l”"1 i The Monitor ~l ^ A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS. _ , - ,s_THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor $2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy _, OMAHA, NEBRASKA, JUNE 24, 1920 Vol. V. No. 52 (Whole No. 206) NEWSPAPER MEN HOLD HELPFUL COHFEREHCE Representatives of Fifty Wide-Awake Sentiment Making Race Publication Take Counsel Together Talk Sli< on News t.albering, Managem i Advertising and Poliey. ^ / issi | SANK STATEMENT w OF V1TAJ, PEINClp,.js ** Remand F<|iial and Exact Juvtfce and the Full and Free Exercise of All the Rights of American Citizenship for (he I IJMMMHMt Colored Ameri cans In This Country. C1tllHAnp. hi.—Fifty papers were i represented at the meeting ol ed Bitors and newspaper men called by C. A. Barnett and Nahum Daniel Brascher of the Associate! Negro 1 Press at the Appomattox Club. June 7, 1920. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Brascher and opened .with prayer by Father Williams, editor ol The Omaha Monitor. Extended remarks Cwere made by Mr. Brascher explain ing call and making Suggestions, j Wm. Warlcy, editor of the Louisiille j News, was made secretary of the ! meeting. C. F. Richardson of the i Houston Informer. Houston. Texas, 1 paid the Associated Negro Press a high tribute and said the race was ^ benefited more bj it than by any iIN other one thing. George Stewart, editor of the In I . dinnapolis Recorder, spoke on “What !, News’* and agreed with Mr. Rich-, aidson that colored papers ought to t play uii the commendable and pro L gresslve acts by the race and minl * mliie the criminal facts. Carey B. Lewis, managing editor of I ft the Chicago Defender, welcomed the editors as a Chicago newspaper man and also as chairman of the reception committee of the Appomattox. Mr. j L Lewis declared that news “is any ■x thing that is interesting and makes Wf ih paper sell."" He explained the Defender carried political, social, sen saticniil and sporting and ali kinds of L news, as each appealed to a certain * eic He said the lieart and soul of the Defender was on its editorial ' page, where it puts its best brain, i • thought and wisdom. , George W. Harris, editor of the New ; Yolk News, was called upon. Mr. Harris agreed with Mr. L^wls on his version of "news." explaining that the sensational news feature secured the greatest number of readers, allowing v the editor to shoot his uplift editor iai to the greatest number of people. Mr. Harris spoke on the political power of the press and by example proved that editors could do more good for flic race by ignoring imme diate benefits and standing up for the best interest of the race. Nelson C. Crew of the Kansas City Sim spoke Interestingly upon the trip I of tii" 27 busines!- men made through i " the South. Mr. Crews made an elo- i fluent address and drew very fine pic- i Hires of the business life of the race ! in the South. Resolution Committee: C. F. Rich ardson of Texas; Mr. George W. Har ris of New York; Father John Albert— Williams of Omaha, Neb. v Mr. Webster L.' Porter. Knoxville, I Tonn., spoke on "Management of | Newspapers,'’ and made a point that 1 colored newspaper men must get their ; 'N own linotype machines and own J presses atni take them out of the i hand of white shops. W. Allison Sweeney, contributing j editor of the Chicago Defender, called ; upon as a newspaper man of long experience. Indulged in reminiscences, lie paid high tribute to the colored newspaper and urged that, colored ed Itoi stop referring to themselves as ! colored editors, but as newspaper! men. Prof. A. Malone, head of the Poro j r. H< l.otli oke briefly hut declined to make-any sug gestions as to what, she called the wise newspaper men. Hi ;< itBslon of advertising started by ' J. !•;. Mitchell of the St. Louis Argus. | C. A. Barnett, director of the Asso- \ elated Negro Press, spoke on "How We Should Approach the White Ad vertiser." He urged the editors to ‘ keep their rates truly in proportion to their actual circulation. J. Finley Wilson, editor of the j ' % . / • . Washington Eagle, was made chair man oPthe advertising committee, and servir 1th him were W. L. Porter of Tennessee .News. George Stew s' £ Jianapolis Recorder and J. E. ^ ell of St. Louis Argus. c>“ .'port of resolution committee read Rev. John Albert Williams of the maha (Nebraska) Monitor, t’poh motion of Mr. Suinmerville. Portsmouth, Va,, the report was adopted. Mr. Mitchell of St. Louis Argus suggested that we have two press associations. Substitution mo tion carried eliminating the recom mendation to form new press associa tion. Motion was carried to send ] resolutions to the Republican Resolu- j tion Committee of the National Con vention. SON GRADUATES MOTHER FROM RURAL SCHOOL Laurence C. Jones of “The Piney Woods Country Life School” Pulls Off Unique Commencement, tiraxton, Miss., June 24.