Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / Aug. 17, 1933, edition 1 / Page 1
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‘AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.**—John viii. 32. VOL LIV. CHARLOTTE, N. C, THURSDAY, AUGUST 17,1333 NO. 32. EDUCATORS OF SOUTH SUGGEST STARTLING STEP Nashville, Tenn., Aug—That “a textbook giving a faithful account of the contribution of the American Negro to the life of our country” should be pre pared and studied in all public schools, white and colored, Was the unanimous recommendation * of a conference representing the State Departments of Edu cation of all the Southern States, meeting last week at George Peabody College, this city. This recommendation was made by the Committee on Find ings and was adopted by the entire group without a dissent ing word. r'urtftfcx- setting forth its view point, me conterence saia: “There should be taught in both white and colored scnools those things that will build up in the lives of the people of both races such a knowledge of the factors involved in a bi-racial civiliza tion and such mutual under standing as will promote good will, fair play, and a spirit of co? operation that will enable us all to work together as one for a safer, a saner and a mtore fruit ful civilization.” It wasj further recommended that each State Department of education make a careful study of the treatment of the Negro and of interracial questions in its public school textbooks, with a view to such eliminations and additions as may be needed for the building of intelligent, fair minded attitudes on the part of teachers and pupils. In conclu sion the conference urged that each State department of educa tion take immediate steps to, put -these*5 suggestions* into effect. Sponsored by Interracial Commission The meeting was called by a number of well-known educators at the suggestion of the Com mission on Interracial Co-opera tion, and was for the purpose of considering the duty of pub lic schools to better prepare the future citizens of the South for the pefrsonal tand civic obliga tions involved in a bi-racial civ ilization. Five State superinten dents of education were present in person and eight by proxy, representing all the States from Virginia to Missouri and Texas. The committee formulating the recommendations quoted above was headed by Superintendent W. F. Bond, of Mississippi, and included in its membership the State Superintendents of Flori da, Louisiana and Texas. This move is regarded as one of the most important and hope fjul ever undertaken for the im provement of interracial atti tudes and conditions, and every thing possible will Ibe done to realize its goal as rapidly as possible. The follow-up was left by the conference in the hands of its executive committee, which is composed of W. C. Jackson, of' the University of North Carolina; J. L. Clark, of State Teachers’ College, Hunts ville, Texas; N. C. Newbold, of the North Carolina State De partment of Education; Dennis H. Cooke and U. W. Leavell, of Peabody College; State Super intendent W. F. Bond, of Mis sissippi; State Superintendent T. H. Harris, of Louisiana; W. W. Alexander, Jesse Daniel Ames, and R. B. Eleazer, of the Commission on Interracial CoJ operation. Colored CoQleges Represented Attending the conference as) invited guests were President W. J. Hale, Professor Epps and Robert E. Clay, of State A. and I. College, and Dr. Thomas E. Jones and Prof. Horace M. Bond, of Fisk University. Dr. Ambrose Caliver, of the Federal Department of Education, was one of the speakers. Findings and Recommendations of the Conference on Education and Race Relations, George Pea body ; College fort Teachers, Nashville, Tennessee, Aug. 3-4,1933 Your committee on Findings submits the following statement as representing the combined judgment of those attending this Conference, in reference to the question of “Education for Citizenship in a Bi-racial Civili zation 1. Since the fate of a nation is determined by the character of its citizenship, and training for citizenship of the highest order is the main purpose of the American public school, good schools must be provided for the children of all people, irre spective of race, color, or other condition of life, if the nation is to attain its greatest possi bilities. 2. By “good schools” is meant schools with strong men and women of noble purpose a? teachers, well trained for their work, with adequate buildings and equipment and term of sufficient length to give to every child a chance to devel op fully its powers of soul, mind and body. ! 3. Injustice, whether legal, industrial, educational, of other wise, to any person, however poor and helpless he may be, places a penalty upon all people, since there is a kifid of eternal justice that can not and will not be denied. 