The Informer and Texas Freeman (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 64, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 6, 1943 Page: 1 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Houston Informer and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rice University Woodson Research Center.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Colored Carnegie Library.
Frederick and Robin St.
Houston, Texas. •
Z-1
Graduate In Mir
erm Commencemei
HERE’S WHY HASTIE QUIT AS STIMSON'S AIDE
----------------------------——-----==========================-----— ---------—---------------------------------=== ------
Ilin
Students
Receive
Diplomas
Confesses
O N
HOUSTON.—One hundred fifty-
four graduates of the three colored
senior high schools ' of Houston
were graduated in an impressive
mid-term exercise held in the field
house at the new high school
stadium, Wednesday night, and
heard the Rev. F. W. Logan in a
commencement sermon, and At-
torney F. S. K. Whittaker in an
address.
Approximately 2000 parents and
friends of the young graduates fill-
ed the auditorium and heard both
speakers make pleas for united ef-
fort in carrying on the war pro-
gram, and, on the other hand, call
upon the nation for full “com-
pensation of our efforts with a real
VOL. 48-NO. 64
WIFE SAYS
COMMIT MU
Invest In War I
Bonds & Stamps in Army S
s===! Air Force
HOUSTON, TEXAS, SAT., FEB. 6.1943 PRICE: 10 CENTS s --.--
HER HUSBAND DID NOT
IDER IN “LOWER 13”
ANE
urmer
FREEMAN
Charged with first degree murder
--------------by Albany (Oregon) authorities, in
democracy based on right, justice connection with the slaying of pret-
and equal opportunities.” Ity Mrs. Martha Virginia James,
Dr. E. E. Oberholtzer, superinten- ROBERT FOLKES, 21, is shown
dent of schools, assured the grad- above awaiting removal te Albany,
uates that they would have more Mrs. James, wife of a U. S. navy
opportunities in life if they would l ensign, was slain in lower berth 13
prepare to fit them. “It is left to
the student to make his place in
life,” he stated.
of * tourist sleeping car connected
te a' speeding Southern Pacific
train. Authorities said Folkes had
“Implicated” himself while being
questioned by police.
Statement Says
Folkes Drunk Al
Time Of Confessio
DeGaulle, Eboue Greet Native French Vets
WASHINGTON, D. C—
(Special) — In a statement
that had been anxiously
awaited by the whole nation.
Judge William H. Hastie, for-
mer civilian aide to Secretary
of War Stimson, said Monday
that he had resigned in pro-
test against ths “discriminae
tory practices of the Army
Air forces in matters affecting Ne-
- groes.”
Jack Yates, Booker T. Washing-
ton and Phillis Wheatley Senior
High schools were the participants
with Prof. E. O. Smith, Wheatley
principal serving as master of cere- ,
monies. |
The program follows: 1
Processional: “Triumphal March I
from Aida, Verdi; invocation, Rev-i
erend F. W. Logan, pastor Boyn- |
toni Methodist Episcopal church;
hymn: “Onward, Christian Sol-
diers", Sir Arthur Sullivan, audi-
ence; baccaulaureate address, “Fac-
ing Life”, Reverend F. W. Logan;
spiritual, “Steal Away to Jesus”,
Washington, Wheatley and Yates
combined chorus, Abner Jones, con-
ductor; commencement address, F.
S. K. Whitaker, attorney; song,
“America” (first and last stanzas),
Henry Carey, audience; presenta-
tion of diplomas, Dr. E. E. Ober-
holtzer, superintendent of Houston
Public Schools; (a) recommenda-
tion of classes, principals to Mr.
J.C. Webb:(b) presentation .
classes, Mr. Webb to Dr. Oberholtz-
er; (c) the pledge, led by Junius
Welcome, Wheatley high school;
benediction, Rev. F. W. Logan, and
recessional.
The roster of graduates is given
below:
PHILLIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Rosenwald
Memorial
Sunday
HOUSTON-The Citizens of Hous-
ton will memorialize Julius Rosen-
wald, the man who gave and in-
spired millions for Negro YMCA’s
and rural schools of the South,
Sunday, 3:30 p.m. st Wesley Chapel
A. M. E. church.
Aside from a brief symposium by
Negro students from the College
Senior and High School there will be
two chief addresses, by Merrill E.
Brown, prominent on the Houston
Inter-racial Committee, and former-
ly State Secretary of the Y. M. C.
A. of Florida, and Miss JI. Mercer
Johnson, English instructor at the
Yates High School.
The latter will interpret the
theme for the day: "Julius Rosen-
wald's Idea a pattern for Interna-
tional Understanding and World
Peace.”
