The Monitor
A Weekly Newspaper detvoted to the civic, social and religious
interests of the Colored People of Omaha and vicinity, with the desire
to contribute something to the general good and upbuilding of the
community.
Published Every Saturday.
Entered as Second-Class Mail Matter July 2, 1915, at the Post
office at Omaha, Neb., under the act of March 3, 1879.
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor and Publisher.
Lucille Skaggs Edwards, William Garnett Haynes and Ellsworth W.
Pryor, Associate Editors.
Joseph LaCour, Jr., Advertising and Circulation Manager.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES, $1.00 per year.
Advertising rates, 25 cents an inch per issue.
Address, The Monitor, 1119 North Twenty-first street, Omaha.
I
“CONCERNS NOT EVEN THE
SHERIFF."
In its issue of August 5th, the New
York Age, commenting on the Tem
ple, Tex., barbarity, which was wit
nessed by thousands of men, women
and children, press reports stating
that women searched in the ashes for
charred bones of the victim, which
they desired to keep as souvenirs, had
this to say, under the above caption:
“Not satisfied with the fact that
statistics show an increase in the
number of lynchings for the first six
months of the present year, some citi
zens of Texas, a few days ago re
solved to raise the percentage with
respect to cruelty. A Negro who was
accused of murder-mind you, not rape
-•—was taken from the court and burn
ed at the stake. If we remember cor
rectly, Texas was the American pio
neer in this form of inhuman savagry,
but it seems that she wishes not only
to be recorded as the pioneer, but
hailed as the reviver of a practice that
would shame cannibals.
“But of graver import than the ac
tion of the Texas mob is the apathy of
the country; some of the newspapers
did not even carry this incident as an
item of news, and we have yet to see
an editorial protest against it.
It does seem like hollow hypocrisy
that this nation is now standing as
the protector of human rights before
the world, that it is ready to raise
armies and navies to uphold the prin
ciple of international law which guar
antees protection to non-combatants
aboard merchant vessels; even when
those vessels belong to belligerents;
and yet, the fact that within its own
borders one of its own citizens is tak
en from the custody of the lawfully
constituted courts and burned at the
stake by a mob will not call for the
raising of even a sheriff’s posc.e."
The Age had not then seen the
editorial of the Chicago Tribune or
those of the FEW, exceedingly fewt
other dailies which had the temerity
to condemn this atrocity. It would
therefore modify its statement about
editorial comment to that extent.
Otherwise its indictment against the
press of the country, speaking gener
ally, for its apathy concerning mob
violence against Negroes must stand
unchallenged.
We believe, however, that such
apathy can no longer continue. We
know how mercurial the American
temperament is, how prone we are
to forget the lessons which we should
learn from chastenings which come
to us in various ways, and yet with
all this, we can scarcely conceive of
the people or press of the country
remaining apathetic or indifferent to
mob-violence and race prejudice aft
er the startling awakening of the
past two weeks.
Patriotism demands, the humani
tarian instincts of the American peo
ple rjquir® that against this too-long
tolerated reign of lawlessness press
and pulpit of this country cry aloud,
spare not, lift up their voices like a
trumpet and shew the people their
transgression and their sins, until the
righteousness and justice of this na
tion shall be recognized and praised
throughout the earth.
But this reform must begin with
the individual’s proving himself to be
too big, to be dwarfed by race or re
ligious prejudice. It must come
through personal restraint and self
discipline.
Our country’s greatness or little
ness; her strength or weakness, rests
with every American citizen.
-o
Our readers, not only at home but
elsewhere, will be gratified to know
with what characteristic and com
mendable promptness the city author
ities acted when the fact that “The
Birth of the Nation" is objectionable
to a large group of American citizens
was brought to their attention. The
simple fact that this photoplay, where
ever it has been presented, has been
compelled to eliminate certain fea
tures because the censors believed
that such features would stir up race
prejudice ought to be sufficient to
convince all fair-minded people that
its presentation Is anything but edi
fying. We want good legitimate en
tertainments here, but there ought to
be no place in any well regulated city
for plays or publications which fo
ment class, racial or religious strife.
-o
We have received many compli
ments on our special edition. We hope
all our enterprising and progressive
readers will coin their compliments
into cash by buying several copies of
this excellent number, of which we
have several hundred on hand, and
mail them to their friends. Give us
a list of friends to whom you wish
them mailed and we will mail them
for you and collect 5 cents a copy
from you. How many do you want?
-o
Prof. Waddle’s Ladies’ Band made
quite a hit in the parade of last Fri
day. The band, attractive in natty
uniforms, in a decorated band wagon
drawn by four white horses, won
most favorable comment. It was
was quite a unique feature. The band
goes to Lincoln on Labor Day.
The Brandeis Stores are excavating
at the corner of Dodge and Seven
teenth streets for a power and HEAT
ING plant. From the depth of the ex
cavation it looks as though that en
terprising firm intends to get heat
from below.
SUBSCRIBE FOR THE MONITOR.
Science Notes
BY WILLIAM G. HAYNES.
How Much Water Should I Drink in
a Day?
(By Edwin F. Bowers, M. D.)
What advantage is there in water
drinking, and how much should one
drink in a day?
When we stop to consider that from
60 to 66 per cent of "us” is water,
and that the only way to maintain
that ratio—indispensable for the pres
ervation of life, health and happiness,
is to drink water, the advantages of
water drinking are obvious. In fact,
the drink habit is a most effective
life-saver.
