Nebraska Newspapers

    :l=j The Monitor i ~ i
# A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS.
\ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor
- ---—— ——-— ---
$2.00 a Year. 5c % ny_OMAHA. NEBRASKA. DECEMBER 4, 1919_ Vol. V. No. 22 (Whole No. 231)
Weaver )n Trial for Arson—First Riot Case in Court
Southern Roman Catholic Bishop
Declares Georgia Must Stop Lynching
The Rt. Rev. Benjamin J. Kelly States That Unless State Amends
Wavs Federal Bayonets Will Give Negro Protection
Too Long Denied Him.
“Fair and Impartial Justice Is Not Meted Out to White and Colored
Men Alike,” Declares Savannah Prelate.
SAVANNAH, Ga„ December 3.—The
recent demand made for Justice
for the Negro by Rt. Rev. Benjamin J.
Kelly, the influential Roman Catholic
bishop of Savannah, in an able address
Is attracting wide-spread attention.
The fact that he is a southerner, and
holds rather tenaciously to the favor
ite doctrine of state rights makes his
* statement the more significant. He
f*"' claims that unless Georgia accords the
Negro justice federal bayonets will
grant him protection. The Savannah
prelate says: .
"To those who know it is hardly
necessary to state that I am a south
erner. I have no word of apology to
offer to any one for the views 1 hold
and the stand 1 took in the war be
tween the states.
"I had no doubt then, and I have
none now, of the justice and right of
the action of the southern states. I
believe that their cause should have
met success, and that then the South
should have restored the Union on the
basis of the constitution as understood
and intended by the fathers.
"I warmly love the South and her
story, her traditions and her ideals are
very dear to me. I resent the unjust
criticism to which she has been sub
jected, and .tone has been more unjust
/’ and untrue than that which represents
the South as not being in heart and
soul loyal to our great Union.
"But 1 fully recognize the absolute
justice of one charge which is made
against her, and I look with grave ap
prehension to the future, for no people
that disregards Justice can ever have
the blessings of God, and we are guilty
of great injustices to the Negro. The
Negro was brought here against his
will; he is here and he will remain
here, and he is not treated with Justice
by us; nay, I will say that be is often
not treated with ordinary humanity.
Georgia Stands First
"I,ook at the statistics in our own
state. Georgia stands first in the list
of states in the matter of lynching.
Has there ever been a man punished
in this state for lynching a Negro?
"Lynching is murder, nothing else.
"Besides, is it not the fact that, fair
and impartial Justice is not meted out
^ to white and colored men alike? The
courts of this state either set the ex
ample, or follow the example set them,
and they make a great distinction be
tween the white and black criminal
brought before them. The latter, as a
rule, gets the full limit of the law.
Do you ever hear of a street difficulty
in which a Negro and a white man
were involved which was brought be
fore a judge, in which, no matter what
were the real facts of the case, the
Negro did not get the worst of it?
“Georgians boast of being a Chris
tian people, and this year they are
putting their hands into their pockets
to raise millions to bring the light of
Christianity as understood by them, to
some less favored peoples in Europe.
"I would like to know if it is en
tirely compatible with Christian mor
* ality to treat the Negro as he is treat
ed here? My belief is that the Negro
and the white man were redeemed by
the blood of Christ shed on the cross
of Calvary, and that the Christian re
ligion, absolutely condemns injustice
to anyone, and forbids the taking of
life.
“To me the murder of a Negro is as
much murder as the killing of a white
man, and in each case Christian civili
zation demands the punishment of the
crime should rest in the hands of the
lawfully constituted authorities.
No Lyncher Punished
"I have lived to see in Georgia an
appeal made to the highest authority
in the state for protection of the lives
of colored men, women and children
answered by the statement that the
Negro should not commit crimes! The
people of Georgia vest in certain offi
cials the execution of Justice. Yet no
lyncher has ever been punished here,
and I regret to state that public senti
ment seems to Justify the conduct of
the officials.
"As I am writing these lines I find
myself eagerly scanning the papers to
i find the latest news from the strike
districts. What is to be the result?
Only a short time ago I was reading
the strange news of the race riots in
the northern and western cities. Thank
God we have had none of those riots in
the south. Do you know the reason?
The only reason is the forbearance of
the Negro. He has been treated with
gross injustice; he has not retaliated.
