Minneapolis spokesman. [volume], February 22, 1935, Image 1

About Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000

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MINNEAPOLIS SPOKESMAN "“i-
Vol. 1. No. 29. , Minneapolis, Minnesota, Friday, February 22, 1935 PRICE FIVE CENTS
» ■ -
Scottsboro Case Being
Heard By Supreme Court
*
OFFERS NO DEFENSE FOR ALABAMA
By LOUIS R. LAUTIER
Washington, D. C.» Feb. 22.—During the argument of the so-called
Scottsboro cases in the United States Supreme Court last Monday,
Justice Willis Van Devanter critically questioned Thomas E. Knight,
former Attorney General of Alabama, now Lieutenant Governor, to
elicit from him the truth regarding the exclusion of colored persons
from jury duty in Alabama.
Mr. Knight started badly. He -
began by telling the court he did
not know how two big books con
taining the names of men eligible
for jury duty, in Jackson county,
Alabama, had got before the Su
preme Court. '
“Come, come, now!” Justice Van 1
Devanter chided him. i
Samuel S. Leibowitz, of New ’
York, who twice tried the cases at
Decatur, Alabama, had shown one
of the books to the court last Fri
day when argument was com
menced. 1
Startles Court
Mr. Leibowitz startled the court
by charging that the names of six
Race men appearing in the book
had been forged after the question
of the exclusion of Race persons
from jury duty had been raised.
He declared that the names of
the Race men had been entered
after the jury commission which
made up the jury rolls, from whom
the grand jury which returned the
indictments, had gone out of power
“for the purpose of depriving the
defendants of their constitutional
rights and in an probability pre
venting a review by this court.”
He explained that red lines had
been drawn on each page by the
new jury commission to show
where the work of the old com
mission had ended and the work
of the new commission had be
gun. He stated that an expert wit
ness had testified that the names
of the Race men, arranged alpha
betically and according to pre
cincts, had been superimposed upon
the red lines indicating that they
were inserted after the red lines
had been put there.
Chief Justice Charles E. Hughes
and Justices Van Devanter, Owen
J. Roberts, Pierce Butler and Har
lan F. Stone questioned him, one
after another, to ascertain how the
clerk of the old jury commission
had got possession of the book
after he went out of office and
what explanation he had made with
respect to the alleged spurious
names.
Mr. Leibowitz replied that he
himself would like to find out how
the old clerk had got access to the
book and that no explanation had
been given when the old clerk tes
tified regarding the jury rolls and
the alleged forged names were
brought to his attention.
Mr. Leibowitz contended that the
rights of the petitioners had been
violated by the systematic exclu
sion of colored persons from jury
service solely because of race and
color.
He made no complaint with re
spect to the Alabama statute pre
scribing the qualifications of
jurors, but' contended that “the
administration of the statute is
the gravamen of the complaint we
lay before you.”
Despite the shortage of money
among all classes of people, this
newspaper has the largest circu
lation of any newspaper of its kind
now issued or ever issued in this
city. There is a reason.
■ 3£ A ■ -v
- RACE BAR ORDER
RESCINDED
Last Saturday morning the or
der barring Negro patrons from
Minneapolis night clubs operated
by colored proprietors was re
scinded by Chief of Police Michael
Johannes. Concerted attack on the
order by Minneapolis Negro weekly
newspapers was the deciding fac
tor in the incident.
Mother Crab Guards Her
Eggs Until They Hatch
▲ crab which reaches maturity
Is a fortunate creature. Its moth-1
er probably laid 5,000 eggs, and of
these perhaps less than half a dozen
survive to grow up, notes a writer
in Tit-Bits Magazine.
Eggs laid by the mother are car-,
ried about until they hatch, and are
about the size of the head of a small
pin. Beneath the crab’s body, or
that part commonly known as the
tall, are featherJllke appendages. The
eggs are attached to these by fine
threads, and are held securely. If
attacked, the mother will fight furi
ously to protect her treasures. When
newly laid the eggs are a bright or
ange color, but soon become darker,
until they appear a dull brown. This
change of color is brought about by
the development of the creature in
side, for the actual shells are trans
parent The most important task
of the baby crab is to protect itself,
and so Nature provides it with a
pair of powerful eyes, and it is these
which show through the shells.
