Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-25
HEADLINE PERSONALITY
FIorido's Gov. Collins
Aims at Moderation

TALLAHASSEE, fla, sept.
IS R,.-Amid the din Of the
extremists the calm voice of
the moderate is beginning to
make itself heard in the South.
torn by racial troubles.
Emerging this week as q
likely leader of these middle
of-the--oaders was Florida's
4S-yeaT -old Gov. Leroy Collins.
who is neither a segregationist
nor an integrationist by popu-
La concepts.
He w-mt before the Southern
Governc as Conference at Sea
Island. Ca. preaching the
theme that good viii between
the rae IS rather than judicial
DEGREES win bring the ultimate
solution Of racial problems. He
declared that an end to segre-
cation sill depend largely upon
betteriI r. the living standards
Of the ,Iegro.
The Florida chief executive,
a Democrat. talked in political
probabilities on the topic, Can
q Sout oerner Be Elected Pres
ident?' He also prohed into
the Whole problem Of q chang
ing South's place in the Ma
ton.
Dangerous Drift
IF the South should wrap it.
self N a Confederate blanket
and consume itself in racial
furoi'. it would surely miss its
greatest opportunity for chan
nelillg into wonderful future
the products of change now
taking place." he declared.
And We should face up to
the further fact that it would
Bury itself politically for dec
AIDES to come"
Later with the events in Lit
tie Rock fresh before him. Gov.
Collins declared that "the mat
ter can never be resolved by
court order and by efforts to-
enforce court orders whether
by court marshals. the National
Guard or the United States
Army"
Summarizing the political
question he raised. Gov. Collins
said a Southerner Of sincerity,
courage. proper political appeal
and progressive national view
point can be nominated and
elected President.
A Self,P0rtrait?
Some politlcal observers in
Florida felt he painted a self
portrait in the qualifications he
set forth. He said he was not
a candidate for the presidency
but some Of his friends have
been booming him since the
1856 convention.
The SON of a grocer, the tall, 4
CRAVING Floridan was born and
grew up in Tallahassee where |
southern customs and tradi-
tons are deep rooted.
A few months back. Gov. |
Collins was faced with a racial
problem comparable to the
school integration crisis in
Little Rock when Negro inte-
began an integrated
bus-riding campaign.
On New Years Day. shotgun
blasts tore into a Negro gro
Gerry, and the home of a Negro
indignation leader was stoned. /
Gov. Collins promptly in
voked his emergency powers
and suspended operations Of
Tallahassee buses for IL days
until tempers claimed.
Violence Quickly Ends
This action. coupled with
virtual ultimatum to law en-
forcement officers to halt vio-
lence, restored peace to the bus
scene.
Negroes still ride in the back
OF Tallahassee buses on the
predominantly white runs un-
der a bus seat assignment or
dinance now under legal at
tack. but they sit throughout
the bus on the predominantly
Negro runs.
Gov. Collins first won cleo
ton in 1854 to a two-year part
term on a platform pitched TO
growth and development of
Florida. The race issue wasn't
even mentioned.
When he ran for reelection
to a full four-year term in
1856. integration. famed by