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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1923)
, the monitor % A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor - — - - ... - ■ '■ “ - — ■ ~ ■ ■ ■ — ■ ■ " ~ ' ~ - ~ 1 ■■ ■ ■" —i . ■ ■ — — — ■■ ' ' — ■■■—■" m 12.00 a Year. 5c a Copy °\ OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1923 Whole Number 440 Vol. IX—No. 24 THE AHTI-LYHCHIHG ' BILL HAS AH EARLY PLACE IH CONGRESS Measure In Which Interest of Race Largely Centers First on Cal endar of Present Session FRIENDS ARE STAGING FIGHT Bill Subjected To Critical Scrutiny By Legal Lights To Remove All Unconstitutionality Objections Washington, D. C., Dec. 14.—In sofar as Negroes are particularly con cerned, chief interest in the present session of Congress centers in two matters which will come up for con sideration. They are anti-lynching legislation and the confirmation of Walter L. Cohen to be comptroller of customs for the port of New Or leans. The fight to enact the Dyer anti lynching bill in the present Congress is already under way. James Wel don Johnson, secretary of the N. A. A. C. P. was in Washington just before and during the convening of Con gress on Monday, December!* 3, to talk with Congressional leaders about the measure and to plan the fight to pass it. First on Calendar Albert E. Pillsbury, former attor ney general of Massachusetts, and a member of the N. A. A. C. P., from its beginning, has gone over the Dyer bill carefully, as have Moorfield Storey, president of the N. A. A. C. P., and Herbert K. Stockton, of the Association’s legal committee, in or der to make it proof against all ob jections on constitutional grounds. Walter F\ White conferred with Mr. Dyer in Washington before Congress convened. According to Representative Dyer, who arranged that the anti-lynching bill be the first one introduced in the 69th Congress, there is strong prob ability that it will be passed in the house of representatives. The se verest fight on the bill will come in the Senate where it was held up and lost through a filibuster of southern senators in the last session. Ask Coolidge O. K. The fight was begun by the N. A. A. C. P., with a strong recommenda tion to President Coolidge that, in V his message to Congress, he urge en " actment of the anti-lynching bill. The letter to President Coolidge, dated November 12, stated that "there is no matter on which the colored people of the United States have felt so strongly anil so unitedly since the a. Emancipation Proclamation as the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill.” The letter then cited the declaration in the Re publican National Platform of 1920, urging Congress to consider the most effective means to end lynching in America. The letter then continued: "We are, therefore, venturing to hope that in your message to Congress you will make some definite and for cible pronouncement in this sense and call upon Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation.” DEATH CALLS ONE OF OMAHA’S MATRONS Mrs. Josiah Brown Succumbs to Tu berculosis Soon After Her Return From Arizona Where She Went in Quest of Health Sina Lillian, beloved wife of Josiah Brown, , passed away Friday night | at the home of her cousin, Walter Williams, 2512 Maple Street, from tuberculosis after a protracted ill ness. It was only a few months ago that decided symptoms that MrB. Brown was a victim of this malady appeared. Her decline thereafter was rapid. Her physician ordered a change of climate and last summer the family, accompanied by Mrs. Sar > ah Fergusogn, Mrs. Brown’s mother, went to Phoenix, Ariz., renting out their attractive home at 1514 Bur dette street. Mrs. Brown did not im prove and so the family returned to Omaha Sunday morning, December 2. residing temporarily at the home of Mr. Williams. Despite the best and most skillful medical attention both v here and in Arizona, and all that hu man love and devoted attention upon the part of husband and mother could do, the end come peacefully Friday night about 11 o’clock. Sina Lillian Brown, who was the •laughter of Daniel and Sarah (Wil liams) Ferguson, was bom at Oak Mills, Kans., April 12, 1886. She was married to Josiah Brown, one of Oma I ha’s most industrious and progressiv* young men, November 24, 1908, am their married life has been ideal. Twc daughters, Nathalie May and Sarah Jane, were bom to them. Mrs. Brown was a devoted wife and mother an<! yet found time for good deeds which are written in the book of remem brance and upon the hearts of many friends. She was one of the most faithful and earnest communicants oi the Episcopal Church of St. Philip the Deacon being a member of the vestry, of the Altar Guild and an associate of the Girls Friendly So ciety. The funeral was held from the church in which she was baptized and confirmed Thursday morning at 10 o’clock, the Rev. John Albert Wil liams officiating. Interment was in Forest Lawn. Deceased is survived by her hus band and two children, her father and mother, two brothers, Charles of Oak Mills, Kans., and David of Los An geles, Cal., and other relatives. THOUSANDS CHEER ROLAND HAYES 1 Boston, Mass., Dec. 14.