davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
WHAT THE SOLDIERS SAY ABOUT IT7
These Letters Are Reprinted from PM
Is THE ARMY pEMocRATIc7

Dear Bill:
I wa, rather startled to read that anyone
would assert that the army provides neutral
meeting place (ground) for the democraucaiIy
inclined youth" as S-Sgt. Ted Ralph did IN the
August l9 Joe Nail
In the first place, as long as the army pTac-
tices Jim Crow and segregation II is not neutral
But more than that. the military Is the very
aniI4h.sis Of democracy. Army procedure and
rules are q dictatorship pure and simple. SOL
der 10 eouri-msriislsd for not obeYins COM
mand Worse than that you can't argue oaek'
Il that domoerscY7 Certainly realize there are
fines when disobedisnes may sndanger more
than ones self. But it still isn't democracy.
In a democracy, the people TN TINS case 'he
soldiers) retain the supreme authority e'her
directly or indirectly through representatives.
The commanding officer isn't even representa-
tive OF the enlisted men.
Proceeding still further, what about the code
that SAYS officers are not TO intermingle with
enlisted men, Is that the sergeants idea OF de-
mocracy in action?
Then. at the end Of the letter Sgt Ralph says
this, and I'VE yet TO see anything in the army,
or OF the army which is capable of subduing the
democratic spirit OF men, Such statement
presumes that the democratic idea is already
resident in the mems spirit and mind. l think
that even Hitler would agree that it is difficult
70 subdue democratic ideas; torture, heatinGs,
and concentration camps couldn't do II, and
don't think our army can either.
But obviously that is not the point The point
Is this: would the experience be conducive OF,
and strengthen the democratic spirit? maintain
that it would not II year in a military camp
will strengthen ones democratic tendencies, why
doesn't someone suggest year in the Nazi party
it ought to do wondsrS-Cliff Schroeder Mt
Vernon. Washington
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
BRITISH IMPERIALISM

The slaughter OF hapess ndonesans at Surabaya is the
most painful example OF the dangerous trend or British
policy Asia. In London sixty letwing Labor MPs have
denounced OF British troops restore Dutch and
French imperialism in the Far East Australian labor,
with government support has backsted all Dutch military
supplies ndonesa and has denounced the British Labor
government for its "strkebreakng action against It's
brother labor in Australia. In deciding TO back
the principle mperaist solidarity with unlimited force,
instead of insisting the Dutch authorities negotiate
with the Java nationass Britans Labor government has
embarked on seas which NAV wreck il. But gov
eminent has also responsibility which cannot be lodged
removing American from tanks used to crush ndo-
nesian insurgency In his Navy Day speech Mr.. Truman
declared We believe that all peoples who prepared
for sefgovernmen should be permitted choose their
own form OF government" Point FourD I'VE shall refuse
to recognize any imposed upon any nation by
the force OF any foreign power Point SIX Are these
principles 10 be applied lndouesia. and not Why not!
~. The Nation
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01

they are part Of the calculated
strategy Of the Republican Con-
ereSSional leadership. II is up to
that leadership either 90 repudi-
ate the slurS cast upon the
American fighting forces and
American policy. or to stand
convicted Of identifying itself
with them-if only by silence.
TIE thesis q, some OF the Re-
0uS lean members was stated most
hG"'.y ~ Representative Gear
ha-: Of California when re de-
clared. The japanese were doing
everything N their power 70 set an
ACCEPTABLE agreement and got
.1rpnd IN the face on Nover Der
~ Tha: precipi,ated the war"
Representative Gearha-t was refer
r.rE - Tire famous American note
o. NOver Der IS. 1871, witch those
Il MS persuasion Trefcr 10 call by
IS Japanese designation Of the
Hull ultimatum There va s
never an excuse for any mistake
about that ro'e. There is even
less now IN view q the evidence
Before the committee itself And
My &c, 0crste reinstatement 81 the
trcts can NOW sustain Representa-
I'VE Ge3rha.t's cha-&e.
The record speaks for itself.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
SINATRA FANS AND THEIR GIFTS
(Reprinted From the y. Y. Post)
Ry PAIL DENIS

