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Uncovering Washington By Harry S. McAlpin (White House Correspondent NNPA) Wendell Willkie, the burr next to the skin of the Republicans, has spelled out the N-e-g-r-o issue in no uncertain terms in his current series of articles on what should be in the Republican platform for the 1944 Presidential campaign. Stripped of its partisan political slant, Willkie’s challenge to the Re publican party as to its sincerity is a challenge to America and to - Democracy as practiced in this country. “Our adoption or rejection of these principles,” he says, “will be the test of our sincerity and of our moral leadership in the eyes of hundreds of millions all over the world.” What is so impressive about the Willkie statement on the Negro is the keen insight it shows of the flames that gnaw at the hearts of 13,000,000 of America’s citizens who are relegated to a second class citi zenship solely on the basis of their color or indentification with the Ne gro race. What is equally impressive is the fact that those statements are made and this challenge thrown out with out any pressure being applied to get them. That is a new experience for Negroes, who have seen every progressive step toward their ad vancement to full citizenship, and every effort directed along .that path come as result of pressures applied or axes to grind. Mrs. Roosevelt would qualify for a simi lar compliment—but few others would. I A) r k Consider the challenge in Will kie’s words when he says that Ne groes will not be satisfied “by the counsels of patience and the as surances of kindly men that pro gress has been made, that eventual ly, through fair treatment and co operative effort, Negroes will in some distant day obtain the rights ' which the Constitution itself guar entees to them.” There are some so-called “lib erals” in the New Deal who might well read those prophetic words and ponder the advice they pass on to Negroes and to the administra tion. Indeed, Willkie’s statement on the Negro is a challenge not only to the Republican Party—it is an equally effective glove-slap in the face of the Democratic Party which is faced with an unwelcome squabble over the “race issue” at its convention in July, when the rebel delegations from Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina and possibly Arkansas will insist on the elimination or ex punging of the very planks that Willkie urges be put into the Re publican platform. Negroes will be watching both the convention, armed, as they know, with what might well prove to be the deciding ballots in a hotly contested November election. They will not be fooled by any passivity on the part of the Re publicans who might feel they can rely on the negative approach of letting the Democrats “tear their britches” on the snags presented in their forthcoming “race issue” fight. Willkie has made the bed, it is up to the Party to lie in it— or stay out. If they accept Willkie’s challenge, what a spot that puts the Demo crats on! Graduates to Be Honored The 1944 high school graduates of St. Paul will be honored at a testimonial sponsored by the Pil grim Baptist Sunday School, Sun day, June 25, at 8 p. m., at the church. Fred Truax, Commissioner of Education of St. Paul, will speak on “The Value of Education,” and Rev. Jackson Wilcox, pastor of the Park Baptist Church, will talk on “What the Church Is to the Graduates.” This meeting is open to the public. WASHINGTON, D. C. (NNPA) Reappointment of Mrs. Velma G. Williams to the District Board of Education was announced here last week. Mrs. Williams, one of the three Negro members of the board and the only Negro woman mem ber, was returned to her post along with two white members by the justices of the District Court. All three will serve until June 30, 1947. A member of the board since 1939, Mrs. Williams headed the board’s committee on student ac tivities. Prior to her original ap pointment, she was president of the James Monroe Parent-Teacher As sociation here and before that had taught 10 years in the schools of Mississippi. Mrs. Williams and the other Ne gro members of the board voted with their white colleagues against the admission of a Negro boy, Mi chael Davis, to a white school here