davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Omaha guide., 1938-09-03
EDITORIALS
THE NEGRO AND THE NATIONS
NUMBER ONE PROBLEM
By A. Phillip Randolph, International
President Brotherhood of Sleeping
Car POrters.
900.

Car POrters.
President Roosevelt has designat-
ed the South as the nations Number
One Problem. Considering the extreme
sensitiveness of the South, and the fact
that the President must rely upon it
very largely to control the next ma
tional Democratic Convention, and to
a great extent to get NEW DEAL leg
islation through the Congress, this was
a courageous statement. Time out Of
mind, the South under the aegis of the
bankrupt doctrine of states rights, has
insisted that it be left alone in the
handling of its various problems The
major reason for this position is that
the South realizes that its big problem
is the problem Of race, and it is deter
mined to brook no interference on this
question. 1t ealizes that its treatment
of the Negro people, following eman-
cipation from slavery in 1868 will not
bear the white light of public opinion.
Disfranchisement of the Negro
people in fragrant violation of the 18th
Amendment of the Constitution and
its enslavement of great masses of Ne
gro workers on turpentine and lumber
plantations in utter modification of the
18th Amendment together with all
forms of jim-crowism in the nature of
segregation, vagrancy laws, vicious
relis of the BLACK CODE, to say
nothing of the national disgrace of the
lynch terror and the mob law, and the
notorious flounting of all civil rights
and decency by the night riders and the
KLU KLUX KHAN, place the South in
q position of grave moral vulnerable
ty.
Tt is a matter of common know
ledge that millions of Negroes are
caught within the sinister grip of the
share crop and tenant farming, form
of feudalisw where the workers have
the status of pre-capitalistic semi serfs.
This is travesty upon justice, a
mockery of civilized life and an insult
to the Bill of Rights and common
sense.
But the President did not touch
upon these delicate and inflammable
issues. The reason is clear. He is po-
litician, diplomat and statesman. AS
a politician he looks carefully to the
maintenance of political fences so that
the Democratic majority in Congress
may remain safe in order to insure the
passage of his important measures.
Under our present party system, this
strategy from the point of view of the
leader of great party, which must
depend upon the "solid South" to no
little extent is not without merit.
AS a diplomat, he knew that to
raise the question of social justice for
the Negro people in the south, would
result in a volcanic eruption of racial
hatred and bitterness of the most viri-
lent nature which would sweep over
the land.
T., III ,>o++o,.,, Of q ctatpcnnan
The Omaha guide., 1938-09-03


toward the completion of his progress
sive NEW DEAL legislative structure,
the success of which can not fail to inn
prove the living status of black Ameri-
cans.
Now, the question arises as to the
wisdom of foregoing facing basic
human principle of social justice, in the
form of the right of the Negro people
to vote and be- secure from the ravages
of the midnight riding mob, as well as
the persecution of the lynch judge, in
order to secure favoable consideration
for. other constructive economic mea-
sures that will benefit the people of the
south, including the Negro. This ques-
tion, the wide and far reaching impli-
cations of which are too intricate and
complex to be answered with complete
ness and finality in brief editorial,
will bob up ever and anon to plague
the NEW DEAL champions
Our own opinion is that the great
prestige and power of some President
of the United States must be thrown
into the balance against the nefarious
terrorization of black Americans below
the Mason and Dixon Line. While it
may not be propitious for President
Roosevelt to take the bit in his mouth
and defy southern burbOn political au-
tocracy at time when he is seeking to
secure the enactment of laws that are
viciously fought by the Chambers of
Commerce the National Manufacturer
Association and all stripes of fascists,
from Maine, to Florida, yet there is no
person who has ever occupied the
White House who can openly, positive
ly and frankly demand that the South
put its house in order by abolishing the
ily-white Democratic and Republican
Primaries, so that black Americans,
who have fought and died and Grim
soned the battle fields of every war in
which this nation has engaged from
L
matchless Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
He has the moral and spiritual power
to drive the Tillmans, Bleases, Varda-
mans and Bilbos into defeat and inno-
cuous obscuity. For how can anyone in
America talk with any honestly about
democracy in the face of the notorious
rotten-borough system of the South
where colOred Americans are counted in
the population as basis of the election
of Southern Congressman and yet de-
MED their constitutional right of suf-
frage.
Yet, it may be that the President
may some day strike out in righteous
indignation against this hGrrible
breach of political decency and demo-
cratic tradition. We probably must
await his own decision with respect to
the time of action. But we are certain
as the night follows the day that the
South will never cease to be the ma
tion's Number One Problem SO long as
one third of the population are treated
as economic and political poems.
The existence of such a condition
of the Negro people who have made an
imperishible contribution in labor, ta-
lent, genius, ability, courage and blood
to our great country, is out of harmony
with the high idealism and practical
policies of social, economic and political
reform of vision, and the spirit of hu-
manitarian prophecy of our great Pre-
The Omaha guide., 1938-09-03


