The New York Age from New York, New York • Page 4

i i TAGS US THB'N BTT ORE 'A'G OA tUa Cork Age kMTlOXAT. MOBO WBtKLT UTURDAV. Maoif eeiveaAtioa tf. SM tttk tWJ HWi tafS fDrvaetM oeseet ihmw tv THifMM OCcetasr Mil aummi atm st mail ostajo a TIA KM "1 MQtTSt IM Mosmt Ji ZIM CO FT 41 "rjLDA yo ein tkas mi rzTO cotnmtu on tiab tn VOL. 47.

No. 23. SirtMtww IS. ItU Tar. Am MMk 1 IBM a ietten end nka all check and 7 order gvyable to THS NXW YORK AOS.

FEBRUARY 11, 1933 THE METROPOLITAN LIFE. The annual report of the Metropolitan I't Insurance Company, made public by Jerick H. Ecker, president, gives the income for 1932 as nearly $1,000, r.OOb. said to be the largest ever record or any. life insurance company.

The kUnce sheet as of December 31, repre his total asset of $3769,372,425. an in se of $179,256,772 for the year." IU. Ecker in commenting on the ex hcrdinary record of the year referred "an important additional fact which not appear in the financial state it: That the number of employees in home and bead offices was increased trttore than 1,000 during 1932. Wheth f'tSe Negro numbered among those for tft to get on the payroll is not known. probabilities are that all were white.

It cannot be said that the Metropolitan Insurance Company has pursued in fast a policy which favored the cm Jjyneat of Negroes either as agents or cSce help. There have been a few agents working for the company. usually white agents are sent to col premiums and solicit new business colored people. It is said that the many thousands of industrial living in Harlem not one tfeer of the race is connected with the il ajency force. visit to the Washington Heights will disclose that no colored male finale is employed' for clerical or sten phic work.

Everybody is white. Yet i fcmrths of those who are seen pay lyflients at the window are colored anomalous situation. In the army fcployees at the home office in the jrtropolitan Building if Negroes hold jpTth while jobs this pleasing piece pnnation is not well known. 'Tfcis disinclination to employ Negroes Ji to work among their own, is dirfi to understand and is more puzzling it is taken into consideration that members of the race are insured in Metropolitan Life Insurance Com than in all the other companies com It would seem that some effort 4 be made by the Metropolitan to irrage the group to improve its eco atatus. jxa the coming into New York State Victory Life Insurance Company 'ZZf, the Negro has conclusively dem Irated his Etness and ability to cred function as office managers, agents clerks! No excuse could be given i white people are used because colored does not measure up to present day rtments.

Some of the colored lis are college graduates and in many the "superior of some white agents, Ecker bears the reputation of be fricadly. disposed toward the Negro tnr raueh interested in his progress, rw of. his sympathetic attitude, there cry reason to believe he will be dis i to give the of employing Negroes serious consideration i.Ita for a square deal were respect "xjd intelligently made. WHO MADE HIS MARK. bis eloquent and convincing study effect which the Negro race has American life, Dr.

W. E. 'once asserted that the Negro is Airily an artist, and as such has played fculiar spiritual role in shaping and American ideals. This part the Negro was to have in softening 1 refining the austerities of (American 7ess was also predicted by an earlier to writer. Dr.

James McCune Smith, pamphlet published about the mid cf the last century, he predicted that tlack man's contribution to American miration would take the form of oratory the fine arts, painting, sculpture and r. Uubois, in his book, lhe Out Folk," published in 1924. in enu "Xting the specific ways in which the has contributed to American art. id out the spirit of gaiety and exo 7 to those parts of America which were enough to enjoy it New Orleans was instanced as an example of this after the War of 1812, and music was found as the background for this gaiety of spirit The folk song which the Negro brought to America was not simply developed by White corapbsers, but by the Negro him self. ManV musicians and artit vrlvH rom the Louisiana grdup, including Eugene Warburg, who w6n distinction as sculptor in Italy; Victor Sejour, who became a poet and composer in Franc Duberdet, a musician in Bordeaux; and the seven Lamberts who and competed in America, France and Brazil.

