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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1944)
largest Accredited Xegro Nexuspap er West of Chicago and North of KC Saturday, Sept. 16, 1944 OUR 17th Year—No. 32 Entered as 2nd class matter at Post- of tice. Omaha, Nebr., Under Act of March 8. 1874. Publishing Offices at 2420 Grant Street, Omaha. Nebr —-——--- -- — 1 - ■ ■ ..I Prince Hall Masons New Temple Has Opening New York (Special):—The budding above, formerly known as the William McKinley Temple, located at 454 West 155th Street, in this city, has been purchased by the MW. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, State of New York, at a cost of $65,000. It was announced by Louis Fair, Jr., M.W. Grand Master, and Sidonia M. . Fray, R.W. Grand Secretary, that the formal opening will take place I on Labor Day and the public is invited. The building, with its ultra* I modern equipment, has recreation rooms, reception quarters and every* I thing for Masonic standards. -- - - ------- — BLAST VICTIMS TO GET CASH. vvasmgton, DC., (C)—The Senate has passed a bill which authorized payments up to $33/100 for those who were either injured or lost their liv es in the ammunition ship explosion at Port Chicago, California. Two hundred and thirteen Negro sailors were killed during the blast. The bill has been sent to hte White House for the President’s signature. Army, Navy Approve Ballot Applications The Omaha Guide today publishes the official application for November | election ballots as approved by the Army, Navy and Secretary of State at Lincoln. This is the form that is to De used by all Nebraskans in the armed services who wish tG apply for ballots and vote in the November 7 election. It is suggested that the readers clip the application form and mail it as soon as possible to a relative in the service so that the service men and owmen will have ample time to re. turn the form to the county clerk. Please active that thc service man or woman mast personally sign the application betorejhe county clerk can accept the form and mail the ballot. „ The Omaha Guide offers this appl: cation form as a public service, and because it believes every one of its readers will want to be sure that their relatives in the armed forces have a voice m the government for which they are fighting. If additional ballot applications are needed, they may be secured from the Secretary of State’s office at Lincoln. APPLICATION FOR ABSENT VOTQ’S BALLOT Date... I am a resident of Nebraska at. Si reef or Rural Roato City.County. Precinct.....and I desire to vote by mail at the *It known) coming election. Please send ballot to the following address: Prist Name of Service Man Here !>ae#eeieee*«e«e.aa(.asaaaaaaaaaaaaaa(aa. Service Mas SIGN Here NOTE: Application Is to be filed with the County Clerk of your home county, except In Douglas County it Is to be filed with the Election Commissioner. REGISTRATION. If required, will auto matically be accomplished when you properly complete the Iden tification statement on the envelope to be furnished you for the return of your ballot. Both Partys Goi ri Out Strong for Negro Vote I in Close Elections, Negro Vote Always Balancing Power_ BY EARL BROWN (On the Editorial Staff of Life Magazine for Continental Features) Says Roosevelt Personally Suggest ed That Adam Powell be Named as Tammany’s Harlem Candidate One day last spring I asked Wern er Schroeder, Republican national committeeman of Iillinois, about the importance of the Negro vote in Chi cago He said: “We fully realize that the Negro vote is the balance of power in any close election in both Chicago and the state. That’s whs we do all we can ta win this vote, and we’re going after it this year more than ever before.” Mayor Edward J. Kelly, Democra tic boss of Chicago and Illinois, said the same thing. The Negro vote swung the gubernatorial election to the Republicans in Kentucky last fall and last spring the colored voters played a major part in helping to e lect a Republican mayor of Baltimore President Roosevelt, himself, is re ported to be deeply concerned about the way the colored voters will go thsi year. According to the most re liable information, e personally sug gested to Edward V. Louglin, leader of Tammy Hall, that he designate th^ Rev. Adam C. Powell, well known minister and leader, as Tammany s candidate for Congress from Harlen| Aware of the tremendous importance of the large Negro vote in New York City and state, the President and his advisors reasoned that with the Rev. Powell as the Democratic candidate for Congress in Harlem, that he would swing a large number of votes to Mr. Roosevelt. Te young political firebrand swept the slate, winning in both the Republican and Democra tic elections. He was unopposed in the American Labor Party primary. ovemor Dewey, Republican Presi dential candidate, has decided to make an all-out drive for the Negro vote in the North at the expense (based sole ly on traditional Republican Tears) of losing any southern or border stat es. Though