EDITORIALS..
Tlili 0MAHA GU1DE
Published Et'er> "Saturday at 2418-20 (limit Street,
Omaha, Nebraska
Phones: WRbster 1517 or 1518
Entered as Second Class Matter Mnreh 15, 1927, at the Postoffice at
Oniana. Ncl-.. uuderAct of Congress of March 3, 1879.
* i 1 I OF 11’.- HIPTION :• on PER YEAR
Raed prejudice mu-t go. I he Fatherhood of (lod and the Brother
hood of Man must prevail. These arc the only principles which will
Stand the acid test of good.
All News Capy of Churches and all Organizations must be in our
| office not later tnan 5:00 p. m. Monday for current issue. All Adver
tising Copy or Paid Articles not later than Wednesday noon, preceed
ing date of issue, to insure publication.
SUPREME COURT PROTECTS MINORITY
Proposals to limit or abrogate the powers of review of the
Supreme Court ol‘the Lnitod States have been made often in
late years and, for the must part, have come from representa
tives of radical organizations.
This is au ironical situation when the Supreme Court is
the foremost protec or of the rights and liberties of radicals oi
conservatives, as well as all others. Case alter ca.se could be
cited in support of this.
A recent action is in point, A Portland, Oregon, Commun
ist, Dirk DeJonge, was arrested at a Communist-sponsored meet
ing, convicted and1 sentenced to a long prison term and a heavy
fine under Oregon’s war-born criminal syndicalism law. The
case was appealed through the slate, courts, which held the law
. Constitutional
Then an appeal was taken to the United States Supreme
i Court. And on January 4th in a unanimous decision read by
Chief Justice Hughes, the Court set aside the sentence mid held
that the Oregon law, as applied in till in case, was repugnant to
the process clause of the Constitution—-the clause which pro
tects the rights of fre,. speech and assemblage. Tt is now believ
ed that this (Decision will strongly and favorably affeetc the
eases of other radicals eonvieed under the Oregon net.
The Simneme Court has always been a fearless defender
maintain the Constitutional rights of radicals,
troy it! The Supreae Court has always been a fearless defender
of civil rights*—freedom of speech, feedom of the press, free
dom of assembly- and especially the rights of the minorities.
Being immune to polities and to pressure of any kind, it enn
and d'oes resist llie hysteria of the moment, so that the Constit
ution, in snirit n« well as word, mav he preserved, and America
mav remain a free nation.
__ I
9 cnn \ rrr^o mTQTTSJWQq PROMOTION
PLAN
NEW YORK— (Calvin, Service)—Promotion plans for
Negro business are being mapped for the new year in three
states, according to reports from officials of business organiz
ations which have been received by Calvin’s Newspaper Serv
ice in response to a query in business progress in local com
munities. Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and New York have
been heard from.
New York Situation
RALPH 0. GOTHARD of New York, former executive
secretary of the Harlem Business Men’s Club, says:
“When wo started the club in 1931, dedicating it to big
ger and better local business, and advising Harlmites not to
bny where they couldn’t work, some of us were regarded as
fanatics. Now there are very few stores in the community that
do not employ one or more Harlemites find several hundred
found employment on 125th Street, during the Christmas holi
days Negro-owned business enterprises ae no longer hidden
away in basements on the side streets; you can find them
everywhere, clean, progressive and as prosperous as the times
will permit.
“It enn positively he said that Harlem is no longer a
sleeping giant. Credit should be given to many organizations,
some now extinct. The TrNT\., bended by Marcus Garvey was
one of the greatest contributing factors. The Harlem House
wivess League Tb CMA.. th Aferienn Patriotic League, the Cit
izens Tyoague for Fair Play, all of them reaching more or less
different groups Street speakers, led by Arthur Reid. Ira
FVmn of the Harlem Labor TTnion. liavp worked indofntigably
to bring about a new consciousness on the part of the buying
public
atnglr* factor Tin9 nof'n tTio cwprfcRSKVn.
which threw thonWndls opt of work, and forced them to think.
