Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 January 1948 — Page 10

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

GOOD RESOLUTIONS FOR 1948 Have you broken all your Ne\v Year’s resolutions yet? We thought you might have, and that’s why we waited a week before springing ours on you. No use trying to get our readers to straighten up and fly in our direction, until they’ve got their own resolutions out of their system. All of which serves 'to introduce a few suggestions for the coming year, which this newspaper humbly advances . for the public’s consideration. Our resolutions run something like this: 1. We shall faithfully attend the meetings of our church, •civic organization and lodge. 2. We shall arrive at these meetings ON TIME. There’s a catch to it, though. We intend to LEAVE on time, too. 8. Once there, we shall avoid bickering and backbiting, in order that the people’s affairs may be transacted smoothly and efficiently. 4. We shall respect the other fellow, because— 5. We shall demand that the other fellow respect us, because— C. W r e shall respect ourselves. 7. We are going to put a little more of our time and money into worthwhile projects that pay off in advancement of the people, and— 8. A little less ditto into projects that pay off in empty purses, aching heads and sometimes broken lives. 9. Summing it all up, we’re going to try not to push the advantage of No. 1 quite so much on each and every occasion; but nobody should think we’re going to become TOG GOOD FOR OUR OWN GOOD, because— 10. We fully intend to KNOCK HELL out of race prejudice and the jimcrow system every time it raises its head, every place it lies in waiting, and every chance we get.

EDITORIALS AND COMMENTS

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

-i.

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A

CTORY FOR GOOD CITIZENS

Between

By Dean Gordon B. Hancock

for ANP

TRUMAN’S COMMITTEE

ON EDUCATION

REPORTS

Ever since the end of the “noble experiment” of the nation in prohibition of traffic in alcoholic beverages and the return to legal traffic in alcoholic beverages, The Recorder

has viewed the abuse of the traffic with alarm. B _ We hold as has been noted herein, over and over again I ho JjlflPfj

for many years that legalized liquor traffic must be tolerated as it promises a rrfinimum of the many evils* which have been associated with liquor traffic. But groups or organizations which concur in such an observation again note practically that the urge to moderation must be sustained. And while effort:-, or action directed toward such an nd have not been generally compelling, good citizens of our i ity, civic, religious and other groups recently scored a highly significant victory against the possible abuse of traf-

fic in alcoholic beverages.

In one block an Indiana avenue where a church institution conducts its programs six legal outlets for alcoholic beverages existed previous to December 1, 1947. And in vefy recent weeks another liquor outlet intruded into the block by “devious means” it is charged by citizens and groups pr organizations which challenged its right to appear on the scene or survive within 200 feet of the church institu-

tion.

The issue was placed before the Indiana Alcoholic Beverage Commission. And the ABC has ruled that the liquor outlet must abandon its location within thirty days. The Recorder has been in the vanguard of the challenge of the abuse of alcoholic liquor traffic. And Maurice H. Rudd, secretary of the ABC, commended the role of the Recorder in relation to the situation or condition. But in this instance the good citizens of the community have won a victory. And the victory is more over a challenge tq producers, distributors and consumers of alcoholic beverages now and henceforth. '

EDUCATION WITHOUT BENEFIT OF JIMCROW The question of equality of educational opportunity for all children of the nation, following the second report of President Truman’s Commission on Higher Education, may become a major issue of our times. Moreover some able minds on the American scene are sure that if democracy is to survive, present and future generations must be educated for a genuine democratic way of life. In this connection the second report of the Commission advocates the repeal of all State laws requiring separate school, or dual school s^Wms. It further recommends federal grants-in-aid to ftfjpny students and fellowships for post-graduate study. The Commission suggested that legislation allowing federal funds should require that grants go only to those institutions where discriminatory practices do not exist. The Commission also pointed out that the idea advanced in the South recently of “regional schools,” fails to meet the legal issue of providing equality of educational opportunity within each state. Thus the most recent and extensive move in the South to avoid the Gaines Decision of the U. S. Supreme Court is hit a staggering blow. It now appears that the U. S. A. can not proclaim justifiably democratic processes in the rest of the world, unless these are practiced at home. Therefore it is again and finally noted that the present and future generations of our land must be trained in all our educational institutions without benefit of jimcrowism to perpetuate a democratic wa^ of life.

