davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23
UncOvering
Washington
BY Harry S. McAlpin

This weeks column rounds out a
year of un-cOvering Washington. 1t
seemed like a good time for reminis-
cence.
Far be it from US to attach to
these writings any unique and mys-
FERROUS powers of influence. We do
like to feel, however, that they had
some part in stirring to action
those influential persons and organ
izations who may want to claim
credit for some of the things that
happened after this column talked
about them.
ChronOIogically, let's run through
a few such incidents.
In our column of June 3, we criti-
cized the failure of the Farm Secur-
ity Administration to fill the race
relations post vacated by Sam
Greer's enlistment in the Armed
Services. We plugged little
for L. Herbert Henegan, even
though he wasn't the choice of GER
tain advisers in the Department of
Agriculture.
On Sept. 16, the FSA filed the
job by appointment of Jerome
Robinson. When Robinson left in
November to join the overseas staff
of UNRRA, who got the jOb?-
Henegan!
June live were very much
burned up about the way some war
workers, Senators and Congress
men made a mockery of democracy
on D-day. We took a healthy poke
at the dearth of news of Negro
participation in D-day activities.
On July II, the War Department
sent Maj. Homer Roberts overseas
to work out plans for improved
news cOverage of the participation
OF Negroes III the war
July 8-We took apart the Negro
planks in the Republican platform.
''The FEPC plank is left dangling in
the air." we said. Negroes are in
terested not only in the four-letter
symbol 'FEPC,' but in what kind
of an agency it will be-"
On Feb. 2, Sen. Taft bore out
our prophecy that the plank was
weak. He told an Ohio delegation
that he never intended it to mean
an agency with compulsory powers.
He was chairman of the Resolutions
Committee.
Sept. 9-Peace time, compulsory
military training was our subject.
Should it come, God forbid that it
should be jim-crow," we declared.
In January of this year, Pres.
Roosevelt wrote the NAACP and
limited" that peacetime military
training may not be on jim-crOw
basis.
Sept. % - We attacked the
Army's plan to take the Theresa
and Pershing Hotels in New York
and Chicago as redistribution GEN.
tiers and label them For Negro
Soldiers"
On Oct. 8, the War Department
announced abandonment of its jim
crow plans. The Theresa and
Pershing were left unmOlested to
help serve the stringent housing
needs in their respective cOmmuni-
ties.
Oct. 14-That now-famous ex-
preston of 1t. Gen. Brehon Somer-
veil, "Pd like to throw the coons
into the middle of the desert" was
exposed by US. He was speaking
of Negro soldiers.
The first part of November, the
general issued a memorandum to
all camp and post commanders out
lining a progressive procedure for
lettering race relations.
Dec. 8 and 16-We criticized the
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23
PAGE Mr.. BLBO!
GARDNER FLAYS NEGROES
FOR LACK OF INTEREST
IN AFRICAN 'HOMELAND''
BY DAN GARDNER

The American Negro officially goats his divorce
any connections with his native homeland Africa
his desire to be disconnected with any suggestion of kim
ship interest in the so-caed dark continent has pro-
crossed far that today only hears nostalgia discussion
the homeland among the socaed ignorant in the
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23
Letters

Passes Around
Paper Overseas
Editor: am enclosing money for
another years subscription of your
fine paper to be sent to my son, T/5
Clyde NJ. Scroggins, at Camp Swift,
Texas. Clyde says that your paper
is wonderful and has made friends
of lots of fellows from all over the
country.
Each week after he has read it,
he then sends it to some field or
camp where he has been stationed
to be read and enjoyed by his
former comrades. Thank you again.
Mrs. Beulah Cohron,
901 Fourth st. No., Minneapolis.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23

Hamline Field House, on Sunday
night, March a, when Bishop E. W.
Kelly of st. Louis will address the
Methodists of the Twin City area.
Bishop Kelly will preach in our
church at IL a. M, March A, and
dedicate the church after the
service.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23
Poor Judgment Mars Tea

