The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-10-28

An Ex-Chaplain And Race Dis
elimination In The Army - Ex-
Chaplain Grant Reynolds. who is
now working for the National AS
ISOLATION for the Advancement OF
Colored People. did a very telling
series of articles in the last two
issues Of the Crisis magazine
against race discrimination in our
armed forces. These articles set up
clearly and eloquently the discrim-
nation and indignities In many
instances suffered by Negro mem
bers of our armed forces. THESE
facts-and they are facts IL Grant
Reynolds says that they are. He
has the mentality, the background
and the courage to lend meaning
70 such an article. Such an article
helps any government to clean It's
house, For his writings on this
matter, we should all be grateiul:
These articles In the Crisis WILL
bear much fruit.
His last move, however. In re-
lationship to race discrimination IN
the armed forces ~ he saw IL, needs
careful scrutiny by the Negro vot-
ers. He announces . very high
sounding title known ~ the Nom
Partisan Council for the Elimina-
ton Of Discrimination In Military
and Veterans Affairs. This GER
tainIy Is q well sounding title for
an organization to fight anything.
not only race discrimination In the
armed forces. This title Is an ac-
ceptable title. At the same time
Mr.. Reynolds announces his organ
ization he issues call to the Amer
lean people. and especially Negro
Americans, to cast their votes
against Mr.. Roosevelt for permit
ting discrimination In the armed
forces. In such . call to the Negro
voters Mr.. Reynolds Is no DOUBT
sincere and honest. II Is hard for
one to believe that Mr.. Reynolds
believes that the President OF the
United States and commanding
chief of the armed forces can eradi-
cate race discrimination In our
armed forces by issuing an order.
We In America know that by the
experiences we have had with dis
elimination In employment The
order TO cease discrimination Is
not q guarantee against discrimina-
ton whether 10 the army or to
employers in factories and govern
mental agencies. Any President
Of the United States Is going to be.
to . great extent, q victim OF the
general tone Of the citizenry. MIR.
Dewey has already announced that
he will leave the running Of the
army TO army men. There Is no
reason to expect Mr.. Dewey can
change more rapidly the practices
Of the army than Mr.. Roosevelt
has been able TO do. There have
been many changes under the
Roosevelt administration that affect
the well-being and the opportuni-
ties extended 10 Negroes In our
armed forces.
Il Is logical for . people ~ de-
pressed ~ we are TO put . great
deal Of hope and faith In words.
We put . great deal Of hope and
faith I'm the words Of officials, and
we equally restrict our own vision
and ability TO plan the next moves
for our advancement by the efIi-
cacy we give to our own words.
Sometimes we become the victims
OF the mere statement Of . Diff
Guilty. What man among US be-
lieves, actually that Mr.. Dewey
will dare do for the down-trodden
people what Mr.. Roosevelt has
done with the protracted opposi-
ton Of the key men who now sup
port Mr.. Dewey. The Armed Forces
Of America will respond to the
persistent demands Of the people.
Negroes have been able TO make
advancement under the Roosevelt
administration by work and plan
ming with the liberal forces OF
America. We have seen the bar
riers fall one after another. be-
cause Negroes Joined with the peo-
pie Of America for an equal OPP
portunity.
We know that labor has many
grievances against our present ad-
ministration. We know that lib
erals OF ell persuasions can And
issues on which they VIOLENTLY dis