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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1918)
I The Monitor A Weekly Newspaper devoted to the civic, social and religious interests of the Colored People of Nebraska and the West, with the desire to con tribute something to the general good and upbuilding of the community and of the race. 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 and William Garnett Haynes, Associate Edltora. George Wells Parker. Contributing Editor. Bert Patrick, Business Manager. Fred C. Williams, Traveling Representative SUBSCRIPTION RATES, S2.00 A YEAR: $1.00 6 MONTHS: 60c 3 MONTHS Advertising Rates. 50 cents an Inch per Issue. Address, The Monitor. 1119 North Twenty-first street, Omaha Telephone Webster 4243. BEGIN TO HANG LYNCHERS SIX more Colored soldiers have now been hung for participation in tb< Houston riot. Wa cannot, however forget that not one soldier nor civiliar received similar nunishment for nar ticipation in the East St. Louis mas sacre, which preceded the Houston tragedy and was in a measure con tributory to it. The president reviewed the evidence in the case of the condemned men and reaffirmed the finding of the court martial, confirming the death penalty for the six, which has now been in flicted and commuting the sentences of ten to life imprisonment. He sug gested that this commutation was a gracious largess for the loyalty and patriotism of our race. He found ex tenuating circumstances in the casp of the ten, but not in that of the six, because they had “deliberately, wan tonly and with great cruelty mur dered civilians.” If the evidence disclosed this, the president undoubted'y stands on firm ground. We are very glad, as we have said before, that in the reviewing of the evidence it was found that ther» was, as we felt there must be, some difference in the degree of the guilt of the accused. W’e were, however, un der the impression thr.t these men were tried originally not for “the mur der of civilians,” although they were guilty of that, but for the violation of the 53d article of war, in the dis obedience of their superior officers and for rioting and mutiny. Wo did not know that the other charge en tered into the case at all. The question that arises in our minds from President Wilson’s reason for clemency in the case of the ten . and withholding :t in the case of the six is this: Upon which charge were the men originally tried—for violation of the 53d article of war or for the killing of civilians? If found guilty, under either charge, the men brought upon themselves the death penalty and only executive clem ency could deliver them from it. If they were tried and found guilty under one charge, we cannot quite see how any other charge, upon which they were not tried, had anything to do either with extenuating or aggravat ing the guilt of the accused. However, be that as it may, we are glad that there has been executive clemency in the case of the ten. We hope now with the paying of the death penalty by the last six full expiation upon the part of black American sol diers has been made for their part in the crime of Houston. Concerning those who goaded them on unto this desperate extremity and insane folly and thus far have gone unwhipped of justice, we have naught to say. Dis cipline in the army must be main tained. Law must be respected. Those who violate the lav/ merit and should receive punishment. Those who love their country and would have her rise to greatness cannot condone lawless ness in soldier or civilian, in black or white. Surely we have had enough hang ing of our soldiers for that deplorable Houston tragedy. It is time the au thorities! federa, if those of the of fending states will not, turned their attention to the hanging of lynchers. Can there not be found some wav to reach and punish lynchers who violate our country’s laws ard are guiltv of murder with the =ame kind of justice that has been meted out to these sol diers ? METHODIST CONFERENCE INDICATES PROGRESS THE Kansas Methodist conference which closed its sessions here last Sunday n'ght demonstrated the pro gress which our people are making in things spiritual, which after all are the things which count most, as well as in things temporal. Bishop Parks presided over this representative body numbering more than a hundred delegates, clerical and lay, with dignity and fairness. Busi ness was intelligently and rapidly dis patched. There was a general ab sence of the disposition so prevalent in all legislative and deliberate bodies for a few tiresome “regular speakers” to monopolize the floor and “speech ify” on every question presented. There was also noted the absence of the delegate with the love of “min' to a pint of order.” The speeches made, were in the main, terse, direct and forecful. The reports from com mittees were specific and in good form. At the religious services the ser mors and addresses were all on a high plane. The conference took a decided stand for an intelligent and morally clean ministry. Excelsior, in all things was clearly the dominant note of the conference. There could be no doubt as to the patriotic tone and temper of this rep resentative religious body. Resolu tions to stand loyally behind the gov ernment in the present crisis were unanimously and enthusiastically adopted not merely as a matter of form, but as the genuine conviction of loyal hearts. At the same time, the conference had the courage to place itself on record a: being very much dissatisfied with segregation, Jim Crow car laws and other forms of undemocratic discrimination, demand ing their removal. The African Methodist Episcopal church has p. large membership, num bering well over one million souls. It exerts a tremendous influence in the religious life