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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 1919)
■r=n the monitor =_i A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor __ $200 , year. 5c a Cop; OMAHA. NEBRASKA. NOVEMBER 6, 1919 v°'- V- No. 18 'Whole No. 227) Omaha Civ's a Hearty Welcome to Returning Mayor — _____—-—-— __ _ -- - -—---- 1 "■ - " - Mayor Smith Returns and Resumes Duties The Energetic Executive Arrives iu City From Florida Tuesday Morning and Immediately Tnkes l'p Ills Work. I’REMIOES AT MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS Not Fully Recovered From Injuries Received From Riot, But Cheerful. Optimistic and Full of Pep. MONITOR readers throughout the country will be pleased to learn that Mayor Ed P. Smith has recovered sufficiently to be back on his job. He arrived Tuesday morning and was welcomed by friends. "There won’t be any slow march behind me—not yet; I’m not a dead man by a long ways, 1 can tell you." Such was Mayor Ed P. Smith's char acteristtc greeting to city officials and friends who met him at the Bur lington station at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning, when he returned from a va cation enforced by the wounds re ceived in the court house riot. Sep tember 28. Twenty minutes later, by the clock, the mayor was in his chair in the council chamber, tapping the gavel to call the city commission to order. In Good Health. The mayor looked well. His face was, if anything, a trifle fuller than before his Injury and his color was good. The only surface reminder of the murderous attack made upon him was a red scar, not very noticeable, above his right eye. "I’m feeling good." the mayor said, "except that 1 find I can’t walk very far without tiring and my nerves get ragged a bit sooner than they ought f to. There is something still a bit wrong with my right arm, too. I' hasn't much strength and i believe the flesh Is somewhat shrunken in the upper arm. But the doctors tell me that osteopathic treatment will im prove that.” Little Comment. With the explanation that he has read scarcely any newspapers since Die riot, tlie mayor declined consist ently to comment on pending ques tions before the city commission,-in cluding the organization of the police department. "I received a copy of the new law removing the protection of civil serv ice from the police,” he said. "It strikes me that that is a power that should be used very carefully. I’m not in favor of dismissing a police man just because 1 don’t like the color of his hair.” Nothing Rut Rest, ^ ‘‘I've been completely away from everything, done nothing but rest,” the tnayot said later in the morning. ‘‘I've simply slept and eaten and kept outdoors all that 1 could, Florida has wonderfully fine paved roads—300 miles of them In the county I was in —and i made use of them. I had in vitations to speak at the Tampa Com mercial club and one or two other places, but I didn’t do it. 1 wanted to get well and get hack home. "I suspect a conspiracy to keep me uninformed of things in Omaha. All the time I was in the hospital J didn't see an Omaha paper. I asked my folks to put a file in the trunk, so that 1 could read them down south, but they didn't do It. My son, In Florida, is a World-Herald subscriber, but Ills subscription ran out the day 1 got there. He sent, in a renewal rrul the paper started coining two days be fore I left. So, except for an occa sional paper I have seen in cities en route, I don’t know much about what has happened.” Mayor Smith was applauded when he appeared at the Chamber of Com merce for lunch. A burst of hand clapping greeted him upon his ar rival. He was Invited to Join the ex ecutive committee in Its room, and when he arose to go, accepting the invitation, there was another round of applause. PROMINENT SPEAKERS PRES ENT AT HARLEM OPENING New York.—The Harlem branch of the Y. M. C. A., located in W. 135th street, erected at a cost of $375,000, celebrated its opening with a notable program. The program brought some of the most prominent Y. M. C. A. officials of the country, who assisted officially in dedicating the building and set it apart for work among col ored men of this city. n, JAPANESE . % ' * * RACE EQUALITY Foreign Minister Declares that the Flowery kingdom Will Insist, on Recognition in League of Nations Covenant. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION INTOLL It A DLL HANDICAP Japanese Soldiers Cannot Fight Side by Side With Allied Forces While Regarded and Treated as Inferiors. rpoKIO, Oct. 1.