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SOUTHERN SCHOOL NEWS — Nov. 4. I<?54 —PAGE 3 Louisiana NEW ORLEANS, La. ouisiana's voters were scheduled to ballot on Nov. 2 on a series of constitutional amendments — one of which would give legal sanction to segregation in the schools under the inherent police powers of the state. Only two agencies other than the National Association for the Ad vancement of Colored People an nounced opposition to the amend ment. They are: The Bureau of Governmental Re search, a privately-endowed research agency in New Orleans. The Catholic Church, through its official paper, Catholic Action South. Specifically, the amendment would place the police power of the state behind segregation; authorize the legislature to enact laws on all mat ters “regarding the terms and quali fications for admission to the public schools”; and would provide that future amendments to the public school provisions of the constitution could be voted on at special elections instead of waiting for the biennial general elections. Thus, the amendment is the heart of Louisiana’s battle to preserve its historic segregation lines. It is accompanied by two acts al ready passed by the recent legisla ture, one of which has almost the exact wording as the constitutional amendment, and the other which makes the local superintendent of schools the authority in assigning children to specific schools. The Bureau of Governmental Re search called the proposed constitu tional amendment “an unconstitu tional attempt to circumvent” the recent desegregation ruling of the U. S. Supreme Court. However, a joint legislative com mittee, headed by State Sen. W. M. Rainach of Summerfield, has at tacked the Bureau’s position. A joint statement by the commit tee, named by Gov. Robert F. Ken- non and the state legislature to study segregation - integration trends, points out: The Supreme Court's decision was based on the holding that to separate Ne gro children from white children “solely” on account of race deprived them of equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Amendment No. 16 (the proposed seg regation amendment in the Louisiana constitution) does not provide for sep aration "solely" on account of race, but on the contrary, provides for separation in the exercise of the power of state gov ernment to promote public health, morals, better education, peace and good order. While the Bureau of Governmental Research has come in for heavy fire from some groups because of its stand, there have been no public statements made against the Catholic Church. In southwest Louisiana, tradition ally French and Catholic, the Cath olic Church has always been an im portant element in the bringing of changes. However, Louisiana—still by tra dition—is split between the south west and upstate, and not since the days of Reconstruction has the state elected a Catholic governor. The committee headed by Sen. Rainach has also started a statewide campaign for passage of the segrega tion amendment. Chief instrument used in their campaign is a 15-minute television film which was shown throughout the state. RAINACH’S ADDRESS Sen. Rainach served as master of ceremonies in the film and delivered a short address, which included: . . . Amendment 16 would simply do this: It would preserve separate schools for our white and colored children under the inherent powers of the state; it would permit the legislature to prescribe terms and qualifications for admission to the public schools; and it would allow you to change Article XII of the constitution with reference to public schools at spe cial elections held for such purpose. Amendment 16 is the heart of our whole program. As in the past, the superintendent of education would still administer our public school system, along with the state and local school boards; and segre gation would be maintained upon the same legal basis as compulsory attend ance. The most vital feature of Amendment 16, however, is the feature that would permit that part of the constitution deal ing with public schools to be amended by you at special elections called any time for that purpose. Under present provisions you can amend our constitution only at general elections held each two years. Suppose another unwise decision of the Supreme Court justices, stripping us of our con stitutional protection, were handed down immediately after the Nov. 2 election. For two long years, we would be at the mercy of the arrogant, alien NAACP and its hirelings, who would completely destroy the friendly relations now ex isting between our races. We cannot afford to lay ourselves open to the insidious attack of these sinister rascals who under the guise of ‘helping our colored people’ are stirring up trou ble between the races all over the United States. We are here to sternly warn the NAACP that in Louisiana we will not tolerate their driving their wedge be tween our white and colored people. Our Louisiana colored people have achieved a rich heritage. They have made and are making fine contributions to the spiritual and physical progress of our state. With our help, they are approaching, and in many instances exceeding, the standard of separate but equal facilities for their children in public education. They have and will continue to have our helping hand in all their needs. It is for these reasons that we deeply resent the carpetbag NAACP so cynically ex ploiting our colored people only as an instrument to an end, to be discarded when their ignoble purpose is served. Why should they force through the courts of the United States something they cannot gain through the Congress— the substitution of a foreign system of life that creates strife and confusion for an order of life under which our white and colored people together are making progress? Is it not significant that during the past 30 years white control has receded all over the world while Communism has advanced? Is it not astonishing that a large part of the vicious propaganda that so upsets our country today pours forth from the same street address in New York City? Segregation is a natural order—cre ated by God, in His wisdom, who made black men black and white men white. Each man should be proud of his race and should constantly strive to preserve its purity .... We must look back to Reconstruction, to the 15 years from 1865 to 1880, to view our situation in proper historical per spective. Our