Newspapers / Jones County Journal (Trenton, … / May 2, 1968, edition 1 / Page 5
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GARY: A CITY WITHOUT HOPE - III i JOHN J. SYNOi IF ANY CITY in this nation should be able to integrate suc cessfully, it should be Gary, Indiana. And yet, except for “tokenism” and except for forc ed public-school integration, Gary is as segregated as any Southern city — more segregat ed than many. Theoretically, though, social integration in Gary should pose no problem. This is why: Gary was created from a waste land only 62 years ago. It has never known a middle class, and the upper class, -the town’s own ers, live elsewhere. Its workers, with rare exception were, as they remain, muscled immigrants — now the sons of immigrants — who make steel. Until World War n, its citizenry had seen Negroes, a few even lived in Gary, but “race” as we know it today was not among the prob lems besetting the town built by U. S. Steel. There was no overt “prejudice”; there were not enough Negroes in residence to form an opinion. Since 1940 or thereabouts, and the coming of the war, the un precedented demand for the outr put of the mills has maintained an extraordinary high demand for labor — any strong black. Today, the lowest paid receives about $3.00 per hour, $25.00 a day, and many such jobs go beg ging. Because of this high hourly known in Gary. Every man is hjts rate, servants are pratically un opposite’s economical equal, if he has what it takes. If not, there is an abundance of Federal “re lief” money — no stigma attach ed — for those who find both mill-work and domestic employ ment not to their liking. More over, with the Negroes now in complete political command, with a Federal government anxi ous to spend whatever is needed to make the town’s Negro Mayor (and thus’ its own policy) look good', there is no cause for riot — nor have there been any riots. Gary, then, is a near-perfect hotbed for the theories of the integrationist. But there is no social integra tion in Gary, nor any sign of it. INSTEAD, the “native” popu lation, pushed off balance by the black newcomers, eyes them warily and goes its own way. Whore integration is forced, however, as in the public schools, racial troubles do exist. They are vicious, unceasing and unreport ed. There is little on-the-job trouble because the white work ers of Gary, as elsewhere, are not really in competition with the Negroes since the whites hold the straw-boss and super visory positions while the Negro es seem unable to rise above the lowest — the $3.00 — rung. There are exceptions. Thus, while there is no inte gration, in the sense sought by the Federal government, neither is there any threat of grand-scale racial troubles. Times are too good for that. But if the employment situa tion changes, if hard times come to Gary, if job competition de velops, a holocaust seems inevit able. It will be Raw Power vs. Black Power in that case and there is little question as to who would win such an imbroglio as that 'If Gary’s Poles and Slovaks, its Croatian* and its Italians, SyttaiSlssste those who go to make up the town’s indigenous population, if such as these begin to move, they will dean Gary’s sinkholes like rotor-rooters, the good and the bad, alike. Physical violence is the stuff they are made of. A NUMBER of knowledgable Gaxyites were questioned as to •the upcoming November elec tion. They were in near-unani mous agreement: Against Nixon, and anybody else but Bobby Kennedy, George Wallace would carry Gary (Lake County). But if Bobby Kennedy is tbe Demo cratic nominee, they were not so sure of a Wallace victory. “Wal lace would have a fight on his hands”. Their reasoning turned on the voting practises of Gary’s Catholic women. In their opin ion, the white women of Gary would thoughtlessly abide by what the church urged them to do, vote for Kennedy. Their vot es could spell the difference. They would do so, it is be Walter P. Henderson Candidate for Fourth Judicial District Judge GIVE JONES COUNTY SOME REPRESENTATION No Jones County resident is a representative in the N. C. Legislature. No Jones County resident is a North Carolina senator. No Jones County resident is a district solicitor. No Jones County resident is a Superior Court judge. No Jones County resident is a U. S. Congressman. No Jones County resident is a U. S. Senator “I respect the pursuit of justice and shall give myself unto it.” SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDATE FROM JONES COUNTY FOR DISTRICT JUDGE , WALTER P. HENDERSON -vi' ■ ■ ■ -' -r ■ . * If elected, I will subscribe the oath of office of District Judge and pledge with the help of God to solemnly uphold the re sponsibilities of said office both legally and morally, WALTER P. HENDERSON . ? • 5 ■ lieved, despite their resentment of the preferential treatment be ing given Negroes. They would do so despite these facts: •Public housing — mostly Negroes occupied — is being erected in Gary at a cost of $16,000 to $18,000 per unit, and is eligible to people making to $9,000 per year. •Public schools have degener ated to such a point some Negroes, now, are refusing to al low their children to attend. •Lawlessless is universal. In a Gary area known as Tolleston, Negroes have armed patrols to protect themselves from other Negroes. Gary’s present is black. Its future is blacker. “It is inevitable”, a resident said, “Gary will be totally black, one day. And the blacker it gets, the worse it gets. It is hopeless; just hopeless. That’s Gary, Indiana, a city without hope. (This is the third of four arti cles on Gary, Indiana, written by John J. Synon. The fourth and concluding article will appear next week). REMEMBER DEAR FRIENDS TO VOn MAY 4th AND THEREBY HELP PROTECT YOUR FREEDOM AND RIGHT TO VOTE You are invited to support and vote to re-elect GUY ELLIOTT for Seat No. 1, N. C. House of Representatives, 9th District comprised of Greene, Jones, and Lenoir Counties. An experienced public servant — having served for many years in the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of our government. Your vote and support sincerely appreciated! Elliott (Paid Political Advertisement)
Jones County Journal (Trenton, N.C.)
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May 2, 1968, edition 1
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