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About Omaha monitor. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1928-???? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 1929)
O - - - . ■ . — ' — - —■■■■■ - ■ . . ■ ■ . ■ —... ________■ I THE MILITANT DEFENDER OF THE RIGHTS OF THE RACE I $2.00 a Year—5 Cents a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, January 4, 1929 VoL XIV—No. 27 Whole Number 699 y Twelve Negroes Awarded Harmon Foundation Prize HARMON AWARDS GRANTED TO 12 NEGRO MEN AND WOMEN Gold and Bronze Medal* With $3,000 ia Honoraria Given for Creative Work. Twelve colored men and women were accorded recognition recently for creative work in the third year of the series of the Harmon Founda tion’s Awards for Distinguished Achievement Among Negroes. The judges in each of the fields of liter ature, fine arts, business, including industry and education, named reci pients for an award of a gold medal with $400 honorarium, and a bronze medal with $100 honorarium. In re ligious "service, two gold medals and $400 honoraria and one bronze award with $100 honorarium were granted; in music, a bronze award only was given. No awards were made in science. The total amount of cash honor aria was $3,000. The awards are administered for the foundation by the commission on race relations of the Federal Council of Churches, George E. Haynes, secretary, 105 E. 22nd street, New York, and recogni tion is given only for achievement which is of national significance and which measures favorably with the best that has been done in that par r. ticular field by any race or nation ality. Claude McKay, 38, formerly of f New York, poet and novelist, was granted the gold medal with $400, in literature, for his power, skill and originality in both poetry and prose, i especially his “Harlem Shadows,” which was considered to voice in tragic force many of the deeper feel ings of the modern Negro; also his “Home to Harlem,” with its pictures ' of certain phases of Negro life. Nella Larsen Imes, 36, 2588 Sev enth avenue, New York, received a 1 bronze award with $100 in literature, for achievement shown in her novel, “Quicksand,” published in 1928 and giving a detached objective picture of •some conflicting elements In the race problem through the leading charac ter, a young woman of Danish and Negro extraction. Archibald J. Motley, jr., 37, 350 West 60th street, Chicago, was ac corded the award of a gold medal and $400 in fine arts for his artistic abil ity, particularly as shown in “The Octoroon Girl,” an oil painting fine ly portraying a beautiful mulatto woman, seated with gloves in hand, dressed in dark red-trimmed clothing and wearing a hat. Mr. Motley at tracted some notice last March when he held a one-man exhibit at the new gallery in New York, the first such showing to be held by a Negro in this country in many years. He was born in New Orleans and is the son of a dining car chef. Mrs. May Howard Jackson, 61, of 1816 Sixteenth street, N. W., Wash ington, D. C., received the bronze award with $100 in fine arts for work in sculpture, especially the plas ter bust of Dean Kelly Miller of Howard university. S. W. Rutherford, 62, of 609 “F” street, Washington, D. C., received the gold medal and $400 award in business for his sound management and leadership through the National Benefit Life Insurance company, of which he is secretary and business manager. The judges conisdered him to have rendered an extensive group service, developing his company from a small sick benefit association with a capital stock ini 1898 of $3,000 to a legal reserve life insurance com pany with $75,000 in policies in force. It has been owned, controlled and operated exclusively by Negroes, giving employment to 300 men and women in its home office with more than 1,500 men and women in its field force. Frederick Massiah, 36, of 1342 Cy press street, Philadelphia, Pa., was granted the bronze medal and $100 in business for outstanding work in building engineering, especially con crete construction. Working as a la borer in concrete, he rose through study in night school of construction engineering until he finally organ ized and developed his own business. In his home city he is known as an outstanding contractor, irrespective of race, and is just completing the Walnut Plaza apartment house there. Monroe N. Work, 62, of Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, received the gold medal and $400 award in education for scholarly research and education al publicity through his periodic com pilation and publication of the Negro Year "Book and his recent exhaustive “Bibliography of the Negro in Africa and America.” His bibliography rep resents about 20 years of painstak ing research and is considered com prehensive and authoritative. His Negro Year Books are used both in America and abroad as reliable rec ords. John M. Gandy, 58, president of the Virginia State college, Ettricks, Va., received the award of a bronze medal and $100 in education for de veloping his institution from a non accredited school to one offering a four year course in high school edu cation, a two year normal course, and a four year college course with “A” rating in Virginia. J. Harold Brown, 26, director of music, Attucks high