ROBESON COUNTY, N.C.
ACQUISITIONS DEPARTMENT
UNO
WILSON LiaiiARY
CHAPEL :iILL..JC
...A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE
PUBLISHED each THURSDAY
THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
Dedicated to the best in all of us
Jay Martin, native Robesonian and
1958 graduate of Pembroke State Uni
versity was unanimously elected to'
serve as the President of the Fellow
ship of American Baptist Musicians at
the Conference for Church Musicians
meeting at the American Baptist
Assembly in Green Lake. Wisconsin
this week.
Martin, son of Rebeauty and the late
Rufus Martin of Pembroke, has served
extensively in the music circle of the
American Baptist Convention and is
currently the Minister of Music and
Youth at the First Baptist Church of
Dearborn. Michigan.
The election of Martin makes him the
Newly elected President, Jay Martin,
gives recognition to past President at
the^recent Chnrch Musicians’ Confer
ence at Green Lake, Wisconsin. Pictur
ed left to right are Martin, Dr. Jet
Tomer, Head of Music Department,
Lousiana College, PinevUle, Lonsiana;
immediate past President, Jim Craven,
Minister of Music, First Baptist Church,
Los Angeles; and Sam Hood, Organist,
Central Baptist Chnrch, Springfield,
Illinois.
Off-the-reservation Indians
Not discussed
IT WAS A FIRST: PRESIDENT OF
U. S. MEETING WITH LEADERS OF
ALL INDIAN TRIBES
A News Analysis
ADOLPH DIAL...Talks abont recent Ford as one of 200 national Indian
visit to White House to meet President leaders.
Native American
Directs Church
Musicians
first American Indian to serve in this
capacity.' His background includes
directing choirs at the Berea Baptist
Church in Pembroke and he attributes
his interest in church music to the
leadership of that church. He served as
Director of Music at the First Baptist
Church of Wyandotte, Michigan until
he was called to the Dearborn church
where he heads the choirs there
including the Joy Singers who have
toured extensively through the United
States.
The newly elected president is married
to the former Nina Thompson and has
two children, Jennifer, 13 and John. 10.
The Martins reside in Southgate,
Michigan.
By Gene Warren
PEMBROKE-Like Gen. George Cus
ter, President Gerald Ford found
himself recently surrounded by Indians
many with knives in their sheaths.
But this was a peaceful powwow. And
the weapons were mere decorations for
the traditional Indian costumes worn by
about 10% of the 200 leaders present
from tribes all over America.
The meeting took place July 16 in the
East Room of the White House-and it
was a first.
“Never before had a President been
host in the White House to Indian
leaders from tribes all over the nation,”
said Adolph Dial, chairman of the
American Indian Studies Department at
Pembroke State University who was one
of three Lumbee Indians invited. Dial
jested about the President’s “lack of
security.”
Other Lumbees present were Dr.
Bobby Brayboy of Rockville, Md., chief
of the National Indian Health Section’s
Position Recruitment, and W.J. Strick
land, former director of CENA (Coali
tion of Eastern Native Americans).
Dial, who combined his trip to
Washington with a meeting of the
American Indian Policy Review Com
mission of which he is a member,
realized the meeting had political
conotations, but was eager to meet the
President and hear what he had to say.
■“President Ford spoke for about 15
minutes and emphasized self-determi
nation on the part of the Indians instead
of termination.” (Note: In the I950’s, a
lot of tribes disassociated themselves
from the U.S. government, said Dial).
Dial, a Democrat, said President Ford
“talked in generalities” and the PSU
professor didn’t think the President’s
speech writer did a very good job. “The
President didn’t say anything about
off-the-reservation Indians or urban
Indians,” said Dial, President Ford’s
talk was geared toward reservation
Indians, in Dial’s opinion.
Because the Lumbee Indians are not
on a reservation. Dial was interested in
hearing about (1) scholarship money for
Lumbees, (2) funds for Lumbeehealth,
(3) funds for Lumbee housing, plus the
same help for other off-the-reservation
Indians.
