The Gazette

CAUGHT "FLATFOOTED"!

When Councilman Russell S. Brown brought up his resolution, in the caucus of Republican members of the City Council, to open the local City Hospital to our girls, desiring to become trained nurses, and to our internes, Councilman Gregg objected to it saying that it was not time to expect our girls to train for nurses with white girls at that public institution. What do you think of that? Our boys and girls have been studying and training together in the public institutions of this city for more than fifty years.

Brown is also alleged to have said that Gregg asked that what was said in that meeting would not be repeated on the outside and that he (Brown) refused to accede to Gregg's request. The following letters are pertinent and self-explanatory.

Cleveland, Apr. 6th, '29.

Hon. Harry C. Smith,

Editor Gazette, Cleveland. O.

Dear Sir:—I am somewhat surprised to read your editorial "Not Time" of April 6th publication, an absolutely false statement accredited to me and by Rev. Russell S. Brown. It will be hard for me to believe that Rev. Brown reported such a falsehood, for I have high regard for him as a Christian gentleman.

I believe that no man has labored harder for negro advancement in Cleveland than I, and yet I wish to add that I have more confidence in moral suasion and diplomacy as methods of achievement than radicalism.

Very truly yours,

E. J. Gregg, M. D.

Councilman Gregg says he didn't say it, while Councilmen Brown and George say he did. The difference is only a question of veracity between the gentlemen named, with two against one. Therefore, the preponderance of evidence is against Gregg.

If Gregg has ever "labored hard for 'Negro' advancement in Cleveland" we have failed to learn of it, tho we have watched his career here ever since he landed from "down home".—Editor.

Brown Says Gregg Said It.

Cleveland, O. April 9, '29.

Hon. Harry C. Smith.

Editor Gazette, Cleveland. O.

Dear Sir:—I appreciate your calling me over the telephone and apprising me of that part of Dr. Gregg's letter to you which refers to me. I did not give you the information which was the basis of your editorial but I presume you got it from some one who had talked with me about the matter.

First, let me give you the "heart" of the resolution referred to:

"That a special committee of three members of this Council, to be appointed by the mayor, is hereby authorized and directed to investigate the operation of the City Hospital and any contracts of the city with any institutions or agencies with a view of ascertaining whether full and equal opportunities are accorded all citizens for training in medical and nursing professions".

This was discussed in a meeting among a number of friends. It was at that meeting that Dr. E. J. Gregg opposed the resolution on the ground that it was untimely; that there existed an organization of white nurses which would not allow their members to work with colored nurses, and if we tried to force colored girls into the City Hospital it might disrupt the morale of the entire hospital.

I maintained then, as I do now, that an official investigation and report on the matter will give us a basis on which to work. It is both timely and right to open the City Hospital to our boys and girls. This is as near as it is humanly possible to quote the facts.

The doctor (Gregg) and I were not the only members of our race present. Atty. Clayborn George, councilman, was also present. Please call him and ask him to relate what he understood Dr. Gregg to say. Mr. George favored the resolution, as did most persons present.

Very truly yours,

Russell S. Brown.

George Also Says Gregg Said It.

Cleveland, April 9. '29.

Hon. Harry C. Smith,

Editor Gazette, Cleveland, O.

Dear Mr. Smith:—In answer to your inquiry over the telephone, today, with reference to statements made by Dr. E. J. Gregg, I wish to advise that I was present at a meeting where a proposed resolution of Rev. Russell Brown was being discussed. This resolution in substance asked for an investigation on the part of the City Council of the City Hospital with reference to equal opportunities being furnished to all people for the training of nurses and internes. According to my best recollection, Dr. Gregg said that the American Association of Nurses of New York and Philadelphia objected to the training of white and colored nurses in the same hospital, and because of the attitude of the American Nurses' Association he thought the resolution was untimely. He further said that if colored nurses were placed into the City Hospital it would destroy the morale of and affect seriously the services rendered there, and for that reason he was opposed to the placing of colored nurses in the City Hospital. Dr. Gregg further said that he did not believe that this would be true with reference to colored internes. He was also opposed to the resolution because he felt that more could be accomplished by working quietly than by giving publicity to it.

Hoping this may give you the information desired, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Clayborne George.

Gregg's reasons for opposing the admission of our girls in the nursing school at the City Hospital are simply ridiculous and a rank insult to all of our people of this community.—Editor.

GO BACK "HOME" GREGG!

