The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-05-16

ms coIumns mas always pelleVed
that every knock is a booS. and that
is why It can shout "Hosanna" over
the recent indictment OF Negro
newspapers in general and two in
particular by that champion Halter
Of all times. Westbrook Pegler.
whose only claim to fame Is that he
IS always against anything II as
many as three others or more peo-
pie are for II. We make no effort
20 answer Pegler for the Chicago
Defender and the Pittsburgh Cour-
Ter. latest victims Of Peglerism have
trained their biggest journalistic
guns on Roy Towards stooge and
when they get through with him ne
can be left TO stew in his own
grease, But II would be well for US
20 point out here that the attack on
Negro newspapers came at a time
when it was needed most Hold
those bricks. Bud, and let Us
explain)
The reason we think "Pegleriz-
ing" the Negro press was timely is
because the records show that
nearly everything Pegler knocks
always grows stronger. and If his
attack on the Negro press has the
same results his venomous mouth
ings have had on other institutions
and movements, then the Negro
press will emerge a stronger bull
wark Of democracy in the coming
years than il has in the past Pegler
mas been the worst enemy labor
ever had and has devoted the better
apart Of the last six years vainly
trying 10 wreck the labor move
ment, but aside from witnessing
The conviction Of a coupl, OF racke-
:eers who should never have been
Identified with ihe labor movement
anyway, the only results Of his
daily bombardmen:s have been
stronger coalition of all labor
unions.
Pegler has devoted reams Of copy
10 President Roosevelt and the First
Lady in an effort to discredit the
administration but each attack has
ooomeranged and Mr.. and Mrs.
President are more popular than
ever, not in spite Of Pegler but be-
cause of him. His attack on the
Negro press can be seen as another
affront against labor the Roosevelt
administration and all other pro-
gressive movements, but 10 us. it is
as welcome as the proyerbial flow
ers in May. For years. a few peo-
pie have been trying 70 get the
Negro publishers closer together for
their mutual benefit and have
failed, but along comes the man who
never likes anything, writes twenty
inches against the Negro press and
all al once you find the rank and file
Of Negro publishers screaming edi-
torially: I'VE must get together for
the protection Of the freedom Of the
Negro press" It's remarkable, Bud!
4 X 4
It's going TO be close decision
between Real Estate holders and
OPA when the price ceiling on rent
is fixed. Landlords are getting
closer together than Soiourner
Truth housing fighters. claiming
that TO freeze rents as OF April !,
1871 would be discrimination; that
the war boom has increased wages,
property upkeep, etc, and that
workers should be made to pay the
piper In Detroit where the ma
tons biggest housing problem
exists, real estate moguls are try
ing to have rentals fixed as of April
l, 1912, but sources in the know say
the erra,ic Leon price Admins
tratoD Henderson will probably
hold out for the ii price ceiling.
Meantime, housing problem be-
comes more acute with tenants in
two low cost projects given two
alternatives-pay the government
more rent or move out and let the
deserving low-wage earners have
low rental apartments Sub-stand-
ard dwellings, condemned as unfit
for human habitation a year ago,
are undergoing minor repairs and
workers who find homes hard 70 get
will pay fabulous prices just 70 have
a roof over their family's head in
vermin infested dwellings. lisa
mess, Bud!
x 4 X
You can look for an upswing in
the employment OF colored workers
here soon with less emphasis on dis
elimination because of race and
color. When factories first went all
out for war production skilled and
semi-skilled workers were more in
demand than unskilled labor, but
since the output Of the implements
of war has modulated down TO
steady scale, trainees and produc-
ton workers tcoloreO are ready
TO go to work at a moments notice.
and word has come through that
discrimination on Jobs is slated for
Showdown with union officials
limiting that buck-passing from
company officials 10 workers and
back again will not be tolerated
much longer. Some unions are said
10 be toying with the idea OF letting
Writes know that they must work
with Negroes on defense Jobs or not
work at all. Amen!
X - !.
TOWN TALK: AS the society
writers would put it: NO pains have
been spared in making the USO
nnt,tar in The Rarlurn Tnn.cr ana of