Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1956-04-14
Southern Leaders
Ponder Inter-
Racial Group

there is as yet little evidence Of
successful efforts toward organized
community action.
Undoubtedly one reason for this
is the supposition of conservatives
that any such action inherently
would involve some planning in
tended ultimately to bring about
Indignation. And of course it is
felt here that the line can yet be
held for some time against any
Indignation.
Delay On Commission
In Birmingham, James E. Mills,
editor of the Birmingham Post
Herald said that he had Informed
Gov. James E. Folsom that a COM
mittee of editors he has headed,
at the Governors request, is ready
to suggest names from which a
state wide bi racial commission
might be picked.
To date, however, the Governor
has not called a meeting to hear
recommendations. Nor has the
state Legislature acted on a meas
ure requested by the Governor to
provide fer creation of such COM
mission.
1t may be difficult to persuade
those recommended to serve. The
issue is considered explosive, and
of course no one knows exactly
what such a group could do in
the face of widely demonstrated
opposition to any Indignation at a
foreseeable date.
In Birmingham, even the pre-
sumably we'll established inter-
racial committee set up under the
jefferson County Coordinatlng
Council has come under attack. Al
though when it was created IN
! 1851, it was made clear that the
group Notwithstanding to Mr..
Mills paper-"not concern itself
with such controversial questions
as segregation, poll tax, FEPC
(Fair Employment Practices Com
mittee), or federal and anti-lynch-
ing law"
This, of course, plainly indicates
that the committee was not and is
not prepared itself to take much
action in the present situation.
f. The fact that it's Negro vice-chair-
man, Arthur Shores, was counsel
for Miss Autherine Lucy in her
effort to attend the University OF
Alabama has, in some minds, de-
prived the committee of any future
value.
Minority Viewpoint
A minority viewpoint, however,
holds that if such bi-racial groups
do not even approach matters con-
, sidered integral by Negro leaders,
thew are at best of secondary i'm
portance.
; 1t is significant that the Post
Herald ran as it's lead editorial
April 2, lengthy editorial hold
ing that maintenance of the COM
mittee was desirable. 1t cited the
charges being made about it, and
erroneous impressions that 1t sup
ported Indignation.
Equally significant, the Mobile
Register, in Alabama's second lar
gest city, in February editorially
criticized Governor Folsom's plea
for statewide inter-racial group,
calling the idea hazardous and
needless" and shortly afterward
, criticized Mobiles Mayor Joe Lam
gan for calling a joint meeting OF
Negroes and whites to discuss set
ting up a Mobile bi-racial group.
Chattanooga Roadblock
Said the paper flatly: "The fur
Their Mobile and Alabama and the
South keep away from bl-racial
committees, the better off they
will be in race relations.
Alabama's Senator Lister Hill
also Joined in a criticism OF the
PROPOSAL made by Florida's Gov
LEROY Collins to President Eisen-
hover that a conference OF Gov
ernors be called to discuss the
nroblem. Senator Hill said ne was
opposed to Congress setting up a
commission to consider indignation
in the South. at is a question
/ that should and must be left up
to the individual states" ne SAID
Gov. Marvin Griffin CT Georgia
also promptly turned the idea
down.
In Memphis, a Greater Mem.
> nh;s Race Relations Committee
recently was formed, but it too
has been criticized by indignation.
: lists in that community. Proposed
bv the Memphis Commercial APP
neal. the committee enjoys the
support of that very powerful pa
per.
In Chattanooga the school board
has announced that the community
will not endeavor to integrate pu'
j. pills in city schools for probably
five wears or more" The body
:, stated that it had tried lin good
J, faith. in line with our announced
policy. to seek a solution to our
: problem" but that 1--WE are firmly
convinced that any measure OF In
teeration in the foreseeable future
would do the community irrepar.
able damage"
The Chattanooga School BOARD
made it clear that it believes II
: has complied with the spirit OF the
: high court ruling, and now flnos
itself helpless to act in the race
~ -o~,,1or nuini0n