Democratic, Republican Parties Oppose Bigotry in Election Campaign

A tri-faith statement against resort to bigotry the 1956 Presidential election campaign was endorsed Thursday by the chairmen of the Democratic and Republican national committees. Jewish co-sponsors of the statement were Irving M. Engle, president of the American Jewish Committee, and Rabbi Abraham Feldman, president of the Synagogue Council of American. The statement.

“With the free world looking to American democracy for leadership and inspirers in the struggle against totalitarianism, all eyes are focused on our election camps Nothing is healthier for self-government than out-spoken political discussion, but nothing is more harmful to a self-governing people than confusion of the issues by base appeals to racial and religious bigotry.

“In the light of the pre-eminent role which the United States is playing, it is incur bent upon us to prove that in our democracy, men of all races, creeds, and national origins participate in our government to take all necessary measures to prevent any expression of racial or religious bias by their adherents and to condemn publicly and emphatically every occurrence thereof.

“We urge all citizens to reject political arguments based on racial or religious prejudices and to rebuke those who make such appeals. We suggest that in every community a non-partisan and non-sectarian committee undertake to keep a watchful eye on campaign activities and call to the attention of political leaders any instances of appeals based on religious or racial prejudice. Let us make certain that our election campaigns are in every sense free and worthy of a nation founded on the principle of brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God.”

Mr. Engel, president of the American Jewish Committee, has expressed apportion to the chairmen of the Democratic and Republican national committees for their endorsements of the statement. In letters to Paul M. Butler, national chairman of the Democratic Party, and Leonard W. Hall, national chairman of the Republican. Party, Mr. Engel declared: “Your assurance that your Party will continue to oppose bigotry in election campaigning and your conveying our statement to other party leaders, will be helpful in preventing the use of racial and religious intolerance as a political device.”