The Omaha guide., 1935-07-27
n. A. A. c. p. Assumes
Legal Offensive
To Attack Racial Prescription on
Wide Front. New Program
Calls For Aggressive Action.

New York July "a, (ANP)--Ac-
ton Of tremendous significance to
all American Negroes is expected to
characterize the forward movement
Of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People in
the next year in pursuit Of the pro-
gram adopted at the delegates con
vention held in St Louis last month.
The work is to be not only broad
ened, but intensified also.
It Is recognized by the leaders Of
the organization today that the old
order has passed, Along with the old
order have gone some Of the older
leaders, DR., james Weldon johnson
and DIR. W E. B. Dubois. Their
work was well and dramatically ac-
complished. They sounded the de-
mand for full political, social and civ
il equality and defended the race
against i~ncursions of these rights.
Today's leaders, picking I'D tine
torch, recognize new responsibility
and economic depression They see
the Negro, a tragic figure in Ameri-
can life, frantically grasping the
frail periphery Of existence and sub
sistence IN American life. No longer
they assert, al the organization be
content to make a stand against be-
ing pushed off into nothingness and
utter restitution The need is for a
racial consciousness which will get
behind fighting groups which will car
ry the battle to those prejudices
which deny the Negro his rightful
place in American life and obtain for
him a position Of both political equal
ity and economic security.
To this end, today's leaders Of the
Association have consecrated them
selves. This was the essence of the
fighting message delivered BY Wal
ter White, the executive SECRETARY. at
the St. Louis conference.
Without physical combat" warned
Mr.. White, @but destitute men will
give their life blood against starva-
tion- We hope to awaken the Ameri-
can conscience before the point Of
violence is reached
There was something Of the pro
phetic tone of Ethiopia's emperor,
Halle Selasie, in the dynamic secre-
tary's message, the suggestion that
the Associations leaders are pre-
pared to exhaut every peaceful means
IN the struggle for equal opportunity
Tor all American citizens and. II need
be, to pay with their lives the price
OF the liberty they seek for their
people.
In the past quarter century Of use
full effort the Association has rushed
to defend" Negroes accused of.
crimes involving principles Of vital
Importance to the race. Its policy
has been one Of legal defense. This
IS now changed. Though the term
was not used IN the st. Louis coz
vention, the Associations future pol
icy will emphasize legal offense. The
intensified program calls for a legal
attack on the barriers to the Negroes
enjoyment of any Of the rights and
privileges shared by any other class
of American citizens.
The field marshal chosen for this Of
fensive is Charles Houston. former
vice dean Of the Howard university
law school and member of the board
OF education for the District Of Col
umDla- The selection Of Mr.. Hous-
ton for this task and his acceptance
OF 1t represent a significant read
pustment In inter-racial point Of
view Mr.. Houston is a northern
Negro, educated at Amherst and
Harvard, at both of which institu-
tons he won scholastic distinction.
de is one Of those gifted Negroes
who all too often find from
the soul-searing fires Of prejudice by
turning their backs upon it. Gull
tured, in comfortable circumstances
all his life, secure in a well-paid no
sltlon at Howard, Houston has
turned. not away, but toward pre-
JUDGE to fight it. In 50 doing. he not
only sacrifices the comparative peace
OF administrative duties at Howard
but a salary which the N. A. A. @. p
cannot pay him
Mr. Houston will attack THROUGH
the courts the illegal barriers To the
Negroes enjoyment of his full RIGHTS
n opportunities. Greater empha-
SIS IS to be placed upon those discrim-
nations which deny to the Negro
equal educational and work ppor-
Iunltles, although the same resistance
to political and civil discrimination
VIII be exercised as n the past.
The opening shot in the new hat
tie has already been fired-against
the bars raised to the admission of
Negroes TO unsupported educa+ion-