Nebraska Newspapers

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A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS.
_____THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Bdttf_
N; <2 00 a Year. 5c a Copy _ OMAHA, NEBRASKA, APRIL 8, 1920 Vol. V. No. 40 (Whole No. 249)
Kentucky Lynches Despite Recent Law
CLAIM LOWPENITES ARE LILY WHITES
KENTUCKY LYNCHES IN
FACE OF RECENT LAW
-“r
Which Automatical!. \ noves Peace
Officer YY ho Surren Prisoner to
Mob—New Law Not . <ve Until
Ninety Days After Ad, % lent of
Legislature.
- \
GOVERNOR MORROW %
HAS SIGNED
.Makes Penalty for Lynching Death or
Life Imprisonment—Enactment of
Remedial Measure Secured After
Long Fight — Amendment Passed
Unanimously—Will Such a Law Be
Enforced.,
jVjTAY YORK, April 8.— The Na
’ tional Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People, 70 Fifth
avenue, New York, has made public
the following statement regarding the
signing by the governor of Kentucky
of a bill to punish mob violence:
In view of the lynching on March 29
of Grant Smith, a colored man, at
Millersburg, Ky., by a mob which
\ overpowered the sheriff and the po
lice chief as they were taking their
prisoner to jail, it is interesting to
note that only one week prior to this
occurrence Governor Edwin P. Mor
row of Kentucky signed a bill provid
ing for the punishment of lynchers
and for the removal of the peace of
ficer who surrenders his prisoner. The
bill was signed in the presence of a
committee of colored citizens headed
by Dr. E. E. Underwood, president of
the Frankfort branch of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, to whom the gold pen
used by the governor was presented.
The bill makes the penalty for
lynching death or life imprisonment,
and that for attempted lynching con
finement in the penitentiary for not
less than two years nor more than
fp twenty-one years.
. The fight to secure a lynching law
in Kentucky began with the legisla
ture of two years ago, when a bill
was passed submitting to the people a
constitutional amendment to make it
possible to effect the automatic re
moval of any peace officer who per
mitted a mob to secure a prisoner in
his custody. The bill submitting the
amendment was championed by a
committee of colored citizens, who
succeeded in securing its passage
without a single dissenting vote in
j either branch of the legislature.
As to whether or not this law will
be enforced will be shown by action
taken by Kentucky authorities to
bring to trial the lynchers of Smith.
The association has learned, just as
this statement was being prepared,
that the anti-lynching statute does not
become effective until 90 days after
the adjournment of the legislature,
. due to its failure to include an emer
gency clause.
ONE REASON WHY WE
CANNOT BE DEMOCRATS
Montgomery, Ala., April 1.—Negro
voters will not be allowed to par
ticipate In the Alabama democratic
primary May 11, under a ruling made
today by W. D. Nesbitt, chairman of
the state democratic executive com
mittee. This will not prevent Negro
voting in the general election in No
vember.
BRAITH WAITE, EMINENT CRITIC,
NAMED FOR HALL OF FAME
(By Associated Negro Press)
New York, N. Y„ April 8—The
April number of Vanity Fair has nom
inated William Stanley Braithvvaite,
the Boston critic and poet, for a place
in the American Hall of Fame. The
recommendation is accompanied with
a fine portrait of Mr. Braithwaite.
EX-SLAVE IS DEAD, WORTH $150,
OOP. HAD $2 CAPITAL FIFTY
YEARS AGO.
Kansas City, Mo., March 30.—Wil
| Ham Price, 81, former Virginia slave,
died here Tuesday, leaving a fortune
estimated at $150,000. His total cap
ital was $2 when he came to Wyan
dotte county fifty years ago.
I RAISING MAINTENANCE
FUND FOR Y. W. C. A.
