davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-02-09

be I'm poet, and maybe I'm a bum"
Fine Stove-Polisher
PEOPLE in Missouri and Iowa listened to his
voice and bought stereoptioon views from
him. People in Kansas and Nebraska listened
to his voice and hired him to polish their
stoves. One stove for meal, two stoves for a
quarter. He polished mean stove, and if he
liked his customers as well as they liked him
he told them so and asked them if they had
guitar in the house. He'd sit and plunk at it
while, and then he'd sing the songs the
galoots sing in Kentucky, in Texas, in Mime
sofa, in Maine. He liked the songs the black
men sang, songs like Mary, Don't You
Mourn" and Let My People Co" Johnson
could sing those songs the way no white man
ever sang them the way all black men sang
them.
The troubles of black men and white men
troubled him so that he thought maybe he
was socialist, and he landed in Milwaukee
In the daytime he worked for the socialists,
and at night he sat at Pabst's and drank beer
and listened to the free concerts. But he
to find out.
So he went to Chicago and got job on a
newspaper Reporters found out things But
Johnson wasn't good reporter; he saw
things his own way So he didn't find out what
he went to Chicago to find out And there he
was, getting on, and he had no profession, no
business no racket" There was only one
thing he knew about the common people,
and their songs and stories and the myths they
lived by, their dreams, their troubles, and the
hopes they fed on. There was only one thing
he could do he could tell their tall tales and
legends and sing their ballads and their dit
ties
He carried notebook around with him,
and his pockets were stuffed full of papers,
notes of old songs and old stories, and this
and that and anything and everything that
belonged to the people. 1t all belonged to
Johnson. His pockets were the peoples song
bag, and his noodle was their question box
Another Common Bozo
AND then he heard about a bozo that was
supposed to be the commonest man that had
ever lived in this country. This bozo was dead,
but people were still talking about him, sing
ing about him, lying about him. He had be-
come kind of saint to lot of common peo-
pie. Johnson thought he'd look him up and
see what he had to say.
This bozo was a lot like Johnson. They
both came out of prairie poverty. The father
of one of them couldn't write his name, the
mother of the other couldn't write hers. They
both had to quit school to work with their
hands, and they both read books good books,
when they could. They both told Jokes and
stories, and laughed and shocked respectable
people. They both had a rhythm to their
words that made people listen They both had
knobby hands and faces lined like fssured
rock, and they both loved what was common
for no better reason than that it was common.
They both volunteered in wars, and both of
them wondered, before and after, what war
was about. Neither of them was sure he knew
anything for sure, and both of them had
fanatic faith that the people were worth the
trouble God took to make them.
The more Johnson found out about this
bozo, the more he wanted to find out. THE
(ConfinUed on pooe 81
Evening star., 1941-02-09
THE C0Mm0NEST MAN IN THE WORLD

This is one of the most unusual articles we have
q ever printed. Il breaks many of the conventional
editorial rules. But we believe il will stir and
thrill you e. and keep you guessing to the end
by Milton s. Mayer
Evening star., 1941-02-09

larly, but there were millions of people who
didn't He didn't know whose fault it was,
or if it was anyone's fault.
1t was 1898 and Johnson joined the Sixth
Illinois Volunteers and went to Puerto Rico
to save the little brown brothers. He saw
more bozos, heard more stories, sang more
songs. He didn't get killed or kill anybody.
He didn't even get poisoned by the bully beef.
And he didn't find out what he went to war
to find out. Wars" he says, big wars as
well as little wars, are still a mystery to me. D."
He wanted to find things out, and he went
to college He worked as the college janitor
for while. He read some books and raised
some hell. But he didn't find out what he went
to college to find out, so he quit.
Johnson struck people, somehow They
listened to him. A lot of them thought he
made sense. and maybe he did But what they
were listening to was the melody of his voice,
low, rich and lonely. 1t seemed as if he could
mt say anything common and ordinary with
out its sounding like song. You're poet"
they told him, and Johnson answered, MAY
be I'm poet, and maybe I'm bum"
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
Ene OlODe 1rOttcr B' cliff Maek@y
IGNORED BY ARMY

