WEATHER
Generally fair and cooler to
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cloudiness and warmer,
chance of showers In after
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high, lower 60's.
The Franklin Times
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday ' " ^ Serving All Of Franklin County
Your Award Winning County Nev^jpaper
NO. 1
IN THE NATION
IN
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Gy 6-3283
Ten Cents
Louisburg, N. C. Tuesday, April 2, 1968
(Six Pages Today)
99th Year-Number 13
Whites Make Up 30% Of Saturday Registration
Negro Group
v Confers With
Governor
A group of Negroes, representing a
12-county area of Eastern North Car
olina, met last Friday with Governor
Dan Moore. Led by T.T. Clayton, a
Warrenton attorney who was an un
successful candidate for the House
of Representatives In the three-county
Sixteenth District In 1966, the group
protested "continued acts of lntlmlda
' "Hon" In Franklin County.
The Governor reportedly said that
he is "disturbed over the dastardly
acts". Although news release of the
conference failed to spell out Just
what acts the Governor has reference
to, It is assumed he referred to an
Incident last month In which six county
youths fired Into the home of their
Negro teacher and alleged acts of
violence at the home of Rev. Luther
Copped ge of the Justice community.
The Governor reported "1 have di
rected state agencies to spare no
effort to bring the perpetrators to
Justice". The six youths were tried
here last week and fined $25 and
costs and had their driver's licenses
revoked for ninety days. No arrests
have been made in the Coppedge case
where four sticks of dynamite were
found along the highway right-of-way
near his home a few weeks ago.
Clayton said In Franklin County acts
of "Intimidation" had been directed
against "Negro parents whose children
are assigned to white schools and
against Negro teachers assigned to
teach In white school*."
* Local Reaction To LBJ Announcement ?
The surprise announcement by Presi
dent Lyndon Johnson Sunday nlgtit that
he would not seek reelection was met
here with widespread approval. Al
though 4554 voters gave Johnson a
two-to-one margin of victory In Frank
lin County In 1964, few locals have
admitted It since. The President had
lost considerable support here In the
past tew years, mostly on his domestic
policies. Most Franklin citizens, sup
ported his stand on Vietnam.
The unexpected stepping down by LBJ
has brought on a number of quips and
statements of varying degrees of appro
val.
One fellow said early Monday morn
ing, "I've been waiting a long time to
near him say Just that"-. Another
quipped, "I knew he would stop the
bombing, his son-in-law is heading to
Vietnam". 'Still another pondered the
present selection and said, "I can't
see Nixon. I Just don't believe he is
capable of being president".
"I was almost asleep, but that an
Broughton
Stone
Bruton
Morgan Fountain Taylor
Dignitaries Here Friday
Pictured above are some of the dignitaries expected to attend Friday night's '
annual Democratic Dinner to be held here In the College cafeteria. U. S. Senator
Sam J. Ervln, Jr. will be the featured speaker. Included In those having accepted
Invitations are: Gubernatorial candidate J. Melville Broughton; Dr. Raymond
Stone, candidate for Supt. of Public Instruction; Attorney Wade Bruton and hli
opponent, Robert Morgan; Congressman L. H. Fountain; Pat Taylor, candidate
for Lt. Governor; Secretary of State Thad Eure and Agriculture Commissioner
Jim Graham, both unopposed this year. Gubernatorial candidate Bob Scott, com
mitted earlier to attend a' meeting at Wendell Is expected to have a stand-in.
Governor Moore Is out of the country and has sent his regrets at not being
able to attend. Tickets to the event are on sale by all precinct committees.
nouncement woke me up", said one
Monday morning political analyst.
"He thought he would get berat", said
another. "Those who wanted ABJ (or
President will get their wish", said
one, "They'll now get anybody but
Johnson".
"This Is a relief to me", said a
veteran polltlcan, "Now, I may be
able to vote Democratic. I had never
voted Republican, but I just couldn't
vote for Johnson".
"What's left", asked one suspected
LBJ sympathizer, "Bobby Kennedy,
Eugene McCarthy, Hubert Humphrey
and Richard Nixon". He was quickly
joined with a reply, "if this Is the best
this country can offer, we're In sad
shape", said a bystander.
And so It went here Monday. Most
observers seemed glad Mr. Johnson
had stepped out of the race, but were
having second guesses over what's left.