Frank Sinatra's fans worry about him looking thin,
and they send him especially food backstage at
the Paramount Frank reports at the Paramount at
and rarely leaves his dressing until IL pm. It's hard
for him sneak out with all those bobby seekers patrong
every inch of the block he's hungry often The theatre
has installed frigidaire in his dressing ROOM
Fans send him mostly cooked spaghetti, Italian saam,
chow men. lox cakes. pies. jams jeies and candy The
four his ayortes. More than 500 miles of spa
gheti has been in by fans at the Paramount The
other day Frank sent big Italian saam and this love
note from four girls: Frank love you This salam will
rrnve we're thinking of YOU all the time '-@'
Frank says if YOU insist sending him lox don't forget
the bagelS
He has been stopping the shows with Nancy With the
Laughing Face, If Loved You. and Il Begged Her." HI
does couple Of numbers with the lively Pied Pipers wh
also once worked for Tommy Dorsey.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01

turned in favor OF the progress
Sive forces
AS pointed out later by Mr. Nc
Williams. the Pacific Coast IS the
only place in the u. S where
large numbers OF the principal
American minorities. including the
Oriental, may be found That fact
alone would make the major West
Coast cities a worthy object OF
attention With the exception OF
Portland, Oregon. the race rela-
lions scene in the cities Of the
West, with particular regard 10
the Negro. seems bright although
jobleSsness casts cloud over il.
Same Factors At Work
In all four cities studied the
same factors OF over-crowding.
initial tensions. singing out of
the Negro. union discrimination.
and unSkii'ed Jobs FOR Negroes op-
Grated. yet Ike four different per-
sons. the cities reacted differently
ACCORDING 20 their past experiences.
SEATTLE
Great numbers OF Negroes proved
phenomenon 10 Seattle accus-
toned as { was 10 the relatively
small population OF Negroes there.
prior % the war. Mr.. O'Brien. a
University o. Washington sociology
Instructor. writes that Negroes
formed one per cent OF the total
population N 1880 and as such were
not the dominant non-white min
o~.,v. BY l945 there were 10000
r0n-Whi'eS in Seattle. mostly Ne
-~7eS. who ,.vcd n four chief areas
~ concentration maintained by re-
s'ric'iye covenants. The housing
shortage was net in part by the
MIGRATED housing erected by the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01

Maher retorted: 1t seeks to see that all Gods
children have equal rights in Michigan After
that the company lawyer wasn't so sure he
should have brought God into the case.
SPEAKING Of the law, the Ontario Supreme
Court decision outlawing restrictive covenants in
Ontario last week was one for the book The
Judge said that since Canada has signed the
United Nations Charter and since the Charter
calls for the observance Of the human rights"
Of all people regardless OF race restrictive cove
rsn,s were not valid in Canada. This Judge is
- Just about the nnly Official person we know who
seems 70 take the United Nations Charter Seri-
ou,y jus, imagine wha, would happen 20 that
fellow II re were candidate for Mayor n De
troit
SPEAKING OF candidates, no citizen run
ming for public office in Us. history was more
vilhhed than Abraham Lincoln whose election
n the presidency was the signal for the South
10 secede a New Orleans editor wrote: 1t is
tire privilege Of any man 10 he ugly, but Abra-
ham Lincoln is the first man in history TO abuse
that privilege
DURING THE recent ST Antoine HMCA mem
bersh,p drive. Claiming Tobias national sec
rotary was in Detroit hot minute and was
asked 10 drop IN on one Of the campa. gn meet
inGs Pra,hcr Hauser the local secretary. wanted
things 70 be ship->hape for the Chleftan and
had asked gentleman with record-player and
an arplfcr 20 provide music during any lUllS
IN the program Brother HauSer paid no atten-
ton 10 the music but jus; as Nj. Tobias showed
W. halfway through the meeting. the record
10 NJ
hcr entitled, Who Threw the Whisky IN the
Well"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01

Portland. unlike those OF Seattle,
enjoy little political power as they
are mainly housed outside city
limits and are thus effectively dis
franchised.
Postwar job prospects are bad
in Portland for the Negro. Nine
ty-Six and seven-tenths OF the
immigrant Negroes we're employed
in shipbuilding which cannot easily
convert 10 other manufacture. As
most Of the migrants 10 the Coast
were Southern Negroes lacking in
dustrial, and even modern agri-
cultural skills. finding jobs in
Portlands pesce-time industries
which have additionally been
closed 10 them will prove difficult
il not impossible
Undecided still on its race rela-
tons course, Portland has hired
two Negro school teachers. and
started an nter-cultural education
program.
Unemployed Southern whites
prodded by resctionary groups.
Negroes seething with anger from
restrictions and denials OF rights.
irresponsible spokesman from both
groups. silence and inertia from
City Hall. plus police brutality
all spell trouble" Mr.. Berry writes.
SAN FRANCISCO:
The NAACP's president in San
Francisco, Mr.. James. points out
that Negroes did not bear the
brunt OF San Francisco's discrim-
instion because of the $4,000
Chinese ghetto there. Widely dis
persed in the city. the relatively
few Negroes had little group con-
seriousness. Although the Federal
Housing Authority has fostered
segregation there is no one all
Negro area.
Negroes enjoy their civil rights
TO a great extent and the police
department, press. and radio are
all fairly decent. The interracial
Fellowship church is an interesting
religious outgrowth.
Since 1912 the city's transit sys-
TEN has employed Negroes as op-
orators and conductors. They have
also. by and large. had skilled
jobs in the shipyards aided and
abetted by liberal unions. particu-
larly those OF the Go in which
they are full members and. in
some cases. officials. The CLOS
liberal stand has supplemented the
Negroes fortunate position. as a
long-standing American and a
militant fighter for his rights and
he is thus often better of than
other minority groups. However,
all minorities in San Francisco
are learning that theirs must be
united front especially as a great
battle will soon have 10 be Tough,
for jobs.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
ON FRATERNzk1ON

