The Michigan chronicle. [volume], September 23, 1944, Image 6

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

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INDEPENDENT
lifSraanM(jointtre
Published Ever? Thuraday By
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE PUBLISHING COMPANY
MAIN OFFICE: 268 *Eliol Detroit 1 Mich. TEmple 1 4177 8
LOUIS EMANUEL MARTIN Ediioi
Entered as second class matter May I 1940 at the Post Office et
Detroit Mich, under the act ot March 1 1879.
Terms ot Subscription (payable in advance):
One Year 54.00: Nine Months S3.SO; Six Months. S2.SO
LETS TALK WITH FACTS
There are a preat many mistaken ideas about
political candidates and issues floating around these
days and reactionary forces benefit when these
questions are not clarified. Rut not only as Negroes,
but also a> citizens of thi> country and ol the world
is it necessary for u> to examine parties, candidates
and issues cooly and objectively. I nless we do we
are likely to follow the example of the writer of the
letter to the editor tills week who has made certain
erroneous statements about the election.
The election this November is probably the most
important in this nat'ons history. Voters will choose
a man who will direct the country, but e\en moie, a
man who will sit at the peace table and do much to
determine the course of world history for many
Years to come. It .s in this realm that Roosevelts
experience and v sion are particularly valuable. His
Years at the head of our government have given him
a broader grasp of world allairs and personalities
than any man in public life would normally have.
Yet Mr. Dewey, even in an ordinary election, has
nothing to recommend him as a student of world
affairs. His record in the past has been one of
retreat from world responsibilities rather than an
attempt to cope with them. His running mate, Gov
ernor Bricher of Ohio, is likewise without an appre
ciation of the interdependence of nations and the
views held by Republican Wendell Willkie whose
rejection by his party is the most concrete evidence
of their beliefs. Mr. Willkie last week in an article
in Colliers stated that the Democratic platform on
foreign affairs was stronger than that of his own
party. It was not mere chance that Mr. Bricker
was selected by Gerald L. K. Smith as his first choice
as running mate on the America First ticket.
When we examine the issues from a purely racial
viewpoint the decision is equally clear. Mr. Roose
velt’s 12-year record of efforts in behalf of the com
mon man are balanced against a few Dewey ap
pointees. Our correspondent states that he has read
nothing of what this administration (Roosevelt’s)
has done for the Negro. Where was this gentleman
when the Wagner Labor Act was passed to protect
the interests of labor? What of the record of the
Farm Security Administration which has made
great strides toward true democracy even in the
Deep South and has met widespread opposition from
reactionary Republicans and southern Democrats as
well? What of housing provided Negroes by fed
eral authority? What of the years when the WPA,
the NYA, the CCC, the Federal Writers’ Project, etc.,
alone protected the Negro from the effects of the
depression in which this country had been plunged
before the election of President Roosevelt? The
FKPC and the Texas Primary decision by a liberal
Supreme Court (chiefly Roosevelt appointees) are
other undeniable gains for the Negro.
That is only a portion of the record with which
the President can face Candidate Dewey. Dewey,
on the other hand, has on his side only a number of
glowing generalities on the Negro question included
in his speeches and in his party’s platform. For
instance, the platform states that the situation'of
the Negro in the Army would be investigated and
the proper steps taken. But why an investigation?
The facts are known. Is it because it would be
simpler to shelve the issue after the campaign if no
definite promise of action was given? Mr. Dewey’s
action this spring in New York State on the anti
disrimination bills proposed by a committee ap
pointed by him took this form. He advised another
committee to investigate the findings knowing that
the report from this second group would come in
well after the election and thus he would do nothing
to alienate his southern friends in Congress. Because
of his action, ( banning Tobias, Lester Granger and
some of the w hite members of the anti-discrimina
tion committee resigned in protest.
The reactionary elements in both parties have
formed a coalition which has consistently voted
against Administration proposals and all liberal
legislation. On the poll-tax question, for example,
Mr. Dewey as his party’s candidate did not ask that
Republican members of Congress vote for cloture,
and the measure was defeated. This was the fate
of the Murray-Kilgore bill as well which would have
provided adequate unemployment compensation on
a national basis but on which Mr. Dewey held his
peace. On the soldiers’ vote bill he was also for
states’ rights rather than in favor of a federal ballot
which would have guaranteed the vote for all sol
diers. The solution lies perhaps within neither party
but in the emergence of a new liberal party. In the
interim Negroes can only choose the best of two
fi Dll OKI A L PAGE OF THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
not very different parties, and two strikingly dif
ferent men.
