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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (May 25, 1918)
I i The Monitor n=n —- # • <ia E--- — A National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored Americans /Oo^ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor $1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, MAY 25. 1918 Vol. III. No. ^5 'e No. 149) Ballou Convids Theatre Manager The General Says His Bulletin Was One of Advice, Designed to Prevent Racial Friction and Had Nothing to Do With Any Policy of Segregation. EXPLANATORY LETTER TO EMMETT SCOTT Implies That Pro-German Influences Are Actively at Work to Aggravate Grievances of Colored Americans. CAMP FUNSTON, Kansas, May 15. —It transpires that while Major General C. C. Ballou of the Ninety second Division, was addressing the men under him through Bulletin No. 35 he was at the same time pressing the prosecution of the theatrical man ager who had discriminated against a sergeant of the division. The prosecution of the manager of the Wareham theater for discrimina „ tion on account of color, instigated at General Ballou’s request, was, after being twice continued, tried in police court at Manhattan, Kan., a few days ago and resulted in the conviction of the defendant and the imposition of a fine of $10 and costs. It is generally assumed that the conviction of the theatrical manager will serve to pre vent a repetition of the offense and will deter other theater owners and managers from making discrimination on account of color. General Ballou followed the same course here as he did at the officers’ training school at Des Moines, la., last summer, namely, while admonishing his men to refrain from precipitating rac'.il disturbances, to prosecute those who should dis criminate against his men. General Ballou Writes Scott. k The following letter, addressed to ^ Emmett J. Scott, special assistant to J the secretary of war, although dated April 22, 1918, has just been made public, since the prosecution and con v:ction of the offending theater man ager. A letter similar in character has also been written to the editor of the Crisis, New York. The letter to Mr. Scott follows: Headquarters 9?d Division, Camp Funston, Kansas, April 22, 1918. Mr. Emmett J. Scott, War Depart ment, Washington, D. C.: My Dear Mr. Scott—I have your re quest that I make a brief statement relative to Bulletin No. 35, these head quarters. There seem* to be no good reason why I should not do so. Here are the preliminary facts: A soldier of this division got into trouble with a theater manager at Manhattan and reported it to me. I at once ordered an investigation, placed the facts before the division< judge advocate and was informed by him that the theater manager had vio lated the law. I then put the case in the hands of the United States attor ney and requested the prosecution of the theater manager. The case was set for April 22. I then issued Bulle tin No. 35, which, in brief, is counsel to my soldiers to avoid race troubles. This bulletin was g'ven out to the Col ored press of the country, accorn j anied by an entirely misleading let ter that not only completely sup pressed all mention of any prosecution of the theater manager, but directly and falsely conveyed the impression to editors and readers that I had not done so. The most prejudiced person will, I think, at once see that this was „ a malicious attempt to stir up race fueling by misrepresentation. Good Order and Military Discipline Foundation Stones. The character of Bulletin No. 3b was that of advice, as already stated. This advice was ordered published to the division. It had nothing to do with any policy of segregation or with any policy outside of the military estab lishments. Its purpose was to pre vent race friction, with the attendant prejudice to good order and military discipline. Good order and military discipline are the foundation stones of the military service. They are indis pensable. Nothing connected with th» I service of the Colored troops has ever jk been so threatening to good order and W discipline as race troubles have been, and it is well known that our enemies have sought to profit by this fact ever since there was a nrospect of war. No stone has been left unturned. There have always been foes of our country ready to aggravate the grievances of the Colored people on the one hand and to stir up the whites on the other. It was no mere coincident that the East St. Louis atrocities occurred in a city filled largely with German sym pathizers. There is little doubt that the same influence egged on both whites and blacks at Houston. Most troubles have small beginnings. At Houston they grew from the fact of Colored Boldiers entering cars reserved for whites and other similar matters. Great