davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
What Shall 1t Profit A Nation?
Rv DR CHARLES CTET ZIE

During recent weeks as neWSbOyS have cried the
extras on the street, have known it meant
horror visited upon the people of the British Isles We have
listened with increasing dread to the accounts the devas
aton of the peaceful countryside the quiet villages and
the garden homes of England. We have mourned the de
strcton in London of places whose inheritance that of
every freeborn and wOmanpace that stood for mile
stones on the road to democracy,
We thought satiated with horror as one by
one the free countries of the world fell before the Nazs
We had mOurned each with increasing sorrow-and
stand silently watching the last great democracy of E
fight for its life. But with every blow at England
feel pride in the English people-in the way they are
standing up to united nation living up their great
traditions Of courage and steadfasness The monuments
OF their past may be destroyed but they are building
and greater monuments of the spirit that will live in song
and story through all time. . f
But what of the greater devastation of Germany?
Though they have not been invaded other European
countries have been their peoples Sbugated and sub
jected to the besales which they have imposed upor
those nations which they have ruthessy swept
STILL theirs is the greatest devastatonor they have su
Tered moral and spiritual degradation horrible than
anything endured by their victims.
The Church. the school, the press of Germany have lost
their places of leadership because they been domnat
ed by the Nazls in their insane, unscrupuous, immoral
plans for world domination Their people have been bruta
zed by the moral degradation Systematically cultivated hy
their leaders, The anctty of their homes has been voa
ed by the doctrine OF the supremacy of the State The minds
OF their children have been warped by the teachings of
hatred by false doctrine that might is right that the
side world owes them, master subservence and
everything else they want and that they should satisfy
their wishes at the of all Others regardless of the
laws of right and justice.
When the war is Over instead of being upifted the
stories OF holy conquest in which the fallen enemy was
dealt with mercully, they will hear only melancholy tale
OF rage unbelievable Pu indeed the devastation of the
Born to at least of freedom they have become
slaves of tyrannical rulers.
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
The Church, Our Last Fortress

Wherever we founder IN our ambitious struggles, we
back to the realization of the powerful Influence of the
church. In our time we can recount many flour shing
businesses and ideals that have to bless humanity
only fall into the discard of things obsolete and forgotten
Few institutions have faced the averages and proscrip
ton the Christian church In ancient times Monks
put to death, Bibles burned and those protesting
Christianity tortured still the church and her great
went marching
The church stands the great symbol Of Christian
government the model for political Institutions She is
the mother of the federal constitutions and without her.
there would not have been dream of free government
sponsoring freedom of religion and the right of citizen to
go his way free thinker open to express his honest
and safe in his home "a prince in his palace.
Our system of government comes to trial in this era
dctaors and the strange isms seeking to wrest
from the people the freedom they known down the ages
The recent celebration of the birthday of Abraham
Lincoln that greatest of all Americans refreshes in the
darkest peril since his DEATH that great faith he to his
countrmen government for the people and by the peo
re That faith is the guiding light Of the world
Lncos Gettysburg address itself is of the chapters
of the faith of Americanism 1t reads like of the
Psalms and long times it will sound down the land
the greatest challenge to those who would divert from the
promulgated by the church and sponsored by
brave evangests of the gospel which cries up from the
ground
From every mountain side,
Let Freedom ring
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
(By WILLIAM PICKENS
FOR AMP

If A SPEECH LIKE that made
by Franklin D. Roosevelt on sat-
urday evening. March l5, fails &c
arouse some American to stand up
and fight for democracy and free
dom, there is something radically
wrong, not merely with that
Americans "Americanism," but
with his human gizzard. Thank
heaven for country, wherein
it's leaders can still speak without
guile and without equivocation,-
and without half-heartedness and
fear.
Think of the poor and humiliat-
ed countries of Europe today. not
man in any one of them except
Britain and Greece, can make
plain, straight from-the- e-shoulder
speech about anything, and es-
necia1ly not about international re-
lations and this war. Here Is o
great republic, which chooses now,
almost two years later than ought
to have been, to star D and fight
for freedom in its own borders and
in the world of like-minded r1o-
ples-and its chief executive can
speak out so plainly, so honestly,
and with such straightforwardness
that the simplest mind in any
continent can understand it.
Contrast that with the shenanni-
gan of the Russian leadership for
almost two years now,-with di-
nlomacy so double dealing and
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29

