The Daily Banner, Greencastle, Putnam County, 1 November 1968 — Page 1
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Major candidates wage campaign for White House-three days to go
| Richard Nixon uses computer like
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efficiency in plotting strategy
By DANIEL RAPOPORT WASHINGTON (UPI) -Richard M. Nixon’s 1968 campaign for the presidency followed with computer-like efficiency directions which had been programmed even before he won the Republican nomination. Whatever the outcome next Tuesday, Nixon's campaign went just the way he and his strategists intended it to go. If he should happen to lose, it won't be because of slipups but because the wrong decisions were fed into the computer at the outset. Nixon, 55, and his advisors mapped their campaign strategy in detail prior to his winning of the Republican nomination Aug. 7 in Miami Beach. Domestic Peace Stamped boldly on the cam. paign blueprint was the word “positive." To be sure, Nixon would attack Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey and deplore the record of the Johnson-Hum-phrey administration. But the single most important theme was a positive assertion that of the three major candidates— Nixon, Humphrey and George C. Wallace—only Nixon could
Richard M. Nixon restore domestic peace to this troubled land and reunite its people. It was by pre-arranged plan that Nixon stepped up his attacks on Humphrey. For the first three weeks of the campaign, he barely mentioned his Democratic rival. The next three weeks saw him mention, ing the vice president by name and jabbing away at his record. The final three weeks saw Nixon slugging hard, virtually calling Humphrey a liar at one point and questioning his ability at every turn. Rallies were the meat of Nixon’s on-the-road campaign and they were colorfully staged
Can son of dirt farmer be elected president?
affairs. Cheering sections of screaming young girls in “Nixonette” paper dresses, bands, colored balloons, cascading down as the candidate entered the hall—all these carefully arranged details helped to create an atmosphere of joyous enthusiasm. Middle-Class Whites Almost all of the rallies were held in areas where strong Republican organizations could get out large crowds, made up mostly of middle-class whites. But as the campaign moved along, it also became apparent that many of those doing the screaming were youngsters who regarded the whole scene as a fun spectacle and who were too young to vote anyhow. Often the adults in the audience listened respectfully but showed little overt enthusiasm. Of the three major candi. dates, Nixon suffered least from heckling. Youths backing Humphrey or Wallace, or voicing opposition to the war in Vietnam, sometimes showed up and chanted slogans. But either because of superior Nixon amplification systems or beContinued on Page 7
By RANDOLPH PENDLETON MONTGOMERY, Ala. (UPI) — One of George C. Wallace’s early campaign news releases raised the question, “can the son of an Alabama dirt farmer who drove a taxicab and a dump truck and waited on tables to help work his way through college be elected President of the United States?” The Wallace news release did not hesitate to answer the question affirmatively. Though various polls and political surveys indicate the 1968 answer will be otherwise, Wallace’s campaign has come a lot farther than many believed possible when it was launched. Written off as a “spoiler” when he first declared his candidacy last February, Wal. lace has mounted the most potent third party effort since Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party of 1912. Law and Order Wallace says his candidacy has already had a beneficial effect, by forcing the Democrats and Republicans to take stronger stands on law and order. “I used to say there wasn’t a
George C. Wallace dime’s worth of difference between them,’’ he tells his audiences. “Now there isn’t a dime’s worth of difference between some of the things they say and what I say.” The former Alabama gover. nor exults over the fact that his opponents started off trying to ignore him but have increasingly found it necessary to attack him. He feels this is an indication he is hurting them. Whether Wallace really believes he will win or whether his campaign is a warmup for 1972 is difficult to pin down. He sometimes tells audiences, “We’re going to win,” but more often he claims only that “We Continued on Page 7
Humphrey supporters hope rebound did not come too late
By STEVE GERSTEL WASHINGTON (UPI)— Hubert H. Humphrey, counted out in September, rebounded strongly in October. The question remains; Was he too late with too little for victory in November? As the 1968 presidential campaign moves into its last days, Humphrey is saying— privately as well as publicly— that he has the “momentum” to pull ahead of Richard M. Nixon by Tuesday. If he does, some of the credit must go to a campaign which, by accident, happened to be perfectly-timed. Peak Strength What has happened is that Humphrey’s campaign—which even his organizers and plan, ners concede was not well organized or planned—jelled at the right time to let the Democratic candidate rise to peak strength just as the race neared the finish line. Political strategists of both parties agree that timing is of utmost importance in a pres, idential campaign. A candidate who “peaks” too early—two or three weeks before the votingmay suffer a disastrous erosion
