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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 1918)
n=s7i The Monitor n=n A National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored Americans ' THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor ----■------- %o _ $1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy_OMAHA, NEBRASKA, JANUARY 5, 1918 Vol. III. No. 27 ( \ ’e No. 130) Commission Named To Aid Missourians Jefferson City, Mo.—Governor Gard ner December 27 announced the ap pointment of a commission on Negro education and social workers to inquire into the educational, social, moral and health conditions of the Negroes of Missouri. The commission was appointed upon the suggestion of N. C. Bruce of Dal ton, head of a Negro vocational insti tution, and other leaders of the race. Governor Gardner said in a state ment issued: "I have decided to appoint a com mission to be known as the Missouri Negro Industrial Commission, for the following purposes: “First, for the general welfare of the Negroes of this state; second, bet ter education; third, the retention of the Negroes on the farm; fourth, the study of their moral and social condi *' tiorfs; fifth, food conservation; sixth, improved health conditions; seventh, obligations of citizenship.” PROMOTED FROM CAPTAIN TO MAJOR Washington, D. C.—The Negro race now has a major in the regular United States army in the person of Major Ollie Davis, who, according to reports, has been promoted from a captaincy and is in command of the Second Squadron of the Ninth Cavalry, which is stationed in the Philippines. Major Davis was bom in Washington, D. C., and is a graduate of the public schools here. It was while in high school that he received his first military training. During the Spanish-American war Major Davis enlisted in the First Sep arate Battalion, National Guard, Dis- ' trict of Columbia, and was commis sioned a second lieutenant. At the close.! of the war he was first lieutenant. | Later he joined the Ninth Cavalry and became its regimental sergeant-major. His next move was to enter the mili tary school at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and he returned to the regular army a second lieutenant. Major Davis has been military instructor at Wilberforce university and military aide to the United States minister to Liberia. SERGEANT JOHNSON THINKS THAT THE BOYS MAY SOON BE “OVER THERE" Sergt. Lloyd Johnson of Camp Fun- j ston spent a few days last week visit- J ing his aunt, Mrs. Jennie Alexander | and other relatives. Sergt. Johnson j is looking well and enjoys army life. | His company expects to leave some time in the spring for a mid-western city where they will be given two weeks’ training in the mechanism of | motor trucks, after which they may j proceed to NevVp°rt News. Sergt. i Johnson says, “Of course we do not I know just when we will go; but you 1 will readily see that should we get as far as Newport News, Va., we are j pretty close to the ocean.” ALPHONSO WILSON IS “GRANDPA AG'IN, B’GOSH!” — The boys around the University | club say that the good-natured but 1 sedate Alphonse Wilson was discover ed dancing a jig a few days ago and j singing—yes, that’s what they called the unusual noise he was making— “Grandpa, Ag’in, B’Gosh!” The rea- j son for this hilarity became apparent when it was learned that a fine son i was born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunnigan Wilson Saturday afternoon at the resi dence of the maternal grandmother, Mrs. William Burrell, 3905 North Twenty-first street. It is a little dif ficult to decide which is the prouder, Cunnigan or Grandpa Alphonso. ——— COLORED GIRL WINS FIRST P R1ZE j Richmond, Va.—The National Emer gency Food Garden Commission of Washington, D. C., has awarded a prize of $5 and a national certificate of merit for the best collection of can ned fruits and vegetables to Miss Ada Mae Peace of Waverly, Va. The col lection was made from fruits and vegetables raised on a war garden and were exhibited 1n the Colored building of the Sussex County Fair, held at Waverly October 30 to November 2, 1917. COLORED GIRL MADE MAIL CARRIER Chicago, 111.