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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1916)
The Monitor A Weekly Newspaper devoted to the civic, social and religious interests of the Colored People of Omaha and vicinity, with the desire to contribute something to the general good and upbuilding of the community. Published Every Saturday. Entered as Second-Class Mail Matter July 2, 1915, at the Post office at Omaha, Neb., under the act of March 3, 1879. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor and Publisher. Lucille Skaggs Edwards, William Garnett Haynes and Ellsworth W. Pryor, Associate Editors. Joseph LaCour, Jr., Advertising and Circulation Manager. SUBSCRIPTION RATES, $1.50 PER YEAR Advertising rates, 59 cents an inch per issue. Address, The Monitor, 1119 North Twenty-first street, Omaha. Telephone Webster 4243. RESENT THE INSULT. We have received and published in this issue a communication from R. C. Price, in which he calls attention to the fact that the Chicago Laundry which does a large business among our people in this city, has a very poor opinion of this class of its pat rons. Not only so, but it does not hesitate to let its employes know what that opinion is. We are publishing this communica tion advisedly, knowing the responsi bility we are assuming in doing so. We are publishing it because after investigation we find that the order, the original of which we have in our possession, was dropped by Harry E. Wilson, a driver for the Chicago Laundry in P. H. Jenkins’ barber shop on Dodge street; and that when he learned of its loss he begged to have it returned to him. We have also been advised that the proprietor or manager of the laundry has been to see Mr. Jenkins to urge him to retain the agency which Mr. Jenkins has re fused to do. We have also learned who “the old lady Bird” referred to in this order is. We were fully ad vised of these facts before we con sented to give this communication space in our columns. We do not know the proprietors of the Chicago Laundry. We do know that the writer of this order has grat uitously insulted the whole Colored race in this city and for that gratui tous insult we agree with our corre spondent that all Colored patrons of the Chicago Laundry should withdraw’ their patronage from the same and give it to others. In all probability the proprietors of this laundry may attempt to make some underling the scapegoat and so disclaim responsibility, but it is hard ly possible that any subordinate em ployee would, without instructions from some one in authority, presume to sign the initials of one of the firm to such an order as that the driver lost. We hope that “Harry” will not lose his job, because he is not to blame. It is rather unfortunate for the Chicago Laundry that this order to their driver was lost and came into the possession of those whom “M. A. K.” contemptuously designates as “niggers.” The time has come for the race in this community to refuse to spend money with individuals or firms who either insult us or permit us to be in sulted and slandered where they can prevent it. The thousands of dollars spent by our race with the Chicago Laundry and other steam laundries in this city would equip, maintain and return large dividends on a laundry of our own. Resent this insult and at the same time plan to capitalize and run a well-equipped laundry of our own. Don’t spend money with those who contemptuously call us “niggers” if you know it. If you don’t know it, that’s another matter. By united and intelligent action we can secure every right to which as American citizens we are justly en titled. We should not ask for more; we should not be satisfied with less. The Monitor is here to openly re sent any gratuitous insult to the peo ple whose mouthpiece it is. “THE CAT CAME BACK.” Of course you know the “Cat” has been away. What fun the playful “mice” had while he was gone. The “Cat” admits he enjoyed the fun of the aforesaid playful “mice” as much as did they. Now that he is back, instead of attempting the impossible —catching and devouring the “mice,” he simply purrs—can you hear him? —purrs his satisfaction with what the mice accomplished at their play. He admits they “put one over on him” with the agility and cleverness which is characteristic of cunning mice; and in doing so they gave great pleasure to our readers. The “Cat” has come back, not to devour, but to enter into the merry play of the “mice” and all have fun together. For play, we are all be ginning to learn, is necessary to seri ous work; and old and young can work the better when a due propor tion of time is given to healthful play. The segregation ordinance, despite the opposition of such fair-minded papers as the Globe-Democrat, has passed in St. Louis. We do not be lieve the people of St. Louis ought or will let this unjust ordinance become effective. Its enforcement ought to be fought to the last ditch. And, in i passing, we would note that those of us who live in other communities ought not