davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
Open Forum
COLUMN
FOR THE VOICE OF TIL
PEOPLE

The following letter has been
received by Mrs Ethel R. Wea-
yer, of Husk, about her son, PFC.
Ford E. Greer, who was killed
in action in France last July:
20 January 1915
Mrs. Ethel R. Weaver
Husk, N. C..
Dear Mrs. Weaver:
1t is with the deepest regret
that I write to offer my sympathy
in the death Of your son, Pfc.
Ford E. Greer.
Ford was wounded in action
80 July 1914, and died as a re-
suit of these wounds the same
date in Normandy, France. He
was buried in a U. S. Military
cemetery, in Normandy, France;
services being conducted by an
appropriate Chaplain of the U.
S. Army. These places of burial
are being made into permanent
Memorial Cemeteries, are kept
by the Government, and are
made as beautiful as possible.
The heroism displayed by the
American soldier in these days
continues to amaze the world and
surely holds the promise of
great future for our country.
Your sons sacrifice is helping to
build a better world for us all.
l share your pride in him.
I know that my words are in
adequate to lessen your sorrow
at this time, but our Heavenly
Father can give you the comfort
and consolation to bear this bur-
den. May His presence give you
strength and His grace lift you
up.
Most, sincerely yours,
John F. McKenna,
Chaplain.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
Capt. Hays Wins
3 Major Awards

Capt. Mack L. Hays, Jr., son Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Mack L. Hays, of
Texas, has been awarded three
major awards for service in the
European Theater of Opera
tions, according to information
received here. He now holds the
Silver Star, the Bronze Oak Leaf
Cluster, the Bronze Star, the In
fantry Badge of Merit, and the
Purple Heart Decoration.
The Silver Star was awarded
to him on December 7, 1914 for
''gallantry in action against the
enemy in Normandy, July 80,
1944". The Bronze Oak Leaf
Cluster was awarded the next
day for action against the enc
my in Germany, on October z,
1914, on night raid" Just how
he won the Bronze Star is not
known, as the citation merely
said "for heroic achievement in
military operations, on November
49," Captain Hays was wounded
three times, the last being on De-
cember 9.
Capt. Hays is the grandson of
ME-. and Mrs. A. H. Morrison, of
Clyde, Texas. Mrs. Morrison is
the former Miss Sallie Coward
of this county.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
A Federal Post Office
Building

West Jefferson has been enjoying a
noticeable growth in spite of having no
new war plants. Here and there, new
houses have been springing up, even in the
face of critical shortage of labor and
materials ~@
But perhaps one of the best criterion
for measuring the growth of the town is
that the post office has climbed to second
class. AS such it is entitled to a Federal
building, when at such a time buildings
are being erected.
This section has the honor of giving to
Washington, the nation and the world, one
of the country's most distinguished con-
gressmen, Robert L. Doughton. We are
sure that if the people want post office
building and will work for it, Congressman
Doughton will do everything possible to
secure such a building, when the govern
ment starts that type Of work again.
It would be big addition to our town
and county,. Let's work towards it now.
This paper this week started petition re-
garding building. If you have not signed
it, come in and do so. The voice of every
American counts. That is the American
way.
With the gradual removal of building
restrictions, the government may resume
its building program soon. Let's be in .on
the ground floor.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
TWENTY-THREE LOTS {
HERE ARE SOLD BY
w. J. LAND COMPANY

Two large real estate transac-
tions have taken place here dur
ing the past few days.
The Parker Tie company has
purchased IA lots on which they
have been storing lumber, from
the West jefferson Land COM
pany and Ed jenkins has bought
9 lots located near the railroad
track back of Dollar Service sta
ton and the Kraft cheese plant
from the Land company.
The purchase price for this
property was not disclosed. At
a later date, both of the new
owners plan to erect buildings,
it is understood.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
ASHE SUPERIOR COURT
is NOW IN SESSION

