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/JUSTICE/EQUALITY HEW TO THE LINE \
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY _ _ PHONE HA.0800
2420 GRANT ST
Kntered as 2nd class matter at Post-oft ice. Omaha, Nebr., Under Act of
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1946 Our 19th Year-INo. 13 'A' IOC Per Copy A March 8, 1874. Publishing: Offices at 2420 Grant Street, Omaha. Nebr
me STREET
and thereabouts
-——by LAWRENCE P. LEWIS-'
'our ]
GUEST
Column
Edited by Verna P. Harris
OISE-TRACKED
LIBERALS
(by Eddie- Cantor, Radio anti
Screen Star)
Very few of us even try to be liber
al. To be a liberal requires intelli
gence, sensitivity, kindness—and for
most people, that's a bit too much. So
most people go their carefree way,
thinking only about themselves, their
families, their friends. And then they
feel very much disappointed and
wronged because the world, with the
memory of an elephant and the re
morseless indifference of a machine,
pays off at regular intervals with de
pressions and wars.
But even those of us who try to be
liberals are usually no bargains. Us
ually this is because most of us try to
make a bargain with our liberalism, to
give as little as possible and get back
as much as we can get away with. We
give off our liberalism in small, care
fully weighed doses, and then wait for
the world to get well and healthy. \^e
scoff at the narrowness of others, and
are just as narrow and blind in our
own way. Of course, I am not talking
about all liberals. Just the one-track
liberals... .the “gliberals.”... .whose
words about democracy are just ....
WORDS.
Who are the one-tracked liberals:..
They are the people who talk demo
cracy for all. but mean democracy for
their group or the group in 'which they
are chiefly interested. They are those
Negroes who argue passionately for
justice to mankind, but can’t see
what this has to do with saving the
Jews in Europe, or fighting anti-Sem
itism in America. They are those
Jewish people who want a truly demo
cratic society in America, but can't
see why such a desire need prevent
them in any way from discriminating
against other groups to keep them out
of the neighborhood.
The one track liberals are for free
dom for all people... .but not for tiie
Catholic. Others are all for reopen
ing the frontiers of the West to poor
southern whites... .but let’s keep the
Chinese-Americans and Spanish-Am
ericans and Japanese-Amerians in
their place. They feel that the most
elementary decency demands that
Jews and other displaced persons be
admitted to Palestine, Australia, Af
ghanistan._but let’s not have a lot
of “foreigners” come into OUR coun
try.
They give generously to people who
come to the back door for food or old
clothing... .but they feel that unions
have got to be controlled once and for
all. that the government should step
in and take the unions down two or
three pegs so they'll be on the same
level with management. (Or will they?
Some of the leading fighters for free
dom are one-track boys. The race re
lations committees which will fight ed
ucational quotas against the Negro and
“pass ’ as regards quotas against Jews,
Italians, or Mexicans... .because that
is a "secondary” problem. Or, take
the other side of the same coin, the
committees and commissions which
will fight educational quotas against
Jews, and “pass” as regards quotas a
gainst those whose problem is “too
tough.” The people who are all for
one World, as long as it doesn’t in
volve their neighborhood or school or
club.
You can also be one-track about
solutions as well as about people. You
know them. I'm sure....the people
who say that if only this would be
done we would have no problems no
how'. The THIS is usually small and
simple, in capsule form, to be taken
five or ten times a day....by some
body else.
The favorite capsule is: If only the [
minority groups would educate them-I
selves and come up to OUR legal
gradually.... almost always, these
friei Hs of liberty, sometimes teachers
in large institutions, have only the
faintest idea of the character of the
minority groups in question, or the
state of their education, or the true re
lationship between “our level” and
. theirs. Nor do they realize that in
most personal situations the question
really has nothing to do with minority
groups (whatever tha* terms means in
a democracy), but with this boy, that
^irl, this other family. Many pen pit
refuse to understand that the differ
ences between members of a group or
of a single family are often, if not us
O ually, more significant than their sim
ilarities.