he denounced southern feudalistic ro-
yalistists right in the heart of the
souh.
But while he is certainly friendly
to the cause of Negro freedom and JUS
tice and has probably done more to adj
vance this freedom and justice for the
race than any other American Presi-
dent, he has, nevertheless, remained
silent on the question of the passage of
Wagner Van Nuyis Gavagan Anti
Lynching Bill and the abolition of dis
franchisement of Negro citizens in the
south.
Of course, in the main, this is the
Negros own problem It is he who must
bring sufficient pressure to bear out
upon the Pesident and the Congress
to wipe out the evil of lynching and the
menace of the grand father clause
which curtails the right of the Negroes
to vote. The President nor Congress
will act without, pessure, and fifteen
million Negroes, when organized, can
exert tremendous amount of pressure
to secure proper economic political and
civil consideration.
But it is proper to add, in this con-
nection, that the attack upon the South
at the nations Number One Problem
by President Roosevelt with view to
effecing its reconstruction in terms of
production and distribution, as we'll as
general social Improvement, is certain
TO benefit the Negro people of the
South. However, it will be important
and necessary for the Negroes them
selves to see to it that they participate
in the solution of this Number One
Problem, as we'll as in the economic re-
construction of the South. Legislation
may be passed which is ever so benefi-
cient, but its purposes so far as the
we'll being of the Negro people is con-
cerned, may be mullified by admins
tration. 1t is not less important to the
Negro people to watch the administra-
ton. 1t is not less important to the Ne
gro people to watch the administration
of law, than its enactment. No ones
denies that the 18th Amendment was
intended to guarantee the right to vote
and other civil privileges to the Negro
people, But the effect of the Amend
men is killed by Interpretation and adj
ministration. = a, .4silA j,
Fundamentally, the south is back
ward. Both black and white workers
are in povery, because both are unor-
ganized The South has more than
fourth of the total population Of the
nation but raises only one fifth of the
country's dairy products not enough
for itself. The report of the National
Emergency Council on the South, ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt, states
definitely that the southern people
need food, although the south has a
variety of fertile soils, mild climate,
fine seaports, navigable rivers, good
railroads, coal and iron and other mi
nerals, two thirds of the nations oil,
forty per cent of its forests ideal fish
ing and hunting. Yet the reports states
that fat-back corn bread and molasses
is the all too common diet of the great
masses of the people, not black people
alone, but white people, also.
What is the trouble? The answer
is the South has never been able to rise
because it has been too busy keeping
Evening star., 1938-06-23
ROBERT WILSON, rs,
DIES IN WOLPOLE
Noted Church Builder Was Clerk
Of Works at Cathedral From
1922 to 1884.