IGNORED BY ARMY
That statement made on September l6, 1910
To this date and hour neither the Army the
Civil Aeronautics Authority has trained a single Ne
gro a military pilot.
The President. whom all believe to be sin.
cere explains that before coored aviation units can
be formed it is necessary to train mechanics and 9th
members of ground crews, in addition to the pi-
lots.
Just about how soon we can expect to see Ne
GRO aviation unit was determined after d checllup on
HOW MANY Negroes are now being trained by the
Civil Aeronautics Board and the National Youth Ad-
minisraton, the two agencies assigned the impor-
tant task of producing these badly needed techni-
clans Actual figures that out Of total of l80,
600 men being trained. only TIIPEE are Negroes.
That is how War Department Of the greatest
democracy wastefuly discards one-enth of the po-
entia manpower Of that democracy because that
tenth is black
Engaged this nation in a life and death
struggle to preserve the astdsappearing remnants
of world wide democracy, how incongruous it is that
those charged with the task of carrying out this bat
tie themselves are guilty of Hter-likc actions
DEMOCRATIC IDEAL MISSING
Twenty-Five years have passed and still the
Army has not learned that democracy means the
opposite Of special privileges for class and down.
right repression Of others Back on August IT, 1918
when CALAMITY aided in fighting the first war to
make the world safe for democracy" memoran-
dunn issued to French civil and military author
tiles from American General Headquarters entitled
Secret Information Concerning Black American
Troops
1t read i'll part:
The Negro is regarded by the white American
as inferior The vices of the Negro are constant
menace to the American, who has to repress them
Sternly.
we must prevent the risk of any pronounced
degree of intimacy between French officers and
black officers. We must not commend too highly the
black American
Make point of keeping the native cantonment |
population from spelling the Negroes"
This wholly I'm American and fascst-llke racial
policy from all present indications still dearly be
loved by an Army which thus far with sublime i'm
pllnity has nullified the specific rulings Of both |
President and Congress |
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18

Waterbury, Conn; President David
D, Jones, Bennett College, Greens
boro, North Carolina; Mr. Warren
Kearny, president Of j, Watts
Kearney and Sons, New Orleans;
Mr.. Charles H Mahoney, presi-
dent, Great Lakes Mutual Life In
surance Company, Detroit; Pro-
fessor S. C. Mitchell, University
of Richmond, Richmond; Professor
Josiah Morse, University Of South
Carolina, Columbia South Carolina;
Mr.. Henry C. Patterson, lawyer,
Philadelphia; r. Ogden Purves,
Treasurer Of Hampton Institute;
President Homer P. Rainey, Uni
versity of Texas, Austin, Texas;
DR.. Emmett j. Scott, Republican
National Committee, Washington,
D. c.; DR.. Albert Shaw, former
Editor, Review of Reviews, Hast
irgs-on- Hudson, N. Y; Mr.. r.
l.. Smith, president, Farmers I'm
provement Agricultural School,
Wolfe City, Texas; MI. Leslie w.
Snow, vice-president, Chase Ma
tlonal Bank, New York City; F.. c.
Stovall, president, Columbus and
Greenville Railway, Columbus.
Miss. Mr.. Arthur D. Wright
President lof Fhe Foundation.
Washington, d. c.; Mr.. P
e. Young, editor Of the Journal
End Guide, Norfolkk, Va. and Mr.
c. G. Spaulding, president, N. c.
Mutual Life Insurance Co., Dur
ham, N. G.
The following officers were elect
eel for the year 1941: President
Arthur D. Wright; Chairman OF
the Board of Directors, Mr.. r.
Ogden Purves; Secretary, DR.. En-
NETT j. Scott; and Treasurer, the
Manufacturers Trust Company OF
New York City.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
DR.. Rushbrooke
Says Death Is
Loss to World
the British clergyman, follows

the British clergyman, follows
News travels slowly in these
days, and I have just learned Of
the tragic passing of your beloved
and distinguished husband and my
friend Of many years. [ know now
deep will be your sorrow, even
though you know that with him
all is we'll l pray that the COM
forts of God may more and more
abound to you.
1T will help you to realize how
fine was his days work in the judg-
ment of his brethren, not only
throughout the United states, bus
il lands beyond. He counted among
the leaders OF his race, and [ SCI
him among the foremost Of the dis
tlnguiShed Negro personalities it
has been my privilege to know .,+a
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18

