Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-26

ed, however, that the law give
( out the problem on a voluntary
F. Kennedy has testified that
something that would put small
merchants out Of business.
When the audience applaud
ed Senator Pastore, Senator
Thurmond charged that the
room was crowded with left
wingers.
''Stop trying to speak for the
American people," Senator Pas
tore retorted.
Don't you feel there would
be less tension with voluntary
action?" Senator Thurmond
asked Mr.. Allen.
Long Efforts Involved
The Mayor replied that in
each instance there were long
and tedious efforts to achieve
voluntary progress. He said he
has heard dozens Of business
people say it would have been
easier with a court order or a
definition fixed by law.
Senator Thurmond then
asked if it would not be better
to have State or local laws,
since conditions vary in differ
ent States.
The Mayor agreed that con-
ditions differ, but said the de-
ciSions Of the Supreme Court
are the same all over the coun-
try and he believed Congress
should lay down definitions
that would be acceptable or
lpalatable" to carry out what
he believes the court will say
about discrimination in all
places OF public accommoda ton
Surely, the Congress realizes
that after having failed to take
any definite action on this SUBJ
ject in the last 10 years, to fail
to pass this bill would amount
to an Endorsement of private
business setting up an entirely
new status Of discrimination
; throughout the Nation" Mayor
Allen said.
} InactiOn Held Harmful
"Cities like Atlanta might
slip, backwards. Hotels and
restaurants that have already
taken this issue upon them
selves and opened their doors
. might find 1t convenient to &c
back to the old status :.
Gentlemen, If / had your
problem, armed with the local
Experience I have had, I would
pass a public accommodations
bill. Such a bill, however,
should provide an opportunity
for each local government first
to meet this problem and at
tempt to solve it on a local
voluntary basis, with each
business making its own deci-
sion :"
He called segregation
"slavery's stepchild," and sale
the present challenge is Il
make every American free IL
fact as well as in theory"
Gov. Russell Testifies
Another witness today was
Gov. Donald Russell of South
Carolina, who opposed the bill
on the ground that regulating
places Of public accommodation
is not a problem for eithel
; State or Federal Government
but should be handled at thu
local level.
Legal coercion will actually
retard, not accelerate, advances
; in creating that atmosphere o.
mutual respect and under
standing so urgently needed TO-
. day by both races" Gov. Rus
sell said.
A third witness today wa
r. Carter Pittman, a lawye
from Dalton, Ga, who crit
; cized the exemption in the bill
! for private clubs. He said
> would benefit those "wh,
spend their time preaching in
!. tegration for the poor whites
while philosophizing about
over cocktails within the seq
: regated shelters OF exemp
clubs"
Senator Thurmond also pro
: tested today against a lette
7 he said had been sent I,
e Coast Guard stations from tn
g Treasury. directing command
! ing officers to make continue,
j efforts ~ obtain nonsegre
= gated facilities for Coas
Guard personnel off thei
I bases. The Senator called thi
I a political question In whicl
Y the military should not b
= involved.
= But Senator Hart, Democra
: Of Michigan. defended effort
" TO see that servicemen ar
I able to obtain public accom-
modations wherever they ma
be ordered.
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