davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

These sub-normal conditions affect the minds and
bodies Of all members of the family from the babe
in-arms to the oldest adult. The more unbearable
these conditions become the less likely the tensions
which afflict our community will subside. These
tensions are reflected not only in conflicts between
the races but between individuals of the same race
as well as in the general field of crime.
., Aside from the emotional impact of the housing
shortage, we must reckon with it's obvious effect
upon the health Of the community. 1t would be al
most impossible to stop an epidemic in Detroit to-
day. Furthermore, diseases, unlike our city Off
Gals do not respect the racial characteristics of any
neighb0rhood Indeed the more one explores the
tremendous and widespread social implications of
our almost hopeless housing conditions the more
convinced one becomes that it is mistake to speak
of the Negroes housing problem as if it were of no
Importance to the white population.
From the foregoing it is clear that something
must be done now about the housing shortage, not
for the sake of Negroes alone but for the sake of
the whole community. 1t is not minority problem
save on the surface Enlightened self-interest, if
nothing else, should impel our city fathers to look
beyond their noses and consider the basic implica-
tons of the housing shortage and the folly of stor
ing up trouble for the days ahead.
We know that our city fathers are anxious to
follow the line of least resistance and so far they
have followed it right into the middle of great
crisis 1t is easy to pander to the silly prejudices
of short-sghted people, and cheap politicians always
try to ride the whims of the mob. Instead of lead
ing the people, these takers always follow. We be-
lieve that if little intelligent leadership were
exhibited by our city fathers in the present crisis,
the great majority of Detroiters would get some
understanding of the issues involved in this housing
mess and give their support to an intelligent pro-
gram to remedy it.
We believe that the Negro leadership of De-
trot, almost without exception, should be congratu-
lated for their patient and unremitting work to
resolve the housing difficulties. Every effort to
obtain new housing opportunities has been made,
including the pooling of finances to build and buy
the housing that was available within the frame
work of the legal restrictions which are unfair and
an insult to our democracy But this problem is
bigger than any one minority, it is a community
wide problem which cannot be evaded by any seq
ment of the city's leadership.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
Five Michiganders
Win Good Conduct
Medal In England

HDQa. l349TH ENGINEER REG
lMENT, @ England 1t Colonel Ed
ward w. Howe, box 2O8AA, San
Antonio. Texas, commanding the
l349th Engineer General Service
regiment in England, recently
awarded the Good Conduct medal
to five Negro enlisted men from
Michigan.
The award is given yearly 70
soldiers in recognition OF exam
plary behaviour. efficiency through
capacity to produce desired results
and fidelity through faithful and
exact performance Of duty.
The following men received the
award:
Michigan
Cassopolis-Sgt. Ira Copley Jr.
20. RID No. 3. auto mechanic.
Detroit-Sgt. Vernon V Slaush-
ter, q. 927 Owen street. drafts
man; Pvt Jimmie J. Valley, %,
734 Royelle street. cook.
Dowagiac - Cpl Charles F..
Wares. 20. sol Chestnut street.
truck driver.
Marshall-Cpl Liston J. Brough-
ton, 81, lll2 Hudson street, clerk.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
STRAIGHT TALK

