The Monitor
A National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored
Americans. _
Published Every Thursday at Omaha. Nebraska, by The Monitor Pub
lishing Company
Entered as Second-Class Mall Matter July 2. 1*15. at the Tostofflce at
Omaha. Neb., under the Act of March 3, 187*.
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAM*. Editor and Publisher.
Lucille Skaggs Edwards and Madras Penn, Associate Editors.
Fred C. Williams. Business Manager.
•UB8CRIPTION RATES. *200 A YEAR; *1.00 ( MONTHS; 60c 3 MONTHS
Advertising Rates. 60 cents an Inch per issue.
Address, The Monitor, 304 Crounse Block, Omaha. Nek.
Telephone Douglas 3224.
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THE ROOSEVELT CREED
I BELIEVE in honesty, sincerity and the square deal; in making up
one’s mind what to do—and doing it.
I believe in fearing God and taking one’s own part.
I believe in hitting the line hard when you are right.
1 believe in speaking softly and carrying a big stick.
I believe in hard work and honest sport.
I believe in a sane mind In a sane body.
I believe we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty
to the American people.
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THE MONITOR
OPPOSES SEGREGATION
SOME lily-livered, grinning, “Yes,
sab, Georges" and "infloo-ential
preachahs” have been contending that
The Monitor was wrong in sounding a
note of warning against segregation.
They maintained that there was no
such movement on foot. They knew
better; for they themselves have,
knowingly and designedly, been giving
encouragement to the movement.
They know The Monitor is right in its
position and because they do not ap
prove of our position on this and other
matters they have been planning and
are planning now to put another pub
lication in the field that will be sub
servient to their selfish aims and
short-sighted policy.
Do the people want this?
We believe that our people desire a
paper that will fearlessly, but wisely
and sanely, contend for their rights.
This The Monitor has always done
and will continue to do.
The Monitor lays no claim to in
fallibility, and our policy is to be sure
of the facts before taking a position
and when a position is taken to de
fend it with vigor and candor and to
maintain it at all hazards. We never
shy at white stones. We know when
w'e speak', whereof we speak and we
never speak without cause. There are
many things we could say and will
say whenever it becomes necessary to
do so.
We have known for some time, not
from hearsay, but from personal
knowledge, that certain agencies and
individuals have been scheming, plan
ning and working to bring about seg
regation or enforced colonization, by
which our people would be restricted
to certain districts, both as to resi
dence, business and civic privileges.
The Monitor stated and reiterates the
statement that it would oppose any
such movement and fight any agency
or individuals who sponsor such a
movement. And in this opposition we
are sustained by the supreme court of
the United States which has rendered
the decision that such segregation
ordinances or "agreements” are un
constitutional and an unwarranted in
vasion of the personal and property
rights of American citizens. We are
American citizens.
As a proof of the fact that The
Monitor knew whereof it spoke when
we stated some weeks ago that one
of the local issues to be met was seg
regation, we call attention to the peti
tion to the city council from the Cen
tral Park Men’s Club, published in
last week's issue of the North Omaha
Booster, the weekly publication of the
business and real estate men in the
territory contiguous to Twenty-fourth
street and Ames avenue. We publish
it in this isue. Read it. Mark, learn
and inwardly digest it.
The Monitor commends the at
present unknown petitioners for their
frankness and honesty in giving pub
licity to their actions and sentiments.
Other "organizations," "exchanges,’’
improvement f?) clubs,” etc., have not
been equally as honest. To these
latter we commend consideration of
these words from Holy Scripture:
"That which is hidden shall be
brought to light," "and the devices
of the evil shall be brought to
naught."
We hope that the eyes of our people
and of our friends—for we have num
bers of them among the dominant
race—will be opened to see that there
is a wholly uncalled for and unneces
sary movement right here in Omaha
for enforced segregation. Uncalled for,
for our people are cleanly, industrious
and law-abiding; unnecessary, for
there '.a no disposition upon the part
of our people for any wholesale in
vasion of any exclusive residential
sections. But that our people have a
right to purchase, own and maintain
homes in any section of the city in
keeping with their means and culture
is axiomatic. This is a constitutional
right which cannot and will not be
surrendered. This must be perfectly
i
n
understood. The surrender of the
right of domicile carries with it the
surrender of other rights.