4. Since pride of race is one of the most powerful incentives of individual Negroes and the contributions to civilization of the race as a whole should be taught in every school for Ne groes. A book giving a faithful account of the contribution of the American Negro to the life of our country should be pre pared under proper guidance for use in all our schools. 5. There should be taught in both white and colored schools those things that will build up in the lives of the people of both races such a knowledge of the factors involved in a bi-racial civilization and such mutual un derstanding as will promote good will, fair play, and a spirit of co operation that will enable us all to work together as one for a safer, a saner and a more fruit ful civilization. As a first step in that direc tion we recommend that each State Department of Education make a careful study of the public school! textbooks in use in that State, with a view to such eliminations and additions ■is may be necessary to the above end. The details of this study should be arranged and the results correlated by a com mittee of this Conference. 6. Substantial improvement has been made during the last decade in educational facilities for both white and Negro chil dren, the improvement being more marked in some States than others. Every State should have a definite program of edu cation for children of all races. 7. The State Superintendents of Education, with their staffs, are urged to take immediate steps, in cooperation with their higher institutions of learning and other educational and social agencies of their respective States, to put into effect the suggestions outlined in these findings. 8. It is strongly recommend ed that this conference be made an annual affair at Peabody Col lege. Respectfully submitted. W. F. BOND, Chairman* Missis-* sippi. JNO. W. ABERCROMBIE, Ala bama. NOLEN M. IRBY, Arkansas. W. S. CAWTHOtf, Florida. .7. C. DIXON, Georgia. T. H. HARRIS, Louisiana. N. C. NEWBOLD, North Caro lina. L. A. WOODS, Texas, Committee Y. M. C. A. RENDERS SERVICE TO THE NATION New York,—(By the Associ ated Negro Press)—Despite the discouraging financial situation which faced welfare organiza tions of all kinds during the past year the Y. M. C. A. has been able to show gains at va rious points in its diversified program according to Channing H. Tlobias, Senior Secretary, upon whose shoulders has rest ed the chief burden of piloting the far-reaching work of the “Y” organization. Staff curtailment and salary slashes have been taken by mem bers of both local and national itaffs. Nevertheless, despite some losses, there has been a de finite upward trend in “Y” work. Boys’ Work Stands Out “Of special importance,” said Mr. Tobias, describing the year’s activities, “are the gains made in Boys’ work. There were sixteen State and three Older Boys' Conferences held during the year. All of these, except two, showed increases in attend ance ovef the preceding year. The number of boys enrolled in groups in the sanre Associations in 1932 was;$,§63, and in 1933 wag 16,578, showing the re orerkahl* gaiig af■ ..Ifoafirusftqfc The boys’ membership gain is also impressive with 9,599 boys enrolled in membership in 1932, and 10,412 in 1933. From April to June, inclusive, the National Council Office assigned R. W. Bullock, the national worker with boys, to the State of Geor gia to makef a study of the needs of Negro boys in the State. In this connection he helped to or ganize a State council for work among Negro boys and also vis ited seventeen local communi ties, assisting them in the or ganization of local councils. Suggest Readjustment of Pro-, grain The regular annual Laymen’s Conference was held this year at Bordentown, N. J. High lights of the gathering were the ad dresses of Ira De. A. Reid, of the C’rfoan, League, and Max Yer gan, of South Africa. The findings of the Confer ence stressed the need of the! Y. M. C. A. readjusting its pro gram to meet the changing' trends in economics, Govern-! ment, Family and Church. A resolution passed by the con ference was a request directed to the National Council that in the reorganization of the na tional service into areas scat tered over the country, care should be taken that wherever the Negro population and the number of Negro associations warranted, Negro field repre sentatives should be appointed to render thfj_ needed service. Principal W. R. Valentine, of Bordentown, continues as chair man of the Conference. Dr. R. R. Moton, of Tuskegee Insti tute, is the chairman of the col ored work committee of the Na tional Council, and Dr. John Hope, of Atlanta University, is the representative of Colored Associations on the World’s Committee and the General Board of the American Move ment. Finance and membership cam paigns have been successful