i --- i The Monitor i ■= 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. JUNE 17, 1920 Vol. V. No. 50 (Whole No. 259)
INVADES COUNTRY
OFTHE ENEMY
The National Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People Holds
Eleventh Annual Session in Atlan
ta—Sessions Well Attended and
Awaken Interest.
STATES PRINCIPLES FOR
WHICH IT CONTENDS
i
Abolition of Lynching, Untrammellel
Right to the Ballot, Abolition of Jim
Crow Cara, Equal Educational and
Industrial Opportunities Chief De
mands—Spingarn Medal to Dubois.
(Special to The Monitor.)
TLANTA, Ga., June 17.—The
Eleventh Annual Conference of
the National Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People which
was held May 29-June 2 is declared
by all who attended to have been the
greatest in many respects of the con
ferences of the Association. Much
doubt was expressed prior to the con
ference as to whether the plain truth
in regard to the Negro question could
be spoken in Atlanta. The Associa
tion was true to its colors, even in
Atlanta. Every' speech, every testi
monial, every conversation, was
frank, straightforward, and to the
the point, evidencing no fear, but
marked with earnest sincerity that
was completely convincing.
Two hundred and twenty-seven del
egates and members registered, repre
senting 92 branches and 29 states.
There were also many visitors from
surrounding states. The total attend
ance at the four mass meetings held
on Sunday afternoon and on Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday nights and
at the business sessions exceeded 15,
000 persons.
The conference opened Sunday aft
ernoon with Arthur B. Spingarn, Vice
President of the Association, presid
isg. Mayor James L. Key spoke
briefly, welcoming the conferesce to
the city. It had bees hoped that Mr.
Storey, President of the Association,
would be present, but due to his ad
vanced age and a recent illness, it
seemed inadvisable to have him make
the long journey South. However,
Mr. Storey prepared an address on
"The Legal Aspects of the Negro
Question” which was read by Mr.
Spingarn. The Rev. M. Ashby Jones
of Atlanta made a plea for co-oper
ation between tre intelligent elements
of both races. The keynote of the
conference was struck by JamesWel
don Johnson when he declared that
the five principal demands of all Ne
groes were (1) guaranty of life by the
abolition of lynching through federal
action, if necessary; (2) the Negro's
untrammeled right to the ballot upon
the same terms as other races; (3)
the abolishment of “Jim Crow” cars;
(4) equal educational ana inaustnai
opportunities; (5) the abolition of
"segregation, especially in the govern
mental departments in Washington.
Most interesting of all the sessions
was that of Monday evening at which
Harry E. Davis of Cleveland presid
ed. The causes and effects of recent
migrations of colored people north
ward wei ’ treated from the viewpoint
of the North, of the South, and of the
Negro. Mrs, Florence Kelley, Secre
tary of the National Consumers’
league and member of the Board of
Directors of the Association, told of
the tremendous changes now taking
place in regard to the colored woman
worker, urging that through the de
velopment of co-operative movements,
the singleness of interests of the
white and colored woman worker be
emphasized for the betterment of con
ditions of both. Other speakers were
Eugene R. Black, President of the At
lanta Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Pla
to Durham, Dean of Emory Univer
sity, Atlanta, and the Rev. R. W.
Bagnall of Detroit. Dr. Durham spoke
feelingly of the need of mutual un
derstanding between the races and
explained the Atlanta Plan of Inter
racial Co-operation. Dr. Bagnall, who
has made a careful study of migration
to Detroit, gave a brief historical
sketch of migratory movements of the
past, declaring that inter-racial con
. ferences had been proposed before
with no success, particularly in 1879,
when such a movement was at its
height. Stating that the colored pop
ulation of Detroit had in three years
increased from 8,000 to well over 35,
000, Mr. Bagnall gave several con
crete examples of the way in which
colored men from the South were mak
ing good in northern industries. He
declared that the only hope of the
( Negro lay in his continued migration
to the North until the South is forced
through economic necessity to grant I
his demands.
The Spingam Medal was presented
to Dr. W. E. B. Wu Bois “for the
founding and calling together on Feb
ruary 19, 20 and 21, 1919, in Paris,
France e First Pan-African Con
gress. ^jtes were paid to the
recipiei * M. W. Adams, Acting
Preside!. ^ ^anta University; Pres
ident Jo. £ '-e of Morehouse Col
lege, and Ivington. The pres
entation w v ie by Bishop John
Hurst, Cha % of the Spingam
Medal Awar • nittee.
