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Burlington Mayors Committee on Civic Unity clippings and correspondence, 1955

1955-07-01 Correspondence from Art A. Drebenstedt

MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON CIVIC UNITY

City Hall

Burlington, Iowa
July 1, 1955

Dear Friend:

This letter comes to you as an owner or operator of one of Burlington's eating places or taverns. It is an invitation to attend a meeting on Monday, July 11th at 2:00 P.M. at the City Hall. At this meeting the Committee on Civic Unity of which I am a member, wishes to discuss with you a voluntary plan to end the embarrassing problem of discriminatory practices in restaurants and taverns.

The Committee points out that the large majority of eating places in Burlington do not practice discrimination, but it feels that it is nevertheless a problem which concerns the trade as a whole. An advantage of this proposed trial plan is that it eliminates automatically any singling out of the individual restaurant or tavern because of its practices or for any other reason. But the plan will not be workable unless a large percentage of eating places and taverns cooperate in carrying it out.

Therefore, it is urgent that you attend so that your point-of-view will be represented during the discussion and so that all restaurant managers and tavern managers will understand the plan in case those present decide to adopt it or a modification thereof. This meeting will not be open to the public nor will the press be present so that a completely free and informal discussion will be possible.

Sincerely,
[actual signature]
Art A. Drebenstedt

Please fill out and mail enclosed card promptly. It is sent for your convenience. This will save you and another busy person the trouble of a phone call.

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MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON CIVIC UNITY City Hall Burlington, Iowa July 1, 1955 Dear Friend: This letter comes to you as an owner or operator of one of Burlington's eating places or taverns. It is an invitation to attend a meeting on Monday, July 11th at 2:00 P.M. at the City Hall. At this meeting the Committee on Civic Unity of which I am a member, wishes to discuss with you a voluntary plan to end the embarrassing problem of discriminatory practices in restaurants and taverns. The Committee points out that the large majority of eating places in Burlington do not practice discrimination, but it feels that it is nevertheless a problem which concerns the trade as a whole. An advantage of this proposed trial plan is that it eliminates automatically any singling out of the individual restaurant or tavern because of its practices or for any other reason. But the plan will not be workable unless a large percentage of eating places and taverns cooperate in carrying it out. Therefore, it is urgent that you attend so that your point-of-view will be represented during the discussion and so that all restaurant managers and tavern managers will understand the plan in case those present decide to adopt it or a modification thereof. This meeting will not be open to the public nor will the press be present so that a completely free and informal discussion will be possible. Sincerely, [actual signature] Art A. Drebenstedt Please fill out and mail enclosed card promptly. It is sent for your convenience. This will save you and another busy person the trouble of a phone call.