St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-06-15


'Tn \. 800, the Federal Equal.
ity OF Opportunity In Employ.
ment Act. have again proposed
legislation 10 prohibit dIscrim-
nation In employment because
Of race. color. religion, national
origin, or ancestry.
%. Question; Would you. II
elected President, favor federal
aid TO education TO all school dis
tricts which indicated, affirma-
lively that they intended 10 work
toward compliance with the SUI
preme Court decision on segrega-
ton Would you favor denying
federal aid TO school districts
which indicated by evasion or in
direction, that they intended TO
defy the Supreme Court desislon
Answer: The desperate need
for new school construction, the
clear guide lines which the SUI
preme Court has set down for
judicial policing Of the segre-
cation decision. and the POSSIBLE
ity of fruitless Iurlsdictional
tangles II those guide lines are
not maintained, have inclined
me 90 take the following posi-.
ton on Federal aid 20 education.
Funds under any Federal
school construction bill should be
made available to all states unless
an appropriate Federal Court,
following due process OF law has
found such state. school district,
or political subdivision TO be in
contempt Of the Supreme Courts
decision and experimentation or
der, or unless the state Legislature
or a school board has by official
action refused to comply and
openly defied the court order,
Prior to the court ruling or Of.
fetal action on the part OF state
legislature. school board or state
political subdivision. there would
be presumption OF compliance.
In other words. Il Is To be pre-
sumed that the states are obaerv-
ing the law unless there Is court
or legislative action that demon
strates 10 the contrary. Follow
ing an adverse court ruling or ac-
ton OF a legislative or political
subdivision defdng the court or
der, l would propose that funds
otherwise ailocable TO the con
temptuous state, school district.
or political subdivision be held in
escrow until such time as the
state. school district, or political
subdivision has purged itself OF
contempt
40, Question; Would you, II
elected President, use the powers
OF that great office, as command
er-ln-chief OF our armed forces. to
see that all men and women In our
armed services had the same
chance to fight and work for our
country In non-segregated units
and the same opportunities for adj
vancementH
Answer; I have long favored
the complete dcsegrcgation In
all units OF our Armed Forces.
II has been my privilege 20 work
with the Department OF Defense
In close cooperation with the
former Assistant Secretary OF
Defense Anna Rosenberg. the
Chief OF staff Of the United
States Army, General Collins,
and other military officials, dur.
ing the years 1890 through 1889,
To promote speedy descgrcga-
ton In the Armed Forces.
II have continued 10 urge the
President to pcrscvcrc In his duty
TO insure equal opportunity and
advancement 20 all OF the men and
women In our Armed Services
without regard 10 race, color
creed or national origin.
Discrimination has been lin.
gering and stubborn infection
sapping the strength OF our de,
mocratic system. We convict our,
selves Of hypocrisy TO the eNten,
that we refuse 20 eradicate this
infection, There is no aspect OF my
life as a public servant which
consider TO be OF greater import
ance than my efforts In and out
side the Senate 10 hasten the daN
when discrimination is dead an,
democracy Is fully alive.
Hubert n Humphrey.