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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (July 22, 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 offlce 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. “IDLENESS AMONG NEGROES” This is the caption of a thoughtful article which appears in “the Social Service Department” of The Living Church in its issue of July 15. This department is under the efficient edi torship of Clinton Rogers Woodruff, of Philadelphia, a recognized expert in Social Service, and as such, neces sarily, an intelligent and sympathetic observer of social conditions affecting all classes. “Social Service” may be defined as the science of applied Christianity. It aims at the improvement of social conditions and seeks to give every man, woman and child, the environ ment in which, and the opportunity by which he can reach the highest and fullest development and become a • useful member of society. It rightly emphasizes the fact that one of the chief purposes of religion is to im prove man’s condition in this pres ent life. The outcome of this conviction has been the organization of Social Serv ice Commissions by the various re ligious bodies of the country to study social problems with the honest in tention of finding and applying the remedy for social ills and evils. Com mendable progress has been made. The Social Service Commission of the diocese of Pennsylvania has been considering the subject of Idleness among Negroes, with a view to arriv ing at some means by which idleness and its attendant evils might be re lieved through co-operate religious action. The Commission called to its aid trained workers of both races. The committee appointed gave serious at tention to the work assigned it. Tne article in question significantly states that: “This committee learned much by these conferences, but felt incapable of devising any single line of action towards the relief of the idleness, be cause, it became evident, the roots of the question extend deep into the ground under the personal, political, economical, industrial, social and re ligious activities of the white and black races as they now exist in America.” In other words, these impartial trained investigators, anxious to get at the truth, learned that the prob lem of bread-winning upon the part of Colored Americans has become seri ously complicated by racial prejudice. That is precisely what the excerpt just quoted means. This is proven by these words which immediately fol low: “Whites do not wish to be near blacks; the Negro is exploited politi cally in every state; industries are closed to the blacks by the rules of the labor organizations, which prevent the black from working and force him to degenerate, even though once he may have acquired a trade or become skilled in an occupation.” This indictment is undoubtedly true and gains in significance when it is understood that this is the finding of impartial white investigators; and is not the pessimistic wail of impatient, querulous, over-sensitive and fault finding Negroes. And, moreover, these investigators find that economic and industrial discriminations are having their baneful influence, as a matter of course, upon the religious life of the race, for it is noted tnat “While the Negro may be consid ered to be essentially religious, the ad versities under which he lives are so great and so pernicious that his re ligion cannot fortify him against in evitably sinking into viciousness and, too frequently, criminality.” The fairmindedness of the report appears from the fact that the com mittee desires it to be understood that they have been considering the idle Negro. It has found that “The industrious Negro asks for a fair chance to make good. He asks to be employed and not turned away because he is black. He asks for equal consideration with the white la borer when his equipment and capac ity equal the white man’s.” Whenever this chance is given the race makes good as the records will show'. Another significant statement which this article contains is this: “Certain of us, if not all, hold that proper housing in shelters which are more than walled pens scarcely fit for animals, would go far towards maintaining the stimulus to persistent labor.” These investigators state with truth: "That the relief of these con ditions lies within the power of the Christian Church and should be solved by the whites and blacks work ing together.” Much can be done by the pulpit and broadminded citizens “urging that employment be given to the Negro, not only in domestic service, but in such arts and crafts as those in which it is now' known that he has become skilled." It is gratifying to learn that such investigations as the one here noted are occupying the attention of thoughtful men and women through out the country. A candid statement of facts by impartial investigators will have far-reaching influence in improving conditions. JUST TO KEEP THE RECORD STRAIGHT The Monitor is constantly doing fa . vors for its readers and patrons for which it cannot be and does not ex pect to be remunerated in dollars and cents. We are here to serve the com nunity as well as we know' how. As an illustration of what The I Monitor does we wish to call atten | tion to the splendid success of The ! F ree Trip Contest for the benefit of I the N. W. C. A. home. Had it not I been for the fact that the energetic j chairman of that committee, with | whom the idea of the contest orig inated, Mrs. Martha Taylor Smith, and her efficient committee who so loyally served with her, had a paper like The Monitor to give publicity to the contest, it goes without saying that it would have been impossible to have achieved such signal success. Keeping the standing of the contest ants before the public was the prime factor in keeping up interest. This publicity at the current adver tising rate would have amounted to $46.02, not including special articles which we published from time to time. The Monitor has received $27.24 for seventeen weeks of adver tising, an average of $1.60 a week. We donated $18.78 in advertising space, more than 40 per cent, or prac tically all of our profit. It is well that the public should be advised of facts of this kind in order that they may appreciate the fact that The Monitor stands ready to do its share in anything and everything that makes for the good of the ocmmunity. The Monitor issuing 1,500 copies weekly and going into the homes of all classes has fully demonstrated its value as an advertising medium, as well as its fearlessness in champion ing the rights of the people. We shall continue to serve the peo ple faithfully and do all in our power for the upbuilding of the community. While not looking for praise, it is well from time to time to let the public know what we are doing in order to keep the record straight. We deside to compliment the IN. w. C. A. and the young ladies who worked so faithfully in the Free Trip Contest upon their success in prac tically clearing the indebtedness of $800 on the home, which has been source of so much anxiety to the faithful women who a few years ago jndertook its purchase. Our women have demonstrated their ability to do things. The remaining $100 due should be speedily paid. The Monitor last summer asked for donations to wards paying off the indebtedness on .he home. Mr. E. W. Pryor contrib uted $5.00 towards the fund. It was the only contribution received. The Monitor will now turn over that sum to the treasurer of the home with the hope that the remaining $95.00 will eon be secured. C ARD OF THANKS We, the Contest Committee of the N. W. C. A., desire to thank the young ladies who made the race for the Free Trip, all those who contributed their services on the program, the daily pa pers and the Monitor for their space, and the public in general for their co operation and assistance in making this contest a success, and the closing entertainment Wednesday, July 12, one of the grandest affairs ever given n Omaha. We are pleased to an nounce to the public that the pro ceeds from this contest will reduce the indebtedness on the N. W. C. A. home, 3029 Pinkney street, to $100.00. MRS. MARTHA T. SMITH, Chairman MRS. IRVINE GRAY, MRS. E. R. WEST MRS. R. W. WORKCUFF MRS. H. It. ROBERTS MRS. H. MOORE MRS. M. D. MARSHALL, Committee. I A WONDERFUL BASEMENT SHOE SALE| FRIDAY and SATURDAY Our Purchase of the Entire Stock of the | Need’um $2.50 and $3.00 Shoes i 6,000 Pairs to Be Sold Here ! At Less Than 50c On the Dollar I Brandeis Stores ><WM>*BafflgBaBiaaigaaaaeflai^^ GOOD GROCERIES ALWAYS C. P. WESIN GROCERY CO. Also Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. 2005 Cuming St. Telephone Douglas 1098 MEN — If we do say so ourselves we have the most stylish summer Foot- f wear in the city. Our • CANVAS SHOES AND OXFORDS Are just what you need for this sweltering weather. You will be l j more than pleased with our prices, quality and service. j THE REGENT SHOE CO. 205 SOUTH FIFTEENTH STREET. j t A good place to have a good time BARBER SHOP, SOFT DRINKS, CIGARS AND CANDIES I IN CONNECTION ARTHUR CHERRY’S POOL HALL Tel. Webster 5784 2416 North 24th Street | in,.,.,...,.*.*..:,,.:.......,....., .................... ..,...,.,4