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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (May 24, 1919)
* The Monitor A National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored Americans. Published Every Saturday at Omaha, Nebraska, by The Monitor Pub lishing Company. Entered as Second-Class Mall Matter July 2, 1916, at the Postoltice at Omaha, Neb., under the Act of March 3, 1879. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor and Publisher. j i Lucille Skaggs Edwards and Madree Penn, Associate Editors. George Wells Parker, Contributing Editor. Fred C. Williams, Business Manager. SUBSCRIPTION RATES, $2.00 A YEAR; $1.00 « MONTHS; 60c 3 MONTHS Advertising Rates, 60 cents an Inch per issue. Address, The Monitor, 304 Crounse Block, Omaha, Neb. Telephone Webster 4243. ITT'OR anything worth having, one must pay the price, and j the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice— j no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real J service.—John Burrows. ’ j * A NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT THE Monitor extends heartiest con gratulations to the Rev. W. F. Botts, pastor of Zion Baptist church, and his congregation for their no table achievement in raising in seven weeks the magnificent sum of $10, 700 in cash. Even in these days when people have learned to do things on a large scale, the raising of a sum of this magnitude from a people of such limited means as our people generally possess is a marvelous achievement. It demonstrates what united, deter mined and self-sacrificing effort can accomplish. It shows, too, the advan tage of having a stimulus in the way of a challenge. A committee of prominent white business men, pledged the sum of $10,000 towards the $20,000 required to complete the building of Zion Bap tist church, provided that by a given date the people of the congregation raise an equal sum. The people of Zion went to work with a will, under the efficient leadership of their pas tor, with this splendid result. Of course most Monitor readers may not understand our figure of speech when we say Botts and his bunch of boost ers have called that business men’s committee’s hand. They will have to come across with their $10,000. The challenge has been met. We hope that this notable achieve ment, demonstrating as it does what can be done by a determined and united effort, may serve as an inspira tion for similar corporate and united efforts along other lines. The Rev. Mr. Botts and his congre gation have made a record of which all Omaha may be proud. In this splendid effort they have had as they deserved to have, the co-operation of many members of the race outside of their communion, but undoubtedly the self-sacrificing spirit and liberality of the members of the congregation is primarily and chiefly responsible for this notable achievement. “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN” LAST Sunday’s papers carried the story of the drowning of three lit tle lads—the oldest only eleven—in the reservoir at Council Bluffs. We wonder how many read it. One lit tle lad playing on the edge of the reservoir lost his balance and fell in. Without hesitation one of his com panions went to his rescue. He suc ceeded in swimming with him to the edge of the huge basin, but the slip pery incline gave him no foothold and he could not make it with his younger playmate. Seeing the predicament the third lad fearlessly dived in hop ing that he might help. Three little heads bobbed in the water helplessly for a short space and then sank from sight. Brave little lads! True to the di vinely-implanted instinct of trying to save others, you paid the supreme sacrifice! How your self-forgetful ness shames our sordidness and sel fishness! The more abundant life, brave little lads is yours; for the lov ing arms of One now enfold you, Who said— “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” SCOTT TO BE COMMENDED T3 the impartial-minded who are able to take a sane and unpre judiced view of the situation the work of Emmett J. Scott, special assistant to the secretary of war, on behalf of the Colored troops is worthy of all commendation. That he was not able to accomplish all that he desired goes without saying, but that he honestly, conscientiously and efficiently strove to do his full duty none who has any sense of fairness or justice will at tempt to deny. That Colored soldiers were victims of atrocious discrimina tions, and the Colored officers, in many instances, were subjected to