vain by some of our laissez fairs
folks) was brought about by dis
covery of mechanical capacity for
producing enough of everything
for everybody if only a way to de-
liver it could be found. Today ey-
erything Is different.
Truly great manufacturers and
producers know that their lines are
not complete unless they manu-
facture, also, customers, unless
their production includes the pro-
ducing of buying powers among
the whole public. no matter what
the race. color or previous condi-
tion of servitude Of some parts Of
that public.
The Negro has had plenty OF
trouble with the machine. It has
put him out Of work time and time
again, and always him first of all.
But he has the machine to bless
now for this new and saving fact.
Because of the machine and of
the mass consuming for which Its
mass producing calls, the consum-
ing power of nobody can be over
looked oy men of good economic
sense. especially the consuming
power of people as numerous and
as sub-nornal In consumption as
the Southern Negro.
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29

In common sense, courage, intelli.
eience, resourcefulnesS and dyna-
mic energy. The State of Georgia
has as fine a group Of Negro men
and women possessing these quail
ties as are available anywhere in
the world. There are men and wo-
men qualified to lead the state
wide teachers organization by
birth, training, residence, expert
ence and solid achievement.
Attention is being called here to
a few whose names come immedi-
ately to mind and who so far as
the writer knows have not served
as elected officers of the State
Association. They are: Horace
Mann Bond, PHI. D., President,
State Teachers College. Fort Valley
Georgia; Aaron Brown, A. M,
Dean, State Teachers college,
Fort Valley. Georgia; Rufus E.
Clement, Phi. D., President. Atlanta
University, Atlanta, Georgia; Ben
Jam1n T.. Mays, Ph. D., President,
Morehouse college, Atlanta, Geor-
gia: William A. Fountain, M. A.
President, Morris Brown College
Atlanta. Georgia: FORESTER B.
Washington, NJ. A., Director, The
Atlanta University School of
Social Work: r.. j. Cranberry, M.
A., Dean. Georgia Normal and
Teachers College, Albany, Georgia;
Basolene Usher, NJ. A. Principal,
Howard High School, Atlanta,
Georgia: B. r. Harvey. M. s.,
teacher, Morehouse College: Eliza
heth Perry Cannon. M. A., teacher
Spelman College. Atlanta. Geor-
gia; A. A. McPheeters, NJ. A.,
feacher Clark University. Atlanta,
Georgia.
Here's hoping that these articles
oave gained the attention and
touched the hearts OF enough
teachers to start action when the
convention assemblies in Augusta,
Georgia, In April. 1941.
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
Terror Tactics

GREAT BRITAIN'S VALIANT
stand is proof that terror tactics
have their limits. Hitler's terror
ism like scorlrge of the Internal
has swept out of temporary ex-
istence nation after nation ana
still others are tottering in the
balances of indecision. One Of the
most encouraging things about d
discouraging situation is the slow
strides NaziSm makes before stern
opposition. When terrorism ceases
to terrify it is the most impotent
of lmpotent things. When fright
fulness ceases to be frightful, IL
becomes limited as program ana
a policy.
Although before this article has
been released to the press, Great
Britain may be wrapped in the
sackcloth of capitulation and de-
feat, am beginning to wonder II
Hitler has not come at last to the
end of his gilded dream of world
conquest. There are some reasons
why I am beginning to doubt the
vaunted strength of the German
war machine. Had it been as strong
as reputed. why it did not over
whelm Britain after the capitula-
ton of France? A nation armed as
Hitler made claim for Germany,
should not have been exhausted by
the attack on France and Poland.
The battle of France and Poland
should have been in the nature OF
a work -out" for the great German
war machine. But Hitler paused
ar the channel last summer and Is
still pausing!
NOT so HOT
Before an utterly unprepared
England there came pause that
is difficult to explain. The flight
of the British from Dunkerque
showed conclusively that terrorism
has its limits. Hitler promised to
destroy the entire British army but
instead thousands and thousands
we're returned to an unprepared
England before which Hitler
paused. Nearly a year has passed
and all of the British empire has
been called into service. If Hitler
could not take England last sum
mer he cannot take it at all. II
his war machine was geared ana
oiled as he had boasted why the
delay? If he has to pause TO refuel
50 early has reputedly invincible
war machine, it was not so hot
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
By JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES III
(FrOm Southern Frontiers)

