davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18
He's Birmingham's
PrOblem-And Ours, Too

Somebody has remarked that the most appall-
ing and unbelievable thing about the South is that
it's true. How can it be? How a complex indus
trial city like Birmingham survive industrially and
still treat the people from whom it must draw its
labor force as it does?
We are sure that many people had thought the
bloodhound a means Of dealing with people had
gone out with Uncle Toms Cabin-unt they
the photos from Birmingham and read the remarks
attributed to Birmingham's police commissioner,
gentleman appropriately known Mr.. Bull Conner.
CA few years ago used dogs in st. Paul but
sensibly ended the practice after a riot
Rondo)
Mr.. Connor was described as being in a state
Of high gee a result Of attacks by his dogs upon
Birmingham citizens exercising the constitutional
right of petition. He is quoted saying That's
what we trained them (the dogs) for" He is also
quoted planning to Jail many times 1000" dem
onstrators
In sense, debt to this character.
His namboyance, his savagery, and his outspoken
contempt for decent law and order enforcement
help to bring to the attention of the entire country
the problems of the South. They drive home the
fact that basic constitutional rights at issue here
constitutional rights which it is the duty Of the
federal government to back up and enforce.
But for Mr.. Connors atavistic concern with VIC
ious dogs would not have the pictures of
the savage violence Delng VISITED upon cltlzenS en-
gagged in the non-violent demonstrations in Brm-
ingham.
At the time this is written, the violence has
been going for many days, but no federal action
to protect the constitutional rights of citizens
in Birmingham has been reported. We hope that
action will be in progress by the time this editorial
sees print.
However it seems to it seems to a great
many people that the federal authorities are alto
gether too slow in stepping into situations where
there open, defiant, and violent attacks upon
American citizens by lawless police authorities, in
fragrant violation Of the Constitution of the United
States.
We recognize the difficulties facing the federal
authorities. We recognize that the processes of the
law slow and deliberate Necessarily so. But we
urge the point that when American citizens are
being beset by vicious dogs trained to tear them
apart for the offense of pettoning for their con-
sututonal rights, there must be some action avail
able to the federal authorities more immediate than
a petition in court
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18
Error On p. X. PetersOn's
Position On Transit

Minneapolis Mayor Candidate p Kenneth Pet
erson, in letter published last week. has corrected
us as to his stand metropolitan transit auth
GRITTY. We are happy to acknowledge our error and
emphasize Mr.. Petersons support for such an auth
GRITTY We would also underscore another point made
by Mr.. Peterson, suggesting that this matter has
not received the attention support that it should
have from our public officials
The bill in the legislature aimed at estab-
fishing an authority is dead for this session. Only
one St. Paul City Commissioner Dalglish testified
before the urban affairs committee in favor of the
bill No Minneapolis alderman appeared. Railroad
and Warehouse Commissioner Paul Rasmussen testi-
fled against 1t, while Commissioner Ron Anderson
appeared for 1t. The Twin City Rapid Transit COM
pany opposed it.
Metropolitan transit is today governed by a
state law that Is out Of date and SO out of touch
with reality that the term bus" does not appear in
the law The statute refers to street railways" and
the only place where city buses are recognized in
the Minnesota statutes Is in the motor vehicle license
section, which gives the Twin City Rapid Transit
company whopping license fee advantage
The regulating authority Is divided between the
cities and the Railroad and Warehouse Commission
none Of which do very much about 1t except to auth
orize fare increases and service reductions-and
look the other way when assets being diverted.
Ohe heaSoh why the gradual reoucuon OF service
In the Twin Cities has not resulted In crisis Is that
people SO far have been able to adapt through the
use OF automobiles, the development Of independent
suburban lines, and other devices. But the Twin
Cities seem destined to reach the limits reached BY
other metropolitan areas. At some point which Is
perhaps not too far away we are going to be face
to face with hard fact: that metropolitan areas
need transportation, and indeed cannot live
without 1t.
1t will the area vast amounts Of money If
this fact Is recognized before a major crisis Is
reached We hope therefore that In the city election
campaigns from on, and in the legislative cleo
tons, this issue is made uppermost
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18