about him He ducks in A door
way and halts for just moment
of relaxation The falling snow
reminds him of Christmas week in
Detroit He sees the beautiful
window decorations-the huge
Christmas tree standing in front
of the city hall: hears the singing
of Christmas carols 4 tank
thuDdcrs by, reminding him that
war is on: that he has job 10 do.
a.. Gripping his gun tightly he
sticks his head oct Of the doorway
and moves with measured step
down the rubble-strcwn street
He wonders If Detroit VIII be n
better place for Negroes 10 live in
when he returns 10 spend another
Christmas week . viii he be re-
fused service in the best hotels and
eating places? Will he be
Barred from living in certain
neighborhoods because he is black?
He wonders.
For Peace On Earth-Goodwill
Toward All Merits your brother
somewhere in Italy scampering
down a hillside-hiding behind
rock--diving into a cave He
doesn't have to dig fox-hole to-
night. for the rocks and caves give
some protection from the he'll he
faces The night is cold-hc
CraW,s into one Of the caves 10
dodge the bitter winds outside
The Music OF the hoW,ng winds
put him to sleep e.. He dreams
dreams he is back home for Christ
mas week back with Mother.
Dad and Sis. around The warm
fire . They sing laugh and joke
He sncakS into the kitchen for
drum-Stick The call 20 fall
out. aWakcnS him >. . As he moves
silently down tho hill with ms pa
troll. he wondcrS--wondcrs n nc
Will have equal CHARGE and oppor-
,unity with white mcp--in this new
world he IS ohclplng them 20 Gre
ate . viii he have 10 Slt in the
rear OF the street car-bc intlmi-
dated at the polls, when nc goes
back 10 Alabama? =. He wonders
For Peace On Earth-Goodwill
Toward All Men"--its somebody
who is dear 10 you--out there a
thousand miles from anywhere.
pcering into the night-darlng
death, disease, famirc-driving a
plane, manning gun. loading a
ship: out there on the waters of
the Pacific: the bosom OF tho At
lantic; on the lmitless desert: in
prison camps: or on hospital cots
leglesS. armleSs or blind dream
ing. thinking, Of that last Christmas
at homc-Wondering IL those who
sent them forth 10 this living hell.
really mean these freedoms for
them -. They wonder if Americas
flag kisses the brcczes that they
might have full citizenship rights:
that they might have freedom from
prejudice. discrimination and the
lynchcr's rope viii they be
forced to accept second class citl-
zenShip because their faces are
black? They wonder.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
For Peace On Earth-GoodwiIi

For Peace On Earth-Goodwill
Toward All Merits your hus-
band somewhere in the South Pa
cific. wading knee deep in slush
and mud-picking his way through
dense, dangerous, jungles-beating
gnats and flies from his face
wringing with perspiration-pcer-
ing with deep sunken eyes through
the tangled brush and vines-alert
for japanese Snipers He Stun
bles. falls. pulls himself to his feet
again stops. leans against tree
to catch his breath . His tired
eyes close for moment
Thoughts OF Christmas race through
his mind :. He thinks Of his last
crowded streets and stores; happy
children's voices; tinkling bells:
soft snowflakes For a moment
he almost feels the sharp cold winds
against his checks A bullet
whines past him-he starts, crouch
es, crawls forward. remembering
that he has job to do for liberty
and peace-wondering il he Will
really share in this liberty and
peace: wondering. il he lives TO
spend another Christmas at home.
will he find things different =.
Will I've be forced to ride in smelly.
hot rthy, jim-crow cars? :. He
wonders.
For Peace On Earth-Goodwill
Toward All men"-ts your son
somewhere in Germany. lodging
from house 10 house-fghting IN
the streets-mOving quietly. eau
tiously-with death lurking all
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
ANOTHER MILESTONE

Next Monday as we observe the beginning of
a new year and the close of another, many of us
will take time out to reflect the past and specu-
late on the future. Dominating all our thoughts is
the great war which has touched to some degree
the lives of almost every member of the human race.
The crushing and grinding wheels of warfare have
left death and destruction in their wake and untold
thousands still must die before the raving madmen
of Germany and Japan will be laid to rest
In world of such agony, despair and defeat
ism forever threaten the human spirit and make
more difficult the tasks which loom ahead. Even
with victory which will be won only at cruel
price, we will have to overcome great obstacles in
building new order upon the ashes of the DID, No
period in modern history has been more challeng-
ing than the present and this challenge, like this
war, demands something of every one of us.
In the winning of the war and the peace as
we'll there is one factor without which we cannot
hope to succeed. Unless we have unity among men
of good will in our own country and in the world,
shall fail again, generations before u.s. to
achieve warless world. This unity does not mean
mere general agreement on common ends by those
who are in positions Of leadership, but rather
unity which stems from the hearts and minds of the
great masses of the people,
Racial religious and cultural prejudces which
can be exploited by men of l-will must not be per-
mitted to check our progress toward the unity that
we shall need to make life lvable again. In de-
stroyng the divisive influences in midst every
one of US can participate in the building of unity.
All coors and kinds of men have contribution to
make and the future of civilization demands that
we make it.
Too often in the past the so-called common
man" has left the business of shaping the future
to those aggressive egoists who lust for power and
the glory it brings. Even in our own community
some of us shrk social and civic responsibilities
and leave our interests in the hands of the other
fellow. This "other fellow" has made a mess of
things here at home and the more we lean upon
him the bigger mess we can expect.
For the coming year we of the rank and file
must resolve to take new view and new respon-
sbility for the building of waress world. We
can start in our own backyard. 1t is the common
man" who has fought all the wars of history and it
is time for the common man to speak and be heard
regarding the shape of the future.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
The Facts In Our News
opportunities Of work offered him
In time of crisis. This Is a natural
and human,,response.
Bv HORACE A. WHITE

