Nebraska Newspapers

    _LARGEST ACCREDITED NEGRO NEWSPAPER WEST OF CHICAGO AND NORTH OF KANSAS CITY _MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED NEGRO PRESS
EuS Ac/rfltoSirS WE.^' N',b”‘l“ Saturday, August 28, 1943 OUR 16th YEAR-Ko. 29 City Edition, 5c Cqpy
*
President Roosevelt May Break His Silence Shriners Close Grand Session
May Setup
Inter-Racial
Committees
(by ERNEST E. JOHNSON)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (ANP)—
Private sources have lent increa.5
ed weight to the report that Presi
dent Roosevelt, in his next fire
side chat to the nation, will give
voice to his sentiments in connect
ion with the now subsided wave of
racial outbreaks which have grip
ped the nation.
Immediately after the Detroit
riot individuals and organizations
throughout the country began a
stream of petitions on their way
to the White House asking the
Chief Executive to speak out a
gainst “distinifying forces*’ which
seek to foment racial strife.
It is now generally known too
that his Attorney General. Francis
Biddle, had advised him to lay off
making a full dress speech on the
sub.i ct. but that he might devote
a few passages to it in his never
over-all review of the domestic
picture. This was revealed in the
famous “Biddle letter” of July la.
When Vice President Henry A.
Wallace addressed himself to a De
troit audience last month, using
the strong language that he did. he
spake with the nod from the Presi
dent, so it said reliably.
Current information is that as
soon as the present conferences
with Prime Minister Winston
Churchill are out of the way. Presi
dent Roosevelt will give the speech
he himself announced when he last
spoke to the nation and outlined
his plans for the rehabilitation of
veterans of World War II.
It is understood that about i'OO
words have been drafted for inclu
sion in this address, which are de
signed to answer the pleas of pro
testing organizations. If this be
true, it will be the longest state
ment the President will have made
on a subject that so specifically and
directly affects 12,000,000 Negroes.
However, it is said that a very
real problem confronts the Chi-f
Executive as to a specific recomm
endation wiiich he should like to
make.
The Congress for Industrial Or
ganization last month at its exe
cutive Committee meeting here, a
dopted a strong resolution in which
among other tiungs, it called for
the establishment of interracial
committees in the various comm
unities which would Concern itself
about tensions and their relaxation.
It is learned too that this phase of
the resolution has since been pass
ed on to the President.
The problem, however, is how
best these committees might be es
tablished and under whose juris
diction might they function. Two
methods have been proposed: #ne
would follow the pattern in Chic
ago where Mayor Kelly appointed
a committee, gave it a budget and
a paid secretary, and told them to
go to work. The other idea is to
let the Office of Civilian Defense
establish the committees.
Local observors here lean to the
Chicago method. They point out
that the localities can furnish funds
for such committees whereas the
OCD. itself being kicked about the
lot, is actually short on cash. Fur
ther. OCD sponsorship might have
undesirable repercussions in a re
bellious Congress if the prece.ss
days are any indication of attitude.
Insofar as the policies of the
thing goes, it’s six in one hand and
a half dozen in the other. Comm
ittee appointed by mayors would be
subject to local influences, b-- they
Republican or Democrat, depend
ing on the community. On the oth
er hand, OCD -*ugh tfind it pre
ponderance of Democratic influ
ence. Crystal B^d Fauset. cert
ainly no babe in the poltical woods
is now racial adviser to James
Landis at OCD. Last report had it
that she was in the Democratic
column, which means that she
might get a big finger into these
Committees if that agency took
sponsorship.
If political influence is inevit
able, it is pointed out. mayorat
committees appear to be more de
sirable in that no mayor is going
to appoint a committee that is go
ing to embarrass him or interfere
with his own political fortunes.
Hence he might be inclined to give
it money and support.
If, however. OCD runh the show,
a Democratic wheelhorse would be
called upon to do a job, let us say
a Republican community, and be
confronted with “opposition from
an element that would like to take
the credit itself for establishing
racial harmony.
