position in the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia for the period of three years immediately following the date of his conviction.", and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Chairman of the House and Senate District Committees, the Mayor-Commissioner, the Chief of Metropolitan Police and the President of the United States.

MAY 2, 1968.

GENTLEMEN: The recent action arbitrarily cancelling the law of this country by responsible (?) officials in Washington, D.C., "in order to save lives" is an astounding thing! Arson, looting, violence took place with police told not to interfere. $100 million was lost in that riot (per Mr. Talcott, U.S. Representative). Hitler showed what appeasement means when Chamberlain rejoiced in "saving lives." He was encouraged as these criminals are encouraged when not confronted and stopped and punished swiftly and sternly.

But the worst criminals are those officials who did not enforce our laws. The arsonists, looters, and violence makers are not elected or appointed to uphold law and enforce it. They did not violate a sacred trust, in some cases solemnly sworn to. They are just savages operating on their own level.

The "poor people's" march needs law enforcement for the rights of the citizens who work and obey the law for the good of all.

The capital is our city-unique in this country. No mob of hoodlums under whatever sanctimonious banner can invade it. This mob must pay their expenses or get out! They must act in an ordinarily, sensible, orderly, financially responsible way or get out! Just as we have to do.

Sincerely,

VIRGINIA P. RAISBECK.

FEDERATION OF CITIZENS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

RESOLUTION

Whereas, there is a complete lack of confidence in Safety Director Patrick V. Murphy to maintain law and order in the District of Columbia: Therefore, be it Resolved, By the Federation of Citizens Associations in regular meeting assem bled the 9th day of May, 1968, we urgently request that the position of "The Director of Public Safety for the District of Columbia" be abolished forthwith.

FEDERATION OF CITIZENS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Whereas the Poor Peoples' March on Washington has a potential for rioting, looting and burning as recently witnessed here and as frequently accompanies demonstrations of this nature, and

Whereas it is generally recognized that a most effective deterrent to situations of this nature is the knowledge on the part of the participants that adequate forces are available to maintain and enforce law and order, and

Whereas our Armed Forces are available for such duty and have proved in the past to be a most effective supplement to our police forces: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, The Federation of Citizens' Associations in meeting assembled this 9th day of May 1968, calls on the Mayor-Commissioner of the District of Columbia to secure the services of a sufficient number of our Armed Forces to patrol the streets of Washington and give visual evidence to all that adequate forces are available and ready to maintain law and order: And further be it

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent the President of the United States, the Chairmen of the House and Senate District Committees, the MayorCommissioner of the District of Columbia, the Director of Public Safety and the Chief of Metropolitan Police.

[Reprint from The Sunday Star, May 26, 1968]

A BUSINESSMAN VOICES HIS FAITH IN THE CAPITAL CITY

A majority of Washington business leaders have faith in the future of the National Capital and believe it will grow and prosper and provide a quality of life

for its citizens unmatched elsewhere in the world, declared Robert C. Baker, president of American Security and Trust Co., here last night.

Baker issued a statement to the press yesterday along with announcement of plans for opening two new branches of his bank, the first one tomorrow at 120 C St. NW and the second on June 17 at L'Enfant Plaza. It came at a time of some anxiety accompanying recent civil disorders, current demonstrations and a rising toll of robberies involving financial institutions.

He conceded there is much cause for concern about certain conditions within the community, but cautioned against overemphasis of influences that are basically short-term and correctible.

Citing steady population growth, expansion in retail trade, housing, banking volume and employment, Baker emphasized that Washington is one of the Nation's top growth cities.

"As bankers we must watch those financial developments that indicate the condition of a community's economic health," he declared. "The trends that we watch in our day-to-day business show that this is a city of financial viability with a positive outlook for long-term financial growth."

The text of Baker's statement follows:

"I am grateful for this opportunity to speak on the subject that is uppermost in the minds of many Washington businessmen. I speak both as a businessman and as an individual who is a long-time resident in this city and who loves it dearly. I am confident that I accurately represent the viewpoint of the vast majority of business leaders in this community when I say that we have confidence in the future of Washington and that we believe this is a great, growing and viable metropolis that is enjoying an era of growth and prosperity.

"There is undeniable cause for concern over certain conditions within our community, but we should not allow these influences, which are basically short-term and correctable, to be over-emphasized in measuring the economic health of the city. When judged on any long-term rationale, Washington emerges as a city in the midst of an era of un-precedented business prosperity, with great potential for the future.

"There are a number of business and economic guide lines to support my conviction that Washington is one of America's leading growth cities with opportunities for business and employment scarcely to be matched by any other community.

"In retail sales, for example, the District showed an increase of more than $289,000,000 in five years. Total employment in the District by private business increased to 310,000 in 1966 and while we do not yet have final figures for 1967, indications are that another substantial increase was registered. I should like to stress that there is no valid reason why this important figure, representing as it does, the total of those employed in the private sector of business should not continue to increase in the coming years.