(By Associated Negro Press)
Washington, D. C., April 8—Collec
tion of funds to make up the required
sum of $25,000 for maintenance of the
Y. W. C. A. building for the colored
branch of that service will continue
this week, the subject of Y. W. C. A.
work having been given special atten
tion in many churches. The building
at Ninth and Rhode Island avenue is
going up rapidly, funds for the con
struction having been appropriated
by the war work council of the asso
ciation during 1018.
KENTUCKY MOB
BURNS PRISONER
(By.Associated Negro Press)
Paris, Ky., April 8—Grant Smith,
charged with criminal assault, was re
moved from the county jail by fifty
men, who rushed Smith out of towm.
The mob announced it would hang the
accused from a bridge at Millersburg,
nine miles from here. Later, a re
port from Maysville stated that a mob
which captured Smith from officials
at Paris, was burning him at Blue
lick, Fleming county. The man was
arrested in Pontiac, Mich., charged
with assaulting a 14-year-old girl and
was brought here for safekeeping.
EXPLAINS SHORTAGE OF
NEWS PRINT PAPER
Montreal, April 8.—Jason Rogers,
publisher of the New York Olobe,
who has come to Montreal to investi
gate the causes of the serious news
print shortage in the United States,
said recently that it was due in large
part to the fact tiiat empty freight
cars for the movement of the paper
were not being returned to Canada
from the United States.
"The situation is desperate," said
Mr. Rogers. "Unless the empty cars
are returned the mills must stop
making paper. As they are getting
badly choked and cannot store fur
ther supplies."
REVIVE INTI-JEW MOVEMENT.
Speeches and Handbills Agitate Popu
lation of Berlin.
Berlin—A sudden and widespread
revival of the anti-Semitic movement
made itself felt when at intervals
throughout the day leaflets were dis
tributed protesting against the pres
ence of Jews in public offices, and at
tempting to Inflame the public mind
by cartoons picturing the German
people as starving in a cage, while
well fed and prosperous Jewish mer
chants look on and are made to say:
"Don’t feed the animals.” Prominent
Jewish residents are outspoken in ex
pressing their serious apprehensions
over the recurrence of the movement
at this time.
The Baltic troops, which made such
a sanguinary departure from the city,
are accused of taking a leading part
in the agitation, and numerous incit
ing handbills are attributed to them.
Among the anti Semitic street speak
ers were Baltic officers and enlisted
men.
COLORED JAMAICAN TEACHER
AT LONDON UNIVERSITY
London, England, April 8.-—Dr. M.
L. Moody, M. D„ L. R. C. P., and a
native of Jamaica, who has a large
practice here, has been elected bac
teriologist and lecturer on biology at
tlie university.
BERLIN CENSUS GIVES 8.S01 JiS.I.
Washington, April 8.—The city of
Berlin with adjacent districts now In
cludes 3,801,235 inhabitants, accord
ing to recent issues of the Berlin
press, which published results of the
census started October 8, 1919.
WOMAN 118 DIES
Natchez. Miss., Aprl 8.—Mrs.
Lydia Robinson, 118 years old, died
here at her home. One of her great
grandchildren <s fifty years old.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYING
IMPORTANT WORK AMONG
YOUNG WOMANHOOD?
People of Community and Country Anxious to Know Why the
Promised Work of the Young Women’s Christian Associa
tion for Which the National Council Made a Liberal Appro
priation Several Months Ago Has Not Been Started Here
MONITOR (JIVES FACTS AND PLACES BLAME
UPON SHOULDERS OF ADVISORY BOARD
Committee of Women Had Selected and Decided Upon Desirable
Property, Offered at a Bargain, on Edge of Colored Resi
dence District, Which Selection Was Approved by National
Officer, But Which Board Advised Against When Objection
Was Raised on Grounds of Color—Cannot F ind Suitable Place
T AST September steps were taken
to establish a branch of the
Y. W. C. A. in Omaha for colored
girls. A splendid site was offered
at a bargain. It was the beautiful
'artificial stone residence of Mr. and
Mrs. Max Burkenrod at Nineteenth
and Burdette streets, with ample
ground for development and ex
pansion as the work might grow and
necessity require. The Y. W. C. A.
committee, headed by Mrs. Charles
Offutt, was enthusiastic over the
place. Mrs. Cordelia Wynn, special
worker from the national office in
New York came to the city, inspect
ed the property and recommended
its purchase. The sum of $5,000 was
appropriated by the national board
co inaugurate this much needed work
in Omaha, a portion of which sum
was to be used in making a pay
ment on this property. The deal was
virtually closed. One of the women
of the committee telephoned Mrs.
