St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-07-27

before the Democratic National
in support of a strong civil rig
The group decided to appoint a
continuing committee and elected
l. Howard Bennett. Minneapolis
attorney and member OF the Min
nesota state Athletic Commission,
chairman.
In a most historic gathering the
first Of It's kind in advance OF
national convention the men and
women attending, all acknowledge
ed leaders in the party in their re-
spective states, devoted their SEES
sions not TO discussion OF Presi-
Dental candidate possibilities, but
10 the task Of drafting a civil
rights plank which would hold
the Negro voters In 10 pivotal
states in line In November for the
Democratic ticket
Speaker after speaker In brief
statements disavowed any attempt
by the group to punish the south
ern element In the party but each
expressed the idea that only
through an unequivoca civil
rights platform could the line be
held against the Republican on
slaught TO obtain Negro voter sup
port for the Eisenhower admins.
tration In the November elections.
There was no defeatism in the
talks heard but there was de-
termination that at least the Me-
gro leadership In the party was
committed TO keeping the party
In the tradition of Roosevelt and
Truman and fighting any attempt
10 water-down the rights plank as
a sop to southern Democrats who
have been trying TO undermine the
u. s. Supreme Court influence.
Senator James Eastland was
considered the next biggest handi-
cap to the party second TO a
moderate" civil rights plank.
The Mississippi u. s. Senator was
not mentioned in the official pro-
ceeding OF the conference but in
dividual members admitted off the
record that his chairmanship OF
the Senate Judiciary Committee
was a tremendous handicap to the
party's ticket In November
Two Of the three Negro u. s.
Congressman, William Dawson OF
Illinois and Charles Diggs Of De-
troit spoke at the session. Despite
his speech against the Powell a
msndment few days before,
Dawson, who was In home terri
tory in Chicago, was well received.
There was, however. an undercur-
rent Of criticism OF his role in
Congress on the civil rights front
which only threatened 10 erupt
once on the floor but which was
quietly quelled by Ralph Met
calfe, Chicago alderman who serv-
ed as permanent chairman Of the
meeting.
DigRs Of Michigan was well re-
ceived with great applause after
his hard-hitting speech. the theme
Of which was that the Democratic
party could not afford compromise
on civil rights
Digs brought a letter from
Congressman Adam Clayton
Powell. who wrote that he
thoroughly endorsed the purposes
Of the meeting and would support
any action the group took. Powell
left for Europe on Saturday on
the same day Of the conference
and could not be present
Playing a prominent role In the
meeting. Minnesotan L. Howard
Bennett. served as chairman Of the
committee appointed TO draft the
groups civil rights proposals.
so favorably did the meeting !
consider BENEFITS work that II |
named him unanimously 70 chair
man the continuing committee
which win watch developments
within the party In the interest Of |
Negro Democrats and the group /
interests
The group declared in a formal |
statement that 10 win the Presi-
dency and the Congressional cleo
tons next November. the Demo
cratic Party must adopt a strong |
civil rights plank and nominate a
liberal candidate who win not
equivocate in his support Of II.
Statement Of Principles
In a statement Of principles,
they declared. Being Democrats
vitality concerned with the future
Of our Party II behooves us TO
press for an effective civil rights
plank on which our party can win.
we shall submit to
the Democratic National conven-
ton Platform Committee the fol-
lowing specific suggestions for
civil rights plank adopted here to-
fay. These suggestions are moral
" correct, nationally necessary
and politically realistic"
Condemn Violence Against