. . . EDITORIALS . . .
The Omaha Guide
Published every Saturday at 2418-20 Giant St.,
Omaha, Neb.
Phone WEbsrer 1750
Entered as Second Class Matter March 15, 1927
at the Post Office at Omaha, Neb., under the Act
of Congress of March 3, 1879.
Terms of Subscription $2.00 per year.
Race prejudice must go. The Fatherhood of
God and the Brotherhood of Man must pre
vail. These are the only principles which will
stand the acid test of good citizenship in time
of peace, war and death.
Omaha, Nebraska, Saturday, July 6, 1935
NEW DAY DAWNS FOR LIBERIA
ONCK again the United States has accorded diplo
matic recognition to Liberia and the two countries
have resumed the cordial relations that existed prior
to 1930. Furthermore, Washington is to give its
moral support to President Barclay’s plan to reform
labor and health evils, and will be seen in the fa
miliar role of best friends and protector.
To colored Americans who for five years have
viewed Liberia’s desperate plight with grave con
cern, announcement of reapproachment is a most
cheering piece of news in more ways than one. But
what occasions widespread elation Is the knowledge
that, thanks to the sympathetic interest of Uncle
Sam, the Republic of Liberia will continue to be a
free and sovereign state. For Liberia to have been
deprived of its political independence'and territorial
integrity would have been a sad blow to Negroes
everywhere.
Presdent Edwin Barclay, who in the past, has
borne the blunt of the none too favorable reactions
growing out of the Liberian crisis, emerges today
as the little republic’s strong man. He has over
come opposition both from within and without. De
spite warning from the League of Nations that un
less Liberia accepted the plan formulated at Geneva
the black nation in all likelihood would lose its sov
ereignity and autonomy President Barclay flatly
turned it down. He contended powers delegated
to the Chief Adviser were too dictatorial, and that
as Chief Executive of the nation he intended to be
the court of last resort and no outsider.
In May, 1934, Great Britain, reaching the con
clusion that Liberia did not intend to accept the
League plan, appealed to fhe American Government
to take the initiative in giving Liberia a suitable
reconstruction program. Secretary Hull evinced ad
mirable judgment in sending to Liberia his assist
ant, Harry A. .McBride, who had served as financial
adviser to the Liberian Government with distinc
tion. and who enjoys the confidence of the Liberian
people from the President down. The adjustment
conferences between President Barclay and Mr.
McBride formed the foundation for subsequent
developments and final recognition. The Depart
ment of State next sent to Monrovia as Charge d’
Affairs, Frederick P. Hibbard who had been keep
ing in daily touch with the Liberian situation. His
intelligent and conciliatory approach helped to
smooth the way in the Liberian capital.,
Aside from the health and labor reforms urged
upon Liberia, its finances had become badly tangled
arising from its financial default since 1932 of pay
ments to the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company,
which has lease of a million acres in Liberia for
the growing of rubber. The American concern had
lent Liberia $5,000,000. In recent months President
Barclay and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., made new
agreements. Firestone is to receive from the gov
ernment five instead of seven per cent interest and
payments are to be resumed. It was directly after
the Liberian Legislature had ratified these agree
ments that Washington accorded Monrovia recogni
tion.
President Barclay’s plan to reform is said to
embrace many of the important points included in
the League’s plan. However, the chief adviser will
be responsible to him instead of to the League or
anyone else as originally provided. Backed by the
American government, and with diplomatic rela
tions renewed, Liberia’s future appears particularly
bright.
Negro Subway Conductors
J^KCrROES as conductors on the subway! A long
cherished hope became an actuality in New York
( ity at midnight* Sunday when members of the
race were put to work on the eity-owned Eighth
avenue subway. They received notice too late to
get fitted for uniforms, but proudly donned the
regulation cap. Seven are said to have been as
signed to cars by Monday afternoon with pros-1
pects of the number being swelled to thirteen be
fore the end of the week.
The advent of the Negro subway conductor is
epoch-making in New York City. Here-to-fore only
white men have been considered eligible for em
ployment as conductors and motormen on local sur
face, subway and “L lines. Even the bus carriers
find some excuse for not employing Negroes, al
though thousands of the group patronize them daily.
