Arkansas State press., 1942-04-17
Letter To The
Editor

April IA, 1912
Editor, STATE PRESS
s2s West Ninth Street
Little Rock, Arkansas
Enclosed find copy Of letter I
am sending to the Arkansas Demo-
crat for the "Run OF The News"
editor. II will be a miracle II 1t
Is published in the Arkansas Demo.
crat.
~ go ~
Arkansas Democrat
Attention, Editor,
run OF The News"
For some time, | have read
your column and can appreciate
many of the objective analyses
that have been given to various
community problems. However,
your recent articles concerning
the race problem, the Negro and
the war effort are far from be-
ing objective; in fact, they are
blows below the belt that stimu-
late race hatred, winch You have
so emphatically accused certain
Negro organizations and papers
of doing. OF course, both intclli-
gen. white people and Negroes
are seldom misled by such
propaganda, but even the illit-
crate and semi-illiterate who
have open minds, can easily see
through these one-sided express
sions which do not add to pres
tige on confidence in the COL
umn.
Your reference on April IL to-
the purchase of Defense Bonds
by Negroes in st. Francis Coun
ty, and to complaints by Ne
groes concerning the opportuni-
ty to participate in the war eff
fort shows that you are not as
well informed on the activities
Of Negroes as you stated on
March 23rd or that you are
without a doubt attending to
prove that the Negro is conn.,
planning without a just cause.
Negroes are not protesting and
fighting to get the due rights
and opportunities that they de-
serve as citizens, that the Con-
sitution of the United States
provides that all citizens shall
have near as much as certain
I powerful selfish American in
kmests. are, to. make. themselves
richer or to perpetuate certain
principles, organizations, and
agencies, that will not add to
the strength of energy needed
in the war effort, but dissipate
it.
If you have read Negro pa
pars frequently, as you claim,
you know that the purpose Of
Defense Bonds by Negroes,
from their limited earnings, is
the rule rather than an except
ion. This case in st, Francis
County is praiseworthy, but un-
usual. Negroes regret that it
had to be used in an effort to
distort fac,s. Negro insurance
companies, other organizations
and individuals have been buy
ing Defense Bonds all over the
country ever since the sale Of
them began.
Your column is challenged to
show that Negroes have not
willingly taken full advantage
of ali opportunities that they
have had to serve the country,
as we'll as they have complain
cd about Hitler like discrimina-
tons, which have limited their
opportunities to serve the coun-
try as CT liens on the basis of
qualifications and ability rath-
or than race or as second or
third class citizens.
1t is not unusual for Negroes
to have full opportunity and
responsibility where the con-
triDuting end of finance is in
volNed--such as taxation without
representation--and the volun-
tary purchase OF Defense
Bonds.
We challenge you again to
show any race of people in
World History VINO has shown
more loyalty and patriotism
than The American Negro, des-
pite the restrictions that have
been placed upon him, which
have a definite affect on his
morale.
An American Citizen
J, @. WOELLE
Little Rock, Ark.
NOTE. | know that there is
NOT If O00 nf a rtapra in 10