—The word,: commencement, always brine- to the mind music and flowers and oratory,1 but down in the Piney Woods, Lau- ] rence C. Jones and his school have given it a new meaning. Along with i usic and flowers and oratory, he has j added the clang of the anvil, the pounding of the gasoline engine, the; ring of the hammer and the song of the saw. The boys and girls who graduated not only delivered their graduation; speeches, hut demonstrated them at tile same time. One boy made a batch of cement, and formed a block while; talking, another welded t tire for a wheel, making sparks fly over the chapel. A Kir) made up a hatch of ; bread and baked it, another measured a girl and cut and fit a dress. While the audience was watching the bread j baker and d less maker, another girl demonstrated many practical and use ful article- (lie , new rural school \ teacher is required to make. The climax of the commencement was when the aged mother of Prin cipal Jones came forth’ and made a broom on machinery at one end of; the platform and explained the pro ve.-- and showed the audience several different kinds of brooms she had been required to make in order to complete the course. The local white friends-and throng of colored people burst into enthusiastic applause when Principal Jones presented his mother tier diploma, along with the othei graduates.—From the Daily Clarion Ledger (Jackson, Miss.) • <_ nnnn mtv mekvk'E MEMBEBSHII* 1IKIVE l Helpful Vgcncy for file Betterment of Our I'ltJ/.enshlp Needs Co-oper tition of All the Members of Our Oioiij). For ho me months Community Serv- | ice offering educational, recreational and social advantages to our people, ! has been maintained at 2420 Lake j street, under the direction of Mr. j Gteocge H. W. Bullock and Miss Lu- | ■He is. LaCofir. It has demonstrated j i n-cfulueftH to the community and ought to he continued. For its con inuance it is necessary that it should have the active luoAfl and financial support of bur people. To this end a membership drive will he put on July 1st for the purpose of securing 1,000 members •who may share in the priv ileges offered. Among the education ill advantages offered are instruction n sewing, domestic science, canning, gardening* home care of sick, citl ' i : hip Y-om -c dramatics and choral work. Heereatiou&l and social ad vantages include gymnastics organ ized play, baseball, football, basket mil; volley, tcuni- swimming, story ml ling, pageants, picnics, summer I •amps ap i scouting. All tfiese ad- I vantages make for the upbuilding of j lur city. If ip tlie belief that the Irive for members will meet a ready •espouse and that many of our citi zens will be found who will cheer hilly subscribe a sufficient amount monthly not only to carry on the iresent activities, but to enlarge their mope. He ready to become a ntcra >01* of thp Lake Street Community ■Service. E. W. Pryor is president of he executive council, and associated with him are nineteen of our most irogres dvc, far-sighted and represenf iHi-e citizens. GIVES RECEPTION FOR GRADS. The residence of Mrs. Ruth Wallace Twenty-eighth and Rlondo stret, wap the scene last Saturday night of a de ightful reception tendered the grad uates of the year by Mrs. Wallace. The hostess was assisted by the Phi Delta club and Camp Fire Oirls. DULUTH MOB MURDERS THREE MEN SUSPECTED OF REVOLTING CRIME Following an Alleged Criminal Assault Upon an Eighteen-Year Old Girl, Infuriated Mob numbering Thousands, Unrestrained by Yielding Police Force, Batter Down Jail, Destroy Public Property, Lynch Young Circus Rostabouts Held as Suspects— Victims of Mob’s Fury Aged From Eighteen to Twenty Die Protesting Innocence. EFFORTS OF PRIESTS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS PROVE UNAVAILING Endeavors to Restrain Blood-Lust and Permit the Law to Take Its Course Are Without Result—Appeals for Sanity Me%With Jeers —Pleas for Mercy Answered With Brutality—Physician Finds No Physical Evidence of Assault. States Girl Suffering From Nervous Shock. a (Special to Monitor by Staff Corre spondent.) DULUTH, Minn., June 24.