The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1964. Civil Rights Bill

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 12

The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1964. Civil Rights Bill

Race violence in an Alabama town, with its danger of touching off explosive forces elsewhere,

is a threat to the passing of the Civil Rights Bill through the United States Congress. The bill has now cleared the House of Representatives and this is in itself a notable achievement for President Johnson. If the latest Alabama school incident, engineered by white leaders, should provoke Negroes into demonstrations, the bill’s progress in the coming climactic struggle in the Senate would be gravely prejudiced. That would suit ardent segregationists, of course. Since the great Washington “ March “ for Jobs and Freedom ” last August, large demonstrations have been discouraged by Negro leaders, who have refrained from direct pressure on Congress for fear of upsetting the delicate alliances which can see the bill through. But .pressures behind the Negro revolt cannot be contained indefinitely. For the Notasulga incident is not isolated. There have been similar incitements to Negro action in the North.

More than the fate of the bill is in issue: so is President Johnson’s bid for reelection. At present; President Johnson has solid support in his home South, although he pledged him-

i sell, a few days after taking office, to the elimination of I every trace of discnmina!tion and oppression based cn race or colour. It has even been forecast in I Washington that no matter ■ how .vigorously he pushes the bill he will maintain [solid Southern backing. It is in the North that resentment of the legisla- ; tion could be most dangerous to him. In the South, his political danger is rather that, in enforcing the law, Ihe might have to use Federal troops to back up [integration; and numbers of court orders against school segregation are likely to be made shortly before the election. Nevertheless, the bill itself is of great significance, because it is the broadest civil rights legislation attempted in the century since Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation. It would outlaw racial discrimination in theatres, restaurants and hotels; it would cut off Federal funds from State or local projects involving racial discrimination; it would put greater Federal pressure behind the assurance of voting rights; greater judicial powers would be given to the defence of constitutional and employment rights. President Johnson’s courage in staking his political future on such a bill commands respect.