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Hubert H. Humphery of support. Richard M. Nixon believes that peaking too early cost him the 1960 election. Peaking too late is also not considered desirable—for obvious reasons. It’s small help for a candidate to gain supporters after the votes are counted. Humphrey’s strong stretch drive has compensated for the bitter disappointments and dis. couragements he suffered in the early weeks of the campaign. He’s pretty happy about the way things have worked out for him. “Quite candidly,” he said recently, “even though I surely didn’t enjoy some of those bad moments early in the campaign, I would say that it is working
out on a time basis just right.” Small Crowds The moments he did not enjoy during his nine-week ordeal came early and started disappearing sometime in midOctober. They included small and often apathetic crowds; large and often very hostile groups of hecklers; state Democratic leaders who vanished when he arrived; and no money. “We had a broken party, we had many disenchanted people, disaffected people,” he said. “We had no money. We had to do it the hard way. We did what I thought we had to do.” The problems, which at one time seemed Insurmountable, became less acute as the campaign continued and Humphrey swung from one end of the continent to the other. The party organization, a shambles after the raucous Chicago convention, slowly came together again. In Texas, Humphrey managed to bring together on the same platform those bitter antagonists, Gov. John Connally and Sen. Ralph Yarborough In California, AsContinued on Page 7
It Waves For All 1
VOLUME SEVENTY-SEVEN
GREENCASTLE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1968
UPI News Service 100 Per Copy
No. 3
Basketball season starts tonight
This Pete Cox covered bridge is to be torn down.
Morgan Co. leaders don’t fear Wallace
by Mark Steele, Sports Editor Basketball and Indiana go together like cake and ice cream. In the Hoosier state, basketball is not just another sport, it’s a tradition. From the most powerful of the large city schools to the small community high school basketball is the winter sport. When Hoosiers talk of basketball they talk of Muncie Central, five-time state champ, of Columbus, an habitual semi-state contender and of the 1954 Milan “Miracle” team. Every year at the end of the season when all the high school teams in the state pair off at 64 sectional sites, no class division or barrier keeps the smallest team or the largest school from going all the way, all the way to Hinkle Fieldhouse and the state championship. And there’s always the people’s choice, the smallest team in the sweet sixteen, the one team fens would like to see go all the way to Butler. Filling the role of the people’s choice the past few years has been two schools from Putnam County. Bainbridge and Cloverdale have been major topics while corn cobs have stoked the pot bellied stoves at Tone’s Regal Market the second week in March. That fever known as “Hoosier Hysteria” once again fills the ai.. Greencastle, Fillmore and the former Belle Union teams have been headliners in recent years. A dozen area teams will initiate the 1968-69 basketball season this weekend in six games around the Greencastle area. County line rivals Russellville and Wavaland battle at Waveland tonight as first year coach Mark Thistlethwaite and his Bees hope to get the first sting in the Hornets of Richard Bruner.
In another cross county battle, Reelsville mixes with Morgan County’s Patricksburg. Dave Bussing is at the helm to lead the Indians. The Fillmore - Roachdale opener at Roachdale will be the first of the intra-county clashes. The Cardinals are coached by Darryl Durham, while mentor of the Hawks is James Sharp. Clay county rivals Van Buren and Clay City pair off tonight. Leo M unde 11 is coach of the Blue Devils. Tomorrow night both Cloverdale and Bainbridge open. Pat Rady and the Pointers travel to Rosedale in Parke County while the Clovers of Al Tucker visit Eminence. The Eels are coached by Lanny Parker. Firemen make 6 runs in 7 hours The Greencastle fire department made seven runs between 4:52 and 11:54 last night, to extinguish flames in corncobs, trees and leaves. The most serious of the fires, according to fire officials, was at the Brackney Feed Mill, Ind. 43, on the north edge of Greencastle. Firemen said a newly installed corncob burner malfunctioned pushing smoke back into the building. Firemen reported no damage but said an explosion could have heavily damaged the entire business. At 6:10 firemen went to a house fire north on 10th Street about a half a mile north of Ind. 240. An old home, which was being torn down, and owned by Roy Sutherlin, burned. The roof had already been removed. Other minor fire runs included a 9:25 trip to the corner of Continued on Page 3
