North Carolina Newspapers

I PAGE FOUR THE CAROLINIAN WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1945 EDITORIALS HISTORY MADE BUT NOT ENOUGH It is certainly encoura>rinK to find that a white man can be convicted in Nortii Carolina in a case involviiiK the rape of a Negro woman. That Nogroe.s can be con- victed, and sentenced to death, and exe cuted, for rape of white females, need. no demonstration beyond the records of the courts and Death Row at the State Prison. At pre.sent a 15 year old Negro boy is awaiting execution for rape of a middle-aged white woman. That the attorney of a white defendai't charged with rape of ■ Negro woman found the evidence so .. )ng against his client that he offered ■ : ■ a of “assault to commit rape” rathei take a chance with the jury, is prett.» good evidence of how’ strong a case the state had against Bruce Combs in Wake County Superior Court last week. That the plea of guilty to the le.sser charge was accepted by the State througn the prosecutor and judge would seen' merely to add to the already ample evi dence that whether rape is a capital crime or not depends a good deal on the rac and sex, respectively, of the rapist an.i his victim. The courts constit”*e an agency for the implementation of the inequities in the society of which they arc a crea ture. Combs escaped conviction of the cj*ime that can-ies the death penally, not be cause of the weakne.ss of the evidence against him, which was admittedly so strong that his attoimey gave up the idea of trying to get an acquittal. He was saved from jeopardy of his life rather in spite of the evidence. About the only thing that was said in extenuation w'as that he had been good to nis parents I But the picture is not all dark. Accord ing to the new's report, "veteran court officials could not recall a previous case in this State in which jj white man was ae^onced to prison foi* such an offense agpinst a Negro women." At least it has no^ been established that in North Caro liia the crime of rape can be taken of fitaal cognizance of when the victim is officials could not recall a previous ca.se in this State in which a white man was ae^enced to prison for such an offense ag|in8t a Negro w'omen." At least it has nofc’ been established that in North Caro lina the crime of rape can be taken of- fitfal cognizance of w’hen the victim i.s co|)red and the aggres.sor white. JLi interesting sidelight on the social .situation which makes it almost out of the question for the law to operate without regard to color in such a case is that throughout the long newspaper .stories on the case the Negro woman victim, age 20, was referred to by her first name. SURPRISING What is surprising to a long residen-: of North Carolina about the Student As sembly matter is not that the white stu dents decide to invite the participation of Negro students. It is rflther that the .'\ction w'as so disturbing to some of their elders in high places. For years North Carolina has taken the lead anmng the state.s of the South in rational thinking and action on public matters, including those which are inter racial. There are numbers of societies, associations and meetings whoso member ship is made of both races. Student groups made up of Negro membera have for sev eral years held meetings practically all over the state, in churches, colleges both white and Negro, and in other places. In his long statement recently released to the press Dr. Frank Graham called atten tion to the above facts, which must be known already to Governor Cberry and Secretary of State Thad Eure and to the other dignitaries at the Capitol who seeni to fear such dire results from the meeting together of Negro and white students in a model General Assembly whose function is entirely educational and which ha.« no THE CAROLINIAN Published by Th* Carolinian Publishing Co. Entered as second-class matter, April 6.1940, at the Post Office at Raleigh. N. C., under the Act of March 3. 1879. P. R. JERVAY, Publisher C. D. HALLIBURTON. Editorials CARL EASTERLING. Circulation Manager Subscription Rates One Year, $2.00; Six Months. $1.25 Address all communications and make all checks payable to The Carolinian rather than to Individuals. The Carolinian expressly repudiates responsibility for return of unsolicited pictures, manuscript, etc., unless stamps are sent. 118 East Hargett St. Raleigh. N. C. powers not embraced in mere di.scussion and publicity. Negro citizens are lni*gely at a Ioas to account for tin? peculiar and utjexpecte.'