Evening star., 1944-03-22


tract from these qualifications.
IF the Congress succeeds in
abolishing the poll tax" he added,
then the precedent will be set for
the abolition by the Congress Of
all our franchise laws. and our bal
lots in Mississippi and in all the
other Al States will be at the mercy
of the Federal Government"
The poll tax discussion led to that
of racial relations and the Senator's
declaration that there were "only
two permanent solutions ns"-separa-
ton or amalgamation.
Cites Lincoln Proclamation.
BY way Of support for his project
to establish a colony of colored
people in Africa, Senator Bilbo cited
President Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation as declaring:
"It is my purpose upon the meet
ing of the Congress to again recon-
mend the immediate or grad
ual abolishment of slavery - and
that the effort to colonize persons
of African descent, with their con-
sent, upon the continent or else
where will be continued"
The Senator also quoted Lincoln
as saying in a speech at Charleston,
ILL.,, on September 18, 1858:
II will say that I am not, nor
ever have been, in favor Of bringing
about in any way the social and
political equality of the white and
black races =" and I will say in
addition to this that there is q phys
ical difference between the white
and black races which 1 believe will
forever forbid the two races living
together on terms of social and po-
liticaI equality. e"
Lincoln, according to Senator
Bilbo, again suggested the African
colonization scheme in his second
annual message to Congress in 1862.
Turning to the present situation,
Senator Bilbo said that "the So
called leaders of the Negro race have
deliberately chosen this time of war
to launch their program of full
equality Of the races in this coun-
try"
Attacking the lack of segregation
of white and colored workers in the
Government Offices in Washington,
Senator Bilbo said:
"In many bureaus and depart
ments the mixing Of the races has
gone so far that southern girls,
going to the Capital City to work,
have returned to their homes. 9th
ers who for various reasons must
remain there to work find such con-
ditions almost unbearable."
Senator Bilbo blamed colored
leaders like A. Philip Randolf of
the march of Washington move
ment for the kind of propaganda
being fed to the Negro masses" and
quoted Q Supreme Court decision
that segregation is not discrimina-
ton as long as adequate accommo-
dations are provided for both races. u
The Senator said that shortly
after he became chairman Of the
Senate District Committee a COL
ored committee called on him to
advise him of their demands for
full political, economic and social
equality" He said that when he
expressed doubt as to their achiev-
ing these demands, one member of
the group said that Negroes in
tended to secure full equality and
would do so by force, If necessary
when the war Is over"
Calls for Plain Talk.
Senator Bilbo bitterly attacked
the mixing of races in the canteen
service for men and women re-
Gently opened in Washington by the
Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tionS.
I'VE In the Southland" the Sen
ator said, being fully aware of the
attempts to break down segrega-
ton and implant social equality OF
the races, are ready to do some
plain talking. The Negro leaders
have brought this issue of race re-
lations before us in this time OF
war; they have stated their de-
mands; so we have no alternative
but to tell them where we stand. "
I'VE recognize the right of 9
Negro to hire Negroes in preference
to white people, and the white en-
Iployer has the same right.
THE right of Southern Wnite
people to operate political associa