Nebraska Newspapers

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LARGEST ACCREDITED NEGRO NEWSPAPER WEST OF CHICAGO AND NORTH OF KANSAS (TIT —MEMBER OF TIIE ASSOCIATED NEGRO PRESS
-Entered as Second-Class Matter at The Post Office, Omaha, Nebraska Sntlird»V, June 20, 1942 OUR 15th Year, No, 19 CitV Edition, 5c Copv
.Under Act of March 8, 1874—Business Phone: WE. 1517 _*_______
Bishop J. A. Hamlett At Cleaves Sun., June 21st
PICKEN’S LEAVE IS TERMINATED BY N. A. A. C. P.
Mrs. Camille W'. Briggs to Speak. At Annual Convention Here
GRAHAM CASE COMES TO END
BhrllKr. III! tUl.MIL
At last the Omaha City Council
has decided the case of Mrs. Ruby
Eldridge and others against Sgt.
John Graham, growing out of an
assault which Sgt. Graham com
mitted upon Mrs. Eldridge and htr
husband on March 18. 1942.
Relow will be found resolutions
adopted by the Omaha City Council
June 16. 1942.
RESOLUTIONS:
The complainant. Mr. and Mr?.
Eldridge and the Omaha Branch of
the NAACP have ten days in which
to appeal the findings and rulings
of the City Council to the District
Court. That question is now in the
hands of the Executive Committee
of the Omaha Branch and they will
take such action at the proper time,
as the facts warrant.
The facts and circumstances war
ranting it is now known at this
time- Whether or not Mr and Mrs.
Eldridge will bring suit for dam., g
-ee against Sgt. Graham and his
bondman, they will decide in the
near future. The vote of the Coun
cil was unanimous and apparently
was a compromise finding and judge
ment.
RESOLUTION BY COM. TOWL
Whereas, certain charges were
filed against John Graham, Sar
geant oh the Omaha Police Force
on April 7, 1942 alleging that he was
guilty of conduct- unbecoming an
officer; that he used more force
than was necesary in connection
with the arrest of one Ruby Eldridge
and,
Whereas, a hearing was commeac
ed upon said charges on May U.
1942. and finally terminated on May
19, 1942 at which time the City
SOUTH O MAH AN DROWNED
Thomas West. 28. 2832 R Avenue,
a packing house employee, was
drowned while fishing witii a group
of friends Saturday night at Cedar
Creek.
"Mr. West and two others, Leonard
■Mitchell and St. Clair Breakfieli.
were in a boat. They were chang
ing places trying to balance the
boat when it turned over. Mitchell
and Breakfield made it to shore.
*Thcv called to West to float and not
try and swim, but he never answer
ed them.
Mr. West was a good swimmer
,and the water was not more than
'fifteen feet deep- It is believed that
be i-ftbtr had cramps, caused from
the cold water or that he had an
heart attack.
Mr. West leaves to mourn nis
deqth. a wife. Tareasa. a mother
and father. Mr. and Mrs. Robert
West and five brothers. Lincoln.
( ?ho, flrant, Herman and Car} West.
Because the family has been un
able to locate a brother who is the
army, funeral arrangements have
not been completed.
ENTERS TRAINING SCHOOL
Mr. J. Westbrook McPherson, who
was the first Negro to hold a posi
tion as clerk in the County Court
appointed by Judge Charles J. Sou
thard. resigned to enter the army.
He will take a six months radio,
signal corps and communication
course at a salary of $120.00 per
month.
Mr. Peter Doss will also enter
training, completing the same course
Mr. Doss was formerly in charge of
the circulation department of a lo
cal Omaha newspaper. He special
izes in sponsoring food shows and
he has been working lately at the
Bomber plant.
Both young men will be inducted
by Uncle Sam as soon as they have
completed the course
LOCAL ATTORNEYS
MAKE APPLICATIONS
Three local attoreys have made ap
plication to the army for the follow
ing positions: Atty. Jess Hutten for
the FBI: Atty. Dillard Crawford fcr
Judge Advocate and Atty. John
Adams, Jr., for the Intelligence De
partment.
