Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 1964)
Vnl. l.XV UNIVERSITY OF OREGON. EUGENE, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 19«4 No. 54 LINES . . . I.INLS . . . LINES . . . pari of the story of University life. First came th« lines to register for classes. Tuesday afternoon students lined up outside the business office to make fee payments, the last chance before penalties. Photo: Bigham. YMCA Dialogue Discusses Alabama Governor s Visit By JVDY WEGNER Emerald Stall Writer Lively discussion concerning Alabama Gov. George Wallace's speech highlighted the second of a series of YMOA dialogues on civil rights Tuesday. The discussion was led by Ju lian 1’alley. associate profesM>r of romance languages, and Alfred Bloom, instructor of religion Dick Gorini is YMCA committee chairman Much of the discussion cen terrd around Wallace's definition oi a race riot as "A line of whites on one side and persons of anottier race on the other side" Bloom suggested that Wallace's definition was primar ily literal, and that therefore Ala hama could be called a state without race riots. The demonstrations in other states could be called race riots in view of Wallace's definition. Alabama has not experienced race riots because the Negroes have chosen to be non violent. There fore. even the bombings in Bir mingham could not be called race riots, because the Negroes were non-violent," Bloom said. Bailey added that the Negro has chosen non-violence because he has been too depressed by his low status position in society to riot. Discussion between the panel and audience also concerned Wal lace's statements on civil rights Bloom said he felt that Wallace was somewhat vague in mention ing human rights, especially in contrast to his emphasis on prop erty rignts and trial by jury. A member of the audience, commenting that Wallace consid On Wallace Visit Flemming Lauds Student Conduct Pride in conduct of members of the University community during the Monday visit of Alabama Governor George Wal lace was expressed Tuesday by University President Arthur S. Flemming. He also cited ASUO President Phil Sherburne for the handling of arrangements for the Wallace visit, CORE Presi dent Ron Finne and members for their actions, and Emerald editor Everette Dennis and associates for coverage of the visit. Following is Flemming's statement: "Everyone connected with the University of Oregon has every reason to be proud of the manner in which the University Community reacted to the visit of Governor Wallace. 1 believe that all of us are indebted to Phil Sherburne and his associates for the way in which arrangements were made and carried out for the visit. I also feel that we are indebted to Ron Finne, the President of CORE, and his associates for the dignified and effective manner in which they called attention to their convictions relative to the issues presented by Governor Wallace. We are particularly grateful to Rev. Ralph Moore for the leadership that he provided for the meeting in the Student Union. i also want to express appreciation to Everette Dennis, the Editor of THE EMERALD, and those associated with him for the way in which they covered the events leading up to Governor Wal lace's visit as well as the visit itself. It seems to me that both news stories and editorial comment were handled in a manner consistent with the standards of responsible journalism. "Finally, 1 want to express my admiration for the courteous manner in which our students listened to the presentation of Governor Wallace's views—views which I know in many instances were in conflict with their own convictions. “I believe that once again the University of Oregon has demon strated that it is possible for an institution of higher education to adhere strictly to the concept of freedom of inquiry and do so in a responsible manner.” Signed, Arthur S. Flemming President ered property rights more impor tant than human rights, stated. "He missed the point that private businessmen operate in the pub lic interest." Bloom, remarking that Wal lace bragged about Alabama’s in dustry, commented that its indus try would naturally rise because of cheap labor and lack of or- j ganized labor in the state. General statements concerning the governor's speech ranged from "Basically. 1 disagreed with his statements" to "He had a cer tain'charm." and "There was some merit in what he said." Property Rights First Both the panel and audience were in general agreement that Wallace was wrong to place prop erty rights and trial by jury above human rights. Referring to Wallace’s state ment that Alabama had an abnor mal school drop-out rate, Bloom stated that "as soon as Negro students reach an understanding of the world by fifth or sixth grade, they feel there is no fu ture for them. Naturally, they drop out. Only desegregation can end this pessimism.'’ Mentioning racial discrimina tion in another Southern state. Gorini said that the Confederate flag flies alone on some flagpoles in Little Rock. Ark. He also said that he felt discrimination when Southerners knew he was from Massachusetts, "the heart of Yan keeland.” View From Abroad The panel also discussed I S. civil rights as viewed from abroad. Palley stated that the United States is naturally concerned about the image it creates abroad. He mentioned that racial dis crimination in America is worse than anywhere else in the world except South America. "Why do we worry?” he ques tioned. "Unless we worry, the rest of the world will go into the Communist sphere. Besides, the lives of our fellow men should be our interest." The panel also discussed civil rights in foreign countries, as it relates to the American situa tion. Economic Discrimination Palley, who is well-acquainted with Mexican life, stated that Negroes, as badly as they are treated here, are better off than the great majority of Mexicans. However, discrimination in Mex ico exists only economically, be tween upper and lower classes. Brazil’s Mulatto’s identity with the upper group in society, mak ing a buffer for relaxed integra tion, according to Bloom. Wallace Talk Not Up to Par By DAVE JORDAN Emerald Staff Writer Alabama Gov. George Wallace's Monday night speech at the l niversitv brought reactions varying from condemnation and boredom to respect—but with a general trend of dis approval. Reflecting on the visit Tuesday, a number of faculty mem bers and students acquainted with Wallace's reputation and ideas gave their reactions to the whole thing. Edwin R. Bingham, associate professor of history, said, “Gov. Wallace put the 19th Century view of states rights persuasively, insisting upon the right of the individual to CORE Leaders Are Optimistic About Activities CORE leaders are generally op timistic about the effects of their actions Monday during the vis it of George Wallace, Governor of Alabama. Group actions included a pro test march on downtown Eugene, in which about 85 marchers par ticipated. a picket line and the distribution of anti-segregation literature in front of Mac Court before the speech, and a fund raising drive in which money was collected for the Student Non-Violent Co-ordinating Com mittee. Commenting on the effect of CORE actions. Ron Dobkins, act ing secretary of the campus CORE group, said. "We ht-ard some snide remarks about the pickets. Some thought the demonstra tions were amusing. However. I believe that CORE'" actions made a lot of people aware of the prob lems in the South, and started ' Conti nurd on /‘nor 8) control his property absolutely, even capriciously, without regard i to public or social needs. ! “He seems not to realize that the concept of the arch indivi dual, the self-sufficing, indepen dent man has limited relevance i for modem society.” H alter Grebe, president of the law scchool student body, said. 'I don t think he said very much. He made a lot of sounds, but not much came out.” James R. Klonoski. associate professor of political science, stated, “It was hardly the kind of address which would appeal to his audience. In delivering it as a discussion of the Civil Rights Bill, he had to drop much of his 'folksiness.’ This is what he uses best, and what he could have used to sway that audience.” Most of the commenters agreed that Wallace came to the cam pus with purpose greater than just give a speech. Most seem to think he was trying to accom plish something. Accomplished Objective W endell M. Basye, associate professor of law, indicated, "My own impression was that he ac complished what he came here to do—and that was to show that he is not an ogre.” Joseph Fiszman, instructor of political science, said. "He came out here to retrieve the good < Continued on fni-i,’ •'i.i Oregon Like Alabama Wallace Tells U of W SEATTLE (AP) — Alabama Go\. George C. Wallace carried his campaign against the pend ing civil rights bill here Tuesday on the last stop of a five-state Western swing which he charac terized as "a tremendous suc cess.’’ Wallace told a news confer ence on the University of Wash ington campus that "the liberals would have been astounded and surprised" at the turnout of 8, 900 students which heard him Monday night at the University. “You would have thought I was back in the South,” he said. "Why, when 1 said the Confed erate flag would fly again, they cheered just like in Alabama.” An overflow crowd of 2,000 heard his afternoon address in ; Meany Hall. Some 300 students | were unable to gain entrance. Wallace said that although he was attempting to line up new ' industries for his state during ■ the tour, his principal purpose I was "to try in some small degree j,0 emancipate young people from j some of the distorted and slant ed views of the South.” , He said social and educational segregation had proved best for all races in his part of the coun try and "segregation is not syno nymous with hatred.” __ The dapper 44-year-old, 5-foot 7-inch governor fielded a barrage of ofttimes critical questions with aplomb, but hit hard and re peatedly at his favorite theme, that the civil rights bill is not for civil rights at all.