Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 January 1952 — Page 8

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The ImRanapolis Recorder, ian. 5,1952 EDIT ^^R.1 ALS AN D C DM M ENT S

The Indianapolis Recorder, Jan. 5,1952

SEND FEDERAL TROOPS TO FLORIDA! The outrageous? bombing to death of Harry T. Moore, state coordinator of the NAACP in Florida, climaxes a reign of terror which shows that every semblance of law and order has broken down in that sbite. The cowardly night-time blasting of Moore’s home while he and his wife v ■ re sleeping (Mrs. Moore suffered in ternal injuries) w? the ninth in a series of bombings in southern Florida. Others have been directed against a Jewish synagogue air e Jewish center, a Catholic church and a Negro housing project. Mr. Moore, a teacher by profession with 20 years’ service in the schools, was the only paid official of the NAACP in Florida. At the time of his assassination, he was seeking the prosecution of Sheriff Willis McCall of Tavares. Fla., for the murder of a Negro prisoner and the attempted murder of another. Sheriff McCall hnd cold-bloededlv shot to death Samuel Shepherd and thought he had killed Walter Lee Irvin While they were handcuffed together on a lonely road to which he had driven them for the purpose. Miraculously, Irvin lived to expose the crime. Shepherd and Inin earlier had beerf slated for a “legal Jynchiilg” by the Florida courts, but the U. S. Supreme Court ordered a new trial for them. It was to circumvent this order of f he highest court in the land that the sheriff fired. We could go on and on tracing the bloody trail of this case that ranks with the foulest atrocities of all time. If pursued far enough, it -would demonstrate that the night-bombers’ guilt is shared by the press, the politicians, the leading persons and the governmental officials of Florida. For instance, it was Circuit Judge Truman J. Futch who ordered national NAACP representatives out of the Irvin case — thus cutting off outside help. Tjhe hands of the judge himself are now stained with the blood of Moore. The truth is that there is hardly a white hand in Florida that is not stained with blood for all the world to see. The dominant population of the state is in open, violent rebellion against all the dictates of civilization and humanity; against the Constitution of the United States, and the Charter of the United Nations. It is a bitter mockery when U. S. newspapers continually play up the misdeeds of Hungary, of Czechoslovakia, of North Korea arid China, of Russia — while giving indifferent trentment to the blood-bath in Florida. For the stern reality is that the lowest point on this planet, judged by the standards of democracy and Christianity, is not on the other side of the Iron Curtain —but is here in the U. S. A., in the state of Florida. The murder of Harry Moore is the climax of a wellorganized campaign by terrorists who obviously do not fear local and state law authorities. Judging from recent Florida political campaigns, in which Northern money has been used to bolster the KKK elements, it is likely that the plot is nation-wide. Florida is a testing-ground for U. S. Fascism — for a group, not yet fully exposed, who would overthrow the United States Government by force. And this group is far more powerful than the radicals we have been putting in prison. The challenge must be met! President Truman should forthwith dispatch Federal troops to restore law and order, and respect for the Constitution, in the state of Florida. And those troops should take necessary measures to establish a democratic government in that state, as prescribed by the Constitution. Not only our democracy, but the very survival of our nation is at stake.

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'WHY ASIA DOUBTS OUR LEADERSHIP . . .

