Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 September 1944 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1944

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first Section—PAGE THREE

REPORT SHOWS NORTHERN NEGRO INSIDE STORY

IN ARMED FORGES HAS HIGHER 10 THAN SOUTHERN WHITES

ELKS RESENT FINLEY WILSON'S CHARGE BYRNES INJECTION OF SLY POLITICS ORDER VIOLATES

FDR DIRECTIVE

CHICAGO, Aug. 31. (AND—That all Is not well in Klkdom appeared to l)e the result of rumors regarding the political promises made hy Grand Exalted Ruler .1 Finley Wilson tor Dwight H. Green,

I sermon was preached, one Elk ex- ' pressed surprise at Wilson's okay given to allow Rev. Adam C. Powell. pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist and New York’s new Negro congressman-elect, preach the an-

lllinois Republican governor, dur- nual sermon. Austin was delegated ing the Elk convention here last ito represent Mayor Kelly, it was

week. learned.

A known Republican. Wilson is ^ At , ^' ast , ;i ks . I>ar; ‘ , ' od reparted to have openly partici- ) usy Eolith I ai kvvay fot pated in a number of p„,itical near| y rh,or ho f u, ' s n tn ,ho w,ld wf> ' moves as a leader of the popular ;^ of ° 1 ver 2ft0 - 00 l ° spectators A Elks fraternity, designed to givel N ^ro police squa.l, led hy Cap-

the vot- * a,n G oas ’ ,ke Parade, and a \

generous assignment of the Chicago Police department was made)

By ERNEST E. JOHNSON WASHINGTON. Aug. ni. (AND That tlmro has been a “clear abrogation” of the President';- antidiscrimination order in the execution of the more recent order of War Mobilization Director James Byrnes designed to cope with manpower shortages, is being more widely felt here in certain admin-

istrative quarters.

Elks votes, or influence

ing cf brother Elks, to the* Repub-

lican party. Some Elks 0 p Cn i y ‘ago ronce .,epa.u..e, ll wusnmuc, T ho nyrnes order, dated Aug. I charge that the beloved Elk lead- ,0 K 1 '*' ample police piotet Don , established machinery for the limer. who has surrounded himself ,, ,,u ^ e itation of referrals to less essenwith GOP leaders, is guilty of at- ,'. , °. v 1 Dwight H. (.r«'en made th - johs hv , h(> fnited States Emtempting to bring politics into their eG' r, al w e l r ' OIT n n P mM'-ess to open i pioyp^p, p erV i< e in favor of in

the Elks contention at ^leDopoli- ^ llf .^ r j rs inorr imT>ortant tf) the

tan Community church. Wilsons' accusers charged that little encouragement was offered Democratic party leaders to appear on

jthe convention programs.

cherished organization.

In order to win Negro votes for the Republican party, Wilson, is said to have played up the absence of Mayor Edward J. Kelly to welcome the thousands of Elks to j the city. Mayor Kelly, a known | liberal, was out of the city at the i time of the convention. Next, he j Is said to have charged that the , mayor broke certain promises made ; to him. These ate supposed to , have included a promise that the ■ city council would defray certain Elks expenses, probably including the building of a reviewing stand | without cost to the organization ' and motorcycle police escort. Elks who are members of the Democratic party finds no fault, said one. with iViIson’s GOP contact, but resented his effort to • force the Republican party on his i brother Elks because he is their leader. “We don’t want politics in

our lodge." he confided.

While Wilson's leadership as an ; Elk was voiged hy his re-election for his 23rd term, a number of

ELKS REMAIN NON-PARTISAN

more

war effort. Th<‘ order placed ceilings fin the former and made the lopping < IT of excess personnel. Meanwhile, the USES has been, presumably, observing the practice of referring qualified workers to job openings irrespective of race or color in accordance with Executive Order p:; K. Where firms have been discriminating against Negroes and other minorities, those firms hav 1 been denied service hy

the agency.

