’“=i i The Monitor l A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. _ _THE REV, JOHN ALBMtT WILLIAMS. Mto_____ <2.00 a Year. OMAHA. NEBRASKA. JUNE 3. 1920 VoL V. No. 48 (Whole No. 257) NEGRO ATHLETiv\ — % By Charles P. Howard. 9* (The writer was a member of ti Championship Tuskegee Base Ball teams of 1912 and 1913, and is at present a member of the Foot Ball, Base Ball and Track Teams, Drake University, Des Moines, la.; is a close friend of Howard P. Drew, tne world’s famous atnlete; and while serving in France, was brought in contact with many of our boys who made athletic history and of which he will speak in the future.) Our people are so widely scattered over this country that one section probably knows very little of the achievements of the other. Their activities are as many and as varied as any other class of citizens. It is the aim of the writer to bring before the country and our people in par ticular, the achievements of colored athletes during the last decade. Since we are going to deal prim arily with amateur athletics, we will confine our selves almost wholly to those members of our race who have attended universities and colleges throughout the country, and who, from their constant association with other races, are creating a feeling of comradeship and better under standing. The boys who are making these records |are confined to no particular section of the country. Many of them come from southern schools and not only make enviable records for themselves in competition, but return to their Alma Mater and are equally successful in the develop ment of other athletes. A recitation of the difficulties and some of the privations experienced by these boys and of the results attained, sound more like fiction than real life. The old adage, that you get out of the game what you put in it. Is as true in athletics as in any other line of endeavor. Permit me to cite a few of the out standing features of the Negro ath lete’s achievements in the last few years: An eminent sports writer in 1913 said: "If the dolored track ath letes competing at that time, could be brought together and a team chosen from them, it would be strong enough to defeat any college team or ath letic club in the United States, and would have taken at least two-thirds of the first places. In 1915 a half, mile relay team chosen from the col ored sprinters competing at that time, could have defeated any relay team in the country and have set a new world's record, as each man could do better than 22 seconds in the 220.” There is one class of events in which the Negro seems particularly adapted and that is the sprints. There are many reasons for this, chief among which are the facts that the Negro Is of a nervous and excitable temperament, requisites which are pramarily assential in a sprinter; also a less vigorous and exacting course i of training is necessary in this class of events than in others, and finally, it was In this class of events that Negroes first made a success, and this Inspired others to try the same. In fact all the records in running races held by our people are confined to races not greater than a quarter mile. There has been no time in the past ten years but that a colored athlete haB been a member of some college team in the United States, and a point winner. They have secured points In every inter-collegiate or na tional meet in the country, and they hold not less than thirty collegiate national A. A. U. and world’s records. There is one goal, however, which they have not attained, and this is an Olympic championship. This Is the ambition of every track athlete. We have had members of Olympic teams but we have never had a win ner, although we have had men who have beaten Olympic winners. How ever, In the inter-allied games In Prance last June, we had a winner in the broad Jump, and in winning it he came within two Inches of the world’s record. Heretofore we have dealt largely with track athletes, but there are other branches of athletics in which the Negro has proven his ability be yond a doubt and has gained the highest honors. There is no branch of athletics that commands the admiration of the pub lic more than football. The highest award possible is to be placed on Walter Camp’s all-American football team. Two Negroes have achieved this distinction and at least a half , dozen others have been second and ' third choices, and indication Is that this number will constantly increase. Then there is basketball which also has a strong appeal for our people. \s yet there is no recognized author ^ • rating colored basketball players • those of the white. However, have had many representatives on the college and university teams of the country who have been recognized as stars on their respective teams. In addition to this we are represented by entire teams both in our southern schools and by athletic clubs around New York, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburg, Kansas City and Des Moines, la. Another sport of which we do not hear so much but in which many of our people are finding murh pleasure and enjoyment, is tennis. This year, for the first time, colored tennis play ers of the country have been offi cially rated. Washington. D. C., seems to lead in the number of peo ple engaged in this sport and in the