[ l ™g"' i T'he 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. OCTOBER 16, 1919 Vol. V. No, 15 (Whole No. 224)
r President Wilson Stops Attack on Negro Press
\___
I* KEN IDE! NT REFUSES
TO SUPPRESS PIPER
Fears Thai Suppression May Inilsine
Vlreadj Rebellious Spirit.
(Special Article Service.’
IVTASHI NOTON. Oct. 15 T>* soft
[ ** pedal has been put or "lit
against journals of our race ^ I
by Senator Byrnes of South t
lo lie seditious. The arguments
I attack on these |iajiers were to tin o,
* feet that they were radical in the fc 1
I treme and dangerous in their tendency
!( to renew bloody outbreaks between the
white and black races.
Representative McDuffie of the First
k Alabama district, incensed by the con
tents of several publications, inter
| viewed the postmaster general in an
effort to secure the suppression of
, these periodicals. He pointed out a
cartoon representing a man driving
an automobile through masses of flee
■ ^ — ina whites, the colored man driving
and shooting into the frantic crowds.
, Men falling were soldiers wearing ser
vice stripes. He pointed out editorials
in which the editor congratulated our
people for their successful opposition
to mobs in Washington and Chicago.
, He also [minted out a paragraph in
which it was said that in certain emer
gencies "a bullet as far more efflcae
£ ions than a thousand prayers.”
Burleson Called.
B Postmaster General Burleson was
W intervieweS by Mr. Lluffie. He agreed
with Mr. McDuffie that the publica
f tions were inflammatory. Regarding
the interview the Alabama member
% said:
"The postmaster told me that he had
> been considering and was still consid
ering the advisability of denying the
mails to "The Messenger,” published
at 2305 Seventh avenue. New York
City. He stated also that the attorney
general was also giving thought to
W the subject. He then declared that
R" the president had suggested that no
such action be taken at the present
time It is evidently another case of
I ’’watchful waiting." The postmaster
general was entirely sympathetic, for
he feels, of course, Just as all other
■ southern men feel."
Department of Justice Tried.
From the postmaster general, Mc
L Duffle went to Mr. Lamar of the de
W partment of justice, who Is also an
Alabamaian. Mr. Lamar stated that he
was giving this periodical "earnest
: consideration. He clearly stated that
he was bewildered because ir any ac
^ tion was begun to suppress this paper,
the best argument would be on the
side of the paper.
Papers Have Best Fight.
It was brought out in the course
of the interview with Mr. Lamar that
N although he was opposed to the pub
lishing of these papers, they could In
any contest of their rights to publi
cation state that they were simply at
tacking the lynching evil. This, of
J course. Is a very embarrassing ques
tion in Washington. Mr. Lamar stated
I his opinion that these Journals would
arouse considerable sympathy In the
north
W llsmi Refuses to Art.
The matter was brought to tne at
tention ot President Wilson, who post
1 noned any drastic action. Mr. Mc
| Dutfie withheld a statement setting
[ forth his opinion as to why the [(resi
dent suggested a postponement of ac
tion against the radical press. In all
I probability, however, the president
K was moved through fear of the “un
■ rest" which prevails everywhere in the
P- ''"‘united States. It was probably his
L opinion that It would be wiser to suf
L fer the danger of such publications
^ precipitating other riots throughout
I the United States than to force the
radical element of the north into the
ranks of rebellious policemen, striking
labor, pro German agitators, sleepless
1 W. W.’S, extreme socialists and pro
fessional anarchists.
[ The prevailing opinion in Washing
ti ii is that the action of the [(resi
lient is due to tne danger of sovietism
bolshevism and actual revolution in
the United States. The president, II
is indicated, is moved through desire
to compose the discordant elements
rather than crush them with an iron
I baud There are many members ol
-y congress who believe the president or
W ■ the proper track. There are other!
who compare his course in the present
emergency to his course in dealing
Iwitb Mexico, a course apparentl)
characterized by a lack of “punch” ant
aggressiveness In general.
For Monitor office call Doug. 3224
■
UNION VMM k V A It IIS PENS \ N II SIIKDS
Omaha l> One of the l.argest Packing Centers in the Country Hundreds of Kaee Workmen Are employed Here.
FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION
NATIONAL RACE CONGRESS
(Special to The Monitor, by Walter
J. Singleton.)
rnA S HIN < J T O N, Oct. 10—The fourth
W annual session of the National
Race Congress of the United States
of America opened their sessions in
the Metropolitan Baptist Church,
Tuesday morning, October 7th, with
the Rev. W. H. Jemagin, president of
the congress, presiding. Delegates
representing nearly every state in the
union were present and most of them
spent the entire week here sightsee
ing between convention hours.
Welcomed h ythe Mayor.