NEW VOTING BAN IN ALABAMA City apd county registrars of voters in Alabama, under an amendment*to the -late constitution passed in 1947, were given powers k* reject applicants for registration. Under such rigged-up tests the registrars might flunk the proverbial “Philadelphia lawyer.” The 1947 amendment, known as the “Boswell Act” and generally designed to prevent Negro people from voting, was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in 1949. Early in December of 1951 a new amendment*to curb voting by Negro people was approved by the electorate of the state. This new amendment, designed to circumvent the 1949 decision of the U. S. Supreme Court, necessarily disfranchises white persons as well as Negro people. But the registrars are vested with the authority to ride on who is of “gi>od character” and who “embraces the duties and obligations of citizenship.” Again, applicants may be required to answer a written questionnaire prepared by the state supreme court and to sign an a- :i-( ommunist oath. The latest amendment, also sponsored by Mr. Boswell, is styled a more vicious device than the original Boswell Amendment. But not unlike other Southern states, Alabama’s boss politicians and their fellow travelers appear determined to prevent a free electorate from shaking off the shackles of Bourbon agrarian feudalism. For more than four-score years the like of these politicians have nullified the letter and spirit of the U. S. Constitution in perpetuating feudalism and peonage iri\ the Southland. But with a free electorate such a course of things must gradually disappear. Therefore a free electorate is necessary if the better features of our way of life are ever to obtain in the South, Therefore, again, the new Boswell Amendment like the old one must be carried back to the U. S. Supreme Court as soon as possible. THE KU KLUX KLAN BY ’ ANY OTHER NAME Among the various sustained aberrations from the spirit and letter df the U. S. Constitution found up and down our land, something new was added in the great state of California last year. This audacious plan, called the “freedom of choice” movement, is known as America Plus, Inc. Its supporters propose to wipe out social welfare legislation of the last few years, as well as all social justice gains of minority groups based upon the 14th and 15th Amendments. Supporters of the movement have as their first objective a referendum in California to eliminate the state’s civil rights laws. Following this, a new amendment to the California constitution would allow or permit every type of discrimination in regard to use of public accommodations, employment or restriction of habitation. Operators of public places would be allowed to ban people on the basis of race, creed or national origin; employers would have the right (legally) to ban workers on the basis of race, creed’or national origin; and the citizenship rights generally of Negro people, Jews, people of Asiatic origin and others ■would be restricted. The movement is headed by California State Senator

