Evening star., 1962-01-12

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"the right to vote, for example,
should no longer be arbitrarily
denied through such iniquitous
local devices at literacy tests
and poll taxes"
NAACP Leader Pleased
The Presidents call for con-
greSSional action was a boost
for proponents of civil rights
legislation, even though he
didn't go so far or speak out so
strongly as many of them would
have liked.
In New York, the Presidents
message drew praise from Roy
Wilkins, executive secretary of
the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored |
People. Mr.. wilkins applauded |
Mr.. Kennedy'S remarks on vot-
ing and also saw in the mes
sage promise that the President |
may eventually abandon his
previous position and support |
certain other civil rights bills"
Earlier this month Mr.. Will
kinS commended Mr.. Kennedy |
for personal feelings and con-
Germ for improvement of civil
rights conditions but voiced !
disappointment that the ad-
miniStration had not done more
to aid civil rights and halt
discrimination.
In commenting on Mr.. Ken
nedy's message, Southern SEN
ators made clear they will re-
Sist any attempt to eliminate
literacy tests, by enactment of
legislation or by constitutional
amendment, as an invasion of
States rights to determine
voter qualifications.
Five Poll Tax States
However, many Southerners
already have gone on record in
support of a constitutional
amendment to wipe out the
payment of poll taxes as a re-
quirement for voting in Federal
elections. Only five States -
Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi,
Virginia and Texas - still re-
quire poll tax payments.
Mr.. Kennedy didn't say
whether he favors elimination
of literacy tests and poll taxes
by constitutional amendment or
by enactment of legislation.
Last year both proposals were
offered in the form of consti-
tutional amendments in a six
point civil rights package in
troduced by Senator Clark,
Democrat of Pennsylvania, and
Representative Celler, Demo-
crat of New York. They had
been named by Mr.. Kennedy to
put the 1860 Democratic plat
form pledges on civil rights into
legislative form.
The Clark-Celler measures
got no place as White House
support was not forthcoming
when they were introduced.
Senator Clark said that,
while he was pleased that the
President asked Congress for
civil rights legislation, he will
continue to press for the broad
program he and Senator Celler
have proposed.
This includes measures to
force a speed-up in desegrega-
ton of public schools and to
give the Attorney General
authority to initiate injunction
suits to enforce civil rights
generally.
Mr.. Celler also said he will
push for action in the House
on broader measures than MIR.
Kennedy mentioned in his ad-
dress to Congress.
A House Labor subcommittee
headed by Representative
Roosevelt, Democrat of Cali
fornia, has scheduled final
week of hearings beginning
Monday on a bill to set up a
five-member commission to
prevent discrimination in en-
ployment because of race, age
or sex.
Mr.. Roosevelt and Represent
ative Powell, Democrat of New
York, chairman of the full
Labor Committee, have ex-
pressed determination to try
to force action on the measure
early in the session.
Senator Javits, Republican
OF New York said, meanwhile
that he will offer a measure to
ban literacy tests for voters as
a rider to some other legisla-
ton that is brought up in the
Senate.
Under his proposal, compile
ton Of six years of schooling
would be treated as conclusive
proof of literacy for voting
purposes. Senator Javits con-
tends a constitutional amend
ment is unnecessary.
Despite the developing signs
Of an election-year battle over
civil rights legislation, Senator
Russell, Democrat of Georgia,
said he did not think it would
turn into one of the major con-
troverSies of the session.
Senator Russell, a chief
StrategiSt for Southern foes of
civil rights measures, SAID he
felt Mr.. Kennedy had put more
on other controversial