Atlanta Daily World

Seek Draft Representation

Recently president C L Harper and vice-president C. A Scott of the Atlanta branch of the NAACP had an extended talk with Col. James N. Keelin, Jr., state director of Selective Service in the interest of getting racial representation on some of the draft boards in the state.

C. A. Scott, who is also chairman of the public affairs committee of the association, stated that he and president Harper were cordially received at Selective Service headquarters by Col. Keelin who at the outset of the conference called Col. Cliff Hatcher, assistant director who has charge of occupational deferments.

When asked by Col Keelin if Negroes felt they were getting a "fair deal" from Selective Service, C. A Scott replied that he had had some experience with a local board and one in Dothan, Ala., which led him to believe that racial prejudice prevailed in the cases involved. Both NAACP officers stated to the state director that they believed they represented the opinion of the "great mass of our race" we ask for "representation on the local boards as a matter of principle and recognition in view of the announced objects of the war."

Asked his attitude on the question of inclusion of Negroes on the draft boards, Col Keelin explained that to do so would be a social reform and he did not think it practical, however he promised to take the matter up with Governor Ellis Arnall who appoints the board

At the present most of the local boards consist of three members but other persons could be added Or if white members objected to serving with Negroes, separate Negro boards could be set up to handle the Negro registrants, it was pointed out by the committee

Separate Negro boards are serving in some of the northern cities. Virginia and North Carolina are southern states that have Negroes on the draft boards, it was stated