The Omaha guide., 1956-08-31
Speech Of
Val J. Washington
Director of MnOrtes Republican National Committee
At THE NAAcP MEETING

CHURCH, DURHAM. NJ. c.
and other groups who supported
him heavily in 1852.
Now what did Mr.. Stevenson do
to create much of this antagonism
toward him? | think most of us
thought Mr.. Adlai Stevenson was
a super liberal. He comes from
my State of Illinois. While | am
of different political persuasion, |
still had a healthy respect for him
and considered him a worthy OPP
ponent of the Republican Party.
During the month of February
thousands of his followers, both
eolored and white, were sadly dis
illusioned by his gyrations. A
prominent Californian who left the
Democrat Party % years wrote
II think Mr.. Stevenson has set us
back twenty-five years with his
suggested January |, 1868 date for
integration and other statements.
Since many of the Democrats
whom l have always respected and
followed are still supporting and
defending him, | feel that this is
good time to make my exit from
the Democrat Party. / cannot see
how Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, SEN
ators Herbert Lehman, Hubert
Humphrey, Paul Douglas, and
many other so-called liberals can,
in good faith. support the present
Stevenson preach ings. 1 am
ready TO 60 to work. You tell me
where"
Now let's see exactly what hap
pened to make Mr.. Stevenson lose
much of his high rating among
liberals. Though he claims to be
super liberal; on February 5th
in Los Angeles, he registered op.
position to the Powell anti-segre.
CATION amendment; and, to the ap-
pointment of a special bipartisan
Congressional commission with
subpoena powers to study viola.
tions of Civil Rights, voting rights
and other injustices in the South
as proposed by President Eisen
hover in his State of the Unior
Messages. CThe NAACP had in
dorsed this idea.)
On February 7th, he said that HI
would not cut off Federal fundi
from segregated schools, nor senC
Federal troops to enforce integra
ton If the law was ignored. HI
topped off his speech by offering
target date for integration o
January 1, 1868, with tn ess
words - government powel
should be used only to the exten
that the public will support sucl
use. favor a cautious temperat,
approach to the whole problem
not one that could provoke ugly re
actions and even lead to another
civil war"
Mr.. Stevenson met with such vic
lent protest from his close follow
ers and the surprised public, tina
on February IL, in Portland. Ore
gon, he called for Removal Of thl
desegrega.ion issues from th'
Presidential campaign. -.
George Meany, President of tn,
AFLCfo joined with Mr.. wilkins
saying he felt Mr.. Stevenson wa
running away" from the schoo
segregation question.
But Mr.. Stevenson did not max,
his biggest blunder until Marcl
2nd in Minneapolis. Very peevec
by the criticism of his previous
statements he made the famous
statement which many political ex
perts believe will help eliminat.
him as the Democrat candidate.
Now let's analyze the Stevenson
position, keeping in mind that hi
has been labeled an outstanding
liberal. However, on Civil Right.
when the chips are down, he hai
gone to the right of the Suprem.
Court and become the most con
servative Of conservatives. Ger
tainly Mr.. Stevenson had misjudg
ed the seriousness Of the issue and
the temper of both national and
world opinion.
His warning against the use oI
force which he describes as troop
and bayonets" is out OF place, be
cause there is nothing involved
beyond the enforcement of an in
junction issued by a federal dis
trict court TO enjoin local school
boards which refuse TO comply
with the Supreme Court decisions
Mr.. Stevenson also speaks about
ugly reactions" The ugly re
actions have not come from us but
from the White Citizens Councils,
attackers Of Nat King Cole and
others whipped into frenzy by the
Eastlands and their ilk.
Some OF Mr.. Stevenson's hackers
talk about the use Of the ballot to
rectify all southern wrongs. But
IS there any reason to believe that
.~~~S