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

stuff about Jackie Robinson n week
or so ago. What Laney had TO 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 or
anyone else had expected, Laney
goes on TO say:
THE evidence is not all in yet
but the indication Is already clear
that q Negro, II he Ii good enough,
can play in the international
League without causing the stars
10 fall. And II that Is true there
can be no good reason why he
should not also play in the major
leagues"
Robinson eOnRded TO Laney
that he IL 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 he II hoping against
hope that there will not be any
trouble In the stands. Under
ordinary circumstances. q hand
full Of Onesided TOOteTs on the
wrong side Of the bleReheTs can
stir up q hornets nest. In this
case, II will be y little more than
the partisan interest Of con-
Armed baseball addicts. There
will be the added hazard Of men
and women pulling for n Kid who.
like themselves, comes from q
race that has been denied much.
II will be an occasion for re-
iOicInE, and there will be some
who will not understand the
overlooking Joy ard enthusiasm
Of the occasion.
Baseball fans, In any part Of
the country, are n Rood-natured lot
Of Aingle-minded animals who
threaten 10 murder umpiTes, 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 TO blows over n fine point
without n personal angle entering
into the business. What worries
Jackie land II Is something TO be
conAidered), is the exaggerated
loyalty shown him by the Negro
fans. Wherever he has played the
Negro fans have made IL "A point
to applaud his every move as
though II were the out-of-this
world performance Of SupermRn.
Talking 10 Laney about u.
Robinson gave an instance. e.
In Newark there wis y big
crowd, and thousands Of them
were Negroes. I was made
nervous because they were too
partisan TO me. I thought. They
cheered too loudly when I did
Just ordinary things. I think
that IL bad and I wish they
wouldn't do Il. II might make
trouble In the stands"
Jackie II pleading for q chance
20 he Just n plain baseball athlete,
and not n freak to the white fans.
nor q superior being to the Me-
grOea. lie believes, and this col
umR certainly agrees, that II Il In
sporting 10 ask the white play
ers and fans 10 give him = chance
TO make good on his ability, u
II Just ~ sporting to make the
same request Of the people Of
his own race. II II ridiculous 10
applaud q man and acclaim him
until he does something 90 merit
II, and then that acclaim should
not 70 beyond reasonable bounds.
Some Of the very fans who now
give Robinson the filters by their
bOisterOuR applause will he the
Ilrst 20 brand him q phOny should
he fail 20 make the grade.
Robinson IL In there trying a
Of the time. He doesn't share IN
feeling Of the Negro fans VIII
think that It's all over but IN
shouting. He knows that he IL sti
on trial and that no has to do n Il
Of ball playing II he wants 10 sta
In fast company and step up TO III
top. I said before, and I repeS
Il. that the greatest hazard III
kid has II the whole race he
carrying on his back. Hen have
forget Il II he wants 10 show h
real stun, and think he Is tryin
like blaEes, but II will be an in
possibility unless the Negro far
cooperate.
An assignment TO second ha,
Is doing It's share to keep sensiti,
Jackie on edge. II is brand ne
territory 10 him and he Is tryir
to get the hang Of his new job. II
says, IL am not at home ,arour
here, yet, made q couple OF erro,
and In one play I just looked sill
I've got to learn and do II quick
and I've got TO keep on hitting
the same time. I don't know II v
have seen the best pitching In q
league yet, but u we have I thir
I will hit enough"
Robinson can hit, run and ste
enough bases TO get over the hun
provided Il isn't made any high
FOR him by the inJudicious .
thusiaSm Of the Negro fans. tn,
all love him, he knows that, al
he appreciates their support, b
they can help him most by goir
TO see him play and by just givir
him what he deserved. no moro Al
no less.
II Robinson has the stuff 10