^ * re new Eighth Avenue Subway owned or
controlled by private interests it is doubtful wheth
er the Negro would enjoy the economic recognition
. e now reeeivcs. It has been due to an unwavering,
intelligent campaign waged by Harlem leaders that
as motivated municipal authorities to throw down
the barriers which so long have made impossible
the employment of colored men as conductors and
motormen. For months Alderman Conrad Johnson
and other interested citizens appealed to members
of the Transk Board and various city officials for
a square deal on behalf of all who took the civil
service examinations, pointing out that in the case
of Negro applicants gross discrimination sometimes
had been practiced.
Announcement was recently made that out of
130 to pass the Civil Service test for conductors
thirteen were Negroes.
Joe Louis and the Title
WHEN announcement was made over the radio
that James J. J. Braddock had defeated Max Baer
for the heavy-weight championship of the world a
mighty cheer went up in Harlem where the decision
was a popular one. The fact that the former Jersey
longshoreman was the under-dog in the contest was
one reason Harlemites were pulling for him to win.
Maybe they were also influenced by Baer’s selection
of Primo Camera as probable victor over Joe Louis.
But this pro-Braddock sentiment may be primarily
attributable to the feeling existing at the time that
the newly-crowned king of the fistic arena would
1 willingly accept a challenge from the sensational
Detroit battler.
In picturing a meeting in the ring between Brad
dock and Louis in the very near future enthusiastic
Harlemites were making a wish the father of
thought. They did not reason like cold-blooded, utir
sentimental dopesters of puglism who make it their
business to be in the know. These authorities will
unhesitatingly state that there is not the slightest
chance of a Braddoekt-Louis fight in 1935, and
much will depend on future developments as to
whether the two engage in fistic combat in 1936.
If such a match does not come to pass it may be
a question of how much the drawing of the color
line will play. At present, however, it' can be said
that other factors are chiefly responsible for Brad
dock’s failure to give Louis immediate considera
tion. Had Baer won prospects of Louis getting a
chance at the championship title possibly in 1935
would1 have been bright, for Max undoubtedly
would have taken on the winner of the Louis-Car
nera bout. Baer and his manager never have been
as securely tied up in contracts with the Madison
Square Garden as other pugilists, and were in a
position to accept terms from rival promoters if in
ducements were sufficiently alluring.
When Braddock, dead broke and endeavoring to
make a come-back, signed to fight Baer under the
auspices of Madison Square Garden, it is a certainty
he made commitments which he is legally and mor
ally bound to keep. It is not surprising that he has
turned down an offer of $200,000 to fight Schmel
ing in Germany. If there is to be a Braddock
Schmeling setto it will be put on by the Madison
Square Garden management. It made the return
of good times and the capture of a world’s cham
pionship title possible for Braddock and quite
naturally expects to cash in on its investment.
Janie J. Braddock is almost ten jiears older than
Joe Louis. If the latter is the fistic marvel pro
claimed by fight experts, the champion’s managers
are going to see to it that much easy money is made
before they send their protege to slaughter. In all
fairness, Braddock is nothing more than a second
rate fighter. As one writer deelarede: “While
Braddock was bad, Baer was worse.”
With youth on his side and with managers
who have shown astuteness in his interest, Joe Louis
can bide his time, scores more knockouts and con
tinue to grow in public favor. His big chance is
bound to come. John Koxborough and Julian Black
have brought him a long way within little over
a year. I hat they will eventually open up an op
portunity fpr him to fight for the heavy-weight
championship title is inevitable.
Back to The Farm
'P WO recent surveys cast new light on the current
status of agriculture.
There has been a small but encouraging rise in
value of American farms. Between March, 1934
and March, 1935, values rose in 30 states, declined
in but five and remained unchanged in the other
13.
“Back to the Farm” is becoming a reality.
Where a few years ago, the farm population was
being depleted by an exodus to the cities, the trend
has completely reversed and streams of people are
going from urban to rural areas. A number of rea
sons lie behind this, such as industrial unemploy
ment, the development of profitable specialty farm
ing, and the desire of inunigrants to leave the cities
for the land.
