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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1919)
J Thi \ Monitor l_ A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor ___._ £ $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy _OMAHA. NEBRASKA. MAY 3. 1919 _Vol. IV. No. 44 <\ \’e No. 199) SELF-DEPENDENCE IS NECESSARY Negro's Place In American Civiliza tion Must Be Won by Himself, and He Must Not Depend, Upon Others. JER NAG IN’S MESSAGE TO RACE National Race Conference Receives Report of Its President's Visit to France: Important Business Trans acted: Successful Meeting. BY CHARLES STEWART. (Special to The Monitor.) TTfASHINGTON, D. C., May 1.— W “The Negro’s place in American civilization must Ire won by himself, and he must not depend on others,” is the declaration made by the National Race Conference through the execu tive committee at a reception given to Dr. W. H. Jemagin at Mount Carmel Raptist church last Friday night. The occasion was Dr.. Jemagin’s return > from France, where he represented the conference in the Pan-African confer ence and at the peace conference. During the day the executive com mittee held an important meeting, per fecting plans for the next annual ses sion, and to hear the report of Dr. Jer nagin and a report from Prof. John R. Hawkins on the $250,000 defense fund. Both reports were - far-reaching and predict better things for the race in the future. The Rev. Dr. H. J. Callis, chairman of the executive committee, presided, and at the opening said some plain things to the members of the committee. “The Negro in America must no longer sleep, but must wake up and do something,” he declared. "What was won overseas will sink into nothingness unless we back it up by real service over here. Let us plan well today and work it out tomorrow.” Every section of the country was , represented at the board meeting, and over two thousand people attended the reception at Mount Carmel church Fri day night, presided over by Dr. Cal lis. Special music was rendered by the choir of Mount Carmel church, and then followed the report of Dr. Jema gin, who was the only man sent by an organization over to France. He said that the large crowd was to him a m source of inspiration, and from the greeting he was determined to do more than ever for his race. He was sorry to say that in many instances the Negro, especially of the labor battalions, had not received a square deal in France, and the white officers had carried their race preju dice into France and had not failed to exhibit it when the occasion presented itself. “But I thank God I am able to say to you that in the face of all of this our boys discharged their duty and were heroes. Some of them died, V, and at the command marched into death like they were going into a ban quet hall. The world will give them credit of being soldiers.” Dr. Jemagin told of his experience in getting over to France, his experi ence after he got over there, what he had seen on the battlefields, in the trenches, and how he was received by the men over there. His address was punctuated with outbursts of applause and, concluding, he made a strong ap peal to every man and woman to rally to themselves, to the call of their race. “We must do it ourselves,” he said, “and not depend on others, for if we do we will be left.” Invitations will be sent to all organi zations, and every race loving man and woman to attend the next session of the National Race Conference, >-•**' which will be held next October in Washington. URGES PUNISHMENT OF LYNCHERS New York, May 1.—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, through its secretary, John R. Shillady of New York, makes public a telegram to Governor Charles H. Brough of Arkansas, urging an in vestigation of the lynching of Sam McIntyre, a Negro, on April 23, at Forrest City, Ark., and the punish ment of the lynchers. The attention of the governor is called to the fact that the lynching of /Mclnyre is the twenty-first known lynching since the signing of the ar mistice and that all twenty-one oc curred in Southern states. The tele gram urges action by the state au thorities and stateB that vigorous prosecution of the lynchers of McIn tyre and adequate punishment of them will do much towards preventing fu ture similar outbreaks and will show America that Arkansas does not stand for mob violence and lynching. OMAHA SKYSCRAPERS NOTABLE EVIDENCE OF NEW ERA OF JUSTICE Review of Reviews, Leading Magazine of Country Dealing With Current History and Events, Tells Part the Negro Played in Winning War. SOME FACTS TO REMEMBER (By Associated Negro Press.) EW YORK, May 1.