"The strength of the Washington economy was shown dramatically in the first quarter of this year by the increase of new housing permits in the District of more than 50 percent over the comparable 1967 quarter. This reversed a general downward trend throughout the nation including Washington in recent years.

"Another example of the strength of the capital city is the fact that, while few eastern cities are growing in population due to a general movement toward the suburbs, the District has experienced a small but steady increase in the number of its inhabitants. The Washington metropolitan area continues to be one of the fastest growing areas of the nation with its population estimated at 2,700,000, up almost 700,000 from 1960.

"As bankers, we must watch those key financial developments that indicate the condition of a community's economic health. The trends we watch in our day to day business show that this is a city of financial viability with a positive outlook for long term financial growth. Time deposits rose by 13 percent in 1967 to $987 million. This continued a growth pattern which saw total bank deposits in Washington increase by more than $800,000,000 in a five year period.

"During the same period total loans have increased by more than one half billion dollars and demand continues at an unprecedented high rate within the District.

"A key indicator of our city's vitality is the attraction it has for visitors from all over our nation and, indeed, from all over the world. Tourism is Washington's largest profit industry. It ranks second only to the federal government as an economic factor for the District. Last year a record 16.8 million tourists visited Washington spending $531,000,000 here. In the last 10 years, tourism in Washington has increased by 46 percent. It is estimated that by 1977, our annual influx of

tourists will reach 29 million and that they will spend more than a billion dollars here.

"Supported by such stimulating business and economic indications, it is hardly possible to view this city's future except with optimism and confidence. The business community, of course, cannot overlook conditions and circumstances that are having a temporarily depressing influence on the city. It would be wrong, however, to allow these conditions, which are transitory and should have no permanent effect on the general health of the community, providing sound, corrective measures are taken, to obscure the generally positive long-range outlook for the city. So long as we maintain our faith in the future of this great city, it will grow and prosper and provide a quality of life for its citizens unmatched in any other city in the world."

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS ITEMS

[From the Washington Star, Mar. 17, 1968]

'DAY AND NIGHT' EFFORT-MURPHY BELIEVES D.C. WILL ESCAPE DISORDER District Safety Director Patrick C. Murphy is confident the city will be able to prevent serious disorders this summer.

With Dr. Martin Luther King bringing his Poor People's Campaign to Washington next month, and with the possibility of disturbances this summer, the city is working "day and night" to improve community relations, he says, adding:

"Frankly, I am completely confident we are going to be able to prevent . . . any serious disorder in this city this summer."

Murphy, who was appointed nearly four months ago to head the city's police and fire departments as well as civil defense, makes his comments in a WMAL-TV interview to be telecast on Close Up at 1 p.m. today.

On other topics, the former New York City police official said he believes that use of the chemical spray as a police weapon has been greatly misunderstood. The spray renders its victim helpless in what Murphy believes is a more humane way than a nightstick or revolver.

When asked about Chief John B. Layton's decision not to include "boy" in a list of banned trigger words last year-an omission that angered segmentsof the Negro community-Murphy said the entire list is under review.

Murphy said he is not bothered by assertions that recent court decisions have made police work difficult.

The police side has not been "as well advocated as it might have been, he said. But for a long period some police were "tramping" on the rights of people, he added.

[From the Washington Post, Mar. 17, 1968]

NO SERIOUS DISORDER EXPECTED BY MURPHY

Patrick V. Murphy, Washington's Public Safety Director, is predicting an orderly spring and summer here.

"I am completely confident we will be able to prevent any disorder, or shall we say serious disorder in this city." Murphy says, in an interview to be telecast at 1 p.m. today on WMAL-TV, Channel 7.

The Police Department's chief policy-maker attributed his confidence to intensified training efforts now in progress to prepare the police force for preventive action in potentially tense situations.

With an accent on improving community relations, Murphy said the Police Department is "working day and night to reduce any tension or hostility that may exist in any part of our city."

Murphy also urged citizens to assess reports on the crime rise here with an understanding that terms such as "crime-infested" are more scary than accurate. "There are safe streets in this city, you can be sure," he said.

Observing that crime has become a "very emotional issue" with "more heat on it than there is light," the Director said statistics reflect improved reporting systems and an increase rate is troubling most large cities.

Murphy's optimistic report included his view that morale in the Department is generally high and patrols of the city are good.

Recruitment remains a Department problem, he said, with a need to attract more Negroes to the force.

Murphy also confirmed earlier statements by Assistant Chief Jerry V. Wilson that the Department has found the use of chemical sprays a humane way to subdue unruly persons.

[From the Washington Star, Apr. 26, 1968]

THREATS OF PAY-OR-BURN POSE PROBLEM TO POLICE

(By Donald Smith)

District police are worried that recent attempts to solicit money from white merchants, sometimes under threats of burning down their stores if the money is not paid, may be growing.

"I'm afraid that if this trend develops further we're liable to have a Mafia type of extortion operation," Inspector Thomas I. Herlihy, head of the police Intelligence Division, said today.

The division has had numerous complaints from businessmen who report being contacted in person and by telephone by solicitors.