who could so easily stay away
from battle in Miss, and yet chose
to risk life and limb and go to the
aid of his fellows who want no
more than their rights as citizens.
On the whole I thought his re-
marks were very forceful, and
pointed with his agile wit. There
were, however parts which I would
like to question as a northern lib
eral of I like to think, of fair mind
and good will.
Why, as so often seems to hap
pen when Negro leaders or even in
conversation with the, friends I
have in race, does Dick strike out
with bitterness toward the whites,
who are on the Negroes side? I
refer to his remark about the
Northern and the Southern liberals
being as tn third man in the fist
fight?' Doesn't the Negro want our
help? This is our battle too, you
know, it is our country all of us
we white people who care for
justice feel involved.
1t is painful to have always the
distrust of motive thrown at us.
I wonder If it could be that we
(the hberals) are the ones that
you feel you can get at? For in
stance probably my relative who is
manager Of a plant down in Miss
issippi never ever exposed himself
to dialogue with Negro. I have
had bitter words with him on this
subject and have strained family
ties for the cause Of what I be-
Heve to be simple justice and deep
religious conviction.
Another bone to pick with Dick
Gregory is his charge that religion
has fault. His case is pretty good
here, but I am wondering If he
knows of the efforts being made
in this direction and the sincere
concern felt in Christian Churches
today. He would be welcome in
my church. In fact, several times
I have had Negro guests with me
at our services. Christmas Eve
three friends were at our commun-
ion service with my husband and
I. I really try to put my money
where my mouth is land my re-
lationships with my colored friends
has been a deeply rewarding ex-
perience and I hope to enlarge my
circle Of friends to include many
more Of their race.
And then I would say to Dick
thank God for your wonderful
sense Of humour, keep speaking to
us on TV and records-but don't
discourage those of us who want
to help you-because If we help
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18

dams from congregating in the
streets.
April 20, 1904 - Joe Walcott,
The Barbados Demon" lost the
world welterweight title. He Is not
to be confused with Arnold Cream,
the Jersey Joe Walcott' Of recent
boxing history.
April 20, 1866 - Fisk UNIVERSE
ty, Nashville, Tenn, was opened to
educate Negroes.
April 20, 1853 - Frances Ellen
Watkins, abolition poet and lee
turer, begins work.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18

for whites.
Even in Afrikaans, how can
this position be supported? In
plain English, it is supported by
talk Of separate nationhood for
each of South Africa's distinct
peoples For example, the Xhosa
nation is now being concentrated
in the Transkei, an area in which
million Xhosa will be citizens with
their own cabinet and parliament)
and in which any resident whites
will have no political rights. The
Xhosa have no political rights now
outside the Transkei. Fair, what?
Decades Of experience with
Indian reservations finally brought
the United States government to
seek Indian indignation by "ter-
minating' the reservation system.
But generations of deprivation and
dependence have made summary
termination" impractical. Now
unprecedented efforts are being
made, thru education and indus
trial development, to bring reser-
walton Indians into the national
main stream. Impounding the sep
arate Indian nations on reserva-
tons has had results universally
recognized as unsatisfactory to ev-
eryone.
We Americans know from our
own experience what reservations
are like. - Chicago TRIBUNE.
PoweII's New Line
Called Agreeable To
White Citizens Councils
That was a peculiar pair Of
speeches Rep. Adam Clayton Pow
ell, Jr., made over the weekend In
New York. The. unpredictable
Harlem Democrat said that any
organization fighting for Negro
rights should be totally owned,
controlled and maintained by the
Negro people.
This is a point Of view with
which, we suspect, members Of
Southern White Citizens Councils
would fully agree. There are few
things which infuriate them more
than to see whites working with
Negroes to obtain equal rights for
Negroes. It is a little odd to hear
the message from Representative
Powell. - Denver POST.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18
Letters To The Editor

