St. Paul recorder. [volume], November 27, 1959, Image 2

About St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000

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ST. PAUL RECORDER
"An Independent Newspaper"
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Memberi Mlaaaaata Nrwapapar Aaaaatatlaa
-• Natlaaal Mawaa- Pa Wjabata I■■ ■ riattaa
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..ollTty
Itted at
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The RECORDER believes no man should be denied the rtjht to
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Man, no man's rights are safe.
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 27. 1959
Political Vision Needed
With the Presidential nomination conventions only eight short
months away, the national Negro leadership, both political and semi
political is fumbling around without any clear outline of a policy or
program which might be projected to insure and protect the interests
of the American Negro One-Tenth in the coming national political
campaigns.
Unlike the farm interests, the business and industry interests,
and the organized labor interests, the Negro on the national level finds
himself without a well-defined program which might be presented
with success to both major parties, and their candidates, as the min
imum of what the Negro voter expects in party platforms, candidates
and performances.
The reason why this is so may be traced' to a number of circum
stances. Two of them are that the two national civic organizations,
into which the Negro pours much of his interest, energies, money and
brain power, the Urban League and the NAACP are not political
organizations, even in the smallest sense
The Urban League, even if it could speak politically for a sub
stantial group of Negrdes. would if it engaged in political activity
lose its purpose, direction and status as an effective social work organ
ization It is designed to do a job which is certainly vital and important,
but not in any sense political.
The NAACP is in a similar situation, and must of necessity, con
fine its work to such non-partisan activities as securing for every
Negro the right to the franchise, getting the Negro registered to
vote, lobbying for civil and human rights legislation in city councils,
state legislatures and Congress, and keeping close tab on and reporting
voting records of office-holders, and legislators at city, state and
federal levels. Such services of course are political in the larger non
partisan sense. However they do not pretend to fill the real political
need of the Negro for activity and influence within the political party
structure which begins in the precinct, stretches thru, city, ward,
county, district, state and national levels.
This work must be done to a large degree by the practical politi
cians. professional and amateur who work in the camps of both of
the major parties. These politicians have had more or less indifferent
success in securing for the Negro his rightful place, and consideration
from such political subdivisions as city councils, state legislatures
and the Congress.
The situation is understandable, because while the American Negro
materially affects the political mores of the nation, locally and nation
ally he still is not well enough organized to make his position pay off
in dividends and the capital gains from political action which for ex
ample accrue to the well organized special interests such as industry,
business, labor and the farmer.
This may be due to a lack of leadership, a lack of unselfishness
among the few political leaders the group has developed, or a lack of
those individuals who can afford large financial contributions to party
campaign funds, or as much else a lack of imagination on the part
of the "power structure" in the national Negro community.
Prior to the 195« campaign there were some signs that even the
professional Negro politicians among the Democrats, were awaking
to the fact that they were not using the great potential they held in
their hands, for the best interests of the Negro people, who should be
their prime interest even before their political affiliations. A nation
wide conference of these Democrats was called at Chicago which had
promise but miserably developed into a fight between Negroes
representing the various candidates seeking the Democratic President
ial nomination. The plight of the Negro was well forgotten by those
who in the final analysis stood to gain most if the party recognized
properly what its duty was to the Negro.
This group with tremendous potential for the racial good contended
itself with passing some innocuous resolutions which they never intend
ed! o push at the national convention of the party. Truth is many of
those at the conference were so tied to the party machinery in their
various communities and states, and their own personal political fort
unes, that they were unable to see their great opportunity for service
to the Negro American voter. A Moses was needed to lead them out of
the wilderness, but he did not appear.
Among the Negro Republicans tn recent decades there has never
been any serious attempt to wield a group together, so as to be able
to present to that party the Negro needs of the hour, and the opportun
ity the party might have to attract a larger part of the "Negro" vote,
by building a platform around the civil and human rights, which would
be supported by the office hblders elected by that party. There is some
excuse for this lack among the GOP, since that party has not been
able in the last three decades tb attract the best in Negro minds and
leadership This is the party's own fault and its apathy along this line
is tragic.
It appears in the final Analysis that the Negro minority in this
nation must not expect dynamic leadership for political advance from
the present Negro leadership in either of the parties. The very nature
of party politics, and party structure may make such a development,
well nigh impossible.
The only solution to tSe situation it seems to this newspaper
is one that it has suggested before, namely: that the real “power
structure" in the Negro national community, the business community,
the church leadership, the civic leadership and trade union leadership
no matter what their political party affiliation, form a national group
which will consider the impact of the political situation on the life
of the American Negro, and find some solution to the problem by
overall political action on those issues which adversely affect the
Negro citizen.
