Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 April 1960 — Page 10
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Hie Indianapolis Recorder, Apr. 9, I960 J*DITC)R.IALS AND COMM ENTS ^ ^ iana l K> l |s Recorder, Apr. 9, I960
Kennedy Clears the Presidential Air Presidential hopeful John F. Kennedy, in answer to a reporter’s question, has clarified a p 0 ' 0 ! - which has been a source of misgivings for voters all over the nation. The newsman recalled thal the mayor of Dijon, France, who is also a priest, had recently planned to meet with Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev during the latter’s tour of France but did not when
his cardinal advised against it.
’’What would you do,” the reporter asked the Massachusetts Democrat, ”if you became president and planned to meet with Khrushchev and your cardinal didn’t want you to?” Sen. Kennedy replied: ”0f course, I would carry out my public function. I will not accept dictation from any source.” Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, passed up a chance to make his religious-political position clear when .he was challenged here recently by a group of 100 Baptists. His subsequent forthright statement should serve nie double
purpose of clearing the air of charges, counter-charges and misgivings while at the same time freeing the presi-
dential campaign of religious entanglements.
The nation's voters should be glad that at long last they can vote for the candidate of their choice on the basis of his individual qualifications. Now that religion is no longer a question, we can expect a campaign based on the vital political
issues of the time. That, after all, h the American way.
Stiffer Sentences For ‘Dope Pushers’ Unless a narcotics "pusher” is himself addicted to the drug, he is simply taking a calculated risk when he engages in the illicit "dope” traffic. He weighs the lush profits which moke the vicious racket attractive against the possibility of serving a year or two in prison. If the profits are big enougn, many ’’quick-buck artists” are willing to take the chance. It follows, then, that one of the most effective ways to curb the narcotics traffic is by making the gamble less attractive — by imposing stiffer sentences against those convicted of narcotics violations, particularly repeat offenders. It was on this theory that U. S. District Court Judge Luther M. Swygert recently sentenced a Gary "pusher” to 25 years in prison. In a "statement of policy” issued at the time of the sentencing, Judge Swygert observed: ”1 must take into consideration that in 1953 this mqn was convicted and sentenced to five years. He served ataut three years in the penitentiary and still, when he came back, went right back to his old activities. I wouldn t say immediately — I don't know when he went back, but certainly he has been back in it. When he went into fhis activity, he certainly knew the risk involved. "There is only one way I know to stop that (narcotics) traffic, and that is to continue to impose sentences of this kind until the narcotics traffic in this area ... is dried up and eHminated. That is the airri of the law. -• ^ - "These people who get into this business know what they ore doing. It isn't a compulsion — they are not addicts. They want to make some easy money ... at the expense of other people's lives — physical and mental lives. Through their activities — by making people addicts and continuing their addiction — we all know what happens. These people who are addicts can’t get work legitimately. They resort to crimes in order to buy narcotics. "If these sentences do not deter and eliminate the traffic . . . then the law still I permits more severe sentences. And if it takes the maximum of 40 years or 50 years, I see no other way to proceed." The stiff sentences have been effective in Gary. We suspect they would be here. National Sororities \Sacrifice for Rights’ Fraternities, sororities and other social organizations would do well to think seriously about joining a movement launched lost week by the American Counc'l on Human Rights. The council urged the 50,000 members of its five affiliates to relinquish plans for free formal functions "until our rights are won.” "Over a half-million dollars a year are spent by college-based groups on social functions," said Mrs. Aretha B. McKinley, director of the ACHR. "This money can be better utilized to fight for equality and human dignity and to support fully the peaceful demonstrations against racial discrimination and segregation.” Going out to chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta sororities and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, the resolution read in part: 1. We urge our chapters all over the country to immediately cancel free formal dances. Have a fund-raising function instead and send the proceeds to the Student Emergency Fund of ACHR, 1130 Sixth Street, N. W., Washington 1, D. C. Funds will be used to pay fines, bails and to give aid to students arrested or harmed because of peaceful protest demonstrations. 2. If you do not wish to cancel your formal function, match the dollars spent on the dance with the fame number of dollars spent for the enyergency fund. 4. Let your local newspapers know of your action so you can corral community support for the "Sacrifice for Rights” campaign. If the spirit of the ACHR movement catches on, American Negroes, South and North, could make significant advances jn their war against racial injustice.
