Senator Dominick? Senator DOMINICK. No questions. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, sir. Our next witness, appearing for the Fauntroy nomination, is Mr. Belford V. Lawson, attorney at law. Mr. Lawson, will you proceed, sir? STATEMENT OF BELFORD V. LAWSON, JR., ATTORNEY AT LAW, WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. LAWSON. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, Mr. Walter Fauntroy was born and reared in the ghetto, scarred by the brutalities of poverty and prejudice, deprived of the goods and alienated from the goals of democracy, hindered in determining his destiny, he listened to the rumblings of the street and the engines of the human heart. He was educated in our public schools and in two of the best universities in the United States-Virginia Union University and the Divinity School of Yale University, by whom he was graduated with high distinction. Refusing lucrative positions in the educational and religious establishments, he returned to work in the place where he was born and reared and to the New Bethel Baptist Church which had nourished him. Under his creative leadership, New Bethel has become a refuge and sanctuary for the lonely and lost and he himself has become a powerful and persuasive voice in the discussion of the ultimate implications of the ideals and purposes of our capitalistic democracy, Early in his professional life he began a continuous and critical analysis of the dimensions of the problems of cities in our expanding society. With a disciplined mind, a courageous and compassionate heart, he seeks answers for the deliverance of the urban poor. Working in many local and national organizations he is finding some of the answers. I speak for nameless and countless people and numerous organizations with whom he and I have worked. I know personally of his deep interest and involvement in the YMCA, the Home Rule Board, and the Junior Citizens Corps, which, under the leadership of its founder, Sgt. Oliver A. Cowan, counseled and guided him in his youth. At the very center of his concern is his church and the whole local and national Baptist Church community. Time limits me to the identification of his work in only one organization the Model Inner City Community Organization, Inc., of which he is a founder and the president. The nonprofit organization, known as MICCO, has brought together over 150 existing organizations in the Shaw urban renewal project area to assist the planning agencies of the District of Columbia in developing a new kind of urban renewal, in which people, not structures, will be the major concern. Through MICCO, the people of the Shaw area will participate in the planning of a new community in which their life chances will be real, American, equal. All of the people of the Shaw area, all of the interests of that large and significant heart of our city, are learning to work together and to communicate with government about their problems and their needs. The urban crisis cannot be solved unless such channels are devised and used. There can be no development of motivation for social change unless government can order and deliver its resources to the people where they live. This, then, is Walter Fauntroy's dream of how the ghetto is to be unlocked and its people set free. How fortunate we are to have this brilliant young leader who knows that history does not make men but that men make history. How wise the President in selecting him to join in service with those distinguished and dedicated public servants, Mayor Washington, Vice Mayor Fletcher, and the Chairman of our City Council, Mr. Hechinger, and all the members of the Council. Mr. Chairman, it is my considered judgment that Reverend Fauntroy's lustrous creativity will add an informed and · urgent voice to the councils of leadership in bringing the District government into closer conformity with constitutional principle in order that our historical and shameful legacy of racial prejudice and invidious discrimination may be erased from our minds and hearts and that American justice, equality, and humanity may prevail. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. A very outstanding statement, Mr. Lawson. Are there questions of Mr. Lawson from Senator Dominick or Senator Spong? Thank you very much, sir. Our next witness, on behalf of the Haywood nomination, Mr. Alexander Benton, president of the Washington Bar Association. Mr. Benton. Is Mr. Benton here? He may be detained and we will go back to him later on. The next witness appearing for the Turner nomination, Mr. F. H. McGuigan, legislative representative for the AFL-CIO, Washington, D.C. Good to see you again, Mr. McGuigan. STATEMENT OF F. H. MCGUIGAN, LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE AFL-CIO, WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. MCGUIGAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, my name is Howard McGuigan. I am a legislative representative of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. While my appearance is specifically on behalf of Mr. Turner, I would like if I may to read a brief letter into the record from President Meany, which is as follows. It is addressed to Senator Bible: On behalf of the AFL-CIO I want to endorse individually and collectively President Johnson's nominees for appointment to the District of Columbia City Council. In our opinion the President has chosen wisely and well. The men and women whose nominations are now before the Committee are capable, sincere citizens who have demonstrated in the past their ability to serve the public welfare. We are especially pleased that the President has included in his nominations Mr. J. C. Turner whose record as a trade unionist and community leader is unexcelled. The AFL-CIO as you know supported the establishment of the new form of government for the District of Columbia. We believe that Commissioner Wash ington, his deputy and new City Council will move swiftly and surely to meet the City's many problems. It is our hope that your Committee and the Senate will speedily concur in the President's appointments. Signed George Meany. I also have, Mr. Chairman, for the record a letter from the Washington Central Labor Council endorsing all of the nominees. To continue with my statement on behalf of Mr. Turner: I appreciate this opportunity to appear before your committee today to express our wholehearted support for the confirmation of the nomination of Mr. J. C. Turner as a member of the District of Columbia City Council. I might add that I have known Mr. Turner for more than 30 years. I have been closely associated with him for the past 25 years and I personally have the highest regard for him. On September 28, 1967, when President Johnson announced the names of the nominees for the city council he referred to Mr. Turner as follows: A labor leader who knows the problems of the workingman, who fought for the minimum wage, who has spent a lifetime of service in the cause of labor, a man who has made many contributions to helping his fellowman and to improving his city. Mr. Turner is a graduate of Eastern High School and Catholic University. He has been best known for his activities as a labor leader. However, I know of no one who has dedicated more of his time and talent to civic activity in the District of Columbia. Among his many activities contributing to the well-being of the city are the following: Mr. Turner is currently president of the Greater Washington Central Labor Council. He has