Flint Spokesman [Volume: 1, Issue: 15]

_PAGE FOUR

THE FLINT SPOKESMAN

SATURDAY, JUNE. 29. 1946 -

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THE FLINT T SPOKESMAN

Frank OES 6 ES Managing Editdr

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THOMAS se eat: he TTT TTT Editor
Thomas ae Saeed.Advertising and Business Manager
Gladys Johnson........0..0.......---- Community News and Views
Voncile. Woods Fi paca fle pee ow enn enonnusovrennys ens Feature Writer

Wayne Thomas. Sports Editor

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o-sfoeloeloeseccoeteecoecoe to,

roatoa~
oeoatoelosteeoetoetee: cS cs ss a COC.THE NEGRO PRESS ASSERTS ITSELF |

The National Negro Press Association, which
has just closed its annual session in New York City
last week, has gone on record as binding members,
whieh go to. make up its organization, into -a- solid
phalanx, in an effort to fight for the rights of minority groups, in the economie status in this representative democracy under which we live.

Holding forth in the Wendell Willkie Memorial
building on Fortieth Street, New York City, the Na* tional Negro-Press was well represented with a crosssection membership throughout the entire country.
It was a business session throughout, from the sound
of the president~s gavel on opening day,.to the close

of this historv-makine session.

Representatives made reports on observ fatio~s
from the European sector, where our soldiers are now
stationed, in the rehabilitation of Germany and other
-eenquered countries. The report was replete, and
gave a clear picture how Negro soldiers fit into the
scheme of things in the European sector.

A representative who visited and witnessed the
inauguration of William Hastie to the governorship
of the Virgin Islands, made a report.

Indications are that the National Negro Press
Association will roll up its sleeves and go to work in
earnest. For plans were formulated at the recent

~ meeting for,a national survey of Negro buying power, and the selling power of Negro SEAT E3s
throughout the country.

A. strong constitution, with teeth, was drafted
and after much discussion, and deletion, was finally
adopted. While no attempt was made to set up geoeraphieal areas, provision was made for regional vicepresidents to preside in these imaginary areas, such
vice-presidents to be members of the 12-man board
governing body. This step was taken in order to create. local interest, which will add greatly to both a
nance and membership i in the parent body.

All in all, it was-a great meeting, and signs of] nv
better dav appear on the horizon in the Neero newspaper field.

LABOR VIEW

By GEORGE. F. McCRAY for ANP
THE NEGRO EMPLOYMENT SITUATION
At the present level of industrial production throughout
~the country, certain things are happening to the six million Negro workers which we should regard as danger signals.
Government officials in Washinton estimate there are 55
million people now working in the United States, including ~of
course, both agriculture, trade and industry.. Only two million workers are unemployed, seemingly an irreducible minimum. The unemployed figure includes those who are~ ill,

CK aKa Kae Ke Cootes!

Postectectoc~
Rorfoctoctoe~

those who are entering the labor market for the first time, those |

who are shifting from job-to job, as well as those who are sea
sonally unemployed.

American agriculture, industry, and trade have literally
absorbed millions of veterans with surprising ease. There
have: been a few fights over seniority, but on the whole conflict
between unions and employers on the one hand and veterans
on the other over reemployment rights have ~been strikingly |
few.

_ Despite the fact the stock m&rket broke markedly a few
days-ago due to a wave of pessimism as to the future of stocks
bought at inflated prices as a hedge against inflation, the long
range outlook for American industrial production, at least for
another two years, seems to be very bright. The pent up buying power is not as large as originally hoped, but the demand
for all kinds of capital and consumer goods is still substantial
and the demand for workers in most American industries is
still strong. - In fact the shortage of labor is one of the main
causes of the inability of American industry to step into high

~ gear.

In spite of this picture the nation~s Negro enikere hdve
good reason to be uneasy. They are being subjected to a
double squeeze.. Tens of thousands have lost practically. all of

_ their jobs in aircraft, shipbuilding, ordnance, and in other war
industries. Jobs here were won only after intense national agitation. These jobs are not only gone4 but the companies taking over the new war plants have no plans for employing Negroes.

In other industries and in numerous plants, Negtocs | are
being displaced by returning war veterans. Managements
have been caught discharging Negroes in order to employ white
veteran who were not former employes of the company~

Even in industries with a long tradition of Negro employment, the Negro worker is being pinched. During the war
the percentage of Negroes in the nation~s foundaries, steel mills,
meat packing and slaughtering plants, coal mines, food processing and similar industries rose to a very hfgh level. In many
plants in these industries the proportion of Negroes range
from 15 to over 50 per cent.

