Nebraska Newspapers

    i TuL/ Monitor i =
\ A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS.
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor
__%,t _______
$2.00 a Year. 5c a OMAHA, NEBRASKA, NOVEMBER 20, 1919 Vol. V. No. 20 (Whole No. 229)
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Howard’s New President Makes Epoch-Making Speech
s Elaborate Inauguration Services ami
Exercises Mark Formal Induction of
President of America’s Great Edu
cational Institution Into Office.
CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAM
ADVOCATED AND ENDORSED
Inaugural Address Stresses Problems
of Leadership—National Problems
Helpfully Surveyed Through Con
gress of Reconstruction.
(Special to The Monitor hy Walter .1.
Singleton)
WfASHlNGTON. I). C.. Nov. 13.—
W The inauguration of James
Stanley Durkee, A. M. Ph. D., as presi
dent of Howard university November
12, 1919, with special services at An-'
drew Rankin Memorial chapel at
10:30 o’clock, marked the beginning
of a new era in the educational life
of that Institution, the importance of
which will be of profound interest to
colored people throughout the nation.
The effeets of the new administra
tion promise to he far-reaching and
widely felt. Following the elaborate
exercises there was a luncheon lor
special guests! The afternoon was
spent hy the visitors In Inspecting the
building and grounds of tho institu
tion, and in the evening a reception
was given by President and Mrs. Dur
kee in honor of the delegates, alumni,
members of the faculties of the uni
versity guests, etc., at the residence
of the president. At 8 p. m. alumni
night—exercises were held in Andrew'
Rankin Memorial chapel which the
delegates, public and friends attended
In large numbers.
Discuss Itig Problems.
An all day session on reconstruc
tion and readjustment congress for
the betterment of the university was
held Thursday in Andrew Rankin Me
morial chapel, taking a wide range
covering many subjects affecting well
* being of the race.
Dr. A. B. Jackson, superintendent of
Marey hospital, Philadelphia, and Dr.
W. F. Draper of Richmond, Va.. a
member of the public health service,
discussed health at the morning ses
sion MIhs Julia Lathrop, chief of the
children’s bureau of the Departmenl
of Labor, and Mrs. Alice Dunbar
Nelson, a social worker of Wilming
ton, Del., spoke on child welfare. Dr.
B. R. Andrews of the treasury depart
ment, n d E. C Brown, a Philadelphia
banker, talked about thrift
The Negro and the Church.
"The Negro and the Church" was
the topic under discussion at the
afternoon session. The list of speak
ers included Rev. F. Paul Langhorne
of Washington. Dr. C. B. Wilmer of
Atlanta, Bishop B F. Lee, Wilberforco,
Ohio; VVr J. W E. Bowen of Atlanta;
Bishop Theodore D. Bratton, Missis
sippi; Bishop George . Clinton, Char
lotte, N. C.; Bishop C H Phillips of
Nashville, Tenn.; Dr J. E Moorland
of New York City. Archdeacon J. H.
Russell of I^wrencevllle, Va., and
Miss Eva D. Bowles of New York City.
Labor Question Discussed.
“Negro Labor" was discussed .at the
jjight session by Louis F. Post, assist
ant secretary of labor, and Dr. Eu
gene Kinckle Jones of New York City.
Negro Education.
"Negro Education” was considered
by Dr. Samuel C. Mitchell, president
of Delaware college; Dr. J. E. Gregg,
principal of Hampton institute, and
Dean Picking of Morgan college, Bal
timore, Md. Archibald II. Grimke of
Washington and Charles Edward Rus
sell of New York City spoke on
“Negro Citizenship.’’ President Dur
kee presided at the congress.
Distinguished Guests.
A distinguished gathering of men
attended the ceremonies marking the
installation of Mr. Durkee as head of
the university. Addresses were made
hy Senator David Walsh of Massachu
setts, Dr. Albert Bushnell Hart of
Harvard, Dr. William Miller Collier,
president of George Washington uni
versity; Dr. John Hope, president of
Morehouse coilege; Representative
Richard OIney of Massachusetts, and
the Rev. William N. De Berry. A
number of American institutions of
learning and sevt jl foreign univer
sities wore represented, and several
membors of the diplomatic corps were
present.
Professor Webster Honored.
