The Omaha guide., 1937-03-06
ROOSEVELT IN ACTON

Not in many years has there
been in the White House a presi-
dent who is so completely a man
J. of his word and of deed as is Pre-
sident Roosevelt. Before the news
columns are dry on one progress
sive move, he has made another
and before the EDITORIAL writer's
can praise him for n courage
Gus act, he has taken another.
At this writing, there are three
distinct acts on the part of the
President for which colored citi-
zens may feel especially thankful
and Of which they may be justly
proud. First, came the Farm Ten
ancy Message to Congress, writ
ten in typically Rooseveltian words,
which still have a potent effect
on the multitude. "The hgricul-
tural ladder, for these Americans,
has become treadmill." So writes
the President of many colored and
white citizens who have been eau
ght in the net of evils which spread
tentacle-like, over a vast part OF
our southern country.
The President proposes a pro-
gram which looks toward an ami
cable solution of the tenancy pro-
blem by not completely ignoring
the land owner, by definitely aid
ing the submerged tenants, and
also by aiding the national plan OF
improving basically the economic
life of the nation. Problems of fl
nance, methods of guidance, and
plans of education, are all a part
of this progressive program. Our
hope is that once the Congress
enacts the necessary legislation,
a "wilful" Supreme Court may not
circumvent the will of the major
ity by scrapping the program as
it did the NRA and the AAA.
Second, the President acted
quickly when Congressman Nit
chell told him he had evidence OF
"skullduggery',. in the case of Mid
shipman johnson, who was flunked
and wass all packed up and ready
TO leave for home at Annapolis Ma
val Academy. Had this happend a
race which is turning out a heal
thy annual crop of M. AS and Ph.
lbs would have been quickly dis
graced. But the President, hear
ing the story, acted instantly, re-
opened the Johnson case, and we
may now expect 4tstice and a
square deal for Young Johnson.
Third, the President, without
efuss and feathers" and without,
even, the knowledge of some of his
secretaries, quietly received DR..
Mary Mcleod Bethune at the
White House, accepted her report
of the National Conference on Ne
gro Problems, which was held
recently, and chatted with her in
such a way that she left the Execu-
tive Offices with complete confid-
ence in the man whom the Negroes
broke party lines for a second time
to return to power.
The average colored citizen can
rest assured that his interests are
not being overlooked or side-track-
ed by the Chief Executive, and that
in addition to getting just con-
sideration, he will get action.
LYNCHING FIGHT
1t is meet that the anti-lynching
fight gain wide support at this time
when other progressive measures
are gaining a hearing before the
bar of public opinion, and when it
appears that a general program of
social reform is in the making.
Certainly no far-reaching changes
in the social and economic scheme
can be effected without something
very definitely being done to check
mob violence, which is the basic
drawback to inter-racial co-opera-
ton in this country. Negroes cannot
cooperate fully in improving the
national life so long as they know
the country at large is not fully
interested in their welfare to stor
| so humiliating and so degrading
a practice as the melting out OF
summary punishment for any in
fraction without due process of law
Tt is largely because the coop
, GRAFTON of a tenth of the popula-
) ton of the nation is necessary Il