The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1944-12-02
CONTINUED from Page y

Jimmy Jones next took the ros-
trum and delivered one Of the
best hard-hitting speeches he
has yet made. He defended the
Alliance and related its 31-year
history. He said it was born Of
necessity, it wasn't "jim-crow,'
and its purpose was to get equal
rights for everybody. The Postal
Alliance has been misunder-
stood in some quarters, he said
He claimed that before its adj
event five years ago in Boston
colored postal employees were
getting a very raw deal. Today
he said, Boston has two colored
foremer1, Merritt and Miller,
with other Announcements in
Guiding the placing Of colored
at postal windows in many de-
partments. Merritt and Miller and
assistant foreman Charles Gate
wood were introduced at Eben-
ezer Sunday and received an
ovation. Jones praised PostInas-
ter Patrick j. Connolly for aid
ing colored employees and reci-
ted the record Of all other post
masters before Connolly and in
comparing the records he said,
the present postmaster clearly
had an overwhelming majority.
The writer might add that Fost-
Connolly has proven a
friend to colored veterans, and
your reporter has always found
him a genuine American in
every sense. Although Postmas-
ter Connolly was absent due to
unavoidable causes every men,
ton OF his name was warmly
applauded.
protect Jobs" Hall
One of the highest ranking
colored federal employees, Attor-
ney Thomas ]. Hall, Assistant
Solicitor Of the Post Office De-
partment, proved to be one Of
the best speakers Of the evening.
A rotund genial gentleman who
takes off his glasses when he
gets into high gear, Hall pro-
ceeded to smack Bostonians for
their SNUG complacency and
tendency to live off the reputa-
lions of Attacks, Douglass and
Trotter. These immortals are
now of the past, said Mr.. Hall,
and 1t is time for Bay State
leaders to organize and carry
on their work. He urged all pos
tai employees to organize here
in Boston.
Were in the Post office now
but we don't know whether
we're going to stay in the Post
Office or not" he cautioned,
"You workers needn't think
you've got a mortgage on your
job"
Stressing postwar adjust
ments, Hall called for an in
crease in Boston postal Alliance
membership to protect the in
tereSts of all. He urged postal
employees to take greater COM
munity leadership in all fields
and to oppose all insults and
discrimination against the race.
"CloSe Ranks" Steele
Julian D. Steele, perhaps the
greatest NAACP president Bos-
ton has yet produced, was a
popular speaker on the platform
and opened with a we'll directed
bouquet of praise for Alliance
president Jimmy Jones and
other workers of the Boston or
ganlzation.
"These times call for pro-
grams Of intelligent leadership
and a closing Of ranks as never
BEFORE" Steele said. He called
upon "all who stand for a bet
ter America" to unite and de-
velop real citizen solidarity. In
his brief but telling address he
disclosed that the people of Bos-
ton have taken too much for
granted regarding civil liberties
for people of color. Urging a
strong cooperative wide-awake
citizenry he strongly warned,
"There is no place in Boston for
any separate or second class
citizenship"
CurIey Wins Ovation
Congressman James Michael
Curley was the final, and sur
prise speaker of the evening
The Congressman, due in Wash
ington soon after, had also
taken time to attend the Irish
Mutual Hall celebration in hon.
or of John Boyle O'Reilly, friend
of colored people and the poet
who first gave due honors to
Boston'S immortal Crispus At
tucks.
"I've always regarded colored
people as my friends too" said
Cong. Curley warmly. Our two
peoples, Irish and colored, have
q pond deal In common aXtTe,va