Brownsville Weekly News

PAGE. EIGHT

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Pe coe

-FLINT-BROWNSVILLE NEWS

830 Pingree Phone 9-757i Fiiat, Michigan
BEM, OS oi oe ec cede eee Editor and Publisher
BESSIE ANN REYNOLDS.................. Associate Editor
WILLIAM ENNIS, Jr............;. Director of Photography
Meee BURRS wc. ee dee wee Manager of Circulation
TPN, Fe TURP oo wk coche senda eae Ady. ~Manager

Adv. ~Asst.

MR. JOHN H. TURNER

Modern Underground ~Railroad~

Just before the Civil War and during that dark Conflict, a system of getting the runaway slaves safely out of
the South was adopted by the well wishers of our freedom.
~That-is how many~Colored people of Canada _ got there.
That. is how many Colored~ people got into the North dur
ing that time. ~

This system was called the underground

railway. Many free people including a few slaves partici
pated in this movement fur the freedom of many Slav

Ss.

The system had be a secret one for if caught, the spunsors
of this traffic would have been been severely punished or
even killed. But this movement was one of God~s ways to
give our forefathers their freedom. Thus came into being

what we know to have been the underground railroad.

Now systems for good can also be employed for evil.
And it is this kind of system we are about to bring before
you know. The secret hustling in dead bodies started by
some of those ignorant and sinful Undertakers back yonder
in our childhocd as a means of Stealing the march on one
another, Those undertakers were not made of finer stuff,
in their character. They did not regard the beautiful, spirit
and holy atmosphere which becomes the handling of the

dead, They made themselves hoodlums 4nd

racketeers.

Many of:those oldsters are yet living and they have impressed their works on the minds of the newer generation.
of Undertakers who wish to be unfair and~ treacherously
5 competitive. These fellows have schooled the man and woman in the street. the nurse, the doctor, the lodge official,
the minister, the midwife, ard a host of others to DEAL
SECRETLY in the traffic of soliciting dead bodies for the
racketeer undertaker who maintains his funeral racket by
ADDING the funeral bills of thiis patrons. This system
is what we shall call the ~Underground Railway~ of Modern Competition in the Undertaking Business. None of the
Undertakers who do not engage in the buying racket have
been willing to-expose this ugly racket before my doing

so now.

In order for anyone to be successful in that racket, he

~ ~er she is bound to create a system of lying on the other
- Funeral Directors. They sponsor disagreeable rumors from
time to time in an effort to keep the necessary ~onfusion
at a high pitch. This is the mental condition in which the
hutslers must have existing, if they are to do much busi
ness, The following is example of some of their

~Did you hear that so and so undertaker made a mess of
his funeral at the church?~ ~Didn~t that body look a mess?~

~They were all drunk on the funeral.~? One of the latest
rumors in Flint is that a~certain Undertaker is out of busi
ness and has gone in the Newspaper business.

Another

rumors: |

rumor came out from a church member to the effect that

this same Undertaker had quit Mt. Olive

and gone to.

Metropolitan. Another rumor which carries with it the suggestion of poor circumstances is that a certain Undertaker

is working. These hustlers are always glad to find some
excuse to build a picture favorable to their Racketeer Boss

Undertaker. ~Nothing that that Undertaker does, is wrong,
to them. He jis ace high with his hustlers because that~s)
where they get their graft money. The racketeer undertak
er gets the money from the. insurance company

of the

dead, by padding the funeral bill. This system is the Modern ~Underground Railway~ operating to Rob the Bereaved

Families while those good and innocent families are made~

to think their undertaker is dealing fairly with them.
~Henry J, Reynolds.

Is oe, COUCH,, Luler. Wok! ae

ic ates esos

oa

JOE HIMELHOCH~S GROCERY

3401 ST. JOHN AT EVERETT

F ancy Groceries and Meats

FREE DELIVERY SERVICE|
TELEPHONE 3-9733

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~| she enjoyed William L.