Negro Press Creed.]?; ® can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonism when it accords every man, regardlefs of race, color creed, bis •“•man and legal rights.' Hating ho man, fear — Negro Press strives to held e^ery malTin Ha firm belief that all are hurt so long as any one Is held bade
VOICE FROM THi GALLERY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Humility in the Kingdom By The Union Baptist Alliance REV. X T. HIGHBAUGH, Editor
(LARGER LESSON: Matthew 5:3-5- Luke 14:7-14; Luke 16:19-31. PRINTED LESSON; Matthew 5:3-3; Luke 14: 7-14. MOTTO TEXT: Luke 14:11) Is not this a beautiful opening? Life can be happy. The rommon people had been unhappy so long that it was difficult to believe that happiness was possible. So what started as a sermon ended as a class in godly social living. THE PRINCIPLES OF HUMILITY (Matthew 5:3-5 >. “Happy are the poor in spir;it*.” • This word “poor” means renounced in their own spirit. They are not the people who are merely denied by outside people clothes, food, shelter, money and position. This is really difficult, but these are they who have denied 'themselves, renounced pomp, splendor and wealth in order to give the finest place to their Lord. ' This is surrender of the first place; this is what Jesus meant when He said, “If any man would be My disciple, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me ” Dr. E. Stanley Jones emphasized in his book of meditation, “Growing Spiritually,” that the most likely first idol of our egotistical day was Self. So Jesus Starts at our most tragic danger spot, Self. In religion, in sociology, in psychology and in the home, the primary question is “Whait are you going to do with yourself?” Who is first, you or God? If you are, you are a miserable idolater. If God is first, you can be a happy worshipper. The self-denied become the moufners who are burdened with their sias and the sins of their neighbors. They face their mistakes. They cry for help. They are deeply concerned over their neighbors’ misfortunes. They bear a cross daily. And they are the meek, the disciplined. Heaven and earth and theirs. This is the “new birth” of John 3:3-5. This is Paul’s “new creation.” TtyE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY (Luke 14:7-14) What a parable this is! He tells them to begin life at the simplest place possible, at the lowest seat. Living the Christian life is not a complication or complexity. Often Satan and his teachers want us to believe it is. But Jesus said It differently. He said it is like a mustard seed, a grain of salt, a ray of light, a crumb of bread, a cup of cold water. Begin it simply. Low is the way. Just believe. Sit down at the door Just inside. Try it at your next party your next business meeting. Try it. “Start low, go slow; get up higher, catch on fire’' is a good axiom fpr living as well as preaching. Listen to our slave-mother sing: “Live humble, humble! Humble yourself; the bell’s done rung!” They were catching it. So He says if you are humble in spirit and humble in living, you are happy. Why so? Because that is the natural way we were built to live. We weren’t made to bawl and sprawl over our fellowman as many of us do. That’s neither our way nor His. Once we start to live as we were made
to live, we are happy. THE DESTINY OF THE HUMBLE (Luke !6:l»-3l). This scripture deals with destiny. It is an exposition on the destiny of two men, the one a beggar named Lazarus, the other lust a ich “nan who fared sumptuous’y every day. Let’s rote the things in this present life which are manifest in Lazarus. The rich man was clothed in purple, living grandly every day But lying daily at his gate, sore and sick, w’as this poor, helpless mendicant. Because of his pride, the rich man never saw Lazarus. He ignored him. Tims he lived, thus he died. Now this was not, I am sure, the greatest neglect of the rich man. This was only a resultant neglect. Note plainly by its manifest absence that God has no place whatever in his life. He lived away from God and so he died, poor man. This man lived to himself as though he were God, and so he died. So also did i^azarus live, though in poverty and in some way hurt by an evil generation. Both were of God’s chosen family, sons of Abraham. But in ways not revealed here, Lazarus utilized his sonships both of Abraham and of God Miraculously through his poverty and pain he trusted God. THEREFORE, this lack of Recognition of God on the rich man’s part and the i-ccognition of God on the poor man’s part determined their future des-
tinies. Neither would have fitted in the other’s place. Their modes of life and life loyalties made a destiny all their own Maybe both were surprised — Lazarus at the splendor and glory of Heaven, the rich man at the flames and torment of Hell Heaven will bring many glo-ious surprises to me and Hell will so recompense the unbeliever in his misery. Listen to Abraham, son. Remember how you treated our common Father. How often did you speak to Him? How often did you go to temple services? What offering did you bring? How did you treat your less fortunate brother? Too late! Too late! The gulf is fixed now. Your nature is set for punishment. There is a moral and psycho’ogical gulf fixed, and we cannot cross it. Ideologically we cannot believe in an everlasting Heaven, without an everlasting Hell. However, this parable closes with a great assurance for the fine brothers. This is hope. If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, the voice of the written word, they will not hear one though he came from the dead. No miracle can supersede the challenge of the preacher and teacher To bypass their appeal is to mark It “Too f.ate.” Don't let it be said of you, “Too late! Too late to enter the Golden Gate!”
