Newspaper Page Text
78 PUBLIC CONTINUOUS YEARS SERVICE OF auatutalv iriltunf OF THE THE SAVANNAH LAST ISSUE TRIBUNE
VOLUME LXXVIII ADams 4-3432 savannah, Georgia SATURDAY, SEPT. 24, I960 PRJCE 10c NUMBER 51
THE END OF THE SAVANNAH TRIBUNE
AND OUR EDITORIAL DAYS
By Willa Ayers Johnson
It was in the late Spring of this year
that we realized that a great change had
to be made in the Savannah Tribune.
Several unsuccessful attempts were made
to sell this newspaper. Finally, the deci¬
sion was made that the September 24th
issue was to be the last issue of the
Savannah Tribune, the oldest Negro pa¬
per in America in continuous existence,
and it was to be our last official act as
editor to discontinue the paper. It was
a difficult but necessary decision.
While thinking over the problems of
the Tribune, we pulled from the over¬
crowded drawers of our desk an old issue
of the paper. Turning the pages, there
on the editorial page in the masthead
was our name. The year was 1943, and
scanning through the rest of the paper,
the memories began to crowd our mind.
As we continued to read, the many prob¬
lems which have puzzled and baffled one
who had no knowledge of newspaper
work, prior to joining the staff of the
paper in 1943, paraded across our desk
and reminded us once again of the inev¬
itability of our decision.
What are the problems which have
beseiged the Tribune? They have been
■many, but the most formidable are the
following: We have been faced with the
rising cost of production;'a lack of train¬
ed personnel; a small number of advanced
paid subscribers (300), newsstands sales
averaging 250, counter sales averaging
50, and street sales averaging 1,500 in
community of 60,000 Negroes; and in¬
adequate advertising revenue.
As we examine the record, The Sa¬
vannah Tribune has been A (IREAT TA¬
PER FOR A GREAT PEOPLE. The
Tribune has championed “Freedom of
the Press,” and has presented all ques¬
tions affecting the Negro people of Sa¬
vannah. It has consistently ctried out
against the inequalities and injustices
suffered by the Negro people. It has
deplored mediocrity in Negro education.
It has presented news about the obscure
and the famous Negro in the Savannah
Community. It has espoused life in dig¬
nity for the Negro people. It has faced
the challenge of the "New Age” and the
“New Negro” and has championed the
cause of the sit-ins, the kneel-ins and the
wade-ins as being morally right. It has
promoted the principles of Christianity
and envisioned an age of faith. Since
1875 it has been the voice of the Negro
people in war and peace.
Looking back through the years,
many memories and friends are recalled,
many of which are valued greatly today.
We are sincerely grateful to our loyal
staff members: Mrs. Mary E. Brocking-
ton, receptionist; Miss Edrina L. Slater,
typist and proof-reader; Charles A. Sim-
anorj, foreman of the composing room;
Wesley Young, pressman; Stafford D.
Bisard, linotype operator; and Ezra John¬
son, my husband, who has given moral
support since 1951.
We are also grateful to the many de¬
voted friends of the Tribune who have
expressed kind words of concern regard¬
ing the fate of the paper.
Last, but not least, we are grateful to
our benefactor, the late Sol C. Johnson,
who gave us the opportunity of serving
our fellowman through The Savannah
Tribune and to Col. John II. DeVeaux
who started the paper in 1875.
Since the days of John B. Russwurm,
the first (1827) Negro publisher, there
has been a dire need lor the Negro Tress.
The Savannah Tribune has tried to ful¬
fill this need. Our predecessor, the dis¬
tinguished owner, editor and publisher
of The Savannah Tribune, the laic S'>1
C. Johnson, and the writer have striv¬
en to publish the paper in keeping with
the creed of the Negro Press:
“ I shall be a MIRROR AND A
RECORD—a MIRROR f our exist¬
ence as it is and a RECORD of our
strivings to better that lot. I can¬
not deny or overlook my people' ;
vices and shortcomings. Neither
will 1 permit their virtues and good
attributes to be hidden or denied.
