i THr monitor i__
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF^COLORED AMERICANS.
__ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor‘____
S2.00 a Year. 5c a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, JULY 22. 1920 Vol. VL No. 4 (Whole No. 264)
MACHINE GUN FIRE
STOPS LYNCHOCRATS
Northern Carolina Governor Means
Business—Orders "Shoot Straight
If Attempt Is Made on Lives of
Prisoners.”—Third Time Governor
Bickett Thwarts Mob and Saves
Honor of State • Mem of His
Mettle Sadly Nt
_ V
Cl REENSBORO, N. ^ v 22.—
f One pel -on was rt '"illod
and another wounded at t. N.
C., Monday night by fire fro ^
chine- company of the North G, %
National Guard on duty at the co ^
jail there, where three prisoners (col
ored) are held on charges of having
attacked a woman.
Reports from Graham said the shol3
were fired by the machine gun com
pany when a crowd in the darkness
approached the jail. Threats of lynch
ing yesterday had caused Governor
Bickrtt to order the company to Gra
ham with instructions to "shoot
straight if an attempt on the iives of
prisoners is made.”
This is the third time within recent
year: that Governor Bickett his
proven to the mobs in that state that
the law is above them and that a
man’s life, whatever the color of his
skin, must be protected
f In 1916 at Winston-Salemn, N. C.,
a mob threatened to lynch a colored
man of that town falsely accused of
shooting a police officer. They were
met at the Forsyth County court
house with three army tanks, three
machine guns, and a company of
troops. The mob taking for granted
that they would be wanked at as has
been the case in so many southern
states where solriie*-* would render ex
cuse* that they had no authority to
short, or that t le officers of the law
“were overpowered by the tremendous
mob." they disregarded the govern
or’s warning and attempted to rush
the jail. The order came to “shoot
straight,” and the soldiers obeyed
with the result that five members of
the mob were killed and over a dozen
wounded.
The next case was in Raleigh, the
capital, in the summer of 1917 when
another mob attempted to lynch Earl
Neville, a colored cab driver. This
boy was found asleep on his cab within
half an hour after the time of the
occurrence of the crime for which he
was accused. He gave splendid ac
count of himself for every minute of
that night, but on account of the same
old thing, ‘ She identified him to be
the man,” he was convicted. The mob
first gathered in front of the Wake
County Court house, in which the jail
was. The governor met them clad in
his hath robe and slippers. He mount
ed a box in front of the mob and
warned them “If you attempt to take
the law in your hands I shall order
the soldiers to shoot straight.” The
mob had not forgotten the Winston
affair and scattered for the night. The
next night, however, they gathered at
the penitentiary where the prisoner
| had been removed and again attempt
ed to carry out their scheme. Again
the governor appeared on the scene
and dispersed the mob.
The would-be victim in the Wins
ton-Salem case was set free, the court
finding no semblance of truth in the
evidence given. In the Earl Neville
case the accused paid his life as the
penalty for the crime but the court
acknowledged that the evidence before
it was insufficient to convict any
body. The outcome of the present case
in Graham, N. C„ will be watched with
keen interest.
DR. WRIGHT WILL ATTEND
ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE
AT KDINIIOROUGH
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Philadelphia, Pa.. July 22.—Dr.
Richard R. Wright, Jr., editor of the
Christian Recorder of Philadelphia,
was given the degree LL. D. at the
commencement of Wilberforce Univer
sity, Xenia, Ohio, Juno 30th.
He was also given an appointment
to go abroad, being selected as one of
seven ministers to attend the Ecu
menical Conference of Methodism to
be held In Edlnborough Scotland,
in 1921.
\ -—
BENIGHTED FOREIGNERS
CAUSE OF ORDINANCE
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Gadsden, Ala., July 32.—'The coun
cil passed an ordinance forbidding the
serving of white and colored people
at the same drinking and eating
places. It Is said that some foreign
ers who disregard the color line have
been In the habit of serving drinks to
both races.
“PILGRIMS IN BRONZE”
Eloquent Congregational Minister De
livers Notable Address Before In
ternational Council.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Boston. July 22.—The Rev. Dr. Hen
ry H. Proctor of Brooklyn, N, V., who
has recently come from Atlanta. Ga..
where as pastor of the largest Con
gregational church in the United
States, he was a leader in the Atlanta
movement for obtaining peaceful re
lations, addressed the fourth decen
nial international Congregational
recently on "Pilgrims in Bronze.”
e alluded to the fact that the
first slaves were brought from
Africa to Vtrginia a year before the
Pilgrims landed in Plymouth.
