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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (July 15, 1916)
Monitor £ A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of the Eight Tr / and Colored People in Omaha and Vicinity, and to the Good of the < § nunity The Rev. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, E / $1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy. Omaha, Nebraska, July 15, 1916 Vol. II. No. 3 (Whole No. 55) The Colored Soldier In American Hi&ory Has Bravely Borne the Battle’s Brunt on Many a Hard Field and Never Faltered. MAINTAIN HONORABLE RECORD Brigadier General Burt Writes an In teresting Story of Valor of Black Troops. The daring work of the Colored regulars, the 10th Cavalry which has figured so prominently in recent events in Mexico, recalls the part tne Colored soldiers have played in the history of American wars beginning with the revolution. Most sources at test to the Colored soldiers’ bravery. In some cases they are said to exhibit such thoroughgoing daring as to be regarded almost as reckless. A short pamphlet, issued by the late Brig. Gen. Andrew S. Burt, U. S. A., retired, relates the story of Colored regiments in American history and describes incidents of bravery in which they were the actors. It reads, in part, as follows: 10th Cavalry Famous. “We have in our regular army four regiments of Colored soldiers, the 9th and 10th cavalry and the 24th and 25th infantry. The two cavalry reg iments have fine records in cam paigns on our western frontier in the old days of Indian warfare. These troopers also have splendid records made in Cuba and the Philippines. It is whispered abroad that the 10th cavalry arrived on the field of San tiago in the nick of time to save a much heralded cavalry command from being wiped out or otherwise rough ridden by the Spanish forces. That kindly help by the Negro troopers has not, to my knowledge, been bruit ed about with any very loud acclaim. Noble Record of 24th Infantry. “The 24th infantry has likewise made an enviable record in Indian warfare, in Cuba and in the Philip pines, not only for its fighting, but as well for its law-abiding conduct wherever it has served in this coun try and in foreign lands.” Gen. Burt then relates the service of the 24th in nursing white soldiers afflicted with yellow fever in Cuba, The Colonel asked for 60 volunteers and every man in line volunteered. When half of these Colored soldier nurses had taken the fever the Col onel called the 24th out, explained this condition and asked for volunteers. Again every man volunteered. Never Showed White Feather. “The 25th infantry has made a rec ord for fighting at El Caney, in Cuba, at Mt. Aryat, O’Donnell and in nu merous skirmishes in the Philippines. Speaking of the Negro soldier gener ally, I can find nowhere in the history of American wars a single instance where a Negro regiment showed the (Continued on eighth page) Hummel Takes Back His Jim Crow Order Promises That There Will Be No More Seg regation at Municipal Beach. Municipal beach has been opened for two years, offering equal, free and un restricted bathing privileges to all citizens of Omaha, who would conduct themselves in an orderly manner and wished to avail themselves of these privileges. The beach has been popular. Our own people, not in great numbers, but some have gone in bathing. They were chiefly boys and a few men. They have created no disorder. There has been no disturbance. But two weeks ago it seems that some im becilic and impecunious individual or individuals importuned Commissioner Hummel to issue an order to restrict Colored bathers to one section of the beach, and Joseph B. Hummel, much to our surprise, proved weak enough to fall for it. The rule was established and its enforcement undertaken chiefly in the case of some small boys who could thus easily be imposed upon. Satur day afternoon, however, one of the life guards, acting, as he said, under Mr. Hummel’s direct orders, which upon investigation proved to be true, attempted to enforce the rule against a well known citizen who refused to recognize it. The outcome of the matter was this: Dr. J. H. Hutten, Attorney Amos P. Scruggs and the Editor of The Mon itor interviewed Mr. Hummel Mon day afternoon. Be it said to Mr. Hummel’s credit that he did not try to place the blame upon any of his subordinates, but he himself assumed full responsibility for this order which he said he was advised would make for harmony. When it was pointed out to him that it was in direct violation of The Nebraska Civil Rights Bill, and was objectionable from the point of being the entering wedge for other discrim inations in parks and public places which we as taxpayers help to sup port, Mr. Hummel consented to re scind the order at once, assuring the committee that full privileges should be accorded us in common with all classes of citizens. This assurance, which we believe was made