/ JUSTICE/EQUALITY 1EW ,T0 THEUNE^ LARGEST ACCREDITED NEGRO NEWSPAPER WEST, OF CHICAGO AND NORTH OF KANSAS CITY —MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED NEGRO PRESS Entered as Second-class Matter at The Post office, Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha, Nebraska, Saturday, December 28, 1940 OUR 13th YEAR— No. 41,—City EditicUr—Copy 5c Under Act of March 8, 1874—Business Phone: WE. 1817_______■___ ___ * _ HELLO IA Happy New Year To You All folks l -fa_19 4-1_LShe Omaha fiuide ★ Bishop Wright In Stirring Address To White Churchmen One Day At A Time (by Charles Stelzle) Many of us are troubled because we are uncertain of what may happen to us during the coming year and we declare that we’d give anythirtg to know what the new year will bring to us. Suppose you could have your wish. Suppose you knew everything that was going to happen to1 you tomorrow, what a fearfully stupid day it would be. And think of a year of such dajys. Suppose you knew all the charms of your friends—wouldn’t they suddenly take a drop in your interest? It is because you discover new things about them every day that holds them to you. suppose you resolve never to engage in any occupation un til you knew all its laws and principles of operation—you’d, never make a start, because nobody knows all about them. And no one ever wiU. < » 'iiiMIS 1 As you look back upon your life, you will see that most of your errors were due to the fact that new conditions had devel oped that you did not know about. You had to learn about them and you could make your discoveries only through experience. An'd many of us learn through the mistakes we have made. Ex perience is one of life’s great teachers. The world moves so fast that none of us can keep ahead of it. There is always so much more to be learrted, even by the wis est of us. This is what makes life a great adventure. A life that holds no surprises would be a very dull experience. And so, let’s face the new year with confidence. Anyway—here’s a message that will give new hope and cour age for every day throughout the year: The World Is Wide In Time and Tide, And—God is Guide Then do not hurry. That man is blest Who does his best, And—leaves the rest— Then do not worry. Negro Garyites Win First Point In Fight Against Housing Project Manager Appointed But City Stil Incensed Over Refusal to Heed U S- Officials and Change Objection al Designs; Boycott Sought Against ‘Shanty Town’ .. •• GARY, Ind., Dec. (ANP) Lead ing citizens of Gary, incensed over the design and accomodations of fered at the new Delaney Housing project and the refusal of the all white Gary Housing authority to make the changes asked by the U. S. Housing authority which has appropriated funds for this pur pose, won their first point last week when a Negro was appointed manager. However, colored citizens plan to boycott the low cost homes, named after the late Rev. Frank S. Delaney, founder of Stewart housei unless the local authorities change their attitude and trans_ form the units into homes instead of “levy camp buildings” as they are now described. The project is popularly called “Shanty Town.” Several mass meetings have been held and many white citizens are aiding in the fight. The new manager i3 William Lane, who has been an athletic coach and teacher in the Gary school system foi^ 20 years. A, white man was originally sched uled for the post, but when pro testg mounted the local housing authority decided to employ a Ne gro but give him the tile of “cus todian” instead of manager. When this brought in even great er protests, Mr. Lane was appoint ed. Leading the fight is the Gary Ministerial aliance, the Rev. J. Claude Allen, president, and the (continued on pageJSf^) BELATED PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ARGUMENT FATAL TO A. TUNSPALL BOUND OVER ON FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE Forest Gillum A belated presidential campaign argument early Christmas morn ing in a North 24th street lunch room, resulted in the fatal stabb ing of Abner Tunspall, 35, of 1320 1-2 North 24th St., according to a police report. Tunspall, a Roosevelt admirer, got into a dispute, according to witnesses, with Forest Gillum, 56, of P13 North 20th St., a Willkie supporter. Suddenly, according to versions given police, Gillum drew a pocket knife from his poc ket and cut Tunspall’s throat. The man died on the way to a hospit al. Gillum is held by the police. Several men in the Jesse’s lunch room, 1426 North 24th St., who witnessed the affray, are being held as witnesses. GETS DRAFT QUERY; MAN IS FOUND DEAD Monday John Wesley Woodruff 34, of 3021 U- Street, received a questionnaire from draft board No. 4, Tuesday morning he was found dead, police said, by his own hand. Woodruff shot himself about 5 a. m. in the head with shotgun as he lay in bed with his nephew, Lu ther Wbodruff 5 with whom he f slept at the home of the lad’s fa ther, Edgar Woodruff Draft board officials said Wood ruff wouldn't have been called