Evening star., 1948-07-06
Hitler's Car a Symbol

IN the greatest Tree country OF the world Snoulo
make it symbolic reminder that in the long
run free men win out; and gangsters, whether
in the form of dictators or hoodlums, cannot
shield themselves forever behind armored plate,
bulletproof glass or iron curtains.
sincerely hope that the car may remind
people that Hitler had the mistaken idea that
just because you can make the individual
groggy with propaganda you cap also knock
him out. We in free democracies know that
the Individual is incorrigible and that at the
count Of nine he always gets up-maybe swing
ing wildly but swinging hard.
Hitler forgot that. Stain should remember
1t. CHRISTOPHER G. JANUS.
Political Aspects of Racial Issue
To the Editor Of The Star:
There is so much angry criticism of President
Truman from Southern States sources because
he seems determined to secure the enactment
of Federal laws to effect the recommendations
made in the report Of one of his commissions
popularity known as the civil rights program
that it seems to me that the four outstanding
points of the report should be considered WITH
some degree Of logic.
Let us first look at the so-called anti
lynching measure as proposed. The South
claims that during long period there has only
been one lynching in Southern States. 1t
claims that large number of colored citizens
have been killed in race riots in Northern
States. 1t is obvious, then, that such a law
would have little application in the South.
The South denounces the anti-poll tax law
yet boasts that many Southern States already
have repealed the poll tax and predicts that
those States that have not repealed this tax
will do so in the near future. Surely. then,
the passage of this law by Congress can do no
violence to Southern sentiment.
The Fair Employment Practices Act proposed
in the report provides that in interstate COM
merce there shall be no discrimination in en-
ployment by reason of race religion or national
origin. This recommendation has heated anger
in the South to the nth degree. The principle
has been placed on the statute books in New
York and New Jersey, and none Of the dire
predictions that 1t would usher in a wave Of
inefficiency, blackman or mass boycott by en-
ployes not affected, has occurred. In each
State, the commission set up to carry out the
laws has functioned smoothly and satisfactorily
for the entire population.
Natural Choice Of Association.
If less were said, pro or con, about segrega-
tion this problem in all probability would solve
itself. 1t is reasonable for people to select
their friends and associates. One notices in
communities where segregation is not enforced
by law that the races prefer to be together.
Whites seat themselves in public conveyances
with whites. Colored choose to sit with colored.
The same applies in restaurants and colored
person is unhappy unless he can find living
quarters in Harlem or some other colored
community. Where there have been conflicts
between whites and colored over the latter
moving into white sections in Northern cities.
they almost always have been due to rapid influx
of colored, developing situation OF scarcity
of housing in the colored parts Of the towns.
1t seems highly improbable that this housing
problem can trouble the South.
The Negro population in the British West
Indies far outnumbers the whites, yet white
people there do not seem to have lost their
dignity or their individuality through lack of
segregation
The true evil of the entire matter is due to
the fact that whether this report on civil
rights was honestly or dishonesty compiled, it
seems undeniably true that it is being used
purely for the purpose OF attracting the votes OF
sizable minorities in the election in November.
Five per cent of the electorate in half
dozen States can put one or the other of the
dominant parties in control of the national
Government. During the past 16 years the
party in power consistently has welded minori
ties together by developing fears, by bribes, by
extravagant promises and by subtle threats,
and thereby has brought them pretty much
under its dominance. This accomplishment, for
the first time in American history, has given
a new meaning to the word minority" Before
1882, minority" signifed the party that lost
an election. 1t was made up of Americans
whites, colored, Catholics, Protestants, Jews,
just Americans Today, minority signifles
Jews or colored, or Catholics If one lives in the
South. Such a situation is not merely un-
democratic, it is intolerable.
The first plank in each of the great parties
platforms should be: We have nothing to
offer any minority. We pledge our solemn
word that every individual living within the
Jurisdiction of the United States Of America
shall receive every blessing, privilege and safe
guard guaranteed to him or to her by the
Constitution of the United States wherever he
or she may be-
With both great parties committed to such
a pledge, civil rights reports" would disappear
and future Americans would no longer be
tormented by fears concocted by dishonest poll
ticians in order to swindle them of their votes
EUGENE c. POMEROY.
Appreciation of the President
To the Editor of The Star:
May throw a bouquet for one who seems
to have been receiving only brickbats'
think President Truman has earned some
applause instead Of the boos he has been
given. This is not political pampering from
me-I am not sure yet whether viii vote for
Mr. Truman or Mr.. Dewey I'm not sure 1t
won't be Mr.. Wallace! I want to learn more
about the platforms and try to pick the truth
out from the untruth that precedes every
major election.
Why can't our elections be characterized by
fairness and clear thinking and desire that
the best man for the job be picked? Surely
we pay our top men little; the power Is
negligible must our leaders win fame by
slandering each other?
But I do feel President Truman's record has
h..- -nr,, rra hle ithaca no ct three and a half