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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1920)
r .uow.nT* hTt tt^ TV /T AxunrAD " —thank ™-— 1 rlLv IVIUiN 11 UK _ I A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO TIIE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. | j THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor ...—-— $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, JANUARY 29, 1920 Vol. V. No. 30 (Whole No. 239) Color ed Men Flog Old Man for Annoying Women % Prominent Clnb WomaJ' a Welcome Visitor Mrs. Mary It. Tnlliert, N'ntloanl Presi dent of Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Pleases Omaha Au diences—Tells of W ork In France. DELEGATE TO PEACE CONFERENCE Went as a A’ Worker and Rendered Splendid Service tnionir Soldiers at ArRonno and Romanes, A inonir At lioni There M as Mneh Discontent After Armistice -Goes to Sweden Next A'car. MRS. Mary B. Talbert of Buffalo, N. Y.. national president of the Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, a powerful and influential organiza tion numbering 100,000 members; member of the national executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peo ple, and an active war worker in France, was an Omaha visitor last week, Mrs. Talbert, who is on an exten . sive western tour visiting the various * cluhs of the federation in these com munities arrived in the city Friday from Sioux City, Ta„ and was driven to the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Al phonso Wilson. 523 North Thirty third street, whose guest she was dur > * ing her stay here. Friday night she spoke to a ca ! / pacity audience in St. John’s A. M. E. church on experiences with "Our Boys In France.” She had the unique distinction of holding two passports, one as a delegate representing the L women, to the peace conference; the ) other as a "Y" worker. She devoted herself to the" interests of the colored soldiers as a “Y” worker and did good work among them. It is not genejally known that after the signing of the armistice thpre was considerable dis content among the colored soldiers I because of certain Jim Crow regula £ ) tions imposed upon them. Mrs. Tal bert. who was stationed at Romanes, was instrumental in modifying some of these conditions. She told of the high esteem in which the French held our boys, whose conduct was above reproach. Sunday afternoon Mrs. Talbert made an inspiring address before the Omaha branch of the N. A. A. C. P.. which met at 55ion Baptist church, with Mrs. Jessie Hale Moss, the president, in the * f chair. She complimented the assoeia ' • tion on the wfork it is doing and told of her part two years ago, while in Lincoln, in having the attorney gen eral of the state compel the elimina ti onof the most, objectionable features of the “Birth of a Nation.” She stressed the necessity of the race standing unitedly everywhere for fighting segregation and every denial of constitutional rights. She said rights lost or surrendered now could never be regained. She spoke of the influence that colored women are go ing to wield in politics and created much laughter by stating that colored women will not play the game as so many colored men have played It. As Mrs. Talbert is one of the nine American women chosen to go to Sweden next year in connection with the peace treaty, wdiirh wdll entail considerable expense, an offering was presented her at the close of Friday night’s meeting and Sunday afternoon meeting, towards a fund for defray ing her expenses abroad. Mrs. Talbert is a most pleasing and forcible speaker, with the most valu able asset any speaker can have, an atractive personality. She left, at midnight Sunday for Denver. MEMPHIS MEN PLAN COFFIN FACTORY Memphis, Term., Jan. 28.—The un dertakers and business men of the south are organizing a $200,000 cor poration fof the manufacture of cas kets and coffins in Memphis, to hr known as the Tri-State Casket and * Coffin company, for the purpose oi suplying caskets for the colored un dertakers of the south. The enter prise will be one of the largest indus trial propositions in the country financed exclusively with race capital The company is now negotiating foi a site for the plant, which it hopes tc . have in operation by October 1, with about 150 men employed. OCIALISM URGED OX l COLORED PEOPLE '% - *■ , (I Off” Meelins Is Attended by 1,000 at John Wesley Church. and Speakers Aronse Much Enthusiasm and Receive Many Subscriptions for Radical Magazine. (Special to The Monitor by Walter J. Singleton.) W7ASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 28.— W —Socialism was proposed as the educational salvation of the col ored race by Chandler Owens and A. l’hillip Randolph, editors of the Mes senger, a socialist journal published in New York, in addresses before a gathernig of 1,000 people last week in John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Neval Thomas, a high school teacher, presided. The meeting was scheduled to be lietyl sev eral weeks ago in Dunbar high school and was called off because of the pro test of Senator Reed Smoot, who was denounced last night as a "senatorial lackey of capitalistic interests.” Mr. Randolph charged the larger educational institutions of the country with capitalistic control, Instancing alleged control by traction interests of the Washington school system, the trustees of colored colleges and uni versities, he said, are the servants of the money interests who exploit the colored man for industrial purposes. J. Stanley Durkee, president of How ard university, was