Observer_1945-06-30

Page 4 EDITORIAL PAGE J U N E 30, 1 9 4 5 The OBsERVER Oftlce Z017 N. WUUams AftliUUI, Portlaud 12, ()ngon Telephone WEbster 3840 WILLIAM H. McCLENDON, Publisher EstabUshed 1943 The OBSERVER is a valiant defender against segregation and its related evtla; a vtg!lant champion for freedom, equallcy, Uberty and justice; an alert guard against all social atrocities; a vitriolic analyst and severe critic of Eliscriminatory practices; a sentinel to warn of all impend– Ing retrogressive aoc1a1 trends and tendencies. ple on any matter is immed?ately accompanied by a corresponding de- Mediterranean Theater where velopment of antipathies and antagonisms which in many instances there was a higher percentage of create irreconcilable differences. It is the aim of this publication to show Negro combat troops including one that people who are socially submerged, economically subjugated, op- Infantry Division, the 92nd. pressed, harassed and intimidated cannot expect any basic changes in Under redeployment plans, the their political and social status as long as silly conflicts and sharp per- Army intends that 10.4 per cent >onal distinctions are kept alive in their ranks. of all U. S. personnel returned to In the coming year the reactionary groups will take steps to add the U. S. for demobilization shall to the confusion that already exists among the Negro people. Many be Negro troops. The OBSERVER is not financed or subsidized by any partisan group, organization or individual The OBSERVER bases its whole program on the goal of equality of opportunity for all minority peoples to share fully in the political, eco– llOIDic and public ll!e of the country. The problems of the Negro people lhall be shown to be related to those of 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 Newspaper Semce. Tel Yates Publications, Inc., Independent Press Service. This newspaper reserves the right to print for publication all press dispatches, features and photo• forwarded by these agencies or otherwise credited to them. race-baiting factions will carry out plans designed to force the Negro's) "We are striving to send a Ne_ standard of existence to even lower leveds. Discriminations will be I gro total of 10.4 per cent of all more marked in every quarter of our local life. Discouraging as it may troops returned tb the States for appear, not one Negro should permit himself to believe that any of' eventual discharge" stated Col. these conditions will be remedied by emotional ravings and petty sen- c. W. Powell, head of Troop Di– sati?nalism. ~ar~ful study and diligent planning by qualified and ex- vision, Redeployment ranch of G3 penenced spec1ahsb who have the staunch support and confidence of at ETOUSA. "We will not nee– the people they are selected to serve, will offer the most promising essarily reach this figure, but we avenues for improvement. · ~"' are a1ming at it." It is the renewed pledge of the Observer today to remain on the (Continued on Page 7) ANOTHER YEAR PASSES This issue marks the completion of another year's operation for the Observer. As would be expected , during this past 12 month per– iod attention has been constantly focused upon those issues of vital importance to the r\ egro people living in the Portland-Vancouver area. Repeatedly, analysis has been made of intricate problems affect– ing this group. Recommendatons have been proposed from time to time which were intended to minimize the agony and suffering that comes from the vicious persecution that is often leveled at this people by the forces of reaction. In the same period the Obse rver has centered much of its atten– tion to evaluating the marked provincial attitudes and prejudices alive in this community. In so doing the adherence to its stated policy was always complied with. The militant and sound position of th e Observer on all issues directly related to minority people's progress has led to this publication becoming recognized and accepted as a val– uable journalistic instrument by individuals and organizations inter– ested in -social progress and advancement. Commendable acknovvledg– ments and praise for the editorial stands and news features contained in this publication for the last two yea rs have been received from every section of the United States. alert to guard against further social atrocities and to offer if possible sound suggestions as to how the Negro people can cooperatively assist in the man y programs th at will be carried out to improve their lot in America. With this purpose in mind , your Observer begins another yea r with courage and determination in the service of the people. Col. B. 0. Davis !u.S. Army of Replaces Selway \Occupation to be As Head of 477th 10 Percent Negro (Continued from Page 1) single bomber to enemy fighters. Stars and Stripes Staff Writer Up to that time, members of the Negro troops will comprise 10.4 332nd Fighter Group had been I per cent of the U. S. Army of awarded 63 Distinguished Flying ; Occupation in Germany, it was Crosses\ and had completed 8.000 Jlearned from ETOUSA Head– sorties while destroying more than quarters yesterday. The great majority of these troops ,,·ill be members of service 200 enemy aircraft in aerial and ground strafing assaults. Auto Repair Ceiling Set for July 14 Effectiv·e date of the new regu– lation setting specific limits on the hours of labor than can be charged for on common passenger car repair jobs has been postponed one month, until July 14, 1945, Robert E. Lowe, services price specialist, an– nounced today. The regulation , originally an– nounced as effective June J +, is designed to check a practice in some automobile repair shops of charging custo~ers for more hours of labor than repairs actually re– quire, Lowe explained. , He said that the postponement was requested by representatives of the trade who desired to have further consultations about the new provisions before they became effective. The Observer can proudly offer itself as one medium champion– ing the rights of minority groups ( especially the Negro people) that has consistently presented its series of protests in a strategical and socially compatible manner that oftimes had some measure of political effectiveness. Early in its development the guiding hands of this paper recognized that in all struggles to be waged separatt:ly from the