i i The Monitor i = i
A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS.
___THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor_
$3.00 a Year. 10c a Copy_ OMAHA, NEBRASKA, SEPTEMBER 16, 1920 Vol. VI. No. 12 (Whole No. 272)
IM’I.I 'IH h %, TS
\'KB <>> Till AI,
Male Vignrot i nsecilting Men
Charged ttllli ,y itching Three Clr
cHt Employees Here in Julie. Be
lieved Several Convictions Hill Be
Seen red.
Mi I Ht \S0> \\l» HOMMI
OITf/TY OF IMOTIVG
: Special to The Monitor.)
I>111*1JTH, Minn., Sept. Hi.—Great
interest is centering in the trials of
several men held here for rioting
and murder in connection with the
lynching of the three circus em
ployees. colored, accused of raping a
West Dtiiuth gill In June. The affa
davit or the attending physician that
the e rl was not violated and the
(iicmnstances surrounding the al
L Ii cod assault have intensified the hor
ror of the people of Duluth lor the
t ^work of the mob. Tills senliinenl is
I strongly alert and may have an im
poitaMt nearing upon securing convic
tions.
The first man to he placed on trial
was Gilbert II. Stephenson. The trial
was held in Judge J'Vsler’s court.
The evidence against Stephenson was
,-trong. The jury returned n verdict
n guilty agnist him after less than an
hour's deliberation. This verdict was
rendered September 3d. An equally
strong chain of evidence Is being
woven about others anti it is eonfi-j
dent! relieved that several eonvic-l
Hons will he secured.
Nineteen ire in he Tried.
The evidence lias incidentally dis- ]
clo-id the incompetence, indifference I
hi eequii -cnee of Dnluths police force |
at the time of the lynching. Ample ]
time was given to the police to have
prevented the disgrace which Dtiiuth |
citizens keenly feel and for .which j
they must pay a heavy pried.
In the case of Ro/.on who is al-:
leged to have said “To Heli with thei
Law,'1 the first jury diragreed. Hel
will tie tried again. His first trial oc
cupied a whole week.
\ llnrney Collies flakes Eloquent Flea.
Speaking before the jury In an elo
quent plea for justice, Attorney For
bes said, "Duluth’s reputation for law
ad ordei is al stake. The whole
country is waiting with bated breath
to see whether in Duluth our system
of government, the laws upon which
are based our respect for the rights
of an individual are to tie respected
nr thrown to the winds. The public
wants to know what you jurors are
/ willing to do to remove the stain
' which was blotted into the history of
Duluth when the defendants snapped
their finger.-, at authority. You men
are on trial. The entire jury system
is on trial.”
Ooninning, Attorney Forbes de■dar
ed:
"These >nen who are charged with
rioting; these men who didn’t be
lieve in law and order, who took
the position that a jury trial wasn’t
a safe way to administer substantial
justice in so far as Negro suspects
were cocerned. who refused to let
twelve men such as you determine
their guilt or innocence, now corne
into court and ask you gentlemen of
itie jury, the same prolection under
the Constitution and laws of our
hwnd that they denied these black
men,"
. Jury System on Trial.
It is for you to determine whe
ther men wlio endeavor to take the
law into their own hands ran do it
with impunity. The eyes «jf the
northwest ate on this case. The pub
lic wat» to know what this Jury Is
willing to do to remove the stain that
lias been put on this city’s reputation
by that disgraceful outrage of June
i 1 a last.”
The first five prosecutions of men
alleged to have participated in or in
tigated the riot of June 15 last, when
a Imluth mob took three NegroeR from
the police and lynched them, has re
sulted in two convictions, two acquit
tals and one hung jury.
Gilbert Henry Stephenson, alleged
cell breaker, and Tmtiis Dondino, who
r
drove the “necktie party” truck, have
been found guilty.
Byer (Pat) Olson, said to have rid
den on the truck and to have made
demands for the “niggers” at police
headquarters, has been acquitted and
exonerated of the charge.
The jury which tried William Rozon,
alleged rioter, failed to agree after
being out thirty-two hours, and the
twelve men trying Leonard Hedman,
accused of inciting riot, returned a
verdict of not guilty after twenty
eight hours’ deliberation.
The next riot cases for trial are
those in which the defendants are Carl
Hammerberg, John Burr and Carl J.
Miller. These were called for trial
Monday.
DESDUNE’S BAND
FEATURE OF FAIR
Gives Five ( oncerls Itall} and People
Flu liter for More. Given Post of
Honor in Front of Ampilheater.
Hundreds of Thousands Vpplaud
Omaha’s Famous Hand.
GENERAL PERSHING
COMPLIMENTS LK \ l»i: If
iS lecial to The Monitor.i
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 16.—Hun
dreds of thousands of people attend
ed the- Nebraska State Fair which
closed here lust Thursday. Attrac
tions provided by the alert manage
ment were various and celebrate*!.
