Evening star., 1963-01-30
Gen. Walkers Case

For a time it definitely ap-
peared that the freedoms of
speech and assembly, so
highly touted by President
Roosevelt, were definitely on
their way out under the Ken
nedy administration in the
prosecution of Gen. Walker
for daring to oppose the At
torney General. 1t must be
obvious to any ane-minded
person that the generals
speeches and actions ad-
vanced a viewpoint on the
matter Of States rights with
which many are in agree
ment, and the senseless at
tempt to impose the stigma
Of insanity was as cruel and
vindictive an attack as could
be devised, seeking to close
the door to future activities.
both legal and social. And
all this on behalf of a Negro's
enrolment in a college for
which he was not qualified
scholastically or legally and
further demonstrated by his
failure to pass his courses,
though placed there by the
brute force of arms at the
dictation of the Attorney
General, needless spending
OF millions of the taxpayers
money and the killing of by
ISLANDERS. Now the legal pros
ecution Of the general is to
be dropped, but where does
this leave him?
Joseph N. Nielsen.
l appreciated. as / am cer-
tain many other thousands
OF your readers did, the fine
editorial entitled, General
Walker Cleared"
l do not believe anything
mpresSes the readers Of a
newspaper more insofar, as
its editorials are concerned.
L -
than the fairness of the same
IN dealing with any and all
matters as well as individ-
uals.
You have succinctly, and,
from a legal standpoint,
clearly pointed out the great
injustices that were perpe-
trated against Gen. Walker
Immediately after the unfor-
tunate incident at the Uni
versity Of Mississippi, espe-
cially with reference to his
having been incarcerated in
a hospital and the unfair and
unjustified attempt Of the
Government to have him
committed for a long period
OF observation in an effort to
prove he was incompetent
and could not stand trial. II
this had been substantiated,
1t would have meant Gen.
Walker would have been
committed to an institution
for mental treatment for a
long time.
1t is gratifying to know a
leading newspaper in the Ma
tion's Capital has had the
courage to bring to the atten-
tion Of its readers the unfair
legal steps that we're taken
by the Government in its zest
TO put this man away"
I sincerely hope your paper
will continue its fine edito-
rials on matters which exem-
plify fairness and justice to
everyone, regardless of sta
tion.
Wesley E. Mcdonald, ST.
Granted that what hap
pened TO Gen. Walker is a
strange business" II is dis
illusioning and even more
alarming that not one liberal
or one civil liberties organi-
zation has protested the Gov
ernment's handling OF the
Generals case. The treat
ment accorded Gen. Walker
by Federal authorities was as
bad as the treatment ac-
corded James Meredith by
Federal authorities was good.
Civil liberties are supposed TO
be guaranteed 10 all men, re-
Rardless OF race. Yet Gen.
Walker was treated like a po-
litical enemy OF the State,
and, as The Star pointed out.
he was lucky 10 have money
and friends or he may have
rotted away in a Federal
mental institution.
Congratulations 10 The
Star-the only voice raised
In behalf Of civil liberties
even for a controversial fig
ure on the far right.