HOUSING FOR THE NATION IN 1948 Reporting statistics as of June 30, 1947, the Federal Housing Administration announce^ very recently that more than 8,700'financial institutions over the land held nearly four billion dollars of FHA-insured small home mortgages in their investment portfolios. These mortgages covered housing for one to four families. And an analysis of the FHA-insured small home mortgages or their financing as noted herein indicates that only <>ne-fifth of one per cent of all such mortgages were held by lederal agencies. More specifically National banks held 25.5 of the mortgages; state banks and trust companies 18.7; savings and Joan associations 8.7; mortgage companies 1.2; insurance companies 33.9; savings banks 9.2; federal agencies 0.2 and all others 2.6. These figures are noted against the illusions of groups or influences opposing aid of the federal "government in solving the nation's critical housing problem. An Aqt of Congress relating to the National Housing Act allows the Federal Housing Administration to resume more effectively aid to private industry in providing urgent-

Aside from their political Implications. Truman's Civil Rijfh’s <*ommit.tee and his committee on education may conceivably render the nation a great service by merely presenting a challenging picture that cart not be ignored. The reports of both of these committees have put great pressure on that segment of American citizenry which opjmses full citizenship for Negroes. As was t<*> “be expected', the loudest outcry aga nst the civil rights report came from some sectors of the south; while practically no opposition was registered in the north - a very suggestive observation: After considerable fuming on the part of rabid southerners, the country se.tled down to

watch developments.

Now comes the report of the committee on education recommending that segregat'on ’in the schools of the south and nation be ended NOW. It was the three-lettered word ‘ now” that set off bitter chain reactions in the south. There can be little doubt that both of these committees have rend red a great service to the cause of their country, in making such forthright appraisals of the nation's segregated e-

conomy.

Instead of ga nsaying the committees, they should be

commended for taking the democratic and Christian view of the situation, and reported things not merely as they are, but as they should be. Such forthrightness has a moral tonic effect on the nation’s morale. It is true that there is an element in this country that wants to ‘ eternalize” the policy and practice of segregation and its concomitant discriminations. Hut if the segregated system is eternalized, it will not be the fault of the Truman committees. The shook value of such recommendations as the committees made will be their finest contribution to the cause of national and human advancement. Almost every other intelligent white person we meet is free to assert that segregation must eventually go; for its retention means a moral cancer on the body of the nation. But while these persons speak in brilliant tones about what tomorrow will bring forth, they are slow to admit that what is accomplished tomorrow must be begun today. The Truman committees then force the i nation to face i^p to the ugliest situation to be found in America. It is one that must he cleared if the United States is to look the world in the eye. as it presses upon the nation* democracy in opposition to communism. ' If our statesmen are to be unshackled in their race of international diplomacy the wrongs in the nation must be righted in accordance with the Trumat. committee reporis. It wj| he increasingly different to .prove to the young white south * that the cost to the south of holding the Negroes back will not be too high a price for tho dubious luxury of segregation

and discrimination. In tact it is safe to say th.at the south is too seriously divided against itself on this ques‘ion for any tranquility ever again to come to the south short of full citizenship for its Negro citizens. Already every southern whit" school ami. university is a potential hot-bed of protest against a practice and policy that means ultimate ruin for the south and nation. Of course thhre are' many whites Who would rather s e ignorance and crime and non-pro-ductiveness perpetuated than accept government aid in education. In other, words, there are many whites who are qu’te willing to stay in the ditch to hold the Negro there; but their numbers are declining daily. There ;jre entirely too many decent whites in the south for the current situation-.to take a turn for the worse. The curren is entirety too strong and the south cannot inuch^ longer breast it. Those rabid southerners who see threatencurrent p o g r o m s unleashed against the Negroes of the south are reckoning against reason. Already the public opinion df the world is focused on the sAuth and in a hundred ways th k south is being daily made asl\med of itself. The pressure i)i this direction will not grow less but more. Georgia’s quadruple lynching and Greenville. S. (Vs dismissal of confessed lynchers are too flagrant jo he other than highly aggravated embarrassment.

