_thank^vw:_i xhe Monitor \ _
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS.
/fo,
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor
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$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA. NEBRASKA. JULY 10. 1919 _Vol. V. No. 2 (Wh*, No. 210)
BICKETT DENOUNCES
THE KLU KLUX KLAN
x _—
Governor of North Carolina Repudi
ates Movement Which He Charac
terizes as “Desperately Wicked Ap
peal to Race Prejudice.”
FIRST ATTACK MADE BY
SOUTHERN GOVERNOR
“No Need for Any Secret Order to ,
Enforce the I.aw of This Land and
Appeal to Race Prejudice Silly and
Sinful,” Declares Executive.
(Bv the Associated Negro Press.)
Raleigh, N. C., July 10.—Denounc
ing the Loyal Order of Klansmen, |
which has received a state charter and
is being widely advertised in the news
papers, among them Secretary Dan
iel's democratic organ here, Governor !
Bickett has called on all North Caro
linians to repudiate this "desperately
wicked appeal to race prejudice,” and
to withhold from “this scheme so
transparently impossible, so plainly a
gold brick proposition that ordinarly.
the inmates of an institution of the
feeble minded could not be induced to
part with their coin for a certificate
of membership in such a soap buble.”
Gov. Bickett's attack, which is said
to be the first made by any Southern
Governor on this organization which
is secretly sweeping over the south,
comes in the middle of a campaign for
memberships. The entrance of $50
has been cut to $17 and page adver
tisements are being published. Gov.
Bickett’s attack, it has been said,
may be followed by libel suits by the
promoters, who justify the organiza
tion as an answer to activities among
Negroes who are organizing.
The governor catalogues from liter
ature the undertakings of the order,
which will “protect our farmer," his
crops and our cotton; protect our
country from lawless invasions; pro
g tert the women of our south, and pro
tect our government; protect our state
laws; protect our country from foreign
interference in the state; protect our
properties from unlawful seizures;
protect people from riots and disor
ders.
Quite incidental to this proposition
to underwrite the government, it an
nounces a number of institutions
which will be maintained, of which
the governor says: "And all that it
costs to enter into the possession of
these vast estates and into the power
and glory of this omnipotent order is
to pay into the now empty treasury
the sum of $50 to join and $18 a year
thereafter.
“Running through the whole scheme
is a wicked appeal to race prejudice,”
he adds. "There is a hark back to the
lawless time that followed the Civil
war, and there are paraded before the
mind of the readers the terrors of
. those dark days. The very name that
is written on the death head is a sub
tle appeal to the fears and prejudices
of our people.
“Such an appeal is desperately
wicked. There is no good need for
any secret order to enforce the law of
this land and the appeal to race preju
dice is as silly as it is sinful.”
WELL KNOWN LODGE MAN DIES
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Columbia, S. C., July 10.—James A.
Brigman, secretary of the grand lodge
of Colored Odd Fellows of the state,
died at his home here after a brief
illness. Brigman had been employed
in the state capitol for several years
and was well liked by those who knew
him.
VIRGINIA WELCOMES
HER HEROES HOME
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Richmond, Va., July 10.—Never in
the history of the city has there been
such a wild demonstration of patriot
ism as was witnessed upon the return
of the 808th Pioneer infantry’ from
overseas. All of Richmond, including
both races, turned out to welcome
these dark skinned boys of Uncle Sam.
They were everywhere received with
the greatest enthusiasm and the day
of their return will be long remem
bered.
It was learned, through the return
of these soldiers, whom the white peo
ple of Virginia regard as the aristo
crats of the race, says the Richmond
I/eader, daily, on this subject: “The
Virginia heroes are the aristocrats of
their race. They have been longest
in America. They are the most intel
ligent. They are most law abiding.
They have, of course, their bad ele
ment, as the whites have, and they
combat that element, but they surely
are not to be judged by it. Under
standing and understood, they de
serve, as they sought to win, the re
spect of all right thinking men.
“What a splendid thing it would be
if we might make the return of our
Negro soldiers the occasion for a
movement that would give them better
living conditions—a sure foundation
for health and industrial progress.”
No state in America has surpassed
Virginia in its demonstration of pa
triotic interests in returned soldiers.
