Twin-City herald., 1940-04-13

There was hidden drama in the re-
cent Urban League Dinner, if one
cared to look behind the scenes, or
watch events unfold themselves as the
evening progressed.
Naturally Governor Stassen, who
acted as speaker of the evening, was
the most prominent figure present
In one of the shortest speeches of
its kind, the governor touched on the
usual things to be expected on such
occasions. There seems to be reac-
ton among great many that things
took more or less political tinge, but
in this your guess is as good as mine.
There is one incident, however, that
is causing not little comment; that
of the Governor hanging the wreath of
leadership on the brow of Mrs Fannie
Shanks, long active in Republican poll
tics.
To our mind there is no person more
deserving of the honor than she, for
she has been faithful to her party, and
has worked in season and out of sea-
son.
The Governor, however, stubbed his
toe on the Oldest rock in the political
road.
Negroes have long since looked with
suspicion on any white person who at
tempts to pick their leaders for them.
1t should be realized that the inter
est of the average Negro lies in just
about the same things that interest the
average white, namely, how and where
to eat, sleep, and protect their families.
These problems carry with them many
earmarks that any astute politician
may easily identify, and govern him
self accordingly. As you may know,
we are wholly nbiased politically, but
knowing our people as we do, we feel
safe in saying that if the Governors
gesture was political, if it was his in
tention to pitch little WOO in bring
the erring followers of Honest Abe"
back into the Republican fold, he may
discover that he has only succeeded in
frightening his quarry
1t is hard for the average Negro to
understand how white man can claim
on one hand that the race is making
remarkable progress, and in the same
breath hint that in seventy-five years
of freedom it has not advanced far
enough to know whom they want to
follow, or where they want to go.
Doctor Guy Stanton Ford also fur
nished a share of the fireworks when
he criticised our erstwhile front line
defenders for their meddling with U
affairs, during the recent Porgy con-
troversy. We do not feel particularly
elated because he vindicated our stand,
we do not care for that one way or an
other, for we say what we see and be-
leve to be true We calm however the
Doctors feelings, for lie has beyond a
doubt tried to build reputation for
fairness for 10 these many years.
We wonder if those people with
whom we disagreed will call him a
red. That is what they labelled us.
Baker Post rendered small service
recently to citizens in the vicinity OF
the housing project, when they re-
quested that portions of the area be
better lighted.
The request was promptly complied
with.
We would suggest that they begin a
drive now to secure a Negro police
woman.
Such person might be invaluable in
combating juvenile delinquency. We
have been told by persons who are in
a position to know, that conditions in
certain areas are very bad.
Now that the battle is over it might
be we'll to take stock of little things
that happened during the recent fight
on the Birth of a Nation.
First we should all congratulate, no
only those who fought, but those as
well who stood and waited.
1t was the first time that we hav'
had the pleasure of seeing Negroe
together on anything, and we find tina
they made surprisingly effectiv