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THE AMERICAN LEGION Roy B. Tisdell Post 537 207 South Globe Street Peoria, Illinois April 24, 1947 Dear Eve? I am very much in need of your assistance and advice in a matter that has arisen here in Peoria, namely the appearance of Paul Robeson here to render a concert in the Snrine Mosque, April isth, I deem it unnecessary to take step by step as to what has happened here, because I am well aware that you read both of our newspapers the Peoria Star and Journal-Transcript,. -"- - Qne, Mr, Cannon, assistant misic instructor at Bradley, booked Mre~ Robeson for a concert on the above mentioned date. The ticket sale to this affair went along as usual and on April 12th, Mr. Cannon called in my office for information as to whether one Ur. Robeson was branded by my group as a Communist, and what steps we were taking in the stoppage of the sale cf tickets. I informed him that we had no knowledge of any subversive activities on the part of Mr. Robeson, therefore, could not give him any information, other than it was a custom to buy tickets at the lest minute due to our financial status. a On Monday, April 14, lr. Gomer Bath began a campaign in the Peoria ens Star to arouse public sentiment against Mr. Robeson, Here he cited some feo 4 of the supposed incidents that oocurred to prove his statements, pez 1. Robeson sang Russian National Anthem in Los Angeles and dedicated it to Eisler, 2, Robeson is supposed to be effiliated with 34 Commnistic organiz—- ations. — 3, The fact that Robeson's son attended Russian schools. Wiithstanding these three items mentioned, true or false, I sincerely doubt the legality of the Mayor-Carl 0, Trieble and his 20 Aldermen of branding one Paul Robeson of being a Communist and closing all public buildings to his appearanos, I contend that it 1s ean abuse of the Civil Liberties law together with the destruction of the Constitution of the - United. States. * ALL INFOPMATION CONTATNED * uUpPnaTr HEREIN IS Ulole7 OTE ae DALE WN 211ED Re RICCI (00 - (33% = 67 ns