amount of enthusiasm shown, how ever, there are other cities having tennis clubs ranking very high, among which are Los Angeles, Kan sas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Boston, Springfield, Mass., and New Haven, Conn. As for baseball, since it 1s a pro fession sport and our reputation as baseball players Is so well recog nized, the writer feels that It Is super fluous to dwell at length on this sub ject. One of the outstanding fea tures Is, that beginning next year we will have an organized colored league. The circuit as yet has not been def initely decided, but will probably In clude New York City, Chicago, Pitts burg, Indianapolis. St. Louts. Detroit, Kansas City and Philadelphia. So much for professional baseball. As for amateur baseball there are but few towns that do not boast of a team. All the southern colleges are represented by excellent teams, and as members of teams representing the northern colleges and universities, the Negro has been a very Important factor. The aforementioned sports are those which have the largest follow ing and In which the largest number of our athletes have competed. How ever, In association football, rugby, la Crosse, hockey. Inter-collegiate wrestling and boxing we have bad representatives and very often cham pions. In fact there is no athletic sport of which I have knowledge. In which the Negro has not proven himself proficient, unless It is golf, and it Is possible that we will have national representation in this sport in the future. As the reader will see, we do not attempt to do more than give a re sume of Negro athletics as a whole. We do not claim to cover the field in Its absolute entirety. It is the pur pose of the writer, In future articles, to bring to our readers knowledge of Individual athletes and their records, also the work of the southern col leges and athletic clubs throughout the country. We shall also make mention of some of our people who have been prominent In the fostering and development of Negro athletics and the very liberal encouragement given by the Amateur Athletic union of the United States. CHARLES. P. HOWARD. ISSUES APPEAL FOR ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL (By Associated Negro Press.) Orange, N. J., June 3.—Rev. Charles T. Walkley, rector of the Grace Kpls copal church has issued an appeal In behalf of St. Paul's Normal and In dustrial school. For thirty-eight years Rev. J. S. Russell, founder and head of the school, and archdeacon for col ored work in the diocese, has super vised its Instruction and work and served the community. PITTSBURGH PAYROLL IS LARGEST IN THE WORLD Pittsburgh, Pa.. June 3.—For its size, Pittsburgh has the largest pay roll in the world, its salary and wage list totaling dally $2,500,000. Taking its area and population into account, this city handles more money than any other city In the world. These facts are gleaned from the lateBt issue of ''Pittsburgh First,” the Chamber of Commerce’s official organ. NEW GREATER BERLIN CONTAINS 3,*00,000 PEOPLE Berlin, Juno 3.—The diet has ap proved a bill creating a new Greater Berlin, which in point of area is 622 square kilometers and ranks with New York. The newly incorporated com munities will give the capital a popu lation of 3,800,000, placing It fourth on the list of world capitals. “THE HOUR AHO THE MAH -IS THE HERE?” Timely Editorial From “The Negro World.” Official Organ of the Universal Negro Improvement Association Which Operates the Black Star Line of Steamships, Officered and Manned by Col ored Seamen, and plying Between New York, the British West Indies and Panama, and Conducts Other Big Industries. ENLARGINGG BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROPERLY PREPARED YOUTH Specialization, Thoroughness and Efficiency in Lines for Which They Feel Themselves Best Adapted Wisely Urged Upon Am bitious and Aspiring Young Men and Women of Race.—Grow ing Corporations launched by Race Not Kindergartens, But Business Enterprises Which Demand Accuracy and Competent Service From Employees. '■WAT our race has awakened to the A fact that entrance into big busi ness is one of the imperative duties of the hour is shown by the fact that in almost every section of the coun try large enterprises have been in corporated and successfully launched. Men and women have realized that if the thousands of young men and wom an who are being trained in technical schools, colleges and universities are to find employment at the occupa tions for which they are training themselves, our own people have to make places for them. That is why ministers, teachers, professional men and laboring men, as well as business men are uniting their energies and efforts in the business world. They realize the absolute necessity of eco nomic and commercial salvation. Of the many large corporations financed and successfully conducted by the colored race probably the most gigantic and boldest is that of the Black Star Line, capitalized at $10, 000,000, with offices at 56 West 135th street, New York City, which owes its origin to Marcus Garvey, a man of daring genius, who, six years ago, founded a society known as “The Uni versal Negro Improvement Associa tion and African Communities League” to unite the peoples of Afri can blood and descent throughout the entire world