Editor: You and will always disagree things
times sharpso time politician you
Uncle Tom I'd like the battle
that's aren't resent it
You exponent of personal journalism which good
and think the handled the story the best traditions
of the profession
Congratulations Sincerely Alan c. Mcintosh Editor
Usher The Rock County SarHerald
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18

Of local govern Everett Luoma
ment is such that it is for all
practical purposes impossible to
abolish the regressive property
tax. If Minneapolis and st. Paul
were to substitute an income tax
for the property tax, what status
should it give those living in the
suburbs who work in the city?
This question is so difficult that
neither major political party will
even attempt a solution.
When 1 first began my survey
Of the property tax, was as
tOnished at the evils that are
inherent within It. There are
evils even moro significant than
the obvious fact that the tax has
no respect for salaries or the
number Of dependents an in
dividual property owner may
have. These other evils can be
listed as follows:
y Because Of segregation, taxa
ton of property may be out Of all
proportion to the income a land
lord may derive from his property.
Minority groups, such as Negroes,
are forced to live in certain Sec
tons Of the city, generally in areas
with low assessed valuation.
These individuals are often renters
who must pay rents to landlords
out Of proportion to the value of
the property because it is impos-
sible for them to move. These mi
nority groups can therefore be
said to be the most Disseminated
against because of the tax.
p Property taxes are generally
calculated not on the true value of
the property but on a value far
below the actual value. This low
cred evaluation actually does not
make the tax less as many home
owners may believe. The percent
age of the assessed value that is
to go to taxes is raised to make
up the difference. This distortion
of the value of the property how
ever does make 1t impossible for
the homeowner to determine if his
tax Is fair because he has no way
of determining whether his deval-
uation is the same as everyone
else's.
It is also true that a small error
Of 500 on the lower figure will
cause a greater error in the tax
payed than a 500 error on the
higher figure. The reader can rest
assured that the assessed evalua-
ton Of corporate property is not
at a greater percentage Of true
value than that Of the average
homeowner.
81 Distribution Of park land Is
not according to need because a
certain arbitrary percentage Of the
cost Of improvement Of parks Is
from the adjoining property. Stun
areas, where more parks are need
ed, are neglected because there Is
no money In the slums to pay for
improvements.
This problem Is compounded by
the fact that often the people who
own the property in the slums do
not live in the slums. These land
lords have no interest whatsoever
in improvements because improve
ments would increase their taxes.
They would therefore lobby against
any improvements.
Another difficulty also exists.
By forcing property adjoining
parks to pay the major share of
improvements, the corporations,
which are the wealthiest elements
within the city, can escape paying
their fair share unless they happen
to be situated near the residential
areas.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18
FRANKLY SPEAKING
BY Everett Luonaa

AS I stated last week, the major
corporations are nationwide disci-
plined political entities that are
able to use one city against an
other to their own advantage. The
worker however has no nationwide
political party through which he
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18
White Liberal Discusses
Gresory's Barbed' Criticism
Of those Who Helm

Editor: You have the doubtful
privilege Of receiving from me a
letter I really would like to write
to Dick Gregory. But as I doubt
that my letter would be even no
ticed among the very many he will
be getting - I have picked you
as my proxy.
Last week I purchased Dicks
record my Brothers Keeper -
for two reasons. I am deeply in
terested in this cause and because
I admire the courage Of this man
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18

can get repre-
sentation to com
bat these corpor'
a tions. He Il
therefore forced
to pay the major
share Of the cost
Of local govern
ment.
The structure
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18

others, we help ourselves and all
of us must care about each other.
Mrs. John L. Stewart, 1920
Golden Valley Rd., Minneapolis 22,
MINI.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18
DRY POINTS
BY FRED GRAM