! altitudes of some of the leader.s of the state go\ernment. The explanations the have so far voiced throw no light on th matter. Go\ei*uor (’herry’.s statement the effect that he does not believe in in viting people to take part in .something for which they have e\pre.s.seil no desii’*' is one of the more bizarre of these com- mont.s. It is true thiil people do sometimes ask for invitations, but it is far mon usual for the first none to come fro: thos.- in po.sition to do the inviting. The more one thinks abo.il the thing the more it a.^sume.s the proportions e a tompe.st in a teapot; and the tenipc.s was not stirred up by the .students. Tlv lelter.s which have appeared on the editor ial page of the News and Observer on t'• suPjeel up to this writing have a'l e>. pre.ss»‘d approval of the Student .Asserr bly’s action. Pei'haps i^jme of our state oUiciitls a*, taking the whole thing loo hard. Perlia they will find that having an intj»rracia meeting of students under the rai'ie' dome will not excite anyone. SUDDEN DEATH Traffic accidents took 77 lives in N.o ' Carolina in Octol>er of this year. 1(» me- than in October of last. In addition l-i pei-sons were injured in .street and high way accidents. The totals for the yea:- through October were ofi I killed and o.- J?!:! injured. The report on the aulomo bile casaualtie.s sounds as though it we’o the report from some active vvai- front. Over and above the tragedy of thv figures themselves two other facts are extremely depre.ssing, but .should also b; challenging. One is that the death an 1 injury rate is on the increase; the other can best be presented in the words of T. Boddie Ward, Commi.ssioner of Motor Vehicles: "The pathetic part of this re port is that practically, if not all, of those accidents and fatalities could have been avoided through careful, efficient and courteous driving. So long as motorists continue to drive carele.ssly and reckle.'js- ly with a total disregard or the safetv f\f iin^t Afhpl'S th«* fl'JUrJc tol Vehicles: "The pathetic part of this re port is that practically, if not all, of these accidents and fatalities could have been avoided through careful, efficient and courteous diiving. So long as motorists continue to drive carelessly and reckle.'^- ly with a total disregard or the safetv’ of themselves and others, the tragic toll of human life will continue to be extrac ed." Structurally and mechanically the mod ern automobile is safer tlian ever: bul many cars are old and defective in some I’Gspect because of the long wartime su spension of matiufacture. Motorists know whal kind of car they have, and should take the fact into consideration, for their own safety and that of othei*s. Now that bad weaher may be expected at any time extraordinary care should be exer cised. The restoration of the pre-war speed limit did not do any good in promoting r Between The Lines By DEAN B. HANCOCK FOR ANP .y Ai Chris.mas lim. we c 1- - Diu.e Uve CO ..uiri into me vvorla of me oaoy wim i.rew up into inc ntun ucotined and ciios. n to tivv human.!., a new concoptien It! mans i lation to God an. to j is i.Jows. io me • xleni ihat cur observance of C; riiiim-s n j- itcts and by-passcs tha. c n;ril ic.ea, we miss Ine true ines-ag 01 the day. The joy. the fun. \h high spinis, the gift givine — all are legi-imate pari, of th-- Chiis: • a- otm& pher : and wha would Chrutima.' be vvih.wui t ern? But the primary ioi'ro of all ti.ose .hings is Ih f:.tt that the first ChrLstmas day u.=.cred in a ne w (ra for iv V •'•1 : hecau-e it brough th- • • th r-rist. iects and by-passos tha. cen.ral ic.ea, wc miss tne true mc8..ag.' of the day. The joy, the fun. vh high spirits, the gift givine — ail are iegi.imate parts of th'- Chiiat:i-a? atmo^pher : and wha would Christmas be without t. rm? But the primary soerc of all those .hings is th f-.ict that the first Christmas day ushered in a new era for 'h-- V [-rl 1 because it brough. th- '.jiih n- th Cr,rist. .h- f: fi'la z'lti n an ’ . om cr.ializi’tion o-' Ch:i tma- :re ■ b deplored bc ca';S' th y dc- ac! rom Ih r al mcarti''.p of fi-.c day The .s If^hnes-- wU- vv’hich we get and liopc to g t. and the often correspondi.vg selfishn-ss with which we giv ar-- in direct contrast with the .