Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1947)
/JUSTICE/EQUALITY HEWTOTHE UNE\ EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PHONE HA.0800 * ^ *_ _ «NM<t»fl»HlliMMIIIHItlimii't!lllK Iu.1111111111111 miilNIItimiliriMINIMIIMHMMMMnaN ALONG MY WAY | (BY LAWRENCE P. LEWIS) HOW TO BE A SALESMAN After being turned down last week as an entertainer at the Benefit Dance given for the widow and child of the late James E. Seay, at the AMVETS Club, 24th and Miami on Monday, March 17, I was a little undecided as to what I would do the night of the dance. Surely I could do something to make this gala affair a success. I decided that I would sell tick ets. With the price only a dollar plus tax and the purpose so needy, so necessary, I felt that I would not need any sales talk. How wrong I was. As I walked down 24th Street with my hopes high and tickets to sell in my pocket, I approached a perfect stranger, at least a perfect stranger to me, and I said, “Say, Mister, would you like to buy a ticket to a dance?” "What dance?’’ he asked without answering, eyeing me all at the same time. “The dance at the AMVETS Club I replied. “I have some tickets here in my pocket and I would like to sell you one of them." “They dance at the AMVETS Club every night,” the gentleman said. “Did you see the floor show last week?’’ he continued. “Boy, it was swell They had dances, singing,_” “I’m sorry, but I didn’t get to see the show," I answered, cutt ing him off, and getting to the point. “I would like to sell you a tick et to a dance.” “Oh yes. a dance. What dance are you talking about?” he asked. "The dance at the AMVETS Club,” I answered. "You said that before,” he said. “Yes I did,” I replied. “Would you care to purchase a ticket?” “A ticket to what?” the gentle man asked. “To the dance .at the AMVETS Club,” I replied. “You said that before,” he said. “I know I said that before, but I have to say it in order to sell you a ticket," I remarked nervously. “Who said I was going to buy a ticket?" he asked. "Nobody said it.’ I replied. “You just said it,” the gentleman said quite loudly. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t mean to say it,” I said. “Oh, then you don’t want to sell tickets?” he asked. “Of course, I have them here in my pocket,” I replied. “When is this dance going to be ? the gentleman asked. "On the 17th of March,” I re plied. The gentleman stopped talking, and by the looks of it, was trying to think. He looked up the street and then down the street, as if wanting someone or something to come and relieve him of this situ ation. ‘The dance will be a swell affair” I remarked quite hastily. “I’m go Cliff Dudley And His Band Will Plav For Benefit Dance The Benefit Dance, given for the widow and the child of the late James E. Seay, at the AMVETS Club, March 17, has obtained Cliff Dudley and his band who will play swet music for your dancing en tertainment. Mr- Paul Allen, manager of the AMVETS Club, has obtained other Special Entertainment for the night of the dance. The Members of the AMVETS’ Club have donated the hall and their services to assure the success of this Benefit Affair and all should receive a vote of thanks and everlasting gratitude from our community, because without their | help this affair would have been an impossibility. With Cliff Dudley and his big, j little band, and the other Surprise Featured Entertainment, this Bene fit Dance will assure you of one of the most cheerful gatherings for a worthy cause that you have ever attended this year or any year. If you are seeking a night of re laxation and enjoyment—DON'T I and we are sure you won’t, MISS ! THE DANCE OF THE YEAR. LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS 1QC Per Copy AND WORTH IT- “To Sell It, ADVERTISE” -,-----' Two Negro 0. P. A. Investigators Blow Lid Off Nation Wide Sugar Racket ing myself.” . “Does that make a difference?” he asked. “Of course. Everyone wants to go places where they can enjoy theirselves?” I answered. “I mean by your going,” he said. “No, no. It’s just that I don’t go often,” I replied. "That doesn’t mean anything to me,” the gentleman said. “I know that, but I just made a remark,” I said. “Can’t you dance?” he question ed. “Of course I can,” I replied. “Then why don’t you go to danc es?” he asked “I do,” I answered. “But you don’t like to dance,” he said. “I do like to dance,” I spoke sharply. “Then why don’t you go often?” he asked. “Say Mister,” I said slowly. “Don’t say anything for just one minute and I will tell you all