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Accurate Local and NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE VOLUME 2, NUMBER 8 JACKSON, MISS., SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1941 PRICE FIVE CENTS » Chicagoan ’s Claim Halts Settlement Of $15,000,000Fortune State Discharges Ex-Service Men To Civilian Life To the Seie'tivr Service System has been asvyiHd the responsibil *.ty of returning ex-service men to tneir places in civilian life or in ivrding jobs for those who were not the armed fo**?*js of the Nation. According to Brigadier Genera) Thomas J. Gravson State Director of Selective Service, the Reemploy ment Committee set up in ihe 107 areas of Selective Service Local Boards in Mississippi are meeting with a cordial response on the part of employers and the public in this effort. The Mississippi State Em ployment Service is according close cooperation in this program. To emphasize the gravity and importance of this undertaking and of the responsibility of the public to men returning from the Service, General Grayson today released the following editorial, which re cently appeared in the Chicago Herald and American under the caption, A PROMISE THAT MUST BE KEPT: “As Illinois soldiers over 2£ years old are discharged and return home, the Soldier’s Friend depart ment of The Chicago Herald-Amer ican receives an increasing r umber of complaints that many are not getting their civilian jobs back. “Before they uere inducted they were led to believe that they WOULD get their jobs back “The selective service la-.v pro vides that they are to get them back (or ‘ position of like seniority, status and pay’) unless the em ployed’s circumstances have so changed as to make thR rehiring ‘impossible or unreasonable,’ and ft was the assurance given in that law that sent many of them away to the army with easy minds. They would not have to worry about finding a new way to make a liv ing when they came home again. “Those who have come back to find that they Do have to worry about it naturally feel they have been let down. “They have made sacrifices to serve their country, and the prom ises that their interests would be looked after while thev were doing it have .not been fulfilled ‘•There will be, of course, cases in which the promise of a job to return to actually cannot be kept-, particularly in view of the damage defense priorities are about to do to many kinds of civilian business “But in every case wnere the promise CAN be kept, it SHOULD be and MUST be. “The draft boards, whose duty it is under the law to help returned soldiers get their jobs, must exert themselves to see that every such promise is kept that can be. “Paul G. Armstrong, state di rector of selective service, estimates that by Christmas-time 7,000 Illi nois soldiers will have been return ed to civil life under the age rul ing. “We owe it to them, in simple appreciation of men who have done their duty, in our defense, to flit them as swiftly, and smoothly as possible into jobs and a normal civilian life. “And we owe it also to the men who still are IN the army. “For their peace of mind, which is what ‘morale means, we must make it plain by our deeds that we meant what we said when we promised to keep their Jobs for them until they came back.” Governor Johnson Okehs All-Weather Highway ALOORN. MISS., Nov. 8— While discussing the facilities needed in Mississippi, last week Governor Johnson said that he woud sup port a proposal for an all-weather road from United States highway Cl to Alcorn A. and M. College. “The road now available to the college y a disjrace." stated the Governor. *T hops the Legislature will make wme provision whereby the Highway Department ea,n build a good roau to it.” Contractor Charges He Was Husband Of Indian TULSA, Okla.— (ANP)—The action of Mitchell Knight en, Chicago building contractor, in challenging Sapulpa court’s disposition of the .