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largest Accredited Negro Newspaper West of Chicago. North of K.C.
Saturday, Feb. 26, 1944 OUR 17th YEAR—No. 3
Entered as Second-Class Matter at the Post Office, Omaha, Nebraska,
ITnder Act of March 8, 187-1— Business Phone: HA-0800. HA-0801
o
Bomber Plant Goes C. /. 0.
linion Gets 60.3 of Ballot \ote Run-off
Production, maintenance, garage and cafeteria
•employes of the Martin-Nebraska bomber plant
Wednesdav voted in favor of accepting the OIO
United Auto Workers' Union to
represent them as bar galling agent
Of the total votes cast. 60.3 pei
cent were polled by the CAW CIO.
The number of votes against ac
cepting the U AW-CIO equaled
39.54 percent.
The percentage of eligible* vrt
. ing totaled 87.5. while the percent- j
i age of eligible* casting valid votes
equaled 87.18. Void ballots equaled j
.0023 percent, while 00154 percent j
were challenged.
The election was carried out un
der supervison of Hugh B. riperry. i
regional director of the national
labor relations board.
The election Wednesday followed
plant balloting February 5 in
which the UAW-CIO obtained 45.6
percent of the valid votes cast.,
while 37.4 percent favored no union
and 16.2 percent chose the AFL
international Association of Mach
inists. The runoff was between the
CAW-CIO and no union.
GOP. HEAD CHALLENG'
ES NEGRO DEMOCRATS
Miss January
Lillie Morgan, 5602 Wabash, Chicago, Illinois,
won the distinction and title of “Miss January” by
aSignal Corps unit somewhere in Italy, according
to reports received by representatives' of this pub
lication. A national magazine has mailed to serv
icemen throughout the fighting fronts, weekly, and
at the close of each month, cover girls and pictures
appearing in the publication, put up in competition
by units for a monthly pin-up queen, hencpe the sel
ection of Miss Morgan. The rettv pin-upper is a
student at DuSable High School in the Windy City
and has many postwar plans. She was selected
( over Girl on a National Magazine on February 14.
(Press Photo Sendee).
* ASKS THEM TO TAKE A
FORTHRIGHT AND UNEQUIV
OCAL STAND ON NEGRO
ISSUES
Chicago. Illinois.—R. R. Church,
Memphis. Tennessee, president of
the recently formed Republican Or
ganization issued a challenge to
the Negro Democrats, schedu!e-J~lo
meeting in Washington next week
to take a forthright and unequiv
; oca I stand on the issues vitally af
fecting the American Negro.
The GOP leader had the follow
ing to say, “In our recent meeting
here, the Republicans, in a fearless
and straightforward manner, draft
ed a program that leaves no doubt
In the mind of anyone that the
welfare of the Negro was upper
| most and that party consideration
i was secondary. In that vein, rhov
criti^ised those Republicans who
had formed an "Unholy Alliance”
with the poll-tax Democrat and
served notice that the party would
be held strictly accountable for
their reactionary and obstruction- j
1st tactics.’’
"If the Negro Democrats, in
their meeting, fail to take a rtete’.
mined stand upon these issues, the
Negro electorate will know that
the Negro politciians in the Demo
cratic Party are not concerned with
the Negro problems, but are look
ing only for the loaves and fishes ”
He continued. “The Democrats
will have an opportunity, in can
vassing the situation of the Negro,
of calling t° the attention of tap
adn^'nistration the abdomipab’e
discrimination and segregatn-n
which exist in the armed force s
and the utter indifference of toe
Commander-in-Chief and the adm
inistration to the general of sec
ond-class citizenship as it affects
the Negro ”
Mr. Church was conscious of the
fact that the public is waiting anx
iously for a statement from the
Democrats. He was very doubt
ful that they would speak out on
any question affecting the admin
istration where Negro rights are
concerned. This is reflected, be
said, in the attitude of William L.
Houston. National Director of Ne
gro Democrats, who refused to
make a statement, when requested,
on the appointment of race-hat
ing, race-baiting, white supremacy
advocate and bribe-taker Bilbo, as
virtual governor of the District of
Columbia, a federal controlled city.
