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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1920)
f ■— i The Monitor r — i A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor__ $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA. NEBRASKA, APRIL 15, 1920 Vol. V. No. 41 (Whole No. 250) Give Wood Nebraska’s Full Vote Tuesday IS THERE A WELL-ORGANIZED ¥% PROPAGA.V TO FOMENT ¥ INTER-RACt\ STRIFE . . . ■ The Mid-West Labor Nev %, Influential Publication of Organ ized Labor, Protests . t the Evident Propaganda by Sinister Interests to Infla the Public Mind Against Colored Americans and Declares It Unjust. GIVES FACTS OF THREE CASES SENSA TIONALLY HEADLINED IN LOCAL DAILY No Excuse for Misrepresentation Which Might Have Caused Serious Trouble—News as Published Contrary to Facts Gleaned From Authentic Police Records. rPIIE Mid-West Labor News in its last week’s issue published an 1 editorial which is an eloquent appeal for justice to the Negro. It points out the all-too-prevalent disposition upon the part of certain daily newspapers to stir up prejudice and hatred against colored people by box-car headlines calling attention to alleged crimes by criminals who may incidentally belong to that race. This practice is the more reprehensible when investigation proves that a very large percentage of the crimes alleged to have been committed by criminals identified with the colored race have no foundation in fact, or are gross and inexcusable exaggerations. The Monitor has repeatedly called attention to this gross injustice and the great danger of it. It inflames racial prejudice and breeds suspicion and distrust on both sides. It causes the white people, as a whole—fortunately there are exceptions, but they are woefully in the minority—to look upon all colored Americans as undesirable and criminally-disposed citizens; and the colored people, as a whole—and fortunately here, also, there are exceptions, but they are in the minority—to regard all white Americans as hostile and deceitful and set and detennined to give the colored man the worst of it on every occasion. And this im pression, The Monitor regrets to say, is growing. And the re sponsibility for it lies at the door of the press, which headlines “NEGRO THIS” and “NEGRO THAT,” upon the slightest pre text. Omaha’s disgrace of September 28th, last, was directly due to the exaggerated and sensational reports of alleged.crimes by colored men. The vast majority of these reports were false and two, at least of the newspapers which published them knew' at the time they were untrue, or gross exaggerations. The Monitor hopes that some day, some Omaha daily, or other publication which reaches a large number of the white people of this city and state will have the courage and manhood to publish the whole truth about the Will Brown case, that they may learn the truth. The recent articles in the Daily News to which the I>abor News refers and which facts were also placed before a committee of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce by a committee from the Colored Commercial Club are the kind that inflame passion and arouse the primal brutal instincts which civilization is supposed to hold in check. We need not assure our readers that The Monitor stands upon the same platform as our contemporary in relation to crimes against womanhood. The Monitor has frequently stated its posi tion on this matter. We are grateful to The Mid-West Labor News for the splendid stand it takes in its editorial captioned, “Tn Justice to the Negro,’ in which it says: There is apparent a determination on the part of sinister interests to I leave no stone unturned to keep the workers apart. Not only is the pro paganda being spread to keep the or ganized and the unorganized workers at swords points, and prevent them from realizing that after all in the fundamentals the interests of both are alike, but there has been appar ent an effort to keep the great body of citizens separated in groups, and thus prevent common action for the common good. None know more than the special interests that once the average citizens forget the unim portant defferences that may exist and unite on fundamental issues, that the special interests will im mediately be called to account, and the common people will come into its own. This paper believes that the very evident desire to inflame the public mind against the Negro is a part and parcel of this propaganda to keep the citizens so busy fighting each other that they have no time or energy left to fight the common enemy. Mid-West Labor News has no ex cuse to offer for any man, white or black, who is guilty of an attack on a woman. We believe that criminal as sault should be punished by electr ci't’on, whether the crime is com mitted by a black man or a white man and whether the victim is a white woman or a black woman. But we do emphatically protest against such : t-p-t^enl of the news as must in mind along lines calculated to induce race hatred. For instance, in a recent issue of the Omaha Daily News, there were two glaring headlines, “Negro At tacks Sleeping Girl,” and “Negroes Attack Two Women.” Regardless of the text of the stories, we wish to state the facts in the case, these facts having been gleaned from the police records, and statements made by those guilty of the offenses, and oth er corroborative evidence. First. In tne case where the “Negro attacked a sleeping girl,” in fact the man was arrested immedi ately. He was a white man, and was recognized by the girl as a former iceman who had delivered ice at the home. It would seem that there was no excuse for headlining this as a crime by a Negro, for the man was arrested on the spot. Furthermore, the World-Herald reported the mat ter correctly, stating that the crimi nal was a white man. In the second case headlined as at tacks by Negroes, the facts of the case are that the Negro was a prowl er, a sneak thief, who entered a base ment, and was surprised by the lady of the house. In his excitement at being caught, he grasped the wom an’s wrist. Her own statement to the police denied that he attempted to assault her. He was a criminal, and should be punished for prowling, pos sibly for breaking and entering; there was no excuse for the newspaper to spread out a glaring headline charg evitahly react in inflaming the public EX-SERVICE MAN CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS Attorney George L. Vaughn, Who Was Commissioned a Lieutenant in the Recent World War, Named in Twelfth Missouri District. ENDORSED BY CITIZENS’ LIBERTY LEAGUE ST. Louis, Mo., April 15.