PAGE TWO
THE TAR HEEL
TUESDAY, JULY 31, 1945
if
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE PUBLICATIONS UNION
SERVING CIVILIAN AND MILITARY STUDENTS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
ROBERT MORRISON
BILL HIGHT
JAMES SANFORD ......
IRWIN SMALLWOOD
BANKS MEBANE
BUDDY GLENN -J
: .-Editor
Associate Editor
..Managing Editor
Sports Editor
BETTY ANNE BAGLAND
ARTHUR BUDLONG
HARRISON TENNEY
STAFF THIS ISSUE
. Assistant Editor
Assistant Editor
Assistant Managing Editor
Business Manager
.. Circulation Manager
NEWS STAFF:
Rowenn Wffiia, Jo Pugh, Jack Lackey, Tom Corpening, Donald E. French, Frederick
tSmetaaa, Billings Ftiess, Jr., John Lampe, Bettie Tillitt, Bette Melcher, Sam Sommerlin.
SPORTS STAFF:
Frank Miller, Dick Seaver.
OFFICE STAFF:
Charles Robinson, Curtis Butler.
SALES STAFF:
Sally Bryan, Natalie Selig, Suaznne Barclay.
CIRCULATION STAFF:
Bill Jernigan, John Lampe.
- Phones: Editor, F-3i4l; Managing Editor and Associate Editor, F-3146; Sports Editor,
9886; Business and Circulation Managers, 8641.
Published Tuesday and Saturday except during vacations and examinations. Staff meets
every Sunday and Thursday tdght at 7:30 o'clock. Any student desiring staff positions
. should attend a staff meeting. Deadlines Sunday, and Thursday.
Editorials are written or approved by the Editor and reflect the official opinion of the
Tar Heel. Columns and letters may be submitted by anyone; the Editor reserves the right
to edit this' copy, but it does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Tar Heel.
Editorial, business, and circulation offices on the second floor of Grahamr Memorial.
Presses in the Orange Printshop on Rosemary Street. , -
Entered as second class matter at the post office at Chapel HiB, N. C, under the act of
March 3, 1879. . 1 - '
MISSISSIPPI SHOULD HIDE
ITS HEAD IN SHAME
The speech of Senator Eastland of Mississippi in the Senate
the other day, in support of his colleague Bilbo's filibuster against
the Federal Employment Practices Committee, was a disgrace
ful performance that ought to shock, sadden and make ashamed
every Southerner who loves his country and-believes in fair
treatment for all its citizens.
The speech was a gratuitous and slanderous attack oh the
performance of Negroes in this war. The .Negro soldier, the
senator said, has been "an utter and abysmal failure" in the war.
Negro officers could not be trusted, he declared, and added that
Negro divisions could not be placed in important positions in
battle lines, because Negro soldiers "had no initiative, no sense
of responsibility, and very low intelligence." Also, he said, crim
inal conduct of Negro soldiers all over Europe had "disgraced
the liag of their country."
The Tar Heel has frequently heard contemptible comments
of racial prejudice fall from the lips of persons in authority, but
never have we been aware of anything so dastardly and destruc
tive to human understanding as this speech by Senator East
man. We hope that we will never live to see the day that North
Carolina will send a man like Eastman or Mississippi's other
senator, Bilbo, to represent us in Congress. We see in his speech
a challenge for all young people who have been educated accord
ing to the principles of racial understanding. We must fight this
thing Which is as contrary to the spirit of Carolina as is theft
or cheating.
The senator made no exceptions. As Marquis Childs charac
terized it, it was the most shocking speech ever heard on the floor
of the Senate, slandering whole races and armies and damning
them down to the last individual. .
The Mississippian's authority for these outrageous defama-
tiOHS lie StUClf Were "high-ranking generals" with whom he talked
recent junket to iilurope; out, signincantiy eilOUgll, lie ic
on a
framed from identifying a single such officer, being content to
particularize the helpless victims of his own slanders, but care
ful not to name as the original authors of them high Army of
ficers who might bring him to book for his recklessness.
The point of the speech was that the appropriation for the
agency ought to be defeated because the FEPC would grant
"unf air preference" to these unworthy Negro soldiers an un
true statement itself, because the FEPC, never was authorized
to grant any preferences to anybody, its only function being to
prevent discrimination in employment on account of race and
religion. v
We don's believe a single word the senator said; we don't see
how he can believe it himself. It is physically impossible that
suh a blanket indictment of the 700,000 Negroes in the Army
and the 170,000 in the Nayy can be true. " ;
-No doubt there are bad and stupid and untrustworthy Ne
groes in the Army, and Navy, as there are also bad and stupid
and untrustworthy white men. But that they are all like that,
none except a simpleton or a villain would suggest and none ex
cept a moron would believe. -
Moreover, if the Senator's charges had any basis in fact, or
were anything except the creatures of his own poisonous fancy,
he would not allow the sources of his information to remain un
revealed. No man, senator or not, damning in good faith a whole
race of his fellow citizens would hide behind the anonymity of
tin-named "high-ranking generals." In sheer self-defense, he
would bring these generals out in the open to speak for them
selves. In fact there are no such generals; Under-Secretary
of War Patterson told his press conference 'Friday that he never
heard of any.-
: Aside from the facts that were available to Senator East
land in the public records, it is beyond all reason that his sweep
ing charges can be true.
