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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1940)
GAS, WATER RATES REDUC ED 21 MILLION Metropolitan Utilities District Shows Huge Savings to Omaha Citizens Under the conservative business policies of the Utilities District gas and water rates have been cut $21,000,000. it was pointed out this week. Today O maha has the outstanding publicly owned gas utility in this country. Omaha voters, for 25 years, have consistently refused to elect politicians to the Utilities board of di rectors. As a result only leading professional and busi ness men of the city have ever served on the board. This policy has resulted in a modern water plant and distributing system valued at 13 million dollars, practically free from debt, and of reductions in water rates of more than $11,800,000, since the ac quisition of the Omaha Water Company in 1912. The history of the gas plant is no less impres sive. Directors have reduced gas rates more than 10 million dollars since 1921 through 11 consecutive gas rate reductions, and Omaha now has the lowest manu factured gas rate in America. The gas plant and sys tem is valued at 10 million dollars and will shortly be debt free. This brilliant record of achievement under non-i political management is outstanding in the nation, a tribute to Omaha voters who have elected only men of the highest civic and business standing to sit on the board. Linn P. Campbell, republican member of the board running for re-election, is president of the By ron Reed Company, pioneer Omaha real estate firm, and a life-long Omaha resident. He is also vice-presi dent of the United States National Bank and promin ent in the Masonic order as well as numerous civic or ganizations. Edward F. Leary, democratic member seeking re-eleotion, is a brilliant attorney, business man and public benefactor. He is legal advisor to the Catholic Diocese of Omaha and was made a knight of St. Greg ory by Pope Pius XI for outstanding service to public life and” social welfare. Indications this week pointed to the fact that both men would be returned to the Utilities board by wide majorities by democratic and republican voters in the primary elections Tuesday. WEAVER FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR Arthur ,/. Weaver Because of the respect and friendship which I came to have for Arthur J. Weaver when he was Governor and I was Attorney General, I could not do otherwise than give him my earnest and whole-heart ed support for United States Senator. He was a great Governor; he will be a great Senator. There is about former Governor Weaver a re freshing forthrightness. He knows where is is going and why. He is a rugged individualist who cannot be pushed ground by the big nor scared by the crowd. He is what he is at all times and in all places; the apples in the Weaver barrel are as good in the bottom as at the top. To Weaver, the welfare of the state and the nation comes first, party success and advantage, sec ond. Weaver has been a leader in the Republican Party, but not a bigoted partisan who could not see good in candidates having a different party label. And so he has never voted a straight party ticket. He has done what he could to get his party to divorce it self from its Big Business leadership and to give the average businessman, farmer, wage earner, and pro fessional man a voice in its management. Believing thus, it is not surprising that Weaver has always opposed those who scheme to destroy the direct primary in order that the political parties might be run by and for professional politicians. As Governor he vetoed an anti-direct primary bill. Weaver has a definite forward-looking pro gram, particularly as to Agriculture, Transporta tion, and Government Economy. Weaver rightfully insists that Agriculture will not be prosperous until the farmer gets cost of production, plus a reasonable profit. As a farm owner and operator for thirty years, he knows, as all of us do, that farming is a business that cannot succeed unless the averaee an nul gross income is enough to pay operating ex penses, interest on indebtedness, taxes, and fair wages to the farmer and his family for their work. What Weaver wants is for the farmers to be on an eoual basis with industry, finance and organized labor. Until the farmers have such equality, Weaver favors the continuation of parity payments. And to Weaver equal opportunity is not iust an equal chance for the farmers to share what little is left on the national dinner plates after a few through special privileges have stolen all the meat and potatoes. He wants the farmers to sit at the first table of the nation. Weaver is a friend of rural electrification and of all feasible irrigation projects. As Governor, he sponsored the water resources conservation survey which laid the foundation for the present irrigation and hydro-electric public power program. When Weaver makes a statement about economy in government he knows what he is talking about. While Governor he cut government expenses right and left and when he went out of office there was a reserve of $4,000,000 in the general treasury. In the United States Senate, out of his experience