,=~' ...i The Monitor ll”_
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS.
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THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor ,
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$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy_ OMAHA. NEBRASKA. FEBRUARY 15. 1919 Vol. IV. No. 33 (Whole fa. 188)
Would Eliminate
X Jim Crow Cars
Congressman Madden of Illinois In- j
(reduces Bill Forbidding Discrimi
nation in Accommodations for Inter
state Passengers.
SENT TO USUAL COMMITTEE
Which Means That the Measure Will
Not Be Presented to the House for
Discussion, hut Will in All Prob
ability Meet an Untimely Death by
Strangulation in the Committee |
Room.
(Special to The Monitor by Walter J.
Singleton, Staff Correspondent.)
TFTASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 12.—
Vt That a determined effort will
be made to force the attention of con
gress to the iniquitous Jim Crow car
system with the hope of obtaining re
lief from, if not entire elimination of
its evils, is evident from a bill that
was introduced in the house of rep
, resentatives by the Hon. Martin B.
Madden of Chicago on January 29.
The clear intention of the bill is to
give a knockout blow to this undemo
cratic ami dishonest institution. That
it is undemocratic is evident upon its
face. That it is dishonest is equally
patent, because it delivers inferior
accommodations for which it charges
first class fare.
The bill was referred to the com
mittee on interstate and foreign com
merce, and was ordered printed as is
the custom in such matters.
The bill which was introduced by
Congressman Madden was drawn by
Mr. George Henry Murray, son of
Mr. Daniel Murray, the learned and
well known assistant librarian of con
gresss, and grew out of a series of
conferences between Mr. Madden and
several representative men of the
district among whom were men of
eminent legal ability. These gentle
men all signed it after it was sanc
tioned by Mr. Madden as proper leg
islation for the next congress.
The object of having it introduced
at this session was to have it given
wide publicity by the press of the
country, so as to get an expression
of opinion. Many members of con
gress, both republicans and demo
crats, have gi\en assurance that they
will give the measure their support
—provided, of course, that it does
not meet an untimely fate of so many
measures, death by strangulation in
the committee room. This fate may
be averted, however, if proper pres
sure is brought to bear upon the con
gressional delegations from the sev
eral states by their constituents.
It is hoped that the press of the
country and especially the Negro
press will give the widest publicity
and editorial comment to the measure
frankly pointing out any flaws that
may be discovered therein that these
may be corrected when the bill is in
troduced again.
From what your correspondent can
determine from the freely expressed
sentiment here there seems to be a
set and fixed purpose to exhaust ev
ery expedient to gain relief from the
Jim Crow car system.
Here is the full text of the meas
ure which is known as House Roll
15338:
A BILL
To amend an Act entitled “An Act to
regulate commerce,” approved Feb
ruary fourth, eighteen hundred and
eighty-seven, and all Acts amenda
tory thereof, by providing for equal
and identical rights, accommoda
tions, and privileges for all per
— -«• sons applying for interstate trans
portation, and prohibiting discrimi
nation on account of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the Unit
ed States of America in congress as
sembled, that an Act entitled "An Act
to regulate commerce,” approved Feb
ruary lourth, eighteen hundred and
eighty-seven, as amended, bo further
amended by adding thereto a new sec
tion, appropriately numbered, which
shall read as follows:
“Sec 1. That hereafter it shall be
unlawful for any owner, operator,
manager, trustee, receiver, or lessee
/of any transportation system or sys
tems, by land or water routes within
the territorial boundaries of the Unit
ed States of America and engaged in
or soliciting interstate commerce un
der a common control, management, or
arrangement, or any servant, em
ployee, or agent of such owner, man
ager, trustee, receiver, operator, or
lessee, or any other person having
(Continued on Page #)
RACE MEN MADE MEMBERS
OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Charleston, W. Va., Feb. 10.—An
announcement of especial interest to
the race will be the news that Mr.
Chas. H. James and Mr. E. L. James,
members of the firm of C. H. James
& Son, wholesale produce dealers in
this city, have been elected members
of the Charleston Chamber of Com
merce, a white organization of this
city composed of the leading business
men of this section. This honor comes
to this Negro firm unsolicited and as
a testimonial of worth and business
ability shown among his many busi
ness conferees and competitors of the
opposite race.
REQUEST MEMORIAL
FOR COLORED SOLDIERS
Columbia, S. C., Feb. 10.—Colored
people attending an annual race con
ference here petitioned the general
assembly of South Carolina to dupli
cate subscriptions of $100,000 by Ne
groes with which they propose to
erect a memorial to Colored soldiers
killed in the war.
