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Show i Utah Takes Proud Step in House Passage of "Equal Rights" Bill A Democratically controlled House wilingly and proudly fol-j fol-j lowed the leadership of a Republican Re-publican representative Wednesday Wednes-day when Rep. Adam Mickey Duncan (R-Salt Lake) led a House majority in passage of H. B. 16, the so-called "Equal Rights" bill. J Author of the bill, Rep. Duncan Dun-can told House members that for the past two years he has served on the Governor's Committee on Civil Rights. While the equal rights problem is not an but-standing but-standing issue in the state, he pointed out, this state does have a problem and the dozens of hearings held by the committee documented many instances of injustices in Utah. H. B. 16, dealing only with equal rights as concerns public accommodations, was called "the first step" in the right direction. Citing examples of world unrest un-rest and the lessening of respect for the United States among world peoples, Rep. Duncan told House members, "We are losing the battle for moral leadership. I devoutly urge you to forego (Continued on page 4) Utah Takes Proud Step in House Passage of "Equal Rights" Bill (Continued from Page 1) bigotry and enact Utah's first Civil Rights Bill." Rep. Wallace A. Peterson, (D-Salt (D-Salt Lake) rose to speak for the measure, setting up as an ex- blood and colored blood," he declared. de-clared. Rep. Heber Bennion Jr., in one of the finest statements he has made during the session, told of experiences he encountered as Secretary of State, when he was called upon to try to find accommodations accom-modations for visiting dignitaries digni-taries of dark skin. "This is not a local matter," he told members. mem-bers. "I'll call your attention to the fact that there has been an awful lot of blood spilled in this country over this thing; brother against brother and families against families. We have got to exercise moral and spiritual leadership in the world today." Rep. Joseph Foley (D-Weber) attacking an attempt to amend the bill by removing the "teeth," told House members, "Without this portion of the bill any person per-son seeking redress in a court of law could only be told that this measure was simply a dec- laration of good intent on thej part of this Legislature. The judge would have to say, "Thej Legislature wanted you to have equal rights. This is fine, we hope you get them." At one time during the proceedings pro-ceedings the speeches from the floor moved spectators in the balcony to an outburst of applause. ap-plause. Conversation in the halls t following the session centered almost entirely around the inspirational in-spirational talks made by legislators. legis-lators. The measure passed with a 51 to 11 majority with one member mem-ber absent. Rep. Sheffield (R-Salt (R-Salt Lake) served notice that he would ask the House to recon-I recon-I sider the bill within 24 hours. ample of intermingling of racial groups, his own district. "I probably prob-ably represent more Negroes than any man in this House. My district includes a great many people of all the minority races. They are fine people. I am proud to be their Representative." Rapidly Rap-idly gaining stature as a picturesque, pic-turesque, unselfish crusader, he pleaded for passage of the bill and roundly championed his "neighbors." Rep. Allen Hodgson, (D-Utah) also supported the bill, proposing propos-ing several minor amendments. Rep. Algie Ballif (D-Utah), speaking for the bill, told solons that this bill involved not only a local problem, but a worldwide world-wide problem. "We must learn to live with all people and not deny to any people the Godgiven right to respect and dignijty. We have before us today the unfinished un-finished business Abraham Lincoln Lin-coln gave his life for." One of the two women on the roster, Rep. Ballif urged the House to support the "splendid Christian doctrine encompassed in H. B. 16." Hardly able to conceal his feelings, Rep. Wilson (D-Juab) rose in support of the measure to tell his fellow lawmakers that he has been accosted in the halls by opponents of the bill who labeled supporters as "Communists." "Commu-nists." "Personally, I can't tell the difference between white |