ly needed housing for war veterans. Thus for the optimistic the outlook for 1948 is slightly better than it was at the beginning of 1947. This “picture of progress,” in solving the nation’s disturbing housing problem, elsewhere is viewed as ‘ ills that the flesh is heir to” in the light of the U. S: State Department’s fifty-four billion doiiur program on promotion of democracy in several world areas. But charity begins at home andi security of democracy in the world as a whole should first promise decent shelter or hom^b for millions of deserving but ill-housed and homeless citizens of the world’s most wealthy nation.

THEY1L NEVER PIE g» Sto* ?**

K* J

'WONEZR COLORED JOCKEY WHOSE 40 YEAR RECORD FOR RIDING 3 KENTUCKY DERBY WINNERS WAS FINALLY MATCHED BY EARLE SANDE IN 1931. 1 CoAtfaw. fsttOTM

BORN 1659 IN KENTUCKY, l«AAC MUttPHV WAS THE. TOCKrv OF THE LAST CENTURA.' IN HIS HEYDAY HE RODE *8UCHAMAN',' *RILEYf AND "KINOMAN" HOME TO VICTORY^ (NTHE CLASSIC KENTUCKY DERBY/ MURPHY'S PHENOMENAL TURP SUCCESS IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN DUE TO CLEAN LIVINO; OREAT DARING; UNUSUAU physical Stamina, AND AN UNCANNY SENSE OF PACE/

New Schedule for Issuing Drivers* Licenses Launched Air app'-iil to Indiana motorists to assisl the Bureau of Motor Veil ides in the program it is launching to reduce highway accidents was made here last week by Thomas K. Bath, secretary of state, Bath, who has supervision of the bateau, said in explaining the new schedule for issuance of drivers licenses this yeat^ “The coioperatiori, patience and understanding of Indiana motorists wiH 'li. much to help the Bureau of Motor Vehicles succeed with its effort to promote a new degree of safety >n the roads in our state.. •‘Without the wholehearted assistance and support of the motorists themselves it would be diflicult, if not indeed impossible; far the bureau to make satisfactory progress with its safety program.” As a part ‘if the motor vehicles mireau's new safety program a plan under which drivers will renew their operator’s licenses in the month in which their birthday falls instead of by a set date for all drivers has been adopted. Here is how it works: All present drivers licenses are valid, that is ‘good,” until Feb-

ruary 2!». HH8.

Persons whose, -birthdays fall on any day in January or February 1948 must renew their licenses by

February ”29.

Persons whc'sc birthdays fall in other months may use their present licence until the last day of the month which contains their birthday. As an example — John Doe’s birthday is August 24. He may use his present drivers license Until the last day of August, but sometime during August and before the final day of the month he must apply for his new opera-

tors license.

The new licenso will be for two years and will cost $1.25. -The application for the new license must be made ‘in person’’ by the applicant to tjhe nearest automobile li-

cense bureau.

••The Birth Month’’ schedule of

Id The Nations Capita! By LOUIS LAUTIER For the NNPA News Service The objectives of protesLunts in the school fight in the District of Columbia apparently ure twofold: Cl) sufficient construction of school buildings to relieve overcrowding and double shifts, and (2) abolition of the dual school sys tern.

