The Omaha guide., 1943-08-28

May Setup
lnter-Raeial
Committees
Cby ERNEST Il. Johnson

lON, aug 20 A<A-N1
Private sources have lent increas-
ed weight to the report that Presi-
dent Roosevelt, in his next fire
side chat to the nation, viii give
voice to his sentiments in connect
ion with the now subsidized wave Of
racial outbreaks which have grip
ped III nation.
Immediately after the Detroit
riot individuals and organizations
throughout the country began a
stream of petitions on their way
to the White House asking the
Chief Executive to speak out a.
gainst "disunifying forces which
seek to foment racial strife.
It is now generally known too
that his Attorney General. Francis
Biddle. had advised him to lay off
making a full dress speech on the
subi-c az. but that he might devote
a few passages to it in his never
overall review OF the domestic
picture. This was revealed in the
famous ~BiddIe letter" Of July L..
When Vice President Henry A.
Wallace addressed himself TO a De-
troit audience last month, using
the strong language that he did, he
spake with the nod from the Prasi-
dent, SO it said reliably.
Current information is that as
soon as the present conferences
with Prime Minister Winston
Churchill are out Of the way, Presi-
dent Roosevelt will give the speech
he himself announced when he last
spoke to the nation and outlined
his plans for the rehabilitation of
veterans Of World War II.
II is understood that about S0O
words have been drafted for inclu-
sion in this address, which are de-
signed to answer the pleas OF pro
testing organizations. II this be
true. it will be the longest state
ment the President will have made
on a subject that so specifically and
directly affects 10000. 600 Negroes.
However, il is said that a very
real problem confronts the CHIEF
Executive as to a specific reconm-
endation which he should like to
make.
The Congress for Industrial Or
ganization last month at Its exc
cutive Committee meeting here, a.
dopted . strong resolution in which
among other things, it called for
che establishment Of i-nterracial
committees in the various comm
unities which would concern itself
about tensions and their relaxation.
1t IS learned too that this phase of
the resolution has since been pass
ed on to the President.
The problem, however, is how
best these Committees might be es-
tablished and under whose juris-
diction might they function. Two
methods have been proposed: enc
would follow the pattern in Chic
ago where Mayor Kelly appointed
a committee, gave it a budget and
a paid secretary. and told them to-
go TO work. The other idea is to
let the Office of Civilian Defense
establish the committees.
Local observers here lean to the
Chicago method. They point out
that the localities can furnish funds
for such committees whereas the
OCD. itself being kicked about the
lot. is actually short on cash. Fur
Their, OCD sponsorship might have
undesirable repercussions in a re
beIlious Congress if the process
days are any indication Of attitude.
Insofar as the policies of the
thing goes. it's six in one hand and
a half dozen in the other. Comm
ittee appointed by mayors would be
subject to local influences, b th-y
Republican or Democrat. depend
ing on the Community. on the 9th
er hand. OCD nigh tfind it pre-
ponderance Of Democratic influ-
ence. Crystal Byrd Fauset. cert
ainly NJ babe in the political woods
is now racial adviser TO James
Lands at OCD. Last report had it
that she was in the Democratic
column. which means that she
might get a big finger into these
committees if that agency took
sponsorship
If political influence is newt
able. it is pointed out, mayoral
committees appear TO be more de
sirable in that no mayor is going
to appoint a committee that l. go
ing to embarrass him or interfere
with his WI political fortunes.
Hence he might be inclined to give
II money and support
II, however. OCD runh the show,
2 Democratic wheelhorse would be
called upon to do a job. let Us a
a Republican community, and be
confronted with opposition from
an element that would like to take