Observer_1945-07-31

Page 4 EDITORIAL PAGE July 31, 1945 The OBsERVER .. "if"HE GOVERNMENT NEEDS AND ASKS ITS TO KEEP ON SALVAGING URGENTLY .NEEDED TIN CANS. JAPAN STILL CONTROLS ALL SOURCES OF OUR PRE– Office 2017 N. WUllams Avenue, PorilaDd 12, Oregon Telephone WEbster 3840 WILLIAM H. McCLENDON, Publisher Established 1943 The OBSERVER is a valiant defender against segregation and its related evils; a vtgllant champion _!or !ree_d?JD. e<Il;l~~· liberty and justice; an alert guard against all s?c1al atroci~Ies; a VItnollc ana!yst and severe critic of cliscriminatory practices; a sentmel to Wanl of all Impend- ing retrogressive social trends and tendenci~s_. . . 1 The OBSERVER is not financed or subsidiZed by any partisan group, I organization or individuaL . The OBSERVER bases its whole program on the goal of equallty of opportunity .for all minority peoples to share fully in the political, eco– nomic and public ll!e o! the country. The problems o! the Negro people · llhall be shown to be related to those o! other National minority groups and to the world issues created by the War and to the International ar– rangements resulting after it. Member of the Associated Negro Press, Calvin's Ne1.f1spaper. Seroice, Tetl Yates Publications, Inc., lndepend~nc . Press Servu:e: This newspaper reserves the right to print for publication all press dispatches, features and photo& for'lfiU'ded by theae agencies or otherwise credited to them. ~SI THE EFFORT ·- THE RESULT! NOTE: On :\larch 31st, there appeared in the Observer the follow– ing editorial: A N eces·sary Step Forward It is now time for the Negro people of this area to take stock of the social and political effort? that have beeu made for improving their status here in the last five years. In viewing the present sta~e of affairs from this angle it becomes shockingly obvious that thts group of people ha,·e no representatives to date who are holding re– sponsible and authoritative positions that would tend to develop a more serious and appreciative feeling for Negroes on the part of other VIAR TIN SUDPL Y." groups residing in this community. At this writing there is not one 1' egro holding a full fledged policeman's job in the city of Portland. Many explanations have been ~f(££P ON SALVAGING TIN CAAlSfu offered for this appalling laxity. Some of which are plausible, others Red Cross On the Alert istration determines his vocational I entirelv unsati 3 factory to a people that in peace and in war have To Assist All Servicemen h andi~ap and the need. for retra_in-J demon~trated that they are capable of assuming obligations of ever~ T. f h d h ing him for another JOb. Dunng Pictures Obtainable In the future, any pictures ap- . . d ll d · ff' · 1. I wen tv- our ours a ay, t e h. . . . d h' . . conceivable nature and dischargmg <1ny an a uttes e tctent .\ · S · . D f h t Is trammg peno , IS pen•wn IS ' Home ervtce epartment 0 t e increased until he learns to h;mdle In 'orne quarters the thoug.Tht_ h_as heen a~va~ced that the~e are I American Red Cross stands ready pearing in the Observer may be d d 1 d h t of a job wited to his limitations. Dur- prejudiced and racially-biased In IVI ua s ommatmg t e opera IOn to help servicemen and their fam- purchased at our office, at nom- h Th ll d t be I ing the time his claim is pending, the local police department . ere. ese _persons a~e a ege 0 ilies. With Red Cross chapters in the Red Cross renders financial inal •cost, 2017 N. Williams Ave. bitterly opposed to the extensiOn of full police authonty to any Negro I ever'' count\· no distance is too · ' assistance to the disabled veteran I regardless of his qualifications. M_any ~ttempts to Circumvent any Q'rea.t to aid. in solving cheir dif- !-..------------......! h 'I .h f N = (man or woman , as well as his I such possibility ha,·e been fort commg. e use 0 temporary egro I ficulties. Multnomah Co u n t y police officers lacking in training and ability in communities tenanted. Chapter of the American Red dependents: r' l Church Directory largely by Negroes is an excellent i ustratwn ° t IS. J Cross and its Home Service De- 11 · f h · I For assistance, call A .l water I 8561, or come to 1.506 S. W. MT. OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH These functionaries are not empowered to carry ou~ assignme_nts I partment handles countless re- Ald R d C N. E. First Avenue & Schuyler on a basis comparable to that of men who have full polrce authonty. quests every day. er, your e ross. 1 Portland, Oregon Consequently it is impossible for them to have self-respect, respect . 1 F•or helping in filing claims or I Okl h El t d J BETHEL CHURCH, A. M. E. ' h f h· 1· h k the . a oman ec e N M M.tll d L b from the people; nor t e. respect o w It~ po ICemen_ ~ o now explanation of claims and benefits, • . c en an arra ee limited extent of their authoritY preparatiOn and trammg. . 