Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1948-05-15
US SUPREME COURT MAY GET FIRST
TEST OF SEGREGATION LAWS REQUIR-
ING SEPARATION OF WHITE AND
NEGRO CITIZENS IN PUBLIC MEETING
PLACES
Senator Preparing Appeal
In Birmingham Conviction

NEW YORK, May 10-A legal
fight which may TO rthe first time
bring to the U. S. Supreme Court
a test of segregation laws re
quiring separation of Negr oand
white citizens in public meeting
places was under way this week as
Senator Glen H. Taylor prepared
to appeal his recent conviction in
Birmingham, Alabama, for at
tempting to enter a church door
marked for Negroes only at the
Southern Negro Youth Conferen-
ce.
Possibility that Taylor's convic-
ton might reach the u. S. Su-
preme Court and be reversed there
in effect invalidating segrega-
ton laws throughout the South
was seen by Seymour Linfield,
attorney and veterans director of
the National Wallace for Presi-
dent Committee who attended
Taylor's trial
Attorneys at the New York of
flee of the NAACP said that no
such case has ever reached the
Supreme Court.
The case will first be appealed
TO the Alabama circuit court and
carried if necessary to the Ala
bama Supreme Court, where re-
versal would invalidate the Biz
mnigham segregation laws and in
effect all segregation laws in the
state, Linfield said.
Senator Taylor, Henry Wal
lace's presidential running
mate. was fined $50 and given
was finedsuspended 180-day SEN
tence after charge of "disorderly
conduct" was changed to breach
of peace, assault and battery and
resisting an officer in performan-
ce of his duty.
Conviction on third charge
resisting an officer engaged sin
the lawful performance of his
duty"-clearly makes Taylor's
conviction a test of the constitu-
tionality of segregation laws,
Linfield said.
Arthur Shores, Negro attorney,
was handling the case, along with
Nesbitt Elmore and George Tray
wick of Birmingham.
They are appealing the convic-
ton on the grounds that the trial
was contrary to the Fourteenth
Amendment and also contrary to
the Supreme Court decision hold
ing restricted covenants unen-
forceable.
Meanwhile the sentencing of
Taylor, considered the leading OPP
ponent of Jim Grow in the Senate,
was branded by Henry Wallace as
a case which assures ''the certain
destruction of the Democratic
party"
mo party" Wallace declared,
<'can claim to be liberal and still
stand for Jim Crow. Glen was not
violating any law. He was uphold
ing the basic law of the land, the
Constitution of the United States"
Wallace issued the statement
shortly fter defying attempts OF
hoodlums to break up a mixed
audience at Columbia, Missouri,
where 5000 white and Negro
citizens heard him speak. 1t in
cluded the greatest number of Ne
groes ever attending political
rally in the area.
Taylor's newest fight against
Jim Crow was reminiscent of the
manner in which he led the fight
TO uost race-bating Senator Theo-
dore Bilbo On the opening day of
Eightieth Congress, Taylor took
the floor when Bilbo's name was
reached in the Senate roll cab and
introduced resolution demanding
that Bilbo be refused bis seat. He
delivered an hour-long attack on
Bilbo, who was subsequently never
seated.
Taylor has consistently fought