LIVE IN TENTS AND
AVOID HIGH RENT
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Pittsburg, Pa. July 10.—If plans
of the Negro population of the Hill
district are approved by certain city
officials, a tent town will soon make
its appearance in the congested sec
tion of the hill. The arrangements
are to erect tents on city property
and live in them until winter's rinds
drive them to other and more sturdy
shelter, as rents are said to be so
excessive that many families are be
ing forced to vacate on account of
not being able to meet the profit
seeking landlords’ new prices.
In an appeal before council, George
A. Neals, representing several civic
organizations of the hill, and A. W.
Lynch,editor of the Pittsburg Ameri
can, a paper published for Negroes,
the men told of how rents during
the past two months have been ad
vanced in some instances as much as
$12 per month. Not only did the
committee request permission to erect
tents on city property for Negroes
alone, but for white residents as well,
who they say, are also suffering as
the result of poor housing conditions.
If the tent town is allowed govern
ment tents will be used.
COLORED LEADERS HOLD
R ECO N ST RUCTION CO N I" E R E NCE
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Hattiesburg, Miss., July 10.—A re
construction conference of Colored
leaders is taking place at the Colored
Red Circle club under the auspices of
the Young Men’s Christian Associa
tion.
The feature of the session this
morning was an address by Prof.
Lawrence Jones, superintendent of the
Piney Woods School of Braxton, who
spoke on “The Economic Condition
and Opportunity of the Colored Peo
ple in South Mississippi.’’ A number
of white people were present.
p- I
Mr. Advertiser:
I The Monitor is read in prac- j
j tically every Colored family j
in Omaha, Council Bluffs and J
Lincoln. 1
It has also a wide circulation
in Nebraska and other states. I
Do You Want This Trade? 1
An Epoch-Making Assemblage
Tenth Anniversary Conference Na
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People Thrills With
Enthusiasm and Unity of Purpose.
LARGE ATTENDANCE
AT ALL SESSIONS
Delegates Present From All Sections
of Country—Militant Demand for
Rights of Citizenship Dominant
Note of Speeches—President Oma
ha Branch Presides at Publicity Ses
sion and Secretary Serves on Reso
lutions Committee—Spingarn Medal
Awarded.
(Special to The Monitor by the Editor)
CLEVELAND, 0., July 3.—This
beautiful city by the lake has
been a most gracious and charming
hostess to the delegates and visitors
from 31 states, who from June 21 to
28 were in attendance for the tenth
anniversary conference of the Na
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People. Delegates
were present from as far west as
Oregon, as far east as the Atlantic
seaboard and as far south as Florida.
The attendance from the southern
states was notably large. The marked
ability, earnestness of purpose, unan
imity of sentiment, sanity and poise
of this picked body of representative
men and women was noted by even,
the casual observer.
The local arrangements under the
efficient chairmanship of Mr. Harry
E. Davis, with a corps of able assist
ants, were most satisfactory. The
weather was ideal. Everything seemed
to work together to make this epoch
marking event a success. There was
not one dull or uninteresting minute
from the opening mass meeting Sun
day afternoon to the closing session
Saturday night. Three sessions daily
at 10 a. m., 2 p. m. and 8 p. m. kept
all busy, but were not sufficient to
carry out the well arranged program.
Many matters of interest and infor
mation remained untouched. Nebras
| lea had four delegates present who did'
not miss a single session. They were:
Rev. John Albert Williams, president;
Mrs. Jessie Hale Moss, secretary', and
Mrs. James G. Jewell, member of the
executive committee, of the Omaha
| branch, and Mr. Trago McWilliams
of the Lincoln branch. The Nebraska
| delegation was given prominence by
| the fact that the president of the
Omaha branch was chosen to preside
at the Monday afternoon session and
| the secretary to serve on the commit
tee on resolutions. Omaha, too, was
among those who received a pennant'
: for securing its quota in the mem
i bership drive, raising fifty per cent
I more than its quota, thus ranking sec
ond.
The sessions of the Conference were
held for the most part at St. John’s A.
M. E. church, which beautiful edifice
was placed at the disposal of the lo
cal committee by the pastor and trus
tees.