Today the managements in these industries as a rule bee

- unwilling to hire additional Negrces. Many frankly admit that
they feel they: have enouch Negroes on their payrolls. The
reasons are numerous and complicated, but the effect on the
eephgyment opportunities of Negroes is most harmful.

ught between the pressure ofthe returning veteran war
slate layoffs, the prejudices of employers, and the job quota,.Negro workers are having a hard time keeping themselves on a
payroll. This~ does not mean that Negro vnemplovment is high.
It does mean that Negroes are gradually being driven back into low wage industries and in personal and domestic service! or
into jobs which able bodied white workers find. unsatisfactory.

A detailed analysis of what is havpening in each industry
would provide the information for safe planning of the Negro
workers~ economic future.

ad

The sizzling indictment of major party politics adopted by the
recent conference of the National Negro Congress in Detroit,
is a document deserving of close
study. First of all, it is a sound
repudiation of the view that
progress ~can come through
~deals~ with either party. Republican and Democratic party
promises. to advance the caus~.
the. cause of Negro, rights. it
says ~are not worthy the paper
on which they are written~~
an they aren~t! Secondly, the
resolution is a timely declaration
of war against Republican and
Democrati~ Negro party hacks
whose elevation to public office
is less a symbol of ~Negro progress~ than it.is a reward for
political bell-weithering,

%

One might wish that the indictment had gone a step further and explained. why major
party promises are worthless. It
could have shown that these
parties - are capitalist parties,
Whatever their ~democratic~
pretensions, they are dominated
iby the philosophy, to paraphrase
Jefferson, that the mass of mankind are born with saddles on
their backs, and a favored few
are booted and spurred | ready
to ride them legitimately, by the
grace of God, Whether led by
man whi would put a little more
padding under the saddle, or by
men convinced of the efficacy
of the whip, the major parties~
primary role is that of preserving present property institutions
and class relationships,

~Also, it would have enhanced
the effectiveness of the indict
ment if-the status of the overwhelming~ majority of the Negro people as wage workers had
been emphasized. That is, that
Negroes are not merely ~allies~
of labor or vice versa but are
an integral part of the working
class. The Negro worker who
understands his class status ~is
far more secure from the blandishments of politicians than one
who thinks exclusively in racial
terms,

So much for the negative side,
for the side, that is, which sets
forth what Negroes sould not do.
On the positive side, the resolution commits the Congress to
work for candidates ~regardless
of party~~~ who have demonstrated ~their allegiance to the cause

of the people,

x15

Released by Calvin's News Service

come HASS |

Eeliton ~ WEEELY PEOPLE

But, where does this take us?
Where -is not. right back into
the major party camps! Only
this time we get there by supporting men instead of party
paeatoemns, The mex we support
may ke ~good men,~ They may
have demonstcated - ~their allegiance to the cause of the people.~ that is, they may have
been consistent reformers. But
they are also men who subscribe
to the basic philosophy underlying both major parties. Every
time these ~gocd men~ rise to
speak in Congress on any Question affecting labor or Negroes,
they urge a liberalization of conditions, not as 2 means.of abolishing the basic evil of exploitation. but in ovcer to palliate its
effects and thus stabilize class
and property institutions,

Morover did the spectacle of
306 Representatives voting for
Mr. Truman~s slave-labor bill
teach us nothing? Among these
hysterical sotons were scores endorsed by. the A, F,
~and KFailroad. Breil erhoods. as
men who have~ demonstrated
~thei: allegiceuse to the cause
of th: peopie.~

As long as we group ourselves
about men we invite trouble. In
one way or.another we will get
trouble, For the working mén
and women of this country, Negro and white, real progress can
conie only when we come together, not to support men, but
to uphold a political principle.
And when we unite on a political principle we do not need

of L,, Cid

BETWEEN THE LINES

By DEAN GORDON B. HANCOCK:
WANTED: A LOCKER CAMPAIGN

The interracial situation is gradually improving. The su.

'preme court: decisions and the. rise of Ellis Arnallism in. the are
South and the more accurate understanding of Negroes them- |

selves, presage a brighter day. At the close of World War |
Negroes were illusioned that in some miraculous way the race
would be ushered into the department of full-fledged citizenship, and when the race received its great rebuff, there was a
darkness that came upon the race that in retrospect constitutes
one of the greater tragedies of history. The Negro knocked in
vain at the doors of a democracy he had died to save..

