i i The Monitor i —■ i
\a
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. AUGUST 21, 1919 Vol. V. No. 7 < % No. 216)
Black Hero Gives His Life Saving White Child
Scrapped by Schrapnel,
Survives and Sings
Sergeant Frank Mason Has Scars of
350 Shrapnel Wounds and Wears
Ten Silver Plates to Cover Holes
in Head, Shoulder and Leg.
WOUNDED IN THE ARGONNE
Uses His Fine Baritone Voice in Rais
ing Patriotic Funds—It Credited
With Selling $8,500,000 Worth of
Liberty Bonds.
Special to The Monitor.
I OS ANGELES, Aug. 20.—Scrapped
~J by shrapnel, survives and sings,
accurately describes the case of Ser
geant Frank Mason, Colored, who is
attracting attention here, where he ex
pests to remain for some time, pend
ing oompleto recovery' from his
— ’ "* wounds. It would be safe to say that
Sergeant Mason hears the record for
wounds. As one sees him slowly' navi
gating on his crutches, it is hard to
believe that a human being, or any
other living animal, could have re
• ceived the number and character of
wounds that he has, and survive. He
bears the scars of 350 minor shrapnel
wounds. Ten silver plates cover holes
in his body; three in his head, three in
his left shoulder, one in his right
shoulder ami three in his left leg.
Despite this he is a man of sunny
and cheerful disposition and does an
incredible amount of work for patriot
ic and charitable objects. His career
as a soldier is most interesting.
Serving primarily upon the Mexi
can boiler, he was one of the first to
he sent to France in the A. E. F. Then,
following days of training, he was sent
to the front and was one of the first
of the American soldiers to help stem
the tide of the hun, and received most
of his wounds in the Argonne forest.
With a good baritone voice, he has
done much to help put over the cause
of various war charities. He is cred
ited with having sold over $8,500,000
worth of liberty bonds and wears in
testimony of this the United States
treasury department medal. He has
addressed large audiences in most of
the cities between New York and Og
den, Utah, and now is here to help
raise funds to entertain the fleet.
NATIONAL HOME COMING
FOR VIRGINIANS
Native Sons anil Daughters of "Old
Dominion” Are Planning to Meet at
Norfolk in September: Thousands
Expected from All Sections of the
Country.
-
Norfolk, Va., Aug. 20.—Coincident
with the meeting of the National Bap
tist convention here, September 10-15,
there is to be observed a national
home-coming week. This project is
being promoted by the business men
of Norfolk, who are co-operating with
the local ministers, who propose to
make the w'cek of the National Bap
tist convention greater in point of at
tendance and in interest than the cele
bration that was held here some years
ago to commemorate the landing of
the Pilgrims, knowrn as the Jamestown
exposition. The sons anil daughters of
Virginia have scattered to the foui
cardinal points of the compass, and
when it is known that there is to be a
home-coming anil that Virginians from
the Atlantic to the Pacific and from
the lakes to the gulf will return dur
ing the five days to shake hands with
friends and commemorate this week a
great rush is expected.
NO MOKE WANTED IN NAVY
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Birmingham, Ala., Aug. 20.—No
more Negroes will be accepted for
in the navy, according to in
structions received at local navy re
cruiting station. Experienced Negro
cooks will continue to be enlisted to
handle the cooking, but even Negro
mess attendants will not be accepted
after this date.
from POST AMERICAN LEGION
Mobile, Ala., Aug. 20.—Named after
the first Negro in Mobile to have been
commissioned in the army, Carter
Brown, a post of the American legion
has been organized of all Negro ex
service men of this city who have
been honorably discharged from the
army. Sirty members have already
been enrolled.
LOUISIANA HAS CHANGE
OF HEART ON EDUCATION
Attempting to Make Amends for Her
Disgarceful Neglect of Schools
For Colored Children.
