Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-04-14
WhsasIsy Bourd Mode Missuks

Phyllis Wheatey House and other Settlements pre-
f0rcefu testimony the existence Of demo-
cracy America In other American institution will
find the basic concepts OF American life so fully operative
~rsS NJ %nfr .e%o% Of ShOiO. and expression Phyi
Wheatley 26th Anniversary Brochure
The above statement appeared part Of the statement
Of purpose the handsome brochure issued at the 25h ami
year Last Friday the board Of directors Of the settlement
house. refusing allow Mrs EslAndA Robson speak
public meeting ut the institution arayed far from the principles
enunciated In the brochure.
To this newspaper position taken by the board major.
y ndeensbs When the board denied Mrs Robson Of
the house used the tactics by which the Reds Of Russia
keep silent voices which do not approve OF Soviet policy
Still indeensbe the pressure exerted Wheat
ley House by the Council Social Agencies
The Council presumed the Wheay board because m spokea
claimed had received Is telephone calls protesting the
meeting All but Of the 25 calls admitted TO nave been
anonymous The question which naturally arises Ii since when
and what has the Council Of Social Agencies taken
cognEanee Of anonymous telephone cai Secondly when has
before exercised pressure board TO cancel eg
mate engagement the basis Of anonymous proestsi
seems TO this newspaper that the Council Of Social Agen-
ees did great harm TO the Community Fund movement by its
covert action In the Robson case
1t Ii important to sound thinking the episode 10 review
the issues involved In the
The Civil Rights Congress- which composed Of Negroes
and whites has been meeting at Wheaey House for some
months The organization cited months by the u s.
~ one OF the groups which serves M Com
muni party front 1t listed being the subverve
organizations SO far the u g. has taken action
10 the list Of front organizations Apparently to
date such cannot legally be banned from operating
the US.
The Minneapolis chapter has small membership Of Com.
munstS and COmmunists II has participated several
civil rights In brought relief per-
OF Negro ancestry whose basic rights had been denied
Most ntsraca organizations not excepting the most
conservative received with open in privately
owned meeting halls usually simply because they
racial There S people who look with suspicion
Minnesota on any group which has single nOnwhits
person its membership II groups cannot avail them.
90
ton may be asked. where must they 70 TO meeti
Apparently II alright for the Civil Rights group to
meet In Phyllis Whe%oy until scheduled distinguished
cultured, internationally known Negro woman who has
dared TO challenge u which attempt to justify the
American race caste system.
opposed to Mira Robeson appearance have used the
word Communist loosely SO far have been able to
ascertain the u s. has accused Mrs Robson
peaed Monday what she has said publicly time and time again.
that she Is not has been member Of the Com.
munAt party.
OF course fact that the American people,
black and white feel the RObesOnS Communist sym
pathre American Negroes generally do with either
Of the RObesons when they the nfAby Of Russia
friend Of the oppressed and undsrpryegd Of the free.
dom Of s press the excellence OF Its oneparty system
However when Paul Robson his wife up against
Americas faess and denounce the oppression
and prescription which millions Of Americans Negro
ancestry still live todayAmerican Negroes support their
servaons in overwhelming numbers In m action the wheacy
board chose TO ignore the temper and desires Of the Negro
community for which the house primarily established
In doing they violated both their obligations to the
people the house and also the sacred principles Of free
-
much Of what Is good in America,
Even II concede that Wheatley established
primarily furnish Town Ha facilities for the expression
Of free speech its obligation Is clear Is in the slightest
degree concerned with better citizenship land believe ISL
and Il be interested in nstlng and encouraging the
obligations and privileges Of citizenship.
Phyllis Wheatley not established primarily to feed
and cohe the needy yet has repeatedly done both when
emergency has arisen.
Critics Of free speech for those whose politics attitudes
differ from their often the trite anaogy fee
dom Of speech does not give the right to yell fire in
crowded theate Such thinking illogical when used in de-
Tense Of banning Of Mrs Robesons appearance The real truth
IL that where the principle Of free speech being assaulted
often find those opposed attacking idea personality
much in the fashion that Of yelling fire. in
crowded heae This the tenor Of most of the board
jorys attack Mrs. Robson.
Some who opposed Mrs RObesOn appearance at whsatey
profesed to alarmed because of her reputation They
unwilling have the public which would have heard her be the
Judge They took the strange position that her prominence the
controversial Of Of her ideas her personality
egaed right free speech and the right free assembly
This board ignored the fact that all Of the political parties
have PREVIOUSLY used the facilities of the house ignored the
fact the Negro community is attuned to the denial Of lib
critics based that IL will be hard convince Mrs
RobeSons did not play part in the refusal Of the