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i = i The Monitor i
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A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. ^
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor V*//,
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$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA. NEBRASKA. MAY 17, 1919 Vol. IV. No. 46 (Whc No. 200)
vx Colored Officers and
the Regular Army
Great International Movement for Im
provement of Status of Black Race
Is Organized at Representative
Meeting at Historic French Capital.
DIAGNE, FRENCH DEPUTY,
PRESIDES AT SESSIONS
I)r. DuBois Prime Mover in Convening
Congress—Ex-Mayor Archer of
London, England, and Candace, Dep
uty of Haiti, With Others, Active in
Deliberations of Body.
Special to The Monitor:
PARIS, France.—The hour has rung
when all races and nationalities are
seeking to obtain a right to their share
of the sunshine which floods the world
and to the liberties which certain races
had, until now, appropriated for their
own particular use.
Races are today expressing their de
mands freely and fearlessly, knowing
that the moment has come for them
to assert themselves. Thus it was
that a Pan-African congress was held
recently in Paris, presided over by
Mr. Diagne, deputy of Dakar, and one
of the most energetic of the Colored
members of the French parliament. It
was he who took such an active part
in the recruiting of the Mack troops
whose splendid conduct during the
war filled the world with admiration.
Other prominent members of the con
gress were Prof. W. E. DuBois of
New York, and Mr. Archer of Lon
don, as well as Mr. Candace, deputy of
Haiti, all Colored men.
Significant Action.
The congress passed many resolu
tions, which, if put into practice,
should prove of great advantage to the
black race, but, for some unaccount
able reason (as is generally the case
in France in what concerns colonial
questions and French colonial ques
tions in particular), little or no men
tion was made of this congress in the
French press. Yet it may mark an im
portant epoch in the history of the
black race.
In organizing the Pan-African con
gress, Mr. Diagne said he felt that the
hour had come for the situation of
the black rare to be definitely estab
lished. Thanks to the magnificent
conduct during the war of all its mem
bers, who placed themselves unhesi
tatingly by the side of those powers
fighting for the sake of ustice, it had
won the right to be recognized.
Although the Pan-African congress
was organlized on the initiative of the
Colored deputies of the French col
onies, the latter, as Mr. Diagne de
clared, are by far the most indirectly
N interested in the question, for the Col
\ orod races under French control en
joy all the rights and privileges of
other French citizens; they are rep
resented in the French parliament by
Colored deputies they have elected and
in short have equal rights with other
Frenchmen. Nevertheless, the French
Colored men did not feel that they
could dissociate themselves from the
interests of their less favored broth
ers in other parts of the world.
Aim of the Congress.
"The congress,” said Mr. Diagne to
a press representative, "was prompt
ed by a desire to bring about decided
improvements in the general condition
of the black race throughout the world
and will bring about that progress
which will enable it to occupy the
place which belongs to it by right of
its common humanity with other races.
. * “I have already said the French Col
ored men have few if any demands to
make. But it is generally hoped
amongst all the leaders of the Colored
races that now that the United States
have placed themselves in the van
guard of civilization, they will stand
by the assertions they have made con
cerning the ideal of nationalities and
the right of people to dispose of them
selves.
“Yet, in the opinion of the Pan-Af
rican congress, this does not at pres
ent seem to be the case and in spite
of their declarations concerning this
ideal, the United States do not, as yet,
seem more liberally disposed toward
the black race than of yore."
Americun Problem.
Nevertheless, Mr. Diagne is con
vinced that the problem of the black
race is infinitely more serious in
America than in any other country.
In 1860 the United States, he said,
numbered 4,000,000 Colored men
amongst its population whilst today
it has more than 12,000,000. Mr.
Diagne considers that the policy ac
tually followed by the United States
as regards the Colored element of its
population is far from a happy one,
and that the constitution of so for
midable a state within the state is a
great danger to national security.
Moreover, he does not believe that
after the war, in which they have
taken so great and splendid a part,
the Colored men will be content to
possess only in theory a liberty which
they wish to put into practice. There
fore, the congress considers that the
demands of the Colored populations of
the states are quite legitimate. Mr.
