Jackson advocate. [volume], August 30, 1941, Image 1

About Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

                
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VOLUME 1, NUMBER 49
THE STATE’S LEADING COLORED WEEKLY
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1941
PRICE FIVE CENTS
Protect Oar Soldiers, Mr, President, Clergyman Pleads
16 DEAD IN PIER DLAZE
U.S. War Department Orders Race Hired
\ . "
Rev. J. C. Austin
Asks Real New
Deal For Group
Baptist Minister
Warns That Men
Fight Out of Love
CHICAGO — (ANP) — Declaring |
that the hosts of Negro Baptist iD (
(the race in expecting the chief j
America join with al members of ;
executive of the nation to see that
Negro sobers are panted pro
tection and freedom within the
borders of their own cbuntry, the j
Hev. J. C. Austin, speaking in ad- |
vance of the National Baptist Con- j
vention, the presidency of which
he is seeking, said in a letter Mon- j
day to President Roosevelt:
“Information comes to me i
through personal correspondence
and through the press of brutali- j
ties and injustices heaped upon Ne j
<?ro soldiers in the south, who are
preparing themselves to fight, and
if necessary, die for their coun
try. In order to be a good soldier, !
one must be imbued to make the
supreme sacrifice for the thing for
which he fights Good fighters
don’t fight out of fear, but, rather,
out of love.
BANGER IN SYSTEM
T
“Frankly. Mr. President, a sys
tem which discriminates agteinst,
oppresses and brutallv mistreats a
citizen cannot be considered by
that citizen a system worth fight
ing for. Negro soldiers in south
ern training camps have recently,
so T am informed, been beaten and
murdered while wearing their
country’s uniform. What a dis
grace to the uniform of the coun
try and to the constitution and the
flag. And what a joke we become
before the grand march of tyranny i
as we lift our voices against the j
(Continued on Back Page) I
Jackson Teachers’
Institute Booked
September 8-12
The Jackson Teachers Institute
will be held at the Lanier High
School building, beginning Monday,
September 8th, and ending Fri
day, September 12. 1941.
Teachers and P. T. A. members
living in the Jackson area will find
it quite profitable to attend the
institute throughout the week. The
afternoon department discussions
will be most helpful to persons in
terested in the educational welfare
of the children.
The group meetings will be held
each day from :00 to 3:00 P. M
Visitors may elect to attend any of
the groups they desire. The general
assembly will be held at 3:4$ P. M
each day.
State Delegates At
California Letter
Carriers’ Confab
The Mississippi delegates to the
annual convention of the National
Association of Letter Carriers left
ter Los Angeles, California, where
♦his year’s convention will be held
ter five dsys, beginning on Septem
ber 6th Traveling by car, the par
ty plans to arrive in Los Angeles
by Sunday, August 31st.
The party is composed of Mr.
and Mrs. J. w. Dixon, Mr. and
Mrs. S. B. Thomas and Mr.
Ben P. Newman
Mr. Newman, who is the oldest
letter carrier in point of service,
in Jackson ,is delegate ter the
State-at-large and Mr. Dixon is
delegate from the Jackson Chapter
of the Association,
fState Draft To Call
508 Youths
In September
j According to Information recent
ly released by the State Selective
Service Headquarters at Jackson.
508 Colored youths will be drafted
. from the State in September.
With only 460 white youths to be
called, this will be the first time
that the number of Colored youths I
drafted will outnumber the •white j
! In explaining the circumstances
| General Grayson stated that the
j increase in camps and training fa
cilities for Colored selectees made it
possible to select the larger num
: ber and thus balance the quota ol
each group.
Mississippi Negro
Fair Warns Of False
Solicitation
The Mississippi Negro State Fail
Association which will hold its 15th
! annual exhibition at the Negro
State Fairgrounds October 13-18,
1941, wishes to make It known that
no one has been duthoiized to
solicit any funds whatever for the
maintainance of the fair nor for the
promotion of the fair, according tc
Negro State Fair officials here. Nc
one has been authorized to solicit
any prize money nor any token
whatever for prizes.
The Mississippi Negro State Fail
Association wishes to state further
that it 'has authorized no one tc
solicit advertisements for the Miss
issippi Negro Stat Fair Association’s
Bulletin which will soon be off the
press.
Please let it be known, states H
H. Young, president, that it has
come to our attention that funds
and advertisements have been so
licited did not receive said funds,
nor any compensation from adver
tisements solicited.
