T “AND WORTH IT” ■ \ /JUSTICE/EQUALITY HEW TO THE IINE\ EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PHONE HA.0800 l. i lv vi nni« i j i ^ ^ ^ ^ "Largest Accredited Negro Newspaper West of Chicago and North of KC• _ _ __ , ,A _ _ Entered as 2nd class matter at Post-of lice. Omaha, Nebr., Under Act of Saturday, Nov. 17, 1945 Our 18th Year,—No. 41 ★ 10c Per Copy ★ March 8, 1874. Publishing Offices at 2420 Grant Street, Omaha, Nebr. OKLAHOMANS WILL SUE TO ENTER ONIVERSITTE-SF « - Will Follow Pattern of Now Famous Gaines Case in Mo. equality for 200,000 Oklahoma Ne groes is to be sought immediately in court action which, if successful will open tne state's institutions of higher learning to the Negro. More than 200 delegates to the annual state convention of the Na tional Association for the Advance ment of Colored People cheered this announcement November 3 as the session wounj up its affairs here. The move will Involve an attempt to enroll in the University of Okla homa and Oklahmoa A&M college Negro students who want courses on graduate and professional levels not offered by the state at the Langston university. The plan of attack will be similar to that used by Misousir Negroes in the now celebrated Lloyd Gaines case. The conference was addressed by Thurgood Marshall, chief counsel of the NAACP from New York, who declared admist applause: "This is the easiest case to beat that ever entered the courts of Oklahoma ’ Roscoe Dunjee, Oklahoma City editor and president of the state conference, of the NAACP said that immediate steps will be taken to Implement the program adopted t>y the convention. '* "If a white boy is able to study medicine or law at a state school, that same state must make medic ine and law schools available to a black boy." Dunjee said. He said the action will go farth er than higher education, however. He predicted that it will be carried into secondary and elementary schools in an effort to secure better educational opportunities for all Negro youth. Plain Talk... BV DAN GARDNER ON ETHIOPIA’S INVITATION TO HOMELESS WHITE EUROPEANS Uetaheun Tesomma, the first sec retary t<> the Ethiopian Legation at Washington, came up with a cork er the other night at the Herald Tribune Forum on current prob lems. He read a message from Em. peror Halle Selassie in which the ancient African kingdom has gone on record as being willing to pro vide a haven for the homeless and displaced families of white F.urop£T "The problem of yesterday was, the prosecution of the war.” the Emperor's message read. "Ethiop ia has contributed countless lives as well as territory anj materials to that end. One of the most serious problems of today Is that of the homeless and displaced families. Ethiopia afforded refuge to many homeless from southern Europe, particularly from Greece and is prepared to continue her contribu tion. She anxiously seeks, within the measure of their capacities, to broaden the scope of her collabor ation and assistance in the attain ment of the objectives of collective Security and a peace founded upon justice.” J It is significant that the ruler of an African nation should offer his country to the alleviation of Eur opean suffering. It is significant that one of the first nations to be the victim of fascist terrorism and exploitation should now be turning the other cheek to prove by exani ie taat after all, there are some people in this crazy world of ours who believe in right and in Justice. But somehow it doesn't quite jell t.: s column i remember vivid circumstances of 1D35.37 in Ethiopia's resumption of the world spotlight in which A merican Negroes at long last be lieved in the "fatherland” of all Negro people. Then, if it will be recalled, Ras Tafari as Haile Selas sie was known before he took over the throne of the Lion of Judah organizations, clubs societies aid movements were begun by enthus iastic American Negroes based on the assumption that the Ethiopians "regarded themselves as Negroes and were finally, after all these centur ies “stretching forth" their hands to their black brothers, wherever they were. They made Ras Tafari Emperor of the North African em pire and then in rapid succession came the incidents involving Ethi opia and Italian Somaliland. Mus solini's mouthings and finally the asion of Ethiopia which ipened the way for World War II. Thousands' of dollars were collect td from American Negroes to aid the Ethiopian cause. Minor riots took place between Negroes and Italians here in the States over the issue. But deeped than that was the conviction we all had that in Ethiopia, the American Negro had finally been given his own Zion, a black