davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-03-02
Administration Seeks to
Get Rid of the Critics

Now, to turn abruptly from one
phase of the situation to another,
attention should be directed to the
recent bill introduced in the senate
by Senator Wheeler, the Montana
Democrat. The bill proposes re-
organization of the federal commu-
nications commission, the agency
that controls radio. Radio, of course,
is the 'free speech" just as the
newspapers are the 'free press
that is one of the guarantees of the
national Constitution.
There can be no doubt that the
federal communications commission
is shot through with dissension.
There is no doubt that it has de-
veloped one of the worst messes in
government supervision of any in
dustry. 1t is a shameful situation,
and there appears to be no solution
except to get rid of the bulk of the
personnel, from the commissioners
on down the line, until all trouble
makers have been eliminated.
have written frequently in these col
umns that the best law can be de-
stroyed by selection of buns to ad-
minister it; and the general APP
praisal here is that the members of
the federal communications COM
mission are pretty sickly lot of
government officials. The appoint
ments the commission has made
also do not constitute list of men
tai giants.
Well, you ask, how does this have
anything to do with President Roose-
velt's denunciation of the newspa-
pers. Where does it touch free
speech that may be adverse to the
New Deal administration?
The answer lies in belief, now
held by a great many observers in
Washington, that somewhere in the
administration is a concerted effort
to get rid of the critics. There is
little political pressure that can be
exerted upon the newspapers, be-
cause they will speak their views
through their columns, but with the
radio, government supervised, IL
censed, weighty club over its head
at all times, the situation is differ
ont
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-03-02
Bruckart's Washington Digest

WASHINGTON.-One of Ameri-
cas- greatest and most glorious ira
ditions is the jealousy with which its
citizens guard the right of free
speech and free press. There is
no nation in the world now, and
there never has been one, where
such freedom for expression of opin-
ion is accorded as we have in the
United States. For proof, if proof
be needed, simply take the old atlas
and examine the countries, one by
one, and abundant evidence will be
found. Here, alone in all of the
world, can an individual or a group
have its untrammeled say.
There have been some signs late
ly, however, that are disturbing. I
do not mean to over-emphasize
them by a discussion of them, but
the greatest lesson that I have
learned is that the American people
will correct conditions, or prevent
their development, if they know
what the facts are and find them
adverse.
During the last several months,
there have been frequent TRADES
against the press of the nation.
Some of the denunciations have
come from President Roosevelt in
reply to press criticism of some of
his policies. Other administration
spokesman have followed the Presi-
dents lead. Notably among them,
and certainly the most vicious, is
the secretary of the interior, Harold
L. Ickes, who seems, in this in
stance, to be the lord high chief
verbal executioner of opposition
writer's and newspapers.
Mr.. Roosevelt's recent assertion
that some newspaper owners are de-
liberately misrepresenting the facts
and Mr.. Ickes' assertion that "our
newspapers are not as free as they
ought to be in a democracy con-
Stitute serious accusations, even aft
er one forgets how constantly Mr..
Ickes gets out on limb. 1t seems
to me, therefore, that there ought
to be some Qualification of the situa-
ton. 1t might be asked, and prop
erly, believe, why Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Ickes do not point out those
newspapers that are charged, in eff
feet, as plain liars.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-03-02