)
Council took the matter under ad
visement, and.
Whereas, the City Council has
duly considered and weighed all the
evidence adduced at said trial.
Now. therefore, be it resolved by
the City Counci] of the City of O
maha.
That John Graham be and he
hereby is found guilty of conduct
unbecoming an officer, in violation
j of the rules and regulations of the
Police Department in that he used
more force than actually was nec
essary in connection with the ar
rest aforesaid, but the Council finds
that there are extenuating circum
stances with the entire transaction
brought about b ythe belligerant
and hostile attitude of a com
plainant, Ruby Eldridge.
(Adopted by the Council June 16,
1942).
RESOLUTION BY COM. TOW I
Whereas, as the City Council h&s
this day found John Graham. Sar
geant of the Omaha Police Force,
guilty of conduct unbecoming an of
ficer in violation of the rules and
regulations of the Police Depart
ment in that he used more force
than was necessary in connection
with the arrest Of Ruby Eld rid re.
complainant, and,
Whereas, the Council also found
that because of the belligerent and
hostile-attitude of the complainant,
^xtenuating circumstances existed
in cenneetion with the entire trans
action. which should be weighed;
valued, and considered in connect
ion with the fixing of a penalty
herein. t
Now. therefore, be it resolved by
the City Council of the City of O
maha.
That in consideration Of the fore
going facts and findings of this body
the Chief of Police be and he is
hereby ordered and drected to adm
inister a reprimand to Sargeatit
John Grahm as punishment for the
acts aforesaid.
(Adopted by the City Council. Jun°
16. 1942).
VAACP URGES W AAC TO
FOLLOW TRULY DEMOCRATIC
PATTERN
New York—Urging the new Wom
en’s Auxiliary Army Corps to fol
low a “really democratic pattern"
in selecting its personnel, the NAA
CP. asked the WAAC last week why
Mrs. Yeolis Lynch of Brooklyn. N.
Y.. was queried as to whether She
preferred a “white training school”
to a “colored" one when she was
told by the local interviewing offic
er that her application for officers’
candidate school had not been ac
cepted.
First inquiry of the WAAC was
made in a letter to Mrs. Oveta Culp
Hobbj-, director. June 8. In reply.
Colonel William F. Pearson, Adjut
ant General, stated that it is the
; annuonced policy of th^ Corps that
40 Negro women will be trained at
the first officer candidate school at
Fort Des Moines, la. Those finallv
accepted he said "will be those hon
j estly believed to be the best qualif
—
MAXWELL B. FORTEAU, of |
1465 Fifth Avenue, New York City,
received his commission as a second
lieutenant in the Coast Artillery
Corps Friday, May 15, graduating
from the Antiaircraft Artillery Of
ficer Candidate school at Camp Ha
ris, N. C.
led to perform duty as officers in
the WAAC, which is the aim in tne
selection of all officer candidates.”
Mrs. Lynch pased the mental al
ertness test, but was rejected after
a personal interview with the re
cruiting officer. More than 2.500
applications were made in New Yo»"k
for the quota 62 assigned to the
area.
In answer to Colonel Pearson.
June 12, the NAACP said it does
not presume to pass on Mrs. Lynchs
qualifications, but that it most earn
estly hopes that the WAAC will
start off on the right track in init- |
iating a real democratic pattern.
BETH I'VE TO OPEN 22 VI)
ANNUAL SESSION OF NATIONAL
NEGRO INSURANCE ASSN.
Birmingham, June 18 (AXP) Tues
day evening. June 23. the 22nd an
nual session of the National Negro
Insurance association will open at
the 18th Street Baptist Church. The
local arrangement committee, com
prising all managers of member
oompanies, announces that all plans
are completed for the greatest ses
sion in the history of the association
i Every phase affecting the wel
fare of the Negro has been well
planned for discussion. Not oaiy
will discussions be held, but definite
plans for the solution of various ec
onomic problems facng Negroes
throughout America will be formd
at*d.
