Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-19
Wilkins Scores
Bars on Negro
Voting in South
BY ROBERT X. WALSH

BY ROBERT X. WALSH
Roy wilkins. executive secre-
tary Of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People, charged at a Senate sub
committee hearing today that
some members of Congress have
benefited politically by denying
Negro citizens their constitu-
tional rights.
His denunciation of unnamed
public officials was ignored by
the only two Southern Senators
at the hearing on proposed Fed
eral civil rights bills. Demo-
cratic Senators Erwin of North
Carolina and Johnston of South
Carolina, however. challenged his
statements that many Negroes
are deprived of voting and other
civil rights in those States.
The two Senators also took
issue with views voiced by Mr..
Wilkins concerning the possible
use OF Federal court injunctions
under the proposed civil rights
measures. But the two Senator'S
did not refer to charges in the
prepared statement of Mr..
Wilkins that some opponents of
such legislation have set up a
"Gestapo" and an empire of
thought control and secret po-
lice" in some sections of the
South.
Mr.. wilkins told the subcom-
mittee that Negro citizens have
been patient in the face Of out
RACES" committed or threatened
against them in their efforts to
safeguard their constitutional
rights He said they have resisted
temptation to take any overt
defensive action" because they
placed their hopes in Congress
for enactment of a civil rights
bill at this session.
Sees Hope Dimmihg
But this first encouragement
in this session." he continued,
has been dimmed as the days
have passed and as they have
witnessed the incredibly lengthy
discussion of technical language
which, they are told. is necessary
to protect the constitutional
rights Of those who have made
careers out of denying Negro
citizens their constitutional
rights"
MIR. wilkins asserted that a
system of depriving many Ne
groes of their voting rights in
Southern States was a vicious
circle" and IAN obscene comedy"
Some of the representatives
elected under that system" he
charged, function in faraway
Washington as attorneys for the
defense of the system, secure in
the knowledge that they will nc
be anSwerable to the victims at
the ballot box. 1t is a terrible
responsibility for any man or
men in high Office to destroy the
hope of any people that fair and
orderly government will secure
to them their just heritage as
law-abiding citizens"
Delaying Tactics
Civil rights legislation still
faces a long and hard road in
the Senate because of grim de-
termination by Southern SEN
ators to stall it at every par
liamentary milepost.
Despite a victory by propon-
ents yesterday in limiting sub
committee open hearings to
March 5. opponents made plain
they will demand ADEQUATE"
hearings by the full Judiciary
Committee. If they fail in that
move they seem likely to insist
on extended closed sessions by
the subcommittee after March
5 In working out a specific bill
for submission to the committee
and ultimately 70 the Senate.
Subcommittee Chairman Hen.
nings. Democrat o. Missouri.
said today he was prepared to
resist any tactics to delay action
either by his group or in the
full committee.
The House Subcommittee con-
cludes its open hearings after
sessions next Monday and Tues
day. Chairman Celler. Democrat
Of New York. said he believes the
subcommittee will recommend a
bill the next day and that the
Judiciary Committee will report
it to the House within a few
days. Such a bill NAV be held