Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Feb. 13, 1954, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
PAOB TWO ,THB CABOLINA 8ATCBDAT, FEB. IS, 1#54 NATIONAL- CITIZENSHIP AND POLICE BRUTALITY On the editorial page of this week’s issue of the Coro- oiino Times we published the story of the bruUl beating of a Negro by a sheriff in Thibo- daux, Louisiana on last No vember 7. The story; as told by the Rev. Jerome A. Drolet, pastor of St. Charles Church in Thibodaux, was taken from the February 4 issue of the Durham Labor journal, official newspaper of the American Federation of La bor groups of OKu"ham. When ypu read the story— we trust every reader of the Carolina Times will—don’t get angry with the sheriff and don’t feel sorry for the Ne gro. Instead, we would have each of you feel sorry for the sheriff who administered the beating. It is he who needs the pity of all good people of the nation, as well as does Louisiana. For, when any human being becomes so vici ous as to brutalize another in ! the manner as described in the story as told by Reverend Drolet, he needs the sympathy of all civilized people. The sheriff is probably one of those persons who hates Ne- STATE- groes to the extent that he becomes so crazed when he sees one that he wants to kill him. He is probably a good candidate for a psychopathic ward in an insane asylum. While this case of brutality happened in Louisiana and the average one of us has the tendency to look with scorn or contempt on such a state, let us not forget that there are other forms of brutality right here in North Carolina that are equally as damaging to the spirit and personality of Negro citizens as the sheriff’s act^n Louisiana. You can not maintain laws and customs that will destroy one’s human dignity, rob him of his right to equal education, his right to vote, job opportunities; you cannot sentence only Negroes to death for rape while others are given lesser penalties for the same crime and look with contempt on an entire state because a sadist, clothed with the authority of a sheriff, runs amuck. There are thou sands of good white people in Louisiana who no more en dorse such brutality than the element of good white people would endorse it elsewhere. Let us not forget, however, that the cruel laws of segre gation are maintained in all the southern states with the general consent of the white church and leaders of demo cratic government, the most of whom are also classed as “good white folks.” Here is where the damage is done, and here is where the sheriff in Louisiana got the idea that he could get away with such conduct as that registered against the helpless Negro in Thibodaux. So, police brutality and other forms of hatred exhibit ed against Negroes in the South most always start at the top, where from behind the scenes the white leaders of the community either wink at such donduct or refuse to come out in the open as op posing it. The Rev. Drolet may awaken to the sudden realization that his scorching article attacking the sheriff is also an attack against some of the leading members of his own church. WHAT WAS BEHIND THE DON BYRD LHIEII! What was behind the letter sent Don Byrd, Negro star of the strong Fort Belvoir bas ketball team, asking him about his plans for entering college after he finishes high school? Did the University of North Carolina coach send the letter as a test of sentiment among alumni, friends and enemies of the University on the matter of playing a Negro on the varsity at UNC? Or did he n^ake a mistake and send the letter to Byrd think ing he was a white boy? » We would like to think that the University of North Caro lina is liberal enough to want to enroll a Negro in its under graduate school and thereby make him eligible for parti cipation in sports at UNC. We NATIONAL- would like to think that the Don Byrd case is one in which the South is beginning to awaken to the realization that it is losing some of the finest citizens and athletes in the country when it forces play ers like J. C. Caroline to seek entrance in northern schools to get an opportunity to par ticipate in big time college sports. We searched the rec ords and discovered, however, that there haven’t been any funerals within the ranks of top officials at the Universi ty, and we just cannot bring ourselves around to believing that they have had a change of heart and would permit even the most loyal American Negro to enter its undergrad uate school before they would the rankest white Communist of foreign birth, Even though the coach, the players and a majority of the student body might approve the enrollment of a Negro in the University undergraduate school, we don’t believe any thing short of God himself can change an old southern white man’s prejudice against a Negro. The hope and de stiny of the south is not yet in the hands of the many fine young white people who are just beginning to come on the scene. Until they take over entirely, we are going to put our bet on the asujnption