The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-10-06
THE UNKEPT PROMISE

On the same day that the u. S
II Senate decided that the right fol
q Senators to talk was precious anC
must be kept unlimited. the struggle
n of the u. S. Negro to achieve his
n rights as a first-class citizen was
aired over the American Broadcastine
Co.
The ABC show was entitled "Walk
In My Shoes and was a milestone in
television history. 1t unfolded the
Negro problem" as seen and told by
American Negroes themselves. The
sponsor was Bell and Howell, a firm
headed by enlightened industrialist
Charles Percy of Chicago.
If the show had appeared a week
earlier it might have produced an
electric effect in the lethargic Sem
ate. Even when a session has run
long and late, congressional politi-
clans have been known to respond
if there is evidence of deeply-felt
public conviction and a demand for
action.
Obviously in the case of civil rights,
as in the case of federal aid for public
schools, this was missing. For that
seeming lack of public interest, we
have to thank the nations leaders,
including lawmakers on both sides
of the aisle, plus Khrushchev's Berlin
crisis. Many factors combined to
dampen public ardor on these home
front issues.
SILENCE WAS TOTAL
For another two years the fight
against the filibuster will drag on
and for this a large share of the re-
sponsibility belongs to the President.
In the school aid fight the White
House made some feeble gestures,
but in the fight against the filibuster
the silence at 1000 Pennsylvania
Avenue was total.
Yet little more than year ago
Senator John F. Kennedy, candidate
for President, Indignantly joined 23
fellow-Democrats in issuing state
ment on civil rights legislation. 1t
came after liberal Republicans, and
some not so liberal, tainted Kennedy |
about the post-Los Angeles session
of Congress.
Their argument was posed as a |
rhetorical question: If he could not |
achieve results on civil rights from
his Democratic colleagues when they
faced national election, what reason
was there to believe he could accom-
,,EeL ,x,o,.o of4or tho al
Senator Kennedy and the liberal
Democrats protested that these COP
gestures were insincere, only meant
'fto embarrass the Democratic party"
and mainly intended to conceal the
town empty, negative
record"
The Senators, including Mr.. Ken
needy, cited their own voting records
for civil rights. To this they added
note that there could be 'sno action
on the great fronts of social legisla-
tion, including civil rights, until there
is new President strongly supporting
such action and a new Congress with
a mandate from the people.
Further along the statement con-
tinued:
Therefore we pledge action to OBJ
tain consideration of civil rights
bill by the Senate early next session
that will implement the pledges Of
the Democratic platform"
They could hardly have been more
explicit. |
THE BACKAWAY /
Not long after the bad effects of
he short session wore off, some
Democrats began talking of "execu- |
i've action as the way to handle the
.ivil rights question. There was de-
.reasing talk of the next executive
strongly supporting" new laws.
When Congress convened Senate
Democratic Leader Mike Mansfield
lid promise to give consideration to