St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1951-10-26
Dickerson Heads
Lawyers Guild
Attacks Bios

Earl 3. Dickerson of Chicago last
week was elected the first Negro
president of the predominantely
white National Lawyers Guild at
the 18th Annual Convention Of the
organization here.
Some 300 delegates attended the
three-day session of the Guild held
in the Congress hotel In addition
to electing officers for the coming
year, the convention passed re-
solutions on minority rights.
Judge Hubert T. Delaney of
New York was chairman Of ses-
sions devoted to panels and re-
solutions on underlying causes OF
the crisis in civil liberties in the
United States.
The convention unanimously
passed resolutions condemning
discrimination against Negroes in
the legal profession, condemning
the existing differences between
rights as guaranteed by the con-
stitution and as they actually are,
and condemning the July riot in
Cicero, Ill.
The MIG urged the u. S. attor-
ney general to drop the prosecu-
ton of an indictment against DR..
WEB. Dubois and his associates.
This indictment charged that DR..
Dubois as head of the Peace In
formation Center acted as a fore
ign agent.
A former city alderman, Dick
ersOn. the newly elected president,
also Is president Of the Chicago
chapter OF the Guild. president Of
the Chicago Urban League, and
former member Of the Fair En-
plOyment Practices commission,
appointed by the late President
Franklin ID. Roosevelt during
World War ii.
Speaking at a luncheon meet
ing of delegates to the convention.
Atty. Dickerson assailed those or
CARNATIONS of the bar which have
Joined the drive to support the
McCarran Act. He also accused
the bar of failing to defend the
Bill of Rights.
The resolution on discrimina-
ton against Negroes in the legal
profession disclosed the following
interesting statistics:
o In 100 law schools approved
by the American Bar Association
In 1880. there are 43,6S5 student of
whom 1000 or less than 5 per cent
are ColOTed
. "Of the 1905 teachers In the
l05 law schools holding member
ship In the Association of Ameri.
can Law Schools, only two were
Negroes, In addition 20 10 Negroes
teaching at two Negro law
schools.
. "Of 2OO,176 lawyers In the u.
~, less than 1000 or less than I
per cent are Negroes.
. "Of the 1000 attorneys en-
ployed Mt attorney by the Federal
government only 25 OF less than
one half Of I per cent are colOred.
. OF the 4.Si5 active and In
active members Of the Federal
Judiciary only 20, or less than l
per cent are Negroes"
The Guild also passed a resolu-
ton calling upon lawyers to offer
their services to any person ac-
Cused of crime involving political
beliefs, opinions, or associations.
and to come to the defense of
lawyers who are harassed be-
cause they undertake the defense
OF minority causes"
Other speakers at the conven-
ton included Fowler Harper and
Thomas l. Emerson. professors Of
Law at Yale university.
Delegates and guests at the con-
vention attended a cocktail party
and banquet following the panel
discussions. Stringfellow Barr,
president of the Foundation for
World Government was the princi-
pal speaker at the banquet.
Gregory Pascal, Negro youth
of Chicago, sang three folk songs
at the banquet. He was accom-
panied by Miss Elma Androzza.
who played the piano.
Many lawyers broke with the
ABA IL years ago over its posi-
ton on minorities and the New
Deal administration of the late