davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Edith Stephens
Dies After Six
Years Illness

Mrs. Edith L. Stephens, 1714
Fourth Ave. N, 81, died Thursday,
Dec. 80, at her home after an i'll
ness lasting over a period of six
years. Born in Bloomfield, Ia, she
had been a resident of Minneapolis
for thirty years.
A son, Private William Stephens,
stationed at Camp Stewart, Ga, ar
rived for the funeral held January
8 at Bethesda Baptist church at 2
p. m, with Rev. A. F. Martin off
ciating. Mr.. Leon Stephens, her
husband, and Mrs. Ida NJ. Lewis
Tyree, her cousin, of Chicago, also
survive. Mrs. Tyree, formerly of
Minneapolis, had been at her
Cousins bedside since last Novem-
Der.
Woodland Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements. Inter
ment, Crystal Lake cemetery.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Seeger Company
Employs Negroes

The st. Paul Urban League an
nounced early this week that the
Seeger Refrigerator Co. is now
employing Negroes. Referrals will
be made through the U. S. En-
ployment Service with the Urban
League as an active participant.
S. Vincent Owens, executive sec
rotary of the League, said that
this new policy of the company
marked the first time Negroes have
ever been employed by this old es-
tabished concern.
Many other st. Paul companies
are employing Negroes on larger
scale than ever before. One of the
outstanding firms is the Griggs
Cooper Co., now employing more
than 35 and according to Benjamin
G. Griggs, executive vice president,
they are giving excellent service,
Mr.. Owens said that jobs are avail
able for anyone who wants to work
and that those looking for employ
ment should make application at
the Urban League office.
Another firm h a t is following
the non-discriminatory policy of
employment as suggested by the
st. Paul Urban League is the
Brown and Bigelow Co.
In the event anyone in St. Paul
is refused employment on the basis
of race, Mr.. Owens asks that they
call the Urban League office i'm
mediately. The phone number is
CEDAR 243O.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Rabbi Minda
Praises Lincoln
Before NAACP
BRANCH HISTORY
RECALLED

Abraham Lincoln's ideal in
signing tn e Emancipation
Proclamation on Jan. l, 1868,
for the freeing of the Negro
slaves in America, was de-
clared to be the unfinished
business of our nation and world,
by Rabbi Albert Minda of Temple
Israel, Minneapolis, to a large au-
dience at the Halle @. Brown Com
munity House last Sunday. The
Mill City Rabbi was the principal
speaker at the 81st anniversary
celebration of the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation and the
twenty ninth anniversary observ-
ance of the organization of the St.
Paul Branch of the National Asso-
citation for the Advancement of
Colored People.
Rabbi Minda said that President
Lincoln realized the significance of
his act not only for the Negro but
for the nation and all of mankind.
A keen student of Lincoln, the
speaker graphically described some
of the events that occurred in
Washington and at the White
House on Jan. 1, 1863. The day
was clear, but there was great in
ternal conflict all about. M any
forces had combined since Sept. %,
the previous year, until the very
time that President Lincoln signed
the immortal document to prevent
him from affixing his signature to
the document which is one of the
greatest in fight for human rights.
Then, just as today, reactionary
and onse tive Northerners
joined with the admittedly preju-
diced Southerners to keep Presi-
dent Lincoln from issuing the
Emancipation Proclamation.
Speaking out of the tradition of
his own people, Rabbi Minda spoke
about the incident in the Old Tes-
lament of Gods command to Moses
"to go down into Egypt-land and
tell Pharaoh to let my people CO."
The Negro slave believed that God
in due time would bring about his
freedom. The Hebraic idea tn t
God was the sponsor for their free
dom was new to the Egyptian
king. "God was in the process
:" the speaker asserted.
"The nonsense of racialism is
leading nations to ruin and
President Lincoln recognized that
fact You cannot qualify or
modify human freedom you
cannot say that this people will
have their freedom and deny free
dom to other people," Rabbi Minda
declared. "Are we to have a world
in which freedom is to be quail
fied?" the speaker asked.
"The Negro has had faith
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Rev. Francis J.
GilIigan Credit
Union Speaker