Commissioner Louis Brownlovv
| opened the meeting with an address
j nf welcome to the delegates, who rep
1 resented practically every state in the
| Union.
Mr. Brownlow said that Washing
I ton is the logical place for such a
I convention and welcomed the dele
j '.rates to the city.
Urges Fair Play for Colored Race.
Bishop I. N. Ross of the A. M. 1'..
| Church who sails for Africa on the
J 25th of this month, addressed the
opening session of the National Con
! gress, and said abolition of “Jim
I Crowism,” proper use of the ballot by
Negroes, stopping of proscription
from the church and the necessity for
cool judgment in race matters we.i
the questions to be considered.
Referring to the race riots in
Washington in July, Bishop Ross said
that it was the lawless element of t -
city w'hich began and continued tie
trouble and that the older head
among both races counseled caution.
The speaker, however, urged that
some action be taken by the lem
of the colored race toward minimiz
ing such danger in the future, b'
cautioned leaders to be sure of t
footing before setting themselves up
as standards for the race.
The President’s Address.
“The Negro is no longer regarded
! as an object of charity nor a child
race in the American civilization,” de
clared the Rev. Dr. W. H. Jernagin,
of this city, in calling to order th<
fourth annual session, “and he must
stand up and take a man’s place, or
he will be crushed to a frazzle. White
men and black men have drifted into
a misunderstanding in this country.
Let the better class of both races get
together to put down crime.”
Our Grievances.
Our grievances are a beam in the
eye of America which must be re
moved before the moat is attacked in
the eyes of other nations. If as
appears, all movements toward lib
city and justice and right must b<
made through precious blood, then
our record is perfect, for our blood
has been mingled with the blood «
the makers, the saviours and the
builders of this nation, since i*
earliest colonial period. Demand any
proof you may, we have met it. And
yet, despite the record, despite the
law, despite the repeated assertion
of those who constitute the cust
dians of the liberties and powers i
this nation, your people and my i'
pie are lynched, mobbed ai) ’ arned
at the stake with a fiendishmks which
is beneath that of the savages who
were found here, and courts declare
themselves pow'erless to convict the
perpetrators when your people and
my people are the victims.
This session of the National Race
Congress of America is fraught with
issues of greatest moment, such, in
deed, that I do not speak thought
(Continued on Page 2.)
unions * co. take colored
WORKMEN TO ST. HAI L PLANT
(Associated Negro Press)
St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 16.—The pro
posed importation to St. Paul of 1,500
Negro workmen at. the new Armour
plant, has resulted in the appointment
of a committee by the St. Paul Asso
ciation housing workers to consider
the problem.
The fact that one of the strong un
derlying .causes of the recent race
riots in Chicago was due to no small
extent to the housing situation has
prompted the action of taking up the
question here in advance.
Negro citizens in St. Paul are taking
a strong interest in the satisfactory ar
rangements of housing the large in
crease in the Negro population. I). W.
Alberts, member of the housing com
mittee of the St. Paul Association, has
taken up the work.
NEW VOIlK DOCTORS WIN VIC
TORY; TO BE A DMCITED
TO HARLEM HOSPITAL
| \ Crowning Victory for lln> United
Civic League.
Six years ago the United Civic
League started its fight for colored in
ternes in Harlem hospital, and each
year since then the organization has
made colored internes in this hospital
a campaign issue.
. The League continued to hold con
ferences and send committees to meet
Bellevue's board, under whose super
vision the Harlem hospital property
comes, until they were definitely prom
ised that colored doctors would be
admitted.
Dr. Louis T. Wright is the first of
the colored doctors to be appointed.
Others will follow. The league is now
seeking to have colored women enter
ed as nurses.
Honorable .lames D. Carr, of the
corporation counsel’s office, lent much
valuable assistance to the League in
bringing about this civic achievement
for colored Harlem.
\ \TION 11. URBAN LEAf''E
TO MEET IN DETROIT
National Body in Bold Important Con
ference Negro Wage Earner Chief
Topic of Discussion.
One of the most Important confer
ences affecting Negroes in this coun
try will he held on October 15 through
the 19th at Detroit. Mich. Tills con
ference is being called by the National
Urban League to discuss industrial
problems brought about largely be
cause of the Negroes’ new position in
the industrial world.
Prominent white and colored speak
ers who are interested in Negro wel
fare and who are thoroughly conver
sant with Industrial problems will be
present. Social workers, ministers
teachers, doctors and publishers, and
all who are Interested in the wage
earning Negro should avail them
selves of the unusual opportunity to
he present to hear the Important dis
cussions.
\y,. must deal with pleasure as we
do with honey, only touch them with
the tip of the finger and not with the
whole hand for fear of surfeit.—Ven
erable Bede.
Monitor subscription contest closes
Saturday, November 15. Gel busy II
your church Is going to earn that $100.
