Evening star., 1960-07-27

form Committee:
CHICAGO, July 81 (AP) -
This Nation was created to
give expression, validity and
purpose to our spiritual heri-
stage-the supreme worth of
sthe individual. In such a Ma
stion-a Nation dedicated to the
proposition that all men are
4created equal-racial discrimi-
,snation has no place. 1t can
hardly be reconciled with a
CONSTITUTION that guarantees
iequal protection under law to
sall persons. In a deeper sense,
Stoo, it is immoral and unjust.
sAs to those matters within
reach of political action and
Leadership, we pledge ourselves
.unreServedly to its eradication.
Equality under law promises
more than the equal right to
vote and tranScendS mere re-
lief from discrimination by
Government. 1t becomes a
reality only when all persons
.have equal opportunity, with
out distinction of race, religion,
color or national origin, to ac-
Squire the essentials of life
housing, education and en-
.ployment. The Republican
Party-the party of Abraham
Iincoln-from its very begin
ming has striven to make this
promise reality. 1t is today,
jas it was then, unequivocally
dedicated to make the great
est amount of progress to-
ward that objective.
We recognize that discrimi-
nation is not a problem local
1zed in one area of the coun-
try, but rather a problem that
must be faced by North and
South alike. Nor is diScrim1na-
stion confined to the discrimina-
ition against Negroes. Discrimi-
nation in many, if not all, areas
ST the country on the basis of
Rreed or national origin is
equally insidious. Further we
recognize that in many COM
munities in which a century
of custom and tradition must
be overcome heartening and
lcommendable, progress h a S
been made.
Proud of Record
The Republican Party is
proud of the civil rights record
of the Eisenhower administra-
Ron. More progress has been
Rlade during the past eight
Years than in the preceding
% years. We acted promptly
to end discrimination in our
Nations Capital. Vigorous ex-
ecutive action was taken to
complete swiftly the deSegre-
cation of the armed forces,
veterans hospitals, Navy yards,
and other Federal establish
ments.
We supported the position
of the Negro school children
before the Supreme Court. We
believe the Supreme Court
school decision was right and
should be carried out in ac-
cordance with the mandate of
the court.
Although the Democratic
controlled Congress watered
them down, the administra-
lions recommendations result
ed in significant and effective
civil rights legislation in both
1857 and 1960-the first civil
lights statutes to be passed in
more than 80 years.
Hundreds of Negroes have
already been registered to vote
as a result of Department of
Justice action, some in coun-
ties were Negroes did not vote
before. The new law will soon
make it possible for thousands
and thousands of Negroes pre-
Viously diSenfranchised to vote.
BY executive order, a COM
mittee for the elimination of
discrimination in Government
employment has been re-estab-
liShed with broadened author
lty. Today, nearly one-fourth
of all Federal employees are
Negro.
The Presidents Committee
on Government Contracts, un-
Sder the chairmanship of Vice
President Nixon, has become
an impressive force for the
elimination of discriminatory
employment practices of pri-
vate companies that do busi-
ness with the Government.