University of Virginia Library

It is obvious that some of the
"impudent snobs" whom vice president
Agnew recently referred
are not marching in the streets.
Some are writing radical columns
for campus newspapers.

Reference is made to the
December 4th issue of The Cavalier
Daily and a column entitled "Birdsong's
Hospital" authored by Tom
Gardner.

I am quite willing to accept
errors of judgement by any columnist
but the numerous errors of fact
contained in Mr. Gardner's
attempted vilification of William
Birdsong must be refuted. I am
unconcerned that Mr. Gardner
would turn over the University to
the students and Nansemond
County to the blacks. But I am
concerned that a fine gentlemen's
character should be treated with
such callousness by a person who
has no regard for facts and who
chooses to use absolute untruths to
make a case against Mr. Birdsong,
Louise Ob Memorial Hospital and
the combined community of Suffolk-Nansemond.

It is stated in the column that
Nansemond County is over 80%
black. The true figures are 63%
non-white in Nansemond County
and 37% non-white for the City of
Suffolk. Mr. Gardner was obviously
trying to picture the community as
predominantly black white being
"ruled" by a handful of whites.

Mr. Gardner alleges that Suffolk's
high schools are "almost
totally segregated." Quite the reverse
is true. Suffolk's only high
school is completely integrated.
Only one section of the 8th grade
and one section of the 9th grade
still housed in Booker T. Washington
school are segregated and this
only because space is not available
at Suffolk High School.

It is stated that the hospital
administration has "played on the
racial tensions in the importation of
white scabs and the police harassment
of the predominantly black
strikers." The facts are as follows:
The striking workers were offered a
$0.15 per hour wage increase (after
an earlier 15@ per hour increase
prior to their walkout) and requested
to return to their jobs by
September 3. It was made absolutely
clear that the hospital would
not recognize a union but would
hear any grievance from any employee
at any time, it was also
made clear to the workers that
should they choose not to return to
work, their jobs would be filled by
others. Some returned to work. At
present there are less than 50 of the
original 82 who do not have
employment. After the return-to-work
deadline, ads were run in
several area newspapers soliciting
applications for work. No persons
(scabs) were imported. It is true
some whites were hired in jobs
formerly held by Negroes. But the
last count of hirings showed only
one more white than Negro had
been hired. As I understand Fair
Employment Practices legislation
this is the way it should be done.

As for the police harassment
charge, it hardly deserves any
thinking person's comment. Aren't
we all too familiar with this old
saw? Suffice to say that it did not
happen.

The very vilest charge of all was
contained near the end of Mr.
Gardner's column: "For Mr. Birdsong
and the other proprietors of
Ob Hospital who make their
profit from the sickness of others,
racism is the most profitable
sickness of all"' The facts are:
Louise Ob Memorial Hospital is a
non-profit hospital bequeathed by
Amedeo Ob, founder of Planters
Peanuts. Mr. Ob arrived in this
country almost penniless; at least
less affluent than any person now
living in Suffolk-Nansemond. In his
later years he established a trust
fund to build and maintain the
hospital to give adequate medical
treatment to the people of this
area. William Birdsong has never
been paid a cent for his services as a
member of the Board of Trustees.
Nor has any other board member.
Not a penny of profit has ever been
received by any member.

It should be pointed out that
Ob has been a pioneer in the
South in the matter of race
relations. There has never been a
"white" or "colored" sign in this
institution since its opening in
1952. The first surgery performed
in the hospital was done by a Negro
dentist. Negro doctors and dentists
have since its opening been full fledged
staff members enjoying all
the rights and privileges as their
white colleagues.

The Birdsong family have been
generous benefactors to Suffolk
and this area. Our Birdsong Recreation
Center is a model facility,
particularly for the youth of this
community. It was donated by this
family as were several parcels of
land needed to construct facilities
such as an armory and an industrial
plant. More than one institution of
higher learning, including the University,
have received substantial
gifts. The peanut interests that bear
the Birdsong name earmark a
certain portion of their profits each
year to the Birdsong trust fund for
philanthropic and charitable work
to a degree that is unique in
modern times. In addition, there
are countless other financial needs
that have been provided in secrecy
by this family. I am confident there
are others of which I am unaware.

Mr. Gardner may not want to
take my word for the unimpeachable
character and integrity of
William Birdsong. I invite him to
come to Suffolk and ask any
number of citizens, black or white,
about Mr. Birdsong's standing in
the community.