Unless somebody misses a huck-
sterish opportunity, the waterfowl
which have been rescued from the
Minnesota River soya oil will find
their way to market as poly-un-
saturated ducks.
A funny thing happened at the
Oscar-Award ceremonies. All at
once, for bout 80 minutes, the en-
tire entertainment industry became
one great, big, appalling stuffed
shirt.
The advertising boys are making
heroic efforts, but we predict that
in spite Of It all there will continue
to be a bright future for PRINT
tive Mans deodorant: soap and
water.
Uncle Sam has to build a new
mint to keep up with the demands
Of the coin collectors. II, while he's
at 1t, he can shave the edges a bit
and increase the profit margin,
this might go quite a way toward
wiping out the national debt.
Still, there might be a good fu-
ture for the slow-witted child. He
could, for example, grow up to be
q writer on one Of these serial
productions for the Vast Waste
land.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-04-18
VIEWS & OPINIONS
THE WORLD OVER
On Shaping
Up OF Congo BY
Tha NanNar [

IHS DSHWSE EOSI
Outcome of the test of strength
rapidly shaping up in the Congo
between the Central Government
of Premier Cyrille Adoula and
President Noise Tshombe Of Kat
anga Province is Of grave import
ance in the countries which sup
ported the long campaign to end
Katanga's secession.
In the forefront of these count
ries which encouraged and con-
tributed to the controversial role
of the United Nations in bringing
about Congo Identification last
January is the United States.
A political victory for the. Tsh-
ombe forces could well open the
doors to further chaos. Under his
proposal the Congo would be con-
verted into a confederation of near
ly autonomous states, with Cent
raj Government weaker than the
American government was under
the articles Of confederation. Un-
der the governments draft, the
Congo would be a strong federal
system, with provincial represent
alton roughly similar to the pres
ent us. system"
South Africa Should
Learn Lesson From US.
On Race Problem
Apartheid in South Africa Is
fundamentally different from seq
regation elsewhere. So says the
government Of South Africa, in a
recently issued official publication.
According to this apologize, segre-
cation confronts non-whites with
a bar to progress but under
apartheid there is no limit on
progress for blacks any more than
, 1963-07-10

that we greet healthy con-
troversy as the hallmark Of
healthy change. Let the pub
lie service be a proud and
lively career. And let every
man and woman who works in
any area of our government,
in any branch, at any level, be
able to say with pride and
honor in future years:
I served the United States
Government in that hour Of
our Nations need"
/ have read with great care
this magnificent statement and
it seems to me that he was
speaking not only to those
who are actually in the en-
ploy Of our Government, but
that he was charting also the
responsibilities which each Of
- MF. AsI8E al
US has and must accept to our
Nation and to free citizens
wherever they are. For we as
leaders of the free world must
realize that the citizens Of
other free nations and Of those
nations not yet free, strive for
the kind Of life which is attain
able in our democracy.
This, then, behooves each of
us today, one hundred and
eighty-seven years later, to re-
dedicate ourselves to the true
meaning Of the immortal
words written then, which be-
came the basis of this great
free nation Of which we are.
a part and in our rededication
we not only must attain our
desired place in society, but
we, with each forward step,
must give similar opportunity
for progress, in liberty, and
freedom to fellow human be-
ings throughout the world.
Together, then, today, reach
for the stars which are symbo-
lied in our Flag-the stars
which fly SO proudly as sym
bols Of freedom in a flag which
has become the banner Of free
men everywhere.
HH q
, 1963-07-10
Remarks Of Governor Rolph NJ. PoieWonskY
independence DuY Celebrdtion
THURSDAY. JULY A. 1863
Continued from yesterday

