The Omaha guide., 1956-08-31

AIlenuSs
The roll of the NAACP in our
daily lives is becoming one of in
creasing importance.
It is not often that | get into the
South because you have so few Re
publicans here. North Carolina
has not voted Republican since
1923. On that occasion the Demo-
crat party rejected its own candi-
date, Al Smith, because he was
Catholic, not because they liked
the Republican candidate. This
type of thinking is bad in democ-
racy.
Last month | made two speeches
IN Alabama, my first in that State.
In my opening statement, | said,
81 would not have ordinarily come
10 Alabama just to make polite
al speech, because here in the
deep south, it has been impossible
for a Republican to get fair
hearing. Alabama has not voted
Republican since 1872. There is
a more important reason for my
visit tonight. Your state is in the
tbroes of lawless turmoil which
could develop into open conflict,
If the saner minds among you do
not keep emotions suppressed dur
ing these perilous days 1t is to
offer moral su9port to your unpre-
cendented peaceful fight for your
constitutional rights that I have
come here tonight"
You can well be proud Of the
fearless demeanor, orderly con-
duct, and courageous manner in
which our people are withstand
ing the prejudieial pressures which
are being placed upon them in
Alabama during these days of ten
sion.
In discussing the Eisenhower
program and Negroes rights, let
me say that I do not think there Is
any better or more fitting time
than now to recall President Els
enhower's opening words at his
Inauguration on January 20. 1858:
MY friends. before / begin the
expression of those thoughts that
| deem appropriate to this NOM
ent, would you permit me the priv
ilege of uttering a little private
prayer of my own. And | ask that
you bow your heads.
Almighty God, as we stand here
At this moment my future assoei.
ates in the executive branch of the
Government join me in beseech.
ing that Thou will and their fel.
low citizens everywhere.
Give US, we pray, the power to
discern clearly right from wrong.
and allow all our words and actions
TO be governed thereby, and by the
laws Of the land. Especially, we
pray that our concern shall be
for all the people regardless Of
station. race. or calling.
May cooperation be permitted
and be the mutual aim of those
who, under the concepts Of our
Constitution, hold to differing
political faiths; so that all may
work for the good Of our beloved
country and Thy glory. Amen.
As | listened to the President
offer this prayer and the manner
in which he gave IT, I knew that
better days we're on the way for
you and me.
AS Negroes we are a very patti
ent and unselfish people. In fact,
we have been, with minimum of
complaint, allowing people to keep
from us many of the constitutional
rights that are justly ours. We
have, however. continued to inn
press upon our white neighbors
that we have not been satisfied
with our lot. Our most spectacu-
lar gain in recent years on the
civil rights front wes made Oh
May II, 1854 when the Supreme
Court handed down its moment
Gus school desegregation decision.
This was a long hard battle for
which the NAACP must be given
full credit. The battle is not over;
we still have a long way to 60.
Suppose we examine the posi-
tion Of the leading Democrat can
didate. Adlai Stevenson, on this
subject. / believe that his atti-
tude and statements will eventual
ly cost him the Democrat nomina-
ton. In view OF this | would sug-
Rest that you check very closely
the attitude of Senator Stuart Sy-
mington Of Missouri on ali racial
issues. Recently his name has
been cropping up favorably among
many Of the southern congressmen
and Senators. Mr.. Stevenson Is
satisfactory TO them. but has
shown weakness among Negroes