wives around on their allotments.
smugly gloating over wishful
visions OF poor hubby mopinz
around the barracks drooling at
our snapshots"
The world. as much as q man
bound TO barracks can get of il.
is made up OF men and women"
she wrote. and healthy life in
cludes friendship with both. II
there's an English. French. or
italian girl who's been able 10
make my husband forget the war
for a while. I'm glad of IL.
"My husband and I have al
ways assumed that we were our
favorite people. that we could
stand up against competition
even in absentia. The promise
to love. honor and obey doesn't
involve binders and q set Of leg
irons. II either Of us Is going to
cheat we don't need an ocean
between US rs an excuse. His
taking his WAC assistant 70 .
dance In BiarritI Is the same a.
his dining his secretary In New
York IL I'm away.
Every self-respecting woman
knows she's perpetuslly 'risking
her husband-more so in war time.
She can't take chances il the only
thing that holds his interest is
legal ceremony and the eyes OF
society. II she can't hold him as 4
person she ought to be glad Of a
chance 10 find il out. The ostrich
attitude OF please don't be unfaith-
full. and IL you are, please don't
tell me- doesn't pay off.
After all. | know I'm not the
first girl my husband ever dated
and I may not be the last But |
am the girl he married"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01

LOS ANGELES:
A terrific housing shortage. a
transportation overload. and ex-
pected extensive unemployment
distinguish the widespread City OF
Angeles TO observer Charles Bratt.
The county housing shortage is
estimated al more than 100 900
units and there is 23.5 overflow
OF Negroes in housing.
The 10000 Negroes and almost
100000 Mexicans cooperate little
on a mass level. Although the
zoot-suit riots in l943 and the
peace riots Of this summer were
not based on very deep hatreds
or conflicts: the latent antagon-
isms toward minorities are much
more serious now. Mr.. Bratt
thinks a riot is possible In the
near future but adds the problem
is one OF "straight-out economic
and living standards"
Mr.. McWilliams in his, summary
pays particular attention TO Los
Angeles with which he Is most
familiar. He traced the history
OF the city from before the Civil
War when il was pro-Union. There
was. however, strong Confeder-
ate element which later made life
rather difficult for the few Ne
groes there. although Negro
helped found IT, Incoming New
Englanders brou ght a more liberal
spirit and by 1890 il was known
as good town for Negroes who
continued to come until in the
l930s il became the chief Negro
community on the West Coast
l. A. Negroes Alert
Mr. McWlliams' chic. conclusion
about the West Coast is that mi
grant communities are good COM
munities for Negroes and other
racial minorities. In such COM
munities social customs are in
state Of flux which usually allows
a strong liberalism to arise, and
segregation cannot become rigid.
He finds the Negro Is most mill
tant annd alert on the west coast
and cites the fact OF more restric-
tive covenant cases being filed in
Los Angeles by Negroes than any,
where else in the Y s. This lib
eraliSm is being felt even in the
halls OF Congr where western
Representative make strong
stand for progressive measures.
Finally. Mr. McWilliams believes
the cooperation OF all minority
groups can become a political fac
tor OF the greatest significance.
That cooperation is gradually be-
coming fact Although one might
wish that more attention had been
given 10 other minorities on the
Western scene. II is impossible TO
read the Journals study OF West
Coast race relations without gain
ing new sense OF hope from that
new frontier.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01

lar language which govern
ment officials seem to feel is
necessary, it is warning.
Mr.. Gibson, who worked
sincerely and hard in support
Of the idea of peacetime con-
scription (for that is what it is
don't let fancy language fool
you) wrote Secretary Patter-
son that although the situa-
ton is still far from ideal
when policies are finally
adopted that will achieve the
best possible military utiliza-
ton Of our population. there
will be little doubt in the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
An Editorial from the Ny. Times

