A National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored Americans %,
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
$1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy _OMAHA, NEBRASKA, SEPTEMBER 8. 1917 Vol. III. No. 10 (Whole No. 114)
TAKING STOCK
IN EDUCATION
Elementary Training Is Special
Work of Public Schools.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Impartial Review of the Whole System
of Education Presented by Dr. Thom
as Jesse Jones—Suggests Plan For
Reducing Illiteracy—Need of Insti
tutions of Real College Grade.
In concluding that feature of his re
port on the importance of elementary,
secondary, college, agricultural educa
tion ulid teacher training Ur. Thomas
Jesse Jones says:
“Elementary education Is peculiarly
the responsibility of the public school
authorities. Though the enrollment ot
the philanthropic schools Is J5 per cent
elementary, their pupils.are only t per
cent of the Negro children six to four
teen yenrs of age. The southern states
out of their limited resources are
spending $0,000,000 annually for the
salaries of teachers in the colored pub
lie schools. While this Is proportion
ately not more than a fourth of that
spent on teachers In white schools, it
is a substantial sum.
“In comparison with the needs of the
elementary school system, however. It
DH. THOMAS JESSE JONES.
Is most Inadequate. So long as tlie ele
mentary school facilities are insuffi
cient every kind of education above
the elementary grade is seriously
handicapped und the well being of the
community Is endangered. The possi
bilities of night schools for adults
should receive serious consideration as
one means of overcoming the large
amount of Negro illiteracy.
"Secondary Schools and Teacher
.Training.-The primary Importance of
secondary schools for colored people
lies In their contribution to the much
needed supply of trained teachers for
the elementary schools. According to
the state records, over 50 per cent of
the colored teachers In public schools
have an education less tliun the equiv
alent of six elementary grades. This
lamentable condition can he corrected
only by a system of public secondary
schools with provision for teacher train
ing, theory und practice of gardening
and manual training. Much effective
help could be obtained through the ac
tive CO-operatlon of tbs/ public sec
ondary schools already organized. One
of the most hopeful movements toward
teacher training and secondary educa
tion Is the plan to multiply county
training schools.
"College and Professional Educa
tlon. — The education of Negroes In
America undoubtedly requires institu
tions that are genuinely of college
grade. The first step in the realization
of this need Is the agreement that all
shull cbm bln* In nu effort to develop a
few well selected Institutions. A pro
gram for such a co-operation Is sug
gested In the chapter on ‘College Ed
ucation' In this report. The second re
quirement of success in this direction
Is the determination that every college
activity shall be ndapted to the de
mands of modem society. Medical ed
ucation is already centralized In two
institutions, so that those interested in
that profession may give their aid with
out question. It Is highly desirable
that some co-operative effort shall also
be made to Improve the standards of
schools for colored ministers. No pliase
of Negro education lias beeu more neg
lected.
“Though there are a few very effec
tive Institutions devoted to the agricul
tural and mechanical education of the
Negroes, they really constitute only a
beginning of the supply needed. The
number of their graduates is at pres
ent only enough to prove the value of
the type. An adequate supply will be
possible only through the combined ef
fort of public and private resources.
State nnd federal governments, through
their genernl appropriations for agri
cultural and other forms of vocational
education, can render a most effective
MR. LEMME’S PROPOSED
PEDESTRIAN TRIP
As previously published in our col
umns, R. J. Lemme proposes to un
dertake the task of walking from
Omaha to New York and from New
York to San Francisco. He asserts
that he will not only be able to sup
port himself, but in addition earn a
snug sum for a rainy day, by selling
copies of The Monitor and securing
subscriptions en route. Incidentally,
of course, he may have the opportu
nity of advertising various firms on
his way. The Monitor gladly allows
him the privilege of selling the paper
and securing subscriptions en route,
allowing him a percentage on sales
and subscriptions. A weekly list of
his sales and of his subscriptions (ac»
companied by cash) as he sends them
in, will be published, and our readers
will be informed of the progress of
his trip. He will begin his work of
earning his expense money by selling
Monitors on the streets today. He
plans to start on his 4,500 mile walk
ing trip Monday at 10 o’clock. His
friends aver that he is only “bluffing,”
and that one or two days of walking
will cure him of his desire to rival
Weston. He, on the other hand, as
serts that he will prove to all skeptics
that he has the sand, the wind, the
physical ability and the determina
tion to complete the trip and present
the letters which he carries from
Mayor Dahlman to the Mayors of Chi
cago, New' York and San Franciseo.
