The Detroit tribune., December 20, 1941, Image 1

About The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
O’Hara Denies Prejudice In Policy Numbers Trial
1 PAGES
! 4 FULL OF
J * HEWS
VOL. XIX—NO. 40 2146 St. Antoin*
RED CROSS SAYS REFUSAL OF
NEGRO BLOOD IS U. S. ORDER
BLOOD DONORS CONFER ON RED CROSS REJECTION
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TOUR APPOINTMtNT PON A VOLUNTARY _*"» *
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(OAT» COATS* ITIHSI
Wayne County Investigation
Leads To Probe Os Hospitals
The special grand jury investigation being conducted by Circuit Judge Homer
Ferguson into alleged charges of irregularity in some departments of the \\ ayne
County government, shifted this week to the investigation of some of the local colored
hospitals caring for county and city patients. ...
The stage for the probe was set some weeks a E°» " hen local dailies began calling
Mention to the fact that Senator*
uhirlr* t\ Dlgga, undertaker, held [
exclusive contract for hurlala of
indigent inmates of Eloise hospl
*'■ a county Institution. This ex
together with allegations
made by Emmett 8. Cunningham,
j>it»r being tired.from the Tract In
department by the county au
sltors. prompted the county su
pervisors to call a apecial meeting,
jt which i hey requested Prosecutor
"Mlam Howling to probe the
taarKcs or irregularity. Prosecutor j
, w, inir in turn asked for a grand
nty Investigation.
The hospital issue Ig only one of
*>« various phases of the county
probe it is unofficially reported
«at the heads of two of the prl
*l»ly-*)wned colored hospitals
I* vs recently appeared before the
Tand jury, in one case, the hos
'>tal records were taken over by
authorities. Heads of some of
"v o, her hospitals are alao ex
*rtfd to be questioned, as well as
snow K. Grigsby, former chalr
■*n of the Detroit Civic Rights
totnmittee, who tome time ago made
* militant attack against certain
l'*’ Privately-owned Negro hos
pital*.
interviewed Tuesday. Dr.
*"' ord stated that the reason col*
c °unty patients are sent to
Wored hospitals is because the
r*e r white hnapltala accept only
limited number. He alao aald
a l his hospital la approved by the
»r # i rlcan C°H*ff* of Burgery and
P*°ys a staff of nlnety*three.
Trinity*! patients, as of Dec. It,
" r , Ralford stated Included 12
unty patienta. 26 private patients,
rity esses, two Hamtramck City
‘* nt * * n< l fi juvenile cases which
* paid for by the atatt.
p »Ments received by the local col-
J’’** hospitals, according to Dr.
Hord, are sent on recommends
® of the city physician or private
bbraician, of th# ißdlTl dual p»ti
«• and all art given the same ef*
,nt tr e*tmant and medical aid.
Jf '* •• , *®ated that the toul pay
*ll the Detroit Negro*owned
lißeiL' 1 ' ,mouat> *• mora than
m»«,ooo annually.
DI N O NEG KO WEEKLY OF MICHIGAN
Attorney Job K. Graham Returns
To City Papll In Court Shake-Up
The Judges of the Recorder's
court at a formal meeiing Thurs
day elected Judge Donald VanZilc
to succeed Judge Arthar E. Gordon
as executive Judge of the court for |
the 1942 calendar year. They also
recommended that each employee
of the court receive a 10 per cent
Increase tn salary and that Atty.
John K. Graham a deputy clerk and
librarian for the court, be return
ed to the city payroll at a salary
of $.1,180 a year. The position held
by Graham's secretary was abolish
ed.
Attorney Graham was appointed
a deputy clerk a year ago at an
annual salary of $2,980. and was
transferred to the county payroll as
of December 1. 1941. at a salary of
$4,000. Graham has not drawn any
pay from the county. It is announc
ed.
Relative to allegation that Gra
ham had been suspended from the
Michigan Bar. because of non
payment of dues, Attorney Grahsm
Issued the following statement
Tuesday:
‘T wrota a letter to the Michigan
Bar association December S. stat
ing that 1 had been Informed
through the newspapers that I had
ignorsd the notice of non-payment
of duet. If a registered letter had
.