—A sense of humiliation and shame over ibe lynching of three young circus roustabouts here last Tuesday by a mob, estimated at from 5,000 to 10, 000, pervades the city. Condemnation of the police authorities for failure to use drastic measures to disperse the mob is prevalent.. One prominent min ister voiced tbe sentiment of many when he declared that here was a clear case where the majesty of the law should have been sustained at ail hazards. The feeling of shame is the more keen not only because this is Duluth’s first mob murder, but be cause there Is grave doubt in the pub lic mind as to the guilt of the men lynched. It is claimed that third de gree methods by the police wrung a "confession” from two of tbe men, bill the third, Isaac McGhee, aged 20, who was the first victim of the mob's fury, died protesting his innocence. There i a, belief firmly fixed In the mind of the average man that dying men don't He. Elmer Jackson met death calmly. Elias Clayton, aged Is, the youngest of the trio, and the third to die, begged for mercy, but was an swered with kicks and blows. There is some speculation as to why the as sault which was alleged to have taken place about 10 o'clock Monday night was not reported to tbe police until Tuesday morning. Tbe statement by Dr. David Graham, who examined'tbe girl Tuesday morning, that he found no physical evidence of an assault, but (hat she was suffering from a ner vous shock, has also had a tendency ; to give the' impression that the facts In (his case may have been greatly ex aggerated. lie the facts as they may, Ibe prevailing sentiment Is that tbe recused men should have bad a speedy and impartial trial and niton the es tablishment of their guilt been ade- i quately punished. As the accused men were not residents of this city, but roustabouts with Robinson’s cir •us, your correspondent can say noth- l Ing as to I heir character. A grand Jury has been summoned and will make an inquisition. Alter wrecking vengeance upon the three victims, no •ft'ort was made by the mob to mole. i colored residents of Duluth. Things ire moving smoothly here and at Gary where the steel plant is located. Tin, local press gives this story of the reported crime and subsequent lynching: Six Negroes, three of whom have idmitted their guilt, ure being held it. police headquarters here for crlin nally assaulting a wellknown West Duluth girl on the circus grounds at ibout 10 o’clock last night. The girl with her escort were behind iho anl ual tent watching the loading, when hey were surprised by a number of 'iegroes/one of whom placed a gun igalnst the head of James Sullivan, he escort; 2874 West Wicklow street, it the same time pinning bis arms >ehind His back. Two others grabbed he girl, who is not over 18 years old, mil, placing a hand over her mouth o stifle her screams, carried her to i clump of hushes uuar the Missabe racks and there one after another as inulted her. Her escort was com icllcd to accompany the Negroes and witness the assault. When released, the girl and her es cort were allowed to leave by way of •he ravine, some of the Negro party watching to see that they did not re urn by way of the circus grounds ind give a warning. Girl Weak and Hysterical. The young woman was in a hyster cnl condition and very weak, and had r * r— to In- assisted to a street car and her home. Mr. Sullivan acquainted his father with the facts this morning, and he in turn called up the girl's father, and they reported the matter to the police. immediate steps were taken by the poli c department to prevent the cir cus from leaving the city, and a str ing force was sent to the grounds, arriving there just as the train was about to leave. Every colored man was compelled to line up, and close examination of all was made with Mr. Sullivan’s assistance in,making an at tempt to recognize the ones guilty. Twelve Taken Hy Police. Twelve of the crew were taken to police headquarters and subjected to a rigid examination. After being "sweated” for some time, three of the Negroes. Nathan Green, Elmer .Tack sot. and Laney Dilllans, admitted the charge and were locked up. One of the Negroes, while believed to have hly n one of the accomplices, stoutly denied his guilt. Tlie Lynching. This is the story of the lynching as reported by Uie Duluth Herald of June ifith: Duluth had the first lynching in its history last night. A mob estimated anywhere from 1.000 to 10,000, bent on avenging an assault on a young West Duluth girl, lynched three Negroes held as sus pects, |wo of whom, it. is claimed, had confessed to the crime and the third, who was being held as a material wit ness, hanging them to an electric light pole in front of the Shrine au ditorium. The mob wrecked police headquarters and wounded several po licemen in taking the Negroes The three Negroes whose dead bodies an today at Grady & Morgan’s undertaking rooms are Isaac McGhee, age 20: Elmer Jackson, age 20, and Elias Clayton, age lr». McGhee is the only one of the trio who, to the last, claimed