If Lemme makes this trip as he
proposes, it will be good advertising
for himself, for Omaha and The Mon
itor, and whatever other firms he may
represent. The Monitor, with which
he has no official connection aside
from that mentioned, reserves judg
ment, w'ill furnish him with as many
copies weekly as he can sell, will ad
vise readers of the progress of his
trip, and wishes him success.
PENNSYLVANIA WO.MEN
HOLD STATE CONVENTION
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.—The Fourteenth
Annual Session of the Pennsylvania
State Federation of Negro Women’s
Clubs was held here from August 22
to 24 inclusive, in Bethel A. M. E.
Church. When Mrs. Ruth L. Bennett,
of Chester, called the convention to
order on Wednesday morning she was
greeted by the largest delegation ever
assembled in the history of the state
federation.
The convention was cordially wel
comed on behalf of the clubs, churches
and city. Many interesting reports
were made by delegates, showing the
wonderful amount of work accom
plished by race women along civic,
charitable, religious and social lines.
The general theme running through
the sessions of the convention was up
lift and the importance of race wo
men’s interest and influence in the
present crisis.
COMMISSIONED IN
MEDip'AL RESERVE CORPS
Jefferson City, Mo.—Dr. Isaac E.
Moore, who has been practicing in
this city, has been commissioned
First Lieutenant in the Medical Re
serve Corps and has been ordered to
Fort Riley for service. Dr. Moore is
[ a graduate of the University of West
| Tennessee, class T5.
I CHARGED WITH COMPLICITY
IN RACE RIOTS
East St. Louis, 111.—The War De
partment has notified Attorney-Gen
eral Brundage to begin proceedings
against six members of the* Third Illi
nois Artillery, charged with complicity
in the race riots July 1 and 2. The
Boldiers will be brought to this county
for trial. ^
CHICAGO GETS
PYTHIAN TEMPLE
The new $20,000 Pythian Temple
will be built in Chicago. This was
decided at the recent Supreme Lodge
meeting in St. Louis.
Give Us a Colored Commander for
Colored Troops
PRESIDENT WILSON, COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE
ARMY, TWELVE MILLION COLORED AMERICANS RE
SPECTFULLY PETITION YOU, SIR, TO GIVE OUR RACE A
GENERAL IN THE PERSON OF CHARLES YOUNG, DAVIS,
GREEN OR ANY OTHER COMPETENT MAN NOW SERVING
IN THE ARMY, AND TO GIVE HIM COMMAND OF COLORED
TROOPS; AND WE PLEDGE YOU OUR HONOR THAT OUR
COUNTRY WILL THRILL WITH PRIDE AT THE VALOR OF
THE TROOPS UNDER HIS COMMAND.
GIVE US A COLORED COMMANDER FOR COLORED
TROOPS. OUR LOYALTY AND SERVICE MERIT THIS REC
OGNITION.
To the French High Commission
Graceful and Gracious Greeting on Behalf of Omaha’s
Colored Citizens Addressed to the Recent
Distinguished Guests of Our City.
By R. L. DESDUNES
The following graceful salutation or greeting from the Colored popula
tion of Omaha to the French High Commission, who recently visited our
city, was written by R. L. Desdunes. The original French and the transla
tion have been graciously furnished Monitor readers by the author:
(Hommage de la population de
couleur.)
Messieurs:
Heros, Vous qui Venez de la France
lointaine,
Vous, defenseurs du droit et de la
liberte;
lies humbles descendants de la race
Africaine,
Veuillex bien accueillir hommage
merite.