in good faith, was satisfatcory to the commit tee. It may be well to state here that while the committee made no threats, if this order had not been rescinded they were prepared to carry it to the courts. Fortunately this was not nec essary. And here a word or two to our peo ple may not be amiss: We are here to fight your battles, which are ours also, and stand up uncompromisingly and unflinchingly for the right. We must see to it that we conduct our selves always in a manner to com mand respect. In our taking advan tage, as we should, of the opportunity for recreation offered us in our parks and other places of amusement, let us see to it that our conduct is above reproach. Then if just privileges are denied us, if our conduct has been what it should be, we will be in a posi tion to demand redress, and get it. Rowdyies at Beach Were White Not Colored Attendance at the Municipal beach Tuesday evening was of such propor tions that Turk Commissioner Hum mel and Superintendent English find it necessary to adopt stricter regula tory features, with a view of conserv ing the best interests of patrons of the beach. On Tuesday evening the crowd in the water was estimated at nearly 3,000, and nearly 3,000 spectators lined the shore. An attendant count d 250 automobiles there at one time during the evening. A crowd of enthusiastic men start d splashing to the women’s side of the water. The guards admonished the revelers against an excess of en thusiasm, but this warning was of no avail. A policeman in uniform went out in a patrol boat and he was dis regarded by the crowd of thoughtless splashers. Chief of Police Dunn will be in attendance himself this evening and will make an example of any who mistake liberty for license and take delight in spoiling the pleasure of others. “We are running this beach for the benefit of those who know how to use a privilege. We intend to put a stop to rowdyism. The demonstra tion of Tuesday night will not be re peated without atcion on our part,” stated Commissioner Hummel.—News item in Omaha Evening Bee, Wednes day, July 12, 1916. We desire to call attention to the fact that Colored patrons of the beach took no part in this rowdyism. For the two years the beach has been opened not a single case of dis orderly conduct has been charged up to our people and yet they want to segregate us. Suppress rowdyism by all means, gentlemen; segregate rowdies and “rough-necks,” but please do not try any segregation stunts or “Jim Crow” regulations for self-respecting, well behaved, law-abiding Colored citizens or their children.—Editor Monitor. Omaha Man Who Nominated Hughes gome Unpublished Facts Which Prove That This Distinguished Honor Belongs to Nebraska. KING AND HITCHCOCK MEET Their Chance Conversation Reported for First Time in Monitor Throws Light on Nomination. Do you know that an Omaha man is really responsible for the nomina tion of Hughes? Well, it’s a fact. And you could never guess who that man is. It’s safe to say that ninety out of every one hundred persons would say it was Victor Rosewater of the Omaha Bee. A few others might give the credit to R. Beecher Howell. Be tween the partisans of these two lead ers, local controversy has run high as to which of the twain was the original Nebraska Hughes “discover er," and therefore by “right of dis covery,” if not “by right of conquest,’’ is entitled to the honor of bringing to pass Mr. Hughes’ nomination. Not Rosewater but King To Victor Rosewater undoubtedly belongs the credit of arousing, sus taining and organizing the Hughes sentiment in Nebraska. He was in stant and insistent in season and out of season for Hughes. And the chief laurels for winning Nebraska for Hughes belong to Victor Rosewater. And yet without any desire to rob Mr. Rosewater of that which is his due, The Monitor claims that the man who is really responsible for the nomination of Hughes is not a man of national reputation like Rosewater, but a man who, while highly respect ed and well known locally, is practi cally unknown outside of the state, and that man is W. Scott King. Who Is King? W. Scott King? Who is he? And what did he have to do with Hughes’ nomination? What “pipe dream” is this? Like the sparrow-pestered parrot, let us repeat: “One at a time, gentle men, please, one at a time.” W. Scott King is a civil engineer and surveyor, who for many years was in charge of the South Omaha Stock Yards. One of the South Omaha builders, promoters and push ers and incidentally, at one time quite active in local politics. A thorough bred manly fellow with lots of grey matter under his hat. He is interested in some mines in Arizona, or at least his sons are. King Meets Hitchcock In January, 1916, please note the time, Mr. King was in Tucson, and while there he was introduced to a “Mr. Hitchcock,” whom he found to be a wide-awake, pleasant, affable and well-informed man. Mr. King learned subsequently that (Continued on Page 3)