Arizona sun. [volume], May 17, 1946, Image 1

About Arizona sun. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1942-196?

Image provided by: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ

                
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The State's Only
Necro Newspaper
Vol. 4 sc Per Copy
Negro Girl Defended For Assault
INFANTRY SCHOOL CONTINUES TRAINING
OFFICER CANDIDATES FOR COMMISSIONS
Fort Benning, Ga. —Officer Can
didates are still undergoing weeks
of intensive training at the Infan
try School here pursuant to ob
taining commissions as second lieu
tenants in the Army.
At present five Negro candidates
are enrolled in the classes. They
are: Thomas M. Bond, Louisville,
Kentucky; Perry Johnson, Milwau
kee, Wisconsin; Travis L. Banks,
Camden, New Jersey, and Beverly
S. Scott, Statesville, North Caro
lina. They were all selected to at
tend the School on the basis of
their outstanding qualifications as
students and soldiers.
Candidate Thomas M. Bond at
tended Howard University, Wash
ington, D. C., uner the Army Spe
cialized Training Program. After
three terms of Engineering at
Howard he was called to active
duty in 1944 and sent to Fort
Lewis, Washington, where he com
pleted Engineer basic training.
Made Information and Educa
tion non-commissioned officer of
the 14th Group at Fort Lewis,
Bond encouraged many trainees
of the Group to go to OCS. Soon
he decided to take his own advice
and was accepted for the Infantry
School.
Candidate Perry Johnson is 19
years old and had a year’s service
with the Army Air Corps prior to
coming to Benning. He is a grad
uate of St. Benedict The Moor
High School in Milwaukee, Wis
consin, where he received letters
in football, basketball, track and
wrestling.
Legion of Merit Is
Awarded To Major
Richard L. Jones
Washington, D. C.—Major Rich
ard L. Jones, Chicago, 111., has
been awarded the Legion of Merit
for “his sympathetic efforts in be
half of the welfare of colored sol
diers,” the War Department an
nounced today.
Major Jones received the award
from Major General Louis A.
Craig, commanding the Sixth Serv
ice Command, in ceremonies at
headquarters in the Civic Opera
Building in Chicago.
Major Jones, who served as a
Special Services officer and as
education and vocational guidance
officer during World War 11, also
is a veteran of World War I. He
has returned to civilian life after
three years in the Army.
Following is the official citation:
“Major Richard L. Jones, Infan
try, Army of the United States,
from July 1942 to November 1945,
with sound judgment and outstand
ing ability solved many complex
problems assigned to him by the
Commanding General, Sixth Serv
ice Command, and Commanding
Officers of those posts within the
Command where he served. His
sympathetic efforts in behalf of
the welfare of colored soldiers
greatly benefited them and the
Military Service.”
Negro Troops Return
Aboard Three Ships
San Francisco Port of Embarka
tion. —Among the troops debarking
at this Port from the Pacific in
the past week were 118 Negro sol
diers. The men returned aboard
the S. S. Sea Star, General Bundy
and Admiral Simms.
Natives of five states and the
District of Columbia, the soldiers
arrived from the sth Replacement
Depot Disposition Center south of
Manila.
Upon their arrival at San Fran
cisco they were sent to Separation
Centers to be separated from the
service.
Soldier’s Weekly
Salutes Janitor
Ft. Dix, N. J.—Thomas D. Jones
of Trenton, janitor at Post Head
quarters here, recently was saluted
by The Fort Dix Post.
"The amiable janitor has been
buying two U. S. Savings Bonds
each month; he knows a good in
vestment when he seeS one . . .
and has been in this very good
habit for five years now,” the sol
dier’s weekly stated.
A veteran of World War I, Jones
is sergeant-at-arms for Post 182,
American Legion, in Trenton. He
has one son overseas in Europe
and another who was recently dis
charged.
Sergeant Jones was shown sign
ing for the bond in a two-column
picture. To mark the beginning
of his sixth year as a regular bond
buyer on the payroll savings plan,
he wore his Legion uniform.
If you fail to get your copy of
the SUN please notify the office,
phone 3-3682.
ARTONKWf
Published in the Interest of the Social, Political and Economic Welfare of 40,<xftlNegroes of Arizona.
Ft. Benning Student
Preparing For West
Point Training School
Fort Benning, Ga. —One of the
members of the West Point Pre
paratory Class at the Infantry
School here is Phillip S. Johnson,
20-year-old native of New Bruns
wick, New Jersey.
When Johnson finished New
Brunswick Senior High School in
January, 1945, he was rated sec
ond in his class. Among the
awards given him at the comple
tion of his studies at New Bruns
wick were a mathematics award, a
physics award, and a physical edu
cation award.