shameful treatment is lamentably true. The record has been kept and when the story has been given to the world, as it will be some day, many Americans will blush with shame and humiliation that representatives of their country could be guilty of such unworthy conduct, belieing our ideals. j towards their fellow countrymen be cause of their African descent. When the facts are known broad minded, and justice-loving white Americans, and thank God, despite ap i parent evidence to the contrary, our country has millions of such—will j gladly pay homage to the type of manhood which our race possesses and i displayed in doing its full duty de spite infamous injustice. Not only I so, the display of these rare qualities | Will make us prouder of our race. That we proved our manhood in the 1 face of much that was galling and | hard to bear is an asset to be coveted. We feel keenly the unwarranted in j dignities put upon our men and de i nounce them as unworthy of our re ! public. But conditions would have 1 been immeasurably worse were it not for the fact that Emmet J. Scott did his work so well. Occupying admit tedly a most difficult position, his set vices have been invaluable both to the race of which he is such a worthy representative and the country of which he is an honored ami useful citizen. Whenever cases of discrimi j nation have been brought to his at tention, he has taken them up most promptly and with salutary effect. The Monitor most hearitly com mends Emmett J. Scott for his splen did services as special assistant to the secretary of war, believing, as we i do, that he has done all within his I power to secure justice and fair treat ment for the Colored troops. We are j glad that the government is going to | retain his services in the work of re I construction which presents as serious problems as those evoked by war. In this work he should be sustained and , will be sustained by the assurance of the confidence of his people in his unselfishness, honesty and integrity. PRESS GLEANINGS Every State Interested (St. Louis Republic.) Representatives of every state in the union are attending the National Conference Opposed to Lynching in New York and there is need that every part of the country should be repre sented. Some states have long and honorable recoids of abstinence from , mob violence, but no state is absolute ly free from danger that it may break out, and since the question is highly important in its national aspects, every state is interested. Nothing but the anarchy that suc ceeded war and revolution has per- ; mitted violent acts to occur in western Europe that are in any degree com- I parable to the barbarous conduct of1 mobs in this country in times of set- t tied peace and high prosperity. That fact helps one to measure the difference between the best governed countries in Europe and this country. What they do only in the throes of anarchistic convulsion this country does sometimes under the best govern ment it can devise and administer. Is it any wonder that in times past critics of America across the sea have ques tioned whether certain parts of this country could be called civilized ? The evil is not in the government, but in a state of mind, and that is a much harder thing to change than i government is. Some such organiza tion as that which met in New York is needed to change the mind and atti tude of many thousands of people on the subject of lynching, and until it is done there will always be a skeleton in the national closet. Confidence in Race Business Men (Portland Advocate.) During the ante-bellum days our people learned to distrust each other to a very large degree, and this relic is handed down to the present time in a large measure. Many Colored busi ness enterprise can trace their lack of Colored patronage to the lack of con fidence in their business ability by people of their own race. Sometimes it is pure meanness and cussedness on the part of many Colored people that they do not patronize their own busi ness enterprises and go to whites, but it is largely due to the lack of confi dence. Haven’t you known of an error hap pening in some business transaction between parties, both Colored? Re sulting from this error the patron gets angry with the business firm and very often makes the assertion, something like this: "1 knew that nigger wouldn’t do the right thing.” He gets angry and vows that he will never again pa tronize a Colored business house, and if he stopped there our story would end. But he goes about spreading lies