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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (July 29, 1927)
. ™s the Monitor si NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor. $2.00 « Yoer—S > > » Copy_OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1927_Vol. XIII—No. 5 Whole Number 627 FRANCIS APPOINTI STIRS Washington, D. C.—The announce ment of the appointment of the Hon. “Billy"' Francis as Minister to Li beria has awakened somewhat the more or less somnalent politicians whether they live along “the Patomic” or in more distant parts of this “free republic.” The qietude of the Cool idge policy at least insofar as it af fects things racial, had lulled them to sleep and fitful dreams of de spondency. Most of the political brethren are still wondering how it all happened, but are sitting up peer ing about in the hope that more activ ity may appear on the horizon. In the meantime, those who actual ly put over the job are breathing a sigh of relief. Only a few know that only by the barest breadth did Li beria escape having a white minister. The man had been picked, recom mended and his appointment was only averted by hard effort and clev er politics. Those in the know are giving Dr. Emmett J. Scott the lion’s share of the credit, because of the quiet, effective manner in which he led the forces into the fray. The threatened appointment of a white man was not due to any lack of colored candidates. Charles Mitch ell of West Virginia was a most active applicant. Attorney George Wood son of Iowa, despite his age, had a stack of endorsements on file of great weight. National Committeeman Ben J. Davis and Perry Howard had unit ed on the son of Dr. Harris of Au COOLIDGE APPOINTS MINNESOTA LAWYER LIBERIAN MINISTER William T. Francis Appointment Will Win General Approbation of Race-Man Well Qualified for Position RECOGNITION OF YOUNGER CROUP OF TRAINED MEN Washington, D. C.—The appoint ment of William T. Francis of St. Paul, M1nn., as minister to Liberia by President Coolidge last week, is recognition of that younger group of colored men who have fitted them selves by education and training for such recognition. For nineteen years Mr. Francis was employed in the law department of the Northern Pacific railroad at St. Paul, Minn. He has been following the general practice of law in St. Paul. He was presidential elector for Minnesota in 1920 and was grad uated from St. Paul College of Law in the class with Senator Thomas D. Schall from Minnesota. He served as chairman of the West District of the Colored People’s Na tional Headquarters at Chicago from September 1, 1924, during the Cool idge-Dawes campaign with general supervision of the campaign activities among the colored people of the en tire western section of the United States from Ohio to the Pacific coast. He had the endorsement of the colored members of the Advisory Committee of the Republican Nation al Executive Committee, and of in fluential men and women of the race throughout the nation. The wife of the new minister is a woman of education and great influ ence. She has been very active in church, social, civic, political and club work in St. Paul and throughout Min nesota and the northwestern section of the country. She was also a mem ber of the Ramsey county (St. Paul) Republican Committee. Colored people generally througout the country will hail the president’s appointment of Mr. Francis with great favor because of the rumor for merly circulated that this last diplo matic post was to be withdrawn from the race. They are also pleased that a man of such training, ability and outstanding importance, representa tive of the younger group of colored republicans, has been selected for the important post. The Firestone operations in Li beria, amounting to more than ten MENT 5 UP A DULL HOPE gusta, Ga., while the “advisory com mittee” which functioned during the last campaign endorsed Mr. Francis. This group had Hon. William Mat thew’s support sent from farway San Francisco. But despite all this, the growing importance of Liberia since the entry of the Firestones and the probable increase of the salary to $10,000 a year made it look like “a white man’s job” in the eyes of the State Depart ment, it is said. Too, they had the unfortunate record of previous in cumbents of color to bolster their contention. The advisory committee and Dr. Scott through this victory thus loom rather large in the picture of future possibilities, whatever they may be. Those who have patiently watched the administration attitude despite the undoubtedly fine spirit of the Re publican National Committee under Chairman Butler, do not dare hope for much, however, with the chances for Mr. Coolidge’s nomination look ing as they do exceedingly good from a Black Hill’s standpoint, if not from a black man’s viewpoint. It is said, however, that the advisory commit tee has a program in hand and if they can be as successful in getting the White House to recognize the value of it, as they were in persuad ing the appointment of a black in stead of a white representative to a black country then perhaps we can have hope. WILL ATTEND CONVENTION