opportunities OF work offered him
In time of crisis. This Is a natural
and humanoresponse.
To deal with these fights and
among members OF our
own race, we must not preach at
them. We must not condemn the
Negro worker as a whole First.
we must understand and present
them tNegroes) with methods for
understanding and working through
their feelings Of hostility. This can
be done by churches presenting
programs that are meanful in
terms Of ones effort to realize and
intergrate himself into the COM
munity in a creative manner. In
other words. worship and the in
depreciation Of religion must cease
To be an escape mechanism for
emotional Illustration and hostility.
1t must become process by which
one can relieve his hostility by
understanding il and substituting
in its place creative feeling and
action.
Community organizations can
serve wonderfully in this respect.
Community organizations can car
~ on clinics in which people can
begin to see themselves and see
how they can relate themselves
cOnstructively to their own per-
sonal and group struggles. Com
munity organizations In the past
have created hostility. but has Of
fered II no method by which II
could dilute itself In terms Of the
people working to solve their own
problems.
II seems that the resolution for
l945 must be to get at the root of
the criticism that Negroes are Gre
ating problems by wrong conduct.
This little piece in the paper will
bring forth the criticism that Me-
groes do not need to be told how TO
conduct themselves with this,
your columnist agrees. but certain
ly the matter Of conduct in terms
OF figures must be dealt with con-
structively Let's don't tell anybody
anything. but let's resolve 10 work
with our people TO help them
achieve and hold the desires OF
their hearts This can only be done
by working Understandings with
them. IL the figures are lying in
the matter Of homicides. petty
fights. disturbing the peace incl
dents. and quarrels are wrong let
/ us in the name OF justice TO the
struggle that the Negro people are
making refute them. II the figures
are correct. let us resolve not 10
put our heads in the sand and act
defensively and ashamed. but let
us tackle the problem with all the
skill and understanding we can
! summon.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
Capt. Pruitt Honor
Guest At Lincoln

JEFFERSON CITY. Mo.-Fol-
lowing a tribute to an American
citizen by the city OF 81. Louis on
Tuesday in which President Sher-
nan d. Scruggs and six male stu
dents participated. Capt. Wendell
o. Pruitt was honored here at Lin
coin university. On the program.
part OF the Wendell Pruitt Day. so
designated by the mayor, Presi-
dent Scruggs spoke while the six
young men served as a guard of
honor for the occasion.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
Bernie W. Smith. 1881 vinewood

St: Il would
say that they
arc doing some
thing toward
InSurirC their
Jobs. They are
dong al, that
they can with
~ h al abilities
and opportunI-
tics they have.
With new con-
q tons h c v
n a y G shown
that they arc
capable Of TAX
ing advantage
Of opportunities
that arc gwen
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

~ Wv
nance District
Traine e: Il
don't think so
inasmuch as so
many OF them
lay Oft after pay
days, drink too
much and in
general b av e
the wrong atti-
tudes. In gem
cral ! would say
that they have
not done much
20 help them
selves. II o W.
ever. the OPEN
- $3.50
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
Dwain Crues, 63S r. Elizabeth,

War Worker: Il
don I think that
we are doing
everything that
we should 10 in
sure our future
status where !
am now work.
ing. Although
I he manage
nert has shown
prejudice and
has fired many
Negroes with
hardly a white
worker fired.
the Negro
workers have
not done all
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
DIR. JAMES =. LANE BURIED

JACKSON. Tenn. - amp Sew
eral thousand people Of both races
attended the funeral rites for DR.
James Franklin Lane. president Of
Lane college at Mother Liberty
CME church last week.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
Carl Jackson. 1s547 Binder ST.
Wayne County
Hospital Inves-

