The Michigan chronicle. [volume], January 15, 1944, Image 1

About The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
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VOLUME 8
RAILROADS HIRE 16 RACE FIREMEN
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City May Create A New Interracial Commission
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OLD COMMITTEE
TO BE REPLACED
BY NEW A6ENCY
Mayor Jeffries Seeks Way
To Iron Out Racial
Problems
A major step toward better race
relations in Detroit may be taken
shortly by the city administration
according to informed sources from
City Hall.
It is generally known that the
Mayor's Interracial committee
which was hastily created following
the riot last year has not had an
official meeting since the election.
It is believed that this committee
which is composed of six whites and
Negroes will be replaced by a
id new connnUikrtl
tag mom mended a municlpai com
mission which bore many resem
blances to the President's Fair Em
ployment Practice committee.
The new interracial body will no
doubt have a budget and be em
powered to take such act.on as lhe
conditions warrant It is no secret
that. Mayor Jeffries wishes to re
move the blot on his administration
caused by the breakdown of race
relations last year and is listening
t# a variety of advisers on what is
best to do.
It was announced last week that
Dr. Robert Weaver who resigned
from the War Manpower Commis
sion in Washington, was named
director of the Chicago Interracial
Commission at a salary of $5,000
Many other cities have organized
similar bodies since the racial out
breaks during the summer of 1943.
SPOT NEWS
BULLETINS
CHRISTIAN CONCLUSIONS
Summarising a year-long stedy
of tore relation* within the branch
es of the YWCA, the following
statement waa made by the stedy
group last week: "The beat way
to have Interracial democracy l» to
practice It. The least desirable
means are those which treat Inter
racial relationships as If they were
race problems and as though they
were theoretical and abstract."
They recommend that Negro women
and girls be Included In all aspects
of "association life."
BANNING PREJUDICE
At a meeting called in New York
by the National Conference of
Christians and Jew* plans were
made for petitioning the New York
City Board of Education to provide
a program that would help com
bat prejudice in the city's schools.
Anti-Semitic outbreaks which have
been increasing in New York stim
ulated the action.
SOUTHERNHONOR
Dr. Gordon B. Hancock of the
faculty of Virginia Union was one
of the 1Z distinguished Virginians
named on the Seventh Annual
Honor Roll by the Richmond Ttmes-
Dla patch the paper edited by Vir
ginia Dlbdey. Dr. Hancock waa
the third Negre to be to honored
since the Inception of tho awards.
OOP BAD BOY
Governor William H. Willis of
Vermont/ warned his fellow Re
publics* i last Saturday that the
party r igleaders who are* trying
to kill Villkie as the presidenUal
candidal» for 1944 are trying to
force th Republican party to com
mit suicVda,
NEW TECHNIQUE
Two Columbus. Ohioans whs are
Interested In better race relations
bought u full page sdvertlsement In
u Columbus dully paper recently.
The sd featured u cartoon which
pictured u soldier's grave. A ques
tion mark was laoertbod on the
cross that marked the grave and
the captlau stated that he might
have been any American, black or
white, and If ha b good enough
r~iV" tua UPOT NEWS, Pegu #“
Mala Office: 268 Eliot Street
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Shown la lbo above photo It tbo family of
"Fighting Jacksons'* whose sons now in the
service of their country arrived home on fur
lough last waak. At last is CpL William R.
Jackson of the 343rd Aviation Squadron eta
tionad at Fort Huachuca. Aris. In sailor's uni
form is Stewards Mate First Claes Harman E.
Jackson who has seen action in both the Asiatic
and South Pacific war tones on a ship that re
George Edwards,
Fighting Liberal,
Leaves For Army
Councilman George Edwards,
lcad.ng liberal in the city govern
ment, left Monday for the armed
services with the cheers of his
many friends and well washers
ringing in his cars.