MISCELLANEOUS MUSINGS By T. C. JOHNSON AMERICAN RACIAL MINORITIES This discussion necessari- try. Thus we find more Jews ^ ,c P a) * mm c>ri.cies as a !y is limited in both scope in New York City than in any* threat to its fixed interests: and treatment of a subject city on earth — about two ‘ Liberty is the cry of the of such importance and in- million of them; the Japa- bond, equally the cry of the fluence as that of minorities icse in the West and South- victim of discrimination, irais. This country always has west, Mexicans in the South- tern it y the cry of ihe outcast, had and now has minorities west and Negroes mainly in progress and human>y are the . of one kind or *he South. The millions of C ry of those whom their fel- • another. The white aliens and foreign-born lows use ns means instead of /T ^^, concern here. naturalized citizens are to be respecting as ends., full em- ^ however, is not found chiefly in the East and ployment is the cry of tne with political, the Middle West. Few foreign- worker whose dailv iob or religious, eeo- born white persons have set- i <ic k of job stunts his soul nomic or social tied in the South, largely he- and mocks his capabilities, groups, or those cause of the race question a nd social planning is the cry resulting from there. of those who are trampled national origin. rhief Minnritv ornuns underfoot.” Despite such wails. Rather it is _ t hief Minority Groups those who have privilege, and with those The following table giving power go along merrily seeing smaller in the identity and number of that the world is safe for number individ- the principal racial minority themselves, ually and col- groups will indicate something . MR. JOHNSON lectively than of the importance and difficul- 1 mericans Beiie^. the majority, and having ways ties of the problems they Will Americans ever really of life, customs and physical cause for themselves and for believe in the fatherhood of appearances that set them the country: God and the brotherhood of apart from the dominant Negroes ... .. 15.000,000 man. and prove their belief by group. Indians 400,000 appropriate action in all rcDesnite numerous differenc- Chinese 80.000 spects" Will/hoy ever go into es among Them American Japanese 150.000 court with Joan hands? Drhw racial minorities have ,m,eh. Others 70.000 your ow n r^clustons. in common. The fact that the (Comprise Asiatic Indians. t j le inan }f e5 { destiny of majority controls economic. Koreans. Polynesians and other this Republic, proclaimed 113 political and social conditions Asiatics.) years ago. yet conceived to be causes each minority to he It might be worthwhile to “to establish on earth the compelled to try to solve note that of the 14.000,000 noblest temple over dedicated some problems or surmount foreign-born people in this to the worship of the Most some difficulty in order to country' (all racesi, 13.750.000 High — the Sacred .and the secure its rights. One might are white and 250.000 non- True, with its floor a hemisay that a minority is any white. sphere — Us roof the stargroup which is denied the lf • maiipr of common studded heavens”? Do Ameririgjjts of ,the majority. An un- know i e dge that what this na- cans regard themselves usual minority problem from Droaches wi th refernce to especially favored .by Provi T American viewpoint, on jls d P emocratic ideals difTer s dence with the mission to upthe other hand, is a situation noticeably from what it prac- hU llle uorld in which a minority predomi- tices in dealing with its racial Dr shall we believe fhat all nates over a majority, as is minorities The minority prob- current human rights propothe case in contemporary ] eiT1 , s no t caused entirely by sals “may end in nothing more Russia. the ^satisfaction of the' dis- than pious aspirations, recordIn addition to being recog- advantaged groups and their od and forgotten, or. if not nizable b\*- culture or race insistence that their disabili- forgotten, surviving as one of there is segregation of minor- ties be removed. The majority those lies which sei*ve a foimal ity groups, and a tendency to wants to keep things as they purpose without deceiving the confine them or for them to are now. Being satisfied with mind •’ restrict themselves to certain present conditions, it con- Next: The Laigest American cities or regions of the coun- siders any unusual activity on Minority. I,i s intelligence and scholar- Churches to-select Indianap- !/ • ship he is able to stand on olis as its national headquar1/ Of Trip his own feet, needing no push tors because of the city’s pror from anybody r will say< vincialism in race relations a nevertheless, that he sincere- was pleasing to the Chamber ly is trying to be helpful. The of Commerce, local churches f^ same cannot be said for Uncle and the KKK. each of which Toms. Aunt Jemimas and is anxious to maintain the TO THOUGHTFUL YOUNG other shallow hypocrites. reputation of Indianapolis as PEOPLE ONLY You will find it an interest- the most American city • „ in the country—not excepting (Mr. Ramsey’s Articles "? m ™e whSr the artidos even GrecnviUe ’ S C • or Meri - T ^ are^saUre ^’sarcasm, 6 ridicule*! dia T n h /"S miad „ r 22nd To The Editor h . onv burlesaue or a com- The 3« rem,ad of D ? c - 22nd The Recorder bination of two or more of relates to the J hypocrisy, com Ue , a , r Sir: the of ‘"Oiooted KSs S pu™ortlng"o reSec't If you did not read those A guest columnist, Mr. I. f s ‘ if J iVurifimnc r «ahi two articles it will be well for G. Norant. wrote the Dec. tha^rvfrlSmfl^h^ you to do so. I am making the 15th piece. i TrwT TTn ft suggestion not entirely to It declares that the refusal asse i-ts that the jingle of the boost Mr. Ramsey. Because of of the National Council of cash register is the only carol ‘ for those who inveigle the Jack B. Tenney. Senator Tenney is head of the “Little thoughtless to pay high prices Dies Committee” of the California state legislature. Ac- f o r a r f i e 1 e s o f 1 it fie v a 1 u e to cording to his fellow Californians he has been zealously needTor wa^t them, engaged in “witch-hunting” for many moons. In this con- t. c. Johnson nection supporters of America Plus, Inc., boldly announce that the organization proposes to extend izs activities gj f" A l T If throughout the nation. / r J*kL / ff People of every race, creed or national origin under the sun have been living in California since the days of the If IA IT ^ first “gold rush.” All these people have helped to make 11 y | J California the great state it has come to be. However, a _ new affinity of the Ku Klux Klan or the nefarious general EYELID pattern of Fascism has raised its serpentine head in the DERMATOSES great state of California. * This new design of Fascism may serve to further divide ‘ skin of [Jl 6 the people of our land. But social justice (under the JL T . S. 0 f 1S the° body 0 because of its Constitution) may not obtain hereafter for any people thinness. However, eyelid skin unless for all the people, in this era of critical world affairs. is like the rest in that it is Finally, in the camps of both foes and friends of our su !iif ct to . deI ! mato fff n neighborhood world, it is contemplated that little men in a bie C p! aced 3 in front of high places may pull thq “temple of democracy” down the eye a n d b y closure its ijpon our heads while turning our clocks backward. function is to protect the eye.

By ANDREW W. RAMSEY FIGURES POINT TO NEED FOR FEPC

In this period of fear and hysteria, the references to any proposed legislation for fair, employment practices are becoming fewer and fewer. This silence upon the part of many who formerry were very vocal in the matter of improving the $1 e mployment o p p ortunities of Neg r o e s and other minorities stems s from the > current practice of labelling any at- ... tempt to MR. RAMSEY change any American attitudes, or policies subversive or socialistic. * The Senators from Indiana and the Republican hopeful, Senator Taft, opposed FEPC legislation on the ground that it interferes with states’-rights, while Chambers of Commerce generally oppose this type of legislation on the ground that prejudice cannot be legislated out of existence. In the meantime those who oppose for one reason or another the enactment of a law to guarantee equal job opportunities for all Americans regardless of race or religion do nothing to bring about this condition. The assumption is that the status quo is satisfactory and should therefore be left alone. Ill Fares the Non-White But figures released recently by the U S. Census Bureau indicate just how ill fares the segment of the American population which happens not to be white. The Census Bureau reports that in 1949 the average while family in the United States had an income of $3,232. while the average non-white family had to get along on a mere $1,650. If in terms of what is called the American standard of living the income