this is recognition of the importance of the Negro vote by Dewey, it is no indication that he is a champion of the Negro. He only wants Negro votes to help put him in the White House. As anyone can see, all this adds u> to one thing: the Republicans and Democrats are going lickety-split af ter the Negro vote. They are doing this because they sorely need it. They ^figure they must have it to „w*n. Dur ing the campaign they’re willing to promise colored citizens almost any thing for their votes, though neither ^rty intends to do any more than it can possibly help for them at any time. Whether either one does, de pends entirely upon its need for the Negro vote and nothing else. The larger this vote is, the greater the greater the need for it by both Demo crats and Republicans. It is, indeed, the colored man’s one great weapon with which to bargain and battle for his rights. Because the Negro must battle for everything else he gets, political and otherwise, it is absolutely necessary that he prepare hints If for his battle. Currently, he can best do this by do ing two things: register and vote. If colored citizens in every hamlet, town, city and state in the country register and vote in this election in larger numbers—much larger num bers—than ever before in history, they will be in a position to demand and get from either or both parties many of the things they need to make them full-fledged citizens. For no polit'cian, even a Presidential candi date, is going to ignore the people whose votes he must have to get elect ed. On the other hand, if Negroes fail 1 _ [Urban - Community Center Announces Fall Opening Henrv* Washington’s Choir to Furnish Music The Omaha Urban League Comm unity Center, 2213 Lake Street, an nounces its Sail Opening, September 19, 1944. Beginning at 3:30 to 6 pm., the Center will hold open house. Special emphasis is placed on the attendance of all school boys and girls to come in and enjoy a free movie and danc ing during those hours. Mr. Du ward R. Crooms, Boys Woric Secretary, will act as Master of Ceremonies at the evening pro gram which begins promptly at 8 o' clock. Short skits depicting mean ings and purposes of the Boy and Girl Scout programs are scheduled to be dramtaized. Plans are being made to present moving pictures re lated to Scouting and outstanding services of the Urban League gener ally. Mr. Henry H. Washington and his well trained choir of eighteen voices will furnish music for the occasion. Refreshments will be served at the evening program. ^ ^ . ■ - =^= to register and vote in this election in large numbers, they will not only foolishly toss away a golden oppor tunity to get some of the things they need and deserve as citizens, but ‘they will also stand chance of losing some of the gains they have made in the last decade. There is nothing as simple, yet as important, for the Ne gro people today as to register and vote. As a group the vote of the Negro in Texas, Florida, or California, is equally important as the vote of the Negro in New York or Pennsylvania two uncertain key states. For in this election the colored people must not only vote for the candidates they fav or, but also to pile up the biggest total vote they have ever cast. The most important thing colored Americans can do to help their coun try' and themselves is to register and vote. Do not let yourself, your fam ily, your race and your country down by failing to do so. To register and vote is your privilege and responsibil ity. ATTEMPT BEING MADE TO INJURE NEBR. POWER CO. A deliberate attempt to prejudice j the citizens oi Omaha against N'ebras ka Power is being carried on, Presi dent J. E. Davidson said today. Mr. Davidson’s statement follows: For the sole purpose of trying to prejudice you against our Company, unfair interpretation has bees made of the testimony given in the recent leg islative committee hearing. This has been done in an effort to get you to; believe there has been something “sin ister’’ and “secret’’ in our activities to j keep our Company under private ownership, and to keep your electric ; service out of the hands of politic- i ians. Any implication or inference that j we have done anything" that was not j straight-forward and above-board is untrue, and unfair to our Company ; and its employees. The hearing j brought ofrth not one item of testi- ! money to the contrary. The Legisla tive Council’s record will show that every bit of information the commit tee sought was freely given,—that no I attempt was made’ to cover up any- j At the outset, as you will undoubt- j edly recall, we announced publicly , that our company would do every- j thing within its power, and spend whatever money was necessary to pre hent a small clique in Omaha from — TAN TOPICS By CHARLES ALLEN I - - ----- - - - —i—s wxV i “WHAT YOU TRYING TO TELL ME HOW TO VOTE—WHEN YOU HAVEN’T EVEN REGISTERED?" People of North Africa Hit by Nazi Rule Says Millard Woods Home from Foreign Bed Cross Post NEW OR INCREASED TAXES WOULD BE MEANING OF PROHIBITION.... A return to prohibition