Opening Mass Meeting.
The conference opened with a mass
meeting Sunday afternoon at which
Miss Mary White Ovington, in tie.
absence of Moorfield Storey, detained
at his home in Boston by illness, pre
sided. Hundreds were unable to gain
admittance. Dr. Emmett J. Scott, j
Dean Pickens and Bishop Hurst were |
the principal speakers.
The first speaker commended Secre
tary of War Newton D. Baker for his
efforts to function without prejudice!
to the Colored soldiers, but added that I
"although the administration of the,
selective draft service was fair to
white and Colored men alike, there
were only five Colored men appointed,
to draft boards throughout the coun
try.
“Statistics show that 10 per cent
of the draft registrants were Colored
and that the rate of rejection among
the whites were higher than among
the Colored registrants, the ratio be
ing 76 to 64,” said Mr. Scott.
Continuing he stated that the num
ber of Colored men in service ought
to have given us 8,000 commissions
as against the 1,200 we received, and
that American Negro soldiers were
the only group that had to fight for
the right to fight, and then prove
that they could fight, and we did it.”
Dean Wm. Pickens, who was intro
duced by Miss Mary White Ovington,
chairman of the executive board, as
the "Negro Ward Beecher,” declared
that “The Negro Soldier was safer,
and knew it for himself, under the
shell fire of No Man’s Land, than
amidst the persecuting shafts of rare
hatred back home. He further de
dared that it needs more courage for
a Colored man to board a Pullman
car, down around Vicksburg, Miss.,
than for a white man to go to war.
Our troops showed beyond a shadow
of a doubt that black is a safe color
—it won’t run, concluded Dean Pick
ens.
Bishop John Hur-,t urged a rally to
the Association in his splendid ad
dress.
Monday Opens Busy Week.
The opening session of the confer
ence proper was held Monday morn
ing at 10 o'clock. Mr. F. E. Young,
president of the Cleveland branch,
presiding. Addresses of welcome were
delivered by Director Floyd Waite on
behalf of Mayor Davis and Paul L.
Feiss, president of the Chamber of
Commerce. The latter in his address
paid a high tribute to the ability of a
group of race men in Cleveland, say
ing in part: “Get education and char
acter and business credit as your race
men in Cleveland have demonstrated
by their ability to keep together, do
ing business, thus demanding the re
spect of those who doubt the capabili
ties of your race.” In conclusion he
said: “The association you represent
is a good one and worthy of all the
help I can give it.”
Rev. H. C. Bailey, pastor of Anti
och Baptist church, in responding to
the welcome declared: “I would rath
er spend the balance of my life in
the cause of the Association than to
preach to men and women under such
damnable injustice in our so-called
democracy.”
Bishop Hamilton of New England,
a staunch friend of the race, gave an
interesting address telling of his con
fidence in the race and urging them
to contend manfully for their rights.
John R. Shillady, national secretary,
gave a summary' of the growth of the
militant organization for justice, and
the phenomenal measure of support
it had received, especially in Texas,
Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama and oth
er southern states.
Publicity.
“Publicity” was the subject of the
afternoon session at which the Rev.
John Albert Williams of Omaha, pre
sided. He paid tribute to the splendid
work of the Negro press and declared
that one of the most hopeful indica
tions of racial progress was the in
creasing demand upon the part of the
race for information which a grow
ing number of high class publications
are supplying. The American public
will correct evils if an unbiased press
will give the facts and mould a right
eous sentiment.
The principal address was given by
Mr. A. H. Shaw of the Cleveland
Plain Dealer, who explained what con
stituted “real news,” gave some excel
lent advice as to how to enlist the
personal interest of newspaper men
and stressed the fact of the power of
facts. “Get facts before the public,”
he said. “Wrong cannot long endure
fact.”
Other speakers were Mrs. Belle
Blue-Claxton of Bloomington, 111;
Herbert J. Seligman, of New York,
and Miss Ovington.
Spingarn and DuBois.
“The Battle Fields of France,” was
the subject at Monday night’s mass
meeting when Col. John Marshall pre
sided and Major Spingarn, William
T. Ferguson of Washington, D. C.,
and Dr. DuBois were the speakers.