denounced as a tool of the capitalistic class. Chandler Owens denounced the classics of literature used in schools. He advocated the substitution of mod ern writers, among them Robert Irigersoll and several colored authors. The work on soviet government by Rhys Williams would be permitted general circulation, he said, hut for the "asininity of those who control the school systems.” The large audience which greeted the speakers was ver> enthusiastic interrupting each speaker many times. At the conclusion of the meeting a large number of subscribers were ob tained. and a voluntary collection was taken up amounting to several hun dred dollars. REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS DEPARTMENT Chosen Bj His Fellow Workman as Their Representative Young Man Is Highly Complimented hy Com pany President. A KRON, O., Jan. 28,—F. A. Seiber /V ling, president and general man ager of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., here, addressed his managers and men recently at their annual banquet. It will be remembered, perhaps, that since the exodus north hundreds of colored people have found positions in factories and they are working their way slowly upward. In the audience that day was a young col ored man who had been promoted and selected by the employer as their rep resentative from his department. Mr. Seiberling observed him and stopped to pay to the race with which he was identified the following compliment: "I see before me a young colored man, whom the men in the factory have selected as their representative. I want to congratulate the men down in the factory for their big, broad minded action when they can break down racial ties, religious ties and so cial ties or prejudices, if you please, and select a man on his merit without regard to bis color or creed. Young man, I hope you will prove worthy of the confidence placed in you and that you may be an example of your race, whom we must admit the white race has not treated fairly.” HORRORS! WOMAN ATTENDS THEATER The Fair Miss Hill, Who Can Readily Pass for White. Tnkes Cnfulr Ad vantage of Theater Management. Danville, Va., Jan. 28.—Adjourning the case while he looked up some law under which to prosecute a colored person for attending shows at a white theater, Mayor Wooding was forced to allow Miss Lula Hill her freedom. Miss Hill was arrested coming out of the Majestic theater where she was recognized as colored by a police ser geant. She admitted she was colored and had frequently attended shows in all the theaters where ordinarily col ored folk are not admitted. TAKE LAW INTO OWN HANDS AND PUNISH AN IMBECILIC OFFENDER Colored Men Guilty of Molt Violence Which They Condemn in Others— An Explanatory letter From a Pio neer Resident of Sheridan, Wyo. Sheridan, Wyo.. Jan. 18, 1920. Dear Father Williams, Editor The Monitor: I am inclosing a clipping from one of our daily papers which I think calls for a little explanation. This article says the man was whipped by re spectable colored people. I wish to say very few respectable citizens took part in it for the majority were only in favor of sending Gordan out of town. The president and secretary of the N. A. A. C. P. were the chief pro moters of the whipping. I had under stood the N. A. A. C. P. stood against mob violence from the white people. I cannot understand why it should be right for them to do what they pro test against in others. I would like to know what vou think about it. Shouldn’t this bunch be reprimanded, at least? We are all glad Gordan was sent out of town for he would have caused serious (rouble before long, but we did not approve of the beating. We have heard that his wounds were dressed by a surgeon on board ti e train. He is an old man, 6G years old; suppose he dies of his injuries? 1 think a grave wrong has been done and regret it very much. The pioneer colored citizens of Sheridan have blazed the trail and have stood for law and order. These colored men who whipped Gordan are late ar rivals. If you publish any of this, with hold my name, but if there is any in vestigation of this my name may be used, and I will give all the informa tion T can. I will be glad to hear from you concerning this matter. Your friend, Liven lesson that will NOT HE FORGOTTEN j j Colored Man Arrested For Annoying Women Is Chastised by Men of His Own Rnoe. Respectable and law abiding col ored residents of Sheridan last night took stern measures to keep their j race from being brought into disre | pute in the community through the I actions of irresponsible or degenerate persons. A colored man by the name of Ben Gordon has lived in Sheridan for a I cumber of years. Nobody ever knew any evil of him until within the past few months, when reports began to come to the police that he was annoy ing women. The women who had been so un fortunate as to be bothered by him naturally avoided the notoriety of the police court, and it was hard to get a definite case against him. Last night, however, Chief McPherren watched the man, having familiarized himself with his haunts and habits. Shortly after dark the Negro ac costed a woman who was walking along South Main street, and grossly insulted her. Chief McPherren im mediately placed the man under ar rest, and took him to the police sta tion. The woman quite naturally did not want to appear against the man, and for want of evidence, the police were reluctantly compelled to release the prisoner, upon his assurance that he would leave town. A number of colored citizens of good name, however, had got wind of the affair. Needless to say, they