Ffldiy, Aprtt 19, 198

Thousands Of Voters Unregistered

ITS A Ni=W KIND OF POLITICS.

There is only one day remaining in the voter registration period #for Pitt County voters.

Those citizens whose names have not been placed on the new voter registration books by the time the registration period ends at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow will not be eligible to vote in the May primaries. No matter how many times a voter has registered prior to this registration period, or how long he has lived and voted in this county, he is not eligible to vote unless he has registered during the current registration period that began March 30.

Through Thursday there were approximately 16,500 people who had registered to vote in Pitt County. That represents approximately half the number of names on the old voting books that were formerly used. It means there are literally thousands of otherwise eligible voters in Pitt who have not

?olitics Builds

gotten their names on the new registration books.

We strongly urge each citizen who has not registered during this new registration period to do so tomorrow. After that, it will be too late.

It is important to the individual citizen that he register in order that he will be eligible to vote. If he does not register, he forfeits his most precious democratic right . . . the right of voting in a free election. It is also important to the county as a whole that the individual citizen register and vote. Pitt is a large county from a population standpoint and it has traditionally cast one of the larger county votes in this section of the state. More important still, the county is denied the benefit of the ballot box expression of those citizens who fail to get their names on the registration books.

Unless several thousand additional Pitt citizens register tomorrow, they will deny themselves the right to vote in the forthcoming elections. They will also deny the county benefit of their participation in the election of local and state officials.

..ntO High GbQF Coincidence, Or Not;

By WILLIAM A. SHIRES Reflector Raleigh Bureau

RALEIGH This Springs political campaigns have been unusually quiet and subdued and conducted in a sometimes mystifying low key up to the final few weeks Now, however, there are figns of a building crescendo strenous efforts by campaign organizations to move in t o high gear before election day, May 4. Also, surprisingly, a great deal of confidence about the outcome can be found in any of the campaign headquarters. Apparently this has been generated by the recent build - up of campaign tempo.

WrXIAM

SHIRES

**We're in, say various campaign officials and key supporters, of the candidates everything is going as planned and working out better than expected. We have no wor ries.

These are typical pre-election statements the sort that might be expected at this stage of any political campaign but, of course, somebody is wrong. There cai be only one winter in the head-on primary contests next month and still only one nominee if second primary run - offs are called for in June.

Confldent Atmosphere Nevertheless, an atmosphere of complete confidence pervades the headquarters of candidates for major state offices, both in Raleigh and in Charlotte. This in itself further puzzles most veteran political observers.

They recall the old, usually reliable adage of rough-and-tumble political campaigning which prescribed that candidates should run scared and run hard.

The time is growing shm. and these sources believe that before May 4 arrives quite a few of the candidates will revert to the old formula and run scared.

Broadcast Media Broadcast media televi

sion and radio undoubtedly figures largely in state political campaign plans during the next few weeks. A large percentage of campaign fund budgeting was set aside for this sev^al montns ago r n d time on TV and radio was sub^ scribed.

Some of the candidates also have planned extensive newspaper advertising campaigns for the primary wind- up. Some already have begun buying full page ads. But television committments are expected to prove even more expensive. No exact figur e s are available but sources close to the campaign headquarters admit that the buying of television time during ttie two weeks prior to primary election day accounted for a major part of the candidates projected budget.

We felt we had to do it, says one of the campaign managers. He added that aH media were included in campaign planning newspaoers, radio, television and billboards. Other possibilities were considered as well. Several political candidates also have spent many thousands of dollars on professiwal type polls which purport to indicate perferences and outline issues which might be exploited.

Fair Treatment

The states broadcast media, represented by the N. C. Association of Broadcasters, has pledged fair u-eatment to all political candidates insofar as purchase of time is concerned.

The pledge is by NC.AB president Paul B. Marion of Charlotte who says any report that a single candidate has or will be able to buy so much television time that other candidates are turned away is completely false and unfounded. He says neither federal regulations nw ethics of the industry would permit such a situation which a political candidate could cwner the market on political advertising.

Number of Races

Marion added that because of the number of political races in the state, some stations have set limitations on t h e amount of time to be made available for political advertising- But in every case, he said. Opposing candiates will be assured of equal treatment.

Investigation In Order

It may be mere coincidence that at least three major warehouse fires have occurred in the eastern section of North Carolina in the past week. Coincidence or not, a good many people would feel a great deal better if there were a thorough investigation of the fires by state fire officials and other inves>ti-gative bodies.