CHICAGO. Aug. 31. tANPi Calling for a “new state of the

nation” in which

VERNON L. ANDERSON, executive secretary of the Anderson Foundation, an influential political and civic worker in Indianapolis, was the guest of honor at a sumptuous banquet sponsored hy Clinton A. Brown in honor of visiting Elks at the swanky Morris Eat Shoppe in Chicago during the recent Elks convention there. Anderson (sixth from the front in the row on the left) was praised for his consistent efforts through his institution in assisting worthy colored students in getting a higher education. Welcome address was made by City Councilman and former member of congress, Oscar DePriest. While in Chicago, he visited other notable places and was the guest o* his fellow townsman, Detective Claude White at the Pershing Hotel. Seated in front of Anderson is Nathaniel Rutledge, also of Indianapolis, also active in behalf of worthy civic projects, who has been selected to manage the new Nite Club which will be opened soon at the Foundation. Anderson and Rutledge made the trip to and from Chicago by plane. KANSAS PASTOR HERE Tim Rpv. J. Ernest Brown, former rosidonl of this city, returned last week to visit his mother. Mrs. Delia Sweeney, 252fi Hillside ave-

nue.

Rev*. Brown, now pastor of the Calvary Baptist church, Topeka. Kansas, was reared here, attending Manual Training High school. He was graduated from Simmons university, Louisville, Ky., and hitter attended the University of f'iti-

NEW YORK. Aug. 31. (AND — Much stir has been aroused recently over the assertion that intelligence among northern Negroes surpassed that of southern whites. The pamphlet. "The Races of Mankind.“ by a group of the nation's lec ling anthropologists set things going when it introduced a set of figures from World War l pointing out that Negroes in three northern states had higher IQ ratings than whites in three southern states. Confirming these facts and even more hearsay, a group of educators from tile District of Columbia in a recent suivey of selective service figures from World War II pointed out. that the mental capacities of Negro registrants hi ten northern states outrated that of white registrants from seven southern states. The survey called, “The Black and White Rejections for Military Service; A Study of Rejections of Selective Service RoMst rants by Races, on Account of Educational and Mental Deficiencies,“ was the work of the following committee: Martin I). .Jenkins, associate prolessor of education, Howard university; Francos A. Gregory, principal of Armstrong High school, Washington; Howard It. Long, assistant superintendent of schools, i Washington. .Fane E. McCallister. professor of education, 'Minor J Teachers college, ami Charles H- | Thompson, dean of the Howard university graduate school.

The report indicated that by September 1. 1943, 341.200 registrants were rejected for military service because cf a lack of educational requirements; an inability to read and write the English language, “as well as a student who has completed - four years in an American grammar school.” The rate of rejection for registrants in northern states for both Negro and whites was much lower than for Negroes and whites in the southern states. Generally, thi Negro rejection rate for educational deficiency w r as far higher than the white rate in the North ard in the South. The fact is icco-inted for by a lack of educational opportunities in both areas and due to the fact that many northern Negroes recently migrated from the South. The rejeefioj rate for Negroes' because of educational deficiency varied from 2.1 per cent c/f the total number Negro registrants examined in Now York and 2.5 per cent in Illinois to 31.1 per cent in Mississippi and 43 per cent in South Carolina. In the following eight states, at least eight out of every 100 white registrants were rejected for educational deficiencies: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. The report indicated that the rejection rate for white registrants in South Carolina was nearly four times as high as the Negro rate in Illinois.

The Byrnes order, however, says I hat “if an area production ur-

brain and char-!P enc y committee .established in a

ncter, not race and color, win su- Group 1 or 2 Labor area. (criticalt. men a t the Western Baptist college, preinacy.” delegates to the 45th f0 ' , V i ‘ H,es ,haf . ,h ° n, ‘ m! f° r l Tro * Kansas City Mo.

annual Elks convention defied their Jduetion is immediate, the War Man

einnati. He lias served as dean of

re-elected grand exalted ruler. J. Finley Wilson, in a three page nonpartisan resolution adopted Friday. The 1945 grand lodge will he held in Cleveland. Wilson, who has been elected leader of the popular fraternity

power commission will not delay | or refuse to proceed with labor referrals in the area on the ground that proper utilization of labor is

not being made.”

