St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1951-09-14
Dr.. Bunche Urges
Negroes To Fight
For RIGHTS Now


Buffalo -- amp -- DR.. Ralph
J. Bunche. this years winner OF
the Lovejoy Medal, a memorial to
Elijah Lovejoy, a white news
paperman, who was lynched in his
night for the franchise of the Ne
gro. in his address urged Negroes
10 fight for full equality under
American democracy.
Addressing a breakfast costing
81 so per plate attended by more
than 1000 Elks In Hotel Lafay-
cite. DR.. Bunche stated:
THE walls Of segregation are
topping everywhere throughout
this nation. We look TO the day
when every citizen in this country
can stand on an equal footing
with another"
The secretary Of the United
Nations Division of Trusteeship,
declared that segregation" is
very great liability OF inestimable
cost TO our nation. We. as a nation
stand for freedom and individual
liberty and we must carry out
these principles at home in order
successfully to face the challenges
from without"
The breakfast was in honor Of
J. Finley Wilson of Washington,
ID. C.. Grand Exalted Ruler OF
Elks. Judge HobsOn r. Reynolds
OF Philadelphia served as toast
master. DR.. Bunche called Wilson
a miracle man" for his great or
ganizational ability. He continued
in his speech:
There are in our society some
people who apparently do not un-
derstand or believe in the tradi-
tional American way of life. They
resent the changes that have
come to make for racial better
ment -. Some people in this
country don't realize that the
emancipation begun by Abraham
Lincoln is now coming to its com
pletion"
He said that all people must get
behind the United Nations be-
cause there will be eventually no
freedom for anybody unless we
have world order based on law
against aggression. The Negro
people can help promote peace by
helping TO develop unity in the
United States and giving our ma
ton their maximum support"
Bunche Given Lovejoy Medal
At the Tuesday afternoon ses-
sion, held at the Technical High
School Auditorium, DR.. Bunche
received the Lovejoy Medal for
outstanding contributions to
human progress" The medal,
first awarded in 19i9, is given an
nually by the Elks. Wilson an
nounced that the award will be
gives next year TO Branch Hickey
for his efforts in "emancipating
black athletes.
In his acceptance speech,
Bunche pointed out:
THE United States is looked TO
by the world for leadership. To
provide that leadership. we must
put our own democratic house in
order. The United States must
show that American democracy,
the greatest design for living ever
devised, can be color-blind. II
must show that there is no con-
nection whatsoever between an
Americans worth as a citizen and
the color of his skin"
To the capacity audience. which
included Mayor Joseph Mruk of
Buffalo, and Thomas J. Curran,
secretary OF state of the state of
New York representing Gov.
Thomas f. Dewey. who is out OF
the country, DR.. Bunche stated
what he felt Negroes wanted now,
and not in the future. He said:
DO not believe that time Will
cure the nations anti-Negro pre-
JUDGES l do not believe that time
will solve the problem and ! do
not believe that there is time to
allow gradualism TO solve II.
Il want to enjoy the great gifts
and rights of my country while I
am here. | am an American citi-
zen now. willing 10 discharge my
duties as a citizen, and l want to
enjoy my rights now"