There are all sorts of one-track cap
; sules, so to speak. There is the eco
nomic variety which shouts for equal
distribution and sneers at education
because it’s in an “ivory tower.” There
are the people who actually live in an
ivory tower and w'ant a long-term
program of education.... the longer
the better... .because you can’t “leg
islate prejudice out of existence.”
There are the people who are interest
ed in “militancy” as an end in itself,
and discard every attempt at analysis
or strategy as uncourageous and ‘hush
hush.”
Some of my one-track friends are
all for free elections but nix on public
housing, all for religious freedom but
nix on FEPC, all for labor but nix on
strikes, all for good public education,
but nix on good public recreation, all
for happy children but nix on ade
quate medical care.
What one-track liberals don’t yet
know is that if we’re not just talking
but really mean democracy and justice
for all, it’s really “all or nothing at
all. So fellows, you better get off
that track. Democracy Unlimited is
coming through!
TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE CHOIR TO
SING AT DAR HALL
WASHINGTON, D. C. April 2$>—
According to latest reports, the Daugh
ters of the American Revolution have let
down the bars which has prevented Ne
gro artists from appearing in the Con
stitution Hall. The use of the hall is
being granted without charge for a con
cert to be given by the Tuskegee Insti
tute Qtoir in June. The proceeds of the
concert will go to aid the United Negro
Collage Fond. u £ j
Mr. John R. Butler of Springfield, O.,
who was formerly the CSO Director of
the CSO Club on OCR STREET, is now
the Executive Secretary of the YMCA.
Mr. Butler informe me that there will be
a drive in the 'month af May for more
members. While talking to Mr. Butler and
the YMCA’s polite and efficient secre
tary, Mrs. Helen Owens, I learned much
about the activities of the YMCA.
The YMCA is not only a place for the
betterment of the youth of America, but
an organization that builds our commun
ity. It it helps to build our youth, cleans
their minds and builds their bodies, gives
the fathers and mothers of these youths
the pleasure of knowing that their boys
are growing into manhood with the nec
essary fortitude to be a success and a
credit to their families and their race,
then it is up to the young and the old to
make this Membership Campaign even be
yond Mr. Butler’s highest expectations,
successful.
Miss Mary Ellen O’Neal, the charming
lady in blue, who goes about her daily
task with kindness, consideration, and
understanding, has found much happin
ess in her work in helping others. Miss
O’Neal is a nurse and spends much of her
time at the Omaha City Clinic, North. A
FREE CLINIC TO WE OF OCR OWN
STREET.
As interviewing nurse at the Clinic, j
Miss O’Neal has learned about human be
havior when they are confronted with the
curing of a disease they might have in
herited and to their knowing have suf
fered no ill effects, but regardless of how
one may feel the results are just as seri
ous as the ones whe at the present time
know they are infected.
“I know it is hard for a person to be
lieve that something is wrong with him
when he feels alright, but it strikes when
one is least expecting it to strike. I tell
them what can happen if they continue as
they are; such as insanity, blindness, de
formed children, shortening of life, and
the most serious of all, the passing of
the infection to their children”, Miss
O’Neal informed me.
“What is the surest way to find out if
a person has a disease, Miss Nightingale”
I asked.
“Have a physical examination”, she an
swered.
Miss 0‘Neal continued, “I find a lot
of satisfaction in my work and I want
to take an advanced course at the Omaha
University. It will keep me quite busy,
but the more I know, the better qualified
I will be for my work”.
“Quite true”, I remarked, “A nurse is
a very handy person to have around”.
“Let’s go down to Turner’s and get
some new records”, my wife asked.
“Records* records, that’s all I hear,.
They cost money* and where is Turner’s.
You don’t mean Richard Turner?”.
“Yes, my pennypinching husband. He
not only sells and repairs radios; he
builds them, employing three or four men.
You ought to get around more. Come on
and lets see those records”, the Mrs said
handing me my hat all the time”.