This may sound impractical and visionary to many. However, if
one but gives a full study to the situation as it exists in the U.S
today, where the American Negro has to beg for things, which should
be his natural right as a citizen, where the political parties, policies
are affected by his presence here and where both parties use him
shamelessly in practically all their campaigns without proper return,
the only answer may be in the formation of a group bi-partisan de
signed solely to protect and solidify the position of the Negro min
ority in the U.S., knowing full well that if the basic rights of this
group are acknowledged and protected, the entire country will bene
fit.
Whatever happens in this field the Negro himself has got to make
it happen. It won’t be easy for the Negro to organize as has other
special interests groups such as business, industry, the farmers and
the labor unions, but it appears that he must not only for his own
welfare, but for the nation which still does not live up to its cardinal
principles, of justice equality and civil liberties for all.
TAy lor 7-4021
Editor-Publisher
Advertising: Manager
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Ebony Fashion Fair Dec. 2, For Good
Cause
It was a nice sign of community maturity for two of St. Paul's
churches. Pilgrim Baptist and St. Philips both of St. Paul to join as
co-sporthors in bringing the Johnson Publications promotion, the “Ebony
Fashion Fair” to our cities for a one-night engagement. Wednesday.
December 2 at the St. Paul auditorium theater section.
Net proceeds of the affair will be used for promotion of recrea
tional programs for the youth in the area served now by Hallie Q.
Brown Community House.
The production from all we hear, and what we read in published
reports is a lavish affair in which 14 well trained Negro models, dis
play the latest fashions from the European continent and the style
salons in New York, the nations style center.
It is not our policy to use this space to advertise or publicize style
or fashion shows but this is for a good cause which will benefit a
whole community, and we urge the people of our two cities to support
the affair.
Not only will the ticket buyer receive a fine evening’s entertain
ment but also a subscription to Ebony, the worthwhile monthly mag
azine which has made such an impact on American publishing, and
which is found in thousands of homes in this area, along with of course
the publication you are reading.
Churches of the world are uniting again this month to raise funds
for a program which will send 300 million pounds of food from United
States surplus stocks to 25 distress areas abroad. It’s an opportunity
for well-fed Americans to help the needy in Austria, the Belgian
Congo. Chile. Egypt, France. Germany. Ghana. Greece. Haiti, Hong
Kong. India. Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon.
Liberia. Malaya. Nigeria. Okinawa. Pakistan. Poland, Taiwan and
Yugoslavia.
There is no waste in this program. It would please the most care
ful shopper to know that each dollar contributed will send 300 pounds
of food. Transportation of the surplus goods is largely defrayed by the
government, and much of the work is by volunteers.
The food goes in emergency relief to disaster victims, in supple-
mental feeding programs for widows, orphans and school children
in aid to hospital patients and aged people and assistance to refugees.
Shipments include flour, cornmeal and milk.
Critics who suggest feeding the hungry at home first may be
interested to know that these surplus foods are not available to the
program until provision has been made for needy people in the United
States.
Share Our Surplus, the name for the drive directed by the World
Church service, is credited with helping to save countless lives and
improving the health of millions throughout the world in the past five
years of its operation.
Sharing is a great American tradition. It becomes doubly important
as we near the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.— Grand Rapids
(Minn.) Herald Review.
Do’s And Don’ts
Check His Health With Your Doctor. Make Use Of The
Neighborhood Clinics
A Chance To Help Others
Not many people in this part of the world go hungry
Dilemma Of The Negro Writer
BY SAMUEL P. PERRY, JR.
Which breathes first—" Negro" or the "writer" ?
Dressing his pen in noiseless rhymes.
Does he float with whiplash of times?
Does he spark as the conscience-igniter?
Will his tongue border itself to tell
Delighted tea-and-crumpet cast
What they smile about his crumpled past
And what statistics steer he can sell ?
When renovated spine is leading.
With sweetened blare of contented strife,
The parade of bookish drum-and-fife, ,
Will he stanch his vinegar-bleeding?
Hings You
1 ®
I 'THE ONLY THING HE CAK WEAR OUT T
FASTER THAN SHOES -IS PARENTS?
Walter Reuther, George Meany and the other union moguls had
better get wise, and the sooner the better Their education will be
greatly speeded by prompt and thorough organization of the proposed
National Negro Labor Council.”
t/ 1 ;
5
Letters To The Editor
Union Members Pose Problems Of Labor Movement
Editor: The Percy Villa column of November 15, written by Mr
William Cratic, was very timely. To quote Mr. Cratic, “The race re
lations leadership here is being taken over by well meaning, kindly,
dedicated, and valuable "moderates.” survey experts, and “do-gooders.”