JOSHUA JONES
By I. P. REYNOLDS
Bro. Bell says they say there are
i some things money can’t buy, but
the “some” must be the things
| people don’t want.
Just In Case Mr.
Hitler Does Come
Private First Class John
Whittington Will Be Ready
Despite obstacles, Negro troops
Inst week were bard at work
in maneuvers, preparing for the
protection of their homeland
and the probable aggression of
“that inan.” Photograph shows
practice on rifle range by the
372 Infantry stationed at Fort
Dix, N. J. Private First Class
John Whittington, of Atlantic
City, N. J., firing and Corporal
Linwood Hubbard, Atlantic
N. J., coaching (ANP Photo).
Homestead Heights, Jackson’s First
All-Colored FHA Subdivision, Presents
Outstanding Construction Features
Of much interest to those pro
spective home owners who have
already consulted Reid-McGee and
Company regarding the purchase
of a home in Homestead Heights
Jackson’s first FHA all colored
subdivision, are the number of
outstanding new features being
added to the construction of the
houses now being built in the de
velopment.
The feature which has attracted
the most favorable comments are
the asphalt tile floor of the kit
chen. the built-in bath tub and
hardwood floor in living room end
bed room. Each house is also
equipped with electric chime door
bells.
These features add both to the
beauty and permance of the houses
and have been added by the com •
pany at considerable cost, but with
no increase in cost to the buy
er.
Another feature to be appreci
ate by those who buy homes in
Homestead Heights is the building
restrictions which limits the type
of structure, such as garages and
other houses to be built that might
tend to mar the beauty of the de
velopment .
In the construction of the houses
each house will be of a different
design so as to present to the ap
pearance suggesting the quarters
types of development practiced in
most instances with respect to
colored homes.
With the property being de.
veloped solelv for home owners.
Homestead Heights offers, in ad
dition to the above 15-20 years in
sured FHA loans, city sewerage,
city electric lights, grnvcl streets
and outlets for use of modern
electric appliances and radio with
each house.
The houses in Homestead are in
every deetaj modern and up to
evtery detain modem and up to
date, and can be purchased at
a minimum own payment, with
monthly payment, which include
taxes. insurance, interest and
principal at $14.85 per month.
With a number of houses already
completed Reid-McGee and com
pany extends to the colored people
nn invh-tion to go out and inspect
this modern all colored subdivision.
Seek Longer Terms
For Hinds County
Colored Schools
The Hinds County Unit of the
Mississippi Educational Council will
conduct a meeting at the Lynch
Street CME Church in Jackson on
September 4th to discuss ways
and means of getting longer school
terms in the county.
Considerable interest was shown
at a state meeting in Jackson a
few weeks ago when Dr. P. H.
Eason, State Supervisor of Public
Schools for the Colored, was
present.
T. B/ Wilson, Hinds County
Chairman, urgently requests all
citizens who are interested in see
ing a change in the present status
of the schools to be present at
the coming meeting.
Indicted Planter
Seeks Whitewash
CHECAGO — (ANP) — Wil
liam Toliver Cunningham, white
Georgai planter, indicted for
holding and attempting to place
Negroes in peonage, Oglethorpe
county, Ga. is having a petition
signed by the so-called “upper
crust” Negroes of the county to
the effect that he is “whiter than
snow”—so says Atty. William
Henry Huff, chief counsel for
the Abolish Peonage committee
The information also says that
Johnce Cunningham, who has
been mentioned by many refu
gees as a peonage operator in
the ccunty, is one of the signers
of the petition. Johnce Cunning
ham, the brother-in-law cf
Hamilton McWhorter, lives on
the plantation cf Walter Faust,
white, Another signer of the pe
tition is “Prof.” George W. No
wells.
Says Atty. Huff, “Neither of
these colored brethren repre
sents the decent and respectable
opinion of the Negro citizens of
the force of fear so prevalent in
Oglethorpe county. However,
that county could compel some
of the better element of Negroes
to sign for ‘Capt. Willie’.”
Averring that he knew the
history of every Negro of any
consequence in the county, he
stated that he was not afraid to
make that history known. Men
tioning Harold Johnson, white,
who tried' io break up peonage at
Winterville, Ga., several years
ago, he stated that Johnson’s
suicide was caused by Negro
stool pigeons who betrayed him
in his humanitarian fight for the
freedom of Oglethorpe county
f Negroes.
The attorney further stated
that while a few were trying to
whitewash the Georgia planter,
some of the leading white people
of Georgia were furnishing the
committee with all the informa
tion needed, keeping him inform
ed on all Negro enemies of the
cause.