It's unfortunate that Judgment ruined the perfectly swell idea
THE World Minneapolis NAACP
day This have been occasion when people of all would
fellowship listen
but turned be long taest plus musical
numbers
What could pleasant affair
been happy again. developed instead boring scomfong
which bodered ridiculous
who had charge of the affair honestly make huge
but their leadership advice should
sought from others who active and experienced handling such
public efforts No how much thinks he knows about the
should timing,
execution and taste
We know how difficult people
public affairs and know that of the reluctance capable
people based the experience of previously having had
ing public affairs degenerate unfortunate faulty
planning and execution Whenever Negroes public affairs
cay they border the social they should
affairs good ueed programs
inept presentation.
Though Sundays affair announced
long and the interpretations extensive that of
have time for reception money
have been raised from the thoroughly audience
lost to the
We write this but every
who worked this effort good job
but the lack Of understanding the high patterns
the people of the community plus the tendency
spired to somewhat ruin the occasion.
We again allow the opportunity
admirers other people be fd handling
ment which does not reflect credit good
When afraid be humble
fdence in yourself and position-Albert E. Wggam.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23
REPUBLICAN, PAPER DEGREES COALITION


Raymond Moey who high influence with the New Dealers
back the es but who recently has somewhat bad
with hem told the Republican recently of the things
must do to enough control the elections in 1915 and 9
One of his recommendations criticism the voiced
months
southern Democrats and northern Republicans whose object
block certain sponsored by the Roosevelt administration
He said that the Republicans the criticism reaction
and of calculated
thus alternating the of labor and liberal elements while the
south these Democrats control the and and
thus have little opposition at election time.
has been difficult for the Bytander understand the
of these Republicans who fall into this These Democrats
headed by such Rankin Mississippi hates and labor
ba And northern Republicans friendly
ward Negroes and labor These generally oaon
and yet the Republicans get the criticism for following such
and not the Democrats.
Iowa Republicans in the house entirely much of this
in sessions they starting do the the
present session.
Prof Mo certainly hits the nail the head when he makes this
charge must be stopped the Republicans will continue wind
with less votes than the Democrats succeeding elections
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23
a significant service.

Rev. Nelson will deliver the first
of a series of sermons on "Our
Stake in This War from a Christian
Point of View" at the II a. m.
service on Sunday. Parents, wives
and other relatives of the members
of the church who are in the armed
forces are to be the special guests
at this service.
The choir will go to the Border
Church in Minneapolis Sunday
afternoon to practice with the
choir of that church for the ap-
pearance that these choirs will
make at Methodist Twin City
Victory Crusade Rally in the
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23

nomic organizations to invest
money in African resources which
can be done just as we'll by Ne
groes as by whites.
In other words, we do not need
an army to go in and chase the
British out of Uganda, or the Bel
gians out of the Congas, to gain
an economic foothold in the coun-
try of our native heritage which
today supports several white en-
pires. What we need is an under
standing that would gain US an in
road into the trade of the postwar
period that is bound to take place
between Liberia, Ethiopia, and the
rest of the world.
Reports Halle Selassie Seeks Aid
Right now we hear reports every
once in a while that Emperor Halle
Selassie of Ethiopia is desper-
ately in need of American Negro
technical advisers, engineers,
craftsmen, and others. If this is his
attitude then it is certainly smart
to reason that he would also be
interested in any Negro venture
with a sound backing, financial of
course, to enter into an exporting
arrangement. The same would be
true of Liberia where the Firestone
people have made many fortunes
out of rubber, and where other
whites have grown lousy with
money while Negroes get nothing
but spend all of their time CRITICS.
ing and saying, What have I to
do with those people over there?
The hope that indignation will
solve our problem here is one that
has cost US untold millions, both in
money and in blood, sweat, and
tears, with scarcely any positive
results to show for it after years
and years of struggle. If one-tenth
of the money spent on inter-racial
programs of goodwill, education,
etc. was channeled into practical,
economic projects, such as trading
with African countries, as well as
those in the Caribbean Sea area,
the results, imagine, would be
far more satisfactory than those
obtained in a fruitless fight.
All Other Races Put Selves First
Every other people in the Ameri-
can melting pot make it manda-
tory that recognition of the home
land comes first in their thinking.
That is why the Germans always
remember the fatherland; why the
Irish sing of dear old Ireland; why
the Italian sends his money back
to Italy; why the Pole fights his
native political wars in American
newspapers and forums; and why
the Jewish people have a world
wide fight on today that is every
bit as relentless as the war on the
second front and the Eastern front
in Europe to get back into Pales-
tine and there establish a free ma
tional homeland. These people have
far more than we and will always
because they have roots which we
have not.
The American Negro has his
roots in fancy and in pipe dreams
and mirages which he chases for
lifetime and then leaves instruc-
tions for his children to follow
suit. Some day we, perhaps, may
come into the realization of our
dreams, but 1 fear that when this
is done the world will have ad-
vanced so many steps that we will
have to start all over again.
Meanwhile, let US cut out this
tommyrot that we have no stake
or interest in Africa and face facts.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23

