Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1948-12-31

En- route to Washington for the Yuetde sea-
son aboard the crack National Limited Of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad with bedroom ia
cities and all first class privileges, one begins
thinking about the race problem in America.
| have just had an interesting discussion with
the waiter and porter about the frequency of
use of these facilities by Negro people. They
wonderingly admitted that they were alarmed
over the failure of more Negroes to use first
class accommodations. They believe that Ne
groes using first class travel would play
great role in the indignation of Negroes into
all phases of American life. Mr. and Mrs.
Would-be First Class Citizen do your part on
your journey by using the very fine service ac-
corded by railroad trains in America.
Fifteen Years Ago when first came to Wash
ington, the late President Roosevelt had just
begun the vast qualifications which we have
come to regard as the New Deal. For Washing
ton Negroes it brought many of their fellow
Americans from all over the United States who
have established residence here. Physically,
Washington is very beautiful city and much
credit must be given the Roosevelt administra-
ton. Socially, Washington is just about as Jim
Crow as Pine Bluff. Yet there abounds much
hope at this Christmas Season that segregation
will be in for an onslaught in 1949. A National
Committee of Interested Citizens has recently
released report of its findings and certainly
the reaction which it has provided will lead to
more serious thought by members of Congress
who will consider Civil Rights legis-
lation in January Negroes here are working
hard to make the drive success and with the
augmentation of political pressure in pivotal
states, it is believed that the Truman admin
istration will complete the task of Kidding the
Nation of second class citizenship Negroes at
tending the inaugural ceremonies for President
Truman will find that a different policy ex-
lists for them. The administration is practicing
what it preached during the campaign and Ne
groes have been integrated on the Committee
which is making preparations for the largest
gathering of Americans in history to witness
the Inauguration of the President of the United
States. Your writer recommends your COM
ing to Washington for the event, if you can so
arrange!
Mr.. McMath Returns From Washington while
I am enroute and we must have met somewhere
here in the vast Ohio and Indiana countryside.
My friends here believe that he represents a
different type of Southern leadership. AS you
know, Negroes in Arkansas are somewhat
proud of the part that they played in the CUB
ernatorial race and accepted the accreditatlon
of their role with thanks especially coming
from the retiring Governor Ben Laney. The
test was held in Arkansas and from all indica-
tons it seems that we are in for more coope-
ration in developing our human as well as our
natural resources. We trust that the privilege
Mr.. McMath enjoyed by acting host to great
American President who visited him at the
Capitol despite raging snow storm will make
him want to develop himself into full stature
as liberty-oving American for all people and
not just some of the people. AS he enters the
high office of Governor of Arkansas we shall
pray that he will at all times meet the prob
lens of government in a fortnight and demo-
cratic manner Only in that way will his abili-
ties whatever they are be called into play by
the common people of America who are look
ing to the future with hope for continuation
of consecrated leadership in local, state, and
national government. In 1919 we all must work
and pray for a government of peace and justice
for all men.
Educational Facilities in Arkansas for Me-