Francis J. Gilligan, of the st.
Paul seminary, will deliver the prin-
cipal address at the seventh an
nual meeting of the Associated Ne
gro Credit Union, a Twin City
organization, at Phyllis Wheatley
House, Minneapolis, Monday, Jan.
10 at 8 p. m.
Arthur Burris, Jr. will speak on
youth In The Post War World"
The meeting will be open to the
public.
William B. Walker, president,
urges that all members be present
to hear of the progress of the or
ganization and to learn of changes
to be made due to State legislation
which should be of interest to men,
bers and any others interested in
the organization.
With resources on the incline,
officers of this credit union believe
it can be developed into an organi-
zation of unlimited wealth which
could provide the financial support
for the development of almost any
undertaking by the citizens of this
community.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Jewel Alexander
Sues Pharmacy
for Discrimination

The Powderhorn Pharmacy, $500
Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, owned
by Samuel Crouch, is being sued for
$500 damages under the civil Min
nesota rights law for refusing to
serve refreshments to Mrs. Jewel
Mann Alexander, wife of a U. S.
Army Air Corps Cadet.
She was told by the management
of the store that eve don't serve
colored people"
Mrs. Alexander was accompanied
by her sister, Mrs. Pearl Schofeld.
These two young women are the
daughters of Mr.. and Mrs. Calvin
Mason, who have lived in the
stores neighborhood for rs years,
Harry L. Scott is attorney for
Mrs. Alexander. Samuel G. Smilov
with offices at 525 Plymouth Bldg,
represents Crouch, proprietor of the
pharmacy.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Churches Observe
January 16 as
War Drive Day

In connection with the Fourt h
War Loan which opens January 18,
churches of all denominations in
the state will observe Sunday,
January 16, as Church at War
Day." it was announced today by
the Minnesota War Finance Com
"'Church at War Day will be
dedicated to Army and Navy Chap
lains and men and women of local
congregations who are in SERVICE"
o. J. Arnold, Chairman, Minnesota
War Finance Committee, stated.
"Too few people appreciate fully
the sacrifice men and women in
service are making in our behalf.
Too few realize what Chaplains
mean to our boys, that they are
their connecting link with home. 1
hope every church in the state will
pay tribute on January t."
Churches are now formulating
plans and state heads of C hur h
groups are communicating with all
their clergy. The day will be OBJ
served with special sermons and
announcements. Church programs
and publications will print lists of
men and women in service and in
many churches Gold Star Mothers
will be especially honored. Children
will be asked to convert their
stamp books into Bonds. Congrega-
tions will be told the Importance of
buying Bonds to the limit of their
ability and they will be encouraged
to buy War Bonds in the name of
the church to pay off debts and pro-
vide for missions.
Raising Minnesota's 5000, 1000, 900
Fourth War Loan quota is consid-
cred the biggest Bond job to date
because the states individual pur-
chase sub-quota for the Fourt h
Loan is $8,OOO,OOO greater than that
of any previous drive. This means
that more people will have to buy
Bonds than in any previous drive if
this goal is to be attained.
Faiths which do not observe Sum-
day will have their "Church at
War Day" on Saturday, January
Is.
hospital.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Soldiers Vote
Rally Tonight
i'm Minneapolis

Soldiers Vote Rally will be
held Friday evening, Jan. Z, at 8
o'clock at the Unitarian Center,
1926 Harmon Place. The meeting
is sponsored by the Minneapolis
Chapter of American Youth for De-
mocracy.
The rally will be a mobilization
of citizens of Minneapolis in favor
of immediate passage by Congress
of effective soldier vote legislation
as embodied in the Green-Lucas
Bill.
Congressman Gale and Judd have
been invited to speak and express
their views on this crucial issue. A
number of other speakers, repre-
senting youth, labor, church and
other civic groups, will also speak.
This meeting is a follow-up of
the poll of servicemen conducted
by American Youth for Democracy
in l6 major cities throughout the
country on Dec. %.
The balloting was on the speci-
fic question of whether the service
men favor immediate passage of
the Green-Lucas Bill.
7,454 of the 1893 servicemen
polled in the 16 cities favored the
provisions of the original Green
Lucas Bill while only 244 were OPP
posed.
625 servicemen were polled in
Minneapolis in 5 different places,
of whom $50 were for the Green
Lucas Bill and As opposed.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Urban League
Auxiliary to Sell
Bonds & Stamps

The Minneapolis Urban League
auxiliary is ready to take an active
part in the fourth War Bond Rally
which starts Jan. 10.
Mrs. Josephine Chambers, presi-
dent of the auxiliary, and men,
Der of the Hennepin County Wom-
ems Division of War Finance Com
mittee, has received an award of
a double "V" pin for her outstand-
ing work. Mrs. Chambers will sell
bonds and stamps. Mrs. Ann Smith
of the Urban League office, Mrs.
E. L. Sims, Pleasant 1885, and Miss
Villa Booker, Atlantic 0027, will
also sell stamps and bonds.
The Minneapolis Urban League
auxiliary has been put on the honor
roll because ninety per cent of the
members buy war stamps and bonds
regularly. Other clubs and organi-
cations interested in winning bond
sales awards may get in touch with
Mrs. Chambers at Regent $3.50.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Goldman Pleads
Guilty, Sentenced
to State Prison

