Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-09-05
Changed His Tune
In A Day

On Wednesday The day Of the March on Wash
ington Richard Wilson, Star Tribune Washington
bureau chief and syndicated columnist whose work
appears IN a number of conservative daines wrote
in the Minneapolis Morning TRIBUNE, in an obvi-
Gus attempt 30 discount the Afarch:
The March does not coincide with ANYTHING.
Congress viii not be considering civil rights
legislation but appropriations bills. Civil rights
will not come before Congress before October
If then BY the time dt does come before Con-
gress the march ON Washington will have been
forgotten unless some untoward events etch It
on the public memory.
1T would appear that at this time there is
a majority in Congress in favor Of the Kennedy
pubic accommodations bin. This legislation was
offered in response to the disorders in the South
over the use by Negroes Of privately owned
facilities"
Readers will observe Mr.. Wilson reveals again
his pretty well accepted sympathy with the race
segregatonists by the last sentence above when he
labels the protests against discrimination in public
places by Negroes disorders" and calls the bus
inesses which the objects Of sitns and picket
ing private owned facilities" Unwary readers Of
Mr. Wilson'S byHned story would not be able to tell
from his piece that the disorders were actually
against private owned firms which operate places
open 10 the public, except Negroes.
Wilson's main theme of the August % piece
that the March was going to have negative
effects. He wrote: MANY congressman resent this
march on Washington. Those who are opposed to
the Kennedy program tend TO become more ada
mant in their opposition Some who favor the legis-
lation fear that the demonstration If orderly
will have an effect opposite to its purpose"
Mr.. Wilson's whole outlook in the next days
report on the March which appeared in the Thurs
day, August 20, TRIBUNE was In almost a entirely
different tune.
1t was so complimentary we had to look a
ond time to II 1t really under the by-line of
Richard Wilson We first thought the TRIBUNE
editors had made error and placed the name of
Richard Wilson over article by member of the
s. & T. Washington staff Jack Wilson, fair honest
writer the question who appears to have no
affinity sympathy with the segregationists-
as his bureau boss exhibits.
Richard Wilson wrote of the March in almost
astonished ave. Those who already in favor of
the civil rights legislation before Congress may
have also been uphfted and inspired for this affair
could not be seen participated in without induc-
ing new awareness of the dedication and depth Of
feeling in the equality movement"
Wilson rather hastily revised his position of the
day before that the March would hurt the Kennedy
civil rights legislation by writing: Perhaps the i'm
pact of this demonstration has been underestimated
by members Of Congress who determined not to
be swayed by pressure in their consideration
of civil rights legislation.
1T may be that the results will be longer last
ing than be forseen and that its chief effect
will be in inspiring those who took part in it to
greater efforts when they return home. If they do
so, the political imperative may arise from the home
resistibe."
Certain it is, If the March had such an impact
on the segregaionst minded Richard Wilson, it can
be imagined the effect 1t had the representatives
Of the segregatonst daihes in the South and else
where. The difference of course that the bulk of the
daily press corps in Washington from the South is
not about to frankly admit in any copy it sends back
to Dixie what they really saw in the March Mr.
Wilson has the advantage of working for papers
which believe both sides, rather all sides of
question should be printed in their papers.
Thursdays Minneapolis TRIBUNE editorial
page exhibited the twisted mind of brilliant writer
David Lawrence editor of us. News World Re
port and NY. Herald Tribune syndicate comnnist
Lawrence practically foaning at the typewriter.
with apopletic rage deplored the March ON Washing
ton condemned August %, a day of public dis
grace"
Mr.. Lawrence the best known editorial column
ist apoog1st for the white supremacy crowd In the
US. spoiled the TRIBUNE editorial page with his
nasty, evil attempt to prove that the digrdfed pub
lie assembly at Washington Wednesday was q
mob"
When a character Of the type Of Mr.. Lawrence
squeals and screams he did in his August so
piece those whose liberty he opposes can be well
that the end Of officially approved bgotry and
injustice Is near in the US