St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-06-15

Robbie, attorney and George Mar
tens, popular alderman.
Robbie. who had previously Sc
cured the endorsement or recon-
mendation Of all but two of the
DFL ward clubs won the banoting
for the district approval.
There were three friendly con-
tests for district office. Gerald
Dillon, district chairman did not
seek election. He was succeeded
by Edward Glennon. Joyce Scott
was elected chairwoman.
Ann Vetter was endorsed for
state chairwomAn.
Benefits keynote speech was
well received. He praised the re-
cord of the Freeman DF'L admin
istration.
Its record in public welfare,
agriculture, labor, education, con-
servation, development of induss
trial and natural resources and
human relations. was cited.
Bennett predicted victory for
the DFL party in Minnesota in
this years elections. 1T will win,
Bennett said, because the party
has the win to win and the in
telligence and courage to pursue
a campaign based on principle.
The speaker also predicted that
the DFL candidate chosen in the
primaries will defeat Republican
Congressman Walter Judd, who
now represents the district.
Bennett minced no words about
what he considered the Demo-
Gratis should do nationally on the
civil rights question. He called for
a Presidential nominee who would
not adopt a middle of the road"
course and a platform which
spelled on Democratic support of
specific civil rights program ma
tionally.
Text Of the speakers remarks
on the national election is as fol-
lows.
The national election of 1856
will be one of the most hectic and
holly contested in the past forty
years. Foreign policy. the farm
problem, the rights of the work
ingman and organized labor are
among the issues which will be
in the political arena. II is, how
ever, in the field of human and
civil rights that will be most criti-
cal to the fortunes of the major
parties. The issues in this area
cannot be sidestepped or avoided.
They present both challenges and
opportunities.
''The Republicans have already
indicated that they are going to
make a concerted drive to capture
a larger percentage of the Negro
vote and the independent vote.
They propose to assert that more
progress has been made in the
field Of human and civil rights I'M
der the Eisenhower administration
than the 20 years Of Roosevelt and
Truman.
They will say, and claim and
attempt to take credit for integra-
ton in the armed services, deseg-
regation of the nations capital
and even the decisions OF the Su-
preme Court that have held segre-
cation enforced by state statute
to be unconstitutional.
In addition, their benediction
viii be that Senator James East
land Of Mississippi, the most ra-
bid OF the segregationists and the
Chairman of the all-important
Judiciary Committee of the Senate
is a Democrat.
Face The Facts
Let us face the facts Of politi-
cal life. As of the moment the
Democratic Party nationally in
regards 70 civil rights Is In hole
and sinking deeper every day that
il DELAYS in coming forward with a
fortnight. unequivocal program
of legislative action and admins
trative leadership.
Admits Marked Advances
TT is true that since 1852, dur
in the period Of the Eisenhower
administration. there have been
marked advances in the field Of
civil rights. For those advances
not only the minorities, but the en-
tire nation also, Is grateful, but
neither Republicans nor Demo
Gratis are singularly responsible
for them. These advances did not
Just happen and come about al
once.
we must not forget that use
of the high office Of the President
OF the United States in coming TO
grips with the rights of minority
groups was effectively utilized by |
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who we
will recall. was a Democrat, as
early as 1888. And never was
civil rights raised TO the high |
position Of national concern as II |
was under Harry s. Truman As q
matter Of record. II was during /
the Truman administration that
for the first time in the nations |
history. a President appointed a
committee Of distinguished citi-
Zens TO study this problem: II was
Truman who created and appoint
ed in 1916 the Presidents Com
mittee on Civil Rights.
Tt was under Humans admin
istration that indignation in the
armed services was commenced /
II was Humans Executive Order
that abolished segregated units in
the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Must Meet 1885 Challenge
But let US not be deluded into
believing that we can win the |
1856 elections by running on the
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