Professor James C. Webster, in
structor In physics at. Howard univer
sity had the distinguished honor of
representing the University of Pitts
burgh (of whleh he is a graduate) at
tiie inauguration of President Durkee
of Howard, l^kifessor Webster was
designated for^^ distinguished serv
ice by Chancellor Samuel Black Mc
Cormick, A. M., LL.D., of the Univer
sity of Pittsburgh, who found it im
possible to be present, and whose
friendship and esteem was manifested
in this signal manner.
President Ihirkee’s Inaugural Message
Ur. Durkee's inaugural address was
devoted to a discussion of American
democracy which, as he stated, must
rest upon Christian education. "Each
uneducated citizen," he said, ‘is a
source of weakness. Therefore, Amer
icans must insist that each individual
have every opportunity and every help
for self discovery and every aid in
putting that discovery at the service |
of all the citizens of the state.”
A discussion of America's problems
with a review of the Negro’s relation
as a part of the body politic. He
urged a national educational program.
Said he: "Has (he time come for a
commission of American great-hearts
to formulate a national education pro- I
gram based upon sucli foundation? I
believe it has! May I presume to put
into definite proposition the possible
findings of such a commission?
“1. We propose a program of edu
cation which shall bring effectively
within the reach, not only of every
boy and girl, but also of every adult
citizen, all the training, physical,
mental and moral, literary, technical
and scientific, of which he is capable.
“2. Every citizen in America shall
be taught to read and write and think
in the English language.
“3. Day schools and night schools
shall be open at convenient places
throughout America, that such places
may acquire our language and be
taught our ideals.
“4. There shall be no discrimina
tion in the teaching of the childhood
of America, but all, irrespective of
race, condition, creed, shall have
equal opportunity under equally
trained teachers, to discover the best
that is in them. There shall be no
division of the public money so as *o
’■erpetuate the differences of race,
condition or creed.
“6. Acquisition of knowledge shall
be secondary to the moral growth of
the individual. All subjects taught
shall have for their purpose the de
velopment of Christian character,
moral courage, energy, individual ini
tiative. a keen sense of civic duty, and
national responsibility ’’
In concluding his address Dr. Dur
kee said: “The white race, as well as t
the colored race, must fight for a
philosophy of education which will ]
ever maintain the Creator above the
thing created, whether it be Cod or
man. But the colored race is still
largely dependent upon the white race
for Ideals in education, for men and
women to rightly interpret those ideals
and for money with which to build up
educational centers of power and In
fluence.
"We stole the Indian's lands and
have been so paying hint In money
that the Indians of America are the
richest in the world. We stole the
Negro, not for hiB lands, and have
been paying him for his weakness by
keeping him, in many parts of our
country, in ignorance, denying him all
the good things of life we could and
oppressing him by every means at the :
disposal of a dominant race. The |
Negro has not grown bitter, rebellious
or disloyal under such treatment, but ;
has struggled on, hoping and working J
for a better day when justice should i
be granted to him and every equality '
f o'mortunity. He has been weak
and weakness is ever despised and ex- |
plotted. He has now arrived at a
stage of development where to be
weak Is a racial and national sin. i
Race consciousness has arrived and a
sense of race solidarity is spreading
through this one-third of the popula- |
t. n of the world, more rapidly than j
through the white race. No longer j
can the white race meet the problem .
In prejudice or hatred or indifference.
"The colored race asks of the white
race money with which to make her
educational centers powerful in right
eousness. Howard university, founded
by that Christian soldier and human
ity'lover, fieneral 0. 0. Howard, who
also founded sixty-nine other schools
for the race—Howard university thy
greatest school for colored people not
only in America tint in the world, asks
humanity lovers, asks Atlan phil
anthropists, asks men a d women of
great financial power and Utile finnn
"ial power, for money with which to
educate the leaders of this race of
twelve millions of colored people.
‘‘Their program is announced.
“They demand Christian education
with no barriers to the highest
reaches of culture and inspiration. (A
careful study of conditions in portions
of our land reveal educational crimes
unspeakable.)
"They demand the rights of Amer
ican citizenship. (Make the stand
ards as high as we should make them,
then honor with the franchise, with
jury right, with public office, with
rights on public conveyances—in short
with full American citizenship, ail
those whatever the race or color, who
shall attain the standard set.)
"They demand respect for their
achievements, as we ask respect for
our own. We must cease our sneer
ing, our lying, our hypocrisy and we
must give them the full rights of hu
man achievement.