primarily in business re lationship and secondarily for intelli gent and concerted action against ex ploitation. The founder of this as sociation recognizing the value of maritime relationship, planned his corporation for the audacious purpose of operating “a direct line of steam ships, owned, controlled and manned by Negroes to reach the Negro peo ples of the world, America, Canada, South and Central America, Africa and the West Indies.” A great vision. A daring venture. But “where there is no vision the people perish.” The dreamer and visionary, saw the be ginning of the fulfillment of his vis ion on Friday, Oct. 31 when the steam ship Yarmouth, first of the Black Star Line, was launched, and subsequently made her maiden voyage. With the entrance Into the business world comes a demand for trained and efficient workers. “The Negro World,” which is the official publication of this association, in a recent issue points out in a striking editorial the need of the hour. What is true of New York is true In corresponding degree in every city where large business enter prises are being launched. The Kaffir Chemical Laboratories of Omaha, for example is in the market for the same kind of efficient help as that men tioned in The Negro World. The Mon itor commends the World’s thoughtful editorial to the careful consideration and attention of our readers and calls upon our young men and women to prepare themselves thoroughly for the positions which await the competent and properly prepared people in ever increasing fields of service from which hitherto they have been largely ex cluded. Here is what The Negro world says: The public schools throughout the country are turning out yearly thous ands of youths of both sexes who have faced the future heretofore with no prospects, some of them, other than that of becoming underpaid teachers in country schools, mesengers, por ters, bellhops or waiters in white men's hotels. There are few positions in white business establishments for our youths when they leave school for college, because these are reserved— and always will be—for white boys and girls who grow into the business and are sometimes taken in as part ners. Negro youths are given jobs such as elevator men, porters, shipping clerks, attendants at the doors of an establishment to open and close the doors of customers’ autos. Negro girls and women are provided with jobs in the women’s rest rooms, or as scrubwomen and cleaners, or, if there is a restaurant attached, as waitresses. If the establishment is of the kind where the tips are generous, the col ored girl has a formidable rival in the uneducated poor white girl. Negro men or women must not be permitted to make money too rapidly or in too large amounts, as, in the opinion of many white people, the pos session of large sums of money makes them “uppish.” When Negroes are employed, as a great many of them are, in the downtown districts in cleri cal capacities, they are not paid the same amount in salaries as is paid white clerks and bookkeepers, some or whom are not as efficient as these workers. We know a Negro bookkeep er in a certain big establishment In this city whose employers regard him as an expert, but who pay him only $25 per week, while their white book keepers are paid $35 and $45 per week. The reason for this wage discrimi ition Is obvious. It is the settled purpose of our white friends not to recognize the Negro socially or in dustrially as an equal. The low wage fixes the status of the Negro in the social scale, and to pay him the same wage for the same kind of work, or even better work than is performed by the white man is to admit his equality. Hence the policy oi wmte employers of Negro labor, skilled and unskilled, is to keep the wage scale for a the Negro a little below that for the white man. Now the Universal Negro Improvement Association and : its allied branches are opening the way to ambitious youths of both sexes I of our race to become useful to ths i race and to help themselves by taking advantage of the opportunities these I corporations are offering to young men and women who are qualified as I clerks, bookkeepers, typists, stenog raphers, salesmen and saleswomen in the various enterprises they are now opening up and will continue to open J up. These positions are available to the young men and women of the race who are competent to fill them—who feel that they can do credit to them selves and their race, if given a posi j tion of corresponding importance to that they would hold in a white busi ness establishment downtown, where j their chances of promotion would be limited and their salary remain sta tionary, or if increased, would still be below that of the white employee. Now, we are ready and willing and anxious to surround ourselves with the very best clerical talent that the race produces. We want typists who can actually write business letters in up to-date fomi, who know the English language and understand all the niceties of speech. We want stenog graphers who can take letters from dictation and who can transcribe them after they have been given to them. We want capable, honest, earnest, con cientious workers of all kinds in these corporations, who can always be relied upon to do their level best and do it well. We want men and women who are thorough and whose work, when done, will be beyond criticism. We advise our young people to spe cialize, to make an intensive study of the work they now believe them selves competent to perform, and we warn applicants for positions with these corporations, that they are not kindergartens, but business enter prises. Be serious and remember that j “Life is earnest, life is real.” We are offering the Negro youth of America the greatest opportunities they have ever had to make something of them selves; time will tell whether or not they are equal to it. We believe they are. i ; PRESIDENT JONES t ALLS EXECTTIEE COMMITTEE official- of National Bapti-t I Miea tion and Beard Member* t* Meet at Sprfaefleid. IIL, Jaae 17. Evanston, IIL. June 3.