davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
BETWEEN the LINES

not the written constitution is the
basis of social and national policy,
the rights and the future of the
Negro are seriously endangered.
If we had some guarantee that
the dictator would be benevolent,
there would be abundant hopes;
but so long as the dictator must re-
fleet the spirit of his times, there
is reason to fear for the future
safety of the Negro; for after all
is said and done, there are ele-
ments in this nation of ours who
disdain the every idea of the Ne
gro's social and political and eco-
nomic equality.
Wherein our dictator reflected
this point Of view the Negro would
face great tribulation. Although We
have made considerable progress in
this matter of citizenship, there
are hard battles yet ahead if we
are to ultimately win.
DEMOCRACH FlhSl
The Negro, then, should be con-
oerned chiefly with democracy
rather than with some polltlcal
formula that means nothing to a
mass of people facing the rough
side of the mountain. The COP
put into their platform Negro
plank. This was political tangle-
foot" to catch the Negro, just as
tanglefoot catches flies in the sum-
mer time.
The Negro plank has never
meant anything and there is no
reason to believe now that it
means more than ever. In fact, l
would have higher hopes if both
parties said nothing at all about
the Negro and regarded him as
part OF the thing and not as
thing apart" according to Mamie
Burroughs.
This meaningless gesture to
catch the Negro vote ought to be
discontinued and disconuntenanced
1t is hypocritical and deceptive.
That Negroes are yet sufficiently
gullible to take it seriously is the
major mystery of politics. What
Hitler is Going in Eul lope is far
more important for the Negro than
the "tanglefoot" clause in the Re-
publican platform.
Everybody who is at all convers-
ant with social phenomena knows
that no political party can go in
advance of public opinion in sue
couring the Negro race. If then, it
is matter of public opinion why
this persistence in the attempt to
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27

make the Negro believe that
something special" can be done
for him?
PERFORMANCE PARAMOUNT
If Negro would cease Cooking
for sign from the political
heaven" specially favoring himself
and cast his fortunes, with the
country welfare he would evince
signs of political and moral growth.
This Glamour for something spe-
clal' is political childishness" and
1t is about time the Negro was
growing up politically.
Or will he remain political
child forever? Intelligent Negroes
are not interested in platforms;
they are interested in performance.
We want results not platitudes and
platforms. If the present COP
platform is as meaningless as those
or former times, then we prove
ourselves political runts to take
them seriously.
Let us not compare platforms
let us compare records: for there
is nothing to prove that the fu-
ture will be more propitious than
the past from the political point
OF view. Whether Negroes are GO
Ing to be Republicans or Demo-
Gratis, let them beware of political
tanglefootI
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
Atlanta Schools
Ready To Train
Youths For Defense

ATLANTA, Ga.--(SNS)-
1t was announced Saturday that
the Atlanta school system is ready
to begin training vocationally 500
students as a part of the national
defense program. The training
period will last six weeks.
Authorities were not in position
to say when the training school
would start.
Funds for the work are provid-
ed in a SIS. 100000 federal appropri-
ation contained in recent national
defense allocations.
1t was announced that instruc-
tions in machine shop electricity,
ground aviation, automobile main
tenance, foundry, wood work, cabi-
net making, sheet metal work,
radio and chemistry would be in
Guided in the curricuia.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
Bv ROBERT nj. RADCLIFFE


LIFE MUST HAVE been sweet
for Mrs. George w. White, cs.
pecially during the last decade
She must have sat in her rocker
many evenings, glorying in the
fact that her two sons are among
the successful men Of today.
The nation mas heard Of tnes7
two Atiantans. Walter is the
Rtower behind the National AS
sociation for the Advancement of
Colored People and George is
secretary of the American Mission
ary Association.
Mrs. White must have been sat-
isfied with her life and contribu-
tionS to the world.
She died Thursday evening at
her Atlanta home at the ripe age
of 49,
IF NORTH CAROLINA is i'll
Dixie, this little incident should
pass for highlight. 1t IS the case
Of two persons being shot, one
fatally, with the same pistol.
In progressive Durham, on a
city street, an attractive 25-yeas'-
old beautician was slain with the
pistol she had been carrying for
her protection. But not until she
had wounded her husband with
the same gun.
They say Mrs. Elizabeth
McD0ugaid met her husband,
Glenn, On busy th0roughfaTe.
There was an argument. The
lady removed the weapon from
her purse and shot her mate
two times. Then the husband
got the pistol, either by taking
it or, when his wife dropped 1t
while fleeing. Animal like, ne
pOunced on the beautician and
pumped three siugs into her
body.
That was the end Of marriage
which could have been done iii
quieter and safer fashion. There
could have been a matter Of di-
vcTcing each other in court. Mr.:
McDougall has got to go there
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
From Ny Study Window
By REV. JOHN CLARENCE WRIGHT

