FAIR REPRESENTA TION IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY POSSIBLE WITH SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS INOL'ROBESON* The N.C. General As sembly's re districting plans have been rejected by the U.S. Justice Department for the most obvious reasons to "dilute minority voting strength" period. For instan ce, in the case of the house districts, it is because of the large number of muhi- mem ber districts in which voters are chosen from lists of at large candidates. Invariab ly, as in the case of the last democratic primary in our district, incumbent Robert Davis, a Black, was rejected by BUI Gay, a white. Adolph Dial, a reputable Indian can didate, finished out of the money in the '78 elections. Rather than continue to futilely fuss with the Justice Department, the N.C. Gene ral Assembly ought to get on with the business at hand and come up with an eiectrol process that guarantees fair representation to all races; in Robeson thai includes Indi ans, Blacks and whites. Robeson County, with its unique tri-racial populace, . ought to take the lead by agreeing on a map of single member districts and volun teer it to the general assembly for its consideration. THE ROBESON COUNTY INDIAN CAUCUS HAS, COME UP WITH JUST SUCH A PLAN... At its January S meeting the Robeson County Indian Caucus went on record sup porting single member dis tricts in Robeson County. The plan makes a lost of sense. Really, Robeson County, unlike any other county in _ NC has enough Indians (35,511, according to the 1980 census) to almost elect one of their own, without the help of any other racial group. The ideal house district requires approximately 50,000 per I Under the current appor tionment ache me, Robeson is combined with Hoke end y-eund Counties. The Indian population of this three coun ty district is only 26.0 percent, thus, making it impossible lor an Indian candidate to be elected unless he or she receives substantial black support (which is not always forthcoming) as the vast ma jority of Robeson whites do not vote for Indian candidates (nor do such white voters support black candidates). If Scotland and Hoke were split off from the" present district to create a new single member district, the black population would comprise 38.4 percent of the total population as contrasted with only 29.7 percent in the present district; furthermore, the black-Indian population in the new district would be 47.2 percent of the total. Thus, the black strength in the new districts would be increased while the total' minority popu lation (blacks and Indians combined) would be substan tially equal to the white population. After Hoke and Scotland are split off from the present district, Robeson could be split into two single-member districts. Aa East -West split would creat a majority (55.0 percent) Indian district in the West, however, the eastern district would be majority (58.1 percent) white. Another option, more favorable to blacks, would be a North South split. The northern district would be 46.4 percent | Indian while the southern I district would be 31.3 percent black (the present district is Otfy-29.7 percent Mack). H i should be noted also that if a black-Indian alliance will work in the present district which is 43.8 percent white, then surely such an alliance would work in the Southern Robeson district which is only 44.7 m i l> 1# a ? mm c m m m ? ? 11 ? percent wnite, tnts u espcu ally so as Indians in the northern district would re quire black support in order to elect an Indian to the State House. Thus, a natural allian ce (founded upon a stronger basis than the present one) between blacks and Indians woule be created: An Indian candidate could win in the North with black support while a black candidate could win in the South with Indian support. This arrangement would lead to a truly tri- racial legislative delegation for Ro beson: A black and an Indian representative with a white senator. Nowhere else in the state is such an arrangement possible; therefore, as the use of single-member districts throughout the State is bound to substantially increase the black representation in the 120-member State House, surely such an arrangement deserves a chance in Robeson where it will assure the State's Indian population that at least one of their own will represent them. How can such a plan be implemented? Why not ask those officials who will be meeting on February 9 in order to redraw the map to satisfy die objection of the Attorney General? Our Sena tor, of course, is Sam Noble. Incumbent representatives are David Parnell, Horace Locklear and Bill Gay. The Carolina Indian Voice will ask them for you. As soon as we find out their answer, we'll print it for our readers. We have a right to know... especially before we cast our vote after reapportionment becomes a reality. THIS ARTICLE MAY INCLUDE EDITORIAL OPINION OF THE WRITER STATE HOUSE RAfMWnONMENT Hat, rtii?!?>!!?! T-20,383; W-8,838; B-8,875; 1-2,578; 0-92. * . i. Bshsssu p.priatlsoi T-101, 577; W-39,989; B-25490; I 35411; 0-487. Scotland population) T-32, 273; W-18,746; B-11,361; 1-2, 062; 0-104. Hoke * Scotland Districts T 52,656; W-27484 (52.4 per cent); B-20,236 (38.4 percent) 1-4,640 (8.8 percent); 0-196. Hoke, Scotland ft Bobeaon Diatrlcti T-154,233; W-67.573 (43.8 percent); B-45,826 (29.7 percent); 1-40,151 (26.0 per cent); 0-683. West Robeoeu District] (Smiths, Maxton, Alfords villes. Red Springs, Lumber Bridge, Shannon, Parkton, Rennert, Saddletree, Phila deiphus, Pembroke, Burnt Swamp, Union, Rowland, Thompson, Back Swamp, Raft Swamp ft Gaddys): T- 51,065; W-10,658 (20.9 percent); B 12,032 (20.9 percent); I- 28, 084 (55.0 percent); O- 291. East Robeson District) (St. Pauls, East Howellsville, West Howellsville, Wis harts, Lumberton, Smyrna, Britts, Fairmont, Orrum, Marietta and Steriings):T-50,512; W 29,331 (58.1 percent); B 13,558 (26.8 percent); I- 7,427 (14.7 percent); 0-196. North Robeson District; Smiths, Pembroke, Union, Red Springs, Philadelphus, Burnt Swamp, Raft Swamp, Shannon, Rennerti Saddle tree, Lumber Bridge, Park ton, St. Pauls, West Howells ville, East Howellsville, Wis harts ft Britts): T-50, 535; W 17,160 (34.0 percent); B 9,959 (19.7 percent); I- 23,474 (46.4 percent); 0-306. South Robeson District) (Ster lings, Marietta, Fairmont, Orrum, Gaddys, Rowland, Alfordsville, Smyrna, Thorn- r pson. Back Swamp, Maxton ft 4 Lumberton): T- 51. 042; W 22,829 (44.7 percent);. B 15,995 (31.3 percent); I- 12, 037 (23.6 percent); 0-181. T-Total Populaton. 1-lndian; B-Black; W-White; O-Other. ROBESON COUNTY >">Hb C.rolin. S?? ?? Wr N V *. ? 0 ?* 5 ? V - ? ? III! " ' ' I - I' Bi Hftk ?v , jJW BW WM PI llllllll IP sflBljjj^BB^^HB' ' "IhI ??????I ! I . . To Rent This Space Call 521-2826 ? i fca ? ? WOOO'S liS. c/TS Pnrtnta. N.C. IH73 ton-m i Trowflna In PHulf? CAUDOMMVER TMVKL AQDKY ? PMt Control Cal 73C-717t DajMaM * CaM 739-tSOt Night Haw - BAB OUTLET 2209 West 5th Street Lumberton Quality Clothing at Reasonable Prices CALL 738-5147 < THOMAS &SON Gcncral Electric I hot point frartchisto majorv Appliance Service Rtr*l?t*ATO*> . .Am COMBITlOM<*? - OlIHWMHm P-7 Hamau . wuum ? MICROWAVI OVINt ? IC* *??H Jamu W. Thomas, mm. FMONI?< III TM-4T14 BIG NO'S GOAL POST USTAUBAKT Brrakfait. MO ?Howwii jhirttOCwOmd. Bwy. 74, W?M47M- NHMM, NC lows : .... ?)_J ?? "IfNot on the Shelves. 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