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.