ROSENWALD GIVES $25,000
FOR COLUMBUS V. M. C. A.
Columbus, O.—Announcement is
made that Julius Rosenwald, Chicago
philanthropist has given $25,000 to
complete a Y. M. C. A. building for
our people in this city. L. Wilbur
Messer (white), general secretary of
the Chicago Y. M. C. A. confirmed the
report. ,
This is the twelfth building to be
erected through the co-operation of
Mr. Rosenwald.
372D REGT. WINS WAR CROSS
Brest, Feb. 10.—The Prefect of the
maritime district here has decorated
the flag of the 372d regiment of
American infantry with the French
war cross. The regiment has been
cited in an army order for brilliant
conduct in the Champagne offensive.
(The 272d regiment was originally
assigned to the 93d division.)
NEGRO SOLDIERS HONORED
Tablet for 44 Who Died in Service
Dedicated.
Special to The Monitor by Walter J.
Singleton.
Washington, D. C., Feb. 4.—The
names of forty-four Negro heroes
who gave their lives in the service
of their country and of many more
who served are engraved on an “honor
tablet” which was unveiled Sunday,
February 2, in New York and dedi
cated at headquarters of the Williams
bridge Civic League, 719 East 217th
street, the Bronx.
James W. Randolph, president of
the league, presided at the dedica
tion and addresses were made by
Louis D. Gibbs, Bronx county judge;
Counselor J. Frank Wheaton; Major
W. H. Jackson, of the Fifteenth regi
ment; Lieutenant S. E. Leazelle and
Lieutenant Marion Rudd. The exer
cises were attended by thousands of
both races.
PROTESTS LYNCHING TO
LOUISIANA GOVERNOR
New York, Feb. 10.—The National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, through its secretary,
John R. Shillady of New York, makes
public a telegram addressed to Gov
ernor R. C. Pleasant of Louisiana,
concerning the lynching on January
30 of Sampson Smith, a Negro. Smith
was taken from jail by a mob after
conviction for murder, without cap
ital punishment. In its telegram to
the governor the Association states
that during 1918 there were sixty
eight lynchings, nine of which were
in Louisiana, and that during Jan
uary, 1919, there have been three
lynchings, two of which were in that
state. The Association also wired the
Chamber of Commerce at Baton
Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport,
asking that they as the leading busi
ness organizations of the state as
sert Louisiana’s regard for law and
order by insisting that the members
of the mob be punished to the full ex
tent.
SHILLADAY SPEAKS IN ATLANTA
Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 9.—A mass meet
ing was held by the Colored citizens
of this city Sunday afternoon at 3
o’clock at the Odd Fellows’ building
when John H. Shilladay addressed
the meeting on “Conditions That
Have Grown Out of the War.” Prof.
Towns of Atlanta University presided.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Bora February 14, 1817; Died February 20, 1895.
“Frederick Douglass stands easily the foremost American of
Negro descent, during the nineteenth century. His career is typi
cal of the history of the race in the times in which he lived. Other
men may have excelled him in some special activities, but he
stands pre-eminent in the estimation of the American people and
of the world." The Negro in American History by John W. Crom
well.
—
Southern Governors Ask for
Adequate Laws Against Lynching
TT IS gratifying to note that there is apparently a determination
upon the part of the best element of the south to suppress lynch
ing. In this connection the action of the governors of Tennessee
and Texas is both noteworthy and praiseworthy.
Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 30.—Govern- j
or Roberts sent a special message to
the legislature deprecating mob viol- j
ence and urging repeal of the lav
doing away with capital punishment
in Tennessee. In transmitting the
message the governor informed the
legislators that he had just received
information from Shelbyville that mob
violence was threatened following the
discovery of the mutilated body of
Boss Dyer at Chapel Hill.
Calling attention to the plight of
the sheriff of Bedford county, who
was calling for aid to protect two
prisoners in his custody from mobs,
the governor asked for more power
to stop lynchings. The message fol-1
lows:
“I received a telephone message
from a sheriff of one of the counties |
of Tennessee, stating that a white
man, who is in his custody on the
charge of murder, is threatened with
a mob.
"Mob violence is at all times inex
cusable, and while 1 am governor of
Tennessee I shall use every means
and power at my command to prevent
the crime of lynching. I verily believe |
that the ‘Bowers law' has been the
contributing cause to the commission
of the crime of murder and the sum
mary vengeance of the mob on the j
murderer. The assassin now knows
that he will not now forfeit his life
by the commission of the most atroc
ious crime upon his innocent victim.
