The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-06-13
SUGGESTIONS
ARE MADE FOR
NEGROPLANKS
Continued from page u

some practice. Lynchings have
broken out in all sections of the
country, and white Americans as
we'll as Negro Americans have been
numbered among the victims as is
TO be seen in the killings by the
Black Legion in Michigan. Since
1882 there have been 5000 record
During 1885 there were twenty-five
knows lynchings and one hundred
and two additional instances Of
narrowly averted lynchings, which,
in showing the presence Of the
mob spirit, are considered by stu
dents Of the problem to be equally
serious with consummated lyn-
chings, since in most instances Of
known lynchings fortuitous cir
cumstances alone caused the threat
ened lynching to be unconsummat-
ed. From January 1 to May IS,
1886 there have been six lynchings
three within the six days Of April
2S-May sand fifteen narrowly a
verted ones.
The Senate filibuster Of April
May, 1895, against the Costigan-
Wagner federal anti-lynching bill
has been a notorious example of
how the lynching spirit has invad
ed the halls of Congress. The re-
fusal by the filibusterers to per-
nit a vote upon the motion to con-
slider the bill has rightly been
termed a lynching of the bill de-
signed to stop mob murder.
Added to lynching, the most dra-
matte manifestation of race pre-
judice, has been discrimination in
Federal and State work and other
relief on the part Of local admin
istrators; discrimination by work
ers; continuance of disfranchise-
ment in certain southern states in
utter disregard Of the clear pro-
visions of the federal constitution
misfeasance, if not malfeasance, in
the expenditure of federal moneys
for education; and other forms of
discrimination based upon color.
The loyalty of the Negro to A
merican institutions and the A
merican form of Government has
rightly been praised upon numer-
Gus occasions. But continued dis
elimination and brutality directed
against the Negro are creating
justifiable resentment and dis
satisfaction as they are. There are
swift, deep currents of unrest a
mong Negro Americans which it
would be we'll for political and
other leaders of America to recog-
1iyc.
We, therefore, urge vigorously
the inclusion of the following
planks in the party Platforms
We unequivocally pledge our
selves to passage at the earliest
time possible of federal legislation
against lynching and enforcement
of that legislation after it has
been enacted into law.
III
We pledge ourselves to the a
bolishment, wherever it may exist,
of discrimination against the Ne
gro in the apportionment of relief.
iii
We pledge ourselves against
discrimination in employment on
all projects financed, in whole or
in part, by federal funds; and we
further urge upon the Congress
the passage of legislation, to which
we pledge our support, specifical-
ly prohibiting with appropriate
penalties, discrimination in employ
ment on such projects, based on
race, creed or color.
~
We advocate that Congress en-
force the Fourteenth and Fifteen
tn Amendments and take whatever
steps are necessary to end disfran-
chisement of Negro Americans even
to the extent of reducing Of repre-
sentation in the Congress of those
states which deny the ballot to
Negro Americans because of their
race.
We urge the substitution i'm
mediately of fingerprints for pho
tographs as a means of Identified
Hon in the United States Civil
Service, since photographs have
been used by prejudiced individuals
to deny to Negro Americans the
rights to jobs for which they have
qualified in competitive contests.
vi
We deplore the present discrim-
fnation in the apportionment Of
federal funds for education and
pledge ourselves to abolish all dis
elimination in this respect against
Negro Americans
VII
We pledge ourselves to oppose
vigorously any and all attempts
to exclude Negro Americans from
the benefits of socials welfare le-
gislation such as old age pensions,
unemployment, social security, and
other such legislation.