The line-up of supporters behind the candidates
is another indication of the true issues involved.
Behind President Roosevelt is the CIO and the great
majority of organized labor, PM, the liberal news
paper, the New York Rost, the t Nation, the New
Republic and other liberal publications. With Mr.
Dewey are the arch-conservative Chicago Tribune
and the majority of the daily press long known for
its devotion to big business. Supporting the Presi
dent are white liberals like Lillian Smith, Carey Mc-
Williams, and Clark Foreman, and such Negro lead
ers as Adam Clayton Powell, Channing Tobias, Mary
McLeod Bethune, Robert Weaver, Captain H ugh
Mulzac, Paul Robeson, and Langston Hughes. On
the Dewey side of the fence are ranged only Bishop
Sims and J. Finley Wilson among the better known
Negroes. Is this mere coincidence?
The recent attack launched on the CIO Political
Action Committee is an indication of the danger the
Republicans see in the support of the President by
organized abor. Mr. Harold Ickes in his address to
the UAW-CIO convention last week made a good
point when he asked why it was acceptable for the
Republicans to receive contributions of hundreds of
thousands of dollars from single individuals yet ob
ject to thousands of laborers contributing SI.OO. Is the
Negro today to turn his back on his friends and
natural allies in the organized labor movement and
range himself with the party of big business?
The stakes today are too great for the Negro
voter to allow himself to be confused. An intelligent
voter will discuss the issues, question those who wish
to advise him but above all learn the facts. We be
lieve that Candidate Dewey, his party and his record
cannot bear this examination.
THE NEGRO IN FICTION
The treatment of the Negro in literature and
particularly in fiction in the past has left much to
he desired. Two recent articles on the subject by
Dr. Harry A. Overstreet in the Saturday Review of
Literature present an original approach to the prob
lem of correcting misapprehensions about the Negro.
Dr. Overstreet suggests that fiction writers and
psychologists “should put their heads together on
this wholly fundamental problem of the kinds of
images that need now to be created.”
Dr. Overstreet states the need for the image in
fiction of white and colored working together. “As
we become accustomed to this in fiction and in
fact we shall be the more ready to admit its per
fect naturalness.” “The race problem is basically
one involving prejudice; and where prejudice lives,
reason cannot get in,” Dr. Overstreet writes. “The
strategy of overcoming racial prejudice, therefore,
cannot depend upon marshalling powerful reasons . .
The story can turn the trick; for a rattling good
story takes the reader by surprise on all fronts.”
We think Dr. Overstreet’s suggestion an excel
lent one and hope that the magazine will get many
responses to its request for suggestions for bringing
together psychologists and fiction writers interested
in a more accurate representation and characteriza
tion of the Negro. Until all the old stereotypes of
the Negro as indolent, stupid, ignorant, child-like,
criminal, etc., are removed from the minds of whites,
little can be accomplished in the field of practical
race relations.
THE CHRONICLER
By CONFUCIUS
Throw a grain or two of salt on
the latest statement of that great
Anverlcan philanthropist. Itenry
Ford. Henry recalling his pioneer-
Inc ware* for labor In 1914, con
veniently forgetting his anti-union
basis for his liberal wages. prom
ises the best wage* now to his
men. in an evident attempt to put
the government and even the FAW
on the spot. The latter is forced
to pat Ilenrv on the hack for the
first time, and llenrv’s words are
meant to discredit the government’s
price and wage control war meas
ures. In the past ten unionlied
years of the auto industry, many
other companies* wages have ex
ceeded the world heating ones of
the Ford sweatshops.
* * *
Girls, better watch your polities.
Mr: Crystal Rird Fauset's husband.
Arthur, divorced her right after
she deserted Eleanor and Frank I n.
Never let your husband catch you
with your vo*e down!
* * £
A* one commentator said. the
M. C. at the Indiana Republican
gathering when Bricker spoke real
ly made the most brilliant observa
tion of the campaign. “This Is
the first time . . . ue've had two
candidates of such equal stature.
Thomas E. Dewey and John W.
Bricker.** Dewey Tom must have
been sore for the next week.
* * *
The UAW convention h.i.s envied
wrh everything at the V*' u« quo
same number of vice-pn x:c.«
Which this time precluded » durk
er brother getting one of the ixists.
Get in there and work!
