Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-05-14
The Other Side of the Story

Elsewhere this page reprint editorial from the
April 10 Pittsburgh COURIER which forth the for
the Republican administration far the question Of treat
ment Of Much Of what the editorial points
out Is correct However the editorial ignores certain factors
which pertinent honest appraisal OF the merit Of
the two political parties the question Of American Negro
rights.
What the COURIER ignored Is the patent fact that the
Eisenhower administration any other Republican national
administration 20 this date has received the bulk OF s support
from the northern and border Politically the cor has
had any obligation to the South II s therefore, In
better position 20 implement democracy far the American
Negro than the Democratic party which has had to
depend to extent the additionally Solid South
President Eisenhower whether he realizes not by his
high type appointments Ia repairing the damage done TO the
Republican years Of Indifference and nonapprecAon
Of Negro support by the party leadership The COP had the
blind and devoted support Of NegroAmeeans from the early
70 until the late 20 and lost u definitely when the Negro
voters turned 10 Roosevelt In 1882
This indifference and 1--WE have the Negro vote In
pocket" attitude by the Republicans the why
paper like the COURIER deserted the COP in 1882
granted for the sake Of argument that the Roosevelt
and Truman administrations short choice political
puma for their Negro Adherent both Of tho Democratic ad
minAaons by their civil rights advocacy dared 20 identify
the basic rights Of the Negro with the democratic ideal In
daring 10 take this position members Of the Roosevelt cabinet
and President Truman himself had TO defy important
part Of party Hupportthat Of sod South consaA MIR
Eisenhower does have Ouspoken Negro antciv
rights bloc In his party
When Eisenhower takes the high road and insists on
discrimination In Navy installations civilian
poyeeu he faces retaliation from his party and he Is
under no great political obligations TO the South,
The Northern Democrats and still the chief archi
tsc Of the Democratic party civil rights proposals They set
tho discrimination sago which Mr. Eisenhower very
wisely has moved the specifically In those where
tho executive has the power to make changes
The doP has made much towards the ending of
Jim Crow conditions In Washington, C., the nations capital
OF has made mention Of the fact that the ground
work change laid during the aminra
ton In the of the Supreme Court decision uphodR law
against discrimination by public places In the eaptAt
Truman attorney general who first had the department of
justice solicitor appear friend Of the court support Of the
law Our Hubert Humphrey Immediately upon
entering the Senate wrote and talked 10 ID C. hotels about the
Inconsistency Of the racial bars hotels and other public
oOmmodations in the capital Of democratic nation
In the school segregation before the Supreme
the Eisenhower administration through Attorney General Her
bert BrOwnelS office. took definite position public
school segregation In support Of precedent which had been
set by the Truman administration.
In Congress and especially in the Senate Northern Demo
still the chief advocates Of sound civil rights whereas
the Northern Republicans Of the odd Guard variety
used the prejudice Of the southern Democratic
block legislation the liberal faction of the Democratic party
supported This coalition Of conservative Northern Republicans
and conservative DNiccrat minded Democrats still This
coalition Is responsible for the defeat Of every effort pass
civil rights legislation In CongrcSthe passage Of which has
far Importance to the rank and file of American Negroes
than appointment high office by either political party
Admitting the handicap which Democratic administration
has had with its party In giving the Negro square deal
there many things which both the Roosevelt
administrations could have done this regard which they did
not do II the Eisenhower administration continues clean up
discriminatory practices Federal where the chief
ecutve has the power do and continues appoint
office American Negroes Of integrity and standing persons
who primarily political hacks IL will 90 long way
toward rebuilding Negro confidence in the Republican party
especially those Negroes who independent
q group which larger than many imagine