Word was received at Washington
Cathedral this morning that Robert
Wilson, clerk of the works at Mount
st. Alban from 1922 to 1884, died at
Walpole. Mass, Sunday.
Mr.. Wilson was about IS years Of
age and long had been famous
throughout the Eastern half of the
United States as builder of churches.
His skill in ecclesiastical architecture
was so noteworthy that critics spoke
of him as possessed of a genius equal
to that of Sir Christopher Wren" He
told a reporter for The Star several
years ago that he could not remember
how many religious structures he had
supervised. His work at the Cathedral
was that of Representative of the
Bishop. Dean and Chapter in all deal
ings with the contractor. Every stone
set during his tenure OF Office bore
the stamp of his personal approval
before it was placed.
A member Of the National Baptist
Memorial Church, Mr.. Wilson main
tanned a home at 1905 Yuma street
NV. He is survived by his wife. a
son, Robert; daughter, Mrs. Carlton
Phillips, secretary to the Ambassador
OF China, and a daughter, Dorothy.
The entire family, it is understood,
was assembled at WalpOle at the mo-
ment of Mr.. Wilson's death.
Evening star., 1938-06-23
JACKSON PLEDGES
BAR MEMBERS AID
Says He Will Defend Right Of
Lawyers to Specialize in Any
Chosen Cause.

Solicitor General Robert H. Jackson
today was committed to devote his
personal efforts to prevent any en-
croachment on the rights of members
Of the United States bar to specialize
IN any cause they might choose.
Mr.. Jackson made known his posi-
ton in a letter made public last night
by the National Lawyers Guild. 1t
was addressed to a Cleveland attorney,
who had criticized the Solicitor Gen.
eral for his defense Of Edward Lamb,
Ohio c. I. o. counsel, now under dis
barment charges in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Pointing out the court had adequate
remedy at its disposal for any alleged
contempt by Mr.. Lamb, Mr.. jackson
concluded his reply as follows:
MY position on the committee is
that I shall defend the right of any
member Of our profession to appear
habitually, if he desires, in labor
causes, and the right of a man at the
bar to become labor lawyer as well
as to be corporation lawyer I do
not expect breach of conduct which
would be passed, generally, with a
small fine or an apology to be made
the excuse for depriving labor lawyer
Of his right to practice his profession,
or to deprive labor of representative
who has zeal in its cause, even If the
zeal is sometimes misdirected."
1t was made clear that Mr.. jackson
was speaking as an attorney rather
than as Solicitor General.
Evening star., 1938-06-23
SEARCH CONTINUED
FOR BODY OF WOMAN

Searchers today continued dragging
Chesapeke Bay for the body Of Mrs.
Maria Perez Of Washington, reported
drowned Tuesday night when she
stepped from cruiser into IA feet of
water about mile north of Sharps
Island, where she had gone fishing.
Lucien w. Brown, 1916 v street
Sc, owner Of the boat and at whose
house Mrs. Perez had been staying for
two months, reported to police at
North Beach that Mrs. Perez got up
suddenly from the rear of the boat
and after starting forward suddenly
turned and stepped off the side. She
refused attempts of companions to
save her with life preservers, he said.
Mr.. Bowen said yesterday that Mrs.
Perez had appeared very upset" since
her estrangement from her husband
in Tennessee shortly before she came
here. Mrs. Perez was a native of
Cuba and came to this country about
six years ago.
Evening star., 1938-06-23
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
SEES BETTER DAYS
Track Cleared for Line to Earn
Full Fixed Charges in 1889,
Counsel Reports.

by the Associated Press.
The Southern Railway System, de-
spite the present depressed state OF
revenues. sees better days ahead
S. r. Prince, general counsel of the
railroad. said in correspondence made
public yesterday by the Interstate
Commerce Commission, Even though
Southern will fail to earn the full
amount of its fixed charges for 1898
it can confidently expect to do so in
1899 and thereafter"
Mr.. Prince urged favorable action
on the roads application for authority
to borrow $14, 600, 900 from the Recon
struction Finance Corp. to finance the
purchase Of new equipment.
The Southern earned $1.120,549 an
nually above fixed charges during the
three-year period ended December 81
1887, Mr.. Prince said. He pointed on,
that the railroads traffic Is extremely
diversified" with tonnage largely COM
posed Of necessity commodities, which
move even in time of depression"
Evening star., 1938-06-23
1n Mrntnrtant.

