Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1948-09-10

10 itio uauiitieaS CIidlleIlRe To tne
face of personal danger.
-Four objectives were self-evi-
dent to one who kept in touch
through the busy forenoon. First,
Mr.. Wallace kept his crusade a
gainst segregation in the limelight
by the simple expedient of refus-
ing to accept it. as has been noted
before, Second, he went before the
Secretary of State and took steps
to have his electors placed on the
ballot Third, he made a radio ap-
pearance in which he outlined his
convictions in answer to questions
by Mr.. Ashmore. Fourth, he gave
personal welcome, greeting, and
encouragement to leaders and fol-
lowers who came out to greet
him.
1t was the writer's first glimpse
OF Henry A. Wallace in person,
and the Progressive Party ca ldi-
date reminded him of nothing so
much as a crusading reporter. As
he stood on the Capitol steps ap-
/ parently absorbed in the events
before him and seemingly without
/ CONSCIOUSNESS of self, he reminded
one of nothing and no one so
much as that young reporter. Will
ham Lloyd Garrison, who a few
generations ago challenged the in
stitution of slavery as Wallace to-
day challenges the institution of
segregation.
Progress is evident-Garrlson
was mobbed and dragged through
the streets of Boston with a rope
around his neck; Wallace in North
Carolina was merely assaulted
with eggs and tomatoes. But that
this scion of millions should ex-
pose himself to these vicious as
saults, TO threats of extinction, to
verbal abuse everywhere, and TO
exclusion from the company Of
those with similar wealth and So
cial standing to his, is unthinkable
except on the assumption that hi
is absolutely sincere.
The visit to the Secretary O
State resulted In the Secretar,
stating that he would take tn.
placing of the electors on the bal
lot under advisement.
Several members OF the grour
which greeted Wallace on the
State Capitol steps made their
way over to the CIO-FTA hall,
North Little Rock, where they
heard reports of the Wallace adj
ventures throughout this section
and listened to the presentation
of Mr.. Wallace over the radio. A.
mong the most significant state
ments made to the assembled
| group was that by a speaker who
said, Il am proud of the fact that
a twenty -eight-year-old white
man was the first person to die
for this cause, His wife and his
sister are carrying on for him.
The group in the hall listened
intenuy as Wallace smoothly SUI
stained himself at every point in
the interview with Mr. Ashmore
Master of debate and of his sub
lect, he kept what he considered
fundamental throughout the dis
cussion All listened intently as
Mr. Wallace in response to query,
outlined in the most matter Of
fact manner the necessity for a.
pollSHllls segregation.
Since there are so many color
ed people in the world. 1t is i'm
portant for our nations safety"
said Mr. Wallace, that we have
no segregation. The candidate
mentioned the admission Of Miss
lrby to the University of Arkansas
Medical School, and took the posi-
ton that the South could best do
its duty by both its white and its
colored citizens by removing the
obstacles presented by segregation
against the free flow of Federal
money to this section to remove
the handicaps imposed by its lin
tied resources.
During the reports Of those ac-
quainted with the progressive
movement and the session of lis
tening to the radio, a cavalcade
of police gathered in the street
and patrolled the block. After the
radio debate had been concluded
a police siren announced the ap-
proach Of Mr. Wallace's car, and
almost Immediately afterward, the
crusader entered the hall and NOV
ed to the front, the audience re-
naming seated in order that no
| cnIIat, v,l,,n ,.1tal.t L.