Evening star., 1952-10-11
Truman Warns
0fGravePeri|
ToCivi| Rights
President, Speaking
In Harlem, AssoiIs
Forces of Reaction
By Joseph A. Fox
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

oy Joseph A. fox
Stor Stoff Cerrespondent
NEW YORK, Oct. 1l.-Presi-
dent Truman said today that the
civil rights movement has made a
''lot of progress" in this country
in the last five years, but he
warned that these advances are
Gin grave danger"
In an address prepared for de-
livery at mass meeting in Har-
lem. New York's populous Negro
community, the President said:
I'VE are menaced by the forces
of reaction, which would have our
Government turn its back on the
common man. These forces Of
reaction are organized in the Re-
publican Party. They would have
our Government cease to be what
it has for 20 years-under the
Democrats-the protector of the
weak against the mighty. And
these policies, as sure as we are
standing here. would lead us back
to the dark days of the depres-
sion-and depression is always al
breeder of hate among human
beings"
The President spoke at Dor
rence-Brook Square after he re-
ceived, for the second time, the
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award
for promoting the cause of human
relations. The award is present.
ed by Negro ministers organiza-
ton, the InterdenominationalI
Ministers Meeting, which also
gave it to the President four years
ago.
Speaks Again Tonight.
The Harlem speech was the
first of two the President is max
ing here in the Democratic drive
for New York'S As electoral votes.
Tonight he will address a Colum-
bus Day dinner at the Waldorf
Astoria, and Immediately after
ward he will return to Washing
ton. winding up his swing to the
coast for the Stevenson -Sparkman
ticket.
The President used his civil
rights appeal to attack the ef-
forts of the G. o. P. to WOO the
Southern vote. drawing particular
attention to Gen. Eisenhower
campaigning in the South. Il
What do you think the Repub-
lican candidate and DixiecratI
Governor talk aobut when they
sit down together for lunch?" he
asked. do you think they talk
about civil rights? Maybe they
talk about taking them away.
you can draw your own con-
clusion when the Dixiecrat Gov
ernor announces, after the lunch.
that he's going to vote Repub-
lican."
This was an obvious reference
to recent meeting of Gen.
Eisenhower and Gov. James F.
Byrnes of South Carolina when
the general spoke in Columbia,
S. c.
Pictures G. o. p. as Chief Foe.
The Southern wing of the DEM
ocratic Party has been largely
responsible for blocking President
Truman's civil rights program, but
he pictured the Republican Party
as being in the forefront of the
fight on the plan, which includes
provision for a fair employment
practices commission to guard
against racial and religious dis
elimination in job-placements.
The Democrats came up with al
compromise on that particular is
sue in this years platform.
Recalling that but two points oil
his 10-point program had been
enacted into law, the President
continued:
who are the opponents of civil
rights? All you have to do is look
at the record. I sent good FEPCI
bill to Congress, but the Republi-
cans introduced the Mcconnell
Amendments toothleSs substi-
tute for FEPC. And the Republi-
cans in the House voted 2 to II
for that amendment-beating the
Democratic majority that wanted
FEPC. The Republicans also in
troduced and got passed in the
Senate the Wherry rule making it'll
next to impossible to stop filibus-
terS.
1T is no accident that these
anti-civil rights measures bear the
names of Republican legislators.
Republicans introduced them and
Republicans approved them. The
Republicans deserve this recogni-
ton, for they are always on tap!
to provide just enough votes to
insure the defeat of civil rights
measures"
Calls Eisenhower Front Man."
The President characterized
Gen. Eisenhower as the front
man" for those in the Republican
Party he blamed for tagging on
the civil rights front. and also as
sailed the general for telling the
Senate Armed Services Commit
tee that "a certain amount Of seq
regation is necessary in the Army" >"
when he uoc in ,1nifOYv1o