The Michigan chronicle. [volume], May 13, 1944, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
leny Friction Cause Of Self ridge T ransfers
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Paul Robeson, famed singer and actor, flew to Detroit Sunday to
appear in a recital at Bethel AME church as part of the AME Zion
32nd Quadrennial General conference now in session at St. Paul
AME Zion church. Palmer and Beaubien street. In the above
picture Mr. Robeson, who is the featured star in the stage play.
"Othello,** now showing on Broadway, is shown singing one of
his songs during the recital.—Photo by Bradley.
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i MUS LILLIAim !>mi a n
Author of lh« best seller "Strange Fruit** which has bean banned
in Boston because of descriptive passages which are offensive to
the high-collar censors, suffered new indignities lest week as e
group of South Caroline club women refused to permit her to speak
although her appearance had boen scheduled for several weeks.
Miss Smith is a Southern white aristocrat who believes in race
equality and believes that the South must work toward achieving
that end.
Self ridge Field Rumor
Denied By War Dept.
The War Department informed
the Michigan Chronicle Saturday
that the local situation In Detroit
had nothing whatever to do with
the transfer of Negro .troops sta
tioned at Selfridge Field. The Ne
gro personnel at Selfridge who
were members of the 553rd Fighter
Group, the 477th Bomber group
and the 44th Air Force Service
unit have all been sent to Southern
bases The Bomber-group with base
units and the 766th band were sent
to Fort Knox, Ky. and the 553rd
with base units have gone to the
air base at Walterboro. S. C.
Deny Rumors
Rumors that Negro personnel at
Selfridge were moved out because
of -agitation" for equality in the
armed- force* in the Detroit area
were categorically denied by the
War Department Saturday. The
Chronicle was also informed that
other Negro units may be sent to
SPOT NEWS
BULLETINS!
HOLY HUNGER
The fact that' the General Con
ference of the Methodist church,
which includes some 330.000 colored
Methodist*, went on record con
demning racial discrimiation and
urging equality of the races last
week in Kansas City mav be attrib
uted in small part to the lack of
eating facilities for the colored dele
gates who atterided the General
Conference. The Negro churchmen
at the conference were not served
by the downtown Kansas City res
taurants and they had to walk to
the Negro slums for a sandwich.
The pastors got so hungry and hot
under the collar that they pushed
the equality resolution thfhugh the
convention with revolutionary zeal.
QUIT KIDDING
F Simms Campbell told daily
press reporters in Detroit last week
that he sketched diner car passen
gers while he waited table to earn
his way through art college. A
local waiter on a diner read the
xswiCraft«
UNDER ATTACK
Selfridge field sometimes in the
future, although none are expected
in the incoming group announced
I last week
The 332nd Fighter group com
-1 posed of four squadrons, preceded
the above mentioned groups at
Selfridge Field and is now in ac
tion on the Italian Front
The period of occupancy by these
groups has not been without a full
quota of events of misunderstand
i ing and scandal. The shooting of
j William Mcßae, an enlisted man
by Col. William Colman, command*
jing officer of the field, brought out
many irregularities which had been
prevalent on the field previous to
that time. Colman was subsequent
ly court martialed %nd relieved of
' his command.
, The question of facilities for the
flying officers and the specific ques
tion of the base officers' club, pre
cipitated much adverse publicity
and tended to weaken the morale
of all personnel stationed on the
field. An offer was made finally to
build a separate officers club for
I the Negro personnel. This building
is now under construction.
A highlight in the tour of duty
of Negro flyers on the field was the
assumption of the command of the
332nd by Lt. Col. Benjamin O.
Davis, who arrived in the spring
•ff'Sre SELFRIDGE. Page 4 ~
Fisk Gets SIO,OOO
For Student Center
NASHVlLLE—Presentation of a
SIO,OOO International Student Cen
ter to Fisk university was made by
Miss Margaret Shaw Campbell in
memory of her parents. William
Oliver Campbell and Mary Shaw
Campbell, during the celebration of
the Fifteenth Annual Festival of
Music and Fine Arts at this famous
institution of higher learning which
ended here last week.