“I shall have integrity and I will
not be bought. I shall be beholden
to no man or class, because 1 ain the
voice of all my people ...”
MRS. M0NTEGUT, MANAGER OF LOUISIANA
WEEKLY, DIES SUDDENLY AT HER DESK
NEW ORLEANS, (ANP) -
Death came suddenly last week
to Mrs. Mildred Montegut, for
32 years business manager for the
Louisiana Weekly, leading weekly
publication in New Orleans and in
Louisiana.
Mr . Mont* rut, victim of a heart
ricken at her desk,
gut was prominent
1 church, civic and
. and the wife of
,K ' n ’ 1,1 was,
Dr. Ferdinand Montegut, Sr. She
" a ' the mother of Dr. Ferdi¬
nand Montegut, Jr. and Mrs. Ann¬
ette Dumas of Los Angeles. She
was the former Mi, s Mildred Veal,
SSC Announces
Faculty Additions
Dr. W. K. Payne, president of
Savannah State College, announces
that there have been three addi¬
tions to the College family for
the current school year.
To the Department of Fine Arts
comes Samuel Gill, a native of Sa¬
vannah. Mr. Gill graduated from
Savannah State College with the
B. S. in Music, and has done giad-
uate work at Atlanta University
and Columbia University. He has
been band director at Sophronia
Tompkins and Beach High Schools.
James Thompson, Jr., a native
of Wilmington, North Carolina
and also an instructor in the De¬
partment of Fine Arts, received
the B. A. degree in Music at North
Carolina College in Durham, N. C.
Mr. Thompson received the M.A.
degree in Music Education at th
University of Michigan, Ann Ar¬
bor, Michigan. He has had ex¬
perience in the elementary and
high schools of North Carolina
and Virginia, Philander Smith
College in Little Rock, Arkansas,
and St. Paul’s College in l.aw-
renceville, Virginia. He is a mera-
(Continued on Page Six. (Continued on Page Six)
NAACP HOLDS 21 MEETING;
ELECTION EVALUATED
Continuing its war on segrega¬
tion, the Savannah Branch of the
NAACP licid its 27th Sunday
at ter noon mass meeting at St.
j Paul's CiVLE Church on Sept. 18.
W. W. Law, president of the
Savannah Branch of the NAACP,
opened the meeting with the sing¬
ing of the Negro spiritual, “Guide
My Feet,” followed by Rev. George
Walker, pastor of Asbary Metho¬
dist Church, giving the invoca¬
tion. The pastor of the host
ehuich, Rev. W. L. Hightower,
served as moderator of tiie meet¬
ing.
I he Rev. P. A. Patterson, chair¬
man of the Legal Redress Com¬
mittee, related his experiences of
tiaveling across the country dur¬
ing his summer vacation. ‘We are
not fighting alone in our battle
against segregation. God has
raised allies to assist us in this
great battle,’’ Rev. Patterson stat¬
Chicago Cops
Gambling
Operated As
Mr. Freeman Appointed
Manager of Lena
Horne’s Cosmetics
m
FRANK FREEMAN
Lena Horne’s Cosmetics,
cated at 458-B West Broad
recently appointed Bavannah
own Frank Frank Freeman Freeman as as
manager, Mr. Freeman will
in charge of all sales
with the assistance of
five or more sales agents, who
wili in the near future make
visit to your -home.
The new sales manager will
center his attention on the
tomer Home Party where
Lena Horne Party Girl, will
demonstrate the many pro¬
ducts for your beauty
i (CoutUiued uu Page ESghW
Bus “Sit-In” Leader To
Speak at NAACP Meet
SILAS NORMAN, JR.
One of the South’s most mil¬
itant youth leaders will be the
featured speaker for the Sun¬
day afternoon NAACP mass
meeting, according to W. W.
Law, the branch president.
Silas Norman, Jr., outstand-
j ing student leader at Paine
College ;n Augusta, will address
the public meeting Sunday
ter noon, September 25, at
o'clock sharp at Tremonl lew
pie Baptist Church, Park Ave.
and West Broad street, Rev.