Berger Wins
Scholarship
Chapel Hill ? James Lipscomb Ber
ger Jr. of Loulsburg has been award
ed the distinguished Alston- Pleasants
Scholarship (or four years o f study
at the University of North Carolina
here, William M. Geer, director of
Student Aid, announced today.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. James
Lipscomb Berger, Sr. of Loulsburg,
Berger Is first in his senior class
at Loulsburg High School and has
been quite active in school activities
during his high school years.
He has been active In the Quill
and Scroll Society, the Beta Club,
the Glee Club, a marshal three years,
the French Club, a writer for the
school paper; and vice president of
his class.
In addition he was named a National
Merit seml-flnallst, attended the Gov
ernor's School in 1966, and won the
NCTE English Award.
Established In 195ft. as a $100,000
trust fund to the University mem
orializing Willis (Congress) Alston by
his granddaughter, Mrs. Missouri Al
ston Pleasants of Loulsburg, the
scholarship directs that the annual
earned Income from the trust fund
be used by the University to provide
Alston-Pleasants Scholarships. Wln
, ners must be residents of Franklin,
Halifax and Warren Counties who are
eligible by University standards for
admission here. It is annually renew
able subject to consistent scholastic
achievement.
The 1968 Selection Committee Includ
ed Dr. James R. Caldwell, chairman
of the Faculty Committee on Scholar
ship Awards and Financial Aid; Dean
of Men James O. Cansler; Director
of Student Aid William M. Geer; and
Loulsburg attorney Hill Yarborough.
Another Accident On Bickett
Shown above Is scene of a three-car smashup Sunday
afternoon around 1:15 P.M. on busy Blckett Blvd. here.
Fortunately no one suffered serious Injury, but three per
sons were taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital for treat
ment. jTwo were admitted. The accident reportedly took
place when a Chevrolet, driven by Larry Keith n/m/17,
of Loulsburg slowed near the Little River service station.
The car struck In the rear by a Mustang, driven by Tommy
White of Burlington. The Mustang -was then struck In the
rear by a Cougar, driven by Margo Rayner, 16 of Loulsburg.
Artlus Harris Cooke, n/f/ 42, a passenger In the Keith
car, Mrs. Tommy White, w/t/19, and Miss Raynor were
taken to the hospital. She was treated and released while
the other two women were admitted. Photo by Clint Fuller.
Vietnam Policies Topic Of College Debate
The 11 a".m. chapel service at Louis
burg College Thursday, March 28,
was different, to say the least. Pro
fessor Demetrlos Nixon of the col
lege History Department and Rev. W.
W. Ftnlator, pastor of Pullen Mem
orial Baptist Church In Raleigh, de
bated the Viet Nam policies of the
United States.
Mr. Nixon, who spoke first, said
that we are not fighting the Vietnamese,
but Communism. He outlined the his
tory of the Communist activity over
the world since Das Kapltal advocat
ed the overthrow of capitalism In
1867. Professor Nixon recalled the
formation of The Russian Socialist
Labor Party In 1898, the Russian Rev
olution in 1917 under Lenin, the Stalin
purges In 1935 through 1938, the re
fusal of Russia to enter the Marshall
Plan In 1947, and the aggressive forces
of Communism In Korea, Berlin,
Cuba, and Viet Nam.
He said that Communism Is deter
mined not to abandon Its ultimate
objective of world conquest, emphasi
sing the oft-quoted Kruschlev state
ment, \"We will bury you . . The
professor commented that "Those who
advocate appeasement In Vietnam have
not learned the lessons of the past."
"Let us arm those people over there
with the most modern weapons? even
nuclear weapons, If necessary," he
continued, "level all the Industrial
centers."
Mr. Flnlator countered by saying
that the primary motivation of the
United States in providing over 3,000
military bases over the world was
economical. "The more bases we build,
the more defensive we say we are,"
he said. He stresses that while the
United States contains only 5% of the
world's population, It possesses over
50% of the world's wealth, and wants
more. "We blame everything on Com
munism. We are being sold a bill of
goods. We attempt to put down poor
peoples in other laiKts who want their
own wealth to stay with them. We
arm the governments In power in
order to fight their own people," he
said. Mr. Flnlator said that Com
munism Is not a monolithic structure,
that Communism differs from country
to country. "This Is now the longest
war in United States history," he
said, "yet we cannot beat them."
The Raleigh minister briefly out
lined the history of conflict in Viet
nam, pointing out that the Vietnamese
only want to determine their owndestlny
without foreign interference.
