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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (July 14, 1921)
— 'T'utp m n\fTTm) f ™ I H I y 1VIU1N11 VJIv u""°' A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor $2.00 a Year 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, July 14, 1921. Vol. VII. No. 3. Whole No. 315. SUSPECT NATIONAL PLOT TO INCITE RACE Man Convicted In Alleged Duluth Assault Case Denied New Trial-Judge Admits Evidence Weak URGES U.;teD states END NEbS*! PEONAGE Former United States District Attorney Bratton Who Was Driven Out of Arkansas for His Defense of Exploited Black Ameri cans in Connection With the Elaine “Race War,” Depicts Con ditions Throughout Southern States And Declares That Peon age is General. t_ ANTI-LYNCHING LAW ASKED DY CONGRESS Federal Legislation Based On The Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution of the United States Which Would Give Gov ernment Jurisdiction Over Race Question in South is Proposed as Solution of Grave Problem Becoming Increasingly Serious. DETROIT, Mich., July 14.—Federal legislation based on the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution of the United States which would give vx the government Jurisdiction over the . ' Negro situation in the South, was recommended by U. S. Bratton, for mer United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, address ing the convention of the National As sociation for Advancement of Colored People, in Central High School Mon day, June 27. “Peonage is general throughout the south/’ declared Mr. Bratton. “Condl ious of many Negroes in the south are worse now than any time since the Civil War. Political control rests with machine politicians who are Immune to both law and courts,’’ he declared. Defended Peons, Driven Dot Mr. Bratton, who spent 12 years in the government service in Arkansas, told the delegates that he was driven out of Arkansas prior to the race riots of 1919 because he attempted to de fend Negro peons. He now is gen eral counsel for the United Brother hood of Maintenance of Way Employes • and Railway Shop Laborers. i. Garland Penn, corresponding sec retary for the board of education for Negroes of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also spoke. The meeting was presided over by Harry E. Davis, a member of the Ohio House of Repre sentatives, iegal chairman of the Cleveland branch ol the national as sociation. Ellorls will be made to introduce into Congress legislation for the aboli tion of lynching, and to obtain the appointment of a national inter-racial commission to make an earnest study of race conditions and race relations in the United States. ('ailed National Issue "Public sentiment toward the lynch ing evil has been aroused so much liiut it has become a national issue," declared James Weldon Johnson, of New 1 ork, Secretary of the associa tion, iu outlining the efforts that will be made to obtain anti-lynching legis lation. He counseled the members of his race to refrain from any retalia tory ucts. NEW TRIAL DENIED ACCUSED CIRCUS HAND Max Mason, The Only Man Convicted of Alleged Assault Which Caused Duluth Lynching Refused New Trial. Judge Admits i Evidence Doubtful Upon Which Conviction Is Rased. ATTORNEYS SAY WILLAPPEAL THE CASE DULUTH, Minn., July 14.—Max Ma son, circus bund, of Alabama, con victed of criminal assault on a white girl June 144, 1920, was denied a uew trial, in an order received July 8 ; in district court from Judge L. S. Nelson of Slayton, Minn. A motion for a new trial was argued before him by F. L. HarneH, colored attorney of Chicago, and opposed by County At torney Warren 15, Greene, a month ago. K. C. .McCullough, Duluth attor ney, said Friday an appeal would be taken to the stale supreme court. The memorandum of the judge is unusual ly brief. It follows: “As 1 view it, the only question in the case is whether there is evidence sufficient to sustain a verdict of guil ty. The identification is not as clear NEW GEORGIA GOVERNOR WARNS AGAINST LYN( RINGS ATLANTA, Ga., July 14.—Mob vio lence in Georgia should be suppressed and by State authorities, Governor Hardwick declared in his first mes sage to the State Legislature. He warned that If this was not done, it was “very probable that Federal in tervention will not be long delayed.” “Since my induction into office, on June 3<i, 1917,’' said the governor, “the newspapers have carried accounts of the lynching of 68 Negroes. From sources which so far as I know are reliable, I have Information regarding other lynchings not included in the list. “A method should be provided where by a State grand Jury, composed of citizens selected from all sections, might make full investigation into the crime and have authorities to retrrn * presentments against those participat ing In mob violence. “The governor should be given au thority to remve any sheriff found derelict in his duties, not only with respect to protecting prisoners, but in regards to any failure on the part of that official to properly discharge the duties of his office.” I ub it might be and the condition of the i prosecuting witness, when examined 1 , by the physician the next morning was i very unusual, but there is evidence on | which the Jury could find that the I crime was committed and that the de i fendant did commit it.” Mr. liaruett argued that the girl did : not identify Mason when he was brought before her the day after the ! alleged assault, hut identified him ! weeks later. Mr. Harnett also argued jthat a physician who exumiued the girl the day after the alleged assuult ; committed by six Negroes, found no evidence of such an assault. Luter it was -testified Hie girl and Mason I were both found to he infected with a similar disease. .M. ..l.!iiJ™!LiLJ.;.!!