davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
Political Inertia

SINCE THE TIME the earv pioneers of freedom made the
brilliant stand for political freedom the soil cursed by the err1b
aftermath of the Kecons con forgotten group has sven to
and scattered bands of its group urNwaned
ical expression the subject of every imaginable subter1uge
strip of the last vege of for its economic and
political emancipation Those stirring days of the brave fathers,
struggles sacrifices and their daring of danger
rishabe traditions annals Of records From them we
tried gather courage and the will fight in the
All along have complained the negligible registration
the polls the failure Of pep meetings for registration and
voting get the desired results.
Our contention with the fact that group has MOI
th the the group for the vtam prescribed for
social convalescence THIS OUR GROUP DOES NOT HAVE.
There many panaceas for this disease First the group
political appetite Already in bold relief before them
handcap neglect and racial persecution tangent
tt the failure possess and use the ballot
The fourth of July has Just passed Many candidates tor
offices made their debuts before the people These cand
dates would obtain the highest office the gift of the state They
would govern its destiny meorialze the law making bodies with
Their suggestions and dispense the benefits derived from public
taxation.
these fourth of July OCCASIONS the popuace treated
diet of political activity Their patriotism famed and there is
passed poery the urge fight the battle of democracy
divers public fea staged their political endeavo for the
opposite group
In the South to ou certain knowledge there few any
great political affairs staged for political awakening Of
people While they starve economically and dsfrancsed
politically great ArrstiCe Day, Memorial Day and July 4h
occasions stir their political fervor
Our into the heritage of democracy
in fact long there large group that exercising the duty
Of voting.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
Seeing and Saying BY William Il. roulke;'

| and equipment for Georgia's muchly inadequate
schools and to carry the dealistic programs ctec
in the yearly meetings
FOREIGN" VIEWS AGAIN
Two white supervisors were in the platform
and added their foreign" vews-roreign" because
either their perspective Of American problems in
lation to ours is than often "Off foot there
is that element of insincerity-'.ts your problem
after ALL"
The assembled leaders blew and fumed through
the discussion. reaching conclusion granted
Or accepted, for all
Finally, grey-haired gentleman from the rear
got up. Spoke he:
MIR. Chairman. may De bit out of line, but
just want to say this to the visitors and sit down
why don't you 60 back to the young white men
you teach and tell them to be fair to colored people
in this So-called democracy? That's where the prob.
lem lies in Georgia and everywhere else In these
United States. You people, from the top to the bot
tom, don't know how to be fair TO the people who
have sweated and contributed to build UP this great
American civilization. Quit pretending and handing
Cut the end crumbs just to make the educational
social and political situation have semblance Of
fairness and justice. Then the superintendentS will
have to give us good school houses busses adequate
health programs and recreational programs eff
cent teachers. instead of the most submissive and
inefficient ones thNv Can dominate and equal oppor
tunity TO develop into worthwhile sone living Anaeri
can citizens. Teach your children how to be fair"
The cid gentleman sat down amidst muttering
and mumbling
His talk ''broke up the meeting If he had been
Young fellow, he'd have been dubbed red OF th'
presently to-be-avoided Fifth Columnst." Some did
venture to say he was crank-an "old hower from
way back"
But that old man said something that "besmrch-
&c" of bare truth
Atlantas proposed bond issue for the elimination
o. portables and fire traps proves it.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
EDITORIALS
Unity--The
Light
That Guides

