i. -=• The Monitor l..= i
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS.
_TH« RKV. JOHN ALBMT WILLIAMS. Mttac
$2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, JUNE 10, 1920 Vol. V. No. 49 (WhoJe No. 258)
WHEN OMAHA
CAME TO DENVER
I’rof. Dan Deadlines’ Brass Band of
Omaha Thrd's Ten Thousand Music
Lovers of **r at the Civic Cen
ter Amphit.
On Wednesday 'May 26) at
5 o’clock, the Omaha -s of the
Chamber of Commerce'^ ‘maha j
blew into Denver, headed At -of. I
Dun DesdLnc.s' famous band o. j
ha, and paiaded up Sixteenth s. eet
from the depot. When the Negro
band marched into Sixteenth street,
followed by the Omaha Boosters, the
people in the stores and the store
keepers rushed to the sidewalk to see
and hear that wonderful band that
was playing such thrilling music as
they had never heard before in Den
ver. The pedestrians on the street,
homeward bound from thir work, and
the shoppers forgot ail about home
and dinner and stopped. Some fol
lowed along up the street to get a
little more of that music. Many ex
pressions of surprise and satisfaction
were heard all along the line of
marcn.
On the comer of Sixteenth and Cur
tis streets, the busiest comer in the
city, quite a large crowd jammed and
blocked the sidewalks, and some young
girl, in giving expression to her de
light, remarked, “Oh ain’t nature
grand ? ”
The Omaha Boosters are homeward
bound from their tour of the West,
and if they made the same impres
sion in every city and town that they
visited that they made in Denver by
this great Negro band, Omaha is cer
tainly well advertised.
The climax of the Omaha Boosters’
visit came at 7:30 p. m. Wednesday
at the civic center amphitheater when
Prof. Dan Desdunes and his band
gave an open-air concert, which was
heard by 10,000 Denverites of all
races, young and old. Unfortunately,
it was .somewhat chilly for this time
of year, but the thousands who were
there were made warm, and instead
of being chilled were thrilled by the
sweet and excllnt music of this Negro (
band of Omaha.
Mr. Jeff Smith, the comet soloist,
was encored three times in apprecia
tion of his masterful work with the
comet. Mr. Levy Broomfield, who
sang a solo, accompanied by the band,
was also encored several times. The
band and Professor Desdunes were
roundly cheered and applauded after
each selection.
The daily papers mentioned this
band as being a jazz band. Yes, It is,
and then some. Their classical selec
tions were above the average and have
never been surpassed by any band in
Denver or that ever came to Denver.
Their jazz music is unequalled; they
have uie tune, the spirit, the swing
and everything that spells music.
We take off our hats to Omaha and
congratulate her upon having such a
musical genius and band director as
Prof. Dan Desdunes. Come again,
boys, any old time.—The Colorado
Statesman.
SOUTH DISAPPOINTED
NEGROES NOT RETURNING
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Rochester, N. Y., June 10.—The
Armstrong association through its in
dustrial secretary, A. L. Manning,,
has just issued a statement on the
"Migrant Negro” which outlines the
causes for the migration of the Ne
groes from the south to the north.
Mr. Manning says that the most dis
appointing thing to the south is the
failure of the migrants to return to
the former homes. It was confident
ly predicted that one winter in the
north would he sufficient to discour
age them and that they would be writ
ing and telegraphing for tickets for
home. But, instead the recreants
found themselves jobs, places to eat
and sleep and then began to fit him
self into the new order of things. In
the earlier period of migration the
newcomers were of the poorer, un
educated and the more or less irre
sponsible class. Since then, however,
the better educated and more thrifty
members have been coming and the
situation has consequently, improved.
HOY CHAMPION SPELLER
(Bv Associated Negro Press.)
Atlanta, Ga., June 10.—Raymond
Lamar was returned the winner of
the Atlanta Journal silver cup award
ed to the best speller in the colored
public schools. About sixtv boys and
girls competed in the contest which
lasted for one hour and twenty min
utes. The test was held in the audi
torium.
A. Gerald Edwards.
A. Gerald Edwards, son of Dr. and
Mrs. A. G. Edwards, 2409 Erskine
street, graduate of the college pre
.uatoiv couise, University of Omaha.