A bill has already been introduced to
repeal the Bowers law, and the attor
ney general has prepared a bill fixing
the death penalty for first degree
murder, the immediate passage of
which bills I hereby urge with great
earnestness.
“Let me suggest that the means
now provided by statute for the pre
vention of mob violence are already
inadequate. The sheriff above men
tioned needs assistance. I can only
give him advice.”
Austin, Tex., Jan. 30.—In his mes
sage to the law makers, Governor
Hoby made a plea for better laws
against lynchers, with a view of put
ting a stop to this menace that seems
to be sweeping this section of the
country. His message follows:
Lynching.
“A quickened respect for law and
order and a public conscience that re
volts against barbarous deeds demand
the enactment of a measure which
will put an end to mob violence and
the assumption by those who are ir
responsible of the prerogatives of the
courts and juries of this state through
the practice of lynching. To make the
present laws upon this subject more
severe, and to fix the venue for trial
and for returning a bill of indictment
in any county adjoining the county
where such a crime is committed,
would, in my judgment, be a step to
wards the suppression of this prac
tice."
WAITERS STRIKE FOR
HIGHER WAGES
Washington, D. C., Feb. 10.—Ap
proximately forty Colored waiters at
the Ebbitt hotel walked out on strike
following refusal of the hotel to give
them a salary increase.
George F. Schutt, proprietor, said
that he secured another crew within
a few hours after the old force quit at
10 o’clock in the morning. Dining
loom service was not hampered long.
Mr. Schutt said the men asked for an
increase of 33 1-3 per cent and that
he offered to give them half that
amount which they turned down.
MORE COLORED SOLDIERS
REACH AMERICA
New York, Feb. 11.—The following
Colored troops arrived from France
during the past week: On the Chi
cago, the 81th Pioneer infantry, made
up of 17 white officers and 314 Col
ored men; the Headquarters Company
of the 92d division arrived on the
Atenas. The war department an
nounced that the 92d division is now
stationed at Le Mans, France, under
the command of Brig. Gen. James B.
Erwin. •
Music and dancing every evening
at the Fashion Cafe.—Adv.
BALLOU PAYS HIGH
TRIBUTE TO BLACK SOLDIERS
New York, Feb. 9.—The transport
Atenas arrived today from Bordeaux
with 119 passengers, including eighty
two officers. Major General C. C.
Ballou was the ranking officer aboard.
General Ballou paid a tribute to the
fighting qualities of his division, the
Ninety-second, which was composed
of Colored soldiers and familiarly
known as “The Buffaloes.” These
troops, he said, did splendid work in
the Vosges, Argonne and St. Mihield
sectors. “They were great fighters,”
declared the general, "and the Ger
mans were afraid of them. Many of
the Huns, I am told, believed the Col
ored boys were going to eat them
alive."
COLORED WOMEN’S
UNIT SOON TO SAIL
New York, Feb. 10.—A complete
unit of Colored women Y. W. C. A.
workers will soon be sent to France
for work among the Negro troops, !
the National War Work Council of the i
Y. W. C. A. has announced. The Paris
office made the request that these
women be sent, and they are being se
lected by Jesse E. Moorland, Colored
secretary in Washington. Only wom
en of education and especially fitted
will be chosen.
The first Colored woman to sail for
France for the Y. W. C. A. vas Mrs.
Helen Curtis of this city, who went
last May. . She is the widow of James
L. .Curtis, minister of Liberia, and
for many years connected with the
Y. M. C. A.
COURT POSTPONES
TRIAL OF LYNCHERS
Sheffield, Ala., Feb. 10.—The spe
cial term of circuit court for Colbert
county convened at the sourt house
in Tuscumbia this morning at 9
o’clock, Judge J. J. Curtis, presiding.
A great crowd of people were in at
tendance, expecting to hear the trial
of Frank Dillard and Jeff Jenkins,
who had been indicted in connection
with the lynching of the Negroes in
Sheffield several weeks ago. At 11:30
the cases had not been called on ac
count of the absence of Attorney
General Tate. Counsel A. H. Car
michael made a plea in the interest of
the defendants, in which he stated he
thought the defendants were entitled
to bond or a trial. In the absence
of the attorney general Judge Cur
tis adjourned the court for two weeks.
WRITING HISTORY OF THE WAR
Paris, Feb, 8.—To insure the writ
ing of an accurate history of the war,
a score of officers under orders to
return to America have been detained
and sent to Italy to make a study
of the regions over which the Italian
and Austrian campaigns were fought.
A large number of officers are now
engaged in studying the devastated
regions of France and Belgium for the
same purpose.