Persons programed oh Opening
night will be some of the most out
standing personalities in America—
Bishop B. H. Shaw, AME. Zion -
church welcome on behalf of the
city of Birmingham. W. Cooper
Green, president of city commiss
ion: greetings on behalf of the cit
izens. James E. Kelley, grand secre
tary of the Elks, greetings on behalf
of the fraternal organizations. 03
car W. Adams, supreme grand chan
cellor Knights of Pythians, secret
' The thirty-seventh annual session
of the Nebraska Federation of Col
ored Women's Clubs, will convert
at Bethel Baptist Church. 30th a.id
R Streets. June 22, 23.
On Monday, June 22. there will be
a board meeting at 7 o'clock at ’‘tie
Church, followed by a program at
8 o’clock by the local Club and also
a reception.
The highlight of the convention
will be Mrs. Camille W. Brigs o:
Atchison. Kansas, who wall be 7he
principal speaker at the Tuesdav
evening meeting. June 23.
Mrs. Camille W. Briggs stands as
a model in her communit) for her
church work. (Campbell Chapel A.
M. E. Church) her home missionary
serviee and as the fraternal leader
of Heroine of Jericho. Kansas wo
men have featured her as a worm
while leader.
She served on the National Schol
arship and Loan Committee for 8
years; served five years as treas
urer on the Central Association (14
States); served as State President
four years and is now chairman of
the advisory board and president
emeritus of the Kansas Association
of Colored Women. These activit
ies did not lessen her home inter
ests. Besides successfully educat
ing her son. Clyde William Briggs,
who is now in the Officers Candid
ate Tranng School at Camp Lee, Vs.
she established the scholarship and
loan fund which is named the "Cam
ille Briggs Scholarship and Loan
Department,” to help worthy stud
ents.
While attending the convention,
Mrs. Briggs will conduct a round
table discussion on the subject, the
club woman as an educator; first in
her home: second in her commun
ity and third in her church.”
The public in ivited to attend
these meetings and the women ate
especially urged to be present.
ary church extension department of
AME. Zion church: greetings from
state bureau of insurance. Frank X.
Julan: response to greetings. Asa T.
Spaulding. Jr., president of the as
sociation: guest speaker, Mrs. Mary
McLeod Bethune, director Negro af
fairs. XTA and president of Bethune
Cookman College.
DO YOl WANT EDUCATED
NEGROES IN NAVY,’ NAACP
ASKS KNOX
New York—‘Does the Navy need
or want educated Negroes?”, the
NAACP asked Secretary- Frank
Knox in a letter June 8.
Using the facts presented to it
by Benjamin Blassingille who en
listed June 1, the NAACP request
ed Knox to clarify the capacities in
which Negroes are permitted to
serve in the navy.
Blassingille has had five year’s
study of medicine. He told the N
AACP. he felt his training could be
put to use in the hospital corps,
but he was offered enlistment as ap
prentice seaman in the construct
ion corps.
He was told by the recruiting of
ficer that there is no opportunity at
present for Negroes in the hospital
corps, but that '‘if and when condi
tions arose” he would probably have
a chance to qualify for pharmacist
mate, second or third class.
EXPERT RIFLEMEN
■— ■ *■ -—---fa-u2_ ■ Xfc-:
These seventeen colored soldiers Croft. Lowest score in the group qualify from one company on the
all qualified as expert riflemen dur- was 220 of a possible 250 points, rifle ranges at Camp Croft,
ing a recent range season a.t Carnp This is the largest group ever to ,
f iNew iorK—At tne June s meeting
of the national board of directors of
the NAACP it was unanimously
voted not to grant Dean 'William
Pickens an indefinite leave of ab
sence for reasons "wholly unconnec
ted” with his work with the Treas
ury Department, and that Dean
Pickens' ‘‘status as director of the
branches Of the NAACP is termin
ated as of June 15, 1942. the date
of the expiration of his present
leave of absence.”
Mr. Pickens was first granted a
year’s leave of absence in May.