wrongs were eventually committed on both sides, culminating in the killing of a score or more of white people and the hanging of thirteen Negroes. In the midst of all the feeling and excite ment caused by the East St. Louis and Houston troubles, che Colored officers’ training cainp at Fort Des Moines won golden approbation all over the United States, made thousands of friends for the Colored race and achieved a glor, ous success. It did all of this by fol lowing precisely the advice that was repeated to the Ninety-second Di vision in Bulletin No. 35. “By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them.” Our enemies do not wish the United States to have its military power in creased by Colored soldiers, and they stand ready to add fuel to every race discord in order to embarrass our country as much as possible in this war. Is it any wonder then, in view of what the enemy has accomplished in the past and is seeking to accom plish again, that the commander of the Colored division seeks to nip trou bles in the bud, and while prosecuting white men for their offences against his soldiers, urges the soldiers to do their part to keep the peace and pro mote harmony. I have shown that my position and action were deliberately and mali ciously misrepresented to the Colored people by the suppression of the news of my prompt prosecution of the thea ter manager and by falsely conveying the impression that I had taken no such action. The entire letter that ac companied Bulletin No. 35 to the press of the Colored people was a misrepre sentation of my attitude and of the facts in the case, and no fair-minded person, when the facts are known, as stated above, can fail to see the work of an enemy—an enemy of our coun try and an even greater enemy to the Colored race. Is the Colored race go ing to “fall” to such schemes ? I think not. I think they will contrast the work of the trouble-maker with the solid achievements of the Colored offi cers’ trainig camp at Fort Des Moines and of the Ninety-second Division and consider thoughtfully the words, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Sincerely, C. C. BALI OU, Major-General, Commanding 92d Division. Speakers to Present U. S. War Aims Announcement Made Through Office of Emmet Scott,Special Assistant to Secretary of War. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF WORK AU DEPARTMENT, Washing ton, D. C.—Through the office of Mr. Emmett J. Scott, special as sistant to the secretary of war, it is announced that the war department and the speaking division of the Com mittee on Public Information, recog nizing the importance of enlightening Negro public opinion as to the war aims of the government, have decided to appoint a special committee of speakers, to be composed of leading Colored Americans, who shall, as op portunity offers, seek to create and mobilize public opinion, which shall back up the government in the prose cution of the war. As has been stated, the issue of this struggle depends to a large extent on the way public opinion in the United States is stimulated and directed. It is, indeed, only through the united ef forts of enlightened and enthusiastic Americans that the full strength of the nation can be exerted, that victory can come to our righteous cause, and that America can accomplish those things for which she entered this con flict. Upon the leaders of our public opinion, therefore, rests a responsi bility heavier than perhaps ever rest ed upon any group of people in our entire history. It is a task which can be performed only bv men and women who themselves are well informed and who co-operate with all patriotic or ganizations, governmental and pri vate, which are unifying public opin ion in support of the national purpose. More than sixty gentlemen, who are representative of Negro thought ar.d opinion, have been requested by the v/ar department and the Committee on Public Information to render the services above indicated, among whom are the following: Dr. Robert R. Moton, principal Tus kegee Normal and Industrial institute, Tuskegee, Ala. Dr. Ernest Lyon, chairman Colored Branch of the Maryland Council of Defense and consul general of the Re public of Liberia to the United States, Baltimore, Md. Hon. William H. Lewis, former as sistant attorney general of the United States, Boston, Mass. Dr. W. E. B. DuBois, editor the Crisis Magazine, New York City. Hon. Charles W. Anderson, former collector of internal revenue for the Second district of New York City, now assistant commissioner of agri culture for the state of New York; at present serving on exemption board, New York City. Dr. J. W. E. Bowen, vice president Gammon Theological seminary, At lanta, Ga. Dr. John R. Hawkins, financial sec retary of the African Methodist Epis copal church, Washington, D. C. Dr. Robert