Our Country
Is At War

By EMMETT J. SCOTT

WASHINGTON, D. C. ~The
long-expected has happened. Allout war has come to the United
States. All that Americans of every
race, creed and color hold near and
dear is being imperiled. Our very
hearthstones are threatened with
destruction.
The unity and devotion of the
American people have been
lenged. That challenge will be met.
Every industrial and financial =
source of this great country, together with an invincible resolve
to win, will be thrown into the
balance that victory may swiftly
perch upon our banners. We shal)
finish this task.
~In the accomplishment of this
purpose, the Negro people, as in
all the historic past, will play a
willing, winning, creditable part.
ey, of all the groyps that make
up. the American whole are and
always have been so far above suspicion: unat the most furtive mind
has never charged them with disloyalty, or as lacking in whole-soul
devotion to the ideals of Americanism. In fact, Americanism is the only ~ism~ they know anything about.

ENLISTED FULL FORCE
In~ war, as in peace, ideals of
civil liberty,. freedom, equality,
have been something more to them
than mese shibboleths. Again, they
are enlisted for the preservation
and the full realization of democratic aspirations. Their man-power,
their substance, their armed support, their every energy, are at
the call of the Commander-inChief of their country

| No. impediment, no reservation,
stands 1n the way of their fullhearted, unselfish cooperation with
their Government as it goes forth
ito crush fear and force.

These they have opposed in th2
jpast, these they oppose now. The
war with Japan, and, of course, with
iItaly and Germany, offers oppor|tunity, once again, for them to p
~in evidence their democratic faith,
|and their undimished unity whenever the interests of their country
| are involved.

In this war, they will make a
full contribution as always

-

siderate judgment of mankind as)
they seek a determination. of the
questions and. problems which, for
so long, have vexed their lives, and
all but crushed the spirit of their
citizenship.

MUST NOT FAIL

America cannot fail them. It
must not fail them. It cannot ignore their just claims as they shall
seek, when this war comes to an
end, an, amelioration of traditional
prejudices and hates based-on color alone.

This domestic issue must be met
in the. spirit of that higher statesmanship which shall assure to
them a normal, self-respecting, liberty and Freedom.

To this end should our energies
trend when Japan, Italy, and Germany have been scourged so com
4 ~| pletely that never again shall they

RABADAREDRREDSHE

menace the peace of the world.
That.democracy for which: Negroes fought in 1917 and 1918 did
not come. to them. They suffered
terribly thereafter. They were: baffled, bewildered, disillusioned.:
were heartlessly discouraged,; \_ismayed.

FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRATIC
PRINCIPLES

they now fight for democratic principles, and for the freedom of the
world, they confidently look for.
ward to that day of liberty and
freedom when democracy shall truly be established in America~ and
all over this world of ours.

In this fateful hour of America~s
war with Germany, Italy, and Japan
however, we have but one duty
and on responsibility~the ~safety of
our country and the preservation
of its principles.and ideals,

With martial strength and power, we march against the three ag| 8ressor nations. Victory will ' be

ours. Moral courage, faith, resolu-'
tion, - unyielding. determination,
complete unity of purpose, will car
afraid, we shall meet the tragi
oo now imposed nan

The |
|Bookshell

By ELIZABETH BROWN

I BELIEVE IT was last weekend when Mrs. Mahan came to At~Janta to visit her daughter, Mary.
On the second night of her visit
Mary~s Math teacher invited both
of them to dinner at his home.
While they were having coffee in
the living room, the conversation
very naturally turned to _ books,
present day happenings and favorite radio programs.

- Mrs. Mahan spoke of how much
Shirer~s
news commentations from Berlin.
However, when the professor~s wife
began discussing Shirer~s book Berlin Diary, she found that Mrs. Mahan had not read it. Then she spoke
of books of fiction. Mrs. Mahan
still could not take part in the
conversation, so she made this. feeble statement.

_ ~Really, I like to read but I
just don~t have time.~

How many times have you heard
some one say that. You'd be surprised now much spare time we
have available if only we will give
ourselves the as igre to make
use ay it,

s

you, you have
successful

In looking
noticed that the ~~

they |
have. They then invoke the con-)

With greater faith than ever, as

ry us through. Confident and un-~

| world situation.

