Sunny and milder today. High near 60. Cool tonight; low near 38. Mostly sunny and warmer tomorrow. High near 75. Mon* day; Partly cloudy and con tinued warm. Probability of rain near zero through ihA weekend. VOL. 68, No. 97 Stunned World Mourns King's Death Rioting Spreads To Dozen Cities By The Associated Press Racial violence struck more than a dozen U.S. cities yesterday with the worst burning and looting in the nation’s capital and Chicago, an angry aftermath to the slaying of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A 13-hour curfew from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. was ordered in Washington where 4,000 soldiers poured in to protect the White House and the Capitol and stifle violence that already spilled out of three Negro sections into the downtown area. Twenty-four hundred of the troops were regular Army soldiers from Fort Myer, Va. More than 30 fires lit the night sky, and looting was widespread. President Johnson proclaimed “a condition of domestic violence and disorder.” Five hundred rifle-carrying soldiers in battle gear were deployed in the downtown area. They were posted near the White House, the Capitol and in the downtown area. A short time later, Mayor Walter E. Washington clapped a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the city and banned sale of alcohol, gasoline in containers, firearms and ammunition. Violence that erupted Thursday night soon after the Memphis assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., took one life, left 56 injured and brought more than 200 arrests. More federal troops some sources said 10,000 were poised for possible, deployment. And 2,000 District of Col umbia Army and Air National Guardsmen were mustered for possible street duty. Police reported hearing gunshots in several sections of the city and said firemen left the scene of one blaze be cause of shooting. However, up to dusk there had been no reports of serious sniping. In the downtown area east of the White House and along some of the principal shopping districts, smoke from dozens of fires obscured the setting sun. In contrast, a few blocks north and west along Connecticut Avenue there was no sign of smoke. During the afternoon hours mammoth traffic jams developed as tens of thousands sought to get home but by 6 p.m. after the curfew took effect, the streets were begin ning to clear. The President issued his executive order after scores of buildings were burned and looted in turmoil caused by small groups of young Negroes. Fires Rage Roving bands, seldom numbering more than 100, surged to within two blocks of the White House, smashing store •windows before being dispersed by police. One patrolman radioed headquarters from a Negro neighborhood two miles northeast of the Capitol: “If we don’t get some manpower Up here, this part of town is going to be all burned up.” And on the northern fringe of the downtown business district, Associated Press reporter Jim Adams counted 27 buildings, mostly small businesses, that were blazing or had been gutted by fire along 7th Street. (Continued on page three) King Monument Asked Clark Urges Gun Control WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Joseph S. Clark, (D-Pa.), called on Congress yesterday to build for the slain the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a "lasting monument of law,” in cluding passage of a federal gun control bill. Pennsylvania’s only Negro Congressman, Rep. Robert N. C. Nix, expressed shock and sorrow yesterday over the sniper slaying of the civil rights leader. Clark, in a statement, urged renewed support of civil rights legislation and said “let us now —before we are visited by na tional tragedy yet again—pass the federal gun control bill.” The Rev. Dr. King, a re cipient of the Nobel Peace prize, was killed m hursday night in Memphis, Tenn., by a sniper using a high-powered rifle. “Although the Rev. Dr. King Is dead, we must all pray that moderation and non-violence have not died with him,” Clark said. He called on the House to ap prove the Senate-passed open housing bill and urged support of his legislation nroposing the creation of 2.4 million jobs over a four-year period. Clark also urged passage of Officials Declare Siege Apparently Lifted I KHE SANH, Vietnam The 76-day enemy siege of p Khe Sanh was officially declared lifted yesterday and U.S. t* Marines and Army units struck out through the hills look- X ing for vanishing North Vietnamese. kl A 20,000-man allied relief column that approached al | most unopposed to within less than a mile of the combat base made no attempt to enter as enemy gunners zeroed in with 110 rounds of artillery and mortar fire. | While the possibility of another battle was not ex | eluded, it appeared the enemy had abandoned any attempt s to wipe out the base astride an invasion route from Laos. i U.S. officers said the North Vietnamese force around I Khe Sanh, once estimated at 20,000, had been reduced to | about 7,000. Where the troops were going was not known. | Prisoners had said earlier this year that North Viet | nam planned to make Khe Sanh the decisive battle of | the war. Critics of the plan to keep the Marine in the iso | lated base in the northwest corner of South Vietnam said I it could lead to another Dien Bien Phu. The fall of that | base in 1954 drove the French from Indochina. I* * ★ | New Czech Government Promises Reform I PRAGUE Czechoslovakia's liberal leadership yes * terday promised reform of elections, police, courts and the < army under a new cabinet and pledged no retreat—even “an inch”—from communism. is Completing five days of meetings, the party’s Central i