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THE OMAHA GUIDE Omaha, Nebraska, Saturday, July 19,1941 Page Seven
THE OMAHA GUIDE
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Published Every Saturday at 2418-20 Grant St
OMAHA, NEBRASKA
PHONE WEbster 1517
Entered as Second Class Matter Manch 15, 1027, at
the Post Office at Omaha, Nebraska, under Act of
Congress of March 3, 1879.
M. J. Ford, — — — Pres.
Mrs. Fluma Coope^, — — Vice Pies.
C. C. Galloway, — Publisher and Acting Editor
Boyd V. Galloway. — Sec’v and Treas.
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ceeding date of issue, to insure publication.
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON
Last week we expressed our opin
ion about the proposed “MARCH ON
WASHINGTON”, and the result thus
far obtained in the employment field.
Of course, many things are yet to be
done before we have the right to claim
that we have democratic government
in The United States of America.
The GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES must set the ex
ample for the whole people in its treat
ment of the citizens; it must provide
equal opportunity for the Negro as
well as for either racial groups in this
country, for the Negro is still the yard
stick by which our democracy must be
measured.
Whether or not “A MARCH ON
WASHINGTON” will bring to pass
this salutary result is a matter of op
inion. We may well imagine that if
the threat of “A MARCH ON WASH
INGTON”, caused the issuance of a
SECOND EM AN CIPATIAN PROC
LAMATION by The President, the
MARCH itself may result in giving to
the Negro, in so far as government is
concerned, full and equal opportunity
for the Negro.
Here’s hoping.
- — -^—
NEGRO MOTORMEN IN
BROOKLYN
Recently the Borough of Brook
lyn acquired the traction lines. Short
ly after they were acquired, nearly a
score of Negroes were employed as
motormen. It would have been better
all round, if the traction company had
done so while privately owned.
BOY SCOUTS ~
Recently a release came to us
from Louisville, Kentucky, containing
a story of work there among the Col
ored Boy Scouts and the fine work be
ing done by their leaders and spons
ors.
Among other things, according
to Mr. Stanley Harris, Director of In
terracial Scouting, a splendid camp is
provided for week end vacations for
the scouts. And recently, he announc
ed that as a result of the awakened in
terest in Scouting in the South, a
“friend” has recently given $17,500.00
to be used in helping 35 area souncils
to employ Negro Field Directors to su
pervise the work of scouting among
Negro boys. Mr. Harris also states
that many southern communities have
already raised funds to pay Negro su
pervisors without assistance from the
outside.
We mention this fine work at Lou
isville, Ky, not only because we should
know about it and appreciate it, but
also because here in our own commun
ity we have three boy scout troops a
mong Negroes which have for years
done fine work, Indeed, one of them
has won National distinction for hav
ing had in it at one time six eagle
scouts, the then highest point of any
troop in the United States, white or
colored. That troop Master, Thomas
P. Mahammitt, has led the scout move
ment here for nearly a quarter century
among Colored boys. ,
We called his attention to what is
being done in Louisville and the south
among Colored boys which pleased him
greatly. And he, along with us, con
gratulates all the fine workers there
and in other parts of the country for
their matchless contributions to the
future security of America.
“MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING”
The Pittsburgh Courier has been
lashing Walter White because he con
sented to the postponement of an in
vestigation of Government Discrimin
ation by a committee of the United
States Senate headed by Senator Tru
man of Missouri. White was of the
opinion the investigation would be a
bortive, because it could not give the
proper time to it for a thorough in
vestigation of the far flung evil of dis
crimination against Negroes in govern
mental agencies. The Courier Editors
thought otherwise.
Both Walter White and The Pitts
burgh Courier have fought and are
fighting the same valiant battle for
the Negro. And we hope that neither
will permit the difference of opinion
on such a matter to cause harm to the
best interests of the fight for civil lib
erty of the Negro which each has wag
ed for the past quarter century.
It seems to us it is “Much Ado A
bout Nothing”.
i
NEGRO MIGRANTS
Negroes are beginning a new mi
gration and too many of them are set
tling in the large cities of the country.
They are thus creating economic and
social problems which would be avoid
ed were they to settle in less congest
ed areas.