frr service before February. A men tion of a dependent made it un likely that he would be called at all, they said. Besides the brother, he is sur vived by a sister, Mrs. Ophelia Wilson, 3421 Evans Street. The body is at the Myers Funeral Home NEGROES TO BE ADMITTED TO ARMY AND NAVY UNION New- York, Dec. 24 (ANP) -The “Army and Navy Union,’’ with headquarters at 1845 Broadway, for the first time in its half cen tury of existence, are making a campaign to enroll Negroes in its membership. The Army and Navy union was organized in 1888 an dis now com posed of veterans of foreign and domestic wars, ex-service men and peace time service men now in the armed forces of the U. S. Its primary interests are con >—-I”' - eerned With protecting service. men’s status on civil service lists and provides welfare for the sick and needy. CHICAGOANS PROTEST DRAFT DIF FERENCES Chicago, Dec 24 (ANP) Major Campbell Johnsont assistant to Na tional Draft Director Clarence A. Dykstra and Col. W. H. Draper jr. liason officer between the selective draft csytem and the war depart ment, received a graphic picture of what is in the mass Negro mind, to take back to their super ior officers in Washington last Tuesday when they met with « citizen’s committee composed of local ex-service men, colored mem bers of draft boards, local news paper men and prominent citizens of the south side community. The conference had geen called, at the suggestion of Curtis S- Still well, chairman of selective draft board No. 8 in Chicago, and other prominent members of Giles Leg ion post here. Representatives of colored communities throughout the state were present as were thi too state selective draft officials including Major Paul Armstrong, state director and all of the region al selective officials. The purpose behind the meeting had been the desire to learn why selective draft officials, according to rumor, did not intend to call any Negro draftees in the first con signment to be called in this dis trict early in the new pear. Re ports said that the first 20,000 would be composed entirely of white boys who would go to Fort Sheridan where there was neither room nor facilities for colored trainees. Major Armstrong, who made the opening statement in W'hich he gave a general descrip tion of the draft machinery, saul he jegarded the conference so im portant that he had tried to secure Judge Hastie from the War depart ment, in order that Chicago’s col ored citizens might have an ade quate picture of the whole draft situation. Question after question was fir ed ut Major Campbell Johnson and at Col. Draper as members of tne conference sought to learn why since Negroes are being asked to serve in the defense of American democracy, they could not be per mitted to serve in any branch of the armed services on equality with any other citizen. Aid. Benjamin Grant objee;ed to separate army units for Negro es. He said that if Chinese, Poles Hungarians and other racial groups are accepted into regular legiments, he saw no reason why Negro citizens should not be ac corded the same privilege. Col. Diaper sought to declare that the separation of Negroes from %vhit Oi in military organizations was not discrimination. Atty. Wen 1 ell E. Green drew the United Stat •s constitution upon him to provQ that the basic law of the land call cd for equality. Alo. Earl B. Dickerson suggest ed that since old line army units were traditionally prejudiced, that a start might be made with the newer air service and that Negro es nvght be inducted into white squadrons with little difficulty. Major Johnson explained in de_ tail the methods to be followed *n Uie.draft organization and in set acting draftees. Col. Draper prom ised to take back to Washington a report to the war department cf he objections which had been rais ed- A committee of which Thom as B. Mayo and Rev. A. J. Carey were members was formed to pre pare a report of the sentiment of th meeting for transmission to Cel. Draper. BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NATIONAL ASS’N OF NEGRO MUSICIANS TO HOLD MID WINTER MEETING IN PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh, Dec. 22 (ANP) Out standing among the innovations planned by the National Associat ion of Negro Musicians for the coming year is the establif hment of a national Negro symphony or chestra, and the forming of a Na_ tional Negro opera company- The association is also considering founding a sustaining scholarship fund, and artists’ bureau for book | ing highly recommended and com petent talent, and will try to help Negro composers not yet recogn ized. These plans will be discussed at the annual mid-winted board meet ing of the association to be held here Dec. 27-29. The National Association of Negro Musicians is an organization supported by peo ple of cultural ideals and) music groups oil high standard, ail of whom care deeply enough for the fine art of music and for musical culture throughout the country to lend their influence to one of the most powerful forces