'th 1 pt·ob Teacher at Ehot School Portland, Oregon · ' or assistance WI persona - On the other hand it is claimed that Negro men of good moral lems veterans of the armed forces One of the Tegro teachers em- ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH 1· · ' Episcopal character, with fair e~u~ation~l backgro~nd and within the age t~Its or their families need only to cali ployed m the Portland Public N. E. Knott and Rodney prescribed under the ctvtl servtce regulattO.ns have never made applic~- on the Home Service workers, who I Schools ts Robert G. Ford. Mr. Portland, Oregon tion for appointment on the Portland police force. The truth of thts are specially trained and they will , . . . AFRICAN METHODIST b f h· h · b · · d A ay ' I Ford ts a nattve of Oklahoma, a EPISCO AL ZION CHURCH utterance may e more ar-reac mg t an can . e I.magt~de · ~ywh'' aid them to find solutions. d f M C ll B 1 2007 PN. Williams Ave. there are mam· N",earo men who have established rest ence In t IS W 'GI J ., .. 1 gra uate o organ o ege, a - Po~tland, Oregon · "' . . hen ' oe returns to ctvi - • communitv while working in defense plants and war mdustnes. A . l'f h h 1 ll timore. 1\lld., with a A. B. degree. · . . . tan 1 e, e as on v to ca upon , . number of these workers are qualified in every way to ftll police post- h R d C d · h d He has had eleven years teachmg . . . t e e ross an t e ever-rea y tions, that is, if the civil service requirements hold no spectftc bnefs Home Service .Department will experience. He spent three years for color. furnish him with information and as grade school teacher, five years As the war work in this area gradually diminishes in quantity it as high school teacher of social 'bl . . d assistance. Okl Th would be wise for · as many Negroes as poss1 e to mvesttgate an When, as the rtsult of a dis- science in Shawnee, a. ree study th11 possibilities of becoming police officers. Negro welfare or- . · years as teacher of English in the ability, a returning serviceman ts ganizati 9 ns and liberal elements from among the white population unable to resume earning his li"li- high school at Enid, Okla. • will champion the right of this acceptance. No longer can the Negro hood at his previous occupation, Mr. Ford has written several wait for these opportunities to be presented. Initiative and determina- the Home Service worker helps dramatic plays and has received tion must be applied to create them. him file a claim for a disability honorable mention from the Dra- pension. On the basis of his med- matic Publishing School .of Chi- This editorial was studied and considered seriously by both Negro ical record, the Veteran's Admin- cago for one act plays. and white citizens of this community who· were in a position to do something about the issue involved. Consequently, out of their com– bined efforts comes a most encouraging announcement. According to information received by the staff of this publication from auth9ritative sources, special police officer, Captain Harry S. Payton, has been notified that his recommendations for six Negro men to assume the duties of regular policemen on the Portland police force will be honored. The men approved by Officer Payton will be given the regular prescribed training required for all full-fledged of– ficers serving with the Portland Police department and will be vested with the same authority. In the election held November 7, 1944, Commissioner Bowe~ stated to the publisher of this paper that he fa– vored the integration of qualified Negro personnel into all brackets of civil service employment and functions in Portland municipal Jife. He expressed his belief that Negro policemen could perform a valti– able service to the citizens of Portland·. He promised that if he were re-elected he would encourage the including of Negroes in this 1m- portant capacity. Commissionel' Bowes kept this promise and the Ob erver takes pride in the fact that its political judgment has brought social benefits to the Negro people here. Officials of the Portland Police department have been pleased over the many valuable services that Captain Payton and his veteran guard and patrol auxiliary police unit have. rendered during these critical w.ar years. The performances of Officer Anderson Alexander and others have demonstrated conclusively that the Negro can carry out police assignments with dignity and efficiency. The Observer is proud that it is the first to make public this fact to the Negro people of Portland. It is the intention of the staff of this paper to assist in every way possible the full integration of the Negro into every field of endeavor wherein an opportunity is offered to create a greater degree of recognition and appreciation for all minority groups residing in America. CATHOLIC CHAPEL of the LITTLE FLOWER Inter-Racial 21 N. E. Broadway Rev. Jerome M. Schmitz, Chaplain Miss Doris Reynolds, Catechist SERVICES: Sunday, Mass and Sermon, 9 A. M. Wednesday, Novena Devotions: 8:00P.M. THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH NE 74th Avenue and Glisan Street (Take the Montavilla Car and get off at 73d Avenue) Rev. R. E. Donaldson, Minister, 7524 NE Everett St. Phone TA 1169. McKinley McNeal, Sunday School Superintendent. CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 1207 S. W. Front Avenue Rev. B. M. McSwain, Pastor Devotional services at 12 noon and B p. m. Sundays. Weekly Services, Tuesdays and Fridays, 8 p. m. YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHURCH Mill Plain Recreation Center ''WELCOME'' Young People's Meeting 6:00 P.M. Church 7:30P.M. Pastor-Rev. C. S. Stearns Residence 5516-B East 13th St. McLoughlin Heights WEST SIDE CHURCH OF GOD IN CIIIMST 338 N. W. Fifth & Flanders Sunday School 10 a. m. Service 12 noon YPWW 6:30 p. m. Evening Service 8 p. m. Rev. J. C. Lewis, Pastor