Nous, aussi, nous voulons temoigner a
la France,
Au nom de I’avenir, du present, du
passe,
Nos sinceres souhaits, notre reconnais
sance,
Tel que, de tous, les temps, notre
ame la pense.
Nous avons admire I'illustre Lafayette,
Le Divin Lamartine et le sublime
Hugo,
De nos Dumas, la France est seule qui
S-inquiete,
Qui, par amour du bien, siat consa
crer le beau.
Homage of the Colored Population.
Gentlemen:
Heroes, You who hail from distant
France,
You, defenders of right and liberty,
Of the humblest descendants of the
African race,
Please kindly accept the weli merited
homage.
We,too, desire to testify to France,
In the name of the future, the present
and past,
Our sincere wishes and our gratitude.
Precisely as it has been at all times
the prompting of our soul.
We have admired the illustrious La
fayette,
The divine Lamartine and the sublime
Hugo,
France is the one alone which takes
concern of our Dumas
And which for the love of the good
knows how to consecrate the
beautiful.
WOMEN OF OMAHA, ATTENTION
The hour is at hand!
A million bugles sound the call!
The United States is asking its wo
men to do their bit for the common
cause. The council of national de
fense through its women’s committee
calls for the registration of the wo
men of the nation.
Governor Neville of Nebraska has
accordingly issued an official proc
lamation fixing September 12, next,
a.- the day when women may add their
names to the nation’s roll of honor.
On that day .‘100,000 Nebraska women
should march to the voting precincts
in which they live to volunteer to do
something for this their own United
States. On June 5 the men of this
state nobly did their duty. On Sep
tember 12 the women will voluntarily
say: “Here we are, Uncle Sam, give
us something to do!”
Can You Bake?
You will be asked what you can do
and how much you are willing to do.
Can you “bake a cherry pie for Billy
boy,” or cook, sew, scrub, knit, farm,
raise garden, keep house, solicit
money, drive an automobile, nurse,
manage, entertain, or do anything un
der the sun ? Every woman can do
something and that something will be
of real assistance to this country.
Nothing is too small or too humble.
Everything is needed—everything
will be used. The women of Russia
have donned khaki and are fighting
at the front. You won’t be asked or
expected to handle guns this time,
but you can help win the war at home.
Get Ready.
The eyes of the world are upon you.
You can make the enemy tremble.
You won’t be shot if you fail or re
fuse to register, but sooner or late*
you will feel ashamed of yourself if
you don’t heed the call.
This is the most important thing
you were ever asked to do—to help
make the world safe for democracy.
Stand back of your boy who goea
forth to battle for humanity.
You can at once serve yourself,
your neighbor, your country, and
your God.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
COMMITTEE.
AMERICA’S CAUSE FOR WAR
“The new German policy swept ev
ery restriction aside. Vessels of every
kind, whatever their flag, their char
acter, their cargo, their destination,
their errand, have been ruthlessly sent
to the bottom without warning and
without thought of help or mercy for
those on board, the vessels of friendly
neutrals along with those of bellig
erents. Even hospital ships and ships
carrying relief to the sorely bereaved
and stricken people of Belgium though
the latter were provided with safe
conduct through the proscribed areas
by the German government itself and
were distinguished by unmistakable
marks of identity, have been sunk
with the same reckless lack of com
passion or of principle. . . .
“I am not now thinking of the loss
of property involved, immense and
serious as that is, but only of the wan
ton and wholesale destruction of the
lives of noncombatants, men, women,
and children, engaged in pursuits
which have always, even in the dark
est periods of modern history, been
deemed innocent and legitimate. Prop
erty can be paid for; the lives of
peaceful and innocent people can not
be. The present German submarine
warfare against commerce is a war
fare against mankind.”—Woodrow
Wilson, President of the United
States.
SUPREME LODGE K. OF I*.
