THE OMAHA GUIDE
Published Every Saturday at 2418-20 Grant St.
Omaha, Nebraska
Phone WEbster 1517
Entered as Second Class Matter March 15, 1927,
at the Post Office at Omaha, Nebr., under
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 prevail.
These are the only principles whil will stand
the acid test of good.
All News Copy of Chrurches and add Organi
sations must be in our office not later than
5:00 p. m. Monday for curren issue. All Adver
tising Copy or Paid Articles not later than
Wednesday noon, proceeding date of issue, to
insure publication. _
EDITORIALS
-O
LOUIS VICTORY SETS EXAMPLE
Chicago, July 15 (ANP) “Where
do we go from here?” he said. I did
not answer at once, although I knew
full well what he meant what follows
The victory of Joe Louis? I did not an
swer immediately because I wanted to
see the working of his mind. What I
saw was gratifying.
It was clear that he saw the vic
tory of Louis as marking a definite
advance in the Ne^ro struggle. He was
thinking of the fight in .terms df poli
tics. And the fight was a political
event highly dramatized by the mighty
fists of a modest Negro boy. My fri
end saw the fight was ushering in a
new stage of strugRle and it does.
Joe Louis killed the idea of Nazi
supremacy. All tre horses of “King
Hitler will never put it on its feet
again. H laid to rest the idea of the
supremacy of anp racial or national
Rroup over another. The “color line”
in the boxing game will be revived
again but only with the greatest diffi
culty. All the'big papers will have to
put all of the “experts” their pen pros
titutes to the job of making the color
line stick if it is injected in boxing
again. The defeat of the color line in
boxing makes the struggle against it
in politicr, in economics, on the cult
ural field in other spheres of the sport
ing world easier.
.. < a -V T ,
Joe Louis did this by ngnxmg. nm
singly, for he had the moral support
'of 13,000,Q00 of Negroes and millions
of whites who hate fascism ard its in
justice. Jesse Owens did it by light
ing. He fought every step of the 100
yds of cinder path to win.
Nothing is won without struggle.
That is the lesson of the victory of Joe
. Louis. Every one who loves fair play
loves a man who will fight against all
odds. That is lanqMielr llesson. ,But,
more Louis is mastering his profes
sion. He who fights to save himself
must master the theory and the art
of fighting. That is anofther lesson.
Fighting is an art we learn by fight
ing for our rights.
What can be won in the field of
sport can be won in every other field.
Buit in other fields, as in the field of
sport, we cannot fight alone. We must
go into the ring cf life with others
whose cause is our cause and who see
in our cause their own. President
Roosevelt, speaking hi Gainesville, Ga.
said the South rested its economy and
its social relations upon a feudal basis
and that this feudalism w^as blood bro
ther to fascism. He was riRht.
Let us, then, go into tne ring
against that feudal order. Let us go
in there with the white sharecropper,
the poor white mill hand, the poor
White in the ore mine, the. steel mill
hand nt the work bench with all the
democlatic and progdessive forces.
Let us go into the fi^ht to pass the an
1i-lvnch bill. It can be won. Senator
Bilbo of Mississippi and the southern
landlords are more south than Schmel
ngirr. They are linked up yvith Wall
St. but they can be beaten if we will
fight together.
There were vicious slanders
launched against Joe. But he won.
There will be still more vicious sland
ers launched against us if we really
start a fight with other who are ex
ploited and oppressed. Buit we must
train for this fight. Reaction can be
beaten, fascis mean be 'knocked 01^.
We must train on the da(y struggles
I'
for jobs from the Utilities, for more
adequate relief, for docent schools,
adequate housing facilities against
Jim-Crowism segregation in every
form. These are teaming bouts for
the bigger struggle.
In the training bouts, we must
learn to organize ourselves. We must j
build the National Negro Congress |
and the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, the
International Labor Defence and other
organizations. Bujt we will have more
to do. We will have to get these organi
zations to act together to act collective
ly.
In he training bouts, we must organ
ize the youth, the women the farmers,
Blackburn’s understanding of the
the workers, all who want democracy
and peace. Without careful prepar
ation, careful training, the bigger
bouts can’t be won—that isi a lesson
of the Louis fight. Joe Louis fought
the fight. Bull behind Joe Louis was
the moral strength of the people, Jack
fight game his sparring partners, all
of whom contributed an inseparable
part to his struggle. Behind our lead
ers must be the same coordinated ac
tivity, and all of whom contributed an
inseparable part to his struggle. Be
hind otur leaders must be the same co
odinated activity, and all of us must
go into battle.
