MANY STATEMENTS FROM CIVIC, CHURCH, AND BUSINESS LEADERS FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT SUPPORTED THE PRESIDENT'S BELIEF THAT AMERICA IS A NATION OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS. IN CONGRESS SEVERAL SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, SUCH AS SENATOR ELLENDER, LOUISIANA, REP. WELTNER OF GEORGIA, AND REP. PURCELL OF TEXAS WHO HAD VOTED AGAINST THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL CALLED ON THEIR CONSTITUENTS FOR LAW AND ORDER IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BILL THAT HAD BEEN PASSED. MAYORS OF SUCH MAJOR SOUTHERN CITIES AS DALLAS, NASHVILLE, BIRMINGHAM, JACKSON, AND ATLANTA URGED THE PEOPLE IN THEIR CITIES TO OBEY THE LAW AND TO COOPERATE IN MAKING THE TRANSITION TO AN INTEGRATED SOCIETY. REACTION OF THE PRESS WAS VARIED. SOME SOUTHERN NEWSPAPERS CONTINUED TO EXPRESS BITTER RESENTMENT, A FEW IGNORED IT, WHILE OTHERS STRESSED THE NEED FOR ACCEPTANCE. FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL, MANY RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SOUTH--PARTICULARLY WOMEN'S GROUPS--WHO HAD ALWAYS CALLED FOR FAIR TREATMENT OF NEGROES, BEGAN TO WORK QUIETLY TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES COMPLY PEACEFULLY. COMPLIANCE BY BUSINESSMEN WAS PERHAPS THE MOST DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY WERE MOST AFFECTED BY THE PUBLIC ACCOMODATIONS PROVISION IN THE ACT. STATEMENTS BY RESTAURANT, MOTEL, AND HOTEL OWNERS REVEAL THAT MANY BUSINESSMEN, WHO HAD ONCE REFUSED SERVICE TO NEGROES, DID NOT TRY TO BREAK THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW WHEN IT PASSED. SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CHANGING RACIAL PRACTICES OFFER GUIDELINES TO CITIES FACED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW LAW. PREREQUISITES TO THE CHANGE USUALLY INCLUDE--A BIRACIAL COMMITTEE OF BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, CONSIDERATE HEARING OF GRIEVANCES OF MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS, COOPERATION OF NEWS MEDIA, HUMANE POLICE ACTION, AND PLEDGES BY ELECTED OFFICALS TO SUPPORT THE LAW.