—At a most enthusiastic meeting of the Citizens’ Liberty league, Hon. George L. Vaughn, ex-lieutenant of the United States aimy, and lawyer, was unanimously endorsed as their choice as a candidate for congress from the Twelfth Missouri Congres sional district. Lieutenant Vaughn is a young man of 38 years, single, and received his degree, L. L. B., from the law de partment of Walden university, Nash ville, Tenn. He volunteered and went to the training camp at Des Moines, la., where he received a commission as first lieutenant. He made a splendid record as an officer during the war. Quite a number of ministers of the city were present and gave every assurance that Mr. Vaughn had their full support. Vaughn was out of the city, at tending to some legal matters in connection with a lynching which tiok place at Moberly some time ago. When informed over long dis tance telephone the action of the Citizens’ Liberty League, expressed his satisfaction of what had been done, adding, "I am willing to serve where duty calls.’’ FREDERICK ROPGLAS’ NAME FOR HALT, OF FAME New York, April 14.—Nominations received for the Hall of Fame at mobiles on the last two days in con teen names will be added this fall, include those of Barbara Fritchie, heroine of Whittier's poem; Susan B. Anthony, pioneer worker for wom en’s rights, and Frederick Douglass, publicist, statesman and Journalist. The nominations which close May 1, will be considered by the senate of the university and the names ap proved will be submitted to the elec tors. Douglas is the first Negro suggest ed to have his name made Immortal by being inscribed in the colonnade at the university. The name of Bar bara Fritchie was urged by many women's patriotic organizations. ROLAND HAYES TO GO TO AFRICA, LONDON AND PARIS New York, N. Y., April 13.—Ro land Hayes, the noted tenor, scored an unqualified triumph at his re cital on the night of the eleventh of March. A large and appreciative audience greeted and applauded the singer. He sang selections of Afri can melodies as well as groups ot midem songs. Mr. Hayes will leave shortly for Africa where he will study Negro music and its origin. His trip will include recitals in London and Paris. ing an attempted criminal assault. In another case of criminal assault charged by two boys, aged 15 and 17. These boys are, we believe, now in jail awaiting trial. They had seen a sen sational movie and been incited to commit burglary. They broke into a basement. The woman of the house caught them in the act; in trying to escape they pushed the woman aside, and pushed her down, injuring her quite severely. She arose and at tempted to follow them, and one of the boys threw a brick, striking her and hurting her quite badly. There was no criminal assault attempted, and while these young ruffians should be severely punished, it is not right that the Negro race should be placed under the stigma of having glaring headlines of this nature spread over the front page of a great newspaper, on such grounds as this. This newspaper is not defending anyone guilty of assault on any wom an, by any man, regardless of the race or color of any of the parties. We, however, protest emphatically against the rousing of race hatred by what must appear to be deliberate misrepresentations of the facts.—Mid West Labor News. WOOD SITUATION IN ILLINOIS. (Special to The Monitor.) Chicago, 111.,, April 1*.—'The Illi nois situation is clearing for the Wood candidacy. With the present in dications at hand there is the ap pearance that if the race vote Is the determining vote Leonard Wood will win in a walk. Clearly the most interesting fea ture of the causes which make for Wood’s popularity with the race vote — and this appears to hold good in every section of the country—is that it is not based on any loud declara tion by the general that he is a spe cial friend of the Negro aside front the fact that he is a firm believer ir human liberty, and as such he de sires all the citizens—which includes the members of our race—shall stand the same in the eye of the law and the operation of the government REFUMES UNREASONABLE DEMAND OF FELLOW JURORS Dallas, Tex., April 15.—Despite the fact that he has been ordered by members of the central jury panel to leave their quarters, G. F. Porter, teacher in the High school, who was called to serve as a juror for the week, has refused to leave the court house until he is officially dismissed by the Judge who drew the jury panel. Many members of the central jury panel for the week have made known their intention to forcibly eject Porter if he returns to their quarters, regardless of an order from the court. Porter said he was ready to give up his claim for service if the judge would dismiss him. W ANT MACHINE (U N BATTALION (By Associated Negro Press.) Boston, Mass., April 15.—The Mass achusetts Officers' association, com uoged of Negro officers who served in the world war, voted unanimously to petition Governor Coolidge to make provision for one machine gun battalion, comprised entirely of Negroes in the reorganized Massa chusetts national guard. In the re cently announced reorganization pro gram no provision was made for Negro combat troops. ADVOCATES NEW SUBDIVISION. Chicago, 111., April 15.