CONTINUED from Page One>
compromised and adjusted and a
non-suit ordered.
John Griffiths, executor of the
estate of A. c.. Griffiths, was or
dered to pay to Mrs. Rose Pen
nington a sum of money amount
ing to $500 which she had in
herited.
Permission to amend complaints
or answers was granted in the
cases of j. B. Lawson against J.
D. Mcneil, Manley Blevins
against Rose Blevins, Fred Wat
son against Orville Green and
others, Boice Rash against Gar
field Hodgson, Century Indemni-
ty company against T. K. Miller
and J. w. Hampton.
Surveys were ordered in the
cases of Guy Badger against Hill
liary Lewis and Elihu Miller VS..
T. F. Calhoun.
Judgments were signed in the
cases of William Bowers VS.. J. R..
Carson, Wiley Little and others
against Morgan Manufacturing
company, F. L. Lewis against R.
w. Coward and Edward Osborne,
administrator, against R. w. Col
ward.
Court is expected to last
through most of next week.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
TRIED BY MAYOR

The following were tried by
Mayor Chas. o. Parsons, in Maya
or's Court, here, on MondaySS
Oren Hopkins and c. E. Miller,
each arrested for public drunk
enness, were fined $4,000 and
cost each. Bur1es Roark, arrest
ed for public drunkenness, was
given a sentence of 80 days IN
Jail to be suspended upon pay
ment of $500 and cost. Lee
also arrested for public
drunkenness, was given SEN
tence of 80 days in Jail to be sus-
pended upon payment Of $4,000
and cost. Clarence Powers, ar
rested for having one quart Of
white liquor III his possession. was
fined $aD.OO and cost ap.-as.a.yss-ee,s
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
Planning To Hold
Wool Pool Soon

1t was announced this week by
the county agents office that pre-
liminary plans for a cooperative
wool sale were being made and
the dates would be released in the
near future.
Several people have been
making inquiries about this and
we want them to save their wool
for it," Agent Grouse said. He
pointed out that he was expecting
prices to be equally as good as
they were last year.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
Returning Books
Schedule Given


A. B. Hurt, superintendent of
schools, has announced the fol-
lowing dates for returning books,
rented by the different schools,
to the book room in Jefferson:
Saturday, June 2, Riverview,
1000 m, and jefferson at 1870
p. m.
Tuesday, June 5, Healing
Springs, 1000 a. M; Nathan's
Creek, 100 p. M; West Jefferson,
$3.50 p. m, and Fleetwood, 500
p. m.
Thursday, June 7, Virginia.
Carolina at 1000 a. m.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
C. B. PRICE SPOKE
AT BETHEL FINALS

G. B. Price, of Clifton, chairman
of N. c. Rural Identification Au-
thority, delivered the graduating
address at Bethel high school last
week, near Roxboro. Professor
James Stanley, formerly of this
county, is principal of the school
He and Mrs. Stanley and, daugh7,
ter, Barbara Lynn, have returned
to Creston for the summer.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
PVT. OLIVER AWARDED
PURPLE HEART MEDAL

Marine Private Joseph Ferd
Oliver, son of Mr.. and Mrs. J. E.
Oliver, of Fig, has been awarded
the Purple Heart for wounds re-
ceived in action on Okinawa Is
land in the Pacific. He is now a
patient in the Fleet hospital and
has written that he is improving
rapidly.
Pvt. Oliver entered the service
in July, 1914, and went overseas
last December. He has been sta
toned somewhere in the South
Pacific since that time.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
S.-SGT. STUMP yC
GIVEN A DECORATION

CONTINUED from Page One)
tories at Regensburg, Germany.
The son of Mr.. and Mrs. J. l..
Stump of Nathan's Creek, Sgt.
Stump, before entering the Army
Air Forces in September, 1943,
was a student at Nathan's Creek
high school, He received his
gunner's wings in September,
1914, at Yuma, Arizona.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
Pfc. James Howell
Is Now Liberated

Pfc. James M. Howell, son of
Mrs. S. M. Howell, of Husk, has
notified his mother that he has
been liberated from a German
prison camp and is we'll and hopes
to return home soon. Pfc. How
ell explained that he had been
freed by the Russian Army on
it's advance into Germany. He
had been a prisoner since last
December.
Pfc. Howell entered service Is
months ago and has been over
seas for eleven months.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
Cpl. Davis Has
Completed Work

Boca Ration Field, Ala-Cpl.
Robert Davis, of West Jefferson,
was graduated last week from
an advanced communications
course at Boca Ration Army Air
Field, a technical school of the
AAF Training Command.
Cpl. Davis is a graduate of JEFF
ferson High School and Appalah-
ian State College. Prior to en-
tering the service he was prin-
cipal of Fleetwood high school.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
PFC. SEYMOUR is
KILLED IN ACTION

