/JUSTICE/EQUAUTYp^^ALLTHE NEWS WHILE IT ISNEWS^iSi^EWTOTHETiNEX
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ^^OGRANTsr --PHONE HA.0800
^ -jf ^ "Largest Accredited Negro Newspaper West of Chicago and North of KC• ^ -C>. ^
Entered as 2nd class matter at Post-oftice. Omaha, Nebr., Under Act of 0 . , , rt . _ __
March 8, 1874. Publishing Offices at 2420 Grant Street, Omaha. Neb! Saturday, December 9, 1944 OllT I7th Year—NO. 44
S.T.U.F. Seeks Immediate Opening of Govt-Owned Lands in the West
FOR RESETTLEMENT BY
DISPOSSESSED FAMILIES
OF SOUTH FORCED OUT BY
MECHANICAL LABOR.
PLAN NATIONAL FARM
LABOR UNION
A plan for organization of a nation
al farm labor union was last week
submitted to conventions of the A.F.
of L., New Orleans; CIO, Chicago,
and the National Farmers Union,
Denver.
H. L- Mitchell President of the
Southern Tenant Farmers Union,
sent telegrams to William Green,
President of the American Federation
of Labor; Phillip Murray, President
of the Congress of Industrial Organ
izations ; and to Jases G. Patton,
President of the National Farmers
Union, urging cooperation in organ
izing a national farm laohr union ex
tending social security laws and fed
eral protection, and the right of col
lective bargaining to farm workers.
The telegrams also stated that,
“Due to rapid mechanization of cot
ton production and plans for manu
facture of mechanical cotton pickers
in 1945, it is necessary for thousands
of white and Negro workers to mi
grate to other areas”. Both sections
of organized labor and the progress
ive National Farmers Union were
urged to use their influence to secure
the immediate opening of government
owned lands in the West for resettle
ment of dispossessed farm families of
the South.
Mitchell said this action followed
plans worked out at the 11th annual
convention of the STFU- which end
ed Little Rock, on November 17th.
where he was directed to enlist the
support of organized labor and small
farm owners in organizing a nation
wide farm labor union to be compos
ed of workers employed on industrial
ized farms and plantations.
The President of the STFU. also
revealed that a special Organizing
Codmittee had been formed for the
purpose of unionizing shilled farm
laborers employed as tractor drivers
and farm machine operators on cot
ton plantations of the mid-south area
Ho said the STFU. intended to re
quest the AF of L. and CIO to fur
nish two or more good trade union
oragnizers to direct the campaign.
Among the highlights of the STF
U. convention held in Lithe Rock,
attended by 124 delegates from 11
southern states, was a visit of a del
egation of Cannery Workers from
the west coast, where were enroute to
the AFL Convention in New Orleans.
The Canery Workers’ delegation was
headed by Hal P. Angus of Oakland,
Ca.if, who stopped in Little Rock for
a day to attend the .STFU meet ijus
and work out plans for the migration
of several hundred unemployed wor
kers to California for the wanter sea
son.
Also addressing the Little Rock
convention during its 4 day session
were; Leon B. Schachter of the Meat
and Canery Union (AFL), Camden,
New Jersey; Adolph Germer, Nation
al Representative CIO, Denver, Colo.
Herman Gehrig, AFL. Organizer,
Memphis; and F'red Bayler of the
International Oilers and Firemen’s
Union ,AFL.) ; Miss Rose Pesotta,
Representative, Workers Defense
League, New York.
A resolution adopted by the STFU
convention condemned the use of
Nazi war prisoners in competition
with free Americans in the cotton
fields, compdesses, and warehouses ot
the mid-south.
Another resolution instructed new
ly elected officers to make arrange
ments for ex-servicemen who are
members of the Union, to secure a
year’; free training in accredited
schools and colleges under the GI
Bill. The officers were directed to
plan courses for vocational training
in operation and care of farm mach
inery, management of cooperative
business enterprises and trade union
organization.
Officers elected for the year 1945
are as follows. H. L. Mitchell, Pres
ident, Memphis-, Tenn-; F. R. Bet
ton, Vice President, Cotton Plan*,
Ark., Executive Council Members
W. A. Johnson; McAndrew Mc
Crary; Royal Isom; John Alford
Gammill; J. E. Clayton; J. F. Hy
nds; O. C. Morgan; Mae Pearl Kel
ley ; George Stith.