"The present movement of the Ne
gro iB not merely national, but also
an international movement," he said.
"The path made red by the blood of
the slave ships is yet to regleam with
a divine light pointing the trained
man of African descent back home to
save the dark continent. As he re
turns to redeem the long lost conti
nent, he will be a pilgrim in bronze
going out for the great crusade.”
THINKS U. S. SHOULD
’ ADMIT MOKE JAPANESEi
San Francisco, Cal.. July 19.—K. A.
Kanzakl, secretary of the Japanese
Association of America, told the im
migration and naturalization commit
tee of the house of representatives
recently that he believed in restric
tion of Japanese immigration in the
United States but that 30,000 to 40,
000 more could probably be accom
modated in addition to the 87,000 al
ready here.
This additional number would help
to bring the proportion of men and
women to a fair basis, in his opinion,
and would not complicate racial or
economic questions.
FAKMEKS ORGANIZE
TRUCKING ASSOCIATION
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Jackson, Miss., July 22.—Jackson,
Miss., reports an enterprise worthy
of attention among those interested
in Louisiana—a colored farmers’
trucking association. It was organ
ized by Prof. Brinkley, a school prin
cipal, and has already shipped seven
cars of cabbage and one of potatoes
this season, netting the shippers over
$5,000, besides $1,000 worth of vege
tables sold In the local market.
BEDOUINS AND FEI8AJL
PLOT AGAINST FRENCH
Beirut, Syria, July 22.—The Bedouin
tribes of northern Mesopotamia have
formed a coalition against the French
while Feisal, head of the Syrian state,
is endeavoring to organize the ban
dits west of Aleppo into a movement
against the French,
LA FOLLETTE MAY BE CANDIDATE
Chicago, 111., July 22.—Senator Rob
ert M. La Follette will decide this
week whether he will be a candidate
for the presidency if nominated on
the liberal party ticket, leaders an
nounced Monday night.
ATTORNEY SCRUGGS
RETURNS FROM DULUTH
Attorney Amos P. Scruggs returned
Sunday morning from a combined bus
iness and pleasure trip to Duluth and
the Twin Cities. While in Duluth he
interviewed the men who are held in
custody there in connection with the
alleged assault upon the Truxen girl
for which three men were murdered
by a mob. They are being held as
state witnesses. He was also shown
the affidavit of the physician who ex
amined the girl to the effect that
there was no evidence of ravishment.
“The general sentiment in Duluth, so
far as I could learn,” said Mr.
Scruggs, "is that the Negroes were
not guilty. The grand Jury seems to
have gone after the lynchers in ear
nest. Several have been Indicted and
the lowest bond allowed, I was in
formed, is $15,000. I had a pleasant
interview with the editor of the Rip
Saw, who is a‘great, big, whole-souled
sort of a man. a native of Iowa, of
abolition stock and a socialist. Among
his cherished possessions Is a silver
half dollar given to his grandmother
when she was a little girl by John
Brown of Harper’s Ferry fame, who
was often a guest at. their home. He
Is positive of the men’s lnnocenoe."
Mr. Scruggs saw several former
Omahans both in Duluth and In the
Twin Cities, among whom were Mr.
und Mrs. Randolph Workuff and I>on
Holliday.
Things done by halves never bring
many quarters.
THE NEGRO FOURTH ESTATE
AND POST-WAR PROSPERITY
A Virginia Professor, Who Has Been Studying America’s Primary
Race Problem, Has Gained Enlightenment From the Colored
Press Which He Finds to Be a Tremendous Power Equalling if
Not Surpassing Influence Wielded by the Pulpit. Southern Press
Moderate in Tone, But Set in Purpose; Northern Press More*
Boldly Outspoken,
PRESS PLAYED PART IN NATIONS WAR
PROGRAM—DEM ANDS RIGHTS FOR RACE
Robert T. Kerlin of Virginia Military Institute Contributes Illum
inating and Instructive Article to Reedy’s Mirror, Which Is Be
ing Widely Quoted.—Article Demonstrates That Wide-Visioned
White Men Who Would Be Intelligent Students of Affairs Can
not Ignore Literature of Our Group.
■ ■■ -■ .
