The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-07-03

tions Of people who are all too
rich in prejudice and poor. indeed,
in self-discipline. Further. these
conditions are ideal for those who
make business Of fishing in trou.
bled waters.
Last year. after a less serious
outbreak Of race rioting prevented
the occupation of a Federal hous-
ing project by the Negroes for
whom IL was intended. Charles G.
Ross, contributing editor of the
Post-Dispatch. reported from De.
troit that the revived Ku KluS
Khan was ominouSly active. The
Khan, he said. was attempting &c
take over the powerful United
Automobile Workers Union Of the
CIO. II is hardly insignificant thai
racial difficulties have been mos
frequent in the plant in which he
reported the Khan to be most firmly
established.
The responsible officers Of the
JAW never laughed of the Khan
threat. They took il seriously from
the start pointing to the associa.
ton OF some Of the active DeEoi.
Klansmen with the old Nazi Ger
man-American Bund. What such
an alliance, If it attained real pow
er, would do 20 the war effort Is
all 100 obvious.
The JAW leaders have been
alert Theirs was, for a long time
one Of the most democratic and
one OF the best disciplined OF Amer
lean trade unions. But today there
are thousands Of workers in the
Detroit factories who. even though
many OF them may have union
cards. know little about discipline
and responsibility. They left their
humble homes for a bonanza which
because OF housing shortages and
other inconvenience, has disap-
pointed them. left them irritable,
ready for the appeal 10 prejudice.
A serious effort ought 10 be
made. first Of all, to arouse the
full patriotism OF these people. AS
far as war conditions permit, gen.
uine grievances ought 20 be re-
moved. More attention should be
given 10 the temper OF the Ne
sroes. They. 100. have their grew
anceS. Since not few OF the Khan
organizers have less than perfect
police records, something might
also be done about their al too
frequent naturalization ceremon-
les"
Chicago's Daily News asserted
that:
NO matter how congestion and
other economic evils may agra
vste local conditions, any govern
ment At to govern can preserve
order and punish law violators. So
far as We know. there never was
riot in any American city where
police work was strictly on the
level. with no politics played in
policing and law enforcement
Every mayor, police chief and
pubic prosecutor should be given
10 understand that no excuse will
be acceptable for failure 20 up
hold the law and preserve order
al al times"
The Raleigh News and Observer
sad:
Fortunately. this incident IS iso-
lated. I. should remain isolated.
AL Americans OF all races and
al creeds have the same interest
in this war. All other interests
must be subordinated 70 that in
.erest Good Americans will make
it their business 20 see TO it that
they are not only guiltless OF any
conduct which would impair re-
latons between groups or races,
but do everything in their power
10 discourage such conduct on the
part OF others
Reports from Detroit attribute
'Ait ssS'lIiS W cNNAN4GCS VI kllc n u
K!ux Khan. II that disc-edi,ed
and un-American organization is in
fact responsible. Us leaders should
De dealt with summarily."
Memphis Commercial r. Appeal
tied the Detroit riots UP with al
.eged Turing OF farm labor from
tho South - pA-.he-o ,-dus.-; a I
areas. I: said:
Verify. j; IS an III wind tina.
blows nobody good. and the De-
troit rios. deplorable as they are.
VII have one beneficial effect: the
labor pirates who have been c.rcu-
lating in The mid-south Turing farm
labor so badly needed for the ma
tons food and food production
- the northern industrial cen:erS
VIII find their work more difficult"