Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1956-02-25
See State
Continued from Page One

Association.
Asserting that it is Frightening
to most of u.s." he mentioned spe-
officially the law to require Negro
teachers to list all organizations to
which they have belonged during
the past five years, and suggested
that such memberships might have
been when questions now before US
were not being considered at all.
Prof. Burger, principal of the
Royal Street High School in Hat
tiesburg, is an honor graduate of
Alcorn A. & M. College Of Missis-
sippi, and holds the masters degree
from Cornell University of Ithaca,
N. Y. He has taught for 20 years
in Mississippi public schools.
Text of the statement:
Most of the best thinking peo-
pie Of our state are vitality con-
cerned with maintaining and pro-
noting the good of all the citizens
of Mississippi. We realize that
men of good will find it difficult
to agree always on given problems
or the best methods of finding a
workable answer to such problems
when isolated. Yet, we feel that
we must go in in our search for an
answer in a spirit of good will. 1t
is in this spirit that few respons
ible Negro leaders wish to point
out some of the things we feel will
make it increasingly difficult for
us to achieve our goal of continued
good will and progress here in Mis-
sissippi.
at is cur humble opinion that
laws are best for people when
they are few, just, simple to under
stand, and we'll administered. When
laws create fears by being directed
toward a specific group, such laws
destroy those foundations upon
which mutual understanding and
cooperative action are based.
GAS Negro leaders we fear that
some of the laws now to be applied
to us will hurt us more than they
will help the cause Of good rela-
tions and continued progress here
in our great state. The law to
require Negro teachers to list all
organizations to which. they have
belonged for the past five years is
frightening to most of us. If car
ried to ultimate conclusions, it
could do serious harm to many
without touching the problem it
seeks to solve. Many of us belong
tc or have held membership in
churches and other organizations,
that presently hold views in con-
flict with those now held by local
white citizens of Mississippi. Such
membership was accepted when
questions now before US were not
considered at all. Thus, many Ne
groes are exposed to dangers today
for membership in organizations
which but a few days ago would
have brought them higher status
and praise.
"We feel that such laws as pre-
scribe the freedom of speech and
peaceful assembly, when directed
against any specific group, create
tensions and force underground
many such activities that would
have been better dealt with openly
care we to assume that we have
lost the right to assemble peace
fully, to petition the proper au-
thorities, and to use the press in
seeking corrections for apparent
wrongs affecting our people?
eve further feel that the future
progress of Mississippi is of vital
concern to all of us. We should
seek to find ways IF resolving our
differences by other methods than
passing laws that make such effort
at friendly understanding increas-
ingly more difficult. 1t is our hum
BILE belief that the best minds of
both races stand ready to join
hands in seeking peaceful solutions
rather than pursuing courses lead
ing to further confusion and bit
terness. Such course is now within
our reach; each hours delay may
be too late.
n