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W. A. BOUCHER..EditorPublisher
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Entered as second class matter
October 14, 1943, at the postoffice
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of March 3, 1879.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1945.
ff | • “ '
DISCRIMINATION,
RACIAL
It seems to us that speak
ers in the House of Repre
sentatives yesterday who
argued that racial dis
, crimination did not
exist in the various divi
sons of Alaska were very
much mstaken or else not
very observant. Racial
discrimination certainly
exist in Alaska as it exists
not only in every State and
Territory of the United
States but throughout the
world. One does not have
to go very far in Alaska to
discover many instances of
discrimination against the
Indians, Aleuts and Eski
mos.
Discrimination exists.
That much should be ad
mitted by all.
In connection with this
situation, Rep. An
derson has introduced in
the House a bill which
^i——mmmmmmm— ■■in t
would “provide for full an^1'
equal accomodations, fac
ilities and privileges to all
citizens in places of public
accommodation with the
jursdiction of the Territory
of Alaska, to provide pen
alties for violations . .
Yesterday the House in
dicated that it would pass
this bill by a large major
ity.
We repeat—discrimina
tion certainly does exist.
The question in our
minds is this:
Will the passage of this
bill eliminate discrimina
tion?
Can it aid in the elimi
nation of racial discrimina
tton?
Can discrimination be
erased by law?
Racial discrimination
be erased by law?
Racial discrimination
exists in many other ways
than in denying to mem
bers of a certain color or
race the accommodations
of a saloon, a theatre, hotel
or beauty parlor.
These things are of mi
nor importance in racial
discrimination. It is the at
titude which prompts such
I actions of denial of privi
! leges which constitutes
The basis of discrimination.
;It is the attitude of one
race which believes itself
to be the chosen race, the
superior race, in looking
down upon another race as
inferior that is the root of
racial discrimination.
No law will change this
attitude. No law can force
a member of one race to
take a member of another
race into his home or into
his social activities against
his will. No law can force a
member of another race on
the street.
No law can force a busi
ness man, who is of one
race, to deal pleasantly
with a customer who hap
pens to be of another race.
We know of a playfield
for children—a fine play
field. The white children
use this fine playfield for
themselves. The Indian
children use a playground
that is not as good—usual
ly the streets or alleyways.
Yet there is nothing to
keep the Indian children
from playing on the fine
playground. They can play
there if they wish. But they
don’t because the white
children refuse to play
with them. This makes the
Indian children unhappy,
and it is only fun to play
when you are happy.
No law can remedy this
situation.
On the contrary, we hon
estly believe that a law
which would attempt to
force an elimination of ra
cial discrimination, such as
this measure now in ques
tion, would only serve to
heighten racial discrimina
tion. That is because racial
discrimination is practiced
in so many other ways than
simply refusing to allow an
Indian in a place of busi
ness. The effect will be, we
believe, to bring about on
the part of those who prac
tice racial discrimination a
greater use of these other
ways. For that reason we
do not believe this is a wise
bill.
Alaskans who have lived
in the Territory for many
years will remember that
not so many years ago it
was the practice of many
theatres to allow Indians
only in certain sections of
the theatres. That practice
has been done away, in the
First Division at any rate,
we believe. This lessening
of discriminaton was not
accomplished by law but
by passage of time and a
gradual recognition and ac
ceptance of the fact that
all of the seats of a theatre
are open to all who pay,
regardless of race.
Many more place of pub
lic accommodation are now
opened to Indians than was
the case 20 years ago. Not
because laws were passed,
but because this disease of
the mind is being cured
gradually.
The passage of this bill
would simply be the pluck
ing off of a few leaves of
the tree, while the roots of
racial discrimination are
left to put forth more ener
gy to sprout many more
leaves which the law will
not and cannot touch.
We do not question the
motives of the legislators
who urge the adoption of
this measure. Their motives
are above reproach. They
wish to rid Alaska of ra
cial discrimination and
that is a noble aim. The
^ ... -■■■ -— - '
Constitution of the United
States also had that aim.
The question they must
decide is whether their
purpose will be accom
plished — or aided — by
the passage of this bill.—
(Juneau Empire).
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