Our freedom \Mill be won only
through struggle. The more and the
harder we struggle, the more lovers
of fair play will we win to oitur cause.
Sympathy is won through struggle,
and sympathy in turn begets assist
ance. The Scottsboro case is proof
of that. The Herndon case is more
proof. Let us prepare to fight for
what is ours by ri*ht of our blood sac
rifice, by right of our Constitution.
Let us organize. Let us unite. These
are the next steps.
So long, Joe, for a brief spell
from the roped arena wjhere not only
did you do proud by Joseph Barrow,
nee Joe Lobis, but to a race of people
whose status in world affairs took a
jump upwards, and make no mistak<
on that score whether you ever read
sport matters or not in your daily
routine.
__ A
BETWEEN THE LINES
(by Gordon B. Hancock for ANP)
Another “Gentlemen’s Agreement”
View it how we will, this is a
tough world! Just noW and then
something transpires to revive our at
times tottering faith in human nature
and possibilities. There is a surge of
something noble in us when little
Czechoslovakia defies the threatening
cohorts of conceited Adolph Hitler, the
world’s chiefest power maniac. The
erstWhile redoMbtable Hitler falters
as the Czechs gird themselves for war.
The world’s greatest bluff has been
called, and called by one of the most
insignificant nations of the earth, a
nation just twenty years i old.
The °zechs have blessed the world
in a wonderful Way. They have
shrown a resurgence of national cour
age that slept while Mussolini raped
Ethiopia with Great Britain and
France looking on; while the /League
of Natons openly betrayed a weaker
member before the startled eyes of a
wondering and bewildered world.
Belgium broke the military back
of Germany in 1914 and little Czech
oslovakia threatened to do it again in
1938. The reason the Czechs could
reach for the sword Was the support
that France and Britain were promis
ing. Czechoslovakia would have been
only a proverbial “drop in the buckr
et” had not her powerful allies rallied
to her support.
These! same allies that deserted
Ethiopia rallied to the support of
Czechoslovakia, and Mhy? A gentle
man’s agreement. In spite of the two
thousand years of preaching the
Christ, we live today ni a color struck
world where the white skin is an asset
and the dark skin a liabilitv. We may
explode the Nordic myth all w'e want,
and we may prove the potentcy of our
intelligence quotient, but the stubborn
fact remains: we live in a “color
struck” world. The Negro press may
play up white-black marriages, but the
success of such marriages is at vari- [
ance witht the racial ethos of the
dominant white taian. fThe stakes in
Ethiopia were jvjst as great as in
Szechoslovakia for Great Britain and
France, and in many ways more so,
but because of JGegroid racial affinity
of Ethiopia, she was deserted ingior
iously. Haile Selassie, white breeches,
umbrella and all are now in exile.
Even he understands a gentleman’s
agreement now!
Negroes as a minority group need
not take 1joo Tguch inspiration from
the Czechs for the gentleman’s agree
ment that saved Czechoslovakia sacri
fices the rights of the darker peoples.
Why is the wrath of the world being
invoked for its invasion of China; why
is the press of our nation vitriolic in
its denunciation of Japan? Why is
there a subtle preparation of war with
Japan whose cause is as righteous in
as Mussolini’s in Ethiopia?
The worldwide propaganda a
gainst Japan is part of ‘another gents’
agreement” and that is a united white
world against a divided colored world.
Gemany and Italy are “major world
powers” when they launch their arm
ies of conquest; when Great Britain
and France send their tenacles of pow
er around the earth they become the
speaders and guarantors of civiliza
tion. When Japan battles for room for
her struggling millions, she becomes
the arch of proponent of Satanis hell
ishness. Japan is the “Hun” of the pre
sent undeclared war, as Germany was
of the World War. Eveity bomb that
Japan throws destroys only “women
and children” who are gathered in
some sacred place wlhere they go to
their death with hands clasped in pray
er, etc. The “gentlemen” have agreed
that the darker rares of conquest shall
not pass.
.Northern and Southern gentle
men agreed that the anti-lynching bill
should not pass, and it did n!ot! If the
northern Gentlemen so often held up
as our beloved protectors had been in
favor of the bill, it would have passed.