* * *
Heard from the Chronicle staff
that Dearborn folks don't relish
the Idea of us folks moving in.
They weren't all Southerners, cith
er Since school starting Is right
here, thought comes to Confucius’
mind. What in hell Is wrong with
our schools? Be better for some
of us Instead of wasting our ener
gies on fights too far away for our
efforts to count, to get in there
and rassle with hoards of educa
tion and teachers, etc, about what
our children of all ra- es learn. If
aiiitudea learned In childhood wera
strong democratic ones, there would
not be as many bigoted adults.
* * *
Is that business of young B O
Davis (the colonel) getting the
MV**Continued on Page Se\cn
‘VP.RESPECTS NEITHER RACE NOS RANK-STAMP ItOUT
THE FACTS
IN OUR NEWS
By HORACE A. WHITE
SCHOOL DAI’S ARE lIERE
AGAIN With the opening of
school' all over the country at
this time of the year. It Is Important
for parents and their rhildren to
think about the meaning of school.
Because of the neoessity of war.
young people have been able to
make a lot of money doing some
very Important fobs. As Import*
ant as these Jobs are. It Is much
more important that young people
continue their education There
should not be any question In anv
parent's mine about his child’s re
turning to school By all means
every child of school age. should
find himself in some school.
It will be harder for Negro par*
ents to make the division to send
their children back to school, than
for the parents of other racial
groups in our population The Ne
.;ro y ing person has been denied
jobs so long, because of his color
and race, that now, he has the
opportunity to work, it would ap
pear on the face of it, that he
.should work In addition to this,
the Negro breadwinner has been a
marginal worker so long that he
will feel the added inconve from
his children cannot be spared. It
must be remembered by Negro par
ents especially, that much of the
progress made by us as a race has
been made because we have con
tinued to improve ourselves. The
basis for anv real improvement Is
education. Education is the learn
ing of new skills whirh we call
knowledge, and an application of
those skills to hettpr one's way
of life, which we call wisdom. Ne
groes know that democracy has a
way of passing by people who are
not fitted to carry on with meaning
and purpose the struggle to have
democracy unfold for all of its
people.
A Negro child starting out In
the first grade, has about one
chance in three hundred of gradu
ating from high school. To me.
your correspondent, this should not
be. for getting more young Negroes
through high school, and into col
lege, or other professional training,
is primarily the responsibility of
the oarents.
When we say the responsibility
of the parents, we do not mean
just the immediate parents alone;
we mean all of the adult Institu
tions that go to make up a com
munity. should point toward hav
ing voting people fulfill themselves,
first by adequate preparation and
then by getting Into a Job or ac
tivity that will lend Itself to the
development of a community,
whether that community is local,
state-wide, or national. Parents
must see to it that the young go
to school. Without proper school
ing this democracy of ours will
lag.
Peonle of college ace will have
a much harder time deciding to go
back to school. Their arguments
will be. that they can put off get
ting their education until after the
war. They argue thnt they can save
money and be ready for school
when the war is over. Such a pro
gram is silliness and a parent is
being ‘ foolhardy” to listen to such
an argument from a college age
person who should be in college.
In the first place, students do not
save money when they are out of
school, as a general rule. They
usually have no more after a year
or two of work, than they had
when they "started saving." There
fore parents should see to It, that
children of college age drop their
jobs and return to school.
Your correspondent has been con
cerned for some time about the
mediocrity displayed by the average
Negro college student. There seems
to be little effort on the part of
many college students to learn any
thing In college. These students
harelv get by in many instances.
3lany of them have superior minds,
but they seem to major In being a
college student, rather than In the
material given at the college. This
can partly he laid at the door of
Negro college ppople In the com
munity. It Is surprising and sad
dening In many instances, to see
how irresponsible many adult Ne
gro college people are. This Irre
sponsibility on the part of Negro
adults, who have had college ex
perience. gives the young college
student the idea that the end and
aim of going to college Is. to gradu
ate. become a member of one or
two of the social groups of college
people, and continue to act a fool
the rest of his life.
A college education should give
a person knowledge enough to live
creatively with his neighbors, and
to carry out a line of activity that
will make it easier for one's neigh
bors to find happiness in this world
of ours. A college education should
NOT THE PARTY - BUT THE PEOPLE!
eve» sEt^|
4 j r
The Real Philadelphia Story
By DOUGLAS MacMAHON
(Mr. Mar.Mahon, who U (hr lntrrnation.il irrrtUry-irramrrr of (hr Trans*
port Workers I nion of the CIO. supervised the organizing campaign at the
Philadelphia Trans.t Company. He maintains that company opposition to
the CIO. Republican disunity were responsible for the paralyzing Philadel
phia transit strike.)
