LARGEST ACCREDITED NEGRO NEWSPAPER WEST GF CHICAGO AND NORTH OF »NSAS CT1T —MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED NEGRO PRESS
Entered as Second-Class Matter at The Post Office, Omaha, Nebraska Saturday, October 23, 1943 OUR 16th \ EAR No. 3/ City Edition, DC Copy
Under Act of March 8, 1874—Business Phone: WE. 1517__.==.
Local N. A. A. C. P. Board Holds Interesting
■ "• "" - ■ - 111 ■ A . ■' ■ i ■■ !■■■ •
Notables Attend Launch
ing of SS Robt. L. Vann
Portland, Me., (Press Photo Ser
vice)—Pl part of the group of al
most a hundred friends and assoc
iates of the late Robert L. Vann,
noted lawyer and publicist, who at
tended the launching of the Liber
ty Ship named in his honor at the
yard of the New England Ship
building Company, here, October
20. In the foreground are> C. C
Spaulding, "president of the North
. IlillliHM I I'll
CHRISTENS SHIP
Show above- is Mrs. Jesse
Matthews vann. widow of the not
ed editor as she christens the SS
ROBT. L. VANN, liberty ship and
with her is Chester Churhcill, pres
ident of the shipbuilding company.
(Press Photo Service.)
JACK TAYLOR
PRISONER
IN GERMANY
JACK TAYLOR of Omaha, who
defeated Max Schmeling in Germ
any in 1925 is now a civilian pris
oner of war in Germany. The box
er is among thousands of war
prisoners. Negro and white, to re
ceive benefits from the National
War Fund Drive, now under way,
launched by President Roosevelt.
Omahan Who Beat
Schmeling Contacted
by WTar Service Fund
Aid Organization
Joe Louis is not the only Negro
fighter who vanquished Max Sch
meUing. Jack Taylor of Omaha,
Jontinued on page 23^=* 2)
Carolina Mutual Life Insurance'
Company, who was the principal
speaker at the launching; Mrs.
Jesse Matthews Vann, widow of
the publisher; Dr. Emmett J. Scott
of the Sun Shipbuilding Company;
and Mrs. Daisy Lampkins, Vied
president of the Pittsburgh Cour
ier Publishing Company. (Press
Photo Service).
» --■-W-'-MIl.'.IT."
Ross, Haas'
Successor
of F.E.P.C.
The tfTiite House announced Fri
day, October 15, that Malcolm Ross
Deputy Chairman of the Presld-l
ent’s Committee on Fair Employ
ment Practice, has been named as
Chairman of the Committee, follow
ing the resignation of Monsignor
Francis J. Haas.
Monsignor Haas resigned the
post on October 7 upon his appoint
ment by His Holiness Pope Pius
XII as Bishop of the Diocese of
Grand Rapids, Michigan. The ap
pointment of Mr. Ross, former Di
rector of Information for the Na
tional Labor Relatins Board and
staff member of the Office of War
! Information, was revealed in White
House correspondence made public
Friday. The text of this corres
pondence follows:
“Dear Monsignor Haas:
“I have received with regret your
letter of resignation as Chairman
of the Fair Employment Practice
Committee. With your other
friends I rejoice in your advance
ment,to the position of Bishop cf
the Docese of Grand Rapids. I am
not surprised that His Holiness
Pope Pius XII has called you to
| this hgih position. In all the
| posts of responsibility in whch you
[have served vcur government you
j have shown a humanity and skill
j which both church and country
greatly need in these difficult days.
I congratulate you on your new
opportunities for service and send
you my appreciation with my re
grets in accepting your resignat
ion.
“The increasing usefulness of tha
FEPO.. as reorganized under your
direction, has been a source cf
great satisfaction to me and, I am
sure, to ail thoughtful people who
know the importance and the dif
ficulty of its work. You have serv
ed : our nation well in helping to
remove the barriers which hold
back not only people as individuals
but our full power as a people.
“I know that you will be glad to
learn that I am naming Malcolm
Ross, your Deputy Chairman, as
your successor. I am as anxious
as you that there be not the slight
est delay in the work of the Com
mittee and also that the work be
gun by you may be continued by
Mr. Ross, who has worked by > out
side.
“We shall miss you in your post
in Washington, but I am taking
literally your offer to let us con
inue to share your wise and warm
hearted counsel in dealing with
'his great and continuing problem
of fair practices in employment
for all the people of America.
“Very sincerely yours.
“FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT”
Negro Sgt
Refused
Cup of
Coffee
IN GREYHOUND BUS
i I
RESTAURANT
After being Jim Crowed in the
Greyhound Bus all the way from
his camp in Virginia. Sergeant
Samuel O. Netter ran nto foul dis
criminaton when he asked for a
cup of coffee in the Greyhound j
Station Restaurant in the Nation’s]
Capital where there are no Jim'
Crow laws. He was accompanied
by Tomlinson Todd, active civic
worker, who has recently been
worikgn with the Institute On Race
Relations (1734 F St„ N. W.), an in
terracial group which has been
| doing a fine job testing the policy
of restaurants, drug stores and
Five and Ten cent stores in Wash
ington.
