Evening star., 1956-03-31
President Sets
Moves 10 Push
Racial Study
Will Coll Conference
If Congress FoiIs to
Form Commission
By JAMES Y. NEWTON

President Eisenhower said to-
day that if Congress fails to act
on his proposal for creation Of
bipartisan commission to study
racial problems in the South. he
will consider setting up such a
conference by executive order.
The White House made public
a letter from the President to
Gov. Leroy Collins of Florida.
The Governor on March % sug-
gested in a telegram to the
President that he call a confer
ence of Southern Governors and
attorneys general to review "the
South's present problems in the
whole field of racial relations"
Mr.. Eisenhower said he twas
deeply cognizant of the difficult
adjustments confronting some
localities in complying with the
school decision of the Supreme
Court"
Sees Progress Made
He added
1T seems to me, however,
that the progress already made
in certain regions of the South
before and since this decision,
is a clear indication that we can
look forward to even greater
progress if we can look to mod
crate and responsible leadership
supported by a spirit of patience
on the part of all of our people"
Mr.. Eisenhower then noted
that he had already recon-
mended that Congress set up
a bipartisan commission to
"study and make recommends
tions" on the Southern racial
problem and that no action had
yet been taken.
1T is my belief that this COM
mission could provide the means
for helpful discussions, and the
restoration of a clearer under
standing on the part of all of
our people of the real nature of
the problems you mention" the
President wrote Gov. Collins.
Still Hopes for Action
Mr.. Eisenhower said he was
still hopeful Congress will act
favorably on his commission
suggestion.
However, should they de-
cline" he added, II will have toI
consider other types Of confer
ences including the kind you
suggest. I trust that the respon-
sibilities that lie primarily with
State and local governments. as
indeed the responsibilities of the
Federal Government, may con-
tinue to be accepted, understood,
and discharged by every official
with an understanding of the
deep human values that under
lie this problem.
On similar subject, James c..
Hagerty, White House press Sec
retary, told reporters that the
administrations long awaited
civil rights program will be sent
to the Capitol by Attorney Gen.
eral Brownell shortly after Con-
gress returns from it's Easter re-
cess.
Mr.. Brownell had planned to
unveil the program earlier this
week but decided to hold it UP
until after Congress returns.
Delay Hit by Roosevelt
Yesterday, Representative
Roosevelt, Democrat of Califor-
mia, accused the Eisenhower adj
ministration of "inexcusable de-
lay" in recommending civil rights
legislation.
He said: The "delay comes in
the face of warnings by many
members of the Congress-, in
Guiding myself, to the Depart
ment of Justice and the Presi-
dent as early as January that
any delay would only result in
endangering the passage of civil
rights legislation this year."
Mr.. Roosevelt and Representa-
tive Brownson. Republican of
Indiana, are sponsoring a par
liamentary move aimed at fore
ing an omnibus civil rights bill
out of the House Judiciary and
Rules Committees if those units
do not approve the bill.
The Justice Department has
been reported to be considering
legislation to set up a special
Civil Rights Commission, to
create a civil rights division of
the department headed by an as
sistant attorney general and to
allow individuals to go to court
against persons or groups hamp-
ering their suffrage.