HARRIS. REBECCA Sacred to the
and grandmother. REBECCA HARRIS. who
departed this. life four years ago today.
June %. 1884.
Gone are the steps we loved so dear.
Silent the voice we loved to hear:
Too far away for sight or speech,
But not too far for thoughts to reach,
THE FAMILY.
MCFARLAND, JAMES ARCHIE. In low
ing memory Of my dear husband JAMES
ARCHIE MCFARLAND. who died three
years ago today. June 20. 1895.
Always and always remembered.
MAY.
POORE, WILLIAM MARION. In sad
but loving remsmbranee M 9f ny dear hYs-
ane 5 s sas life MS rs asa zesr aFe osSaa'
RIGGS. LOUIS H.. Sacred to the mem
LOUIS H. RIGGS who left us three years Years
ago today. June %. 1895
A loving one from US has gone.
place is vacant in our home
WIFE AND DAUGHTER.
SMITH. ELIZA FRYE In memory Of
our devoted mother. ELIZA FRYE SMITH.
who departed this life June 23. 1890.
We cannot say. we will not say
That she is dead. She is lust away.
With CHEEKY smile and wave Of the
She has wandered into an unknown land,
We think of her still as the same We say
Sne Is not 0eS' EvsGaN shs Z ASb sSS5 susFri suazi
Evening star., 1938-06-23
CAR REPLACEMENT
PLAN IS PUSHED
Shipstead Says Proposal
Would Not Cost U. S.
a Cent.

Senator Shipstead of Minnesota to-
day proposed to P. w. A. Administrator
Ickes that the Government finance q
huge replacement of obsolete freight
cars. He estimated there are 800, ,00o
such cars.
The railroads, Senator Shipstead
said, should dispose of these obsolete
cars for scrap. He figured that each
car would bring 500, producing $780,
100000 which could be used as a
down payment on $700,000,00 worth
OF new equipment
Later Secretary Ickes said he would
refer the Shipstead proposal to the
P. w. A. legal advisers.
1T sounds like a good thing, but
I don't know if it is legal" the Sec
retary commented. He added that
the plan had definite possibilities in
that 1t would afford a large amount
OF work at car foundries and, at the
same time, 1t would be q good thing
to junk old freight cars.
Would Not Cost a Cent.
The trade-in plan, the Minnesota
Senator insisted, would not cost the
Government cent. and a liability of
the railroads would be turned into an
asset. Under this plan the Govern
ment would turn the new cars over to
the various railroads under a lease
sale agreement, extending over a pe-
r1od of from Is to 20 years, carving
interest at az per cent on the deferred
balance. The Government would re-
tain title to the cars until the entire
amount OF the lease had been paid.
car costing $4,000, leased for Is
years with interest at 21a per cent
would require a daily payment of "A
cents for principal and interest: il
leased for 20 years, the daily REQUIRE
ment would be IS cents. At present
railroads which do not have sufficient
equipment pay other railroads a Der
diem charge Of 81 for each car used,
Under the Shipstead plan, these roads
could cut their operating costs from
IS to 64 cents a day.
Plan Held Successful.
Senator Shipstead pointed out that
q plan of this kind had been success
full on the Minneapolis & St. Louis
Railroad.
Il believe the methods pursued ir
the last three years by Lucien c
Sprague, operating receiver of the
Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad" de.
clared the Senator. ARE an outstand.
ing accomplishment in American rail.
road history and are worthy to bt
copied by other roads. This plan bid.
fair to help lead that road out of re.
ceivership, preparatory to a sensibl.
plan Of reorganization.
This plan will be Of use in helpins
other roads and protecting investments
OF bondholders, saving the jobs OF
railroad employees and creating new
jobs for thousands of other laborers
not only in railroad labor but other
industries as we'll"
The Senator pointed out that II
is costing the railroads of the country
$100 annually for each OF the 800, ,00(
useless cars in out-of-pocket expense
to cover taxes, interest, insurance and
the cost of $500 miles of track occu.
pied by these unused cars. The totaI
loss Of $30,000,00O would pay S ne,
cent interest on an investment o1
$500, 900, 900.
Evening star., 1938-06-23
MRS. VERENA KIDWELL
RECOVERING FROM GAS