One reason that kidney disease,
rheumatism, torpid liver, constipation
and sundry other diseases and ail
ments are increasingly prevalent is
because we are shy on our drinking.
On an average, we consume iess than
one-fifth the amount that normally we
should. To indulge in water sparing
ly is a vice. To riot and revel in it,
and to flush the system to the point
of super-saturation with it, are life
giving and health-giving virtue-*.
The function of water is to provide
a solution in which our bodycells may
float and move and have their being;
for it enters the chemical composi
tion of every tissue—even the hair,
nails and bones. It forms the chief
ingredient of all the body fluids, and
maintains their proper degree of di
lution. It furnishes the vehicle for
excretion through two important chan
nels—the skin and the kidneys—and
assists materially in facilitating the
removal of “end products” through the
other two—the lungs and bowels.
Therefore it is the most important
means whereby the debris and clink
ers cloggfng the human mechanism
are eliminated.
Water keeps all the various inner
surfaces of the body (such as the mu
cous and serous membranes) moist,
preventing friction, and also the ex
ceedingly uncomfortable condition
that would result from their “drying
out." It provides the hlood and the
lymph with a medium by which food
may be carried to all the tissues in
even the most remote parts of the
body. It also serves to distribute the
body heat, and by the process of ab
sorption and evaporation through the
pores it regulates the temperature.
For a Beautiful Complexion.
Water is the most economical medi
cine ever discovered, but it should be
drunk freely and fearlessly in order to
secure the best results. About three
pints daily, or six "good” glasses, is a
fair allowance for a normal adult.
However if a beautiful, clear complex
ion is desired, water should be taken
in larger quantities—say up to twelve
glasses each day, for several weeks at
least. Then the six-glass regime may
be resumed.
In the various obstinate, disagree
able, or dangerous conditions caused
by sluggish, torpid liver or inactive
kidneys, this latter quantity should
invariably be taken. In rheumatism,
a glassful may, with great benefit, be
indulged in once an hour. To make
the dose more effective, a pinch of
salt may be added to each glass.
Why Not Become Water Addicts?
Ice water, by the way, should be ta
booed, especially at meal-time, as it
tends to suspend the action of pepsin.
Also, ice water inhibits the activity
of the nerves of the stomach, and
lowers the blood supply that is so
necessary to perfect digestion.
The reason we do not appreciate
water at something approximating its
full value is because of its abundance
and cheapness. If it were sold in
quart bottles, at a good stiff price per
bottle, we might all be water addicts.
And that might be the very best thing
that could befall us.
For no one can be 100 per cent effic
ient with his system clogged, bis blood
loaded with impurities, and hiB emunc-.
tories stagnated from tissue rust. In
the interest of health, happiness, and
longevity, it is extremely important to
drink daily half a dozen or more glass
es of this health-giving beverage.
APPRECIATION OF OMAHA
WELCOME AND HOSPITALITY
Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 23, 1915.
Editor Monitor: When one leaves
his home to attend a convention or
the grand session of a secret organiza
tion, the question question naturally
arises, How will the delegation be re
ceived in this city to which we are go
ing. When the three cars, filled with
a part of the Missouri delegation left
Kansas City, Mo., to be in attendance
at the annual gathering of the United
Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of
the Mysterious Ten of Missouri and
jurisdiction, which convened in Oma
ha, Neb., last Monday morning, the
question came to our minds. How will
we be received in Omaha?
I have had the pleasure and honor
of attending annual gatherings in al
most every state in the union; have
witnessed the opening and the wel
coming of the same, but I wish to say
that I have never at any time, or in
any state, witnessed so magnificent a
welcome as Omaha, Neb., has given
the grand lodge and grand temple of
the United Brothers of Friendship and
Sisters of the Mysterious Ten of Mis
souri and jurisdiction.
The welcome accorded this splen
did organization by Omaha’s chief ex
exutive, Mayor James C. Dahlman,
stands without a parallel. The warm
words of welcome, coming from this
great man, will ever be remembered
by men and women who constitute
this grand old order. His words, which
he has assured us, come from his
heart, have reached the heart again
and will find a sweet resting place in
the hearts to which they have gone.
. The beautiful arch, extended across
the street just in front of the splendid
court house, with the words, “U. B. of
F. and S. of M. T. Welcome,” bril
liantly lighted when the shades of
night had fallen, have produced a
feeling within our hearts of deep and
sincere appreciation for Omaha and
its courageous mayor.
NELSON C. CREWS,
Grand Master of Masons,
Missouri and Jurisdiction.
Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 25, 1915.
My Dear Father Williams: Allow
me to say a few words in regard to
your splendid publication, The Moni
tor. I have enjoyed reading each
copy. The science notes by Mr. Will
iam G. Haynes are particularly inter
esting and instructive. The women’s
and children’s department by Luclle
Skaggs Edwards is worthy of special
mention In fact, all contributions are
very enjoyable. Your paper is destin
ed to become the leading colored
newspaper in the United States. I
wish you much success as editor of
this newsy publication and to show
how much I enjoy your paper 1 am
sending you names of friends to whom
please send copies of the special edi
tion. I want my friends to know of
the Negroes’ progress in the great city
of Omaha.
Yours very sincerely,
RAYMOND J. KNOX.