St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-10-17
Stevenson Continues To
Win Negro Support;
Truman SpeaksIn Harlem
BY Baillie Thomas
Staff Writer

Reports pour in as to the def
mite swing of Negro voters to
Adlai Stevenson, Illinois governor
in the presidential race. A month
ago although IS per cent Of the
Negro press was extremely critic
al of Eisenhower for his failure
to support fully civil rights pro-
gram on a federal level there was
considerable support among Ne
groes because Eisenhower was a
popular name. and some Negroes
hoped he would say something
positive and definite about the
problem of the Negro and other
minorities.
Senator Sparkman Of Alabama's
presence as the Stevenson running
mate also kept the Negroes rather
cool. However as the campaign
got started and Stevenson began
to speak interest warmed up.
Negro voters watched and list
ened to Eisenhower on his south
ern tour and found him almost
evading any mention of one of
the chief issues on the mind of the
southern voter black and white.
Ike" gained no friends among the
Negroes and appeared to gain
some approval of the whites in
the area. In Georgia, the leading
Negro Republican John Wesley
Dobbs, vice chairman of the Re-
publican state central committee
was not named to the Eisenhower
reception committee or allowed to
be among the other notables-all
white, on the platform.
This hurt Eisenhower as much
as his silence on the civil rights
issue but the biggest blow came
when Adlai Stevenson went to
Richmond, Va, capital of the Old
COnfederaCy and told he first
unsegregated audience in that
city's history that he was in favor
Of Democratic platform on civil
rights, that he didn't have one
speech for the north and another
for the south.
This frankness, this courage def
initely began the swing among
Negroes to Stevenson. His already
fine record in Illinois in which
he abolished segregation in the
Illinois National Guard, fought for
a state FEPC which the Republi-
cans killed in the Illinois assembly
after two tries; his prompt action
in the Cicero riot cases; his re-
fusal to approve school funds for
southern Illinois public schools
which barred Negro pupils rele-
eating them to inferior Jim Crow
schools; his intimate associate
with various Negro leaders like
DR.. Ralph Bunche, John Seng-
stacke, Robert Ming, John II,
Johnson, all were factors in his
favor before he ever uttered a
word in Richmond.
Ebony Backs AdlaI
The first national publication to
son was the 100000 circulation
son was the 10000 circulation
magazine EBONY. In a strong
editorial. John ii. johnson gave
unqualified endorsement to the
Illinois governor.
Things begin to happen fast.
Reporters covering the two can
didates noted that Eisenhower
made speech after speech with not
even a passing mention of civil
rights The NAACP national ex-
ecutive board endorsed Steven
sons statement on civil rights as
fortnight and while praising
Eisenhower as a man said it was
disturbed by bis states rights"
stand.
When Stevenson came TO Mime
sofa Oct. in the party to greet
him was Cecil Newman, news
paper publisher longtime indepen-
dent in politics but who this year
became active in the all-party
Volunteers for Stevenson headed
by George B. Leonard, noted hber-
al attorney, longtime friend of the
Negro community. Newman pub
Continued on Page Four
Don't miss Jimmy WltherspOon
and his Orchestra Saturday night,
October Is, Minneapolis Labor