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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1935)
EDITORIALS The Omaha Guide Published every Saturday at 2418-20 Grant St., J Omaha, Neb. Phone WEbster 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 -----I Race prejudice must £*■.■ 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 13, 1935 A RECOERY MEASURE The magnitude of the American railroad in dustry in vividly presented by an item from Public Utilities Fortnightly, which says: ‘‘Our railroad system repreents one tenth of the national produc- j live capital or wealth. It is equal to the value of ail the farm lands; two thirds of all the minerals, oil and gas: twice the value of all the privately owned timber lands: and it is just about equal to the value of all the machinery and equipment of Americas factories.’ Here is our greatest single industry—and here also is an industry which has suffered more, and for j a longer time, from unfair regulatory policies, than any other. The rails have been in a continual, in' creasing depression ever sinee the war. Even dur ng the boom days, when the average business was prospering and earning money at an unprecedented rate, net railroad revnue was well under the five per cent mark. And during the last few years, in spite of rigorous economics and aggressive retrench ment the lines as a whole have barely broken even— many of them have been foreed to forego interest payments, and a few are in the hands of receivers. The reason for this is simple: A government policy whieh over-regulates the railroads in every phase of operation—while permitting other, com peting carriers, which are less important to the na tional welfare, to go all or partly free of regula tion. In addition, some carriers, of which the wat-1 erways art a notable example, are subsidized with taxpayer's money to the tune of hundreds of mil lions a year to actually destroy railroad business. A bill is now pending in Congress which would par tially eliminate these injustices, by extending the kind of regulation exerted over the rails, to other carriers. That bill has been endorsed by econo" mists, industrialists and high public of ficials. and bears the stamp of approval of the President. It is definitely a recovery measure—and Congress would do well to tak time off from de bating legislative monstrosities to pass it. SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE One of the outstanding developments in life in surance during the past decade or two has been the change in the calibre of the agent. Not so long ago, the life insurance agent was a salesman and nothing more- His business was to sell policies as fast as he could. He didn’t bother with analyzing the needs of his clients, so that they could obtain the utmost in investment and protection. ' 4 Today the average underwriter has raised his calling to the dignity of a profession. His first step is to inquire into a client s indivdual status and requirements, and to draw up a comprehensive in surance program accordingly. He knows that a program that fits John Jones to a nicety may be fundamentally wrong for Richard Smith who works at the next desk. He realizes that the kind of in- j surance a man carries is as important, and perhaps more important than the amount. As a result the American citizen is better and more soundly insured today than ever before. He gets more for each dollar he spend's. And his own future and that of his dependents is consequently more secure. * * • j © -- _____ LIGHT ON ONARIO POWER In a recent address. Arthur W. Roebuck. K. t., M. L. A . Attorney-General of the Province of Ontario and Commissioner of the famed Ontario Hydro-Eleetric Power Commission, brought out some startling facts concerning the past experi ence of the power system which is owned by the Province. In 1932, the system sustained a deficit of. $2, 545.000. In 1933, the deficit was $4,237,000. And in 19:34 it was $2,870,000—in spite of the fact that a new Commission had recently taken control and reduced executive salaries by $98,000 a year, and general expense by approximately $1,000,000 per year. In addition, these figures do not include ob solescence or contingency charges- I fthey were included, the deficits would be substantially great er. Nor does the System, being a government ven ture, pay the usual taxes. Mr. Roebuck said that many persons complain bitterly of the rates charged for Ontario power— yet the rates are well under the actual cost of the power to the Province. For example in Ontario during 1934 the rate to the consumer was $26.13 per horsepower—the actual cost of the power was $3085. Similar discrepancies were registered for other communities served and on the average, the System sold power costing $29.68 for $26.17. Mr. Roebuck blames this unfortunate operating experience primarily on one thing—and that thing is politics. Poor management, bad and unjustified contracts whereby the System purchases power pro duced by other systems even though it has no mark et for it, political buccaneering of various kinds— these are responsible for exploding the electric Utopia visioned by the founders of the System. This seems to be the