“Lynching ® egregation” was
the subject foi sion on Tuesday
day night, whs- Mr. J. E. Spingam
presided. Mr. Spingam in his open
ing address proposed the formation
in each of the Southern States of a
permanent race commission composed
of five members of each race who
should not be politicians, but fearless
and intelligent leaders, whose duty
should be to investigate causes of
friction, to make recommendations for
legislative action, and to have all mat
ters pertaining to race relations sub
mitted for approval to such commis
sions before being approved by the
Governor.
Charles Edward Russell, in attack
ing the lynching evil, showed that
back of much of the practice of lynch
ing lay the ignorance and illiteracy of
the Southern States, and urged the
formation of a Bureau of Education
with a secretaryship in the Cabinet.
The Rev. Peter James Bryant of At
lanta and William Pickens, associate
field secretary of the association, were
the other speakers.
The closing session of the confer
ence on Wednesday night was on the
important question of “Education and
the Ballot.” The speakers were Mrs.
W. Spencer Murray of New York, the
Rev. C. B. Wilmer of Atlanta and
Dr. Du Bois. Dr. Du Bois in his ad
dress showed that lynching flourished
1 in direct proportion to the extent to
which Negroes were disfranchised.
He declared: “If the South wishes
to be abreast of the world, it must
put an effective ballot in the hand of
every citizen, black and white, male
and female.”
The results of the conference re
main to be seen. The conference end
ed, however, with a deeper determi
nation on the part of all of the dele
gates and members to make a strong
er and more determined fight than
ever before to achieve the objects for
which the association stands—for a
complete and unquestioned share of
freedom for all American citizens, re
gardless of race or color.
WOMEN ASK VOTES FOR ALL
International Suffrage Alliance Now
Includes All Nations.
Geneva, June 17.—The Internation
al Woman Suffrage Alliance Con
gress has decided that the Alliance
should be continued to obtain suf
frage and equal rights with men for
the women of all nations. This de
cision was put in the form of an
amendment to Article 11 of the con
stitution. The amendment says
"Resolved, That the object of the
Alliance shall be in the future to se
cure enfranchisement of the women
of all nations by the promotion of
woman suffrage, and also such other
reforms as are necessary to establish
real equality of liberties, status and
opportunities between men and
women."
The delegates declared their belief
that the decision would be received
happily by the Parliaments and men
of all countries as well as by the
women.
It is underwood the delegates of
many nations have presented a peti
tion to Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt of
New York, President of the Alliance,
asking her to continue in that office.
Mrs. Catt is expected to reply Friday.
Discussion whether a women’s La
bor Bureau should be founded within
the league of Nations or apart from
that body occupied this afternoon’s
session. Lady Astor and Mrs. Catt
were opposed to having the bureau
in any case. Miss Eleanore Rath
bone, British delegate, urged that the
bureau be established within the
League in order that its expenses
might be borne by the League.
The Congress finally voted, 53 to
47, that the bureau be established
outside the League.
GREENSBURG TO HATE
A RACE LAUNDRY
Greensburg. Pa., June 17.—In the
near future there will be a laundry
established and operated by the col
ored people of Greensburg, which will
be known as the Profit-Sharing Laun
dry of Greensburg.
ORGANIZATION TO
OPPOSE SLAVERY
Gold Cross Society Has Been Organ
ized for the Purpose of Defending
the Rights of Native or Subject
People Before the League of Na
tions and Court of Public Opinion.
LEAGUE MAKES SUBJECT
PEOPLE VOICELESS
The Contention of Leaders of the New
Movement Which Intends to Collect
Data and Expose All Injustice to
Oppressed People Without Discrim
ination—Membership International.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
PARIS, France, June 17.-—A news
dispatch from Geneva, Switzer
land, has been received here report
ing the organization of the Gold Cross
Society. The society has been organ
ized for the purpose of defending the
lights of native or subject people be
fore the League of Nations and the
court of public opinion.
As constituted at present, it is con
tended that the proposed League gives
no voice to subject people who com
prise a large part of the world’te
population. Anti-slavery is the war
cry of the “Gold Cross’’ advocates,
and the plan of operation is to ad
vance measures to protect natives and
subject groups against the abuses by
white oonquerors, using the Dutch or
Swiss representatives in the League
as special attorneys of the society.
