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

Negro, intcrrAcial, and civ
Gems representing labor unions
protested vigorously for four days
the barring Of Mrs. Robeson from
speaking at the community house,
Board action came after John
Louis, public relations director Of
the Council Of Social Agencies and
other officials received telephone
call protests against Mrs. Robe.
sons being allowed TO speak at
tho house, which II supported by
tho Community Fund.
The most vocal protests are said
10 have come from Mrs. Joseph
Eldred, 2l4 Humboldt Ave. ~. an
active member OF the Gienwood
Civic League.
John Louis conferred with NOM
beers Of the Negro community on
tho matter after he had informed
Charles y. Fist, president Of the
board. OF opposition 10 Mrs. Robe.
sons appearance, Louis told this
newspaper that the council had
received 10 phone calls, all Of
which werr anonymous except
two.
The house auditorium was rcnt.
I'd 10 the group, m II has been
for q number Of months, There In
no set rule at the house which
bars any organisation because Of
political beliefs. Henry Thomas,
head resident. explained, All poll.
teal parties have used the house
auditorium from time 10 time on
rental basis. Mr.. Thomas said,
Because of the admitted pres
sure Of the Council Of Social Agen.
cies. the board was called 10 q
special meeting Friday. April 7.
After two hour Seaslon tho
directors voted eight 10 six To bar
Mrs. Robsson from the use Of the
house auditorium,
Negro leaders In the community
serving on the board supported
by Fred HRdley, manager Of the
Sumner Field Homes. fought 10
allow Mrs. RObeB0n 10 speak on
tho grounds that the civil Rights
Congress had previously used the
accommodations: that closing u
% Mrs. RobcHon would be- q denial
Of free speech and that such clos
ing would be misunderstood by
the community WheAtloy House
serves.
Might Cause vioIcncc
Opponents argued that permits
sion for Mrs. Hobeson % speak at
the house might cause violence
from unnamed sources. that Mrs.
RoboaOn was q Communist; that
such n meeting would give the
house a bad name and that the
Council Of Social Agencies might
withdraw financial support from
the agency,
Roll Can Vote Held
After q thorough discussion.
the board had q roll call vote 10
decide the Issue. On this vote,
eight members voted against al
lowing the meeting 10 be- held at
the house.
They were: Mrs, John MRthys,
Mrs J. X. N0rtland. Mrs John
Bridge, Mrs. V. =. MOoers, Mrs.
AVIS Chase, Mrs. J. Frank Fraser,
Mrs, Paul Curry and Mrs. Earle
Kyle.
Voting 10 allow Mrs. Robson
20 speak were: Clifford Rueksr.
Fred HadIsy. Mrs. Mae Marshall,
Mrs. Helen Whitsaide. Raymond
w. Cannon and Cecil Newman.
Not voting was Wendell C. Jones.
Nh. Speaks 81 CLIO. Hall
and University
Cancellation Of the house date
made II necessary for the Civil
Rights Congress 70 seek another
place 10 hold the meeting. After
considerable negotiation q small
hall at Clio. Hall was secured.
The meeting was held Tuesday
night and q crowd Of 800 Negroes
and whites heard Mrs. Robson.
Earlier In the day she spoke At
COffmAn Memorial at the Univer-
sity Of Minnesota.
storm Of Protests Begin
whsn the daily press reported
the action 81 the WbeatIey board,
q storm Of protests arose from
Negro and intsrracial orEaniEa-
tons
NAACP KaVs Action
The Minneapolis N. 4. A. c. p.
through its president William
Cratic, strongly protested the ae-
ton Of the board OF directors In q
letter 10 board president chAs. d.
FIST.
The NAACP said:
while the NAACP 10 not In