Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-06
Civil Rights Congress
March on D. {. Turns
Into Wallace Ral|y
By Malcolm Lomborne, J

The Civil Rights Congress march
on Washington to lobby for anti
poll tax legislation turned into
Wallace for President and down.
with-the-Administration demonstra-
ton, covering a span of eight hours
yesterday.
Some 1000 persons who came here
by train, bus and automobile from
New York, Philadelphia and other |
cities climaxed their day of picket
ing the White House, button-holing
members of Congress and testing
Washington's segregation customs
with a rally at the Sylvan Theater
on the Washington Monument
grounds.
The speaker who brought the
loudest applause was Benjamin
Davis, New York City councilman
and one of II indicted Communist
Party leaders. He said he brought
the greetings of the party now
meeting in New York.
After putting in plug for Henry
Wallace's Progressive Party, Mr..
Davis launched into a bitter de-
nunciation of the Administration.
He called the President OF the
United States the biggest dema-
gogue in the White House" and said
Mr.. Truman tried to get the fas-
cist vote" through the indictments
against the Communists, and the
Negro vote, through his civil rights
program.
Robson Applauded.
Paul Robson, Negro baritone and
one of the top leaders of the Pro-
gresSive Party, also was greeted with
great applause.
Referring to newspaper column
lists, Mr.. Robson asserted that,
"despite the Peglers, Rebecca Vests
and Dorothy ThompsonS, we will
continue to give the answers until
we take over with our liberal
policies"
Hugh De Lacey, former Demo-
cratic House member from Wash
ington, read to the gathering a |
message from Mr. Wallace. In it,
the former cabinet officer declared:
over Mr.. Humans double talk,
the shrill yowls of the DiXiecrats
and the demagogic prattle of Mr.. |
DeWey's party. you are proving that
the angry voice of the people will
be heard"
Senator Taylor, Mr.. Wallace's
running mate, made an appearance
after waiting some time in the
shrubbery that makes up the wings
of the Sylvan Theater.
Get Burned Fingers"
He told a story about his 2-year-
old Gregory, who burned his fingers
on a toaster and then observed:
"All we are going to get out of this
special session is burned fingers"
Senator Taylor declared that the
new party lis the only hope of the
American people" and then added: |
Its the one best hope of all
mankind"
Albert Kahn, jr., author and head
of the Jewish Peoples Fraternal
Order, hailed the fact that Negroes |
and whites ate side by side in a
Washington restaurant during the
afternoon.
I'VE were establishing precedent
that we will see followed here" he
declared amid cheers.
No Change in Policy.
The manager of the large chain !
restaurant located near Union Sta
ton told reporters the incident did
not represent a change in the |
companys policy concerning service
of Negroes.
About so delegates including a
number of Negroes, descended on
the restaurant about 2 pm, ap-
parently anticipating they would be
denied service. Afterwards, Mr..
Kahn made a speech in the restau-
rant somewhat along the lines OF
his later remarks on the Monument |
Grounds.
Representatives Marcantonio and
,ISacson, American-Labor Party |
members of New York, addressed
the rally, lashing out at the Ad-
ministration and the Republicans, /.
ana IldllllS bllS IlOSiCSclfC 81 ~. /
Earlier, the same group held a
very brief press conference in the
Capitol. Mr.. Marcantonio said he
would seek a record vote on mo-
ton to adjourn the special session
SO that "the people will know who
voted"
In a press statement issued at
the conference, the Progressive
Party members of Congress declared
they would fight to keep Congress
in session until there has been posi-
tive action on the needs of the !
people for civil rights, low-cost
housing, price rollbacks, repeal of
the Taft-Hartley Act and the draft.
Pickets Carry Placards.
Placards carried by more than
1000 of the delegates who picketed
the White House for nearly an
hour bore legends calling for pass
age of such legislation Many signs
plugged for Mr.. Wallace and his
party.
Other speakers at the rally told
of their difficulties in gaining inter-
views with Attorney General Clark
and Gen Omar Bradley, Army Chief
OF Staff. Instead, they spoke with
underlings, they reported.
One delegation managed, how
ever, to see Secretary of Agriculture
Brannan on the subject of breaking
the meat and milk monopolies."
The head of the delegation said
the Secretary threw up his hands