The Miami times., 1952-07-19
Double Cross On Civil Rights
In COP Platform CHARGED

was a double cross on the civil
rights plank in the Republican
party platform which contains a
diluted statement on civil rights.
Negro delegates to the 25th
National Convention of the Re-
publican party debated the issue
OF civil rights with newsmen COW
erlng the convention more than
they did the long awaited final
results of the nomination of a
presidential candidate for the
Republican party.
Thus, the issue of a suitable
civil rights plank remained un-
resolved as the convention clos
ed after five hectic days of
squabbling and debate in the
party.
Even the nomination of Gen.
Dwight ID. Eisenhower for Pres
adent has not over shadowed the
clVn rights issue in the minds of
Negro delegates, ralternates and
guests and visitors.
Central figure in the split
among colored delegates was
Harold c. Burton of the 22nd dis
trict IN New York City. Burton
seconded the platform approved
ny the resolutions committee to
tne surprise of nearly all the
I,2O6 delegates attending the con-
Vention and nearly all the thou
sands OF guests and newspaper
men looking on.
TnlS platform contained a civil
rights plank which approved the
principle of states rights - de-
clar1ng it was the right of states
to take basic action and that the
federal government should ACT
within its constitutional" limits.
IL also encouraged fair employ
ment practices, but declared it
ala not advocate the creation of
another strong beaurocracy.
Considered to be the bright
feature of the plank was a decla-
ration calling for the end of seq
regation in the nations capital,
Washington, DC.
Delegates William Brooks, Jr.
OF Detroit, Mich, declared out
right:
Burton dc"ble crossed the Ne
gro delegates, alternateS and
guests and visitors.
He said this was the story of
how Burton let his fellow dele
gates down:
On Wednesday night, July 8
Negro delegates held a caucus
after seeing what they considered
a watered down version of civil
rights in the platform. AT this
meeting four delegates, all lead
erS of the Elks, composed what
they called an amendment to the
civil rights plank. This new
statement called for compulsory
action on the topic.
Delegate Hobson Reynolds of
Philadelphia was slated to read
the document carrying the civil
rights fight to the floor of the
convention. A technicality, how
ever. led the delegates to approve
OF q reading by Burton.
Burton, it is said, originally
told the group he intended to
move the adoption of the 1948
COP civil rights plank, t h n
agreed to read the caucus report.
The floor battle on the plank
had been mapped out, and Ne
gro delegates were ready for a
civil rights battle when Burton
arose to speak. He had obtained
permission ahead of time for five
minutes to speak on this issue.
Instead OF deao-nciSs sae plat
form civil rights proposals, Bur-
ton declared that Negro delegates
met in caucus and found that
since five of seven states with
civil rights laws have Republican
governors and that the proposed
nlankS contained means for pass
ing compulsory legislation, he
approved the civil rights section.
He then seconded the approval of
the platform, and the civil rights
fight was ended.
Why did Burton do what he
did9 1t is said that about five
minutes before he was to speak,
he was called from the platform
for q few minutes. During this
conference with Whites - re-
portedBy Sen. Irwin Ives, New
er-. (tox, AlfroH U Dr;coor