—-- ’
T“ IDE
/JUSTICES EQUALITY HEW ,T0 THEUNE\
LARGEST ACCREDITED NEGRO NEWSPAPER WEST OF CHICAGO AND NORTH OF KANSAS CyT —MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED NEGRO PRESS
Entered as Second-ciass Matter at The Post office, Omaha, Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, Saturday, December 14, 1940 OUR 13th YEAR—No. 39—City Edition, Copy 5c
Under Act of March 8, 1874—Business Phone: WE. 1517_____ | . . . ... .
-“THIS WEEK IN RELIGION AND THOUGHT”
TEbmktng ant> Giving
—BY ROBERT L. MOODY— ■
Much of our time will toe given to making lists of presents for
our friends. The true Christian and Christmas spirit should motivate
our giving. It is human to think' of those wfio gave us expensive
presents, we are tempted to let this determine the amount we will
spend on them this year. Or we might expect ’a person to give us
something very valuable and give them a present commensurate to
this expt t *'on. ^.0 n*' * hand( we might remember'that “Jane
gave me a cneap handkerchief last year or Julia will not be able to
give me much. feo 'I will not have to spend so much on her.’’
Our giving should be governed by (1) Our ability to give; (2)
The hincere spirit in which we may give the gift and (3) The happin
ess that the gift might bring to the receiver. Gifts to our clo3*
friends are not to'be condemned, but we would do well to remember
those who are poorer than we. They, too, are our friends and neigh
bors.
The world’s greatest gift was given to us when we had nothing
to give in return, and when we were unworthy of the gift "God So
Loved the World, that He Gave His Only Begotten Son.” God gave
Himself when He gave Christ. Let us give ourselves with the gift
because ‘The Gift without the Giver is Bare’’.
-LET’S MAKE THIS A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS
HOPES FOR GREATER SOCIAL. ECONOMIC AND
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO THE RACE—
MISS ETTA MO,THEN
GOVERNOR PRAISES ARTISTIC ADVANCE OF RACE; NORTH
CAROLINA EXECUTIVE TELLS ETTA MOTEN FUTURE IS
HOPEFUL
Raleigh, N. C., Dec. 10—Governor Clyde R. Hoey, expressed
great appreciation for the progress which the Negro people of the na
tion and his state are making, along all lines, but particularly artis
tically, in a brief interview which he held with Etta Motlen, the singer,
in the executive offices here last week. Miss Moten, accompanied by
W. R- Johnson, executive secretary of Negio work in the State De
partment of Public Welfare, had called to meet the governor. The
charming visitor expressed her appreciation of the growing liberality
and fairness w|hidh the State of North Carolina is exhibiting, declar
ing that North Carolina could well serve as a pattern for some states
of the deep South, though she declared that in her travels, she found
improvement in racial relationsips all over the South. She hoped,
however, for far greater social, economic and educational benefits to
the race, she said.
Miss Moten, who had given two concerts in Raleigh, one for St.
Paul Church, and one for St. Augustine’s College, was enroute to oth
er engagements in the state, after which she was scheduled for Char
leston, S- C., Aliquippa, Pa., Franklin, Va.. and points in Indiana, Lou
isiana and Texas. In the latter twa states, she sings at Alexandria,
La, Dec. 12; Baton Rouge, La., Dec. 13; Galveston, Texas, Dec. 16;
Beaumont, Texas, Dec. 18; and at Wiley College.
NAT TOWLES ORCHESTRA
LEAVES FOR INDIANA
Nat Towles ard his orchestia,
will play for a dance at the Uni.
versity of Purdue, Lafayette, Ind.
ths week end.
The Nat 'low’es Orchestra will
also play for a Christmas party
f<> - Mr. SciiofCtr of the Schaef
ftr pen and per.c*J company at Ft
Madison, Iowa.
NAME REV. JEM ISON TO
SUCOBED L. K. WILLIAMS
Louisville, Dec J1 (ANP)—The
executive board of the National
Baptist Convention, Inc., mat here
Wednesday and ramed Dr. D- V.
Jtinisor. to servo as president rf
thr. National Baptist ConVen*ior,
to fill out the unexpired term oi
Dr. L. K. Williams, who met his
death in an airplane accident, last
ALPHA KAPPA SORORITY SET
UP GAMMA BETA CHAPTER
Members of the Alpha Kappa
Alpha sorority consisting of Sor_
ors Gladys Ervin, Florence Myers
and Robbie Davis, invited their
regional director Soror Rosette E.
