Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-05

ANANAASN ~ viz W@sAe~ @@0A1S
yesterday. Afterwards. some /
Of those who attended said the
President received q warm and
sympathetic response.
Sees Early Action
joseph L. Chastain Of
Dallas, president Of the Lints
Department Stores, Inc, which
operates q number Of stores,
said he thought "the sense Of
the meeting" was one Of sym.
pathy for the Presidents views.
Milton L. Elsberg Of Alex
andria, Va, president Of the
Drug Fair Stores. said Mr..
Kennedy's appeal brought q
general attitude among most
Of those attended that they
would go home and get started
in the next Few days" in in
tegrating their firms. He said
there was q discussion Of what
we have been doing and what
we have to do" and he added:
THE consensus Of the busi-
nessmen was that this thing is
here and the only thing to do
Is to meet It quietly and ef-
fectively."
Some Of those who attended
the meeting. mostly from the
South, declined to comment or
even to give their names as
they left the conference in the
White Houses east room after
more than an hour with the
President.
Some Object
HE Just wants to integrate
everything" drawled one man
rs he drifted off toward the
northwest gate.
Others said no more than
| 10 or is voiced any objections
or questions about the Presi-
dents appeal for Q voluntary
end to discrimination in Job
opportunities and in the use Of
such public facilities as res
taurants and hotels.
Mr.. Kennedy was Is min
utes late for the closed meet
ing after spending q busy day
In his office, during which he
took steps to end racial dis.
elimination in Federal con-
Structlon programs.
Mr.. Kennedy arrived at the
meeting accompanied by Vice
President johnson and Attor-
ney General Robert r. Ken
nedy. his brother. In brief
opening remarks he told the
group that it was an important
meeting dealing with an inn
portant matter.
While the meeting was off
the record. the participants
reported that Mr.. Kennedy
said that no one area can
afford to throw stones at an
other as far as civil lights ARE
concerned. He added that the
Federal Government itself has
civil rights problems Of Is own.
Blunt Appraisal
The President introduced the
Vice President and after Mr..
johnson spoke. Attorney Gen.
eral Kennedy took the .loor TO
give bluntly. one participant
said. some hard facts regard
Ing the racial situation
throughout the country.
The Attorney General, Il was
said. read off a list OF more
than 20 communities where
some progress toward integra-
ton has been achieved In re-
cent weeks, where no progress
has been made and. lastly.
where the administration be-
lieves trouble may develop II
inteRration Is ATTEMPTED.
\ Paul Troast, chairman OF
the board OF the 8. H. Kress q
Co.. said II was not considered
wise TO disclose the names Of
the places where the admins
tration expects trouble.
He described the conference
A. "all part Of a very good
effort-an excellent effort"
He added that II demonstrated
the need for leadership in
bringing an end 10 racial dis
elimination and the tensions
that II has produced.
] Mr.. Troast. who once ran on
the Republican ticket for Gov
ernor Of New Jersey and Is q
former chairman Of the New
J Jersey Turnpike Authority.
said there was some discussion
OF civil rights legislation.
] He added that only one Of
the business leaders spoke up