—Miss Dorothy Hill, 19 years old, was the first of ten women appointed as mail carriers in Chicago because of the scarcity of men for that work. Miss Hill is Colored. DALLAS, TEXAS, BUSY AND PROGRESSIVE Its Prosperous Weekly, The Express, Employs Many Members of the Race. Dallas, Texas, Dec. 28, 1917. To the Readers of The Monitor: Christmas day found me at Dallas. That business industrial and shipping point of North Texas, situated near the head waters of the Trinity river. Dallas is a city of approximately 125, 000, one-fifth of which is claimed by the race, which has progressed along with the city. Their fraternal organ izations, which have taken front rank, have erected two large and creditable buildings—the Pythian Temple on East Elm is very imposing and at tractive. Its numerous business and professional men have profected a substantial and creditable local of the National Negro Business League. They have also established a number of local insurance companies, which are growing rapidly, and proves that the Negro realizes the value of sup porting race institutions. A visit to the plant of that large and prosperous weekly—the Dallas Express—was greatly enjoyed by your representative. I fund it thor oughly equipped and giving employ ment to a number of progressive and intelligent young journalists and pressmen. Dallas offered nothing during the week in the way of excite ment, that is, of any interest to our readers, but your humble servant was the guest on the evening of his ar rival at a stag party given by Mr. Joe Ashley at his residence, 2405 Greenwood, where 1 met any number of old friends and made many new ones. Of course, at the same time introducing the Monitor. Later the guest of Mrs. David Hughes of State and Clark streets. Mrs. Hughes is an old school mate of mine. I established the headquarters for the Monitor at Hooper’s drug store in the Pythian Temple of East Dallas, where it will be found for sale at all times in the future. Am leaving to night to spend Sunday in Waco, Texas. Until next week, I am Correspondingly yours, FRED C. WILLIAMS, Traveling Representative of The Monitor. REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS — Kansas City, Mo.—The Negro Na-' | tional Educational Congress began a campaign to obtain the election of I Negro congressmen from New York, i Philadelphia, Baltimore and Chicago, | according to a statement given out | here by J. Silas Harris, the organiza- ! tion’s president. “It is the contention of the congress j that 12,000,000 American citizens are without representation in the legisla tive department of the government,” the statement sets forth, “and that in each of these cities Negroes are in a position to force the nomination of a member of their own race.” Since the close of the Fifty-eighth congress no Negro has had a seat in the National House of Representa tives, George White of North Carolina being the last. LIEUT. AMMONS AN OMAHA VISITOR ! First Lieut. Benjamin Ammons, 317 headquarters mounted police, 92 divi sion, Camp Funston, has been in the j city for a few days’ furlough visiting his sister,Mrs.Moseley. Lieut. Ammons spent ten years at Tuskegee as stu dent and teacher of military tactics and prior to his entrance to the Offi cers’ Training Camp at Des Moines, where he received his commission, he was commandant at the Western uni versity. He is an officer and gentle man of most pleasing personality and it is predicted that his rise in the army will be rapid. RECENT FOOD RULINGS These recent rulings of the food ad ministration will be of infonnation to all Nebraskans: Traveling salesmen, representing mercantile establishments selling di rect to the consumer, must be licensed as brokers. This applies to those who lake orders, which are shipped either iirect to the consumer or to the sales man and distributed by him. Bakers in making bread may use ten junces of skimmed dried milk instead jf six pounds of fresh skimmed milk, f they desire, to every 196 pounds of flour or meal used. Bakers may do nate their products to churches and ■haritable institutions. Some Significant Events of 1917 T’HE following summary of more or less important events show substantial progress made toward the attainment of that true democracy for which America ideally stands and will ultimately attain. Gains greater than losses. The future looms large with promise: Jan. 5—Matthew Harris awarded $42, 500 in a suit against the sheriff at Memphis, Tenn., upholding the prin ciple that a man's home is his castle. A posse had dynamited the home of Harris. John W. Parks, lawyer, appointed assistant in the office of Governor Brumbaugh at $15 per day. Congress passes a resolution to probe Southern election methods. Jan. 9—Mayor Mitchell of New York City appoints Dr. E. P. Roberts on the Board of Education. Madame C. J. Walker, the world’s wealthiest Colored woman, pur chases $100,000 home near the es tate of John D. Rockefeller. Jan. 