1 l ” I The Monitor u?=j
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS.
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
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$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy _OMAHA. NEBRASKA. AUGUST 28, 1919_Vol. V. No. 8 ^ lole No. 217)
x Slugged—Driven from Stale by Texas Toughs
Shillady, Secretary of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, Victim of an Unpro
voked, Cowardly and Brutal Assault.
JI DGE AND CONSTABLE
ARE CHIEF ASSAILANTS
Prominent and Gentlemanly Official
Had Gone to Texas to Consult With
Attorney General Concerning Laws
Governing Outside Corporations,
Dared to Confer With Negroes,
Beaten and Driven From State.
(Special to The Monitor.)
Austin, tex., Aug. 27.—Acting
like the lowest of Texas toughs,
and running true to form, Judge Dave
J. Pickle, Constable Charles Hamby
and Ben Pierce, of unsavory reputa
tion as Austin’s “bad man,” waylaid,
V ganged and brutally beat John R.
^ * Shillady of New York City, general
secretary of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored Peo
ple, in front of the Driskill hotel on
Sixth street, last Friday morning. The
attack was wholly unprovoked, des
picably cowardly, but fully in keeping
with the mob methods of this section.
Scene of Rankin Murder.
It is a rather remarkable coincidence
that the murderous attack upon Mr.
Shillady occurred near the Driskill
hotel at almost the exact spot where
a few years ago a prominent white
southerner, John T. Rankin, United
States marshal for the southwest dis
trict and ex-sheriff of Fayette coun
ty, was shot and killed because of
his championship of the Negro. Ran
kin demanded justice for the Negro.
He was accused of stirring up trou
ble and because he was a “nigger
lover,” he was killed by men of the
same type who attacked Mr. Shillady,
and who also would have been mur
dered had he offered resistance.
Facts About Shillady.
John R. Shillady has been the secre
tary of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored people
since February, 1918. He went to
that Association after having held the
following positions: Secretary of the
mayor’s committee on unemployment,
New York City; secretary of the New
York state industrial board; secretary
of Buffalo Association for the Relief
and Control of Tuberculosis. Since
his entering upon his work as secre
tary, the Association has advanced
from 80 branches and 9,000 mem
bers in January, 1918, to 268 branches
in 40 states and the District of Co-1
lumbia and 3 foreign and to a mem
bership of 79,500. Among the states
that of Texas has the largest number
of branches, 31, with a membership
' of 7,046. Austin has one of the larg
est branches in Texas, numbering 316
members.
Mis Mission to Austin.
On August 11 Mr. Shillady received
a letter from P. A. Williams the presi- j
dent of the Austin, Tex., branch an
nouncing that a citation had been
served on him to appear at 2 p. m.
August 9 at the court of the justice
of the peace, bringing all books, pa
pers, correspondence, etc., belonging
or pertaining to the National Associa
tion for the Advancement of Colored
People. This was done by the presi
dent of the Austin branch who asked
the national secretary to advise him
regarding the form of incorporation
of the National Association as the
| Texas people raised the issue that it
^ * was not chartered in the state of
Texas. Mr. Shillady replied advising
the Austin branch that the National
Association was not a business, but
a membership corporation incorporat
ed in 1911 under the laws of the state
of New York whose purposes are civic
and educational.
Believing that his presence in Texas
might be of value to the Austin branch
Mr. Shillady proceeded to Austin on
August 19.
Visits Attorney General’s Office.
Mr. Shillady arrived in Austin
Thursday morning where he hoped to
have an interview with Governor Hob
by and also with the attorney gen
eral. Governor Hobby was out of the
city, but Mr. Shillady went to the at
torney general’s department for in
formation concerning the operation of
foreign corporations in Texas. He
further asked why the local branch
of the National Association had been
disbanded. He was informed that the
principles of the Association, teach
ing racial equality, creates trouble
between the races and it was the duty
of the department to suppress all such
organizations. As the outcome of the
interview Mr. Shillady was hailed be
fore a “court of inquiry” Thursday
afternoon and was advised that his
presence was not welcome in the city.
Judge Pickle, who was present at the
inquisition, claims that he warned Mr.
Shillady to leave Austin.
Mr. Shillady appealed to the adjut
ant general’s office for protection.
That office replied that his protection
was a matter for the local authorities.
Dares to Confer With Negroes.