«nirit of the occasion. From *hi.s the childr n fortunato'y re'i.te • hi. J :l Uy C. i- a' to some extent; for wc- give ic enu-rvu in the true Chiiat- nias spirit. (Xp>.cting notiiing in leturn, and hoping only to make mem happy with our gifts. For must adults the vapppie.-t incmories of Christmas ai ■ tnos.- ci their own childhood, .ind if they arc parents, of tnose whv-n Infcir own children were youni . nuugh to believe in the great miracle of the day. The- poet V.prdswortn said, "Heaven Uey a.oa’ as in our infancy.’’ As .'dults we often b.come so in volved in th. preparations for I.!;.! iiimas. in .rantic list-mak- .-.g and rinzi d purcha.sing. m pro-s ason worri-.s and preoc-'U- -a ions; we have bcH’n .subje”t--d ' • n-. t to ,*uch a barrage '.hey are parents, of tnos.' wh. n tneir own children w*.re younj . nough to believe in the great miracle of the day. The pod V.lirdswortn said, "Heaven lie.* ii-tou' us in our infancy,” As . dulls wc often bi.come so in volved in thv preparations for C.hustmas, in :rantic lUt-mak- i'.g and .'renzied purchasing, in pre-si ason worries and preocc-u- pa'ions; we have been .subject, d f'lr ;; mnr.t to .«uch a barrage :i' s)iap: r ad.s and radio com II reiaT and beautifu'. hymns end ca-ols linked with this or mat product by their .*?el!'rs. that by Christmas Day, inst ad of being in a spirit to meditate on the song of the angcLs. "Glory to God in the Highest, and -in r-arth peace, good will to tn'-n," we are more in the mood to say, ‘•'Thank.s to God, Christina*^ comes but once year.” We should not lei ourselves be alknati.d from the real Christ- ma.s message and tne real Christmas .spirit. If wc can achieve something of the sim plicity and guilelessni ..s wnicii sc delights us when we observe children at Christmas time we m ' still grasp the wonder and avs experienced by the Shep herds and the Wise Men. Wc may perceiv'c to some extent the marv. 1 expressed in the gospel of John; "And the Word be came flesh, and dwelt among nun.” To the few indulgent persons who have been kind enough to read these random musing.^ ti- dav. and who have put up with children at Christmas time we may still grasp the wonder and awe experienced by the Shop- herds and the Wise Men. Wc may perceive to some extent the marvel expressed in the gospel of John: “And the Word be came flesh, and dwelt among men.” To the few indulgent persons wh ) have been kind ..'nough to read these random musings to day, and who have put up with this column week by week. I wish a truly happy and merry Christmas. I hope you have not. forgotten anybody you should have remembered, and that you did not remember anybody yon v.’ish you had forgotten. But above all. and seriously I wish for you and for myself, and for the world, a visitation of the tru^’ spirit of Christmas. THE CHRISTMAS PROBLEM How swiftly pass the years. Life a mighty yesterday seem the j-L-ars of our youth, with their lightness of heart and buoyancy of spirit and their gladsome dreams of a great tomorrow, which is our serious today. The Christmas of our childhood was real Christmas; for our hearts were then untouched by hatest and harmful influences which have poisoned the fountains of life. In our innocence we were monarchs of merriment and joys that knew no bounds. Christmas was Christmas, because our hearts were right. Too soon we learned of life’s deceits and hypocrisies rnd its hates and chicaneries which tore from our eyes the veils of innocence which shut out the perils of a wicked world. We loved everybody because we trusted everybody and tv"-rybody loved and trusted us. Wo entered into the Christmas season as into some promised land where once a year we plucked the purple clusters of Eschol and ^ ale to our heart’s content. Those days in prospect make of memory a beauteous thing that charms away the sorrows of the-hour. And then came the sad dLssillusionment that things were not as they seemed, and that life was real and earnest and the grave was not its goal. The ser iousness of life came down upon us like a mighty pall that shocked us into a realization that even Christmas was largely a sham, made so by the ugly fact that man’s inhumanity to man was like an angel with flaming sword guarding the Paradise of real Christmas joy. And so today we know that the 25th of December, instead of being Christmas, is just another day which reminds us of a blessed event which we desecrate oftimes in hilarious celebraliMi. Bethlehem is forgotten. Forgotten is its babe, th Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Today we