recently, when the boy’s father ap plied for permission on the grounds that the Negro school nearest the Davis home was too distant for convenience and safety. Mnnrnjrolmwatenian —i tj’L -GuSEEI VOL. 10, NO. 46 • MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, FRIDAY, JUNE 23,1944 $2.50 A YEAR—7 Publishers Reelect Sengstacke; Local New York, June 19—John H. Sengstacke of the CHICAGO DE FENDER was re-elected president of the Negro Publishers Associa- tion at its annual meeting here this week. Cecil E. Newman, Minne sota publisher, was elected to the Association’s executive board. Other executive board members are: Mrs. Robert L. Vann, PITTS BURGH COURIER; W. O. Walker, CLEVELAND CALL; L. E. Austin, CAROLINA (Durham, N. C.) TIMES, and J. E. Mitchell of the ST. LOUIS ARGUS. Vice presidents re-elected were: Alexander Barnes, Washington, D. C., eastern region; Frank L. Stan ley, Louisville, Central region, Car ter Wesley, western region and C. A. Scott, Atlanta, southern re gion. A new Pacific Coast region was set up by the association, and Leon H. Washington of the LOS ANGE LES SENTINEL was elected its vice president. Taking an active part in the con vention, Newman served on the im portant committee which revised the constitution and by-laws and as convention sergeant-at-arms. He is the first publisher of papers hav ing less than 7,000 circulation to be elected to a national office in the Association. Proposals were made during the session to establish news agencies for Africa and India and continue plans for a nation - wide Negro press service to be supported by member newspapers. Association members voted to in crease the service of its Washing ton Bureau. Advertising practices, the accep tance of certain types of advertis ing copy was a subject of discus sion. A resolution was approved urging Negro publishers to refuse certain objectionable types of copy. The association plans to survey factually for the first time the ex tent of the buyers’ market among the 13,000,000 Negroes of the na tion and to present the findings to national advertisers. Many of the publishers reported that they were gradually squeezing the objection able advertising by constantly in creasing the rates, but it was gen erally conceded that the quality of the advertising was not equal to news presentation. at Pilgrim Because the circulation of Negro newspapers has vastly increased since the start of the war, the pub lishers reported a two-fold circula tion problem. Most of the larger papers have both metropolitan and national circulation. The metro politan distribution problem, through newsstands, tfas gradual ly being ironed out, they said, but difficulties arose in distributing their papers nationally because of the lack of a clearing house for passing on agents. Recommendations for the ap pointment of a committee to meet with publishers of non-Negro news papers were made by a panel group which explored methods of channel ing more factual news of Negro affairs into the non-Negro news papers. The feeling of the publish ers was that Negro news in non- Negro papers was mostly of a stereotyped character, which was perhaps due to the failure of the Negro people to make other news of their achievements more access ible. It was recommended that si committee of Negro publishers meet with groups ’of non-Negro publishers in all the metropolitan centers on this question. News Reports Improve A great improvement in the quality of news reports involving Negro members of the armed forces was reported as the result of the appointment by the Army and Navy of Negro public relations officers. Man Gets Post JOHN H. SENGSTACKE At a cocktail party given by the (Continued on Page 4) Recital Mrs. Esther Roach, 3917 Fifth Ave. S., will present her music pupils in her annual recital at the Schmidt’s Music Center, 88 S. 10th St., Sunday, July 2, at 5 p. m. Guest artists to appear are Ber tha Johnson, soloist, and Avis Ware Carter, reader. No admis sion charge. Stricken On Way to Church Sunday, Dies Zachariah Taylor, 1100 Fourth Ave. N., 84, died in the receiving room at the Minneapolis General hospital, Sunday, June 18, where he was taken after he became sud denly ill on his way to church. Funeral services were held Wed nesday, June 