When the eggs burst open, each
tiny crab falls to the sea bottom.
They are just about the same size
as the egg with a tiny tail attached.
Their first movements are small
jerky actions; they rise an inch
or so, wriggle about for a moment,
then drop back again. ▲ day later
they have grown, and are clothed
in a thin horny coat, something like
the outer skin of a shrimp.
Wise Men of Old Greece
Called the “Seven Sages 99
The seven wise men of ancient
Greece Included:
Solon of Athens, who lived from
about 638 to 559 B. 0., whose motto
was, “Know thyself.”
Chilo of Sparta, who died about
597 B. 0., who said, “Consider the
end.”
Thales of Miletus, who died about
548 B. a, who said, “Who hateth
suretyship is sure.”
Bias of Prlene, who lived about
the Sixth century B. a, who main
tained that “Most men are bad.”
Cleobuius of Lindos, who died
about 564 B. 0., who believed in
“The Golden mean,” or “Avoid ex
tremes.”
Pittacus of Mitylene, who died
about 570 B. (X, admonished the
world to “Seise time by the fore
lock.”
Perflander of Corinth, died 585
B. 0., left this, probably to the pres
ent era, “Nothing is impossible to
Industry.”
LIBERIA?
Liberia, the only Republic in
Africa founded by American freed
slaves, will be the subject of a lec
ture by George S. Schuyler, noted
author, newspaper writer and in
vestigator, at Hallie Q. Brown
Community House, Wednesday
night, March 6, at 8:00 P. M.
| ..
Schuyler Coming
For Two Lectures
Ist Week in March
George S. Schuyler of New York,
most widely read American Negro
writer, is coming to the Twin Cities
for two lectures the first week in
March. The noted author, Pitts
burgh Courier columnist and con
tributor to the country’s leading
publications, is being brought to
the Twin Cities by the public serv
ice bureaus of the Minneapolis
Spokesman and the St. Paul Re
corder. Mr. Schuyler is the first
of a group of noted Negro thinkers
and leade/s who will be brought to
the Twin Cities for addresses dur
ing the coming months.
Mr. Schuyler will lecture in Min
neapolis March 5, on, “What >ls
to Become of the American
Negro?** In St. Paul at Hallie Q.
Brown House, on Wednesday,
March 6, at 8 p. m., his address
will be on “Liberia.” The St. Paul
talk should be of particular interest
to St. Paul citizens because the
city’s favorite son, the late W. T.
Francis, died in Liberia while
serving as this country’s Minister.
Mr. Schuyler’s Minneapolis ap
pearance will be in the Phyllis
Wheatley auditorium at 8 p. m.
Sell Sketches by Queen Victoria
Two small pencil sketches drawn
by Queen Victoria when she was
a little girl, were sold tn London
recently for ten dollars.
Fra Angelico, a celebrated Ital
ian painter of the Fifteenth cen
tury, so felt the dignity of his art
that he palntod kneeling
TYPOGRAPHICAL ER&OR
As you say, “She may be empty,
but I'll tell the world she’s
clean I”
But when the sheet is printed and
is out upon the mail,
On its way to the subscribers I
have never seen it fail—
In the center of the front page, in
a most conspicuous place,
Some typographical error fairly
kicks you in the face.
For the typographical error is a
slippery thing and shy,
You can hunt 'til you are dizzy,
but it somehow will get by,
Till the forms are off the press it
is strange how still it keeps,
It shrinks down into a corner and
it never stirs or peeps.
That typographical error too small
for human eyes.
Till the ink is on the paper, when
it grows to mountain size,
And you see that blasted error, far
as you could throw a dog,
Looming up in all its splendor, like
lighthouse in a fog!
That glaring blunder juts out like
an ulcerated tooth,
Where it dodged the eagle vision
of the napping comma sleuth.
—News-Times, Moroa, Illinois.
