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Background: CHICAGO, MARCH 15, (UPI)-- VICE PRESIDENT HUBERT H.HUMPHREY SAID TODAY THE RACIAL VIOLENCE OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN SELMA, ALA., WAS " A SHAME" AND THE AMERICAN TRAGEDY.

HUMPHREY PLEDGE THAT CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION WILL " SEE TO IT THAT THOSE PERSONS WHO CLAIM AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP...ARE GOING TO HAVE THE RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE THAT RIGHT.WITHOUT A LOT OF GIMMICKS, A LOT OF IMPEDIMENTS."
THE VICE PRESIDENT DEPARTED FROM HIS PREPARED ADDRESS AT A CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION (NFU) TO TALK ABOUT THE RACIAL SITUATION IN ALABAMA.

THIRTY MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS OF RACIAL EQUALITY (CORE) CAMPED IN THE LOBBY OF THE CONVENTION HOTEL, HOPING TO PRESENT DEMANDS FOR FEDERAL INTERVENTION IN THE VOTING RIGHTS ISSUE TO THE VICE PRESIDENT.BUT HUMPHREY WALKED OUT OF THE HOTEL, BEHIND A SECRET SERVICE AND POLICE GUARD, WITHOUT TALKING WITH THE GROUP.

HUMPHREY TOLD AN ESTIMATED 2,500 NFU DELEGATES THAT THE NATION'S AGRICULTURAL ABUNDANCE IS ONE OF ITS GREATEST " ASSETS OF STRENGTH." HE SAID THAT AMERICA'S GREATEST CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE IS MEETING THE RISING FOOD DEMANDS OF A ??? WORLD POPULATION WITH MONEY IN ITS POCKETS.

"THE FUTURE OF THIS NATION AS A WORLD LEADER DEPENDS TO A MAJOR EXTENT ON THE PRODUCTIVE CAPABILITIES OF OUR FARM PEOPLE," HE SAID.

HUMPHREY TOLD THE FARMERS THAT THEY "MUST HAVE FELT IN THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, AS OUR PRESIDENT FELT, THE SHAME FROM INCIDENTS IN SELMA, ALA."
"YOU CAN PUT DOWN THESE LAST TWO WEEKS UNDER THE TITLE OF "THE AMERICAN TRAGEDY," HE SAID.

"WHAT A TRAGEDY! WHAT A SHAME! BUT WE'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE.WE'RE GOING TO REDEEM OURSELVES AND MAKE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE A REALITY.