Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 June 1944 — Page 10

ZteunA Section-PAGE TWO

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MENTION THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER WHEN ANSWERING ADS T’-" " 1 OPINION

SATURDAY, JUNE 17,1944 n^--. , . -

The Ground of Liberty ie gained by inches. ...It takes time to persuade men to even do what is for their own good.—Thomas Jefferson.

^j™*nap o L is_r^|R 7sis GBOIMJE t. STEWART MARCUS C. STEWART “ and Bditor—1896-1924 Edttor

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CITY PLANNING FOR INDIANAPOLIS

The Indianapolis Postwar Planning Committee watf advised by a planning engineer, last week ‘‘to prepare wisely” for population increases up to 600,000 by 1970. The planning was suggested without “further costly decentralization.” The city planner proposed that city officials and citizens should influence and restrict the directions and areas of growth so that the city would not be expanded by more than about 22,000 additional acres. The virtues of the idea are not embraced readily by all practical citizens, the city may grow to more than 600,000 population if not restrained or restricted by selfish interests or influences. Expansion or decentralization of the city’s residential, business and industrial areas, the report implies will result in higher taxes and a loss in value or use of the old congested areas. Areas vacated in the congested sectors can never be taken over by business and industry, it is reported, therefore the people must be encouraged (perhaps restrained) to living in the congested territories. The relations of taxes and public service to the new areas, is stressed, but nothing is said about the cost of necessary reconstruction in the old areas. Manners of restraining thousands of peopla to the old congested areas are proposed through city and county planning laws against the developing of new subdivisions. The idea or program would restrain some citizens from spreading out either in the city or county, and it is suggested that they shall be made to like it. Expansion or decentralization would of course necessitate better transportation and better planned transportation to serve a great city extended to the North, East, West, and South. It would again necessitate more general municipal facilities and of course an increase in the tax rate, AT THE SAME TIME PRODUCING NEW WEALTH. However, the growth of the city would impel new businesses to spread-out away from the congealed downtown areas and this is “the unseen snake in the grass” upon which the planning is based. Selfish and dominant influences or interests in the city, have been widely reported, as having opposed the growth of a great metropolitan city, in which every type or phase of municipal life and activity is spreadout in aH directions to the Four Winds. Therefore, city planning in “our No Mean City” for the postwar period is duo to follow a course not consistant with the needs or the interests of the masses of the people, planning wisely for a little room for action inducive to health and general wellbeing.

BETTER HOUSING A NATIONAL PROBLEM

The National Association of Real Estate Boards, representing the organized real-estate business commends this week to local real-estate boards throughout the Nation that they undertake programs to provide better housing for Negro families. The Association pointed out that many Negro people who can afford to rent or buy better housing are unable to do so because the market provides nothing. The problem is being approached by the organization as a matter of business and to meet an existing economic need, it is pointed out. The organization announced that it does not propose to take any part in “the issues, social, political, or racial” which are often injected into the discussion of housing for Negro people. * A study is recommended of Negro housing problems, with a presentaition of the problems to be solved. The Board concludes that facts on hand indicate that Negro people are becoming a good risk. And that Federal agencies are becoming keenly interested in the matter and wiU be found willing and ready to assist. 1^, also eyggests that Negro rental properties should be of a kind or character which is on parity with that given to other types of property. The Board further suggests that Negro people will respond if given the chance , to avail themselves of facilities and services of a modern character. While in a number of cities, both North and South, real estate boards or individual members have instituted provisions for better housing for Negro peo« pie who are economically able to. absorb it. • • * • Planning better housing for any area^ 7 or sector of tjio community’s or Nation’s population should not be considered anymore, in jfhe.natncp of a charitable venture or financial speculation. The Federal Government h^s justified the long-range economic soundness and social significance of standard housing for all citizens of the land. Dating back to the end of the last war the general erection of standard hopsing for the masses has been justified by several European nations of modest economic resources. The health of the people is bound up in one aspect in the Nation's housing. Health or disease eventually menacing all the»people have been charged practically to the , illhousing 9f,the manges. Over half of the peoplepf our Nation ,aVe,copped jup in towns and cities, contrary to promotion' of * generally wholesome social motives or the perpetuation of a physically stable people. Again it has been demonstrated that ill-housing detfacts from the economic, worth of succeeding generations, and harbors a major spefctre of appalling social evils.damaging to the overall moral fabric of the Nation. , ( / All aelflsh, intolerant or discordant social and economic influences detracting heretofore from this phase of planning for better citizens, are really arrayed against the future well being/and security of the Nation. Disraeli, English statesman,advised that, “the health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all . their ppwers as a. Safe Hepend ” Better housing fpr all citizens of jover-crowded towns and cities of the Nation is inescapable in practical, prudent planning for the future. However the necessity now awaits the response of the people, the Federal government has recognized already the nature or need of the program.

