The Omaha guide., 1946-11-23
Urge G. 0. P. Consider Heeded Legislation

NEW YORK, Nov 14th-Repu-
blican leaders meeting on Novem-
Der 14th to discuss procedure and
legislative program for the Re-
publican dominated 80th Congress
were urged by the National Assn.
for the Advancement of Colored
People to place on their agenda for
critical consideration the passage
of Federal legislation needed to
guarantee the constitutional rights
and safety of Is million Negroes
and members of other minorities
in America. The recommendation
was outlined in a letter addressed
to Senator Wallace H. White (R.
Maine) which was forwarded over
the signature of Walter White,
Executive Secretary of the
NAACP.
In his letter Mr.. White declared
may we urge that there be plac-
ed on the agenda the following
items:
l. Federal anti-lynching legis-
lation to check the current and
exceedingly dangerous wave of
mob violence. We ask that the Re-
publican Party pledge itself to sup
port of Senator Wayne Morse's
proposal to adopt rules on the 1st
day of the new Congress to pre-
vent filibustering in the Senate
or the bottling up Of legislation in
the House Rules Committee. In
any event, we urge the Republi-
can Party to go on record to
support cloture in the event of a
filibuster against the anti-lynch-
ing bill or on items 2. 8. and A
below.
2. Enactment of a Federal Fair
Employment Practice Commission
as has already been pledged in the
1914 Republican Platform,
8. Passage of federal legisla-
tin to outlaw the poll tax.
4. Amendment of the Civil
Rights Act to give greater power
to the Department Of Justice and
other federal agencies to protect
the basic civil rights of American
citizens when the several states
fail, refuse or neglect to guaran-
tee such civil rights.
5. To deny a seat in the 8Otb
Congress to Senator Theodore G
Bilbo of Missippi for his open
of mob violence TO pre-
vent Negro citizens from exercis-
ing their constitutional right to
vote, his admitted membership in
the Ku Klux Klan and for his
of federal statutes pro-
hibiting the acceptance Of certain
campaign contributions. if invest
igations now underway by con-
gressional COMMITTEES prove these
charges.
May we also urge inclusion Of
provisions for federal aid to edu-
cation, housing and the extension
of social security.
The NAACP recommendations
were expected to stimulate sigDi-
ficant interest among Republican
leaders in view of the traditional
non-partisan political nature OF
the Association whose 535. 900
members represent a cross sect;c.
Of political party leanings. Mr..
White has consistently warned
leaders in both major parties of
the profound effect the rapidly
growing Negro vote will nave in
the coming presidential election
and in his HERALD-TRIBUNE
column of October 18th he stated
There is constant emphasis .thAt
the one unequivocal pledge mad
to Negries in the 1914 Republican
INSTRUMENTATION law. But Ne
groes know that 118 out of 1873
Republican members of the House
If Representatives refused or fail
I'd to sign a discharge petition to
bring the FEPC out of the House
Committee. Had only SO of
he 118 signed. the necessary 218
signatures would have brought to
he floor of the House the FEPC |
Dill, where it would have passed
oy a better than 2 to 1 vote.
How the Negro votes in 1915
depend in a large measure
upon five crucial issues with
the Eightieth Congress
will be confronted. If the Senate
and House Of Republicans contin-
lie to play ball with the reaction
ary Southern Democrats as at the
moment there e 20 be every
likelihood of their doing, any hope
by the Republican Party that it
will once again have the support
If the crucial Negro vote might