know that the exchange of greetings, presents large and small, Christmas carols and Handel’s Messiah do not make Christmas. Neither do trips across the country and big Christmas dinners with accustomed trimmings. No, Christmas is far deeper than these outer mani festations which are often like painted fires to him who shiver in the cold. Christmas has become a problem and it is the problem of trying to have Christmas without Christ. In a world of hatreds and prejudices and hypocrisies and murders and bloodshed and wars and slanders and evil designs and trickeries: with hunger and starvation and mourning and nakedness and dire distress stalking forth like hobgloblins of horror to vex, the unhappy sons of men, the problem of Christmas cries aloud for a solution. How in this unhappy world are we poor mortals to really have Christmas without the Christ? We forget always that we cannot save the world by nations and races and groups and organizations and ideologie.s and systems. If the world is to be saved it must be saved by persons. In the last analysis Christmas is not a matter of the world but of ourselves individually. If the problem of Christma.s is to be solved we must reduce Christmas to its lowest terms and that is the individual. If the individual is Christheartod and Christminded then there is Christmas; but If net, there can be no Christmas. Sooner or later the problems of life must be reduced to their last analysis. At first Christ inquired "whom do men say that I am?” He finally reduced it by saying “Whom do ye say that I am?” Joshua at first was concerned for the righteousness of Israel but he finally arrived at the paint where he said "As for me and my house we will scr\’e the Lord." In the days of the Greek Sophists, when men were so intellectualized in their thinking that philosophy- bewame disorganized and incoherent, moral foundations were un dermined. There was philosophical chaos and then appeared old Socartes, loftiest genius of the ancient world, with his dietum "Know thyself.” Becai se it was impossible for men to grasp matters in their entiieties, it became expedient for them to reduce the horizon of ilieir thinking and know themselves. ^ at first was concerned for the righteousness of Israel but he finally arrived at the point where he said “As for me and my house wa will scr\'e the Lord.” In the days of the Greece Sophists, when men were so intellectuained in their thinkioi that phliosgphy- became disorganized and incoherent, moral foundations were un dermined. There was philo8C4>hical chaos and then appeared old Socartes, loftiest genius of the ancient world, with his dietum “Know thyself.” Because it was impossible for men to grasp matters in their entireties, it became expedient for them to reduce the horizon of their thinking and know themselves. It is even so in having Christmas. We cannot solve the prob lems of mankind and the world. We cannot stem the tide of trouble that is tearing the world from its spiritual moorings. If wc cannot save the world we must save ourselves^ If we cannot bring Christ into the world to give it Christmas* then let us let Christ into our individual hearts. 'That will be Christmas. Hear him, "behold I stand at the door and knock.” The Parliament Of Man i We f Draet, By tv. L. GREE.VE safety at . time when so many old ears were still on the hijjhways, but careful and reapottsiblo driving rather than low speed limits is really the solution to the problem, FEET OF CLAY President Truman’s popularity seems to be wearing well. But there is one class of Americans whose admiration for him is probably lcs.s than whole-hearted, li these persons find his name somewhat tiresome, it may be said in his defense that the President is entirely innocent and unwitting. It is all l)ecause he plays the piano, and fond parents of young boys have been holding him up to their small sons as an example. "Willie, practice your lesson. 1 bet President Truman never had to be scolded and nagged into pay ing attention to his music when he was a boy.” Yes, the President’s name is probably not too greatly loved - mong the reluctant young male devotees of the pianoforte in this-great nation. Let us have faith that right makes might: and in that faith let us dare to do our duty as we understand it. —Lincoln. .non-p.vrtisax voters* oKiiA.\t/.ATiON NEEDED IN NORTH CAROLINA North Cuvoitnii need? more and more of some thinits nnd a little k-ss of some others. Wc speak now of statewide organizations. The need fur the kind of organi zation which improve.