St. Paul recorder., 1963-05-02
Rights Commission Makes
Worthwhile Suggestion

The U.S. Civil Rights Commissions suggestion
to President Kennedy that he, by executive order,
halt the Federal funds being aocated to Mississippi
until the states officials stop defng Federal court
orders, and halt the disgraceful persecution and
oppression Of its Negro population, should be ap-
plauded by all good Americans. The country by and
large, is we believe, becoming tired and disgusted
with the unrealistic intransigeance of Mississippi
and its elected officials the civil rights issue and
the hagrant denial of basic constitutional rights Of
its Negro-American population.
Mississippi feeds at the national trough for
over twice as much tax money it contributes to
Federal Golfers Thus the taxpayers, including those
Of who live in Minnesota, contribute our tax
dollars to state which denies AZ per cent Of its
population its Negro citizens the right to exercise
the rights guaranteed by the Federal constitution.
Mississippi pays an estimated 2sO million dol
lars in US. taxes and received in return total of
$50 millions of dollars in Federal grants Thus the
nations other 40 states among them, contribute 37O
millions of dollars to support state where it is
necessary to spend additional money for Federal
troops to get a Negro-American citizen enrolled in
a tax supported state university, and keep him
there.
The us. Civil Rights Commission, courageous
ly encouraged by its Mississippi advisory committee
composed of eight white residents and one Negro
resident of the state have graphically called atten-
ton to the fact that the states Negroes AZ per cent
of the total population 100 years after the Emanci-
patton Proclamation live under virtual police-state
conditions. The same group has called public atten-
ton to the continued defiance and evasion of Fed
eral court orders symbolized by Gov. Ross Bar
netts disgracefm and disloyal Vaccinations when
the courts ordered James Meredith admitted to the
University of Mississippi.
Although the White House rejected the COM
missions suggestion on Withholding Of funds from
Mississippi on the grounds, 1t did not believe the
President had the constitutional authority to cut
off US financial aid to recalcitrant Mississippi its
position doubt based on the political impIica-
tons and realities Of the situation rather than the
question of its authority.
We believe a President in view of the dis
order surrounding the Negro-American citizens
attempt to register to vote at Greenwood Miss
could make a good case for Withholding funds until
every citizen in the state was allowed his basic
rghts-without interference from officials and the
police who have kept them from exercising their
constitutional rights.
In fact Mississippi has been in virtual rebellion
against the nation since the Oxford riots and the
Meredith case. In our opinion it could rightly be
treated as state engaged in insurrection until 1t
halts its defiance Of the Constitution
Threat Of shutting off the 37O million dollar
windfal which Mississippi enjoys at the expense Of
us all might go long way towards convincing the
Mississippi power structure which controls the poll
dcians that the time has for the state to re-
join the Union from which bountiful financial aid
has flowed all these many years.
The nation owes the us. Civil Rights Commits
sion vote Of thanks for calling national attention
to the perfdy of state which tries to Justify its
continued oppression Of part of its population on the
grounds that the doctrine Of States rights" gives
the majority this privilege, and at the same time
and in the same breath laps up all the Federal aid
1t can getover twice what it pays into the Federal
Golfers.
The US. Civil Rights Commission has justified
1ts existence In our opinion by this one suggestion
alone: That the President should withhold funds
from Mississippi until it obeys the Federal laws as
set forth by the nations constitution.