In addition, the number of individual farms is on
the increase. In New England alone there were
162,000 producing farms on January 1, 1935, in
contrast to 125.000 on April 1, 1930.
All in all, it is safe to say that the agricultural
situation is basically better now than at any time
since the depression set in.
* * *
AN Oregon housewife recently advertised for a
maid to help with housework. She had few replies.
An applicant refused twenty-five dollars a month,
saying she was getting that “working” for the
government “on relief,” doing nothing.
I
ECONOMIC
HIGHLIGHTS
Happenings That Affect the Din
ner Pails, Dividend Checks and
Tax Bills of Every Individual.
National, and.. International
Problems Inseparable from Lo
cal Welfare.
—0O0—
The President's new tax pro
gram was greeted with amaze
ment by the nation; including
practically all Congressmen save
for the Administration floor lead
ers who had been informed of
what was coming.
The amazement was due less to
the terms of the program, than to
the fact that he President should
put it forward for consideration
at this Congressional session,
which is already far behind sched
ule, is weighed down with half a
dozen or so other proposals of the
first importance, and which seems
to have little chance of adjourn
ing before the middle of Septemb
er, in spite of industry’s devout
wish that it would wind up its
!business and go home. Experts
say that it would take ta least a
month to properly draw such a
bill as the President proposes, and
as much more time to get it
I through the Congress.
The Prseident’s plan belongs in
[the “share-the-wealth” category.
It includes increased income taxes
in the higher brackets, and stiffer
corporation, gift, inheritance and
'estate taxes. And it would do
away with tax-exemption of gov
ernment bond.s
Of great significance was the
attitude of the principal American
newspapers, all of which expres
sed their views in editorials on
the following day.
The more extreme opposition
papers said that the President’s
proposal definitely alignned him
with the left-wing Long-Coughlin
school of national economy. Mid
jdle of the ground papers, for the
| most part, simply said they be
lieved the bill was wrong in prin
ciple, praising parts of the plan
iand criticizing other parts. Rela
tively few papers approved of the
proposal in toto. Representative
opinion was expressed by the At
lanta Constitution, which 6aid
that the plan “conflicts with the
[promise oft-repeated that there
there would be no tax increases
during this session of Congress;
for Congress to remain in session
for the length of time necessary
to enact the program, wuold be a
national calamity.”
Many observers siad that the
higher taxes on income, etc.,
wrould simply stifle industrial ini
tiative, frighten investors, and
thus further retard recovery. On
the other hand, the majorty of
commentators seem to favor the
provision for taxing government
securities. Senator Byrd of Vir
ginia, a conservative Democrat, at
once introduced a bill and a con
stitutional amendment to make
that possible.
All in all. response to the bill is
not what the President might
have expected; and it is extreme
ly doubtful if he will be able to
muster his usual Congressional
support behind it. Congressmen
are being deluged with letters
pro-testing the existing burden of
taxation, and they will naturally
be chary of increasing it further.
In the opinion of the well-inform
ed Wall Street Journal, the bill
will go into committee, will be
treated as if it were on the
“must” list for the current ses
sion ; but will be put over until
next year when it is found that it j
will necessitate too long a delay.
There was one other important
legislative act during the week in
review. The House eommtitee
came out with approval of a Pub
lic Holding Company bill which
is in sharp contrast with the bill
that passed the Senate. Where
the latter provided for the elmina
tion of holding companies, the
House measures propose to string
ently regulate them, Immediate
result of this was a rise in utility
security values.
On June 15 a number of notes
went out from the State Depart
ment in. Washington. Addressed
to the principal foreign powers,
they politely informed them that
their annual installments on the
war-debt were due and payable.
As everyone knew, all the notes,
with the single exception, repre
sented a waste of postage and ef
fort. Every major power owing
this country money had previous
ly onformed us, directly or indi
rectly, that the installments
would not be paid.
