St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-08-17

IN pubic facihueB.
This simple objective protec'
ton OF the Negroes constitutional
rights has been pursued by an
equally simple strategy and with
almost incredible siHgle-minded'
ness. The NAACP has never been
sidetracked into charitable, social
service or legal-aid society work.
It's program never embodied econ
omic reforms. Nor has the associa-
ton ever been seriously menaced
by Communists.
In fact. over the years. It's re-
fusal 10 cope with economic issues
has probably brought II more
criticism than any other thing II
has done, or not done.
The Daily Worker has attacked
II repeatedly, branding the policy
a betrayal OF the lowcr-class Ne
gro. Less doctrinaire critics, both
Negro and white, have regarded
Il sadly ms a sign Of anemia and
faulty intelligence. Although they
are beginning 10 change their
minds, many students OF reform
used 10 maintain vigorously that
legal gains for the Negro mean al
most nothing unless accompanied
by a revolution in the Southern
economy.
NAACP leaders have always
hewed 10 the basic conviction
that. in the long fight for equality,
the law itself Is their best wea-
pom. And, TO date. the policy has
proved remarkably successful.
NAACP lawyers took their first
case TO the Supreme Court in 1915,
challenging the constitutionality
OF a neat little vote-rigging de-
vice known AZ the Grandfather
Clause. No Negro in the South had
chance OF voting as long as the
Clause could be invoked because
Il based eligibility at the polls on
the voting status OF a citizens
ancestors prior to 1866. In effect
Negroes were told that since their
grandparents didn't have the right |
TO vote, neither did they.
When the Supreme Court de-
clared the Grandfather Clause UNI
constitutional, the NAACP won
the first OF az notable decisions
As a result Of such victories. Me-
groes are now voting in almost all
states except Mississippi; the Jim
Grow car has disappeared from in
terstate travel; golf courses and
public recreation facilities have
been desegregated; 1000 Negroes
are studying In Southern colleges
from which, prior TO 1860, they
were barred. and at least $50. 900
colored boys and girls are attend
ing formerly aii-white schools.
Most significantly. with the ia
nous school desegregation order.
which nullified the old separate
but equal" doctrine, the NAACP
seems to have knocked out the
legal props TO all forms OF racial
segregation.
In Washington. the association
has shown lis strength often
enough TO make most Congress
men respectful. Nevertheless.
Southern Democrats have always
been able 10 defeat civil-rights
bills by resorting TO filibuster. and
the associations lobbying actiw-
ties in behalf OF anti-lynching,
Onti-poll-tax and fair employment
practices laws have thus been val
ued mostly for their educational
impact.
This however has been consider
able, The last lynching reported
was in i947: the poll tax has been
repealed In all but five states.
and 10 states have now adopted
job equality laws,
With some grounds for conf
dence, the organization has now
set 1853 tho Tooth anniversary OF
tho Emancipation Proclamation
as the target date for "the COM
plcte elimination OF all vcstiges OF
second-class citizenship" Exactly
what this entails Is clear from a
sampllng OF resolutions adopted
at the 1888 annual meeting
I'VE shall continue TO push for
enactment OF FEPC laws work
with trade unions TO secure non
discrimination clauses in their
contracts use our organized
purchasing power to make more
Jobs available.
The NAACP will continue and
intensity It's efforts 10 have public
assistance withdrawn from any
housing development which re
stricts occupancy upon the basis