We feel that because of this approach the civil rights fight is
going backwards. This is particularly true of the labor movement in
this area. We are both members of, and consider ourselves staunch
supporters of. organized labor; however, we feel that this is the time
to “separate the sheep from the goats” in the field of civil rights
This, apparently, is what a great number of Negro labor members
are thinking. This, we feel, is what prompted A. Philip Randolph
to take the position that he did at the AFL-CIO Convention in taking
the issue of discrimination out of Executive Board sessions and on the
convention floor, subjecting himself to being insulted by George Meany.
Walter Reuther, a supposed-to-be civil rights exponent did nothing
to support Randolph.
A short time later at a UAW convention in Michigan, 45 Negro
delegates walked out of this convention over the civil rights issue.
Two Negro delegates who were nominated for officers in the union
declined to run because their nomination was for the purpose of appeas
ing the Negro members. This was mere "window dressing" without any
intention of establishing a real program in behalf of civil rights.
To quote from a national Negro newspaper covering the automo
bile convention, "Intelligent Negro laborites have twice indicated this
year that they are sick and tired of having their union bosses kid
them on this question of civil rights, anti-discrimination and deseg
regation within labor's ranks.
During World War II many new doors to employment were opened
to Negro workers generally. But what has taken place since then ’ On
the job the intra-union play regarding Negro workers is the most vic
ious system imaginable. The departments of psychology in any univ
ersity or college could very well take lessons from some of the
machine operators in any union shop. For example, one woman says to
another who happens to be.a Negro, “I am not prejudiced. I just
don’t think that you are the right person for {hat job.”
In these times of unstable emotional balance nationally, a
Negro worker in this kind of atmosphere has to be a very strong
person. He has to be almost a mechanical robot with the mental and
physical strength of a mule.
Another example of these phony liberals in labor is found in the
“social approach”—an invitation to a Negro member to have a cup
of coffee or lunch, during which time discriminatory practices are
pooh-poohed, and the gullible individual is told that there is no dis
crimination in the union, that “so-and-so” is just overly-sensitive or
has an inferiority complex. Usually this person using the social ap
proach is an officer* of a union, a business agent, or the wife or hus
band of the business agent.
Of course, a lot of the blame can be placed on the Negro union
members themselves because of their own inactivity In labor unions.
Lack of upgrading or promotion of Negro union members in in
dustry is part and parcel of union politics and, therefore, plays to the
insecure, would-be bigot, strengthening the political power of many
unscrupulous labor leaders.
What we need is less nice respectability on panel discussions such
as we have both in Minneapolis and on the state level and more action
to really weed out discrimination and segregation in labor unions.
In this period of automation, the shift of skilled workers into
new category that is neither labor nor management means that the
majority of labor members will soon be minority peoples—that of the
unskilled and sejni-skilled category. With the Negro occupying the
position of the largest minority in the United States, it is easy to
see that as the Negro goes, so goes labor. •
Labor leaders, wake up!—(Mrs.) Annacele .Johnson, Committee
Woman. 1145—Honeywell; (Mrs.) Nellie Stone Johnson, Member Amal
gamated Clothing Workers of America, November 19, 1959.
>*******»4*O***lHHH*4»l*««OllHt**lr I
POTOMAC |
Washington.—TlME OUT FOR THINKING—There is an air
of bewilderment in this town the likes of which I cannot recall
in recent years. From what it springs I am not sure. Could be
anything.
The Eisenhower administration is entering its final year.
The Democrats have too many candidates running for President.
The “big fix” on television has spoiled the fun many people
derived through this medium. All'
these elements add up to extraor
dinary confusion, in a Capital that
is notable for its lack of direction
and purpose.
Whatever the causes I always
find refuge in good reading at
times like these. So at a moment
when I am working harder and
doing more writing than I have in
a long time I also find myself
reading more than ever
There are several books and
articles that I have found partic
ularly stimulating. At the top of
the Fall book list, aside from sev
eral topical books I have men
tioned in earlier columns, I would
put Daniel Lang's new volume
"FROM HIROSHIMA TO THE
MOON” (Simon and Shuster, 496
pp . $5.95).
Lang covers “science” for The
New Yorker and his book is an
up-to-date collection of his stories,
observations and witty comments
about the men and women who
have totally altered our way of
living. It is aptly subtitled "Chron
icles of Life in the Atomic Age.”
