The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-08-26
Conspiracy To
Keep Race Out
BY r. M. GolIghtly

~~@~SN
Economic Research In a statement
issued last week charged that GER
tain police officials were discov-
cred giving aid 10 white operaors
OF LIQUOR and beer Establishments
on Hastings street. the leading
business street situated In the
large eastside colored community.
in preventing Negroes from secur-
ing liquor and beer licenses on
Hastings street. The Detroit po-
lice have to approve all applications
before the State Liquor Control
Commission will issue such license.
This charge followed the COM
pletion OF survey OF liquor es-
tablishments on Hastings street,
one OF Detroit's largest Negro COM
munities. The survey revealed that
out OF a total OF thirty licensed
bars and taverns only six were held
by Negroes. This survey covered
about thirty-five blocks. This Is In
contrast TO other streets In De-
troit's Negro neighborhoods. where
there Is greater number OF Ne
groes competing with whites and
where most OF this particular type
OF business is owned and operated
by Negroes.
The research association, in sub
stantiating its charge. said tina. its
field investigators had talked to
many Negro operators Of this type
OF business who were located on
side streets in the neighborhood OF
Hastings who claim that various
subterfuges were being resorted TO
by the police in order TO discourage
and prevent Negroes from at
tempting 10 locate on Hastings
street. The association further re-
ports that these Negro operators
claim that the reason for this col
fusion between certain white oper-
ators and certain police members
was the fact that Hastings street
was one OF the most lucrative
streets in Detroit for such estab-
lishments. and that there operators
feared Negro competition.
The field representative OF the
association interviewed several
Negroes who have attempted 10 get
licenses on Hastings street. but
were refused the approval OF the
police precinct inspectors who re-
quire applicants 10 rent and re-
novate places 10 be occupied be-
fore applying for licenses, which
expenses were incurred by these
Negroes to no avail. So rigid have
been these conditions and obstacles
which the police have exacted Of
and placed In the way OF Negroes
that only a few have been able to
hurdle them. The associat' on cites
one example 10 show how trivial
we're the excuses offered by the
police in turning down Negro ap-
plicant. A few years ago. the police
refused Negro applicant the re-
quired approval for license on
Hastings on the ground that he
had a close relative who had a
Police record. This Negro was not
satisfied with this flimsy excuse.
and secured a lawyer who appealed
his case 10 the State Liquor Con-
troll Commission OF Michigan where
license was issued 10 him after
rebuking the police for such re-
fusal to approve his application on
such ridiculous grounds. This.
however. Is rare and isolated
case as most OF the Negroes who
have been refused approval have
thought that discretion was the
better part OF valor. aud rather
than contest the matter and arouse
the ill-will Of the police. decided
10 locate elsewhere In more OBJ
scure and less lucrative places and
thoroughfares. In these places
they have found that the police
were less rigid and the obstacles
were fewer 10 hurdle.
One OF the few successful appii-
cants for license on Hastings street.
a woman. related an inciden: OF
how few years ago when she had
applied for a license, white tav-
ern operatord near her made a bet
with one OF his Negro patrons that
her application would be turned
down. He lost.
Hastings street. formerly a Jew
ish thoroughfare, is now about one
hundred percent Negro. and is To-
Gated mostly in the third senatorial
district, represented by State Sena-
tor Charles c. Diggs.
Anyone desiring the study of
specific problems affecting Ne
groes should address their queries
to the national office OF the Ma
tional Association For Economic
Research at 1928 Gratiot Ave. De-
troit. Michigan. The National Of
hcers are. Attorney r. VI. Golight-
ly, president; John Simmons. vice
president: Arthur Randall. Jr.. sec
rotary; Attorney VIM. V. Banks.
treasurer. and Wilfred Newman.
field co-ordinator and director.