Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1941-09-26
Pate Describes Conditions
He Found i'm East
On Recent Auto Tour
BY J. w. Pate

end from an extensive eastern
motor trip covering more than
1900 miles.
Many observations were made
relating to the general welfare of
the colored people.
A fair indication of the position
the Negro is holding economically
may be reached through an an
alysis of the large centers of pop
ulatiOn.
We found the Negro in Chicago
in a state of optimism due to many
factors, perhaps the most outstand-
ing is the growth of the defense
program and the sustaining forces
of the WPA and other government
agencies that have given the Negro
an opportunity to find his place in
the skilled as well as the unskilled
departments of labor.
President ROOsevelt's ord Ter
against discrimination in industry
has done much in opening doors
that have been closed in the past in
the communities visited.
The Negro population of Chicago
more than 2S1, 900, is indeed hope
full today of new era.
The new housing program by the
government where more than 1900
family units are giving the low in
come group of the race a better
chancee for health and happiness.
We found similar condition in
Philadelphia with its $4,000 Ne
groes, new defense contracts, new
government housing, and an alert
political stage set by both the Re-
publicans and the Democrats, all
have contributed to the optimism of
Negro today.
We found in Pittsburgh with its
$4,000 Negroes, and Washington,
d. c., $4,000, Baltimore and its
10000 Negroes an increased feel
ing of hope and enthusiasm and it
is evidenced on Wiley Ave. and
Centre Streets in Pittsburgh, YOU
Street in Washington, or Pernsyl-
vania Ave. in Baltimore.
Our visit to Detroit with more
than 100000 Negroes largely rep
resented on the payroll of the auto
mobile industry disclosed the fact
that the Detroit Negro is doing a
good job in the fight for local jobs,
and colored employees may be
seen in almost every type of store
from the ten cent store to Hudson's,
the largest department store in
the State of Michigan.
In Columbus, Ohio, with a few
more than $4,000 cOlOred pOpula-
ton, we found them alert and do
ing their share in making de-
mOcracy a reality.
Of course the New York City
Negro American, more than three
hundred thousand strong, is still
setting the standard by which all
other minority groups must ad-
mire. In his recent fight for a
place in the New York subways,
nationwide recognition was gained
and it is thrilling to see Negroes
operating subway trains along
with other Americans.
The New York Negro may be
seen in every nook and corner of
the biggest city in the world today
working and demonstrating real
democracy. From the lower in
come bracket to judgeships the
New York Negro is well repre-
scented, and is on the 'tmust" list of
the Democratic party of the City
of New York, all of which means
that his consistent loyalty and in
terest to the party has returned to
him in patronage in a big way. On
Broadway, Seventh Ave-, or Lenox
Ave., at work or play the New
York Negro may be considered
tops in Negro American life.
Our visit to Atlantic City, New
Jersey, where we attended the big
Imperial, Benevolent, Protective
Order of Elks of the World Con-
vention, was indeed inspiring and
educational. We hope to give de-
tailed account Of this big event in
a later edition. Twelve thousand
Negroes in a city where Is million
persons visit annually for recrea-
ton and health presents a peculiar
problem to the officials of a city
whose business is hoteling and re-
sort keeping, with a degree of
Southern atmosphere"
Ito be continued next weekly
ON ANN BAXTER'S PROGRAM
Mrs. Mary D. Mcfarland, 493
Whiteall st., appeared on Ann Bax-
ter's program at II a. m. on KSTP
Thursday, September %, as a cul-