99th Pursuit
Squad Busy
With Activity
TUSKEGEE—(ANP>— Eight new
cadets reported at Tuskeglee in
stitute Saturday to take the proc
essing course to fit them for entry
into the 99th army air corps pur
suit squadron. The 12 initial
cadets completed five week s proc
essing Saturday and are to makf
their first flights on Tuskegee field
Monday.
Capt. Rainey, Boston, reported
for duty in the quartermaster di
vision of the 99th. The personnel
of the 99th will be a complete unit
in itself with every phase of the
work, business, health, and mili
tary, self-contained.
In the elementary flying pro
gram for the army air corps train
ing detachment, Capt. Noel S. Par
rish is army supervisor Capt. Ben
jamin O. Davis, infantry; G. L.
W ashingtgon, civilian director;
Charles Anderson, flight instruct
tor; and Elliott Grey, chief me
chanic. * _ i l
Follows FDR
Order Banning
Discrimination
Negroes Being
Integrated Into
‘Closed* Brackets
%
WASHINGTON—(A N P)—The
war department capitulated last
week to the Presidents executive
order, dated June 25, when in a
memorandum to the executive of
fice of all divisions of the vast
department instructions were issu
ed that colored workers were to be
hired when qualified.
In a separate letter, attention
was called to the President’? order
and department heads were noti
fied that colored eligibles sent them
must be hire, regardless of race or
creed.
And in carrying out the instruc
tions as ordered, colored girls are
being integrated into various de
partments hitherto closed to color
ed workers. Two have been sent
to the finance department, two
have been sent to the ordnance
department and more are coming
in daily.
Sending the girls in two's elimi
nates any possibility of friction
with white workers and gives the
pair the feeling of security.
The official order on this was
issued on August 19, covering the
entire war department.
Tne action of the fair practice
committee in declaring it had
jurisdiction over the civil service
workers in defense program is be
lieve to have much to do with the
breaking down of this barrier, al
tho the war department has been
more lenient in these cases than
has its neighbor, the snooty navy
department.
Most of the departments in the
War department are cooperating
with the order and colony workers
ere expected to receive a better
break in this division of the gov
ernment .
17 Lbs. Of
Boy Twins !
GRIFFIN, Ga,'— (SNS>—Rev.
and Mrs. Wayman J. Johnson,
of this city, are the happy
recipients of many congratula
tions upon the arrival of a pair
of fine sons August II. They
are named Paul Freeman and
(Continued on Back Page)
Southern Belle
At Horse Show
• I^eat day for the hor»e» |
and the photographera at the Harlem |
Kora* iKow last weak.end Hero Mm 1
Franrine Everett, of Durham, N C. J
" •bown in riding habit aa aka watch*i
the event, at Speedway Garden,.
Fir at of ita kind aver bald in Nan
York, the event waa for the benef
tka Now York Urban League an*
n*|»* Umy Hos
pital, two of
Harlem's worth
ioat charities. ——
( Internaiton a I
Nows Photo)
Tales Of Heroism
Follow Disaster
By ERNEST JOHNSON
NEW YORK—(ANP)—The bodies of 16 Negro long
shoremen have been identified and eight others vrere still
missing Friday following the $2,000,000 fire that whipped
across Pier 27. East river, and changed the New York and
Cuba Mail line steamer Panuco into a burning mass of
tangled plates and charred embers last Monday afternoon.
Various governmental agencies immediately plunged in
to the separate inquiries to determine the cause and place
responsibility for the record devastation that in the space of
10 minutes transformed the entire waterfront south of the
Brooklyn bridge into a blackout area bristling with death
and destruction traveling on a roller coaster.
For days now the river has been f
giving up bodies, and others, char
red beyond recognition, man}
skeletons have been removed from ,
the hulk of the Panuco which had j
been towed down to the Gowanus j
Flats there to bum out.
The harrowing experiences of
many of the members of Local 968,
International Longshoreman’s as
sociation, who had been assigned
to unloading the death ship, will
live long in their memories for es
cape in any way was a difficult
thing so rapidly did the flames
spread.
SABOTAGE DISCOUNTED
Testimony taken at the hearing
conducted by the bureau of marine
navigation last w7eek tended to dis
count sabotage as the cause. The
other thought advanced was the
possibility a stevedore stealing a
few moments off for a smoke might
have carelessly thrown awray his
cigarette thereby setting fire to
much inflammable stores that lay
round. A flying spark from one of
the engine compartments of the
ship has been advanced as a pos
sible cause.