An Editorial from the Ny Times
The Congressional COM
mittee Investigating the
Pearl. Harhor disaster has
been 50 bedeviled from the
start by partisan wranglings
on botN SIDES ,ea' j.. has already
seriously undCrw ned public CON-
sie-ce u IS fairness ard i0-ra--
Ha.lty. BIT the la'cs. cor6ac' 81
s7we - - Republican members
70 particular can hardly bring CON-
'or' 90 satisfaction 20 the national
leaders ~ tho: party
TIE Republican party has pro-
v.ded DISTINGUISHED leadership -
'he nation ~ TIE past and asp.rcS
- lead y aEsi0 ~ ne fG'gre Bat
Reput.caN vc-~ herS 81 the Pear
Ha~5t- comm zee have not only
attempted - mpUGH 'iye honesty
% the American navy. they are
also esNouS.rG &c cause Of Japan
against ma, q '-Cir own country.
And they are DONG So ~ defiance
Of all TIE historic evidence
The country has the right to
know now. whether these tactics
are merely the result Of the
strategy Of the individual Re
publicanS involved, or whether
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
BY LILLIAN SCOTT

The Pacific Coast is the new
race relations frontier OF this ma
ton How II came 10 be and the
meaning OF It's emergence is the
concern OF the entire November
l945 issue OF the Journal OF Edu-
cational Sociology whose special
editor this month was DR.. Law
renee D. Reddick. curator of the
Schomburg Collection in New
York City.
Ably aiding the editor were four
observers each OF whom wrote an
inciSive profile o. a West Coast
city: Seattle. Robert OBrien; Port
land, Edwin Berry; San Fran
cisco. Joseph James and Los
Angeles Charles Bratt The Jour
nal was also fortunate 20 obtain
a Critical Summary OF the four
probes by Carey p. McWilhams.
An additional feature OF the issue
is tho full biblioGraphy prepared
by Mss Miriam Matthews which
covered the current and historical
materials available on race rela-
tlonS in the Pacific Coast area.
West Can Absorb Negroes
In his Interestingly written intro
dlction Dr.. ReddiCk re-exaTincS
ne concept Of "Spa,iol absorption"
o. Negroes and other minoritieS
az = solution 20 the race conflict
Of ne L. 6. With the calm eyes
81 The historian Dr.. Reddick sees
that many ot the problems Of the
American Negro grow out OF his
concentration in certain areas %
tho nation Why should a half
million out Of thirteen million Nc
Eroes be wasSed in Harlem. and
is environs: and why should the
1910 census have shown four-ffths
OF nc Negro population still in
the South
Tire area best f'ted % absorb
TIC negro : the West. which Dr.
RediicE secs as a f!'ecH-Sta'e bloc
including North and South Da-
ko'a. Nebraska and Kansas This
area no believes enjoys liberal
reputation in INC minds ~ nc Ne
gro .pe0D,e Tbs coupled with ne
mass ~tcr7'.nN - a million peo-
no. including quarter million
Negroes - nc Ple."c roaS.- dur
.rE inc var wears. gives Pacific
Coast -aro re et.00s a Vitality
lacked hv me res: O. ,@e country
Tensions And Resentment
A'.hou-n the Coas. was con-
s.io-ci Promised Land by many
Ne-~7es Tho new In-T.-ra0:S FOUND
.ifc .1cro 70 bed o. roses Ten
S'o~S and ~csert~cn. % ne I'd
Dora'at0- for nc newcomers we're
manly directed - ne Nc-r0es BE-
cause - 'hc,r VISIBILITY TIE IN
't,r'1~ : y 80 trc7'cd ,h6-t75eS :
transportation. housing ard ~'oS'
se-v.ces addr- - ne limitations
ard s~n-Ncrro son. .re0' Only OF
co. ~ 're liberal idoo,o-y - TIC
area ~. Redd,ck says that -
ne battle Ne.Wec~ TO reac'l0nsry
ard ~royreSSIye forces o. nc coast,
~ S7r.n- l9+S the tide had
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
THE ARMY AND jim CROW
JIM CROW ON OKINAWA