—Another no table instance of the new era of justice is brought out in the Review of Reviews, one of the great maga zines of the country dealing with cur rent history and events. The informa tion concerning the part the Negro played in winning the war, from an in dustrial standpoint, is not even gen erally known by us, and is of greatest moment. Here are some of the things done along industrial and agricultural lines: Helped build ships, to dig coal, to operate railroads, to raise com, wheat, oats, hogs and other food products, and to raise cotton and other staples. Worked in powder plants and muni tion factories: helped to build canton ments. The brawny arms of black stevedores and screwmen loaded many vessels with supplies on the docks at Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, New York, Baltimore and other places, and unloaded vessels in record time at foreign ports. When the full story of the war is written the black stevedore regiments at French docks, who sometimes worked night ami day without relief, will have a high place in the annals of victory. A gang of Negro riveters at Spar rows Point, Md.,first broke the world’s record for driving rivets into the hull of a ship. Thousands of other Negro workers in the shipyards—at Newport News, Charlestown, Wilmington, Tam pa and other places—helped to build the “bridge of ships” for the trans portation of troops and supplies to Eui'ope. Negro piledriverg at Hog Island established new world’s rec ords, which still stand. In the coal fields of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama other thousands—many of them work ing extra shifts—miner! coal during the serious winter months of 1917-18, thus helping to provide fuel not only for homes, but also for industry and transportation during the mad race of war. In agriculture, during the past four years, the values of the twelve principal food and feed crops in the Southern states increased more rapid ly than the value of cotton crops, great as those were. The Negro farmer and farm laborer had a large share in this increase. LOVE IS BLIND; FINDS A WAY French Maiden Uses Burnt Cork and Travels Incognito as Stevedore to Marry Man of Her Choice. (By Associated Negro Press.) New York, April 30.—A new lesson in true love has been brought to light here by the arrival of the transport Turrialba from France. On board and in the custody of the officers was Mile. Alexandria Boyer of Marseilles, bride-to-be of Michael Black, a first class boatswain's mate, and Colored. Mile. Boyer traveled incognito for the first two days until, according to soldiers on board, she became seasick and so pale that her heavy coating of burnt cork failed longer to deceive the ship’s officers. Much to the surprise of the officers it was discovered that the “stevedore” was an aristocratic French woman who had fallen in love with Black and who was unable to marry in France because of the “red tape” necessary to go through before' the ship sailed. The woman has been turned over to the immigration authorities, but both the woman and tnan maintain as soon as the trouble is straightened out they will get married. CELEBRATE THE 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDING OF SLAVES (By Associated Negro Press.) Newark, N. J., May 1.—The 300th anniversary of the landing of the first Negroes brought to this country in slavery was celebrated here this week under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias. Mayor Gillen, A. K. Bugbee, candidate for governor, and Rev. W. A. Byrd were the speakers, as was also Governor Edge. The occasion was a memorable one. y Crockery 8aver. Danger of breakage Is eliminated In l new motor-driven dish washer in which the dishes are held stationary in vlre baskets and water is forced round them. COLORED AMERICAN IN WAR WORK Excellent Opportunities Offered Am bitious Young Men to Train for Ef ficient Service; Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and Military In structors. ASHINGTON, D. C., May 1.