davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22

ton taxes, battle to keep labor from just wage.
Our Japanese-Americans are suffering humili-
alton and reprisals, and their soldiers are being
slandered brutally. The Khan has raised its head
head and come out into the open. Anti-Semitism
is rampant In many places Catholics suffer
prejudice. The pressure has never let up on
Spanish Americans. The captain of the u. S.
aircraft carrier Croatan TANNED a bitter pill
down the throat of every Negro American when
he refused to allow l23 Negro soldiers to board
his vessel because there were no facilities for
segregating them from white soldiers"
No peace, but its Christmas Can one be bitter
on Christmas? Perhaps, but il is not easy. The
mess that is the world we will take up again
in day or two-nkxt week. We light our trees,
exchange our gifts, prepare our big and little
feasts, gather with our friends and loved ones,
and strive for brief time to mark in spirit and
in deed the birth of Christ
Many of us escape to our childhood. What mat
tiers China beside the first sled and a snowy hill
side? The grim faces in Java are lost in the
squeals of delight as packages are opened For
the starving in every land we say a prayer, but
we fight for the drumstck and defy indigestion
with plum pdding. The shivering and homeless
ones in many lands an unhappy shadow
that we brush aside for this day as we rush,
rosy-cheeked from skating on the lake, to a
roaring fire in our warm homes
Nuts In the toe OF the stocking apples and
oranges bullying out its middle mysterious small
packages and peppermint cane, poking out
from the top Christmas carols filling the air
Yes Christmas. If we did not have it, if we
did not pause and enjoy this season. if we did
not renew our spirits and see ourselves as we
SHOULD be, we could not be indignant about
Java, or the Jews. the Greeks. the Negroes. JUS
tice, mercy. security and decency. Tomorrow
we fight harder because of Christmas Merry
Christmas!
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
LReprinted from the N. Y. POST
By DOROTHY NORMAN

NOUR LETTER President Truman accepting
the resignation Of Charles Houston from the
Federal FAIR Employment Practices committee.
is unworthy OF the head OF one OF the worlds
leading democracies.
Democracy is on trial az this moment PrcSi-
dent Truman. fully much the Nazi war
criminals at Nuremberg lie, US get that s;raigh,
FIRST.
With China barring tho Edgar Shows Of the
world with Britain and Holland fighting the
colonial peoples, with your statement on the
FEPC.-what is our moral position 10 be with
respect TO totatarianism in any form
Charles Houston came out with the facts about
why he resIgning from the FEPC quite
huntly, President Truman. Your counter state
ncnt is totally inadequate IN the high; OF his IN
octmcnt.
He resigned in protest against your order 10
the FEPC to hold UP directive 20 the Capitol
Transit Company. Of Washington " G., 10 cease
discriminatory policies IN the employment Of
Negroes.
II is quite true that when our government
seized the Capitol Transit Company because Of
work stoppagc. in order to provide tranSporta-
ton, existing conditions OF employment were
supposed to prevail under conditions imposed
by Congress on such seizures.
But really. President Truman. when YOU say
that the seizure was undertaken ~ provide trans
portaiIon rather than to carry out FEPC policies
limiting thereby that Mr. Houston was wrong
10 resign from the FEPC because OF your order
that the FEPC do nothing about making the
Capitol Transit Company cease ITS discrimina-
tory policies AT this timc-you forget, or pretend
TO forget, certain very important points which
Will not be forgotten by others.
You cannot have II both WAYS. President Tru
man. Neither can the Capitol Transit Company.
Both the company and the union to which It's
workers belong have claimed that they do not
II sh.,fr ,lfs,- kn fnrf
that they do in truth discriminate is not then
their policy but betrayal of their policy
The FEPC has long been disturbed about the
situation II has held hearings about il II has
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22

killing OF men, while in Java, the army navy,
and air force Of Great Britain are making war
on the natives who want only to be free of
Dutch imperialism. AS sort of Christmas pres
ent the British have just announced that they
will bring in ANY force that is required TO
subdue the natives and return them TO Dutch
rule. Despite the war for democracy. the Four
Freedoms. the Atlantic Charter etc. the British
do not believe colored races should be free They
should be ruled by white people They are chill
dren and must be guided for five hundred or
thousand years until they prove" themselves
capable OF self-government and independence.
Over here we do not have peace in our own
country Our veterans black and white. are not
being shot at, but they are walking the streets
OF great cities looking for homes. Our corpora
tions, like General Motors. fat with war profits
and contented with reconverSon funds from the
Federal treasury TO say nothing of repeal of the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22