Boys f The Wesley Chapel Choir and
Charles Allen, Robert Bookman, Ed- Glee clubs from the Houston Col-
ward Henry Boozier, Cullinan J. S. Bot- lege and Yates High school will
ley. Wesley Otis Coffey, Obie Lavei Dab-
ney, Jr., Leon Davis, James Albert El
• more, John Henry Fox, Joseph Torris
Griffin, Frank Godley, James Harris, Jr.,
William Z. Harris, Samuel Hart,
Charlemagne B. Jackson, Isom Vernon
Johnson, Jr., Freddie -June Jones,
Howard Gilbert Lewis, Harlan Willie
Moore, Robert L. Phelps, Lonnie Ross,
Dewitt Sampson, Phillip Elisher Tsbb,
• David Wilton Taylor, Herbert Taylor,
William Herman Walla, Julius Walker,
III. Clarence L. Williams, Jr.
GIRLS
furnish music. I
E. 0. Smith, chairman of a joint
committee of the Y. M. and Y. W.
C. A. will preside.
THE WEEK IN
B-U-L-L-E-T-I-N
ALBANY, Oregon.—“On advice of my attorney who
way hero from Los Angeles, Calif., I do not care to discus,
ter now,” Robert E. Lee Folkes, 20-year-old dining ear wastes,
day, with bowed head, told Justice of the Peace VictorOlive
ter the officer had read a charge against him of the first ‘
murder of Mrs. Martha Virginia James, in lower 13, on a SP
M:
train. -
Folkee divulged that Ms people had engaged the services “
Maurice A. Gleason, prominent Los Angeles attorney, to protect
interests and, the former Jefferson High school boy, of Los Angeles
added, “He won’t be here for the preliminary hearing.”
Mildred Lee Alexander, Fannie Bouya,
Dorothy Doloris Burton, Gloria B. Cal-
bert, Mary Jane Carter, Helen Lucile
Clark, Ethel Mae Cornier, Charlie C. Da-
vid. Lola Mae Goree. Victory M. Hickey.
Lillian Holloman, Ida Mae Howard, Betty
Lou Howell, Georgia Mae Jackson, Ran-
kin Mae Jackson, Bennie Lee Jenkins,
(See STUDENTS, Page 12, Col. 5)
WASHINGTON
By LOVIS LAUTIER
By LEON WASHINGTON
Publisher, Los Angeles Sentinel §
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A sensational statement charg-
ing that her husband, Robert Lee Folkes, was drunk when he
made a “confession” admitting the killing of Martha James
on a Southern Pacific train last week was given to the Los
Angeles Sentinel this week by Jessie Louise Folkes, his wife.
78..S4"t‘TlVne moron
Monday, Jan. 25, at 3 o’clock ray
husband was being held in the con-
nection of the murder of Martha
Virginia James on the Southern
Pacific train which left Portland,
Oregon. My husband was a second -
cook on the train in which Mrs.
James was supposed to have been
murdered. I was not home at the
time the detectives arrived at my
home, but they left a card which
was printed.
I then called and talked to Rich-
ard B. McCreadie who told me to
come to the City Hall. I went at
once. Upon arriving at the City
Hall, I was confronted by Officer
McCreadie who read from a piece
of paper which appeared to be a
Western Union telegram, which
read, “Arrest Robert Folkes for
questioning, signed Oregon Police.”
I was told by the officer, Mc-
leed: FDR S O.K.
Washington, D. C. — As
a meeting of the President’s
Committee on Fair Employ- |
ment Practice, scheduled for
last Monday, failed to take
place, reports were current!
here that its reorganization
awaited only the approval of
plans by President Roosevelt.
High administration offi-
cials, it was said, have drafted for
January 25-
Accepting a Nazi challenge,
American troops in Tunisia raided
nd in Equat
"ever WM
Would a pay-as-you-go in-
come plan be better for the
American public? Read
what others think about
the plan on our editorial
page.
Maknassy, thirty-five miles from
the Gulf of Gabes, and captured
eighty prisoners.
The Navy reported that United
States troops on Guadalcanal had
captured Kokumbona, coast village
(See WEEK, Page 8, Col. 3)
We Are Big, Too, We Get
Creadie, that I could make it easy
on him, meaning Robert Folkes,
if I told him that if he did it to
confess. I then said, “How do you
mean, by making it easy?” He
replied if he did it, it would go
easier with him, because the L.
A. Follee Force or the Oregon
Police Force held no mallee
against him.
He then said: “We know he did
it, because he’s told two or three
different stories, and each one has
changed each time. We knew he
was drunk at the time."