No attraetion oi feature of the Ian
surpassed Han Desdunes' band of
Omaha. The unanimous sentiment
was that among the ten bands here
the famous colored hand was vihe
stellar attraction, it seemed to in
terpret and express the sentiment of
the people.
It is noteworthy that Desdunes
hand was given the post of honor in
front of the nmpitheater. It was
chosen to give the opening and clos
ing concerts of each day. In fact
the hand gave five concerts daily j
and yet the people wanted more. The!
band gave concerts at 10 a. m„ and
at 1, A, 7 and 10 p. m.
One amusing incident that throws
light upon the manner in which the!
people appreciated the band's music
is told by one of Innes’ men. Tnnes’j
hand had just finished one of its
finest selections, when two ladies ap
proached him, and said, “Pardon us,
Mr. Innes, hut can you tell us when
Desdunes’ hand is going to play ’’
How’s that for naivette?
Thursday afternoon General Persh
ing, who was in citizen’s clothes, ac
companied bv his family, guletly j
entered his box. Desdunes recognized
him and directed the hand to play
“America.’’ The effect was electrical.
At the close of the concert General
Pershing called Dan Desdunes over
to his box and personally compli
mented him. Shaking hands with him,
he said, “I want to thank you for your
music and to compliment you upon
.vour band. You have one of the best
trained hands I have ever heard. When
I was in Omaha. I did not get a
chance to hear you; but my family
and self were delighted this after
noon at having that pleasure. Again
land putting out his hand) I want to
congratulate you on your good work.”
OBJECT TO HATH HOUSE
Florida Mayor Contends Thai Bathing
Ls « Necessity Even for Negroes,
Despite Protests of Whites.
(By Associated Negro Press.)
St. Petersburg, Fla., Sept. 16.—
When he heard that residents were
preparing to file an injunction to pre
vent the city building the proposed
bathing pavilion for Negroes on the
water front, Mayor Noel A. Mitchoil
-aid that it may take two injunctions
to prevent the city from building this
bathing pavilion.
“They have not a legal leg to stand
on, as the Negro bathing beach is a
half-mile from the nearest home and
68,000 G. O. P. MAJORITY
r --1
* —Courtesy Omaha Bee.
WEE Mill/.! And Frank Roosevelt Nn Id il Mas Alright, Too ! ! !
cannot injure the residents there in
any way.” He added, "If any one
needs to take a bath after a hard
day’s work it is the Negro population.
The Negroes heretofore have not had
a bathing beach and we should pro
vide them onic.”
CANADIAN INDIANS
READ \ KWSP \PEKS
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Sept. Hi.
—That Canadian Indians are quite up
to date, read the daily newspapers,
are familiar with modern slang and
resent any attempts to consider them
as living in the past is instanced by a
protest sent to a northern Ontario
newspaper which had reported them
as afraid of the giant hydroplane in
the service of the Abitibi Pulp and
Paper Company, Cochrane, Ontario.
“You ran tell the world that the
paleface newspapers are black-hearted
fabricators,” the protest reads. “Us
afraid of hydroplanes! Humph. Noth
ing doing. The Indians are too well
used to seeing the white man going
up in the air to be bothered by any
little hydroplane. Why, we are not
afraid of a thrashing maehine, an
Ingersoll watch or a Ford automobile.
The Indians arc not afraid of noise,
nor are they alarmed of mystified ma
chinery'. We use wheelbarrows and
phonographs regularly ourselves.
Those paleface newspapers should quit
kidding themselves and their read
ers.”
BUM Vr FOR GOVERNOR
L1TTCE ROCK, Ark., Sept. Hi.—T.
J. Terral, secretary of state, has an
nounced the name of J. H. Rlount,
Negro, will appear on the ballot in
the November general election as a
candidate for Governor.
AMERICAN LEGION
TAKES RIGHT STAND
Passes Resolution Demanding Justice
for Negro and Urges Various State
Posts to Be Energetic in Promoting
Harmony Between Races.
YCTION El. I CITS
FAVORABLE COM \1 ENT
(By Associated Negro Press.)
JACKSON, Miss., Sept. 16.—The
Mississippi division of the Ameri
can Legion, in its annual session here
recently, adopted a resolution for jus
tice that has startled the natives.
Many old-timers are rubbing their
eyes to see if they have "seen through
a glass darkly,” and the younger gen
eration, particularly the soldier hoys
who saw service in France, are point
ing to the expression with pride, say
ing: “This is the new voice of the
South speaking in denunciation of the
old regime.”
The resolution reads:
“We regard the so-called Negro
problem in Mississippi, and the South
generally, as an actual condition and
not a mere theory for discussion, agi
tation and settlement by demagogues
and politicians; that we realize the
Negro is with us, a part of us, and is
here to stay; that he is an important
and indispensable factor in our indus
trial life, and as such is entitled to
a square deal, and should bo treated
with common honesty in all his rela
tions with the white race; that wo
urge all local posts in this jurisdic
tion to give this subject close atten
tion and put forth their best efforts
for the promotion of harmony between
the races, in order that our common
welfare may be sei-ved.”