OF AMERICAN LEGION Several delegates from Roosevelt Post No. 30, American Legion, will leave Monday morning for Lincoln to attend the state convention. The delegates include Captain W. W. Peeble, Lieutenants Wesley B. Jones and R. L. Williams, Sergeant Major Ed. W. Killingsworth and Sergeants Willis B. Davis and Metz Manion. Ex-service men who desire to attend the convention will meet at the Roosevelt Post headquarters, 2039 North Twenty-fourth street, Monday and Tuesday morning, where free transportation will be provided. — PRESBYTERIAN VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL TO CLOSE The Vacation Bible School which has been conducted for the past month at the Hillsode Presbyterian church, Thirtieth and Ohio streets, I Rev. Chas. H. Trusty, D. D., pastor, | has been very encouraging and sue- i cessful. The enrollment has been 130 I and the average attendance 90. The closing exercises will be held Mon day evening at 8 o’clock, with an outing at Elmwood Park Tuesday. Friends of the school will furnish trucks and autos for transportation. The teachers of the school have been Dr. and Mrs. C. H. Trusty, Alice Lewis, Vera Chandler, Mrs. Craig Morris, Miss Ruth Collins, Mrs. C. A. Stewart, Miss Evangeline Stewart, Mrs. A. M. McMillan, Mrs. S. K. Brownlow, Maud Brewster and Miss House. PASTOR’S FAMILY ARRIVES Mrs. Grant, wife of the Rev. John H. Grant, D. D., pastor of St. John’s A. M. E. church, accompanied by their four children, Marguerite, May Marion, Annette and DeWitt, and also by Mr. and Mrs. Kirk, and daugh ter, Catherine, and Mrs. Ford and her son, Wells, arrived in the city Friday night. Mr. Kirk and Miss Kirk are the brother and sister of Mrs. Grant. The Kirks and Fords Will return south in a few days. Dr. Grant’s fomily will remain for an indefinite stay. million dollars, including the loan of $6,000,000 which has been neggotiat ed, have brought the Liberian post to the forefront as one of command ing importance. William T. Francis will admirably serve in this import ant relationship. EDITORIAL The Pullman porters are still fighting for a more adequate wage and better working conditions. They are simply asking that they be given the same working conditions as are now en joyed by all other Pullman employees, except the porters. For all other Pullman employees, which include shop forces, vard forces, office forces and conductors, 240 hours per month are recognized as the standard monthly service required. When any other employee, except a Pullman porter, please get this, has put in 240 hours he has done a month’s work and is paid upon this basis. Not so the Pullman porter. He may be com pelled to put in as many as 540 hours out of a month, and there are only 720 hours in a month, and for this 540 hours of work he is paid only one month’s salary. While such a long period is exceptional and applies only to special service under the rules of the employer’s plan of representation, as now in force, of allowing one day lay-over for each seven days of service, it does happen. However, on the ordinary run, 11,000 miles constitute a basic month’s service. This is the equivalent of from 366 to 400 hours per month. Is there anything fair or just about this? Is there not need for some such an organization as the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, with enough intestional stamina and intellectual ability to fight for justice? Why should there be this discrep ancy in a basic working month? Naturally, the Pullman com pany is not going to change conditions until compelled to do so, not because that company is more soulless than other corpora tions, but because it means an enormous increase in wages and the reduction of dividends for stockholders. If it can get by, with paying a porter for one month’s work, when he actually puts in two, of course it will continue to do so. Then, too, as another unjust discrimination wholly indefen sible, by a shrewd process of calculation, a Pullman porter, who is “paid for over time” gets no more thr.n for straight time, approximately 18 cents an hour, and in some cases less, while other employees are paid time and a half for all over time. “Over time” is allowed for doubling and late arrivals. I The maximum monthly wage for Pullman porters, payable only after fifteen years’ service, is $83, with $13 additional, or $96 per month, when he does the conductor’s work, or “runs in charge. Who, in his senses, will contend that this maximum salary, $83 a month, is a decent living wage for any man? The minimum wage is $72 a month. ‘ “The laborer is worthy of his hire.” The Pullman porter is entitled to a living wage and the same working conditions 1 as apply to other employees of that company. The Pullman company has no right to encourage any of its employees to be come either mendicants or thieves, and this it does when it com pels them to look to the travelling public to supplement the mere pittance of a wage which it pays them and places such unfair working conditions upon them. The marvel is that the I Pullman porter remains, as a rule, the high class man he is ! under the unfair conditions imposed upon him by the Pullman