Diagne also believes that those Col
ored American troops who have wit
nessed the absolute liberty and equal
ity which their French brothers en
joy, will constitute an element of dis
cord and that they will return to the
states with newly awakened aspira
tions toward obtaining, in what is
popularly believed to be the freest
country in the world, the prerogatives
to which they have a right as citi
zens. During their stay in France
they will have had time to realize that
the motto of the French republic, “Lib
erty, Equality, Fraternity,” is not a
vain formula, and they may possibly
wish to see it applied as universally
in the United States.
Pan-African Congress.
The Pan-African congress also ex
pressed the desire that everything
should be done to elevate and educate
the Colored people and to bring about
the development of a race which is
still for the most part uncultivated.
That is why the congress hopes that
the United States of America which
has always been the champion of op
pressed and downtrodden peoples will
assist the black race to obtain its
demands.
It is also interesting to note that in
| Mr. Piagne’s opinion the prejudices
j existing in America amongst the
whites against the Colored element of
the nation are not only limited to the
black races, but are also directed
against the yellow races, so that the
problem thus raised really attains
world-wide proportions.
MEMBER OF DANIELS’
OFFICIAL PARTY
Name ol Robert Caines, Messenger,
Figures in Official List Sent
By Cablegrams.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Washington, D. C., May 16.—There
has been quite a stir of comment
among the official family in Wash
ington, and outside as well, because
of the fact that all the cablegrams
giving the names of the “official
| party” traveling with Secretary of
the Navy Daniels on his tour through
Europe, the name of Robert Gaines,
a race man appears. Gaines is de
scribed officially as messenger, but
his name is always on the official list
sent by cablegrams.
BOSTON GUARDIAN
MISSES ISSUE
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Boston, Mass., May 16.—The failure
of the well known Boston Guardian
to make its appearance last week has
created quite a stir among the people
of this section, who for years have
received their information about af
fairs of the race from that news
paper, and read the opinions of its
doughty editor, Wm. Monroe Trotter.
Even those who have not always
agred with the policy of the Guardian
are hoping that it may soon again
! make its appearance.
—
FORMER SOLDIER
PROBABLY LYNCHED
—
Mob Takes Him From Georgia Jail
Where He Had Been Held for
Attacking White Man.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Moultre, Ga., May 15.—Dan Mack,
a former soldier, was removed from
the Sylvester jail by a mob composed
of about thirty men. It has been im
possible to find what they did with
the man, who is charged with attack
ing a white man on the streets. There
are those who think the man was given
a sound thrashing and told to leave
the county. Some believe he has been
lynched. The mob traveled in auto
mobiles.
CRACKER TACKLES WRONG MAN
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Hawkinsville, Ga., May 15.—W. J.
Ferguson, white, county tax receiver,
was given a sound thrashing by a
race soldier when Ferguson became
abusive in his language to the sol
dier, who was walking on the side
walk with two young women. The
soldier knocked out two lower teeth of
Ferguson and bruised his jaw badly.
There have been no arrests to date.
Jackson Kills Man
Who Strikes Him
City Employe and Teamster McCool
Arguing About Accident When Roy
Teeter, Unknown to Disputants,
Rushes Up and Knocks Jackson
Down, W'ho Draws Cun and Shoots
Assailant Dead.
JACKSON HEED FOR MURDER
Has Been Employed as Dog Catcher
For Several Years; Omaha Branch
National Association for Advance
ment of C'oolred People Taking Ac
tive Interest in Case.
AN unfortunate and regrettable
tragedy occurred on the Locust
street viaduct Saturday evening about
6:30, when Roy Teeter, a young man
19 years old, because of his ill-tem
pered interference in a quarrel with
which he had nothing to do, was shot
and instantly killed by Albert Jack
son, who has been city dog catcher for
several years.
The dog catcher’s automobile, which
was driven by George Hockley, had
collided on the horseshoe turn of the
viaduct with a rubbish wagon driven
by Joe McCool. Bert Mitchell, who
worked with McCool, was also on the
wagon. By the collision the wagon
tongue was broken. McCool and Jack
son, who had walked together toward
1 he head of the horses, were arguing
about the accident, when Roy Teeters,
whom none of the disputants knew,
rushed up to Jackson and struck him
a murderous blow in the eye, knocking
Him down. As Jackson staggered to
his feet he drew his gun and shot
Teeters, killing him instantly. Said
A. L. Hlllinger, one of the eye-wit
nesses: “I believe that Jackson was
so stunned by the blow that he had
just presence enough of mind left to
draw his gun and shoot in self-de
fense.”
