.ODU0NA.ODU0NA

Tulsa, Oklahoma September 19, 1966 Honorable Ivan Allen Atlanta, Georgia De£r Mayor Allen; With all the criticism being levelled and all the news media play being given to your recent racial situation, I would like to take this means of expressing my approval (for what little it is worth) of the manner you and your city have handled yourselves. Presently living in Oklahoma, moving there from 4 years in Alabama proir to which I lived for 3 years in Chicago, I have a relatively objective -viewpoint regarding the racial issue geosraphically speaking. I have no .feelings one way ot the other regarding colors or races as such. However, I have learned to harbor very strong feelings with regard to rights v. s. responsibilities and so have very little regard for those groups, regardless of color, who would prefer to demonstrate and protest, rather than work for their objectives. While I feel there many people who symphatize with this view, I certainly had not seen it exemplified by many of our public office holders and political aspirants. For the most part they had capitulated to whatever radical demands that came along and actually allowed . themselves be "shook down" or blackmailed into giving in to demands just to quie~ the noise and minimize any political repurcussions. It was then, especially refreshing to see you exercise restraint while giving the radical elements a chance to quiet the waters on their own initiative, r efusing to talk until the waters were quieted, and then taking firm action when it was proper and driving home the fact that your city was above all else a city of law and order. I'm sure that the great majority of the citizens of Atlanta admired and respected your course of action. My only purpose in writing this letter is to let you know that there~ome of us in other sections of the U. s. who do too. When we have enough men of conviction in all the various public offices, rights and responsibilities will come in the same package and earned, not rioted for. Sinc~rely You5\// ~ - ~· t;/Y.;1-~~ t - - - : : i""'"'-.u.u. G. Vancil (_ �