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(Every Week from tils Column J
By CLIFFORD^.
HERE AND THERE.
• • •
In the preparation of this weekly
“Digesting ths News’* release I sm
assisted by the activ* cooperation of
nearly one hundred publishers who
rend me their “exchanges’* regularly.
On many *n occasion a reader has
called n\y sttent-on to something
specific in some “exchange” that I
have failed to comment on, directly or
indirectly, and for the benefit of sll
leaders 1 will briefly explain why,
9 9 •
*
My releases are always prepared
on Sunday and fully four.fifths of the
weekly “exchanges” received do not
arrive until Monday night—entirely
too late to pick up a comment on some
item the following Sunday. Perhaps
some day I can arrange my product
ion schedule on a more timely basis
but until then I a*k the readers and
the publishers t<> overlook these
seeming omissions.
Up to the present writing the Am
sterdam News of New York is the
only current paper in which I read of
the return of Max Yergan. the 1932
Spngarn Medalist from Africa. That
medal is quite attractive.
• • •
Floyd G. Snelson, late of Courier
fame, is now the managing editor of
the Buffalo Star. So, the “Harlem
limited—Broadway Bound”, is now
running out of Buffalo, instead of
Pittsburgh
• • •
Negro journalism receives a credit
ia the manner of its reporting the
Soottsboro trial. Special representa
tive*: telegraph service. And th« ILD.
ANP, and CNS, are sending out many
extra special bulletins.
• * •
romrm man Oscar DePriest ia not
only the representative for the first
Illinois district but for all Afro-Am
ericans Recently I wanted some spec,
ific information that only a Congres
mats or Senator could well secure. I
wrote to our Congressman, and in a
few days the desired information was
at hand.
• • •
I know that J- A. Rogers, author of
“World's Greatest Men of African
Descent” is in America, hut unless
he is using a nom de plume I am un
able to locate his connection with any
particular paper. (This is for the
benefit of that Ohio reader who
scanted this particular information.)
• • •
Although I was ate in reading it,
Walter Wilson’s “Chain Gangs and
ProfiU" in the April Harper’s Mag
azine should be read by every race
reader, interested in the subject. And
how well do I personally know the
truth of the conditions he describes?
• • •
Out of all the publications 1 read
none give me the real inside facts on
the demerits of advertised products,
as do the monthly bulletins of the
Consumer’* Research Society, of
New York.
• • •
The recent New York Age editor
ial on the Tuskegee Institute Sav
ings Bank is worthy of being “Re
printed” in all our papers. I owe that
particular bank a debt and although,
legally. I’ve paid it, I still recognize
the moral obligation involved.
500At Opening of Mid-City Community Center
Pennsylvania Citizens Fight Theatre Jim Crowism
Jury Sentences Boy To Death
After Deliberating For 21 Hours
Eight Others to Face Jury
Decatur, Ala., April 9—Death in
the electric chair!
This was the verdict of the all
white jury in the case of Haywood
I Patterson 19 year old Negro boy.
i The verdict was rendered at 10:50
! this morning, after the jury had been
1 “deliberating” the case for eighteen
and one half hours.
At 9:5b a. m.. while only a half a
dozen reporters, and the bailiff were
in the courtroom, three loud knocks
were heard on the door of the jury
room.
ABOUT 20 MINUTES EARLIER
LOUD LAUGHTER HAD BEEN
HEARD ISSUING FROM BEHIND
THE LOCKED JURY-ROOM DOORS
The first ballot of the jur^ was e
leven for death and one for life im
| prssonment, thus accounting (for the
many hours the jury stayed out.
Judge Horton huried here from his
home in Athens 12 miles away, to re
j ceive the report of the jury.
A hush fell over the court room as
the 1-00 spectators, who had arrived
in the meantime, heard the verdict
read: ' - I
“We. the jury, find the defendant
guilty as charged and fix his punish
ment as death.”
Several of the jurymen had gnns
i>n their faces as they filed into the
| jury box.
As soon as the the verdict was read
Judge Horton thanked the jury, and
j soldiers with fixed bayonets rushed
Patterson back to the jail.
The boy’s head drooped and tears
formed in his eyes as the verdict was
read.
Patterson had been brought in at
10:30 by six soldiers with automatic
rifles on their shoulders. He smiled
bravely, but his lips trembled in an
ticipation of the verdict.