J. M. Benton, pastor.
Mr. Norman was one of the
ed. “When. I was in New York
ity, 1 purchased several southern
papers, and I discovered that Ne¬
groes are fighting segregation all
over this country. I Ins is God’s
fight, and he is going to bring
about a change. Savannah is re
ceiving more publicity regarding
the Negroes fight in Savannah.”
Wherever Rev. Patterson traveled,
people ivcie talking about the Sa-
vannah story Driving into a fill-
mg station, an attendant told him
that " Lou are from Savannah, well
we are proud of you people in
Savannah.”
Rev. Patterson said with regard
to the wade-ins, that the story of
this fight by our youngsters has
gone around the world. A picture
appeared in a Sydney, Australia
newspaper. When the 3tory is
written about the fight for free¬
dom, great names from Savannah
vcootunied on Page Eight-
Raid
That
Office
CHICAGO, (ANP) —
conducting a huge gambling
ness operating behind the
table facade of a loan
on Chicago's south side were evi¬
dently watching the wrong figuies
last week.
police believe the men must have
been so entranced by the fat fig¬
ure: on their ledger:-, they failed
to observe the figures of several
bum a:.J workmen in the neigh¬
borhood.
The bums and workmen were
really disgui-ed police
working under the command of
Police Lt. William Graham who
kepi the place under surveillance
for more than a week before stag¬
ing a raid.
Crashing through the doors of
the Panama Loan company, the
police rdhhed James Irving, 48
and hi- brother, George, 53, whom
they de-cribed as kingpins in a
I major policy operation, and a $10,
090 h week sweepstakes game with
j approximately 5,000 -customers.
Graham -aid the Baltimore and
Ohio wheel was operated under
name of the Panama Finance
r,,n >pary and had been under sur-
ve j|i aii ,.,. {,„■ a week,
Five phones in the building were
used to conduct business with at
least 5,000 customers a week, Gra-
ham said. Lottery slip:;, some
| money, and a floor safe were seiz-
“4.
Graham sai<1 (hp M op ,. raW
a wwkly ?10>000 aww>p , te kes
j based on race track receipts.
Also arrested in the raid were
Sajidv Walbom, 24, and Fred Gail-
(Continued on Page Eight)
NAACP HAILS MOVE
TO ASSURE RIGHT
TO VOTE IN TENN.
NEW YORK — Justice Depart¬
ment action to assure the right of
Negroes to vote in Haywood Coun¬
ty, Tenn., “should aid greatly in
wiping out the scandalous dis¬
franchisement of Negro citizens in
certain areas of the South,”
NAACP leader Roy Wilkins de-
| clared this week.
In a statement issued here Mr.
Wilkins said: “The NAACP is
gratified to learn of action by
Attorney General William P.
Rogers to assure the right of
Negroes to vote in Haywood Coun¬
ty, Tenn. The attorney general's
action is evidence of the federal
government’s commitment to this
fundamental citizenship right.”
In filing a civil complaint with
the Federal District Court at Mem¬
phis, Tenn., Sept. 13, the Justice
Department accused 27 merchants
and two banks of coercion and
conspiracy to bar Negroes from
voting in Tennessee and is seeking
injunctive relief against further
coercive and discriminatory acts.
The move was the first of its
kind under the 1057 Civil Rights
jAct. As far back as 1938 the NAACP
s0U K ht lo encourage registration
* nd b > Negroes in Haywood
' County, They had not been allow¬
ed the ballot since the Reconstruc¬
tion era.
The founder and first president
of the NAACP branch in Browns¬
ville, Tenn. (Haywood County),
Ollie Bond and six other Negro
leaders were run out of town by a
mob of whites in 1938 for urging
Negroes to register and vote.
Another, Elbert Williams, was
lynched.
It was not until May, 19(50 that
under federal intervention Negroes
were permitted to register in Hay¬
wood County, Tenn., for the first
time snice the 1870's.
However, they have done so at
the risk of intimidation and phy-
iContinued on Page Six)
Food, Clothing and Cash Pour into
j La. to Aid Children
!