Among the early colored composers of music were mentioned J. Heminway and A. Conner, who lived in Philadelphia; Justin Holland of Cleveland: Samuel Milady, known by his stage name as Sam Lucas, who. wrote many popular ballads, among them "Grandfather's" Clock Was Too Tall For the Shelf.1 Georw Mel. bourne composed "Listen to the Mock ing Bird," although a white man cot the credit James Bland wrpte "Carry Me tuck to Old Virginny," while Gussie L.

Davis wrote many popular songs in Cin cinnatl Among the musicians and com posers of a later day may be named Sam uel Coleridee Tavlor. an Antrln AfnYan Harry. T. Burleigh R. Nathaniel Dett, Rosamond Johnson, Clarence Cameron White, Maud Cuney Hare, Edmund T.

Jenkins. Among instrumentalists are R. Augustus Lawson, Hazel Harrison, Helen Hagan, Carl Diton and Melville Charlton. Between these two groups the late Walter F. Craig occupied a unique posi tion as a violinist of the front rank, who made music a vocation.

Acquiring his technical skill by arduous study under the best teachers of the period, he applied himself to the interpretation of the clas sical composers with exceptional feeling and fidelity. Beginning with the early seventies, he did much to shape the taste of the music lovers of the race in New York in this direction. An exacting and conscientious instructor, he grounded his pupils in the rudiments of correct exe cution. As an orchestral leader he dem onstrated his ability to conduct bodies of as many as seventy five musicians in the rendition of classical programs. He was equally7 successful in the furnishing of dance programs, as Craig's Orchestra was in great demand at the better class of publicVenteitiinraents.

He was also composer of several musical compositions. While Professor Craig retired from his musical labors before the advent of the jazz loving generation, he left his mark in implanting a taste and appreciation of classical compositions in the music lovers of the race who eagerly attended his Pre Lenten entertainments, in the early part of the present century. He was both pioneer and a veteran in the field of music. COLOR LINE IN BIO LEAGUE. After "asking editorially, "What's Wrong With Baseball?" the Daily News essays to answer the question.

After com menting on the Pennsylvania blue laws extant which keep the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia teams from playing on Sun day. this New York liberal daily ob serves "Another trouble with major league ball certainly would ectn to be the color line drawn in. the big leagues. Then have been food btaeball slarm who were Indiana or part Indians. Mexican.

Cabana, etc. Chinese Hawaiian tried out for the Giants a few years ago, and would have made the team if he had been able to play a little better ball. But good colored ballplayer aren't elifible: and eo there moat be a lot of possible fans in Harlem who don't step over to the Stadium or the Polo Grounds to baseball When the Daily News declares that good colored ballplayers are not eligible in the big leagues it specifically refers to the ban on Negroes. While Indians and other people classed as colored are priv ileged to play in the National and Amer ican Leagues, citizens of African descent are left on the outside looking in so far as active participation in the game is con cerned. Nevertheless, contests between colored semi professioal teams, whether, staged in the North or South, are invariably at tended by a goodly number of white fans whose presence and unbridled enthusiasm attest their, preference; At a Sunday game between two colored nines, or be tween one colored and one white in Greater New York, usually there are as many white as colored spectators.

An appreci able number of white fans always may be found enjoying themselves under similar circumstances in Chicago, St Louis and Kansas City. Also in (Atlantic City. The absence of colored players from the lineup of major league nines cannot be directly attributed to race prejudice, for they are manifestly popular with the general public. It is another case of the observance of archaic traditions which are out of step with the mood and tempo l3 Xbkh his presence, fui given of (his day and If a more libera attitude is to be shwn toward Negroes on the diamond it will require 6he with the moral courage and determination of a Mugsy" McGraw. A score of years ago Manager McGraw signed a Negro of swarthy complexion by the name 6f Grant wh6 had been a sensation in semi pr6fessi6nal baseball.

thdse days the "visiting teams rode to and from the ball park in buses. It became noised about among the race living in big league cities that Grant was on the Giants and being passed off as an ndian. So elated did some colored fans' become that after each game they as sembled by the hundreds and would fol low the bus for blocks. Manager McGraw was forced to release Grant before the attef had been given an opportunity to prOve his worth. is Sentiment toward giving the Negro a square deal has considerably softened since Manager McGraw tried his brief experiment, and the signing Of a Grant today in all probability would turn out more successful in more ways than one.