Burkenrod, advising her to consid
er the place sold and complimenting
her upon the fact that her home was
going to be used for such a worthy
purpose. The Monitor believes this
good woman and the entire com
mittee was absolutely sincere. It
seems, however, that they have an
advisory committee of mere men. F.
D. Wead and other real estate men, we
believe, are on this committee. These
good women submitted the proposi
tion to these gentlemen. They ad
mitted that the property was a great
bargain and admirably adapted for
the noble purpose the women had in
mind—but, objections had been raised
against locating an institution, even
though such a worthy one as a Y. W.
C. A., to be used by colored people
in that vicinity, which, they said, if
the committee failed to heed would
handicap them in securing funds for
their work among the business men.
The Monitor knows who raised the
objection. One was Charles L.
Saunders, who has frequently re
ceived a large vote of our people for
state senator, who owns the lot next
door and some property in the block
above; and the other was a woman in
the adjacent block whose brother, an
other ardent republican, is an influ
*ntial member of the Real Estate Ex
change. Be it known that colored
people already own and occupy prop
erty within a stone’s throw of this
very comer; so it is not “ an exclu
sive white neighborhood” which col
ored people are trying to Invade. It
is by no means a pretentious neigh
borhood, but one occupied by modest
well-kept homes and an increasing
Jewish population, another well de
fined group of splendid American
citizens, who, like our own, when they
settle in a neighborhood, give point
to the words of the Psalmist, “One
shall chase a thousand and ten put
ten thousand to flight.” But the
voice of the advisory committee pre
vailed.
They undertook to help the women
find a suitable place, preferably—In
keeping within the proposed so-called
“zoning system” or “colonization
scheme,” or enforced “segregation
policy.” which certain individuals are
working overtime to put across—
"somewhere on Twenty-fourth street
Bouth of lyflke,” or “west of Twenty
fourth street.” In this nuest thev
have been unsuccessful as there Is
no desirable property available with
in the limits set. Eventually a place
at Twenty-fifth and Maple was con
sidered desirable. The price asked for
this property, two recently re
modelled and stauecoed frame build
ings. with no ground for expansion
or development, was $h,000, Just
$2,000 or $3,000 less than the Burken
rod property which could not ne
built today for $30,000.
In replying to a letter from Mrs.
Wynn, in which she regretted that
the work had not been started here,
the editor of The Monitor gave the
exact facts in the case and told why
the work was being held up, stating
that in his Judgment that the un
Christian and un-democratic spirit
which was objecting to the location
of the much needed branch at a
strategic point, which within a few
ye. vwlll be In the heart of a de
sirable colored residential district,
ought not to be submitted to and that
unless the work could be started un
der favorable circumstances and in
an advantageous locality, it were bet
ter to postpone it.
In the meanwhile Miss Frankie B.
Watkins had been appointed by the
national council as Y. W. C. A. worker
here and has been on the ground for
some months. Her hands are tied
because no place has as yet been pro
vided for her to begin her work. The
ardor and enthusiasm of the com
mittee of colored women who were
anxious to go to work in October
last has cooled. The sum of $5,000
awaits proper investment in helping
our young womanhood in Omaha un
der the inspiration and guidance of
that splendid organization, the Y. W.
C. A., which has proven its helpful
ness by more than a half century of
constructive work.
The Monitor deems it wise and
timely to give these facts to the pub
lic, which show just why the much
needed work of the Y. W. C. A., for
which a liberal appropriation was
made by the national council last
September, has not been begun here.