$15,000,000 oil holdings of a de ceased Indian woman halted the payment of $7,413,286 to the half sister and two nephews of the deceased woman. Knighten’s suit, an outright claim, was filed in United States district court here November 1 against Sinclair Oil and Gas company, Sinclair Prairie Oil company, Reserve Development company and Minnehoma Oil and Gas company for full pos session of the 160 acres of oil producing property in Creek county. Ruling that the late Lete Kelvin died in 1930 and her husband was killed the following year in a car accident, Judge C. O. Beaver in I the Sapulpa decision awarded the estate to Mrs, Izora Alexander Lee of Claremont, Okla., as half sister to the deseased woman, and to sur viving nephews, Willie and Floyd Mayweather, Kansas City, Mo., packing house workers. Knlghten makes the claim that he married Lete Kelvin in 1907 and that she was known thereafter as Lete Knighten, Lydia Field, Lydia Monahwee, and Little Moffer. He stated that he lived with the In dian woman until 1912 when he went to Louisiana because of a brother’s illness. He further claims that she died in 1917, a victim of a jealous Indian lover. According to the claim of the Mayweather brothers, Lete Kolvin was supposed to have married a Joe Stevens before 1906 and she died in 1930 and Stevens was killeo in 1931. While it does not mention the Sapulpa findings, Knighten’s suit, however, ties up the estate pending settlement of his claims. If the federal court upholds the claim, the ( entire estate will go to Knighten. ! Representing Knighten are: Attys. George C. Adams, Chicago; A. B. Honnold and Jay W. Whitney. A secretary, bodyguard and special investigator, Sheridan Bruseaux have also been retained by Knigh ton. Funeral Rites Held For James Slaughter Funeral rites for James (Jim) Slaughter, prominent and well known local contractor and carpen ter, was held at his residence, 146 East Davis Street, following his death early Saturday morning from a stroke of paralysis. The Revs A. L. Holland, W. A. Bender and A B. Keeling officiat ed at the ceremony. The deceased is survived ty his wife, Mrs. Anna Parish Slaugh ter; one son, Clem Slaughter; his mother, a sister, Miss Elmer Slaughter, a teacher at Smith Robertson School, several brothers, a host of relatives and friends. Axtive pallbearers were; Mr. Will Laws, Will Robertson, Mar vin Alexander. Frank Moore, Ken ste Coleman, O. C. Jackson, Mel vin Robinson, S. S. McLaughlin and Mr. James Proctor. Inter ment at the Tougaloo Cemetery. JOSHUA JONES By I. P. Reynolds Bro. Bell says folks who claim to stand in are sometimes the first to fall out. Organizing To Keep Grip On Rail Industry Planning Drive To Win Measure Of Justice NEW YORK—(NNS)—The «a- , tion’s Neero firernen are organiz ing to prevent their elimination from the railroad industry, and are preparing a campaign to win a measure of justice and equitable treatment. This was clearly emphasized I when plans of the recently-forced Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Por ters Provisional Committee for Colored Loomotive Firemen were made known here this week. The committee was set up on the initi ative of the Sleeping Car Porterr Brotherhood and is the clumina tion of that organization’s inter est in the problems of the unor ganized Negro firemen. It represents some 2,000 Negro firemen whose jobs are seriously menaced by the present trend in the railroad industry toward dis placement of Negro stoker?. I The immeditate program of the committee calls for the initiation of a series court actions di rected toward the invalidation of certain agreements negotiated with the rail carriers by the Brother hrod of Locomotives Firemen and Enginemen. The latter union does not admit Negroes to its member ship and has consistently refus ed to deal with grievances of Ne gro firemen. The situation was explained to an NNS representative by Harold A. Stevens, attorney for the com mittee, who described other plans of the firemen’s group to present their case to the publishing. DETERIORATED Before the last war practically all firemen stoking Southern loco motives were Negroes, severely ex ploited and ill-paid. Speradic at tempts had been made to organize the men without definite result. When during the World War, the government took over operation of railroads, wages were increased and many improvements brought about. However, with the return to private management following the war, the contracts made by the govern (Continued on Back Page) Race Soldiers Arrive To Defend Air Base AUGUSTA, Ga.