of the homeland among the 81
bowels of the deep South or in the
Stun areas of our great cities.
The official attitude on the ques-
ton of a national Negro homeland
has been set by the Kappa key boys
and the girls who want to be mis-
taken for white or as something not
exactly a Negro. The emphasis
has been laid since the days of
Frederick Douglass on Indignation
into the stream of American life,
social, economical, and political.
This theme has been stressed and
reiterated over and again until now
it has become woven firmly into the
fabric of our thinking. More and
more the seriousness of this view
point has come to the fore in these
times of international affairs and
postwar planning.
Color Against Such Changes
1t would be highly ideal if the
American Negro were or had a
good chance in the very near future
of being completely wrapped up in
the American picture so as not to
be identified as anything but an
American regardless of his color,
but the fact of the matter is that
he cannot be so integrated until
something is done about his color
and physical appearance.
l know that these remarks are
sure to bring down the wrath of all
the pseudo-scientists, biologists,
psychologists, etc., of color who
earn their living arguing the op-
posite theory. This great group of
geniuses has been in the vanguard
of the boys and girls fighting for
Indignation and against any refer
ence to Africa as a possible con-
nection worth cultivating by the
Negro in the present or in the
future.
The familiar chant is this: "This
is our home; we don't know any
other place but this, and this is
where we are going to stay. Our
fathers died to build this country
and we have as much right here as
anyone else. We didn't bring our
selves here, we were brought here.
This country owes u.s." etc. etc. etc.
Africa In Its Proper Perspective
In a measure this is wholly true
and an unacceptable fact that one
would be completely out of order to
start an argument about, but
somewhere along the line there
must be a common ground where a
practical conclusion can be arrived
at, and l think the conclusion
should by all means be full and
comprehensive enough to include
Africa in it's proper perspective.
By Africa | do not mean any
visionary proposition as thought up
by Marcus Garvey or others on
marching into Africa and taking
over from the Belgians, French,
British, and other white nations
who have built their power and
wealth on the backs of the untold
millions of black natives in our
homeland. l think that our approach
should be as sane as that of any of
the great colonial powers which
now is busy extending it's sphere of
influence to colonial regions, not
alone in Africa but in other places,
such as Asia.
1t would be highly idiotic to join
in with the race-baiters of the
South, such as Rankin, Bilbo and
company, and advocate mass mi
grafton of Negroes to Africa as
the solution for the race problem.
That is not the point here. The idea
1 suggest is the forming of eco
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Ralph LOcher Gets
NeJC State Position

Ralph Locher, 20, Bluffton High
school graduate, has been elected Sec
retary of the state industrial COM
mission, it was announced Saturday.
Since receiving his law degree in
1889 from Western Reserve univers-
ity, Locher has been a practicing at
torney in Cleveland.
In taking his new post, Locher
succeeds Ralph Klapp, of st. Paris
who resigned to become assistant at
torney general. Salary of the sec
retary of the industrial commission
is $4,000 yearly.
Locher is married to the former
Eleanor Worthington, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. A. T. Worthington, of
South Main street. They have a
small daughter Virginia. An aunt
Mrs. Mary Diller and uncle Chris
Locher live here.
The new state .appointee is a son
of Mrs. Eph Locher, former Bluffton
resident, and a nephew of the late
Cyrus Locher, former United States
senator. He was graduated from
Bluffton High school, attended Day
ton university, graduated from Bluff
ton college, and then received his
law degree from Western Reserve
university in 1889.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Frank BurkhOLder
Rites Held Tuesday

