Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-12-20
New Group To
Be Organized In
Deep South
By ROBERT DURR

an tnc FeCenL keneTh efecIlonbp
upwards Of 80 or 80 Negroes were
elected TO state legislatures. Two
were reelected TO the Congress.
These eolored persons viii partici-
pate In the making Of laws under
which their constituents In the
various states from which they
come must live. The participation
Of Representatives William L. Daw-
son and Adam C. Powell will in
directly touch the lives Of eolored
people everywhere because, in re-
Ality, they are the elected repre-
sentatives Of the people in the Con-
gressional districts from which they
come.
The bulk Of colored people In
the United States still live In the
deep South. For the most part,
these millions do not have q voice
in Washington. from among and
Of them. TO speak in their behalf,
and to serve as n moral watchdog
in their interest, on q day-by-dAy
basis. They have no one from and
Of the South to keep members Of
Congress advised Of the wishes and
needs Of the millions Of voieeless
little people in the deep South.
Their representatives faces are
not seen or their voices heard
enough in high places.
In order that the voiceless mil
lions Of ordinary colored people Of
the deep South may be heard in
interpreting their needs and con-
corning what Is happening to them,
to members Of Congress and top
federal government officials, IL Is
proposed 10 set up what may be
called the Deep South Institute,
with service headquarters in Wash
ington, sponsoring offices in Bir-
mingham, Ala. and advisory posts
in each state Of the deep South.
An advisory committee consisting
Of a representative from each Of
the Congressional districts in the
South and two additional from
each state-at-larEe, representing n
cross section Of Negro life in the
deep South, Is being formed.
Beginning early in l947. the
Deep South Institute will begin
its moral watchdog services for the
voiceless millions in the deep South.
Every member Of Congress and
top governmental official in the ma
tons capital win be constantly in
formed on the actual thinking, con-
ditions, needs and desires Of the
voieeless eOlored people in the
South.
The Deep SOath Institute will
aRalyEe existing and proposed
laws for the sdiaeation Of the
people u h set up 10 serve. and
pass this Information on 70 these
people through members Of It's
advisory committee. the press,
radio and otherwise. Il will be
both . public relations and lob
byinG institution for the voice
less millions Of eolOred people In
the deep South. II win be the
voice Of, BY. and for the now
VOieeleSs millions Of black folk
In the deep Seuth.
The need for this service can
not be disputed Almost every other
segment Of American life has q
similar service organization OPP
Grating on the national level. In
asmuch as, for the most part. mil
lions Of Negroes do not vote and,
therefore, have no voice in the
making and administration Of the
laws under which they must live
insofar as the South is concerned
their Representatives and Sen
ators. unless far above the aver
arc, are only concerned about the
welfare and needs Of the white
voters in the areas from which
they come. They are often opposed
to representation by eolored peo-
pie. II Is the determination Of the
sponsor Of the Deep South Insti-
tuts that the vOieeless eolored peo-
pie Of the South shall be heard IN
Washington from tomorrow hence
forth.
Sponsors Of the Deep South In
stitnts say that its service viii sup
plement that Of the other national
service bureaus in Washington,
such a. that Of the National As
ISOLATION for the Advancement Of
ColOrsd People. the National Ur-