Keep rebel symbols, Bush says

<small>He favors explanation of Confederate plaques in courts building</small> <br> <br>AUSTIN - Gov. George W. Bush believes two plaques honoring the Confederacy that are posted in the entryway of the

Monday, February 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

He favors explanation of Confederate plaques in courts building

AUSTIN - Gov. George W. Bush believes two plaques honoring the Confederacy that are posted in the entryway of the state's highest courts should remain in their prominent place but include an explanation, his office said.

In a letter made public Friday, Mr. Bush's staff wrote to Texas chapter NAACP president Gary Bledsoe, who had requested that the plaques be removed. The governor's letter states that a 1955 law required the Confederate plaques and, therefore, they should be maintained. He thinks a historical explanation of the law should be posted near the plaques.

"I'm disappointed," Mr. Bledsoe said Friday. "The plaques need to come down."

He said the NAACP will ask Mr. Bush to reconsider.

Many people believe that the signs, one of which includes a relief of the rebel flag, are symbols of slavery and bigotry, and the dispute could add momentum to a march to the state Capitol planned for April, Mr. Bledsoe said.

"I think it's clear that the plaques don't have any place on a public building, especially one that houses our highest courts," he said.

"It's like a sign that says instead of 'Buyers beware,' 'Minorities beware,' " Mr. Bledsoe said.

The rebel flag has become a political issue in recent months, underscored by the NAACP boycott of South Carolina for flying a Confederate battle flag over its statehouse.

Mr. Bush has declined to take a side in that controversy, asserting it is an issue best left to South Carolinians.

While he traveled this week to Bob Jones University, which bans interracial dating, and Civil War site Fort Sumter, S.C., his office's letter to Mr. Bledsoe struck less of a Southern conservative tone.

"Governor Bush understands the sensitivity of this issue to many people and agrees with you that the only official flags that should fly over our Texas State office buildings are the Texas and United States flags," states the letter, signed by Mr. Bush's chief executive, Clay Johnson.

But the letter goes on to state that the numerous Confederate emblems around the state Capitol "reflect the history and diversity that make Texas unique."

In light of this, the Confederate memorial aspect of the courts building also should be preserved, Mr. Johnson wrote.

The building, housing the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals, was constructed with money taken from the state's Confederate Pension Fund.

In the law transferring the money to court construction, the 1955 state Legislature provided that a cornerstone or plaque should memorialize Confederate war veterans.

The section of statutes containing that 1955 law has since been recodified, and such language no longer exists.

"The reason for the plaque's existence in the Supreme Court Building should be more clearly explained, and the General Services Commission is exploring ways to do so," the letter states.

Mr. Bledsoe said an explanation is not enough.

"We know what it means," he said. "It would have a chilling effect on anyone who walked through those doors."

Linda Edwards, spokeswoman for the governor, said the contents of the letter were discussed with the governor, who recognizes, "the rebel flag evokes strong and different emotions."

She said Mr. Bush will continue to weigh concerns.

"I think the governor is always willing and interested to listen. I think the letter today communicates the governor's current position," Ms. Edwards said.

Campaigning for president on Friday, Mr. Bush also addressed a proposal to place a Confederate soldier statue on the lawn of the historic Grimes County Courthouse, northwest of Houston.

"That will be resolved," the governor said. "I don't think they ought to have the Confederate, the statue, on the courthouse grounds."

Black leaders have suggested public parks or other areas as alternative sites for such a statue.

On a similar front, the state NAACP also had asked Mr. Bush to help end the use of the rebel flag at public schools.

The letter from the governor's office stated he won't be weighing in on the topic: "The governor believes that local communities can best make decisions that reflect their interests."

Mr. Bledsoe said the use of rebel flags in this state and state leaders' refusal to help remove them "has electrified people in the community."

"We need to do all we can to erase a racist symbol of slavery and division, and even a symbol of disloyalty to the United States," he said.

Staff writer Sam Attlesey in Troy, Mich., contributed to this report.