Press Releases from the Department of Defense and Americans for Democratic Action
Images (8)
Document
| id |
id
301669811
|
|---|---|
| contentType |
contentType
document
|
| source |
source
import
|
Source image fields (6)
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 8mi. nash
m nashaw What about Boz/ This
AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION
FOR RELEASE IN
1740 K Street, Northwest
MORNING PAPERS OF
Washington 6, D. C.
Monday, October 3, 1949
Telephone: EXecutive 7866
U.S. ARCHIVES TRUMAN MYNTIONAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS AND LIBRARY
Condemning the Army's new "racial equality" policy as "a sham policy of "a
little bit of equality, Americans for Democratic Action Sunday called on President
Truman to reject the now plan and to order the end of segregation in the Army.
ADA's views were expressed in a letter sont to the Prosident by Charles M.
La Follette, former Indiana Congressman and National Director of the liberal, non-
Communist political organization. The now policy was approved by Defense Secretary
Johnson last Friday.
"Even in the field in which the Army pretended to act," the letter said, "it
failed miserably to introduce real equality. The iniquitous 'quota' system is re-
tained, and even after Negro soldiers have qualified for special ratings they are
to be sent back to Negro units and 'housekeeping' chores." The plan "fails to
deal with the core of the problem,' which La Follette named as "the un-American
practice of racial segregation."
Strengthening of civil rights, the letter declared, "is as valuable in the
fight to contain communism as hundreds of millions of dollars in ECA and military
assistance appropriations. It costs less in money and has greater moral value."
Acknowledging that the Administration's legislative civil rights proposals
faced formidable opposition in Congress, La Follette pointed out to the President
that "in the matter of eliminating racial segregation in the United States Army,
you as Commander-in-Chief can act directly, unhampered by the delaying tactics of
Congressional reactionaries."
"Americans for Democratic Action urges you to reject the new policy which
Secretary Johnson has approved,' the letter concluded. "We call upon you to order
the end of segregation in the Army and thus demonstrate to the world that this
country means what it says when it speaks out for democracy and freedom.
(Text of letter is attached.)
#