He is the first colored person to grad
uate from this institution. He will
enter the dental department of North
western university, Chicago, 111.
SORRELL WINS IN
CONVENTION RACE
Prominent and Highly Esteemed Pla
queminian Elected Delegate - at -
Large to Republican National Con
vention—Choice Considered Excel
lent One.
CLEAN-HANDED AND
TRUSTWORTHY MAN
PLAQUEMINE, La., June 1.—At
the republican state convention
held in Alexandria, Eli W. Sorrell, of
Plaquemine, was elected one of the
delegates at large to the national con
vention to be held at Chicago in June.
While this was not altogether unex
pected, since it was known the erst
while Lily White faction of the party
had settled upon him as a delegate, it
was, nevertheless, an honor worthily
bestowed since there is probably not
a more clean-handed and trustworthy
colored man in the state than Eli Sor
rell, whose reputation as a good citi
zen in this parish could well be envied
by many white men. In years gone
by Sorrell held several good positions
of honor and trust under the federal
government, and was at one time vice
nresident of the hoard of trustees of
Southern university. The board con
sists of four colored and eight white
men. Sorrell was appointed twice by
Governor Blanchard and since by Gov
ernors Sanders and Hall.
JOHN S. DURHAM WILLS
$150,000 TO HIS WIDOW
Philadelphia, June 10.—The will of
John S. Durham, the first colored
man to be graduated from the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania and a Phila
delphian by birth, was admitted to
probate recently by Register Sheehan.
Mr. Durham left an estate valued at
$150,000 to his widow, Constance Mc
Kenzie Durham. He died in London
October 16, 1919. Dr. Durham was
awarded the degree of Bachelor of
Science at the university in 1886, and
later entered the diplomatic service.
He was consul to San Domingo in
1890, and later was made United
States minister to Hayti by President
Harrison.
LAYING FOOD SHORTAGE
ON BLACK GOAT
(Rv Associated Negro Press.)
Boston, Mass., June 10.—Refusal of
Negroes to return to the farms in the
south is said to be a large contrib
uting factor to the threatening food
shortage now impending in all sec
tions of the country. A movement is
to start here that will be used as one
of the means to induce the south to
change its attitude toward its Negro
population. It is hoped that will’ lx
an effective means to forestall the
threatened "famine."
INVADING EXCLUSIVE
RESIDENCE SECTION
(By Associated Negro Press.)
New York, N. Y., June 10.—The
Gold Realty company have sold a five
story modem apartment to Gamer &
Taylor, who intend to rent to colored
tenants. This is the first invasion of
one of New York's exclusive sections
by colored people, and the white resi
dents are said to be very indignant
over the matter.
UNWILLING TO
BECOME OPULENT
Dallas, Texas., June 10.—Robert
Swan, a boll hoy in a local hotel, re
cently refused a 50-cent tin when he
returned $1,400 to a man who left the
wallet on a writing desk of the lobby.
MILLER SPEAKS
AT COMMENCEMENT
Virginia Theological Seminary and
College Has Most Impressive Grad
uation Exercises in History of In
stitution.
PROMINENT TEACHER
GIVES PRACTICAL ADVICE
(Special to The Monitor by Charles
Stewart)
YNCHBURG, Va., June 1.—At the
commencement exercises of the
Virginia Theological Seminary and
college, this afternoon Dean Kelly
Miller of Howard university, dis
cussed "Manhood,” giving some good
practical advice to the young people,
pointing them the road to the goal
through training of the mind.
Tt was the largest commencement
in the history of the institution, and
people were here from all parts of
the state, and a large number from
other states. One of the features was
the unveiling of a monument erected
in honor of the first president of the
institution, Gregory Willis Hayes.
This was done by the alumni associa
tion. Dr. A. A. Galvin, chairman of
the trustee board, delivered an ad
dress introducing the first theolog
ical graduate, Dr. W. T. Hall, of
Philadelphia, Pa., a successful pas
tor and an intimate friend of Dr.
Hayes for over 25 years.
The Rev. Dr. S. T. Eldridge of
Petersburg, delivered the baccalau
reate serman Sunday, May 30, using
as his theme “Ruilding for God.” He
declared that in this world man’s
duty was to build character, not alone
for time, but for eternity.