(Condensed from New Masses.)
There was no “strike against the Negro” in Philadelphia.
On this point 1 want to take v issue with the guest editorial of
K. Washington Rhodes. Mr. Rhodes started from the mis
take'll premise that the Philadelphia transportation tieup was
u strike and therefore reached the disheartening and un
founded conclusion that ”... the prejudices of the Philadel
phia strikers against the Negro were more powerful than their
love of country.”
The nature of the Philadelphia
events was clearly established by
the 240 officers and shop stewards
of Philadelphia Local 23 J of the
Transport Workers Union in two
meetings they held while the tran
sit system was tied up. In a resolu
tion adopted at their second meet
ing on Sunday, Aug. 5, and sent to
President Roosevelt, they stated:
"Mr. President, let us assure you
that the interruption of transporta
tion service on the Philadelphia
Transportation Company lines w r as
not a strike. It w'as not a labor
dispute. As the rank and file lead
ers intimately associated with the
men and women of PTC, we can
assure you that the vast majority
of these workers are devoted, loyal,
and understanding Americans. They
did not want any part of this plot.
The national and local leaders of
our union condemned this work
stoppage We are unqualifiedly
against strikes nr other interruption
of work in wartime. We are even
gfve a person wisdom A person
ought to come out of college steeped
in the sanctity of human endeavor,
that all that he has learned, and is
He "ought’* to have learned there,
available for him to learn is the
result of many years of living and
struggle by many millions of peo
ple before him. A college student
‘•ought" to learn to become dis
criminating in his activities. This
does not mean he should be a snob.
He should be able to sit down and
talk to the most unlettered of
men. and have that man feel his
warmth and interest A really edu
cated man does not disdain the ways
of men, but seeks to better the ways
of men.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1944
more emphatic in our opposition to
defiance of the policies and orders
of our own government. Must PTC
workers uphold the American prin
ciples and progressive policies of
the Transport Workers Union and
of the Congress of Industrial Or
ganizations, with which we are
affiliated.”
From the very beginning, my
fellow-officers of the union. Presi
dent Michael J. Quill and Vice Pres
ident James J. Fitzsimon, as well
as myself, charged that the paralysis
of transportation in the Quaker
City was the result of a conspiracy
That charge was later repeated by
Attorney-General Francis Uiudle
and many of his subordinates. In
the judgement of experienced ob
servers. not more than ten percent
of PTC employes would have taken
any action to prevent the promotion
of Negroes to uniformed jobs.
•’WHITE SUPREMACY” MAIN
ISSUE OF UNION VOTE
On March 14, 1944. there was a
collective bargaining election among
PTC employes under the supervi
sion of the Pennsylvania la bur Re
lations Board. In the long campaign
that prerrded It. the company union
succeeded in making “white supre
macy” the main issue. The Trans
port Workers Union stood four
square on the CTO policy of no dis
crimination and in favor of obeying
government orders. The Amalga
mated Association of Street Electric
Railway and Motor Coach Employrs-
AEL was non-committal on the rec
ord, but Its organizers campaigr <1
against Negro promotion by word
of mouth. The company-dominated
PRT Employes’ Union openly cam
paigned on a platform of ’Well
keep the ‘Niggers* oft.” The em
ployes of the transportation division,
who were the ones involved in the
tie-up, voted in a separate unit with
the following results:
Transport Workers Union 293 f»
Amalgamated (AEI.) 1109
PKT Employes Union 1291
No Union K*»
At the height of the anti-Negro
agitation last fall and winter, the
leaders of the company union, the
Amalgamated and other anti-CIO
groups, assisted by minor company
officials and clerks, were able to get
only 1,700 signatures expressing
employes’ refusal to work with Ne
groes, an action much milder than
striking in wartime*. At the mass
membership meeting held in Phila
delphia's Town Hall on June 30,
attended by nearly 2.000 PTC work
ers who unanimously ratified their
first TWU contract, an announce
ment that the company had agreed
to comply with the War Manpower
Commission order to upgrade Ne
groes, was greeted with loud ap
plause. Then why was the Phila
delphia Transportation tie-up una
nimous?
