AGE rOUB
THE CAKOUNTAN
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1946
EDITORIALS
A GLANCE BACKWARD
Rankin resigns, he'll be there a long time.
Congressman Powell did well to avoid an
unnecessary verbal encounter with the un
dignified Mr. Rankin, who not only fights,
hut fights unfairly, and is not advers to
We mark history sightly when we are letting himself be represented as a martyr,
living in the midst of it. As we hear and
oad of the current massive carrier-baaed !
ittacks on Tokyo and other places in the^
Japanese homeland, we forget what a won
derful event was Doolittle's audacious
Inimbing expedition to Tokyo not so many niind many things. One of these is that Ne-
month.s ago. Even dimmer in our memories journalism was born as crusading
is Hie very real threat of the invasion of journalism. The early Negro newspapers
Ausli alia in 1942, when it looked as if Jap- [ind magazines were dedicated to a cause
(00,000 BOOKS NEEDED FOR
THCAMCRtCAN MERCHANT
MARINC UQRARY.
NEGRO NEWSPAPER WEEK
The 118th anniversary of -the Negro
press in the United States is one to call to
an would be soon and for an indefinite lime
thereafter undisputed mistress of the mid-
•the abolition of slavery. Throughout its
history probably the paramount objective
Pacific an eastward. Yet today we are ex- of the Negro press has been the raising of
peeling, with relative calmness, the occu-Jt. .status of the group it represents,
palion of an island within 750 miles of Tok-B it is good to note that the crusade for the
il iNegro’s full citizenship is today a.s import-
On the other side of the world also, weBant to the press as was the fight for free*
see, when we look back in review, that||jom from chattel slavery a century and
' events have moved fast. This time last yeai^ioro ago. Until full unqualified citizenship,
there was not an allied soldier anywhereBwith all that it impies, is an accomplished
in western Europe. We were looking to-Bfact, the Negro press must continue to be
ward the coast of France with determina-Ba crusading, special interest press. It has no
tion, but with many misgivings. As of to-fehoice.
day, however, France is long since liberat-^ Again, as last year, we should note w'ith
j ed, and though we have not yet crossed pride during Negro Newspaper Week the
the Rhine, we practically stand on its banks, excellent job being done by the Negro press
Last year this time the Russians were inthewar.Withoutawordimplyingdisloy-
driving the German from the Ukraine. Hun- ally or lack of patriotism, it hixs backed
dreds of thousands of the enemy were still the war, even as it has ferreted out and
well inside the soil of Russia. By today it publicized discrimination in the armed for-
is almost forgotten that at that time great cyg and on the home rout. Some have coun-
Soviet cities were still in German hands, as aelled that certain kinds of news should be
now the Red Army threatens Berlin and played down, because it would be bad for
Fi'ankfuit and Dresden, having captured the war effort; because it would promote
Warsaw and Budapest, and having over- disunity and ill-feeling. A superficial view,
run practically all of Poland. What was and is bad for the war effort,
Since this time last year the Balkan front what promotes disaffection and disunity,
has dis.ippeared, Greece has been liberal- is not the news about the facta, but the facts
ed, and all the Axis satellites have capitu- themselves. Those who would protect Uie
lated. The Axis has been whittled down war effort should try eliminating the mor-
to a fraction of its size of three or two years ale-destroying elements in our national life,
ago, or even one. rather than Just the news about them.
Final victory may seem slow in coming. Moreover there is no doubt that improve-
but in retrospect one may well be cheered nients which have been made as to the
by the distance from which we have come, participation of Negro America in the arni-
and the great strides that have been made forces and on the home front as this wvr
within a short time toward that much long- progressed would not have come as
«d ior’goal. a result of silence. In democracy a minori-
^BOOKS PmWIDE RELIEF FROM
TORPEDO TENSION AND CONVOY FATIGUE*
iecciid Thcufihts
Bt C. O. HAtXlBURTOII
K U,
Tho story in last week’s C.^
OLINIAN regarding
ment of gro secretary by a
St. Li>uis busmefis txetut:. is
mteresUnsi b*-cause it shows 'hat
can be done by an employer who
cares enough about fair play, and
who is wii.mg to iim the risk of
trying sonnething which is not
common.
