i =j The Monitor i — i
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COIAJRED AMERICANS.
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor
__
$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, JANUARY 11, 1919 Vol. IV. No.2b ^le No. 183)
French Deputy to
Champion Our Cause
' %■ _
Monsieur lilaise Diagne, Black Deputy
From Senegal, Appeals to Premier
Clcmenceau to Champion Race at |
Peace Table.
AMERICAN PREJUDICE FAILS
Treatment of Colored Soldiers in
France Arouses the Ire of French
men and Something to Be Said
About It.
Ralph W. Tyler.
TV7-ITH the American Army in
W Fiance, Nancy—Monsieur Blaise
Diagne is the deputy commissioner
general of France in charge of the
effectives or fighting Colored troops
of France’s colonies, and is a. close
friend of Premier Clemenceau. Mon
sieur Diagne is a black man, but color
does not count in France—France has
no color problem. The deputy com
missioner has an intimate knowledge
of the surroundings of the Colored
...—man in America. He sympathizes
with them, as do all France’s Colored
subjects. When in Nancy last week,
he stated that he had requested Pre
mier Clemenceau to make some help
ful reference to the Colored troops
from America at the peace table that
Colored Frenchmen had requested
that an audience, at the peace gather
ing be given to a delegation of
France’s Colored subjects to give
voice to sentiments that might be
helpful to their kinsmen over in
America. The discriminations to
which Colored officers and soldiers
have been subjected to at the hands
of many American white officers and
soldiers has been noticeable to Col
ored Frenchmen, and they have felt
it keenly. It has been observed even
by white French officers, to all whom
color-prejudice is unknown and they
have been at a loss to understand why
/ such brave, enduring fighting men of
J the race the United States sent to
help win world democracy should be
subjected to embarrassing and retard
ing discrimination and segregation.
Monsie ir Diagne, also told of certain
American white officers writing to
French high officials urging that the
treatment accorded Colored men from
America in France, by French offi
cers, lie the same as the treatment
accorded our race in America by cer
tain white people; that Colored Amer
icans were an inferior race and should
not be accorded the treatment that
French officers and civilians had
been in the habit of according Colored
soldiers. This request for discrimi
nating against Colored soldiers and
officers on the part of Frenchmen
was referred to Monsieur Blaise
Diagne, a Colored man genuinely
black in complexion, who is “depute
commtssaire general, charge- du con
s trole des ecetifs Colonioux,” with the
request that he tear it up, such de
struction of the paper to constitute
the French officials’ only reply to the
impertinent and unreasonable request
from the certain American white
army officers. Commissaire Monsieur
Diagne is keeping the torn bits of
that request as a souvenir.
There have been some American
white officers over here—not a few
but many—who have, ever since be
ing here, prosecuted propaganda
against the Colored soldiers; who
have done their utmost, without avail,
to taint France with America’s pre
judice against the states’ loyal fight
ing Colored soldiers. - There have been
a few American white officers—not
many—over here who have treated
♦ he Colored soldiers as American sol
diers, as brothers in world democ
racy’s cause, notable among these be
ing General H. H. Barnum and Brig
adier General Sherburne. In spite of
unjustifiable discrimination and hand
icaps at the hands of certain Ameri
can white officers over here, Colored
soldiers, officers and men, have given
the best in them for their country;
have as patiently endured discrimina
tion because of their color as they
have heroically endured the expected
hardships of soldier life, and as
heroically fought against the Hun.
Had it only been the boclie Colored
soldiers had had to fight and endure
against he would return to the states
without a single complaint, but in
/ not a few instances I regret to admit,
f he has had to fight the Huns whites
at the same time he was enduring an
enfilading attack from those whom he
suppose,, were here to fight for the
same thing he came over the seas to
fight for—world democracy. But with
it all, the Colored soldier is proud that
he had an Opportunity to again prove
that which the country had never an
occasion to doubt—his loyalty to coun
try. Thousands of them are now busy
preparing for the overseas return.
They are impatiently counting the
days, even the hours and moments,
that must intervene before they can
again see the face of the Statue of
Liberty in New York harbor—before
they can greet relatives and friends.
Many of them who came hence on
American troop ships in the fullness
of manhood and patriotism, will not
return, for they are lying where they
will forever lie, in a soldier’s grave,
rudely marked, up around Verdun,
Chateau-Thierry, Soissons, Cham
pagne in the Argonne woods and in
the valley of Mousson. France has
been magnanimous towards the Amer
ican Colored soldier; she—her men
and women—has voiced her praise of
their fighting qualities; of their sol
dierly bearing, and of their faultless
behavior. France would welcome them
as permanent residents of France, but
they—those who have survived this
awful decimating, frightful war, are
going to return to the states to help
secure, through peaceful means, for
themselves and their people, that
which their arms, their blood and
their lives helped to achieve on the
battlefields for the alien countries
over here—“democracy.” The 92d
division has orders to prepare to move
for a port of embarkation. I hope to
move w'ith them.