OPEAKING broadly, there are very j
few white Americans who con- |
dder it worth their while to read a
newspaper or magazine published by
i man or woman of color. In this
they show regrettable short-sighted
ness, and especially so if they would
lay any just claim to being students
nf affairs, because it is absolutely Im
possible to know anything about any
people unless we know something
about their literature. Professor Rob
ert T. Kerlin has made a systematic
study of a large number of our pub
lications and has given the result of
that study in the following article
which was- published not long ago in
Reedy's Mirror, and has been reprint
ed in man; newspapers of national
circulation and influence such as the
New York World:
Activity of the colored press of the
country in these troublous times, the
spirit, the boldness and the influence
of it, may well excite alarm, as it has
done, even "In the seats of the
mighty.” There are nearly 400 Ne
gro newspapers published In this
country, and they are prosperous as
never before. Their circulation dur
ing the war period vastly increased,
and new papers—all of the more out
spoken and able type—have subse
quently sprung Into existence. The
colored people are fully informed of
this—their papers make It a matter
of rejoicing and pride. It is indeed
a sign of the times.
We are informed by this press that
a new era has come, brought to birth
by the world war; that with the new
era has appeared the new Negro; a
man who stands erect and looks the
white man in the face; a man who
asks no odds, but a square deal; a
man who does not cringe or fawn,
“licking the hand that smites,” but
demands his rights under the consti
tution—equal opportunities In the
common affairs of life, equal condi
tions, equal comforts equal recogni
tion for character and worth—in a
word, justice.
The world war and the Negro’s
part therein are responsible for it.
Not, of course, for the origin of the
principle of manhood In the Negro,
but for its swift leaping into evi
dence, its sudden self-assertion in new
tones. What we fought for the Ne
gro fully appreciated. Why should
he not have been able to? He
was quick to apply that aim to him
self—for the Negro Is quick. Pres
ident Wilson's notes and addresses,
the treaty and the league covenant.,
hart for the Negro the force of a new
emancipation proclamation.
Illack I ress Rcniumls "Hlgnts.’
The colored press claims—and
rightfully—great credit for itself in
pushing the various war measures
and promoting the drives. Papers of
every kind, denominational, fraternal,
secular, gave their columns freely to
the situation of patriotism, appeals
to rape pride, exhortations to “go
over the top.” and instruction regard
ing the various requirements of the
government. With all this went a
strong championing of our humani
tarian purposes in the war—the liber
ation of subject minority races, the
righting of old wrongs, the making
lemocracy prevail.
The Negroes' subscriptions to the
Liberty Loan, to Red Cross funds and
the whole list they quote as evidence
of their patriotism and spirit in the
country’s time of need. It is a record
of which they are justly proud. They
make it the basis of democratic de
mands, quite naturally. Of the valor
of their troops overseas they make
the same argument. Those troops
fought with endurance and heroism
at Chateau Thierry and In the Ar
gonne, and mingled their blood with
that, of the white soldiers in the dust
of France. Those troops labored in
the Service of Supplies at Bordeaux
and Brest without counting the hours,
counting only the loss to our cause
of any slacking on their part. They
buried the soldier dead—-the most re
pellant task of the war—at Belleau
Wood and Romaigne. This, while
lynchings were being reported in their
papers from home. Comparisons were
inevitably made between Americans
and Germans. ,
It is this story that has embittered
the Negro. It is this story that has
given a new potency to his newspa- |
per.
There is no lack of evidence that
the Negroes are going to their own
papers in these days for their infor
mation and guidance. Those papers,
in the small communities and rural
districts, are coming to them from
large cities, preferably northern
cities—whose editors dwell in the
"safety zone.” In my own town, with
a colored population of less than one
thousand. I found the Chicago De
feouel, the Boston Guardian, the New
York Age, the Crisis, the Afro-Amer
ican (Baltimore), the Washington
Eagle, the Richmond Planet and the
Southwestern Christian Advocate
(New Orleans)—the last two being
among the ablest and most outspoken
papers in the country. But all these
are "radical.” Apparently the col
ored people of today will have noth
ing to do with any other kind.
Disbelieve Ordinary Newspapers.
To these papers and others of like
quality the Negroes are going for the
news, for trustworthy reports of "Ne
gro uprisings,” "Negro riots’’—so
called by the white press—and lynch
ings, and for wrathful denunciations
of them. The colored press is now
the rival of colored pulpit influence.
There are signs that it is coming into
the first place. The Negro appreci
ates his newly discovered Fourth Es
tate.
