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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1946)
'oOr GUEST Column Edited by Verna P. Harris DIRECT ACTION By Layle Lane, former vice president American Feder ation of Teachers, AFL One is almost overwhelmed by the present number of committ ees, commissions and councils for better human relations. If words could solve our problems of man’s inhumanity to man, the amount of literature put out by these groups would make a Utopia of the entire world, .including Miss issippi, USA. But words unfortunately have no meaning or social force unless translated into action. A success ful action, therefore, in improving human relatons is worth far more than 10,000 words. Local 762 of the American Fed eration of Teachers, Wilmington, Delamare, sponsored an interra cial conference which will do far' more to bring about equality of educational opportunity than all of the ‘better’ segregated schools Mr. Du Pont erects. For years the Delaware State Education Association has been organized for white teachers only. For years too the schools have been closed during the two days of the Association’s annual meet ing. The white teachers attend the convention; the colored teach ers visit other schools. Several years ago Local 762 started a movement to eliminate from the constitution of the DSEA the word “white', but the movement met with defeat at each annual meet mg. In 1945, however, Local 762 started .a campaign of direct act ion which, for initiative, planning and results, has been tremendous. Miss Levy of the local writes of the activity as follows: “And now (just before the an nual meeting of DSEA) the Wil mington Federation of Teachers, Local 762, decided to move more decisively.A t a meeting of the executive board, a resolution was drawn up denouncing the discri minatory clause in the constitu tion of the DSEA. One copy was sent to the president of the Asso ciation; another to the superin tendent of the Wlimington public schools to inform him of our stand a third went to the local press, which gave it wide publicity. But still we were fighting with mere words. Action was needed; but what kind of action? “The answer was offered by the o president of the board at another meeting of the executive board. ‘Why not run an educational con ference of our own and invite ALL teachers and interested citizens to attend? We still have a week before schools are closed for the convention.’ Why not ? we agreed’. Within a few days Local 762 secured a school buildiing for use of its meeting, planned a program secured outstanding speakers, ar ranged for music; ordered a lun cheon, sent out 1000 invitations to community organizations and in dividuals, and secured the cooper ation of the Wilmington Joint Labor Committee on Education, of the printer's Union and of labor officials in Wilmington, Philadel phia, Washington, New York and Chicago. The theme of the conference, to cbntnue a part of Mss Levy’s ac count, was Educaton for a Free 0 Socety. Dr. Ernest MelBy of New York UnversTy spoke on A Free Socety Through Education; Dr. Roma Gans of Columbia Univer sity discussed Curriculum Adjust ments for a Free Society. Miss Charlotte Carr of the New York Citizens Committee on Children talked on Child Labor. The Role of the Government in Public Edu cation was explained by Rep. Charles LaFollette of Indiana and Mrs. Anna Arnold Hedgeman of the National Council for a Perm anent FEPC discussed The Teach er's Responsibility for Participa tion in Government. Sessions were held for two days. For the first time in Delaware’s history, white and Negro teachers supported by representatives from a number of organizations in the j community sat side by side at an , educational conference and latei j ate lunch together. ‘ Local 762’s action is not only an rr inspiring example to all other com missions on unity, interracial har many and what have you; but what is more important, its ach ievement is evidence of the power of organized labor and of the dy namc force of positive direct act ion. The FEPC In stead of participation in fun eral services over the dead body of the wartime FEPC—which died last night after a lingering illness’ the National Council for a Perm anent FEPC, in anticpation of this eyent, has been steadily organiz ing and strengthening its forces for an intensive drive to push the Permanent FEPC Bill through Congress. A. -Philip Randolph, co-chair 2 man of the National Council said today, ‘We have just begun to fight. The wartime measure is no more, but the American people will demand a peacetime bill that will guarantee the right to work to every individual regardless of the color of his skin, his religion, or the birthplace of his parents.” More than 100 local councils in 34 states have adopted the slogan, 'Political Action at Home’ and are bombarding their congress men with personal visits, corres pondence and other devices in or der to obtain their public com mitments in favor of FEPC be fore November. t N.A.A.C.P. Concludes Historic 37th Conference LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS | Qf Per Copy AND WORTH IT - “To Sell It, ADVERTISE” ' /JUSTICE/EQUALITY H HEW TO THE UNE\ EQUAL OPPORTUNITY _ PHONE HA.0800 2420 GRANT ST C 4 T’l IJII4 v- fiT¥v it lftj/: 1VT OQ . _ . Kntered as 2nd class matter at Post-oft ice. Omaha, Nebr., Under Art ot SATLRDAY, JLLY 13, It<6 gur l«Hh Year-No. 23 + l0c per Copy ★ M,rch ». Publishing OHto „ 2420 Gr^t Saw Om.ta, Nd» T5he STREET and thereabouts --f)y LAWRENCE P. LEWIS-' The races are over, and again I( can feel a little change jingling ir. my pocket. I believe as most all sport lovers believe; that I could pick the winners if the horses were running true to form. But I like a lot of others I could not tell how the horse felt that day he was running, and there was no way the horse could tell me. So. of course, I fed them a little oatsj but the one good thing that hap pened, was my helping the relief in the foreign countries, because I did not eat as heartily as usual, my money was short and my mind was on the horses that didn’t win. It was very hot the last day that I attended the races, but the heat did not bother me as much as one would think. I expected to return home with money in my pocket, and no one could tell me different. As I wiped the sweat away from my brow, looking at the odds po sted on the board for the first race a young lady walked excited ly up to me, smiling a friendly smile, she said, "Lawrence, I’ve got the winner in this first race. See this book? It rates almost all of the horses, and the horse I bet on, has the best rating of them all.” I looked the book over and not iced the horse that this young lady thought was going to win, and if the lady hadn’t been so pret ty, and so happy about everything I would have walked away in dis gust, because the horse that she chose was not the one of my choice nor the World Herald's choice, nor the score card’s choice, nor the Blue Sheet’s choice. According to the form the horse was out of his class. x snuicu picaaan\.iy uau ucu n. shining eyes, and said, “Could be, could be, and I am sure if the horce could see who was betting on her, I know the horse would do her best to win.” She swiftly walked away, half shouting, ‘‘Better bet on him, Lawrence”. I didn’t have a chance to say a word, because the announcer yelled, “They’re Off!” I didn’t care to see how they were running because my horse was in the lead, and what more can a man ask for his money. I just sat back and rubbed my hands. They were in the stretch and my horse was still leading, when all of a sudden the announcer said, “ Here comes Pat-K closing fast on the outside”. All I could hear for the next few seconds was Pat-K and what made me so mad, it was the horse that the young lady asked me to bet on. Pat-K of course won the race, and I was still looking tor my horse when Pat-K was on his way back to the stables. I am so used to losing that it didn’t faze me in the least, so I just buckled down, looking over the forms eager to pick a winner in the next race. I studied and studied, and fin ally decided on the one that look ed like the best of the field of the twelve. I was almost at the bet ting window when one of my friends came up, grabbing me by the arm, and said, "Lewis, I just got a tip from the paddock, and it seems to be the real thing. No. 3. bet her on the nose.” I had wanted to bet on No. 6 and according to the form sheets, he looked like the winner. I was undecided now, but I just let a good one slip by, so number 3 it shall be and right on the nose. Don't say it. Number 6 won like a champion, and I just sat there, wanting to shout, but so let down, that it took the touch of a hand to bring me out of a trance. “How are you doing, Lewis?”, asked another one of my racing associates. “Not so good," I finally got it out. And to make it worse, he said, “I caught the first two already, and this one looks like a cinch. Not too much price on him, but a sure thing is a sure thing”. I didn't say a word as he leaned over to whisper, as if not wanting to let everybody in on the secret, although hundreds of others were betting on the same horse, "Num ber 1, Bailey is riding him, and you knowr Bailey.” "Thanks" I said as he walked away, with that confident strut of a man winning money. I didn’t even look at my form. What was the use ? I placed a bet on Bailey and Number 1. After the race I was sure of one, tying; Bailey didn’t make any extra money on that race. Some where on that track the horses got a little mixed up, and Bailey got lost in the shuffle. For the next race, I just closed my eyes, took my pencil