Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1943-04-30
Reed Committee
Submits Final
Report On Drive

Report Un UrIVe
The Co-ordinating Committee of
the Twin Cities Branches of the
National Association, better known
as the "Sam Reed Co-ordinating
Committee" made its final report
at the regular monthly meeting Of
the st. Paul Branch on April 20,
at the Halle 9. Brown House. It
had previously reported to the Min
neapolis branch.
A brief resume of the work of
the Committee is as follows:
Last December after the report
of the demotions of Master Ser
geant Samuel Reed and Sergeant
Clifford Clemmons at Camp Lee,
Va, had stirred Twin Citians to ac-
ton in the behalf of the denoted
soldiers and all of their comrades
in the armed forces the Co-ordinat-
ing Committee was organized, with
ten members from each branch.
Officers of the Co-ordinating Com
mittee were, chairman, Rev. Clar-
ence T. R. Nelson, president of the
st. Paul Branch; vice-chairman, R
A Skinner, president of the Min
neapois Branch and secretary
treasurer, Irving Blumberg, mem
Der of the Executive Committee of
the Minneapolis Branch. Mass
meetings were held and petitions
urging a congressional investiga-
ton were circulated and sent to
Representative Melvin ]. Mas and
other representatives in Congress.
The text of the petitions signed by
several hundred Twin Citians of all
races was eve, the undersigned
petition you to cause an investiga-
ton Of the demotion of two Ser
geants, Samuel Reed and Clifford
Clemmons, resulting from recon-
mendations made through proper
military channels to their superior
officers for the purpose of uplifting
the morale of the Negro soldiers at
Camp Lee, Virginia; (1) to cause
an investigation of the principles
involved in the case; (2) to cause
an investigation anywhere in the
continental United States or wher-
ever U. S. forces are stationed
where undemocratic practices
against Negroes in the armed forces
are known to exist"
Take Fight to d. c.
In January, Rev. Nelson and Mr..
Blumberg were sent to New York
and Washington to secure the sup
port of the national office of the
NAACP in the demand for a con-
gressional investigation and to
place the matter before members
of Congress and the War Depart
ment.
Reed Gets CheyrOns Back
Soon after the return of Rev.
Nelson and Mr.. Blumberg to the
Twin Cities, Reed, who is now with
the AEF in North Africa, and
Clemmons, who is stationed at Fort
Dix, New Jersey, were promoted
again to the rank of sergeants. This
was hailed as a victory for the Co
ordinating Committee. Judge Will
liam H. HASTE, former civilian aide
to the secretary of war, praised the
work of the Committee when he
visited in the Twin Cities in March.
He declared that in sending the
committee to Washington the Twin
Cities branches brought the Camp
Lee situation to the nations atten-
ton and that he had been informed
that conditions for Negro soldiers
at Camp Lee had been definitely i'm
proved.
The Co-ordinating Committee
was given a vote of thanks by the
Minneapolis branch on Sunday,
April Is, and by the st. Paul branch
on April II. Irving Blumberg,
secretary-treasurer, made the fol-
lowing report to both branches:
Raised 1857
A total of $367.67 were raised
by the Co-ordinating Committee,
with expenditures of $267.37. The
balance of $1OO.30 has been divided
equally between the two branches
to carry on the fight against dis
elimination in the armed forces and
civilian life. The resignation Of
the Sam Reed Co-ordinating Com
mittee has been formally accepted
by both branches.