The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-01
UN-CovERINs
Washington
Dy HARRY s. MeAlPlN
white Hssss Cerrespendsst
tksisassd ThreuEh the Atlanta Daily
Herld ~ NEPA,

while,
With the biggest fgh; on record
shspins up in the United States
Senate over passage OF HR :. the
snt.poll tax bill. with Senator
Bilbo Of Mississippi and his poll tax
colleagues openly threatening 10
filibuster the bill To- death. some
Negroes have raised this question
They are in a minority. 10 be
sure; but their public stature and
positions OF influence make then
statements difficult 10 ignore
II Is true, Negro ministers deep
In Alabama and Texas and Georgia
have Joined five hundred strong I'm
. statement TO the United States
Senate in favor Of abolishine the
poll tax. Students In Negro colleges
throughout the country have circu-
lated petitions and collected money
that has helped make the fight pos
sibIe. Our women's clubs have or
CANNED vigorous letter writing cam
pzigns. Negroes in Unions and bust
ness organizations have gone on
record for the pending bill. Leaders
Of every major Negro organization
In Washington have helped in every
crisis to guide the bill through Con-
Erexs. The Negro people. as a whole.
have united with all liberal forces,
the church. labor. civic and fra
ternal groups. 10 work for passage
Of HR I.
Still. no less a figure than Perry
W. Howard, Republican National
Committeeman from Mississippi
says the snti-poll tax bill is not
worth the paper II IS written on
without certain amendments He
says even after the poll tax has been
wiped off the books. the ballot
boxes will be locked still 10 thc
Negro people because Of white pri-
rlaries, false literscy tests. and all
the other means known 10 corrupt
politics.
With Difference 20 Mr.. Howards
political sagscity and his knowledge
of the South. II Is nevertheless a
fact that HE ieoiftax Was ere 81 the
methods used by a ruthless minority
20 deny democracy 10 the majority.
II was only one OF the techniqucs;
but il was the most skfilful. ---------
II was the most skillful because
Il was so well put beyond the reach
OF the majority. The ruthless min
ority worked also in more openly
brutal ways: but these ways were
also more openly undemocratic
Some day. this ruthless minority
realizes, these other methods might
be exposed and overthrown. But
the poll tax is safely rooted in the
state constitutions so deeply that
only a constitutional amendment in
each state could uproot it-or fed
eral action.
A. Negroes, and N loyal Ameri-
cans. working to push aside all the
barriers that keep Ms from full cit
isenship - that we may take our
places shoulder 10 shoulder with all
free people. we have neither time
. waste nor opportunities to lose.
We must DO what we can, ~ best
We can. whenever we can.
We must take every practical set
IN every state - expose and - over
threw Iaocriuinatien. injustice and
+, eamn - O., rfxA f1x A.tm1l ooWSl
! 49, toevpnrA safy - n
1EVWp Stronger and wiser with
tvssy steD. hswssse shsrt that step
10y D..
While Negro soldiers are dying in
Che air over Italy. and in the jungles
Of the Pacific. II is timely and right
20 hold up now the right Of free
ballot rs free right. This idea and
ideal must 20 side by side with the
different practical things that have
20 be worked for at every polling
place.
The enemies Of the poll tax bill
have never denied its effectiveness.
They have never passed up an OPP
portunity 10 delay or defeat IL. They
have worked tirelessly and they
have never said 1T doesn't matter"
They have seen Il In not anything
less than the common people on the
narch.
When the anti-poll tax bill Ii
passed by the Senate-and the
swelling support Of its passage can
make that inevitablc-the most
hkilifui hidden weapon Of those who
wsuld disfranchise the people ID
eone. Ne lenger will . minority In
each state be able 10 hide behind
state constitutions. They still will
have other means left, true. And
against these we must continue 70
fight We must fight them every
where until we all have the right
- vete.
But the fight will be easier after
passage of HR Z. II will be easier
because the ideal Of voting will be
clear and bright. II will be easier
because the federal government
will have reaffirmed our democ-
Sacy. II will be easier because the
unity won in working for the repeal
will have brought about a working
alliance of democratic forces and an
intelligent interest on the part OF
new masses Of citizens
II will be easier because the Ne
gro. who has been in the forefront
OF the fight to enfranchiSe 1000, DOC
Of their own people and 5000 00t
disfranchised whites, will have
shown beyond question that they
have in the halls OF Congress a
strength that must be reckoned
with.
tAnd IL Il isn't reckoned with
brother. the polls in November, 1914
is the place to register your pro-
test-those OF you who are moi
shackled by poll taxes. white pri'
nharies. and false literacy tests.