—<(SNS)—Five hundred Negro sol diers, connected with the 77th Coast artillery regiment arrived here Thursday, October 6, from Fort Bragg, N. C. These men will be stationed here at the Daniel Field for two weeks. They will ‘defend” the Augusta Air Base during the Carolina maneuvers. The regiment is under the command of Lt. Col. E. McGarraugh, of the coast artillery corps. Celebrated Singer Inspects Employment Office For Girls NEW YORK CITY—Dorothy May nor (center) so prano, and Governor Lehman’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Harold M. Lehman, chairman of the benefit commit tee of the Women’s Trade Union League, look over a poster announcing the opening of the new “Day Work” office for Negro girls during an inspection visit to the Model Employment Office of Today. Looking on is Mrs. Minnie Blackmon, interviewer of the Day Work Office. The new employment office replaces the “slave markets” which existed on some street corners iii the Bronx, where housewives bar gained on the streets with scores of young Negro domestic workers for their services.—(ACME.) I Better Representation In Gov’t Asked By Nabrit Miss. Methodists Convene The 74th Session of the Missis sippi Conference met in the beau tiful new 24-room St. Paul Meth odist Church, Meridian. Miss., ot which the Rev. E. A. Mayes is the past oaf. Three sessions a day were broad cast from the church over Radio Station WCOC, the bishop distin guishing himself as an announcer. More than four hundred minister? and laymen attended the meet ing. The conference was presid ed over by Bishop R. E. Jones, Senior Bishop of the Central Jurisdiction. Rev. W. H. Bladk man was elected secretary of the conference, and Rev. p. A. Tay lor. statician. The conference adopted a bud get of $$]9,784.99 for the year. All monies of the conference were handled by the Rev. A. L. Hol land who was elected treasure: last year to serve four years. The cbnference preserved the assis tant treasurer, Mrs L. V. Hol land. with a beautiful pen and pencil sett and the Bishop in mak ing the presentation said the work of the office was the best report in the New Orleans Area. All of the pastors serving in Jackson were returned for an other year. Rev. W. H. Black man for his second year at Pratt, Rev A. L. Holland for his nihth 3par at Central; Rev. S. L. Webb to Jackson Circuit for his third year; and Rev. L. E. John son as District Superintendent on the Jackson District, Few changes were made in the conference. Dr. G. W. Smith was retired and appointed field agent for the Pension Fund for retired minis ters. The conference next year goes to Wesmey Methodist church Vicksburg, Rev. M. P. Johnson, pastor. The session just closed was said by all lo have been the best in the | history of the church. Rev. Mayes was returned to St. Paul for his ninth year to the delight of many. ] JAIL 200 SOLDIERS BROWNWOOD, Tex.—(A N P)— For creating a disturbance in the | Negro section of this city Satur day, two hundred colored soldiers] from Damp Bowie were placed in the city’s jail. The action grew out of attempts of two officers to quiet the disturbance. Outlines Nine Positions Negroes Should Be Holding By OTTO McCLARRIN WASHINGTON, D. C.—(SNS)— Insisting that more than ten mil lion Negroes in America are with out actual representation in the executive branch of the government in the most perilous time in our history, James M. Nabrit, Jr., At lanta-born, Secretary of Howard University, presented a Ten Point Demand Program in an interview this week which he believes will help bring about a solution to many of the most critical of the Negro’s present day problems. The able administrative oincial urges Negro leaders to stop vieing for self glory and to unite and fight for nine actually constructive posts in our government du irig the present national crisis. LISTS POSITIONS The Ten Point Program includes a demand for nine government po sitions, which, if held by Negroes, will insure better representation for colored Americans in the executive branch of the government. Such representation, Mr. Nabrit believes, will eliminate numerous decisions and policies of governmental offi cials which have not been to the Negro’s best interests. The university secretary main tains that every individua1, group and newspaper among Negroes should forego quarrels over petty differences of opinion and join in a collective effort to obtain the following positions and representa tion for Negroes: i. An administrative assistant to the President of the United States (Continued on Back Page) First Head Nurse Named On Coast LOS ANGELES, Calif.—(ANP)— For the first time in the history of California, a Negro head nurse was appointed at the General hospital last Monday, when at the results of competitive examination Mrs. Ferrol Bobo Conner received the I appointment . I Mrs. Connor was selected from 30 other nurses who took the test. The position is a promotional one. She I is a native of Arkansas, but at tended school at USC and City col lege. For more than six years she ha^ been associated with the Gen nerai hospital. Mrs. Connor is also a gradaute of the County Hospital ' school. She will head Unit 2. Chanute Field Air Workers To Alabama Station New Tuskegee Base to Be Ready in December | CHANUTE FIELD, 111.