FLINT BROWNSVILLE NEWS, FLIN'T, MICHIGAN.:

WALTER CH

IVERS SAYS:

By wane BR. CHIVERS

A Call To Arms

I WAS A volunteer ~soldier in
World War I. I am ready and
willing to serve my country in

World War II, Why, you ask? For
the very simple reason that this
is my home, my native home. My
ancestors: settled
here ages ago. at
least they were
settled here but

that makes no
difference. The
important thing

is that my parents~ parents, my
parents, I, and
my daughter are
without any
doubt natives of
these United

States. We are not only members
of the second largest racial group;
we, 28 a racial group, are the
second oldest. residents of these
United States.

Of course we have not always
been satisfied with our lot and

much of our dissatisfaction has
been justified But the folk of
color from cther countries who

come here to live, many of whom
constantly decry their lot - as
Amcrican Negroes, complain, but
remain here. They have convinced
me by their reluctance to leave our
country, even under pressure, that
American democracy includes more
real and fundamental humanity
for Negroes than any other form
of government in the world.
ONLY WAY KNOWN

The only way of life that Ameri
can born Negroes know or can
appreciate is the American coneept of democracy. Historically
and factually the United States
Constitution, its flags, and its
governmental form are the only
ones to which. its Negro nationals
can possibly have allegiance. They
were born under their protection
and their philosophy of life has
been their sole culture mold.

This is not a racial war jn its
total concept. It could not be for
millions cf colored peoples are the
active allies of the great Democracies. Among these are the Chinese,
Indians, Central and South American Negroes, Phillipino, et cetera,

This present ~extension of the wat
is, in its inclusive respects, a world
wide continuation of the conflict
between democracy and Nazism,
that is, freedom and totalitarianism, as ways of living. The exponents of Nazism, regardless of
whether they are the blue-eyed,
blond-haired Prussians, the
swarthy-skinned [Italians or the
yellow-skinned Japanese have declared themselves jn no unmistakable terms of their ~ attitudes
towards Negrces. é

NOW UNDER HITLER~

Besides the specific declarations
of ron-interest in Negroes made by
the Japanese before the now
moribund Versailles Peace Conference these three have openly
and jrrevocably declared their allegignce and subservience to Adolf
Hitler's philosophy of world government as set forth in Mein
Kampf. In brief summary Hitler
defines the place of Negroes as that,

~

Tt is my sincere | hope
there will be no more agitation of
any sort e government
involving Negro leadership of affiliation. I urge in the strongest
language that my people will lead
the field in sincere) public demonstration of the rer ~
which I know goa.
breasts and for h they inet
been traditionally noted.

There is bound to be. ~some
hesitancy amcng many Negroes
who would like to | volunteer for
participation in Civilian Defense.
For instance, so far as I have been
able to determine here in Georgia
Negro mén have not been inyited
to participate in this very ~vital
branch of service. Neither has
there been a real clarion call in
these parts for Negro women to
vefunteer for branches
where women fit. best.

NEED TO BREAK ICE

The war is not old enough yet
to relieve the hesitancy of Negroes
to rally to general ~alls, that is,
calls addressed to everybody. They
have been rebuffed so often when
they responded to certain such
advertisements | |

It would be a gratefully appreciated gesture if the local political
administrators would specifically

invite Negroes jnto civilian deflense partcipation. This would
break ice that Negroes are. most
anxious to have broken.

This no time, however, for
American citizens tc be modest
about serving their country. If

the invitation to) serve is much
longer delayed let us speak up and

of modern slaves.

ask for an ssa knell

Between

The Lines

By DEAN GORDON B. HANCOCK |,

JAPAN HAS ATTACKED my
country! When Japan attacks mv
country, Japan attacks me! I am
_for myself right or wrong. I am for
my.country right or wrong. If my
country right or wrong. I am for
cause it is right and to keep it
right; if my country is wrong, I am
with it to get it right.

