The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1949-04-16
Guard

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Continued From Page u
ton in civilian fields, the State
should adopt a consistent policy
and forbid 1t in its military es-
Enlistment BY so doing, the
people of this Commonwealth
would not be going counter to
announced federal policy but
would, on the contrary, be aid
Ing in the realization of a ma
tional program for the gradual
elimination. Of unjust Segrega-
ton in our democratic society"
Replying to reported state
ment by Gen. Edward D. Sirois
that national policy is to blame
for the segregation of colored
men in the Massachusetts, Ma
tional Guard Peabody said:
"This argument was made in
Connecticut during debate on a
similar bill there, but was de-
molished when legislative spon-
sors produced letters from Fed
eral officials denying any Fed
eral objection to the bill.
Every time that Northern
state has acted to end segrega-
ton the Department Of the
Army, in line with It's new pol
icy OF allowing the respective
states to determine their Guard
segregation policy, has hastened
to give It's approval. This has
been true with respect to New
Jersey, Connecticut, New York
and Minnesota, all Of which
have ended segregation. Since
states are now free to maintain
a segregated or an unsegregated
Guard, the Massachusetts Cen
eral Court must now decide
whether Massachusetts, will go
along with its Northern neigh
bors or remain behind with the
Southern states on this matter"
Colored youth in Massachu-
sets is denied equal opportun-
ity to discharge the military OBJ
legations Of patriotic Americans
by the established policy OF
segregation in the National
Guard" Fair Employment Prac-
tees Commissioner Elwood S.
Mckinney. declared at the State
House hearing.
Continuing he said, Enlist
ments of colored youth, regard
less of the city or town in which
they live, are restricted to a.
single. segregated unit in. Bos-s
ton-572nd Field Artillery Bat,
talon. In Springfield, New Bed.
ford, Fall River, Lynn and Wor-
cester when colored young men.
apply to local National Guard.
units, they are referred to Bos-
ton.
The plain fact appears TO be
taat there is not one National
Guard unit without some re-
striction on the basis Of color
in the whole Commonwealth Of
Massachusetts,, a leader Of states
to which the entire nation has
looked for inspiration in broad
ening the field Of civil and hui
man rights. Even the unit in
Boston, the only one apparently
in which colored enlistmentS are
4 allowed, is maintained accord
ing to a senseless, traditional
policy Of segregation which the
United States Army, itself, is
showing evidence of discarding."
The Boston Herald editorialy
declared: Army Secretary Roy
all said that State wishes in the
matter Of segregation policy win
be recognized by the federal
department. And federal au-
thorities have intimated more
than once that they would like
to see the states take THE militia
tive in liberalizing the system.
< federation, of course, cannot
be lsgislated, any more than
morals can. Ideally, reform
should originate spontaneously
4 from within the guard units
themselves. But this is, per-
hapS, too much to expect. Elk
periments during the war dem
onstrated that troops which had
actual experience with nom
segregated units we're vastly
more tolerant than those which
had no such touchstone. Re-
form has 20 start somewhere.
New Jersey, Connecticut. and
New York have al-eady taken
the step Of legislating racial
equality in their militia organi-
cations. We should like to see
Massachusetts, go along on this
reform as i has on the estab-
lShment Of state Fair En-
ployment Practice mission.
Such legislation reflects the most
enlightened Tradition Of the
NOrthfrn statas and s-ni,Ia VII,