something or other would happen 10
make him change the decision to
which was sure he had come
Above all, my own decision to dis
appear hung, like some loathsome
monster, upon my neck, insisting
upon my attention and gleefully in
dicating the several lovely features
of the paradise 1 was to lose. Had
I been cross-examined, or even been
asked to relate what had happened
the night before, l should, I believe,
have burst out and disgraced my
self, for the present was so over
whelming and the future so very
bleak that to deal with the past was
like going into training when you
are condemned to death.
And there the maid Godolphin
came in with my telegram.
Crawley's case fixed for Friday. He
counts upon you.
Forsyth
my goodness" I said, and got
to my feet.
Elizabeth stified cry, but the
Duchess sat perfectly still. AS for
Herrick
81 must go to London" I said.
81 must leave for Innsbruck at once
at least, as soon as I've packed.
I must catch the evening train"
Elizabeth let out a cry.
"Richard!"
"My dear, I've no choice. Six
weeks ago the servant I had before
Winter was charged with theft. I
had always found him honest and I
said that I'd swear as much when
ever he stood his trial. And his
case has been fixed for Friday 1.
I can't let him down. But l can be
back on Sunday" I turned to the
Duchess of Whelp. ''Will you ex-
cuse me, madam? I must make
certain arrangements. I shall ask
you to see me again before l leave. "
"You are excused, Richard Ex-
on"
I bowed and went.
Whilst Winter packed, wrote the
best letter / could.
Madam,
BY the time that you read this let.
ter, I am very nearly sure that 1.-The
Count will have disappeared. Whether
he has or has not, you will know the
best use to make of these documents.
I told him that he would be arrested
unless he made himself scarce and that
Virgil had disappeared" under fear of
being charged with the theft of Eliza
beth's jewels. Elsa is wanted" for
forgery: when she knew that I'd found
that out. she may have thought it better
to find new place. think that's all.
I'm rather worried about the servant
who saw me drop my shirt. Perhaps
you could straighten that out. for you
can do what you will with the servants
of Brief. Of course I'm not coming back.
It's better so. I mean, there's no
more to be done. and as I can neither
glaze her. nor rope myself off" it
wouldn't be fair to her to make matters
worse than have.
Madam. have so much to thank you
for.
Your obedient. affectionate servant,
Richard Exon.
With this I enclosed two docu
ments.
One was the statement, indorsed
by Lord Ferdinand. and the other
the death certificate of Matthew
Gering.
ITO BE CONTINUED
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-03-02
Presidents Trusted Adviser
Drafts Reorganization Bill

So, to link the Roosevelt denuncia-
ton of newspapers and the Wheeler
radio bill, one has only to know that
Chairman Frank McNinch, the
Presidents most trusted radio adj
wiser, largely drafted the Wheeler
reorganization bill. That measure,
it should be added, reduces the
communications commission to a
membership of three. There would
be administrative assistants" ap-
pointed for each of the major types
of communication, and, thus, one
Individual becomes car of radio,
another of wire communication and
so on. And, while the members of
the commission must be named "'by
and with the advice and consent Of
the senate" the administrative as
sistant may be anyone who has the
necessary political pull.
I repeat that the statements re-
lated above represent the belief of a
good many persons.
One of the swift changes that has
taken place in this country is the
switch in the attitude of the bulk of
the newspapers. 1t will be recalled
that when Mr.. Roosevelt and the
New Deal took over the govern
ment, there were so few editorial
criticisms of the Presidents pro-
gram that any cutlery was negligi-
bic in effect. The corps of news
writer's who attended the Presidents
twice-a-week press conferences &C.
cepted his statements without equiv
ocation, or without question. 1t was
press relationship more friendly
than any other President ever had.
Then, some of the New Deal ideas
proved fiops and editors started ask
ing questions. Their Washington
correspondents searched deeper
than just official handouts. It was
about this time that the personnel
of various agencies for ''press rela-
tions" began to undergo expansion.
Time after time, well known cor
respondents were hired, and they
could not be blamed because the
jobs were lucrative. I was offered
one. BY coincidence, of course, the
quantity of Statements for the
press" increased, accordingly.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
NAACP BILL UP
FOR HEARING
TUES, FEB. ID

The bill introduced by the Greater
Boston branch of the NAACP, House
638, to prevent public service corpora
tions from making discrimination in
on account of race, color,
or religion, has been listed for hearing
before the Labor and Industries Com
mittee at 1890 Tuesday, Feb. 18th,
probably in Room 427 at the State
House.
1t is vitality important that as many
as possible be present at the hearing,
not only members of the NAACP, but
of other organizations willing to en-
dorse the bill, to go on record in favor
of it.
Letters in favor of the bill should be
written to Sen. Cole of Lynn, chairman
of the Labor and Industries Commit
tee, and Repres. Haskeyy OF Lynnfeld,
clerk of the Labor and Industries Com
mittee This is imperative to progress
in getting the bill passed.
ALFRED BAKER LEWIS.
Sec.-NAACP.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
PROTEST TEXAS
GOv'OR'S ACT

Mr.. Otis A. Hood, State Chairman,
Communist Party of Massachusetts,
md Mr.. Phil Frankfeld, State Secre-
airy of the Communist Party of
Massachusetts, on Feb. g., sent the
GLOWING telegram to Governor W.
ZEE O'Daniel of Texas:
"In the name of 1000 New England
members of our organization we wish
to vigorously protest your dastardly,
barbaric, un-American and revolving
action and statement in the case of
Winzel Williams. Your action and
statement deserve the condemnation
of all lovers of Democracy and Liberty
in America.
eve are sincerely gratified in noting
that in your own state of Texas there
is a growing revulsion against your
inhumanity.
"You should Immediately be i'm
oeached as Governor of Texas. Hit
er has a place for creatures like you
C""noanv as one of his hirelings."
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
NAACP SEC'Y.
SPEAKS AT
Community CHI.

Walter White, Executive Secretary
of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, will
give an address at the morning service
of the Community Church of Boston
at Symphony Hall on Sunday, Feb. IL,
at 1920, on the Cultural Contribu-
tions of Colored People to American
Civilization"
Mr.. White is the author of two
novels, "Fire in the Flint, and "Rope
and Faggot: A Biography of Judge
Lynch" He has studied the data of
persecution of Colored people in the
cases of forty-one lynchings and eight
race riots. Mr.. White was appointed
by President Roosevelt as member
of the Advisory Council for the Gov
eminent of the Virgin Islands in
March, 1884 In 1885 he was appointed
to the Craftsmanship of the Harlem
low-cost housing project. In 1897 he
was awarded the 23rd Spingarn Medal.
Mr.. White was instrumental in organ
izing the movement behind the Mosti-
gan-Wagner anti-lynching bill. Among
the magazines to which he has con-
tributed are Harper's, The Nation, The
Century, The New Republic, The Sur
vey, The Forum, The Saturday Review
of Literature and Liberty.
The service will be conducted by the
Leader of the Church, Rev. Donald G.
Lothrop. A Forum period will take
place after the address.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
COLORED PRIEST
VISITS BOSTON

Father Robert I. johnson of St.
Cyprian's Episcopal Church, Newport,
North Carolina, is now here for brief
visit in connection with the missionary
work of the Episcopal Church.
He is the head of the General Mis-
sion of the Diocese of North Carolina
and has direction of the Colored Hospi-
tai there which was built during the
last year.
He has spoken at St. PauPs Episco-
pal Church in Brookline, the Episcopal
Church in Wollaston, Trinity in Copley
Square and Christ Church in Cam
bridge. The main purpose of these
talks is to explain the working Of the
mission in the colored field. After leav-
ing Massachusetts he will leave for
Connecticut to fulfill engagements.
He is a native of Christianberg, Va,
and while young boy he migrated to
Brooklyn where he received his early
education. On finishing High School
he entered the Methodist Seminary to
prepare for the Methodist Clergy but
later changed to the Episcopal Church
under Bishop Talbot.
He has been established in East
Carolina for the past 90 years; is mar
ried and the proud father of five chill
dren.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
n. Y. TIMES ON
SHOP

NEW YORK, (C)-Once again race
business in Harlem is given a big lift
in prestige by the celebration of the
eighth anniversary of Gray Shop, No.
3, 266 West 145th Street, noted as one
of the smartest dining rooms in uptown
Manhattan. AS though GROWING its
eight years of successful catering to
the discriminating taste of New York
food lovers, the New York Times
Magazine section of it's Sunday edition
carried recently a scholarly article on
the fine art of cooking as is practiced
among colored, and all the information,
including photo of chef illustrating
the proper way to prepare genuine
Southern fried chicken, came from
Gray Shop No. 3.
While people throughout the coun-
try were reading this article on how
the tradition of fine food and service
is being preserved in Harlem, the
Gray Shop staff was feeling that this
service which was praised so highly
was only routine work with them.
1t was back in 1929 that the first
Gray Shop was opened in Harlem.
Shortly after this beginning, a second
shop was opened, and in 1881, the Gray
Shop fever having taken firm hold on
Harlem, the largest shop of all, No. 3,
in West 145th street, was opened, with
Continued on Page 81
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
DORIS EDWARDS
SCORES In CAL.