— Following the demobilization of the Students’ Army Training corps, shortly after the signing of the armis tice, the war department, to stimulate the patriotic spirit of young men in the colleges and schools of the land and to fit them for efficient service in defense of the nation, formulated plans for the establishment of a re serve officers’ training corps. Under this system the students of the vari ous educational institutions who are able to meet the required standards, mentally, physically and temperamen tally, are trained to become officers in the army, prepared to take their places in the active military service, should necessity arise. Watchful of the welfare of the Col ored young man and anxious that the Colored schools of the country should he given a proper opportunity and -hare in this advance work of pre paredness, Dr. F.mmett J. Scott, spe cial assistant to the secretary of war, took up the matter with the committee on education and special training of the war department, in charge of the training and instruction branch of the war plans divisions, general staff, with the result that twelve of the leading Colored schools of the country have been selected as centers for the estab lishment of units of the reserve offi cers’ training corps. In addition to having the schools enlisted under this advantageous banner, Dr. Scott was able to have a number of thoroughly competent young Colored army offi cers stationed at the schools to serve as instructors in military science and tiiCtlCS. K. O. T. C. Units and Their Military Instructors. Herewith is given a complete list of the schools selected up to April 1, 1919, together with a roster of the of ficers designated as military instruc tors therein. All of the instruction for the present is in infantry move ments: Howard University, Washington— Major Milton T. Dean and First Lieut. Campbell C. Johnson. Tuskegee Normal and Industrial In stitute, Tuskegee Institute, Ala.—Cap tain Russell Smith, First Lieut. James C. Pinkston and Second Lieut. Harry J. Mack Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio—First Lieut. PercivaJ R. Piper. Negro A. and T. College, Greens boro, N. C.—Second Lieut. Horace G. Wilder. South Carolina A. and M. College, Orangeburg, S. C.—First Lieut. Sam uel Hull. Hampton A and I. Institute, Hamp ton, Va..—First Lieut. Leonard L. Mc Leod. Virginia N. and I. Institute, Peters burg, Va.—Second Lieut. Ernest C. Johnson. Prairie View N. and I. College, Prairie View, Tex.—First Lieut. Wal ter A. Giles. Tennessee A. and I. School, Nash ville, Tenn.—First Lieut.Grant Stuart. West Virginia Collegiate Institute, Institute, W\ Va.—First Lieut. John H. Purnell. Branch Normal School, Pine Bluff, Ark.—First Lieut. Elijah H. Goodwin. Straight College, New Orleans, La. —Captain Charles C. Cooper. NEGRO NEWSPAPERS COMING TO THE FRONT Nearly Four Hundred Publications Supplying News and Moulding Sen timent Among Race In All Sections of the Country. READERS RAPIDLY MULTIPLY Intercommunication Unifying Racial Sentiment, Consciousness and Ac tivities; Spreading Gospel of Justice and Equal Opportunity. (By Associated Negro Press.) CHICAGO, May 1.—The newspapers of the race are finally and forever on the map. With more than 400 pub lications of various kinds in the field, more than 100 of the weekly news papers have increased in business, prestige and influence by leaps and bounds in the last five years. So great has become the influence of the newspapers that in certain sec tions of the South there has been a de termined, though unsuccessful, effort to prevent the circulation of certain race newspapers that are spreading the gospel of justice and equal oppor tunity. Circulation for more than a score of the newspapers has been doubled, trebled and in some instances quad rupled in the last four years. There is no event of importance happening at the present time that is not known from one end of the nation to the other in a week’s time. This intercommuni cation has enabled the 12,000,000 peo ple of our group to act in unity' on many subjects that in former years required weeks and months to dissemi nate. Everywhere editors are displaying the liveliest and most progressive in terest in getting the news to the peo ple. Their increase in circulation has given them an increase in advertising and an opportunity to raise rates, and hence it has at last reached the de lightful point where race journalism has become a paying investment. The latest addition to the files of Negro journalism is the Associated Negro Press, with headquarters at 312 South Clark street, Chicago. This ser vice, which is modern in every respect, gathers news from every section of the country and distributes it among more than 100 newspapers. The ser vice is copyrighted. NORTHW ESTERN FEDERATION TO MEET AT GRAND FORKS (By Associated Negro Press.) Fargo, N. D., May 1.