Newspaper Page Text
THE NEGRO PRESS CREDO The Negro Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every man, regardless of race, color or creed, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man, the Negro Press strives to help every man in the firm belief that all are hurt long as anyone is held back. Vol. XIX No. 12 RUSK AND NEGRO LEADERS CONFER EAST BROADWAY WATER FIGHT REACHES COMMISSIONER City Official To Appear At Biggest Meeting The fight for better water and service to East Broadway water users, will get its biggest shot in the arm tonight when residents are expected to attend the large meeting called by the Minister and Civic Organization. The meeting will be at Union Baptist Church 29th and Chipman Road. 8:00 p.m. The Civic Organization’s Presi dent has had a meeting with a representative from the Corpora tion Commission, and a Represent ative will attend the meeting so that they can get a first hand re port from the residents. Rev. Otis Holden, Pastor of New Zion Baptist Church has promised to give all out support to the water fight. He said that he has lived in East Broadway since 1957 and the water service is just as bad now as it was then. Similar reports have come from users of Broad way Water Company all week. “So they will know that we in tend to do something about the bad water, no water and high' bills,” say Mrs. Marie Olgetree. “Every person using this water should attend this meeting.” Florida City Threatens Sale Os Public Beach Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. ln a continuing effort to bar Negroes from the Municipal Beach, city officials are reported threatening to sell the waterfront property as they did the public golf course when faced with a court order to desegregate. Meanwhile G. E. Graves of Mi ami, attorney for the Florida State NAACP, prepared to answer a complaint filed by Police Chief Lester Holt to enjoin the NAACP from sponsoring wade-ins break ing the color bar at the beach. The injunction suit, filed on Aug ust 12, names four NAACP lead ers—Mrs. Eula Johnson, president of the Ft. Lauderdale branch; Dr. Vaughn D. Mizell, Callis Brown, and Robert Saunders, the Associ ation’s field secretary for the State of Florida. The complaint asks Circuit Court Judge Ted Cabot for an order re straining tho NAACP and its of ficers “from foriienting and spons oring, use (of the beach) or at tendance by its members or others for the purpose of creating con ditions of public unrest or disturb ance.” Named as co-defendants in the complaint are representatives of white supremacy States Rights or ganization—Roger F. Wolf and J. K. Keathley, Jr. The activities of this organization, designed to keep Negroes off the beach, are, in the complaint, linked with the integra tion efforts Os the NAACP as con stituting "a clear and present danger to all inhabitants of the city.” Pre-trial testimony will be taken from some 25 witnesses, including representatives of the NAACP. The Association has 20 days within which to file its answer. In another development, 12 teen agers who were released last week as the result of a mistrial in Muni cipal Court have been rearresled. They were originally charged with disorderly conduct and inciting a riot. Gregory's Salary Raised The new up and coming comic, Dick Gregory was receiving S9O a week at Chicago’s Roberts Show Club when his appearance was cut short because Count Basie is re ported not to have liked his brand of jokes. The comic will come back to the club in December at a salary of $5,000 a week. He has really hit big time with his satire on race problems. ENTER WATER FlGHT—Talking to members of his church Rev. Otis Holden discusses the poor water service on East Broadway with Mrs. Elnora Coker (left) and Mrs. Pauline Tucker. (SUN Photo—Cloves Campbell) Catholic Bishop Urges Racial Justice Bloomfield, N. J. A Catholic Bishop has appealed to Catholics in this Newark suburb “to accept the challenge” presented by the burning of a cross in front of a home to be bought by Negroes. Auxiliary Bishop Walter W. Cur tis of Newark, pastor of Sacred Heart parish here, called upon his parishioners “to accept with calm neighborliness the coming of fam ilies of different races among us.” The Bishop’s statement was read at all Masses in his church and printed in the parish bulletin. Bishop Curtis asked parish so cieties to take the lead in pro moting racial justice He emphasized that Sacred Heart parish, its societies and its school would be open to every Catholic within the parish bound aries “without restriction as to race or nationality.” Two Negro couples hope to buy a duplex home here. When news of their prospective purchase be came known, a cross was burned in front of the residence which is on a block where a Negro family has lived without incident for 35 years. In addition to the cross burning, one of the purchasing families was threatened with physical violence by an anonymous telephone caller. However, both families have in dicated they intend to go through with the purchase. In his statement, Bishop Curtis asked his