—The crea tion of a huge new subdivision in the neighborhood of Blue Island, and oth er far south suburban territory, where Negro families will be given the opportunity to "self segregate themselves in portable houses,” is one solution of the housing shortage offered by I* M. Smith, a south side real estate man at a meeting of the Chicago real estate board. ORGANIZE INSURANCE COMPANY. (Special to The Monitor. ) Louisville, Ky., April 15.—With a capital stock of $100,000 divided into $10 shares, the Domestic Life and Ac cident Insurance company filed articles of incorporation this week and applied to the insurance commis sioner of Kentucky for a charter. ,, ■ BIDDERS FOR ASTOR VALUABLES. New York, April 16.—A picture taken at the recent Astor real estate auction sale discloses that among the bidders our race was represented by Messrs. Harry H. Pace and W. C. Handy, the successful music pub lishers. DETECTIVE KILLED BY WIFE (By Associated Negro Press.) St. Paul, Minn., April 16.—James T. Quarles, detective at Central police station, was shot and fatally wound ed at his home last week by his wife. He died at the City hospital. WINS FIRST PRIZE. New York, April 15.—John Arm strong Chaloner announced that in the John Armstrong Chaloner con cours at the National Academy of Design a painting from the nude by Albert A. Smith, colored art student in the academy school, won first prize of $25. MAJOR JOHN ROY LYNCH TO SPEND SEVERAL DAYS HERE Distinguished Ex-Congressman, Author and Army Officer Ex presses Pleasure on Revisiting Nebraska Metropolis in In terest of Leonard Wood—William Warley, Editor, and Mrs. Margaret Gaynor Here on Same Errand. PROMINENT SPEAKERS FROM WOOD HEADQUARTERS ARRIVE IN OMAHA □AJOK John Roy Lynch, U. S. A., of Chicago and William War ley, editor of the Louisville News, and and Mrs. Margaret O. Gaynor arrived in the city Wednesday morning to re main for several days, speaking and organizing in the interest of Leonard Wood. All of these are on the speakers’ bureau and are sent here by the Wood campaign headquarters in Chicago. Major Lynch is well and favorably known in Omaha where he was sta tioned for many years as paymaster. He expressed himself as delighted at the opportunity of coming to Omaha where he spent so many happy years and made many friends among both races. He served under General Wood in Cuha and has known him person ally for more than twenty years and so can speak with knowledge of his worth and qualifications for the presi dency. Major Lynch has just returned from a tour in the south where he found Wood sentiment strong. Speaking of General Wood’s pros pects Major Lynch says that despite the news from Michigan and Illinois, which was expected to go for Lowden, outside of Cook county, Wood’s vic tory is assured. The people are rally ing to his standard because of their belief in his staunch Americanism. “Of course, we are expecting Ne braska to give Leonard Wood a rous ing majority in its preferential vote 'and to elect a Wood delegation, one of which delegation we expect to be John Albert Williams, editor of The Monitor, whose splendid work in the advocacy of General Wood’s candi lacy is highly appreciated at head quarters,” said Major Lynch. This is Mr. Warley’s first visit to Omaha. He is also an enthusiastic Wood booster. Mr. Warley, whose newspaper wields a great influence in the Blue Grass state, says, “The people of the south, our people, I mean, are en thusiastically united for Leonard B. Wood, because they believe him to be the one man who at this time will best serve the interests of the entire coun try and relieve our people, so far as • he possibly can of certain galling con ditions under which we are restive. My message to the people of Nebras '-■i snd of the entire west and north is to rally to the standard of General Wood and express our convictions and preferences at the primary of which privilege we in the southland are denied.” Mrs. Margaret O. Gaynor of Chi cago, of the women’s bureau, also visits Omaha for the first time. She says. “Our women are united for Leonard Wood because he stands without equivocation against class legislation and stands uncompromis ingly for law and order, w-hich things mean so much to our people. We want men and women in Nebraska to stand unitedly for Leonard Wood, and work unceasingly for his nomination and election. They must let nothing keep them from the primaries Tues day.” WANTS LAW AGAINST FLANNEL TROUSER* New York. April 15.—Because a white man of American temperament visited an amusement park in Ix>n don recently and saw colored and white people together, he wrote to an English newspaper demanding a law to prevent colored men from wearing flannel trousers, and to pre vent. white women from admiring them.—Negro World. FRENCH GOVERNMENT BUYS GUN WITH 120-MILE RANGE Paris—Delamare Maze, a French inventor, has sold to the French government the patent of a new long range gun which, after thorough tests, has shown It has a range from 100 to 120 miles. The shell leaves the muzzle of the gun at a speed of approximately 4.178 feet per second. LEFT 950,000 ESTATE, Washington, April 16.—Will of the late Dr. Cabaniss filed recently shows an estate estimated at $50,000. The bulk of this goes to his wife as executrix. Near relatives are given $2,600, a scholarship at Union Uni versity $1,000, and a scholarship at Howard university, $2,000. STEVENS FOR LEGISLATURE. Philadelphia, April 15. — Andrew Stevens, banker, is the unanimous choice of the republicans as a candi date to the state legislature from the 1 Sixth district. Vote Tuesday for Your Own Candidates First