BEFORE THIS WAR, business
men of America were understand
ing more and more that the
greatest potential market in this
haif of the Western Hemisphere is
the inadequately fed, clothed,
housed, educated, and medicated
Southern Negro.
AS the war goes on and all of It's
are forced to maneuver against
losing our relative economic places
In the great melee of men and
money and goods which the de-
Tense program represents, may the
business men of America and all
the officers and citizens of Amer
lea remember this potential mar
ket, this vast consuming power
latent IN the Negro population of
the South.
The war Is not shining oppor-
tunity" for anybody. Not for labor
Or capital, or Negro or white man,
or Jew or Gentle. or North or
South, or any other group or area.
The best any of us Is entitled to Is
status quo on our relative posi-
tons. But this does not mean that
the Negro or any other group is
under no necessity Of taking care
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
Bowdon, Ga.

BOWDON,, GA.-Rev. J. F.
Dorsey held his End quarterly con-
ference at New Hope Methodist
Church Sunday. Many friends
from other churches attended Mr..
and Mrs. j. E. Reese. MIR. and Mrs.
Arnie Harrie, R. A. Ross, G.. w.
Reven were Sunday guests of Mr..
and Mrs. j. B. HUDSON.
Rev. j. F.. Dorsey, his daughter,
MISS Dorsey and niece, Clifford
Summers, Rev. I. G. Rucker were
Sunday dinner guests OF Mr.. and
Mrs. j. B. Hudson. Misses Myrtle
and Evelyn - Thomson, Mines
Lola Hudson, Mildred Bonner, were
guests of Mrs. Willie Harris We'd
neSday.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. c. Hill and
Miss Myrtle Thomson of the
Bowdon School attended the Dis
trict Teachers Meeting in Man
chester recently. On the return
trip, Mr.. and Mrs. Hill stepped in
Newman, where thew spent the
week end. Much interest is being
shown in the car contest sponsor
ed by the school. The contest ends
April 10.
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
WALTER CHIVERS SAYS:

equality OF salaries for all teachers.
The school housing problem is
somewhat less acute than it was
prior to the advent of WPA and
other New Deal gift financing
agencies but there are still far too
many school buildings for Negro
youth that are fire-traps, unsani-
tary and overcrowded. Such con-
tiitions effect the physical and
mental health of both teachers and
students. The writer concluded
several years age after travelling
over the state that some commllni-
ties would be better Off without
the limitations" of schools they
have-congregasions of undernour-
ished teachers and pupils. So
number two on the program would
be to work for better school faci-
Titles.
Many communities need more
teachers if their educational efforta
are to be effective. The understood
ed faculties are too crowded to do
real community work. Such edu-
cational effort is basically as i'm
oortant as the teaching done daily
in the school houses. So, number
three on the program is apportion-
ment Of teachers in accordance
with the Georgia State law.
NEED DEFINITE EFFORT
The federal government has
made provisions to assist under
privileged youth without respect
Of race. Some definite concerted
effort is needed TO see that Negro
Youth share in these benefits to
the extent to which they are en-
titled under the law.
All of the snace allotted for this
column would not exhaust the
needs of Negro education il?
Geoveia. Only a few hove beer
mentioned as an Illustration.
A program, however. is merely
some writing or printing on paper
unless it is under the direction Of
men and women above the average
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
ROOSEVELT
RINGS RIGHT

crooked that nobody, aims at or
What they mean to do or attempt.
Compare it with Turkey and Jugo-
slavia, hemming and having and
halting, and using many words to
cover up their real thoughts and
to conceal their real conclusions.
If they have any. -.
Contrast it with the wobbly knees
and the wishiwashiness of the
Spanish leadership, which, like
that other south European in
ITALY, seems waiting and waiting,
trying to see, not what is right and
best for the world and its future,
hut WHO is GOING TO BE THE
WINNER, so as not to bet on the
wrong horse"
Then there Is poor France, ex-
France! overthrown by its traitors
and fifth columnists, piping low,
half-bewildered, half starved and
not even half-hearted. trying at
one moment to appease the Ger
man threat and to ward 1t off.
Contrast all this with the position
Of the People of the United States,
rs spoken though their President,
honest, earnest, determined, with
no bridges for retreat cunningly
devised behind them.
For lis Americans there is Just
one word, Napoleon's favorite word,
even when he was uncertain of the
ultimate outcome, one word which
he could always utter and always
uttered even In the greatest dan
gers. F0rWardl
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
By MACK C. NANCE