“The idypn tow-rope on each Army glider would make 63,000 pairs of nylon hose.”

“In un-price-controiled Mexico bread is selling at 80 yents per loaf,”

Next To... Folly Or ...Wisdom The shifting "Sands of the Hour Glass” have unloosed again and again “Mortal Folly Next to Wisdom" and “Mortal Wisdom Next, to Folly"—while neither in some seasons is free of the other. ‘—Anonymous.

By “JAY” (of WoodvMe)

HERE

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Manson (of Gary) I have read your column and your views on the “bad fellows" or the anti-social element. I wa* born In Georgia, I attended school less than seven years and I have been forced to learn somethings in “the school of experience.’’ Perhaps I am a byproduct of peonage, etc., as you have mentioned, but I remember my mother telling me that Booker T. Washington said that Negro people could do themselves more harm than any one else could do them. I have tried to remember this advice. Long ago I discovered that people many times do not get a good view of the things that are very close to them. Long ago I discovered that some of the wise people talk wiser than they appear to think. We have a big Job of making good citizens of the “bad fellows.And there is an elusive question, who is going to pay for the job? It will surely cost something. but less than It has cost already, by way of disadvantage and lost opportunity. The people you need to reach with your “BUI of Goods” will buy a dance, prize-fight, or baseball game ticket today, or a bottle of liquor to fit In with any of these, and all amounting to several dollars. But they would not pay two dollars to support a year's work of some organization like the NAACP. Finally it appears that you must make a simple, continuous and interesting appeal to the people who must be reached, and on the widest possible scale. You of the press have an obligation in this instance, and here is wishing you all the success, and power which you surely need.

HEREAFTER Posing in the guise of “economic or spiritual Infallibility” some influences in the “private-minded world” are now shaping the pattern of a conflict that may end their “way of life.” That is to say a clash of arms with the “privateminded” and the “state-minded” orders arrayed in opposing camps will most likely mean the end of one or the other. The “machine-age” and its blessing or damnation of humanity have been sponsored by the “privateminded” world, but the vigor or vitality and numbers of its peopfe£ are On a definite decline. The trend to race suicide continues to develop among the masses, in flight from fhe despair, drudgery and penalties of lowly family life in surroundings of plentiful plenty. Our habits of life, food and drink afe slowly sapping the fullest vigor* of men of our civilization. Pood afld 'drink vitiated In their very b£ing or In processing, and the degradation of opulence are plaguirfg eV^ry rftnk,' class! and status of litlihanfty fit our clvjltzatfon. ' ICfn ftie side of the ""statferWtnded* World, 'the Bomlrtitit group, ftonsftts of a people of hear prlrrlftfve vldor. Their Constiliitlon * requires that*, meahs shaft ' fottnef' to ‘protect all mothers tfnd’’children, ■fo provide (tiedWnal' and dental* attention throughout tHefr' lives.* The pdj>ufitloh Vf ftfe ' dobfinaVit' “statem1nfled ,r hatihn was estimated as 200 million, June 1, 1941. These people are of A/ery racial stoerf under the sun, iVeaking over 150 languages or diaVcts. Their land of near 8 400,003 square miles, is* bigger than the S-'hofe of North America. It reacXts from the frozen Artie region*.to the Trooical “all Summer" lands, and extends 6,000 miles from East to West being a part of both Europe and Asia. This primitive land, in some measures, affords near all natural resources to be found any place op the earth. To this thd people have added all the “telltale devicos of'the machine-age world." They declare that their society has been constituted as a utility and a complement of both the strong and the weak. While any speculations on their destiny or aftns should be associated with coldblooded practical realities. HERETOFORE Aleksander (of Leningrad) “Generations of Russian youths have considered UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, the books of Mark Twain . . . Jack London, and scores of others as inalienably their own. . . . And I feel sorry that until recently Americans have not had sufficient opportunity to study the Russians and their land through Russian books. In the past of a country are hidden the PROPHECIES and the ANSWERS — the keys —TO THE FUTURE OP A COUNTRY. And another commonplace observation, which one can not repeat often enough: LITERATURE IS (BOTH RESULT AND CAUSE TJfW