as a farmer, businessman and former Governor, he will be able to give valuable suggestions for balanc ing the national budget. Weaver says: “The World War was not our war; we had no business in Europe. I shall oppose the United States becoming involved in any foreign war.” The election of Weaver to the United States Sen ate will guarantee two votes from Nebraska against this country being swept into the Second World War. Weaver has a well-poised personality, the cour age of his convictions, long public experience, and excellent power of expression. He will be a Senator of which Nebraska can be proud. By C. A. SORENSEN. Judge Yeager, who is serving as Dist. Judge at the present time and who was Chief Deputy in the County Atty. office for many years is now running for election to the State Supreme Court Bench. A position which he has been called on to serve in many times. Omaha should be represented on the Supreme Court Bench. Judge Yeager deserves the vote of every Negro in the State of Nebraska. Judge Yeager has been fair in his service in every way for many years to our group. He is qualified to well represent good citizenship in every capacity if nominated and elected to the posi tion he seeks. The Dean of the Omaha University Law School, Mr. Elmer E. Thomas, who the Omaha Guide has known for 37 years and a man who has given his life’s blood for the betterment of this community says, “Judge Yeager should be nominated and elected.” Robert Smith, clerk of the Dist. Court who is a loyal friend to the Negroes of this Dist. says, “Judge Yea ger should be nominated and elected. Judge Yeager knows law, and if elected can be depended on to administrate the law faithfully and justice according to the State Statue to all Nebraska citizens, regardless to race, creed or color. Judge John W. Yeager, who is a candidate for the Supreme Court of the State of Nebraska, repre senting this district, this week pointed to his long judicial record as a basis for his elevation to the Supreme Court. Judge Yeager has served this state for eight years as a judge. Prior to that time he was Chief Deputy Attorney of Douglas County, Nebraska, for eleven years and has, therefore, a total of nineteen years public service. During his judicial service Judge Yeager has been honored by the Supreme Court of the State of Nebraska having been requested to sit on that court in the decision of scores of cases among them being a number of decisions very important to the citizens of Nebraska. Both lawyers and laymen have recog nized Judge Yeager as one of the outstanding jurists of this state. Bom in a log cabin, obtaining hjs education a,s a farm boy between crops, studying at night. Judge Yeager progressed step by step in obtaining his edu cation. His legal education was self-earned and byj virtue of the fact that he is a self-made man, he has I had an opportunity to know the problems of the' farmer, the laborer and the business man. In the present campaign Judge Yeager has placed before the voters of this district his record and proudly points to the fact that the voters have always complimented him with a very high vote. Recently in connection with Judge Yeager’s can didacy for the Supreme court, the World-Herald had this to say of Judge Yeager and one other judge (not either of his present opponents): “Judge and Judge John W. Yeager of Omaha have had long experiences as judges of the District Court. They have made good and honorable records that have earned them the respect and confidence of both the bar and the laity.” BETWEEN THE LINES (By Dean Gordon H. Hancock, for ANP) Paying the Price— • Being a man is one of the most expensive human ambitions. We all clamor to be men, but two few of us clamor for the sacrifices and sufferings that full fledged manhood entails. We have come up in times when much is being said about the manhood of the race, and we too often go to foolish ends and utter foolish things to make it appear that we are men. Manhood need no heralds but like the light mention ed on holy writ, it shines if we only “let” it. A few decades ago we acknowledged the child hood of our race; for we sought the sympathy and philanthropy in which were laid our present founda tions. Then we “spake as a child, understood as a child” but now we claim to have put away childish things. This is mighty good if it is really true! If the Negro can paddle his own canoe it speaks volumes for his moral being and for his ability and the world will crown him with many crowns. It is, however, a dangerous thing to serve notice on the world that “we can make it if we are not really ready to pay the price such pretention involves. This is the claim for men and not cry-babies. If we say in one breath that we can stand on our own feet, and in the next bewail the withdrawal of the white man’s in terest and philanthropy we are miserable creatures. We have come upon a time when we clamor for the complete control of the institutions which white philanthropy built for us. This is the cry of men but it involves the question whether or not we are will ing to support these institutions financially. The two things go together—the complete control and the complete support. If Negroes