for the average white family was somew'hat under par, it is understandable how many privations the non-white families had to endure. Figures gathered by the NAACP and the National Urban League give a closer view of wHat was happening to the non-white worker during that period. Ah the Savannah River Atomic Energy Development, these figures point out. no Negroes can be seen in whitecollar jobs and of the 3.000 Negroes employed on the project, only 100 are in skilled trades. Inasmucn as a large percentage of those employed on this atomic energy project are in skilled jobs, it is apparent that the bulk of the common labor jobs are being filled by Negroes. The Savannah River project. w'hile a government establishment. is operated by the Du Pont .Company, who defend their bias in hiring and upgrading Negro workers with the old bromide: “Employment policies will be determined by local project management with due consideration to prevailing racial customs and practices.” Mexicans Exploited And Negroes are not the only non-white minority suffering from such job discrimination. In the Southwest. Mexicans are annually imported by the truckload (with as many as 90 to a truck) to provide labor at less than the prevailing wage for the cottongrowers of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Last year alone 60.000 such laborers were imported and mistreated, while 40.000 American Indians in Arizona and New r Mexico were without employment. This policy of withholding jobs or better jobs from segments of the population keeps these segments in a lower economic bracket and denies to them many of the much-vaunt-ed fruits of American produc-

tion. These workers with incomes below the norm cannot be , expected to have as many of the good things of life as their fellow-Americans whose skins are white. Poor housing, lack of adequate sanitation, poor health, insufficient education and more criminality are the lot of the discriminated workers. Unfair Local Firms Here in Indianapolis, there are firms like .the Standard Grocery Stores which take the Negro’s money without giving him any type of employment, even menial; while there are olheEs like the city-owned gas utility W’hieh. while serving practically every Negro in the city with its products, hires Negroes for only the dirtier and less paying jobs. The Indianapolis Railways is another consistent follower of the pattern of joh discrimination on the basis of race. The company claims thaj it would hire Negro operators but that ihe union objects. But it already has Negro employees in menial jobs who belong t<£ the union, and there is nothing except the company’s policy to prevent the upgrading of some of these workers to operator. The taking of money from Negroes by these firms and the department stores without a commensurate return in wages and salaries constitutes a type of robbery which as yet is legal. It is to make tfiis type of robbery as illegal as that practiced with a revolver that FEPC legislation is advocated. In addition, America might have more success in selling the American way abroad if she first sold it at home. To the Jenners. Capeharts and Tafts it must be pointed out that FEPC legislation would not subvert the American way, but rather extend it to all Americans.

BETWEEN THE LINES By DEAN GORDON B. HANCOCK For ANP A CHRISTMAS QUESTION!

(Delayed)

MR. HANCOCK

“Where is He that .is born King of the Jews?” Thus queried the Wise Men in their quest for the newborn Jesus. The passing centuries have not dimmed the lustre of the Star of the East

that rose upon the h o r izon of history. Nations have waxed and waned, and king doms have come and gone, empires have towered and toppled, but the story of the coming of the King

of the Jews is as fresh today as when the Wise Men saw the Star in the East and went to worship him. It is true that today Christmas has hern commercialized in a way that is disheartening to those wiio verily would worship the King; but there is still to Christmas a hallowed reverence that possesses the human spirit and enraptures the mind with solemn contem-

plations.

Bereft of its commercialized aspects. Christmas is in very truth a time of times and a succor to weary mankind as we plod onward into the maze of the passing years. Yesterday we were children prattling, and playing with our toys; today we face the grim realities of a tough w’orld more bent on gain and get than on the eternal verities by which men live. In Troubled Times In spite of a high-powered

optimism of those who would discount the grim tragedies of the present in favor of a roseate tomorrow, we are today living in troubled times with the threat of death and destruction against everything we love and hold dear. Our vaunted democracy is struggling for its life. Our lovely land and our glorious liberties are poised in the balances of uncertainty. Our cherished ideals of Christian brotherhood are being trampled in the dust by selfish souls, w r ho would prostitute the greater opportunities of the present in the name of the ephemeral vagaries of human ambitions. We live today in a colorstruck world. We live in a world of dollar-mania. We live in a world that is war-ridden —where the dove of peace finds nowhere to rest her feet. We live in a world where man’s inhumanity to man is still making countless thousands mourn, as Bobby Burns so clearly saw and so convincingly told. And all this in spite of the fact that He that is King of the Jews has been born in the earth. The Wise Men wno sought the Christ Child rightly quer-

ied:

“Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” They were convinced of His having been born. They rightly called him “King of the Jews.” They might have added King of the Gentiles as well. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But the question of who He was could not answer the quite as important -question of w'here He was. Christmas too clearly sets forth the almost universal conviction

that He was the King of the Jews; but untoward circumstances foist upon us the question of w'here is He that is born King of the Jew's? We Look in Vain We look in vain upon the thrones of the nations to find the new-born King. In the councils of mankind we hear but feebly the voice of those who would lift Him up and let Him stand by faith on Heaven's table land. The great . universities fef our ow-n great nations were fouhded on faith in God; but in those great universities the teachings of Jesus Christ and the God who gave Him have but a meagre place, if place at all. We impIoBC God in the time of distress and danger but in times of peace and security and success and triuinjih we forget Him. until trouble knocks again at our doors. Professedly the church of today welcomes the new-born King, but when we consider the hypocrisy. - and meanness and hatreds and jealousies and prejudice which are harbored in the church, we might profitably ask even as we enter and depart from the church the searching question. “Where is Hr that is born King of tiie Jews?” «- The nations are fighting t(»day against common evils that afflict the fighting nations. Moral values are being* made subservient to racial and financial expediencies. When we see how powelful are the appeals of race and how' impotent the appeals of brotherhood, we can feebly sense the moral debacle in which the 20th Century finds itself. Where is He that is born King of the Jews? Unless He will have a back scat for race prejudice and human selfishness. He is standing without, knocking. We pray it may not be ever thus — the Christmas question.

The upper lid is larger than the lower and more movable, being furnished with an elevator muscle. Infiamation of the skin of the eyelid is commonly a result of contact with hair dyes, eyebrow' pencils, face powders. wave set lotions, nail polishes, perfumes, even eye washes. Certain eye remedies can cause a reaction on the eyelids, and inflammatior sometimes follows the application of scalp salves and tonics, hair rinses and nose drops. Spectacle rims, soap pow'ders. plants, flowers, insect sprays, pollens and dusts, all are possible factors in bringing on skin disorders of the eyelid. The taking of certain drugs has been reported as resulting in a diseased condition of the eyelid. In- all of the contact dermatoses, treatment consists of removing the offending factor anc^the use of remedies to give relief. Some persons with a tendency to allergy suffer eczema of the eyelids and often this is associated with hay fever and asithma. The ophthalmologist frequently is the first to recognize and recommend proper treatment for diseases of the eyelid.

SENTENCE SERMONS By REV. FRANK CLARENCE LOWRY For ANP

T * I * M * E

TIME, one of the greatest factors in life. . . . from mankind seems so slip away, until he hardly finds it possible lo fit in all his vital duties before the close of day. Man comes into life crying, and then his time begins, and from there on must make his long journey, whether he gives God his life dr blunders along

in his sins.

He can choose thg wrong

m he can choose |||p right; he can use his time ^ brighten his day, or to Mury his

night. H

j Time is his inval^hle gift to ure at his dispMjal; but

not to handle so ly as to get him

trouble. ‘

Time marches men move back consume extra tim up the slack. Time can’t wav

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by eternal order, and he who wastes God’s precious time will forever be just a cheap eat-and-sleep boarder. It is great, say the real folks, “to jump right into life,” shirking no duties or obligations; Jjut taking plenty of time to help mankind of all creeds and nations^Yes, big enough to not take God’s time to consider a man's nationality, but treat him 365 days in the year as one of God’s great human family. This is exactly what time is for. . . to be utilized for (he benefit of all God’s children; who and he who does not know this much, is nead though he thinks he is living. Days and years are not given to us to gamble with as dice: but' tt> fill to the brim with earnest toil, and in necessity. sacrifice. Time carefully used will never kick back to make the giver sad: but even in old age will return with blessings for having made so many hearts glad. It would be wise then to take time out and fill 1952 with things choice and lasting; then see if those gifts in later years don’t prove'a glorious blessing.