Shortly after the Washington riot I
decided that it would be a good thing
to study the Negro’s reactions to that
occurrence. For there were two cir
cumstances that gave it distinction:
II was in our nation’s capital, in the
vicinity of the White House itself;
and the Negro defended ihmself, did
so with resolution and effectiveness.
Therefore, sending to all the weeklies
for sample copies which were readily
supplied me, I selected about seventy*
from the hundreds and subscribed for
them. The generalizations and asser
tions contained in this article are
based upon a careful reading and re
reading of these stacks of weeklies
and some eight or ten monthly maga
zines. Eighty-five per cent of my
newspapers nre published south of the
Mason and Dixon line. But my ini
tial mustard seed of an idea germi
nated marvellously and "waxed into a
great tree.
Was It, not worth while to discover
how the colored man was thinking on
all matters pertaining to racial rela
tions? Was it not worth while to
get his point of view on racial ad
justment, to learn definitely hlB com
plaints against us. to hear him state
his remedies for the wrongs against
which he protests? The least quan
tum of a sense of Justice dictated an
affirmative answer. Hence the appli
cation of myself to the Negro’s news
paper!—his one and only faithful ex
ponent.
To convey an adequate impression
of the tone and temper and effective
ness of the colored weekly press In
these times is impossible in the com
pass of an article which will not ad
mit of extracts of any length. I must
therefore resort to description.
How. then, can they be described?
Their irony, ridicule, reproach, sar
casm and rebuke are conveyed all by
the method of “sweet reasonable
ness;’’ mild comment, plain statement
of fact, inverted exaggeration, sub
tle indirection, side remarks, and the
gentle request to “look upon this pic
ture. nowr upon that.’’
Bitterness and Irony.
Yazo, Miss.—Because of her activ
ity In selling colored newspapers here
Miss Pauline Willis, a young colored
woman, has been ordered to leave
town.
Vicksburg. Miss.—A white man
raped a colored girl in Bovina, Miss.,
one day last week. Bovina is only
four miles from Vicksburg and in the
same county. A charge was promptly
made against him and he was arrest
ed and thrown in jail at Vicksburg,
but not one word has been heard of
the kerosene can, the rope, nor the
outraged public conscience.
Effective? I think so. Scores of
papers in the Black Belt are masters
of the art. News items such as these
sprinkle the front page. There is
usually a sting in the tail of the harm
less appearing little things—not dead
ly, but disturbing.
Editorials one sentence long ex
hibit a similar self-restraint.
As long as American citizens are
disfranchised, segregated, jim-crowed,
lynched, brow-beaten, intimated held
in contumely and contempt victims of
lawlessness, and mistreated generally
because of their color, the riot spirit
will be rampant.—Houston In'ormer.
Some one has said that our news
papers never have anything in them
to maly one smile. Oh, yes, they do
—read what some white southerners
think of a "square deal.”—Ibid.
Undoubtedly the southern papers
are in general milder in tone than
the northern, but not less compre
hensive in their demands nor less
firm in purpose. The same griev
ances are voiced, the same petitions
and pleadings are set forth, the same
rights are asserted and urged not less
cogently. The southern Negro’s utter
ance of his protests, demands, deter
minations. and all that weighs upon
his soul, suggests courage rather than
boldness, and a sober sense of re
sponsibility. The manifest restraint
he imposes upon himself for the good
of the cause, and for personal safety,
only increases the force of his words,
adding the pathos of entreaty to the
cogency of argument.
Messages “Get Over.”
Notwithstanding this moderation of
tone—or perhaps because of it—the
southern papers get their messages
delivered and make them understood.
We white people must give the col
ored people credit for more percipi
ency than we are wont to do. They
have quite as good a faculty as we
for reading between the lines, for
taking the force of an innuendo, for
perceiving the point of a bit of mild
irony or gentle sarcasm. Vague and
indirect pronouncements, perfectly
harmless in appearance to us, are
hand grenades to them. Editorial ret
icence they well understand to mean
"safety first" for the editor, a longer
career of usefulness.
But even some of the weeklies from
which I take mild cracks—papers pub
lished within the bounds of the old
Confederacy—can use the artillery of
the skies desired by Douglass. Some
of their braver neighbors in the large
cities make constant use of this heavy
artillery aB well as of the small arms.
The Negro’s ability as a speaker in
pulpit and on the public rostrum has
always been recognized. It is some
thing new to find him mighty with
the pen. But there are editorial writ
ers not a few in the south who are
quite a match for their white "con
temporaries.” They frequently find
occasion to contest statements made
in the white dailies, to challenge po
sitions, to expose fallacies and incon
sistencies, and to set argument
against argument. In these polemics
the Negro cannot be said to be found
wanting. Seldom is there eloquence,
seldom is there circumlocution, sel
dom any fine writings or pedantry,
but there !s straightforward speech,
very telling in effect.
colored Syndicate f eatures.