AT ATLANTIC CITY IN 1919
St. Louis, Mo.—The Supreme Lodge
Knights of Pythias, after one of the
most successful sessions in the his
tory of the organization, decided to
hold the 1919 convention in Atlantic
City, N. J.
At the election of officers there was
practically no opposition to the slate
and the old officers were re-electfia
with little or no opposition. This was
true of the Court of Calanthe as well
as the Supreme Lodge and the Uni
form Rank department. Prosperity
marked the present regime and they
were returned to power.
Friday morning the military parade
took place and was pronounced by the
public and press as one of the best
displays of its kind in the history
of the city.
Takes Third Trip to
Des Moines Camp
“Bob” Robinson Gives Monitor Read
ers Some Interesting Impressions
of Our Boys Who Are Train
ing for Officers.
OMAHA MEN MAKING GOOD
Editor Monitor: Impressions of our
third trip to Des Moines will doubt
less interest your many readers.
Our party, consisting of Messrs.
Broomfield, Buford, McCullough and
myself, in the two Pierce Arrow cars
owned by Buford and McCullough, left
Omaha Thursday, August 30, at 5 a.
in. and were in Des Moines at 11
o’clock. We went right to the fort,
v here we first paid our respects to
tnt: Omaha boys and other friends,
after which we had lunch served with
Company No. 2, thanks to Mess Sergt.
Pinkston, Co. D, 24th infantry and
Chef Fritz Henderson of Kansas City.
“Fritz” is the only thing German
about Henderson and he is such a
loyal American that he is seriously
considering changing his name from
Fritz to Sam.
Our menu was mutton stew, mashed
potatoes, sliced tomatoes, bread and
butter, jams and cake. It was some
lunch ami the Omaha tourists did
justice as you may well judge, to the
occasion.
The boys were getting ready for an
examination, so we found some of
the other boys who were not so busy.
First Lieutenant W. W. Peebles, O.
R. M. C., showed us around the quar
ters where some 600 recruits were be
ing trained for the hospital corps.
The newly commissioned officers of
the medical corps are busy at this
task. These men, capable and effi
c.ent, are from all parts of the coun
tiy but mostly from the Southern,
states.
Messrs. DeFrantz and Beckett of the
Army and Navy Branch Y. M. C. A.,
have the new uniforms which are
very' attractive, being the French type
and of a mouse color. Leggins are
also worn and the letters “Y. M. C.
A.” appear on the shoulder straps.
During our visit to the Fort Fri
day afternoon we saw much that was
of interest. Each company was drill
ed by two candidates for a half hour
each and they are due credit for the
showing made. After drill the com
panies had a study hour, during which
we went to see the trenches and the
Hospital corps drill just back of the
quarters, returning in time to attend
parade and retreat. Being informed
of the staging of a sham battle that
night we returned to the city for din
ner so as to be back in time to see it.
At nine o’clock we were south of the
fort and on line with the outpost
guard, but had to remain on road,
as to have entered would have caused
us to make some excuse to the sen
try. So we remained out watching
and listening.
One guard got his orders mixed and
the officer questioning him must have
walked a post himself as he was very'
lenient and explained the duties for
the perplexed and embarrassed guard.
Listens easy for one who has not been
through the mill.
We returned to the city at 10:30 p.
m. and attended a dance at Masonic
Hall given by the young men of Des
Moines, assisted by Miss Susie Lee, in
honor of the Omaha party. It was a
delightful affair, although hastily got
ten U| Three officers of the Med
ical Reserve Corps were present.
Saturday morning we left for Oma
ha at 10:45. While going into Van
Meter, la., I had the misfortune of
breaking an axle shaft on Mr. McCul
j lough's car, so we were towed to Eng
land’s garage by Mr. Buford where he
and Mr. Broomfield bade us adieu as
they wanted to be in Omaha at 5
p. m. so that Mr. Buford could re
port for duty with the police depart
ment. They beat the schedule as they
were in Omaha at 4:30, having made
the drive in five hours and forty-five
minutes. Mr. McCullough and I hac
to remain over and come by train.
