p . r '' ? i i The Monitor A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. B2 00, Year. 5c a Copy ' OMAHA. NEBRASKA. FEBRUARY 5. 1920 V°l- V- No. 31 (Whole No. 240) Dean William Pickens Leaves Morgan College DISCUSb.V'RISIS OF NEGhv\1CE - °% ty Bieval H. Thomas Demands Hisflce and Civil Rights Under Govern ment. (Special to The Monitor by Walter J. Singleton.) TV7ASH1NGTON, D. C., Feb. 4.—The W Negro has been in this country as long as the Anglo-Saxon white man. He has helped in proportion to his numbers to make it the great and powerful nation that it is. He pays taxes, he obeys its laws, he sheds his blood to defend it. Yet the Negro is denied his civil rights almost every where in the land. He does not enjoy the liberty he has earned. The crisis has come to^Jhe Negro in the United States- He musUJomaml his rights. Hv/jwust fight for them. He must ap peal for aid to the millions of white men in America who love Justice enough to give the Negro his due. Foregoing is the gist of a speech entitled “Agitation the Social I-ever of the World.” made by Neval H. , Thomas, teacher of Greek and Roman history in Dunbar high school, at a meeting in Plymouthh Congregational church recently* Rftcnsses President’s Attitude. The attitude of President Wilson to ward the civil status of the Negro 1 ^ citizen was sharply criticized by the the speaker, who described Postmas ter Oeneral Burleson as the ‘‘ignorant autocrat of the post office department, said to have some interest in a peon age farm In Texas,” and he also exco riated Attorney Oeneral Palmer and , Secretary of the Navy Daniels. ‘‘Discrimination is being practiced against the colored man in America today by everybody from President W'Json down,” said Mr. Thomas. "We have gut to agitate without thought of personal sacrifice in order to win justice. Remember, freemen through V out history have won no rights with out fighting for them. "The business of lynching Negroes in this country has got to be stopped, and it is going to be stopped. We must win the rights to patronize the besti restaurants, theaters and hotels and*to enjoy the best transportation conveniences. Until we do we bear the stamp of inferior beings. And when you are considered an inferior man you invite lynchlngs.” Quotes Senate Doenment 'A Reading from senate document No. ir,3, a communication sent to the cap itol by the attorney general on the subject of Negro radicalism, the speaker criticized that official for considering as lawless those colored people who agitate, and for falling to prosecute the lawless mobs that lynch Negroes. "Remember the attorney general is your servant and mine. He wants to keep the Negro from hollering when he Is kicked. "We Negroes have found a cure for mob violence against us. It is armed resistance. By that I do not mean armed aggression, but self-defense. We will meet mob law with the same vigor our black heroes displayed in storming the heights near Metz in the great war. Every man must make his home his castle and defend it with hls life.” It Is the duty of the northern Negro to teach hls southern brother to de mand and secure hls free use of the vote, Mr. Thomas asserted. The col ored man of the south must be able to enjoy the beBt accommodations. Sees Attempt at Suppression. "The attorney general and the sen ate cannot suppress 12,000,000 people determined to get their civil rights,” he went on to say. The declaration was rewarded with hearty applause. "Every time the authorities repress one man who agitates they make a thousand converts to the cause. They are deporting men for agitation, but they are not deporting their Ideas. Bolshevism can’t be suppressed with force, but It can be met successfully . with true democracy.” I The speaker repeatedly paid grate ful tribute to the French people for their attitude of fraternity toward the colored American soldier. He said America Is the only one of twenty seven nations represented at the peace table that draws the color line. "While Wilson preached democ racy there,” he declared, ‘‘our 300-odd representatives In the peace confer 7 ence knew that in America the Negro citizen was suffering under the cruel est autocracy that ever cursed the world." No Desire for Social Equality. "But we must make it clear to the world that we don’t want social asso ciation. We want the white man to know that we have no desire to marry his daughter or visit him in his home. We want to co-operate with the white citizen in making America a real de mocracy. Just plain justice is all we ask.” In conclusion the speaker bitterly assailed race segregation in the gov ernment departments. The exlusion of Negroes from the government navy and military academies was a target for red-hot rhetoric. “Yes, despite President Wilson’s bombast on de mocracy,’’ he finished, “we have none here.” S. M. Kendrick presided, and made a brief address supporting the atti tude of the principal speaker. LINCOLN LEAGUE WILL HOLD CONVENTION Representatives From Various Sec tions to Assemble in Ilinois Metrop olis Next Week. CHICAGO, ILIj., Feb 4.