RICHMOND PLANS FOR
DAILY RACE PAPER
Richmond, Va., Jan. 6.—The start
ing of a Colored daily newspaper in
Richmond, now under consideration,
will be fully discussed in the near fu
ture at a special meeting for that pur
pose. Among a list of Colored men
who will be at the meeting are: Jas.
W. Poe, Rev. C. C. Gill, H. H. Price,
Revs. Andrew J. Bowler, Arthur M.
Nichols, John J. Liggins, O. G. Jenk
ins, Peter Wilkins and S. M. Garnett,
C. M. Taylor, C. Alexander Puryear
and others. The gathering will be ad
dressed by a prominent white mn,
who will urge the organization of a
publishing company, and who, with a
number of his white friends, will as
sist in the matter. Puryear is presi
dent of a fraternal organization. Gar
nett and Price are printers, Bowler
is a teacher and pastor. Those who
have been talking the subject up have
been looking up a newspaper plant
that can printe the paper if started,
and this and the cost will be dis
cussed at the conference to be held
and of seeking the patronage of the
Richmond business houses and the
Richmond industries will also be con
sidered. A non-sectarian and non
partisan paper will be urged.
GOVERNOR im.no
REFUSES INVESTIGATION
Jackson, Miss, Jan. 6.—Governor
Dilbo went on record as being opposed
to punishing the men who participated
in the lynching of two men and wom
en at Shubuta when he stated to a
representative of a local paper that ho
had not answered the communication
sent him by the N. A. A. C. P.,
through its secretary John R. Shillady
(white). When asked if he had
reached any definite decision concern
ing the lynching and what kind of a
reply he was going to make the gov
ernor said:
“No, not tonight, but I might give
out a little advance information to the
effect that I will tell them, in effect,
to go to hell."
NEGRO SOLDIERS WANT
NO MORE OF THE SOUTH
Chicago, Jan. 6.—A great racial
shift will follow the war, according to
Mark L. Crawford, federal director of
Employment here today.
"Army life gives energy and self
respect to men formerly indolent,” he
said. "Southern Negroes will hesitate
to return to their former homes. Re
ports from demobilization centers ev
erywhere indicate our Colored troops
almost to a man plan to live in the
north.
“These men have worked and fought
for their country. They feel they de
serve a bigger chance than the south
offers. Migration to the north looks
like their opportunity."
FRANCE MAY CEDE
MARTINIQUE TO U. S.
Washington, Jan. 6.—Martinique,
largest island of the French West In
dies, may come into possession of
the United States as the result of
negotiations at the peace conference,
it was reported today in diplomatic
circles.
NEBRASKA TELEPHONE COMPANY’S HANDSOME NEW BUILDING
Negro Artillery
Supports Infantry
Made a Brilliant Record in Toul Sec
tor Where Famous 92d Division
Covered Itself W'ith dory.
_
INDIVIDUAL DEEDS OF HEROISM
A Belated Letter From Captain
Peebles of 389th Field Artillery
(•iveH Interesting Facts of Men at
lYont.
UNDER date of November 5th, Cap
tain William W. Peebles who, by
the way, has made an enviable record
in the dental reserve corps, which his
friends hope may win him a Majority,
wrote the following interesting letter
to the editor telling of the work of
the Negro artillerymen and relat
ing other matters of interest:
Of course you are interested in our
infantry regiments, for most of those
dear to you and Nebraska friends are
to be found there, so it is but natural
and yet it seems almost a waste of
words to reiterate what you undoubt
edly hear so very often, "They have
made good.” Was there any fair
minded person who knew the race,
who could have a different thought?
Just last night in a raid on the
German lines they brought back over
700 bochos, and pleasing to know our
casualties have not been very large.
But these infantry regiments are now
being backed by their own black ar
tillery. How often did I hear it said,
only a few months ago, “They will
never make good artillerymen.”
I always felt that the statement
was father to the wish. Have they
ever failed in anything where they
have been given half a chance?
Colonel Is Pleased.
My colonel told me two days ago,
as he was about to leave the remi
ment, “I am now satisfied. I have
seen them in action and they have
stood the strain and gone over a hun
dred per cent true blue, every man of
them.” Then he told me of two lucky
lads who, at their own behest, went
over into “No Man’s Land” under a
rain of shells and repaired a tele
phone line which had been cut, thus
keeping open our lines of communica
tion. This they did when their com
manding oficer refused to order them
to do it, because we deemed it too
dangerous.