Nolan of Kansas City, Missouri to
grant them a charter and set up
a chapter of their sorority, Dec
ember 7, 1940
Those who were initiated and
became charter members were
Sorors Rowena Jones, Ora Lee
Britt, Anna Franklini Ruth Solo
mon of Omaha; Univensity, lone
Williams Hanger of Creighton U
niversity.
It is the Gamma Beta Chapter
; of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
| Sorora elected to serve as officers
during the ensuing year are: Sor
ors Gladys Ervin, Basileus; Row
ena Jones, Grammateus; Ruth Sol
omon, Tamiochus; Florence Myers
Reporter.
The setting up of the chapter
and initiation was held at the
beautiful and spacious home of
Soror Gladys Brvin. 3001 North
30th Street. A round table discus
sion concerning the coming boule
scheduled to meet December 26
29, 1940 in Kansus City, Missouri
was led by Soror Nolan while all
participated in a delicious supper.
PROl >OSE WM.
DEAN PICKENS
FOR SPINGARN
MEDAL'
FIGHT MAYOR
OF DETROIT
AFTER POLICE CHIEF SLURS
RACE
Detroit, Doc. 10 (ANP)—Ever
since Police Commissioner Fra:».
is loionr made the bold assertion
that he ‘‘didn’t understand wly
Negroes object to being ca'.lr.1
‘itpf-er* when they are called that
in books and on the stage” a whis
peving campaign, emanating irum
several sources, is igoing the
midr against Mayor Edward J.
Jrlfi ies.
It is recalled that the head of
the meal police oepartment made
this statement in the presen- e of
colored leaders at a conference
with the mayor while protesting
aa ust police brutality on the part
of sc me members of the police
force.
The reason for the whispering
campaign agaiimt the mayor> as
j filed by a ms'iLrr of the pre
trstitf committee, ‘‘is because the
comm'ssioner is appointed by the
mayor and the inly way to get rial
of a Lad police commissioner, who
upholds brutality and has the ef
frontery to flaunt his racial anti
pathy in the face of Negro leaders
calling them boys, is to get rid of
the mayor.”
For a long time, undue brutality
on the part of the police towards
Negroes has been a bone of con
trntion here, and it seems that no
mayor has as yet given much con
sideration to the appointing of a
head for that department who
would attempt to curb it.
It is being repeatedly stated
that colored voters helped to elect
the mayor and it is believed that
they can also help to defeat him.
October.
Dr- Jemison) who lives «t Selmo
Ala., and is president of the Ala
bama State Baptist convention,
has been first vice president of ' be
national, elected last September.
He will serve as president 'i.t.l
n-*xt September when the annual
convention i« held
CALL UP FIRST RESERVE
OFFICERS
Washington, Dec. 12 (ANP) ■ -
The first colored reserve officers
ordered to duty will report to
Camp Dix, N- J., on Monday next
for extended active duty.
> imicago, i^cc. iu (Ari 1 ne imi
cago Branch of the National As_
sociation for the Advancement of
Colored People held its annal
meeting Thursday night and amid
considerable enthusiasm voted an
i ndorsement of Dean William Pic
kens for the 1941 Spingarn Medal.
President Ira W. Williams who
was reelected to serve his forth
term gave vocal evidence of the
spirit of the meeting- Mr. Will
iams said: “In appreciation of the
work done by Mr. Pickens not only
for the NAACP. but for the Ne
gro in every section of the coun
try, I feel there should be some
fitting rewaid for the services he
has rendered. I see, therefore, no
reason why the Spingarn Medal
should not be his reward. The
Chicago Branch has gone on rec
ord as endorsing Dean Pickens to
be the proper person to receive
this award.”
Captain Archie Weaver, for
years a prominent figure in NAA
CP circles and one of the moving
figures behind th effort to give
thig neW idstinction to the popular
Dean Pickens, announced that he
and President Thos. L. Griffith.
Jr., of Los Angeless were contact
ing every branch in the country,
asking them to give their expres
sion to their preferences for the
person Who should receive the
Spingarn award.
Mr. Weaver in a formal state
ment said, “William Pickens has
long merited some fitting reward
for his effective atainments in
bringing about a better undrstand
ing between the races and peoples
of the world, and especially in our
own country Hig logic, wit and‘
humor have made him world fam
ous. He is now approaching his
60th anniversary and has given
his life to education and to the
eradication of prejudice.
“Mr. Pickens has appeared in
‘‘Who’s Who in America” each
year for thirty years. His more
than 10,000 speeches to many mil
lions of people; his books; his
newspaper and magazine articles
as well as his personal contacts
have all made him an outstanding
character of our time. We are in_
viting friends and the public gen
erally to acquaint the Spingarn
Committee with their viewpoint ”
They are Capt .Clinton C. Burke
William B. Edelin: 1st Lieut Na
thaniel King and 2nd Lieut- Arth
ur N. Fearing, all being from the
42Sth Reserve Infantry Regiment.