Mr. Todd, who had been served
in the Greyhound Restaurant the
week before, met Sergeant Netter
I at the Station. Feeling somewhat
weary from traveling, the sergeant
said he would like to get a cup of
coffee. So, thinking that the res
taurant had changed its undemo
cratic policy, Mr. Todd suggested
going in the restaurant at the sta
tion. They sat at the counter and
refused service by the waitress
and the manager.
lilt; IIlcLIl£LgCr, X-IcUlA. OUCIWV,
was told in no uncertain terms that
such action was a violation of the
principles of Democracy and that
the colored soldier was fighting
for him too. He admitted that the
restaurant is for the public, but add
ed, ‘‘It is for the white public.”
A few hours later, some mem
bers of the Institute On Race Re
lations visited the Greyhound
Restaurant. When the colored I
members were refused service at
the counter, the white members
ordered and then shifted the food
or drinks over to the colored mem
bers.
The manager called the police to
evict the colored. He found to
j ihis dismay that such tactics were
useless because the police found
that no laws were broken and that
in a public place a person can sit
as long as he desires or until he or
, she is served.
i In order to eliminate such un
' democratic conditions, various
members of the Institute have men
tioned the necessity of citizens urg
ing their Congressmen to support
S. 442 and H. R. 1995—Civil Rights
Bill for Washington. The signat
ure of 218 Representatives are nec
essary for Discharge Petition No.
11 (eleven) which has been started
on House Bill H. R. 1995.
Baha’i Lecture
Sunday
BAHA’I SPEAKER STRESSES
RACE UNITY
Baha’i speakers throughout the
, United States are bringing this vi
j tal matter to the consideration of
! their audiences; No lasting peace
they say, is possible without a so
lution of the problem of minorit
ies; Peace and Prejudice will net
mix.
On Sunday afternoon, October
24th. at four o’clock, in the Fort
enelle Hotel. Mrs. Dorothy Bcecn
er Baker of Lima. Ohio, member of
the National Assembly of the Ba
ha’is of the United States and Can
ada and Chairman of the Race
Unity Committee, will lecture on
this important subject.
Hillburn Parents
win Jimcr’wBattle
CHILDREN. TEACHERS
TO MAIN SCHOOL
Hillburn. N. Y.—A new victory
for Democracy was won on the
home ^front when on October 12th
the Ramapo Central District school
j Board announced that the Negro
teachers of Jim Crow Brook school
SAILORS AND
CIVILIANS CLASH
BUT THE NAVY WON!
About 4 a. m. Sunday morning,
there was considerable doings at
24th and Parker Streets, across
from the Legion building, and as
near as the Judge in police court
and this reporter could make out
after all concerned had testified,
this is what it was all about:
Naturally a woman was involved.
It appears from the testimonies
given in court that she is the cou
sin or something of one, J. A
‘Sonny’ Jones and he forbade
Green Dukes, seaman 2-c. from tak
ing her home. A fight resulted in
which the sailor claims two men
held him while Jones ‘worked him
over’ and he was finally left lying
unconscious face down in the
street, which, incidentally, could
partly account for the bruises on
the side of his face. And he laid
there until picked up by some oth
-er sailors, which brought on mO'-e
combat.
Here is where one, Sylvester
Brown enters the picture, more
dramatically than before, having
been in it all along. He for some
reason decided to take over from
where ‘Sonny’ left off, and manag
ed to make more of a mess of
things.
He threatened the Army, the
Navy and the Marines. And it
is well known you can’t do that to
any of the three. But the Marin
es couldn’t ‘land’ for they weren’t
there; and_ the Army was busy *ls#
where. So the Navy went into ac
tion in the person of one seaman,
Thomas, who very well held up thc
fighting traditions of the three
units. He went to town on Brown
to such an extent that Brown ap
peared in court with his head
swarthed in bandages— then got
the worst of the deal in the bar
gain.'
Well, the judge finally giving up
trying to get other than sufficient
knowledge of the affair, so ne
could do a little about it, fined
Brown ten dollars, gave Jones and
another Brown, who had to do
with the affair, fifteen days sus
pended sentences and let the -sail
ors go.
Just who hit who first and the
hardest, perhaps will never be
known and really doesn’t matter.
But definitely it appears that the
Navy won.'
were to be transferred to Hillburn
Main School. The children who
had been kept out of school on
“strike” by their parents since
September 8th, the day school op
ened will attend what was form
erly the “white" school on Alonday
October 18 th.
