National Affairs: Preaching & Practice

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With many a pear-shaped preachment, Florida's Governor LeRoy Collins has built a reputation as a civil rights statesman, won favorable mention as a Southern moderate who might do nicely as a Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 1960. But Collins' practice falls far short of his preachment: not once during his three years as Governor has he proposed even a token program for admitting Negro children to white classrooms in Florida's 100%-segregated public school system.

Last week LeRoy Collins again struck a statesmanlike pose, called for "bold, creative, constructive leadership"—and brought forth a scheme for nullifying the rule of law on civil rights issues. Collins urged the U.S. Congress, in its closing hours, to pass a "moratorium" law, forbidding U.S. courts to issue desegregation orders for the next six months. Collins could well afford to spend his time advising on national civil rights policy. He has no desegregation problem at home; there is not the slightest possibility that a Negro child will attend school with whites in Florida this year.