—'Reciprocal * News Service)—An executive order was issued May 11 by President EHwin ‘ P. Jones calling the executive com mittee of the National Baptist Concern ; tion to meet at Springfield. lit. June 17, at 12 o'clock. This official an nouncement was made at the Chicago Ministers’ Alliance. It was read and i signed by President Jones and C. P. Madison, the secretary of the con Ten ; tion. The object of the meeting at Springfield is for the arranging of a program of the next National Baptist convention which is to be held in Col- i umbos, Ohio, September 8-13 This meeting of the executive committee , said Dr. Jones, will bring to Spring- , field many of the most influential members In America. In connection with the executive committee meeting, he announces that there will also as- j semble the national campaign commit- : tee at 12 o’clock on the 18th of June j to make reports and farther complete i the Baptist drive for twenty-five mil- ; lions of dollars, which was put in mo- ! tion last year at Norfolk, Va. and j which provided for an annual report; : with the further arrangements of fl- , nancing the whole campaign. MOKE REDUCED RATES TO THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UOXOKESS Chicago 111., June 3.—(Reciprocal News Service)—Mr. C. A Fox of the Central Passenger Association, has notified the Rev. Henry A. Boyd of I Nashville, Tenn., the secretary of the Sunday School Congress, that bis as sociation had concurred in a onefare and a third round trip rate on the certificate plan for the Sunday School Congress to be held at Springfield, 111. Notice of this action was sent 1 with Instructions that details of the arrangements would be furnished by i : Mr. C. M. Burke, the chairman of the Trunk Line Association, at 143 Liberty : street. New York, but It Is understood that the tickets are to be on sale throughout the district June 12-18 and ; that they have a return limit up to and including June 24. PROF. CURRY GOES WITH A LYCEUM CO. Urbana, 0., June 3.—Prof. E. W. B. Curry has closed a contract with the Alliance National Lyceum com pany for the .season of 1920-21. Hla contract calls for an unlimited ter ritory as this company has circuits ail over the United States and Canada. This is the first time in the history of lyceum operations that a Negro has been selected to tour the country as a lecturer. It speaks well for Dr. Curry who has long sustained the reputa tion of being one of the most elo quent and pleasing orators on the American platform today to be found in either race. The contract calls for a very handsome salary with traveling and living expenses paid. WOMEN FIGHTING HIGH (OHT (By Associated Negro Press.) Greensboro, N. C.. June 3.—The col ored women here are making a deter mined fight against the high cost of living. • They have employed an expert of the Royal Baking Powder company of New York and have organized a baking school which meets Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. They expect to reduce the high cost by one-half. PASS CIVIL RIGHTS BILL. Trenton. Nr. J., June 3.—The senate has passed the measure by Senator White of Burlington, known as the civil rights bills, by a vote of 17 to 0. The bill provides that when discrimi nation is shown to people of our race in hotels and theaters an action may be brought and the complainant re cover a minimum of $150 and a maxi mum of $500 In the event of a convic tion being found. WORK OF MOVABLE SCHOOLS. (By Associated Negro Press.! Auburn, Ala., June 3.—The Alabama Extension service has just issued a new circular which shows the work of movable schools among colored people throughout the state. Pictures of cab ins. poultry houses, fencing and other features depicting conditions among the people appear In the new circular. _»_ ESTABLISH INDCSTRIAL HOHE Wilmington, Del., June 3.—An In dustrial Home for Colored Girls will be established in this city by the local Colored Women's clubs. IHTERESTIRG HEWS FROM KAFFIR BLOCK TW Kaffir Ckweal LaWatarie* Lawdwd Its Sain aarf Wint—i. Caaipaizn m Several States 1m 1. —Large Territory Beta* Ct*f the signing of the armistice, No vember 11, 1918. He was buried in a cemetery at Winchester, England. He is survived by hie wife, Mattie Ervin «f 5243 South Twenty-fourth street. He was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Omaha Roosevelt post No. 30 of the American Legion will assume charge »f the funeral, which will probably be held Sunday. The body will lie In date at the undertaking parlors of Silas Johnson at Twenty-fourth and Lake street* until then.