forefathers were flat on their backs. They were broke. They could not vote. They had carpetbagger judges, scalawag sheriffs and renegade district attorneys. Federal troops and federal judges threatened their every move. Yet, they rose up, and in 15 terrible years they fought off this yoke of tyran ny. We should be ashamed of ourselves if we cannot win our fight. We are by no means broke, we can vote, we still have our own officials, and we can pack the NAACP off to where It belongs. Our forefathers won their battle. We can win now. I am confident that we will. The NAACP and their fellow trav elers have thrust upon us the necessity of reasserting our leadership. Louisiana is equal to the challenge. Rainach’s statement is the most forceful made by any state official since the Supreme Court’s ruling of May 17. It also marks the first time in recent years that a state official has publicly attacked the NAACP. ‘SPONSOR’ NOT IDENTIFIED The joint legislative committee purchased television time on com mercial stations around the state to show its film but would not make a statement as to who was paying the bills. A public relations official who is handling the campaign for the committee said: “We were told that if we were ever asked where the money was coming from, we were to say, ‘It came from an angel.’ ” Meanwhile, around the state things remained pretty much as they were last month. State Superintendent of Education Shelby Jackson once again declined to comment on any possible plans for an integration of the public school system. He also said that it would be “about another month” before fig ures would be compiled as to white and Negro registration in both the public and private schools of the state. In recent years, the state has shown a steady rise in number of children being educated with a dis cernible trend to increased enroll ment in private (including paro chial) schools. COURT CASES PENDING Cases filed by the NAACP are still pending in Orleans and St. Helena parishes, while A. P. Tureaud, NAACP attorney in New Orleans, said briefs would be filed shortly in the two latest court cases—against McNeese State College in Lake Charles and Southeastern Louisiana College in Hammond—two small state-supported colleges. Southwestern Louisiana Institute, the only state college where Negroes have been admitted as undergrad uates, reports no incidents, and President Joel Fletcher has contin ued to decline comment on integra tion problems on his campus. The college has released no figures giving total Negro students because in the words of a college announce ment, “Students are not required to register by race.” Various estimates place the num ber at 80, however. Louisiana also saw its first white- Negro college football game, when in the middle of September, Xavier of New Orleans, a Catholic Negro col lege, played and defeated Keesler Air Force Base, an all-white team, 36-0. There were no incidents. Florida MIAMI, Fla. ^hen the Supreme Court’s segre gation decision was announced, there was much comment that Flo ridians generally remained calm. But the tide of debate now is rising, whipped by Atty. Gen. Richard W. Ervin’s “friend of the court” brief asking a gradual approach to inte gration. Striking evidence of this was the unscheduled discussion at the state Kiwanis convention at Sarasota dur ing a panel on national issues. U. S. Sen. Spessard Holland and six of Florida’s eight congressmen took part. In response to a question from the floor on whether federal aid to schools might be withheld unless the court order is obeyed, Rep. Robert F. Sikes replied: The amount of federal money for schools is not a major thing except in areas where there are large military establishments. the states on their ideas on how to end segregation. It doesn’t make sense to me to cooperate with someone who is trying to hurt you. I think we have cooperated too much already. The congressman added that since the Supreme Court had taken its stand, “I think the federal govern ment should be required to take all necessary steps to make the states carry out the ruling.” Rep. D. R. (Billy) Matthews, an other panel member, said: “We should express ourselves on this is sue, but not get hot-headed. The court ruling emerges as something as terrible as the tragedies of World Wars I and H and the emergence of Communism. We ought to let our people know it is a tremendous thing.” Rep. A. S. (Syd) Herlong said he agreed with Bennett in holding that the Supreme Court decision in fringed on states rights. What happens to these grants could not be decided “until that bridge is crossed,” he said, referring to the final Supreme Court ruling and the state’s response to it. But he added: There are things more important to me than money.” BENNETT’S STATEMENT With the subject opened, Rep. Charles E. Bennett told the Ki- wamans: Wiose nine men in the Supreme Cc _ e a mistake. The Supreme Cour Posed of politicians, not lawyers. I ^ aVe been against non-segregation rrJu ® oin £ to try to remain calm . on the matter. I am not in favoi now ^ “wited and jumping off the c for th° r a , ter ‘ 1 don’t feel that it is g I hair-f co J ore d people to end segregat; wamfi!? to meet one who told me tl white children hildren t0 g ° ‘° SCh ° 01 " the Court’s action was legi: a eai - * Was one of the greatest bl< not cum dem ° crac y. The Supreme Cour —ju^t « P K S ? d t0 say what People w sppointed^fr^rJ^ ^ justices public f . or don’t know w tion eanh 1 / 11011 is ‘ Con g res smen face el with havj «T° years and we are acquain I th pe °P le feel. ink it was very irregular to call HOLLAND STATES VIEWS Sen. Holland, who previously told Florida audiences that the problem now is “to learn to live with” the court ruling, told the Kiwanians: We all agree that it (the Court de cision) is a terribly distressing thing. I am deeply concerned and I feel it was an unwise opinion. The question is: Where are we and where do we go? Congress didn’t have a thing to do with the segregation order. It was the decision of nine judges, three of whom were from the southland. No matter how much we don’t like it, we must not have false ideas of the seriousness. That is going to be the law. The attitude of this state in responding to the Supreme Court in filing a brief was a wise approach. If we made no efforts, indeed we would be in the wrong posi tion. I believe it is wise for our state to make a strong case of the problems