A BATTLE IN GOSPEL SONGS
There is to be a “Battle in Gos
pel Songs” by two musical organ
izations belonging to the army and
navy respectively. From advanc
ed repoTts, both groups of singers
are well trained so those attending
this affair, should enjoy it- The
date is Sunday. February 27, at 3:15
pm., at St- Johns AME. Church.
Navy Launch New
Policy on Negroes
Navy to Commission
Negroes in Naval
Reserve
As a result of plans which have
been under development by the
Navy Department for several
months, selection of Negro c.tndi- j
dates for commissioning as officers,
in the U. S. Naval Reserve is now
being made to fill approximately
22 available billets.
Twelve qualified enlisted men
will be selected as line office? s,
with the rank Ensign.
Ten professionally qualified Ne
groes will be commissioned as
staff officers, with the rank of
Ensign or Lieutenant {junior grade
depending upon the ages and pro
fessional qualifications of the men
commissioned. It is in anticipat
ed that these officers will ap
pointed from civilian life. Two
fficer.- will be selected for each
of th- following Naval staff dut
ies: Chaplain Corps. Dental Corps.
Medical Corps. Civil Engineer
Corps and Supply Corps.
The Negro enlisted men commis
sioned as line officers will be giv
en a special training course of
from three t° six months duration
at the U. S. Naval Training Sta
Negro Crews to Man 2 1
Antisubmarint Vessels
Two new u. S. Naval anti-sub
marine vessels will be manned pre
dominantly by Negro crews.
AdestrOyer escort under con
struction at the U. S. Navy Yard,
Boston. Massachusetts. init ally
will have an enlisted crew of 160
Negroes and 44 whites. The white
ratings will be limited to billets
requiring Specialized training or
. xperience not yet had by Negro
es. It isa nticipated that as socn
as Negroes qualify, they will re
place the white enlisted members
so that the entire crw eventually
will be Negroes- The vessel will
be cormissiond within the next
tion. Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon
completion of this course, the of
ficers will be assigned to duty init
ially at the U. S. Naval Training
Station .Great Lakes. Illinois.
The staff officers also will be
i given a short indoctrination cours
at the U. S. Naval Traiinng Sta
tion, Great Lakes, Illinois and af
terwards assigned initially to the
U. S. Naval Traiinng School. Ham
pton. Virginia or the U. S. Naval
Traiinng Station, Great Lakes. 111.
) Tew weeks.
A patrol chaser, (PC) building at
the Consolidated Shipbuilding Cor
poration, Morris Heights, New
York, will have an initial crow of
52 Negroes and nine whites. It is
anticipated that this vessel, which
is scheduled for commissioning
late in March, also will be manned
•ventually by an all Negro crew.
As is customary for all XT. S.
Naval personnel assigned to this
type of duty, all members of the
crews assigned to these two vps
els wtll receive specialized train
ing. Th crew of the destroyer es
?ort already has reposed to the>
.Destroyer Escort School at the
i Naval Operating Base, Norfolk,
Virginia, and the crew of the ' P
C" soon will be assigned to the
Submarine Chaser Training Center
Miami, Florida.
STEALS MONEY JAR
Socn-eone low in morals and pat
riotism entered the Victory Beauty
Salon, 2118 North 24th street and
stole a jar placed there by the
Auxiliary Women’s Voluntary Ser
vice for collecting money w!th
which to furnish smokes for the
fighting men.
"America, Democracy and the Negro Press!”
INDIVISIBLE AND INSEPARABLE SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THE FIRST NEGRO NEWSPAPER - 117 YEARS AGO
The first Negro newspaper came into being for the purpose of guarantee
ing to all men * full and equal enjoyment of a free, rich and stimulating
existence under the greatest flag in the world. Today the Negro press is
still dedicated to that high purpose. Through the years it has provided
the platform from whicb could be made the pleas and demands of
men seeking that equality of opportunity to which every human, black
or white, is entitled. Progress has been made. Barriers have been re- ,
moved. Broader vistas have been unveiled. But a further job lies ahead . . I
the k»b of helping America to see that no one can be truly free until all "
sue free. To that job the Negro press continues to dedicate itself. . . .
with the firm conviction that the full concept of Democracy can, and will
find ful! flower in the fertile soil of our own beloved country.
