Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 July 1952 — Page 10
The Indianapolis Recorder, July 19,1952 EDITOR.I ALS AND CDMMENTS
The Indianapolis Recorder, July 19,1952
RESOLVE TO VOTE IN THE COMING ELECTION
The 1952 national conventions of both major political parties likely will be history by the time these lines meet The Recorder’s readers’ eyes. The next thing in the field of political interests or activities is the November election. Regardless of your position or stand on Presidential nominations, it is a duty or responsibility to vote in the coming election. You cannot vote if your name is not on the registration list. If you are not registered to vite, you owe it to yourself to register and vote as a good citizen. Vote the candidates and party of your choice, but by all means vote. Thousands of •itizens will not vote. They will not have the time to register. They will put off putting their names on the registration books. They conclude that one more vote will not make any difference; yet when thousands of people take this attitude their stakes in representative government on the community, state or national level are thrown to the winds. 4 You and your neighbors will have a big stake in the coming election. The voters will elect a President of the United States, a Vice President and the voters of our community and state will elect a U. S. Senator, Congressman, a governor various state officials. These officials in some manners will all determine the development of social justice for Negro people. Be prepared to vote, vote and help elect the type of officials who will be committed truly to serve fairly the interests of all the people in the administration of the affairs of government.
DISABLED WAR VETERANS TRAINING
Disabled World War II veterans elegible for vocational training under Public Law 10 and for occupations requiring a full four years of study must start before July 25 (1952) in order to get in their four years, the Veterans Administration announced last week. This “deadline” applies only to World War II veterans with service disabilities, in need of training to overcome iheir disablfties. VA explained that Public "Law 16, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, provides up to four years 'of training to disabled veterans who need it to overcome their handicaps. But the law specifies that no training may be given after July 25, 1956. This means that in keeping with the provisions of the law no courses may be started after July 25, 1952. Disabled veterans however, still will be permitted to train for occupations requiring a shorter period of training, or such training as may be completed by the 1956 wind-up of the training program. Under the law, the length of training may not exceed the remaining life of the training program. Therefore veterans interested in a four year training course must act now, and all two year or three year courses must be completed by July 15, 1956. Veterans disabled after the fighting began in Korea, in June 1950, will not be affected by deadlines under Public Law 16. Vocational training for them may extend until nine years after the end of the current emergency, a date yet to be determined by the President or by Congress. However, we note that all veterans eligible for vocational training under Public Law 16, or the Veterans Administration program should avail themselves of the opportunities.
SHUT YOUR BIG MOUTH*
'0, .1 \ \^?sV
1 uu\ I v
VOICE FROM THE GALLERY
W
THE DIXIECRATS ARE EMBARRASSING OUR RldllT TO LEAD. 1
By ANDREW W. RAMSEY GOP CHANGES, CERTAIN SUICIDE IN RUSSIAN ROULETTE The Republican Party, which has been experimenting with suicide lor the past twenty years, has just closed its twenty-fifth convention with a gamble. Rather than complete the experiment of two deccades, the GOP decided to take a gamble on four more years of life. The whole thing was more or less r e miniscent of thd game of R u s s i an Roulette in which the player places only on bullet in a revolver and whirls the chamber and pulls the trigger. The player has five chances out of six of staying alive. The GOP variation was to place five bullets in the revolver and take one out of six chances of staying alive for four years more. “Political Halitosis” In taking that chance, it ruthlessly dumped the man who had come to symbolize the Party—the forthright Senator Robert A. Taft, who has been the peculiar genius of keeping the Nineteenth Century alive in the hurry and bustle of the Twentieth. The crime of Senator Taft was not