that the Don Byrd affair will die in its infancy. We think it was just another “flying sua- cer.” THE EXCESSIVE PRICE OF COFFEE Arging about who or what soaked up chiefly by distri- is responsible for the high butors, roasters, and specu- price of coffee in the United lating middlemen who deal States will get us nowhere, in coffee futures.” He goes on nor will it bring the price further to state that the Unit- down. The one answer to the ed States smnds over $2 bil- abominable evil is for Mrs. lion annually in coffee trade American Housewife to re- and that 62 per cent of the fuse to buy the stuff or serve money remains right here in states where the not such coffee addicts that speculators, importers, roast- they cannot do without it. In ers and others live and do the first place, there is very business, little, if any, food value to It is the same old story of the drink, and in many in- greed and piower in the hands stances it has even been de- of a few little narrow-minded dared harmful to the human men who can’t stand'it. To system. bring the story closer home, Drew Pearson, writing in it is like the best seats in a the Merry Go^ound of Fri- certain college gymnasium of day, February 5 says, the President unmindful of the fact that his job, the gym nasium and the seats belong to the taxpayers, and that dis crimination to some people at the hands of even one’s own group is just as distasteful as discrimination at the hands of any others. a state Supported school we know. No one is allowed to purchase tickets at any price in these particular, seats un less it meets the approval of the President of the College. An attempt to do so will bring the quick reply from attend ants that the middle section seats on both sides of the gymnasium are “controlled by the President of the col- Pearson further clears the lege.” The big question then Brazilian government of arises, does the President act- manipulation and declares ually control the seats or the that “the profits are being people who sit in them? Or is “An important thin; to re member abont the diny climb in coffee prices is that the pro fits are not roinc: to farmers in Brazil, most of whom liave been seriously hurt l>y the frost that ravaged their crops and induced the coffee short- afe.” The only difference in the coffee situation and the gym nasium seats is that the coffee crooks will take anybody’s money. They at least are exercising some kind of de mocracy, even though they are robbing their fellow Americans of millions of dol lars in so doing. If Mrs. American House wife had the common sense to stay away from coffee in droves like Mr. Durham Bas ketball Fan is staying away in droves from seeing one of the basketball . teams we have seen perform at this parti cular state school, it might bring the coffee folks around to their senses where they will realize that they cannot continue to make coffee continue to make suckers out of the American coffee drink ing public. SATURDAY FEB. 13. 1954 L. ■. AUSTIN. PublMMT CLAtMAN M. XOSS^ E4tt#r M. ■. JOHNSON, Business Blanazer K. I, BATKM, AircrtMmf CLUB MEMBERS FORUM By MARCUS H. BOULWARE CHURCH PLAY QUESTION: We are a reli gious club and would like to give a religious play in our chur ch. What dramas would you sug gest? —F. L. ANSWB31: Any publisher of plays can supply you with a ca talog of religious plays. But I prefer the old standard dramas of earlier England. A weU- known morality play is EVERY MAN that is built around the theme “Every man should so live that when he comes to die he will be ready.” Of course, the plot of the play presents the Ca tholic way of salvation—and rightly so, because when this play was first presented it was the Catholic’s way of teaching the illiterate masses moral les sons. At first, morality plays were presented In churches. For churches that have no au ditorium for stage presentation, the main action of the play should take place on the ros trum. The characters should en ter and proceed toward rostrum down the aisles. The church should be thrown in the dark ness or semi-darkness, with a roving spotlight following the action of the characters. I have directed this play twice with college groups, and we used 13th century costumes. Another morality of this day was “All for Money” built around the theme “The Love of money is the root of all evil”. READERS Send for my free public speaking pamphlet by includ ing in your letter two stamps and a self-addressed envelope. Write Marcus H. Boulware, 1611 Fayetteville Street, Durham, N. C. YNCA Branch Payed Honor To Francis 0. Clarkson Recently CHARLOTTE Superior Court Judge Francis O. Clarkson was honored re cently at a testimonial program in the gymnasium of the Mc- Crorey Branch YMCA. Partici pants on the program were the Second Ward High School Band, directed by L. Augustus Paige, Rev. Thomas A. Jenkins, chair man of the religious education committee, Dr. Edward H. Brown, president of the board of managers for the Y, Edgar Goodwin, executive secretary and