Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-10-17

wife and two children who rented
"A house at 292s Jersey Ave. In
IT. Louis Park from Mrs, Elaine
EmbrrtHOn.
When II was learned that Mr..
Lewis and hts family wcru Ameri-
cans Of Negro descent, unnamed
pcrRnns began campaign TO get
Mrs Embrctsnn TO oviCt tho
Lewis family The tremendous
pressure caused Mrs, Embrctaon
To request her attorney 60 in
atitutc eviction proceedings.
On the day Mrs, Lewis and tho
two children were to arrive In
Minneapolis, officials OF the Min.
noapoIis-lIoncywell Company APP
pralod To tho Minneapolis
SPOKESMAN 10 help Mr., Lewis
find other living quarters for tho
howildcrcd newcomers, The
papers officials referred the case
10 the Minneapolis Urban League.
shelton Granger, executive $40.
rotary 0f the league conferred
with Mr.. lewis and u Minneapolis
Honeywell official After several
conferences In which Mrs. lewis
participated u was decided that
the family would remain In tho
home.
Reporters for the daily papers
and the radio stations learned Of
tho situation and Mrs, EmbrutBon
told them that protests against
tho Negro family's tenancy came
from persons "a mile away" from
tho two room bungalow occupied
by the family, She also said there
had been talk Of retaliation
against her father -in-laws buai-
meas.
The story In the Minneapolis
TRIBUNE and q news report by
KSTP broke Thursday morning,
Oct. o. There was immediate ~
action In ~. Louis Park. favor
able TO the Irwis family, scores
~ white residents In the district
visited the LswtA family urging
them 20 remain In the house. Mrs
Embretson. tho landlord. reca1Vod
letters and telephone calls urging
her 10 allow the family 20 re-
main for the six months originally
agreed upon.
Pastors Take stand
seven IT. Louis Park pastors,
including the Rrverends Roger
schmuck of ~. Georges. whsrc
ministers mot Bennett Brudevold.
AIdcragats Methodlat; Einar Mar
tlnson. Union Congregational:
Norman Nelson, WcHtwood LAIth-
eran. Lloyd NordHtrom, Park
Baptist: Paul Obennauf, Wood
dale Lutheran. welcomed the Fam
lily % the community and pointed
out the possible violation OF rs-
IIgiouS principles by eviction Of
the family.
Mayor Follows Suit
After considerable pressure
from aroused citizens, Mayor q.
o.. IIuFd Of ~. Louis Park took .
position similar 20 that talaa BY
tho ministers.
Counter Petition
A IT Louis Park business man.
Melvin Cooper began q move 20
circulate n petition In favor OF the
Lewis family. OrWlIe Freeman,
Minneapolis attorney and DBL
candidate for governor called on
OOV. Elmer Anderson 20 order the
Governors InteTTRriRl CommI-
sion 10 investigate the situation
and protect the constitutional
rights Of all involved.
States Fer Position
The great interest In the case
and the overwhelming sentiment
for the Negro family finally
caused Mrs. Embretson 10 state
that the reason why she rented
her home 20 the family was be-
cause she wanted them 10 have II.
and for no other reason. She an
nUunced that she had decided 70
confer with Mr.. Lswis and repre-
sentativea ~ the league with q
view 20 agreeing 20 have the
family remain.
Sunday, oct. II, at p m. q
conference was held Rt Mrs. En-
brrtaon's apartment In which she.
her husband. Mr.. Lewis. Shelton
Granger, Urban League secretary
and Sally Luther. member Of the
Urban League board participated.
Mrs Embretson announced that
she had decided 10 cancel eviction
proceedings and that the lewis
family would be allowed TO rent
the home for the six months orig
inaily agreed upon.
(Editors' note: Wayne Pavey
Martin 81 Martins Press Anolta
MINI. Mayor Of 81. Louis Parh
In 1872 said Lewis family In moi
the first Negro family TO live ir
81. Louis Park a. reported In tn
daily press. Former Mayor MartiI
said that the Staples family wer'
residents OF the suburb for many