Friday morning Mr. Shillady had an
appointment with officers and mem
bers of the local branch, who sought
his advice. While returning from
this conference he was waylaid near
his hotel by a small crowd of men,
chief among whom* were Pickle, Ham
by and Pierce. Hamby asked Mr. Shil
lady, According to Pickle's story, why
he “was holding meetings and stirring
up more trouble than Austin’s citi
zens can get rid of in ten years.”
“You don't see my point of view,”
answered Mr. Shillady.
“I’ll fix you so you can’t see,” Ham
by replied with an oath, as he struck
Mr. Shillady a vicious blow in the eye.
Pickle and Pierce joined in and rained
blow upon blow upon him, knocking
him down and beating him until his
face was badly bruised and bleeding.
Pickle boasted that they let him go
when he begged for mercy. He also
seemed to gloat over the fact that Mr.
Shillady, who is a splendid type of ath
letic manhood, did not defend himself
against the attack of the three brutal
and cowardly bullies.
When they were through beating
Mr. Shillady he was escoited to the
train > id left at noon for St. Louis.
Hamby warned him not to leave the
train before it crossed the Texas state
line.
Seen by an Associated News re
porter, while he was enroute to St.
Louis, Mr. Shillady made the follow
ing statement:
“The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People was
formed ten years ago by prominent
whites and blacks in the north. Its
headquarters is in New York, where I
am stationed as national secretary.
The president is Moorfield Storey of
Boston, a well known lawyer.
“The association had its origin as a
protest against lynching and race
riots. Matters were in such a condi
tion in 190!) that it was deemed best to
have an association to promote more
harmonious relations between the Ne
gro and white races, and to see that in
all cases the constitutional rights of
the Negro were secured.
“My purpose in visiting Austin was
to confer with the attorney general of
the state. There had been some ques
tion as to the eligibility of Negroes be
longing to the association because we
did not have a charter.
“After I left the attorney general’s
office and returned to the Driskill
hotel I was accosted by a mob led by
a prominent citizen and a constable.
After the attack I decided to stay in
Austin, but later reversed my decision
for fear it might provoke racial strife.
“I am chief executive officer of the
association, and the decision rests with
me as to whether we will attempt to
secure any redress for the treatment I
received in Austin. I am undecided as
to whether I will prosecute my assail
ants.
“Both the mayor of Austin and the
adjutant general of the state were
courteous to me after the attack. The
mayor furnished me with police pro
tection. This is the first time the ef
forts of our association have met with
an attack of this sort.”
YOUNG SOLDIER DROWNED
IN ELK HORN RIVER
Mr. Harrison Rossell, a former sol
dier, who was born at Ogolona, Miss.,
was drowned Saturday evening in the
Elkhom river, near Waterloo, Neb.
Mr. Russell had been employed as a
section hand on the railroad, and while
on his way to work stopped to take a
swim in the river. He was overcome
by cramps and drowned. His body was
rescued by citizens at that point and
turned over to the Western Funeral
Home of this city. They are making a
strenuous effort to locate his relatives
or friends.
STATE TO AID SCHOOL
Albany, Ga., Aug. 27.—The Georgia
Normal and Agricultural College, the
Negro normal school here, will re
ceive $20,000 from the state during
the years 1920 and 1921.
Clarence A. Brooks of the Lincoln
Motion Picture company of Los An
geles, Cal., who made so many warm
friends during his brief residence here
two years ago is in the city for a few
UNIONIST MEMBER
M AKES EM BARRASSI NG
SUGGESTION TO COMMONS
Member From Suffolk Requests Bonar
Law, Government Leader, to Give
Time to Discussion of Present
Status of Black Races—Suggests
Graceful Act Reciprocity.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
London, Aug. 27.—In the house of
commons today Walter E. Guinness,
Unionist member from .Suffolk, asked
Bonar Law, the government leader, to
give the day’s discussion over the
present position of the black races,
but his request was refused. Guinness
then asked whether it would not be
a graceful act of reciprocity to place
at the disposal of the United States,
the benefit of British experience in
governing Negroes in return for the
discussion of Irish affairs in the Unit
ed States senate.
Capt. William Wedgewood Benn,
liberal, asked Mr. Bonar Law to do
bis best to prevent efforts to sow
dissension between America and Great
Britain by alleged humorous ques
tions.
Mr. Bonar Law said the government
recognized that the future peace of
the world depends upon the good rela
tions between the two countries.
NORFOLK TUNING UP
Citizens Preparing to Entertain Con
vention.
