Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1920)
i --- i The Monitor i ■= i A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CO I AIRED AMERICANS. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WHJ.IAM- Mtt» $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy_OMAHA. NEBRASKA. MARCH 4. 1920 Vol. V. No. 35 (Whole No. 244) General Wood Denounces Lynch Law “I am absolutely opposed, and always have and always will do everything in my power to oppose the iniquitous lynch law.” From General Wood’s Chicago Speech, February 12, 1920 A GREAT Nr /PAPER MAN PAS V AWAY — % The Death of Hfehnrd > ompson Removes One of the i ^ i Most Forceful and llrllllant »rs— trtrles From Ills Pen 'r. ays Fairerly Head. RELIABLE \\ \SIHN'(«TOi\ CORBESPONDENT Supplied Chain of Newspaper With Dependable News From the Na tioiml Capitol Never Pandered to Sensationalism. (Special to The Monitor by Walter J. Singleton.) TJ/ASHINGTON, 1). C., March 3.— W In the passing of Richard W. Thompson, the newspaper world has suffered an irreparable loss. Death has withdrawn from active service one of the most able and forceful writers of todify. As a reaper of news material he had no peer, and he had a rare genius for dressing news mat ter in an attractive style, which was equally graphic and entertaining. He had a keen eye for the pivotal point in a discussion or subject. As a correspondent for a chain of newspa pers. lie kept the people of the XTnited Slates and of the federal government, and people looked eagerly forward to his weekly column for many years. During the period of the war, Mr. Thompson was transferred from the treasury department, to a confidential position in Hie office of Emmett .T. Scott, special assistant to the secre tary of war. When Mr. Scott’s office was discontinued a few months ago, he was detailed in the office of the adjutant general of the army, where he served with credit in that arm of the service, until failing health kept him from his desk. Mr Thompson took a prominent part In civic affairs of this city, and was much sought after as a public speaker. His last public appearance was at the opening of the Whitelaw Apartment hotel, when he spoke of the signal and great ability of John W. Lewis as the master mind In the erection of that, magnificent building. The Bethel Literary and Historical society feels deeply the loss of this man, who gave regularly to the pub lic a pen picture of their activities In his delightful style, and the people will miss this channel of information. Mr. Thompson had a host of friends all over the country, and none knew him better than men prominent. In af fairs of this city, where he lived the closing years of his useful life. He was a member of the Musolit club of this city and did much to mould opin ion among members as to the neces sity of housing the club. As a mem ber of the Episcopal League of the Diocese of Washington, he had hoped to do much for the cause it repre sen . He was an active member of Ionic lodge. Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. I,ike other men he was human, with possibly a few human failings In his make up, but these were lost in his greatness of soul. He was true to all he stood for, and faithful In his friendships. Funeral services were held In St. Xmke’s Protestant Episcopal church, of which he was a member, conducted by the Rev. Thomas J. Brown, pastor, Sunday, February 15. The choir con tributed a splendid musical program, and the floral tributes were many and beautiful. The public In general will feel the loss of this man who has done more to disseminate the news of Washing ton to other states than any other agency. He was one of the most able newspapermen of his generation. will COORDINATE SOCIAL agencies (By Associated Negro Press.! Cincinnati, Ohio, March 3.—Coun cil of Social Agencies will outline a policy soon on which all agencies in ♦ erested In Negro welfare may he united, according to J. N. Robinson, executive secretary of the Negro Civic Welfare committee. A survey shows Negro population of the city haH increased 50 per cent since 1910. r Mayor Smith and Business Men Act us Daddies for Homeless Boys * (he courtesy of The Omaha Daily News, which is hereby gratefully acknowledged. The Monitor is enabled to pre sent this suggestive picture to our readers. It is a picture of the homeless boys who are sheltered and made happy at Father Flanagan’s Home for Hoys in this city. It was taken Thursday, February 19th, when Mayor Smith and prominent business men acted as daddies for these boys. The genuine democracy of this group is shown by the feat ures of these young Americans among whom are representatives of various races entering into the American melting pot. Notice the American flag held aloft by a black boy and a white boy. There is a suggestive lesson here. This' home admits homeless boys, irrespective of creed or nationality. GEN. LEONARD WOOD FRANKLY STATES VIEWS Recent Speech Before Lincoln League Ringing Throughout Coun try Strikes Responsive Chord in Hearts of All One Hundred Per Cent Americans—Leaves No Doubt in Mind of Audience as to His Position. GENERAL FOR CONSTITUTIONAL ENFORCEMENT. “I Relieve in Upholding the Constitution of the United States,” Declares Great Leader, “And That Means all the Laws Should Re Obeyed by all and all Citizens Should Enjoy the Privileges' Under the Constitution.” Leonard Wood undoubtedly Is the right candidate for the colored people of America, at least as far as one can gather from the way the Lincoln dele gates, from all over the country re ceived him. LUVN TENNIS GROWING IN POPULAR FAVOR New York. N. Y.. March 3.