Miss L. Rose McKee. Dean T. E. McKinney, of J. C. Smith University, made re marks. Guest speaker, was U. of N. C. Chancellor, Robert B. House, who was introduced by Rev. James R. Holloway, vice chairman of the board of man agement. Presentations were made by Dr. Thomas Watkins Jr, who presented red roses to Mrs. Clarkson and Dr. Edward H. Brown presented a plaque to Judge Clarkson. Judge Clarkson has always been prominently identified with the Negro work, and spoke with real significance when he urged the “Y” Boards and the citizens of Charlotte to make possible the present Henry Law rence McCrorey Branch YMCA. He gave his legal knowledge, financial means, service, and un limited time in the making of an effective “Y” program for Ne gro Youth in the city. Officers, staff and members of the Henry Lawrence McCrorey Branch YMCA expressed plea sure in his recent appointment as Judge to the North Carolina Su perior Court. California Physicians Appeal For Clemency For Wesley R. Wells OAKLAND, CALIF. One hundred thirty three Northern California physicians and surgeons today told Gover nor Goodwin Knight, “We ur gently appeal for executive cle mency in setting aside the «m- warranted death sentence of Wesley Robert Wells”. Wells’ execution is now scheduled to take place April 9. Scoring the 1947 trial In which Wells received the death sentence for throwing a cuspi dor at a prison guard, the "doc tors charge “proper legal process ~ (Irastlcally violated when the expert testimony of the two attending physicians was ruled inadmissable by the trial Judge who sentenced Wells to death. Even in the absence of all other aspects of this case, we would be moved to protest vigorously against the exclusion of vital medical testimony in a case In volving so important a decision as the mental or physical ability of a defendant wilfully to pre meditate a capital offense.” The doctors, many of whom are psychiatrists, stated , “We address you not only, in our ca pacity as responsible citizens.... but especially as physicians trained to respect the physical and mental complexities that go vern behavior.” Referring to the examination of Wells by the prison doctor, Dr. Proctor W. Day, just two days prior to the cuspidor throw ing incident, the doctors point out, “Dr. Day was sufficiently disturi)ed by the prisoner’s con dition to call in a psychiatrist. Dr. Burt F. Howard...these two physicians recommended im mediate treatment Neverthe less, the physicians’ clear recom- (Please turn to Page Seven) WASHINGTON AND SMALL BUSINESS Published Xwj a«tui4a7 H Om MnSB puw.wwa. laoK*mta4 «t M K. WL Knterad u mmmt timm nutter at tha r*at MHaa at DurhuB. Nani) Carollaa uBdcr tha Act af Mmt* a. 1«7S. National A^vartiaiac llepnaaBtattve: Uaitad Mcwi^arara. Mimtiir. HNPA. Ha cuaaaataa af pw>Uft>a« af unaaUaitatf aoate- iM. Uittmm *a tha'adtwr iar pubUaatleB lauat ka war«la. Bubaartpttaa Kataa: 10c par oapr; Ux aumtba, •SM; tea Taar,' *t.M (Faralca Caantrlaa, f«.M 'The Freedom Shrine' Sponsored By Civics Clubs Of Charlotte CHARLOTTE The Civic Clubs of Charlotte are qx>nsoring an exhibit called “The Freedom Shrine” in the library of Second Ward Hl^ School. • This exhibit has to do with . important documents on the De claration of Independence, Bill Ot Rights, nurteenth Ammend- ment, and the Gettystmrg Ad- Dr. W. L. Halberstadt spoke to the student body recently, concerning the exhibition that is going on in the Library. He was assisted by William F. Cherry, pres, of Chatlotte Bixchange Club and Hooper. Principals of various schools were given a dinner recently by the Home Economics Depait* ment. The dinner was prepared by the Hom» Economics ftu- dents, assisted by Mrs. D. S Flagg and Mrs. W. C. Carson. The Second Ward Higli School Parents Teachers Association met in the school library Jan. 2. Guest speaker was Howard C. BamhiU, Public Health Educa tion of the city Health Depart ment. Mr. Barnhill spoke on, “Improving the Health of Our Children”. Remarks were made by J. E. Grigsby, principal of the school. A talent show was presented by the eighth graders in the school auditorium, January 29. There were twenty-five partici pants. The talent show was giv en over February 2 There's iometUng about low* atmosphere and traditions that prompti its folks to stand up and be counted with no double talk. * • a Latest evidence of this fact Is the action the W. A. Shcaffer Fen Company of Iowa, In hbiag not one, but three leading deteo- tive Bfencles to team how diao-onnt houses are cet-' ting tbelr mer-| ohandlae to sell belsw Fair Trade prices, * a a This story al most ranks with- the ''man _ who, bit the c.w. H»rdtr dog, because in 1093 discount houses sold approximately |125,- 000 worth of ScheaUer products. a a a Tet the old, establishad Iowa company whose policies have bailt a dealeraUp corps ot 38,060, is wUlius to apend far more money to stop bootleninf of their prodncti. * a a Here is the issue. « • a Moat mannfactnrers, eves when their brands are not Fair Traded establish fair