Powell Scorns Meredith

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 13

Powell Scorns Meredith

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BIMINI (Bahamas), March 9.

Adam Clayton Powell, the unseated Harlem Congressman, said today he does not consider his political adversary James Meredith either formidable or a civil rights leader.

Mr Powell gave his assessment of Mr Meredith at a news conference in Bimini.

At his news conference Powell drew laughs when he cracked “Meredith who?” “I have . . . service in Congress unequalled by anyone,” he said. “Long after Mr Meredith changed his diapers I was walking the streets of Harlem on picket lines.” Asked if he would admit that Mr Meredith could become a formidable opponent, Mr Powell angrily replied, “I do not admit that at all. Man, get lost.” To another question he said, “No, he is not even a civil rights leader.” District Court

Three Qualifications In a brief filed with the court, Mr Powell argued that he should be seated because he met the three qualifications listed for membership in the constitution—age, citizenship and residence.

This basically is the same argument that Mr Powell raised when appearing before a select committee which investigated him after he was temporarily barred from his House seat on January 10. The special committee recommended that Mr Powell be seated and punished, but later the House rejected the advice and voted to exclude him altogether.

Lawyers for Mr Powell asked a Federal Court yesterday to order him readmitted to the House of Representatives.

They charged in a United States District Court suit that the House’s action last week to exclude Mr Powell violated his constitutional rights and discriminated against him because he was a Negro. The suit called on the Court to issue a permanent injunction restraining House

Note Portraits. Portraits of an Australian pioneer woman, Mrs Caroline Chisholm, and the naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, who sailed with Captain Cook in the Endeavour, are reported to be on Australia's new five-dollar note which will be issued in May. —Sydney, March 9.

Speaker, Mr John W. McCormack, from refusing to administer the oath of office to Mr Powell.

The suit also asks that a preliminary injunction be issued so that Mr Powell can take his seat immediately.