Norfolk, Va., Aug. 27.—With the ap
proach of the time of the meeting of
the National Baptist convention,
which opens here September 10, the
Baptists are beginning to bestir them
selves. Already the local committee
is receiving hundreds of letters from
people in various parts of the United
States making requests for reserva
tions of stopping places and the sec
retary of the National Baptist con
vention estimates this week that the
attendance will be not less than five
thousand people. He says that already
he had had definite information from
more than a dozen state delegations.
Start a hank account.
(lays. Mr. Brooks is the star in the
new Lincoln release a “Man’s Full
Duty,” which will be shown at the
Iioyd next week. Mr. Brooks is en
route east and will appear in person
wherever this picture is shown.
PROMINENT TEXAS
EDITOR MURDERED
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Dallas, Tex., Aug. 26.—Colonel W.
E. King, editor and founder of the
Dallas Express, the largest race pub»
lication in the southwest, was shot and
killed last Wednesday afternoon about
:: o’clock at 2811 Flora street. Mr.
King lived only a few minutes after he
: wt s shot. Hattie C. Burleson, former
personal secretary and hoarding mis
tress of Mr. King, voluntarily surren
dered immediately after the shooting
and an affidavit charging her with
murder was filed in Justice Barnett’s
court.
Mr. King was born in Macon, Miss.,
in 1866, and educated in the schools of
Macon. He taught for a number of
years in the public schools of Lauder
dale and Jasper counties, where he en
1 n- ed the distinction of standing the
best examination of any teachers in
these counties, white or black. Seeing
the need of a newspaper to defend the
, ' ights of his race, he began the pub
lication of Fair Play, about 1885,
vhich had a wide circulation and was
I successfully managed until he was
; forced to close his shop and leave the
tate on account of the position his
paper took in defense of his race.
He came to Dallas in 1891 and se
| cured a position as managing editor
of the Western Star, published by
Itev. E. W. D. Isaacs. In 1892 he began
the publication of the Dallas Bee, later
changed to the Dallas Express. He
was editor-in-chief at the time of his
death anil by his uncompromising
tand for justice and right the paper
is considered one of the strongest pub
lications in the southwest.
RIOT RUMOR IS FALSE
Norfolk, Va., Aug. 27.—Consider
able indignation was aroused Satur
day by the unfounded rumor started
by some mischief maker that a riot
was in progress at Driver. The story
; was absolutely without foundation, no
trouble of any kind having happened
in the county between white people,
Colored people or between white and
Colored.
Monitor office, Douglas 3224.
PROMINENT NORTH
CAROLINIAN DEAD
John Merrick, a Self-Made Man, Who
Rose From Poverty to Wealth, and
Was Noted for His Charities, An
swers Summons.
FOUNDED HOSPITAL
AND LIBRARY
Was Moving Spirit in Several Uplift
Agencies in His Community—Made
Good Use of His Opportunities and
Was Highly Respected by All
Classes.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
DURHAM, N. C., Aug. 27.—John
Merrick, one of the best known
Negroes in this section of the United
States is dead here. He had been ill
for several months. Bom in Clinton,
September 7, 1859, he came to this city
forty years ago.
Merrick was a self-made man, whose
life was a good example to the mem
bers of his race. When he first came
to this city he was a bricklayer. Be
ing economical, he saved much of the
money he made, and in a few years,
he opened up a barber shop and for
many years, his place of business
was the favorite place of its kind In
the city. After many years of this
work he founded the North Carolina
Mutual and Provident Association, the
largest organization of its kind in the
world. Since 1899 the year of its es
tablishment, this organization has
steadily grown. In 1884, together with j
other Colored people, he founded the I
Lincoln hospital. All of his life he!
gave large donations to the hospital
on which he served as president of the
board of trustees for more than 20
years.
About the same time the hospital!
was founded, Merrick, together with j
Prof. W. G. Pearson, founded the order!
j of the Royal Order of King David.'
I This lodge, like all his organizations,
soon became one of the largest in the:
| world. Other institutions established j
j by the deceased are the Colored li- I
j brary and the Mechanics and Farmers |
bank, the latter being established in I
1908. The library has been one of
the greatest helps to the Colored peo
ple of this city. All his life Merrick |
continued to give large donations to |
| the library.
The deceased is survived by a widow;
I and five children. One daughter is the j
wife of Dr. Peter Williams of Raleigh; i
] another the wife of Dr. H. W. Brace,,
of Winston-Salem. His eldest son,
John Jr., lives in Detroit. The other
son, Ed, is assistant secretary of the
North Carolina Mutual and Provident j
Association. His youngest child is
Maltha Merrick.