Mrs. Bill Isenhour, of Oval, has
been notified by the War De-
partment that her husband, Pfc.
Bill Isenhour, of the army, died
in a hospital in England on March
81, after being wounded in a
plane crash in Germany on March
18. Pfc. Isenhour had only been
overseas a few months. His wife
is the former Miss Audry Good
man.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
MOVEMENT STARTED
TO GET POST OFFICE

Continued from Page One)
is understood that a postwar pro-
gram is now being contemplated
and this newspaper believes that
every effort should be made to
get West Jefferson included on
the list.
With a population of nearly a.
600, Ashe county does not have a
single federal building and the
present post office quarters here
are not adequate for the increas-
ing volume of business.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
SGT. Albert Poe
Now Liberated

S-Sgt. Albert Poe, formerly of
this county, the nephew of Messrs.
Jack and John Rhodes, of West
Jefferson, has been liberated
from a German prison camp in
Germany, after being a prisoner
since February, 1943.. S.-Sgt.
Poe has notified his family that
he is safe and we'll and hopes to
be able to return home soon.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31
GUERNSEY SALE TO
BE HELD ON JUNE 9

Continued tro,.a Page One)
George D.. Herndon, Kings Noun
tain; Wayne Herndon, Kings
Mountain; r. E. Lasater, Winston
Salem; P. M. Neisler, Kings
Mountain; Harold Pinnix, Hamp-
tonville; w. D. Todd, Yadkin-
vile; Albert G.. Voss, Below
Creek; Harold White, Hamptons-
vile; and the :. Estate of G. T.
White, Hanptonsville.
A prize male Guernsey. will be
given away by the Kraft Cheese
company and Coble Diaries, it
was .apnounced.,,:,.,ss,::>> = }.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31

Good dairy cows fed thesright
kind of home grown ieed pays
pasture. With this the daily feed
you have to buy is cut down con-
siderably, Any farmer can breed
up his herd and produce milk as
Mr.. Burkett is doingss-s~a...a---~sa..a.sl
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31

The fact that seed are high
priced does not necessarily mean
that they are adapted to North
Carolina conditions,
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-05-31

WAR BONDAt e. buy them
help win victory. :.s. 9.-s-.] 1
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-10-27
THE SILLY SIDE

One would gather from reading some of the
stories now cropping up in few Negro newspapers
that Miss Lillian Smith, the author of Strange
Fruit" has committed some great social sin in her
portrayal of life in Dixie. Even more confusing is
the smear campaign against the daughter of Walter
White who has accepted the role of "Nonnie' in the
stage adaptation of Miss Smiths novel.
What seems to irk some of our newsmen is the
fact that Miss Smith makes Negro coed fall in
love with well-to-do but weak-willed white boy
who, though he returns the girls love- cannot over
come his hate-ridden environment. These newsmen
have interpreted this as smear on Negro woman
hood and are beating the drums of Negro national
ism. Because Jane White has accepted the role of
the Negro coed, "Nonne," they are labelling her
traitor to the race.
These newsmen have managed to overlook the
supremey important fact that Strange Fruit is
one of the most eloquent indictments of the Souths
aforementioned culture that has been written by
anybody, white or colored. Further the character
of. "Nonnie' is being deliberately misinterpreted
and distorted Is it nooncevable that true love can
cross the color line in the South? To deny this it
seems to us, would be greater slur on Negro wom-
anhood than anything Miss Smith has done. 1t
would follow that there waSno love nor affection
at all involved in the miscegenaton which has so
mixed up the Negro group that anthropoligists now
hold that three-fourths of the Negroes in America
have so-caled white blood
The petty carping of these newsmen is serving
to dstort the true message of Strange Fruit" The
novel and the stage play boldly depict the great
crime of the South where both Negroes and whites
are victimized and destroyed in miasma of racism
and blind hate. No reader can escape the novels
urgent plea for the abolition of segregation and the
racist thinking which so cripples the South.
For Southern white woman to rise above the
ignorance and antNegro traditions of her environ
ment and lash out against the diseased culture as
Miss Smith does in Strange Fruit" is an encourag-
ing thing. The puerile frothing of few h a f.
literate newsmen over suspected slur, which is
less in fact than Pigment of their own fancy, rep
resents the silly side of serious issue which Miss
Smith has brought before the American people,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-10-27
MAKING 1T WORK