To Be Sentenced April 17
Kansmen and their supporters rushed
gleefully from the courtroom, shout
ing “Sentenced to death! Sentenced
to tfeath!”
Formal sentence upon Paterson
will be passed by Judge Horton on
April 17. when the re-trial of Charlie
Weems, another of the innocent de
fendants, begins.
Newspapermen made a rush for the
! telegraph and telephone wires as the
verdict was read.
Lynchers Ready
Last night, with lynch mobs gird
ing for action in the event of an ac
quittal, all the Negro boys but Pat
> terson were suddenly taken to the
Birmingham county jail. It was to
this jail that the boys had been
1 brought after ILD. attorneys had
forced their removal from the death
cells in Kilby prison.
Samuel S. Lelbowitz, chief trial
lawyer of the defense, denounced the
verdict as the "working of bigots.”
He added that he would “fight this
case to my dying days.”
Gen. George W. Chamlee, chief de
fense counsel, served notice of an
immediate appeal.
“We will carry it straight back to
Washington. It will be back in Ala
bama in another year or two.”
Obviously jubilant, Prosecutor
Knight, who engineered the present
frame-up trial, said:
“I have no comment to make.”
Fight Begins Anew
Brodsky declared that he had been
threatened three times since Wade
Wright. Morgan county solicitor had
made his speech to the jury, and that
fiery crosses had been burned by klan
men in Huntsville and Jackson coun
ties.
When the trial of Charles Weems
begins, the defense will again move
for the dismissal of the indictment
on the gTound that Negroes were bar
red not only from the grand jury
which returned the indictments, but
that they were also excluded from the
petit jury which convicted the inno
cent boys at the original frame.up
trial.
TWO YEAR HEADACHE GONE
o -o
Lester Carter
Lester Carter, companion of Ruby
Bates, on hobo trip, who last week
testified for the Scottsboro defense
in Decatur court, telling of frame-up
plans in Scottsboro jail, and telling
story of trip which tallied in all de
tails with testimony of Ruby Bates,
who repudiated her original charges
of ‘rape” later in the afternoon of
the same day.
“I had a headache and my consc
ience bothered me for two years, un
til I got a chance to tell the truth to
day,” Carter said.
SCOTTSBORO MEETING
Scottsboro Mass Meeting will be
held Monday, April 17th at 7:30 p. vn.
at Bethel Baptist Church, 29th and T
Sts. Speeches will be delivered by
Charles Edward Gray.A. B. and oth
ers. The meeting will be under the
auspices of the Internatior. Labor De
fense.
MARY WHITE OVINGTON AT
SESSION OF SCOTTSBORO TRIAL
New York, April 7—The dramatic
session of the famous Scottsboro
trial on April 6 when Ruby Bates ap
peared and denied the nine boys had
ever attacked her was attended by
Mary White Ovirteton, one of the
founders of the NAACP. Miss Ovin
gton is on a tour of the southern
branches of the association. She wir
ed Walter White: “Carter and Ruby
Bates fine witneses under grilling
cross examination—poverty on trial
and whatever the verdict poverty with
its hunger will be convicted.”
Bihn ingham. April—Arrangements
have been made here for several lib
eral white groups to hear Mary White
Ovington, one of the founders and
present treasurer of the NAACP.
during her visit to the Birmingham
branch of the association April 11
13. She will speak at a mass meeting
April 11 and will be the guest of Col
ored and white and mixed groups
during the next two days. Her visit
is arousing keen interest among
whites and Negroes and the newspa
pers have been generous with advance
publicity.
NEW LINCOLN MARKET
OPENS
The Lincoln Market has moved to
its new location at 24th and Franklin
Sts. This has added another oppor
tunity .for Colored employment. Mrs.
Louise Scott, who is active in frater
nal and civic affairs of our city has
been employed to be at the new store.
They also have 3 other Colored em
ployees, namely; George Edwards,
Frost Christopherson and “Shef” Ed
wards. The management states that
their aim will be to give the public
the very best merchandise at the low
est possible prices. The store has
been greatly enlarged and is now one
of the most spacious markets in the
mid-city district. Look for Adv. of
meat prices on page two.
AN EASTER VISION
by R. A. Adams
(For the Literary Service Bureau)
Hanging, bleeding, groaning, crying,
I behold the Saviour dying,
Suff’ring bitterest agony,
Man from sin and death to free.
