t - —. ■■■...- 1 ~
The Monitor
k National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Intereet* of Colored
Amsrtaan*
Published Every Thursday at Omaha. Nebraska, by The Monitor Pub
lishing Company.
Entered as Second-Class Mall Matter July 2, 1115. at the FostoCce at
Omaha. Neb. under the Act of March 2t 187§.
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor end Publisher
Lucille Skaggs Edwards and Madree Penn, Associate Editors.
Fred C. Williams, Business Manager.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES, *2.00 A YEAR; *1.00 • MONTHS; 00c 3 MONTHS
Advertising Rates, 60 cents an lech per issue
Add'eas. The Monitor, 304 Crounse Block, Omaha, Neb.
• Telephone Douglas 8224.
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*-— v
For mankind are one in spirit, and an instinct bears along,
Round the earth’s electric circle the swift flush of right or
wrong;
Whether conscious or unconscious, yet humanity’s vast
frame
Through its ocean-sundered fibres feels the gush of joy or
shame;
In the gain or loss of one race all the rest have equal claim.
—James Russell Lowell.
^ ■■ ■ —
ECCLESIA LOCCTUS EST.
THE Church hath spoken.” That
is to say a large and influential
portion of it has. That portion of
American Christianity represented by
the Federal Council of the Churches
of Christ in America has found a
voice. It has spoken in no uncertain
tones against “our large professions
and our little deeds” in our applica
, tion of the principles of the Christian
religion in our dealings with the
Negro. In the statement recently is
sued by the council and published in
our columns a few weeks ago, it is
frankly confessed that the Christian
forces of America have been wan
tonly indifferent to the injustices to
which the Negro has been subjected
and has so patiently borne. In lan
guage which has the ring of sincerity
—and where there is contrition there
is always sincerity—the council is
sues “a call to the citizens of the
United States to act in conformity
with the high ideals of democracy
and Christianity in the present
strained relations between the races.’
The demand is made upon the gov
ernment, local, state and national that
it “impartially guarantee to all
classes, security of life and prop
erty,” and attention is directed to the
undeniable fact that "mob violence is
becoming a crowd habit.” “Adequate
educational facilities for Negro chil
dren and youth should be provideo
not only as a national obligation, bid
as a necessity of national welfare.”
Equal accommodations on railroads
for equal fares should be grfnted on
the grounds of common justice ann
honesty. Closer sympathetic relation
ship and co-operetion between the
races, calling for conference and in
terchange of views, is wisely advo
cated. It is also aptly asserted the
qualifications for the franchise
should be administered irrespective oi
race, creed or color.”
Perhaps the most significant utter
ances of this influential body is the
frank admission that “the root of the
whole matter is the failure to recog
nize the Negro as a man.”
This puts the emphasis precisely in
the right place. Racial friction is
due to the unwillingness of the white
man to recognize the Negro as a
man. Until this viewpoint is changed
racial friction will continue. More
over, as the Negro grow's in intelli
gence, character, moral worth, self
respect and wealth, and he is makiny
progress along these lines every day
of his life, this friction will become
more acute. There is no need ol
blinking this fact and The Monitor is
grateful that the Federal Council 01
the Churches of Christ in America,
which represents millions of the most
thoughtful, influential and upstand
ing citizens of the republic should so
clearly perceive and frankly state the
crux of the whole matter.
We are equally gratified with th<
closing words of this paragraph,
which are these: “If *e propose a
democratic program for the protec
tion and self-determination of the
weak and oppressed people of Europe
as a means of permanent peace and
good will abroad let us apply the same
program at home.” And then surely
all must agree that in the increasing
disorders, racial and industrial,
throughout the land, there is “a chal
lenge to the churches charged with
the promotion of the brotherhood of
man, which calls for preaching the
duty of economic and community jus
tice for the Negro (and all other
men), thus securing peace and good
will among the races.”
We hope that the Roman Catholic
communion and the Anglican com
munion in the United States speaking
through their corporate representa
tives will also find a voice as united
and clear as that of the Federated
Churches of Christ in America which
has spoken a much-needed message at
a crucial period.
While among all the great religious
bodies of the land there have been
individuals like Frank Crane, Wilbur
I F. Thirkield, John Holmes Haynes,
Rabbi Stephen Wise, the late Arch
I bishop Ireland, Cardinal Gibbons, the
late Bishop Greer. Bishop Gailor ami
others who have spoken in no uncer
tain tones against mobocracy and
other injustices of which the Negro
, has been so largely the victim, it re
I mained for the Federal Council of
! the Churches of Christ in America to
be the first religious body, so far as
; we have been aide to learn, to speak
: with a corporate voice against these
evils.