EDITOR HAS
CHAT WITH
MR. PRATT...
Mr. E .Milton Wilson, employed!
by the Northwestern Bell tele
phone company, son of Rev. Wil
son, who pastored St. John AME.
Church for a number of years, is
really making good on his new
job, according to the statement
made by Mr- R. C. Pratt, Manager
of the Public Relation Department
cf the Northwestern Bell telephone
company. Mr. Wilson is one of
Omaha’s most popular young men.
You never hear anything but some
thing good said about Milton Wil
son. He possesses one of the
most even dispositions of anyone
wo know. A jolly good fellow al
ways. The Negro population shoul^,
be proud of his record in this new
position he now holds at the tele
phone company. This type of re
cord opens up new avenues of em
ployment for our boys and girls
as they come out of scttool.
The Northwestern Bell Tele,
phone Company is conscious ox its
duty in service to its customers
and in pro-rating employment to
the Negro race. This has been
proven by the past record.
Mr. C. C. Galloway, acting edi
tor of The Omaha Guide, some
years ago called a com’ittee of the
Mid-City section together, for the
purpose of organizing* an unem
ployed married men’s council. Af
ter forming the organization in the
office of The Omaha Guide. It
grew so fast that the meet mg
place had to be moved to the Nor
thside Transfer building which
space was donated by Mr. P. Hi
eronymous, Proprietor. Shortly
thereafter, President C. C. Gallo
way saw the need of a building to
serve the Unemployed Marlied
men's and their wives during the
lean days of a republi($m presi
dent and a democratic nouse hiiu
senate administration of 1930-31
Mr- Galloway appointed a commit
t«e at 10 o’clock to call on Mr.
Belt, who was then President of
the Northwestern Bell telephone
company. Through Mr. E. W
Sherman, of Edholm Sherman lau
ndry, who was chairman of the
executive board of the Unemploy
ed Married Men“a Council. At
10 o’clock we were in conference
with Mr. Belt in his office for the
purpose of securing the old vac.
ant Webster building, 2213 Lake
street for temporary use of the
300 members of the Unemployed
Mamed Men’s Council- At 3-30
P. M. Mr Belt telephoned Mr
Sherman that our request had been
granted if we could comply with
the necessary requirements for the
protection of the telephone comp
any in case of accident in the
building while it was in use. That
requirement was liability insur
ance. Wihen the insurance was se
cured, Mr. Belt rented the building
to the council under a year’s lease
for the sum of one dollar
Later on, it became necessary to
change the name from Unemploy
ed Married Men's Council to Mid
City Community Center. Later
on, for the good of the communi
ty it became necessary to merge
the Mid-City Community Center
with the Urban League under the
administration of Mr. J. Harvey
Kerns as executive secretary and
Mr. E W. Sherman as candidate
for president. This all happened
10 years ago. So far as we know,
a dollar a year lease has been con
tinued from year to year and we
doubt that the dollar per year
rent has ever been requested.
> He Keeps Busy
MILTON WILSON
One of the busiest cars in Om
haa is the “Supply Service’’ auto,
shown herewith, and one of the
busiest drivers is E. Milton Wilson
who shuttles hack and forth all
over the city every day. The dri
ver has a regular schedule of pick
ups and deliveries, and during the
time in between regular trips
there may fee special trips of var
ious kinds.
He picks up message rate tick
ets at the Market and Kenwood of
fices each Monday morning at 8
o’clock and on each bill date: de
livers material to both “foot" in
stallers and “mounted’’ installers
whenever they have use for large
quantities or there is an emergen
cy; at 9 o’clock each day he deiiv
ei's inter-office mail to the garage
at 43rd and Cuming and picks up
Western Electric mail at the -10th
and Dodge postal station for the
Western Electric warehouse.
He delivers he police detail re
porrt to police headquarters each
day from the fire and police alarm
service, which is (located in the
telephone building: at 11:30 each
day he delivers inter-office mail
between the headquarters building
and the Market, Walnut.Glendale
and Kenwood offices for all depart
ments of the company; occasional
ly ,he picks up community chest
subscription payments and runs
other errands for the traffic de
partment; at 2 p. m. each day he
delivers equipment orders to the
Western Electric Company for the
supplies department and makes a
second delivery of mail to the Wes
tern Electric Company; at 3 oclock
each day he makes a delivery of
“1060’’ work orders to the Walnut
office, so that plant men can start
to make changes on the frames
for the next day’s orders.