Wounded, But Eager to Fight.
I have seen these men come back
from their positions at the front
wounded and begging not to be de
tained too long. Guts! (excuse the
term, father) but they have them even
in their teeth. Tell your friends that
Colored artillery men have made good
and tell black men and women that
their very own are being supported
and backed and protected by their own
black brothers who can fire a soixante
quinze and a cent en quatre cinque as
well as the best of them.
Field Hospital Wonderful.
The other day I visited our field
hospital and it was wonderful! Most
of our doctors there are Colored men
and you can rest assured that our
sick are getting the very best of treat
ment. Every convenience is afforded
for giving the sick and wounded ev
ery consideration. Uncle Sam has not
neglected his boys over here: I met
many of my friends on the staff there
and a walk through the wards thor
oughly convinced me that there was
nothing that could be desired. Indeed,
these Colored doctors deserve much
praise for their gentleness and effi
ciency with which they handle their
cases.
Given Seven Hays’ Leave.
Our men are now being given seven
days leave, not including the time con
sumed in traveling. Again I want to
tell you of the attention Uncle Sam
pays to his soldiers. A certain per
cent of each organization is given
permission to go on this seven days
leave. Certain resorts in France are
the places where they are permitted
to go. Each soldier is given $10,
plenty of fresh clothes and started on
his journey. Each is given a room in
a nice hotel, and I mean a real palatial
hotel, and his board during his seven
days’ rest. All military restrictions
are completely lifted and he can travel
around the neighboring villages with
all costs paid by Uncle Sam.
Visiting a French Resort a Treat.
Now to have the privilege of visit
ing a real French resort is in itself a
wonderful treat, but to have all your
expenses paid is great. Why should
men not fight for such a generous
country ? The men have plenty to eat
and though we have many discom
forts, yet on a whole I feel we are
very well treated and taken care of.
Missed Seeing Omaha Men.
I had a real fine hike the other day
into some recently evacuated cities.
The places have been held by the
Germans a long time, but now you can
see our soldiers there in numbers.
I missed seeing Madison, Pinkett,
Turner, Johnson, et:., by a few min
utes. I was accompanying my com
mander, looking over our aid stations
which are located in the front lines
to prevent the wounded from too long
trips before first aid is given them.
.So we had a jolly good time before us.
We found the place where said Omaha
men were stationed and went through
two very beautiful cities where the
houses and churches were completely
edmolished. We explored everything
and took notes of what we saw. We
finally reached one of the outposts
farthest advanced and here we had a
nice meal of soup, cabbage, beef,
toast, coffee and real jelly roll. Also
a bottle of real beer! which in some
mysterious way invariably gets mixed
I
up in the soldiers’ meals. We were
told it was dangerous to go further,
but we went and finally came to our
aiming point. Here we saw two cots
and about a dozen soldiers. It seemed
as though the boches had just left,
as food was still on the tables and
beer in the steins. We had gone quite
a distance now and the guns were
firing over our heads and we were
having it hot for a time. When we
came hack more dead tharf alive, we
were not able to travel very rapidly.
Ubiquitous (Slack Americans Singing.
On reaching a certain city we began
looking through the ruined houses and
I heard some very familiar singing. I
called the major’s attention to it and
an investigation showed a Colored sol
dier with a German officer’s hoots on,
another had on a silk hat and another
curiously examining a boche gun, all
of them singing. You see the black
boys all over France and singing all
the time. I saw them when I first
landed and have seen them every
where since, fighting, working and
drilling. Have they not the right to
exact something in return for what
they are doing? I believe generous
America, the home of real liberty,
cannot longer withhold from these
willing and loyal brave singing black
Americans, those things for which we
are fighting.
All’s well with our men and our
dear old country is ever watchful of
their interest. All is not as it might
be. but we can rest secure in the final
triumph of right. We are a part of
this great war and we are bound to
reap some benefits in the final judg
ment.
DE PRIEST TO MAKE
RACE AGAIN FOR COUNCIL
Chicago, Jan. 6.—Oscar De Priest,
former Negro alderman of the Second
Ward, who was tried and acquitted on
3 charges of graft, accepted the alder
3 manic nomination of the ward yes
terday at a meeting at Unity Club
house, 3140 Indiana avenue. Among
1 ; the speakers were Patrick O’Donnell
t and Alfred Goodman, who promised
I to “put De Priest over” and to “wipe
r George Harding off the map.” Sen
-! ator Harding was named by De Priest
II following the graft charges as also
- I being interested. Harding denied the
t j charge.
F I -
ARKANSAS OFFICIAL TO TEST
CASE ON JIM CROW LAW
Objects to Negro Soldiers Riding in
Pullman.