19—Elijah J. Graham, jr., ap pointed law librarian at Wheeling, W. Va. Colonel Dennison of the Eighth Il linois National Guard, appointed as sistant attorney general of the state. Feb. 9—Tennessee supreme court sus tains the ruling of lower court up holding the will of J. H. Jennings, white, who left an estate valued at $100,000 to his Colored common law wife, by whom he had ten children. Feb. 16—Howard university, Washing ton, D. C., holds fiftieth anniversary. May 9—Liberia breaks with the kaiser. May 17—Harry Burleigh of New York, famous composer,wins third Spring am medal, awarded for most dis tinguished service by N. A. A. C. P. Ma£ 22—Eli Parsons, chained in steel cage at Memphis, Tenn., and burned to death by a mob. June 15—Officers’ reserve camp for the training of Colored officers for the army established at Des Moines, Iowa. Ten thousand move to Cleveland from the South in one year. June 22—Lieutenant Colonel Young, the highest ranking Colored officer, U. S. A., retired against the protests of the country. July 2—East St. Louis massacre, in which 200 Colored men, women and children were mutilated, burned ami killed. July 3—Dr. James Wilson of Freed man’s hospital, Washington, D. C., first Negro physician to become licentiate National Board of Exami ners. July 5—Records kept by Monroe W. Work of Tuskegee show that the lynchings for the first six months of the year totaled 14, or 11 less than the first six months of 1916. Of these 13 were Negroes and 1 white. One Colored woman was lynched. July 6—Colonel Roosevelt denounces race riots and makes a heated reply to Samuel Gompers, head of the American Federation of Labor, at a meeting in New York City. July 29—Wonderful silent parade of 10,000 Negroes in New York, as a protest against acts of discrimina tion and oppression inflicted upon us in this country, and particularly in East St. Louis massacre. Aug. 1—Negroes of nation carry to White House their protest against East St. Louis horror. Aug. 12—National Business Men’s league convenes at Chattanooga, Tenn. Aug. 20—Grand jury indicts 105 race rioters at East St. Louis. Aug. 23—Troopers of Twenty-fourth Infantry clash with police at Hous ton, Tex., and seventeen civilians killed. Aug. 28—Independent B. P. O. Elks of the World hold convention at Cleve land, O. Fourteenth annual session Federa tion of Women’s Clubs of Pennsyl vania at Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Sept. 5—Five members of Twenty fourth Infantry who clashed witn police at Waco, Tex., sentenced to five years and one to ten years. Nineteenth annual session of Med ical Association at Philadelphia. Sept. 18—Cleveland men organize housing company, to provide homes for 3,000 newcomers. Oct. 10—Emmett J. Scott appointed assistant to Secretary of War Baker. Oct. 15—Six hundred and twenty-four Colored officers commissioned in United States army. Oct. 27-30—Colored draftees through out country leave for cantonments ’mid patriotic scenes. Secretary of War Baker issues circular letter to Colored people. Nov. 1—Colored men called to the colors. Nov. 6—Dr. Furniss elected to Indian apolis city council. T. W. Fleming elected to Cleveland council. J. C. Thomas elected to New York alder manic board. E. A. Johnson elected to New York assembly. Nov. 11—United States supreme court declares segregation laws of Louis ville unconstitutional. Nov. 20—Entire division of 80,000 Col ored soldiers formed, including en gineers’ brigade, for service in France. Dec. 2—Lation Scott chained to stake at Dyersburg, Tenn., and burned to death. Dec. 12 — The Venerable Edward Thomas Demby elected Bishop Suf fragan of Tennessee. Dec. 13—Thirteen soldiers of the Twenty-fourth Infantry executed for alleged mutiny at Houston, Tex. Forty-one sentenced to life im prisonment; four given two years, and five acquitted, the result of findings of army court-martial. ___I THE YEAR OF 1917 TMIh, Colored American has every reason to take coinage. The 1 past year may have taken something away, but it gave more | than it took. from the Twenty-fourth Infantry we have lost three score of the best soldiers in the world, who, up to the bear-baiting of j Houston, had an enviable record for discipline and soldierly com-! tesy. Hut we have gained the unprecedented total of 700 com missioned officers in the United States army and have an equal i status for service in the ranks. We have heard the greatest court in the land, by an obiter dictum, reaffirm its approval of ordinary “Jim Crowism.” Hut j the sjime court at the same time wiped out the