—As ad ditional proof of the rapid growth of tennis in recent years the United States Ijtwn Tennis association has made public the first national rank ing for Negro players issued by the American Tennis association, the existence of which was not generally known. The ranking was based on the results of leading tournaments throughout the United States. The organization is composed of clubs scattered over a wide area from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific. Tally Holmes of Washington, D. C., leads the national Negro ranking, and three others of the sajne city are second, third and fourth. Walter Ramsey, in sixth place, is the first New York f’ity racquet wielder to j appear on the list. Washington, U. C.. has five in the first ten. [GENERAL WOOD ENTERS ILLINOIS PRIMARIES Chicago, March 3.—There has been much rejoicing among the colored people of Chicago and other parts of Illinois, since Colonel William Coop er Proctor, manager of the Leonard Wood campaign for president has an nounced that Ceneral Wood will en ter the primaries in a contest for delegates to the national convention. There are thousands of voters of this section who have longed for an opportunity to vote their preference for Leonard Wood, because they know where he stands. The Illinois fight will be watched by the entire country, and will doubtless be a big surprise to those who underestimate Leonard Wood’s popularity. NEW MAGAZINE SOON TO APPEAR Barrel! and llraselier. Prominent Newspaper Men Guiding Spirits of Publication. (By Associated Negro Press. 1 Chicago, March 3.—Announcement Is made that within the next month there will he issued an edition of the most unusual magazine ever pro duced by our racial group. The iiame of the magazine is "Tomorrow” :ind it will have features dealing with the racial conditions of the present time such as they have not been treated anywhere else in the land. Claude A. Rarnett is director and Na hum Daniel BraScher is editor-in i?hdef. (CHICAGO, III., March .'I. (Special to The Monitor)—Every member of the race who attended the big an nual convention of the Lincoln League of America here, February 12, is still talking about the fair-and squarc speech made by Major General Leonard Wood before the convention. It was one of the frankest expres sions of the views of a great public man on the problems confronting any section of the citizenry of America that has ever been presented. Furth ermore it impressed every delegate with the absolute conviction that Gen eral Wood, despite his candidacy for the republican presidential nomina I was not making his talk merely for vote-getting purposes, as has often been the case in the past, but abso lutely from a sincere desire to see jus i tice done at all times for all the peo ple that he may be chosen to govern. “I believe in upholding the consti-1 tution of the United States,” was hi*-j first declaration. "And that means j that all the laws should be obeyed by all, and that all citizens should enjoy the privileges under the constitution. “Law and order come first in my mind as essenllals for the stability of the government and the happiness and contentedness of every citizen white, red, black or yellow. We must have neither “border nor breed nor birth” as far as our government in an honest, sincere fashion may be ef fected. The constitution guarantees freedom of life and property and we must see to it that the constitution Is our guiding force, in peace and war in all our actions toward our people “I am absolutely opposed, and al way have and always will do every thing in my power to oppose the ini quitous lynch law. It is barbarous inhuman; it is a relic of savagery and should be so treated. It is against the finest traditions of our great country. It violates the splendid tradition which gives everyone, regardless of any outstanding feature, the right of trial by a jury of his peers, the right to protection under every branch of our law until he is adjudged guilty. "The colored soldier was one of the bravest fighters In the great war that the conflict produced. He always has been ho, in the affairs of the United States. I want to call particular at tention the work of the Tenth cavalry, which once It was my pleasure to command. Are any of my old soldiers In this audience?” “One here!" came a cry from one corner of the big hall, and General Wood saluted and was saluted in turn by the former warrior. Several other men sprang up and indicated that they too, were in the brave Tenth outfit and were recognized by their beloved former commander. At the conclusion of his speech Gen eral Wood was forced to submit to an linproptu reception In the *reet outside the hall, so enthusiastic were all the delegates for him. His reception was in marked con trast to that accorded Governor Low den of Illinois, also a presidential as pirant, and whose close connections with the millionaire Pullmans who In stituted the Pullman car system and made millions from It. EXTEND TIME FOK CHARTER MEMBERSHIP New York, N. XX, March 3.