On Saturday night a loss estimated in $100,000 resulted from a warehouse fire in Robersonville. Early Wednesday morning fire was discovered in a tobacco warehouse at Fuquay-Varina. It quickly burned the structure to the ground resulting in a loss estimated at $234,000. During the day Wednesday fire struck in the Rocky Mount tobacco warehouse district causing the citys worst blaze in 40 years and resulting in damages that are expected to run several hundred thousand dollars.

The similarity of the fires and the rapid succession in which they occurred arouses suspsion that arson may be involved. These factors likewise raise the quetion of whether there may be some connection with the fires in these three separate communities.

^ <5?

AkT BUCHWALD

Visit To Rumor Factory

Moving T owarc. Direct Action

The Doily Reflector

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UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

By JOHN BECKLER

WASHINGTON (AP) - The killing of thousands d pigs by farmers demanding higher prices far them dramatizes a rising interest among farmers in direct action rather than continued reliance on the complex and elab(Xate federal prt^ams designed to help them.

The direct approach is also evident in Congress, where farm legislation of an entirely new kind is being ccxisidered, based wi the collective bargaining procedures guaranteed to labor and industry 30 years ago.

During those three decades, the government, in an effort to hold down farm production and stabilize prices, has erected a dizzying edifice of farm law.

It takes 108,000 people to run the Department of Agriculture and it was only half-jokingly that an amendment was offered a few years ago prohibiting the department from acquiring mwe employes than there were farmers.

Yet despite costly, often confusing legislation the problems it is supposed to solve continue. Farm prices still flucUiate sharply, oroduction increases yearly and farm income last year was lower than it was 20 years ago.

For the small ^arrnerthe so-called family farmer Confess talks the most about helpingthe situation grows steadily worse. Unable to take any his small acreage out of producticm to qualify for price supports, he gets almost no benefit from the program.s. Squeezed by higher costs for everything he needs, he is being forred off the land.

In the last 15 years, 15 million people have moved from the farms and rural areas into the cities, compounding the urban jnoblems now twment-ing the nation.

With the current farm programs due to expire next year both the House and Senate are in the process of reviewmg them and new departures have already been suggested.

In the Senate a bill has been introduced that would give farmers the right to bargain collectively wifii processors on the price of their crops. It is based on the same principle written into law in 1935 that gave organized labor the right to bargain collectively on the terms of its employment.

Originally tossed out as a suggestion by Secretary of .Agriculture Orville L. Freeman more than a year ago. the bill is unlikely to advance very far this year.

More promising is the future of another Senate Dill that would extend the system of federal marketing agreements to all farm products These production-and-pricc agreements, embodying collective bargaining procedures, now apply only to ?el#*cted crops.

Quotes

A nudist camp director has said in Lawrence, Kan., that the time is fast approaching when people will do yard work in the nude and think nothing of it. Dont they have any chiggers in Kansas?Atlanta (Ga.) Journal.

WASHEsGTON While many businesses suffered during file recent disturbances in our Ammcan cities, there was one that thrived a n d that was rumor -making. The rumw factories in Washington were going full steam during the crisis and still they couldnt keep up with the demand.

I visited a rumcr factory in the nations Caoital the other day and was given a tour by the foreman, a jolly, round - faced man nam e d Clarence, who has been manufacturing rumo^ for 30 years.

Weve been going 24 hours a day for the last two weeks, and weve yet to fill all our orders, Clarence said, as we walked around the large air-conditioned building.

I know this is a silly ques-tiwi, I said, but how do you make a rumor?

Its not hard once you ge* the formula, Clarence told me. Over here we have the raw facts. Now you mix them with gossip and fantasy, put them through this machine, and they come out a solid ru-

mer. The process doesnt take long, a matter of minutes; but in order for a rumor to have any substance, it has to be kept hot Thats what those burners over there are for. They can heat up a rumor in secmids.

Where do you get your raw materials? I asked him.

Mostly from bars and hairdressers. We have a staff that docs nothing but collect bits and pieces of rumor material which they bring in at the end of the day. The ones we dont use right away, we bale and store in a warehouse for later use.

For example, right now. because of public demand, weve been working on racial rumors, so weve been storing the political tidbits for later on in the year, just before the conventions.

racial rumors, we had a big run on Vietnam rumws, but thats died down for the moment.

How do you distribute your rumors?