In giving serious consideration to what wrong with baseball in the major leagues the hostile attitude of the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals toward colored fans should not be overlooked. A vicious segregation policy has been prac tised to such an extent by the manage ment that self respecting Negroes are re maining away from Sportsman's Park. If visiting teams wonder why business has fallen off and receipts are so small, they should be reminded that while the de pression may be a factor, the Negro boy cott is another. Recent events forecast a brighter day for the Negro in sports and athletics.

Tolan and Metcalfe emerged as the most scintillating of stars of the 1932 Olym piad. Harlem's sensation Renaissance Five have returned from a victorious trip to the South and Middle West, making history in St Louis and Washington by playing and defeating white basketball quints before large crowds. Traditions were shatttered in both cities when the Harlemites met the teams composed of white players. Timely agitation by the Daily News will help' accelerate the movement to give the colored American his rightful place on the baseball diamond and jn other branches of athletics. GOV.

PEARSON'S REPORT. The future of the Virgin Islands takes on a more roseate hue after perusal of Governor Pearson's annual report, which inspires optimism Real progress is being made in putting over a comprehen sive and practical program. There is no recital of major accomplshments, but a summary of the work for the year em bracing legislative, economic, educational and social activities is sufficiently impressive as to create the idea that slowly, but surely, a new day is dawning for the little islands in the West Indies under American rule. Recent action of Congress in making the National Banking Act applicable to tne virgin isainas nas opened the way for the establishment of a new' financial institution to take over the National Bank of the West Indies, which will use Amer ican currency. Included in the 1952 appropriations, $60,000 was set aside for the development of a hotel project Drawings have been made by a noted architect in the United States designed to convert the Blue Beards Castle property into a modern hostelry.

The delightful climate and pic turesque background of St Thomas makes it an ideal year round resort In the spring of 1932 the Central Sugar Factory, idle since 1928, was reopened and successfully operated. The Cattlemen's Cooperative, organized in St Croix, functioned well throughout the year and exported cattle chiefly to Puerto Rico. Bay rum is still the chief export of St Thomas. An industrial alcohol plant on the island of St Croix, which supplies bay rum manufacturers with alcohol has added bay rum to the pther by products, such as sprays and extracts. A New Yorfc manufacturer of hooked rugs has opened a plant in St Thomas.

More than 150 native girls are employed. There are 118 teachers in the public schools, 3,132 pupils, and 1,106 pupils the private schools. A program of adult education is under consideration, aW a plan for. coordinating all educational agencies. No infectious diseases occurred on the islands epidemic form.

Governor Pearson states that the an nual Federal appropriation for the Vir gin Islands is about $400,000. They were bought as a defense investment from the Danes as the key of defense of the Pans ma Canal. The appropriation made for them is less than 23 per cent of the In terest money invested in a battle thfp. Last year Governor Pearson appeared A VALENTINE. Brandford I NOT WOPTM TIC SALT (2 I Ht LOSES Krcsft) miltees for hearings regarding measures relating to the.

is ands, and conferred with seven departments ot the Federal Government and with various bureaus and boards. Eight bills directly affecting the islands were introduced at the first session of the Seventy second Congress and seven were passed. Kaf Aa ff iNaAMS sT asm mmm iriAl Am. il inn Politics either in the United States or on the Virgin Islands should not be permitted to interfere with administrative duties definitely linked with the successful carrying out of the rehabilitation program which is of such vital importance to the welfare present and future of Virgin Island lers. THE AGE READERS' F0RUI.1 Communications addressed to the Editor will be printed la tUi rohmn they bear the name aad address of the writer.

The pinions or theories advanced are tboae of the writer, aad art not to be cooaideied as reflecting the policy of The New York Af. Census Figures Show Only 50,000 Foreign Born Negrces in City I WASHINGTON, D. vTuie New York City hai had a nugiK.ic effect upon the Negro population of tea coast states and the Wett Indies, It appears that Negroes who were born out in the interior, or in tne "Heart of America." do not contri bute greatly to the population growth of the "Negro Mecca, says uuriei E. Hall of the U. S.

