Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1941-06-20
Carey Speaks

NoACy OPSoAS
Talmadge Carey Hennepin
County Deputy Sheriff and MEM
Der of the Minnesota Negro De-
tense Committee, and James L.
Rowland, st. Paul, the secretary Of
the Defense Committee, praised the
leadership and membership of the
committee as being fearless and de-
termined. Carey, who character
lied himself as being a "eonserva-
tive" said that he had not found
the Committee Influenced by Com
munism or any other isms, and
Rowland reiterated the contention
that the Committee has no political
axes to grind.
Nathaniel Evans, president of the
st. Paul Branch of the N.A.A.C.P.,
reported that at his request Gov
ernor Stassen had sent the local
branch five dollars for his member
ship and contribution toward the
delegates expenses to the national
conference in Houston, Texas.
Cecil E. Newman, editor and pub
Usher of The Recorder and Spokes-
man, said that at does not matter
if the Governor, or any other public
official, takes out a $1,000 MEM
bership in the N.A.A.C.P., if he
fails to see that the Negroes of the
state of Minnesota are accorded
every right Of citizenship, he does
not do his duty" Newman added
that discrimination prevalent in the
armed forces of the nation was
brought about by "the influence Of
prejudiced southerners who are too
lazy to make a success in the COM
petition of the business world as
are northern whites . . become Of
ficers in the armed forces and
set up a southern brass hat rule"
Governor Stassen had said in eff
feet at the conference that the Of
ficers of the Minnesota Home De-
tense Force, who are United States
Army officers, were following the
Army custom of discrimination and
segregation of Negroes.
Frank Boyd, secretary-treasurer
of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car
Porters in this area, said the whole
system in this country was respon-
sible for the anti-Negro practices.
He cited the control of the nations
lawmaking bodies by the south Gre
ated the condition which made the
barring of Negroes from the Min
nesota Home Defense force pos
sible.
J. W. Pate, American Legion
naire and well known in Mime
sofa fraternal circles, put plenty Of
pep into the meeting and started a
heated discussion that lasted for
more than an hour, when he reiter-
ated his statement to the Cover
nor's conference that either the
governor or his appointees (refer-
ring to the special committee of
two, composed of Raymond Can
non and Leslie Tarver) were VIC
timized in making the study they
were asked to make for the Gov
ernor in reference to "a sound and
sensible way in which Minnesota
Negroes can demonstrate their
patriotism"
Raymond Cannon, Minneapolis
attorney and leader among the Ne
gro Republicans of the State, asked
permission of the chairman of the
meeting, Frank l. Alsup, chairman
of the Minnesota Negro Defense
Committee, to defend himself
against the attacks of Pate and
others, who have criticized him for
performing a patriotic duty" In
his own defense, Cannon praised
himself and Leslie Tarver as hav-
ing performed a real patriotic SER
vice for their state and race in
making the study for Governor
Stassen. He said that they made
two recommendations in the report,
without being requested to do so by
the Governor. One recommendation
was that no separate unit for Ne
groes be set up in the Minnesota
Home Defense Force. Cannon also
Continued on page A