“To not speak about off-the-reserva
tion Indians was a political blunder on
the part of the speech writer because we
have Indians in Mississippi. Alabama,
Martha’s Vineyard, everywhere and all
with common problems. These will be
big topics of the American Indian Policy
Review Commission which will send
recommendations to the Congress in
January,” said Dial.
Dial declared, however, that he
believes President Ford will be more
specific about matters "before the
election”-indicating that Dial believes
Ford will win the Republican presi
dential nomination over Ronald Reagan.
Dial expressed his appreciation for
President Ford’s agreeing to meet with
the Indian leaders because “after all we
are only one million of the nation’s
population whereas the black popula
tion has 25 million,” he said, meaning,
in his opinion, that Indians may not
have that much political clout.
There was no question-and-answer
session after the President’s talk. “The
President did all the talking,” said Dial.
President Ford did form a receiving
line, however, and shook hands and
spoke briefly to each of the 200 Indians
present.
“We were not hurried through the
line. We had a chance to chat with him
as long as we wished,” said Dial, who
was pleased at this courtesy.
Dial did not complain about problems
to the President. “You don’t go to a
man’s house to bawl him out,” said
Dial. “I told him I appreciated his
administration and thought he had done
a good job. I think President Ford is one
of the most congenial men I’ve ever
met. When you see the man, you like
him. He looks in very good health. He’s
the type fellow you think you would like
even more as you got to know him
better. He is not arrogant or difficult to
talk with.”
The 54-year-old Dial was a delegate to
the Democratic coivention in ’72 at
Miami and an ahejate delegate at the
mini-convention in ’74. He also attend
ed the Democratic conventions in ’64
and ’68.
He appreciated President Ford’s
consideration of the Indians with this
meeting. “He didn’t have to do it. He
was very busy at the time, but spent a
couple of hours with us.”
Before the President appeared, there
was a session in the Executive Office
Building next to the White House at
which Thomas Kleppe, Secretary of
Interior, spoke and presided. Represen
tatives of HEW Labor and Commerce
said a few words.
“Finally,” said Dial. “Mel Tonasket,
president of the National Congress of
American Indians, rose and said. ‘Mr.
secretary, we decided at a meeting this
morning that we ought to be more
involved in programs instead of your
doing all the talking.’
“It was at this point,” said Dial, “that
Ted Maars (a presidential aide who
helped coordinate the meeting) inject
ed, ‘If you people want to dissolve this
meeting, raise your hand.’
“Not a person raised their hand,”
smiled Dial, “because we all wanted to
meet the President.”
And they did.
MRS. RUBY HAMMONDS
NCC
'NcU
Hammonds For
The Board
Of Educorion
Mrs. Ruby Hammonds, belatedly
but formally announces her candidacy
for the Robeson County Board of
Education in ttiis week’s issue of the
Carolina Indian Voice.
Mrs. Hammonds is a housewife and a
mother of six. She and her husband. Bill
French Hammonds, and their children
reside in the Saddletree Community.
Two of their children are attending
college, 1 recently finished high school
and 3 are presently attending high
school. Ail attended Magnolia school.
Mrs. Hammonds served as chairman
of the Health Occupations Committee at
Magnolia School during the last year
and has served for a year as a Vista
volunteer.
Vitally interested in education, Mrs.
Hammonds said in her announcement,
“I would like to see every child in
■Robeson County have the chance at an
equal and quality ediicaiton.
“Each school district and area of the
county should be represented on the
board ofeducation. If elected, I promise
to do what is best for the children to the
very best of mv abilitv,”
Candidates Night at LRDA
by Drenna J. Oxendlne
“Candidates Night” was held on
Tuesday, August 3. at the LRDA Annex
Building in Pembroke from 7 til 10 p.m.