accelerate the training of Negroes
as pilots, mechanics, and tech
uicians in aviation, and form Ne
gro aviation units.
The administration has made
nothing but empty gestures thus
far, said Foster. TN an attempt
to pacify us it. gave us a fine
Waco training plane at the Harlem
airport. CThe Civil Aeronautics
bureau and the army air Corps
Jointly conduct a special flight in
struction project for Negroes
tnere) This is the same type OF
training plane used at the flying
fields for white boys. We appre-
ciate having it. But thus far only
20 boys have been accepted to use
IT,"
And even then the boys accepted
for this SPECIAL project undergo
many hardships, Foster SAID. They
do not receive the $75 monthly
paid to flying cadets at other fields,
they are not supplied with uni
forms OF other flying equipment,
and they are deprived of the ad-
vantages of medical and dental at
tention, board, and lodging, he
said
"All of the boys at the Harlem
air field wear the same flying
suit, he said. Training flights are
delayed while one boy takes off
an outfit and another one gets into
it,
The large percentage Of Negroes
cn Chicago's relief rolls was cited
as the best argument for accept
ing more youths at the recruiting
offices. The Chicago Relief ad-
ministration reports Thursday that
81 per cent of the city'S Negro
population is on relief compared
with per cent of the white popu-
lation.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18

Williams

nan worthy to be remembered with
Dr. Booker T. Washington and men
OF like quality. IT was always a de-
light to be associated with him,
especially when / was permitted to
visit his outstanding church and to
appreciate the high quality of the
worship there, and the remarkably
efficient organization. "Olivet" will
miss him as not many pastors
would be missed. l pray that the
church may be divinely sustained
and that this spirit may still
manifest in its life and service.
'As spokesman of the Baptist
World Alliance, may I say how
deeply he was respected and loved
amCug us all? For many years he
has been one of our vice-presidents;
he was in fact The senior of them
all and his counsel and practical
cooperation in the Alliance work
were Invaluable. We shall miss him
deeply; his dignity and his ripe
Wis0om, the expression of a gen.
timely Christian personality, had
us all.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
Four Ink Spots
Now In Pictures

NEW -CTYP)-The -Four
Ink Spots, the sepia juke box fav-
orites, have just been signed for a
feature role in Twentieth Century
Fox's newest musical opus, 1.-The
Great American Broadcast STAR
ring Alice Faye, Mischa Auer and
Jack Oakie.
This will mark the Ink Spots de-
but in pictures. Shooting starts in
February and the Spots will spend
four weeks in Hollywood and then
return to New York where they'll
appear in person at the Para
mount.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18

The bill also provides civil DAM
ages for relatives of a lynch vic
tim, TO The extent of not less than
$1,000 nor more than $1,000 the
money to be paid by the culpabie
governmental subdiviSiong charg-
ed with protecting the victim.
Anti-lynchlng bills were intro
duced by: Representatives Arthur
w. Mitchell, Democrat, of Illinois:
Joseph A .GaVagan, Democrat, OF
New York; u. S. Guyer, Republl-
can, Of Kansas. Lee 4. Geyer
Democrat, Of California, Bartlett
Jork111a11, Republican Of Michigan,
g new member; and Louis Ludlow.
Democrat, of Indiana.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
Hays, Patterson New Members Of
Southern Education Foundation

her Meeting at the Willard Hotel
with GA persons present
Addresses were made at the din
rer meeting by Arthur d Wright.
president of the Foundation Gov
ernment officials, editors, educators
and philanthropists interested adj
vancing the cause Of education
were guests of honor, coming from
as far away as New York, Mas
sachusetts, Illinois. Michigan
Louisiana and Texas; the District
Of Columbia was also well repre-
septed and representative were
present from a majority of the
Southern States.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18

WASHINGTON, d. C.-(SNS)-
The Southern Education Founda-
tion, administering the George
Peabody, the John F. Slater, the
Anna I. Jeanes, and the Virginia
Randolph Funds, amounting 10 ap-
proximately $3,000,000 and compos-
ed Of Northern and Southern white
men and outstanding colored men,
held it's Annual Meeting here Jan
uary 9, at the Brookings Institu-
ton
After morning and afternoon ses-
Sions, followed by meeting Of the
Eoard of Directors, the Foundation
concluded its sessions with a Din
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
Try Man Again For Thirty
Year Old Murder In S. C.

GREENWOOD S. C.--(ANP)-The story of the killing OF
Elijah Hackeu in nearly
will be heard in criminal court here Willie
goes trial a second lime for the alleged
Glenn, who sII insists his
he had been in Greenwood until in
OF a in the of
convicted Of mansllugher at the September
that and TO serve II years.
His attorney, Norman A. Hsrrison a motion for a
trial aud this argued before lndgc
spring 1910 term tic
Hugh Be9sey appealed from this ruling
court few weeks sustained
the country Jail since brought nearly
p;1ntts
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
Gavagan introduces
New Anti-Lynch Bill