innocence of the crime. The gathering of the tnoh started curly In the evening. It is claimed that a truck on which was the label ' City Truck," came from the western nd of the city shortly after 7 o’clock, irrylng a gang of young men At tached to the truck and dragging be hind was a ldnu rope. The truck traveled through tie streets slowly . hile those on the truck shouted. Gome on, fellows, join the necktie party.” Men and boys grabbed the rope anil marched behind the truck through the •• treat, finally stopping opposite po lice headquarters on the tipper side. ' he. crowd gathered rapidly. Truck loads of others joined, many of these truck loads coming from the western ( nd of the city. The truck riders coming later made no demonstration. Apparently no attempt was made to ton them. YoutJi Incites Crowd. When the first truck slopped, a ywmg man, whose ace was Judged at ibout 20 years, got up ou the top if the truck and began to address the 'rowd. His talk Is said to have been veeptionally inciting. He told the •rowd that the girl who was attacked iy the Negroes laid in the hospital at. death's door, and called on the crowd for vengeance. The police barricaded the door of police headquarters and called every in off duty to report. A reserve of twenty-five policemen was at the sta ilon when the mob began its assault on the jail. Sergeant Oscar Olson was in charge. The police were holding the fort, both front and back, when the crowd flanked them by climbing l he fire-escape between the city hall * and police headquarters and breaking In through the windows. Before the police knew what was taking place, several hundred men had. forced their way in and begun the process of bat tering the jail. Fire hose turned on the mob by the fire department, which was called out • to disperse the mob, apparently only j added to the fury. The mob took the j hose out of the hands of the firemen and turned the water on the police. ! Hundreds of feet of fire hose was de |stroyed. Bricks, paving blocks, rails and heavy timbers were used in battering | the way into the jail. After break ! ing into the main cell house, the mob j tore loose the locks on several of the 1 fells. Finding only one of the Ne I groos downstairs, the mob went up stairs to the boys’ department where l the other five were being held. Steel saws were used when it was round that the battering ram was of no avail. Two steel bars holding the ' big door were sawed through. This process was too slow for the mob, which took another battering ram and broke through the wall, making a hole three feet wide by two feet high. The wall at this point is sixteen inches thick. Through this hole the terri I tied Negroes were dragged. Negroes Dragged to Doom. The Negroes were taken up the hill to First street, following a mock trial ; held just outside of the cell room. McGhee "was the first to be strung ; up. He begged for mercy, stoutly de claring his innocence. Father W. J. Powers and Father P. J. Maloney pleaded with the crowd to allow the law to take its course, but were greet i ed with hoots and yells and with the 1 remarks, “Remember the girl" and Lynch him.” The first of the Negroes to hang, Isaac McGhee, fell to the ground when I the rope broke, the mob members 1 nearest to the victim kicking him and jumping on him until he was about I dead. Elmer Jackson, the next to die, met death calmly. He threw ; some dice to the crowd with the re ' where he was going. The crowrd cheered during his dying convulsions. When dead, he was lowered to within a few feet of the ground and left hang ing, stripped of most of his clothes (and covered with blood. Regs Mercy; Gets Brutality. Elias Clayton, the third Negro, who had w itnessed the hanging of the other • two, wept and begged for mercy, but j l here was no mercy in the Crowd and I lie was quickly hoisted high and. with j hands lifted in supplication, received the kicks and blows aimed at Illinois his body dangled against the pole. One voting man, who, It was claimed, was (Continued on Page Four.) EFFORTS OF PRIESTS. Jl DUES, 1 VAVAII.I.VH Endeators to S!cm Fury of Mol* Are Without Result. Duluth. Minn., June 24.