ETHEL WATERS NAMES
SECRETARY IN THEFT
Hollywood. Calif.,—Ethel Waters,
musical comedy and film star last
Monday filed charges against her
secretary accusing him of stealing
10 thousand dolars she had tossed
into a trunk and $13,400 worth of
jewels. The secretary, Archie Sav
age, 29, was booked in county jail
on suspicion of burglary.
DOORS CLOSED AS NEGROES SEEK ADMISSION TO WAVES
Legion To Hold Installation of Officers’
GIRLS ASKED TO
LEAVE BY REAR
ALLEY EXIT
Washington, August 22—Four
Negro girls who applied for admis
sion to the Waves at the recruiting
office lii-c Friday caused such
consternation that officials in
charge closed the doors four and
one half hours ahead of the usual
time, according to the Alpha !>.ap
pa Alpha Sorority’s National Non
Partisan Council.
Fifteen minutes after two of the
girls were asked to leave because
the office had "closed”, however,
two others returned and found the
doors open. The six girls hal de
cided to test the qualifications for
amission to the WAVES which
state that a woman must be a nat
ive born American citizen and be
tween the ages of £0 and 35. All
iret both requirements. They a*-. :
Miss Althea Jefferson, high
school graduate, of Washington,
Pa., who is trained as a typist and
stenographer, and who now works
at the Bureau of Engraving and
Vrlnurg here.
Miss Hazel Leo, graduate of the
Cevelrrd Secreta. al School .Vow
York Coy who is a typist and sten
os 'pher and operates all types of
business machines. In adli:i>a,
Mi-s Lee is c ia»ifi d as a cl! i ai
hygi-ir— an l as- i asaed the \m
of ''olumbia Medical Be,'d
which permits her to practice her
profession here. She is employed
by the Civil Service Commisson.
Miss Bernice Jacobs, 28, has an
A. B. from the University of Cali
fornia at Berkley, wth a major in
HispaniC-american history has been
a school teacher and has credits
toward an M. A. in history.
Miss Cora E. Wrght, 22, A. B. in
English from South Carolina State
College, credits towards M. A. in
English at Howard University and
two years of teaching experience.
Mss Cleomine B. Lewis, 23, Vir
ginia Union University, A. B. in
English; stenographer, Burrougns
bookkeepng machine operator, I
mimeograph machine operator;
working now as secretary.
Miss Velma Hammond, 28, San
Francisco State College, A. B. in
biology and economcs. with grad
uate credits in bology. Now em
ployed by Bureau of Engraving and
Printing.
First to enter the WAVE re
cruiting office at 1320 G Street,
were Misses Jefferson and Lee who
sent in at 4:15 p. m. They were in
terviewed by a WAVE, who receiv
ed them pleasantly, albeit with a
thick Kentucky accent. When ask
ed for application blanks, the Ken
tucky Vt AVE states, “Oh, we re
pot taking applications just now,
but I'll take your names and ad
dresses and telephone numbers.
As soon as we begin taking them
we’ll let you know.”
"You mean you’re not taking ap
plications from anyone?” question
ed Miss Lee. "No, said the WAVE
“But we are making some plans
for you all.” There was more talk
about names and addresses, some
literature changed hands, but Miss
Jefferson and Miss Lee were net
given application blanks.
As the first two left, Miss Jac
obs and Miss Hammond entered.
Received by the same WAVE, they
had no sooner sat before the inter
viewer’s desk than a sailor, yeo
man’s rank, called the WAVE a
way saving that “the commanding
officer” wanted to see her. The
interview was taken over by the
yeoman, who the two young wom
en said appeared “flustered.”
As the sailor began to fill out
cards to show the young women s
names and addresses, a Navy of
ficer walked to the front door, by
which they had entered, and Clos
ed it saying: “We’re closing un.
Smith, it’s too hot.”