In setting forth my observation
of American Democracy, I am
actuated by desire to see true
democracy given a chance to eXem-
plify its many virtues, here at
home, and then spread such virtues
abroad. If a babe is not allowed
to develop its limbs, it may never
walk. Democracy, often tried, but
never effectually accomplished here
or, elsewhere, is Gods own method
of government. of, by and for
ALL the people, Under our present
form Of government, (so-called de-
mccracy) feel that the economic,
industrial, political and social
status of the American citizen
should be reaGjusted, so as to meet
the universal spprobation and ad-
miration of all concerned.
1t will be noted that my Ian
guage is not clothed in the fluent
eloquence and high sounding (more
often meaningl.ess) phrases, so
common to writer. I may not
boast CT having been saturated in
the higher brackets of science and
literature, to the point, that I will
call a COOTIE peanut, or that
tyranny, corruption and an in
justice is a blessing to mankind.
In this, pull no punches, ask
no quarters. l champion the cause
Of no class or klan. I shall state
facts as God has given me power
to see them. If my language seems
a bit harsh, unerateful or severe,
be advised that it is because / am
the product, yea, the helpless victim
Of commonwealth whose contri-
button to the tenants of true de-
mocracy is as vile and falce, as
would be expected from the
BUTAWA tribe of Africa.
Why say that I am a satellite
from Mars, when in fact I was
bern in Montvale, Bedford county,
Virginia? Why say that I will give
birth to girl child in June, when
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
BETWEEN THE LINES: By Gordon B. Hancock

10 begin with.
Then. too there are the bomb
ings which he has not followed up.
If he did do to other cities what
he did to Coventry there is rea-
con and this reason is not the
observation-disclosures of Hitler. How
do we account for the lull instead
IF follow up? My guess is Hit
ler's oil reserves are running 10"
and before these devastating out
bursts there must be period OF
conservation.
ENGLISH DIG IN
1t does not make sense that when
we give man good punch we
stand by to see him rally. Joe Louis
does not do it like that. Crrca he
gets his man off balance Louis
comes back with the fury - an
ovenging angel to make it another
lucky night" When the fifth col
umnists had destroyed the morale
of the French at the Maginot line,
it was said that the soldiers were
moving about as in a daZe. The
Germans capitalizing on their ter
ror psychology said there was some
secret gas" they were using. But
this gas did not seem to affect the
English except to make them ''dig
in" and flight back" That kind Of
gas is proving as bad for the Ger
mans as for the English If it makes
man fight instead of surrender.
Hitler's old speech about the war
was, forced on the Germans is
threadbare and flat. 1t is no longer
interesting. Hitler's time for VIC
tory is becoming more and more
Indefinite. Instead Of the six weeks
he promises after the fall OF
France, it is sometime this year."
Our heaven sent Roosevelt and his
wisdom and sagacity have proven
too much for Wheelerism and his
recent fireside talk is about the
straw to break the back of Hitler
ism. Hitler's boast is becoming
whimper instead Of a whoop to
thinking men. My guess is Hitler
is through and the great caution
we are invoking as nation is in
the. nature of a safety first"
measure
GREAT LYING MACHINE
When this war is. over the Hitler
regime will doubtless go down in
history as the greatest living ma
chine the world has known. AS long
as bully can bull" ne may be
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
Our Democracy Weighed, Found Wanting
From every mountain side,
Let Freedom ring

/ am Of the masculine sex? Why
say that we live under a demo-
cratic form of government, when
the facts are, that true democracy,
is as alien to the American people
as Scottish bag-pipe is to the be-
whiskered bakicheWing inmates of
the borders of Tennessee, Kentucky
and Virginia? False statements are
generally predicated by an ultra
motive, foul designs or double
dealing accomplishments.
The radio announcer, CorWin
Redell, may eXpound the virtues Of
Pearl Beer, until his tongue froze
to the roof OF his mouth, but until
quaffed I do not drink intoxicatesl
a few bottles, am yet not con-
vinced of it's goodness. Democracy,
like liquor, must be felt and not
necessarily shouted from the house
tops. A genuine serviceable product
needs little or no advertisement.
The press, magazines, radios, the
non-impressive arguments at the
round or rather oblique table. the
man of cloth, who (to a dangerous
extent) serves a dollar god, with
headquarters on Wall Street, rather
than the true God OF heaven) all,
are continually sereeching about a
democracy that has never existed
On these (to many Of us) bleak
and unfriendly shores.
believe it was Socrates, a great
teacher in his time, who said:
know thyself Such instructions
are not obsolete.
Continued in Next Issue of
the Phoenix Index
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
Says Race
Continued from Page y