Zion in which, some day, wc would all reunite to at last estab lish the kinship of black peoples in • For The Latest (See Ed. Patton’s Ad (OX PAGE THREE) P 0 D C W Executive District Chairmen Hold Meetina In Omaha U.1AHA, UKNVEH OI.1IKN, I.USj ANGELES PORTLAND, OAK LAND DISTRICTS PRESENT The Execut oard of the Pro tective Order £*0’ ining Car Wait er*. Local Numt*1 465 held it* meetings from Novei- ier 11th through November 14, 19 i. Members of the Board present at H.these meetings were: Mr. R. C. Long, General Chairman; Mr. Arth ur H. Reed, Secretary-Treasurer;: Mr. Alton B. Goode. District Chair_: man of Omaha District; Mr. John N. Harper, District Chairman of the Denver District; Mr. Chester A. Foote District Chairman of Ogden District; Mr. Lovic E. Howell Dis * trict Chairman of Los Angeles Dis trict; Mr. John A. Minor, District Chairman of Portland District; Mr. Hudson L. Moore, District Chairman of Oakland District and Mr. Harry W. Reed. Secretary Treasurer of Log Angeles District. The Board followed ilS agenda _an education program to train their men in the labor movement and for the service they render the public with the Carrier. The board went on record of holding a System Conference in the city of Portland, Oregon in 1946. They also discuss ed the post war program as per training to the men and their fam ilies. This Board has the power to leg islate and form policies for the guidance of the entire organization which covers the Union Pacific Railroad system and the Southern Pacific and Spokane, Portland & Seattle P-ilrc ’d sypteiv*. -♦ Reports from the various Board members showed a marked improve ment in their districts. Members of the Board stressed the thought of unity and have followed thig all through their deliberations to such an extent that the meetings have been very harmonious and construc tive. The Board was entertained on November 13 by the Ladies Auxil iary of Omaha District and on Nov ember 14 by the Omaha Dining Car Waiters' Key lub. The program for the latter entertainment con sisted of addresses by the various Board members, Mr. Harry W. Reed, and Mr. John H. Hargrove of the OPA., who was a former mem ber of the Board. ““^ this world. Well, it didn’t work out that way. A» 1 recall It it wag a bit hard to get any definite statement of kinship between the Ethiopian and the American Negro out of Addis Ababa. Instead, the Ethiopians pro nounced most firmly that they were I not Negroes, had little interest in "Negro Problems,” and let it be known that they regard themselv es as Semitic in thought, in ideal and by descent. This was contrary to the preach ings of the homegrown disciples of Negro-Ethiopian kinship. But tl^> damage had been already done. Every Negro who thought about it considered himself an Ethiopian, if not in appearance, at least at heart. A possible explanation was the coarseness of the Ethiopian’s hair and the blackness of his skin, al though Haile Selassie looks more white than Negro. You know the story; the Italians! were the first to quit World War 11 and Ethiopia reverted back to Haile | Selassie. At he same time, you may have overlooked the fact that in the queer politics they play in the world arena, Haile Selassie is now offering his country to the dis placed Belgians who, further Soutn in Africa, have the world's worst record for exploiting most ruthless ly and inhumanly the defenseless native millions of the Belgian Con go. He is also offering the facilities of his country to the homeless Dutch who are right now using all the weapons and methods of mod ern warfare to kill Indonesians who are only asking them to give them the freedom of their own home-^ land. He Is throwing open the doorg of Ethiopia to other exploit ers of Negro and colored nooaks. He is offering them what he ha yet to offer the American Negroes who rallied to the Ethiopian cause.! although it was against the laws of the land of their birth. Indeed, the Ethiopian viewpoint seems de cidedly in favor of whites afl a_ gainst Negroes. That is why we here should do some sober thinking on the whole! question of international relation-1 ships with colored peoples of India. Ethiopia, China, the Philippines , §tc. Until they come out of their Shells and acknowledge blood Uin . ship with us and a common aim with no holds baredr, we are frank ly a bunch of damned fools to scat ter the little we have In material wealth and political strength to those who do not wholeheartedly solicit it. EXCLUSIVE! Bette Davis Works For Democracy MISS BETTE DAVIS Screen Star Joins Urban L’ge BY VERNA AVERY Hollywood. Calif (ONS) Add to the list of great ladies who believe in genuine democracy (on which we already find the names of El eanor Roosevelt, Pearl Buck, and Lullian Smith, among others), the name of Bette Davis, one of our leading dramatic actresses. For Miss Davig has not been content just to have convictions about the American way of life. She has made up her mind to give real sub stance to those convictions by act ing as well as thinking. As proof she has just this year become a member of the board of the Los Angeles branch of the Urban Lea gue. She intends to take her res ponsibilities seriously, by attending board meetings and thus entering into the discussion and the work of the League. This is the more re markable, because she has not al lowed her name to be identified with many groups. When she was asked her reasons for joining the Urban League board. Miss Davis said frankly that she believes that evryone should be interested in the problems of the day, and that today, the difficulties confronting minorities form one of our maor problems. Everyone, she added, should have a right to a de cent job and decent housing condi tions regardless of race, creed or color and these considerations form a large part of the Urban League's work. Perhaps because she has a more or less conventional background (she Was born Ruth Elizabeth Da vis in Boston on April 5. l&OS. ed ucated at Newton High Schooi and Cushing Academy and later appear -ed in serious plays in the East) Miss Davis spent many years of her , life thinking more or less what the average American thinks about minorities—of course, not thinking about them a great deal at all. Then, some time after American film fans had become 50 enthused ever her acting that thev forced her own studio to make her a star Bette Davis engaged a coloicd maid. It happened that this maid was the well-known "Kempy” __ Edyth Kemp, former Wilberforc ean. ardent admirer of Miss Davis' ability, and an outspoken person when it comes to racial matters. From time to time, Mrs. Kemp would tell Miss Davis that cerlain beliefs regarding colored people were or were not so. that the time had passed when people could be lieve the worst white person is bet ter than the best colored person, and so on. Miss Davis listened and learned O'er the period of seven years that she employed Mrs. Kemp This writer first saw Bette Davis at a concert where colored per formers were featured. She had forgotten her natural shyness and was enjoying their artistry tre -oendously. When the Warner Brothers Film "In This Our Life" wag being planned, a young Negro actor came to meet Miss Davis to seek her help in getting the most important, dignified Negro role in the picture. Miss Davis, who was starred, encouraged him and he finally got the part. This role written into the original novel much ag it appeared on the screen by the gifted southern white writ er, Kllen Glasgow, has long been an outstanding lf»»dmark in Holly wood’s treatment of the Negro in films. Later, along with John Garfield. -Miss Davig founded the Hollywood Canteen, modelled after New Yorks famed Stage Door Canteen. Be cause servicemen and women of all races, flocked to its doors, the foun ders in •.tied Florence Cadrez, Ba ron Morebead (who has lately been made oni of the seven trustees for (continued on page 7) VICTORY HOLDING CORP. HOLDS OFFICERS ELECTION Members of the Victory Holding Company held their annaul meeting and election of Officers November S 1945 » The following were unanimously voted in as Officers of the Victory Holding Company to serve beginn ing November 8, 1945 for the term of one year: James Cole, President: Larry" N. Peoples, 1st Vice Pres.: John A. Gardner, Secy.; Isom Zeffers, Treas. Board members are James Cole, Larry N. Peobleg A. K. Hines. John A. Gardner, J. C. Carey and Isom Zeffers. Mr. JameB Cole and Mr. J. C. Carey were voted a vote of thanks for the outstanding interest they ; have manifested during the year of I 1945 FEPC WILL CLOSE SEVEN FIELD OFFICES DI E TO INSUFFICIENT FUNDS Washington_The Fair Employ ment Practice Committee announc ed Wednesday that shortage of funds will force closing of seven field offices on December 15. Chairman Malcolm Ross said FEPC offices *n New York, Phila delphia, Atlanta, San Francisco. San Antonio, Los Angeles and Wasii ington will close. Those in De troit, Chicago and St. Louis will continue operating. WHITE DOCTORS PROTEST BAN ON NEGRO COLLEAGUES Cincinnati _Protests by three white Cincinnati doctors over the exclusion of Negro physicians from a meeting here of the Southern Medical Association were made publ'c T”e«dev nie-ht by an officer of the association. "We would like to point out” JPHF.S. TRUMAN ASKED TO END JIM