ab horred the actions of the prisoner in itself, but there was even more than that involved. The colored popula tion of Sheridan generally has a good reputation for sobriety and honesty, and for being good citizens. Furthermore, their relations with the white population have always been of that ideal nature described by Booker T. Washington—“Seperate as the fingers in all things purely social, one as the hand in all things that af feet the public welfare." But here was a happening that might get bruited about town in a way to re flect discredit upon the good faith of the colored people, and the harmon ious relations that have so long ex isted between the two races might be' smothered in one of those un reasoning waves of racial antagon ism that have now and again swept over whole communities. Reasoning in this manner, a pum ber of them resolved to give the ob streperous Senagambian a bit of dis cipline that they hoped would prove effective The police were prevented by a technicality from consummating action against the offender—it was (imo for citizens to take a hand. Accordingly, when Gordon was re leased ty the police, he had not gone far from the station when he was seized bv a number of men of his own race, and taken to the- covered bridge across T.lttle Goose Creek Just west of the Sheridan Iron Works. These men raised money sufficient to take Gordon out of town, even going so far as to nay him money that was due him from one source and another. Then then took off his clothes, and with a very well made quirt they pro ceeded to thrash him till he howled for mercy. He probably never before received such a working over, but It is pretty certain that he has another in store for him if he ever shows him self in Sheridan again. The colored men are resolved that nothing shall mar their record here, or disturb the kindly relations that have so long ex isted between the two races.—The rust, .Tan. in, 1920. Ti'.iAT THE MONITOR THINKS ABOUT IT OUR correspondent, who is one of the pioneer and substantial citi zens of Sheridan, wants to know what we think about the action of the men who flogged Cordon. There is only ane consistent position that The Monitor, which stands uncompromis ingly for law' and order, could or would take and that is unqualified condemnation of their lawless act. In taking the law in their own hands uid punishing Gordon, however de serving he was of punishment, they were guilty of mob violence and should be punished as moboerats. Their act in essence differs not by one jot or tittle from that, of any other mob, which in its mad and blind passion stops not at flogging but pro ceeds to take life .with almost, unbe lievable acts of brutality. Gordon’s floggers were lynchers, for lynching loes not mean only taking of life without due process of law, but it means the infliction of any summary punishment by a self-appointed com mission without trial by law. Gor ion, apparently an imbecilic old man —our correspondent gives his age at 86, and the Post says, “Nobody ever knew any evil of him until the past few months when reports began to come to the police that he was annoy ing women"—had been arrested and l tied for his offense. One newspaper account says that, he was given a ninety days’ sentence, which was sus pended on condition that he leave tow'n. The Post states that “the po lice were prevented by a technicality from consummating action against (he offender," but that he was ordered to leave town and promised to do so. If he were guilty, the judge had no business to suspend sentence and pass him on to some other community where ho would repeat, his senile antics. He should have been sent to jail and kept there or, if mildly in sane, as we suspect he is, he should be confined in an insane asylum. The law is fully competent t.o Justly and fully punish all offenders for any crime or offense of which they have been proven guilty. Only short sighted people will condone the action of the men who mobbed and flogged (Continued on Page 8.) !“Gee whiz. Dad, h>ok at % those ‘ads.’ ” <£ “That’s just what they | $ are for, son.” PURCHASE NEW FACTORY BUILDING Enterprising Firm Outgrows Quarters and Finds New Location—Manufac turers of Women’s Clothing and Fa mous Brown Skin Dolls. EMPLOYS THIRTY RACE GIRLS NEW YORK, Jan. 28.—The Deny & Ross Manufacturing company, Incorporated, manufacturers of wom en's and children’s dresses and the well known Berry’s Famous Brown Skin Dolls, 36-38 West 135th street, have bought the two properties, 48 and 50 West 135th street, for manu facturing purposes, and when altera tions are made will be occupied and used for manufacturing purposes. This live wore Negro company’ has made such rapid progress within the last few months that they have out grown their present location and were forced to seek larger quarters owing to the tremendous increase in their business. The Berry & Ross Clothing Factory alone employs over 30 girls, with a weekly output of over 2,000 women’s and children’s dresses. Mr. H. S. Boulin is president; Mr. Reid, general manager; Dr. T. Rawl ins, vice president; Miss E. Berry, treasurer, and Mr. William Wood, di rector. There are a large number of enthusiastic stockholders. The company is incorporated foi $100,000 at $10 per share and one of their chief objects is to build and operate factories and make Harlem the largest Negro manufacturing cen ter in the world. EGYPT’S BLACK POPE DEFIES LORD MILNER Insists That Britain Get Out of Egypt Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 28.