are not ~practiced with equality
everywhere in our own coun-
try. One of the great state.
ments a century ago by Abra-
ham Lincoln was "our found
ing fathers meant to set up {
standard maxim for a free so
ciety, which should be familiar
to all, and revered by all
Constantly looked to, constant
~ labored for, and even though
never perfectly attained, con
stantly a~pproximated, anc
therefore, constantly spread
ing and deepening its infu-
ence, and augmenting the hap
piness and value Of life to all
people OF all colors every
where"
The turmoil and controver-
sizes Of today are affecting the
lives of a great many Of our
citizens on a social, economic.
and political level. The recent
events in Birmingham and in
the South, joined with the
events in other sections of our
Nation where the Negro has
been denied his free right has
caused him to organize the
mass movements through
which he seeks to insure for
himself what our founding
fathers surely intended were
to be his by right and for
which he has waited so long
and now will wait no longer.
If we, if all Americans,
search their minds and their
hearts and live each day ac-
cepting the responsibilities
which as citizens came to us
from the men who wrote ou1
Constitution, then we-each
Of US in our own way-have q
role in striving for the perfec-
ton which, while never com
pletely achieved, is yet within
our reach.
Our President, John F. Ken
nedy, in his State Of the Union
Message on January 80, 1861
said, and / quote, "Let every
public servant know, whether
his post is high or low, that 9
mans rank and reputation in
this administration will be de-
termined by the size of the
job he does, and not by the
size of his staff, his Office Of
his budget. Let it be clear that
, 1963-07-10

Z. LILY JAAA4C3 5.Nf
great chronological achieve
ments, the forward steps OF
civilization. All are a part OF
this revolution. Just one short
generation ago, our world
thought that higher education
was for an intellectual elite,
that the high school was the
terminal point which prepared
our young people vocatlonally
and culturally for their life
ahead.
Today this is not 50. Educa-
ton is a three pronged staff.
College has now become the
eliminating ideal, and we here
with this in mind, have estab-
lished our own College Of the
Virgin Islands. We have done
this in part for selfish reasons:
First, because we want to stop
the acts which have drained
the very life blood Of these ISL
ands as our young people have
gone to mainland Institutions
and never returned to us.
Second, we want to give to all
Of our citizenry, but to our
young people particularly, a
program Of higher education
which will include the voca-
tional training and educational
opportunities which will aid
them in finding their place in
life here with US, and, third,
a program which will continue
to infuse, over the years, the
life stream Of leadership with
knowledge" which will allow
us to continue our growth and
service to this, our own area.
The College means more.
Into it's doors will come stu
dents from the Mainland, from
the emergent countries Of the
world, and they will find not
only an education but an envi-
ronment which we here can
show them with great pride
an integrated society where
each man lives in the aura OF
dignity which he himself ere
ates by his words and his
deeds where he is judged by
his f%ellowman, not on the basis
Of his color, but in the true
spirit Of our founding fathers
by the contribution which he
makes as an individual to the
society Of which he is a part.
Unfortunately, these ideals
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-27
WILMINGTON EXECUTIVE
Banker {. P. NeiIon
Heads u. S. Chamber
BY the Associated Press

Edwin P. Neilan, a Whining
ton, Del, bank executive who
earned his first dollar as a
carpenters apprentice, was
named president of the United
States Chamber of Commerce
today.
The Chambers board of d.
rectors announced Mr.. Neilan's
election to a one-year term
beginning May /.
Mr.. Neilan, 81, is chairman
of the board of the Bank of
Delaware. an institution he
Joined as associate trust officer
in 1910.
Chamber directors also an
nounced that Laid Plumley, the
organizations current president,
will serve as chairman Of the
board for the coming year. Mr..
Plumley is head of State Mutual
Life Assurance Co. of America,
Worcester, Mass.
Richard Wagner, chairman of
the executive committee, Cham
pin Oil & Refining Co., Chi
cago, was named chairman of
the Chambers executive COM
mittee. Louis B. Lundborg. ex-
ecutive vice president of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-27

hear Walter Heller, chairman o.
the Presidents Council of Eco
nomic Advisors, at a dinner
meeting April 7 at the Willard
Hotel.
Undersecretary Of State
Averell Hartman will address
them April 8 at the State De-
partment, and they will attend
a reception that afternoon at
tended by ambassadors and
prominent businessmen at the
Washington International Gen.
ter.
The President, Attorney Gen.
eral Kennedy and Senator
Mundt, Republican of South
Dakota, will greet them the next
day. The Senator, who is a
member of the AIESEC-U. S.
board Of advisers, will conduct
them on a tour of the Capitol.
AIESEC = US. has several
goals. Businessmen find the
scheme a way to recruit highly
trained personnel to staff their