Russell Resigns As State School President
HALTED BY LACK OF COOPERATION
218 STUDENTS ADDED, BUILDINGS REPAIRED, WITH MONEY FOR MORE BUT EFFORTS REWARDED BY THREAT
TO FORCE HIM OUT, SAYS EDUCATOR
Paducah, April 30--Professor H. C. Russell, President of the West Kentucky Vocational Training School since 1943 announced that he has tendered his resignation to the State Board of Eduction, to become effective at the close of the school year, June 30. In comment, Professor Russell said, "State Superintendent John W. Brooker requested me to accept the position to rescue and reorganize the school which, at that time, had only 23 regular students, buildings in grave state of disrepair, and an annual appropriation of $40,000. "In contrast today," Russell continued, "the enrollment is 301 students, all buildings are in repair, a new building has been added and approximately $120,000 are on hand for buildings. The four year income has exceeded $325,000. The Board and the Division of Vocational Education were helpful toward these results. This done, I turned my efforts to the internal development of the school, including new courses and the erection of much need buildings for which I have the money, only to find myself compleely thwarted by the lack of cooperation of the State Supervisor of Trade and Industrial Education. I have not been permitted even to contact an architect or builder, or to purchase the needed land, although the Board authorized these transactions more than a year ago. Suddenly, without warning or previous complaint my efforts were rewarded by a threat to force me out of my position because I had failed to develop the school. Thereupon, I chose to tender my resignation." President Russell has served in several state and national educational positions, among which are, dean of Kentucky State College, State Director of N. Y. A. for Negroes, President West Kentucky Industrial Col- (Continued on page 4)
Robeson Is Barred
Robeson Barred in Albany, N. Y. Previously Banned By Peoria, Said He'd Be Back; Supports Wallace
DIES FROM CANNED HEAT DRINKING? With a tubful of empty Sterno heat cans as basis for their belief, County medical authorities this week expressed an opinion that Mrs. Lena Robinson, 50, 1110 West Madison, died early Sunday morning as a result of drinking canned heat. The tub of poisonous beverage cans was found under the bed of the dead woman. Austin Fleet, Jeffersontown, told the corner's office that he and Mrs. Robinson had been drinking the Saturday night before her death. She became violently ill and delirious, dying before he could get her to the hospital, the witness said. Interment was in the Louisville Cemetery Tuesday, April 29, with the Burns Funeral Home officiating. - World War II veterans now may name anyone they choose as beneficiaries of their National Service Life Insurance policies. In 1935 there were approximately 190 Federal agencies; today there are approximately 1,150.
AT THE BEECHER TERRACE HOUSING FORUM [Photo] In the above picture are principals at the Mayor's Emergency Housing Committee's public forum held at Beecher Terrace, Friday night of last week. From left to right: M. M. Bonner, A. D. Doss, Charles Steele, J. E. Harris, J. R. Ray, Judge Roscoe R. Dalton, State Director of the Federal Housing Administration, speaking; Nichols R. Doster, local director; Mayor E. Leland Taylor and E. E. Pruitt, manager, Beecher Terrace.
CONGRESS OF PARENT-TEACHERS HOLDS 24TH ANNUAL SESSION By Mamie B. Covington With more than a hundred delegates in attendance, the sixty-eight of them from out in the state, the twenty-fourth annual session of the Kentucky Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers was held three days last week at the West Chestnut Street Baptist Church, Louisville. Centered around the theme, "Looking Back at Our Accomplishments, We Behold the Present and Future," the organization passed several measures for the betterment of Kentucky homes and schools. The group voted to support the movement for the revision of the state constitution in any way possible, and disseminating information through the local P.T.A.'s. The rehabilitation program for handicapped persons of Kentucky, presented by Lindsay Allen, was endorsed by the congress, and two scholarships were awarded from the Mack-Glass-Sloan Scholarship Fund. Highlight of the meeting was the Founders' Day banquet on Friday night, with H. C. Russell, president of the West Kentucky Vocational Training School as guest speaker. Mr. Russell outlined the founding and developments of the congress. Also giving parts of the history of the organization was the historian, Mrs. Sadie Turner of Danville. Tributes to the national and state founders were paid by past presidents. Mesdames Ora K. Glass and Patsie E. Sloan. A panel on "The Exceptional Child" with audience participation was led by Dr. G. D. Wilson of the faculty of the Louisville Municipal College, and Miss Maude E. Brown, assistant principal, Central High School, and Miss Teresa E. Bullock, teacher, Jackson Junior High School, as speakers, and another panel on "Parental Delinquency" with Mrs. Hortense Perry, Louisville visiting teacher, and Mrs. Cora Desha Barnett, social worker at the Children's Center, as speakers. On the opening night the president, Mrs. Minnie J. Hitch, Kentucky State College, Frank- (Continued on page 4)
ALICE ALLEN IS SORORITY SPEAKER The Sigma Chapter of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority presented an interesting program at the Y.W.C.A., Thursday night, April, 24, with Mrs. Alice Allen of Birmingham, Ala., national president, as the principal speaker. In a well prepared and forcefully delivered address, Mrs. Allen gave a most splendid and highly informative narrative of the contribution which women had made to the economic, educational and general civic progress of the race and nation under the theme of the meeting, "Business on Parade." Presided over by Ms. Anna J. Hughes, president of the Louisville chapter, the following were introduced for remarks and greetings: I. Willis Cole, president, Falls City Chamber of Commerce; Miss Loraine Craig, Mammoth Life Insurance Co.; Mrs. Sophia Smith, Cosmotologists; C. L. Scott, Atlanta Life Insurance Co., with response by Mrs. Mayme H. Brock.The speaker was introduced by Mrs. Minnie H. Cooper. Other introductions were made by Mrs. Mary A. Geer. Music was furnished by "The Jordanettes", under the direction of Mrs. Iola Acton. Refreshments and social hour followed the program. - PUBLISHER AT RED CROSS I. Willis Cole, publisher of The Leader, underwent a serious eye operation at Red Cross Hospital, Tuesday.
Former Correspondent First Separated
Race Group Well Represented Among Red Cross Contest Winners
SPEAKER [Photo] Dr. J. E. Walker President of Universial Life Insurance Company and an early graduate of Alcorn A. and M. College, Mississippi, will deliver the Founders' Day address at the institution Monday, May 5.
Asks "Red" Charge Retraction
JUDGE REBUKES WHITE ATTORNEY Repeated use of the word, N....r, brought a judicial reprimand for Edmond R. Ogden, w., attorney, in police court Tuesday morning, April 29. Acting Judge Guy W. Shearer warned the attorney that such language was offensive to the court and unbecoming to a member of the Bar Association, after C. Ewbanks Tucker, Negro attorney, lodged a verbal protest with the court. Ogden's use of the word came after he listened to a morals charge answered by a white and Negro man. The white attorney was dumbfounded to learn that the white man was the aggressor in an act of perversion. A reliable source declared that several Negro runners, who work with Ogden, told him that they were not going to solicit any more cases for him.
Willie Francis Loses Fight To Chair the Second Time Life Sentence Refused Again; "I've Got to Die," Says Youth
NAACP Branches Topping Quotas
Offensive News Story Regretted
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