-^ public health, public education, partic'.- cipation of the masses of the citi zenship in use o fthc ballot, social programs of the cnurches, and rLCnational facilities of a com munity type is a growing need on e .statewide scale. Wherever ALL citizens of the several communities of the comm mveoUh are not rep resented adequately by the work of the statewide organizations which function in their areas, additional organizations should be developed. What we need less of arc those would-be statewide organizations which definitely overlap and com pete destructively with organiza tions already doing well and in need of expans-on and develop ment. The AF of L. for example, not only in North Carolina but in the nation failed to represent adequately ALL labor. The CIO was the answer to the need for another nationwide organizatirn to fill in the gap. Again the old Interracial Commission failed to attack se^'eral problems in its field. Two necessary supplements developed ;the Southern Reginonl Council nnd the i;OUthern Confer ence for Human Welfare. It took both of these to offer a sufficient ly broad program to challenge the overlooked problems evaded by the older and now defunct organi zation. Both of these newer and stricUy southern groups together still fail to complete the picture. The North Carolina Conference of NAArp Branches is a necessary supplement to these other worthy organizations which, though vital and nece.ssary, are too provincial in character to represent all the civic, social, and economic id- vancemcnl of ALL the citizens of the State toward eventual na tional integration. The Democratic and Republican parties in North Carolina, iikewisc. do much to set up balloting ma chinery for the populace in our several communities. They fail, however, to give the necessary motivtaion to ALL citizens of the state to vote and seek office m proportion to community-group needs. A non-partisan voters nr- ^un.zation is necessary in the state to fill this gap. We. would like to recommend support for the Progressive Voters League; or ganized, dropped and reorganized many times in the last ten years. P is weak and poorly organized now. but wc should gel into it, strength en it, and use it — statewide. By RUTH TAYLOR “The Parliament of Man is now convened in continuing and con stant session without rules of or der, limitations of debate, or priv ilege of the house, and those who refuse to take account of its pro ceedings may wake up to find that its procPedm'‘s have taken no account of them.** These words were written some time ago by Archibald Mac^ish. Tliey are given new significance by the events of recent weeks. We are living at a moment in history when the nature of our civilization is unusually fluid, un usually capable of being molded in a new direction. All loo soon it will crystalize. Th'-refore, it is important that we take full ad- v.intage of this opportunity to as sure the birth of the world for which we haw hoped and of which we have dreamed. It is time for far-reaching plans nnd for hard and constructive work to put those plans into ef fect. It is a lime for men who are willing to lead and to take re sponsibility, who will put the in terests of their fellow' men before tlieir own personal ambitions. The Parliament of Man does not eelect any one group — it is ail men, no matter what their race or creed or nationality or occupation. Neither as mdividauls or as a nation will it be possible for uj to stand aside and keep out of the stream of traffic. Hi a world that is daily growing smaller, wp cannot avoid being affected by what happens to our naighbeit.. Freedwn is responsibility. Free dom must be earned by each man in his own vay. No one can shirk his responsibility. No one can work by or for himself alone. The first task before us is to I'jy the social, political and eco- ncmic foundations of peace. That can be done only by each man and each natior doing his or its share. In a world which nas become "Onu World" collective security is the only possible security — and col lective prosperity the only possi ble prosperity. And "collective means that you have a role to perform . , The Parliament of Man is in se.