Mam- of thrse displaced workers have become converts to co
operation. nnlv because thov wore rondo to ronliro that unless
thov were wiViufif to help do somethin" about, it, thev would
nlwnvs ho Wards of tho "ovommont, which i|s another way of
a ovine recipient* of TTomo T?o1*ef
"Nineteen hundred thirty-seven nshers in a new era. in
my opinion, and the time is ripe for the next radical stop, one
that would have been utterly futile to have discussed ten years
agro, because the time Was not ripe. Onr intollipensia will per
haps he more incbnel to listen to reason now, and they can. if
they will, set the pace fen othens tr> follow.
"We are now rendy to attempt what we feel is an en
tirely pew approach to onr problem, predicated’ upon the fact
that we o»>o pb Consumers first, and business men or profes
sionals pt**>r To +his end (T mean a few of ns who have devot
ed soTcrel veers of intensive studv to the nroTdom! have nppli
ed for and received a Charter from the State of New York fo
a non-profit, cooperative, membership corporation, to be knowi
as the Consumers and Craftsmen’s Guild, of Harlem, ine.
“The members of this Guild, which is to be a fraternit;
of consumers and craftsmen, will enter inty a solemn agree
ment to wear, purchase, u»e and sell, anything1 produced bj
any other member, providing such merchandise is as good, oi
[better, than similar articles now on the market. By this
means we hope to popularize the use of Harlem-made merchan
dise to such an extent that many new local industries will be
crueled to satisfy the demand.’’
Atlantic City Plans
Ij. I), WRIGHT, secretary o>f The Atlantic City Board of
Trade, says:
"Atlantic City i sn resort and its livelihood depends up
on the pleasure seeking out-of-town visitors. Tf thev continue
prosperous as is indiVated by press dispatches, and the opinions
of men whom T, and others, have persona'ly eontaeted during
recent weeks, Atlantic City is in for the largest and most pros
perous year we have had since 1929.
• "Please he assured, however, that Negroes will get. their
share of the spoils and that those of us who are in business will
prosper also. Preparations for the great Easter, Hummer and
Fall seasons are now in full swing. The Night Clubs, Hotels,
Restaurants, Htores, Beauty Hliops, Bounty He hooks and num
erous other businesses modernizing their places.
"Miss Grace Morgan has recently opened a large Mo'C
ern School of Beauty Culture and Mrs. Annie Malone, of Boro
fame, has also optned a new HehooL New stores are opening
every day, also new restaurants.
"The new Slum Clearance Project will begin to take in
tenants about February 1, 1937. In fact, the whole town is
awake and is preparing to go plaees.
"Again, let it be said that! this little burg has always
done well anyhow. There are between twelve and fifteen thou
sand Negroes here ami they have numerous business enterprises,
some of which have been mentioned above wnd many are em
ployed by the City and National Government, as letter car
riers, clerks, police officers, firemen, teachers, and so on. In
all, there are about five hundred of such employees here. At
the present time, many of our people are employed in the
beachfront, hotels; some with Negro owned enterprises, some
with WPA. and the rest as domestics, and, of course, some are
vet unemployed, especially at this time of the year.
"The Atlantic City Board of Trade, of which T am secre
tary, is a wide-awake body, with over one hundred members,
they are continually whooping it up, boosting business and $ie
town in wholesome fashion.”
Philadelphia Outlook
SAM TT BEADING, regional director of the National Ne
gro Business League, and executive seeretarv of the Progressive
Business Association of Philadelphia, says:
“We're on our wav into another year, full speed ahead.
Looking backward, there has been little to distinguish any of
the past five voars from another with the exception of the up
turn in late 1936.
“But of one thing T feel sure—any colored man or woman
in legitimate business who has weathered the storm of the past
five years or more will have no one to blame but himself if he
doesn’t make real progress during this year.
“No one will be foolish enough to expect any such torrid
prosperity as laid the base for the depression. But one does not
have to be a Boger Bahson or Albert Einstein to figure out that
things arc better than they have been for some yenrs past.
