PM* 2
Portland
1
90. MM
*Uy.
Pioneer Biddy Mason
We see the world
by Yveee
Copley New» Service
through Black eyes
Who is guilty now?
Another Point of View
Two years 090 accusations of misuse of federal
funds were mode ogainst Cleveland Gi I crease by the
Oregon Journal. It is the job of the press to point out
corruption wherever it is found, but these attacks
went beyond the realm of publishing the news —
they bordered on slander, and perhaps would fit
within the legal definition of slander The attocks
were and continue to be personal.
Following these accusations, a number of federal
audits were mode and Gilcreose was thoroughly
investigated by the FBI ond the IRS.
Countercharges of a conspiracy ogainst him were
mode by Gilcreose, and the Block community was
pretty much in ogreement. Across the country we
have seen Block leaders dragged through the mud --
only to be found innocent of all charges. These
charges of conspiracy will probably remain un
answered.
Two years ogo The Observer called for an investi
gation of Gilcreose by U.S. Attorney Sidney Lezak.
We said: If Gilcreose is guilty, then let him be
indicted, tried, and convicted in court, not in the
press. >.ezak has completed his investigation; the
case has been closed. Yet the accusations confine.
Perhaps it is unfortunate that this case did not
come to trial. We are certain of Gilcreose would
have been exonerated; it would have been a great
expense to him and to the government to prove his
innocence. But perhaps in court, the true reasons and
motives behind the episode would come to light. We
would then know whether this was really inlighten-
ed investigatory journalism, or whether it was a plot
to rid us of one of our last remaining Block directors
We might learn whether the two journalists ond this
great Oregon daily newspaper were merely used by
other ruthless conspirators.
We expect there are many who are surprised that
a Block man could go through such a thorough
investigation ond come out clean. Many do not
believe $15 million could filter through a Block
man's fingers and not be stolen. Others did not
believe a Block man had the couroge to go through
hell to defend his integrity. But that is the mentolity
of the nation m which we live.
Congratulations, Mr vjilcrease.
t e l ’s disprove the lie
From The
A recent report of one of our notion's largest labor
councils indicates that the American economy, still
ravoged by double digit unemployment, is recover
ing so slowly as to pose new dangers
In our opinion, there really is no recovery and
Blocks who are always last hired ond first fired are
catching hell. The report says unemployment still
artects one out of every ten workers but we know
this to be the "officially" unemployed and not those
discouroged workers, mostly Block, who have given
up hunting for non-existent jobs and part-time work
ers who desire and can't find full-time jobs.
Or better still when Washington tells us 10.2 per
cent of the labor force is unemployed, we know for
reo1 Block teenagers rate of unemployment jumped
to 40 3 per cent this summer
There are nearly 1 Vi million fewer jobs in manu
facturing and nearly % million fewer jobs in con
struction than when President Ford took over from
Tricky Dick Nixon. There was also a loss of nearly
200,000 jobs in transportation and public utilities. It
urther reports that during this year, some 20 million
workers, about one out of every five workers will
hove one or more spells of joblessness.
Blacks above oil other American citizens ought to
register to vote, study the issues, then vote for men
or women and measures which affect our daily lives.
Why? Because we are furtherest behind in the equal
opportunity roce here m America, believe it or not,
thus we must run forther and swifter if we expect to
catch up ond be on par with all other Americans.
It is not only necessary that we register and vote,
but it is essential that we use the ballot wisely. We
need to vote for and support those persons, regard
less of political party, who will put America bock to
work It is an insult to hear persons of supposed
intelligence state publicly, "Blacks don't wont to
work" or "They're satisfied with relief." Let's dis
prove the lie by electing persons who will give us an
opportunity to earn a living
1-------------------------
THEFH&T TO cue FOR
PW C KAC y *AS 4 BLACKHAN
/7 7 0 M H E Í)CRKfW AT TUCKS
* NOT HIHG S P E A K S M O R E
ELOQUENTLY of the depth
O F RACISM ANO MORAL D E
TERIORATE»! O F THIS SOCIETY
THAN THIS UGLY R IT U A L
AMERICANS TO LERATE-EVEN
ENCOURAGE -WHEN THE
SCHOOLS OPEN EACH FALL
T H IN K OF A HOB"LYNCHING"
A BLACK PERSON IN E F F IG Y /
L IS T E N TO A TEENAGER
shouting “ A LL NIGGERS A R E
R A P IS T S !" A S A R A T IO N A L E
F O R V IO L E N T L Y O P P O S IN G
TH E IN T E G R A TIO N O F SCHOOLS;
1 b 1851. a young alave mother w ith
three
daughter»
entered
California
through Cajon Paa» and into San Bernar
dino at the tail end of a 300 wagon train.
