The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-01-18
Illinois Negro
Gives Position
Arthur Mitchell Serves
Notice He Will Not
Fight for Negroes

WASHINGTON, D. c., jan IT,
Arthur W. Mitchell, Negro Con
gresham from Illinois, gave notice
last week that he does not intend
to challenge Jim-crow oppression Of
the Negro people or in any way
represent the interests of the Negro
people. He declared he did not
come to Washington to represent
colored people. but to represent the
first Congressional District of Hi
nois, adding significantly, the rich
est Congressional District in ILL
nois."
This blunt reafhirr,ation of the
Negro Congressman's pledges to the
Southern lynch rulers during his
visit to Alabama shortly after his
election, was made last week to a
reporter of the Baltimore Afro
American during the course of an
interview in which the reporter
tried to sound him out on what
steps he would initiate in Congress
against lynching, Jim-crowism and
other forms of Negro oppression.
The same sentiments were ex-
pressed by the Negro Congressman
during a visit to the Mu-So-Lit
Club here, of which he is a former
member. Commenting on Mitchell's
attitude, the Afro-American of Jan.
y, declared;
Thus, through the discussion at
the Mu-So-Lit Club and in his first
interview with an Afro reporter
since he took the oath of Office,
Congressman Mitchell, the lone COL.
cred representative in the Halls of
Congress, and the first colored Dem
ocrat ever to be elected to Congress,
made it known that the colored
population Of this country had to
look to someone else other than him
to represent them in the Seventy
fourth Congress"
Congressman Mitchell condemned
even the shadow boxing INDUCED in
by his predecessor, former Con-
gresham Oscar De Prist, on the
issue of discrimination against Ne
groes in the House and Senate
restaurants, operated by the gov
eminent He made it crystal clear
that the forces of jim crowism will
have free hand so far as he is
concerned.
Several examples Of his policy of
doing nothing that will offend the
white ruling class are cited by the
Afro American: ID his hasty exit
from the floor Of Congress imme-
diately after he was sworn in; ~
the absence OF his wife from the
ceremony although the wives and
relatives of other Congressman
were present; 90 his refusal to
serve on the Congressional Commit
tee which governs the District Of
Columbia. Negro residents of Wash
ington interpret Mitchell's refusal
to serve on this committee as notice
that he will not interest himself in
any way in the rank discrimination
dAAO O4A4A-O4ONActn Ch4oILllB III JIlC
national capital itself.
Several persons expressed their
indignation to him last week when
he visited the Mu-So-Lit Club.
During the argument which ensued,
he is reported to have made the
statement that former Negro rep
to Congress came here
with the mistaken idea that they
represented the Negro people. He
came here for different purpose,
he declared.
Reminded that 1t was the vote of
Chicago Negroes that swung the
election in his favor. he is said to
have contemptuously retorted that
he did not represent the Chicago
Black Belt" but rather the Loop
district, the biggest business section
of Chicago.