Between the Lines

By DEAN GORDON B. HANCOCK (For ANP)

INTERRACIAL CO-OPERATION. The United Negro College fund campaign now under way is a matter of towering importance. While it is true that the goal set falls far short of the pressing needs in Negro education, such beginning is significant far beyond our powers of computation. It is safe to state that the fund realized will be small in comparison with the moral comradeship engendered in the campaign itself. In other words the by-product of the campaign will far outweigh the funds collected as important as these are. Interracial co-operation could find no greater Illustration and vindication than in the concerted drive for funds for Negro colleges of divers persuation. The financial lift given these struggling schools will be paralleled by the moral lift, that comes of seeing racial and denominational lines transcended in the interest of the general welfare and progress. Negroes above all minority groups are the least prepared to sacrifice the good that denominational competition too often engenders. All competition is wasteful, but competition between Negroes over denominationalism is most deplorable. Little by little these denominational lines are wakening and the impact of this United Negro college fund will go a long ways towards destroying them as one of the great forces of divlsionism among the Negroes everywhere. The current drive is interracial, interdenominational, interstate, intersectional, intercollegiate, intergenerational. Interfraternal, and interorganizational. There can he no greater investment of a given fund than in the lives and future of the struggling Negro youth who will benefit from the United Negro College fund sought In the current campaign. The success of this campaign will be the best reproof for those narrow-minded congressmen who trumped the effort to have the United States government set aside $300,000,000 to assist the poorer communities in their educational program at present so deplorably restarded. Some of those who have deplored the short-sight-edness of these misguided congressmen will have an opportunity to make restitution for them. These narrow obstructionists are a millstone about the neck of this nation and stumbling blocks in the upward path of posterity. This campaign will be a convincing implementation of the pro-

LIFE OF A NATION, its reflection as well as its educational force; its image, its mirror, and its builder at the same time. Russian interest in American literature has increased since 1911k In that period 50 MILLION COPIES OF BOOKS BY AMERICAN AUTHORS HAVE APPEARED. American held for the new generation, a new, a double attraction: the semblancle between ITS (RUSSIA) OWN PIONEER EPOCH and that of the American past; and second-tAmerica’s technical progress, which this generation (Russian) called upon to build a new country wanted to achieve even at the highest price of hardship and self-sacrifice. . . . ... I would like to quote the words of a contemporary American about Russia’s great fight for its future. Lincoln Steffens, when he arrived In Paris in 1919, from starving Moscow, said: “I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE AND IT WORKS." “+T-‘S’V —— —H—i . 4

