Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-05-31
Nv IOHN NJ LEE

forth on the pages OF the seOaUe
New York Herald Tribune, devoted
his full column 10 human interest
stuff about Jackie Robinson a week
or so ago. What Laney had 10 say
has been said before, and will prob
ably be said many times again, but
a point or two Of his scholarly
essay bears repeating. Pointing out
that acceptance Of Robinson has
come about sooner than Jackie OF
anyone else had expected, LaneJ
goes on TO say:
THE evidence Is not all in YET
but the indication Is already clear
that a Negro, II he Is good enough
can play In the international
League without causing the stars
to fall. And II that Is true there
can he no good reason why ht
should not also play in the major
leagues"
Robinson eOnhded 20 Laney
that he is concerned about play
ing In baltimore. Not that he
expects any personal trouble,
for Jackie has played there many
times and has q tremendous fol-
lowing, but ne II hoping against
hope that there will not be any
trouble In the stands. Under
ordinary circumstances, . hand
fuI Of OnesIded rOOteTs on the
wrong side Of the bleachers can
stir up q hornets nest. In this
case, II will be 4 little more than
the partisan interest Of con-
flFmed baseball Rddicts. There
will be the added hazard Of men
and women pulling for q hid who,
like themselves, comes from q
race that has been denied much.
II will be an occasion for re-
i0ielnK, and there will he some
who will not understand the
overlooking Joy and enthusiasm
Of the occasion.
Baseball fans, in any part Of
the country. are a Rood-natured lot
Of SinRle-minded animals who
threaten to murder umpires, and
who yell for the scalps Of the Oppos.
ing players, but they want the
whole massacre done legal and
sporting like. There have been in
stances where two close friends
roofing for opposing teams, have
come 10 blows over fine point
without q personal angle entering
into the business. What worries
Jackie land Il II something TO be
considored), IL the exaggerated
loyalty shown him by the Negro
fans. Wherever he has played the
Negro fans have made II a point
TO applaud his every move rs
though II were the out-Of-this
world performance Of Superman.
Talking to Laney about Il,
Robinson gave an instance. 81.
In Newark there wis q big
crowd, and thousands Of them
were Negroes. I was made
nervous because they were too
partisan 20 me, I thought. They
eheeTed too loudly when ! did
Just ordinary things J. think
wouldn't do u. II might make
trouble In the stands"
Jackie IL pleading for n chance
md NJ, = TrsSL a. Ihs wh,Is fans
nor a snnsrioT heinz IN ,he Ne.
vToeS lie hei,sysa and mi. col.
nwr r.ytaIrIv nvrecs 1hat N 1, i.
Snor,Irg IN al ths White NAV.
ar. and fan. "a Give him a chance
a. male Good an nj. ah,I,tY n
IL t"st a. SCo,tiT, "a ~ Ar
saws ysousst ~ tbs nsoDIs NJ
hIS own race n Ia T,dIcuIous 20
S0OInud a mar and acclaim MIN
u"'II re aOcS some'hlng 10 merry
w. anu men ,nAt acclaim Hhou,u
Sot 20 oeySnd IeaSSnao'e Sounus.
some o, the very IanA VINO NOW
Se NoolnSon Ihe II''eL ,,, y 'nen
S So..'sIT ~" APpuse WI % Ins
Ist 20 oIahu h'm = pnohy S"o"'u
Nc u" y" MAKO the g'""e'
Roh,r.or 4. In tb.rs irving NJ
~ the time n" dossnt sSars IN
SseIirg ~ the Nogro Ssm" Sh
tbInL that H. ali over hn, IN
shon,,rg Us Lrows thai hs "a stil
On ,rlaI and thu, bs has % do N Ia
OF pau P'aylhg u nc wants 20 sts'
w i@st company ana stoP up 20 IN
Top sa,u petore, ana rspsa
~ that the greateSt hazard IN
Nld mas " tne wnoIe race ne
carrying on ms oaek. heh nave !
IoTEet " u ne wants 20 snow NJ
I i' sum. ana I tn'nE ne 10 ryinl
IKE SIa.eS' ont u WIN oe an I'M
pNsslnlIity unless the negro ran
cooperate
An assignment 10 second has