Evening star., 1962-10-03


As an American citizen I
would like to go on record
in support Of the Attorney
General in regard to the
Mississippi disturbance. We
are q union of States bound
together by the Constitution
which makes our individual
sovereignty subject to the
decency which is prescribed
for all.
But prejudice is so deeply
and sadly entrenched in the
South that it seems to me
that Negroes who wish to do
so should be given assist
ance IN getting out rather
than seek to change their
lot while living there. The
Southern problem is a
Southern problem" and
those Northerners who would
seek to change it should first
go there with their families
to live. Those who have done
so that / have known have
adopted the Southern at
titude" after first announc-
ing their disapproval of con-
ditions there in all di-
rections. The passage Of
time and proximity seem to
alter their outlook.
For this reason I propose
9 national program Of
"Cities in the Desert" be en-
barked upon where large
open areas In the country
be designated for pioneer
cities to which, regardless of
color, men and women and
their families can migrate
under Government auspices.
An old fort or other Gov
ernment institution could be
used as the administration
building to accommodate
those few able and honest
and humane Government Of
ficials from both the North
and the South who would be
needed to administer the
program at its start. There
could also be a few living
quarters provided for the
very first families who vol
unteered to go. The program
would not be strapped in re-
strictions. Gumption would
be the chief requirement for
the volunteers to possess
and they would have to meet
standards Of health. (Those
who could not meet these
standards and wanted to go
could be given assistance in
achieving good healthy The
whole project would be a
great adventure which would
revitalize the populations in
slum areas and the Deep
South.
From such q beginning
great new cities could arise.
The slum family which had
the intelligence and energy
to begin all over again in a
new place would lay hold on
an entirely new way Of life.
Instead of living in the
backwash Of crowded cities,
a man could go out and
help to build his own house,
his own schools and business
establishments, universities,
museums and finally his
monuments to the free en-
terprise and adventure that
a great democracy like ours
still provides and creates for
its citizens.
Marion E. Sittler.
If the central Government
can force q State university
to change one requirement
for admission, that Of race,
cannot 1t force a university
to change any other require
ment such as age, sex,
mental condition, or educa-
tional prerequisites2 And If 1t
can force the admission Of a
student, cannot 1t prohibit a
university from admitting a
student for any reason, such
as that he belongs to a po-
litical group opposed to the
deSpotic power Of the Gov
ernment, etc?
For IS years we have had
the pyramiding growth Of
the central Government.
People think Of States
rights with contempt be-
cause States cannot by force
resist the Federal power (the
Civil War decided that; but
since when are we as a peo-
pie committed to the prin-
ciple that might makes right.
that anything goes If you
can get away with It?
When we produce lawyers
as great as those Of the
American Revolution and as
great as our modern SCI
entists are in their field of
endeavor, we shall make
wonderful new discoveries in
how to let freedom and