retail prices. In some appliance lines franchises are revoked for sell- ing: below these prices. * • a *■ ITie reason is simple. Regard less of quality controls exercised in any factory, there is bound to be defects in a certain percen tage ol the gross output. Man ufacturers depend upon dealers to take care of any defective merchandise. Therefore, a retail price is set which returns the dealer a fpir profit and reim burse him for the cost of any service he must extend. a a a Bat all over the naUou discount hoasex keep apringint np, sell ing; standard brands at a dis- T7ie buyers are flven no t ' t’oiwtlw W IntUpcndwt Btuln«ii By C. WILSON HARDER protection, no service, and often not even tme representation of the model they are bnying. In addition, discount houses often pitch their tent, disrupt the mar ket, then steal away, leaving the public holding the bag. * * « When established dealers are hurt by this unfair competition, many manufacturers verbally deplore the situation and fall back on a defense like itiis; “We don’t sell them, and we don’t know how they get our merchan dise. We'd. like to stop them, so if you hear how ftey are getting it, you let us know and we'll try and do something." * • • Seme manufacturers following this doable talk practice have been aocused of violating antl- tmst laws, so no donbt they have been well tutored In the art of lip service by the govern ment officials who should have proceeded against them. a • ♦ But out in Iowa folks don't put much store in double talk. * a • So the W. A. Sheaffer Pen Company not only takea the stand that It wants to jtrotect legiti mate dealers and the public, It Is going even further and spend ing substantial sums of money to inveatlgate and obtain the evi dence needed to stop unfair prac tices with their brand, even though U will mean a loss of vol- nme to them. « * • Naturally, some of the “wise guys" who are engaged in car- ryina water on bdth shoulders try to deprecate the Sheaf fer action as a publicity build up to impress dealers. • a a Bnt there are still many people who sabsorlbe to the old tenet, “By their deeds shall ye know them.” And the Sheaffer people have done far more than sympi^ thetio tongue-clucking. Thegr have adopted traditional American policy oljtaking aotlon. "Shackled To A False Vision" Spiritual Insight "IT IS NOT ENOUGH" By REVEREND HAROLD ROLAND Pastor, Mount Gilead Baptist Church “Man shall not live by bread alone . . —Matt. 4:4. In the temptation Jesus re cognized the deep and persistent hungers and thirsts of the soul. Man is soul and body. The body has its hungers and thirsts. The soul hungers and needs feeding. The body needs life-giving nour ishment. The soul needs the vi tamins of the spirit. The soul needs nurture and growth. Bread alone cannot satisfy man. There are millions who are not getting enough bread—they ere dying of malnutrition or star vation. Someone has said we are no more than what we eat. The health of many Is undermined because of essential physical de ficiencies. Then there are milli ons of others who suffer from chronic soul-sickness because they do not satisfy the hungers and thirstings of the soul. Many are sick in mind because their souls are starved. Truly, Jesus is right when he says.,,“MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE...” Bread is not enough. The soul craves spiritual nourisnment—the bread of Heaven! The soul thirsts for a drink from }he living foimtain. The soul needs daily portions pf spiritual food. Are you feed ing or starving your soul? Are you growing or dying of starva tion? There are many around you dying of spiritual starvation. The body starves without food; the soul starves without food. You feed your body daily. Why do you neglect your soul? Bread is not enough..“Man shall not live by bread alone„” Why the disintegration of the American home. Why the menace of Juve nile Delinquency? Why do we spend nine billion dollars for drinks which satisfy not? Why the alarming increase of crime among the youth? I wonder if the hungers and thirsts of our souls are being satisfied? We have a plenty of corn, wheat, butter and meat. But millions seem to be starving spiritually in the midst of physical plenty. There are twenty-seven million children who go to no Sunday School each Sabbath for spiri tual nourishment. Their little souls need a weekly portion of spiritual food. Bread is not enough. Man nseda spiritual food. Neglect feeding of the body and you die physically. Neglect the feeding of the soul and moral decay sets in, and the end is spiritual death. Man is a creature of earth and heaven—he must t>e fed physi cal and spiritual food. Why die of spiritual starva tion when you need no money to feed and nourish your soul? You don’t need a bank account nor a college degree to get spiri tual nourishment. Prayer, medi tation, communion and the word of God is free...