are planning to control and let the white man support, he miscalcu lates miserably. If the Negro vaunts his manhood and wants to send the bill to the white man he lacks the finer sense of discernment that the emergency demands. Nobody can blame the Negro for wanting to be a man, neither can anybody blame for for vaunting his manhood before the face of the world. But unless he is willing to pay the price for this greatest of all privileges, he is a poor creature. , There is nothing wrong about our wanting to “call the tunes" for our race, but we must also pay the piper. This great clamor and drive to take over our whole educational system lays upon us the responsi-i bility of supporting these institutions. In other words, we are ever ready to proclaim to the world our manhood; are we quite as willing to pay the price involved therein? The indifferent support that Negroes give to the NAACP makes one wonder if the Negro actually knows what is involved in his proclamation of manhood. The rather desultory sup port Negroes give to education also makes the Ne gro’s profession of manhood questionable. The j measure of the Negro’s manhood is not his procla mation or his profession, but he number of double duty dollars he spends; the amount of support he gives to Negro education and the intelligent votes he casts for better government. Some way must be found to translate our loud-mouthed proclamation into sacrificial deeds of support for those tilings that make us men! If the Negro thinks he can dress finely, drive big cars, vaunt his manhood and equality, ride over this country to divers conventions, air his views, how ever illusory, in the press, speak up to and back at the white man, and send the bills for his education to the white man, he is seriously mistaken. Negro leadership may as well gird the race for service and sacrifice and suffering. This is the price that man hood demands. Whether we are willing to pay it determine* our “equality” with the white man. more thansome anthropological or biological speculation. 7 he Negro’s biological equality means little or noth ing when he must depend on the white for bread or die hungry. We are fast passing out of the “big-talk phase of our development. We need vision and plan 1 and action. Whenever I think of paying the price of man hood, my mind always turns to the AME church. I was thrilled the other date to note that Morris Brown college in Atlanta is a class “A” college. A Negro college, Negro founded and Negro supported and Negro controlled, and it is easily the best pat tern of the Negro’s future. Morris Brown repre sents the highest and best Negro leadership this nation has known. Negro Methodism is willing to' pay the price! Open Letters Arthur J. Weaver President Nebr. Constitutional Convention, 1919-20 Governor of Nebraska, 1929-30 410-11 Barkley Bldg. Lincoln, Nebraska April 2, 1940. The Omaha Guide, 2418 Grant St. Omaha, Nebr. Gentlemen : i Mr. Weaver found the copy of the statement,/ which he gave to the press as Governor of this state at the time of the North Platte incident. I do not know whether you will want to use this or not but 1 i am enclosing an exact copy for your information. 1 thought you might like to have this before you, as it shows that Governor Weaver will see to it that every citizen is given equal protection of the law. Very sincerely, Weaver for Senator Headquarters By H. B. Muffly, Manager. Governor Weaver discussing the North Platte situa tion today, said: “I have had an extended conference with Attor ney General Sorensen regarding this situation. In or der to ascertain the full facts the Attorney General and I are agreed that a Deputy Attorney General should accompany the State Sheriff for the purposes of a full investigation. Under our constitution and laws Negro citizens are entitled to equal rights and protection. It is the duty of every political subdivi sion to defend these rights. Negro citizens of this state who have been forced out of their home town North Platte must be permitted to return without molestation and their property should be restored to them. I shall call upon the Mayor of North Platte and the Sheriff of Lincoln County to see that this is done. “If officers cannot control a local situation, they should immediately call upon the state for any assis tance needed to disperse any mob which interferes with the orderly processes of government. Mob ac tion is never justified. “It is a blot on the good name of Nebraska to resort to intimidation or injury of any citizen who is law-abiding or innocent of any crime, and I shall call upon the officials of North Platte and Lincoln county to arrest and cause to be prosecuted all those who have been responsible for the outrage of driving in nocent and law-abiding citizens from their homes. “The sober judgment of our people will vindicate ' the position of the state in this matter, and good citi zens everywhere should give every support to local officials to avoid lawlessness in every form.” AN OPEN LETTER VICTORY with VANDENBERG A Voluntary Organization of Voters Working for the Nebr. Primary Preferential Endorse ment of Sen. A. H. Vandenberg on April 9th Charles S. Reed, Chr., Mrs. Harold