He further stated that during the
questioning Robert Lee Folkes
(meaning my husband) said he did
(See .STATEMENT, Page 8, Col. 1)
the President proposals which
would supersede the present Com-
mittee by a paid, full-time body
All That Is
Jewel
TUWDe.
iddle Warns
room Ju 3 25
-
To Hear New Contract
Women Organize Volunteer
Group At Houston Chamber
We are big and we get all of the news that is big. When a
report that Judge Hastie would release the causes of his resig-
nation exclusively to another paper was made we got busy be-
cause our readers expected us to report his reasons.
Said the judge to us:
“Your position entirely correct. Report of exclusive news-
paper release unfounded.”
All of the angles to the Hastie wrangle are in this issue
of the far South's own great race journal.
Preachers Call On
Women For Help To
Stimulate Trainees
HOUSTON.—The Interde-
nominational . Ministerial Al-
liance passed a resolution, un-
animously last week, asking
the Negro women to join
them in a campaign to have
all Negro men from 18 to 80
whose war classification will
permit, to take training in
the Houston Government Vo-
cational School where seven
different trades are offered. The
school is located near the old Jef-
ferson Davis Hospital, at 1227 Dart
st.
The Rev. L. S. White, chairman
of the committee, says that every
mother, wife, sister and sweet-
heart, should call upon her hus-
band, brother and boy friend to
prepare themselves to serve their
country in this dreadful day of
peril, and to be prepared to fit
into the program of re-building of
the world after the war.
The school is operated 24 hours
a day and one can take this train-
ing at any period that is most con-
venient, and will not cause him any
loss of time on the job where he is
working and will not lose any a-
mount of unnecessary amount of
rest. The call is urgent. “If the Ne-
gro men fall to heed this call,” Rev.
(See CALL, Page 12, Col. 2)
Formally announcing his resige I
nation Monday, Judge Hastie de-
clared, "The simple fact is that the
air command does not want Negro .
pilots flying in and out of various
fields, eating and sleeping and
mingling with other personnel, as
service pilots must do in carrying
out their various missions.”
He recalled in his statement”
that a training center for Negre
pilots had been established at.
Tuskegee Institute over his pro-
tests against segregation. Since
then, he said, adequate provis-
ions have not been made fori
-ground troops to work with quale,
ifisd Negro pilots.
Hastie Ignored
Also in his statement, the former .
dean of law at Howard University
revealed that he had been ignored,
and that problems affecting Negroes
had not been referred to him as
they should have been. Feer
"When I took office, the Secre-.
tary of War directed that all ques-
tions of policy and Important pro-
posals relating to Negroes should
be referred to my office for com-
ment or approval before final ao-
tlon, ” he said.
“In December, 1940, the Air
Forces referred to me a plan for a
segregated training center for “ Ne-
gro pursuit pilots at Tuskegee. I
mm axis mr
Men Io larry
Draft Cards
Washington, D. C.—At-
torney General Francis Bid-
dle this week said that all
men between the ages of 18
and 45 who are subject to
classification under the Selec-
tive Service Act will be re-
quired to carry classification
as well as registration cards
at all times after February 1.
Failure to do so may result in pro-
secution in the Federal courts.
He added that the responsibility
of securing a classification card
rests with the individual registrant.
If for any reason he has not received
a classification card, or has lost the
one sent him, he should immediate-
ly convey this information to his
local draft board.
“A great many men are delin-
quent with their local draft
boards today,” the Attorney Gen-
eral said. “This may be due to
negligence, as through some such
oversight as failure to notify their
boards of changes of address, or
to deliberate intention te evade
the purpose of the Selective Serv-
of five members. None of the mem-
bers of the present Committee
would be members of the new
body.
Under the proposed plan, the
new body would have only per-
suasive powers. It would be au-
thorised to investigate charges of
race discrimination against war
industries, labor unions and Gov-
ernment agencies. In only those
cases where persuasion failed-
whore either employers or labor
unions flatly refused to change
biased policies and practices—
would there be public hearings.
This plan is said to have the ap-
proval of Paul V. McNutt, chair-
man of the War Manpower Com-
mission, and Francis' Biddle, the
Attorney General, both of whom
figured in the order to the Com-
mittee to cancel its proposed hear-
ings on race discrimination in em-
ployment by the railroads.
Chief Objection
The chief objection to the plan
is that the new body would remain
under the War Manpower Commis-
sion, to which the Commimttee was
transferred in August Its place-
ment directly under the executive
'offices of the White House, it is be-
lieved, would be preferable.