shorter than his Negro fellow
worker and friend he had reached.
the top of the ladder, the presidency
of the company. Power, influence.
wealth, and the opportunities sthess
gifts afford for gracious, abundant.
creative living were his reward.
With justifiable pride he can tell
his children and his children's chill
dren, how the good things they enjois
came as the result Of their living In
q country which gives an eQual
chance to all men to earn a living
and to advance as far as their
character and ability will take
them. In substantuation he can
point to his own successful career.
SYMBOL OF HYPOCRISY -
What about George Bates Ellis?
He is a symbol Of the hypocrisy
and travesty of our American De-
mocracy. One-tenth of our popu-
tation is Systematically and ruth
lessly excluded from its possessions
and benefits. In industry, in trade.
in education, in government, in la
bor, "All men are created equal
refers to white men.
Poor outcast, hungry, hopeless
apparently beaten democracy will
open opportunity's door to them.
and if able to enter catch the stride
and keep the pace, they can move
forward and upward unto the per-
feet day. When it dawns they can
survey from heights of glorious,
achievement the hard road by
which they have come.
But where is the man Of sable
skin, his equal under delnocracy's
6enign provisions who entered the
door Of opportunity along with
MIN? He, too, was strong, hopeful
healthy, ambitions. He, too, saw the
heights, and regardless Of pitfaln
and stones in the way, kept his eye
upon them. But honesty, faithfulness
and capability did not seem to have
the same lifting power for him that
it had for his white fellow worker
So he labored and waited, waited
and labored until years heightened
into decades and then into genera
tions.
GOOD OLD GEORGE"
He became, and remained Good
Old George" until one day his fel-
low worker and friend, from the
heights he had attained, through
the dame virtues and qualities OF
character which he possessed,
stopped down and pinned upon the
lapel of his coat "a gold services
button".
To the M. c. Clements in our
American economy, democracy, as
practiced here, awards for thirty
nine years of faithful, efficient and
continuous service, the highest Of
flee in the corporation with ali the
privileges, emoluments and oppor-
tunities appertaining thereto. To
the George Ellis Bates for a half
century of the same kind of service
& permanent berth at the starting
point, and as the day lengthens and
the shadows fail "a gold service
button.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27

the third term IDEAL" was not
actually concocted and engineered
py the President. Sincere MIR. FDR
said in mis- dramatic, historic &C
ceptance speech that ne waited on
the people to draft" him for the
precedent-shattering third term,
that he accepted only because he
could not turn his "back upon a
call to service during the world
crisis" That was a noble gesture.
1t may go far towards re-electing
the Democratic bearer, Who has
already indicated ne viii do little
stumping for the Presidency
against the Republicans promising
to give all they have to the cam
paign.
SOCIAL GAINS CONTINUE
Continued Democratic rule un-
der President Roosevelt will mean
forward surges toward a 'social
gains" goal rapidly being ap-
preached. 1t will mean that the
man of the people and of the
comman man will, if reelected,
be able to devote four more years
to eradicating the evils long
existent under an ultra -capitaliStlc
system. 1t will mean that social
and economic changes which are
necessarily transpiring all over tie
world will occur in America with
out bloody revolution and turmoil.
Whatever occurs on the national
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
SUNDAY CHRISTIANS r
Professor of Sociology MOrehOuse College

tirely too numerous Dead" because they are so
hopelessly engrossed in the past Until they cannot
see the process of decay of humanity around
them They are so fast asleep until their emotions
do not respond to the ant-social conditions imme,
diae1y surrounding their church buildingthey have
rent social injustices.
When, however, the youth become disturbed
about human dereliction and yell for activity, the
sleep of the Sunday Christians" is sorely disturbed
reaction is likely tc be that of any tired per-
son whose sleep is interrupted by noise-they gru-
bic and youth of lack of proper respect for
their elders. They really wax eloquent when hold
ing forth on the "worthliness and worldiness" OF
modern youth.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
PLATFORM

the c0Ored people that they feel pouo
their political social
religious economic questions which face the
that nustb well JOB
!. instruct boys ana girls in the art Of thrift
L. Faherh0Od the brotherhood
s To builda a firmer foundation p0steTiy
succeed business OF the coiored must compete
technique ther
in Above all must render dependable e
that alone will be able
enterprise Therefore, realizing these vital
The times give
rendering better service
published week in which views
be of national Such views
opinions shaiI not reflect
especially to the extent
the of The PHOENIX INDEX.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
anyway now. IF he I les.

