St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-06-22

these efforts. AL McALPIN
most everyone, opponents and pro-
ponents, have been riveting their
eyes and attention on the fight for
survival itself. There is subcon-
scious disbelief on the part of lib
erals that FEPC is about to expire.
FEPC has become a symbol of
fair play and justice in the minds
of minority peoples in the United
States. It has become a pivot to
which all Americans can attach
their claims to democratic spirit.
To a generation of Negroes who
know about the Emancipation Proc
lamation only by reading of it in
history books, the FEPC is some
thing real, tangible, and present.
They regard it as the high school
graduate does his diploma, as the
graduating pilot does his wings, as
a promoted colonel does his gen
erals star. These are things you
can't give, permit short period of
enjoyment, then snatch away as
you please.
The clock of freedom and the
boots of progress purchased
through bitter struggle for that
which is right are not easily shed.
It would have been far better for
America while she is trying to
convince a world which is three
fourths colored of her desire for
peace and her democratic concern
for freedom and opportunity
never to have had an FEPC than to
face the consequences of this game
of give and take.
It is this concern for Americas
future that spearheads the woman
who directs the efforts of the Ma
tional Council for a Permanent
FEPC-Anna Arnold Hedgeman.
She has vision which goes beyond
the immediate struggle for Con-
gressional action on both the appro-
priation for the present FEPC and
the bill for a permanent agency.
While burning up her physical
energy raising funds to carry on
the important work of the Council,
mapping strategy to anticipate and
meet the thrusts of the enemies of
progress, button-holing Represen-
tatives and Senators, giving push
to some liberals and taking others
by the hand, and combating I'M
kind and unfounded rumors and
remarks aimed at her sex, her am
bition, her techniques-she still
keeps a clear eye and clear head.
The broad scope of organizational
support she has attracted to the
efforts of the National Council
church, civic, labor and political
are avenues through which she
spreads the broader vision of the
implications of failure, while guild
ing specific action to avoid that
failure.
She is busily trying to work her
self out of her job. She has no
ambition to serve in or on the Com
mission she is working so hard to
create, though there are those who
claim to be her friends who say she
wants such a "spot". She wouldn't
accept it if it were offered to her.
More important to her is that
there be an FEPC. She knows from
extensive travel all over the coun-
try and from her husband in the
service that a restless militancy of
Negro veterans and civilians Will
not relinquish meekly their crust
of bread after taking a few bites.
America faces a crisis in this
FEPC issue. 1t transcends politics,
prejudice, even peace-for there
can be no real world peace fash
toned by a government which re-
fuses equality of opportunity to a
segment of its own citizens. Real
peace must be built on a foundation
of mutual, world confidence as
well as armed might, world courts,
general assemblies, security coun-
ellis, and trusteeships.
The world is indebted to Anna
Hedgeman for the effort she is
making to keep America from fail
ing on the FEPC issue.