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
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V FOHQ SYSTEM t t
6T. LUUIS MO J "
| PORO SYSTEM COMPANY f
I SAINT LOUIS, MO. f
| Dept. U |