Today the picture has canged and the Negro realizes now
that the road ahead is still rough and rugged and in this realization he gives promise. of ultimate victory. Negroes are everywhere girded for a long hard fight and this is far better than
Priming ourselves for an overnight event that a hundred
things are conspiring to postpone.. Today as was not the case
at the conclusion of World War I, the Negro is gearing his plans
more for self-help and self-determination. Whereas in the
former case we expected some miraculous deliverance, today
we are reposing, our hopes in God and time and right and in our
own resolves to find a way or make one. This is the most
hopeful sign in the whole unhappy situation.

Gradually~too gradually of course~we are learning the
value of jobs. Gradually~too gradually of course~we are
learning the value of: the ballot and its tremendous possibilities~ Gradually~too gradually of course~we see. the possibilities. of intra-racial cooperation epitomized in the doctrine
of the Double-Duty-Dollar. Gradually~too gradually of
course-~we are beginning to take note of our public behavior
which is so large a detriment of -public opinion which is in the
last: analysis the final determinant as to whether~ the Negro
shall become a full-fledged citizen, and when and how. It is
to. be observed that these intra-racial indications are quite as
important as any of the outward manifestations.

In other words the Negroes of this country are fast learning that what is wrong with the white man does not. make, everything right with the Negroes; and they are hereby. preparing
themselves for an irresistible advancement,
as the supreme court decisions is the Georgia decision to. drive
the Ku Klux Klan out of Georgia and eventually the South.
The Greyhound bus has already indicated its intentions to end
segregation. The removal of segregation can be immeasurably,
hastened by Negroes themselves by an improvement in their
general public decorum and especially by more attention to
their attire. Negroes generally are a working people and for
this no apologies are needed.\. But too often we are not careful
about our dress traveling to and from the job on public carriers.

the ~leading lights~ that bobble
up out of the capital'st political
brew, Once we all understand
what we want and how we are
going to get it, we can put forth
our own candidates to represent
these principles. In ouf own
working class political party, a
party unburdened with reverence of outworn institutions, and
clear on its goal of econmic democracy and human _ freedom,
the mass will have control of
its men, -not the men of the
mass,

Whatever of progress that is
reflected in the resolution adopted by the-National Negro Congress it is clear that one lesson
is still to be learned. It is the
simple lesson that, while men
may, and most often do, betray
the mass, the mass, if enlighten
ed on its goal and methods | will
never betray itself.

By George E, DeMar

Mark down the recent rail--
road strike as unfortunate. It
was a volley felt around the
world. Although felt, it did not
~destroy everything; but it certainly put a crimp in the immediate forward march of organized
labor, Labor was thrown for a
loss..Organizations of working
peple have been all but annihilated in the past. They come
back as an irresistible force still
trying to methodize an economy
so that there will be adequate
wages and suitable leisure, Just
as strong men are not defeated
because: they are knocked out,
labor regains its feet and meee
again.

Now, I hold no brief for the
treatment accorded the Negro by
the railroad brotherhoods. They
have been undemocratic in refusing Negroes membership,
There has been evidence of putting Negro firemen off the job
as Diesel engines reduced the
amount of work involved, and
the jobs were given to whites.
Th2 brotherhoods have slapped
the Negro around, They considered themselves not only powerful| but aristocrats of labor in
the AFL tradition, Maybe the
slap administered will cause
them to think about those they
have slapped, are they are so
proud again.

It is not ~kosher~ to talk a
~bout the ~unions and leave out}

the long unsavory history of
railroad management; Centainly
they can stand vast _improvement
in their hiring practices with
reference to Negroes, to say
nothing of other working conditions, I remember participating
in a high school debate in which
I argued ~that the railroads
should be owned and operated

by the government.~ At that

INDUSTRIAL LABOR RELATIONS

bime, 1919. I didn~t realize the
implications of the issue debated, But as mines, steel, and railroads slow our economy to a
stop in 1946 it becomes increasingly clear why England seeks

a nationalization of these indus- |

tries instead of a temporary operation by the gvernment when
a cYisis arises, Negroes are in
government service too!

The President acted in desper-. |.

etion. As commander, he felt he
could not~ permit mutiny because
all of us are in the same boat.