Migrants, do not be lured into
areas by “tall tales” of defense employ
ment where various defense industr
ies have sprung up.
JOE AND MARYA LOUIS
Rumors are rife that Joe and
Marva Louis are about to become rec
onciled. Being a good fighter, Joe, is
a small thing compared with being a
good and successful husband. This
also applies to the wife.
The responsibility of both Joe and
Marva should be appreciated and
they should govern themselves accord
ingly.
THE HUMAN MIND
Scientists assert that the normal
human brain contains Twelve Billion
Cells; that if all of them could be put
to work in a single brain at one time
all the intricacies of finite existence
could immediately be solved. But we
know little about its power and uses.
The little we do know- teaches us that
the human mind is marvelous, almost
infinite in its grasp and possibilities.
Only the other day we were lis
tening to the radio in wonderment,
and then we thought of the mind of
man; how through the long years it has
accumulated and stored knowledge;
recorded it and transmitted it to suc
ceeeding generations. And how, now,
a single brain may acquire that accum
ulated knowledge and give it out to
others a million times over and have it
still; how it has served for the creat
ion of those things which have so far
advanced human comforts, cultures
and the fine things of life; only now,
the world over, through the collective
use of minds, to prostrate the noblest
gifts of this rare possession into a sea
of blood and tears.
Must we admit that the mind,
without the spirit, is not enough. Shall
we say, “as was said two thousand
years ago “The Judgements of the
* Lord are True and Righteous ALTO
GETHER.” Are all the inventions of
Airplane, radio, telephone and elec
tricity, and thousands of other useful
gifts, vain without “A TOUCH OF
THE DIVINE?”
Otherwise, why the world-trag
edy of this hour?
Is THE HUMAN MIND WHAT
WE HAVE HOPED IT WOULD BE?
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE,
GOVERNOR GRISWOLD
Governor Dwight Griswrold w ould
do well to read President Roosevelt’s
Order to defense industries to desist
Irom denying Negroes employment
solely on account of color. Although
it w^as induced by pressure, which we
regret had to be applied, salutary re
sults have been obtained.
How would it do to stage a march
on our Nebraska Capital of ten thous
and Negroes to induce Governor Gris
wold to employ Negroes in the State
government, who, apparently, are bar
red by reason of color alone.
Thus far his promises have been
unfulfilled, without justice or reason.
We are waiting and watching to see
what he intends to do .about his pledg
es and his promises. Maybe he has not
read the motto of his state “EQUAL
ITY BEFORE THE LAW”. Please
read it governor and apply it to the
twenty thousand Negroes in this state,
legally, economically and politically.
BETWEEN THE LINES
(by Dean Gordon B. Hancock for ANP
A TWO EDGED SWORD
It is with pardonable pride that
we reflect on the fact that the doctrine
of the Double-Duty Dollar was first
expounded in this column many years
ago. As was to be expected, there
were those who attempted to gainsay
the principle in question; but the lapse
of only a few years and the stirring e
vents rapidly transpiring have about
convinced the most incredulous that
we had something.
Everywhere Negroes are subscrib
ing to the doctrine that Negroes who
spend their money with Negroes make
their dollars do double duty. The doc
trine went further than holding up the
mere advantage of trading with Ne
groes ; but also set forth that the same
objectives could be attained by trading
with those whites who employ Negroes
This made it broad and less likely to
antagonize the fundamental principles
of inter-racial cooperation. It is obv
ious that the Negro cannot live mere
ly by doing business with Negroes, but
he must include within the scope of his
patronage those whites who employ
Negroes.
This doctrine was never propos
ed and propounded as a solution to all,
the porblems confronting Negroes; it
was merely positied as a measure of
relief to a serious situation. Some of
the more “learned” Negroes began to
decry the doctrine on the score that
the Negro could not have a separate
economy for the race. Nobody ever
said that he could; but it is becoming
increasingly apparent that intra-rac
ial cooperation such as is set forth in
the doctrine of the Double Duty Dol
lar has become one of the bulwarks of
Negro advance. Thd,se Nejgroes who
are enjoying most of the blessings of
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi
ness find their security in the applic
ation of the doctrine of the Double
Duty Dollar.
Taging this same doctrine, Dr.
