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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1934)
- Q An Uubridled, Outstanding : Mouthpiece for Your Community “The Omaha Guide Is vour Paper” 0 VOL. VII.— OMAHA, NEBRASKA JANUARY 6, 1934. NO. FORTY-FIVE ' — ■'' 'i*- * •* _n_ n n wi do ou» nun Dr. Lennox On The Job Mr. J. G_ Masters, IVincipal, Central Hi^h School, Oharna, Nebraska Dear Sir: w . . I am writing you m regards to a discrimination among the boys in the Tecent cadet encampment at Valley, Nebraska, and am sure there has never been a complaint of this nature in the school where you have been principal any number of years. I realize some cases bring about distinctions, making one feel he does •not wish to associate with others, oc curring in any number of instances -regardless of nationality. You per haps are ot aware of this occurance, but apparently a very noticeable dis tinction and discriminationw as mani fested by F. C. Gulgard, one of the officials in charge One case in particular where there was only one CoClored cadet, res • portable, well-mannered and reared accordingly, he was advised to stretch a tent especially for himself. The other group of boys were all left in one camp, bringing about embar rassments, unpleasantness an a dis crimination. Recently while standing in a filling station waiting until my car was completely serviced, I listened to a voice coming in over the radio speak ing on regards to Johnny Goodman, stating boys and girls should receive all the encouragements one can give, and one should not retard their am bitions in any way, not knowing per haps as to what great accomplish ments these pupils would ascertain if it were not for the bestements that occur during youthful life. All pupils regardless of race should receive equal opportunities and con siderations, as these are stepping stones and inspirations, bringing about greater accomplishments than -one ordinarily would. We are sure each boy of this group in camp was appreciative, manly and well traineed in every respect, and we are asking that you make investi gations regarding the above situa tion, and are sure all efforts will be manifested to bring about a rectifica tion. Thanking you very much, I am, Respectfully yours, Dr. G. B Lennox, Chairman, Redress Committee, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLOR ED PEOPLE, OMAJLn BRANJCH). OMAHA BRANCH—2122^ No. 24th Street. Dr. G. B Lennox, Chairman 2122H No 24th St Ohama, Nebraska Dear Sir: In answer to your inquiry about the military camp, I believe that five boys were put in one tent, and four boys in another, and that this situa tion obtained until two of the boys ■were compelled to leave the camp for their homes, on account of sickness or otherwise. At that time, as I un derstand it, the rest of the boys were assigned to a single tent. The ar rangement of putting from six t* eight cadetsi n a tent isvery often made. It has so turned out at almost every camp that one or several color ed boys did not have the money with which to go to camp. Very often, at east as far as it was possible at all to do so, some of these boys have been taken at the expense of the camp, or by some funds which we could raise outside of the immediate camp budget. In other words, we have done our very best to try to give these boys the utmost opportu nity, and I believe a survey will show that a number have been sent to «amp at the expense, or from other fumi*. j Sincerely yours, Signed: J. G. Masters Principal. Wo men Shot In Head Senator Wagnor Answers Letter Washington, D. C. December 27, 1933 My Dear Mr. White: "I am informed that Senator Cos tigan is going to introduce a federal anti-lynching bill when congress con venes and I hasten to assure you that this bill will have my most active support. "The most painfully won and pre cious gain in manind’s long march from savagery to civiization has been the subordination of mob rule to constituted authority and the guaran tee that constituted authority will dispense equal justice to every race, creed and individual. “In recent months there has been shocking reversion to primitive bru tality. Mob passions have flared in to uncontrolled crime extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Consti tuted authorityhas not simply been 'rendered impotent; something in finitey worse has happened for some! officers of the law have connived J ■with mass murder and some of the It is this latter aspect of the situa tion t—at creates a crisis today. The* may always be an irresponsible and bloodthirsty element in our popula tion so long as some men are below normal in human sensibilities. But there need not be, and there must not be any break down of the har riers which prevent this criminal element from gaining popular ap plause and from continuing to par ticipate in the benefits of free citizen ship. “We