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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1937)
comments E DIT O RIA L PAG E OPINIONS I THE OMAHA GUIDE Published Every Saturday at 2418-20 Grant Street, Omaha, Nebraska Phones: WEbster 1517 or 1518 Entered as Second Class Matter March 15, 1927, at the Postoffice a Omaha, Neb., underAct of Congress of March 3, 1879. TI*TMS OF SUBSCRIPTION $2.00 PER YEAR Race prejudice must go. The Fatherhood of God and the Brother icod of Man must prevail. These are the only principles which wll stand the acid test of good. AH News Copy of Churches and all Organizations must be in ou tffice not later tnan 5t00 p. m. Monday for current issue. AH Adver tfeing Copy or Paid Articles not later than Wednesday neon, proceed log date of issue, bo insure publication. ..EDITORIALS.. EDITORIAL OF THE WEEK Prom .he Washington (IX C.) Post, July 26, lfT!7 THE SCOTTSEORO CASE Dispatches describing Alabama’s abrupt action in freeing four of the nine “Scottsboro boys” suggest ,Siat the hooks on tlic ease may now be closed. It is predicted/Jjrom Dcciuur that if no appeals are filed in behalf of tho o her five NegrocP, Jxe governor will commute a. least the single death sentence now st auding. Dndoubtedly most of Alabama hopes for .just, this. The six-and-a-half’-year rape t'<gal has done no little to csiiance the State’s reputation. On the contrary, mention today of the name of Alabama raises all manner of unpleasant thoughts of in justice, blind prejudice and abject social failure. Ten times Alabama prosecutors rose in court w|lth only the word of a fe male tramp to justify their demand for Jhe lives of! nine Ne groes. Ten times Alabama juries acceded to the request, hut closing their eyes muyjowly not only to competent medical tes timony but most important—to the oath of one of the women involved that the whole story of the attack on them was framed. The organizations and individuals who have been defend ing the Negroes have let it be known they will fight the con viction of the five “to hell and back.” Some little redemption was achieved when, after the Ped q^al Supreme Court had set aside the denjth verdicts because only while men had been willed for jury duty. Alabama ad mitted i s error and ordered Negroes listed as veniremen. But inofle than this is needed. A BACKWARD GLANCE OF FIFTY YEARS OVER THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO MY KELLY MILLER When 1 entered Howard University November 1st, 1880, the higher education of the Negro was then in its infancy. It was, however, a lusty and insistent infant, full of hope and promise. Negro colleges and universities grew out of the ill starred Freedman’ Bureau, in combination with philanthropic organizations. They all spring from the same impulse; were founded about the same time (18G6-1870) and were consecrat ed to the same purpose. I recite chiefly my experience at Howard tJni versify afc this will illustrate the spirit, method and purpose of the other^ from one learn all. __ Howard University was founded by General 0. 0. Howard and chaptered by Congress March 2, 18G7. At the time of ray registration, the University had paseed thsrougli its most glor ious and glamorous stage, and bad fallen upon evil days. Gen eral Howard had been fqpced to withdraw because of the evil fate which overtook the Freedmen’s Bureau. His highly sur charged personality, ppestige and zeal have not been duplicated in the institution’s subsequent history. He was followed by Prof. John M. Longston as noting president, but hesitating to entrust a colored man with such laplge and complicated inter ests, the trustees failed to give him a permanent tenure. Dr. W. W. Patton was called to the presidency in 1877. Being a/relative of President, Rutherford B. Hayes, he was en abled through bis connections asd influence to secure an an nual appropriation of $10,000 from the Federal government. This has been the mainstay and chief support of the University throughout its subsequent history and its only hope for the fu ture. This annual npjylopriation has increased gradually up to $700,000 for the present year. The late Bishop W. P. Thirkield was called to the presi dency in 1907. ITis chief contribution consisted in securing from the government a science building. Never before in our history has the Federal