Congratulations Mr. Richard Turner,
and I feel just like my friend, Mr. Leo
nard Glynn, when be said to me “I like
to see young men in business. It used to
be that we of our race had to wait until
we were old to get enough money to open
a business, but the young man now takes
a chance, and most of them will be suc
cessful”.
NEARLY TW O THOUSAND MUSIC LOVERS
Witness 12th Annual Goodwill Spring Musical
Technical High auditorium was the
scene of a very fine and appreciative
audience last Sunday when the 14
massed choirs of the ciyt met for the
12th annual Goodwill and Christian
Fellowsbio Service.
The Chorus was directed by Mr.
Booker T. Washington, a student at
the University of Omaha and Mrs.
Edna Ware and Mrs. Margaret Dallas
Moore, accompanists. The program as
a whole was very good. Some of the
compliments seemed to go to Mr. Let
ter Corbin for singing as soloist in Ro
h^fs "Seek Ye the Lord”. Mr. Cor
PRE-WAR BUSINESSES RE-OPEN
^Aronson’s f01 Fresh Vegetables, Quality Foods
Aronson’s Market
Conveniently Located
at 30th and Lake Sts.
Bill Aronson entered the service
April 1942, he served overseas 20
months, and fought in four campaigns
with the 82nd Airborne Paratroopers.
He held the rank of Sgt. After the
war ended he spent occupational duty
in Berlin until he came home. He
was in the parade in NY City (Vic
tory Parade) in January 1946. He
was discharged January 18, 1946. Sgt.
Aronson has seen lots of the world
and lots of action, but he is indeed
glad to be back in the good old USA.’
We welcome you home Sgt. Aronson.
R. H. Speigel’s 9c Store
Employs Three Colored
Girls Now..
Mr. R. H. Speigel, owner of the 9
CENTER and IDEAL FURNITURE
MART, was in the service 2 years and
served in the tank destroyer division.
He is back now and has reopened a ten
cent store fn your vicinity at 24th and
Ohio. He has done a swell job in the
army and i9 back to do a good job
here. His ..supplies will consist of
everything available today, and his
prices are within a range to suit YOUR
BUDGET. He employs three colored
girls at this time and extends a cordial
welcome to all his old friends.
1^^—I—IHMIIIIII1I—I——Mlini|||||ll||nm I'nil Ml1 I ill "III I I |I
Everything at the 9-Center “Within Your Budget
MRS. MAE SIMPSON, MGR„ AND MISS DOROTHY WHITE
Urge Clear-cut Racial Policy In Housing
CARVER SAVING & LOAN ASSN. NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS
i _ _
EL AIM E IS SMART—Pert and comely Elaine Robinson,
wife of the famed Bojangles, is happy and eager to buy a
two year subscription to ALLURE, the new magazine for
the woman of color. In her New York apartment where
she and Bill are spending a “second honeymoon” while he
completes an engagement at the Cafe Zanzibar, Elaine paus
es before signing on the dotted line “This Allure” is
something to look forward to”, she says, shaking her head
in sincerity, then she began filling out blanks for her fam
ily as well as Bill who looked on with male curiosity.
Miss. Judge
Reverses ‘JC’
Vote Verdict
NEW YORK—Two vitally important
registration cases from St. John Parish,
Louisianna, and Macon County, Ala.,
were desiced in favor of the Negro ap
plicants for registration.
In the Louisiana case Edward Hall
brought action on behalf of himself and
other qualified Negro registrants seeking
an injunction and damages against the
registrar for requinng Negi*'cs to submit
to tests not required of oth^r applicants
for registration. Thelocal federal court
dismissed Hall’s complaint on September
k?> I945« An appeal was made in the US
Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, and the
decision of the lower court reversed una
mously in an unprecedented opinion writ
ten by Judge Edwin R. Holmes of Miss
issippi.
The opinion stated that Hall was not
! requir^^o* prqcfed in the state courts be
fore seeking redress in the federal courts
for violation of his constitutional right on
racial grounds.