•
Says Negroes Should
Spread Out Over Land
REPORT OF THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF STFU
(by F. R. Betton)
During the year 1944 the Southern -
Tenant farmers Union aided the war
effort by placing its unemployed
members in agricultural areas and in
plains which were processing food
for our armed forces. During the
summer season when there was no
emolovment, 325 of our members
were transferred to the state of New
Jersey and worked for about six
weeks in the Campbell Soup Co. plant
in Camden, New Jersey. I had an
opportunity- to be with the workers
for several weeks. The officials of
the company were well pleased with
the type of men we sent to work in
this plant. During th tomato season,
this company- prepared 90 million cans
of inmate products, soup and juices
which were sent direct to the boys
overseas
O.i' members made very trond mon
(Continued on Page iW*2)
One Gracious Lady to Another
Charming Muriel Rahn smiles
down at cute 2 year old Sandra Kay
Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs
C- Moore, as she hands over a bou
quet of roses. The occasion.—a stop
on La Rahn's concert tour at Camp
Setwart, Ga-, where she thrilled a
thousand GIs singing in a shell pink
sequined dress. In the background is
the 35 piece 153rd ASF band which
played after her numbers and watch
ed the songbird sign autographs.
. (Calvins News Service Photo)
Zion Baptist Makes
Final Loan Payment
MRS. S. A. BOTTS IN
ATTENDANCE
A check for $3,600, representing
the last payment on a $10,000 loan
for the Zion Baptist Church, 2215
Grant Street, was given the Rev. T.
D. King, New York City, represent
ing the American Baptist Home Mis
sion Society at the close of the morn
ing services last Sunday at the church
Mrs- S- A. Botts, widow of the
former pastor, who instituted the
building of the edifice, was present
for the ceremonies.
Other officers of the church in at
tendance at the ceremonies were, O.
B. Prestige, treasurer of the building
fund; Richard Reynolds, chairman of
the board of deacons; the Rev. F- C
Williams, Pastor; T. D. King, sec
retary of the American Baptist Home
Mission Society; Mrs. O- Kirtley,
secretary of the building fund; H. T.
Swain, chairman of the board of
trustees; and Mrs. Lucinda Davis,
chairman of the building fund com
mittee.
AMERICA'S CONTRIBUTION
Tuskegee Institute, Ala., (PPNS)
A firm hand clasp and groad friend
1> smiles of understanding mark the
meeting of Col. B. O. Davis Jr., and
Dr. F. D. Patterson, President of
Tuskegee Institute. The two noted
figures represent the strength of A
merica that has put the evu iurces of
aggression on the run; the man on
the fighting front who boats the en
emy at bay, and the man on the home
front fighting to preserve the princ
iples of democracy that is the birth
right of man, regardless oi race,
creed and color- Col. Davis on fur
lough from his station in Italy spent
a week at Tuskcgee Institute just be
fore returning *o his post, command
ng *he 332nd Fighter Group compos
ed of the O-Vh. 100th. 30’st and the
302nd squadrons.
NY Telephone Company
Hires First Negro Girl
Switchboard Operator
Malcolm Ross, Chairman of the
President’s Committee on Fair Em
plovment Practice issued the follow
ing statement this week:
“The Committee on Fair Employ
ment Practice has been informed that
the New York Telephone Company
has hired its first Negro girl as a
switchboard operator and that a sub
stantial number of other candidates
for such positions have been asked to
report for final interview, preparat
ory to employment and training.
"This action by the Company rep
resents the satisfactory and truittut
adjustment of complanits filed rec
ently with FEPC. During our ne
gotiations, officials of the company
OMAHA BOY SERVING IN BELGIUM,
WANTS ONE OF BEDFORD NEW HOMES
READY FOR HIM WHEN HE COMES HOME
Somewhere in Belgium.
A former Omahan, Sgt. Ed. Wright in the ser
vice, saw an ad in the Omaha Guide about the
New Homes being built by Mr. Dee in the Bed
ford Park Addition.
Mr. Wright wrote his mother asking her to get
in touch with the Omaha Guide and get all the
information about the New Homes, stating that
he wanted to have one built and ready when he
comes home._
S1227-GI Assanlt Bill
A "Must Bill" Before
Congress Adjourns
On June 14, 1943, the Senate quiet
ly passed the bill S. 1227 to make it
a federal offense to assault a mem
ber of the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps. This would amend an exist
SCORES LABORITES.
Ek22£3&£I
New Orleans, La., (PPNS) A.