Funeral services were held Tues
day afternoon in the Ebenezer Men
MONTE church for Frank j. Burk-
holder, 81, a retired farmer, who
died at his home two miles northeast
of Beaverdam in Richland township
at Abs a. m. Sunday.
Death was attributed to infrmities.
Burkholder was born in Paulding
county May 13, 1868, and was mar
ried on Jan. 2, 1902, to Susan Kien-
er, who survives.
In addition to the widow other sur
vivors are two daughters, Mrs. Helen
Lugibill, Columbus Grove; Mrs. Mary
Amstutz, at home; and four sons,
Sidney and Harley Burkholder, Beav-
erdam; Clarence Burkholder, with
the u. S. forces overseas, and Pfc
Marlin Burkholder, Camp Lee, Va
He was a member of the Ebenezer
Mennonite church where the rites
were held Tuesday with Rev. Johr
Esau officiating. Burial was in the
church cemetery.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Latest Wartime Scarcity Pinch
es Supply of 0veralls, Shirts
and Gloves Here
Small Remaining Stock of Shirts
Cleaned Out in Buying Rush
Last Saturday

A new wartime scarcity-that of
work garments-is the latest to make
itself felt in Bluffton, with clothing
for the farmer and laboring man
virtually unobtainable here.
No bib overalls could be found on
the shelves of Bluffton dealers the
first of this week, and. altho there
is heavy demand merchants are IN
able to tell when they may have
garments of that kind in stock.
A few work shirts which local
stores had on hand last week were
cleaned out in heavy buying Satur-
day.
Canvas work gloves, too, cannot be
found in town, despite the fact that
Bluffton has branch factory of the
Boss Manufacturing Co., specializing
in that product.
Entire output of the Boss plant
is covered by high priorities, and no
sales can be made by the plant To-
cally, it was announced by Charles
Lloyd, manager. Most of the gloves
made here are used in industries en-
gagged in war production.
In addition, the Bluffton plants
output has been cut by shortage of
help, which has prevailed over the
last year.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08

Harold r. Santschi, Aviation Ord
nanceman Second Class, of lot Kib-
Ter Street, Bluffton, is one of the
aircrewmen who helped VPB-61, a
Navy search and patrol squadron,
overcome weather and Japs during
a recently completed nine months
tour of duty in the stormy Aleutians.
He flew in Consolidated Catalina
(PBY) flying boats on search mis-
sions, convoy duty and inshort pa
troll The squadron flew a total of
6,150 hours, averaging more than
500 hours a month in weather often
extremely hazardous for flying.
The squadron made three single
plane flights over the Northern Kur-
lies, which are located just north of
Japan proper. Other special mis-
sions included the rescue of the pilot
of an Army P-40 who was forced
down off Kanaga Island in the Aleu-
tians. He was located a short time
before he would have succumbed To
the intense cold. Two Navy air
crewmen ferried the Army pilot in q
rubber life raft through the rough
water between the island and the
rescue plane offshore.
Santschi was home on furloueh
during the early part of January.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Nine From District In
AancOck Draft Call

mine Bluffton area men are among
xthe 140 Hancock county registrants
who were called for induction into
the armed service and for pre-induc-
tion physical examinations this week.
Of the 140 called, SO were inducted
and 90 were notified to report for
pre-induction examinations.
Among those inducted were Clyde
w. Hartman, Route /, Blutfton;
Daniel Redick, Jenera; and James
w. Redd, Jr., Route /, Lafayette.
The 90 registrants called for
physical examinations included Jesse
E. Wiess, Route /, Bluffton; Paul
LaVerne Shulaw, Route 1, Bluffton;
Don C. Edie, Route l, Pandora;
Harry G. Ream, Route l, Jenera;
John Reel, Jenera; mad Clair A.
Leiber, Bluffton.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
SCHOOLS cURTAIL
ACTIVITIES DURING
SHORTAGE OF COAL
High School Building and Ii
brary Will Be Open Only One
Night Each Week
Retail Stores Here Continue to
Operate on Regular Sched-
ules for Present

