Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1956-09-21
DEMOCRATS. REPUBLICANS AND THEIR
CANDIDATES ON CIVIL RIGHTS
BY Alfred Baker Lewis
Continued from last ssue)
Eisenhower Record Before Election

LAST week: The party Platforms The records of the
former presidents How rule No % adopted Tru
fair employment practcesl.
Let us compare TrumanS attitude indignation in the
Armed Forces with that of President Eisenhower When
hover was general he testified before the Committee
Armed Services Of the Senate April 1913 when the sen
holding hearings the Universal Military Training
Bill he opposed racial indignation the Army
below the platoon level However Eisenhower has not dared
go back segregation when Truman ended it, He has, it
only fair ahead TO rid OF the vestges
segregation which still remained chiefly among civilian
employees of Army and Navy bases in the south
Far from recommending civil rights legislation such
Fair Employment Practice law Eisenhower has put himself
squarey record against such law In interview at Alb
ene June g. 1852 he asked what his attitude to
FEPC lie replied reported in the New York Times The
FEPC. when you these initials YOU proposing sort
shotgun question because there many things involved
in IT," lie then went general belief fairness
equality all citizens. and getting back Fair En-
poyment specifically, he said Il do be-
eve YOU can cure all the evil in mems hearts by law
when you get compulsory action in certain of this
thing really believe do by leadership and by
getting states to do it, than TO make it compulsory Federal
thing lie repeated his opposition to Federal Fair Employ
Practice law New York conference two days
later.
The Republicans conspicuously failed up this hint
from their leader that they should adopt Fair Employment
Practice legislation for than after EiSehowerS
interviews opposing federal Fair Employment practice laws
Since then have done Pennsylvania and Mime
but only after they had elected Democratic
who really pushed for such legislation namely Governor
Leder in Pennsylvania and Governor Freeman in Minnesota
EsenhOwer's Delay Civil Rights Legislation
Eisenhowes lack of civil rights legislation and
indeed that of the whole Republican party with few
tieeabe individual exceptions is shown by his failure
recommend any civil rights legislation all after his cleo
ton president until it certain that too late TO
get such legislation passed During his first Of
flee the Republicans control of both branches
greSs. But Eisenhower and his millionaire cabinet
duced recommended civil rights legislation When the
Democrats got a majority in in the 1854
elections, he still did nothing about civil rights legislation
Senator Kgore Of West Virginia advocate of civil
rights chairman of Judiciary committee
that committee would recommended bill
But when KigOre died Senator Eastand Mississippi be-
by seniority chairman of that committee. he
very bigoed opponent civil rights incidentally when
Easand confirmed chairman the Judiciary
committee adj the Republicans voted for him but
three Democrats Lehman Of New York Morse Neu
berger Of Oregon, voted against him.
Then the Eisenhower administration sprang action
late in the 1856 congress after they that
Eastand would try block any civil rights legislation The
Republicans dropped the FEPC bin they dropped Federal
AnPon Tax bill and they dropped the proposed Laws for
bid segregation Of passengers bin
they did propose would have merely raised the Of the
Civil Rights section of the Department Justice
the department the right bring civil suit i'm che
any person aggreived by the denial his rights we'll
a criminal action and it would up permanent watch
dog" committee Of congress civil rights Tins waterei
down bin passed reached the
before adjournment make possible get UP r-t
on which would have been necessary because
ator Easland wanted keep the bin bottled up his