— (ANP) —Those portions of the 99th Pursuit squadron which have been trained here are leaving to day for Maxwell field, the big army air base located at Mont gomery, Ala. The two units which include the mechanical trainees and air base detachment cf the all-Negro aviation organization will be stationed at Maxwell field pending the completion of the permanent base which will be at Tuskegee, Ala. Work at Tuskegee is proceedingiy rapidly, 1,500 men being employed in day and night shifts. The field there is expected to be completed in De cember. There were 364 men in the group leaving Chanute field, 334 of them traveling in a troop train while 30 others made the trip in private conveyances. Remaining at Chanute after the transfer is completed will be about 30 men of the two organi zations, including a few students who have not as yet completed their courses and other personnel now confined to the hospital. (Continued on Back Page) Jury Upholds Guard In Killing SPARTA, Ga. (SNS) — Boston Evans, a colored convict serving a life sentence for murder, was justifiably shot to death by guard William. Archer, a coroners jury decided Monday, according to Act ing Coroner Holland A. Berry. Berry said testimony showed the convict wiaa thnehtening- -to kill another colored man in a bullpen ! of the Hancock County prison camp when the guard shot him through a window with a shotgun Sunday. Denied Right To Bury His 'Friend' GARY, Ind.— (ANP)—The case of “who has the right to bury the body of Edward Monroe” was decided in superior court here last Tuesday when Judge B. C. Jenkines ruled that Hower’s Funeral Home here bt> permitted to proceed with the funeral. The controversy grew out of a writ issued in favor of Leo A. Taylor, white southerner, against the funeral home for possession of the body. Taylor’s claim to the body was made because he had taken an insurance policy out on the deceased friend, and that he had the right to say who would perform the burial ceremony. Last Monday, while Monroe’s last rites were in progress at the new Hower’s funeral home, the writ in favor of Lee Taylor was served by sheriffs to halt the cere mony. The writ stated that Taylor was the close friend of the de ceased and was desirous of hav ing the Creswell Funeral Home take care of the body. Atty. Ben jamin F. Wilson, engaged by Hower’s immediately catapulted the case into superior court for a hearing to determine who would bury Monroe. INSURANCE POLICY At the Tuesday’s hearing, Atty. Wilson developed from his cross examination that Taylor’s claim was made because of the insurance policy taken out and paid during the Iife of Monroe and that al though Taylor claimed such affec tion for the deceased, he did not provide him with adequate shelter during his illness. Taylor admitted giving Monroe a shanty in which to live. No known relatives were listed as surviving Monroe, and it was brought to life that Mrs. Lacefield, a sweetheart for the past ten years, and some close /r lends luid arranged for his hospitalization at Mercy hospital and made arrange ments for his funeral. Taylor and his wife attempted to take possession of the body in order to be in position to say who should bury the deceased. No other motive, outside of the policy angle could be established for their con ! duct, and it was further learned that Monroe had acted as a “flunky’ in their back yard during his lifetime. Judge Jenkins ruled that he felt the fight was more of an under takers’ quarrel than anything else, and since representatives of Cress well Funeral Home did not appear in court, the writ was denied. Two Killed While Watching Parade HOUSTON—(SNS)—Two un identified colored men were kill ed and at least two others in jured critically Tuesday when a metal and concrete awning on which a crowd stood to watch the Armistice Day parade col lapsed. Those on the awning were dropped about 20 feet. A number of persons standing un. der the awning were pinned be neath the debris. The parade was stopped when the crash occurred. King Hiram Grand Lodge VICKSBURG, Miss.