Diers, Vice. Chr. 505 Omaha Natl. Bank Bldg., Omaha, Nebraska. Dear Fellow Republican: On April 9th we Nebraska Re publicans must make our choice between the two presidential candidates entered in our prim ary—Senator Arthur Vanden berg and Mr. D >wey. The im portance of thfii presidential pre ference cannot be over-estimated, i We are writing to a number of prominent Nebraska Republicans about Senator Arthur H. Vanden berg of Michigan. We who are assisting in Senator Vanden berg’s Nebraska campaign hope that you are among the thous ands of other Nebraska Republic ans who believe Senator Vanden berg to be qualified for presi dent. You know Senator Vandenberg’a record of twelve years in the Sen ate. He has made his position clear on important issues before the American people. He is well acquainted with national govern ment and national problems. For seven years he has been leading the fight to preserve the Ameri can form of government. We trust that you will read the literature sent under separate cover. Perhaps you have friends to whom you would like similar literature sent; if you will send us a list of such names, we will be happy to see that this is done at once. If Senator Vandenborg is your choice for the Nebiasha presi dential preference, we h ipa that you will acquaint others w th his qualifications and experience. Your help w>ou d be greatly ap preciated. Sincerely yours, Charles S. Reed, Elsie Diers. GUTTERY'S REPLY TO SUPER INTENDENT AT CHADRON • March 23, 1940. Supt. Janies Skinkle, Chadron, Nebraska, Dear Mr. Skinkle: I am glad that you have express ed to me your criticism of my plat form. Having known of you and of your good work as a school man for a number of years, your opin ion is of value. No, Mr. Skinkle, I believe you do not understand my platform when you say, "You cannot lower taxes and help schools.” I would like to give you some de tails in explanation of my platform As to the liquor question. I be lieve I am as dry as you are, but we liave liquor in Nebraska and it is \ menace to the State. It must be put under control. I favor a lic ense fee of $760.00 yearly from lic ensed saloons (permitted to sell Jeer and hard liquor). Of this imount, I would pro-rate $600.00 a nong the schools of the county vhere the saloon is located, and the •emaining $260.00 I would add to -he Old Age Assistance fund. Now, for an example. The rum ors, according to an editorial in the World-Herald last June, were that Omnha was considering very ser iously cutting their school term from 9 months to 8 months, owing to lack of funds. In last Sunday's World-Herald, Mayor Butler of Omaha made the statement that there were 610 beer parlors in Omaha, and he advocat ed a reduction in the number. Sup pose in changing from beer parlors to saloons he reduces the number to 300. Multiply 300 saloons by $500.00 and the result is $150,000 to go into the Douglas county schools, and this tax burden would i be lifted from homes, business and personal property. Whether the standard of schools is raised or lowered, depends on the people of the community where the school is located. Hoping that I have made my i deas clear, and thanking you for calling my attention to your views, I remain, Yours sincerely, / John A. Gutterjr, Demoemttc CfMndidute for Goror nor. OPEN LETTER Gilbert S. Brown Attorney At Law 1530 City Natl. Bank Building March 28, 1940 Mr. Boyd V. Galloway, Editor of The Omaha Guide 2418 Grant Street Omaha, Nebraska Dear Sir: For a month or six weeks past there has been a movement here in Omaha to advance the inter est in “Golden Spike Days” by making a joke out of the solemn duty and obligation of electing a President of the United States. It is my judgement that this ac tion on the part of those who are directing the publicity for “Gold en Spike Days” is without inten tion or thought of being unpat riotic or of injuring our political life, but they have seized upon this thought as an expedieht for advancing business interests, little thinking of the effect it may have upon the serious and sacred task of electing a Presi dent to direct the affairs of the United States in a time so fraught with danger both within and without. I realize that a laugh now and then is good for any man, but there is a time and place for ev erything and making fun of, or a joke out of the election of the President of the United States is unseemly. Ridicule is a powerful weapon and may do great damage to a good cause. Omaha by making sport of the solemn obligation of the election of a President of the United States is setting a bad precedent. I should like to see an express ion on this subject from one who takes the obligation of citizen ship seriously as I know you do. Sincerely yours, Gilbert S. Brown. Civil Service Examination Announced Washington, April 4 (ANP)— Examination for coal price ana lysts and investigators animal geneticists were announced by the United States Civil Service com mission this week. The examina tions, to be given in the near fu ture, require filing of applications not later than April 25, in some states April 22. Applications and list of requirements may be had by writing the commission here or from local postoffices.
