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S. C. LAW WOULD BLOCK EQUAL PAY first in news AND PICTURES. THE MOUTHPIECE OF THE PEOPLE OLUME VIII Report Breaking Up 01 9.10th Cavalry NEW S. C. LAW TRIES TO BLOCK SUITS FOR EQUAL TEACHERS’ PAY COLUMBIA. S. C. —On the last day of its session the South Caro lina legislature passed a bill de signed to delay or prevent Negro teachers from filing suit in the federal courts to equalize their salary- with those of white teach ers. The new law provides that where teachers consider that dis crimination exists against them, they may appeal first to county boards of education and if not satisfied there, may file an appeal next with the state board of edu cation and on up through the courts of the state. It has been maintained that by establishing the system of appeal processes, suits in behalf of Ne gro teachers for pay equalling that of white teachers would be de ferred, since it is a custom of federal courts not to entertain suits on intrastate matters until all possible processes of redress in the state are exhausted. Sponsors said this would “meet the legal aspects” of a situation in which they warned Negro teachers would file suits in the federal courts. WILL NOT STOP SUITS SAYS NAACP COUNSEL NEW YORK, N. Y. The new bill passed by the South Carolina legislature will not prevent suits being filed by- colored teachers in the federal courts to equalize sal aries, says Thurgood Marshall, NAACP special counsel in com menting upon the legislation. ‘‘We have gone over the com plete text of the bill and do not teee Wherein the bill : >j any man ner prevents the continuation of our cases in the federal courts. The statement in the bill that ‘the findings of fact by the state board of education shall be final and conclusive as to all parties’ is just so much wasted verbiage. The legislature of the state of South Carolina cannot in any way super sede the Constitution and laws of the United States nor prevent Ne gro teachers from availing them selves of the remedies provided by the laws of the United States.” ELECTION BOARD OPENS OFFICES AT COURT HOUSE The Buncombe county board of elections will set up an office on the lobby floor of the county courthouse Monday, it has been announced by Clyde Bradley, chairman. Anthony Redmond is secretary’ of the board and the Republican member is Irwin Monk. Mr. Brad ley and Mr. Redmond are Demo crats. Mr. Bradley explained that any member of a soldier’s family may make application for, and receive proper papers for the soldier to cast his ballot in the primary elec tion on May 27. All three members of the board of elections have had previous ex perience in conducting elections. i* ’’ '' jr JSkMW ~, Bl & f \ ’ I t' Released ov U. S. War Department Bureau of Public Relations NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of Baer Field, I Troop Carrier Command Air Base, Fort Wayne, Indiana, held a formal opening of their new NCO club recently. A bulging crowd of members and ’ their wives attended. The officers of the club are, left to right: First Sergeant Cyril E. Marks, vice-president; First Sergeant Delbert , E. Langosch, president; Master Sergeant Gordon Cushman, director; Technical Sergeant Charles Lightner, director, and Sergeant Florence i A. Hand, secretary. Colonel Robert L. Copsey is commanding officer of the field. (Photo by Army Air Forces.) Special Correspondents Over North and South Carolina R. B. De Frantz Joins United College Fund New York Robert Benjamin DeFrantz, formerly national Per sonnel and Financial Service Sec retary of the National Council of the YMCA, has joined the staff of the United Negro College Fund as technical field director, it was announced this week. Mr. DeFrantz was associated with the YMCA Council for the past 24 years, during which time he majored in personnel and cam paign services, successfully con ducting ninety fund-raising cam paigns for buildings and current expenses. He received his ejirly training in Topeka, Kansas, and attended Washburn College. Howard Uni versity, and Fordham University, in New York City, besides taking special courses at Columbia and New York Universities. In taking over his new position, Mr. DeFrantz said: “The coopera tive fund-raising effort of the 27 leading Negro Colleges for current operations and maintenance is in line with advanced nation-wide methods employed so successfully and at a minimum cost of time, energy and money by the Com munity Chests, Red Cross, the U. S. O. and the agencies that constitute the National War 'Fund.” He will work fyom the head- i quarters of the United Negro Col- 1 lege Fund. 38 East 57 th Street, New York City. 35TH ANNUAL N. A. A. C. P. DANCE MAY 12, AT SAVOY New York The 35th annual birthday dance of the NAACP will be ;held this year on May 12 at the famous Savoy Bullroom in New York, it was announced this week. The affair has always been a gala occasion and it is expected that an overflow crowd will be in attendance celebrating the years, of activity of the race’s oldest civil rights organization. There is a possibility that Walter White, NAACP secretary now on a tour of troop installations overseas, may have returned to America by that date to be an honored guest at the party. Coast Air Defense To Be Increased SAN FRANCISCO, March 25. Fighter and bomber strength on the Pacific Coast will be increas ed under a reorganization of the Fourth Air Force to meet ex panded requirements, Major Gen eral William E. Lynd, command ing general, announced today. The reorganization, effective > April 1, will give the Fourth Air • Force additional bases and fields in California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada. General Lynd’s I command will absorb the person - nel of the Fourth Bomber ant Fourth Fighter Commands. ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, SATURDAY, APRIL,'!, 1944 Hfi I P Released by U. S. War Department, Bureau of Public Relations WE HATE TO SEE YOU GO, JOE—The Army's expert on physical training, Sergeant Joe Louis Barrow, prepares to leave Love Field, Dallas, Texas, in a bomber after one of his exhibitions. Those present to see him off are members of the sth Ferrying Group, Ferry ing Division, Air Transport Command. (Photo by U. S. Army Signal Corps). DR. CHARLES. R. GREW WIN 29TH SPINGARN MEDAL FOR YEAR 1943 NEW YORK Dr. Charles R. Drew, professor of surgery at Howard University college of medi cine. has-been awarded the 29th Spingarn Medal for 1943. it was announced here this weej, by the NAACP. Dr. Drew was given the coveted medal because of his outstanding work in blood plasma. Dr. Drew set up and ran the blood plasma bank in the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City which served as one of teh models for the wide-spread system of blood banks now in operation for the American Rod Cross. Early in the war when it was decided by the Blood Transfusion Association to investigate the pos sibility of aiding the Allies by shipping plasma to Europe, a committee was selected consisting of Dr. E. H. L. Corwin,. Dr. Scud der. and Dr. Drew to draw up plans whereby this project might be carried out. This plan was about to go into effect as a means of aiding the French, but France fell so rapidly that this project never came into being. On Oc tober 1, 1940, Dr. Drew was ap pointed full-time Medical Director of the plasma project for Great Britain with the job of solving tre many technical problems which had arisen in this first great ex- periment in gross production of human plasma. As a final report at the end of this project a very complete summary of the organi zational, technical and medical problems that arose in this work was written. This report was pub lished and served as a glide for the later developments in the United States for the U. S. Army and also for the armies of our allies. When it was decided by the American Red Cross to set up blood donor stations with the Idea of collecting blood plasma for the American Armed forces. Dr. Drew, was appointed as the first direc tor and set up the first collection unit with full-time people In con tra-distinction to the largely vol unteer help used in the project for Great Britain. When the pro tect had been successfully running for three months. Dr. Drew re signed to go to Washington to take the Chair of Surgery at How 'rd University. In connection witli t b e segre gation of blood plasma Dr. Drew made the following statement ip 1942: “I feel the recent ruling o’ the United States Army and Navy -egarding the refusal of colored blood donors is an indeefnslb’e one from any view point. As yoc know, there is no scientific basis for the separation of the 'bloods as different races except on the basis of the individual blood types ar groups.” Dr. Drew received his A. B from Acherst College in 1926, his M. D. and Msatcr of Surgery at McGill University, 1933, Doctor of Science in Medicine in Columbia University. 1940. He was a mem ber of Alpha Ogema Alpha at McGill University. He was Ex •■.eme-Interne, Royal Victoria Hos pital, Montreal; Beneral Rotatin’- Tnterneship, Montreal General Hosnital, 1933-34: Resident in Medicine, Montreal General Hos pital. 1934-85; Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Exam iners, 1934; Instructor in Pathol ogy, Howard University College of Medicine, 1934-36: Assistan tin Surgery, Howard University, Resi dent in Surgery, Freedmen’s Hos pital, 1936-37; Instructor in Sur gery, Howard University and As sistant Surgeon, Freedman’s Hos pital, 1937-38; General Education Board Fellow in Surgery, Colum bia University, 1938-40: Resident in Surgery, Presbyterian Hospital, 1940; Assistant Professor of Sur gery, Howard University and Sur geon, Freedman’s Hospital, 1940- 41. He was granted a leave of ab sence in September, 1940, to be medical supervisor of the blood plasma division of the Blood Transfusion Association in charge, of collection of blood plasma for the British Army. He was also director of the American Red Cross blood bank, New York City, February, 1941: Assistant Director of Blood Procurement for the Na tional Research Council in charge of collection of blood for use by the United States Army and Navy; certified by the American Board of Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hos pital, April, 1941: Chief Surgeon at Freedman’s Hospital and Pro fessor of Surgery, Howard Uni versity. October, 1941. M C DONALD’S ANTI-SALES TAX STAND OKAYED BY MERCHANTS The following is a copy of a < resolution, adopted by the board of directors of the North Carolina Merchants Association at a meet ing held in Raleigh on March 1 13. 