—The ! hoard of directors of the. National Association of Negro Musicians vot ed to extend time of charter mem berships until July, 1920, the time of the second convention to be held in ! New York City. This organization ' tends to promote fellowship, fra- ! ternity, mutual encouragement and i helpful criticism. LOUISIANA DELEGATES FOR GENERAL WOOD New Orleans, La., March 3.—Indi cations point to the fact that Leonard Wood will have the entire Louisiana delegation in the national convention. Walter L. Cohen, who has been a close and careful observer of the po litical trend of events, has returned from Chicago, where he heard Leon ard Wood speak filled with enthusi asm for the administrator. PANAMA WORKMEN THREATEN TO STRIKE i Ry Associated Negro Press.) Panama, March 3.—Leaders of the Negro workers In the maintenance of way onion here gave Governor Harding of the Canal Zone, notice that he woold be given 74 hours to accede to the men's wage demands, failing which the workers would strike. The governor earlier in the day warned the men against beginning the .strike, as had been planned which, he declared would be against their own Interests. “PERSHING POLITICS” PUZZLE THE PUBLIC The Monitor's Editorial Captioned “Pershing’s Polities,’' Published East Week, Receives Wide-Spread and Favorable Comment. “QUESTION DEMANDS FRANK ANSWER" Comment, of Prominent Omaha Busi ness Man—“Editorial Should Be Given Wide Circulation” Comments Another—It Is Here Republished. ADMIRERS of General Pershing are enthusiastically advocating his nomination by the republican party for the presidency. But just what claim he has upon the republican party for this high honor The Monitor is at a loss to know. He has been discretely silent as to his party affilia tions. His ardent political admirers and sponsors have been equally mute upon this all-important subject. If he be a republican, he has been mighty quiet about it. No one seems to know what his politics are. So far as we have been able to learn be has never publicly declared himself. If he be a republican, and The Monitor is frank to confess that we do not believe he is, it is quite apparent that he is not proud cf it, else why his reticence and reluctance to make it known? Our candid opinion is that General Persh ing has been and is now a democrat, and that his friends who have been advocating his candidacy at the hands of the republicans have placed him in quite an embarrassing position. We do not know what General Per shing’s politics are, but this we do know: A democratic administration selected him as commander-in-chief of , the American Expeditionary Forces in preference to another at least equally experienced and gallant military com mander concerning whose republican ism there never wast the slightest doubt Knowing the disposition of the present administration to advance wherever and whenever possible men of southern birth and by that fact, naturally and generally affiliated with the democratic party, Pershing’s high favor with Woodrow Wilson’s admin istration is not without its sinister significance. When this fact is con sidered in connection with his persist ent sphinx-like silence as to his party affiliation it becomes ominously signif icant. General Pershing is a native of Missouri, accounted a southern state, and until quite recently confi dently depended upon to return p democratic majority. Missouri repub licans account their party affiliation such a distinction and an honor that they never hesitate to make that fact known. General Pershing certainly does not belong to that class of Mis souri republicans, that is very evident. What are General Pershing’s poli ics? Who knows? Would it not be well for those who are pushing his cand idacy for the republican nomination to enlighten the public on this very important matter? There is no doubt in the mind of anybody as to General Wood’s party afilliations. He is a republican. But how about General Pershing? Is he a democrat, republican, socialist or mug wump? Who knows? "Speak up, John, ’spress yoursef.” EI.KS TAKE OVER COMMUNITY CENTER Birmingham, Ala., March 3.—The Colored Elks’ lodge of Birmingham has come to the rescue of Birming ham as regards the colored citizens by taking over the Community Cent er, 17171-2 Third avenue, and will continue to operate it. When it was found that the Center or the War Camp Community Service could go no further than January 31, under government provision and direction, the colored population became alarm ed and one move after another was made until the Elks agreed to take the proposition over and continue the service. This organization has a membership of nearly 1,000 men and It has a reasonable amount of avail able cash with which it hopes to build a new home. Subscribe for The Monitor.