about it. It is a Benefit Dance held for the widow of the late James Seay, and it will be held at the AM VETS Club, 2vi.h and Miami, March 17fh.. and that day comes on a Monday. This young widow will soon give birth to another child, and we are assisting her in facing the next few months, and if the prices go up any higher, the next few’ mon ths will be tough for her. Her late husband was a veteran of World War H, serving three and one-half years in the Armed Forces of the United States. Now will you buy a ticket?” “Why didn't you say so. .1 will buy two tickets,” the gentleman said, reaching in his pocket and giving me the money. “Thank you, thank you,” I said almost exhausted. “You have aid your goed deed for the day, and I hope that yu« have the time of your life at the dance.” Women’s Day At Bethel Baptist Sunday, March 9 Mrs. J. M. C. Amos Chiam of Tulsa, Okla., will be guest speaker of the Women’s Day Program on Sunday, March 9, at Bethel Bapt ist Church, South Omaha. Mrs. Chiam former president of the Texas Women’s Baptist Con vention, is very well known and thought of nationally- Mrs. Chiam will speak, Thursday evening to the Administrative Council of the Bethel Baptist Church, and will speak Friday evening to the public She will speak on Christian Eth ics, which is one of the five points. Mrs. Chiam will be guest speak er Sunday morning and Sunday afternon. The theme will be “Wo men with Wings,” Sunday morn ing. Sunday afternoon her theme will be “Wings to Raise Above the Clouds and Floods.” Mrs. Chiam arrived Thursday In Omaha. Mrs. Maggie Gholson, is chair man of the program. _ I James E. Seay Fund With the kindly contributions of The Jolly Mates Club, the Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Mr. H. W. Smith, and Dr. Wm. J. Von Druska the fund for the widow dnd child of the late James E. Seay Jr., was slightly enlarged this week to the amount of $278.43. Well folks, there will be a Bene fit Dance given next Monday eve., March 17th, at the AMVETS Club to spell finis to this rally. If you haven’t already contributed to this most worthy cause, would you sup port it by kindly by buying a tic ket to this affair. The music will be of the best,....the entertainment will be grand, and not only will you be getting an enjoyable even ing of entertainment out of it, but you will be doing your good deed for the day. ^ TOTAL CONTRIBUTED UP TO THIS WEEK $252.35 Jolly Mates Club . 10.00 Mount Moriah Church . 10.58 H. W. Smith . .. . (5.00 Dr. ^ m. J. Von Druska. .50 “The Sight Specialist” TOTAL $278.43 HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED TO THE JAMES E. SEAY FUND? Mail or bring your contribution to the James E. Seay Fund, Care of The Omaha Guide,2420 Grant Street, Omaha, Nebraska. James E. Seay, a veteran of three and one half years service in the Armed Forces, died, leaving a widow who will give birth to a second child in a few months, DON'T DELAY, send contributions now. MINDEN LYNCHERS BROUGHT TO TRIAL Bludgeon, Rope Scared Negro Youth Takes Stand Against Lynchers Shreveport, La., Feb. 28 (BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) One of the most dramatic episodes in the history of the National As sociation for the Advancement of Colored People’s struggle to afford protection to Negroes in the south was recalled in the Federal District Court last week when a quiet Ne gro youth, whose eyes still reflect ed the terror of being hunted down by a mob of blood thirsty killers, related his story from the witness stand in the trial of five white men charged with the blow-torch torture-lynching of a young Negro war veteran near Minden, La., last August 8th. The 17 year old wit ness, Albert Harris whose body is still covered with the scars left by the lynchers’ ropes and bludgeons, stood on the stand only by virtue of the fact that NAACP investiga tors, whose lives were also imper iled, cooperating with the Assoc iation’s officials in New York, had outwitted the mob last summer and had spirited the youth out of Louisiana while the nation’s press and radio reported his fantastic plane and auto flight to safety in the northern Michigan woods. The precedent-making trial in Federal District Court of the five white men charged with depriving two Negroes, one of whom was beaten to death of their civil liber ties went into its second day Tues. with defense counsel making the dramatic charge that “this pros ecution has been engineered by minority elements in the east.’’ The five white men, two of them deputy sheriffs of Webster Parish Louisiana, are charged with con spiracy to deprive Albert Harris, Jr., and John C- Jones, Negro resi dent of Webster Parish, of rights privileges,,and immunities guaran teed them under the Constitution. Federal District Attorney Malcolm LaFargue stated Monday at the opening of the trial, that prosecu tion would prove that Deputy Sher iff O. H. Haynes, Jr., one of the defendants, released Jones and Har ris to a mob who were present at the Webster Parish jail at8:30 PM August 8, 1946, and that the other defendants, members of the group on trial, took Harris and Jones to a bayou three miles north of Min den, beat Harris unconscious and beat Jones fatally. Other defend ants in the case are Sam Maddry, Sr.. W. D. Perkins, Harry Perry' and Deputy Sheriff C. N. Edwards Charges against Minden Police Chief Benjamin Gantt, previously were dropped because of lack of evidence. During cross examination Tues day, defense counsel asked Benj amin Gantt whether or not FBI. Agents Kline Weatherford and Vincent Drain had not told him that “they had orders from Wash ington to get indictments at any cost,” and whether or not the a gents had threatened witness with perjury charges if “they did not say the right thing.” When the District Attorney objected, defense counsel stated that they were ask ing this question to show that ‘this is a political prosecution,’’ and that Washington was instigating it to satisfy certain minority elements in the east- Defense Attorneys sus tained a double defeat on this ques tion. Police Chief Gantt replied that the FBI Agents had stated only that they had been instructed to investigate the matter and bring guilty ones before the Grand jury. Also, Federal Judge Gaston L. Por terie ruled that they must confine the case strictly to the issue of whether the defendants are guilty of depriving the two Negroes of civil liberty. During the cross examination of Negro eye witnesses Defense At torneys sought to imply that the FBI. Agents had used intimidat ion and threats in securing their evidence. Albert Harris, Jr., was jailed in the Webster Parish jail last August after Sam Maddry Jr., charged that Harris had been seen loitering in his yard at night while Maddry was working. Har ■ ris denied this, but was kept in jail for two days without charges being filed. Then, Harris testified Deputy Sheriff Haynes told him they were releasing him and that he, Haynes, would drive him down the highway on his way home. Haynes let Harris out at an inter section near Minden where, Harris testified, an automobile full of white men, including Maddry, Sr, and Perkins, were waiting. They forced him into the car took him off the highway and there beat him until he had agreed to say that ex-Corpral John Jones had been prowlirfg in Maddry’s yard seeking to molest Maddry’s wife. Harris testified that the men threatened to shoot him unless he incriminated Jones. Harris was picked up again in 2 days and placed in a cell across from Jones. While the two were confined there Harris testified that he heard Maddry, Sr., tell Deputy Sheriff Haynes to “Let us have them and we’ll make them talk’’ At 8:30 p.m., August 8th, they were led to the court yard by Haynes, where a mob was waiting. Jones was beaten on the head, when he attempted escape, and put into one car. Harris was put into another where he was struck on the head each time he tried to sit upright. They were taken about three miles from Minden, near Dor cheat Bayou, Harris continued, where he was stripped and beaten until he lost consciousness. When he recovered, he heard Jones groan ing. The ex-Corporal asked for water, which Harris brought him in a shoe. “Tell Keeny to take care of girl,” were his only words and he then died in his compan ion’s lap. Defense Attorney Whit field Jack asked Harris if it was not true that he himself had killed Jones which Harris denied. Tuesday’s witnesses for the pros ecution consisted of an impressive array of eye witnesses, white and Negro, who saw the two Negroes seized by the mob in front of the jail. A Negro couple also testi fied that Jones had been at their home the entire evening on the Monday night when, Mr. and Mrs. Maddry Jr., alleged, he was sup posed to have been trying to break into the Maddry home. Besides seeking to imply that the FBI had used Gestapo methods in getting evidence, defense counsel asked Sentenced To 10 Years In " Iowa Penitentiary Orville William Jones . ». re- I ORVILLE WILLIAM JONES, sev eral times convicted of minor of fenses, was sentenced