St. Paul recorder., 1947-12-05

The article was printed in the
REPUBLICAN, a party organ, at
the behest Of the Republican Amer
lean committee, a group Of Negro
COP leaders.
The Congressional Record reprint
follows:
Negroes Demand COP Recognition
The Republican party has not
won q Presidential election since
the Negro voter left the party. 1t is
implicit that Republicans nurture
and cultivate the noticeable trend
of the Negro voters back to the
COP since the 1946 elections. 1t is
therefore necessary that the entire
attitude and strategy Of the COP,
as it affects the Negro citizens, be
changed.
That is the earnest opinion Of
the Republican American commit
tee, whose policy committee met
this fall in Philadelphia, under the
craftsmanship Of R. R. Church, and
drew up a plan to win back the
Negro voter.
To accomplish this objective, the
committee believes that ait is neces-
sary that the entire attitude and
strategy Of our party as it affects
the colored citizens must be
changed"
As spokesman for the largest
single minority in the United
States, the committee expressed
sincere disappointment In the
record of Congress.
Greatly Disturbed
"Deeply disturbed over the fail
ure Of the first Republican-con-
trolled Congress in 16 years to take
any ultimate action on problems Of
transcending importance affecting
the civil rights and economic well
fare of large segments Of the popu-
lation =. we feel impelled to warn
our party Of the dangers which lie
ahead If it continues its policy Of
inaction on these issues, and We
urge it to rededicate itself to its
founding principles Of equality and
justice to give reinsurance to Re-
publicans everywhere Of its de-
termination to correct these evils
by effective legislation"
Placed in its Importance Of
action according to the commit
tee, the legislation which must
be passed to turn the Negro voter
to the COP is: I. the FEPC; 2,
the anti-lynch bill; and 3, the
anti-pOll tax bill.
"The Republican party can
demonstrate its continued faith in
the democratic processes and its be-
lief in the dignity Of man by mar
shalling its forces to pass these
bills"
No Buck Passing Wanted
The committee emphasized that
the Negro would not be deceived by
legislative jockeying, buckpassing,
or double talk. He will not be sat
isfied with noble gestures, but will
demand from the party in power
actual fulfllment of platform
pledges and promises.
To regain this vast voting power
Of 100000 citizens, the spokes-
man urged the Republican major
ity in Congress to place this legis-
lation upon its must calendar in the
early part Of the next session and
to make its passage a matter Of
party responsibility.
Seeking to put an end to the eco
nomic and civil barriers which
harass the minorities Of our Nation,
the policy committee members
called for the national chairman of
the Republican party to indicate to
the American people, that the COP
Is not insensate to the hopes, de-
sires, aspirations, and rights Of its
largest single minority, and that It
will take whatever steps are neces-
sary to guarantee the passage Of
the legislation enumerated previ-
ously.
Wants Economic Security
That the Negro desires economic
security above all is apparent by
his graduation in the Importance Of
the legislation. He placed the Fair
Employment Practices act above
all appeals Of anti-lynehing and
anti-poll tax. He desires the op-