He then enrolled at Bates colege
in Maine, but was inducted into
the Army after a week and a half
as a college student.
As a soldier, Johnson’s branch of
service was the Air Corps. He was
last stationed at Alamogorde, New
Mexico, a B-19 base. While in the
Army he received a second alter
nate appointment to West Point,
which he hopes to take advantage
of and become a second lieutenant.
Both of Jordan’s parents were
Both of Johnson’s parents were
dies, where his father was a super
intendent of schools before coming
to the United States.
Coordinating Council
Will Meet May 20th
The Phoenix Coordinating Coun
cil will meet at the First Colored
Baptist Church, May 20, 8 p.m. in
the main auditorium. Mr. D. F.
Benson of the Arizona Sun will
serve as chairman. The purpose
of the meeting: To discuss the
platform of Dr. Fred Holmes;
Elect a Ways and Means Commit
tee; Report from objective Com
mittee and the speakers bureau.
This Council is always open to
the public. Every organization is
asked to represent. The time is
here when we must pool our ef
forts in order to develop the type
of program that might meet the
needs of the community.
It is the desire of this organiza
tion to be democratic. It has no
permanent chairman. The repre
senatives of the various groups ro
tate so as to give every one a
chance to operate with an open
mind, and free from any special
group.
At the last meeting held Monday
May 13, Miss Juanita Favors of
the AKA Graduate chapter, pre
sided. Keen enthusiasm was shown
in the free discussion. Represen
tatives have no power to decide
the issues but merely to take them
to their organization.
Come open minded to the meet
ing on the 20th so that something
constructive may be accomplished.
The Council extends to all Minis
ters of the city a special invita
tion to be present.
Picket Line Forms At
Woolworth’s 5 & 10
By MORRIS GRAHAM
A picketline of about 15 Negro
and white people marched before
the Phoenix Wool worth store pro
testing its discriminatory policies.
Woolworth’s does not allow Ne
groes at its food counter and does
not hire any Negro clerks. The
placards brought out the fact that
Negroes had fought a recent war
for democracy but were denied de
mocracy in their own country.
Some of the placards read: “This
picketline is your Frontline for De
mocracy”, “Woolworth Pays Low
Wages—lts Workers are not Un
ionized”, “We Fought for Democ
racy Overseas, Yet Can’t Eat in
Woolworth’s”, “Arizona Needs Fair
Employment Practice Law”, “Ari
zona Needs Civil Rights Law”, etc.
While the picketline was in
progress, leaflets were distributed
and petitions were circulated for
Arizona Civil Rights Law. The
leaflet demanded:
No Discrimination at the Lunch
Counter.
Hire Negro Girls as Clerks in
proportion to the Negro Popula
tion.
Unionize Woolworth’s.
For An Arizona Civil Rights
Law.
The leaflet urged people to
phone the manager protesting
Woolworth’s discriminatory poli
cies. Almost 100 people signed the
petitions.
The response of the spectators
was wonderful. Many white per
sons made such remarks as “You’re
right, keep on the good work”,
“You’re tellin’ ’em, sister”, and
“Don’t worry, I won’t go in there.”
A picketline in front of the Tuc
son Woolworth store was carried
on simultaneously with the Phoe
nix one. The picketline was spon
sored by the Communist Party of
Arizona.
Phoenix, Arizona, Friday, May 17, 194&
WE MUST DO OUR SHARE!
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BIG BOYS NEED BIG BREAKFASTS—but Europe’s hungry chil
dren need food, too. So Buddy puts away a hearty eye-opener of fruit
juice, milk, oatmeal, and poached egg with browned mashed potatoes
instead of toast. The bread he saves will help to make up the
equivalent of six million loaves a day that the Famine Emergency
Committee says we can spare for Europe if every American saves
only one slice of bread a day. —American Red Cross photo.
15-Year Old Soldier
Has Brief Career
Fort Lewis, Wash. After ten
months service in the Army, Pri
vate Leonard Matthews, 15-year
old native of Columbus, Mo., was
all set to revert to civilian status
here last week.
Private Matthews was born 15
years ago on April 8, but according
to his personal wishes, and a slip
of the pen in recording his age for
his local draft board, his blessed
arrival into this world occurred in
1928.
Convinced that they had a youth
with Army qualifications, the draft
board summarily sent him to Jef
ferson Barracks where he was in
ducted. Sent to Fort Lewis for
basic training the youth had his
fling as a soldier, living among
men a great deal older and wiser
than he—and liking it.
Soon, however, the authorities
got wind of his age and the ma
chinery was put into operation to
effect his discharge through the
proper channels.
Private Matthews was unhappy
about it. He liked the Army. He
thinks it’s “grand for guys my age
. . . course the fellahs kid me too
much, but I can overcome that.”