Luther Jackson of Virginia State Col
lege coined the phrase “share your
trade” with Negroes. This was a
worthwhile amendment to the doctrine
and was designed to thwart the at
tempt to use the doctrine in a way that
might be detrimental to Negro ad
vance. Just the other day I saw a pla
card posted by someone who had seen
the value of the double-duty dollar
principle, but who did not fully appre
ciate the dangers that lurk in the un
chastened enthusiasm which might
take hold on unsuspecting devotees.
The placard read in essence “Trade
only with Negroes” and the context of
the placard showed unmistakably that
an attempt was made to create preju
dice against the Negro who traded
with anybody else. This was a danger
ous position to take with regard to the
double duty dollar doctrine. If Ne
groes are going to confine all of their
trade to. Negroes, then the whites
must be expected to do the same!
When whites admonish all whites
to business only with whites, it is go
ing to be a sad time for Negroes in
this country. If Negroes wrant whites
to share their economic opportunities
with Negroes then Negroes must
share their business with whites. To
do otherwise is economic suicide. The
doctrine of the double duty dollar is a
two edged sword or may be come such
w7hen promulgated by the most thought
less. If Negro leaders wrould give more
attention to the matter and indoctrin
ate the masses it w ould reassure the
situation. ?
What is more, the employment of
the doctrine should be inspired as a
measure of self defense rather than as
a wreapon against the wiiite man. In
ether words, the motives behind the
double duty doctrine should not be vin
dictive but cooperative. As a self help
proposition the double duty doctrine
has limitless possibilities; but as a
fight weapon it has greater possibilit
ies for harm. Negro leadership
should therefore see to it that the doc
trine is not prostituted by designing or
simple persons who wrnuld gain immed
iately for themselves and cause ultim
ate loss to the race. Negroes cannot
lift themselves by their boot straps
neither can the Negro rise economic
ally on the race alone.
Let us remember that the double
duty dollar doctrine may be a two
edged sword in the hands of those who
do not fully understand. What was
designed to be a stepping stone must
not be made a stumbling block. Neg
roes must never forget that whites can
read placards as well as Negroes and
that these whites have as much racial
pride and loyalty as Negroes. While
the principle behind the double duty
dollar is fine, the application of this
principle may be detrimental. The
Double Duty Dollar doctrine may be
come a two edged swrd. Then let us
beware of caresslessness in its appli
cation.
CIVILIZATION OR SAVARGERY?
(by Dr. Charle Stelzle)
It is one of the shocking things in
this topsy turvy world to awake to the
fact that there is a mere crust between
civilization and savagery. Thi: has
been demonstrated in the action of the
Nazis in their treatment of helpless
people of other nations, and which
threatens to many other countries.
Their brutality has transcended acts
of pre-civilization pagans. The amaz
ing thing is that this has been done by
those who regard themselves as “sup
er men,” at a time when the pity of the
civilized world has been increasingly
stirred in behalf of all oppressed and
depressed peoples.
We thought we were getting some
where in our progress toward human
kindness and tender mercy. Then
suddenly we discover that th£ best has
torn loose, tearing and devouring, and
wallowing in the blood of human be
ings. And now the brutal war is on, on
all fronts, rtothing barred. Anything*
goes, while the rest of the world stands
aghast. The victims haven’t even the
chance that was given to men during
the World War, for then the contest
ants on both sides had weapons w hich
they might use in self-defense.
Meanwhile the rest of the world
seems to stand helpless. Even the De
mocracies are like sheep in the pres
ence of a “Dictator Wolf.” It is a
question as to how long this situation
can continue. It seems inevitable that
somewhere something must break out
which will destroy this monstrous cre
ation of a disordered mind. If there is
still justice in the world, if there is a
Force powerful enough to subdue even
this incarnation of the Beast, then
there is hope for civilization. Of this
we may be sure—it will require the
united protests of men and women of
every race, creed and color, and the
rising wrath of all right thinking peo
everywhere. ,
DarWLaughter * * ® . byol harrington
X * * * O M X X X > '-** — <
“Every time Bootsie an’ Stewmeat
comes to get a gallon of gas for their
new Cadillac they disagrees about
who bought the gallon the last time/’
-*—. *