“Some political candidates in Georgia are falling far short of the high principles of fair campaign practices,” charged Dr. A. Wilson Cheek, executive director of the Georgia Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

“Appealing to the voters on the bases of the issues and political philosophies while rejecting any and all appeals to prejudices based on race, creed, or national origin are major principles of fair campaign,” stated Dr. Cheek.

Dr. Cheek called on all Georgia political candidates, their staff members, and volunteer workers to make an all-out effort to adhere strictly to fair practices in their campaigns.

He also urged all religious leaders in the state to use their influence in ending all forms of prejudice in the minds of the voters, making prejudice an ineffective appeal in politics.

“Certainly none of the candidates is a bigot,” Dr. Cheek said, “yet it is obvious, as reported almost daily by the mass media, that in the heat of the political battle intemperate language is being used and this language is subtly giving sanction to bigotry and is hardening latent prejudices.”

“If racial or religious tensions are fomented during the remaining days of the campaigns, the consequences after the election will be extremely serious,” Dr. Cheek stated. “Unless it is stopped now, those elected to public offices will have to face grave problems which ought never to have been created.”

“Let the political campaigns continue with vigorous dialogues on the issues confronting the citizens and on the political philosophies of the candidates; let them become free of racial or religious prejudices, character assassinations, half-truths and distorting innuendoes,” Dr. Cheek implored.

The NCCJ has been engaged in an extensive program of education and moral persuasion since 1929, seeking to end prejudice and designed to bring about full equality of opportunity in education, employment, and cultural activities for all Americans. It has seen a great lessening of the effectiveness of expressions of religious prejudice in political campaigns and a decreasing effectiveness of appeals to racial prejudice. This is due, in large measure, to a level-headed citizenry voting for candidates on the basis of their merit, Dr. Cheek noted.