Sunday Chicago bee. [volume], May 04, 1941, SECTION ONE, Image 1

About Sunday Chicago bee. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1925-19??

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
Former “Back To _ 1 Murdered
ON FORD HOUR
DOROTHY MAYNOR
Brilliant soprano who appeared as guest soloist on the Ford Sunday
Evening Hour last Sunday. Miss Maynor included in her program
two Negro spirituals. She was accompanied by the Ford Sunday
Evei*!ng Hour symphony orchestra.
‘BACK TO AFRICA’ '
OFFICER IS SLAIN
-4. _>•
_
COMMUNITY
__ ; 7
By F. T. LANE
HERE AND THERE
Fashion shows have be
come to be almost an epidemic
but they have turned out to be a
number one method i'or raising
money. And why shouldn’t they
be pc ^ular? Every one likes pret
ty c0U£hes and they like to see
others strut in stunning things
even if the models themselves
dont’t look the part or have the
right personality for the clothes
The last one we attended and
liked very much was the St. Ed
munds show. It had every thing.
Good direction, lovely models,
well designed outfits, sufficient
light and an arrangement such
that every one could see.
Not a dull moment for the im
mense crowd which was not bad
looking and on its best behavior.
The audience had a good time, the
producers got publicity, the models
got applause and the church made
money. It was a fine cultural ex
perience.
* * *
WE WISH SOME or-2 would
come along with an idea
that would bring a lot of atten
tion to the improvement of our
streets, alleys and yards. They
need to be improved and glo
rified. Previous efforts at
Flower shows and Garden ex
hibits have not attracted erough
people. However, the adorn
ment and appearance of the
premises in which we live is
just as important as wearing
beautiful clothes or driving high
powered cars.
This ought to be a good place
to put in a word for the all
neighberbood tea which will oc
cur in a few weeks. Many
neighborhood clubs will have
done a great deal to improve
their blocks and the public will
have a good chance to meet and
encourage these leaders.
We hope it won’t be long be
fore we can go through any
block in the community and not
be ashamed. Some day riders
on the elevated cars won’t be
able to point with scorn to the
“Negro Neighborhood with dir
ty dingy porches and filthy
back yards” and continue to
vote restrictions against us.
* * *
THE “GRAND MARCH OF
States” program which the
Urban League is conducting is
quite appropriate to the work
which the League has been con
ducting for the past twenty-five
years. The League was born
when thousands were marching
from the Southern States to take
up residence in Chicago.
It has been the principal agency
battling to help them become a
real part of this metropolitan city
(Continued on page 2, col. 1.)
The Peace Movement of Ethi
i cpia which figured so prominently
. :n tlie n,-ws 1938 and 1939 in
lit:- .ight :«•** me passage of *1
‘ Back to Africa” bill was again
projected on the public eye—this
time violently—when one of its
members was slain and two oth
ers wounded in a gun battle.
The slaying, police stated, cul
minated an altercation over an
other “Back to Africa” bill which
it was stated the organization in
tends bringing before Congress
in the near future.
Shooting Endsi Fuss Over Bill
Disagreement over the manner
in which the matter was being
handled led to the fatal wound
ing of Joseph Rockmore, 3742
South State street, a former presi
dent of the organization. Rock
more’s wife, Mrs. Luci’etia Rock
more, was also shot when Sylves
i ter Washington, 1357 W. 13th
| street and Rockmore engaged in
! a gun battle in Rockmore’s home
| last Friday night.
Washington, who will be ar
i raigned in Criminal Court this
morning (Thursday) was shot in
the leg. He was arrested last
Friday in his home. Rockmore
died Tuesday in county hospital.
He was shot in the abdomen. The
inquest will be held at county
morgue Thursday (today).
Detectives Clarence Jones and
James Brown of the 4th district
police, who are conducting the in
vestigation, learned that there had
been dissension in the organiza
tion for some time. Mrs. M. M.
L. Gordon, who in 1938 refuted
the claims of a Detroit group that
they were sponsors of the “Back
to Africa” bill with documentary
proof and a copy of the bill which
appeared in the Congressional Di
gest, is president of the Peace
Movement of Ethiopia.
Headquarters of the organiza
tion was at that time located at
4451 South State street.
Bilbo Efforts Fizzle Out
Mrs. Gordon led a delegation of
devotees to the nation’s capitol
and was present with them when
Senator Theodore Bilbo of Missis
sippi introduced the bill before
Congress. Despite the efforts of
the group the bill fell through
when congressmen walked out
during the Mississippi legislator’s
impassioned presentation in its
behalf.
Washington, Detective Jones
stated Wednesday to a BEE re
porter, went to the Rockmore
home to discuss the new bill
which the organization is perfect
ing for its re-introduction in
Congress. An argument arose and
reached heated proportions. Wash
ington, it was stated, was trying
to rout Mrs. Gordon from her
position as head of the organiza
tion.
Both men drew guns, accord
ing to Washington’s statement to
police. Mrs. Rockmore, the only
witness, was wounded in the neck.
Her condition was described as
serious by county hospital.
(Continued on page 2, col. 2.)