Burnett Goldman, sc years old, Of
81 Hoag Ave. No, Minneapolis,
was sentenced to a term of "a to
40 years in prison Monday by
Judge Arthur Selover in Henne-
pin County district court for rape
and burglary.
Heavily guarded, Goldman ap-
peared Unexpectedly Monday,
changed his previous plea of mot
guilty" to one of guilty.
Goldman on the stand for the
usual questioning by the court ad-
mitted he committed the crime for
which he was arrested and indicted.
Goldman was apprehended Dec.
% as the attacker of Mrs. Els
worth Nelson of Brooklyn Center,
Minneapolis suburb.
He was charged with forcing his
way into the Nelson home at the
point of a gun, binding Ellsworth
Nelson, the husband, and assaulting
the woman. Two small children
were in the house.
Goldman allegedly fed the house
after the bound man freed himself,
leaped through a window and ran
for assistance.
Goldman was captured as a sus-
pect by a tip furnished the
sheriff's deputies by Leonard Coils
ton, only Negro member Of the
Minneapolis police department de-
tective bureau.
He was taken Immediately to
Saltwater State Prison.
Rumors spread in the Negro
community that the indicted man
was friendly with the Nelson's were
found by reporters of this paner
to be without foundation. Reports
that Goldman was mistreated by
police or deputy sheriffs were also
proven false.
The convicted man previously
served nine years in st. Cloud for
a similar offense.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Mrs. John G. Tyree to
Leave MINNEAPOLIS

Mrs. John G. Tyree, known to
MinneapoGtans as Ida Lewis, will
return to her home in Chicago soon.
Last November she came to the
bedside of her cousin, Mrs. Edith
L. Stephens, who died last week.
The two had been very devoted.
Mrs. Tyree is active in church,
fraternal and club work, having
served as worthy matron in her
Eastern Star chapter in Illinois.
She has headed a number of other
fraternal organizations and served
as precinct captain of an election
board there.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
News at a
Glance

Though Negro basketball play
ers are barred from Big Ten Col
legiate by some sort of unwritten
understanding they often are stars
of prep school teams which feed
the Big Ten schools. Kenneth
"Puzzy" Wallace is co-captain Of
Minneapolis Centrars cage team.
). A New York man, Herbert T.
Miller, is the first Negro to be
named grand jury foreman in Kings
county. Army Air Force head
quarters Tuesday in North Africa
praised the goth Fighter Squadron,
only Negro airmen in combat duty.
The group has flown 1856 sorties
with loss of four pilots in combat.
The unit ground forces hold plane
maintenance records.
Eleanor Roosevelt attacked OPP
pOnents of housing for Negroes in
her Wednesday syndicated column.
The Presidents wife said in
part: Il have a number Of letters
asking me why 1 am so interested in
Negro housing in Washington when
white people find it so difficult to
get decent housing, not only in
Washington, but in many other
places in the United States. The
answer is that there are more peO-
pie to speak for white tenants than
there are for cOlOred tenants" The
newest Urban League branch is the
Harrisburg, Pa, which was char
tered last week. Announcement
said: This marks the launching of
a program of interracial cOOpera-
ton to better the conditions under
which Negroes live, to further their
participation in all phases of the
war effort, and to eliminate the
sources of racial tension in that
city"
Helen Peasants writing in PM.
says: "Anti-Semitism, evidencing
itself for the most part in hood
lumism and attempts to vandalize
synagogue properties, has broken
out like a rash over New York's
five boroughs." Assaults are
usually made on Jewish children,
In Chicago Anti-Semitism is mani
Tested by the gun-shot blasting of
tombstones in Jewish cemeteries,
-M2x;eans- and Italians in Chicago
attacked Jews! Charges that Mrs,
Roosevelt was booed by Marines in
the South Pacific were false it has
been revealed. The first Ne
gro Parachute unit will be organ
lied this month the War Dept. an
nounced Jan. 3.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Biddle Forces
Lawyers Hand
on Negro Ban
Attorney General Threatens
to Quit Bar Association