I behold Him gently sleeping,
While grim soldiers watch are keep
ing,
Lest before the dawn of day,
Friends should steal His corpse a
way.
Now. I view angels descending,
At the sepulchre low bending,
Touch the stone, and, as He said,
Christ arises from the dead.
While anew the world rejoices,
With glad hearts and cheerful voices,
Let the nations rise and sing,
, Praise unto our KING!
JEWS GRATEFUL FOR SYM
PATHY IN HITLER PERS’CUTION
New York, April—Rabbi Stephen
S. Wise, honorary president of the
American Jewish Congress, the grat
i itude of the Jewish people for the
| sympathy of Negro Americans in the
hour of Hitler persecution of Jews in
Germany, in a letter to Walter White
secretary of the '‘NAACR “I know,
and have indeed felt, that the deepest
sympathy of you and your people is
with us in our hour of sorrow.” the
famous liberal rabbi writes.
Mr. White had written Mr. Wise:
“Though it is a truism to make such
a statement, yet the truth can never
be too frequently or too strongly em
phasized that bigotry and race hatred
against any racial group work dis
astrously against all minority groups,
to say nothing of the deteriorating
effect upon those who practice such
intolerance. Twelve million American
Negroes look with horror upon the
physical violence and proscription
which are being inflicted upon Jews
in Germany, having learned in our
own United States what is means to
suffer.”
SENATOR WAGNER NAMED
HEAD OF LEVEE PROBE
COMMITTEE
Washington. D. C. April—Senator
Robert F. Wagner, of New York was
named chairman of the special sen
ate committee to investigate labor
conditions in the Mississippi river
levee camps by Vice President Garn
er yesterday. Other members of the
committee are Senator Gerald P. Nye
republican. North Dakota and Sen
ator Hubert D. Stephens, democrat,
of Mississippi. The resolution author
izing the committee, which was in
troduced by Senator Wagner, was
,“passed in the closing days of the last
congress, but the appointments were
held up until the new session opened.
The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People and
its branches throughout the country
pressed for a senate investigation af
ter a report made to it last summer
by Miss Helen Boardman who was
sent down into the camps by the na
tional office. She charged wages for
Negroes were about ten cents an
hour; hat work days were 12 and 14
hours in length; that sanitary condi
tions were bad; that brutality was
practiced in some of the camps; and
that camp commissaries overcharged
het men as much as 500 per cent on
some articles; and that foremen loan
ed money to workers at 25 per cent
interest rates.
WAGNER SURE TO GIVE FAIR
DEAL, DECLARES NAACP.
New York, April—The Negro cit
izens of the country can be assured
that the senate committee named to
investigation conditions in the levee
camps will examine fairly into all
evidence of alleged virtual slavery,
declared the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People
here today.
The association, which has made
two investigations into the camps in
the delta and which asked Senator
Wagner to introduce a resolution for
a senate investigation, pointed out
that Senator Wlagner has long been
an outspoken, fearless advocate of
fairness to tie Negro. He was the
only senator who dared to speak
plainly on the Judge Parker nomin
ation in 1930 bringing the color ques
tion, the real issue in the Parker
fight, out on the senate floor. Sen
ator Nye is one of the band of liberal
in the senate and is known to be op
en-minded and inclined to sympathize
with minority groups. He is a foe of
wage slavery and exploitation. Sen
ator Stephens has not expressed him
self on the levee situation, but it is
believed that he is desirous of gett
ing at the truth of the conditions
particularly in his home state, since
a decent wage for the thousands of
Negroes employed on the levees
would mean more money spent with
Mississippi merchants in the cities
and towns alonlg the river.
No date has been set for the taking
of testimony. The last congress au
thorized only $1,000 for the expenses
of the probe, although Senator Wag
ner had asked for $10,000.
SOUTHERN COMMISSION ON
LYNCHING ANNOUNCES .FINAL
REPORT IN BOOK FORM
Atlanta, Ga., April—The Southern
Commission on the Study of Lynch
ing, headed by George Fort Milton,
editor of the Chatanooga News, today
announced the publication of its fin
al report in the form of a 500 page
book just from the University of N.
Carolina Press.