truth about the much lauded Ontario power venture, which is often re ferred to by American advocates of government ownership as providing proof of the blessings that would immediately follow socialization fo the pri vate power companies in this country. Iu the light [of Attorney-General Roebuck’s remarks, do wre want to follow Ontario’s costly example? A BULWARK OF CONSTITUTIONAL — It has often been said that the greatest safe guard to liberty and constitutional government in the United States, is the country press. No nation is so well covered with local newspapers. The thousands of publishers of these local pap ers generally own and edit their own publications. They are independent and express their own opin ions. They are among our highest type of citizens and have a thorough understanding of t h e prin ciples upon which our government is founded re' gardless of their party beliefs. In the great ma: jority they are broadminded enough to put the wel fare of the nation and security for life liberty and property ahead of any party prejudices. That is why the country press of the United States is the greatest champion of the rights and liberties of all the people, as set forth in the funda mental law of our land. If anyone doubts this he has only to read the editorial comment of editors from the four corners of the nation. To illustrate, the editor of the News, pubished in the typical country town of Ruskin, Nebraska, in his issue of June 13. in commenting on the growing tax bills and bureaucratic tendencies in government, says: “ "VN e say, look out! When you get more than half the people on the federal, state, county, munici pal or other public payroll, then you are going to have bureaucracy right, both at home and in Wash ington. As we have said before it is not what we are doing now but the direction in which we are heading that counts ” ___ BUILDING TO RESIST FIRE During the past few years there has been an encouraging increase in the number of cities eon j sidering adopting up-to-date building codes. The larger cities of the country, the National ! Board of Fire Underwriters reports, are especially aetive in building code development. New York, L hicago, St. Louis and others have prepared new | codes and will soon hold publie hearings on them. The states of New York and South Carolina are pre paring codes for statewide application and a code for cities of the third class is being formulated in Pennsylvania. The National Board says that during the last fiscal year it had active contact with 46 cities en gaged either in the revision of existing building laws or the preparation of new ones. It says that the National Board’s model code continues to be the standard on which municipalities formulate their laws making adaptions of its local conditions and problems . The need for modern building codes in towns of all sizes can hardly be exaggerated. Propt-rlv built structures not only resist the start of fire, but tend to hold it to a minimum of damage once it has started. Proof of that lies in the fact that during the last year or so the loss caused by the average Ure has been less than in the past. further, the encouraging drop in total fire loss occurring in recent years is attributed partly to im proved building restrictions, oeupled with more ef ficient, better equipped fire departments. It is obvious that fire prevention is in the inter est of everyone—we all lose when a fire strikes a community. And a first-class, enforced building code is an essential part of a fire prevention cam paign that w-ill produce results. "I am convinced that it is important from the country s standpoint that Congress close up its business and adjourn. —Joseph W- Burns, Speaker j House of Representatives. 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. On April 8, Congress, at the re quest of the President, passed a bill appropriating $4,880,000,000 for work relief. At that time, Mr. Roosevelt stated that by July 1 all the na tion's unemployed who were able to work, would have federal jobs, and would be off the local relief rolls. Juy 1 came and passed. More than $400,000,000 had been ap proved for 474 projects, yet not a single man had been put to work. The reason it two-fold: First, and most important, the works program is supposed to employ 3,500,000 men for one year. If that is done, the cost per worker, including materials, must be held ! down to the very low figure of $1,143. Second ,there has been constant disagreement between Secretary' Ic-kes and Relif Administrator Hopkins. Mr. Icks is the head of the Public Works Administration, and Mr. Hopkins guides the Works Progress Administration. The two bureaus inevitably over lap—and both executives claim jurisdiction over the same pro i jeets Mr. Ickes is of the opinion that relief money should be spent for projects of permanent benefit— grade crossing elimination, river j and harbor developments, road work, etc. Mr. Hopkins, on the other hand, is concerned only with putting men to work, and he knows that the adoption of pro jects in which material costs are high will defeat that purpose. As a result, he favors projects which require only labor, and demand few or no