Miss Jacobs then asked if they
could be permitted to finish filling
out their cards, and have applica
tion blanks. They were given the
application blanks along with some
ether literature, but the sailor ner
vously told them that the office
was closed now.
Ilt was then 4:45 p m. M'ss .Tac
(Continued on pagefjp4)
r
Wacs Have Charming Visitor
—■ - ...
Labor
Opposes
L.B. 204
I NION LEADERS WANT
PEOPLE TO VOTE ON
POWER COMPANY
Martin Nelson, President of the
International Brotherhood of Elec
trical Workers, issued the follow
ng statement presenting the views
of the union in connection with tile
local power controversy-.
The people of Omaha should
have no doubt as to the stand of
Organized Labor in the present
local “Power Controversy." As
President of the local union of the
International Brotherhood of Elec
trcal Workers which has an agree
ment with the Nebraska Power
Company, I feel that it is my duty
to inform the people of the posit
ion taken by our local union and
the Omaha Central Labor Union.
If Organized Labor had been con
sulted in the framing of L. B. 204.
which is the basis of the local pow
er controversy, we would have
recommended many changes. And
why shouldn't organized labor be
invited to voice their opinon on
proposed legislation affecting the
people of Omaha? Organized La
bor represents a goodly portion of
these people, and are vitally inter
ested in civic affairs.
Now that L. B. 204 has become
a law certain groups are trying to
force it to be put in effect. Or
ganized Labor is against this law.
not because they were not consult
ed in the framing of it. but because
it is detrimental to some of its
members, and to the people of Om
aha as a whole. The Omaha Cen
tral Labor Union is interested in
Labor’s problems and in civic af
fairs as well. They have sent to
the City Council a resolution op
posing the application of L.B. 204.
Organized Labor should now have
a voice in determining whether or
not the Nebraska Power Company
should be acquired by the city.
Section 3 of L. B. 204 says: 1 When
i* has been determined by the
governing body—that an electric
light and power plant should be ac
quired—the Mayor shall appoint—
etc.” We feel that the governing
>ody (in this case the City Council)
mnot FAIRLY make the determ
'nat:on until they have first heard
Organized Labor and have also tak
”1 into consideraton that 55.000
oeople have made it known that
ley want to vo’e on this question.
_ I
BETHl N'E COOKMAN INTER
Sl'MMER SESSIONS NEAR EN1)
Daytona Beach, Fla.. Aug. 23 (A
NPt Teachers and student instruo
ors at Bethune Cookman college
and nearby schools attending the
four week intersummer session on
the school campus have almost
completed their studies, it was an
nounced last week by President
James Colston.
Classes were conducted in the
social studies. Negro history, con
sumer economics and health and
nutrition.
! Fort Desmoines, Iowa. Miss Jean
nette Welch of Washington, D.C..
center, executive director of *the |
Xational Council of Xegro Women,
recently visited First WAC Train
ing Center here as a member of
the Advisory Council, Women's In
terest Section of the War Depart
ment Bureau of Public Relations.
She is shown with WAC Officeis
at Fort Desmoines, who are mem
bers of the Council. The gtoup
includes, first row, left to right:
Third Officer* (Captain) Charity
E. Adams of Columbia, S. C.: Miss
Welch: Third Officer Mary A.
V rtiUTi rfr ^ m ■ m ^ 4m ^ ~ --— -
Moore of Magnolia. N.Y. and Third
Officer Alice M. McAlpine of
Springfield, Mass.; Second row:
Third Officer Katherine J. Hunter
of Tougaloo. Miss.: Third Officer
Merceedees Jordan of New York
City: Second Officer (First Lieut
enant) Charlfhe J. May of Falls
City, Nebraska: Second Officer
(First Lieutenant) Vera G. Camp
bell of New York City: Second Of
ficer Alice M. Jones of Nacogdoch
es. Texas, and Third Officer Ella
Gafford of El Dorado. Ark. (Press
Photo Service.)
