Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-05-24
Wallace Nelson
In 23rd Day
OF Food Strike

Wallace Floyd Nelson. brother Of
the Rev. Clarence 7. X. Nelson,
pastor Of Camphor Methodist
church in 81. Paul and president
Of the Sc. Paul NAACP branch,
entered the twenty-third day Of his
hunger strike at the federal cOTTec-
tional institution at Danbury,
Conn, on Wednesday, May 81, Rev.
Nelson revealed.
The 81. Paul clergymRn's brother
Is among the large group Of con-
scientious DIRECTORS now being de-
tanned in federal prisons who have
stated they will accept no food I'M
I'll they are released from cOnhne-
ment. Wallace Nelson began his
hunger strike on April 20.
In q letter written TO Attorney
General Tom Clark, recently. he set
forth his case and reaffiTmed his
intention not to eat until he OBJ
tanned his release. Nelson. after
stating that he was interHed In
June. 1912, wrote camp conditions
were slavery. pure and simple"
For leaving the slave labor
camp" Nelson wrote, II with five
colleagues was given n fve-yeRr
sentence ut the end Of day-and-half
mock trial" He charged that as
the result Of appealing the verdict
which was handed down in federal
court In Cleveland, January 10,
I9II. he and Joe Wynn, also Ne
gro. were each given an extra 1856
day sentence, bringing the total
sentence up to six years.
Nelson also charged in the letter
To Riddle: There are still brutal
ties committed by officers on the
persons Of inmates. Last Friday,
one Of the guards here deliberately
put his foot into the groin Of one
Of the conscientious ObjectOTs
ed. Note: Rev. Clarence Nelson
states the man was Roger Afford
a young Methodist minister)
Wallace Nelson wrote that he ha,
been abused. mistTeatcd. and bTu
taliEed." and that the only crime
he committed was his inability Il
cooperate In the Wholesale killing
(murdcD Of many Of my fellow
humans. ! refused Ia COMM
or be u party to the mass murder
called war"
When nm appeal was made q
the five year sentence, n hlghe
court upheld the term. but whci
an attempt was made to take tn,
case to the United States Suprcm,
Court. the u. \. court refused I,
/, hear II.
, Registered with Draft
Nelson registered with SelcCtiv
Service IA n conscientious objector
and IN accordance with SelcCtiv
. service ruling, when his draft mum
, her was called. he went To u CiviliR
, public service camp instead of int
> the military service. Consideration
. DIRECTORS themselves had Ia pa
the government $55 month f.
! their upkecp, or had to have som
: friend or group pay it for then
: They were supposed to be given
job at something Of national i'm
poTtance. hut received no pay
, Prior to his Imprisonment, Nclso
, was social worker in Dclawar,
Ohio. where he was director Of
| community center, He was ais
, attending Ohio Wesleyan Univer
. sity there,
, The Rev. NJ. r.. Nelson, paste
81 Wheatland Avenue Methods
church. Columbus. Ohio. brothc
Of Wallace and Rev Clarence Mel
son, joined in the recent demonStra
tion asking amnesty for consciCr
p tious ohjcctors. which was held b,
I fore the white House in Washing
ton, u, C., on May II.
Rev. Clarence Nelson has write
4 to President Harry Truman pr,
, testing his brothers case.