21, at 2 p. m., at Bethesda Baptist church, with Rev. A. F. Martin officiating. Mr. Taylor, a retired city em ploye, eame to Minneapolis from Rock Ridge County, Virginia, and lived here twenty-four years until his death. Surviving are a son, Harry, of Cedar Rapids, la., who came to attend the funeral, a daughter, Mrs. Julia Williams, Minneapolis, and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives. Interment was at Crystal Lake cemetery. Woodard Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Woman Falls Near Home, Breaks Leg Mrs. Pauline Hutchcraft, 712 Oak Lake, suffered a broken leg Tues day morning, June 20, when she fell in the vicinity of Phyllis Wheatley House. A physician was and Mrs. Hutchcraft was removed to her home where her leg was placed in a cast. James T. Wardlaw To Move Family Here From Ohio James T. Wardlaw, executive secretary of the Minneapolis Ur ban League, left for Youngstown, Ohio, Tuesday night, to join his wife and daughter, Lydia, who have been living there with Mrs. Ward law’s parents since he accepted the Minneapolis post several months ago. Mr. Wardlaw expects to be there about a month and will then drive his family back to Minne apolis. Gerald L. Porter Resigns Post at Hallie Q. Brown Gerald L. Porter, director of the athletic department at Hallie Q. Brown House, St. Paul, for the past three years, has resigned his posi tion for one as executive secretary of a community house, The Home Service Association, at Toronto, Canada. He will assume his new duties immediately. Negro Troops Lend Helping Hand To Yanks On Beaches This U. S. Signal Corps photo taken on a beachhead in northern France shows American Negro soldiers who participated in the invasion giving assistance to wounded Yanks. Shown above is Yank wounded in initial assault against Hitler’s Fortress Europe being lifted into ambulance for transfer to field hospital. High School Grads Reading from left to right, Mary Lewis, an honor student, is a June graduate of South High, Minneapolis. She resides at the home of her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. James Lewis, 2817 Elliot. Laura Louise Moses, center, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Moses, 418 Bryant N., Minneapolis, graduated in June from St. Margaret’s Academy. Miss Moses sang in the school’s spring operetta, was a member of the French and Spanish clubs, has held the offices of class president and home room president and participated in the class day program. Ventress Jackson, January graduate of John Marshall High, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Jackson, 739 Rondo, St. Paul. George Johnson Buried June 16 Funeral services for George Johnson, 58, 106 Royalston Ave. N., Minneapolis, who was found dead in bed at his home, Friday, June 16, were held Wednesday at 2 p. m., at the Neal Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. E. R. Thomas officiating. Mr. Johnson was bom in Mem phis, Tenn., and had been a resi dent of Minneapolis for the last thirteen years. His sister, Mrs. Jessie Coleman, of this city, sur vives. Interment was at Crystal Lake Cemetery. Eva L. Abbey at Mason City, la., 0. E. S. Meeting Eva L. Abbey, 414 W. 25th St., Minneapolis, left Monday, June 19, to attend the Eastern Star Grand Chapter meeting at Mason City, la. Mrs. Abbey is the Past Grand Ma tron of the lowa jurisdiction. Lena Cobb Delegate to A M E Meeting at St. James Church Lena Cobb, 534 Girard N., was the Steward’s delegate from Way man AME church, Minneapolis, to the District Conference held at St. James church, Minneapolis, Monday and Tuesday, June 19 and 20. Visitors Visitors at the office this week were Mmes. Celia Boyd, Ann Walk er; Misses Dorothy Payne, Mary Esther Young, Messrs. John Moul trie and Courtney Torell, Minne apolis; Mrs. Viola Hall, and Miss Bernardine Hall, Des Moines, lowa. Mr. DeWitt Hunter, Chicago, and T/Sgt. Eugene E. Schuck, N. Camp Hood, Texas. ************* WAR BONDS ******* *CJm*mf St. Peter Church Women’s Day on Sunday, June 25 Mrs. W. D. Brown will be the guest speaker at the morning ser vices, Women’s Day, at St. Peter A. M. E. church, Sunday, June 25. A musical program has been ar ranged for the afternoon services at 4 p. m. Mrs. Celia Boyd, chairman