NEW YORK-(S N S-Repre-
sentative Joseph Gavagan, OF New
York. introduced one of the six
federal anti-lynching bills. ir the
House Of Representatives on Janu-
any 3, the opening day of tie 77th
Congress, the National Association
for the Advancement Of ColCred
People reported today.
The Gavagan bill, which is
sponsored by the NAACP. provides
that the United States Department
Of Justice shall cause an III
vestLgaticn to be made whenever
any state or government agency
fails to protect victims of lynch
mob.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
ELECT NEW MEMBERS

ELECT NEW MEMBERS
The following were elected as
new members of the Foundation
and sat in at the sessions: Dr.
George E. Gardner, psychiatrist;
Judge Baker Guidance Center,
Boston; President Sidney c. Gar
riSon, George Peabody College tOl
Teachers, Nashville; President Ben
jamin C. Mayes, Morehouse Col
lege, Atlanta; President Frederick
d. Patterson, Tuskegee Institute:
and Mrs. Franklin d. Roosevelt,
Washington. .. G. Also elected q
member of the Foundation, but
unable to be present at this meet
ing because of illness, was Julian
l.. Harris, editor of the Times,
Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Finance Committee reported
the capital assets OF the Founda'
ton as. amounting TO $2,996.242.
The present annual budget pro-
yides for expenditures for JeaneS
Teachers salaries, meetings, and
scholarships; administration and
general educational service: retire
ment allowances; county training
school buildings, and miscellaneous
items.
FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP
In addition to the above newly
elected members the Foundation is
composed of the following: C..
Everett Bacon, memper OF fTm OF
Spencer Trask and Company. New
York City; Rev w. Russell Bowie
Union Theological Seminary, New
York City; John E. Bryan, cOlm-
ty superintendent Of schools Birm.
ingham; Tenant Bryan. vice
president and General Manager,
The NeW5-Leader Richmond; DR.
Ambrose Caliver, Senior Specialist
in Negro Education, U. S. Office
of Education, Washington, D. c.;
Rev. Francis b Creamer, Rector
of Christ Church, Crosse Pointe
Mich; DR.. Joseph D. Eggleston,
former president Of Hampden-Syd-
ney College. Hampden-Sydney. Va:
Professor John M. Ellison, Virginia
Union University. Richmond; Mr..
John Temple Graves, II, colunnist,
The Age Herald. Birmingham:
Rev. James E. Gregg, Rector of
First CONGREGATIONAL Church,
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
Baptist World
Head Tributes

CHICAGO-(ANP) - From his
home in war-tcrn London, the Rev
!. H Rusnbroolle. noted cleric and
president Of The Baptist World
Alliance, last week sent i letter of
appreciation and tribute to the
widow Of the late Dr.. Lacy *. VIII
liams, pastor of Chicago's famed
Clivet Baptist Church. DR.. Williams
was fatally injured last fall III
Michigan in an airplane crash. The
message to Mrs. Williams from
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18

Already several Of the young,
men have made plans to go TO
Canada. One, who finished third
III a flying course at the University
of Minnesota, has been approached
offer that he accept full expenses
by the British consul here with an
to the nearest Canadian recruiting
station, Foster said,
Our boys have grown mistrust-
fuI Of Jne administration" he said
"Too many promises made just
before election time still remain
untitled.
The Urban League Lead referred
to President RooSevelt'S announce
ment last october 9 that, as part
of his expanded defense setup, ne
would maintain the strength of the
Negro personnel Of the army OH q
propOrtionate population basis;
establish Negro organizations in
each major branch of the service;
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18

ShcuId POSSESS. Amid al The lever
attendant to the present national
defense emergency, few have been
aware how the Army has quietly
usurped authority that was orig
inally assigned only to the judicial
branch of the government, that is
the United States Supreme Court
This is a broad statement, but
one that is not really hard 20
prove. The record is clear just
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
Young Negroes Spurned BY U. S.
Nav Enter Canadian Air Force
Move Considered
BY 800 Chi Boys

-(ANP)--According to A l.. Foster, execu-
tie secretary of the Chicago Urban league approximately
$50 Chicago youths who have the required two college
training and the physical qualifications for acceptance
flying cadets in the army seriously considering enlist
nent in the ROYAL Canadian air force.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18

what an autocrac War Department has done TO
nullify not ONLY the orders of the legislative branch
of the governmental Congress, but Of the executive
branch as we'll.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
RECALL ARMY BILL