OAKLAND, Cal-Miss Doris Ed
wards is having a successful tour in
California. The first in the series of
her piano recitals in the land of sun
shine, was a joint recital with Joseph
James of Boston College of Music,
given at the 18th Street Church, Oak
land, Cal, Sunday, Jan. 20, sponsored
by the Young Womens' Auxiliary of
the Church.
The California Voice says, miss
Edwards whose attack and interpre-
tation of the classics was perfection,
itself Mr.. Joseph James, whose melo-
die renditions held his audience spell
bound"
Miss Edwards has concert engage
ments for the Oakland Women's Soci-
ETY. Club, the AKA. and churches in
Stockton and Sacramento. She is also
preparing a big recital in San Fran
cisco in April. At present Miss Ed
wards is domiciled at the Y.W.C.A.,
1928 Linden Street, Oakland, Cal. She
sends regards to her many friends
from whom she will be delighted to
hear.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11

Douglass Statue in Rochester. the
great Colored Abolitionis+ will be
honored, tuesday Feb. IA, when an
nual commemorative exercises will be
held at Douglass So, fremont ST.,
South End, under auspices Equal
Rights League.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
birth OF NATION" not TO SHOW
Hearing NAACP Bill Tues at State House
HUB STOPS birth OF NATION"

waited on Mayor Tobin at City Hall,
and the result was that the play was
not shown. Atty. Albert G. Wolff was
the spokesman.
Later in the week Mr.. Lieberman,
the owner of the theatre called on
Atty. Bourne on the matter, stated he
was away from the city at the time,
that he regretted the incident, did not
intend to insult the colored group, and
meant no harm, and asked that this
be made known.
In his letter to the Mayor, Atty
Irwin T. Dorch, President, Boston
Branch, NA.A.C.P., wrote:
eve thought that after our hard
fight twenty-five years ago to prevent
the showing of this play, there would
be no repetition of this same produc-
ton. This play can only serve one
purpose, and that is to destroy the
good feeling and better racial under
standing that we are striving so hard
to bring about in this city and state.
1t is not only harmful to the colored
people, but to all of the citizens that
are decent and forward-looking.
eve have faith in you, and fully
believe that you will use your good
office to stop this scandalous exhibit
tfon before it gets underway"
Atty. Bourne stated: "This picture
combed the dregs of the lowest scale
of humanity and represented those
dregs as the colored man while por-
traying the best that the white group
had ever attained as the representa-
ton of the average white group-a
falsity of course.
Not alone that. But certain aspects
of the film were productive of actual
mob violence by reason of the worst
Continued on Page s.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
Race Relations On
Air to Europe

On Saturday, Feb. II, at Ais pm.
over radio stations W1-XAL and
WCOP an Inter-Racial group of stu
dents from the New England Student
Christian Movement will broadcast a
panel discussion on the significant
position in American democracy of the
Colored American, with emphasis on
the worldwide implications of Race
Relations. This program, prepared in
observance of Lincoln's Birthday will
be transmitted via short wave across
the Atlantic and will be heard in most
of the countries of Europe. 1t is one
of a series of International exchanges
known as "World Youth Speaks" The
group will be under the direction of
Prof. Wheeler of Tufts College, and
will include representatives of the Col
ored, white and chinese races. The
Continued on Page 81
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
frtHh ArtrfHH @rarH
o. JnlrnHnlt Il StnrtrH

Henry johnson and his American
Folk Singers furnished the theme of a
column article, headed "Folk- Song Re
hearsaP, by Horace Reynolds, writing
in the Christian Science Monitor re-
Gently. He accompanied Miss Sara
Allgood, the Irish actress appearing
here in SHADOW and Substance, to a
morning rehearsal Of the group and
in his article describes her emotional
enthusiasm as she listened to the mu-
sic. He also comments at great length
on the various spirituals. Highest
praise, by actress and writer was paid
to conductor johnson and his singers.
To quote , "The group we were to
hear is one of mixed voices, eight
women and nine men. Varied arrange
Continued on Page 81
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11

An attempt this week to bring back
to Boston the Infamous, strife-breed-
ing Birth of the Nation" was fooled
when, in response to protest by
delegation of alarmed citizens, the
Mayor ordered the film withdrawn.
Among organizations represented in
the delegation which called on Mayor
Tobin were Congress for Equal OPP
portunities, Attorney John R. Bourne,
DR.. R. A. Simmons; N.A.A.C.P., Atty.
Irwin 7. Dorth; DR.. and Mrs. John B.
Hall; National Equal Rights League,
Atty. Albert G. Wolff, Ralph Banks;
Cape Verdean Club, Atty. Roy F.
Teixeira, Federation of Women's
Clubs, Mrs. NJ. Cravath Simpson;
Women's Democratic League, Miss
Myrtle Worthy; Courts of Calanthe,
Mrs. Catherine Manning; Knights of
Pythias, Grand Chancellor, Theo. N.
Nunes; Elks, Miss E. Williams; Will
liam E. Carter Post, V.F.W., William
B. Reid; Joseph R. Nelson and Will
liam B. Sexton.
When advertisements of the films
made known the attempt to show the
film here beginning Monday, February
6, Atty. Bourne, chairman of the Con-
gress for Equal Opportunities at once
gathered his forces and sent a letter
of protest to our Mayor. This was
followed up next day, Sunday, by rep
resentatives of several of our organi-
cations meeting at DR.. R. A. Simmons
office, and thence proceeded to the
theatre and registered a protest with
it's management against the showing
of the film, but without success. The
other members of the Board of Cen
sors, in addition to the Mayor, were
written to also.
Next morning, Monday, the group
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
FRED DOUGLASS
HOME MADE
FITTING SHRINE