They were ^o)t. Northern gentlemen
may not agree with Southern gentle
men o nmajny issues of politics, but
on the Negto question they see eye to
eye. And if there is an anti-lynching
law upon the statute books of this na
tion, it will he due to a change of
Southern gentlemen.
Long ago the north conceded to
the south the right of handling its Ne
gro problem; under no circumstances
will the North abridge that ri«ht—a
gentleman’s ageement! More recently
the “Wage-Hours bill” which hotly
controvei)ed ‘in congress was fnaslly
handed over to the Southern congress
men, who write it to suit themselves:
A gentleman’s agreement.
White gentlemen agree quickly
andquietly on the color question. Ne
groes need some kind of “agreement!!.
_A_
“BEATING THE GUNS”
(By A1 Moses for ANP)
Getting Back to Earth Again
Gosh all heclock—it feels great to
breathe a free breath a»ain after
watching Joe Louis crowd every other
type of news off the daily papers of
the nation during the past week. What
a wonder man is this brown Adonis
wjho within the short space of three
years has earned more than a million,
and becolme a name to conjure with
far and away greater than that of
Baba Rlith, DiMaggio, Dempsey, Brad
dock or any other sport immortal,
whether you are inclined to agree with
our views or not.
Just suppose we say in writing
partial finis to the Louis-Schmeling I
battle that the bravedt, fightingestj
young man this commenator has seen
since i wn entered kindergarten (30
years ago) was on display aft prevail-'
in* prices up to thirty dollars that
memorable June 22 nite, in vast 'Van
ktee stadium. .
'(Nearly everyone is now inclined
to the opinion that Louis overshadows
every heavyweight champion that ever
lived; that is the divine rieht of every
citizen to think and analyze as he or
she chooses. But one thing is certain:
it is definitely a direct turnabout from
the opinion that existed but a short
two years ago when history of a dif
ferent nature was written in this self
same stadium.
Qualified experts like my friend
and former handball partner (what a
player) Captain Wesley Williams took
up the angle of the merits of Joe and
Max for quite a while just prior to the
fight, and not all of them inclined to
the opinion that “Joseph-Joseph”
would outlive the memory of that in
human whipping, from which sonic
never recover their equipoise.
To Joe and his beautiful little help
meet, Marva, just before thuy hike off
for a vacation in some of the capitol
cities of Europe, we dedicate this sim
ple verse to them, viz:
“TWISTING ’ AND “TWISTERS’’
A life insurance policy executive
recently warned the public against
policy “twistinsr”—that is, dropping a
policy you ndw have to buy a new one
i nanother company. Such a warning
is always timely.
When you change policies in this
manner, you lose, 99 times out of 100.
Time is the essence of a life insurance
contract. Cash values loan values and
other privileges are built up over
years. And the older you, are, the more
a policy costs to take out. A smart
sales talk may hide these facts—but
they are facts nonetheless. In life in
surance you get what you pay for—
and if you discard a policy you have
been paying for over a period of time
you can’t gain.
Likewise, look out for the “twis
ter"—the salesman w'ho urges you to
“twist." He is a real menace to your
security, and your pocketbook. Reput
able life insurance companies never
knowingly keep a “twister” in their
employ—once he is found out, it isn’t
long until he is reading the want ads.
-o
A GOOD TIME TO STAY ALIVE!
There is a real need after the long
winter months, when many dangerous
conditions develop. Now is the time to
clear out all accumulations of papers
and rubbish from attics and cellars, be
fore they cause a serious fire.
When burning trash and papers
outside an incinerator should always
be used. Field grass and papers should
not be burned on windy days, and nev
er without close supervision.
Now is also a good time to make
a complete check-up of anything else
that might cause fire. Look for such
hazards as defective electrical equip
ment, frayed and worn wiring, pennies
behind blown fuses, defective heating
plants and chimneys, fireplaces with
screens and hot ashes w*ooden contain
ers. Cleaning with gasoline is very
dangerous. t
After painting jobs, which many
do in the spring, be sure to dispose of
old or Paint soaked rags and clothing.
A warning from the National Board of
Fire Underwriters states that many
homes are burned by spontaneous igni
tion fires from paint rags left in a
heap. ,
“FOOTLIGHT^FLICKERS”
(B|y A1 Moses for ANP)
New Ylork, July 7,—Three hund
red and ninty pounds of song wrapped
up in nature’s brown and we’ve *iven
yolu a picture of the Peters Sisters
who this past Week delighted theatre
goers of Harlem at the well known
Apollo theatre.