It is also of interest to note tliat
the presence of the secretary has
not injur^ Mi'. Klem’s busmeM,
n'lr caused any serious difficulties
with his other employes.
Mr. Klein could easily have
demonstrated his interest in Ne
groes and their welfare by follow
ing the conventional method of
donating money toward Negro ed
ucation. He mi^t, without ii^ving
appeared in the least queer or im-
his own office.
The peiuliai nature of color
prejudice is indicrf*- ■! by the
that die one girl had to oe
dismi.ssea oocause of her attitude
toward the Negro employee was
a German ref-ogee. To be expect
ed was the attitude of the one
other «nploy«*e who r .ign* ! be
cause she fell her position W be
infericr to that of the colored girl.
But it also was a good demonstra-
Won of a principle which ou^t
to be - 'rc widely practiced. Let
itment be made some-
tunes oy the dissatisfied person,
i-ather than ^ways by making the
Negro suffer the necessity of
niakmg the adjustment, to nis
own disappointment and disad
vantage!
There are in general only two
certain circumstances, will resent
being “kept out of a Job" by a Ne
gro.
For years, in situations where
it has become customary, Negroes
and whites have worked together,
ofton more so in the South than
in uie North. In post offices, m en
gine cabs, in tobacco barns, in the
1.. di, on construction jobs,—ev
en m offices and stores, Negroes
and whites haev worked together,
as a matter at course.
It is often not a matter of the
• of work done, but the status
which goes with the Job. which
determines what the Negro may
etc. Sometimes it is simply a mat
ter of the title involved. The Ne
gro may op rate the engine, for
instance, as long as he is called
a fireman, but not an engineer.
Sometimes it's the title and the
Duv. But in anv case it is the
llie significance of Georgia's abandonment of the poll tax is
almost beyond estimation. Here we have this legal political liberation
of the common man, Negroes and whites alike in a state situated in
the heart of the South, the state which produced a red suspendered
Talmadge, the state in whi^ the lynching spirit has rin rampart
and the singing of a song causes blood to boil dan fur to fly.
Wht;n Governor Ernest Arnall of Georgia declared that he would
urge the passage of an anti-poll tax law we honestly believed that
he was using words to clear' the way for hi# plea for the removal
of discriminatory freight rates in the South. We thought that he
was using a statagem to keep fro mhaving to state why he co'oid
have Che colossal effrontery to for non discrimination in any
thing while his State was one of the greatest exponents of dis
crimination in the world. We even said that his effort was designed
to produce a smokescreen to hide from the Nation the fact that
in the South the poiitical strength was unduly proprotonately
greater than any place else in the Nation because a few people did
all of the talking for disfranchised millions.
But Governor Amall came through and for his willingness to
ca;ry his expressed plan thro*igh we doff our hat.
What can Georgia's outlawiug of the poll tax mean?
In the first instance the action is the first step toward proper
political representation. Pecq/.e in Georgia can feel that they have
no long.r this artificial obstructon to a fiar and just voice in the
affairs of the state. Of course the very fact of passing a law does
not imply that in its operation all of the injustices will be re
moved. As far as Negroes are concerned the people who administer
the law may still use many and varied subterfuges and intimida
tions to keep Negroes from making use of the voting privilege.
Yet one thing is certain, llie law is on the books. And with thinking
justice-loving and vigilant Negro leaders cm the job the State Su
preme Court can bo the recourse for those who feel that the law
IS being violated.
Secondly, Georgia's willingness to do the right thing will chal
lenge North Carolna to move on in other areas and will serve as
beacon light for other states in t^e South which have not yet seen
fit to take the first step. States in the North may feel the need to
make operative the justice of their laws in order to keep ahead of
the South.