“The race intuitively feels what it
demands. It has not yet full power
of seif-direction. It is still suspicious,
clannish, and sometimes draws the
color line as quicklv as doc ’he white
race. But it has the misfortune ot
having its real ideas wrongly trans
lated. It has somehow given the Im
pression, or its enemies have built up
the impression, that it wants social
equality in the Ihings of white society
life, when it really asks for the right
to develop Itself to its own highest so
cial possibilitie" and then choose its
society along * . own ways and ideals.
Cultured coloud people are just as
careful of their society as are white
people. They want none in their
homes who are not worthy, either col
ored or white. They wish to be in no
homes where they are not wanted.
Give them a fair field, an equal
chance, impartial laws impartially en
forced, the consideration granted to
all by the world’s Master, and 211 the
rest may he safely left to that fine
development which everywhere at
tracts to itself like souls of like cul
ture and like destiny.
“Now must the races of the world
meet each other on a platform built
by the noblest Impulses and wisest
souls of all races. The impulse com
ing from Japan, and calling for an
International Scholastic League, is
one of supreme prophecy. If 'God
hath made of one IJ^d all nations of
men for to dwelt ^^Ul the face of
the earth,' then a! ■Bnns must come
to know and appreciate all that is best
in each. No longer can ignorance,
prejudice or hate rule in national cap
itols. The scholarly and Christian
statesmen must blaze the path.
"Fellow citizens, 1 am here not
merely as president of this university,
hut as your servant to speak to our
America of the rights, the hopes, the
needs, and the demands of this great
race.
"My appeal is to the sense of fair
play whichever characterizes the hon
est straight-out American, no matter
in what section of the country found.
"My appeal is to those educators
and educated who everywhere fac
ignorance with hostility and cry to
those in bondage, ‘Because I live, ye
shall live also.’
‘‘My appeal is to the sons of those
brave men of America who fought for
liberty and uniota and left ft as a
heritage to wort^Bfchlldren.
"My appeal is to thofje lovers of lib
erty and justice who themselves have
suffered in gaining their rights or
have those rights as a heritage from
suffering parents.
"My appeal is to ty followers of
the Christ of whatever name and
creed, wlm have sworn allegiance to
Him and strive to make His princi
ples of life pregnant In the lives of
men.
“My appeal Is to the white men of
my land, who are too great to be
mean and have paid too great a price
for freedom to have its banner now
trampled under foot by ignorant and
unprincipled men.
“My appeal is to the colored race,
and especially to the alumni of How
ard university, that with one united
front, they demand of themselves, and
of all others, the help with which to
build this great institution into a po
sition of new power and influence in
the life of the race and the uplift of
the world."
That Howard university has won
the good opinion of the ablest think
ers and of governmental and educa
tional authorities of acknowledged in
fluence and power was well attested
by the large number of testimonials,
letters and telegrams received which
were read by Dr. Emmett J. Scott,
secretary-treasurer of the university.
Men are never so ridiculous from
the qualities which really belong to
them as from those they pretend to
possess.
SENATOR HARRISON DEMO
CRAT FROM MISSISSIPPI
INTRODUCES BILL
Would Issue Arms to States
Washington, D. G., Nov. 10.—A bill
authorizing the war department to is
sue rifles, pistols and machine guns
to the states for home guard defense
was introduced by Senator Harrison,
democrat, Mississippi, who said the
legislation was designed as part of a
plan to protect communities against
violence by radical elements.
"Articles that have appeared in cer
tain pamphlets and periodicals edited
by unwise and radical Negro leaders
and Bolshevists." said Senator Harri
son, “are advocating such doctrines
which might encourage the thought
less elements to threaten the peace
and safety of many people.
‘‘It is to guard against any attempt
upon the part of these dangerous ele
ments that law-abiding white people
should take precautionary steps to pro
tect themselves and their commun
ities.”
GIVEN DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE CROSS
Baltimore. Md., Nov. 12.—to re
ceive a Distinguished Service
Cross for a deed of heroism is a won
derful experience, but it cannot com
pare with the “delicious sensation” of
being awarded one over a year after
the act is committed.
I This is the opinion of Nicholas
Rodgers, butler to Dr. Harry Frieden
wald, 1029 Madison avenue, who has
just received a Croix de Guerre for
his bravery and heroism during the
Champagne drive.