Closing of Bluffton public schools
and Bluffton college Monday marked
the first step in this community
participation in statewide fuel
conservation program recommended
by Gov. Frank j. Lausche.
Next week, however, the schools
expect to operate on a regular sched-
ule, and thus far no local retail
stores, taverns or places of amuse-
ment have announced plans to close
at least one day each week, as rec
commended by the Governor.
Buttons fuel situation altho
tight is not at the critical stage
which prevails in many larger cities,
and so far coal dealers have been
able to make deliveries to everyone
short of fuel. Several carloads ar
rived here the first of the week.
Schools have enough coal for the
present, and will continue to operate
on normal classroom schedules, altho
evening activities will be sharply
curtailed.
The high school building will be
open only one night each week as
long as the fuel shortage continues.
This week the building will be used
only on Friday night, when the
basketball team plays its last home
game of the season.
Beginning next week, all evening
activities in the school will be re-
stricted to Wednesday nights only.
This will include night operation of
the Community Library in the high
school building which otherwise will
be open only during school hours,
and will be closed all day Saturday.
Gov. Lausche's recommendation on
fuel conservation came as the fuel
situation became more critical-the
result of increased consumption, low
er coal production, continued cold
weather and transportation bottle
necks.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Births

The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Eldon Lugibihl,
Pandora, a son, Kenneth Paul, Tues
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stephan Schey,
Cleveland, son, Wednesday morn
ing.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cioyce Hauenstein,
Ada, a son, Wynn Lee, Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Marion Burkholder,
Bluffton, daughter, Linda Ann, last
Wednesday.
Mr.. and Mrs Howard Crozier
Ada, a son, last Wednesday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Bluffton Area Soldiers Are
Reported Wounded In Action

Peter Schmidt, in action in the
Philippines has been wounded in the
left arm, according to word received
by his mother, Mrs. Albert Klapp of
South Main street. Schmidt has
been in naval service in the South
Pacific for the past two years.
Pfc. Berdell Huber, machine gum
ner, was slightly wounded in Bel
gium, January 10, according to word
received by his wife, Mrs. Marjorie
Huber of South Main street, Tues
day. He is now in an Army hos
pital, location of which was not dis
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Farm Census Delayed
By SnOIUbOund Roads

Farm census enumeration of Rich
land township and other rural areas
of this district is far behind sched-
ule because of snow-blocked roads
and wintry conditions which have
made it impossible to contact many
families.
Walter Schaublin, census enumer-
ator for Richland township, who had
planned to complete his work by the
end of January, was delayed in MAX
ing his contacts by drifted rural
roads, many of which are not yet
open.
A farm census has been taken
every five years during the last 100
years to list aggregate farm inven-
tories and gross farm income from
major farm sources.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Mayors Notice

Bluffton, together with other Ohio
communities is faced with a shortage
of coal. This situation, although
serious, can be met successfully by
the united cooperation of residents
of the town.
During the present emergency coal
dealers are supplying only those resi-
dents who have five days supply
or less of coal on hand. If you have
more than that amount on hand,
please do not ask for coal as there
are others in greater need.
While authorities are empowered
to check suspected violations, we
hope this will not be necessary.
w. A. Howe, Mayor
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-02-08
Work Garments Disappear From
Merchants Shelves In Blufft0n
BedUerdana Area Men
Missing In Action

Two men from the Beaverdam
area in the European theatre of war
are listed as missing in action, ac-
cording to reports the first of the
week.
They are Lawrence Yant, Jr., and
Basil Fisher.
Yant, the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Lawrence Yant, Sr., of Beaverdam,
was formerly employed here at the
Woodcock electric generating station
of the Central Ohio Light & Power
company.
Fisher is the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Howard Fisher of near West Point
church. He has wife and two child
rem.