In the third place Georgia may not be so poorly regarded now as
a place in which an organization for the developement of interracial
relationships may be located. Some of us might conclude that ths
Southern Regional Conference had influence on the legislation.
There are many 'benefits which will be derived from Georgia’s
first step. Many of them may not be evident for many yearn. We
all know that that is one thing d(me in Georgia which wiJ! liv#
long after the men who passed the law.
DO YOU AGREE?
EDITORIAL SHORTS
Big words do not always mean big thoughts.
• • • • •
Education, life vaccination, is wonderful, if it takes.
« • • • •
No first-class town was ever built by a bunch of scrubs.
• • • • •
The best way to exhibit your religion is through your daily life.
• . • • • *
Not all the jokes appear in print—some of them have two legs.
• * • • •
This is about the time erf the year to imitate the man with the
^trtor'goal.
FISTICUFFS ON THE HILL
The wisdom of Congressman Powell in
avoiding a common quarrel with the inel-
fable Rankin was demonstrated in an
it almost never get what it doesn’t—except
the kind of thing it does not want,
in supplying news about our
Lest We Fcraet.
By W. L. OREEIfE
This is about the time erf the year to imitate the man with the
Notice is hereby given that no spring poetry will be publish
ed in our columns.
• • • • •
Jiut because a man is a good sport does not always mean that
he is a good man.
Tht-re are evidences that forces purUnt as winning the battle on become victims of the reictionariee
reuctiun against iJie new liUrol- me islands uf the Pacinc and in the who would -ubstitute regulatory
born oi the pre-w:ir uepivo turopean theatre oi war. We must orders for democratic processes. The
Sion and the preaures of wai-mm; itinember that coeicion and regi- democracy is served only
HL-unoinv are aettina tt.emaeivea lui i..eiiiaUun which stops democratic ...
long^'progiani oi lomeback tl- controls of our social organizations when conti^ are
lorU. the resislance to coidirmatiun tend toward precedi-nu which the ed rather
than diminished. The
a rdsult of silence. In democracy a minori- ucationTlie might, wltho-at Tiaving vantage! *
. , , ..... appeared in the least queer or im- There are in general only two bome^es its the UUe and
ty may not always get what it asks for, but prSclical, have even contributed reasons why Negroes and whites pay- But m any case k is the
a sum to foster secretarial educa- cannot be employed amicably side statitt, work,
tion for young Negro women, giv- by side by the employer who has whi^ oftm • • • • •
wS woSfi'V.mpS; 11? mU The world, in generl, 1, no. i„,ere««i in the ind.vidunl who
fighting them when they finished the whites, as was demonstrated employers to find out tl^ could has a good excuse.
4 1 VT » • course Instead he concluded that above, will resent the occupation- do the same, wim TO earth-shak- • • • • •
men the Negro newspapers are doing an- best place to prove his theo- al Equality of the Negro. The oth- mg afterimths, if they cared real-
otlier admirable job. The Negro war cor- race relations was in er is that many whites, under ly to try it
direct way last week. The Honorable Con- l eapoudynU covering the doings of our boys
gres.sman from Mississippi became involv- fighting fronts for individual news-
ed in fisticuffs with a New Deal congress- p^p(4j.g syndicates represent a new de-
man from Michigan. parture in journalism—a feature almost ab-
It seems that Rankin, in some of his usual World War 1. Our people are in-
flinging of invective, called Congressman finitely better informed as to what is going
Hook a communist. The Michigan congress general, and what Negro troops are do-
man tufonlered with "liar.” Naturally, be- pailicular, than ever before, and