Tonight thirty-six received di
plomas from the various departments
of the college, and the address was
delivered by Dr. Kelly Miller, dean of
Howard university. Among other
things, he said.
"The institution of slavery placed
all manly virtues in the possession of
the white race and suppressed the
Negro below the plane of noble In
stincts and qualities. It was per
fectly logical under this conception
that the black man should be exploit
ed for the honor and glory of his
white lord and master but under the
new democratic conception every man
is supposed to develop and exercise
th best powers within him for the
enoblement of his own nature. Man
is the greatest thing in the world. He
is the crowning effort of creative
energy. All of the forces of the uni
verse ultimate in him. The lowest
man in the world is worth more than
all the world besides man. The chief
aim of education is to emphasise on
the recipient the potentiality, the dig
nity, even the divinity of manhood.
“If through the process of education
we can inculcate this idea into the
minds of the Negro youth, our prob
lem will be on the way to solution.
All freedom first exists in the state
of mind. Fred Douglass was liber
ated the moment he read the Colum
bia Orator, which inspired in him
freedom of mind. The removing of
the shackles from his body was only
an incident."
ROLAND HAYES IN ENGLAND
(By Associated Negro Press.)
London, England, June 10.—Roland
W. Hayes, the noted Negro tenor, ar
rived here last Saturday from the
United States. Mr. Hayes has out
lined a concert tour of the British
Isles, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain
and portions of Africa. He expects
to make an extensive study of the
origin of Negro music while in
Africa. He will be absent from
America about two years.
WINS IN ARMY ESSAY CONTEST
Atlanta, Ga., June 10.—To a young
colored girl here, Mildred Adele. Bar
field, 13 years old, a pupil of the
Yonge street school, goes tlje honor
of representing the Atlanta district in
the United States army essay contest
for papers on the subject, “What Are
the Benefits of an Enlistment in the
United States Army?” Mildred also
gets a big silver cup, awarded by the
war department, as a prize to each
district winner, and the cash prize of
$25 offered by the Atlanta Kiwanis
club.
NORFOLK CITIZENS FORM
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Norfolk, Va., June 10.—Industrial
and commercial activities have great
ly increased in the city and business
men are now endeavoring to organize
a Chamber of Commerce.
Plans for the organization were
discussed at a mass meeting held
under the auspices of the Norfolk
Rusiness Men’s League.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT DROWNS
Victor Williams, Assistant Scout Com
mander and Choir Boy at St. Philip
the Deacon, Succumbs to Cramp and
Drowns at Carter Lake.
CICTOR Williams, 18*-year-old high
school student, was the first vic
tim of drowning this year. He and
three other boys went swimming in
Carter Lake near the auto speedway
Monday and Victor, who was taken
suddenly with cramps, sank in eight
feet of water and was drowned. His
body was recovered Tuesday and taken
to the Jones & Reed undertaking par
lor.
The lad was well beloved by ail
who knew him and while in the city
was under the guardianship of Mr.
South of South & Thompson’s cafe.
He was assistant scout commander
and choir boy at the Church of St.
Philip the Deacon. His relatives in
Kansas City, Mo., were notified.
SERIN’ THINGS AT NIGHT
IN ALEXANDRIA. VA.
Well, well, Alexandria, Va., spent
one sleepless night—all because they
had tried to lynch a colored prisoner.
They compelled the humble and com
pliant jailer and sheriff to allow
them to search the jail. They did
not find the Negro; he had been
taken away. And then some one
phoned from Washington that a mob
of two hundred Negroes were plan
ning to cross the Potomac and pay
Alexandria a visit. Alexandria im
mediately lost its nerves. To go after
one Negro handcuffed and jailed was
to be a picnic. But the idea of two
hundred Negroes unhandcuffed and
armed, was panic. There was the
greatest excitement. All the town
was stirred. Soldiers were sent for—
soldiers can always be had when the
white mob gets into distress. Every
sort of weapon was displayed, from a
pick-axe to a machine gun. The
streets resounded with the tramp of
arms and autos bristled with artil
lery.. Alexandria kept sleepless eyes
turned on the bridge-heads of the Po
tomoc, and jumped every time a leaf
rustled or a meteor flashed.