view these measures that are being enacted into laws or pro posed in other sections with indiffer ence. They are symptomatic of 1 American colorphobia and race pro I scription. They are facing us in other ; forms in almost every city in the United States. Omaha is not free from it. Our plain duty is to strike an effective blow at it wherever and in whatever form it appears. If this be done in the incipient stages of the malady it will prevent more serious trouble in the future. The Editor desires to publicly thank those whom he left in charge of The Monitor during his absence for their excellent and conscientious work, par ticularly are his thanks due to Mr. W. G. Haynes, who acted as editor-in chief, and to the others who so loyally helped him. Our readers will agree with us that ous publication gained in every way by being left in such competent hands. Whatever anyone else may do, let us always conduct ourselves wherever we may be as ladies and gentlemen. Our tenderest sympathy is extended to Mr. J. W. Barnhart and family, of the firm of Waters-Bamhart Com pany, our kind and obliging publish ers, in the bereavement that has come to them in the loss of their youngest daughter, Marguerite, a young woman of great promise, who died from ty phoid fever early Sunday morning. We can only commend them in their sorrow to the one unfailing Source from whom alone comfort and conso lation can come. Two police magistrates are to be chosen this year, one for the North and one for the South Side. We are pleased to commend to our readers John N. Baldwin, a gentlemanly and high class young lawyer, as our choice for police magistrate. Vote for him. In our next issue we shall begin the publication of short series of articles on “The Editor’s Observations on His Visit to Memphis, Tennessee.” It is thought that these articles will be of interest to our readers. The Monitor seems to be the only real, live, boosting newspaper in Om aha. The World-Herald has suggested a good slogan for the city: “GROW WITH GROWING OMAHA.” Why don’t the newspapers take it up and publish it on the front page? Follow The Monitor’s lead. Sound the slogan everywhere: “GROW WITH GROW ING OMAHA.” LETTERS FROM OUR READERS THE CHICAGO LAUNDRY SLANDERS RACE Omaha, Neb., Feb. 29, 1916. To the Editor, The Monitor: I would like to call the Colored peo ples attention, especially those who deal with the Chicago Laundry, to the fact that a driver for that laundry, while pulling out his books to check up in one of his offices on his route accidently dropped an order that had been given him from the main office of the laundry. The order reads as follows: “Harry: Go after that old lady bird hammer and tongs and make her pay you $10.00. She owes $25.00 and there is no nigger liv ing whose credit is good to that extent. Tell her we simply must have the money and that’s all there is to it. M. A. K.” This is the kind of order that the Chicago Laundry hands to their help, when it comes to collect a bill from one of their Colored patrons. Upon investigation I found the ini tials “M. A. K.” to be those of a wo man who has an interest in the con cern. This is not from any of their help, but it comes from one of their stock holders, who is imitating the Ben Till man idea of the Negro. To arouse a feeling in the minds of their help like that is as dangerous to legiti mate business as the venomous fangs of the African boaconstrictor is to the human flesh. When she says that “there is no nigger living whose credit is worth $25.” I resent that, as will every other Colored man. Mind you, the order did not read “Negro” but “nigger,” with the small “n.” To my personal knowledge I know Colored men whose credit is worth thousands of dollars. I dare say that I know Colored men, whose word can get more cash money than the valuation of the concern in which she happens to be a stock holder. When she said that there is no Negro whose credit is worth $25.00 she has covered too much territory. There are Colored men in this town who can get anything from a pair of shoes to an automobile laid down at their door upon their word. Repre sentatives of the biggest concerns in town will hound them for their busi ness upon those scales. I hope that every Colored person now doing business with the Chicago Laundry will cast their lot with an other laundry, and let them know why they cut off relationship with them. Any concern that will instruct their representative to collect a bill from any race or creed of people, as this laundry has done is unworthy of their business. 1 have been unable to find out who this “old lady bird” is, nevertheless, the Colored population of this town was insulted again, with the Ben Till man slang. It should be resented with a boycott. R. C. PRICE. Subscribe Now for The Monitor ■ $1.50 a year Fill out this blank. Send it with $1.50 to The Monitor, lTlO North Twenty-first Street, Omaha, Neb. Send The Monitor for One Year To ... ." Street . 1 Town . State . Signed . . — -.- - I I ■ . . - I T I . . ■ . ...