ing a southern gentleman, Mr. Rankin tjirough the Negro newspapers,
couldn’t take that epithet from anybodj. Finally, we should by no means forget
Only the intervention of other members of great debt the Negro press owes to
Congress kept Rankin and Hook from American system of freedom of the
swapping punches, though the latter sai p,.pgg right to publicize, t iticize,
afterward Uiat he had no desire to soc ^ protest, we take as a matter of course. ,, ^ , .n-
the white-haired and puny ItanKin. ^ world. White greas, the Texa* epn«Hle wherein of popular control. ^ nalUm it
said he wa.s once welterweight champion j„ jicta^jr countries would i>ra1''S'w”vvd «cti"n5*r“'ti«"™«ct'Sn.'oe.'"who ai .lake and our miuury fore
of Michigan. _ not dare, and have not for yea™ dared, to --ms away _ I,'" S na‘Jo„.“k'
The pugnacious and loud mout publish the kind of thing which is common* me action ol certain var boards m of the public. All war order, should fnn he
siasippian seems to have a strange immuni Negro press of this country, n;hi“whdr'holcms'the b'on "i'.nt Uke'the'hajLhlp.'of war. All of uk faced at the end of the tnlHUry con-
ty, however. Though he provoked the un* .,,,,..1 rehsious gatnonnss all pot.,' however, musl cooperate whole fllcl. we, Bhould deckle NOW U> re-
pleasantnesa, and though in many respects
it is w'orae to be dubbed a communist than pegeiods right. It is to the credit of Negro
to be called a simply prevaricator, the talk newspapecs that it is not more often abus-
about disciplinary measures has all been
directed against Congresaman Hook. (Left
or right?). The talk is being led by a fellow ANSWER THE CALL
southern fire-eater, the great Cox, of
Georgia. We are told, and it is not difficult to be-
Congressman Hook is reported to have Cross is spending $7 n
said, "If John Rankin will resign his seat, render its service to the armed
I’d be more than happy to go with him for ^gj-^gg others. The Red Cro.'is renders
the good of the country. services which cannot be performed by any
Cnngresmaa Hook may be sincere, and g^jjgj. agency. With iU efficient and
there is no doubt that his sacrifice of his far-flung organization, its world-wide pres- *
own .seat under the terms mentioned would fjgg^ and its semi-official national and in-
be a great service to the nation; but if he
manages to stay in Congress until John
reports of conditions overseas that
come to my desk each day, has
made me see this in a different
light.
Taxes are one of the few ways
which every citizen can parti
cipate in the government.
Taxes arc a contribution
every free born man and wom
an can make to the freed which
has given him and her an pp-
portunity to earn a living.
Taxes are an Insurance against
slavery, “niey keep the brutal
heel of the conqueror from
pressing against ^e neck of
any man or woman in this
country.
Taxes are a tangible expres
sion of our faith in the demo
cratic processes, in equal jus
tice for all before the law. in the
way of life which is evolving
for the first time on earth equal
opportunity for every man and
woman according to his or her
' Tgive y ur .lespas .
IS.
Human rei..tiL>i ship
ly 't^the p
kian'b
blf A
to a deliiiiu- trend io.,ard uvtfdiiiii . artedl, in carryin, out the dec.- .uiiie
Freedom of the press is a wonderful and pfogres in libeieluin bvlute real •loiui of Ih^ charged by the Com- w „„„
gaina can be regoilered There arc mat dec iit-Chiel with regulaUng tary emergency la ov«. we myat
Ihoae who would hav, ua lorg. l the aflaira ..I the nation to apend have more
nr,. rrLrrr..mts:e““j.'=’hS ry^■o‘m•v■‘rrp^;"e^'h’rf^;r'*
SUNDAY SCJOOL LESSON b,r.v m.w wuiu».
Subject Jesun Tt-:..‘leb ..i-J 'luc t. .n pniwiptCri * the King 'pt th. Cl. -t way of life if we
M.'iiit.'.v 18 ^l-3^ d*'"i pxprev-,ed and iiv'*d by the would i>e forgiven.