—Efforts of judges of the district court, two priests I and other well known Duluth citizens to stem the fury of the crowd bent on (lie lynching of the Negroes suspected of assaulting a frail, young girl Mon day night at the circus grounds went for nothing. The mob pushed the speakers uside and hooted them with cries of “Lynch them, the dirtv black snakes.” District Judge W. a. Cant made an appeal to (he members of the mob at police headquarters. He appealed to the fair judgment of the citizens to observe law and order. Judge Bel t Fesler asked several rep utable citizens who were In the crowd : to assist, and some responded, but i most of them would do nothing. All 1 were bent on getting the Negroes. Hugh J. MeClearn addressed the I crowd, urging coolness, but was ig nored. Rev. W. J. Powers of Sacred Heart ; cathedral met the mob as It brought j the Negroes from the jail, at First ■ street and Second avenue east. He climbed a telegraph pole lo talk to the I people. “The crime committed is most horri- ! hie,” said the priest, “but men. you ' do not know that these Negroes arc I the guilty men. T appeal to you to al- ] low the law to take Its course. In the I name of Ood and the church I repre- 1 ent I ask you to stop." His talk was greeted only with such , jeers as, “To hell with ihe law,” “Re member the girl” and “Lynch them.” Rev. P. J. Stahoney also attempted to stem the tide, but was only hooted down. The days are longer, yet the years measure the same. BRILLIANT THRONG WITNESSES DRILL | Maneuvers of Colored Regiment Viewed by 20,000—Company K of Dunbar Wins. (Special to The Monitor by Walter J. Singleton.) TV7ASHINGT0N, D. C., June 24.— VV For the first time, a full reg iment participated in the annual com petitive drill of the Washington High School Cadets. It was a gala day for the spectators who crowded the entire seating capacity of the American League Baseball Park. Persons of prominence and distinction occupied the boxes, and the grandstand seats were filled with an enthusiastic crowd that manifested deep interest in this event of the season. The combined spectacle of the Military on the field and “the riot of color created by the gay costumes of the ladies in the au dience was a sight well worth seeing. Company K of Dunbar High School, commanded by Captain William Ma son, won the first honors. Captain Mason was presented with a silver loving cup by Major Wm. T. Dean, military instructor, and 'the company received the flag of honor and a dia mond studded medal, the individual officers receiving silver and bronze medals. It was a proud day for Com pany K, who were thus rewarded for their hard earned drilling average of 95 per cent. Company B, also of Dun bar, the winners of last year, were aw'arded second place with an average of 85 per cent. Five companies from Dunbar and three from the Armstrong Manual Training School participated in the competitive drill. Cadets from the New Junior High School gave a de lightful exhibition of setting up exer cises before the drill. Martial music, snappy and stirring, was rendered by the Cadet Band. Colonel Arthur Brooks, fomier mil itary instructor, reviewed the regi ment prior to the awarding of the prizes. The judges were Capt, Reu ben Herner, Capt. Lewis R. Mehlinger and Lieut. Montgomery Gregory, all of the United States Army. The roster of Company K is as fol lows: William Mason, Captain; Cle ment Wells, First Lieutenant; Wil liam Mundell, Second Lieutenant; Ser geants, Oliver Rogers, first; Daniel Day, second; Andrew Radeliffe, third; and Clarence Kelly, fourth; Corporals, Howard Brown, living Johnson, Thomas Deviiee, William Miner and Samuel Dyer. Privates, Alfred Bagby, Emerson Brown, Lee Butler, Chas. Barnes, Le roy Brown, H. Banks, Harry Darnell, Horace Dove, James Gaskins, John Gray, Ivanhoe Garnett, Richard Good win, Henry' Green, L. Hams, Edward Hall, Columbus Hall, Chas. Holland, Harry Honesty, Milton Jeter, Fred Meyers, Malcomb Meyers, C. Miner, E. Masterson, W. Nutt, L. Pinckney, Wesley Porter, Cortez Peters, John Richardson, Frank Randolph, Richard Tillman, O. Walker, Barrington Wil liams, A. Rice, A. Plater, T. McLain, E. Malery, William Skinner and E. Johnson. CAMP FIRE GIRLS. ! ho Ocawasin Camp Fir# Group met Monday evening, June 21, and held a Council Fire on the river bank south east of Mail'd an Park. The following Slrle took their Wood Gatherers’ rank: Beatrice and Pauline Black, Grace Dor • Martha Roberts, Audrea True hart and Ireta Walker. Donor bead. " ere awarded to most of the members of the group. KELLY TO GIVE SOM; RECITAL ’1 'll St <1cairving young men. who !» a stu dent at Roger Williams University, Xu: livilie Tenn., and has been study ing voice culture for the fast two years under Mrs. Mary Page, will give a recital at Zion Baptist, church Tuesday night, June 23th. Mr. Kelly will be assisted by advanced pupils of Mrs. Florence Frames Pinkston. PAYS penalty for creme. Meridian, Miss., June 24.—Beaman Boatright, convicted murdered of Con stable .Ben Culpepper, wras hanged here recently. The execution was wit nessed by only a few persons. The condemned man met death calmly. Monitor Phone Douglas 3224