Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-12
Moderate leadership


From your editorial Of April
2 entitled Moderate Leader
ship" in which you were crit
ical of Senator Thomas c.
Hennings, jr.. because Of his
politics of the partisan varie-
ty," it appears that you did
not understand fully Senator
Hennings' statement released
April l regarding civil rights
legislation. Knowing of your
high standards of fairness, I
was sure you would desire this
matter brought to your atten-
ton.
Particularly, take excep-
ton TO the following sentence
OF your editorial: Senator
Hennings, Democrat of Mis-
souri,, seems to think that all
will be we'll If Congress will
only enact four civil rights bills
favored by his subcommittee
on constitutional rights"
That Mr.. Hennings would
like to see the four bills re-
ported by the subcommittee
enacted into law is undoubt-
edly true. In his statement of
April l. Mr.. Hennings urged
that the Eisenhower admin
stration fully support these
bills to assure their passage in
this session of Congress. How
ever, the Senator clearly indi-
Gated in his statement that
there were other civil rights
bills before the subcommittee
which should also be enacted.
He pointed out definitely that
OF the three administration
civil rights proposals recent
press reports had indicated At
torney General Brownell would
present to Congress, two of
these proposals were already
covered by two of the four
bills reported by the subcom-
mittee on February 8, 1856,
and the third proposal for a
Civil Rights Commission was
covered in two bills presently
before the subcommittee. Mr..
Hennings stated: 1T seems
evident to me that to hold
hearings on the measures the
Attorney General intends TO
propose (the administration
proposals. would not only de-
lay congressional action on the
subcommittee bills. but might
endanger passage of civil rights
legislation during this session
of Congress"
/ think it is quite evident
from the foregoing that Mr..
Hennings does not believe all
will be we'll" if only the four
bills reported by the Subcom-
mlttee on February 9 are en-
acted. 1t is clear from his
statement that he is in support
OF a far more extensive civil
rights program.
In connection with the bills
reported by the subcommittee
on February 9. the subcommit-
tee had asked the Attorney
General for his recommended
tons on three of these bills
more than a year ago. includ-
ing a request for his views on
the bill to create a Civil Rights
DIVISION within the Depart
ment OF Justice. Even though
TINS bill concerned the creation
OF q division within his own
department, Mr.. Brownell did
not respond to the subcom-
mlttee's request. Additionally
the subcommittee requested
Mr.. Brownell's views on its
pending bill to establish a Civil
Rights Commission, and Mr..
Brownell replied some months
ago that the bill involved a
question of policy on which he
preferred to make no recon-
mPndation.
40 not believe that it is
politics Of too great a partisan
variety for Mr. Hennings to
prlng out the fact that the
Attorney General and the adj
minlstration now advance A
similar If not identical pro-
posal to one on which Mr..
Brownell preferred to make no
recommendation some months
ago; nor do l think it is I'M
duly partisan for Mr.. Hennings
to point out that the sub
committee has either reported
bills or has pending before it
legislation which more than
cover Mr.. Brownell's and the
administrations purported g.
point program.
What Senator Henninps
clearly indicated in his state
inent is that Congress docs not
need new suggestions from the
administration which Mr.
Browncil is Offering, 1t needs.
rather, the fun support of Re-
publicanS as we'll as Demo-
Gratis ON the pending leeisla-
ton. ,..l.. ~,
Administrative Assistant TO
Senator Thomas c. Hen
ningS, jr.