(Special to The Monitor.)
jVTEW ORLEANS, Aug. 20.—Louisi
1 1 ana, which has been notorious in
her neglect of school facilities for
Negro children, has at last seen the
light and has begun to make amends
for this great wrong. This state has
the largest amount of illiteracy of any
state in the union. Parish after parish
has had no schools for Negro chil
dren and many others only one. Of
the total amount raised by taxation
for education, a large proportion of
which has come out of the pockets of
Negroes, 95 per cent has been used
for the education of white children and
only 5 per cent for that of Colored
children. If with this disparity in the
expenditure of school funds ignorance
prevails among whites, what could be
expected of the Colored people. Louisi
ana is realizing not only the injustice
but the danger of this state of affairs
and is making strenuous efforts to se
cure and train teachers to meet the
situation. Bearing upon this the offi
cial report of B. C. Caldwell, field
agent for the Jeanes and Slater funds
for the training of Negroes, says:
‘‘Louisiana needs 1,000 more Colored
teachers to carry out to the full the
program of education for the Negroes,
but the state is doing something which
is highly commendable, even though
she is handicapped by lack of suitable
instructors in this work. The state
superintendent of schools has issued a
call, which is being widely answered,
for young Negro men and women to
apply this summer for training in the
normal schools throughout the state.
By giving these applicants, who have
grammar school education and other
necessary qualifications, three months’
intensive training they will be ready
for ordinary teaching work in the fall.
Next summer they can add three
months' mor e training ,and so on each
year and advance themselves step by
step.
“This is one of the greatest things
that has been done recently to advance
the education of the Colored people,
not alone in Louisiana, but in the en
tire south, for it is certain that these
teachers, as their numbers increase,
will spread to other states which are
short of teachers for Negro boys and
girls and are trying to get teachers
from still other states. In some in
stances southern states have allowed
their Negro schools to close for lack of
teachers. Louisiana is preparing to
meet this condition and overcome it.
"A new spirit of help for the black
man seems to be rising in the mind of
the southern white man. He is ready
to help the young Negro get an educa
tion, realizing that by this means, and
this alone, he can improve the ability
and worth of his labor on farms and in
factories. The white man must help
the black if we are to accomplish any
real good for the Negroes in the south.
Industrial conditions have never been
better among southern Negroes than
they are at present.”
Di. Caldwell, who was formerly in
charge of the Louisiana State Normal
school at Natchitoches, now has juris
diction over the Jeanes and Slater
fonds in sixteenth northern states.
HOME OWNERSHIP
TO BE PROMOTED
A *100,000 Corporation Organized to
Supply Funds for Home Build
ing and Ownership.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 20.—With the ul
timate view of supplying funds to the
Negroes of the south for building and
owning their own homes, the United
Investment corporation was organized
in Atlanta with a capital stock of
$100,000. The most prominent Ne
groes in Georgia are financing this
project, and it is proposed to open
branch offices in every southern city.
At present, according to officials of
the corporation, the majority of the
Negroes in the state are renters, and
with the rates steadily increasing the
problem is fast becoming a serious
one. Their plan is to loan money at
a moderate rate of interest to Negroes
for building perposes. J. B. Long of
Atlanta, one of the most prominent
members of the board, is acting presi
dent.
National Negro Business League;
Twentieth Annual Session Summons
Prominent and Successful Business
and Professional People from Twen
ty-six States; Astonishing Wealth
Represented.
RECONSTRUCTION IS
THE DOMINANT NOTE
President Napier Presides: Secretary
Scott States Crucial Time Has
Come; League Must Either Advance
or Die; Outlines Comprehensive
Plan for Future.
(Special to The Monitor.)
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 20.—Delegates
from twenty-six states attended
the twentieth annual session of the
i National Negro Business league, which
closed here Friday night. It was a
notable and inspirational gathering of
representative business and profes
! sional people from all sections, repre
senting every activity of race enter
prise and thrift. The amount of wealth
represented by this body ran well up
into the millions and seemed almost
incredible. Reports from all sections
show the race forging to the front in
substantial business and industrial en
terprising in a way which is most en
t eouraging. Delegates and visitors
j numbered nearly a thousand. The gen
erous hospitality of all citizens was
I everywhere in evidence.
The sessions were held in the Coli
j scum under the auspices of the local
i business league, of which Mr A. E.