Committee issued a resolution calling for continuation of \ its leap toward “socialist democracy,” while holding to I communism’s “property and social relations.” “We shall i not retreat an inch,” a communique said. ; In five days, the reformers who ousted Antonin No | votny, the country’s hard-line rule for 15 years, approved I an action program of change, a government reshuffle and Violence, Disorder Troops Poised Johnson Calls on Americans svT«r»s b i!!csTo 'Deny Violence Its Victory 1 tinue the war against poverty J J and bring “meaningful educa tion” to slum children He called, the Bev. Dr. King a “victim of man’s persistent inhumanity to man” and said with his death “we have lost the sanest and mos' persuasive voice for moderation and non violence this nation has ever had.” “I think it’s the most tragic thing to happen in a decade,” Nix said in a telephone inter view from his home in Phila delphia. Nix, a person friend of the Rev. Dr, King, said, “It’s ironic that this man, an ad vocate of nonviolence, is him self a victim of the very thing he preached against vio lence.” “It’s a tragic loss. His life has been of tremendous value.” Nix said he would attend the Rev. Dr. King’s funeral. He said he talked briefly with Mrs. King after he learned a sniper had gunned down her husband. The congressman said he hoped the Rev. Dr. King’s slay ing "will more definitely cen ter the minds o * the American people on the rights entitled to all in this country.” News from the World, Nation 6 Pages THIS'PORTRAIT STUDY of the "aposfie of* hon-violenceV' "who was killed 'Thursday night in Memphis, was painted when King visited the University in 1965. The civil rights leader's death sparked riots in over a dozen U.S. cities. His assassin has not yet been apprehended. WASHINGTON (AP) - His face deep-etched in grief at the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Presi dent Johnson called on Ameri cans yesterday to "deny vio lence its victory.” Johnson canceled a planned flying trip to Hawaii to consult with American military and diplomatic officers on prelim inaries to possible peace talks with the North Vietnamese—a trip that had been scheduled to start Thursday night but was postponed by the slaying of the Negro leader in Memphis. The White House did not ex plain the outright cancellation of the Pacific flight but the reason was obvious; Officials felt the Vietnam conference was less urgent, for the mo ment, than the threat that the country this weekend might face serious civil disorders, riots and looting. There already were fires and some sporadic midday fighting in Washin"ton streets less than two miles from the White House as the President, after meeting with civil rights lead ers and top-ranking govern- from the associated press * nominalion of economist Oldrich Cernik as premier, the country’s second most important job after that of party leader Alexandr Dubcek. Tlie government of Premier Jozef Lenart was sched uled to discuss its formal resignation today. Yesterday’s resolution said elections “will no longer be a formality” and that non-Communist parties of the National Front Organization will henceforth be inde pendent. Elections scheduled for the spring were postponed until fall so that election law changes could be made to give voters a wider choice of candidates, the committee said. The resolution instructed "state and political bodies to ensure the complete rehabilitation of people who have been unjustly wronged” in the Stalinist past and to an nounce “what guarantees for legality have been created for the future.” It also suggested passage of a law “which would guar antee fully the independence of the courts.” ★ ★ k Decision Delayed on Reservists Call-Up WASHINGTON Final decisions on call-up of thou sands of Reservists and National Guardsmen have been delayed because of preparations—now canceled for Presi dent Johnson’s Honolulu conference on Vietnam. Meanwhile, there is speculation that the new’ call-up announced by Johnson last Sunday—might be deferred in definitely or even dropped, to avoid jarring the fragile peace atmosphere. Defense officials said last Monday that the first in crements of a Reserve-Guard muster might come within three days. They spoxe m terms of initial mobilization of up to about 16,000 to provide needed support troops in Vietnam and to replace a regular Marine unit which was sent there UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 6, 1968 ;;; ; l•’ ■ V." ' V' - S-.V The Rev. Dr.’Martin Luther King f ment officials, traveled by limousine to a solemn memo rial service for Dr. King in Washington Cathedral. “Men of all races, all reli gions, all regions must join to gether in this hour to deny violence its victory—and to full fill the vision of brotherhood that gave purpose to Martin Luther King’s life and works,” the President’s proclamation said. It was issued just after John son emerged from an hour-long conference with about 25 leaders of civil rights organiza tions, government officials, and leaders of Congress. They all accompanied Johnson to the vast Episcopal cathedral, a gray gothic highlight on the Washington skyline. The hurriedly arranged me morial service drew thousands of mourners. Newsmen said the cathedral, seldom, if ever, had been so jammed. The President said he would call on Congress, at a joint session Monday night, for “ac tion—constructive action in stead of destructive action, in this hour of national need.” iiM —Photo Courtesy of The Centre Daily Times Johnson did not (laborate on his coming recommendations. Whitney Young Jr., director of the National Urban League, one of the civil rights leaders who