Faubus May Have Aided Forces of Integration

An interdepartmental squabble developed here today when the Army decided that postmen were not immune from restrictions which prohibit persons from approaching Central High School.

A postman was walking up a nearby street delivering mail when a paratrooper thrust his rifle across the carrier's chest and told him to retreat. The paratrooper said he had "orders."

"Sonny, you'd better get some more orders," the elderly postman threatened, "because Uncle Sam says I'm coming through."

A first lieutenant agreed. The guard was overruled, and the U. S. mail went through.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 27--Last night Governor Faubus compared the calmness in Little Rock with the quiet in Paris during the occupation, and the stillness of Budapest today. Faubus is prone to exaggerate, but there is a certain truth in his observation.

No one can predict what will happen when the paratroopers are replaced by the National Guard, or when uniformed troops are withdrawn entirely. Certainly the majority of Little Rock citizens oppose integration and many more resent the presence of military force.

It is possible, however, that a majority of people will accept integration because it is the law, even though they don't like it. Faubus himself stated last night that he does not oppose integration, but only untimely and forced compliance with the Supreme Court decision. And it is true that Faubus ran for Governor on the plank which accepted integration if it were approved by the local school district.

What Faubus does not point out is that integration was in fact approved by the Little Rock School Board, which presumably represents the will of the people. Accordingly, the governor should not be in the present fight.

But Faubus can talk on both sides of the same issue, which is precisely the reason why most observers feel that he is using integration simply for his political advantage.

Faubus Motives

Basically, Faubus is probably not a dedicated segregationist. He is seen by many as opposed to integration now simply because it is the best issue which a politician can have in the South today.

So far, the Governor has been very successful and there is no reason to believe that his luck will run out in the near future. There is some speculation that Faubus can be personally linked to the outbreak of violence which occurred around Central High School on Monday. If this could be done, he would be seriously discredited, but for the present the governor can say, "I told you so," and basically law abiding citizens of Arkansas agree that until he was relieved of his power there was no violence, although there was of course no integration.

Want Peace and Order

Except for a few fringe elements, the people of Little Rock want nothing more than peace and order. Many people point to the peace which existed before the race issue arose and put the blame for the current situation on Negroes and Northern "agitators." A smaller number of people feel that Arkansas authorities failed to pass a very simple test--the integration of nine Negroes into a school of two thousand.

Those who think Arkansas failed will oppose Faubus when he seeks a third term as Governor next year. A few others will be against him because they feel he is not forceful enough on the race issue, and will support an ardent segregationist such as State Attorney General Bruce Bennett. But at present it appears that Faubus will be able to pose successfully as the tragic hero of a long battle for states and constitutional rights.

But the political situation still does not illuminate the question of what will happen when troops leave Central High. There can only be guesses, but probably the limited integration will be accepted as a fait accompli, even though a thoroughly disliked one.

Perhaps also Faubus has unwittingly aided the cause of integration, not only in Arkansas but in the entire South. Most Southern governors have studiously avoided a showdown with the federal government, because few people seriously contend that the power of the United States can be thwarted by a single state or group of states.

Most practical segregationists hope only to delay integration as long as possible, by legal tactics and by convincing Negroes that they are better off in their own schools. Faubus, on the contrary, played his entire hand in about three weeks and the result is not segregation.

Moderates Must Choose

The so-called moderate segregationists must now either recognize that moderation does not mean "never" or they must join the radical segregationists. The Little Rock situation may serve to jolt some delaying moderates into accepting