Minneapolis spokesman., 1960-12-30

L DdTJlCo.
In a telephone poll conduC
New York syndicate which services
the Negro press nationally, opin-
ion was sharply divided as to the
motives both Of Senator Kennedy
in offering and Rep. Dawson in
rejecting the historic opportunity
for a Negro to hold cabinet status.
Meanwhile, in Washington, know
ledgeable sources raised the issue
of whether Dawson's failure to ac-
cept the post was attributable to
fear that Senate confirmation
would be withheld due to opposi-
ton by Southern Senators or the
fact that a former Dawson con-
lgressional secretary was twice in
dicted in 1852 and convicted and
sentenced in 1854 on a federal
grand jury charge Of peddling in
fluence for the sale Of post office
jobs.
From Phoenix, Arizona, Repub-
lican Senator Barry Goldwater,
who characterized Congressman
Dawson as qualified" and the
Kennedy offer as proper" admit
ted to a suspicion" that Dawson's
rejection was based "on the fact
that he would have had to face
the Post Office Senate Committee
which is headed by Senator John
stone Of South Carolina"
Harold c. Burton, senior Negro
Republican leader in New York
State and District Leader Of Har-
lem's 18th Assembly District, who
fatty expressed doubt that the
offer announced by Senator Ken
nedy was made in good faith, ex-
pressed his opinion that the Senate
Post Office Committee would tie
up any post office legislation dur
ing the next session Of Congress II
a Negro were made postmaster
general
IF the offer was made, it may
have been made with a pre-ar-
ranged understanding that Daw-
son would reject" Burton added,
II can't understand a man Of Daw-
sons political stature turning
down what Is known to be the big
gest political patronage position In
the country"
Mr.. Burton's view was echoed by
former Dodger star Jackie Robin
son who figured prominently In
the Nixon campaign. Mr.. Robin
son said he felt that had the Ken
nedy offer to Dawson been sincere,
the President Elect would have
named another qualified Negro.
There are many Negroes better
qualified than Dawson" Robinson
said from his Stamford, Connecti-
cut home. II think Kennedy has
made a lot Of good appointments.
I won't say anything about Broth
er Bobby - but Mr.. Kennedy
should remember that the Negro
vote put him in office. It was q
fine gesture but it Is possible they
got agreement from Dawson In
advance to turn 1t down. It Ii a
known fact that Dawson win 20
along with most anything the
party says. Frankly, I'm pleased
that he rejected the job. I don't
think his acceptance would have
helped his race"
In variance to this position was
the attitude Of famed civil rights
leader DR.. Martin Luther King.
Speaking from his Atlanta home,
DR.. King termed the Kennedy Of
fer an important step"
mo matter whether 1t was mot
ivated by political considerations
or a deep moral feeling. the i'm
portant thing is that II was DONE"
DR.. King declared. DR.. King added
that Mr.. Dawson probably de-
clined because he felt he could
serve the country better In his
present position"
President and publisher John
sengstacke Of the Chicago Defend
er newspaper chain, said from Chi
cago that he didn't believe the
offer to Dawson would have been
made II 1t had not been sincere.
sengestacke added he felt Senator
Kennedy was carrying out his
campaign promise to name Ne
groes to vital positions sengstacke
expressed the opinion that, In his
present posts a. chairman Of the
Committee on Government Opera
tons and the Cook County, Illinois
and Illinois State Central Com