The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-09-12
Candidate For
Senate Talks
Against Negro
Stephens Apes
Race-Hating
Talmadge

Orleans Negro population is in
censed over the Monday night
speech OF r. A. stephens. candidate
for the us. senate. delivered over
a statewide radio hookup, in which
he spent approximately one-half OF
his allotted 30 minutes expoundlng
his views on the question OF race
in the South
Many expressed the view that his
speech did more to lower the mo-
rale OF Louisiana Negroes than
anything yet 10 take place. Tues
day following the Monday night OF
the address. men eligible for armed
service publicly threatened TO tear
up their draft cards II Stephens
were elected.
The senatorial candidate launch
ed his attack by referring 10 the
last Wednesday night speech OF his
political opponent in which 1t was
declared that there was no race
problem in Louisiana. Stephens
fatty contradicted the statement
and warned the white voters that
unless they do something about
this increasing menace. social
equality will be forced down the
Threats OF the white people OF the
South"
He accused two Louisiana con-
gressmen OF going on the eide OF
those who advocated racial equal
ity.'
!" Why. they went to Washington"
he charged. and got invited out
10 few teas. got few slaps on the
back and then come back TO the
South and say there Is no race
problem. But I'm warning you, n
we don't do something about II
there will be carpet-baggers in the
South again"
To prove his point, he pointed TO
the w campaign started some
months ago tmeaning victory
abroad and victory at honey by the
Pittsburgh Courier. He said that
one "v' stood for victory over Hit
Ter. while the second w" stood for
victory over segregation In the
South. stephens further charged
that there are secret meetings be-
Ing held throughout the state and
that colored organizers are sitting
around midnight candles and only
wish | could tell you what is taxi
ing place"
Gov. Dixon OF Alabama was prals-
ed n taking the right attitude on
the question OF social equality"
the speaker declared. He believed
that the Alabama official did the
right thing when he turned down a
federal contract which would
have brought social equality 10 the
South" He saw himeslf as the saw
Tor OF white supremacy In Louisi-
ana, declaring that Negro newspa-
pers In New Orleans. Shreveport.
Birmingham. Atlanta. and other
southern cities are insisting on the
right TO vote. Calling attention
10 the attempt OF Little Rock Ne
gro TO take part in the democratic
primaries. the white voters we're
warned:
"Thirty-six per cent OF the states
population il Ms. and II they
are allowed to vote all the white
folks will have 10 leave the state
Following this the speaker read
letters allegedly written him by
white citizens. stating that they
were unsigned because the writer's
we're intimidated. One was from
a ehipyard worker who declared
that white workers were forced 10
use the same lunchroon, toilets and
work alongside Negro workers. 1t
was stated that n such 4 practice
were allowed 10 go unchallenged.
soon there would be Negro bosses.
Right now in this city are
Ms and white living In the
same houses. colored on one side
and poor whites on the other. II
you elect me as your senator. l will
break all OF this up was the fer
vent promise.
Stephens against attacked the
draft laws as being inadequate in
the South. charging that one draft
official told him that one OF every
two coiored men answering the
draft call was turned down because
OF the inability 10 read or write,
and that many Negroes who could
read and write pretended that they
could not in order TO be relieved OF
military services.
Here again he read an alleged
letter from white woman who
was losing her patriotism because
she saw "hig. husky N--rs loung-
ing around beer parlors" while her
own 20-year-old son was In the