Largest . p' . »
Negro merits
! Paper in Per
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Entered as Second Class Matters* Postoffice, Omaha, Nebraska- OMAHA, NEBRASKA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1937 VOL. XI NO 81
WAVE OF SUICIDE STRIKES SECOND TIME
Muskogee Pastor Is
Called to St. Phillips
The Rev. E. M. M. Wright, form
orfj of Muskogee, Okla. has ac
eepted the call to become the rec
tor of St. Phillips Episcopal church
Ornate, effective December 1st.
Key Wright is a graduate of
Virginia State college, Roger Will
tarns college, Bishop Payne Divin
ity school and the Sea bury Divin
ity school.
Ha was commissioned chaplain in
the U. S. World War, was formerly
rector of the Church of the Ascen
sion, Kansas City, Kas., St. Mary
the Virgin, Keokuk, la., Emanuel
ehureh. Memphis, Tenn and St.
Phillips church, Muskogee, Okla.
Rev. Wright will conduct the
eleven o’dodk services at St. Phil
lips church Sunday. December 5th
with Holy Eucharist and sermon.
The public is cordially invited to
attend
Harlem Ballet Makes
New York Debut
New York, Dec. 3 (ANP)—
World premiere of the American
Negro Ballet, in training for almost
three years under the direction of
Eugene von Grona, German bom
dancer, was held at the Lafayette
theatre Sunday night before an in
tereated audience, many of them
white attracted by the novelty of
a Negro Ballet.
Critics found much to praise and
condemn. Chief complaint was that
1 he performance “seemed more like
like a pupils’ recital than an epoch
making new ballet than organiza
lion.” The final half of the program
however, during which the com
pany presented an arrangement by
von Grona of Stravinsky’s ‘‘Fire
, bird,” drew high praise.
Amonling to John Martin, critic
of the New York Times,, “Some of
the young dancers show indication
of Balent, and many of them have
profited by their training thus far
in movement. When they have had
more training and more experience
and have provided themselves with
oharegrapBiy that is more worthy
thetr efforts, they should make an
interesting company.”
Jtiaaea Weldon Johnson,, distin
guhAteA author and educator, made
an ataa of greeting on opening
nigfA. As orchestra under tdhe dir
ectiaa of Von Tabert assisted and
mpetteH the evening with two move
mentn from James P. Johnson’s
"Sygyltoitlc Harlem” with the com
poser aondncting. One of the da no
ea vw performed to music by W.
C. Raady and Duke Ellington.
MiV*K*vJPs5 Attorneys
Mav Dron F’orM
.Wlmon. Iffiss.. TW. 3 (AITP>—
i*ooBihft>tv that William daid<
Mitffmtl. KB v^ar old wVe man.
non T* ho ban trad at CV>ffeav’"lle on
Wodrrwtinv Deo 17th. aecordin<r to
cocWettnlo. loomed Rnndav when de
fense attorneys cyprossad doubt
they montd armeal to +ho TT R
anrrreme court in view of the state
mmrema court’s ruling1 on the mat
ter
overrnb’nfr an insanity nloa
en behalf ef Mitchell near the m’d
die of Wovomber. the s'inrem»
pciH- »«affirmed the death sentenee
dcoerthtnn* fhe white man’s arson
mwhrfar nf a Venmo father and son
re ef the meet o+rocinno
Crtw -»e ■ Tnv committed w the state”
e-4 «V»o nrfnn/l nrff *tin Inotol nan nf
• o# error coram nobis in mur
d"r eases
Fire Attacks Father
Divine’s ‘Heaven’
New York City, Dec. 3 (ANP)—
Fire, of undertermined origin at
tacked another Father Divine ‘hea
vtn' last Wednesday, starting my
steriously on the second floor of
an old brick building at 232 W.
124th street, spread so rapidly that
flames were soon visible at all
nine windows facing the street,
and cloaked the old structure in
dense billows of smoke.
Witnesses said an old woman and
a small child rushed to the side
walk shortly before the engines ar
rived and made their escape in the
crowd. Poice and firemen found
no one who admitted living in the
house. Battalion Chief George Ry
an,, first to arrive on the scene was
the only person injured, sustaining
bruises about the head.
Father Divine and his secretary
John Lamb, white, disclaim having
any connection with the premises,
but above the front entrance, un
damaged by the fire, was the cult’s
stock legend ‘‘Peace.’’ Investigat
ors said the place for several years
had been devoted to the work of
I the cult. Insurance men declined to
give an estimate of the damage
until they had finished their investi
gation. Most of the damages, how
ever, was confined to the upper
floors of the three story structure.