anyway now. :. if he I. les.
MAYBE THIS COLUMN Srould
iighlight the achievements Of
Dixie farmers instead of airing
marital troubles. But until sorlc-
one comes along and shows us a
picture of a three-neaded pig ne
has on his farm we're forced to
stick to gun and knife business,
especially when it proves to 6e
heavy stuff.
Consider another case COM
ing oft Of Durham. A certain
Mir, Lewis Love slasned ais
teacher wife with a knife in
the basement of North Caro-
lima College where the ma
dam was attending summer
school.
Mr.. Love standing behind iron
bars at the city jail, told friends
it was accidental. But from this
side of the typewriter, it looks
like too much Love.
WE LIVE IN ATLANTA, bua
didn't know until few minutes
ago that it's considered a crime for
colored people to walk through
Atlanta's Grant Park. The PARK,
by the way, is supported by the
taxes paid by ali of the citizens.
The Southern Frontier re-
veais that only a few days
ago two white men warned two
c0lored girls not to walk
through the park, that Ne
gro yardman was fined 81 for
making the mistake Of treking
through the said park, ana
that a delivery boy Of our race
was arrested and fined S12
for passing through Grant
Park.
Southern Frontier quotes the
Chief of Police as saying there is
a Law of years standing forbid
ding Negroes to enter parks for
white people and white people to
enter parks for colored persons. By
the way, there isn't but one park
in Atlanta for Negroes.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
FORGET PARENTHOOD

Parents forget that they parents in
their eagerness to join the down with youth move
ment" 1t has been so long since they have thought
into they do realize that they
are following course of sef-condemnation and ad
mitting their failure to be successful parents.
The reference here is to Negro Sunday Chris
tians" because they my associates and racial in
terest group Some will offer the excuse that white
churches guilty of the sins of omission The
truth is that significant group of white people
facing their youth problems The Negro church has
graver responsibility because the strongest most
comprehensive and most effective leadership among
Negroes is in the church.
Sunday Christians keep this leadership inst-
tuition from becoming courageous, dynamic modern
social force capable Of drawing Negro youth to it.
If the Negro church is to survive, youth must want
10 transfer from Sunday School to church member
ship.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27

ueVOClOu. WRIGHT
The tremendous significance of
a mans being physically able to
continue steadily on a job for that
length of time without losing a
single day can be somewhat appre-
ciated when one considers the stag
gering loss to industry annually
through illness and other causes
which might render employees TN
fit for work. What an asset to a
company is a man, who for two
thirds of normal life span, is
physically fit and morally capable
of rendering efficient and devoted
5ervice.
A NOTE OF DESPAIR
But pride in the achievement of
this humble worker is not unmixed
with despair. Why, in a democracy
where every man is supposed to be
the heir to an equal chance to grow
and develop in proportion to his
native and acquired capacities,
should a capable, faithful, efficient,
devoted employee of one of Amer
ica's greatest corporations end UP
a career of fifty years of service
where he began?
The answer is found in another
act in the little current news drama
The gold button, the company's gen.
erous material recognition of Bates
extraordinary record, was awarded
by man who had been for thirty
nine years his associate and friend
in service. He too had been faith
full and efficient.
From an initial post in the engin-
eering department he had ri=en
step by step, in accordance with
the American tradition, until at
the end of period of eleven years
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
Get joyful
Relief From
BACkACHE
CAUSED BY SLUGGISH KIDNEYS
Stop Getting Up Nights
And Feel Healthier