CROW In FEDERAL PRISONS Washington, DC_President Par. ry s. Truman was urged this week ' by the NAACP to issue a directive | "forthwith to the Bureau of Pris I ons to be transmitter to he war dens >n all Federal prisons direct ing them to disconttnue all rules regulations and policies with re spect to all prison activity and en deavor based upon race.” Describing conditions in Federal prisons as “'shocking/' Walter Whine of the NAACP requested im mediate action by the President. His letter declared: “the policy of arbitrary segregation an vifce president; the Rev. F. E. Fort^ secretary; the Rev. F. Childress, assistant secy.; the Rev. J. H. Reynolds, treasurer and the Rev. B. H. Hunter, parliamen tarian. the physicians said, "that in this community Negro physicians enjoy full parity with white physicians. to show racial discrimination is in our opinion contrary to the prin ciples of democracy for which this i war was fought and won.” Recognition Program at USO. Sunday Sunday, November 18, 1945 the 24th Street USO Club will hold its final recognition program. At this program all hostesses and oth-1 er persons who have contributed to the success of the club will be hon ored. Pins will be awarded to those who have earned them. This program is a closing pro gram for the club. Present will be officials from the Regional USO. office in Kansas City and Omaha, representatives of the armed forces and outstanding members of the community. All friends and well wishers of the club are urged to be present and take part in this pro gram. WORLD ORGANIZATION OF COLORED PEOPLE GOAL OF PAN-AFRICAN CONGRESS MANCHESTER. England_ A world organization of colored peo ples with a central paid secretar iat to “beat back the organization of lies w>ich meets the colored man wherever and whenever he attempts to better his condition” was defin ed as the principal aim of the fifth Pan.African Congress at its closing meeting here by Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois of America, newly elected president and delegate from the Na tional Association for the Advance ment of Colored People. The 200 delegates cheered the statement of policy by the Ameri-I can (^airman who attacked the “cracy idea of the white people of Europe that they should run the world forever.” “There is not going to be any need for force," said Dr. DuBois, “for the impact of truth and the strength of ideas, when they get in to the heads of all human beings, will solve our problem.” NAACP HOLDS SESSION ON VETERANS’ PROBLEMS Washington, D.C_A nation wide attack on the problems of Ne gro veterans was launched here November 9-10 at a conference call ed by the Veterans’ Bureau of the NAACP, headed by Capt. Jesse O. Dedmon Jr. » Delegates meeting in Carver Hall heard discussions of employment education, loans, health and legal aid and legislation. Discussion leaders included representatives of the United States Employment Ser vice. Selective Service, War Depart ment. Veterans Administration, Fed era! Public Housing Authority, De partment of Agriculture. National Bar Association, National Medical Association, Howard university, A merican Council on Race Relations, and the NAACP. Walter White, NAACP secretary welcomed the delegates and pledg ed that the Association would spare no pains to see that the special problems of Negro veterans receiv ed proper attention. Thurgood Marshall, chief counsel of the NA ACP. stated that legal action would be instituted where discrimination could not be wiped out otherwise. The Veterans Bureau of the NAACP was set up last January 1 in the of fice of the Association's Washing ton Bureau here at 100 Massachu setts avenue, N. W., Capt. Dedmon, who served in World War II with the 366th Infantry at Fort Devens. Washington, DC. (Soundphoto)_ William Green, President of Amer ican Federation of Labor, and John L. Lewis, President of United Mine Workers, are shown here at the Labor-Industry Conference at the Labor Department In Washington, DC. Lewis favorg removal of col lective bargaining between labor and management from government control. Industrial Labor Relations... (by George E. DeMar for CNS) Non-wliite switchboard opeartors in the New York Telephone Company are no longer a novelty. More than 100 are now in the employ of the comp any and the company will hire more. The girls work together, walk together, talk together, and eat together without the slightest bit of friction. The tenseness management had that Monday back in December 1944 has vanished. The fear ex pressed and admitedly the greatestv hurdle has changed to confidence that everything will continue to go well. Management regards its