A bureau of information will be
immediately organized and data will
be gathered as soon as practicable re
garding peonage in Central and South
America, the coolie system in Asia,
forced labor and exportation of na
tives in Africa and peonage and lynch
ing in the United States. The theory
of anti-slavery leaders is that govern
mental action is ineffective and that
only private vigilance can keep down
the increasing prevalence of the vari
ous forms of slavery which continue
to appear in all sections of the world.
It is also declared by the leaders
in the new movement that the League
of Nations’ code of principles, which
includes the pronouncement that na
tives constitute a “sacred trust,’’ ap
plies only to the colonies taken from
Germany, apparently. Thp Gold Cross
Society intends to expose all injustice
to oppressed people without discrimi
nation. The British, French, German,
Swiss, Italian, Peruvian, Australian,
Portugese and Bolivian anti-slavery
organizations have joined the new
league. An invitation has been ex
tended to the United States to enter
the new movement, possibly through
an organization of the churches, if the
government cannot be induced to join.
METEOR FALLS IN OKLAHOMA
Lights the Skies of Several South
western States in Descent.
Okomulgee, Okla., June 17.—Geol
ogists will study the huge meteor
which fell and buried itself out near
here last Tuesday after lighting the
skies over several southwestern
states. Hundreds of persons in Mis
souri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklaho
ma watched the meteor's flight, re
ports received here said. Scores of
motor cars clogged the roads leading
to where the burning mass fell.
Considerable apprehension among
the people living near Fort Smith,
Ark., was caused. They thought the
meteor fell near Red Oak, Okla., about
25 miles distant. A number of per
sons in automobiles went from Wil
burton, Okla., and nearby towns to
Red Oak to give aid.
POLES WIPE OUT
TWO RED DIVISIONS
Warsaw, June 17.—The Polish
counter offensive against the bolshev
iki between the Dvina and upper Ber
esina under General Pilsudski, Pres
ident of the Republic, is developing
very favorably, according to an of
ficial statement issued by the Gen
eral Staff.
The Poles, breaking the desperate
resistance of the bolsheviki, have an
nihilated the Third and Twelfth bol
shevist divisions and have occupied
Czamica and Plissa, twenty-five miles
southwest of Diana, with heavy losses
to the enemy.
NEW TIES WITH HOLLAND
The Hague, June 17.—The Ameri
can minister, William Phillips, in an
interview with the Netherlands Indies
Press Bureau states his opinion that a
new era has commenced since the war
in economic relations of the Nether
lands Indies and America, especially
with the ever-increasing American
merchant fleet.
•
1 NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION
Flag lie-decked and Human fty
Tiironged Coliseum Makes Great Im
pression Upon the Editor ot The
Monitor Who Wus Present Asa Visi
tor und a Leonard Wood Booster.—
Democratic Commingling of Amer
ican Citizens of All Colors From
North and South Without Any Un
toward Happenings.
DE FBI EE ST TK1ES TO FORCE
FIGHT ON DISFRANCHISEMENT
TO THE FLOOR; AMENDMENT
RULED OUT OF ORDER
(Special to The Monitor by the Editor)
CHICAGO, June 17.—The national
republican convention was called
to order at 11:30 Tuesday morning,
June 8. The flag-bedecked coliseum
with its 15,000 human beings of the
various racial groups entering into
our national life was an inspiring
sight. Among the delegates and al
ternates and spectators there was a
most generous sprinkling of that
group of loyal Americans who lend
color and virliity to any gathering.
The only place where the colored
American was not seen was on the
platform. Among the distinguished
ex-chairmen of national republican
coi/ventions, ex-congressmen, etc.,
who were given places on the platform
it is regrettable that room was nor
found for a man like Major John R.
Lynch. This is an oversight for
which someone was responsible. Was
it Will Hays? Otherwise, Americans
of color Were omni-present. Nothing
serious happened when, for example,
a refined, well-dressed and well-man
nered colored man or woman was
seated beside a white Georgian or
South Carolina man who would have
been scandalized by such “social equal
ity” in the land where the magnolia
bWws.
The invocation was offered by the
Rt. Rev. Charles E. Woodcock, Bishop
of Kentucky, who Omahan’s will re
member for his recent address in that
city. Temporary organization was ef
fected by the election of Henry Cabot
Lodge as chairman. He delivered the
keynote address, which was a vitrolic
attack upon "Wilsonian autocracy.”
This forecasted the platform subse
quently adopted. The appointment of
platform and credentials committees
completed the work of the first morn
ing session when adjournment was
taken until Wednesday morning.