Philip Randolph released a barrage
of complaints aaginst race prejudice
in the AF. of L. union during its
64th annual convention here. Rand
olph declared that the A F of L.
could not maintain a duel form 01
membership a first class set up
for white workers and a second class
membership for Negroes. He vow
ed that racial dicrimination and de
mocracy cannot live in the same
house
denied any intention of discriminat
ion and assured us that the companys
policy was to give full consideration
to all job applicants on the basis of
qualifications and without regard to
race, creed, color or national origin
“The company's present action is a
noteworthy demonstration of that as
surance-”
Mt. Moriah to Celebrate
Its 47th Anniversary....
AVr. Dafid St. Clair, Pastor
The Church will observe its 47th
: nniversary beginning Dec- ltth thru
the 18th- Each night there will be
an interesting program also stirring
sermons and good gospel singing.
Everybody is cordially invited to
attend.
MRS. ROOSEVELT GREETS
WOUNDED SERVICEMEN
Washington, DC., (PPXS) More
‘han 100 wounded Xegro Soldiers,
Sailors, Marines and Coast Guards
men were enlivened by th*’ wit and
charm of the nation’s first lady Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt who address
ed them at an annual Thanksgiving
Dinner, sponsored by the Fquestn
i ennes Sunday afternoon, at Lucy D
SI',we Hall in Washington, D C.
Shown with Mrs- Rooseevlt during
her address are (left to right) ; Col.
Campbell C. Johnson: Mrs. Marie
B. Poston, business manager of the
Equestriennes; Truman K. Gibson,
Tr.; Dr. Marshall Shepard; and Mr:
Ellen Beckwith, club member. In
the background is Spurgeon Burke,
manager of Lucy D. Slowe Hall.
ing law under which the Coast Guard
and certain other federal officers are
already covered. S- 1227 would
make it possible for anyone assault
ing any memebr of the Armed Forc
es to be prosecuted under federal law.
and in the federal courts.
This bill is very important because
of the increasing number of instanc
es, particularly involving Negro ser
vicemen, where bus drivers, local
policemen and others, especially in
the southern states, have assaulted
servicemen—and the local and state
authorities have refused to take ef
fective action. S. 1227 would give
the federal authorities power to ar
rest, try and punish such criminals.
Assault upon any of America's ser
vicemen is a crime which can only
properly be characterized as a form
of treason to the war effort and to
the country
Bill Stymicds
After the bill was passed in the
Senate, it went to the House Commit
tee on Judiciary, and was referred to
a sub-committee of that body. On
May 17, 1944 the sub-comittee report
ed S- 1227 favorably—but it has not
yet been reported out of the full Ju
diciary Committee. After that it
must also go through the House Rul
es Committee to secure a place on the
calendar.
Action s
While there are several major bills
which must be considered bl this 78th
Congress before it ends (officially
Dec. 31-) favorable action on S. 1227
could easily be taken; most of the
work has already been done- Just a
final push on this bill which would
have far-reaching beneficial effects
and be a real step forward in realiz
ing elementary democratic rights.
Every individual and organization
should take the following steps with
out delay:
1. Send Letters and resolutions to
the Chairman of the House Judiciary
Committee, Rep. Hatton W. Sum
ners (D-Texas), House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC-, urging that the
Committee report S. 1227 out immed
iately, favorably. If your Represen
tative is a member of the Judiciary
Committee, communicate with him al
so. Members of the Committee are:
(Democrats) E. Celler, NY., Z.
Weaver, NC.; F. E. Walters, Pa-;
S. Hobbs, Ala.; J. H- Tolan, Calif.; !
W. T. Byrne, NY.; D. E. Satterfield
Jr., Va.; E. Kefauver, Tenn.; J. R,
Bryson, SC; F. Cravens, Ark; S.
M- Russell, Texas; T. J. Lane, Mass
M. Gorski, 111.; M. A. Feighan, Ohio
(Republicans) C. E. Hancock, NY;
E. C. Michener, Michigan; J. M.,
Robsion, Ky.; C- W. Reed, 111.; J. I
W. GWynne, Iowa; L. EE. Graham,
Pa.; R. S- Springer, Ind; J. E. Tal
bot, Conn.; F. Fellows, Me.; E. R.
Lewis, Ohio; H. L- Towe, NJ; J.
Nebraska Lags in
Sixth War Loan
—isa—.te—fe—
The following is a telegram from Mr. Dale Clark,
Nebraska State Chairman of the Sixth War Loan
Drive, to You Mr. and Mrs. Reader—Through the
columns of The Omaha Guide, he urges you to heed
the cry for Help. What are we going to do about it.