A check at union headquarters
brought the information from
George Pollack, president of the
all-colored local, that six gangs
were at work on the unloading and
loading job of the Panuco. His
local had furnished four of them.
The other two were white A gang
consists of 20 men which would !
make the number of Negroes in- !
volved 100 and the whites 20. There
were possibly other whites on the
docks not particularly longshore
men.
According to some of the stories t
gathered there were some 18 Ne
groes working in the three holds
in the forward end of the ship, tho
part nearest the strip. A single
Commanding Gen. Gives
Version Of Difficulty
CAMP ROBINSON, Ark. —
(ANP)—Major Gen. Robert C.
Richardson, Jr., commanding
general of the seventh army
corps and in charge of the sol
diers in this area where difficul
ties arose between members of
the 94th engineers, people cf the
town of Gurdon and state police,
last week, gave a personal ac
count of the occurrence and as
surance that the rights of the
men would be protected, in an
interview granted to the Associ
ated Neerro Press this Saturday.
Gen. Robinson, who put his views
on paper, said:
“A full investigation of the
matter disclosed that a few of the
soldiers of the 94 th engineers
were alleged to have conducted
themselves in a rowdy manner
in the town of Gurdon, cursing
some of the white inhabitants.
This action engendered much ill
feeling cn the part of the white
inhabitants.
“The next day further diffi
culty occurred between the state
nolice and the Negro troops on
the highway, which, the report
of the state superintendent of
police, discloses, was initiated by
one of the men swearing at peo
ple passing automobiles. On
the other hand, the state police
were unduly pxcited in handling
the situation! At a conference,
that was held in my headquart
ers, matters were satisfactorily
arranged and a thorough under
standing of the rights of the sol
diers and the treatment that was
to be accorded 1fiem by the con
stituted authorities emphasized.
“Since that date there has
been no trouble whatsoever.
Some of the soldiers of the 94t.h
engineers were apprehensive
that they might become involved
in further difficulties with the
people of Gurdon, and summarily
left the cantonment without
permission. They should be urged
to return to their military com
mand, as they have committed a
military offense. I can assure you
that their rights are being well
protected by the military authori*
ties. On the other hand, they will
be required to conform to the
proper standards demanded of all
soldiers in their relations with the
civilian inhabitants.”
hatchway, large enough for an av
erage size man to crawl through
was the only way of escape. The
fire was already on the ship and
sweeping everything in its path
when the men in these holds learn
ed of their situation.
SMITH TELLS DRAMA
Illustrative of the drama that oc
curred in more instances than one
(Continued on Back Page)
Marian Anderson To
Appear In Jackson
October 20
The Jackson Music Association
and Harmonia Club. Inc., are pre
senting the “WORLD FAMOUS
CONTRALTO”, Marian Anderson
in concert on Monday, October 20
1941 at 8:15 P. M. at the City Au
ditorium in Jackson. Mississippi
Excellent seating arrangements
have been provided in the Orches
tra, as well as the balcony.
These organizations are fortunate
in being able to present this world
famous artist, and we feel confi
dent that you, as patrons of good
music, will cooperate fully and
enjoy with us this concert which
will be long remembered. We urge
you to buy your tickets early.
Christian Rescue
Mission Launched
iln Jackson
A state-wide Christian Rescue
| Mission Service has been launched.
| of which Jackson, Mississippi is
its local birthplace and Home
Management Office.
The Rescue Mission is an or
ganization founded upon the spirit
of being charitable to those that
are in need, whom by certain pro
cedures have failed to obtain prop
er care from destitute conditions.
The idea originated by Rev, D
C. Griffin and several others who
now constitutes the personnel of
the Christian Rescue Mission Staff.
The Mission is mostly concerned of
(Continued on Back Page)
Chicago Police Hold
Jackson Murderer
Bennie Bryant, Jackson Negro
wanted for the murder of Eva Jen
kins, Negro woman back in 1936
is being held by Chicago police, the
Jackson police department was ad
vised today.
Bryant, who fled after the killing
was indicted at the next term of
court, but had never been appre
hended. On a tip that he was ln
Chicago, Jackson ponce notified th“
officers there some time ago, but he
was never picked up until arrest,
ed last week under another chare*
of rape. B
Police here have placed a de
tainer against him, to return him
here for trial when Chicago officer*
are through with him. He allege*
ly murdered the Jenkins woman in
an argument over money. m