! There is so much in this volume
! that it would be unfair to the auth
.or and to the reader to skim off
the best in a short review. Lang
has a knack for driving home his
points by anecdotal illustration
and pertinent quotes from the sub
jects of his interviews.
In one chapter entitled “A Sun
ny Spot” he tells about Dr. Lyle
Borst, who was in charge of a top
secret uranium pile at Brookhaven
. National Laboratory.
Borst was complaining about the
secrecy and how inhibiting it was.
"I see everything through a per
j iscope from behind a thick con
j crete wall—the Concrete Curtain.”
Yet Borst found solace in one
thought. “But perhaps I oughtn’t
to complain,” he said. ‘Til be
among the first to know when in
' ternational peace is a reality. The
day it happens, I’ll be told I can
open my mouth.”
The book gives a human dimen
j sion to the men of science and is
well worth reading.
THE BEST FROM BRITAIN—
WATCH
on the
By ROBERT O. SPIVACK
There are two British publications
that I read as often as I can find
the time. “Encounter", a monthly,
and the The Times ",Literary Sup
plement.” The current issue of
"Encounter” is filled with thought
ful, amusing or informative pieces.
One of the wittiest is by Colin
Wilson, the young author of "The
Outsider.” The title of the piece
is rather drab. "The Writer and
Publicity—A Reply to Critics."
But don’t let it fool you. It gives
little clue to Wilson's humor as
he takes a detached look at him
self, those who envy his success
and his contemporaries among "the
angry young men.”
You get some hint of the quality
of the humor when he writes about
a review of "The Entertainer”
which he had found boring, as did
some of the other critics. Despite
his sentiments it starred Lawrence
Olivier and went on to become a
hit.
Wilson observed:
“Finally, it was transferred to
the West End, and the spectacle
of Olivier dressed as a fourth-rate
comedian continued to draw large
audiences, rather as if one of those
dubious Berlin nightclubs adver
tised Sir Winston Churchill wrest
ling in mud with Lady Astor.”
The same issue of "Encounter”
carries an informative piece from
Moscow by Henry Brandon, Wash
ington correspondent of The Lon
don Sunday Times. Brandon is one
of the wisest British correspond
ents.
He has this to say about the
youth of Moscow University:
"They are waiting, they are
skeptical, they are not revolution
aries. They have no ideas of gran
deur of world revolution. They
want to settle down to a normal
family life, and they are waiting
to see whether Mr. Khrushchev
can give it to them.”
This news from Russia could be
more Important than the launch
ing of the Sputniks.
(Copyright. 1959. Robert O.
Spivack).
Page 2, St. Paul RECORDER, Friday, November 27, 1959
CORNER
Publisher Al Mclntosh of the Luverne, Minnesota ROCK COUNTY
STAR HERALD wrote last week:
Priceless training for any boy is the experience that comes
from carrying a paper route. A youngster learn early in life that
other people aren't as tolerant as his parents, that there is a right
and wrong way to do things . . . and "dawdling” isn't the "right”
way. A boy gets to handle money and learns the responsibility of
having to account for the money he has collected.
All in all—a paper route is an intensive short course in business
training. And above all it teaches a youngster mighty early in
life a bit about the foibles of mankind . . . that people aren't al
ways as nice as they outwardly seems . . . that the most cheerful
ones are the ones that will beat you on a bill.
A paper route can be disillusioning early In life to a paper
boy (and that Isn’t bad) and a boy has to take all these dis
appointments along with the discomfort of toting a heavy bag
of papers on a bitter cold morning or evening.
Edward Kaspszak, the busy publisher of the Columbia Heights
RECORD and other papers has a nice sense of humor. Wrote Edward
recently: Two heads are better than one . . . except of course on a glass
of beer.
And wrote Editor Kaspszak:
An undersized husband was endeavoring to intimidate his
wife. “I warn you,” he raged, “don't raise the animal in me.”
"That’s all right,” replied the wife, “I’m not afraid of mice."
The editor of the Dakota County TRIBUNE suggests as a two
part safety suggestion: "Be sure that the garage doors are open
when you start the car motor. We don't want to lose any subscribers.”
Also he wrote: “A lady writes in and says she made a mistake
in a want ad. Well, at least there's one person who doesn't blame it on
the printers."
If you are in business of this type in a community of this size,
it is difficult to move around to various public or even invitational
social or civic affairs without running into people who owe your organ
ization (firm) money or in some instances, people to whom you
yourself are indebted.
The other night at a party we chided a young matron because
she gave us a rather cold, rather strange “hello". Later on when we
both were in a conversation situation where she could not evade talking
to us. she said she had used the “cold technique" because she hadn't
paid her past due subscription!
