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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (May 12, 1917)
A National Week!- p>a <spaper Devoted to the Interests of the Colored A. ,1'icans of Nebraska and the West THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor ---.——-—-■—— $1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, May 12, 1917 Vol. II. No. 45 (Whole No. 97) American Democracy As Applied to Army Bill I’assed In Congress Provides for Separate Enlishment of Colored and White Soldiers. SOUTHERN OPPOSITION LOSES Efforts to Exclude Negroes From En larged Military Program Fails, But Jim-Crowism Prevails. Washington, D. C.,—There is lots of talk about the spreading of the principles of democracy nowadays. Congressmen, Senators, Cabinet Of ficers and even the President are surcharged with democratic feelings. The commission from France and England praise the entrance of the United States into the world war as a master stroke for the democratiza tion of the world. Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, in his exhu berance over the way the people greeted the huge war loan calls it a “liberty loan”—in the interest of the equality of man. More than two hundred congress men, including Southerners, signed a cablegram asking that the British government grant Home Rule to Ire land. But this epidemic of democracy seems to have nothing in contempla tion of the millions of Negroes of the United States. Southern Congress men, for the most part, are strongly opposed to any program which in cludes the same rights for Colored citizens as are enjoyed by others. The Army Bill. Though the Negro is included in the program for universal army train ing, the measure provides: “White and Colored enlisted or en rolled men shall not be organized in or assigned to the same company, ba talion or regiment.” Thus democracy is shattered in one instance as far as the Colored man is concerned by providing “jimcrow” troops. Then there has been the almost fu tile effort of Dr. Spingairn to secure military training for Colored officers. The dates for training camps for the whites have been practically chosen but Dr. Spingairn and his delegation were told at the War Department last Friday that a camp for Colored men was favored but no date had been set for the same. The talk of disloyalty on the part of the Colored people has been found to be a myth, and leaders of the gov ernment have no fear of treasonable acts on the part of Colored people. Colored troopers are seen about the White House, the State, War and Na vy Building, and other places, thus in dicating the spirit of confidence. With all this apparent hostility on the part of those in authority to any plan for worldwide democracy which gives the American Negro full rights, race leaders here are awaiting the general meeting of the National Asso MOTHERS’ DAY Sunday is observed as Mothers’ Day. It is a custom for all who can to wear a white carnation on this day in honor of Mother. In many cases not.only in honor of Mother but in memory of Mother for many Mothers have folded the gentle hands that loved to do service and in Paradise remember and love and pray for the children who tarry a little longer here. The white carnation is a fitting symbol of the purity and fragrance of a mother’s love. Wear the white carnation, boys and girls, be ye of younger or older years, in memory of mother, and go to church to worship GOD and give Him thanks for having given you a loving mother, and to pray that you may be as pure and noble as the best of mothers was to you and would have you be. And honor Mother, if you be a man, by honoring, respecting and protecting, not sullying or defiling, womanhood wherever found. And ye daughters, for Mother’s sake, be ye the kind of girls and women that every mother worthy of the name would have you be. “Honor thy Father and thy Mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord, thy God, hath given thee.” “This is the commandment with promise.” Go to church on Mothers’ Day, boys. You have gotten out of the habit. Make a new stax-t. I! .Jj -unMtniimmMiMttwmwmiiiiiiiwwwiiHinmoMHMiimiiwiiiiiinHMuwnHiiiiumiHwmwHWwiiiiiwiiwiiiiiiiwiiWMwmutiwwMiHwnnwwMiimHWnHwwmmwtHiimwHWMMHiBiHWiiiwiHiiHiiniiHHMiitmir. A DISTINGUISHED RACE BY GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION We do not like the distinction that is being made by the government in its registration cards for the military census. After asking many questions, which it would seem gives ample information as to race, nationality, etc., it adds: “If of African descent tear off the left hand corner.” An absurd and un necessary provision. Absurd, because in the widely commingled blood of the American people, no ethnological expert possesses enough knowledge or skill to