♦ * *
Pigmeat Markham, the funniest
comic theatres have known during the
past 2, years was brought back to the
scenes of his greatness by Jimmy
Marshall, livewire manager of the
Frank Schiffman house. “Pigmeat”
has merely to walk out on the stage
with those loose oversized trousers of
his and that“Laurel Hardy” facial ex
pression to make his audience feel
thy’ve received one hundren cents for
their dollar. He’s a character who'll
live in our imagination always.
♦ * *
Joe Bostic, cleverest young radio
announcer currently on the air waves
rounded out his 28th Saturdffv after
■>n known as “Tales of Harlem.”
Charming Monette Moore, a girl who
sin*s with the bedt in the business, has
been a featured artist on Joe’s excel
lent program, aldng with the known
“Palmer brothers.” Morgan college
turned out a surefire craekerjack
w'hen they sent Joe Bostic out into the
world with, a sheepskin—and how!
u^^iuausyayayaypri
3nt? (TlPnenfanEnEnlant
Calvin9s
Digest
By Floyd Calvin
(Listed by Editor & Publisher^
The Profit System
The New Deal causing some
serious thinking on the Profit
System of economics as wo have
known it under the old idea, df
"rugged individualism."
The theory of the profit sys
tem in the past was that whem
capital was employed in business*
enerprise, is was entitled t» a re
turn o'er and above the invest
ment and expense of conducting?
the business. Bst the rugged in—
dividuj).lists took advantage of thi*;
theory and pushed the system t»
where it was virtua| exploitation
if their fellow citizens. Likewise^
the rugged individualists took lit
tle or no note of the social wel
fare of the people who were ex—
ploitd, except wherever the milk
cf human kindness, perhaps t«y
accident, happened to rise to tfw
surface of their natures- The
thinking was in terms of gain.
and not in terms of welfare.
Of coursea few super-capita
lists attemped to ameliorate con
ditions by hugh gifts, buy many
ether capitalists, or their familie*
made nauseating spectates of
themselves by not knowing how tc*
us the wealth piled up by them,,
or handed down to them.
Now the public has a lender
who sees wea|th as something
that should be divided upto tmke
life more bearable for the aver
ago man. To bring into realiza
tion this ideal, the Government
has gone into the elecrtic power
business, has stepped in to help*
organized lalhor, and has set u|*
strict regutation for investments;,
unci levied increasing taxes oa Hsr
come.
Some economists claim that the
profit system, under the New
Dea|, is being liquidated- TTw
rugged individualists, however,
get scant sympathy from the pub
lic when alone, has pointed the
way to a brigghter day for alf
America. Under the auspices of
the Federal Government, the mas—
ses are getting decent homes and'
having their lives enriched far be
yond what a rugged individualist*
would even admit was right anti
proper for a poor man tx> have,
And this being done at a price to
the man that he can nftbr to*
pa.y.
Suppose these innnovations arwi
reforms do cut into the profits or
almost cut out the profits of thw
rugged individualist. America aw
longer needs capital for nau~
vestment for industrial expansion
The desert and the forest bay*:
been tamed. All the rugged iadr—
vidualist would do _ with profit*
would be to employ them to make*.
more profits, or squander them »
riotous |iving. Suppose the new
eeortomcis does stop skinning the
little fellow, and start skinaaur
the big fellow. On the whole* we
think it is a good thing for Umc
country.
Negro Literature
The recent death of two emi
nent figures in Negro letters, A_
A. Schomburg a.r.ri James Weidow
Johnson, has served to fbcus at
tention on the literature of the •
race. These two men one by
making a co|lection and the other -
by writing pointed the way tC"
greater dignity- and self respect
for th group.
It. was Schomburgrs love, of thus
literature w.orks of his people
thn.t made him amass the great.
Schombsyg Collection- Haw many
Negroes love books by Negroes
to the extent that they have a
fair collection of the works of
modern Negro auhors ? How many
Negroes, who can afford to buy
bocks and who do buy books,
make it », pint to buy consistent
ly. the works of their own peo
ple?
How many Negroes who ham?
! wept for or extolled th vrrtoes
of Mr. Johnson, own on or mm
of his books ? How many Negroes
I even know how many books. Mr.
| Johnson wrote? How many Ne
grees know the title of the last
book written by Mr. Johnso®?"
, How many of Mr. Johnson’s own
people know that he wrote his
tory as well as fiction and poe
try?
We mention these things te
(Continued on page 8)