—Viscount Uchida, A foreign minister of Japan, in an interview recently given out, declared i that Japan would insist upon recog nition of race equality in the league of nations. “Under the league of nations, the Japanese will be pledged to fight side by side with the soldiers of other nations," said the viscount. “How can we expect them to do that, if they know that In the countries from which those other soldiers come, Japanese are discriminated against and treated as inferiors? “But that does not mean immigra tion primarily; it does not necessar ily involve the question of immigra tion. I think, the proposition sub mitted by the Japanese delegates at the peace conference, for the recog nition of race equality, has been mis understood. Immigration wo admit to be a matter at times for internal determination. But we Insist that Japanese everywhere within the countries of the league be given the treatment accorded to other nationals. Gentlemen’s Agreement Stands. "As to the question of immigration of Jananese to the United States, that is not a practical subject now. The so-called ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ stands and will continue to be ob served iti good faith by Japan.” Viscount Uchida asserted that Japan still adheres to the open door policy in China, and Baid that in all the r gions which might be considered as being Japanese spheres of influence, there would be no discrimination against nationals of other countries. MOTORS FROM DETROIT TO OM III A uT'HE Rev, John Albert Williams, A who attended the General Con vention of the Episcopal Church, which met In his old home, Detroit, Mich., returned home Sunday, morn ing, accompanied by his nephews, Bert E. Williams and Charles H. Campbell of Detroit. They made the trip over land In Mr. Bert E. Williams' car, stopping at Chicago, Davenport, Mus catine and other points en route. Mr. Williams is the senior member of the successful real estate firm of Wil liams & Johnson, who have just opened a large addition to the city of Detroit known as the Liberty Farm acres. Mr. Campbell is associated with them in this thriving business. Both gentlemen are most favorably impressed with Omaha. They are stopping with the former’s father, Henry W. Williams, 2017 North Twen ty-fourth street, and expect to leave for Detroit Saturday. REFUSES TO AID IN ATTEMPT TO SEGREGATE IN LI BRARY OF CONGRESS Robert A. Thompson Resigns Rather Than Lend Himself to Iniquitous System. Washington, D. C.—Robt. A. Thompson, of Westfield, N. J., a den tal student of Howard university, re signed as a waiter last Thursday at the Library of Congress cafe because means of "segregation” were being in stituted by the proprietress. Up to this time no color line was taken af ter a consultation had been held by the proprietress of the cafe with her employees, at which time she attempt ed to eliminate the “presence of col ored guests” by instructions to wait ers. NOTED SINGER ILL Mme. E. Azulic Hackley Recovering From Three Months’ Illness. Detroit, Mich., Nov. 4.—Mme. E. Azalie Hackley, the well-known pro ducer of folk songs, is recovering from a three-months’ illness and is yet con fined to the home of her sister. As soon as her health will permit, Mme. Hackley expects to go to Washington for the winter. Mon. Kd I*. Smith, Mayor of Omaha, Whom the Lynchers of Will Brown Thrice Attempted to Hans Because of His Heroic Stand for Law and Order on September 28. THE NEGRO’S GIFT TO AMERICAN ART Emotional Life of This Group Rich Mine for Original American Con tribution to World’s Art. (GREENSBORO, N. C., Nov. 5.— y There is a southern editor who endeavors to give serious concern to the part played by the Negro in life of this section. The following ex pression from the Greensboro News, concerning the dialect of the Negro, is of unquestioned interest and par ticularly that part which says, “And back of it all is the shadow of trag edy that he has brought with him, which sooner or later some artist, whether painter, musician, dramatist, poet, or novelist will use for a crea tion of genius that will sweep the world.” Read it all. “We sincerely hope,” remarks the Raleigh Biblical Recorder, "that the Negro dialect will not perish from the earth. There is a peculiar charm about it that appeals to every south erner, especially to those who knew the old-time plantation Negro.” True. But the old-time plantation ; Negro has disappeared. How should his speech be preserved ? The grand I son of Uncle Remus talks as differ ent a language—not the English or the universities, to be sure, but not less far from that from the speech | that Harris set down. By its very na ture, any dialect must change with the changing fortunes of the people who speak it; and no other race has ever been subjected within 50 years to as sudden and tremendous a change in status as the American Negro. His speech must necessarily undergo pro found modifications, and what was \ true dialect 20 years ago sounds strangely in the ears of those who know the Negro of today. "Joel Chandler Harris and John I Charles McNeill," continues the Re j colder, were authorities on Negro dia lect.” True again. But the dialect ! of McNeill is radically different from that of Harris. The dialect written ' by Haris Dickson differs from both; and that of Octavus Ray Cohen is i yet another species. Yet we hold to the belief that Dickson and Cohen I are as true to life as Harris or Mc , Neill.