davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-08

I-and folded the letter. Then she smiled even more warmly upon Vaughan Dunbar, and said, "Well MT. Dunbar, any friend of Bill Stewards is entitled to the best we've got to offer"
 The Colonel said, Perhaps MT. Dunbar would like to become &C., quainted with our friends here" and Cynthia began the dull ritual of introduction. When the rou- tine was accomplished, she stood before Vaughan Dunbar. and looked at him, and gave orders.
 All right, let's go," she said. We will find 8 quiet place and you will tell me the very last bit of news about Bill"
 The friendship between Cynthia Merriwether and William Stewart, Journalist, was in many ways an unusual thing. and in all ways whatsoever an enviable one. He was man of 50, perhaps a trifle more. He had been, in happier times, full slave to a daughter whom he adored with an aweSome adoration - and that daughter had been the bosom companion of Cynthia.
 The Stewards had lived, in a manner of speaking, upon the fringes of Gull Point. Those being the days when 1t was the chief fad of the rich to seek the com. pany of the intelligent. Those be- ing the days when articulate folk, from reporters to new novelstS and even drama critics, were the prize guests of yachting parties and fetes Champetres, and the gossip columnist more to be de- sired at the dinner table than a duke of royal blood.
 William Stewart no, Bill Stew art - had muffed his cynicisln in behalf of his daughters momentary amusement and her hopes for the future.
 And thereby he had beckoned disaster.
 For the daughter had been taken into The Hunt. And hostesses of divers sorts had provided horses for her to ride. And one fine day such 8 horse had faltered at a barrier; and had fallen, and the daughter of Bill Stewart was gone.
 Cynthia nursed Bills tewart for certain months thereafter: nursed his heart and the fibers ogf his soul, which was genuinely courageous soul, however bitterly wounded now-and nursed as well the de- spair which bent over him and tried valiantly to make a drunkard of him.
 So they were friends. And so, restored by her at the last, he had thrown himself back into furi- ous work.
 How is he?" Cynthia asked Vaughan Dunbar. "How is my darling old Bill? Just talk about him. Please dol"
 He sat across from her in 8 low wicker chair, in the pavilion which looked out upon the empty and unilluminated tennis courts. He was, plainly, man accustomed to be at his ease in every sort of circumstance or situation. He was dark, and almost painfully well groomed, with deep brown eyes that seemed a trifle nearsighted behind their rimless spectacles.
 His attitude of sureness and re. pose spoke eloquently of meetings with great names of the world, Of interviews with those names -
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-08
MIR. VAUGHAN DUNBAR
CHAPTER V

One or two couples drifted out to- ward the dancing, and several of the older people came through the French windows to smile and say good evening. Mitchell Grace came In, also, and waited until the po- lite remarks reached pause before he bent over the Colonel.
 ''Mr. Vaughan Dunbar is call- , ing" he said. T am not &C., luainted with him. He says that he brings a letter of introduction" |"
 "The name is unfamiliar" said Colonel Merriwether quietly. He looked at Mitchell Grace, and touched his cigar to his lips for moment.
 "He is a gentleman of some presence" said Grace, "and he tells me that he is acquainted with William Stewart"
 Cynthia heard him. Bill Stew artl" he said with quick delight. What about Bill Stewart?"
 '"The gentleman who is calling knows him."
 'Well, for heavens sake show the man in: Right, Colonel? We can't have a pal of Bills hanging around the back door, can we?"
 "You may ask him to come in, Mitchell" the Colonel said. Cyn- thia started to follow Grace, paused, and waited at the side of her fathers desk.
 Vaughan Dunbar stood for 8 moment in the doorway. Then, hardly glancing at the others in the romo, he moved with precise, measured strides to Colonel Merri- Wether. He bowed stiffly from the waist. T am afraid I chose an awkward moment for my visit," he said.
 We are pleased to have you, MT. Dunbar" Colonel Merriwether said. He rose, and extended his hand.
 "Tell me about Bill Stewart" Cynthia said. She smiled eagerly, and held out her own hand. "is fe well?" Is he simply starving to death? I'm Cynthia Merri- wether."
 Dunbar smiled gravely at her. "He sent note to you," he said, and drew an envelope from his pocket. T hope it gives me a good character"
 She tore the envelope open and immediately began to read aloud.
 "Cynnie, you glamor girl. Here is Vaughan Dunbar, who has care- fully corrected my manners from Addis Ababa to zagreb. Be kind to him. He is not quite the stuffed shirt he looks like ."
 "Oh" Cynthia touched her f1n- gers to her lips in mock embar- rassment. T shouldn't have read that aloud - or should IF"
 Dunbar chuckled. Praise from Sir Hubert" he said, lis praise indeed"
 Cynthia peered at him. q think I see now what Bill meant" she said gloomily. And even the Colonel permitted the wisp of a smile to flicker on his calm face.
 Cynthia turned her eyes back to the page: "He may look like a Mayfair moocher, but he knows more about the inside of Europe than any man I ever saw except when looked in the mirror just now. He'll tell you what trifing news there is of me. And he'll prob ably also tell you that you are grand, beautiful, desirable, a great pal, blessed with that certain thing, and also a little touched in the head. Which are my sentiments. Love. Bill"
 She let out a heavy sigh - the color had bloomed in her cheeks
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-08