and uplift of our people. We beheve that evidence of substantial progress noted in the de liberations of the forty-second annual session of the Kansas conference will also be found among the various con ferences and districts throughout the country. Wc note this mark of prog ress with profound gratitude, as dem onstrating the manner in which the race is rising to meet its responsibili ; ties in Christian manhood and citizen I ship. THE passim; OF \ FRIEND TV""ORD has sped throughout the W length and breadth of this nation that Archbishop Ireland is dying. Sad indeed are these words as they come 'to the Colored race, who have never ' found a stauncher and more trusted ; friend than this Roman Catholic pre | late. He has been our friend at all ! seasons and has never been afraid to champion our cause in every case wh'n a champion was needed. He might have gone through life and never have said a friendly word for I our race and have been a great man just the same, but he was the friend of the oppressed. In his own city of St. Paul the citizens can tell you a thousand stories of his kindness and beneficence and under the very dome ' of the capital at Washington he has spoken out against the wrongs and il legalities practiced upon our race here in America. May death deal with him gently and when the call comes to him out of, the unknown and unguessed void, we know that he will be ready to go with a smile and trustfulness. When the great Mass is said that shall commend his soul to the care of the Almighty there shall ascend with its incense the blessing of twelve millions of blacks for whom he has tried to do so much, i WELCOME TO PASTORS _________ The Monitor bids cordial welcome I to the Rev. William C. Williams o' St. .John’s A. M. E. church and the Rev. J. A. Broadnax of Allen Chapel, i South Side, who have been returned to their pastorates in this city by their; conference. We wish them every suc cess in their ministerial labors and call upon the people of their faith to rally to their assistance and hold up their hands that they may successfully carry on the work entrusted to them. SKITS OF SOLOMON Metz Metz, the headliner in the papers which is the objective of the Yanks, isn’t Metz kegged beer, but a town in Alsace-Lorraine that thinks it has Gibraltar beat all hollow when it comeg to untakability. Metz has more breast works about it than a German has belly and it will take several hours to make an impression upon them, but ! there happens to be a guest at the party now whom the Gormans didn’t invite and who wouldn’t stop at any thing short of the yawning chasm of chaos that is opening up for the boches. The reason the Yanks are tampering with the Metz hardware and stone work is to get a pathway into the Rhine valley so that the way to Berlin will be lined with f'owers, Kaiser Bill, up-to-date, has been rath er satisfied with himself that all the scrapping has been done off German soil, but when the Yanks put Metz out of commission he will have an attack of acute pain that will be midway be tween appendicitis and pleurisy. That’s one reason why Kaiser Bill is sic’ing Austria onto the allieB to sound them out on what they think about peace. He knows when Unk Sam’s Khaki •v The Remedy For The Menace BY FRED C. WILLIAMS MY previous article describing conditions of law and order in ^ the southland under the caption of The Menace, was descrip tive of the general trend of thought among the numerous, yet poorer classes, of the white race. Occupying the position as of ficer of the law or deputy, he grew to dislike work, thinking it only fit for animals and Negroes. He therefore looked with sus-i picion upon any law or proposed law that tended to force the idle to work. He even felt that he was greater than the law and reach ing that point of imagined superiority, he was defiant of all real law. He misused his power and therefore misapplied the purposes of the law, until this, menace has grown beyond the bounds of control of even the upper classes, who have been recognized as the powers that be. The upper classes, finding their position of | control threatened, have looked about for a means by which to readjust this unlawful condition of things. I willingly come to their rescue writh this simple suggestion as a remedy to this great menace. First, to take the police power out of the hands of the illiterate and ignorant classes by federalizing it and placing it directly under the direction of the secret service division of the department of justice. This method of the governmental control of police authority is in fbree in Canada and not only are the innocent let alone, but the really guilty are actually punished. Secondly, by disarming all police officials acting in any ca pacity and making the authority of the law the sole power of in timidation. Thirdly, by doing away with the small justice courts, which are in reality merely kangaroo courts presided over by prejudiced and illiterate magistrates, and have all trivial crimes and misde meanors tried in municipal courts under judges duly elected by popular vote because of their legal knowledge and standing. Fourthly, by appointing to the federalized police forces mem bers of both races, who have arrived at the age of thirty-five or over. The attitude of these persons toward their fellow man should be made the basis of their appointments. Fifthly, to give the ballot box back into the hands of both races and both sexes, and I sav both sexes for the reason that woman would be lair and impartial in the matter of preserving those rights gum anteed by the constitution. Terrors start speculating in Teuton real estate and chickenry, it’s all over but the shouting. But Austria fell down. When her dove of peace came hobbling up to the ally camp, one