EDITORIAL- COMMENT
Omaha, Nebraska, Saturday, April 14, 1945
Poll Tax
Do We Fight for This?
*
It is not, perhaps, exaggerated to say that the
question of whether or not a state may impose a tax
as a condition of voting in a Federal election has in
it al! tin elements of the world-wide conflict be
tween democratic and authoritarian ideals of gov
ernment.
The American dream has been government of the
people, by the people, for the people.
It may he justly questioned whether or not any
bar to suffrage is not a bar to government of the
people bv the people.
The whole history of the franchise in these Unit
ed States has been toward removal of artificial ob
stacles t<> suffrage and extension of the right of
franchise. The staets first abolished property
qhalifications. They brought about direct election
of United States Senators. They adopted1 the 19th
amendment to the constitution to extend the suf
frage to women.
There is active discussion everywhere of the pro
priety of laws which would penalize a failure to
vote.. remains under penalty. A citizen who per
forms the duty of voting must pay for it.
There is further defeat of nopular government
when the Federal Congress fails to exercise its con
stitutional rifht to establish qualifications of voters
in Federal elections. A legislative proposal clear
ly favored by a majority of all members of Congress.
the anti poll tax bill—cannot be brought to a vote
ercept by the devious methods of adischarge peti
tion, because a handful of willful men, entrenched
in eomoittces by the poll tax system, will not bring
the hill to the floor.
Is this what we’re fighting for?
_
/
Land of the isoble Free
--'by Layle Lane for Calvin’s News Service
The FEPC.
The Republican Party in its 1944 platform pledg
ed itself to tin* enactment of a permanent FEPC,
but as yet, except in New York State and in the pro
cess in Indiana, it has shown little effort in putting
through legislation for this purpose. In fact. Sen
ator Taft has jeopardized the chances for S101 by
introducing bis own bill which is without effective
enforcement j miwers.
On March 22, the March on Washington Move
ment reminded 29 Senators of the 1944 platform
committment and urged their support of S101. To
date only six replies to the telegram have been re
ceived .
Senator Hawkes of New Jersey wired: “Studying
Taft Bill and 8101. Thansk for views.”
Sen. Lunger of North Dakota replies: “As one of
the sponsors of the FEPC bill, you can depend upon
my doing everything possible.”
“I am not for the Taft Bill,” writes Senator Cap
per. “In fact, 1 do not believe the Taft Bill will
have serious consideration. I believe S101 is get
ting stronger every day.”
The views of the Michigan Senators were diver
gent. Senator Homer Ferguson states: “I believt
that discrimination in respect to employment in in
dust rv should he abolished, and I am in favor of leg
islation which will actual abolish it.
Senator Yandenberg, however, writes: “I have
not had an opportunity to study S1<>1 in detail. It
is still in the Senate Committee on Education and
Labor. 1 do not happen to be a member of the Com
ii lit tee and I have not heard ihe discussions. I shall
be glad to write you more definitely when this spec
ifiebill reaches the floor of the Senate and 4 have
had an opportunity to be fully informed respecting '
it.”
•I note your comments concerning me piopost a
f bill by Senator Taft respecting the FEPO. As you
know. 1 completely favor a permanent and piogies
sivelv strong status for th< FEP^ Frankly, hois
ever, l feel e shall make a serious blunder it' we
try to go “too far too fast” in this connection. It
MI ST he a process ot evolution. The main thing
i- i keep our momentum in tin* right direction.
Senator Ball of Minnesota says: “I feel myself
that elimination of discrimination in employment
opportunities because of race, creed or color is def
initely an obligation of government and one that
will lie especially urgent in the reconversion period
and when veterans return and seek jobs.”
“Threfore, I intend to support the b EP( bill, in
tituling a strong enforcement provision. It is m\
< iwn conviction that most of the commission s re
sults will be achieved through education, mediation,
and adjustment, but to be effective these methods
must hi* backed up by enforcement when necessary
“1 am on the Education and Labor ( omniittee
which will consider the bill, and 1 do expect to sup
port amendments which will improve the legislation
and strengthen support for it, without emasculat
ing it.”