discovered me and I leaned against
her soft breast in blessed relief and
trust. But was not under the
illusion that I knew" her from
that or knew irish people through
her. Yet. il I had been q southern
"hild and she my black nanny.
leaning against her in illness would
have given me exactly that illusion,
that because | clung in childish
dependence to one woman that !
knew her whole race through her.
We had French cook and waitress
once and an Alsace-Lorraine gov
erness for four years. but I never
imagined that ! understood the
French or the Germans through
these contacts, however warm and
friendly.
WHY do many whites have this
curious illusion about knowing
the olorecd who work for them.
There's . barrier between en-
ployer and employee quite In
dependent Of color. The white
servant knows us. We seldom
really know him. and this II
equally true when the servant N
colored. So many Of the colored
have been In service. Il tends 10
blind Us rs to how little we really
know about them.
Burt has little white clapboard
house outside OF town and I re-
member driving by il one evening
in horse and buggy. and there
was Burt sitting on the porch. read
ing the paper. with his hat on, at
ease, alone.
/. gave me the strangest feel.
ing, as II I'd seen our old family
friend for the hrst time. There he
was living his own life without
any o. us around. his hat. an old
hat Id never seen before pulled
over his eyes 10 keep the glare out,
not held in his hand. I didn't speak
or disturb him: | drove by, sailing
the memory away; and in all the
years that he has been vividly
about our childhood home and later
about the homes of my grown
brothers. out Of years Of affection
ate memories, that is the most vivid
memory | have Of Burt. Because,
out OF forty years, il is the only
memory ! have, just that one fleet
ing moment, when Burt was living
his own life-when he was not part
OF our family setting, but an in
dividua,. an himself.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
'||||

4 VERY IMPORTANT Nordic scholar who has
IA spent most of his life studying the so-called
Negro problem confessed in the presence of an
equally eminent Negro scholar that il was very
difficult for him 10 figure out what was the best
course for colored people under some cIrcum-
stances. The colored scholar smiled and said:
"You aren't half as bad off am. ! am ex-
pected 10 give advice and then have 10 follow
Il too
-
A news story informed Us layrweck that since
there is Negro housing IN Germany. the
L. S. will not recruit colored clerical personnel
for jobs IN L, S headquarters IN Maitland, This
Is quite diSconcertnG InaSInuch no such diff
ficulues were encountered when 4 was deemed
necessary 10 send colorcd troops INTO Germany
in order n give Der Fuhccr the works No my
hearues, Hitler amt dead yet and do mean
amt.
q
Some Of Detrots troubles may he blamed on
the character Of It's founder. Cadillac who is
described as follows by Chase s. Osborn, the
famed ex-governor of Michigan. Wrote Mr.. Os-
born: ITO find the reason for Detrots az
grandizement the answer is 10 be found in
succession OF forward looking, ambitious men,
who dreamed-and worked
THE first OF these was the founder, the Sieur
ing desire for wealth and power. His claim 10
gentInt4 was largely imaginary. He dreamed Of
an enormous estate IN the New World where
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
Lawyers Declare
Nation Not True
To Lofty Ideals

CLEVELAND. Ohio - CAMP -
America has not been faithful
- Is democratic ideals al home
nor has she tostered them with
courage and clarity abroad"
Tha; indictment against the do
nestle and foreign policy OF the
United States was made in the
form a. resolutions passed by the
National Bar association during its
resent convention here
The resolutions covered an inter-
probation OF the United Nations or
SANITATION and its pledge TO pro-
mote universal freedom and equal
l;y. the rights ~ labor and a stand
AGAINST ant-labor legislation. houS-
Inc restrictive covenants. public
health. opposition 20 inequalities
and ineQu!tleS III the armed serv-
,ces. the need FOR colored Lawyers
IN he south. snti-poll tax. and
nt-lyrching legislation and -.
tegration OF Negroes into judicial
NfgreS
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
LOSING THE PEACE IN ASIA