The Monitor is responsible for call
ing the local committee's attention to
the splendid Burkenrod property
which all admitted was well suited
for the purpose desired. After a six
months’ search nothing has been
found in any way to equal it. Had
prejudice not thwarted it the Y. W.
C. A. would have been well housed
long before this and demonstrated
Its helpfulness lo our young woman
hood.
The Monitor places the blame for
holding up the work of the Y. W. C.
A among our people not upon the
frail shoulders of the Christian wom
en who were anxious and are still
anxious to have it go forward but
upon the broad shoulders of their ad
visory committee and back of the ad
visory committee upon those of the
Real Estate Exchange or of its com
mittee in the Omaha Chamber of
Commerce, who believe that our citi
zens should be limited as to resi
dence to certain well-defined dis
tricts, which as a proposition is
subversive of our constitutional rights
to which no self-respecting American
citizen can voluntarily subscribe and
which as working principle, because
of Its subversion of constitutional
rights is imnracticable.
SUPREME COURT RENDERS
FIFTY-FIFTY DECISION
Affirms Death Sentence in Case of
Six Condemned for Murder in Riots,
Remand Six.
(By Associated Negro Press)
Little Rock, Ark., April 8—The Ar
kansas supreme court recently af
fii-med the death sentence imposed on
six of twelve men condemned for mur
der in connection with the Elaine race
riots last October and reversed the
other six and remanded their cases for
new trials. These twelve were sen
tenced in less than ten minutes.
RAUF LARS STAR IN
DIAMOND MEDAL MEET
New York—A crowd of over 3,000
enthusiastic, excited fans witnessed
the Diamond Medal meet held in the
Twenty-second Regiment Armory
Monday night and saw such stars as
Pete White, Roy Morse, Clarence
Sherman and other race men romp
away with coveted trophies.
The main event, the Major Cobb
Memorial trophy, was won by Pete
White in the fast time of 10 2-5 sec
onds. Roy Morse came third.
Although this was the main event
of the evening all the contests proved
close and editing, and the general
impression was that if given their
chance our contenders would give all
others a run for their money.
PRIVATE CARS TO
NATIONAL WOMEN’S CON
VENTION IN TUSKEGEE
—
To the Members of the National Asso
ciation of Colored Women's Clubs—
Dear Co-Workers:
Plans are about completed tot
transportation to Tuskegee, to our
convention July 12-16. We are hop
ing to have 1,000 women in session
at this meeting and have made it pos
sible for you to get there with all con
venience and comfort. Private cars
will leave from New York, Philadel
phia, St. Louis, Chicago and Pitts
burgh. These cars will be kept in
Tuskegee during the session.
The committee consists of: For New
York, Mrs. Mary B. Talbert, 521 Mich
igan avenue, Buffalo, N. Y.; for Ohio,
Miss Anna V. Hughes, 298 North 22d
St., Columbus, O.; for Illinois, Mrs.
Irene Goins, 2942 Prairie avenue, Chi
cago, 111., and Mrs. L. E. Jameson, 922
Monson St., Peoria, 111; for Philadel
phia, Mrs. Ruth L. Bennett, 1614 W.
Second St., Chester, Pa.; for Louis
ville, Mrs. Georgia A. Nugent, 845 So.
6th St., Louisville, Ky.; for St. Louis,
Mrs. Victoria Clay Haley, 209 North
Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, Mo.; for
New' England, Miss Roberta J. Dun
bar, 58 Winter St., Providence, R. I.;
for Baltimore, Miss Ida R. Cummings,
1234 Druid Hill Ave., Baltimore, Md.;
for Washington, D. C., Miss Nannie
H. Burroughs, Lincoln Heights, Wash
ington, D. C.
The following are the approximate
rates for the return trip, including
railroad fare, Pullman charge and
taxes; these rates are subject to a
little change as railroad conditions
are unsettled at this time. Sufficient
notice will be given of any change in
rates. From Louisville, $33; from
Pittsburgh, $70; from Chicago, $59.22;
from St. Louis, 51.18; from New York,
$73.90; from Philadelphia, $68.50;
from Washington, $59.00.