Gets In Jail; Was
He Guilty or Cold
—
Harrisburg, Pa., Dec. 3 (ANP)
— Police Wednesday discounted
John Jtjnes insistence that his con
science “got the best of me" and
took to the theory that the Miss
issippian was influenced by the
blustery cold weather of the North.
Jones, who says he is 65, walked
into the station and told how he
shot a man during a “two bit crap
gamle’' back in 1906. Then he pulled
out a Bible and started reading it
as evidence of his good faith. Po
lice put him in a warm cell pending
investigation, but they believe
Jones is looking for a free trip to
his native South where he won’t
haye to contend with a cold winter.
9
Lying on Stretcher
Man Hears Himself
Condemned to Die
Lonoke. Ark., Dtc. 3 (ANP)—
After telling how he was beaten
and tortured three tiirtes by police
following his arrest, Duncan Pigue,
24. from a stretcher in the court
room Wednesday heard himself
sentenced to the death penalty for
the murder of a white man, J. Ro
bert Bennett, night marshall of
Lonoke.
Pigue. who was brought into
court on a stretcher and was re
moved the same way, was injured
in an attempt to escape from the
county jail two months ago. In
fighting with officers, he either
jumped or was thrown from the
roof 70 fVet to the ground.
It was following robbery of a
post office here in September by j
Pigue along with a white man that
Dennett was killed. The night mar
shall stopped Pigue on the street
for questioning but the latter got
away. Benrtett got a car to hunt
for him and was not seen alive
agp;n. When arrested in Texark
ana. the mu ref r was pinned on
Pigue.
Telling of his tortures, Pigue
said that he was beaten by arrest
ing officers, singed with fire from
a hose and beaten again. Taken to
state police headquarters at Little
Rock, be was beaten, forced to sit
on a heated electric stove and
when he got up was knocked back
on the stove. Officers poured hot
parrafin oyer his hands and his
head, then took him to the Pulaski
county jail for another beating.
Again he was taken to state police
headquarters, beaten and then
brought to the county jail here
“where T was mighty glad to be,’’
he said.
An all white jury deliberated 55
minutes before bringing in a ver
diet carrying with it the death
penalty.
S. African Convict
Labor Profitable
Johannesburg, So. Africa, Dec.
3 (ANP)—Because the demand for
penal labor is greater than the sup
ply, the South African government
is making $5,000 a month by hiring
out the convicts to private industry
An average of 5,000 natives are
admitted monthly to the prisons.
Impending Passage of the Farm Bill
Restores Anti.Lynch Bi I
To Senate Calendar
Washington, Doc. 3—Decision
was made here today by Senate
leaders to press for enactment of
a temporary crop control bill to
be amended in the regular session
and thereby effect passage of the
farm bill. This course has been de
cided upon because winter wheat
has already been planted in many
western states, and lengthy debate
on a farm bill might conceivably
postpone definite action by Con
gress until a date too late to ap
ply to crops already planted.
Should this plan succeed, the
Wagner-Van Nuys-Gavagan anti
lynching bill will again be taken up
by the Senate as required by the
special order voted by the Senate
last August 12th. When the bill is
taken up upon conclusion of con
sideration of the farm bill it will
not have to combat the motion to
consider it, but will automatically
become the unfinished business of
the Senate which it must remain
until disposed of. Supporters of the
anti-lynching bill led by Senators
Robert F. Wagner, New York;
Frederick Van Nays, Indiana and
Bennett C. Clark of Missouri, are
prepared to force the bill through
to passage. The latest checkup of
the Senate reveals at least 73 vot
es for the bill and only 23 opposed
to it. Passage is definitely assured
if and when a filibuster, which has
been threatened by Senators Tom
Connally of Texas, and Ellington
D. Smith of South Oaroina, is end
ed
Filibustering Tactics Resented
The reaction here to the Alibust
er of November 16 to 22 has been
mostextraordinary. The vicious and
unfair tactics, especially of Sena
tors Connally and Smith, have de
finitely stiffened the determination
I of friends of the bill to let nothing
prevent passage of it. So bitter
has been the resentment against
Senator Connally in particular, as
leader of the filibuster, that his
opposition to the bill has done it
far more good than harm. For ex
(Continued on Page 6)
OKLAHOMA DOCTOR GETS POST
■■w*11" ■" 1 1 LJ i-gW""1! t 1 ■■ ■ 1 'i- PI11 gjgBMM
I —Wd—iKWBIBW——re> f m
DR. G. I. LYTHCOTT
Recently ins:ailed physician
in charge at the Okalahoiua
State Hospital Tor Negro In
sane at Taft, being the second
time he received the appoint
ment. He is a graduate :f both
Boston and Harvard wniversi
ties, was a captain duriirr the
World War, and was formerly
director of health in the Tulsa
school system, and suryton in
chief of the Tulsa Municipal
Hospital No. 2. The doctor was
backed for the post by the <>k
lahoma S ate Medical Society.