She was a sheepherder for her owner,
Robert Smith.
Later through a senes of fortuitous
events. Biddy Mason became a »ueceasful
real estate investor and a humanitarian
whose story is as inspiration to all who
hear i t Biddy did ao much w ith so little
and. in the process never lost her posi
tive attitude nor her compassion for the
homeless and unfortunate.
lX*>-
A fte r three years in San Bernardino.
Biddy's owner decided to move his fam ily
to Texas. Before leaving, the whole party
went v tsiLing I t was while camped in
Santa Monica Canyon near the Pacific
Ocean that the lx » Angeles County
sheriff served Sm ith w ith a w rit which
prevented him from taking slaves out of
the state. As a consequence. Biddy Mason
and her children were freed from slavery
in January. 1854
Biddy made her way to the village of
Los Angeles where she worked as a coo
finement nurse for 82.50 per day. She
stayed initially at the home of Robert
Owen.
Owen was a respected Black business
man who. it is said, highly valued money,
property and education Biddy absorbed
’ / HAVE N E V E a FELT THAT BUSING
HAS NECESSARY TO BRING ABOUT QUALITY EDUCATION1
PRESIDENT fore
1st Place
P o rtla n d O b s e rv e r
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company. 2201
North Killings worth, Portland. Oregon 97217. M ailing address:
P .0 . Box 3137. Portland. Oregon 97208. Telephone: 2832486.
Contmanitv Service
O N P A 1973
I t is noteworthy that Biddy may never
have learned to read or w rite. The re
cords tel! of her daughter Ellen, who
married a son of Robert Owen, attending
school w ith her own children. I t is report
ed that having grown up in slavery Ellen
had not had the opportunity to learn to
read or w rite. It iollows then that Biddy
also had not had the opportunity and was
probably illiterate
She may not have known how to read
or w rite but the records leave no doubt
that Biddy Mason knew how to do arith
metic. A t the tim e of her death her real
estate holdings made her a wealthy
woman. How to figure was clearly her
accomplishment and talent.
But Biddy's activities also included
helping those in need. She organised and
operated the first nursery for orphans
and poor. She gave shelter to those who
arrived destitute. She maintained an ac
count at the community grocery for their
food until they could find work. During a
flood in the 1880's, those who were made
home’ess also used Biddy 's open grocery
account for food.
And furthermore, she joined in the
founding of the first African Methodist
Episcopal Church. I t was organised in her
home in 1871. The church offered the
Black community more than spiritual
guidance.
W ith the influx of white settlers came
the prejudice and discrimination from
which Blacks still suffer.
The A M E C , for which Biddy paid the
taxes and expenses when necessary, has
played a sheltering role for 100 y e a n .
Blacks have gathered there to worship
but also to participate in civic endeavors,
political discussions and social welfare.
The church, in many ways, carried on
where Biddy left off.
Today. Tom Bradley, the mayor of Loe
Angeles, is a trustee of that church.
W hile the Bicentennial mood perme
ates the air. we gain valued insights by
looking at the accomplishments of those
who have gone before us. The young
slave mother who came to California as a
sheepherder, who lived as a shepherd to
*11. is a person to whom 2 am indebted.
Her life story gives me strength and a
rare perspective.
Justice Department closes "Gilcreose file 99
(Continued from p. 1 col. 31
of conspiracy, says that his faith in justice
has been restored. ‘ Although I have been
slandered repeatedly in the press. I have
no animosity toward anyone. M y faith in
the American justice system has been
restored I had my doubts, considering
the recent activities of the F B I. I was
never concerned about th ir finding any
thing against me - I knew I was innocent
- but I wondered what kind of evidence"
might have been created."
Gilcrease noted the time and expense
that had been put into the investigations
- perhaps millions of tax dollars - that
could have been b etter spent attem pting
to meet some of the needs of the poor
During the investigation and before
the Juatic Departm ent case waa closed,
several honors came to Gilcrease - the
type of honors th at come to few American
citizens and that would not be conferred
e» a suspected felon.
Gilcrease was one of 39 American citi
zens appointed by H U D director Carla
Hills w ith the approval of the administra
lion, to represent the United States at
the United Nations H A B IT A T confer ,
eace Gilcrease was a member of the U.S.
delegates and an advisor to the delega
non. He also was ot>e of 25 American
citizens invited by the President to w it
ness the installation of the new CSA
director at the W hite House.