with few exceptions. Of the many successful campaigns reported, the one in Philadelphia stands out above the others because of its strategic value locally and « for “Y” work ut the nation. ig business, pro and laboring men ox were organized into a committee, and late in a ten-day effort re in, collecting pledges to $6,300, of which $4,000 ih and $1,000 collectable ;y days. On the strength result, J. H. McGrew, National Council Secre the Southern Region, led to the executive sec ihip of the Philadelphia :h. The result of this cam was not only a tribute to leadership but to the ique of our National Fi Service Bureau as sup by Robert B. DeFrantz directed the campaign. This se successive efforts follow ingjthe one in Philadelphia, namely those at Cincinnati, Los Angeles, and Denver, were largely indebted for their suc cess to the example set by Phil adelphia. Inter-State Work Gonspieubus .features of the year’s work of Pennsylvania and New Jersey services, direct ed jby R. P. Hamlin, have been successful laymen’s conferences conducted in two States and the appointment of a colored wel fare director, J. C. Arnold, to tho Camp Dix Reforestration WOfk. Student Work the request of the Colored Fifld Councils and the National •red Work Department Com :tee, the Association Work Colored students has been integrated into the National Stkdent Division. Frank T. Wil sdg is at present the only Sec ' ,ry serving this field. The •red Work Department Com ,_Asa pledged its continue mg cooperation. nign-i^gni Acnivemesvts in Local Fields There have been two building openings during the year. The West 135th Street branch of New York was opened to the public January 1. As is well known, this is a million-dollar structure—the largest and finest social service building for col ored men and boys in the world. Since the building opening the organization has grown consist ently in popularity and public support. The membership is now more than 2,100, which is the largest in its history. The Forster Street Branch, of Har risburg, was opened March 5, This building, of Old English type architecture, is one of the most beautiful of its size in the entire country. The citizens of Harrisburg, regardless of race, take pride in and give generous support to the Forster Street Branch. The 12th Street Branch of Washington has come into pos session of a $15,000 bequest by p generous white friend. The money is now available for use in building improvements and promotion of programs. “Y” Leadership and Negro Who’s Who Why is “Y” work among col ored people popular and success ful? The answer is obvious— because it commands the re spect and support of the out standing leadership among the colored people of the nation. The truth is that a listing of the board and committee personnel of our National, State and Lo cal Associations would parallel £ large section of the Negro Who's Who in America. For the World Comn^ittee and General Board Membership, there is John Hope, President of Atlan ta University. The chairman of the Colored Work Department Committee is Dr. Robert R. Mo ton of Tuskegee Institute and the world. The Vice-Chairman of the Colored Work Depart ment is Principal W. R. Valen (Continued on page 3) THE NEGRO AND THE NATIONAL RECOVERY ACT H. HEARING ON BITUMINOJS COAL CODES. By George Edmund Haynes, Ph. D., Executive* Secretary, Department of Race Relations, Federal Council of Churches Washington, D. C.-HLeaders 1 u'f capital and industry in the r< bituminous coal industry scat tered over thirty States hurried to Washington last Wednesday at the urgent request of Col. ( Hugh S. Johnson, National Re- . eovery Administrator, following ! the end brought to the Penn ?ylvania coal strike. They re mained for the rest of the week discussing codes or parts of codes of fair competition sub mitted by operators and own ers. The attendance was greater : than that at the steel hearing the preceding week. The audito rium of the Department of Com merce, which seats, about 1,000, was full when the first session opened. Corporal’s Guard *>f Negroes Praaont Again, ns at the preceding , hearings, Negro workers were represented by only a corporal’s guard. Dr. Robert P. Weaver and John P. Davis, of the Ne gro Industrial League, and this writer were there at the open ing as at the steel code hearing, although we had worked and conferred until after the pre ceding midnight on a brief to be presented in behalf of Negro mine workers. Bishop E. D. W. Jones and Rev. Wallace, of the A. M. E. Zion Church, soon joined us. Bishop Reverdy C. Ransom sent a telegram asking us to speak for the wage-earners <2L,the 4/^M.JE. Church; Miss Nannie Burroughs fiadf en&orsed our plans; and Dr. R. R. Moton sent a telegram urging no dis crimination in wages for Negro workers. Two Negro mine work ers with a left-wing