Memo, Erle Johnston, Jr., to Paul B. Johnson, Carroll Gartin, and E.K. Collins; 10 March 1964.

Title

Memo, Erle Johnston, Jr., to Paul B. Johnson, Carroll Gartin, and E.K. Collins; 10 March 1964.

Creator

Erle Johnston, Jr. (1917-1995)

Source

Paul B. Johnson Family Papers, M191, Box 135, Folder 7, Historical Manuscripts, Special Collections, The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.

Date

1964-03-10

Rights

Copyright not evaluated.

Language

En

Files

This is the first page of a Mississippi state sovereignty commission report about Tugaloo college. It is from Earl Johnston Junior, the director of the Mississippi State College sovereignty commission. The memo is set to Governor Paul B Johnson, lieutenant governor Carol Garten, and the chairman of the state judiciary committee EK Collins. It was sent March 10, 1964.<br /> <br /> The memo reads as follows:<br /> <br /> One. The staff of the sovereignty commission has been engaged in extensive research complying with an order to assemble evidence which might be used as valid reasons for revoking the charter of two glue and or canceling it’s a credit Dacian by the Mississippi accrediting commission. This will be the first of a series of reports as information is developed and evaluated. The investigation is continuing.<br /> <br /> Two. Reference is made to Dr. AD Beittel<br /> , President of Tugaloo college. And testimony before the general legislative investigating committee at 1962, Mr. JB Matthews of New York City, and outstanding authority and communism, testified under oath that there were two major propaganda groups operate in the south. He defined as “and infiltrated group” and a “communist front” the southern regional Council with main headquarters in Atlanta and the southern conference educational fund with headquarters in New Orleans. He lent these two directly with the southern conference for human welfare. Mr. Matthews identified Dr. AD Beittel as an active member of all three groups. He said Dr. Beittel and the other individuals identified with these groups were “a veteran supporters of communist causes and communist enterprises.“<br /> <br /> Three. We have in our files information that Dr. OR Paul has openly advocated to his class that speakers lecture on the campus in defense of communism. Dr. Powell, who is white, teachers sociology at Tugaloo. He has also conducted devotionals at the school. One of his topics as shown on a school program was “the heresy of the spirit.””<br /> <br /> For. There is ample evidence that to the loo has departed from its chartered responsibility of teaching liberal arts and related subjects. Classroom time as well as time after classes is being devoted to political discussions led by representatives of CORE, SNCC, and NAACP. The college publication the votes considerable space to these activities. The Mississippi student union, which is the youth organization of Council of Federated organizations,
This is page 2 of the Mississippi state sovereignty commission report about the Tugaloo college that was addressed to the governor lieutenant governor and chairman of the state judiciary committee from the director of the Mississippi state sovereignty commission on March 10, 1964.<br /> <br /> Continued from previous page<br /> <br /> Publishers a regular mimeographed bulletin. In a recent issue, copy of which is in our files, the student union announced a “work-study project.” This program offered a $1000 scholarship to Tugaloo college to students who are willing to take out a year from school and work for the SNCC & seePublishes a regular mimeographed bulletin. In a recent issue, copy of which is in our files, the student union announced a “work-study project.“ This program offered a $1000 scholarship to Tugaloo college to students who are willing to take out a year from school and work for the SNCC and COFO. This is a direct departure from the authority granted in the charter.<br /> <br /> Five. John Salter, Junior., White male, was a member of the two blue staff until September 1963 when he suddenly announced his resignation to become affiliated with a southern conference education fund. In the publicity announced from SCEF, it was stated that Salter would work closely with Carl Braden, who is an admitted communist. Salter in a conversation with a member of the Millsaps college faculty, whose name is on file in our office, described himself as a liberal Marxist. He was Author of two articles appearing in main stream magazine, a magazine branded as a communist Oregon by the House committee on un-American activities. In the files of the sovereignty commission is a record of an interview with Jose R CID, a Cuban refugees, who in 1962 was associate professor of chemistry at two glue. In a statement to the sovereignty commission, Mr Cid said he was well acquainted with John Salter, Junior., and was convinced that he was possibly a communist. He also said to blue college has been infiltrated by socialist socialist and possibly communist and he gave this as his reason for resigning his position on May 21, 1962. He said he was convinced that to glue college “is an extremely dangerous socialist and communist institution.