—The biennial meeting of the Northwestern Federa tion of Colored Women’s Clubs will be held in Grand Forks, N. D., July 1-3. Mrs. Johanna Porter of Chicago is president. There will be much im portant business transacted with ref erence to equal justice and reconstruc tion. NATIONAL CAPITAL HAS FIRST COLORED FIRE DEPARTMENT (Rv Associated Negro Press.) Washington, D. C., April 30.—For the first time in the history of the na tion’s capital there is a Colored fire department in this city, in the south west section of the city. The commis sioners made the transfer a few days ago, placing the white men into other positions. The Southwest Civic asso ciation plans to hold a reception in honor of the new department, and resolutions of thanks have been sent the commissioners. NEW ORLEANS HOME OF ORIGINAL JAZZ Lieutenant James Reese Europe. Fa mous Band Leader, Says Popular Jazz Originated ir. Southern City. MUSICIANS CAPTIVATE CROWDS Three Famous Aggregations Making History by Their Rare Entertain ment and Catchy Music; First Jazz Band Under Direction of Mr. Razz. (By Associated Negro Press.) CLEVELAND, 0., May 1.—Lieuten ant James Reese Europe, of the famous Fifteenth New York band, said recently' that so far as he could loam the word “jazz” originated with a band of four pieces which flourished about fifteen years ago in New Or leans. The queer little band was un der the direction of a man named Razz and was known as Razz’s band. It is supposed that with the passing of time the name was changed to “jazz” there by the members of the race. There are three aggregations, how ever, that are making history' in the way of arousing sentiment and creat ing happy feeling. They are the old Eighth regiment band of Chicago, the old Fifteenth regiment band of New York and the New York Sy'ncopated orchestra. These are under the direc tion of George Duff, James Reese Eu rope and Will Marion Cook, respec tively. These organizations, of more than fifty men each, have been touring the country in recent months and “setting the people wild” by their rare enter tainment and music. The white people have fallen in line and are hurrahing everywhere for race music, instrumen tal and vocal. Last week the New York Syncopated orchestra played a return engagement to a packed house in Or chestra hall, one of the great centers in this city. A most unusual recognition was given the orchestra. In the series of symphony concerts, where the “400” attend, the Russian Symphony orches tra concert date was cancelled and the management announced that the date would be filled by the New York Sy'n copated orchestra. The announcement was received with remarkable ap plause. The Fifteenth New York band is filling a week’s engagement at the great Auditorium in the loop district, which is recognition never before at tained in the history of the country, and the mammoth place can hardly accommodate the great throngs who desire to hear Europe’s players and that marvelous voice of Lieutenant Noble Sissle of Cleveland and New York. ELEVEN YOUNG WOMEN GO TO FRANCE AS “Y” WORKERS (By Associated Negro Press.) New York, May 1.—Eleven of our young women have gone to France in the capacity of Y. M. C. A. secretaries to add their setwice to the work that forty-two of our men secretaries have been carrying on for our soldiers since the beginning of the war. Nine of these women are college garduates. Five of them are school teachers; one in public education work, two in public health work, two book keepers and one in business. They are: Miss Helen Hagin, Hart ford, Conn.; Miss Rilda Phelps, Xenia, O..; Miss Florences Lee Thomas, Cleveland; Miss Meta Evans, Hunt ington, W. Va.; Miss Ernestine Suarez, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama; Miss Hallie Craigwell, New York; Miss Lil lian Woods Turner, Atlanta. Ga.; Miss Florence C. Williams, Raleigh, N. C.; Harriet S Edwards, and Althea E. Rocho, ■ York City. The \ - two men secretaries abroad, as well as the 282 men secre taries in the American camps, are all men of high moral character and spe cial training. METHODISTS CLOSE SUCCESSFUL SESSION (By Associated Negro Press.) Lexington, Ky., April 30.—The Lex ington annual conference of the Meth odist Episcopal church closed a suc cessful session here, after going on record in their annual “message to the country” as favoring “equal and exact justice for all, and a definite, untiring working out of the great problems of reconstruction.” This conference com prises more than 50,000 members and speaks for its work in the states of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and the Meth odist work in Chicago and southern Michigan.