This event was sponsored by the LRDA
Educational Advisory Committee.
Invited guests consisted of candidates
for local office-the Robeson County
Board of Education, Board of Commis
sioners. State Legislature. District
Judgeship, and County Register of
Deeds. Those candidates present inclu
ded the following: Thurman Anderson,
Ms. Shirley Britt, Morris Britt, Ms.
Ruby Hammonds. Mr. Laymon Poe
Locklear, Ms. Lillian F. Locklear,
Bernard Lowry, Robert Mangum, Ralph
Hunt, L. Harbert Moore, Simeon
Oxendine, David R. Green, Carnell
Locklear, and Dr. Gerald Maynor
(representing Tommy D. Swett)- can
didates for County Board of Education;
H. T. Taylor. Ms. Vera M. Lowry,
Thomas D. McCallum, Bobby Dean
Locklear and Ms.' Aileen B. Holmes-
candidates for County Commissioner;
Horace Locklear and David Parnell—
candidates for N. C. House of Repre
sentatives; Henry W. Oxendine and
Craig Ellis-- candidates for District
Judge: James B. Locklear and J. Earl
Mnsselwhite— candidates for County
Register of Deeds.
An informal reception was held prior to
the program, which began at 8:00 p.m.
The invocation was given by Rev.
Robert Mangum, Director of Robeson
County Church and Community Cen
ter. Opening remarks were presented
by Ms. Christine Moore, Educational
Research & Planning Co-ordinator.
LRDA. Robert Locklear, Director of
Community Food & Nutrition Program,
LRDA. introduced several visiting
guests and served as facilitator for the
program. The individual candidates’
presentation, which consisted of three
(3) minutes for each speaker, was the
highlight on the agenda. This was
followed by a question and discussion
session.
The program and publicity committee
for this occasion consisted of Ms.
Drenna J. Oxendine, Ms. Christine
Moore. Ms. Shirley Locklear. Ms.
Carmella Locklear, Robert Locklear,
and James M. Chavis. Ms. Florence
Ransom and Ms. Heanie Ransom were
in charge of refreshments and the
reception.
Approximately 125 persons from the
various communities throughout Robe
son County attended this event.
The
Gubernatorial
Race
As we see it, the Democratic race for
governor appears beaded for a runoff,
while the Republicans, more likely than
not, will decide the first time around.
Our impressions are the result of
watching, listening, and talking to the
candidates, the people around them,
and conversations with the electorate.
We do not categorically bet our life on
any of our predictions. Politicians are
unpredictable animals.
THE DEMOCRATS
As the Democratic campaign heats up
during the final two weeks, before the
showdown in the August 17, primary,
Lt. Gov. Jim Hunt is thought to be
ahead of his major rivals...but not far
enough ahead to forestall a run off in
November with probable second place
finisher Ed O’Herron.
Ed O’Herron has excited the electorate
in the last few weeks, especially
businessmen and educators; for exam
ple, two of his staunchiest supporters in
Robeson County are Hector McLean,
President of Southern National Bank in
Lumberton, and Dr. Vernon Ray
Thompson, Principal of Pembroke High
School. Both score O’Herron high on his
business background and his common
sense approach to politics and govern
ment.
Jim Hunt’s whole campaign seems to
be geared to winning out right in the
August 17 primary. Few expect that to
happen. Hunt would have to garnet
50% of the vote cast plus one. That plus
twie might be hard to come by. It is
expected, whatever thespread(and most
political observers expect Hunt to be far
ahead of the field when the votes are
counted in August), that O’Herron
would quickly call for a run off and
begin actively courting George Wood
and Tom Strickland (the other two major
candidates) supporters.
Both Tom Strickland and George Wood
have active supporters in Robeson
County but neither seems to have
captured the attention of the electorate
in order to get their views across.
If turnout is low, as expected. Hunt’s
widespread organization could make the
difference. Political observers say it has
the I capacity ■ to get out voters in many
precincts and make sure they get to the
polls.