~ '.
A BETTER PAPER 17 rp g
AT LESS COST /"I ==========
At All News Stands
Volume 32, Number 18 TELEPHONE BOU. 7002 SUNDAY, MAY 4, 1941 IN TWO SECTIONS: SECTION ONE
PORTERS WIN
$500,000 IN
PAY INCREASES
Decision Of Major
Importance
A revised agreement, which
culminated negotiations between
officials of the Brotherhood of
Sleeping Car Porters and the
Pullman company covering more
than five months, won for the
Pullman porters wage increases
totalling more than $500,000, it |
was disclosed this week.
The agreement was signed in j
the Pullman Building in Chicago!
on Apr. 18 and affects porters, j
maids, attendants and bus boys
Champ Carry, executive vice,
tpresident of the Pullman company
■ anVi1 A,.- Philip Randolph, iutersp;- '
tional president of the brother
hood, signed the document.
Negotiations were at one time i
broken off because of sharp dif- j
ferences between the management
and the representatives of the
employes and plans then went
ahead to ask the National Medi
ation Board to step in so that a
settlement of the dispute might
be reached.
The Pullman management was
advised that if after a certain
time information \ftas not receiv
ed by the Brotherhood to the ef
fect that some substantial con
cessions might be made to the or
ganization that might be satisfac-.
tory, the dispute would be re
ferred to the National Mediation
Board.
Before the expiration of the
time set by the Brotherhood the
management stated it was their
belief that with an open mind in
approaching the problems con
fronting the management and the
union, it was possible to reach
an agreement mutually satisfac
tory. Conferences for negotiation
on the proposals submitted by the
Brotherhood and the management
were then resumed.
After long and hard debates
day in and day out, definite pro
gress was reflected in the settle
ment upon rule after rule, includ
ing monetary compensation as
well as the clarification and re
(Continued on page 2, col. 6.)
NAACP PICKET DEFENSE INDUSTRY PLANT
IGNORES SOOTH
SOCIAL ISSUE
IN DECISION
Ruling Of Major
Significance
By ALBERT ANDERSON
WASHINGTON, May 1—(AN
P)—Inferior railroad accommo
dations to Negroes are illegal and
must stop.
This significant decision was
handed down Monday by the Unit
ed States supreme court when it
held that Rep. Arthur W. Mitchell
of Chicago had been unjustly dis
criminated against when he was
ejected from a pullman whi
traveling from Chicag 1
would break down the
tern of race separation wh
erns Dixie.
The decision says that Negro
passengers* traveling from one
state to another are entitled to
the same accommodations as white
people receive.
Race Sole Cause
Referring to the removal oi Mr.
Mitchell from the pullman and his
being forced to complete his jour
ney in a jim crow car, Justice
Hughes said:
‘This was manifestly racial dis
crimination during an interstate
journey and admittedly this dis
crimination was based solely on
the passenger being a Negro. The
question is not whether discrimi
nation is forbidden by the Inter
state Commerce act but instead is
a question of the equality of
treatment.
“Denial of accommodation:, sole -
ly on the grounds of race is an
invasion of fundamental indivb
ual right which is guaranteed a
gainst state action by the 14th a
mendment in view of the nature
of the right and of our constitu
tional policy. It cannot be main
tained that discrimination in this
was not unjust.”
Arguments by Rep. Mitchell and
his counsel, * Atty. Richard West
Lrooks of Chicago, were heard
by the supereme court on March
13. He told how he had been de
nied pullman accommodations and
forced to travel second class in a
jim crow car. Both the ICC and
the fedei'al district court for nor
thern Illinois dismissed his case,
resulting in an appeal to the high
court.
J. Stanley Payne, ICC assistant
chief counsel, and Wallace T.
Hughes, attorney for the railroads
involved, the Chicago, Rock Is
land and Pacifiic, attempted to de
fend their stand arguing that the
demand by Negroes in Arkansas
for pullman facilities was “virtu- i
ally non-existent.”
Demand Small
Solicitor General Francis Bid
dle filed a brief in support of Mr.'
Mitchell contending that the Ar
kansas separate coach law under
which the congressman was eject
ed did not apply to an interstate
passenger. He pointed out also
that the small number of Negroes
asking for first class accommoda
tions did not justify an occasional
discrimination against them be
cause of their race.
In an attempt to prevent a de
cision involving the Arkansas sep
arate coach law, similar to those
in other southern states, the at
(Continucd on page 2, col. 2.)
Civic, social welfare and religious leaders joined the jobless when
a picket line was thrown around the Bauer ar«d Black company
last week in protest of discrimination in industries holding de
fense contracts. Among them were: Joseph Jeffersor-, Negro La
bor Relations League; Ashby B. Carter, National Alliance of Postal
Employees; Ira W. Williams, president of Chicago Branch, NAACP;
Leon P. Simpson, Washington Park Housir-j Committee; St. Clair
Drake, National Negro Congress; Lloyd Wheeler, NAACP; Mrs.
Ruth Baler, Fur Workers Union; W. S. A. Jordan, Wm. T. Boles,
Metrpolitan Men’s Community club; Islimael P. Flory, Natior.-al Ne
gro Congress; Frances T. Moseley, Youth Director, NAACP; Rev.