Malone is president. He presided at
the opening session, Wednesday morn
ing. Tuesday night, preceding the
1 opening session, the officers of the
i meal league tendered the officials of
the national league a luncheon at the
Poro.
The formal opening, Wednesday
morning, consisted of “America” by
the audience, led by Gerald Tyler; in
vocation by the Rev. J. T. Caston; a
vocal solo by Mrs. Zelle Cole-Evans,
Gerald Tyler, pianist; an address of
welcome by Mr. Malone, and response
by the Hon. J. C. Napier, national
piesident. Mr. Malone said:
“Through the National Negro Bus
iness League, the men of the race who
are struggling, who are trying to do
things have been brought closer to
gether, thereby become acquainted
with each other rejoiced in success and
sympathized in failure, but this con
tact has prevented many failures
“We have looked forward to your
coming with sweet anticipation and
all Missouri rejoices because you are
here.
“We pray for the success of this
session. It is my belief that, enlight
ened by our experience of the past,
and encouraged by our successes of
the present,, we shall, as great busi
ness armies, in close vital touch, gal
lantly charge the entrenchment of the
forces of opposition, whether they are
moral or racial, and capture them,
scaling the height of difficulty and
placing our triumphant banners on the
very apex of the towering peaks of
victory, sing loud hosannas to Him
who hath promised victory and rest to
those who dare to do the right and
preserve unto the end.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Malone
presented President Napier, who was
given an ovation, and whose remarks
thrilled the audience.
One of the most successful business
men in the race, T. J. Elliott of Mus
ogee, Ola., was introduced, and made
a short talk, telling of the object of
the National Negro Business League
its scope of work and what it had
been to the whole race. He concluded
by appealing to every man and woman
to become a member and even take
out life membership. To his invita
tion for life membership by the pay
I ment of $25, a number responded.
Routine business was rapidly dis
] patched at each session and there was
the customary recital of beginnings
and achievements of successful busi
ness men. This feature was advan
tageously minimized.
Among the many outstanding fea
tures of the convention was the report
of Secretary Emmett J. Scott, who has
held this important position since the
organization of the league.
Among other things the- secretary
stated that the league had passed from
the kindergarten stage anil reached
the age of maturity and it was now
time for the league to go forward or
die. He called attention to the condi
tions and radical changes taking place
in this age with a view of causing the
league to see the necessity of drastic
action in matters pertaining to the
forward movement of the affairs of
the race. He from excerpts called at
tention to the necessity of adopting
a real program which would give us
push in making a forward step, with
out which we must because of laxity,
lose our grip. He called attention to
the new methods which had been ad
vised by the president at the last
meeting at Atlantic City, N. J., in
1018. The league needs larger and i
better financial support from its ad
herents, and the practice of living on
the philanthrophy of the white race is
to be discouraged. He suggested a
change of program at this meeting;
a change which is to have a farreach
ing effect and will be helpful for
everyone in the production of visible
results.
He proposed as follow's:
1st. National headquarters to be
located at Washington, D. C. Said
headquarters to be conducted along
lines of the U. S. Chamber of Com
merce, which is the like organization !
of the white race, compatible with the
Negro Business League.
He stated the following objects to
be considered in the maintenance anl
work of the national headquai*ters.
1st. National clearing houses for
the Negro Business League and asso
ciated and kindred organizations and
for the business interests of the race.
2nd. Duty and function to keep
the white and Negro press informed
and exploit and improve the interests
of Negro enterprise.
3rd. Special effort to locate and
produce Negro business enterprises
••nd manufactures. Keeping local
leagues in touch with the regulation.
4th. Clearing house for Negro la
bor and emnloyment of all kinds, skill
ed and unskilled.
5th. Compile a catalogue of Ne
ero business enterprises, institute a
Negro mercantile agency. Offer en
couragement and make inquiries and
find out who is worthy so as to induce
expenditure of capital. Warning at
the same time against frauds, swind
ling speculators and wild-cat schemes.
Suggested the adoption of a form of
inquiry on the order of a question
aire, which would be very useful in
getting results.
6th. Covered the most successful
method of building business interests.
7th. Dealt with the method of de
fraying the expenses of the league
unler the new' systems and methods
suggested.