1941, to work in the Treasury De
partment on the sale of war bonds
and stamps. His request for an in
definite leave was considered at the
May and June meetings of the board
of directors this year.
Decision of the NAACP board was
largely based on Dean Pickens' let
ter printed May 17, commending
the Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch
editorial of April 26, in which state
ments were made accusing the NA
ACP. the Crisis, the Pittsburgh
Courier and the New York Amster
dam Star-News of stirring up trou
iUUMMUNITY C LEARING
COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING
CLEAVES TEMPLE,
The first Annual Meeting of the
Community Clearing Council will
present as principal speaker Bishop
James Arthur Hamlett of Kansas
City, Kansas, at Cleaves Temple
Church Sunday, June 21st, 4:00 p.
m. Bishop Hamlett is well known
nationally as owner and publisher*
of the Topeka Plaindealer in Topeka
Kansas He served as editor of toe
Western Index and the Christian
Index for 12 years. He was elected
Bishop of the third Episcopal Dis
trict of the CME. Church which in
cludes Kansas. Missouri, Iowa, Col
orado. Tennessee, Louisiana, and
Nebraska in 1922. He is a graduate
of Lane College. Jackson. Tennes
see. received his M. A. degree from
Northwestern University and Bach
elor of Theology from Garrett In
stitute, Evanston. Illinois. Bishop
Hamlett has distinguished himself
to the extent of his feld that hon
orary degrees have been conferred
upon him by Lane and Game® Col
leges.
In addition to the main address
by Bishop Hamlett the following of
ficers and Executive Committee
members will be installed by Rev.
B. E. Jones: Rev. L. A. Story. Chair
man, Mr. Henry Black, Vice chair
man. Raymond R. Brown, Secret
ary, Mrs. Mattie B. Gooden. Treas
urer, Committee members Atty.
John Adams, Jr.. Mrs. J. A. Will
iams, Dr. David Gooden, Rev. G. A.
Stains, Mr. J. W. Dacus.
The annual report will be given
by the Secretary. Remarks by Rev.
man-elect, and special musical num
bers will complete the afternoon’s
L. A. Story, host pastor and Chair
program. Everyone is issued a
special invitation to attend
ble and creating "interracial ten
sion.”
The Association offered the Treas
ury Department cooperation in its
war savings program.
White Detroit Newsman
Gives Americans
Something To
Think About
I
Lauds Negroes For Their Progres
siveness—Flays Miscegenation,
Says Octoroons and Mulattoes
Didn’t Get That Way by Using
; Peroxide
DETROIT. June 15 (ANP) Draw
j ing aside the mask of insincerity
and apathy so typical of the attitude
of the average white American to
ward Negroes. W. K. Kelsey, wide
ly known newsman and student of
race relations, last week gave De
troiters a heart-to-heart talk in his
column, the Commentator, publish
ed in the Detroit News.
Almost without parallel in Amer
ican journalism. Commentator Kel
sey’s revealing article shunted aside
the hypocrisy of the whites, dealt
a body blow to the old bugaboo of
miscegenation and social equality
and declared that science has proved
that the so-called "white supremacy’
is a myth, pure and simple.
Writing on “This America,” Com
mentator Kelsey stated, in part:
“There are a lot of Americans
who have a lot to learn about Am
erica.
‘For instance, there are those boys
at Dodge truck plant of the Chrys
ler Corp., who walked out because
some Negroes were sent to the plant
to work beside them. They we'e
wrong on two counts. They were
wrong because the Constitution of
their UAW-CIO union recognizes no
distinction between Negro and white
and chiefly they were wrong because
the constitution of the United Stat
es of America recognizes no such
distinction. The UAW-CIO believes
in the American constitution, in A
mercan democracy; beleves that a
man’s a man. for a’ that, as Bobby
Burns once remarked when he took
a slap at the British aristocracy. It
is impossible to be fundamentally
American, to believe sincerely in the
American democratic pmciple. jnd
hold aloof from the Amercan-bom
Negro, the American-Born Chines3,
or any other American citizen whose
complexion is different from that cf
the majority.