The records prove them false. General Eisenhower, the highest-ranking
general, who can be named, himself has praised the
courage and the competency of his Negro soldiers. . v
In his Friday press conference above referred to Under-Sec
retary Patterson says that not only General Eisenhower, but also
Generals MacArthur, Eaker and others have praised the per'-'
formance of Negro troops. He might have named m particular
also Generals Patton and Clark. And Mr. Patterson added on his
own account : "The War Department is proud of its troops, and
that includes Negroes as well a3 all other groups."
No doubt the percentage of Negro soldiers who have distin
guished themselves, or served well in the war, is not as high as
the like percentage of white soldiers. ', As Mellett suggests, this
may be an indictment of the South for its treatment of the Negro,
which has hardly been conducive to the development of initia
tive, or a sense of responsibility, or a high degree of intelligence
a fact, however, in which it would seem that even Senator East
land could find little comfort '
Nevertheless Negroes have done many things in this war of
which they themselves and their country may well be proud, a
few of which we cite for the benefit of Senator Eastland and
others like him who are ready to damn. a man for the color of
his skin, however valorous and devoted he may be.
Thus this year Brig. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, one of the Negro
officers of whom Senator Eastland speaks with unmeasured con
tempt, was decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal for
outstanding work in the field of soldier morale and troop disci
pline which the citation says, "has been of material assistance
to the War Department and responsible commanders in the
field." ; .
In March, 1945, Negro Capt. Charles L. Thomas, commander
of a tank destroyer company in France, was awarded the Dis
tinguished Service Cross for "extraordinary heroism in action."
A Reuters dispatch noted an account of one day's activities
of our Middle East Air Force over Austria in which American
Negro pilots in fierce combat had shot down 12 German planes.
Negroes have made such records also in the Navy, a number
having, been decorated for extraordinary heroism in naval en
gagements, the latest of these being two Negro seamen aboard
the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill, which was turned into a blazing
death trap by the attack of a Japanese suicide plane.
We could go on with this recital if space permitted, but these
instances are enough to prove th point and expose Senator
Eastland. Stripped of the habiliments of statesmanship, worn
by virtue only of his membership in the Senate of the United
States, the senator is thus revealed to be an ordinary demagogue
of the type which has too often disgraced the South and humil
iated her people both at home anil in the councils of the nation.
We do not question Senator Eastland's right to oppose the
FEPC, but his opposition ought to be ground on something more,
than blind prejudice and racial hatred. There are Southerners
who do oppose it for reasons which are honest. We can respect
them, but not this tail to Bilbo's kite in his illicit appeal to the
illiterate hillbilly vote.
We hold no brief for the Negro-beyond insisting that he re
ceive fair treatment and due credit for his loyalty and patriot
ism. And this we think, is the right of every citizen, white or
black, Jew or Gentile, Protestant or Catholic.
We conceive it to be the duty of every Southerner to repudiate
every appeal to racial prejudice. The white people of the South .
cannot live on terms of enmity and hostility with a racial minor
ity constituting one-third of the population. Persons who fan
the flames of racial hatred are enemies of the people and their
free institutions.
This speech of Senator Eastland's is one of the basest appeals
to such prejudice and hatred we have ever read. We hope that
the entire South will repudiate it and that jbhe senator's own
state at the first opportunity will return him to the ObSCUrity
from which he came.
"(J Forum
GRAHAM MEMORIAL STILL IMPROVING
" . .
We noticed that the Graham Memorial Cafeteria has length
ened its serving hours in an effort to serve more meals to more
students.
It is certainly good to see the University operated cafeteria
giving such improved service. Many students are learning that
our Graham Memorial Cafeteria is well on the way to becom
ing the best place to eat in Chapel Hill.
AMERICANS UNITED FOR
WORLD ORGANIZATION
S '
-
The local chapter of Americans United for World Organiza
tion has contributed much to campus life and has been a small,
but important part in Congressional ratification, of many im
portant international agreements. Through its varied and in
teresting public meetings it has contributed much to arouse pub
lic interest in important topics.
Much of the credit for the success of the organization goes
to Dr. Maurice Whittinghill, hard working former President,
and many others too numerous to mention.
The entire program and purposes of the Americans United
is very admirable. It is an organized expression of a democratic
right ahd duty. It has aided in expression of the will of the
American people on a vitally important issue. Its various pub
lic meetings have been worthwhile.
It is very difficult to see the point of view of the national or
ganizations of the Americans United. If they are trying to de
cide whether they should continue their organization since Amer
ican participation in . world organization is assured, they are
reasoning from false premises. The Senate can block effective
participation in the United Nations Organization by refusing
to agree to appropriations to the UNO and participation of our
troops in the UNO quota force.