government ever contributed a building to an institution under private trustees. This was the “Thirkield Mir acle” and laid the foundation of the manfvelous expansios in buildings and ppounds of the present day, climaxing in a mil lion dollar library now under construction. Howard University diffq*n from other institutions of its class chiefly in that ij_ is located at the national capital; car ries the full quota of professional departments: enjoys a Con gressional chtyter, and is supported by Federal bounty. When I entered the university in 1880, there was a total DELINQUENT SUBSCRIBERS—PLEASE NOTICE The postoffice department does not permit the delivery of papers to delinquent subscribers. If your payments are not tip to date, please mail or bring amount due to The Guide office or call WEB1517 for representative: Tour oooperation will be Teatly appreciated* Ttte Management No Coior Line at Chicago Vacation Camp I CHICAGO PLAYS HOST TO THE KIDDIES Unique among file summer vacation grounds of the eoun.ry is Chicago’s famous Forest Pre serve Camp Iteinherg where underprivileged mothers and children of all -voces and creeds can escape the sweltering heat of the city for , ten days and enjoy fishing, swimming, boo - ing, hiking, etc., at the expense of Cook eoun tv. Ill the above photo, Geore Smith, popular superintendent of Division Xo. 2 of the Forest I’rcsiyp’e visits Camp Reinberg and hands out candy to the vacationing kiddies. The moth ers arc in the background, as the candy line “forms to the right.”—(ANT) enrollment of 265. Ninetees mere enrolled tin the Preparatory ' Department and sixteen in the College Department. It was con sidered marvelous that 1 could entcyi the Preparatory Depart ment without preliminary instruction. I was the first to enter the public school system opened by the Reconstruction governments of the South, at the age of five, in 1868. With such preparation as I could muster from tlie rural schools and the Fairfield Institute, es ablished by the i PresJbyterian Hoard of Missions for Freed men, I yah enabled to enter I he Preparatory Department with advanced standing. This indicates the general type of Negro education in the South i at that time. The cii?jieulum of the Preparatory Department, as well as the j of the College Department, consisted chiefly of bat in, Creek, mathematics and English. There were four profes sors in college; only one of whom wais colored! The cirriculum was of eourtfu, not so expansive as that of today, but the in struction was no less thorough and the instructors were devoted to their tasks under the dynamic impulsion of spiritual motive. The material outfit consisted of recitation buildings, boys’ and girls’ dormitories, and a building for the Medical School. Tlie secretary-treasurer, with his student helper, transacted 1 lie entire volume of business. There were three me inhere in my graduating class of 188G, ' Rev. W. I. A. Palmer, a distinguished minister of the gospel in the Methodist Episcopal Church, who died two years ago; Mrs. Josephine T. Washington, retired dean of women at Wilber force University, and myself. These meager ^beginnings project ed against the expansion of the present day seem striking by contrast. The Science building, costing .^OO.OOO, secured by Pres ident Thirkield, has been supplemented by dormitories, class room edifices and service buildings to the extent of four mil lion dollars'; and President Roosevelt, in libs address at the dedication of the Chemistry Building, assures that tlmpe are more to follow. ►Someone lias called statistics a dismal science. Size may be a measure of power, but not always a true measure. The grow ing and expansion of Howard Univeffii'v is paralleled by that of other insiitutions for the higher education of the, Nfegro. Howard University graduated in June more than fifty times the numgfyi in my class of fifty years ago. In student body, faculty, grounds, buildings, income, salary list, pay roll and annual budget all Negro institutions of higher education have expanded amazingly during the past few years. Negro colleges and universities fifty yeans ago were sup ported wholly by charity and philanthropy. It was hoped that the race would shortly he able to support its own higher leagu ing but, alas, this expectation was doomed to disappointment. The race is