Little Rock, Ark., Jan. 6.—Herbert
Wilson, a member of the Arkansas
Railroad Commission, announced to
day that he will file proceedings
against the Missouri Pacific for per
mitting Colored people to ride in Pull
man cars with white passengers.
“On train No. 5, which is the St.
Louis-El Paso train,” said Mr. Wilson.
“I saw last Saturday, between Little
Rock and Hope, nine Negro soldiers
in a Pullman, which also was nearly
full of white passengers. I am going
to make a test case of the matter. I
think that I am doing right in laying
the issue before Prosecutor Dunaway.
The law is strict in the matter of pro
viding separate coaches for white and
black in this state.”
COL. ROSCOE SIMMONS
OFF FOR EUROPE
January 6.—Col. Roscoe C. Sim
mons, the nationally known Negro
orator, has left for Europe, where he
goes as the correspondent for the
Chicago Defender. Mr. Simmons will
visit the peace conference and later
many other points in Europe in order
to get first hand account of the ac
tivities of the Negro in the great
world war.
Captain W. W. Peebles.
American 1 ^gro
Academy Meets
President Grimke Delivers Annual
Address in Which He Stresses De
mands to Be Made in Reconstruc
tion Period.
ARE NOT SINGLE HANDED
Many Leading White Men Lending
Aid in Campaign for Securing Jus
tice.
By W'alter J. Singleton.
Special to The Monitor.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Archibald
H. Grimke, president of the
American Negro Academy, at the
opening of the twenty-second annual
meeting of the organization at the
12th street branch of the Y. M. C.
A., asserted that his race would de
mand equality of opportunity with the
whites of America. Mr. Grimke said
the Negroes had fought to help make
the world safe for democracy and now
it is the duty of the whites to make
Amreica safe for the Negro.
Mr. Grimke criticised President
Wilson, saying that the executive had
not specifically denounced lynching of
Negroes. He declared that Mr. Wil
son evidently regarded America as an
exclusively white democracy and was
unwilling to recognize the Colored
man’s equality efore the law.
Demands in Capital.
“I repeat,” said Mr. Grimke, “we
are now going to demand all that is
coming to us. We are going to de
mand that the rules prevailing in the
national capital which excludes our
race from hotels and eating houses be
set aside. We are good enough to
fight, to shed our blood and give our
money and other material resources,
j but we are not good enough to eat
| in a public restaurant or sleep in a
j public hotel.
“To travel in the south it is neces
sary for us to ride in the most
j wretched of cars. But we pay the
j same price that the white man pays
for his luxurious accommodation. They
| treat us like cattle while collecting
] from us the price for carrying men
i and women. It is an outrage, and I
am glad to say that associated with
j us in this campaign for justice are
a number of leading white men. We
do not have to fight this battle alone.
“ In his letter denouncing lynching
Mr. Wilson never had the slightest
idea of including the Negro. He re
ferred to the Germans and their sym
pathizers. But the German can travel
in a Pullman car, he can eat in a first
class hotel, and he can enjoy all other
luxuries for which he is able and will
ing to pay, while we who shed our
blood for democracy are treated worse
than dogs. We ought to at least be
| treated as well as Germans.”
Part in Reconstruction.
Mr. Grimke said the Negro would
insist upon taking his part in recon
struction, but the first act in recon
struction he would insist upon would
be a just recognition of his rights
before the law.
“Reconstruction for the Negro does
not mean any favors, but it does mean
the end of lynching and the end of
cruel discrimination,” said Mr.
Grimke. “You take the departments
here. Negroes are kept back while
incompetent whites are promoted over
their heads. Then they are segre
gated in the various offices. They are
considered good enough to work in the
same office with whites, and yet they
are cultured and refined men and
women.”
Members of the Academy were in
attendance frorh all parts of the coun
try.
BRITISH COMMISSIONERS
VISIT HAMPTON
Hampton, Va„ Jan. 4.—Among the
distinguished visitors who have re
cently studied Hampton’s educational
aims and methods have been three
members of the British Educational
Mission: Sir Henry Miers, vice chan
cellor of the University of Manches
ter; Dr. John Joly, well-known au
thority in raido experimentation and
member of the teaching staff in Trin
ity College, Dublin; Rev. Edward M.
Walker, librarian of Queen’s College,
Oxford University.
TOGOLAND MAY GO
TO CZECHO-SLOVAKS
Prague, Jan. 6.—According to the
report here the entente powers have
decided to give to Czecho-Slovakia the
former German colony of Togoland, in
West Africa, and a portion of Hun
gary, so that the boundaries will con
form with the historical frontier of
Slavic territory.