his conservatism but the kingmakers of the Party accused him of having a bad case of political halitosis and discarded him for a glamor-boy armchair general, whose conservatism matched that of the honest reactionary Mr. Taft, because of his extreme popularity. In taking the gamble that the 1952 elections can be won like a popularity contest, the Republicans decided that the platform was of little importance. So its plank on civil rights was aimed more at appeasing the Southern Dixiecrats of the party rather than pleasing other minority elements of the electorate. By a clever use of words they hoped to fool some Negroes into following their puppet exsoldier candidate. The plank on labor was similarly designed to please management and despite its fine language will succeed in fooling none of organized workers. In an attempt to garner the votes of the Average American, the platform glibly promised a reduction in taxes without specifying how this was to be accomplished. In the mad scramble of the Taft and Eisenhower forces to buy or take the nomination, many Southern Negro Republicans were ditched in favor of the lily-whites. Thus a place was provided for Dixiecrat Democrats in case the Democratic platform continues a civil rights plank not quite as weak as that of the Republicans! “Political Hara-kiri” With such a platform and such a candidate, the Repub-
licans only needed a “good” vice presidential nominee to complete their picture. In choosing a nominee for the second spot, the GOP capitalized upon the current hysteria which causes some people to see a Communist in every garage and a socialist in every pot and/ chose the vigilante Richard Nixon of California who could make a fine leader for the thought control department! I hus set-up to have the popularity of the general and the dissatisfaction of the Dixiecrats carry them over in November, the Republicans expect to win the White House as a fitting place to complete the job of committing political hara-kiri. If money and the power of the press and radio can do the job for them they are in. For not only do they control gobs of money but they have the support of about ninety per cent of the press and radio. Political analysists have estimated that the GOP have to win four million voters that it did not have in 1948. Their job is cut out for them and could be relatively easy if the. Democrats will only play dead or follow their lead in drafting a weak platform or in nominating candidates whose only assets are their personal popularity and their diehard conservatism. If the Democrats match the Republicans and the 1952 elections become a choice between the lesser of two evils, 1952 will mark the first step in the decline of the United States not only 7 as an effective world leader but also as a citadel of free and thinking men.
MISCELLANEOUS MUSINGS
THE HEALTH OF A NATION
Speaking at the recent national convention of the NAACP in Oklahoma City, Dr. Louis T. Wrig-ht, New York, chairman of the board of directors of the NAACP observed that the present high rate of mortality of Negro people is the result of the pattern of racial segregation in this coun-
try.
The eminent surgeon said, “It is just as bad for a Negro to be lynched by preventable accident or disease, as it is to be lynched by a mob, and a ballot is of doubtful \alue if a man does not live long enough to vote.” Further he observed, “Negroes must always be alert to the interplay of political and economic factors which so vitally affect their health. AH of these are involved with the question of segregation and will persist to some extent until segregation is permanently erased from the American
scene.
“As Negroes vote in increasing numbers, they must use the ballot intelligently to attack these interracial problems. On the community and state levels, as well as on the national, Negroes must cooperate individually and through their organizations, with progressive groups who endeavor, within the framework of our constitutional government, to raise the living standards of the American people.’
By T. C. JOHNSON ENGLISH In Shakespeare’s day but about five million small islanders spoke English. Now two hundred million, one-sixth of the earth’s inhabitants, speak English. Its spread aroung the globe has made it the principal world language. I ts influence yftE e conomically, politically and s o c i a lly has been and is world-wide. It is a language w o rth mastering. Yet millions never learn to speak and write English correctly, Seemingly MR. JOHNSON they are not aware of the importance of doing so. Consequently they suffer social and economic harm. Their mistakes distress associates and often keep them from getting jobs they seek. People ridiele them for their errors-—particu-larly il they make scholarly pretensions. It is said that some people have as definite an ear for language as others have for music. Such are thought to be more competent at any kind of linguistic effort than are those who do not possess the gift of language. I knew a university student whose English was so in accurate that he had to take a freshman course in his senior year. The institution had a rule that any student might be required to retake English work whenever the need for such study arose. It is hard to find excuses