Councilman E. J. Gregg is opposed to our people exercising their citizen rights in a public institution supported by the taxpayers of the community, among whom we number thousands, because organized prejudiced white nurses "would not work with our nurses", he says, and because "forcing our girls into the City Hospital nurse-school might disrupt the morale of the entire hospital," he continues.

Now, really can you believe that a sane member of the race, a doctor and a city councilman, too, could possibly deliver himself, in this day and time and in this city, of such rot, and, too, in the presence and hearing of white colleagues, members of the Cleveland City Council?

O, Lord God of Hosts, have mercy!

"We should worry" whether prejudiced white nurses worked with ours or not, and whether "the morale of the entire City Hospital" was "disrupted" or not! As far as the former are concerned, "we don't give a darn", and as for the latter, if any persons are to worry about that "morale" let the public's servants in charge of City Hospital, who are paid by the taxpayers thousands of whom are our people, do it. And we are not so sure there would be any, when those nurses or others at the hospital, who are prejudiced, were told they could stay or go, as they saw fit.

Why is Gregg so anxious to please prejudiced persons, even to the extent of denying his own people their citizen rights in that public institution? Is the man bereft or what in the world is the matter with him?

One thing sure, he is in the wrong city and state with such "down home" stuff in his mind and should "up stakes" and hurry on back to "dear old Tennessee" or wherever in the South he came from. He is more than fifty years behind the times, for this section of the moral vineyard.

Go back South, Gregg! And for God's sake and that of your own people of this city, at least, stay there until you can "take that red bandanna off your head". Here, you are in the way and trying to "block the runways".

GREGG'S LATEST HOSPITAL IDEA!

Addressing the Baptist Ministers' meeting, April 15, Councilman E. J. Gregg is said to have announced that he was not now advocating a "jim-crow" hospital for this city, but one on the East-side of the city, the majority of its official personnel (those in charge of it) to be "Negroes".

Such an institution would do the same harm that a "jim-crow" hospital would, because ALL "Negro" patients that went to the other hospitals in the city, as they do now, would be sent to Gregg's "makeshift" institution, and that would rob our people of the right to enter the other hospitals as they do now. Then, too, there is no need of such a half or two-thirds "jim-crow" institution, since "Negro" patients in this community are being better cared for now than they could possibly ever hope to be in a "hospital" such as Gregg advocates for the selfish purpose of getting a few jobs for "jim-crow Negroes", physicians and others, who do not seem to be able to make a good living otherwise.

Is this the thing that City Manager Wm. R. Hopkins and Councilman Gregg have been "rubbing noses or heads" over for the past year or so? We want to know! Cleveland will never start or maintain such an unnecessary thing. Let the "jim-crow Negroes", physicians and others, do it if they can.

There will be no objection to their having such a private institution. Why don't they go on back "down home" and revel in "jim-crow" hospitals and about everything else. They are making nuisances of themselves here, trying to not only impede our peoples' progress in this community but positively trying to make them retrograde.

Shame!

BROWN AND GEORGE ARE NOT LIARS!

Our local contemporary, quotes Councilman E. J. Gregg as saying, last week, in reference to what Councilmen Russell S. Brown and Clayborne George say he said at that caucus of Republican members of the Cleveland City Council, several weeks ago, referred to on page 4 of this paper:

"Did you make such a statement? Gregg was asked', said our local contemporary, last week.

"No, that's a damned lie', replied Gregg, according to said contemporary.

Rev. Dr. R. S. Brown, pastor of Mt. Zion Congregational church, and Atty. Clayborne George, councilmanic colleagues of Gregg, say he did say it, that they distinctly heard him, and have sent letters to that effect to The Gazette which we published, last week, and give again, this week, for the express purpose of combating just such a statement as Gregg is credited with by our local contemporary.

Now then what sort of man is this Dr. E. J. Gregg, councilman, that he uses such language in referring to the truthful statements of his colleagues of color, one of whom is a Christian minister? And we understand that Gregg is a member of Zion Hill Baptist church. What must its members and his constituents and the public think of him? To another question, Gregg is quoted as saying: "H-ll, no!" Well, well, WELL! Isn't that and his other reply (above) awful? What say you, Rev. Dr. C. C. Ailer, pastor of Zion Hill Baptist church? Will the members of your congregation "church" Gregg? Brown and George sure have their colleague of color in a hole and a big one, too. But that is not a "marker" to what his constituents will do to him, if he has the temerity to be a candidate for re-election, this fall. Goodbye! Gregg.

Harry C. Smith.