Dear Editor:

How do you feel about the part that Charlottesville is playing in making America "safe for Democracy?" I do not know whether you have heard the various rumors among the laboring classes or not, but since I rank that way, I should like to offer my opinio n.

Up to this time, I have not verified many of the rumors that have come to me, but since reliable people have been talking, I am forced to believe them. It seems that there is an undercurrent feeling of dissatisfaction with Negro laborers, among some whi te establishments, not because of inefficiency but because many wish to create employment for poor whites. Although it doesn't seem at all fair, I am not commenting on this attitude of white employers who cater to only whites, I am directing my criticism s to those who have Negro and white Patrons.

I have heard that a certain large grocery firm, that serves numerous Negroes, recently fired a clerk who had been working there for almost fifteen years on a pretext that was too thin not to be seen through and hired a white man in his place. Now I rais e no objection to the fellow's getting the job, for doubtlessly, the man needed it, but what about the principle involved. Why take meat from one hungry man and give it to another? Of course you realize that almost one-third of Charlottesville's populat ion is composed of Negroes. I happen to know that many of them patronize this store. if you doubt me, step down town of a Friday or Saturday even ing and you'll see a perfect rainbow of faces and a regular "Santa Claus looking" armful of parcels coming out of this store. Personally, I believe we as a race should stop buying at this store. We should refuse to spend our money at an establishment that fires a Negro and hires a white man.

I have also heard of other instances of laundries and dry goods stores doing the same thing. It is time for us to wake up because, after all, the black dollar contains as many pennies as the white dollar and the Negro pays the same price for sugar and t he laundering of a sheet as any other man.

You have been talking about a Civic League for quite sometime. One should really begin functioning now because these are truly the times that try men's souls.

I don't want to arouse any feeling of bitterness, but it seems so unfair to discharge efficient men because of the color of their skin. It lowers the par placed on our democracy and besmirches the pride that Charlottesvillians, white and colored, have b oasted of in connection with the compatibility of the two races.

Sincerely,

A true citizen.