in Britain and America there are
those today VINO would minimize
what is happening in Southeast
Asia making il under such con-
venlent phrases as keeping order
and the white mans response
billy"
AS we should have learned from
The holocaust just ended. this de-
libers;e blindness Is very great
peril.
In the present instance. with
millions upon millions of brown
and yellow peoples ranged on
what they believe to be the side
Of freedom. the peril may well
be greater than Il was In the
thirties.
An immediate question Is wheth-
er Britain has the resources TO re-
store the imperial patterns In
liberated" areas. Edward Murrow.
just returned from London, re-
ported in weekend broadcast
serious trouble with both British
and Indian troops in Java
IT IS an altogether thankless
task that Britain Is undertaking
Certainly they will not be thanked
by the Indonesisns who die under
their tanks. Nor will they be
thanked by the Dutch owners when
they 20 back. il they 20 back, 10
face sullen and ever-present hos
tillty.
In fact. II Is impossible TO see
how the present approach can
gain anything but more trouble
in a world which has an over
supply Of that commodity.
Inevitably. OF course. this issue
will be raised in connection with
the British loan. The Chicago
Tribune. that grea, organ OF justice
and liberty, has already found Il a
convenient weapon for smacklng
a f4vorite enemy, the British En-
pire.
Looked al honestly, the loan has
no connection with the political
issues Of the Far East Putting aside
for a moment the hopes for an ex-
parded world trade and the benefits
10 flow out OF that trade, the loan
can De considered on purely
business basis.
IN FACT. some voices Y Britain
are now crying out IN md. gnation
tha. Uncle Sam has put over a
smart deal on John Bul Some so
so far as 20 say that il means the
Stacking for all time Of Britain
economy 10 America
Certainly il LINKS rs more closely
together than We ever have been
linxed - peace time: That is why
our moral responsibility to help
find e more equitable solution in
Asia is 50 great. since We are IN
hamperee by a history Of imperial
ism
silence is not enough II does
not accord with the facts as re-
ported by conscientious Ameri-
can reporters.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
sy Charles ALIEN

set a definite date for Philippine
independence.
But IF WE are not directly in
volved in the bloody business Of
Java and lndo-China, our position
is negative one and therefore
open 70 question BY our curious
silence. We seem 10 lend consent.
On the basis Of his observa-
ton. Reporter Steele brushes
aside the conventional explana-
tons and apologies for Allied
conduct since VI Day.
We are only fooling ourselves
Z We try simply 10 explain away
the ep demic OF nationslism as
great and sinister japanese coup.
Obviously the japanese added
moral and material fuel to the
fires.
But II is equally evident that
the foundation Of this movement
Is the genuine aspiration Of peo-
pies to free themselves once and
for ALL"
IT Is HUMAN nature TO try to
shut out unpleasant truths. Both
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22

he would found noble family and lay the foun-
datons Of its fortune He was vain, pompous,
arrogant, and cruel. but he envisoned greater
France extending far into the American CONT
nent: and of that imperial domain he desired 10
he the first and greatest lord. His ambition went
10 wrack his defects; but he chose the site of
Fort Pontchartrain, which was the seed Of De-
troIt.'
One Gordon Persons Of the Alabama Public
Service commission Is reported last week to
have addressed the Kiwanls Club of Columbus
Ca. as follows: "A law segregatlng white and
Negro passengers has been on the statute books
in Alabama for 10 or so years, and if know
my South, Il probably Will be there 8 900 more
years This reminds Of colored Alabamian-
who was asked when was he going 10 return to
his native home. He replied: IF ! owned Ala
hama and Hell, would live in He'll and rent
Alabama OUT
After bitter debate the British House OF
Commons has agreed 10 accept four billion
dollar loan from Uncle Sam. One gathers from
reading some press dispatches that il was very
sporting OF the British TO accept our offer to
help them get their financial feet Maybe they
will buy some more guns from the US. in order
to quiet unrest" in India Palestine and the
Ncthcrand East Indies AS the natives saw
there is nothing like being kicked in the pants
with an American silver dollar attached to
British boot
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
B u +
Reprinted from Letter MasaIine)

