The Tribune

A Readers Opinion
F. E. Alexander, Editor
THE TRIBUNE.
5 Gilmer Ave., N. W.
Roanoke, Virginia

Dear Editor: I read your editorial in August 2, edition of The Tribune entitled "Congressman A. Clayton Powell Puts Foot In Mouth," but after carefully reading it I wonder whether you did not put your editorial foot in your mouth last week by violating the first rule of the American press, that is getting your facts straight before publishing them.

You stated in your editorial that Congressman Powell had nothing to say of Senator Sparkman but praise and went on to imply that his only reason for opposing him is due to the fact "that he is from Alabama." You have either been misinformed or you have read your press releases incorrectly.

When Leo Egan, of The New York Times interviewed Congressman Powell in the Convention Building in Chicago after the convention had closed Powell said Senator Sparkman's nomination was one of the "great tragedies of our time" BECAUSE the Alabaman's record and position on MOST issues, EXCEPT the civil rights question, was good. So much for what Mr. Powell actually said.

Now, was Congressman Powell telling the truth or was he just being warped and prejudiced? Let's look at the Sparkman record and find out.

As a member of the House, Mr. Sparkman voted against anti-lynching bills in 1937 and 1940; against anti-poll tax bills in 1942, '43 and '45. Then after Sparkman became a Senator in 1948 he voted to require poll tax payments for voting by the armed forces.

In 1950 Senator Sparkman voted against closure to break up the filibuster on the FEPC bill and in 1950 he told a radio audience in Alabama:

"Even though the Democratic platform --as well as the Republican--carried a pledge for civil rights legislation, I predict that if you do not take away from us who represent you in Congress the power that is ours as long as we can operate as Democrats-ON THE INSIDE--there will not any such legislation. We southern Democratic Senators--21 of us-- are banded together and pledged to use every parliamentary device possible to defeat civil rights legislation."

It would appear from the record, the voting record of Senator Sparkman while in the House and Senate, that Mr. Powell had more substantial cause for concern than just the mere fact that John J. Sparkman, man was born in Morgan County, Alabama.

Mr. Sparkman, to date, has been consistently against what Mr. Powell and every other responsible Negro leader in America is for, and that is first class citizenship for ALL Americans.

This is not intended as a defense for Mr. Powell. He is fully capable of defending himself. It is intended as a reminder that he who writes to inform must have his facts straight, or else he will surely run the risk of misleading his readers.

VERNON SINCLAIR
9 Caroline St.
Staunton, Va.