Mr. Ferguson spoke for the grand
army of Americans, an organization
of world war veterans.
Major Spingarn spoke of the prop
aganda to discredit Colored soldiers
and officers and of his observations
of damnable prejudice from the time
of his sailing. Returning to Ameri
ca he is convinced that there must
be no cessation in the fight for jus
tice and democracy at home. He said:
“There is a challenge more menacing
to American institutions of freedom
and more dangerous than the threat
of the Hun and it must be met and
crushed, not with the sword—that is
the last resort—but first with the
vote, and, failing, then with the eco
nomic strike.”
An appeal for funds for the work
of the Association was made by the
Rev. Dr. Bryant of Charleston. More
than $10,000 was subscribed by
branches and individuals. This sum
was subsequently raised to $12,000,
Dr. DuBois was the last speaker.
He told the story of most discourag
ing facts of the treatment received
by Negro soldiers from Americans
abroad. He read from various offi
cial documents and letters, now in
his possession, showing the discrimi
(Continued on Page Three)
CHICAGO CELEBRATES
DUNBAR’S BIRTHDAY
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Chicago, July 10.—The birthday an
niversary of Paul Laurence Dunbar,
was memoralized in a great gather
ing at St. Mark Methodist Episcopal I
church Sunday, at which time Clar-1
ence S. Darrow, white, one of the J
greatest lawyers in America, delivered |
the principal address. Julius Aven-!
dorph was director and chairman of
the meeting. Mr. Darrow said that |
Dunbar was one of the world’s great- \
est poets, and that color prejudice is
all a myth.
Paul Laurence Dunbar, the Negro
poet, who won a place in American
literature, son of a former Kentucky
slave and of pure African blood, was
bom on June 27, 1872, in Dayton, O.
He was educated in the public schools
there, and in 1891 was graduated from
the high school. He began work as
an elevator boy and later went to New
York City, w’here he found employ
ment as a newspaper writer and con
tributor to periodicals.
Dunbar later appeared in public as
a reader of his poems, which in 1893
were published in a volume entitled
“Oak and Ivy.” His third volume of
verse, “Lyrics of Lowly Life,” pub
lished in 1896 called general attention
to his work and received commenda
tion from W. D. G. Howells and James
Lane Allen. He wrote partly in Ne
gro dialect and partly in conventional
English, and was considered to have
expressed the sentiment of his race
very faithfully and in melodious form.
He published several novels, including
“The Sport of the Gods.” Other vol
umes of verse than those mentioned
were “Poems of Cabin and Field,”
“Candle-Lightin’ Time,” and “Howdy,
Honey, Howdy.” In 1897 Dunbar was
appointed to a position in the library
of congress, w’hich he filled for sev
eral years, but, contracting tubercu
losis, he returned to Dayton, where he
died in 1906.
ERECTION OF SANATORIUM
HELD UP BY INJUNCTION
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Baltimore, Md., July 10.—Judge
Allan McLane signed an order in the
circuit court at Towson restraining
Governor Harrington and other mem
bers of the board of managers of the
Maryland Tuberculosis sanatorium
from erecting a sanatorium on a pro
posed site near Towson for the treat
ment of Colored tubercular patients.
The bill on which the injunction
was granted was filed by Andrew Sny
der and wife on behalf of themselves
and other residents of the vicinity.
The complainants state in the hill that
they are the owners of the valuable
property adjacent to the 60 acres
for the purchase of which the board
has secured an option at the price of
$380 per acre.
The bill states that the board has
no authority under the law to make
such a purchase and no funds which
can be legally used for that purpose.
When the legislature passed an act
authorizing the establishment of a
sanatorium for Colored patients it
was stipulated that nothing was to
be done in the matter until the next
session of that body.
The complainants also claim that
the founding of a sanatorium at the
proposed locality would be a nuisance
and a menace to the public health.
ATLANTA TO HAVE
SEVEN NEW CLINICS,
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Atlanta, Ga., July 10.—The differ
ent zone chairmen throughout the city
who have been giving such splendid
co-operation during the cleanup cam
paign in the colored districts are now
putting seven free clinics into opera
tion in their own communities. The
physicians under Dr. J. W. Madison
gave their services for two afternoons.
