davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
Red Cap Official Opposes
Draft Service Because OF
Undemocratic Army Ideals

that American democracy is pre-
pairing for its greatest struggle
against the forces of ignorance,
prejudice and dictatorship.
1.-The practice of relegating spec
ial types of service to Negroes and
refusing their services in other
branches of the armed forces is
neither conducive to effective
morale or obeying the spirit and
letter of the constitution of the
United States. When the U. s..
army denies me or any other Ne
gro the right and opportunity to
make an equal contribution to the
welfare and defense of my country,
it violates a basic right guaranteed
to me by the constitution.
Therefore, to insist upon my
participation in the selective train
ing program without giving me
the guarantees of equality of citi-
Zenship in the operation of the
armed service places certain LA
bilitieS upon my honor, integrity
and self-respect. For these reasons,
I cannot accept the responsibility
Of taking the oath upon induction
into military service under the
present anti-democratic structure
of the U. S. army and ask to be
exempted from military training
until such time that my contribu-
tion and participation in the de-
fense of my country can be made
on a basis of complete equality"
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
Howard u. Tutor
Passes Skin
Specialist Exams

WASHINGTON -(SNS) DR.
C. Wendell Freeman, Clinical AS
sistant Professor of Dernatology
in tie Howard University School
of Medicine, has been made dip
lomat Of the American Board of
Dermatology and Syphliology af-
ter the examinations of that Board
in Chicago. it was announced this
week.
The diploma certifies that DR.
Freeman is a qualified specialist in
diseases of the skin and il syphilis.
He is native of Washington. D.
G. and is graduate of Dunbar
and Howard University Medical
school.
He served his interneship in
Freeman's Hospital and after Sc
veral years of private practice,
studied his specially in Europe Oh
an Oberlaender Fellowship in cli-
MICS of Austria, Germany, France
and Denmark.
He has been a member of the
Howard Medical faculty since 1929
and has recently been engaged in
instruction in physicians in post
graduate venereaI disease control,
sponsored by the U. S. Public Health
Service and the School of Medi
cine. From 1921 1910, DR.. Freeman
(CanfinmaA I'm Rack PzUel
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11

CHICAGO--(ANP)-ErneSt Cal
loway, educational director of the
United Transport Employees OF
America and who had one of the
first numbers called in the Selec-
tive service lottery in Washington,
is opposed to CONSUMPTION because
"the present United States Army
is the most anti-democratic instl-
tuition in American governmental
life," he told his local draft board
on receipt of his QUESTIONABLE a
few days before Christmas. He ask
ed to be exempted until "true citl-
zenship" is conferred upon him.
The red cap officials complete
statement in which he protests be-
ing drafted follows;
Gas a Negro, l have accepted
many of the responsibilities Of my
limited citizenship without benefit
of a number of it's blessings. To
me, the present United States army
is the most anti-democratic instl-
tuition in American governmental
life. It's callous disregard for the
elementary principles OF falr-play
with Negro citizens, reeks OF 18th
century "mercenarisln" instead OF
an army, by, for and of the people.
'The constant refusal of this
military branch Of our government
to pursue a non-discriminatory
policy in it's attitude towards all
the citizens is far out of portion
with the large measure of social,
economic and political progress
that has been made during the past
few years in America. For a num-
Der of decades, the U. S. army has
withstood democratization of an
immediate change in this vicious
racial status quo, respite the fact
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, (ANP)--
Policeman Ted Blevins is charged
with murder In connection with
the fatal shooting of Charles Davis
on the night of December II, 1910.
The 20-year-old youth claim
ed before he died at the General
hospital the day before Christmas
that he was on his way home
when car bearing policemen
came up along beside him de-
manding him to stop. The men in
the Car threw a spotlight in his
face and began firing.
The boy added that he ran un-
til struck in the back by what he
thought was pop bottle as he
fell. One of the bullets ploughed
through his abdomen injuring Wit
al organs.
He died two weeks after the
shooting despite the administra-
ton of several blood tranfusions
later taken.
The two colored groups who
have asserted that they will aid
in the prosecution of Belvins are
the Citizens Defense Council and
the Inter UNCONVENTIONAL Minist-
ers' alliance, who have approved
the investigation of the shooting
being conducted by George Smith,
member of the defense council.
The case of BelvinS came up in
city court on January 4, but DR..
Charles Davis, Sr. father of the
slain boy, and a dentist here for
more than 25 years. has had a
murder warrant issued in sessions
court for Belvins, which is pending
the clearance of the case in city
court.
Attorney George Smith in COM
menting on the case said: The
Negroes of Knoxville feel that
they have had more than their
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
NEGROES TO PLAY BIG
PART IN F.D.R. BALLS