and suggesting suspicion to others. But let this be a business conducted by whites and an error is made he would think something like this: “Course that’s a white man and he’ll do the square thing even though he made an error about it; he will correct it if I give him a chance.” Notice he didn’t say anything about giving the Colored person a chance. As long as we have that distrust about the business qualifications of each other, we can never hope to build up paying business enterprises. We must leam to have confidence in each other, learn to patronize each other and build up business of our own where our own boys and girls may find employment. Some time ago a certain Colored man opened up a certain business in this city; a young Colored person dropped into our office and happened to speak of this particular business, and said that they had some work they wanted done, but wondered if this man could do it as well as (here they named a white concern doing the same kind of work). Of course, the Colored business man is not always as careful and pains taking in the conduct of his business as he should be. That is another story. Nor is the white man always as care ful in the conduct of his business as he should be. That, too, is another story. But in this we take for granted that the businesses are on a par with each other, one white and the other black. Let us patronize our own where they are deserving. Let us build up business places of which we may point to with pride; let us make room for our young men and women with busi ness aspirations. This can be done through confidence in our race to con duct businesses. THE PERISCOPE “White Man's Country" ( By the Associated Negro Press.) There is a real improvement in con ditions in the South. The better class of Colored people and the better class of whites are “getting together” in a serious effort to better he conditions of all concerned. But there is yet a determined group of whites, including several newspapers, all professing to be “without prejudice” and “the best friends of the Negro,” who cling to the false theory and the musty, ancient belief that “this is a white man’s coun try.” The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, white daily, and the Macon (Ga.) Tele gram, same, in recent editorials have sought to say that none but fools will say anything else, except this is a “white man’s country,” regardless of what we have done, in whole or in part, in peace or in war. It is very evident that much missionary work is yet to be done. DuBois, Moton, and Scott “Contending forces" best describes the present state of affairs between W. E. B. DuBois, R. R. Moton and Emmett J. Scott. Dr. DuBois, with a wonderful vision of the ideal, has definite ideas of the proper pathway to travel in getting to the goal of suc cess, justice and happiness. Dr. Moton and Mr. Scott, with equal vision, are “pressing on” m all seriousness with the hope of reaching the same goal. It will be many days and months, no doubt, before there will be “unity of action” with definite ends in view, and hence the two groups will continue to defy or ignore criticism from each other and go on their individual ways. The Grand Army of Americans Being Formed at Capital. For the moral, social, economic, edu cational and political welfare of its members, a society is (wing formed at the national capital under the name of the “Grand Army of Americans,” its membership to comprise the officers, •soldiers and sailors of the world war, together with their sons and daugh ters. No lines of distinction of race or color are to be drawn and the ramifi cations are to reach the entire United States. The opinion of Colonel Charles Young having been asked in regard to the project, the following is his state ment: "I deem the venture an important and commendable one, but would sug gest (1st) that the provision that in cludes ‘the sons and daughters’ of of ficers and soldiers and sailors would weaken the prestige of the organiza tion. Let them form a separate or ganization if they wish. (2d) The word ‘political’ should be understood to shut out party politics o fall kinds and to include only the higher political as pects of Americanization, safe and sound policy in our external and in ternal relations, and reverence for law and order in a common country only. It is a dangerous word in any consti tution. (3d) I submit that overtures should first be made toward merging such an organization with the Amer i ican Legion, now being organized by i Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, if pos sible. By so doing, we all working to a common end, presenting a more solid front to the difficulties and prob lems of this new day, may be better able to reach the goal of our ideals. In this regard I believe the opinion of a maority of American soldiery is now saying: ‘It was not simply for white j humanity and for white freedom that the United States threw her sword into the balance with the allies, but for us all, irrespective of race, color or condition. Let America be friendly i and free.’ “I counsel, for one, that a rapproche ment with the larger organization be made, if possible. “In the 70,000 dead in the fields of Krance black blood freely and gener ously mingled itself white white. It is, therefore, unbelievable that the sur \ viving comrades should not honor these heroes by standing shoulder to shoulder for the principles for which j they perished and for which the Al , mighty God has spared the living, j black and white.” Change in Trend of Negro Migration (By the Associated Negro Press.) In three years more than 500,000 black people—men, women and chil- | dren—have gone out of the South to various parts of the east and north, j encouraged by economic conditions and rich promises. Now the tables have turned and many Southern communi ties are in great need of labor and some northern communities, particu- ' larly Coatesville, Pa., and latest Chi cago, in another fashion, are seeking to repopulate the South. Comes a large portion of the South, saying, “We need help, but we don’t want the ‘niggeroes’ back with their new-fan gled northern ideas.” Outside of a natural flow of people returning to visit relatives and a few ‘homesickers’ take it for unquestioned truth the < black folk are not returning South. If there is industrial quietude in some localities, and there is further move ment, it is further north and west, 1 rather than South MI ST PLEAD GUILTY TO I N DICT M E N T Documents Show Present Indubitable Evidence of Injustice Against a Large Class of Citizenry. IN’ a very carefully prepared address, | delivered to the Bethel Literary I club, Washington, D. C., April 29, and printed in the May issue of the Crisis, Dr. W. E. DuBois has made quite an ! exhaustive statement of his Pan-Afri can Council, held in Paris last Feb ruary, together with an account of the steps taken by him preparatory to its authorization to be held by the French j government, and of the results for good which he believes this council has accomplished. The address included a very graphic recital of the steps and incidents lead ing up from his determination to cross i the Atlantic, to the final authority I given by Premier Clemenceau after the American authorities had side stepped the undertaking. Quite as important as the report of the council was the discovery of twro important documents which were not intended for publication. They con tained the policy of the United States which discriminated against the em ployment of the Negro as a commis sioned officer and laid the foundation for prejudice and discrimination against our soldiers by the soldiers and officers of the Unites! States with whom they were supposed to be fight ing against a common foe. The docu ments to which Dr. DuBois referred in his address are printed in the Crisis and completely fix the blame upon our country for what heretofore rested only on rumor. The address and the Crisis make a distinct issue, a com plete indictment to which in the face of the indubitable evidence filed, our country must plead guilty before the bar of the world, condemning it for false practice, injustice against a large class of its citizenry. The Crisis had been held up by the postoffice department for several days primarily because of these publica tions herein indicated setting forth the policy of our government. Resent ment on the part of the administration will appear later on when the investi gations of congress into the conduct of the war will bring to the light of day this and other indefensible matters of policy. What will follow in the wake of these declarations by Dr. Dullois we do not here and now predict. We should not be surprised if they will lead to new departures, possibly to more vigorous steps and statements that will figure in the contest next , year when the peace conference will be an element of discussion that may mean the determination of electoral votes and the election or defeat of candidates, senatorial or presidential. J. W. CROMWKLL. Washington, D. C., May 10, 1919. Get a new Subscriber for The Mon itor. It is only $2.00 a year. It is up to you to help push your own pa per. The Monitor must go into every Colored home in Omaha. Help us put it there. Thank you. | The Beautiful Thing | X About the FORD CAR is its 100% simplicity of operation, 100% per ^ ❖ cent economy, and 100% service. That’s why we’ve adopted the T slogan 100% Ford Service. We strive to maintain the Ford standard ! X all the time, in all ways, in all departments. ? X We sell Ford Motor Cars and Fordsom Farm Tractors. *»' | Sample-Hart Motor Co. f X Tyler 513. 