—The King Hiram Grand Lodge, Scottish Rite. A. F. & A. M. of Mississippi held their 1941 Annual session here Sun day, November 2nd, with one of the largest delegations in attend ance in the fraternal history of the Hill city. The session opened with a Street Parade Sunday morning, which was said to have been one of the longest and best order parades to be seen in Vicksburg. With special bus accommodations, delegates attended the session from every section of the state as well as a number of prominent frater nal leaders from Louisiana and Tennessee, according to Mr. Clar ence Winters 33 degree Grand Sec retary. The reports received at the session were the best he had re ceived during his tenure of office, not only in finance, but in show ing the largest gain in Mississippi throughout the jurisdiction of any period in the lodge’s history. At the session several changes made in the organization in order to simplify the administration, the most important being the transfer of the widows department to the office of the Grand Lodge, and the election of G. D. Sharpe of Clarks dale as Treasurer of the Widow’s department. The headquarters of the lodge is located in Jackson with HI. J. C. McLendon 33 degree Grand Mas ter, and HI. Clarence Winters, 33 degree Grand Secretary. Large Crowd Sees Tougaloo, Alcorn In 0-0 Tie By PERCY GREENE JACKSON, Miss.—(SNS)— In bit ing cold, perhaps, the worst in early November here in many years that brought out heavy blankets quilts, shawls, and other warmth giving additions to overcoats, more than 2000 spectators, old grads and former students of the two rival clans .gathered under the bright lights of Mlllsaps College Stadium here Saturday night for the annua) Homecoming Game between Coach “Duke” Williams Tougaloo College Bulldogs and Coach Abraham’s Al corn College Braves, between whom there has developed in the past few years the keenest and some time most bitter rivalry as can be found existing between any twc schools in the country. In spite of the biting cold a good ly crowd had entered the stadium ! an hour before game time, as t? ; time for the starting whistle ap proached and before the end of the first quarter, bonfires on the ramparts and under the flats around the stadium reminded one of a picture of an ancient army camp on a cold winter night. As a prelude to the bitter 0-0 deadlock that followed the keen rivalry that exist between the twc schools can well be seen from the fact that, with only a few minutes before the starting whistle Coach Abraham of Alcorn approached Coach Williams of Tougaloo and voiced his objection to the use, as an official, of John H. Young III former Jackson College Coach, who had come from New Orleans foi that purpose, and asserted that ii Coach Williams insisted on using Young the Alcorn Team would not play. According to Coach Williams, all the officials had been certified and agreed upon three days before. With Coach Williams conceding to the demands of Alcorn in re spect to Young, the game got un derway promptly at 9 o’clock. As the game progressed it de veloped into a contest mainly be tween Braddock. sensational hard running and consistent punting Tougaloo back, and Lenora, former Alexander High School Star, and four year Big “8” choice, Alcorn triple threat ace, as each turned in some sparkling performances as the game wore on. In the first quarter Braddock had the Tougaloo crowd yelling as he took the ball on his 40 to skirt around the Alcorn right to place the ball on the Alcorn 15, and late in the second quarter Lenora back on his 30 went around right to the Tougaloo 10 the play that saw the ball advanced to the Tou galoo 2 yard stripe. Both teams missed at least one good chance to tally. In the first quarter, Alcorn kicked to Tougaloo to open the game, and on the (Continued on Back Page) Local Business Man Hurt W. J. Summers, prominent local business man and owner and op erator of the Blacks tone Cafe Summer’s Grocery and Market, ano a number of other business enter prises, was painfully, but not ser iously hurt when a Plymouth Coupe in which he was driving North or Parish Street collided with a car driven by a non-commissioned of ficer from the Jackson Air Ba«< at the corner of Amite and Fari> Streets, Saturday night. Mr. Summers received a number of scratches and bruises about th legs and body, and the driver of thr other car also suffered several mi™ In the car with Mr. Summers was Miss Elmer Hodges an Was of the Blackstone Cafe, who*?* h0“' the time of th accident, also received minor 1 thf^lK”" b“Uy '"“”**«*