out, and jabbed at a number. The horse did the best of them all that 1 had bet Here July 19th LIONEL HAMPTON ‘Hey Ba Ba Rebop Revue at Orpheum Down Orpheum Theatre way, swing will reign king when Lionel Hampton and his “Hey Ba Ba Re bop“ revue hypnotizes and tanta lizes his audiences with their ini mitable, infectuous tempos. When they open at the Orpheum Friday, July 19th, Hampton and his artists wall fill the crowds with the same rocking rhythm that permeates his entire aggregation. This group of hilarious perform ers are geared to a perfection hard to duplicate. Featured vocalists Madeline Green and Winni Brown, a new find from Chicago, both easy on the eye, will give out with honey ed tones pleasing to the ear. Red and Curley, drumsters and funsters deluxe, will provide an avalanche of entertainment with a flair for the original. The whirlwind pace will be set by the whole band and taken up by Arnett Cobbs, tenor sax sen sation and Johnny Griffin, school boy find, with a blowing frenzy that will set the crowd on edge. If there is a lull, Milton Buck ner will manipulate the tinkling ivories. Through it all, Hampton’s an tics will be a show within them selves as he directs, sings, plays Vrums, piano and clarinet. His feats on the vibraharp definitely enter the realm of the great. He performs with the velocity of dynamo which injects his au diences with the same fervor that characterizes his every motion. ' Feet will pat and hands will clap instinctively especially when Hamp ton's top recordings, “Hey Ba Ba Rebop”, “Hamp’s Boogie Woogie'' “Air Mail Special”, and “Flying Home”, are rendered. on so far. He did come in second but second doesn’t pay off, when you bet them on the nose. The horses were parading be fore the stands, and when .Tessop rode by on a prancing steed, a big fat lady behind me yelled, “Bring him in Jessop, if you don’t believe i you can. I’ll come out there and' ride him myself.” I couldn’t help but laugh, and it| was the first time that I had felt: like laughing. For a few minutes* I forgot about my misfortune, and the world seemed happy again. The lady finally eyed me, touch ing me on the shoulder, and say ing coldly. “What’s so funny, young man?” I glanced around and this lady wasn't laughing at all, sc I tried to wipe the broad smile off my face. “I’m sorry mam,” was all I could say, but I kept wondering: about how the horse would feel! if this very plump lady was riding him around the track. I ran quickly down the steps, wanting to place my bet on No. | 7. The Blue Sheet said “Best Bet will win this race from wire to | wire”. I was seventh in line, when the betting stopped. No. 7 won and led all the way. Those few min- : utes of laughter cost me plenty, and $ didn’t feel like laughing now. Out of the clear blue sky I ran into the young lady who wanted to give me a tip on the first race. Any other time just her presence would have brought joy to the sur roundings, but I was not feeling in the best of spirits. “Lawrence, look!” she began to show me fives and tens. “I won or. all four races. Inviting the lady to a beer, we stood for a few mom ents talking about our luck in general. My bad luck and her good luck. “See you later”, I said as I hur ried off to the betting windows. I bet on the horses that the lit To Hold Elks’ Grand Lodge Convention at Buffalo, N. Y. The Grand Lodge Convention Committee has nearly completed formation for entertaining one of the world’s largest fraternal or ganizations, IBPOE of W. The Buffalo Committee is under the dynamic chairmanship of Dr. Derrick M. Byrd who is the Grand Lodge Representative of Western New York Dr. Byrd, who has su perb contacts in New York state has worked out strategies and me thodologies that will place Buff alo and Western New York Elks at the top of the list on Grand Lodge Conventions. Chairman Byrd states that the i Grand Lodge Convention Commit everything is before us. Dr. Byrd also, expresses his happiness for the cooperation coming from the Grand Exalted Ruler, the Honor able J. Finley Wilson, and other Grand Lodge Officers, City offi cials and his local Convention Com mittee. He also, feels assured that Buffalo will set the pace for fut ure conventions, and, too, that this convention will lend much toward a better understanding between peoples and institutions. Dr. Bryd wishes for the world to know that the attendance and activities on guests will be pertinent to the de velopment of better inter-cultural relations that will have its spread ing. Buffalo’s weatherman promises excellent weather. With this pro mise, the beaches, parks, golf courses, and other amusement places and sights like Niagara Falls are and w’ill be in their splen dor. SA YS ATTY.-GEN. CLARK FAILS TO PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS NEW YORK, N. Y.