Exception, as in the past, was
Finland, which remitted its $165,
453. It is doubtful if anything in
history was done so much to pro
mote respect for that lit He nation
in the United States as its prompt
ness in meeting its debt. The
Senate showed its gratitude by
passing a bill ot appropriate $300,
000 for erection of a diplomatic
and consular building ni Helsing
fors.
America wade war loans to
— ■ ■ _ ■ T -
twenty nations, for a total of
$10,338,000,000. Two billion 747
million of that has been returned.
However, overdue interest pay
ments continue to increase the
debts which will probably remain
forever in the category of repu
diated obligations.
—0O0—
•During May,, the long lagging
construction industry recalled its
high point of the yaer. Residen
tial awards were larger than for
any month in 3 1-2 years and ran
81 per sent ahead of ayear ago.
In spite of the lack of public
works building, non-residential
construction registered a 22 per
cent advance over April.
-.
Roosevelt Hails N. A.
C. P. “Has Rendered
Important Service”
St. Louis, July 6,—A message of
greeting from President Franklin
D. Roosevelt was read at the opening
session of the twenty-sixth annual
conference here Tuesday evening,
June 25, in which he hailed its “im
portant service in focusing attention
on the needs and problems of the Ne- j
gro race.” The complete message
follows:
“The White House,
Washington
“TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIA
TION FOR THE ADVANCE
MENT OF COLORED PEOPLE:
“I wish to take this opportunity
to extend greetings to the National
Association for the Advencement of
Colored People and through it to all
those throughout the country who
are working in the interest of our
Negro citizens. The kind of volun
tary activity in which this organiza
tion is engaged has helped to devel
op a channel for the free di. cussion
of important issues and problems,
and to increase public enlightment.
“The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People has
rendered an important service in
focusing attention on the aeeds and
problems of the Negro race,”
“Franklin D. Roosevelt”
Ickes Says PWA Is Fighting
Discrimination.
A lengthy message of greeting
from Secretary of the Interior Har
old L, Ickes was read to the Confer
ence in which the director of the Pub
lic Works Administration told of the
steps taken by him to halt discrim
ination against Negro workers on
public works projects. Reviewing
the two years of operation of the
PWA, he declared that “there has
never been a question of discrimina
tion against any project submitted by
or for the benefit of Negroes” but
admitted that “With regard to em
ployment, our problem has been more
difficult-” He then told of his order
of September 21, 1933, against em
ployment discrimination based on
color or creed, but adding that “it
soon became apparent that we had
not accomplished our purpose.” In
conclusion his message related the
steps taken by his administration to
insure fair employment ratio for
Negro skilled labor on the Techwood
development in Atlanta and the Ced
ar Central Housing project in Cleve
land, Ohio, through non-discrimina
tory clauses in building contracts.
“We believe these contracts will
point the way to doing away with
discrimination against Negro labor,
and the results so far warrant this
belief,’ he said. I assure you, how
ever, that if such does not prove to
be the case, we shall try other meth
ods to accompli, h a result that
closely engages our interest.”
Wagner and Costigan Greet
Conference.
Greetings were also read to the
assembled delegates from Senators
Robert F. Wagner and Edward P.
Costigan, authors of the Costigan
Wagner federal anti-lynching Bill.
Senator Wagner dedared that “the
majority of members of Congress are
determined to continue the campaign
for the passage of federal anti
lynching legislation until that end is
attained.” Senator Costigan ex
pressed the hope that “your next con
venton will record the proven quick
ened conscience and sense of justice
of America at least through the en
actment by Congress of the long
pending proposed federal anti-lynch
ing legislation.” Both senators were
prevented from attending the Con
frence by pressure of public business
in Washington.
Absent Officers Hail Association’s
Success.
Miss Mary White Ovington, direc
tor, treasurer and one of the Asser
tion’s founders, wrote: “I am sure
that the conference will be a great
success. The need for work in the
cause of the American Negro was
never greater, but I believe that the
indifference to his fate, against
which we have had continually to
fight, is not as great now as it was.
To overcome indifference, in both
races, has been our task for twenty
five years. We have all done some
thing and you and your co-workers
will do muSh more.”
