Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-04-04

ing hard by means OF Cancellation
and private pressure TO improve
conditions. Otherwise, 10 talk of
education" and voluntary meth
DDS" is simply a protective cover
for a do-nothing policy.
Taft has never done anything in
his home city or state to improve
race relations. He Is a powerful
figure In Cincinnati. He Is aSso-
ciated with the leading law firm.
He and his associates sit on the
boards of the leading banks and
business firms. His roster OF big
name clients is impressive. Taft
has never used an ounce of this in
fluence in even a quiet way TO i'm
prove conditions for the Negro.
Taft aided In the organization
Of the cIty's railroad terminal No
Negroes are employed there eX-
cept as redcaps. For many years
when In private practice one Of
Taft's biggest clients was the
Terminal Warehouse Co. No Ne
grOes are employed there.
Two Of his strongest hackers
are the Proctor family which
owns Proctor and Gamble Soap
Co. and the Geier family, which
owns the Cincinnati Milling Ma
chine Co. Both OF these firms are
non union. Proctor 4 Gamble en-
ploys no Negroes. The Milling Ma
chine Co. hires Negroes only in
the foundry and as janitors and
cleaning women. The Geiers re-
fused permission TO the local
branch Of the NAAcP 20 solicit
membership among its colored
employees.
Negroes are excluded from the
Ieading hotrls and restaurants IN
Cincinnati which suffers from Its
proximity 20 Kentucky and the
% called Southern Exposure. /"
Negroes live In partially segre-
gated housing projects. Taft has
ncver spoken out against these
abuses, publicly or privately.
Theodore Berry. one Of the two
Negro members of the Cincinnati
City Council. told The Post:
Sen. Taft has never done any
thing TO help the Negroes Of Gin
cinnati break down segregation or
social and economic discrimina-
ton. The only Negro votes TAFT
will get here II he runs for Presi
dent are the diehard followers Of
his own party"
Berry. IS years ago, was a
| promising young figure in the Re
publican Party. He rose to be-
come assistant county prosecutor.
He was purged by the machine
when ne refused 10 campaign for
repeal Of proportional represen-
tation. Berry pointed out TO the
Republican bosses that only un'
der PR had Negroes obtained rep
resentation on the council. Taft
has always fought against PR al.
though he u aware Of the adverse
effect repeal would have on Ne.
gro representation.
Taft's blank record on civil
rights In his own home community
casts a revealing light on his a.
vowed enthusiasm for education
and Cancellation.
Apparently his patience a. far
as the difficulties Of others u In.
exhaustibIe. For example, on Feb
Q. 1916, he told the Senate: II
they 1.-THE NegroesD run up against
a stone wall In some fields, II IL
better for them 10 go around II
than by main force TO beat down
human prejudices which have ex.
isted from the beginning Of time
and are likely 10 continue 10 ex'
ist."
In 1914. Taft served a. chair.
man Of the platform committee at
the Republican National Convsn-
ton. The committee adopted q
plank promising = permanent
FEPC." In September, Taft voted
20 report out Of committee In ths
Senate q bin calling for the com.
pulsory FEPC advocated by liber.
/ ais.
Two months EatsV, however
after he had ben safety re-eSsctsd
In the N0venb@F slsctIOn, Taft an.
nounoed that by 'peTTnanent- h.
had not INFANT IN FEPC with en-.
forc-mrat power. He explained
away his S~ptsmbrT vote In ths
senate committee by explaining
that 10 Wa only . tactical man
euVsF 20 get b-foFr the senate q
blII ~Which BobSdy eHpeetsd "a
pAss.-
During the 1858 hHbuster On