George S. Schuyler
The Kneeling Painter
Du Bois Hunks
Italy Will Win
Over Ethiopia
Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, in Minne
apolis for two addresses, told re
porters that Ethiopia will give
Italy a tough battle but that the
superior modern war equipment
and man-power of Italy would
sooner or later win for the Euro
pean nation. A photo of Dr. Du
Bois appeared on the front page
of the Minneapolis Journal of
Wednesday.
TWIN CITY AUDIENCES HEAR
DU BOIS
Two hundred and fifty persons
heard W. E. B. Dußois speak at
Phyllis Wheatley House Wednes
day afternoon, Feb. 20. Dr. Du-
Bois came to Minneapolis at the
invitation of the International
Women’s League for Peace and
Security. The speaker was intro
duced by Mrs. Woodard Colby,
president of the local unit. Dr.
Dußois warned the women who
ire seeking methods of establish
ing peace to “not overlook those
causes of disturbances which,
originating far from the scene of
actual warfare, are yet the real
causes leading up to war.”
As a concrete example the doc
tor devoted much of his talk to
recounting the history of events
culminating in the differences be
tween Italy and Abyssinia, and
now threatening war.
Tea was served following the
lecture.
hi the evening a smaller group
sat at banquet with the speaker
at the Citizens’ Aid Building, where
the doctor gave voice to his opin
ions concerning a number of mat
ters of race weal. This dinner
was also sponsored by the Women’s
Peace Conference, Some twenty
five Twin Citians were present.
Dr. Clair E. Ames presided.
AU Ex-Service
Men, Attention!
SPECIAL MEETING FEB. 27
This is important news for all
ex-service men, whether Legion
members or not Wednesday,
February 27th, is the regular meet
ing night of Baker Post held at
The Phyllis Wheatley House, and
all ex-service men are urgently re
quested to attend as things of vital
importance are to be explained
about the bonus, and concentrated
action planned.
A letter received by Commander
Baker from Legion headquarters in
Indianapolis, like letters being sent
to all posts in the United States,
notifies all ex-service men of a
nation-wide broadcast on that
night, 10:45 to 11:00 p. m., Minne
apolis time, over WCCO.
This broadcast is concerning the
bonus and will let everyone know
what The Legion is fighting for
and why. Every ex-service man
is again requested to attend this
meeting of Baker Post, give your
support for something that is im
portant to you and your family
and hear this nation-wide broad
cast, so that you win know what
it is all about The regular meet
ing is called at 8:00 o’dock, Feb
ruary 27, 1035.
MOTHER OF LOCAL BUSINESS
MEN ILL
Mrs. I. L. Brown of Marshall
town, lowa, mother of John and
W. Squire Neal, is very iIL Her
condition is reported very critical.
Ethiopia Defiant As Italy’s
Army Sails for Africa
EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE PREPARES TO REPEL
Rome, Italy, Feb. 22.—With the sailing of another contingent of
Italian troops for the Italian Somaliland and Eritrea, bordering Ethio
pia, the war clouds that gathered last week, when Emperor Haile Selas
sie answered Italy’s ultimatum, appear to have grown more menacing.
Protesting his desire for peace
in Africa, and denying that he has
war intentions against Ethiopia,
Mussolini continues to load his sol
diers on ships and bid them God
speed to Africa. In an address be
fore the Fascist council, Saturday,
Mussolini declared that his troops
are trained and equipped for “any
emergency.” He then proceeded to
address the soldiers, telling them
that they were going on a glorious
“adventure” for their country, and
that they are not to return until
they have accomplished their pur
pose.
BEACON LIGHT YOUNG PEO
PLE’S VOLUNTEER SOCIETY
GIVES PROGRAM SUNDAY
EVENING
All Twin City young people and
their friends are invited to hear
Mr. Calderwood, author, former
legislator and lecturer, at Phyllis
Wheatley House Sunday evening,
Feb. 24, at 7:30. The invitation
comes through the Beacon Light
Young People Volunteer Society,
under the leadership of Mrs. Court
ney Wilkerson. The group is spon
soring a Temperance program and
symposium at the conclusion of
which a testimonial will be taken
from the Young People Societies
represented, favoring the highest
standard of Christian Temperance.