of the planning committee, asks each woman to bring a guest. Central Labor Union Endorses NAACP Program Central Labor Union, Minne apolis, voted to endorse the pro gram of the NAACP on June 14, after listening to Noma Jensen, NAACP field representative, speak on the “Role of Labor in Race Re lations.” This was the last speak ing engagement filled here by Miss Jensen before leaving for Des Moines, lowa, on June 15. Volunteer membership drive workers of the Minneapolis branch will meet Friday at 7:30 p. m. at Phyllis Wheatley House. Curtis Chivers pointed out that the drive should end July Ist, so that all membership dues and Crisis sub scriptions will be due at the same time. Workers are urged to keep this in mind and to turn in all memberships by that date. Clifford Rucker and Irving Blum berg were elected delegates to the National Convention at the month ly Branch meeting, June 18. The convention will be held in Chicago, July 12 to 16. Three other mem bers, Jonas Schwartz, Mrs. Schwartz and Mrs. Lillian Penn have offered to go at their own ex pense. This branch is allowed five delegates. EDDRESS GOODEN PLEADS GUILTY Mrs. Eddress Young Gooden, charged wth first degree man slaughter in the fatal stabbing of George Atkinson, 42, June 8, changed her plea to guilty. She was sentenced to serve 2 to 10 years at the state reformatory at Shakopee. Bishop JornrAT Gregg Tells Of Visit Overseas By C. T. R. NELSON More than a thousand people at tended the interracial mass meet ing held last Sunday in the thea tre section of -the St. Paul Audi torium and heard a thrilling ad dress by Bishop John A. Gregg, of Kansas City, Kansas, as he praised the contributions being made by the Negro soldiers in all parts of the world. Bishop Gregg, who was a chaplain in the Spanish-American war, was absolute master of his audience as he made a resume of his trip to the battlefronts where Negroes are stationed throughout the world, as the representative of all of the Negro churches in Amer ica. Bishop Gregg highlighted his ac count of the 50,000 mile tour with incidental stories that were very funny, and allusions that were touching. He lived a week in Gen eral MacArthur’s home at Port Moresby and he met native chiefs in the Fijis. He told about two white girls who asked to be placed in a Red Cross unit that was super vised by a Negro woman, partly because they liked her and partly because they wanted to prove how seriously the men and women at the front accept the principle of the brotherhood of man. Everywhere, the bishop reported, Negroes are doing their full share, even when they are engaged in du ties technically rated under the non-combat head. Graphically, he described their activities as engi neers in the Pacific area, North Africa, Italy, Burma, India and at the Iranian bases from which American Supplies are sent to Rus sia. He told of their courage and skill in general, and described nu merous particular instances of it. He pointed out that members of the engineering outfits have to go ahead very often and prepare the way for the combat troops and that these engineer and service troops are in constant danger. He told about seeing Negroes handling bulldozers and other' intricate ma chinery without difficulty and he told about a white employer in Kansas City who told the bishop that such machinery was too com plicated for Negroes to handle. In speaking about Australia, Bishop (Continued on Page 4) St Paul NAACP Branch Elects Four Delegates Clarence T. R. Nelson, president, Pearl Sklar, Dorothy Schultz and Alverta Corum were elected dele gates to the National Convention at the St. Paul Branch meeting, Tuesday, June 20. Ruth Gage Col by was named to the executive committee to fill the vacancy cre ated by the resignation of John M. Patton. A resolution was passed to be sent to the convention, recommend ing that election of members to the national board be held at the national convention. At present nominations are made to the na tional board and the election is held by the board. Major Ransome and Rev. Nelson made reports on the recent court case in which Mr. Ransome was the plaintiff in a case of discrimination. Mrs. Corum reported for the com mittee who interviewed Senator Ball on his recent visit to