The Colored nurses have volunteered
their co-operation and at least two of
them will be in attendance at each of
the seven clinic places.
NEW THEATER AND
STORE HOUSE OPENED
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Brunswick, Ga„ July 10.—F. J. Pe
terson, is erecting a handsome two
story brick building on Gloucester
street, which will be occupied by five
stores on the first floor and a Colored
theater on the second floor. Just
across the railroad from the Peterson
store, Dr. Buggs, is erecting another
handsome two-story brick building
which will he used as a garage and
office building.
WINS SUIT AGAINST THEATER
Verdict of Great Importance as It Sets
Precedent for Recognition of Civil
Rights.
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Spokane, Wash., July 10.—Holding
that ii. Negro has the right to sit in
any part of the theater to which the
admission price entitles him, a jury in
Superior Judge Huneke’s court here
recently returned a verdict of $200
damages for S. S. Moore, Colored,
against the Pantages Theater com
pany.
The judgment if of widespread im
portance, for it means that Negroes
cannot be segregated from whites in
any place of public amusement in the
state of Washington.
The jury deliberated only an hour
and a half before determining the ver
dict which was returned.
Of the twelve ujrors, eleven declar
ed the $200 judgment was their ver
dict. Martin Johnson of Cheney re
plied in the negative.
“I wanted the damages to be $1,000
at first,” said Mr. Johnson. “Later I
dropped to $500, but did not agree
with the $200 verdict. I did not think
that was enough.”
“All of us were for damages from
the start,” said James Hammel, E.
1809 Heroy avenue, another juror. “All
declared that even if a man were black
he had the right to sit where he
wanted to. We figured though that
$200 was enough balm for Moore’s hu
miliation.”
Moore sued the “Pan" for $5,000.
According to the testimony he ap
peared at the theater September 15.
The usher requested him to take a
seat in the second balcony, stating it
was the custom of the theater to put
Negroes there. Moore objected and
left. He claimed the $5,000 for em
barrassment and humiliation. F. W.
Girand and Charles Aten were his at
torneys. George Armitage was attor
ney for the theater company.
DALLAS JOINS BUNDY IN FIGHT
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Dallas Tex., July 10.—For the past
week, Dallas has had in her midst
W. S. Hueston of Kansas City, Mo.,
who is one of the attorneys engaged
in the defense of Dr. Leroy Bundy,
who was convicted of murder, in con
nection with the East St. Louis riot
at Waterloo, 111., in March of this
year.
Mr. Hueston delivered a number of
addresses while in this city, but his
address on the “Incidents of the Bundy
Trial’ delivered at the New Pythian
Temple under the auspices of the In
ter-Denominational Ministerial Alli
ance, was one of the most gripping
and thrilling ever heard in this city.
Dallas is thoroughly aroused over
the injustice done Dr. Bundy and has
formed an association to assist him.
COLORED MAN HIGH
TRACTION OFFICIAL
(Special to The Monitor.)
Toronto, Canada, July 10.—Toronto
has been in the grasp of a prolonged
street car strike, investigation of
which has disclosed the fact that a
race man, Fred C. Hubbard, is a high
traction official, drawing the salary
of $8,000 a year. He is assistant
manager of the Toronto Street rail
way. His father held for years the
position of alderman and comptroller
and on one occasion was acting may
or of Toronto.
COMMUNITY CENTERS OR
GANIZED TO CARE FOR GIRLS
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Tarrytown, N. Y., July 10.—The Na
tional League of Women Workers de
cided in conference here today to es
tablish community centers in New
York and various cities to take care of
the influx of southern Negro girls
into the northern states. Seventy-five
delegates are attending the sessions
of the league, which is a non-sectar
ian organization.
TO ASK RESERVATION IN TEXAS
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Evansville, Ind., July 10.—At the
closing session of the Central States
conference of the Free Methodist
church, Monday, Dr. M. Madden, of
Oklahoma City, prominent evangelist,
was chosen to present a plan to the
congress for a Negro reservation in
the state of Texas, to be governed
along the lines of the Indian reserva
tions in the west.
Dr. Madden will go before the con
gress in September and has arranged
for an interview with President Wil
son to take up the matter.