—Removal of Attorney General Tom Clark was asked of President Truman today by the Civil Rights Congr ess which charged that Clark has not only failed to protect the ci vil rights of Negroes and others but that he has become a new and powerful ally of the Wood-Rank in Un-American Activities Com mittee and that his use of red baiting affords Rankin, Bilbo and the Klan a bridgehead in the Ca binet. In a statement addressed to the President and sent also to mem bers of the Cabinet, the Civil Rights Congress cited Clark's last speech before the Chicago Bar Association two weeks ago as confirmation by Clark himself that the Department of Justice under his direction has done little or nothing about 2699 protests of violations of civil liberties receiv ed during recent months. Not denying the existence of these violations nor condemning those guilty CRC said, he assailed as outside ideologists those who protested. The Attorney General’s use of the red smear in an effort to dis credit those who demand the en forcement of constitutional rights means simply that Rankin, Bilbo and the Klan have a bridgehead in the Cabinet, the statement ad opted by the executive board of the CRC says. The Wood-Rankin Un-American Activities has won a new and powerful ally not only for its un-American aims but for its tactic of serving as prosecu tor, judge and jury. Chargng that the Department of Justice has consistently refused to act against the Ku Klux Klan, has apparently dropped its action against pro-Nazi seditionists and has done nothing to bring to ju stice those responsible for lynch murder, CRC assails Clark’s last speech as a call to witch hunting and lynch rule and a step toward fascism in America that must be challenged. In addressing the Chicago Bar Association, Clark characterized strikes over wages as a commun ist plot and part of a conspiracy tie book picked to win. and if the young lady did the same. I can tell you truthfully, that she lost the last four races. I guess the sun must have been too hot for them, because something was get ting too hot for me. I couldn't tell if it was the sun or not. If it hadn’t been so late I would have walked home, just to pun ish myself. I slowly strolled along the sidewalk, and the last thing I remember before I walked out the gate was some man yelling, “Buy your racing forms for tomorrow”. Tomorrow, I had forgotten about tomorrow. Oh well, better days are coming. Dr. Aaron McMillan Returns From Angola, (Vest Africa Dr. and Mrs. A. McMillan By Lawrence P. Lewis E>r. Aaron McMillian. physician • and surgeon to the Willis F. Pierce Memorial Hospital, Angola, West Africa, whose Omaha residence is at 2890 Miami St. returned to Omaha last week for his second visit in 17 years. His last trip to America was in 1936. Before appointment to his pre sent post in 1929 Dr. McMillian was a practising physician and surgeon in Omaha and a member of the State Legislature from the old 9th District. Dr. McMillian describes the Wil lis F. Pierce hospital as being lo cated deep in the interior of West Africa, in the highlands, between two great deserts, where the alti tude is over 5680 feet above sea level. The hospital has one male ward of 15 beds and a female ward with the same number of beds. Six private rooms of two beds each and 30 other private rooms which in an emergency can ac comodate three or four patients. Three homes for native nurses, an isolation cottage for T. B. patients and a sick camp of 16 houses of three rooms each. These houses are used for people who come great distances and who do not necessarily need to be confined to bed; also another sick camp of 14 houses of 2 rooms each for pa tients with tropical diseases. There is a chapel presided over by a na tive chaplan and also 65 additional native helpers. The hospital is a part of a mission which consists of a school, church and industrial buildings. "What kind of occupations are the natives engaged in?”, the re porter asked Dr. McMillian. "Where I am stationed”, the Doctor replied, “is mostly agri cultural and mining country. Corn through which Communists seek to achieve iinal power. He issued a warning to attorn eys serving labor, progressive and minority groups that they are on the other side and urged the Bar Association that those too brilli ant brothers of ours should be taken to the legal woodshed for a definite and well deserved ad monition. Clark’s attack on persons pro testing violations of civil rights, CRC says, is paralleled by the re cent verdict of a Federal Grand Jury investigating charges that police in Columbia, Tenn., violated I federal civil rights laws in recent disturbances there. The Grand Jury, refusing to issue indictments of police or of Columbia officials, branded as communist the organi zations which demanded federal action. CRC also criticized Clarks ex cusing the Department's lack of