have been told many times that the problems created by lynch ing are local and must be solved by local authority. One might as well expect an epidemic to cure itself, or for healthy people to take no step to prevent its ravages from sweeping over them. The test of the suprema cy of law comes at the very time when the locality has temporarily lost its equilibrium and when its supposedly sober elements are at the mercy of the mob. In such cases, the federal government should act. “Mr Justice Holmes, whom no one would accuse of an arrant desire to override local authority, delivered the classic polemic against lynch law in the Frank case. He said that while he did not believe it impossible to preserve the guarantees of the feder al constitution everywhere in the United States, to do so necessitated at times the intrusion of federal authority into local areas. “I am writing to you because yo* champion a race which suffers most acutely from mob terrorism despite the fact that its right to equal pro tection of the laws has been sealed with the blood of counties* American* ' of every race and creed. The cour age and nobility with which the Negro race is waging the war against lynching should receive not only the militant cooperation of every citize» but also the approbation and assist ance of federal law.” Sincerely Yours, Signed: Robert F. Wagner. SENDS N A A C P PRESS RELEASE TO MEXICO U. Santa Fe, N. M Dec 29—Mrs. Grace Mott Johnson, a white sculpt ress here, has had reprinted 100 copies of a recent N A A C P press release on lyncing and discrimination which have been distributed to the faculty and students of the university of New Mexico. She has recently re ported to the N A A C P national office on segregation of Negroes in local moving picture theatres. I _ Former Omahan Gets Married Contribution Asked For The Defence Of The Scottsboro Boys Dear Friend: Mob lynfhing in Maryland, Missouri* California LYNCH LAW IN ALABAMA! For the third time Hey wood Patterson, and for the second time Clarnce Norris are sentenced to die in the electric chair. Both convicted contrary to the evidence. Ruby Bates’ testimony that they are innocent was disregarded. Judge Horton’s opinion, reversing the last jury’s verdict as contrary to the evidence Was disregarded. Judge Horton was “removed” and replaced by Judge Callahan. 1 This judge “forgot” to instruct the jurors how to bring in a verdict if they found the boys “not guilty,” instructing them only how to word their verdict of “guilty.” The State’s Attorney admitted before the court that his plea to the jury wTas “an appeal to passion.” The court was turned into a forum from which to appeal to the basest passions of hatred and violence against black men because they are black. The Scottsboro boys stood between such “justice” and violent lynching. SEVEN OF THE BOYS HAVE A SHORT RESPITE. THEIR LIVES DEPEND UPON US. We must take appeals to the Supreme Court of Alabama—and should wTe fail there—to the Supreme Court of the United States. The printing alone for these briefs, in the State Supreme Court will cost $3,500, and they must be com plete and ready within 30 days of December 7th. In ad dition, $1,500 is immediately required for the court stenographers’ fees and other fees connected with the appeal. Again we ask all those who feel outraged by in justice, lynching, and class discrimination to help us in this struggle for elementary justice. WILL YOU SEND US A CONTRIBUTION QUICKLY? Do not fail these boys in this critical moment. Sincerely, Signed: William L. Patterson THE EARNINGS CONFISCATION PROGRAM Millions of electric security hold ers in the United States are awaken ing to the fact that they have a verv vital and direct interest in taxation. In several states for example, (here is now talk of gross earnings taxes on electric companies up to as high as 7 per cent Think what that would mean! There is already a federal gross earnings leectric tax of 3 per cent. Such taxes are in ad dition to all other taxes and the elect ric companies are prohibited from adding these taxes to their rates. What other industry is denied the right to add taxes to cost of opera tloaT * ’• » Such a policy means that the money for this special and class taxa tion must come from the security owners, the employes, or upkeep and service on the system. What woud a grocery store, de partment store, meat market or shoe factory say to a gross earnings tax j which it was prohibited from addling to cost of production? Utility companies are not fighting taxation. They are willing to paj their full share of the cost of govern ment? But their stockholders anc employes begin to see the injustiaa of taxation which applies to them only and not to other persons. If the cost of taxation is to be shoved up to the point of all profit confiscation, then let it apply to all alike. But don’t confiscate the earn ings of one industry or business to favor another. Readff The [Guide SOUTH GROUP CONDEMNS LYNCHINGS METHODIST BOARD URGES PUN ISHMENT OF MOB MEMBERRS —PROTESTS ATTITUDE OF GOVERNOR ROLPH. Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 21—Shocked by recent ontbreaks of mob violence in this state and elsewhere, the staff of the Board of the Methodist Epis copal Curch, South, has issued a statement vigorously condemning lyncing and its chief apologist, Gov ernor olph, and urging Federal, State and County officials “to use their ut most power to prevent lynching and to mete out prompt and adequate punishment” to the members of lynching mobs. The statement de plores the recent lynching near Co lumbia, Tenn., and commends the ef forts of Governor McAlister and Sheriff Bam man to apprehend and punish those guilty of this crime. In a letter transmitting the state ment to the CoCmmission on Inter racial Cooperation. Dr. W. F. Quilli an. General Secretary of the Board, gives the Comm ism on the following assurance as to the attitude of the Southern Methodist Church, the second largest denomination in this section, with about three mi lion mem bers: “The Staff of this board ia inex pressibly shocked at the evidences of lawlessness current over this country and partialiy-y at the lynching which occured at Columbia, Teniu, on the 15th of this month. It is our wis to assure you that we are doing everything in our power throughout all the agencies of our Churc and through local agencies to cooperate m and give support to all efforts to ward stamping out this vile crime” Following is the full text of the resolutions adopted by the Board’s staff. “Whereas, the daily press has re cently carried notices to the effect that Governor Rolph of California has condoned lynching and has de clared his deliberate purpose to par don any who may be brought before him in connection with a recent lynching in his stats, “And whereas within the past few days there has occured in Maury County, Tenn., a lynching of unusual brutality, "Therefore, be it resolved that the Staff of the Board of Christian Edu j cation of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, registers its strong protest against this action on the part of Governor Roph. We heartily approve the attitude a ad expressed purpose on the part of Governor Mc Aister of Tennessee, and Sheriff Bauman of Davidson County, to up hold the law and to use every pos sile means to apprehend and punish those guilty of this crime. We note with apprehension that the number of lynchings in te nation has gTeatly increased during the present year, there having been already twenty eight as against ten in the year 1932. “This is a direct thrust at gov ernment and is an out.age against the law of the land. The only safety for our civilization lies in a proper regard for law and a wholesome re spect for our courts of justice. We urge officials oth Federal, State and county, to use their utmost power to prevent lynchings throughout the na tion, and to mete out prompt and adequate punishment to those who may be convicted of this crime.” 1 Daughter Of Father Williams Marries Mrs. Dorothy Williams the daught er of the late Rev. John Albert Wil liams and Mrs. Williams, 1119 N. 21 St. who now resides in Tulsa, Okla., where she is a teacher in the public schools, was married Tuesday December 26, 1933 to Mr. Ottis Isaac of Tulsa, Okla. Mr. Isaac is also a teacher in the public schools in a near city. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac will visit with her mother, family and nfany friends at the end of their school year. A delightful New Years all night supper party was given at the resi dence of Mr. and Mrs. James Bell, in honor of their nephew Cliff ton Jones, who is visiting from Pitts burgh, Pa. Some of the guests present were: Mr. and Mrs. Whheatley, Mr. and Mrs. Nat Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. El lison, Mrs. Allen Jones, Mrs. Eva Blaire, Mrs. Della Greene, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Johnson, Mrs. Emma Gjvens and Jjunior, Mrs. Bernice Payne of Chicago, Mr. Mark of Ne braska City, Mrs. Ada Jones, sister of Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Givens, Mr. Cliff Jones of Pittsburgh, Mr. Louie Artison, Miss Mavine Blaire, Miss June Artison, Miss Ruth Williams, Miss Dorothy Bell. A delightful and enjoyable night was spent by both the young and their elders. SENDS N A A C P FITE DOLLARS FROM PRISON New York, N. Y. Dec. 31—From behind the grim walls of the Michi gan state prison, the N A A C P received today a $5 check for mem bership and renewal of subscription to the ORISIS. The accompanying etter signed by V. E. Millar, reads in part: “I am glad to be able to continue my membership and to re ceive as usual the great magazine printed by our people It is my opinion that every broadminded per son in our race should take interest in something for the betterment of not one but all.” “NOT A DAMN THING FOR NEGROES” SAYS JACKSON MISSISSIPPI MAYOR New York, Dec. 29.