"You may hold that though this
is American doctrine, it is neverthe
less mistaken. You may insist that
the white race s superior, and must
be recognized as such. If you do,
you start a quarrel with the scient
ists. Science is pretty careless cf
aims at truth, no matter how un-1
pleasant the truth may be. And I
i r
I long-nourished popular beliefs. If
j science holds that there isn’t a nY
| kel’s worth of difference between
1 racial capacities.
| "The white immigrant had the
advantage of our free schools, and
they were good ones. But what a
bout the native American Negro?
His greatest numbers were in the
South. What kind of schools did he
have access to? Few, and bad. Be
fore emancipation, almost none;
there was no object in educating the
slave beyond the training of his
muscles to do the work required.
Besides, if he learned to read, he
might get subversive ideas. After
the slave had been freed and male
a citizen, the story differed but lit
tle. It was not entirely the south's
fault: that whole section had be-n
impoverished and disorganized bv
the war, and it was natural for the
white land-owning taxpayer to look
out for his own family before he
did anything for the Negro. There
fore the Negro got what was left
over, and that was not very good.
He did the dirty and heavy work,
and was underpaid .and it was as
much as he could do to stay alive.
“Did that fact lick him? It did
not. He produced leaders who knew
that for the colored race a great
part of the answer lay in education.
Somehow, by heroic efforts, thev
founded schools and colleges. And
they proved that what the scientists
said was correct: that the Negro
could absorb education as well as
the white, and could implement it i
as well as the white. In mental |
capacity racial difference didn’t
count for a fig.
“But in the back of the Caucas
ian mind, and not very far back, lay
two obnoxious ideas—miscegenation
and social equality. Te former was
all right, if it was forced on the Ne
gro by the white: the mulattos,
quadroons and octoroons didn't get
that way by using hydrogen per
oxide. But the other was round, it
was all wrong. Every self-respect
ing -Negro today wm tea you uia;
either way it's all wrong. The Ne
gro doesn't ask for it. doesn’t ex
pect it. doesn’t want it. But when
it comes to social equality, as dis
tinct from political equality, which
the law already recognizes he means
to get it. and he means to obtain it
by the same means that the poor
and underprivileged white man got
it—by proving himself worthy of it.
and by gradually overcoming the
prejudice that stands in his way.
“Where do you see the opposition
to this demand? Among the more
enlightened citizens? Or among
those who are in economic and to j
a considerable extent already in soc- i
ial competition with the Negro?
“Some day, after we have shown
our faith in the East Indians, and
the Chinese, and the blacks of Afri
ca, tve may demonstrate our faith
in American democracy, and make
it real.’
Sorority Boy* $1,000 War Bond
MEETS ITS PLEDGE: In keeping with its pledge to the Delta Sigma
Theta sorority, the Central Regional Conference has purchased a $1,000
United States M ar Bond. The purchase was made at Douglass High
School. Oklahoma City, Okla., from W. H. McDonald, assistant cashier
of the First National Bank and Trust Company.
Shown in the picture, left to right, are: McDonald; Mrs. Beatrice
Penn man, grand treasurer, Kansas City, Mo.; Miss Elsie Austin, grand
president, ^ ashington, D. C.; and Mrs, Mary Buford, Central Regional
Director. Sand Springs, Okla.
(OTHER PICTURES ON PAGE 2)
"i '
/^om
Clifford C 7Thtcholl
C. C. How can I write this col
umn? As I sit here and write I am
listening to the services being con
ducted at the Mt. Calvary Commun
ity Spiritual Church. You knov\
during their ninth aniversary week,
their services are being broadcasted
through a loud speaker and I cr.n
hear each word, and each song note
just as dstinctly as though I were
in the church.
—CCM—
And I was in their church Sun
day night, too- From seven-thirty
until eleven o'clock. Now, don't
for a moment think that I have be
come a Saint all of a sudden, for I
haven’t, and chances are never will,
but Sunday evening I was sitting
out in front of the office, having
nothing else to do at the momeni.