Frank P. Graham, president of
North Carolina University, who is
a member of the War Labor Board,
is reported to be the choice of ad-
ministration officials to head the
proposed new body.
In the meantime, protests are
(See FEPC, Page 12, Col. 3)
By Eva Allee McCrane-Edwards
HOUSTON-Approximately forty
women representing various local
churches, met Tuesday afternoon at
the Houston Negro Chamber of
Commerce, 222 West Dallas, with
Mrs. Charles A. Wade, national or-
ganizer of the Women's Division
of Christian Service, to form a
committee for volunteer service
among newcomers and migrant
workers.
This meeting was called through
the Women's Societies of local
churches in Houston, and the com-
mittee is known as the Interdenomi-
national Women’s Volunteer Com-
mittee
The purpose is to unite church
women into allegiance to our Lord
to build a world Christian order
through volunteer service to re-
ligious and social needs of all per-
sons who come into defense areas
and camp communities for indus-
trialwork. .
Officers Selected
The Reverend J. R. Burdette
served as chairman while the nomi-
nation and elections were held.
The officers are as follows: Gen-
eral chairman, Mrs. Jessie Roberts on
and the co-chairmen are Mmes. E.
S. Kennard, J. E. Whitaker, E.
Vaughters, G. P. A. Forde, James
Hubert and Mrs. A. L. Caldwell.
Co-chairmen will, be added as
new denominations, join for there
is a co-chairman representing each
denomination. Mrs. Rose Harris is
the secretary and Mrs. Rose E: Lang,
is the assistant. Mrs. Pinkie Yates
is the treasurer.
The chairmen of various commit-
tees are as follows: suvey commit-
tee, Mrs. E. S. Kennard; social ser-
Dust Rev. Penn As
Macedonia Pastor
tea AeL
"By widespread publication of
- the new requirement it is hoped
that all those who do not now have
(See BIDDLE, Page 8, Cel. 8)
HOUSTON-The conflict between
the members of Macedonia Baptist
church and their pastor, the Rev.
D. L. Penn, came to an end by
court decision Thursday, January
28, when the pastor was ordered
legally vacated from the pulpit and
full charge given to the member-
ship which had fought him and his
presence as pastor for nearly two
years.
The difficulties, according to
Mrs. Rosie Jimmerson, one of the
staunch members for a number of
years, began with the dropping of
vice, Mrs. R. A. Ector- Jones; day
committee, Mrs. A. Fontens; hous-
ing committee, Mrs. Elizabeth Gil-
liard, and Lula B. Agent, recrea-
tion committee, Mrs. J. A. North,
and Vera Dial; information commit-
tee, Mrs. L. E. Jordan, and Mrs.
Ethel Cash, and the contact com-
(See WOMEN, Page 12, Col. 6).
To Celebrate Birth
Date Of Lincoln
HOUSTON.— The annual obser-
vance of the birth of President
Abraham Lincoln, Feb. 12, will be
celebrated by the Third Ward Civic
club with a program and banquet
at 8:15 p.m. in the club assembly
hall at 2408 McGowan street.
Dean J. R. Reynolds will be the
guest speaker of the occasion, and
R. R. Grovey, president, will serve
as master of ceremonies. The ban-
quet will be served by the women's
auxiliary of the club.
Dr. Thomas Will
Speak At NAACP
about 90 members and four dea-
cons from the church rolls by the
pastor, about a year and a half ago
following a controversy over the
preaching of the funeral of one
Johnnie Wiley, of Kansas City, Mo.,
who was a brother of Andrew Wi-
ley, a choir member and member
of the church since 1915.
Wasn't A Member
According to Mrs. Jimmerson, the
choir asked Rev. Mr. Penn to de-
liver the eulogy over his brother
See OUST, Page 12, Col. 1)
1 §
Houston-CIO workers at
the Hughes Tool Co. plants,
by a vote in December won
the right to negotiate the
contract for workers with
company, gathered last Sun-
day at St. Nicholas hall to
hear a reading of the propos-
ed contract to be submitted
to company officials and dis-
cuss it.
A complete statement of the ef-
forts and endeavors of the organi-
zation in trying to get better work-
ing conditions and recognition for
skilled workers was made by R. R.
Grovey in explaining the propos-
als which will come up for another
reading next Sunday.
"More than 100 workers former-
ly connected with the Independent
organization which strove so hard
to circumscribe our workers at the
plant, have been added to the rolls
of the organization within the last
ten days,” Mr. Grovey said in pre-
facing his statement, which fol-
lows:
“The final chapter is being writ-
ten in the Hughes Tool controversy,
between the C. I. O. and once pow-
erful, so called ‘Independent Com-
pany Union.'