The las statement indicates that to get more sup
port for tin* bill there may be definitely steps taken
to weaekn it. However, a lesson should be learned
from the passage of the bill in New York.
The advicates of the state FEPO assembled in
V
such numbers and gave such convincing arguments
for a strong measure that they were able to over
come the opposition. While the task will be hard
er on the national scale it is essential to mobilize im
mediately public pressure on Capitol Hill and to
maintain that pressure till 8101 is made into law.
•
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Send a contribution to the National Council
for a Permanent FEPC, 930 F Street, N. W., Wash
ington, 4, DC.
2. Write Senator Kenneth S. Wherry, and
Senator Hugh Butler of Nebraska at the Senate
Chambers, Washington, DC., urging them to vig
orously support and vote for the bills to make
FEPC. permanent.
DYNAMITE ]
'-by H. George Davenport -■
IS GIBSON ALONE TO BLAME?
Truman Gibson, Jr., son of Truman Gibson, Sr.,
President of the Supreme Liberty Life Insurance
Davenport
( o., ot Chicago, was allegedly charged
by the white press of discrediting Ne
gro soldiers on the Italian front—
claiming Negroes were illiterate and
charged them with cowardice under
fire. Away back in ’39 or ’40, there
was what was termed a Negro exposi
tion in Cliicanp. It had as its purpose
the Exhibition of the progress of the
Negro sinre his emancipation. The
idea was the brain rliild of the late Jas
W. Washington, and Gibson, along
/with the new dealers, threw him out. Mr. Gibson,
appointed to head the Chirago show went to De
troit, came back and said the Detroit show was a
joke; that he, as head of theChicago exhibit, would
make the Detroit arrangement look like a grammar
school affair. This writer was then writing for the
Oklahoma Eagle, and, to his personal knowledge,
was the only Negro writer to expose the exposition.
Gibson was healded to great heights by Wendell
Greene, now pudge, as “a very brilliant young man
with a future”. Printing was goten out, printed by
white printers—replicas of past milestones were
made in WPA. Project Governmental set-ups. We
did not know then, but we can see now it was one of
those new deal tricks to put dumy leaders like
Claude “Giraffe” Barnett, Truman Gibson, Jr., and
other lesser lights for the Negro votes that followed
Aside from the progress the Negro has made under
tin* derision government projects, the exposition
was a sad affair. Claude “G” Barnett, head of the
Associated Negro Press, and who holds jobs for him
self and stooges, was in charge of Negro press re
leases. Because of money paid out, the truth was
kept from the public—By keeping the truth from
the “sucker public”, Gibson was hailed by Wallace
as a tin horn Uncle Tom; hence he was made assist
ant to Hastie, who resigned rather than sell his
black brothers down the river. It was Gibson who
antagonized Hastie—It was Gibson like a snake in
the grass, encouraged Hastie to resign—It was Gib
son who carried tales from Hastie to the white folks
—Itl was Gibson who told Hastie, “When you re
sign I’ll go with you”—It was Gibson who double
crossed Hastie and got his job—It was Gisori who
would sell his own parents short in order to remain
out of the army—But had Claude “G” Barnett and
the great Negro Press, with itching palms, done
their duty in reporting the news, Gibson would not
be in Washington now. George Washington Car
ver—the greatest scientist in the world—his photc
was on the floor of the exposition.
\
Watch Your Speech
by Ruth Taylor
I was listening to a speech one night—a dull, dry
as-dust speech—and my mind was wandering, when
suddenly I heard the speaekr say. “For the old a
dage of ‘No taxation without representation’ one
might as well substitute the new slogan of ‘no critic
ism without study’. ”..
If we could do that we could revolutionize human
relations. If we stopped to study a situation, how
seldom would we criticize it i Instead we would
understand it. Prejudice always menaces the per
son holdingit.