Several columnists in the daily press have re-
ported an interesting incident involving George
.Jessel and Lena Horne 1t seems that they were
about to take seats at table in high-brow joint
in Chicago The headwaiter, who was obviously per-
turbed by the color of Mr. Jesses guest for the eve
ming decided to act promptly. He approached the
famous entertainer and asked very pointedly who
had made the reservations for the table. To his
eternal credit Mr.. Jessel shot back without mo-
ment's hesitation ABE Lincoln"
The story touches upon one of the most mad
dening aspects of Negro life in America Few
whites can appreciate the bitterness which public
insults engenders in Negroes. TO be eternaily on
guard against humiliation and embarrassment to
be composed and sane in the face OF pubic scofn
has done so much damage to the spirit of some OF
us that it is wonder that violent clashes between
the races are no worse than they are
While it is true that the problems OF housing
Jobs, etc. are the basic causes of friction and ten
sion we firmly believe that if Negroes were granted
a greater measure of civil liberty great deal of
violence which now mars Negro-white relationships
would be curtailed 1t is impossible to treat man
like dog and then expect him to act like gentle
man. Kicking Negroes around in public places has
ALWAYS led to trouble, and the more intelligent and
cultured the Negro group becomes the more trouble
may be expected.
There is no denying the fact that some Negroes,
like some whites behave in such manner that they
are not entitled to respect Nevertheless, all lncen-
tive to cultured behavior is destroyed when Negroes
who have attanments are given the buns rush.
Closing the door of Constitution Hall in the face
of talented Hazel Scott because of her color is not
only an affront to her but it is slap in the face OF
every Negro who wants to make something of his
or her life. Simply because some heroic souls have
risen above the scornfu ways of the majority group
does not obscure the fact that Negroes suffer great
~ and unjustly from these artificial barriers.
Whites who really want inter-group harmony
should join the struggle to eliminate discrimination
in public places as we'll in the basic areas OF jobs
and housing For better or worse, Negroes and
whites are going have to continue to share the use
of public facilities in some fashion, and there is al
ways going to be needless tension and friction until
men and women are treated according to their IN
dividual merits rather than according to the color
of their skins.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-10-27
BiIbo Custer Is
Sent To Truman

Many prominent Southerners
have signed petition circulated
by the Southern Negro Youth Con-
GreSs asking that the Senate Of the
United States and President Tru-
man take some action to rid the
Senate Of the United States Of Sen.
Theodore Bilbo. The petition which
points out that Senator Theodore
Gilmore Bilbo of Mississippi daily
broadcasts rallying calls TO action
TO all lynch-mindcd fascists who
arc taking UP the fallen banner Of
Hitlerism," states that all Amerl-
cans have a responsibility TO those
who have died in the cause Of de-
mocracy and urges the immediate
expulsion of Bilbo from the SEN
ID
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-10-27
THE LAST LAP

Now that only few days are left Tor the vafl-
Gus candidates to persuade the people that they
should be elected to public office, great deal OF
tension is in the air The Negro leadership Is hope
full that no appeals will be made to race prejudice
So far most of the candidates have tried to keep the
campaign clean.
Nevertheless. it has been noted that lot OF
scuYrilous campaign literature is being circulated
in some quarters and there are some grounds for
fear that more is on the way We would like to
call to the attention of the authorities the fact that
ANONYMOUS hate-literature is against the city ort-
nance Citizens who find such literature should
take it to police headquarters Immediately
There should be no bitterness in this campaign
and those who seek to arouse bitterness are doing
the community disservice. Most of the eandi-
dates, certainly the candidates for Mayor are well
known in Detroit and everybody knows what they
stand for and what may be expected Of them. There
remains one big job in the Negro community and
that is, getting the vote out
The majority of whites and Negroes who voted
in the primary election demonstrated that they are
supporting Frankensteen, Hill, Edwards and Doll.
They will not be elected however if the citizens fail
to go to the polls on November g. In short, the peo-
pie know who to vote for but in this instance know-
edge is not enough. You have got to it cleo
ton day.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-10-27