parishioners “to accept Congressman Charles Diggs Writes To President Congressman Charles C. Diggs, Jr. (D—Mich, 13th Dist.) sent a letter concerning discrimination in the Armed Services of the United States to Honorable Robert S. Mc- Namara, Secretary of Defense, and a copy of the letter to Presi dent John F. Kennedy, inviting his urgent and personal attention: In summary he said: Aft % .f. • 1 Wfry . |J ' ,r JUST PLAIN FILTHY—The above picture is a first hand look at filth surrounding the East Broadway water tank. One resident compared ARIZONA SUN this challenge of the cross.” “Ever since Christ, the Son of God made Man, died upon it for men of all races and nations,” he declared, “the Cross has stood for the fulness of love for God and for neighbor. We invite all to hold high this cross by a Christian and un segregated love.” The question of racial justice and charity is a religious question, the Bishop declared. “Only the teach ings of Christ accepted and lived can create neighborhoods built up on mutual respect for those who differ from us in race, religion or nationality. “(1) All men are created by God to His image and likeness. Before God we of every race are equal in our fundamental rights and duties. Catholics accept this Divine plan by granting equality of rights and opportunity to all men of what ever race or nation. (2) Christ died upon the Cross as the Saviour of all men. Cath olics will not limit this love of Christ only to those of one color. “(3) Christ has called us all to spiritual unity in His Mystical Body, the Catholic Church, in which there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither white nor black, but in which all are to be one in Christ our Head. Catholics are called upon to hasten the day of this full spiritual unity by their present-day support of racial jus tice and charity.” "Now that the United States is stepping up activities for military preparedness in all of its Services, including the Reserves and Nation al Guards, I urge that you give your paramount attention to the continuing problem of racial dis crimination in these several di visions of our Defense. If this na (Continued on Page Six) this sight with the type of service they are receiving. Phoenix, Ariz., Thurs., Aug. 31, 1961 $54,433 FOR FREEDOM FIGHT The Western Christian Leader ship Conference in California has sponsored three rallies through which a total sum of $54,433.25 was raised for the aid of Freedom Riders and non-violent action pro jects. 11,000 were in attendance in Oak land, giving $9,000, $6,500 of wfrich went to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCIC) in Atlanta. There were approximate ly 40,000 attending in Los Angeles and $27,433.25 was raised of which $14,600 was given to SCLC. $16,000 was donated by 12,000 attending in San Francisco and $6,000 of this was given to SCLC, $3,000 was given to the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and approximate ly $4,000 was designated for SCLC. SCLC received a total of $34,000 and $4,000 more is anticipated. Top Position In P. 0. Henry W. McGee has been given the highest position in the postal field service or postal personnel administration ever given to a Negro. The 51-year-old post office veteran with 34 years of service behind him has become the per sonnel manager of the Chicago region of the Post Office Depart ment. He will have the responsi bility of administering personnel activities involving 61,390‘ em ployees working in 2,298 post of fices in Illinois and Michigan. Birthday In Hospital Because of an accident which caused the loss of both legs, Mat hew Scroggins celebrated his 18th birthday in the hospital. Not like most people who feel sorry for themselves, this young man is full of hope and good spir its. Last Thursday Mathew turned 18, and was given a surprise birth day party by his mother, girl friend and hospital staff. He re ceived gifts and cards wishing him well and a speedy recovery. Some of the cards were from Glendale. Prescott and Phoenix. One of the cards even had money inside. About his future Mathew will attend college as soon as possible. He graduated from Phoenix Uniop last May. He will further his ed ucation first at Phoenix College and complete it at a four year college. His major will be Busi ness Administration. This young man is setting a fine example of courage and hope for others who suffer misfortune. Tenn. Desegration Plan Challenged New York NAACP Legal De fense Fund attorneys challenged this week a “stair-step” plan for school desegregation which was instituted last January in David son County, Tenn. In an appeal brief to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit filed August 18, Legal De fense Fund attorneys claim that the Davidson Dounty plan violates the “personal and present rights” of Negro children who are too old to come under it’s provisions. If the appeal is successful, it will mark a major break through against “stair-step”, or “grade-a year” plans which have been ap proved by federal courts in other cities such as Knoxville and Nash ville, Tenn. The