18th and Burt Streets. .]. X~X~X-CX-*<-MX~X%-X'*«X-<-X%”X-M~X-**X-X~X"X-X~X-,X~X~X~X-* 200,000 I Can Take Up DUDLEY’S NINETY DAY OFFER f X For ninety days only will ship to all new agents $10.00 worth of .j. •}• DUDLEY’S FAMOUS POLISH for $5.00. Save time. Just inclose * X five dollars and your address in full and a shipment will be made the t •j* same day we get your order to Live Wire Agents. Hit the iron while A r it is hot. Write for an order. Jr J X Dudley’s Leather and Chemical Works :j: ■{* 116 South Main Street. Muskogee, Okla. .j. .;„X".~X%~X~XX-*-X"X~X"X”X"X"X”X~X“X“X“X"X"X”X"X"X"X"X~X' H Classified Directory of Omaha’s Colored professional and Business firms .:~X~X“X“X~X“:“X":~X"X~XX“X~X“:~X“X~X~X”X"X-X"XX~X-X“:“:“:“X‘ j- ALLEN JONES ANDREW T. REED y £ Res. Phone Web. 204. Res. Phone Red 5210. ?_ JONES & REED { Funeral Parlor Parlors 2314 North 24th Street. Phone Webster 1100. Expert Licensed Embalmers and Funeral Directors. Auto and Horse *;* £ Drawn Vehicles. Lady Attendant. Open Day and Night. X j* NOTE 3. W'e back up our service with every bit of our expert- j £ ence and every ounce of our determination to make it of utmost artis- X j- tic value and do so at the lowest possible cost. y ’••X~X“X~X"X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X-XX“X~X«X~X-X"X**X“X~X*"X~X~X«* #» « icXWO<3©©c»:w»SHHR \ E. A. Williamson I DRUGGIST * y * :r * :r % . i * Competent and Reliable * | 'it I K 2306 North 21th St. t « | a Webster 4443. ; : a a;a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a f £ a Telephone Webster 248 Open Day and Night Silas Johnson i Western Funeral Home \ 2518 Lake St. ;; The Place for Quality and Service £ PRICES REASONABLE. Llcented Embalmer In Attendance ,J* rc Lady Attendant If Desired. x « 8 * MUSIC FURNISHED FREE. I ?■ 1R. H. Robbins § t & Co. $ GROCERIES AND MEATS g a a K St An Up-to-Date Store. M X r St K !! 1411 North 24th Street. £ a 'a a 'a " Prompt Delivery. W. 241. g g s Maceo T. I WILLIAMS j 5 Concert Violinist I ■ _ a ‘ t and Teacher « STUDIO, 2416 BINNEY ST. a Webster 3028. ' 7 f.'V/'AfV” >•#«./> #> »> 'V,»* 'VM, « « *■ n » Eureka Furniture Store * f. Complete Line of New and Sec- •” ond Hand Furniture PRICES REASONABLE ” Call Uh When You Have Any ” Furniture to Sell | 1417 N. 24th St. Web. 420fi | u-HmomtMimmwixwtcKxxtat j{ THE | WASHINGTON - DOUGLAS j INVESTMENT CO. § : § BONDS, INVESTMENTS, § | RENTALS AND FARM § LANDS I Phone Webster 4206. 1417 North 24th St. fi .il |J. H. HOLMES | TAILOR » =! All work Guaranteed. La * dies’ and Gents’ Suits Re modeled, Cleaned, Pressed * and Repaired. New Hoff a man Press. * V « 2022 N. 21th St. Web. 3320 '4 :! »a a a a a Him a a a a a a a a a a a aiadflM| j J A. F. PEOPLES ;; Painting Paperhanging and Decorating ?! Estimates Furnished Free. ~ a All Work Guaranteed. a 1827 Erskine Street. Phone Walnut 2111. | a WW a jivt yCKSKiX 11 a South & Thompson’s Cafe ; ffl. 2418 North 24th St. Webster 4566 a •j SPECIAL SUNDAY DINNER 1 8 Stewed cuicken with dumplings..40c al g Roast Prime Beef au Jus ..40c ,H C Roast Pork. Apple Sauce _40c i Roast Domestic Goose, dressing 50c j! Early June Peas Mashed Potatoes & Salad M Coffee Dessert a We Serve Mexican Chile 1 . 1 it'K.HiHWiH:* law « K H « «.W'K >Q? :( | Little King Hotel I 2615 N Street a Steam Heated. Open All Nisht. ;{' a Room by Day or Week. Meals a at All Hours. V MRS. ELIZABETH HILL, Prop, a Phone South 3195. >1)1 a a a a a a a a a ;>« a S. W. MILLS FURNITURE CO. a j! We sell new and second hand “ ;j furniture, 1421 North 24th St. a a Webster 148. 24th and Charles, a a | DR. P. W. SAWYER f DENTIST a. jgj ;! Tel. Doug. 7150; Web. 3636 a 220 South 13th St. a: iWUaiXBdKIKIKIKIa a j JOHN HALLS PROGRESSIVE TAILOR I 1614 N. 24th St. Web. 875. | Open for Buelneee the BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HOTEL Nicely Furnlehed Steam Heated jj Room., With or Without Board. I 623 North 15th St. Omaha, Neb. ! Phone Tyler 887.