Woman Found Unconscious on
Kitchen Floor Is Reported
in Better Condition.
Mrs. Verena Kidwell, IS, Of 320e
Morrison street NV. was reported
recovering in Gallinger Hospital to-
day from the effects of gas poisoning
suffered yesterday in her apartment.
The woman was found unconscious
on the kitchen floor, police said, by
Benjamin Barnaby, colored, TAO Co.
lumbia road NV, an employe at the
apartment house. He said five stove
Jets were turned on.
Mrs. Kidwell Is listed in the CITY
directory as the wife of Harry Kid
well, vice president OF the American
Ice Co.
Evening star., 1938-06-23
DR.. H. N. Bell to Speak.

DR.. Howard NJ Bell of the American
Youth Commission, will speak on the
Problems of Youth Today" at q
meeting Of school teachers, Y. M. c. A.
vocational guidance speakers and
youth agencies officials at 8:15 pm
Tuesday at the Central Y NJ c. A.,
1876 G street NV. DR.. Bells dis
cussion will be based on the youth
survey which he recently supervised
III Maryland.
Evening star., 1938-06-23

ANDERSON. EVELYN On Thursday.
june 23: 1898. at Gallinger Hospital EVE
tYN ANDERSON. Remains resting at
Traziers funeral home, 3S9 r. I. ave. NV.
Notice of funeral later
Evening star., 1938-11-20
Homline M. E. Church
To Hold Buzuur

The 10th annual bazaar of the
Hamline Methodist Church, Six
teenth and Allison streets NV. will
be held Wednesday and Thursday
November 80 and December /. it
was announced yesterday. Turkey
dinners will be served both nights.
The bazaar will be under direction
of a committee appointed by Mrs.
G. R. Wilhelm, Ladies Aid presi-
dent Committee members are
Mrs. George C. Cooper. chairman,
booth and sales; Mrs. Frank Rep
pert. chairman of decorations; Mrs
Harry James, chairman of the din
ners: Mrs. j. B. Hartley, chairman
of the dining room, and Mrs. E. r
Rochester, publicity chairman.
The following will serve as booth
chairmen: Mrs. T. w. Stanton, Mrs
S. T. McDevitt. Miss Florence Har-
ries, Mrs. Louis Lieb, Mrs. F. H.
Edwards. Miss Ethel Stickles, Mrs
E. w. Morgan, Mrs. Emily Rogers
Mrs. Leslie Brooks, Mrs. w. r.
Schmucker, Mrs. w. B. Wedel. Mrs.
Frank Mitchell. Mrs. w. L. Evans
Mrs. H. B. Linton, Mr.. Howard
Stingle. Mrs Frank WEIGH. Mr.. w.
R. Schmucker and Miss Laura
Corbly.
Evening star., 1938-11-20
Bible Class 10 Honor
Justice B. J. Laws

Justice Belitha J. Laws will be
the guest of honor at a reception
sponsored by the A. B. Pugh Mems
Bible Glass to be held in the
aditorium of the Mount Vernon
Place Methodist Episcopal Church
South, 900 Massachusetts avenue
NV. at 8 pm. tomorrow
Judge Laws has served as teacher
of the large mems Bible class since
1882. Representative from 10 or
ganized Bible classes in Washington
will attend the reception.
Invited guests and speakers in
clude Secretary of Commerce Roper,
Maj Ernest w. Brown. police super
intendent and teacher of Harrison
Mems Bible Glass of Congress Street
Methodist Protestant Church: Cod
frey L. Munter president of the
District Bar Association; Paul E.
Cromelin. past grand master of the
Master Masons' Club and former
law associate of Judge Laws. and
Judge Eugene Black. member of the
United States Board of Tax Ap-
peals.
David Manley. singer. and r.
Deane Shure. organist and COM
poser, will give musical program
Arrangements have been made for
seating facilities for more than
1000.
Evening star., 1938-11-20
Jobs Daughters

