University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Birmingham Scene Of Quiet Negotiation
By Al Kuettner
Behind the dramatic announcements of showdowns, deadlines and demands, a group of local Negroes in Birmingham is working quietly with the white leadership to bring a solution to the city's racial turmoil.
By Al Kuettner United Press International
Gaston thinks the massive street demonstrations of last spring "served their purpose" in making clear to the city government and to the nation that Birmingham Negroes were dissatisfied with conditions. He feels now, however, that the negotiations should move to the conference table.
Birmingham sources report the group is increasing in size and influence and that it includes Negro businessmen, clergymen and school personnel.
A. G. GASTON, millionaire Negro insurance and real estate executive, is the most vocal spokesman for the group which feels that local Negroes should have the chance to work out their destiny with the Birmingham city government.
This attitude comes at a time when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth—leaders of a continuing campaign for civil rights concessions in Birmingham—are threatening once more to call Negroes into the streets and into mass rallies to back up demands.
KING'S LATEST move was to set a deadline of next day for the city to hire 25 Negro policemen. He intimated that failure to comply would touch off the demonstrations. The city government has repudiated the tactics as "gun pointing."
Gaston feels that such an ultimatum is ill-advised at this time.
"You use soldiers to win the war but you use diplomats to win the peace," Gaston told a reporter. "You never win anything if you go to the peace table with a gun in your hands."
eal must over
Gaston said local Negroes of Birmingham have established "some communications" with the city council
and he is optimistic that "requests"—he shies away from the word "demands"—by Negroes will be compiled with in time.
One is the hiring of Negro policemen, a move which Gaston believes will do much to cure racial animosity.
"I TOOK ONE of these courses that is supposed to show you how to make friends," Gaston said. "I guess I learned one lesson from it. That was to always let the other fellow have face even after you beat him.
Returning to Birmingham "to assess the situation." King and Shuttlesworth threatened new demonstrations by "more numbers" than any man can count." But they refrained from setting a date. Shuttlesworth said only that "if we have to demonstrate, we will demonstrate"
"I am all for the effort to improve the situation for Negroes. I will work for it because it is needed. This is my home and I have my investment here. But I feel this thing needs some time to be worked out. We can all make some progress that way."
Boutwell said he would not permit "other interests to intervene or defeat that objective." Apparently he was referring to King, Shuttlesworth and their organized integration effort.
MAYOR ALBERT BOUTWELL insisted that "local leadership, both white and Negro, who have lived with these problems are now working on their solution."
"Whatever is done will be out of the cooperative efforts of local people and never in response to threats or deadlines from anyone," Boutwell said.
SUA Friday Flicks
"An Anatomy of a Murder," starring James Stewart and Lee Redick, will be shown at 7 and 9:30 p.m., Friday, October 18 in Fraser auditorium.
This film is the third in the SUA Friday Flicks.
WE CASH YOUR CHECKS
SELL YOU STAMPS — MAIL YOUR LETTERS
INVITE YOUR CHARGE ACCOUNT
You'll Like Our Car-Side Manners
A new stereo system has recently been installed in Battenfeld Scholarship Hall, and the men of Jolliffe Scholarship Hall liked the idea so well they have voted to build one for themselves.
Jollie voted to build an AM-FM stereo console unit Monday night.
Do-it-Yourself Stereo Catches On In Halls
Battenfeld's stereo was purchased in kit form and assembled by the residents. The system was started last spring with the purchase of speakers, a tuner, and an amplifier. This fall a record changer, speaker enclosures, and a cabinet to hold the equipment were added.
The money for the console, which would retail for about $600, came from the house special maintenance fund. This fund is designated for permanent improvements to the house.
Although everybody in the hall worked on the console, three residents were in charge of construction. Jim Tschechtelin, Shawnee Mission junior, majoring in electrical engineering, and Pat Staples, Kansas City, Kansas, junior, a radio amateur, were in charge of wiring, while Stanley Church, Wichita junior, did the cabinet work.
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1. 如图所示，图中线段AB的长为20cm。
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