St. Paul recorder., 1963-12-05
IndiViduoIS Should
Assume Responsibility
Publisher johnson Says
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in Chicago in person to the mag
azine publisher.
.' Assistant Attorney General
James N. Bradford made an ap-
peal for memberships for the
Urban League. Rev. Roger Grus-
sing, associate pastor of Central
Presbyterian church gave the in
vocation. Mrs. Lillian Balenger,
president of the st. Paul Urban
League Guild told of the work of
the guild and invited memberships.
She presented Mr.. Jones with an
autographed copy of the Gordon
Parks novel THE Learning Tree"
Monsignor Francis Giligan
former president of the league pro-
nounced the benediction.
Mr.. Johnson told the meeting
that too many people rely wholly
on organizations and groups to
advance the civil rights cause in
the US, in his address on Com
mfttee of One"
organizations" he stated "are
composed of people and we will
not make any real progress in this
area (civil rights) until each one
of us becomes a Committee Of One
"a committee working day and
night 30 improve civil rights and
human relations in America"
Cites Lack Of Individual
Commitment
"One of the great problems in
all areas of American life, the
speaker stated ''is the lack of in
dividual commitment. Too many
people want to do things in groups
and committees. Too many people
are reluctant to take personal re-
sponsibilfty for unpopular decis-
ions.
Not What We Say
Mr.. johnson added: Often
times, in human relations, it's not
what we say as individuals but
what we don't say. Oftentimes, it's
not what we do, but what we don't
do"
IT think all of us would be sur
prised, Mr.. Johnson said, "at the
progress we could make if each in
dividual would assume RESPONSE
biity for himself and would take
stand on the side of truth, morality
and democracy at all times"
Would You?
Mr.. johnson directed a number
of questions at his audience, stat
ing: IF you are asked to recon-
mend someone for a new job at
your company, would you recon-
mend a person without regard to
race, color or religion, or would
you recommend a person who
would be accepted without ques-
Gon?
Mr.. Johnson asked: "If you de-
eide 10 move, would you sell your
home to an eligible buyer with re-
gard 10 bias or would you sell to
someone acceptable to other men,
bers of the community?
The speaker added: "If you are
in a group where derogatory re-
marks are made about racial min
critics, do you object or do you
remain silent TO avoid mourning
the i'll will of friends and associ-
ates."
Mr.. Johnson told the audience
that if their individual answers
were negative they were not doing
all that each could do for better
human relations; that they were
not assuming the responsibility
every American should assume.
Just attending a human relations
meeting will not excuse lack of
individual responsibility he stated
American IdeOlogy Challenged
THE American ideology Of the
equality Of man, Mr.. Johnson stat
ed land the dignity of the indi-
vidual is being challenged now as
never before. If democracy Is to
survive, it must have the support
of not only governments, but of re-
Igious institutions, the schools and
the support of the individual citi-
zens when the principles Of dem
ocracy are maligned."
EuoIogized Martyred President
The internationally known pub
fisher eulogized President John F.