would mean huge tax losses to the state which would hape to be made up with new or increased taxes, according to C. D. Haskell, Laurel farmer and vice president of the Nebraska Federation of County Taxpayers Leagues. “Every branch of state and local government probably would suffer if we remove the alcoholic beverage in dustry from the tax rolls,’’ Haskell pointed out. “Tax authorities esti mate that Nebraska collects about 3,500,000 annually from beer and liq uors in state, county and local taxes and fees. $ “Not only would the state lose this annual revenue, whicr hould have to be made up from other sources, but additional hundreds of thousands of dollars would be needed to set up and maintain some kind of enforcement organization throuyhout the state. Government costs in every county, villaye and city would probably be ■creased. “The state liquor tax paid $2,216, 173.26 for Old Age Assistance and other functions of the State Assist ance Department in the fiscal year 1942-1943. I know the leople would not want to do away with state assistT ance so this revenue would have to be replaced, which would mean an in creased property tax or some new ford of tax, such as a sales tax or in come tax. Another alternative would be to double the state per capita tax, commonly known as the 'head tax.’ “Many people do not realize the importance of the liquor tax revenues to the state. Many of us forget that the Federal Government matches the spirituous beverage taxes used for old age assistance, which means that the actual loss to Nebraska would run a rotrnd $4,500,000 if the tax were not replaced. It would have to be. re placed, no question about it. And this means higher taxes, new taxes for everyone. “Another thing few people realize: County, city and oth er governmental subdivisions of the state ?isc collect large amounts of revenue from the industry, in addition to the direct beverage tax collected by the state government. Approxi mately $500,000 yearly is paid to counties and cities in license fees and occupational taxes by retail dealers. “To all of these revenues must be added real estate personal and miscel laneous taxes paid by brewers, distri butors, dealers, etc. This makes a total in the neighborhood of $3,500, 000 a year. This is not ‘pin money.’ It’s big money to me, anyway. “I do not; believe the people of Ne braska want to deliberately vote a big increase in general taxes on them selves. But that is just what they will he doing if they go back to pro hibition in November. History plain ly shows prohibition is not enforce abt and dosn’t prohibit anyway and would require hundreds of thousands of dollars to make even a show at enforcement.” ^BniwfflgsHBWBHBtiBiBflwinsH&Bsniniffiunu&iBinRnnRiflMiinBBto socializing your electric service for their own selfish purposes. We have spent not one penny more than you would have spent, proportionately, to protect your property. Actually dur ing the past year we have spent less for advertising, publicity and sales promotion than we did in 1939, be fore any municipal ownership agita tion started here. The people of Omaha, time and a gain, have overwhelmingly indicated that they want the Nebraska Power Company to continue to serve them. We shall continue to pay for any ac tivities we believe necessary to pro tect our Company and keep your elec tric service on its present high plane. Wo repeat what we have stated many times before : If it were not for the unfair attacks made on our Comp any, we would not hare been forced to spend this money. But as long as efforts are being made to force our Company out of business, we shall continue to fight back. Surely you would have little respect for us if we did otherwise. Sincerely yours, J. E. DAVIDSON, President. “It’s really marvelous that the na tive Africans have managed to exist this lcng,” stated Millard Woods in Lincoln after spending a year and a half in North Africa as club director with the American Red Cross. "The lands there haven’t been cul tivated Since 1939 when the Germans took over everything. The little children had no milk because the in vading nazis under Rommel took all the food, starved the few animals and cows that they did have, forcing the French, Spanish, and Jewish popula tion that inhabits north Africa to live on snails, fish, brown bread, and wine,' said Mr.Woods. "There is no fuel to keep them warm in winter time and the gas with which food is cooked is carefully rationed.” Americans Give Aid “However, much has been done since the Americans have taken over through lend-lease,” said the former executive secretary of the Lincoln Urban league, who was for three months stationed with Lincoln’s own Col. Marcus Poteet and his quarter caster regiment. Mr. Wood’s job as club director in cluded the managing of “one unit” made up of four buildings with a staff of 57 persons. These were re creation buildings serving in the cap acity of a USO, one a theater build ing, cne a recreation club, another a snack bar which served 6,000 to 7,000 sold’ers a day, and another for