Myers addresses Crawfordsville Republicans CRAWFORSVILLE, IND., — Seventh District Congressman John Myers (R-Ind.) yesterday called for a complete overhaul of U.S. foreign aid expenditures abroad “while there are still unresolved problems at home.” Myers was principal speaker at a giant Republican rally beginning at 6 p.m. at the 4-K Building. The event climaxed a busy day of campaigning that took the local candidates into each section of Montgomery County. Noting that Congress cut the Foreign Aid figure to the lowest point in 20 years, Congressman Myers said it is time fora “good hard look at what our huge foreign aid outlays are buying.” “The U.S. has spent over $171 billion in overseas aid since the Marshall Plan began in 1946. After all this, we find ourselves with fewer friends around the world than when the program was started. Myers told the crowd that he does not advocate elimination of all Foreign Aid programs. “What is needed is a complete overhaul of the programs to make Continued on Page 8
BY JOHN H. VESEY Staff Reporter Courier Tribune-Bloomington MARTINSVILLE—Neither the Republican nor Democratic Party chairmen of Morgan County see any local or state offices being affected by George C. Wallace’s presence inthepresidentia 1 race. “I don’t really know how Wallace will affect the state races, but he won’t hurt us here in Morgan County,” said Judson D. Dutton, Republican Party chairman. He has held that position 22 years. “I think Wallace will have more
effect than the average political talker seems to think. He (Wallacp) won’t affect the county outcome at all,” said Kenneth E. Cragen, newly-elected Demo, cratic Party chairman. Cragen replaced Kenneth A. Watson as party chairman following the May 7 primary. Cragen, 25, has been Morgan County Young Democrats president three years. Dutton, who is also clerktreasurer for the City of Martinsville, said about seven Democrats to three Republicans plan
to vote for Wallace. Dutton said this would not hurt the William G. Bray-Phillip L. Bayt race for Sixth District Congressman. “Bray always runs well,” Dut. ton said. He added that Richard M. Nixon had the largest primary results last May 7 that he has ever had. The Republican candidate for president pulled 5900 votes, compared to the leading Democrat Roger D. Branigin’s 2019. Cragen said if Wallace does any damage on the state level.
he would “probably help the Democratic ticket.” Cragen and Dutton did agree on one topic, however—the tightest county race will be between Mrs. Thelma T. Gray, Republican, and Robert A. Payne, Jr. Democrat, for the office of first district commissioner. Mrs. Gray beat incumbent commissioner John A. Wright by a 1953-1546 margin in the primary. It was “no contest” in the Democratic Party race. Payne beat William Lewis, 2753-906. Continued on Page 3
George Wallace pressure is still unpredictable
By BOYD GILL INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) - The shadow of George C. Wallace hangs over the Indiana presidential election and nobody knows just what effect it will have on the bids of the major party nominees for the 13 electoral votes at stake. Rallying round his “law and order” campaign theme are thousands of Hoosiers. They range from the populous Calumet area around Lake Michigan, where people of many ethnic backgrounds form a huge melting pot, to the banks of the Ohio River around Evansville, where more than a shade of the Old South and its tradiUons is represented. A poll or two showed Wallace running neck and neck with
Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey in Indiana, both far behind Republican Richard M. Nixon. But seasoned observers do not really believe Wallace will beat Humphrey—perhaps he won’t even run a good race with him. Nevertheless, they expect Wallace to do very well, indeed, capturing somewhere between 15 and 25 per cent of the total presidential vote. Some Talk, Some Don’t There is a great amount of Wallace talk and campaign activity. But large numbers of known Wallace supporters are not talking and not waving banners and not plastering bumper stickers on their cars. Many of them are blue-collar workers, some of whom have said it is
not healthy for them to flaunt their feelings at the plants where they work and in the
union halls.
In May of 1964, Wallace ran in the Indiana presidential preference primary as a Democrat. He was beaten by then Gov. Matthew E. Welsh who was running as a stand-in for President Johnson. Wallace actually carried the Calumet, winning Lake and Porter Counties in a vote that was considered a reflection of racial feelings, and he got nearly 30 per cent of the Democratic presidential ballots. It would be wrong to assume that just because Wallace received nearly 30 per cent of the vote in the 1964 primary, he will do Just as well in his present race as an independent.
On the other hand, it would be wrong to assume that it is impossible for Wallace to do as well this time. The great unanswered question is how extensive are Hoosier prejudices. Have Attitudes Changed? Indiana was a hotbed of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s when Grand Dragon D. C. Stephenson declared “I am the law in Indiana.” The bulk of the Hoosier KKK members were anti-Catho-lic rather than anti-Negro. But prejudice is prejudice, and nobody knows how thoroughly the attitudes of the 1920s have been passed down through two generations to those who are now voters, although the 1960 Hoosier sound defeat for John F. Kennedy hinted that those attitudes have no* been reversed.