forward step as m keeping with social progress. Surely though slowly the entire staff is recognizing that Negro' women are American workers too. They see that Negroes are just as capable, just as clean, just as punctual, just as human and just as good workers and friend as any other kind of person with posit ive training and background. You have to believe in the future of America af ter a talk with O. M. Taylor operating vice-presi dent of this company, which is a billion dollar con cern employing 43,000 workers. He is undoubtedly one of America’s top flight progressive executives. He does not seek publicity for his company’s having hired Negro operators. He says only that qualified people will continue to be hired in accordace with his company’s policies. Looking to the future, he makes it clear (hat male workers will be hired where and when needed with young veterans preferred. He will upgrade based upon ability and the needs of the company. There is evidence that he means what he says. When more of the vast public utilities of Ameri ca have the vision of men and women, black and white working together at interchangeable occupa tions, then we can say in fact that we are on the march and a “New Yorld is A-Coming.” Young people must keep in mind that high school graduates are desired by the utilities and that there are advantages in working for a stable organization A bouquet to the Urban League and the President’s Committee on Fair Employment Practices for the real work they have done and will do for all Amer icans. Mass., began his duties at that t'nie _ i CIVILIAN REVIEW OF ARMY COURTS RACKED BY NAACP — New York—The proposal of Sen ator Wayne Morse, of Oregon, for a civilian investigation of military courts-martial received the immed iate endorsement of the NAACP which declared that there is "very considerable feeling among Negro soldiers about the manner in which they were treated in courts-mart ial." The telegram to Senator Morse Said; "National Association for Ad vancement of Colored People heart ily endorses and supports your pro posal for civilian investigation of military courts-martial. Scores of complaints to this office substant iate your belief that military courts martial have been giulty of the grossest types of miscarriage of justice." STATE*WIDE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN VIRGINIA Richmond, Va-A state-wide fight for full citizenship rights on all fronts was continued here by vote of the delegates to the 10th annual Virginia State Conference of Branches of the NAACP November 3-4. The resolutions adopted by the conference provide for legal action in criminal cases, equalizing educ ational opportunities and public transportation; housing; employ ment and other matters. The conference heard a report of its legal committee on the concen trated effort made last year to a bolish segregation and discrimin ation in interstate travel. A total of 114 delegates was present from 52 branches of 68 in the state. Ur. J. M. Tinsley was reelected presi dent. Europe Looking For U. S. A. Sincerity In New World, SAYS NAACP DELEGATE LONDON_Delegates to the Wor ld Youth Conference see one fact outstanding above all others; how sincerely will America cooperate' toward world unity and peace? This view of the youth gathering was voiced by Gloster Current, del egate of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in the United States. Cur rent, who lives in Detroit, Michi gan said: •This conference does not traffic with Fascism. The strained faces of the youths, many who though still in their twenties have spent vears in concentrat ’ camps, have fought in the underground, ami who know Fascism, make one know that the future of the world de pends on how sincere we in Amer ica are to cooperate with the rest o* the world. Any guarantee that the United Nations Organizaion is o be effective must be built upon the understanding we have with all these people.” American troops in the area have been interested in the proceedings and have been glad to meet the A merican delegates and exchange opinions. A group of the delegat es spoke to 300 American soldiers at the American university and a mixed group of delegates from In dia. South America, Africa and th * United Stateg met with Negro sol- \ diers at the Uiberty Red Cross club for a discussion of American and world problems. A STAR SELLS BONDS—Lena Horne, scintillating MGM star, takes time out during the shooting of “Ziegfeld Follies” to sell Victory Bonds to MGM executives. Here she is shown on a Hollywood set selling bonds to Arthur Freed. MGM producer Of such hits as, “The Clock” and “Meet Me in SL Louis.”