A question and answer period con
tinued through the afternoon with over
300 students firing the questions at both
men. The students now plan a mock
election to Indicate how they feel as a
student body about United States Invol
vement in Vietnam.
Some over 2,000 Franklin citizens registered last Saturday in the new county
wide registration with seventy percent^of those registering being Negroes. On the
first of four Saturdays when registration books will be open throughout the county,
Negro registration was termed successful by a county NAACP official.
The heaviest registration came in the Louisburg precinct where approximately
1,000 persons visited the Louisburg armory to sign up. Of these, 80 percent, or
around 800, were Negroes. Otis Gill, president of the county chapter of the NAACP
said he was satisfied with the turnout in Louisburg and, terming the voter regis
tration drive being conducted by his organization a success, he said more work
would be necessary in other precincts. :
Gill said that his group had been
working for the past three weeks on
plans for the drive and that he had
teams working in each of the eleven
precincts last Saturday. He Indicated
that the drive will continue through
out the four-week registration. He
said his group Is also "knocking on
doors" In an effort to get Negro
citizens registered. Gill also said the
voter registration drive in Franklin is
being handled by his local organization
without any outside participation.
Reports from all but Hayesvllle,
Pearces and Cypress Creek precincts
Indicated that the Negro drive was
successful in a number of the pre
cincts. Figures were, for the most
part, estimates, but of the 2151 per
sons registering in the precincts re
ported, 1271 were Negroes. In Cedar
Rock, 149 persons registered with the
breakdown being 108 white and 41 Negro.
In Gold Mine precinct reports say
that about 40 to 50 percent of the 125
registered Saturday were Negroes.
Sandy Creek reports about half of the
112 were Negroes and Frankllnton re
ports the same. There,' half of the
estimated 500 registering were Ne
groes. At Youngsvllle, 36 out of 140
registering were Negroes; 35 of 100
at Harris precinct and three of 25
at Dunn No. 1 were Negroes. Pearces
Hayesvllle and Cypress Creek were
not reported.
"* This Is the first known voter drive
by the Negro organization in the county.
In 1966 demonstration marches were
staged around the courthouse In an
effort to get books opened early, but
no all-out drive was launched when
several weeks later, the books were
opened. It has been estimated that
Negro registration In the county '
der the old registration.
The fact that Franklin County has
been placed under the 1965 voter rights
act, thereby eliminating any literacy
test, probably accounts for some of the
overwhelming number of Negroes reg
istering for the first time. Gill said that
announcements were made in meetings
and in churches, encouraging Negroes
to register. Personal contacts account
ed for a number In Loulsburg Satur
day.
Some criticism has been lodged on
the method of registering used in some
precincts. In several, according to re
ports, forms were handed to applicants
to be filled out. According to earlier
announcements, registrars were to fill
out the forms. However, It was said
that most of these problems were
worked out Saturday.
Books will be open In the Louisburg
precinct beginning Wednesday of this
week,- according to an announcement
last week by Registrar Lee Bell. In
Sandy Creek, books are open at Jasper
Parrlsh's store at Oswego during open
ing hours each day. Others, as far
as has been announced, will be open
only on Saturdays. /
Board Names Advisory Councils
The Board of Education, meeting
In regular monthly session here Mon
day, appointed Advisory Councils for
schools in the system and reelected
Horace W. Baker as chairman of the
Board. Edward F. Yarborough was
renamed attorney to the Board and
Clint Fuller was reelected vice chair
man.
The following Advisory Councils
were appointed:
Bunn High School: Leonard Frazler,
Glenn Mitchell, Ckeyne Mullen, Benny
L. Perry, Benny Williams.'
Edward Best High School and Elemen
tary School: Melvln A. Nelms, J.W.A.
Jenkins, - W. Donald Wester, Phillip
Sykes, W.B. Pearce.
Epsom High School: Sidney Driver,
Tommy Ayscife, Robert Rowland,
Ronald Renn, Kenneth Fuller.
Center Gets Loan
David E. Daniel, president of Town
and Country Recreation, Inc. announc
ed today an Insured loan In the amount
of $105,700 has been approved for the
Town and Country Recreation Center,
Inc. The loan Is for the purpose of
the construction of a swimming pool
and related recreational facilities.
Daniel said he hoped the project
would be let for bids around the mid
dle of April and that construction
could begin about a month later.