Hospital Inves-
ugator: II think
that those who
realize the sig
nlhCanCc an q
Importance of
I h e situation
are doing their
share. However.
| would say
that the ratio is
about ffty-ffty
in that many
Of them are us
ing the war as
an excuse 10
produce h a | I
way"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
Raymond sCrugss. 43o Hague St.,

MKT. Ut AttO
Avenue once,
Michigan Bell
Tel. CO.: Cen
orally speaking.
| think that
they are. How
ever. the indi-
vidual instances
which are being
used as general
izations are 10
the contrary. I
think Negroes
should be fight
ing now 10 have
Negro work re-
lationships an.
praised on an
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

departments 10 Negroes has shown
white workers that Negroes can
do good work under good condi-
tons and on jobs which suit them
better"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

mat they could I feel. however.
That psychological element IS pres
Ont IN that better conditions at the
Plant would most surely bring out
peter efforts on the part of the
Negro workers"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

LOOKS AHEAD
Dy GEORGE w. CROCKETT
Executive Director
JAW Fair Practices
fn-~.:SS~>
mmifte0

(koTE; The feilewiag article BY Walter B
p. Rsuther, Vice President Of the UAW-
Clio 10 the second In Q series Of fsur
articles By the top efhosrs Of the JAW.
The Arst. BY JAW secretary.Treasursr
Geo. 2. Adde's appeared in the column
two weeks ago.)
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30
ENDURING Reporter

Question:: In your opinion are Ne
sroes doing their part to insure
themselves jobs In the postwar
period?
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

thCm. Thcrc has been vas, Improve
ment but there is plenty OF room
for more"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

Helen Wilson. $50 Elizabeth ST..
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

individual basis Just as other races
work relations are"
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-04-04
TRIAL OF THREE
OFFICERS OPENS

CINCINNATI, April III A
public court martial started today
10 determine whether three Air
Force officers neglected their
duties, conspired to let quantity
override quality in aircraft engine
production at the Wright Aero
nautical Corp. plant in Lockland,
and gave false testimony to Tru-
man committee member, as charg-
ed.
The defendants, 1t. Col. F. C.
greulich and Major Walter A. Ryan
of Detroit and Major William
Bruckrnann of Cincinnati, pleaded
innocent when arraigned before an
11-member court headed by Brig.
Gen. Lehman H Miller, command
e1 of Camp Sutton, N. C.
Col. Greulicn was chief of the
inspection section of the AAF
materiel command at Wright Field
Dayton, O., Major Ryan district
inspector, and Major Bruckmann
resident inspector at the Wright
plant.
Peremptory challenges by Major
Henry C. Clausen, trial judge ad-
vocate, (prosecution removed Col.
Clarence E. Partridge of the office
of chief of ordnance and Col.
George W. yesterday, professor Of
military science at Lehigh Univer'
sity, from the original tentative
panel of 10 officers.
The defense, led by Col. Park
Holland of Albany, N. Y, lost two
preliminary sklrmishes with the
/ prosecution. Col. Philip ]. McCook
law member of the court and for
mer associate justice of the New
York Supreme Court, refused te
grant either a continuance OF
separate trials
Major Clausen, former distric'
attorney in San Francisco, declar
ed in his opening statement thai
in addition to failing in their in
spection duties up to April 1943
the three officers cooperated in g
company policy of making PRO
duction override inspection.
Company men, in their bline
allegiance to the company, foster
ed this idea," Major Clausen said
The more stuff showed out, the
more the company made because
of fixed price contracts"
Major Clausen asserted that
Major Buchanan, former presi
dent of a big Cincinnati brewery
granted the plant an "A'' contro
rating under which fewer govern
ment inspectors were stationed
j there.
Clausen charged that the officers
knew of conditions at the plant as
early as November, 1912, but moth
ing was done
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-04-04