materials—woodland j clearance, malaria control, repairs to public buildings, etc. The two men are so diametrically opposed in their views that it seemed no compromise was possible. A fortnight ago the President stepped in and provided a partial; ! settlement to the problem. He de c-ided the question of jurisdiction by outlining which projets are to be controlled by Mr. Hopkns,; which by Mr. Ickes. Result: All projects involving the expendi ture of less than $25,000 are to be , handled by Mr. .Hopkins; all those costing more, by Mr. Ickes. For example: If the President approves the building of a canal, Mr- Ickes will handle it—if he says yes to a ditch, it will be done by Mr. Hopkins. Mr. Ickes will build highways, while Mr. Hopkins builds trails. Mr. Ickes wll erect public buildings, and Mr. Hopkins will landscape the grounds surrounding them. And so it goes. The works relief program is at last swinging into actual opera tion—and the question that re mains to be answered is whether or not it can find useful and pro ductive jobs for the 3,500,000 heads of families who are still out of work. The legislative sit uation is confused, chaotic. Roosevelt con trol of Congress is not so certain as it once was—as the House vote on the Utilities Act dramatically i proved. In spite of talk about adjournment, the chance seems small that Congressmen will be i able to take the train home before September. Only a remarkable and unlooked-for burst of speed could bring about an August ad journment Here is how some major bills stand: GUFFEY COAL BILL^-This bill, which simply amounts to a rehash of the XRA code, seems certain to pass and to be ap proved by the President, even though it is widely believed to be unconstitutional, as well as unworkable. WAGNER LABOR RELATIONS BILL—Has passed, is apparent ly doomed to certain disap proval bv the Supreme Court. FEDERAL A L C O HOL CON TROL—-The Supreme Court’s XRA decision, disposed of the federal government’s control over liquor, and so made it nec essary to prepare a new bill. The bill has been much de bated, but it is e x p e eted to pass shortly. BUS AND TRUCK BILL—This bill is designed to extend the sort of federal regulation now exerted over the railroads, to the buses and trucks. It has almost unanimous support from private and public sources, will duobtless pass soon. Has been held up by debate on other and more dramatic meaures, but is now getting under wav. FOOD AND DRUG ACT—Hear ings in this bill start shortly. Consumers ’ organizations say the bill is not sufficiently com prehensive, while food and drug makers are for it. The de bate will be hot when the bill comes up—its chances of pass ing, in its preent form, are only fair. BLACK 30-HOUR WEEK BILL —Seems definitely dead, due to Administration opposition. It is thought that the President beleves in the bill’s principle, but is against forcing so ex* tensive a measure on industry now. BANKING BILL—Has been re vamped in the Senate, due to the efforts of conservative | Senator Glass, father of the Federal Reserve Act. Is no longer so comprehensive from the standpoint of federal con trol as it was originally. The Administration wants the orig nal bill, as prepared by Mr- Ec eles, to pass—and a battle looms. Ambrose Gives Supreme Performance Exposition of Modern Dance Mus ic at The Royal Opera House Covent Garden. By Rudolph Dunbar (for ANP) London, England, July 24-—In this epoch where the exposition of mod ern dance music is characterized as a distinctive development of art form, words nearly always fail to portray a panegyric of a supreme perfor mance like that of Ambrose’s Covent Garden Concert last Sunday after-. noon. Bert Ambrose’s sophisticated dance music is the quintesscence of artistic elegance which for over a decade he has been contributing to the intelli gence of English Society. He is now acclaimed as the maestro without parallel in the history of British dance music. Orchestral Colouring The orchestra, which consisted of twenty men, was different from his usual broadcasting unit, being aug mented for this occasion. It is safe to say that the intensity and tonal architecture of the orchestra was un questionably a great advance on any thing of its kind that has been hither to attempted. This demonstrates be yond doubt that Sid Phillips, who ar ranges for the band, is one of the greatest arrangers of modem dance music. The success with which he is able to explore the various instru ments silences criticism. The first number on the program was “DODGING A DIVORCEE.” composed and arranged by Reginald Forsythe. This composer specializes in the exquisitely delicate touch of orchestral texture. “LAMENT FOR CONGO” and “MALANCHOLY CLOWN” were other compositions by Forsythe. The latter gives one the impression of a scherzo orchestrated for dance orchestra, Forsythe’s mu sic is definitely not Negroid because it is devoid of that rhythmic subtility which is characteristc of the Negro temperament. “THAMES RHAPSODY”, a piano con certo, was introduced for the first time- Arthur Young, the composer, played the solo part. This work is a reminiscent of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue”. Save for the scoring, the composition