E. Jones, editor the Southwestern Christian Advocate, New Orleans, La. Mr. Perry W. Howard, president National Negro Bar association, Jack son, Miss. Dr. E. C. Morris, president National Baptist convention, Helena, Ark. Bishop George W. Clinton, senior bishop African Methodist church, Charlotte, N. C. Bishop George W. Clinton, senior bishop African Methodist church, Charlotte, N. C. Mr. Fred R. Moore, publisher the New- York Age, New York City. Hon. J. C. Napier, president Na tional Negro Business league, Nash ville, Tenn. Mr. Robert S. Abbott, editor and publisher the Chicago Defender, Chi cago. Mr. W. T. Andrew's, editor the Bal t:more Daily Herald, Baltimore, Md. Hon. Charles N. Love, editor the Texas Freeman, Houston, Tex. Mr. R. W. Thompson, newspaper correspondent, Washington, D. C. Prof. Kelly Miller, dean of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, How ard university, Washington, D. C. Dr. John Hope, president Morehouse college, Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Nelson C. Crews, editor Kansas City Sun, Kansas City, Mo. Dr. N. D. Shamborguer, pastor Methodist Episcopal church, Chatta nooga, Tenn. Mr. W. Clarence Hueston, attorney at-law, Kansas City, Mo. Patriotic Campaign to Be Undertaken. This patriotic campaign will be un dertaken at an early date and zones of activity will be worked out whereby the gentlemen above named may have full opportunity to serve the United States government in this hour of na tional emergency and need. There ia also being worked out a program whereby representative wo men of the race may later be called into service to conduct a similar cam paign of patriotic activity. In addition to this a special cam paign will be conducted in all of the camps and cantonments where Negro soldiers are stationed, and in the cities surrounding such camps and canton ments by Colored physicians, sur geons, etc., who will seek to promote the best possible health conditions among the soldiers of the various camps. This work will take the form of lectures, clinics, stereopticon talks, etc., dealing with those subjects which directly concern the moral and phy sical welfare of the Colored soldiers. A selected group of prominent phy sicians and surgeons will have charge of this campaign. DOMESTICS JOIN UNION TO ASK RAISE New Orleans, La.—Horrors of war ere as nothing compared to what New Orleans housewives may experience within the next fortnight. All be cause domestics of New Orleans have been unionized. Oft made threats to organize the domestic help of New Orleans were fulfilled Tuesday night when the wife of Sylvester Pete, a labor leader, or ganized “The Colored Domestic Union” at a meeting of over 300 Col ored cooks, housemaids, washerwomen and nurse girls, in Pythian Temple. Units recruited in the union are pre paring plans for battle. Word from the headquarters last week was that the first skirmish with employers will be for shorter hours and higher wages. The union will seek a charter from the American Federation of Labor, it was said. Are Decorated For Their Bravery _ Privates Johnson and Roberts Give “Magnificent Example of Courage and Energy” When Attacked by Force of Twenty-live Germans. SOLDIERS MAINTAIN TRADITION Engage in Heroic Hand to Hand En counter with Superior Force; Wounded but Conquer; Their Col onel a Former Nebraskan. By Junius 8, Wood. Special Cable to Omaha World-Herald and Chicago Daily News. WITH American Army on French Front, May 20.—This story of gallantry of two American Negro soldiers, who attacked a party of twenty-five Germans early last Thurs day morning and completely routed und beat off the enemy, killing or wounding five men although them selves wounded, carries with it the announcement that Negro troops have for about a month been holding a part of the front line trenches in the Stmeinhould region west of Verdun. These troops, acting in close asso ciation with the French, have dis charged their duties in the most ex cellent fashion. The Tuesday night fight being typical of their conduct. It is described by military observers as worthy of the best traditions of the American army. Occupied Advance Post. Early Thursday morning five Ne groes occupied an advance post jut ting out into No Man’s Land. Three were asleep in a dugout and the two others were on guard. These two men were Henry John son of 23 Monroe street, Albany, N. Y., and Nedham Roberts of Trenton, N. J. About 3 o'clock when it was still dark Johnson thought he heard a noise and called out, “Here they come.” A sergeant back of the post shot off a flare, disclosing the figures of a squad of Germans trying out the barbed wire surrounding the post. Later it was ascertained that they had entered an abandoned trench to the right of the post about 2 o’clock with the intention of