fusion of interracial declarations which eveiywhere abound. The time is at hand when we want action and the campaign under way gives fine opportunity for action of the most constructive kind. In other words the current campaign is a brotherhood movement and as such it must not fail. The very thought of failure tills us with abject dismay for it would not be the mere failure of the campaign hut of interracialism itself.- Such would be a dire calamity at this stage of interracial understanding. We are not going to fail. We are going to WTite one of the finest chapters in the history of interracialism and what is more we are going to lay the foundation of bigger and better things tomorrow. This interracialism in education is a forerunner of interracialism in economic and social endeavor. Whether we realize it or not we live in a universe and not a multi-verse; and we are either going to he brothers or brutes. Praeiudicium generis delendum est.

DR. DuBOIS RETIRED: An event of rare importance is the announced retirement of Dr. W. E. B. DuBois, for 40 years one of the most impressive figures of modern times. He must carry with him into retirement the gratitude of 13.000.000 Negroes in this country and of Negroes throughout the world; for he has been their benefactor in the truest sense of the word. Dr. DuBois is without doubt the ablest living Negro. His stalw'art character, his impressive manners, his erudite and refined scholarship, his fearlessness and sincerity of purpose, his challenging and versatile pen and his supreme command of the English language mark him as one of the truly great men of modern times. He has no superiors in the field of interracial combat. He not only sees with clearness and conviction. He is our ablest “fighter” and fashioned our present fighting program. it is in emulation of him that so many with his zeal but lacking his ability are trying to popularize themselves as “fighters,” while their lines are hardly more than unchastened emotionalism dunked in excessive verbiage. Dr. DuBois comes stately stepping down through many years the plumed knight of the interracial combat. ^Ve hail the retiring veteran of the powerful pen!

Uncovering ... Washington... By HARRY McALPIN All of Washington, except the Western Electric company, newspapermen and women, and in And on “D” day itself. Reps, fact all of America stopped at some- Clare Hoffman (R.-Mich.) and Fishtime during the day of invasion— er (D.-Texas) launched their ‘home“D” day—in deference to the his- front battle’ against the idea of a tory-making occasion of the fore- permanent FEPC, of which heares of liberation launching the at- ings are being held by the House tack against the hordes serving Labor Committee, greed, racial supremacy and op- Hoffman wanted to know of Mrs. pression. Beulah Whitby, of Detroit, a witSchools suspenueu activities hess before the committee, why activities while the occasion was a H unemployed Negroes in Detroit observed in silent prayer. Sports ( i on t come up to his section of events throughout the nation were Michigan and work in the fields cancelled or postponed. In many an( l the cannery factories. He localities, the bars and grills were poked fun at Wayne university closed, and no drinks were sold. f° r permitting a semblance of so* Even Reno’s gambling clubs closed f ial equality to exist at the instiin tribute. tut ion. though Abe only connecFreedom, justice and democracy ii° n had with the hearings were on the march! All else paused was ^ iat Whitby attended colto give the right of way. thar^. Twelve thousand American work- FisV bad ou«»mur.e proposers at the Wright Aeronautical cor- al. wanted to know why the poration in Lockland, Ohio, work- Negro women who are seeking jobs ing on airplane engines for the in war plants in Detroit’ do not Navy, stopped too. But they stop- take domestic jobs as maids, since ped for a different reason. he hears there is a distinct shortThey stopped work on the eve age of maids in the area. He said of “D” day because seven Negroes he felt FEPC is the worse thing were transferred to lathe work that could happen to America, which was formerly handled ex- And while this sacrilege was goclusively by white employees. ing on, we new’smen waited with “To hell with ‘D’ day. To hell bated breath for some visible eviwith beating Hitler and his racial dt-nce in the way of pictures and supremacy theories. We’ve got a for some official word from our racial supremacy of our own to war leaders concerning the partimaintain by keeping Negroes in cipation of black Americans in the their places, even if they do want war for freedom. We thought it to help win the war. So, while would be good for the Lockland the allies strike against occupied strikers, good for Russell and TydFrance, we’ll strike against the ings, good for Hoffman and Fisher. Negroes.” Our only reward, however, desThat must have been the battle- pite the valiant role the thousands cry and the prayer of those 12.000 of Negroes must be playing in the .wildcat strikers. And they found invasion, was one OWI radio-photo solid support in cur own halls of of a naval gun crew, and a squib Congress. from that 13 Indians (he called Sens. Russell of Georgia and Tyd- them the “filthy thirteen”) had ings of Maryland spent the inva- landed behind the enemy lines as sion eve castigating the PresidenUs paratroopers. So far as the AmerCommittee on Fair Employment ican public knew from the news Practice, during hearings in the stories, and so far as some ConSenate Appropriations subcommit- gressmen and some Locklan.d worktee, for having had a remote and ers were concerned, the war was dubious hand in the settlement of being fought and won, as they think a dispute over separate toilets for it should be, by white men alone, white and Negro workers in the “D” day was a dark-day for the foint-Breeze, Plant o£ tfes Negroes at Jiojne, ~