NEW YORK-(ANP) - Negroes
of America will play a larger part
in the 1941 Eight Infantile Para
lysis'' campaign than ever before,
Keith Morgan, national chairman
of the Committee for the Celebra-
ton of the Presidents Birthday, an
nounced this week.
In several of the larger cities,
parties and celebrations have been
arranged for January 80, President
Roosevelt's 59th birthday, and also
on the Saturday night proceeding
January Is.
Bill Robinson, famous tap dancer
and stage and radio star, is chair
man of grand ball to be held in
Harlem in this city.
At Tuskegee Institute, on Jan.
Is, the new infanti1e paralysis
hospital, built by the National
Foundation for tnfantile Paralysis
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
TlOo Spectators
At Fire Killed
By Electric Shock

PITTSBORO, N. CLAMP
Two Negroes.J. d. Leach, rs, a
taxi driver and Levy Aston,
40, a saw mill hand, were elec-
trocuted here Saturday about 4
a. m.when they came in contact
with a fallen high-voltage power
line while spectators at a fire.
The flames destroyed an unoc-
cupied cafe and burned through
the power lire.
Other spectators said that
Leach, who had started to a
nearby house for a drink Of
water, brushed against the wire
with his hand. He died almost
instantly. Aston attempted to
drag Leach away and became
entangled in the wire. Both
men were badly burned before
the power could be cut off.
Another spectator, Paul Al
stOn, 81, also tried to pull Leach
from the wire by grabbing at
Fis shoes. He was shocked Sc
verely but thrown loose without
serious injury.
The deaths were termed acci-
dental. and no inquest was held.
Deputy. Raymond Lassiter said
that about an hour beforehand.
he had warned the two men and
other spectators not to approach
the fallen wire.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
FEC Studying
Alleged Misuse
Of Police. Car ar
ATLANTA. Ga.-(SNSl

ATLANTA, Ga.-(SNS)
The Federal Communications
Commission Friday began an I'M
vestigation into an alleged Atlanta
Christmas night escapade involv-
ing the use of police radio by
Councilman-elect Paul Butler.
A report was being made for
forwarding to Washington by p.
H. Herndon, inspector in charge
of the FEC Office in Atlanta.
Reports made to Police Chief
Hornsby said Mr.. Butler had rid
den several hours in a radio patrol
car and that he was carried to-
police station and booked on a
charge of being drunk after
superior officers went out to in
vestigate the unauthorized use
Of the two-way radio. Police sta
ton records show Mr.. Butler
forfeited a 81 collateral in the
drunk case when he failed to APP
pear for trial on December 26;
Radio Operator r. G. Mathews
reported he received unauthorized
calls from a patrol car operated by
Officers T. P. Epps and j. Z
<1a.. ~ D..x Do~aN
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11

at cost of $165,O0O will be dedi-
Gated. This hospital will be the nu-
cleus of the great polio center to
be established at this seat of learn
ing, founded by Booker T. Wash
ington.
During the past year polio struck
many states with epidemics, and
the total number of cases was
10000. While the South, except for
scattered sections, was spared by
the crippling invader, central and
northern states were not so fortu-
nate and many cases of infantile
paralysis are reported among the
Negro population. States register
ing an unusual number of cases
included West Virginia, Indiana,
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky
Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mis-
souri,, and Virginia,
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11

CHICAGO-(ANP)--Mrs. Anna
Hayes, who learned to read when
she was ten year old slave on
Mississippi plantation, waited 70
years to learn how to write, but
now that she's begun to actually
write letters, she's eager to learn
more.
A student in a WPA adult edu-
cation class, she can be depended
on to be present regardless of the
weather. "I guess I'm doing pretty
good, she says. with quite earnest
ness, II write letters to friends IN
the South and I think they can
read them because L get answers
back. You know, after I started to
learn a little, I just craved to be
able to write letter. It's a real
pleasure to me, too. I'll go to school
as long as I'm able or as long as 1t
lasts. Some days, when there are
lots of people there, we have d
right good class,
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11

On Monday. however, armed with
their new union cards, certified by
the brotherhood, the Negro work.
ers reported at Fort Riley and ask
ed for work but were told that the
contractors were refusing to accept
Negro labor. This incident took
place upon a federally owned can
tonment. Efforts to bring pressure
to crack the contractor or abrogate
his contract are being considered
it Is said.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
Race Guard Unit
To Begin Training

CHICAGO-(ANP)-The former
9th infantry regiment of the ILL.,
nois National guard, recently con-
verted into the l84th field artillery,
has been ordered into federal serV-
ice on January for a years train
ing at Camp Custer, near Battle
Creek, Mich. it was revealed sat-
urday in Washington, D. G.
President Roosevelt on Dec. %
signed the order for the induction
between Jan. 6 and II of this and
several other units, an estimated
total of $4,000 men. The l84th field
artillery has newly appointed
head, Col. Julian Dawson, who sue
ceeds Col. Warfield who resigned
few weeks ago.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
Dr.. Harten
Hits Powell
New Blow
Offers to Debate
NY. Minister
In City Hall

NEW YORK-CS N SIN 2
dramatic put up or shut up chal-
Aenge to the Rev. A. Clayton Po-
well, Jr., pastor of AbysSinian Bap-
tist Church, the Rev. Thomas S.
Harten, first vice-president of the
National Baptist Convention, fol-
lowed up his slugging attack or
the Harlem clergyman who recent
y charged the late Rev L. K.
Williams former Baptist Conven-
aaon head with completely in the
murder Of church auditor.
The challenge was in the form
Of a proposition for a debate be-
tween the two outstanding Baptist
clergyMen in a large New York
City hall before a jury of promin-
entj citizen with the loser of the
debate paying for the hall.
To make his defy to the New
York minister even more impress
isive the National Baptist Conven-
ton official, who pastors the Holy
Trinity Baptist Church in Brook
lyn said the National Baptist con-
vention will give one thousand dol
lars in cash to Rev. Powell "if he
can point out the thief, or a sin
gle man or woman holding a high
office in the National Baptist Con-
vention who IS stealing from the
denomination, who has knowledge
OF anyone elseS stealing"
II am positive that when the de-
bate is over, the entire nation will
be convinced that it has been mis-
led in regard to Powell's devotion
to his race" the Brooklyn minister
told The New York Age. "He is
attempting to build himself by dis
crediting Negro leaders, except
those who worship at his shrine;
the public will know that he is the
biggest opportunist that the Negro
race has ever produced; that he Is
tickle, unsafe and his criticism de-
StrucLive."
In a blistering attack on Powell,
Harten among many other things,
branded him a Hitler who likes
to be met at a station with a brass
band and heiled."
IF he Is a man, he will prove
his assertions Harten concluded.
"If he is a coward, he will howl
that he has been misquoted."
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11

In Kansas City where two weeks ago Negro carpenters
refused jobs at Fort Riley the given that
only union carpenters being hired Fortunately a
group of coored craftsmen had organization Kansas
City, Kan known the Colored Builders of Kansas.
This group served nucleus for skilled carpenters
who made demand upon the Greater Brotherhood of
peners and Joners of America for adtance the union
The Negro workmen permitted to form local
through special dispensaon which reduced the joining
fee from $50 to $50 Ten joined promptly and the time
of the dspensaon extended 80 days enable others
to enter the local.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
Sues To Void Will
OF Sweeps Winner

CHICAGO CAMP - Charging
his step-mother with using fathers
influence in having his fathers
will drawn in her favor, Royal E..
Spurlock, Jr. has filed suit to set
aside the will of Royal E. Spur
lock, Sr. a pullman porter who
won $4,000 on an Irish sweepstakes
ticket in December, 1888.
The complaint said the son re-
ceived only about $1,000 from the
estate, estimated at approximately
100000, and that Mrs. Spurlock,
who married the sweepstakes win
ner a month or SO before his death,
received nearly all the rest.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
Faith Act Used TO
Fleece Woman Out
Of $50 In Cash

ATLANTA, Ga.-(SNS)
Mrs. Sallie Bell, of 63-B Howell
Street, Sc, was the victim OF
flim-f1am, she reported to police
Saturday. Mrs. Bell said woman
known to her as Sister Hall came
to her home and through a faith
act pretended TO tie $4,000 of her
money in a napkin and put it in
a trunk with instructions not to
open the napkin until four hours
later. When the napkin was open
ed, the money was gone, the VIC
tim stated,
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
Knoxville Youth
Slain By Police

share of brutality and mistreat-
ment and that something must be
done about ii. Negro churches in
the city are planning to hold pro-
test meetings over the murder OF
young Davis"
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11
Negro Carpenters Face
=StonewaI| OF Prejudice
In Seeking Defense Jobs

the manager, E. P. Hornlein, that he could
not place them because the contractors in
charge of the governmental contract jobs
specified white carpenters. Hornlein insisted
that the responsibility of the employment
service ended when he supplied the type of
labor from his files requested by prospective
employers and contractors.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11

WASHINGTON, D. C.-(ANP) -From
points as far distant from each other as
Kansas City, Mo-, and Norfolk, Va, came re-
ports last week of rank discrimination in
the letting of defense jobs In Norfolk, num-
erous carpenters who rushed to the Virginia
State Employment bureau, branch of the
federal employment service, were told by
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-11

Continued On Back Page)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-22
FACTORY WHISTLES FOOL YOUNGSTERS
Fire Alarm for Minor Blaze Thought ''No School"
 Signal

Excitement followed whistles which sounded this morning at .7:27 o'clock, and e number of school children calling in to know If school would be held.
 They were informed that 1t was a fire and that they would have to go to school. Six companies were sent to the grounds of the Scovill Mal1u- facturing Company off Hamilton avenue when Q jitney in e driveway near building No. l32 ignited a gas tank. The flames burned George walsh, operator of the jitney. He was treated at the factory hospital for minor burns.
 The alarm was turned in from factory box 6573 and six pieces of apparatus responded. Bremen were under the direction of Thomasa F. Cavanaugh and eputy Chief Martin J. Campion. Damage was slight.
 No other alarms were received up to o'clock this afternoon. The bureau of fire alarms reported yes- terday's 20 alarms brought the number of calls turned in since April 1 to AS. The previous record established in April l936 has already been exceeded by iS3 alarms with eight more days remaining in the month.
 From yesterdays total, 17 were brush and rubbish fires, while the other three were Q garage blaze, . slight house fire and an emergency call.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-22
Cancer Control Week
 Being Observed Here
Mayor Scully Issues Official Proclamation Her.
 bert Hoover Sends Letter of Endorsement

A proclamation designating the present week as Cancer Control Week and urging the cooperation of the public with the Womens Field Army of the American So- ciety for the Control of Cancer was issued today by Mayor Vincent A. Scully. The proclamation points out that i5S000 deaths were caused last year by the dread disease, though from one third to one-half of those succumbing could have been saved.
 The local unit of the Women's Field Army also released today 8 copy of @ letter from Mrs. Herbert Hoover, praising the work and aims of the organization and recom- mending that each person have a thorough physical examination once a year.
 Mayors Proclamation
 The text of Mayor scully's proc- lamation follows:
 Our greta national defense ef- fort depends on many factors but none Is more important than the health of our citizens. A sound mind in 6 sound body is vital to preparedness.
 The control of many diseases may be left to our health offi- cers and to our physicians. This is not entirely true of cancer. Conservative mdeical opinion tells us that cancer will be curbed only when each individu- al knows Q few simple facts about the disease and acts upon this knowledge.
 To teach these facts Is the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-22

Ebert Moore, 32, of 26 Lafayette street, was fined $1o0 and costs of which $50 was remitted when he was arraigned in city court today on a charge of driving an automobile while under the influence of liquor. Judge T. E. Conway presided.
 Moore was involved in an accident on Railroad Hill street and Wash ington avenue Sunday afternoon when he struck 8 car driven by Dr. Edo Passetto of 1183 Hamilton ave- nue as he was making a wide swing. Damage to both cars was slight.
 Anthony Matasavage, 31, of Al Al- der street, charged with keeping whiskey with intent to sell without permit, was fined $25 and costs. Matasavage told the court that he has closed up his restaurant on Il South Leonard street, and was go- ing into the army. He said that he expected to go soon as he had taken his medical examination.
 Matasavage was arrested by the vice squad in a series of raids con- ducted at the beginning of the month by Lieuts. Patrick Moylan, Ernest Pakul, Patrick Hobart, Pa trolman Joseph Cavanaugh and State Liquor Inspectors James Glynn and s. W. Nichols.
 Matasavage has had a prior con- yiction which was appealed to the superior court and had his license revoked.
 William Sheehey, 39, of 49 Sylvan avenue, pleaded nolo contendere to g charge of keeping whiskey with intent to sell without having per- init, and was fined $25 and costs.
 charles P Andrews, fl, of Fred erick street, Oakville, paid $25 and costs for a nolle on charge Of reckless driving.
 Leo Frederick, 33, of 56 Francis street, pleaded guilty to a charge of shop-lifting of wearing apparel from the s. s. Kresge store in Ex- chanbe place and was apprehended by Traffic Officer Matthew Noonan. He was given suspended sentence of three months and placed on pro- baton.
 Earl Macdonald, 40, of 437 Will low street, was granted a nolle on payment of $5 on Q charge of road rules. He was the complaining witt ness in the recent trial of Motor Patrolman Thomas Phelan who was suspended from the force for one year.
 Michael De F'ranko, 26, of 10 Di- vision street, was given an outright nolle when his case was called in court. He is charged with non- support.
 Frank J. Thrasher, Jr., %, of 1241 East Main street, charged with reckless driving, and Sylvio Beau doin, 31, of Prospect road, Nauga- tuck, speeding, were granted con.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-22
Topcoats Return To Style With Weather Change

"A brisk wind whipped the mer- Oury Gown to . low of 4l degrees early thls morning st 3 o'clock and at 1 o'clock this noon, it had climbed only eight degrees to hover ct %. Yesterday's reading oe 7E degrees was the highest within the last &4 hours.
 Top ccats again were con- splcucus on the streets today agt- CT Q warm spell which lasted for several days with the mercury registering between 7S and 90 de- greeS.
 < Not much damage is expected from the light frost which covered the ground. Delicate fruit trees, such as the peach tree, gre the most likely to be affected by this change after the warm weather prematureiy brought forth its buds.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-22
CHICKENPOX HERE
 STILL PREVALENT

waterbury led New Haven county in the number of measles cases re- ported for the week ending April i0. according to the latest report Of the State Health Department. There were eight cases reported here II, that period.
 Nearby Prospect which had quite a few eases reported there the pre- vious week showed only three cases in the current report. Stamford, howver, continued to lead the state with over 100 cases there.
 other dieases reported from waterbury were: Whooping cough, {: and labor pneumonia, 2.
 Mumps and chickenpox are ap. parently still prevalent throughout the state as 2i2 cases of the former end i00 of the latter are listed.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-22
! Prominent Citizens
 Supporting Program n To Effect Solution
Recent Federal Activities Held insufficient to Effect Widespread Change in General Conditions
 Cooperation Sought

housing problems, whose aim hes been described as attempting to dis- cover the number of families living in Waterbury under adverse condi- tions, and hoping, by pointing out these cases, to enlist the support of civic minded citizens for the future betterment of housing conditions in this city.
 Heading the committee Is Rev. Webb M. Wright as acting chair- man, and Leila T. Alexander, social director of the Pearl Street Commit nity House, as social director.
 The connection with the contem- plated movement to bring existing conditions to the attention of city offlcials, civic minded leaders in re- ligion and business have indicated their support and have subscribed to its aims.
 Among them are the following: pr. James E. Gregg, Dr. Edward J. Godfrey, Mrs. Samuel P. Williams, Mrs. Mamie Halle, Mrs. Reuben Mckinney, Mrs. John o. Bradley, Rabbi Wm. P. Greenfield, James B. Lassiter, Rev. Matthew G. Madden, Lewis g. Reed, Dr. John o. Walker, chairman, Dr. James M. Lee, Miss Helen E. Chase, Lacey Y. Maness, Henry A. Weisman, Mrs. Daniel Trotman, Mrs. o. A. Harvey.
 The federal government recently announced housing projects for Wa terbury, on Long Hill road and Harn- ilton avenue. The influx of labor and the growing demands for more living quarters Is in large measure responsible for the contemplated government project.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-22
SKI CLUB INJOYS | CINEMAS, STEAKS
" Members Turn Final Meeting at Watertown
 Pond Into Roast
(NEA Radiophoto)

The Waterbury Y Ski Club held its final meeting of the season last night at the Y. M. 0. A. Camp on Smiths Pond in Watertown. After 8 short buiness meeting moving pictures were shown taken at var ious skiing center throughout New England. The group then enjoyed 8 steak roast after which country dancing was in order. Carl Cope land played and called for the dances.
 Among those present at the meet ing were: Louise Williams, Cecelia Rochon, Bernice Laskey, Irene and George Brown, Doris McKenna, Teckla Preslopky, Ann Aruck, Olga Aruck, Joseph Guidess, Margaret Gunterman, Rita Sullivan, Phyllis Anderson, Roger Bryson, Arthur Jessie Phillips, Hollis DeVines, Wil- Blewitt, Walter Daley. Thomas Boyd fred Mathewson, Joseph Kenny, George Morrison, Francis Levesque, Dorthea McGowan, Winfred Cush- ing, Gladys Lehr, Betty zibel, Mil- dred Panaliti, Betty Butler, Eugene