SfNTENCf BETWECNJHS.meS
SERMONS
for supposedly well-trained persons who say, or write MAI NT AIN A N C E instead of maintenance, be ASHAME for ashamed, REST ASSURE for assured or PLAINTIVE for plaintiff. Even though one may have extensive and accurate knowledge of numerous fields of learning if his English is poor he will be thought to possess little general learning In one of his hooks the late President N. M. Butler of Columbia gives a five-fold test of an education. Three of them may be referred to briefly. They are mastery of your native language, efficiency (the power to do) and refined and gentle manners exhibted easily, naturally and sincerely at all times everywhere to everyone. A college president at a county teachers’ institute asked a professor of a great university to recommend a young man to teach college English. The professor was surprised that the man did not get the job. On seeing the president again he asked why he refused to. ho English major. “In his letter of application he used LIKE where he should have said AS IF,” was the decisive explanation. A high school principal sought a physics teacher. In his letter applying for the position the applicant misspelled a word. Although he had been commended highly the principal did not employ hinr\ feeling that either carelessness or lack of knowledge disqualified the job seeker to teach an exact science. Numerous letters asking for
employment find their way to the waste basket without the writer receiving even the courtesy of an answer. An employer frequently thinks that a letter full of mistakes is not worth a reply. Words that ought to be capitalized are written with small letters. Almost any word anywhere in a sentence is wrongly begun with a large letter. Due to Tack of knowledge or carelessness or both thousands disregard rules of sentence structure, paragraphing and spelling. In regard to punctuating hosts appear to have only hazy notions of the period, the question mark and the comma. The comma fiend is to be pitied. He punctures his composition plentifully with random commas which often destroy the rational meaning that should be intended by a writer who knows the mechanics of composition A graduate of Virginia Union University, now a college president, told me that no colored person is permitted to teach English there, even though he may hold the highest collegiate degree in the subject. The thought is that Negroes as yet are not exact enough to deal with so important an area of learning. I doubt that the view originated er irely in prejudice because friends of the Negro founded the university. It does, however, seem unfair and harmful to imply that all colored persons are incapable of mastering English. Moreover, millions of presumably highly educated white persons do not use perfect English.
ALONG THE COLONIAL FRONT
Imperialism
By A. J. SIGGINS (For ANP)
Ancw/»r Wocf«»rn threatened, the flimsy and dangerAtnswer to TTe » fcrn G us “barrier-plan” has to be im-
plemented.
Africans should fight for the
LONDON, (ANP) — Great Brit- tfeath of this latest attempt to
0 __ . „ tain’s intention to* impose a Cen- ex tcnd their degradation and their We observe again that Benjamin Disraeli, eminent Eng- tral African Federation of South- sufferings for another period. And li*h stateomnn and emnire builder said “The health of ern and Northern Rhodesia and th ey can be quite sure of the supiisn statesman ana empire Dunuer, saia, ine neaitn oi Nyasaland on 6,000,000 Africans P ort of every decent person in the people is really the ftffindation upon which all their hap- against their will shows how ur- fbe world. piness and all their powers as a state depend.” agent the nqed is to check the Allies Against Imperialism
spread of Western imperialism be- The enemy that Wall Street and
Regarding the “powers of a state” it does not appear fore more harm is done to colo- American eolorphobes see will re
V
that Lord Beaconsffeld (Disraeli) contemplated some of the nial J?® people; but rather all the people because ill-health as disease is no respecter of persons. However, Negro people of our land as second-class citizens moving in prescribed areas have a hard battle to tight against “the interplay of political and economic factors” which strike at their health and the foundation of happiness and the powers of our nation. If this specter is arrayed fundamentally as segregation and racial dscrimination—like the “house of Beelzefoub,” they
cannot, must not stand.
The harm will not only injure Africans and other colonials, but all Asians and most Europeans as well because under the American plan to make Africa a reserve base for operations against Russia Africans and their colossal wealth will be used only as and when Americans dictate.