Legal Defense Fund attorneys are asking for a ruling similar to one made by the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit last August when it reject ed a “grade-a-year” plan for the state of Delaware. The current appeal is from a decision by the U. S. District Court in Nashville on a suit filed against Food Consultant Appointed By United Nations Research chemist, Dr. Lloyd Hall of Pasadena, California has been appointed by United Nations as a food consultant for Indonesia. Dr. Hall was formerly at the head of research for Griffith Labora tories, Chicago. He plans to leave the United States September 9 to take over his new responsibilities. Mathew Scroggins relaxes after birthday party mother, Mrs. Leola York. with his girl friend Roxic Bell (left) and his (SUN Photo - Cloves Campbell) Interstate Travel Law Change Urged Washington. The National As sociation for the Advancement of Colored People has called upon the Interstate Commerce Commis sion “to adopt and promulgate without delay” the rules and reg ulations suggested by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to as sure non-discrimination in inter state travel. Appearing before the 11-man Commission at a hearing here on August 15, J. Francis Pohlhaus, counsel for the NAACP Washing ton Bureau, said that such action “will make unmistakably clear to all carriers and their employees that they are under a duty and obligation to enforce a policy of non-discrimination in the use of their facilities.” Moreover, Mr. Pohlhaus con- Pre Labor Day Dance Will Be Held Sunday There will be a Pre Labor Day Dance Sunday, September 3, at the Masonic Temple, 4th Street and East Jefferson, from 9 p.m. til 3 a. m. It is sponsored by the Ebo nettes’ Club. Tickets will be sold at the door. Donation SI.OO. the Davidson County School Board last September by Legal Defense Fund attorneys. The suit was insti tuted because there had been no desegregation of Davidson County schools in accordance with the U. S Supreme Court decision of 1954. The county surrounds Nashville, which began desegregating it’s schools in 1957. The principal features of the Board’s plan, submitted on orders of the court, were desegregation of one school grade a year, beginning September, 1961, and an allowance for transfers when a white or Ne gro child will be assigned to a school where his race is in the minority. On November 23, 1960, U. S. District Judge William E. Miller accepted the Board’s plan with a few modifications of his own. Judge Mier ordered desegregation of the fi”st four grades to begin in Jan uary, 1961, and dsegregation of one additional grade each year be ginning in September, 1961. continued on gay 2 For three months he will conduct a survey of food processing in dustries and will offer recommen dations for improvements needed. One of the main problems he will have to deal with will be the ans wer to preserving foods in Indo nesia. tinued, “if such regulations are promulgated, published and pro minently displayed, the public will be on notice that the Negro pass engers are free to use the facili ties in question. This will go far towards insuring public respect for exercise of this right by Ne groes and should promote peace and order in interstate transpor tation.” Despite Supreme Court decisions and ICC rulings, discrimination has continued in certain southern states, Mr. Pohlhaus asserted. He cited 18 complaints received by the NAACP involving at least 25 persons. “These complaints have a wide geographical distribution: five from Mississippi, three from Florida, two each from Louisiana, North Carolina and South Caro lina, and one each from Texas, Maryland, Georgia and Virginia,” the NAACP representative report ed. “It is our belief,” he concluded, “that only firm comprehensive action by the ICC can effectively bring about speedy and substantial compliance with provisions of the Federal law. A significant step in taking such action would be adop tion of the rules suggested by the Attorney General.” Finance Department For Negro Business The formation of a Corporate Finance Department to specialize in the financing of small and medi um-sized Negro-owned business firms in the United States, and enterprises in Africa, the West Indies and British Guiana, has been announced by the Wall Street brokerage firm of H. L Wright & Company, Inc. Three specially trained account executives with post-graduate experience in econ omics, management, and business administration are serving as the initial staff for the new depart ment. Harry L. Wright, President of the firm, said that he recently concluded negotiations with a pri vate New York Banking Group which has unlimited funds, and which expresses a special inter est in attracting applications for investment 1 purposes from well managed companies regardless of the racial make up of manage ment. The new funding facility is available for a broad range of pro jects such as, the adquisition of new businesses, expansion pro grams, and mergers. Mr. Wright’s first negotiations with this banking group have al ready resulted