On the other hand, observers say the
presence of three other active candi
dates poses the threat that voters will
spread their votes and prevent a
clearcut winner.
“What you're talking about is per
centages,” explained a prominent
Wake County Democrat last week.
"Hunt could get 49 per cent of the vote,
and O’Herron and Wood most of the
rest, and you got to figure (State Sen.
Tom) Strickland will get 4 to 5 per
cent.”
“So there you have it,” he continued.
“If just Strickland weren’t running,
Hunt would probably get what he needs
for a majority. But as long as Tom’s in
there, it’s going to be damn hard to pull
that off.”
According to current speculation.
O’Herron has a solid lock on second
place. Wood, the former legislator from
Camden County is considered a distant
third and Strickland, a Goldsboro
lawyer, is listed fourth. (A fifth
Democratic candidate. Andy Barker of
Love Valley, is not expected to draw
much support.
O'Herron’s rise is credited by obser
vers to a weii-run media advertising
effort (“if you’ve been watching the
Olympics, you’ve been seeing Ed-great
ad placement,” one neutral observer
says), plus surging interest in the
vote-rich Piedmont cities of Charlotte,
Greensboro and High Point.
“Whether he promotes the fact or not,
Ed’s the only urban oriented candidate
in the field.'” says the Council of State
aide “that ought to count for some
thing.”
Wood and Strickland are viewed by
many as tlie “spoilers” in the Demo
cratic primary. That is. they are not
considered to have a chance to win the
primary, or even finish second. But
CONTINUFI) ON PAGE 7
people
and places
and things
PEMBROKE WATER RATES
HOLD AT COUNCIL MEETING
A delegation of towns people ap
peared before the town council Monday
and appeared to change the thinking of
the Pembroke Town Council.
The town had indicated that the
minimum rate would be set on the first
1,000 gallons but the councilmen
decided to leave the rate as is at a
minimum of 2,000 gallons before
assessing special rates at the insistence
of the towns people who appeared
before the council and objected stren-
ously to a change in water rates.
Also, Pembroke citizens appeared
before the council and complained of
undue noise and disturbances around
the Chicken Hut. The council took the
matter under advisement and allowed
the business operator to try and
straighten out the matter himself.
The Chicken Hut fronts a residential
N.C. COMMISSION OF
INDIAN AFFAIRS AWARDED
HOUSING ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
The North Carolina Commission of
Indian Affairs has been awarded a
housing assistance contract by the
Department of Housing .and Urban
Development to provide housing assis
tance payments (rent supplement) to
255 families. The contract provides for
5457,284 per year for five years and will
be operating in Bladen. Hoke, Samp
son and Warren Counties. The purpose
of housing assistance is to allow
low-income families to more efficiently
distribute their income by not requiring
them to pay more than 25% of their
income for safe, sanitary and decent
housing.
Direct any questions to: State of North
Carolina, Commission of Indian Affairs,
229.239 Heart of Raleigh Motel, Person
and Edenton Street, Raleigh. N.C.
27603.
CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE ROSE’S
MOBILE DISTRICT OFFICE
SCHEDULE
WASHINGTON. D.C.-Congressman
Charlie Rose, D-N.C., announced the
August schedule for his Mobile District
Office.
Rip Collins, Congressman Rose’s
administrative assistant and represen
tative in the district, announced that the
mobile office will be parked as close as
possible to each post office.
HOKE COUNTY
August 12, Thursday-Raeford Post
Office, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
August 26, Thursday-Raeford Post
Office. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
ROBESON COUNTY
August 13, Friday-Lumberton. Biggs
Park Shopping Center. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
August 19. Thursday-Pembroke Post
Office. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
August 27, Friday-Lumberton. Biggs
Park Shopping Center, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
FHA EXTENDS LOAN TO
EVANS CROSSROAD VOLUNTEER
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Farmers Home Administration has
approved a loan of $29,300.00 for the
Evans Crossroad Voluntary Fire De
partment. Inc.