Because It was an organized plot,
engineered by people who were
thoroughly familiar with the transit
system and had effective control
over the opeiation and over the
personnel The shop stew ards' reso
lution to President Roosevelt stated:
"We trust . . . that the investigation
will begin with the role of the man
agement of PTC In conceiving this
conspiracy and in its execution. Un
mistakable surface evidence points
to collusion on the part of important
cnmjvany officials.
COMPANY AGENTS
AC TIVE IN PLOT
The federal grand jury investigat
ing the conspiracy, if it will resist
the p:essure that will no doubt be
exerted to drop the probe, will un
doubtedly uncover company atent*
among the authors and participants
in the plot. There Is no doubt that
the company welcomed the tie-up
Had it been successful, the spurious
strike would have seriously weak
ened end perhaps even destroyed
the Transport Work: rs t nion, which
was hitteily fought hy the company.
The first contract has alicady
urought PTC employe* inpr Ye
menis totaling $3 000.000 I’lV. man
agement. controlled by fiv, uicial in
terests trat are the backb no of the
most reactionary Republican 1 , es,
nas shown every sign of j deter
mination to get l.d of the CIO.
Judge George A Welsh, in charg
ing the g:and jury, told them to
be.ir in mind that a "national elec
tion is impending" Judge Welsh
has an intimate knowledge of PTC
corporate structure and manage
ment and is more than a superficial
student of Pennsylvania politics.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
AND MAYOR SILENT
It could not have been an acci
dent that the Republican governor
of Pennsylvaaia, in the greatest
emergency to hit his state, said and
did nothing. The Republican mayor
of Philadelphia did worse than
nothing, lie and his police commis
sioner behaved in such an inept
manner that they actually encour
aged the plotters. To the best of
our knowledge not a single promin
ent Republican made any statement
condemning the walkout or urging
the workers to return to their jobs.
George Sokulsky und Westbrook
Pegler, who are among the most
ardent Dewey supporters in the
press, actually condoned the transit
tie-up Pegler went so f. ( r a* to
justify use of the strike weapon by
PTC management in its ‘war"
against the Transport Workers
Union
Disunity is the keystone of Repub
lican strategy this year T e\ are
desperately trying to win <mr Ne
gro voters in the no. them and b. r
der states. At the same tun. they
seek to strengthen tin’ ; alliance
with the southern Bourboi * ~i J are
attempting to scare away from
Roosevelt voters who* have strong
prejudices against Negroes and
other minorities, with the p opa
ganda that the admin oi.o >n favors
them .is against the w ite native
Protestant majority Had the provo
cation been successful and I. j i ice
riots and disruption ensued in other
cities, it would have been possible
for those who paride a- the partv
WSfr PHILADELPHIA, page 12
I EDITOR’S MAIL
EDITOR'S N(HT President Ro»-r\Ht
had nothing to do with Dilho's henim-
Ins “mayor" of Washington. The v« n
lor member of the majority p.tttv
(now the Democrats) heroines auto
matically Ihr chairman of anv com
mittee on which he sits. In this rise
lllbo happened to he the senior mem
ber of the commuter handling th«
affair* of thr District ol t olnmhia.
I have just read your r i t<>ri.il in
this week's Chronicle m wnuti you
are lavish in your praise of the
Democratic administration. They
are tine words and it i» too bad
they are not true. Hut the record
of this administration ptoves oth
erwise and 1 can't und< rstand how
any well informed Negro can
make such assertions 1 read a lit
tle but I have not read of anything
that this administration has done
for the Negro. Since he is the
Commander - in - Chief Roosevelt
could have stopped nun h of the
brutality our boys in the armed
forces and in the Southern coups
hav«* suffered. Yet he las sud or
done nothing, and one or two weak
orders issued b> the War depart
ment are disobeyed by (lie South
erners. When Hoo>e\rlt ni.nie the
Negro-hating Bilbo mayor of Wash
ington it was an insult to every
Negro. It is a reflection on the in
telligence of the Nt " o wini votes
to keep Ins worse enemies in pow
rr for when he votes the l)emo, rat
io ticket he is votoi: to keep the
South in power and it certainly is
a gamble with our future when he
does so. Southerners are not only
the autocntic rulers of the South
but will also rule the North if they
stay in office. We may yet sec Jim
Crow street cais in Detroit and
Washington.
Again, to keep one man with hi*
many bure lurrat* in office indefi
nitely is a dangerous precedent,
and one that will work to the det
riment of thp American way.
Rvsp«ctfii!lv,
J C Stubb*.
Beauoien St.