Richmond planet. [volume], July 16, 1927, Image 1

About Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938

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VOLUME XUV. NO. 35 RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1927_ PRICE, FIVE CENTS.
FOUR WHITE EMPLOYEES
SAURIES
BECAUSE OF COLORED LIBRARY JANITOR.
PREJUDICIAL^CTION OF 4 COUNCiLMEN
White Folks Aroused-Colored Folks Silent-“Biting Off Nose to Spite Face.
The live employes at the \reuts
Library, now a part of the munici
pal public library system, will not
be paid for July *nd August unless
common counci l holds a special ses
sion to reconsider the Arems ap
propriation resolution.
The resolution, carrying
was defeated, then reconsidered^ and
tabled, because there is Negro
janitor on the library payroll.
Henry Thompson, the janitor, is
an old employe of the Arents' ad
ministration of the library, but tou:
councilmen blocked the appropria
tion Tuesday, July 5 because the
library board recommended his re
tention. They voted, against the
measure because they opposed the
pol cy of keeping * Negro janitor (
it was stated. Nothing was saul
agaj'nst Henry’s character or fitness ;
for the job. 1
The four negative votes; those of
Harvey E. Atkinson, of Madison;
Lee O. Miller, of Clay; Bernard E
Robertson, of Madison and W. L.
Tyler of Clay, were sufficient to
defeat the measure because there
were three absentees. Fourteen
votes were necessary to pass it—
two-thirds—and but thirteen voted
for it.
As a result became apparent,
Councilman John Hirschberg, who
as s.ub-chairmtn of the finance com
mittee of council, is a member of
the library board, changed his vote
from “aye” to “no” so that he could
keep the resolution from utter de
feat. There were sufficient votes to
table it for future consideration.
But future consideration, it was
indicated today, will not help the
Arents employes unless council
holds a special session and passes
the resolution before their pay day
comes due on July 15.
The $2,500 appropriation was
necessary to handle the expenses of
the branch library until the first
interest from the Arents’ maintain
ance fund comes in on January 1.
Miss Arents bequeathed $100,000 as
a maintainance trust and gave the
library to the city outright.
Her trustees, in turning over the
property to the city highly recom
mended the present employes there,
including the janitor, who gets $15
per week, and requested “that in
event this offer is accepted, their
services be retained, if consistent
with the nterests of the city.
When the library board assumed
jurisdiction of the Arents property
it was deeded to retain the present
staff of five. It includes Miss
Fanny S. Bull, librarian in charge,
whose salary 1s $900 per year, or
$75 per month; Miss Ellie Blakey,
who is paid $70 per month; Miss
Agnes E. Northern, at $70 per
month; Miss Mary L. Bull at $1J
per month, and Henry Thompson.
the Negro janitor, who gets $15 per
week or $780 per annum.
MAT CALI, MEETING.
Mr. Hirschberg voted against
the Negro janitor policy as a member
of the board, but decided to vote,
to sustft’n the board's recommenda
tion in the council. ,
An inquiry today disclosed that
there is no possible municipal source
from which the Arents employes can
be pafd if the appropriation does
not go through in time. If the
measure is reconsidered In regular
order, it will come up in August and
by the time It passes if it does pass,
the five employes will have m’ssed
four pay-days. Their salaries are of
a scale which makes pay-day an im
portant event, it is said.
On the other hand, if it be decided
to hold a special session of council
before July 15, and the measure
passes, the July 15 payday will come
tor the library force.
As matters uow . stands it is re
ported, the library either must be
shut down immediately or the em
pioyes must work for nothing until
such a time as council may agree
upon its personnel.
WHITE HELP POLICY.
If Henry Thompson is retained,
, he Will not be the only Negro on
the city payroll, it was learned to
day . Negroes are employed in a
number of municipal institutions.
1 There are no regular Negro la
borers, however, and every proposal
i to employ Negro labor for munici
pal work, except in special instances
. has been defeated in recent years.
! White laborers are employed at a
i wage of $3.SO per day. And white
: custodians are employed in practi
cally all of the municipal buildings.
The employment of white help has
been a policy of many years stand
ing. it is said.
The only Negro skilled and com
mon laborers on city work are the
workmen for contractors handling
contract? to do city paving, sewer
laying and other work.
COMMON COUNCIL AND THE
ARENTS LIBRARY PAYROLL
CASE.
Editor of The Richmond Planet:
Sir: It cannot be said that the
action of the Common Council July
5th in the Arents Library Payroll
Case was highly charged with either
common sense or common justice.
Here is presented a case in which
certain members of that august body
seem to have indulged in a game of
cheap politicodangerous politics,
since the salaries of fivev white lady
clerks were held up. and the library
itself came dangerously near being
closed: all on account of the name
of the faithful old colored janitor
appearing on the payroll with the
names of the other employees.