Besides, many of the papers, large
and small, are strengthened by the
syndicated editorials of contributing
editors. A half dozen able pens, the
pens of university trained men, are
employed In this work regularly.
Practically all the papers also report
lectures, sermons, addresses, the res
olutions of conferences and con
gresses, and other such matter that
even when the editorials are weak
and Inconsequential, carry to their
readers the message of the leader*.
(Continued on Page Eight.)
RANKS HIGHEST
IN SCHOLARSHIP
Youth of Twenty-Two Receives De
gree of Doctor of Philosophy at
University of Pennsylvania. Young
est Student in History of Institution
Upon Whom This Honor Has Been
Conferred.
HARRY SPENCER BLACKISTON
WINS MERITED DISTINCTION
Philadelphia, July 22, 1920.—
Amidst the halo of glory suround
ing the one hundred and sixty-fourth
annual commencement of the Univer
sity of Pennsylvania, June 30,
the outstanding and most glorious
feature of it all, was the fact that
Harry Spencer Blackiston, a colored
boy, was proclaimed the greatest of
all scholars who ever graduated from
that institution since its foundation.
On Blackiston was conferred the
highest literary degree of the univer
sity—that of Ph. D. (Doctor of Phil
osophy), and with it goes the honor of
being the youngest man upon whom
this honor has been conferred since
the opening of that institution. Black
iston having just passed out of his
twenty-second year.
Winner of Scholarships and Degrees
Harry S. Blackiston, after gradu
ating from the Central High School in
February, 1918, matriculated in the
course of Arts and Sciences at the
University of Pennsylvania in the fol
lowing September, at the age of 16
years. At that time he became the
recipient of the William P. Henzey
Scholarship, 1913-1917, ana the May
or’s Scholarship, 1913-17. As an under- /
graduate he specialized in German and
Latin. During the course of the aca
demic year, 1916-17, he was awarded
the George Schleicher prize for Ger
man conversation, by virtue of which
he received a silver medal along with
$15 in gold; and he was also given
honorable mention in a prose Latin
essay contest. In June, 1917, the de
gree of Bachelor of Arts (A. B.) was
conferred upon him. About the same
time he received a university scholar
ship in German for the ensuing aca
demic year, 1917-18. In September,
1918, he was enrolled in the graduate
school of the aforementioned institu
tion, delving intensively into the study
of German and Latin, and receiving
the degree of Master of Arts (A. M.)
in June of the following year. At this
time he won a Harrison scholarship
in German, together with an addi
tional stipend of $100. He continued
his research work for the next two
years at the same institution, winning
a university scholarship in the year
1919; and now at the age of only 22
years becomes the recipient of the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.
D.), thereby being the youngest in
the history of the university to re
ceive such a degree.
CLAIMS JACK JOHNSON
READY TO SURRENDER
• Los Angeles, Cal., July 22.—Sheriff
John C. Cline, Los Angeles, announced
recently that he intended to leave im
mediately for the Mexican border
where he expected to arrest Jack
Johnson, former heavyweight cham
pion, under sentence in Chicago for
violation of the Mann act.
Cline declared friends of Johnson
visited him and said the pugilist was
willing to cross the boundary and sur
render to him. Johnson is reported
in Tijuana, across the border from
San Diego, Cal.
Johnson has surrendered to federal
authorities and is on his way to Chi
on frn
—
COLORED “MORMONS”
SUPPORT REPUBLICANS
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Salt I.ake Clt, Utah, July 22.—Or
ganization of the Colored Progressive
Republican Club was affected recent
ly at a meeting in the Trinity A. M. E.
Church. The members decided to
support the Republican ticket in its
entirety and to participate actively in
the political campaign. Officers elect
ed were Charles McSwine, president;
George A. Thomas, secretary, and
Douglas McMillan, treasurer.
HEADLESS BODY OF
WOMAN' IDENTIFIED
St. Joseph, Mo., July 22.—The body
of the headless woman which was
found floating In Lake Contrary June
16 has been identified as that of Mrs.
Bernetta Coleman, colored, 25 years
old, of St. Joseph. The woman’s par
ents said that she had left their home
June 10, saying she was going to a
private hospital.