gobbling up the occupants just as soon as the flare lighted up the surroundings. Wounded by Grenades. The Germans threw grenades, which wounded Johnson and Roberts, felling both. But the two men while lying on the ground threw grenades back at the Germans, who were now forcing an entrance. As the first came in Johnson re gained his feet and shot him through the chest, but his rifle jammed and so he used it as a club, knocking down a second German with a blow on the head. Three other Germans had slipped by and one was trying to check the prostrate Roberts, while two others tried to carry him off. His rifle was broken, but Johnson drew a long trench knife, which the Colored men call “Bolo knife,” and brought it down upon the skull of one of the Germans. Later it was found that the knife was stained with blood, as was the German cap picked up nearby. Lunged With Knife. Another German leaped at Roberts, who lunged forward with the knife, almost disemboweling the man. Both Johnson and Roberts swear that the German cried out in English, “The son of a-got me.” Johnson all this time was shouting “Turn out the guard,” but another German fired at him with a revolver, the bullet striking him in the arm. As the intrepid Negro fell he man aged to hurl a single grenade which, from the signs found in the morning, blew the German to pieces. Then Johnson fainted. But the Germans had had enough and they scuttled off in the darkness, hearing away the killed and wound ed and leaving behind stretchers, wire cutters, grenades and revolvers. Strong patrols searched for them but were unable to find them. Awarded War Cross. Both the Colored men were award ed the French Croix de Guerre with palms, accompanied by army order The Johnson citation lead: “Johnson gave a magnificent ex ample of courage and energy.” Rob erts’ was described as a “Good and brave soldier.” Negroes previously took part in a rain in which they en tered the German trenches and brought back three prisoners after finding slight resistence. This opera tion was executed with the French. They go out patroling No Man’s land every night and have been shelled frequently. Their sector is a veritable sniper’s nest and German bullets whistle about constantly but they are full of enthusiasm in their surround ings. They had not had a casualty until Thursday’s fight. Soldiers Will Recover. Both Johnson and Roberts will re cover, though wounded ip many places by grenade splinters. Most of these troops are from New York and their commander is a former New \ork official, who hails originally from Nebraska. LIBERIA ASKS AMERICAN AID President Wilson Evinces Deep Inter est in the Welfare of the Besieged Republic; Claims Admirably Pre sented by Representative Men of the Nation. WASHINGTON, D. C., May 17— At the recent conference at the White House with President Wilson, v-hen consideration was asked for the application of the Republic of Liberia for a loan of $5,000,000, the following well known men presented the claims of the overseas government in a high ly convincing fashion: Dr. Robert R. Moton, principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial in stitute; Dr. Ernest Lyon of Baltimore, Liberian consul general to the United States; Attorney William H. Lewis of Boston, former assistant attorney general of the United States; Dr. James H. Dillard, president of the Slater and Jeanes Fund Boards of Trustees; Dr. Thomas Jesse Jones of the Phelps-Stokes fund, and Mr. Em mett J. Scott, who was a member of the American commission to Liberia in 1909 and at present serving as spe cial assistant to the secretary of war. President Wilson greeted the party most cordially and expressed deep in terest in the cause as presented by his callers. The Red Cross, Mercy's Maid, Calls upon you now for aid. Riveters Break World Record Charles Knight and a Crew of Seven Surpass All Previous Records Made In Riveting Ships. Baltimore, Md„ May 17.—a gang of Negro riveters working at Sparrows Point, Md., in the Bethle hem Steel Corporation broke the world’s record for driving rivets. One of the gang, Charles Knight, drove 4,875 three-quarter-inch rivets in a nine-hour day. The previous highest record was 4,442 made by a workman in a Scottish shipyard. This is the way the Negro is demonstrating his patriotism at home while his brothers in black in the army are showing it in France. Mr. Knight is a highly re spectable and industrious citizen of Baltimore, a native of Virginia. Telegrams announcing the new rec ord were sent to Mr. Charles M. Schwab, director general for the fleet corporation, and other officials con nected with shipbuilding. If a bridge of ships will enable our soldiers to go over, to be fed and our allies to have supplies the Negro will have a large share in building those ships. Mr. Knight is one