—Every seat in Symphony Hall was taken for the Roland Hayes’ concert Sunday night. All chairs were filled which could be crowded upon the stage, and hundreds stood during the performance. He was forced to sing a dozen encores to spirituals. Similar acclaim greeted the singer last week in New York, Richmond and Hampton, Va. FU'i IRE AFRICAN KING SWEEPS FLOOR FOR HIS EDUCATION Modest and Earnest Student in Clarke University Said To Be Heir To the Throne of Uganda MAY RULE 2,000,000 PEOPLE Atlanta, Ga., Dee. 14.—One would scarcely expect to find the future ruler of a kingdom of two million people cleaning an office. Even dem ocratic America is surprised to learn that we have in our midst the future king of Uganda in the person of an unassuming and earnest student at Clarke University, Atlanta, who daily cleans offices to help pay for his edu cation. Some day this young man will be crowned Hosea I in his cap ital at Fort Worth, Kabarole, in the heart of Africa and become the leader of two million of his people. Uganda is one of the British coun tries that make up British East Africa. It is under the protection of Great *Britain but the white man never interferes with the affairs of the na tion. The king who is almost su preme, is assisted by a Parliament made up of two or three representa tives of each of the hundred villages. The Parliament makes the laws which the king vetoes or passes. If there is a deadlock, an appeal is made to the British officials. Nyabonga's father, the present king, is the first Christian monarch to reign in Uganda. Nyabonga’s grandfather was a heathen and made no attempt to civilize his people. U ganda is made up of a motley group of tribes which the present king is at tempting to mold into a nation. With the thought in mind that no group of people can become a nation until they learn to manufacture their own commodities, the Crown Prince of U ganda is at Clarke University learn ing how to introduce the ideas of the new world to his own country where everything is made by hand. The present king, whose title is Omekama, became a Christian, mar ried one wife and sent his son and heir to America to learn how to bring light to his country. He has also sent young men to Europe, India and China to study and return as mis sionaries to their people. Four years from now the Prince will go back equipped ,to carry ma chinery, religion, and education to his people. “I will teach them to read and write and become Christians,” Nyabonga said. ‘‘I will make my nation one of the most civilized in Africa.” He will go first to the mountains and jungle and combat the fetish worship in its own territory. Then he will bring schools, churches factories and hospitals so that when he becomes King he will reign over a new Uganda. The Prince feels that he is being put to a test and when he finally comes into his own he hopes to measure up in every way. | COLUMBUS CONVENTION OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA AND DELTA SIGMA THETA 700 College Men and Women Expect ed to Visit City During Holidays —Prominent Leaders to Be Present Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 14.—All Col umbus is astir in making prepara tions for the coming gathering of Ne gro College men and women from all parts of the country who will parti cipate in the Conventions of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to be held in this city the week, December 27th to 31st, 1923. The homes of many of the most prominent colored citizens of I Columbus have been offered for the ; accomodation of the more than 700 members of these two organizations I who will be in attendance. Already the local chairman of the ] Convention Committee of the Alpha ! Phi Alpha Fraternity, V. D. Johnston, i has received word from the National I ALICE JAYY A refreshing "breeze" with “Breezy Times," the delightful girls-and-mu sic show at the popular Gayety all next week. Tired shoppers’ matinee at 2:15 ilftily all week. »- - — ■ 1 — Secretary, Norman L. McGhee, that in addition to the 600 graduate and undergraduate members of the Fra ternity who plan to be present in Col umbus during the Convention week, a large number of the most promin ent leaders among colored people, who j are members of the Fraternity, will , also be present. Among these are | such prominent men as Honorable ' Robert L. Vann of Pittsburgh; Dr. J. E. Moorland of New York City; Dr. Emmett J. Scott of Washington, D. C.; Mr. Aaron E. Malone, St. Louis, Mo.; Honorable Sumner A. Fumiss of j Indianapolis, Ind.; Dr. George C. Hall of Chicago, 111.; Atty. Raymond P. Alexander of Philadelphia, Pa.; R. W. Cannon, Esq., of Minneapolis, Minn.; ! Oscar C. Brown, Esq., of Atlanta, Ga.; I Atty. Sidney P. Brown, of Atlanta, I Ga.; Mr. Eugene K. Jones, of New York City; Dr. A. L. Cjrtis, of Wash ington, D. C. and a number of others. Among the prominent leaders i among colored women who will attend • the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Con ! vention are Mrs. Alice Dunbar Nel son of Wilmington, Del.; Dr. Sadie j Mossell Alexander of Philadelphia, Pa.; Mrs. Numa P. G. Adams of Chi cago, 111.; Miss Anna R. Johnson of Baltimore, Md.; Miss Dorothy Pelham of Washington, D. C.; Miss Edna Brown of Washington, D. C.; Miss Vivian E. Mason, of Chicago, 111.; and a large .number of the members of the Sorority from Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Ohio, and other nearby cities. S. S. Booker, National President of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has sent the following inspiring message to the more than 60 Chapters of the Organization, one being located at practically every great American College and University* “Onward to Columbus for the Na tional conclave of the oldest and larg est Greek letter Fraternity of Col ored men in the world. Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 3000 strong, I say ‘Slumber not in the tents of your fathers; the world is advanc ing, advance with it.v Our task is definite and our program workable and serviceable.” A special feature of the Alpha Phi Alpha Convention will be the pilgrim age to the home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, at Dayton, Ohio, on Sunday, December 30th. A special program _ has been arranged for this occasior which includes the following: A visit to the home of Dunbar where his mother still resides, and a visit to th« last resting place of Dunbar, where appropriate memorial services will be held in connection with the placing of a floral wreathe on his grave; all of the arrangements regarding the pilgrimage are to be handled by the Theta-Lambda Graduate Chapter oi The Alpha Phi Alpha in Dayton, O. U. B. F. & S. M. T’s The Grand old order of U. B. F’s & S. M. T’s. of the state of Missouri ' and Jurisdiction is in its 53rd year I with a present membership of 14, 000 having been founded and organ : ized the 1st day of August, 1861 in ' Louisville, Ky., by Negro men. The object of this organization is to teach ; all men the Fatherhood of God and ; the Brotherhood of man. Mr. Duke Diggs, G. M. with his ' official staff of Grand officers have | recently paid claims amounting to $14,000. Loyalty to the Grand old order is our motto. Madam O. L. Neal of Kansas City, Mo., with her wonderful moving pic turaa, will appear Monday night, De cember 17th at Grove M. E. Church, 22nd and Seward streets, under the auspices of the U. B. F. and S. M. T’s. She is a member of the order and has a good clean picture. The public is (cordially invited. Admis sion 25 cents. SIGHTS, EXPERIENCES AND IMPRESSIONS OF A TRAVELLER WHO ATTENDED NATL. BAPTIST CONVENTION, LOS ANGELES By Mrs. M. H. Wilkinson (Continued from last week) COLORADO “Thou who would see the lovely and the wild mingled in harmony on na ture’s face, ascend our Rocky Mount ains.”—Bryant. Colorado consists of three natural divisions; the mountain range, the foot hills and the plains. The Rocky Mountains run north and south thru the center of the State, with three parallel ranges, with a number of peaks over 13,000 ft. high. The pur ity of the atmosphere is such as to render Colorado the Paradise of the invalids. In 1858-59 the first set tlement was made by miners—gold having been discovered within a few miles of Denver. Reaching Denver the delegation was divided, some changing to go to Col orado Springs. Here they found splendid accommodations and much cheaper than expected. Wages are said to be cheaper here than in some places. Colorado Springs is situated on a plateau over 6,000 ft. above sea level. The city is renowned as a health re sort. Its surroundings afford many scenic gems and wonders. Here God seems to display his power in won ders and mysteries, “In its sublime research, Philosophy may measure out the Ocean deep—may count the sands on the Sun’s rays—but God! for thee there is no weight nor measure; none can mount up to thy mysteries. Of all points of interest in this re gion of wonders, the garden of the Gods is probably the most noted and the most visited. In this strange, weird solitude God has perpetuated in nature strange freaks of sculpture and feats of Architecture. Here are found most quaint and grotesque sug gestions of living forms in rocks. Here are one thousand rock forma tions. A few are: The Eagle, Lion, Kneeling Camel, Toad, Washerwo man, Chinese Temple, Fish, Mush rooms, Needle and various other for mations that seem to form a perfect image. “The Gateway” is one of the most striking bits of scenery in the whole range of the Rocky Mountains. It consists of two enormous masses of red sandstone, and between them a smaller mass, dividing the entrance into two passages. The right-hand rock has a curious resemblance to a huge kneeling camel. Behind the rocks a magnificient mountain scen ery presents itself. The charm of this matchless scene is due to the humerous contrasts of color and out line it presents on a very lavish scale. In the background can be seen Pike’s Peak standing majestically iso lated and rising abruptly from the plains to an altitude of 14,109 ft. above sea level. Major Z. M. Pike partially explored this mountainous region and discovered this Peak in 1806. The delegates found it very cold in September, so cold that many would not venture