The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1941-10-04
Him. Munrnp Trnttrr
Editor and Publisher
1901 - 1884
NAVY Doors MUsI OPEN

After passing all examina-
tions, written, oral and physi-
cal, for assistant surgeon in the
Navy DR.. Harold ]. Franklin Of
Jersey City says the Navy with
held his appointment because
of his color, The subterfuge
employed by the naval officials
is not anything new: rejection
ecause of trumped-up failure
to pass the required physical
examination is part of the stock
technique for barring colored
tppointees from Annapolis. To-
preserve the naval caste system
the heartless dodge apparently
has been passed along.
The Nays action in the case
OF Or. Franklin makes it clear
that the Navy is still determin-
ed to limit colored enlistments
TO the mess department, de-
spite President Rooseyelt's ex-
pressed disapproval of discrim-
nation and despite the wide
spread public demand for more
democracy in the nations
armed forces. NAVY reaction
aries can not forever beat back
the united purpose OF is million
aroused Americans to pry open
the Navy, so that all citizens
may have a free opportunity to|
serve in any part of the service
for which they are qualified.
Naval doors must be opened,
unless we are to count demo-
cratic government a farce or
an impossible dream. The pride
OF the brass hats may have toI
be hurt. Let them ponder that
colored citizens-full fiedged
americans all have always
won what they determinedly
went after; that tha real DEM
ocrats Of the nation always rail-
ly to support every legitimate
struggle for full American
rights. Whose Navy is it, any
way?
REGISTRATION and VOTING
Tuesday, November 4, the cit
sizens Of Boston will elect a
Mayor, members of the School
Committee and members of the
City Council. These high posi-
tions OF public trust should be
filled by persons who in the
Judgment Of the electorate are
best able to carry out the re-
sponsibilities of the Offices. That
Judgment can only be effect
lively expressed when the great
majority of voters go to the
polls on election day and vote
their choice OF candidates.
Voting Is evidence that de-
n1ocracy still functions. The
right to vote is a valuable right
which people living in the
North and West too often min
inize because It is so easily ex-
ercised. But in many sections
in the South-a total Of eight
sovereign States-poll tax re-
quirements disfranchise mil
lions Of voters and permit in
competent and reactionary pol
iticianS to perpetuate them
selves in Office to the injury and
humiliation of free born AM
erican citizens, who are con-
stantly reminded that they are
too poor to vote. Where men
and women can freely use the
franchise, If incompetents get
into public Office II is simply
because Of aparty and neglect
on the part Of the yoters-the
real rulers Of the country, SO
recognized and appealed to by
every candidate who seeks Of
flce.
The FIRST step for every vot-
err, Of course, is to make sure
that his or her name is on the
voting list, Names of voters are
sometimes omitted through
oversight even in the case of
persons formerly listed for sew
eral years All eligible persons
should first register. This should
be attended to at once and not
be PIT of until near election
day when as a rule late regis
trants crowd the registration
booths and cause long waiting
The real task confronting
Voters is to decide upon the 1T
ness OF the candidates on the
basis of their records or per-
sonsonal qualifications. Ac-
cordingly, as sound judgment is
exercised by the electorate in
choosing public serysfifg Che