ELKS TO SELL PAPERS
The Motor CHy Lodge of Elks
No. M*. In connection with their
eighth annual charity drlv# for
needy famlllee. will sell special
Chriatmaa laaues of the home
town newspaper Friday after
noon. Dec. 1». The public la urg
ed to support this effort gener
ously.
The group above led Hip meeting
I«*t Saturday at the Red Irons
headquarters at Cass and Airs,
andrlne, to protest the rejection
of Negro blood for the national
blood bank. They are, left to
right—William Hogans teacher:
Mrs. Attoay ( unard. Red Cross
nurse: .Mrs. Florence M. Hwcf
ney. president of Detroit Teach
ers’ union, aud (Jeorge >V. Cath
cart, teacher. The Red Cross re-
Jected the blood of Hogans and
Cathcart became of their racial
Identity. Here Is also a repro
duction of the application blank
submitted by .Mrs. Sylvin Tucker
to the Red Cross when the or
gani/ation also rejected her as a
blood donor.
been sent me in accordance with
the rules. 1 would have received It.
I enclosed a money order covering
my 1941 dues, when 1 wrote the Bar
association.
“On December 11. 1 received a
(Continued on Page 2)
LASSIES WHO KEEP THE EDWARD DAVIS ENTERPRISES RUNNING SMOOTHLY
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1941
Mrs. Bethune To Open Confab;
Deltas Launch Defense Drive
Sorors Plan
To Feature
Stamp Rally
Soldiers Will be
Special Guests
At Open Ball
In view of the national war emer
gency, In which the I'nlted States
is fared, the Detroit chapter of
Delta Sigma Theta sorority has
launched a vigorous program to aid
the country in Civilian Defense.
More than fifty Christmas boxes
have been packed by members of
the sorority and are on their way
to Camp Costal, in flattie 're<dt.
M*< h„ . order T j help the
yuletide season a little more mer
ry ami less dreary for the sol
olers. The boxes contain presents
and delicacies appreciated by the
men in service.
In addition to planning for their
National convention, which will
convene in Detroit during the holi
days .the sorority has invited as
many soldiers as can secure lpave
to come to their open dance, as a
recreation aid and fnctor In build
ing morale.
In view of the sudden entrance of
the country Into war. the sorority
decided to carry on with their con
vention plans, as originally sched
uled. for life and the world must
go on. but the Deltas in addition
have Incorporated in their conven
tion program, plans to aid the coun
try in this crisis. Defense Stamps
will he sold by the sorority during
the holidays at their convention
headquarters at St. Matthews par
ish house. Also a special Defense
Stamp rally sale will he featuring
at the Deltas' open dance Monday
night. Dec. 29, at the (Iraystone
ballroom.
Delta Sigma Theta sorority has
registered each member ami will
turn in their names along with oth
er information for the Civilian De
fense program. In order to become
more familiar with the ways in
which they can help. Mrs. Rosa
Gragg, member of the Volunteer
Participation committee of Region
6. has been invited by the Deltas to
speak at the sorority's meeting
Thursday, Dec. IS. Mrs, Gragg is
the only member of the race on this
important national committee
which serves Illinois. Wisconsin
and Michigan to coordinate Natlon
(Continned on page 2)
Mm, located at 411 »««*r
klffcnay, of which Edward Darla
la tha proprietor.
NAACP CALLS HOUSING MEET
The Detroit Rranch NAACP has called a conference to retain
the Sojourner Truth Homes, Dr. James J. McClendon announced
this week.
The conference will meet Friday, Dec. 19, at the Lucy Thurman
YWCA at 12 o'clock.
Key persons representing church groups, labor organizations,
social clubs, and other organizations have been invited to partici
pate.
The NAACP urges that ail persons Interested in retaining the
Sojourner Truth Homes at Fenelon and Nevada for Negro occu
pancy attend this important meeting.
Reading, Watson,
Roxborough Guilty;
Court Frees Eleven
The policy and numbers conspiracy trial in Wayne
county, involving millions of dollars handled by the opera
tors, came to a dramatic climax Monday evening, when an
all-white jury, after more than eighteen hours of delibera
tion, returned a verdict of guilty against former Mayor
Richard \V. Rending and twen
ty-two others. The Jury also
cxoneratci! eighteen other dclen
dants. Including Detectives Ser
geants George Rutherford and
Rex Smith. Alfred Perry and Karl
Moore. Karl Cuxxens, Karl Hutch
ins. Floyd \V Mitchell. Ledell Wil
liams and Alfred Gaskill.