Wednesday morning’s session was
brief. Temporary organization was
made permanent. The sandpatters
were in control. This was very evi
dent. Chauncey M. Depew spoke and
adjournment was taken until Thurs
day morning at 11. The platform com
mittee was busy with saw and ham
mer and the job was not yet done.
Thursday morning’s session occupied
less than an hour as the platform was
not ready. Adournment was taken un
til 4 o clock.
The platform makers were having a
time over the plank of the Teague of
Nations, but there was another plank
which worried them a deal and that
was a plank demanding enfranchise
ment of the Negro In the south or the
cutting down of southern representa
tion. With the hope of breaking "the
Hindenburg line of southern democ
racy” the party, as usual, side-stepped.
Late Thursday afternoon it was after
5 o’clock when Chairman Watson read
the platform. A minority report more
direct and specific was presented by
a delegate from Wisconsin. Oscar De
Priest of Illinois moved an amendment
to the report demanding enforcement
of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
amendments. It was ruled out of or
der, but the fact that our people were
determined to bring the issue of
southern misrepresentation before the
convention was made plain. It was an
endeavor to force the fight on the
floor of the convention. Henry Lin
coln Johnson won as National Commit
teeman from Georgia when his state
was polled. Despite what may be said
or thought of Johnson he was ac
knowledged as one of the shrewdest
and ablest politicians in the conven
tion and now for the first time in
many years a colored man is a mem
ber of the National Republican Com
mittee.
Friday morning the nominations
were in order. Wood’s name was flrst
presented. The demonstration lasted
over forty minutes. There was an en
thusiasm and sponteneity to this dem
onstration that others lacked. Mrs.
Robinson, Roosevelt’s sister, received
an ovation when she seconded Wood’s
nomination. She has the Rooseveltian
pep and punch. Lowden’s nomination
was second and then came that of
Hiram Johnson. Wheeler or San
Francisco did not help Johnson’s
cause by his long and tiresome speech.
A pleasant little lady from New
Hampshire, whose husband was a
member of the New Hampshire dele
gation, sat next to the writer. She
quietly remarked, “That speech Is
enough to kill Johnson’s chances.’’
Other nominations followed rapidly
Then came the first ballot with Wood
in the lead. You knew the rest late
Saturday afternoon. Harding and
Coolidge received the nomination.
Personal observations and sidelights
from the editor will be given in next
week’s Issue.
COLORED EDITORS
HOLD CONFERENCE
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Chicago, 111., June 17.—The meet
ing of colored editors planned by the
Associated Negro Press was attend
ed by a large number of the men in
terested in the conduct of Negro
papers throughout the country. Na
hum D. Brascher presided at the
meeting and addresses were deliv
ered by Nelson Crews of the Kansas
City Sun; George W. Harris of the
New York News; Carey B. Lewis of
the Chicago Defender; George Stew
art of the Indianapolis Recorder; C.
F. Richardson of t he Houston Ob
server; W. Allison Sweeney of the
Carter of Washington, D. C.; W. L.
Porter of the East Tennessee News;
and Claude A. Barnett, director of
the Associated Press. Among those
present were William Warley of the
Louisville News; W. H. A. Moore of
the Associated Negro Press; Dr. Mur
ray of the Boston Chronicle; and
Melvin J. Chisum of the Negro
World. The Rev. J. Albert Williams
of the Omaha Monitor, Harry C.
Smith of the Cleveland Gazette, J. E.
Mitchell of the St Louis Argus, Jo
seph L. Jones of the Cincinnatti Mon
itor, C. K. Robinson of the St Louis
Independent Clarion, J. T. A. Whit
ney, the well known New York cor
respondent, Henry Allen Boyd of
Nashville, Tenn., W. T. Andrews of
the Baltimore Herald, Phil A. Jones,
business manager of the Chicago De
fender.
CITIZENS BANQUET
DELEGATES AND VISITORS
(By the Associated Negro Press.)
Chicago, 111., June 17.—Over 200
delegates to the convention attended
the banquet tendered to the visitors
by the citizens’ committee last
Wednesday night in the large dining
room of the Vincennes hotel. Wil
liam R. Cowan served as toastmaster
and the following program of toasts
followed the dinner:
General Wood and the Negro, Maj.
John R. Lynch.
International Relations, Dr. Ernest
J. Lyons.
The Citizen Soldiery Maj. R. R.
Jackson.
The Negro Press, Geo. W. Harris.
Solving the Problem, W. H. Lewis.