George Green, in charge of the city
dump, another eye-witness, said: “Roy
had no business butting in and hitting
Jackson, who had not even seen him.”
At the coroner’s inquest, held Mon
day afternoon, all the witnesses ex
amined testified that Jackson shot
after he had been knocked down by
Teeters. A. M. Frieman, who tried
hard to manufacture facts and was
free in his use of the term “nigger,”
to which the editor of The Monitor ob
jected, but which offensive term Dep
uty Countv Attorney Ready permitted
him to continue to use, corroborated
the testimony of the other witnesses
that Jackson shot as he was rising to
his feet.
Verdict of Jury.
The coroner’s jury brought in the
following verdict: “Teeters met death
from a gunshot wound inflicted by Al
bert Jackson. We recommend that
Jackson be held to the district court
for trial. We decry the habit of per
mitting irresponsible persons to carry
firearms.”
Jackson and Hockley, as special of
ficers, were permitted to carry revol
vers, as othei officers of the lawr, and
are under bond to do their duty as
such. Jackson was in pursuit of his
duty when the accident occurred. All
concerned arc white except Jackson
and Hockley.
A committee from the National As
sociation for the Advancement of Col
ored People interviewed Jackson and
Hockley, who was held as a witness,
early Monday morning. At Jackson’s
request the committee arranged for
counsel for his defense. Attorney
Frank Howell represented Jackson at
the inquest and pinned witnesses down
to facts. This committee w'as also
present at the inquest. The N. A. A.
C. P. is deeply interested in seeing
tnat in every case in which our people
are involved they are given a square
deal.
POSTAL AUTHORITIES
HOLD MAY CRISIS
Action Causes Comment and Wide
Spread Protest W'hich Ultimately
Result* in Release of Publication.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
New York, May 15.—Considerable
comment has been made here with ref
erence to the May issue of the Crista
being held up by the federal authori
ties until an investigation of its con
tents were made. After considerable
effort on the part of the officials of
the magazine, permission was given
for the edition to go forward, but sev
eral days late. In the edition the
magazine has some startling informa
tion with reference to treatment of
soldiers in France. Dr. DuBois makes
a veiled attack on Dr. Moton of Tus
kegee Institute and Emmett J. Scott
of the war department.
PROCLAIMING AFRICA
THE PROMISED LAND
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Birmingham, Ala., May 15.—An oily
tongued member of the race has been
going about the smaller suburbs here
preaching freedom and Negro rule in
Africa. He has been telling them that
a new nation, with a Negro for king,
is to be se; up in the dark continent;
that bread grows on trees and honey
flows from springs; that when they
once get tiere, all their troubles will
be over, aid all they will have to do
is eat and rest themselves under the
shade of the giants of the forest.
About twenty familes are said to have
sold their possesisons and are pack
ing to go to the “land of promise.”
KITTRELL COLLEGE
COMMENCEM E N T
Graduating Class Small. Hut Institu
tion Has Had Most Successful Year
In Its History; Visitors Present
From Many Sections.
TRUSTEES COMMEND PRESIDENT
BY CHARLES STEWART,
Special Correspondent The Monitor.
ITTRELL, N. C„ May 14.—Kit
trell college has just closed the
most successful year in its history.
While there were only five graduates,
the interest ran high, and many were
the visitors from all parts of the coun
try, and the trustees were loud in their
praises for the work done by Prof. G.
A. Edwards, the president.
The exercises opened with the model
school exhibition, under the direction
of Miss Della E. Leo, which was the
presentation of a cantata, “Fairies of
the Season.” The commencement ser
mon was preached by the Rev. Dr. M.
E. Davis of Richmond, Va., whose text
was, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things arc true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatso
ever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report, if there be
any virtue and if there be any praise,
think on these things.” (Philippians,
iv:8.)
The address to the religious socie
ties was delivered by the Rev. Dr. J.
B. Cowan of Ashville, N. C. The an
nual address to the literature societies
was delivered by Rev. L. L. Berry of
Norfolk, Va.
There was a pleasant meeting of the
trustee board, in which the report of
President Edwards was made and
audited, and he highly commended for
having carried on the school during
the past year without debt, and had a
balance in the treasury.
Plans were inaugurated for the re
building of the boys’ dormitory, which
was destroyed by fire, and for a light
ing plant for all the buildings and
campus. The latter was started by
Trustee Richardson, who put down
$100 for that purpose.