The announcement came on the
heels of a decision rendered the
preceding day, that segregated
Brook School would be abandoned
and that all children of the com
munity, Negro and white, would
atcntd the Main school, which for
fifty-five years prior had been at
tended only by white pupils. The
decision was that of State Comm
(continued . pag- 2)
— ■: .:r-,
Prominent
Legion’aires
To Attend
1-day Meet
\ MtZ.Nt.'Z.W#*!
< ___
EMIL STAHMER
Many persons of prominence in
Legion and civic affairs will attend
the 2oth Eighth
District Legion
Convention Fri
' day, October 23th
at the Roosevelt
Post
Among those
attending will be
M. A. Shaw, Dept
I Commander, Ern
est Carlson, Dis
E. CARLSON
trict Commander and Emil Stahmer
District Vice Commander.
These men for years have been j
active in the Legion throughout
the state, and what they as .speak
ers, will have to say, will be worth
while and of a constructive nature, i
MB mmm — __ —— __
NOTICE—HOLLYWOOD WANTS j
1 .CMHI WOMEN TO TRY' MME.
LAWSON’S NEW DISCOVERY
3-Wav Hair and Scalp Rejuven
ator. SEE ADVERTISEMENT ON '
i PAGE (3) THREE.
| Meeting
Cite Cases of
Discrimination
Here in Omaha
TWELVE MEMBERS
PRESENT AT BO ARD
MEETING OCTOBER 19TB
The Local NAACP branch held
an Interesting meeting Tuesday
night, October 19, 1943 Twelve
members of the Executive Board
were present. The following items
were listed for action:
In regard to the conviction of 3
soldiers in South Carolina: Annual
election of local officers of the
NAACP at 3 pm. Sunday. Decem
ber 5, 1943 at the Hillside Presby
terian Church; The Executive
Board passed a resolution to send
a communication to President F.
D. Roosevelt asking a retrial fo’
Private Alton Levy. The Secret
ary was instructed to prepare the
letter and have it signed by local
President Dr. A. L. Hawkins.
DISCRIMINATION AT
GOVERNMENT LAUNDRY
The chairman of the Legal Re
dress Committee, Mr. Crawford, re
ported discrimination against the
employees at the Government laun
dry at 15th and Jones Street. Mr.
Crawford also -e^>orted the dis
crimination in the City Recreation
Center, formerly known as the 20th
Century Club at 20th and Dodgei
street. The Committee chairman
said that the manager said that
Negroes could not use the swimm
ing pool. It was discussed as to
whether or not this club center is
a part of the city’s recreation act
ivities and if the funds for the ex
pense of said club were drawn from
the City treasury or was it a pri
vate concern. Mr. Crawford was
instructed by the board to make
further investigation of the club
and bring in a report at the next
meeting the 1st Tuesday in Nov
ember at 8:30 pm.
FORT HUACHUCA
A complaint was filed with the
Association board about a condit
ion which exists at Fort Huachuca.
Vrizona, concerning the treatment
yf Negro soldiers. This matter
was referred to the Chairman of
he Redress Committee. Mr. Craw
nrd. fo- Investigation.
LINCOLN AIR BASE C ASE
A letter was read from Mr. Nell
Scott, Public Relations Director of
the Workers’ Defense League, to
The Omaha Guide editor about the
Jim Crow in Lincoln, Nebraska Air
base. The letter stated that at the
time in which it was brought to
light, Private Alton Levy, a Jew
ish soldier at the base was court
martialed because he had the cour
age to protest against the treat
ment to which the Negro soldiers
were being subjected. He further
stated that Private ■ Alton Levy
was sentenced to 4 months confine
ment at hard labor and demoted to
private. This matter was deferred
to the Legal Redress Committee
for further investigation.
SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL
FUND ACT
The Board authorized the local
President to write a letter to Hon
orable Senator Hugh Butler and
Senator Kenneth S. Wherry and to
Congressman Buffett asking them
to support the Educational Fin
ance Act, known as Senate Bill 637
providing for an appropriation of
three hundred million dollars to
equalize educational opportunities
within and among these states.
H. W. SMITH HE ADS
ENTERTAINMENT COMM.
Mr. H. W, Smith was made chair
man of the Entertainment Comm
ittee and was instructed to get in
touch with Miss Delores Blackwell
who desires to have the NAACP.
sponsor a return engagement of
the Rev. J. S. Williams’ Choir of
Kansas City, Missouri and also to
make arrangements for the show
ing of the motion picture film re
viewing the past record of the
work done by the NAACP. Watch
the paper for the announcement
•f the date of this great entertain
(Continued on pageja^A)
Haiti Pres, j Meets FDR.