VIRGINIANS TO HAVE NEW BANK
Danville, Va., Feb. 10.—Monday
night, January 20, at the Southern
Ail building a meeting was held for
the purpose of discussing the possi
bility and the advisability of organiz
ing a bank in this city. Two weeks
prior to this time a silimar meeting
had been held and a committee ap
pointed to look up certain facts rela
tive to banking. After the reading of
the minutes and the report of the com
mittee, those who were not present
at the previous meeting were asked
to express an opinion as to the pos
sibility and the advisability of or
ganizing a banking institution in Dan
ville. The concensus of opinion was
that Danville needed a bank; so a
canvass will be made to ascertain if
the people care to finance a bank
ing institution.
ATTEMPT ANOTHER LYNCHING
Eddyville, Ky., Feb. 10.—Thornton
Grooms, a Colored soldier, just re
turned from France, charged with as
sault upon and probable fatal injury
of Reynolds Dillingham, a white man,
was hurriedly removed to Paducah,
Ky., for safe keeping because county
officials feared mob violence.
Dillingham and the soldier were en
gaged in an altercation when a num
ber of Dillingham’s friends attempted
to get him away from the scene.
Grooms, it is said, struck him on the
head with a rock while his friends
held Dillingham so firmly in their
grasp he was unable to evade the
blow.
Peace Conference
Is Perplexed
Many Knotty Problems Relating to
the Settlement of International
Peace Call for Skillful Treatment.
TWO IMPORTANT CONCLUSIONS
Practically Definitely Settled That
There Is to Be a League of Nations
and International Control of Ger
man Colonies.
T)ARIS.—Many problems relating
to the settlement of the world
peace and the reconstitution of inter
national friendship and progress
have had tentative innings at the
peace conference; but two great facts
have been evolved. They are:
1. There is to be a league of na
tions.
2. German colonial possessions
will be placed under international con
trol.
While it is true that, at the present
writing, the latter decision has not at
tained a definite crystallization, the
weight of evidence seems to point to
its accomplishment.
In taking up these two issues it is
important to note tha twhile the league
of nations was agreed upon almost
without debate, when the time for de
cision actually arrived the launching
of the German colonies discussion was
immediately veiled in secrecy. The
doors were closed. The trend of the
debate seems to have entailed some
rather heated controversy.
In short, this has been the first
protracted battle in the Sallee de la
Paix. And the united voice of the
correspondents hovering in the vic
inity advises the world against taking
much of the evidence which has seeped
out as indicative of the final settle
ment.
The question of conquered territory
has tested the mettle of the conferees.
There were signs at the beginning of
the discussion that England seemed
to find a way out of many perplexi
ties by asking that the United States
assume the trusteeship of some of the
conquered territory. This was par
ticularly the case with reference to
portions of Africa. The situation has
been complicated by the appearance
of another secret treaty, between
Great Britain and Japan, and refer
ring to the disposition of German
colonies entered into before American
participation in the war. By the terms
of this treaty the Marshall Islands,
east of the Philippines and south of
Japan, and New Guinea, the Bis
marck and the Samoan group would
go to Australia and New Zealand. The
terms of the treaty have resulted in
putting these two British colonial
powers with Japan in a fight against
internationalized control of captured
territory. There have been evident
some sentiment on the part of Ameri
can delegates; according to corre
spondents in Paris, against giving
Japan unrestricted control of these
territories she asks for. There are
other claims held in the balance and
not so well supported. South' Africa,
a self-governing British colonial pow
er, wants Kamerun and other German
properties in Africa. Belgium wants
one of the African properties. Presi
dent Wilson’s policy of internationali
zation was described in various news
reports as meaning joint control of
Constantinople, Kiao-chau and Fiume,
the bone of contention between Ital
ians and Jugo-SIavs.
Forcible accession of territories to
which no actual claim exists is no
longer held to be tolerable. The plan
as it is expected to go into effect will
give certain nations a mandatory pow
er over conquered territory, but these
nations will remain always in the
position of stewards and finally re
sponsible to the league of nations
from which they derive their power.
There is a disposition on the part
of some European obesrvers to be
lieve this is merely a reconstitution of
the old system of spoils to the con
querors under another name. Details
which will illuminate the justice or
falsity of this view are still to be
worked out. The Japanese delegates
have held themselves aloof in the dis
cussion, but there are signs that Ja
pan will ackuiesce when it becomes
clear that world opinion demands in
ternational control.
CENTENARIAN PASSES
AWAY AT SOUTHERN HOME
Mobile, Ala., Feb. 10.—The oldest
citizen of Spring Hill, Mrs. Elizabeth
Parker, died at the age of 106 years,
six months and 10 days.