Letters: Jul. 24, 1964

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Sir: William Faulkner is just another of those Southern "gentlemen" and "aristocrats" who have helped to encourage violence against black people by taking that "May my people always be right, but my people right or wrong" attitude. This is exactly what Robert E. Lee and others did at the time of the Civil War. Faulkner's famous quote cannot be beautified by encasing it in psychological jargon. Such men have a definite responsibility for the atrocities that have occurred in the South for the past 350 years.

PETER A. BAILEY

New York City

Sir: As a Mississippian and student of Faulkner's works who was privileged to discuss his literary inventions and creations with him, and as one who learned from him not only a concern for the social-racial problems of our state, but also "a feeling from the heart for man's plight," I am grateful to your writer and editors for their sagacious presentation of Mr. Faulkner's works in a nonpolitical, unbiased context. The article is painfully apropos in its analysis of my state, my people, the South, and mankind. Faulkner pleads for understanding, not for retribution. I plead for a concentrated and dedicated effort to understand, and then to alleviate the problem of conflict between the emotions and the intellect of the people of my state, the South, and the world.

WILLIAM MILES

Collinsville, Miss.

Sir: I would expect to find a work of art such as Robert Vickrey's portrait of William Faulkner in a $25 art book or in a museum. You seem to have all the great artists, but this one tops anything I've seen. Let's have more pen and ink drawings by Robert Vickrey!

HAROLD SNYDER JR.

York, Pa.

The G.O.P. at San Francisco

Sir: I firmly believe that the only man capable of leading this country is Barry Goldwater. This man will bring back something that has been missing for many years: the dignity of the individual.

EUGENE ZENONE

Yeadon, Pa.

Sir: It seems a shame that the only ones who want Senator Goldwater are the people.

MRS. JACKSON TODD

Marion, Ind.

Sir: I am ashamed of Ike, horrified at Dirksen, scornful of Halleck et. al., saddened by my party's platform, disturbed by the coup d' état of my party by a subtly militant minority, repulsed by its nominee, and reconciled to voting for Lyndon in November.

PATRICIA J. PALMER

Auburndale, Mass.

Sir: Because Goldwater supporters claim that anyone who is not for their man is not a true American—as I have read in your Letters section—after 50 years as a Republican, I will vote for his opponent in November.

W. A. WOLSTENHOLME

Philadelphia

Sir: With bleary eyes and dragging tail, I watched the G.O.P platform floor "fight" from start to embarrassing finish. As a result, I am getting the hell out of the extremist-controlled, hate-catering Republican Party. I renounce any allegiance to a party that blindly follows "Barry the Great" down the steep road to extinction.

PATRICIA MISKELLY

Baltimore