The Second Round

At the Washington headquarters of the New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Viet Nam, which is helping to sponsor the renewed demonstrations this week, the response to Nixon's speech was: "We told you so." Said John C. Bennett, president of Union Theological Seminary and a protest leader: "President Nixon gave us nothing."

That meant that this week's protest, which will center on a march in Washington, will no doubt have the backing of those who turned out peacefully last month with armbands and candles. The second round, which might have lost support had Nixon given way, is now almost sure to have extra impact.

There is still a danger that this week's march may be stained with blood, although the New Mobe promises to have 1,500 of its own marshals to keep the proceedings orderly. There will also be plenty of Washington police, practiced in riot-handling tactics, on hand. The Justice Department, concerned about the prospsct of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators parading by the White House gate, refused the marchers a permit to march down Pennsylvania Avenue. The department's negotiator, John W. Dean III, explained that there was "a substantial likelihood of serious violence." That refusal may well increase the chance of violent confrontation. If there is rioting in the capital, it will offend many who sympathized with the October demonstrations; a backlash, of course, may be what the Administration wants. Veterans' groups and two newly formed outfits--The National Committee for Responsible Patriotism and the Texas-financed United We Stand--are setting up counter-manifestations in support of Nixon.

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