The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1948-08-04
BY Alice A. DunnIean

WASHINGTON COM
ing face to face with the much
criticized S0th congress at the
special session Tuesday, President
Truman apparently had lost some
of the fighting spirit which he
demonstrated at the National
Democratic convention.
The Republican side of the aisle
literally sat on their hands while
the President outlined a suggestive
11-point legislative program. Weak
Applause occasionally burst forth
from the Democratic side with the
Southern Dixiecrats joining with
the Republicans in what amounted
to a "silent brigade"
The controversial civil rights
program which caused the south
erners to bolt the party at the re-
cent convention in Philadelphia,
occupied the last place in the
Presidents message.
After having presented his 10
points, supposedly in order of i'm
portance, the President concluded
by saying:
Finally, | wish again to urge
upon. the congress the measures
l recommended last February to
protect and extend basic civil
rights of citizenship and human
liberty. A number of bills to
carry out my recommendation
have been introduced in the con-
gress. Many of them haYe already
received careful consideration by
congressional committees. Only
one bill, howevere has been en-
acted "a bill relating to the rights
|of Americans of Japanese origin.
II believe that it is necessary to
enact the laws I have recon-
mended in order to make the
guarantees of the constitution real
and vital. | believe they are nee
essary to carry out our American
ideals of liberty and justice for
ALL"
The emphasis, forcefulness and
sincerity displayed by Mr. Truman
in his acceptance speech in Phila-
delphia was lacking in this pre-
pared statement made before the
unfriendly congress. No mention
was made of any specific civil
right bill and no stress placed
upon this important legislation.
1t is generally believed that
the residents speech was watered-
down upon suggestions made by
committee of Democrats headed
by vice-presidential nominee, Sen.
Alben w. Barley, who met with
the President at the White House
Monday. After having an hour
long conference with the Presi-
dent, none of them would COM
ment on the Presidents original
speech; they did admit, however,
that they made suggestions here
and there for certain changes.
While the committee was con-
ferring with Mr. Truman, press
secretary Charles Ross gave re-
porter an outline Of the 11-points
to be offered to congress by the
President on the following day.
According to Mr.. Ross diagram,
the civil rights issues occupied
seventh place on the list, with
special reference made Of the anti
poll tav bill and the anti-lynch bill.
No mention was made of FEPC
in the original draft, presumably
because it had not gotten along as
far on the legislative calendar as
the other two bills. The anti-poll
tax bill has passed the house and
the anti-lynch bill has been re-
ported out of the House commit
tee.
On the eve of his address to
congress, President Truman issued
two executive orders, one calling
for equality of treatment and op
portunity for all persons in the
armed services without regard tc
race, color, religion or national
origin; and the other establish
ling a Fair Employment Practices
lcommittee in federal government
In regard to equal treatment
and opportunity in the armed
forces, the order recommended
that "this policy shall be put into
effect as rapidly as possible hav
ing due regard to the time re
Iquired to effectuate any necessary
changes without impairing effic
iency of morale"
The President said he would
create an advisory committee com
posed of seven members ito ex