The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-17

groes, to vote for the fairer minded
men in their several communities.
The eligible Negro voters are in the
hopeless minority and this is the only
method by which they can hope to
make their franchise effective. AS
| the case now stands, it would ap-
pear that if the Southern Negro ever
hopes to regain the use of the bal
lot, it will not be by national COM
pulsion, but by local Precipitation.
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People
The thanks of the entire race are
due to the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People
for prosecuting the franchise rights
of the Southern Negro through the
Federal Courts. The Supreme Court
has outlawed the grandfather clauses
and the State-authorized white pri-
maries. The recent decision of the
Federal District Court in North Car
DINA, to the effect that any regis
tration officer who denies a citizen
his right to qualify under the laws
of the State, solely on the ground
of race or color, is liable to criminal
prosecution and punishment, is of far
reaching significance.
Restrictions Short Lived
Even the sponsors of these unjust
determinations are fully aware that
they are but temporary makeshifts
and must inevitably be swept away
with the progress of events. The
manly courage and good sense of the
| ls,4.oo1f -. IL
with their early or ultimate elimina-
ton.
Civil Service Reform swept over
the nation a generation ago as the
chief moral issue of the time. The
vowed object of this reform was to
purify the public service from politi-
csl corruption, and that the clerical
stuff should be recruited, advanced
or denoted on the basis of merit
only, without regard to politics, re-
ligiou, sex, or race. This law op-
Grated on the level of its original
intention under two administrations
of Grover Cleveland, under Harrison,
Mckinley and Roosevelt. Race dis
elimination began to creep in under
Taft and has gone on under all sub
sequent administrations until now it
constitutes a greater scandal than
was caused by the "spoils system"
which it was calculated to cure. The
operation of the Civil Service reach
ed its highest perfection under the
first administration of Grover Cleve-
land and the commissionership of
Theodore Roosevelt.
When an individual fails to play
the game according to the rules of
his own making, he is called un-
sportsmanlike or by an uglier name.
The government of the United States
makes and operates the regulations
and invites the Negro to compete on
the same basis as other citizens; but,
alas, when he wins the prize, he is
cheated out of the fruits of his VIC
tory by sinister device and tricky
continuance of the government itself.
Surely the Nations conscience is
growing sore where the Negro issue
is involved.
No complaint has vet been lodged
against the Civil Service Commission
itsnlf, for unfairness on rating pa
peis and certifying applicants. The
introduction of photographs, intend
ed sor another purpose, has undoubt-
edl, been prostituted to this end.
1t is the heads of departments as an
pointing officers, who effectively
bloclt the appointment of colored
men and women by flagrantly de-
feating the letter and spirit of the
civil service law. The President of
the United States is ultimately re-
oil
the government. We wish to place
the matter squarely where it belongs.
If the President of the United States,
regardless of party faith, should is
sue an executive order, forbidding
all discrimination, either in the ap-
pointment of applicants or the treat
ment of employees on account of
politics, creed, race or sex and should
hold the heads of any departments
violating this order liable to remov-
al,-then, all these complaints would
vanish overnight in thin air.
We request the Civil Service Com
mission to substitute finger prints for
photographs as means of identified
ton. While this would not wholly
do away with race discrimination, it
| WOulu make It's OpSIdliou luOIe Nl411-
cult and troublesome.
We urge upon Congress to form
ulate and pass law which will effec-
lively carry out the original purpose
Of the Civil Service Act. The auth
orization of a court of appeals to
which applicants or employees might
have recourse for redress of griev-
ances would go long ways in the
de sired direction.
L.vnching is the climax of lawless-
ness America is the wealthiest and
wickedest nation on the face of the
globe, according to the showing of
its own list of recorded crime. 1t is
the only nation which INDUCES in the
pastime of lynching and burning its
own citizens. While it may be re-
joined that the nation itself, as such,
does not indulge in such gruesome
practices, yet from a broader point
of view what the nation permits, the
nation commits. This stigma stains
the honor OF the national eseutcheon
and constitutes the GROWING dis
grace of democracy. In the words