PROFILE.. • (Sketches).. TALES By WM. A. CHAMBERS In other days the local Pennyroyal theater was one of the top variety or vaudeville houses in the midd’e-west. Today it somehow survives as a cinema house and the manager and members of his staff generally are people formerly associated with vhc show or amusement world. One of such members of the theater staff, a man of many jobs—including some janitorial work—herein shall be ca’l- . .ed “Penwycke.” A fairly robust fellow his adventures have encompassed nearly fourscore years over all the continents and seven seas. A rugged. individualist, philosophical in general thought and folly humanitarian in all convictions, he is truly of African blood and ancestry. Not so long ago a widely acclaimed stage show appeared at the theater. During a routine rehearsal of the orchetra, members of the orchestra or company engaged in a friendly controversy involving a musical arrangement. The controversy concerned an arrangement of a popular number of the day—a “blue-note” or jazz arrangement. “I tell you guys—all you Gershwins—no one you've ever seen or heard of can put those phrases down on paper. If you find someone who caw do It—who in hell can play it?” The young man speaking was a top personality in the orchestra, a New Englander, acclaimed with two degrees in music to his credit. Imbued with the spirit of the show world at the tender
age of five years, the manager’s granddaughter had been running over the theater. She w^s a prodigious little busybody She nappeped to be standing nearby as the young New Englander spoke in a loud voice over the sound of music in the background. “You can tet) that to the Marines—I’ll wa^ef you a gold elephant—that Penwyeke can do It” She moved in “Who in hell—wnere in hell has this guy Penwycke been all my life?” the first arranger for the 'band exclaimed rising from a table nearby to the front of the orchestra pit. They found penwycke, a fellow with more than four generations of musicians in his immediate family background down '‘the way of Mobile Bby.” They were musicians who had ’ played the grand classics ’ and perforihed Or entertained on all occasions for the great landed proprietors all along Mobile Bay. Penwycke had lived music all hjs life, cut his first teeth in ah atmosphere of the grand classics. However, he acquired early knowledge of the “bluenote*’—jazg idiom, oOtside his family home or immediate surroundings. Also he has always contended that in our land the “blue-note” had its origin —first' Spawning along Mobile Bay. Upon being escorted to the front of the orchestra pit Pemyycke stood by a tabic covered with musical scoresheets. Following some discussion of the controversial point or subject h'e took a seat at the table and worked out qn paper several of the controversial musical phrases in the “blue-note” or jazz Idiopi- He followed up 'with an explaha-
It's the Hand of Esau, But. It's Jacob's Voice
By Andrew W. Ramsey
BAMSET
Av-
BUT THE U. S. GOVERNMENT DID PROTECT THE JAPANESE IN THEIR RIGHT TO .VOTE
This year as in every other election year in the past couple of decades the professional pb’iticians and their fellowtravelers among Americans of darker hue are vaunting the Republican or the Democratic Party while consigning the other party of America’s reputed two--party system to eternal
perdition. There are
the staunch R e publicans who fail to see how Ne groes could vote for the D e mocrats when Saint Abraham (Lin-
coln) did so much for the race. And there are the partisiane of Saint Franklin (FDR) who figure Negroes owe a debt of never-ending gratitude to the sage of Hyde Park. THE REPUBLICANS patiently point out that James O. Eastland, Orval Faubus and jackals of that ilk represent the Democratic Party and that, were it not for them, Ike and Dick would have produced a great civil rights program On the other hand the Democrats point out that for the past 20-odd years there has been a working coalition between the Dixiecrats and the Repub’icans in power and that the liberal Northern Democrats have been stymied in their efforts to produce a meaningful civil rights pro-
gram.