The Negro in the West, Hon. Nelson
C. Crews.
Reducing Southern Representation,
Hon. E H. Wright.
Our Candidate, Dr. Emmett J.
Scott.
Making Democracy Safe, W. H. A.
Moore.
Americanism, Hon. Charles W. On
derson.
Claude A. Barnett, Nahum D.
Brascher, David Hawley, Dr. Leon
ard Lewis and Harvey A. Watkins
were the committee of arrangements.
SHIPPING CONGRESS
FAVORS LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Copenhagen, June 17.—The Baltic
and White Sea Conference opened re
cently with about 100 delegates pres
ent. The following resolution was
submitted and adopted, being com
mended from different sides.
“The general meeting of the Baltic
and White Sea Conference welcomes
the formation of the League of Na
tions and seriously hopes this great
endeavor to create an organization
aiming at the prevention of war will
receive general support from the pub
lic opinion of the whole world."
LAY HIGH COSTS ON LABOR
Ohio Grand Jury Blames Workers for
Rise in Building Prices.
Cleveland, June 17.—Chief blame
for tremendous increases in building
costs is placed on labor’s refusal to
do “a day’s work for a day’s pay,” in
the report of the county grand jury
on its investigation to Judge Kennedy
in criminal court
ORGANIZED LABOR
WIPES OUTCOLOR LINE
The American Federation of Labor
Has Taken Democratic Stand Con
cerning Status of Brother in Black—
Colored Workmen Must Be Admitted
to Full Membership.
SOUTHERN OPPOSITION
WISELY OVERRIDDEN
Final Action Taken After a Stormy
Session and Bitter Fight—Dele
gates Resent Opprobrious Use of
Term “Nigger”—Resentment Sus
tained by Chair—Believe Question
Settled.
“jy^ONTREAL, Que., June 17.—The
American Federation of Labor
June 10 wiped out the “color line”
and warned, its affiliated internation
al unions that Negro workers must
be given full and equal membership.
The action came at the end of a
stormy session, which nearly result
ed in a “race war” between delegates
from the Southern States and the
Negroes and their sympathizers.
An Enemy in Camp.
An appeal to the workers to de
sert the federation and align with the
One Big Union was spread broadcast
through the city. It asserted that
craft unionism was “doomed.” The
circular was the first open attack on
the American Federation by the One
Big Union organization in Canada.
The steel and coal strikes and the
recent railroad strike, the circular
said, showed the federation delegates
have “specialized in co-operating with
the bosses and government and alto
gether have railroaded and jailed the
representatives of our class.”
Illinois Men Back the Blacks.
Rejecting the recommendation of
its organization committee, the fed
eration threatened the autonomy of
an affiliated union by requesting the
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks to
give the Negro freight handlers, ex
press and station employes full mem
bership and eliminate from its con
stitution the words, “white only.”
The discussion drew the fire of the
Negro delegates and of several North
ern States, chiefly Illinois and New
York.
In the exchange of oratory in which
the Negroes charged “taxation with
out representation” and “discrimina
tion,” to which their opponents re
plied with accusations and betrayal by 1
Negro workers in past labor dis
putes.
Indignation of the Negro delegates
was aroused several times when
speakers referred to them as “nigger”
freight handlers and their objection
to such remarks was sustained by the
acting chairman, James Duncan.
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, made
an unsuccessful attempt to halt the
debate by explaining that arrange
ments were under way to get aU
unions to take in Negro members.
Modified and Passed.
Representatives of the Brotherhood
of Railway Clerks declared they were
taking care of the Negro question
and giving just attention to Negro
grievances. They asked the conven
tion to leave the matter in their
hands.
Several motions were made on the
floor to demand that the railway
clerks abolish the "color line" in their
constitution or forfeit their charter.
One of these was later modified to
“request” the brotherhood to give the
Negro full membership. It was ac
cepted by an overwhelming majority.
“This, I believe, will settle the Ne
gro problem in our organization for
all time,” said Chairman Duncan.
“Our affiliated unions must now un
derstand that the color line is abol
ished."
FORMS INTER-RACIAL
COMMITTEE OF HELP
(By Associated Negro Press.)
States with, N. C.. June 17.—J. S.
Hunter, associated state Y. M. C. A.
secretary, has perfected the arrange
ments for a local inter-racial com
mittee to handle problems arising for
adjustment between the races. The
committee consists of five colored and
five white men who are to co-operate
for the better education and better
housing among the colored people in
this vicinity.
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