The Omaha guide., 1946-06-22
Bishop Says Red Scare Used To
Thwart Social Improvements
By William R. Simms
Howard News Syndicate Feature

Howard News Syndicate Feature
DIES MONIES. lathe Ameri-
can Veterans Committee (AVC)
meeting in its first constitutional
convention here Friday thru Sun
day adopted a constitution and Ii
beral platform which strikes a
blow at tolerance. bias and unde-
mocratic action in America. More
than 800 delegates, forty of which
were Negroes, from forty-four
states and areas outside the Uni
ted States representing $4,000
veterans of World War II partici-
pated in the three day convention.
Appearing before the convent
ion were several of the country's
outstanding political, religious and
labor leaders. They were: Har-
old Stassen, former governor of
Minnesota and since the wal mas
been one of the Republican Par
tvs outstanding liberal spokes-
man; Henry A. Wallace, Secy. Of
Commerce and outspokent New
Dealer; Col. Campbell c. johnson.
executive assistant to the director
of Selective Service: Walter Reu-
Their, president of the United Au-
tomobile Workers.; James B. Car
ey, national secretary of the CIO.
Bernard j. Shiel, D. D.. Auxiliary
Bishop of Chicago; Mike Monron-
ey, congressman from Oklahoma,
and j. Donald Kingsley. former
Professor of Political Science at
Antioch College and at present
working in the Office of Recon-
version.
Speaking at Fridays opening
session, Bishop Shiel received
thunderous applause as he refer
red to the FEPC as zone of the
most vital pieces of legislature
ever written" and said that it has
languished in the House for these
many months, because it actually
has the affrontery to espouse eq-
uality of jobs for Negroes, for
Jews. for all men"
Continuing, he said. MANY men
raise. the red scare of Communism
wherever plans for social improve
ment are proposed. But America
has nothing to fear from Com
munism if we have here a social
order that regards man as at the
same time the beginning and the
end of life in human society. Peo-
pie who are we'll fed, well clothed
and well housed are not interest
ed in Communism.
Another problem still facing the
thoughtful citizen is the explosive
question Of racial discrimination
and prejudice. Our school children
like their elders before them.
swear allegiance to the flag every
day; and pray that our nation will
remain one and indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all. What
a mockery!"-Perhaps a cynical
smile plays around the Negroes
lips as he recited the pledge. and
he thinks of the lynchings by sa-
wage mobs, the restrictive cove
nants the second rate schools, the
filthy hoves; the legal tricks by
which he is disfranchized in SO
many states of this Union, dedi-
Gated to the proposition that all
men are created equal"
The bonus issue came up quite
unexpectedly on Saturday night at
the Shrine Auditorium while
MANY of the AVG leaders were out
of the meeting. Bolte Immediately
rushed to the floor of the conven-
ton and told the delegates that
he was un~alterably opposed to a
bonus of any kind as a matter of
principle. In reminding the con-
vention of their slogan: Citizens
first and veterans second, he
was given a great ovation. How
ever, the fate of the bonus issue
could not be decided until the
platform votes could be tailed
which was not expected until on
Sunday.
The planks on labor we're the
center of much controversy. At
one subcommittee meeting, mem
bers succeeded in getting endorse
ment of a plank pledging support
to the CIO-AF of L drives to or
ganize the workers of the south.
At a later meeting, supporters of
the previous plank were absent
and a substitute plank emitting