CRUISIN’ AROUND By LEE JAY MARTIN

1) We Fight in Lands More Favorable Than Our. 2) Industrialists Foment Strikes. 3) That “LAW" Again. 4) Honor, to Delegate Charles Brown.

DIRECTLY after the fall of Rome, giving the Allied forces, roughly, one-half of Italy, came the announcement of D-Day, meaning the invasion of Europe across the English Channel for the purpose of liberating all who do not believe in Hitler, and the extermination of those who do. From the experience we have had and are having in Italy, we have, (we, meaning the Allied nations) a tremendous job to do. We have only a toe-hold on the Continent, and it’s going to take much hard fighting to hold this toe-hold and if we are able to do that, the battle will be just started. HAVE NO DOUBTS about it black Americans were among the first to fight and die to gain that toe-hold, and black French and British troops were in forefront of the Rome battle, and many of them will be there at the war’s end. Many of them will not come back. The irony of it all is that the colored troops are actually fighting for a better world for others, and a worse world for themselves, especially those from the world’s wealthiest democracy, the United States of America. Not only are some worldly ignorant Americans, still holding and practicing race-hatred here, but practicing race-hatred here, but they are spreading it all over the globe, in places, where there has never before been racial prejudice. Even in Germany prior to Adolph Hitler, race prejudice was practically unkown. No wonder Russia wants no American troops on her soil, they might revive the silly, narrow, selfish racial antagonism, it — Russia — has no nobly and completely eliminated. HOWEVER there is a ray of hope, which is not engendered by the war. (unless the war lasts ten to twelve years) but by the reaction of righteous persons against racial persecution everywhere, periodically lifting the unholy racial barriers; provided of course that race-hating diehards do not force another war. So we must warn our soldiers, both white and black, they should not expect to return to an appreciating America, that only their immediate families will give them real appreciation. They will of course receive the customary bally-hoo. but after that, it will lie the same power and money garbbing. double-deal-ing Amej-icans, who toy then, may be in control of our economy. It will be so hard, at times, and they will wish they were back on the front. But returning soldiers, all will not be lost. You can. by united political and peaceful efforts regain control of the nation’s economy. if it be in other than the hands of the government, where the Constitution says it must be, and use it for the benefit of all those who contribute in anyway toward the public welfare.”

IT IS common knowledge that many leading industrialists are using unethical, and in many instances, dangerous tactics, to break and discredit labor unions especially the C. I. O., which is destined to be sole protector of lower-paid and unskilled workers. When and if a reactionary government moves into Washington. These industrialists after having discredited organized labor will find it easy, with the assistance of a reactionary government, to set up “dummy” unions, which they will control and finance. ANY honest inquiring into the cause of the strikes will show that many of them, if not a majority of them were brought about toy management, with blame reflected upon the unions. One of the most common offenses is paid trouble makers, hired by the officials; the intentional bungling of a delicate situation, so as to cause friction. While we cannot give labor a clean bill of health, it has been proven by patriotic industrialists, putting the saving of the lives of our soldiers before politics and economics, that strikes can be prevented. And it is not a guaranteed victory, if the industrialists do succeed in breaking organized labor, for it is labor who creates and buys the products of the industrialist. Thus when and if the industrialist defeats labor, it defeats itself.