(Sontinued from rage -
ions to work on government jobs?'
1t is charged in this editorial
that unions are disrupting projects,
fomenting strikes, sending their
agents in to urge shorter hours
and more pay in ihe industries
LOSS OF FREEDOM SEEN
AvOwing his belief in bona-fide
unions and the right of workers to
have collecting bargaining, Rice
sounded a warning to labor when
he stated that the thinking work
er, white or black, should sense
the grave danger in the present
labor situation. it is likely to
soon cause the loss of liberty and
freedom inherent to every man."
The article concludes with this
pertinent statement: "It is para
doXical for America to talk about
becoming the arsenal CT Democracy
when workers are expelled and
barred from unions, denied a
chance to work and are in no bet
ter condition from an economic
standpoint tnan those workers
Hitler has captured"
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
FINE FOR KIDNEY
AND BLADDER
WEAKNESS
STOP GETTING UP NIGHTS
AND FEEL YOUNGER

Keep your blood more free from
waste matter, poisons and acid by
putting more activity into kidneys
and bladder, and you should live a
healthier, happier life.
One efficient, harmless way to do this
is to get from your druggist 35 cent
box of GOLD MEDAL HARLEM Oil
CAPSULES and take them as directed
the prompt results should delight you.
Besides getting UP nights, some symptoms
of kidney trouble may be backache, shifting
Don't be an EASY MARK and accept .
substitute - Get Gold Medal Haarlem Oil
Capsules - the original and genuine. Look
fer the Geld Medal ON the bsx -ss-esnts.
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29

AS a rule fifty dollars per
month wage will probably reap that
amount in work. If, however, this
statement actually applies to the
rank and file of Negro teachers
in Georgia, then in view of the
miserably low annual income which
they are paid work of any ap-
preciable quality should not be ex-
pected
The noble spirit of service just
for services sake is stimulated by
the emotions but it takes a certain
minimum amount of food, clothes,
warmth and rest to prepare the
body for the demands Of service.
The wages Of the majority of Ne
gro public school teachers in
Georgia will not provide these
minimum essentials in adequate
nlality and quantity.
SHOULD BE EQUALIZED
The salaries Of teache~% should
be euualized because they are
supposed to do the Identical work
with identical materials and to get
identical results. The wage differ
entiai cannot help but give Negro
education an inferior status liz a
democracy all citizens should feel
equal to the task Of operati1lg q
demOcracy. 1t is task eating FOR
equal stveneth from all of IT'S
constituents regardless Of race be-
cause a democracy must nave
Balance if it is to work smoothly.
So number one on this program IS
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29
Prepare, Be Ready. Fight

VIA ONE OF TIL major radio networks Sunday these
words were given to Negro obseeker Pepare be ready
tight Translated they mean learn thoroughly YOUR trade be
on the scene for the slightest opportunity and oppor
unitv to achieve success.
Tins about the finest bit of advice to all race members
we have ever heard 1t is Morh committing using
all endeavor The Negro hardly expect to achieve unless
he better anaverae in knowing his business nor
sezng the slightest opportunity to use his training The matter
OF fighting does not necessarily that the approach
else the training must be ferocous and OF demanding attitude
Rather that there should be let down in industry persistence
and determination On these things should we all doe
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29

ever so imposing; but once his
"bull" and bluff are called he be-
comes a colossal tragedy. Then
too. it may have occurred to Hitler
that he must pay the bill bye and
bye: and it is wise to make 1t as
light as possible. III
Germany paid only "in part" the
last time; this time she will pay
lin full" Those great boasts of the
size and efficiency Of the German
armies and the great stores Of re-
serves and supplies are all a part
OF the terror tactics. Hitler's star
is fast declining and the cloud Of
his terrorism IS lifting. I am not
afraid any more!
The Phoenix index., 1941-03-29

ana STUDENTS dl Z
concerned that
p Il b lie schools
need. However,
it is more to the
point to be spe-
clfic as to basic
needs or first"
requirements.
The foremost
need is a living
wage for teach
ers. Americans
a r e economic
minded