Invariably -proper utilization of labor” has been construed by the W.MC to mean the acceptance of

23 times, is accused of attempting

Elks agree that he must not al- t° influence the votes of his 400,(100 (qualified Negroes into the employ low himself to be placed on the followers for the Republican pai- of a company as well as the up“spot" by being surrounded by ; ty. hi his address at the Metro- .grading of (tiiers to their highest

such big-wig leaders as Perry \v. • politan Community church, here Ik- ! skills. Howard. Mississippi's GOP nation- {criticized Mayor Edward J. Kelly,

al committeeman; Charles Jenkins, wdio was out of the city, lor not j p a „] y. McNutt announced that which firms are being allowed to GOP Illinois legislator, and Roseoe keeping an engagement to deliver instructions outlining the pn/ce-• skirt Hie anti-discrimination order.

rw»1 1 -1..... a i r» it . . - — ,. _ . . ! . . . * . , , . . •

are importantly concerned." There is some small evidence, that complaints are being received, an informed individual has told the ANP, but declined to say what agency, whether WMC r,r FEPC. was receiving these complaints. It was pointed out that Hie area pro ducing urgency committees and the manpower priorities committees operate in “confidential mect-

i a.-t W'-dt i rrlay W.MC Chairman j ings,” making it difficult to know

GREAT LAKES. III., Aug. SLOP. ALAIN LEROY LOCKE, the eminent philosopher and educator war, a visitor at the U/6. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, HI., last week. The Rhodes scholar and Harvard graduate, who is also the head of the department of philosophy at Howard university, Washington, D. C. is shown in the photograph with a group of sailors during his tour of the center. Shown in picture are front row, left to right: Theodore Mahaffey, S2c of 524

Scott street, Bluefield, W. Va.J Dr. Locke, Leo H, Patton, Y3c of 6115 St. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago; rear row, Cornell S. Taylor, S2c of 92 Armandine street, Boston; M. Lawrence Ktbbe, Sp (T) 2c of 6918 North Main street, Houston, Texas; MORRIS M. NUCKOLS, Y3c of 839 Roache street, Indianapolis; Howard Johnson, Y2c, 216 West Zaragossa street, Pensacola, Fla., and Waldo Beck, S2c of 555 Alger avenue, Detroit. — (Official U. S. Navy Photo.)

WAR DEPT. WARNS COMMANDERS AGAINST PERMITTING JIM CROW

Conklin Simmons. j« welcoming address and dccltre,l dure to be followed by WMC field Although one of his so-called that Negro Elks would support p,, 1Sf , nn( ,| i n the hat.iling of ap“spite moves is said to have block- Gov. Dwight H. Green and the. Re- peals pursuant to the Byrnes oied a scheduled address by Rev. publican party. der had been issued. Indicating J. C. Austin, pastor of Pilgrim Bap- “If our right are inalienable they | the concern felt here (in this qu< stist church, where the annual Elk | must be recognized now, not in anitjon of discrimination, the instruc-

|ide»inite, fast approaching post-war I Hons sav that “.where questions of ' future,” the resolution read. “We j labor utilization, labor supply or i are unalterably opposed to flagrant observance of WMC policies and I jim crow ism and all other dis-1 standards are involved in employcriminations against black defend-, ment ceiling and manpower priority j ers of our nation’s life and bon- determinations, the appeals boards

lor. and In defiance of .our supreme court. It tends to weaken our jeountiy on the producing line and

firing line.”

The resolution also called for (repeal of the poll tax as a prerequisite for voting in some southern states, as well’as for a “new state of the natir.n in which brain land character, not race or color, j win supremacy.”