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These objectives are perfectly legitimate, but iue techniques adopted by some p* ople to accomplish them appear questionable. Just wiuit are the abas of parents who have kept their children out of school Ire ause the Board of Kdueation transferred Blow and Webb Schools from the wh.te to the colored divisions to’relieve eon.’e.stio i in the Brown Junior High school ure not understandable. There is nothing new about such transfers. They are a • concomitant of a Jimcrow school system and ought to he stopped. But, in fairness to taxpayers of the Nation who contribute to the cost of ma*ntaining and operating pub ic schools of the District of Columbia. such transfers cannot be stopped as long as there is a dual school system in Washington. The -best way to stop tb” transfer of out moiled and dilapidated school buildings school build'ngs without playgrounds and school buildings on fire lanes is to abolish segregated schools. . If that were done and all children required to attend schools in their neighborhoods, except in exceptional oases, School buildings would not •have to. be transferred from the white to the colored div'sions when neighborhoods change from white to colored. But nothing can be gained by keeping children out of • school. .That contributes to juvenile delinquency more so than does the double shift in junior and senior ITgh schools. Out-of-school teen-age children frequent juke box and othei* joints and get into various kinds of trouble, not the least of which is pregnancy among 11 and 15-year-old girls. And. ■although the District of Columbia has a compulsory school attendance law. there are too jrtany ill terates here. Brown Junior High'school is not the only ovtrefowded school. There is the WalkerJones school, an elementary, school.’ There are also the Randall Junior High school, the Smothers, the Young, the Douglass-Simmons, Logan, Birney, Langston, Crummell. Book, Payne, Syphax and Bell. Public School construction required to relieve overcrowding in these schools, in order of priority, call for the Miller Junior High school building,' s replacement of t he WalkerJones Elementary School, additions to the Randall Junior Ilign school a n d the Logan Elementary School, erection of the Nalle Elementary school and the Spingarn Senior High school, and replacement of the Morse-Twining School by the x Montgomery Elementary Also required are replacemetn of the Birney Elementary School. Armstrong Senior High. Shaw Junior High, the Terrell .1 u n i o r High and Stevens Hlem.mtary School, and additions t> the Crummell Elementary School, the Syphax Elementary schouj. the Payne Elementary school. Young Elementary school, (lie Bannecker Junior High school and the Bruce Elem mtary school, and construction of a junior high school iu southeast Washington. Congress has appropriated funds with which to build or start building these projects. But there is no magic by which school buildings may be erected overnicht. The question of abolition of segregated schools in the District of Columbia is a matter for the Congress. In the light of the two reports of the President’s Commission on Higher Education, recommending the abolition of segregated schools throughout the nation and the repeal of all state laws requiring separate schools for white and colored students, it appears that' the time is now for tho Board of Education to take the necessary steps to end the dual school system here. •

Voice frem the Gallery

By ANDREW W. RAMSEY

AN URE W

W. RAMSEY

METROPOLITAN LIFE MAINTAINS ANTI-NEGRO BIAS No proper inventory of the anti-democratic forces in American life can be made without including the .Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the largest life insurance concern in the country with hundreds of thousands of Negro Ipolicy

holders.

'Phis company, which still

operates on actuarial tables e o m - piled at the begin ning of the century, issues insurance to Negroes at highly - dfc-

N, criminating

rates a n d creates the Tm pression that it would prefer not to in

sure them at all. 'Piie Metropolitan maintains, in. practically all the cities in which it has a considerable number of Negro * policy holders, jimcrow offices where these policy holders must pay their premiums. These offices are operated by white personnel, the company refus ng to bin* Negroes even as janitors in most localities. The same racial bias is operative in the employment of agents and there seems to no hope of a change short of a strong FERC Jpw. While the polic es and practices enumerated indict the Metropolitan on the grounds of racial bigotry, the company is; more clearly guilty of the denial of public facilities because of race in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution in its Stuyv.es'ant Town Housing project. Conceived in 1943, the projt ect consists of eighteen city blocks in the city of New York. It is to^ccommodate 24,000 persons and according to a statement by the (4ia r rman of the board of the Metropolitun 'Life Insurance Company in a tetter to the American Civil Liberties Union in 1940 - provision has n6t been made for the occupancy of Ne-

gro families’’.