Whatever others may think about it,
this is the position of The Monitor,
which voices the sentiments of the
red-blooded, thoughtful, self-respect
ing, upstanding men and women of
this community. Of course this posi
tion does not suit some “grinning
Georges” and "in-floo-ential" profiteer
ing) preachahs." but it does suit the
rank and file who really count.
Our slogan is: “So surrender of
constitutional rights.”
Let those who stand with us on this
platform speak out and rally to our
standard.
1 STOHV WITH t POINT.
•fTSHE Monitor respectfully com
I- mends the following story to the
attention of the Central Park Men’s
Club and those of like views and
indulges the hope—albeit a forlorn
one—that the aggregation may muster
enough brains among themselves to
appreciate its obvious application:
“A white man was traveling through
the country in Alabama, and an aged
colored man was driving the mule
which drew their buggy. A fly buzzed
about the mule’s head: “What is
that?” asked the white man. "Jes' a
hoss-fly," answered the colored man
"What is a horse-fly?" "Jes' a fly j
whut buzzes around the heads of I
hosses an’ mules an’ jackasses." Just
then a similar fly was buzzing about
the white man's head: "How's this
Uncle, I am not a horse am I?" “No.
sir, you ain't no hoss.’’ "Well. 1 do
not look like a mule, do I?" "No, sir.
not to me you don't." "Well, you
don't mean to insinuate that I am a
jackass?" “No. sir: 1 don't mean to
'sinuate nuthin' and I ain't called you
no jackass—but, you see, von can't
fool de hoss-fly *
THE ACQUITTAL OF SNYDER.
r) one who listened to the evidence
in the case of Ralph Snyder,
charged with conspiracy to murder in
connection with the lynching of Wil
liam Drown it seemed quite apparent
that he was guilty, and not entitled to
acquittal. The prosecution was to the
effect that beyond the shadow of a
doubt Snyder was a conspirator and
active in encouraging the rioting. The ;
prosecution was strong and vigorous
and asked for a conviction. There was
evidence which showed the criminal
activity of Snyder in the mob before
and after the lynching. The jury's
verdict was therefore a surprise. It,
however, suggests a serious question:
Must it be recognized that the
county attorney’s office has a diffi
cult task on its hands because many
who were witnesses of the persons
and events on the night of the lynch
ing were sympathizers with the mob?
However this question may be an
swered, we feel sure that the failure
to secure a conviction in this case
ought not and will not cause the
authorities to cease their efforts to
vigorously prosecute all who were in
dicted. The eyes of the world are
upon the United States at this time to
see if we are really in earnest to sup
press lawlessness and maintain the
supremacy of law, the only safe
guard of civilization. And the eyes
of America are now upon Omaha to
see if she will vindicate her outraged
honor and set a salutary example for
' the country. Omaha must not fail.
LEADING EDITORIALS.
A Real Competitor.
Out in the state of California a col
ored girl led her large class of white
students, and earned the envied place
of honor student. There were quite a
pumber of students in her class. All
i went well during the entire course of
study. No one seemed to manifest
any special interest in the successful
young lady, but when the time came
to distribute honors, {here was an up
roar among those who had been out
stripped by the young lady of color.
This situation is not new. We have
had similar cases before, but we have !
not bad such a demonstration of
Americanism before on the part of j
the authorities. Some one has always
weakened. But in this case there was
an American who declared for the
right. He did not see the color of the
young woman’s skin. He measured her
by the rules and regulations of the
school. She was not there as a Negro,
but as a student in an American in
stitution. The young woman suffered
some notoriety and embarrassment,
but she won.
It is un-American to enter the race
with any other American and whine
because you lose. The race is not
won until the course is run. The men
who cannot stand competition will
soon find this country too small for
him. The girl was a real competitor.
She asked nothing but the terms and
condition of the contest. They were:
Studiousness, a strict compliance with
the rules and perfection in recitation.
She entered under these conditions.
So did all of them. She won, not by
whining about her color, nor by ask
ing for advantages because she is col
ored. but by excelling as a student.
This kind of competition beats all to
hollow the system adopted by the com
plaining, whining, begging fellow who
thinks so much of his color he can not
find time to compete.—The Pittsburgh
tPa.t Cotirier.