Doubt was expressed that it is Byrnes* intention to evade 9346, and it is cited that “discrimination is but one part of the utilization program.” Example was given where W.MC might want to suivey a plant, might conceivably find that certain facilities, if in-

WASHINGTON. Aug. 31. (AND army does not condone racial segFlagrant violations of the army's rr ‘ffation in any form, namely post long-standing policy against racial ( exchanges, government-owned or discrimination and segregation in | eon trolled transportation and thea-

go vein men t-ope rated pest cxehang-1 L ers -

es. theatres, and busses by com- While PX’s and branch army exmanding officers caused the war chaoses may he designated to department to issue a racial equal- serve specific units, no exchange ity order in the form of a letter will he designated to use of any dated July S. 1944. it was learned | particular race, the war departlast week. | ments letter said. All army perAnsWering a series of com- ! sonnel are permitted the use of

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HUGH MUl,ZAC, valiant captain of the S.S. Booker T. Washington and a man who has delivered the goods to United Nations forces all over the world, is throwing his weight into the battle for re-election of President Roosevelt. He is now a member of the INational Citizens Political Action Committee. Here PAC Chairman Sidney Hillman welcomes Capt. Mulzac to membership on the committee, while Clark Foreman, committee seeretjiry, looks on. Sec the adjoining column for John Beecher’s feature article on Capt. Mulzac.

all PXs on any camp, post, or station, regardless of race. Russes, trucks, or other transportation, owned and operated either by the government or government instrumentality (leased to the government), wili he avail able to all personnel regardless of race, the vominanders were informed. Restrictions of certain sections of such transportation hy race will not be permitted either on or off the post. camp, or station, regardless of local civilian custom. Since much transportation in camps is not government owned of controlled, it was pointed out hy officials, in those cases this rule will not necessarily apply. Army motion picture theaters, the war department warned, like post exchanges,, may he allocated to certain areas or units within the post but no theater or performance in any theater will be denied any group because of race. One of the first civilian officials to protest the war department’s order was Gov. Chauncey Sparks of Alabama. He wired President Roosevelt that segregation of the races had 1 cen terminated at Maxwell Field in his state. The order “v-olates a state-wide practice and belief and aggravates rather than helps” his telegram read. On the other hand, outstanding white and Negro leaders in vari- < ut parts ol the country have expressed praise for the war departir.»nt’s move to eradicate race prejudice and promote by practice

Ahierican {lertocraey.

(Continued from page I) capacity, the Air Command has committed itself psychologically to courses of action which themselves become major obstacles to the success of Negroes in the Air Forces.” Back in 1940, the Air Forces authorized 10 units of Aviation Squadrons (Separate). They were Negro units which served no specific military need. They never had a defined function. They performed odd johs of common labor at air

fields.

Not until March, 1941, were applications accepted from Negroes for aviation cadet training. Several months later, actual training began at the segregated Tuskegee Air base. This training was lim- ! Red to pursuit flying—the most difficult flying job in the Army. In spite of handicaps, humiliations and humbug, the Negroes who entered and successfully completed training as pursuit pilots wont on to establish an envious record in combat overseas. On September 2, 1943, the Assistant Secretary of War. John McCloy, who was Acting Secretary of War on that day, announced in a press conference that Negroes would start cadet training as bombardiers and pilots in a B-26 Transition School on October 3. 1943. By December, 1943, he promised, training of navigator ani bombadier officers would begin. This training was to last 18 weeks, after which the trainees were to go to gunnery school. “All this training,” the Acting Secretary gave assurance, “will lx with white students.” The Medium Bombardment Grour “must be activated by July 1, 1944,” with complete crews, he said. On November 15, 1943, the first twelve Negro flying officers to receive wings as twin-engine pilotf were sent from Tuskegee and Self ridge Field and assigned to th< B-25 Transition School at Mathei Field. Cal. The 447th Bombardment Group was organized and stationed qt Selfridge Field in Michigan, near Detroit In February, 1944. It wat placed under the command of Col Robert Selway, who had been in command of the training of tlx fighter group turned over to Col Benj. O. Davis, Jr., and sent overseas. Colonel Selway is still in command of the 447th. Many of the problems which ( now * exist at Godman were bor at Selfridge Field. The most notice able incident at Selfridge—exdud ing the shooting of a Negro sol dier by Colonel Coiman, then has* commander, last fall—was the of fleer club incident. That inciden is explanatory of much that i iiaopening today. Here it is as neve revealed before. The olficers club at Selfridg' was at one time used by all offi cers, white and colored. When Co’ Benj. O. Davis, Jr., then a lieuten ant colonel, was returned to tlx united States from overseas and assigned to the fighter group then training at Selfridge, a receptior was given him in the officers club After the 447th was activated there was an occasion when thref Nergo officers went to the club and ordered beer. They were serv ed. But while sitting at a table .? white major came up to them and told them they did not belong there. He told them to leave. Otx of the three officers^ informed th< major that the club was for offi cers and gentlemen, that they werf officers and gentlemen, and that they saw no reason to leave. When the officer repeated the suggestion, he was asked if that war an order. He turned on his heel? and went tipstairs for Colonel Boyd then the post commander, who wa? present at the club during the time Colonel Boyd came down, ap proached the men and told them they had better leave. He was told of the existence of War Department Order 210-10, which said al’ buildings and facilities were avail able to all men on a post. He in sisted the men leave the club. Asked whether that was an order the colonel left without saying