In the Mitchell case against registiais
of Macon County, Ala., there was a
similiar action with the same court re
versing a decision of the lower courts
dismissing the action on October 12, 1945
Judge Holmes again wrote an opinion
upholding the right of the Negro regist
rants stating “that since registration is
a prerequisite to vote in any election in
Alabama, including the election of fed
eral officials, the action of the regisljrs
did effectively deprive appellant of tie
right to vote”.
Attorneys associated with Thurgood
Marshall, NAACP Chief Counsel, and
Robert Carter, Asst. Counsel, were A. P.
Turead and A. Thorton in Louisiana, and
Arthur W. Shores, member of Birming
h.im Legal Committee.
bin is also a student at Omaha U.
Other members on the program re
ceived praise were the Girl’s Trio, of
Misses Lucille Foxall, Bernice Bragg,
and Jacquelin Johnson. “The Fourth
Word” from the ‘Seven Last Words”
by Dubois which was sung hv Mr. H.
L. Preston with St John AME Choir
orchestra assisting.
We can not over look the fine work
of the young people who received the
Artists Awards. Miss Jacquelin John
son a student at the University of Ne
braska college of medicine, who says
she expects to reach Marion Ander
son’s standing some day.
The other award was given to a little
boy, John Henry Watkins of Lake
School and a member of Salem Bap
tist Church Children's Orchestra. Ma
ster Watkins played a trumpet solo
as you would expect from a profes
sional trumpeter.
The Community Band under the di
rection of Mr. George Bryant, gave
much joy to the audience and the
Massed Choirs by the way they played
the Procession. It is said by some if
they seen and heard any other of the
'program they would have been very
well pleased.
Other points 01 the program was
the remarks on Goodwill by the Rev.
J. H. Reynolds, Pastor of Pleasant
Green Baptist Church. Many out-of
town quests were in the audience and
among them were: Mr. and Mrs.
George Randal of New York City, who
came up as guests of Mr. and Mrs.
Clyde Malone of Lincoln. Nebraska.
Mr. Randal was one of the outstand
ing characters in the stage play “Green
Pastures”. He played the part of Pha
roah.
In talking to Mr. McVay, the founder
of the movement. He said at times he
feels like giving up the movement, but
there seems to be something that tells
him to keep the work going on.
He said he feels he must start work
ing on the part of the Goodwill pro
gram that says we must encourage the
use of musical talent among the young
people.
SON OF J. HARVEY KERNS
IS OMAHA VISITOR
James Kerns. Seaman 1st class in
tj’i? Navy and son of Mr. and Mrs.
J. Harvey Kerns of New York City,
was the house guest this week of Mr.
and Mrs. Maurice Lambert, 2917 North
25th St.
The young Mr. Kerns, who is now 21
years of age, is just returning from 14
months overseas duty having been sta
tioned on Guam. Marshal Is., and in
Pearl Harbor, where he served as a
ground crewman
James’ sister, Marian, who most Om
ahans will remember as a little girl,
is now a co-ed at the West Virginia
State College. James says he is leav
ing the service and will resume his <
studies at Hampton Institute majoring
in mechanics and minoring in sociolo
gy. The senior Mr. Kerns was the 1st
executive secretary of the Omaha Ur
ban League. He i snow affiliated with
the New York City office of this or
ganization.
A ISetc Banking, Loan Convenience at 2414 Lake Street
A financial institution for the Near
Northside became a reality at 9 am.
Wednesday, May 1st when the Carver
Savings and Loan Ass’n opened the
doors of their remodeled andmodernly
equipped Loan Bldg., located at 2414
Lake St.
Milton E. Johnson, well known Om
aha Druggist, is president of the Ass’n
and Atty. Chas. F. Davis, Exalted Ru
ler of Elks Lodge No. 92 is Secretary
Treasurer. They were on hand at 9 am.
to welcome their first depositors. Little
Chas. C. Galloway, 3rd generation,
soon appeared on the scene and laun
ched his financial career at the age
of 2 by making the 1st deposit, after
which numerous depositors came and
procured their Pass Books.
