The Phoenix index., 1941-08-16
LaCuardia Says
UUI pIUUNC'
REVIEWS MARCH PLAN
Continued from Page y

Mr.. Randolph also reviewed the
circumstances leading to the idea OF
the march pointing to the need for
the development of ''the technique
of mass pressure" thing new to
the Negro. He scored the Dreadful
conspiracy of silence" on the part
of the white press with one excep-
ton, that of "P M" There was
praise for the efforts of Mayor La
Qua dia and dis6ain for William
s. Knudsen, co-dlrector of Office of
Production Management
Coming to the controversial point,
he said: Simply stated, the march
was postponed because it's main OBJ
iective. namely the issuance of an
executive order banning discriml-
nation in national defense. was
secured in conference with the
President.
"What about discrimination in
the departments of the federal gov
ernment? This was one of OUR OBJ
iectives. While it was one Of our
objectives, it Was not our main OBJ
jective. We consider that it is moe
important to get jobs for Negroes
in national defense, so that they
may get milk and bread for their
babies lnan to get them in the
army or navy or air corps, although
We shall continue to fight tc abol-
ish Determinations in all depart
ments of the government and the
armed forces of the nation. This
will be the next step in the fight
of the march committee movement
DEFENDS ACTION
1.-THE National NEGRO March on
WASHINGTON Committee would hav
been placed in an untenable, alb
su'd and ridiculous position had
rejected its chief objective when Of
fered by the President on the
grounds that we didn't get every
thing We wanted as preteXt for
marching anyhow.
"I want to make it clear that the
purpose of the march on Washing
ton movement was not to serve as
an agency to create continuing
state of suilen unrest and blind re
sentiment among Negroes against
Determinations. It's purpose was
and is to achieve a specific and
definite thing, namely, elimination
of barriers to jobs for Negroes"
Declaring that the march COM
rittee will be retained and expand
ed, the national director in stirring
ard dramatic fashion so typical OF
him, let is be known that we want
one million Negroes organized in
these committees to make a power
that must be reckoned with"
Bessye Bea-den, deputy collec-
tor of internal revenue and leader
in Women'S organizations, pledged
the continued support of Negro
women. Mrs. Bearden, active in
eastern democratic political cir
cles, was one of the few such per-
sons willing to take a hand in the
march on Washington when poll
ticians everywhere were dropping if
like a hot poker.
OTHERS SPEAK
Lester Granger of the National
Urban League, Walter White of
the NAACP, DR.. Charming H. To-
bias of the Selective Service Ad-
ministration, and Frank P. Cross
waith of the Negro Labor commit
tee, all active members of the
march committee, made short ad-
dresses. In the place of Mark Eth
ridge, chairman Of the Fair En-
ployment Practice committee,
was David Sarnoff, also a member
and also president of the Radio
Corporation of America, who spoke
in behalf Of the committee.
Mr. Sarnoff said that to date the
committee had done little worth re-
porting ON, but did announce that
the administrative personnel would
probably he selected at Mondays
meeting of the committee following
which active work will begin.
DR.. Warren Brown, secretary to
the march committee, delivered a
| report on the finances fol the en-
tire venture. The general funds, he
said, came from the sale of but
tons and contributions by individ-
uals and organizations. OF the
total receipts of $2,922.26, a totaI
of 5000 was realized on the buttons
the balance coming from the organ
i1ations, chief contributors being
the Brtherhood of Sleeping Car
POrterS with $95789, the NAACF
with $543 and various civic relig-
ious and professional organizations
with substantial amounts. Expen.
ditures amounted to 50 297O4 The
balance was used up to defray the
costs of the e>public meeting at which
| S10721 was collected