PETRIE OUSTED; NO REPLACEMENT John Petrie, who for many years has been the recognized leader of the Negro Democratic contingency in Louisville and Jefferson County, was dropped as chairman of the Colored Organization at the meeting of the Democratic County Executive Committee Wednesday night. Petrie, who has been the "cog in the wheel" in getting out the colored vote which has contributed largely to the Democrats success over the years, was given the gate following the letting out of John F. Dugan, organization chairman, who was recently succeeded by John W. Crimmins. The sad differential, however, is the fact that at Democratic Headquarters, it is reportedly said that Petrie will not be replaced, "that the weak Negro Democratic vote in the last three elections wasn't working." This, despite the fact that it had been rumored during the week that Petrie would be given the "go" and would be succeeded by L. L. Olive, another hard-working race Democrat, formerly a detective in the Commonwealth attorney's office. For the past few years there has been some opposition to the leadership of Petrie among Negro Democratic leaders. They wanted and demanded Petrie's scalp, and it seems that Tuesday night they got that and more from the white Democratic bosses, who are reported as saying that from now on the organization work in the Negro wards will be handled directly from party headquarters. Petrie, who controlled the "juke box" industry in Louisville's Negro joints and elsewhere, is said to be well protected against hunger or thirst.
GEORGE ROBINSON IS SECOND OF FAMILY TO DIE WITHIN FIVE WEEKS George F. Robinson, Jr., the second son of Mr. and Mrs. George F. Robinson, Sr., to succumb within five weeks, died at his home in Chicago Sunday, January 19, at 7:30 a. m. His body was brought home for burial Tuesday. Funeral services were held at the Robinson home, 2332 West Chestnut Street, Wednesday at 2:30 p. m., with Rev. W. Augustus Jones, pastor of the Fifth Street Baptist Church, officiating. The J. B. Cooper Funeral Home had charge of funeral arrangements and burial was in Louisville Cemetery. Robinson, who held an A.B. and a Master's degree from Northwestern University, was a graduate of Central High School here and formerly taught political science and economics at the Louisville Municipal College. He had also been an instructor at Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo., and at the West Virginia State College. Having gone to Chicago with the War Labor Board during the war, Robinson at the time of his death was studying law at the University of Chicago. He, however, had not been well for several months. Having suffered a heart attack some time ago, he died from an attack of pneumonia, following the death of his brother Carl. Survivors, besides his parents, are his wife, who was Miss Arabella Gross of Iowa City, Ia.; brother, Dr. Adam Robinson, Louisville physician now studying in Baltimore, Md. Carl Robinson, brother of George and prominent music instructor at Howard University and of private students, died last month in Washington, D. C., (Continued on page 4) --- FATAL SHOOTING AT TOP HAT TAVERN The Top Hat Tavern, 1210 W. Walnut, owned by Robert Williams, well known as "Rivers," was the scene of a murder early Sunday morning when William W. Van Dyke, 28, 1210 Walnut, rear, was shot and killed by Russell Gregory, 24, 520 S. Sixth, a bartender at the Top Hat. According to Gregory, the shooting was the result of an argument which Van Dyke began at 2 a. m. when the tavern was about to close. The victim was shot six times after he had struck the bartender and started behind the counter, according to the report In Police Court, Monday, Gregory was held on a murder charge without bond.
89 GET CENTRAL HIGH DIPLOMAS - AMONG THE HONOR GRADUATES [Photo] In the above picture, Yancey Altsheler, member of the Louisville Board of Education, is presenting Central High School diplomas to two honor graduates, Harold K. Smith, center, 937 S. Preston, who was winner of the Principal's Citizenship Medal, and Miss Fern Lampkins, 213 E. Ormsby, winner of the Louisville Leader Effort Medal. - THEME IS, NEW WORLD, NEW TASKS - SAYS WAR AGAINST GREED, IGNORANCE AND PREJUDICE AMONG TASKS AHEAD Eighty-nine Central High School graduates were presented diplomas by Yancey Altsheler, member of the Louisville Board of Education, at Halleck Hall Tuesday night. The theme of the midyear commencement exercise was "New World--New Tasks." The speakers were Miss Mary Nichols, 3324 Greenwood, valedictorian, who spoke on "Youth and the World Tomorrow"; Gertrude Gordon, 1148 Cedar Court, salutatorian, on "Home Life, a Bond of Strength," and Gladys Edwards, 708 East Caldwell, third honor student, whose subject was "The Minority Question, the Key to the Future." Miss Edwards in the course of her oration said that "the Christian hope of our nation and the world is a social order where justice is practiced, love is possible, and philanthropy is unnecessary. The key to a just and prosperous future in America and the world depends on the ability of the great leader to work out a plan for the just treatment of minority groups. In her valedictory, Miss Nichols said, "The tasks ahead call for a war against greed, ignorance and prejudice. The soldiers of peacetime are the youth of today, who in order to assume their rightful place in the world of tomorrow must be physically, intellectually and spiritually prepared." "The influence of the home has long been recognized as a powerful force in the life of the (Continued on page 4)
MAMMOTH HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Mammoth Life and Accident Insurance Company was held in the home office, Louisville, Tuesday, January 14. Opening the meeting, W. C. Buford, chairman, said that "notwithstanding the unsettled economic condition of the world during the readjustment period of peace which is taxing the minds of international leaders, and the serious threat to our domestic welfare by strikes, threatened walkouts, the gyrations of securities day after day manifested in Wall Street, our company had an experience in 1946 which we trust will meet your approval." The report of the secretary, J. E. Hawkins, and treasurer, L. T. Duncan, showed an increase in both income and new business. In his report, A. D. Doss, president, called the stockholders' attention to the fact that the premium income of the company was over one and a half million dollars and that the 25 per cent increase in production was evidence that the field force, including agents, superintendents and managers gave a splendid account of their stewardship during 1946. Doss commended the Board of Directors, officers and stockholders for their splendid cooperation during 1946, and announced a dividend of 4 per cent to stockholders of record as of December 31, 1946. -- SERIOUS HOUSING SITUATION TOLD Mayor E. Leland Taylor told the approximately 400 citizens, who attended the Louisville area's building, developers and financial organizations in mass meeting at the Clarksdale Community Center Wednesday, that Louisville is going through a crisis in housing and that the situation is getting worse, if anything, both for veterans and citizens. Joseph R. Ray, real estate dealer who represented the colored veterans, said in the course of his talk that there had been only 250 family units for Negro residence constructed in the past ten years, far under the growth of the Negro population. Ray suggested the development of three tracts of land adjacent to Negro residential areas at once to house some 300 colored families.

CONDEMNED SECOND TIME TO DIE IN ElECTRIC CHAIR IN LOUISIANA