In all these cases gross disregard for
law and order are either the cause or
'the direct consequence of those dis
turbances.
Ask Court AW
“Are there not numbers of honest,
! law-abiding citizens of Georgia, who
know that I am telling God’s truth,
and who will protest against this in
justice to the Negro? Is there not a
just and fearless man who will have
the courage to announce that there
shall he no difference in his court be
tween the white man and the colored
man?
"Injustice and disregard of law and
the lawful conduct of affairs are the
sure forerunners of anarchy and the
loss of our liberty, and we are drifting
in that direction. I have pleaded for
justice to the Negro because it is his
line and is right.
“Both divine and human law are
ftouted when such Injustice is done.
The Negro will not stand asking for
Justice from Georgia laws or Georgia
courts. He has been patient, and 1
hope he will remain so, but he well
knows where the remedy lies, and he
will very soon be found knocking at
the door of the federal congress ask
ing protection. He will merely ask
the pittance of the life of himself, his
wife and children. And congress will
hear him.
“We waged successful warfare
against federal interference with our
elections because our friends of the
north and west came to our aid hut
%
we cannot expect any one to help
when an appeal is made against us on
account of our treatment of the Negro.
“If appeal to right, to Justice, to
Christian morality, do not avail to put
a stop to this injustice to the Negro
and protect him against the murder
ous lynchers, then Georgia will see
federal bayonets giving him protec
tion.
“AH good Georgians should unite to
stamp out this foul blot on our state."
PETITION WILSON
FOR CLEMENCY
lio'Oin Churches Request Stay of
Execution of Sentence Imposed
I pon Negroes by Railroad Methods
at Elaine, Arkansas—Convicted Men
Defending Legal Rights.
Boston, Dee. 3.—A resolution adopt
ed at a union thanksgiving service of
Negro churches and telegraphed to
President Wilson, Attorney General
Palmer and Governor Brough of Ar
kansas Implores clemency for "the 11
members of our race sentenced to
death for the Elaine riots, to be exe
cuted Friday, according to press re
ports."
President Wilson was petitioned to
request Governor Brough to grant re
prieves "pending impartial investiga
tion" and Attorney General Palmer
was urged to grant the petition so as
“to afford time to inquire into the
claim that the convicted men were de
fending property and legal rights.”
Another resolution requested the
United States senate to amend the
railroad bill by inserting a clause “to
abolish the greatest violation of de
mocracy, the segregation of passen
gers for race, as applied to interstate
travel.’’
DESERTER FROM If. S. ARMY
LEADS YAQUI INDIANS
Douglas, Ariz., Nov. 29.—An Amer
ican Negro, who deserted recently
from the Tenth United States cavalry,
is reported to be the leader of a band
of approximately 300 Yaqui Indians,
who raided the eastern part of the
Montezuma district early this month.
I’HESIDEXT PRESENTS
PERPLEXING PROBLEMS
Message to Congress Analyzes Grave
Issues Eiieing Country and Rakes
General Recommendations of Legis
lation fo Reef Same.
RADICAL AGITATORS
ENEMIES OF fOIWTIIT
,
Great Reforms Can Be Accomplished
Only Through the Orderly Process
of Representative Government, De
clares President.
TOTASHINGTON, IJ. C., Dec. 2.—Gen
tT eral recommendations on legis
lation to combat the cost of living, la
bor unrest, radicalism and a readjust
ment of the nation to peace time basis
were the features of President Wil
son’s annual message to congress.
The peace treaty, the president told ;
congress, will be discussed in a sep- j
a rate message later, as will the rail
road question.
A long portion of the message was
devoted to a discussion of the condi
tion and rights of labor. “A definite
program to bring about an improve
ment in the conditions of labor” and
"bring about a genuine democratiza
tion of industry” was recommended.
"The only w*iy to keep men from
agitating against grievances is to re
move the grievances,” said the presi
dent’s message. At another point it
declared "the seed of revolution is re
pression.”
"The establishment of the principles
regarding labor, laid down In the cove
nant of the league of nations.” said
the message, "offers us the way to in
dustrial peace and conciliation. No
other road lies open to us. * * * *
Governments must recognize the right
of men to bargain collectively for hu
mane objects. * * * Labor no
longer must be treated as a commod
ity. •
Two Sides to Right of Strike
"The right of individuals to strike
is inviolate,” continues the message,
"and ought not to be interfered with
by any process of government, but
there is a predominant right, and that
is the right of the government to pro
tect all of its people and to assert its
power and majesty against the chal
lenge of any class.”
