HOUSE OK'S MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL

Author: Associated Press

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 1981
Page: ?????
Section: RUN OF PAPER

The resolution, sent to the Senate, authorizes the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a bust or statue of King at a cost of not more than $25,000.

It would be the first such memorial in the Capitol honoring a black American.

The proposal by Rep. Jonathan Bingham (D-N.Y.), was opposed by Reps. Larry McDonald (D-Ga.), and John Ashbrook (R-Ohio), during debate Monday, when they noted that most government records on King have been sealed. Bingham and McDonald said King had encouraged violence during the civil rights struggle and had, on occasion, broken the law.

But Rep. John Seiberling (D-Ohio), countered that to accuse King of provoking violence "is like accusing King of being guilty of violence because he was assassinated by James Earl Ray."

"Surely logic has been turned upside down," he said.

Seiberling said objections based on the sealed records represented "anonymous, baseless innuendo."

"For tens of millions of Americans . . . (and) the Nobel Prize Commission, Martin Luther King was the living embodiment of great human-rights ideals," Seiberling said.

Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), said that "the reality is that for black Americans, Martin Luther King is unequivocally the symbolic spokesman, the moment in history, the representation of the change from segregation to integration.

"For any other figure to be imposed upon black Americans ... would make a mockery of that symbol."

Joining McDonald and Ashbrook in opposition to the measure were Reps. Jim Jeffries, R-Kan.; James Collins, R-Texas; John Rousselot, R-Calif.; Bob Stump, D-Ariz.; Ron Paul, R-Texas; Delbert Latta, R-Ohio; George Hansen, R-Idaho; Larry Craig, R-Idaho; Philip Crane, R-Ill.; Daniel Crane, R-Ill.; Denny Smith, R-Ore.; Bill Archer, R-Texas; John LeBoutillier, R-N.Y.; and James Hansen, R- Utah.

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