In presenting the Center, Miss
Campbell said. "The North and
South American Rooms of the In
ternational Student Center are giv
en in loving memory of William
Oliver Campbell and Mary Shaw
Campbell of Sewiekley, Pa., whose
live* wtti a benediction to nunjr*
All The News Of
All The People
Price 10c
VOLUME 9
SUE PRIMARY OFFICIALS
Seventeen Seek A.M.E.Z. Bishopric
ELECTION SET
FOR THURSDAY
BY OFFICIALS
o
Retirement Of Over-Age
Bishops Increase
Competition
-
By CHARLES WARTMAN
The fight for the high office of
bishop looms as the most import- .
snt development in the 32nd Quad
rennial session of the General Con- j
ference of the AME-Zion Connec
tion. which is closing its first week
of meetings at St. Paul AMEZ
church, Beaubien at Palmer.
The election, which gets under
way Thursday of this week prom
ises to be a heated contest Drs
H T. Medford and F. W. Alstork. j
who deadlocked the session in 1940.
•re forefront candidates in a field
which includes about seventeen.
Th« Oiiht lor Ul« buhoprtc i.trv
this session. WllWpi
Among the candidates for the
high office are: W. 0. Carrington,
W. W Slade, S. G. Spottswood, 1
J. S. N. Tross. B F. Gordon. W.
A. Stewart. G. M Edwards, and
E. B. Watson are the outstanding
candidates. To this list may be
added the names of Henry D. Till
man. H. Philbcrt Lankfbrd and I.
Albert Moore.
There is a fight among the laity
to capture some of the pasts now
being held by ministers. The fight :
for financial secretary is between
G F Hall of Greensboro and J. R.
Wingfield of Fort Meigs, Ala; both !
ministers. C M. Palmer. Durham. I
N. C, and G. A. Moore, Newbern, 1
N C.. are laymen who .are consid- .
er.ng the financial post.
Important legislation affecting
the conference is slated to come
to the attention of the delegates
before the session is over.
Rev. L Pilgrim Powell, pastor
of St Paul and host to the confer
ence has done an excellent job of
feeding and housing his guests and
making them as comfortable as pos
sible.
Bishop J. W Martin is the host
bishop.
The first week has been given
to the opening services and the re
ports of the General officers. Bishop
W. J. Walls expressed the thoughts
and spirit of the chiirch organiza- j
tion in hiS Quadrennial address on
Thursday morning. The Bishop told
the delegates that now was the
time for the church to step forward
NT See BISHOPRIC. Page 4 ~
Bd. Of Education
Condemns Area
The Board of Education voted
Tuesday evening to condemn a 20-
block area east of Woodward ave
nue for the construction of the new
medical center.
The vote was four to three for
the condemnation. It was reported
that the condemnation proceedings
will not be instigated until pro
visions have been made for the
housing of some of the Negro
residents in the area.
Commissioner Charles Mahoney
and Dr. Aaron Toodle represented
the froperty owners and tenants of
the affected area at the meeting.
Despite their eloquent plea they
were unable to dissuade the board
from its action.
Dr. Toodle informed the Michi
gan Chronicle that the action of the
Board of Education would be chal
lenged in the courts.
Michigan Chronicle Launches Search
For State’s Most Outstanding Singer
In its endeavor to discover young ;
singers of promise who may de
velop into renowned artists if giv
en the chance, the Michigan 1
Chronicle, in cooperation with the j
fifth annual American Negro Music ,
Festival Committee of Chicago, ha* i
launched a state-wide search for
Michigan's outstanding singer.
