Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-04-13

consistent amer mcALflN
ence to principles Of fair play, JUS
tice, and regard for the rights of
the common man. Consistent ad-
herence to these principles means
a definite championing of the rights
of Negroes, among other things,
because the Negro is so sinned
against, Disseminated against.
Far too frequently has it hap
pened that when a white man in
America champions the cause of the
common man-which must neces-
sarily include the Negro he is
walked up the steps of the gull
lotine and his head chopped off.
Witness the fate of Henry Wal
lace at the Democratic Convention
in Chicago last July. Wallace had
become the symbol Of liberalism.
He had been fortnight in his state
ments and actions where the rights
of Negroes to participate in all the
benefits of democracy were con-
cerned. At the convention, know
ing he was on the spot for his
liberal ideas, he walked, neverthe-
less, into the lions den, stuck his
head into the lions mouth, and pro-
ceeded to twist the lions tail. His
now famous equal opportunity, and
poll-tax must go" speech was de-
livered with a ringing sincerity. The
lion bit off his head.
Undeterred, Wallace pursued the
same course even after his defeat
for place on the Democratic ticket
as running mate to Roosevelt. And
again, when his name came before
the Senate for confirmation as Sec
rotary of Commerce, he was
maligned, mailed and mangled. To
his everlasting credit, his head,
though bloody, has never bowed.
But there are so few who could
come through the same experience
without giving up the ghost.
Then, there was Aubrey Will
iams. His administration of the
National Youth Administration,
under which Negro boys and girls
got their first real break for train
ing in skilled industrial occupa-
tons, branded him as a Negro
lover in the eyes of Bilbo and his
ilk. His efforts to organize the
small farmers, including Negro
farmers, reused the ire of the Farm
Bureau Federation. His favorable
attitude toward the FEPC stamped
him as a liberal and progressive.
The recent castigation of Aubrey
Williams by reactionary elements in
the Senate of the United States
when his name came before them
for confirmation as President Roose-
velt's appointee for the position of
Administrator of the Rural Electri-
fication Administration is still fresh
in our minds. Williams, like Wal
lace, will not bow his head.
But the pattern is clear. It is not
new. Clarke Foreman, Nathan
Straus, and many others felt the
axe because they were openly
liberal.
Such a procedure puts the fear of
the Devil into the hearts Of lesser
men than Wallace and Williams.
Liberals who have vulnerable spots
in their backbones are likely to say
to themselves: "Why should stick
my neck out for the common man
including Negroes-when can sail
along. on smooth waters by just
keeping quiet and conforming to
custom?"
Then along comes the testimonial
to Justice Black. He has reached
the pinnacle of success in the judi
ciary. He is respected. He is ac-
claimed. His championing of the
cause of the common man has not
harmed him. It is a tonic to the
less courageous. It is boon to the
cause of liberalism and progress
sivism. It is timely.
Let us hope that those who may
have quavered in their responsible
ties to ALL Americans in their
positions of public trust will take
heart and fear not. Though they
may not rate the acclaims Of a
Justice Black, they can know that
all America will not turn from them
if they but consistently fight the
good fight.