joice that the western imperialists have placed a very powerful weapon in their hands. All those who oppose American and European imperialism and color bars can now be sure of a powerful support by offering the follow-
ing:
1. Support for all Asians who demand living room in the vast empty spaces of Australia, where
« , . . r •, j , 8,500,000 whites are attempting to Colonialism has faded. But as monopolize nearly 3,000,000 square loL a ‘J U A e ir?o^ 0l0n !, all ^A S f^^ e miles of land together with rich
v 0 * and NTA-that is, islands in the North,
he base of Western Powers in 2 . Support tor Moslems’ detheir fight against the Communist mands that colonialism and color b oc the failing system must be fo ars which degrade Moslems shall U*?I!of; d up T 63 ?! 8 'o 6 forthwith be abolished. Under that clumsy means devised by U. S. A., u.S.A. plans for Africa both must
Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, be extended
The Negro I'resa believes that the United States of fa^cTonTaHsm^^tor bare a"; 3 a s upp ort a Paeific and Indian America can best lead the world away from racial and na- apparent to every economist as ° ceans Peoples Pact under which tional antagonisms when it accords to every man, regardless well as to every decent person in £!! iJ? eop ni S K 0f % j^° ° ceans ’ s Of race, color or creed, his human and legal rights Hating ‘ h ' »<>rld. ^TJtira^ resource^ 0 and man HO man, fearing no man, the Negro Press strives to help Americans demand a barrier be- energy for their own development. every man in the firm belief that all are hurt so long as J' v ^ en them selves and the dread This will enable all Asians, SouthK R & d Shape. As the alternative of east Asians, Arabs, Africans, Paci-
a stoppage of dollar aid has been fit* Islanders and North Central imd
NEGRO PRESS CREED
any one is held back.
South Americans to provide sufficient capital for the immediate relief so urgently needed for starving Asian, African and other sufferers in the basin as well as for rehabilitation. As the Colombo Plan and Point Four Program, have both been designed to meet this urgent need, but both have been exposed as pitifully inadequate, no humanitarian could possibly object to a pian which meets a need so widely stressed by Western leaders. There are several standard works by Westerns in which the urgent needs of Asians and Africans for relief and rehabilitation have been emphasized and those could be quoted in support of the Pacific and Indian Oceans’ Peoples’ Pact. 4. Support for Asian, American and African co-operation in the development of the best areas of land and sea of the Oceans’ basins by which colossal new markets for goods • and services would be opened, and by this means meeting the urgent needs of advanced industrial nations who have not at present access to the colonial reserves of natural wealth and man
energy.
ATTENTION READERS: If you havo a •on or roloHvo whom you know ft bo forv* ins with tho Armed Force* in Koreo • • • pleeoe notify our office. Coif tko Nowi U ISAS.
By REV. FRANK CLARENCE LOWRY For ANP Do You Mean? Man, above all other of God’s created beings is the only one that can talk; but this gift lie seems to value far less than his ability to walk. The power of expression should provoke man’s highest appreciation. . . but sadly he has too often misused it to his utter degradation. His .wellspring, the soul when neglected for things of lower order, leaves the mouth only to reveal the earmarks of a distorted character. Society so long has been exposed to this unhealthy atmosphere that men toward each other are losing heat! and entertaining misgivings and fear. The mouth is the servane of man’s inner parts, and over him cannot have full sway unless the miasma of sin’s awful stain superinduces disorders of decay. Evidences of this downward drift are becoming quite obvious from day to day, when in reply to careless lips emit, the doubtful hearer is heard to say "so you mean it?” Indeed this is a terrible indictment against man who has misused this God-given means of expresssion in an attempt to convey an appearance of perfection. With his moutn he even makes confession to God. then tike the Prodigal Son. when from under his father’s guidance he rushes off to try to prove his self-confidence. But his mouth, breathing the influence of his misguided soul almost led him to the very end of Satan’s entrancing role: when suddenly he ran toward his father’s house, where his joys would abound without fear or remorse. Thus by the same -oken should our mouths ever be raised in exaltation and praise* to the One only supreme and adored, and thus save our world from unrest and discord. The question tnen should never have 1o be asked “Do you mean it? with man in potentiality like God, and equipped with every means and convenience to express it. Man’s mouth then should always flow like a clear placid stream, with nothing emitting harsh nor mean, but reflecting the very spirit of God, adding joy to all above Hie sod.
Verses
COMFIDENTIALLY AMERICA By ANDY RAZAF For ANP Two writers deserve lots of credit; With nothing to say, and they said
it,
Their book, full of trash brought them plenty of cash For thousands have bought it and read it. Their work is a great education In how to spread hate through the nation, It’s most CONFIDENTIAL and very essential To all who love mis-information.