to 10 years in the Iowa penitentiary. Jones figured recently in the car theft .murder of a Blair automo bile salesman. iiuiiiiiimiMiiiMiMiiiitiHHiimHiimiiiiiitii'inimMiiimHimnntnitmtuiniiiiiniiitttttmiinir leading questions which implied that several witnesses had been coached by the National Associa tion for the Advancement of Col ored People. Counsel showed Har ris a picture of Harris with Walter White, executive secretary of the Association, which appeared in the Pittsburgh Courier and asked why he had not mentioned the picture during direct examination. The trial has been conducted in a tense courtrom packed with news paper men, law students and Ne gro and white spectators. It high lights the first lynching in Webster Parish since 1886, when two white men were the victims, the prosecu tion is expected to conclude Its case Wednesday At Huge INAACP Membership Rally TEXANS CONDEMN SCHOOL SEGREGATION I Houston, Texas— Condemning separate schools and calling for the end of segregation in Texas public schools, the Houston NAA. CP branch’s “kickoff meeting for its 1947 membership campaign got off to a rousing start, on Feruary 23rd- The resolution, presented to a packed house, was greeted by en thusiastic cheers. The group also adopted resolutions calling for an anti-lynching bill and opposing both state and federal anti-labor legislation. Thurgood Marshall, chief couns el, NAACP, described to the group the NAACP’s effort to break down the wall of discrimination facing Negroes at the University of Tex as, and fold of his part in the NA. ACP’s battle to gain admittance in its law school for Heman Marion Sweatt. whose application for ad mission was refused on the basis of his color. The courts have or dered Texas to provide a “separate but equal” law school for Negroes or admit them to the University’s existing facilities. The Houston branch, under the leadership of Mrs. Lulu B. White, State Conference Director of Bran ches, and Rev. A. A. Lucas, presi dent of the branch, presented NA ACP life membership medals to four Texans: Dr. Thomas Fletcher , Arthur Mandell, Percy Foreman, ' and Herman Wright. The latter I three are white attorneys in Hous- i ton. Life members in the NAACP are those who have paid in $500. MISSISSIPPI MOB CASTRATES VETERAN Chicago, 111. Feb. 28—The re venege of a white man who resent ed a Negro's interest in a Negro girl came to light today when Ar chie McLaurin came to the Chicago NAACP branch with a letter from his wife in which the miserable in cident was related. Mrs. Vera McLaurin said that W. C. Holloway, a friend of McLaurins and Lawrence Calvin Jenkins, an honorable discharged Navy veter an, both of Collins, Miss., accept I ed a lift from a white man after I attending a movie in Collins. They Amateur Fights To Be Held At St. Benedict Gymnasium BUDDY McCREA TO HEAD PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPT. OF CATHOLIC INSTITUTE Mr, Buddy McCrea, Physical Training Instructor at the Charles Street Recreation Center, will as sume new responsibilities this week when he will become Physical Ed ucation Instructor at the St. Bene dict Parish, 2517 Grant St. In cooperation with the Men’s Club of St. Benedict, Mr. McCrea, beginning next Thursday night/ will promote amateur boxing matches. These pugilistic events will be a weekly affair at the St. Benedict’s Gymnasium. Father Moylan, the Men’s Club, and Mr. McCrea, ask the public’s support in helping to advance this program. | went only a short distance when the driver told Holloway to get out of the car and to get out of town right away. The driver said Jen kins was the one he wanted. The unnamed man took Jenkins to a side road off Highway 49, north of Collins, where a group of j white men were waiting. They ti- j ed Jenkins to a tree and castrated him with a razor blade. Left un tied, he struggled to his nearby home where his mother found him lying on the porch. Jenkins is now j in a Jackson, Miss, hospital. John Sanford, Sheriff of Coving ton County, said there was nothing he could do about it because Jen kins will not name his attacker, who was said to be interested in the Negro girl and resentful of l Jenkin’s attentions to her. The sheriff found the rope and razor J [ used in the attack after a brief in vestigation. Holloway, who was with Jenkin3 when he was picked up by his as sailant, is in hiding someplace in | Mississippi. TRAFFIC SAFETY Weather important. “If you don’t like Nebraska weather, just wait a bit!’’ Sudden changes in weather require a driver to prepare his e quipment for immediate service, j CHICAGO—Two Negro investi gators figured prominently in ex posing a huge sugar racket and a budding counterfeit ring, compos ed of both colored and whites, on Chicago’s southside last week. Fed eral agents estimated that more than 8,000,000 pounds of the prec ious stuff had been diverted from the regular channels into black market operations- Counterfeit sugar stamps and stolen ration books both were used. Six months ago, Washington O PA officials became alarmed over the large quantities of stamps that were missing and issued orders for a careful checkup on all sugar transactions. As a result of this move, two Negro secret investiga tors were sent to Chicago from New York and quiently, but swift ly, began to hunt out the “brains” of the racket. The sleuths were told to frequent southside night spots and taverns to make contact with the “big shots.” Within two weeks they were taken into the confidence of the leaders. Shortly afterwards they were taking part in selling and transferring the stolen and counterfeit stamps and collecting information that was to blow the lid off the racket. They traced a series of deals that stretched from New York to Los Angeles. The stamp prices varied from three cents to 30 cents, depending upon whether they were counter feit or the real thing, and upon the number of pay-off3 in the trans actions. The buyers indicted by a federal jury here included candy manu facturers, food manufacturers, bak ers, truck drivers in the yeast de partment of Anheuser-Busch, a sugar broker and a bottling works operator. Included among the leaders were 290 pound James (Big Jim) Win ters, owner of a southside livery service, and his body guard, Rob ert (Bob the Mole) Bailey, age 30. Winters was already under a three years’ probation on a charge of re ceiving stolen property. Yancey Bridgeforth, owner of a taxicab 1 company, is said to have made ov er $250,000 from the racket. Ira Roberts is now awaiting trial in federal court in Tulsa, Okla., un der a charge of transporting 50, 000 counterfeit stamps. One of the Negro sugar kings, at one a clerk at $25 per week, was able to pay kidnappers $20,000 in ransom mon ey for his release. Investigations into the sugar racket brought to light a bold plan to make $20,000,000 in counterfeit | money on paper formerly used by the government for printing Chin ese currency. The paper, similar to that now used by the govern ment, had been stolen for the pur pose Federal agents nipped the scheme by seizing the paper. OMAHA URBAN LEAGUE WILL PARTICIPATE IN VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CAMPAIGN MARCH 16 23 Omaha, Nebraska. The Omaha Urban League will participate in the 15th Vocational Opportunity Campaign, March 16-23, ir. coop eration with the National Urban League of New York City, it was disclosed this week by Mr. M. Leo Bohanon, Executive Secretary. Hundreds of schools, colleges, cen ters, YMCA’s, YWCA’s and veter an groups have already registered to take an active part, said Mr. Bohanon. The VOC, a nationwide program for youth and adults, has an im pressive theme this year, “The Future Is Yours, What Are Doing About It", and the local program is being planned around the gen eral implications of the theme. A general Vocational Opportun ity Campaign Committee, commun ity wide and interracial in charac ter is now being organized. Those approached and who readily con sented to serve are representatives of labor, businss, education, indus try, social service, religion and fraternities. Various programs will be planned and will be under the leadership of those who are experts in their field. Mr. Bohanon said that emphasis on training and job opportunities for Negro youth is the underlying purpose of VOC and that the im mediate objective is to stimulate Negro youth to think, plan, tram and prepare for jobs; thus, to im prove employment oportunities for them in order to insure the secur ity of the Negro population. It goes beyond that, he said, it brings about the stability of our national economy. The citizens are urged to watch the papers for further announce ments with regards to the VOC campaign. Every Negro youth and eyery veteran that can possibly do so, should plan to take an active part in all or some of the programs which will be arranged for them Mr. Bohano^ further urged. NATIONAL NAAGP OFFICER TO SPEAK HERE MARCH 13 CLARENCE M. MITCHELL The Omaha Branch NAACP will be host to Clarence M. Mitchell, Labor Secretary of the National Office