Washington, DC., (Special to this
Newspaper)— HIS EXCELLENCY
ELIE LESCOT, President of the
Republic of Haiti, arrived in Wash
ington, DC., October 14, for an of
ficial visit to the United States of
America. President Lescot is
I shown greeting Representative Sol
Bloom, chairman of the House of
Foreign Affairs committee, follow
ing an introduction by President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, seated,
j The First Lady, Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt is shown in the back
\ ’
ground, conversing with other
Wiley-Dillard
Nuptials
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Wiley ann
ounced this week the marriage of
their daughter. Mildred Lee, to Mr.
Burrell E. Dillard of Tulsa, Okla.,
on Saturday, the 9th day of Oct oil
er. 1943 at Omaha. Nebraska.
The marriage vows were solemn
ized by the Rev. L. A. Story, pas
tor of Cleaves Temple C M E.
Church.
Mr. Dillard is expected to le-n i
soon for the army.
members of the party. (Press Photo
Service).
HAITIAN PRES. GIVES HIS
COUNTRY’S SUPPORT
Recalling how Haitian troops
made an expedition to Georgia
during the siege of Savanah in the
Revolutionary War His Execllency
Elie Lescot, President of the Rep
ublic of Haiti, told the U. S. Sen
ate Friday, October 15, that “we
are at your side today, as yester
day our forefathers were."
President Lescot addressed the
Senate in a brief visit to tho Cap
itol. Later he visited a special
meeting of the House Foreign Af
fairs Committee which had been
called by Chairman Sol Bloom. At
this meeting the head of the Re
public also pledged his country’s
support to the United Nation's war
effort.
Arriving at the Senate Chambers
with his full party at 12:15 pm..
President Lescot was escorted to
the rostrum by a Guard o' TT'»n<*r
composed of Senators Wagn. o- ’
New York, McNary of Oregon,
Thomas of Utah and Capper of
Kansas. He was presented to the
Senate by Vice President Henry A.
Wallace.
To Address Student Conference
Dr. Lawrence D. Reddick and
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt examine a
book from the Shronberg Collec
tion of New York City of whicrt
Dr. Reddick is curator. Mrs Roose
velt and Dr. Reddick will address
delegates to the Fifth Annual Stu
ent Conference of the National
Association for the Advancement
of Colored People to be held at
Lincoln University, Chester Coun
ty, Pa., October 29-31, 1943.
-.- -. . . - ::: ■ —
First Trial of Complaint Under Minn/s
Recent Equal Rights Act Receives ‘Not
Guilty* Verdict; Prosecution said Weak
Minneapolis, Oct. 22 (ANP)—Ne
groes have gotten the idea that be
cause of the war they are entitled
to rights equal to those of whites,
but that cannot be, that is impos
sible intimated Atty. Burak. Dul
uth, in summing up his case to the
jury at the first trial Wednesday
of a complaint under the equal
rights act passed by the last Min
nesoto legislature to insure equal
treatment of Negro and other min
ority groups in public places.
An article appearing on the front
page of the Midwest Labor, white
newspaper of Duluth, in September
called Burak “a sorry representat
ive of the law profession'’ whose
first aim is supposedly that of de
fending the American constitution.
The complaint was filed by Beit
Lyght .who had been refused beer
when with a companion he had
stopped in the Amber Flow tavern
on the night of June 20 while on
his way to work at the American
Steel and Wire Company. The de
fendant is J. B. LaVasseur, white.
A verdict of ''not guilty” was re
turned Thursday morning by a dis
trict court jury which was out all
night on the case.
According to the Duluth paper,
the jury of five men and seven
women heard Atty. Burak intimate
that the enforcement of this act
would cause race riots in Duluth.
The summary is said to have in
cluded such remarks as the follow
ing:
“Think ot your daughters_
the Negroes are going to demand
all the rights of whites and that is
impossible.... there will always be
a race problem_. .we sympathize
as long as they know their place..
Negroes have gotten the idea that 1
because of the war they are entitl
ed to rights equal to those of whit- j
es. but that cannot bej that is im
possible. ...Enforcement of the E
qual Rights bill would cause riots
like we had in Detroit.... and in a
Ike vein for the greater part of
the period in which the attorney
'summed up’ his case,” said the
Midwest Labor.
An editorial appearing in the
same paper last September, men
tioned the fact that County Atty.
Naylor did not feel the case im
portant enough for him. to handle
privately. It stated that this ad
mittance does not speak well for
Naylor’s office.
"These are times when everyone
without exception, is asked to giva
his sons, his daughters that de
mocracy might live,” said the ed
itorial.
“We at home have an obligation
to see that democracy is not des
troyed here while our sons and
daughters are giving their lives a
cross that democracy might live.
‘‘Observors at the trial are of
one opinion and that is. the pr<«
ecution of the case was inadequate.
This is one case that cannot be
stricken ofr of the record as over."
The complainant has appealed to
the Minneapolis branch NAACP for
help in his fight. The legal re
dress committee is making an in
vestigation.