Now, why was Alexandria so tol
erant of the white mob and so afraid
of the mere suggestion of a Negro
mob? The nervous state of these
white people at the prospect of a
Negro mob much smaller than their
own, ought to cause them to reflect
on what must be the condition of the
helpless colored folk when white mobs
are holding the streets and every
black face is for the time outlawed.
The colored people have no soldiers
to help them. This white mob had
outraged the state and ravished civil
ization by taking possession of the
jail and upsetting law. But this same
state, which had just been outraged,
immediately rushed soldiers to the
aid of these men when the mere
imaginary ghost of a Negro counter
mob filled the air.
But the mob got at least one
right’s dose of its own medicine. It
suffered one whole night of “pre
paredness” and of real “watchful
waiting” and wakeful watching. The
Negroes did not come. They had
never planned to come. So far in the
history of the United States Negroes
have only mobbed and rioted on the
defensive. As a group they always
observe the law, except when they are
forced back through despair to the
more primary law of self-defense.
“The wicked fleeth when no man
pursueth.” Yes, and although the
wicked flee when no man pursues,
Alexandria proves that they can make
much better time when they at least
think that somebody is about to pur
sue.
WILLIAM PICKENS.
New York City.
GRADUATES OF CENTRAL HIGH
Among the graduates of Central
High who will be given their diplomas
at the city auditorium Saturday night
are Sabert Hanger, Ruth Jones and
Dorothy Elizabeth Williams. The
Misses Jones and Williams have made
excellent records during their entire
four year course, the latter having
been on the honor roll successively
for the last two years. Miss Jones
has not yet decided what she will do.
Miss Williams will enter the Nebras
ka state university at Lincoln in the
autumn. Mr. Hanger has not yet fully
decided upon his career.
GERMAN SCIENCE HAMPERED
Rerlin, June 10.—The depreciation
of the mark has dealt a stunning blow
to German science, according to a
statement bv Emil Abderhalden, food
expert and professor of physiology at
the University of Halle.
Miss Rae Lee Middleton,
Who leaves Friday to represent The
Kaffir Chemical Laboratories in Okla
homa and Texas.
DUBOIS PLAYERS PLEASE
LARGE AUDIENCE
Local Dramatic Club Presents “Test
ing Fire” and Wins Well Deserved
Commendation—Entire Cast Does
Excellent Work.
Brandeis theatre was filled with a
record attendance last Thursday night
when the DuBois Players, a local dra
matic organization, presented a melo
drama, entitled “Testing Fire,” under
the direction of Andrew T. Reed and
the management of Mrs. James G.
Jewell for the benefit of St. John's
A. M. E. church. The acting was ex
cellent, and the play was well staged.
So well was each character adapted to
the impersonator and so proficiently
did each act his part that it is diffi
cult to single out any member of the
cast as a star.
The scene is laid in France, during
the latp war, and the prologue opens
at the cottaee of John Renaud, a sol
dier, near the firing line; scene sec
ond of which being the camp of a
regiment behind the lines. The play
proper, which comprises four acts,
centers around the Chauteau de Au
beterre and the Hotel D’Aubeterre.
The star role, that of John Renaud,
was taken by John Otis Wood, and
was artistically done; Madeline Re
naud, his wife, and Adrienne, their
little daughter, were impersonated by
Mrs. Cecelia W. Jewell and Miss Ruth
Washington, who took their respec
tive parts with excellent taste and
poise. Miss Washington in her role
as a child of eight years deserves
especial mention. John R. Lemme as
Duge D’Aubeterre was made for this
part. He took it well, and was ably
supported by Mrs. Fannie Russell,
who impersonated the haughty Duch
ess D’Aubeterre. Mrs. Pearl Alexan
der, as Adrienne, age 20, loooked and
acted the part to perfection. As Count
de Moray, the villain, Andrew T.
Reed was at his best and divided hon
ors with the star. Cecil Alexander,
as Dennis O'Rourke the Irish valet,
was fine. Corinne Thomas made a
good Valentine de Moray and Jesse
L. Peoples, as Viscount de Langley;
Eva Peoples as college matron; Ed
ward Turner, as Captain Wolfe and
Gerald Edwards, in the dual parts of
Joseph a servant, and sergeant of the
guard, all sustained their parts well.
It was an excellent and well-balanced
cast. No better amateur acting has
ever been seen in this city. It would
hav done credit to professionals.
