Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1958-06-20
-:WORTH REPEATING-
Mr.. Faubus and The Johnson Amendment

With his Characteristic cozness Governor Faubus the other
day in effect endorsed the Jim constitutional
ment by predicting its inevitable adoption
time declining to make known his views whether he
considers the measure good bad.
This in its way is the eptome of oftreerat-
ed theory of the responsibility office he's for what
people want whatever may be whatever conseqsen
But this instance the people haven't got the Johnson
amendment yet and Jim Johnson hasn't yet got necessary
signatures TO the petition which would put the ballot
November 1t that Mr. personal
on the matter are therefore of some Importance
The fact that the proposed long
VOWED document which little understood and usually DELHI
erately misrepresened.
The provision the amendment most often mentioned is
that requiring the closing of public which desegre
gated under court order Such school eopened
in compliance with the only after an election in which
majority of the voters approved the ruling
majority voted mo- white Negro involved by
court order would lose support and could be sold
leased for private operation
This preposterous requirement which could well lead to
the liquidation of the public school system
OF the state however, only of several things the proposal
would accomplish.
The is intended to make the legally du-
bous State Sovereignty Commission constitutional would
write into the state charter the outrageous powers conferred
upon the body by the legislative
Commission would be empowered subpoena persons and
private records of all persons corporations societies. organ
cations and other groups who in the sole judgment the
Commission might be suspected of
ing defined among other things any encroacen pon the
sovereignty of the state of Arkansas the the
United States To make certain that This Gesapo operates
without interference the Amendment provides:
No court in the State of Arkansas be empower
ed to enJon the Commission from performing of its duties
as set forth in this amendment.
In brief the people being asked their
uonal rights of free speech freedom assembly press
and even their right of privacy and the would be
forbidden to provide the traditional protection
against the state
Nor is this ALL The amendment also contains lengthy
voting registration section which would provide
must blank sheet paper by hand
answer to lengthy series of questions Any
result In denial of the baoand the decision would with
the local election officials
Mr. Johnsons apparent purpose is forth system
whereby Negroes be deprived of the right The
tenn he proposes however, would make possible any c
zen to be deprived of the ballot of local election
oclaS-tne ceares invitation to corruption machine poti
clans have ever had in the history of this state.
The threat of the Johnson it may be
adopted because the people don't understand We
leve that under any circumstances Aransan will knowingly
write OFF practically of individual liberty
democracy But conceivaby they could do it, Faubus
predicts they will, in ignorance of the consequences.
If Mr. Faubus thinks the Johnson amendment is sound
ne should by all means If he doesn't he has
obligation to the people who elected of all npca-
tons of the monsrouS proposition that may be before
November Arkansas Gazette