nation that real advances can be made in race relations where there is mutual rspecl and cooperation." The 2lst i i which Oxendine will represent, met at Raeford Thursday and elected Oxendine to fil! the seal of the late Frank White, who died a week ago. In ihe voting Robeson County cast all of its votes for Oxendine, Scotland split its vole 45 each for i and Andrew i i a uf Laurinburg, and Hoke cast all of its 28 votes for Williamson. Oxendine's winning margin was 356-72.

The 32-year-old Indian, a graduate of Pembroke State University, has taught in ihe Robeson Cuunty schools and currently is a third-year law student at Carolina Central i i He at- lirbuied his appointment to a bill passed three weeks ago by the General Assembly which set up a committee system for filling vacancies in the stale House. Previously selection had been left up to Ihe county party committee of the a a i representative's home district. With Oxendine's selection, the 21st District is now represented by three races white, black and Indian. Before guing to Durham to study law, Oxendine was a life lung resident of Rubeson County. His wife Sandra now teaches in a Durham school.

They have two sons. While answering questions at ihe news conference, Oxendine said that he was opposed to the "double voting" rule. "People in the county should be the ones to elect the County Board of Education, but there will be no easy solution." He favors a school merger for ihe Robeson Cuunty and city school systems, and thinks that it will eventually come to pass. "It would allow the schools to consolidate and have more comprehensive programs." If a request for funds to restore Old Main were to be made, Oxendine says that he would support such a request. "I wouldn't support it just for restoration purposes, he said, "but I would like to see it used as an Indian Study Center fur the Eastern United States." "I think fur the first time in he said, "(he Indians will now have someone in (Sec RESTORATION Page2) 8 Antiwar POWs Soon To Return By DAVID J.

PAINE Associated Press Writer CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines (AP) Eight American POWs whose names have been linked to antiwar statements and messages are expected to fly to the United States Sunday in an apparently speeded-up departure, sources reported Saturday. Instead of undergoing the usual three days or more of "processing," they, will have been here only two days since their release Friday from Hanoi, the sources said. None of the other 19 servicemen and five civilians freed with them is likely to leave for home before Monday. Intensive security has surrounded the men, who were all prisoners of the Viet Cong, in their short stay here. Even some doctors who have been working with other prisoners are reported to have been replaced for ihe group of eight.

There have been reports from sources in Washington that activities uf some of the enlisted men infuriated American officers in the prison camps. The sources said that officers have made known their intent to file charges against certain men fur making antiwar statements, refusing orders, informing on fellow prisoners and the like. The Defense Department has made no public statement on the matter and the official Pentagon position has been that the government plans no action against any uf the prisoners for things they may have said or done while in captivity. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, however, any serviceman can file charges against another, regardless of rank. If charges are it would not be until all American POWs have been released by the Communists, the sources said.

The eight are expected to be split up among the three huge CL41 hospital planes scheduled leave Clark at two hour intervals Suiiday morning. The first will head for Kelley Air Force Base, and Mcguire Air Sec ANTIWAR Page 2) HENRY WARD OXENDINE and his wife Sandra pose at Oxendine's first press conference held at Pembroke Friday. (Bill Norment Photo) Cambodian Presidential Palace Bombed; Lon Nol Escapes Injury; 20 Are Killed PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) A Cambodian air force captain stole a plane Saturday and bombed the presidential palace in a bloody but unsuccessful attempt tu kill President Lon Nol. Lim Nul, unscathed, declared a state of national emergency, suspended all civii liberties and declared a 9 p.m. curfew in Phnom Penh.

The renagede pilot, described as a flight school washout, missed the palace by 20 yards. His bomb blew up the barracks of the palace guard, killing at least 20 persons and wounding 35 in a blast that leveled 100 square yards. The government said the number of casualties is expected tu climb as rescuers discover mure bodies under the smoldering debris. Many soldiers had their families living i them in the palace compound and the victims included women and children. Bui nu members of Ihe Lon Nol government were reported injured.

"I was taking a nap when I was awjkened by a explosion and found the house in flames," said une woman, who escaped with only a cut on Ihe shoulder. "1 ran out to look for my husband. As I left the compound, I heard screams and cries uf my neighbors and their children trapped inside their buring homes." Streets adjoining ihe palace grounds were flooding wilh terrified people. Some had packed iheir belongings into baskets and sacks and were fleeing ihe quarter. A second bumb from the sto- len T28 exploded at Ihe northern gale, blasting a huge crater in I he roadway.

The southern end of the large compound, where Ihe barracks wen! up in a raging fire, also was the site of Ihe Cambodian Student Association, I he only i i a i i area. Two persons were killed and 20 wounded there earlier Saturday when someone lobbed four grenades into the yard. The Lon Nul government had announced only Friday the creation uf a special security police force to guard againsl any aniigovernment outburst. There have been signs uf increasing dissalisfaclion with Lon Nul's management of Cambodian affairs and ihe war a a i i i a rebels. Sitidents and leachcrs are i i tu protesi rising prices and soldiers are comp a i i i pay days often never come.

Saturday's grenade and bombing attacks came on the eve uf the i anniversary of Lun Nol's bloodless takeover from Prince Norodom Siha- nouk, nuw in exile in Peking. But the Pilot left nu public indication uf his motives. He was idenlified as Capt. So Patra and Lon Nul claimed in a radio broadcast a he was "bribed by the enemy to kill me." The government supported its case by identifying the 32-year- old captain as common-law husband of Norodom Botum Bopha, daughter uf Prince Si- hanouk. Associates of Su Palra ai air force headquarters said he was single.

A culi.ncl at headquarters said So Palra has been an air attache at the prsidential palace for Iwu years. He added that Su Patra often frequented ihe military air base at Pon- hengtun Airport and was well known lu airport security guards. was waved through by Ihe unsuspecting guards shortly before his bumbing about 1:30 p.m. The Information Ministry reported a Su Patra headed toward Krek in Kumpong Cham Province near the South Vietnamese border after the bumb- ing and a his present whera- was uncertain through Lon Nol ordered three planes to chase him immediately after the incident. But informed sources in air force headquarters and the military high command said So (SecCAMBODIAN Pagc2.