Jackson Advocate

NEGRO PUBLISHERS URGE IKE SPEAK OUT ON RACE TENSION

Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 29—Negro publishers from across the nation have called on President Eisenhower to take the lead in guaranteeing "every American citizen that his constitutional rights shall be freely exercised, protected, and preserved in every section of the nation."

The call to the White House came last week during the mid-winter meeting of the National Newspaper Publishers Association in Nashville, Tenn.

In a resolution passed by the group, the President was urged to give "his assurance to the American people that the law of the land must be observed."

The resolution also said, in part: "In view of the breakdown of interracial amity and understanding in some parts of our nation, we believe that all Americans of good will must speak out and act, without delay, to bring about the end of violence, terrorism, bombings, disregard for human and civil rights, and contempt for constitutionally-guaranteed law and order.

"Our country has developed the philosophy that all men possess indisputable dignities and rights. It now faces the responsibility of proving to itself and to the world that such a philosophy can be guiding principle in man's search for security and peace.

"The keystone of any civilization adhering to these beliefs is observance of law and order. The foundation of American law is the constitution of the United States as interpreted by the Supreme Court.

"The governors and legislatures of the various states have a corresponding obligation to guarantee that all Constitutional rights may be fully and freely exercised. The first step is to bring about an immediate end to disorder and violence within their respective states.

"The American people have an equal responsibility to insist that their elected officials, their civic and religious leaders, in every community, take immediate action to restore confidence in the principles of freedom, equality, human dignity and government under law.

"Only in this way can our nation earn the respect of other nations and secure domestic unity necessary to preserve our civilization."