«ion. Its decisions are your de cisions. SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON By Rav. M. W. Williami I have always noticed that God is on the side of the heaviest battalions. —De La Ferte. Subject: The me.'iage of Christ mas To The World Luke 2:1-20. Key Verse: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goed will toward men." Luke 2:14. More than nineteen hundred years have elapsed since Isaiah’s prophecy- “Unto us a child is born." was fulfilled, and each Christmas men. W’omen and chil dren the world over celebrate its birth. We look forward to it with the eagern'ss akin to the time • hen the Hebrews did. They did not group its full meeting neither do we. But as the years come and we get more understanding, cur flickering light becomes brighter. Bethlem thouse of bread) the place of His birth has a back ground — Rachael, the mother of Benjamih, died and was buried there; Ruth and Boaz lived there. David was anointed there and the Bread of Life was bom there fJno. 6:35). THE FIRST MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD TOD.iY The snepherds said one to an other. "Let us now go even to Bethlehem and see this thing which is ceme to pass,” Luke 2:15. The Bethlehem of the heart could properly be interpreted as ac cepting the Saviour of the world who was bom in Bethlem. Paul brings it out in talking to the Galatinn Church, "Until Christ be formed in you" (Gal. 4:lf>) And in our mad rush for worldly tilings, Christ Himself, speaks to the world: “Seek ye first the King dom cf God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be add ed unto you" (Matt. 6:33). The early] Christian Church, through early Christian Church, though sage of Good Tidings. The dream of the end of injustice and wrong and poverty swelled in their hearts ard they have setn it down thru the centnirles to the present church which preaches the Gos pel of Good Tidings which the Babe of Bethlehem brough on that glorious Chri.itmas morning. The Church Is saying to the un- save world today; "Let us now go even unto Bethlethem and see this thing which is come to pass.' A MESSAGE TO MOTHERHOOD However, humble a home, may be litlp child brings a serene peace of contentment an joy which only God knows. Mary's child was sym bolic of the sancity of motherhood. Simeon's “Nune Dlmittis," Lord, now lettest thou thy servant ilc- part in peace (Luke 3;29> met God’s approval and has been the longing desire for many parents I the world over. And it has pleased God to let them have their desire. Truly this Christmas message means to parents that vou have a chance to see and realize in your children your fondest dream. A MESSAGE OF LOVE AND GOOD WILL As we Sfng the carol: "O Little {Town of Bethrehem” the emphasis is likely to be put on the little humble spot where the lowly child was bom. but the glory of heaven was not meant to stop there, neither was it meant to be just for a day, a week, a month or a year. This good will is to extend to the end of the world — to all men. to al! races and to all na tions and to all seasons and times of the year and to all time and eternity. Love never frtleth (I Cor. 13:8) *17115 message of love and good will is manifested in Chris tian Stewarwship in all Its phases. A. special message TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH "And being warned of Ood in a dream that they should not re turn to Herod, they departed Into their own country another way.” (Matt. 2;12). 'Time ncr space will not permit a lengthy discussion of this Scripture, so I quote from Dr. E. Stanly Jones on Another Way. “It was said that the wise men after visiting the Babe in the manger, “went back another way." “No one can really see Christ and go back the same way. Xife does become dfiferent f'Tim that hour. As we have come to the manger again at this Christmas time, let us go gack another way. Let us leave our hates there and go back the way of persistent go^ will; let us leave our racial prejudice there and go back the way of hu man brotherhood that will tran scend all destinctions of color and class: let us leave all halfway re sponses. all compromises, and go back to be abandoned to him and his Kingdom. Another day — an other way! May this message bring good news and glad tidings to all our readers and may your Christmas be Joyous anddvprse”v cmfwy tf be JOYOUS AND HAPPY The progress and peace of the world will be stimulated mightily if we demonsrate that an economy of abundance is not Idealistic dream ing. but a practical, workable, ccmi- mon-sense way of doing things. . . Secretary of Agriculture Andenoo.