BAPTIST CONVENTION DIRECTORS ISSUE
By T. J. JEMISON
Secretary, Board of Directors
National Baptist Convention
LLS.A., Inc.
PHILADELPHIA, (ANP) —
The Board of Directors in a special
executive meeting Fiiday, Sept. 9
voted unanimously to sustain the
official vote (by voice) of approxi¬
mately 3500 for Dr. J. H Jackson
as president of the National Bap¬
tist Convention, and about 500 for
the candidate Dr. Gardner C. Tay¬
lor.
They also condemned as unoffi¬
cial, erroneous and un-constitu-
tional the voting of a special meet
ing held by the so-called “Taylor
Team” during the lunch hour ori
Thursday, Sept. 8 while moat of
the delegates were out of the build
ing. The Board of Directors re¬
vealed that according to the cre¬
dentials committee that there are
about 5200 registered delegate
and any candidate receiving 18W1
votes could not in any wise he
declared the choice of the conven¬
tion.
On Saturday the new board of
directors which had been elected
I by the convention the day before
organized and elected the follow¬
ing officers: President J. H. Jack-
son as chairman, Dr. T. J. Jamison
as secretary. With the vote of
the convention by such a wide
margin, and with the new board
electing Dr. J. H. Jackson as it-
Chairman, it will not he necessary
for any civil court to deteirnine
who is the president of the Na¬
tional Raptist Convention, U.S .A ,
Inc. 7 he delegates have decided
it and the board of directors have
re-affirmed it. Until next Sep¬
tember the board of directors will
he in complete charge of the pro¬
perty holdings, with the power to
complete any unfinished business
of the convention and to fill any
vacancies which may occur in the
.Continued on Page Four;
Mr. Young Is New
Principal of Trade School
Robert A. Young
Appointment of Robert A.
Young, principal in the Chatham
County system and the Harris
Area Trade School, was announced
recently by D. Leon McCormac,
superintendent of the Board of
Education.
Mr. Young holds a B.S. degree
from Savannah State College and
M.S, degree from Cornell Univer¬
sity,
He entered the Chatham County
school system in 1940 as an Agri¬
cultural teacher at Haven Home
School and remained in that posi¬
tion until 1959, when he went to
the Alfred E. Beach High School,
assuming duties in the same ca¬
pacity.
His early administrative offices
include principal of the Pin Point
Adult Night School, principal arid
teacher of the Ailirigton Vocation¬
al High School, Arlington, Geor¬
gia, and supervisor of the O.S.Y.A.
National Defense Program.
Other affiliations and awards
include founding of the Muiitgom-
e.y dedicated Community^ in llouae^ which
1 Continued on Page F'ouri
Drive Launched to Enroll
1,000,000 Negro Voters
NEW YORK — A nationwide
non-partisan campaign to register
an additional 1,000,900 Negro
voters between now and Election
Day, Nov. 8, was launched here
this week with the hacking of a
score of Negro leaders under the
chairmanship of A. Philip Ran¬
dolph, vice piesident of the AFL-
CIO.
Announcement of the campaign
was made at a news conference
here on Sept. 14 hy Roy Wilkins,
NAACP executive secretary and
the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., president of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference,
who, together with Mr. Randolph,
initialed the movement. The labor
leader was unable to attend the
conference because of union bus'i-
ness elsewhere.
A call to Negro Americans issu¬
ed by the group noted that “in
parts of our Country fort e and
violence bar out path to the polls.
Elsewhere, nothing but apathy
pi events us from registering and
voting. We will rievei he truly
fioc until we shake this apathy
and de-troy these bars.”
Notice
Dea. John Mines wishes It to
be known that he did not au¬
thorize his name to be used on
a handbill which was passed
out during the recent Political
Campaign. This handbill was
produced ana pasred out under
the name Political Guidance
Committee endorsing certain
candidate:: for public office.
Wake Up Savannah!
The Tribune Closes!