Bishop J. Albert Johnson, D. D., pre
sided on commencement day, and sev
eral thousand people were present
during the> day. The commencement
exercises took place at 10 o’clock
Thursday morning. The music for the
occasion was the hest ever heard in
the school. It was under the direction
of Mrs. G. A. Edwards. Dr. C. H.
Stepteau made the opening prayer on
commencement day. Plantation melo
dies were sung, diplomas were pre
sented by Bishop Johnson, the Rev.
Dr. E. H. Hunter presented prizes and
the commencement address was de
livered by Charles Stewart, A. M.,
D. D., of Chicago, who discussed “Cul
tivated Mind.”
LIEUTENANT EUROPE
FOULLY MURDERED
Famous Bandmaster of the Famous
“Hell” Fighters Who Won Renown
in France Is Stabbed by Member
of Band.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Boston, May 15.—Lieut. James R.
(Jim) Europe died here from a wound
alleged to have been inflicted by Her
bert Wright, drummer in the famous
Negro “Hell Fighters” (369th infant
ry) band. The band, recently from
France, was playing at Mechanics’
Hall when Europe called out to Wright
to “put more pep in the sticks.”
Wright left his drum, walked hastily
over to Europe, and the police allege
drew a knife and slashed Europe in
the neck. Wright was arrested.
To Wax Paper.
IT one needs some waxed paper
Quickly and there Is none handy, melt
tome paraflln In a shallow pan and
put strips of thin paper (tissue paper
Is good) thro’.]-'1! it.
PROPOSE COLORED
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Suggestion Made by Sintiliar White
Organization That the Business and
Professional Men of Race Organize
Commercial Body.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Knoxville, Tenn., May 15.—The for
mation of a “Negro Board of Com
merce" for the business and profes
sional men of Knoxville has been sug
gested and proposed by the white
Board of Commerce of this city,
through O. J. tSevens, retiring secre
tai*y. Tlie suggestion will be taken
to the board of directors for their ap
proval. If the suggestion is approved,
an extensive organization will be
formed.
W. L. Porter, editor of the East
Tennessee News, states that the sug
gestion of Mr. Stephens will meet with
unanimous approval by the race. Mr.
Porter stated that, in his opinion, 200
members could be secured. This prob
ably is the first instance in the his
tory of the country where a large
commercial body of whites has sought
to form a co-operative body of our
people to work for the progress of the
community. If this goes through in
Knoxville, a precedent will be estab
lished which mayT well be followed by
other communities, in view of the fact
that co-operative relations are neces
sary, and there is little or no oppor
unity to get into the “parent body.”
There are a few rare instances of
our men being accepted as members in
local Commercial bodies. For ex
ample: William Owens, of Los An
geles, Cal.; and James M. French, of
Sandusky, Ohio.
I CELEBRATE SOOTH
ANNIVERSARY LANDING OF
FIRST NEGROES IN AMERICA
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Charleston, W. Va., May 15.—The
300th anniversary of the landing of
the first Negroes in America was cele
brated here this week with a wonder
ful array of national talent among !
whom were: Dr. R. R. Moton of Tus
kegee, Colonel Roscoe Conklin Sim
mons of Chicago and James Weldon
Johnson of New York. The celebra
tion was under the direction of the
churches of the community.
There was a grand street parade,
participated in by thousands, and
every' band in this section took part.
The parade was in two sections, the
first showing the primitive state of
the Negro; the second showing the
progress that has been made.
The people of Charleston are noted
for the wonderful material, moral and
educational progress made, and they
have an international reputation for
hospitality’. Booker T. Washington
was horn near here in Kanawha
county and his name was on all lips
during the celebration. The only race
bank in the state is in Charleston.
SEND REQUEST TO
PEACE CONFERENCE
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Denver, Colo., May 15.—The Colo
rado African Colonization company
sent a request to the peace confer
ence asking that African people be
left to develop in their own way. The
request states that blacks and whites
now are friends, but "if you continue
to torture and afflict us in the future
as has often been the case in the past,
what will be our relations tomor
row? ” The plea is signed by J. N.
Walker, president; and S. H. Robin
son, secretary.
COLORED AMERICAN BATHES
IN KAISER’S BATHTUB
Paris, May 12.—The champion box
ers and wrestlers of the American ex
peditionary force returned to Paris
today to prepare for the inter-allied
games after a two week’s tour of the
area of occupation.
While the touring party was at
Neuenahr, a watering place near the
Rhine, De'o Patterson, and the light
weight champion of the A. E. F.,
bathed in the tub formerly used by
the former German emperor.
LYNCH NEGRO AND
THEN BURN BODY
Vicksburg, Miss., May. 14.—Lloyd
Clay, aged 24, a Negro, alleged to
have assaulted a young white wom
an, was lynched and then his body
burned tonight by a mob of between
800 and 1,000 persons.
A monthly Review of Africa and
the Orient, $1.60 per year. Monitor
office or 158 Fleet street, London, E.
C. 4, England.
Pan-African Congress
Is Notable Event
Chief of Staff Revokes Finding of
Army Board Which Declared Ne
groes Disqualified for Officers and
Leaders of Men—Record in All
Wars Show Race Is Not Deficient in
Moral Fiber.
SCOTT SECURES VITAL DECISION
Special Assistant to Secretary of War
Takes Up Astounding Verdict of
Board of Officers With Department
W'ith Favorable Results.
Special to The Monitor:
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Letters
have been forwarded to the war
department by Bishop Charles Spencer
Smith as chairman of the commission
on after-war problems, of the A. M.
E. church, W. T. Andrews, editor of
the Daily Herald, Baltimore, Md., and
others of like prominence in public af
fairs, calling attention to an indorse
ment which has been placed on the
application filed by a Colored officer
who had been overseas, relative to his
fitness for admission into the reg
ular army. The indorsement, or rec
ommendation, signed by a board of
officers, appointed to investigate the
qualifications of candidates for assign
ments in the reorganized United
States army, after summing up all
citations and observations, was as fol
lows:
“The board recommends that he be
not examined. Reason: unqualified
by reason of the qualities inherent in
the Negro race; an opinion of the
hoard, based on the testimony of five
white officers serving with the 368th
infantry'- Negroes are deficient in
moral fiber, rendering them unfit as
officers and leaders of men.”
War Record of Negroes Refutes Ab
surd Finding of Army Board.
The writers of the communications
to the war department, in addition to
condemning the injustice to the officer
involved made it quite plain that the
Colored people of the country resent
most strenuously the reflection upon
the race as a whole in the bald decla
ration that “Negroes are deficient in
moral fiber, etc.,” and regard it as an
unstained indictment of the entire race
as a group of incompetents and fail
ures. They declare the charge to be
absolutely discredited by the written
record of the brilliant achievements of
Colored officers under fire in the
fiercest offensives of the war, and by
the published testimony of General
Pershing, of Colonel Hayward, and of
a score of French officers of highest
military standing, all of whom had
the advantage of knowing exactly how
the Colored commanders bore them
selves at crucial periods on the field
of battle.
The objectionable memorandum is
refuted, the writers assert, by the un
broken chain of valorous deeds and
heroism of Negroes in all the wars of
the republic from Bunker Hill to Car
rizal and in France from Verdun to
the siege of Metz.
To Be N’o Exclusion of Any Officer on
Account of Color.
Dr. Emmett J. Scott, special assist
ant to the secretary of war. taking
up the matter directly with the war
department, made this reply, upon the
authority of the officials having
charge of the question at issue, in a
letter addressed to Editor Andrews,
of the Baltimore Herald:
“With reference to the marked copy
of the Daily Herald, containing an
editorial, quoting an indorsement
placed upon the discharge of a Colored
lieutenant who applied for retention
in the service, I beg to say that this
whole matter has been before the war
department, and I am pleased to in
form you that the chief of staff has
personally directed the commanding
general at Camp Meade to revoke the
finding; he has also directed that in
the matter of Colored officers being
commissioned in the army, there is to
be no exclusion on account of color.
“I am sure you will be pleased that
this action has been taken by the war
department, and I personally share
with you and the entire race the sat
isfaction of feeling that the finding
quoted by you, and which was placed
upon the record of the Colored officer,
will not appear in his permanent rec
ord as filed in the war department.”
The answer of Dr. Scott to the edi
tor of the Baltimore Herald will serve
as a reply to the many inquirers who
have shown an anxiety to know the
status of Colored officers who desire
to be retained for service in the reg
ular army.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