very worst form ol “Jim Crowism” in the segregation ordinance and removed from us the threat of an American Ghetto. We had in East St. Louis a supremely savage effort to beat us back industrially. But far from being beaten back we have broken down the industrial wall that hemmed us in the southeast and have sent our hardy cohorts to every industrial center of the greatest industrial nation. We have Chester in Pennsylvania and Memphis in Tennes see! Oh yes, Memphis with all the savage instincts that still in fest its purlieus. Hut we also have Detroit in Michigan, and we still have and have still better the Harlem in New York City, The Harlem! We have to pay more for our butter and eggs. Hut we have more to pay with. What boots it to the Colored man if eggs be a 1 dime a dozen and his wages so low and his chance to work so slim that he cannot spare the ten cents? It were far I letter for him ' that eggs should sell at fifty cents a dozen if he can earn from three to five dollars a day. We are still stalked by the shadow' of government—depart Kiental segregation. Hut in substance we are represented in every 1 apartment ol government service, aud have a high civil officer ' in the War Department. As a racial element in the world war we have earned the hate of Germany. Hut we have deepened the love of France. And one ol the acknowledged assets of America is our loyalty and mag nanimity. Like all the gentler folk of the world we stand horrified and aghast at this world war and world murder. Hut the Colored American has gained, in both material and immaterial goods, and will gain proportionately more from this world conflict, perhaps, than any other single element in the world. “THY WILL BE DONE.” WILLIAM PICKENS, Dean of Morgan College. ,J MAKE YOUR WAR INCOME TAX RETURN Mr. Salaried Man, Wage Earner, Far mer, Merchant, Professional Man, Tradesman and Others: Don’t you think the income tax law doesn’t apply to you. You can be pretty sure that it does. Did your salary, or wages, or income amonut to over $84.33 a month (that is, over $1,000 a year) during 1917? If so, and you are not married, you must make a statement of this income to the government. If you are mar ried, or support a family, it will not be necessary for you to make an income tax return until it amounts to over $166.66 a month (that is, over $2,000 a year). You must immediately see the in ternal revenue expert in your com munity, and he will tell you how to make out your income tax return on the form which he has. He will also tell yo.u what deductions you can make in figuring up your income. If you are a member of a firm, or a partnership, or a corporation, make sure that your organization renders its statement fully and promptly. Be very sure that you make your in come tax return—sure! Your country is at war and needs the loyal, patriotic and ungrudging support of all its citi zens. You want to do your share. Be sides the law is full of very severe penalties to be visited upon those who fail. Don’t fail! NOTE—In Omaha information re garding the war income tax may be obtained at the office of collector of internal revenue, located in the Omaha Federal (postoffice) building, or at the office of the deputy collector at the city hall, South Side. Persons re siding in other cities, towns and rural districts in Nebraska may secure this information from postmasters, banks and county officials. Income tax re turn forms, properly filled in, must be in hands of federal authorities not later than March 1, 1918, under pen alty, and this tax must be paid not later than June 15, 1918. WORTH, NOT COLOR, COUNTS IN FRANCE Paris, France.—France’s treatment of her Colored soldiers is so much fairer and just and undiscriminatory than the United States’ treatment of her black legions that there is no com parison. In the French army today there are two Colored generals, four colonels and 150 captains, and lieuten ants too numerous to mention. This is a much better showing than is made by the United States, which country has not even an officer as high as col onel in the regular army, although the United States’ population numbers more than 10,000,000 of black folks. There is absolutely no color line over here in dear old France. Here merit alone limits a man’s possibilities and opportunities. SHOCK PROSTRATES MOTHER OF EXECUTED SOLDIER Washington, D. C.