Please help! Mame 281 Joystick/button Assignment Mystery

[RaisedByWolves]

Hi everyone:

Thanks in advance for your help.  I am at my wit's end.  I've watched videos, replaced hardware and still cannot figure this out.  Please see pic for line item I cannot pass.

I have Mame version .281 and matching ROMS.  I am trying to configure the controllers I have but I stumble at the same point with each controller:

1.  The arcade joystick + buttons will accept button input, but when I push "up" on the joystick, it does not register on the Input Assignment screen.  This is true of Player 1 and Player 2 joysticks.

2.  I then bought an 8bitdo fightstick.  Same things.  It will assign buttons but will not assign joystick movement.

3.  I tried a third fightstick and same thing. 

Any advice or guidance will be overwhelmingly appreciated.