on Thursday, March 13. He will speak at 8:00 p.m. at the U. P. H. W. Hall, 2502 , M'’ St All laboring people are invited. The program will include solos by Mrs. M. C. Williams and Miss Janice Collins. Mr. James Fellows Chairman of the Labor Committee Omaha Branch, will preside. Radio’s “Bulldog Drummond” To Be Regular KBON Feature PRESENTED BY OMAHA & COUNCIL BLUFFS STREET RAILWAY COMPANY The first broadcast of “Bulldog Drummond,” one of the nation’s great mystery shows, under the sponsorship of the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street Railway Co., was made last Friday evening ov er Radio Station KBON. The Com pany and its employees will pres ent the program as a regular fea ture each Friday night at 8:30. Messages of interest to street car and bus riders on improve ments the company is contemplat ing in transportation service dur ing 1947 will also be carried on the program. WEST COAST NAACP HOLDS CONFERENCE San Francisco, Calif. More than 100 delegates from NAACP bran ches in California, Oregon, Wash ington, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona have registered for the regional conference meeting here this week March 7-8 in the Book er T. Washington community cen ter, 2031 Bush street. Noah W. Griffin, West Coast NAACP sec retary, is in charge of arrange j The OMAHA GUIDE’S I I Spotlight Reveals I WHO’S WHO I j IN OMAHA J MRS. G. ANITA HAYES, 2928 North 24th Street, foirner North side ranch YWCA. Secretary who since coming to Omaha in 1940, has unselfishly and untiringly de voted herself to the civic affairs of the community. As local President of the Nation al Negro Congress, Mrs. Hayes is seeking to improve the lot of the Omaha Negro. Most recently Mrs Hayes appeared before the City Council in behalf of a controversy involving Lothrop School. As a YWCA. Secretary, Mrs- Hayes played an important part in help ing mold the character of Oma ha's young women. Mrs. Hayes is a member of the Women’s Voters’ League, a for mer First Vice President of the NAACP; Member of Forum Com mittee; Member, Omaha Interrac ial Committee. A graduate of Talladega, Mrs. Hayes holds a Master’s Degree from Columbia University. A for mer Staff Member of the New York Urban League, Mrs. Hayes has had extensive social work ex perience in New York and other cities. The charming social worker is a “Delta”. ments. Those on the program from the New York office included Gloster B. Current, director of branches; Clarence Mitchell, labor secretary Thurgood Marshall, chief counsel; and Roy Wilkins, assistant secre tary. Employment, housing, and edu cation and other problems of the West Coast will be discussed by leader from sthe area. Marshall was the principal speak er at the mass meeting March 7th. “Deck” Watson And His Brown Dots Held Over! « -—- ^ I BROWN DOTS The Show at the AMVETS Club, 24th and Miami, was held over for one more week. ‘ Deek” Watson and his Brown Dots and Cliff Dud ley and his band, with feature acts by Pat Miller, Dancing and Irene Miles at the Piano. The AMVETS Club has given our community and the entire city of Omaha a chance to see and hear some of the best entertainers in the country. The show now at the A MVETS is in the top bracket of entertainment. The newly organized band, Cliff Dudley and his band, is one that you don’t want to miss. Sweet music that will send you home walking on air Omaha Guide Innaugurates New Carrier Delivery System Dear SUBSCRIBERS: ^ e are announcing a change in policy regarding the de livery of your paper. Effective this week, Omaha Guide Carrier Boys, will de liver your paper to your door each week. Our Carrier Boys are well trained, courteous and efficient. Due to the great area which we serve, it is imposible to ex tend this personal service to all districts. Beginning this week the Omaha Guide Carrier Boys will deliver papers to those homes embraced by the following territory. Cumings Street on the south to Spaulding on the North, and Florence Blvd on the East to 33rd Street on tthe V* est. lour Meekly paper will cost you only 10c per copy. If your subscription account is past due, please arrange to bring it to date at our offices or telephon for a Circulation Repre sentative. If your 1947 Subscription is paid you will auto matically receive your paper without additional payment. Please inform our offices immediately if you fail to re ceive your paper We are endeavoring to offer our subscri bers the finest in service. YoUr cooperation will be appre ciated. Very Sincerely, The Omaha Guide