That so influential a portion of the
American church has spoken is most
enheartening to our group who have
longed for such a message and mar
velled at the silence, sympathetic si
lence some thought, of the religious
forces of America who were so pro
! foundly moved by atrocities across the
seasand so blind to atrocities against
fellow Christians in their own land.
Laos Deo! Ecclesia I.ociistns est.
AN ISSUE TO BF. FACED.
fTIHE Monitor desires to call at ten
-l tion to the fact that from the
trend of events in our city for the
last few months we are face to face
with a serious matter which involves
an important principle. Certain sel
fish and short-sighted individuals
have been advocating and seeking to
bring to pass segregation in civic
privileges for which we in common
with other citizens are being taxed.
The vicious propaganda of alleged in
crease of crime upon the part of
members of our race, which The
Monitor does not hesitate to brand as
largely fictitious, is undoubtedly a
part of a deeply-laid scheme to justif}
the adoption of such a policy when
those in favor of it find it feasible to
put it into effect. The time is here ;
and now to face this issue squarely.
Short-sighted people among our group
are lending their efforts to this
scheme, by advocating segregation in
other matters. The Monitor is abso
lutely opposed to any scheme, by
whomsoever proposed for segregation
in the enjoyment of any of the civic
or public privileges for which we are
taxed. We stand for the unrestricted
and unlimited enjoyment, as they have
always existed in this city, of educa- .
tional facilities, use of the public j
parks, play grounds, community cen- ,
tres and like civic and municipal ad
vantages. These have always been i
enjoyed without friction or embar
rassment by all citizens and there is
no reason why any change should be
suggested or advocated now. And we
respectfully, courteously, but emphat
ically, call the attention of any and ,
all persons who are adroitly planning
such a coup de etat that they are not
so wise as they Ibink themselves to j
be in this day and generation.
EXCELSIOR CLEARS ITSELF.
LAST week The Monitor called at
tention to the fact that there was
only one new’spapci in the city that
attempted to defend the recent lynch-;
ing. That newspaper was The Ex
celsior, a society publication of vener
able antecedents and high standing.
We expressed surprise that Clement
Chase should endorse the sentiments ,
of John Sharp Williams. Mr. Chase,
who had been absent from the city
for some weeks, upon his return
promptly repudiated the statement of I
his acting editor. The Excelsior of
October 11 contained the following
editorial from the pen of Mr. Chase
under the caption, “A Much Criti
cized Editorial,” which restores the:
sane standing of the publication:
“Considerable criticism of the Ex
celsior's editorial last week on the
riot that resulted in damages to the
county court house, and the lynching ,
of a Negro prisoner, has come to this i
desk.
“The Excelsior has always stood for
law and order, and never intended to
deviate from this policy, and regrets
that the article, which does not rep
resent the opinion of the owners of
| this paper, was permitted to appear
i without verification of the truth of
the statements which have been ap
pearing from day to day in the press.
"The Excelsior has a long record
for the most careful judgment re
garding civic affairs, and trusts that
its previous reputation will not be un
settled by this contribution, which it
regrets should have appeared."
The same issue also contained the
, following:
“A Word From Mr. Caldwell.
“A valued friend of the Excelsior,
Mr. John H. Caldwell, has addressed
a communication to us in which he
expresses his regrets concerning the
i article. We beg to assure him, and
I others who have spoken to us, that
we regret the impression that has
been created, inadvertently, by the
language used. Among other things,
Mr. Caldwell says:
“ ‘In your editorial columns of Or
1 tober 4th you have made certain
statements which are so misleading
and incorrect that they must not be
allowed to go unchallenged.
“ ‘Referring to alleged inadequate
sentences given to criminals here, you
ask what the police and city have done
to see that the proper penalty is paid.
As it happens, cases of the serious
nature you refer to are proseccted not
by the city, but by the state through
the county attorney and the district
court.