The Mothers Club of Bethel No.
l held a luncheon and card party
November Is. The hostess was Mrs.
E. Bailey, who was assisted by Mrs
R. Stewart and Mrs. H. Yeager.
The Mothers Club has set Novem-
ber 20 as the date for the annual
turkey banquet and dance for the
members of Bethel No. /. Mrs. T.
Wrathall will be in charge of the
banquet.
The drill team will practice at
the temple November 81 at 7:3O.
The Dramatic Club meeting will
be held November 26 at the home
of Rosa Robbins, 3O4 Longfellow
street NV. at pm. The CO.
hostesses will be Margaret Wrathall
and Marguerite Blick. The tryouts
for the spring play, Here She
Come" will be held at that time.
The bethel was entertained
Thursday night by the members
of HIRAM Lodge at bingo party
The Hiking Club is taking their
annual trip to the mountains No
vember 20. They are hiking to the
top of Kennedys Peak. Luray, Va
Thomas Norris is acting as the
guide.
The Ways and Means Commit
tee will hold a rummage sale on
November % at 1107 Fourth street
S.W. Bette White is in charge.
She can be reached by calling Emer-
son 2551.
Evening star., 1938-11-20
Modern Woodmen
OF America

The District of Columbia members
will honor the national sentry and
District manager; V. w. Potter, with
a class initiation in Washington
Camp at Northeast Masonic Tenn
pie. on Tuesday night The officers
and team of Washington Camp will
be in charge. Candidates and dele
gates from each camp are expected
to attend. A spelling bee will be
conducted. Cash prizes will be
awarded. State Manager A. D.
Clauser requests all teams in the
District to attend this meeting in uni
forms, including the ladies' team.
A special Junior meeting will be
conducted at $50 pm, before the
regular meeting.
Evening star., 1938-11-20
Graphic Arts 'Birthduy'
Party Is Tomorrow

A dinner and dance celebrating
the 1,000th consecutive meeting of
the Graphic Arts Association of
Washington will be held tomorrow
night at the Mayfower Hotel. A
cocktail party will start at 7 pm.
and dinner at 7:30 pm, followed by
dancing.
A high light of the evening will be
the entrance of a huge birthday
cake carried by four colored pages
and containing 1000 candles. The
only speaker of the evening will be
Charles P. Gavin, general manager
of the National Stationers' Associa-
ton.
General chairman for the event is
Oscar T. Wright, long prominent
in printing circles. The program
committee comprises Karl v. Eiker,
chairman; j. Maxson Cunningham,
George r. Keller, James D. Blight,
George B. Kennedy, Frank P. How
ard, William N. Schaefer. Gerald A.
Walsh and John F. Hardie.
Evening star., 1938-11-20
City News in Brief
TODAY.

Meeting, Baltic American Society
International Student House, 17O8
New Hampshire avenue NV, PAS
pm.
Tea, League of American Pen Wo-
men. Grafton Hotel, to 6p.m.
Supper-meeting, Alumni Associa =
ton. Wilson Teachers College, Ad-
miral Club. $50 pm.
Meeting. League for Larger Life
l4l4 Sixteenth street NV. 7::3O pm
Meeting, Town Hall, Shoreham
Hotel, pm.
Dinner, District Chapter, Catho-
lie Daughters of America, Willard
Hotel, $50 pm.
Tea, Lambda Sigma Delta Soror-
lty, Carlton Hotel, 4 to 6 pm.
TOMORROW.
Luncheon, Campaign Committee
National Symphony Orchestra, Carl
ton Hotel, 1890 pm.
Luncheon. Washington Post, So
ciety of American Military Engi-
neers, Army and Navy Club, 1890
pm.
Luncheon, Washington Executives
Association, Willard Hotel. IL 80 p m.
Luncheon. Community Chest
Campaign. Willard Hotel, 1890 pm.
Supper-dance, Delta Alpha Soror-
ity, Wardman Park Hotel. $50 pm.
Dance, Syrian Club of Washing
ton, Wardman Park Hotel, 10 pm.