◆ SpookStack

“2°57 jargely ignored or buried by Tost of the press. . FF The real case against Mr. , ee The public record debs show that Mr. Hoover, a big speech- wT The failure or. reluctance of the FBI to infilivate right-wing — subversive elements in the U. 8. becomes ‘more apparent with each additional tragedy in the South,” he declared. ~": "oun § “The total infiltration of the Communist Party by the FBI :- flemonstrates the capacity of the bureau to. forestall ‘criminal. - “getivity. The faflure to ‘infiltrate the Citizens Council, the Ku’ r Klux Kian and other racist organizations is inexcusable in this - eurrent crisis." Se Tee So The telegrém urged that either the FBI's Southern operation be drastically reorganized or that the Civil Rights Commission receive the money and manpower te conduct its own police op- erations in the South. ~ we oS _ One assumes that the recomendation was filed in some Presi- dential pigeonhole reserved for explosive topics. em But this is theheart of the matter. No. one can say wilh ertitude, as this is written, that the Sunday. murders could have been averied by such infiltration, But surely the long his tory of Birmingham violence suggests that the crime js the work of an organized conspirapy which undercover agenis ht have exposed long ago. i 0 ~ ~ ver ig not simply that he has fatied; it is that he apparently hasn't tried on any major scale He hasn't tried, F-presume, because he is reluctant to yisk his - status 2s a sacred cow with the Southerners whe contre! the FBrs budget, and annually grant him any funds he seeks, even in. intervals of “economy.” os yt maker on the subject of crime, hag remained steadfastly imar- ficulate about racist violence. But again that silence may merely . Indicate his deference to the sensitivities of the Southern _cabalit Nothing sald here is designed io create the impression that _ the FBI is composed of lazy men. Its agents are busy, earnest - gnd generally consvientious in matters that the director gives a high priority. .. cc re _ Onty yesterday I read an excerpt from, the memoirs of Green Bay football coach Vince Lombardi In which he described the F FBI's vigilance in scrutinizing pro football players. J od ~~—. In warning his players against any conduct that might ren der them suspect, Lombardi recalls, he told them, “I had @ visit the other dey from two FBI men and. ...they fold me that they're keeping. & closer watch than ever on all- professignal sports.” ~ - And te added: “~ ; ‘Cia ean only..sadly observe that similar intense FBI sur- ff ¥ “Now these FBI men didn’t mention anybody on this team, or.on any other team either, but everyone is being watched.” eillance of Southern racists might havé spared the country much gf our present ordeal. a Wssadism ’ ¥yom “Social Astonishments” by David Cort (Macmillan, $4.95) Too many of the diets I have looked at seem to me ta refec’ .., disapproval of other people's having any fun. na