The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-22
Ford Hits LyncherS
At Senate Hearing
Despite HeCkling
Continued from Page y

stood Up, nettled, and the hearing
room became tensely silent.
I've told you we'd give you an
opportunity 10 testify. Here's a lady
who wants to speak" Van NuyS said.
1--WE been here waiting for Two
days. Is it not possible to hear me
in the next half hour7" asked Ford.
Wen try" Van Mugs said, and
called the white woman witness
However, when she finished, Van
Mugs called Ford.
Senator Dietrich, assuming q bel
hgerent attitude from the outset,
asked Ford to state categorically,
Are you for or against this bill?"
we favor any anti-lynching legis-
lation, but"
Proceed" Van Nuys interrupted.
Ford Constantly Interrupted
1--WE must view the present lynch
ing wave in the background Of the
economic crisis" Ford began. Never
before has there been such a crisis.
Capitalism starVes millionS-suicides
are on the increase-the standards
OF the working people everywhere are
being attacked. Every proposal of
the government has brought no re-
lief. The proposals Of the new deal
OF President Roosevelt on the con-
tray have brought increasing unem-
ployment--"
What has that 10 do with crime
prevention" Dietrich asked and add
ed, his face reddening, his agitation
mounting, "this isn't a political To-
rum. We're here to get information
on why this bill should be passed"
Dietrich Catechizes Ford
TIN trying to show you the back
ground" Ford said. Whereupon Diet
rich asked in rapid-fire order cues
tons making q little dossier on Ford.
Of whom apparently Dietrich hadn't
heard. Dietrich looked particularly
interested when Ford said he had
lived in Chicago, Ill, as well as New
YORK ana Alabama. Asked what $50
cleties" he belonged to, Ford. still
completely calm, replied, ''the Com
munlst Party and the League for
Struggle for Negro Rights"
are you here TO further your Com
InunlstIc 1oeas?" Dietrich thundered
ana few in the tense audience
smiled, as Ford replied, I'm here to
talk about the bill"
Blu LegaitzeS Lynching, Ford Declares
Dietrich then warned, I'm going
TO object to his testifying because he
casts a reflection on lay-abidino
people" and Van Nuys chined in
objection sustained" Ford continued
with his testimony, however, listing
MS criticism Of the bill specifically.
He declared the definition of a mob
in the bill was 80 worded as to be
able to be used to legaIize the muir
der Of Negroes" He was giving an
example OF how the bill might be
employed against Negro sharecrop-
pers who organized to defend their
homes, when Dietrich again inter
rupted. Il object" and Van Nuys
announced, You'll have to leave "
Ford did this--but not without say
ing, You will remember, gentlemen,
that Walter White, of the National
Association for the Advanced of Col
ored People warned you yesterday
that Communists and radicals are
gaining influence"
Ford's testimony came after an
other witness in the person of S. E.
Sobilotf, United States ATTORNEY for
the District of Maryland. had adj
mitted that the bill might be used.
against labor in labor disputes"
The Committee, of course. heard
that respectable witness with all de-
| ference.
Chauyinisn Peryades Hearing
jun CrowiSrn, chauvinism. anti
labor sentiment pervaded the hearing
today as yesterday. One of the Dis
trict Of Columbia's red squad was
on guard-though Dietrich didn't ex-
plain the connection between that
and the "anti-lynching" inquiry in
the most formal and calm Of proceed
ings. The red-Squad did hover over
the table at which the Negro COR
respondents Satr-alone as a race un-
til your correspondent sat with them.
Whereafter enc "oined the courage to
o and sit st the white correspon-
dents table. lac was unmoIested -
but only because the election of a
Negro writer from Senate restau-
rant and the Jim Growing in the
very room of the hearing had STIR
red much comment from Negroes in
the audience.
Reformist Applaud Maryland Lynch
Official
The Committee today heard a
Maryland official for the first time
actually publicly name nine lynch
leaders OF the Eastern Shore, Mary
land, mob that murdered George
Armwood, Negro. w. Preston Lane,
Maryland Attorney General, named