The 29-year-old councilman, who
rose from the ranks of labor to the
City Council post, left behind one
of the most brilliant records ever
achieved in local government.
Undaunted and unlntimidatcd by
the pressure gangs pf raee-baiters
who have kept the City Hall in
continual confusion. Councilman
Edwards refused to abandon demo
cratic principles for a course of
fhony expediency.
Upon leaving the Council seat
to which he hopes to return. Coun
cilman Edwards told his -colleagues
that he would make reports from
time to time from the armed serv
ices which he hoped would be
helpful to the city fathers. He
leaves behind his wife and son.
MRS. L. GORDAN BURIED
Funeral services for Mrs. L. Gor
don. who died at her home, 8543
Camrrron street, early last Tuesday
morning, were held at New Mt
Moriah church.
Gibbons And Purnell
Are Freed By Court
Samuel Gibbons and Murray
Purnell, both charged with refusal
to aid an officer to disperse or
arrest, were found not guilty of
the charges last Friday by Record
er’s Judge Arthur E. Gordon.
Complainant in the case was
Patrolman Edward Sash who dis
closed that Purnell, co-owncr of a
cut-rate store at 3701 Hastings
street on July 22. refused to call
police for additional aid, after a
mob had gathered at the comer of
Hastings and Livingstone streets.
Sash testified that he had ar
rested a woman and had taken her
into the store and asked Purnell to
phone for police. Purnell refused,
as did Gibbons, the officer testi
fied.
Both Gibbons. 35 years *o!d. and
Purnell, 35. were discharged after
they had been acquitted by Judge
Gordon last week.
according to policy waa the
THE ‘FIGHTING JACKSONS’
Fighting Jacksons
Home On Furloughs
For a youngster who not so long
ago celebrated his twentieth birth
day 4at sea) Stewards Mate First-
Ciasf Herman E. Jackson has soon
plenty of action; more action, per
haps. than his brother. Cpl. William
R. Jackson, of the 343rd Aviation
Squadron ever expects to see.
Almost two years from the day
he enlisted in the United Stales
navy, the stewards mate, who
comes from a family of "Fighting
Jacksons." arrived home to enjoy
a 15-day furlough with his family
at 4454 Moore place, wearing five
ribbons in recognition of the part
he played in the heroic achieve
ments of a ship which received 10
Presidential awards. And by a
strange coincidence, his brother,
who is stationed at Fort Huachuca.
Arif., was also home on furlough.
Young Herman Jackson has seen
action in both the Asiatic and South
Pacific war xones during his two
years in the navy and it was for
action against enemy shipping in
the South Pacific that his ship was
awarded the 10 Presidential cita
tions.
The Jacksons’ reputation as a
fighting family did not begin, nor
will it end with their two sons now
first court case of its kind in the
history of Detroit Officers on the
case were Detectives Wash Hardy
and Casper Pecks.
In another case growing out of
the above incident. Mrs. Audrey
Jones, 4T. of 1452 Chase street, ac
cused of rioting was dismissed on
Monday by Recorders Judge
Thomas M. Cotter.
The case was tried without a
Jury. Atty. Harold E. Bledsoe made
a motion to dismiss the complaint
and warrant. The motion was
granted and the complaint was dis
missed without prejudice by Van
Zile.
Mra. Jones disclosed that when
arrested on July 23 at the corner
of Livingstone and Hastings street,
she was thrown bodily in a scout
car and suffered a log Injury as a
result of police brutality towards
bee.
DETROIT? MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1944
ceived tan Presidential citation*. Standing at
right is Lawrence Jackson who waste to fain tha
Air Corps. Seated, loft to right, azet Mix Wil
liam D. Jackson, president. MacDonald Chapter.
Blue Star Mothers of America, and William D.
Jackson, who fought in tha Philippine Insurrec
tion and served four years in tha Navy in peace
time.—Michigan Chronicle photo by Frank
Brown.
in the service. The father, William
D. Jackson, served his country dur
ing the Philippine Insurrection and
continued with the navy four years
after the insurrection was put down.
