Arizona sun., 1953-07-17
Eisenhower and
Truman Invited To
NAACP Fall Meet

NEW YORK (GlobaD - There
is probability that Presiden Eli
senhower and former President
Truman might meet on the same
platform this fall in a cause of
brotherhood and interracial pro-
gress, according to. plans now being
formulated by officials of the
NAACP. This became known this
week when it was revealed that the
organization will soon issue call,
for a mammoth non-partisan fund-S 8
raising rally to. take the form of
dinner, and that Mr.. Eisenhower.
and Mr.. Truman will be invited to
address the gathering.
Last week, Walter White, execu-
tive director, and DR.. Claiming To-
bias, chairman of the Board of Di-
rectors of the NAACP, called on
ex-President Truman in his Wall:
dorf Towers suite here and ex-
tended him an invitation to speak,
at the dinner Just before he left
aboard the Liner Liberte for Eu-
rope where he will attend the
World Alliance of the YMCA, Dr., y
Tobias said formal invitation will
be extended to the President.
A spokesman for the NAACP de-
MED report that Mr.. Truman was
being considered for membership
on the Board, or that he would
head the campaign to raise $40
million Freedom Fund which the
NAACP will seek during the next
ten years. The drive for the Free
dom Fund was urged by DR.. To-
bias during speech at the recent
NAACP annual convention in St.
Louis. It was touched off when the
Board Chairman pointed out that
an organization with a programme
like that of the NAACP would
need about a million dollars year..
Noting that racial discrimination
and segregation should be ended in
about ten years, it was Immediate
ly concluded that such program
should be undertaken.
1t was pointed out that the call
for the rally would be made by dis
tinguished citizens, possibly with
Charles E. Wilson, chairman of
General Electric Composition as
one of the members of the group
making the call. Mr.. Wilson was
chairman of the Presidents Com
mittee on Civil Rights, appointed
by Mr.. Truman. DR.. Tobias served
on the Committee.
Until it was explained why the
NAACP officials had called on Mr..
Truman, there was wide specula-
ton as to what they had talked
about on the visit. Quick denial
was given to the report that it was
a political meeting. DR.. Tobias
stressed the fact that the rally will
have no political implications, but
will be the first step in the move
to implement the Freedom Fund
program. He said Mr.. Truman has
not said whether or not he will be
able to accept the invitation, but
felt the former President was
keenly interested.
Although the fall meeting would
be non-partisan in character. if it
occurred before the November
elections, both of the men = the
President and the former Presi-
dent = would have an opportunity
to emphasize their views to good
effect on the electorate.
Officials of the NAACP also
viewed the fall as propitious time
to hold the rally since the educa-
ton cases will be re-argued in the !.
Supreme Court at that time and
the decision of the court would
have telling impact regardless of
the way it turned out. If the Court
ruled against the NAACP law
yers, it could be a signal for
determined and renewed attack on
segregated schools. If the Court
should uphold their contentious,
the call could be sounded for new
onslaught against the evils of lin