St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-11-24

to wards of society because of
of welfare and relief, as we'll a
institutions are largely the result
Of racial discrimination in employ
ment.
Rowan, prize-winning journalist
and former staff writer of the
Minneapolis Tribune, said he knew
Of nothing more stupid and trea-
sonable" than racial discrimination
in the midst of a cold war"
Cites Soviet Progress
Russia's scientific progress didn't
just happen, Rowan continued. He
said the Soviets used all their
available resources and emphasized
the Importance Of educating their
youth and 'Sputnik I was the out
come of this program.
How wise have we been?" he
asked the 1900 persons gathered
at the annual meeting of the Chi
cago Urban League at Mccormick
Place, new exhibition hall over
looking Lake Michigan.
Rowan said while some of the
anxiety over Russias space ach-
ievements has lessened, the chal-
lenge to United States security
still remains. While we need mil
itary strength, he continued, what
we need even more is a crash pro-
gram for moral strength.
No Panacea For Problems
He said Americans can no longer
say we don't care what the rest of
the world thinks. While we used
to be able to say we can lick any
body in a showdown, there is no
panacea for the problems which
confront us today.
Rowan, who has lectured for the
State Department throughout In
dia, Pakistan and southeastern
Asia, recalled the historic Asian
African conference in Banding
which he covered as a reporter.
He recalled the words of Indian
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
who told that 1855 gathering of
colored races that I'VE want to be
the friends of the Europeans, but
we can be their friends only as
their equals"
Indian Leader SIurred
While on a State Department
mission in India in 1854, Rowan
was informed by the Chief Justice
of that country that in 1887 he
had been denied service in a dining
car in the United States. He told
the League audience that on this
occasion he had to reverse his talk
on freedom Of the US. press to
one about American foreign policy
at the request Of his Indian
hosts.
He said he then realized that
any talk about how free Americas
press is or comment about how
many Negroes in this country have
not been ground under the dirt
would be of no consequence.
Il was convinced that the people
back home will have to insure
equal rights to all men," Rowan
said.
Africans Feel Bias
The speaker recalled "a delicate
situation" in Washington in which
a top-ranl1ing African diplomat
had to go to bat for the United
States government" He said this
situation could have developed into
an international incident had it
not been for the diplomats inter
vention.
One day after this incident was
resolved, the same Africans wife
and daughter were thrown out of
a restaurant on Marylands Route
40, Rowan said. He went on to ex-
plain how such incidents have far
reaching repercussions, all unfav-
orable to the United States.
He cited compelling reasons"
why this country should use the
labor force Of the Negro.
Nation Faces Shortage
The United States, he said, by
making small use of nonwhites, is
in effect fighting the cold war;
with one hand tied behind its back.
He recalled the warning message