which manage the way in which bewildered mortalS will spend their tomorrowS.
 T should tell you, first of all, that Bill is immensely happy. He is in the thick of it. and doing 8 wonderful job --- but you must read his dispatches, and so you know that already. There is not correspondent with the Middle East Armies that could last 8 week if Bill were not there to guide him down the narrow way"
 (To Be Continued)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-08
BY MORRIS MARKEY

THE STORY: This is the story of the perfect crime"-the mur- der of Colonel Wesley Hope Mer- riwether in the library of his Long Island estate - and of the events leading up to 1t. We have met the wealthy, mysterious Colonel at . party following a polo game; also his attractive daughter Gym thia; Fred West, an impoverished, half-hearted 'slitOr; Henry Prem tiss, a polO-playing friend, and others of the Merriwethers' set.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-08
} SERIAL STORY
 I AM A MURDERER
| < 4

COPYRIGHT. ieA2.
 NEA SERVICE. INC.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20

SISTER ANONYMOUS WRITES
IN A CHARMINGLY CANDID
epistle, this department Is taken 10
task by that champion letter writer.
Anonymous. who chides US for our
column = few weeks back In which
we referred 70 the complacency Of
church leaders In regard 10 matters
affecting our youth. Pulling no
punches (which this department
highly appreciates. the writer be-
gins by disasreeing with me. but
ends up saying the same thing ! said
about the part church Leadership
and parents must play In shaping
the destiny Of future America.
SEE SHESTO Me. Dear Mr..
Wood am an ardent reader OF your
weekly column ard enjoy Il very
much. II isn't very often tina; dis
agree with you. however. in your
March s column l do just that Your
paragraph in regards 70 churches
and young people is interesting but
not quite true as ] see L. Why
Well, I'm sure you have heard the
old saving charity begins az home"
Personally feel that parents are
more 70 blame FOR their childrcn's
actions than anyone else. You say
churches are only interested in pay
ing Oft debts ard raising salaries o,
ministers. while the young people
are running wild Don't you think /.
is about time we as race ownNi
some O, these large churches we
are always Boosting about9 Ism; this
a good time 70 a; least make an at
tempt al owning them.
NOW FOR THE Young people.
This subject Is very interesting. In
many churches there are programs
for youth which would, " seriously
taken. he OF great benefit TO them.
All Of the ministers try TO lead the
young people In paths that will
make them real men and women.
That Is one half Where Is the other
half: At HOME"
THEN THE LETTER goes on 20
point out that parents should stay
at home more and rear their chill
dren children should have some
set rules 20 live by. from the APP
pesrance OF the streets and shows.
boys and girls don't have any special
time 10 be home at night. some
parents never 20 % church with
their children but send them alone
ard the children so where they
please and nothing IS said about
It. and don't | think that il parents
wen, to church with their eholdren
and taught them the real meaning
OF church and truth they would end
up being better men and women?
The letter ends with the statement
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
Judge Keeps
Bargain In
Coal Case

ST. LOUIS, Mo. When John Rus
sell. a local coal dealer, was fined
$50 last week for burning Illegal
coal at his home. he told City Judge
George J. Grellner he didn't have
;ha; much money.
How much money do you have7
the Judge asked.
Forty dollars" was the reply.
Judge Grellner said the court
would reduce the fine 70 that
amount. where upon Russell drew a
500 bill from his pocket.
When the asionished judge asked
why he couldn't pay a $50 fine with
500 on his person. the dealer re-
Piled that only $40 OF it belonged
10 him.
Judge Grellner stated that bar.
gain was bcrgsin, so he'd let the
$40 Inc remain as IL was. Russell
paid the fine.
Russell was also charged with SELL
ing coal without a solid fuel permit.
but witnesses failed 70 identify him
and the charge was dropped.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
BY JOHN WOOD

