Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-08-15

Shows are planned the last three
groups and forums thruout the
state and area in behalf Of the
rights Of the Negro for full cid-
zenship and full opportunity to
share in the economic life of the
area.
In recent years staff members
have been forced to decline fire.
quent requests for appearances as
speakers, on panels and on radio
and TV programs.
The papers were the first Ne
gro publications in 80 years to
a new plant and offices.
The new building had its formal
opening in October, 1858. Since
its construction several thousand
people have inspected its prem
ises and facilities.
The papers have been the chief
means by which the program Of
the NAACP, both local nationally
have reached the people. Not an
issue passes except that there Is
not some news coverage Of the
of the NAACP on either
the local or national scene. Ninety
nine per cent of this coverage Is
run without charge to the organ
ization. If there had been no Ne
gro press here and elsewhere,
there would probably have been no
NAACP.
The Urban League movement in
the Twin Cities has continued sup
port from the Spokesman and Re-
corder papers during their 20
years of publishing. In the early
days when there was a question of
the continuance Of the organiza-
ton, the papers carried on Wgor-
Gus editorial campaigns against
any attempt to discontinue the pro-
gram.
The papers recommended that
the Federal Cartridge Corporation,
the largest employer of Negro
labor in the World War II period
utilize the Urban Leagues of both
cities as recruiters and screeners
of labor.
The fine job the league did
reflected on the excellent re-
cord Negro workers made at the
ammunition plant operated by
the firm and set the stage for
the after the war extension Of
the use Of Negro men and women
in many other areas of employ
ment, formerly closely to them
either by design or commission.
Staff members have served as
board presidents and members of
Urban League committees.
The only time the papers al
most didn't come out on time was
about IL years ago when the COM
mercial shop where the press
work was then done, was struck
by the typographical union.
Martin Press at Anoka printed
the papers for a three week period
and readers did not miss a single
issue of the paper. The first week
copies were a day late, but the
readers got their papers on Satur-
day.
Until 194S, Is years ago, all of
the composition for the papers as
well as the press run was done In
a typesetting commercial shop. In
that year the firm purchased the
typesetting and composing equip
ment Of a firm which went out Of
business. Since that year, the en-
tire paper has been composed in
the publications own back shop.
Two years later stereotyping
was added to the back
shop equipment and in 1854 No.
1 Miehle letter press, standard
equipment for the press work for
hundreds of weekly papers was
acquired.
Since that time with the ex-
ception Of engravings of photos
and etchlngs, the entire produc-
ton Of the papers has been done
under one roof, the newspapers'
own plant.
From their beginning the papers
have supported the religious life
and organizations Of each of the
cities. At least 1000 inches of
space a year is devoted to the
activity of the churches,
charge. Most Of the lead