“One infallible sign is housing. In most metropolitan cen
ters ther are comparatively few habitable houses available for
tenancy by colored people. There is even some noticable move
ment in realty sales. And people don’t start buying houses when
hings are bad or wrorse.
“Whether or not this upturn is atificial or not, reliable fi
gures show that holiday buisiness exceed *any since 1929.
“So we start another year with better than even chances
for business life.’’
ABYSSINIA’S WAR AND AFTER
By Marcus Garvey, London, Eng.
The American Negro is the
most loyal, self-conscious and
expressive member of the racial
group. lip is never wanting in
his response to racial appeals
that stir him to the possibility
of real service, religiously, po
litically and otherwise. lie has
never failed those who appeal
to him. Most, of the time, how,
ever, lie allows his enthusiasm
for racial causes to get the bet
ter of his judgment, and then,
when the truth is brought home
to him, he becomes disappoint
d and disgusted. Efforts should
he made not to spoil his good
despoliation #®d character in
j this respect, for he it. is who is
leading the world of other Ne
jgoes in their true responsibil
ity to the race in the hope of
solving a problem that calls for
the most serious application.
The Italo-Abyssinian War
had an immediate appeal to the
American Negro, like Negroes
in all other parts of the world,
and his response was immedi
ate and most enthuhiastic.
Unfotunately when Ethiopia
ntered upon the war and befor'
there was no organized intelli
gence about its true position
among Negroes anywhere. Il
was difficult therefore, for Ah
yssinia to pet the ripht kind of
support that was absolutely ne
cessary at the very start of
thinps.
The lack of information am
onp Neproes of the world, about
Abyssinia was due to the fault
of the Abyssinian povernment
which up to that *i*oc took no
diplomatic pains of creatinp a
contact with the Nepro peoples
of the world and particularly
those of America, so as to cre
ate amonp them an interest that
was most necessary and vital
for a successful resistance of an
Italian or European offensive
From our knowledpe and ex
perience, we are able to say tip
Abyssinian povernment header
by Haile Selassie felt that its
existauce was possible withoul
any eaterinp to and contad
with Neproes. In fact, they helc
themselves to be a separate anc
distinct race from the Neprc
race ,and the entir administra
tive policy was to treat th<
blacks as an inferior people ii
whom they wrere not politically
interested, except for their eai
s^avement and exploitation
The Amharic rulers felt tha
the yhad descended from a su
perior race and even in Abys
sinia the darker races of th
r country were regarded as in
i feriors only fit to be feudal serfs
►jid i(n many | litanees over
r burdl nod sHayes.
Unfortunately the Emperor’s
• government was not atn enlight
. ened one, in the sese tba tit I
could not understand an dap-1
preeiate European diplomacy,
!and tlie method^ of European
; statesmen in preserving the po- .
litieal independence of thrir re- i
spective countries and in ea- !
jtoring to their respective poo- .
pies. |!
The Abyssinian policy wash
base don the absolute elevation 1
j of the ruling classes and the
positive lack of national inter- j
est in the native masses. This ]
is contrary to the policy of era- <
lightened and civilized govern- 1
ments where the rulers whether '
they he kings, emperors, dicta- c
tom or presidents, hold office ;
only as executive trustees for 1
the people whom they must 1
serve, the wishes of the said j
people being supreme will and t
law. With them, the people die- a
tate the policies of government 1
and demand service from gov- 1
eminent in their interest. With
Abyssinia, it was the emperor c
who dictated the policy of the t
government land hie used the c
government, people and country 1
for his own divint and person- (
al purposes. Naturally, such a g
condition in Abyssinia would ^
make it rather difficult for the 1
government to rally the real pa- ^
triotic support of th epeople in ,
a crisis such las was brought <
about by Mussolini. <
Mussolini being an astute dip- j
lomat and expert statesman, ,
pKvndered to the weakness of s
the Abyssinian oppressed and i
peror failed to feed them, to
equip them and to properly j
neglected masses. While the em
traiji ajul educate them, Musso- i
lini stepped in after his invason 1
and supplied their necessary hu
man needs, particularly in feed- ,
ing and caring for them. The re
ult was a stampede of the Abys- i
sininiis from the emperor to the 1
invader. This, more than any
thing else, (assisted Mussolini
to conquer the country. ,
As had an historian and psy
chologist as Ilaile Selassie was,
<
he overlooked the necessary (
human elements—human aspi- ,
rations which were common to
people of all races. He, instead
of providing for the Abyssin
ian masses as stated, only pro
vided for himself, hence, when
the fight reached its crucial
point, he had no one to stand
along side of him and so he had
to flee, leaving the people to
the mercy of Mussolini and1 the
Italian hordes.
