Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1941-06-13
STASSEN CONFERENCE
Continued from Page One)

| NSSAAeAA0GA ALVIN \ AkS NAACy
carried out by the officers. The
Governor answered in effect, that
if he insisted on Negroes being en-
listed in the Minnesota Home De-
tense Force, he might not have a
home defense force. Whereupon
Mr.. Newman replied, If the men,
bers of the Minnesota Home De-
fence Force would quit Che said
that he didn't think they would)
because a few Negroes joined it
you don't have a defense force any
way, and if any officer does not
want to enlist Negroes, he shouldn't
be an officer"
Talmadge Carey, Hennepin
County deputy sheriff, asked the
Governor if it was not his respon-
sibiity to see that his (Carey's)
rights as a citizen be given to him
and all Negroes? Leo Bohannon,
Mill City social worker, in making
hypothetical proposition, asked
the Governor what would he do if
group Of citizens of Norwegian
extraction or a group of people
with crooked noses or blond hair
came to the Governor telling him
that they had been refused admis-
sion into the Minnesota Home De-
tense Force. Governor Stassen
said that he would have to take
some action in the matter. Mr..
Bohanon quickly said, I'VE are ask
ing you to take definite action for
the Negroes Of the state in this
matter under consideration"
Pate Makes Scathing Attack
J. W. Pate, member of the john
ny Baker Post of the American
Legion and well known in Mill
City fraternal circles, who has been
outspoken in his denunciation of
the Governor for appointing a two
man committee to study the prob
lem, told the Governor that he
(Pate) had said in a public address
that he would welcome the oppor-
tunity to say to the Chief Execu-
tive personally what he thought
about the matter and he thanked
the Governor for the opportunity
and proceeded to score the Gov
ernor and his appointees who were
present, for ignoring the Minneso-
Ia Negro Defense Committee. Ray
mond Cannon, Minneapolis attor-
ney, who had said nothing in the
conference that was in its third
hour, said that he could not sit any
longer and not defend himself. He
spoke in defense of himself and
Lawrence Tarver, the other men,
Der of the Governors special COM
mittee who was present also, and
declared that he twas no traitor"
Governor Stassen said that he felt
that his two appointees had been
unjustly criticized and that he as
Governor had asked them to make
the study and report to him and
that they told him that he was
placing them in very difficult po-
sition, which the Governor said he
realized. Governor StaSsen said
that if there was any criticism it
should be on him and not on his
appointees.
Frank Alsup evoked a hearty
laugh from the Governor and all
present when he said, "We haven't
anything against Mr.. Cannon and
Mr.. Tarver. Our problem is their
problem. They can't go home
with the Governor, but they'll still
be Negroes right along with the
rest Of u.s."
Cecil Newman and Rev. Nelson
urged the Governor to make a
clear-cut statement of his position
to the Negro press as well as to
the Associated Press. Rev. Nelson
told the Governor, "If you will take
the stand you ought to take in this
matter and issue an order to the
officers of the Minnesota Home De-
tense Force that Negroes must be
admitted into the Defense Force,
you will take the headlines from
the Democrats who are holding
forth so strongly in st. Paul to-
day" The Governor smiled and