The Charlotte News

Thursday, October 3, 1957

THREE EDITORIALS

Site Ed. Note: The front page reports that the President, at his press conference this date, described Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus as a mistaken man doing a disservice to his city and state. He said there were two possibilities for the removal of Federal troops from Little Rock to assist the nine black students integrating Central High School, that the Governor would assure that the order of the U.S. District Court to integrate the school would not be obstructed again and that peace and order would be maintained, or through development of actual, factual peaceful conditions such that local police could control the situation. He noted further that the committee of four Southern governors were still seeking a solution. A reporter had asked the President whether he felt that Governor Faubus "really wants to put an end to the problem in Little Rock," which the President declined to answer as he said he never sought to interpret motives of persons with whom he disagreed. He also declined to say that he would consider use of troops elsewhere to enforce integration, indicating he did not want to engage in hypothetical questions as each case was different. He said, however, that court decisions had to be followed or that it was not America. He also indicated that no one deplored the use of troops more than he did, that it was really not an American method except when it became necessary in support of institutions vital to the country. He indicated that the courts were a bulwark against autocratic government, not just a means of enforcement of integration.

In Little Rock, Ark., about 75 white students had walked out of Central High School classes this date in what was scheduled as a mass protest against racial integration of the school of 2,000 students. They had begun exiting the school within moments of the change of classes at 9:00 a.m., walking quietly across campus and massing on the curb across from the school building. They called to other students peering from the windows and doorways of the school to join them, saying such things as, "Come on, you chickens," or "Dirty chickens". The students had reportedly been threatened with suspension if they took part in the demonstration. One girl who had joined the demonstrators was almost in tears, indicating that she was so ashamed that she could scream because she could not get anyone else to join them. They said that their parents had told them that if enough students joined the walkout, it would be impossible to discipline them. They conceded that the demonstration was a failure and that they probably would receive punishment. After the students had walked out, one boy climbed a tree and hung a black person in effigy, then ran as National Guardsmen hurried over to disperse the crowd gathered around the dummy. Most of the white students who had walked out gathered across the street and about 60 Guardsmen had started moving them from that area. The Guardsmen, with rifles across their chests, advanced slowly down the street, moving the students to the end of the block. As the soldiers advanced, one boy set fire to the straw-filled dummy and threw it in the path of the Guardsmen. The troops continued to follow the demonstrators and later moved them a block away from the school area. Earlier, 30 Guardsmen, forming a solid military box, escorted eight of the black students into the school through students who were hooting and jeering.

In Columbia, former South Carolina Governor R. M. Jefferies said in an interview with the Columbia Record that the four Southern governors who had met on Tuesday with the President were "spineless", that if they had any backbone, "it was to support the President." He referred to Governor LeRoy Collins of Florida as an "opportunist", said that Governor Frank Clement of Tennessee had used the Tennessee National Guard to escort black students to a white high school the previous year, that Governor Theodore McKeldin of Maryland had nominated General Eisenhower at the 1952 Republican convention, and that Governor Luther Hodges of North Carolina was "not on the fence, he's on both sides of the fence." He found Governor Faubus not to have been "as firm and positive all the way as he should have. However, he does represent the sovereignty of the individual American state and I want that to prevail, hell or high water." Mr. Jefferies was presently a State Senator from Colleton County and objected to the Federal troops being sent into Little Rock without martial law having first been declared. Mr. Jefferies was a member of the state segregation committee which had planned most of South Carolina's segregation legislation designed to protect the public schools from racial integration, a committee which would meet in Columbia the following day.

In Tallahassee, Maj. General Mark Lance, Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard, said this date that the President could not federalize the Florida National Guard when it was on active duty on call of the Governor. He told the Florida House Constitutional Amendments Committee that Governor Faubus had released the Arkansas National Guard from active state service at Little Rock, at which point the President had federalized the Guardsmen. He indicated that when the Guard was on active state duty, the Governor was the commander-in-chief, that he as Adjutant General could not issue orders to his officers which were not joined by the governor, that in case of insurrection, if the governor wanted the Guard first, he could have it. He was asked what would occur if the Guard was under the state and the President thought that the governor had called it forth for an improper purpose and then sent in Federal troops, to which he responded that they could then have another situation like Fort Moultrie in 1861 when the South Carolina militia had fired on Federal forces.

In Raleigh, Governor Luther Hodges said this date that he hoped "devoutly" that the President and Governor Faubus would reach an agreement so that Federal troops could be removed from Little Rock. He said, "The stakes at Little Rock are too high for men of good will and patriotism to lose hope." He indicated that a solution had to be found, "as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans—segregationists or integrationists." He said that the committee of which he had been chairman in meeting with the President on Tuesday did not plan any further steps in the situation immediately but would be standing by in case they were needed again. He said he believed that the national interest was greater than either of the two men or the pressures under which they were proceeding. He hoped that neither would go too far in their public statements so as to preclude a settlement.

In Miami Beach, Fla., Thomas Hickey of New York had withdrawn as a candidate this date for the presidency of the Teamsters Union in favor of William Lee of Chicago. There were indications also that Thomas Haggerty, also of Chicago, might withdraw from the race to leave Mr. Lee as the only opponent to Jimmy Hoffa, the leading contender for the presidency. Mr. Hoffa appeared to be the sure winner, but his opponents were determined to carry the convention decision to a record roll call vote, serving to line up pro-Hoffa and anti-Hoffa forces against one another, potentially resulting in secession of the anti-Hoffa forces from the union. If Mr. Hoffa were to be elected as president of the union, it would almost certainly be ejected from the AFL-CIO, with secession of some Teamsters units back to the AFL-CIO, a move which Mr. Hickey said he would undertake. The voting for new officers was set to begin this afternoon and with Mr. Hoffa the apparent winner, the union would face a possible new court challenge of its convention actions because of alleged rigging of delegates to favor Mr. Hoffa.

In McAllen, Tex., a cricket knocked radio station KRIO off the air for a short time the previous day, the station manager explaining that the cricket had climbed into a delicate part of the station's transmitter and caused a short circuit. That'll be the day.

The editorial page is here. "Hodges Exhibits Courage and Wisdom" praises the Governor for his efforts in trying to resolve the Little Rock crisis by meeting with the President and seeking a solution whereby the Federal troops could be withdrawn.

It finds that while his performance on the national stage had been thoughtful and distinguished, it had unfortunately resulted in conjecture that his efforts might wind up placing him on the Democratic ticket in 1960. It finds that while he had the qualifications for national office, it appeared to be a disservice to both the Governor and his efforts to imply political ambition from them, as there had been exhibited quite enough political ambition in Little Rock.

It finds that the Governor was earning new understanding and sympathy for the South, and that if he was also earning greater prestige for himself and the state, "let the emoluments come later in their proper time and place."

In 1961, Governor Hodges would be appointed as Secretary of Commerce by President Kennedy.

Framed Edition

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