Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-10-01
American Civil Liberties Union
18th Annual Report Point To
Steady Advance Made In Campaign
To Win Equality Under Law
For All Americans
Report Published Under
Title ''In The Shadow OF Fear"
Anti-Poll Tax, Anti-Lynching, FEPC
Pointed To AS Unfinished Task

NEW YORK, N. Y.-(SNS)-
The steady advance made in the
campaign to win equality under
law for all Americans represented
a major civil liberties victory last
year, the American Civil Liberties
Union declared in its goth annual
report published Saturday under
the title, "In the Shadow of Fear"
For the first time in years, the
report states, the issue of civil
rights for racial minorities as
sumed political significance 1t
says that the Democratic victory
last November was educ in con-
siderable part" to the Presidents
fortnight championship of his
civil rights program, embodied in
the Democratic platform and de-
Tended in the campaign against
the Southern Dixiecrats. Hope
that action would follow in Con-
gress unhappily have been dimmed
by the inability Of the Democratic
majority to maintain the party
program against a combination of
Southern and Republican opposi-
tion." The greatest hurdle to
overcome for major controversial
measures-anti poll tax, anti
lynching and FEPC was only
slightly lowered in the Senate by
q change in rules to overcome
filibusters.
FEPC Enacted In Seven States
Tracing the success achieved in
state legislatures to eliminate dis
elimination, the report cites seven
states: Indiana, Massachusetts,
New Mexico, Oregon. Rhode Is
land, Washington and Wisconsin
in which winning CAMPAIGNS for
enactment of FEPC laws ware
made. Unsuccessful attempts were
made in California. Colorado, Illi-
nois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ne
braska. North Dakota, Ohio and
Pennsylvania. the report adds. It
singles out New York for its pass
age of the first law guaranteeing
fair educational opportunities.
With the exception of religious
sponsored schools. all colleges and
schools are prohibited from dis
eliminating in application on
grounds of race, religion, or ma
tionality.
Major gains were made in cases
Involving action by southern states
to surb NEGRO voting and Jury
rights and in the continuino drive
against segregation, the ACLU re-
port adds. 1t noted that the
Georgia Supreme Court, following
the lead of the u. S. Supreme
Court, ruled that counties with
substantial Negro populations
must include Negroes on jury lists.
Alabama's constitutional amend
ment aimed at keeping Negro
voters from voting nv asking them
to "explain" as we'll as read the
Constitution was thrown out by
a federal court, and the decision
upheld by the U. S. Supreme
Court.
ApDeal limited In. Texas
The Union promised to appeal
a decision of the Texas Supreme
Court ruling unconstitutional the
establishment of separate law
schools for NEGROES if the case.
brought by NAACP, is reviewed
bv the u. S. HIGH court. Contin-
uing in the path blazed by New
Jersey two wears ago. segregation
in the national guard was abol-
ished in Pennsylvania. New York.
Massachusetts, and Wisconsin the
report adds. Segregation in fed
eral branches of the armed forces
has been reduced through a presi-
Dental order. The Air Force and
the NAVY have reformed many OF
its practices, the report states, al
though the Army has not yet CON-
CONTINUED on Page Five)