1944, indorsing the Anti-Sales ! Tax plank in the platform of Dr. Ralph W. McDonald, candidate for ' '■the Democratic nomination for 1 Governor of North Carolina, and 1 urging support of candidates for < the General Assembly who pledge 1 themselves to work for and vote 1 for the elimination of the sales < tax: . ‘ Whereas, the sales tax was en- I acted in 1933 as an emergency measure and as an emergency ’ measure only: the State had heavy 1 debt payments coming due and no ' money in the Treasury with which ’ to meet them, and i Whereas, the Governor of North ’ Carolina in addressing the General i Assembly in 1933 said, "If a sales i tax is levied, it should be levied i with the distinct understanding i that it is for the period of the I emergency, to save the State’s credit and keep going its essential I activities" and Whereas, other State officials.' i Legislators and Party Leaders i likewise agreed to the solemn i pledge that the sales tax would ; be used only as an emergency measure, and ’ Whereas, the State Treasury as ’ early as 1937 began to pile up a reserve In the general fund be- i cause revenues were running above expenditures; this surplus has grown until it Is now above $40,000,000. State financial au thorities estimate that it will con tinue and will reach $70,000,000 or mors by the end of the bl- Wfong Choice Made On FEPC, Dewey Is Bld By The NAACP j NEW YORK ln by-pussing J demand for enactment of a ||B£lte Fair Employment Act. Gov : Thomas E. Dewey made the •1 *?to'rong choice” according to the J VAACP. 5 J In a letter to Paul Lockwood. | Secretary to Governor Dewey, the hNAACP said: ‘‘We are sure we - do not need to tell you that this Association and colored people generally are keenly disappointed in the action taken by Governor Dewey. “We know that the Governor was faced with a choice, but we are strongly of the opinion that insofar as Negro citizens are con cerned, he made the wrong choice, and we think this will be come evident as the months pass.” The NAACP pointed out in ad dition that Governor Dewey, prominently mentioned as a can didate for the Presidency, has maintained all along that he is confining his activities to New York state matters. “However.” the statement said, “when presented with a clear cut demand for a state law to give Negro citizens within the state a fair chance at employment, Gov ernor Dewey pulled a trick and refused to face the issue. More over, this law was recommended 1 by a committee which he himself had appointed. The inescapable conclusion is that Governor Dewey is not interested in eliminating racial and religious prejudice which bars Negroes and other . minority groups from employment . according to their merits. • “The matter of employment is l one of the most important issues . among Negro voters today and ; any prospective candidate for’ thv . Presidency who is unwilling to . take a stand on this matter is . certain to he viewed with sus [ picion by Negro voters.” Named To Direct Post-War Planners WASHINGTON, March 25. Marion B. Folsom, treasurer ol the Eastman Kodak Company ant • a trustee of the Committee so ■ Economic Development, has beer I chosen staff director of the House I Post-War Economic Policy ant ? Planning Committee, Chairmar ■ William M. Colmer (Democrat) o. > Mississippi announced today. Fear Ration Token “Dimes” In Machines NEW YORK, March 25. New York vending machine operators did not welcome the dime-sized red and blue ration tokens ini tiated by> the OPA. They complained that the tokens might be used instead of dimes to "milk” some of their machines. ennium, and Whereas, it is to be apparent to every citizen that there no longer exists an emergency in State revenues, and Whereas, the only way to bring about a fulfillment of the solemr peldge on the sales tax and to ob tain relief from this unfair bur den on the merchants and thi poor people of North Carolina if through the election of a Gov ernor who will use the full powe and influence of his office to ful fill the pledge, and Whereas, there is already sue! a candidate for the Democrat!' Nomination for Governor, a mar who has consistently opposed th< sales tax, a man whose sound ant accurate knowledge of State fi nance is proved by a consistenl record of accurate forecasts, f man who is known to the citizen? of North Carolina to have the courage of his convictions and the ability to carry them ovt. Now therefore, the North Caro lina Merchant's Association by vote of its Board of Directors at a regular session in Raleigh, N. C., on- this Monday, March 13, 1944, does hereby resolve: That we heartily indorse that plank in the platform of Dr. Ralph McDonald candidate for Governor of North Carolina, which opposes the State three per cent sales sax and we strongly’ urge the support of can didates for the General Assembly who pledge themselves to work for and vote for the elimination of the sales tax. BUY WAR BONDS NOW Protest Jim Crow Bus For Hillburn Schools Hillburn, N. Y. —. The latest flare-up in the Hillburn school situation is a formal protest lodg ed with the school board over jim crow' buses provided for white and colored Hillburn children. The protest, submitted by Negro parents in Hillburn with the as sistance of Thurgood Marshall, NAACP special counsel, recites that recently a bus service was inaugurated for the pupils of the new centralization high school. “Two buses are being operated, one for the