And a younger brother. Lawrence,
now a senior at Northwestern,
where both his brothers graduated
before entering the service, is
hankering to get into the air corps.
Their mother is president of Mc-
Donald chapter. Blue Star Mothers
of America.
Total Manpower
Plan Requested
By President
WASHINGTON—A short time
after his message had been read to
Ccfngress asking for national serv
ice legislation. President Roosevelt
reinforced his request with a direct
appeal to the people for enactment
of these laws to prevent strikes
and to authorize the drafting of all
men and women for essential war
work.
Specifically the President rec
ommended for the new Congress;
1. A realistic tax law—which will
tax all unreasonable profits, both
individual and corporate, and re
duce the ultimate cost of the war
to our sona and daughters. #
2. A continuation of the law for
the renegotiation contracts—
which will prevent exorbitant prof
its and assure fair prices to the
government.
3. A cost-of-food law—which will
enable the government <a> to place
a reasonable floor under the prices
the farmer may expect for hia pro
duction. and <b> to place a ceiling
on the prices a consumer will have
to pay for the food he buys.
4. Early re-enactment of the sta
bilisation statute of October, 1942.
This expires June 30. 1944.
5 A national service law—which
will be for the duration of the war.
There was expected to be strong
opposition against the service law.
GOP TO CHICAGO
CHICAGO.—The Republican na
tional convention will be held In
Chicago, starting June 26 TTiis was
determined Tuesday at the meet
ing of the Republican national com
mittee in session at the Stevens
hotel/ Chicago put up a bid of
175J000 to guarantee the expensea.
WHITE YOUTHS
FACE JURY IN
‘RIOT 1 DEATH
Defense Worker Was
Slain Here On
June 21
Four white youths accused in s
first degree giurder warrant with
the fatal shooting during the racial
disturbance here on June 21 will
face a jury on Tuesday in the court
of Recorder’s Judge Thomas C. Cot
ter. for the slaying of Moae Kiska.
a war worker, was shot in
AMgugkiT.' Eider Robert pick*, pas
*®L jiß' a r( wfcite
Among the witnesses expected to
testify In the slaying are Elder
Robert Hicks and his wife. Hazel,
of 9030 Rivard street; Elmo Helm
of 2923 Belvidere; Fred ScangeUi
of 3453 ML Elliott; Frank Caizzo
of 3711 Preston: Dr*. W. T. Love
and Homer Smathers.
Prather Houser
Accepts Post As
St. Antoine Head
Prather Houser, executive secre
tary of the Young Men s Christian
association in Evanston, 111., has
accepted the position of executive
secretary of the St. Antoine Branch
YMCA here, it was announced this
week by Attorney Perclval R.
Piper, chairman of the committee
of management of St Antoine
Branch.
Mr. Houser will take over the
post left vacant by the death of the
Lite Wilbur C. Woodson. He will
assume his duties February 1.
He is a graduate of Ohio State
university and has been active in
YMCA work for 20 years.
Sjy 2 Women Fail
In Suicide Attempt
Two women whom police say
attempted to commit suicide last
week were treated at Receiving
hospital where their condition was
reported as temporarily serious.
Treated were Mary Mays, 21. of
5432 Vinewood. who reportedly
drank lodine because of ill heat h.
An argument with her husband,
Lawrence, was listed by police as
the reason Mrs. Lulu Mae Walton.
32. of 683 Theodore avenue, apart
ment tyvo. drank lysol in her home
last week.
Mrs . Roosevelt Will
Speak Here Jan. 26
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt will ad
dress an Interracial mass meeting
at the Ebeneter A.ME. church.
Brush and Willis, on January 26. it
was announced Monday by the
Rev. Horace A. White of the Ply
mouth Congregational church, who
is chairman of the committee ar
ranging for the meeting.
