The Omaha guide., 1940-11-02

things that we must do before
this democracy a claim to b.
reaching anywhere near perfee.
ton And one of these is to com
i. pletely eliminate in this country
any discrimination between PEG
pie because of race of religion.
Up to four or five months agC
no man in the United States haC
less notion that he would ever
occupy public office than | did
But in every phase of my life
from the day I was conscious Of
things, every time the opportuni-
ty has come to, whether as a
boy in Elwood, or as a lawyer, OF
as a business man in New York
I have struck at every type OF
intolerance that has come in my
way, and | have done SO publicly
Relief =
I have written out a few things
here today because I want them
quoted:
The real test whether our lea
dership is making work for US to
do is whether it excludes any por
ton of its citizens from free par
ticipation in the opportunity and
responsibility of government on
account of race.
Now the Negro people Of this
country are citizens and entitled
to every right that any other citi-
zen is entitled to. And those that
are so unfortunate as to be on
relief are entitled to the same
treatment on relief as everybody
else. And if you elect me Presi-
dent of tn United States | shall
see to it that relief is continued.
We can again start the wheels
of industry working so that men
will have jobs instead of relief.
But l will see to it while relief
lasts that there shall be no dis
elimination between persons on it
by reason of their color.
Now | have written it out and
l want to make it exact Sc that
nc man can doubt what l say. II
elected | shall continue relief for
those who cannot secure gainful
employment. 1t is not right, how
ever, that America should con-
tinue a practice in which the Ne
gro is the last to be hired and
the first to be fired. The Ne
gro has little hope if he must wait
until the Whites have all been
employed, at least under this ad.
ministration.
Creative Work for Negroes -
I promise to do away with the
theory that relief in a Negro re-
servation. | will abolish discrimln-
alton in the administration of re-
lief and | will strive to find
creative work for the Negro as
well as for every man. 1t is indis-
putable that the leadership Of
America, in government, in in
dustry and in labor, should give
the Negro an opportunity to be
creative and to participate in the
great enterprises of American
life. I hope that the Government,
Capital, and Labor will cooperate
in providing such opportunity.
l want to say that no man in
America looks upon the hideous
crime of lynching with more con-
demnation than do it. Mob vio-
lence shocks the conscience of the
nation, and legislation to curb
this evil must be enacted.
Now, in addition to that, in the
administration of the affairs of
Government, during this Admins
tration, which has talked in fine
words about Democracy but pra-
cticed little of it in certain de-
partments have been created. |
say to you that under my admin
istration there shall be no discri-
mination between people because
of race, creed, Or color in the
appointments to Federal posi-
tons. That man who serves as
my subordinate who makes any
such dissemination will be fired
en- tho spot.