—A conver sation between Viscount Milner, spe cial British commissioner, with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, religious chief of the Mohammedans in Egypt, is re ported in the newspaper El Misr Egypt. Lord Milner contended that a protectorate was necessary to Egypt’s interests and that a discus sion could settle nine of ten disputed points. The Mufti replied that no Egyptian would enter into a discus sion except on the basis of independ ence. Lord Milner sought to convince him that Great Britain was actuated by friendship and did not wish to im pose her will forcibly, although able to do so. To this the Grand Mufti replied: “As religious chief I can only say and affirm that it is impossible to convince a nation of the utility of a thing of which I myself am uncon vinced. The entire nation claims its independence and it would therefore be useless to speak in any other lan guage. I do not forget your power, but if Egyptians bend today before force they will seize the first occa sion to revolt. The guarantee of force is not eternal. Between Syria, occupied by France, and Tripoli, oc cupied by Italy, it is better for you that Egypt be independent and friend ly.” Lord Milner contended that the Mufti’s arguments did not prevent a discussion, but the Mufti replied, “We can have no discussion until the pro tectorate is withdrawn.” FIFTY WOMEN FORM DEMOCRATIC AUXILIARY j Given Franchise, Show Disposition to Do Political Thinking for Them selves. St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 28.—Colored women to the number of 50 have or ganized an auxiliary to the Asso ciated Colored Democratic Ward club and have elected Mrs. Lucille Wil born as president, Mrs. Genevieve Mills vice president, Mrs. Parsetta Callaway secretary, Mrs. Irene Whet stone recording secretary, Mrs. Annie Branch treasurer and Mrs. Essie Lawry chairman of the executive committee. COLLEGE WOMEN HOLD MEETING Chicago, Jan. 28.—Delegates from eight colored and white universities met in Chicago in the annual conven tion of the Alpha Kappa sorority, the oldest organization of Its kind among colored college women. 16,000 Withdraw Policies From Insurance Company Resent Activity of Agents of Com pany as Mob Leaders in Lynching of Two Men Held by Authorities on Murder Charge. MAYOR VAINLY SEEKS TO STOP STAMPEDE People Organize Insurance Company of Their Own—Ten Leading Citi zens Promptly Put Up Money to Finance Project. ASHINGTON, D. C.—How 16, 000 colored people withdrew from a white insurance company at one time in revenge for the lynching of two colored men, was told by Bish op John Hurst before the A. M. E. Ministers’ Meeting here recently. Bishop Hurst had just returned from visits to the A. M. E. conferences in Florida. In Jacksonville recently, two col ored men killed were said to have stabbed a white man to death after an all day’s gambling, in which the latter won most of the money. The two men, said the bishop, were put in jail and that night when a crowd of lynchers gathered, a crowd of colored people also gathered to pre vent violence. Seeing that the colored population meant to uphold the law with their lives, if necessary, the mayor and police treated with them and prom ised protection to the two men pro vided the colored crowd would go home. The crowd went home, and no lynching took place. A week later, on a rainy night, friends of the murdered white man, who were found out to be agents of an insurance company in which the dead man worked, broke into jail and lynched the two suspected col ored men, afterwards dragging their victims through the town. Incensed beyond all measure 16, 000 colored folk, who were members of the white insurance company withdrew from the company and put to flight insurance agents when they called to collect money. Loss of so many thousands of dollars aroused prominent white men who had the mayor call colored leaders to a con ference in which he spoke of the necessity of colored people dealing with their white friends. Not to be moved by false argu ments, ten of the leading men of the city met; put up $1,000 each, organ ized and incorporated what is now known as the People’s Industrial In surance Company. The company is now taking up the business lost by the white company. Bishop Hurst added that Negroes of the south are meeting race pre judice with more seriousness and more real courage than their broth ers in the north, and that the south ern Negro is getting ahead with startling rapidity. DISABLED STEAMSHIP BACK IN PORT; BIG LIQUOR CARGO SAFE New York, Jan. 28.—The disabled steamship Yarmouth of the Black Star line was safe in this port early Tues day. The Yarmouth was towed to Ambrose Channel Lighthouse Monday night by the coast guard cutter Seneca and proceeded to this port un der her own steam. Revenue officials here said the $2, 000,000 cargo of liquor was not liable to seizure. The vessel steamed from here January 7 for Havana, Cuba. Col. Daniel G. Porter, supervising in ternal revenue agent here, said that in view of the fact that the Yarmouth cleared before the prohibition law be came effective, her cargo could be transferred, if necessary, to another vessel and forwarded to Cuba under the Yarmouth’s clearance. LEGISLATURE MAKES APPROPRIATION FOR MEMORIAL BUILDING Dallas, Tex., Jan. 28.—The legis lature of South Carolina, at the 1919 session made an appropriation of $100,000 for a memorial building to be erected on the campus of the state college at Orangeburg in honor of the colored soldiers, sailors, nurses and other workers of the state who ren dered service in winning the great J world’s war.