Jim Crow, with the aid OF south
ern Congressman. will kill approxi-
mately 1000 defense workers in l943!
An absurd statement, you may
say. for. by no stretch OF the imagi-
ration can you picture a mythical
character lining up defense work.
ers and moving them down with
machine guns But Jim Grow is not
exactly mythical, nor does he muir
der his victims in cold blood. Jim
Crow is the overgrown baby OF the
pre-Civil War South, and he does
not resort 10 the use OF modern
weapons such as those used on the
battlefronts Of a war-torn world.
In this mass murder OF war workers,
most Of whom will be Negroes. Jim
Crow will use his most effective
weapon-poor housing. in which
practically every crime committed
In the United States has its genesis
TO deal the death blow to war
workers whose labor and spending
power is needed TO help defeat the
Axis powers.
BY forcing a policy OF segregated
defense housing Jim Grow will
realize the end 10 which he and his
southern cohorts are working
perpetual slum-dwelling communi-
ties for Negroes-horrible conditions
which take a heavy toll OF human
LIE every year. Jim Crow has de-
creed that Negro and white war
workers shall rot live together as
neighbors in the same defense prof.
ects, even IL living as neighbors is
conducive 70 the early and success
ful prosecution OF the war against
the Axis in which Jim Crows south
ern henchmen are asking Negroes
and whites alike 20 sacrifice their
lives. And because Negro and white
American workers cannot live to-
Ee;her in a democracy. thousands
will die in l943 as a drec; result Of
poor housing which breeds crime.
disease and inefficiency on impor-
tan; war jobs
The fac; that interracial housing
may be the deciding factor in this
war does not concern Jir- Crow and
the gentlemen from the South. They
are more interested in perpetuatins
pattern OF segregation in some
parts OF the country and forcing
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20

when attempts were being made
20 secure employment for Negro
women al the Bomber plant. and
! would no; attempt 20 explain mis-
vascl.!ating on this issue while
practically all the res; Of the union
VAS concerned with the employ
men, OF enough war workers 20
turn out the StuH with WHICH our
5eys are fighting this var.
I'D USE ANY OTHER tactic in
uis campaign except the Red Her.
ring FOR IL had been a member
Of Ford Local 600 as long as Eaton
I'd know that the, Communist smear
has lost some OF its appeal, even
with the staunch supporters Of
Martin Dies. wouldn: set myself
Up as 4 member Of a local Little Dies
committee. for I'd know that the
workers are more interested in bet
Ter wages. better housing and post
war problems thart they arc in the
political aff.listion OF my oppo-
nenis.
AND WOULDN'T be mis.ed by
the few members Of ;hs union who
think ;ha; belief in industrial
democracy presupposes belief in
physical revolution and over
throwing ne American government
I'd consider the source Of such
accusations and jump on he band
wagon with those who know that
;here is no compromise between
righ. and wrong even III labor
unions and wouldn; grasp a
wrong and try 20 make i; right
simply because / wanted 10 be
elected
II l WERE RUNNING FOR any
Office, whether in labor union or
IN government, the Red Herring
merchants would become much
more reprehensible 10 me than
those men who stick 10 the issues,
and Id rather be defeated in a good
clean figh. than win in a smelly
sk.rmiSh. Id stand on my own, ig-
more all charges assirs; my oppo-
nen.. especially II knew they we're
hypothetical. and give the opposi-
lion one Of the hardes; battles ne
ever had, and il | lost wouldn't
be afraid 70 meet him face 20 face
after the fireworks had subsidized
WOULDN'T MIND running with
any man but I'd give him 10 I'M
derstand tina, II there Is any smear
ing 10 be done, he would have 70
do il himself. I'd endorse him. as
Eaton has done. but wouldn't go
along with the arch enemies OF he
Negro and labor who thing all be.
levers in a square deal are Com
munis,s ID rather be RICH; than
secretary OF Local 600
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
RESORT TO DRINKING.
GAMBLING. MURDER