Cenwi Bureau, "and contrary to a rather wideipread belief continued Mr. Hall. "Native Amerkam constitute slightly in excess of per cent of the total Negro TcpulltmT of the five Boroughs computing New York City as compared with less than a 17 per cent foreign born population, principally from the West Indies. The population consists of more native born New Yorkers than of people from any other state or foreign country, about 24 per cent of the population having been born in the State of New York. Every state in the Union, and Canada.

Mexico, Central and South America. Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Atlantic Islands and the Pacific 'Islands have contribute to make the Negro population of New York greater than that of any other city in the United States, although it was only about twenty three years ago that Washington, claimed this distinction. Among the states, the heavy contributors, in the ordrr named, are Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland. Pennsylvania and New Jersey but there are more Georgians in Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia than in New Yotk. Native New Yorkers with the Virginians and North and South Carolinians form nearly 56 per cent of the total population.

About sixty per cent of the native sons of New York State prefer Manhattan Borough as a place of residence as do their brothers from Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and other is saodhlf the tea, while the calm and peaceful Brooklyn appears to attract a larger percentage of those from Virginia and South Carolina. But to the natives of Alabama, Arkansai, Louisiana and Mississippi the "Sidewalks of New York' teem to have no special appeal. To them New York is nothing but a filling station if they have an occasion to travel in that direction, on their way to Pius burgh, Cleveland. Detroit and Chicago. Why the nearly thren hundred native Californians deserted their "climate'' for a home in New York; why the Nevadant left Reno, and ethers of the open spaces of Araiona, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington to live among the "Cliff Dwellers" of New York is difficult to understand, unless of course, most of them are actors with engagements on Broadway.

But native New Yorkers are also generally distributed throughout the country. They can be found in all of the large cities North and South and in every state, principally New Terser, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Virginia, fat the order named. Some of them have even forsaken the "Empire State" for Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina. Quite a number have settled in California, but almost as many live in North Carolina while the fewest in number axe located in Idaho. North Dakota and Utah.

In Shis cenneetion it interesting to note that the American Negro now lives in every State and in ninety two per every county jn eighteen states and in all but one in seven states." A Hc5 Necessity Editor The New York Age: Enclosed please find $2.00 for which renew my subscription for an other year service ot your paper. We do not want to miss one copy of The New York Age: our home would have a much ici vacancy without it ywks iv vu4imu ywui (e viutes sjaus; that he uvea in Xashville, lean. P. W. SEWELu Washingtonville, N.

Y. Urge Appcinbest 0( Negro To Dept Of Agricclture Editor ThetNew York Age: The ray of light that has broken through the heavy clouds of bankruptcy overhanging the American farmer finds three quarters of a mil lion Negro farmers of the nation cettimr ready for the passing of the economic storm. In the past they have never been able to secure their share of Federal aid. chiefly because they have been handicapped by the lack of representation in the Federal Department of Agriculture. With the elevation to the presidency of Governor rrinklin V.

Rooseselt, who is pledged to help the "forgotten man help himself, they are seeking representa tion this Department and are urg ing President Elect Roosevelt to appoint Professor. G. R. Bridgefort of Tennessee A. I.

State College as an assitant Secretary of Agriculture, Professor Bridgefort it the only Negro farmer now in public life who possesses the necessary combination of adequate theoretical training, abundant practical experience, and wise and sympathetic understanding of the problems. He it a dirt farmer, born and reared on a farm in limestone County. Ala. Hit early education wat in the schools of Alabama and Tennessee. He finished at Talladega College, Talladega, Ala, and completed the professional course ra agriculture at Massachusetts Agricultural College.

Amherst, Mass, re ceiving his B. a. Degree in lVOl. Marked by his literary and attainments as a promising agriculturist, he was invited by Booker T. Washington to become a member of the, faculty of the Department of Agriculture atTuskegee.

At the end of three years he was made head of this department. Among hit most significant achievements at Tuilctgec were the establishment of the Smith Hughes and the Smith Lever work in the South. At the beginning of the World War he wat ailed by the Government to serve in the Depart' went of Plant Pathology. At the dote of the war he accept ed the presidency of the Industrial ft Educational Institute of Toptka, Kant. During hit administration this institution was greatly expanded and modernized.

