The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1949-07-23

NEW YORK, N. Y.-The fol
lowing speech was delivered b.
]. Finley Wilson, Grand Exaltet
Ruler of the IBPOE Of W.. a
the Bill Of Rights Conference
held in Hotel Henry Hudson, s.
w. 57th St, New York City, las
week. 300 delegates applaudec
the Grand Old Man OF the Elks.'
Delegates, sponsors and friends
Of freedoml This "Bill of Right:
Conference which has brought
us together, colored and white
from SO states, would be utterly
unnecessary If hydra headed
treason" were not again raising
Its head in unenlightened sections
Of our common country.
This conference would be un-
necessary if it were not true that
too many of our self-styled
statesmen" are tools of or in
fullest sympathy with constitu-
tionsl notification sentiment,
which preceded the Civil War,
was revived during the Recon-
struction period and has been
growing steadily since then on
what it has fed upon in Congress,
in recalcitrant state legislatures
and in the resulting confusion Of
the American people.
These self-styled statesmen.
wrapping themselves in the flag,
are now busily engaged in tell-
ing our fellow citizens and the
world, what constitutes Ameri-
can democracy. Anybody who
disagrees is straightway labelled
"Red," and therefore disloyal.
In order to confuse and harrass
the colored people Of America
into believing that they have no
rights which the white man is
bound to respect, they have
taken to labelling any of our
leaders who disagree with the
mark Of Red" too.
They have gotten few Of our
misguided people to join with
them in denouncing Paul Robe
son, great American and :
fighter for human rights, whose
name will be remembered Ion,
after some of the puny men WIKI
zap at his heels have been for,
gotten.
Down in Foley Square, New
York, they are conducting a trda
OF II men, charging them viii
advocating the overthrow Of gu.
American form of government
Two Of these men are colored
One Of them, Benjamin ]. Davis
Jr., l have known for many years
His late father and I were long
time friends in the Republican
Party. Neither Ben's father no
! ever agreed with his politica
philosophy though we respecte,
his fighting spirit, but thousand
OF coiored and white people il
Harlem saw fit to elect him /,
the New York City Council fo.
two terms because they recog
nized in him a fighter for hums,
rights. I would not be so stunt,
as to ignore this fact. AS a Iowa
colored American whose party /
the Republican Party, I stand b,
the Constitution in defendin
Ben's right to his political view,
The second of these colore,
men on trial in Foley Square !
now in jail. His name is Henr,
Winston. He is World War /
veteran from Mississippi. He wa
jailed because he spoke out O
turn in court and told the Judg
that lynchers go free in Til
country while. men are jailed ID
expressing belief In Commun
ism. I would be less thal
American if | did not defend tn
truth Of this veterans statement
however much might desaue
with the propriety of his speak
ing out Of turn in Court.
! take note of all this becaus
there are those in our countr
who believe in white supre
macy who are trying to prov
that colored people in the Unite
States are aiding in a plot t
overthrow the American form d
government. What these hypo
critics are really trying to do
to scare us into giving up tn
fight for our rights.
The clarion call OF this confer
ence clearly states that freedom
Of speech, press, assembly an