Dr. Louis T. Wright, Chairman of
the N. A* A. C. P. Board of Direct
ors, who was prevented from attend
ing the conference by his duties as
police surgeon in New York, ex
pressed gratitude “to the branches,
the executive staff, the national of
ficers and the Board of Directors,
for the many sacrifices in time,
money, and in physical effort, which
alone enabled us to win many rm
portant battles in our fight for hu
man right . Today we face a chang
ing world and the association is
needed by black America more than
ever if we are not to lose many hard
earned advances—and I am confi
dent that the wisdom of your collect
ive judgment will materially impi-ove
our social, economic and political
. tatus/'
Scores New York
Public Utilities For
Barring Negroes
St. Louis, July 6,—Speaking here
Wednesday night at the 26th annual
conference of the National Associa
tion for the Advancement of Colored
People, Hubert T. Delany, Commis
sioner of Taxes and Assessments of
the City of New York, a director of
the Asociation and a member of the
commission appointed by Mayor
Fiorella H, LaGuardia of New York,
to investigate the conditions which
cau ed the recent Harlem riot, scored
th policy of white retail stores and
public utility companies in taking
money from Negroes and yet refus
mg them employment.
“We have stores in Harlem which
live upon the 200,000 people of the
community, refu: ing to give employ
ment to those who support and make
possible the operation of these stores.
We have utility companies such as
tlephone, gas and electric, and trans
portation who extract millions of dol
lars from the community, some of
whom give no employment to Ne
groes at all, and most of whom em
ploy far fewer Negroes than is rep
resented by the proportional earn
ings they derive from the commun
ity. None of these companies, in
cluding the milk distributors, have
Negroes in other than in menial jobs.
“While tl do not wish to touch
specifically upon the events of March
19, I am convinced that discrimina
tion in employment, the lack of hous
ing facilities, police brutality, oc
casional injustice n the courts, each
played ther part in the disturbance
which occured, which was by no
means a race riot. It was an active
expression of a resentful community
against those who have exploited
them and have failed to enable a
pople, though willing, to be able to
provide for themselves the necessities
that citizens of any civilized com
munity needr :
He stated that these conditions
were not new in New York and were
present in every large urban center,
jn the United States in worse meas
ure. “The government of the city
of New York does not condone segre
gation and discrimination,” he said,
“nor does it have laws that permit
segregation and discrimination. Yet
if such an outburst could occur in
the city of New York with both the
letter and spirit of the law on a high
er plane that it is found in any oth
er city in the country, how much
more possible it is for outbursts far
more serious to occur than the one
in Harlem. To merely talk of these
conditions is not enough- We must
fight aggressively for their exterm
ination. These fights cannot be won
with mere words.”
N. A. A. C. P. Conference Day Ses
sions Lively.
The day sessions of the N. A. A.
C. P. Conference were among the
most interesting in years. On Wed
nesday, Rev. Roy L. Young, presi
dent of the Meridian, Miss, branch
held the close attention of the dele
gates as he recited the frame-up of
Brown, Ellington and Shields by the
Kemper County Miss, authorities.
The Meridian delegation of three and
the Jackson, Miss,, delegation of two,
pledged that the colored people of
Mississippi would get behind this
case and call upon the rest of the
country to help fight for the libera
tion of.these men.
Roscoe Dunjee, militant editor of
the Black Dispatch of Oklahoma
City, and president of the Oklahoma
State conference of branches, told of
the Jess Hollins case and the mag
nificent fight made to save him. He
said the fight had infused a new
spirit in Oklahoma Negroes.
Irvin C. Mollison, president of the
Illinois conference of branches, de
tailed the numerous victories in civil
rights cases won by the Chicago
branch against restaurants, taverns
and buses, and gave a resume of the
Leander McCiine extradition case
won by the Chicago branch. Eight
lawyers, he said, devoted much of
their time to the legal work of the
Chicago branch.
Ward Rodgers Tells of Negro
Farmer’s Plight.
On Thursday Ward H. Rodgers, a
white Texan, recently arrested for
organizational work among Arkansas
sharecroppers, and Mrs. Brown, a
Negro farm woman from the central
South, provided one of the liveliest
discussions of the conference when
they told of the plight of the Negro
farmers. Their remarks were fol
lowed by prolonged applause.