is not interesting and cannot be treated as a work of great significance. The outstanding numbers of the programme were “B'WANGA” and “STREAMLINE STRUT” by Sid Phillips. “B’WANGA” is the name of an African chief. The theme is made of mere fragment of savage passionate utterance which appears like a recurring decimal in the course of the work. The orchestration is skilfully interwoven . with vibrant power of climaxes which excites the nerves and creates hypnotic emotions. “STREAMLINE STRUT” is a great feat in modern orchestration and swing which is lacking in British Bands. These two compositions are the finest pendants of Sid Phillips’ genius. It would be invidious to mention any special section of the orchestra in view of the superlative dexterity of the entire ensemble. The Royal Opera House was filled to capacity and from the enthusiasm of the audience further evidence was added that Bert Ambrose is the great est maestro of modern dance music in Europe. Fails to Impress Jury: Goes To Jail forts on the part of Harper Hard wick to convince the jury that the liquid in a glass jar found on the mantle in his home last week by officers, was “herb medicine’* proved futile and he must serve 30 days in jail for violating the recently passed state liquor law. Hardwick did not have an attor ney so he pleaded his own ease declaring that the liquid was not whisky but “good old fashion herb medicine, made out of gun powder, fire weed, and red wood for rheumatism.” — 1 Notice, Subscribers: If von don’t get your paper by Saturday, 2 p. m call Webster 1750. No reduction in subscriptions unless request is com plied with. N. A. A. C. P. Assumes Legal Offensive To Attack Racial Proscription on Wide Front. New Program Calls For Aggressive Action. New York July 24, (ANP)—Ac t-on of tremendous significance to all American Negroes is expected to characterize the forward movement of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in the next year in pursuit of the pro gram adopted at the delegates' con vention held in St. Louis last month. The work is to be not only broad ened, but intensified also. It is recognized by the leaders of the orgonization today that the old order has passed, Along with the old order have gone some of the older leaders, Eh-. |James Weldon Johnson and Dr. W. E. B. Dubois. Their work was well and dramatically ac complished. They sounded the de mand for full political, social and civ il equality and defended the race against incursions of these rights. Today’s leaders, picking up the torch, recognize new responsibility and economic depresison. They see the Negro, a tragic figure in Ameri can life, frantically grasping the frail periphery of existence and sub sistence in American life- No longer they assert, can the organization be content to make a stand against be ing pushed off into nothingness and utter destitution. The need is for a racial consciousness which will get behind fighting groups which will car ry the battle to those prejudices which deny the Negro his rightful place in American life and obiain for him a position of both political equal ity and economic security. To this end, today's leaders of the Association have consecrated them selves. This was the essence of the fighting message delivered by Wal ter Whi-e, the executive secrtarv. at the St. Louis conference. “Without physical combat,” warned Mr. White, “but destitute men will give their life blood against starva tion. We hope to awaken the Ameri can conscience before the point of violence is reached.” There was something of the pro phetic tone of Ethiopia’s emperor, Haile Selasie, in the dynamic secre tary’s me.-sage, the suggestion that the Association’s leaders are pre pared to exhaut every peaceful means in the struggle for equal opportunity for all American citizens and, if need be, to pay with their lives the price of the liberty they seek for their people. In the past quarter century of use ful effort, the Association has ‘rushed to defend’’ Negroes accused o f crimes involving princples of vital importance to the race. Its policy has been one of legal defense. This is now changed. Though the term was not used in the St Louis con vention, the Association’s future pol icy will emphasize legal offense. The intensified program calls for a legal attack on the barriers to the Negro’s enjoyment of any of the rights and privileges shared by any other class of American citizens. The field marshal chosen for this of fensive is Charles Houston, former v ice dean of the Howard university law school and member of the board of education for the District of Col umbra. The selection of Mr. Hous ton for this task and his acceptance of it represent a significant read pustment in inter-racial point of view. Mr. Houston is a northern Negro, educated at Amherst and Harvard, at both of which institu tions he won scholastic distinction. He is one of those gifted Negroes who all too often find escape from the soul-searing fires of prejudice by turning their backs upon it. Cul tured. in comfortable circumstances all his life, secure in a well-paid po sition at Howard. Houston has turned, not away, but toward pre judice to fight it. In so doing, he not