The president was referring to the
government's recent injunction against
the coal strike.
The message closed with a pointed
reference to radicalism and red doc
trines and referred to "Russia today
with its blood and terror” as a “pain- i
ful object lesson of the power of
minorities."
Radical'- Enemies of Country
“There are those in this country," j
said the message, “who threaten direct
action to force their will upon a ma
jority, * * * It makes little differ
ence what minority it is, whether cap
ital or labor or any other class, no
sort of privilege will ever he permitted
to dominate this country.
Orderly processes, the message de
clared, were the only ones by which
relief and reform could be obtained.
“Those who would propose any other
methods of reform are enemies of >
this country,” the message said. “Let j
those beware who take the shorter I
road of disorder and revolution.”
Failure of Treaty u Cause of 1'nrest
The president made his most ex
tensive reference to the peace treaty
by saying the causes for the unrest
"are superficial rather than deep
seated" and that they “arise from or
are connected with the failure on the
part of our government to arrive
speedily at a just and permanent
peace, permitting return to normal
conditions.”
PROMINENT MAN ~
ANSWERS LAST CALL i
_
The Hon. George Washington Ellis, ;
Well Known Author and Ex-Sccrc
fnry of American Legation. Dies n(
Chicago Home After Long Hindus.
(Special to The Monitor)
Chicago, 111., Dec. 3.—George Wash
ington Ellis, noted author and one of
the most scholarly men of the race,
died at Ills residence here, 3662 Ver
non avenue, November 28, after a long
Illness. For eight years he was aec
rfetary of the American legation at Li
beria. Returning to the United States
he was made assistant corporation
counsel for the city of Chicago, which
position he filled with distinction
until hlR illness compelled him to re
linquish it. Mr. Ellis was born In
Kansas 44 years ago.
Would Modernize
Coast Defenses
Major General Black, Chief of En
gineers, Would Have United Stales
Strongly Fortify Strategic Points
Along Sea Board.
DARDANELLES POINTS
AMERICA LESSON
Increased Range of Naval Guns,
Throwing Projectiles Nearly Thirty
Miles, Shows Necessity for Em
placement of Heavier Coast Ord
nance.
TT7ASHINGT0N, Dec. 3.—Necessity
W for the maintenance of defensive
works at important and strategic
points along the coasts of the United
States is no less patent today than be
fore the war with Germany, in the
opinion of Maj. Gen. William M.
Black, chief of engineers. In his an
nual report General Black declared
that "seacoast defense had lost noth
ing in importance from the lessons of
the war,” adding:
"Rather was the extreme value of
such works demonstrated. The Turk
ish forts at the Dardanelles served to
prevent the taking of Constantinople
and the opening of a line of supply for
Russia. This instance alone, In Its
far-reaching consequences, proved the
worth of sea-coast defenses.”
Black presented the opinion that
heavy ordnance on railway mounts
"must be considered simply as aux
iliary defenses,” to the fixed and per
manent works. He recommended the
emplacement of heavier guns to off
set the greatly increased range of
naval guns, some of w'hich now can
throw a projectile 281 miles. The
work of modernizing the coast de
fenses is being continued, the report
showed, many recent innovations in
the science of warfare having been
adopted. Not the least important of
these was a disappearing searchlight
tower, the fixed type having proven
of great value to the enemy as a
"ranging point” for their fire.
The report included a detailed sum
mary of the work done during the
fiscal year under the rivers and har
bors project. The commission now
has under preparation a report on
"water terminal and transfer facilities
of the United States.” which is to be
the most complete document of its
kind ever published.
MACON LYNCHES
ANOTHER NEGRO
InI'uiiioiis Georgia Town Adds Another
Victim to Its lllood Red Record—
State Has Nearly One-tliird of Total
Lynching* of Year in Whole Coun
try to Its Disgrace.
(Special to The Monitor.)