And because they are forced BY
jim Crow TO live Under such con-
ditions. men seek relaxation outside
the home. Some end up at drinking
parlors where they over-imbibe.
damaging their health 70 a serious
oegree and often leaving such places
too intoxicated TO make their way
safely home. Hospital records show
that the majority Of persons struck
and Killed by automobiles last year
were war workers who walked into
the path OF approaching vehicles
while under the Influence Of liquor.
Many workers resort 70 gamblisg
as a means OF relaxation and. ac-
cording 70 police records. scores OF
men are murdered each year as
result Of arguments over gambling
debts or stakes. Police records also
show tina; the majority Of those
killed are not confirmed gamblers,
out workers who leave their fam
Lies in homes 50 bad they took 20
gambling out Of a desire 20 get
away from their surroundings. Prac-
acally every crime committed in
Detroit last year can be traced 70
poor housing. and SO per cent OF
hose accidentally killed o. muir
=
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
THE FACTS m
OUR NEWS :.

RUSSIA-Former ambassador 70 (,
France. Bullitt made statement the
other day In . speech. that we must
use both carrots and clubs" IN
dealing with Russia. Vice President
Wallace in . speech at Ohio Yves
Ieyan university, made the state
ment that America must not double
cross Russia. These two state
ments are very significant for the
Negro population in America. Both
OF these statements come from peo-
pie. who are In positions to know
something Of what Is going on, and
to have some influence. upon the
course American politics will take
In the next few months.
Bullitts statement explains very
graphically the attitude that many
inf2uential Americans nHve- toward
the Russian government They are
willing 10 follow a program Of ex-
pediency. but do not want 10 give
any real recognition TO the Russian
government. Many influential Amer
-ieaIsrS:;ll- hate Russia and the
whole Russian experiment. They
were so sure az the beginning Of
the war that Russia would prove 10
be an empty organization. with no
power mechanically and spiritually
Stain was hoped 70 be an illiterate
and wholly unprepared man for the
grea; job OF leading the Russian
people in an open international con-
fiict. These hopes and wishes, on
the part OF certain members of
Americas ruling class. all went UP
in smoke however. once the war
got under way between Russia and
Tie Axis.
Mr.. Wallace Is giving . very d.
rect warning, to the American peo-
pie, that there are strong and
powerful forces, In American poll
tics. that would seek 70 render Rus
siA's bid for international recoEni-
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20

that one cannot take piece OF
dough and knife and cut out a
perfect doughnut. but mus, have a
pattern. Il fecl the same way about
Chiifren. They must have a pattern
TO so by"
NOW MY FRIEND that Is exactly
what I Said, though I may have
taken the long way round before
bringing the thought home. I must
agree land have often said that
now Is the time 10 pay Oft church
debts. but this Is no time 10 give all
our thoughts to buildings that can
be DESTROYED in less than an hour
] merely inferred that some Of our
time could be well spent solving the
problem Of young people. and I
stated mot inferredt that the church
should take the lead IN such en-
deavors. Your letter Is good on both
ends. but down through the middle
you seem 10 have missed the point.
4 good minister. or a good Christian
for that matter. cannot do the work
cut out for him In the pulpit or in
the church alone. II we were good
Christians we couldn't be found sit
ting in church-we'd be out some
where administering TO the needs Of
the unfortunate. among which group
we can include our young people
And II the church Is not TO take this
responsibility YOU cannot expect the
majority Of parentS to know what
to do. for after all. the ministers
flock is made up Of tn, same parents
YOU talk about. Which means that
II the church leadership is doing
constructive work among Young
people. the parents are sure to lend
q helping hand.
AS FOR MINISTER'S Da.i of them.
as YOU say leading INC Young
people in The righ: d.rcc;ior-wcl.
Won can bc kidded Z you Nant -.
bu; am rcahS.. ard Ike many
other realistS I don't believe a min
istcr ,and | must here say some Of
hcm) can expect - have a good
Influence on lis following when his
morals arc Questionable May De you
don't believe il. u; pc9plc who 90
not LIVE wh7; they TALK don,
make good leaders and tins goes Tor
brothers OF The C,Ota whose shady
way OF living has caused >oung
people 20 'oSc rcsrec, f5r church
leadership Understand now. that
this Is no: an Indictment o. he
Cloth sS a whole. !; IS 90 Indictment
Of those whom You and know 90
be guilty Better still. it is an irdic:-
meni Of the church Wembersh .
which ;o'era,cS such people a, the
expense OF their en- lGrtr Who 81.
be the greatest sufferers. No. you
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20