IIR. JOHNSON VND ENTIRE
FAMILY WIPED OFT
killed by Arkansas Cotton Roliberg,
Who Are Fighting Against Hiving
I'p Practice of Fleecing Negro Ten
ants.
Helena, Ark., Oct. 15.—The worst!
tragedy of the riot was the slaying of
the Johnstone family, old residents of
this section. They, were halted by
white men on a country road as they
were returning from a fishing trip,
unmindful of the riot. Orley R, Lilly
(white', well known real estate dealer
of Helena, stopped the men to ques
tion them, and it is claimed, became
abusive. He was accompanied by sev
eral special deputy sheriffs. It is said
that Lilly accused the Johnstons of
being ringleaders of the affair, and
ordered them to get in his automo
bile and prepare to journey to the
ennui y jail l)r. Elihue Johnston at
tempted to explain his absence from
the city during the trouble, and that
he and his brothers were innocent of
any connection with the lawlessness.
The deputies and Lilly attempted to
force the men in the auto, and shoot
ing began. Lilly was killed, one dep
uty seriously wounded, and the four
Johnston boys were slain outright.
tSkS CONORESS TO
ENFORCE AMENRMENTS
New A’ork. The twelfth annual ses
sion of the National Equal Rights
League ended its three-day session at
tiie Metropolitan A. M, E. church. It
closed with the appointment of a com
mittee of five to urge upon congress
the passage of the Madden bill, di
rected against the “Jim Crow” cars
on transportation lines and the strict
enforcement of the fourteenth and fif
teenth amendments to the constitution
This action of the league followed the
story told by William Monroe Trotter,
peace petitioner from the league, who
told how he had reached Paris under
trying difficulties despite the positive
attitude of the government that none
of the league’s delegates should he
given passports to Paris.
TCHN HACK CLOCKS TO
OLD TIME 04 TOBER 24!
Much Misunderstanding Due t» Action
of Congress in killing Daylight
Saving.
Washington. Oct. 15.—General un
certainty as to when the clocks of the
nation may be turned back and day
light saving abolished seems to ' ave
resulted from the recent ac m of
congress In repealing the daylight sav
ing act. In answer to numerous in
quiries officials have poiuted out that
clocks may not he turned back until
tiie last Sunday of October, or Oc
tober 2fi, at 1 a. m.
The
Monitor’s
Phone
Number
Is
Douglas
3224
THE REIGN 01 TERROR
IN ARRAN SA S
Truth About Alleged Uprising of Ne
groes Against Whites—Negroes
Korin Progressive Farmers’ Associa
tion to Make Reasonable Terms
With White Farmers on Share Crop
Proposition.
W liite Man Accused of Inciting Riot Is
Prominent Attorney Employed by
Tenants to lake Cases to Court—
> a tonal Association Issues State
ment.
COTTON PRICE CAUSE OF TROUBLE
HELENA. ARK.—In the section
-south of Helena and elsewhere in
the black belt in Arkansas, Mississippi
and Louisiana, the big land owners j
and many who are not big land own-!
ers,. never settle with the share crop-,
pers on the farms. The tenants pick |
the cotton, put it in houses in the!
fields; the agent sends wagons to j
these houses, hauls the cotton to the
gin, has it ginned, and tells the poor
tenant nothing about what amount of
cotton belonging to him was ginned
nor anything about the price paid for
it. In fact, the tenant has nothing
to do with cotton after It is picked.
When one of them goes for a settle
ment. the agent is always too busy.
The owner, when he is on the farm,
always is in a hurry and refers the
tenant to the agent. So the Negro
tenant never know's anything about
what his account is or what his pro
duce is worth or sold for. The trou
ble is no settlement is ever made. He
is told that he can get whatever he
needs. He is given a few dollars in
cash for Christmas and that ends it.
If he kicks or grumbles, he is kicked
out of the store and if he strikes back
he is mobbed. So in desperation, these
Negroes concluded to organize so aH
to secure some relief from these out
rageous proceedings. This organiza
tion has no other object than to secure
some sort of settlement for their crops.
To secure a hearing, the organiza
tion secured the services of the legal
firm of Bratton & Bratton, of Little
Rock, one of the leading and repre
sentative legal lights of tile Arkansas
bar.
Teiliints Received No Settlement in
Years.
The truth of these statements, any
unprejudiced jury can verify on ex
amination. Most of those whose
names the Negro furnished to their
attorney, have made no settlement
with their tenants in years.
Those Johnson boys, who were
killed, were out on a fishing trip with
a brother who was visiting them from
Oklahoma and had nothing whatever
| to do with the society or the farmers.