Reprinted from Letter Magaxine)
People are always telling me that
they have known Negroes all their
lives, and what this turns out TO
mean is that they have had Negro
servants all their lives.
Now I suspect that servants who
work in our houses know US. but
I'm not sure we know them. A
Negro coachman came 10 work for
my father when my brothers and l
we're small. Although he is retired
on a pension, my last vivid picture
Of old Burt is cleaning knives IN
a biz shed with two little boys, my
brother Waldo's twins, aged six,
leaning against his knees cleaning
knives with him. There was some
thing beautiful and touching about
the old man sitting there with the
two little boys. all three so re-
Taxed. so absorbed, so at one.
When | was young. II was Burt
who would find my lost tennis
racquet and slip il in the kitchen
door, so that / wouldn't be blamed
for carelessness. Sitting up on the
box, he drove my grandmother in
one Of those old-fashioned glass
encased carriages. He even drove
my brothers 10 dancing school, and
conveying the three PIERCE boys
actually into a dancing class was
a feat that sometimes took muscle.
Years later. when my father
was eighty-six and Burt was a
mere boy OF eighty-four, Burt
would sit in the back seat OF what
ever terrible old car Father was
driving. Father. being horseman,
liked to swap cars in the old horse
swapping way. He couldn't bear to
do anything as dull, as lacking in
the clash Of wits as buying car
that was new. Burt's duty was 10
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
THESE congressman

Some weeks ago Rep Clare Booth
Luce introduced a resolution In the
House calling upon Congress. In
some mystical fashion. TO follow
Gods Way in its handling Of inter
national Affairs and to adhere to the
Golden Rule in Its dealings with
the other nations Of the world g.
Mrs. Luce heard nothing about her
bill. and made inquiry. She learned
that the problem was one OF COM
mittce -clasSificstio that they
hadn't decided which committee
should have the hill Mrs. Luce
finally heard that il had been filed
with the Foreign Ahairs Commit
tee. They think" she said, God -
\ foreigner"
leonard LYONS
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22

ices which would achieve the fol-
lowing:
|. Elimination Of the cleavage
expressed in the phrase. Officers
and men" and the extension OF the
military Code of Honor" TO all
ranks.
? Advancement and retention OF
rank 10 be dependent upon demon
Strated ability. rather than social
or educational background or sem
iority.
3. Elimination OF racial segega-
ton and such social discrimina-
tons as are evidenced by different
uniforms. and by separate messing.
housing. sanitary and recreational
facilities. and of duty saluting.
4. Revision Of the Articles Of
War and the Articles for Govern
ment Of the Navy to make them
more consistent with modern
criminal procedure. with respect
to equality Of all ranks before
the law and guarantees Of fair
trail and Judgment.
S. Equalization OF family. de.
tendency. leave and uniform al
lowanceS tor all ranks. at the same
time maintaining gradatons in
base pay and compensation for
longevity. special qualifications
and hazardous duty.
8 Institution OF an eficient sys-
tenn for bringing 10 the attention
OF higher authority grievances OF
all ranks resulting from malad-
ministration. ineficiency and cor
rupt practices
7 Institution OF an educational
program for all ranks that will in
ciude vocational training. orienta-
ton in current events. and promo
ton OF fraternity among all ranks.
8 Revision OF the admission sys-
TEN for the service schools 10 be
based upon geographical quotas
with a prequiSite OF service within
ranks and competitive examina-
tons without congressional selec-
ton
3 Reorganization OF the service
schools curricula to include in
Struction and education in the prin-
ciples OF democracy
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
BY MARQUIS CHILDS
Reprinted from the Detroit Free
Press

WASHINGTON - AT the very
time that word comes Of British
determination 10 pat down the Ma
tiorallst movement in the Dutch
East Indies with about force, We
get an analysis from an American
reporter with a long background
in the Far East who says that the
Allies are losing the peace IN
Southern Asia and losing 4 fast
A T Steele. Of the New York
Herald Tribune. has completed a
tour Of Java. Siam. Burma. Ma
lava and French lndo-China which
he knew we'll before the war.
Summing up in 4 dispatch from
New Delhi. he makes II clear that
British tactics are alternating the
brown and yellow peoples Of this
populous part Of the world.
Thus far American prestige is
not directly involved. We laid up a
greater store OF goodwill in the
Pacific than we realized when we
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
ADA MCCORMICK