Attorney General Threatens
to Quit Bar Association
By Elizabeth Donahue in PM
WASHINGTON, Dec. %
A threat by Attorney General
Francis Biddle to resign from
the Federal Bar Assn. has
forced the organization of
Government lawyers to take
up the issue of admitting Negro
members.
The decision of the Associations
Executive Council to meet in Feb
ruary to consider the applications
of two Negroes climaxes a long
delay during which the discrimina-
ton issue has been carefully side
tracked.
Up to now the Association has
resisted efforts by its Bill of Rights
Committee to give consideration to
Negro applicants. Eventually the
Bill of Rights Committee itself
was virtually abolished, repeatedly
to save the Association embarrass-
ment.
The Associations executive
Council has never formally rejected
the applications. 1t has simply re-
fused to consider them.
Biddle's Threat
Finally the Attorney G eneral
threatened unofficially to resign
unless some action was taken
Faced with such a possible blow to
its prestige, the Council will now
look into the applications of Louis
Mehlinger, Negro attorney for the
Claims Division of the Dept. OF
Justice, and Frank Crockett, Ne.
gro attorney attached to the FEPC
IF a ir Employment Practice Com
mittee).
Mehlinger's application has been
pending for nearly year. He has
been an attorney with the Dept. OF
Justice for % years since his
graduation, magma cum laude, from
Howard University in 1921. He is
member of the District of Colum.
bia Bar Assn, the Bar of the Court
of Claims and the Supreme Court
ABA Action
Since the American Bar Associ-
alton has recently agreed to admit
qualified Negroes, Biddle pointed
out recently in Baltimore that at
was to be regretted" that the as
ISOLATION of Government attorneys
persisted in its discriminatory
practices.
Subsequently Biddle stated that
he would soon offer his resignation
from the Federal Bar Assn. Spokes.
men for the Attorney General re.
ported today that his pending res,
ignation twas no idle threat"
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Thelma Dorsey
inSOng Recital
Sunday, Jan. 9

~Thelma Dorsey, youthful st. Paul
soprano, will be guest artist jan
uary 9, at 8 p. m. at the first of
series of Sunday night musicals to
be presented by Club 553 in the
music room at Halle Q. Brown
House. Following the recital, those
present may enjoy a visit with their
friends and have refreshments at
he Coke Bar in the Club 553 lounge.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07

Mrs. Hazel Mae Smith, 40, 5S5
W. Central Ave, died Sunday, Jan.
2, at Bethesda hospital.
Surviving are her husband, AL
bert Smith, and Mrs. Spencer
Smith, daughter.
Funeral services were held Fri
day (today) at 2 p. m. at Neal Flu
neral Home. Rev. B. N. Moore Of
ficiated. The Princess O'Ziel chap
ter, o. E. S., of which Mrs. Smith
was a member, directed the serv-
ice. Interment was in Oakland
cemetery.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Visitors To The
Office

Visitors to the office this week
were Harold o. Booker, Blaine T.
Ash, Jr., Wanda Piper Owens, Mae
Johnson, James McCombs, Worthy
Turner, Richey H. Adams, Mime
apolis and st. Paul, Leon Abbey,
New York, Sgt. Nelson Peery, Cali
fornia, Alvin M. Peery, A. R. North,
Mrs. E. L. Sims, Mrs. S. E. Oliver,
Mrs. Engla Schey, Mrs. L. B.
Vaughn, Mrs. Hazel Pullins, H.
Neal and A. ]. Clark, Minneapolis,
and Rev. E. G. Harris, Canada.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Oxford Wants
to Ban Race for
Bad Conduct

NAACP Makes Investigation
Quick and determined action last
Saturday night on the part of a
committee from the St. Paul Branch
of tic National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
prevented a ban on parties given
by Negroes at the Oxford Skating
Rink in St. Paul. Late Saturday
afternoon Mrs. Lola Edwards, PA
West Central Avenue, called Rev.
Clarence T. R. Nelson, president of
the local branch, and told him of
decision on the part of the owner
of the skating rink, Mr.. R. NJ. La
Faver, not to permit Negroes to
sponsor parties in his place because
of alleged bad conduct of the last
party conducted by Negroes on
Dec. q last year. Rev. n ell S on
talked with the skating rink pro-
prietor on the phone and was in
NlOSu W IOlllS Out " Tic linn az
IL p. m. to talk the matter over.
Rev. Nelson attempted to get a
committee together to go with him
but was unsuccessful until he had
started to the Skating Rink and
saw Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel E. john
son, who drove Rev. Nelson to the
sports place and participated in the
discussion with Mr.. LaFaver.
Wants to Ban All Negroes
At first Mr.. LaFaver was very
firm in his decision to ban all Negro
parties in his place. He admitted
that Negroes were not admitted
at any other time except when some
Negro group or organization was
sponsoring party. Rev. Nelson re-
minded him that he was really vio-
lating the Equal Rights law of the
state. Mr.. LaFaver defended his
policy of partial discrimination by
saying that there was a time when
Negroes we're permitted to come
Unfortunately to his place, but
two drunks came in on one occa-
sion. Rev. Nelson asked him if
any white persons had ever come
to his place intoxicated. He ad-
(Continued on PAGE AZ
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Negro Sorority
Ranks First in
Scholastic List

