St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-01-09
The
HIGH
And Low
DOW M
BY BAnEE THOMAS

II the Minnesota Republican
state central committee is fool
ish enough to name Ed Viehman.
state chairman il can kiss the
considerable and important indie
pendent vote in this state good
bye.
viehman while working for
WCCO made speeches all over the
state which stamped him in the
minds Of many as a complete re-
dictionary. His attack on UNESCO
and sly digs at the UN and at
any thing liberal earned him a
reputation in the state which
made him a distinct liability to
wCCO and though it win probably
be denied the station was very
happy when Viehman left.
Viehman took many pOlSes. at
the civil liberties and civil rights
causes trying In some way TO
suggest that civil rights advO-
Gates were Red inspired. Be
cause Viehman was young and
articulate his position surprised
many who illogicaIIy assume
that all young people are natur-
ally liberal In their views.
The Republicans in the state,
who realize their chief hope to re-
gain their party's ascendancy in
the state, is by securing a large
segment of the independent vote,
will suffer a real defeat If vieh-
man gets the nod for state chair
man. Independents generally are
internationally minded and Vieh-
man is anathema to most of them.
The one man in the state who
would probably be happy If the
COP names Viehman is hard hit
ting Ray Hemmenway DEL state
chieftan. Ed would be ready
meat" for Ray.
With most liberal legislators
scared to death of sponsoring any
meaningful anti discriminatory
housing legislation 1t win prob
ably be necessary to get the
blessings and prodding of Gov.
Orville Freeman to get open oc-
cupancy legislation which means
much off the ground" in the
state legislature.
The fear Of the liberal legislators
Is well grounded because any Soc
ial legislation involving minority
groups presents a calculated risk
to the most courageous politician
or office holder.
The foes of housing legislation
who want no real housing legisla-
ton are well heeled financially,
the real estate interests, the home
builders who have for years used
the federal tax money to build
fancy suburban subdivisions from
which they barred members of
racial and religious minorities,
the property owners associations
which naturally go along with the
prevailing custom Of housing dis
elimination, and other groups are
all against fair play in housing
when 1t comes to certain ethnic
groups, many Of whom win be dis
placed by the federal and state
freeway developments.
These opponents to open oc-
cupancy" have at their command
the use of the most vicious Of
tactics-the emotional race pre-
JUDGE appeal. The evil of race and
religious bigotry which affects ev-
cry part Of the nation is always
a weapon which the unprincipaled
win use. In the November elections
II was used widely but thanks to
the fair minded people OF the leg
islative districts where II was
employed it did not win a victory.
It's danger however was great as
indicated by the fact that Gov.
Freeman and Senator Humphrey
both had to canvass a couple of
districts to help a legislative can
didate who was being smeared be-
cause Of their prior support of
open occupancy"