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ee at o “howe at ~~ gee Net, ow eS te ee ee. eee ee {Axi Said Pataniount At Welfare Meet Tariff Structure, Poll Tax Hit by Graham; Robeson Will Sing The three main issues facing the American people today are the de- feat of the Axis, the preservation | of democracy and the organization | of peace in the world, Dr. Frank P. Graham, president of the Univer- sity of North Carolina, said in a kevnote address last night at the openipg session of the Southern Conference for Human Welfare. Upon the guccess of the first issue, he said, depends the success of the other two. ; Dr. Graham, honorary chairman | of the conference, was folic “ed on | tne program by Mevy Mcleod Bethune. Negro, pre ont of Bethune-Cookman Coli.ge 4° irctor of the Division on ~ .gro affairs of the NYA. Five Severe Handicaps Graham enumerated five things which he said were severe handi- caps to the South and which he said constituted a national economic probtem, ; “The tariff structure, by which the Southern and other agricultural poopie have to buy their manufac- tured products in a highly pro fected national market and sell their agricultural products on eom- prratively open markets of the vortd, Hits wealth out of the South," he said. Poil Tax Discrimination ; “The political structure, with its poll tax discrimination,” he said, “Is a' set-back to the nation, and the discrimination against Negroes 1 the war Industries is damaging t@ our section, our national morale znd our democratic cause in the world.” Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, "son | 5 to present the Thomas Jefferson award to the outstanding Soutbern- cr of the year at the conference to night, sat on the platform, but was net introduced. Approximatcly 1,000 persons, halt of them Negroes, attended the ses- Graham gaid that Southerners, | buth black and white, must look beyond the hour to the “deeper sources of democratic hope and spiritual faith. Political Majority “We must not mistake the poll- tical majority for democracy,” he | anid, adding that the answer to | a difference of opinion is not a enunciation. "The test of the Bill of Rigsts,” he weid. “ia its effect on t asses | the majorities may est the, 4 De Jaane 8. Tr mpagp. Obl i home City, presider’ of the con-' ference, acting as riister of ce monies, sald “the Seth's problez. Kuch as the poll ta’ are national problems, Much bas been reveaird of the undemocratic motives of the poll tax.” He said he government today makes democracy more articulate while the ‘people are fighting to preserve that demevciracy. Piesident Bethune of Bethune College said that “some of us, though loyal Americans, are denied the right to work for victory for no better reason than the color of our skins.” Ghosts of Prejudices yalue the ghosts of old prejudices more highly than they do the free- dom of our country.” Andrew J. Higgins, president of the Higgins shipbuilding works in New Orleans—whose firm Presi- dent Thompson said had just re- ceived from the Maritime Commis- sion the largest shipbuilding con-/ tract in the world’s history—spoke briefly following Graham's talk. “We're going to tap that vast reservoir of Negro labor in the South in building our ships.” he said, "and give them equal wages: according to their position.” He said he wnderstood this con- ference was concerned with ‘“hu- welfare,” but he said ntinued on Page. 10, Colu (Continued From Page One would be no human welfare unless the Axis was beaten. : The Conference sessions will continue through Tuesday. Today’s principal program will be at the War Memorial Auditorium tonight at §:30 o'clock when Paul Robeson, Negro singer, will be presented in 6 Concert. Mrs. Roosevelt, to be introduced by Mayor Thomas L. Cummings, will then present the Thomas Jef- ferson Award. Robeson will be assisted by a chorus from Fisk University. Panel discussions on industrial Production, agricultural production, | youth and training—civilian and military, and citizenship and civil liberties will compose the prograin _ for today, , | Mrs. Roosevelt will participate in the panel on youth training this morning from 11 o'clock yntll 12:45 o'clock at the ¥. M. H. A, 712 Union Street. ; Admission to the panels, it was ; #Snounced, will be granted only to registrants, who pay a fee of $1. The registration also entitles them to admission to the Robeson con- cert tonight. . Tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock the annual business session and election of officers will be held in the War Memorial suditorium. Last night's program was opened py a chorus from A. and J. State College singing ‘The Star-Span- gled Banner.” Dr. Roger T. Nove, president of the Nashville Pastors Association and pastor of the Vine | Street Christian Church, delivered Tis wines Tree i ville Ten= NISSAN NOWGpROOr ha DORs > ‘the Mauscaction. et ; mort a — 700 * /oass-- $2 — === | 03s LS Sa TR weet — a _ rw ee ac a ON ie Wye Ae EEE a core Fa Ly ca ae ” oo a nT ao ase ~ ~ ” . .