Dublin Core
Title
Box 16, Folder 3, Document 51
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LAW OFFICES
ALEXANDER E. WILSON, JA. WILSON, BRANCH, BARWICK AND WILCOX
JOHN E. BRANCH
th ees heh patie RHODES-HAVERTY BUILDING
JOHN W. WILCOX, JR.
THOMAS 5. BENTLEY ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
ALEXANDER E. WILSON HII
JAMES FULM SWANN, JR.
JOHN E, TALMADGE September 8 : 1966
Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr.
City of Atlanta
City Hall
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Dear Ivan:
I want to express to you my personal appreciation of the fine job
which you have done in coping with problems arising out of the firemen's
strike and the racial disorders earlier this week. At all times, you have
been dignified and fair in your approach, but when necessary, youhave shown
that you can also be firm.
In dealing with large groups or masses of people in an emotionally-
charged atmosphere, good leadership demands not only a willingness to be
conciliatory and understanding of the other fellow's problems, but also
letting everyone know that unreasonable and disorderly actions will not be
tolerated, You have certainly displayed these qualities to an admirable
degree under very trying circumstances.
I think one of the tragic mistakes made by the city administrations
and police officials in other cities where these riots have gotten out of hand
has been to temporize and tolerate too much from the radical extremist
leaders. This enables the radical leader to grow in strength in the eyes of
the mob, and he becomes doubly difficult to deal with later on, Also, in
these other cities, they allowed themselves to be persuaded to withdraw
police enforcement and protection at the outset of the trouble, thus leaving
the arena completely dominated by the radical leaders and with no law and
order there to give aid and comfort to the decent Negro citizens. Fortunately
for us, you and Chief Jenkins did not make these tactical mistakes, for had
you done so, the radical leaders would have had a clear field in which to gain
momentum for their disorders, and it would have been a thousandfold more
difficult for the police to go back in and quell the disorders at a later date.
Although things have quieted down and seem to be in good shape today
on the racial front, we will all be hoping and praying that no further trouble
arises, I feel a lot better about the situation knowing that you and Chief
Jenkins are following a wise course in displaying the qualities of good leader-
ship which are so desperately needed in these situations, I] amproud of the
fact that so many of our decent Negro citizens had the courage and good sense
to deplore the violent approach to the solution of racial problems advocated
by Stokely Carmichael and SNCC, but many of these Negro leaders could not
have spoken out effectively if our City Government had not provided a proper
atmosphere and demonstrated that these citizens would be backed up by a
City policy of fairness and firmness which would not permit the radicals to
take over.
Iam sorry I allowed this letter to get too long. But I just wanted you
and Chief Jenkins to know that your attitudes and actions are deeply appreciated
during these turbulent crises.
With warm regards and best wishes, lam
Sincerely,
John E. Branch
JEB:lew
cc: Chief Herbert Jenkins
Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta, Georgia
ALEXANDER E. WILSON, JA. WILSON, BRANCH, BARWICK AND WILCOX
JOHN E. BRANCH
th ees heh patie RHODES-HAVERTY BUILDING
JOHN W. WILCOX, JR.
THOMAS 5. BENTLEY ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
ALEXANDER E. WILSON HII
JAMES FULM SWANN, JR.
JOHN E, TALMADGE September 8 : 1966
Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr.
City of Atlanta
City Hall
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Dear Ivan:
I want to express to you my personal appreciation of the fine job
which you have done in coping with problems arising out of the firemen's
strike and the racial disorders earlier this week. At all times, you have
been dignified and fair in your approach, but when necessary, youhave shown
that you can also be firm.
In dealing with large groups or masses of people in an emotionally-
charged atmosphere, good leadership demands not only a willingness to be
conciliatory and understanding of the other fellow's problems, but also
letting everyone know that unreasonable and disorderly actions will not be
tolerated, You have certainly displayed these qualities to an admirable
degree under very trying circumstances.
I think one of the tragic mistakes made by the city administrations
and police officials in other cities where these riots have gotten out of hand
has been to temporize and tolerate too much from the radical extremist
leaders. This enables the radical leader to grow in strength in the eyes of
the mob, and he becomes doubly difficult to deal with later on, Also, in
these other cities, they allowed themselves to be persuaded to withdraw
police enforcement and protection at the outset of the trouble, thus leaving
the arena completely dominated by the radical leaders and with no law and
order there to give aid and comfort to the decent Negro citizens. Fortunately
for us, you and Chief Jenkins did not make these tactical mistakes, for had
you done so, the radical leaders would have had a clear field in which to gain
momentum for their disorders, and it would have been a thousandfold more
difficult for the police to go back in and quell the disorders at a later date.
Although things have quieted down and seem to be in good shape today
on the racial front, we will all be hoping and praying that no further trouble
arises, I feel a lot better about the situation knowing that you and Chief
Jenkins are following a wise course in displaying the qualities of good leader-
ship which are so desperately needed in these situations, I] amproud of the
fact that so many of our decent Negro citizens had the courage and good sense
to deplore the violent approach to the solution of racial problems advocated
by Stokely Carmichael and SNCC, but many of these Negro leaders could not
have spoken out effectively if our City Government had not provided a proper
atmosphere and demonstrated that these citizens would be backed up by a
City policy of fairness and firmness which would not permit the radicals to
take over.
Iam sorry I allowed this letter to get too long. But I just wanted you
and Chief Jenkins to know that your attitudes and actions are deeply appreciated
during these turbulent crises.
With warm regards and best wishes, lam
Sincerely,
John E. Branch
JEB:lew
cc: Chief Herbert Jenkins
Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta, Georgia
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