White Christmas

In a Christmastide greeting to Little Rock merchants, an extremist group warned last week of "a massive crusade" against stores that advertise in the Arkansas Gazette (circ. 99,573). Said their mimeographed ultimatum:

"The Gazette has played a leading role in breaking dow?n our segregation laws, and at last bringing upon the people of Little Rock the most insufferable outrage ever visited upon an American city. There is a rising tide of race feeling--in fact, a revolution is beginning in the South. Your store and all stores that advertise in the Arkansas Gazette will be placed on one side or the other. This is your notice to make your own choice."

In a Page One editorial that reproduced the letter, the Democratic Gazette patiently explained--as it has in a score of editorials (TIME, Oct. 14) since Governor Orval Faubus' folly--that it has "never advocated integration," but will continue to oppose "naked defiance of the law7." At week's end, the Gazette had not yet lost a line of advertising as a result of the boycott. Wrote Editor Harry Ashmore: "The Gazette does not believe that this revolution will succeed. But we do believe that the people of Arkansas should be aware that it is under way--and should understand what its ultimate cost could be, not to this newspaper, but to all of us."

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