> The fact is that Uncle Remus 1 spoke a different language from that ! used by Blue-Gum Ander, of the Scotland county church militant, or by Ole Reliable, of the Mississippi levees, i or by Florian Slappey, the leader of [ high society of Biimingham. The I grievous creation of would-be dialect 1 writers of northern birth, we lay 1 aside, along with the boojum and snark and other extinct animals that never existed. But dialect writers} may be as diversified almost as the autumn leaves, and wet paint, each, the thing as he sees it, and paint it truly; for the Negro himself is com ing to be almost infinite in his va-' riety. America is only just getting to be artistically independent enough to ap preciate the Negro. Our humorists— \ always pioneer spirits—were the first to discover the richness of the field. Harris and McNeill did much to es tablish the Negro in literature; Dick son and Cohen are further strengthen ing their work. Presently, the traged- j ians will follow, and somebody will do' magnificently what Thomas Dixon did I crudely. Foster found the first dis-} tnctively American music in Negro folk songs, and to this day the only music that could not by any possibil ity have been written anywhere else than in America is that in which the' Negro’s influence is predominant. liv ing Berlin is more typically American than MacDowell. Even as extreme a development of the white man’s civili zation as that astonishing school of writers who call themselves the “new” poets has not been altogether free from his influence. One of Vachel Lindsey's finest efforts is his suite of poems on the Negro. To give the devil his due, American art owes to the black man its best prospect for developing individually,: of developing greatness. He has given our music a strange, new theory that < it doesn’t know what to make of it, j but that is certainly unlike any other music on earth. He has given our literature a picturesqueness that it' could never have borrowed success fully. He has given our stage a comic foil so excellent that it has been well-nigh ruined by abuse. And back of it all is the shadow of tragedy ] that he has brought with him, which sooner or later some artist, whether painter, musician, dramatist, poet, or novelist, will use for a creation of genius that will sweep the world. That of course, all lies in the fu ture; but already we are deeply in his debt, for aleady he has given us the blessed gift of laughter. Norfolk, Va., Nov. 4.—The Colored j Y. M. C. A. campaign to raise $5,000 for extension of work among colored people of Norfolk, was launched with a meeting in the lobby of the asso ciation building on Jueen street. An interesting program was carried out after which first reports of campaign workers showed a total of $602 had been raised, of which $808.50 was in cash. NOTED AUTHOR SPEAKS OUT AGAINST NATIONAL EVIL Dorothy Canfield Fisher Says Lynch ings Discredit United States in Eu rope. EW YORK CITY, Nov. 5.—The United States is discredited and disgraced in Europe by lynchings, ac cording to a letter written by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, the novelist, and made made public today by the Na tional Association for the Advance ment of Colored People. Mrs. Fisher, writing to Senator Dillingham in fa vor of congressional investigation of lynching, says that in her three years in France she observed “the aston ished, amazed abhorrence which American lynching causes everywhere in Europe.” Her letter follows: Arlington, Vt., October 24, 1919. My Dear Senator Dillingham: I am writing you as a Vermonter much interested in the Negro ques tion to beg you to use all your in fluence for a favorable action on the Curtis resolution calling for an in vestigation of lynching and mob viol ence. I have no need to say anything to you, of course, about the horrible wrongs involved in letting lynching go on, as you must know more about that than we do, and must feel quite as deeply as all the rest of the Vermont ers who are looking anxiously for your action in the matter. But as one just returned from three years in France, I can perhaps present to you from much first hand experience, some idea of the astonished, amazed, abhorrence which American lynching causes everywhere in Europe. The whole nation is discredited and dis graced’ and every word we say about human rights and civilization is laughed at by Europeans who know of the lynching evil in our country. It would to some extent redeem our national honor—even before the fed eral investigation could actually ac complish anything, to have it known that we took the disgrace seriously enough to take national action about it With the keenest hope that you may be instrumental and Vermont, through you, in helping put an end to this na tional horror, I am, sincerely yours, (Signed) Dorothy Canfield Fisher. UNION HOSPITAL OPENS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS Private Institution Launched After Year’s Effort on Part of Promi nent Physicians. Houston, Tex.