—The widowed mother of Larson Brown, one of the thirteen Colored soldiers executed at Fort Sam Houston, resides in this city. Larson was her only son. His father jefore him served thirty-four years in .he United States army, dying just a ,hort time before eligible for retire ment. Larson, who was but 24 years >f age, wanted to emulate the career >f his father as a soldier. Mrs. Brown cnew nothing of the fate of her son mtil she read it in the papers. She vas prostrated bv the news. FARMERS HOLD MEETING Topeka, Kan.—The Sunflower State Agricultural association, which is 'omposed of farmers, met here re ently. President W. E. Carter de ivered the annual address. J, C. j I roves, known as the “potato king,” vas in attendance. W. R. Carter was ■lected president, J. C. Carson, Mrs. A. Rolin and S. T. W. Canaway vice residents, J. G. Groves treasurer, J. Rogers chairman of executive com mittee and Mrs. H. W. Wilson director >f woman’s department. Seek Skilled'^en For Engineer Corps Splendid Opportunity for Colored Vol unteers in Most Desirable Branch of Service; Barred if Subject to Draft. Washington, D. C.—Acceptance au thorized by the war department, De cember 11, 1917, with view to enlist ment for foot service, Colored regular army men qualified for engineer troops with view' to subsequent trans fer to Engineer Regiment, Ninety-sec ond Division, also Colored men quali fied as Morse and wireless telegraph ers, telephone construction and repair men, telegraph line construction and repair men, gas engine men, switch board operators, chauffeurs and auto repairers, motorcycle drivers and others whose previous training and ex perience qualify them for the Signal Corps, for subsequent transfer to Field Signal Battalion, Ninety-second Divi sion. Men qualified for Field Signal Bat talion will be sent to Camp Sherman upon enlistment. Those for engineers will be held at depot pending orders for assignment. Colored applicants will also be ac cepted for stevedore regiments, quar termaster corps, national army. Note—Men who have registered for the draft are not eligible for voluntary enlistment. Those between the ages of 18 and 21, and 31 and 40 can volun teer at any time as heretofore. All registrant applicants interested, who apply too late for voluntary en listment, should write direct to Volun teer Department, 119 D street, N. E., Washington, D. C., for information re garding selection for all service. GREGG SUCCEEDS FRISSELL AT HAMPTON Hampton, Va.—The appointment of Rev. James E. Gregg of Pittsfield, Mass., as principal of Hampton Insti tute, to succeed the late Dr. H. B. Fris sell, w'as announced here. Dr. Gregg is 42 years old and was bora in Hart ford, Conn. He was graduated from Harvard university and the Yale Di vinity School, and for the last five years has been pastor of a Congrega tional church in Pittsfield. A statement issued by the trustees of the institute calls attention to the fact that its founder and first principal was General Samuel Chapman Arm strong, a leader of Negro troops in the civil war, and adds: “Today America is again making the fight for democracy and Hampton is making history as well as the race which it serves. Eighty-three thou sand Negroes are now in the national army, with many Hampton and Tus kegee men among the commanding of ficers.” “BIRTH OF NATION" HELPS DEFEAT MAYOR Boston, Mass.—Andrew J. Peters, former assistant secretary of the treasury, supported by democrats and independent republicans, defeated Mayor James M. Curley for re-election by 9,000 votes. Mayor Curley had in curred the enmity of the Colored citi zens by permitting “The Birth of a Nation” to be shown in Boston, and they put up a strong fight against him. There were five candidates in the field. DR. L. N. BUNDY TO BE TRIED IN MARCH TERM UNDER $21,000 BAIL Belleville, 111.—The bond of Dr. Le roy N. Bundy has been fixed at $24,000 ay the circuit court here and change of cenue granted to Monroe county. An effort is being made to raise the large aond. He is charged with having fur bished arms to Colored men during the recent race riot at East St. Louis. The rase has been set for the March term. AFRICAN TROOPS REAPING HONORS IN FRANCE Paris, Nov. 1.—Two hundred and sixty-four personal citations for brav ery have been conferred upon one bat talion of Somali warriors since they scent into active service in June, 1916. They were in the thick of the fight on the Aisne and at Verdun. These Afri can fighters have few peers in France. ENGIN EE R M E RCH ANT MARI N E F L E E T Philadelphia, Dec. 27.—George Gard ner is the first Colored engineer to be appointed to the United States mer chant marine fleet, he having passed the required examination. Mr. Gard ner is a resident of this city.