SALVAGE DRIVE
Says City Has Second Larg-
est Highest Amount OF
Fats In The State

wilmington has salvaged the
second largest amount Of fats in
the State" William A. Stewart,
chairman of the County Salvage
Committee declared yesterday
Due to the efforts of G. c. Cor
man. who has been in charge OF
collecting fats, working from 10
20 hours day in this effort, WI,
mington has shipped over $4,000
lbs. of fat every two weeks. This
amount could be greatly increased
he added, if citizens were more
cooperative.
81 There is still small group o:
housewives who sabotage n
campaign by putting sand ane
water at the bottom OF thel1
cans, and a very small amount o.
fat on top. The poundage los
through this is considerable.
Stewart obse d that the
amount of fats collected from
restaurants had decreased since
the owners have taken over INT
collection and sale of fats. He be
lieves tina THE help should do this
! work as it would mean more me1
in each ablishment working a
, this and hence greater efficienc,
and output. m,
Since January 1, 1914, 1,26o, oo'
lbs. of paper has been salvageo
This amount could be increased
IS per cent if people would onl,
tie Up paper that can be useo
Too many people are saving papel
spoiled by garbage and OF no us'
to the Salvage c o m m e e
Mr. Stewart urged that people witt
small bundles OF paper bring then
to the Salvage Committee Head
Quarters at the Boys Brigade
second and Church Street, instead
of asking the truck to call 10.
them.
The total for the collection o
scrap metal is unattainable a
many concerns, such as the Ship
yard. ship the metal out them EN-
selves and have no records avail
able. Since January l, the Atlantl
Continued on Page Three; Col. s
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-04-04
TRIBUNAL RULES
IN VOTING CASE
Upsets Decision OF 9
Ye ars' Standing In
Texas Election

WASHINGTON. April 3.-lR-The
Supreme Court today upset de-
cision of nine years standing and
ruled that Negroes have the right
to vote in Texas Democratic Pri-
mary elections, prompting Justice
Roberts to protest that the trib-
unaPs opinions are getting to be
like railroad ticket good only for
one day in one train.
The eight-to-one decision, stating
that ''the great privilege of choos-
ing his rulers may not be denied
man by the State because of his
color" overturned tn court S
unanimous opinion in 1885 sustain
ing the exclusion of Negroes from
participation in a Texas Democrat
ic Primary.
The decision has far-reaching
implications for the South, where
success in primary usually is
tantamount to election, but wheth-
er it will lead to any great in
crease Immediately in the number
of Negro voters is considered
doubtful. The decision does not
touch upon other barriers existing
in various parts of the South, such
as poll taxes, educational tests,
etc.
Specifically involved in today's
litigation was Lonnie E. Smith. a
Negro who contended he was de-
MED the right to vote in a 1910
primary by Houston, Tex, election
judges. There are an estimated
ST., 1000 Negroes of voting age in
Texas.
OF the present members of the
court, only Chief Justice Stone and
Justice Roberts were on the bench
at the time of the earlier decision.
Justice Roberts, sole dissenter in
today's decision, protested that the
courts present policy indicates
an intolerance for the conscien-
tious and deliberate opinions of for
mer justices and involves an as
sumption that knowledge and wis
dom reside in us which was denied
to our predecessors.
Applying his complaint that to-
days ruling tends to bring ad,
publications of this tribunal into the
same class as restricted rail
road ticket, good for this day and
train only Roberts said:
II have no assurance in view Of
current decisions that the opinion
may not shortly be repudiated ano
overruled by justices who deem
they have new light on the sub
ject."
The courts earlier decision was
based on the ground that Negroes
were excluded from the primary
because a Democratic party con
vention had refused them party
/ ((Continued on Page Seven Col. 3
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-04-04
Firms POSTPONE
PEACE DECISION

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 8
-tR-A decision on Finland's peace
crisis appeared to have been post
poned tonight until after Easter,
while some pessimism prevailed in
Helsinki on the country's chances
of finding a way out Of the war
with Russia.
Finnish political quarters here
said that while there were re-
ports of some modification in the
Russian armistice terms following
DR.. Julio K Paasikivi's trip to
Moscow, the belief now prevails
that the terms are as harsh as
ever and even more precise.
The earlier reports had said the
Russians made some frontier con-
cessions, but placed high repara-
lions demands on the Firms.
In political circles in Helsinki,
it was presumed the peace ques-
ton hardly can be solved within
the next few days.
Although some Qualification Of
the situation had been expected to-
night when parliament met, it was
declared semi officially that
nothing special happened at the
session.
A similar convocation is to be
held tomorrow morning before the
members adjourn for Easter.