met with Johnson, said afterward he believes Johnson will press more urgently for the civil rights bill now pend ing— “which is substantial,” Young added. The bill would guarantee pro tection to civil rights leaders and others in their efforts to assure all persons the safe exercise of their constitutional rights and would make vio lation of the law a federal crime. It also contained a provision barring discrimination in the sale or rental of housing. The bill passed the Senate after long debate and is now before the House. The Rev. Mr. Leon Sullivan, pastor of Zion Taptist Church in Philadelphia, carried a dif ferent idea away from the meeting with Johnson. He fore cast that the President would present “extraordinary legis lation in the fields of housing and antipoverty.” in an emergency step in the wake of the enemy Tet of fensive. These same officials indicated a later call-up, over a period of months, of up to 50,000 Reservists and Guards men. These would be mainly Army, to fill out the central core of U.S.-based troops depleted by the Vietnam war. Initial Steps Taken for Vietnam Talks WASHINGTON The United States has taken steps “to establish contact” with North Vietnamese representa tives with the aim of getting talks started, the State Department disclosed yesterday' The department’s statement was issued after a high North Vietnames official was quoted as saying that while Hanoi is “still willing to commence talks, President John son has turned a deaf ear for the last three days.” Without saying just where or when the North Vietna mese had been approached following Johnson’s announced intention to get in touch with Hanoi representatives, press officer Carl Bartch said: “In accordance with the President’s statement of April 4, we immediately proceeded. to take steps to establish contact.” The State Department spokesman added that apparent ly the North Vietnamese official who made the accusation— Deputy Foreign Minister Haong Van Loi—“was not fully informed” of the U.S. action. Johnson/ Westmoreland Meet in Washington WASHINGTON Gen. William C. Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, is coming to Wash ington to confer with President Johnson today. The White House announced Westmoreland’s trip here Police See 'Substanid MEMPHIS, Tenn. (TP) As the shot that killed Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. re verberated around the world yesterday, there were hints that authorities may be closing in on his stealthy assassin. Atty. Gen. Ramsey Clark flew here from Washington and later told newsmen: “We’ve got some substantial leads. We’re very hope ’ ful. We’ve got some good breaks. There is no evidence at this time of any conspiracy.” Meanwhile, sporadic Negro violence occasioned by the shocking murder died away in a number of American cities, but • flared anew in Washington in midafternoon. In Washington, the crisis caused by King’s death led President Johnson to can cel his trip to Hawaii, planned as a prelimi nary to possible peace talks with the North Vietnamese. To Address Congress The President announced he will appear before a joint session of Congress, to deliver a new and urgent appeal for civil rights legislation. The session was set for 9 p.m. Monday. Johnson also declared Sunday a day of national mourning for the 39-year-old King, ordered American flags to half staff at U.S. military installations throughout the world, and scheduled an address to a joint session of Congress for Monday night to outline new recommendations and suggestions for easing the plight of the Negro. White Man Arrested The Memphis Press-Scimitar i-eported, without official confirmation, that a white man had been arrested earlier in the day as he left a cheap rooming house not far from the murder scene. It was from the rooming house that the sniper was believed to have filed at King Thursday night as the civil rights leader stood on the second floor balcony of his hotel. A single bullet in the neck brought a violent end to a life dedicated to non violence. Police Director Frank Holloman said a single white man was the killer. As Hollo man reconstructed his movements, he checked into the rooming house in mid afternoon Thursday, shot King from the second-floor window of a common bathroom Students Hold Vigil; King Services Toddy By JOHN AMSPACHER and DAVE NESTOR Collegian Staff Writers Nearly 200 University students and fac ulty members gathered on the steps of Old Main yesterday to mourn the death of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Raymond Edgerton (9th - physics - Phila delphia) began the vigil by saying, “Last night America, great America, created an other one of its pathetic deeds.” Edgerton praised the Rev. Dr. King for his “unimaginable courage.” He termed the assassination “disgusting.” In closing, Edgerton warned that it is “about time America found out that black people are not going to stand around. He (King) was killed because he was black,” he added. “We have a fight on our hands,” said Gregory Gilbert (6th - chemistry - Philadel phia). We must try to improve the relations between races “to the point where the colored man’s skin means no more than the color of a flower,” he added. He said the goal to be achieved was “a total unity between all the races.” , The Rev. Dr. King was a leader who pri marily advocated non-violence, and he has done more for the non-violent demonstration than any other man, Gilbert said. “I am not proud of being a white man this morning,” said the Rev. Mr. Robert Boyer. “Martin Luthern King was my brother too,” he added. “Until we are more the home of the brave, we won’t be the land of the free,” Boyer