Entitled “The Tragedy of Lynch
ing,” this volume is the result of two
years of painstaking investigation an
study of lynching phenomena, and
lays bare to the public a vast amount
of authentic information on this sub
ject never before available. It sur
veys the general lynching situation
over a period of forty years, presents
exhaustive case studies of each of the
twenty-one lynchings of 1930, and al
so includes studies of a number of
cases in which threatened lynchings
were averted.
_ •
CHORUS SINGS IN CALHOUN
The Hillside Presbyterian Church
Choir accompanied by members of the
Community Chorus, sang “The Seven
Last Words” by DuBois last Friday
night at the Fort Calhoun Presbyter
ian Church under the direction of
Rev. J. S. Williams. The soloists
were: Mrs. Ruth Johnson, Mrs. Ruth
Broadus, Mrs. Irefte Morton and Mr.
H. L. Preston. Miss Edrose Willis
played the piano.
FREE GARDEN INSTITUTE HELD
A large group of people attended
the Garden Institute held at the
North Side “Y”, on Thursday. April
6th, under the auspices of the Family
Welfare Association. Mr. E. A. Hop.
pert, Horticulturist, School of Agri
culture, University of Nebraska, gave
a practical talk on gardening. Many
questions concerning flowers and
vegetables were answered.
WOMEN’S GLEE CLUB OF HOW.
ARD UNI. TO BE PRESENTED
Washington, D. C., April—The Wo.
men’s Glee Club of Howard Univers.
ity will be presented in the lecture,
recital series at 8:15 Tuesday even
ing in Andrew Rankin Chapel.
In addition to selections by group.
Miss Louise Burge will sing “Dei
Erl Ronig” by Schubert; Miss Ethyl
Wise, Mrs. Ruth Logan, and Miss
Burge will sing “Evening Fair” by
Debussy, arranged by Coleman; and
Miss Ethyl Wise will sing “Ah fors’e
lui che l’anima” from Traviata by
Verdi.
ROSS DRUG CO. BURGLARIZED
The Ross Drug Store at 2124 N. 24th
! Street was broken into Monday night,
A drawer from the cash register was
smashed and the two locks on the en
trance door were sprung. A small
amount of change in pennies was tak
en. Detectives were notified.
Phila. Builds Test Case
Against Jim Crowism
Philadelphia, Pa., April— Theatr
es in this city which have gradually
adopted rules, contrary to law, barr.
ing Negroes from seats on the main
floor of practically all movie houses,
are to be challenged in a law suit to
be brought by the Philadelphia
branch of the NAACP. The branch
believes it has an "airtight” case.
Last week, I. Max Martin, secretarj
of the branch, and George J. Evans,
jr. purchased tickets at the Stanton
theatre which entitled them to sit
anywhere in the house. They were
directed to the balcony and a man
who claimed to be the mgr. refused ab
solutely to seat them on the main
floor. Their witness was a light-skin
i ned colored man. Paul Binford, dental
I student at the University of Pennsyl
[ vania. Mr. Binford purchased a tick
et and was admitted to the main
floor. He lingered near the door and
heard all the argument. Herbert F.
Millen, an attorney and president of
the local branch, has declared war a.
gainst jim crowism in the “City of
Brotherly Love” and has filed suit a
gainst the theatre corporation under
Pennsylvania laws, which forbid se
gregation.
ORDINANCE BARRING JOB JIM
CROW SOUGHT BY SAN DIEGO
CITIZENS
San Diego, Calif., April—A city or
dinance which would bar discrimin
ation in employment on city public
works is being sought here by the
San Diego branch of the NAACP.
The branch is also sppnsoring a bet
ter baby campaign and health clinic
during April in charge of Dr. F. C.
Calvert, the only colored physician
in the city.
“With Our...
Law Makers
by OJ. BUROKHARDT
The Nebraska Legislature began
on another busy week with some of
the largest problems before them that
ever confronted a body of lawmakers.
The repeal of the 18th amendment,
the beer bill and the general appropr
iation bill which was sent over from
the house to the senate with a million
dollar cut below Bryan’s original fig
ures. Senator Callan (Dem.) of O
Dell, Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee, called his committee into con
sultation at once.
In the meantime, senate was dis
cussing th« economy bill as to uni
form mileage fee proposed which the
house had passed. The senate left un
changed it’s previous anions of mak.
ing an exemption in the favor of the
sheriffs 8c a mile against 5c left to
other affairs, but it remained against
the amendment to reduce the per
diem of game commission member
from $10 to $7 and to abolish the
$2500 office of coroner physician in
r» i i
ugiaa vjwumjr.
