r ■=-1 The Monitor- = 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. OCTOBER 7.1920 Vol. VI. No. 15 (Whole No. 275)
MARINES RUTH- \
LESSLY SUNK *
TER NATIVES
»
Scrlon* Accusation Made Against
(’lilted States Army of Occupation
in llaili.—Charges AA union Viola,
lien ot Women by Soldiers.—Over
“.000 Natives Killed.
CONGRESSIONAL
INVESTIGATION
IS PROBABLE
-lames Weldon Johnson's Revelation ol
l ondilfons As Found lty Him In Is
lued Verifies Rumors of MJstreat
menls of Hu It la ns at Hands of Some
Americans.
(Special to The Monitor)
NKW YORK, Oct., 7.—Serious
charges of mistreatment of the peo
ple of Haiti at the hands of Ameri
can marines have frequently reached
this country since the present ad
ministration took charge of the Is
land. It. has been claimed that the
American military authorities, chiefly
Southerners, wilh their uBtial con
temptuous attitude towards black
people have been running uffairs
with a high hand. This attitude has
elicited opposition from the high-spir
i'ed Haitians, m&ny of whom have'left
their homes and gone to the moun
tain fastnesses. Reports of rape of
Haitian girls by American marines
have become notorious.
Recently James Weldon Johnson,
who knows Haiti well, was sent there
toy the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored people to in
vestigate and report on conditions.
Mr Johnson bears the reputation of
toeing fair-minded. The result of his
investigation has been published in
The Nation and other leading publica
tions of like standing and merit. His
report has* also been laid before tire
Secretary of State. His indictment
is most serious.
Summarized Ills report shows that
the charges of violation of women
have foundation in fact and have not
been exaggerated; that over 3,000 na
tives have been killed under cover of
resisting military authority and that
the wishes of Haitians have been dis
regarded and over-ridden.
Arraigns Administration •
Incidentally Mr. Johnson's report is
a serious arraignment of the policy
of the Wilson administration in Haiti
whose constitution it will be recalled
as The Monitor recently pointed out,
Franklin Roosevelt, the democratic
nominee for vice-president, boasted
he had written. The report specific
ally recites;
X. That the island of Haiti was
seized by United States Marines and
that, in five years some 3,000 natives
were shot.
t. That the Haitian assembly was
dispersed by force at the order of
an American officervof Marines and
that the Haitian republic has been
virtually overthrown. •
3. That a convention was forced by
the United States upon the Haitian
government, changing the constitution
of Haiti, so that Americans could pur
chase and own land there.
4. That the invasion of Haiti and
the conduct of Haitian affairs had
been unduly benovelent to the Na
tional City Rank of New York, whose
vice president, Roger L. Farnham,
had represented the state department
of Haiti.
5. That the salaries of the presi
dent and other officers of Haiti were
withheld because the Haitian govern
ment refused to turn over the Na
tional Bank of Haiti to the National
City Bank, alleging that an agree
ment previously made had been tam
pered with.
Explanation Demanded.
Among the newspapers which have
editorially demanded explanations
from the State Department of the
occupation of Haiti are the New York
XSvenlng Post, The Globe and The Tri
bune.
Ask Investigation.
I The secretary of state in reply to
/
Mr. Johnson’s charges published sev
eral statements announcing that Gen
eral Lejeune, Commandant of the Ma
rines and Admiral Knapp had been
sent to Haiti to investigate. He also
insisted the Intentions of the United
States in Haiti had been "benevolent.’
Air. Johnson thereupon replied, ask
ing for a congressional investigation
of affairs in Haiti and charging that
Llie investigations by General Lejeune
| nd Admiral Knapp would probably
| result in an official whitewash. Latest
j advices to the National Association
I for the Advancement of Colored Peo
j pie indicate that a congressional in
:' eat i gat Ion will he held as a conse
quence of Mr. Johnson’s charges.
NAPIER TO LEAVE SOUTH
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 7.—It is
understood here that Hon. J. C. Na
I pier, cashier of the One-Cent Savings
Hank, has tendered his resignation
i and contemplates moving to Washing
i ton. D C., where, it is reported, he
wift enter the insurance field. For
the past 16 years Mr. Napier has" been
; identified with the bank here.
j OVERSEAS HERO BURIED
WITH MILITARY HONORS
MOBILE, Ala., Oct. 7.—With due
military honors, the body of Corporal
James Williams, colored, of the 137th
ambulance corps, who died in France,
was interred In the National Ceme
tery. Taps were blown and a salute
fired over the grave by a firing squad
from Fort Morgan, which met the cor
tege at the entrance to the grave.
Several colored ex-sei rice men In uni
form also marched to the grave.
I’REi: CLINICS WELL ATTENDED
(By Associated Negro Press.)