State Director. James T. Johnson, in
making the announcement stated that
the funds would be used to refinance
short-term debt on truck and building of
a fire-house and to buy a used tanker.
This assistance is made possible under
the provisions of the Rural Develop
ment Act.
Mr. William E. Locklear is President of
the fire department and they serve a
popiilaled area of 920 residents.
THIRD “FRESHMAN TESTING DAY”
SET SATURDAY AUG. 7, AT PSU
PEMBROKE-The third of Pembroke
State University’s “Freshman Testing
Davs" will he held Saturday. Aug. 7,
with as many as 40 students expected to
take CLEP (College Level Examination
Program) tests beginning at 8 a.m. in
the Mary Livermore Library.
Thus far this summer 211 freshmen
have taken tests. A total of 90 took the
first ones June 26. On the second
testing day July 24, the number was
121.
The tests provide an opportunity for
freshmen to pass off a maximum of 30
semester hours (equal to an entire
freshman year) before attending their
first college class.
Last year 216 freshmen took the test,
with 75 passing off courses.
Tests are in the areas of English
Composition, Mathematics, Humani
ties, Natural Science and Social Sci-
ences-History. A year ago those passing
these courses numbered: English 46,
Mathematics 24, Natural Science 15,
Social Sciences-History 13 and Human
ities 12.
The testing will be directed by Dr. Ray
Von Beatty, director of Testing and
Placement at Pembroke State Univer
sity.
First test will be the English General
Examination followed by the Strong
Vocational Interest Blank. Total cost for
these is S3 with all freshmen required to
take them. The other tests are optional
for a cost of $4 each.
JOE FREEMAN BRITT
TO DELIVER BACCALAUREATE
ADDRESS ATRTI
Joe Freeman Britt, District Attorney
for the sixteenth judicial district, will
deliver the baccalaureate address at
Robeson Technical Institute’s Com
mencement Exercises on Friday night at
Lumberton Senior High School. Cere
monies begin at 8 p.m.
I.J. Williams, chairman of the Board of
Trustees, will present several awards to
outstanding graduates. The Robeson
Office Supply cup will be awarded by
Bill French jr., and Tom Long will
present three Acme Electric awards.
President Craig Allen will confer 419
diplomas and degrees to the largest
graduating class in the eleven year
history of Robeson Tech,
Commencement marshals are Monnie
Driscoll chief; Joseph C. Barnes. Aubrey
E. Gaddis, Horace M. Tyner, Jean 0.
Harris, Delilah Smith, Edith 0. Hunt.
These students represent the highest
averages in the rising senior class and
will be the official marshals for school
functions during the coming year.
The public is cordially invited to attend
the ceremonies.
1976-77 SCHOOL YEAR TO BEGIN
AT PEMBROKE ELEMENTARY
The 1976-77 school year at Pembroke
Elementary will begin on August 19
with the arrival of teachers and staff for
an in-service workshop and planning
period. On August 30 at 8:00 a.m.
students in grades 1-7 will report for
orientation and registration. Students
will be dismissed at approximately
11:00 a.m. and the cafeteria will not
open. The first full day of school will be
Tuesday August 31 and lunch will be
served.
Principal James C. Dial requests that
all new students (students who did not
attend Pembroke Elementaiy School
last year) to register as soon as possible
at the principal’s office between 8:00
a.m. and noon. Pupils should have their
report cards for the last school year
when they register.
This year all children who will be five
(5) years old by October 16 are eligible
for kindergarten. Parents have been
notified by letter when to bring their
kindergarten child to school. Anyone
with a kindergarten child who has not
received a letter should contact the
schiwl immediately for proper regis
tration forms.
All student will be assigned to
teachers and home rooms prior to the
opening of school. Parents of children in
grades 2-7 .ire requested not to visit the
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