Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1944-06-24
Demo Committee
Member Hits
Vote Bar Action
Says Dictation
By Group STEPPED
In Ignorance
Att ANITA Ga.-(SNS)-


ATLANTA, Ga.-(SNS)--
I'VE have enough problems 10
solve without fighting each other,
declared Mrs. Dorothy q. Ralney'
a member of the State Democratic
Executive Committee, Tuesday trg-
ing that the committee at its Ihllrs-
day meeting take steps TO permit
Negro Democrats 20 vote IN the
July 4 primary,
In a Letter to j. Lon DuckWoTtn,
committee chairman, Tuesday, Mrs
Rainey had this to say:
st am sincerely disturbed by the
published reports that a subcom-
mittee of the Georgia Democratic
Executive Committee has recon-
mended the barring of all Ne
groes from the coming primary.
feel that this action is not merely
contrary to the recent overwhelm-
ing decision of the Supreme Court
and therefore of the fundamental
lew of our country but also con-
trary to the sound policy which
we shall follow without legal
compulsion.
st know of no white southerners
of intelligence and high character
who do not wish to encourage our
Negro fellow southerners to lives
of thrift, responsibility and integri-
ty-that is, to lives of good citi-
ZenShip. To say to a Negro that
no matter what his competence,
and no matter what his personal
worth, he is not to be permitted
to have a part in the processes OF
citizenship seems to me cruel
and a shameful thing. For my
part l am not willing to insult
him in his fashion and to chal-
lenge his just resentment against
the white people.
FEAR CERTAIN WHITES
IT am aware that the course of
action suggested by the committee
is dictated not by fear of the Ne
gro, but by fear of a certain group
of our white southerners. For these
white southernerS, whose thinking
IS STEPPED in poverty, in ignorance.
and in prejudice, feel deep con-
Germ and pity. I am lot, however
willing to accept their dictates in
deciding whether I myself shall
live up to the finest tradition Of
the south and of my country and
! to the universal teachings Of
Jesus.
"As far back as 1880, Governor
Alfred II. Colquitt listed among
the most valuable results of his
administration kindly relations be-
tween the white and colored races
due to a liberal spirit in the Ell
couragem,ant of popular education
and equal justice in the protection
of all races in every right of citi-
zenship to the fullest extent of
executive authority. He argued
eloquently for full and impartial
justice.
Should the State Democratic
Executive Committee decide to fol-
low the same course of wisdom,
justice and moderation with regard
to Negro voting, it will find ample
support in the counsel of the
bravest and best of Georgians and
SOuthernerS.
MUST BE GIVEN VOTE
"It is now clear that if America
remains democracy, operating
under laws of fair play and equal
opportunity, the Negro who is qua
lifted to vote, is going to be given
the vote Is it not just as clear
that white southerners who have
regarded themselves as true
friends of the Negro will make an
intolerable blunder, if, by denying
him association with themselves
in the Democratic party, they
drive him into the camp of their
enemies? Our record as individuals
and as a group is now being made
not just in the eyes of the Negro,
but in the eyes of the world ara
in the eyes of history.
"Since almost certainly 1 al
not going to be able to attend the
meeting on Thursday, / ask that
you read this letter tc the conf
mittee as my plea to them to take
action that will make allies and
not enemies of the responsible
people of both races in the south.
We have enough problems to solve
without fighting each other