The coroner’s physician section of
the bill was restored over objection
of Senator Bullock of McCook, (Dem.
He demanded that Douglas County
be cut out and Senator Sam Rathwell
of Douglas County, (Dem.) said that
Doukrlas County should be left alone
and the vote stood 17-8.
The house wrestled with the income
tax proposal, heard their farm mort
gage moratorium criticized and be
gan work on a court commission bill.
The house tackled three measures
Monday without definite actions ex
cept on another farm relief bill.
The irrigation power project is
threatened with certain amendments
that its friends claim means death to
the measure. This irrigation bill has
had a rocky voyage all along and it
would not surprise me to see it take
a nose dive on the third reading.
Tuesday afternoon, there were evi
dences of efficient work on the part
of friends of the bill and the Chase
amendment striking the petition sec
tion was defeated 43 to 19 after the
members from Douglas had been suc
cessful in the morning with all of his
Many Northsiders Visit
Center on Opening Night
Wm. Pickens Present
(by A. M. Galloway)
About 500 people, attended the
grand opening of the Mid-City Com
munity Center located at 23rd and
Lake St., Tuesday evening.
As you entered the door you were
cordially greeted and shown over the
building by a special escort.
The basement has been marked off
for basketball, volley ball and other
games that young people enjoy play
ing. On the first floor is located the
library and the auditorium. The nur.
sery, in which young children may be
left under the special care of a train
ed nurse, and the dental and medical
clinics are on the second floor. These
clinics are fully equipped and ready
for use.
After being escorted over the
building, the guests were seated in
the auditorium that was beautiful'
with large bouquets of cut flowers
and fresh palms. Simon Harrold’s
orchestra very willingly donated their
services for the evening and their
melodious music was a rare treat.
Mr. Sherman of Edholm and Sherman
.Laundry Company, who is chairman
(of the Executive Board, gave a short
talk thanking the people who had so
kindly helped put this project over.
Me also mtro<|Uce<i Mass Madeline
Shipman, Mrs. C. Singleton, and Mrs.
Rae Lee Jones who are volunteering
their services and who will be in
charge. Then the Executive Board
was introduced.
These men have worked hard and
given much of their valuable time and
much thanks shbuld be given to E.
W. Sherman, H. A. Taylor, Dr. Craig
Morris. C. C. Galloway, and H. Fried
lander and many others for their un
tiring efforts.
Mr. William Pickens, the National
Field Secretary of the NAACP., gave
a short talk. He stated that he
thought this was one of the finest
undertakings that he had seen. Mr.
Pickens delayed his return home to
New York so that he might be in O
maha for the opening of the Center.
After the program refreshments
were served an believe it or not, there
was a group of young boys upstairs
working jig-saw puzzles and playing
checkers. They were so interested
that they didn’t come down staiTS for
ice-cream and cookies.
To those who haven’t seen this as
set to the community, it is a wonder
ful place to send the children and
come yourself for good, clean sports
and recreation.
amendments. An amendment requir
ing a $10,000 bond of each member
of the board of directors of a district
was approved.
The Legislators in both the house
and senate are complexed over the
beer bill which is going to make an
ugly fight, especially in the house.
Omaha is putting forth every ef
fort to prut over the program in fav
or of beer and in my judgement, it
will be a hard fought battle for both
houses. The senate, I am sure, will
favor the measure, but not as a whole
but the percentage will be enough to
carry the measure. I question very
much if the Governor will sign the
bill, even though it be passed by both
house.
The Anti-Saloon League and the
Women’s Temperance Unions and
other social agencies are using their
efforts to defeat the measure but^the
old adage, I am afraid, will prove
true in this fight,.“Talk is cheap, but
it takes money to win.” With the ma
jority of the people they only see one
side of this problem and that is beer
for the people. When the children of
Israel came out of Egypt, they hun
gered for the flesh pots of Egypt.
In the meantime, the Lord was daily
supplying them with manna and
honey from Heaven, but that did not
satisfy so he had to give them meat,
which was to their great sorrow. So
will it be in this case. They can tell
irte all they want about 3 2 percent
beer not being intoxicating, but noth
ing will ever satisfy the lust of men
but a beer that will make drunk.
Watch next week’s notes. The end
is not yes so far as the Legislature
is concerned.