KANSAS CITY. Mo., Oct. 7.—A free
clinic course, open to out-of-town as
j well as local Negro physicians and in
ternes, is being well attended at the
old city hospital. The course, which
specializes in city health and includes
pathology and bacteriology, is given
under the auspices of the hospital and
lit alth board. Lectures by several
leading white as well as Negro physi
cians are given daily. All clinics are
free.
EQUAL RIGHTS LEAGUE
TO HOLD ANNUAL MEETING
/
BALTIMORE, Md., Oct. 7.—The
Thirteenth Annual meeting of the Na
tional Equal Rights League of the
l nited States of America will be held
in this city October 20 to 22 at Trinity
Baptist Church. The paramount issue
will be the Nationalizing of the Rights
of Real Democracy. The convention
slogan is: "Abolish Federal Race
Segregation and Remove the Segrega
tion Party from Power.” Every
branch of the league is expected to
send delegates to the convention.
HUNDRED AND FIVE MILLION
Census Expected to show Increase of
15 Per cent Over Pop
ulation In 1910
_
WASHINGTON °ct- 7-—The 1920
census will show the population of
the United States Is about 106,750,
000 of the rate of the Increase shown
in the count so far is sustained, ac
cording to the census bureau today.
With the count nearly complete the
population of 1920 shows an Increase
of 15 per cent over 1910 when the total
number of persons In the country was
91,972,266.
1 RESIDENTIAL ELECTOR
UNJUSTLY REMOVED
(Special to The Monitor.)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark., Oct. 7—Dr.
C. M. Wade, the well-known and popu
lar physician of this city, who was
nominated from the Sixth congres
sional district of Arkansas, as presi
dential elector has been summarily
removed by action of the State Execu
tive committee apd his place has been
filled by a lily-white because of his
affiliation with the Lincoln League
and his avowed support of J. H.
Blount, colored, who is running fer
governor.
Omaha Welcomes Harding Next
President of the United States
I ■
Arrives This Afternoon a( 5:10 from ltes Moines anti speaks at the Auditorium Tonight. >YII1 ride through receiving
line of hundreds of flag-bedecked automobiles extending from I'nlou Depot, Worth on Tenth Ntreet and West on
Douglas to the Fontenelle Hotel.
FIGHTING TO LIBERATE
MEMBERS 24TH INFANTRY
FROM FEDERAL PRISON
Prominent Attorneys Are Making Active Efforts to Secure the
Release of Soldiers Serving I-ife Sentences for Alleged Par
ticipation in Houston Riot of Three Years Ago Precipitated
by Brutal Treatment of Comrades by Ixrcal Police
(By Associated Negro Press.)
CHICAGO, Oct. 7.—Active efforts
are being made to secure the lib
erty of the 41 soldiers of the 24th
Infantry. Now serving life sentences
In the Federal Penitentiary as Leav
enworth, Kan. These men were con
victed of participation In the riots at
Houston, Tex., August 23d, 1917, when
after they had suffered an unbearable
campaign of Insult and abuse at the
hands of the city policemen and citi
zens, a group of the soldiers on
hearing of the death of a comrade at
the hands of the Houston police,
..wept through Houston dealing death
to every police officer and armed
civilian who opposed them.
An enthusiastic meeting was held
at the Eighth regiment armory re
cently and addresses were made by
Attorney Turner W. Bell, Attorney R.
A. J. Shaw and tlishop A. J. Carev.
Plans for aid to the men were dis
cussed, It being contended that a fair
t’ ial was denied them The court was
held In Fort Sam Houston described
by one of the speakers “as a short dis
tance from the scene of the riot, In an
atmosphere reeking .with prejudice
*
and under the auspices of the Southern
department \>t the army, said to be
made up of race bating officers.” The
regiment was full of new and un
trained men just recruited, who fearful
of their lives, “peached” on their com
rades, in many cases implicating in
nocent men.
As a result of the court martial. 13
men were taken out secretly and
hanged, while 41 were sent to Leaven
worth as a result of the riot.
The war was on. No hope could be
entertained at that time of aiding the
men who were accused of mutiny dur
ing time of war, Several societies tn
the middle west took interest but ac
complished little. Finally Turner W
Hell, the famous colored lawyer of
f^oavenworth was invited into the
case. Associated with him are At
torneys Elisha Scott and Barbour of
El Reno, Okla., and Topeka, Kan. Mr.
Hell has an enviable renntatlon as a
lawyer. He has liberated more men
from the federal penitentiary than any
other lawyer in the Unifed States, 686
In all. He is the counsel who se
1 cured the release of the labor men m
j the famous McNamarra dynamiting
■— -- -
case. He is now counsel for 159 mem
bers of the I. W. W. who are in prison
and ha8 been identified with numer
ous other noted cases and ranks as
one of the great habeas corpus law
yers of the country. He says the men
can be freed.
