The Monitor
A National We**1'* $ spaper Devoted to the Interests of the Colored
.ytv °',<5 ‘ of Nebraska and the Northwest
i
i THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
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j) ,$1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Dec. 9, 1916 Vol. II. No. 24 (Whole No. 76)
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Strive to Prevent
1
f Labor Exodus
Whites of Georgia Promise Race Pro
./ tection from Mistreatment if they
Will Remain Where Needed.
I _
CONFER WITH RACE LEADERS
t -
Colored Men Given Opportunity to
Speak Plainly Concerning Condi
» tions. Fear Potent Factor.
I
Albany, Ga.—Leading white citizens
of this section have awakened to the
/ necessity of stilling the unrest which
/ is agitating Negro labor and leading
to the unprecedented migration to
northern sections, and as a means to
this end they have called into con
ference leading Negroes of the com
munity. At a preliminary meeting
held to talk things over, prominent
representatives of the Negroes were
asked to talk frankly and freely of
the problem, and they did so, with the
result that a clearer insight was had
by all present into certain features
of the widespread emigration move
ment among the Negroes of this sec
tion.
As an outcome from this meeting
the white citizens have determined
to take action to assure the Negro la
borers of southwest Georgia that they
are wanted here, that they will be
given protection from mistreatment,
and that the best class of white cit
izens will continue as in the past, to
be their friends.
Why They Leave Georgia.
It was brought out by the state
ments made by the Negro leaders that
there are several considerations that
influence the Negroes who are leav
ing Georgia. In the first place the
coming of the boll weevil has caused
many of them to become apprehensive
of theiT ability to make a living here
any longer. Some of the large white
planters, it is stated, have told their
Negroes that because of boll weevil
conditions they can no longer make
arrangements to supply their needs
as they have done in the past. This
has removed the main prop of the
existence of many Negroes, and when
the opportunity has come to go north
they have seized upon it as a wel
come means of salvation from condi
tions with which they feel unable to
cope.
Fear a Potent Factor.
Another factor, and a much strong
er one, that is causing many Negro
families to leave, especially from cer
tain sections, is the impression that
has gone abroad among them that the
better class of white citizens have
changed their attitude and will no
longer protect them.
The big, outstanding feature of the
meeting was the assertion that the
plain truth of the exodus of Negroes
from southwest Georgia is that they
are afraid to remain here. Tales
were told of the sleepless nights spent
by Negro families in sections where
lynchings have been perpetrated; how
every sound outside the humble cabin
(Continued on Page 13)
NEXT ON THE PROGRAM.
—Bronstrup in San Francisco Chronicle.
1 TJE SURE YOU BUY FROM 1
| D MONITOR ADVERTISERS 1
Nebraska Democrats
Appoint Race Men
Lincoln, Nebr., Dec. 4.—Four Col
ored men have so far received ap
point under the state democratic ad
ministration elect. Major Moore and
Col. Wm. Woods were re-appointed
to the positions held by them under
previous administrations, while Sec
retary of State, C. W. Pool, has ap
pointed Fred Bailey as clerk. In ad
dition to Bailey's regular work he will
assist in the registration of automo
bile licenses, which is a rather re
sponsible duty.
The fourth appointment has been
made by the democratic sheriff-elect,
Mr. Thompson, in naming a Colored
man as jailor. He will be the first
one of hie race in the Court House
for many years.
WHITES’ PROTEST OF NO AVAIL
Shreveport, La., Dec. 8.—Despite
the efforts of some prejudiced whites
to prevent the Avenue Baptist Church
from building on a recently purchased
sit, the City Council has unanimously
requested the Building Inspector to
issue a permit for the same.
Schwab Will Employ
Colored Men in Plant
Baltimore, Md.—That Charles M.
Schwab intends to give Colored labor
a square deal at his big steel works
near the city was asserted by his con
fidential man, Joseph L. Ray, at a
banquet tendered him by representa
tive men of the race here Tuesday
evening of last week.
Mr. Ray said that Mr. Schwab in
tended spending $50,000,000 within the
next three years in developing his
plant here, and would make Baltimore
the greatest ship-building center on
the Atlantic seaboard. He said that
20,000 men would be employed, and
hat Colored men would be given a
chance at anything they were capable
of doing. He said that it spelled
ood things for the race in the way
of industrial opportunity.
DEAN TANCOCK WILL PREACH
Dean Tancock will preach at St.
Philip’s church Sunday afternoon at
6 o’clock. Public invited.
Street Lighting
Contract Ratified
Citizens Endorse Action of Mayor and
Commissioners by Decisive
Majority.
RACE VOTE IMPORTANT FACTOR
Returns From All Precincts in Which
Colored Vote is Large Show
Significant Facts.
The street lighting contract entered
into between the city commissioners
and the Omaha Electric Light and
Power Company over two months ago,
was ratified by a decisive majority at
the polls Tuesday, at the unnecessary
special election forced upon the city
by a small coterie who opposed the
contract. Unofficial returns, which
will not be materially altered by the
official count, show a majority of
2,275 for the contract in a total vote
of 19,852. The vote was, “Yes,” 11,
064; “No,” 8,788. This vote is about
double that of the last special elec
tion, which was held in August, 1913,
when the extension of the franchise
o the Omaha Gas Company was the
issue.
Race Vote Important Factor.
The Monitor did good service in
educating its readers on the import
ance of the street lighting contract
and as a result the race vote was a
most important factor in this elec
tion. An alaysis of the returns shows
that in every precinct, except two, in
which the Colored vote is relatively
large, the contract carried by good
majorities. The two exceptions out
of twenty such precincts, were the
first and fourth precincts of the Sixth
ward, where there was a majority of
11 and 35 respectively against the
contract. That majorities were re
turned in the precincts where the Col
ored vote is relatively heavy is a sig
nificant fact.
Where Colored Vote is Heaviest.
While there are very few precincts
in the city, even in the exclusive dis
tricts, where there are not some Col
ored voters, there are certain dis
tricts where this vote is quite strong.
The precincts in which the Colored
vote is heaviest and the returns from
these districts are the following:
Ward Precinct Yes No Majority
First 9 93 32 61
Second 1 209 108 101
Third 1 152 40 112
Third 3 88 30 68
Third 4 69 18 41
Third 5 83 27 56
Third 6 103 30 73
Fourth 6 124 40 84
Fourth 7 94 23 71
Fourth 8 79 46 33
Fifth 1 95 79 16
Sixth 1 79 90 —11
Sixth 2 74 60 14
Sixth 3 89 76 14
Sixth 4 71 106 —35
Eighth 1 142 108 34
Eighth 2 121 79 42
(Continued on Page 12.)