M. L. Harris Takes
Position in Chicago
Mr. M L. Harris, active in civic,
fraternal and political affairs of
Omaha, has accepted the position
of sales manager for the Madam
Taylor’s Cosmetic Co. of Chicago,
111. and will leave to assume his
new duties soon. The thriving
cosmetic company is owned and
operated by Mrs. Hazel C. Ken
nedy. an outstanding Chicago busi
ness woman- >
In accepting the position of sales
manager for this growing business,
Mr. Harris was forced to turn
down an invitation to become State
Chairman of a drive now being
launched by the Association for
the Study of Negro Life and His
tory. Inc., throughout America
with the home office in Washington
D. C.
Through correspondence from
the office of the aboyed name or
ganization the writer finds that
Mr. Harris was recommended for
the position of State Chairman by
Judge W. C- Hueston, Educational
Director of the Elks.
Upon Interviewing Mr. Harrfe.
in regards to the recommendation,
he stated that he regreted very
much that he found himself unable
to accept the position due to a
previous agreement to accept the
position of Sales Manager of the
cosmetic company.
The Omaha Guide, for whom
Mr. Harris once worked, wishes
him success in his new position.
-o -
GETS FIVE YEARS
ON ASSAULT CHARGE
Okey Johnson. 25, who resided
at 1818 No. 24th street, entered a
plea of guilty to assaulting a wo
man three weeks ago. The plea was
entered in the court room of Dis
trict Judge Yeager. Monday morn
ing. Following the plea of Johnson,
Judge Yeager pronounced the max
imum sentence of 5 years in the
state reformatory.
Ex-president Quits
YWCA. Club
Miss Estella Robertson, one of
the two remaining charter mem
bers of the Quack club of the
Northside YWCA, resigned from
that organization Friday night
November 26th. When asked why
she resigned, Miss Robertson stated
that she would rather not give her
reason at this time.
It was with much regret that
she handed in her resignation for
she has been with the Quacks the
entire eight years it has been or
ganized.
The community will miss her
untiring efforts with the other
members of the club to make this
a better community in which to
live.
Announce Dates Of
Fed’l Music Project
The Works Progress Adminifttra
tion Federal Music Project's Civic
Orchestra enters upon its third ger
ies of Music Appreciation concerts
in the Omaha elementary schools
next week. The first and second
series were voted a huge success
hy those teachers, students and
parents who heard the programs
in their respective schools.
Tho Regional Director of the
Federal Music Project, the well
known pianist and educator, Guy
Makr, visited Omaha last week and
attended two school concerts. In
his opinion, there is not a musical
organization in America which is
dong more to foster a love of good
music in our school children than
the Civic orchestra is doing in its
school Music Appreciation concerts.
This is high praise from one who
is an authority.
Students of Madam Herms,
WPA Music instructor and vocal
conch, are busy rehearsing ‘‘Han
sel and Gretal” scenes from which
will be presented in concert during
the Christmas season. The dates
of these concerts will be announced
William Meyers, State Director,
announces tho following schedule
of engagements beginning Monday
December 6th.
Monday: Civic orchestra; Wash
ington school, 1 to 2 p. m.; Pickard
school, 2:30 to 3:30 p. m.: Colored
orchestra: South high school, 12
noon; County hospital, 7 to 8 p. m,
Tuesday: Civic orchestra; Vinton
school, 11 to 12 Noon; Rosewater
school. 1 to 2 p. m. Colored orches
tra: Florence Home, 7 to 8 p. m.
Wednesday: Civic orchestra:
Yates school, 11 to 12 Noon; Cen
tral school, 1 to 2 p. m. Colored
orchestra: South high school 12
Moon; Urban Center, 8 to 9 p. m.
Thursday: Civic orchestra: High
land school 11:16 to 12 Noon; I
' j
Brown Park school, 1 to 2 p. m.
Madison school, 2:30 to 3:30 p. m.
Friday: Civic orchestra: Holy
Angels, 11 to 11:45 a. m.; Mon
mouth Park school 1 to 2 p. m.
Miiler Park school, 2:15 to 3:15 p.
m. Colored orchestra: South high
school. 11 to 12 Noon; Tech high
school, 3:15 to 6:00 p. m.; CCC
dance at Druid Halt, 8 to 11 p. m.:
Social Settlement, 8:30 to 11:30 p.
m.