Japan has attacked my country!
This country is the-only one I know
anything about. It is the one that
has given me and my people the
opportunity through which we are
bidding for our place in the sun
and not: without some gratifying

~| results. It is the country Negroes
~| have died in many. wars to save

and it is the country which must
give us full-fledged citizenship if
indeed we get it at all.

Japan has atiacked my country!
T know we have not had ali that
we wanted or even deserved. I know
we have grievances because of
wrongs unredressed. Here in this
country we have quatreled with the
foe and' are quarreling now. But

Japan has attacked my country! I
know the United States needs bettering politically and otherwise, but
the future of my race is no brighter
4than the future of the United
States, and I am with the United
States right or wrong, and Japan
has attacked my country!

COLOR 18 NOTHING? know that Japan {fs a colored
race and as such may evoke a certain kind of sympathy in times of
peace, but Japan has attacked my
country and its color is nothing to
me. I know that although Japan
has a dark complexion the Japanese
do not love Negroes. Nobody loves
Negroes except God Almighty. I
know. that the ~Lebensraum problem~ of the Japs is quite the same

as that of the Germans and that
there is some point in their striving to lengthen their borders and
make room for a population the
world. needs, but which the more
advanced nations have declined to
provide. But Japan has attacked
my country! pe

I am against Japan on general
and particular principles. She is in
league with Hitler and Hitler has |
nothing for Negroes to do. Hitler~s |
success in this world means doom
for. the darker peoples Japan_ included. Japan is nothing more than
a catspaw pulling out chestnuts for
Germany. It does not matter what
is Japan~s color. if she is casting
her influence on the side of an anti-Negro combine I am against her.

Hf Germany wins this war, Japan }

well as Negroes. I am against Ja
country! There is some hope for
me as a Negro if the allies win;
there is no hope for me if the Axis
nations win. Japan is making possible a victory for Hitler, and so 1
am against Hitler and against any
person or nation that plays his
game including Wheeler and Lindbergh and the whole America First
ensemble.

MUST GIRD SELVES

The Negro must gird himseli in
this national crisis. The Negro must
offer himself without stint in this
unparalleled~ emergency that many
of us saw afar off and which the
isolationists had eyes'to see but
would not see. It does not matter
how carefully. driver number one
going north drives, if driver number
two going south is reckless there *

pan because she has attacked my

going to be trouble.
When Japan drops bombs on
American soldiers even though they

for very soon Japan will be dropping bombs on Negro soldiers.
Japan has attacked my country
and whosoever attacks my country
attacks me. It attacks the amendments to the constitution which
made citizens of former slaves.
It attacks the bill of rights and the
far flung implications thereof. It
attacks the democratic ideology
that gives hope and bouyancy to a
nation~s and race~s aspirations. It
attacks the advantages that we
have won through sweat and tears
and blood. It attacks the slain youth
who laid them down in Flanders

| field to help lay the cornerstone of

a better social and economic or
will become an island satrapy of | 2~:

Germany and the world will become slaves of Germans-Japs as:

IN THE ~MAKING

To be
spring forth erfect, like Minerva
from the head) of Zeus; but it is
in the making and in the making
thereof the ority groups hope
with prayer and sacrifices. I am
against Japan | because Japan has
attacked niy country and in this attack she has struck at the heart of
my hope.

I am not going to be confused because Japun a colored race. Japan does not love Negroes any
more than the
victory as un ble as it is,
would not help one iota the cause
of the Negro. Negroes therefore
must not overtly or covertly say or
do anything give comfort to the
Japanese and Germans and Italians
These who help to win this fight are
the only ones who are going to enjoy the fruits of victory. When color
and country are in conflict, I stand
by couutry. Japan has attacked my
piped ie Pe |

Smashing Jim Crow Not Easy, Says

s Cramer

}
|
|
j

WASHINGTON, D. C.~(ANP~
Breaking down the long developed
racial prejudices against Negroes
and other minority groups in the
gigantic industries of the United
States is not an overnight job,
according to Lawrence Cramer,
executive secretary of the Committee on Fair Employment Practices,
when interviewed in his office last
week,