\
NO CHARGES FILED.
It is noticeable that no charges
were filed against the character of
the old janitor, no claim made that
he was incompetent or unfit< no
suggestion that he was neglectful of
his duties. It was simply and
solely a case of the rankest color
prejudice which the white press of
this city should condemn and de
nounce .
WOULD HAVE ACTED
OTHERWISE.
Does any intelligent person be
lieve that these public officials would
have acted in the manner they did,
if the colored constituents in their
respective wards exercised the right
o/ franchise? Does not this wanton
abuse of power emphasize the ne
cessity of our people paying their
poll tax and voting? Without the
use of the ballot there is no way
by which to redress our grievances;
no opportunity through which to
right our wrongs; no chance to pun
ish our enemies or to reward our
friends.
THE DOG AND THE CITIZEN.
If a colored man will pay the tax
on a cur dog aud neglect to pay his
cwn poll tax and the poll tax of his
wife, he disfranchises both himself
and her. Today the greater number
of our names appear only upon
leases, du,> bills and rent .receipts.
If* we were registered voters, a few
of our names would appear on pay
rolls of the city, county and state.
Is not this increased benefit a suf
ficient incentive to vote? So long
as wo refuse to qualify and vote,
just so long will we he treated not
as American citizens, but as aliens
and exiles.
CANDIDATES WOULD COME.
Mr. Editor, were you and I, and
every other colored citizen to com
bine and agree to vote together,
we would constitute a power so com
pelling that candidates for public
office and city officials would come
to us to find out what we think,
how we feel and what we want. No
longer would we be obliged to ap
pear before the city council in the
attitude of beggars pleading for the
thing to which we are entitled.
Instead of being beggars we would
be dictators, and in a very real
sense we could solve our own prob
lems. New shall we vote, or shall
we persist in not voting?
(THE BALLOT SUPREME.
I
(
! ' Let white people say what they
will or may,, the ballot box is the
best agency through which to devel
op friendship and good will between
1 the races that modern civilization
has yet devised. No matter what
! difficulties we have overcome; no
matter what achievements we have
wrought; no matter how much
wealth we have acquired the fact,
still remains that the ballot is our
strength, our refuge, our hope, our
all.
AN URGENT NECESSITY.
!
Just such outrages as the Arents
Library case furnishes; just such
public insults to the Negro race as
perpetrated by public officers, em
phasize the necessity for the exer
cise of the right of franchise, and
, iiu ckens the demand of the colored
citizens ol Richmond for justice,
: equity and right.
THEODORE W. JONES,
■ 14 01 West Leign Street
A general jubilee, so to speak,
among tho members of the aThircI
Street Bethel A. M. E. Church was
the result of a visit there last Sun
day night by the Organized Classes
of the E;rst Baptist Church (white)
led by Senator Julien Gunn, Judge
I Hooper, Attorney A. W. Patterson
Treasurer of the Austin Class E. R
Martin and others. Mr. E. D.
Forster was master of ceremonies.
The singiDg by the special songste.’
' the class was highly appreciated.
Rev. Hotelier. Trustee E. J John
son and the choir greatly pleased
the visitors with their selections.
I - ■ ■ ..— ■ -—
Mrs. Lillie Baslcerville is doing
a fine work with her Shepherd Juve
niles. Recently she held a fine pro
gram of services at hte First Union
Baptist Church. The slim of $42.64
was raised and $10 was donated to
the Shepherds Band.
The Hosp.tal Dm 3 ia meeting
with great success. It is the
‘white folks” turn now.
Gome and Go
with the
SHEPHEMDS
36a^sbove,
July 19, 1927
That long welcome hour when the
conductor will cry “All aboard for
Bay Shore is approximating fast.
Only a few more days and »he great
Shepherds Excursion will be on its
way to the most popular seashore
resort, Bayshore, in the South. This
iK our Iasi call to you. Every one
who wishes to get away from the
aggravating heat of the city is ur
gently requested to go with the
Improved Order Shepherds and j
Daughters of Bethlehem to Bay
Shore on the 19th of this month.
A committee has made a trip to,
Bayshore and made arrangements on
that end which are designed to
make this one of the most success
ful and enjoyable outings that will
go out of Richmond this, year. We
are urging every one who expects
to go on this Excursion to secure
his ticket not later than Sunday,
July 17th. This will avoid the in
convenience of purchasing your
ticket at the last moment and at
the same time aid the management
in a large way in making suitable
preparation for the comfort of
our patrcns.