up. Here is sublimity indescribable! There to the west, stand a thousand towering peaks in spotless white — majestic, beautiful, awful. On the east a mighty ocean of plain, superb and placid stretches infinitely. The eye is strained, the senses dazed, the sun shines golden while the purple shadows wander here and there beneath the shifting clouds. Close at hand, the Bottomless Pit and the abyss of Desolation are great shuddering rents in the mountains, in to which, it is said, the sun never finds its way, and where the snows of centuries lie in great depths. From its height may be seen Colorado Springs, 14 miles away, Denver 80 miles, Pueiblo and other cities. The Seven Falls is a very pretty and astonishing sight. There are seven different divisions over which this water falls. From the bottom to the top is a distance of 300 ft. the top is reached by a Btairway of 267 wooden steps and 20 stone steps. This mountain is steep and rocky with a tree here and there. How thrill ing to watch and hear the dashing falls thundering over seven different falls. Nature outdoes herself in grand display of mighty cliffs and rushing waters reflecting as a mir ror the surrounding beauty. Beyond the Falls about 500 ft. is the grave of Helen Hunt Jackson, the poetess and novelist. Such a place was chosen for her eternal sleep, be cause the scenery about the Fails inspired her to write some of her best poems. Let me tell you of The Wonderful Cave^jf the Winds; You may be sur prised to know that this great Cave was discovered by two boys, one nine and the other eleven years of age. The Cave has sixteen rooms and three hre (three stories ihigh—here were Indian guides. It is so very interesting one forgets one is under ground several hundred feet. There is a great long passage for in that is called Boston Ave. On these walls are images of white rats, prairie dogs, owls, formed of rock. In- one place is a herd of elephants, in an other a buffalo, also a bat with out stretched wings. In a little nook is a small chip of marble. Bear in mind all these are of stone. One of the rooms is called the Bridal Chamber because there is an altar in it and several persons have been married there. Another room is called the Old Maid’s Kitchen. Ev ery old maid who goes there must make a wish. One lady said she made five, surely she will realize at least one, ha! ha! Upon one wall is a slice of bacon, although of rock, the colors are light and red just like a streak of lean and a streak of fat in a piece of real ibacon. There are innumerable (things that are unde scribable. You must see them for yourself! Having seen, one must say: Thou, from primeval nothingness didst call, First chaos, then existence—Lord, on thee Eternity had its foundation; All Sprang forth from thee—of light, joy, harmony, Sole origin—all life, all beauty Thine. Thy word created all, and doth create; Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine; Thou art, and wert, and shall lx glorious! Great! Life-giving, life sustaining potentate DEATH CLAIMS SISTER OF DAN DESDCNES AT PHOENIX, ARIZ. News reached Omaha early Sunday morning of the death of Jeanne Dea dlines l.attimcre at Phoenix, Ariz., about midnight of Saturday. Mrs. Lat timore, who was the wife of Clarence Lattimore of this city, was the daugh ter of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph L. Des dunes, and sister of Dan Deadlines, the well-known bandleader. She was born in New Orleans in 1892. She chme to Omaha about sixteen yearn ago and made her home with her brother. Sub sequently she went to California whence she returned with her par ents who have been highly respected residents of this city for one year. Jeanne was talented in music, possess ing a voice of rare sweetness, and spoke French and Spanish fluently as well as English. Her friendliness and sweetness of disposition made her a general favorite. Some months ago she caught a severe cold which de veloped into tuberculosis. A trip to California was beneficial, but return ing to Omaha she had a relapse. She was taken to Phoenix, Ariz., by her sister, Mrs. Mora, a trained nurse, who has been her devoted attendant, in mid September, where she departed this life. The body was taken to New Orleans for interment in the family burial plot. Deceased is survived by her husband, her parents, two broth ers, three sisters and other relatives. She was a communicant of the Church of St. Philip the Deacon, and before her health failed was a member of the choir and Altar Guild. PANAMA JOE GANS TO MEET SCHLAIFER HERE MONDAY NIGHT New York Boxer, Who Claims Colored Welterweight Championship of World To Fight Here December, 17 JEW IS GREATLY IMPROVED On Monday night, December 17th, Panama Joe Gans, of New York City, claimant of the Colored welterweight championship of the world, will be shown here against Morrie Schlaifer, Omaha’s "fighting fool” in the first mixed main event, since the recent ruling of Governor Bryan, allowing members of our race equal privileges in the ring with others. Another col ored boy, Battling Monroe, of Oma ha, will meet Carl Augustine of St. Paul, in the semi-final. Omaha