Evening star., 1963-05-26
RIGHTS
RIGHTS
U.S.. Seeks Changes
In Racial Program
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In k0CIQI
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special civil rights message to
Congress in late February: I'm
Q free society, those with the
power to govern are necessarily
responsible to those with the
right to VOTE"
Practical Considerations
At the time the President
sent his message, such prac-
tical considerations as how far
Congress would be willing to
60 were Of paramount impor-
lance.
Now, however, other con-
siderations have taken stage
center. AS one administration
official put it: Racial strife is
bursting out in too many places
and the pace set by the Negroes
is too fast for us to stick to our
original plans"
Prompting the change in the
approach are fears that the
moderates will be engulfed by
the extremists and that the
racial strife will spread north
ward to urban concentrations
Of Negroes.
The administration has fol-
lowed a policy Of negotiating
for peaceful change. negotiat-
ing with public officials before
launching court actions, nego-
tiating with aggrieved Negro
leaders and influential white
citizens.
Skilled NegOtiatOr
Assistant Attorney General
Burke Marshall in charge of
the Civil Rights Division put
out the fire in Birmingham
with his negotiating skills-but,
as a Justice Department col
league put it, there's only one
Burke Marshall and he can't be
everywhere"
The precipitating causes Of
the demonstrations are also
being examined at the White
House and Justic Department.
1t has not escaped official at
tention that outside Of Ala
bama. most of the recent dem
onstrations have been in North
Carolina, which has had the
reputation Of being the most
liberal and advanced Of the
Southern States.
From Birmingham, Ala, to
Greensboro, N. c., the dem
onstrations have centered on
demands for equal access to
places Of public accommoda-
tion-publicly owned places
such as parks and swimming
pools. privately owned places
catering to the pubic such as
department stores, lunch coun-
ters, restaurants and theaters.
1t is because the demonstra-
tions have centered on access
to these facilities that the ad-
ministration has decided to
seek a law dealing with places
of public accommodation. The
goal Of the legislation would
be to make the transition to
equality within the framework
Of law rather than through
violence on the streets.
NO Fanfare
A number Of Southern cities
have already started this trans
ition without fanfare. Last
Mondays Supreme Court deci-
sion in the sit-in cases is re-
garded as a push in tine same
direction.
The legislation to be pro-
posed by the administration is
expected to take one Of two
forms. One approach would
be similar to legislation al
ready introduced by Senators
Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut,
and Cooper. Republican of
Kentucky.
This measure, co-sponsored
by is Democrats and 9 Repub-
ncans. would give the Attorney
General authority to file suits
in behalf Of individuals to end
segregation in restaurants and
other public establishments
licensed by State or local au-
thorities to serve the public.
The other approach would
be an outright ban on any dis
elimination in such establish
ments. This would be tougher
to get through Congress.
Aside from places Of public
accommodation, the admins
tration is concerned with de-
segregating the schools. The
States have been under a Su-
preme Court mandate for nine
years to desegregate with al
deliberate speed" but the
pace hasn't been speedy
enough in the view Of the ad-
ministration and Negro leaders
Here again, a bill has beer
introduced in Congress tc
allow the Attorney General tc
file civil suits on behalf OF
Negro children denied admit
tance to previously all-white
schools. Eleven Democrats anc
10 Republicans co-sponSorec
the measure.