for spiritual and cultural development. me association maintains local branches in a number of the larger cities of the eountry( and it con tinues its drives for membership composed of the beat known and nationally accepted artists as well »s those prisons whose interest in music is limited to a sincere ap preciation of the art and a wish to foeter the recognition of Negro musicians and their compositions. CLUB WOMEN LAY EARLY PLANS FOR NEXT SUMMERS BIENNIAL MEETING Kansas City, Kan., Dec. 21 (AN P1—In a letter sent out this week to the club women and girls of the National Association at Cjolored Women, Mrs. Susie V. Bouldin, chairman of the association’s arts and crafts department ,told of plans for next year’s exhibition, to be held in connection with the N ACW. biennial convention, set for July 1941 ,in Oklahoma City. Several new) trophies she said, will be added to those already planned, to be awarded to winners of prize artg and crafts exhibits. Mrs. Jennie B. Moton widow of 9 the former president of Tuskegee institute is NACW. president, and Mrs. Sallie W. Stewart is execut ive secretary. MAN SUFFERS LEG, BODY AND HEAD BRUISES WHEN STRUCK BY CAR Cornelius Strydei^ 45, 3928 Far nam street, suffered a compound fracture of the left leg, and body and head bruises, when he was struck by a car driven by Shasta Washington, 2310 North twenty seventh avenue. The accident oc curred at Twenty-seventh and ‘TELLS THEM THEY FEAR TO APPLY PRECEPTS OF CHRISTIANITY • •• ATLANTIC CITY, Dec. 24 (A NP)—In an address, remarkable for its sincerity and frankness, de livered at the recent session here of the Federal Council of Churches Bishop R. R. Wright, Jr., AME. Church prelate of the 13th Epis copal district, declared that ‘‘fear” in some form of other is the strange influence that prompts preachers and other liberals tb preach justice and democracy, but practice intolerance( He said: “In the study of social change fear has played a great part ever nince the beginning of social life. When I was a boy in the midst of the great period of applying mo dern invention to industrial life, workers were organized to fight the changes that were coming in because of fear that the extension of the steam engine, the linotype and the other labor saving devices would throw them out of work and reduce them to poverty. We had a great war in this country because people feared that the change of slavery to freedom meant the destruction of the South of southern industry. ‘ The church hag often been in duced to fight intellectual prog rams because of the fear that learning would alienate/ religion. We look back upon these fears of ten with a tolerant smile for we see that they were all unfounded, but today we have the some fears, capitalism fears and socialism fears Tha white poople fear to give the black people either dem ocracy or Christianity. White men In this meeting will talk about brotherhood, will shake hands with Negroes, and have fine fellowship but some of them will be afraid to recognize these Neg roes after they have left this place. This hotel will give you ev ery courtesy this week but it fears to adopt a general policy of dec ency toward colored people. Prea_ chei^g will preach for democracy, justice, but they fear to practice it in the simplest, easiest way so far as black people are concerned. They fear the loss of business, loss of social prestige, loss of church membership, loss of money, be cause of fear. Many white liber al people are willing to moke both Christianity and democracy a farce* rather than apply them equally to black and Wlhite alike. One day my little girl of seven came home and informed me that I was a Negro and that NPgroPs were the lowest of the races, that teachers had said so and she show ed me the book to prove it. Pers onally, I think the greatest crime in America is the teaching of young children such unscientific propaganda. The Church should insist that there is one human ra^g. The onene^ of humanity is fundamental in our Christian doctrine and we should ever em phasize this. ix cnnuren n-arn early to des pise other people because of skin differences and to shut these peo ple out of the privileges and equal ities> little progress will be made in preaching to adults about de mocracy and Christionity.” Bishop Wright recently returned from South Africa, where he gaid that the element of fear in the at titude of race is much greater than here in America. “I can see a little reason for such fear in So. America,” said the bishop, ‘‘be cause the whites there took the land away from the natives, and •till are a hopeless minority. But there is absolutely no excuse for such idiotic fear on the part of A_ merican whites.” HURT AVOIDING CAR According to reports received, Mr. Simon Hughes of 1836 North 21st Street suffered a lacerated face, and the losa of a few front teeth when while trying to avoid an oncoming car, he stepped back ward and slipped on the ice. ^——■——| Lake streets. Stryder was taken to Nicholas Penn Hospital. Jt. . 6 ’