The Twin City Race physicians
are to present the medicinal side
of the question, while Mr. Calder
wood will discuss the ethical and
aesthetic points of view. A Min
nesota conference representative
will give the spiritual and moral
argument of balance on the tem
perance question.
Mrs. Hallie Batrum has been
asked to present. her musical group
for the special music. The St. Peter
Choral Society is an outstanding
organization of real talent.
ENTERTAINED BY PLAYERS
On Thursday night, Feb. 14th,
the dramatic classes of Mrs. Eva
Carr were given a very unusual
treat at her home, 606 St Anthony
Ave., when a cast from the Phyl
lis Wheatley Players presented a
one-act play, “Good Medicine.” The
cast included Mrs. Flossie Harris,
Mrs. Marie Hughes and Mr. Archie
James. Mr. Clarence Hughes was
also present About thirty stu
dents were present and every one
entered into the evening’s enter
tainment, which consisted of an
impromptu program, games and
songs, before the play was pre
sented.
Mr. James gave a short review
of the activities of the Phyllis
Wheatley Players, beginning at the
time when many of the members
originally belonged to the I. X L.
dramatic group of which at that
time Mrs. Carr was directress,
and coming down to some of the
fine things they are doing at the
present time through the Phyllis
Wheatley House. Much praise and
encouragement should be given
this group for their spirit of loy
alty, the many worth while con
tacts they are making and their
splendid presentations as artists.
WHAT IS TO BECOME
OF THE NEGRO?
A lecture by George S. Schuyler
of New York, America’s most wide
ly read Negro writer to be heard
Tuesday night, March 5, at Phyllis
Wheatley House, Minneapolis.
Hear George S. Schuyler, Pitts
burgh Courier columnist, at Hallie
Q. Brown House, Wednesday,
March 6, at P. M.
Tell them you read it in the
SPOKESMAN.
MUSSOLINI’S INVASION
Headed for War
Thus, to the casual observer, it
appears that Italy is moving rapid
ly into war with Ethiopia while
protesting that such is not her in
tention. This opinion was strength
ened this week when Italy refused
Ethiopia's request for a commission
to study the boundary and that a
neutral zone be established until
that is done. It is also openly
stated here by newspaper observ
ers that Mussolini is now adopting
the belligerent attitude displayed
by Italy in an effort to keep up the
front he showed when he issued his
first ultimatum to the African
emperor. ‘ ■ ---*
It was confidently expected at
that time that Ethiopia would ac
cept the conditions imposed by
Italy, and bow down before the
Fascist braggadocio as other coun
tries have done recently. But
when Emperor Haile Selassie an
swered calmly that he was not look
ing for a fight, but that he would
just as soon chase Italy out of his
front door as to continue wrangling
with her, he surprised Mussolini
and all his followers. Not only
that, but he showed the world that
Ethiopia still knows how to handle
her problems even when the
League proves woefully inade
quate.
Rome was shocked this week by
another note from Ethiopia which
declared that Emperor Haile Selas
sie is not at all pleased with the
boisterous soldiers Italy is pouring
along the disputed boundary line.
According to the note, Ethiopia is
aware of the fact that this is an
other gesture calculated to precipi
tate another clash which will be a
good excuse for open hostilities.
Ethiopia, said the Emperor, will
watch this development, and act
accordingly.
Village Reappears From Sea
A fishing village near Telllcharry,
India, was covered by the sea near
ly forty years ago, and now a great
stretch of land has reappeared.
Land of Long Ears
Natives of Easter island, posses
sion of Chile, off the west coast of
South America, have ears reaching
down to their shoulders.
Beaver One of Cleanest
The beaver, classed as a rodent,
Is one of the cleanest of animals
and spends much time combing its
fur.
Edible Fish
Of the more than 3,000 known va
rieties of fish In the United States
only 160 varieties are edible.
'Much Sugar Used In U. S.
The yearly per capita consump-,
tien of sugar In the United States
Is about 100 pounds.