Rodgers was a messenger in the
American Expeditionary Force, carry
ing dispatches from headquarters to
the officers at the front. It. was on
the very day on which his companions
first went over the top that his cap
' • “ was shot just as he was about to
deliver a message to him.
Rodgers rushed to his assistance,
opened his collar so that he might
get some relief, when a second bullet
whizzed along, striking him in the
back. With the assistance of three
other men, Rodgers carried him under
a heavy barrage back to a recreation
hut, where first aid was administered.
Then he went back into fhe thick of
the fight.
lMf. TOMPKINS WINS
WORDS OK COMMENDATION
Conditions are Ideal at Old City Has
pltal I'nder Race Physician and Effi
cient Staff of Internes and Nurses.
Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 19.—“I never
have any trouble with my internes or
employes,” Dr. William Tompkins, su
perintendent of the old city hospital,
said yesterday; ‘‘I have nine internes,
forty nurses and about 140 patients.
As far as I know, everything at this
hospital is in perfect harmony.”
A visit to the old City hospital tend
ed to prove Dr. Tompkins' statement.
Despite the fact that the building is
more than forty years old. and that
the floors are wood and the walls
painted plaster, not a spec of dust or
dirt was visible anywhere.
The well-scrubbed wooden floors
j and steps would be a delight to a
critical housewife. They are scrubbed
I daily, Dr. Tompkins said. No dirt is
' under the radiators in any part of the
! building. The basement is as clean*
as the operating room which is be
j yond reproach, it is a decided con
trast to the new and modern General
| hospital further up the hill.
Everything at the old City hospital
j Ik run under a well-planned system.
! There is no bickering and discontent
j among the employes. Both the pa
i tientH and the staff express the high
est degree of satisfaction over the
| manegement and conditions. The po
| lice say they are given twice the serv
| ice and attention when bringing pa
| tients to the old City hospital that
jthey receive at the General hospital.
Not only is the Negro hospital the
more cleanly of the two, but there is
an air of work being well done about
the place. Every one is busy and ap
parently satisfied. There are nearlv
as many patients at that hospital as at
the General hospital.
‘‘We have a hard time getting equip
ment,” Dr. Tompkins said, ‘‘but we do
the best we can without. We are
anxious that the people of Kansas City
should pay our hospital a visit and see
what we are doing."—Kansas City
Journal.
| GREAT FINANCIAL
ENTERPRISE LAUNCHED
^.VHI.000 Trust Company to be Launch
ed by Colored Men—Founder of
Standard Life Insurance Company
Confers With New York Capitalists
—Ready to “Put Over” Rig Finan
cial Venture.
(Special to The Monitor.)
Washington, D. C„ Nov. 12.—Fresh
from New York City, where he spent
a week or ten days in conference with
capitalists who control millions, He
man E. Perry, president of the Stand
ard Life Insurance Company, of At
lanta, Ga., stopped over in Washing
ton this week en route south, and an
nounced the formal launching of a
campaign to put over a financial ven
hire of tremendous importance to the
. colored people, to be known as the
| Citizens’ Trust Company.
This is the only financial corpora
tion to be controlled by colored people
I favorably passed upon by, the capital
issues committee of the Sixth Federal
Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Ga., and also
by the capital issues committee of the
United States Treasury Department at
Washington, D. C. The new financial
institution Is to be under national and
state supervision.
The institution is to have a capital
of $250,000, and a surplus of an equal
amount—$250,000. Aside from a reg
ular banktag and trust business, spe
cial empj^pis will be given to assis -
ing colod^ people in purchasing and
building homes, and in securing far r
properties on long time payments and
at low rates of interest. The develop
ment of colored business concerns
and industril corporations will re
ceive special attention. The new
concern will be national in scope, with
branch offices in many important
centers.
Mr. Perry explained his plans in
full detail to the officers of one of the
largest trust companies in New York
and is to be guided in the formation
and operation of the Citizens Trus‘
Company by these trained experts.
He has been assured substantial en
couragement in the carrying out o
his plans.
CHICAGO COMMISSION on RACE
RELATIONSHIP REPORTS i
Chicago, 111., Nov. 4.—The Commis
sion of Race Relationships appointed
by Governor Lowden consisting of
Edgar A. Bancroft, Chairman,
Julius Rosenwald,
Victor F. Lawson,
Harry Eugene Kelly,
William Scott Bond,
Edward Osgood Brown,
George Cleveland Hall,
Edward H. Morris,
Robert S. Abbott.
