The Phoenix index., 1940-07-06
The Globe Trotter ss By cliff Muekay

strctions in all sections of the country; (4) aboli-
ton of the color line in employment; (5) guaran-
tees of no discrimination in federal air projects
(6) extension Of Social Security to cover agricul-
tural and domestic workers. CD abolition of the
color bar in federal appointments; and (8) rigid
enforcement of the Civil Rights provisions of the
Constitution
The Republicans, whose respect for the de-
mands of black Americans has increased CORES
pondingly with the increase of your political pow
er in the pivotal states, hedgingy grants five of
these in the platforms plank dealing with Negroes
in the following manner:
"We pledge that our American citizens of Ne
gro descent shall be given a square deal in the
economic and political life of this nation Discri-
mination in the civil service, the Army and Navy
and all other branches of the government must
and pursuit of happiness universal suffrage must
be made effective for the Negro citizen Mob vio-
lence shocks the conscience of the nation and leg
islation to curb this evil should be enacted
FINE SOUNDING WORDS
These fine sounding words, but words will
often fool you. Many reading the second sentence
would gather that the Republicans will fight dis
elimination in the Army and Navy They might
and again they might not Their platform though
it condemns the practice makes NO PLEDGE that
a COP administration will wipe out this disgrace
The same thing could be said for the third
sentence, which loosely attacks the poll tax, edu-
catonal requirements and other tricks of Southern
states to keep Negroes from voting but it makes
no pledge, offers solution, only states fact.
Negro newspapers for years have been pointing
out that to enjoy life in democracy, must
vote, but the problem is how to get rid of these
restrictions. The Republicans here certainly make
no pledge that they will help you in your battle.
And the fourth sentence as as clevery written
an evasion as these eyes have seen in a long time.
Read it again, 'Mob violence shocks the con-
science of the nation and legislation to curb this
evil should be enacted
WHY NOT THIS?
One wonders why the fence-straddling platform
writers could not just easily have forthwith
came out and inserted the two words that would
give this provision some teeth Why could not they
have written, &c. and FEDERAL legislation to
curb this evil SHALL be enacted"
That would have at least hushed up those, whose
memories not SO short: who vividly recall how
it the Republican senators voting a man
with Southern democrats, who have persistently
refused to allow antilynching legislation to become
federal law. Now the Republicans facing fight
to-death campaign must have those Negro votes
Indiana to win. And even in the face of TINS ne
cessity, they, in true wishfu thinking Republican
style, would straddle on the one thing that would
bring them those votes
NO PLEDGE FROM WILLK1E
1t must also be borne in mind too that Mr.
Willke, the COP candidate, has not thus 1ar pledg
ed anything to anybody, including you. Whether
or not he feels himself bound by even the weasel
worded provisions of the platform deallng with
your problems remains to be seen.
So also does the Democratic reaction to the
eight NAACP points which are to be presented to
that party in its Chicago convention.
These indeed important days for you You
stand in the middle of two great forces and nod
of your head either way will determine the win
ner. For that nod, the NAACP as your spokesman,
must certainly be credited for bending every eff
fort to see that you are amply compensated.