—A thoroughly mod em and well equipped hospital has been opened here after years assid uous effort on part of promoters. This hospital, is located in the Fourth Ward, 1118 Howard street, comer Lion and is easily accessible by automobiles and street cars. A large, two-story structure Is employed and the equipment is of a high class order. The following constitute the official roster and staff: Dr. Charles A. Jackson, president; Dr. R, F. Ferrill, vice president; Dr. H. E. Lee, secre tary; Dr. B. J. Covington, treasurer; Dr. F. F. Stone, superintendent; Dr. R. D. Roett, resident physician; Miss B. B. Shortt, registered nurse; Drs. J. R. Terrell, E. B. Ramsey, F. L. Mc David. A new departure will be undertaken beginning with Monday, November 10, when a class in nurse training will be formed and instruction begun. This work will be done with the view of training and developing women of the race as efficient nurses, which field offers a most excellent opportunity to the women of our race. Prospective students can apply at Union hospital for enrollment. ST. LOUIS, MO., TO H AVE $100,000 ASSEMBLY HALL William King, Well-Known Citizen, Promoting Project. St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 5.—This city is to have one of the finest assembly halls owned by the race in the entire country, according to the plans of William King, a well-known citizen, who is promoting the affair. It is the plan of Mr. King to erect the hall at Jefferson avenue and Market street at a cost of $100,000 and work is expected to begin soon after the first of the year. Arkansas Jury Convicts Six in Eight Minutes Remarkable Speed Made in the Trials of Negroes Aecased of Rioting in Phillip* County—Six to lie Electro cuted. MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED INDICTMENTS Oil the Knee of the Associated Press Reports the Accused Were Given no Defense—Monitor Awaits Facts From Special Correspondent. HELENA, Ark., Nov. 4.—Rapid prog ress marked the trials of cases growing out of the recent race dis turbances south of this city, one Negro being convicted of first degree murder after eight minutes’ delibera tion by a circuit court jury and five others receiving a verdict of guilty to a similar charge, all at the same time, after the jurymen had been out seven minutes. The verdict means electro cution for the six Negroes. In the first of the two cases tried, that of Frank Hicks, several witnesses for the state testified they saw Hicks fire the shots the morning of October 1, which resulted in the death of Clin ton Lee, an ex-soldier of this city. The defense announced it had no wit* nesses, argument was waived, the jury was instructed and in eight minutes a verdict was returned. Defendants in the second case were Frank Moore, Ed Hicks, J. E. Knox, Paul Hall and Ed Coleman, charged jointly with the murder of Lee. Wit nesses for the state testified that Moore, Knox and Hicks acted as lead ers in the incident, arguments for a verdict of second degree murder were presented by counsel appointed for the defense, instructions were given the jury and a verdict of first degree murder was returned in seven min utes. Indictments have been brought against 122 persons, mostly Negroes, as a result of the disorders. BISHOP THIRKIELD ADVOCATES NEGRO METHODIST BISHOPS Opposes Separation in Church as Tending to Unite Colored Races All Over World in Color War. (By Associated Negro Press.) Boston, mass., Nov. 5.—Bishop Wilbur P. Thirkield, ofNew Or leans, speaking at the monthly meet ing of the Boston Methodist Social Union at Hamilton Hall, People’s Temple, declared that if the American Negro is cast from the church and ostracised from society a gigantic world war between the black and white races will result. As a means of bringing the Negro race into closer’ relationship with the Anglo-Saxons, he advocated the elec tion of Negro Methodist bishops. “There are 350,000 colored people in our church,” he continued. “That would be contrary to the New Testa ment; it would mean a race church, and we would forget the teachings of Jesus Christ. We know full well that the colored races tend to unite and imagine the terrible calamity which would ensue if all the colored races in the world joined.” IMNKY WOOD SCHOOL RE CEIVES FI ND AND AUTOMOBILE Meritorious Work of Founder Law rence K. Jones Rewarded—Iowans Present Gift. Des Moines, la., Nov. 5.—A fund of $1,000 and an automobile for the Piney Woods Country Life School at Braxton, Miss., was presented to Prof. Laurence C. Jones, founder of the school, at a meeting held recently at St. Paul’s A. M. E. church here. The gift was presented by Capt. Asa Tur ner, a civil war veteran, who collected the contributions that made up the fund. Other speakers at the meeting were Sergt. Neadom Roberts, the world war hero; Hon. Nate Kendall, candidate for governor of Iowa, and Hon. Harvey Ingham, editor of the Des Moines Register. Prof. Jones is an Iowa product and graduated from the State University of Iowa. The property of the Piney Woods school is estimated to be worth $75,000. Men are never so ridiculous from the qualities which really belong to them as from those they pretend to possess.