“Ho, everyone that thirsteth...come ye to the waters..he that hath no money; come, ye buy without money and without price..." Then why are you famished in soul? Why go hungry and thirsty? You are invited to share in the bread and drink from the spiritual foun tain...“Ask..seek...find..come ye that are heavy-laden...! will give you rest...” One haunting thought has.been with me a? sat in court several weeks ago. I saw fine physical specimens of young men. They had grown to physical maturity. But what had happened to them spiritually and morally? I concluded bread is not enough. The soul too must be fed or it will die of STARVA- •nON! Bread is not enoughi There is There is a thirst that water can not quench. MAN MUST L15^- BY BREAD AND LOVEI GlVe me all the bread you want...But if I have no love I count for nothing..“MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE...“IT IS NOT ENOUGH!! THE TRUE STORY OF BRUTALITY BY SHERIFF IN LOUISIANA CITY BY REVEREND JEROME A. DROLET Pastor, Saint Charles Church, Thibodaux, Louisiana (For Labor Press Associated) (This is a tme story. It happened In Thibodaux, La. on Saturday, November 7, “You are an American. You are thanicful that God has placed you In the land of freedom and justice. You are a poor man, no land or house of your own. You are a day laborer on the French plantation in Lafourche Parish. You are not a Catholic, but you hope to be one day. You know alx>ut the Catholic doctrine of social justice, you take. it to heart, you believe in It, you act on it. 9 “You go to the Lafourche Court House one day; you are guilty of no wrong, you go there to take care of some business, and start back home. One of the sheriffs suddenly stops you. He does not accuse you of any wrong-doing, yet he curses you, swears at you. “He says, I’m going to show you who is king of the niggers around here.’ He smashes his fist into your eye. you fall, dazed and bleeding. You get up, and say not a word. He is the law,’ you are a little man. The sheriff takes out his gun. and points it at you. He says, you are too— smart. You look just like that— I killed last year.’ wD- ,pptfe justlike Sheriff Swings Gun "The sheriff swings at you with the butt of his revolver. You try to duck but It crashes into your head anyhow, tears it open, you bleed more. Blood stains your shirt, crimsons the floor. The sheriff says, ‘now get the—out of this parish. I better not see you in my parish any more. I’m tired of fooling around with you damn—’ he is still pointing his loaded gun at you. “You are terrified. You dare not say one word, you pray si lently, ‘Lord save me, God help me.’ The seconds seem like hours. You wonder, ‘he’s done it before, maybe he will kill me.’ ‘"The sheriff finally says, ‘get in that—room, and wash off that —blood.’ You do, and somehow, you stagger out, more dead than alive. Somehow, finally, you get back to poiu: Peltiermire planta tion cabin. “You wonder ‘Surely the good people of Thibodaus, and La fourche Parish don’t want inno cent people to be brutalized this way. A just government is bound to suspend or fire a sheriff like that. Surely a just court will condemn and punish such un-American conduct by a public official in a free land. Surely, the Knights of Columbus will tell the sheriff, ‘this shame ful conduct is against not only “Equal Justir/r' “You are an in the United Staten^, have a government of law, ni ^en. Here, in Louisiana, in La^.,yfche Parish, we have a gove>.^JI|ent which protects the weak i^om the strong. You are than^ui that God has placed you in land of the free, where the pJ^ enjoy equa^ justice under tbv« law. It’s so different here from in the Communist countries be hind the Iron Curtain, where hu man dignity is outraged, and hu man freedoms are ruthlessly trampled upon by Godless dicta tors; where forced migration is the order of the day for anyone who stands up for freedom and liberty. ‘But''the ominous words of the sheriff keep ringing in your ear: ‘I’ll kill you...I better never see you in my parish again...l’ll show you who is the king... “So you and the family tear fully say goodbye to the parish you were bom and raised in.... the American way but also the | forcibly you migrate to a strange Catholic Church. Surely, the parish, to looK for a dry roof to United States Government, and shelter the family...you think of the governor to Louisiana will \ Jefius’ Words, ‘blessed are the see to it promptly that such crimes arevigorously punished in the land of the free.’ “Meanwhile, you put the whole, ugly thing in the land of the Lord God Almighty, and of the jrdained ? spokesmen 7 on earth. “You finally eye, a doctor to repair your smasheed eey, your torn head. poor in spirit...blessed are they who hunger and thirst for jus tice, they shall be filled... “You wonder if his words at the* last judgment won’t maybe sound like this... “Get out...get away from me ...forever...when you did those cruel things to my little ones, sheriff, you did it to me...it was (Please turn to Page Seven)
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 13, 1954, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75