call out. RED light, Mr.. PIERCE. /"
or Green light. Mr.. PIERCE" as
the case might be. BY this curious
system Of bsck-sest driving the
two old gentlemen navigated the
traffic Of Bangor, Maine.
In the evening Father always
drove the horse and buggy. After
the hay was cut, he drove cross
country over our hay farm. Once
he Ralloped the horse over a ditch.
the buggy humping along behind,
and hung on for dear life while
Father quoted Golden numbers.
golden numbers" from Shelley,
perfectly unconcerned. When we
came home. Father would UNI
harness the horse. because IL re-
minds me of when I was a boy
and locked up the vault every eve
ming IN the Office hanging the
Penobscot River" II was Burt who
whirled tho big old fashioned letter
press around and put postage
stamps on the letters. Burt. my
pipe" Father would shout and Burt
would stuff II with tobacco and
present il TO Father who always
stood up az one OF two enormous
tables. While Father worked on
the books. Burt puttered about the
office doing OBSCURE chores till il
was time to drive Father home.
Yes, Burt knew US. his white
folks family. from A to z. He
had seen US In health and out Of
health, in temper and out Of
temper. living and dying. He
watched three Of US grow up and
marry. He kissed my younger
brothers forehead rs he lay dead.
and Burt watched many. many
hours by my Fathers side In the
last illness Of my Fathers life.
Father liked having old Burt just
sitting In the room. both Of them
silent.
Yes. Burt knows US.
But what do I really know of
Bur;-his inside life; what he
thought, ate. read; what people he
knew or liked; what people he
didn't Ike: his politial views; what
his house looked like inside? Why.
nothing. absolute nothing. Yet we
know those things about white
friends. Well, I'm not sure that
we dc IL those white people are
working for US We had a white
cook and when I suddenly woke
up with pneumonia. il was she who
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
d ON The RACES

The Dalectc Senate voted unanimously Wednesday
night in favor OF equal educational opportunities for Ne
and interesting still is the fact that the Senate
voted by large majority in favor Of admission OF Negroes
to the University of North Carolina and for the abolition
the jim Crow Laws which demand racial segregation on
public transportation facilities.
This is not the first time that students Of this
versity have shown their detest Of racial
Perhaps Carolina bright spot from which this
phass on human equality will spread.
The editor of The Flat Hat, the student newspaper
at William and Mary college, expelled from school for
expressing the views which have been expressed by
the Diaectic Senate The Tar Heel has gone record
against The senseless and unfair racial discrimination
which IS egalzed by the laws Of the Southern states and
We have not changed editors because OF sued.
This clearly shows that the University Of North
Carolina is oasis in desert OF prejudice We must
keep il that way and introduce at least conservatism in
reactionary South.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
liberiun Govt
Rejects Lond Bid

MONROVLA -(ANPl-The Ii
berian legislature has said no" 10
railroad and ore territorial con-
cession in the Boni hills OF Cape
Mount Country.
The legislatures stand was
taken after an initial agreement is
reported to have been made be-
tween government officials and a
Mr. ChriSiy. American promoter.
representing the Raymond Con-
crete Pic COMPANY The rail and
nine concessions AZ stake are said
10 involve nearly onc million acres
II Liberals best territory.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
Veteran Group Seeks
To Ban Segregation

WASHINGTON. D C.-CNNPA)
The Washington Chapter OF the
American Vetera committee
wants race segregation. of duty
saluting and special uniforms for
officers abolished in the United
States armed forces.
Adopting as its program, reso-
luton which was originally drawn
up 10 De sent 10 Congress. the vet
Grams orgsnization. at packed
meeting held in the Chamber Of
Commerce building Tuesday. pro-
posed changes in the armed serv-
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22
liberiun Stamps
Honor Presidents

NONROVtA. - tANP)-A new
series Of stamps in honor Of the
late President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt IS now on sale here He
and former President Edwin Bar
clay are shown reviewing troops
from jeep
The photograph for the stamps.
made in sets VI three. two for pos
taEe and one FOR air mail. was
made when Pre-, ident Roosevelt
vas enroute home from the Casa
blanca conference.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-22

being killed this Christmas
season.
Yet, while the organized
war Is over, we do not have
peace, unless we mean by
peace merely the absence of
war. Even in that narrow
sense we do not have complete
peace. For in China armies are
still marching and guns are
still barking death. To our
shame, United States soldiers
are there, lending their moral,
II not their physical support in
q civil war.
In Indo- China there is still