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wy Last night's session was featured | hy teewingia of Paul Robeson, Ne- | ‘gio baritone, and the presentation ‘of duplicate “Thomas Jefferson ‘auwarda for the Southerner who con- . tributed tha most outstanding serv- ,ice to the South in 1941" to Dr. Frank P. Graham, president of the University of North Carelina, and H Mary McLeod Bethune, Negro, | president of Bethune-Cookman Col-: lege of Raytona Heach, Fla. The presentation was made hy Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. wife of the President of the United States, following her introduction by Mayor Thomas L. Cummings, of , the City of Nashville. ‘ Mrs, Roosevelt said in making | the presentation that “these two | people have rendered to the South j and the nation .he greatest possi: ! ble services. Dr. Graham and the’ Bethune College president respond- ed, expressing their appreciation of the award, and promising con- tinued efforts on behalf of the South and the nation. Mayor Cummings was introduced | hy Judge Loulse 0. Chariton, of | .| Birmingham, United States Com- missioner for Nothern Alabama. The mayor followed with a brief introduction of Mrs. Roosevelt, who’ spoke for 10 minutes prior to a broadcast of the presentation of the medals over WSIX and the Mu- tual Broadcasting System, In part, Mrs. Roosevelt said: "I'm very fond of the South, as my grandmother was born in Geor- gia. Out of this conference comes the feeling that the majority of people want to do everything pos- sible to win this war. Another thing this time we are determined not to make the mistakes we made before. We don't want another war if we can prevent it. We as a nation are ready to accept a great- er responsibility than ever before. Both older and younger people are all enthusiastic as well as setious- ly determined that we are not only ‘going to win this war, but that we ;wilt have a world of permanent ; peace in the future. “T sense a. realization that one of the reasons we must accept this ‘responsibility is that we have a miniture world of alt races right here in America. We are going to fight this war together. <A free people may lose campaigns, but you can't lose a war when you be-' lieve in democracy. You must be gure that here at home you are preciicing democracy. We must and will make democracy work.” Following the presentation and after the first half of his song program, Paul Robeson addressed the crowd, estimated at 2.500 of both whites and Negroes. Robeson #00 in part: “I'm happy to see a gathering of —————s E —— this kine ¢ people of the lib- eral and progressive South, I resl- ize the great Importance of our problems In the South, and I shail do my best to help. These are se- rious times. I have seen Fascism at its worst and I know what a task lies before us. We are living on the edge of a changing world. 'Oppression not only has reached the peoples of Europe, but here tn the United States are thoas who would oppress the one-tenth of our population. I realize that we must have a complete national unity to Meet this crisis, with a maximum output of arms and munitions. The creative capacity of my people is needed, and the President should see that it is used in the war ef- fort. “The Negro must know his allies, and he must know that Hitler; means our slavery. The grievances | of my people are real ones, but wey just aeq which way our freedom ea. | “We were warned about the dan- gers of Fascism a long time ago by aman who now is confined in an I hope that he may soon be free again,” concluded Robeson. Brow- der is secretary of the Communilat Party in America. Robeson’s concert consisted of eight songs, along with an encore of “Old Man River,” ona of the favorites of the audience, and “A, Bailad for Americans,” given by) Robeson, assisted by the Fisk Uni- versity Choir. In yesterday afternoon's pane) seasions, the conference heard two membera of tha National Maritime Union (CIO) demand that the United Nations open a weatern front in Europe againat the Axis, Frank Windrow, of Memphis, asid the Maritime Union wanted 4 western front opened “because it will shorten this war and save many lives.” He said over 1,000 members of his union had siready lost their ilves in the war. Frank Hoffman, of New Orleans, who said he returned from Pearl Harber only last week, declared sanrowe Sia, SEV Sres that the American people “must forget our own petty fights and do our utmost to supply the boys on the battie Hnes.” The question of racial diacrimina- tlon was Injected into the indus- trfal production and youth training diacussion panels repeatedly, many of the speakers charging Southern industries had refused to hire Negroes. However, Noel C. Beddow, of Birmingham, executive director of the Steel Workers’ Organizing Commities (CIO) took issue with this charge, asserting: “I'm getting tired of hearing that the Bouth Is discriminating against Negroes. The Negro ie getting the same treatment in the South that he receives in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and, in fact, all over the country. He may be discriminated against, ‘but what about the poor white man? 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