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Valuable
letters, papers and other documents
shedding more light on the life and
times of Frederick Douglass are being
assembled, classified and filed for pub
PIC use by a Historical Records Survey
Prolect of the Works Progress Ad-
mlnlstration. Seven Colored research
workers are employed on the project.
Inc work is being done at the Freder-
lex Douglass Memorial Home at Cedar
Hill, Anacostia, D. C.
4, MANY little known facts concerning
Jne antl-slavery movement, the Civil
war and the Reconstruction Period are
BENG brought to public attention.
mere is a letter from Abraham Lin
coin. There is also series of letters
mat passed between Frederick Doug
lass and the War Department during
pre- Clvll War days. These documents
had formerly been stored in dust-laden
DoXes IN the attic of the Frederick
Douglass Home. All these valuable
papers and many rare books, objects
81 81 art, are being catalogued among
Cnem, rare books now out of print. One
OF these is first edition of 'Ellicott's
gIournal-18O3." The books in the
douglass Home are valued at between
HlTeen and twenty thousand dollars.
furniture, paintings, statuary,
emma, silverware and art objects,
winch have historic relationship to
tne era of Abolitionist agitation, are
also also beng catalogued. A set of spoons
bearing the mace of the British throne
was va presented by Queen Victoria to
= td reuericK Douglass in 1886 during his
Cour OF England in recognition of his
services to the cause of Emancipation.
I walking stick belonging to Abraham
Lincoln lincoln was given to Douglass by Mrs.
Lincoln Lincoln after the death of the Great
emancipation. A torn American flag,
Continued on Page 81
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
JAS. W. FORD
HERE FEB. u

"The Fight Against Lynching" and
Federal low-cost Housing" will be the
two subjects discussed on Wednesday
night, Feb. 22nd, when James w. Ford,
famous colored leader of the Commu-
mist Party of America and several
times candidate for vice-president of
the United States, addresses a monster
mass meeting at Butler Hall.
The veteran labor leader will des-
cribe the efforts that have been made
to prevent the passage of legislation
against lynching in the past, and will
out line positive methods that can be
utilized to secure the passage of thu
bill now in the United States Congress.
In addition to his main subject, Ford
Continued on Page 81
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
TO HONOR DOUGLASS

The National Equal Rights League
invite you to their Douglass Exercises,
Douglass Square, fremont ST., Boston,
February 18th, at II noon. Also in
the evening at GAR. Hall, 46 Joy ST.,
they will have a Lincoln Douglass
Meeting with an interesting program
of speakers and will give report of
their work in conjunction with the New
England Congress for Equal OppOrtu-
mites that stopped showing of the pic
ture, Birth of Nation" at the News
Reel Theatre, Monday, February 9Th.
ALBERT G. WOLFF, President.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
NAACP PARTY
TO BE BROADCAST

The Columbia Broadcasting System,
has agreed to broadcast thirty minutes
of music from the thirtieth anniver-
sary party of the N.A.A.C.P. in Har-
lem, on Saturday night, February Il,
from 11:30 to 1900, Eastern Standard
Time.
Boston is one of the ten cities in the
country through which the music of
Duke Ellington will be heard on that
night.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-11
Leigh Whipper Gives
Guardian Interview
BY Janice Mapp Dingwall

"Of Mice and Men" has departed
from the boards of Boston's Plymouth
Theatre but to those who saw it, a
lasting impression remains and for
the colored group the superb acting
of Leigh .Whipper, as Crooks, stable
swipe, is noteworthy example.
Whipper, veteran performer, hav-
ing started out forty years ago, adj
Continued on Page 81