Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-09-26
Stevenson Faces The Issue Down South


10 the hyserca sentiment prevalent In the South
land TO get elected President dpeed September 20
when the Democratic candidate boldly plainly told Rich
mond Virginia audience that he backed the payS plank on
civil rights including the Dxehaed federal FEPC Legislation
stcvenaons courage and honesty this issue, demon
srated his integrity and sincerity and IN direct contrast
70 the position taken by his Republican opponent Dwight
Eisenhower The COP standard bearer cHmpagned throughout
and only once, and only obquey referred to
the civil rights issue in section Of the nation where that issue
Ia No l in the minds of the people
Mr. Eisenhowers chief contribution this issue his
said in effect that democracy should
encompass all Americans whether they black white
which in the atmosphere and in which 1t was
pokenwas nothing than pious patitudo-cspecialy
when addressed southerne-many OF whom are willing
that democracy encompass white Americans only
In definite and unmistakable contrast right in the
South right home ground Of Sen Byrd of the most
deapcabe kind Of Dxcra Stevenson faced squarey with
out equvocaou evasion the issue which had caused
southern Democrats including three to switch to
support Of Eenhower Since most OF these people think
Of their racial superiority nobbcry than they do OF their party
or their countrythey still political threat to the faint
hearted candidate who might be constrained to put political
expediency above principles.
The great courage which Stevenson exhibited last Satu
day night Is further heightened when is understood that to
this date the Republican candidates views of the question Of
civil rights nearly approxmacs the outmodcd attitudes
relations Of the South of the DSecrats II does not
matter such emotional dehars that the continued existence
Of second class citizenship mockey OF the cOuntrys Bill of
RRhtA-thAt the situation hssduousy used against us
international for world leadership They place
sectional above American interests Mr. Stevenson
fuses TO do this,
Mr. Stevenson set n high mark for statesmen who have
the courage discuss civil rights problems when he said
"Bu do not attempt to justify the unjustfabe whether
Il il Of antNegoism In place antScmitism in another
of for that NATTER ansouthcrnism in many places And
neither can justify sefrightconsness anywhere"
Candidate reiterated the obvious but seldom
spoken truth when he told his Virginia listeners and nfNren
TALLY the entire nation
Let none Of us DO Snug this score nowhere In
the nation that Of harmonious Amty
between racial and religious groups to which aspire
In condemnng both parties for using the question
political weapon Mr. Stevenson high ethical ground
but he ignoring the historic and practical fact that the Ne
gro has been tremendously important factor and
American politics shortly War of
gro will continue be until he is granted the basic
equality which the u = Constitution him lie
factor before he granted his freedom,
II might be well, TO here point out that the American Ne
gro himself comfortable happy about his position
in his land of being used political weapon
instrument by the political parties Tho circumstance of
his making Both major parties have used the problem
ed to the hilt.
The cor used Iincolns Emancipation Proclamation as o
political tool keep the freed Negro slaves in political cnsavc
mcnt TO that party for period of sixty ycarwhen 1t
downright trRorous in the minds of the freedmen for
Of them anything but the straight Republican ticket
Some Democrats think the Roosevelt Truman programs
the past 20 should for that party perpetual Ng
lance of the Negro American voter Too of this crowd
completely obvious Of the fact that the increasingly active
and erac Negro be held alone by the magic of
FDR the rugged doggcd courage of Tumana President
who has tried TO do something about racial and religious in,
equality.
OF the candidates. Stevenson alone that each
generation Of American Negroes will have be sold the
present promise well the past record This the sound
tradition OF intelligent American voters thinking and action
The things for which Adlai spoke the other
ngh-harmony between various racial and religious
groups-and the things which he criticised 1.-The political abuse
of the problem Of discrimination in employment the expota.
ton Of the racial aspirations the hand and racial
judice the otherall for votes will be swiftly swept
from nation when like Stevenson who calls
such appeals dangerous thing and revolving spectacle in
our political life"
The Illinois governor also touched the key 10 the
ttudes existent today the South when he described how
much the prevailing have been nurured through the
years by the economic situation in 1.-THE land OF cotton He
placed the blame where II belonged the shoulders Of the
interests which made off the racial tensions
In the south and contributed to the low structure and
the misery of poor whites and poorer Negroes fighting each
other for the few crumbs in jobs available
II our people Of the South admire courage and truth and