Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1941-06-06

tense Program Must Cease" was ii
gram. Chairman Frank L. Alsup d
to realize the loss to the cause of
national defense through such con-
ditions involving the Negro tenth
Of our population and the harmful
effect upon the character and at
titudes Of Negro Americans who
are eager to give concrete express
siOns Of their patriotism"
Praise Defense Leaders
Edelbert Rogers, a graduate stu
dent of the University of Mime
sofa, praised the leaders of the
Minnesota Negro Defense Commit
tee and he said that "this leader
ship is among the best in the mid
west. He declared that the Negro
must fight to be really free.
Rap Stassen
Both J. W. Pate and J. L. How
land scored the two man committee
named by Governor Stassen to
STUDY the best way that Negroes
can participate in the defense pro-
gram of the state and report to
me-" Rowland said that these men
were not friendly to their own
race. Pate scored the Governor
when he said: "Our Governor did
not have the courage to face the
issue squarely, but sought to evade
the issue and that is one Of the
reasons we are here today" Miss
Erma Clardy, student of the Uni
versity of Minnesota spoke about
"Woman's Responsibility in the
Defense Program" She praised
Negro womanhood and she closed
her address by saying Every
woman should ally herself with her
husband and others to fight for
democracy in this country as it
should be-"
Newman Cites Hypocrisy
''Tms is q hypocriticaI situation
presented by our country. Our ma
ton processes to be preparing to
fight for democracy on one hand
and continues to discriminate
against the Negro in a most I'm
democratic manner on the other
hand" declared Cecil Newman,
publisher of The Minneapolis
Spokesman and The st. Paul Re-
cOrder. The militant editor pointed
out that Governor Stassen lost a
great following when he failed to
handle the matter of Negroes en-
listing in the Minnesota Home De-
tense Force in a truly democratic
manner. He declared "that when
ever and wherever Governor Stas-
sen seeks political preferment any
where in this country his treatment
of the Negro in Minnesota will fol-
low him as Banquo's ghost"
A brief review of the efforts of
the Minnesota Negro Defense
Committee to secure an audience
with Governor Stassen to discuss
the matter Of Negroes being en-
listed in the Minnesota Home De-
Tense Force on equality with other
citizens was given by Rev. Clar-
ence T. R. Nelson, pastor of the
Camphor Memorial Methodist
Church, st. Paul, and publicity
chairman of the Defense Commit
tee. He told how he had carried a
poster advertising the mass meet
ing to the Governors office on
which he wrote the following ques-
ton: isn't it a shame and dis
grace, Governor Stassen, that such
a meeting should have to be held
anywhere in the United States, and
most especially in the state of Min
nesota?"
Several st. Paul and Minneapolis
attorneys have offered their SER
vices to the defense Committee
and the one selected will work with
Attorney Irving Mollison, of Chi
cago, in preparing the briefs for
the legal proceedings that will be
instituted against the Governor
for discrimination against the Ne
gro in the Minnesota Home De-
Tense Force. Attorney Mollison has
been assigned by the national le-
gal committee of the National AS
ISOLATION for the Advancement of
Colored People to help in this case
which is attracting nationwide at
tention.