Evening star., 1947-10-29
ReportAsksEnd
|0f Abuses 10
Civil Rights
Presidents Committee
Urges Federal Action,
Cites DC. Segregation

COMPLETE TEXT of the section on
Civil Rights in the Nations
Capital" Page AS
HIGH LIGHTS from the Civil
Rights report. Page AS
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES of
committee members. Page AS
TEXT OF PRESIDENTS comments
on Civil Rights report on Page AS
The Presidents Committee on
Civil Rights today recommended
immediate, direct Federal action
to correct serious flaws" in the
countrywide civil rights picture
by outlawing racial diScrimina-
tions and other threats to "hu-
man freedom and equality
In 17S-page report to President
Truman. who appointed the Is
member group last December, the
committee singled out the District
of Columbia as dramatic illustra-
ton of shortcomings in our record
and the need for change" in segre-
CATION systems and political as well
as racial discrimination practices.
Describing the situation in Wash
ington as "intolerable," the commit
tee called for prompt congressional
enactment of legislation for the Dis
trict which would
Wipe out restrictive covenants
aimed at preventing colored people
from owning or occupying property
in white neighborhoods.
Would End School Segregation.
Outlaw segregation in the school
system.
Ban segregation and discrimina-
tion of other kinds in recreation
centers, hospitals, theaters, hotels,
restaurants and similar places or
institutions. and in the opportunity
for employment,
The committee also urged Con-
gress to give local self government
to the District. It advocated
Constitutional amendment allowing
District residents to vote in presi-
dertial elections and to be repre-
sented in Congress.
President Truman told the COM
mittee at the White House this
morning that he would take the de-
STABILITY and feasibility of imple-
menting the report under consid-
Grafton.
In a prepared statement to the
committee the President said, Il
hope this committee has given us
as broad document as the Decla-
ration of Independence-an Amer
lean charter of human freedom in
our time"
Need Never Graver."
Explaining that he had created
the committee with a feeling of
urgency" because racial and reli-
gious intolerance began to appear
in the United States after the war,
President Truman declared:
THE need for such a charter was
never greater than at this time.
Men of goodwill everywhere are
striving under great difficulties to
create a worldwide moral order.
firmly established in the life of ma
tions. For us here in America a
new charter of human freedom will
be a guide for action, and in the
eyes of the world it will be decla-
ration of our renewed faith in the
American goal-the integrity of the
individual human being, sustained
by the moral consensus of the whole
Nation, protected by Government
based on equal freedom under just
laws"
In its attacks on practices which.
in its opinion, violate or interfere
with the civil rights of many groups
of citizens throughout the Nation,
the committee touched on numerous
issues that have caused bitter con-
troversy in Congress. 1t recon-
mended. for instance. the enact
ment of anti-lynching, anti-poll tax
and fair employment practice laws,
enforced by the Federal Govern
ment.
Sees Near Hysteria" on Reds.
On the issue of subversive activ-
tiles, it warned that public ex-
citement about communists in the
United States has reached state
of near hysteria." 1t cautioned
against hysteria or repression as
weapons in the fight against total
itarian influences or individuals. 1t
declared, nevertheless, the Govern
ment should do everything demo-
cratically possible to bring enemies
of democracy out into the open.
This committee unqualifiedly op-
poses any attempt to impose special
limitation on the rights of those
people to speak and assemble" the
report stated. THE principle of
disclosure is, we believe, the appro-
pirate way to deal with those who
would subvert our democracy by
revolution or by encouraging dis
unity and destroying the civil rights
of some groups.
I'VE have considered and rejected
proposals for censoring or prohibit
ing material which defames re-
ligious or racial minority groups.
Our purpose is not to constrict any
ones freedom to speak; 1t is rather
to enable the people better to
Judge the true motives of those
who try to sway them"
Four Essential Rights.
The committee based its recon-
mendations on the strengthening
Of four essential rights-safety and
security of person, citizenship and
its privileges, freedom of conscience
and expression, and equality of OPP
portunity.
The United States has progressed
in civil rights practices and, COM
pared with many other countries,
has an outstanding record, the COM
mittee found. But for the preserva-
ton of liberties here and the spread
of democratic ideals abroad, this
Nation must act immediately to i'm
prove civil rights practices, it de-
clared.
The committee therefore recon.
mended that Congress and State
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