She informed us that she and her husband were on a couple of
extensive vacation trips, and felt that since she knew we were aware
of the trip, and also her unpaid bill with us that she was certain we
were angry with her and her husband.
Fact was of course we weren't aware of her indebtedness. Funny,
we make it a practice to speak pleasantly to all of our creditors.
the reverse of the technique of the young matron and many others
who owe us money. Being cold towards those you owe and are not
paying promptly, would seem to this scrivener to be the worse kind
of public relations.
Funny too, how every individual subscriber among the several
thousands we enjoy seems to be sure that we personally know every
body who owes us a bill.
We wish we were that good and had that much time and oppor
tunity to keep up with all of the accounts, but the truth of it very few
editors and publishers keep track of the accounts of each and every
subscriber.
Usually unless the organization boasts a credit manager most
publishers keep a close tab on accounts receivable from advertising.
Numerically such accounts are so much smaller than the sub
scriber accounts which provide only a small part of the paper's revenue.
The bookkeeper of course is the person who knows who owes and who
pays promptly and regularly.
Experiences similar to the one we had at the affair mentioned
make us wonder if every time some lady scowls at us or speaks cooly,
whether or not she owes us some money!
Truth is that we seldom attend any affair public or private where
we don't run across somebody who owes the paper. This is a natural
situation. We have stopped going in some establishments, especially
the drinking places, too frequently, because often we see money due
us and other individuals and firms, being spent over the bar.
Fellows who offer to buy us round after round of drinks will
apologize for not having mailed a check for their subscription, and
proceed to continue to "set up the bar." At the same time they apologize
for their dereliction in paying their personal bills, they are apt to say
that they should have renewed their NAACP or Urban League member
ship saying glibly: "You know how it is, there are so many bills.”
A great many of us are apt to place first things last on our list
of the things to do, but good credit, well used, is a very big asset.
You get it by paying your charge accounts promptly including the
subscription to your community paper.—Cecil Newman.
An Awesome Trend In Court Habits
Taxpayers support many public institutions. Among them, our dis
trict courts. Taxes pay the salaries of judges, court reporters, prosecut
ing attorneys, jurors; the courthouse janitor. Taxes pay for light, heat
and maintenance of our Halls of Justice.
What transpires there—save for matters concerning juveniles,
illegitimacy and certain other specified matters —is a matter of public
record, open to public inspection.
There has been a tendency of late —a growing tendency—to use
our courts as a clearing house and bludgeon for obtaining settlements
out of court. This appears to apply particularly to auto injury, damage
and fatality cases. In most of these cases the identity of the real
defendant—the insurance company—is never mentioned although it is
well understood.
Opposing counsel use the court room. The judge is on duty. The
jurors wait to be drawn. Occasionally they are drawn and a part of
the testimony is in when an “out of court settlement” is reached.
Then comes the announcement, mutually agreed upon By opposing
counsel: “Terms of the settlement were not announced.”
Is that right?
Doesn’t the public have a right to know?
Should not the terms of settlement, of any case brought into any
court supported and maintained by public funds, be open to the public ?
The growing trend of “Terms of settlement not announced” cases
is awesome, with taxpayers providing the complete setup, all the
artillery, but denied the right to know the outcome.
Meanwhile, automobile liability insurance rates continue to climb
up. and up and up.—Fairmont Daily Sentinel.
People to People
One swallow doesn’t make a summer and one desegregated dinner
party doesn’t make a civil rights program. But the gracious reception
Guinea's President Sekou Toure received in North Carolina recently
is a hopeful sign for American democracy.
North Carolinians are famous for their hospitality, and they have
always been courteous to distinguished visitors, whether white skinned
or colored.
What made the Toure reception special was that Governor Hodges
and other state leaders deliberately broke the local racial pattern in
order to Include North Carolina Negroes in the welcome to the African
chief of state. There were Interracial dinners, interracial meetings, and
interracial planning of the whole affair. In race conscious North Car
olina this produced no public protests or unpleasantnesses.
North Carolina is to be congratulated for giving the head of the
world’s newest nation so good an impression of our senior democracy.
The state should be grateful to Mr. Toure, too. for giving it a chance
to stand off and look at a distinguished world citizen of the colored
race. He also played his part well.
We are sure that nothing but good will come from Mr. Toure’s
visit. There is still a race problem In North Carolina. But it is less
of a problem than it used to be, and both races are working hard to
eliminate it. Thia episode should give both races heart —Boston Herald
1-173 t
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