The Monitor
A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of the Eight Thousand Colored People
in Omaha and Vicinity, and to the Good of the Community
The Rev. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
$1.00 a Year. 5c a Copy. Omaha, Nebraska, October 16, 1915 Volume I. Number 16
Why Mayor Thompson
Is Popular With Race
Some Pertinent Facts Concerning Chi
cago's Chief Executive’s Treat
ment of Negroes.
REASONS FOR APPOINTMENTS
Men Qualified for Positions—Duty to
Elevate and Encourage—He
Promised Square Deal.
Mayor Thompson's visit to Omaha
recalls certain facts in his campaign
and subsequent treatment of our race
which accounts for his popularity
with colored Americans.
During his residence in Chicago he
has been friendly to and outspoken in
behalf of fair treatment to the colored
people. When he announced his can
didacy for the nomination the colored
people rallied to his support and, de
spite efforts made to divide their vote,
they stood loyally by him: with the re
sult that “the black ward” of Chicago
nominated him. It was the vote of
f that ward which nominated Thompson
and led to his election.
He had the manhood to acknowledge
this service and, true to his pre-elec
tion promises to treat all classes of
citizens impartially, he has giver, col
ored Chicagoans some excellent ap
pointments.
In addressing 22,000 people at the
close of the Lincoln semi-centennial
celebration on September 16, Mayor
Thompson gave the following reasons
for his appointments, which by some
were thought to be too good to be held
by Negroes:
"Let me repeat that I am proud to
be here, and let me add these words:
I am asked why 1 have appointed Ne
groes in my cabinet.
Here’s Why He Did It.
“Here is my answer:
"1. Because the persons appointed
were esentiallv fitted and qualified for
the positions they were selected to fill.
' 2. Because, in the name of human
ity, it is my duty to do what I can
to elevate rather than degrade any
class of American citizens.
“3. Because during the pre-election
campaign I gave you my word that, if
elected, 1 would give you a square
deal, and Bill Thompson keeps his
word.
“More than 100,000 colored nun and
women,” ho continued, “have passed
through this great hall to see this
great exposition; and yet there has
been no disordt r of any sort and none
of the petty crimes which Unfortu
nately so often mark big gatherings
of people. I doubt if any great under
taking can equal that record.
Praises Race Women.
“I have been presented this evening
with the Lord’s prayer embroidered
on a silk background and beautifully
framed. The work was done by Mrs.
Laura Davis, one of your people. That
gift will go into the mayor’s office of
the city of Chicago, and it will remain
in that office as long as William Hale
(Continued on seventh page.)
Three Lamps To Light
“THREE LAMPS THERE ARE: FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY;
WHICH WE MAY LIGHT TO KEEP OUR SOULS FROM HARM.
AND SWEET IT IS WHILE ON LIFE’S RESTLESS SEA
TO HEAR THE WATCHER, CONSCIENCE, IN THE NIGHT
WHISPER: ‘ALL’S WELL, THE LAMPS ARE BURNING BRIGHT."’
Twenty-Four Years
In the Priesthood
Next Monday, October 18, S. Luke's
day, is the twenty fourth anniversary
of the ordination of the Rev. John Al
bert Williams to the priesthood. The
service took place in St. Matthias
church, on South Tenth street, the Rt.
Rev. George Worthington, D.D., be
ing the bishop ordaining. The Rev.
Paul Matthews, now bishop of New
Jersey, and the Rev. Irving P. John
son, D.D., professor of church history
in the Seabury Divinity School, ot
Faribault, Minn., were ordained at the
same time. Father Williams has pass
ed his entire-ministry in Omaha at
the Church of St. Philip the Deacon.
On St. Luke’s Day there will be the
usual celebration of the holy commu
nion at 7 a. nt. and morning prayer at
9 o’clock.
HELD JOB FOR SEVENTY YEARS.
Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 15.—Ebenez
er Bishop of Bridgeton, N. J., aged
112 year^, di^l y jy^he Philadelphia
hospital on T*- ?■% die
was born AprjJ, ***• CUlminauu* |ton
county. As a bo; ^ il'^ga' rr-i r,,,i
to a farmer ancf worked a ne
place for seventy years.
Prominent Negro
Physician Wins Prize
Wheeling, W. Va., Oct. 15.—The
prize of $25 offered by the New York
Medical Journal for the best paper on
the treatment of flatulence (disten
sion of the stomach or intestines
with air or gases) was awarded to Dr.
F. Richard Newman, 1031 Chapline
street. In the May issue of the same
journal and in the Southern Medical
Journal there appeared articles on pel
lagra by Dr. Newman. Dr. Newman
recently came to Wheeling from New
York City. For several years he was
located in Memphis, Tenn., and help
ed to organize the Negro Baptist hos
pital, and for five years was assist
ant su.'geon on the staff. While act
ing in that capacity he gained quite a
reputation as a surgeon and gynecolo
gist.
AMERICAN NEGROES
FOR LIBERIAN ARMY
Baltimore, Md., Oct. 15.—Dr. Ernest
Lyon, Liberian consul to the United
States, has received a cablegram from
the Liberian government authorizing
him to appoint Isaac W. Gillespie of
this city. United States army, retired,
to a captaincy in the Liberian con
stabulary, and William Roundtree, of
Xenia, Ohio, to a lieutenantcy.
Successful Meeting
In Interest of Home
The Get-Together Movement on Be
half of Negro Women’s Christian
Association's Home Opens.
A SUBSTANTIAL SUM RAISED.
To Be Applied on Payments on Prop
erty for Old Folks' Home on
Pinkney Street.
The Get-Together meeting held in
the interests of the Old Folks’ Home
at Grove Methodist Episcopal church
last Sunday afternoon, under the aus
pices of the Negro Women’s Chris
tian Association, the founders of this
worthy charity, was a pronounced
success. Less than one hundred peo
ple were present, but they were the
people who do things.
M. F. Singleton, a member of the
advisory board, presided. The Rev.
W. F. Botts opened the meeting with
prayer. The chairman in a brief,
terse and well-worded address out
lined the object of the meeting and
introduced the speakers in the follow
ing order: Mrs. M. D. Marshall, presi
dent of the association; H. J. Pin
kett; the Rev. W. F. Botts, the Rev.
Dr. Logan, W. S. Metcalfe; the Rev.
John Albert Williams, Mrs. W. J.
Broatch, a loyal friend of the home,
the Rev. W. T. Osborne and Hen
ry W. Black. The addresses were
brief, well chosen and to the point;
each speaker happily supplementing
the practical suggestions made by the
one preceding. Mrs. Marshall con
fined herself to a history of the or
ganization of the association and to
what it had striven to do; Mr. Pink
ett emphasized the necessity of such
an institution; Mr. Botts stressed the
importance of a living faith in the en
terprise and urged that man and
women of the race remember such
institutions in their wills; the Rev.
Dr. Logan endorsed the movement
and emphasized the fact that the in
stitution could not succeed unless the
women identified with it show their
interest in other movements in which
the people are interested; Father Wil
liams drove hime the fact that this
work had been begun in good faith,
progress had been made and that the
race could and ought to pay for it, if
they would devote a small amount of
their amusement money to it. Mrs.
Broatch spoke of her interest in the
home and urged the women to get
busy and the home would be paid for.
Mr. Metcalfe said the women needed
money more than advice and propos
ed that 100 men give $5 a year to
help on the home. The Rev. W. T.
Osborne urged enthusiasm and unan
imity. Mr. Black speaking for thft
advisory board stated that they were
with the women to make the home a
success. Mrs. Martha Smith sang a
soio which was much appreciated.
A check for $50 to apply on the
property was turned over to the asso
ciation with the understanding that
(Continued on fifth page)