No ine of us would willingly steal. But he who
condemns another unjustly or who bears false wit
ness against his brother is a thief.
Shakespeare said: “He who steals my purse
steals trash; but he that robs me of my good name,
robs me of that which notenricheth him. but makes
me poor indeed.”
How do we do that? By general izing against a
'Aews-letter i
I WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
j Washington
GI LOANS MAN CREATE VOI R
IIIGGEST SALES OPPORTUNITIES
GI Bill of Rights will add $10, $20
perhaps $30 bilion to national pur
chasing power in postwar period.
Obvious beneficiaries: veterans
bankers, and lending institutions.
Less obvious, but equally Import
ant: manufacturers and commercial
houses, who may more easily sell
equipment, obtain dealers, and get
new outlets for manufactured
goods.
Not many persons yet appreciate
thnt G I lonnM do not have to be
made by bunks. Manufacturers may
also make them. Disposing of their
own products at substantial profits,
and sometimes serving other pur
poses as well—such as securing a
new dealer—they can frequently
justify grenter risks than a bank
could afford. Illustrations:
1. Henry Smith Co. electrical eq
uipment, seels complete refrigerator
plant to a veteran-owned butcher
shop. Cost, $3,000; 50% guaranteed
by U. S. government. (Limit of gov
ernment guarantee-liability, $2,000,
but never to exceed 50%.)
2. Sunshine Gasoline Co. advan
ces $,000 to a veteran to equip gas
oline station; $2.000—40%—govern
ment guaranteed. Company gains
exclusive outlet for its brands of
gas and oil. As loan is repaid, gov
ernment guarantee is reduced pro
rata. In this case if repayment is
spread over 50 months at $100 a
month, government guarantee-li
ability is reduced $40 each month.
3. National Motor Car Co. sells
truck for $1,600; government guar
antees $800.
4. Raymond Inc., publishers of
lawr, engineering and medical text
books, sells GI doctor, dentist, en
gineer or lawyer complete library
valued at $6,000. $2,000—33 and one
third%,—guaranteed by government.
5. Harding & Rogers, dental
equipment supplies, equips dentist's
office for $3,500. Government guar
antee, $1,750.
Highlights of regulations apply
ing to GI loans:
To qualify for federal guaranteed
loans for business, home or farm in
vestment, persons must have served
minimum of 90 days in the armed
forces, received honorable discharge
stand credit investigation. WACs &
other women in armed services
are eligible.
Business and farm loans must be
used for purchase of real or person
al property necessary to gainful oc
cupation; reasonable likelihood of
success required.
Purchase prices must not exceed
The Omaha Guide
[ ★ A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER JL
Published Every Saturday at 2)20 Grant Street
OMAHA, NEBRASKA—PHONE HA. 0800
Entered as Second Class Matter March 15, 1927
at the Post Office at Omaha, Nebraska, under
i Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
C- C. Galloway,.Publisher and Acting Editor
f All News Copy of Churches and all organiz
i ations must be in our office not later than 1:00
' p- m. Monday for current issue. All Advertising
| Copy on Paid Articles, not later than Wednesday
noon, preceeding date of issue, to insure public
I at ion.
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National Advertising Representatives—
INTERSTATE UNITED NEWSPAPERS, Inc \
545 Fifth Avenue, New York City, Phone:— ,
MUrray Hill 2-5452, Ray Peck, Manager
i
@UARD YOUR HEALTH-AVOID
ACCIDENTS. ILLNESS AND INJURY
LARGELY PREVENTABLE-ARE
COSTING THE NATION AN ESTI
MATED ANNUAL LOSS OF 600
MILLION MAN DAYS OF
INDUSTRIAL LABOR
ALONE.
NEWS ITEM
A VOID ACCIDENTS-AND ILLNESS'
reasonable normal value as deter
mined by proper appraisals. Some
loans have been denied because of
inflated prices.
