Evening star., 1949-06-29
InquiY0pening Today
In Alabama FIoggingsI
As Politics s'IsCharqedt
BY the Assoeiofsd Press

BY the kssoeiofsd Press
A congressional inquiry into
Alabama's night rider violence got
under way today to the tune Of
a politics" charge from South
ern critic Of the Truman civil
rights program.
But Representative Byrne, Dem
ocrat, of New York, who is ham
ding the matter, indicated that
something less than full-dress
investigation OF hooded lawless-
ness is in prospect.
There will be nothing spestac-
ular" In the hearings, he told re-
porters before the inquiry opened.
He implied strongly that Southern
fears of congressional "interven-
ton" were groundless.
Mr.. Byrne is chairman Of the
House Judiciary Subcommittee on
Civil Rights, now conducting hear
ings on proposed legislation to
buttress existing Federal civil
rights laws.
Only Three to Testify.
Only three witnesses. all Ala
bama newspapermen. were sched-
uled to be heard. Additional wit
nesses may be called later as the
hearing develops, Mr.. Byrne said.
"The hearing will be related
only to civil rights Legislation be-
fore the Judiciary Committee" he
said. Testimony from witnesses
will be taken TO demonstrate by
example. you might say. the pur-
poses of the legislation"
This was taken to mean clearly
that Mr.. Byrne has ruled out any
quasijudicial inquiry into the Ala
bama situation, in which some
persons have been flogged by
hooded night riders.
Representative Battle, Demo-
crat. Of Alabama, terming the
committees action "a superficial
political investigation" called on
Chairman Celler Of the full Ju-
dietary Committee to call the
whole thing off.
Sees Justice Deferred.
"Such Intervention by Con-
gress at this crucial time would
deter rather than facilitate JUS
tice," he wrote Mr.. Celler.
"A superficial investigation will
accomplish nothing.
such ill-considered action on
the part of the United States
Congress strengthens the hand of
lawless groups which thrive on
outside political intervention"
To reporters. Mr.. Battle called
the inquiry a political maneuver
intended to enhance President
Truman's civil rights program"
Mr.. Celler answered with the
assertion that there is mo politics
involved in this situation. He
pointed out that one of the wit
nesses-Clarke Stallworth Of the
Birmingham POSTPAID himself
been beaten.
1.-THE very rights mentioned in
the civil rights and anti-lynching
bills I am sponsoring are involved,
and we will listen to witnesses as
we do in any other hearings. Pol
itics has nothing to do with it"
Besides Mr.. Stallworth, the COM
mittee invited iSClarence Lake OF
the Birmingham News and Frank
Trawick of the Jasper Union News.
A number of anti-lynch and
civil rights measures are before
the committee.
The Celler civil rights bill would
strengthen the civil rights laws
and give greater power to the
Justice Department and FBI in
dealing with terrorism and in
timidation. 1t also would abolish
race segregation in interstate COM
merce, and create a Federal civil
rights commission.
While the House committee
started of its inquiry, Federal and
Alabama agencies were taking ac-
ton Of their own.
The Justice Department sent
field agents into Alabama to de-
termine the extent to which Fed
eral civil rights laws have been
violated, while the Alabama Legis-
lature was acting on legislation to
outlaw the wearing of hoods and
masks.