—The con vention of the Lincoln League of America which convenes here next week, February 11-12 is expected to bring together a brilliant galaxy of the most forceful men and women of the race. The league is composed of colored men who believe in their coun try and who, against disheartening odds, are doing their best to keep burning fires of faith in the honor of their countrymen. Without waving the red flag or speaking in the lan guage of hate they have devoted themselves to the task of getting a hearing for the colored people of the United States at home. Among mat ters of importance to be discussed are the following: 1. Political parties and colored Americans. 2. The government and the colored American soldier. 3. Do we favor cutting down the representation of the disfranchising states? If so, when? If not, whv not? 4. The American Federation of La bor and the Colored Worker. 5. Can the colored railroad worker hold what he has got when the rail roads are returned to private owner ship? If not, then what about that fact? 6. How can we best get the news to the American people that the Jim Crow car is eating away the heart of the American nation? 7. Is lynching to be the standard of law and order in the United States? If not, who will stop it; how and when ? Ex-Governor P. B. S. Pinchback is honorary president; Roscoe C. Sim mons is president, and Robert R. Church is chairman of the executive committee. JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CONSIDERING ANTI LYNCHING MEASURES Those Favoring Making the Great American Pastime a Federal Of fense Are Urged to Write Endors ing Proposed Legislation. New York, Feb. 4.—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, announces that the judiciary committee of the house of representatives is considering three bills which would make lynching a federal offense. Captain Arthur B. Spingam and James Weldon Johnson, representing the Association, as well as William Monroe Trotter of the Equal Rights League, argued for the bill at a hear ing in Washington on January 29. Colored Americans throughout the United States are urged to write to Andrew J. Volstead, chairman of the house judiciary committee in Wash ington, D. C., endorsing the proposed legislation. FACE BLACK, BODY WHITE Toledo, Feb 3.—Mrs. Catherine White, aged 107, died here recently. She had twelve children, some of whom were white and some colored. Mrs. White's skin changed In later years, her body became white like a baby, but her face remained black. I A NEGRO’S PRAYER By Dr. Richard Theodore Hamilton T ORD God of hosts, incline thine ear— g -"-J On bended knee we pray, Make clear What more must Africa’s sons endure For manhood rights-to have secure The blessings of sweet liberty? Lord God of hosts divine, to Thee We meekly come, and plead, implore; 5 Oh God of all, what more, what more? « 5 By force from Africa’s shores we came, 5 We were enslaved, and in Thy name, Oh God of all, were sold like chattel Upon the auction block-dumb cattle, Whipped and driven to till the soil—• !(Oh years of unrequited toil) Lashed and scourged till backs were sore! Great God of hosts, what more, what more ? And then, oh Lord, oh God of might, W’hen days were dark, were black as night, ]5j There came the call, as from afar, “To aims, to arms, ’tis freedom’s war!” 1 And in that bitter civil strife, We gave our all—love, labor, life; And still we’re pressed, even as before— Oh God so just, what more, what more? , ji || We fought, oh Lord, that men be free, In distant lands across the sea; | For country, human rights and law, tWe sacrificed in that great war; But here at home and not abroad, W'e are denied, oh God, our Lord, An even chance. We’re sick and sore! Father of all, what more, what more? I Our civil rights we’ve fairly won, As shown by deeds accomplish’d, done In peace and war. None can refute T’ our country’s good we contribute Our share and o’er. And even yet, Lord God divine, we are beset, Proscribed and lynched from shore to shore! Oh God of love, what more, what more? Jehovah, Lord, oh God divine, We humbly pray thine ears incline— We are oppressed, oh hear our plea! We would like other men be free. | Oh help us, Lord. Must we endure Much more to have our rights secure? Oh give us light and lead us o’er, $ Lord God of all, what more, what more? | 1 iRj J! The author of this beautiful poem is a w'ell-known physi- « | cian of Dallas, Tex. It was published originally in the Half « |i Century Magazine and subsequently in the Dallas Express, sj !jj! It will be appreciated by Monitor readers. SMKJgBieHXK )!";< :>< !< j; K KiHMHlSHSSHBBBIsi SHARING BOUNTY OF FORMER SLAVE Reduced to Poverty and Wasted With Sickness, a Once Proud Mistress Is Charitably Provided for by Kind Hearted Black Folk Who Would Not Sec Her Suffer. YNCHBURG, VA., Feb. 4.