Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-06-13
Events Change us.
Lethargy On Civil Rights

There are indications that the is. powers that
be, who control to a large degree, the actions and
attitudes of the American people, have decided that
the time has for this country to face up to its
problem of race
After a century of preaching philosophy
and practicing another-Americas self deception
that this was a democratic nation and that all men
were free-our country has come slap dab up" with
the facts of life the American race problem.
Now at long last the political, industrial, organ
lied labor the organized church forces Of the nation
seem to accept the fact that the old days in
lations, its fragrant discrimination oppression and
race segregation the way out. More than that
the Negro's growing turbulence and impahence
which has precpitated the so-called peaceful revol
ution" has made impossible any turning back now
to the good old days" In those days anyone who
for decent treatment for Negro-Americans was
suspected Of being Communist
AS we reflect that even now there has been an
attempt to smear the civil rights movement of the
present with the Communist tant It was only Sum
day in the TRIBUNE of Minneapolis that when
Richard Wilson of the Star and Tribune Wash
ington Bureau tortuously tried to ascribe some of
the militancy of the Negro to activity by men,
bers of the Communist party. Wilson tried to dress
up an old dodge with words. 1t was clear that
the gentleman who is described in some areas as the
Northern-bon Star and Tribune Southern Bour-
bon" Washington Bureau chief, was trying to give
the Communist party credit for the decent attempt
in the us. to right the racial wrongs. This is
tactic which would have harmed the march
toward desegregation, but which will be scarce
ly noticed.
The welter of events which have rapidly fol-
lowed after another in the present racial crisis
will continue in their momentum
Tomorrow (this was written Monday the Gov
Of ham in XuhO air ady lioS fha
responsibility for Birmingham and its brutal treat
ment of persons assembled for peaceful protest will
have his day in national infamy' when or If he
attempts to keep two Negro Alabama residents
from entering the tax supported state university at
Tuscaloosa
If he is successful from keeping the two young
people from registering the Federal government
has choice except to force their admission by
U.S. troops. If Alabama wants this and there are
to believe that thousands of members of the
majority do not want it. then the state will have to
pay the consequences Of an irresponsible political
demi-god, Gov. Wallace whose political stock in
trade has been race hate and bigotry.
The Kennedys, President John and his much
malgned brother, the Attorney-General Robert have
been moving along steadily, trying to alarm the
country of the zeal and true danger Of the racial
turbence which is apt to get worse before it gets
better, because the Negroes everywhere have de-
cided that race discrimination must go.
Precipitation Of the crisis at this time by the
introduction Of civil rights legislation is bound to be
a threat to the present administrations bills in
Congress This Is a chance the Kennedy administra-
ton must take because Of the course Of events.
If it is humanity possible, the civil rights pro-
gram in the congress should be developed on a BIZ
partisan basis, because has been a political foot
ball too long.
Congress has a responsibility in this area and
more than this, every American has responsibility
which each should assume to wipe from this nation
every vestge of race discrimination and segregation
In public Accommodations. jobs, housing and educa-
ton