He has his hobby, just like any
other growing boy has, and its
football. He had hopes of staying
at Fort Lewis long enough to try
out for the post football team. His
athletic ability was evidenced not
long ago when he pitched his com
pany softball team to a clean-cut
victory.
Private Matthews now looks for
ward to telling his hometown
chums about reveille, chow lines,
target practice and inspections.
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BREAD MEANS LIFE IN EUROPE NOW—This careful home,
maker knows the secret of keeping bread carefully wrapped and
in the refrigerator. That way there is less waste, and, as the Famine
Emergency Committee says, we can spare the equivalent of six
million loaves a day to send to the hungry children abroad if every
American saves only a single slice a day. The American Red Cross
has prepared a series of such helpful hints for housewives; ask your
local chapter’s Nutrition Service. —American Red Cross photo.
Zona Mae Nelson
Crowned “Bronze
Queen of Desert”
The Queen’s Ball honoring Zona
Mae Nelson, the elected “Bronze
Queen of the Desert”, marked a
very successful termination of the
much-talked-of Bronze Queen Con
test sponsored by the Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority.
The dance took place Tuesday
night, May 14, at the Servicemen’s
Center on East Washington. A
desert motif was carried through
out the decorations of the Center
lending a festive atmosphere for
the occasion. Music was furnished
by Wesley Dodson and his orches
tra.
At the highlight of the evening’s
entertainment was the coronation
which consisted of an impressive
ceremony in which the Queen and
her two ladies-at-court and five
other attendants participated. The
Queen, Zona Mae, was charming
and very regal, wearing a gown of
white lace and net and carrying
a beautiful nosegay. Her ladies at
court, Bertha Warren and Marvo
lene Farmer and other attendants
were likewise charming; all mak
ing an attractive picture for the
very appreciative audience.
The Queen was crowned by Mr.
D. F. Benson, a member of the
Wm. H. Pattersons Lodge of Elks
who sponsored Miss Nelson. Miss
Irene McClelland, Far - Western
Regional Director of the Delta Sig--
ma Theta Sorority made the
awards.
The members of the Delta Sor
ority are looking forward to re
peating the popularity contest next
Spring.
Subscribe to the ARIZONA SUN
the state’s only Negro newspaper
GROUP PULLS (OVER OFF OF BUS
DRIVER'S CHARGES
SAN PEDRO, May 16. —A Communist party commit
tee is investigating charges of assault with a deadly wea
pon lodged against a 13-year-old Negro girl by a white
bus driver, Merchant Marine Captain William Morel an
nounced this week.
“We believe it is entirely possible that this is an in-
The Arizona Sun is sponsoring
a state-wide drive to register
every eligible Negro in the
State of Arizona for the July
primary election.
Make yourself a committee of
one and solicit your friends and
neighbors. Show them the im
portance of exercising their
franchise.
REGISTRATION
RULES
Register Now!
State: You must have re
sided in State 1 year.
County: 6 month resi
dence
Precinct: 3 months.
\
If you did not vote at last i
General Election in No- j
vember, 1944, you must
j re-register.
To Register: Go to Coun
ty Recorder’s office, at
the County Court House,
Phoenix, Arizona.
Crowd of 500 Hear
Communist Speaker
Five hundred persons present at
Phoenix Union High School Wed
nesday, May Bth, heard Elizabeth
Gurley Flynn, National Commit
tee member of the Communist
Party and Earl Robinson, talented
young composer and ballad singer.
Mrs. Flynn spoke of her experi
; ences in Paris at the National Wo
! mens Congress. She described the
pathetic situation of the peoples
of Europe—their need for food,
clothing, etc., but warned that food
must not be made into a political
weapon. “The people of Europe
' need everything but one thing,”
j she said. “They do not need Her
bert Hoover.”
Mrs. Flynn said that even tho
Nazism and Fascism have been de
feated on the military front, there
are still remnants of Fascism thru
out the world. In our own coun
try, she said, anti-Semitism and
discrimination against Negroes had
to be reckoned with seriously and
combatted vigorously.
Earl Robinson was a real treat
to the audience. Friendly and un
pretentious, he had the audience
singing, working class songs along
with him before the close of the
evening. His first number was his
own composition, “The House I
Live In.” Other songs were “Joe
Hill”, “A Dollar Ain’t A Dollar
Any More”, and “The Race and
Equal Blues”, a humorous song
proving that people of all races
were made of the same stuff, and
all were human beings. Mr. Rob
inson was generous with encores.
Mrs. Flynn concluded her talk
humorously. “As I look about this
auditorium,” she said, “I cannot
tell which of you are Communists
and which are not. I do not have
the sort of microscopic eye Con
gressman Rankin has.” She in
vited the non-Communists in the
audience to join the Communist
Party.