A STRAW IN THE WIND For some months this writer has deplored the deterioration of our foreign relations as they pertain to good will among the nations for this country. There has been a subtle outbreak of anti-Ameri-canism among the n a ti o n s which we succored in the times of their great i di s t ress - It is England that gives the most glaring example of this d i s a ffection, and it is especially England from whom we would least exMR. HANCOCK pect such international dealings. With or without px’etext we are always ready to sign England’s dotted lines. It has been aptly said that England is quite ready to spend to the last American dollar, even as she was alleged to have been ready at sundry times and irn sundry wars to fight to the last French soldier. This country takes seriously its Anglo-Saxon blood ties which somehow involve the Nordic myth. But England is not so serious by a long sight. When the Nordic blood consideration involve England’s exchequer, England is strong, but once exchequer considerations drop out of sight, England becomes outright antiAmerican in her international reactions. News accounts n* recent date have it that while the Big Three representatives are sitting in historic Oxford, placards are being paraded with “Go Home Yanks” emblazoned thereon. The England We Saved Twice This is the treatment given in the England we have saved in two world wars and time and again in her acute financial emergencies. This is the England that we coddle and bow to in obeisance to from time to time. This is the England whose white supremacy ideals we seek faithfully to emulate. This is the England American lives and treasures have been offered to save from communism if indeed she is saved at all. England offers us first her outstretched hand and then her heels. “Go Home Yanks.” The unpopularity of this, our benefactor nation, should fill thoughtful men and women with profound distress. Our subtle attempts to buy off communism have failed. Just as striking has been our failure to buy up good will among the nations “Toiling in The Night” Like the baffled disciples on Galilee, “We have toiled all night and have taken nothing.” Whether the succoured nations would come, to our rescue in an hour of distress remains to be seen; but from all signs now apparent it would be exceedingly doubtful. It is high time we are appraising this critical situa-
tion.
When the studied and studious English flash their “Go Home Yanks” placards it is high time that we ponder our plight as it pertains to the way other nations feel toward us, their benefactor. The most potent explana-
tion of this situation can be found in the disparity between our preachments and practice of democracy before the world. Even today our nation is split asunder over the elemental issue ol civil rights. Our nation has renounced through its congress what the people gave it as a mandate in an election, four years ago. Truman has been politically crucified for his stand on civil rights. We are being treated to the sad spectacle of seeing two Republican candidates vying with each other in competitition for dixiecratic support, which support is conditional on state’s rights, which are based upon the idea that the South shall have power to deal as it thinks expedient with the all-vexing coipr 4ues-
tion.
In other words, expediency and not principle becomes ihe motivation and activation of American politics and the world wonders. "Go Home Yanks'” This then is the straw which shows the way the international yvind is blowing. A few months ago we were willing to play bull with Franco who was reaching his hand for his turn at our financial trough, but said Franco balks at the idea of giving us military bases in his beloved Spain. Money by millions .yes, says the cagey Franco. Military bases for our lighting legions, no. says this same Franco. Our international prestige is pressing for attention. "Go Home Yanks."
HEALTH HINTS Protect those precious eyes of children! So many eyes are blinded or seriously injured during play that children's hospitals throughout the country are urging parents to cooperate in reducing this tragic loss. Chief causes of eye injuries in children are B-B guns, bows and arrows, slingshots, scissors, rocks thrown by another child, sharp sticks, stiff wires and eoathangers. Accidental eye injuries occur in children mainly between ages of two and nine. Hazards around the home should be eliminated as far as possible. Safety depends in a large degree on behavior, and the child’s behavior is influenced by his parents’. The child, unaccustomed to paying attention to his mother’s instructions, suffers nq|t only from physical injuries, but also from faiulre in developing selfcontrol. While children in school come under the discipline'of their teachers, the basic solution of the safety problem depends upon tthe parents. Most eye injuries in children are sustained during play which in too many instances is not supervised by their elders. The loss of an eye in a child is a lifetime handicap, and while a child with only one eye may become as capable as a child with both eyes, there is a psychological effect with loss of perception and perspective.