The Senate may consider a bill
offering Puerto Rico choice be-
tween complete independence and
wider loca. selt-governnen,. State
/ bod would not be authorized by
Con IreSs and We have no actual
dominion status so the little island
mas problem
Paul Robson was given tho
Spinsarn Award last week. al
according 10 Hoyle
Daily News circulation is falling
of since the JeW-baitinS INDUCED
in BY columnlst John ODonnell
! new vets sanitation, The
Veterans Committee Against Dis
elimination" picketed the daily
offices. too. Alta boy!
Josh White went out on light
craft 10 meet the 332nd as il steam
ed in The harbor Josh hasn't been
out Of the hospital long but he
entertained the boys for two hours
The Schomburg's Lawrence d
Reddick quit the advisory commit.
tee on human relations 20 tn"
board Of education So did 'he
chairman The boys SAID they
weren't getting anywhere.
Hear tell more than 5000 people
picke,ed the Gerald l. X Smith
rally in Los Angeles last week Put
the heat on those native faScists
before they SiZZle you.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-10-27
z0zz !.l|!!l!

Hazers case Is still boiling Cow
ernor Dewey raised cain over Il IN
speech 10 the New YORK State
Baptist convention p. S.N- the
cholrS SnE.Ns. Dewey SAID nc d
ike - take them or tour. Mos.
o. al 20 OAR aa',s
Springfield IT, banned stage
performance ~ Uncle r O n
Cd6in Never heard 81 50 many
people wanting 20 pit on IRA, pay
before nor s. many who d dnt
want i 10 80 on
Even TIC most o. ocral wh'S
sometimes dlsappon, you in con-
verSa,ion Returning vets too 0.'en
have picked up 'ha, scIr.i'ouS no.
bat troops Ira, las, IS exploded
uon about NEGROES belT- poor COM
by the Official army story nos out
Press biz boys IN town are Or.
Me-, Leonard Or the Chicago De-
fender and Charles BROWNING. also
Of the Defender and many allied
interests.
Think Mrs Rooscvc'"s altitude
on the OAR and r0Icd,v Mrs.
Truman IS very fnracaunC and
kind She is ~ a pcr'o., position
10 be SNUG and bias Mrs T, but
she gives her break even though
she doesn't deserve u.
That's all FOR now Keep h-htinr'
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-10-27

pathixers all over the country
who say that they are hoping
and praying" that the coming
election will give Detroit a mayor
who will not see red" every
time the issue of fair play for
Negroes Is raised.
DETROIT, il now appears. not
only is a barometer Of the nations
industrial reconVersion; Il also Is
barometer of what can be ex-
rected all over the country in the
field az better race relations.
Our answer TO each Of the above
inquiries has been the same:
THE DECENT elements in De-
troit - the union people, the
church folk and the members OF
progressive organizations in our
communicates and viii climi-
nate Jefries and his America
First" stooges on the common
council, provided they can got a
solid vote from Negro Detro.terS.
PAC tabulations show that this
not ONLY is possible; il is highly
probable. But the people on our
side. the Negro voters especially,
must put everything down on
November s long enough 10 20 10
the polls and mark a ballo, for
Frankensteen, Hill, Edwards and
Doll
Several PEOPLE outside the inmc-
slate ranks OF organized labor
Ike doctors. lawyers, teachers and
businessmen. have asked us about
Dick Frankensteen's general atti-
.udc on the subject OF far plav for
so.called minority groups They
know. Of course. that he is promi-
rcnt in CIO circles: that he fought
and literally bled 10 organize both
Nero and white workers of Ford
Motor Co: and that. presumably AZ
least. he SubscribeS 70 TIE Go prin-
e. pie OF no racial discrimination in
any union activity.
But thew say. Does ne prac-
: tice that In his everyday union
activities and will he follow those
princinles IL elected mayor Of
Detroit?"
Well. let's look at the record.
AT TIE Jaw convention in Buff
falo IN l943 the issue of greater off,
cia! parts iDation by Negroes m tho
Affairs Of the International UAW-
Go received considerable discus
sion. We have just been reading
over he proceedings OF that con-
ven'.o0 Hero are some excerpts
from Frankcns'een's f1hting speech
20 those one thousand JAW dele
7a'es from the South as wei. as
The North.
Z is the White nooolc Nho
usually arc d'-~~i~- '-a'irr 7-aInst
TIE calored, and not wee versa
Now, l, for one, have not