While in Kansas he was elected president of the Sunflower Agricultural Association and did much to improve farm conditions in this section of the Middle Wett Moreover, the Educational and Industrial Institute wat atandardiied and became a part of the. public school system of Kansas under the name of the Kansas Vocational School. He left Kansas to carry out long delayed improvements in school and farming conditions in his. home county in Alabama. Professor Brideeforth't long, va rird and successful career has pre.

pared him for that crisis which must end either in emancipating the Ne gro farmer or in leaving him a victim to the twin evils of eviction and starvation. Prof. AS. H. ROBINSON.

i OVER THE WEEKEND With CYRIL A. WILSON IT SEEMS THAT the day of ipectalixation has passed. We art living; in a day Of generalization. By that I mean that there ii hardly anyone today who sticks solely to the one thing he can do beat This is not the result 6f preference, but of force. The depresJton bas made most of us "jacks of all trade." This condition does not confine itself only to the individual Companiei with nationally known reputation for certain classes merchandise or service have had to fall into line in order to survive depression onslaught.

1 Recently I was "window shopping" around New VOrk, and in the display windows that did not carry 6ften, because of our economic limitations, we arc stung in our purchases in such places. The men I consideration ot tne management reading: lis not so much the desire to make Let Will di lit convenient to tne customer, as vide to suit ten it it to add whatever other service Snt" I was, in 'to his business as would enable most instances htm to balance the lots he is sus at a lots as to taining from the diminishing trade the nature of in hit original, special line. rtf. e.iUil!f i' Conditiont like these produce i "nch 11 tSeM The argument a cted lwjl, be br0ui.ht utt thjt the mt. were well rlSSTllSi it L'nun jr more men.

and saw Sva ttmywt 'iil perhaps, even he advanced that the work chanaise. Today, while the firmt Amf name remain the tame, they Li.i tail to tee tnat Because the of rniJchV i k.w Price charged is less, it naturally fi naifinT i at the employees re caTrv on hS "ives lest, while the volume of his it larger. On the other hand tell 'mrh I fc. ter U' story. 1.

ii i 1. i ence, realize the truth its the say. all iiiiuu A i.ikc uriii 1 1 mrii ntiH i stationers located in Nassau street tne fheape." New York. They once specialized inen mamouai in stationers' supplies only. They worker on the outside whose trade did an enormous business in their beeomet lest because of the de line.

But today, if you fainted store aayenisement their ttore while making pitrchas 'hich reads: "Shoes half soled for es. you would have less fear of the cents." He, however, doet not results because you can purchase almost any patent medicine at an other counter in the same tore. And medicines are not the only other addition to their stock. I noticed that the ladies can also purchate dainty, silky underthincs as well. Then there is the department store.

This type of business once lose his customers permanently, because they will be back to tee' him two weeks after the department store has delivered hit poorly done with inferior leather shoes. With individuals the case is sinv' ilar. Many of us have been forced to apply ourtelvei to all sorts of things that are not really in our conveyed to our minds a store aome 01 are na where chiefly clothing and house: a newer interest in things furnishings could be had. But to ''Ie we were capable day Mother gees in through the doing. But many of us are tak basement where she sits for a few of others by pro minutes and has her shoes half icssing so specialize in unci soled.

Then she purchases her the depression is responsible groceries and meats, and goes interest in This at goes through the upper floors for. my opinion, is dishonest her other furnishings. She is not! But whatever the outcome allowed to shop around much these' this "jack of all trades" era, there days. When she goes into the. is one thing certain; a large army basement of any one store the tees, of men will carry on working af everything she needt in that ttore ter the depression wno never before the hat a chance to get out would have worked if the depres on the street again.