action as based on false grounds that the Department is powerless to act. Terming Clark's address an incitement to violence against la bor and progressive people of our country the Congress urged that President Truman remove Clark fro mthe Attorney Generalship and appoint a man who will act zealously to defend the civil rights of the American people. t ____ Paves Way for Political Action by Largest Minority Group In the World CINCINNATI. July 3rd—In a precedent shattering move action was taken at the 87th Annual Conference of NAACP branches paving the way for political act- j ion by the largest minority group in the world. More than 700 dele gates representing 1,001 branches with 50,000 members indorsed a plan which would provide for a rating of candidates for national, state and local office. The rating system is expected to serve as a guide for Negro voters, in their selection of candidates who are in sympathy with Negro and minor ity aspirations. This is especially significant inn view of the fact that there are many thousands oi' Negroes throughout the South who may now vote as a result of the, historic NAACP victory in the Texas Primary Case handed down by the US Supreme Court. The resolution on Political Act ion was adopted after the Board of Directors suggested the need for such action. A committee wa selected, three members by t:,e • Board and three from conference delegates, to study the feasibility of political action with particular emphasis on the system of rating both for local chapters and for the national office. The Committee according to Walter White will be charged with studying dangers inherant in po litical action of such nature. In addition to the annual meet ing awarding of the Springarn Medal to Thurgood Marshall for his distinguished accomplishments in the U. S. Supreme Court which was broadcast on a coast-to-coast network, the Cincinnati branch played host to a group of nation ally famous speakers whose state ments recieved national coverage and wheat are grown extensiveh and gold is mined both by native* and Europeans". “Would you say there was much opportunity for other Negroes in Africa?” “I would say there are unlimit ed opportunities for chemists, ge ologists, men skilled in the mod-; ern ways of farming, and business. Professiol men of all kinds would be more than welcome and they could find a place in Africa with unlimited opportunities. School teachers and engineers are also needed. I have been urged to con tact those who might be interested in such endeavors”. ‘ Did the war affect the part of Africa you were working in ?" “Not very much. We read about the happenings in the papers and periodicals and heard news reports over the radio. Commodities com- j ing into Africa were quite high priced, but the prices of our own products stayed very reasonable". In addition to his wife, Mrs. Willena V., Dr. McMillian’s fam ily includes two sons, Robert of Los Angeles; Aaron Jr. who re sides in Omaha and a daughter, Helen Kasona who was born in Angola. “Does the Doctor enjoy living in Africa and does he expect to continue in this type of work7 ' “As for living, so far in my life I have found nothing like it. The climate is cool and comfortable; the cities are beautiful and are be coming more modern every day I could choose no better place to live. As for the work; I have never done anything else which was more enjoyable. I expect to return sometime in 1947. It is my sincere hope that more skilled Negroes will come to Africa. It will not only be a help to mankind, but those seeking success in many types of work and business, can find it in Africa". During his stay in America, Dr. McMillian will do medical research work and go on speaking tours, lecturing on Africa._ The Elks Ensemble and Glee Club Available For Engagements (by Dt. Marianna McFadden) Members of the Elk's Ensemble ind Glee Club posing for their first group photo since it was or ganized two years ago by the club president Bro. Emery Hickman. Personal appearance has been made by the group throughout the state under the directionship of Bro. H. L. Preston and it3 organist Dt. Otis Jamison. Through the efforts of the entire group organizational success has been realized. The Elks Ensemble and Glee Club has open dates for concerts and programs in or out of the city. President is Emery Hickman, 2420 Lake Street. (More Elk News on pages 4,8 MEAT PRICES I P FIFTY PERCEMT LOS ANGELES, July 8—Meat prices yesterday (wholesale) soar ed to 50 percent over OPA ceil ings. At a meeting of packers, whole salers and retailers it was agreed that the increase should be passed on to the consumer. in press and radio. Chester Bowles, recently resigned Stabi lization Director,who was sche duled to speak at the closing ses sion at Nippert Stadium on Sun day June 30, could not leave