company. The Monitor is whole-heartedly with the movement being waged for better wages and better treatment of the Pullman ! porter. Porters, keep up the fight. Don’t weaken. You are j bound to win because you are right. ■■ NEW MANAGER FOR THE LAKE THEATRE While- patrons of the New Lake Theatre will miss the genial young manager, Bill Bergman, who did so much to popularize this theatre, and leaves scores of friends who wish him success in his new position in Sioux City, where he has gone, will | find in his successor, Mr. Eric Al j bertson, a most capable, delightful | and genial gentleman. Mr. Albertson comes from Des Moines and although a young man has had wide experience both in the newspaper field and in theatre management. Mr. Micklin, owner of the Lake, has been fortu nate in this selection. The same lib eral policy will be continued at this theatre, the best pictures and enter tainment that can be procured and courteous treatment of all patrons. FIELD ORGANIZER OF THE BROTHERHOOD OF SLEEPING CAR PORTERS Buuniu Smith Return* From Exten sive Southern and Eastern Trip in tha Interest of the * Organisation Bennie Smith, field organizer of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, has returned to the city after an absence of six months. During his absence Mr. Smith has been visit ing various points in the South and East in the interest of the brother hood. He reports that the member ship, despite efforts to coerce and in timidate Pullman porters from join ing, has steadily increased to that point where the success of the brotherhood and its official recogni tion by the board of mediation is assured. Mr. Smith states that the story re cently given currency that the Broth erhood had lost its case and been turned down by the Board of Medi ation is absolutely false, and that the case is now being tried in Chicago, where Mr. Smith has just left A. Phillip Randolph, representing the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters at the hearing, on issues of the case. It must be therefore very clear that if the case had been turned down, as falsely reported, the Board would not be trying it now. Mr. Smith will remain in Omaha for a month or six weeks looking af ter the interests of the Omaha local, after which he will return to the east. A. L. Totten, of New York, assistant general organizer of the Brotherhood, spent Thursday and Friday here in conference with Mr. Smith. CALIFORNIANS VISIT WITH OMAHA RELATIVF.S Mrs. Martha Shaw, her daughter, Zelma, and her sister, Miss Emma Holden of San Bernadeno, Cal., cous ins of Messrs. D. G. and John H. Rus sell, after a pleasant three weeks’ visit here, have gone to Sterling, 111., on a business trip, and will return west by the southern route, visiting relatives in Missouri and Oklahoma en route. This was the Californians first visit to Omaha and they ex-' pressed themselves as being most fa vorably impressed. ST. PHILIP’S ANNUAL PICNIC PLEASANT AFFAIR The annual parish and Sunday school picnic of the Church of St. Philip the Deacon, held last Thurs day afternoon at Elmwood park, at tracted the usual large attendance. A most delightful time was spent by old and young, and the tables groan ing under their burden of tempting viands made it impossible for any one to go away hungry. Indeed, sev eral persons were heard to remark that they feared that they would have to do penance for yielding to the sin of gluttony. The Altar Guild of St. Philip’s gave a largely attended and thoroughly enjoyed garden party Monday night at the home of the president, Mrs. Augustus Hicks, 3112 Miami street. The young folks danced on the broad front porch, while the elders enjoy ed the swings, the fish pond and other amusements. The watermelon stand, | the pop, ice cream and hot dog stands had generous patronage. INTERDENOMINATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC AT ELMWOOD THURSDAY The second annual interdenomina tional Sunday school picnic will be held at Elmwood Park, Thursday, Au gust 4. A big parade will be one of the main features of the day. The parade will form at Mt. Moriah Bap tist church, Twenty-fourth and Ohio, at 10:30, and proceed through the principal streets of the city, follow ing this line of march: South to Cuming, east to Sixteenth, south to Douglas, east to Fourteenth, south to Farnam, west to Thirty-eighth, south to Leavenworth, west to the park. The conveyances will be trucks and automobiles. Twelve Snday schools will participate. A special program will be rendered at the Park with ad dresses by the Rev. John Adams, the Rev. W. F. Botts and the Rev. Mr. Stearns of Council Bluffs. CRIPPLED WHITE BOY GIVES BLOOD TO SAVE NEGRO PAL Brooklyn Lad Saves the Life of Hos pital Friend by Volunteering for a Transfusion. Both on Road to Recovery New York—Jimmy Murphy, an 11 year-old Irish boy who was crippled by infantile paralysis when he was a baby, was a hero last Sunday to all his neighborhood and all the neigh bors, both colored and white, came to his house at 198 Watten street, in Brooklyn, to say so. Luck Smiles on Jimmy Jimmy had just returned from Long Island College Hospital, where he underwent an