In our articles of the past weeks
We have been writing about Uni
ty," of the colored people and today
we are happy to tell you that
there is already a fine spirit OF
unity which the colored people arc
showing for their common good.
We are happy to tell you that
already the colored people are CIV
ing careful thought to the differ
ent candidates for public office
and especially are they interested
in the office of governor the man
who will fill this important office.
The next step which we place
before you today is that of sincere
cooperation with the true white
friends of the colored people
There are true white friends every
where who honestly and sincerely
want the colored people to have
their just dues and just recognition.
There are men and women who
Lave been successful in business, in
lines of education, men and women
you can depend upon, in Other
words, men and women of high
standing and integrity.
There are white friends who be-
lieve, as Jefferson said, "All men
are created equal" and it is to
there white friends that you should
pledge your cooperation. 1t is bet-
ter to give your support and CO.
operation to- a few white friends
that you know are your friends
rather than to a bunch of cheap
politicians who always will promise
you before election everything you
desire, but who don't know you
after election
1t is up to the colored leaders
you have chosen to- represent you
to go out and unite themselves
with these true white friends and
bring to these white friends the
assurance OF your unity which il
back of them and your sincere
desire to cooperate to the fullest
extent for the common good"
Your chosen leaders of the JEFF
fersd han Democratic League
through their high positions are
daily in contact with the white
people and through their daily con
tact can tell from their past deal
ings with them who are really the
white friends of the colored
folks.
Cooperation! This is the word
we add today to those we have
used before which make the, coil
for the lamp"-harmony, loyalty
hdTN'y, integrity, fidelity, CO.
operation! These make the bright
flame of Unity, The Light That
Guides"
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
A CHALLENGE TO
RURAL EDUCATORS

and creative intelligence of the in
dividual leader, whether teacher,
physician or preacher. But GER
tainly this is true of the teacher
because he must challenge the
spirit of youth. F.,
MUST WORK IN COMMUNITY
The rural educational leader
really would profit most by train
ing in the theory and practice OF
rural social work. His most i'm
portant task is not in the class
room but in the community, con-
stantly feeling its pulse and seek
ing greater opportunities for
Negro participation in a larger
part of community life. He must
use his wits to prepare a way for
Negro youth to experience some
measure of success so that they
will want education. He must be
able and seek opportunities to sell
the value of his educational pre-
ducts to the community. This will
inspire in Negro youth the ambi-
ton to wnat an education.
Furthermore the educator must
set an example of thrift for
youth, while in the community he
should practice living well on a
standard that rural Negro youth
might hope with training to EMU
late.
In other words indoctrination of
certain preconceived cultist ideas
ra er \nffts the rural teacher
for the most effective educational
leadership. 1t binds him to local
conditions and values.
NEEcS TO BE STRONG
The effective educator needs to
be strong, adaptable personality
with social intelligence, courage of
his convictions and realiSt. The
writer knows people like this who
have succeeded. And to think the
educational institute promoters
point to these folks as an example
of what eighteen hours of educa-
tional method will do for a pro-
spective teacher.
The rural institute started this
mental explosion because it re-
vealed how little the teacher
leaders are thinking outside the
framework set by the two forces
named above.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
BY REV. JOHN CLARENCE
WRIGHT

ONE COULD NOT LOOK upon
the tragedy of devastation and de-
struction in Europe depicted in the
newsreels and magazines during
the past few weeks without recall
ing those immortal lines from
Grey's "Elegy"-
The boast of heraldry, the pomp
of power.
And all that beauty, all that
wealth e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour
The paths of glory lead but to
the grave.
No one but a rampant maniac
could possibly believe that through
seas of blood, over broken promises
and across the wreckage of the
proudest and most beautiful cities
in the world-a path to glory could
be made that could lead anywhere
but to grave dug by an outraged
world.
PERISHED BY SWORD
Aroused by the dreams of en-
pire and world dominion. and
maddened by a lust for blood, fools
have periodically arisen in history
and attempted by the sword to
make all mankind bow to gods Of
their choosing. Inevitably they
have perished by the same sword
they drew and the empire Of which
they dreamed and which they
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
CAPITOL COMMENT .

of the gOvernment-the Con-
gressional Directory. The old
ones were nice and red, but
mine is a deep blue. Thanks,
Pampke.
Tried to read DR.. Carter Wood
sons "The Rural Negro. When !
told the good doctor I had it and
complimented him on it, he want
ed to know where I borrowed it.
Such impertinence, such imperti-
nence. But he was right, I did bor-
row it from a friend.
The passing of DR.. Alexander
from F.S.A. is the Rosenwald
Funds gain and FS.A.'s loss. But
the doctor feels he will be in a
position to serve more concen-
trated area in his newest position.
With the passing of DIR. G. Da-
vid Houston, many stories are
breaking. One to the effect that he
had worried himself to death be-
cause of certain letters that had
been forwarded the White House
ETC.. asking for his removed since
mis- illness made him unfit to lead
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
BRITISH WORKINGMEN

THE WORKING PEOPLE of
Great Britain, the masses of Eng
lishmen, Welsh and Scotchmen, are
as much to be credited with the
Emancipation of Negro slaves in
America as is Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln wrote the proclamation of
emancipation, but English working
men prevented the leaders of the
British government from siding
with the southern states of Ameri-
ca and making emancipation i'm
possible,-perhaps for the next sew
eral generations.
Because Britain was democracy
and its people could speak out in
mass meeting, in publication, in
protest, the government leaders
could not ignore the voice of its
people. They saved the day for the
freedom of the blacks-Is there any
body or organization or individual
in all Germany today that could
speak out and prevent the enslave-
ment of African blacks by a VIC
torious Nazidom? You may answer
that question yourself.
GOVERNMENT BLOCKED
Lord Palmerston, then at the
head of the British government, was
about to declare war against the
northern states, which would have
won the rebellion for the south
But the great meetings of the Brit
ish trade-unions and the general
attitude of the working class pre-
vented Palmerston from carrying
out his intentions.
And remember: these British
people had every material interest
in helping the SOUTH if they could
have lifted the northern blackade
and received cotton from Georgia
and South Carolina for their Brit
ish mills, those workingmen woulc
have had jobs and lnone.r instead
of starvation and joblessneSs.
And yet they stuck to it that Lin
coin was right, after he had an
nounced his Emancipation Procla.
nation, and that they would CON.
TINUE TO STARVE, if that woulc
help Lincoln to free the blacks
Here was working class idealism al
! it's heet,--and it was british,
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
FROM NY STUDY WINDOW

To see her cities in ruin; her
beautiful countryside devastated;
her proud, home-loving people
fleeing from scenes and possessions
dearer to them than life itself, is
to get picture of the horror, the
cruelty and the futility of war
which should be warning and a
deterrent to any man or nation
tempted to employ it as a means
of settling disputes for all time to
come.
But We know that the children
of France, witnesses as they are to
the rape of their native land, will
never forget! Clinging Ito the skirts
Of frantic mothers; courageously
doing their share in carrying the
precious burdens of salvaged fam
lily possessions along roads made
a rendezvous with death by STRAIT
ing enemy aeroplanes; hunger.
cold. homeless, wretched they will
never forget!
The refugee children of today
will be Frances soldiers of tomor-
row. and along the same way of
tears which their little feet today
are travelling will lumber tomorrow
, the engines of war and destruction
which their trained minds have
conceived and fashioned.
For war can destroy cities, block
ade ports. starve, MAIN and kill the
bodies of millions of people, but it
cannot crush their spirit or destroy
their souls. Therein lies it's utter
madness. it's demonstrated utility!
Under God Grey was right. The
Paths of Glory lead but to the
grave"
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
President Is Given
Continued from Page II
and to make better citizens"

and to make better citizens"
Davis gave the names of sew
eral persons whom the mob knew
OF, when he was threatened with
death unless he told the names
of all those who intended to vote.
He was then taken to the edge Of
Town and told never to return
on pain of death. Davis walked
eight or nine miles finally arrlv-
ing in jackson, Tennessee, where
he is staying temporarily fol
safety.
ROOSEVELT ASKED TO PUSH
ANTI-LYNCH BILL
President Roosevelt was urged
to publicly and uncompromislng
ly insist on action by the Senate
on the Anti-Lynching Bill, if ne
would prevent the outbreaks oi
mob violence which diSgraced
America during and following the
last war"
The request for Presidential
pressure to secure immediate &C
ton on the bill was contained IN
a letter sent to Mr.. Roosevelt to-
day by the National Association
for the Advancement of Cololed
People.
The letter, which was signed by
Walter White, was sent i'm
mediately upon NAACP Secre-
tary's return from Memphis, Ten
nessee, where he spent three days
investigating the lyncning of Ell
bert William, June %, at Browns
vile, Tenn.
Enclosed in the letter was copy
of the NAACP, secretary's report
to William McClanahan, United
States District Attorney. at Mem
phis, setting forth the whole story
leading up to the finding of Will
liam's body in river near
Brownsville.
White advised president that he
was putting the matter squarely
up to the Chief Executive for i'm
mediate action because Senate
Majority Leader Alben Barkley,
of Kentucky had just written the
Association that because he does
not believe cloture can be invoked
On the Anti-lynching bill, he does
not propose to make any effort
to get it to vote.
The President was advised that
the "lynching of Elbert Williams
is the fourth since March twenty
second, the other three victims
being white pevsons."
'"In addition" the letter said,
there has been widespread out
breaks of mob violence in which
lynching was narrowly averted
from Maine to Texas during re-
cent weeks. No measure pending
before Congress to preserve the
democratic process is more import
ant than the hnti-lyncring bill,
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
VincenneS Hotel
Lost To Whites

CHICAGO,-(ANP)-The Vincen.
mes hotel, sole hostelry in Chicago
owned and directed by Negro
was lost to white real estate opera.
tors last week, concluding cour!
Battle which extended over a period
Of three years and was taken to
several courts by Mrs. l.. Elizabeth
Barnett Lewis, the hotels owner.
Having managed the hotel for
the past 81 years, Mrs. Lewis had
guided the destiny of one of the
city's most outstanding Negro
Landmarks. The scene of some OF
CEicago's most fashionable social
activities, the Vincennes had been
Kept on a very high plane of SER
vice to the community.
The ViEcennes will continue to
be operated as a hotel. Mrs. Lewis
said, and declared that furnishings
and fixtures we're purchascd w'5h
the building,
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
PLATFORM

the coored people that they can feel pouo
which political
religious economic questions which face the
especially the
that mus as we'll job seekers.
3. To instruct boys and girls in the art Of thrift
the brotherhood OF
s To build f;rmer racial foundation for posterty
business of the oored must compete
other must the technique other races
Above all must render dependable ef-
in that alone will be able
business enterprise Therefore, realizing these vital
respect to
rendering better service
published each week in which your views
question of local national Such views
opinions shall not reflect ia
opinion of The PHOENIX INDEX
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13

the destiny of the high school ne
headed.
The stenographers. etc, had a
terrible night for their boat ride
Wednesday night.
Lots of folk here talking
about the American Negro Ex-
position in Chicago. Last week
in Baltimore, the invitation ex-
tended the members of the In
Surance underwriters in session
there was well received.
Howard university's summer ses-
sion is attracting an attractive
group of teachers to this gay town
for the pursuance of their studies.
BY the way, what ever became
of that long predicted revolution
scheduled for Haiti some time ago?
Seems like some of the prophets
we're misinformed more or less.
The Virgin Islands have rep
resentation in the Democratic
National Convention. They have
two votes, the same as some of
the other insular possessions.
Very fine letter from Congress-
woman Frances Bayne Bolton re-
3ardiXS clippings.
Well, the radio seems to be going
back to the war now. And the men,
bers of congress- are still talking
about the preparedness business,
with that defense tax going into
effect here on the first of the
month. You are paying it too I
suppose.
Exams open for the new vacant
post of principal at Armstrong
High school. There will be a mad
scramble for the job it is believed.
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
BY WALTER r. CHIVERS

DURING THE past week the
Atlanta University Summer School,
in conjunction with the Bureau OF
Agricultural Economics of the
United State Department of Agri,
culture has been conducting an
Institute for Rural Educators. The
purpose was to get these folk
thanking analytically and deeply
upon the vital intec;f,latlonshlp
between rural problems ana
regional, national and inter-
national problems.
1t is surprising to what extent
THESE local leaders have been
insulated against such broad use
Of their mental powers. At least
two major forces have been active
in encasing their thinking in a
rigid non-realistic framework Ore
of these forces is the damagogic
ype of leader who while enjoying
the modern conveniences of city
life drops in occasionally to tell
Negroes to remain in the country
regardless of conditions and at
other times advises the unemploy-
ed to return to the farm even il
they know nothing of farming.
There are thousands of unem.
ployed city-bred Negroes who
would starve to death on a farm
because they have never had a
chance to learn how to plant even
a backyard.
THE OTHER FORCE
The other force is the well-in-
tentioned theorists in the field OF
rural education who solve tile
problems of rural Negroes in the
classroom of special Institutes by
stressing general ideals contained
in books written by experts for
the majority racial group
The social and economic condl-
tons of Negroes are subject to To-
cal definitions of Cne Negroes
place in the particular community
it is purely local concept and
cannot be adequately covered in
an institute devoted to the study
of things as they should be.
Education useful to people as
peculiarly situated and diSadvant-
aged as rural Negroes depends
largely upon the courage, vigor
imagination. social consciousness,
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
THE NORFOLK CASE