No matter what criticism of the |

President~s methods, I have not
heard him more sincere in his
determination to preserve the
American economy and the peoples of the world, A railroad
strike breeds hunger | and hung.
er breeds revolution. Mr, Tru
man made certain this was not

to be. His method was unfortunate; but cheer up, the government will buy the railroads before private enterprise is allowed to fail or before men in Unit.
ed States uniforms on the roads
cast aspersions upon the men

who wore them in battle,

Chinese Enterprise

The scientific ingenuity, patience
and skill of the Chinese were re
vealed anew on a recent government mission to the Orient. In 8 vise
it to a Chinese city famous the last
2,000 years for brine wells, Chinese
were seen drilling deep wells for
brine and natural gas. Tne interest
ing aspect is that they have pene
trated to depths of 3,500 to 4,000 feet

without any metal equipment except |

the cutting edge of a drill. They are.
using and have used, for hundr

of years, drilling methods. develo
independently in America.

| from his northern compatriots. Northern Negroes have learn|ed to use their lockers and when the job is done they dress before going out; and it is difficult to tell who is who, and who
works where, and at what. It is different in the South where
~Negroes have not become locker-conscious.
North the newly arrived migrant from the South rides the subs
in attire that is deplorably striking. Because of the large numbers of southern Negroes in the North, general appearance of

cent years.

It is just as well for us to know that this slovenness in dress
is a~mill-stone about our necks. The Negro is dark in complexion and is thereby handicapped, but when he is dark and
dirty and disagreeable he is thrice handicapped. The world
will forgive his darkness, but it will not forgive his dirt. His
disagreeableness is justified oftimes by the circumstances under which he must live and move and have his being. It is
not good for segregated people to become too agreeable.
Darkness and dirt and disagreeableness make a bad combination with which to fight segregation; but Negroes can do something about the dirt.

Just the other day I saw a Negro covered with coal dust
and grime set himself down by a beautiful Negro girl who was
beautifully dressed. He ruined her dress with his dirt and
dust. Common sense and self-respect demand that Negroes
institute a locker campaign so they can change their work
clothes before riding in public. Let's add to our repertoire of
campaigns~a locker campaign!

AN EX-LOVER
( By William Henry Huff for ANP)
_ She held and kissed his brawny hand;
As true sweethearts they wese;
_But now no one can. understand
What has come over her.
She hates to hear one call his name~
So jarring: to her ears
It ushers in-a subtle shame
And fills her eyes with tears.:.

Nd. geu Just Putt THAT TRIGGER., wink~

*

~

oa

WORED NEWS. 1. sows a
AND VIEWS.~ (World: News: Briefly Told)

General Manager
A: P, N. S.
Newspapers

Quite as significant |; The Southern Negro can herein learn.a mighty fine lesson |

Ewen in the

the Negroes in the North has generally deteriorated within re-|. |

*LIL OLE NEW YORK

last. week-end
in New York~
City, where Mr
Bonds was
attendance

and

in~ atten- W. H. ~Sade
dance to the Noonday Lunch-| JUST WHO GOT THE
eon Conference at Hotel New| MONEY IN JOE LOUIS
building,
also

In My
Opinion

_By..REUBEN SENSELEY

~aun

HUMAN RELATIONS
When Americans learn the
value of, good relation witn one
another then the provlem that
now seein |to be invincible will
vanish rg aan America
today we have frequent -aciul
~distusbances ani there ale innocent peopie suffer as a result
so it iy mecess: ~for every one
to di his or het part toward
improving ~ortions instead of
standir.g in the~ bleachers Iouking on for the same _ incident
may cause. you harm,
You come
nearer knowing
a person by associating with
him, and by you
eknowing him
fyou will be able
to understand
fhim much bet
ter than. you
would if you

| Reugen Sensleydid not know
him, When you know a person
you will look through some
mean or hateful thing that they
may do and see some reason for
you forgiving him. If you are
not so quick to jump to the baa
side, If you try tc find the good
side of things as much as you
emphasize the bad you will
make and have many more
friends,

If a person does something to
you that is wrong, take in conside-ation first that they are human and no humen is perfect
and subject to do something anytime that-you may ot like, even
you yourself will de something
to yourself that you regret.
The best way iock at these
things that you may not like is.
as tester of your ability to analyze and understand.

Oae of the greatest hinderance to good relationship and
good sportsmanship is an inferiority complex and a. superiority complex, A person with an
inferiority complex is usually
hard: to get along with because
they seem to feel that some one

ris always trying to take ad
vantage of them, They usually
carry a chip on their shoulder
that may. be knocked off by
some one trying to help them.
To be a good sport and be able
_to make friends you have got
to be able to take it.~

Do not let every thing in~tendéd as ah insult, insult you
and you will find~ yourself to be
_much happier, By doing this you

|, will safeguard yourself: from in
juries from insults not intended
as such. If a fighter in the ring
find out that by. hitting his opponent about ~the head does not~
affect him, he is not going to
coniinue hitting him there, he
is going to. try to find some
other target to shoot. at and: if
he finds his opponent is equally
protected elsewhere, be contented staying his distance
properly protecting himself.

