Arkansas State press., 1944-05-05
down our way :
HEREDITARY BONDsMEN.
KNOW YE NOT, WHO WOULD
BE FREE, THEMSELVES
MUST STRIkE THE RLOM2

Lord Byron's quotation above
comes at a time when skilled pro-
fessional workers at the Pine
Bluff Arsenal are complaining
about "upgrading" of Negro de-
Tense workers in the chemical de-
partment. To Mary Claudette
Theriot and Gladys Parker we
give 1.-The Distinguished Service
for Freedom Medal" for the be-
ginning of a fight to bring on due
recognition of the skills of Neg
TO workers, We trust that the
Presidents Fair Employment
Practice Committee will make a
thorough Investigation which will
bring about the "upgrading" of
Negro chemists at the Arsenal.
And to the Negro chemists.
Gates, Vale, etc, we suggest
the following quotation from Ben
jamin Franklin:
"ASSUREDLY WE SHALL
HANG TOGETHER; OR WE
SHALL HANG SEPARATELY"
LOCAL ORGANIZATION.
possessed of some militant spirit
is sorely needed in Pine Bluff.
The NAACP is DEAD. The in
activity of the local group under
the leadership of Letter-Carrier
John Kahn is a reflection upon
the gallant founders of the great
est movement for freedom ever to
spring up in the Negro race. The
organization needs leadership.
Problems affecting Negro labor
ers need attention. What does
John Kahn know about the War
Manpower Commission and its
rules which may work for or
against Negro labor. That Ia
dependent upon the discretion of
the Commission. What does the
organization do about problems of
releases. Examinations
discharges. . ETC.? Negro labor
is asking for help, and the docile
group OF tea-sippers in Pine Bluff
are content to meet from house
to house and fiddle while Rome
burns. That gives us the age
old cry:
GOD GIVE US MEN. WHOM
THE LUST OF OFFICE DOES
NOT SPOIL; NOR SPOILs OF
OFFICE CANNOT BUY"
MR.. LEADING CITIZEN OF
PINE BLUFF
A few weeks ago, we announced
a series of articles which would
bring to our readers, a brief bio
graphy of Pine Bluffs young
Negro leaders, who, If they re-
main here, will be the leaders Of
tomorrow, while bearing the load
of leadership of today. This week,
we give you the name of our
grocer, butcher, baker, and prob
phlu hnplInctta1 ,apIyA
w. T. ALEXANDER
You saw an advertisement in
this newspaper last week about
the College Grocery, located on
North Cedar at the A. M. & N.
College entrance. In a Well stock
ed grocery, the evidence of the
meteoric rise of w. r. Alexander,
we have an example Of what am
bition, the spirit Of adventure,
youth, and determination can do.
Without fear of contradiction,
Alexander has built a grocery
store in Pine Bluff which is fire.
quently referred to as "the shop
ping place of the select and dis
eliminating" Here, we find at
the counters, the leading Negro
citizens of Pine Bluff, the little
unsung heroes of our day"
the average Negro American,
who carries in his breast and
heart, a longing for fun freedom
for mankind. They meet and
barter at the College Grocery,
where every customer is d lady
or gentleman, who is addressed
as Mister" Mistress" Doctor,
Professor, Lawyer and so on. -.
The AleXanders appreciate your
patronage and business, for w. j.
Alexander is part Of trio, united in
purpose and action. There to
keep sobriety and calm abundent,
Is Mrs. Freddie Mae Davis Alex
ander. of Mineral Springs, who
married w. r. in her sophomore
year in college. She Is the motn-
err of his infant daughter, who Is
an asset and attraction at the
counters. We commend to the
Negroes of Pine Bluff, the Col
lege Grocery, and II, %perchance
1t Is not what you want it to be,
you may help shape the destiny