D Today, as never before, the ideals of
service and devotion to the common
good are uppermost in the mind of
every man. To the Negro in America,
who has risen to that challenge of de
votion and responsibility, this National
NegTo Newspaper Week is dedicated.
> HEAR THESE SPECIAL RADIO PROGRAMS
. _ l jm nr—i-mn
NBC—FEB. 26th- 2:00 P. M. CWT
CBS—FEB. 28 10:30 P. M. CWT
BLUE—MAR. 2 3:00 P. M. CWT
PRESENTING:
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, See’v of the Naw %
Frank Knox, Donald M. Nelson. Paul Robeson. ^
" '_ _' _~ Basel Scott. . .1—
; Willie Bryant, r -th Spencer, Wings Over
Jordan. Dnke Ellington._1 “_; Overseas
Negro War Correspondens, Negro Army, Navy and
Merchant Marine Heroes . . . and many others.
-*-A
“NEGRO NEWSPAPER
WEEK” PROGRAM
OVER NBC TO HONOR
RACE’ CONTRIBUTES
TOWARD VICTORY
PAUL V. McNUTT to join
ENTERTAINERS, WAR
HEROES AND CORRESPOND
ENTS IN HALF-HOUR
TRIBUTE
NEW YOKK, Feb. 24—In tribute
to the contributions of the Negro
people to the war effort, the Na
tional Broadcasting Company will
observe "Negro Newspaper Week"
with a half-hour program on its
(toast-to-coast network Saturday,
Feb. 26, (3:00 pun. EWT) Paul V.
McNutt, chairman of the WPB.
and Dr. C. B. Powell, publisher of
the Amsterdam News, will be the
principal speakers. Leading Negro
entertainers and war heroes also
will take part.
McNutt will report on the Negro
in the defense industries. Dr.
Powell's topic will he "The Negro
Press and the War Effort.’’ Dr.
Powell is a civic leader and member
of the New York State Athletic
Commission.
Canada Lee .noted actor, will be
master of ceremonies He wall be
joined by Hazel Scott, star of radio
and motion pictures.
The Willie Bryant USO Overseas
Unit also will entertain.
The Negro war heioes will be in
terviewed by four newspaper cor
respondents—Randy Dixon. Pitts
burgh Courier: David Orro, Chicago
Defender; Ollie Stewart. AFRO
American and Thomas Young. Nor
folk Journal And Ou!de. DixoU will
speak from London
“Negro Newspaper ’Week" U be
ing celebrated this year from Feb.
27 to March 4. The program lias
been arranged through the co
operation of the Negro Newspaper
Publishers Association, whose pre
sident is John H. Sengstake. pub
lisher of the Chicago Defender.
Ira Avery directs o-t behalf of
NBC and Richard McDonagh pre
pares the script.
A COURAGEOUS MAN
SPEAKS OUT ’GAINST
RACIAL THEORY,
DISCRIMINATION
Tells Christians to Live
What They Profess
DR. HENRY SLOANE COFFIN
HEAD OF THE PRESBYTER
IAN USA.
Last night at the First Presby
terian Church, at 34th and Farnani
streets, the Rev. Dr. Henry .SInane
Coffin. Moderator and head of the
Presbyterian Church, spoke to a
packed congregation on "Behold
Now is the Accepted Time ”
He said we are fighting two
wars, one is external and the oth
er inteornal and if we lose the lat
ter, we will have lost both wars.
He pointed out four strongholds
which must be broken down:
National Selfishness: Economic
Injustice. Racial Discrimination
Denomination.
He also challenges the Chute:
to trust God and believe what
they profess. He scored the An rlc
Saxon theory of race superiority.
He showed the absurbity of separ
ate blood banks in violation oi
scientific and Bible teaching
where God made of one blood al'
nations He proved no man >■'
superior to another if the same
opportunities are given.
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‘L. B. 204* Nebr. Power Co. Issue
i - maKaRik
There are people in Omaha who think soberly, sin
cerely and have the interest of the city at heart.
