Evening star., 1947-06-30
u. ). Must Show WAY
In Equal Civil Rights,
Truman Tells hAACP

tne Advancement of ColOred
People today had the assurance
OF President Truman that the
Federal Government must "show
the way" toward equal civil
rights in this Nation as an ex-
ample to the rest of the world.
Members of the NAACP gathered
yesterday at the Lincoln Memorial
for a final session of their 38th
annual convention to hear the Chief
Executive and other speakers urge
expansion and strong enforcement
OF civil rights legislation.
Speakers included Mrs Franklin
D. Roosevelt, Senator Morse, Re-
publican, Of Oregon, and Walter
White, executive secretary of the
NAACP. Also on the speakers plat
form as guests were Chief Justice
Vinson, Attorney General Clark and
Admiral Nimitz, chief of naval
operations.
OSVUV DIT SCI
More than 5000 spectators ringed
the Memorial Circle to stand in the
sWeltering heat during the cere-
monies.
They applauded wildly when the
President bluntly declared there Is
no justif1able reason for discrim-
tnation because of ancestry, or re-
Iglon, or race, or color"
President Truman said this Ma
ton must act quickly ito put its own
house in order" if it is to gain sup
port of other war-torn nations "over
the forces of totalitarianism."
There is much that State and
local governments can do in proVid-
ing safeguards of civil rights" he
told the delegates, but freedom is
not an easy lesson to teach, nor an
easy cause to sell to peoples beset
with every kind of priVation.
Must Show Way"
For this reason, he said, I'VE can
no longer afford the luxury OF a
leisurely attack upon prejudice and
discrimination. We cannot await
the growth of will to action in
the sloWest State or the most back
ward community. Our national
Government must show the way"
Specifically, he said, every citi-
zen must have the right to educs-
ticn, adequate medical care, a de-
cent home and an equal share in
making public decisions through
elections. The President also drew
applause when he added that every
citizen must have the right to
fair trial in fair court"
And when 1 say all Americans
mean all Americans" he added.
To further definite civil rights
legislation, President Truman said
he is relying on a program from
the l5-member Advisory Committee
on Civil Rights he appointed last
December.
Anti-Lynching Petition Signed.
The National Negro Council, which
circulated a petition at the meeting,
announced today that approximate
ly 5000 persons had signed it. The
petition, addressed to President
Truman, Speaker Martin and Sena-
tor Taft, Republican, of Ohio, as
chairman of the Senate Republican
Policy Committee, called for passage
of the Federal antilynching bill be-
fore Congress adjournS next month.
The bill, which is now pending
before the Judiciary Committees in
both chambers, provides the death
penalty for lynchers and a $4,000
fine against the county where the
lynching occurs.
The petition also called for the
permanent expulsion from the Sen
ate of Senator Bilbo, Democrat, OF
Mississippi.
Mrs. Roosevelt received an ovation
as she was introduced to the crowd
by Mr.. White as "the first lady Of
the world"
Speaks on Bill of Rights.
Mrs. Roosevelt also reviewed prog
ress of the international bill of
rights, and said she thought 1t was
significant that mot one of the the
drafting committee had an objec-
ton to the opening words of the bill,
which said all men are brothers "
But if all men are brothers, then
together we must try to build
world in which all can live as BROTH
ers." she declared.
Warning that every nation in the
world is watching the progress OF
American democracy, she called for
legislation and strong legal enforce
ment that will guarantee security
for every citizen.
Would Root Out Fear.
You cannot have security if you
have fear" she declared. And for
that reason, we must see to it that
the kind of things which create fear
in our Nation are done away with.
We cannot possibly live with the
blood of lynchings in our land"
In his address Senator Morse
added his voice to calls for strong
and civil rights legislation and
urged all people to back up with
actions the lip service they now
give" against all forms OF racial
discrimination.
Mr.. White said the NAACP's i've
day convention in the District last
week was called because of our
deep concern for human rights
He said the association feels there
will never be complete equality be-
tween races until the courts aban-
don the myth of separate but
equal facilities"
Music for the program was fur
n!shed by Carol Brice. noted COL
ored contralto. and by a COM
munity chorus directed by Warner
Lawson, dean of the Howard Uni
versity School of Music. The IN
vocation was delivered by the Rev
Stephen Gill Spottswood, pastor OF
the John Wesley A. M. E. zlor
Church. and the benediction was
said by the Rev. Paul Hanley Fur
fey of Catholic University.
t1S0 MN RradIev ManSjor