—When a com- * mittee of leading colored citizens of i Jackson, Miss, recently asked civic authorities for a park, a playground, a awimming pool, a library, paved streets in the Negro section, two new grammer schools, extension of the sewerage system and higher wages for Negro teachers, Mayor Walter A Scott angrily informed them that he “would aot do a damaed thing they asked and that if they didn’t like the way things were being run in Jackson to get out of town.” were based on thp turning over by federal government o fover $380,000 to the city for public improvements Co aid unemployment, and since Negroes constituted 45 per cent of the population and had none of the improvements requested, some of the money should be expended for their bnefit. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has registered a strong complaint with Civil Works Administrator Harry L». Hojkins. The Jackson mayor says no more skilled work wll be given Negroes. White me chanics have been getting $1 an hour and Negroes 30 cents for a 30 hour week. J. J. Halbert, CWA ad mnistrator at Jackson recently an nounced that he hoped “to have every white man who has been on work relief rolls employed on CWA projects by the end of the week.” New Years Morn ing Shooting Fray Mrs. Frances Ruth Black. Cole formerly of Lincoln, Nebr., who has liven in Omaha for the past three or four years, was shot at 2219 Grace St about 3:40 a m January 1, 1934. Mrs. Cole is in a serious condition at the Covington Hospital, where 3he was operated on Jan 4, and the bullet was moved from against the brain. The doctors at the hospital stated that if Mrs. Cole pulled through for twenty-four ours, she would have a chance to recover. A call at the hos pital Friday at 1 p m by the Omaha Cuide Office revealed that she is ■still in a serious condition, and has not gained consciousness since the shooting. Mr. James Cole, who resides at 2109 Miami St., her husand, is held at the police station pending the out come of Mrs. Cole. Mr. Cole refuses to make any statement in reference to the shooting at the advice of his Attorney, A V. Shotwell. The following is the information 'we have been able to secure from diffirent sources of rumors: That Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Edna Taylor was in a cafe on 24th St. and Mr. Cole came into the cafe and demanded her to permit him to carry her home. It is alleged that she refused to have im accompany her but immediately went home himself. Mr. Cole and Mrs. Edna Taylor got in Mr. Cole’s car and drove to Mrs. Cole’s home at 2219 Grace. They went into Mrs. Cole’s room, and they got into a heated argument, and Mrs. Taylor left the room, and as she wa3 leav ing and had gotten between the 3teps and the gate, she eard the report of the rvolver. Te rumor is that Mrs. Cole was shot during a tussal for possession of the revolver with her It is reported that the bullet en tered her face above the mout, near the nose, and lodged against the knit. “PRIMITIVE BRUTALITY” CITS® BY SEN. WAGNER, SPEAKING FOR FEDERAL ANTI LYNCH LAW. New York, Dec. 29.—In an imsa licited letter couched in his usual frank language, Senator Robert F. Wagner of New York, has written Walter White, secretary of the Na tional Association for the Advance ment of Colored People that the Costigan federal anti-lynching bill will have his most r.ctive support. Senator Wagner calls the lynching wave of the past few months a "shocking reversion to primitive brutaity” and states: “The courage and nobiity with which the Negro race is waging the war against lynching should receive not only the militant cooperation of every citizen, but also the approbation and assist ance of federal law.” The complete text of his letter fol lows: AMARILLO NRA MEANS: NEGROES ROBBED AGAIN New York, Dec. 29.—An Amarillo Texas Negro worker has complained to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People against the difference in wages paid Mack and white workers there under the NRA. Where whites receive $14 and $15 a week, NegToes are getting $8 but never more than $10 weekly. The writer asks the N A A C P if this is in accordance with the NRA i codes. WHITE WOMAN AIDS N A A C P DEFENSE New York, Dec. 29.—Sending for the N A A C P Crawford defense fund and a subscription to the CRISIS, Mrs. Esther Gerber, a white woman, of Fresno, Calif., writes: “I have only a small living income and want a radio badly but will contribute to this worthy cause and cut out Xmas gifts and cards. I would like to know whether the rank and file of colored people give generously to these Association appeals. It would be a means of education them and improvinig their morale as a people, I believe.”