said. The vigil officially ended with five min utes of “respectful silence for Martin Luther King.” “Dr. Martin Luther King was the alter ego of our generation. The young people of •k k k k k ★ 'A Total Unity' & State instead of the meeting in Hawaii which was planned be before the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Westmoreland is due in Washington early this morn ing and will meet with Johnson today, presidential press secretary George Christian said. There was still no further word on plans for the President to confer with other U.S. officials from Saigon who had been scheduled to meet with Johnson in Honolulu this weekend. Ex-Commissioner Appeals for Reinstatement HARRISBURG The State Civil Service Commission yesterday scheduled a hearing for May 15 on an appeal for the reinstatement of Dr. Norman Yoder as state com missioner for the blind. A commission spokesman said the hearing was sched uled upon receipt from Yoder of an official form request ing an airing of his case. Yoder was dismissed from his $20,000 state position after he admitted, according to Atty. Gen. William C. Sen nett, that he had fabricated a story that six Pennsylvania college students were blinded by staring at the sun while in an LSD-induced trance. Yoder’s attorney contended in his request for a hear ing that the condition which prevailed at the time of Yoder’s dismissal by Gov. Shafer no longer existed. The lawyer, Elmer Harter, contended that Yoder was fired because he was unable to physically perform duties of his office. Harter maintained that, following treatment at a Philadelphia psychiatric institute, Yoder is now capable of resuming his duties. Yoder was retained on the pay roll until mid-summer because of 89 days of accumulated vacation and sick leave. .A.nt.!...,.,, J.^'i Review of the Week No Conspiracy, Leads' Reported three hours later from a distance of 205 feet, then disappared in the resulting confusion. The murder weapon was believed to be a newly purchased .30-. *6 Remington pump rifle, discarded two doors away from the rooming house. . The threat of a blood bath was upper most in the minds of many persons in many parts of the world, stunned at the slaying of King, the 1964 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Expressions of sorrow came from kings, emperors, and statesmen. Communist govern ments castigated the United States and the Soviet Union’s official newspaper, Izvestia, used its largest headlines to proclaim: “USA is a country of violence and racism.” Pops 'Grieved' Pope Paul VI, who had met King at the Vatican in 1964, appealed for calm and re spect of the principle of “brotherly love.” Told of the civil rights’ leader’s slaying just after he woke, the pontiff said he was “pro foundly grieved.” In Australia, - evangelist Billy Graham said his friend’s death was "dreadful” and expressed fear it would lead to anarchy and civil war in the United States. Without a spiritual awakening, he said, democracy in America is doomed. In Africa, where King was a hero, his death brought a prediction of violence in U.S. cities from Ghana radio. From Dakar, Senegal, West German For eign Minister Willy Brandt said: “His death must be an appeal for consideration and must not trigger another phase of force.” Kosygin Silent Soviet Premier Alexei N. Kosygin, in Tehran, Iran, had no comment. But one of his hosts, Iranian Prime Minister Amir Abass Hoveida called the crime “another catastro phe for the United States.” French reaction was summed up by the nation’s largest newspaper, France-Soir. It said: “America is a brutal country. Now she is afraid.” In Geneva, U.N. Secretary-General U Thant sent a cable to Mrs. King, express ing his deep shock and condolences. One message of sympathy to Mrs. King was sent by King Gustav VI Adolf of Swe- (Continued on page three) today have grown into maturity with the maturity of his movement.” The Rev. Dr. King, Alfred Di Bernardo, head of the Mc- Carthy for President committee in State Col lege, said, “has awakened our. generation to the problems of the Negro in America.” A memorial service will be held today at 2 p.m. in Schwab to honor the slain “apostle of nonviolence.” At 1 p.m. tomorrow on the Old Main lawn a memorial service will be held for the late Nobel Peace Prize winner. The interde nonminational service will consist of com ments by clergy, faculty and students, black and white, who want to show their apprecia tion of the work of the Rev. Dr. King. The speakers include the Rev. Mr. Alan M. Cleeton of the Wesley Foundation, Rev. Mr. Arthur Seyda of the Lutheran Student Association, Rabbi Norman T. Goldberg of the Hillel Foundation, Father Quentin L. Schaut of the Newman Student Association, Charles T. Davis, professor of English, David Gottlieb, professor of human development, Wilbert Manley (7th-accounting-Lower Bur rell) and Alfred Di Bernardo. “The idea of the service,” Di Bernardo said, “is for middle class white students to exress some kind of sympathy and apprecia tion for a great Negro leader.” The speakers will attempt to explain what the Rev. Dr. King did and what his life meant to people, not just the black American, but to all the people. Di Bernardo said that money will be solicited at the service to aid Memphis nardo said, “and the only way that many of them can do this is through dollars.” Di Bernardo said that there will be no politicking at all tomorrow by the McCarthy forces. “We are calling our canvassers in and oserving the day of national mourning.” ★ ★ ★ r'W.CM:i.„L , :g . 4.2I::MYKRIEET,OMEC. —See Page 2 SEVEN CENTS Cleeton To Speak
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers