davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
Letters Editor

Dear Editor:
We, your friends of the B. D. S.
ard F.. H. H Association are very
pleased to see you up again and at
vcur post of duty after being ill
for such a lengthy time. Aside
from our little tokens of friendly
aid to you, We know that you were
Given support by the great Master.
and thus our prayers were answer
e1. fer We did not forget tt pray
for your recovery. You shall be
give, our heartiaSt support in your
end"nvcr to regain your conrleto
health
The B. d. IS. and H. H. Assn.
I wish to express my many
+l,o,,'-~ for fNn kirA~ees ShC"''" nv
daughter, Mrs. Alberta Gibson
during her illness.
(Mrs.) Josie Lemay, mother.
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
weren't : invited to that.

weren't invited to that.
A sort of cOnfiagratiOn of
lawyers descended on us
Wendell Mcconnell, brilliant
yOungSter just out of Howard;
j. Franklin Wilson, our OLD
friend and cOmrade; J. T. Car
ter from Richmond; Judge
Almond Scott; George E. c.
Hayes, than whom there is nU
whomer; and several other les
ser legal lights cIuttering up
the office debating something
or other.
Had a swell letter from Unions
publicity man Simeon Booker, the
other day. He tells me that the
team is going great guns having
won 10 straight basketball games
thus far. A couple of close shaves
and so forth, but they don't pay
off On that-they pay off on the
wins. A great campaign is on t.
have Union play in the Madison
Square Garden tournament spon-
sored by Ned irish. If you think
we'll of it, join the hundreds who
are writing Mr.. Irish and express
yourself, too.
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
Germany Can't Win

knows, too, that the fellow GRIM
inal is her worst potential enemy
But she has joined with this
enemy in seizing booty; if Ger
many loses the German part of
Poland, it will be very difficult for
Russia to hold the part she grab
bed. If Germany is compelled to
withdraw from Czechoslovakia,
the sacrifices of Russia to break
into Poland Gf she ever breaks in
effectively will have been in vain.
Having jumped into the same boat
with Hitler, Stain is simply trying
to keep that boat from sinking and
not because he loves Hitler!
There is no honor among those
thieves but there is community
of interest, as they now see it.
Of these three Qtaly, Japan, Rus
sia) Italy comes nearer to gem
uine interest, because italy is the
original Fascist nation, of which
Hitleris1n arose as an imitation.
But without Britain and France,
and the Mediterranean and North
Africa, Mussolini could be only an
enemy to Hitler. Even during the
first months of this war, Musso-
lini (the old fox) has been sitting
on the fence cycling and apprais-
ing both sides.
ALLIES NO SAINTS
England ana France are not
saints There are no saints, at least
not in the Cabinets of Chamber
lain and Daladier. But these two
parties have more genuine bond
of interest in this struggle than
have any two of the opposing
regimes. And of the rest OF the
world: only a few self-seekers
like some racketeers of Poru and
Hortzog of South Africa. who are
willing to help Hitler, even indi"
rectly. Hortzog is attracted by the
race mania, and the Peruvian are
| drawn by misleading visions OF
gain.
All Jews, Negroes and other So
weak and independent nations, all
that still have functioning brains
in their skulls, must not only hate
but must also fear Hitler and al
his works and thoughts.
This disfavor and opposition and
treacbery will prove to be too
mich for Nazi submarines, war
planes. and battleships.
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
Southern Editor
Continued from Page Il

American citizens under the Con-
stitution of the United States.
There have been approximately
$3.50 lynchings recorded since
1882. In only forty cases has
there been action of any sort
against the lynchers. There is not
on record that one state officer
has ever been removed from Office
or punished by a state for fall
ure to protect his prisoner. In
1897 every person who was lynch
ed was taken from officers, but
not one officer was punished, al
though in one case the names OF
seventeen members of the mob
were known; and although at
least four of the lynchings occur
red in broad daylight. In only two
Of the cases was it possible to
plead protection Of Southern wom-
anhood.
SAW THREE LYNCHINGS
TN my capacity as reporter, I
have witnessed three lynchings,
and I know enough about them to
know that the failure to protect
the prisoner and to arrest and
prosecute his 1ynchers is a wiLful
and deliberate failure on the part
of officers of the law. To me,
their failure is in essence nothing
more nor less than the conSpira-
cy of the state, whose sovereignty
they represent, with its lawlesS
element, to deprive some citizens
of their fundamental rights. This
is the case where human rights
transcend any so-called states
rights. Since officers of the law are
the direct, sworn agents of the
state government, then it must
f! follow that in approximately
5-100 cases the states have not
only failed to give protection, but
also have actually been particeps
criminis.
"a. 1 favor a Federal law
because I must reject absolute
Iy the theory that it is an in
vasion of the rights of the
states. Having lived almost
all my life in the Deep South.
must confess with chagrin
that all the prattling about
states rights has usually meant
that we had a right to have
as much pellagra, as much
hoOk-wOrm, as much malaria,
and as much illiteracy as we
pleased, as long as we were let
alone.
eff the Southern states had fol-
lowed the theory of states rights
with integrity, there would be
some validity in the argument.
But what about the Smith, Hughes
bill? The Smith-Lever bill? What
about all the highway aid bills
and the thousand and one forms
of aid or relief that have been
extended under the New Deal? 1t
may be argued that the Lindbergh
law and the motor vehicle law are
interstate, but was not the Pro-
hibition law a direct surrender of
police power to the Federal Gov
ernment? I do not see that the
Federal anti-lynching law intro
duces any principle that is at all
new. The act does not become
operative until the state has alb
dicated its power or violated its
relation to the Federal Govern
ment.
SO. I favor the law because
I feel it would be effective. 1t
is well enough to argue the
theory of education, but what
is the answer to 1882, with ten
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
ENCOURAGES INCEST

When women arrive at state of not having
conscience they will the idea Of childbear
ing As one of the results will join the third
sex in startling numbers, because women will have
become mere robots for sexual qualification relief
see the practice of incest being indulged in with
out any of guilt by either party 1t is not un-
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
HOW MANY CITIES HAVE
100 coo OR MORE NEGROES?

In 1880 seven cities had more
than 100000 Negroes, according TO
the Census Bureau. They we're
New York, Chicago, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Washington, New Or
leans and Detroit. The l940 Cen
sus which will start April l, may
show more cities having at least
100000 colored persons as a result
cf recent noticeable movements
from the country to the city.
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
Birth Control Evils

BIRTH CONTROL. means of perfectlng the
human race is forbidden fruit which, if partaken o.
can only result in misery and death In last weeks
column, this writer agreed with the birth control
propagandists that ignoramuses, the congenally de-
formed and diseased large families of paupers were
undesirable charges society. The emancipation
of justification of the proposed free-for-a
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
Iynchinga and 1888, with
twenty-eight?

lynchings, and 1888, with
twenty-eight?
"The number of lynchings has
increased with either economic
adversely or prejudicial agitation.
l have information which indicates
that there is threatening revival
of the Ku Klux Klan in the South.
If that Is true, the number OF
lynchings will go up in years
when economic pressure is great,
or wnen racketeers who collect
dues for the Klan have their
drives for membership.
Education is a great force, but
the whole history Of lynching dem
onstrates that the class that
lynches must have force beyond
education. believe that the add
ed pressure of a Federal statute
would make it extremely difficult
for politically ambitious district
attorneys or sheriffs to risk being
branded as cowardly or negligent.
IN LINE WITH OPINION
"6. Finally, I favor it because 1
think that it is in line with en-
lightened opinion not only in other
sections. but also in the South.
A Gallup poll showed that 1870 OF
the people of the United States
and 500 of the people OF the
South feel that they have a right
and an obligation to use this last
legal expedient to wipe out lynch
| ing. I feel that the true voice OF
the South is not the voice of
those who filibuster against meas
ures designed to express its hui
manity, but that the real voice OF
the South is that of the $3.50 who
look a lynching as the horrible
social and racial phenomenon that
it is, and think we should stop
short of no legal expedient to wipe
it out.
81 do not see how anybody
who believes in a real demo-
cracy can subscribe, even by
the indirection of red-hearing
arguments, to the use of in
run will destroy democracy.
There can be no democracy
where undue use of economic
power, brutality, and intimida-
ton are present.
"The Ku Klux Klan, which oied
about fifteen years ago, started
out whipping Negroes, but II
wound up so emboldened that 1t
was whipping white people. II
ANYBODY subscribeS to the horrible
theory that it is all right to whip
Negroes, he must be given at least
some pause by the Thought that
brutality has never known any ra-
cial or geographical bounds.
I'VE will never have a real de-
nocracy in his country until the
people who are most affected by
social or political measures taken
in their behalf are given right
to express themselves at the bal
lot box. Far from having realized
that ideal, we are really just now
facing the proposition as to wheth-
er we shah continue to give Fed.
eral Government favor to an ex
tra-legal phenomenon which in
too many instances has been used.
to keep a great element of our
people in subjection; to prevent
them even from voicing their le-
| gitimate aspirations for themselves
as a race and as people.
Sincerely yours,
| Isignedl mark Ethridge.a
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
THREE OTHERS

Then there are Italy, Japan and
Russia. Italy is more against Eng
land and France, than for Ger
many. Japan fears the United
States and Great Britain; Japan
does not absolutely desire Germany
and Hitler power. And Russia,
Russia is in the biggest mess of
these three; she has the interest
of partner in crime, and she
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17

connected political party
faction regardless rulings regula
imparialy hatred
All matter this should be In office tues
A. order the
be plainly written only side
the gits
is paid for
to the INDEX 1214 East Monroe
signed contributors or they
will be
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
BY AL WHITE

WASHINGTON, D. CLAMP
Basketball is drawing all kinds
of crowds here these days and
some of the loveliest of love lies at
tend them. But as usual, at sports
events, the fair sex knows little of
the game and come chiefly to
see and be seen and now and then
emit one of those blood curdling
ShriekS
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17

birth control measures, however
was reserved by this writer for fu-
ture discussion.
The i'll effects of birth control
like the futile effort of prohibition
to control the consumption of quor
and it's associated evils, are horrible
to anticipate.
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
Insurance Held Dies

DALLAS-(ANP)- William Van
Watson, president of the Peoples
Mutual Benefit Association, died
here Saturday evening -
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
Themes & Variations BY GameweA Valentine

usual to read in the newspapers any time where a
father impregnates his daughter. Men and
en- will become a little lower than the beasts of the
forest.
Those who will profit most from the birth
troll measures will be chemists druggists physicians
and quacks The legitimate makers and distributors
of the nostrum will be plagued with competition from
smugglers and bootleggers. In every case of graft
and exploitation, the public will be the victim.
a solution to the problem Of undesrables can
never come through birth control measures as the
birth control propagandists propose. There is time
and season for everything under the SUM- and
wrong well a right way in bringing it about.
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17

Snow and slush are disappearing
from our local streets and soon
the birds will be singing again
we hope-and we'll know sprins
can't be far behind.
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
MASSES NEED INSTRUCTION

Surely the masses should be instructed how to
keep well, and the sacred duty of being temperate
in all things They should be taught the duty and
the highest responsibilities of marriage and enIighten-
ed in regard to the handicaps they will bring on
themselves and society by bringing into the world
imbeciles deformed and diseased children often due
to abused body from intemperate living and life
of dissipation. That the only way to control the
offspring is through the power the mind, from
which comes all luss of the flesh.
Birth control will keep out the lmdesirables, but
at the same time prevent the birth Of desirables.
When and if birth control becomes the order of the
day. need expect no more babies to be born who
will grow up into characters like Abraham Lincoln
Booker T. Washington, George w. Carver or Frank
lin D. Roosevelt. 1t seems that such specimens of
real manhood haven't been born since the last gen.
Grafton
The problem of selection of the fit from the
fit in the propagation of the human race must be
regarded in the light the parable Jesus made
concerning the kingdom of heaven The parable
Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto net
that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every
kind: which, when it was full they drew to shore
and sat down. and gathered the good into vessels but
cast the bad away In due season. not only VIII
those ndesirables that the birth control folk hope
get rid Of be cast away. but all who failed to feal
God. which is believing the Gospel The lnrigheou
are far more h m f u to society thar
the diseased bodies of morons and mbeclles Mar
is incapable absolutely of wedding out the truly un
deSirabeS.
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17

Who's Who attended the
hearings of the anti-iynch
bill. Headed by Mrs. Bethune
Of the NYA, there were Alfred
E. Smith and DuttOn Ferguson
from the WPA; DIR. Weaver
and Henry Moon from the
Housing authority; DIR. Trent
from the department of inter-
ior - semi officially present.
Made an impressive array.
Difficult to make the boys ad-
init according to Tom Connally
that "Tuskegee is the best Ne
pro institution in the country .
They all agreed that it was ONE
of tho best of ten or twelve.
Ku Klux Klan, unequal educa-
tional opportunities. disfran-
chisement, all got their share of
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17
AFRAID OF MATERNITY

Let's take the case Of the average,
modest, respectable, young unmar-
ried woman. The greatest restraint
The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17

NEW ORDER AT HAND
When the kingdom of God shall appear, then,
and not until then, will the remaining peoples OF the
world constitute a perfect society. AS President
Roosevelt said in his Christmas letter to Pope Plus
NII the new order may well be at hand =. be-
eve that it is being built, silently but in
evtably -" preachers, especially theologans,
please note that there is big distinction between
the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom Of God) No
evil Sickness pain or death (spirituaD will pre-
vail in the new world. There will be peace and hap
piness, and God will govern according to His
own standard of justice in the earth. Not in the
skies
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-04-25
LABOR EDUCATOR
SPEAKS here

Mr.. George Reeves. represen-
tative OF the Labor Education
Service. arrived in Cumberland
Yesterday and spoke before both
tie Executive Board and Gen
oral Committee OF Local 1874,
Textile Workers Union of Amer
lea, last night wednesday,.
Tonight Thursday Mr..
Reeves will address the dele
gates of the Western Maryland
Industrial Union Council of the
clio at their regular session in
the Rubber Workers Hall.
The speaker is touring the
labor unions in the interests Of
the Affiliated Schools for Work
ers. This body conducts various
workers educational S hoo S
during the summer and winter
months.
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-04-25
POTPOURRI by vox Pop

Mayer 10 arrange another speak.
ing engagement with the Min
isteriai Union at which no Goubt
he can tell the members that all
the talk about gambling racket
.,.s Operating &: :ac C:;; nth
complete protection Of powerful
City political figures is just a
plot TO embarrass him" We
doubt. though. that the minis
tiers will fall for such stuff.
Question: Will His Honor
make another date 10 speak be-
fore the Ministers OF Cumber-
land on Law Enforcement"
Employer Chiselcr
Just heard about a Cumberland
employer who must take the pre-
verbal leather medal" for chisel-
ling. Many months ago he was
Continued on Page SiI
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-04-25

with the legal rights OF the
rcop!c.
MANY OF these leaders. how
ever. feel that the handful Incl
dent has served to show that the
cIO Will not put up with such
tactics and that a more reason
ablc and law abiding spirit will
be shown in this instance.
The first pickcting ordinance
was successfully challenged by
the clio in the courts here. 1t
was recnacted with minor
amendments for the benefit OF
tic Republic steel Corporation
which swings an unduly large in
fuence in the community here.
It's Legal
The United States Supreme
Court in its ruling this week said
in part:
Free discussion concerning
the conditions in industry and
the causes Of labor disputes
appear to us TO be indispen-
sable TO the effective and intel
ligent use Of the processes OF
Continued on Page Ssves
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-04-25
KELLY WORKERS
MEETINGS

Local 26. United Rubber Work
crs of America. will hold a meet.
ing of its Executive Board TO-
morrow. FRIDAY. at 9 p. NJ.
The General Membership will
lold its regular meeting on this
SATURDAY. April 9th. at 7.3O
=. M.
Important business will be dis
cussed and all members are
urged to make special efforts TO
attend.
The local will sponsor the Auto
Races at the Fargo track on this
Sunday. April 28th. The first
race is at 2.30 p. M.
Full information on the Sports
Page Of this issue.
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-04-25
Townsend Club
Is Refused Use
OF Auditorium

Last week the Mayor refused
the use OF the CITY Hall auditor
ium TO the Townsend Club upon
the ground that there is a CoCn-
Gil order forb!dd.ng its use to
private bodies.
Wc have been ASKED b" Town
send Club members TO publish ?
copy OF the Council Order and to
publicly state that the Townsend
Club has checked up and found
:..at the Cumberland Community
Choir is using this auditorium or
Tuesday nights in violation OF
the order. The Voice OF Labor
will try and publish n photo
graph OF the Cumberland Com
munity Choir using the audi
forum in its next issue.
ORDER S3i3
ORDERED. BY The Mayor
and City Council Of Cumber-
ianI. Maryland.
That the public auditOriums
in the City Hall be closed TO all
associations or organizations
desiring TO hold meetings
therein. effective . a. VI. on
the End day of July. 1887. en-
ccpt that the Commissioner Of
Streets and Public Property
may arrange 10 permit the use
of said audiloriums 10 duly
constituted public authorities
holding meetings therein with
purpose Of transacting pub.
lie business authorized by law.
Signed.
Thomas W. kOOn. Mayor.
Passed July /, 1887.
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-04-25

Was mighty disappointed last
week when Mayor Irvine broke H.,
appoin. r,el.i 20 speak 10 the Cum
berland Ministerial Union on the
highly interesting topic of Law
EiiiV: veimcii.
For some unexplained reason
His Honor was prevented from
keeping his engagement owing 10
other business"
Not only the ministers. but most
Of tire decent lay people IN the
City were interested in the sub
ject. Many were wondering what
the Mayor would have had to say
about the impudent and wide open
operation OF the gambling racket
GERS in the City Of Cumberland.
Rumor has it that some OF the
ministers were going to ask Mayor
Irvine why Law Enforcement
against these buns is just 4 joke
and what gives them their power
full political protection agaist pro-
secution?
We do not know. but We are
wondering If the Mayor had re,
ceived an advance 'tip-on that
the Ministers were all set for him.
and consequently found 1t ln,pos'
Siblc to keep his engagement?
Intimate knowledge
We know of one Minister who
was going 90 ask the Mayor how
he knew that the bO0kie joints
"wcrc willing 20 pay three thou
sand dollars a year TO operate in
the open"
II is very unfortunate that the
Mayor was unable 10 attend and
speak on this highly interesting
and important topic Of Law
Enforcement" Perhaps some Of
the Mayors critics are being un.
kind when they suggest that he
ran out on the Minister'S
OF course the best way 10 con-
found these critics Is for the
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-04-25

The Stag Banquet will com
nencc at 7 p. NJ. and the ladies'
will Join in at . p. NJ. at the
Dance.
The siX-team league OF the
"A" Shift spinners was made up
Of Sc members and 60 game
series was played.
The Hot Shots won the first
Lalf title and kept up their win
ming streak to cop the crown
i,"iiii II ss -" :G;;;,;i5;5s." -" 40
OF the second half. Other teams
in the league were tho An
Stars. Big Boys" Hot
Heads" and Die Hards."
All Paid Up
Paid-up union membership in
Local 1874 was a requirement OF
all league players. A picture OF
the winning team appears OH this
page.
The final roll-on between tho
Hot Shots" and the mo
Stripes" was hectic affair with
the winners spilling a total of
347l pins to the mo Stripes"
1888.
The Saturday night social az
fair will be n big time with the
Stag Banquet and the following
Dance being eagerly looked for
ward to.
JIMMY Andrews Orchestra
will provide the Dance Music.
Roy Cragc is aiding in the
arrangements.
League Members
The following union members
made up the League in the re-
spective teams:
Hot Shots: A. Via. W. Seller.
J Moore. 7. Thompson. j. Ca
tania. r. Craze. "All Stars: