davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
By ROBERT M. RATCLIFFE

CONGRESSMAN ARTHUR MITCHELL was leaning
against telephone pole at the of Auburn Avenue and But
Ter Street in Atlanta He standing there watching the
steady flow of pedestrians And plenty of the aferdar sroers
were on the go that night
We killing time before taking Atlanta Daily
World news desk that particular night and that's why hap
pened to be that intersection which is crowded all times
We had the lone colored congressman, but wed
his picture the papers enough TO know him where
any time
aren't you Congressman Mitchel?" we asked
yes he replied.
We knew on occasion he had taken efty swing
photographer who tried snap his picture naturally
somewhat reluctant in telling him affiliated with
a newspaper.
But he didn't to mind when We told him. He smiled,
extended his hand and gave of those gripping andakes
We decided enter the drugstore and MUNICH
since neither Of us occupied at the time.
One be careful when talking with and interviewing
politician They quick get And don't mind telling
his right foot because of story had published about
him. Of course he didn't do it. but could tell he mighty
angry.
So were over polite with Congressman Mitchell We
talked about things general let the cold melt
mouths We think he took liking to because he offered
carry Alabama the day where he sced
uled to deliver address,
We got asking him about his fight against
railroad mcrow "Do you think you've got chance? said
young man., he told u.s. I'm going to win that case
That three years ago when CHANGED Con-
gresham Mitchell There determination and confidence writ
all his face He appeared what sports writers call
bulldog teracity
Well you read papers you United States su-
Court last week rendered decision in favor OF the
Colored throughout the country reoced We're the
railroads didn't enjoy the ruling and dare those at
generals who them
selves block Congressman Mitchell didn't feel too happy
about it ta
the NAACP black eye He declared he refused the help of the
National Association for the Advancement of Coored People when
that organization forth at the last minute offering help him
fight the
Well if Brother Mitchell what you might cali tough you
give him credit for being fighter
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
The Supreme Court Comes Clean

IN UNANIMOUSLY upholdng the contention of Congress-
Arthur W. Mitchell for equal accommodations Negroes
ON Interstate trains the Supreme Court of the United States again
gave hope to Coored Americans that they have refuge from
race udce Many persons will doubt discount the decision
because did not consider segregation trains That
the question before the Court Most Southern States have sep
arate but equal accommodation laws To enforce let
ter will eventually break the separate coach law. The Supreme
Court holds that the argument that few Negroes travel first class
good "It is the INDIVIDUAL who entitled equal
protection Of the awsno merely group of individuals
body of persons according to their numbers"
So it be that if Negroes of wealth and would
insist equal accommodations and every individual take
the offending railroad Court the railroads would find
to get around the separate coach laws
Some years ago the Supreme Court said practically
thing did this Court In the of three Coored wanting
to from Oklahoma Washington D. c. they refused
Pullman tickets of the dining They sued for dam
The Supreme Court held that if only Negro wanted
sleeper, if only Negro wanted in diner, the
railroads to furnish these things These received punitive
damages because they had been off the otherwise
physically injured They merely accepted the refusal of the agent
groe that they could aud should given equal accommodations
II of rich and wealthy Negroes would try these decisions
out their logical conclusions there doubt that m crow
on trains would fade away.
Another silver lining the prejudice cloud that follows
us day night the fact that Justice Hugo Black of Alabama
and Stanley Reed of Kentucky Joined the other Justices in this
momenous decision Perhaps maybe the hard fight
Justice Blacks appointment has made him jealous in show
ing he is not Ani-Negro or Ku Kuxer
justice Reeds support of the decision encouraging the
Negroes of Kentucky who disguised KentuCs Ato
General joining the other rank Southern States in fighting this
issue.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
EDITOR |ALS
HITS AND BITS
BY MACK C. NANCE

THE WORLD, DOMINATED by
Caucasus, has robbed humanity OF
Gods most precious gift; the IA
therhood of God and the brother
hood of man. If monkey is per-
nitted to accomplish all acrobatics
he (the monkey will always be SUI
preme in that special field. Those
who through meteorology, star OF
crystal gazing, look forward with a
view of a postwar status, based
upon a world dominated by Cau-
casus are strangely but certainly
doomed to a heart failure. "Those
days are gone forever.
False democracy, carries an un-
pleasant odor. This, is not the
odor of fiSh-hut Of decomposition.
SO far, every nation that has al
lied themselves with the weak, top
heavy, plutocrats has gone with the
winds" Would advise Turkey to
watch her step.
Peace, Peace; there will be 10
peace. What most Of the cemoCra-
cieS have and are working for is a
PIECE of the other fellows proper
ty. How can a people or a govern
ment seriously hope for peace with
their hands down into some one
else's pocket up to the elbow? II
we of the United States, cared lit
tie or nothing about peace with
China and was aspiring for a piece
of China it would be easy picking.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10

TO read the case. For they fear
that if Pullman Company is fore
ed to abandon segregation that
Negroes will seek full social
equality. AS matter of fact
Congressman Mitchell did not sue
for abolition Of segregation on
Pullman cars but for "equal ac-
comodations." The way in which
the Supreme Court decision cites
this difference certainly should
make the objecting attorney gen
erals egally-ashamed" of them
selves.
As native of Alabama 1 cannot
say that 1 have the slightest rea-
son to be proud of its polltlcal
ability or legal maturity. 1t was
alabama that led in organizing
the opposition to Mitchell's case
because it misread the case and
thought that it was seeking aboll-
ton of segregation. It was Alabama
that spent thousands of dollars
ON the prosecution OF group OF
irresponsible, underprivileged. un-
tutored Negro boys at Scottsboro,
Alabama, during the years when
It could not even finance its
State e-educational institutions.
An attorney-general staked his
future upon the extended trials
and resultant publicity of this
case. He died before he could en-
10y the full political fruits of his
activity
OUT ON A LIMB
AS a result of the handling OF
this case. Negroes gained the right
to sit on juries. The Supreme Court
ef. ruled. A series of Supreme
Court decisions involving the prln-
ciple laid down on the Scottsboro
case have at least liberalized the
"Negro's place" in the scheme OF
things Southern
Now Alabama goes out on an
other political limb" in an effort
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
WALTER CHIVERS SAYS:

to keep the Negro in his place..
Again the Supreme Court has
ruled against it. This attorney
general did not get chance to
make political capital out Of the
aged bait of Negroes and Social
equality. p
There are at least two types OF
educational insufficiency display
ed by Southern political leaders.
The one is that if all laws. statutes
and customs in reference to keep
ing the Negro lin his place" were
abolished at once that cultural
e n d O 6 my Or u IN / t y
would not only prevent significant
interracial association but has act
ually so conditioned Negroes until
they do not care to socialize with
white people.
WOULD BE PAINFUL
People enjoy socializing with
people who have culture histories
similar to theirs not particularly
because they are either white OK
black. 'Tis true that informal.
pleasant, conversation between
southern white people and Me-
groes would be most difficult be-
cause of their different culture
histories After they had worn out
the conditions" of the weather
the conversation would become IN
creasingly painful.
Then on the other hand, emo
ticnal cloudiness has prevented
southern politicians from evaluat-
ing the effective power politics
being played by Negroes in the
North and border states. The
South might show more political
astuteness by wooing this vote,
which has its heritage rooted in
the South than driving d wider
cleavage by spending its political
energy trying to hold intact the
ways of life" of pre-Civil War
days.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Officers Getting
Continued from Page u

artillery corps at Fort Monroe, Va. !;
cavalry at Fort Riley, Kan; en-
gineers at Fort Belvoir, Va; signal
corps at F't. Monmouth, N. j.;
ordnance corps at Aberdeen, Md;
armed tanks at F't. Knox, KY.
Not all of the reserve officers
have been called to the service, said
Judge Hastie, and there is a gen.
eral check-up being made to de-
termine just how many more OF
the $50 listed are still available Tor
duty. When they will be called is
problematical.
The training schools for officers
will start the first of July ard 1t
is anticipated there will be a num-
ber of recruits from the colored
troops asking for opportunities to
obtain commissions in their reSpec-
tive tanks. No new recruits will be
assigned to the training schools,
until they have had at least SIX
months course of preliminary work.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
BY DEAN GORDON B. HANCOCK

Evidence Is being multiplied 10
the effect that the unskilled Me-
gro has easy entry into the de-
fense industries; the real prob
lem therefore was the one of get
ting the skilled Negro into the
program. When the fight had been
made and when openings for the
skilled Negro had been made, the
numbers of Negroes of skill avail
abel was negligible.
Herein is the real problem and
tragedy! Negro leadership has
been recreant to it's trust in that
It has utterly failed to call the
races attention to the possibilities
in the vocational field of endeavor.
White educators and leaders have
been able to drive home to their
people the truth that vocationalism
is the next step in education.
White schools are just bristling
with vocational emphasis.
The Negro leaders who see the
need and crisis are yet "tip-toeing"
when they speak of vocationalism.
Will Negro leadership force Ne
groes to learn the HARD WAY?
The Negro educator is at the batl
Will he be called out on strikes or
will he go down swingingP
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Greater Tragedy

SOME YEARS AGO was travel
ing in the far South, and chanced
to look out of the train window
upon a field of corn almost
ruined by grass and weeds.
The farmer and his family were
strenuously engaged in trying to
hoe and pillow the weeds and grass
away; and the corn that was left
looked pale and lifeless and ap-
peared hardly worth saving.
l began to mediate on why we
always have to save the corn from
the grass and the weeds, but we
never have to save the grass and
weeds from the corn. In other
words, grass and weeds will take
care of themselves anywhere and
anytime, whereas the corn must
be "cultivated". The farmers
greatest care IS how to save his
crops from the grass and weeds.
Why is this invariably true?
The answer is this: Nature has
selected the grass and weeds and
the farmer has selected the corn
and crops. Nature made the grass
and weeds fight for their exist
ence. The farmer fights for his
corn and crops.
BECOME FLABBY
In other words, the grass and
weeds have been thrown out to
struggle for themselves or die; the
corn and the farmers crops have
been coddled. That which is coddl-
ed cannot stand up against that
which had had to fight for it's
existence. This is even so with men
and nations.
Those men and nations that
have had to fight are strong and
those which have been coddled
are soft and flabbv The difference
between the virility of young ma
tions and the sterility of older ones
resides in the fact that when ma
tions are young they are rough
and rugged and tough in their
fibre by reason of their willing
ness to struggle against dreadful
odds.
When these same nations by in
dustry and thrift become wealthy
they become effete and flabby and
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Help Your Brother!

to his fellow man VINO have been
deprived of his Civil rights ir
the Southern States. To-Day the
world is engaged in a struggle:
nations fighting against nations;
The United States today is spend.
ing millions of dollars to assist
Great Britain.
Why not you spend THREE
CENTS" to assist your Brother
here at home, by helping to re-
move one of the obstacles to his
participating in election? To dc
this. all that is necessary for you
TO do, is to write your Congress
man a letter urging him to SIGN
PETITION NO. l. AND TO VOTE
FOR H. R. 1924, which will abolish
the Poll Tax, and will provide the
impetus for guaranteeing to the
Southern Negro all OF his Civil
Rights.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Organizer And
Continued from Page u

Continued from Page -
been active in the Brooklyn local
of the union. When he was elected
president, he said, he Immediately
laid plans for removing the stigma
that had long heen a drawback" to
the union. He takes credit for
having initiated the move to place
Doth the business agent and or
ganizer on the payrolls inasmuch
as he felt it desirable to ''relieve
them of any temptation" to COM
promise their positions in dealing
with shop owners.
Arthur Reid, militant street
speaker and former head OF the
HLU during whose time consldera-
BILE criticism had been levelled at
the organization, is believed to
have been an outside influence up
On Allen. Knight and Alston. Their
charges that the union, in follow
ing course parallel with that OF
the Greater New York Coordinat-
ing committee and the Manhattan
council of the National Negro con-
gress, the other affiliates of the
bus association, is putting itself
under the domination of Com
nunists."
ct want this organization in a
position" Straughn declared, $50
that when we take a stand for or
against something, we shall have
the public with us. If my friend
ship for men of good repute such
as Rev. CA. Clayton Powell and
Atty. (Hope RI stephens does not
set well with the men who have
been removed from the HLU, it is
a good sign"
Announcement was made of the
amendment to the unions charter
which now permits it to carry Its
activities to cities outside of New
York State. Preparations are now
being made to move into their new
headquarters to be located at 236
West 116 street.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
BETWEEN THE LINES

soon their swan song is ringing in
the corridors of time. Natural Sc
lection accounts for the toughnesS
of weeds and grass; human selec-
ton accounts for the tender corn
that must invariably be saved from
the grass and weeds.
The trouble with natural selec-
ton is it is so ruthless and brutal.
1t is without tenderness or mercy.
1t respect neither the wall Of the
infant nor the groan of the aged.
1t is always bent in making things
better!
THE MAIN POINT
Natural selection would have the
world peop1ed with better men:
but it would produce them the
hard way. The heartlessness OF
natures processes makes us at
time to shudder and as Bryant
said grow sick at heart! The
development of the human mind
forecast time wherein men might
advance the more excellent way,
the way of mercy and tenderness
and sympathy and foresight. Ma
tions and individuals must learn
either the more excellent way or
the hard way and this brings us
to our main point.
The present stir about Negroes
being denied their rightful place
in the defense industries IS fully
Justified: but it must not be for
gotten that these perilous time
have done nothing to bring about
the restriction of Negroes in in
dustry. These war times only
brought to a head the situation
that only few Negroes hitherto had
The courage to face and fight. The
doors of industry are not barred
one bit tighter against the Negro
today than ten years ago.
The tendencies that are always
and everywhere at work in times
of peace can be seen clearer In
times of war; and so war in many
ways is a blessing in that it shocks
the Negro into consciousness OF
what is going on and what is be-
ir0 done to his detriment
GREATER TRAGEDY
The tragedy of the current
situation is not merely in the at
tempt to restrict skilled Negro
tabor The scarcity of skilled Negro
labor is the greater tragedy!
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
BY DAVID L. JOHNSON

Many Of the major Negro Or
CARNATIONS such as the National
Association for the Advancement
of Colored People, the National
Urban League, the National Negro
Congress, the IBPOE. the Alpha
Kappa Alpha, ETC., have been lend
ing their support to a campaign
to pass the GEYER- AN
TI-POLL TAX BILL
However at the present time the
bill is buried in the House Judi
ciary Committee, anG in order to
bring the bill before the House for
a Vote, it will be necessary to OBJ
tain the signatures of 218 Con-
gressmen on petition that has
been drawn up by Congressman
Geyer.
Here is a chance for every Ne
gro citizen to lend helping-hand
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
The Bottleneck
CONTINUED from Page 1,

TCon tInUed frOm age II
ed for entrance to these institu-
tions. Our aspirant must be broad
Of shoulders and of mind. He must
be able to give and take. 1t must
be remembered that the educa-
ton and training obtained is well
worth the discomforts. insults, in
ocnveniences confronting the stu
dent. The Negro must be determln-
ed to go through hell if necessary
to accomplish graduation. If We
have such youth, I would love 10
hear from them at once. Again,
what others have accomplished, we.
also can accomplish, only, better.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10

NOUS WaStage of human resouleeS'
a wastage that no nation, certainly
no democracy, can afford"
Pointedly, President MacLean de-
plored the attitude of the South In
wasting many of its physical re-
sources ands spending so much en-
ergy keeping the Negro IN liio
place" instead of managing and de-
veloping both its physical and hu-
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Catholics Honor
'Skegee Scientist

BIRMINGHAM-(ANP)- Citing
him as "an individual who ha:
made a significant contribution tc
the welfare and progress of the
South" the Catholic Committee o.
the South selected DR.. George
Washington Carver, scientist Of
Tuskegee institute, to receive It's
first award Tuesday. The com.
mittee was formed a year ago to
aid in solving social and economic
problems of the section.
The award was announced at the
final session of three day con-
ference of Catholics representing
1000 members of the clergy from
laity from 10 southern states.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
FLUSH KIDNEYS OF P0IS0NS
and STOP GETTING UP NIGHTS

irritated bladder and put more
healthful activity into them, get a
95 cent package Of GOLD MEDAL
HARLEM Capsules and take as
directed.
This tried and true medicine should maks
you feel better in few days - it's an effect
i've diuretic and kidney stimulant that re-
lieves the pains caused by gouty phases Of
sciatica, neuritis and rheumatic joint agony
when irritated by excess uric acid.
Don't be an EASY MARK and ac-
cept subStitute-Get Gold Medal
HARLEM Oil Capsules - the original
and genuine. Look for the Gold Medal
or the bog -S5 cents
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Grand Jury
Continued from Page y

Continued frcm rage II
doe wagon employees who were
accused of beating Hogan when he
resented their entering his prop
erty to remove his dog.
The case is expected to reach
the jury this week. Hogan lives at
524 South Sixty-fourth Street He
was fined 81 in Police Court by
Judge Henry j. Martin for refuS-
ing to surrender the deg
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10

IN Llle ldI SNoIAA
as puerile or
childish. This line
of thought was
stimulated by
the recent actl-
witty of southern
governments in
reference t o
Representative
Mitchell's Ap-
peal to the
United States
Supreme Court
r. .1n,oI -annn0
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10

Heard Major Campbell g. JolS'-
son. civilian aide to the selective
service administrator. laud the
work that DR.. Charming H. Tobias.
anotder "Y" man is doing in
his capacity as advisor to the de-
fense commission. DR.. Tobias, ac-
cording to Major johnson. is re-
sponsible for most of The liberal
attitudes being taken toward Ne
groes in this second edition OF the
World War and had done more
good in this capacity for which he
receives no pay than he would II
he were actually ON the pay roll
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Live a Healthier, Happier, Life

Thousands of men and women Won-
der why backache bothers them -
why they have to visit the bathroom
often at night - why flow is scanty
and sometimes smarts and burns.
Any one Of these symptoms may
mean that your kidneys and bladder
need attention now before these minor
symptoms may develop into serious
trouble.
To flush out excess waste poisons
and acid trQn' Kidneys, sQothe your
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
By AL WHITE

WASHINGTON, DC (ANP)-
Looking every part the soldier,
Lieut.. Bob Payne, New Yorker,
who formerly played basketball for
the greater part of the '30's with
Omega around Harlem, visited D.
C. over the weekend. Lieut.. Payne
is attached to the former 369th and
is now studying at Fort Monroe
with a group of officers from his
regiment.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10

Story by DR.. Tobias: while Wis
iting in the South recently, I heard
the story of a man who suffered
from insomnia. He visited a doctor
and was given treatments
and medicines to take. Two weeks
lapsed and the patient returned 20
the physician. Doc he said, your
medicine amt no good. No mat
ter what you do, I wakes up every
two or three days and can't go TO
sleep for half a day."
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
MITCHELL'S VICTORY


The victory of Congressman Arthur Mitchell
over the discrimination policy of railroads in the
South has been hailed as one of the greatest race
victories since the Civil War. A direct sock in the
eye old Jim Crow say many
Like so many other un- American but American
accepted policies the unfair service would have gone
on and on without much above whlmper pelng
heard had not the good Illinois representative taken
i upon himself TO take his case to the highest court
of the land Thousands of instances of discrlmlna-
ton where equal pay for accommodation was re-
oured have come up yearly but nc one took the
nains and effort to attack the problem Railroads
will have to do LOT of adjusting to meet the man.
date of the high tribunal if Negroes in the future
demand the comforts they can pay for.
What has been done with the railroad teacner
nav and other fights where the mere question of color
involved can be done in many more Let tnose
individuals and organizations which have it in thel1
set to make this a better America IN wh1cn col.
ored men may lye get to Work now While iioera
court is in the land and further our cause Tor justice
and respect
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10

man resources, both Negro and Wnlte.
Year after year some of the best mlhos III ~
nation go to waste because there is general 'ea-
cercv of the majority to paint deeds OF the hoiAV
as applicable only" to the minority. BY attempting
tc have double standard for everything, our sec
ton is fast accomplishing really high standaro iof
anything
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Human Wastaqe

HAMPTON INSTITUTES PRESIDENT NAL
COM S. MACLEAN said plenty last week when he
told educators meeting in New York that the whole
American process of handling the Negro problem is
"a fundamental violation of both democracy and III
teectual freedom and that ''ths system Is an enor-
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-10
Static Politics
Ry WALTER r. CHIvERS

THE MOST COWPbINNt t1AN NV
statement that can be made about
Southern politics is to say that IL
tends to remain stationary. TINS
is only polite fiction for polltlcs
like other interests of human be-
ings is dynamic and, therefore,
must move forward or backward
It would probably be more nearly
correct to think of political action