Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-23
DonviIIe Fears Economic Setback,
Eyes Compromise With Negroes
BY ALEX r. PRESTON
Star staff Writer

BY ALEX R. PRESTON
Star Staff Writer
DANv1LLE, Va. June a.
Fear Of economic setbacks due
to an Image" Of racial vio-
lence is prompting this South
side Virginia city's local gov
eminent to move in the direc-
ton Of compromise with Ne
groes' civil rights demands.
Image" said an influential
leader Of the white community
lis q Madison avenue express
sion. but it's q good word to
apply to the situation here. ]
know what 1t means and ]
worry about our image-botf
locally and nationally - and
what 1t can do to our future"
Events in the last three
weeks have seen hordes Of
billy-swinging policemen and
hose welding firemen sup
pressing Negro demonstrations
on downtown streets.
New Violence Possible
The tense armistice that has
been in effect since Wednes-
days last demonstration could
explode into new violence with
out warning, however.
One negotiator who worked
all week to bring the city gov
eminent and Negro leaders to-
gether on a middle ground. Is
alarmed over the city's con-
tinued breakdown on persons
who participated in previous
demonstrations. Ten more were
indicted yesterday for melting
a riot and police broke down
q locked door In q Negro
church to arrest three Of them
today.
when o battle Is over the
prisoners usually are released,
the negotiator said In q voice
Of concern.
Business Drops
Since sit-ins and freedom
marches commenced May 81,
downtown businessmen have
suffered q 30 per cent drop
off In business. An industry
which promised to employ 200,
initially. called off negotiations
to locate here, assumedly be-
cause strife between Negroes
and whites would affect the
labor market.
Negroes have declared q boy
colt against the white stores
Of Main street and many whites
refuse to 60 there until the
trouble Is over.
MY wife won't come down.
town anymore unless she alb
solutely has to-" was q typical
comment Of one white man, an
attorney. ITS not that she's
afraid to, but she Just doesn't
want to be accosted by some
form Of demonstration on the
streets"
Negroes Hold Rallies
Almost nightly, rallies in the
Negro churches hear q speaker
admonish: PAY your bills but
no more shopping on Main
street." and is answered by
enthusiastic shouts Of
Amen"
Here are some Of the signs
that demand for racial equal
lity are being recognized
though not fully met:
Mayor Julian r. Stinson an
nounced Negroes will be con-
sidered for vacancies in the Po-
lice Department and for ar
opening In the Department OF
Welfare. He specified q high
school diploma is required fol-
the first position and q COL
lege degree for the second.
MoteIs Desegregate
Four leading hotel and mo-
tel operators, with one possible
exception. have declared q will
ingness to desegregate both
their restaurant and sleeping
facilities. Some downtown res
taurants. offering lower-pricec
menus. are resisting because
they fear wholesale invasions
Of Negroes, but they still are
meeting to discuss the problem
among themselves. @
The Retail Merchants As.
ISOLATION declared that "con.
trary to some accounts" some
downtown business firms have
| taken positive action to deseg.