St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-06-27


in the school. The witness
es for the board of education said
the admission of the Negroes was
not only by some Of the
white children, but more especially
by some organizations of white
people. II was necessary in the
circumstances to bring in the
soldiers to keep order in the school
and its neighborhood. The mere
presence OF the soldiers was in
furious both to teaching and learn
ing.
IF that much Is granted. il still
is not clear what good purpose is
served by restoring segregation
for PA years more. II the mob
and its organizers have this VIC
tory under their belts, Is II likely
that they will be more receptive
to the admission of Negro children
in 1851?
THE Supreme court has decid-
ed unanimously that segregation
deprives Negro children of their
rights under the 14th amendment.
Judge Lemley did not describe the
situation accurately when he said
that while the Negro children
have a personal interest in being
admitted to the public schools on
a non-discriminatory basis as soon
as practicable, that interest is
only one factor of the equation
and must be balanced against the
public interest, including the in
terest of all students and potential
students" THE personal interest
of the Negro children is only in
cidentally in question. What is in
question is their rights under the
Constitution of the United States.
Judge Lemley has worked himself
into the absurd position of saying
that the public interest demands
the denial of the constitutional
rights of citizens In that theory
anybody who takes the trouble to
organize a mob can force the sus-
pension of free speech, free press,
trial by jury. and every other
guarantee of liberty.
The Hearst owned CHICAGO
AMERICAN said it was a shame
full to see a us. court deciding
that it would be inconvenient to
enforce the law right now" The
paper said:
THE RULING by an Arkansas
federal judge that racial integra-
ton at Little Rocks Central High
may be postponed for two and a
half years cancels out what prog
ress had been made toward a
peaceful settlement of Little
Rocks dangerous problem.
Judge Harry J. Lemley ruled
that the Little Rock school board
could suspend plans for gradual
desegregation until 1861 without
being considered in contempt Of
court. That means the seven Ne
gro students still enrolled in the
school will be excluded next Sep
TENDER. and that Little Rocks
racial problems will be set back
to where they were a year ago.
"Lemley's decision was based on
statements by board members that
racial incidents had continued at
Central High and that they I'M
doubtedly would go on II the Ne
gro students returned.
HE ruled in effect that Little
Rock was helpless to enforce the
law. and that the best that can
be done is to yield gracefully 70
the people who have been break
! ing il.
ITO the inflamed Arkansans, q
delay in indignation seems a VIC
tory. We don't think it will prove
to be one: the postponement is
more likely to sggravate tensions
that soothe them. II is widely
argued that the one point in favor
Of the ruling is that Gov. OrvaI
Faubus, whose mouthings havs
served to keep race hatreds run
ming high. win be out Of the pic
tare BY then Maybe not. Faubu'
is finishing his third term Ark
ansas never has elected a governor
10 a fourth term, but Faubus
persistent resistance Of integratior
might cause segregationist Arkan'
sans to break the rule and elect
him again
Southerners can point out justly
fConffnned nm Pave Al