Nebraska Newspapers

    j J h n Monitor i——
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 31, 1919_Vol. IV. No. 48 (Whole No. 202)
Southern States
^ Secure Simoleons
Shrewd Statesmen From Sunny South
See That Their Section Secures
Liberal Share of Money From War
Industries and Occupations.
SUGGESTIVE FIGURES
ON SELECTIVE DRAFT
Disproportionate Ratio Between the
Number of Colored and White Se
lectives Causing Caustic Comment
Among Observing Ones.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
NEW YORK, May 28.—From fig
urges made public from authentic
sources it appears that of the 860,710
Colored men inducted into the war by
draft 280,097, or 65 per cent, were
from Southern states, whose white
contribution was only 870,260. The
figures follow:
Colored. White.
Mississippi 24,066 10,206
South Carolina 25,708 18,261
Louisiana . .28,711 27,404
Georgia . 84,801 32,538
Florida .12,004 12,012 I
In the first two named states the
Colored population is greater than the
white, but nevertheless in the whole
South is seen the effort of the whites
to evade military service ami send the
Colored brother to fight in their
stead, hoping that he W'ould be killed I
off and not return, or else aiming to;
stay at home themselves and get rich |
from war profiteering.
Like in all secrets, information is j
beginning to filter through that no
section of the whole country has
profited from the war as the South.
With the democrats in power and
Southern senators and representatives
having their hands on the steering j
wheels of the government, armed with j
. war-time authority, the South has |
f proceeded to feather its own nest I
openly. Two things may be mention- 1
ed from a number.
The report of the government rail
road administration shows that big
roads throughout the north and west
had huge deficits, while even the little j
Southern roads showed surplus and j
profits. This is said to be due to the
fact that government troop trains and
freight trains have been deflected
from their usual routes and over
Southern railways for the very pur
pose of “helping them out.”
On the press boat, going to the
peace conference, little Southern
dailies from Mobile and Montgomery
are reported to h..ve been allowed two
representatives, which was all that
were allowed the big papers like the
New York World, six times larger in
circulation and power.
The Northern states are not asleep
v and in later days have grown bitter,
especially since the prohibition amend
ment has become a fact. They say, as
the Harriman National bank of this
city announced in a recent advertise
ment, “if the South is going to foist
on us an eighteenth amendment, we
are going to see that the fifteenth
amendment is enforced. . . . Not
that we are concerned with the wis
dom or justice of Negro suffrage or
prohibition, but we are concerned
deeply and directly with the rights
and privileges of citizenship as con
ferred by the constitution, under
which we have achieved successfully I
130 years of our national life.”
ILLOGICAL LOGIC OF SOUTH
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Lyonn, Ga., May 28.—If there is any
doubt as to where those of the race
may be understood by the whites, and
they understand the whites, all doubt
is removed by the announcement in
the Lyons (Ga.) Progress, which says:
“Twenty-five thousand white men
employed in a shipbuilding plant in
Ohio struck the other day because the
company had increased the Negroes
employed. In Chicago the other day
whites and blacks had a serious riot.
In Maryland, near Baltimore, last
week, the Yankees lynched a Negro.
Maybe after a while the Negroes will
loam that, after all, the best place for
them is in the South, where the white
people understand them and where
^ they understand the whites.”
TWO HOGS BRING FARMER *270
Waycross, Ga., May 28.—Isaac Lane,
a farmer of our race, who lives just
outside the limits of Waycross, has
sold two hogs recently that brought a
combined price of $270.30. One weigh
ed 789 pounds and the other 1,002
pounds, and were a cross between
Poland-China and Berkshire.
BRITISH SOLDIER
RETURNS FROM OVERSEAS
Sergeant Sishuba, a South African,
Who Was Called to the Colors While
Visiting Friends in Omaha, Returns
to City.
When the war broke out M. G. Sis
huba was a student at Roger Williams
university, Nashville, Tenn. One of
his classmates was Leroy Kelly of
Omaha. Sishuba and Kelly talked of
home. One was from far-off Africa
and the other from Nebraska. One
was a British subject, the other an
American. Kelly invited his chum to
spend his vacation with him in
Omaha. That was in 1918. Kelly was
drawn in the selective draft. Sishuba
having been born at Queenstown,
South Africa, which is under the Brit
ish flag, is a British subject. Britain
called her subjects from all parts of
the world to the colors. Sishuba re
sponded to the call and left Omaha
and went to Chicago, where he enlist
ed July 25, 1918. He was sent to
Windsor, Canada, for training and
sailed for England September 12,
1918. He was attached to the Third
South Lancashire regiment and sta
tioned at Barorw-in-Fumess, Eng
land. In his battalion, which number
ed 900 men, he was one of eleven
black Britishers, he being the only
South African, the other ten being na
tives of the British West Indies. There
was no segregation in the regiment
and every one “who wore his maj
esty’s uniform was treated with the
same consideration everywhere.” He
was promoted to sergeant and served
with this regiment until he was or
dered for repatriation for overseas.