Lajrfcon Weston of St. Louis spoke
on the problems facing the Negroes
engaged in transportation: dining
car men, porters, trainmen, and oth
ers, and called for support for them
by all organizations.
On Thursday evening John P.
Davis, of Washington, D. C., secre
tary of the Joint Committee on Na
tional Recovery, reviewed the entire
new deal program as it related to
colored people in hi s characteristic
fashion and flayed those who have
AUTHOR
Gorge Wiley Henderson, whose re
cent book, “Ollie Miss/’ published by
Frederick A. Stokes, is receiving the
praise of book lovers and critics of
j the nation. (ANP Photo)
kept the Negro outside of such re
covery as has been made.
Pickens Pays Tribute to
Mrs. Bethune.
On Friday night, the 21st, Spring
arn M edal was presented to Mrs.
[ Mary McLeod Bethune, president of
Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona
Beach, Floriad, by Mr. William Pick
ens, field secretary of the N. A. A.
C( P. Dean Pickens paid high tribute
to Mrs. Bethune’s work as an edu
cator and to her fearless espousal of
the rights of colored people in the
south and particularly in the state of
Florida. He recalled her work in the
interest of the N. A. A, C. P. and her
assistance in building up the branch
es in the state of Florida
At 1:45 p. m. Sunday June 30,
Walter White, the association’s sec
retary spoke over KMOX.
The sessions of the conference
closed with a giant mass meeting at
the municipal auditorium, Sunday
afternoon*
St. Louis Mayor
Welcomes N. A. A.
C. P. Conference
St. Louis, July 3,—Mayor Bernard
P. Dickmann of this city welcomed
the delegates and visitors to the 26th
annual conference of the National As
sociation for the Advancement of
Colored People Tuesday evening ia
the auditorium of Vashon High
School. In a short and straightfor
ward speech he assured them that
St- Louis was happy to entertain aa
association whose purpose was “to
make 14,000,000 Americans economic
ally, politically and socially free”.
He outlined what St. Louis was try
ing to do for its colored citizens
stressing particularly the new hospit
al and nurses training school now
under construction
Henry D. Espy, president of the
St. Louis branch, welcomed the as
sociation on behalf of the colored
citizens and the branch.
Delegates were present from 26
etates and the District of Columbia.
Comedan’s
Family Visits
Los Angeles, Cali., July 3,(ANP)—
Mrs. Cora Dickerson, mother of Dud
ley Dickerson, ace comedian at Se
bastian’s Cotton club, with her two
daughters Hotense and Alyce, from
Chickasha, Oklahoma, are summer
vi: itors.
Work or Play As a
Vacation Program
By R. A. Adams
(For the Literary Service Bureau)
Often indolent youngsters and in
dulgent mothers quote the axion, “All
work and no play will make Jack
a dull boy.” But while the utility of
this old saying is questionable it is
patent that all play and no work
will make Jack an indolent, shiftless
and dependent boy.
The parents of a fifteen-year-old
boy disagreed as to the boy’s voca
tion program. Father insisted that
the boy should do some work in order
to develop in him initiative and self
dependence. He argued he should
earn money to cover his vacation ex
pense and help supply necessities for
the next school year.
Mother took the opposite view. She
contended that after nine months of
confinement and hard study, brother
needed rest, and recreation, in order
to be fit for the work of the next
year. She answered Father’s conten
tion concerning “initiative” and
“self-dependence” with ‘He will have
time enough for that when he’s fin
ished high school.” She seemed not
to recognize that character is the
composite thing made up of our va
rious habits, and that character is
formed in youth.
Mother had her way. Brother
worked hard on the base ball
grounds, on the tennis court and on
fishing tours- Often he was so tired
he was compelled to sleep till noon,
But Father’s contention proved cor
rect. He was handicapped because
he failed to devlop iniative and self
dependence. And in after years
brother confessed that Dad’s views
were right.
These thoughts merit considera
tion, especially at this time.