Distinguished Detroiters, repre
senting various racial and religious
groups In the city, are expected
to participate in the interracial pro
gram. The theme of the rally will
be "Interracial Cooperation."
A preliminary meeting of local
citiaens interested in race relations
was held last Friday at the Lucy
Thurman YWCA. K tentative pro
gram waa outlined which will be
completed this week, according to
the Rev. Me. White.
THE STEVENSON HOME
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Shown above is tha homa of FradaHck T. Stevenson at 540 Aides
Park wkich figured in the Supremo Court ruling last weak which
dismissed a salt brought by white residents to oust Negro bsw
owners fsosn the Arden Phrk subdivision.
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By JOHN WOOD
Pressed for information concern
ing charges of discrimination
against Negro officers at Selfridge
Field which was climaxed last week
by an incident at the Officers club,
Major Masters, director of public
relations at the air base, told the
Michigan Chronicle over the tele
phone last Tuesday that “the com
manding officer has no comment."
On Monday, when first asked
about the incident at the Officers
club. Major Masters stated: “Yes.
if we can have a copy of the
charges. I promise you I will have
a statement from the commanding
officer within an hour," and he
added. "It is not our idea to cover
up anything at Selfridge Field."
The only answer, however, which
was forthcoming after a copy of
the charges had been sent to Sel
fridge Field was the six-word state
Fourth War Bond
Campaign Begins
To Raise Quota
With the entire city cognizant of
its duty, Detroit was prepared for .
the opening of the Fourth War
Loan drive which started Monday.
Detroiters must raise $267,982,000
by February 15.
This is a tremendous task, but
Detroiters are firmly convinced that
they can do it and every individ- ‘
ual and organisation is putting
forth the best efforts to put the
money behind the boys behind the
guns.
A meeting is scheduled for the
Lucy Thurman branch Y.W CA ,|
Thursday, at which time Frank
Isbey, campaign chief, and others
will speak and outline plans for
raising the money. The meeting is
scheduled for 12 o’clock.
“We ate v*ry happy to have Mrs.
Roosevelt speak on race relation.”
Rev. White stated, and added. “She
hgs made a great contribution in
this field and is sincerely interested
in promoting goodwill”
Among those present at the pre
liminary meeting on Friday were
the Rev. Charles A. Hill, the Rev.
R. L. Bradbv, Laurence T. Carter,
Beulah Whitby, John C. Dancy. Ibe
Rev. A. A. Barks Jr.. Jonh Thorkel
son. Caroline L. Burlingame. Alice
R. May. Elva Forncrook. Hester H.
Westerman. L. C. Blount, Carlton
W. Gaines, Glenn E Mapes, Charles
C. Diggs. Shelton Tappet, the Rev.
John M Miles, Rosa L Gragg, John
R. Williams. J. A. Craigen. Mrs.
Clara Van Auken. Dr J J. Mc-
Clendon. Victor Reuther, Louis E.
Martin. Mrs. Dorothy K. Roosevelt,
end the Rev. Horace A. White,
Telephone TEmple 1-8878
meet that "The commanding officer
hat no statement”
Climaxing months old rumors of
unrest at the airbase, the Michigan
Chronicle received a report that on
January 1 three Negro officers en
tered the Officers club and ordered
beer at the bar. Shortly afterwards,
the report said, one of the colored
officers was approached by a white
major and two first lieutenants
who demanded to know what they
were doing in the chib. One of the
Negroes replied that he was under
the impression that the club facili
ties were open to all officers and be
came over to enjoy them.
The white officer is then alleged
to have stated that “we can work
w:th you in the daytime on the
flying line, but we can't get along
at night as we are psychologically
different and it will just cause
trouble." One >f the white men
allegedly offered to "whip" the col
ored pilot and an argument en
sued. A Major Fealock is said to
have ordered the Negro officer to
take his friends and get out and
stay out
The Negroes, according to the
report, left the place without fin
ishing their beer and shortly after
wards two other officers attempted
to discuss the matter with a Lieu
tenant-Colonel Gayle, commanding
officer of the 553rd. but were in
formed that a private party was
in progress and they could not
enter the premises. Then the colonel
is alleged to have met the officers
outside and accused them of at
tempting to start a race riot and
threatened to court martial them.