“ ‘I challenge you to prove where
any man. white or black, convicted of
rape or of assault to commit rape,
has been sentenced to less than two
years (generally the sentence is much
higher, the maximum being life im
prisonment). yet you have endeavored
to convey the impression that the
guilty ones generally receive from
sixty to ninety days. The records of
the county attorney’s office will
refute your statements. If you had
ascertained the facts first, you would
have found that such sentences, when
given, were against those found not
guilty o ‘.he crime charged and were
given as sentences for minor of
fenses. Such distortions of the real
facts are unworthy of any paper,
whose columns are generally held to
be reliable and authentic.’”
GOOD BEHAVIOUR, ALWAYS.
\V E cannot too frequently empha
” size the necessity of our people
always and everywhere conducting
themselves as ladies and gentlemen.
We have among us many who mean
well but who are unfortunately rather
loud-mouthed and boisterous. It is to
be hoped that such of these as read
The Monitor will realize how much
depends upon them to help maintain
good relations. All of us are on trial
everywhere and it is up to us all to do
our full share in helping to win re
spect for ourselves as a people.
HELPING PEOPLE IK) RIGHT.
T> OOSEVELT .-aid many wise
-Is. things. Among the many was
this, "Never be ashamed to lift a man
up out of the mire and help him
stand upon his feet; but if he insists
upon lying down in the mud and tries i
to drag you down with him, let him
alone." This is a good motto for
everyone to adopt. Do your best to
help someone do right, but if he will
not let you help him, you have done
your duty, let him alone.
TRUTH WILL TRIUMPH.
RECENTLY there have been sev
eral crimes alleged to have been
committed by Negroes which when
run to cover were found to have been >
committed by white men. Despite
apparent evidence to the contrary j
truth will ultimately triumph. In the
meantime see to it that you do noth
ing to bring discredit upon yourself
or race.
SCRUPULOUS HONESTY.
TTTHERE is need for it. Too many
people contract debts with no in
tention of paying them. This is dowa-i
right dishonesty. Our observation
has been that this is more common
among men than among women.
WHAT doth the busy little “Bee,"
While buzzing on the wing?
"Ouch! Ouch! Jimminy! Gee!
Dam it, don’t it sting?
STUBBORN FACTS FOR OMAHA
(Rev. M. H. Wilklilnson, Pastor M
Moriah Baptist Church.)
It will be long remembered wit*
regret, what took place In Omaha Sun
day night, Sept. 28. Everything shame
ful and not glorious. A member of the
Negro race is considered the bottom 1
cause. It might be that the right man
has met his fate and it might be that
the guilty party is yet at large. The
mayor and other officers are to be
commended for the brave stand they
took to prevent the worst outrage in
America’s history. No man is to lie
shielded for the wrong he has done,
regardless of color. We are only sorry
that patience could not rule, so that
the wrong doer could be handled by
law, instead of a mob.
We want the public to understand
that any man, black, white or any
other color, that will attack a woman,
black, white or any other color, is
; nothing short of a “nigger.” Th<
quicker such persons are put out o
the community, the happier all race:
will live together. The colored raci
is not in sympathy with any cut
throat and disgrace'r of the race. T <
men who do such things are thos<
who do not belong to any Christiai
church, nor religious organization o
tic community. Any member of t!
race or any other race that disro
gards the Christian church or assem
bly is dangerous to the race. Th<
home in which the man was caughl
and company, is a demonstration ol
the fact, that he was not belonging
; to the class of respectable Negroes
and we have no more use for them
than the respectable white have foi
theirs. This is a well establishei
fact. We want the public to under
stand that the respectable Negroe.
think too much of themselves to raisi
a race riot for a man whom nobod
knows anything about and who m<
for nothing.
There is a fighting spirit in '
Negro, when there is something t
fight for, in this land or No Man's
Land. But, as touching the one th
was put to death on Sunday nie1"
there is no fighting spirit about hir
It is absolutely unnecessary to watc!
the Negroes in the northern sectior
of the city, and the military offir
has undertaken an unnecessary task
in sending soldiers in the section
which they are now stationed,
action on the part of the colored eit1
zens would be a demonstration of the
'fact that we are in accord with the
action of that dirty rascal who did
that deed. I therefore advise that the
military official withdraw as soon as
possible the soldiers in the northern
section of the city. This will readily
create a better feeling between all
races. This military action is a hu
miliation to the colored people. The
presence of these soldiers in the com
munity keeps the people thinking that
trouble is ahead, and are ready to de
fend themselves and not Brown. Let
it not be thought for a moment that
they are going to lynch the mayor,
nor finish what is left of the once
beautiful $2,000,000 county building.
No, sir, nor anyone else. Those who
did that are the ones need watching.