He is licensed as a Baptist minister
and had the opportunity of lecturing
and preaching to large audiences in
England, Scotland, Wales and Ire
land.
Sergeant Sishuba is an interesting
conversationalist and has the reputa
tion of being a good speaker. He will
speak at Zion Baptist church next
Thursday night on the subject, “With
the Boys Overseas.”
BALTIMORE ELECTS TWO
COLORED COUNCILMEN
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Baltimore, M<1., May 28.—With two
Colored city eouncilmen taking their
seats this week, and a republican
mayor boosted into office by Colored
voters, this city has awakened to its
own power as never before.
Colored people in the city yield over
16,000 votes, while the mayor-elect
won by less than 9,000 majority. Wil
liam L. Fitzgerald and Warner T.
McGuinn are the new eouncilmen. The
latter will represent the Fourteenth
ward, which has a few more white
than Colored residents.
Mayor-elect William Broening, in a
statement to Colored voters through
the Afro-American, thanked them foi
their support and promised to make
his actions speak louder than words.
Besides a Colored member on the
Board of Education, the Colored peo
ple are prepared to request and put
through demands for a new high
school, swimming pool, better streets
and playgrounds in Colored sections.
DETROIT HAS SIX TIMES AS
MANY NEGROES AS IN 1910
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Detroit, May 28.—A census of De
troit’s Negro population is being
taken fn connection with the annual
school census, at the request of the
Community Union, and is intended to
aid civic organizations in their work.
Officials of the union believe that
Detroit has nearly six times the num
ber of Negroes as in 1910 as a result
of the high wages in the North and
poor economic conditions in the South.
MODERN HOSPITAL TO
BE ERECTED IN TAMPA
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Tampa, Fla., May 28.—Looking over
the local situation as to the business
prospects of a modern hospital, Drs.
F. L. Young and C. B. Winn of Chi
cago are in the city. The Chicago
physicians propose to erect a modem
building, with about fifty rooms with
a complete equipment for a hospital.
There is only one modem hospital for
the race in Florida, and that is at
Jacksonville.
IMPRISONED FOR INFANTICIDE
Raleigh, N. C., May 28.—Polly Bass
was sentenced to two years in prison
on the charge of throwing her child
into a well to conceal its birth. The
state exhibited the bones of the infant.
SERGEANT M. J. SISHUBA,
Native South African, Who Will Speak at Zion Baptist
Church Next Thursday Night.
“Shaking Off the Shackles
of Tradition and Servitude”
Many Hopeful Signs Indicating a Growing Recognition of the Jus
tice of Demand Being Made by the Darker Races of the World
for Fair Treatment and the Right of Self-Determination.
—
COLORED AMERICANS CONCEDED TO HOLD IMPORTANT
PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM OF NEGROID RACES
(Special to The Monitor by Walter J. Singleton.)
; "WASHINGTON, D. C. May 27.—Among the many hopeful signs'
" of the times indicating an awakening interest in the insist
| ont demand of the dark peoples of the world for self-determina
tion and fair treatment are the thought-compelling articles, edi
torial and news, which are appearing from time to time, in ever
increasing numbers in various magazines and newspapers through
out the world. The Colored American is almost invariably in
cluded in the discussion. Thoughtful writers and observers are
recognizing the tremendous part the race in this country is des
tined to play in these rising world movements in which Negroid
j peoples are to hold pre-eminent place. Under the caption, “A
Plea for the Negro Race,” the Philippine Review, published in
Manila, in its issue of February, gave space to a notwerohty ar
; tide which indicates an intelligent grasp of the trend of events,
j The Review says:
Appalling as are the ravages left
behind the war, a new spirit and a
new life are beginning to surge in its
wake. The horrid menace of an au
tocracy that for years has lain heavy
on the fabric of the world, is now
but a memory of the past. The forces
of freer internationalism are wrecking
the bulwarks of secret diplomacy and
smashing the pedestals of false idols
whose histories are written in blood.
As a logical sequence of the Prussian
disarmament the world is beginning
to de-militarize itself to an extent
which makes all future wars improb
able. Colonialism is past the tram
mels of sheer exploitation and a new
sense of altruism has gotten posses
sion of its old believers. These are
but a few of the outstanding results
born of the war’s most trying crucible
! and in the inspiration of which the
world is marching onward today.
And so are nations, following their
greatest upheavel, shaking off the
shackles of tradition and servitude.
Even the despised Negro race has
come to the fore of the regenerative
movement. In a convention held in
Paris last month the Nations of Af
rica and the people of African de
scent, embracing the United States,
Haiti, the West Indies, South Ameri
ca, British, French, Belgian and Por
tuguese colonies, assembled together
to assert their right to belligerency
and recognition in the sisterhood of
peoples. Whatever resolutions they
might definitely draft will be finally
submitted to the consideration of the
allied statesmen at Versailles. The
immense Negro race will prove that
it is a race of human beings, and as
such, it must not be its tragic lot to
remain perpetually under the world's
contumely, simply because it has not
been endowed with the epidermal
qualities of the white race. The ques
tion of color should not constitute an
impediment in the adjustment of
world peace. It does not go to the
real root of what is essential and re
quisite tc the understanding of men.
Human virtues are not exclusive of a
certain race or another, but are the
patrimony of the whole humankind.
And yet, the tale of racial rivalries is
written in horrid letters. Through the
centuries human vanity has persisted
like a malign spirit to unbalance the
harmony of the world. Then, of a
sudden, the great cataclysm of his
tory swept in and raged the world
for good. That sentiment of race pre
judice which has lain heavy on the
soul of mankind for centuries was lost
in the holocaust, like one mote of the
many pre-war human delusions that
had '"ailed to avert their own doom.
And today, the world, purged of many
of its impurities, come soulfully dedi
cated to the proposition of clean and
open deal. Nations have abandci ed
the gloomy labyrinths of intrigue for
the dawn of a new day. No more can
they afford to return to the heyday
of royalty and power. The present
demands mutual harmony, and, in ac
cordance, principles and policies are
being reconstructed on more humane
considerations. It is too much to
prophesy that the moment the Pan
African claim is laid at the door of
the peace conference the answer to
appropriation will surge from all
quarters? The peace delegates of the
allied powers now assembled at Ver
sailles can demonstrate no better and
mo'e consistent policy at this juncture
than that of good will towards an
unfortunate race of human beings
pleading for the right of self-deter
mination—the selfsame doctrine
which the great powers of Europe had
fought unremittingly to uphold and
sanctify.
DYERSBURG TO HAVE
MODEL SCHOOL
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Dyersburg, Tenn., May 31.—Spur
red on by the knowledge of the ineffi
ciency of an old frame school building
here, housing more than 700 pupils
and a veritable fire trap, the school
board has agreed to erect a modern
brick building for the children of the
community.
RACE REPRESENTED
AT METHODIST CENTENARY
AT COLUMBUS, OHIO
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Columbus, O., May 28.—Having
been genuinely assured that prepara
tions have been completed, there are
growing indications that large num
bers of our people will attend the
Methodist Centenary at Columbus,
June 20 to July 13. This event, which
is calculated to bring the Methodist
Church, North, and the Methodist
Church, South, together in a degree
of co-operation, without precedent
since 1847, has a peculiar significance
for the race because the first home
missionary of the Methodist Episcopal
church was a Negro, John Stewart,
who began his work of evangelization
among the Wyandotte Indians, near
what is now Upper Sandusky, in
Ohio. The general church gives full
credit to this fact.
In their enormous plans the Meth
odists of the two churches have creat
ed a special department to show' the
work of the race in evangelization and
to provide for entertainment at Co
lumbus. Rev. Dr. E. L. Gilliam of
Eleventh Street M. E. church is chair
man of this committee.
There are eight Methodist Episco
pal churches among our people in this
city. All the leading Methodist work
ers of both races and both churches
from all over the country will be pres
ent at this gathering. It will be an
event long to be remembered, as plans
concerning the vital interests of the
church militant and the church tri
umphant in promoting the progress of
citizenship will be considered and han
dled without fear or favor.
RACE “POTENTIAL STICK
OF DYNAMITE.” SAYS THE
CHICAGO EVENING POST
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Chicago, May 28.—It is recorded,
hither and thither, that Colored peo
ple have been called many different \
names, but it remained for the Chi
cago Evening Post, leading daily, to j
denominate the race in Chicago as “a [
potential stick of dynamite.” This was1
done in a lengthy favorable editorial
recently, calling attention to the
necessity ofla rger economic co-opera
tion between the two races. Said the
Evening Post: ,
“Every unit of this Colored popula
tion is a potential stick of dynamite.
