The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-12
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aims was we'll received by the
President, and he spoke frankly
and at length about the matters
presented TO him. Mr.. Sengstacke,
president Of the association. intro
duced the delegation and Mr.
Roosevelt shook hands with each OF
the conferees. acknowledging the
individual introductions with typi.
cal Rooseveltian charm and cordi-
atty. Then the chief executive
spoke for about 10 minutes before
listening to the spokesman OF the
group. Afterwards he commented at
length upon the summation OF aims
and aspirations.
The NNPA includes In its men,
bership newspapers from IS states
and the District of Columbia. The
member papers represent 95 per
cent Of the circulation OF all Negro
secular publications.
Included in the delegation besides
Sengstacke were: Carter Wesley,
editor. Houston. (Tex) Informer;
william o. Walker. editor, Cleve-
land Call-Post; Alexander Barnes,
manager, Washington Tribune:
Howard H. Murphy. association Sec
rotary, and manager. Baltimore
Afro-American: c. A. Scott, pub
Usher, Atlanta Daily World; p. Ber-
nard Young Jr., editor. and Thomas
W. Young, business manager, Nor.
folk Journal and Guide; DR.. c. B.
Powell, publisher, Amsterdam IN.
Y) Star News: Ira Lewis. president,
and P. L. Prattis. executive editor,
Pittsburgh Courier; Louis E. Mar
tin. editor. Michigan Chronicle, De-
troit; Charles p Browning, national
representative, Chicago Defender.
The text OF the statement to the
President follows:
The interview with Roosevelt
climaxes a series Of conferences
held by the publishers association
with high government officials the
past several months during which
they have advocated greater justice
for and utilization Of colored Ameri-
cans in the war production pro-
gram and in the armed forces.
The NNPA president. in introduc-
ing the members OF the delegation,
thanked Mr.. Roosevelt "for your
courtesy in seeing this committee
for our association which is working
daily to do everything that it can
to help win the war and the peace
that follows"
Text or Statement
"We are Americans. Our allie.
glance to the ideals and guarantees
and principles of the Declaration
Of Independence and the Constitu-
ton Of the United States is un-
limited and unsullied.
This is our country to share with
all other Americans. We have pur-
chased our stake in this, our native
land. with our blood and toll dur
ing more than three hundred years
We have right and duty to share
its blessings. its sacrifices and its
sufferings.
This is our war. Negro Ameri.
cans on every battlefront are giving
their lives to defend the soil. the
homes and the democratic ideals oil
their native land. They. and we
are fighting for the freedom Of
America and of all oppressed anc
exploited peoples.
I'VE deplore any and all forms o.
disunity that threaten the winning
Of victory for democracy. We ex
tend our hands to all American!
who Join In the crusade for liberty
for all peoples. a better world anc
a better nation in which true dem
ocracy may prevail.
1.-THE Negroes paramount OBJECTIVE
10 10 help win the war and estab
fish q just and enduring peace I'm
der which all men may achieve hu
man dignity and equality Of oppor
tunity. The Negro wholeheartedly
and unreservedly supports the fed
eral government in prosecuting the
war and in planning postwar re.
constructions toward the above
ends.
I'VE believe the second-class citi.
zenship now imposed in many ways
upon Negroes in America violate:
the principles Of the Declaration
of independence and the Constitu.