Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-05

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Many of the 1900 delegates
day meeting arranged confere
Senators and Representatives
They planned later today to
gather at the Willard Hotel to
report on their progress.
The objective is enactment of
an eight-point legislative pro-
gram which includes the guaran-
tee of vote to every citizen, a
fair employment practices act
and a Federal anti-lynch law.
The delegates were urged into
action last night by Rol Wilkins,
the NAACP leader, at a meeting
In the Interdepartmental Audi
forum. He demanded action in
Congress which would compare
with civil rights moves in
the executive and legislative
branches of the Government.
At the same time. Mr.. Wilkins
said the objective should be
reached through constitutional
processes,
Mitchell Calls Name
Earlier, many of the confer
ence delegates crowded the Met
ropolitan Baptist Church, 1925
r street NV, for a briefing on
how to approach members of
Congress. In the course of that
meeting they heard a scathing
attack upon Senator Eastland,
Democrat of Mississippi. who has
criticized the Supreme Courts
school desegregation order.
Clarence Mitchell, director of
the NAACP's office in Washing
ton, called Senator Eastland a
Sinking albatross."
If they Cthe Democrats are
going to keep a shrinking alba
tross like Senator Eastland
around their neck, they've got
to kiss our votes goodbye" he
asserted
At the night meeting, Mr.. Will
kins also referred to Senator
Eastland, deploring the fact that
the Mississippian last week was
elevated to the Craftsmanship of
the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Miss Lucy Appears
For most OF the delegates, a
highlight of the opening ses-
sions was the appearance of Miss
Autherine Lucy on the stage of
the Interdepartmental Audito-
rum. She is the Negro expelled
from the University of Alabama
after court tests and riots over
her admission as a student.
Miss Lucy, who is spending q
few days here with friends, re-
ceived a standing ovation during
her brief appearance last night.
She did not speak.
Last nights meeting also in
cluded a court of inquiry" in
which white advocates of civil
rights interviewed Negro men
about interracial incidents in
which they were involved in the
South.
The Rev. Ralph D. Alternately,
one of the Negro ministers in
dicted as a result of the bus pro-
test in Montgomery, Ala. gave
his Interpretation of the situation
in his home town during an in
terview by Shad Polier. vice
president of the American Jewish
Congress-.
Shooting Claimed
Joseph L. Rauh. national
chairman of Americans for
Democratic Action, interviewed
Gus Courts. president of the
NAACP in Belzoni, Miss, who
said he was shot for refusing to
remove his name from the vot-
ing list.
George Hunton. executive Sec
rotary of the Catholic Interra-
cial Council. interviewed l.. A.
Blackman, president of the
NAACP in Elloree, S. c., who
said he def1ed efforts of the Ku
Klux Khan to drive him out of
tom.
a statement was read for DR..
Chester C. Travelstead, who said
he was dismissed as dean of the
school of education at the Uni
versity of South Carolina be-
cause he advocated compliance
with the Supreme Courts anti
segregation rulings.
Mr.. Wilkins. who is chairman
OF the three-day conference as
we'll as executive head of NAACP.
declared Congress should enact
all eight-point program which
emphasizes "the protection of the
individual. He said that in
cludes improved enforcement
powers for the Justice Depart
ment and protection of the right
to vote.
"These bills and many others