Baptist Cpnv. Head
Asks for $30,000
WARNS MESSENGERS
WHO GRAFT
Selma, Ala.. Aug. 24 (ANP) Reco
gnizing charges that certain Bapt
ist ministers have been guilty of
obtaining money through collec
tions and then misappropriating
those funds. Dr. D. V. Jemison, pre
sident of the National Baptist Con
vention. Inc., stated last week that
he hoped only persons “worthy to
assist in kingdom building in mis
sions and education” would attend
the national convention in Chicago
next month.
Dr. Jemison said that a goal of
$30,000 for an operational fund has
been set for the convention sched
uled to convene in the 8th Regi
ment armory and urged churches
and church leaders to spur effort
jar. *
to help raise this sum
That transportation difficulties
would be experienced by delegates
attending the convention was in
dicated by the minister, when he
warned that because of wartime
conditions the usual railroad facil
ities would not be available to the
denomination. He asked that ad
justments be made in a spirit of
cooperation with the government
and the war effort.
“The railroads are under the di
rection of the government,” said
Dr. Jemison, “and because of the
armed forces being moved from
camp to camp, the government will
not allow the railroads to make
special arrangements for our trans
portation as they have heretofore.”
Tenn. A&I Pres.
Charged With
$10,000 Shortage
NASHVILLE CITIZENS RALL¥
TO DEFENSE OF DR, VT. J.
HALE
Nashville. Aug. 22 (ANP) Several
prominent leaders called a meet
ing last week and held a series of
conferences with downtown busin
essmen in a rally to the support of
Dr. W. J. Hale, president of Tenn
essee A&I State College, Dr. Hale
has been charged with discrepanc
ies of school funds amounting to
$10,000 by state auditors.
spokesman for the citizens group
til of whom declined use of their
names sad that “the Negro leaders
of Nashville recognize in Dr. Hale
a man who has done more for the
Negro citizenship of Nashville and
of Tennessee, than any other mem
ber of our race.
•'We realize that he has founded
an institution valued af more than
$3,500,000 at relatively small cost
to the state, and we feel that if
the charges against Dr. Hale are
charges of mistaken methods of
handling accounts or of deficienc
ies of his subordinates, the great
value of his services should be
weighed aganst any responsibility
he might have for these practices.”
Hale who has been head of Afti
for the past 32 years will be given
adequate opportunity to present
his answers and defense to all
’harges from the audit report said
he state board. Part of the $10 -
« *
000 discrepancy was charged to R.
B. J. Campbell, a former bursar of
the institution it was learned.
Full and complete charges have
been sent to Dr. Hale it was learn
d but have not been made public.
It was learned, however, that at a
recent board session more than 20
questions on the audit were asked
Dr. Hale on July 30. The board re
ceived his official answers on or
about August 2.
- i —
Peonage
Under
FBI Fire
Washington, Aug. 24 (AXP) The
C. S. Department of Justice i3 ’‘giv
ing serious consideration" to a
complaint by Frank McAllister,
secretary of the Southern Workers
Defense league, that peonage ex
ists in Arkansas said Victor Rot
nam, director of the civil liberties
division of the department last
week.
Rotnem said he had been in
formed that plantation owners had
been promising sharecroppers draft
deferment provided they signed a
contract to work for them for at
CAREY TO BE
INSTALLED AS
HEAD OF POST No.
30
SESSION OPEN
TO PUBLIC
Theodore Roosevelt Post No. 30
of The American Legion is to hold
its Installation of Officers for 1944
on Thursday Sept. 2, 1943. The Of
ficerh are: J. C. Carey, Command
er; Webb Alston, 1st Vice Comm
ander, Edward Wright. 2nd Vice
Commander; Albert Wright. Fin
ance Officer, Porter Johnson, Chap
lain; James Walker, Sgt. at Arms:
Executive Committee: Ray L. Wil
liams, Aaron Glass, Ralph Under
wood, Hughie Polard, Cl'ffor-J Fos
ter.
Commander Carey las made
rapid and progressive advancement
during his past administration and
in view of this fine work, he was
reelected to another term.