MACON, Ga„ Dec. 2.—This city,
which is notorious even in the
annals of Georgia tor the number of
its lynching*, today added another
victim to its blood-red record. An un
identified Negro was lynched near
here after he had shot, and seriously
wounded Hansel Rosier, Jr., a farm
er’s son, with whom he had quarreled.
The mob worked so quietly that the
neighborhood knew nothing of the
lynching, although it was expected,
until the man’s body was found hang
ing from a tree near a church.
Physicians say Rosier will recover.
This is the nineteenth Negro to be
lynched in Georgia during the year,
being nearly one-third of the total
lynching* In the entire country.
LINCOLN LEAGUE WILL
MEET IN WINDY CITY
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Chicago, 111., Dec. 3.—It is an
nounced that the Lincoln League will
hold its annual convention in Chicago
February 12th. Lincoln's birthday. The
league is expected to bring many im
portant race men to the city and great
interest is being manifested in the
meeting. Alderman Anderson is state
chairman for Illinois, Edward H.
Wright. Oscar Depriest, MaJ. Jackson,
Col. William R. Cowan, Editor R. S.
Abbott, and other leading Chicagoans
will Join in making the Lincoln league
a success. The officers of the league
are Roscoe C. Simmons, president; R.
R. Church, director of organization;
Walter I* Cohen, treasurer; Lincoln
Johnson, secretary.
Buy a home.
; COLORED “T” WORKERS
CITED FOR BRAVERY
Hrillinnt Record Made liy Young Men
and Women Who Were Sent Over
seas During Great World War—
Eighty-four Persons Rendered Good
Service.
BULLOCK, DARTMOUTH
FOOTBALL STAR
Among Men Winning Special Distinc
tion—Eduard Terrell Banks of Ohio
and Hugh Oliver Cook of Missouri
Also Cited.
NEW YORK, Dec, 3.—The record of
the colored men and women who
who sent overseas by the Young Men’s
Christian Association, who served as
secretaries during the world war, is
marked with brilliant achievements.
The total number sent was eighty
four. sixtv-one men and twenty-three
women. Of this number two died in
active service overseas and two died
in this country.
Frederick D. Ballou, of Richmond,
Kv., and the Rev. R. A. Pritchett, of
Philadelphia, who served with the
forces in Africa, were drowned at Dar
es-Salaam, in East Africa. Those who
died in home service were the Rev. II.
E. Levi, of Camp Talladega, Ala., who
died at Camp Wheeler, and Hiram H.
WTieeler, of Urbana, 111., who died
while on furlough.
Those cited for bravery were Ed
ward Terrell Banks, of Dayton, O.;
Hugh Oliver Cook, of Kansas City,
Mo,, and M. W. Bullock, former Dart
mouth football star.
Mr. Banks won his citation for
bravery while serving in the 368th In
fantry of the Ninety-second Division.
The division received word that a
scout had been wounded and was lying
helpless between the lines. Banks
Immediately set out to rescue the
wounded man, but in the attempt was
caught by a barrage and could not
get back. With a determination to
save his man. Secretary Banks stayed
with him through the night and
brought him back the next morning
when the firing was less severe and
carried him to safety. For this he
was recommended for a citation by
Captain Smith, commanding Company
K. of the 368th Infantry.
For gallant conduct in the Cham
pagne offensive of September 26 to
October 6. Hugh Oliver Cook, of Kan
sas City, was recommended by Col.
P. I. Miles, commanding the regiment,
“for heroic conduct in volunteering to
aid in administering to the wounded
on September 26 near Hill 188. He
worked tirelessly until he himself was
gassed.”
M. W. Bullock was cited by Colonel
| Hayward, of the old Fifteenth New
. A’ork National Guard regiment, for
! gallant service with that unit through
out the service.
i FOLK UK>KKATlO\S
ATTE>D FOEBAL
FIOUR generations of direct de
scendants attended the funeral of
Mrs. Lucinda Harris, 106-year-old
race woman, who was buried Friday
in Forest Lawn cemetery.
“Grandma” Harris was well known
among the people of her race. She
lived 35 years in Omaha, and during
all of those years she was a member
of St. John’s Methodist Episcopal
church.
She lived at the home of her only
daughter. Helen Jenkins, 2232 Sew
ard street, where she died of senility.
A son, Charles Harris, came from Chi
cago to attend the funeral. She is
also survived by two grandchildren,
five great-grandchildren and one
great-great-grandchild.
