The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1950-04-05
Editoriol
YEAR OF 1919 SAW NEGROES
MAKE DEFINITE ADVANCE
MTNT

/ MIN
WASHINGTON - (ANP)-The
year of 1e49 witnessed a number
of encouraging developments in
the protection and extension of
civil rights in the United States,
according to the balance sheets
just released by the American
Jewish Congress and NAACP.
There was not only improved
organization and unity movements
concerned with the fight for
equality, but the courts decided
some favorable victories, and pub
lie officials manifested an increas-
ing awareness of their obligations
to protect and enlarge the civil
rights of all groups in the popula-
ton, the report showed.
The states enacted more civil
rights laws last year than in any
previous year in the nations his
tory. Campaigns for anti-discrimi-
nation legislation were conducted
with varying degrees of success in
more than 20 states.
Four states enacted FEPC laws
during the year, bringing the num-
Der of states with effective legisla-
ton against employment in dis
elimination to eight. New Jersey
and Massachusetts, banned dis
elimination in colleges, univer-
sites, trade, preparatory and other
schools. while New Jersey and
Connecticut improved the legal
procedure for preventing discrimi-
nation in places of public accom-
mediation. Six states prohibited
discrimination and segregation in
the National Guard, while three
mid-Western states forbade segre-
cation in their public schools.
New York City and San francisco
enacted ordinances forbidding dis
elimination in publicly assisted
housing. An anti-lynching law was
passed in Texas and an anti-KKK-
mask law in Alabama At least %
Southern cities also adopted anti
mask ordinances
The civil rights issues were kept
before the public throughout the
year by means of the public press;
the motion picture industry, which
produced four important and seri-
GUS pictures dealing with various
problems facing Negroes in this
country; and through the 20 books
published during the year which
emphasized some aspect of group
relations as their theme.
Some Achievements
AS result of this constant
fight for civil rights for all groups,
a number of communities estab-
lished official and semi-official |
group relations commissions.
A FEPC bill passed the House
of Representatives, although the
more effective McGrath-P Powell bill |
was defeated.
The passage of the Federal
Housing Act in 1949 which car
ried the promise of improved hous-
ing for minority groups, became
law. Although the act was passed
without any provisions barring
racial discrimination or segrega-
ton, the Federal Housing Admin
later announced it's re-
fusal to insure payment of mort
cages on new housing after Feb.
Is, 1850, if the property was af-
fected by racial or religious re-
strictive covenants.
Inc armed services substantially
their treatment of Ne
groes. While the army failed to
ultimate elimination
of segregation, Negroes and whites
were completely integrated in
many branches of the navy and
air forces.
In the 1949 elections over the
country Negro candidates were
elected judges, magistrates, statel
representatives, city councilmen,
and won other nositions.
Two Negroes were elected JUS
tees of the peace in Petersburg,