and the impact. It would show how ridiculous it would be to abandon segregation imme diately. This was not a political campaign discussion. The congressmen quoted were not opposed in the November general election and Holland’s term has four more years to run. But two political candidates, both Republicans, have tried to make cap ital of the issue. J. Tom Watson, who died unex pectedly in the last days of the cam paign, had served two terms as Democratic attorney general, then switched parties to run for governor as a Republican. In one of his final statements he declared that “the people of Florida will not have to worry about intermingling of white and Negro pupils in the same schools if I am elected.” This prompted a public expression of policy by his Democratic oppo nent, LeRoy Collins, who will be Florida’s governor for the next two years. (He will serve the remaining half of the term of the late Gov. Dan McCarty. Since McCarty’s death, Senate President Charley E. Johns has been acting governor.) Said Collins: I favor segregation in our public schools. It is part of Florida custom and law. I will use all the lawful power of the governor’s office to preserve this cus tom and law. Under our state constitution this is the governor’s duty. We canot find a solution to the problem arising from the United States Supreme Court decision in an atmosphere of hys terical or political demagoguery. We should call together the best brains in our state to study the situation and meet it calmly and properly. Thomas B. DeWolf, Republican candidate for the legislature in Dade county (Miami) has raised the issue by calling for a stand by his oppo nent. DeWolf said he is opposed to desegregation “until such time as (it) is voluntarily accepted by the peo ple.” Democrat John B. Orr Jr., replied that the legislature could do little unless it abolished the public school system. “I don’t know any legislative can didate who is willing to advocate this,” Orr said. I am convinced that the solution Is be ing made more difficult by politicians who, for personal advantage, are attempting to fan the flames of hate. Most legislators who have made statements on the subject agree gen erally that segregation will not be a major issue at the 1955 legislative session and that any attempt to abol ish the public school system would be decisively defeated. NEWSPAPER COMMENT While these may be indications of the political climate of Florida on the segregation issue, here is the public reaction insofar as reflected by newspaper editorial comment. Lakeland Ledger: “We have read our copy of (the Ervin brief) and are impressed by its calm objectivity as well as by its conclusions. “We earnestly hope that the court will concur with the basic thought in this brief—namely, that the trans ition must be gradual and with some degree of local determination ....” The Tallahassee Democrat quoted the summation of the Ervin brief which said: “We think the only an swer is time and the patient efforts of those who value democracy more than their personal longings and private prejudices. We hope this court will accept this answer.” To this the Democrat added this brief postscript: “We hope so, too.” Fort Myers News-Press: “The ac tion of Florida officials in accepting the invitation of the U. S. Supreme Court and filing a brief in the public school segregation cases was criti cized by some who favored instead an ostrich attitude. If these critics could read the brief.... they cer tainly would change their opinion... “Its presentation must enhance the prospect that the Court’s decree will permit a gradual approach to inte gration, over an extended period of time, which is Florida’s best hope.” OPPOSITION GROUPS FORM Opposition to desegregation is in creasingly outspoken as groups be gin to organize. Among thfse is Florida States Rights Inc., chartered in Dade coun ty in August as an outgrowth of a loosely organized committee set up to circulate petitions favoring con tinued segregation. It has been hold ing weekly mass meetings. Hayden Hamilton, a furniture store manager who heads the States Righters, said it is vigorously op posed to violence and believes “pas sive resistance” to the Supreme Court ruling is more effective. He and other officers deny any connection with the Ku Klux Klan, a question which arose when its vice president was found to be a former Klan official. Hamilton said the or ganization knew of this when he was elected, but “admired his spunk” in admitting the old Klan tie and offer ing to step aside if it would hurt the fight for segregation. Florida States Rights Inc., claims 4,000 members and is setting up chapters in middle Florida areas. SHERIFF IN SPOTLIGHT A flurry of discussion broke out in the state when it was discovered that Sheriff Willis V. McCall of Lake county had been addressing anti- integration rallies in Milford, Del., under auspices of the National As sociation for the Advancement of White People. McCall became nationally known when he shot two handcuffed Negro prisoners arrested in the famous Groveland rape case, killing one. McCall claimed they attacked him in an effort to escape. He was introduced to the Dela ware audiences by Bryant Bowles, head of the NAAWP as “a man who knows how to handle Negroes.” When McCall’s activities became known, the Tampa Tribune said: If a county official from some northern state came to Florida for the purpose of exhorting Negroes to resist school segrega tion laws, we rather imagine that most Florida citizens would tell him to go back home and mind his own business . . . So far as Sheriff McCall is concerned, we would think that law enforcement in Lake County would provide him with quite enough trouble—without borrowing any from Delaware. The Florida headquarters of NAACP called on Acting Gov. Johns to oust McCall, which is within his legal powers. The letter to Johns said: His unmindful attitude of law enforce ment and his open resentment of the United States Supreme Court decision, coupled with the plans of the state of Florida toward implementation of that high judicial body’s final decree is lead ing this organization and citizens of Florida to believe that Willis V. McCall, as an officer of the county and state, will be a detriment toward the development of better race relations and peaceful solutions to the problems that will arise. Johns has given no indication that he will take action on the NAACP request.