To return to camp affairs: The
Medical Reserve Officers have taker
band headquarters for their quarters
and have a mess of their own. Forty
or more boys have been commissioner!
and others are waiting to take the
oath. Every man in camp is looking
for word that he has made good or
must return to his regiment or back
to civil life. Quite a few of the boys
have been sent home for various rea
sons and there are now less than 90C
men in training. Since our last trip
the 9th Cavalry boys have arrived anei
the men we met h^ve the carriage oi
veterans.
0
I learned that our attorney, Will N.
Johnson, had made application for his
discharge, and that he had a good
chance to earn a commission as he had
made a record while there of which
any man should be proud.
As I have to return to Van Meter
for the car I shall run over to Des
Moines again.
The Omaha boys are evidently mak
ing good as they are hanging on for
the final gong. Many of the men are
planning to visit Omaha after camp
breaks as those who win commissions
will be given a fifteen day furlough
before being ordered to duty.
Dr. Peeble, or as I should have said,
Lieut. Peebles, promised to have some
bars on his shoulder straps so we
could tell that he is entitled to a
salute on our return visit.
BOB ROBINSON.
HAVE OVER FOUR THOU
SAND TRAINED NURSES
Louisville, Ivy.—The tenth annual
convention of the Graduate Nurses’
association recently met here with
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams as the guest
of the association. The noted Chi
cago surgeon urged that the nurses
take the opportunity offered by the
United States government calling for
efficient nurses. He declared that we
have registered 4,500 trained nurses
and that there are at least forty-five
first class hospitals owned and oper
ated by our people.
COUNCILMAN CUMMINGS
SUFFERS PARALYTIC STROKE
Baltimore, Md.—City Councilman,
Harry S. Cummings was brought to
his home on Druid Hill avenue Wed
nesday, August 29, from Roland Park
where he had been spending some
time with his family at the residence
of Mi-si Sophie Lewis. Physicians
were hastily summoned and found
that Mr. Cummings had lost the use
of his body above the waist.
SOLDIERS ARE SENT TO PRISON
San Antonio, Tex.—Six Negro sol
diers of the 24th infantry who clashed
with the civil police and the troops
sent to subdue them at Waco on the
night of July 29, were found guilty
of violating the ninety-third article of
war before the general court-martial
held recently at Camp McArthur,
Waco. Five of the men were sen
tenced to five years at hard labor in
the United States penitentiary at
Leavemvorth, Kas. The sixth man re
ceived ten years. All were sentenced
to be dishonorably discharged.
WILL NOT BE CALLED
IN THE DRAFT
Washington, D. C.—Until the War
Department determines upon a policy
with regard to quartering Negroes of
the National Army at cantonments in
the South, Negroes chosen under the
draft will not be called to the colors.
This course is due to protests from
Southern States following the race 1 lot
at Houston, Tex.
The War Department feels it will
not send Negro troops to Southern
camps until it has had time to con
sider the situation. One of the rea
sons for not calling Negroes in the
first contingent of the draft is that
some of the cantonments have not
been completed.
COLORED AMERICAN AVIATOR
FALLS IN FRANCE
Lawrence Scanlon, of Cedarhurst,
L. Li flying with the aviation forces
in France, lost control of his machine,
fell 500 feet, crushed through the roof
of a bakery and escaped unhurt. The
machine was demolished. When Scan
lon could not get a chance with the
American flyers, he went to France
and very easily qualified despite his
color.
AUTHORIZES REGIMENT OF
STEVEDORES FOR SERVICE
Washington, D. C.—A regiment of
2,400 Negro stevedores for foreign
service has been authorized by the
War Department to meet the demand
for experienced men to handle war
supplies for the American expedi
tionary force in France. Recruiting
officers, especially those in 'southern
seaport cities, have been instructed
to seek men for the regiment. The
army also wants Negro cooks and
will give good pay to even inexperi
enced men if they have capacity and
are willing to learn.