I sion hadn't visited us. CO'JIENTS BY THE AGE EDITORS ON SAYINGS OF OTHER EDITORS 1 The Grtttubero Doily Kens, lib eral white daily, takes up the fight started for a more equitable distribution of state funds for Negro schools, which was started by Spaulding, in the following editorial: North Carolina's general assembly will not be offended by the dignified and restrained appeal of Spaulding in behalf of the five negro institutions of this state. But if that address does not sting our legislature into a sense of shame we shall be ready to admit that we don't know our North Carolina These five colleges and normal schools get the munificent total of $106,640 for a year's support, and two of these institutions, Winston Salem Teachers't College and North Carolina College for Negroes at Durham, to say nothing of the work done by our Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro, are grade A institutions. On $3,210 the Winston Salem College is to do the highest grade instruction, and oq $24,170 the North Carolina College for negroes is to meet all the requirements of the grade A rating, There is not an intelligent person alive who believes that it can be done The general assembly could take $100,000, apportion it among these five institutions and than double their effectivenest for the next year. The $100,000 would not be missed from the state't treasury nor Vould it feel such an amount if pitched into the huge hole which North Carolina's negro population did not create.

Some of us North Carolina whites have fancied ourselves very liberal with our black brethren. We art reasonably well satisfied with out general endeavors. We have been disposed to thank God that we are not as Florida and Georgia oppressors of the blacks. We have a new reason for our doxolo today Georgia gives $104,000 and Florida $141,000 to the higher education of the Negro, and we ik him to live and hope on $76,010. It it encouraging to see a white newspaper in the South take up a fight of this kind in behalf of Negro citizent.

However," we'd like to tee the Daily Xeu of Greentboro stretch their liberalitm jutt a little more, to that they could see their way" clear to capitalize the proper name, "Negro" at it a common custom among most of the larger papers cf the country. The Afro American calls Senator Huey Long of Louisiana the common variety of demagogue and gives the following reason: The reason why tome sections of the South are intolerant of our progress hat probably bothered mam Afro readers. Huey Long, Louisiana "Kingfish and U. S. Senator, offert a solution.

In New York, Thursday, he told reporters: "A white man gett worried about money and worries and worries and blows his head off. A Negro gett worried about money and goea to sleep." The theory that the possession or lost of money makes colored people sleepy it not new. is akin to the 1 oft expressed view that the white only, ought to have, money, and when Negroes have it. it should." by 'one wav or another, be taken away from them. Out of that theory comes peonage, 'disfranchisement segregation, poor schools, poor streets, poor housing, no arks and equal taxes.

Huey Longjt a demagogue of common Southern, variety, whose views may start at different locations, but all wind up at the tame place. Senator Long also considers Amos 'n Andy, radio comics, as representa rive of the large majority of Ne jgroes, thus showing himself to be a poor observer at well at a Several of the Negro newspapers last week contained editorial appeals (to aid the Aociation for the Study of Negro Life and History during Negro History Week. The PMaitU Tribune tells how this aid can be given. It says: The work which it done under the direction Dr. Carter G.

Woodson, who gives of his time freely it well known to all who read. It it only necessary, then, to all the attention of the public to the immediate need of the Association to assure support It is economically conducted, ihere is no great need for large contributions. The Association which does a million dollars of work only requires at the present time the very small amount of $7,500.00. It can be easily done if during Negro History Week, which begms February 12ui, each individual would contribute a dime or a dollar. In the event that you are not railed upon by a solicitor to subscribe something to the fund, send your money directly to the Association.

1538 Ninth Street N. Washington. D. In the words of the director. "We keep going the only undertaking of Negroes themselves to document and popularize their history that the race may not become a negligible factor in the thought of the world." While The Age this year, for torn unknown reason, did not receive one of Dr.

Woodson's annual appeals, also think the work he it doing it worthy of public support and urge otf readers to send contributions. We acknowledge with thanks receipt of a new magizine. the UN IAN 1ST, owned by the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Inc, and published fortnightly at Hi West 136th ttreet It it neatly arranged with colored cover and ten pages and contains short and itraight to the point editorials and articles. "The Fresident't Messare" by Dr. Lionel E.

Francis urget all Netroet to unite and strive for their rightful spot hi the tun. "Declare Ourselves, an editorial by the editor, Vere Johns, appeals to hybrid Negroes decide whether they want to be white or black, Dr. Charles Petiwii an Attorney Lester Taylor are other contributors together with several ss teresting features. I II fl.