STORE OWNER WAVES GUN

In cases of solicitations being backed by threats of arson, Herlihy said, "Obviously there have been some who have paid off and not reported it.”

A store owner in the 1800 block of 7th Street, contacted by The Star, said he had waved a pistol at one such solicitor when the man demanded $50. The man ran out of the store.

The owner, who asked that he not be identified, said a well-dressed Negro entered his store at about 11 a.m. Monday and said, "Give me $50 and I'll tell them not to burn up your building." The owner then pulled out the gun and the man fled.

"I built this store myself 37 years ago," the owner said. "But I'm not going to pay somebody not to burn it down."

Numerous merchants said they had been asked by members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to contribute smaller amounts—not, however, under threat.

"A SNCC worker came in Thursday and asked for money so they could send kids to summer camp, or something like that," said the owner of a grocery store on 7th Street NW.

"I gave him a check for $5," he added. "I would have been crazy not to."

POSTERS BEING SOLD

Many stores throughout the city display a framed poster commemorating the death of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose assassination April 4 touched off widespread arson and looting.

The posters have been sold by door-to-door solicitors for $1 each. The frame costs $3. Also being sold are Martin Luther King buttons for $1 each.

Inspector Herlihy pointed out that soliciting without a permit from the Department of Licenses and Inspection is illegal. There have been no arrests in connection with the posters and buttons, however, because of a lack of complaints. He also pointed out that implied threats such as "I'll be back later" if a merchant refuses to pay extortion money are difficult to prosecute.

[From the Evening Star, Washington, D.C., Apr. 29, 1968]

D.C. LEASES 150 UNITS FOR VICTIMS OF RIOTS
(By Paul Delaney)

The District government today leased 150 units of the Envoy Towers apartments to be used as temporary housing for persons, displaced during rioting earlier this month.

The arrangements were completed this afternoon between District officials and the Federal Housing Administration. Families and individuals will be able

to rent, "at very minimal prices," mostly efficiencies and some one- and two-bedroom units in the private apartment project, according to a city official.

FHA made the offer of financial assistance to such a program following the rioting. "The government decided to take the agency up on it," the official stated. He said most of the persons displaced already have been housed.

The arrangement with Envoy Towers, located at 2400 16th St. NW, stipulates that housing will be temporary until permanent accommodations can be found. The official said the city would "prefer to rehouse them in permanent locations, rather than use temporary housing facilities. We'll use Envoy Towers but try to find permanent accommodations as soon as possible. FHA went along with it on that basis."

Another official, Peter T. Riemer, operations director of the District Redevelopment Land Agency, said most of the displaced persons needing emergency housing already have been taken care of.

"As of 5 p.m. last Friday we handled 237 cases, either families or individuals," Riemer said.

He said 159 have been relocated in public or private housing; four have been relocated in temporary housing; 61 have been referred to private housing but there has been no followup contact as to whether they accepted the housing. Thirteen cases are pending.

"The offer by FHA is most generous for temporary housing," Riemer said.

[Reprint from The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 2, 1968]

PRESSURE GROUP FORMED-BUSINESSMEN ASK PROTECTION
(By Winston Groom)

A group of citizens is forming an organization to press for better protection for themselves and their businesses from what they call "militant minorities," it was announced today.

"We the People" is the organization's name, according to Abe Liss, president of the Midtown Business Association and head of the new group. Liss said the group held its first meeting Tuesday night, with about 200 persons attending.

According to the group's statement of purpose, the organization was formed because "the government has defaulted on its obligation to protect America." The statement adds that the group was organized "for the vast majority of citizens who are sick and tired of lawlessness," and that it will "demand the domestic tranquility guaranteed in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution."

Liss, whose television rental store was damaged during the recent civil disturbance, said the members attending Tuesday's meeting represented through their activities about 10,000 citizens of the District.

Among those present, he said, were Oscar Dodek, owner of D. J. Kaufmann's clothing store; John Immer, president of Washington's Federation of Citizens Associations, and R. N. Horton, head of the Uptown Progress Association, a Negro business group. Also present, said Liss, were representatives of Giant and the Greater Washington Food Wholesalers, auto dealer associations and finance associations.

Liss said more than $1,500 was donated to start the organization, which he hopes will grow into a nationwide group. He also said they have hired a "nationally prominent" attorney to look into the possibilities of filing suit against the city for what he called "inadequate protection of property during the riots."

"The people of this country are afraid," said Liss. "They want to be protected by the government. People are scared to go out of their homes at night and they are buying guns to protect themselves," he said.

"We're all for social legislation," he said, "but at the same time we have got to stop this wanton disregard for the law. The people in this country have lost faith, in the government's ability to protect them."

The group will be a non-profit organization, is strictly non-political and is not intended as a "backlash" group, Liss emphasized. It is designed only to press for protection of citizens and their property, he said.

"We intend to be a very militant organization," he said. "We will do whatever it takes, legally, to restore law and order-even if it means marching on the Capitol."

Liss emphasized that the group would seek the support of all citizens and hopes eventually to enlist such people as Walter E. Fauntroy and other city council members into its ranks.