Distribution is no prc^

em. A lot of them distributed through taxi drivers; others are drt^ped off at the press club; some are left on street comers, and, of course, theres always the telephone. During a racial crisis our rumors hardly get out *he door before theyre grabbed up and spread all over town,

ART

BLCUWALD

Public Forum

Regardless of how they feel about his presidential candidacy, well wager thousands of parents are grateful to Sen. Eugene McCarthy for once again making it stylish for our young to stay neat and washed--and even get their hair cut.Knoxville (Tenn.) News^ntinel.

To The Ekiitor;

Just a comment on your edi-toral of April 8, A Realistic View of Land Values. It appears that the farmers of Martin County have been sold down the river.

We, farmers, dont mind paying taxes if we could, at the same time, make a decent living for our families. Those few of us left are existing on depreciation, and big - hearted creditors, who realize that things cant get any worse,

You state that the tax value has increased only $10 per acre in the past 15 years. You forgot to state that the production for that acre, even though yields are bigger, will buy 25 percent less goods for the farmer.

Who determines good land from poor land?

Why has there been a mass exodus from Pitt County farms?

Why is the average farmer 55 years of age?

Why has 5 daiiymen in Pitt County sold out in the past 2 years?

Did you realize that $1.00

bushel com, 17 cents hogs, eggs at 10 cents per dozen below the cost of production, doesn t make us want to subsidize the other segments of our economy who are enjoying the greatest prosperity ever?

Greenville sold 60 mill i o n pounds tobacco 15 years ago, today less than 40 million - at a much greater cost of productionyet our taxes should be increased why?

Why not talk to some bankers, farm equipment anc fertilizer dealer, people who sell to farmers?

Mr. Editor, In our opinion, you could do a far greater service to your community by lending your talent and influence and sympathy to some of our marketing problems, and our efforts to get marketing associations for our jMToducts off the ground. Its coming, but it will cwne faster with understanding and a little favorable publicity.

Sincerely, R. H. McLawhom, Jr.

President-Pitt County Farm Bureau

We walked into rijotlicr room where several worn e n were inspecting the rumors as they came off the line.

This is our quality control division. Every rumw that leaves our factory is carefully inspected for holes i.i it Then you do reject rumors? I asked.

We certainly do. A rumor has to withstand tremendous pressure in order to work. If it doesnt hold up, its not going to be circulated, and pretty soon people will be going to other places to buy fiicir rumors. Weve even called in runKurs because of a fl a w weve discovered in them after theyve left the factory. We walked to another part of the factory and the foreman said: This i? our research and development division. Were constantly tryirg to find new methods of making rumors. We had a b i g breakthrough not long ago. We found out a way of taking old rumcx^ and using them again.

One of our lab assistants discovered that by taking a rumor circulated in Chciago and doctoring it slightly and fixing it up, it would look like a brand - new rumor for Washington. Were franchising the process for other cities. Theyll buy our old racial rumors and in exchange well buy their old rumors. This source of supply will go on forever.

What happens when you put out a rumor and it bjrns out to be true?

(Continued Oi Page I)

ikes A Gamble

By ROWLAND EVANS and ROBERT NOVAK

INDIANAPOLIS - Just before the March 28 filing deadline for the Indiana Presidential primary, Sen. Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy and other agents of his brother placed call after call to friends in the Indiana Democratic organization and got this same answer each time: Dont come in!

The Kennedy men were told that Gov. Roger Brani-gin and the regular organization would cut Sen. Robert F. Kennedy to pieces. Besides, they said, Branigin would defeat Sen. Eugene McCarthy so badly in a two-man race here that the Kennedys could forget about McCarthy. In effect, they told Teddy Kennedy: Well take care of McCarthy for you if you bypass Indiana.

Despite this advice, the decision to enter Indiana was concurred in by all key Kennedy advisors. A private poll by John Kraft did show Kennedy only a short distaiwe behind Branigin, but this was not the reason for disregarding the counsel of their Hoos-icr fronds.

Rather, the Indiana gamble typifies the audacity with which the Kennedys have always played politics and exactly duplicates the gamble taken by John F. Kennedy in West Virginia in 1960. By running in a state wi.ere the cards seem all stacked against him, Bobby Kennedy risks disaster in search of a win that might start the bandwagon moving.

Transforming Branigin from stand-in for President Johnson to favorite son candidate has made no essential change in this strategy. Rather, Kennedy men cbim that Branigin as favorite son is more formidable th^ as LBJ stand-in (an unprovatole contention which some Hoosier politicians believe exactly contrar> to the facts.)

