Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-02-01
Hurold Stdssen
Fuvors ClotuHe
To Kill FilibIlster

To Kill FilibI1Ster
Address Of Harold 4. Stassen Of
Minnesota delivered at the Confer
ence Of the National Council for
Permanent Fair Employment
Practice Committee, January %,
1046, at the Mayflower Hotel,
Washington, ID. c.
Mr., Chairman. Distinguishes GusSta, Ladies
and Gentlemen
Il 10 ny deep conviction that We meet at
one 81 tha@e critical periods In which tbs
world takes on . sshas Of direction and
establishes q cOuFHs. A Worldwide war Of
terrific destructive impact has ended.
ended with victory for us and for our
Uhitsd Nations allies. And II ended ~
science revealed that the tiny atom had
been successfully split In . manner 10 un-
Leash amazing destructive power.
We are now In the period In which IN"
minds and hearts and materials and ma
chimes Of mankind are recovering 10 =
world At peace. II h q time Of change, Of
TeadIustmsHt. 81 unrest. Of questioning. Of
searching. II 10 a time that pleads for
moral leadership from the United States
Of America,
A review Of history makes IL quite eIsar
that the pattern and tia trends were stab
ilshSd within the nTst few years after the
last world war. which In . quarter Of q
century led 10 world vide Expressions and
unemployment and suffering and 10 the
tragic outbreak Of the second w0Tld-wids
var.
MUST NOT HAPPEN AGAIN
That must not happen again. II will not
happen again u tho dated States Of Amer
lea contributes In full measure 10 the moral
ieadsFahip 81 tho world. A. tho very base
Of the moral foundation Of our own country
has been the principle so brHVsly and beau
All 81 Al
Independence, We hold thess truths 10 b.
Sslf-evidsnt. that all men are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalisnAbls
rights, that among these are. life. libsrty.
and the pursuit Of happiness"
II was this recognition Of the fundhmsn-
tai dignity u man which more than any
other thing has made II possible for . small
group Of struggling colonies 10 become
powerful nation peopled by sORs and dAuRh-
tsra II every nation In the world.
We arv all kseniy aware Of the fact that
this great principle has bern violated IN
varying degrees In many portions 81 the
world and has also been violated within the
borders Of the United STATS Of AmsFica.
This National Council for . Permanent Fair
Employment Practice COfnH,ittss has recoR.
missed clearly that unfair Discrimination In
employment bPeAltss 81 race or color az
creed has been one Of the bIOtS upon the
record % our moral principles. You have
recognized the imperative neceualty, " We
would continue 10 build America. II We
would increase Ia units. its strength. and
la stability 10 move forward In . practical.
definite, gradual and common sense man.
nsr. To eliminate this unfair discrimination.
I commend yOu highly this evening fOT
your clear recognition Of the Importance Of
this work. u 10 encouraging 10 md this IN.
usual group Of national organizations work.
inn actively toWsthsT for tbis noble purpose
I would like 90 urge upon you tonight, the
full FReoWntiOa Of the fact that not only
are your sHOTtA making y profound con
tTibution 10 America within. but Ala0 that
your efforts In the program for fair employ
ment practices 10 an essential part Of the
moral lsadsrshlp which America must con.
tribute 20 the world, lApplAuasl
u We would have peace foF mankind,
" We would have q allow, steady march u
progress In the Well.bglha 81 men and WON.
en- and little children around the world, then
10 imperative that America speak out
against lniustlcea around the globe. Amer
lea muat speak cat against the violation Of
basic human rights wherever they may &C.
eur America must speak out on behalf
Of the peopiru 81 the world. their hopes. and
their aspirations, and their ySaTnlnRu. And,
AmsTiCas Voice eaRRst he heard In the
clear, esayiRcinM, aiRcSTs, tones that are
needed. anleaa America Alaa speaks cot and
acts upsR sesRsmIr sRjHstlsSs and Vislallsas
81 basic huwaR TlGhta at home. Applause
| know yea sense the blHHena of this
N""N bNA MHA@b vs. hMuiN7
canSS.
PEOPLE WANT FEPC
The current situation upon the measure
In the Senate ralssa some additional grave
questions. u SCENE auits clear that the
sysTShelWiRM maJsTiiy 81 the peoples 81 the
Waited States ere IN faVsE 81 thls lsaisla-
ten. u asems equally clear that = minority
Of the Democratic Senators IN the United
Athtea Senate can effectively hiork this
lsEisiHtlnn ~ the hlibusteT method in which
they are nov engaged The question then
h not simply 81 the Importance of lr9LalA-
tinn 10 safeguard the rights Of nalnoFltiea
hut also II the importance Of the establish
H"nt ~ legislative procedure that viii
Prevent mlnoritlrN from willfully bIoekInH
the dectaloha 81 the majority. Applause
Clearly the hlibustsF has y place IN lsgia-
lAtiVR procedure, Il can we'll he used 20
Insure an opportunity 10 the people Of the
country Ca Thoroughly uRdrrAIAnd an issue
before q deplaiOn. u can b. used 90 give
time fOr the mArphAllinE Of evidence, for
tho investigation Of fActn, and for auund
deHanrratlo cotnprOmiae hut Il doea not
appear cuFrpHtlp that u h being used for
any Of those purpn@sa. The lasue has been
Thoroughly debated for many month";
| temporary wartime FEPC functioned ably
and well throughout tho war, The state of
New York UhdTF Governor Dewey has
placed . similar measure In operation with
agreed suee~sa. The Republican platform
Of two y"arp ago continued pRSauivocAl
support foF the program. A drAnItS notice
/ SAs given by the Sensational sponsors ~ the
| legislation, "a whom high prAiae should bs
given for their fCrthFtMhtnpaa. their fairness
and their VlaioR. (Applausa.l The opinion
IT the people clearly SUPPORTS the leutaln-
ton. The hlthUstsT thea. II hong continued,
constitute, purely and slunply. obstruction
| BY miRnrtiy which defeats the effective
mncti"ninE Of dsmcoratic government II
gives comfort to tho@g Of the extreme TiEhl
and Of the sStrrms left. who Ssrk 90 under.
mine the effectiveness % and the confidence
IN CAR representative form Ot EDVvrnmsnt
| u contributes 10 the establishment OF fertit,
| arUand for the auartshinH 81 aubveruivg as
| uNitis~. u throws a Npotltght UPON . con,
| dttton which Il Of even wider aiMhtheanes
than the important Issue " the FEPC Il
v an issue which ahoad he decid~A by IN.
psnple II the country in the slertiona thai
arr k~fors ~. tApplAuasl
LET MEASURES RE DEBATED
There are Those who ohatruct THE la1is,
latiOa on tho pleas that theFe are Cthsl
lniuHttees that heed cnrrrctlOA. This 70
not the msthOd hy which pFuwreaa 10 made
Let measures he presented ard debated b.
fore the country and considered hy N.
people and the political party convention
TO uasct other lniusticsa % their UWR msTita
Used 80 tactic 81 obstruction this dSVtce h
simply . msthcd Whieh results IN ks~pial
tho smudgr On both the Aettls and the pot
u APPROVES AMENDMENTS
AZ On the immediate measure 81 lsNislA.