They are both partially right. They are wrong in assuming that there are only two parties in operation in American politics today when as a matter of fact the American political machinery is operated by three almost equally matched political parties. THE MISTAKE comes from the fact that there is a great reluctance on the part of political parties to change their
names although the characteristics of the party may have changed radically. The Untutored voter is likely to assume for instance that the Republican Party of David Dwight Elsenhower is the same as the Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln and that the Northern Democrats are of the same political faith as the Southern Democrats or Dixiecrats (a name they once gave themselves). Neither of tnese assumptions happens to be correct and the three separate political parties for all practical purposes are the Republicans, the Democrats (Northern) and the Dixiecrats The Dixiecrats nave reaped copious benefits by refusing to admit openly that they are a separate party. They have continued to carry the name Democrat, while never making common cause with their Northern namesakes except for the purpose of organizing the Congress. So it is that the Dixiecrats chair every strategic committee in the Senate and the House. BY PERPETRATING the hoax that they are gemocrats, the Dixiecrats have been able to be the actual callers of shots in the matter of civil rights legislation and other legislation which might affect the commonweal. They are willing to go along with Republican repressive labor legislation in exchange for a weakened civil rights bill. In the preseni session of the Congress, the Democrats, the Republicans and the Dixiecrats are playing a game of blind man’s buff over civil rights legislation. The Democrats have a bill which has no chance at all of passing since it will be opposed by the Republicans and the Dixiecrats alike. The Republicans, on the other hand, have a bill which Will probably pass after the Dixiecrats have put up a great sham fight for the folks back
home. The bill will be al as valuable as an ll-d< bill, but it will allow the Republicans to boast during.
election campaign that’ they passed the second civil rights measure to be passed by con-
gress since Reconstruction
days.
THE NORTHERN DEMOCRATS will counter with the reminder that they had a stronger bill but the Repuhli* cans killed It. The Negro voter will vote either Democratic or Republican because of the party’s record on civil rights --or at least the professional politicians hope so The Republicans will call the Dixiecrats a few* nasty names as will the Democrats. The former will not, however, • go so far as to destroy the fine working agreement between the forces of the Eastlands and the Hallecks, and the latter will not go so fat as to expel the Dixiecrats from their National Convention nor to repudiate them when it comes to organizing the next Congress. For a long time they have fooled the Negro like that and they aqp apt to fool a considerable fraction in 1960, but time is running out on all of that sort of tactic and there is going to come a time when the political parties are going to have distinctly different modes of operation. THERE IS NEEDED now a new alignment of political parties in this country. A two party system is needed in the South and a change of names would help it get started. Both Democrats and Republicans are going to have to make up their minds about what to do with the Dixiecrats who help and embarrass both, in different ways This unrecognized political party is running the country when it should spend its time and energy commiserating with the Boers of the Union of South Africa.
