Minneapolis spokesman., 1960-12-30

'Icu ny blJdl luIOTmdIlOn TT6SS,
mittees. ''he can serve the Negro
better" ..... ..-..... .a. .-.
Disappointment over Congress-
man Dawson's failure to accept
the post was voiced by New York
City Board Of Education member
and New York Protestant Council
Of Churches President Rev. DR..
Gardner c. Taylor.
II believe it was an honest Of
fer" DR.. Taylor, a Democrat, de-
clared. Il profoundly regret that
Congressman Dawson did not
choose to serve. I think the offer
was motivated as part Of the
thrust of the times. Those in the
position Of leadership have decided
to break the mould and there is
awareness Of the Negro vote. I
must emphasize my regret over
Congressman Dawson's rejection
of the post I do not think any
Negro can afford to default on
new opportunities for the race. On
the other hand, in this democracy,
1t should not be necessary to look
for symbols for a whole race. And
we must remember that Dawson
declined as an individual and also
that he is IA years old"
New York Governor Nelson A.
Rockefeller who credited the Ken
nedy offer to Henry Cabot Lodges
campaign speech" lauded the Pres
ident- ELECTS offer to Mr.. Dawson
as a wonderful offer"
James Fitzpatrick, Richmond
Times-Dispatch editor who recent
ly debated the segregation issue
with DR.. Martin Luther King on a
national television network, told
Vital Information Press that he
had no particular objection to the
offer" Fitzpatrick added that 'it
was a strictly racial offer to re-
pay the colofed vote"
What other reason would they
have for offering the job to a IA
year-old MANI" Fitzpatrick asked.
The southern editor praised Daw-
son as very sagacious" for reject
ing the job, adding after 1s years
in the House, II makes sense that
he can be Of more service to his
constituency in his present post"
Although admitting he has seen
and heard radio, television and
newspaper announcements Of the
Kennedy offer and Dawson de-
clination, Negro Congressman Rob ,
ert Nix Of Philadelphia declared
cryptically: II do not know wheth-
er the offer was made or not. II
have not talked to either Congress-
man Dawson or the President |
Elect"
A spokesman for New York
Democratic Congressman Adam |
Clayton Powell, Jr., who II honey
incoming In Puerto Rico, said Con.
gressman Powell wouldn't get
into this even II he were In the
city" Il
Associate Editor Of The Pitts
burgh Courier, George Schuyler,
said Of the Dawson refusual: II
don't know what was In his mind
in rejecting the job. 1t would have
been a great thing for the group
had he taken IT. Maybe he feels /
he Is better off in the strong posi-
ton he now occupies"
The man VINO started II ALL
Henry Cabot Lodge-would have
no comment on the situation. At
his home in Berkeley. Massachuss-
etts, q member Of Mr.. Lodges fam
ily said that the former u. N.
Ambassador had decided II would
not be proper for him to make any
comments on the acts Of the newI
administration for the next SIX
months.
Washington journalists were
agreed that a cloud over the Daw-
son appointment could have been
raised in the Senate in view of the
fact that, in November 1864, Fred
erick p. Wall, q former Dawson
Congressional secretary, was con- !,
ucted and sentenced to a nine
month term after two indictments
by a Federal Grand Jury on charges
Of peddling influence to obtain
civil service jobs, including post
office appointments. /
NewMnen In the nations capital
further doubted the validity Of the