However, this is a purely national policy and the local unit
is wise in planning for continued activity under another organi
zation. The Southern Council is a permanent organization work
ing for international cooperation on a regional basis. Under its
present director, Dr. E. E. Pf aff , it has done an excellent job of
organizing Southern opinion for international cooperation.
By Buddy Glenn
When the Potsdam Conference
convened, something was missing.
It was a dynamic personality,
Franklin Roosevelt. When it recon
vened this weekend, another dy
namic member was missing:, Win
ston Churchill. One had left because
of death amid the successses of his
foreign policy; the other left be
cause his constituents repudiated his
policies.
The "Old Big Three" reeked With
glamor so to speak. Three domi
nant personalities composed it. One
was an American aristocrat, traitor
to his class and leader of the people.
Another was the inscrutable prod
uct of the Russian Revolution the
mystery man of the age. The other
was an English Tory descended
from one of England's "greatest"
families, a great orator, rhetori
cian, and supreme master of his
language, and highly dramatic.
Their meetings were held in some
remote spot and shrouded with
mystery. As in a group of strong
men, their meetings were somewhat
difficult with one having to sub
merge his personality to keep peace
among the other two. There are
practical matters that made their
agreement difficult. Churchill's ide
ology was reactionary to the point
of being anachronistic, Stalin's phil
osophy could comparatively be de
scribed as ultra-modern. Roosevelt
could be called a "bourgeois liberal."
Churchill and his Tory colleagues
were the ones who fostered the ex
pedition to Archangel to crush a
revolution tto which Stalin was a
party. To Stalin many of Church .
ill's actions had a familiar order to
him that of a cordon sanataire.
This ideological -discrepancy and
their past reputations made it hard
for Stalin and Churchill to agree
more than superficially on anything
but war. This may have been the
case for unilateral action by both
parties in such places as Poland,
Greece, etc. , t .
Now, the face and philosophy of
the Big Three has been changed.
Truman, a colorless, mediocre-looking,
main street American has suc
ceeded the incomparable FDR. His
liberality, orvthe extent, is yet to be
ascertained but he claims to follow
the Roosevelt line. Attlee, a mild
mannered, Oxford-educated, Labor
ite has replaced the r inimitable
Churchill. His philosophy is defi
nitely le'ft-wing and socialistic.
On the surface it might appear
that the Big Three have degenerat
ed. However, it appears that this
is not necessarily true from any
point of view except that of "gla
mor." Instead of personal frictions
you get evenings of minuets be
cause there is only one strong man
left. Also the fact tb.at a Laborite
has replaced a Tory has ameliorat
ed the problem of conflicting ideolo
gies: Stalin is less likely to fear a
Western bloc of states opposed to
Russia with Attlee and his fellow-travelers
in 10 Downing Street.
As 'Bevin, new Foreign Minister,
said, "Left understands Left.".
The point of the matter is that
the Big Three have a remarkable
opportunity to get down to the busi
ness of keeping the world peace and
quite possibly justice.
Smo!
Had
moicer s naci
By Banks Mebane
I was strolling down Senior Walk
the other day with my good friend
T. J. Airedale, who is the President
of CICA (Carolina Independent Ca
nines Association), As is always
the case, our conversation touched
on human-canine relationships, and
then drifted off on the tangent of a
comparative analysis of human and
canine characters.
'The trouble with humans at
Carolina," said T. J., "is that they
consider themselves far too impor
tant. They rush about as if the
fate of the world depended upon
their getting to their little" meet
ings, and the collapse of the uni
verse would loom imminently if the
minutes of each session were not in
reality minute to the last detail."
"You're right there," I said, "and
that you will find to be a failing of
humans the world over. However on
the other hand the attitude of your
race, , the canines, reaches the oppo
site extreme - in pure hedonism.
Whereas we humans carry positiv
ism too far in thought and action,
you canines relax in a negativism
and complete fatalism that preaches
'only the moment matters, the past
is beyond consideration and the fu
ture is too dim to be considered.'
You must admit that this is not a
good attitude for a young and grow
ing race."
"You are partially right,' but
only to a certain extent," T. J.
rejoined. "The psychological states
of our two races represent the op
posite maximums of a pendulum
swing, and the midpoint may be the
point which should be occupied by a
really progressive culture. How
ever I must be forced to disagree.
While the canines do carry fatal
ism too far as you have pointed
out, it is not necessarily an indica
tion of inferiority in a racial de
gree as it has so often been con
sidered. Rather I should term it a
more superior attitude than that of
possessing an exalted idea of self
importance. The situation can per
haps best be characterized as a
race suffering from a racial super
iority complex coming into contact
with one possessing an inferiority
complex; of like degree. Which is
the more desirable neurosis it is
impossible to say."
"That is a well-termed analogy,"
I contested, "but like most analo
gies is merely a rather one-sided
representation of a situation.
Mental states, like everything else,,
are purely relative; a sane man in
a group of madmen would by one
scale be the only abnormal one in
the crowd, and by the other stand
ard the only normal individual. By
the prevailing standard,' certainly,
fatalism carried to a degree of
See SMOKER'S HACK, page U
r -
5 ''"
Whee! Thirty-six more ration points!