Nebraska cannot afford to fail our boys and girls
now! Will you help sponsor a message to your
friends—If so just call IIA-0800. We need your
help to make the people of Nebraska THINK! What
can you do? Call IIA-0800 and ask for Mr. C. C.
Galloway and he will tell you.
—te——
WESTER UNION
LD30 GOVT NL PD OMAHA NEBR 4
Omaha Nebraska, Dec. 5, 1944
Nebraska seriously lagging in war bond sales.
Treasury reports show only twenty percent of
goal at drives half-way mark. Shall prosperity
by our maginot line? What shall it profit a
state if it arise a bumper corn crop and fails to
provide its sons with material support in war.
Your help and all possible pressure this edition
through news and editorial columns of vital im
portance. Thanks.
Dale Clark, State Chairman,
War Finance Committee.
—te—te—Hn—
Our War With Japan
The Sixth War Loan marks a new turn in the war
both on the fighting and the home fronts. It points
our tremendous war effort definitely in the direct
ion of the Pacific. During the first five war loans
Americans were primarily thinking in terms of beat
ing Hitler.
Now our government asks us for a loan of 14 bil
lion more dollars of which five billion dollars must
come from individuals. Why? Haven’t we nearly
finished off our so-called Number 1 Enemy? Can
Japan hold up our powerful war machine very long?
Your son, brother and friend in his Pacific foxhole
wouldn’t raise such questions because they are up
against realiteis, not day dreams. They kill or are
killed. They pray every waking moment for a sky
darkening cover of friendly planes. They thank A
merica for giving them the finest medical care in the
world when their rendezvous with destiny in a Pac
ific jungle is at hand. They know the war with the
Japs is just beginning.
Here are some other Pacific realities so that you
will understand why there must be a Sixth War.
Loan and why it is absolutely necessary that it be a
success:
The Allied Military Command has estimated that
it will take years, not months, to lick Japan.
Japan’s present army numbers about 4,000,00ft
with 2,000,000 more men available and fit for milit
ary service who haven’t been called up to date. An
other 1,500,000, between the ages of 17 and 20, arc
not yet subject to the draft.
The Jap Air Force is growing.
In addition to millions of native workers, Japan
has a potential slave force of 400,000,000 conquered
people. 50% of Japan’s labor force is made up of
women. Another 25% boys and girls under 20, the
balance men. The Jap workday is twelve to sixteen
hours with two days off a month. The Jap cannot
leave his job, change it, or strike. The highest daily
wage equals about three American dollars—30% to
75% of which goes to taxes and compulsory savings.
The Jap as our men in the Pacific know, will fight
to the death. As far as the Jap is concerned, the
outer Empire—and the men who defend it—are the
expendables. The Jap will fight the Battle from
inside the inner Empire.
The Jap believes that we shall weary of war too
easily and too early.
In the invasion of France, supply ships had an
overnight run to make. In the coming Battle of
Japan, ships in the Pacific will have long-reached
round trips that often take five months to make.
These realities are worth thinking about before
you keep your home front rendezvous with a Victory
Volunteer. Perhaps you will feel that the national
personal Sixth War Loan objective—purchase of at
least one extra $100 War Bond—is entirely too
small for you. The better we face the realities con
fronting our forces in the Pacific the quicker the
whole bloody business will be over and the sooner
we will welcome home our fighting men. That’s an
American reality to work for with all our dollars
and our sweat.
Jennings, Jr. Tenn.
2. Write your own Representative
utging he work for quick passage of
S- 1227 in the House before Congress
ends.
LIBERIAN BISHOPS IN
WASHINGTON
Washington, DC. (PPXS) Assist
am Secretary of Agriculture Charl
es F Brannan discusses with Libt -
iau biiliops :h- agric tural assi; '
-
ance which the XJ. S. Department of
Agriculture may make available to
the Liberian people, Already Agri
culture ha loaned Charles E. Trout,
an agricultural expert, to the Liber
ian Government. Pictured left to
right are: Mrs. Edgar B. Watson
and Bishop Watson of the African
Methodist Episcopal Zion church,
Assistant Secretary Brannan who is
shown shaking hands with Bishop
V tllis J. King of the Methodist
Church and Bishop J. H. Clayborn
of the African Methodist Episcopal
Lhurch. The bishops expect to leave
for Liberia by clipper within the next
few weeks.
SEXDS GUIDE CARD OF
THAXKS....
Mrs. Wendell L. Willk'e, Lieuten
ant Philip H. Willkie, US.N'R. deep
ly appreciate your kind thought and
expression of sympathy.
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