Approxim ately 82 million in new
money has come to PMSC during the
investigation, and the city of Portland
recently awarded 8250.000 for materials
and equipment for PMSC. Community
Rehabilitation and Employment Project.
O f the 817,000 still in question. approx
im ately 815.000 is for travel expenses for
Gilcrease and other staff members. D in
ing 1973 and 1974. Howard Phillips was
director of CSA and he and Richard
Nixon w ere attem pting to close out the
agency C A P directors, including myself,
w ere repeatedly called to meetings in
Washington and in other «ties, when we
talked and planned and directed our
efforts w ith Congress to save the agency.
This was done with the knowledge and
support of the national and regional
offices, and although documentary evi
dence of these expenditures is not avail
able at this time. I am sure these expens
es w ill be justified by CSA. I t worked and
we saved the only program that is work
mg for the poor. Tm glad we did it and Td
do it again."
On August 23rd, 1976, John C. Finley.
Regional D irector of CSA. allotted PMSC
th irty days to respond to items listed as
CARL ROUAH-M.y.POsr
and expanded on Owen's values. She and
the whole community benefited from her
activities.
H er first real estate purchase waa land
which would provide a safe haven for her
family. Though today tall buildings
occupy the land, it waa considered “out of
town* when Biddy bought i t On it was a
reed fence and across it ran a ditch of
water.
A t the tim e, the Gold Rush was bring
ing many people into town. I t was Biddy's
efforts to help those who wanted per
manent residences that led her 'to a
career in real estate
The Observer welcomes
the Editor" They should be
be no more than tw o pages in
O bserver retains the right
lenght.
"Letters to
legible and
length The
to edit for
Deadline for material for publication is
Tuesday at 12:00 p.m.
"questioned." Many of these items had
been justified with supporting evidence
which had been accepted by CSA prior to
the release of the audit on August 5th
Items
that
are
currently
being
addressed by the PM SC staff are:
8582. — Questioned reimbursements to
executive director for costa incurred at
local meetings. (Meals, transportation,
fees, etc.)
Also currently being addressed are ap-
promately 89.000 in travel expenses
charged to Gilcrease and approximately
814.000 charged to other staff members.
Some of these expenditures have been
allowed by CSA: documentation for
others is currently being submitted.
Since the staff is still working on this*
item, exact figures are not yet available.
The Observer will provide this informs
tian next week.
WANT TO CRUSH
8600.00 - 11 /20/73 - used (or Albina
Action Center, annual children's Christ
mas party. (N o receipts were available at
the time of the audit !
8325.00 — 4 /3 0 /7 4 — shipping charges for
printed m aterials sent to New York for
National Association for Community
Developm ent Reimbursement was made
by N A C D check stub« w ere not consider
ed adequate documentation by CSA.
SMOKING HABIT?
----Mr 99siec
* J* »-•
than you
thought p o m b it?
i
8654. — 4 / 9 7 3 check made to cash Was
used to pay meals for low income people
sent to conference. No reciepts for indi
viduais expenditures were available at
the time of the audit.
383® — 4 /1 6 7 6 — issued to Sheraton
M otor Inn for banquet honoring the 10th
anniversary of O EO. Expenditures have
not yet been approved by CSA.
8194. — 5 /1 1 /7 5 inadequately supported
local food and was rental at Travel Lodge
for training session.
PRESENTING . .
free
due Io p o p u la r intereil
THI 5-DAY PLAN
TO STOP SMOKING
T O T A L : 83244
Sept. 12-16
King Facility
4815 N E 7th Ave.
7.00 te 9:00 p.m.
C AL TORAN
BOB NELSON
Home 289-09.19
Home 287-4050
Still serving the community
AS THE HOME FOLKS FOR
f. G. Stassens, Inc.
Hollywood Office 28 8-8871
To sell yoor home or buy a home Call Bob or Cal
1st Place
Best Ad Result*
O N P A 1973
Subscriptions: 87.50 per year in the Tri-County area. 88.00 per
year outside Portland.
Neeeod (Tam Peetage Paid at Portland Oregea
The Portland libwerver's official position is expressed onlv in
its Publisher's column (W e See The W orld Through Black Eyes)
Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the
individual w rite r or subm itter and does not necessarily reflect
the opinion of the Portland Observer.
A LF R E D L HENDERSON
Editer /PnbfcAer
Nat ion al Advertising Representative
I Publishers. Inc.
New York
Subscribe to the Observer
5th Place
Best Editorial
N N P A 1973
Honorable Meotsoo
H errick Editorial A war«
N N A 1973
2nd Place
» * Editorial
3rd Place
mity
O N P A 1975
Tri-County area
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