Declaring it was practically impossible to give statistics ms. to
what has been accomplished in the
amatter of job opportunities for
Negroes, the secretary of the committee however was very hopeful
of the successful accomplishment
of the purpose of his organization.
He pointed out it is difficult for
the man in the street to realize |
that the practices which have obtained for many years cannot be |
overturned in one stroke, but indicated it means a great deal of.
determined work and efforts along |

man and women ~dfe usually wellinformed, interesting people with
keen minds and compelling personalities. As a rule these people are
successful not because of a college
training, but because all through
their lives they have been reading,

have all learned the importance of
balanced reading. They know. that
to get the most what books offer,
they must cultivate the habit of

Your public library, the AUBURN
BRANCH LIBRARY, offers the following books for your information
and entertainment on our present

a given line.

~The committee") said Mr.
~Cramer, ~is looking forward to the
breaking down of attitudes and the
way of doing things in the past~. |
LOCKHEED CASE CITED. |

~The Lockheed Vega situation is

one which we believe is indicative
of the new attitudes taken with
reference to hiri of Negroes
This concern, we f is going all
ont in its efforts to place Negroes.

~The ratio of employment of
Negroes when compared with the
total picture is not meeting the
approval of those who wish to,
see this done in a hurry.

~The time elemer t has ~got to
be considered in t

Continuing, he peinted out the
attitude of the Vultee Company,
another airplane manufacturing
concern, which in the past was
very recalcitrant in its attitude.
But when the government order
was issued the company gave an
absolute definite committment that
fiscrimination would not be prac
ter, the company denied any discriminatory practices against Negroes, and when asked how many
Negroes were employed, answered
They pointed out that no
Negroes had applied for jobs and
those who did apply were not qualified for the Positions they sought.

grag! ON. CONTRACTS

these~ companies. ite only one put
ie! jou AG applicants they have
"The secretary then. pointed out
that the first step taken by the

When questioned on this mat-|

Cramer pointed out that |

machinists,. Cramer went into detail to show the committee
felt the manufacturers themselyes were honest in their ef
forts to place Negro workers.
No. Negroes| had ever worked in
this plant. company had an
agreement with the machinists,
byt the stan rules of the company were to the effect that a man
could work 30 days and if he proved satisfactory, he would then be
rmitted to join the union.: The
war department, under whose contracts this firm was manufacturing) airplanes, sent two copies of
~Ed order to Boeing, stating that it
expedted thém to fully comply with
the letter of |the order.

MACHINISTS ADAMANT

The company then wrote the
machinists union and asked what
doing.
ts replied they meant

letter was vasive and demanded

aul

if
F
brs

iy

that |

be white I cannot be indifferent;:

sure, this order did not |.

rmans. A Japanese |

To which |

SATURDAY, DECBMBER 20,

port a very great gain. All manufacturers. say. their companies do
not and will not discriminate since
they all are conscious if they are
discriminating, they know it is
contrary to the feeling of the people in the country and they ought
not to do it~.
There are dozens of individual
cases which have been before the

Ss one mob
which ~lasted for several days.

The government departments are
working toward the employment of
more Negroes, and in thins there
has been a decided change of attitudes. The: Council of Personnel Administrators has been approached On this matter and. according to Mr. Cramer, this group
ef 3% officials is. far more pow
erful than the civil servide commission in the matter of appoint
ments 5
The. secretary was specific in
pointing out that the committee had no authority to
imprison offenders, it had
only the power to recommend
and to appeal te the President ~
te intercede in cases where it
was deemed necessary. |
A long range program instead of
an overturn of the customs and
usages, which will see Negroes
gradually absorbed in every phase
of industry, is the aim of the committee and its prdgram:and plans
are being laid in that general direction.,

of the trouble was apparently the
effort of Negroes to vote in th
county which ~they had not

since 1884.

Kentucky

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Maxwell House Coffee.. -.;
Aunt Jemima Pancake Flour
| Pancake Syrup (8 oz. bottle)

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Karo Syrup.......

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Tomato Juice.....

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