more.

Following this incident, the Negro officers, in their individual capacities and not as a protest or petition, filed applications for mem-

bership in the club. Their quarters were inadequate and no other recreation was available to them *n the post. The apparent sudden change in policy, as indicated by the experience of the three officers, had stunned them. Colonel Boyd wrote a letter in which he refused to take favorable action on the club membership applications. He told one of the Negro officers at the base to go hack and tell the boys that “I am the big, fat s-o-b who said for them not to use the club, and tell them I said so.” Colonel Selway, then as now the group commander of the 477th. called a meeting of the Negro officers and told them that Negroes were not to go to the club and were not to make application for membership. He read Colonel Boyd’s letter, and said: “In my group, if you want to make the team, you will play hall my way. If anyone in ray group protests the decision of the post commander, I will give him an unsatisfactory efficiency rating.” Many of the men withdrew their applications for fear of being reclassified. But word of the incident reached the White House. From there it is reported to have gone to the top officials of the Army. An investigation was made substantiating the complaint. This conclusion Is drawn from the fact that the top Army officials took the matter in hand and ordered it cleaned up. The War Department, to the em•arrassment of the Air Forces, itood behind WD 210-10, and imnediateiy after the investigation, “olonel Boyd was transferred away from the base, the commanding oficer of the 553rd Fighter Group vas transferred, as was also the inajor who instigated the incident n the club with the three Negro officers. It was after this action had been taken by the War Department that Gen. F. O. D. Hunter came to the '>:;se and made a speech on the '’icident. He was apparently giving the Air Force’s answer to the Army action. He said that in the past there had been no racial problems at the base and he did not intend to have an/ now. He stated the War Department Is not ready yet to recognize Negroes on a plane of social equality with white men. Whether this is *ight or wrong, he said, he did lot know. He added that this Troup is no place to try to advance your race. Wait until you to overseas and do something to make your race proud of you, he old the men. He concluded by saying all agiators would he weeded out and ealt with. A decision was then made to void future embarrassment to the v ir Forces, since the Army had hown an inclination ta uphold the fficers in their rights. It was ist a short time later that the 77th and the 553rd were transerred from Selfridge to Godman r ield in Kentucky and Walterboro. R. C.. respectively, under condiions bordering on the ludicrous. The men were told the movement was secret, though it had ''een released to the newspapers. The train going to Godman lef* ^elfridge going NORTH to Port luron, Mich., then doubled back o Gary, Ifnd., and then headed ~.OUTH to Godman Field. At first. : t was mailed a training trip. Then is was termed a temporary move. Later the men were informed they vere being moved permanently. When told that his officers beieved the move was made to put hem in a Southern atmos.oher’ vhere patterns of segregation and solation from white groups would diminate a recurrence of the prohem without solving it. Colonel ?elway admitted to this corresnondent that the officer club in•ident had caused a ‘‘big furore.” Vt the same time, he said, there was a big furore about the accidents to flyers. These accidents, be declared. w*ere due to the poor .risibility around Selfridge. The move to Godman. he claims, was made to have better flying weather. But, it was not his decision. he maintains. (Next week’s article will give a word-picture of Colonel Selway and the principle “gripes” of ofleers and enlisted 'personnel at Godman Fields.)

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