St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-02-15
Of the filibuster.

Of the filibuster.
We have no doubt about the
votes to pass civil rights bills, if
we can overcome the filibuster. In
1850, there were two votes in the
Senate which showed the power of
the supporters of civil rights.
Both of these votes were made in
an attempt to get the "a votes
now required to stop a filibuster.
On May 10, we got So votes and
our opponents got 80. On July IL,
we got 55 votes and our opponents
got 80. The Southern Senators
understand arithmetic. They know
that, while we would lose some
votes because certain Senators do
not agree with specific features of
proposed civil rights laws, we do
have enough to win by a comfort
able majority. Hence, they fight
desperately to protect the one
weapon that they have. That is
endless talk
Put In its simplest terms, II you
are really determined TO do some
thing about the Cicero riot and
the Moore bombing, you will have
a chance to prove your good faith
when the Senate fires the opening
gun In the civil rights fight. That
viii be the time for your to let
both Of your Senators know that
you want them to be as tough and
consistent in their fight for civil
rights as the southern Senators
are In opposing such bills.
The need for civil rights legis-
lation is all too apparent in Allan
Ia, Georgia. where the Lockheed
Aircraft Company boldly an
nounced that is would continue
the pattern of segregation in the
employment of colored people,
even though the company had a
government contract.
The need for strong Federal
legislation against lynching and
other forms of mob violence is
seen all too clearly in the fright
full record of the State of Alabama
where 81 colored people wers
killed in cold blood by members of
the Police Force in a two year
period beginning in 194S.
Here let me say that the Anti
LynChing Bill introduced by your
Senator Ferguson, S. 1877, is not
an adequate bill.
Last Sunday, the NAACP held a
southwide meeting of branches in
Jacksonville. Florida. This is the
same state of Florida where CO.
wards have been blasting the win
dows of synagogues and Catholic
churches with dynamite II is the
same Florida where a sheriff
murdered a handCuffcd prisoner in
the Grovrland case. Nevertheless,
the colorcd leaders Of the south.
coming from states where many
Of them are living on borrowed
time, pledged in Florida that they
would keep up the fight for JUS
tiCc.
In the south, where a Tapping
sheet in the night wind may be
the robe of a member of the Ku
KluX Khan, the Colored people are
more determined than ever to
have civil rights Down in Dixie,
where the Confederate flag is
not a novelty because 1t has al
ways been dearer to rebel leaders
than the Stars and Stripes. the
Colored citizens have made new
covenant with freedom.
As we make a solemn declara-
ton in this Northern State to step
up the fight for civil rights legis-
lation, let us remember this
simple yet heartbreaking story.
Master Sergeant George Sims
came home from Korea to join his
family during a holiday, Like
thousands of other Americans, he
had been in far off Asia fighting
on an outpost Of Democracy.
On Christmas night, he carried
the broken and bleeding bodies of
his sister and his brother-in-law
to a hospital The brother-in-law
died on the way TO the hospital
and the sister died later.
They were the victims OF a
bomb set off by some apostles Of
racial hate in Florida. This is not
story prepared by some clever
propaganda expert In the Kremlin.
II Is a fact. 1t Is what happened
when Harry T. Moore's home was
bombed In Florida on Christmas
night. 1881.
There are no answers that our
statesmen can give to the world
when this story is told in the
councils OF the nations. America
must admit that this happened.
But we can repair the damage to
some extent II we make certain
that il becomes the kind OF Of
Tense that Is punishable under
Federal Law. We can repair the
damage also II the American
people demand that every single
vestige OF racial segregation be
wiped out from our country. This
is the Job Of the Congress, the
President, and the Michigan state
nffi,gola To d aIaa x,N,, koA -