Ilui conical u upan iq any am*-
£ aZJULL i a yfVf Ml> E> eiT p Eiix>-Sr < 63* w E t k. i-
BABER MADE BISHOP
PROMINENT AME ZION PRELATES
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Benjamin C. Robeson, brother of the famous
24TN INFANTRY
AVENGES DEATH
OF 6 COMRADES
By FLETCHER P. MARTIN
U. S. War Correspondent
(Representing the Michigan Chron
icle and Negro Newspaper Publsher*
Association) (Copyright—
Reproduction Prohibited)
BOUGAINVILLE (By Courier)
—Again elements of the 24th In
fantry crossed the Mavavia river,
this time to stay Supporting tanks
and flame throwers, the colored in
fantrymen hunted out the enemy,
bajonetting, lobbing grenades a
decisive decision was carved with
out the loss of a single man Partly
used as protection for lumbering
tanks, our units thwarted enemy at
tempts to annihilate the monsters.
Other troops spread fanlike combed
the area, grenading emplacements,
shooting stragglers.
The new f beach action was con
sidered by military officials as
"highly successful" which not only
secured the area around the M;.va
via, but pushed the enemy beyond
the Mov river, several miles east
of the perimeter. However to the
24th Infantry it was more than a
military operation a chance was
presented to avenge the death of
six men killed in action four days
ago. Their feeling was exhibited by
one soldier who with an automatic
i rifle riddled a charging Jap The hot
steel not only severed an enraged
enemy, but set off his grenades blow
ing what remained into little pieces.
The operat-on was scheduled for
dawn Clinging mist enveloped the
entire beachline. The sun peeked
over the Pacific, disappeared, leav
i ing a still greyness-calm, misty, idle
Soon the low mumble of expiring
mortars. Hunks of dirt clouded the
1 air'as projectile after projectile tore
I into the enemy bivouac area Imme
diately artillery opened 37 mrr.
cannons. 155 mms. 75 mms, 50 cal
machine guns. The beach ripened
for pluck ng by the infantry.
Swarm To Attack
LCTs struggling under their inv
mense load of tanks and men pushed
hard, momentum carrying them sev
eral yards upon the beach. As the
INFANTRY. Page 2
[four male or female Singer between
i the ages of 16 and 40 All you
have to do to enter is fill out the I
application blank found in this pa
per and send it along with a good,
clear glossy photograph of your
self to the Contest Elitor of The
'Chronicle, 268 Eliot, Detroit 1.
Michigan.
thcic wiii be * io*l ol *
MAIN OFFICE: 2«« ELIOT ST. TELEPHONE TEMPLE 1-4977
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1944
Test! ANstUclnkch anff jpesior-heat i» the
conference.
Death Suspect
.^r, T- - -—--^-y
j, H
William Knight. 32-year-old
steel company worker, gave
himself up to police lest week.
Police questioned him concern
ing the alleged murder of his
wife. Ella Mae, 29-year-old
mother of two children whoee
body was found with the throat
cut in her home at 9122 Peter
son street two weeks ago. Mari
tal trouble was blamed for the
fatal altercation by the police
department.
CHARGE POLICE
BRUTALITY IN
RECENT ARREST
The NAACP plan to ask Cormi*-
sinner Riliengcr to investigate cir
cumstances surrounding the intimi
dation of Negro citizens by the
police through the issuance of traf
fic tickets, it was reported this week.
“It would seem from the policy of
giving tickets to Negro c.tizens who
are obviously in peaceful assembly
and are not blocking or conflicting
with sidewalk traffic, that members
of the department are intimidating
Negroes and increasing race fric
tion." Gloster B. Current, executive
secretary NAACP, wrote Commis
sioner Callenger.
The Asaooi*>ion’s letter referred
to the cases of Rufus E. Guice and
BRUTALITY. Page 2
dollars, which should a'company
each application, to defray the cost*
of cut*, mats and audition ex
penses.
Auditions will he held under the
supervision of the Music Editor of
The Chronicle within the next few
ICiitl SINGER. l»|t | ;
POLICE PROBE
SUDDEN DEATH
OF H, SPRAGS
Body Found By Youth
In Basement Near
Residence
Mystery surrounding the death
of Hunter Sprags. 39-year-old Ford
War worker last week was being
probed by police with prospects of
an early solution, according to Rus
sell Gregory, chief of Wayne
County detectives.