After the offer of the suggestions
the secretary made mention of some
statistics taken from census reports.
His report was full of good informa
tion and material for the use of the
league in their development to the
place where some visible achievement
I will be accomplished in the progress
of the leagu affairs.
GOVERNOR OF COLOR\DO
URGES CONGRESS TO
SUPPRESS MOB VIOLENCE
New York, Aug. 20.—The National
Association for I he Advancement of
Colored People has received a letter
from Governor Oliver H. Shoup of
Colorado commenting upon the ad
dress to the nation signed by former
President Taft, Charles Evans Hughes,
Elihu Root and 150 other citizens,
which calls upon congress to investi
gate mob violence in the United States.
The letter follows:
“I am in receipt of your favor of
July 25, enclosing a list of signers of
an address to the nation in the matter
of suppression of mob violence
throughout the country.
“I am in hearty sympathy with this
movement and especially at this time,
when there are so many outbreaks of
racial antagonism throughout the
country, I deem it essential that the
national congress should take some
definite action which will tend here
after to completely eliminate these
outbreaks.
“You have my full authority to use
my name as governor of Colorado as a
signature to this address to the nation
that you have so kindly forwarded to
this office.”
Monitor office, Douglas 3224.
British West Indies
Have Grave Problem
Industrial Conditions Temporarily
Disturbed by Close of Sugar Crop
Season and Return of Large Num
ber of Soldiers from Foreign Service
GOVERNMENT DESIRES
TO RETAIN POPULATION
(Special to The Monitor.)
KINGSTON, Jamaica, B. W. I.—In
Jamaica at present the industrial
condition is feeling the effect of two
factors. One is the close of the sugar
crop season in Cuba, which reduces the
demand for labor there. Very large
numbers of Jamaicans have been at
work in Cuba in the sugar plantations
and more men have been going week
by week. The next sugar crop will not
begin to be taken off till November or
December, and the British consul has
warned Jamaicans still in Jamaica
against venturing across at the pres
ent time. It is not improbable that
many hundreds of the Jamaica labor
ers now in Cuba will return here.
The other disturbing factor is the
return to the island month by month
of the thousands of men who enlisted
in the British West Indies regiment
and who are r.ow being demobilized.
These men served for the most part as
labor battalions in Belgium, France
and Italy. Sections of them, however,
saw fighting as front line combatants.
This was chiefly in Palestine. Return- j
ing home now they have to be reab
sorbed into civilian life by a com- j
munity which possesses comparatively'
few openings for employing labor. The
discussion of what should be done for
the soldiers, and by them, is animated
and general.
The government has ear-marked
money for certain public works, and is j
providing for a land settlement. A
number of the men have returned to
the posts they once occupied; prefer
ence is being given to others in the
police force; a considerable number
have determined to emigrate in search
of more remunerative employment
than they find obtainable in Jamaica.
The problem remains of opening up1
opportunities of investment of labor |
and of money which will be attractive j
enough to keep the men in the island.
DECORATED FOR DEEDS
OF VALOR IN FRANCE
Sergeant Clifton Merriomon Given
French Military Medal. Has Also
Received the Croix de Guerre
and the Distinguished
Service Cross.
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Boston, Mass., Aug. 20.—An honor
was conferred upon Sergeant Clifton
Merriomon for heroism on the battle
field when General Edwards, com
mander of the Northeast department,
pinned the French Military medal on
his breast. Twice before recognition
for his heroic service had been ex
pressed through the presentation of
the Croix de Guerre and the Distin
guished Service Cross.
The French Military Medal is pos
sessed by few French generals and
by no American high officer. General
Edwards in fastening the decoration
on Sergeant Merriomon, said that his
brave feats were the most unusual that
had come under his observation.
The deed of gallantry is encouched
in the citation, as follows: “On Sep
tember 19, 1918, Corporal Merriomon,
near Bussey Farm, France, single
handed attacked a German machine
gun killed the gunner, put the gun out
of action, reorganized the remnant of
his company and conducted a success
ful attack on the enemy.”