-o
The Forget Me Not club, an or
ganization of the Metropolitan
Spiritual Sunday school was enter
tained by Mr. Baucman. at the
residence of Mr. and Mrs. C. W.
Porter, 2217 Ohio, Saturday. This
club meets every Wednesday from
4 to 6.
National Negro Council
a ■■
Holds Second Public Forum
The Omaha Council of the Na
tional Negro Congress presented
Sunday at its second forum held
in the auditorium of the Urban
league Gomnrunity Center, Dr.
Walter Siders, executive secretary
and Prof. J. Arthur Nelson, editor
of the Forum Quarterly, who
brought out in their address some
very startling and deplorable facts
as to existing conditions in the
Omaha school system. Some of the
facts declared to a large school con
scious audience were as follows:
1. That students taking the
course in public speaking are only
allowed five minutes a week for
practice.
2. That there are now no school
nurses in the school system.
3. That the amount of money
now being allotted for education
pupil has been cut from $103 to
$63.
4. That the school year has been
cut from 38 weeks to 36.
6. That manual training in grade
schools has been dropped.
0. That the kindergarten schools
have been put on a half day solved
ule.
ft. That in the face of a 4,000
increase in pupils attending the
Omaha schools, the teaching mim
ber has been cut by the appalling
number of 100.
8. That the sise of classes hay«
increased 32 per cent t1 elementary
and 42 per cent in high schools.
Following the addresses made by
the Teachers Forum officials, Mr.
Peter Mehrens made a \;x minute
speech in which he bitterly de
nounced the conditions that are to
be found at Long school and other
schools that are largely attended
by Negro children, folowing which
questions were asked the speaker
which were answered. The meeting
was presided over by Mr. J. West
brook McPherson, Oouncil presi
dent.
Woman Found
Dead from Gas
Miss Gertrude Audrey. 24, who
resided at 2433 Caldwell street, was
found dead on the floor of the
breakfast room in the home of Mr.
and Mrs. J. C. Seitz, 726 No. Fifty
Seventh avenue, by whom she
was employed.
Miss Audrey was discovered at
4:30 p. m. by Mr. Seitz. Gas pour
ed from five jets of the kitchen
stove. Viewing the spectacle of
seemingly death, Mr. Seitz turned
in the alarm to the fire department
resulting in the respond of a fire
department iiihalator squad who
labored in vain to revive the gas
filled victim.
Miss Audrey left a suicidal note
addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Seitz
explaining that since the recent
death of her father she had been
very unhappy.
The death if Miss Audrey marks
the second time within three weeks,
that the wave of suicide has struck
Omaha. Miss Gertrude Smith hav
ing died from lysol poisoning,
November 10th. The death of Miss
Audrey wns pronounced as having
been caused by carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Plan Goodwill
Spring Musicale
Now that the Goodwill Spring
Musical is growing to a big day
when all the people of Omaha are
so much interested, then more time
and interest must be put forth to
get ready for the day. In the very
near future a meeting will be call
ed for tho representatives of the
dfferent choirs who have been talc
ing part in these services to de
cide what choir will be hosts for
this coming spring.
Each choir that has not been
host and wishes to be. will come
with an invitation inviting the
choirs to come to its church.
These invitations are read, and
then the representatives of the
choirs present vote on which shall'
be accepted. We hope that all
choirs who have been taking part
in this musical will send their ng
presentative when the meeting is a|
called. We will have this srrice at
the auditorium or one the high
school auditoriums.
The choirs that have never tak
en a part and may want to come
in now. we are thinking that it
will make the program too long to
take any more in this group. But
plans are being made to start a
group for the fall musical.
L. L. MeVay
-
Pepsi-Cola Time
Factory Here Calls Renas Ta
Serve Drink
Three o’clock in the afternoon is
“tea time’’ in England hut hi this
town it’s “Pepsi Gobi time/
In one of the factories in the
district, the management call* gen
ersl recess at mid afternoon and
serves Pepsi Cola to the workers.
The “pick up’' which follows this
invigorating drink together wtth
the brief period of relaxation more
than compensates the management
for the slight expense involved.
Efficiency is greatly improved and
workers are in a more cheerful
frame of mind for the rest of the
day.
"Pepsi Cola time” is catching on
in this town.
--o ——
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Blanton aad
Mr. Riley Haynes were the dinner
guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Sim
mons, Thanksgiving, 2414 Erskine.
j A beautiful and delicious dinner
was served.
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