Return $16,500
Verdict For Child
Injured By Car
A $16,500 verdict for Betty Sue
Beasley, 9-year-old girl, was re
turned by a superior court jury in
a $27,000 suit against Allison Steel
Company over injuries to the child
in an automobile accident.
Trial was before Judge James
A. Walsh. Herbert Watson and W.
H. Chester, attorneys for Serlatha
Smith, aunt and guardian of the
girl, contended an automobile
owned by the company and driven
at an excessive rate of speed
struck the child Nov. 3, 1944, while
she was crossing Jefferson Street
between 15th and 16th Streets.
QM (OMPAHY IS THE OHIY HEGRO UHIT
STATIONED IN THE ITALIAN THEATER
Rome, Italy.—The 3570th Quar
termaster Truck Company, com
manded by First Lieutenant Plea
sant Shack, Infantry, of Indiana
polis, Indiana, has been assigned
to Rome Area, Mediterranean i
Theater of Operations, U. S. Army
(MTOUSA), thus becoming the
only Negro unit in that command.
In the annual inspection held
on April 12 the 3570th received a
stance of anti-Negro discrimina
tion, which is doubly dangerous In
this community where mounting
unemployment and totally inade
quate housing have caused grow
ing racial tension,” Morel, com
mittee chairman, said.
The girl is Maggie Jacquet, a
high-spirited junior high school
student who plays an oboe in her
spare time.
The bus driver, a new man on
the job, is Leonard R. Sullivan,
ex-marine, 25 years of age.
Her Story
According to Maggie’s story, she
| was trying to get on the tightly
i packed bus when an altercation
j arose between her and Sullivan.
When he shoved her back and
used abusive language, she jabbed
him in the arm with a pencil,
Maggie says.
Sullivan, however, called police
; and told them he had been stabbed
j with a knife. The San Pedro
j News-Pilot, local Scripps-Howard
j paper, repeated the knife story on
! the front page. To date, the al-
I leged knife has not been pro
j duced.
Maggie was taken to juvenile
j hall. After a pre-detention hear
before Judge A. A. Scott, she is
being held for trial on June 22.
“Our committee interviewed Sul
livan at his home,” Morel said.
“We found him on the defensive
and evidently worried about his
job. He said his union required
an oath against discrimination. He
showed us the slight cut in his
right arm, which he himself said
was not serious.
“We also interviewed Mr. Lan
dier, owner of the Landier Bus
Company, who told us he would
fire any man guilty of discrimina
tion. We pointed out that more
and better bus service, and the
employment of some Negro bus
drivers, would help prevent such
incidents. We told him all bus
drivers should be instructed to
avoid discriminatory acts and
phrases.
“The important thing here is to
see that Maggie is not railroaded
to reform school for trying to de
fend her rights, and also to pre
vent any further incidents leading
t racial antagonism.”
On the Communist committee
are Morel, Robert Levine, Steve
Edney, William Wright, Helen
Robello and Joseph Solomon.
Murdered Man’s
Body Being Held
The body of Cleveland Berry,
who was murdered last Friday
night on South 16th St., is being
held at East Lake Mortuary, pend
ing word from his wife and rela
tives.
He died Saturday morning in a
local hospital from skull fracture,
according to Coroner’s jury.
The death of Cleveland Berry,
24, 1708 East Madison Street, was
the result of “blows struck” by
Erna Haughton, 20, 1602 East Jef
ferson Street, and Lonzo Parise,
43, 1542 West Tonto St.
Berry, recently discharged from
the army died early Saturday,
police said. Haughton and Parise
were arrested later.
The inquest was conducted by
Justice Harry E. Westfall, ex-of
ficio coroner. Police records show
Parise was released from the Ala
bama State Prison in 1936, after
serving time for a murder charge.
All attempts to locate the wife
and relatives of the victim have
failed. The Red Cross is attempt
ing to contact his wife at Batche
lor, Louisiana; also a sister and
brother in St. Louis, Mo.
Fishing is the oldest industry in
the world, according to the En
cyclopaedia Britannica. About 190,-
000 people in the United States
work for fisheries and fishery in
dustries. More than 90 per cent of
the sea fish landed in American
ports is consumed within 200 miles
of the sea.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO
THE ARIZONA SUN
general rating of excellent to be
come one of the top outfits oper
ating in the Rome Area.
Os the five officers who were as
signed to the company when it first
| set up headquarters on the out
skirts of Rome, two of them, First
Lieutenant Theophilus A. Logan,
Los Angeles, California, and Sec
ond Lieutenant Kendrick J. Prit
chett, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
have been redeployed to the States.
rihn 10 43
Non-Polittoai
The OTMrtSr
Number
No. 50