Those found guilty, in addition to
Reading, were: John Roxborough.
Everett Wat-on. Elmer Ryan. Clar
ence Krishy. William 11. Robinson.
Claude Roxborough, Michael Novak.
Peter Kosiba. George Cordell, Pa
trolmen Joseph Whalen. John Alt
ken. Raymond Ruck and Glen D.
McLean. Sergeants George P. Frank.
Ollle Gosney. Carl Neuhar. Marlon
Ratliff. Charles Schemanski and
Phillip Speace. also Lieutenants
Frank Dombeety and John P. Mc-
Carthy and Inspector Arthur Ryck
man.
Judge Earl C. Pugsley, who con
ducted the trial, plans to pronounce
sentence on the convicted men on
Jan. 7.
O'Hara Makes Statement
Following the Jury's verdict. Spe
cial Prosecutor Chester P. O'Hara
issued the following statement to
The Tribune Tuesday:
"I am perfectly satisfied with the
verdict rendered by the Jury In the
(Continned on page 2i
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GEORGIA
RENEW FIGHT
FOR FUGITIVE ;
LANSING. Mich.—Governor Mur
ray VaoWagoner again denied Geor
gia authorities the extradition of
Charles Thomas, at a second hear-j
Ing held at the capitol building
here on December 11, before Byron
L. Ballard, assistant attorney-gen
eral. Thomas, a colored man. whoi
had escaped from the chain gang
In Georgia in 19.14, after having
served twenty-two months for al
leged criminal assault, was previ
ously saved from extradition to
Georgia at a hearing on November
6. when it was found that the extra
dition paper* forwarded to this
state were not in compliance with
the laws of Michigan. At that time. 1
the Georgia authorities were in
structed not to make a second ex
tradition request, hut this admoni-,
tlon was ignored.
. f lon. Ske win former bookleop.
of of tkr Davlo Motor Holrv bit
kai beta appoiaM maaafor.
CLIFFORD 2924 PRICE 5 CENTS PER COPY
Educator
Will Speak At
Public Meeting
•
Local Chapter
Awaits Coming Os
Renowned Sorors
. . .
Mr*. Mary McLeod Hethune, na
tional advisor on Negro affair*, of
the NYA. and president and founder
of Bethunc Cookntan college, Day-;
lona Beach, Florida, will be the !
principal speaker at the Delta eou
venrton in open meeting Sunday.
December 2H at Bethel AMD
church in Detroit, it is announced
iiiia week by Mr*. Mi*non Brown,
of ' 4 c.ouvenu<v <<».n-l
mlttee.
The open meeting to wiilch the
public is invited, will be one of the
highlights of the Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority convention to tie
held in Detroit December 2C-3U.
Among the other speakers who
have been invited to participate in
the program are Jesse O. Thomas,
nationally prominent social author
ity, and Mayor Kdward Jeffries of
the city of Detroit.
Mrs. Bethune’s work in Wash
ington has won for her the reputa- j
tlon of being one of the outstand
ing women of the Negro raec.j
During her last visit to Detroit she
spoke at the "We are Americans
Too" program at Belle Isle to an
audienc e of 20.000 people, ller sub
ject will ho announced at a later
date at the Deltas convention, but
it has hern learned from a reliable
source It will deni with the part
Negro women are playing and will
play in Civilian Defense.
Among the other outstanding
member* of the race and sorority
who will attend the convention
here are Miss lil*io Austin, na
tional grand president, and advi
sor in the office of Recorder of
Deeds, Washington. D. C.; and Mi<s
Yenlt.i l.ewi*. social worker in the
Department of Labor. Childrens
Bureau, Washington, P. (’.
Sojourner
Truth Project
O. K. For City
Officials of the Federal Works
administration of Washington ap
proved the construction of the So
journer Truth Housing project in
Detroit. Tuesday, it was announced.
The project is named after the fa
mous Negro slave and abolitionist,
who fought so vigorously for bet
ter living conditions and freedom
of the people of her race. It is to
be a 200-dwelllng war housing
project for Negroes and will be
erected on the site bounded by
Stockton. Fenelpn. Bloom and Ne
vada avenues In this city.
