The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1941-05-23
Dr.. Rayford Logan Says
Peace Plan Must Be Part
or Democratic War Aims
NEW YORK, May 21.-TYP)

NEW YORK, May 21-(TYP)-
DR.. Rayford Logan, professor Of his
tory at Howard University, believes that
it is urgently advisable that the people
of the United States, as they approach
the verge of war, should make it known
what they are willing to fight for-lf
fight they must~-and should begin now
to know what kind of settled order they
want to see when the shooting is over,
he said in an interview here at the Hotel
Theresa this week DR.. Logan stopped
off here on his way to Bordentown Man
uai Training School where he was to par
ticipate in a panel discussion Of Negroes
in the national defense.
Discussing his interest in the Natl
ona and State Committee for the Parti-
cipation Of Negroes il. the National De
fense, DR.. Logan said:
Il feel that the Committees have
c treatment Of Negro Americans in the
national defense effort and those famil-
lar with the work of the Committee in
Washington know that they have spon-
abolish Jim crowism in the armed forces.
Of course, as long as Negroes are given
undemocratic treatment in our armed
forces Just SO long must these Commit
+aa 81 - ,ah
At present" Dr. Logan continued,
"a group of friends and | are engaged iii
series of regular discussions in Wash
ington which we hope will lead to for
NAL declaration of legitimately democ-
ratio war aims. at the strategic moment,
as We envisage these aims. There is no
reason why Negroes shouldn't, as prota-
gonists of the democratic way Of life, be
thinking now Of their part as thinkers
and planners in democratizing American
life. We Negroes must not be caught,
as we were after the last World War
with little or no conception of course
of action appropriate to our position as
great minority and effective in winning
for ourselves the increased rights our
loyalty and service to this country war
ranted
Indeed, as recent as the beginning
OF the second World Was, we American
Negroes found ourselves without an or
ganized and effective program for parti-
llpation in the national defense effort.
With the drift OF things here in the Unit
ed States since Hitler first started disturb
ing the Eoropean order, Negro leaders
should have been able, it seems to me,
to anticipate the nations role in world
affairs; and knowing the inavoidability
of American lining up with the demo-
cratic forces Of the world against Hit
lerism, should have taken the lead in ad-
vocating an all-out preparation for the
defense of democracy, insisting that an
about defense demand a new and radi
cally changed position of the Negro peo-
pie in our national life
Professor Logan then suggested that
peace plan--the terms on which we
propose to live with ourselves and the
rest OF the world after hostilities-is
necessary part of democratic war aims.
! believe he said THAT declaration
OF war aims must look forward to the
kind of peace we war. and SO far from
this kind Of thinking, handicapping the
prosecution Of a war to save democracy
it actually furnishes drive and purpose
to our struggle.
It is time somebody was doing some
serious thinking along this line; and |
see no reason why We American Negroes
shouldn't be doing our share. Perhaps
if we think ahead Of the facts we may
be able in measure, to create the facts,"