St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1948-04-09

ueSSSS lhNOIeu a universal III
opposed it, all were in accord
nation should be eliminated. How
ever, some Of the witnesses differed
on how this result could best be
obtained. This difference Of opinion
grew to such height between two
witnesses that they all but came to
blows.
A. Philip Randolph's statement
was so pointed that It gave the
entire committee food for thought.
After pointing up all the evils Of
a segregated army, Randolph de-
clared that II these practices should
be allowed to exist, he would call
upon all Negro veterans from coast
to coast to join in a civil disobedi-
ence movement, refusing to regis
ter and be drafted. He said he
would appeal to thousands Of
white youth in schools and colleges
who are vigorously shedding the
prejudices Of their parents and
professors, to demonstrate their
with Negro youth by
ignoring the entire registration and
induction machinery. He would also
appeal to Negro parents to stand
behind their sons as they march
with heads high to federal prisons
as a telling demonstration to the
world that Negroes have reached
the limit Of human endurance.
Although the marble walls Of the
spacious, caucus room Of the SEN
ate office building did not glare
under kleiglights as II did on the
previous day when Henry A. Wal
lace appeared in opposition TO the
UNIT bill, radio apparatus was not
set up on the press tables. movie
cameras did not line the walls and
television shutters did not click,
yet these Negro witnesses staged
just as impressive a show as did the
presidential candidate.
The fireworks actually began In
the Wednesday hearings when Tru-
man Gibson openly attacked a dele
cation from the Committee against
Jim Crow in Military Service and
for recently reporting
to President Truman that Negro
youth Of this country were not
to shoulder arms in a jim
crow army, should another conflict
arise.
Gibson, who strongly favored
UNIT. declared that this was not
the attitude Of the majority Of
the Negro citizens, that they had
participated in every instance Of
military history in the past and
would certainly do so in the fu-
ture. He charged this group Of
trying to BARTER for demOc-
racy."
Considering himself an authority
on the subject, not only having
served as civilian aide TO the secre-
tary Of war, but having served on
the Presidents Advisory commits
sion on UNIT, Gibson declared that
Of the Soviet Union
would continue until checked,
he believed UNIT to be
an insurance security.
When Grant Reynolds took the
stand he told the committee that
he was one Of the delegation which
visited the President last week,
was one Of those accused
Of trying to barter for democ-
racy." In his resentment Of Glib
sons statement, he declared that
he wore a uniform in the last war
and did not sit in a swivel chair.
who is national chairman
Of the Committee Against Jimcrow
in Military Service and training,
dashed out that he did not advance
his economic welfare at the expense
Of his people in n jim crow army.
1t was this statement which
caused Gibson to rush to Reynolds
after the hearing and threatened
to hit him. Gibson told Reynolds
that had he said that on the out
side, he would have hit him in the
mouth and sued him.
Commenting on the incident af-
ter the hearing had recessed for
lunch, Reynolds said he would only
ignore any remark made by such
a small person. Gibson, who had
no prepared statement, invited the
criticism by attacking this COM
Reynolds said, making 1t
necessary for Reynolds to depart
from his prepared statement to
answer the charge.
One Of the most fOrceful Of all
the testimonies was one given
by Albert Black, native Of Du-
luth, Minnesota, speaking as q
veteran Of World War II. He
cited statements Of some Negro
enlisted men who told Of unbe-
lievabIe experiences which they
had in the segregated set-ups.
He pointed out how Negro SOL
diers stationed at Fort Benning
we're treated by local police at
Ca; and how the army
that Negroes are "hap-
pier in the SOUTH" that they thrive
there, that the climate is good for
them, even If they were born in
New England and in the middle
west. He repudiated this conten-
ton by emphatically declaring that
Negro soldiers do not like the
south, they do not like Georgia;
they do not like TO serve on q post
As Viciously segregated as is the