determine ALL who are of African descent. Unnecessary, because what the government seeks—that is to determine as far as possible those who may be classified as Negroes—can be ascertained by an honest answering of the question as to “Race.” In a true democracy, which the United States is not, it would seem that a sufficient question should be, after age, etc.: “Are you an American and loyal to your country?” In these days of “conservation” it would have saved consider able ink at least, to have refrained from printing “If of African descent, etc.” And tearing off the corner—if very many do it— will make many “a scrap of paper.” But after all there is nothing like belonging to that dis tinctive race which can trace its rich, red blood, which no in fusion can dilute, back to Africa. Distinguished people must submit to special marks and badges of distinction. The Amer ican Negro is a distinguished race—by even government rec ognition. ciation for the Advancement of Col ored people, which takes place at the Metropolitan A. M. E. church next week. It is hoped that the As sociation will initiate some program which will grip the attention of the country. Moorefield Storey, of Boston, presi dent of the Association, was here a few days ago, to argue against the va lidity of the Louisville Segregation ordinance. He and Dr. Spingaim had talks with a number of men regard ing conditions as they affect the Ne gro. In a nutshell: Not only Colored Washington, but the whole country is looking anxiously to see what the world-wide democratic trend will mean for the American Negro. EMPHASIZE LOYALTY AND PREPAREDNESS Hampton, Va.—Preparedness, loy alty and racial good will were em phasized throughout the 49th Hamp ton Institute anniversary celebration, which closed Friday with the presen tation to the Board of Trustees by Kev. Dr. Francis G. Peabody, of Cam bridge, of ninety-eight candidates for diplomas and certificates. William Jay Schieffelin, of New York, a trustee, spoke on the Ne groes’ opportunity to serve the nation in the present crisis, and expressed his confidence in the Negroes’ abil ity and willingness in a selective draft to go forw ard in the spirit of Hamp ton to cheerful self-sacrifice. Texas Militamen Murder Negroes Troops Are Under Supervision of the Federal Authorities to Whom They Are Amenable. RESIDENTS PRESENT PROTEST Demand Protection From Lawlessness and Violence of Albinoes Serving as United States Soldiers. Galveston, Texas.—The wanton muidering of two peaceful Negroes by Texas militiamen stationed in this city and under the supervision of the Federal Government, has aroused the Colored citizens to a high pitch of excitement. The law-abiding white people of Galveston are also greatly shocked over the shameful conduct of the soldiers and are as equally in sistent that the authorities put an end to this reign of terror. The soldiers now stationed in Gal veston are from the backwoods and have more hatred in their hearts for Colored Americans than for any for eign enemy. They seem to think they have been put in the field to kill Ne gro men and insult Negro women. Galveston is one of Texas’ most lib eral cities and the Colored citizens here are treated more like human be ings than in other sections of the State. The idea of giving Negroes a square deal is abhorrent to these backwoods soldiers, who think they owe it to themselves to “show the Galveston Negro his place.” Came Looking for Trouble. The slogan of these soldiers is: “Kill the damn ‘niggers’ ” and trouble was expected when a corporal told a prominent white man of Galveston prior to the militiamen coming to the city: “We will be in Galveston with in ten days and there will not be ten ‘niggers’ left, and they will be good ones for they will be dead.” The Texas soldiers had hardly set foot in Galveston before they start ed to insuilt Negroes. One would have thought they had been seipt by the United States Government to wage war on the Colored people of the city. Self-respecting Colored peo ple began to resent the discourtesy and brutal treatment, and then fol lowed numerous race riots. As the result of racial strife provoked by the soldiers two Negroes were murdered and several were injured. At a meeting of the City Commis sioners a committee of sixty Colored citizens demanded that the city offi cials give them police protection against lawless militiamen. E. L. Anthony acted as spokesman. My. Anthony stated that the Col ored population of the city, by reason of the tragedies of the week and of threats that have been made against their lives by some of the militiamen are terrorized and had sent the com mittee to the board for the purpose of ascertaining just what the board would do toward affording them the protection they are entitled to as (Contlnuel on Page 8)