Gethaemane High School: Luther Bur -
rell, H. A. demons, G.C. Crudup.
Gold Sand High School: Joe Denton,
Harold Dlckerson, Owen F. Tharrlng
ton.
Loulsburg High School: L.C. Hasty,
Willis W. Nash, Margaret B. Prultt.
Riverside and Cedar Street Schools:
Joseph Levis, Robert Lee Harris,
Esther Loan, Cecil Macon, Harry Per
ry, Jr., Wilton B. Perry, Lula B.
Johnson.
Youngsvllle High School and Youngs
vllle Elementary Schools: Wesley O.
Bailey, E.T. Pearce, W.N. Timber
lake, Jr., Howard White, Stephen Wig
gins.
Courthouse
Project
Discussed
The Board of County Commissioners
ordered the architect for the court
house' renovation project of seek bids
~7fn two methods of construction, In the
regular monthly meeting held here
Monday. One set of bids Is being sought
for the cost of renovation with court
house personnel continuing to work
while the project Is being carried out.
A second set of bids Is being re
quested for a cost of the same work
with the building emptied and turned
over to the contractor.
Mr. Harry J. Harles of Rocky Mount,
A.I.A. met with the Board and agreed
to the request to seek dual bids on
the project.
County voters approved a $200,000
bond Issue for courthouse enlargement
and Improvements last November.
In other actions, the Board passed a
motion tt> allocate $2500 of county
secondary road funds to the paving of
a drive around the welfare building
and copies of the motion were sent
to Fifth Highway DlvlslonCommlsston
er J. B. Brame and other highway
officials.
Commissioner Norwood Faulkner was
appointed a member of the Franklin
County Technical Panel, and organiza
tion sponsored by the Farmer's Home
Administration. Judge Hamilton Hob
good sent a letter asking the Board
to see If funds are available to place
an elevator In the courthouse for use
of elderly people and handicapped. The
Board said It would take the request
under consideration.
Commissioner George Harris of Dis
trict 3 was present for Monday's meet
ing. Mr. Harris has been absent for
several months due to a serious Ill
ness. He was welcomed back by fellow
Board members and other well-wishers
attending the meeting.
Edwards Is
Youngsville
Lions Prexy
Youngsville ? At the meeting of the
Youngsville Lions Club held on Tues
day night March 26 at the community
house, the nominating committee In
cluding chairman G.D. Wiggins, and
J.T. Moss and Nelson Walden, pre
sented officers to serve for the en
suing year.
Those elected are: President
dent Claude Edwards, First Vice Pres
ident Nelson Walden, Second Vice
President Stephen Wiggins, Third Vice
President Mack DeMent, Secretary
Treasurpr J.T. Allen, Tailtwister E.J.
Pearce, Lion Tamer Robert Hill, Di
rector for one year J.T. Moss, Direc
tor for one year Earl Hart, Director
for two years R.E. Cheatham, Direc
tor for two years J.K. Tharrington.
President Davis Hill presided at the
meeting, welcoming members and also
guests from Oxford who were Lions
Wallace Mullen, Graham Wright and
Vernon Strother.
A special guest at the meeting was
Mr. Leop Spencer of Raleigh who is
running as a candidate for District
Governor of 31-G. He was introduced
by Lion Bryant Klrkland of the Raleigh
Club.
Program chairman J.T. Moss, as
sisted by L. Jervais Phillips, pre
sented an informative and Interesting
film provided by the American Can
cer Society.
Two Weekend Shootings Reported
A 35-year old Loulsburg, Route 3,
Negro Is In critical condition In Duke
Hospital In Durham after being shot
at his home around 1:30 A.M. Mon
day. Sheriff William T. Dement re
ports that Alex Junius Terrell of the
Alert community was shot near the
heart vlth a .22 caliber pistol. He Is
holding Norwood Yarborough, n/m/
32, of Rt. 2, Loulsburg In the shooting.
According to reports, someone told
Yarborough that Terrell had threaten
ed to shoot him. Yarborough then
traveled the ten miles from his home
to Terrell's residence, called the man
to the door and shot him.
In another unrelated Incident, Ben
nett Jenkins, w/m/49, of Rt. 1, Caa
talla reportedly shot himself in the
chest while cleaning a shotgun at his
home around gildnlght Saturday. The
Centervllle Rescue Service transport
ed the man to Franklin Memorial
Hospital and he was later transferred
to Duke.