Sergeant Merriomon is married,
lives at 39 Tremont street, Cambridge,
Mass., and is a letter-carrier at the
Harvard Square postoffice of that
city.
PLAN FOR BEAUTY
AND SANITATION
Anniston, Ala., Aug. 20.—The plan
for a general cleanup in every part of
the city by the progressive Negro
citizens of Anniston is creating the
greatest amount of interest on the
part of the Colored people. Prizes
for the best kept yards and alleys for
the greatest number of tin cans as
sembled by the children and for many
other feature efforts to improve local
sanitary conditions are offered.
Joseph Perry, Who Heroically Rescues
Four-Year-Old White Child from
Vicious Dog, Dies of Rabies.
PAYS SUPREME SACRIFICE
FOR A C T OF HEROISM
Mas Given Pasteur Treatment, But
Disease Developed Too Rapidly for
Toxine to Combat the Virus.
(Special to The Monitor.)
Kansas city, m0., Aug. 20.—
Were evidence wanting as to the
willingness of our race not to consider
themselves or their personal safety
when others are in danger and it is
within their power to rescue them it
would be supplied by the case of
Joseph Perry, who died last week at
the General hospital from rabies re
sulting from a dog bite received a few
weeks ago when he rushed to the res
cue of a little 4-year-old white child
whom the vicious beast was attacking.
Perry, who lived at 2410 Flora ave
nue and was employed in a packing
house, was passing Twentieth and
Summit streets on the afternoon of
July 25 when he heard the frightened
cries of a little child, who was trying
to get away from a dog which was
barking and snapping at her. Several
times the dog’s teeth pierced the
child’s flesh. Perry rushed to the
child’s rescue and seized the maddened
animal by the throat, when it sank its
teeth into Perry’s forearm. An am
bulance was called and Perry and the
injured child were taken to the Gen
eral hospital. Hydrophobia developed.
He had been taking Pasteur treatment
at the hospital until Monday, when he
left. Tuesday relatives returned with
him to the hospital after his right arm
and the muscles of his throat had be
come paralyzed. He escaped from the
hospital again Tuesday night, but was
returned Wednesday morning, August
13. He died at noon. It was said by
the hospital authorities that the bite
was so deep that the disease developed
too rapidly for the toxine to combat it.
It is said that a score or more of
persons stood by while Perry was bat
tling with the dog.
Perry was a member of the Amos
Johnson Lodge of Masons, under
whose auspices he was buried Sunday
afternoon. A large number of friends
paid respect to the memory of this un
sung hero, this brave black man who
gave his life to save that of a little
white girl.
The local press carried no big head
lines calling attention to this Negro’s
heroic deed, but had he been accused
of some crime it would have been
made a front page article under a sen
sational scare-crow headline.
“CONTEMPTIBLE AND
TYRANNICAL,” SAYS WM.
MONROE TROTTER
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Cambridge, Mass., Aug. 20.—Will
iam Monroe Trotter appeared at Mas -
sachusetts Avenue Baptist church last
Thursday. A large and appreciative
audience listened to his experiences of
his endeavor to reach France to peti
tion the peace conference for justice
for the race.
The pastor, Rev. George Washing
ton, referred to Mr. Trotter’s sarifice
as creditable as of those who shoulder
ed the guns in going across to the bat
tlefield.
Mr, William Brigham, white, likened
the speaker of the evening to the
“plumed knight,” Henry of Navarre,
whose persistence overcame obstacles.
When alluding to its refusal to give
passports to Colored delegates, Mr.
Trotter characterized the administra
tion as “contemptible and tyrannical.”
“While allowing such privileges to
the Irish, Jewish and women suffrage
representatives, they denied us, the
only element in this country really in
need of democracy, the right to go
and ask for it,” said the speaker.
AMERICAN MUSIC COMPANY TO
PUBLISH RACE COMPOSITIONS
Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 20.—A new'
company will open its doors for busi
ness at 501 South 16th street, operat
ing under the name of the American
Music Company, under the direction
of Robert W. Ricetts, a graduate of
Oberlin university. The object of this
organization is to publish musical
compositions of Negro composers.
Please patronize those who adver
tise in The Monitor.