St. Paul. Fifty-six memberships were re ported. Plan to Stem Pacific Coast Race Prejudice NEW YORK —After a month’s tour of the Pacific Northwest, with intensive work in Washington and Oregon, Edward Dudley, member of the legal staff of the NAACP, said last week plans were under way in Seattle, Portland, Tacoma, and Spokane to combat the wave of Jim Crowism which is sweeping the once-liberal section on the heels of the great migration of southern Negroes and whites. Dudley conferred with Governor Langlie of Washington, with Attor ney General Neuner of Oregon, Mayor Riley of Portland, Mayor Johnson and City Prosecutor Grimm of Pasco, Wash,, also with State Senator Henehan of Wash ington. In Portland, Mr. Dudley met with Edgar J. Kaiser at his huge shipyards and reports that although there is no Jim Crow in the Kaiser works, or cafeterias for workers, or housing projects, the boilermakers’ union is forcing Ne groes into a Jim Crow auxiliary as a price for working. Those who re fuse to join the auxiliary are fired under the closed shop contract. Serving Uncle Sam Seaman 2/c Glascoe Ewing, on the left, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Ewing, 3020 20th Ave. So., Minneapolis. He is stationed at Nor folk, Va. WAC Private Bernice Pauley Huggar is a secretary in the physio-therapy clinic at the Camp Breckinridge Ky. Post hospital. Private Huggar’s sisters, Miss Margaret Pauley and Mrs. Marguerite Buckner and her brother, Harry Pauley live at 2224 Washington N., Minneapolis. Her uncle, Courtney Torell, lives at 301 Emerson if. Cpl. Edward Green, on the right, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Green, 616 7th Ave. N., Minneapolis. He is now serving somewhere in Italy. A sister, Mrs. M. Rice, also lives in Minneapolis. FEPC Saved By 39 to 21 Vote; Sen. Russell Tries to Cripple Agency By Harry McAlpin Washington, D. C. (By Wire) —The FEPC was saved by a 39-21 vote of the Senate today when crippled by the adop tion of three of Senator Russell’s far-reaching amendments called “conniving and subtle” by Senator Thomas of Utah. After refusing to adopt Russell’s amendment to strike FEPC from the War Agencies Appropriation Bill the Senate adopted his amendments to pro hibit use of the <500,000 appropri ation to pay the salaries of any persons on the staff who (1) initi ate, investigate, or otherwise work on any complaint where the per son accused of discriminating does not have the right to appeal any ruling to the President; (2) work on any case which might result in seizure of the plant by federal authorities; or (3) violate any act of Congress by orders or directives or recommendations of the FEPC. The Senate then, after being told by Senator Elbert Thomas and by Senator Dennis Chavez of New Mexico and Senator James M. Mead of New York that it was kill ing FEPC after voting to continue it refused - issell’s amend ment to msideration or investig<».. nplaints where- in these might be an existing con tract between a labor union and an employer. It likewise defeated another in which Russell sought to limit the FEPC to use of not more than 25 per cent of the funds for employ ment of persons of minority groups which represent less than 15 per cent of the total population of the United States. The debate in the Senate sank today to its ’towfest levels of dig nity, honesty and democracy in the vicious speeches of Bilbo and Senator John L. McClellan (D., of Ark.) and the “white superiority” interjection of Senator J. 0. East land (D. of Miss.). Hilda Moses Wins Acclaim in New Play Hilda Moses Simms, Minneapo lis girl, got very favorable notices from the critics of the N. Y. Times and P M for her role in “Anna Lucasta,” a new play by Phillip Yordan which had its New York tryout Friday, June 17 Lewis Nichols, N. wrote— The American Negro Theatre, which has a somewhat heated headquarters on West 135th Street, last evening turned its attention to the tryout of a new play. It was “Anna Lucasta,” by Phillip Yordan, with adaption credits to Abram Hill and Harry Wagstaff Gribble, and the group of players gave it a finished production. As a play “Anna” may not be fully ready for downtown, but with it the American Negro Theatre showed that it knows its business, that it is honest and that