_ MOBILE COLORED DOCTORS WET THREAT FROM KEAN MOBILE, Ala., July 14.—Mobile city and county Ku Klux Klau, said to number 3,oU0 distributed hills through out the city Saturday night and Sun day morning threatening colored doc tors. The sign said: '‘Seventy-two hours a/ter this notice you must have the word 'colored' posted on your signs. This waiting on white patients must he stopped. Vou’ll know this in the next case you attend, so don't blame us, because you ixave been warned. This Is no Negro whipping organiza tion, hut should occasion arise, be as sured we will not hesitate.’’ WIUL HEADS HONOR LIST IN CHICAWO CHICAGO, 111., July 144—Miss Wil helmina Harrison, daughttr of Judge W m. H. Harrlso’T, the noted publicist, graduates from Crane Junior College hero, this year. She has the distinc tion of beading the honor roll In this Institution, where good scholarship is a tradition. In addition, Miss Harri son has h<sen studying for her master’s degree in music at the Chicago Col lege. 0 ....----.... - . .......... ..... ------- o ADDRESS TO COUNTRY BY N.A.A.C.P. CONVENTION The following Resolution is really an address to the Country and is considered the most important act of each Conference. The National Association for the Advancement of Col ored People in its Twelfth Annual Conference, meeting in this great crisis of the world’s reconstruction, would remind the nation that from our very first conference we have planted our agitation and action upon a careful and thorough investigation of the truth concerning the Negro problem. Often when we have published in our organ, THE CRISIS, and in letters and articles in the press, our findings and con clusions, we have been accused of exaggeration. Today we stand vindicated before the world in the revelations of Geor- i gia, and knowing that Georgia is little if any worse than half a dozen other states, we solemnly adjure this nation to give more serious attention and more earnest action to this fes tering social sore. Lynching and mob violence against Negroes still looms as our most indefensible national crime and unless the pres ent administration takes early action by legal enactment it will stand condemned of all thoughtful citizens north and south. Increasingly the Negro at Washington, Chicago, and Tulsa has been forced to give his life in self defense. No man can do less for his family and people and it is a cruel campaign of lying that represents this fight for life as or ganized aggression. Negroes are not fools. Eleven million poor laborers do not seek war on a hundred million powerful neighbors. But they cannot and will not die without raising a hand when the nation lets its offscourings and bandits in sult, harry, loot and kill them. What is the cause of the new conflict of race in Ameri ca? It is not simply a gl ov ing sense of manhood on the part of the blacks, it is-increased lack of sympathy and sense of justice on the part of the whites and this arises from the snapping of those human bonds which must exist, between neighbors. If the Negro child is not educated; if the Negro is segregated in federal departments and Oklahoma cities; if he is publicly insulted by “Jim Crow” cars; if he is treated unjustly in the courts as in the twelve pending Arkansas peonage cases; if in the army and navy the Negro is grossly and continually discriminated against and faces plans for ‘ further discrimination in the national guard; if he has no voice in the administration of the law' especially as to labor, agriculture and education; and if finally the nation is being honeycombed by secret societies like the Klu Klux Klan, who stir up race hatred by innuendo and appeal to the low'est brute instincts—if all these things are done, how can we help but kill the human sympathy, the spirit of the Prince of Peace, the strong faith and the desire for humble effec tive co-operation which alone can save civilization? Men and women of America, the program of those who would save America from bitter racial hatred and conflict and murder is short and simple: 1. The Right to vote under the same conditions as oth er persons vote. 2. A federal law against lynching and mob violence. 3. Justice for the convicted peons in Arkansas. 4. Equitable treatment for Negro soldiers and sailors. 5. Aboliton of the “Jim Crow” cars in interstate traf fic. 6. Free public schools for Negro children. 7. The appointment of an inter-racial commission, of high class, fair-minded men and women representing both races, to make a scientific survey of race relations. 8. The withdrawal of our military forces from Haiti and carefully planned aid for Haiti and Liberia. 0. The weight of our influence to secure justice for the j natives of Africa narticuiai !y in the former German colonies. 10. A world wide attemnt to promote peace through inter-racial understanding and eouality, and through a wid er recognization of the basic identity of race and labor prob lems. 1 i I,IFK INSURANCE COMPANY LAUNCHED CHICAGO, July 14.—Liberty Life In surance Company has gone over. Chi cagoans are proud of its achievement. On June 30th it deposited with the State Insurance Commission $100,000, the state's requirement for an old line insurance company. The Liberty Life is the second old line insurance com pany which the Race has developed successfully during the current year. II II .— I I ■ I.