The lawyers are now engaged in two j
efforts; one to take the case to the
United States Court of Apjieals and
second, to simultaneously present to
the next president of the United States,
a petition signed by hundreds of thou
sands of citizens. To carry the case
up will cost much money. It Is de
clared “that the fight of these men is
the fight of our group.” Their friends
say that by avenging insults to their
uniforms on account of color, they
should not be persecuted.” The Chica
go Defender has issued an appeal in
their behalf and will accept contri
butions to aid the men in their fight
for liberty. Subscriptions by organi
zations or individuals should be sent
to The Chicago Defender, 5159 S.
State St., Chicago, 111.
HAITIANS GET SALARIES
Admiral Knapp Has Satisfactory Talk
With President.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7.—Rear-Ad
miral Knapp, recently sent to Haiti
by the State Department to investigate
conditions has made a preliminary
report telling of a “very satisfactory
conference’’ with the President of Hai
ti.
One of the subjects in controversy
in Haiti was the reported holding up
of the salaries of the President and
other officials of the Government Ac
cording to State Department officials
this has been satisfactorily arranged
and salaries are now being paid.
KANSAS THE FIRST
REPUBLICAN ISSUE
The Extension of Slavery Was in Fact
The Real Vital Question Which
Gave Birth to The Republican Party
W hich Must ^Continue to Champlo*
Liberty.
INITIAL CONVENTION HELD AT
PITTSBURG, FEB. 22, 1*56
Colonel Fremont First Party Nominee.
Freedom Festival And Gageant In
augurating Campaign Drew 100,000
People to Dayton For Dig Political
Rally.
By Frederick J. Haskin.
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Oct.. 7.—With
“bleeding Kansas” as the issue, the
republican party made its first ap
pearance in the arena of national
politics in 1856, with Colonel John C.
Fremont as its candidate.
If Franklin Pierce and his followers
had been content to rest upon the
compromise of-1850 as the final set
tlement of the slavery question In
polftlcs, the inevitable - clash of the
civil war might have been postponed
for a long time. But the democrats
had won such a great victory and the
opposition, that the Pierce administra
tion imagined it could do anything
with impunity. Indulging in that
mistaken belief. Pierce brought about
the repeal of the Missouri comprom
ise. Then, with the doctrine that
slavery must be permitted In territor
ies, the believers in the “peculiar In
stitution” sought to extend It to the
territories of Kansas and Nebraska.
Both of these territories were north of
the “thirty-six thirty” line of the Mis
souri compromise and its repeal op
ened up the whole question?
The reoubliean party was horn big,
it stirred up one of the hottest cam
paigns rhe country has ever known
before it was actually in existence as
a national body. It owed much of Its
power in its first campaign to Hor
acq Greeley and the New York Tri
bune. The Tribune was the republi
can newspaper which berated the
abuses which were exciting the whole
country, yet It would coo as softly as
the dove of political expedience de
manded. It even went so far as to
bid southern support for Fremont and
talked of avoiding the “danger of a
solid north” pleading the while ror
establishment of a “solid no^th.’
Slavery The Real Issue.”
No campaign up to that time had
had so many issues. Of course slavery
was the only real issue, but as yet
not one person had dared to oppose
slavery in the states where it existed,
it was only against the extension or
slavery that the free sdilers, the lib
eral whigs, the anti-democrats and
the republicans were fighting. But
the southerners realized that repuD
lican success would mean an ultimate
attack upon the state’s rights of
which they were such ardent defend
ers.
The republican party held its first
convention at Pittsburgh on Washing
ton’s birthday and formed an organi
zation. It called a nominating con
vention to meet at Philadelphia on
Bunker’s Hill, day. That convention
met and nominated John C. Fremont
for vice president and William L.
Dayton for vice president. The dem
ocrats held their convention in Cin
cinnati, the first national convention
ever held west of the Alteghanies. The
race for the nomination was spirited,
the candidates being James Bucha
nan, who was chosen on the seven
teenth ballot, Franklin Pierce, Ste
phen A. Douglas and Lewis Cass. John
C. Breckenridge of Kentucky was
nominated for vice president.
A Forgotten Pageant
One of the greatest political meet
ings or "rallies” ever held in this
country was the “Fremont and Free
dom festival” at Dayton. O., on July
30, 1856. There were more than a
hundred thousand people there, from
ail over Ohio and from adjoining
states. The rallying cry that day was
"There is a North!” One of the chief
features was a burlesque ’.democratic
parade participated in by a company
of young men from Indiana. This pa
rade was headed by no less a per
(Contlnued on Page Two.)