FOR THE ADVANCE
MENT OF LYNCHING
Some Suggestions.
(New York Call)
What, in your opinion, should be the
lowest age at which a Negro could
be lynched without destroying oui
best traditions?
Georgia, always in the van for in
novation. has just completed, with it
usual taste for finish, the dispatch of
a nine-year-old. The boy was hauled
through the streets by a rope and
then carefully and chivalrously shot.
Now this gives rise to several ques
tions in the matter of lynching, and
we feel that the art can take its placi
with other purely American custom-,
which, so we understand, is the env>
of the whole European continent and
has already taken its immortal niche
in Madame Tussaud’s Waxworks.
Our third degree system has been
brought to a perfect state. We know
that our police force can be depended
upon to deliver the goods and our
American pride is satisfied with that
department of democracy. But in our
lynchings we still seem to be groping
around in haphazard fashion. One
state, for instance, will take up the
fashion of burning a Negro in oil, an
other will merely hang him and then
when the rope seems about ready to
stifle his breath, shoot him in outer
to end his sufferings. This is a com
promise, we feel, with the original
spirit of our national conscience.
Again, other parts of the republic
have seen fit to declare holidays when
the lynchings ■were larger than ordi
nary and women as well as men were
-cbeduled to furnish the amusement.
The latter plan, it seems to us, ap
proaches nearer, in a spiritual way, to
the best things in lynching. But there
is a drawback even to this, for in the
states where it has been done, while
thousands were given the chance to
enjoy the spectacle, the children could
not be present, as the cotton mills did
not close down during the executions.
However, that is a mere detail and no
doubt the ingenuity of our public of
ficials will rectify the oversight.
But how shall we determine the
minimum age?
At nine, as Georgia has selected,
‘he Negro child, it seems to us, offers
little attraction as a lynehce. In the
first place, a child at that age is too
easily killed and the sport ends much
too quickly. Why, dragging a mere
child over cobblestones is apt to kill
it before the tree or lamp-post is
reached and what then? Disappoint
ment for all concerned and probably
a long walk back to the house, with
the dinner grown cold for practically
nothing.
We believe the proper way to lynch
a child, assuming that the Georgian
age is a good one at which to begin,
would be to hand the youngster over
to the white children for practice. Let
them take the victim into a school
yard, for example, where the see-saws
and other toys are placed. The col
ored boy might be placed under one
end of the see-saw, which could then
be raised and allowed to fall upon his
head. After he comes back to con
sciousness the act could be repeated
until the white children tire of this,
when, let us say, a good object lesson
in Biblical history be adopted to bring
the afternoon to a happy and satisfy
ing end.
With the proper instructors our
children would then grow into man
hood and womanhood with an expert
knowledge of the business and lie ca
pable of getting everything out of
[lynching that is possible. Not onlv
I the pure joy of the whole thing, but
the unquestionably, with the assist
ance of some ex-Y. M. C. A. directors
who lost their jobs on getting back
from France, the commercial instinct
J would be fostered and the children
: taught to treat a corpse In such e
way that portions could be sold a
souvenirs to those whose age does net
permit them to attend the event. A
'
a suggestion, a good ear or portions
of the scalp, and arm or a foot might
be syndicated to the Macon Telegraph,
the Chattanooga Times, or the At- j
lanta Constitution for photographic
reproduction and the children thus
taught to earn their own pin money.
We have no desire to be the supreme
arbiter in this matter and the column
is open to suggestions for the ad
vancement and improvement of lynch
ing. But we do believe our citizens
should be taught these matters in
their youth as an education funda- |
mental. We offer this suggestion to
the boards of education and to the 1
Boy Scouts and Campfire Girls.
LOUIS WEITZENHORN.
COLORED COMMERCIAL
CLUB BANQUETS
New Organization. Which Aims to De
velop and Foster Business Enter
prises, Starts Out Auspiciously—
Seventy of Its Membership of F.igh
ty-four Have Dinner at Month A
Thompson’s Cafe.
The Colored Commercial Club of
Omaha, an organization which has as
its object “the promotion of the com
mercial, industrial and public inter
ests and welfare of the city and the
bringing about of a better under
standing with the business and com
mercial interests of Omaha, has start
ed out auspiciously with a member
ship of eighty-four. Seventy of the
eighty-four members sat down to a
well-served banquet at South &
Thompson’s cafe Wednesday night.