Realty loans can run for 20 years
loans on machinery and equipment
for their usual life. Interest rate i'/r
As a rulej guaranteed loans can be
used only to buy fixtures necessary
to operate a business; but where
going concern is bought, stock of
(Continued on page Hi
man. by attributing to a group the mistakes of a
man, by broadcharacterizations, by not taking the
trouble to learn all the facts.
Go over the people who you think you dislike.
Why don’t you liek them? How many do you dis
like. Why dn’t you like them? How many do you
dislike with goodcause? How many because you
are not considering the mas individuals but are
lumping them as a group..
Do you speak carelessly of people? Do you as
sume more knowledge than you really possess?
Plutarch said: “He who reflects on another man’s
want of breeding, shows he wants it as much him
self.”
You wouldn’t touch one of your neighbor’s pos
sessions? But what are you doing to his good
name ?
A man for whom I have great admiration said one
day, in speaikng of another man who had done him
harm. “If I were small enough to dislike a man foi
personal reasons—”. .That is true greatness. He
saw things in their proper light. lie would not be
hurting the man by disliking him, but he would be
injuring himself.
If we have nothng good to say about our brother
—then in God’s nam—let us be still!!
PLEASE! GET RID OF THOSE “B” LOCALS
(from The Union Reporter, Camden, N. J.)
The American Federation of Labor has been crit
icized severely by many groups in this country for
allowing certain of its locals to continue their policy
of creating “second class” or “B” locals for Negro
members.
The explanation which President Green has given
over and over again is that the AFL itself does not
want to dictate policy to its locals, but prefers that
they should be completely autonomous, and make
their own decisions on such matters.
But in making his statement, Green has always
been very sure to state in no uncertain terms that lie
himself does not favor the giving of “B” charters
to locals, ans that he hopes they will themselves
take the initiative in getting rid of the disgraceful
segregaion practice.
Recently two newspaper articles have come to our
attention which we believe warrant your attention.
One of them says that “Second class or ‘auxiliary
locals for Negro members of the International Bro
therhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders and
Helpers, AFL, have been abolished.” This Union
is one of the largest AFL Unions, with a member
ship of 336,900. It means that between 35 and 40
auxiliaries will receive new charters, and that all
practical obstacles in the way of Negroes becoming
officers of the International Union will be removed.
This change of policy still leaves much to be de
sired. For instance, it is only fair to add that this
decision does not mean that Negro members now in
“B” locals will be amalgamated into other locals,
but, rather, that the auxiliary locals will now be el
evated to complete autonomy with the same status
as other locals and with direct affiliation with the
International.
The second clipping which we would like to call
to your attention lias the following headline:
“Negro Segregation by Union Condemned.”
Ot goes on to say that the segregation of Negroes
in a collective bargaining unit was condemned by a
report to the National Labor Relations Board by an
examiner who recommended that unless the prac
tice was stopped within 15 days the board should re
voke its certification and order a new election. It,
was further stated that this Union, Local 219 of the
AFL Tobacco Worekrs, bargain only for the white
employees in the certified unit, and that the Negro
employees in their segregatd Local 219-B were with
out protetion of the law.
Stating that such “disparity in treatment” had
been condemned by the U. S. Supreme Court in re
cent cases, he recommended inclusion of all employ
ees in the certified unit and cancellation of the char
ter of Local 219-B within 15 days or ordering a new
election.
The 15 days are not yet up, and we have not been
able to find out what has happened in this case, but
the principle is obvious. Unless Unions of their
own free will “see the light” and open their doors to
all worekrs regardless of race, color or creed, they
will be made to do so by the federal government,
which has made an effort to adopt a policy of equal
ity of opportunity for minority groups.
Once again the UNION REPORTER repeats the
stand of the four locals which contribute news to its
pages.There shall be no discrimination by
either employer or employees in companies which
have eilleetive bargaining agreements with us, on
cacount of rac, color, creed, sex or nationality.
IVSZ/JrtNftmc
Clean surroundings help make clean thoughts.
Clean minds are the elevating factor of any society
Do that Spring cleaning Now!.