D. DeWitt Turpeau, Jr., pastor, Indiana Avenue ME church; Law
rence Andrews, Mid South Side Youth Council, NAACF; Mrs.
Eugenia Ivy, Natioral Negro Congress. Twenty girls from the
striking w’orkers at the New York Handkerchief company arc also
shown.
JUBILANT
MITCHELL SAYS HE,S HAPPY;
PREFERS TO FIGHT CASE ALONE
WINNER
Congressman Arthur W. Mitch
ell was in Chicago to deliver an
address before the National As
sociation of Postmasters when he
learned of the favorable decision
of the U. S. Supreme court
in his case against the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
Railway.
The court decision will make it
mandatory that railroads give
equal accommodations to travelers
regardless of race when they are
traveling from one state to an
other.
“Naturally I was overjoyed at
the verdict,” Mitchell told a Bee
reporter in his office in the Regal
Building.
“This the first time that a real
court action, aimed at the heart
of Jim Crow has been filed, pro
perly presented and fought through
to a conclusion,” the congressman
asserted.
“I fought the case single hand
ed,” he continued. “Richard
Westbrooks, that able attorney
from this city and I did all the
legal work and I paid every cent
ol the expenses out of my own
pocket. The NAACP and a few
individuals wished to enter the
case after it appeared that I had
a chance to win but I was deter
mined to complete the task myself.
“One thing you can say and
that is that Arthur Mitchell is a
fighter and can be counted upon
to stay in the battle to the finish.
What a sorry and contemptible
sight the attorney generals from
those 10 states, sworn to uphold
the constitution of the United Stat
es, represent. Crawling to court
that sought to nullify the statute
which gave to all American citi
zens equality under the law which
they within the confines of their
individual states deny. Negroes
will now be able to travel from
north to south and from south to
north decently if they wish to pay
for that type of accommodations.”
Colored Hostesses
To Be Stationed
At Illinois Camp
Lieut. George Bowser, chaplain
of the Government Ordnance
camp at Savannah, 111., who was
in Chicago on business last week
and paid a visit to the offices of
the BEE, stated that as soon as
buildings are completed on the
camp site hostesses will be select
ed and at least two assigned.
About 800 colored selectees are
stationed there. The camp is lo
cated in the northwest corner of
Illinois. These selectees have the
responsible task of learning all
about how bombs and other am
munition are made. Because this
requires a fairly high rate of in
telligence there is opportunity for
better pay than in regular camps.
Lieut. Bowser advised the wo
men who apply for such positions
should not be under the age of
35. He is attempting to arrange
for 100 women from Chicago to
visit the camp.
Demand Probe
In Death Of
Harlem Dancer
NEW YORK,Ma y 1—Because
eye-witness accounts and police
stories differ about the arrest and
brutal beating of Grant O. Paige,
Harlem dancer, who died Sunday,
April 12, in Bellevue hospital, 48
hours after he had been arrested,
the New York branch of the Nat
ional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People will make
an investigation of the case. The
branch’s investigation was re
quested by the sister of the dead
man.
In a letter to Police Commis
sioner Lewis J. Valentine, Lionel
Barrow, branch president, wrote:
“It has been some time since
this body has had to take issues
with the poice department con
cerning brutality. In the best in
terests of all concerned, we hope
we shall never have to do so
again.”
Mr. Barrow noted that Paige’s
body had been turned over to the
city and suggested that the police
department hold it until a thor
ough investigation can be made,
notify the NAACP of the coro
ner’s report and of any investi
gation by the police department.
CONG. A. W. MITCHELL
Congressman Mitchell, lone Ne
gro Democrat from Illinois who
this week praised his counsel,
Attorney Westbrooks, for the
successful handling of liis suit to
end discrimination on railroads
and assure equal accomodations
for all, regardless of race.
INJURES SELF WHILE
INTOXICATED, DIES
When she plunged her arm
through a plate glass door, sus
taining a deep laceration of the
wrist, Mrs. Estelle Collins, 3301
Vernon avenue was so seriously
injured that she died ten hours
later in county hospital. An ex
cessive loss of blood caused the
woman’s death. She injured her
self while intoxicated last Sat
urday morning. A verdict of ac
cidental death was returned at the
inquest Monday.
■hemmhbs niRgnmssKiiHlMRanaHSHmBi
ATTY. R. E. WESTBROOKS
Brilliantly handled the railroad
case for Congressman Arthur
W. Mitchell, who won a decision
from the U, S. supreme court
saying that Negroes should be
allowed equal Pullman accom
modations.
WOMAN KNIFED
IN FUSS OVER MAN
When she and another woman
disagreed over the attention ot
a man, Mrs. Sarah Hicks, 1334
South Throop street received a
laceration of the throat when the
other woman, Mrs. Mary Williams
1441 Hastings street attacked her
in the home of a friend at 446
Bowen avenue Saturday night.
The woman was taken to Provi
dent hospital by Leo Nichols
1437 Hastings, a witness. Her
injury was not considered serious