St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-08-02
WILKINS BLAMES
IKE FOR SECTION
THREE DEFEAT


THREE DEFEAT
Washington, July 90 The
Senate, by voting to eliminate
the effective provisions of Part
III of the pending civil rights
bill, has, in effect "voted to
handcuff the national law en-.
forcement agency in enforcing
equal protection of the laws"
Roy Wilkins, NAACP execu.
tive secretary charged this
week. wilkins blamed PreSi-
dent Eisenhower for the de.
feat.
Mr.. wilkins statement followed
81 to IS vote in the Senate on
July q to strip the civil rights
bin OF provisions which would
have empowered the Attorney
General to initiate actions to Sc
cure school desegregation and pro-
tect other civil rights guaranteed
by the Constitution.
by this action" Mr.. wilkins
asserted. the Senate has acted
to prohibit the use of preventive
legal methods by the Attorney
General in securing the equal
protection of the laws The adop-
ton OF this motion says plainly
to Negro Americans that, so far
as the Senate In concerned, they
can expect little, II any, assis-
lance from the federal govern
ment in attempts TO win enjoy.
ment OF their constitutional
rights"
Aids Notification Of i4th
Amendment
Further, he charged, the action
by the Senate, gives aid and
comfort to those who would null
ify the equal protection clause OF
the Fourteenth Amendment. II re-
mains in the Constitution and may
be invoked occasionally by a pri-
vate citizen. II may be upheld In
judicial decisions, but the Senate
unless II reconsiders, has voted 10
handcuff the national law en-
forcement agency in enforcing
equal protection Of the laws.
1T remains TO be seen what
viii be done with Part ~ of the
bill dealing with voting. II would
be bitter irony, indeed, II the first
civil rights legislation enacted In
so years should repudiate bott
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments" Mr.. wilkins as.
serted.
Following the southern victory
in eliminating Part III, attention
in Washington was again focused
on Part ", and efforts Of south
ern Democrats to weaken II by
providing for jury trials in con-
tempt cases growing out Of viola
tons Of federal court orders a
gainst interfering with the right
20 vote.
Role Of the President
President Eisenhower has ex-
pressed a desire TO see this sec
ton Of the bin enacted without
any Gripping amendments such
as the proposed jury trial clause
However. the President has not
made any remarks In support Of
the bin since he issued his state
mcnt on July 10, after the Sem
ate had voted to take up the mea-
sure.
The defeat Of Part III followed
failure Of the President to sup
port II forthrightly when question
ed about 1t in his press conference
Of July IT. Southerners, en-
couraged by the Presidents UNI
certainty. renewed their efforts
TO eliminate the section Of the
bin which would have provided
protection of q wide range Of civil
rights
The NAACP states: Having
succeeded in cutting Part III Of
its effectiveness, southern Demo-
Gratis are now concentrating on
lacking a jury trial amendment
onto the right 10 vote section Of
the bill Concern is being express
ed In Washington that they may
succeed unless the White House
speaks out unequvocally against
the move which has already
gained the support Of some non
southern senator's.
Efforts to get the President TO
come out with a strong state
ment in support Of Part ~ and
against the Gripping jury trial
amendment were being initiated In
Washington in the hope Of hold
ing Republican senators firmly in
line on this crucial issue. Hope
was expressed that he would
make his position clear.