Key Verac: If yc lorg.v. me. o. t . M. mh : bro;,.. .. The hum.., l^llyM.ken - and
their tre8p.Tses, yoin he ■ i.iy bum;- U" I "we .urn any thing' large, is b bundle of mutaxes. no
Ku* will cil-vo foi .e you Bui '' * .viuscriuv the tenei of the race, tnd'ViduaJ. group or nation
If ye foigjve not men fhei - ties- Kingdom 'Gud hath made of one can rightly point the finger at the
iioitht w-.l your . ilici • -!• -tions of men for to other. We are all here as eojourners
[ • I ijkc of he esi. working out our *»lvatio nw>ih fear
ts -- -26) 'i'hen with jU >f t tren-blJ: _ . forget the lit-
mperfrf* • am . . . .mded u* word rep*.;' A stout hearted.
; - im nu i. • unto hin os i uniep«>tant man, race or ..a'^on
i!d h do to m- What is stm.Ji a poor ^ow in the sight of
the Ki gti oi God. ihere ai' c- - ■- *‘1 ■ .owa.jj brolhe' Qod. and m.m. Human reletlonship
tain e-seni .1 atUtudea whu.. - .. m 1 ^ >iUul and kind and ready then has two -les One of
ternational status, it can bring aid not only mtcly determines our correct f*. forgive ms shortcomings? Do I tence and 2,*
' , ... , lalionship. We ‘ ave a debl'wr.ich ivl luUe sh,hU and grudges grow ma; do tb.se and be happy or fall
to those among the allied and liberated we owe to God We owe « debt to »*io personal ' ired? As we pray and be miserable.
™ '.n Ocl T"w'mht , 1 til" «.-''''.ho“a; who
US luiagh.N.c. “■ ;'„c"eTd""go;i; w„;.' a':"..'’',: 'z,
Ttttopibao* HT4 and help those who cannot be helped by not be (oUiam- w.i> bace prejudice is a dis-
SSri?-2.2?..2’22SS. ISSfffw.. ■‘■'y “‘Alroft' S mo?r;;c he™ 0.,:.,^';?;,".; Th.™ . 10. mo™ peop.j^,.
The slxe of iU present task is staggering. III S’lX
ot M«rcn ». JIRVAY F^lblUtcr As war has become ever so much more de- sins in His own body ft*. Tee - fanuly. The Jew and Gentile alike ny to Joke about the subject In a
C. D. HALUBUBTON, EdtUlrtUe vastating and costly, so has the job of the br^g*°us^to gS *and**throuih'hu Negrw^^M pJacSS ?n America. *^1 donvnnd a Joke about taxes at
0« »Lli R-d Croas. A dollar memberhip will not do - have
^cQgMBtinkytkwgM>d make ye^r. You are asked to make a contri- indebted to Ood for the love wi. ch Asia, the resulu of whlh has thing that should uken serious-
payable to Hi* Carol Intan rather than to tadlvia- j,. • , mjnl- brought abou* discrimination whidi ly.
uolo. The CeroUnlaa ezpcoeely rapndlatcc regpoo- bution which will represent a real sacrifice, fested that love in .ving His Son ung tdn m.ire 1 .tred unUl we have No. I don t Uke curtailed mc.^
gibUlty for return of uiwoUdted pMinw, meirj- .a - deanerstelv We owe It *0 mrselVes -s it' w4ld sick »o the cor- Whet U U, better than el^
•crlpi ete.. unleae ■toape era eant “ neeaea, aesperaieiy. Kingdom ; be ic/al an remeijy Ail must forg.ve and somehow, reading the great na« ol
FULL SPEED AHEAD
ON TAXES
BY RUTH TAYLOR
telente.
Taxes art every citizen's ob
ligation — laid as fairly as is
possible upon every person abe
and wilUng to earn his way.
Tax-shirking and tax dodging
aren’t American. It's tike cheat
ing yourself — because you, too,
are America.
Taxes are the price of Uber-
ty. To pay taxes is a privilege
not a penalty. It is a proof of
fitness. You should take pride
in your ability to earn enough
to pay a man's sized tax. Slavea
do not pay taxes. Only free men
pay them.
That is how I feel. And f don't
think I’m different from anyone
else Let's not take this tax-paying
lightly.
Let us instead think of the op
pressed, starving people all over
the world — and be glad wt have
the PRIVILEGE of paying our
OWD way!