What is in the mind of the coloreo'
people now' is whether Omaha think
that Brown has not paid the price,
and there is anything in the air by
way of coming to get some other law
abiding Negroes. Send back the sol
diers to their old beats, and all is
over.
Flashes of
Most Anything j
.....
IF—One of those ‘ little big" words
upon which rests destinies of in
dividuals and nations. The poet says:
“IF
If you can keep your head when all
about you
Are losing theirs and blaming It on
you;
If you can trust yourself when all men
doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubt
ing too;
If you can wait and not be tired of
waiting.
Or being lied about, don’t dead in lies,
Or being hated don’t give wav to hat
ing.
And vet don't look too good, nor talk
too wise;
If you can dream and not make
dreams your master;
If von can think and not make
thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and
disaster,
And treat those two imposters just
the same;
if you can bear to hear the truth
you've spoken
TwiBted by knaves to make a trap
for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your
life to, broken,
And stoop and build them up with
worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your
winnings
And risk It on one turn of pitch and
toss.
And lose, and start again at your be
ginnings,
And never breathe a word about your
loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve
and sinew
To serve your turn long after they
are gone,
And so bold on when there is nothing
In you
Except the Will which says to them.
Hold on!
If you can talk with crowds and keep
your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—-nor lose the com.
mon touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can
hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none
too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds worth of distance
run,
Yours Is the earth and everything
that’s In It,
And which Is more—you’ll be a Man,
my son — KIPLING.
*
Dental Hygiene and Care of the Teeth
By Dr. W. W. Peebles
By Dr. Peebles.
REMINISCENCES
In the article of last week we spoke
of the necessity of teaching the young
ones the use of the toothbrush. Hab
its early required grow upon one, and
soon become a part of our nature;
hence If we acquire this habit early in
life, it will follow that one will need
no further warning as we grow Into
maturity.
As the writer has promised to inter
sperse these articles with experiences
in the army, no better time can he do
so than al the present.
One of the startling facts early
brought to the attention of the writer
was the very neglected condition of
the people in France. Dental hygiene
seems to be in its embryonic stage
among these people.
Fine appearing men and women pre
sent in innumerable cases, a distorted
' facial appearance wholly due to this
neglect of the teeth. After many in
quiries 1 have concluded that the fear
of the dentist and the lack of proper
instructions added to the scarcity ol
dental surgeons, accounts for this ne
glect.
Oftentimes as a train loaded with
soldiers would stop at some small
town, the soldiers would soon hop off
and invariably rush for wate- and
were soon busily engaged in cleansing
their teeth. This was always highly
amusing as well as interesting to the
imiiiiimn 111111111111 mi .. mu 11
native*. Many times I have lieen ask
ed why the Americans wash their
teeth so often. Only among the more
intelligent has dental sanitation re
ceived any consideration.
In large cities with a hundred thou
sand inhabitants one finds seldom
more than ten dentists. While in the
| villages there are none. Here the den
tist comes once a month, and his visits
are heralded by the town crier. Let
■ us look for a moment at this impor
; tant personage. Twice daily in the
i villages and small towns, there ap
; pears on the streets, a man designated
as the official town crier. With his
ever present horn, which seems to give
him as much pleasure as that received
by a youngster on Christmas morn, be
announces his presence to the ever
busy people. As soon as a crowd has
assembled the crier begins to read
from a long sheet, in stentorian voice,
the news of the state and county or
depatrment.
During the war when the interest
of the people was ever at high tide
there was always a large crowd to
listen. We who are blessed, or cursed,
take it as you will, with innumerable
newspapers and periodicals of al!
kinds, can hardly appreciate the fact
that In France, with Its thirty-eight
million people, I am sure there are
not more than seven different dailies
and they are never over four or six
pages. So you can readily see the
need of a town crier.
How the old world brings one out
of the studied cold atmosphere of this
new highly nervous age. and with its
quaint picturesque characters, guides
one into the laughter and sunshine of
the past. Think as one will the thought
readily comes if in the old state, there
is not a more natural and tranquil
life, with a charm that one falls to
feel in this modern life. For me it
retains a memory which will always
cheer and brighten the dark and wor
ried moments that comes so often and
unheralded.
Monitor subscription contest closes ,
Saturday, November 15. Get busy if
your church Is going to earn that #100.
_— j
Men are never so ridiculous from
the qualities which really belong to
them as from those they pretend to
possess.
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