WINS PRIZE IN NATION
WIDE ESSAY CONTEST
Louis J. Harper, a Junior in Atlanta
University, Tells “Why We Should
Have an American Language”—
Commended by Ohio State Librarian.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 27.—Louis J.
Harper, a young Atlanta Negro has
just been announced as the winner of
third prize in a nation-wide essay
contest on the subject, “Why We
Should Have an American Language.”
The contest was conducted by the
state library of Ohio, and was open
to all accredited students of all uni
versities, colleges and high schools
throughout the country.
Young Harper, who is just 20 years'
of age, was a member of the students j
army training corps of Atlanta uni
versity, and completed his sophomore I
year in 1919 with honors.
In writing of Harper’s success, J.
H. Newman state librarian of Ohio!
said: “This young man has great
promise for his race. Nothing can
possibly contribute more to the uplift
of the African than the education
and careful training of such men as
young Harper.
‘He is entitled to all the credit he
receives, for the reason that no judge
knew anything about the name of the
individual writer until after the de
cision. Therefore, the elimination of
all prejudice or partiality from the
result.”
So widespread was the interest in
this contest that Mr. Newman has
decided to launch another contest,
along these lines, some time during
the coming fall, after all the schools
are organized for their new year’s
work.
JULIUS ROSENWALD
SERVES ON COMMISSION
Governor Lowden Has Appointed Able
Body of Representative Citizens to
Investigate Inter-Racial Relations in
Chicago, and Work Out Satisfactory
Adjustment.
NEWSPAPER MEN SERVE
ON THE COMMITTEE
Victor Lawson of Chicago News, and
Robert S. Abbott of Chicago De
fender, Represent the White and
Colored Press—Governor Appoints
Well-Balanced Commission of Both
Races.
CHICAGO, ILL., Aug. 27—Declaring
that he had “used the utmost
care in appointing the committee to
undertake this great work,” Governor
Lowden, through Dr. Francis W.
Shepardson, director of the Illinois de
partment of registration and educa
tion, has announced the membership
of his commission for the investiga
tion of relationship between whites
and Negroes in Chicago. Attorney
Edgar A. Bancroft heads the commis
sion which includes members of both
races. Its personnel is as follows:
Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears
Roebuck & Co.; Victor F. Lawson,
publisher of the Chicago Daily News;
Edgar Osgood Brown, attorney and
president of the Chicago branch of
! the National Association for the Ad
, vancement of Colored People; Harry
j Eugene Kelly, attorney; Wm. Scott
Bond, real estate dealer; Dr. Cleveland
Hall, an official of the Urban league;
Edward H. Morris, attorney; Robert
S. Abbott, editor of the Chicago De
fender; Adelbert H. Roberts, sponsor
in the Fifty-first general assembly of
! a bill advocating the appointment of
I an inter-social commission; George H.
1 Jackson, business man; Dr. L. K. Wil
liams, pastor of Olivet Baptist church.
Commenting on the appointments
the governor’s statement continued:
! “I have sought only the most repre
sentative men of both races. I have
not even asked them whether they
have views as to how the condition
may be met.
“This is a tribunal constituted to
get the facts and interpret them and
I find the way out.
“These riots were the work of the
j worst elements of both races and did
not represent a majority of either.
“The two races are here and will
I remain here. The great majority of
each realizes the necessity for liv
ing on terms of cordial good will and
respect. That condition must be
brought about. To say it cannot is to
: confess the failure of self-government.
“I offer no solution of the prob
: lem. I do know it cannot be solved
by mob violence.”
MISS FRANKIE B. WATKINS
Organizer War Camp Community Ser
vice, Who Has Been Assigned to Oma
ha for Work Among Girls.
VISITS OMAHA NEPHEW
AT CAMP MERKITT
Philadelphia, Aug. 27.—Captain
Geo. A. Robinson of this city spent a
very pleasant day in Camp Merritt,
N. J., last Monday, August 11, with
his nephew, Corporal Abram W. Par
ker of the 806th Pioneer regiment, U.
S. army, who had just returned from
France. It had been sixteen years
since he had seenfSiim and he enjoyed
listening to his great experiences in
France. Corporal Parker leaves for
his home in Omaha, Neb., in a few
days, where he will meet with a
hearty welcome from his numerous
friends.