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Show Demo Advisory Council Issues Statement on Civil Rights The Democratic Advisory Council this week released the following statement on civil rights legislation in the second sessions of the 86th Congress: The United States, as a leader among free governments and peoples of the world, must exercise exer-cise within its lawful powers concerted and continuing effort to eliminate discrimination based on race, color, religion or national na-tional origin. From its inception the Democratic Demo-cratic Advisory Council has dis-cised dis-cised the serious problem of civil rights, advocating more far reaching measures than are currently cur-rently under consideration. We believe that the time is appropriate, appropri-ate, now that Congress is in the process of voting on civil rights, to enumerate a minimum program pro-gram which we believe should be and can be included in legislation and policy directives at this session of Congress. We believe that the Congress i j . not go along with this statement in full. I can agree with some parts of it. As to others, I must dissent. I think the legislative effort ef-fort now before the Congress should be limited to trying to assure qualified citizens the right to vote, which is basic, and two other items not mentioned in this statement to wit, anti bomb legislation making it a federal offense to dynamite property such as churches and schools and legislation providing schools for service personnel on military reservations in states where the public schools may be closed." Mr. Gravel writes: "I dissent from paragraph 2. Purely as a moral proposition I thing segregation segre-gation is wrong. Legally the matter mat-ter is settled. Wisely, the United States District Courts (under the Supreme Court decisons) are permitted, I believe, to enforce or delay intergration as required by local conditions. From the point of view of one living . in Louisiana and one having knowledge knowl-edge of the problems with which we are faced in the south, because be-cause of the social, economic, and emotional aspects attendant to segregation, I am of the opinion opin-ion that any attempt to integrate our public schools in Louisiana and in most other parts of the south at this time will prove disastrous dis-astrous and dangerous." j snouia: 1. Demand conscientious enforcement en-forcement of existing criminal laws and use of Congressionally-granted Congressionally-granted civil powers. 2. Place the national legislative legisla-tive branch squarely on record as opposed to racial segregation in public schools on the grounds that such segregation is a clear violation of the Constitution and laws of the United States. 3. Recognize the right of a person in federal or state custody to protection by federal authorities authori-ties from physical injury or death. 4. Enact additional laws to protect, pro-tect, through simple, expeditious administrative machinery consistent con-sistent with the recent recommendations recom-mendations of the Civil Rights Commission, rights of American citizens to register and vote free of discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origin. Action in these four areas, we believe, would do much to bring both peace and progress to race relations in the United States. If we had enjoyed vigorous executive leadership during the past seven years it would not today to-day at this late date be necessary neces-sary for Congress to enunciate policy objectives. They would have been achieved, for they are in essence reaffirmation of principles prin-ciples which are clearly defined in law. Only those points concerning con-cerning new legislation would have required action by the Congress. Con-gress. We have not, however, had this leadership from the Eisenhower Administration, which has left the burden of enforcement upon the federal courts. Therefore, clear pronouncements, particularly particu-larly in the field of unlawful segregation in the public schools as well as new legislation, are called for from Congress. Governor Collins of Florida i writes: "I concur in the item urging additional laws to protect the rights of American citizens to register and vote free of dis- crimination based on race, color, religion or ntaional origin. I do not feel such laws have proven to be necessary in Florida, but it would certainly seem that fail- ures at the State and local level have T.d-c ucn Aaws - ntc.ccs.'sv , ' in smiie parts of our country. "The references to school desegregation de-segregation are entirely too unrealistic un-realistic and to generalized. It is workable, practical solutions that are needed in this field, not statements of this character. Sen. Kefauver writes: "I can |