school, Indianap olis, Ind., was granted the bronze award in music for the earnestness of his work and its wide range, especial ly in orchestration. He is a gradu ate of Fisk university and the Kansas City conservatory. The two gold awards in religious service with $400 honoraria accom panying each, were granted to the Rev. Dr. L. K. Williams, 67, of 3101 South Parkway, Chicago, for his de velopment of Mount Olivet Baptist church, one of the largest institution al church in America, giving out standing religious service on a social basis and his leadership of the Negro Baptists of the United States through the National Baptist Convention, Inc., and to Rev. James S. Russell, 71, of Lawrenceville, Va., archdeacon of the diocese of southern Virginia, for his outstanding work as a mis f ARTHUR J. WEAVER Governor of Nebraska who assumed the responsibility of the Commonweath of Nebraska, January 4. kL|%i, . sionary minister and administrator in the development of church missions and a parish school in Virginia. He has established mission parishes, pre sented thousands of communicants for confirmation and founded and de veloped a church school which has grown and been an important factor in the- educational life of his state and section. The Rev. Channing H. Tobias, 46, 347 Madison avenue, New York, a secretary of the National Council of Young Men’s Christian associations, was given a bronze award with $100 honorarium for his leadership of col ored men and boys in his work through the Colored Men’s depart ment of that organization. The list of candidates with the judges in each field is as follows: Literature Gold award with $400 honorarium: Claude McKay, formerly of New York. Bronze award with $100 honor I arium: Nella Larsen Imes, New York. Fine Art* Gold award with $400 honorarium: Archibald J. Motley, jr., Chicago, 111. Bronze award with $100 honor arium: May Howard Jackson, Wash ington, D. C. Judges: Karl Illava, Elmsford, N. Y.; Charles A. Curran, New York; Edward Tilton, New York; Meta J. Warrick Fuller, Framingham, Mass. Bu*ine*a , Gold award with $400 honorarium: ^ S. W. Rutherford, Washington, D. C. Bronze award with $100 honor arium: Frederick Massiah, Philadel phia, Pa. Judges: Roger Babson, Babson Park, Mass.; Anthony Overton, Chi cago, 111.; B. C. Forbes, New York; Henry Bruere, New York; Kenneth F. Duncan, New York. Education Gold award with $400 honorarium: Monroe N. Work, Tuskegee, Ala. Bronze award with $100 honor arium: John M. Gandy, Petersburg, Va. Judges: Dr. Henry C. Pearson, Campello, Mass.; Dr. Edward T. De vine, Washington, D. C.; Dr. Parke R. Kolbe, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Dr. Wil liam A. Neilson, Northampton, Mass. Religiou* Service Gold award with $400 honorarium: Rev. L. K. Williams, Chicago, 111., and Archdeacon James S. Russell, Lawrenceville, Va. Bronze medal with $100 honor arium: Rev. Channing H. Tobias, New York. Judges: Dr. Walter S. Athearn, Boston, Mass.; Dr. Charles A. Brooks, Chicago, 111.; Dr. Willis J. King, At lanta, Ga.; Dr. Alva W. Taylor, Nash ville, Tenn.; Dr. W. Russell Bowie, New York. Muiic Bronze award with $100 honor arium: J. Haroid Brown, Indianap olis, Ind. Judges: R. Augustus Lawson, Hartford, Conn.; Earnest Hutcheson, N’gw York; Rafael Saumell, New York; James Francis Cooke, Phila delphia, Pa.; Carl Diton, New York. Science No awards conferred in this field. Judges: Dr. George A. Dorsey, New York; Dr. E. E. Just, Washing ton, D. C.; Dr. William H. Lohman, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Sumner N\ Blossom, New York; “NUMBER” BANKER DRAWS 90 DAYS New York, Jan. 4 (ANP)—George William Lytle, 40, 32 West 132nd street, charged with being a backer of the Albany baseball lottery pool and a “Number” banker, was sen tenced to 90 days in the workhouse here Monday. The case first obtained prominence on July 5, when Lytle was followed by detectives who alleged that they caught him with policy slips and tickets on the baseball pool. When arraigned Lytle pleaded “not guilty” and said he had no connection with either pool or the “numbers.” He was held for trial, however, and giv en a sentence. His attorney immed iately filed notice of an appeal. HOLD HOLSTEIN KIDNAPPERS New York, Jan. 4 (ANP)—Michael Hornstein, one of the ringleaders in the Casper Holstein kidnapping, was ordered held in $25,000 bail when arraigned in court here Friday. / I | NEGRO BEQUEATHS FISK UNIVERSITY $100,000 Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 4 — Prof. James Dallas Burrus, 82, first Negro to take a bachelor of arts degree in j a college south of the Mason-Dixon | line, who died of a heart attack on a j street car here December 5, left ap I proximately $100,000 to Fisk uni j versity. MISSISSIPPI HAS ANOTHER LYNCHING Hattiesburg, Miss., Jan.. 4 (ANP) I —Clothed only in a suit? of under ! wear, the body of Emanuel McCal lum, a mechanic for a local garage, j was found dangling from the limb of j a tree Thursday morning about five I miles south of the city. Investigation later proved that a | party of six or seven white men had | called at the home of McCallum I shortly hefore midnight, 'demanding : admittance, claiming they were of ficers of the law. When the door was opened, the men swarmed in, snatched McCallum out