“ Salter was one of eight pickets in the city demonstrations, who filed an $80,000 damage suit against the city for false arrest. He failed to appear in federal court for questioning by attorneys for the city. Shortly after Salter joined SCEF in New Orleans, The SCEF office was rated by Louisiana state police and a New Orleans city police. They rest were made under Louisiana’s communist control act. Three of Salters associates were arrested and accused of willingly and knowingly participating in the management of a subversive organization and distributing and storing communist political propaganda in Louisiana.<br /> <br /> Six. In September 1963, The Christian churches, disciples of Christ, in Mississippi decided to withdraw financial support to Tugaloo college. Bayard van Hecke, chairman of the state board of Mississippi Christian churches said its membership has contributed to Tugaloo for several years, although the college is owned and operated by the congregational church. They blamed their action on demonstrations The other activities at Tugaloo. The sovereignty commission furnished information onto glue to a representative of the Mississippi Christian churches prior to their decision to cancel support of Tuvalu.<br /> <br /> Seven. Dr. auto Nathan of New York was invited to make a talk at two Lou in March 1962. On June 12, 1956, Dr. Nathan appeared before the House committee on un-American activities in Washington and refused to answer whether or not he was a member of the communist party. He invoked the first, fourth, and ninth amendment and was cited for contempt. In May 19 55, Dr. Nathan was
This is page 3 of the Tugaloo college report number one on Mississippi sovereignty commission letterhead. The letter, written March 10, 1964, was from the director of the sovereignty commission to the governor, lieutenant governor, and chairman of the state judiciary committee.<br /> <br /> Continued from the previous page.<br /> <br /> Was denied a passport port by the state department because his “going abroad might be for purposes of advancing the communist movement.“ The state department identified Dr. Nathan as a communist in Germany prior to 1933. This statement was printed in the New York Times, June 3, 1955. Dr. Nathan was also mentioned as being an affiliate with the civil rights Congress citing as being subversive and communist by the United States Attorney General. In the statement to the press, Dr. AD Beittel , President of Tugaloo, said he was aware of Dr. Nathan‘s identity with “subversive organizations“ but said Dr. Nathan would be welcome to return to Tugaloo at any time. And his talk at two below, Dr. Nathan federally attacked the un-American activities committee and the committee on internal security headed by Senator Jim Eastland.<br /> <br /> Eight. Two blue college had only in rolled Negroes until November 18, 1961. Two white girls from outside Mississippi enrolled as the first white students. At present to glue has nine white students living in campus dormitories, for females and 5 miles. About half of the members of the faculty or white, including the president, doctor Beittel. The total enrollment of the school is about 500.<br /> <br /> Nine. Dr. Ernst Borinsky is chairman of the sociology department at Tibalew college. Dr. Borinsky in 1958 sponsored a racial clinic at Tuvalu, attended by Negro students and white students from another college. He is a German Jew, born in Poland. He was a judge in Germany and a professor in that country before coming to the United States in 1938. He served as an interpreter in the United States Army during World War II. In October 1948, Dr. Borinsky made a speech in Jackson and expressed sympathy with Russia and claims that the United States did not understand Russia. He criticize the United States has been imperialistic and endeavored to develop a sympathetic feeling toward Russia.<br /> <br /> 10. This report will not make reference to reverent Ralph Edwin king, Junior., Chaplain at Tugaloo a cause of AA and pending investigation. He will be discussed fully and report number two.<br /> <br /> Signed by Erle Johnston.

Citation

Erle Johnston, Jr. (1917-1995), “Memo, Erle Johnston, Jr., to Paul B. Johnson, Carroll Gartin, and E.K. Collins; 10 March 1964.,” Online Exhibits at Southern Miss, accessed March 30, 2023, https://usmspecialcollections.omeka.net/items/show/223.

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