no more ready to support its own colleges and’ uni versities on the elaborate scale on which they are now project ed than it was half a century ago. Philanthropic foundations with studied calculation rather than spontaneous enthusiasm, now come to the rescue. The Federal government is providing handsomely fey Howard University. How long these sources of support, will continue we may not prophesy. The missionary spirit, which formed the promoting motive has gone with the wind whifch bloweth whepy it listeth, and ye hear it, but can not tell from whence it cometih o-p whither it goeth, White fac ulty members have been generally displaced by Negro teach ers. The spirit of sacrifice, consecration, devotion to the spirit ual ideals have been lost to the pfleftent dfay generation. The dominating motive was to Christianize the Negro; impart to him as much of the higher learnirvg us he was a)ble to carry; imbue him with a (tense of sacrifice, devotion and service, arid send him feyth as an intelectual, social, moral and spiritual | leader of his race. As T look hack over a vista of fifty years Lynch Threats Made As Six are Held in Fla. Panama City, Fla., Aug. G (By James H. Boykin for CNA)—Lynch threats were heard in this city this week as three men were arrested by Sheriff .TPohn Scott in connec tion th fatal stabbing of G. B. Bar row, white, at ay Harbor, near here. Three women are held os material witnesses. Jim Grant, white, who operates a store in Bar Harbor, a Negro community, told the Sheriff that he found Barrow’s body in front of , his store early Friday morning. He 1 said that one of the women, Ida awakened him ar.d told him that the body was there. Sheriff Scott claimed that he found evidence of blood and bloody clothing in the home of the Winn family. - - — ■ - ■ | Calvin’s Digest | I ^ By Floyd J. Calvin jj Compromise Begins Surprising as it may seem, al though it was really expected, act ual beginning o the great Scotts boro compromise has come. Death his not been asked by the State of Alabama for Andy Wright, who has twice before been convicted and sentened to death in the same cas es. The attorneys for the prosecu tion explain to the jury: “It is not for you members of the jury to ask why we did what we did (ask for life instead of death). That is for the State.” What bearing this new turn will have on other cases remains to be seen. Whether the Scottsboro boys v ill get their freedom is still a mat ter of conjecture, and is doubtful; but that they will not die in the electrio chair is now certain. Trouble for P. D. R. We tore Apprehensive for th'e success of other Roosevelt projected reforms because of the furore creat ed by the Court Bill. The Anti Lynching Bill is of more import ance to colored citizens then the Court Bill; and the drift of events may endanger other important piec es of legislation which are also of importance to all citizens. It is our hope that the President may still be able to ride the storm, and carry the major reforms which he feels the people want because they have given him such unpece' dented popular support. The fact remains, however, that popular sup port merely places one in a posi tion of power; generalship is what is necessary to deal with the cun ning and the shrewd. The President has demonstrated he has general ship, too. We believe will pull through. Lawyers Meet in Philadelphia Colored lawyers, meeting in their fifteenth annual session of the Na tional Bar Association at Philadel phia early in August, may take pride in some notable achievements of their profession. The naming of Judge Hastie to the Federal bench was a distinct gain; the writing of the book, “Ne groes and the Law,” by Atty. Sty les of the Philadelphia bar, is an other achievement worthy of com mendation; te organization of a State association of colored lawyers in Oklahoma, which was addressed by a Federal judge who said col ored would get a fair deal in his on 1 he higher education field, I am impelled by a mixed feel ing of elation and sober reflection. Is the fundamental purpose and spirit of the. higher education of the Negro making pro gress or is its bulk merely taking on augmentation? Are our colleges and universities nearer the jr|oot of the race problem than they were at an earlier day? IIow far are they fulfilling the hopes, the ideals, and dreams