operation which the surgeons thought might help him walk. He was getting about for the first time in his life on crutches. That alone, of course, was enough to make everybody who knew Jimmy— and everybody, it seemed knew him —happy over his good luck. But their happiness over Jimmy’s good fortune was mingled with pride in him when they learned what Jimmy had undergone, not merely for him self but for a friend whom he had met in the hospital. Showed Real Friendship The friend was Jim Bunt, an 11 year-old Negro boy of 2308 Seventh avenue, who had come to the hospital for a minor operation and had been placed in a bed beside Jimmy Mur phy. They became fast friends, lying there, talking with each other. Jim my Murphy was sitting up in bed in a brace when Jim Blunt was taken out for his operation. They waved and smiled farewell to each other. But things didn’t go well with Jim Blunt in the operating room. A sur geon came from the room, announc ing that Jim Blunt was so weak from the loss of blood that an immediate transfusion was imperative to save his life. Jimmy Murphy, sitting in his brace, volunteered without hesi tation, and in a few minutes the transfusion was made. All the Seme to Jimmy So, the neighbors, calling to pay their respects to Jimmy Murphy as a hero, found him red with embarrass ment. “I didn’t do anything,” he protest ed. “The doctor said Jim would die if he didn’t have blood. I told them he could have all the blood he wanted from me. He said something about getting my parents to consent, and I told him we were Irish, and the Irish liked to help other folks.” And Jim Blunt, still at the hospital but getting better, was happy. “I’ve got Irish blood in me,” he said, grinning. “Just wait till I get back to Harlem and give them a look at a colored boy with Irish blood in him!” BOM INTO SLAVEBY LEAVES AB ESTATE VALUED AT MILLIOB Rated As One of Atlanta’s Wealthiest Men, Alonzo F. Herndon, Pro prietor of Palatial Barber Shop, Is Dead SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CAREER Began Business with One Chair, Which Grew to Forty-two, in Shop Extending One Block In Business Section (Special to The Monitor) Altanta, Ga.—Alonzo F. Herndon, one of Atlanta’s wealthiest citizens, died here at his home last Thursday night, leaving an estate which will reach and probably far exceed $1, 000,000 in value. It includes valua ble city property as well as planta tions, government bonds and other securities. He leaves the largest bar ber shop in the city, which has long been considered one of the show places of Atlanta, a life insurance company, a cemetery association and other business enterprises. Born in slavery Herndon came to this city forty years ago and opened a one-chair barber shop. His courte ous manner, proficiency at the trade and strict attention to business, won the respect of his customers, and hia shop grew. He added a second chair and others as his trade demanded it. Ultimately, he became the proprietor of one of the largest and most pala tial barber shops in America, employ ing forty-two barbers and other at tendants and occupying an entire block in the very heart of Atlanta’s business section. He was successful in investing his earnings and became a large proper ty owner. He has encouraged the development of racial enterprises, in which he also invested, and has given remunerative employment to hun dreds of his race. He was president of the Atlanta Life Insurance company, one of the substantial Negro insurance com panies of the country, doing a vast business, and also of the Southwest Cemetery Association. He was in his sixty-sixth year. Among his survivors is his son, well trained, and inheriting his fath er’s sound judgment, who will un doubtedly carry on the business to which he and the other heirs succeed successfully. The story of Alonzo F. Herndon’s rise from slavery to opulence reads like a fascinating romance. VICTORY IN THE SWEET CASE IS COMPLETED New York.—The National Associa tion for the Advancement of Colored People has announced that the case against all the defendants in the Sweet trial were dismissed July 21. It will be remembered that all eleven defendants in this case were tried to gether at the first trial, beginning October 30, 1925, and continuing for three weeks. This trial resulted in a mistrial, and on the next trial, be ginning April 19, 1926, and lasting until May 13, the State elected to try Henry Sweet, against whom it felt it had the strongest evidence. This sec ond trial resulted in the acquittal of Henry Sweet. But there still remain ed impending the indictments against the other ten defendants. The fact that the cases against these ten de fendants have been dismissed com pletely closes the fight which was made by the N. A. A. C. P. in behalf of Dr. Ossian H. Sweet and the co defendants which began in October, 1926. FOUR FIRES IN FOUR DAYS New York, N. Y.—Police are in vestigating the cause of a series of fires in the seven-story apartment at 320 St. Nicholas, which houses sixty colored families who twice have had to flee their homes in the night. There have been four fires in four days, all originating in the air shaft.