The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-06-01
oegegadon for Coed the

advancement of the colored popula-
ton.
This is the point where we might
refer to another criticism of the action
of the National Race Congress at
Washington. The press has recently
carried articles quoting statements
which the papers say were made bv
Congressman Mitchell in the House
Of Representatives Congressman
Mitchell is quoted as having said q
wish to go on record as condemning
the activities Of the National Race
Congress as expressed in a resolution
which understand was passed BY the
organization while in session here last
week. which resolution purported to
set forth a statement that should this
country become involved in war with
Soviet Russia, Colored Americans
would refuse to fight on the side of our
government. This / brand as a deli
berate misstatement of fact. Colored
people have always been loyaI to this
government elsewhere in his
statement, Congressman Mitchell Is
quoted as saying Il have implicit faith
IN the loyalty of. Colored Citizens.
i wish to 90 on record here tonight
as sharing Congressman MitchelPs
faith in the loyalty of Colored Ameri-
cans. There is however, definite pat
tern for that loyalty. It is a LOYALTY
to the Bill Of Rights and to the Con
st1tution of the United States. It is
loyalty to the spirit and principles of
the Declaration of Independence. 1t
is loyalty to that concept of democracy
which implies equality in participation
in the political life of this country and
equality of economic opportunity and
equality in the enjoyment of the faci
iltles afforded in the life of our coun-
try. In the struggle for these forms
Of equality the Congress will work
with Congressman Mitchell and sin
cerely invites his cooperation.
Il wish to state publicly here to-
night that Congressman Mitchell was
incorrectly informed when he saws
that the Congress passed such a reso-
luton referred to above. The Con-
gress passed no such resolution.
1.-THE purpose of other criticism
made of our great convention in Wash
ington is definitely to divest us and
millions ef other Americans adhering
to the strict and straight path of
struggling for democratic rights. The
well known method of those who would
divert US from this path is to raise
the red cry. The Congress refuses to
become victimized by this trick. The
Congress refuses to let Congressman
Dies who holds his seat in Congress
because of the grossest un-American-
ism in violation of the Constitution Of
the United States whereby practically
$50 of the potential voters of his dis
trict are denied the franchise,-the
Congress refuses to let the tricks of
such man and those identified with
him set up for the Congress a stand
ard of patriotism. democracy and
Americanism. Colored people have
learned their Americanism from
Frederick Douglass and Abraham
Lincoln.
''The immediate task of the Con-
gress,is:
I. To ORGANIZE and BUILD
AROUND ISSUES the Anti
Lynching Bill Pass the Geyer Anti
Poll Tax Biil-discover and act
jointly with other bodies upon the
main issues in the community affect
ing housing, education, health,
recreation and above all Jobs.
2. Let every delegate, every
organizational representative, make
patient use Of every opportunity to
inform and win over our people and
others to organized cooperation for
the common good.
3. Let US engage in unceasing
efforts to clarity issues, let US un-
swervingly stand by our purposes
and thereby win more strength for
our cause. Remember our role is
to carry our task forward aggres-
sively in our effort to win full
participation in democratic
America.