Here's one good way to flush ex'
cess waste from the kidneys and
relieve bladder irritation that Of
ten causes scanty, burning and
smarting passage.
Ask your druggist for a IS cent
box of Gold Medal HARLEM Oil
capsules a splendid safe ana
harmless diuretic and stimulant for
weak kidneys and irritated bladder
Besides getting up nights, some symp-
toms of kidney trouble may be back
aches, puffy eyes, and leg cramps. But
be sure to get GOLD MEDAI-it's a
genuine medicine for weak kidneys.
Don't accept substitute.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27

which he has received since the
Brownsville fiasco. He disclosed
that one morning he discovered
white man in the auditorium of his
church at Mississippi and Alston.
When he questioned the man, a
white man, he said that he was
drunk and apologized for being in
side.
Reverend Gibson noted, however,
that he boarded street car in the
company of several men, in ap-
parent soberness.
He stated his intention Of giving
the out-of-town visitors a full re-
ception should they come to his
home while ne is present.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27

hearing discussed the dim, dim
past and life after death" They
give evidence of having enjoyed
playing with certain emotions
satisfying religious topics for years
without reflection or analysis OF
even the most superficial sort
They have validated their mental
laziness by making it sinful to think
into Christian principles.
The writer admits that there is
something dreamily alluring about
the dim. dim past and the far dis
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
THE PHOENIX INDEX

political party
faction regardless rulings
completely mparally hatred
All matter coming this should be office Sun
day than3 p. M.
plainly side
rights
10 safety convenience unless the
paid
payable to the INDEX 1914 East Monroe
contributors they
will be shed.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
BY WALTER R. CHIVERi

ONE REVELATION which has to the
writer during the nearly two years that he has
been actively engaged in Sunday School work is
that there is larger number of Sunday Christians
than he had imagined. Sunday Christians folk
who go Sabbath school church services on Sun
day for the express purpose of either discussing or
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27

re n n S y / Vania
station in New
York City. The
award was made
by M. c.. Glenn
ents, president
OF the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad
Company. The
incident aroused
mingled emotions
OF pride and de-
spair. Pride that
here was a man
who for half a
century, without
the loss of a
single day, had
served his en-
ployers W i t h
faithfulness and
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
BY DEAN GORDON b. HANCOCK
POLITICAL TANGLEFOOT

THE, 1910 EDITION of the COP
convention is history, with Winsome
Willkie as started bearer. Just who
is this man Willkie and what are
his antecedents? 1t seems that
tn COP just had to have somebody
and Willkie was no worse than the
rest; and he went it with colors
flying.
That great convention more than
anything else within the last few
months showed the perils which
inhere in democracy, At such con-
ventions the safety Of the nation
is secondary and the acquisition of
office primary. In othe rwords that
which is individual and personal
takes precedence over that which
is public and national. Herein is
the doom of democracy in COM
petition with relationships. OF
course, we who have been sophisti-
Gated in things democratic disdain
the thought, but we must face the
fact that democracy mas ahead of
it hard sleeding. The Wars that
must be fought for democracy are
far more bitter than those already
fought!
That great convention more than
anything else within the last few
months showed the perils which
inhere in democracy, At such con-
ventions the safety of the nation
is secondary and the acquisition of
Office primary. In other words that
which is individual and personal
takes precedence over that which
is public and national. Herein is
the doom of democracy in COM
petition with relationships. OF
course. we VINO have been sophisti-
Gated in this democratic disdain
the thought, but we must face the
fact that democracy has ahead of
it hard shedding. The wars that
must be fought for democracy are
far more bitter than those al
ready fought!
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
Guns Seen
Continued from Page y

CONTINUED from Page u
guns in the back of the car. The
men allowed the young couple to
go along unmolested.
Mrs Gibson, when contacted, ex-
pressed her concern in the matter
stating that the neighbors hao
been reluctant to let her know
what had been going on in fear OF
exciting her.
Reverend Gibson returned to the
city Saturday morning When con-
tacted ne revealed that this is only
another Of a series Of threats
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27

tant future Particularly this true, if identi
fies himself with the good characters in his day
dream pictures To do so excuses one from respon-
siby for the rotten social conditions around about
him. This kind of indulgence it is conceivable, Of
ers type of negat satisfaction for physically and
mentally lazy Christians It also strengthens them
for working at Christianity only one day out of
week
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
\ Gold Button

A FEW DAYS AGO, the press
carried an account of the awarding
of a gold button to George Ellis
Bates, a Negro who had completed
fifty years of service in the office
Of the general manager at the
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27