Aroused by the racial policies of the planners of Stuyvesant Town,, the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP the American Jewish Congress and many prominent persons of New York brought several unsuccessful suits to prohibit the city of New York from completing contractual t relations with the insurance company so long as it maintained its racial policy. The Metropolitan attempted without avail to stem the tide of indignation by announcing plans for a jimcrow project for Negroes about one-sev nth the size of the project under criticism. i Recently three Negro war veterans with the support of the American' Civil Liberties Union, the American Jewish Congress, and the NAACP filed a petition with the N w , York Supreme Court for a tern- ; porary injunction to restrain • the company from proceeding ' with its racial rental policy Initial relief in the cas-- has been denied by a justice of ■ i.he New York high court and an appeal has been made from his decision. The brief filed on behalf of the plaintiffs contends that, the policy of excluding Negroes is a denial by the state of New York and its sub-division, New York City, of public facilities because of race, creed or color in violation of the' Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and the laws of the state of New York. The enabling statute under which the project proceeded shows that the project is of a public nature, tied with th$ state’s program to rehabilitate neighborhoods and to provide decent housing. The brief further shows that the city has assisted in acquiring the land for the project by right of eminent domain and that the property is to be exempt from taxes for a period of twentylive years, thus indicating clearly that Stuyvesant Tow r n is a public facility. A decision for the plaintiffs in thU case would deal a death blow to the nasty business of restrictive covenants at the, same time that it made a dent in the vicious racial policies of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

“MARCH OF DIMES”, ENDORSED BY LEADERS IN MANY F.IELDS \ ^ NEW YORK. — Joining, in a strong .appeal for support--of- the tenth annual March of Dimes of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, 2U national leaders of major national organizations urge generous contributions to the M' h’of Dimes. January 15-30. • Leaders issuing the call for March of Dimes support represent business, fraternities and sororities^ education, the clfurch, medi- < ine. club women, newspapers, insurance. schools. law, federal ag nries. labor, teachers, ^sports, nurses, industry, colleges ard universities. agriculture and veterans

interest s.

N. C. MASONS ELECT DR. C. D. GARNES HEAD

WILSON. N ;\'<AnP, — The Prime Hal! Brand Lodge of Masons met here last week with 1,200 delegates in attendance. Dr. C. D. Garnt s i f Wilmington, N. C\. who had served as deputy grandmaster under tile late Dr. James E. Shepard of Durham, was elected to suci e ii him. Impressive memorial servii i's for Dr. Shepard were held".

Council on Youth Elects Ohio Editor Vice-President ; - a 3 I .-*- : BOSTON (NNPA)—George Lawrence. young managing editor of the Ohio State News. Columbus, Ohio, became tne first colored person to held otnee' in the American Council on Youttjj* ^ hen he was elected vice president at Boston last Wednesday. ‘ Lawrence, active in the affairs cf the organization, spoke before 200 delegates who braved the stormy weather to attend the annual meeting and election of the young business and professional group. The young editor spoke at a noon day luncheon in the Copely Plaza Hotel. Iii April, last, Lawrence was the recipient of the council's annual achievement award. He delivered the keynote address at that time in the' Hotel New Yorker, New York, on the occasion of the council’s annual conference. Dr. Arthur Bishop is serving his third term as president of the group.

license issuance is only for operators, licenses, that is private drivers licenses. Chauffeurs licenses and passenger chauffer’s licenses all must be renewed by February 29, 1948. © The Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Bath explained, is starting a very technical .and complete method of keeping a permanent record of all drivers licenses. Much complicated machinery and filing systems is used to do this.

iTHE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR INFANTILE PARALYSIS j 1838 ■»««■»■< 1948 mmm ». wiiwa

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