Adelbert H. Roberts,
George H. Jackson and
L. K. Williams
make the following statement to the
public:
"Reports to the Chicago Commission J
on Race Relationships, appointed by
Governor Lowden. indicates continued
I state of unrest in neighborhoods
where while and black people live.
While these reports are free from
alarming indications, they are of such
a nature as to cause the commission
to urge co-operation of the public in
quieting a deplorable tendency.
"We feel it the duty of members of
both races to be calm, patient and tol
erant. Our commission is carefully
investigating the cause of the calam
ity which overtook our city last sum
mer. We hope to be able in due course
to suggest means by which another
such disgrace may be avoided.
“We urge all citizens to aid us in
our work by discouraging any attitude
or language that tends to racial hos
tility.”
The Holidays
Are Coming.
Give the
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quality and appreciation
I WHITE CITIZENS OF CORDELE,
UA., RAISE FUND TO REPLACE
BURNED NEGRO CHURCH
Philanthropy to Take Place of Pos
sible Suit for Damages Against City
of Cordele.
CORDELE, Ga., Nov. 6.—A remark
able proceeding on the part of
the white citizen here took place a
short while ago, when a mass meeting
was held to consider the restoring of
the Negro church buildings, which
were destroyed by the mob several
weeks ago. A committee was appoint
ed to investigate the damage done and
to report the amount to be raised to
make good this destruction.
This committee reported as follows:
"Pursuant to and in connection with
a mass meeting held at the courthouse
some weeks ago concerning the burn
ing of Negro churches in the county, a
number of white and colored citizens
met at the site of one of these .
churches Thursday and made an In
vestigation of the number of churches
destroyed and the cost of rebuilding
them. It developed at this meeting
that there were three churches de
stroyed. A careful estimate of the
amount necessary for material only
was placed at $2,500 for the three. It
being thought that if the white people
provided the material that the Negroes
would do all the building. Those
present, both white and colored,
agreed that this would be a just and
agreeable division of the burden.
"To the end of raising this fund it
was arranged to put on a one-day
campaign both in the communities of
these churches and in the communities
of these churches and in the city of
Cordele. This campaign to be waged
on Thursday, September 25. To this
end committees were appointed to
work, both in the county and city, and
it is confidently thought that these
committees will meet with the same
degree of success that has always
characterized our splendid citizenship.
"There is no more worthy or meri
torious cause that we could engage in
than assisting to restore the colored
churches so wantonly destroyed. In
no section of our country is the col
ored race more peaceable, law-abiding
and industrious than in Crisp county
and he should recognize in this atti
tude some degree of consideration for
their welfare.
“Another thing which we should
recognize and appreciate is the fact
that notwithstanding the great labor
unrest over the country and the agi
tation to excite labor, our colored race
in this country has remained free from
these influences—at the same time the
colored race constitutes practically all
our labor. It is felt that no trouble
will be had in raising the money on
next Thursday to serve every purpose
in rebuilding the burned churches. So
far no one has been found guilty of
burning these churches, although a
large reward was and is still offered.”
I*ESSO A STANDS FOR
RACE EQUALITY
President of Brazil States How He
Voted at Peace Conference.
RIO JANEIRO. Nov. 12.—Dr. Epita
cio Pessoa, president of Brazil
and former chairman of the Brazilian
delegation, today in a public state
ment said that as head of the Brazil
ian delegation he always had voted in
favor of the recognition of the equal
ity of races when the question came
up before the league of nations com
mittee.
Dr. Pessoa asserted that he had
been guided in this matter solely by
respect for the democratic traditions
of his country and his own sentiments,
which always had been above race
prejudice.
The statement was the outcome of
a renewal of reports current in the
early days of the peace congress that
Dr. Pessoa favored President Wilson’s
policy of non-recognition of the
equality of races, and voted in favor
of equality only upon the insistence of
other members of the Brazilian dele
gation.
SEVERAL PERSONS BROWNER
New- Orleans. Da., Nov. 12.—Nine
people, five white and four Negroes,
were drowned in Bayou Bartholomew
at Bonners ferry, six miles from here,
when an overloaded ferry boat cap
sized with them. Five of the victims
of the tragedy were women and two
of them children.