January 22, 1969

Dixie Discrimination Real, Former Ohioans Learn

Black militants in the North have raised so much unnecessary hell in recent years that we tend to overlook the real discrimination perpetuated by monopoly politics in the South.

As a case in point consider the plight of my good Yankee friend, Willard K. Laughlin, caught telling the truth in D-I-X-I-E.

Will had been city manager at Rittman, Ohio, and then moved on to the Iowa governor's office to coordinate requests for federal grants.  When budget cutbacks dried up that activity he took a job as director of the Tennessee legislature's "fiscal review (watch dog) committee."  He hired Dave Schiderer, former Akron Beacon Journal reporter, as his assistant.

My friends had tasted northern style politics, but southern politics is something else.  A hundred years of solid Democratic rule has produced an oligarchy the envy of an oriental potentate.

Those who worry about civil rights, and those who are merely fascinated by the unfettered political mind, should make notes on Will's downfall - it may yet draw national attention.

A new Tennessee General Assembly opened early this month.  On the first day the solons adapted a resolution publicly expressing regret over the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King last April in Memphis.

"At a time when the world is looking at the United States as a boiling pot of racism," said columnist Wayne Whitt of the Nashville Tennessean, "a Southern legislature, made up mostly of white men, went on record against racial hatred in a resolution which was a tribute to the work of Dr. King."

With restrained irony, Whitt went on to say, "Unfortunately, within 48 hours, racism had reared its ugly head in a contest for the appointive office of comptroller between Willard Laughlin and incumbent William Snodgrass."

Will had done a good job of furnishing the legislature with figures on state spending, exposing waste and recommending cost-cutting methods.  This did not endear him to the governor's office, but it brought him to the attention of a growing coalition of Negro Democrats and white Republicans seeking to oppose the powerful establishment.

The GOP asked Laughlin to allow his name to be put in nomination for comptroller on a mixed slate of Republicans, Democrats and Independents for various state offices.  Will agreed to run as an Independent.

State Senator Avon Williams, a long time civil rights leader, met with Laughlin to discuss the latter's racial views.

In his usual, frank manner - in response to a question - Will disclosed that there were only two Negroes in the comptroller's office of 200 employees and these were porters.  He said he thought this was wrong, that Negroes should be given more opportunity for jobs in state government and, if appointed, he would hire qualified Negro accountants.

Senator Williams was so impressed and so enthusiastic that he circulated a statement of Laughlin's views to the other seven Negro legislators.

Inevitably, a copy of this statement found its way to the opposition.  It was promptly reproduced and delivered to every State House Democrat.  Those Democrats who were inclined to vote against the oligarchy began to desert Laughlin's cause in fear of voter reprisal against "nigger lovers."

The next day voting got underway to organize the Tennessee General Assembly.  Before the man who had planned to nominate Laughlin could obtain the floor, one of the Negro legislators jumped to his feet and nominated Will.

This was the kiss of death.  Even the Republicans refused to go on record for a Negro-nominated candidate.  Will received only three votes while Snodgrass - hand picked by the machine received 128.

In the showdown, faced with loss of patronage, even five of the eight Negroes voted against Will.

The coalition won nearly all of the other offices up for grabs and organized the House of Representatives - no mean accomplishment considering everything.

So incensed were the Democrats that the three party members on the fiscal review committee attempted to fire Laughlin forthwith.  Only bloc voting by the four Republican members saved Will's job - but all went on record with an official censure for telling it like it is.

But Will's effectiveness as an employee of the legislature has been destroyed.  Should one of the committee Republicans waver, Laughlin will be looking for other work.  In any event he ends up with a meaningless title.

Negroes, and their white sympathizers, are taught their place in Tennessee.

Author: Lindsey Williams