in supplying ade quate working capital for a large housing development in British Guiana, and funds for the expan sion program of an old establish ed cement block manufacturer in Long Island. Marian Anderson Feted In Chicago Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority’s 39th convention, called a boule after the ancient Greek governing councils was held in the Sheraton- Chicago hotel, August 14-19 with one public meeting August 14, at McCormick Place. Dr. William Hale, president of Langston Uni versity, Oklahoma, addressed this session. Miss Anderson accepted a plaque for her contributions to culture and international good will at this ses sion. She is an honorary member of the 53-year-old organization of college women. The Standard Oil Division Os American Oil Compa ny gave a reception for the dele gates in the Sheraton-Chicago, fol lowing this ceremony. Dr. Marjorie Parker, president of the national organization, chair ed the six day meeting. Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded by undergraduates of Howard Uni versity in 1908. It is the oldest Greek letter organization founded by Negro women. Phoenix delegates from Delta Beta Omega Chapter were, Mrs. Alice Mariott, basileus, Mrs. Louise Phillips, and Mrs. Clendolyn Cor bin. This momentous crisis In the life of or* ganized mankind may be likened to the cul minating stage in the political evolution of the great American Republic the stage which marked the emergence of a unified community of federated states.. Open Campaign To Recruit More Negroes “We are determined to do every thing that we can to insure that discrimination is not practiced in the State Department, and that we open up the channels of oppor tunity to all of our American citi zens.” There were the words of Secre tary of State Dean Rusk Wednes day, August 16, as he addressed about 50 Negro leaders and of ficials of human relations organi zations. Rusk had invited them to Washington to help the State De partment launch a campaign to recruit more qualified minority group personnel. Rusk told the group that both President Kennedy and he believe strongly that American personnel overseas ought to be representa tive of all the American people, and that is not yet the case to the extent that we would like it to be.,’’ He said that one reason the Dtfc partment is seeking bright young Negroes to take tjie Foreign Serv ice examination and competent, experienced Negroes for appoint ment to middle and high-level jobs is that the Department is faced with a serious shortage of talent. But the State Department also has a “selfish interest” in seeking more qualified Negroes, Husk said. He explained: “The biggest single burden that we carry on our backs in our for-; eign relations in the 1960 s is the problem of racial discrimination here at home. There is just no question about it. “We are dealing with forty or fifty new countries that have be come independent since 1945, and we are living through a decade of readjustment of the relationships between .Western Europe and the rest of the world—a decade when the white race and the non-white races have got to re-examine and readjust their traditional relation ships. “Our attitude on a question of this sort is of fundamental im portance to the success of the foreign policy of the United States.' Rusk said Americans must work zealously to remove the burden of racial discrimination and that “orte of the first things we must do is ensure that our own Department and our own Foreign Service prove themselves on this point.” To point up the magnitude of the problem, Herman Pollack, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Personnel, pointed that the Department has 4,570 dWH service employees of whom 1,064 are Negroes. However, he said, 85 percent of the Negroes are in the bottom ranks (GS 5 or lower), earning $5,830 or less. The highest ranking Negro civil service employee wtos a GS 13 (in the SIO,OOO to $12,000 pay bracket.) The top civil service bracket is GS 18 with annual pay of $18,500. Pollack also said that estjmqjtes based on a “head count” indicated that of 3,732 Foreign Service of ficers, 17 are Negroes; of 1,140 Foreign Service Reserve officers 3 are Negroes, and of 3,527 mem bers of the Foreign Service Staff (secretarial and clercial>; 38 are Negroes. Pollack pointed out that past racial discrimination is not the sole cause of the paucity of Ne groes in the professional services of the Department. He said that of 59 students from predominantly Negro colleges who took the Foreign Service Exam in December 1959, not one passed. The examination is given and scored without knowledge of the race of the examinee. Administrators of the predomi nantly Negro students have bean shunning the examination, o r whether there are steps the col leges should take to better pre pare their students for such ex aminations. Speaking for conference partici pants, Dr. Jerome Holland, Presi dent of Hampton University, prais ed the Department for calling the conference. He said it was “a lat#» (Continued on Page Two) Ten Cents