Arkansas State press., 1953-01-09
Taft Rejects Civil Rights Pleas
Says Civil Rights No
Moral Issue Will Not
Support Rule Change

WASHINGTON, d. C.-Senator Robert A. Taft majority
floor leader buny turned down pleas of civil rights dele
cation which Saturday sought his support the effort
the buster by adoption of rules the opening the
83rd Congress- The Ohio Republican told the delegation
by Walter White executive secretary of the National Assoca
ton for the Advancement Coored People, in his view
the Senate continuing body and such required
adopt rules the beginning Congress as does the
House of Representatives.
The delegation consisted representatives So national
organizations comprising the Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights which has spearheadng the drive for change in
Senate Rule % Under this rule the of "a
quired shut off fbuser Civil rights advocates want
rule which will permit limitation of debate by majority
Cleveland Republican Asks Aid
John p Kellogg, Republican member of the City Council
of Cleveland opened the halfhour conference with
ment urging Senator Taft lin the interest of Negro Repub
cans to take the leadership fighting change in Rule
% to enable the passage of civil rights legislation"
In response the Republican Senate leader
the party caucus upon his recommendation had decided that
the Senate continuing body accordingly
be change in the rules this time He admitted that the
present requirement for Ga votes invoke string
ent and should be reduced lesser number added that
he was unwilling to attempt change this time
on TO that he believed the Ga clotue could be
obtained IF the senator's sincere and interested
policy and program civil rights have been established by
Presdentelec Dwight Eisenhower and the Republican pol
icy committee
Clarence Mitchell director of the NAACP Washington
Bureau observed that has been impossible get
say Ga votes According his estimate past votes
and commitments, maximum of SO senator's in the 83rd
Congress be eoture on civil rights
measures.
DisaVows Dxiecrat Tie-up
Senator Taft expressed disagreement with the point made
by Councilman Theodore Berry Cincinnati that the Repub-
ean Party by adopting rules under Tats leadership
opportunity to stop bargaining with Dxiecrats
make liberal record free of the threat the lbuser
said that the souterners did always with him and
that he did not expect their support for his welfare program
Joseph Rauh, counsel of the United Workers.
CO who prepared exhaustive brief holding the
not continuing body challenged Tafs contention
that the Senate does not have the obligation the
House to adopt rules at the opening of each Congress-
Moral Issue Raised
The refusal of the the libuster Roy Reu
er JAW educational director said would be interpreted
broad particularly in Asia and Africa rejection
rights This places moral responsibility upon Repub
can leadership to meet this issue the union leader
Responding Senator Taft issue was involved
and reminded the group that organized had supported
the Democrats Just the people United States rep-
dated your position in the election peoples
world were the test put the Ohio Republican declared
Others in the delegation included Carey secretary
treasurer of the CO and president International Union
of Electrical Workers; Theodore Brown representing the
mercan Federation of Labor; Ray Ross JAW Springfield
Ohio Herman Edesberg Bnai Birth; Walter Kirschenbaum
Jewish Labor Committee; Pat OMaey, JAW Cleveland Mrs.
Annaee Stewart Womens International League for Peace and
reedom Arnold Aaronson, National Community Relations
Advisory Council and Orvile Beemer, JAW Toledo Ohio
Lehman, Humphrey Douglas Firm
The session with Senator Taft followed day of lobbying
on the Hill with members of the senator's and dinner meet
ing at the Hotel Staer At the Senators Herbert Le
man. New York. Paul Douglas Illinois; and Hubert Humphrey
Minnesota all Deni Gratis pledged fight for rules
change at the opening of the Senate pledge
made in joint telegram Senators Irving Ives
New York and James H. Duff Pennsylvania Republicans
The vital issue before the Senate the American peo
pe statement read by White at the dinner on behalf
Of the Leadership Conference whether or not the COM
monty accepted rules and procedures which characterize demo-
cratic institutions shall prevail in the United States Senate
Basicay these democratic preceps impose upon each new
legislative body the obligation of adopting own rules of
conduct"
The conference called upon e members of the Senate to
Senate including rule which win provide for the imposition
Of cIoIoe by majority vote after full and free debate