of thousands of Negro shipworkers. At Newport News yards alone there are about 8,000 employed. Commenting on this performance of work the Washington Times of May 18 said: “Not many months ago German propagandists were spreading the story that the Colored people of the South, even as far north as this city, were preparing to revolt against the government and do what they could to hinder the work of the war. “Day before yesterday there was & revolution, but it was not the kind the Germans planned. Charles Knight, Colored, and seven Colored helpers turned upside down every record that had ever been made for driving rivets into the hulls of ships. “That is the kind of a revolution the Colored men of this country are carry ing on. “That is the kind of a revolution they may be depended on to carry oh to the end of the war. “Foreman Knight set an example of efficiency to every citizen of the country, whether he be black or white.” Soldiers Pleased With France Encounter No Blighting Race Preju dice There, Where Character and Merit Alone Count and Color Raises No Sinister Bar. DEMOCRACY A REALITY THERE More Than Twenty Thousand Sable Sammies Have Been Landed n» France. Colonel Hayward’s Men Known to be on the Firing Line. RECENT estimates place the num ber of United States Colored men in France at 20,000. This force in cludes the fo Fifteenth Regiment, of New York; the old Eighth, of Illi nois; a battalion from Ohio, one from Massachusetts, several separate com panies and about 2,000 stevedores. All are volunteers. There are also a large number of Colored volunteers serving as mess attendants on trans ports and war ships. None of the Colored regiments of the Regular Army; the Ninth, Tenth, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth, have been sent to France as yet. The Post-Dispatch, this week, pub lishes an article by Lincoln Eyre, Staff Correspondei.' with the Ameri can Army in France, in which he gives the Negro soldier, “Over There” high praise. In writing directly about the New York volunteers, Eyre says: “Since January they have been in France, and many considerations make this contingent as interesting as any the United States has contributed to the common cause. “The standard of intelligence in the unit is extremely high and no illit eracy is noticeable. Many of the men have become French talkers and I heard animated conversations between our men and the Senegalese who chanced to be passing.” No Racial Prejudice. “The American Negro lads get along famously with both white and black Frenchmen. In their dealings with the feminine population they are punctiliously polite, and not a single complaint has been lodged against them in this respect. Naturally they are delighted at the complete lack of racial prejudice they have found in France, and some of them have de clared to me their intention of re maining here after the war. Their pride in their unit speaks well for a continuance of the high morale they have manifested so far. Band of Forty Pieces. “But they seem to be prouder still of their band of 40 pieces. Some one donated $10,000 for this band. He would never regret it if he could see how much pleasure it has brought into the dreary lives of the aged men, wo men and children in the villages in which the Negro troops have so journed. “James Europe, once considered America’s greatest Negro bandmaster, and now a first lieutenant with the New York outfit, drafted 17 mem bers of the Municipal Orchestra of Porto Rico, in order that his regi mental band should have worthy players of reed "nstruments.” White Lieutenants Serve Under Negro Captains. “Democracy is carried to the nth degree in this New York outfit. There are two Negro Captains under whom white lieutenants are serving without the least friction. Lieutenant Eu rope’s fellow officers include a news paper man once on the New York World and a member of a millionaire family who was militia secretary to Governor Whitman. (Lieutenant-Col onel Lorillard Spencer.”) “The Negro unit landed in France af ter three attempts, having been the victims of accidents on the sea, not by submarines, but by faults in their transport. Eyre says: Trained by Frenchmen. “They were immediately sent to an other maritime base, where they d:d every imaginable chore from chop ping wood to building railroads. Not until March were they ordered North to begin training under French in structors, close to the front. “While this was the first American Negro contingent to reach France, there are others now undergoing in tensive training at widely separated points. I visited three other outfits.” DELEGATION WAITS ON MAYOR A delegation waited on the mayor and commissioners Tuesday morning in the interests of Amos P. Scruggs, whom they would like to see retained as inspector of weights and measures.