union group from Pennsylvania were pres ent. Negroes Lairg© Factor fc\ Coal Industry There were 621,000 mine workers in this industry in 1930, of whom 57,000—over 9 per cent —were Negroes. This was an in crease of about three per cent since 1923. They were located mainly in Alabama, West Vir ginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Vir ginia. The three Southern States and West Virginia held three-fourths of the Negro mine workers. In Alabama, 53 per cent of mine workers in 1930 were Negroes. The representa tives of mine-owners from Ala bama said they now constitute only 40 per cent. There are probably 44,000 Negroes in the industry this year. Bituminous oal is the most important source of heat and power in America. Nearly all our rail rail roads and factories are depen dent upon it. The costs and con ditions of its mining and trans portation affect the welfare of every man, woman and child in the Nation. Labor Policies Divide Operators The major dividing line among those who control the industry is on labor relations. Some are willing to deal with organ ized labor, mainly the United Mine Workers of America, John L. Lewis, President, in making agreements with their employ ees. Others oppose unions ex cept what is known as “compa ny unions,” which have hot found much f&vor with workers in the industry. One other fac tor—that of geographical loca tion-seemed to be a major point in division of opinions and plans among the mine-owners. For example, the Ohio River divides the Northern and Southern in terests even for the same coal formation like that of the Appa lachian Range. The State of II >nois seems to be the dividing listrict between East and West. Principal Codes Affecting Negro Workers The submitted codes of fair ;ompetition that vitally affect tfegro workers fall generally in ;o three classes typified by: 1— code filed jointly by the Northern Coal Control Associa tions for producers in Pennsyl vania, Ohio and Northern West Virginia and Smokeless and Ap palachian Coal Association for producers in Southern West Virginia, Virginia, Eastern Ken tucky and Tennessee; 2— code filed by a conference t>f bituminous operators in Washington, D. C., July 7-13, inown as “the general code;” 3— code filed by Alabama Min ing Institute for the operators tif that State. The matters in the code of particular concern to Negroes were maximum hours of labor, minimum rates of pay, the weighing of the coal as mined, and the rights of employees to •rganize and bargain collective ly. In addition the codes dealt with questions of fair prices to consumers, cost of production, unfair trade practices, etc. There seemed to be a trend to ward agreement on eight hours, except for lunch and emergen cv, as a standard mine workers’ day with a few exempted occu pations that especially concern Negro common labor named be low in a summary of our brief. The general code proposed a thirty-two hour Week for the non-peak months of the year, and a forty-hour week for the months of peak production. Only a few codes proposed long er work weeks. President Lew is, of the United Mine Workers, proposed a thirty-hour week of five six-hour days, saying that his organization did not agree to the hours proposed in the several codes as best for mine workers, North or South. His proposal precipitated much dis cussion from operators, who submitted data to support their view that such short hours would be too costly and imprac ticable for operation under the present conditions of mining. Mr. Lewis accepted the wage . proposal of “the general code” of a minimum of $5 per day for work inside the mine, and $4.00 a day for work outside; but he entered strong objections to differentials in wages be tween mining districts, especi ally between Northern and 6outh(etrn territory. Testimony of representatives from Alaba ma, from Illinois, from the Rocky Mountain and Northwest regions gave extensive data bo 3how that oil, natural gas, and hydro-electric energy are taking large proportions of their trade, both commecial and domestic. Brief for Negro Wbrkens Presented On Friday afternoon, follow ing the strong presentation of the code of the Alabama Mining Institute, Dr. Robert P. Weaver, Director of Research of the Ne gro Industrial League, present ed the brief on behalf of Negro mine workers. Endorsement of the document had been secured by this write!* from Bishop E. D. W. Jones and Bishop Rever dy C. Ransom. The brief in part sets forth the case as follows: “Throughout the history of coal mining in the United States the workers in tfce industry have been exposed to extremely irregular employment.-. The average days worked by bitu (Continued on page 4)
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Aug. 17, 1933, edition 1
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