The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1957-02-23
WATCH az Sa POTOMAC"
By Robert G.. Spiyack

10y NoDert IT, Splvack
CIVIL RIGHTS OR CIVIL WRONGS son.+ou
'oSoh Oh Iexas not be overioyed at SEEING +b;s in
PPM ou ne could yet turn be the man Indirectly 70
e ior putting over some tepd civil rights legislation
~ 'S session OF Congressf such legislation is enacted
Johnson OF course does number himself anoono tho
civil rights enthusiasts. But he also doesnt went 20 n
known as the man who blocked the legislation He has b
eyes on 1860 He also still hears ringing in his ears of
enose VINO said his do-nothngsm contributed to Dem
cratic defeat in 1880 ~
DO ne mas consented to early consideration of early civil
rieh's oiiis. Ihis is blow to the Dixie demagogues
The only real chance for Southern fibuster would
be for johnson stall action until the CLOSING davs IF
gress Then flibuster would become so Irritating the
proponents OF civil rights bills might give up in disgust inst
to escape Washingtons summer heat Johnson does not
seem 10 DE gong along with this ancient Dixie srategem
Oddly enough Johnson has personal reason also for
sanctonng early action civil rghts-probaby around
Easter time He wants to give his old friend and
sometimes opponent, Senate Republican Leader Know
land of California
Knowland is going to carry the fight for the egisla
tlon If ne succeeds in putting mild may
help him in his fight for the Republican Presidential nom
nation In 1860 Johnson is fond of Knowland and would
rather give him boost than his rival Vice President Nixon
Predictions that there will be civil rights bill of sorts
pushed through both houses might course prove u.
founded All that Johnson really would like federal
outlawng of the poll tax Others go further with
something called minimum, meaningful program"
HOW HARD WILL IKE FIGHT?-The real chances
of failure for any kind civil rights legislation
depends how hard The White fights for it. The
President is requesting:
l. A bipartisan commission to investigate civil
rights violations
g. A special civil rights division in the Justice
Department
B. Stronger safeguards against violation of Ne
gro voting rights.
A. New federal authority to intervene in civil
rights
The President himself has said repeatedly that this
program not 'nimical to anyone meant to
passions But people going to be unhappy about
it, The question remains whether this will cool off White
House ardor for the whole idea.
There could be what politics creation of
purposefu confusion with the whole issue getting
bed up school legislation highway bills and host of
other subjects This might the administration to
up it's hands in horror and back from show
down.
to put across the Administrators program, they team
ND with the Northern Democrats The real obstacle is
Mssisspps Senator Eastand chairman of the Senate Jul
diciar committee.
In boastful moment last year Eastland tild Tupeo
Miss audience prevented civil rights legislation in
II had the committee staff prepare lengthy oref
on Sobeloff," he said.
He was referring to the Presidents nomination OF ST.
mon E. Sobeoff to the u S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
'I recognized Senator (Oln, d. Johnson Cd, S. Co.
who spent five weeks Committee meetings reading
it Later told them they could have him (Sobeloff) as
long as no more civil rights offered and on
July we agreed"
This year Eastland might try the trick on two
presidential nominees for the Supreme Court This puts
lot of trrmps in his hands-but not all of them The
next few weeks will tell the story.
Copyright 1857 Robert G. SpivacO,