DON S. STIVER, chief of Indiana State Police says there were 7,698 auto accidents in the state during the month of May. The report states that 1,942 driving suspensions were ^imposed, but 1,695 of these were lifted, when those involved gave proof of insurance, Such a statemen^

on the surface seems to say that after 1,942 had accidents. 1,695 motorists were directed and did take out insurance, in order to get their driving right reinstated. A few days ago, a motorist of several years’ experience, who had never been in an accident, was driving within the speed limits, and was struck by a motorists who, in attempting to pass another car, swerved on the wrong side of the street and struck Motorist No. 1 on his side of the street. When the police arrived, Motorist No. 2 was still on the wrong side of the street, andMr/torist No. 1 still on his side of the street. The police arrested and suspended the driving rights of the law-abiding. Motorist No. 1, because he did not carry any liability insurance; the guilty. Motorist No. 2, proved his liability insurance, and was permitted to drive on. Now, according to the above State Police report, Motorist No. 1 must take out liability insurance before he will he permitted to drive again. I may be wrong, but to me. this liability insurance law, is the greatest legal-steal ever fastened upon the people of Indiana. Designed as a safety measure, it has actually caused more accidents, more traffic deaths, it has been of no benefit to the public welfare, or to the individual motorist; it has taken the responsibility for safe and sane driving from the hands of the driver, and placed it in a far away office, without any remote or actual control of the driver or the automobile. The law requires a citizen of the state to pay tribute to a third party, for the privilege of driving upon the streets and roads of his own state. The law benefits no one tout the insurance companies and if accidents keep going up, even their benefits will.be temporary. And finally I have grave doubts about the constitutionality of the law', which law also proves that “law's” can be just as obnoxious. just as regimentive, as unjust as so-called “directives” of bureaucrats.

AMID the turmoil and strife arising in the Republican State committee, are feel compelled to commend its action of recognizing the life-long service rendered the party by Charles J. Brown outstanding worker of the Eleventh Ward of this city, in electing him as alternate dele-gate-at-large to the Republican' National Convention at Chicago, the highest party position ever given a colored person by the Indiana Republicans. Mr, Brown was also a vice-president of the state convention. Other delegates attending the convention were accorded due recognition. However, we are sorry that the hasty action of the state committee resulted in the election of a man as their national committeeman, who had not thus far seen fit to renounce his connection with an unsavory organization of the past. We are aware that many wellmeaning men used this organization as a step-ladder to fame and fortune. We knew, and, those men who did or should have known, that such, built upon the misery and hatred of their fellowmen cannot stand. And unless these repent by words and deeds, their former discredited activities cannot be forgiven or forgotten. It is now too late for those involved to repent by words, they can only do so, by deeds. We are not qualified to tell the Republicans what to do in their organization, but feel that men of the[r own party, like Congressman LaFollette, are. We also feel that many loyal Republicans will spend sleepness nights wondering how they can support their candidates, without endorsing the Ku Klux Klan. There may be some comfort in the fact, that there is much good in a “hide-cellar” even though it smells rotten.

JOE HEPCAT: -If the pot calls the kettle black, that doesn’t make the pot any whiter."

KEEP ON •• ^aekdHfitteJlthek/

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WITH WM BONDS • ***•••*•* *•<

YOU SHOULD KNOW The opinions expressed in any of these signed articles appearing in this paper are those of the writer, and are not to be construed as neceesarily having the endorsement of The Recorder. —THE EDITOR.