only sacrifices the comparative peace of administrative duties at Howard, but a salary which the N. A. A. C. P. cannot pay him Mr. Houston will attack through the courts the illegal barriers to the Negro’s enjoyment of his full rights and opportunities, Greater empha sis is to be placed upon those discrim inations which deny to the Negro equal educational and work oppor tunities, although the same insistence M P°i>tical and civil discrimination will be exercised as n the past. The opening*shot in the new bat tle has already been fired—against the bars raised to the admission of Negroes to tax-supported education al institutions. This case was dir ected by Mr. Houston against the University of Maryland which re fused to consider the application of a colored citizen of Maryland. A sig nal victory was one when the court ordered that the university regents should not only consider the applica tion, but also, if they found the col ored applicant qualified, admit him to the law school of the university. The state had appealed the case, which, if reversed on the technicality that the original petition only prayed consideration of the -application, will be carried back again on the issue of admission. This attack will be extended to all those border states (Missouri, Ten nessee, Kentucky, West Virginia) and southern states which impose taxes on Negroes and make no pro vision for their professional educa- [ tion. The issue is clearly compre hended in the 15th amendment to the federal constitutional. -In like manner illegal restrictions which prohibit the employment of Negroes are to be attacked in the court . The Association has placed itself on the :ide of industrial unions, made up of all workers of all crafts and grades of skill in particular crafts whose membership may com prise the men of that craft in many plants. The crafts have been par ticularly viscious in their attitude to ward Negroes. A thorough study of labor discrimination is being made for the purpose of a wide frontal at tack. Parellel with this attack. Ne gro and white workers are to be or ganized for educational purposes. These educational courses are ex pected to give point to the Urban League’s warning to the American ■ Federation of Labor that unless its doors are thrown open without any discrimination based on color, a new labor movement; combining blacks and whites, will emerge and shove the A. F. of L into the background The courts and educational courses are to be used in the attack on po litical disfranchisement of Negroes in the south For the first time in history, the Association is definitely committed to a youth program. Beginning in September, Miss Juanita Jackson, Baltimore teacher who earned her master’s degree at the University of Pnmylvania, will head up the work among youth from the ages of 17 to 26- Young people from widely-scat tered cities appeared at the St. Louis Convention and demanded jobs be set up for them to do. Miss Jackson is the founder of the City-Wide Youth Forum of Baltimore, the strongest organization of its kind in the United States. The members of this Forum fought successfully to obtain a broader range of employment in Baltimore. Fisk University Awards 25 Scholarships HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OF HIGH SCHOLASTIC STANDING GET THEM The Deans and Registrar’s Of fice has released the names of the following students to w h o m freshman scholarships have been awarded to date. More scholar ship awards are to be granted. The next announcement will be on or about September first. Almon Angell Barnwell, Fort Worth Texas. Nelie Ruth Hawkins Nashville, Tenn Wilma Estelle Smith, Cincin nati, Ohio. Hazel Marguerite Wilson, El yria, Ohio Robert James Tinch, Lorain, Ohio. Theodore Howard Bullard, Jr., Nashville, Tenn. Mack Carlton, Cleveland, Ohio. Sammve Ethel Hall, Tulsa, Okla. Sarah Virginia Ross, New Rochelle, N. Y. Alexander A'ford, Jr., George town. S. C. Winstonia Emma llackett, Phoenix. Ariz. Dorothy Beuford Turner, Harr ford, Conn. Katherine Burr Turner, Rus sellville, Ky Leo Wavman Bell, Villa Ridge, III. Juanita Louise Kidd, Wewoka, Okla. Alexander Wavman West, Montgomery, Ala. William Plummer Birdsong, Moorestown, N. J. Elizabeth Ann McCree, Boston Mass. HenrvJ William Hall, Winston Salem, N. C. Louis Richard Jeffers, Brook lyn, N. Y. John Mom-11 May, Evanston. HI. Benjamin Franklin Murphy, Buffalo, N. Y. Helen Inez Turner, Edenton, N. C India Mae Walace. Washing ton, D. C. Watson Hershell Walker. Sav annah, Ga. Mrs. Pinkston Very 111 Mrs. Florentine Pink ston, daughter of Mr. J. D. Crawford, and sister of Dillard and Lovejoy Crawford, who has been living in Las Vegas. Nevada for the past three years, is reported to be in a serious condition by relatives. A few weeks ago. Mrs- Pinks ton had the misfortune to run a splinter just below the knee. Blood poisoning set in and the whole body became infected. It was reported, some days ago that she is improving. On Thursday, of lasr week, her family received notice of a change for the worse in her condition. Her brother, J. Dillard Crawford, left Thursday for Las Vegas, and was joined in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Lovejoy Crawford.