Much news has been publish
ed after Mussolini’s conquest of
Abyssinia, about the Abyssin
iajis still fighting successfully
against the Italians. This must
be taken with a grain of salt
There is really no organized op
position to Italy in Abyssinia.
The incompetent rulers who
opened Abytssinini to invasion
are still making the effort to
hold on to Abyssinia, hence a lot
of misrepresentative statements
; which seem to be affecting the
I American public.
Every Negro desires the free
dom of Abyssinia, but that free
dom is now suspended, in that
Italy is fully established in the
country. There is no well recog
nised government in the coun
try among the Abyshinians. A
I few men who have been holding
out, have been doing so on their
own account, but not because
i they have been supported by
. the exiled emperor or his de
> funct government. Any appeal
l therefore, to the American pub
- lie on behalf of Haile Sedassie’s
- government, suggesting that
. the war is still going on for The
t re-conquest of the country,
- should not be accepted as a
- truth, but should be explained
; so the American public might
'l STRAIGHT *
FROM THE ^
CAPITAL
BY ' v !
EDWARD LAWSON J
The new year is still young, but
dready things are happening with
•ather awe-inspiring swiftness here
n the nation’s capitol.
Insiders see in the emergence of
Jrs. Mary McLeod Bethume as a
op flight leader one. of the most
important developments of he past
ew months
A seasoned and perennial cam
laigner through countless years of
noney-raising for her school in
Florida, Mrs. Bethune has gather
d everything and everybody under
ier very ample wing since her ar
ival here last June.
Today—with the possible ex
eption of Congressman Arthur W.
.litohe.ll—she occupies und°ubted
y the most strategic position in
ho administration, simply because
bo has managed to bring together
ur unified thought and action all
ha Negroes high in government
uthority. Only one who has been
i Washington for some time can
nderstand what a big order that
ras.
The Conference on the Problems
f the Negro and Negro Youth
hat Mrs. Bethume sponsored re
e.ntly marked the first time since
tie President came into the White
louse that the Nagroes he ap
ointed to big jobs were able to
et together and agree on any I°
ical program foT his considera
lon.
Bickering ana petty jealousies
ad split the so-called “Back Cab
let” into many factions. For sev
ral years there had been no co
rdination, and little cooperation,
tetween its members. Each had be
ome more or less content to do his
wn special job without bothering
.bout “larger things” affecting the
ace as a whole.
The appointment of Mrs. Be
hune as director of the hitherto ra
ter obscure Division of Negro Af
'airs of the National Youth Ad
ninistration brought few hozannas
tom the brown brain-trusters. Ei
her they were unaware of her tre
mendous energy find grasp of
hings, or they underestimated the
totential power of her position. At
my rate they were unprepared for
he manner in which she took the
vholo situation under her control.
Through sheer force of person
ility she drew the whole “Black
Cabinet” together, first for a ser
es of meetings, then for the most
successful conference of Negroes
)ver held in the capital. Out of that
:onference the group emerged with
t single, clearly-stated program for
the fjedepal government as it
ouches upon each phase of Negro
ife—a program that is simple and
yet comipjttet, visionfiry and yet
horoughly concrete.
To this program the Negroes in
ugh places here are now pledged
rhe course of each is plotted, and
n the measure to which h eac
lomplishes the aims set down for
fim will lie the measure of his use
fulness.
On such a basis, at ast, the
‘Black Cabinet” should begin to
’unction as a unit.