The Eta Chapter of Alpha Kap-
pa Alpha, composed Of Negro wom-
en-, ranked first among twenty-one
sororities with an average of 1903
in the annual scholastic comparison
for the academic year of 1928
of the Greek letter organizations at
the University of Minnesota.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Wife Survives
Bishop Floyd

Mrs. Ethel Floyd, who has been
i'll for some time in State hospital,
survives Bishop Floyd, Red Cap for
16 years at the Union depot in st.
Paul, who died Christmas day at
Ancker h ospital. Aubrey Floyd
and Mrs. Laura oDood, brother
and sister, of Chicago, and Mrs.
Florence (Peaches) Buford, sister,
st. Paul, also survive.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07

through the years in the ultimate
triumph of justice and fair play,
faith in the charter that gave
America her freedom, namely, that
all men are created free and
equal" Rabbi Minda said.
The task of the National Asso-
citation for the Advancement of
Colored People was declared to be
two-fold by the speaker. First, to
join with all people to see that the
Emancipation Proclamation is for
all people, in all phases of life
social, economic, intellectual a n d
spiritual. The problem of human
freedom is more than a Negro
problem it is human problem.
Second, auto-emancipation-tha
is, self-emancipation or freedom.
No one can give US freedom unless
we make ourselves free. Democracy
cannot be real until people free
themselves by self-discipline, self
development, and bring about full
filment to all we have.
In closing, Rabbi Minda said
that there is a great struggle for
emancipation going on all over the
world today. Emancipation will
not come without struggle with
dignity and pride. LET US all
pray that emancipation will come
to all the people in the world"
The speaker was given great ap-
plause at the close of his address.
A very interesting historical
resume of the twenty-nine years
of the organization of the St. Paul
Branch of the NAACP was given by
J. E. johnson, chairman of the
History Committee, of the Branch,
and four members of the Commit
tee.
According to the prepared state
ment given by Mr.. Johnson, "the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People is the
outgrowth of the Niagara Move
ment, led by that militant leader,
Monroe Trotter, editor and pub
Usher of The Boston Guardian, w.
E. B. Dubois, and Fred L. McGhee,
the fiery attorney of st. Paul.
These men felt that more militant
attitude should be shown in order
that some legislation be enacted
to adjust conditions that would be
of benefit to the cause of the
Negro :.
an view of this fact, DR.. Waldo
Turner, George W. James, o. C.
Hall, S. E. Hall, W. T. Francis,
Mrs. Birdie High, Harry Howard
and others, including myself, made
an effort to organize a local
branch :.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Soldier Buys
$500 Worth of
War Bonds

Cpl. Rudolph Young, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Henry Young, GOT Olson
Blvd, bought a $500 War bond re-
Gently at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. At
that time he was given $50 tickets
to a Jack Dempsey bout there. He
distributed the tickets to the boys
in the camp.
Cpl. Young spent New Years
day visiting his parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry Young, GOT Olson
Blvd. He was recently transferred
from Camp Ellis, Ill.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Birthday greetings to Irving
Blumberg, 1925 Irving Ave. So,
Jan. 16; Mrs. Fern Helm, 9S5 Al
drich Ave. No., Jan. II; Wilmoth
Bowen, 1861 Bryant Ave. No., Jan.
Is, and Blaine T. Ash, Jr., 979 AL
drich Ave. No., Jan. 10.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Dads Night at
Halle Jan. Is,
Mayor Speaks

Mayor John McDonough will
speak briefly at Halle Q. Brown
House Jan. Is, especially honoring
Dads having sons or daughters in
the armed forces. The occasion is
Dads Night"
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-07
Musical at
Zion Sunday

The Volunteer Club of Zion Bap-
fist Church will present the COM
bined Senior and Junior choirs in
a musical Sunday, Jan. 9, at 3
p. m. Mrs. E. M. Gates is chairman
Of the program committee.