20 Feb 1961
Page 1
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 19 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Raleigh Register
Location
Beckley, West Virginia, United States of America
Date
Feb 20, 1961
Page
1
President Kennedy proposes a five year federal aid plan totaling 5.6 billion to fund scholarships for up to 212,500 talented and needy college students and to extend housing loans and classroom facility loans. The plan ties aid to a state administered, competitive scholarship system and excludes parochial and private K-12 schools.
Former U.S. ambassador William D. Pawley testified before a Senate subcommittee that State Department policy mistakes in the Truman Eisenhower and Kennedy eras helped the Communist victory in China and Cuba. He charged a departmental clique with undermining Chinese Nationalists and cited Webb and Braden in criticizing access to Far East documents.
Sen. Robert C. Byrd D West Virginia told Interior Department hearings that New England industries relying on residual oil must revert to coal to shield themselves from international oil cartel pressure and bolster national security if oil imports fall in wartime. He warned deteriorating coal capacity risks increased imported oil dependency and cited 60 million extra barrels imported last year beyond the 1957 base, noting current quotas cost families over 90 million dollars annually in lost wages and welfare funds.
Striking flight engineers stayed away for the third straight day, threatening furloughs for about 60,000 workers across six major airlines. Amer ican Airlines and Trans World Airlines canceled almost all flights until noon EST, with only 10 to 20 percent of planes operating. Labor Secretary Gold berg planned talks with the National Mediation Board to resolve a crisis in commercial aviation.
A wire dispatch frames Laos King Savang Vathana Sully declaring neutrality with neighbors Cambodia Burma and Malaya inviting investigators. U S Department welcomes. The piece shifts to Kennedy wage debate with Chamber opposing and AFL CIO supporting a gradual rise. Also noted is an ice gorge threat at East Brady and Senate action on closing the travel gap. Prince Andrew turns one at Buckingham Palace as Eisenhower preparation looms.
Cloudy tonight with a low of 28 to 38. Tuesday brings more clouds and a chance of rain with little temperature change. Five day forecast shows highs near average with 46 in the north and 48 in the south, greenshifts of 22 in the north and 28 in the south. precipitation Tuesday and Friday may total about three quarters of an inch. Beckley reports 60 high and 32 low in the past 24 hours with morning readings around 32 and 36. Oak Hill records 28 low with 30 at 7 am. Greenbrier river conditions at 2 feet above normal milky, lake normal and muddy, 9 gates open, new gauge 6.2 feet.
Morgantown reports the sudden death of G Ralph Spindler 58 dean of the School of Mines at West Virginia University and former state mines chief. A 1932 WVU graduate he led the School of Mines since 1948 and lectured internationally as a mining consultant. He was born in Terra Alta Preston County and joined the university mining staff in 1935.
Kenneth Kaunda and Harry Nkumbala from Northern Rhodesia denounce alleged selling out of Africans after talks with Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Adlai Stevenson proposes a broader peace strategy beyond winning a cold war. Bertrand Russell laments lack of arrests during protests against nuclear policy. Flight engineers reject return to work pending congressional inquiry into United Airlines bargaining unit decision.
West Virginians will decide this week on a constitutional amendment allowing liquor by the drink and on granting Marshall College university status. The Senate approved the liquor measure 24 to 8, aiming for House passage as the vote tightens.
Representative Ken Hechler of West Virginia urged Udall to keep or tighten curbs on residual oil imports, warning that higher quotas could push his state into a deeper recession. Hechler cited 1949 to 1959 declines in coal employment tied to oil inflows and noted the need to protect coal industry jobs.
A terse quote notes that many will not hear a speaker unless it is their own moment to speak, reflecting a belief in personal timing and priority in public discourse. The line hints at impatience in crowded rooms where everyone seeks attention.
UPI reports Massachusetts Rep Silvio Conte criticized coal industry officials for relying on government oil import restrictions. He urged Interior Secretary Udall to lift quota laws, calling them subsidies that cushion struggling coal regions. Conte warned high oil prices drive New England to use more soft coal.
The Texas Department of Public Safety reported sighting possible wreckage of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnsons Convair in central Texas hills near Pleasant Hill School seven miles southeast of the LBJ Ranch. Two pilots Harold Teague and Charles Williams vanished Sunday night en route from Austin to the Johnson ranch during drizzly, low ceiling conditions.
Gen Victor Lundula reportedly seized control of the Lumumba faction in the Congo from Antoine Gizenga and sent peace overtures to Maj Gen Joseph Mobutu. Refugees and rival leaders sought U.N. protection as Mobutu’s forces advanced toward Stanleyville, while Lundula withdrew troops from Aketa and Basoko to avoid clashes.
In Buckeye Arizona a 7 year old boy fell 275 feet through a flimsy plywood cover into a 525 foot well. He struck debris and water 250 feet below but survived the 45 minute rescue aided by ropes from passing cowboys. His father Edsel Stage Jr. coached him with calm instructions as rescue teams pulled him to safety. He suffered two broken legs but remained conscious throughout.
Charleston news: State Senate Sen. Jack Nuckols proposes a constitutional referendum in 1962 to issue 20 year road bonds totaling 300 million dollars at 20 million annually starting in 1963. The plan would be retired by levies on all taxable property. A parallel 200 million road bond proposal has backing from the State Chamber of Commerce and other groups.
In Leopoldville the UN announced Gen Sean MacKeon will personally appeal to Maj Gen Joseph Mobutu to halt his offensive on Stanleyville Lumumbist forces. In Washington the Secretary of State summoned Soviet Ambassador Menshikov to the State Department for a late afternoon conference with no stated purpose.
UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold told the Security Council that six Lumumba supporters were executed after being deported from Leopoldville to Bakwanga in South Kasai. He protested the transfer and urged Kasavubu to protect the prisoners, labeling the actions a flagrant violation of basic rights.
United Press International reports that manned spaceflight is approaching this year with plans to reach the moon in the near term and later visit Mars and Venus. The piece notes early space milestones including the Interplanetary station era and animal astronauts like Belka, Strelka, and Ham, framing space as humanity’s ascent. NASA’s Robert Seamans Jr. is quoted on the drive for altitude and broader exploration.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.