whack at her papier mache head showed up Old Kaiser Bill, whiskers and all. The only way for Bill to get t benediction is to blow off the top of his bean before somebody blows it off for him. But bark to Metz. Its days are numbered just as are the days of the pullet out in the chicken yard 'who is showing such a great degree of edibility. After Metz, through to Berlin. That’s the cry that is giving Bill a chronic case of jim jams. [ Obvious Observations 1 Bishop Parks told the Colored preachers at the conference that this is an age of intelligence and unless a candidate for the ministry brings along plenty of it, his name is Den nis. That’s the best thing we’ve heard in many moons, Bishop. Say it again. Omaha newspapers evidently think that our city commission can stand any degree of knocking. Why not get a sledge hammer, brothers, and strike one good blow from which there will be no recovery? Why shouldn’t policemen have more money? Of course they can lift a peach or an apple from a fruit stand now and then, but peaches and apples don’t keep up their muscular corpor osity. It takes beans and bacon to do that and these come just as high for a policeman as for a pick juggler. What the heck does an automobile need with a devil horn when a speed nut never uses it ? Is it just there for an ornament ? Kaiser Bill is being pounded upon so many regions of his anatomy just now that he doesn’t know where to spead the linament. The Metz brewing people ought to be able to give us some dope on how to dispose of the city over there. One thing is a cinch; if the city is any thing like the beer, there won’t be much left of it when the Yanks get through. Who said Omaha was a dry town? That collection of whisky bottles found outside the court house doesn’t sound like Camelville by Sahara. If the boches thought the British couldn’t fight, it will be a long time before anybody will dare to tell one of them anything different. Thanking you for your kind atten tion, we will now give the muny ice plant the grand go by and give thr coal man some hot air about next payday. PALESTINE, TEX. A. G. Howard, Agent The Zion Hill Baptist association was in set's ion here last week and re ported a good time. They raised around $1,119 for all purposes and the town was full of nreachors and dele gates. The A. M. E. church had their dis trict Sunday school convention. They reported a good success and raised around $800. All of that money was raised around Palestine. Mr. I. S. White and wife of Bed Bird, Okla., are visiting in the city. He is the brother of our anker, B. F. White, and also the ticket agent at Bed Bird, Okla. The U. B. F. S. have their permit: from the department of insurance. All J things are well now. Mrs. Carrie Butler went to Buflow Saturday. Miss Flossie Na'.'e.rd went to Buflow ; Saturday on business. Mr. W. T. Swanson was in the office today. Mr. G. E. Thomas has resigned from the business of insurance and has ac cepted a position with the I. & G. N. K. R., and Mr. A. Gilmoae has accept ed an agency with the first Texas Prudential Insurance company. A. G. Howard went to Jacksonville last Friday and to Jewett on Satur day on business for the first Texas Prudential Insurance company. Mrs. Lizie Tippitt is well from her fall that happened to her some time ago, and the First Texas Prudential Insurance company paid her $13.35 for twenty days’ injury and she goes off satisfied with her investment with the insurance company. Mr. Calven Crear was in the office today. We have some very good weather now. It seemed that it was going to be winter these cool mornings. All the churches had their regular services on Sunday as it was an ideal day for the occasion. ATCHISON, KANSAS W. A. Covington, Agent,. Dr. G. G. Brown of Wichita was in the city Thursday to attend the fu neral of his brother-in-law, A. A. Davis. Mrs. Effa Potter of Kansas City, I Mrs. Hazel Williams of St. Paul, j Minn.,and Mrs. Samuel Trueheart of j Omaha are here at the bedside of their j sister, Mrs. Emma Dysert, who is very | sick. Rev. Felix Pillows preached at St. Paul’s Baptist church Sunday even ing. Rev. Charles Bratten, who will leave in a few days for Macon tMo.) Theo logical college, to resume his studies. He preached at Port William Sunday to a good audience. Albert Moten and E. P. Hoy, pri vates at Camp Funston, were in the city Sunday. The Monitor now is $2 per year, or $1 for six months, in advance. Your time will expire October, 1918. Come and renew your subscription and learn what our boys are doing at home and abroad. i Earl Marshall went to St. Joseph j Sunday to visit his mother, who is i sick. Buy Your Copy of The Children of the Sun NOW! In this hook George Wells Parker, author and historian^ smashes traditions, overturns historians and proves the African Race the Great est Race of History 25 cents per copy Cash or money order. No stamps The Hamitic League of the World 933 North 27th Street Omaha, Nebraska STEP LIVELY BOYS AND GIRLS FOR THE Electrical Masquerade Ball! Given by the JOE CY STARK CLl’B The Night of the Electrical Parade at the MECCA HALL 24th and Grant Streets WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2, 1918 Music by Perkins’ Orchestra, J. Frank Terry, Director After the dance visit downstairs at the Nether-wood Musical Cife. American-Chinese cafe in connection. Entertaining by Harold Bona part’s Entertainers. PROF. JEFFERIES, Floor Manager. " in. N. Snell, Mgr. Othello Rountree, Sec. Mrs. P. A. Hall, Treas. Don’t forget the Time, place and date, Wednesday, Octoer 2, the night of the Electrical Parade. ADMISSION 50 CENTS. < > :: UNCLE SAM NEEDS OUR MEN. LET THE jj PORO SYSTEM :: TAKE CARE OF YOU I ? t ! V FOHQ SYSTEM t t 6T. LUUIS MO J " | PORO SYSTEM COMPANY f I SAINT LOUIS, MO. f | Dept. U |