Evening star., 1951-03-01
Truman Urges
CiviIRightsPIa1,
He Tells Farley
Forwards Message
To Clearing House
Citing Capitol Inaction

President Truman today told
the National Civil Liberties Clear
ing House that he intends to urge
with all the vigor possess" the
enactment of his civil rights pro-
gram.
In a letter to the organization,
Mr.. Truman said his program and
bills to make it law now are be-
fore Congress.
Il am not among those who
take the view that in times Of
stress we must shelve all efforts
and programs for the betterment
OF our people," the President
wrote. The maxim, first things
first, is entitled to it's due; but
1t cannot stay the inexorable drive
and inevitable progress of hu-
manity in Kidding itself of the
inequalities and imperfections Of
our social and economic life. In
this connection, it is important
to note the tremendous gains for
civil rights that have been
achieved in the past three diff
cult years. since the filing of the
report of October. 1947, by the
Presidents Committee on Civil
Rights, in our educational systems,
in employment, in housing, in the
use of public accommodations, in
recreation, and in the exercise Of
the attributes of citizenship. These
gains have resulted from both
the voluntary action of the peo-
pie and the action of agencies Of
government, administrative, ju-
dicial and legislative.
Notes Congress In Action.
However, it is equally impor-
tant to note that whereas many
State Legislatures and local gov
erning bodies have been in the
forefront of this action for i'm
provement, the Congress has as
yet failed to enact the principal
points of the civil rights program
which I first recommended to it
in February 1948. The program
and bills to make it law are be-
fore the Current Congress. Making
appropriate allowance for the ex-
ira burden on the Congress
in dealing with the aggravated
problems of defense and the mo-
bilization of our economy, am
hopeful that the 82d Con-
gress will not conclude with.
out enacting the civil rights pro-
gram into law. I propose to con-
tinue to urge the program with all
the vigor possess. BY strengthen
ing the privileges of citizenship,
lit will add greater substance to
the American tradition of equality
and equal opportunity. It Is
another step in solidifying the
unity of our people"
The Presidents message was to
be laid before the fourth annual
Conference on Civil Liberties
opening today at Hotel 2400. Reg
istration opened there this morn
ing. The program this afternoon
included several addresses from
champions of civil liberties, In
Guiding Senator Morse, Republi.
can. of Oregon; Walter White,
executive secretary of the Ma
tional Association for Advance
ment of Colored People, and
others.
Lehman to Speak.
Senator Lehman, Democrat, Of
New York was scheduled to de-
liver the principal speech at q
banquet tonight.
The Presidents message today,
addressed to E. Raymond Wilson.
chairman of the Civil Liberties
Clearing House. followed a visit
to the White House yesterday by
a delegation of Negro leaders.
The group asked the President
to use his influence to abolish
racial segregation in Washington,
and in the Army.
A. Philip Randolph, president
of Pullman Car Porters, said
after the conference the President
expressed no disagreement with
any of the several points in q
program requested by the group.