of bed, and without giving him time to dress they rushed him into a motor car. A coroner’s jury returned a verdict of death by strangulation at the hands of parties unknown. The dead man was about 40 years old and had a good reputation in this vicinity. According to SI ariff Gray, McCallum’s life had been threatened on a former occasion and that he had advised him to leave the city, but that on his refusal had him jailed on the basis of an alleged attack on W. D. Easterling, a white tailor, and trans ferred him to Purvis, for safe keep ing, but released him after three or four days. It is said that some time ago Mc Callum, during an argument with Easterling, struck the latter with a monkey wrench, inflicting a slight scalp wound. No arrests have been made in the case. ROSENWALD IS REAL SANTA Tuskegee Institute, Ala., Jan. 4 (ANP) — To the tots in the lower grades of the children’s house of Tuskegee Institute, Julius Rosenwald was more than the name of a great and distant philanthropist. He is in a very real sense Santa Claus. For, annually, Mr. Rosenwald sends toys and useful gifts to be distributed among the children of the kinder garten, the first, second and third grades of the school at Christmas time. Exercises at which the gifts were distributed were held at the Chil dren’s House, Thursday, before clos ing the school for the holidays. Mr. Rosenwald started this custom a few years ago before the death of Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee Institute. He has continued it since throughout the years, much to the delight of the children. Whenever Mr. Rosenwald makes a trip to Tus kegee, he visits the Children’s House, where he is enthusiastically greeted by the pupils. New Orleans, La. — Liberty Life Insurance company, with home of fices here, has just celebrated its eighth anniversary. During the past fiscal year the compan yhas collected $236,572.90 and has paid claims that amounted to $102,076.61. *.. ' V Alfrtd £.Smith ^ Retiring Governor of New York. Defeated candidate for President on the Democratic ticket. ! COHEN’S INSURANCE CO. WINS GOVERNMENT SUIT _ New Orleans. La., Jan. 4 (ANP) — i A decision handed down in favor of the government in a case against the ; Peoples’ Industrial Life Insurance ■ company of Louisiana on ISJarch 5, 1928, was reversed by the fifth Unit ed States circuit court of appeals, Thursday, composed of Judges Walk er, Foster, and Dawkins. The case against the insurance company was to collect approximate ly $1,650 in taxes and was brought against Walter L. Cohen. John H. Lowery and B. V. Barancon, its of ficers. At the time of the suit the I company was known as the Peoples’ Benevolent Life Insurance company and was unincorporated. Due to a continual loss of money, the company liquidated in August, 1922, and formed the Peoples’ Life Insurance company with twenty stockholders. After the liquidation the company paid the government an amount in taxes but this was found insufficient and a decision was obtained which compelled the payment of $1,650. The case was taken to the United States court of appeals and the de cision was reversed on the grounds that the government failed to show any assets of value under the circum stances which would make the com pany subject to be sued for enforce ment of these taxes. SAYS “DEEP HARLEM” HEADED FOR BROADWAY New York, Jan. 4 (ANP)—Ambi tious producers are casting eager eyes on Broadway with the plan of producing new shows featuring col ored actors, both in revues and in drama. The next production sched uled for an opening along the Great White Way is “Deep Harlem,” spon sored by Earl Dancer, presenting an aggregation of singers and dancers in a revue with some semblance of a plot. Headed by Tutt and Whitney, with John Mason as chief funmaker, Ster ling Grant, Miss Darrell, and a group of singers, the management is whip ping them into shape in the final week’s practice at the Lincoln thea ter here in Harlem. The show is drawing splendid crowds who voice their appreciation of particular bits in most emphatic manner. WIFE SHOOTS HUSBAND New York, Jan. 4 (ANP)—Walter Ayers, 28, 211 Edgecombe avenue, died in Harlem hospital Tuesday night, following a shooting fray with his wife. Mrs. Ayers told the police that her husband left home Monday morning, presumably to go to work, but when she went to the street, she saw him strolling down the avenue with another woman. The shooting then took place, the bullet entering the victim’s head over the left eye. “BACK YARD SINGER" IS “SNOW BIRD” New York, Jan. 4 (ANP)—In the big drive against narcotics users and sellers now under way since the ad vent of the new police commissioner, Arthur Rector, known as “Old Crow” to the police, was taken into custody at the address 116 West 135th street. He pleaded guilty to being an addict and was held without bail for trial in Special Sessions. His record shows a total of seven arrests. His occupa tion was given as a “back yard” singer. ALHAMBRA THEATRE GIVES SPECIAL MIDNIGHT SHOW Following its practice of giving the best shows possible, the management of the Alhambra suburban theater added a very interesting show New Year’s eve. The entertainers acquit ted themselves well and all enjoyed the show. The same act was repeat ed to a full house on New Year’s night. Washington, D. C.