The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1938-01-15
Tuo Riuer Rouge Policemen Win Reinstatement in Court light
'WeMust Insist on Our
Rights Says Mcknight
BY Edward Baker

~ III VoA0 A<&
''If we are to become a great
people we must insist on our
right" declared william T. Nc
knight. assistant attorney general
OF Ohio, Sunday evening at the
Lucy Thurman branch OF the
YWCA.
The meeting was under the aus
pices OF the National Negro Con-
gress, and Attorney Mcknight,
principal speaker, was talking on
the Anti-Lynch Bill now before
Congress.
DO not be swayed by newspaper
articles saying that important legis-
lation effecting all OF the one hun
dred and twenty million people Is
being held up because Of the fili-
buster on the Anti-Lynch Bill" the
speaker thundered. "The pro-
ponents OF the bill are ready to
vote any time the Southern sena-
tors will stop the filibuster. They
are responsible for the hold up. not
the Anti-Lynch BILL" he continued.
20 senators Favor Bin
Mr.. Mcknight. who was speak,
ing Oh the constitutionality OF the
bill, said that he had every hope
that the law will pass" lie
that ne had recelxed wsg4
Roy Wsikins. a<asI " ~ tli< =
wagaxire ri,3. siHe, e. w
tha IA ftlls..4 him tas'
sena1ors hea agreed 20 VOTE TO- re
bill. 80.
However. Notwithstanding this
assurance from Mr.. wilkins. Attor-
ney Mcknight urged those present
to send kilograms and letters to
Senator's Arthur IL vandenburg
and Prentiss Brown, telling them
that the colored people In the state
of Michigan expect them to vote
for the bill, and. at the same time
vigorously oppose any attempt by
the opposition TO sidetrack a vote
on the bill.
The speaker unleashed verbal
blast against those who would cri-
ticize the NAACP for its fight in
behalf OF the Anti-Lynch Bill.
This bill be the first piece OF
Federal legislation initiated by the
NAACP. and when passed, we will
have passed a milestone TO make a
recalcitant Congress do what We
want
I'VE must be able to be on the
bargaining side, and we can only
do that through the franchise. Men
In office are afraid not to give you
what YOU want when you have the
ballot. The veterans bonus was
paid 10 years before II was due be-
cause Congress was afraid of the
power OF the soldier vote.
Necessary To Organize
1T is very necessary that we
have organized groups who fire.
quently talk over and fight for our
rights guaranteed under the con-
stitution," the speaker declared.
Speaking on the constitutionality
of the bill, the speaker declared
that Congress had not wasted much
time In recent years on whether a
bill was or was not constitutional
when an emergency existed. That
was left for the Supreme Court to
decide, he said.
Tine speaker then read from the
part OF the bill which gives the
state in which a lynching occurs
thirty days to act. The st2te can
prevent Federal Intervention by
institutlng an investigation. This
provision, he said. answers the
argument Of violation of states
rights made by opponents.
After defining lynching, Mr.. Nc
Knight told OF the intimidation OF
Negro workers in the south by
whites. We must improve the
condition of our brothers In the
south before we can feel Sc
cursure In what we do In the
NORTH he stated.
Stand Fast
In closing Mr.. Mcknight said
"The bill must not be emascuated
We as Negroes have come a long
way to make ourselves In a politi-
cal way by bringing the bill MP to
the point where II Is now. We
should think OF nothing less than
demanding that those who repre-
sent us stand fast. We gain respect
by fghting.
The speaker was introduced by
Attorney Richman M. Golightiy'
who told OF witnessing a lynching
in Tennessee In 1917 by a mob OF
whites.
DIR. James ]. McClendon, presi-
sent Of the local branch 81 the
NAACP. made a plea for oil orga-
nIsasions 70 band together ana