Sprags' half-clad body was found
in an open basement near Cherry
and Harrison streets in Inkster. His
throat had been slashed by his as
sailant. and. according to a report
by the coroners office, following
an autopsy, the victim had died
from hemorrhages resulting from
the wound whieh severed his jugu
lar vein, and a blow on the head
which fractured his skull.
Body Found By Boy
The body was found by Willie
Morton, 13. who lives in the nearby
George Washington Carver project
Sprags’ automobile, approximately
200 feet from the basement where
the body had been dragged, was
found by police.
Police questioned Sprags* ton.
W See SPRAGUE. Page 4
EXTRA
High Court Upholds
Texas Negro Vote Law
WASHINGTON The United
States Supreme Court Monday de
nied petition of Attorney General
Grover Sellers of Texas for a re
hearing of the rase In which the
court held it Is unconstitutional
to prohibit Negroes from voting
in the Texas Democratic primary.
The high court announced its ac
tion without explanation. It ad
hered to the t to 1 decision by
which it reversed a nine-year-old
ruling and aroused widespread
discussion in the South.
Link D.C. Defendants To
Detroit Housing: Riot
WASHINGTON-The Special As
sistant to the U. S. District Attor
ney charged Monday that three de
fendants in the now-famous sedition
trial Garland Alderman. William
Robert Lyman. Jr., and E. J Parker
Sage weru connected with tha Nat
| ional Workers League in Detroit
and had a part in the Sojourner
■ Truth Housing Project riot.
The Federal attorney also charged
that there is a connection between
i the League and the world-wide
Nazi l eague which links the de
i leud*nU with Lhe Nuis.
LOCAL PASTOR
WINS ELECTION
AT CONFERENCE
Bev. George Wilber Baber, pastor
es the Ebeneser A.M.E. church es
Detroit, was elected bishop es the
AJEJL church on the fourth ballot
Tuesday at the general conference
in Philadelphia
The Rev. Jehn B. Claiborne of the
11th Episcopal dhkM was also
elected to the bishopric. '
It Is reported that Bf shape Baber
end Claiborne may ha aarimwd to
districts in it—tb Africa. •
fmofit far~reaeh!i)K and n-
Imarkmblg addresses ever de
livered before an A.M.E. Zion
convention was that of Bishop
William J. Walls. Chicago, who
spoke on behalf of the bishops bench
at the 32nd quadrennial session be-
ing held at the
St Paul A.M.E.
Zion church.
The co ncl av e . .L
opened last f f~~ 7 s «
Wednesday and .** * 9
will close Wed- < f « jP
nesday. May 17, » 1 M
George B. Me- A. Jh
Fall, prominent Jr\
Detroit funeral ff *lss
ered the wel- s Jfc
:ome address on HR RR
behalf of the r
business and Hh ,T <-v .AS & 3
professional peo
ple of the city. Gee. McFall
:o the hundreds
of church and lay delegates attend
ing the big conclave.
Every four years a bishop is se
lected to make the “keynote"
speech at the conference and this
year th • hono.- came to the brilliant
theologian. Bishop Walls who rose
to heights of oratory in praise of
the w’ork of the church, its bishops
and general officers. He spoke for
three hours but no one seemed to
tire. The bishop contended that
Booker T Washington, Fred Doug
lass. Sojourner Truth agd Harriet
Tubman were nurtured in the A M.
E Lion connection.
The part of the lengthy address
MTSee BABER. Page 4~ ~
Club Plans To Hold
Flower Day Program
The 17th annual Flower Day pro
gram sponsored by the current topic
study club will be held at the Prince
Hall Masonic Terofle, 275 E. Ferry,
Sunday, May 14, with the Rev. Mr.
Horace A. White as guest speaker.
A wounded soldier direct from the
battle front will be presented as
special guest. Mrs. Beatrice Pres
ton. president of the Current Topic
Study club and the committee chair
man. Mrs. Violet T. Lewis, expect
to give the Detroit public first hand
information direct from the battle
front.