Considerable protests have been
made by a group of white citizens
In the locality In an effort to bar
colored residents from occupying
the property. A large delegation of
whites visited the Detroit Common
council at its Tuesday night ses
sion Dec. 10 and in an effort to per
suade the members of the council
to ban Negro occupancy of the So
journer Truth project but they
failed in the attempt as the local
council has no authority In the
matter.
DEADLINE FOR XMAS
As the Christmas holiday ssa
son begin* Thursday, The Tri
bune's deadline for news and ad
vertisements will be moved op.
All out-of-town agenta are urg
ed to have their news reach our
office not later than Saturday of
this week and all local news and
advertisements by Monday. This
will make It possible for ths
pipers to be distributed Wednes
&*r
Ct IN MICHIGAN
7 CANTS ELSEWHERE
Rejected Donors
Hold Protest
Meeting
Mrs. Tucker One
Os The Many
Turned Away
By Alfred Cassey
“Out of one blood God
made all nations, for to
dweM udo" ace of the
earth, _ . Bible. Vet
in the present national
emergency, while the mini.-ter* ara
calling upon God to hc.p us defeat
the enemy, thy Army and Navy
bureaucrau it is alleged liners giv
en strict orders to the Red Cross
Blood Donor* service chapters that
no Negro blood is wanted in tha
national blood hank tor cur injur
ed soldiers and sailors in the war
now raging.
I rank Statement
This is the (rank statement of
policy made by Dr. W. B. Cook-ey,
head of the local Red Cross office*
for the collection of blood bank for
injured servicemen, at tjp;, c ats
, vtrr/ L3 -t Saturday afternoon t
a. protest meeting called bv (be Ito
, li oit Tcac heiunion. This protest
meeting wag prompted by the re
fusal of the Red Cross headquarters
to accept blood donations from Mrs.
Sylvia Tucker, also two members
of tln> Teachers’ union, George W.
Catheart and William llogan and
other colored citizens.
According to In. Cook -ey, tits
denial of acceptance of Negro blond
to the blood bank wms made in com
pliance to tlie- national orders from
the* Army and Navy.
Heated Protest Made
Mrs. Florence M. Sweeney, presi
dent of the Teacher*' union, and a
member of the committee mads
| heated protests against the humil
iation suffered by thus _• rejected
ancl denial of democratic p: ivl-
I leg< s to members of their union.
She stated tli.it lor organization
had c alled up and Inquired into the
| olicy of the local Reel Cross office
and was told that there was n > dis
crimination made against colored
citizens, Mr*. Sweeney stated that
this precaution was taken in or
der to avert embarrassing situations
for their member*. She declared
that such a discriminatory policy
was unsound, unscientific and un
fair. and that she believed it was
the duty of thp medical profession
to take tile lead in exposing the
policy which is founded purely on
I racial prejudice.
Mrs. Sweeney further sta'ed at
(the meeting that she would recom
mend still further action by her un
(C’onllimed cm pugc *J»
CIVILIANS
VOLUNTEER
FOR DEFENSE
K«en enthusiasm « n the part of
! a number of hading citizens pre
vailed Tuesday a'ter noon at the
I Lucy Thurman YMCA at a special
meeting called by Mrs. Rosa Gragg,
member of the President Roose-
I veil’s Volunteer Committee for Aid
I in Civilian Defense. The objective
of the meeting was to organize mem
, bers of the race in this conrmuhity
to fight all anti-democratic actl t*
I flea.
A local Volunteer committee was
formed to cooperate with leaders
m Civilian Defense and to see that
local* areas in which Negroes re
aide are not neglected ahd that
members of the race are Integrated
into the National Defense program
here.
Officers elected Included the Rev.
John Miles, chairman; Mrs. Krnes
tine Postles. vice chairman; Olos
ter Current, secretary; Mra. R. Lou
ise Grooms, assistant secretary;
Mr*. F. E Dawson, treasurer.
Elks Memorial Meeting
Memorial services were held over
WJLB, December 14 for tb« depart
ed members of the IBPOEW whe
hav* passed cn during the rear.
Opening the program which was
devoted to the edu Art tonal activi
ties of UK- cv veil, was Fred Han
Will Isms, r tt excited ruler Motoi
City Lodge fco. Pit. end state dirae
tor of •donation. IBPIMtW.