The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1953-02-14
BY ELLIOTT J. PIEZE
Chimes Staff Writer)

Democracy in the United
States Is the most talked of sub
jet IN the world"
abraham Lincoln's defamation
Of a democracy, as stated in his
famous Gettysburg Address -
government of the people. by the
people and for the people - is
tse best definition of democracy
that ] know Of"
The above are two of the many
challenging statements made by
former Congressman Arthur w.
Mitchell Of Illinois, Sunday af-
ternoon at st. Johns Baptist
church. The principal speaker at
The fifth program of the King of
Clubs current winter forum series,
the former Congressman used
Democracy in The United
States" as his subject for the day.
Fearlessly scoring point after
point in developing his topic in
plain everyday language, the
speaker said ''the White man
never intended for the Negro to
share in the benefits of democ-
Eaey. When the Declaration of In
dependence was written, the Ne
gro was not taken into consid-
Grafton. They didn't mean that
he (the Negro was created equal.
Calling a spade a spade and
letting the chips fall where they
may, the former Congressman
dashed out at conditions in all
sections of the country by clearly
emphasizing that there is no
where in the United States to-
day where a Negro gets the COM
paete recognition, treatment and
respect that other races get. You
can go to New York, Illinois, Mas
sachusettS, and all other states,
and you'll find some kind of Bit
ter racial discrimination"
Expressing the determination
many race lcoLtrs have, he add
ed but we are going to keep
6ghting and working hard until
we are respected. The respon-
slbdlity of Negro leaders is great
IN this fight"
THE real fighters for democ-
racy are facing danger. Anyone
who fights for democracy is call
ed Communist. If that is true,
then call me Communist No. j."
the speaker continued.
The former Illinois Represent
alive observed further, "the
White man is disturbed against
White supremacy"
Mr.. Mitchell read from the
Congressional Record, an excerpt
from his speech made in Con-
gress on December 8, 1941-the
day after the japanese sneak at
tack on Pearl Harbor, and the
day the United States declared
war on Japan. In the speech, he
reminded the Congress that the
Negro, who will answer the call
to defend this country, expects
his full rights and privileges I'M
der the laws of the land, the
same as any other American,
when the fighting is over.
Touching briefly upon the re-
cent national election, the speak
er said-"Stevenson was defeat
ed chiefly because he was sup
ported by Truman, who went all
the way toward liberalism for the
Negro and other minority groups.
Many White people did not like
Tx11man's stand on civil rights"
The former Congressman told
his audience that he was CRITICIZE
ed severely by most Negro news
papers for his stand supporting
Npe appointment of Justice Hugo
Black to the United States Su-
preme Court. He added, but
when Justice Black began to make
fair play and liberalism known,
these same papers were forced to
take back their criticisms"
Further explaining the reason
for his stand on Justice Black, ne
observed - II do not believe
that all White people in the south
are bad, nor do / believe all
White people in the north are
good" I'VE must recognize those
White people who are our friends,
unite with those friends, and
make the fight to make democracy
live"
He explained that he retired
from Congress and came south In
order to perform greater SER
- - vaaL;0C democracy live