If a person is unable to get
along with people around them

~they are unable to get along

with people as a whole, People
that make remarks about other
groups that is damage to them
will make remarks within their
own group because that is the
way they think, Those kind: of

people actually think they are

respect for themselves. when
they. are doing just the oppisite.
It is hard to get along with
@ person that: is always looking
at the bad side of things and. W. H: Bonds, general man- | of
ager of Atlas Power Newspa- papers, at the
per Syndicate, and his spouse.| William. G. Black, assistant
Mrs. W. H. Bonds, also an em-| vice-president and -sales. manploye ~of the syndicate spent | ager.

The luncheon, plus rare
ported viands, was fit for a

king.

Yorker, Friday, June 21, guest

Interstate United Newsinvitation of

The luncheon was largely;

attended by all mac hot a
Interstate family. june

eon was held in the North ball- ~
room,
architectural beauty. A very

spacious and artistic in

im- ~

+ &

BILLY CONN FIGHT?

ja.

The perplexing question
the

the minds of fight fans

world over is, just who won

the fight last week between
Billy Con, Joe Louis and Uncle |
Sam? This columnist is declaring Uncle Sam the winner,
from a pecuniary standpoint.
This is the way we figured it
out:

Our bewhiskered Uncle
Samuel took a 20 per cent cut
out of the gross gate receipts
of $1,925,564 for amusement
tax. This amounted to 385,112.80. The state took five
per cent, totalling $96,278.20.
Of the reraining $1,444,175,

ceived $625,915 and Conn
$312.958.
Uncle Sam allowed both

ing expenses before taxation,
allowing Louis about $125,000
and Conn around $60,000,

Now: this is whete Uncle~ Sam
comes in strong, taking a lion~s'
share of Louis~ share. Uncle
Sam latched on $400,000 of
Joe~s remaining. $500,000,
which left him only $100,000. |
Uncle Sammie also took $190,000 of Conn~s $250,000 net.

Out of the $100,000 left
for Joe, the state of New York

and $16,170 from
Conn. Joe~will:::call ~himself
mighty. lucky if he winds up
with as much as $70,000, after having paid Uncle Sam and

Louis,

taxes. (Conn will have to be
satisfied with around $45,000.

Of
Uncle Sam and the Empire
State got $1,121,561. Now.
just who is the champion any-_
way, Joe Louis or Uncle swan
mie?: g St mae

More than 30 million complete ball
and roller bearings were made each
month during the last'two war: years
~by the anti-friction bearing manufacturers for U. S, military equip.
ment. Approximately 100 million
~ball and roller bearings: of. all types
were made during the last war year
for U. S. military aircraft alone.

never see the good om and. if
they do see the good side of
things they refuse to admit that
it is good, When you make an
enemy in another group, many
times you are making one for

~others in your own group, Some

of us have the very bad_habit
of judging an entire group by
~the action of a few. That is
wrong and should never be practicod by. anyone.

If a person believe within himself that if given a chance, can
compete with the next person
and put forth an effort to go
ahead he has little time to try
to throw stumbling blocks in
the path of those who are trying
to go ahead, The individual that
wants to be ahead and does not
put forth an effort to go ahead
is the one usually trying to put

~stumbling blocks in~ the path of

those that are trying to go ahead
by putting forth an effort.

A good fighter welcomes competition and good competition
and by good competition he can
improve. It is necessary if we
are to have an insuing. peace,
for us all to do. our part in making, it possible,
It may hurt many of us to
change our attitude toward other
groups, but it is mecessary if order for us to have an insuing
peace, We have got to try to und-rsiand people we come in.con.
tact each day expect differ~nce in ways and actions of peo
ple, We all have our~ faults:nd

will make mistakes which some
of us ave not conscious. of. making. Se: it is better to not em- ~
Phasize every thing taking time
to fully~ study it,

REUBEN SENSLE Zz, on

fighters to deduct their train-.

~

palatable menu was~ served,
prepared by one of New
York's best culinary artists...

Louis is reported to have~ re--

comes in for ' $34,000 from~

which leaves Louis $400,000. ~

New York State $434,000 in |

the $1,925,564 gate,

e.