THE WHIPPING POST-AND
HOW! Time magazine for that
contemplate article on Earl
Browns race. Ali right if Earl
wants to be an Uncle Tom, let
him, who cares? But when a ma
tional magazine like Time, sup
posed to be the tops in modern
news reporting goes to the lengths
they did to cover Brown, then
from the editor down to the prin-
tiers devil needs to be called UP for
his ticks. -,
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
MUST BE BORING

The kind of Christians who promote This day
time dreaming inactivity must be awfully boring to
energetic minds and physically alive bodies aggres
svely interested in the spiritual reawakening of the
modern world For this is task for wide awake
and courageous folk.
The dead" folk in the Christian Church are en-
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
SCOUTS TO MEET

Ali regular scouts of Troop No. 81
are requested to meet at the church
Tuesday, July %. Be prepared to go
on the hike with bicycles and food.
S. M. j. j. Pharrow.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-27
NO CHANCE UNDER
DICTATOR

The Negroes future is bound up,
with the democratic ideologies. In
a nation where there is a written
constitution to which all legislation
must hard back, and in a nation
where this constitution guarantees
the equality of men before the laws,
the Negro has chance. But in a
nation which has a dictatorship
where the will Of the dictator and
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-18

day, April 30 at residence of DIR. Isa-
dora Tucker, co-hostess with DIR. Clar-
one Smith; Wednesday, May s, at resi-
dence of DIR Lillian NJ. Caldwell, CO.
hostess with Maude T. Anderson. A
very pleasant afternoon was spent, the
ladies working very hard on their fancy
work from Grand Temple display in
August. The meeting Wednesday, May
10, was at the residence of DIR. Bessie
Z. Hill, 873 Harrison Ave; hostesses,
Dtrs. Hill and Pauline Hayes. Deli
clous collatiOns were served by all the
hostesses.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-18
work accomplished by this committee.

Committee for Public Installation
held their first meeting jointly with
the Bros. Saturday, May II, at 1906
fremont St., Comm; DIR. Pearl B.
james, Florence ]. Bell, Ellen 81. Will
liams, Mahala Austin, Myrtle R. Surry,
Mamie Pyburn, Lillian W. Kicker,
Mamie Logan, Bessie G. Hill, Mary F.
Armstead, Daisy E. Henry, Hilda Tai
bot, Monzello Lang, Edith Jones, Bar
bara Granger, Nellie Brewster, Rhoda
Roach, May 0. Osborn, Edna o. B.
Medley, George Kinds, Luna Comes,
Beatrice L. Jacobs, c. Lane, Bessie Pot
ter, Maude 7. Anderson, Lottie Jones,
Estelle Lane, Leila B. Francis, Joseph
inc Perkins.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-18

Ways and Means Comm, DIR.
Lucille Jones, chrman, are holding a
supper Saturday, May IS, at her resi-
dence, 1926 fremont St., starting at
900 pm. You remember the success
ful last one; well come out and enjoy
yourself again.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-18

SICK AND SHUT ms: Dtrs.
Elnora Spinola, POP Northampton St.
Clarissa Jessamy, 3 Auburn ST.; Anna
Ware, AZ Hammond St.; Miriam Tell,
II Claremont PIX; Daisy Collins, Alma
Johnson, &c Cabot Street.
Coincidence is extended to the family
of the late DIR. Phyllis Clementine
Griffith. She left to mourn: husband,
James Griffith, two sons, one daughter,
DIR. L. Griffith, one sister DIR Aber-
leen Adele Archer, one brother, sister
IN law and brother in law, other rela-
tiyes and friends.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-18

Arts and Crafts. DIR. Maude T.
Anderson, chairman will have their
articles on display and for sale first
Friday in June Come out and see the
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-18

We are happy to learn of the i'm
provement of Mrs. Marie Grimes,
mother of DIR. Bessie C. Hill; many
thanks to DIR Monzelle Lang for the
lovely May basket which brought much
cheer.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-18

Boosters Comm. met at residence Of
DIR. Ellen Fl. Williams. The follow
ing officers were elected: DIR. Ellen II.
Williams, chrman; Lillian W. Kicker,
vice chrman; Lemma Watkins, chap
lain; Lillian M. Caldwell, finan. secy. ;
Bessie c. Hill, treasurer; Daisy E.
Henry, rec. secy.; plans were made for
candidate Pearl B. James as gr. asst.
escort.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-05-18

Willing Workers, DIR. Bertha Wal
ker, chairman held a very successful
Chicken and Waffle Supper, May
9 at 924 fremont ST., which was a huge
success; late corners received no SUD