St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-08-14
RANDOLPH'S TALK
AT LOS ANGELES
Continued from last week.

''All people who are without financial
resources, have other way of focusing
attention upon their problem except
through the use of mass power. Moreover,
the centers of business, labor and govern
ment only respond to pressure of definite
challenge and no pressure is a challenge
unless it is the result of tremendous Or
ganized efforts.
Arriving at the relation of the Negro
to the world at war, Randolph bluntly
asked and answered the question which all
had come to hear asked and answered.
Should the Negro marshal his forces
in colossal demonstrations for his rights
during this war?
The answer is yes" the labor leader
Numbered. Now is his greatest opportu-
nifty. Why?
need the Negro now more than ever before.
This is a matter of elementary economics
that as the demand for goods or services
increases, the price of that goods or serv-
ice increases also" There was much
laughter at this point.
1T is a matter of common knowledge
that political party always promises the
Negro more during a campaign than at
any other time because it needs his
vote. When the campaign passes, no more
promises are made and few are fulfilled.
THE Government recognizes this princi-
pie itself. Note the increase in the pay
of soldiers to $4,000 per month"
There was a gale of laughter as he went
on:
why did Great Britain offer India q
greater concession in self-government dur
ing this war than ever before? Because
Great Britain needs India. Why did
Gandhi and Nehru refuse the offer? Be-
cause they know that since Great Britain
needs India, India can get more than Great
Britain offered to give.
THAT is just good horse trading sense
Fnr. anv DaOnle m refuse n demand and
fight for that which they need at a time
when they are most likely to get it is to
admit that they don't know what the battle
for democracy is all about"
Races Patriotism
Taking up the question of the Negroes
patriotism, Randolph declared that the Ne
gro, in demanding his rights during the
war, would only be unpatriotic if granting
democratic rights to the Negro were
against the country's best interest and the
victory of the United Nations. "In.
stead of hindering the war effort, granting
the Negro his full-fedged rights as Ameri'
can citizens will aid the war effort by con.
solidating national unity. If granting the
Negro his democratic rights is not
against this country's interest since it is
fighting for the very thing Negroes are
demanding, then the Negroes fight fol
democracy is not against the countrys in
terests. 1t doesn't make sense for one tt
contend that it is not to the interests Of
the country 1Or WHICH Is ant
democratic, just and fair for the country
to give. Is it wrong for a baby to cry fol
milk because it may disturb the household
though it is to the interest of the house
hold for the baby to live?
Negroes, moreover" he added, ARE not
challenged to be loyal to the Government
and democracy. The Government is chal'
lenged to be loyal to the Negro and democ,
| racy.
st is the solemn obligation of the Ne.
| gro," he went on, ito meet this issue OF
| fighting for his democratic rights now
without hesitation or equivocation.
Better that the Negro face extermina-
| ton than the life of insult, humiliation
| and degradation"
Turning to the Communists, Randolph
upon Negroes to forget their grievances
and abandon their fight for their demo.
cratic rights. They want only a second
| front for the salvation of Soviet Russia,
| he asserted.
while it is to the interests of America
| and the Negro that Russia defeat Hitler
| Negroes" Randolph declared, will not
permit the Communists of Russia or the
| Communists of America, who take theil
orders from Russia, to tell them what tc
| do about the problem of the Negro in
| America.
This new line of Communists on the
| Negro makes them allies of Talmadge in
Georgia"
Randolph was presented the medal by
Bishop ]. A. Gregg of Kansas City, Kansas