followers of the fight game should turn out enmasse for this fight at the City Auditorium. It will be a point of history with fight fans. The fight between Gans and Schlai fer should be a “wow” for both have made great namese in the fight world as sluggers and Gans is known in Go tham as a real exponent of boxing, it being said that it was he who taught Dave Shade how to use his “dukes.” He hss defeated one Oma ha fighter, having kayoed Kid Graves six years ago in the sixth round. Graves was at one time welter champ of the world. Schlaifer has been making rapid strides in the past year and is, and always has been, a real drawing card in Omaha and this promises to .be a real fight, so hustle for your ducats today. In the semi-final, dusky Battling Monroe will meet Carl Augustine. Both these pugs are said to have broken Homer Sheridan’s jaw in re cent scraps. Nuf’ said—the preliminaries will be good, and all at popular prices. Let’s all go! NO LAWYERS IN DELAWARE Wilmington, Dec. 14.—Citizens have just awakened to the fact that there is not a single colored lawyer in the three counties which make up this State. Total colored population is only 30,000, but illiteracy is higher than in Maryland, Missouri, Okla homa or Texas. There are more il literates in this city than Memphis, Houston or Louisville. WIDOWS DIVIDE $10,000 Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 14.—Aston ished when they found out that their husband, John D. Floyd, died leaving no will, but two living wives, the widows took the settlement of the $40,OQP estate to court. Each was awarded a half. X. A, A. C. P. MEETS SUNDAY The Omaha branch of the N. A. A. C. P. will meet Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock at Grove M. B. Church, Twen ty-second and Seward streets. COLORED STRDERT PRIZE WINNER II POETRY CORTEST Countee Cullen of New York Univer sity Awarded Second Prize In Nation-Wide Undergradu ate Contest CHICAGO STUDENT JS FIRST 700 Contestants Representing 63 Col leges and Universities in Competition for Coveted Honors New York, December 14.—Countee P. Cullen, a student at New York University, has won second prize in the Witter Bynner undergraduate po ' etry contest, according to an an nouncement from the Poetry Society of America, under whose auspices the contest was held. Cullen was one of the 700 under graduates, representing sifty-three colleges and universities, entered in the competition. The judges were Carl Sandburg, Alice Corbin and Mr. Bynner, all white, Cullen received one vote, while the other two chose Mau rice Leseman’s “In the Range Coun try” as the winning poem. Leseman represented the University of Chi cago. Cullen’s topic was “The Ballad of the Brown Girl.” The poem is 200 lines in length. Its theme is: Oh, lovers, never barter love For gold or fertile lands, For love is meat and love is drink, And love heeds love’s command. And love is shelter from the rain And scowling stormy skies; Who casts off love must break his heart And rue it till he dies. Cullen is the son of the Rev. Fred erick A. Cullen, of 234 West 131 St., pastor of the Salem Methodist Church. He is 20 years old and a student in the junior class of the College of Arts and Pure Science. Many of his con tributions have been printed in vari ous magazines. His writing first at tracted attention when he was a stu dent at De Witt Clinton High School, where he won the poetry prize of fered by the Federation of Women’s Clubs. His effort for that contest took the form of a parody on Alan Seeger’s “I Have a Rendezvous With Death,” which Cullen called “I Have a Rendezvous With Life.” This poem follows: I have a rendezvous with Life, In days I hope will come Ere youth has sped and strength of mind, Ere voices sweet grow dumb; I have a rendezvous with Life When Spring’s first heralds hum. Sure, some would cry it better far To crown their days in sleep, Than face the wind, the road and rain, To heed the falling deep. Though wet, nor blow, nor space, I fear, Yet fear I deeply too, Lest Death should greet and claim me ere I keep Life’s rendezvous. Cullen says he is interested in po etry for poetry’s sake and not for propaganda purposes. “In spite of myself,” he adds, “however, I find that I am actuated by a strong sense of race consciousness. This grows upon me, I find, as I grow older; and although I struggle against it, it col ors my writing, I fear, in spite of everything I can do. There have been many things in my life that have hurt me, and I find that the surest relief from these hurts is in writing.” Cullen, who has another year at New York University before receiv ing his degree, plans a teaching car eer after graduation. WALKS 3,000 MILES Philadelphia, Dec. 14.—Fred Haney, Howard student of 40 years ago, who left his home in Louisiana to walk to the Howard-Lincoln game failed to arrive on time. Haney had never missed a game ih the past quarter of a century, and finding himself short of funds, started out to walk. For Overton’s High Brown Face Pow der, Talcum, Bleach, Cold Creamed Toilet supplies, Phone 3956, MRS. ESSEX WILLIAMS, 2864 Lake St., Agent for Overton Manufacturing Company. 1