The psychological warfare campaign began the first week of April when Kennedy operative Pierre Salinger on a visit told local newsmen how difficult it would be for Kennedy to beat Branigin. Ted Sorensen, a member of the Kennedy high command, went a step further last week by telling Indiana reporters that Kennedys real goal was only to come in second here ahead of McCarthy, so formidable is Branigin. In private, of course. Kennedy advisors concede that they must win here to be nominated.

This exaggeration of the difficulties Kennedy faces in Indiana are, unwittii^y, reinforced by pro-Branigin politicians accustomed to the organization getting what it wants. They simply cannot conceive of a Kennedy win. With one of the last statewide patronage systems giving an incumbent governor iron control over the state party, all but five of 92 county chairmen (many of them state employees) have announced for Branigin.

Besides this, ^te Chairman Gordon St. Angelo is one of the nation's rising young political technicians and has introduced computer tech-niqu to Hoosier politics. Branigins campaign will not be the slapdash. Jerry-built effort put on for President Johnson in Wisconsin.

But neither technical proficiency nor Kennedys unpopularity in rural areas of this conservative state Justifies the underdoggery spread by Salinger and Sorensen. Many

(ContlDued On Page IJ

Gold Speculation May Return

Strength For Today

Advaralnf rstea and deadhnaa avtflahla Member Audit Bureau of CSreulatSoo.

npoD laqaeal

By EARL L. DOUGLASS WORKING WITH GOD Have you ever thought about the fact that God nas left many things indone in this wwld? Evidently this is by divine intention. Good appears to have arranged things* in this way in order to keep us creatively busy.

The words of an unknown author were put in my bands recently and I pass fiiem on to my readers with the conviction that they will be helpful.

The wisdom of God is shown in that be left the world unfinished that we might have the interest ad delight in taking the Raw Material and putihig the world together. He left tte oil in the trap rock, the aluminum in the cl^, the

paper in the pulp, the electricity in the clouds. He left the forest unfelled, the mountains unsurveyed, the canals undug, the tunnels unbored. He left the field unplowed and unplanted. He left the music unwritten, the poetry undreamed, and the dramas unplayed. He left mind and character unperfected, that we might really be the children of (k)d created in His own image, with latent powers to take the Raw Materials and put the old world together. Man is made in Gods image and after his likeness. We are partners with God creatures honored by being allowed to be his colleagues. This is both a responsibility and a privlkga.

By ELMER ROESSNER Gold speculation may return to the United States. Now that the Treasury no loner buys or sells gold, leaving that to licensed dealers, there is only one reason that buying and selling gold should not be as free as the sale of AT&T or IBM stock.

But thats an Important reason: a free market in gold might set off a wave of speculation that would increase the gold drain.

Heres why: There is n o t much gold available for buying and selling in the United States. Heavy specula t i o n would result in sending large amounts of dollars to London, Paris. Zurich and the other free markets for transfer of gold here and, once overseas, it could be exchanged through central banks for U. S. Treasury gold.

Even a law prohibiting the

import of gold on private accounts would not top the gold drain, because American speculators would be tempted to buy certificates of gold deposit, which would requ i r e the shipment of dollars abroad.

BLRfim

ROESSNER

Many Getting Into Act Even with todays prolubi-ion against trading in and importing goW, about $1 million

worth a month may be passing into American pos.session,

either In foreign depoeits or smuggled imports.

Meanwhile, in anticipation that gold trading may be al-lov -d in the U. S., a number of banks and other institutions have filed applications for licenses to deal in gold. Licensees can sell only to other licensees at present, but that would be changed if Americans were legally allowed to speculate in gold.

In addition, the New York Commodity Exhange is preparing to deal in gold when legally permitted. A committee is already at work on a proposed futures contr act and preparing rules for trading, the degree of refinement, and delivery points.

The prinicpal licensed dealer in gold today is Engelhard Minerals and Chemicals Corp., of Linden, N. J., which sells only to other licensees, pfiScipally in jewelry and den

tistry. Thelfar# also more than 225 other licensed se^rs, mostly refiners, and 800 licensed buyers.

What May Happen Here

What can happen here is illustrated by a report from one of my spies, who was in Toronto when gold trading was resumed. He stood in line at the gold window at a bank with a half a dozen others. All looked seedy and shabby as if they didnt have the price of a cup of coffee, he said. But when their turn came, they pulled currency out of pockets and hats. Some had suitcases for carrying their gold away.

I was treated with utmost courtesy. he reported. They asked mt if I wanted to trade thmiffb London, Paris or Zurich.^

He asked to see some gold and was ushered into a vault.

(Continued On Page 5)