into the merits of the Aston case.
On the ground that the plaintiff.
by entering into contract with
the Norfolk City School Board. had
waived such constitutional rights
as he was seeking to enforce. Now
the Fourth United States Circuit
Court of Appeals has reversed the
findings of the lower court, and
has held that if such discrimina-
ton as the plaintiff Aston alleges,
exists, the District Court must
issue a declaratory Judgment to
the effect that his constitutional
rights are being violated. The case
is remanded for a hearing on the
facts, with the opinion from the
Circuit Court that contracts be-
tween individuals must stand the
test of conStitutionality.
That such discrimination against
Negro teachers as was alleged in
the Norfolk case does exist in Viz
ginia, on a. wholesale scale, as
common knowledge. In some cotln-
ties. white teachers have received
almost twice as much pay as Ne
gro teachers, with virtually the
same teaching duties. 1t is time
this discrimination was ended, in
the interests of fair play, and also
Of a better public school system .
The Norfolk case may end it, not
only in Virginia, but throughout
the nation.
-(From the Richmond Times
DiSpatch). I
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
The Path Of Glory

s5rove to establish at such an aw-
full cost went down with them to
the grave.
Today the conquerors of yester-
day have found that their path
ways to fleeting glory have led to
yawning sepuichers in which have
been tossed, without honor, the
flower of their youth. the mangled
bodies of defenseless women and
innocent children and the shat
tered ruins of proud civilizations
which it took centuries to ripen.
Tomorrow the vanquished of TO-
day will again rise, their uncon-
quered spirits unshackled and their
pent-up thirst for revenge sweep
ing everything before it. And so
it will be generation after gener-
alton as long as mankind. deluded
by selfish leaders. maddened by a
will to power, stupidity resort to
force of arms either to expand
their dominions or to impose a
culture upon an unwilling and un-
Welding world.
LAND OF BEAUTY
If ever there was land of BEAU
ty, wealth and gracious living it is,
or shall we say-it was France.
Even in her hour of bitterest ira
vail there was in her people a dig
nifty and spiritual poise that could
triumph over defeat and suffering
and reveal an immorable anchor
age in those things that are eternal
and that "fadeth not away"
The Phoenix index., 1940-07-13
Ry J. w. STROBE, Safety Coordj-
natOr, Arizona Highway DeptO

nator, Arizona Highway Dept.)
DRIVERS EGO =
A few months ago a member of
the highway patrol stopped thc
driver of a brand new Car. He was
doing rs miles an hour in 45-mile
zone.
He was cautioned by the patrol
man to hold down his speed. The
proud owner Of the new car was
voluble in his assurances to the pa
t1olman that he did not need t.
bother about HIM. He said he was
a good driver and that he did not
exceed the speed limit except when
there was no traffic in sight. He
said he knew his Car and he knew
the road. There was no occasion
to worry about his driving. Not al
ali.
The patrolman tried to explain
to the driver that he was trying t.
protect his life and limb as well
as the public.
About two months later that
same driver had a bad wreck. He
was doing IS miles an hour again
on a road where safety indicates
maximum speed of 40 miles. In
rounding sharp curve, he came
upon some rocks that had beer
carelesslv left IN the road W pre-.
viors auto'st.In attempting to avoid
Strikino tho rocks. he lost control
of the steering gear. The tire mark
showed that his cor skidded 272
9eo+ before leaving the pavement
ord plllno;--o down steep EN-.
bankn7ent. The new car was com
pletely wrecked, The patrol took