danc ing and boxing. “I would say the American soldier's favorite pastime in Africa is danc ing.” related Mr. Woods. And when the question arose as to whom the soldiers use for dancing partners, he replied that there are plenty of French and Spanish girls to dance with, adding that “The American girls would have quite a hard time competing with them.” The next question asked was whether they jit terbug American style to which Mr. Woods replied with a grin “Americ an boys don’t take lessons—they give em. Among the entertainment shows that appeared at his club were per formances by Jack Benny. "Doc" Wheeler, Joe Louis, and Madeline Carroll. “The boys have plenty of recreational facilities at our club now said Mr. Woods, “everything from dominoes to pool.” He tells the tale of British and A merican soldiers caught in a day room one night during an air raid alarm. "There was only time to turn out the lights before the planes came over,” Mr. Woods said. “Then one of the boys noticed a small bonfire that needed to be put out to keep the planes from locating and bombing the place. In the dark, one of the boys grabbed a can of gasoline instead of a can of water, and then we really had light”’ But luckily, (probably bcause the pilots couldn’t shoot straight) the closest bomb hit 200 yards away. Sing Dvrmg Raid “And during all this time,” declar ed the club director, “the American and Eritish soldiers huddled together in the darkness of the club singing, “When the Lights Go On Again”— a moment that nobody there would ever forget.” Asked what the natives do for a living, Mr. Woods said, “They beg, steal, some work. Boys aren't allow ed «.o go to school until they are 13 so they shine shoes and work in the vineyards.” “As for the laundry situation—I’m afraid the conditions in Lincoln, are much the same as in North Africa," said Mr. Woods. “It’s niee work if and when you get it back, but you never know when that will be.” After spending a 25-day leave with his wife and 14 year old son, Millard Jr., cf 1946 S Street, and with his beloved mother, Mrs. William Woods, Mr. Woos will deturn to his station in Africa. Many social and civic events have been planned and held in honor of the former Lincoln Urban League Executive Secretary. Mr. Millard Woods father, the late ,Mr. William T. Woods, prominent Lincolnite and Nebraskan, died last April, while his son was serving at his station overseas. iiiiiiiiiimiiimiimiiiiiiiiimiimiiiiii Subscribe Today! niiimimimiuiiniHinimniiinHHUii HAMILTON-GORDON MARRIAGE ANNOUNCED. Mrs. Belzora Loll ms was hostess to a delicious luncheon, served at the beautiful Shalimar Country Club on last Saturday. The announcement of the marriage of Mrs. Lucille Hamil ton, daughter of Mrs. Collins, to Mr. Terry Gordon m Billings, Montana, was made by Mrs. Georgia Winston, serving as proxy for Mrs. Collins. Mrs. Hamilton-Gordon will be re membered as a very active and pop ular member of the Quack Club in its ' earlier years. She has resided out side of Omaha for the past several years. ’ Mr. Gordon is originally of Minne apolis, and is very popular in the musicai world. Among the guests present were: — MesJames Leolp Jones, Thearis Wy lie, Christine Sudduth, Geneva Os bourne. Georgia Winston, Lucy Mae Britt and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon. Crowd Boos but Satchel Pitches On _*- - — . —1 Satchel Paige, who winged one for the Birmingham Black Barons against the Cincinnati Indianapolis Clowns at Wrigley Field in Chicago, got the most tremendous and consecutive boos j it was said, that he had ever encoun tered during his baseball career, j Paige hurled the second game for the 1 Barons, who won 6 to 4, but was only j allowed on the mound 4 innings of j the exhibiton contest, and was allow ed 5 hits and 3 runs. Despite the i fact that he fanned 3 and walked 1, boos after boos greeted his every turn. The "Satch” was being punished apparently for his loose talk prior to the East-West Game at which time he threatened to walk out on the clas sic managers unless he received 10 percent of the net. and a suitable a mount of the profits to be given to the Army and Navy Relief Fund. He was dropped from the Fast-West lineup and classic fans turned out to the tune of 50.000 and had a joyous time despite his absence. (PPNS). ToRe-Wed Her Joe Lovely Dorothy Ridgell-Cook re turned to St. Louis this week after spending a ten day vacation in Chic ago with her popular ex-husband, Joe Ridgell. After the two were honor ed at many social and night club part ies, they decided to re-marry on Christmas Eve., in the “Windy City”. After a whirlwind courtship the cou ple married in 1942. Mrs. Cook is the daughter of Mrs. Rachel Cook of 4353 Aldine St., St. Louis. Mo. while Mr. Ridgell is one of the sports man and a Regal theatre official. Wild Scramble for Joe’s Autograph Staff Sgt. Joe Louis, world's heavy weight champon, auitographng ‘short snorters' as he visited Fleet Air Wings 15 somewhere in North Afri ca. The sergeant is reported to be on the way- to America. (PPNS).