Interspersed with the play were
musical numbers by the Harmony and
Excelsior quartets; Roscoe Miller; a
violin solo by Maceo Williams, and a
solo by Iena Mays-Currv, all of which
were artistic and pleasing.
^^________ "'r "*r
WELL REPRESENTED IN
CITY GOVERNMENT
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Cleveland, Ohio., June 10.—A re
recent canvass of the colored men and
women holding lucrative positions in
the city government reveals that the
race is drawing about $350,000 an
nually in salaries from the city. Dr.
.T. T. Suggs, Alexander Taylor and
Thomas W. Fleming are among the
prominent men who are holding places
of trust and honor.
PROVIDING NEW SCHOOL.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Rock Hill, S. C., June 10.—A new
school building is being erected for
Negro children in this city. The
structure will be readv for use bv the
opening term of 1920-21. The schools
are now being conducted in the
churches of this district.
Some stones of life should not only
be screened, they should be covered.
INDIAN CLAIMS RICH
OIL MAN’S ESTATE
William Cowan Lowery, Who Was
Generally Considered a Negro But
Who is of Indian and White Par
entage, Claims to Be the Son of
Late President of Standard Oil
Company of Indiana.
ALLEGES CAN PROVE CLAIM
TO SHARE OF $3,000,000
□ELEYVILLE, Mo., June 10.—
William Cowan Lowery, who
says he is the son of the late William
b. Cowan, president of the Standard
Oil Company of Indiana, by Cowan’s
common law marriage with a full
blooded Indian woman from the Choc
taw and Creek tribes, affirms he is
certain he can prove his claim to a
share. at least of Cowan’s $3,000,000
estate.
Lowery lives in the Negro district
of Neelyville, and with his dark com
plexion and straight black hair has
been regarded as a Negro since he
came here a year ago.
According to Lowery's story, Cowan
met his mother—who was traveling
with a tent show in Illinois—forty
two years ago, and they lived to
gether as man and wife for several
years. His mother is now dead.
“I met my father twice,” he said,
“the first time right after my moth
er’s death, when I went to see him
because she told me to. I told him
about my mother and he gave me
$500. In 1916 I went to Chicago to
see him and told him I wanted to
buy a farm. He asked me how much
I would need and I told him about
$6,000. He finally gave me $4,675
and told me to go down to Neelyville,
saying I might strike oil. At the
same time he said to me, ‘I will make
provision for you in my will.’ ”
Until his mother told him, just be
fore she died, he says, he was ignor
ant of his father’s identity. Lowery
married a Negro woman, who died in
Neelyville on November 13 last. They
had two sons, one of whom, Abraham,
was killed in France.
LOUISIANA FARMER
BECOMES MILLIONAIRE
Colored Planter Has Several Large
Producing Oil Wells on His Land
From Which He Will Receive
Princely Royalties—Charles Jack
son Becomes Rich Overnight.
SOME OTHERS ARE
EQUALLY FORTUNATE
SHREVEPORT, La., June 10.—
Charley Jackson is a millionaire.
His little farm, located in 24-21-8, in
Claiborne parish, now has many pro
ducing wells on it, some of them be
ing among the largest producers in
the Homer field.
Two of the wells were drilled by
George Baird, each having a produc
tion of approximately 5,000 barrels,
and the Louisiana Oil & Refining Cor
poration, the Arkansas,Natural Gas
company and others have some of the
best producers that have been drilled
in the shallow sand in the Homer
field. Still others are being drilled,
and no dry holes have yet resulted
on Jackson’s land.
This is only one instance of the
sudden transposition of a Negro from
the class of a poor farmer to a mil
lionaire oil man. Two others can be
mentioned in connection with the de
velopment of the wonderful field in
Claiborne parish. One of these is
William Chatman, who Is drawing a
good fat check each month from roy
alties for oil produced on his land,
and William Hardy, another Negro,
upon whose land the rost Oil com
pany has four wells, which it is re
ported were recently sold for $1,
500,000.
BUREAU REPORTS 15,342
SETS OF TWINS BORN
Washington, June 10.—The census
bureau furnishes the interesting: in
formation that 16,342 sets of twins
and 147 sets of triplets were bom in
the United States in 1918.
Monitor Phone
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