Act To Halt Navy Ban On
Race Women For Service
By VENICE SPRACCS
WASHINGTON— Slighting
of the Negro woman by cer
tain auxiliaries of the United
States armed forces appeared
due for a change when a reso
lution calling for Investigation of
Negro women s status iff relation to
those auxiliaries of the Navy. Ma
rine Corp and Coast Guard was in
troduced in the House last week by
Rep William A. Rowan < Dem. HL>.
The resolution authorizes and di
rects the Committee on Naval Af
fairs to act as a whole or by sub
womnuttet to make a complete
Liberty, Equality
For All Mankind
NAACP TO FILE
SUITS IN TWO
DIXIE STATES
■
Ballots Refused Negroes
In Many Southern
r rcvtttv is
NEW YORK-The refusal of elec
tion officials to allow Negroes to
vote in the May 2 primaries ia
Florida and Alabama will be chai>
lenged in the courts, it was an
nounced simultaneously in tho
South and in the national office of
the NAACP in New York.
While some few Negroes voted ia
both Florida and Alabama, a num
ber were refused. In Mobile, a
group of fifteen in the seventh ward
were barred from the polling placo
by Deputy Sheriff Frank Pryor,
who stretched his arms across tho
entrance. He told them the primary
was a strictly white affair and sug
gested sarcastically that they tako
the matter to the courts.
Denied Bights
In the fourth ward in Mobile. Dn,
E. B. and P. W. Good# were denied
the right to vote* Ip the sixth
ward Raymond SCott, a business
man and Frank Jones, a railroad
i wort «Hl ,r * foUoorad ■ kata tho
the Department of Juatich ' 5V3
suits will also be instituted.
Civil suits also will be filed in
Montgomery county where Negroes
were denied the right to vote, ac
cording ter E. B. Nixon, head of tho
Citizens’ Committee.
’ifteen hundred Birmingham Ne
gro citizens voted as usual in the
Democratic primary,
lenge, and in several other nonhera
Alabama towns Negroes also voted.
For several years they have been
voting in thj Tri-Cities of Sheffield
Tuscumbia. and Florence.
In Florida eight Negroes vomt
in a Tallahassee precinct but eldh».
where in the city they were barred
In Jacksonville* the keys, to the
levers of the Democratic candidate*
in the voting booths were locked
and Negroes, even if they had reg
istered ai Democ-ats. could not
vote. They voted in the Republi
can primary It is likely that suite
will be filed in some of these cases.
In Atlanta, meanwhile, the local
branch of the NAACP is conduct
ing classes for voters and many
Negroes are registering as Demo-
MTSee PRIMARY, Page »
Langston Hughes
Finally Greeted
By Angry Angels
By LEM
With memories of the Christian
picket line which greeted him at
his recital at Wayne university last
year. Langston Hughes, who cam*
to Detroit for a recital at the Art
Institute last Friday, was on the
watehout for his old friends thia
year. He met them Sunday at Flint,
Michigan.
Upon his arrival in Flint. Mr,
Hughes was informed that leafleta
attacking him had been passed out
among the church people who were
supporting his recital at the First
Presbyterian church Sunday after
noon.
Charging that he was a Com
munist and an atheist, the leaflet
stated: “Dear Christian friends:
what are you going to do about thia
man speaking in your church thia
~*WSee HUGHES, Pag# 4
study and investigation. It haa
been referred to the House Com
mittee on Rules.
The resolution was brought about
largely through ttv» efforts of tha
Alpha Kappa Alpha National Non-
Partisan Council of which Thonad
na Johnson is ItthdkUve
utive. In a statement made by
Mrs. Johnson last weak, aha said*
“We consider thia a definite stag in
ward securing the admittance at
colored women In thcaa auxiliaries."
She pointed cut. however, that 1%
will take a relantlaaa and vigorous
struggle to gat the measure re
ported favorably by the Mouen
Rule* CofnmHMm
• [ >
NUMBER 7