——I II I | | HTCDENT WINS HIGH HONOR IN COLLEGE WILLI AMSTOWN, Mass., July 14.— Sterling A. Brown, a member of the Junior Class of Williams College, Wll liamstown, Mass., has been elected to the I’hl Beta Kappa honorary society, being one of the few members of his class to receive this honor In the Junior year of the college course, and the only colored member. Mr. Brown is the son of Rev. Sterling N. Brown, a imBtMglHtRrnnf.WFHtSIMHIHtHWMitlHIJtWShSHUnjCg!) Nebraska Civil Rights Bill § 1 i Chapter Thirteen of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska, Civil Rights. Knaetcd in 1893. Sec. 1. Civil rights of persons. All persons within this state shall be entitled to a full and equal enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants, public conveyances, barber shops, theatres and other places of amuse ment; subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to every person. Sec. 2. Penalty for Violation of Preceding Section. Any person who shall violate the foregoing section by denying to any person, except for reasons of law applicable to all persons, the full enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges enumerated in the foregoing section, or by aiding or inciting such denials, shall for each offense be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined in any sum not less than twenty-five dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars, and pay the cosi.s of the prosecution. » “The original act was held valid as to citizens; barber shops can not discriminate against persons on account of color. Messenger vs. State! 25 Nebr. page 677. N. 1 W. 638.” “A restaurant keeper who refuses to serve a colored person with refreshments in a certain part of his restaurant, for no other reason than that he is colored, is civilly li able, though he offers to serve him by setting a table in a more private part of the house. Ferguson vs. Gies, 82 Mich. 358; N. W. 718,” I REQUEST FOR MONITOR FROM FAR OFF RUSSIA The following letter which came by registered mail last Wednesday from far-off Russia and has been over two months on the way shows how far the knowledge of this publication extends: Omsk, April 29, 1921. Mr. J. A. Williams, Editor “Monitor” 1119 No. 21st St., Omaha, Nebraska. Dear Sir: 1 take the liberty to ask you to send me through the post a sample copy of your publication, “Monitor” and 1 beg you at the same time to tell me the subscription rates, for which I shall be very grateful. Awaiting the favour of an early re ply, I remain, Dear Sir, Your obedient servant, S. Davidoff Address: S. Davidoff, Gubleskom, Stanichnaya 32, Omsk, Russia. JAI'A.N CONDEMNS A ML HI ('AN LYNCHINGS Lawlessness Wliich Is Bringing Lnlt eil States Into Ill-Repute Among Foreign Nations Discussed by Jap anese Press Which Charges Amerl cans Mith Callousness of Heart. NEW YORK, July 14.—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, has announced that Japanese condemnation of American lynchings has been received in the form of a four-column editorial In the Aslan Review, May-June number, pub lished in Tokyo, Japan. ‘‘Americans vociferously claim to be the champions of justice and humanity,” says the editorial, ■‘yet they do not hesitate to tram ple upon these very principles and perpetrate the foulest deed ever conceived.” The crime referred to is the burning alive, at the stake, of Henry Uiwery, at Nodena, Arkansas, on January 26, 1921. The matter quoted by the Asian Re view was press publicity matter sent out to the foreign press of the world by the New York office of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “It is an indelible stain,'" the editorial continues, “on the name of America that in this enlight ened age such crimes should take place publicly and the offenders go unpunished. It goes to demon strate the utter callousness of heart of the American public. Lynching is possible in the Unit ed States because the spirit of America is in favor of it. If this were not true, this foul crime would never have grown to its present proportions nor would any of the more than three thousand lynchings during the past thirty two years have taken place.” The editorial concludes by saying that creation of a strong public opin ion throughout the world will lie nec essary “in order to bring sufficient pressure to bear on the American goi - eminent to adopt effective measures at once so as to make it impossible for thte American mobs to resort to these barbarous excesses.” professor of Howard University, and a graduate of the Dunbar High School, Washington, D. C. COMMUNISTS SEEK AMERICAN ALLIES New York Police Have Begun Inquiry Into Alleged Plot, Believed To Be Nation-Wide, to Increase Discontent Among Colored Americans And Help Further The Cause of “A Soviet Repub lic of America.” Man Arrested For Distributing “Incendiary Leaflets.” ' PAMPHLETS URGIHG FORCE ARE COHFISCATED The Tulsa Massacre Furnishes Fitting Text For Strong. Appeal From Pamphleteers to Overthrow Force With Force. Main tain That This is The Only Language Capitalistic Classes And V “Their White Guards, the Ku Klux Klan Can Understand. j S|gB Labor’s Attitude on “Color Line” Criticized. - NEW YORK, July 14.