The Brooksville Journal

Sen. Smathers Calls On Eisenhower To Give Leadership In Racial Crisis
Urges Supreme Court Reconsider Decision On Integration. Declaring that the problem of racial integration is the greatest problem facing this nation today, U. S. Senator George Smathers, in speaking to a joint banquet meeting of members of local civic clubs and officials Tuesday night, called on President Eisenhower to immediately assume leadership in working out a solution to the problem and urged that the Supreme Court reconsider its "infamous decision" of 1954 outlawing school segregation in the light of recent developments such as at Little Rock. Ark.

The President should immediately remove the federal troops from Central High School, the Senator asserted. in speaking to the more than 200 assembled local citizens, and an appeal should be made to the Supreme Court to review its previous ruling outlawing segregation in public schools which it admitted was based purely upon psychological factors. "Surely now the effect of the ruling on students at the Little Rock School should be considered," the speaker declared.

He went on to point out that by this time all must know that neither court orders, troops, or force can solve the problem. "It can only be answered in the minds and hearts of the people," the Senator emphasized. "Force of arms only makes the problem worse," he said.

Ike Not Authorized Sen. Smathers continued by asserting that nowhere in the Constitution or laws passed by Congress is the President authorized to use federal troops as he has in this instance. In fact, he said, he has expressly violated the provisions of the Posse Comitatus Act which makes it unlawful for any person to use as he has done any part of the Army or Air Force. This law was obviously passed to restrict the use of federal troops and supercedes the three acts upon which Ike has declared he based his decision to send federal troops into the Little Rock crisis. an action taken on the advice of Attorney General Brownell.

"By this act." the Senator declared, "the President did great harm to our Constitutional form of government and to states' rights." He pointed out that the Constitution does give the President power to enforce the law through use of marshals, etc., but this was entirely bypassed by the Chief Executive by his ordering of federal troops to the Arkansas city.

Supreme Court Blamed Laying the blame for the whole situation at the door of the U. S. Supreme Court, Senator Smathers declared that the high court relied solely upon the controversial 14th Amendment and questionable psychological factors in handing down its decision making segregation in public schools unlawful.

"How the Supreme Court arrived at its infamous decision is one of the legal mysteries of the century," the Florida lawmaker declared. The decision overruled numerous previous rulings which had been upheld through the years by able jurists that separate but equal facilities for education of white and negro children were considered equal rights. But then, the Senator concluded, I guess the trouble was that these courts were made up of trained and experienced lawyers and jurists.

Duty To Reconsider Sen. Smathers went on to say that he has little confidence in the worth of the present Supreme Court, and declared that the members of the high court today have a duty to reconsider their previous controversial decision in the light of current events.

As a solution, the Florida lawmaker pointed out the high court could hold, if it wished, that integration should proceed but only in those places where it would be accepted peaceably and without violence.

He went on to declare that the problem of racial integration is not confined to the South but is also fast becoming a Northern problem where there has been more bitterness and violence over racial problems in the past several years than in the Southland.

"In fact," the speaker declared, "before racial extremists fanned the flames in the South, this section of the nation had made more progress in harmonious racial relations than the North. No doubt, if left alone, the South could again put its feet on the road to progress and better race relationships."

Posing the question as to how sincere many of the pro-integration liberals in the Congress really are, Sen. Smathers pointed out that most are more interested in political gains than in helping the negro. He declared that many actions of the politicians are directly aimed at getting the "bloc vote" which oftentimes is enough to swing an election. This is why today you see Congressional leaders promising minority bloc vote leaders anything they want, he said.

Change Electoral College To get away from this political expediency policy, the Senator pointed out that he has proposed a change in the present Electoral College system of electing the President. He said that for several years he has proposed, and without much success, a substitute plan which would divide the Electoral College vote on a percentage basis according to the popular vote, thus giving the citizens of the nation a more direct hand in the election of the Chief Executive.

The Senator suggested that the President, Vice-President, Attorney General Brownell and other national leaders ask that the racial problem be placed above politics as it lends itself so easily to demagogary.

Basic Problem "The problem is so basic and so widespread that it can do our nation untold damage," the Senator asserted. "With the Russian satellite overhead, we cannot afford to be divided. We must concert our energies and prepare ourselves for the anxious days ahead."

In closing Sen. Smathers declared that the solution. to the racial problem will not be found in court decrees, inflamed passions or politics, but only in patience, tolerance, good will and understanding. He again called on the President and other national leaders to weigh carefully the suggestions for a solution and to step forth with aggressive leadership so that we can walk with tolerance and peace among our neighbors again.

Many Attend The speaker was introduced by C. Dent Lanier, program chairman for the evening.
Attending were members, wives, and guests of the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Brooksville and Masaryktown Lions Clubs, Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Pilot Club, the Senator and Representative from Hernando county, county and city officials, school system officers, and many others.