The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-09-08


Which is a hne commentary on
American cynicism and the inabil-
ity OF good many of us to under
stand that there are still lot Of
people in the world who are will.
ine 10 fght and get themselves
killed If necessary for their prin-
ciples.
don't know whether anyone is
behind Edward Bykowski. for
mer Navy pharmacists mate from
Brooklyn and Purple Heart vet
ersn. who is down here picketins
Sen Biloo for those Dear Dsso"
and Dear like" letters. But ! do
know that Bykowski talks sooo
line OF honest Americanism that
isn't going TO do Washington a oil
OF harm and that can help answer
the questions OF many Americans
who are fond Of asking. in hope
less voice. What can do about
such things"
BykowSki gave little press con-
ference yesterday and af,erward
went out TO picket Bilbos apart
ment IN the Capitol Towers, al
though Bilbo is still in Mississippi
He said that ne wanted Bilbo 10 re-
tract his "dago" and like" letters
and he added that he would well
come the help OF any other ex-
service men who wanted 10 pitcn
In and help fight racial discrlm-
nation.
Hes a s-foot-4. pleasant LOOKING
fellow with his left leg still in an
iron brace. There's still sponge
CAKE" as the Navy calls japanese
shrapnel in II. and he limps slons
on black ebony cane that one
OF MS hospital friends gave him.
He started of by showing US his
medical discharge and other cre-
dcntials because, as ne put Il, some
o! the newspapers had said that "a
man who called himself war vet
eran was down here pickehng Bill
bo' and he wanted 10 make sure
that We dIdn'. think ne was d
phony.
People ask me why I'm doing
this" he said. I'll tell YOU why.
~ AUodTu tnt
mes Navy cruiser sunk In the
South Pacifcl working In the
hospital. I knew what II meant
for all Of Us to stick together
Negro. Jews. Catholic. I've had
men die in my arms and wasn't
happy to see them 90.
Some Of those Biibo letters
stirred me. I remember q Jewish
boy who came to us with his
chest crushed. We knew that he
was going 70 die In his hand was
q Jewish six-pointed star and In
his pocket was . picture Of his
wife and Kid. II WAS . picture
taken in . kitchen and there was
cake with one candle on IL.
know he'd never seen his kid.
We'd been out more than . year.
And I don't think ran up
against a more courageous man
than q colored boy we used To
call Sunshine. He had his arm
blown on. We put \ tourniquet
on II and even then he insisted
en- passing up ammunition to the
men Who needed II.
When I saw Inc kind ~ thing
that B'oo was DONG after the
things ID seen swore that l.
would do my best 10 igh, him BE-
cause Eel, ne was destroying the
very things We had fought for
The Times-Herald man. a, this
point. wanted 10 know II he was
referring "a the letters that Bllbo
had written IN replying 10 the IN
Sultine" letters ne had received
BvkoNSk said that he meant the
Dear Dago" ana Dear like" let
;ers and without blinking al the
indirect defense Of Blloo. went on
When I sst out Of the hospital
and got my medical discharge, I
told my wife that I was coming
down to Washington and do what
could to shame Bilbc for the
things he was doing. And that's
why I'm here"
He said that he had received
couple ~ threatening telephone
calls after ne had plcketed the
Senate once Building on Monday
and he insisted that he Was COM
pletely on his own, that no one was
back OF him, that he had received
offers ~ money and other support
az well rs invitations 10 dinners.
nut that he had refused them He
added that he had $50 month
compensation and 500 left ove-
from his discharge pay and that
he thought II would see HIM