—Tne police have begun inquiry into what they think may prove to be a nation-wide propaganda intended to stir up Negro discontent throughout America and further the cause of “a Soviet Repub lic of America.” Morris Sorner, forty-two, white, of 124 Ludlow street, arrested June 2a while distributing, it is alleged, cir culars of an incendiary nature, ad mitted, the police say, that he had been hired to scatter an appeal head ed “The Tulsa Massacre,” urging or ganized force as the only remedy to apply against “mobs of business men who outrage the Negroes and work ers.” He declined to say who hired him. The police also continued a search of the neighborhood of Second avenue, Fifteenth and Sixteenth, where the in cendiary leaflets, signed by the “Exec utive Committee, Communist Party of America,” were being distributed. Tulsa Rioting “By the time this leaflet is in hand," the circular read, “the whole world will have learned of the horrible mas sacre of Negroes in Tulsa. “No words are vivid enough to de scribe the actions of the well-dressed and armed mob of business men who, with automobiles and airplanes, sur rounded the Negro quarter of Tulsa on June 1, killed ninety persons and in jured more than 200 and made more than 10,000 Negroes homeless. “There Is only one appeal to stop these fiendish and bloody outrages— the appeal to organized force. The only language that the bloodthirsty capitalists of America can understand is the language of organized power. “Only by reprisals, by answering force with force, will business mien and their white guards, the Ku Klux Klan, etc., be restrained from their assaults on the Negroes and the work ing people.” Labor was criticized for its attitude toward the Negro as follows: Wants Resolution “We’ve failed to organize the Negro and refused to treat him as our equal brother. We are to blame. Break down the barriers in the union. Wipe out the color lines. There is only one line we can draw, and that is the class line.” Part of the poster dealt with soviet ism. It read: “Under the Russian czar the Jews were the victims of race riots and pogroms. Workers and peasants over threw the capitalist government and established a workers’ government— the soviet republic of Russia. Only by following our Russian comrades’ hero ic example and establishing here the soviet republic of America will the workers, white and black, be able to | work in peace and enjoy the fruits of : their labor. | “Down with the capitalist system! Long live the Workers’ Republic of America! ” DANGEROUSLY IGNORANT CONCERNING NEGRO White Professor Makes Startling Statement Before National Con- * vention For Advancement of Colored People. Claims Ameri can Press Is Not Open And Fair In Attitude Towards Race. DETROIT, Mich., July 144.—Robert T. Kerlin, Professor of Knglisb of Vir ginia Military institute, speaking at j a meting of the National Association ; for the Advancement of Colored People n the Central High School, here, said that Americans were a “dangerously uninformed and misinformed people’’ on the Negro. “The task of making known that fact,’’ said Professor Kerlin, “and of driving home the truth is a most im portant one but it is an almost im possible task. Ours is not, generally speaking, an open press in any part j of America. And this is particularly 1 true of it when the Negro is con cerned. “The consequences are perilous, sometimes calamitous. Had the facts of lilaine, Ark., been adequately pu- ; lished throughout America, the shame of Tulsa would not be written in the charred ruins of homes and the ash heaps of stores and churches. “The first of all safety measures, the first of all square deals, is the giv ing of a fpll and open-minded hearing to the facts. “The case of the Negro in America has never yet come fairly into court. The facts of his life are not known in any adequate way to the rest of the American people. Above all, the mor al and intellectual life of this body of Americans is not known to the rest of America. The inner life, the spir itual life, of the black folk is terra In cognita to the white man. “Public opinion is too apt to be the opinion of the unprincipled and unre strained elements of society that are bent on violence and evil. These ele ments are always active in spreading l their opinions—In making them pub | lie and in making them prevail. The “good people" are silent, playing safe j ty first and letting the evil force spread. Then come East St. Louis, Washington, Chicago and Tulsa. Af ter tlie disaster the public opinion of the disgraced community, so the paper informs us, condemns the act Now which was the ‘public’ opinion of that community—the opinion that had the power to turn loose the forces of hell, to mingle carnage with ashes or the pinion that afterwards laments shame? “Right thinking people must be ev erlastingly active in making their pri vate opinion the public opinion. They must use the press, the pulpit, the platform, the street corner. They must cease to sin by silence.’’ FRIEND OF KALE CALLED (Uy The Associated Negro Press.) LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 14.4—In the death of Dr. J. B. Gambrell, the Baptist denomination has lost one of its most conspicuous figures, and the South one of her most valuable citi zens. Dr. Gambrell was one great southern white man who arose above race pre judice, and had so much of the reli gion of the Lord Jesus Christ in hint, that he considered all men as bis brethren. He was a true friend to the Negro race, and during the time that he served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, did all in his pow er to have that great organization to take hold of the hand of their weaker brther, and helpo him on hia feet. Speaking on the race question several years ago, before the Mississippi leg islature, he was quoted aa saying “I would not strike a man, under me, if I should kick a man, I would select a governor, and not a man who could not help himself.’’ kGAN: “The Monitor In Every And Fll . ......1