Plaques' return sought
State criticized over Confederate items

06/29/2000
By Christy Hoppe / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN - Historic plaques bearing Confederate symbols were taken "in the dark of night" under questionable legal circumstances and should be replaced in the state courts building, frustrated Southern defenders told officials at a public hearing Wednesday.

The speakers, many of them descendants of Civil War soldiers, protested to the General Services Commission, which oversees state buildings in the Capitol complex.

"This is a real slippery slope," said Denne Sweeney, commander of the Texas Sons of Confederate Veterans.

"The next disgruntled group could demand the Alamo be torn down," he said.

Three weeks ago, under a plan promoted by the governor's office, two plaques bearing Confederate symbols were removed from walls outside the state's highest appeals courts.

The NAACP had lodged complaints against the plaques, saying they were inappropriate, offensive symbols to many citizens who would enter the courtrooms seeking equal justice.

The group made its request as Gov. George W. Bush, while campaigning in GOP presidential primaries, refused to take sides in the debate over the rebel flag flying atop the South Carolina Capitol.

The NAACP countered that he should involve himself in Texas' display of the rebel flag.

The flag was part of the plaque outside the Texas Supreme Court, which is housed in a building erected with money transferred from a Confederate widows' fund.

In 1955, voters approved use of the pension funds and lawmakers enacted legislation saying the courts building would be dedicated to Texans who fought for the Confederacy. The dedication language was struck from the law books in 1979.

Removing the plaques"dishonors every soldier in wars past, present and future," Rob Jones of Corsicana told the three General Services commissioners.

The speakers asked the commissioners to provide another forum to allow an administrative review of whether the plaques were removed legally.

Kirk D. Lyons, legal director of the Southern Legal Resource Center, said he believes "the plaques were removed contrary to law," and he is seeking a way to get the plaques restored.

Gene Shull, chairman of the General Services Commission, said he could not comment on a possible administrative hearing or other requests because they are being reviewed by state lawyers.

Michael Jones, spokesman for Mr. Bush, said the new replacement plaques - which say the courts are dedicated to equal justice and explain the funding origins of the building - are a better representation of the building's dedication.

He said the original plaques could wind up in a state museum or another appropriate place.

Mr. Jones denied an accusation voiced by many of Wednesday's speakers that the plaques' removal, on a Friday night after the building was closed, was politically motivated and treacherously carried out.

"This was an effort to resolve an issue in the best interest of all of the people of Texas," Mr. Jones said.

Jim Benton of Winnsboro told General Services commissioners that the wording on the new plaques "makes me wonder as a white Southern Texan if I could indeed go into that courtroom and get a fair hearing."

Demp Toney, holding a rebel flag while addressing the commissioners, said she believes the historical plaques were removed "in an underhanded manner."

"I feel Gov. Bush has let down a lot of people. I feel he has sacrificed the heritage and heroes of the South to appease the false gods of political correctness," Ms. Toney said.

Please visit the Southern Legal Resource Center's web site at http://www.cheta.net/slrc. We encourage those who support us to sign a monthly pledge so that our work may continue. If anyone has received this who does not wish to be on our distribution list, please let us know. Our address is SLRC, P.O. Box 1235, Black Mountain, NC 28711. Phone: 828-669-5189 Dr. Payne and Atty. Lyons SCV members, I.N. Giffen,758, Black Mountain, NC