The Association is captalized at
Fifty Thousand Dollars. The office
hours will be from 9 a. m. to 3:30 p.
m. Officials Johnson and Davis said
they would devote their time this en
tire month to certifying depositors and
• jrganizing their personnell so as to
give the public the best of service.
Savings deposits of $1 and up may be
made. Their new telephone number is
JA—6941.
Many congratulations were received
among them being greetings from; The
Realty Improvement Co., builders of
Bedford Park Homes by Herman D.
Dee; Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Pittman;
Gatchell Electric Co.; Mrs. M. E.
Johnson; Elks Lodge; Brig. General
Emery Hickman: Major Amelia Al
len; Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Coins;
Platner Lumber Co., and the Omaha
Guide bv C. C. Galloway.
The Peoples' Triend
R. C. PRICE _
.
R. C. PRICE
Candidate Board
of Education
I am qualified for the job.
I will work to the interest
of the people.
1 favor increased pay for
the teachers, and a full
school term.
The School Board nomin
ation is subject to the
Primary, June 11. 1946.
HISTORIC OPENING OF THE BIG
FOUR FOREIGN MINISTERS
CONFERENCE
PARIS, France-Radiophoto- Sound
photo—On left edge, partially shown
with back to camera Foreign Cec. Er
nest Bevin of England. L. to R. facing
camera, Vyacheslav Molotov, Foreign
Commissar of USSR and two members
( unidentified ) of his delegation; Jim
Dunn US State Dept.; Sen. Tom Con
nally of US; Cec. of State of USA
James Byrnes and center front with
back to camera is French Foreign Mi
nister Georges Bidault.
NAACP URGES APPOINTMENT
OF NEGRO IN VETS ADMINTION
NEW York—Erpretaing grave concern
over the future plight of Negro and other
minority group vctcrant, Walter White,
warned that unless the Veterans Admini
stration at Washington remained con
stantly alert to insure equitable treatment
of all veterans irrespective of race, the
granting of autonomous power to the
13 regional offices of the Veterans Admi
nistration throughout the country could
work grave hardships on these veterans.
In order to avert this situation the Ass'n
urged that a qhalified Negro be placed
in the Veterans Administration.
NEGRO WDL MEMBER FINALLY...
GETS PLUMBING LICENSE
HIGHTOWN, N. J. —(WDL)—Mr.
Thomas R. Williams, Negro WDL mem
ber, finally got his plumbing license after
appearing before the town council, but
he is still pressing a $5,000 damage suit
against Thomas Malone, fascist-minded
plumbing inspector.
When Williams applied for bis license
WASHINGTON, D. C.—The NAMW
thii week urged Wilson Wyatt, Ibadg
Expediter and new head of the Nadtaatfl
Housing Agency, to establish a cli ■ sat
racial policy in connection with hn em
ergency housing program. In a letter ajf
ned by Leslie Perry, the NAACP nsd:
—“We have been encouraged by Ad
vigor and wisdom of your rvfreskim per
sonal leadership. However, currast A»
elopments underscore the emergent arad
for strong administrative action to am
sure equitable participation by racial amm
ortties in the program. As yon
neither the Wagner-Ellender-Taft Kill man
the Patman Bill presently contain pamam
sions prohibiting discrimination bccaasr at
race or guarantees of fair participation.
Moreover, we have not yet had any in
dication of the promised change of HU
policy relative to its risk rating of inid
restrictive covenants. The revised FHA
Unde-writers Manual is not yet avaaUfc
nor has any statement of rr'is 4 f!U
racial policies occn brought to our aftnfr
ion.
“While w have notei your Ka#r*jrv*
to the Ncg;o Newspaper Pubil uicrs Ass'!*,
as well as .tose to us, w- hive lo4iia
in vain for a clear cut statement of facial
policp on your part and for the >ncl*sa«r.
on your immediate staff of compete*! per
sonnel to keep you adivsed and assist wrwki
the development and implementation m£
such policy. Numbers of our Brand**
have already reported local impact* upoa
Negroes because of this lack of polk* aaJ
action.