The advertising committee has
arranged to have the shepherds Band
to go out Saturday afternoon July
16th in every section of the city to
advertise our Excursion. Please be
<>n the outlook for the Band.
The refreshment car will be in
charge of the Band. They are plan
ning to have substantial food as
well as a variety of refreshment in
abundance, therefore, it will not be
necessary -for one to burden them
selves down with large baskets of
food because everything that one
can desire along this line will be
on the refreshment car.
Everyone holding tickets and
money who will not be able to make
a complete report before leaving the
city Avill go to the special dining
room of Bayshore Hotel, which will
be the headquarters of the Finance
Committee of our Excursion. A
complete report of all money and
tickets must be made at Bayshore
on the 19th. Let every one who has
tickets boar this iin mind.
The Office in Mechanics Bank
Build:ne will be open Sunday. July
17th from 4 until 10 P. M, for the
purpose of receiving reports on the
'-•ole of tickets. This 5s an import
ant matter because we must pay for
cur train not. later than Monday.
The Office will also be open on
Monday, July 18th from 3 until 12
P. M.
(Continued on page 4.
Rev. N. D. Hargrave of North
Carolina ris in the city and supplied
the pulpit at the Second .Baptist
Church all day to the satisfaction of
all who heard him. His text Sunday
morning was from Exodus 15:11.
JOHN O. LEWIS’ DEMISE
I )
j The Oakland, Calif. Western
American under date of the 1st in°,t.
^says John O. Lewis4 Sr. d'c*d July
27 at 6:45 P. M. He had been
getting along nicely in the hospital
where he had been confined since
returning to Oakland, Cal. frora
Arizona m April. He had i sutUhm
tmn for the worse and was failing
fast. He died before his son, John
O. Lewis, Jr., a prominent real
estate agent in Oakland could reach
his bedsride. HJs son is the only
direct descendant who survives, his
mother Mrs. Mollie Lewis, nee An
derson,’ formerly of this city having
died in San Francisco, January 17,
1924. , 0
The deceased was born in facotts
viiie, Va. June 4, 1864. He was pro
prietor of a fine tonsorial parlor in
Murphy’s Hotel here before his re
moval to California. He resided iu
Seattle Washington 13 years. He
set up Ben Hassen Shrine, organized
the Toussaint L’Overture Consistory
in Seattle. He was a past-active
33d degree Mason’ a member of
Shasta Elks and Hannibal Blue
, Lodge of San Francisco. The latter
lodge had charge of the remains,
which were buried from Hudson and
Butler’s Parlors, Thursday, June 30
at 2:30 P. M.
\
ROANOKE LETTER.
•
ROANOkE, VA., July 12—Mrs.
Alice Parson is sick. Rev. W. R.
Howerton, D. D. preached last
Sunday at 11 A. M. It was the
sacrament of infant baptism. At 8
P. M. he delivered another able
discourse. Mrs. C. J. Dickerson,
deputy for St. Lukes left for Pulas
ki. Mrs. Andrew Dickerson was
hurt in an automobile accident on
the 4th. Her ribs were fractured and
her head cut
Mrs. Bullock of Durham left last
Monday for home. Mm Louise
Wright has returned home. Mrs.
Xann'e Hewitt is improved. Mrs.
Eliza Stanfield, of 66 Chestnut Ave
nue N. W. is much Improved
Mrs. Sallie Peters arrived in
Roanoke recently to spend a while.
Her address is 153 Madison Avenue
N. W
Give Madison Stanfield vour sup
port and be happy. He guarantees
his remedies and his service is
prompt and satisfactory
WANTED. OLD SON OS!
I
Do you have old printed copies of
the oid songs, "John Henry” and
“John Hardy”? If so, write me
I am collecting folk songs and will
pay good price for either of above
ballads. O. B. JOHNSON, Box 652
Chapel Hill. N. C.
Mrs. Mat. White; of Philadel
phia is in the city visiting Mr. and
Mrs. John White and family of N.
5th Street. Mrs. White in com
pany with Mrs. Ruth Sully Trent
and son and Mrs. Harris motored
to Richmond last Friday. They
motored to Hampton and Buckroe
Beach Tuesday, spending a very
pleasant day.
THIRD ST. BETHEL A. M. E.
•
Dr. James S. Hatcher delivered
a great message Sunday A. M. on
‘The Constancy of Jesus.”
Prof. W. A. Harris of Richmond
University delivered a wonderful ad
dress on . "Good Will Between the
Races.” At night Senator Julien
Gunn and Judge Hooper, aceompan
.'ed by a fine group of men from the
Broad Street Baptist Church, came
to us and rendered a fine program.
Mr. E. D. Forster presided. The
Men’s Choi us which they brought
sang most excellently.
After two fine addresses oy Sen
ator Gunn and Judge Hooper, Dr.
J. S- Hatcher was called upon to
speak. In his wise, unique and phil
osophical way he set before our
white friends the history, contribu
tion, hopes and aspirations of Ne
groes in this country. Our white
friends lifted an offering of $62.70.
Our Men’s Day efforts resulted in
over $250. The ladies having re
ported $125 in their recent pageant,
"Eve’s Awakening.’”
Come to Third Street Sunday.
Dr. Hatcher will preach all day
Our Street Carnival and Block Par
ty will run from August 1st through
the 7th. Prepare to come out an 1
enjoy the music and evening breeze
and help us to make it a social and
financial success. Mr. J. W. Adams
and Mr. C. M. Butler will have
charge of arrangement. Mr. William
Paxton will have charge of the mu
sic.
I Church Conference Monday night,
July 18th. Be present.
THE SECOND STREET BANK
INSTALLS MANGANESE VAULT
The Second St. Savings Bank,
Mr. John T. Taylor, President, has
installed a fine round burglar proof
Manganese steel safe. It :s in the
vestibule and may be seen at all
hours through the plate glass door
Cashier W. S. Banks will be pleased
to explain its workings. The insti*
tut'on ip steadily increasing its de
posits and business is solicited. The
R. L. Barnes Safe and Lock Com
panv filled the order and installed
the safe without any injury whatso
ever to the structure.
CARD OF THANKS.
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith wishes to
extend her sincere gratitude and
appreciaiton to the many friends and
neighbors for their many acts of
kindness and testimonials of sym
pathy at the death of her husband.
Mr. John H. Smith. Especially does
she wish to thank1 Mr. Will7am
Gregory.
i
Mr. Wyndham M. Carter of New
York C'ty is visiting his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Carter of N.
r>th St.
Mrs. Miles C. Debbress left the
city last week to visit friends in the
Tidewater section.
Messrs. L. F. Byrd, Wyndham
M Carter^ftnd R. Robinson Davis
and A. Allen motored to Buckroo
Beach last Sunday. Jit has been
quite a number of years since Mr
Carter has been to the beach. Just
how many we won’t say.
f
BIRMINGHAM, ALA., July 14—
All members of the band of masked
men which flogged Arthur Hitt, col
ored farmer, will be under arrest
within a few days, county authori
ties said today, following an inves
tigation into the affair which cul
minated in Hitt’s transferring for
a nominal sum a small tract of land
which he did not wish to sell.
Authorities believe Hitt, who was
characerized as a “respectable land
owner,” was coerced into selling by
threats of violence.
FIFTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
Rev. Charles S. Morris Pastor
“God orders His Church to go
forward: go forward in faith, hope,
love and power”. The Rev. Dr. J.
E. Willis, pastor of Vermont Avenue
Baptist Church, Washington. D. C.
delivered the foregoing* instructive
message Sunday morning. He
preached from Exodus 14:15 using
for his subject, “Gbd’s Orders to His
Church. ” V
Rev. Dr. W. T. Johnson, pastor
of First Baptist Church preached at
S P. M. from the subject, “Christ
ian Co-workers.” Dr. Johnson’s ex
plicit development brought home to
us how, why and the results of
working together with God. We are
always delighted to have Dr. John
son in our pulpit.
Mr. Preston Johnson Mr. J. R.
Wade and little Miss Margret Brax
(Continued on page 4.
I)R. BURTON (WHITE) WELL
PREACH AT FOUNTAIN CHURCH
Sunday, July 17th at 3:30 P. M.
Rev. Dr. Burton (white) will
preach at the Fountain Baptist
Church. 32nd and P Sts. He will
be accompanied by his congregation
Reserved seats for white people.
Music by colored choir.
Rev. A. R. Vanlandingham, P8stor
| I). C. DEANS' AGENTS WIN.
t ____
The North Carolina Mutual Life
Insurance Company, of Durham, N.
C, has a State agency in this city
in charge of Mr, D. C. Deans Jr.
and there has been general rejoicing
in the neighborhood. There stands
a perpetual trophy in the shape of
| a large loving cijp and known as
"‘The Perpetual Trophy in memory
of fallen leaders, John Merrick and
Aaron McDufFe Moore. M. D
Awarded annually to the State mak
ing the greatest contribution
to the Company’s success. '
After a survey of the work done
in the country du'ring 1926, tho
Ridges awarded the trophy to the
State of Virginia and State Agent
D. i C* Deans; Jr. smiles blandly
whenever you' ask him anything
about it. The magnificent silver
trophy Is on exhibition in the win*
dow of the Commercial Bank and
Trust Company. Go there and in*
spect fit.