Dear Editor:
celebrated W Day along with the res, of
the millions Of the US.A. because democracy
had won in this war Following is a quotation
which might interest your readers from a letter
from a personal friend (Marlne). who has fought
on Okinawa Two lima, and other major battles
in the Pacific area for The last l8 months Are
We TO find out now that We celebrated IN vain?
e. Most Of the fellows are 10 the movies.
I would be at the movies. too, but ! don't like
the setup. One section is for the lily whites and
the other is for colored. In other words Jim
Crowed. This is the only theatre on the rock that
is like this When SO 10 a movie ! walk two
miles TO another. rather than 60 10 this diSCrln-
mated one which Is IN camp I'm sorry TO
say so. but hate these people. In spite of all
the hell have gone through in this war they
still make life miserable for US ever here-we.
who have been right up front with them when
the Japs were throwing everything at ex-
eept the kitchen stove. There was no segregation
then. They would come in foxholeS with a
smile. In fact they would rather be in a foxhole
with one Of us than with OF their color.
They claim We can sec the Japs better az night
(smile). We don't even have opportunity 10 make
any ratings The highest rated colorcd Marine
in my outfit is buck sergeant. three stripes. All
Of our staff NCOS and up are white. '-Gcrtrudc
Daniels, Corona. Long Island.
BIT OF FAscIsM"
Dear Editor:
few nights ago in our theatcr here on Tinian
we saw the incest bit Of fascism since the rape
~ Lidice We. the soldiers Of so-cacd dcmoc-
raV, saw our brothers in arms expelled from
our theatre. Merely because Of the fact that
these unfortunate fellows happened TO be born
with a skin Of darker hue, they were segregated
from us rs though they were the lowest of ami
mails Had tho wild hogs or smelly goats preva-
liant on tho island dcsecrated the sanctuary of
our place Of entertainment, they would have
been no less roughly ousted.
As long a such stupidity. blindness. selfish
ness, and pure faseiStic acts continue. our hopes
OF a world peace, the loss Of the lives Of cur
brothers. your sons. and the so-ealled pains we
have suffered have decidedly been in vain. =
Cpl. D. r. APO San FraneiSeo,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
RECONVERSION

Now that the war Is over. we
must become more aware OF our
manners In public, 20 meet the
normal requirements Of quiet dig
nified and courteous behavior.
The display Of emotion In public
places such as pettinE on park
benches or in the Hobbies OF hotels,
prevalent In wartime does not
belong In . pescetime world. -
Emily Post.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-01
(6a6I 7|Y'] Z1i]7El

IN HIS LETTER of resignation from the War
department as civilian aide to .the Secretary
Of War Truman X. Gibson, Jr., sounded sort
OF warning to the department on peacetme mill
tary training. 1t does not sound like warning
ut first reading but if one allows for the pecul-
Evening star., 1945-02-23
Stain Easy Victor
AT Ya|ta, Shaw Says
Dy the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. 23.-The Yalta
communique on the Big Three's
Crimea conference was called an
"impudently incredible fairy tale"
yesterday by George Bernard Shaw.
In an article for the weekly For
ward Mr.. Shaw said Premier Stain
was first and the rest nowhere on
the Polish question.
He added the whole announce
ment was the most impudently
incredible fairy tale that has ever
amused and kept quiet the pack of
children we politically are"
Lublin beat London hands down
In the Polish dispute, while Wash
ington looked on not knowing what
to say, the article continued.
There will be more Lublins and
Londons, with Premier Stain, 80
far the voice of destiny" for Lublin
every time, Mr.. Shaw declared.
Now Churchill and Roosevelt are
not nonentities." Mr.. Shaw said.
Their disadvantage is that whereas
Stain, being Communist, has made
up his mind and knows it, these two
are up to their waist in Fascism-
private enterprise plus public cap
ital and regulations-and don't
know it, being muddled in Cobdenist
superstitions, Tory democracy, Mon
rowan isolation and all sorts of 18th
century odds and ends"
Evening star., 1945-02-23
By FRED HAMPsON.

AssOci2ted FreSs WAT correspondent.
WITH THE 37TH DIVISION IN
MANILA, Feb. "a Delayed This
is the way battle report reads
when you are fighting the japanese:
1918 a.m.-1st Cavalry elements
attached to this division entered the
Manila 9 Hotel without resistance,
killing II Japanese stragglers around
the Army and Navy Club.
10:45-Cavalry reports many halls
and doorways barricaded.
10:55-Cavalry reports small arms
fire from Japanese In some of the
first floor rooms.
II a.m.-Cavalry reports Japanese
setting of mines in the first floor
lobby and Railways and on the Sec
ond floor. Troops shooting it out
with Japanese behind sandbag BARI
cades In Railways and rooms.
Noon-Cavalry reports first floor
secure but the japanese still are
resisting on the stairways.
This kind OF fighting continued
for two days before the cavalry was
able to report Manila Hotel Sc
cured" The cost was not light, but
all the Japanese inside are dead.
Not one surrendered.