The four guns found in their homes
S were fowling pieces which they used
I in bird hunting. The guns found at
l the State Normal Branch School at
i Pine Bluff, were those furnished by
j tile government for the military train
i ing of colored boys during the war.
i No leading colored man in this section
! of the state knew anything about the
I Negroes arming. The constitution of
the society was published in the pa
pers and prominent white men had
attended and addressed the organiza
tion and no one believed then or now
that there was any intention on the
part of the members to do the whites
any harm.
“The Uprising’’ was manufactured
by these farm agents to permit them
to continue the practice of whole
sale robbery of the tenants. The good
white people of the state should
thoroughly Investigate the complaints
of those tenants and see that the
same state of affairs does not exist in
other sections of the state. The prac
tice of robbing Negro tenants ought to
be stopped if it requires the state
troops to do it. If the state troops
were used to stop the robbery of Ne
gro tenants, they would not bn needed
to stop Negroes from demanding whal
is their own.
Planters Incite Trouble.
As soon as the planters and agents
were notified that the claims of their
Negro tenants had been placed in such
safe hands, they began to circulate
false and misleading statements about
Negroes arming. They, it appear
ed, got this tnan Lilly, whom it is
alleged, was fined and fled from Mis
sissippi under the charge of peonage
and who, at this time, w as some kind of
an officer for the railroad corporation,
to go out to the church where a meet
ing of the organization wars being held
for the sole purpose of breaking up
the meeting. They fired many shots In
the neighborhood of the church, in
tending thereby to intimidate the Ne
groes, who were assembled there In
a peaceful meeting. The men led by
Lilly fired several shots in front of
the church. Believing themselves to
be the object of an unprovoked attack.
Lilly and his crowd retired and soon
returned and attacked a Negro who
returned the fire killing Lilly and
wounding his companion. Immediate
ly the cry went fo'rth that the Ne
groes were armed and rising to
slaughter the whites.
The names of white farmers who
were guilty of robbing their tenants,
of course, were to be given to their
attorney and these were the men
whose names, that it is alleged the
Negroes had intended murdering.
Nothing was further from their in
tentions. Mr. Bratton, the white
man implicated, of course, was there
in the interests of his clients and had
no other business than to see that
they, for once, got a settlement.
These white landlords have resented
for years any interference with their
robbery of the colored tenants and the
colored tenants have stood this about
as long as they can.
Arrest White Lawyer.
It has been asserted that Attorney
O. S. Bratton (white). Little Rock,
had advised our people to uprise.
Bratton had done legal business for
the Progressive Farmers’ association
and at one time had addressed the
gathering during the Liberty Loan
drive for the purpose of aiding the
government war fund. Men who were
employed by white farmers on the
share crop proposition appealed to
Bratton to aid them in bringing about
a settlement with their land-owners,
and he had prepared legal papers to
present in court in defense of hts
clients. It is the work of enemies to
destroy his influence in the commun
ity, he declared. Bratton is now in
jail awaiting a hearing.
\. A A. P, ISSUES STATEMENT
The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, 70
Fifth avenue. New York, makes public
the following letter from a corre
spondent near the scene of the race
riots in Arkansas, showing cotton
prices, not Negro insurrection, as the
cause of the trouble. The correspond
ent, whose standing the association
vouches for, writes:
‘‘The whole trouble, as I understand
it, started because a Mr. Braxton, a
white lawyer from Little Rock, Ark.
was employed by sixty or seventy col
ored families to go to Elaine and rep
resent them in a dispute with the
white planters relative to the sale
price of cotton. The rumor is that the
planters had organized to settle with
the tenants for their cotton on a twen
ty-fice cent basis, when it turn the
planters would sell it for much more.
Quite naturally the tenants objected
to this and employed Mr. Bratton to
represent them. A full statement by
Mr. Bratton appears in some of the
clippings 1 have sent.
"This Federated Union of America'
is a camouflage. The real issue was
the dispute over the price of cotton be
tween the tenants and planters. The
propaganda published in the press
about ‘Negroes being armed to kill all
white people and take their farms
away from them’ is too ridiculous to
be given any thought.”
The clipping referred to is from the
Memphis, Tenn., Commercial Appeal,
of Friday morning, October 3. Ac
cording to U. S. Bratton, father of the
attorney accused of “inciting” the Ne
groes. therein quoted. his clients
"claimed that it had been impossible
for them to obtain itemized statements
of accounts or in fact to obtain state
ments at all, and that the manager
was preparing to ship their cotton,
they being share croppers and having
a half interest therein, off without set
tling with them or allowing them to
sell their half of the crop and pay up
their accounts. As we were informed,
there were some 6.r> or 70 of these
share croppers who desired us to rep
resent them. If it’s a crime to repre
sent people in an effort to make holi
est settlements, then he has ♦‘ommitted
a crime. If this is a crime in a coun
try where we have been spending our
money and the lives of our boys to
make the country safe for democracy
we do not understand what the word
means."
Buy a home.
