Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-08-17

inns HlIHpit DbJ''NiN' pi'N'S-
ton Of this Negroes Constitutional
nights has been pursued by an
equally simple strategy and with
almost Incredible single minded.
ness. The NAACP has never been
sidstracksd into charitable, social
service or legal.aid society work
Its program never embodied econ
onic reforms. Nor has the AAsocla-
ton ever been seriously msnaced
by Communists.
In fact. over the years. its re-.
fuaai 10 cope with economic issues
has probably brought Il more
criticism than any other thing II
has done. or not done
The Daily Worker has attacked
II repeatedly. branding the policy
betrayal u the lower-class Me-
gro Less doctrinaire critics. both
Negro and white. have regarded
II sadly as n sign Of anernia and
faulty intelligence. Although they
are beginning 10 change their
minds. many students ~ reform
used 10 maintain vigorously that
legal gains for the Negro mean al
most nothing unless accompanied
by n revolution In the Southern
economy,
NAAcP leaders have always
hewed b. this basic conviction
that, In the long fight for equality,
the law itself In their best wsa
pom. And. 10 date. the policy has
proved remarkably successful
NAACP lawyers took their first
case 10 the Supreme Court in 1918.
challenging the conatitntionality
Of neat little vots-rigging de-
4 vice known Rs the Grandfather
Clause No Negro In the South had
a chance Of voting m long M the
Clause could be invoked because
II based eligibility at tho polls on
the voting status OF u citizens
ancestors prior % 1880, In effect
Negroes were told that since their
grandparents didn't have the right
10 vote. neither did they
When tho supreme Court de.
clared the Grandfather Clause un.
constitutional. the NAACP won
the first of ~ notable decisions
Az = result OF such victories. Ne.
groca are now voting In almost an
states except Mississippi, the Jim
Grow car has disappeared from In.
terstate travel. golf couraea and
public recreation facilities have
been dsscgrcgated. 1000 Negroes
ar. studying In Southern colleges
from which. prior To 1900. they
wcr, barred. and at least $50. 900
colored boys and girls are attend,
ing formerly ail.whlte schools
Most significantly. with the Ia
nous school desegrrgation order,
which nuilined the old separate
but. equal" doctrine. the MACE
seems TO have knocked cut the
legal props 10 all forms Of racial
segregation
In Washington, tho association
has shown It's strength often
enough 10 make most Congress
mon respectful Nevertheless
Southern Democrats have always
been able To defeat civii-righta
bills by resorting 10 fihbustcr, and
the associations lobbying actiw.
ties IN behalf ~ sntl-lynching
anti polf-tax and fair employment
practices laws have thus been val.
ucd mostly for their educational
impact
This however. trsa been consider
able The las, lynching reported
was In i9l7, the poll tax has been
repealed In all but five states
and ~ states have now adopted
Job equality laws
with some grounds Tor conf
dcnce, tho organization has now
set t9d1 the Tooth anniversary %
the Emancipation Proclamation -
~ the target date Tor the com,
piete elimination ~ all vrstigcs Of
second-claSs citizenship" Exactly
what this entails Ia clear from
aampling Of resolutions adopted
nj the 1888 annual meeting
We shall continue to push Toe
enactment Of FEINC laws work
with trade unions to secure non.
discrimination clauses IN their
contracts o.. uAs our organized
purchasing power to make more
tobs available
The NAACr viii continue and
intensity It's efforts 60 have public
assistance withdrawn from any
housing development which ~.
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