Evening star., 1949-11-12

Says Civil Rights
Laws Are Needed
To Curb Injustice
The National Conference of
Christians and Jews today moved
forward with plans for Brother
hood Week, to advance the cause
Of tolerance, with a new express
sion of support from President
Truman for the civil-rights pro-
gram.
As the conference mapped its
course yesterday, at the windup
|of series Of meetings, MIR. Tru-
man, addressing several hundred
lay and religious ieaSers at q May
flower luncheon, sounded the new
challenge when he declared that
civil rights laws are needed to
overcome discrimination and in
justice in the United States"
In view Of the fundamental
faith Of this country and the
clear language Of the Constitu-
ton. I do not see how we can do
otherwise than adopt such legis-
lation," Mr.. Truman asserted to|
an appreciative audience.
New Demand Expected.
The declaration was taken as a
clear indication of his intention
to 60 into the final session Of the
8lst Congress with a new demand
for action on the proposal which
split the Democratic Party a year
ago. and caused the bolt of four
Southern States to the States
Rights ticket.
In the Senate, where action
was blocked last winter, plans al
ready are being made by the
Democratic leadership to provide
for a Federal Fair Employment
Practices Commission. Anti-lynch-
ing legislation and a poll tax ban
are other items in the presidential
program.
In shaping the program for
Brotherhood Week in February,
the Conference, after the lunch
con, adopted a proposal to enlist
all veterans groups in the move
ment.
Gene Tunney, former heavy
weight boxing champion. as chair
man Of the Brotherhood Week
Community Organizations Com
mittee. launched the new Coop
Grafton plan before representa-
tives Of l3 veterans groups and
women auxiliaries. He received
prompt and earnest pledges of
support.
Must "Unlearn" Prejudices.
The program, as it now stands,
calls for the preparation Of sup
port statements by the national
departments of veterans groups
These statements then would be
circulated among member posts.
At this level, individual members
would spread by written and
spoken word the NCCJ cause of
wiping out racial, religious and
political discrimination and pur-
pose. * -
Introduced to the gathering as
veteran Of two world wars and
member Of three veterans organi-
cations, Mr.. Tunney declared:
I'VE are born without prejudices.
We have got to unlearn the preju-
dices we have acquired" |
The best way to accomplish this,
he added, is to attack the prob
lem through veterans groups at
their grass roots" level.
Earlier, John L. Sullivan, for
mer Navy Secretary and now gen.
eral chairman Of the 1850 NCCJ
campaign, pointed out that no
other type Of organization so COM
pletely covers the country as the
veterans groups.
None has so persuasive and
authoritative a voice." he added.
Caravan to Start.
John j. Dickman, head of the
Maryland Office of NCCJ. de-
scribed a Caravan for Democ-
racy." which would operate sim
ilarly to the Freedom Train on
a Nation wide basis. Mr.. Dick
man said such a caravan" is
about to 60 into operation in |
Maryland. It will consist Of a.
larger trailer truck, containing
copies Of documents historically
important to the State. |
Represented at the post-lunch-
con meeting yesterday were the
American Legion and its wom-
ems auxiliary. American Veterans
Committee, Veterans Of Foreign
Wars and auxiliary. Jewish War
Veterans and auxiliary, Amvets,
Military Order Of the Purple
Heart, Disabled American Vet
erans, National Veterans Depart
ment Of the Anti-Defamation
League Of B'nai Birth, Marine
Corps League and American War
Dads.