All other points can estimate their
rates by comparison with the point
nearest them mentioned above. Fur
ther information can be secured from
any of the committee. Reservations
must be made as soon as possible so
the chairman will be able to inform
the railroad of the number of cars de
sired. Each car will accommodate
forty and the rates mentioned above
are on the forty basis. All money
must be in the hands of the railroad
one month before the date of the con
vention, as they will require this much
time to assure us perfect arrange
ments directly to Tuskegee.
Any further information can be se
cured from the national chairman on
transportation, Mrs. Daisy E. Lamp
kin, 2619 Webster Avenue, Pitts
burgh, Pa.
THE LOWDENITES
ARE LILY WHITES
Virginia Supporters of the Illinois
Governor Eliminate the Brother In
Black From Convention and Select
Delegate by Steam Roller Methods
DELEGATE FRANKLY FOR
WHITE SUPREMACY
Organization Formed to Contest the
Lowden Delegate and to Forward
the Candidacy of Dr. Ferguson—
Another State Convention to be
Called
—
(By Associated Negro Press)
RICHMOND, Va., April 8.—Lowden
forces, in their eagerness to
grab the delegation from Virginia,
proclaimed a Lily White organization
and rode rough-shod over the colored
voters in this state.
As a result there is extreme bitter
ness in the hearts of the colored re
publicans of Virginia. They were to
tally ignored bv the Lowden machine
when delegates were chosen to repre
sent the Richmond district at the
state national convention. An or
ganization to contest the choice of
Lowden-Lily White delegates has been
perfected. J. F. Brady clerk of the
United States district court, was
the choice of the white steam roll
er* convention for national delegate.
Brady announced his views on the
local polifcal situation by saying
that in his opinion no powerfhl
republican organization could be
unquestioned. He deprecated the
lively interest in politics taken by
the colored man, and said that it was
not for the best interests of the
party. ‘‘I am not a candidate for na
tional delegate, have no intention of
being a candidate and wolud not
serve if I were nominated,” Brady
said on the eve of his election. “But,”
he continued, “I do believe we need
men of the highest character in the
party, and that it cannot be made a
strong force here under any other con
ditions than that it be an entirely
white organization. It is only to this
end that I am personally interested.”
Colored Man Selected.
Nevertheless Brady was elected.
The resentment of the colored voters
was not slow in expressing itself. A
permanent political organization was
formed forthwith, and steps taken to
further the candidacy of Dr. D. A.
Ferguson, colored, to represent the
district at Chicago in June. A mass
meeting followed and Henry L. John
son went on from Washington to ad
dress the indignant colored men. He
was formerly recorder of deeds of
the District of Columbia. Every man
attending the meeting exhibited his
poll tax as proof that he is a quali
fied voter.
It was maintained at a second
meeting that fair play had been
denied those present at the first mass
meeting when the delegates were
chosen. A cordon of police had been
drawn up in front of the court house,
and Bcores of Negroes seeking ad
mission were told that they could not
enter. Edgar Allen, formerly post
master at Richmond, said he stood for
justice to white and colored men alike,
regardless of those who might term
him a "Nigger lovei;.”
ADVOCATING WALLER FOR
DISTRICT DELEGATE
Former Washington Rector Wood En
thusiast—Being Urged by New
York Voters.
New York, N. Y., April 8—A large
number of the colored voters, ad
mirers of General Leonard Wood In
the Seventh district, are planning to
run Dr. Waller, a Wood enthusiast,
for delegate to the national conven
tion. There are more than 1,000
Negro voters in this district. The
possible candidate is a well-educated
man. He is a graduate of Trinity
college. Oxford, England, and of the
General Theological Seminary New
York. He was pastor for some time
of St. Luke’s P. E. church, Washing
ton, D. C.
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