St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-08-01
Secretary Mcnamara Strikes
Blow For Decency

For a long time one Of the most shameful
irritating and embarrassing evidences of indecent
American practices has been the wholesale
race discrimination prachced in some areas of the
country by business establishments in communities
contiguous to armed force installations Last week
dsgTaceful situation.
The million or so Negroes serving in the Navy,
Army and Air Forces have found often that their
leave time in the towns close by their bases was
ruined and frustrating because there many
cafes bars theatres and other places Of amusement
which would not serve or admit them because Of
their race, despite the fact that they wore their
country's uniform. What incalcuable harm this did
to their morale is hard to estimate
Such conditions have not been confined to areas
surrounding southern military installations, alone
but exist right here in the North. 1t only few
months ago that airmen attached to the base near
Grand Forks, ND. had real problems when they
sought a coke in bar in Grand Forks and the dis
elimination and refusal Of public Accommodations to
Negro airmen stationed near Rapid City, SD, be-
came a national scandal, when reported in the NY
Times We are told that Negro servicemen have had
some similar problems right here in our state of
Minnesota at Duluth
Last week Secretary of Defense Robert Nc
Namara struck at the practice of communities and
business establishments which live off the eSpendi-
lures of military excluding Negro military person
mel from enjoyment of equal accommodations.
He made it clear that base and installation COM
manders authorized to place off limits"
munies and individual establishments which prac-
tice discrimination and refuse to military
personnel who happen to be non-white
There has been immediate howl from southern
us. Senators, notably of the type of Strom Thur
mond Dem, SCI about McNamaras action but
the order will be approved by citizens who the
unjustness Of practices which should have been
challenged long ago.
The offending firms have got by with such
biased practices 50 long that there will be some
opposition. However, the base and installation
commanders are those who the injustice of hav-
ing portion Of their personnel Inundated every
time they go to town. do their duty and threaten to
place town or individual establishments "off
limits" the opposition is apt to die from economic
nalnutrftion.
The Negro armed forces personel now have the
way opened for the end Of the discrimination prac-
ticed against them. There will be some commanding
officers at this late date who will do nothing
about this vicious situation until forced to do So be-
cause some of them believe in segregation.
1t will therefore be up to the Negro personnel
who have suffered these indignites all these years
to report all such instances in the future through
himself. If he cannot be reached there are US. Sem
ators and Congressman who will receive complaints
and forward them to Mr. Mcnamara.
Secretary Mcnamara has made the first step In
long overdue right direction and its UP TO the
military TO do it's duty-bacl1ed up If necessary by
the civil rights organizations