St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-06-06
Paul Robson Again

The Twin Cities tins written mas ahOher nope-
controversy raging The University OF Minnesota AFTER
granting permission campus group, the Young Progress
sve League to Memorial Union for Robson
cert, cancelled its agreement
The University administration took the position that it did
not feel that University facilities should be used for pro-
Russian propaganda purposes under guse of by
Robson careful point out that the appearance of
campus speaker in discussion on political issues
where there chance for free debate pro ana con was an
entirely different maerhan political meeting under the
cloak of concert
This newspaper dsagrees only in part with the University
When the school granted permission the Communist
group sponsor Robson and then cancelled such permission
broke cOntracand contract breaking by an educational
institution teaches ethics not pleasing sight On the
hand the which the sought to
gain U" facilities clearly not above board
either One cancelled the other The University point
that Robson apt concert he gives into Red
pepfest is well taken-for it has happened before.
Some of our sympathy lies with the University admin
ration because it is between 1.-The devil and the
deep blue sea- in these matters the political battle lines
between the extreme efts and their presently
respectable counterparts, the extreme rights.
This newspaper however does believe in denying pub
lie audtorums members of any group which allowed to
exist under the constitution 1t did not favor denying public
buildings like Gerald L. X. Smith and would have
readily defended the right of Negotiating Theodore Bbo to
speak in tax supported building We do not believe III
unspeakabe and cowardy methods used by Sen Joseph
Mccarthy grant that he has under American democracy
right be heard by the people who want to hear him. We
have taught America there enough for
differences of opinion American to allow each
to have the right of free speech and the right of assembly
Closing all halls to Robson any other citizen attempt
to halt free speech and assembly.
Our problem in this regard from the viewpoint of
those who believe in essential freedoms has become
complex and confusing because the Communist party in Amer
ca has been acting the agent of foreign power On the one
hand has scoed plotted against form of
and the other hand has hated to seek protection
under constitutional guarantees Even while it seeks the
protection of the liberal constitution in the world works
to poison national security and being Liberals everywhere
who recognize the Communists for what they however
concerned that in hurried desire to protect the country
against the subversves do abandon those principles
which have made this nation in respects the free nation
the face of the globe
Paul Robson Misguided believe him to be- must
not expect loyal if they his blood bro
theirs cooperate with him in sabotagng the United States
for Russia.
Robson gains considerable American Negro sympathy
when he attacks prejudice segregation discrimination and
inequality in the south To his credit he has always been out
spoken foe of this part national life but have and
today other Negro leaders, He is not unique in this
The striking difference is that the overwhelming majority
of Negro leaders the American Negroes have
faith in the American Creed and willing battle for full
equality with the tools furnished them by Bill of Rights
and Constitution. They do look abroad any other
theology for the solution of their
blemS here in this country
We sti think however that banning Robson from singing
talking for that matter solution The truths that Robe
tells as he does about Americas treatment of its mnoies
will remain truths as long as the conditions exist.
American Negroes have been taken in by the Com
munss They know the misery of toarm better than other
American nationals The Red song that Robson
about the glory Of the Soviet and the Kremn falls largely
deaf them You Negroes America especially
in the south have lived Reconstruction under conditions
oppressive and totataran those who live behind the
Iron Curtain The police state nothing to the southern
Negro Although police brutality and violation of the laws of
unlawful entry search and seizure of Negro citizens declining
there still in this nation where police employ tactics
similar these used in Russia to keep its nonCOmmunSt cit
liens in subsection and fear.
The American Negro doesn listen Robesons tales about
Russia because he has legislatures in his native land
rig up designed keep him in his place keep him
from enjoying the right of the ballot which comparable to
Russia where the citizen who votes must vote only party
The southern Negro has lived under Onepary system for 10
years and he think Russian brand better than
the American which he does have chance to change
Aside from being practical and intensely loyal the
Negroes of American ancestry Paul Robson, not with
standing not for changing the American brand Of
white supremacy facm for the Stain Hitler brand In