Mrs. Harris was born in Kentucky
during 1813. She was a slave for
many years and lived in Missouri be
fore she came to Omaha in 1884.
The funeral was attended by many
friends and acquaintances who had
known this venerable woman and had
been impressed by her words of wis
I dom and advice.
PITTSBCRGH DEDICATES
SHAFT TO BLACK HEBOES
(By The Associated Negro Press)
Pittsburgh, Pa.', Dec. 2.—With im
pressive ceremonies, witnessed by
thousands of the race, the shaft in
Schenley park commemorating the ac
tivities of Pittsburgh Negroes in the
war, was recently dedicated. The
services wrere preceded by a parade
which marched through the down
town streets to the park.
Indicted by Grand Jury on Trial in
District Court for Arson—IMoter is
Floater—Convicted by Court Martial
for Desertion from United State*
Army.
POLICEMEN POSITIVE
AS TO IDENTIFICATION
LOUIS WEAVER, a cook at the
Rome hotel, on trial before Judge
Redick in the district court, charged
with throwing a can of gasoline into
the courthouse on the night of the riot
and lynching, admitted being present
on side of courthouse building near
window with can of gasoline which
was handed him by an unknown per
son who directed at point of gun to
dispense it, and that he dashed gaso
line alongside of building which
stream of thrown gasoline was always
five feet from building, and that steam
of gasoline caught fire from building
and burned him, ending his actiivties
for the evening.
The evidence for the state was
straightforward, believable, convinc
ing, and was corroborated by many
facts and circumstances which Weaver
could not deny, and to this effect: that
Weaver was seen dashing the gasoline
into the courthouse and in the act was
burned about the arms and face; that
he told the doctor who dressed the
wounds that he was burned at the
courthouse; that he w'as apprehended
concealed in a house on South Seven
teenth street in a small closet among
and under bed clothing; that his writ
ten statement was true and was made
of his own free will and that he of
fered no testimony to deny that he
said on the street he was going to get
gasoline and set fire to the building:
that Weaver is a floater going from
place to place, having been charged
tried and convicted by a court martial
for desertion from the United States
army and sentenced to Leavenworth
military prison; that his father-in
law, who testified against him, had
started proceedings to annul the mar
riage between his 14-year-old daugh
ter and Weaver whom Weaver had
stolen.
He was identified by several police
men as the man who threw gasoline
into the county treasurer’s office. Po
licenjan Louis Zich pointed at Weaver
from the witness stand and declared:
“That man jumped on the sill of the
north window of the county treasur
er's office with a five-gallon can of
gasoline painted red and threw the
gasoline into the office where the fire
was burning.
Boy of 14 Led Way
“A boy of 14 years old poured gaso
line on the sill of the window before
Weaver got there,” continued Zich.
"Tlie window was burned and fell in.
Then Weaver, wearing a sweater and
without any hat, climbed upon the sill
and others handed the can of gasoline
up to him and he poured it on. The
crowd cheered him and he said some
thing.”
Admits Being in Crowd
Weaver admitted being in the crowd
surrounding the court house when the
fire was started, and declared that the
burns which he received resulted from
the explosion of a can of gasoline
within the treasurer's office while he
was attempting to enter the room
through a window.
A confession, signed by W’eaver,
was introduced by County Attorney
Shotwell, who is prosecuting the case.
This was made by Weaver right after
his arrest, October 4, witnesses testi
fied, in the office of Chief of Detec
tives Dunn. In it he states that he
threw half a can of gasoline on the
fire, but that it flared back on him
and burned him. Weaver admitted
signing a statement to the officers.
Harry LIghtall, a special officer for
the Nebraska Power company, who
was inside the court house night of
the riot, said he saw' AVeaver and was
present at the police station when
AVeaver made his confession which
he dictated to Detective Toland and
then signed.
j County Attorney Shotwell told the
| jury that it should not have the slight
est sympathy with the accused as the
evidence showed beyond the slightest
doubt that Weaver was guilty as
charged. He emphasized the all im
pbrtance of the conscientious deter
mination of the issues involved in the
case, and that aside from the estab
lished guilt of the accused and the is
sues and principles connected thereto,
that the greater principle which the
Jury would determine was whether
we should have and desired the reign
(Continued on Page 2.)