Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-03-13
Defense
Continued from Pace y

CONTINUED from PaSe -
for the support of the British
Army. Against this. as stated, sic
must remember that England Hes
a total population Of only al t
100000.
The amount Of goods and Sc 4.
vices so far secured by Great
Britain for its Army from thu Tn
tied States. and from its Colin es
and Dominions. is relatively snail.
1t would probably h. much more
accurate to say that between i
and s persons are required to sun
uly, directly or indirectly, TIE
goods and services required for
the operations Of ore man, a COM
blatant N the armeh forces.
Taking these figures as a guide,
if we are to have an American
armed force Of about 4.2a0,030
men by the end Of the calendar
year, 1912, we shall then ikye to
have ABOUT 32,6oo,0A0 persons, di-
rectly or indirectly, employed q
serving that armed force. This
is approximately one-half OF the
employed populat on Of the United
States. If the exaggerated figure
of II persons to serve each COM
blatant were even approximately
true this would mean that II, 400
000 would be taken out Of normal
work-a-day rersuits. This figure
is greater than the, at present,
employed population of tie nation.
Face to Face with Reality
Here we are face to face with
real ty. The inclusion of the Negro
in the mobilization of our total
and industrial strength
for defense of the nation en- 10
longer be avoided, or evaded by
artifice of any character. No long
or is it a question of genefosi y,
or favor. 1t Is a requirement o.
the grim situation which faces Us,
Even the present economic sit
nation of the heretofore excluded
group, by determinations against
Negro soldiers and sailors ~ the
Army, Navy, and Marine Corfs,|
md by defense industrial industry,
loes not enter into the situation.
The stresses, the perils, with
which the country is now graph
ing. demand the elimination OF
every foolish hindrance that now
prevents the complete labor resotir-
res of the country being utilized
against the Axis aggressors.
A Sad Commentary
1t is a sad commentary that It
S only during such periods that
he 100000 Negro group is TAX |
IN in consideration and accorded
even minimum justice. The hour
If peril is now here. Race preju-
lice at such a time becomes a wa
liability.
Intelligent men and women SO re-
,ognize it. They have sought TOT
point out that we are contributing
enormously to an Axis ctory as
long as we follow present-day prac
tees. Further, we are delaying
the establishment of that world
social order founded upon justice,
freedom, and humanitarianism'
about which we so loudly pirate,
and so freely seek to bring to full
With labor shortages on every
hand, W tn combatant needs so
many and so pressing it is crystal
clear that the Negro must soon
come into full participation in
every responsibility of this crit
cal per cd in our history.
He needs no eyhortaticn 10
stand fast and true. He always has
He has no divided Royalties. He is
for America. He wishes America,
on the basis cf his historic past,
and his eager earnostncss now, to
he fer him.
In demand ne equality, justice
and and the rights of freedom for
all called upon to save our nation
and all it stands for from threat
cned destruction, he is seeking
realization Of the high ideals Of
our democracy.
Equality Of sacrifice deserves
of treatment and reward
To paraphrase the words Of
Lincoln, it is our present duty
nobly to save, and not meanly 10
lose, the last best hope Of earth.