battle~ to gain improvements in the work status of minority workers, that caution and principle must be rigidly followed. Libelous charges, false Working in close cooperation with the U. S. Fifth Army and the British Eight Army, the fighter group performed all types of mis– ~ion , ranging from escorting heavy bombers over the Ploesti oil fields units "performing their primary mission," it was revealed, though it has not yet been determined which Negro units will remain as I Church Directory occupation forces. MT OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH accusations, gross exaggerations of minor social breaches and the over- to low level strafing raids on re– This will be decided when the N. E. First Avenue & Schuyler emphasizing of purely subjective grievances has never been a position treatng Germans m Northern War Department instructs this that could be labeled as typical of this publication. A diligent effort Italy, Yugoslavia, Austria and theater of the types of units it has been constantly put forth to gi,·e attention to all news that reflects finally over Germany itself. desires "to retain in Europe. creditably on the Negro people and other minorities. Only in instances Colonel Davis has been awarded The 10.4 percentage is the stan- where it appeared absolutely necessary and expedient has a purely na- the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, dard one set by Congress and used tionalist philosophy been expounded in this paper. Distinguished Flying Cross and by the War Department in com- Not once has the Observer failed to step forth and offer its assist- the Air Medal with Four Oak puting the proportions of Negroes ance to all community programs and projects centered around uplift Leaf. Clusters. in the U. S. Army. The proportion and welfare. At all times a positive effort is exerted to prevent the He recently returned to the is not standard for all theaters, development of controversies which will create conflicts and misun- United States to take command of however. derstanding with other racial, religious and progressive political the reconstituted 477th Bombard- Since the AEF arrived in the g roups. It is without any trace of emotion or regret that the pub- ment Group, which will be known ETO h t e proportion of Negro lisher of this paper adamantly refuses to assist individual Negro glory- as a Composite Group. Elements troops of total U. S. forces aver- mongers and self-sustaining egotists in their vile schemes to dupe the of the .J.77th will include two aged 8.4 per cent and that per- masses of Negroes into believing they alone are capable of devising bomber squadrons, and one fighter h b centage as een maintained, with methods for the removal of all problems that beset this oppressed peo- squad ron from the 332nd Fighter ll fl sma uctuation, to the present ple. With vigor and determination the support of the Observer is con-I Group. The remaining elements of time. sistently cast with bona-fide, established protective and welfare organ- the 332nd Fighter Group will be h 1 · · As of May 15, ther~ were in izations whose plans for resisting the persecution of the Negro people e d m strategic reserve. are always well steeped in democratic and honorable procedure. It is I the ETO-259,173 Negro troops of the aim also of this paper to be in the vanguard to attack all evidences BRIEFS a grand total of 3,082,142 U. S. d . . . personnel here at that time. an mdrcatwns of bigotry and deceit in social agencies that normally Wilbert Roper, director of Van- ·should be devoid of such chicaneq'. port Number Three Center, re- The publisher of this paper is well aware that the role of minor- turned Sunday from Oklahoma ity people's, Negroes in particular, in the American social structure is City, Oklahoma, where he was incomprehensible to a vast proportion of the population. For many called by the death of his mother. decades the Negro people of the United States have plead for just the * *· * ' elementary privileges of freedori1 . Primary requests for liberty and Mrs. Texanna Fisher of 445 justice have invariably been denied. In every crevice of American life N. E. Cook St., left last week both sophi ·ticated and brutal discrimination are practiced against for Houston, Texas, to attend the this people. There is no corner of the United States today which is funeral of her father. devoid of prejudice and hatred toward Negroes. Consequently, the aim * * * Ths figure was broken down as follows: Field Forces .......... .... 84,681 USSTAF' .................. 11,867 Com Z ...................... 155,530 Non-operating ........ .. 7,095 Non-operating includes patients, PvVs and casuals, while field forces includes Army Groups, armies ETOUSA and SHAEF of this paper is to lend an interpretation of the position of the Negro Mrs. Velma Vance and son · h" Hq. personnel. m t IS community that may assist in the alleviation of many hardships Hoover of 2022 N. E. Rodney St., and uncalled for humiliations. left Friday to accompany the body Until recently, approximately 25 To do this is not an easy t~sk. !n the ~ore recent issues th~re has I of Mrs. Vance's sister, who passed per cent of Com Z troops were been an unusual amount .of d1scuss1on trallled upon the necessity for . away in Seattle, to Texakana, Negro while field forces were complete unity among the Negro welfare groups having more or less Texas. Mrs. Vance and son will made up of four per cent Negro the same programs and ideologies. This phase of our work is bv far remain in the south two months personnel. the most difficult to handle. Every attempt to unify the Negro. peo- visiting relatives and friends. These figures do not include the Portland, oregon BETHEL CHURCH, A. M. E. N. McMillen and Larrabee Portland, Oregon ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH Episcopal N. E. Knott and Rodney Portland, Oregon AFRICAN METHOD.IST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH 2007 N. WUllams Ave. Portland, oregon CATHOLIC CHAPEL of the LITrLE 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 Montavllla 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 Mlll Plain Recreation Genter ''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 CHRIST 338 N. W. Fifth & Flanders Sunday School 10 a. m. Service 12 noon YPWW 6:30p.m. Evening Service 8 p. m. Rev. J. C. Lewis, Pastor