Next day. according to reports,
a meeting was called by the colonel
who told the officers that they were
perfectly right in their contentions
that the club was for them as well
as for any other “officer, but they
were not wanted over there and
he was going to do all in his pow*er
3 keep them out of the club. He
was asking them “nicely” twit if
they insisted on asserting their
rirhts he would court martial the
offenders for attempting to incite
a race riot
The report also stated that the
colonel intimated that white offi
cers wanted to “take things in their
own hands* and he was trying to
solve the problem peaceably.
The Officers club incident is one
of many rumors of indignities al
legedly heaped upon Negro person
nel at the air base. Other complaints
have been to *h# effect that al
though there are more colored
officers on the ?.eld than white.
Negro officers are huddled together
in crowded barracks while the
quarters built for officers are occu
pied by whites. Only recently, the
report declared, have Negroes de
termined that they will no longer
be "pushed around" by. anyone.
Wife Beaten, Male
Held By Officers
A 39-year-old nusband was held
this week for investigation after
folk* had learned he bed struck
Ls 32-year-old wife on the heed
with a hatchet
Held was Charles Wilson es MM
Iroquois. His wife. Art* mi. was
treated for a lacerated scalp it
Receiving hospiUl
WE
Are Americans Too
L&N EMPLOYS
MEN DESPITE
DEFI OF FEPC
..
Given Jobs In MobQe And
New Orleans First
Time Since 1917
By JOHN LB FLORE
MOBILE, Ala. Nothing
less than another dvfl war If
Negro firemen were employed
as locomotive fSrmnen \bj
Dixie was the dire prediction
of Southern railroads la reply to
e recent Fair Employment Prpe
tlces Committee order to that eoeos<
yet . . .
Since mid-December no lest thaa
IS Negro firemen have been hired/
by the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad Company .both here ana
[ in New Orleans without angi to
suiting racial outbreaks .
AlthflUgh tha t. W
Since P t£*tleven more men. to*
eluding several who have bed a*
previous experienea. have bean eat*
ployed as firemen In this dty. mdm
five In New Orleans, according to
Cyrille Sal van t, colored
MT Soa |
- -
WCBH Wants To
Acquire Land ht „
8-Mile Section
The directors es the Wayne
County Better Hornet, Inc_ met
with the members of the Detroit
City Plan Commiasion on ThuradaSL,
Jan. 6, at the Water Board building
for the purpoee of discussing the re
lease of the State-owned lota fm the
8-Mile road section.
The Wayne County Better Heem
Inc., is ready to start building si
the recently acquired lota purchased
from the Board of education. The
lots are located in the 8-Mile road
aree and the corporation le eery
anxious to cooperate with the Cflg
Plan commission in executing ita
master plan, s
A plan Was offered the rnwmii
sion by Donald F. White, architect
for the corporation. plan*
Wm* Bee WCBffi, Page 4
Urges Release
Of M. Schappes
Joining the csmpelwi In free
Morris U. Schappes who has bean
serving a sentence es IS to M
months in .State Prison, Hnrrlini
M. Harley, director of the eg
Preprofessional Studies of Slmmone
college. .Boston, baa .written <th
Governor Dewey urging hah m,
commute Mr. Schappes* sesstanee th
the time already served, nr, Sth
ley assures the governor that Mg.
Schappes, If freedL “will beMiWB
ounce of energy to he
battle of democracy, in streoglla*
enlng the unity and will *ef eat'
people ta the winning of the wag
against brutal force and iiililMar
enslavement” *
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NUMBER O