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dee he ce te He BNE wet WENT into Paul Rabeson's difficulties in Peoria with considerablé care and found that “ho race or color prejudices were involved. The opposition to Robéson arose from an antago to_communism, The basis for eee = of Rebeson’s own making. In the “New Africa,” for December 1045, Robesoa ga — '. “In this new enlivening and fast-changing world, the Soviet Union I believe to be in the very forefront of the battle to obtain real (not imag: inary) freedom for the many—not the few, Ben Davis jr.. Negro C uotes Robeso in “Soviet Russia, Today,” August 1936, AS 58 “The Soviet Union js the only country i've ever been in where lve felt completely at exse. Vinee ean Pie. ton nek rf ve lived in ve lived in England and America and I've aime and America and I’ve almost . itcled the globe—but for myself, wife, and ac the globe—but for myself, wife, and son, e Soviet Union js our future home.’ Union is our future home.” OBESON ‘OBESON has a way of making sf a way of emON bas & way of making speeches dvs speeches dur- g his ches which support Wp eon ict wih pre sings Communist songs. It was because of this — general situation that April 35, 1047, the Peoria Star published in @ column written by Gomer Bath an item, “Artist or Fropegandist — Which started the Tum ‘The next day Peorin was the scene of great ex- titement. Allen Cannon, sponsor of the concert, announced that he would indefinitely postpone the concert because the sales were bad, some of those who had bought tickets turning them back. Meanwhile, Milo W. Nelson, counci] member Fepreseniing the ist ward, introduced # resolu- tion denouncing Robeson as “an avowed and tive propagandist for un-American ideologies .” The resolution was passed by a rising vote. Robeson’s concert wes to have been held at e Shrine mosque. When his local representa- e canceled the concert, the mayor of Peoria“ cltered s room in the city hall for « receyts a Sea A a oh 4 oN ALL INE FORMATION. CONTAINED i HERP He Lee 7 TF _ DATS ~ estou \ “Pavia +¥. Tins - gccurate news reports came from Peoria, sought te recreate that tone: ‘celed the engagement. Furthermore, if Robeson _ Robeson, however, has no right even to imply MAY an 19 Times Herald Page jJ7 a ae ——e ec | Mr. Glavin Tt ~ - wo —_— Mr. Tracy Ry GEORGE E. SOKOLSKY Mr. Carson. Because of protests by the American Legion snd Mr. Egan others, this offer was withdrawn by Mayor Carl Mr, Gurnea ©. Triebel. > . : Mr. Harbo, Robeson came to Peoria by motor car from , Mr. Hendon Decatur, Tl. Dr. Max Yergan, national president j a . — —aa— of the National Negro congress, which is re . mr. sOnes_ garded as « fellow-traveler organization, flew to : Mr. Leonard Peoria to be with Robeson. He found that seven - of the eight Negro ministers on the reception ; committee had resigned. He wrote: : . “We then tried to get the local CIO hall, but . found that even this sanctuary of labor was closed to ws.” first story that appesred nationally on subject was not sent out by any reporter . from Peorla, but was telephoned by Paul Robe- son to the Councjl on African Affairs in New York. This wa published in New York City newspapers and was picked up by a press for national distribution. Subsequently, gen Mr. Pennington_ Mr. Quinn Tamm_ the issue had been beclouded by the earller p: release of the Council on African Affairs. PThe impregsion WAS créated that tsob fe ‘fovemed - Max Yergan, writing in the Brooklyn ' Voloe, : “... Fou conld eense the tenseness. Hate filled the countenances ef airport loungers a5 they glared at me... .* His headline reads: “Murder Was in Their Hearts.” Subsequently, Peoria ministers offered Robeson a hall for a concert and reception. This _ bas not been accepted. . CONCLUSION is that Paul Robeson could Rave sung, even if to only a handful. He could have appeared at the Shrine mosque, even Wf under police protection. His manager can- chooses to be both singer and propagandist, that ‘48 his risk. Those who favor causes must risk the consequences of opposition. Better men than Paul Robeson have been thrown to the Hons, If the cause is worthy, the martyrdom is worthy. or to permit the untruth to be circulated that when he is opposed as one favoring Soviet Rus- sia or the Communists, he is opposed as an artis or a Negro. That wes not true in Peoria, - (Copyright 1947, King Features Pyndicatqpeigndeng, net, OV Tey