served in this capacity since 1958 and he served as vice president of the council from 1948 to 1958. This council is composed of approximately 105 affiliated labor organizations, with a total membership of approximately 150,000 people. About 75,000 of these union members live in the District. Thus, it could be said that Mr. Turner is elected by a delegate body representing a very sizable segment of the residents of this city. The central labor council under Mr. Turner's leadership has been in the forefront of all progressive activities in the District of Columbia. More than 2 years prior to the Supreme Court decision on integration of schools the central labor council advocated that this should be done. Mr. Turner was a charter member of the Commissioner's Citizens' Advisory Council, established in 1952. He served as the employee member of the Minimum Wage and Industrial Safety Board from 1944 to 1948. In 1962 Mr. Turner was the recipient of the Equal Opportunity Day Award, which is presented annually to outstanding citizens for their contributions in the field of providing equal opportunity to all citizens. His firm belief in the equal opportunity principle is demonstrated by the fact that his local union, Operating Engineers, Local 77, has increased its Negro membership from five when he became the business manager to 300 today. With Under Secretary of Labor John Henning, Mr. Turner was an original organizer of the District of Columbia Apprenticeship Information Center and served as its first chairman. This center has placed more than 500 disadvantaged youths in apprenticeship programs. Approximately 80 percent of the apprentices are Negroes. Mr. Turner served on the District of Columbia Library Board for a period of 6 years. He is currently a member of the District of Columbia Unemployment Compensation Board and has served on this Board since 1958. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Urban League from 1960 to 1966 and is now on the advisory board. He attended conferences of the International Labor Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1950, 1952, and 1964. In 1959 Mr. Turner was the recipient of the Man of the Year Award, presented by the League of Women Voters. His dedication to our Capital City and his sincere, intelligent, and energetic efforts to help solve its problems have been repeatedly demonstrated to members of this committee and other committees of Congress by his many appearances on Capitol Hill in behalf of legislation of importance to all citizens of the District of Columbia. We thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to voice our support for Mr. Turner, and we urge the committee to promptly recommend to the Senate the confirmation of Mr. Turner as a member of the District of Columbia City Council. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Mr. McGuigan, for a very fine state ment. Are there any questions of Mr. McGuigan? Thank you, sir. Our next witness appears for the Yeldell nomination. Bishop George W. Baber, presiding bishop of the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C. Bishop Baber. STATEMENT OF BISHOP GEORGE WILBUR BABER, PRESIDING BISHOP, SECOND EPISCOPAL DISTRICT OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D.C. Bishop BABER. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, first let me thank you for extending me an invitation to appear before your committee on behalf of Councilman-designate Joseph P. Yeldell. If I may digress for just a moment I would like to give the committee a little background information on myself. As Presiding Bishop of the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church I administer all AME Churches in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, comprising some 300 churches and serving approximately 70,000 parishioners. I am privileged to serve as one of the directors of the Greater Washington Council of Churches, and a member of the executive committee of the World Council of Churches. For over 40 years I have had an intense interest in good leadership and I have been privileged to be involved in community activities in the areas where I have served. I was a member of the ethics committee of the city of Philadelphia just before coming to Washington, D.C., some years ago. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to you today on behalf of Mr. Yeldell, a member of the Turner Memorial AME Church here in Washington under the pastorship of the Reverend S. Everette Guiles. Mr. Yeldell is a native Washingtonian, one of 13 children born to the late Deacon J. D. Yeldell and Annie Senior Yeldell. His were uneducated but proud parents who worked hard to see that their children would get an education and grow up to be "somebody." Mr. Yeldell is a product of the District of Columbia school system from kindergarten through the District of Columbia Teachers College, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1957. (He also received his master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1961.) His record speaks for itself. Throughout his career as a student, serviceman, teacher, Federal employee, and now as an executive at IBM, Mr. Yeldell has shown determination, dedication of purpose, and proven leadership. He has been consistently concerned with the problems of this city and is intensely interested in doing his part toward their solution. He is by profession a mathematician and data processing expert who has found out that success comes from first clearly defining problems and then providing meaningful solutions. He is a man who has experienced the problems of Washington, D.C., and is concerned about their effects upon all citizens. While he has wisely refrained from discussing the issues prior to his confirmation hearing before this committee, I know that Mr. Yeldell has set some basic goals for himself. 1. He plans to spend as much time as possible meeting and working with the people of his home area of "neglected" Southeast Washington. 2. He intends to work for quality education on both sides of Rock Creek Park, as he feels that good education is basic to economic success. 3. He is concerned about the approximately 5,000 families on the waiting list for public housing. He intends to explore all avenuespublic and private-to find decent housing for these people. In addition he feels that existing legislation must be rigidly enforced to bring substandard housing up to liveable conditions. 4. He intends to work for better police-community relations. He feels that the Councilman can bring this about in a way meaningful to the people by working closely and vigorously with the police at the precinct level. 5. He intends to see that the same quality and quantity of city service is provided throughout the city. Mr. Yeldell presents himself to this Council committed to no individual or group or sector, but with the determination to do the best possible job for all the people. Not only will the new City Council benefit directly from his integrity and dynamic leadership, but in him the Council will possess an individual whose sincerity and magnetic personality will draw the Council the wholehearted and vocal support of a large segment of the Washington population which has heretofore chosen to remain silent on the issues. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee for this opportunity to present my views to you in support of Mr. Yeldell. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Bishop Baber, for a very fine statement. Questions? |