V V w w
With labor unions intensifying
;heir activities in every section of
he country, it is only natural that
anions should spring up on every
side in the government dfcp^art
ments.
Strongest among these at pre
sent is the American Federation
>f Government Employees, which
admits Negroes without discrimln
atlcn. This group at present is wag
ing a fight agamst reductions and
curtailment in the government ser
vice, and has succeeded in winning
a number of its fights.
Recently a new group came Into
being under the guidance of Edgar
G. Brown, assistant to the direetor
of Emergency Conservation Work
This organization, con’/prised for
the most part are labors, messeng
ers and those in the lower brackets
of government service, has adopt
ed a program calling for a $1,500
■minimum basic wage for all gov
ernment employees, with automa
tic promotions in all agnecies; a
5-day, 30-hour week and optional
30-year retirement. It is also de
manding that a Board of Civil Ser
vice Appeals be created, with at
least one coored member, to con
sider alleged discrimination on the
part of government personnel of
ficers.
This program was endorsed, and
adopted as a resolution, by mem
bers of the Conference on Negro
Affairs. It will be among the pro
blems tor be placed before the Pre
sident for his consideration in the
near future
Newest member of the official
family circle is attractive Miss Ven
ta V. Lewis, recently appointed to
the Children’s Bureau of the De
partment of Labor.
Miss Lewis’ appointment was
made possible through an assign
ment of Social Security funds, which
will make available aid to Negro
families never before possible.
Under the maternal and child
health provision of the Act, which
will be administered by the Child
ren’s Bureau, programs of public
health nursing service by Negro
nurses are being greatly xtended,
training and supervision midwives
are being developed, short post
graduate courses or institutes for
Negro physicians and dentists are
being started—in many instances
under Negro leadership—and de
monstrations of maternal and child
health work are being set up.
Special attention will b» given
to the needs of Negro crippled
children. In many states hospital
and convalescent care facilities will
be extended to Negro children for
whom they have not been readily
available hitherto. Negro sociall
workers, trained in child welfare,
are being employed to extend the
services for dependent and neglect
ed children, and children in danger
of becoming deliquent, in many ar
eas
* * 9 *
No “first family” in many de
cades has been as libel in its at
titude toward Negroes as have the
Roosevelts.
It is no secret that Congressman
Michell is a frequent White House
visitor, and that his advice and
counsel is sought on all matters of
race policy.
Others whose hats hang fre
quently in the White cloak rooms
are Mrs. Bethune and Walter White.
Last week, Mrs. Crystal Byrd
Fauset of Philadelphia, whom Mrs.
Roosevelt ./described later in her
daily column jas “tan Intelligent,
level-headed member of the youn
ger group «f colored women who
are really cnstanthy constantly
wcTking to improve the condition
of the.lr people,” discussed with
the First Lady plans for develop
ing mutual understanding between
(Continued on Page Seven)
Lise proper judgment in the mat
ter.
Haile Selassie until his de
feat and exile, only considered
Negroes as being of no conse
quence, blit his viewpoint must
not be considered as the view
point of the Abyssinian masses
who are as unfortunate as the
oppressed Negroes everywhere.
The American Negro should, by
his own agency, establish con
tact with the Abyssinian Ne
groes for better understanding,
that they may work with them
for the future redemption of
the country in common with
the redemption of Africa. An
independent course should be
taken and no one should allow
himself to be deceived into be
lieving that much more can be
accomplished through Haile Se
lassie himself.
His exile from the country
will be as permanent as Musso
lini decides. The hope of Abys
sinia, therefore, rises with oth
er forces than Haile Selassie.
Primarily it rests with the loyal
Abyssinians who remain in the
country and who must work out
a diplomatic scheme of surpris
ing the Italians. This may come
through civil war, when they
are ready or through Italy be
coming involved in an Europ
ean war to render her incapable
of protecting her interest in
Abyssinia.
* To accomplish any good this
way, the Abyssinians and their
Negro friends must work quiet
ly and diplomatically and not
in the way the emperor and his
agents have been working by
making statements which are
(Continued on Pago Serae#