Evening star., 1960-06-24
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NOONIENO
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day at one of F. w. Woolworth's S
establishments in Arlington.
Subsequently, Drug Fair,
Peoples, the Hecht Co., Lans-
burgh's, Murphy's, McCrory's
and Kann's announced they
intend to provide lunch-counter
service to anyone who seeks it
at their Arlington stores.
Negroes were served without
incident at several of the stores
yesterday.
The desegregation movement
is expected to spread to Fair
fax County momentarily.
/ A spokesman for Woolworth's
in Philadelphia announced
that, beginning today, it would
permit Negroes to eat at its
lunch counter at Seven Cor
ners.
Opinion Reversed
Other chains have delayed
action in Fairfax pending clar-
ification of the legality of al
lowing Negroes to use their
dining facilities.
Commonwealth Attorney
Robert C. Fitzgerald initially
contended that integration of
public dining facilities would
violate Virginia law.
/ However, yesterday he re-
verSed his opinion.
Informed of Mr.. Fitzgerald'S
decision, Milton Elsberg, presi-
dent of Drug Fair, said today,
Assuming this is true. we viii!
follow the same pattern in
Fairfax as we have in Airing
ton and Alexandria"
Segregated seating has been
enforced in the cafeteria in the
Fairfax County Courthouse.
However, Francis Rathwick,
who operates it under lease,
remarked today: Il figure that
integration of the cafeteria is
inevitable"
He reported he will confer
with County Executive Carlton
MaSsey regarding possible
change in the segregation pol
icy.
A county grand juror was
evicted last year when he
sought service in the section
reserved for white patrons.
Mayors Statement
A statement issued today by
Mayor Bendheim in behalf OF
the Alexandria Citizens BIZ
racial Committee said:
The committee is convinced
that whether such decisions
are considered from the legal
economic or moral point OF
view. any action which elevateS
the dignity of the individual
will eventually make for the
greatest measure of welfare for
all the citizens of our COM
munity.
This committee has absolute
confidence in the moral sta
bility and good judgment OF
the citizens of Alexandria. We
believe the overwhelming ma
jority of our people will realize
regardless of individual likes
and dislikes, that quiet, gradual
unobtrusive desegregation o1
lunch counters is far preferable
to the upheaval, tensions anC
disorders which have attended
demonstrations elsewhere in
our State and Nation.
I'VE know that the people
Of Alexandria will now exercise
the same patience, tolerance
and fortitude that they have
in their past efforts to solve
our racial differences"
Committee Planned
Mr.. Bendheim revealed thai
both he and Arlington County
Board Chairman Herber
Brown have appointed citizens
to serve on the regional COM
mittee which would concern
itself with general racial prob.
; lens as they might affect the
area"
He said impetus for forma.
IlOll VI JIlC CUllllIllIIGC CdlllN
from merchants in Alexandrit
several weeks ago when they
were trying avert sit-in dem
: onStrations.
Now that the issue of lunch
counter segregation appears II
be resolving itself, he said
. there is some question whether
the Jurisdictions will proceed
with formation of the com
, mittee.
However, he declared h,
| hoped it would be established
; Mayor Bendheim reported
{ the local Alexandria Bi-Racia
Committee was organized aftel
: a store was warned April q
: that Negro students were plan.
ming a protest demonstration
. against it.
The manager asked me if