Washington. Mr. Bowles sent a lengthy message vhich was read to the 6000 seated in the stands by Theodore Berry, President of the Cincinnati brandh. Max Ler ner distinguished political ccolum nist and radio commentator spoke in Bowles’ place. Others speakers during the five sessions included Robert VV. Kenny, Attorney General of Cali fornia, who presented the Spin garn Medal to Mr. Marsha Dv. Frank Horne housing expe. l. Horace Cayton; Joseph Kluches../, American Council on Race Rela tions; Archibald Carey Jr., Chica go; UNRRA Chief, Fiorello H. La Guardia; Earl O. Dedmon, Veter ans Affairs, NAACP; Captain K Frederic Morrow; Earl Dickercon; Charles Houston; Walter Reuther, Daisy Lampkin and Waiter White Among resolutions passed by the delegates were Segregation; OPA Colon al Peoples; Veterans; Hou sing; Labor and Employment; Ra cial and Religious Tensions; Po litical Action; Memberships, Branch and National Procedure. Walter White, in the closing speech of the Conference, con gratulated President Truman for his veto of the emasculated OPA. bill and called on the entire mem bership of the tfAACP to refrain from purchasing all but the ut most necessities in consumer goods now skyrocketing alarming ly. He called upon the delegates to return to organize their branches inn what would amount to a pur chasers boycott. Excerpt from some of the reso lutions follow; O. P. A. The membership of the NAACP is fully cognizant of the fact that if the Congress does not extend the OP A, they will be plunged into a period of unemployment, hun ger and misery such as they have not faced in the history of Amer ica. Because of their slim margin of economic security, the Negro people have perhaps a larger stake than any other group of Ameri cans in the prevention of inflation We will be the first to be wiped out in an inflation, .and we there fore call upon the Congress of the United States, the responsible leaders of all political parties, and the President of the United States to act immediately to secure the passage of an act extending the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942 in its present form until Jun» 30 1947. COLONIAL PEOPLES Colonialism has been a persist ennnt cause of war in our time. The ownership of colonies, the mo nopoly of their raw materials, the enslavement of their labor are con stant obstacles to a free and peace ful world. The political and econo mic freedom and advancement of the colonial peoples are inescapa bly of vital concern to the peace and well being of the international community. VETERANS The policy of segregation prac tised by the Veterans Administra tion s: one of the most disappoint ing developments in the post-war era. The precedent of non-segrega tion as established during the war by service hospitals and the Vet erans Administration should fol low this policy. We request and strongly urge that President Tru man and General Bradley inte grate qualified Negro personnel in every phase on nevery level and in every geographcal region of the Veterans Administration. We strongly urge Congress te amend the Servicemens Readjust ment Act to empower the Veter ans Administration to deny the admission of veterans into any ed ucational institution which does not accept the enrollment of all veterans regardless of race, creed, color or national origin and to further empower the Veterans Administration to deny a contract to any business estabishment, in dustry, or commercial enterprise which discriminates in its accep tance of veteran trainees upon the same basis We strongly urge that tne present system of allowing the Veterans Administration to sit as judge ami jury on veterans claims be abolished, and the ser vicemens readjustment act be amended to alio wthe veteran who was denied a claim by the Veter ans Administration to present hi» appeal from their decision before an impartial and independent boa rd of appeals. HOUSING The Wagner-EIlender-Taft Bill presently before the House of Re presentatives Banking and Cur rency Committee proviiles a much needed long range housing pro gram based upon r< rvd priBCipes of federal aid to local communi ties. Passage of the Wagner-Eii ender-Taft Bill (S 1592) is of vi tal importance to all Americans Negro citizens of America ane the worst housed of all Americans and therefore this body pledges itself to work to secure bi-parti san support of this measure both nationally and locally. LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Economic Security ..We believe that the economic security of the American people must be founded upon full employment, and that appropriate and effective legisla tion must be enacted pnopmtly on national and state levels to aid this goal We condemn the pro gram of the National Association of Manufacturers in trying to pre vent the achievement of full em ployment egislation. r