St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1941-02-28


a Negro unit. Talmadge Carey
could see no justification for con-
tinual singing out Negroes as citi-
zens apart from other groups.
Hiram Gibbs Speaks
Hiram Gibbs, business man,
World War veteran and native of
the state, sharply hit any Jim Crow
attempt. He pointed out that the
Governor did not order similar in
vestigations for Jews, Poles,
Swedes, Norwegians, Germans and
others that make up the state pop
ulation.
Jasper Gibbs, a brother of Hi
ram, said he couldn't understand
why Negroes would volunteer to
join armed forces where any form
of discrimination was practiced
against them. He said he went to
France to fight for democracy.
Tela Burt, war veteran, vigorous
ly, yet quietly, let everybody know
that he was not in favor of any
body's Jim Crow outfit. It's time
democracy begins to work, he said.
Pate, Harry Lewis Speak
j. w. Pate attacked Cannon and
Tarver asserting that they should
have declined to serve as "investi-
gators" for Governor Stassen. He
raped the Governor for what he
called his insincerity. Harry Lewis,
commander of Johnny Baker Post,
during his remarks was asked point
blank by questioners whether he
favored segregated unit. At first
he said the question was unfair.
When Newman reminded him that
he was a leader of an important
local organization, Lewis finally
said that although he had served
with a separate regiment during
the first World War, he was now
against segregated set-up! Ray
mond W. Hatcher praised the Ne
groes who were attacking the
problems of segregation and dis
elimination, saying, "Now is the
time to strike at it. When you en-
list it's too late!" He was COM
pletely against any suggestion of
separate unit. Cecil Newman
spoke next, claiming that Stassen
was using Messrs. Cannon and Tar
yer to "pull his chestnuts out of the
fire." He urged that every Negro
stand together in every fight to
see that the colored people receive
just dues. Don't let prejudiced
whites use US to fight those Ne
groes who seek for us the full bene-
fits and privileges of our constitu-
tional rights"
C. E. Rucker, business man,
criticized the QUESTIONABLE method
and declared against any compro-
mise. Gale P. Hilyer, former Off
GER in the old Minnesota Home
Guard, said the time had come for
Negroes to get their just due and
that the Negro would not be con-
tent with anything less.
Milton Shanks, contractor, said
he was against segregation and a
separate unit. Henry Thomas
spoke. Rev. w. E. Warrington
wanted the same thing for the col
ored people that others enjoy. No
more, he said, and no less. Democ-
racy is on trial, the Reverend said.
Webster Stovall, American Lee
spoke, but not on the
subject generally discussed.
Makes Impressive Talk
Major Jose Sherwood, who COM
handed the separate battalion dur
ng'the last war, made an impress
i've talk against the formation of
/ unit similar to the one he COM
during the war. He said
lines had changed and that the
olored people wanted no discrimi-
lation.
DIR. Ralph Bunche, head of the.
department. of political science at
Howard University. Washington,
}. c., asked to say a few words,
nd at the end of the remarks by
ocal persons said, segregation is
n evil and against all concepts of
democracy. In Minnesota l had
that no question such as
aggregation would arise, especially
n regard to giving Negroes an OPP
'ortunity to serve their country"
)r. Bunche added that while he
aught in a Negro college that he
would be in favor of closing every
Negro college in the country if Ne
,roes were admitted, as they
hould be, to. the schools of higher
earning in the South. Even if it
meant the loss of his job DIR.
3unche said he would gladly see
he end of the dual educational
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