Indiana has a national reputation for its spirited activity in the two-party system. Some students of politics believe that many voters who agree with Wallace’s philosophy will have second thoughts between now and election day, or after they get behind the voting booth curtain, and will choose between the old familiar rooster and eagle emblems of the Democratic and Republican parties. Humphrey has been hurt through this Hoosier' campaign by a reluctance on the part of the Democratic candidates for state office to mention his name in connection with their bid for votes. Little or no “support the team” persuasion has been used, in contrast to the GOP candidates’ efforts to link their *
campaigns with Nixon’s. Nixon May Get Half On the other hand, Nixon seems likely to get a great many of the die-hard Republican votes which were cast for Sen. Barry Goldwater four years ago, plus a plush number of GOP and independent votes which were cast for President Johnson in 1964. This would seem to assure Nixon of at least 1.1 million of the anticipated 2.2 million Hoosier presidential votes. Based on talks with colleagues and others who have covered or participated in politics for years, this writer sees the possibility that Nixon will receive 48 to 52 per cent of the Indiana vote, Humphrey 28 to 32 per cent, and Wallace 18 to 22 per cent. h
Morgan loses last covered bridge Levee dispute holds up bridge letting By DENNIS ABELL Managing Editor LITTLE POINT, Ind.— Morgan County stands to lose its final hold on a covered bridge when the Commissioners from Putnam and Morgan County finally let bids on two structures now spanning Mill Creek just west of here on the county line. The bridge, known as the Pete Cox covered bridge in Putnam County and the Parker bridge in Morgan, is slated to be replaced by a modern prestressed box beam bridge sometime late next year.
The engineering firm of Kenneth L. Bowman, Shelbyville, has been hired for the project which will be financed by both counties and federal money. Blan Applegate, Morgan County Auditor said the bridge, which is actually two bridges attached to each other, is being handled by the Putnam County officials. One bridge is the covered structure. The other is metal. Applegate said the Morgan County Commissioners expeci to pay about $70,000 as their quarter share in financing the project. Waldo Shoemaker, Putnam County Commissioner, said the total cost of the new structure will probably run around $250,000, nearly twice the cost of replacing the Clinton Falls covered bridde, a project now underway. The federal government will pay for half of the expense while the two counties will each share in paying twenty-five per cent. Shoemaker said a total estimate has not yet been made because of ditching problems involved with Mill Creek. He said the commissioners originally planned to build a levee on the east side of the bank, but that the property owner on the west side In Putnam County objected. Shoemaker said water has naturally flowed to the east side in the past. The ditching will probably run around $10,000, according to Shoemaker who said no federal money will be involved and that the two counties will have to share the expense. The rural road crossing the covered arid metal bridges now over Mill Creek is the major link in southeastern Putnam County for motorists en route to new Interstate 70. The interstate is only 1,000 yards north of the road. Motorists cross the bridges to get to Ind. 42 and take the state highway into Little Point to the 1-70 interchange. Little Point is only a quarter of a mile east of the bridge. Morris Smedley, the property owner of the west side of Mill Creek, in Putnam County, told the Banner he wants to buy the bridge and put it on his property. “I told the Commissioners I wanted to put it on my property, and they told me I would have to get it from the contractor,” he said. The contractor has not yet been named.
Smedley says he has a Terre Haute firm which has indicated it could move the bridge for around $4,000. “I want it for sentimental reasons, and for a park idea I have.” Smedley is not the only one wanting to save the bridge. Judge Noble Littell, Superior Court Judge of Morgan County and vice president of the Morgan County Historical Society told the Banner his organization has sent out around 200 brochures on the bridge in an attempt to raise money to have the bridge moved. He said the moving would probably cost around $25,000. The cost involves dismantling the bridge and then putting it back together. Smedley wants to move it without dismantling it. He only has to move the structure a few hundred yards. The big problem now facing the commissioners in both counties is that Smedley is not in favor of a levee to be built on the Morgan County side of the creek. “I just won’t let them do it without going to court”, he said. Smedley points out the water has always drained to the Morgan County side, and a levee would place flood water on his fields. He also pointed out that Morgan County is for the levee and that one of the Morgan County Commissioners, Jack Gore, has farm land just east of the bridge in Morgan County, which always stands in water when the water in the creek is high. “I suggested that they build some sewers,” said Smedley. The Commissioners want to build a new bridge across Mill Creek between the present structures and the Interstate and want to raise the levee line to keep backwater from flooding onto Ind. 42. Shoemaker said the engineer has not yet settled the issue, but may recommend building thf bridge without the levee. He said he has not heard from the Putnam County Historical Society about the bridge but did point out that the society informed him Thursday that it did not have $3,000 accumulated to move the Clinton Falls bridge. He pointed out the $3,000 reference in Wednesday’s Banner was money collected by a Shelby County organizatlon which tried to save its last covered bridge last summer. %
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