it num bers among its members several actors who are excellent. As a tryout, the evening was one of the best of the year. Mr. Yordan’s play is about a young prostitute who tries to abandon that life. There is noth ing novel about it, and some of the writing is a little heavy. Enough good material makes up the rest, however, to give the players their chance, and that is all they need. In the role of the girl there is a young actress named Hilda Moses Simms, who in addition to being something beyond pretty has a full command of her part. There also is Fred O’Neal, who is wonderful as a pompous and scheming brother-in-law. Earle Hyman, Le titia Toole and Alberta Perkins have other roles. Mr. Gribble di rected the play well, obviously with actors willing to do everything he wished. The P. M. theater writer said of Hilda Simms, “In the title role in deed—a beautiful girl—gives a beautiful performance, one that has both the insight to sustain a characterization and the born authority to make her felt from the moment she comes on the stage.” Negro Doctor Gives SI,OOO to NAACP NEW YORK —On D-Day, Dr. Walter J. Crump of New York City, sent a personal check for SI,OOO to the National Office —in appreciation of the great work be ing carried on by the NAACP. “It gives me great pleasure,” wrote Dr. Crump, “to send you my personal check for SI,OOO for the NAACP. May it assist in the strug gle to obtain for the Negro equal rights and equal opportunities for service in this land of ours, and in our activities in this World War for the liberation of all peoples. “It is my humble opinion, that the NAACP is the most aggressive stabilized and rational group for establishing and maintaining in the U. S. and the world, the rights of our most underprivileged group, the Negro.” Attend County Democratic F-L Meeting at Lowry Among the delegates attending the Ramsey County Democratic Farmer Labor convention which was held at the Lowry Hotel, Sat urday, June 17 and 18, were Frank Boyd, Maceo Littlejohn, J. Louis Ervin and Mrs. Della Holsumback. Mr. Boyd is on the State Central Committee with Mayor John Mc- Donough and others. Y. Times, Minnesota Baptists’ Annual Session at Pilgrim Rest Church At the 24th Annual Session of the Minnesota Baptist Association and the auxiliaries, the W T omen’s Baptist State Convention and the Sunday School and B. T. U. held at Pigrim Rest church, Humboldt Heights, on June 15 and 16, the following officers were elected: Rev. A. F. Martin, moderator; Rev. J. W. Phelps, vice moderator; Mrs. Fern Helm, secretary; Rev. J. J. Clayburn, treasurer. Officers of the Women’s Auxiliary are: Mrs. M. Burrell, president; Mrs. Lydia Brown, first vice president; Mrs. Maznie Battles, second vice president; Mrs. Fern Helm, record ing secretary; Mrs. Alberta Bell, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Mabel Pierson, assistant secretary; Mrs. Sally Mae Williams, treasur er; Mrs. Effie Larkins, statistician, Mrs. Ella Golden, historian; Mrs. Mae Marshall, parliamentarian. Mrs. Dessa Gresham, was elected director of young people of the Sunday School and B. T. U.; Rev. H. W. Botts, Jr., president; Mrs. Bertha Johnson, first vice presi dent; Miss Leatrice Dodd, second vice president; Miss Beulah Baines, third vice president; Mrs. Carrie Wallace, recording secretary; Mrs. Estella Sims, treasurer; Miss Gwendolyn Schofield, assistant sec retary; Miss Juanda Cuff, choris ter; Mrs. A. Halloway, parliamen tarian; Mrs. Ella Golden, historian. In his annual address, Rev. A. F. Martin, moderator, recommended that the Baptist churches in this association join together in build ing a Baptist home for “our aged people that they might have a place to spend their last years in com fort.” A committee was appointed to start work on this project under the chairmanship of Mrs. Golden. Rev. Botts, Jr., will deliver the introductory sermon at the Na tional Sunday School and B. T. U. Congress in Birmingham, Ala., this week. Boat ride, June 30. sponsored by Bethesda Baptist Church. Boat leaves at 6 p. tn. from dock below University hospital. Follow the Crowd! Saturday, July 29, St. Paul Auditorium, Twin Cities’ Biggest Musical Extrava ganza. St. Paul and Minneapolis Elks. J. W. Pate, General Chair man. —Adv. Ukl