With a fine supporting group of
subordinate officers, he Is looking
forward to another successful ad
ministration.
least five years. McAllister made
the charges in a letter he said from
his headquarters at Atlanta.
When members of the Southern
Tenant Farmers’ union refused to
sign many times they were run off
the farm and deprived of their
crops stated McAllister’s eompiaiut.
RIOT NEWS CALLED
‘Manna From Heaven4’
rO AXIS BY SOLDIER
[N NORTH AFRICA
Cleveland, Ohio—Race riots in
America create “a picture of con
ditions in our country that is man
na from heaven to the Axis” ac
cording to a letter from Major My
ron Weitz of this city, serving in
North Africa.
Major Weitz’s sentiments were
contained in a letter to McDerm
ott’s letter bag of the Cleveland
Plaindealer for Monday, August 8.
Major Weitz wrote:’
“Last night, for example, I had
been reading the recent newspap
ers and magazines all about the
strikes, the riots in Detroit, the dis
harmony in the various government
agencies. Naturally, when I went
to bed I was a bit deep in thought.
The pictures of the rioits in the
newspapers and the magazines left
me disturbed. It is difficult for
me, over here, to understand how
these things Can go on today.
“I am not so ignorant of fact
that I do not realize that certain
economic problems, that are and
always will be existant, are. in all
probability, at the root of the evil
Tet, I cannot see why these riots
should occur today. Everybody is
supposedly interested in one goal,
and one goal only, and that is to
win this war in the quickest poss
ible time and with the least loss of
man power.
“So what happens? Strikes to
tie up industrial production when
production is so vital. Riots doing
the same thing to production and.
in addition, creating a picture of
conditions in our country that is
manna from heaven to the Axis
and its propaganda attempts to
creaote the scene that it would like
the Axis-controlled countries to be
lieve is typical of America and a
democracy, to say nothing of he
internal minority group dissen ion
that it produces.
“Both white and black are fight
ing this war over here, and they
should be fighting it shoulder to
shoulder back home. I should not
think that these rioters need be re
minded that Negroes have been
killed, wounded and taken captive
on all fronts. They were on those
various fronts to protect the peo
ple back home from the very things
that are occurring.’’
FIVE YOUTH STAND TRIAL
FOR DETROIT RIOT MURDER
Detroit, Aug. 24 (A.VP) Because
they were determined to “help the
white people out” during the June
21 race riots here five youths were
ordered held for trial last week.
Imperial Potentate
RAYMOND E. JACKSON
•
“Black America must awake,"
said he, “and tell the powers that
be tliat we are not satisfied with
the treatment our soldiers are
receiving in some camps nor with
the discrimination in hotels, com
mon carriers, workshops and in
dustrial plants. However, we
must maintain our two centuries
j of record of Amtrican loyalty,
| and we must approach these
problems with a clear vision. It
i will not do just to kick about the
situation and render lip service.
In my opinion, if we watch our
discipline in every day life, we
will not be so hated by other
groups.***0l'R GOOD CONDUCT
will carry us a long way toward
better conditions.”
Prominent
[Surgeon
Visits Here
Dr. T. R. M. Howard, surgeon
general of Taborian ohspit&l Mound
Bayou, iMss., stopped in Omaha en
route to the Mayo clinic at Roch
ester. Minn., where he will take a
course in abdominal surgery.
Mound Bayou is the only cty in
the United States inhahited solel
by Negroes, Dr. Howard explained.
Taborian hospital is a hundred bed
institution and is one of the two
all Negro hospitals in Mssissippi.
Dr. Howard was a guest of Mrs. I
Julia Washington, 2037 North 19th j
Street.
They are charged with the murder
of Mose Kiska. 54, who was fired
upon from an automobile while
waiting to board a street car.
The accused are Aldo Trani, 16,
whom police said admitted firing
the fatal shot; Armando Mastautu
ono, 20, Anthony Saraceno, 16;
Ralph Tancerdi. 20; and Robert
Cattone, 17.