—The four Wil liams brothers, owners of a large modern bakery located at 1003 U street, N. W., celebrated their second successful anniversary on Christmas day. The firm contemplates consid erable expansion during the coming year. NEGRO ADVANCES IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE Survey Shows Great Strides of Colored People in Business and Industrial Field. Chicago, 111., Jan. 4 (ANP).—The I leaders in various fields of endeavor, in statements to the Associated Ne gro Press, Friday predicted that the year 1929 will be one of the most prosperous in the history of our group in America. These opinions point out the opportunities for prog ress and urge business men and vari ous organizations interested in the advancement of the Negro in the commercial wolrd to co-operate to gether whole-heartedly in the effort to take advantage of the possibilities of the year. Dr. R. R. Moton, president of the National Negro Business league, said: “The year 1929 promises in my opin ion, very substantial progress in bus iness for the Negro. “President-elect Hoover has dem onstrated his personal and official interest in Negro business by placing a member of our race in an impor tant position in his department. He is also interested in and sympathetic with the problems of the southern farmer, including the Negro. “The interest is very largely the result of his experiences and observa tions following the Mississippi flood of 1927. Negro business may, there fore, expect encouragement and fur ther co-operation under his adminis tration as president. During the year just passed the National Negro Bus iness league conducted a survey of Negro business in 33 cities. ‘“The report of this survey will be issued early in the coming year. “With this survey acting as a ba rometer and the encouraging pros pects under the approaching presi dential administration together with the accumulated experiences of the past, it seems to me, that we are now ready to take the more advanced step in business which is the combination; business generally is finding in the merger a safe and sound method for cutting down operating costs and in creasing efficiency. “If Negro business will follow the more approved methods, there is ev ery reason to believe that the year 1929 will be a banner year in our progress.” Harry H. Pace, president of the National Negro Insurance associa tion, said: “The year 1929 will be, in my opinion, the beginning of a brighter day for Negro business of every nature. Those businesses al ready established which have weath ered the storms of the past few years safely, have developed executives who are approaching their tasks with a clearer knowledge of business pit falls that lay before us. “The past has also taught us that we must do business according to the accepted rules or face disaster. “Proper investment methods, ag gressive selling practices, dependable service, and merchandise, together with an aroused race consciousness, will all contribute to the future sound development of our enter priser The insurance fraternity looks forward to the new year with the belief that we are on the thresh old of a development such as we have not hitherto witnessed.” C. C. Spaulding, president of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insur ance company, said: “Outlook for Negro business is indeed encouraging for the next year, providing we con centrate our efforts in a co-operative way. No great service or movement for the race’s welfare can thrive without the kindly interest and co operative service of the many agen cies that make up the whole group. “Ministers, educators, the press, business, and other altruistic agen cies seem to recognize this fact. Nineteen twenty-nine will spell suc cess for our group, providing we are willing to co-operate and even merge some of the smaller organizations in to a few stronger and more service able companies. Business wdth us is good.” R. H. Rutherford, president of the National Benefit Life Insurance com pany, said: “Because of economic pressure and growing intolerance in certain sections of the country, the Negro’s opportunities are being ma terially curtailed. The reaction will bring about closer co-operation be tween Negroes and Negro enter prises as we realize the importance and necessity of inter-dependent re lationships. This situation creates a brighter outlook for Negro business for the new year, but the future shall become more and more hopeful as we appreciate the value of spending our dollars where they will give em ployment to our children.” COMMERCIAL NEWS ITEMS Atlanta, Ga.—The Royal Cab com pany has been recently organized here by leading business men with a fleet of six modern taxi cabs. This is the first organized cab service to be placed at the disposal of colored Atlantans. Chicago, 111.—The Douglas Nation al Bank with total resources of more than $2,000,000 has just declared its third annual dividend of six per cent to stockholders as of record on De cember 15. Anthony Overton is the president of the bank. Newport News, Va. — Christmas savings accounts totaling $38,000 were paid to depositors of the Crown Savings Bank during the month of December. Adam McMullen. Retiring Governor of Nebraska