“The final reading and presenta-
tion of the contract, directed by the
capable leadership of the regional
Director Frank A. Hardesty, Staff
Representative Gardner and Gro-
vey and a twelve negotiating com-
’ mittee, six Negroes and six whites,
will present the company early
next week, a bona fide contract
that has been written, not by law-
Ceremony Sun.
HOUSTON. — Dr. Lawrence C.
Thomas, pastor of Trinity Metho-
dist church, Travis at Bell, has
accepted invitation to be principal
speaker at a program Sunday, Feb-
ruary 7, 1943, 4:00 p.m., at the
Emancipation Park, honoring the
late C. F. Richardson, former news-
paper editor, who served for sev-
eral years as president of the Hou-
ston Senior and State branches of
the NAACP.
The program,, first of its kind
sponsored by the Youth Council
of the NAACP, will include the
yers, but by unrehearsed workers,
who themselves have described and
know their jobs and are asking for
pay in accordance to skill, as sen-
iority and workmanship without
regard to color.
“There will be no special brack-
et designating 'Negro common La-
borers,' and ’A, B, and C. Classes
for colored alone.
"We will negotiate wages,
working conditions and establish
plant and departmental seniority,
up grade jobs according to skill
and ability required to do them
and insist upon the pay for these
jobs be according to the skill of
the job and not according to the
color of a men's skin, who per-
unveiling of a portrait of Mr. Rich-
ardaon by Roy Leeland Hopkins,
committeman of the Council, and
forms the job.
“We are here battling in this
will be accepted by one of the
Youth Council sponsors.
• To Present
Of added interest in the pro-
gram Sunday will be the presen-
tation of the Youth Council Service
flag honoring members of the or-
ganization in military services.
Lieut Isaiah Watkins, former ex-
(See THOMAS, Page 13, Col. 3)
A. '
rmnae p Toposes, 2 S.cummenar”
tions, I volunteered them.”
STATEMENT OF WM. H. HASTIE
THE SECRETARY OF Wan
Reactionary policies and discrim-
inatory practices of the Army Air
Forces in matters affecting Ne-
groes were the immediate cause of
my resignation as Civilian Aide to
the Secretary of War.
The Army Air Forces are growing
in importance and independence. In
the post war period they may be-
come the greatest single component
of the armed services. Biased poli-
cies and harmful practices estab-
lished in this branch of the Army
can all too easily infect other
branches as well.
The situation had become ertui-
cal. Yet, the whole course of my
dealings with the Army Air Forces
convinced me that further ex-
pression of my views in the form
of recommendations within the
department would be futile. I,
therefore, took the only course
which can, I believe, bring re-
sults. Public opinion is still the
strongest force in American life.
To the Negro soldier and those,
who influence his thinking, X say
with all the force and sincerity *t 1
my command that the man in uni-
form must grit his teeth, square his
shoulders and do his best as a
(See JUDGE, Page •, Col. 0
particular contract and others ne-
gotiated by the C. I. O. to break
down the ungodly differentials be-
tween colored and whites doing the
same job.
“The establishment of the C. I.
O. as a bargaining agent in Hughes
Tool will do many other good
things, among them the twisting of
that Milam Street Leach Bro. C. W.
Rice off of the hides of a fine group
of working men whom he has
See HUGHES, Page 12, Col. 2)
Dent Will Not
AcceptHastieJob
NEW ORLEANS, La, — Fresh
back from Washington where he
admitted talking at length with
persons in the War Department
President A. W. Dent of Dillard
University made a statement to the
effect that he will not fill the va-
cancy left by Judge Hastie whose
resignation became valid Sunday.
In a written statement he de-
clared, “Since I have been her
sieged by newspapers to make
some statement with regard to
the news appearing in a number
of the papers last week regarding
the probability of my becoming
Civilian Aide to the Secretary of
War, I wish to state that I con-
sider ths work of Dillard Uni- o
versity and the future develop-
' ment of the University to be of
such supreme importance to the
welfare of the Negroes in the
South and in the country for me
to want to remain here as the
president of the University." 2s.
When mention was made of the
articles appearing in last weeks
papers, especially one which re-
vealed doubt as to whether or not
a Negro from the South was quali-
fied to step into the place Hastie
left, the college president replied:
“1 have just gotten in this morn-
ing and I have not had time to
read the papers. Newspapers so a
little far out to say whether or not
an individual has the qualification
for certain jobs. I think that-Bs
(See ACCEPT. Page D, cot ngr
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Informer and Texas Freeman (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 64, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 6, 1943, newspaper, February 6, 1943; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1626736/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.