Through this relationship of act
ing Editor of The Omaha Guide
Mr. C- C. Galloway and the offic
ials of the telephone company, the
employment of Colored elevator
operators has been brought about
by thi8 firm.
Right here we cannot overlook
the humanitarian attitude of Mr.
H. T. Sheorer, who was at that
time calling on Mr- Galloway in
interest of the service department
of the telephone company. By
chance it was casually mentioned
in his presence the fact that we
were short on fruit jars in our
canning department. The follow
ing day, Mr. Shearer appeared
with his car loaded with fruit jars
i that he had collected from his
: friends to help along the cause.
MINISTERS
CHALLENGE
POWELL TO
PRODUCE
FACTS
DECRY N. YORK PREACHERS
SERMON DISPARAGING MEM
, ORY OF DEAD MAN; C
Louisville, Dec. 10 WANP* —
Seething indignation characteiizi
ed the session of the executive
board of the National Baptist
Convention, Inc., meeting here last
Wednesday for the first time since
the death of Dr. L. K. Williams,
president of the great religious or
ganization, as its memberg discus
sed tiie posthumous attack made
upon their leader in a sermon re_
ported preached in New York city
by the Rev. A. Clayton Powell, Jr.,
pastor of Abyssinian Baptist
Church of that city. Rev. Powell
was charged with unethical cond
uct by various ministers present
who had read the story of hi8 al
leged intemperate uterance in an
eastern newspaper.
The executive board adopted a
set of resolutions extolling the
work and character of Dr. Will
iams and expressing their unbound
ed confidence in the man and choir
reverence of his memory. At che
same time the group conflemnned
in scorching language the views
alleged to have been expressed by
Powell when, in a pulpit address,
he i8 charged with seeking to link
the name of Dr- Williams with the
unsolved murder of E. D. Pierson,
a former auditor for the National
Baptist Publishing board of Nash
ville who was slain a dozen years
ago as he traveled through Indi
ana to make a report to superior
officers. Powell is charged with
preaching a sensational sermon
in which he struck at the dead
man’s memory by innuendo and in
wfhich he dragged the gruesome
details of the unexplained tragedy
forth in detail as he sought to link
the name of his own denominat
ion’s departed chieftain to the ev
ent.
Hitter condemnation of Kev.
Powell has-been voiced by both
ministers and laymen, not alone in
Louisville but in Chicago and his
own city of New York as well as
throughout the country when
ever the text of this attack had
penetrated.
In New York City where the
Baptist Minister’s conference held
p. memorial service for Dr. Will
iams last Monday, leading pastors
though not calling his name,
branded the young preacher as
“unchristian” and a “sensation
su'eker’’. Rev. O. Clay Maxwell,
pastor of Mount Olive Baptist
Church and an officer in the Na
tional Baptist convention, said
that Powell’s alleged charges were
“without any foundation in fact”
and ‘‘unchristian and unwise". The
conference then went on record as
endorsing Dr Williams’ life and
work. Observors expect the con
ference to demand a retraction by
the young minister. The execut
ive board here at Louisville in_
structed Atty. Wm. H .Haynes, its
general counsel, to seek an explan
ation of the incident and to investi
gate what appropriate action
might be taken
Stepping across the denominat
ion^ line, Dr. George Singleton,
editor of the Christian Recorder,
official organ of the African Me
thodist ( Episcopal church, charged
Rev. Powell with being a “public
ity speaker.” In the same denom
ination, Rev. A. Wayman Ward of
Chicago, reflecting the attitude of
the AME ministers of that city,
said that the radical young min
ister’s action as reported was
“plain low down” and expressed
the view that journalism which
played up or accepted a statement
of the sort without invesigation
was equally culpable.
In Chicago, the Baptist Minis
ter’s conference of Chicago and Vi
cintiy, one of the largest local
church organizations in the coun
ts, challenged Rev. Powell to pro
duce his facts. In a set of •■esolu
tions passed last Monday, the
ccnference went on record as fol
lows:
"lhe Baptist Ministers Confer
ence of Chicatgro and Vicinity was
greatly shocked by an articlj ap
pearing in the public press, cred_
ited to Rev. A. Clayton Powell. Jr
and stacking the memory of the
late Dr. L. K. Williams.
"We do hereby invite Rev. Pow
eil to come to Chicago at the ex
pense of the Chicago Baptist Min
ister’s Conference to give the de
finite facts and information upon
which he based the statement
credited to him. We issue this in
vitation to Rev. Powell because of
cur profound respect for and ap
; preciation of the matchless lead
ership and untarnished character
I nf the late lamented Dr. L. K.
Williams.’’