The dinner was a get-together affair.
E. W. Pryor, the president, briefly
stated that the object of the organiza
tion. Speeches on "The Colored Man
in Business;” “Public Health” and
"Obligations,” were made by A. P.
Scruggs, Dr. J. H. Hutten and Dan
Desdunes, respectively. Brief re
marks were made by several other
speakers among whom w'ere Dr. W.
W. Peebles, A. W. Lewis, John T. Mc
Donald, Jr., Rufus Long, Chas. W.
Dickerson, Murphy Lynch, Dr. John
A. Singleton, Alfred Jones, Irving W.
Gray and R. B. Rhodes. The invoca
tion before dinner was said by the
Rev. J. A. Broadnax. At the conclu
sion of the dinner the president an
nounced the chairmen of the several
standing committees of the club who
will also be members of the executive
committee. It was a splendid repre
sentative gathering of men, who have
the ability to make a great record
for our people in business and com
mercial activities.
PIONEER ( HU AHOAN DEAD.
Beaureguard Mosley, well known
politician and former newspaper man,
died in Chicago last week after a short
illness. Though aged in yearH, he was
rugged of frame and seemed fitted by
nature to be listed among the long
livers of this earth.
Mosley has been active in politics
and things racial in Chicago ever
since the days when Twenty-ninth
street was considered "way out south,"
and up to the time of his illness was
always found in the front ranks advo
cating the cause of his people.
The recent race riot, during which
he worked incessantly, is believed by
the friends of Mosley to have brought
on a physical breakdown which was
the direct cause of his death.
The old warrior, who led the ad
vance In many agcrimmage.answered
the roll call for the last time.
BAN KINK INSIIII TION OK
SAVANNAH In M A KI n(.
WON l»E RFI'L PROGRESS
Savannah, Ga.. Dec. 17.—Nearly a
quarter of a million dollar* inereaHed
assets and more than four thousand
new depo*itors is the record for the
past twelve months made by the Wage
Earners' Savings bank, as shown by
the annual report of I,. E. Williams,
president. Total assets now amount
to $779,285. and there are more than
15,000 deitositors who reside in twenty
eight states.
The bank is nineteen years old and
pays an annual dividend of twelve per
cent. It has invested in several Negro
enterprises and is at present promot
ing the Consolidated Realty Corpora
tion, capitalized at $500,000, which i*
to build a hotel, department store and
theater.
FIGHTS EXTRADITION FROM
NEW JERSEY TO GEORGIA
Hoboken, N. J., Dec. 15.—The col
ored citizens of Jersey City have peti
tioned Governor Runyon for a hearing
on the case of Andrew Jackson, col
ored, of Jersey City, before extradi
tion papers are signed for his re
moval to Georgia. Jackson was ar
rested at Jersey City by the sheriff
of Colquitt county, Georgia, charged
with the murder of a white man about
four years ago.
It is the desire of the Negro peti
tioners that the Georgia authorities
guarantee New Jersey that Jackson if
extradited, will meet with justice and
not mob law. Attention was called to
the number of lynching* in the south
ern state and a demand made that
New Jersey take a stand against per
mitting this sort of lawlessness. Jack
mn denies the charge made against
him.
I
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A Good Company for good people organized under the E
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“ IT PAY'S Double Accident Death Benefit if killed while you m i
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O IT PAYS Men as high as $22.30 weekly Sick and Accident * f
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We have a force of Eight Colored Agents working in E
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( Nebraska State Health and Accident i
| Insurance Company i
= OF OMAHA, NEB. f /'
E JOHN E. VON DORN LYTLE A. DILLAVOU WM. M. FRANKLIN E
— President Secretary Asst. Secretary
Offices: 327-622 Paxton Block
E Phone Doughis 5575 E
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t{ OFFICE, 15TH AND CALIFORNIA STREETS.
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x OFFICERS HOARD OF DIRECTORS X * V
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f Anderson Hamler, Treasurer. D. G. Russell. X
N. W'. W'are, Sec. and Gen. Mgr. N. W. Ware. y
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