Evening star., 1949-02-13
Civil Rights Session
Asks End Of Subversiive
List, Loyalty Probe

day sessions at the Metropolitan
Baptist Church. 1925 r street
NV, after q wrangle over COM
plants that Communists were &C
tive in the discussions and that
the Progressive Party was trying
to line up members at the meet
ing.
Leaders declared the sole aim
of the assembly was to work for
civil rights measures to end seq
regation and discrimination. They
disavowed grinding axes for any
group. political or otherwise"
Former Resolution Adopted.
The conference adopted o reso-
luton, offered by . panel headed
by Clark Foreman. treasurer of
the Progressive Party and form
er chairman of the Southern con-
ference for Human welfare. It
stated that however much any Of
us individually may disagree with
the political philosophy of Com
munism, the defense Of the civil
liberties of Communists is the first
line in the defense Of the liberty
of all Americans"
The resolution added that q
main attack against freedom of
expression today "is being directed
most sharply against the Com
munists.'
Motions to commend the Pres
ident and Secretary Of State for
condemning the Hungarian gov+
ernment's trial Of Cardinal Minds
zenty were tabled as being beyond
the scope Of the conference
agenda. Mr.. Foreman told the
delegates later that "it Is easier
to see the mote In another coun-
try's eye than the beam in our
own" so far as denial of civil
rights to minorities was con-
erned.
Marcantonio Bill Supported.
Resolutions concerning the Dis
trict advocated; Home rule here
along lines of the bill sponsored
by Representative Marcantonio,
American Labor Party of New
York; a constitutional amendment
giving the District representation
in Congress and right to vote for
President and Vice President:
prohibition of segregation and
discrimination In public and pri-
vate schools, theaters. hotels.
restaurants, recreational facilities
and In the admission of doctors,
nurses and patients in hospitals.
and enforcement at the District
civil rights law Of 1872.
On other resolutions the organ
ization said it would abolish re-
strictive property covenants; pro-
vide a low-cost housing program
without racial restrictions; set up
an FEPC in the District govern
ment: take firm action to end
police brutality and police prac-
tices of surveillance which seek to
deprive citizens of constitutional
rights"
Negro Commissioner Asked.
Declaring that President Tru-
man could end much If not all dis
elimination in the District "by o
stroke of the pen," a resolution
as we'll as speakers at panel dis
cussions earlier in the day urged
that the President order an end
to segregation in the District Ma
tional Guard, in Federal-support-
ed public housing and in recrea-
tional facilities operated by Gov
ernment Services, Inc. The con-
ference also asked President Tru-
man to apoint a Negro to the
Board of Commissioners this year.
A resolution complaining Of dis
elimination in Federal employ
ment, particularly in Washington,
contained the demand that Presi-
dent Truman: Call q halt to the
framed-up f1rings of Negroes and
others who will not submit to dis
elimination, by Immediately re-
voking his Loyalty Order, and
withdrawing the listing Of sub
versive organizations and cali upon
the Attorney General to use exist
ing laws against such anti-Amer-
lean groups as the Ku Kux K1an." !"
\ Other resolutions criticized the
Justice Department for its depor-
tation proceedings against
"spokesmen of minority groups;
and urged the President not to
re-appoint ]. Monroe johnson to
the Interstate Commerce Com
mission because Of his sympathy
for segregation"
Filibuster Curb Backed.
The delegates also adopted reso-
lutions for enactment Of national
civil rights bills pending in. Con-
gress. abolition Of alleged discrimi-
nation in the armed forces. Pan
anna Canal Zone, Veterans Hospi-
tails, and on interstate transporta-
ton facilities. and for passage Of
the Myers-Norse anti -filibuster"
bill to obtain cloture by a simple
majority instead Of two-thirds ma
jority vote.
The conference decided to es-
tablishment a permanent Wash
ington Council Against Segrega-
ton consisting of representatives
of every organization in the Dis
trict, regardless Of its views OIL
other issues, which Is opposed to
segregation and discrimination"
w. E. B. Du Bois Of Atlanta. vet
eran Negro leader, urged Negroes
to join the Progressive Party. DR..
j. Finley Wilson, conference chair
man, and others, said later that
Mr.. Du Bois spoke under q misap-
prehension." They explained the
conference was in no way q parti-
san forum and that prominent
Democrats, Republicans and Pro-
gressive Party spokesmen were in
yited to discuss civil rights.
Jet Flies From Doyton
- - kisa