St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1940-05-10

am convinced, also, InaC until the SLlR-
ma of the Communist Front is wiped from
the Congress. it will never rally the masses
of the Negro people.
The procedure, conduct and policies of
the Negro Congress, as set up in this third
national meeting. will make its influence
in the affairs of the American Negroes,
short lived. The American Negroes will
not long follow any organization which
accepts dictation and control from the
Communist Party. The American Negro
will not long follow any organization
which accepts dictation and control from
any white organization.
In the last national Executive Commit
tee meeting in New York City, Brother
John P. Davis was authorized to go out
and borrow $1,000 to help put the Third
Congress over. He informed me that he
had borrowed it and mentioned the name
of man. I was given no specific identity
of the man. What was the source of this
money? The Delegates to the Congress
should know. Because whatever is the
source of the money with which the Con-
gress is run, will also be the source of its
ideas, policies and control.
1t is we'll known fact that most of the
contributions to this Congress, expressed
by the Secretary, Mr.. Davis, are from CLIO
unions. Is this the reason why the Con-
gress is taking the CLIO line?
In an Executive Committee meeting in
New York City, Mr.. Davis informed it that
the Communist Party contributed 500 a
month to the Congress. Is this the reason
why the Congress refuses to attempt to
make plain to the American people that
it is not Communist Front? These Ques-
tons should be definitely and unequivocally
answered.
When was asked in Committee meet
ing in New York to visit some unions, or
sign letter to be sent to certain unions
for funds, refused, because / am I'M
alterably opposed to having a Negro or
ganization, which is supposed to be fight
ing the battles of the race. depending for
its main income upon a source outside of
the Negro people themselves.
/ am opposed to the National Negro
Congress depending upon the Communists
or CLIO for its financial maintenance, be-
cause I am opposed to the Congress being
dominated by either the Communists or the
CLIO. The Congress should be uncontrolled
and responsible to no one but the Negro
people. But it will not be uncontrolled
and responsible to no one but the Negro
people unless the Negro people supply the
money for its maintenance.
Now, there is nothing against the Con-
gress receiving contributions from unions,
but it is dangerous business where there
is split in the labor movement, for 1t
to receive practically the major funds,
upon which its existence depends, from
unions on one side of the fence. 1t Is
bound to make the Congress biased toward
one side, and thereby, destroy the united
front and mass character of the Congress,
because it will no longer be able to rally
the Negro workers in the A. F. of l..
When the National Negro Congress loses
its independence, it loses its soul, and has
no further reason for being. 1t also for
feits and betrays the faith and confidence
of the Negro masses. 1t will shatter the
hopes and aspirations of the Negro people
who yearn and pray for the Negro Con-
gress not to sell out either to labor or
capital, Communists Republicans or
Democrats.
Since the trend of the National Negro
Congress is obviously toward domination
by the Communists and the ClO, l. would
not stand for reelection for President.
1 do not oppose domination of the Con-
gress by the CIO because / am opposed to
the CLIO. 1 would be opposed to domino
ton of the Congress by the A. F. of L. or
any other white organization.
With respect to domination by the Com
munists, am not only opposed to domino
ton of the Congress by them, but / con-
slider the Communists a definite menace
and danger to the Negro people and
labor, because of their rule or ruin and
descriptive tactics in the interest of the
Soviet Union.
It was apparent, Immediately the Con-
gress got under way, that the temper,
flavor and viewpoint of the Congress were
Communistic, and that the resolutions
adopted would reflect the Communist line.
1t was not long before my suspicious were
confirmed, for the person who was selected
for the chairman of the Resolutions Com
mittee is an acknowledged Communist.
This was an objectionable, colossal and
childish blunder. / didn't protest against
it because / knew it was useless, since the
Congress was deliberately packed with
Communists and CLIO members who were
either Communists or sympathizers with
Communists.
The Third National Negro Congress was
a miserable failure. so far as representing
the sentiment of the American Negro
people is concerned. Uproarious applause
greeted every favorable reference in the
Congress to Soviet Russia. The statement
was even made that the Negro people
would not fight in an imperialist war
against the Soviet Union. But this is far
from the truth. If the United States de-
clared war upon Communist Russia tomor-
row, the Negro would fight Russia, with
all the fervor and patriotism of any other
100 per cent American. Anyone who be-
lieves to the contrary is living in fools
paradise.
Soviet Russia was hailed as a land with
out poverty or race prejudice. But the
fact is, there are no Negroes in Soviet
Russia that would occasion any manifesto
ton of race discrimination. However. 1t
is significant to note that Bolshevik Russia
freely sold oil to Fascist Italy to assist the
murderous war of invasion of the peace
loving and ancient kingdom of Ethiopia.
/ quit the Congress because / am OPP
posed to linking it up with Labor's Nom
Partisan League. the political mouthpiece
of the CLIO, since this was a departure
from the original minimum program upon
which there could be general agreement
and a sound basis for rallying the Negro !
masses.
It seems automatic and as simple as one
two, three. that the Congress could not |
rally the Negroes in the A: F. of L.. if it |
were tied up with the Clio, and it could
not rally the Negroes in the CLIO. if it |
were allied with the A. F. of L.
/ quit the Congress because was OPP
posed to it, or its officials, expressing |
sympathy for the Soviet Union, which is |
the death prison where democracy and |
liberty have walked their last mile" and |
where shocking blood purges" wipe out |
any, and all persons who express any dis |
senting opinions from dictator Stain.
quit the Congress because / saw that |
the Communists were firmly in the saddle |
and the delegates were not subject to the /
influence of facts and reason. Their minds
were already made up when they came |
there by Communists maniplations. eau
cuses and propaganda. Nothing could shake |
them. Even poor old men and women from
the deep South and from some parts up