Commenting on the resolution edi
torially, the New Orleans (La.) Item,
one of the leading daily newspapers,
says:
“Mississippi is one of the Southern
states which has suffered most acute
ly from crimes of violence against
colored people, at the hands of law
less and ignorant mobs, not only in
reputation among their sister states,
hut economically in loss of population
and labor. The law-abiding and jus
tice-loving citizens who are in a tre
mendous majority in every state,
North and South, will rejoice to see
the flower of their manhood taking a
firm stand for justice and right.
"If theri> is such a thing as a su
perior race, its members must prove it
by setting an crumple of law obseiv
ance, toleration, comprehension, jus
tice, kindness, and common honesty.
Hatred, prejudice, violence and dis
honesty are marks of inferiority. We
hope the good people of Mississippi
will support its Legionaires in the
stand they have taken, and that other
Southern states will observe and prof
it by the example.”
POOL MONEY AND
OPEN GROCERY STORE
(By Associated Negro Press.)
Lexington, Ky., Sept. 16.—A com
pany of 100 men was organized re
cently in the East End of the city.
After collecting subscriptions to the
amount of $2,000, on last Wednesday
they opened a grocery store and meat
market at the comer of Vertner and
Second Streets. Three clerks are in
charge. Miss Laura Carroll is book
keeper.
Joseph D. Robinson of Cleveland,
O., arrived in the city Saturday to
visit his mother and sister, Mrs. S. H.
Dorsey, 3643 Parker Street.
HARDING RECEIVES
COLORED DELEGATION
Keliirious I'ouventioiis in Session uf
Dayton anil CoIiiiiiIhis Afford Op
portunity to Pay lies peels to lie
publican Presidential Nominee.
Pledge Him Support and Express
Confidence In His Stand for Justice.
VTTOHNEV LEWIS
ACTS AS SPOKESMAN
Senator Harding Promises Justice
and Equal Opportunities in Event
of His Election. Praises Valor of
Troops and Patriotism of Race.
General Pershing Also Delivers
Brief Address.
(Special to The Monitor.)
| MARION. Ohio, Sept. 16.—Last Phi
day saw a great concourse of colored
j American citizens here to pay their
i respects to Senator Harding. The
I conference of the Methodists at Day
ton and the convention of the Bap
! fists at Columbus gave the opportun
j ity for the pilgrimage to Marion, it
was a dignified procesion, marked by
i decorum, which moved through the
streets of Marion to t.Ue home of
Senator Harding, whom it is confi
dently believed will he the next presi
dent.
Senator and Mrs. Harding, with
. General Pershing, who remained over
i with the Hardings until that after
noon, welcomed the delegations at the
front porch. There were the custo
| man handshaking and picture taking,
and then the prayer to which refer
I once has been made—a powerful
| prayer, as the saying is. The saluta
! tion was made by William H. Lewis,
i who used to be an Asistant Attorney
! General at Boston and who was a nof
j ed football player at Harvard.
From Marion to White House.
Mr. Lewis can make a good speecli
and demonstrated it. He told the
Senator that the colored people quite
understand that the road to the
White House this year leads through
Ohio, but through Marion, not Dayton.
: He said the inspiration for the visit
was the desire on the part of the Ne
gro race in Americu to renew its
pledges of fidelity and-devotion to
the political party of its fathers. He
said the Negroes of America are just
as confident of being as well received
| by President Harding as they were
being handsomely welcomed by Candi
date Harding. And he added, with a
j touch of religious ardor:
"Of all the pilgrims who shall come
j to your front door none will come
with more anxious hearts and more
fervent prayers than the group rep
i resenting twelve millions of your col
I ored fellow citizens. Other groups
may have been affected by the lack
of capacity, the inefficiency and the
extravagance of the present Admin
istration, b'it we have suffered from
j its indifferences, its malovence and
j its persecution. We have been the
victims of the present Administration
far more than any other class of citi
zens, eliminated from participation In
government, segregation in the civil
service and denied the equal protec
tion of the law.”
Lewis gave the positive assurance
that the Negroes of the United States
have no use for the League of Na
tions, “for,” said Lewis; “you connot
amend the Constitution by treaty or
change the form of government, by au
tocratic methods of administration.
We were thrilled by your pronounce
ment that you would never empower
an Assistant Secretary of the Navy to
write a constitution for a sister re
public. What kind of a League of Na
tions would you have with the smaller
republics held as vassal states ? What
we need is a league of humanity
founded upon the Golden Rule.”
The Negro leaders appealed to Sena
tor Harding to make democracy safe
for them and their children, to end
mob rule. They knew of no other way
to get protection than through the re
publican party. They told the nomt
(Continued on Paj?e Two.)