—In a county not far from Lynchburg lies ill an aged white woman, the last of her family, who is being tenderly cared for during her last days by a former slave of her family and she is assured that she will' lack for no attention the old people can give her and that this condition will not end as long as she lives. Decades ago the family of the now aged woman, who is alone in the world, was well-to-do and with the coming of the war the slaves belong ing to the family became free. Like many others some of these settled around the old home and later be came possessed of their own homes with sufficient land around them to make a living. The Good Samaritan in this case worked hard and pros pered and when his former mistress was stricken with paralysis, and none was there to care for her, he took her there. Then a competent colored woman was hired at $7 a week to nurse the sick woman. The colored people see that the white woman lacks for nothing they can afford, for they have opportunity to repay kindnesses of an old family which the veteran ex-slave has not forgotten. Just recently the condition leaked out here when the colored nurse was given a short leave, during which she came to Lynchburg. When asked if she would not come here for do mestic work, incidentally, she told the story in telling why she could not leave home, for she had promised the former slave to stay with the old mistress as long as she lived. You owe it to yourself to be some body. SEATTLE HAS #100,000 CORPORAWOK Enterprising Citizens Launch Big Business Undertaking. Seattle, Wash., Feb. 4.—Enterpris ing citizens here realizing the oppor tunity for doing successful business in real estate and investments have organized the Attucks Realty and In vestment company. The company has a capital stock of $100,000 fully paid in and its officers are: E. R. James, president Dr. B. F. Cooper, vice presi dent; H. S. James, secretary; B F. Tutt. assistant secretary; S. H. Stone, treasurer, and C. R. Anderson, at torney. MBS. MART B. TALBEBT National president of the Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, who was a recent Omaha visitor. The organ ization of which Mrs. *Talbert is the official head has a membership ©f more than 100.000. She Is also a mem ber of the National Executive Com I mittee of the National Association for ! the Advancement of Colored People. World Democracy at Home for 1920 Slogan for the New Year Suggested at Emancipation Day Celebration, Should Be Frequently Sounded. FIGHT FOR ABOLITION OF JIM CROW CARS Yonkers, n. y.—Feb. 4.—“World Democracy at Home” was offered as the slogan of the new year 1920 for all colored peoples, especially those of the U. S. A. by the National Equal Rights League through its na tional executive secretary, Wm. M. Trotter, who was the Emancipation Day orator at the celebration in the Messiah Baptist church, Rev. S. W. Smith, pastor. A fair opportunity to earn a living and a full and equal opportunity to enjoy the use of every place of accom modation, of service, of education, of recreation and amusement for the public without restriction for race was declared to be the determined and legitimate aim of colored Americans. This was in accord with the Declara tion of Independence. Lincoln’s Get tysburgh address, the federal consti tution and F esident Wilson's world war aim declaration. For the third generation since the race has been performing the du ties of citizenship declared the speak er, and when citizens are required to perform all the duties of citizenship without exceptions for race, then they are entitled to enjoy all the rights of citizenship without distinction or dif ferentiation because of race. Abolition of Jim-Crow Cars. Secretary Trotter told how the Equal Rights League began the re cent effort to have interstate Jim crow cars abolished by an amendment to the railroad bill on November 11, 1919, when the League petitioned ev ery northern member of the house of representatives, the branches, peti tioning congressmen of their respec tive states. When the house defeated the Madden amendment, the League urged the entire race to bombard the senators to introduce and pass the same amendment to the senate rail road bill and to demand a hearing from the interstate commerce com mittee, Senator Cummins, chairman. The league petitioned every northern senator, sent its first vice president, its secretary and its national organ izer to Washington, instigated the sending of a committee to see Sen ator Cummins, and worked hard. The league’s executive secretary got resolutions petitioning senators passed at mass meetings in Maryland. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and In diana. The Baltimore meeting and newly formed branch on December 1 telegraphed Senator France, who was the one that offered the Madden amendment in the senate. This also was defeated, republicans again de serting the race. Mr. Trotter urged that every race man and woman in the north write a protest to their rep resentatives and senators and demand a new bill. The abolition of Jim-crow cars is the plan of the league and race folks in every community are re quested to organzie branch leagues for a nation-wide crusade on con gress to do away with segregation in interstate travel. Rev. J. G. Robin son, 631 Pine street, Philadelphia, Is the national organizer. VIRGINIA EDITOR IS ARRESTED Alleged to Have Printed Pamphlets In His Plant Containing Liquor Recepies. Richmond, Feb. 3.—John Mitchell, Jr., editor of the Richmond Planet, was arrested Friday, January 23, for printing in his plant pamphlets con taining formulas for the manufacture of beers, wines and liquors. He was released on $1,000 bail for a prelimin ary hearing Tuesday, January 27. QUAKER DECLARES AMERICA WORSE THAN GERMANY Philadelphia, Feb. 3. — Declaring that the white people of the U. S. treat Negroes worse than Germany treated Belgium, Dr. William I. Hill of Swarthmorc college declared before the meeting of Friends that the prob lem before us today is whether a man can at the same time be an American and a Negro. Noted Orator and Educator Resigns as Dean of Prominent Maryland In stitution to Join Staff of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. BECOMES ASSOCIATE FIELD SECRETARY Will Devote His Time Largely to the Work of Organization—Brings to His Task Rich Experience Gained in Educational Field—Some Facts About the Man and His Career. EW YORK, Feb. 4.—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People announces that Wil liam Pickens has resigned as dean of Morgan college to join the Associa tion’s staff and will devote his entire time to the organization of Negroes throughout the United States. No orator of the race is so well known to colored Americans as Mr. Pickens. Native of Anderson county, South Carolina, where he was bom in 1881, he migrated to Arkansas with his parents in 1888 and entered the schools of North Little Rock in 1891. His oratorical ability was manifest at an early age as he was valedictor ian of his class in the Union High School of Little Rock. During his career in Talladega college, Alabama, he led in all his studies and won a number of oratorical and literary prizes. Upon his being graduated * from Talladega, Mr. Pickens entered Yale university in 1902 and here, in a class of 300 men, he captured one of that institutions most coveted hon ors, the Henry James Ten Eyck ora torical prize. He was also elected to America’s foremost honorary society among col lege men, Phi Beta Kappa, and was graduated from Yale in the highest rank of his class, delivering the philo sophical oration. From the time of his graduation from Yale, in 1904, until he joined the staff of the National Associa tion for the Advancement of Colored People, in 1920, Mr. Pickens devoted himself to teaching. He was teacher of languages at Talladega college and Professor of Greek and Sociology at Wiley university, Texas, becoming dean of Morgan colege in 1916. In the year 1913 Mr. Pickens interrupted his academic career to travel exten sively in Europe. With his election as vice president of Morgan college in 1918, Mr. Pick ens established a record as the first of his race to hold that office and the office of dean also. The record of Mr. Pickens’ service to his race is a long and varied one. He was a member of the Niagara Movement and with J. E. Spingam he started the movement in Louis ville, Ky., which resulted in the de cision of the United States supreme court against segregation in Ameri can cities. When he became dean of Morgan college the plant consisted of one building on a fraction of an acre. He leaves it, after five years, with a doz en buildings and 84 acres in the city of Baltimore and with great promise of a bright future. During the war Mr. Pickens was instrumental, together with Major Spingarn, in originating the move ment for a colored officers’ training camp and the result was the first of such camps at Des Moines, la. He was in addition a member of the col ored section of the Maryland Council of Defense. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People an nounces that Mr. Pickens is to have the title of associate field secretary. FREDERICK (MD.) JUDGES APPOINT FIRST COLORED MAN ON JURY IN 25 YEARS Frederick, Md.—In the list of Jurors drawn by Judges Urner and Glenn H. Worthington for the February term of the Frederick county court appears the name of Richard T. Bruce, a col ored farmer, and at one time a teacher in the public schools. This is the first time in 25 years that a colored man has been selected for Jury serv ice In this county. - • BROOKLYN'S OLDEST RESIDENT COLORED Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 3—The old est person discovered in this city is Mrs. Drusilla Bryant, whom a census taker has found to be 107 years old. She iR colored.