But they are somewhat puzzled over the constant
controversy between the city and the Nebraska
Power Company in regards to whether the people
of Omaha, as tax payers, should buy or not,
Tne strange thing about the whole matter is that
the Speaker of the House, who assisted in drafting
the L. B. 204 Bill, said to the Mayor and City Coun
cil, that the bill was intended to give the people of
Omaha an opportunity to vote on the issue and say
whether or not they wanted to buy the Nebraska
Power Company.
The City Council in session to a man except the
Mayor—said, as they stood to cast their ballot in the
voting of the Power Commissioners appointment :
‘ that the people would have an opportunity to vote
on the issue concerning the buying of the Com
pany.' The Power Commissioners who were ap
pointed said through the columns of the press, ‘that
before the NPC. was taken over, the people would
have the privilege of voting on the issue, as to whe
ther they wanted it.’
The Nebraska Power Company in an open session
of the City Council, stated that they were perfectly
willing for the people to vote on the issue. Due to
differences of opinion in this matter, there was a
petition tiled with 61,000 names of citizens thereon,
requesting the City Council to call a special elec
tion for thepurpose of settling the controversy once
and for all.
It landed in the District Court of Douglass County,
i After the Court, listening patiently for several days
to the best legal minds of the city and giving the
matter careful consideration, the Honorable District
Judge Frank M. Dineen, Monday afternoon an
nounced that he will rule that the City Council’s re
solution appointing the PeoplesPower Commission
must be submitted to a vote of the people. And in a
letter to attorneys interested in the Power controver
sey case Judge Dineen stated he will enter an order
granting a writ of Mandamus to force the City Conn
cil to call a special election.
The puzzling thing about the whole situation is: all
all concerned say the people must decide this issue
by vote.
1. The Legislative body says: L. B. 204 was intend
ed for the people to have the authority to decide this
issue by vote.
2. The City Council says: The people must decide
the issue by vote.
3. The appointed Power Commission says: that the
people must decide this issue by vote.
4. The Nebraska Power Co. says: through it’s re
presentative that they want it decided by vote of
the people.
5. The Honorablt District Judge Frank M. Din
nen says: the people must decide this issue by vote.
Now why have a number “6” which would be the
State Supreme Court and possibly several other
numbers, which would tie this matter up in the
courts for God knows how long with thousands of
dollars of the public money wasted ? For after all,
it makes no difference vho wins this case, “Mr.
Jones’’, the taxpayer will have to pay the bill. And
another thought that should be given serious con
sideration: it is ridiculous to have all these muster
minds tied up in a) question that everyone seems
to agree on when the blood of the youth of this coun
try is being spilled on the firing lines at the rate of
367 everv* second. It seems to me these great minds
should be interested in matters more vital* in the
safety of this country and the ending of this war.
So we say, why go any farther in court with thp
argument, why not satisfy all parties conncemed in
this matter and carry out the mandate of the will of
the people and call a special election and settle this
issue.
Who will it satisfy! All indication seems as
though it will satisfy all concerned about this cpn
troversey.
So we say, Mister Mayor: thisi is one time you
should use your commanding power as Mayor of our
city council and call this special election ordered by
the Honorable Judge Frang M. Dineen.
First Colored Navigators Feted on Flight
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Pittsburgh, Feb. —<ANP)—Twenty
four colored navigation cadets from
Hondo, Tex., airfield, were the
guests of the Pittsburgh Courier
last week at a banquet in their
honor, marking the first time in
the history of the nation colored
men have been trained to serve
in that branch of the armed forces.
Highlight of the banquet was ar. I
address by John J. McCloy. assis
tant secretary of war, who accom
panied the colored navigator-cadets
here ut>on an invitation of the
Courier McCloy predicted that the
young airmen will perform their
duty in the highest American mili
tary manner and added. 'They
are. by their example, going to
point their race to higher achieve
ment and higher objectives. They
are Paine- to undergo severe strains
and tests to which the most ut us
have never been nor never will be
subjected, and they will advance
the inteiests of thej-- country ani
(Continued page 3)