Kind of blue and lonesome, and I
watched so many people going into
the church and So many people
slopped by and talked to me of the
services., etc.,_ _. .that finally I made
up my mind to go in too.
—CCM—
Now, you know me, C. C. I'm no
hypocrite- I am not a religious fan
atic. I doubt if I am even religious.
True, from babyhood until manho d
I attended church, in its various
branches, perhaps as a matter of
parental duty, but after reaching
manhood, and the more I travelled
around, and the more I have be
come acquainted, and familiar, with
church fanatics, the less respect I
have had for what they represent
ed. And you must remember. C. C.
that for a period in this life I was
actually the secretary to a Bishop.
Now, if a secretary to a Bishop
can't learn to respect that Bishop
or whatever or what he represent.;,
what can a poor mortal Of flesh and
bones do?
—CUM—
At any rate. I went into the
church- As usual I sought a seat
in the very rear. I generally sit in
the rear so that when I become bor
ed I can ease out of the picture, but
in this respect I made a mistake at
Mt. Calvary. I got in the rear all
right but I hadn't been there long
before the church became crowde 3
Even standing room was unavail
able. And being in the rear I Jis
covered meant being sandwiched in
a crowd whereby I was stuck for the
night For the exit entrance sa
in the front and the place was too
crowded to try to get out, so there
I stayed.
MATRON’S BODY FOUND
IN RIVER
Chattanooga. Tenn., June 18 (AN
P)—The body of Mrs. Margaret Hy
att McGhee was found in the Ten
nessee river last week after she had
mysteriously disappeared from her
home on West Fourteenth street
here. Mrs. McGhee, mother of a
young daughter .retired in perfect
health, according to the child. Nor
ma Jean. Blood stains found in tn°
woman’s bed led police to believe sne
had been murdered and her boiy
thrown in the river.
But upon my word I enjoyed it.
The songs were so sweet and so
touching that my handkerchief was
constantly at my eyes .and the Rev.
Johnson possessed the master show
manship of talking for brief int-»r
▼als only and then would punct
uate his remarks by either leading
or directing some rousing spiritual
to be sung. Actually, C. C. this took
the house down. Everyone was
happy. I never saw a choir so en
! thused. One feminine member act
ually got up and danced before the
congregation: she was so happy and
! so full of the spirit. Everyone clap
1 ped hands. I, myself, was on the
verge of making some physical deni
j onstration of my happiness, and
■ then came the interlude. Yes. it
was an interlude, for some one -ls“
i got up to talk, and did he talk? He
j talked so long that I lost my enthus
i iasm that the Rev. Johnson had
kindled in my breast.
—CCM—
That wasn’t the only church ex
perience, Sunday, C. C. No. not at
all! You know I had promised Mrs.
V. Duff, 3810 Camden Avenue, tha;
I would attend her church Sun<lay
—The Church ofGod in Christ—on
26th Street, between Grant and Ers
kine. And. although. I am no relig
ious fanatic, one of the morale '.•ode
in the world in which I have lived
is to always keep your word. M ly
be that s not necessary among the
church clique, but U has been nec
essary among the clique wih'b Iat
tended. because if you didn’t keep
your word sometimes that meant
your life. At any rate 1 went to
Church, at the appointed time—el
even o'clock. Another Omaha sur
prise. Sunday school was not over.
I l was told to return at twelve, i
j did. And still Sunday School was
| not over but I w aited. Finally,
j when it was over jee of the cuurch
! attendants usherra me t<- a sett I
set down and aw.uced the s^r
—CC -1—
Finally when th° services w p-e .
OjCi lo start on*- of the off* it
came to me persorallv and :»s<t---i
to speak to me OLTStDE the cn c
Can you imagine that. C. C; asking
a member Of the audience to g.»
j OUTSIDE the church. When let
outside the attendant said the
church officers had delegated him t >
interview me to see why I came t >
that church. Imagine that, C. C?
Having to explain why one comes
‘<ir>t iri>o-t tin tihtre JT-1*" " -
THIS
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U. S. Treasury Uttar truant