“For example, our Branches have coo*
plained that local Mayor’s cmumaOu”*
often fail and refuse to include Xejpnp
representatives, Other Branches prole*
the fact that local housing vxptwIiicR*
with proven records of hostility to Ko
groes, have been appointed. An! itJ
other Branches point to the failure on
the part of referral centers in many arm
to provide housing on the basis of oral,
rather than color.
“—In the light of these consider*!****
we would appreciate very much an ear^r
response from you indicating just
may be expected in the way of poiiqr
and implementing machinery”.
some three months ago, Malone ptmtkcf
him in the eye and growled, “I am mK
going to give a damn nigger a pluraki*^
license”.
Earlier Malone h-’d tried unsuccaafal^
to bar Williams by telling him th.it tkrsr
was a $15 examination fee and a
license fee. This d'dn’t work hcxanyr
Williams was informed bv Charley Ely,
local water commissioner, that the total’
fee was $5. And that is what Williams
paid when he finally got the license.
WOOD RANKIN COMMITTEE’S
ACTIVITIES TERMED ILLEGAL
NEW YORK CITY—(WDL)—Os As
grounds that Representative John S. Woo#
and John E. Rankin come from poll tas
states, Moss A. Plunkett, Virginia atly^,
charged that the activities of the ”*■ 1# r
Rankin Committee are illegal.
According to the 14th Amenimmt wham
the right to vote is denied to a stasis
citizens, as is the case in poll-tax Gevyps
and Mississippi, the state’s represrntaim*
in Congress should be proportionally sc
duced, Plunkett pointed out. In the as
cent crisis over drafting of Virginia ■£
lity workers into the state militia, Pirns
kett represented the Workers Delrmr
League. He opposed Governor William
Tuck in last years’ Democratic primariam
TENN. ‘RIOT’ VICTIM
TELLS OF RAIDING
NEW YORK—The National Commit
tee for Justice in Tennessee meeting s>
NY received a first-hand account of As
events leading up to and following (hr
so-called “riot” in Columbia, Tenn., at
February 25th from Julius Blair, 76 ys.
old business man, indicted with thirty
other Negro citizens on charges of m
tempted murder. Mr. Blair, a dignific#
patriarch, speaking in quiet unemotional
tones, described the Tennessee highway
patrolmen who swept into the Negro Sa~
trict cf Columbia as “cheap outright tlw
ives who stole everyrh'rg in the color?#
ne ghcorhood the people had”.
Arthur B. Springarn, chairman, agaw
emphasized the fact that ah ;i met* unJa
indictment had asked the NAACP to *lx
lend them during ti c tria* which is ex
pected sometime in May It was also p© »
ted out that all funds collected by coop
erating organizations aic to be turned m
x the two authorized fund raising or
ganizations, the NAACP and the Nation
al Committee for Justice in Tenn.
A committee of prominent Trnnri«o
ins seeknir notice in 11» »t state •** v-ft.
coined by Walter While who stated “tJoqp
are in no way working at cross purpooor
with us”.
Fordham University Honors
Negro Monk
New York (CNS Fordham 1'niver*
;»V nai'f tribute to its star pupil, Re*
Basil Matthews, the first Negro ever Is
be ordained a monk in the Benedict™*
Order in this country, at a ores'- recep
tion held for him this week. It »»
announced then th»t Fa»h«-- M»t',-»~«
doctoral thesis on West Indian cullvr^
for which he is receiving a degree ia
June, will he published later this -v«w
entitled “Carribbean Concerto”.
the 34 year old priest who wa* ordain
ed in his home island, Trinidad, elev
en years ago: “Because of the policy A
the British toward slavery during the
past century there is no race or color
problem in Trinidad as we know it ■
this country.”
Gitel Poznanski-Steed, visiting ptmim
sor of Anthropology at Fisk, was one 4F
the seminar speakers at Fisk’s 17th an
nual Festival of Music and Art, April if~
27
— -. 1