Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-09-22
TRAIGHT
AHEAD"


Pegler and that the feeling is
mutual with Peg, but that they
would never engage in fuses via
their respective columns. The an
swer to that, the report further
says, is that William Randolph
Hearst, the Chief, frowned upon
members of the Hearst family TAX
ing issue with one another.
One wonders whether the lid will
be off now that the Chief is dead.
What brings this to mind, although
it might not be concrete, is a col
umn written last week by column
list Wendell Smith, Hearst writer
who doubles as columnist for
weekly newspaper, or vice versa.
Mr.. Smith mildly jumped on Dan
Parker and Walter Winchell,
Hearst men who have in the works
an exhibition baseball game be-
tween Negro and white stars of
the major leagues for the benefit
of the Damon Runyan Cancer
Fund.
Mr.. Smith objects. He sees the
project as a throwback tc the pre-
Jackie Robinson days in the ma
jors, and believes the past ought
to be allowed to lie buried. He
brands the idea as one of segre-
cation and he doesn't like it.
Mr.. Smith, | believe, is little
too sensitive. He seems to be carv-
ing his position rather thin when
he stresses the point that the game
would be unequal because there
would be only Ia Negroes in the
majors from which to choose, while
the white stars could be drawn
from 380-odd players.
In the first place, | wouldn't
regard the game as an actual test
of skill . no super world series.
At best it would be just a novel
stunt to raise money.
However, taken man for man,
the IA Negroes could put nine men
on the field that would rank favor
ably with any nine whites who
could be called from the remain
ing players of the major leagues.
Furthermore, it would be a break
for the Negro players IN the
minors to be given a chance to be
seen in Yankee Stadium against
top flight opposition. If there are
IA Negroes in the majors, 13 could
be brought up from the minors
to provide 25-player team. The
two extra players would provide
for a manager-coach and a coach.
And, incidentally, it would be a
good opportunity for Jackie Rob
inson to show his managerial skill.
Wouldn't Durocher love that? Roy
Campanella could also serve as
coach.
AS an active newspaper reporter
and editor on two of the nations
most militant weeklies, | have
worked tirelessly against all forms
of discrimination and segregation.
However, I believe Negroes have
got to mature sometime, and quit
being so squeamish. We are win
ming the battle against segrega-
ton and we'll keep on fighting.
But / can't see the proposed game
as a drawback. Are we ashamed
of being Negroes?
The proposal causes me much
more thought than the simple ques-
ton of segregation. We can recall
post-season games between major
leaguers and teams made up of
players from the Negro leagues.
These were attractions which pro-
duced a little extra cash for the
players and the promoters. To say
the least, the Parker Winchell idea
is novel and should pack Yankee
Stadium.
The segregation angle doesn't
worry me so much, but frankly,
| am sorry it has not been pos
sible to "scare up" a game of this
sort or some other major promo
ton for the support of an organi-
cation like the NAACP in its fight
against discrimination and segre-
cation, or for the Urban League
in it's fight for better jobs for
Negroes.
Like Mr.. Smith, am all for
the Cancer Fund, and have APP
plauded the contributions made by
Ray Robinson and others toward
that work. | applauded the con-
tributions Joe Louis made to the
Army and Navy Relief Societies.
At the same time, see many or
CARNATIONS which contributed so
much to Fastening the day of
Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis and
Ray Robinson still struggling with
out adequate funds to carry on the
struggle. The records don't show
where any of the successful indi-
viduals have given much of their
talents to help any of the groups
that helped them reach the top.
Whether one feels the NAACP
or the Urban League is worthwhile
or not, or whether he feels the
YMCA or the United Negro Col
lege Fund ought to be supported
or not, these individuals ARE SER
wing a useful purpose. While it
must be admitted that MANY