of theijd founders? Or how far have they exhibited the resourcefulness and genius requis ite to devise new ideals in harmony with present day demands? Let Howard, Fisk, Lincoln, Atlanta, Shaw and the rest answer1. This is no time for idle exultatios of the greatness and granduer of the several institutions nor the captious criticism of their preent day control and management. But the cool re trospect of history demands serious thought on these things. Standouls «5 ,A GlAMOKOUSSON&mt) : ft WHO FLASHED RIGHTO* ! ON NEW yOHX'S &KENT i WHITE WAY A THE, W' WQR.LOS FAMOUS f; COTTON CLUE—-,. SHE IS NOW TQUMNfr 1 f THE EAST AND MID’ R WEST WITH THE COTTON CLUB i KQAD SHOW™ ftObfcV C ASTON ' 'NOINO WU NY J~OY ) SCNNV WOOOS AUO WUH \AvKM\ASHV IS NOW U AMI D WTH Git AT , SUCCESS IN THE LOUIS A0.MSIM)H& AGGREGATION- '• • . ,- . 0 1»S7 ISTIMIATIIMAL NTilBO l'PJ"!8r ~f I court, and the naming of a color* ed lawyt.- by the State Board c' Affairs of Oklahoma to represent it are worthy of note; the naming of a woman (Elise Austin) as as sistant attorney general o£ Ohio, and the naming of a woman (Jane Bolin) as assistant Corporation Counsel in New York, are not to be overlooked; and finally the fact that a stronger spirit is develop* ing among the lawyers is a hope ful sign for the future. THE LOW DOWN *---from--.| HICKORY GROVE Somehing wrong some place or other, ding-bust if tfrere isn’t. Now you go and take news like you see in the paper whhere the estate of a fellow in Michigan, Where k it was all bonds, when he died, about thirty mil lion dollars. And* all of ‘em gov-| ernment and! municipal 1-■** ' •' •** and free from taxes. This kind of bonds, they are a place Where a feller can duck the l ;nd of taxes he would have to pay on other things and investments. And on top of that the money which the government of the cities got, when they sold this man his bonds, this money was put into dams and power houses and build ings that also pay no taxes. It is a kind of a two-ringed, dou ble-jointed affair, these exempt loads, and the average feller, were the government is in business, he just gets a double dose of taxes, and is sunk. Old Sambo’s new idea of havin’ his fingers into so many things, and all the time borrowin’ money, land shootin’ cross-eyed at the big [guy, he is most of the time, hittin’ somebody else. Yours, with the low down, JO SERRA NAACP Wins Equal Salaries for Teachers In Maryland County Rockville, Md., August 7—In a settlement out of court, the board of education of Montgomery coun ty and its attorneys agreed with at torneys of the National Association for he Advancement of Colored people to equalize salaries now be ing paid to white and colored tea chers in the county. The board will raise the colored teadliers’ salaries fifty per cent beginning August 1st and will raise them the other fifty per cent Au gust 1, 1938, at which time they will be equal to the salaries of white teachers. This means that if a colored teacher in Montgomery county is now drawing $400 a year and a white teadher is drawing $800 a year for the same work, the color ed teacher w-ill be paid $600 a year beginning August 1st and $800 a year beginning August 1, 1938. A total increase of $30,000 will go into the pay envelope of Negro teachers in Montgomery county ns a result of the NAACP legal ac tion, and $16,000 of this amount will be paid beginning August 1st. It is estimated that in tlic whole state of Maryland Negro teachers are receiving a total of $50,000 less than white and it is believed that the action of Montgomery county will cause other counties to equalize the salaries and thus bring bigger checks to Negro teachers. When .Thurgood Marshall and Leon A Ransom, NAACP attorneys, filed the suit, attorneys for the county board of education filed a demurrer to the whole proceeding, which, if granted by the court, would have dismissed the suit. Rut the court, after hearing the argu ment, refused to grant the demur rer and ordered the county board of education to answer the petition. It was at this point that the coun ty decided to settle out of court and equalize the salaries of the teachers. An agreement to this ef fect was signed July 23rd by Dr. Edwin W. Broome, superintendent of schools, and William Prettyman, attorney for the board, and Thur good Marshall and Leon Ransom acting for Gibbs.