St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-09-27

at the Franklin ID. Roosevelt \
Saturday, September %.
The action was taken az a re-
suit Of a six weeks long protest
by Negro DFL party leaders
aided by many other OILERS who
were dissatisfied with Senator
Church's sponsorship Of the jury
trial amendment TO the civil
rights measure and his vote in
favor OF dropping section III from
the bill.
The Sunday meeting presided
over by state chairman George
Robinson was held at the Hotel
Ryan in st Paul,
The action in cancelling the in
vitation 10 Church. came ms a
bomb-shen to James Goff Of St
Paul. who with Paul Thatcher
were chief members In charge OF
the affair Golf appeared at the
meeting TO report on the dinner
ticket sale.
Not only was the Church dinner
invitation withdrawn by the
unanimous vote OF all rs board
members present. but motions pre-
vailed which did the following:
I. Postponed the dinner, 20 n
date 10 be announced later.
2. Unanimously censored din
nor chairman. Paul Thatcher,
81. Paul, and removed him from
his post.
8. Withdrew endorsement
from James DIM Goff, 50. Paul
for candidate for national
Young Democratic treasurer.
Thatcher, the son Of Farmers
Union chief. NJ. w. Thatcher, was
the leader Of the YDFL forces who
were adamant in their refusal TO
cancel Churchs appearance here,
under YDFL auspices.
He opposed the contention OF
Negro DEL leaders who claimed
Church's appearance here would
embarrass the party because Of
the Senate vote on civil rights
Church was invited TO come
here, and accepted shortly before
the crucial Senate vote on civil
rights amendments. After his vote
against section III Of the measure,
Curtis c. Chivers, Of Minneapolis,
a member Of the DFL state CEN
trail committee suggested 20
Thatcher and some senior party
officers that Church's vote placed
DEL civil rights supporters in the
state at a disadvantage and "em-
barrassed them" He suggested the
cancellation Of Church.
Later. when Church joined with
Senators Estes Kefauver and SEN
ator James O'Mahoney In sponsor
ing the Gripping jury-trial amend
ment Chlvers and other Negro
DFL party leaders again asked
the YDFL. through Thatcher to
withdraw the invitation 10 Church
and obtain another speaker.
The suggestion three weeks ago
that II was too late 10 withdraw
Church was received coldly by the
Negro leaders joining Chivers in
protesting the invitation.
They pointed out that in 1855
Senator John Kennedy was can
celled by a deliberate postpone
ment Of a state DBL dinner only
six days before the scheduled
date. because OF state farm pro-
test against Kennedys vote on
agriculture In the Senate.
Thatcher and other YDFL
Officers told Chlyers and others
that Church had been invited
through senator Hubert II.
Humphrey. and that he could
not be withdrawn without the
consent and cooperation Of the
Minnesota solsn.
Negro DBL leaders including l.
Howard Bennett. the Rev. Mr..
Denzil Carly wired Humphrey
asking him 10 use his influence %
have the invitation withdrawn
Humphreys office said the dec
sion was up the the YDFL.
Up to this time the controversy
and differences Of opinion had
been kept within party circles
The first public intimation that
there was going TO be an uproar
over the Church invitation came
In a story which appeared in