What happened in Springfield and
East St. Louis—not to go outside the
bounds of our own state—can and may
happen in Chicago. These Colored citi
zens arc dynamite, potentially, be
cause they are in Chicago, but not of
Chicago. Racial antipathy is the fuse ,
which will fire this deradful charge,
if it is ever fired. And racial antip
athy, translated into every-day terms,
means prejudice, injustice, misunder
standings, neglect and indifference.
The Negro has his part to perform in
this adjustment, but we have empha
sized the white man’s role. The lead
ership falls to him. It is to him to de
cide whether the potential human
dynamite will ever explode.”
TROTTER SEEKS HEARING
AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Boston, May 28.—The appearance
in Paris of William Monroe Trotter
has solved, in part, the cause for the
recent non-appearance of the Boston
Guardian. Mr. Trotter has issued a
statement in Paris to the effect that
he represents 14,000,000 Negroes in
this country and seeks to lay before
the peace conference a protest against
American social injustices. Mr. Wood
row Wilson is also there, Mr. Trottei
is reminded.
REV.LEROY FERGUSON
APPOINTED ARCHDEACON
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Louisville, Ky., May 28.—Rev. Le
roy Ferguson, of the Protestant Epis
copal church, a Y. M. C. A. worker
overseas during the war, and for a
number of years recto)- of the Church
of Our Merciful Saviour, this city, has 1
been appointed to archdeacon and as
signed to work in this diocese.
DEMPSEY’S MANAGER
SIGNS HARRY WILLS
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Toledo, 0., May 28.—Harry Wills,
one of the greatest heavyweights in
the country, has been signed by
Dempsey’s manager, Jack Kearns, as
one of the eight crack sparring part
ners engaged to tune up Dempsey for
his coming fight with Jess Willard,
July 4, for the heavyweight title.
Mme. Sarah Walker
Dies at Irvington
Wealthiest Woman of Race Who
Within the Past Fifteen Years
Amassed a Fortune Estimated at
More Than a Million, Passes Away
in Palatial Home on the Hudson.
ROSE FROM WASHERWOMAN
TO QUEEN OF FINANCE
Great Fortune Made From Hair
Tonic Which She Compounded and
Peddled F'rom House to House—
Was Generous in Her Benefactions
and Powerful in Charities and Con
structive Movements Among Race.
(Special to The Monitor.)
IRVINGTON - ON - THE - HUDSON,
Sunday—Mrs. Sarah J. Walker, said
to be the wealthiest Negro woman in
the world, died today at her beau
tiful residence here, one of the show
places of the entire Hudson east shore.
She had been ill for more than a
year and her death resulted from a
complication of ailments superinduced
by a cold.
Mrs. Walker, or Madame Walker,
as she was more generally known,
met opposition two years ago when
she bought the estate upon which her
splendid home was built. Every ef
fort was made to halt what was
termed an ‘invasion” in Irvington,
but the opposition was halted some
what when it became known that the
residence to be built would cost $250,
000. It had not been generally known
that Madame Walker was a remark
ably quiet woman with a fortune es
timated at something more than a
million dollars, and she soon became
highly esteemed for her sterling traits
of character, civic spirit and pride by
her neighbors of this exclusive com
munity.
Made Fortune From Tonic.
Bom in Delta, La., fifty-two years
ago, Madame Walker was until twelve
years ago a laundress. At that time
she developed a hpir tonic designated
to straighten out kinky hair, and
starting with a capital of two dollars
she began a house to house canvass
with the remedy which had an imme
diate sale. She built up more than
two hundred beauty parlors through
out the country in Negro centers, and
about eight years ago became the
president of the Madame C. J. Walk
er Beauty Company, of Indianapolis,
which corporation she directed up to
the time of her death.
Several years ago Madame Walker
built a beautiful home at No. 108
West 13th street, Manhattan, and was
in many ways a genuine leader among
the Negroes of that section. She be
came active in all projects to aid her
race and her homo became a salon for
professors, teachers, physicians, law
yers, merchants, preachers and other
leaders of the Negro population of the
country. Upon buying the site for
a home in Irvington, Mrs. Walker pre
sented her New York home to her
daughter, Mrs. Leila W. Robinson,
who is her sole heir.
In the field of charity, Madame
Walker soon gained a national reputa
tion among her people. She has
maintained six students in the Tus
kegee university at all times since
1908 and was a contributor to all
of the large national funds which had
as their purpose the aid of the Negro.
2,000 CHILDREN PARTICI
PATE IN MAY FESTIVAL
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Houston, Tex., May 28.—More than
2,000 children, representing every
school in Houston, participated in the
May festival at West End park. An
audience, estimated at 3,000, attend
ed. The entire affair showed great
progress and left an impression for
good that will be lasting. Prof. J. D.
Ryan, principal of one of the schools,
was one of the speakers.