Hicks was identified by Robert
Hicks, a church elder, who was
standing near Kiska when the lat
ter was slain.
SGT. LOUS TO GIVE LECTURES
DI KING ARMY TOUR
Wahsington, Aug. 24 (AXP) Ser
geant Joe Louis, heavyweight box
er of Considerable note, will mount
the lecture platform when he be
gins his 100-day tour of army
camps the first of September giv
ing boxing exhibitions and talks
on physical fitnehs. iFrst Sgt.
George Nicholson, boxing instruc
tor at Mitchell Field, New York
and Joe's sparring partner will ac
company him.
NEW SOUTHERN COUNCIL
NAMES CO-DIRECTORS
Atlanta. Aug. 22 <ANP) Dr Wil
liam E. Cole of the University of
Tennessee and Dr. Ira D. Reid of
Atlanta university have been ap
pointed Co-directors of the newly
formed Southern Regional Council
to produce a program for immed
iate action.
Formation of the council was the
result of the recent meeting in At
lanta attended by 16 white and i.2
Negro leaders of the south which
followed the Durham conference,
Negro, and the Atlanta conference,
white, which aimed to produce a
workable program for bettering
race relations in the South.
Dr. Charles S. Johnson of Fisk
University and Dr. Howard Odum
of the University of North Catol
ina were co-chairmen of the inter
racial Atlanta meeting held sever
jal weeks ago and will continue In
Chicago. 111.—The forty-third an
nual session of the Ancient Egypt
ian Arabic Order of Mystic Shrine
and Brennial Concise® of the
Grand Encampment. Knights Tem
plars of North America concluded
a successful assemblage at the Park
way Community Center, here Fri
day, August 20. Delegates num
bering more than 600 attended, rep
: resenting 120 units and more than
6,000 members. #
Pictured above, left to right are
Robert H. Harper, of Chicago, Ill
inois, General Chairman of the
General Convention Committee 33
degree, Raymond E. Jackson. New
York City, N. Y. Imperial Potent
ate, Past Master N w York State,
National Representative American
I Federation of Musicians 33 degree,
i John Wesley Dobbs, of Atlanta, Ga.
Past Imperial Potentate, Grand
' Master State of Georgia 33 degree,
Charles C. Quander, of New York
City, N. Y. Imperial Recorder. Past
Grandmaster New York State, Ctipt.
15th Reg. New York Guard 33 de
gree. Attorney Joseph Givens, of
Pennsylvania. Imperial High Priest
and Profit, Deputy Grand Master
State of Pennsylvania, Asst. State
Attorney Gen. Pennsylvania, 33 de
gree.
Seated are: Mrs. I-aura Henson,
of Baltimore, Miaryland, Imperial
Treasurer: Mrs. Beula L. McKay.
Imperial Commandress of Okla-.
homa City, Oklahoma: Mrs..S.uiie
E. Barnes, Imperial Recorlless of
Newark, New Jersey. (PP Service.)
To Broadcast Sunday
Cleveland, Ohio_Mrs. Bernice
S. Pyke, United State Collector of
Customs for Ohio, is the guest
speaker on Wings Over Jordan
Broadcasts Sunday. August 29th at
9:30 a.m. Her subject will be "The
Peace that Follows Our Responsi
bility”. Well known in social and
civic life of this city, Mrs. Pyke’s
message will be welcomed by thou
sands of her friends and radio lis
teners. (Press Photo Service).
LaGuardia Appointee
DR. C. B. POWELL. ..
Of New York City, who has just
been nomed by Governor Dew-v.
a member of the New York Scale
Athletic Commission, the first time
a Colored man has held this post.
Dr. Powell, widely known publish
er of the Amsterdam News is pres
ident of the Victory Life Insurance
company and active in civic and
political life in New York.
this position until permanent offic
ers are elected.
5*1
ij Worth I
;i of GoodReadin9 j