BETWEEN THE LINES
An Explanation That Does Not Explain By Dean Gordon B. Hancock for ANP
The Negrophobe press of the South has copie up with the notion that current Negro unrest is Communist inspired. This unrest is not to be explained by communism for the reason that it antedates communism. A longtime before Lenin appeared on the scene in Russia the Negro was full of unrest. 1 was born on the plantation in South Carolina and although Negroes were overpowered and oppressed, MAVrori r they did not HANCOCK like it. The Negroes laughed and sang but down deep in their hearts they longed for tion of the intricacies of the paper-work in relation to actual instrumentation. He illustrated his explanations At various points, playing either the violin or a piano nearby. Unable seemingly to restrain himself, the young New Englander moved up and embraced PenWycke, In a manner looking down on him, “Man—why—what in hell— doing a Janitor’s work?” His eyes beaming Penwycke smiled and retracted his black sensitive lips, “A janitor’s work is jusj another role — in the precarious show—the show, is the thing—many, many men of my blood ties are misappropriated .in the' rkst—designs ot uie times pr their general ’ surroundings.” Penwycke turned away slowly, “Lest we forget—ladies and gentlemen—again all the show must go on—and not losing their balance—such members of the cast as jani-tors-—may play—somehow— somewhere—a new role good or aljl the indefinite old roles bettejp.” “Someone has iosi a wager —a gold elephant—what a wager — what a man!” the yong New Englander exclaimed as he perused fervently several score-sheets marked by Penwycke, man of many jobs, before he left the front of the orchestra pit—to assume his regular role ip thq cast ♦ * ♦ “Men are not superior by reason of the accidents of cace or color. They are superior who have THE BEST HEART, TliE BEST BRAIN.”—Robert Green IngersoU.
fuller freedom. Eyen in slavery time the Negro hoped and prayed for freedom. The idea that the Negro was happy in slavery is simply a figment of the imagination of the oppressors to assuage a seared conscience. IF THE NEGRO was so happy with his slavery why did Reuter say in his The American Race Problem that Negroes revolted in divers parts of the South on the average of once every seven years? Did the Communists inspire the Nat Turner rebellion arid the other lesser rebellions? Did the Communists inspire the Phoenix riots where the Negroes tried to fight their way to the ballot box? Did the Communists inspire the Underground Railroad that attempted to siphon slaves to a free land? Did Communists inspire the Negro songster with the melody “Before I’ll Be a Slave I’ll Be Buried in My Grave,” etc.? Of course the Negrophobe press is quite willing' to conclude that Moses was Communist inspired when he Was trying to get Old Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Or, What is just as that when up arms Patrick Henry caught on fire, when he made his immortal ‘.‘Liberty or Death” speech at historic St. John’s in Richmond, they were Communist inspired. THERE 1$ $PMETHING about the human heart that rebels against oppression. This rebellion has been one of the greatest blessings ‘ known to mankind. Ana that the Negroes along witn other oppressed peoples refused to be satisfied with anything shore of life, liberty And purspit of happiness redounds to the glory of mankind. Negro unrest is far older than the current communism. The current wave of unrest dramatized by the Sit-down movement Js but the expression of the Negroes’ part in a world unrest • manifested by oppressed peoples’everywhere; ahd the fact that Negroes share this unrest augurs well for Negroes apd the nation and the world. So then we »sk who really is inspiring unrest ip Negroes? Answer: the white mari with his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Why the wipie man can dangle before the colored peoples the enticing prospect of
the full, free life and expect the noh-whites to be sallied with less is one of the' lesser wonders of the world. The writer knows of nothing more brutal than to eat before a starving man, dangling food in his face. WHEN THE WRITER was in the palace of Versailles some years ago he visited the g"* lery where hungry Frenchm® could gather on occasion fpoa the countryside and sit ;in4 watch the king eat turkey. People who had never had a good meal were “privileged** to see their king eat turkey. But Frenchmen put an end to the shame They protested and something was Anally done about it. The people wanted turkey and in other lands, country and in other lands, the current unrest is the people’s way of letting the world know that they want turkey too. The current unrest among non-whites is not Communist inspired but white-man inspired by such means and measures that slaughtered Negro South Africans of recent date. To attribute the current sitdown protest to Communist inspiration is wishful thinking mingled with iniquity. Church Group Thanks Recorder Columnist To the Editor: Rev. Estee Adams and tte members of Carter’s Memorial Baptist Church would like to say a most hearty ' “THANK YOU” in appreciation fpr the encouragement you have gfven us through your columnist Raymond Martin (News Of the Northeast). It is impossible to find adequate words to express Just how we felt when wte received your help in a Veny trying time. It was frustrating jo work day and night for more thafi three weeks to arrive at a goal which was only a week away —only ot have it all wiped away by a fire. Your understanding and your help wll| always be Remembered. Come to visit Us. We pray that you will forever hold the samp Christian spirit that you have demonstrated to us. Key. Estee Adams and members.
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