The Daily Bulletin, 1944-10-21

CHICAGO, Oct. 20 (ANP)—Op (ANP)—Oppression - pression (ANP)—Oppression and discrimination against Negroes must end in Amer America, - ica, America, Gov. Green declared in a speech before a large gathering at the Greater Bethesda Baptist church. The governor solemnly pledged that le will use his influence and power 1x get the ’45 legislative session “to prohibit discriimination against racial minorities in peace time busi businesses - nesses businesses in Illinois.” Already, Illin Illinois - ois Illinois has a law, with Gov. Green’s sig signature, - nature, signature, prohibiting bias in defense plants. “When America entered this war, we entered it on the side of toler tolerance - ance tolerance and* humanity, on the side of religious and brotherly love, which have their roots in great religious institutions such as this one, of which you may well be proud,” Gov. Green told his listeners. “This war had it foundations in racial hatreds. We are not fighting for more land or money. We are fighting for justice for oppressed peoples. “I say to you now that we must make that fighting creed a hollow mockery by permitting racial dis discrimination - crimination discrimination here at home. We in intend - tend intend to establish a just peace that will end racial oppression abroad, but we can never maintain such a peace unless we also insist on end ending - ing ending racial discrimination here in

Bishop Ransom described the pur purpose - pose purpose of the meeting. There was an enthusiastic response with state statements - ments statements of cooperation in the mort mortgage - gage mortgage redemption drive—particu drive—particularly - larly drive—particularly from Bishop Sims of the First District, and Bishop Gregg of the Fourth District, both of whom had already launched plans for an ex extensive - tensive extensive campaign in their areas. Bishop Gregg stated that his plans called for the culmination of his campaign on December 7, in Chi Chicago. - cago. Chicago. Bishop Sims said that his re report - port report would be made by Founders’ Day, February, 1945. Bishop Ran Ransom - som Ransom announced that the presiding elders and pastors of the Third Dis District - trict District were already at work, as they had been doing since last Febru February, - ary, February, and that he was looking for forward - ward forward to the raising of his share of the funds needed to wipe out the mortgage.

CHARLESTON, S. C., Oct. 20 (ANP)—Touching upon the racial issue, anti-Roosevelt Democrats opened their campaign here for the election of Harry F. Byrd of Vir Virginia - ginia Virginia for President. Southern Dem Democrats - ocrats Democrats oppose the Negro voter be because - cause because of his illiteracy and incompe incompetency - tency incompetency to govern rather than the color of his skin or his racial origin, said H. Klugh Purdy, chairman of the Jasper county executive com committee, - mittee, committee, over radio station WTMA. “It is not the color of the skin of the Negro or his racial origin that Southern Democrats are concerned about,” Purdy declared, “but his il illiteracy - literacy illiteracy and incompetency to gov govern, - ern, govern, for the government is never better than the average of its elec electorate.” - torate.” electorate.”

Mrs. Bethune had no sooner com completed - pleted completed her dramatic and forceful statement than the more than 200 women who crowded the conference room arose as one and applauded her. The first to speak was Wilhel Wilhelmina - mina Wilhelmina Adams of New York City who, rallying the others, declared: “Hav “Having - ing “Having heard the voice of our great leader, let us here now-and again repledge our allegiance and support to the founder of our organization.” The burst of applause that followed was even greater.

Charging that the Democratic convention in Chicago this year was undemocratic, the speaker said “the delegates were dictated to and domi dominated - nated dominated by one man who, in turn, per permitted - mitted permitted the wishes of machine bosses, Communists, Socialists and Negroes to cause the rejection of one of the most faithful friends Mr. Roosevelt ever had. Justice Byrnes was fed to the wolves of Commun Communism - ism Communism and Socialism and the South Carolina delegation was sat upon and spat upon.” I

The session, presided over by Mrs. Vivian Carter Mason of New York, started out discussing the areas in which the council and the national organizations comprising the council should work respect respectively. - ively. respectively. As the discussion wore on to no immediate conclusion Mrs. Be Bethune - thune Bethune took the floor and declared that “what we are trying to do is to get the strength of Negro women organized for the good of Negro people and the good of America.”

America. “There are other freedoms which bigoted and selfish people would still restrict, and these restrictions your present administration has at attacked - tacked attacked through new legislation. The present anti discrimination law was enacted while realizing that if a man does not have the opportu opportunity - nity opportunity to have and hold a job his po political - litical political freedom is virtually worth worthless - less worthless to him.”