Bv Wilton C. Scott
Wall Street Journal Fellow
Columbia InivwrsHy's Summer
Session
It is time for Savannah to
awake and move forward in
public opinion. The story about
the Savannah Tribune's closing
is shocking and makes a prac¬
ticing Journalist sad and tear¬
ful. There are several factors
contributing to the end of the
Savannah Tribune, the Nation's
oldest Negro Weekly.
One must remember that a
Newspaper is a business and
can not operate continuously
in the red The Tribune serves
other Negro population within
one hundred miles of Savan¬
nah. It is obvious that it must
be the voice of more than one
hundred thousand people. In
the Savannah area there are
approximately sixty thousand
Negroes. The complacency Is
very pronounced with 125 paid
city subscriptions to the Tri¬
bune, and 175 out of town.
How could the’ citizens expect
the Tribune to continue?
Having made careful studies
this summer of necessities fur
Journalism, this writer feels
that he owes it to the
nlty to call upon the citizens
to rise up from their sleep and
grow in every aspect of life. In
addition to the three hundred
subscriptions, two hundred and
fifty arc sold on Newsstands, 50
counter sales and fifteen hun¬
dred street sales totaling only
2,100 papers purchased for more
than one thousand educators,
several thousand college, sec •
ondary, and elementary stu-
of ministers,
I several thousand parents work¬
ing at various skilled and seml-
■MISS GDDPLOE ENROLLS AT
'ASSAR —Miss Betty Jo Goodioe,
daughter of Mr, and Mrs. J. W.
Goodioe of Durham, is shown with
her father as they leave this week
for Vassal - in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Betty Jo, valedictorian of the
Hillside High School, Durham, N.
C., class of 1960, is the first Hill¬
side graduate to be accepted at
Vassar. She was also accepted at
Mount Holyoke and received
ccholarehipa to Lpcltuan College
skilled occupations, several hun¬
dreds employed in buslnea* or
operating same. Savannah ha*
nearly 10,000 Negro voters piu#
an additional 10,000 who are el¬
igible to vote.
It Is tne desire of this writer
to be impartial and ask the cit-
taens. What are we going to
do about the oldest Weekly in
America being closed?"
Tears ran down the wrlter'a
face as he examined the Tri¬
bune's records and found 4
schools subscribing, 9 minia-
ttra, 25 teachers and principals,
and a handful of profeswonal
and business men. It is a cer¬
tainty that Savannah's pisd*
will awake the citizens, PTAa,
Social clubs, Churches, educa¬
tional inatltutions, Fraternities,
Sororities, Secret Orders, pro¬
fessional and Business mea,
high school and college stu¬
dents.
It Is true that a amall rep¬
resentation from all groups is
among the 1500 buying from,
the carrier#. However, Tho
Tribune sold just enough pa¬
pers to pay for the compoal-
tion which does not include
newsprint and other labor.
In an exclusive interview with
Mis. Willa Ayers Johnson, the
publisher, general manager and
editor, it was Jparned that she
also helps to operate the Du¬
plex printing press and as¬
sists with the make-up of th#
Newspaper. She also soraptlee
a weekly society column. Mr*.
Johnson is a near genius. Her
husband, Bzra Johnson, who is
a real estate broker, givaa mor¬
al support. What a job the John¬
sons and their small ataff of
(Continued on Page Eight.
NEW ORLEANS, (ANP) —
Food, clothing and cash war* pour¬
ing into Louisiana last week from
U.S. and abroad to aid th* 6,00(>
unwed mothers and 23,000 father-
le children purged from the re¬
lief rolls by recent *egi#g*t«o«ist
legislation.
Meanwhile there was world wide
disapproval of the action taken
admittedly a* a reprisal for grow¬
ing Negro militantcy.
However, Mary E. Parker, elate
commissioner of welfare said that
• Continued on Page Eight)
tv M.
I
and Hampton Institute. Sh* wa*
the recipient of the Mathematics
and English award* and wo* th*
seventh place Leadership Award in
the National Thota McAn contaat.
Betty Jo reigned as “Miss Hill¬
side” for 1959-1960. At Vassar,
she plans to major in Mathe¬
matics.
Mr. Goodioe is vice president
.and secretary of North Carolina
Mutual Life Insurance Company.