Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1957-06-28
Dioos on Civil Riqhfs Measure

Vu9U9 vi tlvu Ol4ulIS VuGUSWS
Congressman Charles C. Digs. Jr. (DMich) made the
following speech on June 10 1857 during the Civil Rights De-
bates on the Floor the House of Representatives:
Mr. Chairman. gratified because the tenor OF me
debate I'd has not been generally
by certain kind nammatoy statements and expressions
With those exceptions when certain opponents OF me OH
felt incumbent upon themselves to reduce 'ne
the usual harangue against the HAAcP and other
ine supporting organizations think the provisions Of TINS
b ably discussed and described by Members OIL
both parties representing various parts OF the country may
especially compliment the opponents Of this bill because do
not believe anyone could have heard read te testimony
without being impressed with their adoitnes and determine
ton in presenting viewpoints As matter OF TACT he
have been so that by emphasizing the jury trial
issue they unanswered this entire debate with little ex
eeption into area which Is entey apart nun e mann W
jectves of this bill
ticary feel about the principal proposed amehdmen V my
when person refuses obey court injunction ordering MN
not to deprive person of his voting privilege VIII he con-
tempt procedure become operative am not going 10 enaeaso
to elaborate the significance of this legislation as re
tes to our knshp with other people In this world and es
peciay the darker people of this world but may remind you
Of the Of the vice o. ), ns coo,en, Of
Africa may remind you Of the statements made oy our
dists ahed colleague. the eeniewansn tom Ohio UNITS
Bolton) and may remind YOU Of the statements that are
ee made by emissares and Statesmen and certain
Neers OF Congress week after week and year aer year
about the relationship between the treatment Of our s
minority peoples country and the prestige OF the United
safes in Free World certainly attest to the tact na
q privileged member of the delegation selected from s
Hole 20 Africa. were constantly Questioned ABOUT
tie treatment Of minority groups here In the United States
.sv stories concerning racial Incidents relating the
matter this floor not only 70 Africa but also on ne Eur
ousan continex anyone thinks their provincaism and
hateanhp going to keep these stories from being ece
particular and affecting the broad concept
would me TO take Just few moments because Of the
tnd Of the dscuson up this time to give you little Of
tn background which gave rse to this legislation and bring
- into focus the question Of whether not eligible
psoa anywhere the United States Is permitted to exercise
his most important privilege of voting.
On this floor during this debate We have been enaeneeo
Of Their voting privilege the United States Let me say
that prepared to name you entire counties IN these United
Stats whore Negro people not permitted to vote
en- tn you about Counties for instance In the State OF
Florida WHARF Negroes not registered to vote.
AR you to counties where Negroes are not registered to
can tel YOU for instance. In the State Of Alabama
abott certain additional burdens which are required Of
NeGpes instance there must be IN some OF these
49, whm Negro rrgisterng.an elector to sign the ap
paon Of the Negro but this Is not required Of the other
psope Ihe Negro consequently must have white person
this In counties In Alabama as many whites
WIN sign the application of Negroes
counties the members Of the board Of registrars have resigned
rather register Negroes This has been the case In bu
lock and Macon Counties In Alabama tge !.
With relation the processing OF applications many VINO
their certificates have been told that the ap-
pcaons been processed but the white applicants In
receive their certificates Immediately upon reg
Many boards discourage Negroes from voting Alabama
by pretending to be busy when they come In to register or
when they finally recognize him he is told that there Is not
Of the registrars present and the Negroes application
be registered
In instances the place used for Negroes win aecomo-
only person therefore, there long line where
only person fill the QUESTIONABLE required at
time long dscourages others must back
to work.
We have situation where boards make pretense
whatsoever but tell Negroes they registering Negroes
while others may Re dc-ae and pretend that there
just blanks available Still oilers told to back
date continually told to back at
ffttro hr heir
vio that they do not want to be bothered
could and cite further subteruges which being
used In Alabama.
I could swing the State Of Mississippi end point
- counties In the State of Mississippi that do not
have Negro registered talking about counties
whose Negro population from II percent all the
"a and there Negroes registered to vote
invite this point Representatives from that State
plain why there Negroes registered vo;e in those
particular counties
Mr. Chairman. in addition. the basis of the testimony
that given in the hearing from the people living in these
various sections who have pointed that through ntm
daon. coercion and uberfuge they kept from the polls
there Is ample testimony why this legislation sorey
hear