All one has to do is to 60 Back to March 1889
when Congress was considering Army bill The
passed first by the Senate and then
sent to the House of Representatives, where REPRE-
sentative Hamilton Fish of New York SUCCEEDED III
having an amendment tackled on. This amendment
required the Army to set up flying school to train
Negro pilots The measure signed by the PreSl'
Ylent and became the law of the land
That was almost two years ago. The War De-
parment and the Army know this bill has become
law but up until the day and hour this piece is belng
written not Il single Negro has been trained for mil
itary flying In utter defiance of the wishes OF the
chosen representatives of the people, the Army has
blandly gone about its color discriminating way lg-
norng this measure which is just as much the law
of the land the Defense Appropriation Acts.
President Roosevelt after comforting with COM
mitee of Negro leaders about the refusal of the
Army to accept amy Neggo volunteers issued state
mcnt the last paragraph of which read:
The Civil Aeronaucs Authority, i'll cooperation
with the Army, is making start in the develop
ent Of colored personnel for the aviation service.
Filots mechanics and ether specialists must first be
trained a nucleus for the formation of colored
aviation units.
The Phoenix index., 1941-01-18
Usurping Power

ONE WONDERS just through what strange
processes the Army has acquired powers which the
Trainers Of the Constitution never intended that it
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-22
Peak in Measles
Is Believed Due
Next Month

Although the number OF cases
OF measles reported last week
dropped to Coz from the previous
weeks $50. DR.. Franklin II. Top,
head of the communicable disease
division Of the health department,
today did not feel too optimistic
about the future.
This years wave Of measles
cases Is not like the epidemlcs Of
I9S4-s5 and I9ST-38," he said.
"sn those years the number OF
cases increased steadily To n ell
max and then tapered off.
INCREASE EXPECTED
This year the number re-
ported each week nuctuates.
But the current downward trend
IL no assurance that next month
the amount OF measles In the
city won't he at high point"
An outbreak Of measles has been
predicted for this year because the
disease strikes most heavily every
three years. Doctor Top pointed
out that since many parents mis-
takenly treat measles lightly. the
number of cases reported 10 the
health department is no true index
10 the number in the city. Many
cases are unreported. he said.
He emphasized that measles Is
q serious disease for Young chill
dren and that II IS bad error for
parents assume Thai children
must have the disease AT some
time or other.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-22
States Soldiers
Above Average
Intelligence
Time. star Correspondent

FORT CUSTER. Jan. Pre-
suits Of the army intelligence
tests made by Capt. Harold J. Cole
on enlisted men stationed in the
three Michigan forts revealed to-
day that army men in this state
are above the standard percent
ages set up by the army.
Highest in the list are men sta
toned in Fort Wayne. Detroit,
where As per cent of the man.
power is listed as having either
very superior. or superior intelli-
gence. Fort Brady follows with 80
per cent in the two classes, while
Fort Custer has % per cent. These
percentages are compared with a
standard of 81 per cent.
The results were culled from in
telligence tests given the men in
Fort Custer by the Fort Custer
classification team. According "a
Captain Cole examiner. this test
is-the- one recently devised by the
army at cost of $4,000 and SUI
persedes the old army alpha test.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-22
Report Soldiers jailed
For Selling u. s. Plans

BALBOA. Canal Zone, Jan. %.
-GNS)-Odieial army sources Al
Quarry Heights today refused 10
confirm or deny reports that one
and possibly three soldiers had
been detained for alleged sale of
military plans.
Reports persisted that ono SER
seaut at Fort Arnadof had been
arrested. but these rumors gave
no details of the content of the,
plans or Of the alleged purchasers.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-22

past member OF the bOaru of or
rectors of the Detroit Board oil
Commerce and a life member OF
the Elks.
Mr.. LaMeasure's wife. Christina,
died last July fe-ts survived by
his son. Laurence J. president oil
the laundry firm daughter, Mrs.
Vida r. Chambers: three grand
daughters and one great-grand-
dsughter
The funeyal will be held At ?
o'clock Friday from The Harvey A.
Neelx Funeral Home.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-22
Z. 5. Fears Germany
May Violate Graves

ASIIfNGTO N-Ian-2222
TINS Tina state department TO-
day disclosed that the government
has been Investigating reports that
American war graves AT Romagne
! rance. might ~ near an area at
Sedan whore The German air force
repeatedly y planning IN establish
q bombing practice range
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-22

6 p. m. yester-
d a Y in st.
Msry's Hospital
of a heart all
ment.
Mr.. LaMeas-
ure was born
Feb. 9. 1868.
and had lived
here since 1881.
He W a s a
member of the
Preston Meth
odist c u r c h.
Palestine Lodge
457. r. a n d
A.. NJ. Knights
of Pythias, u.
and /. Club.