The Monitor
A National W' ,spaper Devoted to the Interests of the Colored
tv> .cans of Nebraska and the Northwest
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
$1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Nov. 18, 1916 Vol. II. No. 21 (Whole No. 73)
Race in Tennessee
Organizes For Victory
The Lincoln Republican League Nom
inees Receive Double the Vote
Polled by Lily Whites.
Special to The Monitor Shows Advan
tage of Systematic, Well-Directed
Organiation.
Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 10, 1916.
The one great victory won by the
American Negro in Tuesday’s election
came in Memphis and West Tennessee.
The Lincoln Republican League, R.
R. Church, Jr., founder and president,
annihilated the lily-white Republicans
in an open contest at the ballot-box.
And more, the Lincoln League shat
tered the Local Option combination
composed of white Republicans, Dem
ocrats and Know Nothings.
But most important, Lincoln League
now 5,000 strong and still growing,
has gathered Colored men into the
most unique and largest political or
ganization among Colored people in
the country. As leader, Mr. Church
can boast a following larger, more de
voted and more determined that ever
lined up behind a Colored leader.
Friday night the League met to
consider the situation. More men
were present—maybe 3,000 of them—
than got together the Friday night
before election. Beginning here, the
capital of the Negro race, the battle
is on to break the political shackles
of the Southern Negro.
Candidates Win Down the Line.
From Wayman Wilkerson, candidate
for Congress straight down the line,
the Lincoln League ticket polled a
vote larger than the so-called Repub
lican organization. With no protec
tion at the polls, and local combina
tions against them, together with the
natural bent of Democrats to brow
beat Colored men, the candidates came
through with an approximate vote of
2,700 as counted by election judges.
Thomas H. Hayes, popular business
man, on a fair count, would be Flo
terial Senator from Shelby and Tipton
counties. He ran his democratic ad
versary 8mack up to the State House
steps.
The campaign launched by Mr.
Church and his supporters, grew in
interest. From the middle of August
until election eve, when Roscoe Sim
mons arose to close the campaign be
fore 7,000 people, interest in the con
test was without parallel in the South.
And the women were more set and
determined than the men.
Work Just Begun.
The Lincoln League is organizing
for local contests next year, and for
the Congressional race in 1918. Candi
dates will be put up for every office,
county and congressional and since the
great vote piled up by the organiza
tion establishes it as the Regular Re
publican paty organization in this sec
tion of the state, the party will al
ways be represented on the official
ballet.
The following figures tell a story
(Continued on Page 11)
WOODROW WILSON.
THE AFTERMATH
Some Reflections Upon the Re-Election of
President Wilson.
George Wells Parker, Contributing Editor.
He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman,
what of the night?
The watchman said, The morning cometh.”
When the wires flashed the news across the mountains that California
had gone for Wilson, the Colored American felt a twang of despair clutch
at his heart. To him the news was bitter, bitter as gall. Four years of Dem
ocratic rule had convinced him that there is no hope at court, and his prayer
at morning, noontide and evening was that Hughes might carry the day. But
fate ruled otherwise and for four more years Wilson, the incarnation of South
emism, will steer the ship of state. And what is the Colored' race to expect?
“How,” you may ask, “can we quote the answer of the watchman of Seir:
‘The morning cometh?’ Surely such optimism is foolish.”
In the face of the record of the past four years this optimism may seem
foolish, but the future four years are years of new conditions of which those
past four years knew nothing. Times change and blessings may lurk in the
days to come. The lesson of history is that things happen for the best and
in this truism we may find comfort. Four years ago we expected national
disfranchisement, yet a Democratic Supreme Court declared Southern dis
franchisement unconstitutional. Somehow the Negro haters of the south
were lulled to quiet, and tho segregation and political elimination of the
Negro was thoroly effected at the national capital, all attempts at national
effacement died still born. Tillman, Vardanian, Heflin, and their ilk, pigeon
holed their cursed speeches and their bills went into Democratic committees
never to see light. What did it mean?
Now that the south has won again, will they dare to do that which has
always been nearest their hearts, nationally disfranchise the Negro? No,
the chance is more remote than it has been since the days of the reconstruc
tion. Something more potent than human hate has struck at the vitals of
the south, the problem of human existence. The poor Negro, robbed of all
human rights, has turned from the southland and is looking towards a home
in the north. - To lose the Negro means the ruin of the south. That is the
answer in a nutshell.
Listen to this from the Macon Telegraph: “We must have the Negro
in the south. He has been with us so long that our whole industrial, commer
cial and' agricultural structure has been built on a black foundation. It is
(Continued on Page 9)
Roosevelt Praises
Anderson Publicly
Before Large Audience of New York’s
Elite Ex-President Roosevelt Pays
Tribute to Distinguished Ser
vices of Negro and Jew.
WORTH NOT BIRTH COUNTS
First Colored Man Appointed to Office
of High Honor in the North
Makes Admirable Record.
New York, Nov. 16.—Before a
mammoth crowd at the National
Theatre in this city, Nov. 3rd, which
had gathered to welcome home the
Hughes Women’s train, Colonel Theo
dore Roosevelt paid a glowing compli
ment to Hon. Charles W. Anderson.
The theatre was packed with one of
the most brilliant audiences of the
campaign. Among the leaders of so
ciety and business present were Mrs.
Harry Payne Whitney, Miss Frances
Kellor, Mrs. Nelson O'Shaughiessy.
Dr. Catherine Davis, Mrs. O. P. H.
Belmont, Hon. Herbert Parsons, Sam
uel S. Koenig, Commissioner and Mrs.
Cabot Ward and many others prom
inent in business, financial and social
circles in this city. Hon. Oscar S.
Straus presided. Mrs. Charles E.
Hughes, the wife of the republican
candidate, occupied one of the boxes.
Colonel Summons Anderson
At the conclusion of the wonderful
demonstration which attended Colonel
Roosevelt’s appearance, he shook
hands with several persons sitting
near him and on catching sight of
Mr. Anderson in the rear of the stage,
beckoned him to come forward, shook
his hand most cordially and stood for
a moment with his left hand on the
Collector’s shoulder, which brought
a round of applause from the house.
Priases Distinguished Hebrew.
During his speach the Colonel re
ferred to the men who had rendered
distinguished service in high govern
mental places while he was president,
and said Hon. Oscar S. Straus, who
was a member of his cabinet, and who
was a distinguished Hebrew, was one
of the men of whom he had formed
the highest esteem. He referred to
Mr. Straus’ service while Ambassador
to Turkey in demanding protection for
the Armenians against the oppres
sion of the Moslems, and added “we
were all glad to stand by Mr. Straus
later on when he demanded protection
for the Jews.”
Distinguished Member of Another
Race.
Continuing he said, “There is on
this platform a very distinguished
member of another race whom I am
proud to have appointed to office.
Mr. Charles W. Anderson was the
first Colored man to be appointed to
an office of high honor and respon
sibility in the north. His record was
admirable. He made good. If he had
not, I would not have continued him
in the office even if every Colored man
in the United States had requested
me to do so. But he not only made
(Continued on Page 13)