St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-09-27
YDFL Cancels Sen.
Church Appearance

versy and plan 10 picket the
September Is meeting II he came
was reported He also received
copies Of the Minneapolis spokes-
man in which the state YDFL,
aided and abetted by senior party
chairman was criticized for
bringing him here.
Meanwhile interest In the pro.
posed picket line was evidenced
by the fact that IS persons had
voluntarily announced their
willingness 10 join the protest.
OF the group Of picLets pledged
% demonstrate were rs white
persons and 80 Negroes all DFT.
party members.
The picket line threat which
party officers at first tried to dis
miss as a bluff grew with the
days. Mr.. Hemenway accompan-
led by the party executive direct
or, George Farr, visited indiyid-
ually, with a number Of members
Of the Committee for Indignation,
in an effort TO dlsuade them from
Everywhere 1t is re-
ported he received a firm rejec-
ton.
Early last week It was reported
state YDFL chairman, George
had received sugges-
ions from rank and file OF his
group and some Of the executive
BOARD that the Church invitation
,e withdrawn by the state board.
A special meeting was called for
sunday at the Hotel Ryan, in st.
Paul Members came to the meet
ng from all parts OF the state.
Invited 10 state their views on
he provocative matter was Jane
Preston OF White Bear, Ramsey
county DEL chairwoman; Curtis
'hivers, Vice-chairman Of the nth
Nard DEL and member OF the
tate central committee, and l..
Bennett, vice-chairman Of
he Fifth district DEL.
All three said they had nothing
PERSONAL against the Idaho Sena-
or, but they felt he should not be
brought 10 Minnesota because of
he opposition OF members TO the
,art he played in the Senate civil
lights battle,
Clint Lee. Of Minneapolis, a
Of the executive commit,
&c and header in the state DFL
made a speech In which he urged
OF the Church invita-
Ion.
A motion made by Lee TO with
iraw the Invitation to Church and
he other actions described earlier
n this article were also approved
Eighteen of the "a board mem
oers were present. one member
who could not attend sent a tele-
gram urging withdrawal Of the
Church invitation, and another
wired that she would approve any
action the committee took
Paul Thatcher, storm center Of
the controversy was out OF the
city" returning only shortly after
the meeting. He was heard on
KSTP ON the 10 p, m, news sun
day night in an angry denuncia-
ton Of the executive boards ac-
ton.
George Robinson, state chair
man also appeared on the news.
cast and explained why the execu-
tive committee took It's action,
Protest OF Negro DEL leaders and
the planned picket line was cited
as contributing factors to the
board action.
While efforts were made to
make Il appear that the final can
collation. was due to internal pou-
ties in the YDFL Il was evident
that the chief factor was the pro
tests Of the Negro members Of the
party In Minnesota,
The events in the South where
a Democratic governor called out
troops TO prevent indignation Of
the schools ordered by the federal
court suttencd the opposition OF
the Negro OILERS who felt the
watered down civil rights bill
passed by Congress was a con-
tubuting factor 10 the crisis in the
South
This group was cajoled.
Threatened and denounced but
Il held firm under harrage Of
criticisms that it would picket
any meeting under party aus.
piCcS which senator Church adj
dressed.
The NBC. CHS, and ABC Tv
and news departments had been
alerted and there was to be ma
uonal covcrage Of the picket line.
The press associations also plan
ned coverage, The spectacle OF
Democrats picketing a Democratic
meeting with some OF the leading
Democrats in the nation having
70 make a choice Of passing
through the line or not was con-
sidered a prime national news
subject.
R.s,,,RR.... o.. -. H,K. a.