such a heavy toll OF human life in
he forthcoming hectic war year
Ii you haven't visited such homes.
a glance al two OF the pictures on
this page will give you an idea
Jim Crows partners from the South,
and we must also include those here
in Detroit, are we'll aware Of such
conditions. for in the South which.
unfortunately. Jim Crow ard his
Nazi-sympath.zing co-conspirators
represent, Negroes don't live IN good
homes. In their part Of the country.
"Darkytown," as they call the Ne
gro section, Is usually community
OF broken down shacks. outdoor
toilets. oil lamps and crowded Sleep
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
HOW MUCH WILL THIS
COST THE GOVERNMENT.

What Will Il cost the government;
and the war effort IL Jim Crow
kills a thousand war workers in
1913? Figures don't interest" jim
Crow, bu, his Southern partners IN
crime. il they realized what a ;hous-
and lost men would cos: the GOV
eminent, would call the sum gas
ironomical" They Nigh. also call
il impossible ard prepos:erous, but
here is the cost 10 ne government
FOR a thousand men lost 20 the war
effort.
On the basis o. an eigh,-hour day
n one day alone, 5000 man-hours
would be ,oS; ~ ;he war effort
enough ;.Te - produce weapons TO
keep McArthur's men fighting Is
days ard u.Gh;S; and enough time
ooproduce bombs and plane parts
80 send 500 oomberS on 81 trips
over Berlin. Multiply this eight.
hoJ- Gay by s.x-day week for
ere year and jim Crow becomes a
worse enemy 20 our democracy
than y The AXIS leaders com 5ined.
Now figure VIVA; he loss Of a
Thousand workers would cos; Uncle
Sam IN plain dollars ani cents.
Based n al eigh;-hour day. SIx-day
week minimum (and mes: defense
workers are now working over:ime)
ard an average 81 hourly WaEe. n
one ye a thousand workers would
cam S20So.o00o0. lneome taxes
from his eagned money woHld
dump into the defense fund some
thing like $4,000 tand this does
not ncldie axes Uncle San would
derive from rem, which would
amour. 20 approximately SS0O00)
Assam - that each worker luves,ed
nc more ;han ten pr cen; Of MS
earning in war bonds, Uncle Sam
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
would lose an additional 100000 or

would lose an additional 100000 or
enough cash 10 buy two Flying
Foriresses. Loss of sales tax revenue
would amount 20 approximately
$4,000 while an additional So. 900
for victory tax would be lost TO
The defense furd.
In short, Uncle Sam. because Of
his panpering Of Jim Crow and mis-
Southern henchmen, will lose in
good American money S352, 800 90.
no; including the taxes from the
$4,000 rent money, Add 10 this
The loss Of material these thousand
workers could have produced and
Il is easy 70 arrive az The eonclu-
sion :hat II Jim Crow takes over
another branch OF the government
as he has been able 20 take over
public housing. America will lose
80. war. Our Southern Congress
men and Northern hypocrits would
;hcn become as reprehensible to
Hitler as they are TO good Ameri-
cans who do not put race above
preservation Of an ideal.
THIS Is NOT FICTION
And don't believe for a moment
hat he Statement; that a thousand
var workers will be killed before
he end OF the year by Jim Crow
5 fctIonsl. Detroit faces a serious
housing problem, in Fact. the most
serious ever faced by this or any
other ely. With the ever increasing
influx OF war workers, every resi-
dental district is overcrowded and
Negroes engaged IN vital war work
are Still forced. by government de-
cree. 20 1--we in dilapidated homes
while The slums are growing even
SUMMER.
The Federal Housing authority is
forcing a pattern OF segregated
housing projects and il is common
knowledge that unless a policy Of
frs; come first serve is pursued.
;here will not be enough housing
units for Negro workers. Present
plans call for thousands OF units
bu; Only a small percentage is ear
marked for Negro occupancy.
BY some strange perviSity. the
American government can be deep
y moved oy The suffering OF peo-
Piles in foreign countries, but can
rea.sin indifferent: 20 conditions
ma; take the lives OF thousands Of
Is own people every year That
$ Why Jim Crow has been able 10
se; such a strong hold on the hous-
.ns program n he Michigan area,
and tina; Is Why Negroes must con-
,4nue 10 protest against segregation.