white pupils and one for the Negro pupils. Both buses follow the same route. The bus for the Negro children stops at certain corners, while the bus for the white children stops at other corners, and the bus for the white pupils does not take Negro pupils, and the bus for the Negro pupils does not take white pupils. When the pupils leave school they* sep arate by race and the white pupils go into one bus and the Negro pupils into another. When one bus only is in operation, the Negro pupils must wait until the white pupils are taken home before they will be taken home by the bus. “The petitioners show that this policy or usage is a violation of the Constitution and the laws of the State of New York. “WHEREFORE, petitioners urge the School Board: “1. To abolish the policy and usage of segregating the white and Negro pupils by race in the bus service to and from school; if this relief is not granted. “2. To grant your petitioners a public hearing at the next meet ing of the Board.” NEW WAR TAX APPLIED APRIL 1 New federal tax regulations will be placed into effect at Hender sonville’s two theatres, the Caro lina and State, beginning Saturday, April 1, H. E. Buchanan, city manager, said this morning. In conjunction with the recently passed law, taxes on tickets wil be doubled. At the Carolina, mat inee admissions will increase from 33 to 36 cents with the estab lished price at 30 cents. Night prices will be raised from .39 to .4 2 with the established price at 35 cents and seven cents tax. At both theatres, children under twelve years of age will still be admitted during all hours at 9 cents. At the State Theatre, the eatab- Jished price is twenty cents with a two cent tax increase making the total admission 24 cents in stead of the previous 22 cents, during all hours. The new advance in taxes will also be effective on all types of pass tickets, season or otherwise. Taxes on theatre admissions are included in a category of hun dreds of luxury items which were placed under a twenty percent tax ation, replacing the former ten i percent, and which goes into ef fect the nation over on April 1. BUY WAR BONDS NOW jIA • ■■■■ ML : WF r* w bz ■ 1 wii r/ I k &. w JI. Releawd by U. S. War Department, Bureau of Public Relations FIRST MEMBER-OF THE NINETY-NINTH Fighter Squadron to win the Purple Heart, First Lieutenant Thomas N. Malone, of Detroit, Michigan, is pictured here with Mrs. Malone during a recent visit to the Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. First Lieutenant Malone had a truck blown out from under him by a land mine in Italy. (Photo by AAF Training Command.) I PRICE | : ' 7c NUMBER 6 BEING CONVERTED TO SERVICE UNITS NEW YORK—What has become of the famous Negro cavalry regi ments, the 9th and 10th? This is the question uppermost in the minds of those who have watched recent movements in the War Department. The report per sists that- the famous Regular Army’ regiments, with many years of distinguished service. have been broken up into service units. Il is known that the 9th and 10th were part of the Second Cavalry Division which until re cently was in training at Fort Clark, Texas. The Second Cavalry Division has disappeared and while no formal statement has been made by the War Department tlie report is being circulated that the 9th and 10th have been made into service troops. On the other hand, the First Cavalry Division, composed of white troops, has just won hon ors for itself by’ completing the invasion of the Admiralty Islands. The report on the 9tli and 10 th comes hard on the hc-els of the admission by’ Secretary Stimson of the War Department that Negro combat units are being broken up and converted into service cnits. Secretary Stimson wrote Con gressman Hamilton Fish that Ne groes did not have sufficient edu cation to understand the use of modern weapons of war. Ho cited particularly the old Sth Illinois Regiment from Chicago which was trained in this war as the 184th Field Artillery*. In the first World War this regiment, known as the 370th Illinois, won high honors in France, including many’ modals and citations, for its combat work as a part of the French Army. A nation-wide outburst of in dignation followed Se rctary Stim son’s letter to Congressman Fish and this anger is expected to mount to new heights when Negro i Americans understand that two of the four Regular Army’ Negro regiments, the 91 h and 10th, have been added to the list of those ’ made into service troops. The NAACP. which led the nation-wide protest in 1932 on the breaking up of the 10th cavalry into three units stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Kansas. West Point, 1 New York, and Fort Myer. Wir ginia, where they became grooms and hostlers attending to the 1 horses of white officers, has taken the lead in the protest to Secre tary Stimson on the present de motion of the famous old regi- • ments. 1 No reply’ has been received as yet from a letter to Stimson in- • quiring for verification of the per ‘ sistent report that these regiments have been converted into service t nits. Slain Socialite’s Estate $465,000 CHICAGO, March 25. Mrs. ; Adele Born Williams, socially ‘ prominent wife of a Hate De -1 p&rtment attache who was shot ’ to death by an unknown assailant in her Drake Hotel suite Janu ary 19, left an estate listed in Probate Court today at $465,000.